Matthew S. Williams's Blog, page 169

Obama Wins!

Yeah, I know I promised not to get into politics much on this site, but that’s a promise I’ve broken enough times now that I feel no one will be particularly surprised or disappointed. And as we all know, there are certain occasions which require us to break our usual set of rules and offer comment. And this is one occassion that I’m happy to talk about, even though it really didn’t come as that much of a surprise.

OBAMA HAS BEEN REELECTED!

That news is so positive that it deserves its own line and in all caps! And yes, all indications seemed to point to him winning a second term, but like many supporters, I was kind of holding my breath last night as the initial returns came in. It was a lucky thing that I had TKD class night, and that it was a sparring class. It was just the positive distraction I needed! And by the time I came home, I had heard that enough returns were in and that enough states were called that Obama could be declared the winner! It still took some time before all the votes were tabulated and it was also revealed that he carried the popular vote, but by then, the good news was complete!

And, as behooves me on this site, I can’t help but wonder (and speculate) how this will impact on our future. Needless to say, I am a lot more encouraged than I was a year ago, back when Obama was struggling to try and get a budget approved by a Congress that refused to even consider one unless be included steep austerity measures and made tax cuts permanent. It seemed that the GOP, which was fast becoming dominated by the Tea Party, had effectively been cornered by the same forces they helped create. It seemed entirely likely at this point that the government might actually fall, or at least it’s economy would collapse. Of course, disaster was averted, but not without consequences in the short term (the downgrading of America’s investment rating).

I seriously began to wonder at this point if a hard swing to the right was in our collective future. With Europe beginning to slip to the right thanks to their economy, immigration issues and the ongoing problems of climate change, all this news from south of the border began to trouble me. If both the EU and the US were to fall under the grips or right-wing parties, we would be seeing a political climate not unlike that of the 1930′s. Back then economic collapse had led to the rise of Fascism all over Europe, not just in Germany and Italy as is often maintained. And in this day and age, we could expect that to be followed by serious humanitarian crisis as the various states of the EU began deploying gunships to the Mediterranean to sink boats filled with refugees and began clamping down on ethnic minorities at home.

Unlike in the 1930′s, where the targets of discrimination and even wholesale murder were people of Jewish descent, followed by Roma, gays and lesbians and Slavs, this time around,t he likely targets were likely to be people from North Africa, the Middle East, and West Asia. Meanwhile, we could expect similar sentiments to take root in the US against people of Latino descent. We had already seen much of this take place during the Bush administration with the building of the border along the US-Mexico border and attempts to pass anti-illegal immigrant legislation. And in more recent years, it achieved a sort of breakout with the passage of SB 107 in Arizona – which made it perfectly legal for police to arrest any Latino resident who could not produce documentation of residence.

Initially, I was angry and nervous. It seemed to me that the GOP was intent on bringing the house down, that their commitment to make Obama fail that they did not care what happened to their country in the process. As long as it happened on his watch, they figured he would get the blame. But at the same time, I kind of pitied them as well. It was clear that they had unleashed a tidal wave that they couldn’t control, and were trapped in it as much as they were riding it. After the 2008 election, they had become the party of “libertarianism”, condemning big government, spending, taxes, and any and all legislation on the economy. Unfortunately, this put them at odds with just about everything they needed to support to help the economy recover.

Needless to say, things got better, and the election seemed to be cinched in advance by a number of factors. First, there was the fact that during the primaries, all the GOP candidates seemed hamstrung by all the extreme right-wing sentiments they were expected to endorse. one of these were likely to play well with all the moderates and undecideds. Second, there was Romney’s embarrassing gaffs as he traveled abroad and alienated everyone on his tour. He attempted to prove that he was a man who could handle foreign relations, but proved the exact opposite. Then there was Paul Ryan, a right-winger who proved to be at once too popular with his base and too extreme with the voters who sought the approval of. And finally, there was Hurricane Sandy, which made him look like a flip-flopper when it came the importance of such federal agencies as FEMA.

All the while, Obama was looking sturdy, even though he was being hampered by the terrorist attack in Benghazi, his initial performance in the debates, and the ongoing question of the economy. However, when the chips were down, he showed himself to be a man who could be counted on, and even won over such die-hards as New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Between that and the fact that economy was beginning to recover on his watch, the election seemed in the bag.

And to quote Obama’s victory speech, “The best is yet to come.” I certainly hope so. It’s not just a question of recovery int he short run. There are a lot of things at stake here, not the least of which is the future of America and indeed the world. For the last thirty years now, there has been a struggle for the heart and soul of America, at the core of which seems to be the issue of decline. America, like it or not, is no longer in ascendance, and is faced with the myriad problem of global climate change which may exacerbate that problem very soon. If the nation and the world is to survive and come through as winners, then enlightened reform and stable leadership are what’s needed. The last thing that can be allowed to happen is a hard swing to the right, more austerity measures, and more of the same.

It has always been the reaction of empires and civilizations that have found themselves in decline to react with stringent conservative measures – more war, more sacrifice, more repression, more religious zeal – and that has only ever hastened the problem. That might sound a bit dramatic, but I’m a historian, so trust me when I say that I know what I’m talking about. And as Ronald Wright says, “Every time history repeats itself, the price goes up.” Despite the persistence of old boundaries, our world has become a global state, interconnected like never before in our history. We stand or fall together, and cannot afford to act selfish, regressionist, or that our needs super cede those of others.

So I say congratulations America on making the right choice. Enlightened reform won out against old world thinking and denial. Now let’s all get to work on making things happen and check the ideological obstructions at the door!

Etemenanki – Chapter 1

Welcome to the first chapter in my NaNoWriMo entry for 2012. Six days into the challenge, I have finally managed to take up the challenge, as well as do the little things like set an account and fill in all the requisite forms. I tell ya, there’s a lot of work just participating in this project, and that’s on top of the task of writing a 50,000 word novel in one month! But I’m all set, and like I said yesterday, I already have a few words banged out!

And so, here is the first chapter, completed and made proper with the help of some quick edits and my favorite method for writing. In order to be consistent and up-to-date, I plan to release a chapter a day until this novel and this challenge is finished. According to NaNoWriMo’s site, I just need to generate 2000 words a day in order to finish it on time. 2000 words, huh? No problem! I write that amount by diner time, and that’s when I’m not putting in insomniac hours!

Actually, I kind of worried, can you tell? 2000 words a day at this point on top of my other duties is a tall order. But as my grandpa used to say, “Lord hates a coward”. So here I go. And here you go, with the first chapter of Etemenanki. Enjoy!

*                     *                     *

Sunlight danced along the overhead rafters, painting the mossy entanglements in a strange glow. It was during the peak hours of the late morning, when illumination entered the tower from almost directly above, and the fluted upper levels of the crystal mansions did some rather interesting and wonderful things with the captured photons.

Birds flocked from one spot to the next in the enclosure, securing seeds from the budding trees and plants, or just picking up feed pellets from the many dispensers that dotted the greenscape. In the far distance, the heads of various furry critters could even be spotted, their sky eyes popping out into the open to take stock of all the intruders in their lair.

Meanwhile, the procession stood silently as the Chaplain spoke the final words and everyone hung their heads in mourning. Few appeared particularly broken up by the somber occasion, but there was scarcely a face amongst them that wasn’t moved and troubled by it.

In truth, the only one who seemed particularly saddened by it by was the widow, a woman whom the programs stated was Michelle Rainlin, M.Eng and citizen of Etemenanki. But to Michael, she was just carried the troublesome moniker of mother. She appeared quite blackened by the specter of her late husband being lowered into the ground, but maintained her stoic expression for the duration of the Chaplain’s speech.

“We are gathered here today to honor the life and mourn the death of Octavia E Rainlin,” he said. “A true citizen of this great city, and a man who did not fail to leave a lasting mark on those closest to him.”

You don’t know the half of it, Chaplain, Michael thought.

“His departure from our great city leaves a vaccuum which shall not be easily filled. In his wake, he leaves behind many friends, peers and colleagues, as well as a loving wife, a dedicated son…” Michael felt the sting of eyes look to his mother, and then him, wondered what they had to think of those words. “…and a reputation for excellence in his field. He shall be sorely missed.”

The Chaplain waved his hand and the cask began to lower into the ground. The sound of whirring servo motors hummed through the ground, and the din of processors getting ready to receive the body. When it slipped beneath the ground, Earth filled the hole where it had disappeared and the greenery seemed to stick itself back together, converging onto a single point in the middle and swallowing up all traces of his father’s casket.

“And in fulfillment of his final duty as a citizen, Octavio’s body is now commended to IRIS, where it shall serve to sustain our plants, our ecology, and our livelihood for many years to come. The flesh is rightfully committed to the system, but the soul shall be live on in all of us. Blessings be, in the name of our Father…”

“Blessings be,” said the procession. Michael muttered the words as well. The Chaplain made a circular gesture in the air, pointed down to the grave, and then touched his head, bowing it ceremoniously in reverence. When he raised it, everyone knew that the service had officially ended and broke from their formation around the departed’s final resting place. Conversations soon ensued, and little by little, everyone came around to share words of comfort with the widow and son.

“Our condolences,” most said, staying only long enough to convey those words and token issues of support. There were many in attendance, so no one lingered very long. A mixed blessing, as none of them were particularly well known to Michael, but every kind word was a moment that need not be dedicated to talking with his mother. He knew what she would say the moment they had some privacy.

“He never stopped talking about you,” would be the first thing. Most likely followed by something to the effect of “he always hoped you’d follow in his footsteps.” And then there would be the final and embittered “why couldn’t you two have buried the hatchet”, with the implication that it was his responsibility to do so. It was wrong to speak ill of the dead, so he would be assuming full responsibility for that unfortunate state of affairs, which now would never be corrected.

“You know,” she said finally. “It’s not too late Mike…”

“Not now, mother,” he replied. The guests were slowly moving away, but he wasn’t quite done with them yet.  A little more inane conversation and hollow sympathy, please! She was taking an unexpected tack here, addressing his future rather than trying to make him feel bad about his past.

“You can’t be happy with what you’re doing up there.”

“I told you, it’s well paid and it provides for me and my own.”

“But it’s not real work,” she whispered insistently. “You’re not contributing to the future of this city or its people.”

“No, but I am seeing to today and that’s quite sufficient for me.”

“Son-”

He quickly cut her off. Their voices were beginning to grow louder and he didn’t want people noticing.

“I’ve had quite enough of the future for one lifetime, mother. People around here need to think more about their current situations, and less about what people are going to be doing generations from now.”

“You’re father would never have approved of you thinking like that,” she snapped. He looked briefly to the crowd in their midst and then pointed at the ground where the casket had disappeared moments earlier.

“My father is dead and buried. There’s the evidence.”

His mother swallowed her outrage and looked away. Her face was becoming an unbecoming shade of red and she forced herself to smile. Remembering herself, she then dropped it and resumed looking stony and morose. Michael did the same, momentarily mortified that he had said what he did and allowed a perfectly somber funeral to turn into a good fight. As much as she had asked for it, this was hardly the time or place for unsolicited honesty.

For the remainder of the service, he avoided any conversation with her and disposed of himself speaking to the distant relatives. When an opportunity presented itself, he snuck of the nearby grotto for a breather. Finding a quick nook with just enough tree cover to create some dancing shadows, he leaned up against a standing trunk and took a deep breath.

Through the far window, the sun was just beginning to sink from its crest in the sky. A brilliant light was now shining off of the Great Lake, while the cook fires and lighting from the settlements below rose up to meet the horizon.

“It’s a rare thing to see a citizen looking out on of these windows longingly. I swear somedays, the only reason we don’t board them up is to ensure that our people know how good they have it by comparison.”

Rainlin turned to the source of the voice, sighed when he realized it truly was who he suspected it to be.

“What’s the matter, not happy to see me?”

“Cal,” he said, using the familiar contraction of his friends name. “I don’t recall you getting an invite.”

Calvin laughed. “You don’t invite people to a funeral service, Rain. Besides, Octavio Rainlin was an esteemed citizen. I imagine plenty of non-family members are turning up to pay their respects to him.”

“There are scarcely any people outside of his family or colleagues that the man didn’t alienate, Cal,” he corrected. Calvin nodded.

“And some within his family too…” Rainlin looked back to the trees and their dancing shadows, a far nicer source of entertainment than this conversation. Unfortunately, Calvin wasn’t done with him. “However, I didn’t come to speak of fathers and sons who defy their wishes. I came to make you an offer.”

“Really?” Rainlin said incredulously. “What could ICE possibly want with me?”

“Oh, you know the answer as well as I do. You knew the second you heard my voice that I would be coming here to offer your old job back.”

“Yes, but secretly I was hoping you were a hallucination. Or possibly that you’d come crawling on your hands and knees.”

Calvin laughed, though it did sound a bit labored. “Oh come now, we didn’t part on such bad terms. I believe I did say during your job would be waiting for you if ever you had second thoughts.”

Rainlin looked at him with a playful smirk. “I believe your exact words were ‘until we find someone better or forget about you’.”

“What can I say? I was somewhat shocked and appalled that you would choose to end such a promising career prematurely.”

Rainlin dropped the smirk and went right back to looking at the trees. “I have no desire to die at my desk like some of your more distinguished agents. Nor do I particularly want to die in some alley down below either.”

“Too bad too. We throw a hell of a service for agents who die in the line of duty.”

Rainlin might have hit him then had he forgotten that he wasn’t try to play the good son. Besides, he was sure Calvin would find a way to twist any outbursts of violence on his part into something telling. And he was deliberately beating around the central issue, which was Rainlin’s refusal to come back.

“I think where we left off is how I want to leave it,” he said.

“Hmm, yes. That seems to be a thing with you, leaving things unresolved.”

Rainlin looked at him, in spite of himself. “You were listening in?”

“Of course,” Calvin shrugged. He removed the tiny device from his pocket. “No bugs though. Just a little monitor. I thought that would be more respectful.”

Now Rainlin really wanted to hit him. But the lesson still stood. Any reactions on his part would only let Calvin know just how much he was getting to him right now. And that would only encourage him further.

“Sorry, Cal. The money is just too good working private security. And the housing is just too opulent.”

Calvin hummed thoughtfully. “Still, can’t be much of a challenge monitoring the estates and accounts of the Spirelings, letting them know that absolutely nothing bad is happening to their vast holdings.”

Rainlin rolled his eyes. “Appealing to my sense of professional pride? Didn’t see that coming.”

“And why not, Rain? You were good at what you did. And despite what you might like others to think, you really did have a sense of accomplishment about your work. And we need that right about now… things are changing.”

Rainlin felt his curiosity being piqued, despite his best efforts to appear indifferent. He knew he would regret asking:

“What’s happened now? More Trudes declared in the Base, or are they working their way up to the Commons now?”

Calvin laughed. “Ah, that’s right. You don’t see such people up in the Spire do you? The only intruders are the ones who feign their wealth to the other blue bloods, huh?”

Rainlin shrugged and waited expectantly. Calvin went on.

“It’s a little more complicated. I’d prefer to discuss this back at the Office though, if you’re willing to go for a ride.”

“That might be construed as acceptance on my part.”

Calvin nodded. “Good point. Very well, I supposed there’s no chance of us being overheard here.” Still, Calvin removed the device from his pocket and depressed a small button on the side. It made a few squealing noises and then chimed happily. Apparently, the listening device was also capable of detecting others of its kind. He popped the device back in his pocket and continued. “For several months now, we’ve been getting reports from the Base about Intruders who have been infiltrating Etemenanki using a special network. Nothing like the usual illegals who find someone to forge IDents, this is much more advanced. And we’re not sure of their intent, but it’s clear that they’re smuggling people in and are waiting to get them into place before they do anything.”

Rainlin nodded. “So they’re up to something long-term, is that you’re thinking?”

“That’s what we hope to find out.” Calvin looked at Rainlin for the first time with absolute seriousness. “We need an investigator to go below, make contact with our people in the field, and start locating these people. It needs to be done carefully, in such a way that those who are already inside don’t go to ground. If they do, we might never discover what they were up to, and we could be hearing from them again in just a few years.”

Rainlin groaned. All of his instincts were pointing him in the same direction, and yet he knew he was still going to do it…

“I promise nothing,” he said warningly. “But perhaps we could take that ride after all.”

Calvin brightened. “Want to see the evidence with your own eyes, huh?” Rainlin didn’t reply. “I knew you still had the magic. And I’ve got a pod waiting…”

Star Wars VII, What’s it Going to Be?

The news that Disney has purchased LucasArts for a cool 4 billion has certainly been making the rounds of late! Even more interesting is the release that they will be releasing the sequel trilogy sometime in 2015. This news has once again fueled a great deal of speculation as to what direction the new movies will take. Regardless of who is at the helm, it is generally agreed that there are only so many story arcs that the new movies could take…

The following list comes from AMOG‘s (Alpha Male Of the Group) online magazine, courtesy of Keith Veronese. The list is pretty comprehensive, and covers all the likely candidates for potential sequel and spinoff story lines. And lets face it, with the course of the prequels took, we all would like something new to rehabilitate the series! And with Lucas no longer at the helm, we all might just get what we want!

Immediate Pick-Up:

The first possible story arc for the new trilogy would be to pick up where the last movie left off. As it stood, the Empire was dealt a significant blow, but was far from finished. Granted, the Death Star was destroyed and both the Emperor and Darth Vader were dead, but the majority of the Imperial Fleet was still intact, as was its infrastructure and network of allied planets. As evil and rotten as it was, the Empire still commanded a great deal of loyalty and support within the Core Worlds, and the Rebel Alliance was likely to have its hands full dealing with all of them.

The benefits of this story are pretty clear. It’s a blank canvass in terms of plot, into which a new generation of writers can hurl all kinds of ideas. In addition, it’s a chance to bring back the old gang for another run, albeit with new actors and actresses.

The Thrawn Trilogy:

Written by noted sci-fi author Timothy Zhan, the Thrawn Trilogy are perhaps the most famous novelization in the franchise. Set five years after events in Return of the Jedi, the trilogy centers on the enigmatic character of Grand Admiral Thrawn, the last of the Empire’s senior officers who has assumed control of the Imperial fleet. Intrinsic to these plans are a lost fleet that disappeared prior to the Clone Wars, a secret cache of cloning vats the Emperor established during his reign, and an insane Jedi Master living on a remote world.

Meanwhile, Senator Leia Organa Solo (that’s right, they tied the knot!) is pregnant and expecting twins. While she has become a member of the New Republic government, Han has continued in his role as a fleet General and is using his old contacts in the smuggling world to try and drum up shipping for the new government. His efforts bring him into contact with a group of privateers who will one day go from being self-interested sorts to the same kind of heroes Han had become.

And finally, there are the adventures of Luke, who is drawn to Jedi Master C’boath and seeks to learn from him. However, they quickly become enemies as Luke realizes he is insane and seeks to capture Leia’s twins for his own purposes. He also comes into contact with Mara Jade, a Force-sensitive woman who once served the Emperor. She plans to kill Luke, but circumstances have thrown them to work together and cooperate.

Needless to say, this would be a good story arc for the series, and would be convenient since it’s already been written in full. All the old characters are reprized and fleshed out, and some new, decidedly Star Wars-esque characters are also introduced. And given that much time has passed since the originals, it would be a good opportunity for some new actors to tackle the roles of all our favorites. I’m sure Disney would be willing to spring for some cameos from the original cast as well!

Darth Vader Spinoff:

True, we got more than enough of his origin story with the prequel trilogy, but there’s still plenty of room for Darth Vader to grow! In fact, there is a twenty year gap between the prequels and the original movies, during which time Vader essentially did his best work. This included hunting down the remaining Jedi, rooting out dissent and resistance to the Emperor’s rule, and just generally cementing his reputation as an evil cybernetic menace!

The benefits here are pretty obvious, at least as far as a single movie are concerned. Plenty of lightsaber fights, stalking from planet to planet looking for Jedi, and lots of that creepy respirator and James Earl Jones-esque dialogue. However, it might be difficult to maintain a three-movie story arc from this. But that might not be a problem, given the next option:

Boba Fett Spinoff:

Boba Fett is arguably the most popular member of the supporting cast, and there are plenty who believe that he deserves his own moment in the spotlight. And after the prequels gave him a passing intro, there might be some merit to giving him a more complete origin story. Imagine Boba Fett as a young man, going about the known universe and establishing himself as the most notorious bounty hunter.

Aside from being action-packed and full of plenty of the seedier stuff of Star Wars, this film could be paired with a Vader movie as a potential second installment. And perhaps a third could be opened involving Obi-Wan, focusing on his adventures as he travelled from place to place on Tatooine, hoping to stay off the Empire’s radar while keeping an eye on Luke.

The Sith Wars:

Finally, there is an area of the franchise which has become rather popular of late, and that is the rather fertile period in the Star Wars timeline known as the Sith Wars. What began with the Knights Of The Old Republic series has now evolved into a MMOG with Star Wars: The Old Republic. And even though the reception was not as extreme as LucasArts might have hoped, the stage has certainly been set for a possible second prequel series.

Taking place thousands of years before the events in the first Star Wars trilogy, the Sith Wars chronicles the titanic war which took place between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire. And although there have been several installments in the franchise that carry the name “Sith War”, the expanded universe now claims that the greatest confrontation took place 3681 years before the fall of the Old Republic and lasted until 3653. This war was in turn the result of over 1300 years of preparations and buildup by the Sith, who never forgot the crushing defeat they had suffered at the hands of the Republic during the Great Hyperspace War.

The benefits of this story are also quite obvious. In addition to being a very established story arc, there are plenty of interesting characters, developments and battles in this period which, if properly developed, would result in cinematic gold! What’s more, people do enjoy origins stories which are well told, and after the mixed reviews of the last prequels, a deep-origins story could be just the thing to rehabilitate the franchise. And it’s got all the right elements; Jedi, Sith, lightsaber fights, and a titanic war between good and evil, similar in tone to the war between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire.

What’s more, this story will have no sense of duty to suffer from. Unlike episodes I, II, and III which were burdened by having to explain where all the original characters came from, how Anakin fell to the Dark Side and how the Empire came to be, a Sith War trilogy would be able to tell a story where the details are not entirely pre-written. What’s more, the massive war does not suffer from the ambiguity or the Clone Wars, which seemed like little more than background for the prequels main focus – which was the fall of Anakin Skywalker. This time around, we’d be able to see lots of fighting and not be distracting by a whining Hayden Kristensen complaining about how much his life sucks!

____

So what’s it going to be? Personally, my money is on options two and five. Having read the Thrawn Trilogy and thoroughly enjoyed it, I would certainly pay money to see it adapted to the big screen. At the same time, I’m itching to see some of that Sith War swashbuckling and fleet battles! Man, tough choice, and the studio hasn’t even announced what they might be planning yet…

Whiskey Delta Complete!

It’s finally finished. After 14 weeks, forty-nine chapters, and 93,741 words (give or take a few), my tale of the zombie apocalypse is finally complete! And now I begin the process of editing the manuscript, doing some promos, and publishing it indie style! And when it’s ready, it will be available on Amazon-Kindle and Createspace, both in paperback and ebook formats.

And just to be a nice guy, I will be making it available for a limited time for free! So stay tuned, I will be making the link and coupon code available for all those who want a free promotional copy. Tell your friends! And while you’re here, maybe you can help me with the cover design and writeup. How’s this look:

“No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow.”

-Euripides

“Ambulans mortuus: noun. Lit. “moving dead” (lat.). A viral strain that appeared in the Western Hemisphere in the early 21st century. Origin unknown. Characterized by high fever and death in infected subjects, followed by reanimation and extremely violent behavior. No known cure.”

New Mexico, the domain of the Rattlesnake, and the Whiskey Delta. For years, the undead have been roaming the countryside, feeding on the living and spreading their disease. But within a small compound outside of Espanola, the men and women of the 200th Infantry are fighting to take back the country. Under the command of Major General Thur, aka. “The Mage”,  they hold the line against the armies of the undead. However, things soon escalate as the Mage discovers an opportunity to end the war sooner than expected. All that’s needed is a desperate mission into the ruins if Los Angeles, ground zero in the war against the Whiskeys, and a land heavily contested by human foes… What could go wrong?

“Hurricane Hackers” Helping in Hurricane Sandy Recovery

It seems hackers are making the news once again as a force for good. In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, which has caused untold devastation along the Eastern Seaboard, hackers across the world are taking part in a series of events that are designed to help local communities prepare and cope with the devastation of this crisis. In what promises to be an ongoing series of information and development camps, the first “Sandy CrisisCamp” took place in Boston, the West Coast, and even as far away as New Zealand.

The goal here is simple: to design internet tools and applications that will assist in disaster preparedness and recovery, both now and in the future. The first step in that, which was covered this past weekend, was the work on various “crowdsourcing” tools that will allow people to categorize images for building damage and a simple Google doc that attempts to keep track of all the sources of Sandy recovery data in a single place. These will not only give people the ability to access vital information and updates on the path of hurricanes quickly, but will also help organizations such as FEMA prioritize their efforts based on up-to-the-minute damage assessments.

These efforts are all related to the work of a group known as the Hurricane Hackers, students at MIT’s Media Lab who have been helping coordinate relief efforts via Twitter. The fruits of their initial labor was the site known as Sandyslist, a simple hub for linking people with the resources they need to stay safe and ride the storm out. And in truth, they are but one group of people who have been using social utilities and the internet in order to provide info for those in need and to help others coordinate their efforts. There are even online sites where people are able to pledge donations, a process known as crowdfunding, and which are currently waiving their fees in order to ensure that more money is raised.

In addition to being reassuring and heartwarming, all of these coordinated efforts are also a good demonstration of what is possible in the information age. After all, in times of crisis, the most important tool in prevention and response is information. By ensuring that it is coordinated, easily accessible, and available all in one place, the hackers responsible for this are also helping to ensure that lives are saved and the crisis passes with far less in the way of human devastation.

Source: news.cnet.com

Batman – Under the Red Hood

Hey all. My apologies for not cluttering you’re inbox’s lately with my usual slew of posts. But I’ve been away for the weekend and beyond the reach of a keyboard and/or PDA with internet access. But I’m back now, and back to my usual, manic output! And in honor of that, here’s a clip from an animated movie I saw awhile back and think is deserving of a review.

Entitled Batman: Under the Red Hood, this animated movie adapts some key material from the Batman comics, specifically the death and resurrection of Jason Todd, the second Robin to ever serve as sidekick to the Dark Knight. After being murdered by the Joker, he returns a few years later in the form of a vigilante who seems intent of killing criminals and getting under the skin of Gotham’s “Caped Crusader”. His disguised is especially significant because it used to be the very thing that the Joker wore before the accident that left him a scarred and brutalized freak.

The clip here is of the reunion between Todd, the Joker and Batman once the Red Hood’s true identity has been revealed. I picked it because it’s just so damn well scripted and chock full of classic Batmanesque themes. And check it out, the Joker is voiced by John Di Maggio, the voice actor who does Bender on Futurama. I look forward to reviewing it in full, as it was pretty badass!

NaNoWriMo 2012!

Yeah, it seems I’ve decided to actually take part this year. It was a bit of a dilemma as to whether or not I would be participating, what with my heavy editing schedule and all the promises I’ve made to follow up Whiskey Delta with its sequel. But wouldn’t you know it, while in the midst of a rather hectic day – the kids were absolute nightmares and it was pool day to boot! – I actually came up with an idea. In addition, I somehow found the time to belt out an outline and the first 500 words for it. I’m nuts, I know!

And truth be told, it kind of solves a few writing goals I’ve had for myself of late. First off, I’ve been dying to write about an Arcology ever since I did a post dedicated to the concept. And ever since I finished with Whiskey Delta, I’ve been looking for the next serial novel project. Originally, I had hoped to move right into the second installment in that series, but I think it would be best to let that percolate for awhile (my apologies to the fans who were expecting it sooner). And finally, I really wanted to contribute something.

As I’ve planned it, this new story ought to cover all three of those bases. The story I plan to write will take place within an Arcology, specifically an Ultima-tower type structure located in the Great Lakes Megapolis region of the future. As a massive structure that dominates the landscape, it is an entirely self-sufficient and ecologically sustainable environment surrounded by sprawling slums. The name of the place, and hence the story, is Etemenanki, the ancient ziggurat that may have inspired the Tower of Babel myth.

Over the course of November, I’ll be publishing chapters on a regular basis, much as I did with Whiskey Delta. Hopefully, I can keep up with the daily writing demand, especially since I’m getting a bit of a late start! Stay tuned for more on this front. Go NaNoWriMos!

Walking Dead Season 3, Episode 3

My goodness, how I’ve fallen behind with my reviews of the Walking Dead lately! And there’s really no excuse, not with everything that’s been happening in the series lately. With the third episodes in the series, an all-important element has been introduced into the story arc – that being the dubious man known as “The Governor” and his little fortress town.

As anyone familiar with the comic knows, this is an extremely important development to the evolving story. Whereas it represents a separate plot thread in the story, it merges with that of Rick and the others who are trying to make a life inside the prison facility down the road. But I shant spoil any of that, mainly I want to talk about this episode!

Episode 3: Walk With Me

The episode opens with a helicopter crashing in the forest, and with Andrea and Michonne arriving on scene to witness what happened. They are forced to take cover as a series of vehicles pull up and men jump out, dispatching the Walkers who have been attracted to the scene. After killing them all, one man inspects the dead aboard the chopper who have begun to turn and shoots them all in the head.They then take the pilot, who is wounded but alive, into their custody.

Shortly thereafter, the group of armed men begin to inch closer to the forest where Michonne and Andrea are hiding. In order to stay hidden, Michonne kills her captive zombies by slicing their heads off. They think they are in the clear, but the moment they try to leave, a one armed man gets to them from behind and takes them both prisoner. The one armed man is none other than Merle Dixon, the brother of Daryle Dixon who was lost from the group in the first season.

They have a brief reunion as Merle explains to Michonne that he and Andrea are acquainted. Andrea then passes out from her sickness, and wakes up to find that she and Michonne had been taken to a small town nearby. After Merle explains to them how he survived after cutting off his own hand to free himself of Rick’s cuffs, a man referred to as “The Governor” walks in. He explains to them that they are not prisoners and are free to leave.

However, after seeing the town on the following day, Andrea believes they should stay. In addition to its walls, armed guards, and well-disciplined people, the town appears to be well stocked and peaceful. Michonne does not trust the Governor, but Andrea begins to take an obvious shine to him. One day quickly turns into two, and a rift begins to appear between Andrea and Michonne as the one wants to stay and the other wants to leave.

Meanwhile, the Governor speaks to the lone survivor of the chopper crash and learns where his comrades are waiting for them. He then takes an armed group to ambush them and steal their weapons and supplies. Upon his return, he lies to the townspeople and tells them that the chopper pilot died of natural causes and the entire squad of soldiers were killed by Walkers, and begins distributing all their supplies amongst the people.

Andrea then asks the Governor what his real name is, but doesn’t get an answer. Clearly, there is something of a spark between the two of them, and Andrea seems intent on pursuing it. At the same time, Michonne has clearly caught the eye of one of the Governor’s men, and it seems that whether she likes it or not, they will be staying for the time being. While Michonne remains suspicious, Andrea has been taken in by the town’s happy facade and the Governor’s outward charm.

The episode then ends with the Governor in his private apartment, his bed occupied with the town’s woman who was speaking to Andrea and Michonne from earlier. He then returns to a private den with a glass of whiskey where he sits in front of a row of aquariums which contain the heads of several living Walkers. Amongst them is the head of Welles, the helicopter pilot, and the heads of Michonnes own walkers.

Summary:

Personally, I felt that this was the best episode of the show thus far, with the possible exception of the one where the group finds their way to the CDC. In addition to being central to the overall plot of the show, it was also extremely poignant and entertaining. It begins with the reintroduction of Merle, a solid but unsympathetic character from the first season; the introduction of the Governor and his town, and ends with the revelation that he is far from an endearing character himself.

What’s more, Michonne, who has had very little exposure thus far in the series, really killed it in this episode. All throughout, she maintains her tough, frowny exterior, demanding their weapons and insisting to Andrea that they move on. However, she also shows genuine apprehension as its becoming clear that Andrea wants to stay and that there are some who would like her to stick around too. Though it is only conveyed in a few passing glances between her and one of the Governor’s men, it’s apparent that she will find her own reasons for sticking around soon too!

At the same time, the metaphor of the town couldn’t be more clear. At first, it appears like a happy, secure place, the kind of place a person who is used to scrounging and fighting for every inch would see as an instant paradise. But of course, the terrible truth is soon revealed to us, the audience, with the expectation that it will also become clear to Andrea and Michonne before long. As is intimated several times, it seems unlikely that such a place could exist, or that there is another shoe waiting to drop.

And of course, there is! In addition to being a driven by the desire to protect his people from the Walkers, the Governor is also obsessed with eliminating anyone and everyone he sees as a threat to his community and its way of life. And his arrival could not be more timely now that Shane is dead and the series has lost its main blocking character. All throughout the series, the point has been made that in the face of annihilation, mankind’s darker nature is it’s greatest threat to survival. Because in the end, it’s not simply a matter of staying alive but of preserving humanity’s basic dignity and morality.

So far, this paradox of battling death while simultaneously trying to stay sane and decent was personified in the conflict between Shane and Rick. But from this point onward, it will be represented by the contrast between the Governor’s community and Rick’s people. After all, it’s pretty clear point at this point that the Governor will be looking for them now that he knows that Andrea had companions who might still be alive somewhere. And given what he did to the squad of military personnel, he’s not likely to take to their existence too nicely!

Now on to episode four, which is downloading, err, playing right now! I shall return with more on season three just as soon as I’ve watched it!

Whiskey Delta – Epilogue

“Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our lives.”

-C. S. Lewis

Dezba shifted uncomfortably in his seat. The itching was extending beyond the elbow now, creating all kinds of ugly sensation. Every bump in the ride was an irritation, every second bringing him cold sweats and more angst.

But he insisted on doing this clearheaded and sober, and comfort be damned!

He looked to the object in his lap. The shiny, brass case with the names carved in its frame. The top was beginning to grow moist thanks to the tight grip he maintained on it with his right hand. But he needed the other, newer limb to steer with, and he didn’t want any bumps sending the precious cargo to the floor. And gripping it with his legs proved difficult since they had been weakened from so many weeks in a hospital bed.

He spotted his turn up ahead. It was a wide one, and he needed his right hand to turn the wheel.

“Shit,” he said to himself, and put his right hand to the wheel. Every second of the turn was an anxious mess, and he very nearly overshot the mark and ended up in the ditch. He quickly straightened out and put his right hand to his lap again. Fresh sweat broke out on his forehead.

He began to breath slowly again as he saw the apple trees that dotted the street. The vast grassy fields that stretched into the distance, they always inspired a great feeling of calm. The warm memories he had had here, the reason he kept coming back… in body and spirit.

“We’re here, baby,” he said aloud. “The place we spent that night together. Do you remember?”

He could feel her there with him, smiling at him and nodding in response. How many times had he driven this road with her and repeated the story? Was this the last time it would happen? He couldn’t think that. Anytime he wanted, he could come back here. She would be here waiting for him now, he knew. Unless of course he chose to join her permanently…

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I know I shouldn’t be thinking that. The doctor said it was natural. But I can’t help it.”

The sweat was turning cold again. The thoughts had a way of doing that. The dreams too, and anything that put him in mind of flames or the gnawing teeth. Now his head was beginning to drift, the wheels going too fast and he began to worry he might lose control of the vehicle.

“No… no!” he said, pushing them back. He came here for a purpose. He couldn’t afford to lose control now. And he knew it was only because he was so sober, the body deprived of all the drugs they had placed him on. It was almost funny, but he had to admit that he might have had an easier time driving here had he taken his meds. But then he would have had a much harder time slipping out of the VA hospital. Lord knew they would never had let him leave on such an errand. They were pretty fascist like that, those doctors. Always insisting a patient stay until they were fully recovered.

“This looks like it,” he said, spying the small groves to their right. He could feel her approving. She would know best, as she had burned the site in her memory from the many times she had asked him to bring her back here. Every square foot of the place had become indelibly marked, the land bearing witness to the most important event in their lives.

He pulled the car to the side of the road and pulled the parking brake. His right hand fumbled with the urn, almost removing the top by accident. He yelled and forced his hand to stop until the tremors subsided.

“I’m sorry. Guess I’m just nervous.” He knew she understood. She always did. He would have never forgiven himself though, and found it difficult not to get choked up. She wasn’t alone in there after all. She carried their baby girl with her. Their entire life together, all collected in one place. He could not allow it to fall anywhere except in its permanent resting spot. That was one promise he refused to not deliver on.

He took the urn in hand, cradled it next to his ribs, and slipped out of the vehicle. His legs proved cumbersome, the weight still unfamiliar and awkward on his weakened limbs. And the ground was just slightly moist, the morning mist having softened the shoulder somewhat. Had he waited a few more hours, it would be dry and hard, affording him perfect traction. But it had to be in the wee morning hours. That was when they had come here the first time. The mist had fallen on the meadow, the morning sun just cresting on the far horizon. Two young lovers, running through the field like careless spirits.

*                *               *

Thank you all for reading my story! Stay tuned for news on the upcoming release, and samples from the soon-to-be created sequel: Pappa Zulu!

How The Avengers Should Have Ended

Hi all! Remember HISHE, the hilarious animated website that does alternate ending to movie? Turns out they had an Avengers ending which I thought I shared, but never did! Why, I ask myself? Granted, they didn’t so much as challenge the movie on plot holes as much as mock the fact that the movie made a sh*tload of money! Well, they did that too, but like the movie itself, we are encouraged to look past that and see just how much freaking money it made! And of course, the entire team gets to sit in the superhero cafe, which is where Superman and Batman always wind up after talking about their respective adventures. So what the hey, it’s funny right? Enjoy!