Search Results
I did a search on my grandfather on the internet the other day. I found an article written by a retired colonel from the U.S. military who mentioned my lolo by his nickname. I e-mailed him out of curiousity and am now trading stories with him about my lolo.
My lolo was a very happy guy. Fond of horsing around. Generous - I remember he once gave me a giant plastic Daimos robot - and took special pains to teach me how to correctly pronounce it. He spoke and understood Japanese, you see. He was so good at it that he was apparently present at the negotiations with Japan at the end of WWII as a secret expert.
Anyway, this retired colonel is telling me stories of lolo's younger days, about the time they were saying nasty things about this slow-walking fat white woman who turned around and berated them in Tagalog (she was married to a Filipino and had had YEARS to learn the language), about lolo's brother and their activities during the war.
My lolo died with a smile on his face. I should tell this old buddy of my lolo's that. I don't know if he knows.
Time in Dumagete
Our time in Dumagete was a lot of relaxed fun! It really felt like a very laid back place. Everyone there is very friendly. Not quite a sleepy place - it felt that there were many things going on, and there was a definite sense that it was about to change. Signs of construction and development suggested that this place might change this year, next year, or the year after. The prices will go up and it won't be the same place it once was.
But change is inevitable. I'm sure that it was a much different place than from when my lolo was there for college and I wonder what stories there are about his time there.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hospitality of Ian and Mark. I look forward to more literary discussions with Ian, whose writing I do enjoy (despite the fact that most of his work is of a realist cast) and I hope to find more of his work to study and review.
I felt bad that Mark wasn't able to involve himself in some of our discussions since he seemed to be a bit under the weather at times, but the holiday season is traditionally when we tend to relax a bit and yet find that the stress level is curiously high.
Hope to go back there with my wife and the gang again soon.
Our time in Dumagete was a lot of relaxed fun! It really felt like a very laid back place. Everyone there is very friendly. Not quite a sleepy place - it felt that there were many things going on, and there was a definite sense that it was about to change. Signs of construction and development suggested that this place might change this year, next year, or the year after. The prices will go up and it won't be the same place it once was.
But change is inevitable. I'm sure that it was a much different place than from when my lolo was there for college and I wonder what stories there are about his time there.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention the hospitality of Ian and Mark. I look forward to more literary discussions with Ian, whose writing I do enjoy (despite the fact that most of his work is of a realist cast) and I hope to find more of his work to study and review.
I felt bad that Mark wasn't able to involve himself in some of our discussions since he seemed to be a bit under the weather at times, but the holiday season is traditionally when we tend to relax a bit and yet find that the stress level is curiously high.
Hope to go back there with my wife and the gang again soon.
Catchy Songs
It's funny, but sometimes there are pleasantly entertaining songs that just won't leave your brain... I present the following YouTube videos for you to enjoy in that vein!
Katamari Damacy
We Love Katamari Damacy
It's funny, but sometimes there are pleasantly entertaining songs that just won't leave your brain... I present the following YouTube videos for you to enjoy in that vein!
Katamari Damacy
We Love Katamari Damacy
Last Year at the Bookfair...
...I picked up a neat hardbound book containing nearly all the Hitchhiker's Guide novels. It was discounted, but months later it hardly seemed worth the time and effort spent trolling around the World Trade Center floor to buy a series of books that I'd already read.
This year I went into the bookfair with low expectations. I didn't expect to find anything I'd be willing to part with my money for.
Then my wife mentioned that ADB (A Different Bookstore) had a spectacular selection of SF books on sale. P99 each, and there was a buy 2, get one free deal. Then she mentioned that Iain M. Banks was one of the authors whose books were on sale.
Nonchalantly pushing my way through the crowd, I promptly found the stall, saw the hard-to-find Player of Games novel by said author, and picked it up (plus two other novels from his Culture setting).
Yay, wife!
...I picked up a neat hardbound book containing nearly all the Hitchhiker's Guide novels. It was discounted, but months later it hardly seemed worth the time and effort spent trolling around the World Trade Center floor to buy a series of books that I'd already read.
This year I went into the bookfair with low expectations. I didn't expect to find anything I'd be willing to part with my money for.
Then my wife mentioned that ADB (A Different Bookstore) had a spectacular selection of SF books on sale. P99 each, and there was a buy 2, get one free deal. Then she mentioned that Iain M. Banks was one of the authors whose books were on sale.
Nonchalantly pushing my way through the crowd, I promptly found the stall, saw the hard-to-find Player of Games novel by said author, and picked it up (plus two other novels from his Culture setting).
Yay, wife!
Lit Crit Night
I've learned a lot in the 20+ sessions of Literary Criticism nights that the group has been regularly having these past few months. In addition to many terms and styles of critique, I've managed to identify aspects of the craft in storytelling that I find critical.
I know that critical to my engagement in a story is one of three things: plot, character, or idea (setting or macguffin).
These may engage my interest, but will never be the only factors in determining how satisfying the story is to me.
More on that... another time.
I've learned a lot in the 20+ sessions of Literary Criticism nights that the group has been regularly having these past few months. In addition to many terms and styles of critique, I've managed to identify aspects of the craft in storytelling that I find critical.
I know that critical to my engagement in a story is one of three things: plot, character, or idea (setting or macguffin).
I'm normally engaged in the plot if the situation or the threat is inriguing, or if the conflict is tasty. Naturally, this is often enhanced by one of the other two elements.
I'm often drawn to quintessential characters - people who stand out from the crowd due to excellence in some field despite any failings. However, characters who strike a chord in me because of the truth or versimilitude in their nature (overwhelming love for one's family, sacrifice in the name of principle, human weakness, revenge) also get high points from me.
Idea refers to a cool or interesting setting or macguffin (wondrous or incredibly important thing that enables or is one of the cornerstones of the story). Sometimes, the story is more about the exploration of the setting rather than a strong or intricate plot, or is about revealing the layers beneath the surface of the macguffin, and I find this interesting too.
These may engage my interest, but will never be the only factors in determining how satisfying the story is to me.
More on that... another time.
Reading RPGs
It's a sad fact that I don't get to run many RPGs these days (though I'm prepping for a return to the Fading Suns campaign and for my series of Pulp Hero adventures).
Instead, I browse through many RPG books and documents that I've accumulated over the years. There are a lot of systems and setting, a lot of layouts and images that instruct or confuse or enlighten.
I've learned about the effects of radiation and the timelines of the 1920s through the 1940s. I've read about various scientific superstructures like Ringworlds and Beanstalks and Dyson Spheres. I've slogged through theories on magic, the supernatural and the preternatural.
I've also exercised my imagination trying to image the light patterns against the face of a dark-skinned tattooed alien watching a space-battle outside the viewports of a starfrigate, a twin sunrise on a crystalline sea, and the view of the arching Ringword above me.
It may not be playing, but it relaxes, entertains and educates.
It's a sad fact that I don't get to run many RPGs these days (though I'm prepping for a return to the Fading Suns campaign and for my series of Pulp Hero adventures).Instead, I browse through many RPG books and documents that I've accumulated over the years. There are a lot of systems and setting, a lot of layouts and images that instruct or confuse or enlighten.
I've learned about the effects of radiation and the timelines of the 1920s through the 1940s. I've read about various scientific superstructures like Ringworlds and Beanstalks and Dyson Spheres. I've slogged through theories on magic, the supernatural and the preternatural.
I've also exercised my imagination trying to image the light patterns against the face of a dark-skinned tattooed alien watching a space-battle outside the viewports of a starfrigate, a twin sunrise on a crystalline sea, and the view of the arching Ringword above me.
It may not be playing, but it relaxes, entertains and educates.
Industry Watch: RPGs
I'm talking about the original RPGs, the table-top variety! I've been reading the columns and message boards about the terrible state of the industry (RPG publishers).
The picture is hazy, but apparently sales are down, and publishers lay some of the blame at the feet of the distributors or the Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS). I suppose it's of note that I can think of almost no gaming store that supports itself solely with RPGs. Gamescape of the San Francisco Bay Area was a store that supported games of all kinds: traditional board games like chess and go, board games and war games, collectible card games, and of course, RPGs. Other stores I went to were a comics / CCG / RPG mixture.
The brick and mortar stores are tricky because there are a wide variety of RPGs our there, and the chance that someone in your area / neighborhood wanting your stuff was good to fair in terms of the "evergreen" RPGs like D&D, but indy and off-the-beaten path games like Over The Edge were hard to find - very hit or miss.
Now many RPG publishers have gone the online route to distribute their stuff, sometimes opening up their own online store! An example is HERO Games, which apparenty doesn't charge for shipping. Even more folks have made their games available in PDF format!
More and more tools are coming out to allow gamers to play these once-tabletop-only games online using chat tools, groupware that allows map sharing and character placement, and other neat stuff.
Is this the changing shape of the RPG industry?
I'm talking about the original RPGs, the table-top variety! I've been reading the columns and message boards about the terrible state of the industry (RPG publishers).
The picture is hazy, but apparently sales are down, and publishers lay some of the blame at the feet of the distributors or the Friendly Local Gaming Store (FLGS). I suppose it's of note that I can think of almost no gaming store that supports itself solely with RPGs. Gamescape of the San Francisco Bay Area was a store that supported games of all kinds: traditional board games like chess and go, board games and war games, collectible card games, and of course, RPGs. Other stores I went to were a comics / CCG / RPG mixture.
The brick and mortar stores are tricky because there are a wide variety of RPGs our there, and the chance that someone in your area / neighborhood wanting your stuff was good to fair in terms of the "evergreen" RPGs like D&D, but indy and off-the-beaten path games like Over The Edge were hard to find - very hit or miss.
Now many RPG publishers have gone the online route to distribute their stuff, sometimes opening up their own online store! An example is HERO Games, which apparenty doesn't charge for shipping. Even more folks have made their games available in PDF format!
More and more tools are coming out to allow gamers to play these once-tabletop-only games online using chat tools, groupware that allows map sharing and character placement, and other neat stuff.
Is this the changing shape of the RPG industry?
Science Fiction & Spec Fic Sites
I've renewed my interest in writing over the past year, and I've been reading a lot more thanks to Dean's Lit Crit Nights, which have a short lecture and about four (4) stories that we now have to critique each week.
As I attempt to put together stories, my websurfing (ooh, is that term even current anymore?) takes me to a variety of places. Let me share some with you:
1. Phil Spec Fic Message Boards - an interesting site, though the traffic is currently limited to a few notables. Hopefully more conversations will spark interest, especially on the topic of writing or encouraging a local Spec Fic community.
2. Orion's Arm - a website for the the Orion's Arm world building community, it has a lot of resources for people attempting a hard science fiction story, but are hard-pressed to do all the research and relearning of science. It has a timeline, excellent details on travel, transhuman technologies, personalities and other aspects of the setting.
3. Grading Science Fiction for Realism - a webpage that lists criteria for grading Hard Science Fiction (Ultra Hard to Medium) and Soft Science Fiction (Soft to Mushy Soft).
I've renewed my interest in writing over the past year, and I've been reading a lot more thanks to Dean's Lit Crit Nights, which have a short lecture and about four (4) stories that we now have to critique each week.
As I attempt to put together stories, my websurfing (ooh, is that term even current anymore?) takes me to a variety of places. Let me share some with you:
1. Phil Spec Fic Message Boards - an interesting site, though the traffic is currently limited to a few notables. Hopefully more conversations will spark interest, especially on the topic of writing or encouraging a local Spec Fic community.
2. Orion's Arm - a website for the the Orion's Arm world building community, it has a lot of resources for people attempting a hard science fiction story, but are hard-pressed to do all the research and relearning of science. It has a timeline, excellent details on travel, transhuman technologies, personalities and other aspects of the setting.
3. Grading Science Fiction for Realism - a webpage that lists criteria for grading Hard Science Fiction (Ultra Hard to Medium) and Soft Science Fiction (Soft to Mushy Soft).
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