Another Stupid Live Journal (read it anyway)

Metaphysics, Angels And Quantum Theory

2009-11-10T07:17:24Z

Could a plausible theory be extrapolated for Angels/Paranormal Activity being an aspect of Quantum Physics?

Having an interesting discussion on MetaFilter. I posed a question: Could a plausible theory be extrapolated for Angels/Paranormal Activity being an aspect of Quantum Physics?

A number of varied responses, but I’m really interested in seeing whether answers from writers would be different in approach. If you’re keen, I’d be most appreciative for you to either post thoughts on MetaFilter or on my blogger page, Facebook or Livejournal. The thread can be found here:

http://ask.metafilter.com/137706/Metaphysics-Angels-And-Quantum-Theory

Left Of Center

2009-11-10T05:41:25Z

That’s how I’ve been feeling the last couple of days. I wrote my last exam for my BA on the 6th of November and promptly spent the following three days melting my brain with TV because I was unable to do anything else. I felt like I’d been high for a week and had finally crashed in the worst way possible. Three weeks’ worth of anticipation caught up with me like a bad rash and there was nothing to do but blob in front of the aforementioned moving images, as well as snuggle up next to Jen at intermittent intervals to watch (and help) her play Monkey Island. Good times.

Lots of tea, too.

As of today I am finally feeling like I’ve caught up with myself. I feel guilty when I take days off and don’t write, but I’ve been told that this is the kind of thing to earn you a degree in Burnout (had that before, not fun), so I’ve been a good girl and rested my brain. But today I did write a little and it felt great. Good to be back. The flow will start readily again as of tomorrow.

Tonight, I still have some Fringe episodes from Season One to catch up on and I must say that I do love that show. It’s nice to see all those freaky things you’ve been trying to get your friends interested in for years being dished out to the general viewing public. Good job, J.J. Now please, don’t screw us over on LOST.

I Can Hear The Sound Of Christians Fuming

2009-10-26T05:59:11Z

As part of a paper on Children’s Literature at uni, we studied Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy. It’s so much more of course than a retelling of Paradise Lost, but even if approached on that level it works rather well. So I for one am looking forward to Pullman’s new book, to be released around Easter 2010 – ‘The Good Man Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ’.

I can already hear the gnashing and gnawing of teeth over this. The book tells the story of how St Paul apparently embellished the story of Jesus having been the son of God.

Personally, I don’t particularly care what anyone believes, as long as they don’t hurt anyone in the process and refrain from forcing their beliefs on others. What is good about books like these is that they make people ask questions; hopefully they make children ask questions (even more so than necessary), because while it is most of the time beneficial for children to heed their parents, there are times when they should blatantly reject what grownups tell them.

So here’s to you, Mr Pullman. We’ll be seeing you a lot in the news come egg-hunting season next year.

'Moon' - Directed By Duncan Jones

2009-10-25T09:43:17Z

Phenomenal. This is the kind of movies we want to see, Hollywood!!!!

H.P. Lovecraft

2009-10-25T01:37:15Z

Because I feel the man and his work deserves all the attention it can get.

“If we knew what we are, we should do as Sir Arthur Jermyn did; and Arthur Jermyn soaked himself in oil and set fire to his clothing one night.”

-- "Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family" 
 by H.P. Lovecraft

The Weight Of Paper And Ink

2009-10-24T23:11:10Z

I usually try and not print out chunks of what I’ve written so as not to get bogged down in edits. But Jen has been asking to read what I have so far, so yesterday I printed out 20 000 of the 30 000 words I’ve got down for book one of the Strickland Diaries.

Strangely enough, I haven’t had the urge to go sit down and read it all. Apart from making note of a few things courtesy of some crits from a fellow scribbler (inspiring red underlines and circles) I don;t really feel the inclination to go and pour over it at all. Which is a good thing. Besides, I’m much to keen to figure out what happens next, and which characters jostling for attention will get the first say.

It must be said though – it feels good to hold 20 000 words in your hands.

If you missed it, Alex Strickland (of Strickland Diaries fame) has a Facebook profile

Saturday Night: Changes

2009-10-24T08:02:14Z

Was going to see ‘Moon’, but a change of plans now has that happening tomorrow night. Snuggled in bed with cats and lovely. Tea next. Then some mindless TV.

Saturday Night Word:

2009-10-24T06:39:15Z

collywobbles: intestinal cramps or other intestinal disturbances. (also known as tummy ache)

Stalking Daylight

2009-10-15T21:52:55Z

Here's a spiffy update of the treatment-in-the-works myself and SF author Marianne de Pierres are writing for Enchanter Productions. Kick. Ass.

Stalking Daylight

Also, The Book Blog

2009-10-13T07:48:29Z

I finally have the Wordpress blog set up dedicated entirely to the book I'm writing. You can find some interesting details about characters, guilds, soundtracks and more there, which will be updated frequently -

Strickland Diaries

Also, the protagonist, Alex Strickland has her own Facebook page:

Alex Strickland's Facebook Page

Protestant Guilt And Shifting Landscapes

2009-10-13T07:40:45Z

Those are but two of the cool topics
I recently talked about the World SF Blog
in a short piece about the influence of
background and environment on writing.

lynnejamneck @ 2009-10-09T14:02:00

2009-10-09T01:03:52Z

Somehow the protag of my novel, Alex Strickland, got herself a profile on
Facebook.

This will be trouble.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000327533440&ref=name

Getting Ranty Pays Off

2009-09-25T02:35:34Z

Sometimes it helps to go on TILT.

As noted in the rant-fest of an entry below this one... The day after said rant was posted, I emailed a very nice email to said lecturer explaining my position and why I thought certain of her comments had disadvantaged my grade. Result? Lecturer remarked essay and bumped grade from a B+ to an A-

Her email in response stating that she appreciated my commitment to the subject was nice. I had no intentions for feeling vindicated, just to make sense.

Original post at http://lynnejamneckdiaries.blogspot.com/

Learn To Recognise Good Data When You See It: A Rant In No Particular Parts

2009-09-21T03:53:25Z

It's been hard at times, but for three years I've kept my mouth shut. About what, you ask? Well, most of the time Stephen King (because the man can be a joy to quote). But on the whole—genre fiction.

Context: University. Double major—English Literature and Religious Studies.

In three years, I have never raised contentions about either a grade I was given or the content of an essay. Until today. Today, while I tried not to froth at the mouth and head-butt the pillars of academia, I lost my pip. I lost it quietly, because I still had lectures to attend, but still enough to write down a mini rant. And I rarely rant. Today, then, must be a rare day.

Point of contention: Quoting Stephen King as an expert in the field of writing.

So I'm writing this nifty little essay for my Religious Studies paper "Myth And Ritual". In said paper, I propose to put forth the notion that the act of writing is a ritual comparable to that practised within ancient Shamanic traditions. I got all my quotes and lovelies for the shamanism theory down, no biggie. During the course of this little essay, I manage to quote both Clive Barker and Stephen King. [if you're curious, the quotes are: "I work to loud music—hard rock stuff like AC/DC… Metallica… but for me the music is just another way of shutting the door. It keeps the mundane world out.(KING); "I think novelists go out into a space that is essentially a psychic space… report back and say 'That's what I saw' (BARKER).

Notes in the margin, how we love them. So on the page where I offer up the quote from King, Mr Pet Cemetery's name is circled, and in the margin next to it, the following note: GOOD DATA ARE NEEDED.

Excuse me, what? That's funny. Because when I was writing this essay, I thought the best possible "data" you could get when it comes to what goes on during the creative writing process would be to quote a fucking best-selling writer. Now, it is interesting to notice that, on the very next page, Mr Clive has no angry circle around his name, and there is no mention of any GOOD DATA. Two things: 1)either the marker got sick of telling me to offer up GOOD DATA, or said marker didn’t recognise the name of Mr Clive, therefore having no clue that he wrote the same nonsensical, genre troll-trash as Mr King.

This is not the first time this issue has come up and I am sure you are all familiar with the biased opinions some academics hold against genre work. Yes, I know that in the academic field we like to have a nice theory from some third party who has, in numerous cases, never experienced exactly what it is they are theorising about. That's a good and a bad thing; good because it allows for a sense of distance and objectivity; bad because without experiencing something, really, can you ever know what the fuck you are talking about? Should academics not by now begin to realise that they can potentially benefit an enormous amount from people who are actually touching the very heart of what they themselves are working so hard at understanding?

I should perhaps mention that, said marker have on many an occasion displayed public disapproval verging on disrespect for Carl Jung's theories, many of which have an extremely close relationship to topics such as the imagination, the subconscious and the unconscious, human attributes that I believe are highly undervalued and underrated when it comes to understanding and interpreting not only literature, but us little Homo Sapiens as a whole. But then, those things are not concrete; they can't be put under a microscope and mapped, so fuck 'em. They mean nothing.

I'm not ranting because I want a better grade. But just once, I'd like you recognise that, when it comes to fiction--writing it, knowing it, living it, understanding it--Stephen King and any other seasoned writer has something valid to say. And you can take it as "data".

Final comments on the essay? "Some good insights here; best when substantiated with some data." I gave you data. You just blithely ignored and refused to see it because you allowed what you think you know about a "hack" to make you think you know better.

End note: Not all academics seem to live inside a sheltered box of theory. Earlier this year, a different Religious Studies lecturer in the same faculty admitted to me that genres such as science fiction may very well be better equipped to explain metaphysical notions about ourselves and the world. Aces.

Feel free to redistribute this link as well as the original post at http://lynnejamneckdiaries.blogspot.com/

The Outer Alliance: Pride Day Post

2009-09-01T08:17:18Z

1 September is The Outer Alliance Pride Day! Head over to my BLOG to find out more... In celebration, all Outer Alliance members are posting excerpts of their work today. I've posted a small excerpt of the novel I'm working on. Find it at the blog linked above.

As a member of the Outer Alliance, I advocate for queer speculative fiction and those who create, publish and support it, whatever their sexual orientation and gender identity. I make sure this is reflected in my actions and my work.

2012 - Showstopper!

2009-08-27T21:53:45Z

It's getting closer and the crazies will from now on only continue to come out of the proverbial woodwork... Check this out - want to lead the Post 2012 World?

http://lynnejamneckdiaries.blogspot.com

District 9

2009-08-12T04:55:59Z

Anyone seen District 9 yet? I haven't been this psyched about a movie in forever. Though I hear it's a bit gory, I can probably
make myself stand it just because I've been saying for ages that South African SF needs to get its due. And Neil Blomkamp sure seems
to be getting rave reviews for this one.

Smoking: Yay? Nay?

2009-05-31T23:23:12Z

On the Net for two minutes this morning and already annoyed. Here's why:

The Smoking Post

Strickland Diaries Soundtrack 1.1

2009-05-28T04:56:46Z

The first part of the soundtrack for the first book in the Strickland Diaries series has just fallen into place. Music informs how and what I write to a great extent; I still can't really explain it properly, but the two compliment one another in a way that makes the writing complete, what I want it to be.

I'd be curious to know what kind of atmosphere/feelings transpire for someone else who listens to this without having read any of the book. So if you're keen to have a go, email me (junonite AT gmail DOT COM) and I will give you some more details.

Track List (Listen in given order) :

Enjoy The Silence (Intro)
Haunted - (Olivia)
Inertia Creeps (Where Are We?)
Butterfly On A Wheel (Storm Coming)
Magic (Juno City)
Danger! (High Voltage) (Pandaemonium)
Zwara (The Monarch)
Black Cat Bone (Alex)
Love Kills (Leto)
Magic (Truth Reveals Itself)
Confide In Me (Temptation)
Dirty Deeds (How Things Are)
Dakota (Leaving)
Shape Of My Heart (Cis)
Stand Back (Nothing And Everything)
All Is Full Of Love (End, Beginning)

A Pretty Weird Thing Happened Recently

2009-05-14T03:58:46Z

The protag of my novel in progress created her own Twitter feed.

Alex Strickland's Twitter

The Day Before You Came

2009-05-12T19:14:13Z

It's the ABBA song. But what does it really mean?

CLICKO FOR BLOGGO

>:( gag

2009-05-05T06:57:45Z

A response to John Minto's article on Scoop about South Africa becoming a failed state:

Too bad John Minto doesn't have a fact checker - the ANC didn't win a two thirds majority.

I also think terms like "failed state" is a tad harsh for someone to use who has only been in South Africa for 2 weeks in his life-ever-and is in his own words a "critical observer". Yes, the government is corrupt. The ANC is making money off the suffering of their own people for the sake of capital gain, the very people they so emphatically promised a better future with the abolishment of Apartheid. But that's the government you are talking about, Mr Minto, not South Africa as a whole. In this year's election, the ANC did not win their expected 2-thirds majority, showing that there is indeed a shift in thinking when it comes to public opinion.

People with deeply ingrained loyalties, who have been oppressed for years, and who are scared of the alternatives are not going to change sides overnight. How long has it been, fifteen years since the first democratic elections? That's a very short time. SA is a nation still very much broken by it's past and stunned by the changes that have taken place in such a short time. That said, I'd hardly call what has happened there in the past 20 years a "failure".

I think Mr Minto should be careful about making statements such as these on the basis of a two week visit and observation from a distance. After all, when apartheid was abolished, how many people assumed that the country would be plunged into a state of chaos? The psychology of a nation runs much deeper than the surface observations of a political activist. Corruption runs deep in all governments, but that does not automatically mean that a state is destined for imminent collapse.

I have great respect for activists; how can I not, given my background? But when their subjective statements begin to cloud what is supposed to be objective reporting, I get antsy.

Nightmare On Elm Street Remake

2009-04-25T01:13:53Z

Will a Goth Nancy undermine the message? You tell me, but I think so...

http://lynnejamneckdiaries.blogspot.com/

Six Shooter - Brenda Cooper

2009-04-23T21:10:04Z

The first installment in a series of short interviews I'm doing for Suite101 is now up. The lovely Brenda Cooper gives six answers to six questions about among others favourite books and which fictional character she would like to be for a day.

Six Shooter: Brenda Cooper

Like Dan Brown? Hate Him?

2009-04-21T22:37:31Z

Speak your mind!

http://lynnejamneckdiaries.blogspot.com/