SMART Goals: The holy grail of getting things done. Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Timely goals. It’s a corporate mantra, spoken at every HR review. We want to set goals which can be achieved – vague language is for mission statements. For writing, a SMART goal sounds like this: Complete second draft of three (3), 5000-word… Continue reading Not So SMART Goals
Category: General Thoughts
One Step from The Horror
Mel Brooks once said, “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.” One of my media professors used to talk about this as dramatic distance. The closer you are to an event, emotionally, the impact of an event changes. Or, put it another way, it’s… Continue reading One Step from The Horror
That Voice – No, not that one. The other one!
Do you hear that voice? Just over your shoulder, at the edge of your hearing. No, not the one yelling about a Meat Bicycle! Or the one saying, "You're the crunch, and I'm the Captain!" That voice we're used to dealing with, because it's the engineer on the Poop Train. Or Hamlet. And I'm not… Continue reading That Voice – No, not that one. The other one!
The Quality of Character
J. Michael Straczynski has a new biography out. He’s been someone I’ve followed, knowing and unknowingly, through the years. The first time I recognized his name showing up was in episodes of The Real Ghostbusters. But one thing will always be tied to JMS in my memory: Babylon 5 and its ill-fated successor, Crusade. The… Continue reading The Quality of Character
Happy Frelling Anniversary
I discovered one of my favorite TV shows, Farscape, by accident. And frell me dead, I'm so happy I found it. If TV science fiction was either contemplative neoclassical prog rock (Looking at you, Star Trek: TNG) or southern-fried Americana (Stargate SG:1), Farscape was Space Ritual era Hawkwind, complete with Lemmy stoned out of his… Continue reading Happy Frelling Anniversary
City Wolves On The Prowl
***WARNING! Werewolf: The Apocalypse Neepery Incoming!**** A while back, I saw a post where someone mentioned their first encounter with White Wolf RPGs, specifically Vampire: The Masquerade and it's LARP adaptation. The person (and if it's you and you read this, let me know!) saw a friend with a bandage over their neck and a… Continue reading City Wolves On The Prowl
Collaboration Nation
I'm opening with this image for two reasons. First, the gentleman who designed one of my favorite iterations of the Cybermen passed away. He did an amazing job bringing the silver giants into the 80's and was instrumental as a production and costume designer for many other classic British SF shows. It also highlights the… Continue reading Collaboration Nation
Sanctuary Between the Shelves
I made myself a small promise this year: I would write more blog entries. At least two a month. I'd also try and do some kind of quasi-podcast. There may be a test of this coming up. But this means I must generate more content! So, I've decided to use some of my time at… Continue reading Sanctuary Between the Shelves
Violent Ends or Failing Downwards
Allow me to write, just a touch, about recent dreams I've had. Mostly within the last few weeks, as the holiday season came closer and closer. Mind you - these are the ones I remember. The sensation for others still remains. Let me see if you find a common theme. And for clarity, I'll be… Continue reading Violent Ends or Failing Downwards
Community is a Machine
“Community! Jesus, you guys are kind to yourselves. Community.” This was one of my favorite moments in Three Days of the Condor. It’s a moment where Joe Turner (Robert Redford, in one of his best performances), a lowly CIA researcher, finally gets to ask station chief Higgins (Cliff Robertson) who could hire the man that… Continue reading Community is a Machine
Biomechanoid Blues 