31
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2008:Generation X [part deux]
« on: May 04, 2008, 01:47:07 AM »
Free day at the Museum and large crowds didn't show up until after we left.
News:
"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
Column by Chaos2651
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32
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: May 04, 2008, 01:45:45 AM »
Well, gas prices will continue to rise. There may be periods of relief, but the fact is, the cheap oil is going away. Oil companies keep on having to explore more expensive plays, going deeper, to more remote areas, and where there is less oil. They are now doing expensive reinjections and other secondary recovery operations on old, depleted plays. It's that whole theory of peak oil coming to life and right when demand from China and India is on the rise. So, if you are complaining about the price of gas, stop using so much of it (and get your friends and family to conserve gas too).
33
Everything Else / Re: Best Quote Lately Reincarnated
« on: April 22, 2008, 05:54:04 PM »
My five year old son to my wife.
Son: "Mommy you look like a teenager."
Wife: "Why do you say that?"
Son: "Because you have red dots on your face."
Son: "Mommy you look like a teenager."
Wife: "Why do you say that?"
Son: "Because you have red dots on your face."
34
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: April 15, 2008, 07:14:51 PM »
Why do I have to get the stomach flu, then a bad cold on top of it which I cough all the time.
35
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2008:Generation X [part deux]
« on: March 23, 2008, 05:59:36 PM »
Happy Easter!!! 
36
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: March 12, 2008, 05:05:36 AM »
Hey, if the law wasn't conviluded, then people wouldn't have to hire lawyers. What kind of a world would it be if people didn't have to hire a lawyer to solve their legal problems. I shutter at the thought.
37
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2008:Generation X [part deux]
« on: March 07, 2008, 02:51:30 AM »Quote
And along those lines, announcing the birth of my son, Alex, who was born last Friday, February 29.
He was 6 lb 15 oz and 19 inches long.
Wait, February 29th! That means you only have to do a birthday party once every four years. Congrats!
38
Movies and TV / Re: 2008 Oscar Predictions
« on: February 23, 2008, 04:37:08 AM »
Best Picture: Juno "who your daddy is"
Best Director: There will be Blood (pack some bandaids)
Best Actor/singer: Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (There Will be Blood here)
Best Actress: Julie Christie, Away from Her (because she is driving me nuts)
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men (and the end of Social Security)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone (the alternate title for Juno)
Best Art Direction: There Will Be Blood (mixed with oil)
Best Cinematography: No Country for Old Men (who are grumpy)
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (went into a bar and...)
Best Original Screenplay: Ratatouille (with some hot rustic bread and fresh herb salad)
Best Director: There will be Blood (pack some bandaids)
Best Actor/singer: Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (There Will be Blood here)
Best Actress: Julie Christie, Away from Her (because she is driving me nuts)
Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men (and the end of Social Security)
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone (the alternate title for Juno)
Best Art Direction: There Will Be Blood (mixed with oil)
Best Cinematography: No Country for Old Men (who are grumpy)
Best Adapted Screenplay: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (went into a bar and...)
Best Original Screenplay: Ratatouille (with some hot rustic bread and fresh herb salad)
39
Rants and Stuff / Re: Happy Things 2008:Generation X [part deux]
« on: February 22, 2008, 05:36:17 PM »
I am happy today because I got my Tax Refund today. 
40
Writing Group / Re: writing and finance
« on: February 15, 2008, 08:51:29 PM »
I can picture you rolling your eyes now, 42. I just had to get a jab in when it was presented. Sorry. 
41
Writing Group / Re: writing and finance
« on: February 15, 2008, 08:40:15 PM »
Oh, if most single people understood exactly how much marriage is worth, there would be fewer single people.
Now I will grant that many single women understand how much marriage is worth, it is single men that seem to not grasp the concept. Particularly single male social workers living in Orem, UT.
Now I will grant that many single women understand how much marriage is worth, it is single men that seem to not grasp the concept. Particularly single male social workers living in Orem, UT.
42
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: February 15, 2008, 04:19:48 PM »
I'm home sick today. I feel terrible. I'm not getting out of bed. I hope my clients will understand.
43
Writing Group / Re: writing and finance
« on: February 15, 2008, 04:12:50 PM »
I really like the advice about getting married. Seriously, having a good spouse is worth a whole lot more than single people think. I read a few articles that says a good marriage is worth an extra $100,000-160,000 a year. Even if this money is paid out in terms of "utility", I found that because of my wife, many economic hardships were much more managable, even when neither of us had a real job.
Bad marriages are finacially devistating, particularly if it ends in divorce, but people have a lot more control over whether their marriage will be good or bad than they realize. I think this is what the article was getting to in discussing the "heavy metal bassists." It shouldn't take a genious to realize that in marriage, if you don't put a whole lot into it (which includes helping out with the finances), you will never get a whole lot out of it.
I also liked the short advice of taxes. Self-employment taxes can be a killer, although they can be mitigated through forming an S Corporation (assuming that a writer actually makes enough from writing to justify incorporating).
One final note, I liked how it pointed out that many writers would do financially better if they wrote for more then just one genre. His slight at sci-fi writers who only look that the sci-fi market was well played.
Bad marriages are finacially devistating, particularly if it ends in divorce, but people have a lot more control over whether their marriage will be good or bad than they realize. I think this is what the article was getting to in discussing the "heavy metal bassists." It shouldn't take a genious to realize that in marriage, if you don't put a whole lot into it (which includes helping out with the finances), you will never get a whole lot out of it.
I also liked the short advice of taxes. Self-employment taxes can be a killer, although they can be mitigated through forming an S Corporation (assuming that a writer actually makes enough from writing to justify incorporating).
One final note, I liked how it pointed out that many writers would do financially better if they wrote for more then just one genre. His slight at sci-fi writers who only look that the sci-fi market was well played.
44
Everything Else / Re: Random career question......
« on: February 13, 2008, 02:44:39 AM »
1) When I was a kid I wanted to be some sort of scientist.
2) Now I just want to be a good husband, good father, and be more financially secure.
3) Right now I'm a confused husband, tired father and trying to become financially secure by being an tax attorney who spends his days dreaming about what to do with somebody else's huge piles of cash (yes, that is my job).
4) Well, my wife still seems to like me and despite their protest, my kids are still my kids, so there is some hope there. As far as being financially secure, being attorney may or may not acheive that but my wife says I can't go back to school to become a scientist so being an attorney better bring some security. But if not, something else will.
2) Now I just want to be a good husband, good father, and be more financially secure.
3) Right now I'm a confused husband, tired father and trying to become financially secure by being an tax attorney who spends his days dreaming about what to do with somebody else's huge piles of cash (yes, that is my job).
4) Well, my wife still seems to like me and despite their protest, my kids are still my kids, so there is some hope there. As far as being financially secure, being attorney may or may not acheive that but my wife says I can't go back to school to become a scientist so being an attorney better bring some security. But if not, something else will.
45
Rants and Stuff / Re: Revenge of Grumpy Bear
« on: January 28, 2008, 06:11:19 AM »
In memory of President Gordon B Hinckley.
We thank you for your service and inspiration.
We love you and you will be missed.
We thank you for your service and inspiration.
We love you and you will be missed.