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(No spoilers, I don't think -- not that I figured out enough to share any.)
I was intrigued by the new Star Trek: Discovery series. But I was not (yet) compelled to subscribe to CBS All Access to watch future episodes. That's what I expected going in, and that's definitely where I stand now.
I always have trouble grasping (should "grokking" be used here?) fast-moving concepts, and have always needed a second pass for new information and fast-moving items. With the small screen, my attention can be pulled by everything from dogs to food, thunder to a sneeze. That's why I nearly always watch via the DVR, but I did not last night because it was an event.
I wavered between "I am so confused" and "Ooh, pretty" while watching. For this long-time Trek viewer (as in, back to the very beginning) the show was way too much about special effects. I understand how that's needed to hold today's (read: younger) viewers, it just didn't blow me away.
The biggest question for me was, the show is called Discovery, yet that ship was nowhere to be seen. I haven't read much about this, so I have no clue why this was.
I guess, perhaps, I needed a synopsis or primer of some sort going in. After watching, I still do. I may watch the recording again (perhaps with M) to see if it's clearer and/or captures my fancy more. Yeah! Talk myself into spending the money!'
Ability Scores:
Strength-13
Dexterity-8
Constitution-16
Intelligence-10
Wisdom-8
Charisma-7
Alignment:
Chaotic Good A chaotic good character acts as his conscience directs him with little regard for what others expect of him. He makes his own way, but he's kind and benevolent. He believes in goodness and right but has little use for laws and regulations. He hates it when people try to intimidate others and tell them what to do. He follows his own moral compass, which, although good, may not agree with that of society. Chaotic good is the best alignment you can be because it combines a good heart with a free spirit. However, chaotic good can be a dangerous alignment when it disrupts the order of society and punishes those who do well for themselves.
Race:
Humans are the most adaptable of the common races. Short generations and a penchant for migration and conquest have made them physically diverse as well. Humans are often unorthodox in their dress, sporting unusual hairstyles, fanciful clothes, tattoos, and the like.
Primary Class:
Paladins take their adventures seriously, and even a mundane mission is, in the heart of the paladin, a personal test an opportunity to demonstrate bravery, to learn tactics, and to find ways to do good. Divine power protects these warriors of virtue, warding off harm, protecting from disease, healing, and guarding against fear. The paladin can also direct this power to help others, healing wounds or curing diseases, and also use it to destroy evil. Experienced paladins can smite evil foes and turn away undead. A paladin's Wisdom score should be high, as this determines the maximum spell level that they can cast. Many of the paladin's special abilities also benefit from a high Charisma score.
Secondary Class:
Sorcerers are arcane spellcasters who manipulate magic energy with imagination and talent rather than studious discipline. They have no books, no mentors, no theories just raw power that they direct at will. Sorcerers know fewer spells than wizards do and acquire them more slowly, but they can cast individual spells more often and have no need to prepare their incantations ahead of time. Also unlike wizards, sorcerers cannot specialize in a school of magic. Since sorcerers gain their powers without undergoing the years of rigorous study that wizards go through, they have more time to learn fighting skills and are proficient with simple weapons. Charisma is very important for sorcerers; the higher their value in this ability, the higher the spell level they can cast.
Find out What Kind of Dungeons and Dragons Character Would You Be?, courtesy of Easydamus (e-mail)
The cats expressed their appreciation for my record-keeping.
( Read more... )
A blog I follow included an online recording of a 1971 radio program. It was a recording of Larry Lujack -- a famous, popular deejay in Chicago who was well-known around radio circles. He had his own style, and the 1971 program held me captive for its full hour. That's partly because radio was my thing for many years, and largely because 1971 was when I was still a bit in my radio "wonder years" -- early in my career, not yet jaded, and still learning and meeting "famous people." ("Famous" people are just like the rest of us, if you didn't already know that.)
This recording is somewhat unusual because it was nearly a full hour without cuts. It was "unscoped" -- most of these recordings, or "air checks," are cut down in a way that seems totally backwards to the civilian. Most music, news, commercials, and almost everything else is cut out and only the announcer is left. It's used as a way to sell oneself (to a new employer, for work on the side, etc.) or for critique purposes (usually for a manager to listen and point out ways to improve). I'll now take a brief side step to note that, from what I hear lately on current radio, these critique sessions apparently no longer exist. I hear many horrible things on-air that could easily be corrected but are not. For months. Argh.
So, back to the aircheck. It had three elements one rarely hears -- full songs (including some "oh wow" songs that I may not have heard since 1972), full newscasts (including a past Omaha voice and famous newsman, Lyle Dean), and full commercials -- including a number of full-length commercial jingles. You remember the late, great jingles, don't you? Musical backgrounds and foregrounds that were written and performed specifically for a commercial. Everybody hummed them (and some are remembered to this day). They were a wonderful part of radio and television. Why did they go away? Money, of course, It became cheaper and easier to simply purchase rights to some existing song and use that. Yech, says Gary.
So, it was fun to hear Lujack, the songs, the news, but especially for me the commercials and their many jingles.
