Bakkwo

I listened to "Bakkwo," the Korean song that Sammi Cheng's "Mei Fei Se Wu" is based on. Good lord the Korean singer is terrible. She doesn't sing so much as shriek and squawk. One of the few times where a cover is vastly superior to the original.

Tidbits

What did the creole chef say when he felt an ominous premonition?

"This does not boudin well."

Punching Their Face

"What if someone says something I don't like and I punch them?"

"You will be arrested."

"But what if they're advocating genocide?"

"Still illegal."

"That doesn't follow. I HATE them for what they're saying."

Paying homage to this bit of Guardians of the Galaxy seems appropriate.

The blood thirstiness of the Ctrl-Left is out of hand. Now's it okay to punch someone because they're a Nazi. How do you know they're a Nazi? Because you say they are.

Shepherding Game

Game concept: A mother shepherding her children across a wartorn nation.

Done in the style of original Oregon Trail.

When that kid dies of dysentery, you are going to cry SO MUCH.

Bechdel Test

DOA Extreme Beach Volleyball passes the Bechdel Test.

Shadow of the Colossus does not.

Something to consider whenever someone tries to seriously employ that as a measure of narrative quality.

Tidbits

Nature takes an interesting perspective when you remember that the bulk of human civilization is founded on our ancestors' fear of being eaten by most of it.

Venezuela's Hyperinflation

Venezuela is a reflection of the sad inevitable consequences of socialism, specifically the democratic socialist system. Hugo Chavez fomented hate - against LGBT, against the "top 1%," against his political enemies - for years. The anger among its citizens is what happens when politicians indulge in "have vs. have not" rhetoric. It's historically the most virulent form of bigotry: make the employee hate the employer, not the bureaucrat pressuring the industry to close. A classic Marxist distraction tactic used by the powerful to maintain their grip on authority until they've strangled the life out of a nation.

For example, Venezuela started having issues with food. So they blamed the bakers, seized their facilities, and having troops make bread. Result: there was soon no more bread. Then they blamed the farmers and seized the farms. Now? They've slaughtered zoo animals and have mass starvation, as there's no food. Baby formula has to be smuggled in like drugs. And still their leaders blame the producers, so that the people won't identify the true culprits: the government.

They're already entering the final stages, sadly. They've started printing larger denominations, ala Weimar, Argentina, and Zimbabwe. I spoke to a refugee from there a couple months back. She'd originally come to the US just as a college student, but now her parents were having her seek asylum so she wouldn't have to return.

It's a reminder to all of us that democratic socialism has never worked, will never work, and will always tear a nation apart every time it's implemented. Central planning fails - it's just a matter of how long a country can limp along with the mistakes before falling. It's heart breaking to see the innocent lives endangered and lost when economic laws assert themselves like gravity on a rotten tree.

Orders

"I want you to do everything I say."

"All right..."

"Call me 'Sir.'"

"Yes, sir."

"You know the safe words?"

"Yes, sir."

"Good. My first order is..."

"Yes, sir?"

"CUDDLING."

Madoka Movie 3

The transformation sequences in Madoka Magica movie 3 are pure nightmare fuel. They start out all light and happy like a typical magical girl sequence. Then you realize the imagery involves them tearing apart their own bodies, smashing themselves into mush, shattering their bodies like glass, and chest bursting.

I think the animators were just all, "Hey, how much MORE disturbing can we make this? Let's find out!"

Mood Music 4

Another set list to reflect how I feel.

Tidbits

Slogan for locksmith: "We think outside the locks."

Deaths of 2017

Some things that have died so far in 2017:

1. BuzzFeed

2. CIA "intelligence"

3. CNN's credibility

4. Trump-Russia conspiracy theories

Even more interesting is we have 4chan to partially thank for several of these.

Regardless of whether there is actually any ties between Trump and Russia, BuzzFeed's stupidity in handling the matter, combined with the CIA not bothering to check the veracity of the rumors in the file and CNN treating the dossier seriously, has effectively destroyed the ability for the matter to be discussed seriously. BuzzFeed played the part of Chicken Little, warning of a falling sky and then holding up an apple as proof.

Now we just have to hope there isn't an asteroid on the way.

Steampunk Psychology

Back in early 2013, I came up with the idea for using Victorian era psychology as a basis for steampunk game mechanics. The idea made it all the way to a 100-page formatted manuscript before it was rebuffed by the intended publishers. Among the critiques, that it "didn't feel like steampunk" and "it was too out there."

Turns out I was beaten to this concept by Felix Gilman, author of "The Half-Made World." The main protagonist of his 2010 steampunk novel? A psychologist. On one hand, I'm disappointed (though not surprised) that another writer thought of this first. On the other hand, I am elated to discover that my concept really does have strong merit, to the point where a very excellent piece of steampunk fiction employs it as a central piece. He also goes in a different direction than I did, so I'm not ripping him off.

Winning an argument, even 4 years later, is satisfying.

(For the record, my work on steampunk psychology is currently being polished for release by another game company. I never let a good idea die, even if I have to go elsewhere to find people smart enough to see the value.)

Social Media

We sacrifice our time on the altar of small talk to appease false gods of harmony.

We tear our hearts from our torsos to display them in the temple of social media, hoping to win the approval of the masses for our fealty to the cult of socializing.

We employ cutting edge technology to transmit obsolete interactive patterns.

We would have an Information Age if it wasn't being drowned out by all the static.

Tidbits

According to Penny Dreadful, every witch has frizzy hair.

Hipster Trend of 2017

A co-worker and I have predicted the next hipster fashion trend: lanyards with nothing on them.

Effect of Breakups

 After breakups, I usually enter a period of sadness that make me uninterested in finding another for a while. Sometimes months, sometimes years. Breakups are rarely a short term recovery for me, especially if they were emotionally involved. (A couple dates doesn't cause this - it has to be an actual relationship.)

However, my last breakup is different. I had about a week of the usual, "Oh, no, I'm alone" reaction. Then I was attacked - quite viciously, in fact. Being attacked switches me from being sad to having my guard up. I rally - external threats switch me from thinking about my problems internally to focusing on defeating whatever menace has reared itself. This is actually effective at ending depression and buoying me back to emotional stability.

The good news is the attack had the positive effect of terminating my moping. However, I've noticed another side effect: at the core, I feel a certain numbness. While I am able to function on my projects and other things just fine, emotionally I am a bit deadened. Similar to my usual post-breakup feelings, I have little interest in dating or having relationships. I miss cuddling and deep conversations, but those are ephemeral things.

I'm not sure what's happened. I don't consciously feel sad or depressed - powering up to fight against the ongoing threat to my life has overridden that. But I no longer feel the same level of desire for human contact as I once did. Perhaps it's the sting of the betrayal from what happened. Having two people who promised to be by your side turn traitor will do that.

I'm slightly worried something may have broken in me with this last one. Something I haven't soused out yet. Hopefully, it'll get back in shape in the usual course of time.

For now, I am happy that my mind is still cranking out ideas and stories as it always has. My enemies can never take away what matters most to me, which makes their victory impossible.

Texas and Austin

The Texas and Austin relationship in metaphors:

Texas is the older responsible brother, concerned with making money and keeping the future safe. Austin is the go with the flow hippie younger brother who makes family reunions difficult, but ultimately less boring.

Austin needs Texas like a heavy party goer needs a designated driver. When Austin's weirdness gets too out of bounds, the rest of Texas helps ground it in reality.

Texas needs Austin to help be creative and relax. Weirdness is an asset and Austin makes the place more interesting. It's where the rest of the state can let their hair down and have fun.