My [Top 5] 2013 New Year's Resolutions

It's no secret that 2012 has sucked a lot of flying squirrel balls for the vast majority of us. The economy is still in the shithole, politicians can't make up their minds, and nobody got me an African penguin for Christmas. 

So, in spite of that I decided to have a little fun on Facebook & Twitter today:

And I realize that change doesn't happen without first sitting down and setting some goals. Here's my short list of 2013 New Year's resolutions.

1) Finish the first book in my long Sci-Fi/Fantasy series: Realms of Angelus. If I can get 10 pages done five times a week, I can have the first draft finished before school starts up again. I'll also have a draft to present to Professor Hanifan who runs our Writing Center at SUNY Albz. I also hope to publish it.

2) Publish some short fiction. I have several short story ideas laying around gathering dust. I'm going to submit one of my stories to Offcourse, SUNY's literary journal and go from there.

3) Spend less money. I've dug myself into a ton of debt this year, due to unfortunate circumstances with unstable housing, lack of work, etc. I'd like to get used to living a little more simply so I can save money and do some traveling outside of the country.

4) Get my passport. With the money I'll save from using my crock-pot more often and working out of libraries instead of coffee shops, I should have just enough to get my passport which will last me for ten years . It's my golden ticket.

5) Start applying for teaching jobs overseas or in other states. I'll be a senior in the fall and I don't wanna graduate jobless so that means getting a six month head-start -- at least. Some of my friends have had very positive experiences teaching in places like South Korea and Western Europe. SUNY also has a Study Abroad department which could help me out.

Well, that's my top five! Stay with this World Class Adventurer through the New Year for the latest commentary, travel info, creative writing, and general nonsense. Peace!

Just Started Reading Game of Thrones

I'm a Super Fan of the Game of Thrones series on HBO. I got lazy about reading the books up until about two weeks ago when I went to my friend Felicia's little cousin's Christmas recital and ran into a woman with hungry eyes fixed on her shiny new e-Reader. She wiped an escaping tear away from one eye, pushing up her glasses as she did. Yet, when her hand disappeared they fell back into place ever-so-quickly. I had to ask what she was reading. Turned out, she found herself in the middle of the A Song of Ice & Fire series by George R.R. Martin after watching Game of Thrones on TV. I mentioned how I loved the show and couldn't wait until season 3. She practically pleaded for me to read the books.

So, I'm beginning with the first book and watching parodies on YouTube. Yep, that's how Winter Break is going so far.



(And no, I did not forget about my Winter Writing Challenge. I'll be reporting about that on the 22nd of next month with little video updates here and there along the way.)

Sandy Hook Shooting Sparks the “Violent Video Game” Debate (Again)

The tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut shook the foundations of our prior thoughts about gun control as a nation. Earlier this year, I wrote about the censorship debate surrounding the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Every time some lunatic massacres innocent people, everyone blames the same culprits.

“It’s the NRA’s fault, goddammit!” Someone will say.

“No, its violent video games! We should ban those!” Some other idiot will proclaim as they stereotypically wrap themselves in their faux enlightenment.

New submitter seepho [from Slashdot] writes:

"Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) has introduced a bill directing the National Academy of Sciences to lead an investigation to determine what impact violent video games have on children. Senator Rockefeller commented, 'Recent court decisions demonstrate that some people still do not get it. They believe that violent video games are no more dangerous to young minds than classic literature or Saturday morning cartoons. Parents, pediatricians, and psychologists know better. These court decisions show we need to do more and explore ways Congress can lay additional groundwork on this issue. This report will be a critical resource in this process.'"This legislation was prompted by reports that Sandy Hook shooter Adam Lanza was a gamer. A draft of the bill is available online. (Slashdot)

Of course, this is only a first step in the restriction of video game sales which will supply yet another crushing blow to creative expression and free thought. The fact is, that video games are a form of entertainment just like literature and Saturday morning cartoons. I play FPS (First Person Shooter) games as well as platformers and other types. I have never, ever thought about shooting anyone in real life. I’ve never held a gun, either and have no intentions of owning one. There are millions of other gamers, just like me, who know how to flip the IRL switch when console time’s up. In fact, most gamers possess enough human decency not to commit horrendous murders.

Of course, mainstreamers hold on to the stupid idea that banning and/or censoring video games is somehow going to reduce gun violence. But it’s really just a myth. You know what will really reduce gun violence? Looking at the real life merchants of death selling ordinary citizens unnecessarily powerful, military-grade assault weapons.

Should every American have the right to own a weapon for self-defense? Yes. Should an ordinary citizen possess a gun more deadly than the ones carried by local police? No. Should a single family own a freaking arsenal in their house? Hell no.

President Obama has been largely silent on the issue of gun control, which is highly unfortunate. In the words of my adoptive mother, “he certainly isn’t like other Democrats”. All this “middle of the road” pandering is simply a load of bullshit. In times like this, we need a leader with balls; someone unafraid of the rabid right. Yet, no real change actually happens because we, as Americans, have become complacent about the qualities of the people who represent us. I believe that Obama has a moral responsibility to take the issue of gun control seriously, especially after the laundry list of random massacres which happened underneath his presidency. Of course, after a shooting this devastating, Obama is talking. Why did it take so long?

Tragedies bring out the nature of us which seeks to find someone or something to blame. We have to find a solution, somehow, someway. The solution isn’t always clear. But in this case, its staring us right in the face. Too bad some people can’t distinguish reality from video games and feel the need to blame a form of entertainment rather than the people responsible for this shit.

If you’re a gamer and you oppose violence in real life, I want to hear from you. The more gamers we can get to speak up, the better.

Join the conversation on Twitter: #gamers4peace

Also, don't forget to check out Demand a Plan.

Chinese Colgate Bottle?

So, my bf noticed this morning that we have a Chinese Colgate tube. o.O;

For the life of me, I can't remember where we got it. I just know I only buy toothpaste like once a year 'cause I stockpile that shit.

Anyone from outside of China seen these before in regular grocery marts?

The 10-Pages-a-Day Winter Writing Challenge

As those of you who know me know, I have been working on a really special story for over ten years. At first, it was a graphic novel. Then when I realized I was more blessed with words than with visual art, I decided to turn it into a novel earlier this year. So far, I have 30 pages and 6 short chapters finished.

You may be wondering why this project is taking me so long. The simple answer is the life happens and sometimes it kicks you in the lady nuts until you're keeled over on the ground and literally can't get up. The details of everything that has happened within the past decade to delay this project (getting married and divorced to a psychopath who I didn't know at the time was crazy all before age 18, running away to live with my drug addicted best friend, losing all my friends over and over again due to constant moves across the country, the loss of my grandmother, the estrangement from my adoptive and biological parents, lack of employment opportunities, stupid legal issues, additional schooling requirements for my career path, and shitty landlords) are far too complex to get into at length. In fact, I'm sure I could probably write a book about how crappy my life has been from the time I was born to right here at the ripe age of 22. But I don't wanna do that. I don't wanna be defined for the shit that's happened to me but the work I've done in spite of all that nonsense.

My boyfriend is the only person who knows how to keep me out of the doldrums. In many ways, he's gone through a lot of the same shit and understands what it's like to be left out on your own without even so much as an explanation. We've always been there for each other. I'm glad he had the courage and patience to push me to continue my fiction writing. This winter break, with Dan's help, I'm going to be writing 10 pages a day of my fiction novel so that I can finally finish it.

I hope that some of you will take this challenge with me. It doesn't have to be fiction and it doesn't have to be 10 pages. But challenge yourself to do whatever it is that you love each day for the next month. What better New Year's resolution is there? Call me crazy, but I don't think the world is gonna end on Friday (though I do want to go to some sick parties).

Wish me luck publishing in 2013!

World Class Adventurer

 

 

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This is Why I Love Vegans

I’m not a vegan. I’m not even a vegetarian. My mother is but I’ve never found the idea of dietary restrictions very appealing, especially because I’m a poor college student and fiction author. Hey, I’ve gotta take what I can get. However, I have a lot of friends who have recently gone vegan and they have shared delicious meals with me…and a riding crop.

You see, every Tuesday, I go to my friend Claresse’s house to do laundry so we can chill out. It beats going to alumni quad and dealing with picky chicken heads who don’t think their clothing is dry even if it’s brittle as hell from being dried too long or shelling out $5 per load at the laundry mat. Being in the company of friends is always, always better.

So, yesterday night, Claresse and her roommate, Abe, tirelessly baked gluten-free vegan pizza and macaroni and cheese. It was so good that if I didn’t know the food was vegan, I’d have thought it was real cheese. When she was done with her portion and Abe was finishing up in the kitchen, we decided to pass the time by reading an issue of Stockroom, a full-fledged BDSM catalog. Her roommate came out into the living room to let us know that dinner was ready.

He walked over to us to glance a peek at the magazine then asked if I wanted a riding crop, noting that as a vegan, he really didn’t feel comfortable owning anything made out of leather. Since my old riding crop was most likely stolen by a former roommate, I ecstatically agreed.

At the table, we continued reading the male chastity belt section while munching on vegan pizza. Her roommate, Abe, shuttered upon viewing the metal monstrosity known only as “The Gates of Hell”. I’ll let you Google that, if you want.