1boringperson

Because I am a great big scavenger, I picked up a little cabinet the other day. Around here, one way we recycle stuff is to leave it by the side of the road with a "free!" sign on it. (Did you know that a "kaja" is a Scandinavian jackdaw? Yeah. I found that out when I visited Sweden back in '96. Hah. Maybe that's why Great-Grandma didn't like her name...*) But yes, I dragged a busted cabinet home. It was so lonely there on the sidewalk... Phil was rolling his eyes at me until I shocked him by telling him that I actually had a PLAN for it already. (That isn't always the case, sometimes I'm just thinking: "I can use this somehow! Yay!")

Anyway, it needs work, but it is just right for a base to the lovely doll house that Master Payne built for my daughter a couple of years ago Christmas. The girl wants to decorate it to look like the Haunted Mansion, but with touches of pink. (She's got that whole pink and black thing going.) We have really cute little Jack, Sally and Zero dolls that are just the right size, but the whole thing will really benefit from having a cabinet underneath for keeping extra toys and furniture out of reach of the dog. Because, you know, "Woof! Dog eat everything!"

Like I need another project. Still, I even have a tiny plasma globe--it will make a fantastic light fixture. And the Muppet Labs action figures came with some great lab equipment that will fit right in. No, really, the doll house belongs to my daughter. I just help play with it.

*Hm. Edit: I should point out that I actually like the name, especially since I found out what it means. So very appropriate...

<3 zZzZzZzZz--Kaja <3

This one is thandrak's fan character, from a sort of mashup of GaoGaiGar and Transformers. Katy is a Headmaster for a modified KouRyu (GaoGaiGar Final mech).
( And her cybernetics are a deliberate nod to Circuit Breaker )

I can see why people might be upset at Stargate Universe. It's dragging, at least in the areas most of us liked about the whole SG setting: old cool stuff left behind by a dead civilization that could heal, kill, or [DATA EXPUNGED] you. It was like Indiana Jones with extraterrestrials, except it didn't suck. Anyway, SGU is devoting at least half of the recent shows to handling the whole "we're away from Earth, maybe forever, so we have to settle how things are run" deal. While this is less than satisfying on a sci-fi level, I think it's making me think they should have done something similar with "Star Trek: Voyager."

"Voyager" did have a few shows dealing with the Federation crew vs. the Maquis, but they came to a level of cooperation and camaraderie almost automatically. Granted, this Trek happened before "Lost"-type plots were in vogue outside of "Babylon-5" (or when a show knew it was being canceled), but I think an opportunity was missed. Plus, as was seen in the most recent SGU episode, a shifting power structure allows formerly forbidden acts to happen under new management (and, conveniently, discredit said management, if needed).

The SGU installment did end on a very nice "holy crap" moment. This was one of the best yet, at least from a dramatic point of view.

I also caught the opening episode of BBC4's teen-superpower (not "hero," by any means) show, "Misfits." The first episode is currently on YouTube (warnin': We gots yer cussin' an' adult-type si'uations 'ere, guv'nah) for the time being, if you want to take it for a spin. While overall not a bad show premise (I'm going to see if I can't track down the other episodes before a final thumbs up or down), it did hit a sci-fi pet peeve of mine: Telepathy. Specifically, telepathy with a dog... that could "think" in slang-ridden English. So as someone who has been known to portray telepathy in comics, here's several points concerning what I think makes for more believable mind-reading (and these are just off the top of my head, so if I offend any real telepaths, I apologize):

1. The human mind is incredibly complex, and it's a pretty safe bet that no two are alike. We're all a fairly unique collection of experiences, languages, emotional responses and chemical reactions at any given moment. We do have similar structures (language centers, reward systems, etc.), but even if one could "hear" another brain, it should be quite hard to pick out an actual "spoken" thought, even if it's pretty prominent. For a TV show, I'd at least have a bunch of background "noise" as the reading is attempted, if one wants the audience to hear.

2. If the mind speaks another language or belongs to a different species, I hope you brought a phrase book. I'd say other than emotions (assuming a similar frame of reference, like what the target knowingly finds offensive) or non-language perceptions (feeling a drive to move a limb, hunger, etc.), actual "reading" of someone who speaks a different language or isn't of your genome should be pretty darn difficult, especially for someone who just got their powers yesterday.

3. If you're a telepath, your mouth is superfluous. As in recent episodes of "Heroes," I don't get why telepathic people will say out loud what they can just think-speak to those they're in contact with (i.e. Parkman and the mind of Sylar). This is too often played for comedic effect, making the telepath seem like they're talking to themselves, but it's gotten old and predictable. Make them distracted, sure, but the whole "old lady staring at the person apparently talking to nobody" is a dead horse well beaten.

4. For continuity purposes (as well as to have a source for story explanations) you might want to define how mind-reading works for your character. If you can read someone's mind, the information has to arrive by some mechanism (unless you're using magic, and then all bets are off). Every brain could be constantly sending out thought-waves that telepaths can read, the telepath has some kind of "thought-radar," or there's a combination of the two. You could also use my favorite macguffin: quantum-level gobbledegook (i.e. information cannot be created or destroyed, so "telepathy" is just the ability to "read" the universe).

And these are just some of the base concepts that I dig when telepathy comes into play. This is also more of a general starting point. If, as in "Babylon-5," you've got a Psi Corps or something that has almost military-style TP training, someone able to clearly pull out what a crowded room had for breakfast, what movie they last saw, and their least favorite yoga position isn't out of the question. And though some may question the discussion of an, at best, speculative means of communication, we can say it's time well spent by calling it a "writing exercise." :)

While I go exercise my writing on designing planet Argos (more on that later), here's some other items of note:

- In a perfect future with jetpacks and space stations, we'd have these special glasses, but they'd be animated and have a riffing A.I. that entertains you as you endure bad movies.
- This is just a weird item: Michael Jackson helped compose the music for the 'Sonic 3' video game.
- Here's another one: Scientists accidentally discover a near-perfect shade of blue.
- This is just a weird game: Dale & Peakot is a side-scroller where you collect eggs with the help of your shotgun and your magic chicken.
- Mark Coleran has an online portfolio of all of the computer and tech interfaces he's designed for movies.
- I had no idea that startled cats could 'hover' to safety.
- I also had no idea that Cookie Monster could sing along with the German metal group Rammstein. Now that's a must-have toy.
- From the 'why couldn't I have thought of this and made a t-shirt out of it' files, we have this Lovecraftian ditty from an IRC chatlog.
- BBC One has created a holiday-themed identification video featuring the Doctor and a new way to fly the TARDIS.
- And we end with tower defense strategy in Creeper World. Defend Odin City from "the creeper," activate the rift totems, and let the city escape to safety. You also have movable units, which is a plus.

( Not all of Diosoth's fancharacters are female, just most of them. )

( Sharon hit Level 50 tonight, woot! )

I've been reading the ParagonWiki pages on the villainous "epic archetypes", the Arachnos Soldier and the Blood Widow. As NPCs, you never see a male Widow (Blood Widower?), and I can't recall seeing a female Bane Spider or Crab Spider. But there's no mention on the wiki that I can find as to whether PCs in those archetypes are gender-limited (and the costuming entries are almost entirely blank for them).

<3 I finally got that Facebook page in the loop, so...uh... Find us on Facebook! (We're "Girl Genius Webcomic")--Kaja <3

( Includes Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog )
   Dave Van Domelen, "It's not enough to bash in heads, you've got to bash in minds!" - Captain Hammer

Back in 2006 Rick Stringer and Matt Wallace put out a series of short audio dramas called The Failed Cities Monologues on their sci-fi/fantasy/horror podcast Variant Frequencies. It was one story told from multiple perspectives and they asked me to do the voice of one of their characters- Sterne.



In 2007 Matt Wallace wrote a new story set in the Failed Cities for Christmas of that year called Hath A Darkness. This year they have decided to produce new audio for Hath A Darkness and have asked me to reprise my roll of Sterne.



Episode 1: Ethan was posted on December 1st. The stories will continue to come out twice a week until Christmas Day. I believe my story is episode 3.



You can download this story at http://www.variantfrequencies.com or look them up on iTunes. Definitely check it out. The Failed Cities Monologues was an awesome story. I can't wait to hear what he did with Hath A Darkness.

Originally posted at DevoSpice.com. You can comment here or there.

A few posts ago, I shared a trailer for a rather dull-looking bus simulation game. I think I've found something I'd want to play even less: Archie's Riverdale Run (scroll down for the trailer). "Archie" is one of those intellectual properties that has almost become a parody of itself, hard to see in any light other than ironic (at least for me). As a humorous look at hip 'n' happenin' teens, it's about as relevant to modern-day youth as "Richie Rich" is to students of economic theory. In fact, the only other attention I've seen paid to the comic comes from the blog MightyGodKing who has long made the case that Betty Cooper is freakin' nuts and will probably (language warning) someday do something that would make Hannibal Lecter pause. I still see the "Archie Digests" for sale in grocery stores, so somebody must still be out there buying them, but the last time I read the comic had to be... well, let's just say it probably was some time before Mario made the leap from arcades to home consoles. I also watched the short lived late-60's TV show in re-runs, though I can't recall a single storyline.

So anyway, I'm rather puzzled by the development of what looks like a pretty dull game. I'm not saying you need explosions and mayhem (though in Riverdale, that might be ironically funny) to have a good time, but running around doing chores and collecting flowers/hamburgers/love notes isn't exactly going to make me run to Best Buy. I do have to hand it to them, though: By not trying to stereotypically "update" the Archie brand (other than by losing his bow tie somewhere along the way), they may have created a better product. I mean, imagine Arch and Jughead in gangsta or hipster outfits, driving around in a beat-up Ford Fiesta.

Another media decision I don't get is the upcoming movie based on the game, 'Battleship.' I say "based on," because after reading the description, it doesn't sound like securing the IP for the classic grid-based guessing game was required. It sounds as if someone licensed "Dungeons & Dragons" in order to make "Reign of Fire." I do realize that the "Battleship" brand is what's allowing this film to be made, but... it just seems so unnecessary. If you told me there was a movie called "Navy vs. Aliens," I'd probably be just as intrigued. I also can't see this as being a huge move for Milton-Bradley, as even if someone winds up digging this film, the old pegs-n-plastic game is most likely not going to fly off the shelves. Maybe an Xbox Live version with clips from the movie and significant mechanics changes, but I think even the electronic tabletop version has seen its best days.

If it does turn out to be a decent movie, I propose that studios place the names of random products, games, toys, etc. into a hat and draw them whenever they're stuck for an idea. They then proceed to produce said film as if the owner of that product had hired them to do so, changing the name, of course... unless they can secure a sponsorship deal afterwords. :)

I've received several pleas to postpone any deconstruction of my suitcase full of vacuum tubes until I can find someone who can tell me if they're of value or not. I shall endeavor to seek wise counsel on this from local businesses and/or antique shops specializing in electronic devices. I did do some searches on what others have done with these tubes, and I came across a few interesting items, including a lightning bug, two galleries of miniature sculptures inside vacuum tubes (gallery one contains "fine art marble statue" style nekkidness, if that's an issue, and can be seen here, and gallery two is here), and some simple yet attractive jewelry.

Well, my Marvel script has been accepted. It's an 11-page tale that I don't think I can say too much about (I haven't asked how specific I can be) at the moment, except that it'll appear online before it appears in print. When I have more details about this "strange" story, I'll let everyone in on it. :)

Until then, here are other links to things strange as well as (hopefully) interesting:

- Most ads I have to watch in order to get to the trailer I want to see or the flash game I want to play are burdens that must be endured. However, I saw a rather clever one that I actually wanted to share.
- R.I.F.T. is a fun platformer where you, a robot, must navigate puzzling side-scrolling levels to feed cake to an overweight blob of a "master." It's kind of dark, if that's supposed to be us in the future...
- How cool would it be to clean out an old building and discover a two-lane bowling alley dating from the days of prohibition?
- In honor of my sister, the uber-librarian, I offer up this list of fail-ridden conversations with used booksellers.
- A walking blood-n-gore warning on this zombie rally photo collection. There are some fairly clever slogans, at least for the undead.
- And LoLcats have become so pervasive, it takes a pretty good matching of caption to photo to crack a smile these days, but this one did the trick.
- I think I might need to take up coin collecting, at least with denominations featuring Time Lords.
- Here's a challenging solitaire game, Tripeaks Reserve. Start by selecting a card from the bottom row, then attempt to clear the cards in the field above by selecting ones that are one higher or lower than the card in the discard pile.
- Continuing last post's holiday ornament links, here's 11 'geeky' selections for your tree.
- Reminiscent of a previously-posted gravity-gun game, Tank Defence has you protecting a central goal while shooting/propelling enemy forces into each other and the walls (be sure to click "new game" to begin, the opening screen is an interactive time-waster).

<3 zZzZzZzZzZz... Wha? What? Huh? It's December? ALREADY?! AUGH! (faints.) zZzZzZzZzZz... --Kaja <3

So, they're test-running the 2009 winter event on the live servers. I already got all the easy-to-get costume pieces, and figured they'd work best on Sharon's Galaxy Rangers outfit:
( No guts no ski bunnies? )

AT&T's response to Verizon's "map" ad campaign is delightfully deceptive. For those blissfully unfamiliar with the campaign, Verizon is touting that their 3G coverage is much wider than AT&T's, showing a mostly-filled-in Verizon coverage map and a pretty threadbare AT&T map (which is pretty deceptive in itself, as most of the empty spots on AT&T's map are also very low population density). AT&T's response ads never say "3G", instead touting what must be their overall wireless coverage map. Let's hear it for skating on the very edge of actionable advertising! (FWIW, when I got my first cellphone I initially went with Verizon because their map colored all of Kansas red...and it turned out that they really only covered metro KCK, Wichita, Lawrence and Topeka. The rest of the state was "roaming" access.)

Video game time! Those villains at Steam had a special on the game "Borderlands," and their sale price plus peer pressure got the better of me, and I bit. If nothing else, it was interesting to see another post-apocalyptic game and put it through its paces (for a few hours, anyway). So what does "Borderlands" hold for the discerning civilization-in-ruins aficionado?

It's got the same basic gray/brown look as "Fallout" for the most part. It looks as if a society has come and gone and left behind mutant monsters and psychopathic humans who wear lots of leather and like their guns a little too much. Which would have a bit more kick, story-wise, if it didn't take place on another planet. If you thought "Fallout 3" had too much RPG and not enough FPS, then "Borderlands" has got you covered. You get to level up, gaining new powers and skills, and use of certain weapons increases your proficiency with them, which is a nice mechanic. However, the emphasis is on pointing your gun and pulling the trigger. There are no dialogue trees, just missions to go blow someone up and hopefully get some new kind of gun in the process. Which isn't bad, don't get me wrong; gameplay is quite satisfying in this regard. Just don't look for a lot of deep thinking to go with your sniper rifle. :)

You also get vehicular combat/travel, some interesting wasteland to look at, and characters that manage to combine character with caricature in a pleasing way. I've heard there are issues with the multiplayer (though I haven't tried it yet) as well as some of the nuts-and-bolts of the game, but in the end, it's still a decent amount of mindless fun.

Speaking of dark futures, there's talk that Judge Dredd will get another shot at the silver screen. I must admit to having less Dredd in my geek resume than I'd like. I saw the Stallone film (and wasn't enthused), and I later heard that the movie had problems due to "Robocop" adopting a lot of the tone and look of Dredd's character. From what I've seen (and the little that's passed through my hands), it's got a load of potential, and I'd like to see it in British hands rather than American ones (especially after what happened to "Hellblazer" when it became "Constantine" starring Keanu Reeves). And let me also put out the desire to see the Judge Dredd Pinball Game put back in arcades. The Judge also made an appearance in this list of the best and worst future cops and vehicles.

And closing out this sci-fi romp, the even-tempered Harlan Ellison expresses interest in being in on J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek 2," complete with mention of the feud with Roddenberry and aplomb at doubters that he'd be right for the project. He could always try to get a gig with the upcoming remake of 'The Black Hole' as a science adviser.

And speaking of black holes:

- First up, from a little-seen edit of "Star Wars," it's revealed that it took Obi-Wan Kenobi several tries to finally distract those stormtroopers near the tractor beam controls.
- This should give everyone their dose of unbearable cute for the next month: A kitten making "jazz hands."
- Bring a lot of spare time to the oddly-named smartass dot com, especially if you click the "games" link on the left. There are emulators of DOS and old console game systems to be had, coded (I believe) in Java. There area also links to first-run movies, though I'd steer clear of those, especially at work and/or if you fear a visit from the MPAA.
- Any time left? Bring along your love of vectors and 'splosions and play Paper Cannon. Blow up the critters by landing a grenade-like cannonball right next to them.
- I have found the proper way to teach science: Use a periodic table made of cupcakes.
- And I have found the proper way to teach art: Arcade expressionism.
- Here's a list of some of the most bizarre super-powers in comics, which earns my respect by not having the majority of them come from "The Legion of Super Heroes."
- We close with Shrink It, a game where you shrink objects by clicking and enlarging others by holding "space" and clicking (you need to have "mass" available to do this, however). Your goal is to get the blue shape into the goal.

Twin daughters of Rouge in diosoth's fanon, picture inspired by a fanfic snippet he sent me in which they plan to repaint the club they inherited.
( Colored mostly in pencils. )

Well, for now it looks like there will be no more new Power Rangers shows in America...they're remastering Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers for HD and issuing new toys to go along with it instead of adapting the series that followed Go-onger.
( Got a bit spammy, so behind cut. )

<3 zZzZzZzZzZz... <3

Whoo! It's been a while since I logged in as myself. (I've been logged in as girlgeniuscomic for the sake of convenience, but I finally fixed the network so that my work machine can talk to the internet again. Whew.)

My beloved TypeStyler is back! Aaaahhh! I am so very happy. Typestyler choked and died when the Mac went to OSX, so yes, it's been a while. Obviously, I've been doing all right without it, and I also like Art Text, but Typestyler was once one of my favorite tools, and I'm glad to have it back.
The only problem is that it isn't recognizing my old serial number as a TS serial number. Weird. And here I kept it all that time...

So, I am very much behind in posts. Let's start with Steamcon. Amazing! Many of my friends who are less...shall we say... into the things I like (cough, cough, manga and video games, cough) wandered through, and were later wondering out loud why they enjoyed Steamcon more than they usually enjoy conventions. That one was easy. They stripped away all the extras, and cut straight to the tasty Victorian-flavored costumes and "historically-influenced" gadgetry. And Tea. Always tea. Of course my friends who are mostly into historical costuming and vintage everything loved it. Of course they did. I loved it, too.

Next. Windycon. This will probably need its own post. Or series of posts. And I don't have much time tonight. But if I wait until I have time to write about EVERYTHING, well, that's why I haven't been writing a lot. I sort of get bogged down in the sheer volume of things I want to say. Blah.
Oh, peachy. And, in fact, now I must go deal with the real world. Back later...