We Are Enabling the Spies

We complain that the NSA etc are collecting data on us but we are making it so easy by handing it to them on a silver platter. We are spying on ourselves.  We talk about where we are constantly on Twitter and facebook. We show off pictures of the inside of our homes to total strangers. We share things "anonymously" on the net we would never share with our family or friends. News flash people, the government has found a super easy way to eavesdrop on your private life.

Stop doing that. Some have become so paranoid about information leakage they are going back to the old typewriter so their writing can't be traced.

I don't use a cell phone or drive a car so it's a little harder for the federales to track my every movement via a GPS. I have a hard wired land line  it even has a real bell in it.

Meanwhile if you are worried about who is data tracking check out this.

Picture of the Day

Bacon is the duct tape of food.

I wrote about the difficulty of having a creative muse. The old one wasn't working out. But a new one has shown up. I had an idea for yet another novel kicking around in my head for some time and just before I went off on vacation it decided it was time to be written. I have been writing every day since. I used to compose in the morning and write in the evening but this one has shown me the advantage to writing in the morning as well.

"That's when your imagination is till percolating from the night's dreams so that's a good time to write." I nodded my head. good point.

"You can write for an hour or so and when you start fidgeting about the day's other activities you can stop to take a break and deal with those." again , a good point. I usually end up debating with a guilty mind what to do first every morning.

The other problem is the inner editor and critic getting into the act and spoiling the fun.  She has assured them their time will come. Every first draft is shit, as every writer comes to learn and she tells me to keep writing anyway.

"It can be fixed in post. " as they say in the movies biz. Where gaffs, bloopers, etc can be fixed in the editing process.

The new muse reminds me why I love to write. She keeps me on track, encourages my efforts, is fine when I take a break, offers me insight when I need it.

I like this one.

The Real World vs. the Comic Book World

When comic book fans get together there is always debate about what the super hero would do in such and such situation. There is endless discussion about their abilities, battles and personalities. What's most incredulous - to me anyway - is how these fans debate about the comic book heroes as if they existed in our world. They can't.

The epic battles alone defy the current laws of physics. Then there is the matter of insurance liability for all the damage they inflict, social paranoia at the existence of meta humans, the reaction of the military and the media circus their appearance would create. None of it rings true for this world.

Fans of comic/graphic books often complain movie adaptations aren't faithful if every element  isn't depicted exactly as the original source,  it's disappointing. The disclaimer " I guess they can't show it the way it is in the comics -but still" is just another kind let down.

News flash- it's fiction people. Movies has limited time to tell a story-hence the use of  compression. Many elements can't be depicted because of money, safety and logic. The limitation is the comic book world (CBW) and the real world (RW) are two very different things.

Not matter how much suspension of belief is used the depiction still has to operate with consistent rules. Film makers are notorious for making up rules then promptly ignoring them when they are inconvenient to the plot or the film making process. Fans of sci-fi and fantasy are an intelligent lot. They don't appreciate bad science, faulty logic and capricious rules of physics.They can pick them apart. They know the difference and therein lies the problem. As I said, the CBW and RW are inconsistent with each other so there's trouble when fans attempt to reconcile the two and their logic can be as sloppy as the film makers.

Fans complain about the plot holes in Superman Man of Steel as if he existed in this world but he doesn't. Deep down there is the subconscious wish that the CBW is possible. A desire so keen that when the RW rears it's ugly head, it's reminder to the fan of the impossibility of that wish.

But this is all academic like debating how many angels can dance on the head of a pin. We are talking about fictional characters in a made up world and arguing about how their reality violates ours.

If CBW fans so desire to have that world like this one it's not by wishing the movies were "more accurate" or for a real world super hero, but by adopting the values and ethics these heros are trying to impart to the reader. Honesty, optimism, and justice. By understanding the the consequences of your actions you can be Superman simply by acting like him in your daily life.

Amtrak Lessons

I love to travel by train. I’ve done it many times and have a tried and true method. First pack light. People are always lugging too much carry on when it’s easier to check it. Unlike the airlines it’s highly unlikely it will get lost.

Bring a pillow and a blanket if you are traveling overnight. The seats are not very comfortable but an improvement from the earlier models. They are designed for a six foot 185 pound man, the rest of us-eh. They provide pillows that are nice but small. I have one of those padded collars that I dearly love. I also have something to cover my eyes. Blinding sunlight at dawn is not good. Also, they announce breakfast in the dining car pretty early if the crying kid doesn’t wake you first. If you are traveling in a sleeper-never mind. They are quiet, comfortable and expensive but meals are included. 

Amtrak decided to make travel either steerage or luxury with no middle ground. The two level train I was on recently ( the Coast Starlight) had some empty compartments that I thought would be an excellent place to put in a dozen pullman bunks that Amtrak could sell for $50 a pop but they haven’t figured that out yet. I did some hardy souls curled up on the floor with the little pillow tucked under their head. Right where a bunk would be. See.

Bring a snack. There is a dining or bistro car on most trains but meals can be pricey and are of moderate quality. I like to have my own snack as back up.  However, a beer or cocktail is most enjoyable while watching the scenery. They used to show movies in the lounge car but now with wifi on board everyone has their own gadgets. By the way put that stupid gadget away and enjoy the scenery. 

Keep your schedule open. Amtrak tries to be on time despite Union Pacific’s attempt to thwart their plans so the train can be late. I had no problems with the shorter Cascadia train from Eugene to Seattle but the Coast Starlight which runs between Seattle and LA is often late. If you’re traveling by train you’re not be in a hurry anyway. Enjoy the scenery. Waking up to Mt. Shasta is always amazing. I do however have a bone to pick with Amtrak about one thing. 

This.

You’d think people in the passenger rail business would know better but no. It leads me to think that the Emeryville station was a mistake from the start. The location sucks, a few miles north of the Oakland station which loads passengers for the same train.The late night train passengers have nowhere to get snacks because everything is closed. During the day one must get tokens for the restroom from the surly and often busy staff because, god forbid the homeless should use them, so let’s make it inconvenient for the passengers. The heavy door is punishment for those hauling heavy carry ons.

Amtrak runs pretty well considering it’s problems. Delayed trains, old equipment, no advertising to speak of, indifferent upper management, poor pay. The US government gives huge amounts to the airlines but a pittance to rail, yet the trains are running at capacity. And everyone hates the airlines. Every president makes  hollow promises of increasing rail spending but nothing happens. Europe and China have efficient high speed rail on dedicated track. In this country the old slow moving trains have to move aside for priority freight. Nevertheless I would rather travel by train than by airline any day. No hassles with security theater, roomy seats, friendly staff and the scenery is great.

All aboard (except in Emeryville CA.).