Consciousness:

A lot of things are on my mind tonight, and none of them would really make a coherent blog entry. The first thing I'd like to mention is that, for all my video gaming purposes, today is July 32nd. I set a goal to finish 'Kingdom Hearts' in the month of July, in order to devote August to the sequel. I was still playing 'Kingdom Hearts' earlier today, and therefore it is still July. Admittedly, this does not make the academic year any further away, but that is not a concern to me right now. My only concern regarding the passing of time is that I complete 'Kingdom Hearts' within the bounds of my own personal July.

As it happens, I was playing that game earlier today when suddenly everything around me running on electricity ceased function and then, in as short an instant as they had all turned off, resumed their work again. The air conditioner, the television, the stereo, the lamp, the PlayStation 2--they all stopped working and then tried to pretend that nothing had happened. Despite their best efforts, I could tell that the malfunction had occurred because the television screen was displaying blankness rather than an adventurous stripling with a large key as his weapon fighting darkness alongside a spellcasting duck and whatever the heck Goofy is. This was most likely some small mistake with no greater significance, but I am always prone to finding relevance and messages where there are none, so I took the moment as I sign that I should put the controller aside and find a more productive method of spending my time. So, after a quick lunch, I continued reading Life of Pi, the novel that I borrowed from the library a few weeks ago. You'll get more thoughts on this book once I have actually finished reading it (which I expect to be tomorrow, because I ususally can't stop reading once I know I've reached a point near the ending), but I will say already that it is unlike anything I have ever read before.

"Hey, Will, what else is on your mind?" So kind of you to ask, fingers. Right now, a portion of my mind is consumed by thoughts about the afterlife. But don't be too concerned, as that is quite normal for me. Like vampires and other supernatural things, concepts and speculations about the afterlife fascinate me quite a lot. Thoughts of this nature are particularly persistent tonight because of a story that I have been listening to rather than reading for the past two days. I would gladly read it, if it were in print. Instead, it's recited in parts on a podcast. Podcasting has been on my mind a lot recently, too. For a long while, I have had the obsessive tendency to make plans for the future of the "Youngcast," plans that ultimately probably won't matter much, considering that the moment of recording usually dictates who and what appears in any given episode. As I was saying, it is Tvindy (blog, podcast, other podcast) who is most responsible for very often driving me to either create or at least listen to a podcast. Besides listening to his podcasting efforts, lately I have also been perusing some archives, including "Bob's Yer Uncle" (recommended by Tvindy himself). What I've heard so far has been very entertaining.

"Your train of thought is being derailed." Thank you again, fingers. I was saying something about the afterlife, wasn't I? We'll get to that; I promise. First, let me explain that I was in such a podcast-y mood that I was searching through a "Top 100" list on Podcast Pickle. Eventually, I found a title that caught my eye: "I Should Be Writing" It caught my eye because, at any given moment, I often do feel that I should be writing. I listened to a few of the shorter episodes, and I loved what I heard. Aspiring writers rejoice, for this is good listening. I was so thrilled with it (not to mention inspired by it) that I investigated another podcast created by the same person. This one is entitled "Geek Fu Action Grip." Immediately I noticed that for weeks now this author, Mur Lafferty, has been reading a work-in-progress story called "Heaven." That sounded like a marvelous place to start enjoying this podcast. And so, having listened to the first two parts, my thoughts about the afterlife were again pursued. I highly recommend these podcasts.

Not surprisingly, listening to a podcast called "I Should Be Writing" has gotten me thinking a lot about writing as well. Honestly, I've got a lot to consider. I'm sure that you remember my good friend Vikk Simmons at "Down the Writer's Path." Much to my delight, she recently informed me that she has launched a new web site, still in its beginning stages, called "Power POPP," with plenty to offer to folks like me who just love to write and aspire to better their writing. The site is open to all submissions, and Vikk has invited me to contribute something. As much as I would love to do so, I must admit that I haven't figured out yet what I would have to offer. And, while we're on the subject of aspiring to be a writer, my best friend Brian (having discovered it in his persistent hunt for things of interest regarding colleges, scholarships, et cetera) recently informed me of the year-round quarterly "L. Ron Hubbard Writers and Illustrators of the Future Contest." I am very, very intrigued (about the writing part).

In honesty, there are a few other things on my mind, including but not limited to physics (as it is said to be one of the most difficult aspects of junior year at my high school) and the fact that I have been subjected to a mild headache almost every day for an indiscriminate number of days now. If you'll excuse me, I believe I need an aspirin.

End Post.

Comments

[Lindsey]

Well, I can safely say that your brain functions! Isn't incoherency just marvy?

My mind goes nuts when I'm trying to get to sleep. It's a prime display of incohrency. If there was a contest on it, between the hours of 1 AM and 4 AM, I'd probably win. One time, I was thinking about skydiving and the Mario theme song simultaneously. THAT was an adventure.

In any case, I'd like to see you try podcasts or audio blogs or something. Stringing together some well-structured dialogue with maybe nothing but notes is pretty difficult, and I think you could pwn that challenge somewhat easily.

D: You left Sora! Sora no longer trusts you!!! Grr!!1!!1!!!! You make freakin' adorable video game boys cryyyyy. Nothing is more important than the quest to seal the worlds and defeat Ansem!

(PS: Take Vikk up on that offer. When opportunity calls, pick up the phone, dammit! *cheesy*)

[Will]

Lindsey, you deserve a medal for your pre-sleepytime thoughts.

Check out the "Youngcast"! Sixteen episodes chronicling sophomore year, as discussed by me and a series of my closest friends! Found in the "Audio Clips" category of my multimedia blog! New episodes beginning next month!

Don't worry. I totally haven't abandoned Sora. In fact, I've already bought 'Kingdom Hearts 2.' I'm all set to power through these adventures. I'll play night and day if that's what it takes to complete these two games before my dramatic return to academia.

And finally, I'd love to accept Vikk's offer. I just don't know what to write. Is that irony? I'm not sure.

[Tvindy]

"Geek Fu" and "I Should Be Writing" are two podcasts I listen to faithfully. "Heaven" is turning out to be a pretty good story so far. The chapter that takes place in Dog Heaven is classic.

[Will]

I haven't heard that episode yet. I imagine that Dog Heaven must be very populated, though, given that (as we all know) all dogs go to heaven.

[majic]

Use your Greater Heal when you are healing one target that will take a lot of damage and will continue to do so for, at least, the next couple of seconds. If your target is not taking damage at a constant rate, be sure to cancel your Greater Heal halfway through if your target is still topped off, or nearly so. Then start casting your heal again. This is the case for most tanks, so spam your Greater Heal if you are healing your main tank.