Random Thoughts And Observations: The Sequel

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

What Chris and Shadow said.

As for who is doing well, or doing better, sometimes it's hard to tell for all the barnyard roosters, looking fine, strutting their stuff, with more front than Selfridges and fuck all to back it up. Don't get me started on those bastards.

Have faith in your work, Tony, ignore the cacophany, cherish pieces that inspire you and always strive to get better. And that goes for the rest of us, too.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

TMLCrow · **Posted:** Thu Nov 14, 2013 9:41 pm

Don't look at the self-promotion, look at the work. A lot of those people are going to be one or two hit wonders. You've already published more than most of them ever will, Tony. Keep building your body of work and soon it will speak for you.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Thanks my friend.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

Argh. Just got a rejection. No matter. I think it'll serve as part of something bigger. I'm beginning to accumulate quite a number of what I call grim fantasy stories that, as yet, haven't found a home.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Fri Dec 20, 2013 10:55 am

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

Negative out. Thanks, Shadow

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Fri Dec 20, 2013 8:12 pm

Jazminsdaddy · **Posted:** Sun Dec 22, 2013 12:40 am

Saw 12 Years A Slave today. Absolutely devastating. The best movie I've seen this year by far. By the end I was literally holding in my tears.

Craig Cook · **Joined:** Fri Mar 14, 2008 4:25 pm **Posts:** 5637

Life is really good at lifting you up just high enough that it can kick you in the balls.

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Fri Dec 27, 2013 9:20 am

Bought this from my kindle wish list yesterday. I plan on reading some today.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Fri Dec 27, 2013 1:22 pm

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 2:41 am

I'm so wired. Just got home from the Clutch show my husband surprised me with. I had so much fun. I can't wait to see them again. Best surprise of the new year!

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Never heard of Clutch. Will have to look them up.

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:19 pm

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Nice review of their new album here: http://www.hitthefloor.com/music/review ... cker-album

And I think this is a song from them, but I won't be able to listen to it until I get home from work this evening: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAHO-trROm8

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:58 am

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

Electric blues, whats not to love! Thanks for turning me on to these guys!

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Thu Jan 09, 2014 9:02 pm

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Sat Jan 11, 2014 9:42 am

Thought I would share a palate cleanser after the story in just read.
This never fails to make me laugh. Enjoy! Here comes Dr. Tran.

TMLCrow · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2014 11:32 pm

I know I read a lot of actiony, spy, thriller type stuff that others don't, and one thing I try to be aware of is any politics that may be in the book, or any political coloring one way or the other by the author. I'm tired of looking at book after book where the bad guy is Muslim or Arab or Middle Eastern. It's tiring and repetitive and, honestly, intellectually lazy.

A co-worker loaned me a book. "You read horror, you'll like it." It's Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia. I read the back cover copy and it didn't sound too bad. Hell, the protagonist is an extremely hard right winger and that really didn't bother me. It wasn't the amount of weapon details that were there (enough that Tom Clancy would've been able to use it instead of Viagra.) It was the intellectually lazy writing of what I've read so far (approximately 90 pages). I'm willing to suspend a lot of disbelief, especially with some of the guys I read. But, holy shit, that first chapter. The author has made this guy practically a superhero.

Dude, take a lesson from other writers much better than you. Like I said, I don't care about your protagonist's politics, but the guy should also have some weaknesses. Lee Child made Jack Reacher 6'5", 250 pounds and more than capable in a fight. But he gave him limitations, too, like not being a great driver, a slow runner and, by Reacher's own admittance in first person stories, not always that quick on the uptake.

I hate lazy storytelling. That's why I didn't enjoy the movie Prometheus. At least try to make your characters three dimensional. Even if you don't succeed, I'll give you points for the effort.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

Thad, my husband reads similar stuff and he has the same complaints.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

This current edit is like wading through treacle.

Grumpy.

Jazminsdaddy · **Posted:** Wed Jan 29, 2014 10:22 am

That amazing moment when a story that's been rolling around your head for a year reveals to you an ending.

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

shadogrrrl · **Posted:** Sun Feb 02, 2014 11:28 am

I am so glad that the Ice Adventure of 2014 here in the Deep South is over. While I was safe and cozy at home (with my hubby and fur-babies), a lot of people we stuck at work, school or, horror of horrors, stuck in their cars. It was weird that just 2 days after the below freezing temps it was almost 60°. Same for today, but we do have some rain coming in. I just want everyone to know that my usual ritual of the buying of the Pop-tarts did not help this time. It usually staves off the snow. I guess I need to find what keeps the ice away too. I'm sure you're all seeing news about what happened here and Atlanta. This kind of event rarely happens this far south. It caught everyone off guard. I had seen a forecast from one of the local meteorologist just a half hour before the snow started to accumulate at my house. It was sticking to everything 2 hours later. This was a scary predicament to say the least. Even though we were prepared (aforementioned Pop-tarts), we are still thinking of ways to be proficient.

(P.S. I realize that some of you have no idea about the Pop-tart ritual, I apologize. Sometimes I forget that not all of you are in my head.

)

ttzuma · **Joined:** Wed Feb 14, 2007 10:15 pm **Posts:** 13517

I didn't realize you live in Atlanta. Nice to read you weathered the storm okay. But I have to say...ugh...pop tarts. Not sure I ever liked those, even as a kid.

JJHolden · **Joined:** Sat Apr 23, 2011 1:25 am **Posts:** 1712

I saw a lot of people pooh-poohing the situation in Atlanta, due to the chaos and a comparative lack of snow, but it's very deceiving. Two feet of the white stuff and you know exactly what you're dealing with. A thin layer, coupled with black ice, and not so much.

Back home, getting to work along rural country lanes, before 'the gritter' had driven by, was a nightmare. I used to take it super-slow, but some drivers ended up on two wheels, parked up the side of a dry wall with the sheep looking on. Treacherous, not to mention embarrassing.

Good to know you're safe.

Random Thoughts And Observations: The Sequel

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