Jake Chambers' real father, and his Network, would be proud of the new Dark Tower movie. It shoots for the lowest common denominator and the highest possible audience without considerations for the Constant Readers of the last 40 years. If you are a reader of the Dark Tower series, do not watch this movie. It's not even that the film is terrible, it is simply “meh”. This film is pretty much a standard Hollywood film. It is mainstreamed and fairly average. The characters are borrowed from a highly regarded series, which guarantees a widely acclaimed and anticipated release, but the film itself falls very short of the classic that it could have been.

Some have said that this film is a sequel to the books. Even if this is so, the film completely disregards the emotion and mixed-genre of this epic tale. Changes could have been made but they could have done so in a manner that honoured The Dark Tower and its fans, but it did not. It dropped plot and character development for ease and appeal to the biggest possible audience. This movie did not honour the story it came from. 

It is almost as if the creators of The Dark Tower all gathered in a room and discussed how to remove all the aspects that make the Gunslinger such a profound read. In fact, I think that this what they did when they discussed mainstreaming, which has apparently been an issue in the production of this film. An issue that I would argue was unnecessary. The Dark Tower has a following that has been gathering for four decades. It did not lack for fans. In addition to this, the depth of characters and genre combinations could have combined to create a classic very much in the vein of Blade Runner, Mad Max or John Wick, but fell flat on its face, although I'm sure it will be a success in its blandness.

Roland of Gilead is a gunslinger. A kind of knight with guns. Killing and gun play come second nature to Roland, but is largely lost to the special effects focus of a major Hollywood film. Rolands shooting and reloading is described as: “The guns were empty and they boiled at him, transmogrified into an Eye and a Hand, and he stood, screaming and reloading, his mind far away and absent, letting his hands do their reloading trick.” 

John Wick is an example of how gun play can be used to further plot, establish character and cement the feel and texture of a film. In the above clip, John Wick defends his home as it is invaded. The things this small clip include that The Dark Tower does not come down to lighting (or the use or lack of colour), editing and music. How a Director decides to light or colour a film defines it's character. As a mainstream, standard Hollywood film, The Dark Tower contains no interesting lighting, it is basic and standard for what you expect: Desert is bright, bad guys lair is dark. John Wick, however cleverly uses shadow and light to direct attention and emphasize character properties. John Wick is a dark character, and rarely seen in anything other than black. But he is displayed against a white background. This isn't just convenient for filming but also shows a type of higher moral ground in his killing. Roland is also a dark character, but this is not emphasized in any way, whether visually or through dialogue.

Roland's gun play emphasizes special effects: “look at this neat trick” it says. But that's all it is. In comparison, John Wick has a very Gunslingeresque scene that focuses on the efficiency and exactness of his shooting, something that should have been in The Dark Tower . The only reference to this in The Dark Tower movie is the scene where Roland focuses on listening and shoots through a shirt, plants and distance to kill Jake's kidnapper. This kind of thing doesn't happen in the books. Roland is ruthless, efficient and fast, but not supernatural.

Lines and shadows in the white background direct the eye

to John Wick. Camera is angled up to create an

 impression of power. 

John Wick chooses it's camera angles for effect. It often frames John with doors, windows or other lines. The camera alternately pushes in or is walked into by John Wick (see link above), showing his power and resolution. The Dark Tower, in contrast, does not use specific camera movements or angles artistically or to create a sense of the film. Rather they are used, again, to emphasize the special effects, not the plot. For example, the camera looks down at the Gunslinger as he shoots out glass then magically turned by Walter. 

Lastly, John Wick consistently uses sound, music and quiet throughout both films to emphasize rises and rests in action. In this clip, the music becomes more intense when all-out fighting ensues and quiets with rests such as reloading. This also leaves space for sound effects like loading and unloading to be heard. Notice how the fast, rocking music comes to a halt once john's assailent is dead. Very effective. The filmmakers of The Dark Tower give very little consideration to sound or music. They had an opportunity to define the auditory experience and create emotional and visceral reactions via sound, and they chose not to. Even the background music is boring, like a generalized score: “Action, that means fast: dramatic! Let's have some violins”. Yawn. The score and use of sound did nothing for The Dark Tower except emphasize its mundaneness. Standard, big budget Hollywood movie. Need I mention that "Hey, Jude" plays a role in The Gunslinger series? Even Velvet Fly? Come on guys! He set this one up for you! All you had to do was swing at the ball. 

The Dark Tower spent a lot of time explaining the world to the viewer, partly due to the many changes it made to the plot in an effort to squash the expectations of the Constant Reader. But we couldn't help but hope. After all, this is almost 40 years in coming. This over explaining just adds to the dreariness of the film. It brings two reactions: 1. Don't tell! Show me. Films are visual mediums. They should show more than tell and The Dark Tower does a lot of telling. 2. What?!? That's not what happened/it is/from the story!!! I was faceplaming the entire time. 

The film loses every aspect that made The Gunslinger such a compelling read. It loses the character arc of Roland from solitary to protector to pseudo-murderer. It loses the desperate nature of the search for Walter, and ultimately The Dark Tower. It loses the development of the relationship between The Boy and Roland, and the heartbreaking, and mind-breaking decision that is contingent on that relationship. Not to mention the plot that goes with it. In essence, The Dark Tower movie dropped all the significant plot themes and arcs of the books, choosing to focus on only those things they could drop in to appease fans: 19, the shining, snap shots of other books. And although these are significant and do appear in the books, they do not reflect the character arcs of the story, and so the heft of the series is lost. 

If you are a Constant Reader of The Dark Tower, do not see this movie. They dropped the ball on this one, so go then, there are other worlds than these. 

Wait for it to come out on Netflix, it's just not worth the disappointment. If you're looking for a your basic, run-of-the-mill Hollywood movie, then this ones for you! There are no surprises, lots of action and much over-explaining. All-in-all a typical movie-going experience, certainly nothing to to write home about.  

I give The Dark Tower movie a "meh" as far as movies in general. As a Constant Reader, I say "You have forgotten the face of your father, maggot"

Nemesis! I Don't Feel Like It!

Blah! After a long day at work the last thing I want to do is more work. My head hurts. All the other drivers are behaving like morons and costing me precious minutes on the road that I could be using to sip a tea and unwind with my cats. Someone darts out in front of me and then proceeds to slow down, 10 k under the speed limit. Is it their mission to keep me on the road or am I just imagining things?

I. Hate. Everybody. Especially red lights and stop signs.

The biggest thing that prevents me from doing my workout is simply not feeling like it. I want to go home. I want to relax. I want the world to leave me alone until I have to get up and do it all over again. I have come to accept that visiting the gym directly post-work is not only a bad idea but more likely to prevent the visit from happening.

Why?

1. I need to want to go to the gym. Trying to make the gym right after work when I hate everyone and everything just makes me resent it. "Screw you weight machine. Suck it, exercise bike." Blah. I need time to unwind. Often I make the decision to go home. Screw the gym, only to find myself there, contentedly peddling and lifting, three hours later. Giving myself permission to go home and do absolutely nothing for a few hours is not slacking off and does not lead to gym avoidance, it helps me go there and to keep a healthy perspective. Working out is good for you. Resenting it is not.

2. I need my me time. For some people me-time is the gym. Not for me. I am a solitary person who enjoys rest. My me-time is really just hanging with my cats and doing nothing for an hour or two. Recognizing my needs rather than trying to adopt the habits of others, is important. It's not just  knowing what my needs are by accepting them and making time for them. For me, the gym is work. Work I can enjoy, but still work. If I put that work above my, often psychological, needs then I am doing myself a dis-service. I want to want to go to the gym. So I wait until I do, and it comes with surprising regularity around 7:00 pm. A mere 2-3 hours after I finally arrive home. Who knew?

3. Where, what, when. I have managed to pick-up some weights from local thrift shops. This means that I can do the things I enjoy at the gym and lift at home while watching Hannibal make meals of rude people. I have come to accept that a certain amount of anxiety will always be there, especially when trying new things around new people. But it can still make things a bit of a struggle and have me yearning for the comfort of home half way through a work out. I have met it half way with home weights. There are certain things I do at the gym but a lot of the lifting I can now do at home. The gyms gives me the bike and the pool. Which makes it totally worth it, especially in the winter when a bike ride means battling cold and ice!

Conquering my workout Nemesis is a work in progress but so far it seems to be working. I can't avoid the end of day Blahs but I can use them to my advantage and look forward to a bit of me time before venturing back out into the world.

Hannibal picture courtesy of:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Madsmikkelsen.jpg

5 Things I Have Learned Working Out On My Own

When I first began my fitness journey it was rife with fear and doubt. But here I am... I've lost weight, run a Tough Mudder and I find myself facing phase two.

I've had to move from a small gym that specializes in Bootcamp-style classes to a community centre that specializes in being cheap. The challenge that I now face, after a couple months off, is creating my own workouts and executing them. The challenge is the anxiety that I typically carry around with me and learning to differentiate between my own defense mechanisms and reality.  

1. YES! You can be independent!

Having friends or buddies with you makes things WAY easier. I miss my old gym because of the social aspect. It was way easier having buddies to share the pain with. Now it is totally up to me. I have to be my own buddy and my own cheerleader. If I'm having a hard time of it, there's no one there to push me or say “Come on Karyn! You can do better than that!” but me.

The up side is that I have had to learn how to be my own cheerleader. Yeah, having a coach or a friend encourage you feels great but so does encouraging yourself. I do know that I can do better and after doing this for a week I have begun to remember how to ask: “Do I think I can do more?” and to respond “Let's try it.” So yeah, let's try the scary looking machine... that's why we're here.

2. Keys to finding and creating your own program.

Having a coach or a class teacher makes things a lot easier. I have issues with anxiety and perfectionism. “Am I doing this right? Will I hurt myself? Do I look stupid?” These thoughts have no basis in reality, indeed nobody even looks at me while I'm flailing through my workout, but the feeling of AAAAHHHHHH doesn't help. Having someone tell me what to do was amazing. I think I put off finding a gym I could afford longer because I was intimidated by the idea of deciding my own workout.

So, I went online and spent many hours in Chapters. In finally settled on a book by Bodybuilding.com that has a twelve week program. I like this book because it has great success stories, it explains all the basics in a way a layman like myself can understand, and, as a woman, I was happy to see that the example photos of lifting had both a man and a woman.

This program is super simple and removes all the thought from my workout. I am back to doing as I am told while simultaneously learning what the exercises do, where etc.

3. Connecting to a community can happen anywhere.

The biggest thing that kept me coming to my old gym was the sense of community. I missed my community. I felt lost and lonely without it. However, part of the book suggested I visit the website where a community was already established. I was able to find the support here that I was missing from my old classes. I may not see these people during my workouts but they are there. A post before or after and I am guaranteed a response.

Does community have to come from the people around us? I still connect with my old classmates over Facebook etc. So, how is that different from connecting to people on a forum online? It's not and it actually gives me something to look forward to. Often, I will check the site as I am moving through my workout and already have responses.

I also have "workout buddies" to whom I will text a photo as I enter the gym or the results of my bike warm-up. It keeps us honest even though we live in different cities. 

4. Goals. Goals. Goals.

Goals are important to any fitness routine. I totally didn't have one. What was worse I worried that without my trainer I couldn't meet any. I needed something that gave me focus but was low stakes. I settled upon the Bodybuilding.com 12 Week Challenge. It was perfect, I was competing only against myself and it ran over the same length of time I had settled on for my preliminary routine. It also has weekly challenges that are built to remind you why you're doing this in the first place.

5. Nobody's looking at you.

This is the most important thing that I have learned. I have years of unpacked anxiety and fears attached to anything that I do with my body. Experiences in my youth also led me to be hyper-aware of any new space that I was in and to be cognizant of who was there, who had access to me, and how could I escape if necessary. This generally translated into “Forget escaping! Why not just stay home?”

I have had to force myself to become conscious of the “They're not looking at you”-ness of my workout area. Truly, nobody cares but you. Stay in the present where you are and just focus on you and what you are doing and really... just how awesome it is and how good it makes you feel to do it. I never thought I would even lift anything heavier than my purse. But I was wrong, and I love the changes in my ability.

They're not watching you. You don't have to be perfect. It's safe here. Trust me.

I have just started my twelve weeks and I invite my friends, both virtual and in rl to join me.

Connect at:

https://www.facebook.com/FailingUp/ 

Crisis and Miracles

Recently, I have been subjected to a major crisis and a major miracle. The crisis revolves around my ever decreasing source of revenue while the miracle is being experienced vicariously through a friend. I find these two often go hand-in-hand, the crisis carrying the promise of a miracle to come... albeit undefined.

The familiar panic has been invading every facet of life from strange and out of control dreams to a constant and ambiguous anxiety that sits in my chest right in the middle of my rib cage. It is a situation that I have become well familiar with over the years. I call it the: You Can't Afford This phase. And although I generally acknowledge that I cannot afford something and move on with it any way, there always comes a point where my situation literally beats me over the head and forces me to regard my situation with a sigh and drop of the shoulders. Usually in the form of an unexpected bill falling in my lap and smiling up at me "All done Karyn, all done". We have all been here.

But this is not the struggle.

I have been here before and know how to cut back and find work I'd rather not do. I have done it before and will do it again. The struggle is in the real losses of the things that are given up and the questions that it it prompts: Can I do this alone? Am I capable of seeing this through? Will I rise to the occasion or fail? Will I even attempt...?

After a year of many successes I can't help but wonder about what Phase 2 will look like. Enter The Miracle.

Less than 7 days after I began to wrestle with "Oh woe is me" my lack of resources I was informed by a friend that the impossible had, without effort or warning, happened. The impossible has shaken my foundation of reality, as I am sure it did the friends, to the core. It makes no sense and there is no wrapping the brain around it. The point is that the impossible has happened. So, can it not happen again?

I some times feel like life is more than just a jumble of chaotic happenings. Random chances. Things happen around me with a bizarre symmetry that compliments the other in a manner that I just cannot believe is completely random.

When we are making progress is when we are most vulnerable. It is so easy to give up. Especially, as is my case, if we were so good at running away before the journey started.

My reactions run deep. But they are just reactions. And I find that if I sit with them, more often than not they dissipate into the void from which they came and if I wait and am quiet, the solution appears and takes me into a new experience and way of being. An experience that would have been lost if not for these extreme situations.

I am making a conscious effort to stop the fear reactions and look at my situation from another perspective. The perspective of miracles and impossible things: the perspective of opportunity.

What opportunities lie in the guise of this crisis? What new thing am I about to learn? Where can I be grateful?

I can honestly say that I do not have all the answers BUT I can see the opportunity for greater independence and a definite change in direction. And I can find many things to be grateful for. The chance to experience all of this being at the top of the list.

So I put this challenge to you: What opportunities are piggy-backing the things that you fear most? What if your efforts actually worked? How can you take a step towards those impossible things? Those things of dreams that come clothed in nightmares? Can you find something in your crisis to be thankful for? Can you move ahead?

I sit here and type this and make my plans for the future. A future where cutting things out also means putting things in. A future where my crisis walks hand-in-hand with my miracle.

Science of Happiness

EdX course: The Science of Happiness was a title my unicorn-toting self could not refuse. 

"Sign me up!"

First mission? Introduce yourself. What makes you happy?

Great question! Some answers went without saying, such as free Tim's. And my cats. 

Other I had to put some thought into. 

Karyn's Happiness List

1. Bootcamp. Two-fold: Firstly, the immense satisfaction I get from actually accomplishing it. I do things in Bootcamp that I never thought possible. Like holding a 20lb weight above my head for 30 seconds. Second, the people there are so awesome. I am admitting an addiction to their sarcastic enthusiasm.

2. My Car. Best investment ever. I took the bus for about TWENTY YEARS! The freedom of owning my own vehicle and leaving whenever I  want to is amazing. I feel bad about it running on dinosaurs, but what can you do?

3. Social Media. A lot of people complain about social media but I love it. It's a quick way to stay in touch with old friends and to make new ones. People get so creative. Without social media I wouldn't have discovered this course or cat-memes.

4. Morning Tea. After I feed my cats, I sit for half an hour in my papsan and enjoy a morning tea. I am often joined by my cats and it's a quiet morning, waiting for the sun, of warmth, purring, and yum. Perfect start.

5. Travel. There are three places I regularly visit: Buffalo, NY., Ottawa, ON., and California (care of my brother). I LOVE travel. Especially long trips. You have nothing to do while travelling but relax and look out the window. New scenery, whether passing forests on your way north or mountain tops on your way south, never gets dull, and always gives me a sense of wonder and connection. 

6. New Friends. Specifically that moment when you realize someone new is now your friend. It's like crossing an invisible border and usually takes place with laughter. 

7. Sarcasm. Connected to friendship. Sarcasm is like a code: If you can get it and dish it out, you're one of us. I couldn't live without sarcasm. It explains so much that makes no sense in this world. 

What makes your list? Love to hear back!

Top Finds of 2014

2014 was my favorite year yet. Here are some awesome people, places, and things I found this year:

1. Primal Athletics in Oakville, On. 

Anyone who knows me knows that I have never been physically... apt. That has started to change.With their motto of "We Build Better Bodies" I have definitely noticed progress since I began July 27. I was overweight, out of shape, and quite frankly terrified. With the attitude I experienced at Primal, that fear quickly turned to enthusiasm.
The owner/coach, Chris Leblanc, and his employees go out of their way to make every new member feel at home regardless of fitness level: and those levels range from couch-potato to athlete. Everyone is treated to the same level of belief in ability and camaraderie. 

Why do I love Primal?

1. Belief. From day one Coach talked to me as if I was capable. 
"Wait... you think I could actually do that one day? Sounds good to me! I'll do it."
 It's amazing the things you can do when someone thinks you can.

2. Camaraderie. Coach always introduces new members and makes connections. It's awesome because not only are you making new friends but it's nice to know that who you are is as important as where work out.

3. Knowledgeable. Primal is a passion turned job which means that Coach is up on all the current info and well trained. It means I can trust what I get from him to be the best for where I am and where I want to go.

4. Personalization. We are all looking for different things, whether it's your workout or your meal plan, Coach caters to who you are and considers your lifestyle. A far cry from the blanket Meal-Plans and workout experiences I've previously encountered.

Check out their holiday specials and build your better body today!
Primal Athletics Website   647-896-3294

2. American Ninja Warrior. 

I initially discovered this show last winter when I was suffering from acute boredom and looking for something to watch. The name sounded so ridiculous, it had to be good. I was not disappointed.

Why do I love American Ninja Warrior?

1. Ninjas. Seriously, who doesn't love ninjas? Based on the Japanese competition Sasuke, ANW sets competitors through a course of Mario Brothersesque obstacles.  It's awesome! 

2. Real People. ANW features real people competing for a $500 000 prize (which no one has yet won). Often with encouraging stories, I remember watching and thinking "Well, if she can get in shape enough to compete on this show, what's my excuse"? These are also people who will often accept your add on Facebook, too!

3. Job creation/dream fulfillment. Despite not having a champion, ANW is helping to fulfill dreams across America. It has created it's own obstacle course culture which is being realized as Ninja based gyms popping up all over the place, including mini-ninja obstacle events. Read on for an example. 

3. Hybrid Fitness & Patrick Hall in Buffalo, NY.

Early in the year I began adding ninjas to my FB feed as an effort to flood my feed with inspiration as I embarked on my lifestyle shift. Patrick accepted my add. He owns Hybrid Fitness in Buffalo, NY.

Why do I love Hybrid Fitness and Patrick Hall?

1. Obstacle Course Gym. Always wanted to try American Ninja Warrior but missed the deadline? Training for Tough Mudder? Patrick's gym is an obstacle course style gym that gives you the workout training of famous ANW obstacles like The Warped Wall and Salmon Ladder that translate very well to other Obstacle Courses. I'm looking forward to training this spring for my own upcoming Tough Mudder run.

2. Real Guy. Real Story. Patrick isn't just another fit trainer barking orders. No. This is a real guy with his own story and struggles that he has overcome. He knows where you're coming from and can help you find and maintain motivation. He's also super nice and amiable in person.

3. Buffalo Ninja Warrior Events. Want to test your skills before you test your skills? Try one of Patrick's BNW Events. Patrick holds a mini-ANW type event every few months at his gym, which is also available for private events such as birthday parties. Give him a call to find out more!

Be sure to check out Patrick's great New Years deals on Facebook or give him a call!
Hybrid Fitness Tel: 716-544-3300

4. Soundcloud. 

Soundcloud allows you to follow music artists, labels, and friend while discovering new music for free. Check out an example here 

Why do I love Soundcloud?

1. Free. It's free. Need I say more? 

2. New Artists. Although there are many established artists on Soundcloud the most awesome part is discovering new ones. Choose a stream and let it play... guaranteed to please.

3. Share your music. You can create and share Playlists but even more awesome is 180 free minutes of music uploads. So if you are a budding musician, this is a great way to get your sound out. Want more time or options? Soundcloud also has a paid Pro option.

4. Easy to use. Soundcloud is easy to figure out and use both on its website or its app (which is available on the App Store or GooglePlay. I often connect to it while driving and lay through my car. It's awesome.

5. Emily Kinney

Actress/singer/songwriter.

Why do I love Emily Kinney?

1. The Walking Dead. Emily played one of the most interesting characters to date on TWD, her claim to fame. Beth Greene was in many ways innocent but her character grew tougher without ever losing her light. Beth's character arc took us from a teen attempting suicide to a young woman willing and able to fight for herself and others. I went from "Oh, stop whining!" to "Hmmm, I'm interested in what she has to say." 

2. Singer/songwriter. A find on Soundcloud (thank you Norman Reedus), my sister likened her to a singing teddy bear. But her lyrics, if you listen well, are a lot more substantial than that. Her voice comes across as innocent and youthful. Her words speak of longing, heartbreak, and yes, masturbation (Just Pretend). Looks and sounds can be decieving. 

Check out her new EP Expired Loved and more at http://emilykinneymusic.com/store/ 

5. Fandlemonium: Candels for Geeks.

OMG! What?!? They create candles based on characters WE LOVE. Candles come with associated colours and scents. These are soybased candles.

Why do I love Fandlemonium?

1. Characters in a candle. Candle examples include:The Doctor (bananas with a hint of danger) or Sailor Moon (limited edition) "Sailor Moon smells like love, justice and serenity (Queen Serenity, of course!). What do those things smell like? Well, serenity reminds us a bit of a calming cup of peppermint tea, and justice smells like Sailor Moon's favorite food (cake!).

Love is an ethereal and fragrant scent with a touch of sweet roses and berries.

2. Custom Candles! A bit pricey but worth it. I got my sister a Peeta candle (Icing sugar, Fresh Bread and Pine). Sisters reaction + the comforting scent of Peeta Mellark? Priceless. 

3. Great Service. I ordered one for my sister 21 days before Christmas. I know, not cool me. BUT it came before the big day (despite it being the busy season) AND it came with a coupon for my next purchase.

Check them out! http://fandlemonium.com/

6. Brenda Bieger's Art.

Brenda is a photo-artist living near Buffalo, NY. I find her pictures to be very calming and captivating.

Why do I love Brenda's Art?

1. Moving Photography. Brenda's technique involves moving or dancing as she takes her pictures. The outcome is what you see to the left. It is an effect gained in camera rather than in photoshop. 

2. Emotion of the photos. Until I met Brenda, I had not appreciated anything abstract. But I find the lines and movement within her art to be relaxing and contemplative. They make me think while providing a sense of comfort and tranquility. 

3. Conscious/Unconscious and Grecian Archetypes. Brenda's work involves water, exploration of the conscious and unconscious, perceptions of reality, and the ancient Dionysian and Apollonian archetypes. To read or listen to her interpretation of her art and the world around her creates a sense of wonder at the world both around and within ourselves. 

Check her out at http://brendabieger.com/ 

7. Hannibal

Speaking of art, this show is amazing and achieves the suspension of disbelief, even though it shouldn't.

Why do I love Hannibal?

1. The Look. James Hawkinson is the Cinematographer for Hannibal and he does an amazing job. It's like watching a moving piece of art leaping off a museums wall. Between the colours and the use of slow motion, Hawkinson has created a work that is stand-alone. I don't need to hear the words in order to enjoy this show.... but I do.

2. The Theatrical Murders. These are grandiose and beautiful despite their heinous nature. The beauty of these deaths makes them even more difficult to swallow. Consciously, I know it's fiction but the fact that I think "Wow" at each new revelation is, in itself, horrific.

3. Conscious vs Unconscious.  The portrayal and exploration of Will's mind is fascinating. Shown in both real-time discussions with psychiatrist (Hannibal) and as visions and dreams, the interplay of Will's physical reality and internal reality create an ethereal feel within the show.

If you don't have cable you can catch it on http://www.nbc.com/hannibal or Netflix if you live in Canada.

8. Button Poetry

Button Poetry features live readings of poems.

Why do I love Button Poetry?

1. SO GOOD! Who knew the spoken word could be so effective and entertaining? Often these poems feature some kind of issue near and dear to the poet. All are powerful. Examples: Boyfriend Material or Pass On

2. Emotional Outlets. These spoken words are clearly cathartic to those reciting them, what I didn't expect was their effect on me. I thought that listening to the challenges of others would get tiring but the opposite happened, I felt connected and uplifted. 

Check it out at: http://buttonpoetry.com/