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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Able Bodied Seamen wanted!

from ConocoPhillips careers:

'The Able Bodied Seaman (A.B.) may be responsible for:

Docking/undocking procedures (handling lines, securing ship, etc.) and assisting with taking and discharging of cargo.
Standing watch, either as lookout or on the bridge steering the vessel.
Performing deck related maintenance duties under supervision of the Boatswain.
Working aloft in certain situations
Working two 4 hour watches per 24 hour period with overtime occurring routinely. The A.B. can work no more than 15 hours per day, and cannot work more than 36 hours in any 72 hour period.

'All unlicensed employees earn paid leave on the basis of twenty-three (23) days paid leave for every thirty (30) days of sea service. Normal tours are seventy-five (75) onboard and fifty-seven (57) days of paid leave


Thought about it, but I would be depressed being on a ship for a month at a time and what would I do when I had time off? It still seems very manly though.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Octavia E. Butler and Writing Workshops

Octavia E. Butler's Wikipedia article mentions that workshops helped her improve her writing significantly. More so than her college curriculum. I tried to find one of the workshops mentioned, it was for minority writers and sponsored by the Screenwriters' Guild of America. The best I could find was this list: http://www.wga.org/content/default.aspx?id=1042. Something of interest to people who may have already started exploring their writing capabilities extensively and want to take it to the next level.

Monday, May 11, 2009

The Next Sci-Fi Epic

Dear Will Charles,

I LOVE your foray into creative writing. Please keep going with that! I like your style.

It is Monday morning and I feel sick. Swine Flu? Only time will tell.

Saw Star Trek this weekend. Thought it was excellent. I've decided, as I've 'decided' many times before, that I want to write America's next sci-fi/fantasy epic. I am a fan of the boy wizard, the vampires of Forks, Luke, Spock, LOST, Heroes...the list goes on. I realize that my real loves in this world have be not quite of this world. I'd like to be able to bounce ideas around. Will, will you be my sounding board?

Things to be inspired by:
Octavia Butler, fluid gender identity, rendering and surrendering the body...

Any thought?

Love,
Little Sister
(going to the bathroom to hurl...?)

Monday, April 13, 2009

People: Niki Gomez

I'm very interested in how people make themselves. I have found myself reading resumes and bios of people who do things that I am interested in. Maybe something will come of this interest. For now, here is the webpage of someone I found interesting recently. Check it.

Niki Gomez - http://www.nikigomez.com/Niki_GOMEZ_CV.pdf

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Who is he? Who is Jack?

This weekend his mind abandoned his body. Heaped onto a twin sized mattress, his body laid heavily between winter sheets that were too warm for the spring weather. Hibernation manifested itself in human form as a result of heavy late night consumption of calories, fat, and sodium. The effects of this diet were apparent, the mechanical quality of breathing, the preservative inspired positioning of the limbs, and distant clicks emanating from the bowels were unnatural and slightly unnerving.

10 hours of bed rest. No movement. No interaction. A puzzle prevented the mind from returning to its normal state. A suit needed to be purchased. Needless to say, dress shoes needed to be worn in order to evaluate the aesthetic appeal of this acquisition. However, dress shoes would prevent the employment of simple kicks. The lack of kicks would reduce the feeling of hip and the feeling of hop. The reduction of energy would lead to a less fulfilling day and there certainly couldn't be any break dancing in dress shoes. Finally, shorts and a t-shirt for running should have started the day. Only 20 minutes are necessary to complete the circuit, to increase health, to feel great. To make the body feel alive. However, the mind resisted exercise. The mind resisted dress shoes and slacks. The body retreated to a hibernating state. 12 hours dissolved between the winter sheets of the mattress.

Zubar. Zubar. Greenville Ave. He walks to the bouncer. "I want to be a regular here. This is my favorite place. Hi, I'm Jack. What's your name?"

The bouncer replied , "Tibbits."

"Tid-bits?"

"Tibbits", he repeated. This time more slowly. It was clear from his expression that he did not enjoy repeating himself.

"Tibbits, its nice to meet you. I love your bar."

Tibbits looked blankly at the young man standing in front of him. He looked like a child, but his ID indicated that he was at least a few years older. With a slight twist of his neck, Tibbits motioned the young man to enter - and so he did without hesitation.

Zubar was one of many bars along the lower strip of Greenville Ave. It's facade was clearly hip, though its most basic elements could be found in a simple garden. A forest green wrought iron arch with ivy wrapping around it to give it an organic feeling. A small patio with cushioned wooden benches and tables were illuminated by warm friendly lights. The source of which remains unclear. The plush Hotel Capri and the more raw Garage .

Jack entered the bar from the patio. A DJ booth on the ground level was only a few feet to his left. There were people dancing in an open space in the front of the bar. Small U shaped booths lined the walls on the left and an unadorned bar was ready to take his order on the right.

"One bud light please." The bartender fished the brew from a cooler behind the counter and opened the bottle with professional precision.

"$4.50 please"

That is too much Jack thought to himself, handing the bartender $10. He wanted to give a good tip, he took his change and left a $1. Under his breath, "I could have bought a pack before I came...."
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