Nice wall you have there.

The journal of Isabella Two Water,
Lady of the Keep

It was a year ago today that we were first attacked by the lich.

We have not ascertained it's port yet, but it does have one.

The scouts report of finding the bones that speak of lost battles where none were before.

There are many tales of it's ghost ship sitting off coast moments before whole villages are slaughtered.

Trade ships vanish on moonless nights and not a soul returns.

No wreckage found.

It is said to glide mastless through the night.

All rumors and hearsay, but they are so numerous there must be some truth buried in them.

I remember the night two falls past at the new outer walls.

  A great deformed giant stepped out of the darkness and began bashing against the walls of the outer defenses.

The guard mobilized slowly.  Months of quiet and a cool night with warm fires and full bellies often make fresh cadets forget what it means to be on duty.

It is no small blessing that despite these impediments the defenders were quick to their tasks.

   The deformed giant bashed away at the walls as the steamer stepped around the corner and began sawing away at it.   The first explosion struck the tower, sending shards of lumber burning into the night.  Several of the guard were caught in the blast but where able to get clear as the burning form of the deformed giant fell against the wall.
The captain, piloting the lumber yards steamer, caught sight of the crude orcan powder canisters strapped to a collar around it's neck.  Quick thinking the Captain took heaved the giant into a nearby hillside.

The only alert we had to the attack was an explorer examining a crevasse they had discovered some weeks previous.  The masons had just finished laying the ground work for a massive stone door hours earlier when the workers shoring the interior came screaming from it's confines. One of the guardsman showed particular courage by leading two of his cohort into the dark confines of the corridor and into massing goblin forces.

Above ground fire balls lit up the night and started wild fires in the tree line.  It pushed  the defenses back a few yards but the after math of the battle provided excuse to have the merchants who move in and out of the ports to pay a slightly higher tax over the following summer.

The young guardsman that cleared the tunnels was awarded with his own command over a small hill top north and west of the city.  The construction of the tower goes slowly, but a small regiment stays camped near it's walls while the workers winter in the city.

It is important to note that with the reconstruction of the new tower walls to replace those burned in the battle afforded the scouts the ability to find where the ship had docked and figure out how it slipped so silently into the night.

It has been months since any sightings of the the phantom ship.

One of the garrisons lieutenants was caught in a blast manning  a catapult on the hilltop.
A stalwart fellow says that  sensed necrotic magic that evening and feels a similar presence blowing on the winter winds.

Shut down complete.

Well, that was strangely cathartic and terrifying at the same time.
After trying to reconnect with old friends and looking over my facebook page yesterday I realized that that site, for me, was just holding on to a past life that doesn't exist anymore.
Facebook is neat.
But you know.
It didn't matter.
I opened it originally to reconnect with old friends.
It did the opposite of that.
Drove my old friends away, made a few new friends.
But mostly it was a professional side of me that really doesn't exist anymore.
A side of me that I want back.
But in light of my own life and choices.
The fact that another life long goal, rather than becoming the career that I had hoped it would be was only so much ash in my mouth.
So many lies and hidden agendas and fake people.
That's why I stayed at the library rather than pursuing a career in the theater in this valley.
Because the library was real, the library was genuine.
The world of photo shots, models, relative success, and living comfortably.
Well all of that, that's was the dream.
Now the dream.
Is just to live in peace somewhere.
Maybe have a little cafe or shop in a small town where the locals only know me as the Sandwich guy making perfectly ordinary beast sandwiches.
Then foraying out in costume to go and do and be a real life superhero again.

Because hiding in my fortress of solitude is no longer an option.

So long facebooks, catch you on the flip flops.

~End Transmission.

Time keeps on slipping...

Slipping....into the future.

Yup.

My writing is starting to make the beautiful slide from, hey look at me to, hey look at this.
Neat.

Kids man.
They bring out the best in this old junk yard dog.
Should I have my own?
Probably not.
I like playing with them.
Teaching them things.
Showing them what's up.
But I'm still a little to selfish for them.
Selfish for myself.
But if the right one came along and asked the right questions in the right way I'd be convinced.
But those sort of conversations don't happen over night.
Or a couple of nights.

But at the end of the day.
What do we do?
Nothing yet.
Still pulling things together.
Notes, guildies, plans.

Last time I tried this, the pulling things together bit, I informed my guildies and trusted allies that I still had a lot of homework and growing to do.

Well kiddos.  I've grown, a bit, but not much.  Did my homework though.  More of it than I"d have liked. But did it.
So it's time to unite.
Build a New Guild Hall.
Set up shop and then retire to Vallhalla and feast until Ragnarok.
Are ya'all ready.
I sure as hell am.

Gotta muster the troops and fight the good fight first.
Cheese and crackers Ace. What are we doing this time?
Same thing we do every day Brian.
Try to take over the world.

~End Transmission 

Old tricks, new dog.

This is odd.
Using my blog to retrain my left hand is frustrating to say the least.
I broke it at work a few years ago.
Clever me fixed the bone, but never rehabbed the hand as well as I should have.
So,  there's that.
I've built up a fair amount of strength.
But as this frustratingly laborious piece suggests; I have failed to do it adequately enough to make this current form of input an acceptable means of communication.
On the other hand...Ha, I have my phone set up like a tricorder.

So that's kind of nice.

It might be good to have a fun topic next time to.
I'm crap at picking those.
But.
At least I can be honest when I say that I usually...well...sometimes, know what I'm doing.

It is easier to talk to my phone now, which is nice.

But still weird since I'm a little gun shy about dictation.

Speaking my thoughts comes naturally, doing it kindly does not.

So, then.
Where do I go from there?
Usually I follow the lead of my dance partner.
Let them steer the topic.
And respond accordingly.
Problem is, I can be bullhead ed and often interrupt...I've been practicing.
Learning to be more communicative.
Less opaque.
And more up front.
Still working on all of that.
But I'm getting better.
Hell, I'm even getting better at speaking aloud again.
I've always felt more at home behind a keyboard than speaking aloud.
And felt safer moving than sitting still.
So...yeah...akwerd sauce to say the least.

I'm getting better at not breaking character though.  It helps to have motivation.

Well. My hand is starting to ache.
So, from that I should start wrapping this up.
Stay safe out there disco kittens.

End Transmission

Thanking for Thinking

Yay holidays!

Well it's been one of those years I guess.

The kind where the world shudders to a halt and holds it's breath for the events to come.
And if the beginning of the holiday season is any indication of how the new year is going to ring it's self in then...well...it might be better for me to duck and cover than run at the holidays with any fervor.

Long story short...staying where I'm at is not an option.
Jobs I want are not hiring, jobs available don't pay enough, and then of course there's the whole thing about not having any formal degrees.
Gad that's annoying.
Did the math on the school part.  
Unless I get a full on scholarship, grant, or some other sort of thing there's no way I can make earning a college degree profitable with my age and the costs of higher education, while still trying to find ways to pay the bills.

"You're supposed to work hard for your education so that you can get a job."
"No...jeeze.  Haven't ya'll figured this out yet?"  

Education is needed to prepare for a job.
Not to do the job.
Higher Education is for those that wish to continue learning/studying.
Not work.
Colleges and Universities aren't about learning to do jobs. (mostly)
They're about networking and meeting the people you might be doing some of these jobs with or for.
It's silly.

Bitter much?
This guy?
Na.
Just a chip on my shoulder the size of an aircraft carrier and no way to brush it off.

Back to Business

What am I going to be writing on this thing over the next few weeks?
Not a clue.
I have a lot of ideas bouncing around in my brain pan, but nothing concrete and mostly only achievable on my own.
I've got a lot of notes for stories and topics and the like.
Rough drafts here and there.
But there in lies the problem.
I can spend weeks tapping away at these keys with proper motivation and completely loose track of time.
But there's the thing.
Motivation.
Writing things that people will never read is fun and all but I have mountains of that already.

So....I guess...for a little while.
Daily musing like this.
Non-sequitur rantings on whatever the topic of the day is.

Assuming of course I stop moving long enough to sit down in front of my keyboard to hammer out something worthwhile.

Goals for the Next Year?
Find an Editor for my writing and maybe publish something.


Relocate and restart..
Why this one?
It's weird.
Every time I live somewhere long enough that people start noticing me for any reason I start feeling uncomfortable.
Because I feel like I'm not living up to the potential I could.
Or not worthy of whatever accolades might be set in front of me.
Or the place just isn't safe for myself or my friends.
Or all of the above a
Or one of a million other reasons insecure people decide to run for the hills rather than stay in the rut of the day to day.

So what's the plan?
 The real plan for the coming year?
Regardless of who's with, against, or indifferent to my actions and motivations...

"A captains goal is simple: find a crew, find a job, keep flying."

~End Transmission~

The Old Part

How many pages have I typed that never saw daylight?

How many idle conversations had with myself as such?

How many of them without paper in the typewriter?

More than a lot but less than a few.

After these messages...we'll be right back.

Pew.

Curiosity Killed the Cat

So.
My stance on Islam.
In other words.
My stance on Religion.
The one thing that I learned about Mohammad.
From the texts.
To the followers.
To the American People.

"He was a warrior that let his sword sit long enough for his pen to become sharp."

"How did he Pass?"

"I do not know."

"It is none of my business."

"Mine is listening."

"And accepting."

"When sheltering from a storm."

"The hope is for;
Food.
Water.
Shelter."

"And maybe a story to listen to/tell."


Now.

Ask me why I am "unwilling" to listen to the language of my "enemy?"
Before I answer.
I will ask you what he said.
Then ask him to show me.

Cutting Mustard.

Going by today's popular "judicial" standards and following it's logic for the next president.
52% of the Vote : Conflict of interest does not enter into the equation.
42% of the Vote : Compartmentalizing makes you a bad person.
The squidgy middle?
Constitutionally there should be a re-vote.
Following the standards of the two existing candidates and what is implied by history and the ends justifying the means Michelle Obama would be the Rightful "heir" to the "throne" and everyone would "rejoice".

Realistically.
If there is enough conflict of interest in such a decision then the third branch of the balancing act should step in and decide final judgment.
In which case.
This ass wholes opinion would be to veto the whole damned thing and call the re-vote.
Make sure ALL of the prison population is allowed to vote.
Make sure ALL of the branches of government have a vote.
Which means: 4th estate "pick" a "rock-star" or a "nobody" the "explain" the issues.
After that we "go" to "war"


So.
If you pay taxes.
Or that has been taken away from you because of situation or religious belief.
Or want to eat another meal.
Do NOT Riot.
Do NOT protest.
Do NOT congregate.

STAY HOME
Have a meal with your family and let everyone else do the same.


Have your accountant figure out how to make that happen would ya?
Like a last meal sort of thing.
But instead of just some people doing it.
All the people do it.
The tweet heard round the world.
Except that there wasn't one.
No tweets.
No googles.
No elections.
The "world" goes "dark" for 24 hours.
To honor everyone that has lost someone.
Just be smart about it.
Make sure you have a safe fire.
Or plenty of flashlights.
Just sit in the dark.
Talk to your neighbor.
Or Not.
Your choice.
But here's the real choice.
Anyway you cut the mustard.
A flood is always going to come.
A flood of friends.
A flood of enemies.
A flood food.
A flood of famine.
A flood of water.
A flood of vermin.
A flood of fire.
But here's the answer folks.
42.
Here's the question.
Who wants to be safe?
So.
Thanksgiving day.
Vote.
Stay home.
Turn the lights off for.
24 hours.
Honor the history of the world.
Don't add.
Don't subtract.
Just Play.
And if you have to to avoid a nuclear meltdown or some such other nonsense.
Let folks know so that they can play your favorite song while you do what ever it is that makes you feel safe.
But if making you feel safe means shooting other people or blowing them up...don't.
Go home.
Have a meal.
Take a shower.
Play a friends favorite song.
Or not.
You know.
Your choice.
But at the end of the day.
Ask the space station how many lights are on.
Then ask them how many songs are playing.
Space People.
Point a microphone down at the world will ya?
Or two.
Or twenty.
And a camera or three.
Then make a copy.
Post it on the you tubes or what ever.
At the end of the day.
Take a copy.
Shoot that damned thing at the sun.
Then,
And here is the really important part.
The fine print.
Shoot another copy as far out into the stars as you can make it go.
We'll do the same down here.
After that we'll figure out how to get the biggest damn supply run the world has ever seen.
And regular replacements.
Then hope that those are the only "shots fired" actually at anyone in WWIII.
Ones that we don't want to catch up with.
Or to have catch up with us.
'cause.
Propaganda Kills.
After that.
Hold My Beer.
'cause.
I've got an idea.
That might.
Really.
"Save the World"
Then.
At the end of the "day".
"We" vote.

"That's Commie thinkin."
"No"
"It's Capitalist thinking."
"Ahh."
"He's conserving his most natural resource."
"His constituency."
"How does that count?"
"10 to 1"
"What?"
"They already know how to line up for a meal."
"That's...."
"Racist."
"Racist?"
"Yeah."
"How the hell else do you get a fair vote?"
"Fair?"
"To "symbolically" "make up" "for" "history""
"You bastard."
"Dunno, Don't care."
"Why not?"
"Because fire light will show the music."
"Sun light will show the safety"
"Electrical Lights will play 1 song."
"We shall use our wisdom to decide who is safe to eat with."
"Darkness will show where help is needed.
"Wanted."
"Left the hell alone.
"Or wants to go shoot "things"."
"What song?"
"We'll find out at the end of the day."
"Huh"
"Cause on "black friday"."
"Twitter Might Crash."
"Why Black Friday?"
"Cause only emergencies will be reported."
"Food shortages."
"Outbreaks"
"Medical Emergencies"
"Then What"
"Then we bring the troops home."
"What?"
"Yep."
"Then what?"
"1 cop to three doctors."
"What?"
"Why?"
"Ceasefire agreement"
"On the 24 hour news cycle"
"Paparazzi"
"Propaganda"
"Bombings"
"Whoa."
"What Then?"
""We" rebuild."
"Who's "We"."
"Who's everybody?"
"Everybody."
"Then what?"
"We make a shit load of trains."
 "and a shitload of rockets",
"and a shitload of boats"
" and a shit load of foods."
" Sort out the "trash""
"Then, send that "shit" into lunar orbit"
"Then send a shit load of people"
"Why?"
"To sort the trash."
"Then make a shit load of houses out of the trash."
"Really."
"Really."
"What if the first "starship" enterprise was the first Enterprise?"
"One baby piece at a time."
"Battle star Galactca anyone?"
"The fuck....?"
"You're crazy."
"What else are we going to call the first galactic sport?"
"History."
"History?"
"In space."
"In space?"
"Holy shit."
"Yeah."
"Question."
"Question?"
"How do we do it safely?"
"NASA?"
"...."
"NASA."
"...."
"NASA."
"Wake up."
"...what?"
"Time to work."
"Shit."
"Whadda I do?"
"Everything."
"You're insane you know that right?"
"Yep."
"...."
"I hate you."
"I love you."
"I was having a good nap too."
"Yeah well. You can have a nap again in a few years."
"How many's a few?"
"We'll see."
"What?"
"What's the Payload?
"This..."
"....."
">_<"
"O.O"
"o.o;"
"You are insane."
"Here's your budget."
"You're joking."
"No."
"You are going to get yourself shot."
"Maybe."
"But you won't."
"How long do "We" have."
"About 4 years."
"....what...."
"All you have to do is prove it."
"...what then..."
"Then hopefully you get 4 more years."
"Bastard."
"Be careful what you "wish" for there "Aladdin""
"Shit."
"Yup."
"Shit."
"Hee..=0P"
"Bastard."
"What?"
"If it doesn't work."
"I'm the one that gets shot."
"No."
"...."
"I am."
"Thanks."

One more thing.
Call the power company first.
Tell them to get ready to take a load off.
Power company.
Let the people know where you can't turn it off.
Those are safe zones.
Doctors, nurses, emergency services.
I'm sorry.
Be ready.
You're about to get a whole lot more students.
Because the fences are coming down.
Correctional officers.
Start making your most honest lists.
I'm sorry.
But if someone is deemed that dangerous.


Day 1
In the White House.
Start drafting plans for new White House.

Day 366 Hour 1
In new White House.
Set the new clock to noon.
Begin drafting plans for new National Archives

Day 731 Hour 2
Begin Drafting Plans for new trade agreement to submit to ALL global leaders.

Day 1519 Hour 3
Sign agreement for "Post office 1".

Day 1521 Hour 4
Sign agreement for "Post Office 2-500"

Day 1901 Hour 5
"Break Ground on Platform 1"

Day  2266  Hour 6
"Pop 1 Balloon"

Day 2555  Hour 7
"Meet on Post Office 1"

Day 2920 Hour 8
"Turn off the lights"

Day 2556 Noon
"Let someone else try."

Day 2557 Midnight
"Hang up Robot Fists"

Day 2558
"Hope they make it."


Plan B
Hold on and hope for the best but plan for the worst.

~End Transmission~

AB : Automotive Diagnostics

Vroom!
One thing that you’ll figure out about me is that I have some sharp freakin ears.  Dunno how to accurately portray that, but let me give you an example that is actually on topic.

When I hear an engine operating I can tell you if it working properly or not.   Just by listening.  A lot of people that work around engines regularly can do this.  But...I dunno. It’s just easy for me.  One thing people say to me a lot is “how did you even hear that?”  And I just kind of shrug and go back to listening to the world around me.  

          And aside from the hearing things, hee,  I think fixing a car describes how I usually interact with the world.  Which is to say: Carefully.  
I’ve been driving since I was a kid (see : stuff) Having learned on and around the farm long before I was legally allowed to drive on public streets I’m pretty comfy behind the wheel of most anything that moves.  

"How do I tell if it sounds bad?"

 Ask anyone that works with engines and other mechanical things what the difference between a good and bad sound for moving parts is.  Scraping, grinding, even something spinning too fast without proper resistance all have distinct sounds depending on material and level of degradation.   It helps considerably with figuring a problem out by observing the motion to see where the system is catching and using the noise to pinpoint it’s location.   

    From there it’s a simple matter or sussing out exactly which bit isn’t working properly.  Removing that offender and then either replacing or fixing that piece. Then putting it back.  

Sounds easy enough, but I’ve had enough scraped knuckles, cramped hands, and smooshed fingers to tell you that  saying “Remove and Replace” is...a little more difficult in action than those two words suggest.  
 But if the problem is in a workable place it really is that easy.

For me at least.

…..

I sometimes forget that I’m a little odd in that regard.  

“If you can fix things so easily why don’t you? “
“Do you want to be at fault if it breaks again? Because no matter how good my repairs; if someone breaks it again they blame it on the repair guy. "Even if the new break is completely unrelated?”
"Even if the new break is unrelated." 

AB : Architecture

23   Originally Published 11/2/16
Growing up around contractors and day laborers you learn how to do a couple of things.  And if you’re a kid with no where better to be and likes hanging out around construction sites you can also learn how to build a house.  Starting from a flat piece of untouched land and ending with a home.  Earlier in the history of the this fine nation it was considered required knowledge for any “right thinking man” to have.  But now…?   
When was the last time you fixed your own leaky sink or replaced the fuse box of your home.   I’d wager more than half of the folks out there never have done either or would not  know where to start.  Either by circumstance (not having a fuse box or sink) or lack of need.  (I’ll call the repair guy.)

       But that’s not what makes me count Architecture as a skill in my wheelhouse.  

First, not what I did first but it’s a good place to start if you’re looking for a way to jump in, read
The PIllars of Earth.” By Nick Follette.  It’s a heavy read and can be less than riveting if you’re not into historical fiction, but….it is historical.  It talks a lot about the “why” and “how” of building.  How was it done?  Why was it done?

Now take that, do all of the necessary due diligence on construction materials, environmental needs, and construction scaling.   (Scaling your building materials and designs to fit the place of construction.) and then go “read” the world.  

“Reading the World” on a topic,

In my mind, means keeping a topic at the forefront of my mind as I observe the world around me.   Through these observations I can apply perspectives to things that may not be usually associated with a given topic.

Like looking at a park as a form of architecture. Or seeing what architectural principles a child uses intrinsically while playing with blocks.  


While “reading the world” for architecture yourself I recommend; Crawling on, around, and through any building people will let you, and then find pictures of the ones you can’t.  If there is a strange building material associated in a photos description, or the structure you are observing doesn’t allow physical interaction for one reason or another, try to find something else made of that material to touch and handle.   

Nothing tells you more about the density, stability, and structure of an object like running your hands over it.  Sure there are a myriad of tests and observations one can make with tools and other instrumentation.  To feel the texture of a stone and know that it is heavy or light.  Dense or aerated. All figured in less than the blink of an eye. Brains are neat.

Note: the human brain is one of the most amazing tools of observation that anyone has.   After holding a piece of concrete most people and animals can figure out that a large piece of that material falling on them or coming at them with speed will, at the very least, not be something that they want to experience the impact of if it can be avoided.  
And these considerations and conclusions are all drawn without knowing how much concrete is in a structure, what the exact weight of a falling piece might be, or actually having seen a piece of concrete strike someone with force. The brain makes those calculations, considerations, and runs through the possibilities without foreknowledge or prompting.  Then taking those calculations and considerations the body “knows” to move out from underneath a precariously perched  piece of stone.  

All without knowing what, exactly, concrete is. Or knowing what kind of sand was used in the mixing. Or any of the other details that can better define the piece concrete in your hand.

AB: Applied Physics

20

Have you ever thrown a ball?  

Have you ever driven a car?

Have you ever seen ice cream melt?

          Have you ever felt the rain fall?

Then you have participated in applied physics.

          Physics was something that, for me, came on the tail of astronomy.  Mostly because of an attempt to figure out why planets have orbits I did a mountain of research that led me to Newton and his colleagues.  

Theoretical physics is fun sure.  Lots of amazing thought puzzles being chewed over by some of the best brains humanity has to offer.   But I am an applied man.  Applied theories and hypotheses are, proven on the daily and are where you find the “laws”.  Not the “what if” game required for the theoreticals.  Ask me what equation to use and I’ll look at you with a blank expression.
Ask me to solve an equation and I’ll ask for a few days.  

Ask me the laws of Thermodynamics and I will tell you that
“Fire is hot.” - “Fire Burns” - “Farts stink”

And that sums up most everything you need to know.  Of course you need to know the why’s of those statements. But that’s where the homework comes in, and I don't make a habit of doing other peoples homework. Help them? Sure. Point them in the right Direction? Definitely.
Read the book for them and tell them what is says? No.
And that's what makes me a Librarian. "But I can't read." "Then here's a movie." "But I can't see." "Here's the audio version." "...but why won't you do my homework for me?"
"Because I won't tell you what to think."
"But I'll listen to what you think and tell you what I think."
"You will.?" "Yeah...but after the work is done."