"And crawling on the planet's face, some insects called the human race. Lost in time, and lost in space...and meaning."

– The Criminologist in Rocky Horror

The end of Rocky Horror is perhaps one of the most interesting, provocative mind fraks I've ever seen. Indeed, even after seeing it done three different ways (if you count Glee's), I'm still not entirely sure what it means.

Frank says something about taking the aliens, and Riff-Raff interjects that only he and Magenta will be going back home – to the planet Transsexual, in the distant galaxy Transylvania. But then there's the line about transporting all of Earth to Transylvania, so the ending, with Brad and Janet crawling around in fishnets, is kind of confusing. Are they still on Earth? Did they escape the mansion in time for it to disappear and transport to Transylvania, or did Riff-Raff, in fact, move all of Earth to a distant galaxy? I guess the question is did he change his mind? Or perhaps he simply meant that he was going to kill the other aliens first (or at least Frank) before transporting Earth to Transylvania.

In any case, I love an ending that can make me think, and even more so, I love an "unhappy" ending. That's not to say that everything should end tragically because, while I think happy endings are good for some shows/stories, others require something with a little more meat. More risk.

I have ideas for three different television dramas that each tie together, and each one would ideally end in a similar fashion to Rocky Horror: in a sort of what-the-hell-just-happened kind of way. Back when LOST ended, I was kind of in that mode but not necessarily in a good way. It was such a shocking ending because it seemed like the ending should have been more substantial that it was. With a little time to think about it, I decided that I really did like it; it just wasn't what I had expected. And I know that ending was incredibly divisive among fans, some of my friends included.

As such, I don't ever want to end a story quite like that, but it makes me wonder: where do I draw the line? What exactly is it that makes one "frakked-up" story ending amazing and another one bullshit?

Does anyone out there have any opinions? What makes a good story ending? What makes a bad story ending?

"It's astounding / Time is fleeting / Madness takes its toll..."

– From The Rocky Horror Show's "Time Warp" (here, performed by the cast of Glee)

Until last Monday, I was a Rocky Horror virgin. I'd always wanted to watch it and just hadn't ever gotten around to it. But with Glee doing a Rocky Horror episode last week, I decided it was time to take the plunge: I streamed The Rocky Horror Picture Show via Netflix on Monday night, watched Glee on Tuesday night, and then went to a live production of the show on Friday night, in Brooklyn, MD.

I loved all three shows.

The differences from version to version are interesting, but I think that what's always the same, always front-and-center, are the music and the "for outcasts" nature of the production.

I loved the movie version because, aside from the quirky, fun, weirdly entertaining storyline, we have Tim Cury's amazing performance as transvestite and leader of the aliens Frank-N-Furter. And while Susan Surandon (as Janet) isn't particularly phenomenal, she doesn't exactly suck either. Well...she might have sucked in that scene with Frank, but that was kind of vague. ;-) Anyway, I won't talk about the whole cast, but I will just say that, generally, it is a good one. Moving on...

I liked the Glee episode because, as usual, they managed to tie the themes of the music into the themes and storylines of the TV show itself. Emma's rendition of "Toucha Touch Me" is one of my favorite covers from the episode; I think she kind of stole the show, actually. Who knew actress Jayma Mays could do that? As far as I can remember, she hasn't sung on the show until this episode. And, of course, having Britney and Santana step in as Columbia and Magenta was just perfect!

Finally, while the movie and Glee versions are great to watch and even sing along to if one feels so inclined (and knows the words), the live show is a whole different beast. It's completely interactive. You get a prop bag and have to do things like pop a balloon, cover your head with a newspaper, wave a glow stick in the air, throw a sponge on the stage, and so on. You'll hear people in the audience shouting out lines and talking to the cast, and the cast will shoot witty responses right back. And you'll get to do the Time Warp, which, while I'm not a fan of dancing, is kind of fun to learn if you're a newbie.

Going into this week, I've still got the songs stuck in my head. I imagine they'll fade with time, but come next Halloween season, I'll be ready again.

"I believe that the so-called writing block is a product of some kind of disproportion between your standards and your performance...It doesn't make any difference if you are good or bad today. The assessment of the product is something that happens after you've done it."

– William Stafford

It's not that I have writer's block, per se; I just don't have time to write anything more than what's required of me for class. At least not in November, when NaNoWriMo starts up.

For one thing, I haven't had time to come up with a novel idea. I've had a few sparks but nothing that I could write 50,000 words on. If I'm going to participate in NaNoWriMo, I want to get some significant work done on a novel. So, I'm going to have to pass on it this year; maybe next summer I'll come up with a project to do next November.

As of now, I'm taking two classes, doing work study in O.T.S. at U.B., doing layout for the school paper (for which I get paid a very small stipend), and now (hopefully) working part-time at another place. I need the money, so I'm hoping that, when I get the call sometime this week, it's good news. The woman I interviewed with seemed very optimistic that she'll hire me. She was impressed with my résumé and fascinated by the story of how I came to be in a creative writing program. If things go well, I might actually have some spending money this holiday season – and subsequently, for that matter.

Having two part-time jobs, and one volunteer/stipend job that I'm using solely for publishing experience for my résumé, is far from ideal. I'd much rather have a full-time job but, as Samantha wrote recently, can't seem to find anything in (or close to) Baltimore.

I'll stick with this for a while, but sooner or later, I'll have to go back to the drawing board and find myself a career job.

"If it weren't for received ideas, the publishing industry wouldn't have any ideas at all."

– Donald E. Westlake

Remember when I wrote about Smashwords, the e-book publishing company? Well, I read today that Smashwords has surpassed a billion published words – nine weeks ahead of schedule. In about October of last year (2009), the company had published 150 million words. It then set a crazy goal to reach one billion by the end of 2010.

On October 21, 2010, the company reached that goal.

And it succeeded because of people like this. Because more and more frustrated authors or would-be authors are turning to modern technology. Because people are realizing that, with more people than ever on the planet, there is more competition and just aren't enough book deals to go around.

That said, I think they hit the nail on the head: not just anyone can and should publish electronically. One absolutely must be a good writer, because most of the time, the star editing treatment is no where to be found in these electronic publishing companies. That's one of their downfalls.

Even so, it's encouraging to see people getting (e-)published.

"I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween."

– Unknown author/coiner, but I found it on Quote Garden

The fall equinox was exactly 31 days ago, and yet it's supposed to be 76 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday. Is this normal for Maryland? I don't remember what last year was like, but even so, that was only one year out of – well, since the beginning of temperature records in Maryland – and could have been a fluke. Is this year a fluke? I guess I'm not complaining. It's not exactly hot outside these days, and I've got visitors coming soon, so I'm hoping some of the warmth will actually stick around so we can go exploring in Baltimore and D.C. without freezing or sweating to death!

Meanwhile, Halloween is coming up next weekend, and I still don't know if I should dress up when we go to Fells on Saturday night – or what I want to be. It sucks being relatively poor, but I guess it encourages creativity; maybe I should just make something and/or use things I already have. And who says I have to be something? Couldn't I just embody Halloween itself?

"If you must leave your woman alone, be sure to tie her down..."

– from "Chandler's Shop" by The O'Danny Girls

Looking through my footage from Renn Fest yesterday, I've decided that, since the joust was the most exciting part, I'm going to be using it quite a bit in my mini movie. I'd like to feature small clips from some of the other Renn Fest shows, as well as a few that take place outside Renn Fest.

For instance, today, I shot some footage at the harbor. I got a few people walking by (at different angles), some ships coming in, and even a few seconds of the pirate ship that floats around the harbor. I'm thinking this video is going to be some kind of journey through time, since I've got Rennaissance events, pirate ships, modern ships, etc., and since many people (myself included) at Renn Fest were dressed in "normal," modern clothing, there is a bridge between time periods. An anachronism, of course, but still, there is a bridge. I'm not sure what to do with that just yet.

In any case, before today, I was a little worried that I wasn't going to have anything to work with on Monday, but now, with the additional footage I shot, I think I'll be okay. I still don't know if it will be useful for my final project or not, though, because I still need to come up with my story for the hypertext narrative.

More to come on all of this in the next few weeks! Stay tuned.

"I hope they make a video game of me. At least I wouldn't have any cellulite then."

– Scarlett Johansson

I'm going to Ren Fest in Annapolis tomorrow, so I'm probably going to be shooting some video there. I thought that would be a fun venue for a video/photo shoot. Beyond that, though, I'm still not entirely sure what I want to do. I'll probably record some other footage near my apartment, but right now, I need a way to combine the two.

Perhaps Renn Fest can serve as a flashback and the other footage can be the present. It's difficult to know what to record for Monday's class when we're not being graded on it and I'm not 100% sure what I'm doing for my final project. Because why not use this "free" time to make a video I can use? It seems this video project is meant to prepare us for the final, just like the other projects before it have done. I still need to start writing my content for the final project before I really know what kind of video I want to make, because, like I said, whatever video I work on during Monday's class will probably end up in my final project, in some form – probably with a few other videos.

I'll post an update soon, probably after Renn Fest.

"Electronic distribution is more of a fall-back strategy for putting out a book that isn't deemed profitable enough to print. You hardly make any money publishing an electronic book."

– Rudy Rucker

I went to the grand opening of Baltimore Print Studios today. I'm still not entirely sure what this business is going to be offering to Baltimore (or anyone, for that matter), but it's a neat little shop, and the opening was pretty cool. We got to walk around and look at all the printing equipment, and there were a few stations where we could print our own signs (there were two different signs to print, none of which are pictured here). The above sign was posted on top of a chest full of printing materials, which, as you can see, we were allowed and encouraged to fondle. In any case, the signs that we were able to print and take home looked like this one (i.e., same typeface and colors). I might frame mine and put them on my wall.

Yeah. They're that cool.

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.”

– Albert Einstein

I signed up with the website last year, and this year, I had every intention of participating in NaNoWriMo for real. But I don't know if I'll have the time and stamina to do it, and it's not just because of the standard "I don't know if I can write 50,000 words in 30 days" issue.

You see, I tend to get caught up in my TV shows and my computer, and before I know it, the day is over; I have no time left. I can get my homework done and get through work, but at the end of the day, I just want to relax with my computer and TV. As a TV and computer/Internet enthusiast and hopeful TV writer, it's thrilling when I can manage to watch/do it all; but as a writer of traditional stories, who should really be reading and writing literature more than I do, I hate it. I hate my obsession with and reliance on technology. In that sense, I guess it's kind of ironic that NaNoWriMo is online.

I'm still trying to come up with a story idea that I like, a roadmap for a novel. I have an idea or two that may work, but I need to set aside some time to think about them more. I've already finished reading one of my class textbooks ahead of schedule, so I'd like to finish the other one in the next few days; that means I'll have a few extra hours in the next week or two to think about NaNo. There's one story concept in particular that I love, but I don't know if it's sustainable in a 50,000-word novel. It might be better as a short. I guess I'll just have to try it and see.

Is anyone else going to try NaNo this year? Do you already have your idea ready? It's difficult because you are supposed to write something entirely new, something you haven't worked on previously (though you can have a plan and maybe a few lines that you want to use). The point is that you have to plan it specifically for NaNo. So, what are your hangups? What do you find most challenging about NaNo? I know Jessica has done it before. Any insights, Jessica?

“Dear Lord: … I present you this offering of cookies and milk. If you want me to eat them for you, give me no sign. [pause] Thy will be done.”

– Homer Simpson on The Simpsons

My mom sent me some Halloween cookies in the mail last week. This is how they arrived.

Thank you, USPS. Now they're in all shapes and sizes!

"When baking, follow directions. When cooking, go by your own taste."

– Laiko Bahrs

Well, I guess I didn't follow Bahrs' directions for baking, which are to...er...follow directions.

I was flipping through my copy of my grandma's cookbook the other day and decided to try to make Chocolate Bittersweets. I think this recipe was actually my great grandmother's, passed down to my grandmother at some point (and that's not to say it was an original recipe of hers either, as many of the recipes in the book came from other family members, and a couple were even taken from the sides of boxes). I'll preface this by saying these things are far from bitter, so the name doesn't really reflect what they are. I'm also not sure what category they belong in. Cookie? Minicake? Something else entirely? Here they are.

In any case, I noticed that I had all of the ingredients to make the cookie/cake part and most of the ingredients for the icing, but I didn't have the coconut or cream cheese for the filling. I'm not even sure how that works, by the way: how do you put filling and icing in/on a cookie or cake? Well, the problem was solved when I decided to go ahead and make them with just the icing. But I had to improvise on the icing because I didn't have chocolate chips to make it. So I used...

And it worked wonderfully.

Does anyone else like to cook or bake? I'm certainly no expert, but I do enjoy it, especially when it's a recipe from my grandma's book. What problems do you run into? Do you like to improvise? Because I feel like I do it all the time, sometimes because I don't like what's included in the recipe (like the nuts in Chocolate Bittersweets) so I leave that particular item out, other times because I feel like I'd like the recipe better with something else added. In this case, I took a risk using Nutella instead of chocolate chips, because while Nutella is fantastic, it is very different from actual chocolate in terms of taste, and in this case, it is also a completely different consistency (a spread) than chocolate chips (which are hard). Luckily, the chocolate had to be melted anyway, so it worked out. In short: Nutella can be used to make a really great icing, if you're a Nutella fan. You just have to be okay with a hazelnut taste in your chocolate.

"We've heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true."

– Robert Wilensky

Okay, it isn't exactly Shakespeare, but I think I've got about everything on my writer's website that I wanted to have by the due date on Monday. Of course, I will add more in the future, but this is it for now. Here is a link to the temporary location (my free U.B. webspace); I'm going to work on transferring it to my rogermarket.com domain – and, thus, self-hosting my Wordpress blog – at some point, but that's not a priority right now. We'll see it on class on Monday, briefly, but I wanted to post the link anyway, especially for those reading this who won't be in class or aren't students at U.B.

While searching for the quote for this title, I found a few more that I loved. Here they are:

"Information on the Internet is subject to the same rules and regulations as a conversation at a bar."
– George Lundberg

"My favorite thing about the Internet is that you get to go into private world of real creeps without having to smell them."
– Penn Jillet

"Hooked on Internet? Help is just a click away."
– Author Unknown

"The Internet is the most powerful magnifier of slack ever invented."
– Author Unknown

"You can't take something off the Internet – it's like taking pee out of a pool."
– Author Unknown

"As for your fears that I will lose myself in these unknowne large waters, or be swallowed up in some stormie gust: abandon those childish fears, for worse then is past cannot happen, and there is as much danger to returne, as to proceed forward."

– Captain John Smith (yes, that John Smith)

The Waterfront Promenade was voted Best Place to Run in Baltimore. I had to double-check to make sure I was thinking of the right place, but I was (and maybe the whole of the harbor is considered Waterfront Promenade, but I'm unclear on that). This is the famous Inner Harbor area, where I do, in fact, see a lot of runners. And just last week, I was one of them. I had planned on going to U.B.'s kickboxing class on Saturday but didn't make it, so I decided to go for a brisk walk/run around the harbor instead.

I had no idea how big the harbor is. The Waterfront Promenade is, apparently, 7 miles long. I don't know what that includes (is that from the start of the Promenade, at Pratt and Light Streets, all the way around Tide Point Marina and Canton, and back to Pratt and Light?), but anyway, it's bigger than I had expected. Actually, I didn't know what to expect.

But when I went for my walk/run, I went up past The Rusty Scupper and into a really nice subdivision area. I don't know if it's apartments or condos or what, but they look really nice. I wound up passing the Domino Sugar factory, ending at Tide Point Marina, right by the Baltimore headquarters of world-famous Under Armour. From this marina, there's an excellent view of the harbor that I can't even convey with one picture (because it's so big), but I'll post one as a teaser.

I wish you could see the whole thing.

"I thank God I was raised Catholic, so sex will always be dirty."

– John Waters

Okay, when bulk trash pick-up is voted Baltimore's 3rd Best City Service – well, I think we need some new services.

Because how boring and gross is that? We might as well call Baltimore itself the world's biggest trash can because I think that's what "bulk trash" says to me: big trash, butt load of trash, Crap City. The world's dump. It's no wonder you see couches, tires, etc., on the streets of Baltimore every month.

Just below the #1 Charm City Circulator (which is great, don't get me wrong, but it has its drawbacks), we have single-stream recycling. Okay, in an increasingly greener world, that's pretty cool. But #3 needs to be something special to counteract all that boring...ness. How about a Metro subway with more than one line? Granted, the Red Line is all but official, but it won't be here and ready to use until at least 2016, and even then, it's only one new line. What do we do in the meantime? Apparently, we throw out our appliances and furniture.

I'm just glad rat eradication didn't make it into the top 3.

P.S. Why is it that, when I do a Google Image Search for "bulk trash Baltimore," John Waters appears on the first page?

"Al Qaeda gives you their word."

– Bekay Harrach, quoted in a CNN.com article

Let me ask you something: when "Al Qaeda gives you their word," which (ironically) happens to be grammatically incorrect, do you believe it?

No sir/mam, you do not fucking believe it! Because it's Al Qaeda. Look at everything it stands for and everything it's done. No matter what happens, no matter what we and Europe do, how can we have any confidence that Al Qaeda wouldn't renege on the deal? "Trust Al Qaeda" is my new favorite oxymoron, right up there with "Microsoft Works."

That is all.

"In this case, kill Marlon. He gets on my tits."

– Liam Hammond, a poster on the Aaron's Story blog

According to Urban Dictionary, the phrase "gets on my tits," which I'd never heard until today, is (1) a "verb used to signify a singular subject that bothers you" or (2) a "verb to describe someone who pisses you off." It can also be used in the plural ("get on my tits"). The (singular) example sentence is the following: "Senseless violence really gets on my tits."

Aside from the fact that user "ejito" of Urban Dictionary is technically wrong – it's a verb phrase, not a verb, and may even have other names as well – I find his/her definition rather intoxicating. It uses the word "tits" in a way that not only evokes the proper mood, tone, and branding of a website called Urban Dictionary but also reminds me that there is a big world out there, with tons and tons of languages, idioms, and slang words/phrases.

Before today, I never would have thought to say or write something like, "He really gets on my tits" – or, to push the definition to its limits, "Geez, would you get off my tits already?" Maybe that's because I don't have any literal tits to get on (unlike Michael Moore, apparently), but it's also because I didn't grow up with that particular phrase. One reason I love traveling is that I get to see how people talk in different parts of the U.S. and the world. I suppose, in this case, the Internet rendered traveling unnecessary. I was able to sit in the comfort of my own home, on my bed, and read all about how to get on someone's tits, and then write about it, properly.

Today, I'm a happy writer.

"With the advent of ebook self-publishing and the democratization of distribution ... the power of publishing is shifting away from publishers and into the hands of authors and readers where it belongs."

– Mark Coker interview

Yesterday, I found this interview with Mark Coker, Founder and CEO of the electronic publishing company Smashwords. In it, he describes the changing nature of the publishing industry, highlighting his role and understandably praising his own brand of electronic self-publishing. This is marketing 101 after all: you do an interview to raise awareness for your product/service, so why not "talk it up"?

Anyway, I love technology. Outside of books and real-life people, my computer and TV are my best friends. However, I'm apprehensive about this shift toward electronic reading. I already do a lot of my news reading online because of all the blogs and Twitter accounts that I follow. So will I want to sit on my futon this winter, next to a roaring fireplace, and cuddle up with a good...LCD-type screen? An iPad, for instance?

Hell no!

But while I love the tactile sensation of having a book in my hands, turning its pages, flipping quickly to a favorite passage, etc., I cannot deny the convenience that electronic publishing affords the reader (we'll leave the writer out of the equation for now). The simple fact of the matter is that I'm running out of space for books. When I moved to Baltimore in August 2009, I brought with me a small, 3-shelf bookcase and well over 300 books; I quickly bought two 5-shelf bookcases to accomodate the books, as well as my collection of DVDs. Then in late August 2010, I moved from Bolton Hill to Downtown, where my room is actually a little smaller anyway, so it wasn't too distressing that one of my large shelves collapsed before I even tried to move it. I'm down to a 3-shelfer and a 5-shelfer. As such, many of my books are now stored and, yes, inventoried in boxes in the downstairs closet. I hate that; my books want to be out of the closet, with me, but alas, they aren't.

With an e-reader, I still wouldn't be able to display my books – they'd still be in the invisible "closet" of my e-reader's storage mechanism – but at least I would have room for them. I guess that's the tradeoff. I can have more books with an e-reader, I can have them almost instantly, and I can have them cheaper in most instances. But they aren't books. They're texts, yes, but they aren't books, per se.

So why, as a writer, would/should I consider using a service like Smashwords? For one thing, Smashwords itself is free. They only take a 15% bite out of the writer's royalties, when he/she makes money, which is a far cry from the 50-75% that most traditional publishers take. From an economical standpoint, the advantage is clear: if you (self-)publish electronically with Smashwords, you stand to make a lot more money for your work. There's also the fact that you don't have to wade through a sea of rejection letters from publishers, because you, my friend, are self-publishing. For "free." That's unheard of, isn't it? We're talking about guaranteed publication, here, with 85% royalties and coverage on most of the e-book stores out there (even Apple's iBookstore and Barnes & Noble's e-book store are included; I don't think Amazon is one of them, though – not yet, anyway).

That sounds like a sweet deal, and I'll probably seriously consider it for book-length works because at least I can get my name and my writing out there. But at the end of this M.F.A. program, when I publish my book of short stories, I still want to see my awesome book cover design on a tangible, traditional book in a brick-and-mortar store. And I want the prestige that comes with having my book hand-picked for publication.

Is that so much to ask?

"I'm twelve. But I've been twelve for a long time."

– Eli in Let the Right One In

Having seen the original Swedish movie Let the Right One In (2008) – and knowing that I eventually want to read the 2004 book on which it was based – I was appalled when I realized that there is already an American remake coming out. Today, in fact. It's called Let Me In.

Having had a little time to calm down a bit, I'm still not sure what I think of this. The original movie was great, and I have little faith that an American remake will do the story justice. Then again, I haven't read the book, so the only basis for comparison that I'll have is the Swedish movie. I'm starting to wonder if that's fair or not.

As a reader/writer, I guess maybe it isn't fair; maybe I should judge Let Me In on how well it translates the book's story to video. But as a movie buff/writer, I think it's completely fair. The American movie scene is saturated with remakes and adaptations, so much so that, whenever a new one comes out, I'm immediately cynical about it.

Why is this? Is it fair? What do others think?

For your viewing pleasure, I'm going to include the trailers for each of the movies now. The first one is the original Låt den rätte komma in (Let the Right One In); the second one is the American Let Me In.