Category: Creativity

Happy Frustration Without the Euphoric Epiphany

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, ExistentialismLeave a comment

I operate mostly in two modes: hyper-focusing on one thing (and nothing else) or focus on everything (which I have learned to endure). Like most geeks with undiagnosed ADHD, I dwell on any problem that intrigues me until a solution is found. The feeling of happy frustration while problem solving suddenly turning to euphoric epiphany upon finding an answer is like winning the multi-state lottery. Repeatedly.

What becomes utterly frustrating is when others cannot see nor fathom your solution (or sometimes that there’s even a problem). It’s like realizing your lotto winnings will be paid out in $1.00 increments daily for a million years. Your solution is rendered pointless because, while you believe it’ll work, you have no chance of implementing it to be sure. Still, having found an answer, everything be okay because you can stop thinking about it.

Continue reading “Happy Frustration Without the Euphoric Epiphany” →

Felicia Day (and The Guild) Want You… to Date Their Avatar

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, RoleplayingLeave a comment

Never underestimate the power of a fun music video to call viral attention to yourself. Never mind the fact that you just created the fanfare theme for an entire generation of gamers… way to go, Jed Whedon! This is all advertising for The Guild, by the way, if you didn’t know.

Building a Starship, Part I

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Hollywood3 Comments

Some of you out there have heard about a few crazy individuals who are not only bold enough to be seen wearing classic “Star Trek” uniforms at conventions but are actually savvy enough to act out and produce their own stories for the web. Here’s the kicker: they’re pretty good, too.

One of these groups is Farragut Films, makers of Starship Farragut.

Starship Farragut is an independent film series based on the original series of Star Trek. Starship Farragut is based on the crew of the U.S.S. Farragut, a Constitution Class Starship (NCC-1647) commanded by Captain John T. Carter, and takes place during the time of legendary Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise (NCC-1701).

Currently, all involved are getting stage sets ready for more episodes, currently being rebuilt and permanently housed in St. Marys, Georgia. Myself and a friend, Brett, went up this past Saturday and helped out where we could. Check out these images and watch this space later as the final designs take shape.

Building the Taj MaHAUL, Part I

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity3 Comments

After attending a few conventions this year pushing MovieCrypt.com, one thing I’ve noticed is how poor “portable” displays can look next to mailed “moneybag” displays appear. The question becomes, when you take in just enough cash in advertising and t-shirts to pay for hosting (and have enough pro bono work to keep a website looking fairly professional), how can you compete without pawning you laptop or going into debt?

A few months back after seeing these huge displays, I remembered seeing a single, six-foot-plus tall and roughly two-foot wide banner that looked simple enough. Put three of these side-by-side and you can easily create a beautiful, eye-catching display to fill an eight-foot space or background a table setting. Of everywhere I looked in town and online, this large Econom-X Banner Stand was the cheapest at just under $150.00, banner and carry case included but not shipping or taxes. Some of the most expensive in this line, including “retractable” designs for easy setup, ranged $350 to over $1000… each.

Continue reading “Building the Taj MaHAUL, Part I” →

Jamitons: Phantom Gridlock

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Conspiracies, CreativityLeave a comment

Wow, I was right; these things ARE caused by morons!

So you’re driving along at the speed limit on three lanes going your way until (Oh Noes!) a row of brake lights suddenly flares ahead. Traffic is dropping to a crawl and slowing, so something MUST be happening up ahead (accident? ladder in road? car-B-Q?). Then, after spending twenty minutes trying to figure out which lane is actually moving, traffic starts mysteriously moving again, with nary an emergency vehicle or burning car in site.

You just experienced a phantom gridlock, or what MIT has dubbed a “jamiton.”

Now, while they’re spending millions trying to figure out why and how to prevent them, I can save them the cash right here. “Morons” are the cause, people who probably shouldn’t be driving to begin with. You’ve seen them talking on phones, applying makeup, reading the paper, fighting with passengers, and trying to see over the steering wheel of their vehicle.

The formula couldn’t be more simple. To cause a so-called jamiton, all you need is one Moron driver for every lane traveling in the same direction to meet along a parallel line and simultaneously drop below the speed limit in any area where cars are already in a hurry. Everyone else who is actually driving will attempt to let these idiots know they aren’t the only people on the road, all the while tailgating and beeping their horn. As more vehicles catch up to the Morons, the wave will continue backwards as long as their is at least one car approaching in every lane.

Clear as mud, right? And the solution is even simpler: make Morons take the bus and leave the driving to the ones up to the task.

GM: The Future is Electric

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity, Technology1 Comment

There’s a lot of people saying that the government/union takeover of General Motors has condemned it to a slow death of regulated cars no one will want to buy at a cost ballooned by antiquated union promises. At the same time, however, there is evidence that the original plan is still moving forward, such as the $25 million US-based battery lab designed for the Chevy Volt and other future electric cars. And there’s a good reason.

The future isn’t green. It’s electric!

Every gadget you own needs power. The trick is in creating that power, but in the end, it’s still a bunch of holes moving backward in a straight line. Biochemical, nuclear, hydro-electric, it doesn’t matter; it all winds up generating a spark that makes things go, from music players to refrigerators.

Cars are no longer tuned up; their on-board computers do that. Think replacing an engine or transmission is expensive? Ask anyone who’s had to replace their ECM (electronic control module) and/or have it “reprogrammed.” The next logical step is to take the engine out and put the batteries in; hybrids are two times too much weight and hardware, but their helping to transition vehicles into the next phase of transportation.

According to Popular Mechanics in year’s past, GM’s ultimate goal is a chassis that contains the batteries, motors, tires, breaking, and steer-by-wire systems that will resemble a platform with wheels. Once designed, any number of “toppers” can be added: sportcar, truck, minivan, or whatever. This design idea of sharing the underbody is already used to save manufacturing costs, but what if you could have three vehicle toppers and only have to buy one “underbody?” Just snap on the vehicle topper you need and off you go!

Not only are batteries becoming more efficient, they’re getting smaller, plus the power requirements for battery-powered devices are also becoming more efficient. In other words, it takes less energy to do the same things and less energy is wasted getting to those things. Eventually, power requirements, technology, safety systems, and convenience will converge at the right price to create the must-have all-electric vehicle for the next century, and it’s really only a matter of when, not if.

And when it does, I’ll buy one. Even if it says “GM.”

That Boar’s Head Voice

On By Kevin A. RansonIn Creativity2 Comments

Periodically, I am asked to “beef up” the description of people, places, and things.

When people write, they don’t always put a voice to their work other than their own inner monologue, or not even that if they’re really, really fast. But when reading back a review, an introduction, and most of all dialogue, having a distinct voice can also affect the words to fit the cadence and history behind “the voice.”

As I write descriptions, I often imagine it read aloud like a narrative movie announcer. I’m not talking about the late Don LaFontaine, that deep, smoking-since-you-were-six-years-old, undoubtably compulsory voice telling you to see a movie. Someone who sounds friendlier but with a cautionary wisdom, like a great uncle from the old world about to read a Grimm faerie tale.

You know, like the guy who does those Boar’s Head commercials.

You believe him, don’t you? That anything sliced onto your sandwich from your local deli just won’t taste quite as good or fresh if it doesn’t have a Boar’s Head label on it. How can you not trust a voice like that? Why wouldn’t you want a Boar’s Head ultimate sub from the Publix grocery store deli with Black Forest ham, smoked turkey breast, and deep red roast beef?

Great. Now I’m hungry.