It has been over a week since I last posted and, largely, it's because the photos from Gambia were creating such a rich conversation that I couldn't impose on that. Both Helen and Ingrida, who rarely post comments on any of our blogs, ventured out of their internet hermitages in order to question or comment. I feel very honored by such comments. Also, Helen's admission of playing Age of Empires II has finally motivated me to figure out the scenario editor and to begin designing a scenario. Currently, it's in it's rough stages, but I am creating an adventure scenario that we are pretty much all aware of, a recent remake of the Beowulf story based on a concept developed by Michael Chrichton. I never read the book, but I watched the movie in all of it's Hollywodd Grandeur, "Thirteenth Warrior." The designing took a few rough turns early on but I'm getting the hang of it, all told, I feel that it will be a harrowing adventure, always on the brink of certain and frequent death for our intrepid players (probalby Nathan and Helen).
Recently, I have been growing a little herb garden of culturally subversive ideas. I'm looking for more information and am hoping that there are a few people out there who are feeling motivated to offer some advice *cough* NATHAN and MARK *cough*. I'm looking for some authors who have written about the philosophy of anthropology (much like the discussion that Nathan and I had, minus the name calling) and insurance law. Drop me a line if you've got anything good or just want to comment on how cool it is that I'm getting into AOKc scenario editing.
Posted by Mendon at March 27, 2006 12:08 AMI find that if I want to have deep, fruitful conversation over a possibly contentious issue that I best not have it on the blogs, as most of us just want to give flippant little notes (or only allot ourselves 2 minutes to comment) and thus come off as a bit heartless.
Of course, that's just my experience.
Posted by: Mara at March 27, 2006 1:42 AMWhat?!
Posted by: Mendon at March 27, 2006 9:11 AMIt's really cool that you are playing with AoE - I look forward to the outcome!
Posted by: helen at March 27, 2006 4:17 PMYeah, I spent three hours playing today. Kristen, rightfully, scolded me to go do homework. Uh, so here I go:)
Posted by: Mendon at March 27, 2006 5:45 PMHey everyone, I forgot to mention something. Hayley just went on one of the coolest Spring Break trips ever to a tiny Eastern Carribean island by the name of Dominica. You can see her incredibly cool pictures at http://hayleyscomet.livejournal.com/
Posted by: Mendon at March 28, 2006 9:05 AMGreat Caesar's Ghost would be a kewl game if someone were to invent it! Thirteenth Warrior is one of my oft watched films. Of course, since my video player disappeared I'll have to buy the DVD version. Yes! You must do do do your homework love!
Posted by: papa D at March 28, 2006 9:58 PMI sympathize with Kristen!
Posted by: Ingrida at March 29, 2006 4:49 AMHahaha! Thanks for the "ize" Ingrida. You don't need to be accomodating in your spelling for those of us on the other side of the pond:)
As for getting work done, well, I'm really enjoying creating.Unfortunately, papa, I think that you would be disappointed with my rendition of it (i.e. it wouldn't look anything like 13th Warrior).
Posted by: Mendon at March 29, 2006 5:37 PMActually, Mensch, the -ize is becoming standard on that side of the pond, too.
Posted by: Mara at March 30, 2006 12:26 AMActually, it's just becoming confusing on this side of the pond, and microsoft spell checker doesn't help any either!
Posted by: Helen at March 30, 2006 4:33 AMTrue. But if you check Oxford, for example, "organize" is the first entry, with (or -ise) in parentheses.
I suppose it'll probably be confused for a time . . . until -ize fully takes over :-D
Posted by: Mara at March 30, 2006 5:00 AMThat's a shame. I like -ise better than ize. It's not a huge difference but it seems less harsh. I think it's because when I think about an 's' I think, "soft" and when I think of a zed I think, "razor."
Posted by: Mendon at March 30, 2006 9:07 AMI think I've had a little too much exposure to British English-speaking folk (and others) who find sport in attacking the States as if their countries are flawless and superior. Puke. A little part of me thinks, 'woohoo, one little victory for me!' So, thbbpt!
Posted by: Mara at March 30, 2006 9:46 AMPeople can be as angry as they'd like at the United States. Frankly, there is no country that, in the place that America is currently, has behvaved itself as well as the U.S. is, despite rampant misbehavior and corruption. Ardent nationalism, either in the form of patriotism or in hateful deprecation of other countries only serves to make the fundamentalist nationalist appear idiotic.
I think that my biggest struggle was with the clear desire to take America down a notch and, thereby, attack any American as though they represented the whole of America (which is why I got ribbed by my rugger friends like no one else, in Gambia). Unfortunately, if you have access to an American you are either in America or have found an American that doesn't really represent more than a very small section of all Americans (i.e. Americans who travel abroad are not really Americans unless they're on a cruise ship). But, I guess it served to placate their egos; I'm not bitter, mostly annoyed.
Posted by: Mendon at March 30, 2006 1:08 PM