Enough!

Damn it! Stop using the word 'iconic'!

More Theory

Not to bring up the video games as art topic again, but here's a decent article on the topic. And here's a quote from it:

Molyneux says he and his crew at Lionhead Studios (now part of Microsoft) take a similar approach to creating games. “Does a painter decide to make art or paint a picture? Does a composer decide to compose a piece of music or make art? Does a film maker want to make a film or art? I think they're more concerned with evoking emotions and creating something meaningful and enduring.

“I set out, especially today, to instill emotions in the people who interact with my games, which are broader and more visual than they have been before,” he explains. “I want players to feel a range of emotions, not just excitement—that is my ambition. If on this basis some critics describe this as artistic, then I will feel like I have succeeded.”

Why must you mail me such things?

Just yesterday, the B A Start household received an adver-mailing citing the following:

Sham-rock Solid Savings!

We have found it -- after years of diligent work, American society has hit upon the platonic ideal of lame marketing.

#1 - Shamrock needs no hyphen. It's a word.
#2 - That being stated, "shamrock solid" makes no sense, but "sham rock solid" implies falseness. This is the point in the brainstorming session where I would have recommended scrapping the idea. I feel for the poor Cassandra who presumably did so in my absence.
#3 - "Rock-solid savings" also makes little sense.

"How were the savings at the store?"
"Oh they were solid. Rock-solid, I say without hyperbole."
"Dear me, that is solid. Rather solid. Perhaps I should go to the store. As the savings are not fluid, I assume I will have a similar experience to yours."
"I should say so. Quite solid, really."

All in all, just shameful.

B A Slow Down

Sorry for the dearth of posts, avid readers. I've had steam on the brain recently, and have started this blog to chronicle mes recherches into the Victorian Era.

Writing fiction set in a past time is presenting some challenges, but I'm finding the limitations to lend a little inspiration now and then. Instead of having to make up all of the "in a world where..." stuff, I can just look it up on Wikipedia. Noice.

Vote Petrelli

I wish I could say I dislike Heroes. That would be a lie.

The show possesses so many of the qualities I dislike. It's cheesy and trite. It mimics X-men more than a little too much. It reinforces racial stereotypes, including that white guys are evil. There are too many plots. They clearly have no idea how it is going to end. They keep getting rid of the characters I like.

And yet...

I mean, I could go the rest of my life without seeing another episode and still feel I have lived fully, but there is simply no chance of that happening. I will watch them all, the TV's blue light reflecting off of my grinning teeth.