Category: Creativity

Narcissists ‘R’ Us

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Existentialism, Hollywood, SatireLeave a comment

Among my circle of friends, we decided to take a night asking ridiculous questions to one another and get some real answers. One of which was “describe everyone in the group with one word.” Imagine my surprise when everyone nodded upon the label “narcissist” levied upon myself.

After some thought, however, I realized they were right. Moreover, I also realized I didn’t have a problem with it, either. As someone who artistically creates massive amounts of content and presents to anyone who’ll pay attention, I crave the feedback (positive or negative) just to revel in the fact of my relevance. Don’t you?

Inspired by my own response to another blog, some argue that it’s a necessary step to artistic success. If you don’t already think you’re “the man,” why should anyone else think so? Put another way, who would you hire: the person who says “I’ll try my best to do what you want” or the one who claims “No problem… consider it done?”

One could argue that there is a difference between self-confidence and narcissism, but when it’s your name on the side of the truck or your image on a magazine cover, you’ve become a brand, a literal Mr. or Ms. Trademark. To cultivate that brand and leverage the resulting assets, it can become an obsession.

Are you on Twitter? Facebook? STILL on MySpace? Have a blog? A fan site? Go to conventions to present and just attend? Do you hang out with OTHER self-promoting, narcissistic creative types? You’re in good company, my friend (and everyone should have a friend like me.)

“With My D6”

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Roleplaying, SatireLeave a comment

To the tune of “Like a G6” by Far East Movement
Lyrics by Kevin A. Ranson

Patches down for Warcraft now, new from Blizzard,
Pen and paper while we wait, Mine’s a Wizard.
Table toppin’ D and D, a quick fix,
Lettin’ fireballs fly With My D6,
With My D6, With My D6,
Lettin’ lightning bolts fly With My D6.

(repeat until you’re sick of it)

Update: If you check the date of when I posted this originally, you may notice that I had been throwing this idea out since just past last Christmas.

Four months later, someone not only took up the idea but ran with it until they made something wonderful.

Awesome job, guys. Lemme know if you need any new ideas!

Has Mainstreaming Doomed Geekdom?

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Conspiracies, Creativity, TechnologyLeave a comment

It’s a good question. I used to know a couple who only listened to music that no one else had heard of, and the moment that underground band became known and “sold out,” that band was immediately tossed aside for the next unheard and unsigned wannabes. Now that the future is here and sci-fi, comics, cosplay, gadgets, and being online are cool, is traditional geekdom doomed due to mainstreaming niche interests?

I, for one, love the fact that what used to be niche has now gone mainstream. It’s a vindication that what we always thought was secretly cool finally caught on. No one has to meet in anyone’s garage to discuss their usenet group or what cool accessory they got for their Amiga or Timex Sinclair. There’s so much culture out there now that the mainstream can pick and choose while the elitists create and mold the next would-be cool thing. Between the Internet explosion, social networks, and a generation of kids growing up with this as the norm, no one can predict how cool and geeky the next thing coming is (and blooming idiots that think this is all just a fad can curl up in a box with their dead picture tubes and need not apply.)

For more, check out where all this was inspired from over at Lainspotting.

Thirty Days ‘Till Halloween

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Cemetery, CreativityLeave a comment

The ramp up to cool decorations and costumes has been slow this year, but now things are getting up and running. The last Spirit Halloween store is set to open today in Jacksonville, Florida (over a month after the all the ones in Houston were already open), while a costume-only Halloween Express opened on Southside last week. Spencer’s gifts is finally transitioning into Halloween mode, about a two weeks after Hot Topic started setting our creepier-than-usual clothing.

I haven’t seen or found any particular cool new thing or must-have decoration this year, but for those of you into fog machines and special effects, Target’s brand of foggers, low lying fog machines, and bubble fog machines are 25%-40% cheaper than everyone else, including $10 remote timer controllers (and many include a bottle of fog liquid or whatever they need to work.)

If you find something new, cool, and Halloween spooky, lemme know!

Sixty Days to Halloween

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Paranormal1 Comment

Normally, I post something like this on August 1st, but support on this has been down this year (I’m talking to YOU, retailers.) With the so-called summer blockbuster season of films spent and kiddies back in school, it’s time to get spooky.

As hobby stores go, Garden Ridge used to be first out of the gate with new decorations and such, but due to being restructured in bankruptcy, it’s hard to roll out new stuff with only a quarter of the staff remaining. Your local Hobby Lobby and other craft stores should be caught up by now while Walmart and Target will start setting up as those local Spirit Halloween shops start to appear.

I haven’t seen anything new or must have for the $100 and below set this year. And (credit goes to Brett for this observation) why does EVERY fake tombstone have to say “R.I.P” on it? Halloween is on a Sunday this year, and a weekend day is always nice for setup. I’ve got four flame projectors to play with this year (acquired during the after holiday sales last year), so I intend to light the entire yard on fire!

What are you playing to do to get a few screams this year?

Everyone Should (Pay to) Have a Friend Like Me

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Existentialism, InternetLeave a comment

I talked to a person today who asked me how they could charge to add friends or fans to their Facebook page. This would be a recurring monthly fee, also, so failure to pay means being unfriended. As this person claimed to be a health and beauty expert, anything they discussed on their page was obviously valuable and anyone who wanted in on the conversation and information would have to pay for it.

I needed a good laugh today and wish them much luck that the money will start rolling in. Yeah… any minute now.

Cooperative Storytelling – “Spelljammer: Birthstone”

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, RoleplayingLeave a comment

Spelljammer: BirthstoneI’ve been fielding a weekly (or so) gathering as a side project for the last couple of months. Rather than a LAN party playing World of Warcraft, some local friends and myself decided to cobble together an old-school role-playing campaign using classic 2nd Ed. AD&D tabletop rules (and decidedly offline.) We’re using the “Spelljammer” rules set, a fantasy setting where wooden ships can magically sail through the sky between worlds. It is a universe of mysticism and alchemy where humans live alongside elves and other fantastic creatures.

At this point, we’ve generated enough material to show off a little, posting the info on a website at http://spelljammer.wordpress.com. Here’s a taste:

Our story is about the last born of a doomed world setting out to find a new home. They carry a mystical vessel with them, the geode, that may be both the sentient will of their world’s deity and the physical remnants of all they knew. With an ancient prophecy as their only guide, the “Last Born” must choose theirs allies and enemies carefully if they hope to survive and succeed.

Stop by, check it out, leave a comment or two.

The Value of Damaged Goods

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, ExistentialismLeave a comment

Two people were having a conversation on a recent television show. One makes the (paraphrased) comment “Everyone wants something that’s in perfect condition.” The other person counters the notion with “Sometimes, it’s the damage that makes something unique and often increases its value.”

What an interesting thought, especially since they may not have been talking merely about antiquities.

Continue reading “The Value of Damaged Goods” →

Muggle Advantage, Wizard Lament

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Existentialism, HollywoodLeave a comment

Here’s a question: if the wizarding world of Harry Potter is so much more sophisticated than what Muggles must endure, why not use a cell phone to get a message through than an owl? Walkie talkies? How about CB radio?

Over at NeedCoffee.com, there’s an interesting article about just how different the state of the world of magic might be if wizards had access to cell phones and shotguns. Remember, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.”