Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Fight Scenes and Rings
So I'm up trying to write a barfight scene, and it is Just not working. How come it makes perfect sense for barfights to erupt in movies and on television, but I can't envision one happening at Psycho Suzi's here in "friendly" Minnesota?
The (stereo)typical bar fight is like dropping a match into a can of gasoline; one punch, and everyone is swinging. In Minnesota, two people could shoot it out with rifles in a bar, and everyone would either a)leave or b)break out their cell-phone-cameras to take pictures. Hmm. Might have to ditch the cause-and-effect logic and reach for the smoke-and-mirrors...
Saw Ring2 last night, it was surprisingly good. For a movie which has the lamest plot concept in the history of plot concepts, (watch a videotape and die 7 days later) it is still pretty good. Not as creepy or artistic as the first, but also nice in that the poor-decision-making-teens are notibly removed from the movie after the first five minutes. Refreshing, although the director did watch "The Sixth Sense" too many times. I am not a fan of shocking your audience just to shock them (IE: The Grudge, a terrible movie by the way) but the "spooky kid" thing totally creeps me out...
Ring on,
-CZ
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The (stereo)typical bar fight is like dropping a match into a can of gasoline; one punch, and everyone is swinging. In Minnesota, two people could shoot it out with rifles in a bar, and everyone would either a)leave or b)break out their cell-phone-cameras to take pictures. Hmm. Might have to ditch the cause-and-effect logic and reach for the smoke-and-mirrors...
Saw Ring2 last night, it was surprisingly good. For a movie which has the lamest plot concept in the history of plot concepts, (watch a videotape and die 7 days later) it is still pretty good. Not as creepy or artistic as the first, but also nice in that the poor-decision-making-teens are notibly removed from the movie after the first five minutes. Refreshing, although the director did watch "The Sixth Sense" too many times. I am not a fan of shocking your audience just to shock them (IE: The Grudge, a terrible movie by the way) but the "spooky kid" thing totally creeps me out...
Ring on,
-CZ
Labels: Hollywood, movie reviews, The Demonslayers Handbook, Writing
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Godchecker
Whilst doing research for The Demonslayer's Handbook (DSH) I came across this site, which really does a fantastic job of addressing the deities of many areas (Honestly, when have you ever seen a listing of Austrailian Deities?) I spent way too much time here, looking for names of Elemental Deities, which will appear as characters in DSH.
Egypt was right out, because it is so overused. I was initially attracted by the Sumerian pantheon. It is the oldest documented religion known to man, and it has some of the coolest names. Lovecraft really made use of Sumerian deities throughout his writings.
I finally decided on the Aztec lineage, mostly based on the fact that they were well-versed in human sacrifice, and not quite as popular as the others. (When was the last time QUETZALCOATL made the news?)
Blog on,
-CZ
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Egypt was right out, because it is so overused. I was initially attracted by the Sumerian pantheon. It is the oldest documented religion known to man, and it has some of the coolest names. Lovecraft really made use of Sumerian deities throughout his writings.
I finally decided on the Aztec lineage, mostly based on the fact that they were well-versed in human sacrifice, and not quite as popular as the others. (When was the last time QUETZALCOATL made the news?)
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Religion, The Demonslayers Handbook, Writing
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
More Quizzilla Oddness
You are DEATH!
Oooo.... Scary...
Well, not, you are just a dark, depressed person
who feels pained by society, and we love you
for that.
Monkey? Pizza? Death? Oompa Loompa?
brought to you by Quizilla
Quiz on,
Z
Labels: Cool Website, Online Tests
Friday, August 05, 2005
The Great Minnesota Sweat Together
Sometimes I feel like psychic people are stalking me and they hang out where I am going to be before I get there. And it's not really fair, because I rarely know where the hell I'm going.
Similarly, I feel as though sometimes people have access to my ideas before I do. For instance, I really wanted to write an article on how I don't understand the MN State Fair, but I seem to go every year. Every year it is the same; kind of like a high school reunion that you only go to so you feel better about your own life.
But someone else already did, so I'll just link to it.
Blog on,
-CZ
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Similarly, I feel as though sometimes people have access to my ideas before I do. For instance, I really wanted to write an article on how I don't understand the MN State Fair, but I seem to go every year. Every year it is the same; kind of like a high school reunion that you only go to so you feel better about your own life.
But someone else already did, so I'll just link to it.
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: A Day In The Life, Minneapolis Event
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
The Metric System
OK...Any fucking day now...Any microsecond now... Oh, wait. I forgot, we don't use "micro" round here unless it's followed by "soft", because unlike every other civilized country in the world,
WE HAVENT SWITCHED TO THE FUCKING METRIC SYSTEM YET!!!
Miles Per Hour?
Gallons?
Inches?
Pounds? (And the impossible abbreviation: lb ??? WTF???)
Come on Engineers, make the fucking switch already.
Blog on,
-CZ
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WE HAVENT SWITCHED TO THE FUCKING METRIC SYSTEM YET!!!
Miles Per Hour?
Gallons?
Inches?
Pounds? (And the impossible abbreviation: lb ??? WTF???)
Come on Engineers, make the fucking switch already.
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: americans, rant, Technology, Ubersuck
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Open Letter to University Of Minnesota Regarding Diversity
Back some 6 years ago or so, the University of Minnesota wanted to cash in on the untapped 'Adult Learner' market. Remember 'University College'? "Hey adults, come get a degree in your spare time! Take night/weekend/internet classes to fit your busy schedule!" Remember this?
Now, some six years later, all I hear is how it is 'taking too long for students to graduate' and the ridiculous enforcement of minimal credit payment, which completely screws over people with jobs and families who want to further their education: "Sure, you can take one class if you want, but you have to pay for a full credit load!" As if the tuition hikes over the past two years weren't bad enough!
This is surprising for a University where the word "diversity" is implanted into every speech and publication, until it is overused into meaninglessness. It doesn't seem very diverse to me, to impede the ability of adults with jobs and families to take classes and get a degree in their free time.
I would expect more intelligent decisions from a group of people running a learning institution.
My suggestion is to either discontinue your use of the word "diversity", or bring back the University College, without the mandatory minimum credit bullshit, and time limits for graduation. Return some fairness to the system for people who did not just step out of high school.
Sincerely,
-CZ
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Now, some six years later, all I hear is how it is 'taking too long for students to graduate' and the ridiculous enforcement of minimal credit payment, which completely screws over people with jobs and families who want to further their education: "Sure, you can take one class if you want, but you have to pay for a full credit load!" As if the tuition hikes over the past two years weren't bad enough!
This is surprising for a University where the word "diversity" is implanted into every speech and publication, until it is overused into meaninglessness. It doesn't seem very diverse to me, to impede the ability of adults with jobs and families to take classes and get a degree in their free time.
I would expect more intelligent decisions from a group of people running a learning institution.
My suggestion is to either discontinue your use of the word "diversity", or bring back the University College, without the mandatory minimum credit bullshit, and time limits for graduation. Return some fairness to the system for people who did not just step out of high school.
Sincerely,
-CZ
Labels: Open Letter, rant, Ubersuck
Update on The Demonslayers Handbook
[Editor's Update: Post changed and download link removed]
The latest section of The Demonslayer's Handbook is out. A draft of the first 35 pages; just a taste - enough to whet your appetite, so you keep coming back for more. I'm working on page 458 now, and should have the full draft finished in a couple months.
I'm thinking of working up some product literature, a press kit perhaps, so do check back for a photo gallery of stills in the near future, as well as other clippings from The Demonslayer's Handbook. Meanwhile, enjoy the mental pictures painted by the first installment, and let me know what you think. I welcome comments, good or bad, will consider all of them, and possibly post them to this blog...
Blog on,
-CZ
zero@conradzero.com
0 Comments
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The latest section of The Demonslayer's Handbook is out. A draft of the first 35 pages; just a taste - enough to whet your appetite, so you keep coming back for more. I'm working on page 458 now, and should have the full draft finished in a couple months.
I'm thinking of working up some product literature, a press kit perhaps, so do check back for a photo gallery of stills in the near future, as well as other clippings from The Demonslayer's Handbook. Meanwhile, enjoy the mental pictures painted by the first installment, and let me know what you think. I welcome comments, good or bad, will consider all of them, and possibly post them to this blog...
Blog on,
-CZ
zero@conradzero.com
Labels: The Demonslayers Handbook, Writing
Monday, August 01, 2005
Honorable Mention
I received an e-mail from www.vlasishost.com that www.conradzero.com was chosen for their "top 100" list of Gothic HTML styles. Aparrently, vlasishost provides code, tools, tips and resources for HTML and PHP programming. I am flattered and surprised. I guess if you choose a narrow enough niche, you too can be in the top 100! I know there are not many other gothic, musician/writer, demonologists in Minnesota...
Blog on,
-CZ
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Vlasishost.com | Html Gothic Layout
HTML History, PHP History, PHP Programming, PHP Basics, HTML Code
Blog on,
-CZ
Labels: Cool Website, Fan Mail, Web Tools
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