Thursday has been officially designated as European history Thursday. I encourage all of you to get on that and find your favorite quote, event, or even your own observation on the craziness that is Europe and put it as your status. Or write a blog post about it, like me. There's plenty of crazy shit to choose from, trust me. And if you're at a loss, good ol' Fourier here can provide you with plenty of stuff. Wikipedia doesn't do justice to his craziness. Anyways, happy Euro Thursday everyone!
If you think about it, one of the most ridiculous things for anyone to say after looking at France's history between 1750 and 1950 is anything to the effect of "hey, this looks like a stable country to me. I bet it'll last into the modern era." It's no secret that France has had a few issues down the road (everyone knows about the guillotine), but most people don't really get just how bad this country is at keeping its act together. If the Ottoman Empire was the sick old man of Europe, France was the hyperactive child who just wanted to beat the bejesus out of everyone on the playground and didn't realize that he was actually way smaller than everyone else and kept accidentally punching himself in the face. I could make a lot of other bad metaphors to get this point across, but I think it's more effective to show you. Let's go visit France in the mid 18th century, shall we?
Backdrop: Everyone in Europe just experienced a wave of revolutions, creatively titled the 1848 revolutions, as a result of France "sneezing", AKA deciding that they really didn't like the government they had just installed and starting a revolution. 'Cause that's what French people do when they're bored, I suppose. Afterwords, everyone decides to party it up with a second Industrial Revolution, this time led by Germany who has decided that the key to being a successful nation is to build a lot of stuff and kill a lot of people. This "Blood and Iron" doctrine will, quite obviously, be problematic for everyone somewhere down the line, but is immediately very bad for France, who has graciously volunteered to be that "lot of people" for Germany to kick around with all its new toys by competing over influence in Spain.**
Once Bismark manages to make France look evil enough to his people, the Franco-Prussian war happens and France gets its ass whooped by Germany. But France can't just lose a war; look at what they did last time when that happened. They exiled their leader, got him back for a bit, fought some people, exiled him AGAIN, then lost pretty much everything they had gained in the last 30 years and started a good ol' revolution just for kicks. But it would be different this time. This time, they want to be a little bit less obnoxious to everyone around them and opt for a nice civil war instead, where they at least have the advantage of being able to say they won either way. During the siege of Paris by the Germans, the Parisians decide that they don't like their government. So after a nice feast of zoo animals and family pets, they declare Paris as an independent commune. And then possibly eat a few of their new countrymen. Meanwhile, the actual French government decides that this isn't good and marches to Paris. Not to lift the siege or fight off the German invaders, but to disarm the National Guard present in Paris. The Parisians don't like that, so they start shooting. Civil war. While they're already in the middle of losing a war with Germany. And also almost getting in yet another war over a small place in Africa called Fashoda, which I suppose is actually prevented by the civil war. So, yay?
The government of France manages to restore order by storming into Paris and killing a lot of people, saving Germany the trouble and making Bismark a little sad. At this point, they finally get a working government together that doesn't manage to piss off everyone. Right before World War I, when they get invaded and have to start all over again. Post-World War II France is now the 5th Republic, and they were on the 2nd before all this.
Seriously, France. How do you exist? Something to be said for tenacity, I suppose.
I'm Derek, and that was Euro Thursday.
*Despite mostly being in the middle east? Europe just encompasses whatever the hell it wants, I guess, regardless of geography. European history encompasses everything on the continent as well as whoever they screw over. Which is everyone. Now I know why it seems so similar to world history at times.
**Which is a dumb thing to compete over. Spain at this point has basically been taking a siesta since it stopped being awesome way the hell back in the 1600's and didn't really have much going on.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
I am not Spartacus.
I was recently engaged in what I suppose you could call a debate over the issue of women's equality and the role that men play in making it impossible for true equality to be obtained. Statistics were thrown, and I accepted them. Yes, men do terrible things to women. Yes, even those that don't physically or verbally abuse them on a conscious level may do little things every day that help perpetuate the problem. And I admit, I do things sometimes that might be considered sexist or discriminating. But this wasn't the issue I had with this.
The issue was that it was said that EVERY man, regardless of whether he tried to be a fair and equal person. was responsible for this problem. I know that I'm not perfect, but I try to at least make an effort to make my exchanges with women occur in pretty much the same way as I conduct them with men, with the exception of a few personal pronouns. I know I'm not always successful, but if anyone who has an issue with what I do and tells me I will make the best effort I can make to conduct myself in a different manner. When the point was made that this doesn't matter, and that I am equally guilty of these atrocities and inequalities regardless of my efforts, simply because I am a man, I felt personally attacked. And sort of powerless.
I acknowledge that everyone needs to take responsibility for their own actions. It's what the entire idea of modern society is based on. But know this.
I am not Spartacus. I will not take responsibility for another man's actions simply because he has the same form of genitalia. I'm not going to step forward and say that I am equally guilty for the world's problems as the man who beats and rapes women, or the man that objectifies them to satisfy his sexual desires, or the man that decides a woman shouldn't earn as much money because of her gender. Those men are responsible for their own actions. Saying that I am equally responsible because I was born into a society where men do these things is as bad as claiming that women are inferior because they are women.
I know that, as a man, I have a responsibility to watch my actions to limit the effect of the overall current of society on my interactions with women. THAT responsibility, I will gladly take. But I refuse to be personally attacked over the actions of other people, and then get blamed for being part of the issue because I deny the claims that I am essentially the same as the men who commit terrible acts against women.
No, I will not dedicate my life to eliminating the problems that women face. I would love to say that I am that kind of person. But I'm not. I can say, however, that in my personal and professional life I will do whatever I can to set a good example to others.
I'm more than willing to be part of the solutions. Just tell me my part of the problem.
I know I've said bad things to people, either seriously or as a joke, that may have offended. And for those, I'm sorry. But I can't say I'm sorry for getting angry when grouped in with rapists. When that's said about you, it's not something that just goes away quickly. That shit stays with you. Maybe you didn't know that when you said it, but it does.
The issue was that it was said that EVERY man, regardless of whether he tried to be a fair and equal person. was responsible for this problem. I know that I'm not perfect, but I try to at least make an effort to make my exchanges with women occur in pretty much the same way as I conduct them with men, with the exception of a few personal pronouns. I know I'm not always successful, but if anyone who has an issue with what I do and tells me I will make the best effort I can make to conduct myself in a different manner. When the point was made that this doesn't matter, and that I am equally guilty of these atrocities and inequalities regardless of my efforts, simply because I am a man, I felt personally attacked. And sort of powerless.
I acknowledge that everyone needs to take responsibility for their own actions. It's what the entire idea of modern society is based on. But know this.
I am not Spartacus. I will not take responsibility for another man's actions simply because he has the same form of genitalia. I'm not going to step forward and say that I am equally guilty for the world's problems as the man who beats and rapes women, or the man that objectifies them to satisfy his sexual desires, or the man that decides a woman shouldn't earn as much money because of her gender. Those men are responsible for their own actions. Saying that I am equally responsible because I was born into a society where men do these things is as bad as claiming that women are inferior because they are women.
I know that, as a man, I have a responsibility to watch my actions to limit the effect of the overall current of society on my interactions with women. THAT responsibility, I will gladly take. But I refuse to be personally attacked over the actions of other people, and then get blamed for being part of the issue because I deny the claims that I am essentially the same as the men who commit terrible acts against women.
No, I will not dedicate my life to eliminating the problems that women face. I would love to say that I am that kind of person. But I'm not. I can say, however, that in my personal and professional life I will do whatever I can to set a good example to others.
I'm more than willing to be part of the solutions. Just tell me my part of the problem.
I know I've said bad things to people, either seriously or as a joke, that may have offended. And for those, I'm sorry. But I can't say I'm sorry for getting angry when grouped in with rapists. When that's said about you, it's not something that just goes away quickly. That shit stays with you. Maybe you didn't know that when you said it, but it does.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Conclusions are murder.
I've been trying to come up with an ending for my WriMo novel for awhile now (since...November), and I've had trouble deciding. I'm nervous that what I pick won't be good or powerful or funny or whatever it is I'm going for in this ending. The fact that I don't even know what I'm going for compounds the problem even further.
I think the truth is, no matter what I pick it won't really be good enough. Because it means the characters have an end, which is sad. Everyone might live in the end, but it'll mean the deaths of a thousand possibilities. That really happens in every part of the book, since you have to make a decision at some point as to what is going to happen next. But you can keep telling yourself that you'll incorporate any given idea at some point in the future of the novel. The ending means that those ideas aren't happening. No matter how long the novel, some ideas die.
So I've come to this conclusion: Conclusions are murder.
Oh, shit.
I think the truth is, no matter what I pick it won't really be good enough. Because it means the characters have an end, which is sad. Everyone might live in the end, but it'll mean the deaths of a thousand possibilities. That really happens in every part of the book, since you have to make a decision at some point as to what is going to happen next. But you can keep telling yourself that you'll incorporate any given idea at some point in the future of the novel. The ending means that those ideas aren't happening. No matter how long the novel, some ideas die.
So I've come to this conclusion: Conclusions are murder.
Oh, shit.
Monday, March 14, 2011
An Abundance of Projects
Because I can't go for any length of time without dedicating myself to one short lived project or another, I've decided to start on a couple of different things. First off, the fine work of the blog BetterMyths has inspired me to start venturing into the realm of history based humor myself. The idea is still in its fledgling stages*, but I'm thinking of a sort of webcomic thing. Possibly on a separate blog, possibly just on this one. I was provided the title "Blood and Irony"** by Samantha, which I find to be both genius-level in simplicity and relevance, as well as quite amusing. It would involve jokes about history. Because weird shit goes down in our world, people.
*To be precise, it has no basis in reality yet.
**If you don't get that reference, you may want to look into that. It's the basis for two world wars and a century or Germany not playing nice with the other kids.
Idea number two. Finishing Dragon Age 2 put me into a bit of a mood for fantasy. I sat around for a lot of yesterday thinking of various plot points of a possible writing project of some kind, perhaps even next year's NaNo. Or a serialized novel to be written in the post-AP test doldrums of my life and put onto this blog. Nobody knows. I have a name, tentatively. But it's embarrassingly generic, I feel, so I think I'll just find something new. Writing projects are fun and exciting, and perhaps it will keep my writing skills up so that November doesn't kick the collective and figurative asses of my fingers and creative skills.
Idea number three. Script frenzy is coming up. There have been some ideas tossed around between Samantha and I about what we could potentially be doing with this. It's a little terrifying to even think of doing this with musical hell week and AP tests becoming frighteningly close, but April could finally get me off of my ass and actually get me going with something. Which leads me to my next point.
Idea number four. Finally finish/edit my nano novel. I've been putting this off for forever. There's a lot of work to be done on it. Then I can finally get that proof copy and put it on my bookshelf and say: "Look at this. I wrote that. It's small and bad, but I did it. Have you written a novel? Statistically speaking, it's unlikely. WHAT UP?"
That's how I plan to greet people entering my dorm room next year. I'll make lots of friends, I'm sure.
Keep on making yourself do crazy shit just for your own fulfillment, dear Reader.
*To be precise, it has no basis in reality yet.
**If you don't get that reference, you may want to look into that. It's the basis for two world wars and a century or Germany not playing nice with the other kids.
Idea number two. Finishing Dragon Age 2 put me into a bit of a mood for fantasy. I sat around for a lot of yesterday thinking of various plot points of a possible writing project of some kind, perhaps even next year's NaNo. Or a serialized novel to be written in the post-AP test doldrums of my life and put onto this blog. Nobody knows. I have a name, tentatively. But it's embarrassingly generic, I feel, so I think I'll just find something new. Writing projects are fun and exciting, and perhaps it will keep my writing skills up so that November doesn't kick the collective and figurative asses of my fingers and creative skills.
Idea number three. Script frenzy is coming up. There have been some ideas tossed around between Samantha and I about what we could potentially be doing with this. It's a little terrifying to even think of doing this with musical hell week and AP tests becoming frighteningly close, but April could finally get me off of my ass and actually get me going with something. Which leads me to my next point.
Idea number four. Finally finish/edit my nano novel. I've been putting this off for forever. There's a lot of work to be done on it. Then I can finally get that proof copy and put it on my bookshelf and say: "Look at this. I wrote that. It's small and bad, but I did it. Have you written a novel? Statistically speaking, it's unlikely. WHAT UP?"
That's how I plan to greet people entering my dorm room next year. I'll make lots of friends, I'm sure.
 |
| Rough sketch for possible cover of the novel. Isn't it adorable? In a sort of oddly misshapen way. |
Keep on making yourself do crazy shit just for your own fulfillment, dear Reader.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Dragon Age 2. Good times.
Somehow this week got entirely away from me. I did no writing, little homework, didn't see many people. It was very sad. However, I did finish Dragon Age 2, which I must say was entirely worthy of my time. The improvements on the first game were too numerous to list, but I think the one that added most to the immersion was the actual use of a voice for the main character. It was understandably absent in the first game, since there were 6 different race/gender options for the character. Making the elaborate dialog tree that this kind of game required for every one of them would have taken a lot more time and money than they probably wanted to commit to the game. There was only incidental dialog during fights which amounted to "I'm going to kill some stuff". It made it difficult to really relate to the main character and, since he/she is the vessel through which we viewed to game world, almost as difficult to relate to all the other characters. Blocks of text don't have the same feel as actual spoken words.
Limiting the main character to one race and only giving male/female and class options (keeping the same three class system of the first game with rogue/warrior/mage) may have seemed limiting at first, but it really did aid in the whole immersion thing and kept the storyline more cohesive feeling. In the first, the beginning of the game was really the only part affected by the race and origin story selected anyways, apart from the occasional comment. It made the game feel a little blocky.
Overall experience was great, other than the ending which seemed a little rushed. Of course, that's probably because they're planning another sequel. If they are, it'll be interesting to see how everything from the first two games will affect it. Events in Dragon Age 2 seemed to have much larger consequences than in the first game, since it takes place over a decade and even the smallest action will eventually come back if not resolved. For instance, there was a young mage having bad dreams about demons at one part of the story and I didn't help him. Three years down the line, he was a crazed guy killing bunches of people. It gives a much greater weight to things the previous title, where only the immediate consequences were ever faced.
If the Dragon Age franchise is done in a trilogy in the same way as Mass Effect, I eagerly await the final installment. BioWare has made significant strides with its titles over the years, and I can't wait for them to impress me more.
Anyways, now that I'm finished with the game (and not yet in the process of replaying it with a different character) I have time to do other, actually useful things. Like... blog. Alright, not entirely useful.
I was recently trained to be an usher at the theater I work at. It's amazingly exciting. I sweep stuff and deal with hooligans. It's significantly better than working in the box office or concessions. Yesterday I had my first shift as an usher, which would have been great had I not been sleep deprived and exhausted from the 6 hour musical rehearsal I had been at earlier in the day. Needless to say, I feel asleep quite promptly upon getting home at around 1 in the morning last night. One of the best nights of sleeping I've had in a long time.
Other than that? Nothing too exciting going on. I have to work on my poetry presentation for Lit class. Somehow I have to fill up 10 minutes with talking about a poem. I hate poetry. Blech. I might present tomorrow, but I hope I don't. That would suck.
Do not go gently into that good night, dear reader.
Limiting the main character to one race and only giving male/female and class options (keeping the same three class system of the first game with rogue/warrior/mage) may have seemed limiting at first, but it really did aid in the whole immersion thing and kept the storyline more cohesive feeling. In the first, the beginning of the game was really the only part affected by the race and origin story selected anyways, apart from the occasional comment. It made the game feel a little blocky.
Overall experience was great, other than the ending which seemed a little rushed. Of course, that's probably because they're planning another sequel. If they are, it'll be interesting to see how everything from the first two games will affect it. Events in Dragon Age 2 seemed to have much larger consequences than in the first game, since it takes place over a decade and even the smallest action will eventually come back if not resolved. For instance, there was a young mage having bad dreams about demons at one part of the story and I didn't help him. Three years down the line, he was a crazed guy killing bunches of people. It gives a much greater weight to things the previous title, where only the immediate consequences were ever faced.
If the Dragon Age franchise is done in a trilogy in the same way as Mass Effect, I eagerly await the final installment. BioWare has made significant strides with its titles over the years, and I can't wait for them to impress me more.
 |
| It was glorious |
I was recently trained to be an usher at the theater I work at. It's amazingly exciting. I sweep stuff and deal with hooligans. It's significantly better than working in the box office or concessions. Yesterday I had my first shift as an usher, which would have been great had I not been sleep deprived and exhausted from the 6 hour musical rehearsal I had been at earlier in the day. Needless to say, I feel asleep quite promptly upon getting home at around 1 in the morning last night. One of the best nights of sleeping I've had in a long time.
Other than that? Nothing too exciting going on. I have to work on my poetry presentation for Lit class. Somehow I have to fill up 10 minutes with talking about a poem. I hate poetry. Blech. I might present tomorrow, but I hope I don't. That would suck.
Do not go gently into that good night, dear reader.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
And we're back
I just returned from three days of skiing up at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville. It was surprisingly light on stress, an unusual occurrence for family vacations (perhaps not for everyone, but for my family there is usually a lot of unnecessary yelling involved) that was a very pleasant change.
I fell quite a bit, since I kept trying to do moguls and they defeated me over and over again. There are several bruises on me now, as well as a few scratches which I am confused about. But over all, I did alright. No serious injuries. I did get sunburned though, as a testament to my outrageous whiteness. Seriously, I got sunburned on a ski trip. Le sigh.
Now I'm home. An I have a rather large amount of homework to do. Blech indeed, dear Reader.
 |
| Our car, quite thoroughly packed with stuff. |
I fell quite a bit, since I kept trying to do moguls and they defeated me over and over again. There are several bruises on me now, as well as a few scratches which I am confused about. But over all, I did alright. No serious injuries. I did get sunburned though, as a testament to my outrageous whiteness. Seriously, I got sunburned on a ski trip. Le sigh.
Now I'm home. An I have a rather large amount of homework to do. Blech indeed, dear Reader.
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