Behold, the body of Adonis and the brain of a squirrel.

[RedPlums]

Children's Anime?

[Deepfreeze32]

I hear you on hopeful heroes. I'm currently stubbing out another story (I like to let outline ideas sit for a while, so I can approach them with a fresh mind to revise and start writing them, which is why I'm not working on that Odyssey story or the Fantasy story just yet) where I want the hero to have a more positive arc. Which actually ties into the song I showed you, because I want to do a heavily-modified version of the Faust story, and Epica, the album that song is from (and the sequel album, The Black Halo) are a re-telling of the Faust story.

The song I linked is actually two songs, "Prologue" and "Center of the Universe." Prologue has no lyrics audible to most people, but is meant to set up the heaven story: Mephisto (The devil) makes a bet with God that he can claim the soul of God's favorite man, the Faust character. This bleeds into the second song, Center of the Universe. That song sets up the Faust character (A man named Ariel), and how he feels like there is some knowledge he is missing. Without that knowledge, he feels alone in his hometown: The center of his universe. After a revelation, he decides to leave. (Spoiler alert, he sells his soul to Mephisto, bad things happen, he regrets it, but is finally redeemed in the end)

The albums are musically very good, but the storytelling is not as...obvious as some other concept albums. If you liked the music (and with foreknowledge that this isn't some tale that ends in utter tragedy), I highly recommend checking them out.

Here's another good song from the album:



Context: This song is about Mephisto tempting Ariel with worldly things, and Ariel accepting the deal for his soul on one condition: If he experiences a moment so sublime that he wants to live in that moment forever, only then will his soul belong to Mephisto. Mephisto reluctantly accepts.

[Chozon1]

Blue-raspberry is the best!!! I used to get mad all the time at buffets because they'd have red and blue, but blue was always sugar-free. Following that is grape in my favorites, then lemon.

Why does chocolate pudding and ice cream not actually taste like chocolate?

It's more disappointing than it should be. XD I mean, I just ate three plates of assorted fried foods and--WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING TO ME JELLO?

For ice cream, I always kind of thought it did, but now that you mention it I guess chocolate ice cream doesn't taste anything like a Hershey's bar...my guess is because, depending on the quality of ice cream purchased, they've either flavored it with cocoa powder instead of real chocolate, or brown plastic and sugar. I don't know if cocoa butter would work in ice cream...something to try.

For pudding, it's because chocolate pudding is actually dried and processed fairy poop. It thickens when you add water, and it's a cheap by-product of the manufacturing process that they re-purpose.

Yeah. There's a reason I only eat Tapioca pudding.

Children's Anime?

Probably the only anime I would feasibly watch. I don't like grody violence or sexual content, and it seems like all of the 'awesome' anime that people recommend is loaded with the stuff.

I hear you on hopeful heroes. I'm currently stubbing out another story (I like to let outline ideas sit for a while, so I can approach them with a fresh mind to revise and start writing them, which is why I'm not working on that Odyssey story or the Fantasy story just yet) where I want the hero to have a more positive arc. Which actually ties into the song I showed you, because I want to do a heavily-modified version of the Faust story, and Epica, the album that song is from (and the sequel album, The Black Halo) are a re-telling of the Faust story.

The song I linked is actually two songs, "Prologue" and "Center of the Universe." Prologue has no lyrics audible to most people, but is meant to set up the heaven story: Mephisto (The devil) makes a bet with God that he can claim the soul of God's favorite man, the Faust character. This bleeds into the second song, Center of the Universe. That song sets up the Faust character (A man named Ariel), and how he feels like there is some knowledge he is missing. Without that knowledge, he feels alone in his hometown: The center of his universe. After a revelation, he decides to leave. (Spoiler alert, he sells his soul to Mephisto, bad things happen, he regrets it, but is finally redeemed in the end)

The albums are musically very good, but the storytelling is not as...obvious as some other concept albums. If you liked the music (and with foreknowledge that this isn't some tale that ends in utter tragedy), I highly recommend checking them out.

Here's another good song from the album:



Context: This song is about Mephisto tempting Ariel with worldly things, and Ariel accepting the deal for his soul on one condition: If he experiences a moment so sublime that he wants to live in that moment forever, only then will his soul belong to Mephisto. Mephisto reluctantly accepts.

Interesting. I felt the same way pretty much, but now the song is stuck in my head. XD

I tend to have a bunch of ideas whirling around my head, but when I find one I like, I devote a lot of my daydreaming to it. I've got an idea for one of my heroes that's starting to flesh out into a nice long story, but I find it bothersome because it's not the story I need to tell next, nor the one I want to focus on now. XD

[micah211]

Pudding facts. I only like tapioca and strawberry pudding, the kind with real strawberries.

PB & Honey sandwiches?

[Deepfreeze32]

I tend to have a bunch of ideas whirling around my head, but when I find one I like, I devote a lot of my daydreaming to it. I've got an idea for one of my heroes that's starting to flesh out into a nice long story, but I find it bothersome because it's not the story I need to tell next, nor the one I want to focus on now. XD

I feel you there. I should crack down and actually /write/ these, but I find the architecting so much more fulfilling...

Favored writing tools (Software, pen/paper, typewriter, etc)?

[RedPlums]

Free food?

[Chozon1]

Pudding facts. I only like tapioca and strawberry pudding, the kind with real strawberries.

PB & Honey sandwiches?

I'll eat banana from time to time as well. But only if it's actual banana pudding, with vanilla wafers and such. <3 so good.

I was a fan of them when I was much younger...now, I think they're too sweet for me. I kinda want to try one though, to see how I feel.

I feel you there. I should crack down and actually /write/ these, but I find the architecting so much more fulfilling...

Favored writing tools (Software, pen/paper, typewriter, etc)?

I like the writing of them, though. I just...I want to get my first book up to publishing quality and get it sent out or self published before I take on anymore book-length novels. But another of my heroes keeps kicking his way through the determination and forging his own story in the back of my head. XD

Software. Definitely software. Writing to paper, as weenyish as it sounds, makes my hand cramp. >_> Plus, my handwriting is equitable to ancient Aztec, and I never learned to read ancient Aztec, so I can't make much progress on my own handwriting either. A typewriter could be fun to try, but I think I would still choose software for ease of editing. I don't have to pull out white out, or worry about running through ink ribbons, a fear instilled in me by the Resident Evil games.

I like the fluid nature of it as well. If I think of an idea I want or need to interject earlier in the tale, I can write it out in a separate file and then copy it in. Or I can instantly search through the entire document and rename something or someone, which is ridiculous how often it comes in handy.

I wish putting my stories to hard copy was easier, or cheaper, but I'd still choose digital editing, I think.

Personally, I prefer LibreOffice to anything else. My only complaint is that, while it is excellent at opening other file extensions, it's not very friendly with others. Between that and Google (for thesaurus, alternate spellings and the odd translation) I get along OK.\

Free food?

I usually don't complain or question it. Contrary to popular belief, there is such a thing as a free lunch. And I am very grateful to receive them.

Unless it's like...some sort of grody casserole. I'll still be thankful, but I can't promise I will eat it, as ungrateful as it sounds. >_>

[micah211]

My baby brother loves them so I make them for him every now and then.

Pączki donuts?

[RedPlums]

Grody casseroles?

[Deepfreeze32]

I personally use Scrivener for the writing/outlining/structure, and use LibreOffice for editing (though I make the changes in Scrivener later, I like being able to highlight and add comments to sections) and formatting the final product.

Scrivener is a paid product, but I feel like it enhances my workflow enough that I can justify it. It's also just a one-time purchase, so...

/notsponsored

I don't know if you've ever listened to Rush, but here's one of my favorite songs by them:



Thoughts?

[Chozon1]

My baby brother loves them so I make them for him every now and then.

Pączki donuts?

I'd not heard of them until now. Which means I'm going to have to make some. O_o

Grody casseroles?

I have nothing against a good casserole; broccoli, rice, some cheese and chicken baked together is a tasty meal. Or green bean casserole; it's a Thanksgiving tradition I thouroughly enjoy, to the point of stabbing people with a fork when they reach for my plate (my mom makes really, really good GB casserole).

It's the ones made from canned soup, and lunch meat mixed with four day old chili that I don't like. O_o Or the ones that are like "just throw all your four-week old leftovers into a dish with some cheese, crackers, and soup mix for a whole new meal!"

Sweet mercy, who spawned that abomination and decided to share it with the world? O_o When I study it, it studies me back, like it's searching for a weak point. That mushroom might be moving...I realize most casserole recipes harken back to the depression, when no food could be wasted, and a $.05 can of soup for a whole new meal was an awesome deal...but that was a very long time ago.

And while I truly, truly appreciate the fact someone was willing to make a meal for me (which is the traditional way of receiving a casserole) but...eh...I mean...I might just watch it for a few days, then return your pan empty. Because I will never refuse a labor of love like that, and I will eat it almost no matter what, because of the metaphorical--I dearly, dearly hope--heart in it...but you can't just mush stuff up in a bowl, throw it in the oven, call it a casserole and feed it to people. No more.

I personally use Scrivener for the writing/outlining/structure, and use LibreOffice for editing (though I make the changes in Scrivener later, I like being able to highlight and add comments to sections) and formatting the final product.

Scrivener is a paid product, but I feel like it enhances my workflow enough that I can justify it. It's also just a one-time purchase, so...

/notsponsored

I don't know if you've ever listened to Rush, but here's one of my favorite songs by them:

Thoughts?

That seems like it would be very helpful, and make tacking down story details easier. And heavens, exporting it directly to ebook format would probably be worth the price alone...but I just can't see myself paying $40 for it. I tend to take the cheapest option, often to my detriment, and supply the lack with brute force and anger. >_>

I didn't think I was going to like it, but I actually did. XD That was a fun song. And though the dude's voice grated on me at first, I grew to appreciate it.

[Deepfreeze32]

You can also get discounts for participating in NaNo. I think you get a small discount (Less than 50%) for participating, and 50% discount for winning.

Rush's singer definitely has a voice you need to get used to. I really like his voice, and also have mad respect for how he plays Bass as well. He also does the synths live.

Take a gander at the music video for Subdivisions:



It's definitely very 80's, but I really like it. What do you think of the song and the video?

[Chozon1]

Ahhh...let's the be honest though: You can't beat that sweet 80's sound. *shrugs* I love, love a good synth. I'll even listen to stuff like...Pat Benatar, because those sounds from the 70's and 80's are often aimed for now, but never quite replicated, and I love them.

Of course, if you tried to get me to admit that in public, especially around my sisters, I would shun you. >_> SHUUUUUUN. Which is, perhaps, ironic given the subject matter of the song.

Point is, I actually really, really enjoyed that. XD It's saddening to me that something around three decades old is still incredibly relevant in today's culture.

[RedPlums]

Children's TV shows?

[Chozon1]

Depends. If you're talking about the "The TV characters talk to you and you have to shout gibberish at the screen to help them find something" then...no. I know some people who, in their early twenties, still watched those and made a big deal out of them...

-_- They need a hobby. If there's nothing else on TV, and you aren't 4...cut the TV off and read a book, you hippie.

However, if you're talking about things like Transformers, or the newer TMNT, or the excellent Marvel universe crafted on Disney, or half a dozen other animated series...well sure; that makes up 90% of my TV viewing fodder. Those aren't kids' shows; those are just cartoons.

I tried going 'mature' in my TV viewing a few years back. Adult shows--meaning simply adult, and nothing nasty or such--tend to portray the world as bleak, and evil, and pointless: you live until you die, and try to scrape some form of happiness however you can, even by evil means. Hope has no place in the adult world, apparently. Violence is common place in the world, sex is a necessary part of every day life, and you should be willing to kill to survive in this bleak world, because it's better than dying. If the evil is too tough, you run away or get turn evil yourself to defeat it.

And that's just NCIS and Big Bang Theory. O_o Doctor Who, CSI...Even great shows like Stargate or Star Trek carry minor themes of that sort.

So I went back to 'childrens' shows, and I don't really regret it. The world is hopeful; the bad guys rarely win, and if they do manage to steal a victory, it can always be undone, repaired, or is not allowed to steal hope from those who would still stand against evil. Whether it's simply the hero escaping to defeat them another day, or new heroes arising from unlikely places, or simply a third door to be opened. The good guys have pure hearts. They are willing to die for what they believe, but they aren't willing to kill for it--which is a radical distinction. And goodness is not shown as weakness, or living in a fantasy world: having a good heart is shown to be a necessity for traversing everyday life, let alone when facing evil.

There are no obstacles which cannot be beaten, and there's always a way to win without killing. It's funny, because these are the stories we feed young minds, and then spend years trying to kill the hope in their heart. XD Even when bad things happen--death, loss, pain, suffering--the good guys overcome it, or cope with it, or turn it to something beautiful.

And then you shift back to 'adult' TV fodder, which is violent, dark, and gross. Walking Dead, anyone?

People can say I live in a fantasy world--which is ironic, considering they would probably want me to watch shows that are, themselves, fantasy--and that the harsh traits are simply 'real people' being portrayed in a 'realistic' way.

I would question whether they are truly real, or simply the reality we set ourselves up for when we fill our head with that trash. O_o For myself, if I'm going to stick my head in an unreal universe, I'd rather it be a hopeful one.

Occasionally, you'll find an 'adult' show like Green Arrow, which actually questions the status quo. Arrow kills to save the city, even though only 'evil' people...and he loses his humanity because of it. It's only when he stops killing, and refuses to take another life, that he regains it. It's only at that point where he feels he can truly accept the title 'hero'.

Of course, then he goes back to /arrow'ing people. Or /sword'ing them. So the effect is kind of lost, even though my point is illustrated better.

Point is...'kids' shows for the win.

Unless you were talking about Dora the Explora, or Power Rangers kind of kids shows, in which case I wrote a dissertation for no reason. I uh...I don't watch those. I think they are fun for kids though. Even though really, Dora should be able to see the object three feet in front of her. :O