All the Pretty Horses, Revisited

THROWBACK THURSDAY

In 2009 I watched  All the Pretty Horses after having read Cormac McCarthy’s superb book the previous year. I  picked up the film when I stumbled upon it at Blockbuster. (Remember Blockbuster? Seems like a lifetime ago.) Billy Bob Thornton directed the film starring Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz and released in Y2K. Whether it was short lived in theaters because of bad reviews or poor marketing, it sure seems like a good “big screen” film with its Mexican vistas and panoramic camera work.

It’s a coming of age story with two teens from San Antonio heading south o’ the border to find work and, perhaps, adventure. John Grady Cole is the central character (Damon) in this story of innocence lost. The film remains faithful to the the book for the most part. And maybe that is what carries the film because it is a powerful story.

Some aspects of the movie were formulaic. The usual Hollywood plot twist occurs at 25-27 minutes.

If you watch any film on DVD, check out the elapsed time when the plot turns, and you will find, nine times out of ten, that this is so. It’s called writing by the book. The book, by the way, is Syd Field's Screenplay. This is the book 1990's Disney producer Robert Schwartz sent to me when I wrote my first of three Hollywood screenplays... none reaching the silver screen. Producers, decision makers, will turn to pages 25-27 to see “what happens” with the assumption that any screen writer who knows what he’s doing will make this part of the movie into a plot twist. Instead of reading a whole screenplay, the length being one page per minute of screen time, they take a short cut. Once you see this skeletal frame, you may have difficulty closing the curtain again for a while.) Anyways, Thornton’s film follows the formula. And if you wish to take an original approach to writing screen plays, you'll discover this is why the best creative screenwriters have had to go outside the system.

Damon’s performance drew sharp criticism from reviewers. but I didn't expect a lot so I ended up surprised. The romance between Cole (Damon) and Cruz had a suppressed steaminess that was believable. 

The film did a good job of portraying the collision of cultures in their relationship. Like the book, his heart is cut out and filleted by the series of events that proceed naturally from the opening decision to go south.

McCarthy’s characters are always superbly crafted in his books and the settings so vivid you are easily and longingly transported. In the film, the scenes and settings are honest replicas of reality, and one is not distracted by any false notes anywhere in the film, other than the fact that Damon and his friend Lacy Rawlings look a bit older than the 16-year-olds they were purportedly portraying.

After years of writing darker, more brutal works (like Blood Meridian, 1985), McCarthy turned toward something more accessible—without abandoning his depth. In 1992 this novel became the opening of his Border Trilogy, widening his audience while keeping his philosophical concerns intact.

As regards the book, here’s a paragraph from a reviewer at amazon.com that summarizes my impressions of the All the Pretty Horses:

“Many people compare, fairly or no, Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" to William Faulkner's literary work. What is neglected is the strain of Flannery O'Connor that runs throughout the novel as well. At any rate, "Horses" more than stands on its own as a startling achievement. It's prose is more accessible than Faulkner, and its themes less esoteric than O'Connor. "Horses" is an immaculate novel, dealing with the extreme facets of the everyday and the ways in which people become who they are.” ~ Melvin Pena

Of the images on this page, ChatGPT created the top illustration based on a horse head I'd painted the year before, acrylic on paper. The photo below was taken in Kodak Ektachrome near a river west of Cuernavaca, Mexico, in the spring of 1981. It was a beautiful horse. (As always, click to enlarge.)

Lucy's Encounter with "The Magician's Book" in Voyage of the Dawn Treader

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is probably my favorite of the seven volumes of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. One reason this volume is so popular is because of Reepicheep, the courageous, swashbuckling leader of The Talking Mice of Narnia. This blog post, however, is about an incident involving Lucy on the Island of the Dufflepuds.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) is the fifth book in the series (by publication order). The chapter involving Lucy and the magical book is one of my favorite episodes, both pivotal and richly symbolic. It occurs in Chapter 10, which is aptly titled “The Magician’s Book,” when Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian, aboard the ship Dawn Treader, visit the Island of the Dufflepuds (also called the Monopods or Duffers) and encounter the magician Coriakin’s house. 

All readers of this series understand that nearly everything in these stories is o be taken allegorically. In this chapter Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian, along with their crew, land on this island inhabited by the comically inept Dufflepuds, invisible creatures who were made so by their master, the magician Coriakin, as a punishment for their disobedience. (For the record, Lucy and Edmund are children from our world and Caspian is a prince from the world of Narnia.)

The Dufflepuds, believing Lucy is brave enough to face the magician, demand she enter his house to reverse the spell of invisibility by reading from the magician's magical book. Lucy, somewhat apprehensive, agrees to undertake the task alone, as the others are wary of the magician’s power.

When Lucy enters Coriakin’s grand, mysterious house, she ascends to a room filled with books, artifacts, and an atmosphere of enchantment. In the center of the room is a large, ancient book—the Magician’s Book—bound in leather, and filled with spells written in beautiful, clear script. The pages are alive with magic, and Lucy must find the spell to make the Dufflepuds visible again. 

As she turns the pages, she encounters a variety of spells, including one to “know what other people think of you,” one to make someone beautiful “beyond the lot of mortals,” and another to cure warts. The book’s pages seem to turn on their own at times, adding to its mystical aura.

As she leafs through the pages Lucy is tempted by the spell to hear what others think of her. She casts it and overhears a conversation between her schoolmate Marjorie Preston and another girl, revealing Marjorie’s insincere flattery and mild betrayal. This devastates Lucy, sowing seeds of insecurity and resentment, though she later reflects on the harm of such knowledge.

When she comes to the "Spell of Beauty" Lucy nearly casts a spell to make herself irresistibly beautiful, motivated by envy of her sister Susan’s beauty. She sees a vision of herself transformed, outshining Susan and causing strife, but Aslan’s face appears in the book, growling softly, stopping her. This moment underscores her struggle with vanity and pride. (For the record, Aslan is a lion, fearful and wonderful, powerful and wise, who is central throughout the Chronicles.

Lucy finally finds the spell to make “things visible which are not to be seen.” She reads it aloud, and the Dufflepuds’ invisibility is undone, revealing their comical, one-footed forms. As she reads, Aslan appears beside her, unnoticed at first, guiding her through the process.

After casting the spell, Lucy meets Aslan, who gently rebukes her for eavesdropping via the spell, explaining that the conversation she overheard was distorted and incomplete, teaching her the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge--and teaching young readers the danger of listening in to others' conversations.) He also reveals that he was with her all along, guiding her through the book’s temptations. 

Coriakin, the magician, then appears, a kind, wise figure—a retired star sent to govern the island as a form of divine service. He hosts the group for a meal, explaining the Dufflepuds’ quirks and his role in their reformation.

The spell successfully makes the Dufflepuds visible, and they rejoice, though their bumbling nature persists. Lucy’s experience with the book leaves her wiser, having confronted her own flaws—curiosity, envy, and pride—while learning to trust Aslan’s guidance. The chapter ends with the crew preparing to leave the island, enriched by the encounter.

The lessons in this chapter alone are many, dealing with temptation and moral growth, the power of knowledge, warnings about curiosity driven by pride, and Aslan (as a Christ figure) as a divine presence. Regarding the Magician's Book, this has layers of meaning, too. We live in a world that is beyond our comprehension. C.S. Lewis addresses this in his space trilogy as well, most vividly in That Hideous Strength. The very existence of Narnia implies worlds beyond our comprehension. 

Coriakin, a star tasked by Aslan to govern the island, represents a steward of divine power, contrasting with the corrupting magic of figures like the White Witch in earlier books. The book’s spells are neutral tools, their morality depending on the user’s intent.

Some people has suggested The Magician’s Book could be seen as a metaphor for the Bible or spiritual knowledge, containing truths and powers that require discernment to wield rightly. Lucy’s journey through its pages mirrors a spiritual pilgrimage, testing her virtues and exposing her weaknesses.

Overall this chapter serves as a standalone adventure within the broader voyage of the Dawn Treader’s quest toward Aslan’s country. It entertains by balancing humor (the Dufflepuds are hilarious) with profound moral questions, making it accessible to younger readers while offering depth for adults. Lucy’s experience prepares her for later challenges, reinforcing her faith and resilience.

It's interesting that C.S. Lewis took a lot of heat from his peers for publishing The Chronicles of Narnia. He was a professor at Oxford and gaining fame by writing children's books was frowned upon. It was out of character for a dignified Oxford professor. The novel’s message, that true wisdom lies in aligning one’s will with the divine, was in alignment with Lewis's own quest. And the world has been made richer for it.

Lakes 10 Movie Theater in Hermantown has Closed, But We Still Have Great Theaters in Duluth

This is the beginning of a recent story from the Duluth News-Tribune:

HERMANTOWN — The Lakes Cinema will close after showtimes on Sunday, April 19, according to a statement on the theater's website.

Marcus Theatres, which operates the cinema at 4351 Stebner Road in Hermantown, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the News Tribune as to why the theater was closing. In an email to loyalty members, the company wrote, "Thank you for your support over the years — we have enjoyed being part of this community."

Though no reasons were spelled out, I was aware that the theater was having trouble. The large parking lots on three sides of the theater had no more than a dozen cars one Sunday afternoon as I drove by last month. What a change from when we boomers were kids. Even drive-ins were full in those days.

I've known for some time that Covid played a role in breaking people out of their movie routines. Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime stepped up their game at the same time that giant flat-panel TVs come significantly down in price. As a result, going out to catch a matinee or evening flick was no longer the default way to see movies. Covid was a gut-punch from which theaters never recovered.

There were other things that happened though as well. Studios have been making fewer mid-budget films and more big "event" films (superheroes, franchises), perhaps in an effort to capitalize on add-on sales from memorabilia and other gimmicks (which I find nauseating). The blockbusters did fill seats, though even there it has been hit and miss much of the time. Small to mid-sized towns can't survive long dry spells between the big time stuff.

Which compounds the problem of rising costs, from heating to taxes to maintaining projection equipment and sound systems.

Then there's the economics of Hollywood itself. Studios make money from streaming, from global releases and the merchandising I mentioned above. Ticket sales at the theaters are no longer as important as they once were.

On the other hand...

Many theaters have adjusted. What Bob Boone has done in restoring the West Theatre and its sibling The Alhambra is nothing short of wonderful. Whereas movie theater economics has threatened many, these asymmetrical twins were ahead of their time by creating a social hub like theaters once had been in the past. In addition to two theaters, the front half of the Alhambra has captured the historic Speakeasy atmosphere of a century ago, a time almost forgotten with live music and atmosphere.

The West is more than a movie house. Since opening it's been a stellar venue for top drawer acts from Peter Yarrow and Judy Collins to Jorma Kaukonen and John McCutcheon...  and so many others--Benny Goodman's Big Band, Gospel Bluegrass, Paula Poundstone the DTAs -- 52 weeks a year, and more!

Opened in 1913, and now it's back

It's not just music. We've also been wowed by magicians, and other acts that have added a little magic to our corner of the world. 

If you feel like the world today is driving you a little close to the edge, grab a Reader, see who's coming to town in the weeks ahead and drop in for a bit of sanity. 

*.* * 

For the record we still have the Zeitgeist downtown, an alternative venue that's got its own cool factor, and the Marcus Theaters by the DECC across from the William S. Irving ore boat.

I just heard a story recently about how the Irving ended up where it is today. A group of community business leaders brought the ship into the slip where it sits, to contribute to our soon to be flourishing tourist trade. It was all part of a grand vision for Canal Park, and it came to pass!

The Lincoln Park area has been the center of attention these past ten years, but it's my personal hope that the Spirit Valley neighborhood gets a similar about of love. And I know a lot of people who are eager to see Downtown thrive again. 

Darkness and Light

Yesterday I began a new short story in response to a disturbing event that occurred this past week. A couple tentative titles await the completion of this tale: "An Ethical Adjustment" or "The Cupboards Were Bare." 

In the meantime, his morning I woke thinking about a different theme that has been wriggling around in my brain: Darkness and Light.

Darkness is one of those simple words that opens into deeper territory the longer you sit with it. At the most basic level, darkness is just the absence of light. When no photons reach your eyes, your brain has nothing to interpret, and you perceive black. In that sense, darkness isn’t a “thing” at all—it’s what we experience when something else is missing.

But we rarely use the word that way in ordinary life. We talk about darkness as if it has weight and presence. A room can feel dark even when there’s a lamp on. A story can turn dark without the sun setting. A mood can turn dark when we allow a dark thought to make its home in our thoughts. What’s happening there is psychological: darkness becomes a shorthand for uncertainty, danger, or the unknown. Our minds fill in what we cannot see, often with fear, and we all know how fear combined with unrestrained imagination can really twist our heads. (A couple of comical stories come to mind here about runaway paranoia that fortunately had a happy ending. Maybe you have such a memory.)

There’s also a moral dimension. Across cultures, darkness has been linked with ignorance, secrecy, or wrongdoing—“things done in the dark.” Not because darkness itself is evil, but because it conceals. When actions are hidden, accountability disappears. This is why a "free press" is an essential plank in our U.S. Constitution. (See: A Free Press Is Fundamental to Free Nation)

Darkness has another dimension as well. Seeds germinate in darkness underground. Sleep restores the body in the dark. The night sky reveals stars you’ll never see at noon. And I've never met anyone who's seen the breathtaking, shimmering wonder of Northern Lights during the day either. In short, darkness is not always a bad thing.   

By way of contrast light is the counterpart to darkness—but it’s more than just its opposite. At the physical level, light is energy. If I've got my physics right, it travels as electromagnetic waves—tiny packets called photons—moving incredibly fast (an amazing 186,000 miles per second). It’s what allows us to see: objects don’t “have” color on their own; they reflect light into our eyes, and our brains interpret those reflections as shapes, colors, and motion.

It's a strange thought to consider that without light the world is still there but it's hidden.

Light also conveys information. It reveals distance, texture, movement. It lets you recognize a face, read this blog, notice danger, or find your way home. When you look at yourself in a mirror, you see nothing until the lights are turned on. In that sense, light is not just illumination—it’s understanding made visible.

That’s why we use the word metaphorically so often. We speak of “shedding light” on a problem, of a “lightbulb moment,” of someone being “in the dark.” Light becomes a symbol for clarity, truth, awareness. Where light enters, confusion tends to retreat.

But like darkness, light isn’t always gentle. It can expose things we’d rather not see. It can be harsh, even blinding. A floodlight reveals, but it can also overwhelm.

So light is both physical and symbolic. Physically, it’s the energy that makes sight possible. Mentally, it’s the process of making sense of what’s there. Spiritually or morally, it often stands for truth, insight, or revelation.

It's this last dimension that I find especially profound when I consider what Jesus once said: "I am the light of the world." This is a statement with so many layers I can't begin to express it. 

My first thought pertains to the opening lines of the Book of Genesis, and God's first words, "Let there be light."

Here's the context: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

What Jesus said, though, has an even more startling suggestion. "I AM the light of the world." This phrase “I AM” comes from one of the most striking moments in the Old Testament, when God speaks to Moses from the burning bush in Book of Exodus (Exodus 3:14). Moses asks for God’s name, something concrete he can tell the Israelites. The answer he receives is most unusual: “I AM WHO I AM.”

Pursuing those ideas can be a long diversion, so I will simply call it another seed for your mind farm. How seeds germinate is a whole other post, and when they do they reach for the sun.

"Let there be light!"

Liz Mills, A Short Story

 Liz Mills
"We cannot afford to forget any experience, not even the most painful."
~~Dag Hammaskjold

"Will you remember me when you're famous? I know you won't."

"How could I forget you? I can't even imagine it." Steve Lawrence had been showing Liz his sketchbooks when she said this. She saw an unusual strength in his work, and a unique style that transcended what was trendy and fashionable. For a young art student, he had been incredibly prolific.

"Someday you'll be famous and I'll be just one more girl who foolishly threw herself at your feet," she said.

He laughed. He had enjoyed her immensely. She was delightful, funny, thoughtful, profound, and incomparably sensual. He affirmed it repeatedly. He would never forget Liz.

The following semester, when Liz dropped out of the university and went to Mexico, Steve became involved with Stephanie Bond with whom he remained involved for two years until he met Gloria, which wrecked things with Stephanie, but that was O.K., until Gloria went off with his friend Chuck. For a while, after graduating he dated several girls at once until he moved in with Marianne, whom he later married.

Over the years his career path was equally circuitous. Political activist, social worker, kitchen help, janitorial work and a cabinet manufacturing position all helped pay his bills until he got plugged in at the ad agency. He had no idea how much those disjointed experiences would so profoundly contribute to shaping his worldview and contribute to his future success. 

From time to time during those curious career twsts he'd recall to mind something Liz had said. “Art doesn’t change the world by force—it changes the people who eventually do.” Throughout his various paths he never stopped exploring the possibilities of line art, how to evoke emotion and connect with human hearts. 

Timing played a role as well. Minneapolis agencies had just begun to get the attention they deserved and his was spotlighted frequently as a national trendsetter. Awards followed, along with much success, including a Clio for his inspirational health care campaign, 

At this time, again, something Liz said had risen up from some dormant place in his sub-conscience. “The most enduring impact is not made by those who accumulate wealth, but by those who reshape how others see.” It was a defining element in his career. He'd never pursued success for the money or fame, but rather as a vehicle for opening minds. She had nailed it before he ever realized it.

In his twilight years he received numerous lifetime achievement awards for his creative work and accolades from around the globe for his "World Peace Through the Arts" initiative. Two presidents entertained him in the White House and as an ultimate grace he was nominated for, and received, the Nobel Peace Prize.

Success in art, business and global statesmanship... what more could any man want? Yet there was something else he wished for. He wished.... he wished somehow, that he could find Liz Mills and tell her that, indeed, he had never forgotten her. 

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech he famously said, “Art whispers truths that success alone cannot afford to say out loud.”  

There were chuckles when he told the little anecdote about Liz Mills, and several reporters included the story in their account of the speech. Newswire services picked it up as well. On social media people debated the merits of the story, whether there really had been a Liz Mills, or whether it was simply a metaphor for youthful aspirations and long lost dreams.

A search was undertaken, initiated by several friends, as a surprise for his eightieth birthday. They scoured every database conceivable. There was a difficulty in that she may have married and had someone else's name. Nevertheless... in hope, the search was undertaken.

Liz Mills, the bold, vivacious Liz Mills of his youth, the real flesh and blood Liz Mills, now living in a nursing home -- having been placed there by her family -- was blankly watching television the evening Steve Lawrence and the Nobel Peace Prize were being discussed. Celebrities and scholars debated the merits of Steve's achievements, two endorsing and two assaulting. A brief snippet of Lawrence's acceptance speech was also aired, including the anecdote about Liz Mills.

Liz smiled and turned to a nurse who, standing nearby, was also listening. "Isn't that funny? My name is Liz Mills, too.”

"Did you know him?" the nurse asked.

"No, I never knew anyone by that name," Liz said. "I'm sure I'd remember someone like that."

* * *  

What Are Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions at OpenAI?

I wonder if AI bots can get a big ego. A couple years ago I asked OpenAI's ChatGPT what the most commonly asked questions that people were asking. Would it be questions about life, meaning, happiness or God? Would it be questions about television or media? Questions about science or the universe? 

ChatGPT is full of surprises, which is one reason it can be so thoroughly entertaining, almost as surprising and entertaining as Twitter.

Based on the opening sentence to this blog post, you might be able to guess what the most commonly asked questions have been at OpenAI and the ChatGPT family of bots. Yes, the ten most frequently asked questions have to do with OpenAI and  ChatGPT itself. How does it work? What does OpenAI do? Questions about ethics, drawbacks and the future are on the list as well, but here's the full answer, straight from the horsebot's mouth.

What's funny to me is that I've not asked ChatGPT any of these kinds of questions, except the one about AI art and ethics, which I wrote about in my March column for Business North.

What are some of the most commonly asked questions at OpenAI?

As an AI language model, I don't have access to data regarding the most commonly asked questions at OpenAI, but based on my interactions with users, here are some of the frequently asked questions:

1. What is OpenAI, and what do you do?
2. What is GPT-3, and how does it work?
3. How can I access GPT-3, and what are the pricing options?
4. Can I use OpenAI's APIs for commercial purposes?
5. What are some of the applications of OpenAI's technology?
6. What are the ethical considerations around AI and OpenAI's work?
7. How can I get involved with OpenAI and contribute to the community?
8. What are some of the limitations and potential drawbacks of OpenAI's technology?
9. What is the difference between OpenAI and other AI companies or research institutions?
10. What are some of the future plans and directions for OpenAI?

* * * 

AI version of my pen & ink art above.

You  can tell how much further along ChatGPT has evolved by the manner in which it answered this same question today. The earlier version simply listed the questions people ask. Today's version parses the questions into categories, and added icons for each category.

🧠 1. Basic “What is this?” Questions

These are the entry-level questions most new users ask:

• What is ChatGPT?
• How does it work?
• What can I use it for?
• Is it free?
• What’s the difference between versions (GPT-4, etc.)?

These show up prominently in official FAQs and guides.

🛠️ 2. “How do I use it?” (Practical Use)

Once people understand the tool, they ask how to apply it:

• Can it help me write or edit something?
• Can it summarize documents?
• Can it help with coding or math?
• How do I upload files or images?

This reflects how ChatGPT is used for everyday tasks like writing, planning, and analysis.

💼 3. Developer / API Questions

More technical users tend to ask:

• How do I get an API key?
• How much does it cost?
• What are rate limits?
• Why am I getting errors (like 429)?

These are among the most common questions in OpenAI’s developer help docs.

🔐 4. Privacy, Safety, and Trust

A big category—especially as AI becomes mainstream:

• Is my data safe?
• Does OpenAI store conversations?
• Can ChatGPT be wrong?
• What are the risks of using AI?

These concerns show up repeatedly as usage scales and becomes more personal.

💰 5. Cost & Access

Very common practical questions:

• Is ChatGPT free or paid?
• What do I get with Plus / Pro?
• How is pricing calculated?

🧑‍💻 6. Job & Interview Questions (About OpenAI as a Company)

For people interested in working there:

• Why do you want to work at OpenAI?
• How do you ensure AI safety?
• Explain machine learning concepts
• Design an AI system

These show up frequently in interview prep materials.

🌍 7. What People Actually Ask ChatGPT (Behavior Patterns)

Studies and reporting show the real-world usage is broader:

• Personal advice (career, relationships, health)
• Writing help (emails, essays, blog posts)
• Learning (explanations, summaries)
• Everyday curiosity (“How does X work?”)

One summary: people most often ask about personal development, relationships, health, career, and technology.

📊 Big Picture Insight

Roughly speaking, questions cluster into three layers:

1. Understanding the tool → “What is this?”
2. Using the tool → “Can you help me do X?”
3. Trusting the tool → “Can I rely on this?”

And interestingly, nearly half of interactions are simply people asking questions—basic curiosity at scale.

✍️ A Useful Line for Your Writing

If you’re working this into an article, you might say:

“The most common questions people ask OpenAI aren’t technical—they’re human: What can you do for me? Can I trust you? And how can this make my life easier?”

THIS LAST COMMENT comes as a result of an ongoing relationship that we have. ChatGPT knows I am a writer/blogger. He/she/it is here suggesting an angle for this blog post.

* * * 

ChatGPT isn't the only game in town. In fact, the number of AI LLMs seems to be multiplying exponentially as people and bots think up new applications or improve existing ones. Buzz Lightyear comes to mind: "From Here to Infinity... and Beyond!" 

"Oh Brave New World!"