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Thursday, November 12th, 2009
shitty_advice
[ mariepavey ]
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6:04p
High Tech Help!
Shits! I need your help! I have procured a clever little handheld device, an iPhone Touch, and I need to know what apps are out there and what I should install on the machine.
current mood:  exanimate
current music: Boucy annoying tinkle music.
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(2 comments | comment on this)
meddler_inc
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5:00p
"I am Void," the hooded person said, his robe whipped around by unknown winds, the voice the sound of funeral gongs. "I am the Ender, the Destroyer, the Annihilator."
"I am Creation," the lady said, her chiffon gown echoing her sweet birdsong. "I am the Beginner, the Inspiration, the Spark."
"And we wish to make a deal with you," they said in unison.
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(comment on this)
nauta
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4:27p
Skoon Saga
It's been something like 6 months since I last wrote a word for the Skoon Saga. Too long, really, as I started chapter 4 and never finished it. I'm determined to not leave it hanging, and incomplete, so I sat down at Dunn Bros today (my default writing spot) and penned out another 1016 words.
I suppose the worst part is not really knowing where I want to take the story from this immediate point. I have plans for the bigger picture, sure, but not really from where I stand now. I need to contemplate this before I write further, so I don't end up going off in some random direction that I don't even wish to take things.
On that note, I'm satisfied so far with how it's come. It's just hard to find inspiration these days.
current mood:  okay
current music: Dim land - Xerxes
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(comment on this) Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
bakebakebake
[ missusgeek ]
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11:39p
3D fondant cake: muay thai boxing gloves
 This was my very first 3-dimensional fondant cake, and my very first working with a Muay Thai theme. Even though Muay Thai has quite a following here in Singapore, I've never had any requests for such theme, in comparison to boxing. It turned out to be so much fun, and I must say that I find it so much easier and less daunting than the tiered wedding fondant cake I've done before :P Each glove was approximately 8-inch, and they're basically moist chocolate butter cake layered with a rich chocolate frosting, and covered with fondant. The client wanted to incorporate the message "HAPPY 21ST BIRTHDAY, YI XIANG", and to be honest, I had no idea how to incorporate so much onto such little space, so I ended up including a towel to put the message :P Drop by my foodblog, or after the jump for more photos :)
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(1 comment | comment on this)
bakebakebake
[ layers_of_eli ]
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12:01a
Gâteau aux Noix (French Walnut Cake)
I drove my boyfriend to another city this past weekend so he could take his math subject GRE. I wanted to make it a special trip, so I hunted around for a simple, elegant, no-fuss cake to pack up and bring along. My friend sent me this recipe from Orangette's blog: Gâteau aux Noix, or French Walnut Cake.
This cake has a subtle flavor of white wine, and the toasted walnuts are absolutely delicious. If you're looking for a simple, quick cake to grab a hunk of after dinner, this is the perfect choice.
( recipe and photos )
To read more of my thoughts about this cake, view more yummy photos, or just to listen to me brood about my holiday schedule, please head over to my baking blog, Willow Bird Baking!
x posted to food_porn, cooking, and bakebakebake
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(comment on this) Thursday, November 12th, 2009
(8 comments | comment on this)
(100 comments | comment on this)
shitty_advice
[ evilsausage ]
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12:48p
Oh Noes! Not Again!
On Friday, Nov. 6, two week's pay was deposited into my checking account by my employer. The only problem was that ti was a day short - they left off a day. They are now aware of the problem and were supposed to cut me a check Monday, then Tues., then yesterday. I'm trying hard to not have to wait till I get paid again to see this money. What do you suggest?
current mood:  annoyed
current music: Aerosmith "Kings & Queens"
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(3 comments | comment on this)
meddler_inc
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11:43a
No static at all...
Sorry to leave all of you in a slight fix. The time spent away was spent in more productive things, like sleeping.
At the moment, I am here, awaiting for my stomach to be settled. I spent an amazing time at a local restaurant/diner by the name of Omega, which had me very nicely welcomed in with rich coffee and a nice take on Eggs Benedict [lox instead of ham and capers in sauce]. AND they also gave you a complimentary bowl of fruit and a small slice of coffeecake. Sheer delish.
Today, I'm a bit indecisive what to do. The hosts are a bit miffed at the fact they won't be in today, so I'm kinda wondering if I should get some sightseeing under my belt...
current mood:  coffee-induced mellowness
current music: Steely Dan: Your Gold Teeth II
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(3 comments | comment on this)
theferrett
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11:53a
A Random Game Poll
When I play through any computerized roleplaying game for the first time, I am invariably the good guy. I make all the morally correct choices, am kind to my fellow travellers, spare my enemies, avoid kicking puppies or harvesting little children, et cetera. I am scrupulous about this, for this is the "official" record.
Then, if the game is sufficiently interesting to play through again, I start a "what if?" scenario where I play the utter bastard, making every greedy choice and slaughtering everyone in town. And I dislike this on some level, but justify it because the first time was what really happened, and this second time is just fantasy. Which is kinda stupid, but there you have it.
However, I know this is not unique. Interestingly enough, my daughter Amy started off Mass Effect with an utter jerk, but within three hours she felt bad and slowly transformed her meanie badass into a sweetness and light hero. Which led to this weird little poll:
Poll #1484469 Roleplayin'
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 207When I am playing through a computerized RPG of some sort (like Bioshock, Mass Effect, or Dragon Age), I will usually:
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(52 comments | comment on this)
(44 comments | comment on this)
theferrett
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9:44a
Star Wars Ruined My Life
My love of overthinking Star Wars has ruined my writing career. Because Darth Vader is a shivering coward, and practically no one knows it.
Wait, I'll knit those two sentences together in a moment. But first, let's talk about Vader's wussery - and when we do so, we will discuss the only three movies that matter. The word "Annie" is dead to me, and I have no idea what this "mid uh klor ee in" thing is that you're mentioning.
Thing is, in the first three movies, Vader is presented as a total badass. But if you look at what's really happening, truth is that Vader's just a hired gun, and not a particularly great one at that. In A New Hope, Vader's nothing more than Tarkin's bitch. And I use that word in the doglike sense, because not only does he do everything that Tarkin commands him to do ("Hey, stop choking that guy who insulted your whole religion!" "Okay, boss") but Leia actually calls him out. "I should have expected to find you holding Vader's leash." In other words, Leia - and, presumably, everyone else in the know - understands that Vader has a leash, and someone's always holding it.
Hey, why does Vader survive the Death Star? Because he was sent out as the lead attack dog to go fight them hand-to-hand. In other words, he survives only because he's one of the most dispensable employees - a glorified Stormtrooper, a special breed of cannon fodder. Where was Tarkin? Back in what he presumed was safety.
Vader's good at killing, don't get me wrong. But "badass" has a certain connotation of freedom and independence, and Vader? Is just another gun for hire.
In fact, Empire, what happens next? Vader's in charge of a task force to find the rebels, sure, but at the end of the film he first attempts to box up his son to bring back to the Emperor without any qualms. Dude, Vader's just a glorified UPS deliveryman - and when your first plan is just to dope-de-ope bring your only offspring back to the Emperor to be brainwashed into being the Emperor's slave, well, you messed up.
And then, when it turns out that his son might almost be able to beat him, what does he do?
He begs.
Oh, don't be fooled by that James Earl Jones voice. Broken down, Vader's cry is, "HALP! I can't beat the nasty old Emperor on my own, 'cause I'm scared! But if you, a one-handed gimp I just thrashed when I got pissy, team up with me, we can do it!"
You think Vader needs Luke to beat the Emperor? Hell, no, Vader does that at the end when Luke's beaten him. No, Vader needs someone to hold his goddamned hand like a six-year-old needs Mommy to cross the street. Vader's a tough guy, sure, but badass? Badasses don't need a cheering squad to help them go off and win the day. Badasses don't beg.
Sure enough, at the end of Return of the Jedi, the only time Vader finally acts? When his son's beaten him, when the Emperor's mocking him and ignored him, when his son's about to die, and when the Emperor has his back turned, Vader finally acts. Could he have done this years ago? Sure. Hell, he's doing it with one hand and a failing life support system. But wimpy ol' Vader was just too frightened of the Emperor to do anything until Luke finally goaded him into it.
Again. That's a guy with a lot of tremendous power, but underneath? Vader's a candyass. He'll take directions from anyone because inside, he's terrified of everything. He goes and beats up people who aren't in his league at all, because he's afraid of real challenges; picture a movie where Bruce Lee only fights mooks he knows he can beat, because he's too afraid to fight the Savage Emperor by his lonesome, and you see Vader's inner scaredycat.
I love that finesse. Because people buy Vader as a badass, because the movie is largely shot from Vader's perspective (something Lucas openly admitted when he went back and, uh, didn't film three awful films). When you start pointing out that Vader really is just a gun to be shot by pretty much anyone with the will to shoot him, they start hemming and hawing and telling you how he's really a threat.
Yes. But a threat is not a badass. Vader's Woody Allen with a lightsaber.
The reason I say this ruined my writing career is because that dichotomy is one of my lit-kinks. I love writing stories from a strong first-person perspective where the lead character is flawed, and completely unaware of it. In other words, I write Vader'fic, where the lead characters appear to be strong and monotone, but underneath there's something else going on.
And that's a weakness right now, because as it is I don't have the chops to pull off something like that. Not one of those stories has sold yet.
What actually happens when I write the story is that people actually buy the lead character's opinion of themself, and they miss all the subtle clues I put in that indicate that whoah, wait a minute, things aren't quite this simple, and instead they see it as a simple "Us Good, Them Bad" story. And I can't fault them for that, because I am writing in a fashion influenced by a man who created a villain who literally millions of people see as the ultimate badass. Which Vader, as I have noted here, is not.
It's an interesting way to try to construct a story. But I need to learn to put in better clues, or achieve deeper characterization so that people can see beyond the surface, or plot better. Because as it stands, for all of its charm any scene from Star Wars makes a pretty lousy short story. I'm gonna have to find a way to either drop this lit-kink or learn to pull it off better.
In either case, I blame Lucas. He's convenient, and rich enough not to care.
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(61 comments | comment on this) Wednesday, November 11th, 2009
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