Blogosphere

blog·o·sphere/ˈblôgəˌsfi(ə)r/ Noun: The world of weblogs

Thank you, Google-fu for fairly quickly providing me the definition of a word that, until recently, I did not know we even needed a word for.

I have often blogged- I find the writing process to be therapeutic and can say things that I would otherwise not want to say- I can post nerdy things about whatever project I’m working on, I can rant about how I feel, and I can pretty much say or do whatever I want, which is part of what this topic will be about; but first, let me return to my point:

It was not until recently that I really stopped to consider the idea of a blogosphere: a web of interconnected blogs that not only provides feedback and helps generate interest, but is essentially a method of maintaining a desire to blog. Let’s face it, I know I’d blog more if I actually thought people were gonna read it. And I should probably go out and read more of other people’s blogs. There are a lot of opinions, ideas, and smarmy humor out there that I am woefully and- perhaps even more woefully- deliberately ignorant of.

I feel like I should make it a point to go out and become more of a part of my blogosphere. To that end, I’d like to point what readers I have to http://talesfromtheasteroid.com. The site is run by a good (though oftentime hotly disputed) friend of mine, named Dru.

Secondly, I’d like to make you aware of a personal issue that I have taken a whole ten minutes to research and that was brought to my attention. It’s called the PROTECT IP act, and it has some pretty serious consequences for the Internet here in America, and free speech considerations for the world as a whole. For more information, I’d like to point you at a couple of sites. I have plenty to say on this, but I would much rather point you to what information I have- to raise awareness- than to proselytize from a blog.

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2011/05/blacklists-ahoy-protect-ip-act-sails-on-to-senate-floor.ars

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20063963-261.html

http://stupid.domain.name/node/1341

Thank you for your time.

Vlog!

Yeah, not really. Mostly, I’m just commenting on my good friend Evanafter’s Vlog (which you can find here: http://talesfromtheasteroid.com/2011/02/04/waking-up-is-good)

School has been snowed in for five days now. (And by snowed in, I mean: this is Texas, and we are completely unable to deal with snow in any form, and thus the school has been shut down because we had three inches of snow.)

I got an epic-long session of D&D finished, 13 hours. I’m pretty sure I set a new record for myself. And the strange thing is, I did it with an almost entirely new group. Muffin was there, but the rest were all people I’ve met at school. I’m really grateful for College, I discovered. You’d be surprised what you’ll discover about yourself when you’re chilling in the hookah lounge with a group of really awesome friends.

I think I might start doing pictures to go with my blog…. I got a shiny new iPhone and- Well…. Since it seems I’m determined to go into everything (and I did promise I would do so) I might as well start at the beginning.

 

I finally got into college. I was accepted into Texas Wesleyan University, and am loving every moment of college life. Except for the parts that I don’t love. Those… pretty much suck.

Then I went to school, goofed around, pulled barely a C+ semester average and generally had a horrible WInter Break. I missed my family, my old friends… I even missed Sora, and if you know that story, you know how lonely that means I was.

So I got a fish as soon as my semester refund came in. And now I’m not so lonely. Dr. Horrible is there to make the whole world quake in fear… or at least, give me someone to talk to when I can’t be arsed to call a friend over. (BTW: If you have not seen Dr. Horrible, I suggest you stop reading right now, and go rectify your tragic, tragic lifestyle choice.)

Sometime during the break, I developed feelings for a man I had no business feeling for; he’s amazing, but ultimately will never be interested in me the way that I am him. So, I’ve taken a good friends advice and just tried to limit my… enthusiasm. If you will. (Which you better.)

So that’s where I stand: Second semester of college, determined to do better than the first; In love with a boy who will never love me back; Got a fish to help ease the crippling loneliness that comes with being me; and am trying to maintain contact with all new friends, and get back in contact with some really old ones.

The end.

 

Also, Pictures of the Bad Doctor:

Blogging again?

It seems I find myself having these random lapses of blog-age in which I go off and actually do stuff… Then, when I am reminded that I wished to share that life with all of the lovely internets, I go back to blogging.

In this case, it was the miracle story of one Dru, who you can find at the (apparantly singularly domain-named) http://talesfromtheasteroid.com

It reminds me that there are people out there whose lives I’ve gotten use to having as the background noise to my own, and that’s what it really is: background noise. That nice white hum of static that reminds me that I am not alone, that my unease with the world is shared by more than just my own thoughts and my fish. (More on that in a sec.)

But my thoughts keep veering off into the wild black yonder (if you will, which I’m not letting you not) and I can’t seem to control them. Being at school helps. It helps a lot to have the distraction of class and homework, but when the night is still and I am all alone, I can’t help but crave that enticing static.

Even now, I sit in my room blogging, but I am not alone. My best friend, the man whom I love, is sitting right behind me, and just because he is there, I am alright. (There are probably too many commas in that last sentence, but I don’t give  a shit.) I don’t know if he realizes just how much I need him by my side, I doubt he’d believe me if I told him, but it’s not just him. I crave companionship. I long for the static of someone else’s mind, and I know it’s their mind I am looking at.

Laugh if you will, believe or disbelieve, but a good teacher and mentor has encouraged me to develop my empathy and it has worked. Whether those skills have always been there or not is entirely up to debate, but that is not the point of this post.

Also, I got a fish. His name is Dr. Horrible, and I love him. And the best thing is, like most animals of lower intelligence who do not know any better, he lets me love him in that way only a pet can. He also follows my finger around the tank.

A full length update of all the things that have happened in my life will follow, soon. But not for now.

S2, E4 – The Outrageous Okona

This episode holds a lot of fond memories for me, because it is Captain Okona that the character Warrion Raisher was based on. And even though he picks on Data (my favorite character), I fell instantly in love with this character, this dashing rogue with a heart of gold.

I love Data’s storyline here, and I always feel sad when Data realized that the audience is laughing at everything. Which is odd, because I know Data isn’t sad. He isn’t capable of it, yet.

On a more nerdy note: This episode gives us some insight to Starfleet’s classification system for alien vessels. In the episode, it is stated that Okona’s ship is class 9, and the other two ships they encounter are class 7. Now all three vessels are considered complete jokes to the Galaxy-class Enterprise and yet are rated so highly. This, combined with the fact that Okona’s ship is considered to be slower than the other two, would imply the system is based on a ranking, possibly 1-10, with 1 being the most powerful, fastest ships, and 10 being the weakest vessels possible.

Memorable Quotes:

Picard: “Follow Commander Riker’s instructions so we can get back to our normal routine. Something funny, Commander?”

Riker: “Well, the unexpected is our normal routine. Sir.”

Guinan: “Being able to make people laugh is not the end all of being human.”

Data: “No. But there is nothing more uniquely human.”

This episode holds a lot of fond memories for me, because it is Captain Okona that the character Warrion Raisher was based on. And even though he picks on Data (my favorite character), I fell instantly in love with this character, this dashing rogue with a heart of gold.
I love Data’s storyline here, and I always feel sad when Data realized that the audience is laughing at everything. Which is odd, because I know Data isn’t sad. He isn’t capable of it, yet.
On a more nerdy note: This episode gives us some insight to Starfleet’s classification system for alien vessels. In the episode, it is stated that Okona’s ship is class 9, and the other two ships they encounter are class 7. Now all three vessels are considered complete jokes to the Galaxy-class Enterprise and yet are rated so highly. This, combined with the fact that Okona’s ship is considered to be slower than the other two, would imply the system is based on a ranking, possibly 1-10, with 1 being the most powerful, fastest ships, and 10 being the weakest vessels possible.

Memorable Quotes:
Picard: “Follow Commander Riker’s instructions so we can get back to our normal routine. Something funny, Commander?” Riker: “Well, the unexpected is our normal routine. Sir.”
Guinan: “Being able to make people laugh is not the end all of being human.”Data: “No. But there is nothing more uniquely human.”

S2, E2 – Elementary, Dear Data

This episode makes me smile, and of course introduces one of my favorite characters of the entire Next Generation, the holographic Professor Moriarty. My obsession with Moriarty (and Holmes in general) notwithstanding, this episode creates an opportunity for a unique question as the nature of potential. When watching this episode it always amazes me that the 19th century construct seemed to be able to master concepts of technology from 5 centuries ahead of him. It helps to remind me that no matter how far we’ve come technologically, humans are still humans; This, above all else, grants me hope and allows me to believe in the United Federation of Planets.

The Age of Lost Omens

Her silver hair glistened as the rain began to fall, swept to the side as she turned to stare accusingly at the ranger. “What…” She snarled. Her voice, as harsh as the fury of nature itself, was a barely-controlled whisper. “…are you?” She finished.

Tesla turned, his already weary eyes just managing to achieve contact with her. “He’s a clone.”

“A what?”

“I made him. In my godforsaken lab, from nothing but a bloody cloth. Because I wanted to.”

The air stilled as the mixed emotions of the group, no longer united by their charge in the fledgling god, stood pregnant with the threat of violence. Lightning struck, and the rain continued to fall. Kyla narrowed her eyes at the now full-elf, her calm voice masking the fury within.

“It has to die.” She said, as Raiku and Corvin stepped out from behind her. Power and grace incarnate, the twin tigers slowly advanced on Srava. Norila took a small step to stand between him and the terrifying menaces.

“Steel!” Norila cried. “Stop this madness. Reason with her. Tell her!”

Tesla barely managed to raise his head, the weight of his entire life bearing down on his almost lifeless eyes. Norila saw it, the despair in the doctor’s eyes, and, drawing her battle-axe, turned to the elven Druid.

“He died. We brought him back to life. All we wanted was to-“

“It doesn’t matter!”  Kyla roared back. “It is an affront to nature. It needs to die.”

“Please.” Norila asked. “Y-you can’t,” The dwarf turned to the doctor, tears beginning to blur her vision “Make her stop!”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s going to die. We’re… all… going to die.” Tesla looked down in shame, but what he did next made the dwarven woman’s blood run cold. With a pained look, he lifted the metal headband from the clone’s crown, and Dr. Tesla Steel turned his back, retreating to the spot where Aroden had disappeared and pulled out the godling’s last letter, staring as if it were the only anchor holding him to this reality.

It was then that something broke inside of her. An old pain, a hole formed by her love for the human Ranger, slashed open upon his death and crudely patched by the clone’s company, tore her heart apart. And with it, her mind. There was nothing left but a crimson red that filled her sight, and a black flame that erupted from her mouth with a mind-piercing scream of anguish.

Lightning struck, and with it both dwarf and tigers sprung into the attack. Norila swung her axe, and swung again. Again, and again. There was no thought, no tactics, just the sound of her axe as it swung for fur, sliced cleanly through muscle and bone. Only Kyla would measure the moments that followed as a few mere seconds. “It does matter” echoed in her mind, even as her body reeled with the pain of the tiger’s combined assaults. Srava watched on in fear, Tesla’s words echoing in his broken mind.

He has no soul. He’s not a real person.

The tigers quickly overpowered the dwarf, despite her powerful rage, and as she hit the ground, her head striking a rock with a sickening crack, Srava began to cry. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t.

He has no soul. He’s not a real person.

Tesla turned to look, his heart empty even as he watched the blood flow from his ally’s head, and the tears from the face of his would-be son. He would lose two sons today, it seemed. And a friend. And yet, as the tigers advanced, he turned to stare at Aroden’s note. The tigers roared, Srava let out his final screams, and Tesla softly spoke.

“He has no soul. He’s not a real person.”

The Birth of a Zealot

Have Faith, they said.

Have Faith.

I never forgot these words, for they are forged into my very soul, if I still have one, and my very being nonetheless. They are my guidance, my inspiration. Even as the memories of the who, of the where and the when begin to fade into the meaningless blur that is my past, I still remember the pain. And I remember the voices that said, despite all things. to have faith.

I have seen the Faith of the new world, and it is a weak and impotent thing, full of doubt and fear, and I know in my heart that was I have found is beyond that. It is beyond the ability of anyone but one who has suffered for centuries under the hands of their spiritual leaders to understand.

I was born in what is called Afgahnistan. I cannot recall the year, or even the date of my birth. Merely that it was the day I first came into existence that I began my struggle for peace.

قيس جراح من البطانة مستشاريين غير رسميين

FAIL

It appears I’ve failed to fiinish the list of things about myself.

Heh. It’s cause I suck. If you wanna read a REAL blogger, go check out 101 things to do. And, from the minds of the beautiful woman at previously-mentioned superblog, I present my very own (slightly edited) list of things to do before I die.

You can see it here.

Day Two: Favorite Movie

More awesomeness from the ladies at the other blog arrives today! That being, of course, the wonderful 30 day challenged of lets-tell-all-our-readers-our favorite-things. I’m pretty sure the rules involve pictures, too, but since I can’t be bothered to learn such things, I’m'a fly by the seat o’ my pants.

As usual.

TODAY’S REVELATION: MY FAVORITE MOVIE!!

And by revelation, I mean a paragraph of me whining about how FRICKIN’ HARD these questions are. Who’s idea was it to take such a broad genre as movies and adamantly demand that one item be designated at superior to all others? It’s BS, I tell ya, Pure Grade a Bull <expletive deleted>

It’s such Bull <expletive deleted> that I’m going to <expletive deleted> any <expletive deleted> <expletive deleted> who think that this <expletive deleted> is the only <expletive deleted> <expletive deleted> that should <expletive deleted> happen, and personally <expletive deleted> <expletive deleted> my <expletive deleted> up their <expletive deleted><expletive deleted> until their <expletive deleted><expletive deleted> bleed out. And if that ain’t enough. I’ll <expletive deleted> their mother’s <expletive deleted>.

The end.

Oh, wait. A movie. My sad (and entirely stolen from Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back) joke aside, my favorite movie would have to be Jurassic Park. I don’t even know why, but for some reason I have memorized every SINGLE line from that movie, and watch if every chance I get! It’s the raptors, I think. I think they’re trying to turn me into their dino-slave, so I can better get at Randall Munroe.

Day One: Favorite Actor

So, the infamous Dru and Lu are doing it, and since all great minds blatantly steal their ideas from others, I thought I’d do it, too. That being said today’s objet du jour is my favorite actor. I spent a little time thinking about, but it was actually a much easier decision than I though: Patrick Stewart, hands down. Not only has he wow’ed fanboys for years with his role of Captain Picard on Star Trek: The Next Generation and that of Professor Xavier (my favorite mutant of all time, by the way) in the X-Men movies, he has shown amazing versatility and talent in his acting career that includes timeless classics such as A Christmas Carol, funny spoofs like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and even serious productions like Moby Dick!