"Genius" - a Graphic Novel Review

Ranting: Enjoyed it.

I recently had the opportunity to read the graphic novel, "Genius" by Steven T. Seagle. It initially got my attention because it was about a quantum physicist who discovers his father in law knew Albert Einstein and holds on tightly to a secret Einstein told him. I was surprised, because, who writes a comic about a physicist? or Einstein? So I felt I had to read it. And at 128 pages, it didn't take me too long to read.

I enjoyed the layout and artistry - I feel it helped convey the struggles of the lead character and the feeling of the entire story. The comic is mostly subdued colors, hues of brown, eggshell and sepia tones - which I felt worked. I had trouble with the font of the text, seemed almost cursive and almost print, with some letters hard to decipher - but that could just be my inner elderly man coming out. I found the story interesting, although if you don't like physicists, life changes and career dystopia - you probably shouldn't read this. It's a good internal struggle for the main character. Although there was an unnecessary (at least I felt so) discussion of masturbation which I felt intruded upon the story and kicked me out of the flow - otherwise it flowed well.

Disclosure: I received a free ebook of this title for preview and review. I am not paid for this review.

Creative Conflict or ADHD?

Recently I experienced a creativity conflict.  It's the reason for my lack of posts and the reason there hasn't been a new TRJE podcast in a few weeks.  Some would say I suffer from writers block, but I say nay to these people (to which these people say, "Nay? Really?  Who talks that way?")  I have loads of ideas and tons of material to write about or talk about - but what I don't have is, well, that's the problem.  I don't know what it is I don't have.

This goes back to an old discussion I had many years ago with a manager (who I believe heard it from a politician) - it's about 3 important things that will help you plan.

1. Known Knowns.  These are things you know you know.  Or in other words I know something and I'm aware of it's existence.  I know how to post to my blog - and I know that I know how to post to my blog.


2. Known Unknowns.  These are things that I know I don't know.  For example, I don't know Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the population of Bismarck, ND or how to bring a woman to orgasm.  But, if I need to know these things, at least I know I need to look them up and learn.


3. Unknown Unknowns.  These are the most important things on the list.  These are the things you don't know, but you don't even know that you don't know these things.  For example, um, well, never mind.

The secret is #3.  If you know that, you can plan for anything. Unfortunately, the fact is, there is no way to deal with or address #3.  If you know of it, it's #2.  It's just another way to say, "Shit Happens."

Anyway, that has nothing to do with what I'm talking about. I'm not even sure how I ended up talking about it. Oh well. My problem is I have so much I want to do, I can't figure out which one to focus on.  Even writing this is distracting me from my creativity.

Actually most of this is a lie.  Just like the cake.

Thanks for listening, I'm so sorry you had to read it.