tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35895845195265040382024-03-27T02:37:59.330-04:00Nine Worlds, Ten Thousand ThingsA genre-ly unfettered exploration of the myriad answers to the question "What if...?", filtered through the overlapping meshes of fantastic and fabulous literature, science fiction, mythology, biography, psychology, religion, philosophy, engineering, and, of course, gaming, as it also serves as a world-building project to develop the narrative framework of the Nine Worlds.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-43348374743895442592013-08-25T02:10:00.002-04:002013-09-08T00:30:39.487-04:00Dying to See You AgainI'm posting here tonight to discuss the matter of my death. It's a subject that is close at hand for me right now.<br />
<br />
Before anyone panics, I want to make it clear that, as far as I know, my demise isn't imminent, at least in a corporeal sense. <br />
<br />
In almost any other sense, though, I could argue that it happened months ago, and everyone, including myself, somehow missed it at the time. <br />
<br />
The adjectives that I would have used to describe myself - balanced, quick-witted, patient, upbeat, attentive, creative, articulate, focused, persistent, sharp, athletic, self-controlled - now fail to apply in any significant degree. Things that used to be easy and fun, that I used do for amusement, are now entirely beyond my reach, some physically. some mentally, and some both. The skills and talents that I used in my work - pattern recognition, rapid data processing, attention to detail, reading speed, verbal fluency, the ability to draw meaningful connections between disparate elements, knowing just the right thing to say at just the right time, access to a vast and varied font of accurate and precise memory - all gone or altered beyond recognition. My patterns of behavior and emotional response have changed dramatically, and so relationships with family and friends have shifted as well, and not in ways I would have chosen. People I counted close cease to call, cease to speak, turn away from the stranger who stands in the midst of my life like a doppleganger.<br />
<br />
The situation I find myself in leads to some interesting questions, ones that have been explored through the ages by better minds than mine by far, but I (or what passes for me these days) am here and they're not, so it's my turn to at least bring them up, even if I'm not up to the task of tackling them alone. <br />
<br />
Here's the first set that's been on my mind (or on the mind of whoever it is who has been living what passes for my life these days): <br />
<br />
<em>Where does the essence of the self reside, and how much can it be altered before it ceases to be the self and becomes something else?</em>I'm interested in hearing your thoughts on this.<br />
<br />
I had a neuropsychological evaluation recently, to try to determine the nature and extent of my brain injuries and distinguish them from any underlying psychological pathology. As part of the evaluation, the psychologist asked me if I was suicidal. I denied it. But the question struck me funny. It still does. If suicide is the desire to extinguish the self, what more thorough job could ending the body possibly do than what has already been done? And if I'm not myself, it wouldn't really be suicide, would it? It would be murdering a stranger, and if there is any continuity between the person I was before and the person I am now, the idea that murdering strangers is something one just doesn't do would have to be counted among the few, but blessed, common threads that join us together. <br />
<br />
I'm grateful that I retained just enough judgment and impulse control not to say that out loud during the evaluation.<br />
<br />
I apologize for the lack of relevant links. Consider it a symptom. Composing these few paragraphs has been the work of weeks, not minutes, as would have been the case before. I'll try to remember to keep hunting for them. If you have any that you think would illuminate the topic of conversation, please share them in the comments, and I'll add them in in the appropriate places. I'd like to think I'm not just writing this for myself (especially since I don't even know who that might be or where they might have gotten off to), so I'll look forward to your comments, and check back as soon as I remember that I still have this blog.<br />
<em></em><br />Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-5543853879800641172013-05-27T23:22:00.000-04:002013-05-27T23:22:42.001-04:00Memorial DayRecall the fallen.<br />
<br />
Oh, bring them back to pause before<br />
the thrice-barred gate of memory's door<br />
where time and space and death stand guard.<br />
<br />Recall the fallen.<br />
<br />
Yes, bring their faces now to mind,<br />
cold comfort to those left behind,<br />
and hold them all in high regard<br />
whose headstones march across the sward.<br />
<br />
Recall the fallen.<br />
<br />
Their bodies fill the charnel field;<br />
they gave up light and love to shield<br />
their countrymen from fear and strife.<br />
<br />
Recall the fallen.<br />
<br />
Now mourn their loss, proclaim the pain,<br />
and vow their deaths are not in vain;<br />
hold fast the freedom bought with life<br />
and youth cut down by conflict's knife.<br />
<br />
Recall the fallen.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-9360784442501549552013-04-12T00:17:00.001-04:002013-04-12T00:20:40.594-04:00Flash Fearsday / J is for Joker Some call me a wild card.<br />
Others say I'm two-dimensional, a caricature.<br />
Flat affect? Ha! See me laughing? <br />
Be glad they make me wear bells.<br />
<br />
************************************************************************************<br />
<br />
Flash Fearsday is a 140-character (or, for the long-winded and Twitterless, 140-word) microfiction horror challenge, hosted here on Nine Worlds, Ten Thousand Things within four days (one way or the other) from a Thursday. Anyone can play. Line breaks count as one character. Feel free to link to your entry or post it directly in the comments.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-61286032763932783392013-04-07T03:03:00.001-04:002013-04-07T03:03:14.054-04:00A is for Absence, Accident, Aricept, Acetylcholine, and Getting Ahead of Myself.The few loyal followers of this blog who remain will probably have noted my prolonged absence. There were many things that interfered with my ability to post here over the course of the past year or so; the most severe was a motor vehicle accident that injured my child and resulted in some neurological injuries of my own that impaired my language centers, memory, and attention, as well as my sense of balance and the sensation in my hands and upper body. All in all, not ideal conditions to write a blog. I have missed you all, and I apologize for not at least explaining myself better. I had the persistent delusion that I would be able to return to blogging at any moment. I was wrong. I may be back now more regularly. I hope so. There's always the chance that I'm still harboring a delusion.<br />
<br />
Still, the whole experience has been an excellent opportunity to explore the mind/body interface, and to learn more about the ways that the structure of the brain affects the function of the mind. It's been an interesting self-study. Apparently, traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in decreased levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. My physician started me on Aricept, an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor also used to treat Alzheimer's disease, this week, and I am heartened by the fact that I can sit down tonight and write this, even if it is terribly slow, laborious, and possibly incoherent. I have wanted to write here many times since the accident, but failed to produce anything remotely readable. That I can write this at all is a great encouragement.<br />
<br />
It's clear that my initial excitement should be tempered with caution, though. I had ideas tonight for a full week's worth of small April A-Z posts; I am managing this one, and a Flash Fearsday for "F", and I find that the others will either have to wait or have fled my mind completely. "Better" is not "well."<br />
I'll be around as much as I can.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-87354458701245028162013-04-07T02:23:00.002-04:002013-04-07T02:23:56.510-04:00F is for Flash FearsdayRevolutionary thoughts? <br />Patently inadequate.<br />Ultimately, successful execution seems essential for getting ahead.<br />Madame Guillotine concurs.<br />
<br />
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Flash Fearsday is a 140-character (or, for the long-winded and Twitterless, 140-word) microfiction horror challenge. I don't know where it is officially being hosted these days, but it will be here, if nowhere else.<br />
Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-45074267406993432982012-03-29T12:39:00.003-04:002012-03-29T12:46:27.061-04:00RPGs as Instruments of Social ChangeWhile events IRL have conspired to keep me away from the blog for far too long, I felt compelled to come drop <a href=http://blastr.com/2012/03/norwegian-diplomat-thinks.php>this</a> here, a story about how a Norwegian cabinet minister wants to use LARP and RPGs to help teach people about history and about human nature. <br /><br />Hopefully, I'll be able to be back on a regular basis soon...Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-70825356231193117442012-01-24T14:45:00.005-05:002022-05-15T03:37:05.974-04:00Expansion Joints, part 39: "Pick" / Flash FearsdayThis is my response to <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2012/01/expansion-joints-challenge-part-39-pick.html>Part 39 of the Expansion Joints Challenge,</a> and to the <a href=http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/2012/01/flash-fearsday_12.html>January 12th Flash Fearsday.</a>
***************************************************************************<br>
"Another homicidal worker?"<br>
"Neurotoxic exposure, manual excavation methods - mining's hazardous."<br>
"Recommendations?"<br>
"Don't say "Pick me!""<br>
***************************************************************************Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-88073895915339027142012-01-12T21:32:00.002-05:002012-12-31T02:10:13.504-05:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 39: "Pick"When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, the word for the Expanders! challenge was based on some relevant happening or theme. I'm continuing the tradition here. I apologize for the dearth of links in today's post, but I am still a bit under the weather here, and wanted to be sure that I got this up. If you read Science Fiction and Fantasy, you might already know that this week marks the start of the <a href="http://www.tor.com/blogs/2012/01/vote-in-the-torcom-2011-readers-choice-awards">Tor Reader's Choice Awards</a> where you can vote for the best SF&F novels, short fiction, comics,and book covers of 2011. This is your chance to make your voice heard. There are no restrictions on <i>where </i>the works were published, so short pieces or comics from bloggers like <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/">Porky's Expanse</a> (and the many excellent pages it links to), <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Hereticwerks</a>, or other places on the Web where such things sometimes make appearances would seem to be eligible. There's no limit on how many works you can include in your voting post, so there is no need to choose too carefully - don't leave out anything you really liked. Moving into the political realm (which many might argue still leaves us firmly in the domain of fantasy), the US <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/primary-tracker/">Republican presidential primary season</a> kicked off in earnest, with the first actual <i>binding</i> votes cast in the New Hampshire primary.(Please, don't ask me to explain the Iowa caucuses.) Closer to home, the season's first fabulously sweet <a href="http://www.producepete.com/shows/murcottoranges.html">Indian River murcotts</a> (also known as "honey tangerines") were harvested from local groves and made their way to my table. The theme here is perhaps disappointingly clear already: the word of the week is "pick".<br />
<br />
If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br />
<br />
The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br />
<br />
This can take the form of<br />
<br />
1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br />
<br />
2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br />
<br />
There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br />
<br />
There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <span style="font-style: italic;">epos</span>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <span style="font-style: italic;">epos </span>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br />
<br />
C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br />
<br />
And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br />
<br />
Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, vent, skip, back, stand, plague beat, pin, present, and resolve, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br />
<br />
When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-19793678140992378702012-01-09T22:12:00.004-05:002012-01-09T22:32:45.302-05:00Expansion Joints, part 38: Continuing Resolution"It took all our resolve to resolve this once. Now it's recurred."<br /><br />"So? Re-solve it."<br /><br /><br /><br />**************************************************************************************<br /><br />This is my ontribution to <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2012/01/expansion-joints-challenge-part-38.html> part 38 of the Expansion Joints Challenge.</a>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-5821503506831883462012-01-02T23:12:00.001-05:002012-01-02T23:12:01.339-05:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 38: ResolveWhen this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. I'm trying to keep the tradition going. This past week saw the start of a new year in the Gregorian calendar, a time when many people <a href=http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/New-Years-Resolutions.shtml>vow to make positive changes</a> in their lives. It also saw the <a href=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/18/us-iraq-withdrawal-idUSTRE7BH03320111218>official end of the US/Iraq conflict </a>, although it certainly remains to be seen whether the problems in Iraq can truly come to a harmonious close. In New York's Zucotti Park, <a href=http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/31/protesters-surge-back-into-zuccotti-park/>a New Year's Eve re-Occupation</a> tested the commitment of protesters to brave arrest (in some cases, for simply walking on sidewalks in the area.) Closer to home, I'm formally pledging to spend more time doing things that make my heart light...so, hopefully, you'll be seeing me around here more. With this in mind, the word for the week is "resolve".<br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, vent, skip, back, stand, plague beat, pin, and present, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-74786306120084059162011-12-26T15:13:00.008-05:002011-12-26T19:55:11.924-05:00Expansion Joints, part 37: "Present"On Delivering Christmas Cards and Stockings <br /><br />There's no time like the <br />present day for having a <br />run in a red suit.<br /><br />************************************************************************************<br /><br />This is my response to <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2011/12/expansion-joints-challenge-part-37.html> part 37 of the Expansion Joints Challenge</a>, <a href=http://jinglepoetry.blogspot.com/2011/12/merry-christmas-special-poetry-potluck.html>Poetry Potluck's Christmas Special</a>, and <a href=http://purpletreehouse.blogspot.com/2011/07/poetic-forms-classic-haiku.html>The Purple Treehouse's Haiku challenge.</a> I hope you enjoy the puns, and the deliberate ambiguity of leaving out any commas in the title, as well as the haiku itself. The syllable count is right, at least, even if the form isn't quite up to classical standards. The inspiration is drawn in part from the wonderful <a href=http://theporkster.blogspot.com>Porky's Expanse!</a> <a href=http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/12/insanity-clause-slip-van-kringle-and.html>post on dissociative Santa analogues in alternate universes.</a> The sentiments in the poem are all something they could agree on, I'd wager.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-59152484998366533082011-12-26T10:27:00.005-05:002011-12-26T17:23:53.210-05:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 37: Present<div>When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. I endeavor to maintain the tradition. I'm not going to try to fill in for the whole time that I've been away in one post, so I'll just lay out immediate events, such as the recent <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/winter-solstice/2011/12/21/gIQAYk7VAP_gallery.html#photo=1>winter solstice</a>, the first since the 1600's to have a lunar eclipse and a meteor shower, and <a href=http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/holiday-celebrations-across-the-world/2011/12/01/gIQASHfJLO_gallery.html>Christmas and other holiday celebrations</a>. After far too long an absence, I am finally here, <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxing_Day>now</a>, (or, alternatively <a href=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Stephen%27s_Day>now</a>, and/or <a href=http://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/default_cdo/jewish/Hanukkah.htm>now</a>, or even <a href=http://www.officialkwanzaawebsite.org/index.shtml>now</a>), regretting that I can give you all only that most humble of gifts, my words, which are unlikely to win any <a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/dec/16/european-book-prize-julian-barnes>literary awards</a>. With that perspective in mind, the word of the week is "present". <br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, vent, skip, back, stand, plague beat, and pin, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.</div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-16154886901659542942011-12-24T10:27:00.007-05:002013-06-15T22:36:37.343-04:00E-Book Extravaganza!I know it is a bit late in the holiday season to be putting out a list of book suggestions, but if you happened to come across this blog, chances are good that, if you haven't gotten at least one bookseller gift card from friends and family already this year, you soon will, and I wanted to take this opportunity to review a few pieces (some by request, some because I just like them), and highlight a few things I think are really worth reading (and even spending money on!) that might otherwise have slipped under the radar. And, in case the good folks at the FTC are wondering, no one paid me to write these reviews, and I didn't promise to only say nice things in them...which is good, because that's not what I did. If any of these sound too much like publishers' blurbs, I blame my sordid past as an advertising copy writer, and my enthusiasm for the works. If you don't own a dedicated e-reader, don't forget that Amazon has <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_357538322_3?ie=UTF8&docId=1000493771&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-7&pf_rd_r=1VHKAR2E6EMYVNPA53PD&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=1336477322&pf_rd_i=1000677541">free Kindle e-reader apps</a> for Web browsing,PC, Mac, iPad, Android, and other smart phones. If you can read this blog, you can read an e-book.<br />
<br />
Here's the quick list, so that I can get this out to you before the new year:<br />
<br />
<b>Fantasy / Sword and Sorcery:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Fate-ebook/dp/B006OT9IKO/ref=sr_1_3?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324747068&sr=1-3">Dragon Fate</a>, by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/J.D.-Hallowell/e/B0082Q9348">J.D. Hallowell</a> <br />
<br />
This is pure classic fantasy and adventure by a masterful storyteller, complete with dragons, magic, and swordplay. With smooth, effortless prose, this is definitely a step up from the usual fare, and the fact that it tells an engaging tale while barely rising to a mild PG rating makes it a great choice for fantasy fans of all ages from 'tweens to adults. A complete story in itself, it is also the first book of a series. For those who are wary of starting an intriguing but incomplete series for fear of getting trapped in a Robert Jordan-esque fiasco, you can breathe easy here: the second (and final) book in the series is already in the publisher's hands, and should be released early in 2012. I consider this the Godiva chocolate of mind candy, a perfect book to curl up with on a lazy afternoon...or two, or three, unless you are a speed-reader, because this is not a short book. That said, even at 140,000+ words, it was over too soon. <br />
<br />
<b>History / Politics:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Ruin-Destruction-Development-ebook/dp/B005UFCPHG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324745710&sr=1-1">Rule And Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and the Destruction of the Republican Party, From Eisenhower to the Tea Party</a>, by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/#!/kabaservice">Geoffrey Kabaservice</a><br />
<br />
If you are at all interested in modern American history and politics, or if you simply wonder how we wound up with the Republican Party we have today, this is a must-read. It begins with a clear analysis that places the Republican Party as it existed in mid-century in historical perspective, and goes on to reveal how, far from being the consequence of a spontaneous rightward shift in American values, the face of the modern Republican Party is the result of a systematic war that it is has waged on its own moderate wing over the past five decades, with devastating consequences...and it's by Geoff Kabaservice, so I know that you'll enjoy every insightful, witty, and erudite word. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Poetry /Short stories:</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005Q8Q8DY">The New Death and others</a> is a somewhat dark and eclectic collection of poetry and short stories. Some of the pieces are real gems. (<i>Under the Pyramids</i> is reminiscent of the sort of thing I imagine would have resulted if Rudyard Kipling had been an H.P. Lovecraft fan, for example.) Others fall a little flat, and a few are just silly or forced. The collection is a little heavy on puns, and on cats, neither of which fazes me in the slightest, but might put some readers off. Of course, if you are reading this here, you use the internet, so cats and puns are probably things you are used to by now, although you may be reluctant to <i>pay</i> for them, since they are so abundant for free in the local environment. The work as a whole could have benefited from a more critical editor, one who might have organized it differently and questioned whether every piece really needed to be included, as well as helping the author refine some pieces further. But honestly, the whole collection is only a dollar, and there is definitely at least a dollar's worth of entertainment value here, even if you have to hunt for it.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Phoenix-Dragon-Alchemical-Transformation-ebook/dp/B0033AHE0S/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324767109&sr=1-1-spell">The Phoenix and the Dragon:Poems of the Alchemical Transformation</a>, by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adam-Byrn-Tritt/e/B007GHA8LQ">Adam Byrn Tritt</a><br />
<br />
We begin and end the list with dragons, today. While my usual preference is for formal poetry, the kind with strong meter and rhyme, I make an exception for Adam Tritt's unrhymed, more free-form work. Gabriel Erector, Pits, Recognizing Kali in a Young Girl, and the title poem, the Phoenix and the Dragon, have all been perennial favorites of mine since I received my copy of the first printed edition some years back. The recent release of the e-book (and the impending release of the illustrated "Bud the Spud", Tritt's twisted children's story), brought them back to my attention. While at least a broad general knowledge of world religions, philosophy, and history is useful to get the most out of these poems, they would certainly still be accessible and enjoyable without that perspective. Adam Tritt excels at taking the ordinary and revealing the extraordinary within it. You can get a deeper feel for his work at <a href="http://adamtritt.com/">his blog</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
I wish all of you the happiest of holidays! Enjoy!Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-69242830753913520732011-12-17T14:52:00.002-05:002011-12-17T15:07:41.385-05:00Flash Fearsholiday: Hanukkah HorrorsThis is my response to this weeks' (soon-to-be-released?) <a href=http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/search/label/Flash%20Fearsday>Flash Fearsday</a>, a 140 character (or 140 word) microfiction horror challenge. I went with a Hanukkah theme in honor of the upcoming holiday...<br /><br />**************************************************************************************<br /><br />"We can hold out if we keep the fire going. They avoid it."<br />"Fuel?"<br />"One day, max."<br />"When do the others get back?"<br />"8 days."<br />"G-d help us."Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-35911298590272228742011-11-22T08:33:00.003-05:002011-11-22T08:47:43.624-05:00Sorry for the silence...The "word of the week" posts for the <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/search/label/Expansion%20Joints>Expansion Joints Challenge</a> are three weeks behind at this point, not by choice. I have been working on them in my sparse free moments, and will hopefully get the full posts up, complete with links, sometime in the near future. If anyone wants to get a head start, (or, at least catch up on this project ahead of me), the words are (Were? Will be?) plague, beat, and pin. All of which should give you a good idea of how the past month has gone...Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-83080419849291257262011-10-30T12:50:00.002-04:002011-10-31T18:08:49.626-04:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 33: "Stand"<div>When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. This week, locals took to the trees for the opening of black-powder and bow season for <a href=http://thesportsglobe.com/Wildlife/OsceolaWildTurkey.aspx>wild turkeys</a> and <a href=http://thesportsglobe.com/wildlife/WhitetailDeer.aspx>bucks.</a> On the topic of bucks, protesters outraged over the financial crisis and the <a href=http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2011/10/income-inequality-america>wholesale transfer of wealth</a> to the super-rich from the rest of society remained firm in their convictions and refused to leave financial districts and public squares <a href=http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Avis=U0&Dato=20111029&Kategori=WIS01&Lopenr=110290803&Ref=PH>around the world</a> despite <a href=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ>tear gas</a>, <a href=http://rt.com/news/ny-police-arresting-protesters-839/>clashes with police,</a> <a href=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-23/occupy-chicago-protests/50876194/1>arrests</a> and <a href=http://www.euronews.net/2011/10/30/snow-threatens-occupy-wall-street-protest/>conditions</a> that were increasingly difficult to tolerate, while the position taken by St. Paul's cathedral regarding the Occupy London protests drew widespread criticism from those inside and outside the church hierarchy, and <a href=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/oct/31/dean-st-pauls-resigns-occupy?newsfeed=true>led to several resignations</a> of high church officials. Here in the U.S., Attorney General Eric Holder <a href=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20127178-10391695/atf-gunwalker-update-eric-holder-to-testify-on-fast-and-furious/>agreed to testify</a> before Congress about the disastrous Federal gun sting "Operation Fast and Furious". And for those RPGers who are interested in what level of craftsmanship is really possible using only human-powered tools, I ran across <a href=http://www.richardsnotes.org/archives/2011/10/26/moroccan-street-vendor-making-chess-pieces/>a remarkable video</a> shot at a Moroccan street vendor's stall demonstrating the use of a bow lathe and hand (foot?) chisel to make chess pieces. The common element for them all is, of course, stand, and that is the word of the week.<br /><br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, vent, skip, and back in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.</div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-33955854143605869522011-10-23T18:27:00.002-04:002011-10-23T18:33:41.609-04:00Expansion Joints, part 31: "Skip" / Flash FearsdayRhythm regulating universal order,<br />primal heartbeats'<br />standing vibrations creating organization,<br />manifesting beauty.<br />Skip? Fatal arrhythmia.<br /><br />*********************************************************************************<br /><br />This is my entry for <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2011/10/expansion-joints-challenge-part-31-skip.html>part 31 of the Expansion Joints Challenge</a> and for <a href=http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/2011/10/flash-fearsdelayed.html>this week's Flash Fearsday</a> 140-character horror challenge.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-44435538570015124092011-10-23T14:50:00.000-04:002011-10-23T19:50:48.245-04:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 32: "Back"<div>When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. This week, I discovered <a href=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/johncassidy/2011/10/top-ten-unlikely-occupy-wall-street-supporters.html>The New Yorker's</a> list of unlikely Occupy Wall Street supporters, a review of the state of current <a href=http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018121847.htm>research on stem cell therapy</a> for spinal cord injury that suggests that human trials should go forward, and <a href=http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/10/20/b-c-scientists-to-use-honeybee-genome-to-reverse-catastrophic-colony-losses/>genetics research</a> aimed at reversing the ongoing collapse of the bee population. And, perhaps of more immediate relevance, I'm returning to post here, so the word of the week is back. <br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, vent, skip, and in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.</div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-79679820654161850482011-10-13T00:12:00.005-04:002011-10-13T00:26:38.462-04:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 31: "Skip"<div>When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. I spent this weekend getting partially caught up on paying work by passing on other semi-essential activities, including writing on the blog - again. Here it is Wednesday already, and I have nothing up yet for the Expansion Joints Challenge, and I haven't glanced at the blogs or even the news in days. No real options at this point but resigning myself to missing a week, or improvising and using this as the relevant happening. Sounds like "skip" may be the word of the week.<br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, fall, and vent, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.</div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-54653359662740697782011-10-09T01:17:00.001-04:002011-10-09T01:23:33.774-04:00Flash Fearsday / Expansion Joints, part 30: Plaguing Your Conscience?Carried forward through pressure,<br />inexorably compelled,<br />reaching critical threshold, dispersing...<br />Vent?!<br />Spreads emotional contagions, too.<br /><br /><br />**************************************************************************************<br /><br /><br />This is my response to part 30 of the Expansion Joints Challenge and to the October 6th 140-character Flash Fearsday horror challenge over at Lunching on Lamias.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-20014023089883180112011-10-05T01:30:00.001-04:002011-10-09T01:01:44.621-04:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 30: "Vent"<div>When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. Here in the US, protesters in <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/04/politics/occupy-wall-street/">New York and in cities around the country</a> continued to give voice to their social and economic grievances, with many complaining that mainstream media coverage of the protests has been perfunctory, dismissive or absent, in contrast to coverage afforded other, less significant news. Indisputably <a href="http://www.volcanodiscovery.com/volcano_news.html">earthshaking news </a> increased around the world this week, with a number of volcanic sites blowing off a great deal more than more than steam. Closer to home, I have now tried several times, unsuccessfully, to publish this week's Expansion Joints, with no luck, and no Blogger explanation for the errors, and it annoys me enough that I am including it here. I appreciate your patience in listening to me rant. Hopefully, Blogger will allow me to publish to the blog shortly. And, perhaps best of all for me, it looks like I'm finally going to get the air conditioning fixed at the house. The word that draws them together? Vent.<br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos</font>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <font style="font-style: italic;">epos </font>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, die, and fall, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.</div>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-32380196571975822132011-09-29T14:36:00.003-04:002011-09-29T14:41:38.441-04:00Expansion Joints, part 29b / Flash FearsdaySpiraling despair paralyzing initiative.<br />Motivation? <br />Illusory abstraction without propulsive momentum.<br />Depression forming!<br />Don't fall in...<br /><br /><br />*************************************************************************************<br /><br />This is a combined response to <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2011/09/expansion-joints-challenge-part-29-fall.html>part 29 of the Expansion Joints Challenge</a> and to the <a href=http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/2011/09/flash-fearsday_29.html>Flash Fearsday</a> horror challenge at Lunching on Lamias.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-17446269525059884172011-09-29T13:48:00.003-04:002011-09-29T14:23:36.082-04:00Expansion Joints, part 29:"Fall"Fallout?!<br />Fall in!<br />Fall back!<br />Don't fall apart, fall behind, or<br />fall into their hands...<br /><br /><br />**************************************************************************************<br /><br />This is my response to part 29 of the <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2011/09/expansion-joints-challenge-part-29-fall.html>Expansion Joints Challenge.</a>Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-25218270693497799822011-09-25T02:49:00.008-04:002011-09-28T08:45:14.638-04:00Expansion Joints Challenge, part 29: "Fall"When this exercise was hosted over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/"> Porky's Expanse!</a>, he always chose the word for the Expanders! challenge based on some relevant happening or theme. It has been a hectic few days at home for me (hence being delayed in getting this up), with several incidents in which family members took tumbles and actually sustained some minor injuries, but an unexpectedly less busy time at work, where my appointment numbers dropped off significantly for no readily apparent reason. The <a href=http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-autumnal-equinox-of-2011>equinox</a> arrived Friday, a planetary event on a scale to put such things back into perspective, ending the southern hemisphere's winter and moving the northern hemisphere, where I reside, into autumn. Its arrival was heralded by declining temperatures, with highs that this week have been reliably below 90 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time since May. And then there's <a href=http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0927/NASA-pinpoints-crash-site-of-fallen-satellite>this.</a> It should come as no surprise, then, that the word of the week is "fall".<br /><br />If you aren't familiar with the Expansion Joints project, it all began over at <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-rogue.html">Porky's Expanse!</a>.<br /><br />The rules are just as they are described over at Porky's: as much narrative as you can cram into fifteen words, one of which must be the word of the week.<br /><br />This can take the form of<br /><br />1. An <i>epyllion</i>,or litle epic, a stand-alone fifteen-word narrative, or<br /><br />2. An <i>epos</i>, or 'epic'. Instead of an independent 15-word story, you can choose to develop someone else's story from a previous week, or extend your own story from week to week. Just write the next installment. If it has 15 words, uses the word of the week, and continues the story, you've done it.<br /><br />There are two important things to think about if you choose <i>epos</i>. First, you should have the permission of the person who wrote the story you will develop. If anyone writes a 15-word <i>epyllion</i> or adds to an <i>epos</i> and is happy for others to develop it later, please say so, with something like 'for use in an epos'. Second, by using specific elements of someone else's story, we technically create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Derivative_work">a derivative work</a>, so it's best to avoid this.<br /><br />There are a number of generous contributors who have given express permission to use some of their writing as the basis for <i>epos</i>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/00604351052444947490">Porky</a>, the founder of the project, offers up <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/search/label/EXPANDERS">all of his contributions.</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/14003947144311887937">GDMNW</a> has opened up the three stories <a href="http://theporkster.blogspot.com/2011/03/expanders-elf.html?showComment=1300033536994#c66347378024559859">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/01557481319925772152">Dave G_Nplusplus</a> makes any of his Expanders! stories available for use in an <span style="font-style: italic;">epos</span>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/11867917898720149258">Arlequin</a> has an <span style="font-style: italic;">epos </span>running on <a href="http://slcwh.blogspot.com/p/expanders.html">his Expanders! page</a>, and he has graciously extended permission to play with any or all of the contributions there.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/profile/07158215811847131189">Andy</a>, over at <a href="http://creepycorridor.blogspot.com/2011/08/wordplay-catching-up.html?showComment=1313040826657#c6426561727573338463">The Creepy Corridor</a>, has also made his epos posts available for expansion.<br /><br />C'nor, at <a href="http://lunchingonlamias.blogspot.com/">Lunching on Lamias</a>, gives consent to use any of his entries, which are partly located on his blog, but mostly strewn throughout the comment threads here.<br /><br />And, as always, feel free to use any of the stories on this blog that are tagged as "Expansion Joints" in an epos.<br /><br />Words that have previously made an appearance in an Expanders!/Expansion Joints include: food, fort, stuff, elf, rogue, pass, fool, hammer, note, temper, table, twisted, missing, sacrifice, spirit, rush, tie, line, free, break, cut, opening, close, shock, balance, field, blow, file, and die, in case you are of an historical bent, or wish to write a complete set.<br /><br />When you've finished writing your entry for this week, either post your 15-word story directly in the comments here, or leave a link in the comments to the blog page where we can find it.Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3589584519526504038.post-19910884682253390822011-09-20T15:41:00.005-04:002011-09-20T16:04:33.003-04:00DieThis is my response to <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/2011/09/expansion-joints-challenge-part-28-die.html>part 28</a> of <a href=http://nineworldstenthousandthings.blogspot.com/search/label/Expansion%20Joints>the Expansion Joints Challenge.</a><br /><br />**************************************************************************************<br />Die?<br />Cast, the aleatoric scythe sculpts boundaries, <br />throws existence, non-existence into perfect relief.<br />Roll again?Jenniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589550267781293462noreply@blogger.com2