I was inspired to rename this blog.

I was inspired to rename this blog.
Released May 20, 2016
There is no doubt that The Angry Birds Movie, this avian animated comedy, was aimed at the pockets of family audiences, and in that vein, one should have asked if this was worthy of family audiences. In my view, it is not—there are better family films about. Angry Birds does not come into the same league as Up or The Wilderness Family. Angry Birds is raucous entertainment tame enough for younglings who’d soak it up, but should families see it? It depends if you like your family entertainment more on the edge or more on the gentler side. Angry Birds is for the former. Continue reading
A poem can be cut back, cut out, edited, straining for more in the rhythms and meter, but loses its power and effect, I guess. – Pete’s Quotes
I don’t like everything that everyone writes, I try not to accentuate that work, it may even be the fourth third out of balance and out of whack. It may even be good. I wouldn’t like to, but it is not a perfect art. – Pete’s Quotes
Writing as a regular habit is something that might not be achieved always. But a good habit. – Pete’s Quotes
Released December 29, 1944
Its comedy is dated by now—the old nicking off with someone’s trunk on the false pretence that the man nicking it is a fun loving good old boy—just does not hold stick these days but refreshing all the same for the innocence of another time. Continue reading
First released in Los Angeles, United States, November 20, 1972
Later released in London, England, December 4, 1972
(Source IMDB)
This adaptation of the famous tale has Alice emerging from her reverie which brings a revitalization of life as she steps back into the real world. Alice daydreamed an underworld of talking animals and fantastic surroundings. The young Alice is quite taken, and the friendly critters would not do any harm. A series of adventures take place as Alice moves from one to another with sweet-natured abandon then awakens somehow refreshed and restored. Continue reading
An opportunity is a pain, as it takes one out of their comfort, but although it’s easy for me to say, a pain was worth the effort to come to terms with. – Pete’s Quotes
2005. The three-hour-plus multiple Oscar-winning movie Ben Hur on two discs plus the 1925 silent version and a diskette of bonus material, is on sale in New Zealand – a must-have for fans of that timeless movie. Continue reading
Released October 13, 2017
6 Below is the true story of Eric LeMarque’s ordeal in the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Western United States. This movie is based on LeMarque’s book relaying his experience on the mountain ranges, written with Davin Seay, called Crystal Clear. Continue reading
On the writing front, me and my computer have submitted two devotionals to a place when my devotions have been accepted before. Several other devotions were rejected at other times, some accepted at other times. I think the latest ones are strong and I have more confidence to submit to them because of last week’s preliminary acceptance of another one I did a month ago. But only submit when the material comes together well.
How do you know it is classic science fiction horror—I don’t mean science fiction or horror individually—but science fiction horror per-se? You can only know you it did its upmost best, published or unpublished.
On the online writing front, I have made it of boot camp at Hub Pages and now have ten featured articles there, mostly longer format film reviews. The reviews are of Apocalypse Now, A.I., The Black Hole, Arrival, Amadeus, Birdman of Alcatraz, and Annie. Also got some promising news on the online devotional front in that a devotional is being seriously considered for publication on a website. Some say it is only one devotion, but that is a negative viewpoint. Others say that to even get into some places in the arts is an achievement.
Bard and bird in a scrap,
Fighting for rhymes, it just isn’t right
“May I use your song?” said the bard in a devious tone.
“Your rhymes are not as good as mine, eh,” said the bird. “But I’ve got copyright.”
“Your rhymes for scrap paper, I need them so.”
“No, you don’t, I’ll sing alone.”
The bard and bird, forlorn
Nothing at all before the dawn
“Will you write”, said the bird.
The bard replied, “Not at all, even if I tried.”
“How about you try,” said the bird.
“And you set out the food for the bird.”
Bard forlorn, no poems to write at all
writers block before the dawn
The bird forlorn, no pears to eat on the lawn
taken away before dawn
It’s just that an oldie that was a goodie may not be a goodie anymore, cinematically speaking and otherwise. That’s how it goes. Many critics ‘hated’ A.I. but then again, twenty years later, it was voted a top film. Get the picture?
I’m not afraid to tell where I am being published at the moment and I hope you will visit, for your sake of course.
Here. (Not a dodgy spam link)
It is eye opening to know where one’s head was at just looking at old writings. The articles did have their merits and touches which surprised me. They sounded actually good!
Why does one get an impression that the past sounds worse than the present when it isn’t so?
This week I’ve been in boot camp. No, it’s one of those boot camps. But it’s writing boot camp at Hub Pages.
I’d darn better say good things about Hub Pages. Their writing boot camp forced me to go further with my articles by expanding them out into their acceptable word length of 700–1,250 words and for the article to be featured, you must pass the quality assessment process which is an incentive to do a better job. Boot camp improved my works that were already at a longish length.
I have found a theme with the articles I am publishing there, and the theme is the outstanding films of any year reviewed. I go with films that motivate me in some way, so I write at length and in depth about them.
I would like to know how their statistics work so will investigate further.
There seemed to be no unifying idea, but I’m feeling better about how I wrote some of those that are now published. They work. Even the rejected stuff – said the writer.
Why does the word enumeration sound like money? Probably because enumeration sounds like renumeration. Is there is a real connection? Continue reading
Whenever I post something about my writing in difference to general things about the writer’s life, I try to also produce some thought about writing. So, I attempt to do that again here, with my latest writing movements. Continue reading
I have enough devotions for the equivalent of a book’s worth of devotions, one month’s worth, but with the second book, another month’s worth, there is still some editing and additional writing to be done. I am writing and editing at this stage. I am thinking of publishing though.
In terms of writing this week, there is action on the home front, after a period of mostly exploring reviewing and referencing and researching films. Continue reading
Released November 1972.
Written by Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The vocals are by Fagen, Becker, David Palmer, and Jim Hodder. Donald Fagen also played piano, electric piano and the plastic organ, Walker Becker played electric bass guitar, and Jim Hodder played drums and percussion, with Jeff Baxter (guitar) and Danny Dais (guitar). Gary Katz produced the album. Can’t Buy a Thrill boast the most interesting lyrics and perspectives of 1972. Continue reading
Can a child review entertainment? We were asked to review Gandhi. Gandhi is a “mature” film, but the kids wanted to watch E.T. and The Dark Crystal. But could we have reviewed those fantasy films let alone Gandhi and reviewed them effectively? It can be done, by some. Continue reading
Released January 14, 1944.
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves is at a basic level a story of revenge. Yet we see plenty of classical style action, adventure, love, and honour. It is a romantic style film. Based on the Arabian Nights tale, Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves was released on January 14, 1944, which puts it among the Golden Era of Hollywood filmmaking. I would like to see a Christian film with the same premise, where an Arabian Tales paced-epic is transported to a Christian-based romantic adventure. Continue reading
Eventually got around to writing a devotional this week, and am thinking about how to publish the devotions I have, as one publisher cannot work with me due to their way of doing things (i.e. delivery of renumeration), so have thought of self-publishing e-books. But I will check out traditional publishers first to see if there are any others that are suitable.
It occurred to me as I heard the cricket say he was about to write his memoirs, in the animated film Pinocchio, that I also had been writing my memoirs in something I had been writing and mulling over. Continue reading
It’s the holidays so one shouldn’t be talking about working, but I am finding ten minutes writing in periods every day does wonders as works can get done that way.
As I have said some time before, I have been posting my older articles and reviews at blogger, but I am also thinking to continue republish my old and new articles and reviews, here. I will also be continuing to post various notes on writing, life, fragments, etc., and poetry, etc.
Remaining, still there, still present, surviving this is the meaning of “extant” an adjective describing that something still exists. The extant manuscript: it’s a favourite word in literary things.
How does one respond to recent events such as the last three years? One mustn’t blame. It was his fault or someone’s fault. But if one survived and can see an opportunity in the mess, then one comes out with a better outlook and attitude than without. Adversity can make one see life anew. If one finds trouble, one adjusts their temperament to survive. One does not give up but can turn over with a view to stay alive and live. One can even think about how they relate to the Creator: what is my relationship with the Creator of the world like? How can I draw closer to God during adversity?
A Christian perspective is quite easy really when it comes to it. Sure, one can think of theological and sociological things to bring up, while the ordinary, everyday filmgoer bites into an ice cream, and popcorn flows all over the place, but a Christian perspective is just this: it is reacting or responding to a film as someone who is a Christian. It is just reacting to the material and if faith is important to a Christian then there is a reaction or response that kind of way.
This week I have been starting to post my pieces of writing through blogger as the other place was not technically working for me. Another place, Substack, requires a lot of work to get subscriptions to your blog, so I find blogger just a lovely place to post my older and newer work and get an audience where there are no hassles. Here’s my latest piece, here.
You have access to my reinvented film review of 2 Fast 2 Furious here. I am pleased to share this; do have a visit. @vocal_creators
My experience at Vocal has been good thus far though there are some teething problems which are being sorted but nothing major as in major. I found my first article, before I submitted to the editors, prompted me to write to a certain word count and I found this good as it enabled me to try a little harder, think a little harder, and improve the article overall. If they accept the piece, I will be submitting more, until there comes a point that I should stop writing there for some reason, but for now, all is good. Continue reading
I am pleased to introduce FRAGMENTS OF WRITING, a new category… Continue reading
I spent a few spare hours of writing a couple of interesting posts (if I must say) on my new ventures with Medium and Substack, but my initial feeling was to not start out with it. To leave it be and not do it. The initial feeling was confirmed when the response to my posts and marketing of them were minimal. It’s not encouraging going ahead. Yet I forced myself to think harder about what other kinds of material I could produce so this material may come to fruition someplace else or closer to home base.
This blog has been various shapes and forms of which I think it has been a matter of experimenting with shape and form and content until coming to something satisfactory or a composite of all those. I trust that Talking Writing or peteswritingnotes.com is this, which brings back my notes on the writing life more to the forefront as well as keeping with positing old articles, etc, and new pieces when possible.
My aim, in the long-term, is to produce e-books (or some variation thereof) of articles and reviews, the kind of things I have been posting here for the last six months as well as include the material that did not get published here.
So, I am pleased to present Talking Writing…And Posting Writings which I trust is more in the form I find manageable. It means I can write freely about the writing life and publish writings when I like. A lot easier to produce and in turn brings more variety.
To not confuse “obelisk” with “Obelix”, the word “obelisk” is a stone pillar of some sort. Obelix is a character. This kind of stone pillar narrows towards the end or gets narrower towards the end. It is tapering towards the end. Tapering simply means to get narrower.
Time is on the writer’s side. But what kind of writer? Continue reading
This word reminds me of the character Obelix from the comic book series Asterix. Continue reading
By Franklin W. Dixon
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap
Released 1927
The first Hardy Boys mystery The Tower Treasure was in the words of your grandfather or great grandfather, who read the book when it came out all those years ago (almost one hundred years!), an “exciting page turner”. Continue reading
Released October 27, 1982.
The album that put American musician Prince on the map in popular culture came on the heels of the singles 1999 and Little Red Corvette. And it was an album of funky rhythms. Continue reading
MEDITATION. I heard someone say where is God in today’s world which has gone to custard? If God was the creator, has he left us now? Is God an absent landlord?
Looking at how God created the world according to Genesis chapter one, shows God made an investment in creating the world like a caring father makes an investment in attending to his sons and daughters. Why would God change? Continue reading
Some people need no introduction. Continue reading
Listening post for October 15-October 22. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. October 14-20, 2022. Good music which I feel I don’t have the patience for and instinctive music which compromises my principles and becomes suffocating.
There can be a difference between writing a review and giving a view. A review stays within the parameters of review: explain your reasons for accepting or rejecting a piece. But a view can state the view without necessarily having to explain things in detail.
Although there are two kinds of views: one which can be explained and the other is like being asked a question about what you thought and answering without explaining why. You just say it. So, I intend to write more of that kind, where it is like someone asks me, what I thought, and I say it. These are typically short.
2003. Pictured above: The Hutt City Council. A community charter initiated by local churches and adopted by Hutt City Council aims to support Lower Hutt as a safe and connected community, what Lower Hutt Mayor John Terris calls an effort to recover “village values”. Continue reading
My listening post session for September 30-October 6. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. 2022.
It may have looked good this week in ’72, at best. But nothing to write home about. Billy Preston put out an album in 1982, his last for Motown, and his back story makes for interesting reading. R.E.M looking strong with another album, but not up my ally. Life Goes On, for Le Ann Rimes in 2002; the song felt quite visceral, not the rest of the album though. What did you say? 2022 music? It must have escaped me.
Agony in a maelstrom behind the storm a week of pain from the well rising up It’s life again Beyond the walls that I had built in vain there was a vision of a place so light and cool with healing that I succumbed to its allure It’s life again Love subsided the pain.
2001. While watching a slide presentation of underprivileged children from India at a house group meeting, Ken and Wendy Fraser were impressed that God wanted them to help unemployed people in the Hutt Valley (in New Zealand). Continue reading
2005. A church agency representing the views of the national representatives of four mainline churches (in New Zealand) is concerned that a government bill at select committee stage will unduly penalise domestic purposes beneficiaries who do not establish paternity of their children. Continue reading
Time makes such amends
For what’s missing in time
Just when life seemed hopeless
Along came time to soften wandering through the pages
Maladjusted by my unravelling
Depth and meaning were the challenge to my soul, but
Time had a way of healing,
For relief from superficialness.
I found soothing in an echo from time
The breeze blew toward me,
A grace I was assigned
Misaligned, I was, but saved despite the swirl of agony
In a moment of time
My music listening session that covers a week of releases September 22-September 29. 1972. 1982. 1992. 2002. 2012. 2022.
The verdict: What do you do when even the classics don’t speak? Catch Bull at Four, remember it? Why does Christian music from 2002 sound two note? 2012 just sounds a little bit fuller. Just commercial enough to satisfy the intended audience? Costs less to make? The oldies are just sounding above mediocre with their new releases. Two picks this week.
2001. The Community Outreach Mission for the Salvation Army Crossroads Community Church in Lower Hutt (in New Zealand) runs the only regular community meal in the city. Continue reading
I think I have finally done it, in that I have produced a satisfactory entertainment blog, streamlined to select movies and music, and sounding better than the two I have been posting from the last couple of weeks. You may like to visit this here: The Video Review Shop
August 29th—September 5, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012, 2022. My session at the listening post produced music that is almost acceptable then you listen to the second track on the album and it’s all downhill from there. Yes, there were one or two stand out tracks and on another one something like noise.
YungBlud seems to have the release of the week in 2022. This self-titled album sounds good but it’s something I would pass on not only for the lyrics I have reservations on, but the sound just did not resonate with me personally. Christian music is sounding quiet this week in 2022.
Genesis 1:20-31: God created the creatures of the sea and the earth, and then God created human beings in God’s likeness. Continue reading
2022. March 28 was Children’s Picture Book Day. This brings back memories and inspiration. I must bring out that picture book manuscript I wrote all those years ago… Continue reading
August 21st—August 28th, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012. The session opened with Neil Diamond’s Heartlight which was a beautiful way to begin the session, but the next song on the album fell short in my estimation. Continue reading
The method of writing metered poetry may start quite from scratch. One forces the words to fit the meter as one drafts the poem. I have found another way that may work for me. Continue reading
Album releases for the week of Aug 13th – Aug 20th
For the years 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012.
And Aug 12th – Aug 17th, 2022.
Dates will be more consistent overall next time.
The week’s findings: Christian contemporary music (CCM) with that beat sound should not be discouraged if the content and music work together to help someone Continue reading
LIFE. I’ve been reflecting on pilots this week. Some pilots are quite lonely people I assume. They may not be either. But they are on an adventure. Continue reading
Taking the sheen off the praise
When what was delivered was good,
I got to get away,
Get back to the place where I am understood.
Many years ago, an utterance of certainty,
Which I forsook,
Could they be so right,
When the praise is so good,
And delivers in ways that are wonderous.
I lift my soul and hand go up, the arms raise
Wonderful release,
No more the exercise of pain,
Inflicted by something unseen,
The shine comes back,
And I’m found again.
Jesus’ lesson of the fig tree may be better understood as a figure of speech that teaches us something rather than give an ordinary description of life. Continue reading
Do you give enough? I feel I don’t whenever I read the passage in the gospel of Matthew about the rich young man as if I am rich, which I am not.
Saint Francis of Assisi took the passage literally and lived a life of poverty. Isn’t the writer’s life the same? A vow of poverty to write. Not that I am in that boat at all… Continue reading
Had a flurry of writing over the Easter period and beyond for some devotions I was trying to get through and published. Those ones were safely rejected I think all of them, but I am not counting, so I have an idea there is one or two that are on their list to publish at some stage. Wait for the cheque in the post. The rejections when they come don’t hurt as much as they used to. I am not counting.
In the Bible, in the gospel according to Matthew, Chapter 16 verses 24-28, a follower of Jesus Christ is challenged to live life in such a way that when he is judged by God, he will enter into life, rather than spiritual death.
2002. Wellington Pastor Anthony Walton views writing books, including his latest, Future Church: Church by Design, as a leadership tool for producing vision, “casting a direction the church needs to head down”.
Just adding the word may have provided accuracy when one could have missed it out. But is it true?
Born of a woman every day;
We are never alone in this world.
The family of humans
Reborn every day.
As crude as the priest put it,
The answer he gave made sense,
Although I questioned the expression,
The answer resounded in spirit
I knew he was right.
I knew its truth.
I, myself, did.
The woman he was talking to listened
Wondering if this is the answer to
The dilemma in her life
(Her fatal suffering)
Albeit God was with her and
God was in the solitary voice –
Even when it’s not the prevailing wisdom.
The water flowed tranquilly,
To rescue her on hearing.
If she took it.
2004. New Zealand recording artist Bic Runga is on her one-month Acoustic Church Tour playing at 10 churches on a 16 date tour.
Bic Runga is a 26-year-old singer songwriter, signed to Columbia Records in New Zealand, and with two albums to her credit, Drive and Beautiful Collision.
2006. Knox Presbyterian Church in Lower Hutt (New Zealand) is undertaking the extension and renovation of its Grimes Hall at a cost of nearly $750,000.
A reviewer assumed a screenwriter/director was driven by anger to make a work, but being driven by this emotion seems a stretch too far. How does one manage that emotion while working with it? Wouldn’t anger get out of control and interfere with the person doing the work, effectively disabling the person from thinking straight?
I guess anger in writing can smolder underneath, under layers one has built up to protect oneself from exposing the driving, motivating force behind a work or works.
The problem with writing in anger is that anger may be seen in how one treats the subject they are irritated about. An exaggerated treatment may reveal a bias towards a certain institution, but it isn’t the way it is. This is when things become unfair.
I think it is best to avoid those writings that are driven by the emotion of anger. There are other emotions to write with, and these can be negative ones. For me at least, anger is detrimental to getting on doing the work properly.
In the end one may be misrepresenting something or some group entirely and perhaps regret doing so afterwards.
Like Ibsen, he knew that to create is to judge oneself
From the article “Film Autobiography” by Oswell Blakeston (Film Review 1973-74)
As I am progressing my sentence, and stuck for the right word, I try and use two words. Why use two words when I could use one? Two words tries to expand on the meaning in my mind — but it sounds clumsy and awkward. It just does not flow well. One word may say it much better. Just got to find the right word. That’s where words with similar meanings come in (synonyms), since one of those words may just say it better than two. I google for a synonym and I find the right word that replaces the two words that just did not sound right.
Kind of nice, but bitter
The taste of convenance
Easy.
Homemade.
Over there, not.
Nowhere to find.
In the place I call home.
Kind of nice, but bitter,
Going cold, always sour.
My Sweet,
You never complain,
Alternatives, what?
I wouldn’t change a thing!
Except if it was mud cake in the face.
I am glad you are here
You will not go
For this is bitter to a hungry man,
And it tastes good.
When will thou arrive?
By Peter Veugelaers.
A straight line I go alone
Steps along the way
The spring is infectious
Buoying me every day
Veering not to the left or right and not by design,
The course I am is full and sublime.
Remember me? Shouted a boy by other means a man
Are you still who you are,
Or have you gone lame?
I was who I was, I said.
And that is all I said.
Wanting to probe some more,
I anticipated a shock,
A meeting of no mere reunion,
A rude interruption.
I kept on going
Not fearing what lies ahead.
A bit maimed and bruised,
But I must cruise
Just get me to the other side.
Even if I die, alive.
A straight line I go alone
Steps along the way
The spring is infectious
Buoying me every day
Veering not to the left or right and not by design,
The course I am is full and sublime.
I better write this
While it is not compelling me, but
Impelling me to.
While not knowing why,
I have an idea,
What it’s about.
The day only comes once a year,
The smell of it, I know.
What it’s about I don’t.
So, what does today mean, to me?
A rather lonely sojourn?
While everyone’s in the know?
Why should I bother?
But I do. The day is another beautiful day
Isn’t this why we are free to celebrate,
Because it is another beautiful day?
Unhinged, unfettered.
Unleased with light.
Since that day many years ago.
The rain is about to fall.
So, they told us.
But it didn’t come.
They all breathed a sigh of relief,
So, did I.
I enjoyed the sun, while it was there,
On a day,
Of heaven spent joys.
The rain might have fell,
But was kept back for more,
More of you, the sun,
Love of the rays flowed through
My heart rejoiced, for the sight,
Not blinding,
But alive,
And death did not gnaw.
The day long
A miracle at the end
She saw everything all white
And not a drop of negativity passed through her mind
As she saw the eternal light
And passed into eternity.
Weatherboards, straight across—
A roof, four walls.
I see.
Over there, I see you.
Close and near.
Not in that house they built.
You are to me,
A person.
Not etched in a wall
In the pew
The one who gave or did not
You are not a plaque.
But you are you
And I do
See you.
That’s all I see.
March 28 is Children’s Picture Book Day. This brings back memories and inspiration. I must bring out that picture book manuscript I wrote all those years ago…
It’s been thirteen years since I first started devising and writing a tale and this week I revisited the story again, didn’t feel like to, but since it was on my schedule, I thought I should get to this.
I looked up.
peace overcame the dreary sky.
the clouds left behind,
a ray of light broke through
Shining bright over the heads of us
as I looked from the window,
inside the room.
I was watching the change,
I was looking up.
I remembered God,
the Father’s light shines on the
righteous and unrighteous alike.
He remembered me,
Just then.
He can send the rain,
For now, the light he sends.
The plan is this.
That it goes to plan.
What is the plan?
No pain in the game that’s lived in this life to get to where I need to be,
The need is great, no doubt I feel it strong,
Needy me, needy me,
Needing to get there,
Abide by the plan,
On hand,
Focused and dry,
No doubt in my mind
Got to do it do it do it
There is no turning back
Going forward, on track
Cannot stop, got to go,
Get in that place,
Where I want to go,
All obstacles I will put asunder
Until my life has got to where it wants
Then will I be?
Will I be settled within?
Calm and collected?
There will always be room for the break –
Into something new,
Jump right in.
I’ll stop what I do.
And go that way, the way
For it’s as fresh as new.
You think you know it all. I got to help you, son.
The other guy is coming with a message you better here,
It will help you, I’m sure, son.
You are missing a few brains of that I have no doubt.
A bit dumb around the corners:
You sprouted wings like cauliflowers and cabbages on the sides of your brain.
But I am here, to help,
Unless some other together guy would get at you first:
The head guy. Amateur.
Bar the humble guy.
Who asked you,
Help me see.
For you see better than me.
2004. The Salvation Army’s theme this year is “together we can help Kiwis in need” elaborated in a breakfast presentation with a series of short messages about the work of The Army and their annual appeal. One hundred and twenty years serving New Zealanders was celebrated at Booth House in Wellington, April 16, which also looked forward to Salvation Army Week, to kick off on April 28 until May 4.
God loves us more than we can love God
God gives more to us than we could give to God
God forgives us more than we can forgive
All God asks is, have a bit of faith in me.
2005. Move over the religious services column in Saturday night’s newspaper. Advertise in a movie theatre, or the local rag. That’s what a brethren church did to re-invent itself in the eyes of the community.