Piled Higher and Deeper

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA~!

The Trouble With Theses...

Thank GOD I'm not going into the Grad Program... Cool comic, though.

CLASS: What I might just do for my final essay...

Okay. I'm thinking, "Remixing of Music, Remixing of Language". That's it. I'm just shift+home ctrl+c ctrl+v it, then ctrl+a ctrl+c ctrl+v it... 13, maybe 14 times - it's been a while since math. I believe the formula is something like n + 2n + (2n)^2 + (2n)^3... + (2n)^x < 10 pages, but I can't quite remember how to show it in the blogger editor... Basically, my premise will be that you cannot remix music w/o remixing (reappropriating, if you like) language in the process. And here, remixing/reappropriating will be defined as twisting another word around for your own use. As soon as I remember which story it was that actually referred to the necessity of a language to separate a colonized people from the colonizers, I'll be golden like the shower that shows up on porn sites as a fetish (which is one example of what I'm talking about - "fetish" is, in this context, actually a misnomer, though understandably so: hit "Sexual Fetishism" and "Paraphilia" at Wikipedia to see what I mean - though the second definition sorta describes all porn as well. Scroll down to "List of Paraphilias" to see what happens when psychologists meet up with etymologists...).

No, I won't actually use that example in the real essay. But it's along these lines. I know that Separation Anxiety made use of this - actually suggested the possibility of a world that prevented it from happening - and The Pretended includes some rap(?) lyrics in addition to the "remixing" of black people.

I suppose, since no one reads this anyway, I can also note the whole nigger/nigga thing (it amuses me that Firefox's dictionary add-on recognizes the former, but not the latter - and suggests variations of "niggardly" as corrections). I suppose, since, again, not a single damn person reads this thing, now that there's no class to force it, I can rail on and on about it in the most violently profane terms that, were I to continue on at the UW, would likely get me kicked out with extreme prejudice - as in, with a literal boot. And I would... but I'm too tired to get all riled up. Meh.

Oh, and I'll definitely include Brother From Another Planet - but not the DS9 episode, as a) I can't get hold of it in any meaningful manner and b) I don't recall it doing anything to really prove my point. Yeah. Time for bed for me... no sleep for the weary.

CLASS: "Blog Post #8 - The Dreamer and the Dream"

Let's see. Looking at it simply, Deep Space 9 is itself a Afrofuturistic entity, especially by 1950s terms – I can't remember the exact wording, and it isn't posted in full on YouTube, but the necessity of turning the story into a dream, and Sisko's pleas near the end, drive this point home very nicely. It's his “THERE! ARE! FOUR! LIGHTS!” moment, I think. I am also reminded of the line from Eshun's essay: “Science fiction might better be understood, in Samuel R. Delany's statement, as offering “a significant distortion of the present” (Last Angel of History 1995)” - in this light (har har I made a funny) it's all the more amusing to see the crew of DS9 take on the roles of various denizens of Benny Russell's New York. Because, see, there are two ways of looking at the episode: 1) the “proper” way, which assumes that it's all in Sisko's mind (a dream?), and is a “significant distortion of the present” in the opposite of its intended sense, or 2) the “St. Elsewhere” way in which Benny Russell is the real and Benjamin Sisko is the imagined, also as a “significant distortion of the present” but in its intended (although virtually dissimilar, even inappropriate, in context – Delany wasn't thinking of 1950s NYC) meaning. According to the Wiki page for the episode this might have at one point been the ending for DS9... But nah, that would've made it all too easy (although it would have explained the painful train wreck of a series that was Enterprise...). This brings up an important question, though – especially if considering that it worked retrospectively, back to the original Star Trek – in that, if the entire series was a dream or a fictional work on paper, would the impact of it change? Would it be better to have the whole series represented as a work of fiction rather than a possible future, or would the need for hope (and a brighter future with a captain whose shirt falls apart with a cough – thank god Shatner doesn't feel the need to “recreate” that part of the show at conventions) outweigh it? This is along my usual lines of rhetoric, and is generally similar to what I start thinking whenever I hear/see/sense someone over-analyzing a work of “art” in the broad sense (“Can't we just enjoy it?” “No. We English Majors do not enjoy art – that is reserved for the Math Majors.”).

I had something witty to say, but I can't remember it – so this is the post.

CLASS: "Blog Post #7 - (too much work to come up with a witty title?)"

“Behind the mask with its plastic shapes a-bob, the man was saying: “It's a decision many men, not to say women, make. ...Indeed, I read a report last week that said almost three times as many women as men on our world make this decision, though it doesn't seem my experience. The men – and women – who've made the decision we're asking of you include some fine folks, too: artists, scientists, politicians, well-respected philosophical thinkers. Some very rich and powerful people have decided to abandon their worldly acquisitions and come to the Institute here. They feel, I suppose, we have something to teach them. And though we certainly would never claim such a thing – our method is much too simple – perhaps we do.” ”

-- Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand

(page 5, 20^th Anniversary Edition, 2004)

First of all, I like how the guy does and says everything, say, a used car salesman would – he's trying to make the sale, and this makes his insistence on the character's saying 'yes' sound a lot like repetition of 'just sign on the dotted line here...'. In this light, he has no reason to be telling the truth about the report – this actually turns out to be likely, or even true, later on – and is covering his ass with “though it doesn't seem my experience”. I also see similarities between the process and a few things, like sterilization (castration/vasectomy – which he's had – or hysterectomy, both of which had supposed health and behavior/social benefits at the turn of the 20^th century or so) and asceticism (it's in there, particularly at the “abandon their worldly acquisitions” point – as opposed to “possessions”, which implies a different culture to me: think Ferengi).

Form-wise, it's a conversation – again, kinda like one between a used car salesman and a patsy: saying “all these famous people have bought this car” while pointing to a Dodge Aries. As such, the sentences are short and within standard breath-length, unlike some of the later, more descriptive sentences, and the paragraph itself is also on the short side – compare it with the one describing the effects and aftereffects of the procedure, just before this one, on page 4. Legality – concern for liability – plays some role here, I suppose, particularly in his last line, and it's clear that he can't force him to submit to the procedure. I suppose there's something to be said about the gender bit here, but due to the... peculiar emphasis placed on gender in the story, it's probably best to ignore it here.

CLASS: "Blog Post #6 - The machines in the machine..."

The one thing that stuck out to me in “The Space Traders” was the idea that gold would be an appropriate thing to trade a race for. In retrospect, the validity of this is questionable, as it appears that the average price of gold was gradually falling when it was written – and was in fact lower in 2000 than in 1990-92. I can think of several reasons for this – the best appeal is to a person's greed/desire, and the Traders do both with gold for Blacks – but if it were me, I would write out a leap in technology instead of gold. Remember Terminator 2 (Miles Dyson ought to look familiar...)? Something along those lines. Frankly, Bell either takes seriously Moore's Law – stating that computing power doubles every 2 years – and doesn't think we need the help from aliens, or he is not giving it enough concern, assuming that computers were powerful enough as is (I remember someone once telling me of a computer salesperson assuring them, in the early 1990s, that a 486 processor – this is before RAM became more important than processor speed in the public eye – with a 40 Mb hard drive were all they would ever need). Oh, and the general story greatly resembles “V”. ...which very few people my age remember, unfortunately. Should never have been canceled... Also, my theory is that the Traders enjoy the taste of melanin-heavy human flesh.

So now that I've given my two cents about “The Space Traders”, I should probably get around to doing the assignment.

I like The Brother From Another Planet. If nothing else, it's an amusing(?) look at human culture circa 1984 – at once an auspicious and ominous date, and I shouldn't have to explain why (judging from the way England currently is, though, here it is). And the biggest difference between it and “The Space Traders” is the tone, hopeful to Bell's pessimism and disillusion. It takes place almost a generation before “Traders”, of course, and I assume this is part of the reason. (That Sayles is white might also have something to do with it, but in the absence of better evidence I don't believe so.) It is interesting to think of how The Brother, technically an illegal alien, would be treated by the Traders – as, being an alien, there shouldn't be many official documents noting him to be Black, much less part of the official US population. I like how they specifically ask for “American citizen(s)” but then the question of immigrants (green card or otherwise) is not even raised. I really can't think of an excuse for this, as the Immigration Act of 1990 was fairly recent, and would have been difficult to avoid, especially for someone in Derrick Bell's position. I don't think he should quit his day job to write sci-fi, basically. In contrast, “Brother” specifically brings it up: an irate Fly, in my favorite part of the movie (the third Bar scene) notes how his ancestors built the country – how long ago did the aliens' (appearing to all the world as White INS agents) ancestors arrive?

I think that's all. Yeah.

Kinda Story - (unnamed) 2

I have the story mostly plotted out, but here are some Characters (it's looking to be a Teen-class story, too). There are supposed to be 8 but I only have 7 just yet.

T. Walter Garrand - main character. Never tells what the T stands for, but he prefers "T.G." to "Walter". The only person on the _Mary Proctor_ with AR (Armored Researcher) experience, having tested them as a summer job. Geology background, but hired for his AR skills. Generally in good spirits and tenacious. Curious about the GeoPhantoms. Rides the Mirage Hound AR, and is the best rider of the _MP_ staff. Believes the GeoPhantoms to be the planet lashing out at undeserving humans.

Matt "Doc" Hu - medic and biologist on the _MP_. Doesn't hold a doctorate - the nickname is an obvious joke. A deskwork sort of guy, but rides the Observer Cougar when necessary. Believes the GeoPhantoms to be a spontaneous mutation of Life (doesn't believe in "God" - believes in "Life"), and thus not particularly willing to attack one. Good relations with Acey.

A.C. "Acey" Stoll - Animal psychologist, which generally doesn't get used. Cooks and rides the Surging Bear on the _MP_. The most athletic person of the 8, and leads the others in morning warmups. Originally believed the GPs to be animals running on instinct, and wanted to investgate them as such, but this is disproved on their first assignment. Agnostic Christian. Good relations with Doc.

Bess "Lady" Duncan - Pilot and commander of the _MP_, and is charged with making sure that a) everyone is alive at the end of an assignment and b) the _MP_ is usable - in that order. Formerly a supply officer in the military - which is somewhat incongruous with her current position - but forced to leave after an unspecified incident, and picked up by GESSeR. Generally outspoken and blunt. Consciously does not think about the GPs unless it is necessary, and considers them targets then.

Will Johnson - Copilot of the _MP_, and the relay between it and GESSeR HQ. Has more affinity for the sciences than Lady, but lacks her authority. Files reports regularly, but still has to ask the staff for better data. Actually the highest-ranking member in GESSeR on the _MP_, and often ends up acting in a managerial capacity. Tends to see the GPs in a second-source sort of way, as words on a sheet and images on a monitor.

Phillip Coats - Reporter for Conglomerated News, installed on the _MP_ in exchange for a sizable donation to GESSeR. Has some Anthropology training for some reason, but is first and foremost a reporter. Somehow gets drafted into working as an operator (as GESSeR is a private company and not the military, they are allowed to do so) and doing odd jobs. Though the _MP_ staff is essentially on-call the whole time, he still manages to get in some private interviews (which are slipped into the book as in-between chapters). Ambivalent towards the GPs - almost objective.

Jenifer "Spike" Doorman - Engineer/Programmer/Tech Geek assigned to the _MP_, and apparently involved in every step of its construction. (Something along the lines of ST's Scotty and Xabungle's Kotosetto.) Basically in charge of making sure everything runs the way it should, and has no problem with customizing things until they run better. Curious about the engineering side of GPs, and would like to reverse-engineer it given the chance. Nickname comes from her personality and habit of carrying around rubber spanners to throw at people (and a mishearing of her name). When she needs to ride an AR, she kicks Acey out of the Surging Bear.

Kinda Story - (unnamed) 1

I'm at the UW right now, and I forgot my USB stick at home, so I'm going to type some stuff here.

A strange anticapatory hush fell over the crowd, a thankful change from the nervous chatter of a few minutes ago, as the HR executive manager stepped up to the podium.
"Congratulations . Now I'd like to say that you were all accepted, but that'd be a cruel joke. And we're all about cruel at HR, so..." Nervous laughter from the already shaking applicants. "But one of you made it. One of you has the chops to join our newest project. The rest of you came close, very close - the only reason we chose the person we did is because he happened to have some Ei-Ar experience. Otherwise, you are all very qualified, and you've all demonstrated yourselves very nicely - come find me or my flunkies afterwards and we'll make sure to be the 'good word' for your next interview, and I have no doubt that you'll get another job. That said, Walter Edwards, please stand up. You are the newest member of the Mary Proctor."
The 30 or so people in the room clapped out of relief as a youngish man in a red and white jacket stood up.

This is going to be the first part of a story I'm working on. It'll have monsters and giant robots. Ei-Ar refers to AR - Armored Researcher; I'm playing with the idea that there are very few giant robot series in which they actual realize that a 20-meter tall behemoth (1) is a big target (2) has to be concerned about how much it can carry (3) and is not likely to be very agile for its size and weight as the Gundam series would have you believe. So, the military uses the weapons it uses now (tanks, machine guns, helicopters, jets, ground troops, etc.), but GESSeR (Geo-Emergency Special Search and Research, pronounced "Guesser") Inc. will use ARs to allow its staff to safely investigate the emergence of GeoPhantoms.
GeoPhantoms are born of GeoPlasm (a real term, apparently, but I haven't pinned down the meaning yet), which appear somehow from faultlines that, in this reality, have begun to spontaneously appear going 10 years back - so the world is constantly wracked by small earthquakes (<3.0 magnitude). At first, the GeoPhantoms were small, just above human size (initially mistaken for Sasquatch and such), and attacked nearby humans without provocation, but turned out to be weak to proportionally-sized firearms. 5 years prior, they grew large enough to require tank fire to destroy, and have stayed at this size, though they have gained the ability to dodge tank rounds somewhat. For insurance purposes, they have been considered natural disasters (if large) or animal attacks (if smaller). They almost never appear in cities, but in more outlying areas where nature and urbanization meet.
GESSeR Inc. was formed as a contractor to the government (I'm not going to use a specific country unless I need to...) to specifically research the origins and possibilities of GeoPlasm - a recent discovery was the confirmation that GeoPlasm is a natural product, but is only formed with the strange faultlines - the idea for the first part of the story is that they (the crew of the Mary Proctor) find out what causes it to rapidly form together and attempt to deal with it along with their own theories as to what it is.
I think this story has some merit to it. I can paint a picture of the society in the background, and bring up various theories about the environment, as well as force me to improve my characterization-ing (if you, solitary reader, scroll down, you'll note that my last story is in first-person, and is basically me rambling).

Almost Live

Anyone remember this show? Like a Seattle version of Saturday Night Live. Here's a refresher...

Incidentally, I suspect that this directly inspired Seattle's indoor smoking ban...