Home
proanon
08 July 2009 @ 10:10 pm
"Penrose (1994), for example, holds that many of the brain's capacities can best be explained by postulating that consciousness operates according to the principles of quantum mechanics. Although quantum theories of consciousness might place many difficult questions about the brain and the mind into compelling new context, the question of whether parts of the brain small enough to be governed by the laws of quantum mechanics could be complex enough to exert a discrete inluence on consciousness remained unasnwered." (David Feinstein, "Personal Myths as Fields of Information")

Quantum theories of consciousness.

I find that phrase alone to be highly amusing. Not to mention a PTD...


And another...

"The quantum vacuum also is the basis of a fifth physical field as formulated by Laszlo (1995), a systems theorist, to account for the transmission of information beyond the limits of space and time as understood in electromagnetic and gravitational fields and beyond the microprocesses governed by strong and weak quantum matter fields. Laszlo argued that the quantum vacuum functions as an "information-rich" holographic field that would allow a thought to be simultaneously available at distant locations."

Okay. I'm not a physicist. I have no real idea how the science of this works (and, frankly, I'm somewhat skeptical), but...

...if you put this into layman's terms, are we looking at a quantum theory of telepathy?

Commence amusement...
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
02 July 2009 @ 07:06 am
"According to Hindu mythology, we are all God - we just spend our time dreaming that we're human."

Leaving aside the fact that it's a beautiful image - and it is, or at least so I think - my brain is busy running in circles trying to fit this concept into what I've already come up with for Rowan's people, because I like it too much not to use it. Unfortunately, there seems to be a disconnect at a fundamental level. Blast... Come on, there's got to be a way...


In other news, for those of you who know what I'm talking about, I'm still working on Mordred and the second part of Ramparts... but I don't think either story is going to see much motion until I get past the JLPT this weekend. And possibly until I'm stuck in transit for a good day, leaving Japan.

Permanently. Or at least for the next several years.
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: contemplative
 
 
proanon
18 June 2009 @ 06:58 am
Left-Leaning Freedom Lover on political map


...somehow, I'm not surprised. One of the only really politically inclined blogs I read is by an emphatically libertarian/conservative writer, despite self-identifying as a Democrat all my life. It's not that I agree entirely with her, mind - but I like the way she presents her arguments, and I usually agree with at least some of what she says. With that said, I usually think her reactions are a bit over the top - but then again, I'm not exactly passionate about politics to begin with.

(Although sometimes I wish I were.)
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: thoughtful
 
 
proanon
08 June 2009 @ 08:13 pm
What can I say - I saw it on the list and was amused. )
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
08 June 2009 @ 08:04 pm
Hat tip to [info]kc_anathema!


Your result for Which fantasy writer are you?...

Robert Jordan (1948-2007)

-11 High-Brow, -9 Violent, -13 Experimental and 9 Cynical!

Congratulations! You are Low-Brow, Peaceful, Traditional and Cynical! These concepts are defined below.


Robert Jordan, the pen name for James Oliver Rigney, Jr, was the author of the best-selling Wheel of Time series. This gargantuan piece of fiction, set in a world where half the source of magic has been tainted by the Evil One, so that only women can do magic without turning insane, was published between 1990 and 2005. It is scheduled to be finished by 2011 by author Brandon Sanderson, who will be working from Jordan's extensive notes, since the latter's tragic and premature death in cardiac amyloidosis made it impossible for him to finish the series by himself.


Fantasy readers across the world will remember Jordan as the creator of one of the most detailed secondary worlds ever imagined by a single person, with carefully crafted cultures, legends and conflicts. This he used as the setting for a grand epic tale of the traditional fantasy theme of Good against Evil and seemingly insignificant people discovering that they are destined to play an important role in this struggle. Although the plot centres around conflict and several important characters are warriors, be it by choice or necessity, Jordan does not bask in gory details of violence and war is described as something evil that essentially does more harm than good. However, he is able to discern the forces that might push countries into conflict, leaving little room for over-romantic notions of ever-lasting peace.


All this makes Jordan's epic tale the choice for those who are not daunted by the scope and length of what is, perhaps, the longest story ever written. There are plenty who would say that it is also one of the best.


You are also a lot like J K Rowling.


If you want some action, try David Eddings.


If you'd like a challenge, try your exact opposite, Gene Wolfe.


Your score



This is how to interpret your score: Your attitudes have been measured on four different scales, called 1) High-Brow vs. Low-Brow, 2) Violent vs. Peaceful, 3) Experimental vs. Traditional and 4) Cynical vs. Romantic. Imagine that when you were born, you were in a state of innocence, a tabula rasa who would have scored zero on each scale. Since then, a number of circumstances (including genetical, cultural and environmental factors) have pushed you towards either end of these scales. If you're at 45 or -45 you would be almost entirely cynical, low-brow or whatever. The closer to zero you are, the less extreme your attitude. However, you should always be more of either (eg more romantic than cynical). Please note that even though High-Brow, Violent, Experimental and Cynical have positive numbers (1 through 45) and their opposites negative numbers (-1 through -45), this doesn't mean that either quality is better. All attitudes have their positive and negative sides, as explained below.



High-Brow vs. Low-Brow



You received -11 points, making you more Low-Brow than High-Brow. Being high-browed in this context refers to being more fascinated with the sort of art that critics and scholars tend to favour, while a typical low-brow would favour the best-selling kind. At their best, low-brows are honest enough to read what they like, regardless of what "experts" and academics say is good for them. At their worst, they are more likely to read what their neighbours like than what they would choose themselves.


Violent vs. Peaceful



You received -9 points, making you more Peaceful than Violent. This scale is a measurement of a) if you are tolerant to violence in fiction and b) whether you see violence as a means that can be used to achieve a good end. If you aren't, and you don't, then you are peaceful as defined here. At their best, peaceful people are the ones who encourage dialogue and understanding as a means of solving conflicts. At their worst, they are standing passively by as they or third parties are hurt by less scrupulous individuals.



Experimental vs. Traditional



You received -13 points, making you more Traditional than Experimental. Your position on this scale indicates if you're more likely to seek out the new and unexpected or if you are more comfortable with the familiar, especially in regards to culture. Note that traditional as defined here does not equal conservative, in the political sense. At their best, traditional people don't change winning concepts, favouring storytelling over empty poses. At their worst, they are somewhat narrow-minded.



Cynical vs. Romantic



You received 9 points, making you more Cynical than Romantic. Your position on this scale indicates if you are more likely to be wary, suspicious and skeptical to people around you and the world at large, or if you are more likely to believe in grand schemes, happy endings and the basic goodness of humankind. It is by far the most vaguely defined scale, which is why you'll find the sentence "you are also a lot like x" above. If you feel that your position on this scale is wrong, then you are probably more like author x. At their best, cynical people are able to see through lies and spot crucial flaws in plans and schemes. At their worst, they are overly negative, bringing everybody else down.


Author picture from Wikipedia. Licensed under the following conditions: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/



Take Which fantasy writer are you?
at HelloQuizzy



Foo. I'd hoped to get David Eddings. I suppose I'm not violent enough. Although I note I didn't have any really strong scores... I guess that means I'm probably eclectic enough to enjoy nearly all genres?
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
27 May 2009 @ 09:03 pm
“…You’ll be leaving soon, won’t you.”

Rowan met his eyes and nodded quietly.

He swallowed a little lump in his throat. “When?”

“Soon,” Rowan admitted. “As soon as Sir Randall can get someone to go with me.”

That… made sense. After all, someone had to tell the sorcerers what had happened to Master Ormond – and to Master Eligio. And take the Stick back, now that the Hunk of Metal was safely stowed. And… Rowan could hardly learn sorcery in Somborne.

And Baldric could hardly learn knighthood amongst sorcerers.

He groped for the right thing to say. Just saying something like
I’ll miss you sounded awfully insufficient. And stark.

And kind of girly.

“…what is that thing, anyway?”

That hadn’t exactly been what he’d intended to have popping out of his mouth – but Rowan looked up from the complicated knot of metal wire he’d been playing with and smiled a little, holding it up.

“This? I thought it would make a good memento.”

Baldric blinked. “That? But it’s just a useless bit of…
oh.”

Rowan grinned. “See? It’s a
little useless hunk of metal.” Then, with a glint of slyness, he added impishly, “It’ll remind me of you!”

“…oh, now you’re getting it!” he declared, and lunged.

But Rowan was already dodging, shoving the trinket in his pocket as he spun and, grinning wickedly, said, “Hah – can’t tackle me, I already know you’re ticklish!”

Thinking back on a certain traitorous squeak, Baldric paused just long enough to grin evilly. “Guess what, Rowan? Secret’s out –
so are you!”

Rowan’s eyes widened. “…Meep?”

Then he was bolting away down the path, and Baldric was hard on his heels in pursuit, laughing.

While, in the back of his mind, a little voice was musing that surely the castle gardeners wouldn’t mind if he helped himself to the odd twig every now and then.

Even if it wouldn’t be very good for hitting things.




152,218 words. 192 pages.

Ramparts is done.



...now what do I do with myself? @_@
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: accomplished
 
 
proanon
22 May 2009 @ 08:36 pm
It's been a while since my subconscious handed me a coherent dream sequence, or at least one that coalesced into a story stable enough that my memory retained it upon waking.

Though it was a rather odd theme to choose... )

...and now I have Two Kings (which also plays around with the idea of repeated reincarnation) perking up in my head...
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
20 May 2009 @ 08:40 pm
...I never thought I'd say this, but I'm actually horribly grateful that the King is so determinedly alien in Ramparts. Because I honestly think I would not be capable of writing the story if my third and final antagonist ended up as sympathetic as my first two.

Killing Kapten was so hard it was almost a literal shock to my system to actually write it. Now as I write Connell in the wrap-up scene... oh, in the text, he's putting on a very good face. But with what I know about him and his character and what's really been going on...

...well. The guy must just be raking in the Frequent Flyer miles on this extended guilt trip of his...
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: creative
 
 
proanon
18 May 2009 @ 08:31 pm
Kapten just died.

And it was actually painful to write.
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: melancholy
 
 
proanon
18 May 2009 @ 07:18 am


Your result for The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)...

The Librarian (QTBF)

Quirky Traditional Beta Female

You know the story--The quiet, smart girl who emerges from her shell to become the new queen bee. Nothing wrong with nerdy girls, in fact there aren't enough of you. Your best match is The Late Bloomer, as he once was the male version of you.


You are more QUIRKY than NORMAL.


You are more TRADITIONAL than LIBERAL.


You are more PASSIVE than DOMINANT.


When picking a date, consider: The Late Bloomer (QTAM), The Lord of the Misfits (QLAM), The Snowball's Chance in Hell (QTBM), The Suit (NTAM), or The Altar Boy (NTBM).


Avoid: The Frat Boy (NLAM)


(Image from theblackspiderman.com)


Take The Social Persona Test (What kind of man/woman are you?)
at HelloQuizzy




...I do have one slight objection: Who the hell would want to become a queen bee?
Tags: ,
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
17 May 2009 @ 12:34 pm
I'm currently listening to a lecture series on literary criticism, and the teacher said something that really jumped out at me:

(paraphrased)
"Most people these days read the Bible and believe that when we die, we become pure souls. That's actually Platonic. In the Bible itself, the only beings that are pure souls are angels. Beasts are pure form. We humans are in between, beings of both form and soul. And even in heaven, we receive new bodies, so we are eternally both form and soul."

First idle thought: That's... actually, a really cool concept. Particularly because it implies a certain kind of importance and equality to physical reality.

Second idle thought: ...huh. You know, in a way, that fits the metaphysics of the Ramparts world, where there are beings of magic, and beings (animals) of form, and then humans are unusual because they straddle the line. (In Ramparts, humans are the only beings that can "use" magic, although that's a slightly odd way of putting it. Oh, um... just for the record, humans are pretty much the only sentient beings - no elves or the like - although magical essences can develop sentience. In addition, humans can become beings of pure essence/magic - but once they do that, they are no longer human.)

Kinda nifty...
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: contemplative
 
 
proanon
*looks at the date of her last entry and raises her eyebrows* Wow. It's been a while. I have been around, but without the weekly updates of Naruto and DGM - both of which I'm still on hiatus from, although I have been considering a return - and without the daily updates I was doing for NaNo... well, when it comes to what happens to me day to day, I have a different journal that I keep up in nauseating detail.

Well, it's not that I didn't have things I've considered posting here. It just never happened.

Mind you, I had my reasons. )


*coughs* All apologies for that long segue into Real Life stuff - but I suspect there will be more of that in a few months, because I suspect my daily journal will wrap itself up when I leave Japan permanently. Not that I don't strangely enjoy typing about everything and anything under the sun, but it's hard to keep a day-to-day journal when I know that the people I'm seeing day-to-day are reading it! (Namely, my parents - the whole point of the journal was to dodge constantly needing to answer, "So, how's life going?" every time I talk to them.)

So! Hopefully, I'll be able to keep up with this a little better. And, since I've rambled a-plenty at this point... I found this meme of Asuka's to be fascinating, so... yoink!



My Five Bulletproof Storytelling Kinks - sheesh, you just HAD to phrase it that way, didn't you? )

...*yawns, then blinks in surprise* Whoops, later than I thought. Sorry, I could probably come up with a better list, but... think I need to bow out now...
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: sleepy
 
 
proanon
07 April 2009 @ 06:41 am

Scenario: For exactly 1 minute, you get access to all the databases of all the intelligence agencies in the world (CIA, FBI, KGB, MI-5, etc). What do you want to find out before time is up and you're caught and jailed forever?


View other answers



I think I'm with [info]p_a_morningstar here - ain't worth it. So the only thing I'd go looking for is sufficient blackmail to keep myself out of said jail.

Understanding, of course, that if I have all of said hacking skills...
 
 
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
20 March 2009 @ 07:17 am
A.I.G. Seeking Return of Half Its Bonuses

“This is like the captain and the crew of the ship reserving the lifeboats saying to hell with the passengers,” said Representative Stephen F. Lynch, Democrat of Massachusetts.

To Mr. Liddy, Mr. Lynch’s observation went too far.

“I take offense, sir,” he responded, reminding lawmakers that he was not in charge when the bonuses were arranged but believed he was legally bound to pay them.

“Well, offense was intended,” Mr. Lynch retorted. “So you take it rightfully, sir.”


Leaving aside the economic chaos, drama, questions of fairness, potential political biases and other such matters... that is an excellent bit of repartee.
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: amused
 
 
proanon
Pseudo-Dionysius, the Areopagite. Known for his concept of God as the "Super-luminous darkness," the darkness beyond light - such as being blinded by staring at the sun.

I'm listening to a series of mp3 lectures on Western Philosophy. I listened to this. And now I'm so tempted to apply the concept and philosophy - with, granted, some creative interpretation in places - to the Kingdom Hearts universe.

I am nerd. Hear me research!
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: nerdy
 
 
proanon
19 February 2009 @ 06:18 am
Ramparts now stands at about 70,000 words - and I'm probably about halfway through it. Rowan and Baldric are finally actually starting that trek over the mountains!

And in honor of that, here's a very short excerpt!



Sir Luther was dead. Master Ormond was dead. The horses were dead or long gone. They were alone. The only supplies they had were what they were carrying on them right now. And for that matter, Baldric wasn’t even entirely certain where they were, after all the running and scrambling and hiding and darkness – other than, far deeper into the mountains than anyone but ghosts and the mountain-mad would go.

And mercenaries. Mercenaries who wanted to kill them.

“We can’t stay here,” he said, feeling a little numb even at that thought. Maybe he’d just had enough horror for one night. “The minute they find the Blade and Stave missing, they’ll know we’re nearby. And we left a trail that a blind baby could follow.” Particularly all that clambering in and out of the crater – and Rowan’s wild dash through the woods. Which reminded Baldric, and he looked at Rowan, concerned. “Um… you okay?”

Rowan looked a bit taken aback, but then understanding crossed his face. He smiled wanly for a moment. “…as okay as you are.”

That would be a no. But an “I’ll manage” sort of no.

...I do love these two.
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: accomplished
 
 
proanon
21 December 2008 @ 10:32 pm
...yesterday (all 30-odd hours of it) was NOT FUN.

To those to whom I promised copies of With Age... Houston, we have a problem.

Namely, I'm an idiot. I've gotten so used to shuffling back and forth between the office and home that I pretty much live on my USB. To the point where I neglect to make backups.

A USB that I left on the train when I went to Narita Airport yesterday.

Thankfully, I printed off copies of With Age and Ramparts! And I have copies of most of my work-related data.

But my world-building notes for Ramparts are gone. Along with any number of other random story ideas and the like that I'd been flirting with.

ARGH!

...you know, I was planning on revising, but this is not quite the way I thought I'd get around to doing it!

There's a slim chance that the USB will turn up at the lost and found - although how I'm supposed to get my paws on it when I don't live in Tokyo and I'm out of the country for two weeks anyway is an open question...
 
 
Current Location: Home
Current Mood: infuriated
 
 
proanon
30 November 2008 @ 08:01 am
*sighs* Well, as I expected, the last week was a bust, what with being in Tokyo (although I got to visit with [info]gardenprophet!). The last two weeks, really - stupid cold. Not that the format helped, either. Rewriting is hard, particularly when you're trying to keep as close to your original version as you can.

Unfortunately, I'm going to D&D today, so I'm not expecting to add much more to this. So, unless I somehow manage to turn into wonder-typist today, here are the final numbers:

Official: 61,502 words (35,309 words [With Age]; 26,193 words [Ramparts]) 2,050 words/day
Unofficial: 40,382 words (36,357 words [Journal], 4,025 words [D&D])
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: accomplished
 
 
proanon
22 November 2008 @ 09:08 pm
*sighs* Well, I don't know if it's being sick or just the end of a good wave, but I'm having a harder and harder time writing today. Less than 2,000 words (1,799, to be precise), and most of that was actually fitting a scene from With Age into Ramparts. Sigh.

Strange, to think that I seem to write better at work than I do at home.

Well, regardless. I'm not anticipating much in the way of productivity for the rest of November, thanks to a trip down to Tokyo. I'm considering taking my computer, but it's oversized and not really meant to be the portable variety of laptop. Still, I'll have next Saturday, at least. Perhaps by then my health will have cleared up a bit...
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: exanimate
 
 
proanon
21 November 2008 @ 11:27 pm
Well... good news: I'm getting out of my work on Saturday. Bad news: I'm doing so in large part because I'm still sick and my voice is going.

Good news: I was on a roll with writing today. Bad news: I was also busy as heck with everything else and ended up missing out on a lot of writing time when I got home, because I was in the mood to vege and read other peoples' writing.

...Still. Ramparts is moving apace, and I've pretty much gotten them out of Martin-by-the-Waters and onto the road. Real action won't happen for a while, but at least everything is in motion now...


Rowan paused to glance at Master Ormond, but the sorcerer was still striding forward, apparently lost in thought. As a matter of fact, they had to stretch their legs a bit to keep up. “I don’t really understand the details, he only took me on a year or two ago, and we were well away from the School at the time. But he’s responsible for making certain that sorcerers are safe, and that they’re not abusing their magic.” Rowan frowned slightly. “Actually, I think that’s part of why we’re here. He said something about Master Eligio not contacting the school when he’s supposed to.”

Baldric, however, had tripped in surprise at the first part of the statement. “Not abusing their magic… wow. He’s just like Sir Luther, then.” And then he squeak- er, caught himself, and slapped a hand over his mouth and reflexively looked around to make certain that Master Ormond hadn’t overheard. Or worse, Sir Luther, even though he wasn’t here and there was no reason for him to be here…

Rowan tilted his head, eyes wide before he suddenly grinned, getting it. “Shhh! Don’t tell them that, or Master Ormond might really try to turn someone into a frog. And I don’t know how to de-frog people!”



WORD TALLY:
TODAY
Official: 2,734 words [With Age]
Unofficial: 1,863 words [Journal]

TOTAL
Official: 56,054 words (35,309 words [With Age], 20,745 words [Ramparts]) 2,669 words/day
Unofficial: 33,074 words (29,049 words [Journal], 4,025 words [D&D])
 
 
Current Location: Rihaimu
Current Mood: frustrated