Is Now The Best Time To Be A Writer

On April 17, 2019April 17, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Current Events, Philosophy, Psychology, Social Commentary, The Fractal Journal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The modern day certainly isn’t romantic. You need time for romance. And the modern day is all about instant access. So, it’s no surprise that sepia hued conceptions of lone desks in sparse rooms reeking of whiskey jar with reality. And this jarring leads some would be writers to whiskey without the licence of having written like Bukowski.

You may not dig Bukoswski. You may think my depression era vision of artistic struggle is cheesy (Confession: It is but cheese is yummy). But the fact that many feel that today’s over saturated market, desensitized readers, and short attention spans spell doom for spelling out literary vistas is undeniable.

The aforementioned factors are certainly there. Even though some may question the degree to which they’re present. They are there.

What does oversaturation imply? It implies a flooded market. What’s so bad about a flooded market? Well, aside from the obvious increased difficulty in getting traditionally published there’s the accompanying lack of funds due to a lethal combination of stiff competition and sheer static.

But, was it any better for Bukowski or Poe? I don’t think so. There’s probably a good reason both men were notorious alcoholics. A bohemian paradise isn’t one. Poe was writing at a time when literacy still played second fiddle to operating a plow. His market was small.

What’s worse a big market with lots of noise and asskickers or a small market full of aristocrats? I really don’t know.

I know that in Bukowskis day even though literacy had improved it still played second fiddle to assembling widgets at GM. Also, no one had time for reading.

That’s my first set of reasons for the firm belief that today might be the best time to be a writer. Because, despite all the hot air about overstuffed schedules readers have more time than ever. As do writers.

So, we have unprecedented levels of literacy and people who have time to watch the Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead while checking in on the Packers game.

Yes, but all these things are numerical…qunatative. It doesn’t matter if there’s more potential readers if there’s no engagement. People who are distracted by Game of Thrones and top ten lists won’t be reading very deeply if reading at all.

This may well be the lament of those who wish to view the past in roseate hues. But, the truth as far as I can see it is that these shallow consumers have a shadowside. Lots of folks, many of whom are in places like WordPress, are fed up with reboots. They make the exact sort of complaints that writers make. They’re hungry for deep engaging content. And seeing as they’ve had the whole worlds literary cannon at their fingertips are well equipped to engaged with said content.

Traditional publication and revenue may be difficult and it was always difficult. In fact I think that better informed folks might be able to argue that making money as a writer was even more difficult in Bukowskis day.

Yes, it may have been more difficult and it may still be difficult but there are many more tools. And one big difficulty is easily taken out of the equation. Writers as far as I can tell – want to be read. Due to technology and sites like WordPress this has never been easier.

This is a wonderful tool because it provides the invaluable insight of feedback. And there are many tools at the writers disposal. There are instant translators, internet dictionaries, just insane amounts of information about any given topic. Not only that but there are countless tools for organizing that information, for formatting, spell-checking, and editing your work.

I still flirt with the idea of the sparse room with the weathered keyboard. I flirt with it cause it’s sexy and it’s fun. But this little idealization of where real work and real writers happen is like most idealisations mere whimsy.

I’d conclude with something more concrete but I have to make my second cup of coffee before my shift starts.

Thanks for reading and don’t let the idea of being a ‘blogger’ keep you from writing.

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One More and One Less

On April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Humor, Philosophy, Social Commentary, The Fractal Journal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

In any case the TL; DR version of this is every time you sit down to write or learn; you’re not only doing it one more time but also one less. Cause the Grim Reaper is standing right there, playing Yo-Yo, and sometimes he gets real impatient and chokes you with the string.

Recently. Just today in fact. I’ve had to process mortality.

Again.

Fun stuff.

I’m not really emotional about anything. I honestly feel rather clinical. So clinical as to be a bit perturbed. Which is why I mentioned to a friend that some people may find my nonreactivness to be cold and off putting. Or maybe the fact that I don’t really grieve long enough. Whatever long enough is.

I guess what I imagine bothers people is I take death in stride. A fact I attribute to having lost my father at five years of age. I guess I’m bothered by it too since I feel that I should feel something. I do sometimes. But not enough apparently. Maybe.

Anyhow, that’s not what the story is about but rather a framing device or maybe somewhat more precisely – something that helps me take disparate thoughts and tie them up with a bow thus rendering it intelligible as a gift.

Currently, I’m studying the Web Stack (JS, PHP included) as well as Java it’s something I’m doing in a roundabout way. Very roundabout. I started poking at Java in 2008.

My dog has cancer. He didn’t show any behavioral signs at all. At least none that would suggest a grapefruit sized tumor. He did have some weird-looking growths that I didn’t really take note of because they were round his nethers. I thought they were just a skin irritation. And due to the location and my schedule I’d often forget about them. Until they started to bleed. It’s not necessarily unsalvagable but it’s not especially promising since Brownie is old.

So as I’m sitting here looking at arrays, pointers, objects, etc I’m thinking what if I have cancer? How long have I been putzing around with these basic bitch concepts. And why?

Well, if I do have or get cancer or get hit my a car, or assaulted by a gang of enraged hipsters for dissing Ruby…meh so what…whatver will be will be…serah serah…etc.

As to why? Cause it’s fun and I’m doing it primarily to sharpen my attention and logic faculties and most career aspirations are somewhat on the back-burner. Except using my skills to make TFJ less shit.

In any case the TL; DR version of this is every time you sit down to write or learn you’re not only doing one more time but also one less. Cause the grim reapers standing right there playing Yo-Yo and sometimes he gets real impatient and chokes you with the string.

So pet it while it’s alive and code it before the arthritis sets in.

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Dudebro Six Figs – The New Approach to Writing

On April 16, 2019April 16, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Current Events, Humor, Social Commentary, The Fractal Journal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

The pines creaked and swayed. Cold settled like a chill blanket as the sun slowly sank.

If I followed the advice I’ve found in some writers guides I’d have never arranged words in that particular order. Those sentences wouldn’t exist.

Description is gauche you see. Everyone has talked about sunsets and the advent of evening so no one will ever enjoy reading about them again.

Don’t set up background for your stories. Especially if you use pesky polysyllabic words in those backgrounds. What are you some kind of writer?

I bet you used a thesaurus to look up those community college words. Nobody uses those words.

You gotta be conversational.

You’re distracting from the pacing.

Jesus Christ. Given the prevalence of these Formica table board room strategies at Wanker Startup Ltd. it’s a wonder anyone bothers to write anything at all.

You think the last sentence was wobbly. Good. That’s the point. Not everything has to be tailored to the ear of an idiot. In ancient Greece idiot meant a person who was not involved in city politics i.e. someone who was unaware of things that affected him.

I’m not saying that if you didn’t understand that by ‘Wanker Startup Ltd.’ I was referring to the trendy ‘everything is business and we’re all savvy entrepreneurs’ culture that’s sprung up in every facet of life in recent years – that this means you’re an idiot. What I’m saying is that the risk of being misunderstood is no cause for weird minimalistic corporate gibberish focusing on core competency of making everything a sitcom.

You see, it’s fine to miss the point that ‘Formica table’ is actually a modifier for ‘strategies,’ calling them cheap. It might mean nothing to you on a first reading. Later on it might mean a lot. Or not. There are other readers who may enjoy it. Or not. The point is the sentence has a right to exist in all its wobbly glory.

I often hear everyone and their dog complaining about the lack of original content and constant reruns. Well, what do you expect when writers and actors are all designed at corporate?

* AFAIK – Dudebro Sixfigs may have been coined by Aaron Clarey of ‘Asshole Consulting’

* Using the random image I found on my search for shitty startup/boardroom isn’t meant to poke fun at the guy in the photo. It was just too perfect of an amalgamation of certain trendy philosophies and styles that are in vogue.

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French Words

On April 15, 2019April 15, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Original Fiction, Stories, The Fractal Journal, Uncategorized2 Comments

ashes

“What’s the use of passion?”

“That’s not my forte in the first place.”

“Oh, I like that word forte…it sounds French.”

“Probably.”

“Do you know any more French words?”

“Sure.”

“Like what?”

“Blasé.”

“O that one’s nice. What’s it mean?”

“It’s the face you’re trying to put on now.”

“How do you mean…?”

“You’re trying to do that ‘seen it all’ face.”

“Is it working?”

“Nah.”

“But I really feel like I’ve seen it all. So what is the use of passion. You’re just goin’ to crumble to dust anyway…”

“What’s so bad about crumbling into dust?”

“It’s just so sad…”

“Sad? I find it rather grand. I intend to crumble with gusto!”

“Now who’s tryin’ to be blasé?”

“Well for one I’m not trying cause blasé is my forte.”

“O that rhymed!”

“See that’s the attitude that makes the ‘seen it all face’ look really daffy on you.”

“O well your rhyme is stupid then. And you have a big nose.”

“Yes, I’m a Cyrano a fact so plain as to illicit ennui.”

“O that’s a fresh one…ENNUI! And is Cyrano a type of kimono?”

“What’s in your wine?”

“Umm…wine I think.”

“Yeah, and what happens to that wine?”

“Well, I drink it and it tastes good.”

“Yeah, and after that…”

“Well..um…I …I don’t want to say.”

“Come on everybody does it.”

“Fine…I guess I..I go to the bathroom.”

“Does that make you sad?”

“Huh?”

“Does it make you question the use of wine?”

“Well, no but…huh…I don’t get what you’re trying to say.”

“Life is piss. And its release is bliss!”

“Well at least it rhymed.”

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Disorganization and Tree Update

On April 15, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, The Fractal Journal, Uncategorized, VlogLeave a comment

Keeping up with papers isn’t one of my skills but fortunately some of my trees are sprouting leaves.

Music I Used

Freedom Theme I and II – Rocco John – Internet Archive – Free Domain

Leaving Ship – Ocean Piano – Internet Archive – Free Domain

https://archive.org/details/free-music-for-commercial-use

The Sketch of Sam Monroe – Chapter 8.8 – Elect, Element, Eloquent, Eligible, Electrons

On April 14, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Original Fiction, Original Fiction Series, Sketch of Sam Monroe, Uncategorized, Weird FictionLeave a comment

Image result for elohim

~

The adventure continues!

Full Text

~

Previous Chapter

The Sketch of Sam Monroe is a weird fiction thriller. Follow the adventures of five quirky Black Ops pharmacologists as they globetrot their way to the Mato Grosso jungles. Philosophy, psychedelics, and banter are infused throughout this literary comic-book.

“There he goes again.” Schmidt whispered from the adjacent hammock.

“Yep.” I replied as we watched Hoyt gingerly unfasten the velcro and disappear through the tent-flap.

“He thinks he’s sly.”

“Well, isn’t he? I mean how many of those Saturn cultists has he slain?”

“My question is why do they keep wasting soldiers?”

“Yeah…it’s real fucking odd…I haven’t heard a bird…or seen anything on radar. No word from Thornton or the donut dippers either.”

“I mean we don’t even know if they’re after us or Z or what…he kills them before they get within a half mile.”

“And nobody does anything about it.”

“Well, what are we supposed to do?”

Lucas shrugged.

“You know.” I said. “A thought just occurred to me…”

“You remember the yokel that broke into our lodge?”

Schmidt was silent for a bit and then chuckled. “Yea, the big ginger dufus…what was his name…uh…Jesse.”

“Yeah.”

“You remember the story he told us?”

“Shit..that’s goin back a ways…lotsa shits happened but uh yea I guess vaguely…I think he said somethin about guys in polos.”

“Yeah, that was in his explanation of how he trekked through sixty miles of Kentucky forest to get to Luckadoos. In his story the polo guys were working with some kinda lizard men.”

“You buy that shit?”

“At this point I’ll buy just about anything. But really the weirder stuff from his story is beside the point. The point being that there was something real fucking unnatural about the amount of time it took him to get from Foley to the lodge. It involved those business casual assholes and then we were attacked.”

“I mean yea…that is what happened as far as I remember…so?”

“What if they’re the same guys Hoyt is hunting?”

“I dunno why they would be. These lemmings are all normal size. I swear that fucker who dislocated your ribs was well over 6′ 8″.”

“I know. But think about the other similarities.”

All I heard for the next half-minute was jungle and snoring.

“I’m drawin a blank.”

“Well, the thing of it is that in both situations people popped up out of nowhere.”

Schmidt laughed.

“You suggesting a teleporter? Well, beam me up Scotty!”

“Shit…maybe…”

“You’re serious?”

“I dunno..but I’ll tell you what…I rember that kids description pretty vividly cause I had to coax it outta him…and it sure sounded like there was some sort of physical disruption..I think he even used the word ‘oscillator.’ What kind of backwoods duckhunter talks about oscillators?”

“Well he was a deacons kid, I think…right?”

“Still though…oscillator?”

“Deacons can be physicsts.”

“In Foley fucking Kentucky?”

Schmidt sighed. “A fuckin’ teleporter Baird….”

“I didn’t say teleporter ya daffy cunt.”

“Well, then what the fuck man…I know I’m sleepy are you sure you’re not just pullin shit out your ass cause you’re delirious too?”

“Look, tripping on DMT is part of our job. So you’re aware of the elves?”

“Sure, but dream states and shit that simulates dream states is likely to illicit similar things. It’s Jungian archetypes like serpents that have to do with primitive shape and pattern responses. I think one theory Thornton showed us was that the elves are a combination of youth and age. They are small and child like but wise and sometimes bearded like the aged a perfect overlay for our instinctual simultaneous dread and love regarding birth and death.”

‘Fucking Germans…autistic godamn cocksucker….’

“Yeah..I don’t care...what does the word elves start with?”

“E.”

‘For fucks sake pull the kraut out of your ears.’

“Yes, E, and then l…EL!”

“So…”

“What did Hoyt tell us this afternoon?”

“He told us a lot…that was actually the most I’ve heard him talk since his freakout back at the lodge.”

“Right, but specifically when he was talking about God.”

“Again he said a lot.”

“Ok…names of God…”

“Uh….Jesus…Yahweh….um…KAHN!”

I sighed. “Baruch, Elohim, Adonai.”

“Mm..ok…”

“What does Elohim start with.”

“E!” Lucas cried. “….just kidding man…EL so where are you going with this EL business?”

“Elect, element, eligible, eloquent, and electrons…all these fancy words for fancy things both basic and complex begin with EL.”

“So that’s where my hash went…”

“I’m serious. You don’t remember when Ant went on that Jordan Maxwell kick?”

“Oh! Ok, well shit…do I ever. I think I get where you’re coming from now…but I mean…Jesus Baird…that’s some nutty stuff.”

“Yeah, it’s a bit patched together but I think the old boffin was feeling his way around something real.”

“Yeah, I remember about Elohim now….Maxwell claimed it was plural but it’s not really plural in the same way the trinity isn’t really plural. Plurality of force doesn’t necessitate plurality of persons. Just like we have arms, legs, and hands with different function or forces.”

‘Jesus…the lectures…about shit I already know…Rhinelander‘

“Anyhow Maxwell also went on and on about Saturn in one of the lectures Ant shared with me. That and his fixation with El, Hoyt mentioning Elohim, the fact that folk are popping up out of nowhere, and the loose association of being tired…makes me think of Electrons and like you said plurality of forces.”

“Holy word salad batman…WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT.” He whisper shouted.

“Jesse talked about how everything kinda went into a negative state, and the world got distorted, right before he passed out and woke up nosing round our lodge…if I’m recalling correctly.”

“Ok…”

“I also remember the recording of Hoyt’s uncle and his little seance at Cambridge…he mentioned the El…he mentioned them in context with Set who affixes spirit into matter.”

“I really don’t follow.”

“It’s ok I really don’t either but I know I’m right near the answer as to how these Saturn assholes keep popping up…they’re trying to play God again…like those guys at the bottom of that cenote were.”

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Sargon of Akkad is a Bugeyed Boy Scout Loon – Ideology kills Nuance – Envirofail

On April 14, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Current Events, Environment, Philosophy, Politics, Psychology, Social Commentary, The Fractal Journal, Uncategorized, VlogLeave a comment

By viewing this discussion via the lens of individualism vs collectivism Sargon has missed some key points. It, i.e ideological lenses and pathos are perennial problems with being a pundit. I’m not here to berate Karl but rather point out some misconceptions he’s allowed to seep in to his argument.

Sargon’s Video

Info I Used

https://sciencing.com/co2-deplete-ozone-layer-4828.html

https://hub.globalccsinstitute.com/publications/what-happens-when-co2-stored-underground-qa-ieaghg-weyburn-midale-co2-monitoring-and-storage-project/1-what-carbon-dioxide-co2

Music I Used (Public Domain)

https://archive.org/details/WhiteMarket20170101Session320

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Noble Order of Asshole Knights – Join or Serve!

On April 13, 2019April 13, 2019 By Alex V. WeirIn Alex Weir, Current Events, Humor, Philosophy, Politics, Social Commentary, The Fractal Journal, UncategorizedLeave a comment

So, I was practicing violin (poorly) from a Mel Bay book I picked up. One of the songs is Gavotte by some fop named Praetorius. Being that I’m about as naturally musical as a coked up bobcat trapped in well full of nettles I needed to hear the bloody thing.

Lo! What wonderfully snooty shit this be.

Here’s what comes to mind from the thumbnail:

Behold wench! Yonder peasant falling!

Ho!

What luck to have witnessed his falstaff frame thusly collapse!

Yay tis good to be rich!

Soothe, thou may grab me by the feline!

Say what you will about these fops but at least they had style. If my grandmother is to be believed I have some kind of count in my lineage. But he would have been Polish or Ukrainian or something. So it doesn’t count. =) I’m so fucking clever.

Nonetheless, I’m bringing back feudalism! With the current disparity between rich and poor we’re already there! Why not add some style to the mix.

So what is your choice?! Will you ride forth as part of my Noble Order of Asshole Knights? Or be oppressed most elegantly!

Image result for douchebag knights — Thy Gallant Lords!

I know you yups pay to pick strawberries but won’t actually have your kids do it as a job. Well, I’m here to help.

Being a lettered man and a patron of the symphonies it is my sacred duty to tie you back to the land!

No longer will you wish for agrarian bliss. No longer will you pine!

Your toil will sustain high culture, institutions of learning that will once more take more than a pulse to enter, and wars we won’t lie about.

As Noble Asshole Knights we don’t spread freedom to gain oil. We just take land cause it’s there and we’re probably better stewards than those hippies anyway. Plus its great fun to smack your neighbor!

Yes! Under the Noble Order of Asshole Knights the stars will shine brighter, and your beer will taste better, for you will have worked inordinately hard to sustain douchebags as is the lot of man!