Just watching/trying to ignore King Kong. Amazing graphics, yes; but what they have done by making the graphics... well, graphic, is make it also absurd. KK in full swing snatchies up a guy... not hurting him at all - come on, he weighs like 10-12 tons vs 12 stone, full sweeping snatch - broken bones everywhere, not least the neck. The bugs... a guy blasting away with a machine-gun at 15 feet - aiming at a guy covered in bugs... yeah, right, not hitting him once. It's full of such "No Physics Involved Here" stupidity that I find it just ludicrous.
Maybe it's just me.
Doubt it.
Tuesday, 22 December 2009
Friday, 18 December 2009
Politicians are like artists.
Honest, and here's how. Before the advent of the camera artists were commissioned to paint whatever the person paying them wanted painting; a horse, landscape, self, wife, whatever. He painted it, got paid, everyone happy. Then the commissions stopped. The artist had to decide what to do... so modern art evolved as artists started painting whatever they wanted - “I'm fascinated by brush strokes so I'll do a canvas showing all the possible brush strokes. It can be black, because it's not the picture that matters.” Like that. An unmade bed. Whatever. Garbage. But here's the thing. If you don't tell artists what to do you can't blame them for doing whatever they want.
Politicians are like artists. If you don't tell them what to do...
Honest, and here's how. Before the advent of the camera artists were commissioned to paint whatever the person paying them wanted painting; a horse, landscape, self, wife, whatever. He painted it, got paid, everyone happy. Then the commissions stopped. The artist had to decide what to do... so modern art evolved as artists started painting whatever they wanted - “I'm fascinated by brush strokes so I'll do a canvas showing all the possible brush strokes. It can be black, because it's not the picture that matters.” Like that. An unmade bed. Whatever. Garbage. But here's the thing. If you don't tell artists what to do you can't blame them for doing whatever they want.
Politicians are like artists. If you don't tell them what to do...
Living in close proximity to my two young nephews, who are just 5 and 20 months or so, is proving an interesting experience in many ways. I have delved back into memory to try and recapture not just the events but the attitudes, the way I thought at that age – five, that is, I don't think I have much hope of recapturing much from one (though I do have a memory from that age I suspect that's about as good as it's going to get). Anyway, youth one seems to think it is ok to piss anywhere he likes. Now, I know I didn't do that but can't quite remember when I stopped (potty training memories don't abound but I have a few – it seemed straightforward enough). I remember being three and pissing in a puddle in the car-park, and being shouted at for it by a random occupant of the flats – not that I cared. And that's about it. So, I guess I'm wondering if this is a failure of memory, which I doubt (I mean, 5, I remember pretty much everything from that age), or if this is just one kids poor attitude to the task at hand. I don't doubt I would have gotten a fairly solid clump around the ear for pissing in a draw or wardrobe at his age. Maybe that happened a little earlier and I got the idea (at three and four memories are not complete) but it can't have been a big deal or I would remember.
Maybe I'll ask mum. Soooo, mum, did I ever piss in a wardrobe? If so, when and what did you do to dissuade me from repetition?
Maybe I'll ask mum. Soooo, mum, did I ever piss in a wardrobe? If so, when and what did you do to dissuade me from repetition?
Thursday, 26 November 2009
If writing in the third person you can change POV as often as you like, though it's better to keep to one character most of the time (the character you want the reader to identify with). If you are wondering which character' POV to use in a scene, just ask yourself, 'who has the most at stake, who has the most to lose?' and you will have your answer.
Simple, really.
Simple, really.
I just turned 48 – for younger people this may seem old, but it is extraordinary how your perceptions change with age. I still feel 28ish, wouldn't be surprised to check and find I am in fact only 38. Forty-eight sounds old, and in a decade it will be old. But I bet when I am 58 I'll feel little different. Apart from being even more impatient with younger people who think that they know more than I do. Here's a tip; you don't! Experience comes with age, the less you have of one the less you have of the other. Maturity comes with age. Yes, you can fit loads of experiences into a short time, but that doesn't give you context, it just gives you a bunch of data. And there are things that take time to do – like live with someone for a decade, for example.
Looking forward (so far so good on this score) I'm anticipating finding it a bit unfair that physical decrepitude is a necessary part of ageing. It's about the only drawback. That and the tendency to feel like you can't be bothered to re-visit a previous experience. For example, starting another relationship. Having been pretty thoroughly married twice, I really don't feel like I care to go through the same experiences again. How can I pretend it's all new to me? How can I pretend that I care about this one person more than anything else in the world? It would be a lie, and I'm not much into lying.
Looking forward (so far so good on this score) I'm anticipating finding it a bit unfair that physical decrepitude is a necessary part of ageing. It's about the only drawback. That and the tendency to feel like you can't be bothered to re-visit a previous experience. For example, starting another relationship. Having been pretty thoroughly married twice, I really don't feel like I care to go through the same experiences again. How can I pretend it's all new to me? How can I pretend that I care about this one person more than anything else in the world? It would be a lie, and I'm not much into lying.
Let's examine the concept of the sequel. When writing there are two main building blocks, the scene (where things happen) and the sequel (the thing that comes next in the sequence). This is the place where you control the pace of your story. A sequel can be short or long. It is the place where you examine what is going on, what just happened, where your character reacts internally, where he reviews facts, ponders choices, where he makes a decision that will become the goal for the action in the next scene.
See how simple that is? But if you didn't know it, understand it, it would make writing so much harder. Thing about it – you just finish a big scene, lot's happens, loads of action, events that fill the page, and then it ends... - Now what?
A sequel. A scene where the protagonist reacts to what just happened, puts it in order, makes sense of it, picks the facts out and puts together with other information he already has, draws conclusions, comes to a decision and acts again. Sequels are also the place where you get inside the head of the character and examine his motives. A place where you can explore his nature.
Sequels can be long or short, and this is how they control pace. Story moving too fast? Longer sequel, follow it by a shorter action piece and another longish sequel. Story too slow? Cur back the length of the sequel and get into the next action shot.
There. Hopefully, if you need a little help with your writing, that helped.
See how simple that is? But if you didn't know it, understand it, it would make writing so much harder. Thing about it – you just finish a big scene, lot's happens, loads of action, events that fill the page, and then it ends... - Now what?
A sequel. A scene where the protagonist reacts to what just happened, puts it in order, makes sense of it, picks the facts out and puts together with other information he already has, draws conclusions, comes to a decision and acts again. Sequels are also the place where you get inside the head of the character and examine his motives. A place where you can explore his nature.
Sequels can be long or short, and this is how they control pace. Story moving too fast? Longer sequel, follow it by a shorter action piece and another longish sequel. Story too slow? Cur back the length of the sequel and get into the next action shot.
There. Hopefully, if you need a little help with your writing, that helped.
Here's another one from years ago. I was broke – my god, was I broke – and it was raining, winter, proper rain. I walked through an underpass in town (I shan't say which town) and there was a busker playing a guitar, all alone. People were passing busily by, but I had nothing better to do, so I stopped and placed myself opposite him to be an audience. Over the period of a few minutes a crowd gathered to listen. People do that, if there is someone already there. A mother and young daughter skipped up and down in front of the busker. And I walked away, smiling. Job done.
Every now and again I'll take that small memory out and dust it off and smile.
Every now and again I'll take that small memory out and dust it off and smile.
Obama was in India the other day. He saluted the bonds between the two countries as fighters against British Imperial rule.
I must admit I'm getting a bit tired of this kind of thing. OK, can't argue that there were some nasty incidents in India under 'our' (and I put our in inverted commas deliberately, after all it wasn't anything to do with me, I hadn't been born then and refuse to apologize for something for which I bear no responsibility) rule. But, it wasn't the Indian PM saying this, it was Obama, so I'll put my remarks in context to the USA.
What is Obama's beef with British Imperial rule? Let's remember that there were no recorded cases of British war crimes in the war of independence or atrocities beforehand. The beef at the time was was 'crushing' taxation and nothing more (apart from personal beefs, like certain individuals not getting the knighthoods and so on they thought they'd earned).
It ould be interesting to see a direct comparison betwee the tax burden then and now. Considering that the main aim of the brits was to recover war casts, a few tens of thousands of pounds (though that's probobly a few million now) I don't doubt that the current crushing tax burden is far higher as a percentage of GDP and to the average individual.
Hmmmm. Interesting, don't you think? Maybe he was unwise to draw attention to the reasons America became independent, as those reasons are a better fit for him than they ever were for King George III and his governement.
Reminds me of something an American said when the Iraq constitution was being thrashed out. He said “Why don't we give them ours? After all, we're not using it.” It's the kind of thing that strikes me as funny and sad at the same time.
I must admit I'm getting a bit tired of this kind of thing. OK, can't argue that there were some nasty incidents in India under 'our' (and I put our in inverted commas deliberately, after all it wasn't anything to do with me, I hadn't been born then and refuse to apologize for something for which I bear no responsibility) rule. But, it wasn't the Indian PM saying this, it was Obama, so I'll put my remarks in context to the USA.
What is Obama's beef with British Imperial rule? Let's remember that there were no recorded cases of British war crimes in the war of independence or atrocities beforehand. The beef at the time was was 'crushing' taxation and nothing more (apart from personal beefs, like certain individuals not getting the knighthoods and so on they thought they'd earned).
It ould be interesting to see a direct comparison betwee the tax burden then and now. Considering that the main aim of the brits was to recover war casts, a few tens of thousands of pounds (though that's probobly a few million now) I don't doubt that the current crushing tax burden is far higher as a percentage of GDP and to the average individual.
Hmmmm. Interesting, don't you think? Maybe he was unwise to draw attention to the reasons America became independent, as those reasons are a better fit for him than they ever were for King George III and his governement.
Reminds me of something an American said when the Iraq constitution was being thrashed out. He said “Why don't we give them ours? After all, we're not using it.” It's the kind of thing that strikes me as funny and sad at the same time.
It is winter and cold and wet. I don't know how cold, but seem to recall that last winter (which I spent in Southampton) it was minus six – but dry (there was snow) and therefore it was not too horrible. In north Devon it's wet. And I don't like it. It's not just the cold and wet, after all the coldest winter I ever spent anywhere was my first winter in Spain. The apartment was on the third floor and had been cunningly contrived so that there were 5 outside walls. It was near the Atlantic, near Gibralter, and the wind howled. The floors were marble; no carpets. There was no heating. The windows fit so poorly that when the wind was in the right direction it drove the rain into the apartment so that there was a small river running though it.
It was freezing.
Still, there were sunny days. On new-years day, for example, it was warm enough to sit out on the front and soak up the sun. Nice. Happy making.
I have seen people sit outside coffee shops here in the UK, but they don't seem very happy about it.
It was freezing.
Still, there were sunny days. On new-years day, for example, it was warm enough to sit out on the front and soak up the sun. Nice. Happy making.
I have seen people sit outside coffee shops here in the UK, but they don't seem very happy about it.
Did I mention that The Last King's Amulet and Prison of Power will soon be available on Amazon? Gosh, I'm pleased about that. OK, you can already buy through smashwords for $2 and yes, I will get a bigger percentage of that money, but Amazon... well, that's as much of a sales outlet as I need, isn't it? Now all I need to do is invent a new way of marketing books....
What? I hear you cry (maybe). What do you mean?
Well, books don't get advertised, at least no much and not usually. The publisher has a sales team, yes, but their job is to go to bookstores (chains and independants) and push books – the store owner takes a number of copies and puts them on the shelf for two weeks. Those that don't sell get sent back (just the front cover actually) along with a check for those that do sell. If they all sell, then the bookstore will order more. And that's it. Usually. If a book sells well, then there is some advertising.
Usually the publisher makes guess at the number of copies they will shift and print that many. Usually this isn't enough to make a profit, but they figure they have to experiment. As much as they figure anything. With no advertising this is pretty much a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Anyway. What I am doing (and anyone else who embraces change) is different. In effect I have “printed” as many copies as anyone will ever need – there are no end of copies available. What I need to do, then, is make people aware of the fact. Like fantasy? Like a good read? Prefer to spend $2 on a book instead of $10 or more? Go look, read upto 40% for free, see what you think. Buy if you like. These are the things I need to say, to as many people as possible.
Now, without spending any money (yet – like publishers I'll budget advertising based on what I earn from the books, which isn't much yet) how do I do this?
Good question, isn't it?
What? I hear you cry (maybe). What do you mean?
Well, books don't get advertised, at least no much and not usually. The publisher has a sales team, yes, but their job is to go to bookstores (chains and independants) and push books – the store owner takes a number of copies and puts them on the shelf for two weeks. Those that don't sell get sent back (just the front cover actually) along with a check for those that do sell. If they all sell, then the bookstore will order more. And that's it. Usually. If a book sells well, then there is some advertising.
Usually the publisher makes guess at the number of copies they will shift and print that many. Usually this isn't enough to make a profit, but they figure they have to experiment. As much as they figure anything. With no advertising this is pretty much a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Anyway. What I am doing (and anyone else who embraces change) is different. In effect I have “printed” as many copies as anyone will ever need – there are no end of copies available. What I need to do, then, is make people aware of the fact. Like fantasy? Like a good read? Prefer to spend $2 on a book instead of $10 or more? Go look, read upto 40% for free, see what you think. Buy if you like. These are the things I need to say, to as many people as possible.
Now, without spending any money (yet – like publishers I'll budget advertising based on what I earn from the books, which isn't much yet) how do I do this?
Good question, isn't it?
I bought a coffee-making thing. You know, a pot, coffee here, water there, flick a switch and in a while you have a pot of coffee. Then I poured it into my cup. Or, more accurately, all over the counter because the spout didn't pour cleanly. Amazing.
Here we are, a tool making species who have been making pots with spouts for … what? Tenty thousand years? … and there are people who design and manufacture pots with spouts that don't pour. Welcome to the 21st century.
Here we are, a tool making species who have been making pots with spouts for … what? Tenty thousand years? … and there are people who design and manufacture pots with spouts that don't pour. Welcome to the 21st century.
It's the contrasts between Spain and the UK that constantly niggle. People smile. Seems like such a simple thing, doesn't it? But try it out as an experiment if you live in the UK. Walk down the street smiling at people, and see what kind of looks you get in response. I bet cash it won't be a smile.
Here's a thing that happened; I was driving down a short one-way street the wrong way (Everyone did it, more or less; it was a short cut) and came nose to nose with the Guardia Civil (that's the proper police, just in case you don't know). Guess what happened? Play the scene out in your mind, as though you were in the UK. Did that happen? No. The Guardia backed up onto the pavement so that I could get buy.
Here's a thing that happened; I was driving down a short one-way street the wrong way (Everyone did it, more or less; it was a short cut) and came nose to nose with the Guardia Civil (that's the proper police, just in case you don't know). Guess what happened? Play the scene out in your mind, as though you were in the UK. Did that happen? No. The Guardia backed up onto the pavement so that I could get buy.
Another time, another Guardia story. Again, I'll outline the scene and let you play it out as though it were in the UK (or wherever) and see what you think happened. Compare and contrast...
I was speeding – everyone does – and I had had a drink or two, probably over the limit (this was out of town, no one... and I mean no one... speeds in towns), and I had no ITV (the MOT equivalent – this was obvious, it's a sticker you put in the windscreen), and I was wearing no seatbelt (this law had just come into force. So, I was stopped because they happened to be doing speeding that day. Now, what happened?
They fined me for speeding. And I didn't have quite enough cash on me so they waived the total. No further action, no booze test, no fine for the seatbelt, no fine for not having a current ITV, not a word about anything else.
They are not out to get you. You are not a criminal. Hell, I got stopped with no insurance and no papers for the car – I was moving it because I had to, and they get that. You are not a criminal, you are a citizen going about your life. I am a civil servant, here to help you, not make your life difficult. Get the car moved, and don't make a habit of it.
And people wonder why I like Spain.
I was speeding – everyone does – and I had had a drink or two, probably over the limit (this was out of town, no one... and I mean no one... speeds in towns), and I had no ITV (the MOT equivalent – this was obvious, it's a sticker you put in the windscreen), and I was wearing no seatbelt (this law had just come into force. So, I was stopped because they happened to be doing speeding that day. Now, what happened?
They fined me for speeding. And I didn't have quite enough cash on me so they waived the total. No further action, no booze test, no fine for the seatbelt, no fine for not having a current ITV, not a word about anything else.
They are not out to get you. You are not a criminal. Hell, I got stopped with no insurance and no papers for the car – I was moving it because I had to, and they get that. You are not a criminal, you are a citizen going about your life. I am a civil servant, here to help you, not make your life difficult. Get the car moved, and don't make a habit of it.
And people wonder why I like Spain.
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