A Question
Mar. 6th, 2010 08:18 pmI've been kicking an original fiction idea around in my head and part of it involves trying to parody some ideas that I disagree with and find woefully naive and annoying. Because I know these are things I disagree with, I'm wondering how to go about presenting them so that I don't have one whole side made up of Strawpersons. I have a few thoughts on what to do, but I'm wondering if anybody else has ever had this problem and how you essentially kept yourself in check?
PBS, wearing its NOVA hat, is doing a vote for favorite planet. The occasion is that we're coming up on March 13, Pluto Planet Day and PBS is running another special about Pluto's demotion -- fitting, since the host of NOVA Science Now is the guy who first brought the
Apparently, four other dwarf planets that have also been added: Ceres (bumped up from asteroid status), Haumea (named for the Hawaiian goddess of fertility and childbirth), Makemake (Most. Awesome. Name. Ever. -- it comes from the mythology of Easter Island), and Eris (Named for theGreek personification of strife and discord).
Apparently, four other dwarf planets that have also been added: Ceres (bumped up from asteroid status), Haumea (named for the Hawaiian goddess of fertility and childbirth), Makemake (Most. Awesome. Name. Ever. -- it comes from the mythology of Easter Island), and Eris (Named for theGreek personification of strife and discord).
Poetry meme
Mar. 2nd, 2010 09:19 pmIf you see this and feel so inclined, post a poem in your livejournal. (I caught this meme from ![[livejournal.com profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
beckyh2112)
pity this busy monster, manunkind,
not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)
plays with the bigness of his littleness
--- electrons deify one razorblade
into a mountainrange; lenses extend
unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish
returns on its unself.
A world of made
is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh
and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this
fine specimen of hypermagical
ultraomnipotence. We doctors know
a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go
E. E. Cummings
beckyh2112)pity this busy monster, manunkind,
not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)
plays with the bigness of his littleness
--- electrons deify one razorblade
into a mountainrange; lenses extend
unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish
returns on its unself.
A world of made
is not a world of born --- pity poor flesh
and trees, poor stars and stones, but never this
fine specimen of hypermagical
ultraomnipotence. We doctors know
a hopeless case if --- listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go
E. E. Cummings
Meme: Female Characters
Jan. 30th, 2010 07:25 amStolen from fialleril @ LiveJournal
Comment with the name of a female character and I'll tell you why I love her. In return, you can do the same in your journal. :D
fialleril @ LiveJournalComment with the name of a female character and I'll tell you why I love her. In return, you can do the same in your journal. :D
Shameless Pluggery: Broad Universe
Jan. 24th, 2010 07:57 amBroad Universe is an international organization with the primary goal of promoting science fiction, fantasy, and horror written by women. Anyone excited about that project is welcome to join us. If you would like more information, email info(at)broaduniverse.org or check our Resources pages.
Their Broadsheet archive has essays and interviews and interesting thinky bits that go back, in most cases, to 2001. They've got a catalog of books and short stories written by members and they have resources for writers and readers.
Their Broadsheet archive has essays and interviews and interesting thinky bits that go back, in most cases, to 2001. They've got a catalog of books and short stories written by members and they have resources for writers and readers.
Question...
Jan. 8th, 2010 04:29 amAnybody know of any good communities for research for post-apocalyptic stories?
A Question and a Ramble...
Jan. 1st, 2010 07:04 amHas anybody ever used Paperbackswap.com? I signed up for it today but I'm wanting some feedback before I give it a shot and start listing books. Basically, I'm looking for some books that I don't want to pay a lot of money for (or, preferably *any*), but I'm willing to trade for what I want.
See, a couple months back, I was at Barnes and Noble and on my way toward the science fiction section, I caught a glimpse of a title that took me straight back to the darker side of my existence as a child of the 1980s -- Endworld.
Endworld, for those not in the know (which is probably most of you), was one of many (and I do mean *many*) "post-apocalyptic survivors struggle on noblely After The Bomb." The series takes place 100 years after a nuclear war has devestated the United States (and presumably the rest of the world). The heroes are the Warriors of the Alpha Triad who serve the Family who live in the Home (and really, having read the first two books, that name is appropriate on sooooo many levels...). The setting is long on guns, and short on sense -- which may require another post to outline 'cause whoo doggies...
But, as bad as these books are -- and they are *bad* -- I want to read more of the genre. Part of it, I'm sure, is an attempt to recapture a bit of my childhood (prior to going to college, I ate these sorts of stories up -- call it a way of dealing with my very real fears of nuclear war) and part of it is the desire to point and mock (one of the series I'm looking for, Doomsday Warrior, involves the descendents of people who survived WWIII by being trapped in a highway tunnel through a mountain in the Rockies).
So, that's why I'm looking to find out if Paperbackswap.com is worth it. Or if there's a better site to use.
Though, I have to say, as bad as Endworld is, it's still more readable than "Key to Conflict" (last year's crappy book) was. Way more readable...
See, a couple months back, I was at Barnes and Noble and on my way toward the science fiction section, I caught a glimpse of a title that took me straight back to the darker side of my existence as a child of the 1980s -- Endworld.
Endworld, for those not in the know (which is probably most of you), was one of many (and I do mean *many*) "post-apocalyptic survivors struggle on noblely After The Bomb." The series takes place 100 years after a nuclear war has devestated the United States (and presumably the rest of the world). The heroes are the Warriors of the Alpha Triad who serve the Family who live in the Home (and really, having read the first two books, that name is appropriate on sooooo many levels...). The setting is long on guns, and short on sense -- which may require another post to outline 'cause whoo doggies...
But, as bad as these books are -- and they are *bad* -- I want to read more of the genre. Part of it, I'm sure, is an attempt to recapture a bit of my childhood (prior to going to college, I ate these sorts of stories up -- call it a way of dealing with my very real fears of nuclear war) and part of it is the desire to point and mock (one of the series I'm looking for, Doomsday Warrior, involves the descendents of people who survived WWIII by being trapped in a highway tunnel through a mountain in the Rockies).
So, that's why I'm looking to find out if Paperbackswap.com is worth it. Or if there's a better site to use.
Though, I have to say, as bad as Endworld is, it's still more readable than "Key to Conflict" (last year's crappy book) was. Way more readable...
Goin' to Vegas, BRB
Nov. 1st, 2009 08:33 pmActually, going to be a few days -- me and the Amy are leaving for Vegas tomorrow morning with her mom and will be back Thursday night late. This is gonna be my farthest trip West yet.
Will see y'all when I get back 8)
Will see y'all when I get back 8)
Character Themesongs
Oct. 15th, 2009 04:16 amOh No, You Didn't -- From Mercenaries 2: World In Flames. This? Is what Swindle would sing to his kids at night, if he had kids. Or if he'd acknowledge any kids he had. Maybe Onslaught sings it to the Combaticons...
Video above is the full-length version; Commercial is here
As for Metal-Head: the Brutal Legend TV commerical is all about a heavy metal roadie transported to a Heavy Metal album cover world where he is the one Chosen to either save the world or destroy it. But, yeah...this is where Metal-Head goes when he sleeps, aww yeah.
Video above is the full-length version; Commercial is here
As for Metal-Head: the Brutal Legend TV commerical is all about a heavy metal roadie transported to a Heavy Metal album cover world where he is the one Chosen to either save the world or destroy it. But, yeah...this is where Metal-Head goes when he sleeps, aww yeah.
Re-Memeing
Oct. 3rd, 2009 07:33 amBecause I currently have a mental hitch in my git-along as far as writing is concerned, I am revisiting an old meme:
The Hypothetical AU Meme: Take any one of the fandoms you know I write in, and give me a type of AU (space opera AU, pirate AU, superhero AU, Ancient Rome, etc). I will then explain what story from your chosen fandom I would write for your chosen type of AU.
The fandoms I write in are as follows:
Transformers -- any generation, though G1 is my comfort zone)
GI Joe -- Any incarnation)
Jem and the Holograms -- one of the few fandoms I'm in that has only one version...weird.
Star Wars -- specifically the Clone Wars/Republic Commandos era)
X-Men/Marvel Comics -- specifically the Age of Apocalypse and/or Exiles but I'm game for regular continuity stuff, particularly if it features Sabretooth and/or Wild Child (![[personal profile]](http://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
beckyh2112 has special dispensation to request Evo!Gibney related stuff if she wants).
Basically, I'm in a writing slump and can't get any ideas to germinate so I'm hoping y'all can give me a boost if you're willing to see what weirdness I can come up with.
The Hypothetical AU Meme: Take any one of the fandoms you know I write in, and give me a type of AU (space opera AU, pirate AU, superhero AU, Ancient Rome, etc). I will then explain what story from your chosen fandom I would write for your chosen type of AU.
The fandoms I write in are as follows:
Transformers -- any generation, though G1 is my comfort zone)
GI Joe -- Any incarnation)
Jem and the Holograms -- one of the few fandoms I'm in that has only one version...weird.
Star Wars -- specifically the Clone Wars/Republic Commandos era)
X-Men/Marvel Comics -- specifically the Age of Apocalypse and/or Exiles but I'm game for regular continuity stuff, particularly if it features Sabretooth and/or Wild Child (
beckyh2112 has special dispensation to request Evo!Gibney related stuff if she wants).Basically, I'm in a writing slump and can't get any ideas to germinate so I'm hoping y'all can give me a boost if you're willing to see what weirdness I can come up with.
Research Materials.
Aug. 16th, 2009 08:40 pmBecause I have it in my head to write something (original) about superheroes and because these articles are cool:
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2008/200
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2008/200
Both are about superheros and various aspects of the law. Awesome sauce!
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2008/200
http://www.strangehorizons.com/2008/200
Both are about superheros and various aspects of the law. Awesome sauce!
Cool Story and a strange admission...
Jul. 31st, 2009 05:59 amI have a confession to make, I like Neanderthals. I mean, I like them. As in, I think the Geico cavemen kinda had it goin' on (though the show was pretty friggin' stupid and clearly a case of folks not understanding that funny in small doses does not mean funny in large chunks).
I don't know why I like them, but I think stories like Asimov's "The Ugly Little Boy" and L. Spraugue de Camp's "The Gnarly Man" helped plant the idea that Neanderthals are interesting. Maybe that and I have a thing for the underdog that perhaps goes a bit ga-ga nutso.
Escape Pod #198: N-words by Ted Kosmatka and read by Kim The Comic Book Goddess (there's a link to her site as part of the podcast). She does an amazing job of narrating the story, really of performing it. Listening to her, the emotions she puts forth feel real.
The story is about racism and it uses the idea of genetically engineered Neanderthal children to explore ideas about race, culture and the percepton of 'primitive'. It's also about the future of the human race. It is chilling and thought-provoking and the last few minutes made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and made me shiver.
This isn't a happy story -- unless you're a big fan of 'just desserts' type stories -- but DAMN was it good!
I don't know why I like them, but I think stories like Asimov's "The Ugly Little Boy" and L. Spraugue de Camp's "The Gnarly Man" helped plant the idea that Neanderthals are interesting. Maybe that and I have a thing for the underdog that perhaps goes a bit ga-ga nutso.
Escape Pod #198: N-words by Ted Kosmatka and read by Kim The Comic Book Goddess (there's a link to her site as part of the podcast). She does an amazing job of narrating the story, really of performing it. Listening to her, the emotions she puts forth feel real.
The story is about racism and it uses the idea of genetically engineered Neanderthal children to explore ideas about race, culture and the percepton of 'primitive'. It's also about the future of the human race. It is chilling and thought-provoking and the last few minutes made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and made me shiver.
This isn't a happy story -- unless you're a big fan of 'just desserts' type stories -- but DAMN was it good!
GEOCITIES CLOSING OCTOBER 26, 2009
Jul. 10th, 2009 01:02 amGeocities announced that it was closing a couple months or so back, but today they've finally announced the official "You Don't Have To Go Home, But You Can't Stay Here" closing date: October 26, 2009
For more information: Geocities Closing FAQ You've got a couple options: download and save your files or upgrade to the new Yahoo Web Hosting.
Though, if you're looking for information on how to download and save your site, it amounts to "Right-click on your page, hit Save As, lather, rinse, repeat."
For more information: Geocities Closing FAQ You've got a couple options: download and save your files or upgrade to the new Yahoo Web Hosting.
Though, if you're looking for information on how to download and save your site, it amounts to "Right-click on your page, hit Save As, lather, rinse, repeat."
Turn Left, Meme
Jul. 7th, 2009 07:16 amFrom dragovianknight, a meme:
Inspired by Doctor Who's "Turn Left:" Pick one of my stories and tell me a point in the tale that you'd change. Something tiny (e.g. "and then Fay chose silver glitter instead of gold") or big (e.g. "and then Rose was arrested instead of Jack") and I'll tell you how that one difference would have altered the course of the entire story.
A more or less complete list of my fics is available at mydunmurderin @ Dreamwidth account.
dragovianknight, a meme:Inspired by Doctor Who's "Turn Left:" Pick one of my stories and tell me a point in the tale that you'd change. Something tiny (e.g. "and then Fay chose silver glitter instead of gold") or big (e.g. "and then Rose was arrested instead of Jack") and I'll tell you how that one difference would have altered the course of the entire story.
A more or less complete list of my fics is available at my
dunmurderin @ Dreamwidth account.Can I Get a Witness?
Jun. 26th, 2009 11:55 pmFound out about this strip through the cabledeadpool community at LJ. This was the current strip when I clicked on the main site link. There are very few strips I want to buy as a print, but this is one of them.
Fuck "Should"
Maybe it's the heat + the two Drumsticks I had talking but, BOOYEAH!
cabledeadpool community at LJ. This was the current strip when I clicked on the main site link. There are very few strips I want to buy as a print, but this is one of them. Fuck "Should"
Maybe it's the heat + the two Drumsticks I had talking but, BOOYEAH!
Who you callin' a Twit?!
Jun. 24th, 2009 07:51 amI has a Twitter account, and of course it's: dunmurderin @ Twitter.
Cool Research Link
Jun. 14th, 2009 07:09 pmFound via dharma_slut
whumpers_guide is a comm for those looking to get the details right on beating the ever loving snot out of their characters. There's more info at the profile page
ETA: to fix dharma's username. Doh.
dharma_slutwhumpers_guide is a comm for those looking to get the details right on beating the ever loving snot out of their characters. There's more info at the profile pageETA: to fix dharma's username. Doh.
Xmen15 Table:
Jun. 14th, 2009 07:44 amFor xmen15, 15 X-Men: Age of Apocalypse fics. In the hopes of "If you write it, they will come..."
xmen15, 15 X-Men: Age of Apocalypse fics. In the hopes of "If you write it, they will come..." | 01. | Life. | 02. | Laughter. | 03. | Cry. | 04. | Love. | 05 | Hate. |
| 06. | Birth. | 07. | Day. | 08. | Night. | 09. | Hero. | 10. | Villain. |
| 11. | Death. | 12. | Silence. | 13. | Noise. | 14. | Summer. | 15 | Winter. |
