June 27, 2002
"Maybe Something Good"
Such are the stats on the newest forest fire, in Arizona near the northeastern town of Show Low. This blaze, which originally began as two separate fires that later joined, is far worse than the Colorado blazes.Acres burned: 410,000 / People evacuated: 32,000 / Containment: 5% / Today: Highs 85-95; winds 10-20 mph; dry T-storms / Firefighters: 3,851
But really, they're all bad. I send what good thoughts I have to those people there, for what it may do.
And there is another bit of news today, incindatory in its own right:
SAN FRANCISCO, June 26 -- A federal appeals court here declared today that the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional because the phrase "one nation under God" violates the separation of church and state.Originally, the pledge did not have the words "under God". These words were added in 1954, during the Cold War. ''The "under God" clause of the pledge, the panel argued, was added by Congress solely to advance religion in order to differentiate the United States from nations under atheistic Communist rule.'''
Now, it's just an plug for theism, in particular a sort of Christian diety, and the words should be subtracted.
But such a fuss those two words are making. Fundy Christians are throwing up such a hue and cry, some are certain the Supreme Court will reverse the decision.
Time will tell, of course.
Meanwhile, I've been playing with a tale about Elves, set in the Everquest world of Norrath, in my mind, and I think I've got it worked out to a decent story. I've just now set the outline to it, and have parts of one of the sections sketched out. I've no idea how the pros do fiction. I'll just plunder about in my possibly clumsy way, and maybe something good will result.
June 28, 2002
"Magnificent Obsession"
As I finished the last of yesterday's draft, I turned my eyes and ears to the TV program which Laura and Julia were watching. An old movie, in a slow moving acting style, it featured a young man who decided to become a doctor after blinding a lady. Rock Hudson was indeed handsome in Magnificent Obsession.
Just as I'd sent the pages up into the FTP transfer, these words seemed almost directed at me. Later, at the movie's end, they were repeated:
''Once you've found the way, you'll be bound. But, believe me, it will be a magnificent obsession.''
The writing of this story could, indeed, become a 'magnificent obsession'.
I now have two more chapters fleshed out some more. Not Your Average Elves gives the initial character introduction, and Not Just Your Average Guy shows their initial meeting.
But I shall leave the Elven pair now, and return, eyes blinking to this world of Earth. Battles enough, here. Romance enough, as well, and I shall spend some time now with Laura and Julia.
June 30, 2002
"For The Birds"
We discovered a solution. The four hook bird perchs were screwed into the bottoms, so Julia merely took a screwdriver and removed the perches. Result? Very unhappy big birds! They can't get the footing necessary to tilt the feeder.
''What the frick? I can't get IN this thing!''
But the hummingbirds are happy, for one hassles them anymore.
Meanwhile, our Everquest heroes are now battling big birds, AVIAKS, they are called. The big, black feathered creatures come in various strengths. Kaaldar and Spelldoc, his druid fighting buddy, are now level nineteen, and easily handle the ROOK strength bird.
In yet another world, the Kaaldar of my story, and his lovebird Chloe, are advancing through their adventure. Chloe has just passed the test that will allow her to make the transformation necessary to marry Kaaldar.
July 4, 2002
"Lots"
I hope everyone has had a happy Fourth of July.
July 5, 2002
"Get Things Right"
Laura had some heart flutters in the night, with accompanying nightmares about them, but she feels much better today. She had been experimenting with her medicine, to see if she could cut back, and had been trying some new exercise, and the combination was just too much. There'll be no more swimming in the worst heat of the day, or lifting heavy bicycles.
Yesterday's rest was good for her. We played quite a bit of Everquest. The 'dynamic duo' of Kaaldar and Spelldoc are now 20th level, and a little over halfway to the next level. At twentieth level, much happened for them. Kaaldar got new, more powerful spells, Spelldoc got the ever-useful tracking, and they each got to pick a surname. Spelldoc, unlike the love interest in my story, isn't going to join Kaaldar in Neriak. So they picked differing names. Kaaldar toyed with the idea of 'Darkpride' as a name, but later settled on one that came to him, as did his first name. It is a good, powerful sounding name - Kaaldar Dvinion, that he bears now. It also bears a resemblance to the NPC (non player character) Dark Elves names, with its hyphenated sound. (I originally tried D'Vinion but that was not approved.)
Meanwhile, Spelldoc was busy choosing her name. After they each had visited their trainers, and returned to the South Karana battle scene, I was surprised to learn what Spelldoc had chosen. Above her head floated the proud banner Spelldoc Whiteelf! ''Well, YOU had been talking about choosing DARK pride for a name, so I chose likewise!'' No, fiesty Spelldoc won't be joining this Kaaldar in Neriak, ever!
Oh, we have fun with the game.
In the afternoon, while Laura rested, watching a movie called ''Spy Games'', Julia and I played the game, and under Sanomy's watchful eye, Trublu, the cleric attained FIFTEENTH level. He'd complained mightily of all the attention his brother had been receiving, so he was happy to at last get in the battlefield. Muddite elders and gorge minotaurs died in rapid succession, with Sanomy's aid.
All while playing the game, I sketch out scenes of my love story on a long white notepad. In between battles, the characters must rest to regain health and mana, the substance that lets them do their spells. As the characters rest, I write. I got a couple of chapters written yesterday, one of which is now up on the web. The story isn't precisely following the initial outline I'd established. Events are developing somewhat differently. While at work, and the hands are busy sewing, the mind is busy pondering a scene, and establishing how it will go, which will be later retrieved during restful moments. I do keep busy, don't I?
We'd looked, then, to find a copy on either VHS or the preferred DVD format without success. Yesterday, Laura caught sight of it on DVD at Blockbusters. I'd vaguely remembered some scenes from it, of the changing dresses in the storefront window, which are echoed in the later movie, but the rest of it was hazy.
It was good to connect with 'the past'. In comparing the two movies, much has changed in those forty two years, between each movie's creator's conceptions. The entire PACING of a movie is no longer the same. I found myself enjoying the slower pace of the older movie. Laura said it well, ''The pacing of movies used to allow you time to think.'' The rapid-fire BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! of today's movies practically assaults the senses.
There is also something in the older version which I call ''the spare elegance of Truth''. Too many special effects and a too quick pace distract from that and cheapen it. The latter version had not impressed me much, for I'd never written of our seeing it. I don't review every movie I see.
I'm not too sure what I think of the differences between the two depictions of the Eloi and Morlocks. The original, of course, is truer to the book upon which both movies were based. I don't think the original Morlocks would have bothered to cover their food in pretty pastel colored dresses, however. Grubby rags, if that, would be more like it. So version two, was more
VISUALLY realistic in that aspect. However, changing the concept to add a third 'Master race' did little. One might argue that neither the motivation less Eloi, nor the brain less Morlocks would have the intelligence to keep all those machines running and their food supply fed, I suppose.
Still, the first version is a true CLASSIC, whereas the second is a flashy wanna be. Filmmakers today need to relearn the art of simplicity. Just because a thing is digitally possible, such as the ultra immense armies that were in the second 'Mummy' movie, doesn't make it plausible. Some movies just plain have TOO MUCH stuff these days. Maybe, after the creators are used to their new digital toys, they'll settle down and get things right.
"At Last"
But it makes for a full, rich life. The three of us together did take a break long enough to sit together yesterday to watch the older version of The Time Machine, which had been made in 1959. A few months ago, we'd seen the new version up on the big screen. It had some stunning visual effects, so it was VISUALLY impressive. Still Laura and Julia had not been so impressed overall, and declared the original much better.July 9, 2002
Also, our GAME Kaaldar and his fighting buddy Spelldoc have attained LEVEL TWENTY FOUR! His next step will be to scribe his new spells and visit his trainer.
the mage's center in Neriak, the guy behind the man in red is an Enchanter trainer
My most favorite character in Everquest is my Enchanter. While I am playing him, if a vendor takes a dislike to me, and as I am a Dark Elf, they often do, I merely put on the face of someone they will sell to. Do I do that in real life? I certainly place in shadow many aspects of my life in the presence of people who would not understand.
Is this a thing of convenience for me, as it is for my Enchanter? Perhaps it is. It seems to allow me to get by easier. Who needs religious arguments with co-workers, and so forth? Maybe there is a time and place for true revelations.
This is the time, this is the place.
Still, I often wonder as to my true nature. Am I of a wild spirit? Or am I tamed? What is the spirit that lies within me? And do I learn more of its nature by such ponderings?
Philosophers have thought not:
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If you want to be free, Get to know your real self. It has no form, no appearance, No root, no basis, no abode, But is lively and buoyant. It responds with versatile facility, But its function cannot be located. Therefore when you look for it, You become further from it; When you seek it, You turn away from it all the more. - Rinzai (d.867) |
At the moment, I'll leave loose of such ponderings, and let myself BE. I'll just enjoy the sensuous fact of being alive. This feels good to me.
July 12, 2002 - B
"If We Crave"
The three of us were discussing this the other day, and Julia came up with the fix for this piece: ''It's not DESIRE that is the source of suffering, it the EXPECTATION that our desires will be fulfilled!''
Indeed, expectation has been what has caused me misery. Desire, in and of itself, is a good thing. It is a powerful motivator. Without it, we are just so much lumps of water-based matter, barely alive.
From our first cries as a newborn, desiring milk, to those more adult desires we learn later on, each craving lets us know we are alive. Yes, we may crave things that are bad for us, but it is not the act of craving itself that causes the harm.
A craving enjoyed, like that in the rising heat that builds and builds until a climax is achieved, is best savored, without demands of expectation. Put demands on it, and we'll only be frustrated.
Like the spoiled child, whose demands are not met, we become miserable. We're miserable to be around, as well.
How can we learn to let loose of the expectations? In this release, we will learn happiness. So, it is to this we must turn our mental direction. If we crave it badly enough, we may figure out how to do it!
(In the ever cycling and re-cycling (SPIRALING!) that goes on in my mind, I have once before (Sept. 1998) visited this theme, should you care to study the evolution of my thought!)
July 13, 2002
"STOO-PID Cravings"
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> ''Desire is the source of all suffering,'' Buddhists say. While they
> ordinarily have great gems of wisdom, this one is a little flawed. Actually, it's a _lot_ flawed. It's a mis-quote of Buddha's "Second Noble Truth" which actually says: "What, now, is the Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering? It is craving, which gives rise to fresh rebirth, and, bound up with pleasure and lust, now here, now there, finds ever-fresh delight." Further, it says the Threefold Cravings are Sensual Craving, Craving for Eternal Existence, and Craving for Self-Annihilation. It would perhaps be more accurate to say that "selfish desire is the source for all suffering". And that's a different can of worms entirely. > > The three of us were discussing this the other day, and Julia came > up with the fix for this piece: ''It's not DESIRE that is the source > of suffering, it the EXPECTATION that our desires will be fulfilled!'' Not necessarily. Sometimes the fulfillment of desire can be a source of suffering, as in the old homily "be careful what you wish for because you might get it". Like the child who wants to eat nothing but chocolate cake and pays the price for it with a stomach ache. A terribly simple example, but it illustrates the point that a fulfilled craving can result in suffering. An unfulfilled craving can result in suffering through frustration and dissatisfaction with what would otherwise be a perfectly acceptable status quo. Especially when you desire something that you know can't be fulfilled. Enough. It is a mistake, I think, to try to discuss Buddha's "Four Noble Truths" individually. They are interrelated, and best understood when taken in their totality.
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The gist of his message is:
"Selfish desire is the
source for all suffering."
Ah, but what is ''selfish''? I could spend lots of time (and K) discussing what THIS concept means. But I won't. Aren't you lucky?
You know, it REALLY is a WHOLE lot simpler the wiccan way:
''And be it harm none, do ye as ye will.''
In other words, ''STOO-PID CRAVING'' is what will get you in trouble everytime.
I feel so much better now.