On Luck

What is luck?

Definition from Merriam-Webster

We have a complicated relationship with this term as evidenced by this exchange between the Ubersuccessful Howard Schultz of Starbucks and Oprah of (The Oprah Universe):



Oprah's stance on luck is well-known (She doesn't believe in it)  here is a discussion from Yahoo

I myself belief in Luck. I have been lucky many times in my life. I enjoy  being a working actor and Filmmaker but I am keenly aware of the happy accidents that have put me in the right place at the right time over and over again.
Now I won't deny that I am engaged always in a continuous process to improve my skills. I also work daily at advancing my projects and interests with massive (and what I perceive to be) intelligent actions. But I know many people who do the same and have not been able to crack this town.
In short I am a Lucky Guy!

From Practical Ethics

Here is an excellent piece on "Luck" from Professor Michael Mauboussin on HuffingtonPOST

Another thing to consider- Am I Lucky because I think I am. Has this thought turned into a core belief? Is it embedded so deeply in my psyche that I cause lucky occurrences to happen? (ala The Placebo Effect)
The word itself (meaning the visual interplay of the letters) seems to have a certain kind of happy quality. Or maybe that's just a a programmed cultural response I carry. Anyway...
Let's try something:
I am going to attempt to spread "Luck" This is a lucky digital talisman I have made feel free to take it and see if maybe Good Fortune can be spread.

"Luck" from Paul Parducci

Later,
The Very Lucky,
Paul Parducci

PS: If you like this I am now on Facebook

James Whale's "Frankenstein" Original Trailer (1931)

German Expressionism was the dominant influence on the look of this James Whale Horror classic which starred Boris Karloff in the role that would forever define his career.
Here is the Original Trailer from 1931 via Re-Release by  Joseph Harris and Jack Broder's  Real Art Pictures.

Probably the fullest overview of this film is from the TCM site here.

Later,
Paul Parducci

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LA NOIRE Update- Paul Parducci aka "Walter Tyler" Living in the Other Place.

Paul Parducci as "Walter Tyler" in LA Noire

A while back I blogged about this very cool Video Game I did called LA Noire.
This is the original post.

The image capture for this project was intense.
This is me in this alternate universe. (It's strange because this too is some kind of existence in another place.)
Later,
Paul Parducci


PS The LA NOIRE WIKI

A Dream of Green Lantern

This comes up from time to time. Yes I was hired to voice "G'hu" on "Green Lantern." 
 I say Voice because like many of the Lantern Characters the Visual was CG.
I was excited, my brother Jim who is a major Comics Industry guy was excited. But alas...
my character never made it to the final cut. I did have a great time working on it however. 
 Here I am on set with GL's amazing director Martin Campbell. (In case you don't know Martin directed "Casino Royale" one of my all time favorite Bond films.)
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS:
Here's what Gh'u looks like-

Blog Released Film "Geometry" Continues to Seep Into the Interverse.

Thanks for the continued support of my
 little creepy, crawly, viewer controlled feature length portion of Cinema.
Here is a screen shot:

Jocelyn Saenz as Susan Trent in Paul Parducci's Geometry

The film in it's entirety can be found for ever and for always HERE.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Abandoned Subway Tunnels and Secrets of the Deep and Dark

There is something inherently fascinating about traveling underground...
Without the comfort of daylight and underneath a vast thick crust of earth and rock it gives this Blogger that lonely mist in the bones feeling.
How about you?


Cincinnati has an Abandoned Subway.


 Very Cool New York Subway URBEX Documentary
  UNDERCITY:




From Urban Ghosts

Later,
Paul Parducci

What's the Deal with 4Chan?

Until all the Hullabaloo over leaked Celebrity photos I had never heard of the site.
I found this overview from CBS to be very helpful.

This is the site itself.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Is Telepathy Real?

Is Mind to Mind Communication really possible?

From Motherboard.
From Peer-reviewed PLOsOne.
From GizMag Rat Brain Chatter.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Is That All there Is?

 In last nights episode of  "The Leftovers."
Recap here.

 Kevin Sr. advises Kevin Jr. to stop seeking more...
Telling him and I'm paraphrasing-"This is it so cut the crap."
This yearning, this buzz of existential discontent  spikes I think for most of us from time to time.

From James Wood at the  New Yorker: Is That All There Is?

And of course Peggy Lee:



Later,
Paul Parducci

Paul Parducci's Debut on NBC's "Days of Our Lives"

There's a new bad guy in town:

Paul Parducci and James Scott on NBC's " Days of Our Lives"

Starts @ 35:20

Later,
Paul Parducci

Turing Test Passed?

Holy Toledo!

Turing Test?
Look Here.

If true this is a Watershed moment.

 Later,

Paul Parducci

Robot Danger?

 Are we playing with fire?
Will the geometric expansion of Memory and Logic Programming create a future conflict between Man and Machine?
 Here are a few things to look at to get the wheels turning-

Two AI "Chatbots" having a conversation:





 Steven Omohundro's :

ROBOT UPRISING

Later,
Paul Parducci

Eugenics Reborn? The Full Think Twice Debate On Genetic Engineering

Here it is:






 Also here is an article on the persistence of Eugenics.
Nazi "Applied Biology."
 From Medscape.
And from UofM's discussion of deadly medicine.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Coincidences: Are There Reasons For The Rare?

Coincidence?
An Interview with Statistics Professor David Hand on NPR
Professor Hand's book.

From Psychology Today.

The Strange Coincidence Archive.

Later,
Paul Parducci

Grammar Girl on Apostrophes and Plurals

Thanks Grammar Girl!
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Find The "Grammar Devotional"here.

The Channeling Continues: No Dearth of Speakers From the World of Spirits

Since stumbling upon Jane Roberts who began the Channeling Craze way back in 1970 I find that I can't get enough of the fact that there are a huge group of people (Some would say) making an excellent living talking in a funny accent and presenting more or less the same scientifically unproven (ie; in magnetism two positives always repel each other) Law of Attraction formula.

Anyway here is (a modern Channeled Spirit?) Bashar:


Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: Comments Welcome

Candy Darling Can't Swim

 One of the most Famous and Tragic Personalities to emerge from Andy Warhol's Factory
Was the self-created Classic Movie Star Candy Darling.

 Here is Candy in an Interview:



Highly recommended is the Tragic, Fascinating and Well-constructed Documentary "Beautiful Darling" from James Rasin.
(I just watched on NetFlix.)
Here is the Official Trailer:


The title of this post highlights what I consider to be the marrow of the sadness of this short driven, complex life.
Later,
Paul Parducci

Bang! Bang! The "Mafia" Video Game Series

For an overview here is the Mafia VG Wiki
 I am  really proud to  be part of this nerve-rattling Crime Netherworld.

I got the chance to work on Mafia 2 doing a bunch of Gangster Voices under the direction of the great Jack Scalici.
Here we are in the Booth.

Actor Paul Parducci and Jack Scalici in the booth for  Mafia 2

Gamers love this one and for good reason. It is loaded with great characters, excellent dialogue and a robust period world.
Here 's a Review Boatload from MetaCritic

Mafia 3 is being prepped now so I have my fingers crossed!
 (No better way to work off stress then spending a couple hours a day getting to play a real bad guy.)
Here is probably the best place to stay up to date on all things M3
Have a Great Day-
And Don't Rat on Your Friends-
Later,
Paul Parducci

PS: I will ever be grateful to the  Very Stand-up Guy Brian Bloom for recommending me for this job!

My Brother Jim's New Book is Out!

 Hey All-
If you are a Fantasy fan or interested in becoming one then
read my Terrific brother's Fantastic new book!

"The Magic of Morekind is a new novel which will take you from all you have known on Earth to all the hopes and dreams which one might achieve, if they are lucky enough and brave enough, on a new world. A world of myth and magic, of love and pain, of sacrifice and hope. Welcome to Morekind, where the hearts beat strong and where the adventures challenge them. Welcome to a world very different from the one you have known."

The Magic of Morekind is available exclusively on Amazon in the Kindle store.  You can get it right here.

Read it and add to your world.
Later,
Paul Parducci

The Banana Post or "The Only Banana Resource You Will Likely Ever Need."

Confession-
I love Bananas.
High in Fiber
Low in Calories
Rich in Potassium
They are in many ways a perfect food.
But I'm not the only one.

Here is a veritable avalanche of links to some of the best Banana Information on the web.
From Food Matters.
The Great Folks at LIVESTRONG.
From Huffington Post we have unusual uses for Bananas.
From one of the most famous names in BANANADOM.
WISEGEEK has something to say on the subject as well.
And from Underground Health.
Finally from MDHealth.
Okay then at this point you are well on your way to being a world class expert in the uses and benefits of this noble yellow fruit.
I wish that you all Top Banana status!
Later,
Paul Parducci