Monday, August 1. 2005A Mournful Journey
--From the Journal of the Rogue Wizard Nalathisor
Why did I leave? If I had just stayed, I wouldn't have needed to make this trip. Finally though I made it to Newkeep where I'd be able to find him. No sooner had I entered the town though, then I saw some all too familiar equipment out on a horse. Why was my brother Jackle there? Was it only be a coincindence that he was there? Did they know each other? Did Jackle know that he is a father? Although I do use that term loosely, sire is more accurate. The residence he was staying at seemed to be asleep so I decided to explore the town a bit. Continue reading "A Mournful Journey" Monday, August 1. 2005New Serenity Trailer
Despite the fact that the Sci-Fi channel has ran both halves of the Firefly episode Serenity in full screen format, despite the fact that it was made for widescreen, and there's even a couple of shots that you will miss important stuff if it's not in widescreen, I'm happy that Firefly is back on t.v. What's making it even better is they are going to start showing behind the scenes production footage, and interviews from the filming of Serenity (I highly recommend the movie), and they started it off by showing the new trailer.
I've seen all three trailers now, and really enjoy this one the best. Just thought I'd share. And because there hadn't been a Serenity/Firefly related post in a while. Friday, July 29. 2005Tommy Xiang
Just as they did every morning, Tommy Xiang's eyes opened two minutes before his alarm clock was scheduled to ring. He flicked the alarm off before it had a chance to ring; there was no need to disturb the peace of the morning with its raucous call. He set his clothes on the counter in the bathroom, arranging them in the order that he would put them on when he got out of the shower. Briefs, socks, pants, shirt. The shoes went on the floor--no telling what was on them after walking around the hospital. He set the water to 99 degrees, waited a moment for the temperature to stabilize, and stepped into the shower. The triclosan-tinged scent of antibacterial soap filled his nostrils as he carefully washed the skin around his interface implant. The SudaSkin edges of the implant had bonded well with his own skin, but he saw no reason to risk infection.
Continue reading "Tommy Xiang" Friday, July 29. 2005Keb Jones
If I had known that I was going to be living with this, I probably would have forked over the extra money and gotten my own room. It's not the mess. I can handle the mess. I mean, it's not my favorite thing, and I would prefer that he was clean, but I'm not going to lose my temper over some clutter on the floor and an unmade bed. It's this thing he does. When I came home tonight, he was sitting at his computer. Well, sitting's probably not the right word. His head was down on the desk, and he was fast asleep, drooling on his keyboard. He says that he only sleeps about 4 hours a night, but I'd be willing to bet that if you added up all of the times that he falls asleep in class, he sleeps almost as much as I do. Then, around three o' clock, I woke up, and he was sitting up.
He's got some kind of weird implant on the back of his head. He has kind of a mullet so that his hair covers it up, but when he's plugged in, it looks like he's in the Matrix. Right now, he's sitting in his chair, with this massive cable poking out of the back of his head. He twitches every now and then, and sometimes he starts thrashing around. It's driving me nuts. It's worse than living with a druggie. I'd even be happier if he was bringing a different girl home every night. It's just creepy to me. I'm not sure what to do about it. I've tried reporting him, but they just look at me like I'm crazy. I wonder if he's even going to class. He looks like he hasn't left that chair in days. I swear he wore those clothes yesterday. And probably the day before, too. Maybe I can find a way to get him kicked out. If it looks like he's breaking the rules, even if he isn't, I could get rid of him. That would be nice. Oh no, something's wrong! He looks like he's having a seizure. What do I do? Can I just unplug him? Or is there something I have to do? His computer's not responding. What's this? Someone's trying to send him a message. Some guy named Brain_Stem. Brain_Stem [5:12]: We've got to get a hold of Fair_Weather_Friend. There's a flaw in the latest environment render. It's a good thing I decided to check it before I loaded it; this one looks like it could be really painful. Night_Watcher [5:12]: Hes not here. Im his roommate. He's plugged in and I dont know what to do he's htrashing around like hes having a seizure. What do I do Friday, July 29. 2005Howell Clarke
Hi everybody. I'm kind of a newbie here, so let me just get a few things out into the open. You probably shouldn't depend on me posting regularly. Sometimes, I write a lot. Sometimes, I will go months without writing a thing. So, right now, I'm in one of my write-a-lot modes. Who knows how long it will last. Maybe it will be around for a while, maybe it will be gone tomorrow. Anyway, you get the idea.
This is a character sketch of a man named Howell Clarke. He goes by the name Night_Watcher in the online community. You will probably all see more than a passing resemblance to a few real people, but let's be honest, all writing is based on real life somehow. Blink. Ok, now, do it again. Ooh, that one was rough. I hate these contacts. Where did that drink go? I hope that caffeine kicks in soon. OK now, where was I? My roommate probably wants me to go to bed. Oh well. He'll live. He sleeps too much anyway. Why should I waste my life that way just because he does? What was I doing? Oh, yeah. Is he still on line? Night_Watcher[2:37]: Sorry, I drifted off. Fair_Weather_Friend[2:37]: You sleep?! Night_Watcher[2:38]: Not on purpose. Continue reading "Howell Clarke" Friday, July 29. 2005mleeeeaaauuugh-for mostly daboo's benefit
I am addicted to World of Warcraft.
Also, I have a cold. Also, I...nope, nevermind, I don't have any more excuses. The point is that I haven't completed any more pages. At all. And it makes me sad, but I'm posting this in the hopes that you will get used to the idea by Monday and I will not have to suffer any art-related beatings. Thursday, July 28. 2005Urfengar's Travels
As we reached the outskirts of Brindenford, we came upon Nalathisor waiting by the side of the road. I hadn't yet met him at this time - only heard about him from. . .from the others. He looked rather haggard and ran up to Jackle demanding to know where Llan was.
Upon learning of Llan's death, Nalathisor's face went through a flurry of emotions, and he started up a shouting match with Jackle. He named his brother a coward, then reached into a pouch, pulled out a scroll, and began to chant. Jackle attempted to disrupt the spell by firing an arrow at his brother, but before any of the rest of us could react, the elven warrior was morphed into a rooster. Nalathisor rode off into the busy streets ahead as we stared, stunned at his actions. I finally regathered my wits and dispelled the crazy elf's magic, restoring his brother to a slightly less animalistic state. We rode into town hoping to find the elven trickster, but the guards said they had no idea where Nalathisor had gone. I suspected the guards had been paid to keep their silence, since the rest of the party was recognized on sight by many of the townspeople. We were interrupted on our way to a local tavern by a messenger from the local baron asking us to meet with him at his palace. After some discussion, we agreed to follow the man and find out what the baron wanted. Continue reading "Urfengar's Travels" Thursday, July 28. 2005Walking To Moriah
We were five small figures moving among the shimmering waves of heat that rose from the desert floor. Dust kicked up by my old, shuffling feet, and by the donkey's hooves, covered our sweating faces. One of the young men, my son, looked over at me, a concerned look on his face, but I didn't respond. I walked with my head bowed, shoulders hunched. Every movement was pain, and my thoughts were far away, back in the land of my childhood.
I remembered my father's curses vividly, the curses that he had screamed at me the day that I left my father's house to find God. I had always known God. Not the gods my father knew, Elkanah, Libnah, Mahmackrah, Korash, and the various gods of the Pharoah, no I knew, or thought I knew, the true God, the living God, the God who didn't need golden images to show His majesty, for the Earth itself showed His power. I'm not sure how I came to know that God, but as I walked from my father's house that day, I knew that I could not follow the ways of my fathers. I would, I decided, go to the house of the King of Peace, the great high priest, and I would learn from him. And so, despite my father's curses, I walked from the house to seek God wherever I might find Him. Long shadows followed us and the heavily-laden donkey when we stopped for the night. As night fell, the young men sat around the fire, eating, talking and laughing. Even though two of them are my servants, I have always treated them well, if not always as friends, at least as equals. They love my son, the son of my old age. He is their friend, and, they know, he always will be. Even those who don't like their young master have to admit that he is loving, and unbelievably loyal. Continue reading "Walking To Moriah" Thursday, July 28. 2005I'll see your "litigious" and raise you "moronic".
Okay to be fair, I've thought all along that the stink raised over the HotCoffeeMod was always a little idiotic, if only because the game should have been rated Adult's Only in the first place, and was pretty bad before the mini game was found.
Now comes the news that an 85 year old woman has sued Rockstar Games for damage caused to her because she claims that she was "damaged" when she discovered that the the rated M for Mature audiences game she purchased for her grandson had sexual minigames. At the time the game was purchased, the grandson was 14 years of age. Nevermind the fact that on the case of the game it already stated "Strong Sexual Content" prior to the increase in rating. What the heck was she doing buying a game rated for 17 year olds and higher, to her 14 year old grandson in the first place? If everyone is so worried about the content in the games that kids are playing, maybe they should look less at the developers and more at the people who are buying or letting the kids play these games. As bad of a game as GTA:San Andreas is, in this case at least, it would seem to me that the problem is the Grandma herself. Then again, since the Grandma is getting on in years she probably saw this as a quick way to make a couple bucks for an inheritance for the aforementioned grandson! Thursday, July 28. 2005Perhaps some levity?
It seems that a university Philosophy professor made a great breakthrough and had agreed to do a series of talks at universities throughout the country detailing his discoveries. Because the professor disliked airplanes, he hired a chaffeur to drive him from one spot to the next. Spending so much time together, the professor and the chaffeur became friendly and in the course of time, the chaffeur confided that he thought the professor had about the easiest job in the world.
"How's that?" asked the professor. "Well," said the driver. "You give the same talk night after night. You get asked the same questions night after night. There's just nothing to it. Really, I've heard it so many times now, even I could do it." At this, the professor challenged the chaffeur and at their next stop, the chaffeur and the professor changed roles (and clothes). Good as his word, the chaffeur gave a very successful talk and, just as he had predicted, the same questions were asked. That is, until one person asked a new question, one the chaffeur-cum-professor didn't know. He thought about it for a while and finally said, "Young man, that is the single most stupid question I have EVER been asked. Why, I'm surprised that you don't know the answer to it. I would think anyone would. In fact, the question is so simple, I'm going to have my chaffeur answer it!" -- This same professor comes into a class on Philosophy on the last day of the term and tells the students that 100% of their grade for the class will be based on the paper he is about to ask them to write. He pulls up a chair, sits down, and declares: "You have 1 and a half hours to prove to me, using the things you've learned this term, that this chair does not exist." All of the students save one begin frantically scribbling, tying Bhuddism to Fruedianism to Aristotle. The last student looks very carefully at the professor for about 30 seconds, then writes a few words on a piece of paper, hands it in, and leaves. When the grades are published, the entire class is mystified to see that only the one student passed. His paper is posted next to the grades, and says simply: "What chair?" Thursday, July 28. 2005Can you spell "litigious"?
"Two teenage girls decided one summer's evening to skip a dance where there might be cursing and drinking to stay home and bake cookies for their neighbors. Big mistake.
"The July 31 deliveries consisted of half a dozen chocolate-chip and sugar cookies accompanied by big hearts cut out of red or pink construction paper with the message: 'Have a great night.' The notes were signed, 'Love, The T and L Club,' code for Taylor Ostergaard, then 17, and Lindsey Jo Zellitti, 18. "Inside one of the nine scattered rural homes south of Durango that got cookies that night, a 49-year-old woman became so terrified by the knocks on her door around 10:30 p.m. that she called the sheriff's department. Deputies determined that no crime had been committed, but Wanita Renea Young ended up in the hospital emergency room the next day after suffering a severe anxiety attack she thought might be a heart attack. "They were sued, successfully, for an unauthorized cookie drop on one porch. A Durango judge Thursday awarded Young almost $900 to recoup her medical bills. "She received nothing for pain and suffering... Taylor's mother, Jill Ostergaard, said her daughter 'cried and cried' after Judge Doug Walker handed down his decision in La Plata County Small Claims Court. 'She felt she was being punished for doing something nice,' Jill Ostergaard said... Court records contain half a dozen letters from neighbors who said that they enjoyed the unexpected treats." Wednesday, July 27. 2005Harry Potter Errata
http://www.arthuralevinebooks.com/faq.asp#errors
Just thought you all might want to check those out. Since y'all are such buggers for correct spelling. Also, here's an interview with J.K. with lots of stuff about book 6. http://www.mugglenet.com/jkrinterview.shtml Wednesday, July 27. 2005Urfengar: Dwarven Revenge
My good friends' son is dead. A young man I helped rear is gone from this world, and I could do nothing as a madman destroyed him before my eyes. I lack the words to describe the horror, the outrage that shook me as I realized that Thelonious was beyond my help. Never have I been so close to a traveling companion and been unable to heal his wounds.
Alas, there was no time for mourning. Lieutenants of the madman were nearby and needed to be dealt with. My new companions helped me carry Thelonious the Blue's body back to town. Upon nearing the center of the village, we could see a large crowd had gathered. It appeared that the entire town was in the main square beneath the tower where the foul evildoers lived. I suppose it stands to reason that the sorcerer who killed Thelonious would have warned his followers, but the craven absurdity to use the entire town as a shield was shocking. We did our best to approach the tower without harming the townsfolk (who very recently had been inhabitants of the local forest), but our efforts were in vain as a fireball came floating down from the top of the tower. Trained as we are in the arts of combat, my companions and I avoided the worst of the flames. The villagers were not so fortunate. I attempted to assault the tower, calling on Moradin to grant me the ability to walk on air, but before I could reach striking distance, one of the knaves on the tower dispelled my god's magic. The battle raged on as I attempted to scale the building through more mundane means. Magicks were cast back and forth, and the tower was set ablaze as the caitiffs began to flee. Of the three, one had fallen in battle, one took flight in the form of a vrock, and the third opened up a portal to avoid our wrath. Unwilling to see any information about our opponents be destroyed in the flames, I called on Moradin once again, asking him to flood the tower with water. As we searched the building, we found but one clue: a piece of paper with the madman's name written on it. Tyeladil Ilmueweke or somesuch. He'll rue the day. The village was in shambles. It appeared that all the villagers had died in the battle. Pity that. I suppose the elves will be able to live in peace now. There was little reason nor inclination for us to remain in Ossington, so we decided to return to Brindenford and await the return of Nalathisor. Wednesday, July 27. 2005Dark Print: Concerning City of Glass
After much time spent in silent meditation I have conciously chosen to break my vow of silence.
For any of you who have not read Paul Auster's City of Glass, I would highly recommend both the novella and the graphic novel. What begins as a noir detective story set in New York City transforms itself into a many-layered commentary on the link between the nature of language and the nature of identity. Click here to read my short paper about eggs, the tower of babel, and the arbitrariness of it all. Note: I wrote this the night before it was due, so please excuse the errors you will most certainly discover. Or, even better, comment on them. Tuesday, July 26. 2005Sick of all the Nostalgic Crap
It was announced today that they are going to make a Voltron movie. This is of course on the heels of them announcing that there will also soon be a cgi Smurfs movie, and a cgi Ninja Turtles movie. Ninja Turtles is of course recently seen a resurgence in the video game markets with a crappy (right Giggler) game last year.
This after the following lineup of movies that came out this year: The Longest Yard, Star Wars III, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Batman Begins, Bad News Bears, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and Bewitched, with Dukes of Hazzard right around the corner. Sure some of these movies were good (Charlie, Longest Yard, Batman), of course some of them weren't so good (Bewitched, Star Wars). Not to mention the countless covers of songs that seem to be on the airwaves now a days. Is anyone else sick of the entertainment industries seeming refusal to come up with good original mainstream entertainment for us to enjoy, and instead decide that they must rape and pillage the memories of our youth by hiring someone like Michael Bay to direct a live-action Transformers movie, nice opening to "The Island" there buddy. I don't mind the occassional sequel, or remake, especially when done well (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), as opposed to seomthing just put out there to make money, quality be darned (Star Wars), but I also like to see new original works, or adaptations of things that hadn't been given proper treatmen before like Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia. I think that all the Screenwriters, song writers, video game makers, etc. are locked into a room, strapped down to electric chair that sends immense voltage throughout their body, until they come up with something new, different, and/or Original. The worse part of all this, is it seems that when something new and different is produced, studio's manage to screw it all up. |
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