Author Archives: David Crampton

Ghost in the Shell: SAC, 2nd Gig

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Let me start off by saying that I am a huge fan of the original Ghost in the Shell movie. I’ve watched it countless times, and probably contributed an undue amount to the wear and tear of ‘s VHS copy of it while I was living in the TWP and working for Comcast. This drove me to rent Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex from Video to Go. This was, maybe, a month or two before I went to San Francisco. I soaked up that mind-bending wonderfulness as I listened to the Japanese cadence (not to mention the different levels of keigo used by the different characters). I wondered how the Tachikomas didn’t end up making it silly, despite their child-like voices and enthusiasm.

I loved 90% of the second series. After wrapping my mind around the idea of a Stand Alone Complex last season, and the subtle differences between direct manipulation and purposeful creation of copycat events through subtle changes in cultural cues and political shifts, I thought I was on pretty good footing. The second series, which held my attention with the usual crazy-awesome action scenes, political backstabbery, and angry Batou, broke my mind at the end. I was left, jaw open, stamerring out “what?” like the first time I saw Serial Experiments: Lain. I’m still fairly certain that I haven’t missed anything, but I have to admit to be disappointed in the seeming simplicity and directness of the reveal and closure.

I have to admit that I’m still trying to figure out who the guy is that was offering Gouda asylum. I know I’d seen him before, and I think he had shown up in regard to the treaty with the American Empire, but I’m not sure.

All in all, I gave it four out of five stars, because I loved everything except the ending. They were well-earned.

ConFusion – There was so much Tom!

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Coffee is tasty. And I’m not just saying that because I haven’t gotten a ton of sleep for the past three or four nights. I’m saying it because it’s true. Well, with cream and sugar.

My mind is bubbling over with stuffs about The Glass Crown. I have the prelude/prologue/thingy playing over and over and over in my head.

Also, I found Buddy’s anti-heartworm chews. I thought I got those to . WTF.

I didn’t get nearly as many pictures as I wanted to, but I figured out quite a lot about how my new phone’s camera works. And when it works, it works -well-. Especially compared to my RAZR. So, I’ll have some pics to share very soon. Also, be sure to watch ConPics for other points of view of the con. :) Also, if you have any pics from older cons that could use a good home, I heartily recommend it.

The “WHO IS THE SQUIRREL KING?” ribbons were a hit. The cleverly designed flyers (kudos to ) combined with the room party for the Michigan Browncoats made the ribbon quite popular. I’m almost out, and I wasn’t handing them out like candy, either. Only to those that asked the question. Even Eric Raymond (yes, THAT Eric Raymond) came by the room party to ask what was up with the squirrel flyers. He flipped through one of the books, and then took off. Was cool! :)

I’m nearly out of those, and so I’ll be taking what’s left of them to ConVocation. What’s that? I’m going to ConVocation? Why, yes, I am! I will also have copies of The Remembrance[alibris] available for purchase there. It’ll be up on the web site soon, as well as my Google Calendar.

I definitely want to use up all of the Squirrel King ribbons before I move on to the Rebuilder ones. I doubt they’ll be as popular, but c’mon, who can compete with the Squirrel King?

I’m bubbling over with the need to get the words in my head out, so you, my dear readers, may be subjected to more of my blathering! Stay tuned, if you have the fortitude!

ConFusion Madness and Tomfoolery! Minus the Tom. Maybe.

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Good news! The books came in! I will have five copies of The Remembrance for sale at ConFusion. One may go to M. Keaton for trade, but at least four will be available through the dealer room (yay consignment!) or from me.

Now all I have to do is get the ribbons and the painter’s tape out of the storage unit and pack. Busy busy me.

I’ll still probably play the seek-me-out game for the ribbons, and I think is creating some flyers to go up involving a squirrel with a crown. Heh.

OH! I will also be attending ConVocation next month, and should have a few copies on hand there, as well. Enough people have asked about it that I should probably have a copy here at work to show off. I know someone made the suggestion to who made it to me, but I can’t remember who it was.

Feeling like a writer again. :) Feels good.

Whining

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My friends list keeps posting neat stuff to read.
Warren Ellis keeps posting neat stuff to read.
The keeps posting neat stuff to read.
keeps posting neat stuff to read.
keeps posting neat stuff to read.
I have neat books to read.
I have a whole reading list of books I don’t own, and yet are neat, to read.
I have a Netflix queue full of neat movies to watch.
I have neat people that I miss that I want to visit.
I have neat places to go.

I have neat things to WRITE.

I think that my head is going to asplode.

ConFusion Quandry

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I have so much to read. I have so much to write. I have so many people that mean so much to me. I have so much to do.

But I have -so much- time.

Enter the cliche… where does it all go?

The books for ConFusion might not arrive on time. In the circumstance that they do not, I’m thinking of modifying an older idea. I have a bunch of badge ribbons that ask, “WHO IS THE SQUIRREL KING?” They’ve been the most popular ribbons of the three. I could give those that have read the book a ribbon, and a couple of USB jump drives with a .pdf copy of the whole novel. Then, I could print up twenty or so flyers that ask the same thing, and hang them in various locations around the con, with a picture of the Remembrance gem in the background (thanks again !). Underneath the question could be smaller print with a line of text directing them to people who have the ribbon. If they ask the question, they get a ribbon and a jump drive. Now, in the case that these people get asked the question (since they now have a ribbon), they can find people who have jump drives.

It’s an attempt at viral marketing that will rely upon sci-fi fantasy geeks to talk to a stranger. Luckily, being a con atmosphere, I think that it’s far more likely to happen. I think I’ve talked about this sort of thing before here. What do you think?