As you can tell, I’ve made a couple of changes to Servusamanu. Nothing too major, just some artistic modifications. Tell me what you think!
Archive for December, 2008
New Years is Coming!
My resolutions
Writing:
Write 5 short stories
Apply and Win a Short Story Contest
Finish my Novel this Year
Servusamanu:
Publicize Servusamanu More (improve readership 10%)
Increase number of writing sample articles up to at least 1 a week.
Change Servusamanu Background to something a few shades darker
Other:
Take Dancing classes with the GF
Read 25 Books (at least!) this year.
Improve freelance work to 10% of income
The big one for me is finishing my novel. I’ve written novel length manuscripts before, but they are very poor both in idea and writing. I can’t vouch for the writing, but my idea and inspiration is far more mature than it was the last time around. I really look forward to getting everything down on paper, but it’s such an intimidating process. 100,000 words, maybe more. Even once it’s done it’ll need to be edited over and over and over. It’s a terribly disheartening project by the sheer amount of work, but it’s also so very exciting. It’s a fun process that I wouldn’t trade for anything.
Good luck to everyone else in their own resolutions!
Christmas! Or maybe Sithmas? Or perhaps a little Festivus cheer?
Don’t drink too much eggnog!
December 23rd. The first modern Coelacanth was discovered in South Africa…or so says Wikipedia. It might not be the best source of factual information, but for ideas it’s great. Sadly, I’m still at a loss for what to write about. Sometimes the block sets in, but I’ve learned over the years that it provides a great opportunity to write about whatever comes to mind. Skip the plans and the outlines and jump into whatever impromptu inspiration strikes.
I recently finished Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat for the Xbox 360. It never ceases to amaze me how cinematic these games are becoming. Pacmac, not exactly known for its literary merit, is barely even recognizable as a video game these days. Modern games come with long and complex back-stories, sharp and unexpected plot twists, and gorgeous environments that can inspire as well as any Cezanne.
Call of Duty 4 is maybe not the best example, but any author that could capture combat half so viscerally would have Tom Clancy on the run. The story itself is not as implausible as any generic movie script. I very much look forward to the day when the literary merits of this new exciting medium mature completely.
There are certainly some games that push the envelope. Knights of the Old Republic has one of the best stories told in the Star Wars universe, vastly outstripping its source material (Cough episodes 1-2-3 couch) in quality. Bethesda, responsible for Morrowind, Oblivion, Fallout 3, is responsible for creating worlds as vast and complex as anything made by Tolkien or Frank Herbert. The Baldur’s Gate computer game, which is related to Dungeons & Dragons (home to a great deal of brilliant writing itself) is a fantasy epic in its own right. Grand Theft Auto 3, San Andreas, and Miami Vice each tell a sardonic and cavalier crime story. GTA 4 went for grittier story and succeeded at least in some small measure.
Just as radio and movies have failed to negate literature games are always going to be a secondary medium for story-telling, but their emergence as a means of distribution and, more importantly, as yet one more way of immersing a reader is fascinating. Radio forced improved dialogue and movies lead to more realistic action. What will games give back to the literature that inspired their plots and backgrounds?
I’ve been at work all day, wanted to write an article, instead wrote a short poem in about 5 minutes between tasks.
A dozen people,
A hundred ads,
A thousand hours,
A million dollars,
I build ads. I build ads.
Printers for the paper,
Voices for the radio,
Faces for the tele,
Artists, designers,
I build ads. I build ads.
Computers and cars,
Red-headed stars,
a little toy gun,
prizes to be won,
I build ads. I build ads.
The latest hit movie
has more posters
than there are books
in all the ever-world
I build ads. I build ads.
Demagogues and toothpaste
Big trucks and plastic waste
Small phones in new tones
gray pills for old bones.
I build ads. I build ads.
If half so much time
went to goals twice as lofty
we wouldn’t need ads
But instead I build ads. I build ads.
About a month ago, just before Thanksgiving, I decided to ‘Liveblog’ work. Enjoy! (Names are changed/redacted)
9:40AM
Trying to make the box that closes a popup discontinue saving when nothing is selected. It’s tedious business and I was working on it most of Friday as well. I’ll be having a P~~~~ meeting in a hour or so I think. TR is going to be late, says his kid is sick.
Last Night I ordered The Secrets by Michael A Stackpole. $160 is a bit steep for 100 6 page pdfs and a 50 page guide to writing, but part of that goes to Katrina victims, so I guess that makes up for it somewhat? I’ve already started reading them. The 21 Days to Novel is exciting.
9:54AM
Just did an update to the M~~~~ homepage. This usually involves cutting and pasting the links and text JG sends me into the text property of the homepage node. Does that make sense? Not bloody likely.
10:46AM
Got the Box figured out. Set the original value to equal the default value if a new value has not been chosen. Success! Now I’m onto researching Bulk Upload Response messages for A~~~~.
Also spent 20 minutes talking to MS and CB about Fallout 3. This is a daily routine. KM emailed me, she thinks winter break is going to be weird since she won’t see me every day. It’s true. Also, pretty sure that’s proof we have not become the dreaded ‘married couple’.
10:53AM
Few small changes to my dev work from before, blah! Km wants me to get an MBA. I’m not
completely opposed. I’d rather…
11:14AM
Lunch soon. As I was saying, I’m not sure about an MBA. English or Comparative lit sounds more enthralling. Slowly being potentially somewhat convinced. I remain undecided and officially opposed.
It’s also likely involve moving to NYC, that never-ending hellhole of unfortunancy.
It’d likely be a group of us and as unpleasant as I’d potentially find that, from an artistic sense it does seems rather quaint. I picture a rag tag group of students struggling in the city, myself dutifully archiving everything for later use. I’ve let Hemingway and Miller lie to me about impoverished city life…
Money is the problem, really. It’s too expensive for me to take on at current, regardless of interest.
Work time. More soon!
11:29AM
My javascript code doesn’t work in IE. Ugh! Cross browser crap! ugh!
11:39AM
So close to lunch. Mmm food. Exercise hasn’t gotten as well as I’d hoped. I need to renew my inspiration and lose 5 pounds. Didn’t hike on Sunday..most unfortunate.
11:41AM
As I was briefly mentioning before, I intend to put my novel idea through the 21 Days to Novel steps (part of the Michael A Stackpole stuff I purchased). It should hopefully be superfluous; Most of the steps seem to revolve around clarifying the world, characters, and plot. I should have that pretty well figured out, that was point of all my editing, but we’re going to make double sure and get some practice for the next time I go through the process. It’s rather inspiring being back on my novel. I still haven’t actually sat down and written, but prep work is getting done. I’m also going to go through my outline and make sure I have plot hooks/buttons, at the end of each one. Short scenes, plot hooks, a decent plot. I’ll get the technical details down pat and hope I’ve got enough talent to carry the style.
12:16PM
Noon! Still trying to figure out the IE6 issue, also the A~~~~ server may be having issues. Previews are slow. Why???
I should submit Delirium somewhere, just to put it in the running. Not sure where. It’s a task for tomorrow.
Psyched for The Secrets. Can’t wait to read them tonight, but I also think I might finish up Fallout 3. Good times! I’m going to be freaked out after Thanksgiving since I’ll have all my Henry Miller books. I stress myself, but..Henry Miller, excellent. Such style and elan!
Back to work!
12:24PM
Lunch! Peruvian Goulash with Cherry Pie. Most acceptable!
12:52PM
Lunch adjourned. Back to work! Blah! Only 4 hours to go…
12:55PM
Make change, refresh, test. make change, refresh, test. over and over. Music to Red Alert 3 is entertaining…the bombastic russian theme is great.
1:04PM
Remix of Hell March, classic! I grew up destroying to the world to Hell March! Frank Klepacki…good times.
1:30PM
Pulled up some activity logging on a store for JG. A~~~~ always a source of stupid projects. Easy but pointless.
1:45PM
Not sure my code is even the cause of this problem. Everything of mine is commented out and I still have issues. Most curious. I told JG to test on his computer.
AD still bothers me. She doesn’t come to mind often, but she does seem to update facebook frequently now. Is there a way to turn those updates off.? I’d really rather not get the doom-in-the-stomach feeling every time I check to see who poked me. I have considered messaging her, but nothing to be said really. It’d end up either dismal or rude. I miss the acquintanceship, but I distrust it’s existance outside of my perception and I don’t think she’d appreciate being found. And besides, these last few weeks have been…well…very happy and pleasant, some of the best I’ve ever had.
2:12PM
Solved. RR had some code in the action that was having issues. Oh well. SP got
back to me on the big A~~~~ issue…basically he doesn’t know either. Hmm. I’ll try changing
the post to a get, but that’s about all I can do. A~~~~ is going to be hounding my ass soon,
I’m sure.
2:31PM
Responded to SP. I have a few changes that might work to maybe make. EG commented on my stealthy divergence from P~~~~ tasks. Huzzah!
3:05PM
Doing missing asset tests. Also decided that my new year’s facebook status will be
the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne. Such a sad song. I’ve got plenty of old acquintances who
should probably be forgot.
3:15Pm
I spend a great deal of time telling myself that I want nothing to do with her. See above. I suppose I miss talking to her a bit more than I allow. A fruitless line of questioning.
I’d be very curious to know what she has said/written about me over the months. Probably little.
3:26PM
Possible solution to moving aOrderPath. Kind of janky. Testing. Hour and a half left. “Live Blogging’ is kind of fun.
3:56PM
Still testing. Hour left. KM wants me to go to Long Island for New Years. Urge to read/play Fallout going critical. Secondary Motivation supports enabled. Currently within normal operating specifications.
4:01PM
Dozen or so actions to modify. Baah. Disinterest quotient nearing level threshold.
‘End of Day’ routine nearing activation. Digg already pulled up…
4:03PM
Did I mention that I won in Fantasy Football. I’m 8-4 with 2 games left. I’m very likely,
though not locked, to make the playoffs. I could lose both and still get in. Another win
should lock me for the spot and I face the lowest record next week. I’m not looking forward
to the playoffs though, I suspect annihilation. Really wishing I had LT and Anquan Boldin right now. Doing better this year than last for sure though and I took 2nd in Baseball…
4:13PM
Red Hot Chili Peppers…songs msotly sound the same to me. Very distinctive singing. Too bad it’s not for me. Step and a half from the same adventurous sang-froid I associate with The Doors.
4:27PM
Jumpin Jack Flash! 33 minutes to go. I might use this Work Blog as a Servusamanu entry.
It’s a writing exercise, right?
4:40PM
20 Minutes left. So dark outside too. Unfortunate! Got a few last things to do. See y’all another day. Adieu!
Today, last year, the ‘nation’ of Lakota declared its Independence from the United States. Now you know!
(Slow writing day. I’ve spent the last hour on Wikipedia and decided I needed to get something productive done from it)
Captain Crunch…it’s great.
Also…it’s my girlfriend’s birthday. Love you!
Lucullan: adj, (esp. of banquets, parties, etc.) marked by lavishness and richness; sumptuous.
Welcome, good sir to the House of Licinius Luccullus. It’s not for nothing that feasts these days are described as Lucullan, or not. Would you like to see what is meant by that? Come, I will show you. And here, have some bread. You may choose a wine from any continent in the empire, as well.
In that dish there we have caviar, brought in by the general’s own fisherman. Delicious and fresh and I assure you. Beside that is the honeyed formice, fattened conger eels, camel’s foot and more. Giraffe and Flamingo will be brought out later.
And this, this is not to be missed. Lemons, apples, plums, pears, quinces, grapes, apricots, peaches, pomegranates, and cherries. Beside the artichokes and carrots are bowls of almonds, pistachios, and walnuts.
You are perhaps thinking this is too mundane for the great Luccullus and his feasts of renown? Yes. It is true. This is a very middling feast so far. He would perhaps serve this if a lesser diplomat of little repute and unpleasant demeanor was visiting, but today is quite special. I assure you the cranes, grouse, ducks, geese, and, the general’s favorite peacock, are all being cooked as we speak.
The general also greatly enjoys fish. They are being caught. The general demands his fish be as fresh as possible. The boats are likely arriving as we speak.
No, there are no other guests arriving. It is most unfortunate that you are not here during an actual feast. Today you will not be offered anything. It is true this is likely the finest feast you have ever seen. Pssht, likely. It is for my master, Luccullus has made it so. This is the finest of even his own fine feasts, but tonight he dines alone. Tonight Luccullus is to host Luccullus.
Note: This piece was written by my friend, Krystin Barnett. This article is a review of a play she saw at Yale Repertory Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut.
Jane Austen once wrote that play-acting is dangerous: all of those volatile, human emotions, let loose on a little stage. I’ve found that plays, while perhaps not dangerous in the modern sense, still have the ability to make the audience uncomfortable, and often don’t hesitate to do so. There’s something disconcerting about having scenes reflective of real life acted out by real people – well, actors – on that stage. Something disconcerting, but also intriguing.
The Yale Repertory Theatre’s new season is just beginning, and first on the line-up is Sarah Ruhl’s Passion Play. As I want to assimilate to the cultural center of New Haven, I buy a ticket in advance, at the old-fashioned box office at the corner of York and Chapel streets.
“Okay, you’ll be in seat….7J. And it’s just the one ticket, then?” The lady behind the glass window asks me, peering imploringly through her glasses.
“Yes, thanks, just the one.” I just moved here, I want to add, in my own superficial defense, I haven’t exactly had the chance to find someone to fill seat 7K. But I just smile, hand over my $25, and leave with my one ticket, mentally noting Passion Play, Saturday, 7pm.
At 6:45 on Saturday I find my way to the University Theatre, bowing my head from the rain. The theatre is small, dimly lit, with an upper balcony overlooking the rounded stage. My seat is practically front and center, so I have an unobstructed view of the almost empty stage, decorated so far only with inexplicable, large wooden boxes. There is a wooden platform in the center of the set. As mostly older couples settle in their seats around me, I flip through the playbill. I notice how different it is from those handed out at other theatres, namely those of my undergraduate college’s theatre department. Less attention is paid to the actors than to the history of the theatre and, I realize with pleasure, the playwright. Sarah Ruhl is given a large, color headshot with a two page biography; she looks young for having such success. She had begun writing Passion Play about twelve years ago, after reading a short-story taking place in Oberammergau, Bavaria, which also became a setting in her play. Passion plays are, by definition, dramatic, theatrical representations of the life and death of Christ. Ruhl, in creating the production, took this concept and transcended it over three different time periods throughout history: 16th century Elizabethan England, 20th century Bavaria, and 1984 South Dakota. Passion Play not only encompasses the preservation of passion plays over centuries, but links the fates of the actors and townspeople caught up in the drama of putting on the show. In a broader scope, Ruhl aims to raise the questions surrounding the separation of church and state, something, she believes, has diminished in the decades since our Founding Fathers hoped to establish a united country. One thing in particular Ruhl says in her biography stands out: “To my mind, devotion is like a quality of light – how is it possible to legislate the quality of light? It would be like legislating the invisible moments that happen in a theatre.”
The hum of fifty conversations filling the small theatre suddenly dies; the lights flicker, and lively string music effectively kills any remaining non-scripted dialogue. The show’s begun.
For the first act, we’re in 1575 England, witnessing the townspeople’s preparation for the upcoming play, which is threatened to be shut down by Queen Elizabeth, who is seeking to control religious representation. A huge crucifix, complete with a handsome actor playing a handsome actor playing Jesus Christ, is rolled on and off the set. Besides that, the scene doesn’t change much, but through the truly captivating performances and dialogue, we’re taken through a number of places in the medieval town: from the Church, we’re the chorus director tries in vain to rid his choir of the “village idiot,” to the bedroom of the promiscuous young actress playing the Virgin Mary, to the butcher shop where the town’s Judas works, cleaning and filleting fish. Cleverly lightened with religious and political jokes that cross the boundaries of history, the stage is set for the upcoming second and third acts, during which we’re promised to be taken to Hitler’s Germany and Reagan’s America.
The running time for the show is 3.5 hours, with two fifteen minute intermissions between acts. I thought I’d be squirming in my seat after two hours, but I don’t even check my watch once. I do notice, however, that two of the older couples sitting in my vicinity don’t come back after the second act, which, as it happens, includes full-frontal male nudity. Besides this – ahem – contentious scene, the second act is stranger and more erratic than the first. Oberammergau, Bavaria: we’re allowed backstage of the 1934 theatre house as Hitler himself (played powerfully by a talented female equity actress, who also later plays Reagan), visits the set. Hitler’s presence silences the actors, who had been rehearsing, and they cower on the stage, as though waiting for a whip to lash their backs. After a drawn-out speech, Hitler turns to the audience with a hint of a smirk.
“How I love public speaking,” the actress says in her deep German voice, purring over the o in “love.” The audience chuckles collectively, and the rehearsal of the Oberammergau passion play continues, leading into the second intermission.
A brief history in the playbill tells us that Hitler used to practice his crowd raising gestures prior to his speeches, and is said to have once considered himself a great actor.
The third act moves swiftly, though by the clock is the longest. It covers not only 1969 but also 1984 South Dakota, USA. A small town is rehearsing once again, only this time Judas is a Vietnam soldier, set to leave for war in a few days time. His wife, playing Mary, learns this and tries to prepare, while Judas’s younger brother, playing Jesus, enjoys life in the Seventies. Years later, the soldier returns, shell-shocked and a stranger in the country he fought for. The town’s Passion play has ended, and Judas learns that he has been betrayed by both Jesus and Mary in his absence. The third act, given its setting and dialogue, is more relatable than the previous two and arguably the most powerful. The characters manage to find resolution through their various forms of faith, in each other, and the bonds developed in their town theatres.
The lights slowly spread over the audience, and the cast comes to the front of the stage to grasp hands and bow. When the lead actors take the center spot, we lift ourselves (creakily) from our seats to give a standing ovation. I look over at the middle-aged couple sitting next to me, clapping ardently and grinning. Then the woman leans to the right into her companion’s ear and says loudly over the applause,
“I wish Sarah Ruhl would come out here and take a bow – the writing was fantastic, huh?”
I found myself smiling; I couldn’t agree more with 7K
