Go ask the lizard-guy something....

[Emwok]

Crunch time?

It's best to be prepared before this hits. Or even better, to be finished before this hits.

Unless you're talking about cookies. If that's the case, then any time is a good time to crunch into those. Om nom nom....

It's weird how I work. I find it hard to work on things unless I have the pressure of a close deadline. My work is also usually a lower quality if I don't wait until the last minute. However, I do try not to wait until the very last minute so that if I have problems then I can work through them. Cookie crunch time is the best though.

Kylo Ren?

[Sstavix]

[
Kylo Ren?

What to the who now?

/looks it up

Aw man, he's a new Star Wars character? I haven't seen the new movie, and I didn't want any spoilers! Then again, since I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD, I suppose it's partially my fault for waiting....

Needless to say, I know nothing about him, so I can't make a decision one way or another.

[Emwok]

Kylo Ren?

What to the who now?

/looks it up

Aw man, he's a new Star Wars character? I haven't seen the new movie, and I didn't want any spoilers! Then again, since I'm waiting for it to come out on DVD, I suppose it's partially my fault for waiting....

Needless to say, I know nothing about him, so I can't make a decision one way or another.

Ah, sorry about that. I didn't think it would be spoilers since they released info about him prior to the movie release. I won't spoil anything else for you.

Rachmaninoff?

[Sstavix]

Ah, sorry about that. I didn't think it would be spoilers since they released info about him prior to the movie release. I won't spoil anything else for you.

I haven't even seen the trailers yet. So I'm hoping the movie will be a big surprise.

Rachmaninoff?

For Russian composers, I tend to prefer Tchaikovsky.

[Chozon1]

Words that get stuck in your head?

[Sstavix]

Words that get stuck in your head?

I'm more likely to get songs stuck in my head, unfortunately. The only time a word might get stuck is if I'm trying to come up with the definition. Fortunately, with online resources like dictionary.com, that doesn't last long.

[Deepfreeze32]

Ever felt as though you made a terrible mistake in picking your career path?

Because I do. I've never felt so sick of everything as I have working as a software developer. It's eating away at my soul, it's deteriorating my physical and mental health, and worst of all, it destroyed my passion for programming. I wish I had spent more time finding out what I wanted to do, because apparently I don't want to do software development.

[Sstavix]

Ever felt as though you made a terrible mistake in picking your career path?

Because I do. I've never felt so sick of everything as I have working as a software developer. It's eating away at my soul, it's deteriorating my physical and mental health, and worst of all, it destroyed my passion for programming. I wish I had spent more time finding out what I wanted to do, because apparently I don't want to do software development.

Let me share a quote from Steve Jobs, because it's been resonating with me lately as well.

For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: 'If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?' And whenever the answer has been 'No' for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

It sounds like you're at that point, too. So there are two questions that you need to ask yourself:

1) What do you want to be doing, instead? And

2) What is keeping you from doing that?

Once you identify the obstacles in your path, you can start working on plans to remove said obstacles. This will require some pretty strong commitment on your part, and a good deal of faith. Have you prayed for guidance? Heavenly Father wants you to be happy, so if you're not happy, it's time to change things. He may be able to tell you where you need to go, instead.

But if things aren't working for you now, then it's time to get things moving in a different direction. I'm leaning that way, myself. I've set new goals, I'm reading different books to change my approach to life, and I even grew a beard for the first time in my life. I'm thinking about putting in my two week notice at my job soon - I'm not sure when, but it'll be before the end of the year, at least.

I'll finish off with another great quote from Jobs (which I found while looking for the one I posted earlier).

Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it.

[Chozon1]

When you can't come up with a good backstory for the villain?

[Sstavix]

When you can't come up with a good backstory for the villain?

Then come up with a bad backstory.

Have you ever seen the cartoon show "Phineas and Ferb?" One of the main characters of the series is an "evil" scientist named Heinz Doofenschmirtz (I'm sure I've misspelled that) who is always coming up with hilarious backstories about why he's decided to become evil, including his parents not showing up at his birth (yes, both of them) and having to "work" as the family's garden gnome. Since their history is colored by the villain's perspective (a minor, easily forgotten slight to you or me may be a festering scar to this character) it can be easy - and fun - to turn a minor event into a huge motivator of the character to turn evil - especially if the character has a touch of insanity as part of his personality.It also can be a way to inject some humor into a serious (sometimes dry) script.

[Chozon1]

Yes; yes I have seen Phineas and Ferb. I think I watched like...three episodes today alone. XD Such a good show. Good idea, too. I'm not sure I could do it, though. Partially because of Dr. Doofensnirtz...I'm not a fan of the "It's not my fault I'm scarred" villain in stories. It's wildly hilarious with Dr. D, and you end up sympathizing with him.

But in 'serious' roles I tend to find the concept aggravating. Everyone loves Darth Vader, because he's such a great Villain. He kills his own people out of sheer villainy, and he'll blow up your planet for the bleeps. OG Star Wars, he was the guy you loved to hate, and it jerked all the tears when he was redeemed. But in the prequels, Lucas desperately tried to turn him into a "it's not my fault..." villain, with the result that when you watch the originals now, it's like...dude, get over it; stuff happens and it doesn't mean that it's OK to do evil. Which I think is the concept I find aggravating. It's never acceptable to do wrong because wrong happened to you. It's...excusing it, somehow.

At the same time, I can't deny that it works in a story.

Sherlock Holmes?

[Sstavix]

But in 'serious' roles I tend to find the concept aggravating. Everyone loves Darth Vader, because he's such a great Villain. He kills his own people out of sheer villainy, and he'll blow up your planet for the bleeps.

If you're referring to Alderaan, that wasn't Darth Vader. That was a decision of Grand Moff Tarkin. Vader may have killed people in anger, but when it comes to cold-blooded murder, I think Tarkin takes the prize.

OG Star Wars, he was the guy you loved to hate, and it jerked all the tears when he was redeemed. But in the prequels, Lucas desperately tried to turn him into a "it's not my fault..." villain, with the result that when you watch the originals now, it's like...dude, get over it; stuff happens and it doesn't mean that it's OK to do evil. Which I think is the concept I find aggravating. It's never acceptable to do wrong because wrong happened to you. It's...excusing it, somehow.

So do you think it makes a stronger villain if it's someone who does evil just because it's evil? Or do you think a villain is stronger (or more believable) if they have a motive or backstory which explains their actions?

Sherlock Holmes?

I have mixed feelings about Holmes, and it largely stems from whoever is handling the character. The original by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle may have been the best, of course, but he wouldn't necessarily be the best role model. I remember one story where it starts - and ends - with Holmes taking cocaine out of sheer boredom.

Of course, one problem with Sherlock Holmes is that he can be so darn predictable....

[Chozon1]

If you're referring to Alderaan, that wasn't Darth Vader. That was a decision of Grand Moff Tarkin. Vader may have killed people in anger, but when it comes to cold-blooded murder, I think Tarkin takes the prize.

Yes. Though arguably, since Vader was his superior and didn't stop him...it has also just occurred to me that Peter Cushing played Sherlock Holmes before he was Tarkin. O_o

So do you think it makes a stronger villain if it's someone who does evil just because it's evil? Or do you think a villain is stronger (or more believable) if they have a motive or backstory which explains their actions?

I would find it difficult to say. It's less a matter of realistic character, and more a matter of my annoyance at the acceptance of evil. It's like...a tragic backstory immediately earns a character an "It's OK to do evil guys, it's not my fault." In the only example I can think of, vampires. Is it OK for vampires to murder people and consume their blood simply because it's not their fault they were bitten?

At the same time, it's clear to me that I very much favor classical villains.

Studio C is funny times. Though I've not seen Sherlock.

British TV?

[Sstavix]

If you're referring to Alderaan, that wasn't Darth Vader. That was a decision of Grand Moff Tarkin. Vader may have killed people in anger, but when it comes to cold-blooded murder, I think Tarkin takes the prize.

Yes. Though arguably, since Vader was his superior and didn't stop him...it has also just occurred to me that Peter Cushing played Sherlock Holmes before he was Tarkin. O_o

I'm not sure if Vader was in charge, though... it seemed to me that whenever Tarkin gave an order to Vader, Vader obeyed without question. But Vader was certainly in command in the other movies - perhaps because the Grand Moff had been killed? I don't know how the rankings went in the Imperial army....

I would find it difficult to say. It's less a matter of realistic character, and more a matter of my annoyance at the acceptance of evil. It's like...a tragic backstory immediately earns a character an "It's OK to do evil guys, it's not my fault." In the only example I can think of, vampires. Is it OK for vampires to murder people and consume their blood simply because it's not their fault they were bitten?

It depends on how they're written, but I would say that it's because vampires are no longer human. After their death, they become a whole other species - one that views humans as a food source, rather than their fellow humans. So they become evil simply because vampires are evil.

But as for humans who become evil or turn to the "Dark Side?" One thing that I would prefer seeing more of is the demonstration that evil choices are still a choice that the person makes. Sure, bad things have happened to the villain. Guess what? Bad things happen to people all the freaking time. But it was the villain's choice to use that an excuse to do bad things. It was their choice.

At the same time, it's clear to me that I very much favor classical villains.

They can make a good story, can't they? It's fun to entertain the notion that some people are just born evil, through and through. Bad to the bone, as it were. There's no need for a motivating backstory - although a backstory to illustrate that this character has always been evil can be a good read, too.

"Aww, Timmy! You found a basket of kittens!"

"I know. Aren't they adorable?"

"What are you going to do with them?"

"I'm going to find them new homes! All I need to do is finish building the trebuchet...."

Studio C is funny times. Though I've not seen Sherlock.

It's not bad, but like most British series, awfully short.

British TV?

It sometimes bothers me that they focus more on quality, rather than quantity. They create some top-notch episodes, but just when you're getting into the groove of the series or the season, it's over. I've heard that they have the reverse reaction when it comes to American TV series, thinking that ours are so loooonnnnggggg!!!!!

[Chozon1]

I'm not sure if Vader was in charge, though... it seemed to me that whenever Tarkin gave an order to Vader, Vader obeyed without question. But Vader was certainly in command in the other movies - perhaps because the Grand Moff had been killed? I don't know how the rankings went in the Imperial army....

Vader had special privileges as the Emperors right hand/apprentice. I think it wasn't so much that he was officially in charge, but more that everyone had to bow to his authority if he stepped in. Pre-Vader, Anakin worked with Tarkin in the Clone Wars from time to time, so that may explain why he obeyed him. I could be wrong.

Still. My point was that Vader would blow up your planet just for the bleeps. He's just that kind of guy, I think.

It depends on how they're written, but I would say that it's because vampires are no longer human. After their death, they become a whole other species - one that views humans as a food source, rather than their fellow humans. So they become evil simply because vampires are evil.

But as for humans who become evil or turn to the "Dark Side?" One thing that I would prefer seeing more of is the demonstration that evil choices are still a choice that the person makes. Sure, bad things have happened to the villain. Guess what? Bad things happen to people all the freaking time. But it was the villain's choice to use that an excuse to do bad things. It was their choice.

I could probably live with that. More even than the insanity excuse.

They can make a good story, can't they? It's fun to entertain the notion that some people are just born evil, through and through. Bad to the bone, as it were. There's no need for a motivating backstory - although a backstory to illustrate that this character has always been evil can be a good read, too.

"Aww, Timmy! You found a basket of kittens!"

"I know. Aren't they adorable?"

"What are you going to do with them?"

"I'm going to find them new homes! All I need to do is finish building the trebuchet...."

I don't know about that...reminds me too much of this really creepy Twilight Zone that I do my best to forget. O_o I think of ye olde comic book villains; it wasn't so much that they were born evil (they did make the choice to do wrong). It's more that their choice to do wrong wasn't attributed to a bad childhood environment or some traumatic event, and thus acceptable. They just chose to be evil and filled their days with plots and malevolent laughter.

Discount board games are waaaaaaaaaay too tempting?