Taven Moore's Blog, page 30

[Steven] Videorama – The Happy Secret to Better Work

Shawn Achor: The Happy Secret to Better Work

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Published on December 06, 2013 04:30

Harry Potter 2 Discussion

Where DID November go?

November is many things to many people, but to a small group of us, it’s the month in which we all read Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets together.

Let’s discuss.

Villains

Rowling does a great job creating villains that the reader dislikes intensely. Quirrel’s simpering obedience and willingness to do horrible things by the end of Book 1 certainly made me want to see him fall. Voldemort is painted as a character so horrible that nobody even wants to say his name.

And here in book 2 we have our second of two malicious Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers. Sure, Gilderoy Lockhart wasn’t the big bad in this book, but he’s certainly horrible enough to make my skin crawl, even before you realize he’s been not only claiming to have done things he hasn’t, but removing the memory of the heroics from the person who actually did them.

Can you imagine if you were a normal person and one day you did this amazing, wonderful thing and saved a lot of people? How that would make you feel better about yourself, and maybe it would be a life-changing event?

And then some shyster comes along and removes that memory from you?

That’s one of the worst things that happened in this book, I think. Imagining just how terrible that really was, in an insidious sort of way. The fact that Lockhart was fine with stealing the memories of Ron and Harry at the end was terrible, but paled in comparison to his previous acts.

I like to think that the new cleansed Gilderoy couldn’t be fixed, but also that nobody knew he was a shyster so he read his own books and went on to actually become a hero, because he believed the same lies he told everyone else.

That would be nice.

Then again, you’ve got the Malfoys. Lucious, who is so awful I feel like his face is a permanent sneer, and poor Draco. I say poor Draco because I thought he was one of the best-painted villains in this book. So obviously wanting to make his father proud, and failing at almost everything he does. The rare moment where Ron and Harry are polyjuiced and you SEE Draco without his usual public posturing?

Very understated powerful. We watch Draco become the bad guy in these books, and I think it’s very well done. He’s so blinded by his jealousy of Harry that Harry’s own actions help him become bad. (Not that it’s Harry’s fault, just that it’s understandable and totally human)

Even Filch is painted with a harsh and dislikeable brush. Finding out that he’s wizardborn without magic certainly explains some of it, but he remains an unsympathetic and oddly violent brute despite the opportunity for his affection for Mrs. Norris to grant him some warmth.

Then there’s the journal. Poor, poor Ginny. When Tom told Harry about Ginny waking up covered in feathers, my heart went out to the poor girl. I didn’t pay much attention to her during my first read-throughs, but I can tell I’m really going to love her this time around.

(Interesting note, in the French version, they had to change Tom’s name to “Tom Elvis Jedusor” so that the letters could be rearranged to be “Je suis Voldemort” — a modification that had to happen in a lot of languages.)

I felt that the movie made the battle with the basilisk at the end MUCH more eventful than the book itself did. The phoenix taking out the eyes in the book so early made the actual battle very weak in comparison to the inner turmoil of Harry (which was done very well).

Ron and Hermione

I was surprised to note that in this book, every time that Hermione was picked on or teased in any way, Ron IMMEDIATELY leaped to her defense, while often it was Harry who was the cooler head, trying to avoid conflict.

I didn’t really notice it the first time around, but it was fascinating.

Also, side note? Poor Hermione spent most of this book recovering from something! First the Polyjuice mixup and then being stone. I can only imagine how vexed she’d have been to have missed class!

(I did find it odd that she didn’t get in trouble for the Polyjuice potion. Surely she’d have to explain how she became catlike in order to be properly treated?)

Weird Notes

It kind of bothered me that the students were supposed to choose their future classes at the end of this book, apparently without counselors to help them figure out what they should do?

And Harry caring so little that he just signed up for whatever Ron signed up for drove me bonkers. How can you not even CARE?!

(I am, it must be said, more like Hermione than either of the others)

I’m no expert, but surely the teachers and soforth ARE experts — when you’ve got people being turned to stone in your hallways, why does it seem like nobody has a clue how to figure out what happened? Hermione managed to figure out it was a Basilisk, but nobody else?

And so they blame a SPIDER for it and haul Hagrid away without any evidence at all? Surely someone would have thought to ask Myrtle — some teacher or even Dumbledore himself, who was alive when she died? I dunno. Just felt odd that ONLY Harry’s crew was making any real inroads at solving the mystery.

And last of all, I adore that the car had a personality.

Your Turn!

What did you notice or want to talk about?

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Published on December 05, 2013 05:30

[Perry] Blind Entertainment

Here’s a question for you.

Do you do research before you engage with a piece of entertainment?

When it comes to upcoming movies you might be interested in, do you watch the trailers and interviews and featurettes that get released before the movie is out? Or do you hold off until the movie is out to check all of that out?

With games, do you follow the development, participate in betas and follow the developer livestreams and such before you play? Or do you walk into the store on day one and simply pick up the game?

I’ve been thinking about this lately because I feel like I’m slowly switching from one thing to another.

When I was younger, I was all about the research. Not necessarily because I wanted to spoil the experience for myself…but because passion burned with a bright flame within me. I couldn’t stand the wait until I could watch the movie or has the game to play. I had to content myself with the information released to the public in dribs and drabs beforehand.

Let me tell you guys, I went after every scrap of information I could get my hands on like Scooby after his Scooby snacks.

I had to know. HAD to. I couldn’t content myself with the knowledge that I would experience it soon anyway. I couldn’t stand the wait. So I assuaged it with little drips and dribbles until the release date.

These days?

Not so much.

Tis partly to do with time, I’ll admit. There are a lot of things that I make time for during my days and I just feel like there’s way too much to do without chasing scraps of information for an upcoming something. Especially if it’s something I know I’ll be engaging with anyway.

Which…is a little odd, I’ll admit. After all, with the prevalence of social media and all, it’s become easier than ever to have this huge pipeline of information streaming right into your bedroom, if you wanted it.

Do you know what else I’ve come to realize? Another reason why I’ve slowly stopped chasing the scraps?

It’s because the pre-release information can often be misleading or lead to disappointment.

There’s been many a horror movie or comedy where I watched the trailers and they showed just about ALL the good jokes or scares in the trailers, and then the rest of the movie was dull and plodding.

There have been many games where the pr-erelease hype was at an all-time high, only to be greeted with an incredibly substandard product at launch.

Maybe I’m growing up?

I just feel like all of the hype is worth nothing if they can’t follow through…and the only way to know if they DID follow through is to experience the finished product, not the stuff that comes before release.

A few cases in point:

1) When Heath Ledger was first announced as the Joker, there was an uproar as the masses collectively howled out their hearts in saying there was no way he would pull it off.

2) The pre-release footage to the game Aliens: Colonial Marines looked absolutely incredible…only end up being a buggy, nigh-unplayable mess on release.

3) The movie Prometheus was one of the most eagerly anticipated sci-fi movies in recent memories…and look how that turned out.

There are still some cases where I go after all of the pre-release information I can get my hands on *coughWildstarcoughcough*, but by and large, I’m finding those occasions to be fewer and farther between than ever before.

I’ve been burned too many times. Been spoiled too many times that now?

Now, I just try not to think about it and wait until it’s out and I can actually get my hands on it before I judge it for myself.

And besides, at the end of the day, isn’t it marvelous fun to be pleasantly surprised by something?

Don’t you miss BEING pleasantly surprised? Give it a try! Find something that you’re half looking forward to and try to avoid any and all word on the subject until you can experience it and judge it in all of its glory.

Does anyone else find themselves in the same situation?

Or, more interestingly, has anyone else found themselves going the opposite direction? Where you never used to follow the pre-release hype and now you suddenly find yourself doing so?

Would love to get your thoughts!

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Published on December 04, 2013 05:50

The Bear Available at Podcastle!

The flash fiction contest winners have been recorded and are available for your listening pleasure over at Podcastle.

PodCastle Episode 288: Flash Fiction Contest Strikes Back!

The Bear (the second story read) is mine and I have to say, the reader did an INCREDIBLE job bringing it to life. (I recommend sticking around for the third and final story in the podcast as well. Wuffle is adorable and fun.)

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Published on December 02, 2013 05:00

[Steven] Videorama – Salesman Pete

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Published on November 29, 2013 04:30

Art – Sugarplum Doxie

Art for the ever-encouraging and super-awesome Faith, of her adorable wirehaired dachshund.

To activate your doxie’s hidden ballerina setting, apply one doggie treat.

Related posts:

Art Update : Twitterpated

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Published on November 28, 2013 05:30

[Perry] The Lost Art of Beautiful Writing

Do you know what I miss?

I miss having neat writing.

When I was a kid, my writing was terrible. Absolute chicken scratch. My parents took steps to try and fix it, having me write out lines and practice and copy out books longhand to try and remedy it.

And it was okay…for a few years in middle school, when all of my writing and note taking was done longhand.

For a time, a period of a couple years, it was at a level that was borderline readable.

But then, the technology age reared its ugly head and my writing fled from my tyrannical grasp, cackling madly as it bolted for the dusty cellar of my mind.

For years, I never gave it a second thought…but lately? I’ve been doing a bit of jotting down of notes here and there without the aid of a computer or a phone.

I’ve got to tell you, my writing’s gotten pretty damned hideous.

This was brought to light for me when my friend linked me this video and told me that it was porn for writers.

It’s safe for work…sort of. I mean, I drooled when I watched it (it’s the little flicks upward with the brush that gets me), and your reaction may vary so if you’re the type to drool or worse over gloriously gorgeous longhand writing, you may want to save watching this video for when you have some privacy at home.

But…watching this sort of hit home for me.

I knew friends in high school who’s writing was so good that…they might as well have been writing in a font, do you know what I mean?

I remember being fascinated with one of my friends in high school because her writing was note-perfect. Every single one of her A’s looked EXACTLY like every other A she had on the page. And same for all the rest of the letters and numbers.

It fascinated me.

I wonder now where that art fell by the wayside? The grandparents of some of my friends growing up had very distinctive styles of writing. They told me it was taught to them in school.

When I look at the travesty that I call my longhand writing, I feel like I missed a very important opportunity during my school years.

I wish I had gloriously beautiful writing…writing that almost borders on calligraphy and is just beautiful to look at.

I wish I could make someone drool over my writing like I drooled over that video.

What about you guys? Anyone out there have gloriously beautiful longhand skills? More importantly, can we have a demonstration? Heh.

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Published on November 27, 2013 05:50

Art Commission Open

I’m opening a small number of slots for art commissions, if anyone’s interested.

Pricing (all assume single character, no background, full body. We can chat about alternate pricing if you just want a bust or something. =] )

Digital Art:

$15 – Flat colors (no shading) Example 1, Example 2

$25 – Digital art (fully colored and shaded) Example 1, Example 2

Traditional Art:

$10 – pencil sketch, no ink Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4

$15 – Fully inked, no colors Example 1, Example 2

$35 – Fully shaded and colored Example 1, Example 2, Example 3, Example 4

Addons:

+ Cost of shipping (and a good shipping tube) if you want the originals and sketches. Even digital art has a physical lineart available to be sent, though it’s not colored.

+ $10 for each additional character

+ $15 for a simple background

+ TBD for more complex things (apparel, weaponry, etc)

Subject Matter:

As you know (since you’ve been following me for a while) I do cute quads best of all. I can try my hand at an adorable anthro, but in general, if it’s cute? I can do it. Want your favorite pokemon? I got you covered. Cartoony pet portrait? No problem. Flight rising dragon? Sure thing.

Gore, NSFW, robots, humans, etc? You’re barking up the wrong tree, my friend.

Full Online Portfolio:

HERE

Payment

Payment is due when the art is finished (unless it’s SUPER complicated, then I may request half when the sketch is complete and half at the end). I prefer paypal, but will accept mailed checks as well.

Contact

You can either comment below and I’ll reply via email OR you can just email me directly at tami at tamimoore dotcom. (Or any other email address you may have for me, since many of you know me already)

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Published on November 25, 2013 07:09