Skiing And Sunburn

Been awhile, hasn't it.

By all means, this is an excuse: I've been busy.  On one hand, of course, that's a great thing; I'm getting away from the computer and doing more active things.  On the other hand, I break certain good habits, like this one.

I went skiing with some friends last weekend on a rushed trip.  I barely packed and ended up wholly unprepared.  Of course I know what to bring to the slopes.  I just didn't bring it, lol.  I knew better, and I should have acted better.

Can't wait to feel my face again.

Wear sunscreen.

It was fun otherwise. :-D


I saw an ad offering employment for a "professional skier" in the lodge.  Back when my dad took me to Colorado, I grew so enamored with skiing I vowed to become a professional. (lol)  Seeing this advertisement with "Previous Ability Not Required - We'll Train You!!" sparked that passion again, a little.

I've immediately begun fantasizing about driving up there with half a car full of stuff, the rest of my belongings sold off, getting a one-room house or apartment, and pursuing that goal.  14-hour days training my heart out, Monday through Saturday, hittin' the slopes from sunrise to sunset; recuperating quietly all day Sunday, roasting meat for next week's burritos, reading books and watching movies.

That simplicity entices only my fantasies.  Reality hits me too hard.  Our winters last two months (even at 11,000 feet), I could easily fall prey to a debilitating injury, I probably have a too-elevated interpretation of the ad, and the ever-present concern I'll just blow thousands of dollars and an uprooting of my entire life for a pipe dream.

I probably need a major shift in my attitude just like this, but I can't see this as a wise decision worth risking.  That bugs me, but I admit I'm too comfortable down here, keeping pace with the snails.

Explicit?

I'm watching Berserk and I wonder how explicit and grotesque a show or film needs to be to portray a story well. Berserk is intensely violent and egregiously explicit, yet it's hard to imagine the themes hitting home as well as it does if it were tamer.

Game of Thrones offers superbly intriguing character dynamism, though the amount and expression of cursing and sex could get toned down and detract nothing from the experience.

Mr. Robot has a couple of explicit scenes, a little violence, and some language, but hardly gratuitous, and its message is portrayed meaningfully.

Rome and Spartacus, however, seem crafted with the explicitness as a selling point. Whatever redeeming plot they have is buried under bloody bodies and bulging breasts.

The logical side of me says "No," a great story doesn't require limbs littering a battlefield or a sex scene every episode.  But the intuitive part of me insists "Yes," there's no tamer way to instill the viewer with the intended feelings than with all, or most, of that.  Disregarding the fact it can be implemented proficiently and poorly, I question whether it is necessary at all.

Ninja Scroll showed an x-rated scene that coincidentally elucidated a plot point later on in the movie.  Reading the commentary, the producers said there was no other way to look at it: it was pure fanservice.  So did it need inclusion at all?  Or did they stub their toes on a bit of brilliance?

When writing a story, given the option to include something explicit, which proves better, generally speaking?  To leave it in, or take it out?

Fear, Life, And Free Will

Christopher was great.  Lots of people search him for his brutal rebuttals of religion, but he had so much more to say on politics and philosophy in general.  This short clip encapsulates one of those moments.

Kill 'Em With Kindness

Pertaining to yesterday's blog, I had a very angry, depressed mood, obsessing over someone who managed to pull at my nerves.  Today, I casually waved good-bye to them as I saw them leave, and it occurred to me: be kind, and their power over you vanishes.

Up until that point, I'd been angry and afraid.  But I considered how they'd react if I were nice to them, ...and I can't think of a situation that doesn't end with me still being happy and them either self-destructing or improving themselves in return.

I don't intend this to cause the downfall of another.  My goal isn't to get back at them or retaliate in any way.  I just realized it was the right thing to do, and if they take it as mockery, well, they're wrong, but that's up to them.

There are times, I believe, where the righteous rage of violence is required, such as to pacify a physical threat to human beings.  99% of the time, it is not that time, and this situation wholly falls in that category.  Courtesy and kindness are virtues worth exemplifying.  If I remain pleasant, what does that make my opponent?

Dumbstruck

Something happened today that pertains to the title, but I've more important progress to bring up.

Went to the rec center for fencing and got a great half-hour workout in.  Lots of advancing and retreating, stretching, tip control, and lunges.  Tried the leg-lift support contraption afterwards.  Came out of it with a sweat and sore muscles.  I needed the tension release.

Now I have to learn to stop visiting the deli for fried chicken....

Not-So-Free-To-Play

This past weekend found me throwing 12 hours of my life at a Facebook-level, free-to-play, strategy game.  I fell for the pretty visuals and interesting premise.  It turns out to be dumb as rocks and a waste of brain space, but I plodded through to level 20 'cause I adore accruing meaningless experience points.

Drift0r on YouTube posted a good video sharing his thoughts on free-to-play titles.  While you don't invest money, you do invest your time.  Every minute you spend in a match or collecting resources is a minute you've donated to that game's developers.

"Free" is a ridiculous concept.  Everything has a cost.  We fear costs of money, sometimes of opportunity, and rarely of time.  Large investments appear greater and more fearsome than they really are; small, bite-sized donations seem trivial, but add up quickly.

Once again, I'm learning it's not how much you have, it's how you use it.

"Homefront"

If you've seen "Homefront" with Jason Statham, that's basically what I've been fearing the past few days.  I've been away from this computer during that time.  I hope to God I'm overreacting.  Thoughts and prayers are welcomed.