Found a lovely essay that better talks about the rootless melodrama that many writers think makes for emotional and gripping characterization.  This doesn't just apply to fanfic, but far too many mainstream works in the last decade.  Just like bopping a dozen bodies doesn't make a character sexy, passively crying a river of tears over problems ( Read more... )

Well, it's interesting seeing a once great company slowly get dragged down by artistic vision.  Bioware's screw-up of the Mass Effect series was widely reported, with even Forbes chiming in.  That after a rushed and unsatisfying ending for the second Dragon Age. Their too little, too late non-fix for the ME3 and lack of any fix for DA2 has ( Read more... )

Mystery Diners has completely lost my respect as a show with any reality to it.  That had been one of my favorite shows for months and I made others watch it too, but now I change the channel and I've started telling others also ( Read more... )

I will believe a corporation or business has right to be involved in politics when:

• it is responsible for generations older and younger, those who cannot be fired or cut off
• it gives birth, teaches morals and ethics by their example, and wipes away tears of those in pain
• It faces destitution from illness or disaster without billion or million dollar ( Read more... )

Usually busy on other projects, I missed that OO had closed down, as for what I did it was nicely stable.  But as I tried to use some of the less common features, like show changes it just wasn't playing well anymore.  Then switching seemed an obvious change ( Read more... )

Checking accounts are for customers to give the bank money, and they take it out to pay their bills.  the bank merely holds that money and returns it, and relies on the trustworthiness of the bank that the customer's money is safe ( Read more... )

I wonder who and why Social Security was given the nasty name of entitlement, of how that became a curse?  People on who are 67+ and already on social security HAVE worked (or married to the worker when you could be a single earner household).  Social Security is supposed to be the support for those who put in their taxes for decades, who worked ( Read more... )

So many mock or make fun of people with an optimistic outlook, but taking only a pessimistic one  means people will not try as hard, will not start new projects, a marriage, or family.  Each baby is a distilled hope for the future in a small, smelly package.  Without these hopes that things can be better than they are, the world cannot get better.

( Read more... )

I am sorry for the customers of Bioware who had been so excited and enthralled by the Mass Effect Series.  I had been tempted by their praise for the depth and characterization, how the writing depended on earlier events and choices.  I particularly enjoy stories where seemingly small events have ongoing repercussions, even if it is a fantasy or ( Read more... )

We're supposed to have a government 'of the people, by the people, and for the people.'  Corporations can't serve on juries, vote, or serve in the military, police, or peace corps to put their butt on the line.  They don't have children or elderly parents, hunger, or get sick and so lack empathy.  They should have more limitations on influencing ( Read more... )