Society for Aesthetic Deletions

Hello, folks!

I have this obesssion soft spot, see. Though in recent years, it has faded, in chatting with a friend today it has resurfaced.

So I will devote a page on my site at some future point, to this topic.

I have an obsession soft spot for fantasy novels wherein people from our Earth end up in a fantasy world.

This friend is writing a book where this is her main plot. We chatted a bit about language issues, which is her big sticking point right now. She would like to deal with the language issue, but most of the books I've read just handwave over the issue, as it's not important that the protagonist(s) speak a different language.

So, to satisfy my craving, I now want a good, long list of fantasy (though I suppose some sf can be in there too) wherein the protagonist(s) head into an alternate world.

The ones I know of are listed below. If you know of others, please leave them in the comment area.

Is anyone doing NaNoWriMo this year? I missed out last year, and am vaguely interested in trying this November, though I'll be traveling a significant portion of the month.

I blame Paula.

She asks me this morning if I'm having trouble connecting with Fire at work, and I say no. I have the occasional disconnect, and the random "low-level error" for ICQ, but reconnecting is quick and easy.

Ever since I spoke with her this morning, AIM has been quitting out of Fire, while the other services (supposedly) stay connected. I get lots of shutting doors, and when I glance over, everyone on AIM is gone from my buddy list.

I reconnect, and hear all those doors opening. Then a few minutes later, BAM, I'm disconnected.

Fire has been known in the past to say it's still connected with other services, when it's actually all a lie, and I really am disconnected. (Damn, there it goes again!)

So I'm off to download the AIM client itself (ick). And maybe a few others.

Hmm...maybe it *is* time to look into Adium or Proteus...

What is your idea of the relationship between GM and player? Is the GM a host, an adversary, an enabler...?

Yes, all of the above.

Ideally, the GM should provide the environment in which the players run their characters. The environment includes not just the physical environment, but the NPCs they encounter, the traps they run into (and I don't mean just literal traps), the plots they encounter. Even if they don't choose to follow the path of the plot, there is still something going on.

A long time ago, I gamed with Ken Alves (some of you may know him through the artwork he did on ShadowKnight, and in the Amberzines) and Ken Winland (and others may know him through Amber, or as my ex). They told me tales of their original gaming group, including letting me listen to the audiotapes Ken A. made for a project at RISD. He talked to all the players, and asked what gaming was to them, etc.

One of them loved being able to beat the GM at his own game. His whole enjoyment derived from being able to solve whatever puzzle or predicament the GM had devised, or from simply messing it up. Seeing the look on the GM's face when he "won" was priceless to him.

Mundanes (non-gamers) almost always ask me if I tell them I've been gaming, "Did you win?" I try to tell them that I don't game to win or lose, but for the adventure of it. There are no winners and losers to me, or at least there shouldn't be.

The GM should be an adversary of sorts, though. They need to provide the conflict for the characters, whether it be internal or external.

And the GM should be a host, in that they should set up the place, make sure everyone's having a good time, and have everything they need/want. ***Dave did a good job describing that bit, though I think it was a bit of an extreme analogy.

As a player, I want the GM to provide me with interesting things for my character to go play with, but they are not to put me in a cart on rails. I know that I need to stay with the group (for those group-based games), but I still want my individuality.

Gah, that rambled.

Which ArchAngel are you most like?
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Courtesy of Anne.

Well, that's one way to increase your readership. And another way to (possibly) alienate another segment.

Me, I found it amusing, but distracting. Hard to read with all those pictures.

Why Cats Paint and Dancing with Cats.

I have no words.

Courtesy of Unsanity.org, whom I also lay blame for the previous entry, which I forgot to note in it.

1. An eccentric millionaire offers to donate a very large sum to a charity of your choosing (other than you) if you'll step, completely naked, out of a car onto a busy city street, walk four blocks through the noontime traffic, and climb back into the car. Knowing that you would be in no physical danger, would you do it?

Yes, I would. It'd have to be a million dollars or more, but I certainly would.

Besides, Lou would be so busy blinding everyone who looked at me that I wouldn't have to worry about anything. :)

2. As a follow-up to the above, how would you rank the following in terms of relative unpleasantness -- (a) a nude stroll in public, (b) being spat upon by a crowd of people, (c) being arrested for shoplifting at a crowded store, (d) begging for money in a public place.

Unpleasantness? For me, I'm assuming?

If so, then it'd have to be b, c, d, and a.

3. Enough unpleasantness. If you could travel back in time to meet anyone in your family's history, who would it be?

Hrm...good question. It would probably have to be my mother's grandfather, on her mother's side. According to family legend, he got his family out of Austria (fleeing the war) and had to kill a soldier to do it. He never entered a church again, since he had killed a man.

I'd love the chance to meet and talk to him about it all.

I finagled work into buying me a wireless network card for my Windows laptop. We're a mostly-Mac network (*trying* hard to shove the Winblows boxen out the window, but they keep multiplying), and we're working on setting up a more formal Airport network, for laptops, conference rooms, etc.

But they want it to be secure. I've hidden the network name so you have to know it ahead of time, and made a password for it.

Now I know it's secure from the Mac side. It's very non-detectible, unless you know its name and password. But how might it look to someone warchalking?

So, we got the network card for me to test it out with my WinXP laptop.

Considering how long it took me to configure this thing, I think we're pretty secure! Google came to the rescue with all sorts of links on how to connect my card to an AirPort network, including getting the correct password (which Apple hashes to match the encryption standard it uses).

And now I know for certain that, when we purchase Lou's TiBook next year, we can get an Airport base station and we both can hook up to it.

1. What size shoe do you wear?

Depends, but a 9 1/2. They usually make half-sizes up to 9, so I often wear a 10.

2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

I have a lot in the closet, but I don't wear them. There's my sneakers, my docksiders, my Tevas, my two pairs of flats, my two pairs of suede flats. I also have various other shoes never thrown out, and some from weddings I've been in.

3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)?

Comfortable. That's the main thing for me. No heels...I just can't do them anymore. So sneakers, docksides, sandals in the summer.

4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?

My docksiders. I've loved them since I got them, and the previous pair before them. I wear them until they hurt to be worn. The current ones are from LL Bean. I can wear them with or without socks, and they're comfortable for sliding on and off. No fuss, no muss.

5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?

Oh, probably around $50. I actually prefer being barefoot, even if it makes my feet cold.

In the gaming you are doing lately, what do you miss from earlier games? What works so much better you never looked back? Three examples?

1. I just got back from a family reunion. It was ok, but I find those gatherings a little boring. Does your family ever have any reunions or annual get-togethers? Do you enjoy them?

Holiday meals, and the occasional visit of my brother and his family who live in Kansas City, KS. I'm one of seven kids, so with spouses and children we don't need a lot of non-immediate-family people to make any gathering large. I enjoy them in limited doses. We tend to be very loud when we get together, and that drives Lou crazy. He can only take the volume level so much before he needs to flee.

2. A gal I work with told me that when her husband's drivers license comes up for renewal, she swipes it. She says he won't ever pose for pictures and that's the only way she can get a photo of him. Is that not creepy? Are you a picture person? Do you like taking photos, and having yours taken?

I like taking photos, and I don't mind mine being taken, most of the time.

3. Time for show and tell: post a recent photo of yourself!

Hmm...ah, my recent haircut/dye post has a picture of me. Not before I hit lifetime. I should get a new picture of me one of these days.

4. I have a cousin I always knew as Jay. As he got into college, he began to go by Greg. Turns out is name was Greg, Junior. Jay was short for Junior! Can't blame him for changing it. Did you ever have a nick-name growing up? How did it come about? Did you ever give anyone a nickname that stuck?

I am called Jules and Ju (pronounced Joo) by family members. I don't like being called Julie, and will tell people that my name is Julia when they call me that.

I had a nickname of "stork" by mean boys when I was a freshman in high school, because I was so tall and thin. I took the name and made it my nickname for our bowling league, but it's not something I use regularly.

And many of my online friends know me as Dazz or Dazzler, from my Compuserve days. I still respond to being called Dazz, though I don't go by it anymore.

5. Since I don't have cable, a friend promised to send me a few episodes of "Trading Spaces," the show where folks redecorate someone else's home (and I'm still waaaaiiiting on that tape). But that got me to thinking about how I'd change my own house if I were able. And the room I'd do first would be the bathroom. If you could design the bathroom of your dreams, what would it be like? Spare no expense!

Oooh, interesting! Huge wall of dark tile (probably red) and shower heads on it. Huge jacuzzi/tub. Nice amount of counterspace. Typical toilet and sink. Lots of light, but not direct...bank of those frosted glass cubes or something. (looks at tiny little bathroom in current apartment) Oh, and a fan and a heater! Probably a towel heater too.

6. I've been trying to catch up on the early seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer in re-runs, though I've been told to buy the DVDs. But I think I'd rather borrow them if I could. But there are a few television shows I'd like to own on DVD (like "The Flash" and "Max Headroom"). What shows (if any) do you own in a video collection? What TV shows would you like to see collected on DVD or video?

What do we have? The first two seasons of Buffy on DVD. I have a whole collection of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman taped off the air. I also have almost all of first season MST3k, and all of 2nd. Those will never leave the house, nor be taped over. I also have a lot of Buffy on tape and some of Angel. I religiously taped Angel until it started to suck, then it got really good so I started taping it again.

I've love to see collected one of my favorite shows ever: Friday the 13th, the Series. I loved that show. Well, up until the last season, where they de-aged Ryan and tried to get Mickey a new love interest in the annoying Johnny. Who cares if Mickey and Ryan were cousins! They had great chemistry.

I've also love to see The Flash and Max Headroom on DVD. B5 is coming out soon. Lou probably has some collections of TV shows around, too.

DS9 will eventually be out, and I will get that. I really enjoyed that when I watched it, but I missed some of the best episodes (the last few seasons) and would love to watch them when I can.

7. I recently watched "Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang" again, first time since I was little. It held up pretty well, unlike some movies that are better in your memory than they are when you see them again (like "E.T." good movie, but for me, better as a memory). Do you have any favorite movies from your childhood? Do you think you would still enjoy them if you watched them today?

I don't recall too many movies from then that I adored. Star Wars was a big one, and I prefer the non-edited one to the original. But anything younger than that? While we had a VCR early (it had a wired remote!), there wasn't a lot of movies that we rented/bought, and I don't recall the theater much. I do recall seeing the Herbie: The Love Bug movies at the local drive-in. And that's where I saw ET, so I think that's part of the reason why ET has never held a big place in my heart.

BONUS: Don't you know you're sleeping in a spotlight?

I hate the Romantics. Bad memories from visiting a college prior to attending one.

I got an email today from a man who organizes a LAN party named TurkeyCon. It seems that, being a blog and a bit older than his new site, my one-entry reference to attending our friends Lucinda & Grant in North Carolina at Thanksgiving, of course named TurkeyCon, could cause some confusion.

He asked if I could rename the entry or something, so that eventually his site would be number one on the Google search, no doubt.

Well, I didn't rename it, but I did add a clarification line and a link to his site. Luc&Grant have prior art, even if they don't have the domain and it's really unofficial. But he asked in such a nice way that I felt bad if I'd have just refused.

Speaking of which...our TurkeyCon comes up in November. When I will be trying to do NaNoWriMo. This should be interesting to see how much writing I can get done while down there, at the end of the month, when deadline approacheth.

Well, ***Dave finally shamed me into making a button! He sent me one he's been using for some time on his site, and I finally broke down and made one of my own.

So for those of you who prefer buttons, you have a choice! The first is my (lame) attempt, the second is Dave's much nicer attempt. He even went out and found the font I used in the header graphic on his own and everything! Buttons are here and on the bottom of the sidebar (which will be the next thing to be revamped...that's getting too long for me). Enjoy!

And here, I was going to post earlier today about how anxiously I was awaiting MT 2.5, since it is supposed to remove the "ping on edit" problem that makes my blog seem like it's updated when it's not.

And now, it's here! Off to upgrade.

Okay, I by no means am an expert in the tarot. But the latest leak in the Montgomery County sniper attacks (by the way, I used to live in "Monkey County," in Rockville, actually) makes me think the killer has no clue what about the tarot.

1. Does not having done something before make it more appealing, or less?

Depends on what it is (chuckle). It can, but if it's something gross, then there's a reason why I haven't done it before, right? Like eating a rotten banana.

But something like dancing with my honey at the top of a skyscraper on a warm summer evening....oh yeah, that's appealing.

2. If you could have a large stain-glass window in your house, what would you want it to depict?

I'd want it to be abstract, to not picture anything in particular. Just colored pieces of glass. Then I'd sit back and watch people try to figure out what it was depicting.

Yeah, I'm evil that way.

3. A change of pace. What five TV series have or had the best instrumental theme song?

Oh, instrumental only, eh? There goes most of my trivia knowledge, you know...

Does Star Trek count? They had narration over the theme. I'd put in a vote for DS9 anyway, they didn't have narration.

Miami Vice. In its time, it was very catchy, and it pretty much *screams* the 80's generation, which is my generation, baby!

Angel. I love the haunting strings on that, even better than the Buffy theme. Though that theme rocks too.

Remington Steele. Loved the sexy, swanky theme. And having Pierce Brosnan doesn't hurt, either.

Oh, and I have to throw one in here for an old favorite. Barney Miller. I love that theme song!

Honorable mentions to the A-Team and M*A*S*H, though the latter actually *has* words, they just don't sing them in the series.

Taking gaming a bit too far, it seems that a 24 year old man died after 86 hours of gaming.

Quoting witnesses, police detective Oh Myong-sik in Kwangju said the man had been virtually glued to the computer since late last Friday and had no decent sleep and meals. The man collapsed in front of the counter early yesterday but soon regained consciousness.

While the guy may have gamed himself to death, the internet cafe workers should have done something. But frell, that's one more loser out of the gene pool.

Courtesy of Slashdot, with original article here.

LotR:FotR Hand Puppet Theater, and not to be out done, we also have Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Hand Puppet Theater.

Tres amusing. I know, they're not really hand puppets, but you get the point...

Edited to add: Oooh, and more movies! Just go here for the list.

Welcome Google searchers! (eventually...I'm sure they'll come here for this)

VIPON Tampon, the vibrating tampon.

In preliminary testing of over 100 women the Vipon has been proven effective for the relief of menstrual pain with NO side effects, just a soothing sensation.

And apologies to the men who get squicked by this.

1. If you could only choose 1 cd to ever listen to again, what would it be?

One CD? Can it be a CD set? No? *sighs*

I could steal Paula's idea and make a mix CD. But no, that's also sorta cheating...

So, one CD. Hmm. Well, for quickness sake, I'll take Sparrow's Point by Richard Shindell. Otherwise I'd be agonizing over this forever.

2. If you could only choose 2 movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

This is also tough. We'll go for a bit of variety here. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and Dangerous Liaisons. Though Usual Suspects might beat the latter out if the hand twitched the wrong way.

3. If you could only choose 3 books to read ever again, what would they be?

Only THREE? Evil, evil person.

Hmm...A CIVIL CAMPAIGN by Lois McMaster Bujold is number one, definitely.

THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, UNABRIDGED, by William Shakespeare. (that's ONE book, see!)

And not a cheat, but a help. THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO SURVIVAL HANDBOOK, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht. Just in case.

4. If you could only choose 4 things to eat or drink ever again, what would they be?

Rare roast beef, tea, macaroni & cheese, fresh baked bread, and steamed green beans with garlic.

5. If you could only choose 5 people to ever be/talk/associate/whatever with ever again, who would they be?

Lou, Anne, Grant, Jack, and my mother. All for different reasons, of course.

How do you use props in your game? Give three examples, and discuss why you use them. What do they bring to the game? Are there any downsides to using them? For those who do convention games, are there differences between the props you use in campaigns and the props you use for con rounds?

I scoured the Everway decks for neat images that I could use in game, and I think I've used one of those once. I also used an image from Final Fantasy (the movie). The image of the city all lit up was how an underwater city from my world looked. Until the group put the lights out. The playes haven't seem all that impressed when I've used these, so my excitement for them has waned over time.

You know, I didn't even consider miniatures until I saw Ginger mention it. We use miniatures all the time for 3e; it's almost a necessity. Some of them are painted, some are in various states of being painted, some are still pewter, and others have a primer coat. And we also use a bag of green goblin/orcish miniatures for the "bad guys" most often. I know my friend Grant has given up on miniatures when he's playing with the family, but that is three people he's GMing for, two of them being children, so it makes more sense. Don't bog down the game with pulling out the battlemat, just use your imagination.

I want to use music, but it would be too much of a hassle, I think.

In my Amber games, I have very rarely used props. *tries to think of instance and fails*

The closest I came was when I was a player, and I had a character with multiple personalities. Most of the players could tell by my attitude, words used, body language, etc. But not all. I started using a card with "Calypso" on one side, and "Ingrid" on the other, so that those who couldn't tell would know.

[I still think my ultimate scene with that was in my original Amber game, Prime, where each NPC I was playing had a different position in the room we were gaming in. In a big group meeting, I moved from position to position (Queen Mother Deirdre was in this chair like *that*, Margarethe was standing here *just so*, Vaughn was over *here*, arms crossed, Ignatius fluttered about *there*), sometimes just to figure out if the NPC would or wouldn't make a comment.]

Back to props. I can't think of any others that I've used. I've had them used in games I've been playing in - for example, my WISH answer from last time, wherein I missed the goodies. The player handouts with news and info and tidbits. Not really "props" but they were used in game and handed out to players.

Oh, wait! Trumps! Back when I first started gaming with Ken and Ken, Ken Alves drew up trumps of all the NPCs and PCs. I still have a complete deck somewhere (he should scan them and put them in the Trump Collection project). We used them to show Ken W. which NPC/PC we were going to call, if we didn't want the others to know. That went really well, actually, and we liked having them on hand. The downsides were only in that Ken could only devote so much time to drawing them, and then color photocopying, getting them laminated and cut out. And if someone joined later, he wouldn't get a set....Ken (I believe) laminated and gave out the originals to their respective players (GM or player).

New Wallace & Gromit shorts are coming!

View Soccamatic or download it, courtesy of BBC News.

Courtesy of Slashdot.

That Flaming Hair Could Mean Flaming Pain - Study

Redheads may actually have another trait that makes them stand out -- sensitivity to pain, specialists reported on Tuesday.

Courtesy, again, of Slashdot.

1. What's the most expensive meal you've ever eaten? What was the occasion? Was it worth it?

Hmmm...

Just me, or with a group of people? Or just Lou and me? I could see lots of different possibilities here...

Well, back when the Milwaukee Hilton had Benson's and not the trendy upscale steakhouse they have now, we had a $100 or so meal. Great steak, appetizers, desserts, etc. We had that as our treat to ourselves on the last night of our GenCon stays.

We also eat at the Fireside (a local place with excellent prime rib), for anniversaries and birthdays.

And yes, they've all been worth it.

When we go out with Lou's parents, they tend to pick up the checks, so I have no idea on the cost.

2. What do you like to do when nobody is looking?

Read.

3. What's your special purpose?

Don't know yet. Maybe someday it'll make itself known.

Though I could say it's to keep Lou believing in himself.

4. Do you like Autumn? If so, why? If not, tell me about your favorite season.

Love Autumn in New England. Not as much elsewhere. But my favorite season is Winter in New England. With snow. If it doesn't have snow, and a good amount...it ain't winter.

5. Ever recommended a movie to someone only to have them hate it? Which movie? Did you feel uncomfortable about that?

Heh...yes. I had Lou watch Moonstruck because I remembered it as being hysterical.

It was awful on rewatching, and I'm a Nicolas Cage fan. I apologized to him, and I vow when we find one of those movies again, I'll watch it first again before having him see it.

There may be other movies I've recommended that people have hated, but I usually tell them to talk to the hand. They obviously have no clue or appreciation for Real Art (like Tremors, or Undercover Blues).

6. I've had hay fever all day! Sniffles, sneezing, I tell ya, it's awful! Do you have any allergies? Anything that just gets you down for the count?

I'm allergic to penicillin, as is Lou actually. Though I may not be allergic, my mother told me much later. The reaction may have been not for the penicillin, but for what it was fighting at the time. I mentioned it to my allergist (when I was having this problem, but he said it wasn't worth trying to go through a potentially deadly result when there are so many other antibiotics that can be used.

7. Do you like mixed drinks? What is your favorite? As long as we're here how about you order me something too? Just "surprise me!"

BONUS: Why do we scream at each other?

This is what it sounds like when doves cry, hon. Deal with it.

Courtesy of ***Dave.

I heard about this on the Today show on Monday morning. The first thing I thought of, being an Amber player and GM, was "This guy just tried to pull a Caine!

For those not in the know, in the Amber books by Roger Zelazny, a character named Caine fakes his own death by going out and finding a "shadow" of himself (basically a duplicate) and killed him, then planted the body and everyone thought Caine was dead, until he showed up at the end of the series, very much alive.

Since I didn't actually make a blog entry yesterday, I had to do some web searching to find this story, but the Sacramento Bee came through for me.

Meadows spent weeks searching the Internet for someone who would be mistaken for himself, Davenport said. He was seeking men who were 5-foot-6, about 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

The strange thing is that Meadows really thought that he'd get away with it by burning down the house. Has he never heard of dental records?

I have no clue how I got this answer. This goes against just about everything I entered...or so I thought...

Okay, so Episode II wasn't that great, but there's one thing we can all agree on: Yoda rocks. And you have the Yoda sensibility. You're calm, patient, even Zen-like, but you also know how to spring into action when need be. You value your friends, you put other people's concerns ahead of yourself and you eschew blind ambition and vanity.

What is your costume personality?

Courtesy of Anne, though first spotted on ***Dave's blog.

What's Your Personality Type?

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A Tribute to Ray Harryhausen

Flash required.

Courtesy of my dmadvice list on yahoogroups.

1. You're at a friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. You find a dead cockroach in your salad. What do you do?

Well, considering that each Thanksgiving for just about as long as I can remember I've been at my friends' house for Thanksgiving, I'd wonder which of the kids or adults put it there, because some of them read my blog (waves to Grant, Jack, Lou, Alex).

Then I'd kindly point it out, remove it, and check for other bug bits. Then I'd eat it.

The salad. Not the cockroach.

2. What particular historical document (or portion thereof) do you think every person (or at least every citizen of your country) should know by heart?

The Declaration of Independence. I can put it to music if you want, it'll help you remember.

3. A follow-on to last week: what five TV series have or had the best theme song with lyrics?

Oh now, this is going to be tough.

Animaniacs. Oh yes, number one. Totally Insane-y.

I went and browsed through some other responses before picking any more. So now I've got two more...

Banana Splits. Tra la la, lala la la, tra la la, lala la laaaaaaaaah! Yeah, baby!

Greatest American Hero. Look at what's happened to me, I can't believe it myself. *nods vigorously*

Now, I'm going here to refresh my memory for songs.

The Addams Family. I'll skip the rendition here, but I expect everyone to be snapping at home.

Oh crap. I have a tie for fifth place. Okay, okay, here's #5.

The original MST3k theme. Not the one with Mike, but the first season broadcast on The Comedy Channel (before it merged with Ha! and became The Comedy Network). Which means it also has Larry and not Frank in the credits.

Honorable mention to: It's Garry Shandling Show (how can not love a theme song that is self-referential?), Facts of Life (1st and 2nd+ seasons), Cheers, South Park, Wierd Al, Mad About You, The Young Ones, The Dukes of Hazzard, The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams, Wonder Woman, Moonlighting, 21 Jump Street, George of the Jungle, Top Cat, Underdog, Fraggle Rock, The Electric Company, Land of the Lost (what else could have a character named after it in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back?), The Muppet Show, Earthworm Jim, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and all of the Drew Carey themes.

1. How many TVs do you have in your home?

Hmm...*counts*. One in the bedroom and one in the living room. Then there's the one in the dining room that just sits there, but used to host the PS before we got the living room TV from Lou's parents one Christmas. Then I think I have one on the floor of my closet. So four.

2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?

Actual programs, or with the TV just being on and we're doing other stuff?

Often, like last night, I have it on but I mute it, so I can read something on the computer without the TV distracting me. But I don't want to turn it off.

We regularly watch: Angel (and tape Alias), Buffy, Smallville, Ed (though Lou's probably giving up on it...they've yanked his chain too much with Carol and Ed and he likely won't go back), Birds of Prey (and taping West Wing). I watch/tape Survivor and then switch over to Do Over after a half-hour (I watch Survivor at work with my co-workers on Friday at lunch), Firefly (when it's not pre-empted, and taped when I run my game) and then we watch what we've taped when we can. That's about nine hours a week of regular shows. Then add in the Buffy reruns on FX (now back to two a night), then various movies and Saturday morning cartoons, VH1 Country and GAC Country, and we probably watch about 30-35 hours of TV a week.

3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?

No. Specific programs, quite likely. Like the evening news. Hell, just about any news program. You won't find a more depressing half-hour/hour of TV than world or local news.

But cartoons or such? No. I grew up on Looney Tunes and Mighty Mouse and Superfriends and Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels and Scooby-Doo and the Flintstones. It's all a matter of perspective.

4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?

The six above, though I'm *this* close to dumping Birds of Prey. And I will cry mightily when Farscape ends next year. *sniffles*

5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?

No clue. Probably lots of SF shows and a few fantasy shows (like Covington Cross or Roar) and some game shows. I do like catching Beat the Geeks when I remember to find it.

Quiz created by Polly Snodgrass.

WATER OF AIR. You're aloof, depressed and seasoned. You'd make a good psychologist, executioner, black widow, arsenic poisoner, heretic queen or commentator. You're too witty for your own good. Have to get up early in the morny morn to fool you, as you spot lies a mile away. And WOE TO THOSE who dare attempt such a stupid move. You're Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween, when she cuts Michael's head off. You're Anne Robinson, the host of The Weakest Link!

Courtesy of Ginger.

Wishing I was in Toronto right now...

Tanya Huff, a wonderful Canadian science fiction, fantasy and horror writer, is giving a talk at the University of Toronto on Oct 21.

I love to say that I gamed with Tanya once. A friend from my CIS days, Caroline Julian, knew Tanya and her partner Fiona Patton (now an author in her own right) and invited them to sit back in on a session with us when I was up visiting Carrie for the weekend.

Tanya patiently worked on a quilt while we gamed. She was very down-to-earth, and a great person. Fe was much more outgoing, though I'm sure a lot of that had to do with Fe's young knight character.

She's a great author (Fe's books I have, but they're a bit harder for me to get into) and one I highly recommend.

Courtesy of BoingBoing.

Every player has sticking points. (Yes, you do. You may not have had your buttons pressed yet to know what they are, but you have them.). What are some things that are absolutely no-gos for you?

Railroading. There is only One True Way to solve the scenario/adventure/scene/puzzle, and you must come to accept the OTW otherwise you'll be there until Hell Freezes Over.

There is one GM I will likely never play under again, because their games are most often on rails. They have the answer, and will rarely accept any other possible result.

I hate that. There is nothing that will make me walk out of a game sooner than the idea that when my character comes up with a solution that is not the same as the GM's, that it isn't just as valid, as possible as the OTW.

GM's who won't throw out the rules when needed. I think this lies with my first real introduction to gaming being an online game, and then the depth of the diceless gaming I did when I got a local group. If a GM isn't going to be flexible, then they're not for me.

This goes both ways, though. If the "House Rules" are almost as thick as the Players Handbook, then maybe it's time that we play diceless for a while, eh?

Okay, that was two GM things. Now a few player things.

I'll have to echo a few others here and say disrespect. I have been very fortunate in my gaming career and had good groups of GMs and players. But I can totally understand and sympathize, if not empathize, with those who have to put up with guys making fun of the "chick" in the group, and the character rape scenes mentioned in other WISHes.

I can't speak a lot more from personal experience, so I'll stop here.

Crushed passenger wins obesity payout

Virgin Atlantic has paid a woman passenger ｣13,000 (US$20,289) compensation, after she was squashed by an obese person sat next to her on a transatlantic flight.

Courtesy of the BBC and NetNewsWire Lite, the coolest thing for RSS feeds since sliced web images! (sorry, OSX only.)

The Remote Controllers is a great article at the New York Times (free registration required) about Television Without Pity, and its impact on TV shows.

"...I don't overreact to the boards, but I pay real attention to messages that are thoughtful. If you ignore your customer, you do so at your peril.''

I just wish the Angel reviewer liked Wesley. He's SO much more interesting than the boring Angel. *sighs*

1. Have you ever felt like you were expected to set a good example for others?

Not really. I was the 6th of 7 kids, so I was only an example to my younger sister, and look how SHE turned out (heh...she doesn't read this blog).

2. What keeps you on the right path? For example, why do you think you turned out the way you did as opposed to the nut ball sniper out there?

Guilt. The possibility of being caught doing something bad, something that I shouldn't do. That fear kept me in line. Still does, to some extent, but not as much as when I was growing up.

I think it goes back to the big family thing. Any of my older brothers and sisters would have gleefully pointed to me if I made a mistake, reveling in my misery. (okay, maybe it wasn't THAT bad, but still...)

Why didn't I turn out like the nutball sniper? Because I know that what s/he's doing is wrong, and I'm not all about the power.

3. Sometimes things seem different than they really are. When was the last time you believed something to be one way only to learn you had it all wrong?

Heh. I always believed that people saw the world as I did. It was quite the eye-opener to realize that they didn't. It was never conscious, but an unconscious belief. Like why a friend lets their parent dictate their behavior. They can just say no, right? What do you mean, they can't?

Other than that, I'm always right. So anything else is irrelevant. (heh)

4. Can you recall a time when being alert and observant kept you safe?

Not really. I've managed to life a safe life, even with some travel overseas. I've been lucky that way.

5. Who in your personal circle of relationships do you think is smarter than you? Are they smarter in just one area, or overall? How do you feel about that? How do they interact with you?

How does one define "smarter?" Book-smart? Life-smart? Wise?

Lou is more life-smart than I am. I think it comes from his background and profession.

There are a few book-smarter than me, but not many, I think. Extending the circle to people I don't see weekly, but monthly, nets a few more. Jack is probably the smartest one of our bunch - comes from being an actuary, and having fun with numbers. And he can remember tons of facts and neat things.

Wise? I don't think I'm that wise, so probably a decent amount.

I'm fine with my friends and my interactions. I don't hate them if they're smarter than me, or envy them. I'm fine with myself. Though Lou's starting to get annoyed that I keep asking him things that he doesn't know the answers to, because Ken always had the answer. He was really book-smart, and trivia-smart.

6. Let's daydream a little: Describe in detail the most perfect lazy day, start to finish.

Get up late, stay in my PJs and eat cereal while watching some TV. Then I turn off the tube, curl up on the couch with a blanket, and read a favorite book.

Lunch is whatever's on hand and quick to eat. Also easily edible with one hand.

Maybe I get dressed in the afternoon, but probably not. Put down the book to watch TV while dinner is ordered out, and then back to reading again.

Fall back into bed late, finishing up book and sleeping peacefully.

7. Are you dressing up for Halloween? If so, what as? If not, how come? What is the most favorite costume you ever had?

Nope. While I love Halloween, we don't get any trick-or-treaters (we're on the third floor of a house converted into apartments), we just don't bother anymore.

It also doesn't help that Lou isn't really into Halloween. I get all excited, and get an "eh?" in response, which helps kill the mood, unfortunately. He's not discouraging me, but when he doesn't get into it as much as I do, I lose interest.

I dressed as a gypsy many times for Halloween when I was younger. Borrowed lots of Mom's jewelry, put on a flowing skirt and a blouse top, lots of scarves, etc. It was simple. I'm not a big one for costumes.

BONUS: Come on baby tell me what?s the word?

Grease? Bird? Pick one, any one.

Still working hard at work and having no time to blog, even at night. I'm just considering this an advance on NaNoWriMo.

So I'll try to play catch-up on stuff this weekend. Until then, something to tide you over...

Can't Sleep. Kittens will eat me.

I have set up a category on my Whitespace blog for my NaNoWriMo 2002 project. I will also be participating in Writing in the Dark v2 for November, and have added that as a side-link.

Now, I must try to sleep. But first, I have to get this cat off my chest. Or she will eat me.

1. If you were able to take a one-month trip anywhere in the world, with money and vacation time no object, where would you go and what would you do?

Do I have to go to just one place? *whines* Okay, I'd do Australia and New Zealand. I'd tour the countryside, see the outback and the colorful NZ countryside. Pop about in the big cities, go visit the Great Barrier Reef, and just generally relax and have fun.

2. How do you react to people who talk loudly while the movie is playing?

I turn and glare, then let Lou handle it. He's much more imposing than I am.

3. What meal do you look forward to the most?

Dinner. I love dinner. Breakfast during the week is quick, and lunches haven't been the same since WW. But dinner is my favorite meal.

Or did you mean something like a holiday meal? If that's the case, then I love the "family reunion" meals at my mom's house, when she makes all the stuff that is bad for us but we love since we had it as kids - fried chicken, au gratin potatoes, roast beef, and such. The meals can be when my brother is visiting (Jerry lives in Kansas, the rest of my siblings live in New England) or at holiday meals, though the fried chicken is usually not prepared then.

I also love dinners with my mom and Lou. My mom will have us over every few months or so, because Lou and she, and she and me, share the same love of some foods. Lou and Mom love sausage and sauerkraut, Mom and I love salmon patties.

Damn, now I'm hungry. And it's only 9:00 a.m.!

1. What is your favorite scary movie?

I don't have *a* favorite. Lou doesn't like scary movies, so we don't see them often.

I love Scream, because it's irreverent and fun yet scary. I love Jaws, because it's one of the classics of the genre. The Birds is also greatly scary...all that cawing just gets to me. The original movie made from Red Dragon, Manhunter, is great. And Silence of the Lambs is good, but I prefer book-Lecter over Hopkins-Lecter. He's more scary in the book, because he's so subtle.

2. What is your favorite Halloween treat?

Any candy! Though I love candy corn. But my favorite has to be the old snack-sized Snickers bars, before they made them so tiny that it's not worth eating just one.

3. Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, describe your best Halloween costume.

Nope. I love Halloween, Lou doesn't, so it makes for an "eh?" time in our apartment. I'd be more into it if we had our own house, then I'd go all out.

I don't dress up anymore, not since I went out trick-or-treating. And that was a long time ago.

4. Do you enjoy going to haunted houses or other spooky events?

Yep! Lou's mom does a Haunted House at the library she runs, and I get to scream the scary scream that comes from nowhere and everywhere and all around you. That's fun.

But we don't go to the Field of Screams or the Factory of Terror. I used to have a pumpkin carving party, but it's so crowded in our apartment that I stopped last year.

5. Will you dress up for Halloween this year?

Nope. No one comes by our place, so we don't do anything. In fact, Lou won't even be home this year, he'll be at Stillpoint, gaming.

1. Ever do anything over and over just to make someone else happy but discover you actually hate it?

Nope. I have difficulty hiding my feelings for long, so if I didn't like it, they'd know before I repeated it too often.

And I'd probably just tell them.

2. What kinds of obligations do you enjoy?

Family gatherings. Work when it *works* (got the firewall issues fixed! Ha, Brown, we TOLD you it was you! *sticks out tongue*)

If I've committed myself to something, then it's an obligation. So all of my games fall into that category.

3. What are your feelings about celebrating Halloween?

I love it. I wish I got more into it. But that's explained in another post, so see here.

I have a whole box of Halloween decorations in the attic. We have more for Christmas of course (my mother-in-law insisted on giving us ornaments for presents for the first few years we were in our apartment. We finally had to ask her to stop...we don't have room for a tree that big!), but Halloween is my second favorite holiday, not that it is one, but you know what I mean.

4. Are there any stories of bodily functions you would prefer people not share with you in conversation?

If I don't like something, I'll tell someone to stop. But I'm pretty open. However, I don't care to know what your dren looks like, so you can leave that out of the description, thanks.

5. What do you think is the most important aspect of personal hygiene that bothers you when people overlook it?

Eh, nothing, really. I don't have one particular thing that annoys me. I mean, I go to GenCon, which doesn't have the unwashed masses that comics conventions has (at least not since more women got involved in the hobby), but there are always exceptions.

Just make sure you smell okay, and I'll be fine.

6. Ponder the thought of being forever young, living on endlessly, being immortal. What would that life be like for you?

Boring after a time. I'd enjoy it at first, of course. Can I be undying too? So not only do I not get old, but I don't die (or I come back to life if I do die). I'd have to have that to go along with it.

There can be only one, after all.

7. What's the last thing you felt was "worth fighting for?"

Getting the promotion at my office. I'd worked hard and long for this, dammit, and I was ready to fight! Or to use an OVERused cliche, go to the mattresses!

And if Lou's job doesn't improve, he may find me ready to fight for him to get the recognition he deserves. (hmmph!)

BONUS: Sooner or later, they all will be gone...why don't they stay young?

Because then we'd all be like the kids from Miri. And we wouldn't want that now, would we?

I now have an RSS feed available for those interested. It's always kinda been there, just not advocated.

Since I have become a fan of NetNewsWire Lite, I am now looking for more blogs and newsy bits to add to it, and have made sure my own feed is available.

You can find the link below in the sidebar, or simply use this one.

If anyone knows of a good RSS newsreader for Windows, please let me know.

Does anyone know of a way, short of including everything in the excerpt feed, of enabling the RSS feed in MT to include my whole post, instead of just the excerpt?

1. Would you prefer to have had more or fewer sexual partners in your life?

More, but not a LOT more. Just one or two. There's a reason why, but I won't share it because that might embarrass some of the men in my life who read this blog. *waves at Lou, Alex*

2. You accidentally come across your teenager's diary. If you choose to, you can read it without anyone ever knowing. Do you? What if it were your spouse's?

I'd only read my teenager's diary if I had cause to be concerned about something, that he/she was keeping something from me that made me concerned for their health/safety - drug use, sexual promiscuity - but otherwise no.

As for my spouse - it'd be tempting, but no, I don't think I would.

3. You work for an ad agency, and the assignment is to come up with a slogan to get people to eat more fish. What would you suggest?

There are reasons I don't work for an ad agency. That said:

Fish is food for your brain.

See?

No, not website reorganization.

Lou's boss just had her position eliminated.

The Providence Center, where he works, is undergoing an reorganization. They've done a site-wide evaluation, and even removed some administrative positions. What no one in Lou's area ever expected was that they'd let two supervisors go, and a nurse was demoted (but it will be a good move for her...less administration and more nursing), and one of his other "bosses" isn't doing case management anymore, just admin stuff.

He called me yesterday at the end of the afternoon to tell me. He's still in shock.

The good news is that they are going to be hiring/promoting "team heads," with job descriptions going up on Monday, and he's interested in at least looking at the description and finding out what's involved, and how much more money it'd be.

Paula was appalled when I told her how much he was currently making. Yeah, we don't pay our mental health professionals enough. Sorta like what we pay our teachers.

The Great Archives determine you to have gone by the identity: Ella Fey

Known in some parts of the world as: Succubus of The Highway Thieves

The Great Archives Record: Takes more than gold from the rich on the highway - takes blood too.

Find Yours Here

Courtesy of Romance Readers Anonymous.