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Fastball Physics

This was an interesting article on why the physical limits of fastballs may already have been reached.

HTML Colors

Just found this list of cross-platform HTML Colors. I'm putting it here so I can find it when I need it.

Plus we haven't posted in so long the cobwebs were getting pretty thick.

I Like This Quote

Posted by Matt Gumm

"No one wants advice--only corroboration."
--John Steinbeck

Only too true in life, including mine sometimes as well.

WSJ.com - A Hundred Books in Your Pocket

by Matt Gumm

Another review of the Sony eBook. I'm not convinced eBooks are the "transformative technology" many claim them to be, but I do agree with him when he says "something like [this] will catch on, if not this year then in a short time."

I think it's only a matter of time.

Victim’s Cry for Hope

I scream in the hopes my cry
is heard in the desolate
forest of my peers

I hear only my echo, distorted
by the deafness of the land

The mountains all around me
stand tall in opposition to
my pleas

Looking down in defeat I see
the glorious rock of my God

My feet stand firm as the
mountains and the desolace
fade from view

Only His secure arms will
I place my trust, where comfort
and hope reside

None shall I fear for this future
and the future to come.

Muffled

The call of eternity rings through my soul
Drowned out by the rubbish of my existence

A beautiful smile mocks me from the air
Whispering of the glories of the moment

Oh the greatness of treasures given in forever
Forgotten by the worries of tomorrow, uncontrollable

Who Wants to Write Online?

Lee Gomes writes about "original web content.

I Always Knew It Would Come to This

Posted by Matt Gumm

(Note: dupe post from my home blog)

I took the "Which Star Trek character are you?" quiz, and this was the result:

Your results:
You are An Expendable Character (Redshirt)

An Expendable Character (Redshirt) 75% Geordi LaForge 55% Deanna Troi 50% Spock 47% Will Riker 45% Beverly Crusher 45% Jean-Luc Picard 45% Uhura 45% Data 41% James T. Kirk (Captain) 40% Worf 30% Chekov 30% Leonard McCoy (Bones) 25% Mr. Scott 20% Mr. Sulu 0%

Since your accomplishments are seldom noticed, and you are rarely thought of, you are expendable. That doesn't mean your job isn't important but if you were in Star Trek you would be killed off in the first episode you appeared in.

Click here to take the Star Trek Personality Quiz


(HT: Good Brownie)

Night Train to Rigel by Timothy Zahn

by Matt Gumm

New book from Timothy Zahn, one of my favorite SF authors. Hemschie, you'll have to check it out and let me know how it is.

Publishers Say Fact-Checking Is Too Costly (from Today's WSJ)

Maybe it's just me, but I would think that fact-checking would be just a cost of doing business when you're publishing non-fiction books.

***
01/31/06 Update.
Apparently, it's not just me.

Posted by Matt Gumm

Prologue idea

Hey Matt here's something I came up with today. How does it sound.

"May your life be quenched by thirst."

At once the defenders, mostly farmers and merchants, all died. Their source of life and legacy dried up before their eyes and with it so did they. All that still lived after the attack instantly turned into mummified remains and fell where they stood. All the fluid in their bodies turned to sand in a flash all the plant and animal life followed suit. The once small community that teamed with life was as dry as it was found.

Laughter would have ensued from the dire caster, but six spear points embedded in his body made it impossible now. He lay there dying slowly as a pool of sand started to envelope him.

A sneer stuck of hate stuck to his face that was slowly being covered by sand. He knew he had achieved victory, not the victory of original intent but victory non the less. If he could not pacify this place he chose to nullify it instead.

The light of his evil eyes grew dim as the sands around him finally coved his head. His final thought floated by that death would not defeat him.

Young Blood

It's cool to see a young man with alot of talent be able to write and be published.

I'm talking about Christopher Paolini. He wrote the book Eragon at age 15. The next book in series is Eldest. He's now 19. And I'm sure going to be a very rich teen ager as Eragon will be a movies this year.

I have reaed Eragon and from a over stand point. the story was ok. I finished the book, which means it was good, but i could tell it was written by a kid. Obviously it's has alot of followers as it's being made into a movie.

It takes dedication to write a book and for a teenager that is pretty good. If i remember right though he grew up in north or south dakota which i'm sure there's not much to do....

Quote from Hammett's Maltese Falcon

I'm only a couple of chapters into it, but I thought I'd extract a quote. Detective Sam Spade has just learned that his partner has been killed, and his client has been lying to him. She asks if it is her fault. . .


. . . He shrugged his sloping shoulders. "I wouldn't say it was your fault."

She said, "Thank you," very softly, and then moved her head from side to side. "but I'll always blame myself." She put a hand to her throat. "Mr. Archer was so--so alive yesterday afternoon, so solid and hearty and--"

"Stop it," Spade commanded. "He knew what he was doing. they're the chances we take."

"Was--was he married?"

"Yes, with ten thousand insurance, no children, and a wife who didn't like him."

"Oh, please don't!" she whispered.

"Spade shrugged again. "That's the way it was." He glance at his watch and moved from his chair to the settee beside her. "There's no time for worrying about that now." . . .


I liked this passage because it gives backstory, about his partner & his partner's wife, but in a way that naturally moves along the story. The way Spade tells us gives us a glimpse into his own no-nonsense personality, and it sets the stage for what comes later.

Plus, there's just this edge to the writing, and it comes out most in the dialogue. I'll post another example of this hopefully later this week.

Since I myself can't seem to write dialogue, I admire this a lot!

Quotes about writing

Posted by Matt Gumm

I love quotes about writing. I found this one today doing a little browsing around Google.

There are lots of great ones, but I've got to say that this one might be my favorite:
"A metaphor is like a simile."

True e-books finally may have arrived

"Sony today issued the latest electronic challenge to the printed page."

I've been following the electronic ink (e-ink) story for about a year now, and I don't see this as a challenge to the printed page so much as an extension. And in the long run, better for everyone.

Yes, the readers are expensive. But prices are sure to come down. I'm kinda hoping for a waterproof model, so I can finally take my reading to the tub with me.

Here are some (mostly random) thoughts:

Newspapers would be smart to team up with Sony & build their subscription base.

Bible makers should take note as well (5 bucks says Zondervan already has something in the works).

I'd love to have one with the entire Church Fathers loaded from CCEL, and perhaps all of America's founding documents as well.

One thing I don't get is, if it's grayscale, does it backlight, or just switch page view (from white to black)?

This is a story to watch.

More on the new Sony e-reader (what little is out there).
More background on e-ink and e-paper.

(Posted by Matt Gumm)

Reading List--Fiction

Posted by Matt Gumm

Just finished reading The Da Vinci Code, which is not only fictional, but also fiction trying to pass itself off as fact.

Before that, it had been awhile since I read fiction, but I've decided to take the plunge. (I'm tired of watching my wife knock out a book in two days while I keep plodding along in the same thing for months.)

I just started The Maltese Falcon. I've watched the movie many times (it's one of my dad's all-time favorites), but I've never read the book. I've read some of Hammet's other work, specifically The Continental Op, and loved it. He has an economy of language that is unparalleled. I don't know how he manages to say so much in so few words. Plus, it provides the pace--the language actually moves the story along. Amazing!

I hope to find an example of his writing to post soon.

A Christmas Wish

Way out of my league here, but I saw these a few weeks back, and I was thinking how cool it would be to get into the mind of a master. JMS is amazing, not only for what he did with B5, but on various other projects, both as a screenwriter & as a writer in general.

If you don't want to pony up big bucks to get screenplays, there is still a way to benefit from his genius. He publishes regularly on Usenet, and here's a quick link to his posts.

Posted by Matt Gumm

Titene's Ear Pt 1

Here is the first post of my story I'm writing for the blog. I'll post as I write so ther might be some flow problems. Just to give fair warning now. Hope you will stick with me and hope I can stick with me as well.


The Titene’s Ear

by Hemsch

Prologue

Slowly they dragged the limp form to the grove where the masters awaited. Two black bears and a moose pulled and pushed as best as their blood drained bodies would permit. Battle was not their domain and many of their companions were lost. Unprepared and ill suited were the forest dwellers for this kind of attack, many followed their instincts and fled. Those who heard the call of the Forest Lords fought with all their strength. Most didn’t survive. The creatures that attacked this forest were not natural to this environment and thus had the upper hand. That is until...
A single arrow shot from whom no one knew felled the attackers leader. Once down the rest retreated as if no longer having the will or the desire to continue.
In an act of epic fortitude the three mere forest animals started to fall until the last bear barely was able to bring the form to the grove. He then as well fell into eternal sleep.
“What great evil this is. It must be destroyed.” Filial said. “He has done us much harm.”
The other Tree Lords agreed, though some of the River Mistresses did not. “We could used him.” Said one.
“This is not your domain.” Filial said.
“So my counsel is not longer wanted?” She retorted and left before the Tree Lords could answer.
“My Lords what is this?” Said a new voice.
A new figure never seen in the forest before stood before them. Full of life and magic was this one, the Tree Lords could tell, though shocked at his arrival with out their knowledge afraid of him they were not. The new comer was tall for a human but obviously by his manner and power he was no man.
“You are?” Filial asked. “And what is your business were are in peril.”
“Nay I tell you.” The tall figure said. “My true name I can not tell but my business is you.”
He looked at the prone figure laying on the ground. Even near death it was proud and stubborn, evil though he could tell it was not.
“You can call me Curat.” Curat said. “Help this one you will, and with his strength he will protect your forest.”
“We want nor need help.” Filial said.
“Oh?” Curat said. He chuckled a for a moment. “Who brought down this fine proud creature, hmm?”
Filial just then noticed the bow and quiver in Curat’s hand that wasn’t there before. The fetching of the arrow protruding out of the prone creature matched that in Curat’s quiver.
“We have you.” Filial stated.
This brought a great laugh from Curat. “That is not my purpose, though a great purpose it is.”
“I grow weary of you. What are you and who’s authority do you invoke?” Filial was getting very agitated at this interloper. “This is our domain to deal with as we please.”
“Even over the power of He this is?” Curat said with a smile.
“No.” Filial said after some moments. “It has been ages since an envoy from Him has come.”
“That is because you’ve not asked.” Curat said. “And an envoy that can not stay, I’m only hear because the groaning of the pain here brought me. This one is not evil, arrogant, proud, willful all these things. His pride as led him to this path but with the help of an purpatraitor I think.”
“He can not remain as he is.” Filial said.
“So you have come to see it His way. Thank you.” Curat bowed low. “Make him more your own. The power has been granted.”
Filial shook as power never felt before over took him. “You are asking more than I am prepared to do.”
“I am not, He is.” Curat smiled at Filial. “Use your judgment wisely and make him into what you need.”
Curat was gone but the power flowing through Filial’s was not. He didn’t like this deal forced upon him at all. He would transform this creature all right but in the image he would give him.

Poem

I don't write poetry. I just don't never felt the need. Then one day POOF. There it was in my mind. I couldn't get way from it. I had to write it. It was bizarre. When I look back I feel sure it was not me who inspired this poem. I'm glad I wrote it but, I didn't write it for me. Since then I have had no desire, like before, to write poetry again.

Birth and Death

Man's condition is the same, sin prevails causing death
Our starting and ending though, do not coincide
Two were never born, but caused death to reign
Two were born and have not died, time will tell
Most who are born die, the way of the world
Many are never born but still die, for our convenience
Some will be born but never die, a horn will sound
Even less will never be born or die, spared from evil
Most will die twice, darkness to fire
The Elect are born twice, redemption to righteousness
Some have lived twice, to show His glory
He was before His birth, counquered death after His own
All appear before His throne, few will remain by His side

Explanation

This blog I created to but my creative writings in. It will mostly contain finctional fantasy writings as that is what I like to do. But I might put in other things as well.