S.J. Reisner's Blog, page 67

#EDCMOOC Film Discussion: My Thoughts

Film 1: Bendito Machine III

What is this film suggesting are the ecological and social implications of an obsession or fixation on technology? Do the film’s characters have any choice in relation to their technologies? What are the characteristics of various technologies as portrayed in this film?

The film’s characters here seem mesmerized by the technology, as if they don’t even realize it’s taken over their lives. It’s become such an integral part of their socializing and even their worship,...

#EDCMOOC Idiocracy: A Dystopian Technology Story

It seemsthere are quite a few films that are actually dystopian stories about technology gone awry. I was initially torn between discussing Terminator where we make the machines so smart, they take over, or Idiocracy, where the machines do everything, people become dependent on them, and as a result the people become stupid.I think I’ll choose Idiocracy. Idiocracy is, by far, a more likely scenario, though let’s hope not. In the movie, a modern man of average intelligence is sent into the fut...

Anticipation Of…

So while I am never short of book, novel and story projects, sometimes I lack forblogging topics. I don’t want to be trite and lament on the same things over and over again. That’s why I signed up for another year with the Merry Go Round Blog Tour! This month I would like to talk about anticipation.

Not anticipation with regard to getting a book published or holding the final product in my hands. No. While I look forward to those things, they no longer excite me like they once did. Once I’m fi...

Planty Goodness

So today I realized I hadn’t done a blog update on all the plants. Some plants are doing great, others are cranky with me. Let’s start with the veggies. The lettuce has all been eaten. Believe it or not, two lettuce plants provided us with about four good sized salads. The tomatoes are just starting to flower. The bell pepper plants, however, have little baby peppers on them! Very excited about this. Tons of flowers, too. This is probably one of the best crops of indoor peppers I’ve ever had....

#edcmooc Can Online Learning Be Overwhelming?

I think this is a very real concern. In all the pre-course prep I’ve watched fellow learners build everything from Wiki’s, Twitter accounts, YouTube accounts and blogs, to Google Plus groups, Facebook groups, and everything else. What I found even more interesting is that I already had accounts in place to take advantage of all of these things. It made me realize just how much I already utilize all these social networks and sharing mediums in my day-to-day life and how little I used them when...

Writing Orgs & Their Purpose

I have belonged to numerous writing organizations over the years. Many of them serve a good purpose. For example, RMFW, the state fiction writer’s association, was a great organization when I was first starting out. It still is, but it was more useful to mewhen I first started on my journey to become a professional novelist.The organization itself offered a lot of support, crit groups, and the opportunity to chat with other writers. Not to mention they have a wonderfulconference every year. A...

Short Fiction Prompts

Lately I’ve been paying attention to calls for submissions on short fiction. Especially anthologies. I only pay attentionto theunique or funanthology topics like sci-fi erotica or paranormal horror. For fun, I’ve been using theseanthology guidelines as writing prompts. Oncemy little stories arefinished Isubmit them.I don’t expect them to make it. The competition in the short fiction market is stiff. There are A LOT ofgood writers out there and you can bet just about every one of them is submi...

The Process of Initiations

Our spiritual paths are constantly changing to reflect anew understanding or our needs at the time. As a matter-of-fact I contend that it’s practically impossible to not change ona regular basis (spiritually-speaking). It’s also difficult to remain in a magickal stalemate if you’re actually doing the work and practicing.

For those of you who know me, you know that I don’t often talk about my magickal work online. Usually because it’s personal or I’m in the midst of something and I just haven’t...

Writers Who Wear Blue Stockings Get More Done…

Okay, the title of this post is somewhat misleading. However, it perfectly illustrates the point of this post, which wasinspired byanother silly comment I overheard. Or is that oversaw?

I sometimes wonder why I hang out on writing sites. Some of them are good. Some of them are bizarre. I lurk a lot so I hear things. Funny things. Strange things.

This week’s bizarre overheard statement was that people who write while having a day job don’t write as well as those who write full-time.

I absolutely...

Asmodai

Just a fun factoid: My header pic this week (and last)is the Asmodai (Asmodeus from Collin DePlancy’s Dictionnaire Infernal). As it was explained to me during my apprenticeship, three headed, the Asmodai (desires)are Asmoday, Asmodeus, and Amducius. Three aspects of a similar motivating force. Asmodeus is sexual desire. Amducius is desire for vengeance/wrath. Asmoday isdesire for wealth/success.

Of course for thoseof you who are hard-nosed scholars, you can always google it and read the Wikipe...