Roleplaying games

I've played computer roleplaying games since the days of Akalabeth (look it up for a laugh!) and Zork, right on up to the newest and greatest online and single player extravaganzas. I've played pen and paper roleplaying, and thoroughly enjoyed bringing up a character and watching them gain power and skills. The greatest joy to me is defining a new character and disappearing into the role. Maybe that's how actors feel when they step into their movie roles? Probably.

 

The joy of roleplaying extends far beyond fantasy or science fiction. Therapists use role playing to foster understanding, while scientists use role playing to seek new theories. It's a useful exercise. Mostly it's used for games though, since taking on a fantasy role is loads of fun. Just imagine being a dragonrider, or shooting balls of flame from your hands, or maybe taking a trip to Pluto in your own personal spaceship.

 

My thoughts run to virtual reality. There are plenty of science fiction stories that explore the addictive effects of using virtual reality long-term. But, there are also lots of stories where virtual reality is a useful tool. I hope we get to try it out in the next few years, especially with the new Oculus Rift device showing real promise. Right now the entry point into virtual reality is just too expensive, but it will continue coming down. I can hardly wait to grip my imaginary staff in hand and ride the eagles with Gandolf!

 

- M

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday, but giving thanks most certainly isn't. Anyone, wherever you are in the world, may stop to give thanks for the many blessings in their lives. Go right ahead and celebrate with us! And, if you like, chow down on some nice roasted turkey while you're at it. The important thing is to give thanks.

 

Special days make a big difference in our lives: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and even completely made up days (Valentine's day is a popular one to point at). Regardless, we measure our lives by such celebrations, and we wouldn't if they didn't matter. When we take time out of our busy lives to make something special, we elevate that thing to new meaning. And with new meaning comes responsibility to share that meaning. We do it joyfully for the most part, and it's neat to see children learning the process and passing it on to another generation.

 

We are planning our normal time of good food and better company. I think this time we'll try having ham for the main course, and doing a turkey the next day. Of course, we'll have all the side dishes like mashed potatoes and salad and dinner rolls. This also marks the time of year when I start thinking about making a specialty candy called "divinity." It's a marvelous candy that's like taking a bit out of a sweet and fluffy cloud. It's great stuff, but I can't make it while there's humidity and so this time of year is great for it.

 

Happy Thanksgiving all, and may your days be blessed with good food and great company!

 

- M

Computer generated imagery.

Since computers were invented, they have been used to display mathematical formulae. I remember getting my first computer--a little palm sized sucker that had a whopping 3kb of memory, and could store something on the order of 100 lines of computer code. It was a fancy calculator really, but it did print out a really neat visualization of a wormhole. Then came the personal computers--Apple II+ and the TI-80s and IBMs. It was a great time to watch graphics grow more and more impressive. I especially remember two pictures created by Silicon Graphics workstations... one of a billiard table with amazingly rendered balls (they even made a special process to put scuffs and dirt on the surfaces) and another of a wet mountain road. Such simple pictures are nothing these days, but were incredibly impressive back then.

 

Since those early days, computer graphics have accelerated to the point of absolute reality. Given a bit of time, modern graphics are capable of nearly perfect replication of reality. Even console gaming systems, like the PS4 or XBox One, are able to display live images that feel pretty real--they're even making the eyes seem far less fake now too. The time will come when we will finally get to the point where we won't be able to tell the difference.

 

Probably the final frontier is when movies have computer generated actors who are just as real as the real-live actors. Motion capture is highly developed now, giving us the phenomenal Gollum, as well as the Na'vi from Avatar. So, the foundation is there, and it'll only take a bit longer before we can create literally anything we can imagine. Virtual reality (still very far from being good) is the step afterward and then we'll have the Star Trek Holodecks we've all been craving! I can't wait. Pardon me while I do my happy dance...

 

- M

Lindsey Stirling, Peter Hollens, and Pentatonix

My taste in music is odd for sure, but I've really enjoyed these three groups. Lindsey Stirling is a current darling of YouTube (having chalked up well over half a Billion views!), and Peter Hollens (who does unbelievable a cappella) is an earlier collaborator with her. Pentatonix won a television competition and also do unaccompanied vocals--I especially enjoy their Daft Punk medley.. What fascinates me is how these three groups are able to succeed through the power of the Internet. They are reaching all over the world, and it's driven by people finding their videos online and supporting them. I love it!

It's fun trying to figure out how things go viral. Why do certain groups blast into stardom, while others muddle along? How is it that some books never have a following, despite being really good, yet others become sensations no matter their quality? Fads come and go, as all things do, but it doesn't stop us from guessing what's the next one. Look up the "Pet Rock" some time. That was pure genius, not because of the rock but because of the incredible instruction manual. Talk about creative use of advertising skill!

For me, I'll continue supporting new talent. My joy is watching their stars rise. Lindsey Stirling has been great fun to see go from her first shy videos to a seasoned performer who captures audiences with the wave of her violin. Check out her YouTube channel. And, while your at it, check out Peter Hollens and his wife. That's pure enjoyment right there.

- M

Goodbye is such ... a drag

I've heard the phrase, "parting is such sweet sorrow." It was written by a poetic mastermind named Shakespeare. Maybe you've heard of him. It's meant to say that yes, parting is harsh, but it's also sweet because of the care that follows. Both sweet and painful. Really, it's more than that. Life usually isn't so poetic. We don't always know we'll return or if they'll return.

Goodbye is expected, unwelcome, and a complete bummer. Still, life doesn't let us pity ourselves too long, because we get to say goodbye a lot. We learn to deal with it. Hopefully we learn to expect the opposite, which is "Hello." If we can force ourselves away from the negative and focus on the positive, then we can understand why some cultures don't even have a word for goodbye.

There is a phrase that I've heard a times, and perhaps I'll start using it now: "Until next we meet." There's hope in that statement. Hope for the future. Of course, saying, "Goodbye" can be broken down to "Good parting" and even more to "Bless your travels, and I really look forward to the next time we meet and all the good things we will do."

So, here's to the next "Hello." Until then...

- M

Oral histories, public storytelling, and epic tales.

Most of you have probably read the great old stories from long, long, long ago. Stories from like the "Iliad" or "The Odyssey" or "Beowulf." Those were originally spoken to audiences. Oral history is the ancient groundwork for all modern storytelling. The neat thing is that these histories were written down, but some are still told today. People still want to hear stories told to them, much like children want to hear their mother read out-loud bedtime stories.

Poetry isn't an easy thing for me, especially out-loud. But, public poetry has brought me to tears. At a writing conference I was babbling like a baby after a poetry recitation. It was magical, heart-warming, and intense. So, even my hard heart is softened by oral storytelling. I'm grateful. I'm inspired. And, I'm humbled.

One specific thing I hope continues to grow is epic stories. I hope people want more, ask for more, and demand more. We need more grand epics like my favorite "The Lord of the Rings" or the "The Ring Cycle" (which inspired my favorite epic), or also "Narnia" and so many others. What those stories do is to make life grand. With such stories there's hope for better things, better tomorrows, and better people. We deserve that optimism.

- M

Visiting relatives, in-laws, and *gasp* ... parents

My parents are here this weekend. Uh oh. Time for cleaning, vacuuming, taking out those incomplete improvement projects, and making everything seem perfectly fine. I know we aren't the only ones who do so. I'd wager most people don't want their relatives seeing dirty clothes laying around, or dusty plants, or even unmade beds. We are wired to impress.

 

 

Sadly, I had a couch littered with clothes I was putting on hangers when they showed up. And, I was also fixing our computers (actually had our internet cut off due to a pesky virus) so we could get back online--the cause of my lateness, I apologize. So, as always, my parents showed up when I wasn't ready for them. I'm sure my wife is rolling her eyes right now, but isn't it always true that parents look exactly at the precisely wrong time? They always seem to see what they aren't supposed to. I think it's eerie, almost mystical. Maybe it's parental superpowers? ... Oooh, so I'm a super-powered parent! Woohoo!

 

Hopefully my parents will forgive me, as I'm sure they will, and enjoy their weekend. That's my goal at least, to provide a comfortable place for them as they visit. We surprised them with a special meal, and are now watching football--and naturally our team is loosing. I want to show them a movie or two that they'll enjoy, and it'll be a great time.

 

In the end, I'm glad my parents are visiting. I'm glad to have visitors at all. It's nice knowing people want to come by and say hello. There's nothing quite like the feeling of being wanted. It's good to have family.

 

- M

Regional pride, national honor, and planetary joy.

It's interesting to note that we tend to be very proud of where we come from, where we live, where we work, where we study, and where we enjoy ourselves. It's not unusual for people to actually come to blows over something as simple as bad mouthing another person's home country. These things are important and are revered as such. So, why is it that in so many stories the characters seem a bit lost when it comes to pride for their places?

 

I think of the great story "The Hunt for Red October" which was a book turned into a movie. The main conflict isn't the submarine, but the fact that the home country of the main character (the USSR) was upset at losing an honored commander to a rival country (the USA). On the other hand, the USA was protecting itself against what they saw as a rogue submarine from the rival USSR. Both sides were protecting their own country, with tremendous pride in the act.

 

On the other hand, take the Star Trek universe. Planetary pride seems a quaint notion for the majority of the heroes. They are mainly concerned with everyone getting along. Perhaps I've missed it, but it seems only the villains are vigilantly proud of their home planet. Even in the newest movies, the pride of home turf doesn't seem to matter much--except again the villains, and Spock (who loses his to treachery).. The stories are great, but I miss the loyalist attitude of the older science fiction shows--Lost in Space may not have been great writing, but the characters desperately wanted to go home and I can sympathize with that.

 

Characters competing over who's home is better makes for fun entertainment. At least, I think so. The audience quickly understands the stakes, and then the author can get on with the action. Anything that helps the story get going is a good thing and using easily understood conflict is a fine way to do that.

 

And in America, Happy Veterans Day!

 

 

- M

I love songs I can't understand

 

Maybe I'm unusual in this, but I love finding catchy tunes where I have absolutely no idea what is actually being said--usually because it's not in English. I have a bunch of Japanese, Korean, Russian, and other language songs. Maybe it's because my interest in mainly in the rhythm and vocals but I really don't listen much to the words. My best friend will tell you that I actually have a sound check song on my playlist (it's title is "Nomad" though I have no clue why it even has a title). I rarely remember the lyrics, even songs I've heard a thousand times.

 

Classical orchestral music is what I grew up with, and being instrumentals they didn't have lyrics. The funny thing is that I do enjoy the lyrics to many songs, particularly musicals, but I simply don't remember them. Maybe it's because something wonderful happens as I listen... a story develops behind my eyelids. I've listened to Beethoven's 5th and created huge epics, but I've also listened to the Macarena and envisioned space battles. One of my best early short stories developed by listening to "Baby Elephant Walk" by Henry Mancini, and another favorite "Terms of Endearment." I wrote the story for a college writing class, and my teacher was surprised I had written it in one evening. The story bloomed from those two specific songs.

 

I talk about the magic around us, but it's just my label for the almost unbelievable creativity I see around me daily. It's the magic of the human spirit--and yes, that's a complete cliché, but I don't mind. What's important is that we seek out the exceptional wherever we can find it. And that brings me back around to songs where I cannot understand the words. Songs bring out such a wellspring of inspiration that I can't wait to find the next one. It's like finding buried treasure!

 

- M

Inspiration, the power of sudden imagination.

One of my favorite movies is a lesser known Steven Spielberg one called, "Always." I won't dare spoil even the beginning of this marvelous film, since every piece is tightly woven into the overall narrative, but I will say it deals with the concept of inspiration and where it comes from. The idea in the movie is that inspiration (or "divine breath" as used in the movie) is given at times of great need. More than that, inspiration is a gift, a loving touch... a blessing. I highly recommend the movie. It's a shame such a great movie hasn't gained more of a following.

 

 In our society, inspiration has rather drifted away as a concept. I'm sure I'm not the only writer who is asked, "Where do you get your ideas?" It's a simple question with a truly complex answer. Everybody is different. We draw inspiration from the worlds within us and around us. How can you put your finger on a single thing that created a story? I don't think it's possible. So, when people ask me where my ideas come from, I'll likely say, "Wal-mart." I just don't know. Regardless, inspiration is a curiously magical thing.. at times simply taken, and others drifting away like a Summer breeze.

 

One thing I do know is that you don't get inspired by sitting and doing nothing. You have to move, read, create, do, activate that brain, run your body, and make anything happen. Even sitting alone, in a dark room, if you allow your mind to wander you will find ideas flitting through your brain without struggling for them. Basically, live life and you will find your inspiration. Once again, there is magic in our lives, if you'll only open your eyes to see it. How else can I explain inspiration, but that it's a special kind of magic?

 

- M

Illusion and the Art of Misdirection

Magicians have understood the importance of getting people to look in the wrong place at the right time for centuries. Stage magicians use the concept to make sure the audience never glimpses what's really going on, what's behind the curtain, or creeping up behind. Illusion works the same way. I particularly love optical illusions, because they toy with our perceptions in ways that are nearly impossible to defeat even when you know exactly what's going on. Check this out...

 

Is it 2 or 3 prongs?

It's a classic illusion, but knowing all about it doesn't help. You still see the 3-pronged fork. Our brains are so well trained in seeing things that it doesn't know it's being fooled. There's another one that is typically called the "Dragon Illusion" which has to be seen to be believed (I've linked that to a YouTube video showing the magic).

 

Fooling audiences is fun for both sides, really. The performer is rewarded by gasps of awe, and the audience enjoys seeing magic come alive. It doesn't matter that it's all trickery. I think that's much of the joy, where both sides work together and create something greater than any of its parts. Poetic imagery aside, it's great fun. Enjoy it, and stop trying to figure out how the magician makes the rabbit appear out of a hat. Let the magic happen.

 

- M

Mazes, Labyrinths, and really tough puzzles.

 

Labyrinths are a special kind of maze, mainly because nobody uses the word anymore (and because it's where the Minotaur is kept). Mazes typically have one entrance and one exit, while labyrinths generally have one (or more) entrances, and contain a middle secret room (sometimes even more than one). Either way, the concept is a tough to navigate path that twists and winds all around and has an exit/prize at the end. Such things have a historic significance that I won't get in to, but they are now neat puzzles that can become insanely complex. My favorites are three dimensional puzzles that are in the shape of a cube, possibly with slices that can be pulled out and manipulated--in that sense, the Rubik's Cube is a type of maze.

 

The fascinating part of mazes is how often they appear in stories. I suppose there's something romantic about them because of the Minotaur, and maybe because it can demonstrate the high intellect of characters by letting them solve it. If you've ever had the joy of being in a hedge maze, or a cornfield maze, you know just how easy it is to get lost. Take a few quick turns without paying attention and you are hopelessly confused. I'd love to be up in a crane and watch people navigate such a maze. I think it'd be hilarious.

 

When I was young I drew quite a few mazes. I even made one on a roll of paper that was something like 6 feet long and 3 feet wide. I'm not sure how long it took to create, but I do know my brother never managed to solve it (well, at least not before he got bored and gave up). I was very proud of myself. The trick is making lots of fake paths and dead ends, and working backward from the exit to the entrance. I also made a computer program that created mazes as well, which was fun to do. Mazes are like secret codes to me... I can't get enough of them.

 

- M

Hot chocolate is so much more than a nice drink...

My absolutely favorite drink of all time: Hot Chocolate!

Hot chocolate is a drink most of us have had as children when there's snow on the ground and we've just come back inside from playing in the cold. Cheeks half frozen, nose falling off, and eyebrows coated with ice, we tear off our gloves and drink a cup of pure Heaven. If our mother really loves us, she'll put little marshmallows in too. Somewhere in the process, magic happens. A childhood memory creeps into our brains and grabs hold for eternity.

 

It's pretty well understood that smells and tastes can trigger powerful recall of our past. Drinking hot chocolate is an especially good trigger (at least in my opinion), and takes us on a whirlwind tour of the happiest times in our lives. After all, how can anyone be sad with a cup of hot chocolate in their hands? I don't think it's possible. Actually, I believe any bad day will become a great day with a single sip of hot chocolate. It's magical stuff. Ambrosia--the drink of the gods; so good regular humans can't have it. But, we have it now. And like the fire Prometheus brought, once we have it, we aren't about to let it go again.

 

Okay, silliness aside, I am so grateful to the inventors of hot chocolate. Other cultures have different versions, such as a little shot glass of sipping chocolate--a wonderfully thick version that isn't drunk in gulps, but sipped delicately and savored. More varieties abound, and I couldn't possibly list all the styles available. Here's a travel idea: go to places based on their different styles of hot chocolate; enjoy your world hopping!

 

Just a moment... mmmmm... ah, the sweet memories.

 

- M