Elice Island Newsletter
Halloween, October 31, 2023
Hello,
Happy Halloween!
Life Success Through The Power of Stories
It is that time of year where it's either tricks or treats, so today I am pulling a trick that you will hopefully see as a treat. Rather than sending individual posts from my Substack which can lead to an annoying number of emails clogging up your inbox, instead I will send you one weekly email every Tuesday with the Elice Island Newsletter the contain all the stories that caught my interest in one place. You can check out whichever stories, posts, or videos catch your eye at your leisure. I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoy sharing them.
Have fun trick or treating and be safe out there. If you see anyone dressed as Danny Zuko from Grease it might be me.
-Jeremy
TRANSFORMING YOUR NARRATIVE: HOW VIEWING YOUR LIFE AS A STORY CAN LEAD TO DAILY FULFILLMENT.
"A Day in the Life" videos have gained immense popularity on platforms like YouTube and across social media. They present the creator’s lives episodically, particularly if they are done by daily vloggers. Though perhaps it might be more accurate to consider these videos as chapters in the story of the creator’s lives, where each day represents a chapter. Meanwhile, behind-the-scenes videos of thee same YouTubers reveal their lives are not precisely what they show us on their channels and in their “day in the life” videos. Their lives, much like ours, follow a linear and sometimes monotonous path, punctuated by highs and lows that contain the life lessons we are meant to learn, though they can be difficult to recognize while we're in the midst of them. This is precisely why we are so drawn to stories. By understanding what makes a good story and employing those techniques in our own lives, we have the power to live more fulfilling days. I try this exercise of visualization every morning, before fully starting my day
THE BIG STORY: ISRAEL WAR AGAINST HAMAS, DAY 25
If Ground Invasion Comes, Combat In Gaza Will Be Grind..The Times of Israel
Urban warfare offers endless advantages to the defender, and comes at a massive cost to both soldiers and civilians, but the IDF might have no choice.
Timeline: The Israel-Palestinian Conflict
I love a good story, because a story not only entertains, but stories provide lessons for any situation we may find ourselves in, because, no matter what you are experiencing, someone somewhere went through the same thing and wrote about in a book, a blog, or a movie. However, sometimes what we need is not a story, but a straightforward, clear, and concise chronology of events. We need to see the plain and simple fact about what has, or is, transpiring, from which we can better begin to understand the truth of a situation. To that end I have created a timeline of the history of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
MY STORY:
The release of my second novel in the Eddie Ankin series, The Crew had to be delayed to make some additional revisions.The Crew finds Eddie searching for the person who killed a friend of his which leads him to a band of master thieves looking to pull off a heist inThe Empire State Building. I will be posting regular updates about the book going forward and when the book will be published (it will be before the end of the year; in time for Christmas stocking stuffers!). In the meantime, before The Crew hits bookstores, you might want to check out Book One In The Eddie Ankin series, The Double.
WHAT I'M READING:
Yes, okay, I realize it is the end of October and. I am first publishing my September reading list, but it’s been a hectic month. From the end of the WGA Writer’s strike to my daughter having surgery, to the horrific events we witnessed in Israel the last couple of weeks, it put me behind schedule. But, I do intend to publish the October reading list at the top of next, which will be a special “Scary Books for Halloween” list.
Here is what I read in September...
A HOLLYWOOD STORY: Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the United States and much of the West feared the possibility of another attack. Tensions ran high and we saw the beginning of the travel restrictions which we've all been living with for two decades now (yes, there was a time where you didn't have to take off your shoes before getting on a plane -- thanks for that one, Richar "shoe bomber" Reid). In the middle of this tension-filled period, a white-haired German man flew into Vancouver, Canada where, upon arrival, he went through customs. When the customs agent asked the man his business in Canada, the German replied, "I am here to shoot a pilot." When the stunned agent asked him to repeat this the German said again, "I am here to shoot a pilot." He was immediately whisked away by security into a backroom where he was questioned by the police. After only a few questions the police released the German. The German man was movie director, Wolfgang Petersen (1941-2022), the director of blockbuster movies like, Das Boot, In The Line Of Fire, The Perfect Storm, and Troy. As the director explained to the authorities, he was in Vancouver to film the first episode of a new television show, known in Hollywood as "the pilot." So, when Petersen told the customs agent he was in Canada to "shoot a pilot," he didn't mean an airline pilot. What he meant was he was there to shoot a television show. He was promptly released. The show was never picked up to series.
INDUSTRY STORIES:
HOLLYWOOD: SAG STRIKE CONTINUES. NO TALKS MONDAY.
Though the writes guild, the WGA, was able to reach an agreement with the studios, streamers, and broadcasters (AMPTP), the two major unions representing performers, SAG and AFTRA, remain on strike. At the center of the strike is the issue of AI. As well as bargaining over the role of AI in the industry, the two sides are said to still be seeking common ground over additional compensation from streaming shows. The AMPTP was publicly quiet today about what went down in the two days of talks, and what may come next.
MATTHEW PERRY TRIBUTES POUR IN
The final TV Guide has been delivered to Chanandler Bong, and fans the world over (including this one) are devastated by his sudden passing. Thanks for all the sarcastic laughs, Matthew. It was worth the fifty bucks. May his memory be a blessing.
INDIE PUBLISHING: Rise of the Machines: Amazon allows books written by AI to be published.
However, Amazon's publishing guidelines states that any book that contains AI generated content has to be marked as such...The Guardian
Meanwhile, big time authors like Stephen King, Michael Chabon, and John Grisham have sued companies like OpenAI using artificial intelligence to imitate their work/style claiming copyright infringement....The New York Times
Amazon updates "Categories"
In the past Amazon used the bisect system, a universal system used by all publishers to make sure books were being put into the correct categories. You could choose 2 categories. Then Amazon would make adjustments to those categorizations. Now, Amazon is using its own categories to sort books. Authors can choose 3 categories now instead of 2, and the books will show on the Amazon website according to what the authors have chosen. One note, the book must match the category chosen. Amazon will not publish a book selected for a category that does not match its content. This is it to prevent people from manipulating the bestseller lists by placing their books in less competitive categories, even if they did not belong in that category.
"No More Half Measures"
This scene from Breaking Bad, a show which holds a special place on my heart, is one of my favorites. Part of Breaking Bad’s brilliance was its insights into human nature. One of those insights, courtesy of “Mike Ermantraut” played by Jonathan Banks, is instructive in how to deal with Hamas. And how not to. It’s a simple premise really, though for some it is difficult to accept. Here it is: When you are faced with evil, half-measures don’t work Half-measures are what get more people killed.
Quote I'm pondering:
"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." - Leo Tolstoy
Want to share this newsletter via text, social, or email? Simply copy and paste the following link: https://BookHip.com/RJRQPFM If you were forwarded this message, sign up to receive it each week here. It’s free and you get a FREE STORY to boot.
Oh, also, I never spam.
About this newsletter: You are receiving this email because you signed up to my weekly newsletter. Each week, I send you stories that internet me. These stories contain powerful life lessons, as well as key questions to ask yourself, and a few things to try in your life.
Disclaimer: Some of the links I share might be links to products I endorse and for which I receive a small percentage of the sales. As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases when you click on links to various merchants on this channel and make a purchase, this can result in my channel earning a commission.
Elice Island Entertainment
1590-D Rosecrans Avenue
Suite 227
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
You received this email because you signed up on our website or made a purchase from us. If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter and all other updates from me, you can unsubscribe below.
Unsubscribe