tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75045493794890375792024-03-13T12:58:59.240-07:00Dear HashtagLetters to my Future Daughter-in-lawAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-42060019989259767192016-03-11T12:07:00.002-08:002016-03-11T12:07:51.942-08:00Friday Flash: BardsongPawel watched her from across the smoke filled tavern, slightly drunk
and more than a little curious. Her strumming on the lute was beautiful,
but not nearly as much as her lustrous red hair or her curving ample
bosom, framed deliciously by her daringly open white shirt and simple
woven vest. Pawel knew, right then, that he had to at least talk to her,
to meet her. He continued to drink as she continued to play and sing,
and it was plainly clear that he wasn't the only one in the crowd who
appreciated her for more than just her music. As the evening progressed,
and he went from his second beer to his third, the crowd around him
gradually grew more raucous. <br /><br />Her voice began to have difficulty
overcoming the generally noise of the crowd, and was thoroughly drowned
out when they shifted to catcalls and cheering at the end of every song.
Finally it was clear she'd had enough, and she stood, yelling "This is
the last song, you dirty rascals!" and began to sing. <br /><br />"A dragon
has come to our village today," she sang loud and clear, and applause
broke out as the crowd recognized one of their favorite drinking songs.
"We asked him to read but he won't go away," she continued. "He's met
with our king..." she made a rude gesture with her hand, tongue in
cheek, implying certain indiscretions on the part of the King, "And
they've worked out a deal." She began thrusting her hips as the crowd
laughed and hollered. "No homes will be burned, and no crops will he
steal." <br /><br />She began the next stanza, "Now there's just one catch,
we dislike it so much." Her head shaking, "Twice a year he invites a hot
virgin to lunch!" She laughed and bent slightly, allowing the Pawel and
the crowd an improved perspective down her blouse. "Well," she
straightened again, drawing out the note, "we've no other choice and
we've had to much drink," she drank a long draught of ale, and the crowd
drank with her. "But still this decision has caused me to think." <br /><br />She
paused again, pondering, as the crowd took up the chorus. "Do virgins
taste better than those who are not? Are they saltier, sweeter, more
juicy or what?" The crowd roared on, most horribly out of tune and
laughing as the girl lewdly depicted eating a virgin. "Do you savor them
slowly, or gulp them down on the spot?" From their reactions to her
dance, the crowd wouldn't particularly complain at either option. "Do
virgins taste better than those who are not?" <br /><br />The song
continued, but Pawel knew that if he wanted to speak with her, he'd have
to be in just the right place, at just the right time. He slipped from
his perfect spot to watch her and moved away, to the very end of the
bar. Right where she would come out and sit, ready for a drink. He'd buy
her one first, and maybe even buy some time before the crowd surged in
and took all her time. First impressions, and all that. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-53628224426699466012016-02-23T19:03:00.001-08:002016-02-23T19:03:43.797-08:00Davor's Background<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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Davor</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
wind beat down on Davor's face, arms, chest, legs, a constant pressure of icy
cold mixed with occasional stinging needles of driven snow. The storm was just
beginning, and Davor knew that in order to complete his training, he had to
finish his meditation, his week of privation and suffering. And he had two more
days. Ignoring the needles and focusing on the heat radiating from his core,
Davor slid back into his meditative reverie, mind drifting over memories, body
melting the gathering snow. </div>
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<br /></div>
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*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Davor
knew his time in the city was limited, even as a young teen. He knew he
couldn't stay, that his father was mocked and ridiculed for having an orcboy
around, for daring to love a magnificent, wild, untamed woman. He knew deep in
his heart that he should leave and rejoin his mother, rejoin the tribe and
their wild ways, knew he was meant for the wild dancing and the brutal warfare
and the surprisingly complex shaman's rituals, but he couldn't help himself.
The city was amazing. The soft, pathetic women wore beautiful gowns that
accentuated and enhanced their form, and Davor would stare out his window at
the gaggles of them that hurried past, dressed in every shade imaginable. The boisterous
men in their trumped up finery escorting them, falling over themselves to
please these women. The best parts were duels, when a crowd spilled out of the
gentleman's club down the street. Coats on the ground, shirts ripped off,
swords in hand as the women gasped or fainted or cheered or kissed their
champion and the men mocked and circled, blades finally clashing in magnificent
crescendo, only rarely hitting more than a few times before the guard arrived. </div>
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<br /></div>
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*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
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<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Breaking
from his trance briefly, Davor shivered in the cold air. Night was falling, and
the storm continued to rage around him, venting empty fury on the cold and
lonely mountainside. Distracted for a moment, Davor pondered his place here,
his time at the monastery, and his inability to truly master the disciplines he
had been taught. Most of his brothers he joined with had long since graduated
and began wandering the world, spreading the teachings of law and love, but
Davor remained. Unable to muster the true spirit of his order, he had put off
this final challenge as long as possible, knowing that no fire lay within and
the cold would destroy him. As the years slipped by, he knew he had to face it
someday, but he just kept putting it off. Finally his master had called, and
this was his last storm. He had to survive the cold and join the brethren, or
fail and be cast out forever. Neither choice seemed ideal, and Davor pondered
how he had come here, casting his mind back into meditation to free himself
from the pressing cold wind. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>His path
to the monastery had not been easy. Half human, half orc, a civilized father
and a barbaric mother, no part of his life had ever been easy. Constantly
tormented at the prohibitively expensive school his father paid for, Davor
never managed to grow a thick skin. Teased and tortured, he fought back
brutally and often, returning insults with kicks and blows with swift punches,
but they ganged up on him, holding him as others beat him only to run to the
headmaster when he managed to land a solid blow. Davor spent many days
scrubbing floors, often cleaning his own blood off them, and eventually their
patience ran thin and his father's money was no longer enough. His education
finished, his father gave him no choice: it was time to live with his mother.
If he was going to act like an orc, he may as well join them. His father
escorted him to the tribe and, after spending enough alone time with his mother
to make a pair of younger sisters, abandoned him to his fate. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>What
made him a violent and dangerous boy in school was laughed off among the
violent and chaotic Black Suns. orcs his age had been learning the blade since
they were old enough to walk, and no matter how he tried, Davor was utterly
unable to gain any ability with them. He often resorted to using the butt of
the sword, or cutting in close and landing blows with feet, elbows, or knees, a
strategy his new peers saw as worse than worthless on a blood-soaked
battlefield. Still, he was quick and smart, and often found himself leading and
directing, guiding combats in the battle games they played; more often than not
finding victory through quick wits and sharp tactics. Davor somehow managed to
earn the grudging respect of his clanmates. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Until
the time came to raid a human town. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Bitter
cold had settled into his limbs again, and Davor knew he had to find warmth or
die in the storm. Unable to muster the inner flame his masters had spoken of,
he stood up stiffly instead. Slowly at first and then faster and faster, Davor
began to move through the semi-ritualistic patterns and movements he had been
taught. The dance of combat was no joke, and his blood began to flow, thawing
from his long meditation. As he danced, flowing from one form to the next,
Davor continued to consider his past. Anger bubbled up, but Davor knew that if
he surrendered to it he surrendered everything he had worked for, and all was
lost. Only through creating true inner peace could he survive this storm. The
masters had made that perfectly clear. The motions helped, but Davor knew he
was only buying time, that this was a short reprieve. Warmed, he continued the
dance, allowing his body to continue to flow as his mind cast back to remember
the first raid. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That
morning Davor had woken hours before the sun rose. A dozen or two warriors had accompanied
him and quite a few other younglings trying to prove themselves full members of
the tribe. The expectations had been simple and clear. Prove yourself in battle
or die trying. The whole tribe had been on the move, and they'd gone downriver
enough to be solidly in human territory - and well past the fortified and
deadly border towns. This had meant that if they were caught in the wrong place
the whole tribe could have been smashed to pieces, trapped between hammer and
anvil, but otherwise most towns would be pretty easy pickings. This was the
second village they'd come across, and it seemed simple enough the Elders had
determined it would be meant for one thing only: initiating new tribe members. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Davor
had been dreading this moment for weeks, but he knew it had to come eventually:
the moment when his true loyalty had been tested, when he turned his back on
his father and joined the Black Suns. Whatever respect he had earned, that day
had been his sole opportunity to keep it or throw it all away. Naturally he had
chosen the harder path. The moment of truth had come quickly, when they closed
in on the village, shifting from a quick walk to a hard, fast rush. Unable to
watch the town burn, Davor had given the village as much warning as he dared: a
rapid ululating orcish battle cry. The yell had ripped from his throat as they
crested the hill and had given the villagers precious time, perhaps a full
minute before the small band reached them. The other younglings, not to be
outdone, had joined in his cry, creating a cacophonous wail that had echoed
through the quiet village. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>It
hadn't been enough time. A few men rushed out, carrying axes and pikes, scythes
and swords, with no armor and little more than farm equipment. When Davor had reached
the first one, his clumsy axe had nearly cost him his life, but he had dropped
and punched the man instead, knocking him out cold. He moved on quickly,
knocking out several more men and a couple of women with well placed fists,
knees, and feet. Reaching the other side of the small village, Davor turned
back to survey the damage. Several buildings were afire, and all the other
younglings were involved in fairly intense combat with the remaining human
defenders. The next house over, hidden from view, a woman screamed in panic and
terror. Davor had rushed to her aid without even thinking, without even considering
why she screamed. The raid leader, an orc named Bloodtusk, was attacking the
woman with blatantly less than honorable intentions. Without thinking, Davor
rushed in and kicked the man's leg, snapping one of the bones in his calf with
a horrifying snap. Fully committed, he punched Bloodtusk repeatedly, punching
wildly over and over until the orc fell face first, unquestionably and
thoroughly dead. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Davor
broke from his reverie to realize that at the end of his last punch a gout of
flame had spun around his hands, warming him. He considered the death of
Bloodtusk, his abandoned life with his mother and her tribe, with his father
and his school. He contemplated how he had fled the broken corpse of the first orc
he had slain, how he had run from bullies and brutes. He meditated on his long
time avoiding all settlements and camps, avoiding humans and orcs alike. He pondered
his path that led, ultimately, to his collapse, half starved and nearly dead,
on the foot of the mountain which held the Monastery. His sisters had found him
and carried him up the mountain. His brothers had nursed him back to health.
His new masters trained him, worked with him, taught him to control his anger,
contain his wrath, handle his body and master his soul. And now, finally, in
the heart of the storm, Davor's inner fire was unleashed. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-23617288605944830722016-02-16T20:47:00.004-08:002016-02-16T20:48:05.105-08:00Writing InspirationDear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
So right now, I'm really struggling with writing. Part of it is just that I'm totally out of practice, and part of it is that I need to just sit down and do the work. And part of it is that for the last couple of years, I've been feeling utterly uninspired. Or if I do have inspiration it is for D&D, or a project with John, or stupid crap for this blog, but nothing that I feel makes a decent short story, much less has the potential for a full length novel.<br />
<br />
Which is stupid. Because I'm not a terrible writer, when I'm doing the work and writing often enough to keep my skills sharp and my brain functioning. Which I haven't been doing, so this is something to help me find the inspiration I'm looking for and sharpen my skills in the mean time.<br />
<br />
Here are my sources of inspiration which I will use to write:<br />
<ul>
<li> Pinterest! I have so much amazing art collected on pinterest, and I never use any of it. So using some sort of rational methodology, I will select an art piece and use it as a starting point. </li>
<li>Story Prompts. I typically read a dozen prompts (or more) before one speaks to me, but these can be a fun starting point. </li>
<li>Writing Challenges. For the most part I'm acquiring these from the various writing podcasts I listen to. I'm going to start collecting them and actually doing them. </li>
<li>Fan Fiction - I know, I know, but I don't care. This one is to use a major character and write a new story for them. </li>
<li>Fan Fiction Part Two - Use a minor character and write a story for them. This is much more fun, personally. </li>
<li>Wired Magazine. Science fiction is surprisingly interesting, so the idea here is to read an article, take it to some extreme conclusion, and write a story in that world. </li>
<li>Fables, Myths, Religious Stories and Fairy Tales. Write the "True" story. Or a modern rendition. Or a new take on it. This is a classic way to learn structures. </li>
<li>Podcasts. What? I listen to so many, these are a constant source of ideas. The basic idea is to take whatever I'm listening to when I sit down to write and figure out how to make a story out of it. We'll see how well this actually works. </li>
<li>Current Events. There's always something going on. This is similar to the Wired concept - take a current news event and craft a story from something contained therein. </li>
<li>World Building. This isn't a prompt, just background stuff. The idea here is to take an existing fiction piece, craft additional stuff in the world, and then either add to the story or start a new one in the same world. </li>
<li>Character Building. Again, not really a prompt, but the idea is to take a secondary or tertiary character in an existing piece and write a new story just for that character. </li>
<li>Twitter - There are tons of challenges, prompts, and ideas on twitter, so I just search for something, find it, and write. </li>
<li>Idea Notebook - When an actual idea comes to me, I'm writing it down. I currently only have a couple, but am slowly adding them. Hopefully I will add them more frequently than I use them, since that's what it is for. This will take one and make a story from it. </li>
<li>Expand an existing piece. Add to it, or flesh it out, or just start a new scene or a new chapter. </li>
<li>Polish an existing piece. One single existing piece, go through and edit, search for junk words and crappy dialogue and make it better. </li>
</ul>
So that's my plan. Make lots and lots of work until I write something I think is actually good, until I find the inspiration I need to make real stories or a full novel. And then write more. <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-26591850901717288022016-02-15T18:01:00.001-08:002016-02-15T18:01:17.425-08:00Podcast CatgoriesDear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
As I continue to write and discuss podcasts, I definitely feel the need to break them down into categories. I currently listen to well over a hundred different podcasts, with an average cycle time (how often I get through the entire list) of about two weeks. I want to cull this down at some point, but so far I seem to be finding MORE podcasts to listen to, not less. Anyway, I have a wide variety of topics which I'm currently listening to. Here's a list. If there's any you're particularly curious about, let me know and I will add them to the top of my "To Discuss Soon" list. Otherwise I'll probably do them somewhat randomly.<br />
<br />
Food and Drink -These are podcasts about food, cooking, culinary science, and drinks.<br />
<br />
Stories - These are about the story. Some are fiction, most aren't. Story oriented. This is a whole genre, believe it or not. Many individual episodes overlap with other categories. <br />
<br />
Writing and Language - This is actually a substantially varied group. First there are podcasts about writing itself, primarily the work of writing as well as how to get published. Second there are podcasts about words, language, word history, etc. Finally there are discussions about specific books and author interviews.<br />
<br />
Religion - Although this was once primarily about Mormonism, my listening has broadened to include Hindi, Buddhism, meditation and spirituality.<br />
<br />
Money - This is either about personal finance or economics.<br />
<br />
History - One of my favorite categories. All the history.<br />
<br />
Sex - Some of these are about having sex, some are about struggles with sex and sexuality, and a couple are simply erotica. <br />
<br />
Current Events and News - This category is one of the only ones where I listen to shows from most recent back, instead of oldest first. Because it is so much more relevant than the minutiae of current events from 2009.<br />
<br />
Gaming - Primarily RPG's, this also includes board gaming and game shows.<br />
<br />
Science and Technology - pretty self explanatory. Woo!<br />
<br />
Miscellaneous - These don't fit in any other category and there's not really a rational way I've found yet to split them off and give them their own label. As the number of podcasts I listen to has increased, the number of shows in this category have decreased. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-72762004091022609652016-02-05T10:56:00.000-08:002016-02-05T10:56:01.763-08:00Pure Dialogue: Pretty Boy<br />"Kind of a pretty boy, isn't he?"<br />
<br />
"What? No, I just..."<br />
<br />
"You just can't stop staring at him. You haven't moved from this spot in the last twenty minutes, and you stopped talking about five minutes ago. He is good looking, I suppose, just kind of.. pretty."<br />
<br />
"Oh, Nat. I'm sorry. I've been listening, I really have. The new girl is totally hot and you're distracted at work and there's a chance your boss might have noticed."<br />
<br />
"Well, you may have been listening, but your advice sucks. I'm not going to sleep with her any more than you're going to bang Mr Pretty Boy over there."<br />
<br />
"You think I couldn't? I'm not good enough for him?"<br />
<br />
"Ugh, don't be such a drama queen, Beth. Of course you're good enough. You're more than good enough, he'd be wrapped around your finger in no time. That's not the point."<br />
<br />
"Then what is the point?"<br />
<br />
"The point is, sleeping with Mr Pretty Boy won't get you where you want to go in life. It won't make you happy, it won't make you successful, it won't even make you feel better about yourself. Ditto Angie at my work. Well, except she might make me happy."<br />
<br />
"Why are we still talking about this?"<br />
<br />
"Because you're still staring, and he's coming over to talk. Hey, good luck. I'm gonna sneak off and get fresh drinks, ok?"<br />
<br />
(Dialogue Prompt: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/323274079479137287/)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-89837651831941480262016-01-29T15:13:00.002-08:002016-01-29T15:17:22.572-08:00Noises in the NightI picked up a writing challenge for my Friday Flash this week, because I don't have an existing piece written and wasn't sure where to start. It asked me to find 10 first lines (from an anthology, but I'm using other Friday Flash pieces I found on twitter, and provided links to the originals) and then write a new scene, at least 200 words, using one of those as a starter. Sounds like fun, right?<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>“Babe, could you please check outside?” (<a href="https://cindyvaskova.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/baby-i-call-hell/" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>The days were growing short, and the air turning chill when the visitors came. (<a href="https://ineffableangel.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/halloween-special-crescent-rose-book-of-ghosts/" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>The door wouldn’t open. (<a href="https://catherinerussellwriter.wordpress.com/2016/01/29/friday-flash-ziggy-and-helga/" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>Night’s candles have burnt out. (<a href="http://www.litro.co.uk/2016/01/67577/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>It was the bunny ring on the middle finger of her left hand that caught his attention. (<a href="http://blog.annatsp.com/2016/01/fridayflash-bunny-ring.html" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>The large oval mirror in the corner of the dusty study began to glow a brilliant light blue. (<a href="http://sebatt.com/2016/01/29/flash-friday-29012015-world-trip/" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>Although I’ve worked as a waiter, off and on, for years, I
never wanted to open a restaurant myself... (<a href="http://christophermunroe.blogspot.com/2016/01/my-restaurant.html?spref=tw" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>The preparation was not ritualized in any manner whatsoever. (<a href="http://sulcicollective.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/miso-soup-friday-flash.html" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>Police are investigating a string of murders across London. (<a href="http://laurajblake.tumblr.com/post/137811758038/putting-out-the-fire" target="_blank">Link</a>)</li>
<li>Who the fuck is playing Joy Division? (<a href="http://www.litro.co.uk/2016/01/torn-apart/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=socialnetwork" target="_blank">Link</a>) </li>
</ol>
So I'm going with... the first one.<br />
<br />
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"Babe, could you please check outside?"<br />
<br />
Mark rolled over, and grunted incoherently. He sat up from their small futon
and slid the nearest slippers onto his feet. Bunnies. He grunted again, and then
looked back at Jess. "What am I checking for?"<br />
<br />
"I heard a noise," she said, "Downstairs. I think it came
from the fire escape." Just as she finished, a clank outside confirmed her
theory and she squeaked loudly. "Please check and make sure it is just a
cat or something?" Eyes wide, sheet pulled up to her neck, Mark couldn't
say no. He walked down the spiral stairs from the loft to the main floor and,
stumbling across the ottoman cursed softly. <br />
He opened the ottoman and pulled out his old knife, testing the edge quickly
on his thumb. "Still sharp," he muttered.<br />
<br />
"Mark?" Jess whispered loudly from the top of the stairs. Mark
shushed her, and moved to the large window which led out to the fire escape.
Even in the dark of night the city was plainly lit, streetlights and
skyscrapers polluting the air with a constant glow, making it pretty easy to
see outside. Nothing. Just metal. He craned his neck up to see what was above
them, but still. Nothing.<br />
<br />
"Jess, I don't see anything," he said, talking normally.<br />
<br />
"Can you open it and check, please?" She stopped whispering, too. "I've
got my phone, so if it isn't a cat we can call the police," she said, her
phone illuminating her face.<br />
<br />
Rolling his eyes as he turned back to the window, Mark said "Okay. And
then we're going back to bed." He unlocked the window and looked out. He
checked down below and twisted, looking up. The neighbors upstairs had put
planters on their escape - a technical violation, but not one anyone worried
about. Still they formed large shadows, so he couldn't see above very well. He
watched for a minute, then bent back inside and closed the window.<br />
<br />
"There's nothing, sweetheart." Just as he spoke, a resounding clang
echoed from the fire escape and a fist pounded on the window.<br />
<br />
"Who..." Mark started, but before he could get the words out, the
window flung open and a man leapt through. Mark's hand rose instinctively,
knife at the ready. "What do you want?"<br />
<br />
"Whoa, Mark, fuck. Put that away!" the man yelped.<br />
<br />
It took a second for the voice to sink in, knife already moving toward the
stranger, but Mark recognized the voice and stopped the blade.
"Nate?" <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Jessica's voice rose behind him, "Yes, there's a man who just broke into our house! Please send the police right away! </span><br />
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<![endif]-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-48595924374068654412016-01-21T19:21:00.001-08:002016-02-16T20:48:17.228-08:00On Podcast AppsDear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
So it turns out...<br />
<br />
I'm incredibly picky when it comes to my podcast apps. This week I got a new phone, an iPhone, and tragically the podcast app I've been using doesn't exist within the Applesphere. Android Only. So I went shopping. Now, first just let me say: I hate paying for apps. I know, that's a pretty Android User thing to say, but it is the truth. And some apps within Apple cost $20! Or More! It is completely insane, and I don't understand it in the slightest. So when my buddy suggested and app that "only" costs $3.99, I just laughed and went hunting.<br />
<br />
First up I looked at Stitcher. I've heard really good things about it, and I must say it is SHINY. If you don't care about bells and whistles and just want the most recent episodes of a few shows along with a Netflixian recommendation algorithm, Stitcher is the way to go. It is pretty impressive. But... the settings suck. Just to be clear, they are absolutely horrendous. Your choices are basically to subscribe or not, and what speed to play at.<br />
<br />
I looked at a couple of other free apps, and none of them allowed me the flexibility I was looking for: to select play order, to build queues, to allow me to mark old episodes as already listened to, and to automatically delete played episodes. That's not too much to ask, is it?<br />
<br />
Finally I found one, but even it has several downsides. First off, it uses RSS feeds instead of pulling from Apple's store, so the selection of episodes within a single show vary somewhat (as some shows retire episodes faster or slower for RSS than they do within Apple). Some shows are just plain unavailable via RSS (this was a problem when I first switched to using one that sourced from Apple in the first place, so it goes both ways). And finally...<br />
<br />
On all my podcast posts in the past, I've been putting some statistics about what my listening time is and stuff... but I'm going to have to change the format slightly, as the information given to me is different.<br />
<br />
Overall though? It does the trick.<br />
<br />
Now I just have to finish importing all 100+ feeds, update the episodes I've listened to, and start building myself a playlist. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-85101486649063291932016-01-14T19:19:00.000-08:002016-02-16T20:48:28.970-08:00D&D Background Rough DraftDear Hashtag -<br />
<br />
I don't post fiction particularly often, but I really enjoyed writing this particular piece, so you can have it anyway. This is the background information for a level one character, a warpriest named Sasha. I don't really have a campaign for her at the moment, which is too bad because she's awesome. On the other hand, I may just flesh her out, make her either an NPC in my world or a character in an actual, like, story. I haven't decided yet. I have decided that this makes me want to write character backgrounds like this for Davor and Alwedd, my current characters. I might work on that at some point. <br />
<br />
Mom, this includes some graphic stuff, you may want to just skip this one.<br />
<br />
Without Further Ado:<br />
Sasha.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The sunlight glittered across Sasha's shield, displaying the
glittering Sword of Justice in all its righteous glory. A paladin for Iomedae,
Sasha strode across the clearing, ready and determined for the task at hand.
The cult spreads out around her, and are no match for her spinning blade, her
sturdy shield, and her divine glory. Having dedicated the past decade to
obliterating the forces of evil, Sasha faces no hesitation about destroying
these evil demon worshippers, until suddenly the forces in front of her break,
and a young boy enters the clearing. Just to make sure, Sasha quickly checks to
see if he is evil, and finds to her chagrin that he is not. She hesitates,
unsure, and in that moment something heavy slams into her helm, knocking her to
the ground. Immediately bound, gagged, and silenced, she watches in horror as
the boy is summarily executed in front of her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This, it turns out, is only the beginning of the torture.
Although the cultists aren't particularly creative, their brutal methods are
effective, and Sasha repeatedly finds herself on the brink of despair, mind
drifting as her body screams in agony as yet another hot poker finds her tender
skin. Her days end in sweet unconsciousness and her mornings begin with prayer,
seeking Iomedae's protection. Somehow she manages to shield herself and stays
strong, and eventually the cultists give up. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally, days or perhaps weeks later, Sasha is dragged out
of her cell. One of the leaders speaks, but she can't make out the words. Her
mind drifts again as he drones on, and she doesn't hear his questions, his
fury, nor his final condemnation. As her body is carried upward, her mind
slowly rejoins it, until she fully realizes her predicament. The chanting in
the room is in some demonic language she knows nothing of, and the lewd dance
the cultists perform makes her avert her eyes, knowing she will die a martyr on
this pathetic altar in their profane fortress they call a temple. Strong and
stalwart, she blinks back tears and watches, horrified, as the ritual nears
completion. Finally, a woman emerges from the crowd, naked save for a bloody
red gemstone set in her forehead. This moment sears into her memory forever. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman walks slowly to the altar, chanting softly and
then loudly, volume and cadence alternating in some seemingly random fashion.
She takes a knife, and very carefully slices a series of wounds across Sasha's
body, until her heart is in the woman's hands, still beating, still a part of
her. Somehow she is numb, her body unfeeling, although her mind reels in fear
and terror. The heart is placed inside a bowl, her blood used to fill a series
of niches along the altar. A circle of blood. Runes of blood. An holy sacrifice
inside, strong and unbroken. The ritual completes, and a demon more powerful
than any Sasha has ever seen emerges. His fury is palpable, but he stares down
at Sasha in amazement. After seconds, minutes, hours, he turns to the woman.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"Your sacrifice
is acceptable. My lieutenant and his army will ally with you, under your
command." His voice is deep, and Sasha is horrified to realize that
somehow she has understood his vile tongue. The massive demon turns again,
places her heart back within her chest, and somehow forces her to use her own
divine power to heal herself. He picks her up as though she were a small child,
cradling her weak body in his arms, and carries her back through the magic
circle, deep into his demonic home. As he walked, she watched an army stream
past her, hundreds of demons swarming through circle, and wondered how it was
possible she was worth so much. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She had the opportunity to find out, as the days and weeks
passed. Where the cultists had brought her close to breaking with their violent
yet effective methods, the demons forced her mind to dance a line of sanity she
never thought possible. Creativity was not their problem, and often when her
mind drifted she knew that if it weren't for the divine protection, this
powerful shield that allowed her to keep some parts of herself separate,
everything that made her Sasha would eventually be lost. Her body burned, her
mind burned, but somehow a tiny pocket of her soul, a miniscule tidbit of her
mind, was kept safe. Secure. Holy. Devout. Whenever she awoke, the demon
watched her, laughing, as he placed her hand upon her chest and healed her with
her own faith.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She kept Faith. She kept knowledge that she was not this
broken body, not this broken mind, but that she was Sasha, a divine warrior
of... something. The rest she lost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
childhood was burned in a fire that scorched her feet. Her faith healed her.
Her first romance was pierced repeatedly with tiny needles inside her belly
button. Her devotion healed her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her
vows and divine order disappeared in the death of a dozen small animals and
three infants as she screamed in fury and fear. Her belief healed her. Her time
serving Iomedae was driven out as she wept, each tear matched with a drop of
blood. Her piety healed her. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until one day, the last ounce of strength was gone. The god
she once served, she could no longer remember. The honor, faith, peity and
devotion had been obliterated in pain and horror. When he placed her hand upon
her chest, she no longer healed. Her faith had at last, failed. Laughing, he
brought in another man and used his power to bless her, the shining glory of
his faith blinding her and awakening something inside. The demon placed a sword
in her hand and she stared at it for a long time, until the comfortable
familiarity of it awakened something more and she reached out for something. A
shield was placed in her hand, and that far corner of her mind awoke, distant,
but familiar with sword and board. She stretched for a moment, and then smiling
turned toward the demon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He smiled in return hideous and vile, and when he spoke she
understood nothing that streamed forth from his mouth. She smiled more broadly,
stepped forward, and slammed her sword deep into the demons chest. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He roared. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He bled. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He staggered to his knees, confused and furious, and
bellowed deeply. A group of demons charged through an entryway, and Sasha
fought brutally and mercilessly. She fought for her life, which she had
forgotten. She fought for her mind, which she had lost. She fought for her
soul, which she had somehow managed to shield. She was nothing but Sword,
Shield, and Faith. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She wasn't enough. Struggling, beaten, shield cast aside and
sword broken, she failed. A spear hurtled toward her throat and she prayed, accepting
her defeat. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The demon swatted it out of the air, rage and fury filled
his face, and he declared her sentence. "Make her suffer it all, but do
not give her the mercy of death." His face twisted into a smile, still
full of hate. "Let her drift in misery forever, that her soul may never
return to a divine realm." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pain lasted an eternity. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She floated, lost, for eons. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sasha knew nothing but pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Slowly it ebbed, and Sasha knew she was Sasha. And pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And the pain ebbed further, and Sasha remembered pain, and
her Faith. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her pain eased, and Sasha knew her pain. And her Sword. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pain faded, and she remembered the pain and her Shield. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The pain ended, and she floated lost, until her Faith
cradled her. Her Sword guided her. Her Shield protected her and finally she no
longer felt pain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A flash of color sprang across the empty nothingness and a
thing emerged, wholly indescribable. It spoke in whispers of color and taste,
and she spoke back in sound and pain. Curious, it took her in, restored her
body to health, and listened. It listened to her story and spoke in vision and
smell and she reeled under the onslaught of flavored syllables and colored
smells. Finally it grew bored, and with a grunt of disgust shoved her through a
door. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
She fell. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Plummeted. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hurtled. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Down. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Deep. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Until another door opened and she landed in a crumpled heap
in a forgotten cottage on the edge of a forest. A small, decrepit old man
walked in, shrieked, and fled. A few moments later a young cleric entered. He
gave her his cloak and took her to his temple, where he nursed her back to
health, back to sanity. He taught her his prayers and she took to them with
fierce devotion. He taught her the glory of Bellistor, the teachings of his
order, and the simple Faith that served in this crazy world. As they spoke,
long conversations over hoeing vegetables and painting blood runes, he knew she
was unfit to be a Paladin. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her soul was shattered. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He spoke further of his Clerical duties, his devotion to
Bellistor, his order and what their vows meant and as time passed, he knew she
could never be a cleric either. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Her mind was broken. The first he could never fix, the
second he could dry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He worked with her, prayed with her, slept with her and
fought with her, and slowly she healed, but as she healed she grew restless,
and he knew she needed more. Eventually he concluded she had potential to serve
his god as a great divine knight. Her faith was strong, her sword was mighty
and her shield was blessed. She painted his symbol across her shield, donned
armor, and marched forth with three goals: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kill the Demon. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Spread the word of Bellistor.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Find out what the fuck that Thing was and thank it properly.
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-6351502805514117722016-01-13T18:17:00.000-08:002016-02-16T20:48:43.402-08:0040 x 40, Habitica, & DiceDear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
So we have a tradition in our family where we make miniature bucket lists filled with (potentially) achievable goals. The boys are on their 10 by 10 lists (that is, 10 things by age 10) and Holly is on her 30 x 30, but alas... I'm too old for that list. And I found that my 30 x 30 list was... ambitious. Overly so, I think. To be fair, I wrote it when I was 25, thinking graduation was just around the corner and a successful career would spell the end of our financial troubles. While we're getting there, I decided to do things a bit differently for my 40 x 40. I picked 8 sets of things to have as goals/bucket list items, and for each of those sets I have 5 things. Tada, instant list. Needless to say, this was difficult.<br />
<br />
My full list is actually on Pinterest, you can find the board here: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/kaminoshi/40-x-40/" target="_blank">40 x 40</a><br />
<br />
Well, technically those are the ones I haven't completed yet. Which is most of them.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I'm doing this <a href="https://habitica.com/" target="_blank">Habitica </a>thing, which I would highly recommend. It is basically an RPG for your life - you add your own habits, daily tasks, and to-do list items, and you get experience and treasure for completing them. It is a gamification thing, but it actually helps, particularly if your friends join! So if you do decide to join, let me know so we can team up and go questing together. That adds accountability and helps me, at least, try harder.<br />
<br />
But I don't want to add my 40 x 40 things here, since they are such huge and lofty goals and would just sit there. Instead, I started this monthly dice challenge where you roll a die and work on that specific thing that month. I think this would be a great way for me to focus in on my list. It is random, fun, and allows me to shift focus from month to month so I don't get bored.<br />
<br />
But instead of picking specific goals, I'm going with 6 of the 8 categories, and then I'll select a specific one from that category to work on. My categories are Career, Finances, Experiences, Learning, Self Improvement, Travel, D&D/Gaming, and Sexy Time. I think career and travel are outside the bounds of this particular method, so my six dice categories are:<br />
<br />
1. Self Improvement<br />
2. Finances<br />
3. Experiences<br />
4. D&D<br />
5. Sexy Time<br />
6. Learning<br />
<br />
Now, it is important to note that I don't actually have to achieve my goal in any given month, just that I have to make an honest effort. And I may end up splitting some of these up in the future and pulling Finances, since right now there isn't much to do in terms of "honest effort" toward purchasing our first home. We're just not there yet.<br />
<br />
Anyway, wish me luck!<br />
DomAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-46855673930253179812016-01-08T19:29:00.001-08:002016-01-08T19:29:06.564-08:00Top Ten Podcasts (Part two)Dear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
Here's the remainder of my top ten podcasts. But first!<br />
<br />
Current Stats: <br />
Total Number of Episodes downloaded:18<br />
Total Playtime of downloaded episodes: 9:40:20<br />
Total Number of Podcasts Subscribed: 111<br />
Total Number of Unlistened Episodes:11127<br />
Estimated Time of Unlistened Episodes: 35 Weeks, 4 Days, 3 Hours, 12 Minutes, and 43 Seconds<br />
Podcast I'm in the middle of: <a href="http://storycollider.org/" target="_blank">The Story Collider;</a> <a href="http://www.kitchensisters.org/fugitivewaves/" target="_blank">Fugitive Waves</a>; <a href="http://www.npr.org/series/423302056/hidden-brain" target="_blank">Hidden Brain </a>- This took me a while to write, so you get a glimpse at my playlist... <br />
Number 6: <a href="http://gastropod.com/" target="_blank">Gastropod</a><br />
<br />
This delicious podcast is all about food - food science, food history, food facts, food stories... while I don't recommend listening while on an empty stomach, the show is full of delightful tidbits about food. I recently listened to an episode about where "Natural and Artificial Flavors" come from, and the difference between the two (hint: think legal, not scientific), and the episode about cheese was phenomenal. Heading on two years old, this show has skyrocketed to the top of my list since I started listening.<br />
<br />
Mom, this show occasionally has fowl language, but never anything foul. <br />
<br />
Number 5: <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/" target="_blank">Radiolab</a><br />
<br />
This podcast is great, one of my personal favorites for years. Full of sciency stories, this should already be on your list. If you aren't listening to this podcast, get started ASAP. I have found, however, that I particularly enjoy their Shorts, which are one self enclosed story, rather than full episodes which are anywhere from four to ten stories along a theme, but... whatever. I think this is the second or third podcast I ever discovered, and I still listen to it today.<br />
<br />
Mom, this show rarely has bad language, and if they do they give a warning. Their full episodes never do - they are prepped for public radio - but the Shorts can occasionally. <br />
<br />
Number 4: <a href="http://www.werealive.com/" target="_blank">We're Alive</a><br />
<br />
This podcast was recommended to me by a coworker, and it is my favorite (and one of very few) fiction based podcasts. It tells the story of a group of survivors in a zombie apocalypse, and I have to say... these guys are way smarter, better developed characters and more terrifying zombies than anything you'll find in Walking Dead. The story is told Radio Show style, with various characters voice-acted by different people, and a shifting narrator from characters writing in "journals." It is deep, evocative, and occasionally sexy (but nothing too risque so far).<br />
<br />
Mom, this show does have language. I doubt this is up your alley anyway. <br />
<br />
Number 3: <a href="http://www.goodjobbrain.com/" target="_blank">Good Job Brain</a><br />
<br />
This is my favorite "Trivia/Game Show" podcast. It is just a group of friends who pick a theme, research trivia around the theme, and then quiz each other. Every fifth episode is an "All Quiz Bonanza" which means there isn't really a theme, but they don't tell stories or background for most of it, just quizzes. Both formats are tons of fun. A few of the segments are annoying - ELVIS in particular gets under my skin. Overall, though, this show has me laughing all the way to work.<br />
<br />
Mom, this show doesn't really have bad language, but is full of puns. And poop jokes. So many poop jokes. <br />
<br />
Number 2: <a href="http://www.revolutionspodcast.com/" target="_blank">Revolutions</a><br />
<br />
I can't even begin to express to you how amazing this show is. Mike Duncan, the podcaster, originally worked on the History of Rome Podcast, which is amazing. When he eventually ran out of Rome to History about, he started this project. He first discusses the Glorious Revolution in 17th Century England, then the 18th Century American Revolution, followed by the the French and then Haiti. I'm currently in the middle of the French (ok, the dawn. They just stormed the Bastille) and I must say, this series is phenomenal. The episodes are short, with long arching discussions over each "season," and an impressive amount of research, source material, and simplification. His understanding of the material is magnificent, and he really brings the events to life. I can't say enough good things about it. Anyone with any interest in history, politics, economics, liberty, freedom, America, France, terrorism, humanity or modern social mores should consider listening. And then listen. At the very least to the season which pertains to their country (If/when it is covered, if it hasn't been already). I can't wait to see where else this goes.<br />
<br />
Mom, I don't remember any language in this, although I suspect as he moves into modernity some of his sources might be brasher. He'll probably edit though. <br />
<br />
Number 1: <a href="http://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/" target="_blank">Hardcore History </a><br />
<br />
You knew my top two would both be History, right? I'll have you know, I left at least half a dozen history podcasts off my top ten. Dan Carlin... is amazing. This podcast is why I listen to podcasts. This podcast inspires me to read, to write, to live a better life. He has a political one too, which is decent, but Hardcore History is the most amazing podcast in existence. The episodes are LONG - hours and hours, and he breaks big topics into multiple episodes - WWI is 6 episodes and clocks in at just under 24 hours. The episodes are complex, and I can't listen to them while doing brain work - coding or difficult issues - but they are perfect for long walks or quiet evenings playing Civilization.<br />
<br />
Right now they are available back to the Khans series - he sells the older ones. If you ever want to buy me his complete collection, they aren't too expensive, a buck a show, and considering how long they are that really isn't asking much.<br />
<br />
Mom, the language here is pretty safe, but he doesn't squirm away from graphic details, and since his topics often cover war, that can get intense.<br />
<br />
So that's my top ten list! Sorry it took me forever!<br />
All my love,<br />
Dominic Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-44980987318494723692016-01-06T20:55:00.000-08:002016-01-06T20:55:07.976-08:0010 Things I Can Do that make me HappyThe following is a list of ten things I can do on any particular day that make me happy. This is really for me, so if you don't like them, bugger off.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Play Civilization </li>
<li>Play a board game</li>
<li>Play D&D</li>
<li>Have super hot sex with my lovely wife</li>
<li>Take the boys to a park, museum, or community event</li>
<li>Eat some seriously delicious chocolate</li>
<li>Accomplish something difficult at work</li>
<li>Clear all my dailies on Habitica (yeah, right)</li>
<li>Go to the Beach</li>
<li>Hang out with friends</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-81047183346362527282015-04-12T20:32:00.003-07:002015-04-12T20:32:38.307-07:00Top Ten Podcasts (Part One)Dear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
Here's the first few of my top ten podcasts, 10-7. But first!<br />
<br />
Current Stats: <br />
Total Number of Episodes downloaded:18<br />
Total Playtime of downloaded episodes: 11:40:37<br />
Total Number of Podcasts Subscribed: 93<br />
Total Number of Unlistened Episodes: 8101<br />
Estimated Time of Unlistened Episodes: 31 Weeks, 1 Day, 23 Hours, 39 Minutes, and 32 Seconds<br />
Podcast I'm in the middle of: <a href="http://www.radiolab.org/" target="_blank">Radiolab</a><br />
<h4>
And now, #10: <a href="http://www.sporkful.com/" target="_blank">The Sporkful</a></h4>
Billed as being "Not for foodies, it's for eaters," this podcast takes the tradition food show, chops it up and makes guacamole out of it. The host, Dan Pashman, interviews his guest (typically only one, but occasionally a panel) about one specific kind of food, from chicken wings or guacamole to Matzoh or Chocolate. Whatever he's discussing, Dan asks the hard questions, like whether it is more important to have bite consistency or bite variety, how good the mouth-feel is, and how to solve tortilla breakage or matzoh snapping. Whether you care for the food or not, Dan's light attitude and serious agenda makes this a fun and educational podcast.<br />
<br />
Just don't listen if you're skipping lunch, because trust me, you'll regret it.<br />
<br />
Mom, you don't have to worry about language on this one. <br />
<h4>
Next up, #9: <a href="http://www.npr.org/programs/ask-me-another/" target="_blank">Ask Me Another</a></h4>
Produced by NPR and WNYC, this show is hosted by the marvelous Ophira Eisenburg, in front of a live audience in Brooklyn (most of the time. Every now and then they hit the road). For the bulk of the show, two competitors square off against each other for trivia, word games, and puzzles. There's a guest, who she interviews very briefly and then torments with a quiz segment, and a final round, where all the previous round winners compete, spelling bee style, for the title of Champion.<br />
<br />
All of this is fun, light, and interesting, but my absolute favorite part is that they have a house musician, and 90% of the time it is <a href="http://www.jonathancoulton.com/store/downloads/" target="_blank">Jonathan Coulton</a>. I've liked this guy for a long time; he has a silly, folksy style that is pretty funny, and a lot of his music is free (all the ones on that page with smiley faces). Some day I'll buy all his albums... but he makes this podcast. He typically places a couple of musical interludes, and there is usually one music segment where the questions are sung (and often the answers too). While some musical purists would be appalled at his butchery of the Beatles, YMCA, or songs about different cities all over the country, I find them to be hilarious and unquestionably the best part of an already great show. If you like trivia or quiz shows AT ALL, this podcast is for you.<br />
<br />
Mom, this show was made for radio, so you should be fine with the language here. <br />
<br />
Number 8: <a href="http://shakerattleandroleplay.libsyn.com/" target="_blank">Shake, Rattle and Roleplay </a><br />
<br />
This is my top RPG podcast, for a few reasons: the episodes are relatively short, they talk about food, and they have tips and advice that is helpful no matter what game you're playing. Billed as "High Trust, High Drama" role play, they have great advice on world building, character creation, props, acting, and in every episode: food. Any podcast that spends this much time on ways to feed a horde of hungry gamers is a podcast I enjoy. Ultimately, this podcast has only one real downside, and it will probably result in this being taken out of my top ten in short order: not enough episodes. A tragic but inevitable end, pod-fading is a serious issue sometimes, and this podcast seems to have fallen victim to it.<br />
<br />
Mom, the language on this one can get a little salty, but I doubt you're interested anyway. <br />
<br />
And finally (for today) #7: <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/podcasts/lexicon_valley.html" target="_blank">Lexicon Valley</a><br />
<br />
This podcast is all about language, well, the English Language, and all the various idiosyncrasies, bizarre histories, and grammatical histrionics involved therein. Primarily involving spoken English, they cover topics ranging from the history of profanity to 'R' dropping accents. The two hosts are clearly friends and they both often take the position of devil's advocate in order to show both sides of an argument. They interview linguists and historians, primarily, in order to gain a fuller understanding of any given issue. Sometimes they do shows which are related to current events, but generally they just cover whatever linguistic quirk catches their attention that week.<br />
<br />
Mom, the language on this podcast varies widely from one episode to the next, but if an episode does contain strong language, they put a warning at the beginning of the podcast AND in the show notes.<br />
<br />
So there you go. I'll post soon with more of my top ten!<br />
DominicAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-50525294036240553882015-04-05T08:27:00.002-07:002015-04-05T08:27:48.675-07:00Why I listen to Podcasts (and you should too)Dear Hashtag,<br />
<br />
This is the first in a series of discussion on podcasts, including why I listen to them, my methods for listening to them, and my favorite podcasts, along with reviews, if I get that far. My current subscription list for podcasts is nearing 100, and I generally manage to get through the entire list about once a week or so, which is a lot of listening time, so I feel comfortable declaring myself an expert as a podcast listener. To start, here are my stats.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Current Stats:</h2>
Total Number of Episodes downloaded: 12<br />
Total Playtime of downloaded episodes: 7:55:38<br />
Total Number of Podcasts Subscribed: 91 (80 with episodes available)<br />
Total Number of Unlistened Episodes: 8022<br />
Estimated Time of Unlistened Episodes: 12139 Hours. Or 1 Year, 20 Weeks, and 19 Hours.<br />
Podcast I'm in the middle of: The Tome Show<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
3 Reasons Why I Listen to Podcasts:</h2>
#3. Podcasts act as white noise. Particularly at work, podcasts allow me to ignore the office distractions, the pointless conversations, and the general noise and hubbub of the cubicle farm. When I'm doing something mundane, a good intellectual podcast helps pass the time without me getting bored and wandering facebook for the sixth time that hour. When I'm doing something that takes significantly more brain power, a music podcast or a topic I'm more familiar with helps me concentrate and focus on the task at hand.<br />
<br />
#2. Podcasts make the commute go faster. While I try to read on the bus itself, I listen to podcasts on the walk to the train station, or from the bus stop to work, or down to the grocery store. In these moments I tend to prefer story oriented podcasts, or the stuff that is harder to concentrate on at work, like history podcasts or the faster moving trivia shows.<br />
<br />
#1. Podcasts Educate! Podcasts Inform! Podcasts Entertain! Podcasts are, well, just plain awesome. Podcasts have all the advantages of radio, with a few extra to boot. They can be as long or short as the podcaster desires. They can be as foul-mouthed as they want, and can discuss topics which would never get past the censorship boards. They generally have far fewer ads, with most having one or two sponsors (although I can't even begin to explain how tired I am of hearing about Audible).<br />
<br />
So that's why I listen to podcasts. Soon I'll have my top ten up, and then I'll probably start doing specific genres and discussing the podcasts I listen to within those genres. Mixed in with those I'll talk about the methods I use, the crazy ways I organize things, a full list of my current subscriptions, and more. If it lasts long enough, I'll start doing reviews of individual podcasts.<br />
<br />
Thanks for reading,<br />
DomAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-80442741962354134482014-09-18T11:17:00.000-07:002014-09-18T11:21:39.901-07:00Alternative Play: D&D Miniatures "Draft"<br />
So, one of the biggest issues with D&D, in my experience, is the difference in investment required by players compared to DM's. When you play extended campaigns with the same group and are all enjoying the game, the player typically needs to buy (at most) a book or two, while the DM buys another book or two on top of that, plus extra dice, pencils, maps, terrain tiles, food, and of course, miniatures. Now, there are solid arguments about not using minis, or about alternatives to minis, but I personally really like them and enjoy having them. But, as a DM, it can be really really hard to justify having them. <br />
<br />
So, basically, this is a way to have a really unique D&D experience. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Requirements</h3>
<br />
First and foremost, this system would fundamentally require the new edition of D&D. Not that it would be impossible for 4th or Pathfinder, but with those systems character creation takes longer, which is a significant hindrance. Being able to quickly build and run a character would be essential. I suppose if every player has access to Hero Lab, that could work, but... <br />
<br />
Each player should have a Player's Handbook or, at the very least, a printed copy of the Basic Rules. And Dice. And a pencil. <br />
<br />
The DM should have also have a Player's Handbook, mostly for rules clarification and spells. This would be less essential as system mastery increases. In addition, the DM should have the Monster Manual (which is available soon). And Dice. And a pencil. And probably index cards. (See? Already the investment level for this player is higher than the others!) <br />
<br />
Finally, every person at the table should bring a brand new, unopened set of random miniatures from the new 5th edition line. (These boxes have 4 minis. The older boxes, if you found them online, typically have more. If you use these, you might want to alter the Draft to reflect that. Regardless, each player should have a box with the same number of random minis). <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1j9aeW7SwZTdvB5hr22RpRxV-tkS-lt8GQHFev_LxxoNfUd4QJGeKx5uyiJJWszsWhTso4NMn6Ci4Mj2roHcGAH3B03UW2SequcSFnnDxuMjTz2M9BcgOWiY749B-LdcG63G5f9lj6dQ/s1600/Tyranny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1j9aeW7SwZTdvB5hr22RpRxV-tkS-lt8GQHFev_LxxoNfUd4QJGeKx5uyiJJWszsWhTso4NMn6Ci4Mj2roHcGAH3B03UW2SequcSFnnDxuMjTz2M9BcgOWiY749B-LdcG63G5f9lj6dQ/s1600/Tyranny.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<h3>
The Draft and Build</h3>
<br />
Each player (including the DM) rolls a D20. Break ties however you want - Rock Paper Scissors Lizard Spock is good. In order, each player opens their draft box and pulls out their four random minis, putting together anything in pieces (if necessary) and giving everyone ample opportunity to ooh and aah or tremble in terror. Once all the minis are on the table, they should be sorted into two rough piles: Playable Minis and Monster Minis. <br />
<br />
You can reroll the D20 here, or keep the existing order, but personally I think rerolling would be better. No matter what he rolls, the DM goes last, though. Each player chooses a Playable Mini, which they will use to craft their character. The DM goes last, and chooses one which will become an NPC. The remaining Playable Minis are thrown in the pile with Monster Minis. Then, the order reverses, so the DM goes first and the guy who picked first goes last. The DM picks one miniature from the pile. The other players then pick one mini each, which will NOT be used by the DM (as a variant, you could allow the player to choose, either the DM can't use it or the DM MUST use it. So if you get a dragon, a player could choose that the DM has to use that monster somewhere). At the end, each player should have one PC mini and one bonus mini, and the DM should have one NPC mini and one monster mini. The remaining pile of minis, which should be two for each player, is given to the DM to use as monsters during the campaign. <br />
<br />
Then everyone takes a break. The players draft characters, trying to build something which resembles their miniature. The DM sorts through their minis and tries to build some kind of rational campaign out of the chaos, and assigns a starting level, probably somewhere 1-3 (but if they end up with a large number of high level monsters it could conceivably start higher). <br />
<br />
<h3>
The Game</h3>
<br />
Then the DM runs their game. The draft and build should take an hour or two at most, with an emphasis on getting started right away. The DM runs a quick intro and plays out a combat or two and some RP, and they MUST use at least two of the minis they obtained. Then, each week, the DM should run additional encounters until they've used at least half of the minis they acquired, and until at least a month has passed. If they manage to build a story with a rational beginning, middle, and end all the better.<br />
<br />
Finally, after the DM has run his adventure, the group as a whole decides: continue with their current character? Or Re-Draft and do it all over again, with new minis and new characters and new villians and new monsters. If the group wants, they can redistribute the minis to whoever they originally belonged to, or give them all to the DM, or keep the two they selected and let the DM keep their selections, or whatever they think is mutually acceptable. <br />
<br />
Ideally, I think, you could let everyone keep their selection and rotate DM's. Maybe with a shared Monster Manual so everyone doesn't have to buy a copy. <br />
<br />
<h3>
Conclusion</h3>
This method of playing D&D would allow for a unique and interesting play experience, with fun character building and some anticipation of what your party is getting into. The costs of getting a decent number of miniatures are more evenly distributed through your gaming group, and the campaign would be relatively short and fast paced.<br />
<br />
Potential downsides? You only get one Kobold, and need four or five for a reasonable encounter. Or you get five CR 1 monsters and everything else is CR 12. (Not likely). Creative DM skills would definitely be put to the test!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-86640949573887794392013-10-06T16:29:00.003-07:002013-10-06T16:29:44.669-07:00Conference, Priesthood, CommunityDear #,<br /><br />I struggle with discussing religion in most settings, unless I'm with close friends or family (and even then, depending on the family). My own personal experience with religion and spirituality is complex, tied up in my upbringing, my faith crisis and two years outside the church, and my relationship with my heavenly parents. My family's experience is also varied and unusual in a number of ways, and it ultimately results in silence from me more often than not, particularly in the vast and tumultuous sea of the internet (even within the narrow confines of the "bloggernacle" I tend to stay quiet). <br /><br />I have found an issue that matters to me, though, and I think that spreading awareness of this issue trumps the fact that it comes from me. I also have some deep concerns about it, and feel the need the share those, as well. <br /><br />This weekend, women were <a href="http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56963037-78/women-mormon-church-priesthood.html.csp" target="_blank">turned away</a> from the General Priesthood Session of conference - not for failing to hold the priesthood, but simply for being the wrong gender (as both non-ordained and non-member males were permitted to attend). Worse, last week men lined the balcony of the General Relief Society session, resulting in a blistering double standard (Speaking of which, has anyone else noticed that the Relief Society and Young Women sessions of conference aren't available through the official LDS resources app?). Depending on which doctrines you accept (How cafeteria mormon are YOU?) and which you reject:<br /><br />
<ul>
<li>Women used to hold the priesthood (based on early commentary by Joseph Smith and the common practice of females giving blessings),</li>
<li>Women have always held the priesthood (based on certain aspects of the temple ceremony)</li>
<li>Women currently hold a technical version of the priesthood but are not currently Ordained to offices within it</li>
<li>or Women don't hold the priesthood at all and never will. </li>
</ul>
This is a pretty extensive spread of beliefs, and I'm probably missing a few regardless. Still, a group of women is working toward the goal of female ordination: <a href="http://ordainwomen.org/" target="_blank">Ordain Women.</a> I haven't made a profile ,but reading through these is an amazing inspiration. Before you say anything about what might potentially be motivating these women, read through their profiles, see what a few of them actually have to say.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I want to say this: I support the ordination of women. I think it should be happening immediately.<br />
<br />
I do have a few concerns:<br />
<ul>
<li>There is a strong division by gender within the LDS church, and I'm concerned that if we ordain women and then maintain the two groups as separate organizations, this gap could end up widening and becoming an absolutely male organization and an absolutely female organization. This could result in a situation worse than the one currently existing.</li>
<li>There is massive male privilege in the church today, and those who can't see it are blind to it. However, male activity and membership in the church still falls far below that of females. If we increase gender equality, how will that effect male membership? On the other hand, perhaps men will appreciate a more balanced power balance. I don't know. </li>
<li>The current recognition of a Heavenly Mother is amazing. The complete absence of worship, doctrine, teachings or understanding of Her is heart breaking. However, I don't think female ordination will effect this at all, and could easily result in an attitude of "We gave you the priesthood, that's enough for this century." I believe additional understanding and worship of her is far more important, especially since it would almost certainly lead to Ordination anyway (so maybe we're putting the cart before the horse). </li>
<li>Excommunication. For me, for these amazing sisters, for anyone who wants to be part of the Church but refuses to be a blind and foolish follower. </li>
</ul>
I hope this makes sense. If you have any questions, I'd love to talk about them, but if you flame or troll, I will moderate as I see fit.<br />
<br />
All my love, <br />Dom<br /><br />PS #, I hope this is all settled by the time you are old enough to hold the priesthood.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-49506762185859313932013-09-18T13:46:00.001-07:002013-09-18T13:46:23.280-07:00181 Years of... Fox Calls?Dear #,<br />
<br />
Today's letter is something completely different, and driven by a music video. Watch it before continuing on (Mom, this is a pretty PG music video, there's no sex or nudity or violence. That being said, it probably isn't safe for work, because your coworkers will eventually decide to murder you. It is that catchy/irritating).<br />
<br />
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://img.youtube.com/vi/jofNR_WkoCE/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/jofNR_WkoCE&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://youtube.googleapis.com/v/jofNR_WkoCE&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
But here's the interesting thing. This came out 12 days ago, during which time it has been watched more than 32 million times. With an average duration of 2:55, that adds up to:<br />
181 years, 1 month, 12 days, 4 hours, 49 minutes, and 10 seconds.<br />
<br />
Just for verification of these stats, I took a quick screenshot:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm41ejMMV1AxdlUvIBQRAaE8xWTrYhUxb60gQSwmkP1S0Rxl-gPPznX2V_Txwy_7sxrF9Sm5uXCjNWdui3EMku5LGLQe3XWX37kSO4b0z50GP80xidQzIlmD7iDjbWcSaYSpRIrrfrbUY/s1600/Capturefox.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm41ejMMV1AxdlUvIBQRAaE8xWTrYhUxb60gQSwmkP1S0Rxl-gPPznX2V_Txwy_7sxrF9Sm5uXCjNWdui3EMku5LGLQe3XWX37kSO4b0z50GP80xidQzIlmD7iDjbWcSaYSpRIrrfrbUY/s400/Capturefox.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
What a waste of time! 181 years! Imagine what we could do if we harnessed that power for good. But first, let's answer his question. After wandering google for a while listening to fox sounds, my <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/09/what-does-the-fox-say-ylvis/" target="_blank">favorite piece is from Wired</a>. No wonder we don't have a standard "noise" foxes make... they are pretty spooky. And the Vixen's scream, which wasn't in this article but you can found, sounds like a tween getting murder-tickled. I have to wonder how many haunted house stories were just a fox running around inside. No wonder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitsune" target="_blank">kitsune</a> play so dominantly in Japanese myths and horror. <br />
<br />
Anyway, my point is this: I understand that most of that time spent is a ton of people each playing it two or three times. But the sheer quantity of it all is incredible, and made me think about a few little projects which use a very small portion of a single users time, often no more than a few minutes here and there, and result in net positive gains (and not just wapowpowpowpowpow stuck in your head).<br />
<br />
Here are a few that I'm aware of, have participated in, or just think are amazing. I'm quite sure there are more, so if you know of any, send them my way?<br />
<br />
1. Science - This is a big topic, and has a ton of different stuff going on. Some of my favorites are here, though, and gamified crowdsourcing is becoming more and more popular in science. <br />
<ul>
<li> <a href="https://www.zooniverse.org/" target="_blank">Zooniverse </a>has a wide variety of projects, including two of my personal favorites, <a href="https://www.zooniverse.org/project/snapshotserengeti" target="_blank">Snapshot Serengeti</a> and <a href="https://www.zooniverse.org/project/oldweather" target="_blank">Old Weather</a>. Snapshot gives you images from motion sensor cameras in the Serengeti, which you look at and identify the animals in the picture. Fun to learn the different animals, and gives them a much better idea of what the animals are doing, what their patterns are, etc. Some of these shots are really boring, others are amazing. Old Weather is a little less visually exciting, but I enjoy looking through the ships logs and knowing that it gives us a better idea of historic climate. </li>
<li><a href="http://fold.it/portal/" target="_blank">Foldit</a> is a commonly cited example, and it looks a lot different than when I last played, so maybe I'll pick it up again. They were featured in <a href="http://www.wired.com/medtech/genetics/magazine/17-05/ff_protein?currentPage=all" target="_blank">Wired,</a> which writes: "There are more ways to fold a protein than there are atoms in the
universe. It's like a combination lock with 1,000 dials. Yet proteins
fold themselves into shape in a fraction of a second. No one knows how." This game is helping computers more accurately simulate protein folding, which helps scientists. </li>
<li><a href="http://beamartian.jpl.nasa.gov/welcome" target="_blank">NASA's Be a Martian</a> program allows users to identify and tag images sent from the Mars Rover, contributing to our overall knowledge base about Mars in a significant way. </li>
</ul>
2. Language. - I wasn't aware of anything going on in this realm until quite recently, when my brother-in-law showed it to me on his phone. <a href="http://www.duolingo.com/" target="_blank">Duolingo</a> has language courses in Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian and English. It is completely free. It is translating real-world documents and web sites (which is how it makes money). And, better still, <a href="http://www.duolingo.com/effectiveness-study" target="_blank">they claim</a> it is more effective for learning a language than University level courses, even for Adults. <br />
<br />
3. Volunteering - Many nonprofits utilize virtual volunteers to help with a wide variety of tasks, including writing, website design, graphics, and so forth. While this requires a match, and a commitment, <a href="http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/virtual" target="_blank">Volunteer Match</a> has over 4000 positions that need virtual assistance. Go check it out!<br />
<br />
4. Earn Money - I haven't actually done this one, although I'm pretty tempted to try it. Amazon has a program called <a href="https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcome" target="_blank">Mechanical Turk</a> that allows you to complete a variety of small, minor tasks and earn real money. While it probably doesn't add up to a rational hourly wage, I bet it pays more than most of us make while randomly surfing the web or playing video games. In addition, since it is backed by Amazon, I imagine you don't have to worry quite as much about it being a scam.<br />
<br />
5. Get Fit! There are a lot of exercise programs out there, but most of them aren't fun. <a href="https://www.fitocracy.com/" target="_blank">Fitocracy</a> changes that with their RPG-like aspects of the training regimen. It is fun, and I'm using it starting... tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Because right now I just want to keep singing.<br /><br /><i>Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!!</i><br />
<i>Tchoff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff! </i><br />
<i>Joff-tchoff-tchoffo-tchoffo-tchoff!</i><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-88545958167686914322013-08-28T10:38:00.002-07:002013-08-28T10:38:56.136-07:00I don't understand the internetDear #,<br />
<br />
I really don't understand certain parts of the internet. In this particular case, I'm talking about Comments. Now, no one follows my blog at all, so even if I said something worthy of rage and angry comments, I'd get maybe four or five people, most of whom know me well, who comment. As a result, it isn't really a comments section so much as a conversation, so this really doesn't apply here. Maybe someday I'll be good enough of a writer that people read my blog more often. That would probably be more likely if I actually updated more often, but whatever.<br />
<br />
Here's what I really don't understand: If you hate whatever it is the article is about, why are you there? For example, if you're on a <a href="http://www.feministmormonhousewives.org/" target="_blank">Mormon Feminists</a> page and you are both Anti-Mormon and Anti-Feminist, why do you even bother showing up and reading the article? I mean, maybe they are just trolling, but... I don't understand that, either.<br />
<br />
Or another example: On the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/civ" target="_blank">Civilization page</a>, on Facebook. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw45XUBx66J_cNmzf-mveDoYl6D2TJGrlSksXle7EfTttXYPpqkYWbOF5IOkOO3dkbNZ17GK5nqOrGuGPOwn73vqUR0sSgmLdz_viV95sHSS1SUHacgpPuwAmXJpNpwTYXbGmpQsF4HkbA/s1600/Capture.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw45XUBx66J_cNmzf-mveDoYl6D2TJGrlSksXle7EfTttXYPpqkYWbOF5IOkOO3dkbNZ17GK5nqOrGuGPOwn73vqUR0sSgmLdz_viV95sHSS1SUHacgpPuwAmXJpNpwTYXbGmpQsF4HkbA/s400/Capture.PNG" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Most of the responses make sense: Cultural, Diplomatic, Scientific, I used to do cultural but now it is too hard, Domination is the only fun way to play, etc. But then there is this guy:<br />
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Why are you even on this page? Why do you even bother having this fill up your facebook feed? Why do you put something that most people on this page aren't going to care about, because they are actually fans of the game? And if that isn't bad enough, why don't you just change your damn windows profile name, so it stops being a problem?<br />
<br />
Seriously. I don't understand.<br />
<br />
Maybe someone can explain this mindset?<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
Dom<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-47365562921040284522013-08-01T16:01:00.001-07:002013-08-01T16:01:42.301-07:00Dear Hashtag OriginsDear #,<br />
<br />
Somehow in the course of writing the first few posts for this blog I neglected to mention where the name comes from, or the general idea for this general purpose blog, or, well, anything. Which kind of leaves the name "Dear Hashtag" as kind of a mystery, but not the fun kind involving clues and puzzles. Fortunately it doesn't include any dead bodies, either.<br />
<br />
My lovely wife Holly and I were discussing baby names, and how so many people we know have gone the "creative" route with their children, and particularly with their daughters. I find this somewhat appalling, as there are SO many wonderful and beautiful names for girls. I personally find boys names more difficult, as you start getting into "That's a weird name" territory much more quickly. This can easily be explained simply by looking at general sources for names by gender.<br />
<br />
Male Sources:<br />
<ul>
<li>The Bible - This is the most common source, whether you name your child Matthew or David.</li>
<li>History - This is probably the second most common, but many Historical names come from the Bible, so there is some crossover there. </li>
<li>Cultural sources - This is common when the person comes from a sub-culture or a different culture than standard "American." This includes African, Asian, Hispanic, Mormon, Quaker, etc. </li>
<li>Television and Books</li>
</ul>
<br />
Female Sources:<br />
<ul>
<li>The Bible - There are far fewer female names from the bible, but even so Ruth, Mary, and Deborah are common enough. </li>
<li>History - This is much more common, as many names are well known enough, including Helen, Virginia, Elizabeth, etc. </li>
<li>Cultural - Just as with Men, only many of them have been "Americanized" and are more common names here. </li>
<li>Flowers</li>
<li>Trees</li>
<li>Plants </li>
<li>Cities</li>
<li>Birds</li>
<li>Myths</li>
<li>Literature</li>
<li>Television and Books</li>
</ul>
This is hardly a comprehensive list, but in my experience there are ten awesome girl names for every awesome boy name. This makes my generation's complete incompetence with naming their daughters something I don't remotely understand. Anyway, during this discussion Holly brought up a weird name she'd heard someone came up with: <a href="http://awkwardmessages.com/a-baby-was-just-born-with-the-first-name-hashtag/" target="_blank">Hashtag</a>. As in, a <a href="https://support.twitter.com/groups/50-welcome-to-twitter/topics/204-the-basics/articles/49309-using-hashtags-on-twitter#" target="_blank">Twitter Hashtag</a>. I laughed, until she gave me something to think about: With all these weird names flying around, odds were pretty even that one of our two boys would ultimately marry someone with such a name.<br />
<br />
That is, our son's wife, our future daughter-in-law, could be named Hashtag. #!<br />
<br />
I laughed, and said I should start a blog with letters to my future daughter-in-law and call it Dear Hashtag. The rest is... well, future History. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-1643280805798893522013-06-18T14:41:00.000-07:002013-06-18T14:41:16.796-07:00Upcoming ProjectsLife has been pretty crazy lately, and I haven't been able to update this nearly as much as I would like, but I'm hoping to get back in the swing of things soon. I have a few projects I'm working on, and would love to hear from readers about:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>General Conferences - I'm keeping a pretty tight lid on this project until I can finish the first set, but it involves past conferences and a look at the gradual shifts in doctrine, teachings, and what is emphasized in the LDS church. This is pretty much my only hyper-Mormon project in the works, but it should be fun. I'm hoping to get this launched in July. For those of you I requested information from, I'd appreciate getting it soon. </li>
<li>Book Lists and Reviews - I'm working on putting together a list of books to read, and plan on reading through them slowly and then reviewing them. This is primarily going to be taken from a "hone my craft" perspective, and will therefore include Science Fiction, Fantasy, Roleplaying Game settings/adventures/splat, and anything else that somehow makes it on to the list. Any books my readers suggest will automatically be included, regardless of genre/topic. </li>
<li>Names - This blog is still going to have posts about names, and I plan on working on developing not just fun new posts but fun, interesting and unique new research. In addition, I will explain the title of this blog, because somehow I haven't yet!</li>
<li>Guest Posts - I'm currently actively looking for guest bloggers, writing about anything I'm remotely interested in, which is pretty much everything. Except maybe sports. Yuck. But anything else is good, including names, games, dames, and uh... flames. Yeah. Seriously though, if you're interested in doing a guest post on just about any topic, let me know. I'd love to go over it with you and work something out.</li>
<li>Random Posts - This is what I've been doing so far. And will certainly keep doing. <br /><br />That's about it! Not too bad, right? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-34990417427376777202013-06-08T05:54:00.001-07:002013-06-08T05:55:25.866-07:00Follow the prophet<p>Thomas Monson and the First Presidency are on Google Plus. </p>
<p>This blog talks about it and had links http://wellbehavedmormonwoman.blogspot.com/2013/06/mormonchurchleadersgoogleplus.html?m=1</p>
<p>Yeah</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-62825014428308488142013-05-10T04:03:00.000-07:002013-05-10T04:03:02.021-07:00DepressionA good friend of mine posted a link to a blog post about depression. It was interesting, mostly because I could see and understand the patterns in my friend. <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html?m=1" target="_blank">Here's the post</a>.<br />
<br />
His description of depression is, ultimately, not really what I have felt when I get depressed. Maybe this is just because my depression tends to be seasonal, striking during the height of summer or the depths of winter. Still, reading this description made me want to write my own. Maybe this is stupid, and I should save this for some future novel, but let's be honest: if you're reading this, you'd probably read my novel, too. <br />
<br />
It starts suddenly, abrupt and without warning, like slipping on ice and landing flat on your back. Sometimes I manage to pick myself up, brush off the ice and pebbles, and move on. More often, though, this fall comes with the emotional equivalent of a broken hip, and attempting to get up brings excruciating pain. So I just stay there and wait until I feel better. <br />
<br />
In the mean time, it starts to snow. At first the snow is cold and unpleasant, and I try to get up, to call for help, to throw myself into some activity I love, but everything I do just makes the snow come down even harder, faster, or with bigger flakes, until the light dusting becomes a full-fledged blizzard. After a while the snow dulls all my senses; the howling wind is muffled, everything is blanketed in white, and the pain that started it slowly goes numb. Occasionally my body wakes up a little, and the pain and cold makes me ache everywhere, but it quickly goes numb again.<br />
<br />
The snow builds around me until it covers me, a cold blanket that somehow keeps me warm, like sleeping in a snow cave or an igloo. Everything is white, numb, dull, senseless. At some point, the storm stops, but it usually starts again, building onto the blanket with layer after layer. Eventually, though, spring comes. Like I said, for me, depression is usually seasonal, so it doesn't last. It feels infinite, because I'm really stuck, but from an academic perspective I know that it is going to end eventually.<br />
<br />
The snow gradually melts. It isn't really noticeable at first, but eventually it comes back down and exposes me to the world, and that hurts too. The light, the colors, the awareness, the heat, all of it brings pain with it, and sometimes I try to build the snow up around me to prevent it from happening, to stay hidden and covered in my bland world. Hiding from pain is natural, but it kind of weirds your rescuers out, because they're like "Oh hey! A guy stuck in the snow!" And instead of celebrating, I crawl deeper, fortify myself, and throw snowballs at them.<br />
<br />
Thankfully, my body starts readjusting to this world of color and sound and people and pain, until eventually I'm able to fight against my instincts and rejoin society as a relatively normal, functional adult.<br />
<br />
I'm just grateful I haven't gotten stuck in a glacier. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-43636610269077882192013-04-30T13:18:00.001-07:002013-04-30T13:36:18.128-07:00Jonah<p>Dear #, </p>
<p>The scriptures are strange, sometimes. Parts of them are simply mythic, telling stories of who we are, where we came from, what our purpose is on Earth. On the whole, though, they are a series of parables and metaphors, using the lives of God's servants as examples of what to do and, more often, what to avoid.</p>
<p>You see, these exemplars are deeply flawed men and, occasionally, women. While some of these stories are about someone who did the right thing, they almost universally tell a story of the pain, suffering, and heartache which comes from disobedience.</p>
<p>This is something I wish the Mormon church paid a little more attention to, especially in regard to the Book of Mormon and our own modern leaders. Honesty about Joseph Smith's weaknesses, for example, or a thorough examination of Nephi and what his flaws might be, could be good for us as a people.</p>
<p>It also makes me wonder how it would feel to be permanently enshrined in lore as the man who slept with his own kin, the guy who swindled his own brother, or the idiot who lost everything because he used his priesthood power unrighteously.</p>
<p>I wonder about some of the biggest screw-ups. Did Jonah have a family he worried about during his three days in the belly of an holy leviathan? Did he have a wife and children he assumed would be a widow and orphans after his mission to Ninevah?</p>
<p>Lehi is a better example, having received a revelation and simply going into the desert. His wife and kids weren't entirely pleased about his decision, though. Do I have the strength of Lehi? Or am I Jonah, about to be swallowed by a whale?</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-53274166685640263582013-04-26T19:04:00.001-07:002013-04-26T19:04:03.631-07:00Silliness<p>Dear #, </p>
<p>I got a new phone yesterday, and discovered that Swype gives next word suggestions. Three at a time. The rest of the post will be constructed entirely from these.</p>
<p>I'm not sure if what I'm trying to get out of this, metaphorically, and I don't know if that is mandatory. The second half of my favorite part is also strongly encouraged. I got to get out and it needs to be awesome. </p>
<p>I'm trying not to mention that the dragons slept but I don't know how. I can be an arduous pilgrimage to the next few years or more. The ancestors were not sure how many people mention the empire as an alternative to the dragons.</p>
<p>I'm so glad you try to be a good connection, which is also strongly encouraged by the dragons and involves worship of the empire state. I don't know what I'm not going to get. The military service and I don't think that is mandatory for you.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-61723682279603792122013-04-18T09:27:00.001-07:002013-04-19T10:23:22.766-07:00Boston<p>One of my coping mechanisms involves going radio silent for a while, keeping my head down until I know more and I'm calmer. This is a mechanism I learned in 2001, because my primary reaction is to analyze, guess, and rant. So know I just rant to my wife and keep my mouth shut the rest of the time, soaking up information. </p>
<p>Most things I learn to let go and not stress about, but one of my friends posted something on Facebook which I've been putting some thought into. He wrote, "Such a sad event. We live in a world and culture where violence is not just normal, but seen as entertainment - so how can we wonder why people would turn to violence to make a statement?"</p>
<p>Historically, though, our society is quite exceptional, not for how we embrace violent entertainment but for how we reject violent action. The last major bombing in the US was over a decade ago. The last real riot was the LA Riot. Political assassination has been effectively shelved as a tool. </p>
<p>More poignant, violence as a political tool is an ancient tradition, from the burning down of Druidic groves to the assassination of Julius Caesar, from the crucifixion of Christ to the riots from the early days of Labor. Violence has a long and storied tradition in politics and religion, and that doesn't even include wars, which are inherently both violent and political.</p>
<p>In a more recent perspective, consider the Taliban. The IRA. The CIA. The PLO. Jihad. Subway bombings in London, Spain, Japan. International and domestic terrorism are common in many nations today.</p>
<p>If anything, our country has been blessed by a relative shortage of political violence and terrorism. Combined with the effectiveness of the FBI in combatting terror, I've come to two conclusions: we're really lucky AND current society is doing something right when it comes to violence.</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7504549379489037579.post-21194990245168693332013-04-15T09:58:00.001-07:002013-04-15T11:28:22.545-07:00Creation<p>Dear #, </p>
<p>I had a thought today, and for some inexplicable reason I feel I ought to be sharing. This idea may be heretical, or it may be so obvious that those more spiritual than I am will just laugh at my simplistic epiphany.</p>
<p>Either way is fine, because it feels important.</p>
<p>There are too few things we actually Know about God. Revelation and scripture are notoriously silent about Him and Her. Philosophic ponderings are laughably vulnerable to Atheistic arguments which the best Theodicy can't defeat. The sheer Faith of the non-Mormon Christian community is astounding, or maybe my personal testimony just finds modern testimony to be less opaque. </p>
<p>We do know some things, though. We know He couldn't bear to watch his foolish children execute his fIrstborn son. We know they are our Father and Mother, and love us deeply. And we know They are responsible for the creation of our planet. </p>
<p>This isn't much to go on, but I think if we're using our Heavenly Parents as an example, the single greatest thing we could do to Follow them is to Create. Simple physical creations are good. Christ's birth father was a carpenter, after all, and we see other great stories of physical construction, like Noah. Biological creation (Babies!) is good too, as long as you take care of and love your creation.</p>
<p>But the greatest followers created something entirely... Different. Moses created a People. Joshua forged them into a Nation. Solomon created a vast repository of wisdom. Even the Great Heretic himself forged a church. Joseph Smith created a people as well, and Brigham created a Home for them. Hinckley created temples, and Monson is creating a Missionary Army. </p>
<p>We are tasked with building a community, a church, a nation, Zion. Are we failing?</p>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05418561555500028413noreply@blogger.com5