So it seems like these last few years, and probably the next 10 at least, will probably be all about rebooting old series. Sad thing is I can't be happier. I'd rather see a rehashed version of the things I love, even if they're not as good as I remember than something with no thought or creativity. The "reality" or "unscripted drama" genre has dominated the field for a good while since it has the most profit to effort ratio. The next best thing is to remake something that is already loved, so you don't have to market it. Thus, we enter the year of the reboot. Everything you loved 10 or 20 years ago will make an appearance. You can count on it. I'm not entirely sure I'm completely against it, but I'm definitely not completely happy with the idea.
See, I loved X-men and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid. Two of my all time favorite shows. There was also Ren and Stimpy and Rocko's Modern Life and all sorts of great shows that really make me feel like today's youth is just being horribly deprived. The children's TV market is softening up on us, and I can't think of a good reason why. By the time I was watching TV as a kid they had pretty much replaced anything that could be "killed" with robots or something. The X-men didn't actually kill anyone really, they just tore up Sentinels and knocked out or mind-controlled any actual badguys. The Ninja Turtles would just cut up armies of foot soldiers while the actual badguys just kind of ran away or got tied up or something. And though those are mostly male-targeted shows, even My Little Ponies had a super badguy that would have his plans foiled by the ponies... I think they danced or something. Carebears would shoot beams of happy energy. In any case, though there was conflict, these shows were very well-monitored and safe for children.
What was actually wrong with these shows? Why did these shows suddenly all dry up and become replaced with... Bob the Builder and Dora the Explorer. Now maybe I'm a rarity, but I remember that when the Ninja Turtles or Ghostbusters or any show really, broke the fourth wall, I was a little frustrated. Every time I would get annoyed with the fact that they were referring to me in my world instead of their own world. Newer shows act like they have interaction with their TV audience. Does this actually help anything? Are these shows better at developing children then Ninja Turtles was? I say no. I was watching Thundercats and Voltron and pretended to use the Sword of Omens. Kids nowadays pretend to be... well nothing. They expect everything to be guided by something else. I remember playing house or cops and robbers as a kid. My cousins and the other children I'm in contact with don't really do these things. They don't have the same imaginative spark that we did as kids. I think that this is in part due to the reduced emphasis on creativity. I'd hate to think this is being done on purpose... I'd really rather believe that it's just happenstance that since the creators of TV are being less creative that children are less creative in return.
In either case, I think before this gets too far we have to restore some quality programming, so I'm sort of in favor of the reboot idea. At least kids will have a little something to whet their appetite in the world. Something to get them out there and dreaming about things again. I just feel so saddened when I see five-year-olds that don't have any sort of creativity.
I don't know. Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong test group. Maybe I need a wider research range and things will even out. But at the very least, bringing fantasy back into the lives of children, will be beneficial. Even if it's only a matter of time before they learn how wrong the world really is.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Monday, January 18, 2010
Buying Time
Politics... Economics... I didn't really think I'd be getting into that sort of stuff on my blog. Politics is one of the most vicious worlds around with almost no room to actually accomplish anything. It's somewhat bothersome. Really, just what do people expect to accomplish with political debates. Everyone believes their way is better, and most people won't change their minds with any amount of convincing. The only way to actually change people is through experience. Over the weekend I had a small discussion with an acquaintance on libertarianism. As it turned out, my friend and I also lean libertarian, but he was righty and we were lefty. So while he was saying regulations should be lifted to better suit industry and corporations, we were saying regulations should be changed to better suit the individual. Mostly I didn't really start getting into anything until we got onto the topic of banks.
For the record, I hate banks. I can't stand'em, and it's only a matter of time before they're almost completely automated anyway. So I was really focusing on the fact that the only reason banks are still around in the current fashion is because we're used to them, and that banks are currently at the point where they don't need to care about their customers and how aggravating they are. My examples revolved around using federal regulations to their fullest advantage instead of using their discretion to assist and serve their customers. His examples revolved around the risk that banks were at because of fraud. He seemed to miss the point that even in the cases where verification of funds had already taken place and fraud was no longer a threat banks still can and will hold onto your money if they can. They aren't using their discretion in a manner that assists their customers or clients, but instead use their discretion in such a way to financially harm their customers if at all possible. If that is the purpose of a bank, to take money from people and make it their own through any means at their disposal, then we really should abolish this practice. I understand the value of making and earning money, but the fact of the matter is they aren't actually earning that money. They're taking it. It's legal so it's not stealing, but it's the equivalent of keeping someone's wallet if they drop it in your house. Basically the ultimate dick move.
So really, this all just made me think a little more about money and power and all that. How attached to our previous selves are we? By that I mean, is the power struggle for the strongest still as strong today as it was when we were apes? Monkeys? Rams? The only part of us as a whole that seems to have evolved is our ability to protect our power. We have cunning, we have goods, and we have money, all of which we keep tight control over. Well, not we per say, but the ones in charge know who they are. So basically, what does all of this money and power separate us from? It's surely not the animals. We can call the most financially wealthy people in the world the alphas, but their command and control aren't exactly the same as it would be in the rest of the animal kingdom. Where a wolf that disobeys the alphas commands would receive a quick mauling, a man that disobeys his orders will most likely get paid until he folds. At which point, the one that is disobeying is benefiting from his disobedience. At least, in the law and politics world it works that way. Among the "family businesses" things might turn out a little differently. Tangents aside, it brings us to the point where the controller-controlled relationship starts to skew. Like a safe word in heavy bondage. The submissive technically has the power over the dominant by deciding when things stop. This is kind of where the unions' power comes up.
The alphas of society do, in fact, need and rely on the lower classes much more heavily than in a community of apes. That's why they have to point the money gun more often to keep the population appeased. But what exactly are we getting when we start scooping up the money that is dropped down to our feet? The elite obviously aren't giving enough for their authority to be challenged, nor are they giving enough so that the layman can even smell the same lifestyle. Just what is in the power of wealth that is so coercive that they must protect it at all costs? And there are two things that I can truly think of: the ability to control and possess as they desire, and the ability to live longer.
The phrase "time is money" is a rather common adage these days. But I never really thought it worked both ways. I always kind of considered it to work one way, like a rectangle-square thing. Think about it. The more money you have, the longer you can pay to keep yourself alive. Granted it doesn't always work out that way, but if you are wealthy or influential, doctors and paramedics will spare no expense to keep you alive. If you're lower class, then there's only so much you can do before you have to say, "Okay, guess I'll have to die now." Now when it comes to everything else, I can deal with the wealthy doing their thing, having their control, their fancy cars, and expensive tropical vacations and whatever else. But why should they have the right to live longer lives simply because of their class? Managing expenses and golfing doesn't seem like a lifestyle that needs to be continued at any cost. Especially when the men and women working on the manufacturing lines that make the equipment to keep those people alive are left to die and put their families in debt to cover just being put in the ground.
But Resi, that's why we have Health Insurance. You spend money based on your "risk" factors and the company will pay to help you. If only it were that easy. Insurance companies are banks. They take your money, and look for ways to keep it without giving it back. Of course, that's because there's the risk of fraud, so of course they deserve to keep your money. These wonderful companies accept money from you despite the fact that they might accidentally have to pay someone who doesn't deserve it. And because of that, regulations and fail safes get stacked so heavy that when someone does have a legitimate health issue that is killing them, they have every right to hang onto your money until the cost of the medical needs exceeds the coverage placing the bill back into your hands so that you can't afford to get the medical attention you need. It's one of the most villainous practices out there, far worse than the bad loans that the banks were putting out. "Sorry, you're not sick enough to be helped yet. Oh wait, what was that? Oh you're about to die? Okay well to save you you need to spend $100k of your own money. What's that? You can't afford that. Okay, then we won't put up our 200k. Have a nice day."
What the f*** ever happened to customer service? I know not everyone can be expected to be the "Good Samaritan," but even "Halfway Decent Samaritans" are hard to find. You'll be lucky if you can find a "Won't-crap-on-your-face-for-$200 Samaritan." In the end, are the people who will crap on your face and claim any valuables you happen to leave at their place the kind of people you want to keep alive?
For the record, I hate banks. I can't stand'em, and it's only a matter of time before they're almost completely automated anyway. So I was really focusing on the fact that the only reason banks are still around in the current fashion is because we're used to them, and that banks are currently at the point where they don't need to care about their customers and how aggravating they are. My examples revolved around using federal regulations to their fullest advantage instead of using their discretion to assist and serve their customers. His examples revolved around the risk that banks were at because of fraud. He seemed to miss the point that even in the cases where verification of funds had already taken place and fraud was no longer a threat banks still can and will hold onto your money if they can. They aren't using their discretion in a manner that assists their customers or clients, but instead use their discretion in such a way to financially harm their customers if at all possible. If that is the purpose of a bank, to take money from people and make it their own through any means at their disposal, then we really should abolish this practice. I understand the value of making and earning money, but the fact of the matter is they aren't actually earning that money. They're taking it. It's legal so it's not stealing, but it's the equivalent of keeping someone's wallet if they drop it in your house. Basically the ultimate dick move.
So really, this all just made me think a little more about money and power and all that. How attached to our previous selves are we? By that I mean, is the power struggle for the strongest still as strong today as it was when we were apes? Monkeys? Rams? The only part of us as a whole that seems to have evolved is our ability to protect our power. We have cunning, we have goods, and we have money, all of which we keep tight control over. Well, not we per say, but the ones in charge know who they are. So basically, what does all of this money and power separate us from? It's surely not the animals. We can call the most financially wealthy people in the world the alphas, but their command and control aren't exactly the same as it would be in the rest of the animal kingdom. Where a wolf that disobeys the alphas commands would receive a quick mauling, a man that disobeys his orders will most likely get paid until he folds. At which point, the one that is disobeying is benefiting from his disobedience. At least, in the law and politics world it works that way. Among the "family businesses" things might turn out a little differently. Tangents aside, it brings us to the point where the controller-controlled relationship starts to skew. Like a safe word in heavy bondage. The submissive technically has the power over the dominant by deciding when things stop. This is kind of where the unions' power comes up.
The alphas of society do, in fact, need and rely on the lower classes much more heavily than in a community of apes. That's why they have to point the money gun more often to keep the population appeased. But what exactly are we getting when we start scooping up the money that is dropped down to our feet? The elite obviously aren't giving enough for their authority to be challenged, nor are they giving enough so that the layman can even smell the same lifestyle. Just what is in the power of wealth that is so coercive that they must protect it at all costs? And there are two things that I can truly think of: the ability to control and possess as they desire, and the ability to live longer.
The phrase "time is money" is a rather common adage these days. But I never really thought it worked both ways. I always kind of considered it to work one way, like a rectangle-square thing. Think about it. The more money you have, the longer you can pay to keep yourself alive. Granted it doesn't always work out that way, but if you are wealthy or influential, doctors and paramedics will spare no expense to keep you alive. If you're lower class, then there's only so much you can do before you have to say, "Okay, guess I'll have to die now." Now when it comes to everything else, I can deal with the wealthy doing their thing, having their control, their fancy cars, and expensive tropical vacations and whatever else. But why should they have the right to live longer lives simply because of their class? Managing expenses and golfing doesn't seem like a lifestyle that needs to be continued at any cost. Especially when the men and women working on the manufacturing lines that make the equipment to keep those people alive are left to die and put their families in debt to cover just being put in the ground.
But Resi, that's why we have Health Insurance. You spend money based on your "risk" factors and the company will pay to help you. If only it were that easy. Insurance companies are banks. They take your money, and look for ways to keep it without giving it back. Of course, that's because there's the risk of fraud, so of course they deserve to keep your money. These wonderful companies accept money from you despite the fact that they might accidentally have to pay someone who doesn't deserve it. And because of that, regulations and fail safes get stacked so heavy that when someone does have a legitimate health issue that is killing them, they have every right to hang onto your money until the cost of the medical needs exceeds the coverage placing the bill back into your hands so that you can't afford to get the medical attention you need. It's one of the most villainous practices out there, far worse than the bad loans that the banks were putting out. "Sorry, you're not sick enough to be helped yet. Oh wait, what was that? Oh you're about to die? Okay well to save you you need to spend $100k of your own money. What's that? You can't afford that. Okay, then we won't put up our 200k. Have a nice day."
What the f*** ever happened to customer service? I know not everyone can be expected to be the "Good Samaritan," but even "Halfway Decent Samaritans" are hard to find. You'll be lucky if you can find a "Won't-crap-on-your-face-for-$200 Samaritan." In the end, are the people who will crap on your face and claim any valuables you happen to leave at their place the kind of people you want to keep alive?
Friday, January 15, 2010
More Random Things to Ponder
You know how in sci-fi stories and shows and stuff, they travel at the speed of light across impossible distances? This is probably even more far-fetched than you would think. Let's say, for some reason something can travel faster than the speed of light, even though that's the biggest gap for us currently. Typically, in a sci-fi show there is some sort of engine or other device that allows the mass to move as it does, but how are they receiving signals from those other places? Maybe the fact that we can move mass at the speed of light simply implies that we can send data transmissions at the same speed, or faster... but how? The various concepts of FTL travel all involve moving mass. So does that mean that we're sending little probes out with a transmitter to do the FTL travel and then transmit? Little FTL carrier pigeons? I don't really get it.
Furthermore, charting a course for FTL travel could be ludicrously difficult. We can assume for local travel, we probably have mapped out the apparent locations of all major celestial bodies. We could theoretically have a model for the Milky Way that, barring any bizarre happenings (which the universe is known for) , could accurately disclose the information to a computer that could plan out the trip. But think about what it would take for galaxies that aren't our own. The further away the galaxy is, the harder it would be to build a model for it. Say I want to go to Andromeda and check out the Mayall 2 cluster. First of all, Andromeda is 2.5 million light years away, so creating a model of the Andromeda Galaxy locally would be impossible. We would probably need to bombard it with FTL equipped scanners with FTL relays coming back and forth to give us the information. And the Andromeda galaxy is the closest galaxy to Earth, with the Triangulum being the next closest at somewhere around 3 million light years away. A lot can change in 3 million years, so what we're seeing currently isn't even close to what the galaxy actually looks like currently. If we were to FTL over to Mayall 2, it might not even be there anymore! Granted it would take an unusual event to eliminate the entire cluster, but the universe pulls all sorts of crap on us like that.
Now another issue with FTL travel is the pesky time differential. Local galaxy travel might not have such a major effect, but we would have to adjust our watches a few seconds after every major travel. If we were heading toward the center of the universe, there would be a difference of several years. I mean, this is theoretical stuff here, since we haven't sent anything to the center of the universe and back, but if it were the case, then travel would be made even more difficult. Not only do we have to calculate what time it is when we arrive, but we have to figure out what time has passed between the time our receivers left and have arrived. It's just stupid impossible! FTL travel is a pain in the ass!
Furthermore, charting a course for FTL travel could be ludicrously difficult. We can assume for local travel, we probably have mapped out the apparent locations of all major celestial bodies. We could theoretically have a model for the Milky Way that, barring any bizarre happenings (which the universe is known for) , could accurately disclose the information to a computer that could plan out the trip. But think about what it would take for galaxies that aren't our own. The further away the galaxy is, the harder it would be to build a model for it. Say I want to go to Andromeda and check out the Mayall 2 cluster. First of all, Andromeda is 2.5 million light years away, so creating a model of the Andromeda Galaxy locally would be impossible. We would probably need to bombard it with FTL equipped scanners with FTL relays coming back and forth to give us the information. And the Andromeda galaxy is the closest galaxy to Earth, with the Triangulum being the next closest at somewhere around 3 million light years away. A lot can change in 3 million years, so what we're seeing currently isn't even close to what the galaxy actually looks like currently. If we were to FTL over to Mayall 2, it might not even be there anymore! Granted it would take an unusual event to eliminate the entire cluster, but the universe pulls all sorts of crap on us like that.
Now another issue with FTL travel is the pesky time differential. Local galaxy travel might not have such a major effect, but we would have to adjust our watches a few seconds after every major travel. If we were heading toward the center of the universe, there would be a difference of several years. I mean, this is theoretical stuff here, since we haven't sent anything to the center of the universe and back, but if it were the case, then travel would be made even more difficult. Not only do we have to calculate what time it is when we arrive, but we have to figure out what time has passed between the time our receivers left and have arrived. It's just stupid impossible! FTL travel is a pain in the ass!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Add another one to the list...
So I recently discovered that there are rare cases where people with Alzheimer's Disease misidentify regular objects as sentient beings. This was linked to a "right sided regional brain dysfunction" in which, the brain isn't receiving enough blood, or possibly irregular bloodflow. Why do I bring this up? Well basically I wondered if it was really Alzheimer's Disease that created the condition, or rather Alzheimer's Disease simply allowed it to happen.
Almost everyone has imaginary friends when they're younger. Some have blankets or stuffed toys that become an important part of their childhood. Other people (read: me) philosophize over whether food likes to be eaten or not. At some point, we realize that these things don't actually have any brain function, let alone higher brain function, so it's impossible for them to have any sort of thought patterns. Yet, throughout our lives we will occasionally talk to an inanimate object as if it is real. Most of the times it's sarcastic or at the very least placing the blame on something that isn't you, but there's some sort of calming effect when we are able to do that.
In addition to that, the majority of people believe that sentience comes from a soul rather than your brain. So that makes it even easier to believe that something could actually be sentient when it is clearly not. So when AD starts to kick in our brains might lose the part that tells us that these things aren't really sentient reverting us back to a state where we believed that anything could be sentient. So, for future reference, when I damn the things I stub my toes on, thank the things that make life easier, or miss the things that I'm not around, just remember I'm practicing for when my brain starts to go all screwy and have to do these things for real.
Almost everyone has imaginary friends when they're younger. Some have blankets or stuffed toys that become an important part of their childhood. Other people (read: me) philosophize over whether food likes to be eaten or not. At some point, we realize that these things don't actually have any brain function, let alone higher brain function, so it's impossible for them to have any sort of thought patterns. Yet, throughout our lives we will occasionally talk to an inanimate object as if it is real. Most of the times it's sarcastic or at the very least placing the blame on something that isn't you, but there's some sort of calming effect when we are able to do that.
In addition to that, the majority of people believe that sentience comes from a soul rather than your brain. So that makes it even easier to believe that something could actually be sentient when it is clearly not. So when AD starts to kick in our brains might lose the part that tells us that these things aren't really sentient reverting us back to a state where we believed that anything could be sentient. So, for future reference, when I damn the things I stub my toes on, thank the things that make life easier, or miss the things that I'm not around, just remember I'm practicing for when my brain starts to go all screwy and have to do these things for real.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Welcome to the...
So I was recently thinking about the anime Welcome to the NHK. If you haven't seen it, I don't blame you. It wasn't hugely popular, but it was funny. Basically, the main character is a shut-in or more appropriately, a hikikimori. I won't go into huge detail about the show, but pretty early on, the main character and his neighbor begin working on a "Gal Game" which is pretty much a dating sim/ sex game.
"What a peculiar subject Resi," you might say, "just what made you think about this?"
Well, come on, we all know what the internet is for here, but I never realized how big the demand for porn games was. Several of my favorite animes are based off of eroge games. What really amazes me is just how much story is actually put into them.. clearly it's enough to make an anime out of it and sell thousands of mangas when clearly the object of the game is to have sex, which could theoretically be accomplished in 1/100th of the time simply by going to a porn site. Instead, extensive story lines are played out through countless menus of questions and answers expecting you to memorize all sorts of things about the girl you are pursuing. It's a really intriguing concept to me now.
See I live in the 3% of the internet that is not porn-laden. However, I've been mostly desensitized to it without ever having watched it. I can't even decide if this makes sense or not. There's so much porn on the internet, that even when not looking for porn you see enough of it to think that DP is child's play. Now, I don't really know if the fact that the characters are illustrated helps or hurts, but the fact of the matter is that porn is so ubiquitous that to get people to enjoy it, they create a backstory for each character in the game, intertwine plots and send you reading enough text to write a term paper so that you can get to the pornography. This reward system seems to really get results in Japan, and doing a quick google search shows me that there's more adult flash games than you can shake a (your) stick at. I'm really surprised that there's a demand for games where you play Snake until the girl's clothes come off and dress up games complete with "devices" to make it interactive. Why go through all this work when less than two clicks away you could be watching porn? Still Strip Snake and Dress Up Kasumi have thousands of plays and downloads.
In the end though, very, very few people would actually pay money for these little Flash games... yet in Japan, the eroge game market is booming (with special editions that sell for over 200 USD). My friends and I have joked about developing an eroge game before, but now, I'm beginning to take it more seriously. It's a chance to write up a story, develop characters, and then let players pick which one they like the most and have sex with them. Then those become best-selling animes with huge fan-bases. Really, what I'm trying to say is that I feel stupid for not realizing the quickest way to a career in video games or writing is through porn. Welcome to the age of the internet.
"What a peculiar subject Resi," you might say, "just what made you think about this?"
Well, come on, we all know what the internet is for here, but I never realized how big the demand for porn games was. Several of my favorite animes are based off of eroge games. What really amazes me is just how much story is actually put into them.. clearly it's enough to make an anime out of it and sell thousands of mangas when clearly the object of the game is to have sex, which could theoretically be accomplished in 1/100th of the time simply by going to a porn site. Instead, extensive story lines are played out through countless menus of questions and answers expecting you to memorize all sorts of things about the girl you are pursuing. It's a really intriguing concept to me now.
See I live in the 3% of the internet that is not porn-laden. However, I've been mostly desensitized to it without ever having watched it. I can't even decide if this makes sense or not. There's so much porn on the internet, that even when not looking for porn you see enough of it to think that DP is child's play. Now, I don't really know if the fact that the characters are illustrated helps or hurts, but the fact of the matter is that porn is so ubiquitous that to get people to enjoy it, they create a backstory for each character in the game, intertwine plots and send you reading enough text to write a term paper so that you can get to the pornography. This reward system seems to really get results in Japan, and doing a quick google search shows me that there's more adult flash games than you can shake a (your) stick at. I'm really surprised that there's a demand for games where you play Snake until the girl's clothes come off and dress up games complete with "devices" to make it interactive. Why go through all this work when less than two clicks away you could be watching porn? Still Strip Snake and Dress Up Kasumi have thousands of plays and downloads.
In the end though, very, very few people would actually pay money for these little Flash games... yet in Japan, the eroge game market is booming (with special editions that sell for over 200 USD). My friends and I have joked about developing an eroge game before, but now, I'm beginning to take it more seriously. It's a chance to write up a story, develop characters, and then let players pick which one they like the most and have sex with them. Then those become best-selling animes with huge fan-bases. Really, what I'm trying to say is that I feel stupid for not realizing the quickest way to a career in video games or writing is through porn. Welcome to the age of the internet.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Disgust
I was informed today that there is a Nickelback concert that is happening in my area within the next few months.... by a good friend of mine... who for some unknown reason plans to go to it. He won the tickets, so at least he didn't pay to go it, but still... I think I need to get my ears checked because he actually said he liked Nickelback. I am now physically ill because the notion was brought up in an un-ironic fashion. Even if he were being ironic, I still don't think I could accept the words.
I know I'm not the first one to hate on Nickelback, but seriously, why is it still being played on the radio? I'll let the Nickelback fans have their concerts, just as long as I don't have to hear it. I mean...going to a Nickelback concert is like getting anally raped on a mountainside... sure there's some pretty colors, and it's an experience you're never really going to get again (until the next tour at least), but you're still getting raped in the ass.
This also made me realize that Hanson still tours. Hanson.. the kids from like '97 that sang "Mmmbop." Honestly if I had to choose between one or the other I would choose Hanson every time. At least they had the good graces to get off the f***ing radio. Nickelback still harasses my ears if I accidentally leave the radio on for 20 minutes. Not to mention Nickelback is responsible for all sorts of cruddy clone bands, particularly Daughtry... which, mind you, is just a band led by a guy who wishes he could be Chad Kroeger. Chris Daughtry had the chance to be a part of Fuel, a band I can deal with, but instead turns them down and says, "I'm gonna be as gay as Chad Kroeger, 'cause that's where the money is." Daughtry is literally a band designed by a record company, with members that have absolutely no connection to each other. This is brilliant on the part of the record companies because all they have to do is point money at them and they play music. There's no squabbles, no old rivalries, and nothing to push them to do anything but release mediocre music at an interval suitable to their industry. Nickelback perfected that, and now Daughtry can just follow in their footsteps, ushering in a swift demise for rock music.
It's because of these bands that I can't even listen to rock stations anymore, and mix stations are even worse. I've actually been listening to Pop and Hip Hop stations lately and enjoying it. Because it's something different. Is the music industry so pathetic that I have to listen to dance music (which is the same few notes played over a beat for 5 minutes), hip hop (which is the same few notes played over the same beat for about 3 or 4 minutes), or pop/country (Taylor Swift)? As much as I disliked Rap I'd much rather listen to Rap than the popular Rock Music. And even though there's not as much Rap as there used to be, when it comes on, I'm not immediately reaching to switch the station... because the other stations are playing garbage anyway.
Basically, if it weren't for Lady Gaga, I'd have given up on the radio altogether.
I know I'm not the first one to hate on Nickelback, but seriously, why is it still being played on the radio? I'll let the Nickelback fans have their concerts, just as long as I don't have to hear it. I mean...going to a Nickelback concert is like getting anally raped on a mountainside... sure there's some pretty colors, and it's an experience you're never really going to get again (until the next tour at least), but you're still getting raped in the ass.
This also made me realize that Hanson still tours. Hanson.. the kids from like '97 that sang "Mmmbop." Honestly if I had to choose between one or the other I would choose Hanson every time. At least they had the good graces to get off the f***ing radio. Nickelback still harasses my ears if I accidentally leave the radio on for 20 minutes. Not to mention Nickelback is responsible for all sorts of cruddy clone bands, particularly Daughtry... which, mind you, is just a band led by a guy who wishes he could be Chad Kroeger. Chris Daughtry had the chance to be a part of Fuel, a band I can deal with, but instead turns them down and says, "I'm gonna be as gay as Chad Kroeger, 'cause that's where the money is." Daughtry is literally a band designed by a record company, with members that have absolutely no connection to each other. This is brilliant on the part of the record companies because all they have to do is point money at them and they play music. There's no squabbles, no old rivalries, and nothing to push them to do anything but release mediocre music at an interval suitable to their industry. Nickelback perfected that, and now Daughtry can just follow in their footsteps, ushering in a swift demise for rock music.
It's because of these bands that I can't even listen to rock stations anymore, and mix stations are even worse. I've actually been listening to Pop and Hip Hop stations lately and enjoying it. Because it's something different. Is the music industry so pathetic that I have to listen to dance music (which is the same few notes played over a beat for 5 minutes), hip hop (which is the same few notes played over the same beat for about 3 or 4 minutes), or pop/country (Taylor Swift)? As much as I disliked Rap I'd much rather listen to Rap than the popular Rock Music. And even though there's not as much Rap as there used to be, when it comes on, I'm not immediately reaching to switch the station... because the other stations are playing garbage anyway.
Basically, if it weren't for Lady Gaga, I'd have given up on the radio altogether.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sooo... yeah...
Weekends don't count. I'm pretty sure Saturday didn't happen, and Sunday was practically over before it started. I just don't know where the time goes sometimes...
Something that recently popped into mind: If you send in the paperwork to get all of the information the government has on you currently, does that automatically make them start watching you? Like.. I kind of want to see what federal agencies know about me, but if I do, I think that means that now they actually have to watch me because I know enough to formally request that they disclose all information about me. And would the government sincerely believe I want to know what they know simply out of curiosity? No, they're going to think that I want to know because I want to make sure I'm getting away with something, so they're gong to be obligated to look more closely at what I'm hiding... which is incidentally nothing... so why would it matter...? I think I just don't like the idea that they might be looking for something.. waiting for me to slip up on something... that I might think I could get away with. But honestly, I can't foresee that happening. Conundrum...
I have no reason for a federal agency to be surveying me, but I wouldn't want them to if they were. I have no reason to want to know what they know about me, but I want to know. If I find out, then they watch me and there's not really a reason for me to care... Grumble grumble.. where was that form again?
Something that recently popped into mind: If you send in the paperwork to get all of the information the government has on you currently, does that automatically make them start watching you? Like.. I kind of want to see what federal agencies know about me, but if I do, I think that means that now they actually have to watch me because I know enough to formally request that they disclose all information about me. And would the government sincerely believe I want to know what they know simply out of curiosity? No, they're going to think that I want to know because I want to make sure I'm getting away with something, so they're gong to be obligated to look more closely at what I'm hiding... which is incidentally nothing... so why would it matter...? I think I just don't like the idea that they might be looking for something.. waiting for me to slip up on something... that I might think I could get away with. But honestly, I can't foresee that happening. Conundrum...
I have no reason for a federal agency to be surveying me, but I wouldn't want them to if they were. I have no reason to want to know what they know about me, but I want to know. If I find out, then they watch me and there's not really a reason for me to care... Grumble grumble.. where was that form again?
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Close enough... it counts...
So this was a pretty interesting day... I got to go ice skating for the first time ever... for a half an hour. But that was only after we waited at a restaurant for about a half an hour when the people we were waiting for were already there... That was pretty retarded of us... In any case, ice skating was fun. I have to say I'd enjoy doing it again pretty soon if the opportunity arose. But basically I didn't have anything substantial to write, so I'll bring up something from my archives... something that was going to be an opener or intro to a novel or book series but I decided to take it in a different direction, so it may never actually see the light of day. But thanks to my blog, it gets to feel a little bit of light... even if it's only murky interwebz light.
Another beer can is crushed onto the table. The hand that smashed it belonged to Aaron Bower, a massive man that somehow passed as a college student. He easily looked big enough to be some sort of lumberjack or something. He was one of the members of the fraternity that was hosting the party. "Ha," he said, gloating in victory, swaying just slightly. With a heavy slur coating his voice he continued, "Betcha can't beat-" he stifled a burp, "that. 16 cans. A lil' girl like you din't stand a chance." He signaled he was done talking by letting out a loud belch. A few guys around him cheered him on.
Allison looked at the pile of beer cans next to her. She was at 12 already. Was another four really that much? With a shrug she pulled up another six-pack from the ground. "All right. If you really don't think I stand a chance, then you wouldn't mind a little wager now, would ya?" Despite having two mixed drinks, a shot, and a dozen beers, Allison looked totally sober. She was easily half the weight of the monstrous frat boy across the table from her, but that never seemed to be a problem for her.
About ten people surrounding the table started egging on Allison's opponent. After less than a minute, he gave in. "A'right. Whaddyou say?"
"I could use a new TV." He was bragging about how he just bought a 38" flat screen when he arrived at the party. Allison didn't really want the TV. It was just worth it to see how sure of himself he was.
The "Der..." he let out for the first few seconds was almost comical. He was thinking, and he was thinking extremely hard. Hard enough to make some sort of droning noise leak out from the circuitry in his brain. He didn't sound very confident when he finally did get to his reply. "How about... 300 bucks?"
"I can deal with that." She had spent her last 20 bucks on beer and ramen noodles. Her roommate had asked her to restock the fridge, but Allison knew the ramen wasn't what she meant. If there wasn't something substantial in there by Friday, Lisa was going to kill her. "So when I win, I get 300 bucks, sweet deal."
Her confidence was surely earned, but the challenger wasn't so certain. "Well, show up the money." He had no problem pulling out his wallet and counting up an assortment of bills. Allison probably couldn't even muster three dollars at the moment.
"Well, I don't bring that kind of cash around with me," she said, while idly rubbing her shoulder. "I mean, c'mon. If I carried around that kind of money I'd be askin' to get robbed."
"Then.... Whadoo I get if you lose?"
"Umm... I guess I didn't plan that far ahead." Her hands drummed nervously on the edge of the table. She was the idiot who brought up betting in the first place.
A few people in the crowd started to make suggestions, but eventually, Aaron silenced them all with one word. "Streaking."
It was only one word. One tiny insignificant word. But that word was loaded with all sorts of meaning. Exhibitionism, humiliation, poor judgement, and about a million other things Allison had no intention of being associated with. Luckily, she also had no intention of losing. Four cans of beer? That was a cakewalk.
Allison was about to accept the bet, but looked around first. She was instantly ready to knock out every guy among their circle that was already fantasizing it. Now suddenly, her group weighed whether they wanted her to win or lose. It was aggravating, but she knew she wasn't going to lose.
"Deal." Allison's wager sent Aaron into an excited whooping frenzy. Did it always have to be like this?
Allison flipped open the lid and started drinking the first can. She didn't chug it like her opponent did, but after about three long drinks it was gone. Then the next, then the next and when she placed down the fourth empty beer can, Aaron looked like his eyes were about to roll out onto the table. All around her was the chattering from the watching crowd, "Where does she put it?" and "How is that possible," and "Aaron's in trouble now." Allison waited to see what Aaron would say. It was so hard not to rub it in his face and do a little victory dance.
"'Dis i'nt ower yet." He grabbed another six pack and started chugging more beer. After four he was more than a little staggered, and didn't even loook like he could handle another one. But he kept going until he finished the six pack. His eyes were glazed over and he mumbled something unintellgible.
Allison didn't want him to pass out or anything. Who knew what terrible things would happen to him if he passed out now? That didn't mean she was going to let him win or anything. The consequences of that were far worse. "All I have to say is that I'm glad I'm not paying for the beer..." Allison opened up another beer and started drinking. She finished her 23rd beer and looked over to Aaron. "Isn't this enough? Don't you think you're at your limit yet?" she asked kindly.
Aaron snapped another beer out of the six-pack ring and started drinking. He got about half way through before he started coughing up beer, letting it splatter all over the place. A few people rushed over and he managed to keep himself from throwing it all up. He reached for his beer again but tipped over as his balance left him. "I guess that means I win..." Allison said grabbing the money off the table. "No streaking tonight. Sorry boys," she cooed with a wink.
That was probably the last moment her life could be considered normal...
Another beer can is crushed onto the table. The hand that smashed it belonged to Aaron Bower, a massive man that somehow passed as a college student. He easily looked big enough to be some sort of lumberjack or something. He was one of the members of the fraternity that was hosting the party. "Ha," he said, gloating in victory, swaying just slightly. With a heavy slur coating his voice he continued, "Betcha can't beat-" he stifled a burp, "that. 16 cans. A lil' girl like you din't stand a chance." He signaled he was done talking by letting out a loud belch. A few guys around him cheered him on.
Allison looked at the pile of beer cans next to her. She was at 12 already. Was another four really that much? With a shrug she pulled up another six-pack from the ground. "All right. If you really don't think I stand a chance, then you wouldn't mind a little wager now, would ya?" Despite having two mixed drinks, a shot, and a dozen beers, Allison looked totally sober. She was easily half the weight of the monstrous frat boy across the table from her, but that never seemed to be a problem for her.
About ten people surrounding the table started egging on Allison's opponent. After less than a minute, he gave in. "A'right. Whaddyou say?"
"I could use a new TV." He was bragging about how he just bought a 38" flat screen when he arrived at the party. Allison didn't really want the TV. It was just worth it to see how sure of himself he was.
The "Der..." he let out for the first few seconds was almost comical. He was thinking, and he was thinking extremely hard. Hard enough to make some sort of droning noise leak out from the circuitry in his brain. He didn't sound very confident when he finally did get to his reply. "How about... 300 bucks?"
"I can deal with that." She had spent her last 20 bucks on beer and ramen noodles. Her roommate had asked her to restock the fridge, but Allison knew the ramen wasn't what she meant. If there wasn't something substantial in there by Friday, Lisa was going to kill her. "So when I win, I get 300 bucks, sweet deal."
Her confidence was surely earned, but the challenger wasn't so certain. "Well, show up the money." He had no problem pulling out his wallet and counting up an assortment of bills. Allison probably couldn't even muster three dollars at the moment.
"Well, I don't bring that kind of cash around with me," she said, while idly rubbing her shoulder. "I mean, c'mon. If I carried around that kind of money I'd be askin' to get robbed."
"Then.... Whadoo I get if you lose?"
"Umm... I guess I didn't plan that far ahead." Her hands drummed nervously on the edge of the table. She was the idiot who brought up betting in the first place.
A few people in the crowd started to make suggestions, but eventually, Aaron silenced them all with one word. "Streaking."
It was only one word. One tiny insignificant word. But that word was loaded with all sorts of meaning. Exhibitionism, humiliation, poor judgement, and about a million other things Allison had no intention of being associated with. Luckily, she also had no intention of losing. Four cans of beer? That was a cakewalk.
Allison was about to accept the bet, but looked around first. She was instantly ready to knock out every guy among their circle that was already fantasizing it. Now suddenly, her group weighed whether they wanted her to win or lose. It was aggravating, but she knew she wasn't going to lose.
"Deal." Allison's wager sent Aaron into an excited whooping frenzy. Did it always have to be like this?
Allison flipped open the lid and started drinking the first can. She didn't chug it like her opponent did, but after about three long drinks it was gone. Then the next, then the next and when she placed down the fourth empty beer can, Aaron looked like his eyes were about to roll out onto the table. All around her was the chattering from the watching crowd, "Where does she put it?" and "How is that possible," and "Aaron's in trouble now." Allison waited to see what Aaron would say. It was so hard not to rub it in his face and do a little victory dance.
"'Dis i'nt ower yet." He grabbed another six pack and started chugging more beer. After four he was more than a little staggered, and didn't even loook like he could handle another one. But he kept going until he finished the six pack. His eyes were glazed over and he mumbled something unintellgible.
Allison didn't want him to pass out or anything. Who knew what terrible things would happen to him if he passed out now? That didn't mean she was going to let him win or anything. The consequences of that were far worse. "All I have to say is that I'm glad I'm not paying for the beer..." Allison opened up another beer and started drinking. She finished her 23rd beer and looked over to Aaron. "Isn't this enough? Don't you think you're at your limit yet?" she asked kindly.
Aaron snapped another beer out of the six-pack ring and started drinking. He got about half way through before he started coughing up beer, letting it splatter all over the place. A few people rushed over and he managed to keep himself from throwing it all up. He reached for his beer again but tipped over as his balance left him. "I guess that means I win..." Allison said grabbing the money off the table. "No streaking tonight. Sorry boys," she cooed with a wink.
That was probably the last moment her life could be considered normal...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
A Bit of Prose and Something to Ponder About Fireflies
It might be a big surprise
When China comes to buy
The failing US economy
But would you really care
With jobs open everywhere?
We'd have safe media
and Public Health Care
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
The People's Republic would
Do everything they could
To keep me in a world that's nice and safe
Restricted internet
Biggest military threat
At least that's what the reporters have said
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
(Now that I'm Chinese)
To keep population down
(People of China Volunteer.)
Birth control is all around
(People of China Volunteer.)
The first child's all you have to keep
(People of China Volunteer.)
There's no reason to lose any sleep
So when supreme China buys
We all can compromise
Join China or face the detention cell
Or if you're real lucky
for social stability
You might be chosen
and tortured 'til you agree
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
(Now that I'm Chinese)
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
And now I'm happy just to be Chinese
If you don't think it's very funny, try humming the tune to of Fireflies by Owl City as you read it. Damn right it's a parody. If there's ever been a song that deserves to be parodied it's that one. Why does everyone think that song is so great? It drives me nuts because it just meanders through a wet dream involving literal swarms of insects. Ten million fireflies isn't beautiful it's terrifying! And when .1% of them break off to start giving you "hugs" it isn't because they're teaching you to dance... unless you count screaming and flailing in sheer terror as they consume your skin a dance. China wouldn't allow that to happen. This song would be repressed by the media restrictions, which I would then be grateful for. I just can't clear this image out of my mind... swarms.... millions of them! Can you imagine what a million fireflies would actually look like? Just be glad that there's a survival mechanism in your brain that keeps you from thinking about it too hard.
When China comes to buy
The failing US economy
But would you really care
With jobs open everywhere?
We'd have safe media
and Public Health Care
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
The People's Republic would
Do everything they could
To keep me in a world that's nice and safe
Restricted internet
Biggest military threat
At least that's what the reporters have said
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
(Now that I'm Chinese)
To keep population down
(People of China Volunteer.)
Birth control is all around
(People of China Volunteer.)
The first child's all you have to keep
(People of China Volunteer.)
There's no reason to lose any sleep
So when supreme China buys
We all can compromise
Join China or face the detention cell
Or if you're real lucky
for social stability
You might be chosen
and tortured 'til you agree
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
(Now that I'm Chinese)
When the great China reigns supreme
And corrects our economy
I can ride my bicycle
to a lead-free facility
Cause everything's exactly as it seems
And now I'm happy just to be Chinese
If you don't think it's very funny, try humming the tune to of Fireflies by Owl City as you read it. Damn right it's a parody. If there's ever been a song that deserves to be parodied it's that one. Why does everyone think that song is so great? It drives me nuts because it just meanders through a wet dream involving literal swarms of insects. Ten million fireflies isn't beautiful it's terrifying! And when .1% of them break off to start giving you "hugs" it isn't because they're teaching you to dance... unless you count screaming and flailing in sheer terror as they consume your skin a dance. China wouldn't allow that to happen. This song would be repressed by the media restrictions, which I would then be grateful for. I just can't clear this image out of my mind... swarms.... millions of them! Can you imagine what a million fireflies would actually look like? Just be glad that there's a survival mechanism in your brain that keeps you from thinking about it too hard.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Classified
So remember how I said there was something that I was working on that I couldn't really publish? Well here's a little something from it. It's just a little bit of history for what I'm working on and actually takes place well before the main stuff.
Enjoy!
"Should we really consider ourselves lucky?"
"You still have your life don't you?"
"But... think of what we've lost."
Two young men stand on the observation deck of the C class colonization space vessel, Edict. Beyond the thick glass windows is an incredible view of the planet Fatum. It seemed wrong for a planet to outshine its star, but Fatum did. It was a brilliant blue light that could make your heart ache. Matthew looked toward the sight that currently occupied all of his partner's attention. "Cyril? Is something wrong?"
"I am thinking about everything we've lost," he replied gruffly. "The Maw has chased us to the ends of the galaxy and back. Some of us escaped... some of us didn't. For those that didn't... we owe it to them to keep going. I'm not sure why that old man said this planet was so important... But we're here."
Matthew leaned against the glass staring down at the planet. It was a beautiful sight, but he found it so hard to embrace the beauty at the cost they had paid. "Why do you think this planet shines so much?"
"What would I know? I'm a pilot, not a scientist."
"I guess I asked that wrong... Why do you think this place is so significant?"
"Captain Tyle said it was. He said it was our only destiny."
Matthew sighed. He knew that Cyril would never break a promise to a dying man... but normally Cyril was so certain. Today he felt distant. Matt just wanted to get a few thoughts out of Cyril today. The morale on the ship had never been higher. Having reached the crazy dream of the Captain's they would finally be able to colonize. Right now, they were waiting for the surveyors to come back with the report.
Before the door opened, Cyril had already turned to face it. "What's the report."
Hansen had barely entered the room. He looked flustered, and very nervous. "Sir, Fatum is.. uninhabitable."
Matthew cringed when he heard the loud thud of Cyril's fist against the glass. "Dammit. Why would you lead us here? Where are we supposed to go now?" Cyril was speaking to himself. In his frustration he cursed a few times before the surveyor spoke up again.
"Ah... sir... there was something interesting though.. about the planet," he paused and cleared his throat. "The surface of the planet is highly crystallized... It's formed in a way we've never seen before. The only thing remotely similar is some of the equipment recovered from Consumption sites. We believe that the the material might be useful as a catalyst for fusion and... distortion fields."
"Distortion fields?"
"Yes. Senior Researcher Glannen was excited after the initial analysis. He explained to me, that the formation of the crystal requires forces that we cannot replicate."
Cyril's eyes widened. "I've heard enough. I'll speak with Glennon myself." Matthew nearly had to jog to keep up with Cyril's quick stride.
"Cyril? Cyril, what does this mean? Tell me what's going on?"
He stopped and took a deep breath. "Matthew... do you remember what the Captain always said? He said that to guarantee escape from the Maw, we would need to move through the universe the way it does. He recognized the Maw for what it was... it's not just a hole... a destructive force of the universe. He said it was its own life, and we could see a small part of it. He tried to explain it to me. I couldn't understand him, but eventually he said that to see it for what it is, we would need a distortion field. A week later he was having nightmares... and you know what happened from there."
Matthew nodded solemnly. "So you think that this place might be the key to understanding the Maw?"
This time Cyril nodded. "Even if this place is uninhabitable... we will find a way to live here. Fatum will be where we finally get our revenge against the Maw."
"I'm afraid it will be much harder than that." Glannen had overheard and ran a hand through his silvery hair. "While the material will be invaluable to us... it won't be what allows us to take revenge on the Maw."
Cyril did not look pleased. "Then what will it do?"
"The structure of the crystal, when charged with enough energy, is capable of expanding in a direction we can't measure."
"What does that mean?"
"It's very difficult to visualize, but it can make two points in space that seem very far apart to us be very close."
"So this would be like bending space?" Matthew asks, having a much better idea of the situation than Cyril.
"Yes. Similar to 'bending space.'"
"How does that help us stop the Maw?" Cyril asked, always cutting to the chase.
"It won't help us stop the Maw, but at the least, by using the distortion field as a compass, we can move through space in a different way. We won't have to just push our ships to the fullest throttle and hope it doesn't catch up."
"So we can sort of just skip town on it?" Matthew asked.
The researcher chuckled and replied, "Yes. We would be in front of it one moment, and a million miles away the next."
"If we can do that to ourselves... can we do that to the Maw?"
Glannen and Matthew both looked to Cyril , faces full of surprise. When Glennon recovered he spoke. "I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure what sort of equipment we would need for that... or how much energy."
"Find out. Even if it takes 1000 years, we have to learn how to stop the Maw."
Enjoy!
"Should we really consider ourselves lucky?"
"You still have your life don't you?"
"But... think of what we've lost."
Two young men stand on the observation deck of the C class colonization space vessel, Edict. Beyond the thick glass windows is an incredible view of the planet Fatum. It seemed wrong for a planet to outshine its star, but Fatum did. It was a brilliant blue light that could make your heart ache. Matthew looked toward the sight that currently occupied all of his partner's attention. "Cyril? Is something wrong?"
"I am thinking about everything we've lost," he replied gruffly. "The Maw has chased us to the ends of the galaxy and back. Some of us escaped... some of us didn't. For those that didn't... we owe it to them to keep going. I'm not sure why that old man said this planet was so important... But we're here."
Matthew leaned against the glass staring down at the planet. It was a beautiful sight, but he found it so hard to embrace the beauty at the cost they had paid. "Why do you think this planet shines so much?"
"What would I know? I'm a pilot, not a scientist."
"I guess I asked that wrong... Why do you think this place is so significant?"
"Captain Tyle said it was. He said it was our only destiny."
Matthew sighed. He knew that Cyril would never break a promise to a dying man... but normally Cyril was so certain. Today he felt distant. Matt just wanted to get a few thoughts out of Cyril today. The morale on the ship had never been higher. Having reached the crazy dream of the Captain's they would finally be able to colonize. Right now, they were waiting for the surveyors to come back with the report.
Before the door opened, Cyril had already turned to face it. "What's the report."
Hansen had barely entered the room. He looked flustered, and very nervous. "Sir, Fatum is.. uninhabitable."
Matthew cringed when he heard the loud thud of Cyril's fist against the glass. "Dammit. Why would you lead us here? Where are we supposed to go now?" Cyril was speaking to himself. In his frustration he cursed a few times before the surveyor spoke up again.
"Ah... sir... there was something interesting though.. about the planet," he paused and cleared his throat. "The surface of the planet is highly crystallized... It's formed in a way we've never seen before. The only thing remotely similar is some of the equipment recovered from Consumption sites. We believe that the the material might be useful as a catalyst for fusion and... distortion fields."
"Distortion fields?"
"Yes. Senior Researcher Glannen was excited after the initial analysis. He explained to me, that the formation of the crystal requires forces that we cannot replicate."
Cyril's eyes widened. "I've heard enough. I'll speak with Glennon myself." Matthew nearly had to jog to keep up with Cyril's quick stride.
"Cyril? Cyril, what does this mean? Tell me what's going on?"
He stopped and took a deep breath. "Matthew... do you remember what the Captain always said? He said that to guarantee escape from the Maw, we would need to move through the universe the way it does. He recognized the Maw for what it was... it's not just a hole... a destructive force of the universe. He said it was its own life, and we could see a small part of it. He tried to explain it to me. I couldn't understand him, but eventually he said that to see it for what it is, we would need a distortion field. A week later he was having nightmares... and you know what happened from there."
Matthew nodded solemnly. "So you think that this place might be the key to understanding the Maw?"
This time Cyril nodded. "Even if this place is uninhabitable... we will find a way to live here. Fatum will be where we finally get our revenge against the Maw."
"I'm afraid it will be much harder than that." Glannen had overheard and ran a hand through his silvery hair. "While the material will be invaluable to us... it won't be what allows us to take revenge on the Maw."
Cyril did not look pleased. "Then what will it do?"
"The structure of the crystal, when charged with enough energy, is capable of expanding in a direction we can't measure."
"What does that mean?"
"It's very difficult to visualize, but it can make two points in space that seem very far apart to us be very close."
"So this would be like bending space?" Matthew asks, having a much better idea of the situation than Cyril.
"Yes. Similar to 'bending space.'"
"How does that help us stop the Maw?" Cyril asked, always cutting to the chase.
"It won't help us stop the Maw, but at the least, by using the distortion field as a compass, we can move through space in a different way. We won't have to just push our ships to the fullest throttle and hope it doesn't catch up."
"So we can sort of just skip town on it?" Matthew asked.
The researcher chuckled and replied, "Yes. We would be in front of it one moment, and a million miles away the next."
"If we can do that to ourselves... can we do that to the Maw?"
Glannen and Matthew both looked to Cyril , faces full of surprise. When Glennon recovered he spoke. "I hadn't thought of that. I'm not sure what sort of equipment we would need for that... or how much energy."
"Find out. Even if it takes 1000 years, we have to learn how to stop the Maw."
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Excerpt from "Three Tails"
You will never know true happiness. For all your days, you shall never be more than a child.
"Rin... I don't know how to say this..." She just stared on like she always did, that brilliant mind wrapped within that dense stone of a head. With a sigh, I continued, "In order for me to achieve my goal... I- I'll have to change things a little."
"Everything's changing right? What difference does it make?"
"No.. I mean... in order to get the book I need... with the name of that demon... I need to change our past."
Rin looked confused for a moment letting the words slowly form. "But that's impossible. There's no magic powerful enough to change time."
I had to look away for a moment. That pure gaze of hers was hard to look at while filled with shame. "That's only partially true. It's not the Arcana we're familiar with. I'd be using something far more powerful to achieve this end."
"You can do that? That's amazing! You've discovered something that powerful? How? When?"
"I've had the book for a while. I found out about this incantation about a month after meeting you."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? This is going to change the Magic Community forever!"
"No.. it won't," I said hastily, not wishing our conversation to go too off course. Rin tilted her head just slightly, waiting for me to continue. "I...I'm going to use it to go back... Back to before I met you... I have to travel a different direction to get a specific book." There. I had said it. It was out there. Rin didn't speak for a long time.
"So then, that means... we won't ever meet?" Rin was slow sometimes, but I knew she wasn't just putting it together now. She just needed to hear it.
"Yes. It's the only way..."
"How.."
Before she could ask me anything, I knew she'd want to know what I was thinking. Before I knew it, the floodgates were open, and I just started talking. "I divined it... You know how I've been borrowing your scrying tools, how I've been spending pounds of gold on rare scrolls... how I've spent hours at night practicing strange incantations. I know you've noticed it... And you know what my goal in life is." I had to look away again. I closed my eyes to hide the pain I was feeling. "My only desire in life is to find the demon who cursed me. Well, I found him. I know his name, but I need the right incantation to bind him... The only known book that had it recorded perished in a fire a year after we met. The man who owned it was none other than Kaele. The only way I can get my hands on the book, is to be in Tansenton on the day we met. That's over 3 days of travel from Henninport. I tried to divine if I'd meet you after receiving the book... but I couldn't see it. So... after I leave for the book... I'll probably never see you again."
I breathed deeply, holding back the tears. As much of a nuisance as Rin was, I don't know what I'd do without her. She's become so ingrained in my life that I can't imagine life without her now.
"But if you're in Tansen on the day that we meet, won't that mean that you'd be away from Amarid?"
"I thought about that. Amarid was the one person that had made me forget about my curse. But, some things won't change. I watched and hoped that maybe our lives would be different if we went somewhere else. If I still had Amarid, I wouldn't have met you either, but I think there was still the chance we'd meet. After learning the incantation to return to the past, I thought maybe I could find a way to save him. I searched and searched and searched. No matter where I go in my life, I will meet him. I will fall in love with him, and he will die in 1 year and 32 days. One year, one month and one day exactly. I don't know the significance of the time, but I'm positive it's a result of my curse. I know I'll never be happy until I can find that demon. And after seeing what he has done, I want to make him pay."
Rin was once again quiet, more contemplative than she had ever been when I was around. "So what about going back to before the curse?"
"I thought about that too... but in every divination, there was no way to stop it. No one will believe a 9 year old child. He will arrive at Goldenden, he will slaughter hundreds, and he will curse me. The only way to change it is to command him not to."
It was a lot to take in, and I definitely didn't want to have to put Rin through this. But even worse, I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. My goal in life may be one of the most heartless things anyone has ever wished for, but it was the only thing I could do to get my life back. I couldn't stand how wrong everything was, how much trouble my curse has caused, would continue to cause.
Rin's brow furrowed as she tried to put it all together. "I don't think that changing the past will work... It just... undoes itself doesn't it?"
This time I was confused. "What? What do you mean?"
"Well, think about it. If you change the past to get the book, and then find the demon and bind him like you want to, and you command him not to curse you, then you don't get cursed, don't go to find the book, and don't ever do anything to command him to not curse you."
"I don't think it works that way. And besides, I don't think I'd have enough magical power by the time the demon curses me. And I probably won't be able to use the incantation to go back a second time. If I go back, I'll have to choose between binding the demon, or going back again. To do both would probably drain me of power completely."
"But, you don't think you'll try it?"
I eyed her suspiciously. I wasn't sure what she meant by that. But she decided to elaborate before I had to ask her anything. "If you manage to bind the demon that cursed you... won't you try to go back and stop him from cursing you?"
"I told you, I don't think I can... and I don't think the magic works that way."
"Vanessa, you're not going to settle on just having the demon.... You'll want the life he took from you back. I've known you for only a short time, but you're not the type to settle."
I hadn't really thought of it. Right now I knew my limits. The spell though, wouldn't be sending the me from now back there. I'd only know what I knew back then, but I could change my path by leaving clues for myself, and the others that would be there. I had already decided on a few, but I hadn't thought about what would become of me, if I didn't meet Rin. Rin was the only one I knew capable of reining me in. If she wasn't around, I'm not sure what would happen. Who would I become if I left Rin?
"I.. hadn't thought of that... but... I have to do this..." Normally, if Rin had warned me of something, I'd disregard it. This, though, was something different. If she was right, it could mean that I could be the one that ruins my chance at having a life at all. I could throw everything I already have away just for this chance at revenge. I didn't have much time to calculate this. I had specifically put off telling Rin because it was going to be the hardest part of going back. Because of that, I had limited the amount of time I had to ponder her warning, and the implications of what I was doing with this new insight. I had less than 8 hours to figure it out, which I had planned to spend with Rin... and I still planned to. I had to go back though. It was the only reason I kept going... Maybe a lot had changed in between now and then, but there was one fact that still remained: Until I got my revenge... I would never be any more than a child...
"Rin... I don't know how to say this..." She just stared on like she always did, that brilliant mind wrapped within that dense stone of a head. With a sigh, I continued, "In order for me to achieve my goal... I- I'll have to change things a little."
"Everything's changing right? What difference does it make?"
"No.. I mean... in order to get the book I need... with the name of that demon... I need to change our past."
Rin looked confused for a moment letting the words slowly form. "But that's impossible. There's no magic powerful enough to change time."
I had to look away for a moment. That pure gaze of hers was hard to look at while filled with shame. "That's only partially true. It's not the Arcana we're familiar with. I'd be using something far more powerful to achieve this end."
"You can do that? That's amazing! You've discovered something that powerful? How? When?"
"I've had the book for a while. I found out about this incantation about a month after meeting you."
"Why didn't you tell me sooner? This is going to change the Magic Community forever!"
"No.. it won't," I said hastily, not wishing our conversation to go too off course. Rin tilted her head just slightly, waiting for me to continue. "I...I'm going to use it to go back... Back to before I met you... I have to travel a different direction to get a specific book." There. I had said it. It was out there. Rin didn't speak for a long time.
"So then, that means... we won't ever meet?" Rin was slow sometimes, but I knew she wasn't just putting it together now. She just needed to hear it.
"Yes. It's the only way..."
"How.."
Before she could ask me anything, I knew she'd want to know what I was thinking. Before I knew it, the floodgates were open, and I just started talking. "I divined it... You know how I've been borrowing your scrying tools, how I've been spending pounds of gold on rare scrolls... how I've spent hours at night practicing strange incantations. I know you've noticed it... And you know what my goal in life is." I had to look away again. I closed my eyes to hide the pain I was feeling. "My only desire in life is to find the demon who cursed me. Well, I found him. I know his name, but I need the right incantation to bind him... The only known book that had it recorded perished in a fire a year after we met. The man who owned it was none other than Kaele. The only way I can get my hands on the book, is to be in Tansenton on the day we met. That's over 3 days of travel from Henninport. I tried to divine if I'd meet you after receiving the book... but I couldn't see it. So... after I leave for the book... I'll probably never see you again."
I breathed deeply, holding back the tears. As much of a nuisance as Rin was, I don't know what I'd do without her. She's become so ingrained in my life that I can't imagine life without her now.
"But if you're in Tansen on the day that we meet, won't that mean that you'd be away from Amarid?"
"I thought about that. Amarid was the one person that had made me forget about my curse. But, some things won't change. I watched and hoped that maybe our lives would be different if we went somewhere else. If I still had Amarid, I wouldn't have met you either, but I think there was still the chance we'd meet. After learning the incantation to return to the past, I thought maybe I could find a way to save him. I searched and searched and searched. No matter where I go in my life, I will meet him. I will fall in love with him, and he will die in 1 year and 32 days. One year, one month and one day exactly. I don't know the significance of the time, but I'm positive it's a result of my curse. I know I'll never be happy until I can find that demon. And after seeing what he has done, I want to make him pay."
Rin was once again quiet, more contemplative than she had ever been when I was around. "So what about going back to before the curse?"
"I thought about that too... but in every divination, there was no way to stop it. No one will believe a 9 year old child. He will arrive at Goldenden, he will slaughter hundreds, and he will curse me. The only way to change it is to command him not to."
It was a lot to take in, and I definitely didn't want to have to put Rin through this. But even worse, I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye. My goal in life may be one of the most heartless things anyone has ever wished for, but it was the only thing I could do to get my life back. I couldn't stand how wrong everything was, how much trouble my curse has caused, would continue to cause.
Rin's brow furrowed as she tried to put it all together. "I don't think that changing the past will work... It just... undoes itself doesn't it?"
This time I was confused. "What? What do you mean?"
"Well, think about it. If you change the past to get the book, and then find the demon and bind him like you want to, and you command him not to curse you, then you don't get cursed, don't go to find the book, and don't ever do anything to command him to not curse you."
"I don't think it works that way. And besides, I don't think I'd have enough magical power by the time the demon curses me. And I probably won't be able to use the incantation to go back a second time. If I go back, I'll have to choose between binding the demon, or going back again. To do both would probably drain me of power completely."
"But, you don't think you'll try it?"
I eyed her suspiciously. I wasn't sure what she meant by that. But she decided to elaborate before I had to ask her anything. "If you manage to bind the demon that cursed you... won't you try to go back and stop him from cursing you?"
"I told you, I don't think I can... and I don't think the magic works that way."
"Vanessa, you're not going to settle on just having the demon.... You'll want the life he took from you back. I've known you for only a short time, but you're not the type to settle."
I hadn't really thought of it. Right now I knew my limits. The spell though, wouldn't be sending the me from now back there. I'd only know what I knew back then, but I could change my path by leaving clues for myself, and the others that would be there. I had already decided on a few, but I hadn't thought about what would become of me, if I didn't meet Rin. Rin was the only one I knew capable of reining me in. If she wasn't around, I'm not sure what would happen. Who would I become if I left Rin?
"I.. hadn't thought of that... but... I have to do this..." Normally, if Rin had warned me of something, I'd disregard it. This, though, was something different. If she was right, it could mean that I could be the one that ruins my chance at having a life at all. I could throw everything I already have away just for this chance at revenge. I didn't have much time to calculate this. I had specifically put off telling Rin because it was going to be the hardest part of going back. Because of that, I had limited the amount of time I had to ponder her warning, and the implications of what I was doing with this new insight. I had less than 8 hours to figure it out, which I had planned to spend with Rin... and I still planned to. I had to go back though. It was the only reason I kept going... Maybe a lot had changed in between now and then, but there was one fact that still remained: Until I got my revenge... I would never be any more than a child...
Monday, January 4, 2010
Re-Opening Day
Ha! So... now the fun begins. First off, no it was not a New Year's Resolution to write every day. I clearly made it evident I planned on writing every day back in September of ought-nine. So here I am again, spouting the same nonsense... acting like someone's actually reading this.. c.c Regardless! Today's purpose is to get myself back on track.
First of all, I am going to mention that a lot of what I am actually writing pretty frequently is going into developing a project that is not done yet, so as such, cannot be published yet. It may be a lame cop out saying that I am writing but not publishing it, but when you see the awesomeness* that is coming you will understand.
* I love how "awesomeness" does not come up as an incorrectly spelled word on Firefox's spell checker. I'm almost certain it would come incorrect in Word.
So, now that I'm actually writing things, I guess I should come up with something of substance to write about. Now as much as I would love to explain the etymology of the word substance and what it really means, I'll go in a much less literal interpretation of my statement and write a little about what I'm planning.
There's a site that I have been putting a lot of time and effort into lately that I want to see get off the ground. I've pretty much put all of my other projects on hold for it. It is a ridiculously customizable role-playing forum. We're trying really hard to get something playable out very soon, but things derail faster than we can lay the foundation. I really want to see this place get started and I really want to see it continue on for a long period of time.
I'm also planning on putting together a novel. Yes, a full-on novel. I may place a few excerpts here for you guys to check out periodically.
Periodically I run a D&D game, so you might get to hear about a few of the funny things that happen there, or in the other games I'm a part of.
And I'd like to let you in on why certain bands need to stop... forever. Without ever coming back for any reason. And it's not just out of spite and it's not just hopping on the I Hate Nickelback bandwagon, it's just that some things cannot remain quiet forever. And Nickelback is only the beginning of the loathing...
So yeah, that's a brief insight of what's to come. I hope you find at least some of it interesting (as it would take a very rare personality to like all of it*). Check back in as you please and maybe you'll be surprised.
*And if that rare personality is a female call me ^.o
First of all, I am going to mention that a lot of what I am actually writing pretty frequently is going into developing a project that is not done yet, so as such, cannot be published yet. It may be a lame cop out saying that I am writing but not publishing it, but when you see the awesomeness* that is coming you will understand.
* I love how "awesomeness" does not come up as an incorrectly spelled word on Firefox's spell checker. I'm almost certain it would come incorrect in Word.
So, now that I'm actually writing things, I guess I should come up with something of substance to write about. Now as much as I would love to explain the etymology of the word substance and what it really means, I'll go in a much less literal interpretation of my statement and write a little about what I'm planning.
There's a site that I have been putting a lot of time and effort into lately that I want to see get off the ground. I've pretty much put all of my other projects on hold for it. It is a ridiculously customizable role-playing forum. We're trying really hard to get something playable out very soon, but things derail faster than we can lay the foundation. I really want to see this place get started and I really want to see it continue on for a long period of time.
I'm also planning on putting together a novel. Yes, a full-on novel. I may place a few excerpts here for you guys to check out periodically.
Periodically I run a D&D game, so you might get to hear about a few of the funny things that happen there, or in the other games I'm a part of.
And I'd like to let you in on why certain bands need to stop... forever. Without ever coming back for any reason. And it's not just out of spite and it's not just hopping on the I Hate Nickelback bandwagon, it's just that some things cannot remain quiet forever. And Nickelback is only the beginning of the loathing...
So yeah, that's a brief insight of what's to come. I hope you find at least some of it interesting (as it would take a very rare personality to like all of it*). Check back in as you please and maybe you'll be surprised.
*And if that rare personality is a female call me ^.o
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