Oi

One again, the Guild of Drama Llamas is gunning for my head. I've long since passed being irritated or wounded by anything they say, their opinion matters not a whit to me. And anyone with enough brain cells to rub together can look at the reality, as compared to their cacophany, and form their own judgements as to my worth, so I have no fears that the tide of opinion will suddenly favor them.

Now, I just look at them and think how sad they are, to be so wrapped up in their hatered and delusions, that they focus on little else but taking me down. Down from where? That's what gets me...I'm just a random person in the community, and yet they seem hell-bent to discredit me. *shrug*

I often wonder how they came to the ELERI IS TEH SUXXOR EBIL platform, beyond my telling their leader what I thought of his manners and methods. Evidently disagreeing with the Guildmaster is enough to make me public enemy number one.

'gashi

Sinnish Proverb
lakashim oso barlen odudhiyu

Loosely translated:
God is too big for one religion

Yay Music

Nifty musician Michael Garfield is doing a pacific northwest tour in July, with dates in Spokane, Seattle, Vancouver, Portland and more. Goest thou, and listen. Is good stuff. If you talk to him, tell him a Zaadzster sent you :)

the war against the HPV vaccine

HPV, the human papillomavirus, is the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. You've probably seen the new ads on TV about it. It's highly contagious, and almost completely asymptomatic and unseen unless detected by a pap smear, or cance appears.

The FDA has just approved a vaccine to prevent HPV infection. This is a good thing, right? Evidently the members of the Extreme Religious Right think no. They say that by giving a vaccine against this cancer-causing virus, it'll encourage promiscuity.

That's right folks...the religious wackos maquerading as Christians in this country would rather allow women to risk getting cancer, than do anything that might seem to 'condone' sex.

HERE is a good essay on the subject

PHC is teh Love

You might not have always liked Republicans, but you could count on them to manage the bank. They might be lousy tippers, act snooty, talk through their noses, wear spats and splash mud on you as they race their Pierce-Arrows through the village, but you knew they could do the math. To see them produce a ninny and then follow him loyally into the swamp for five years is disconcerting, like seeing the Rolling Stones take up lite jazz. So here we are at an uneasy point in our history, mired in a costly war and getting nowhere, a supine Congress granting absolute power to a president who seems to get smaller and dimmer, and the best the Republicans can offer is San Franciscophobia? This is beyond pitiful. This is violently stupid.

The rest of Garrison Keillor's bit is HERE

The Three Sorrys

First you feel sorry
Second you say you're sorry
Third you do something to show you're sorry.

Birth rant #782

How did we come to the point that the 'right' way to give birth is on your back, surrounded by bright lights and people bundled up like you're a hazmat spill?

Buhwah?

Ubisoft ditched Live, but funds Orgasm Training Bunnies?!?

Extended discussion

I ask, in all seriousness: Do you really feel safer than you did Sept. 12, 2001? And, if you do, do you feel the cost has been worth it? Do you feel we, as a nation, are doing all right? Is this, the path we're on now, what America is all about?

Much ado...

I wonder if people would be as up in arms if they'd said "pre-diabetic" or "pre-cancerous". "Pre-pregnant" is a medical term, not a social commentary. *sigh*

Music!

That's right kiddos! It's Radio Free D'ni! Coming to you live from D'mala, it's the most eclectic, unexpected radio show ever to hit the underground. And we really mean underground!

Tune your winamp dials to the usual place http://callahans.seanmcpherson.com:10000/listen.pls starting at 5pm Pacific!

Harumph

My ambassadorial radar was twitching...

Sure enough, there's not even BLIP of news on MMORPG.com about the return of live. Not even a mention of the official press release.

This is offensive! An outrage! We need to head over there with pitchforks and blazing torc...eerrr.....

what I mean is, one of the top mmorpg sites really should have the news, we should politely email them and remind them of the fact.

$

Doing Faerie Oracle and Elemental Oracle readings for $15, to help cover Widget's emergency c-section vet bill. (Kitten pics are HERE) Drop me a message.

The mind boggles

The fight against birth control

This just makes me ill. It's one thing to debate abortion, but to argue against the ability for someone to not get pregnant in the first place? Grarrr.

D'ni Filk

From Julian Lapis:

The very model of a Cavern Representative

I am the very model of a Cavern Representative
Most consider me to be all knowing and articulative
I know the kings of D’ni and locations geographical
From Kerath’s Arch to Ae’gura in order typographical

I’ve travelled all the journeys and have studied Yeesha’s lifelong path
And turned the tables on a scary hammer wielding psychopath
I’m capable of solving every riddle D’ni ever had…
Whilst humming all of Ryan’s songs without going completely mad!

(Whilst humming all of Ryan’s songs without going completely mad,
Whilst humming all of Ryan’s songs without going completely mad,
Whilst humming all of Ryan’s songs without going completely-pletly mad!)

I can calibrate and activate the Zero single handedly
And trap a crazy father without getting shot repeatedly
The point is most consider me quite friendly and attentive
This is why I am the very model of a Cavern Representative!

(The point is most consider him quite friendly and attentive
This is why he’s the very model of a Cavern Representative!)

I know precisely what is meant by Shorah and Korfah V’ja
And have tumbled through a fissure made entirely of shiny stars
I did not fall for Sharper’s tricks or Esher’s random mutterings
But watch intently all of Lewin’s monetary flutterings

I’ve trawled a dying world to help a young lass return to her home
And battled wits with Bahro using nothing but a lump of stone
I’ve spun inside a marble, trying to hold on to my sanity…
Not mentioning my conflicts with a brother’s inhumanity!

(Not mentioning his conflicts with a brother’s inhumanity,
Not mentioning his conflicts with a brother’s inhumanity,
Not mentioning his conflicts with a brother’s inhumani-manity!)

In fact it could be said my D’ni knowledge is exemplary
Quite simply put, the very best of this modern century
The point is most consider me quite friendly and attentive
This is why I am the very model of a Cavern Representative!

(The point is most consider him quite friendly and attentive
This is why he is the very model of a Cavern Representative!)

Julian, you are the man.

The Deep City LIVES

It's a DAMN good day to be a Myst fan.

www.urulive.com

now where are my hankies??

Thought for the Day

What happens when we can love someone, and not feel posessive of them?

Computer Games as Fandom

One of my odd quirks is that I occasionally randomly write college-paper-like essays on topics that come to my brain... the most recent was the lack of respect that computer games get from the fen communities

Go to any science fiction/fantasy convention and you’ll see people dressed as their favorite characters, from Klingons to Browncoats, from PsiCops to Goa’uld. You’ll see characters from movies, television, comics, books, anime...but rarely will you see a computer game character.

Listen to panels, and its the same story, discussions about the latest film projects, the newest TV shows, so and so’s latest book in such and such universe. Wander down to gaming, and you might hear discussion of the hot MMORPG of the week, but almost never discussion of the story.

So what have computer games taken such a backseat to film, television and books as a medium for creative science fiction and fantasy storytelling? Partially because, up until recently, they haven’t been able to deliver.

One of the early forerunners was the best selling computer game of all time until The Sims came along. With five games, a publisher-thwarted online multiplayer spin off, three books, (with a 4th pending), a Disneyworld attraction that was doomed by lack of appropriate technology, it has a background to stand up to any in book or on screen. A developed language, an established history, a fully realized culture, elements of hard science and fantasy woven into the story, not as throw-away plot devices, and a basic premise that should make any fan drool; that books can transport you to other worlds. And yet, how many of you, until that last sentence, even knew I was talking about Cyan World’s Myst series? A universe that has everything that most fen want in a background, and it’s been overlooked for almost 15 years, except by a dedicated group of fans.

Since the first Myst game arrived, and the technology developed for games has skyrocketed, developers have had to stand up and take notice that they can’t just have mindless pixel shapes running around on a screen. Players want realistic characters, interaction, and history. They want motivation for what’s happening, and why they are doing what they do.

Some of the online multiplayer games are taking a stand in developing cultures for their different races, story backgrounds, and world histories.

City of Heroes (and its partner game, City of Villains), for example, has a complete timeline and history, with story elements that are slowly released as part of gameplay. Guild Wars (Which calls itself a “Competitive Online Role playing Game”) comes with a “Lore Book” that gives, well, lore about the game world, and players are given quests that help further the storyline.

In the world of single player games, story is becoming an important part of even the most dyed in the wool first person shooter. Halo (and Halo 2) follows in the footsteps of the science fiction greats by creating a fine mix of alien and human conflict on a strange world. The good balance of story characters and gameplay make it worth paying attention to as a work of creative fiction, even if the thought of a movie adaptation makes many fen cringe.

In essence, I find very little to separate a well-written, richly historied computer game from the well-written, richly historied mainstays of science fiction and fantasy fandom. I think we do the people who put their creative efforts into these works a disservice by so roundly rejecting them.

How then, do we change this perception of computer games as not worthy of fandom? Perhaps by encouraging more panels on computer game fandom, by offering genre-specific costuming prizes at conventions, by interviewing computer game writers and artists and bringing their talents to the spotlight.

Welcome to the Indranet

not strangling people

I know that people are coming from a point of compassion. I understand that they see us in ongoing distress, and they want that stress to go away.

However, the nagging about putting our child in a home, or 'in the system', is not helpful. Especially when weve stated, repeatedly, why that is not currently an option. "You can't afford not to" is not a empathetic or constructive statement, it is born of ignorance. Putting the family in tens of thousands of dollars of debt each month is not going to ease the stress level. Relying on an overtaxed, underfunded, dubious state system is not going to provide her with support and stability.

So stop. Just, stop. If that's all you have to say about the situation, just stop talking. Because you are not helping.