Real Christmas Spirit

02/09/2026

Long Winter's nap is over. Time to get back to the workshop.

02/05/2026

Run, run Rudolph

02/03/2026

Mario Puzo was already an acclaimed novelist by the late 1960s when 'The Godfather' (published in 1969) became a runaway bestseller and caught Hollywood’s attention. Despite his literary success, he had never written a screenplay in his life. When Paramount hired him to adapt his own novel for the 1972 film, he stepped into completely unfamiliar territory.

He later joked that he didn’t even know the proper formatting, relying instead on instinct, storytelling rhythm, and his growing partnership with a young Francis Ford Coppola, who was just 31 at the time.

Together, Puzo and Coppola shaped a script that would redefine American cinema. Their collaboration produced a film that won three Oscars, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Puzo and Coppola.

Yet even after earning two Academy Awards for screenwriting (for The Godfather in 1972 and 'The Godfather Part II' in 1974), Puzo still felt insecure about his technical understanding of the craft. Hoping to finally learn screenwriting “the right way,” he bought a respected how‑to book. When he opened it, the very first chapter offered a piece of advice he never expected. In the first chapter, it said “Study Godfather I”.

02/03/2026

Kringle and friend

12/15/2025

You can memorize every philosophy book ever written, but that won't make you wise. Here's why ancient thinkers knew the difference between knowledge and wisdom, and why it still matters today.

Knowledge is borrowed. Wisdom is earned. The great philosopher Montaigne understood this centuries ago when he said we can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom. This single insight explains why some of the most educated people make terrible decisions, while others with little formal education navigate life brilliantly.

12/03/2025

Silence in the face of wrong is its quiet approval.

This quote reminds us that evil often thrives not because people openly support it, but because they fail to resist it. Choosing not to act or speak against injustice allows it to grow stronger. True moral courage means saying “no” when silence would make us complicit.

11/18/2025