Cloud Atlas- A Flowchart

Often, when I come across a flowchart-worthy book or film, I chart it so others can see and appreciate the connections. When I decided to chart the film 'Cloud Atlas' it was so I could try and understand it!!

This film is a complicated, beautiful, confusing piece of art. The interconnectedness flows not just through the characters and narrative, but through to the actual actors playing multiple roles- often of differing gender or race. Such an interesting film. I still can't say I understood it completely, or that this is a definitive explanation of ANYTHING, but I definitely enjoyed creating this. 

Have you seen Cloud Atlas? What did you think?

*And, I know this was an acclaimed, much loved book first, which I have on my Kindle app, but haven't read yet... This is a flowchart of the film :-)

Dumb Things I Used to Think

So I think I'm pretty intelligent. I know stuff. I get stuff. I am not an idiot. I often claim to know everything... or everything worth knowing...

BUT.

I am happy to admit that there are a few things in my life that I have thought that were just plain dumb.

Here are...

The Top Five Dumb Things I Used to Think

I used to think Detroit was a country in Eastern Europe. Near Beirut. Which I also thought was a country in Eastern Europe.

I mistook the lyrics to the Kenny Rogers Song 'Lucille'. The line is: 'Four hungry children and a crop in the field.' I thought it was: 'Four Hundred children and a cross bred blue seal'

I used to think that if you farted, and you sniffed vigorously enough, you could suck up all the smell before anyone else smelled it. I called it the Fart Vacuum.

I thought the purple pod things that fall of banana trees were poisonous and would burn you if you touched them. Wait, I thought that because my sister told me they were! I may be dumb, but she is evil :-)

Until my late twenties, I thought New Zealand was where Papua New Guinea is. I couldn't understand why it was so cold there if it was closer than us to the Equator. Note that I am now married to a cartographer. 

So, what dumb things did you used to think?

Owl Says #10

On Tuesdays, it's over to the owls... 

AND, you can check out the whole series on Pinterest!!

Printing my own opportunities

Dude. This last week has been nuts. In a totally awesome way.  This crazy journey I have been on since last July actually culminated in the self publishing of my Stephen King Universe Flowchart. 

It is a totally cool feeling to know I have actually finished something. I have taken this project through all the 'What Ifs' and 'I Coulds' and now it is an 'I Have'. It is a real, actual thing. And people seem to like it...

Going to press check the poster was a little overwhelming and a lot cool. Seeing them fly out of the huge machine into a huge pile of SOMETHING I CREATED. The printers did not understand what it was and asked me numerous times to explain. And then they started to look at me like I was a bit odd.... I know Printer Man. Imagine what it's like to be inside my head!!

The little boys helping Daddy check the colours. They said it was all good.

My Lovely Husband has been so awesome in all of this. He has helped to create a really professional product. He is so clever. I like him heaps.

And now my life will be filled with rolling posters, putting them in tubes, writing thank you's and visiting the post office. AND LOVING EVERY SECOND!

Thanks you to all who have supported this project. You are ace.

The Stephen King Universe Flowchart Update (including the Dark Tower Series)

As I have mentioned before, when I was in Grade Five, I borrowed a battered paperback copy of 'Carrie' from my friend Tarnya Smyth (who stole it from her mum). I was totally hooked and under the spell of Stephen King and his characters from that moment.

I dedicate this chart to Tarnya Smyth's mum. The same woman who took me to the cinema to see both Desperately Seeking Susan and Risky Business. When I was 12. That is very young to be comprehending cheeky Tom Cruise becoming a pimp while his mum and dad were on holidays, isn't it? I am realising that Mrs Smyth was probably my primary source of sexual education. That's kinda weird.

Anyway. Here it is. 

The updated Stephen King Universe Flowchart including the Dark Tower Series.

I have said this about stuff before, but this time I mean it:

This chart is like my fourth child. Be kind to it. It means a lot to me.

I hope you like it.

AND I hope you aren't screaming at your monitor saying, "Ermagerd! I can't believe she left out '.................'!!! What a dick!!!". 

Trust me guys, I took all of your suggestions, connections and corrections on board and tried to confirm as many as I could. If you suggested something and it's not here, it's because I could not back it up through research. Or, because I disproved it through research. I am still totally keen to hear any further connections that you have to offer! I couldn't have made this chart so comprehensive without the help of all the readers. You Sai King geeks are awesome. 

And you were totally right. As I have said before, The Stephen King Universe Flowchart without the Dark Tower is like Happy Days without Fonzie... Still good, but not nearly as cool.

And if this is your first encounter with The Stephen King Universe Flowchart (now with added Ka Tet!!) then get comfy. Put your reading eyes on. Immerse yourself. You may need an aspirin. 

And guess what? You can totally buy the chart.

Purchase The Stephen King Universe Flowchart
60cm x 90cm (23" x 35")
Satin Varnish Finish
Limited print run

OPTION 1:

Delivery within Australia Only

$25 per poster
plus $8 shipping (anywhere in Oz)

OPTION 2:

Delivery Internationally (OUTSIDE Australia)

$25 per poster
plus $18 shipping (anywhere in the Rest of the World)

Now, we are doing a small print run to gauge the response. When the charts sell out, we will reprint and resupply. Once they are sold out, we will not be taking any more orders, until the next print run is complete.

AND, don't forget I live in Australia. Thats, like, really far away. From everything. Except New Zealand. So, when I ship your chart, it will take as long as it takes things to be delivered from the bottom of the planet :-) 


Thanks for all the support and the opportunity to share my particular brand of crazy. Enjoy.

Sugar Skull Girl

I did this drawing yesterday. Just cos.

Happy Thursday!

Owl Says: There is a New President on the block

JFK is new to the nick nack shelf. He's still trying to fit in....

My Awesome Brother in Law found this JFK bust at the Maleny Dump. He was poo brown and missing his nose and a fair bit of face. Tom fixed him up for me. How cute is he? He is a dirty bird though... (JFK, not my Brother in Law. He's lovely)

JFK is also relevant, as I have also just finished my second reading of 11/22/63. Really, what a fantastic book. So amazing. 

It made me think... If I could go back in time and save someone, and I could choose just one preson, out of any time, who would it be? Well, I didn't have to think too long. I would be making sure that John Lennon and Mark David Chapman did not meet  outside the Dakota Building on December 8, 1980. 

AND my Stephen King Universe Flowchart (including the Dark Tower) is almost reading to release onto the world. I know I have been saying that for a while, but this time I mean it!

Who would you save, if you could?