GWT - Plinky Answers

The Black, The White, And The Grey

2012-12-03T20:17:03-05:00

The good the bad and the ugly in a cyberpunk future.

The computer networks of the world reach their 1980s suggested conclusion of evolution by 2020. Computers are now wearable, implantable, you name it. They become integrated into people’s lives despite all the odds and everyone is now as connected as possible. People in America are able to freely interact with people in Zimbabwe. Furthermore, deep sensory immersion or “Diving” becomes all the rage, replacing web browsers for everything except a quick check of the mail, which is even easier.

Getting to this point was a road full of changes. The original inventor of the technology is murdered in his office. The first instance of war on the web occurring simultaneously in real time with flesh and blood bullets and bombs occurs - Web War One. Terrorists known asThe Knights of the White Rose begin trying to police and regulate the net in an attempt to keep it from ruining lives, ultimately unleashing a “memetic kill virus” that triggers seizures or worse in the human brain upon sight. Pornography is nearly completely wiped from the internet, fanfiction becomes regular fiction as copyright laws begin to break down, and in the end everything melts together to simply become “Webculture.”

Eventually, everything reaches a relatively stable sense of peace.

In this world, a man known as Gillory lives.
Gillory served during Web War One. He was an Operator - one who was trained for both infantry battles and web intrusion defenses. His skills served him well on the battlefield and soon after the war ended he find himself doing odd jobs for the new and upcoming web syndicates. Data needed to be delivered. He was the guy. You need to get through seven proxy thick firewall? Gillory was your man. But a bad job and a double cross from someone who was supposed to be a partner led to a messy predicament. Now, Gillory wasn’t half the man he used to be. Half of him was ruined meat kept on life support in a solvent tank. The tubes that sustain him remain on as long as he can pay the bills, but on the web he’s a free man able to explore and do whatever is needed.

His courier skills haven’t dulled either.

It’s these skills that have him contacted by an associate named Rowe. Rowe and Gillory, they aren’t really friends. In fact, Rowe pops up whenever a headache needs to be a permanent addition to Gillory’s life. Rowe appears with a parcel as per usual. Says it needs to get to Amsterdam, where the guy on the other end will pay out a large sum. How large, Gillory asks? Two hundred million large, Rowe replies. Just one suggestion: Don’t open it. Not in your state. Not with you brain one hundred percent hot - that is, wired straight to the web.

Gillory takes the package. Rowe sees him off. That’s the last time the two of them ever talk.

Enter Lucian.
Lucian, he’s a split brained processor. Someone who’s had the two lobes of his brain split in a way that used to be impossible, but now is a neat trait to have in wet work. Lucian deals in the good ol’ art of assassination. Kill a man in the real world. Kill a man in the web. When Lucian kills you, you stay dead. Sometimes it’s a bullet, sometimes your spine fires a huge electrical surge at once and kills your brain dead.

That’s what got Rowe. Poor Sunny Rowe. By the time he knows what hits him, he’s already halfway through a seizure in his apartment and pissing all over himself. Lucian takes the last record of his conversation, gets an idea of Gillory’s path and smiles. The two of them have history, not that Gillory knows that.

Of course, a man can’t go exploding in his home without the cops getting an idea of foul play.

That’s where Natasha Briggs comes in.
Nat is your average run of the mill detective, except where I say average I mean she comes out one hundred percent 80s cyborg lady. When she was twenty one she had her pectoral muscles replaced with synthetic flesh harder than Kevlar. Her bones were laced with a steel alloy weave. Natasha’s seen some shit, done some shit, and immediately gets on the case.

Nat knows of Lucian, of course. The guy’s a known killer. Once his voice registers on the record, she immediately takes up the task of hunting him down. Her skills on the web might not be the same crazy kung fu nonsense Gillory might be dishing out, but she can track and chase a man across the world better than any one else you’ve seen. Someone’s gotta bring that crazy killer to justice, and if that other guy is up to no good she’ll just arrest him too, it’s no big deal.

This is the story of three people rushing headlong to Amsterdam, carrying a package full of crazy and dragging so much vendetta that you’d be hard pressed to find anyone with a bigger grudge.

Spoiler: What’s in the package? Well, that’s funny.
See, when the Knights wiped out porn, they only got most of it. What floats around now? Well, that shit’s worth more money than Picasso paintings. It’s a funny thing to risk you life over, but two hundred million isn’t anything to laugh at either.

Jason's Deli

2012-05-16T17:21:57-05:00

Jason's Deli was an experience.
On the work side of thing, it was pretty typical. You'd go in, punch your time card, and work where they put you. If that meant being at the register, cool. Working "The Line" - That is, where the food is made - was a thing. Busing? Well, there's tips in it.

It was the people that really made it memorable. Todd and Brent and Daryl and Stephen and Jorge, all cool dudes I enjoyed chatting with and stuff. So when I graduated and joined the army, which has been my career since, i couldn't help but miss the crew.

'course, none of them are there anymore. Except Jorge, anyway. Poor guy.

Afganistan + Others

2012-05-04T14:26:55-05:00

To be honest, there isn't much to talk about here.

Afghanistan

Afghanistan: Twice, due to business and both thoroughly unpleasant. I'm sure it's actually a beautiful country and there's actually beautiful things to see and I know the mountains are just breathtaking and all but it's hard to remember all these things when rain of bullets errywhere.

England: Passed through once on a trip to Afghanistan, would love to go back for an actual visit.

Germany: Ditto

Ireland: Also True.

Basically, my entirety of seeing the world consists of stopping in places to go to Afghanistan.

Uh...

2012-05-04T14:23:37-05:00

Unfortunately, I'm a bit of a coffee snob.

bluebrothers coffeshop

If I had my way, I'd be able to just sit back, brew a cup, and enjoy that good ol' cup of joe in the comfort of my own home.

However, that's not always an option. So, more often than not I'd swing by a Borders and drink from Seattle's Best while reading a magazine or something to pass the time, usually before a movie or something.

...Except that's not a thing I can do anymore either because there's no Borders anymore and no Seattle's Best for miles.

...So...Now I need a new place to grab Coffee, I guess.

Civilian Clothes or Bust

2012-05-04T14:19:33-05:00

My day clothes consist of a military uniform and I don't have to tell you how uncomfortable it is to be in that get up all day.

I make it a point to set out something casual so I can just kick off the stress of daily life and pretend I'm just a dude out on the street for a few hours.

Is Chivalry Dead?

2011-03-01T07:52:15-05:00

Chivalry Jewellery Boxes

If chivalry is dead, women killed it.
Years of men doing the gentlemanly thing were suddenly met with women who decided they didn't want it anymore. They demanded that it be stopped, that they be treated like equals instead of lessers, and in exchange the man found it less necessary to treat to woman as a woman.

As a result, genders became more blurred and balance was achieved. Where a man may have bit his tongue around a woman before, he now lashes at her like he would any of his peers because that's the proper thing to do in regards to equality.

Of course, this didn't last. By creating a equal balance between the races, women felt alienated. "Where have all the good men gone," they ask? "Where can I find a gentleman?"

And as a result, the woman created her own misogynist.
...At least thats how I see it. I'm sure that's all wrong and there's still real gentlemen out there. I try to be one, anyway.

Fire vs Spider

2011-02-06T00:06:37-05:00

Carport Spider's Sidekick

Lighter.
Apply directly to the web.
The web will ignite and the spiders legs will be singed with it.
I now have to ability to crush it without fear of it running and/or jumping around and scaring me to death.

Unless it's not on a web.
Then I guess I throw stuff at it until it dies.

To The Time War!

2011-02-05T23:47:26-05:00

TARDIS

Does this time machine have a tracking function? Because I have an idea.
I have to travel back. Far back. Back before the Time War.

Then, I must find one man.
I must find The Doctor.
The man responsible for the death of millions of races, responsible for shoving other races aside so the human race can progress. The greatest time criminal to have ever existed, and all one has to do is go back and stop him to save countless lives and pave the way for a world of peace.

Mankind can coexist peacefully with aliens.
But the Doctor must be eradicated first.

How I Stay Focused

2011-02-05T23:44:14-05:00

Random Words

I don't.
Staying focused isn't a strong point of mine. I think too much and about too many subjects. Leave me with a project and yeah, I'll get my part done if it's of utmost importance. But otherwise, I'll day dream.

Believe me, when I day dream, I day dream. My imagination runs wild and I wind up in space or on a pirate ship or in the center of the Earth. People usually have to shout my name to get my attention back and I honestly reply "Dude, I haven't a clue what you just said to me."

In fact, I just rambled off course just then. That had nothing to do with the prompt.

It's best to go with the flow than worry about staying focused, I realize.

450 Minutes

2011-02-05T23:40:34-05:00

speech

I have 450 minutes on my cellular plan.
I use, on average, about 25.

I can't put a real set of reasons behind it. Maybe I prefer talking to peoples faces if I have to use a voice. I know I make facial expressions whenever I talk - it's a big part of my conversational performance or whateverthefuck. Maybe it's the fact that I make hand gestures, which are the same part.

It could be that I hate fighting with the reception. Or maybe...
Man, I dunno, shit. Maybe I just like reading so much that I wished people spoke in speech bubbles or something. I just text a lot more than I talk, don't judge me!

Advice

2011-02-05T23:35:06-05:00

Advice

You Ask For Advice
You Then Ignore Everything
So Why Even Ask

Garden of Notebooks

2011-02-05T23:31:56-05:00

SML Notebooks / 20090903.10D.52443 / SML

I have hundreds of notebooks, all half full, all filled with half completed stories, of poor attempts of poetry, of bad sketches, and sometimes - but only sometimes - old math homework.

Notebook is sort of a universal term, I admit. Some are binders. Some are those snazzy folders with the little hooks inside that hold paper in the middle. But I can't bring myself to throw them out.

Why?
Because all of those notebooks are potential worlds for me to develop. Ideas that just need a bit of polish, a bit of work. All my neglected children. Throwing them out would be the same as killing them to me.

And nobody wants to do that, now do they?

Eff Yeah, Halloween!

2010-10-25T07:26:51-05:00

Do I love Halloween? Well...

My First Jack-o'-Lantern With Ian

To me, Halloween is like a (first) Christmas. It actually fills me with MORE excitement than Christmas, even.

Why? I'll tell you:
CANDY!
COSTUMES!
PARTIES!
COSTUMES!

When else do I have an excuse to dress like a super hero or a demon or an alien from another dimension without getting odd looks? Sure, there's cosplay, but Halloween is the only time when it's COMPLETELY socially acceptable and everyone everywhere is doing it!

And you get rewarded for it, how crazy is that!
When else can you knock on someone's door wearing a mask, demand candy, and actually get it? Any other time of the year that's grounds for arrest, but not Halloween!

Halloween may be the BEST holiday of the year. And to think some people think of it as a devilish day! Haha, next they'll tell me Christmas is Jesus' birthday!

What I'm reading this Winter

2010-10-25T07:11:14-05:00

My winter reading list is actually longer than this, but one series in particular stands out.

I finished Pattern Recognition a little while ago, and while it was a bit confusing at times, I still completely loved it for being both a contemporary piece and a somewhat modern take at cyberpunk.

My hope for the whole Bigend Trilogy is that it manages to keep this combination of realistic cyberpunk through its entire run.

The Curious Tale of Gibson Girl, The Novel/Comic that will never be

2010-08-22T11:40:43-05:00

So I've got a concept I've wanted to work on for some time, but because of various things ranging from time to waning inspiration to a lack of talent in a certain field, it keeps getting halfway close to realization but then fall back in the pile of ideas.

Maybe someone reading this can make use of them or help me out.

First up: Her name is Russo.
She's the daughter of a pair of "Magazine Mongers", and grew up with a wealthy life. But through to a hatred of her family for setting her up to be a heir, she's rejected that life to go star in an all girl indie band.

The band's name is Saraswati, headed by the lead singer named Mai, Russo's best friend since elementary school. The two are so close they could be sisters, having been through more things together than war veterans who've served together for decades. The best of friends, the most loyal of friends, the two have shaped this band from the ground up.

Except one thing is coming: The battle of the bands.
And, the night of, something terrible happens: Mai is assassinated, and Russo is fatally wounded.

Its the timely intervention of a scientist with questionable morals and a possibly faked English accept that saves Russo's live. With a new mechanical heart and supercharged abilities, she and Saraswati reform and declare their intentions:

"We're going after them. The bastards that did this to Mai will pay."

What they don't know is the battle of the bands is exactly that: A gauntlet, a deathmatch between every possible genre of music. Its either go all the way, or be a corpse.

But Russo's already been a corpse once and she's got the fire of revenge in her eyes...

COMING SOON TO A SOMETHING NEAR YOU SOMETIME IN THE SOMEWHERE POSSIBLY IN THE FUTURE!

GWT PRESENTS...
THE GIBSON GIRL

20 August: Prophetic Nap

2010-08-20T19:19:37-05:00

This happened not more than twenty minutes ago...

90/365: The headache look (+13 things)

"Hey kid. Hey, wake up."
"I don't wanna."
"You gotta wake up. I wanna see you hit your head."
"What?"
"You're going to bump your head when you wake up. And when you do, I'm going to laugh. I'm going to laugh so hard that I might even piss myself."
"Why would you want me to do that? I'm not gonna hit my head."
"Yes you are. You're gonna hit it and its going to be the funniest thing."
"You're crazy."
"Okay. Okay, maybe you won't hit your head. Maybe you'll wake up just fine and okay. But I doubt it."
"Just you watch. I'm gonna wake up now."
"And you're gonna hit your head. Or not. We'll see."

And then I woke up and hit my head.

Hindsight: Tales of Future Past

2010-08-19T07:25:41-05:00

I imagine an encounter with my past self would go something like this...

Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine

"Listen kid, I don't have much time. I'm gonna tell you some things that are going to shape your future for the better, alright? So listen carefully."
"Uh--"
"First thing: She isn't a lesbian."
"Who--"
"Second thing: SHE is. There. I've just fixed your potential love life. Wait no, hold on: If you have to choose between the two, and you will, pick the nerdy one, not the tall one. I know you've got a thing for legs and all, but damn it the nerdy girl is the one to go with."
"I have no idea what you're talking about--"
"Next, lets talk about your career choice. Listen man, go with school. I know you're gonna panic because you missed your deadline, but wait it out and go to school. Don't do anything rash and join something you can't get away from, alright?"
"No really, I--"
"And another thing. This DeLorean? Don't buy it. Time travel is cool and all, but this thing gets terrible mileage."
"Noted. But--"
"Good. You're set for a little while. Maybe you'll turn out alright kid. Well, time to head back to the future and see if you screwed up. So help me, if you screwed up...!"

Things I Learned Thanks To The Internet.

2010-08-11T17:27:54-05:00

Making up your bed is the worst thing you can do to yourself. Here's why!

Bed bug Bites

What do you usually hear when you go to sleep? At least, what comes to mind?
"Good night."
"Sleep Tight."
"Don't let the bed bugs bite."

Really, that right there is the standard. We've all heard it.
Now, what do you hear first thing when you wake up?
"Make up your bed."

Few people know that these things are connected. At least, making up your bed and bed bugs, anyway.
You see, making up your bed is actually the poorest action you can perform in not letting the bed bugs bite. You see, when you sleep, you sweat.

Yes, you sweat. Everyone sweats in their sleep. Even you, you prissy princess. You sweat, so stop denying it.

Now, sweating in your sleep is healthy. But a moist bed is a breeding ground for bed mites. Yes, you have bed mites. Everyone has bed mites. Except people who sleep in bubbles, I guess.
Anyway, by making up your bed, you cover the moist, body shaped spot on your bed. And in doing that, it doesn't get the chance to dry properly. As a result, you now have a body shaped breeding ground for our friends, the bed mite.

So, stop doing it. Leave your bed a mess. You're just going to get back in it and mess it up again anyway, right?

"The Body... It's..."

2010-08-08T17:17:52-05:00

Raining night, pavement...

"Hello?"
"Hey. Hey man its...Man, you know who it is, you've got caller ID. I...oh my god man, I--"
"Whoa. You're saying man too much. Something happen?"
"I...shit. Just shit...I did it. I really fucking did it."
"Slow down. Did what?"
"She...she was talking too much man. Said those things and shit. So I...god, I--"
"I'm gonna say it again. Slow down. What are you talking about."
"Its...I killed her man. I just turned around and killed her. Right in the head with a shovel. I just lost it."
"You're serious."
"Come-fucking-Pletely."
"Jesus Christ..."
"No. No, I'm not done. I realized what I did, right? I mean, holy shit, there's blood everywhere, you can't help but notice. It's hard not to notice, what with the blood and the shovel and the...well, I mean, I noticed and I freaked out and..."
"..."
"...So anyway. I moved the body."
"Where'd you move it?"
"Thats not important, dude."
"Yes it is. You put it somewhere stupid, you get caught."
"I tell you and you call the cops. Sorry, I trust you and all, but I killed the bitch. Not exactly smart to go broadcasting where you put the evidence."
"You sound like you're sobering up."
"Far fucking from it. And like I said, it doesn't matter. Not at all."
"Hey, uh...I've been meaning to ask and all, but why are you whispering."
"I'm whispering because...fuck, because she might hear me. Fuck, I mean..."
"Hold on."
"What? What did I say?"
"She might hear me. She's in bed next to me, sleeping. I mean--"
"Oh. Oh, that's fucking gross man. You need help. I'm--"
"No, its not like that. I'm getting to that. I mean, I told you--"
"Tell me faster, you're not making any goddamn sense. You drunk? I bet you imagined the whole thing."
"NO! I mean, I'm not crazy! I'm sure I'm not! That...she ain't human man."
"What the hell does that mean?"
"I...I got rid of the body, right? But I came back. And she was there. Perfect, like, 100%."
"What?"
"No blood. No scars. Nothing. Like she just came back whole. And...man, I thought I was insane. I was sure. But then I went to check and..."
"And?"
"The body...its..."
"..."
"... Its still there man. The body is still fucking there!"

Who the heck really wants to stay in uniform?

2010-07-31T10:50:42-05:00

I work for the army.
The army uniform is the most uncomfortable piece of fabric you will ever lay eyes on.
It's also hot. And a bit ugly.
I'd rather not wear that thing any long than I have to.

I'll browse for books at Any Bookstore Any where

2010-07-31T10:37:53-05:00

Hey GWT! What's your favorite book store?

Why, its every bookstore, friend!
Bookstores are dangerous. For me, at least.
Its guaranteed: if its payday, I'm in a bookstore and I'm buying something.
My bookshelf has too many goddamn books right now because of this.

It's not an addiction though, I can stop any time I want.

On Summer and Memories

2010-06-27T23:09:00-05:00

Everyone has a great summer memory, don't they?
I mean, think about it. We've all got summer memories and they're all great, You do, your mom does -- the only people who don't are infants who haven't had a summer yet.

Well, I'm no different. I've had tons of summers and tons of summer memories, but nothing I can really call a favorite.

I DO have a "Jesus christ I was an awful child" memory though.

How awful, well...
When I was 13, I set a hillside on fire.
Now, it wasn't as if I intended to commit large scale Arson. It just kind of happened. I promise, the entire event started out innocent enough.

At thirteen, I was living in Beaufort, South Carolina. Port Royal, to be exact. I'll get ya GPS information later, but it was a little town in Beaufort that had the ocean right next to it. With it, there was a little beach, simply called The Sands. Swimming in The Sands was impossible, however, due to the sheer amount of stupidly sharp shells and barnacles in the water, even three steps out. The Sands was more of a spectator's spot – with a huge walkway across the ocean – and a fishing location.
The Sands, however, had huge hills nearby it.
People would ride bikes up them and other dare-devilish things. And, well, stuff.

Before we continue, allow me to introduce my two best friends at the time. We will refer to them as Delta and Lima to avoid naming parties involved.
Delta and Lima, while my best friends, were two gentlemen who were easily bored. We were all very easily bored, in fact. Occasionally, a fourth member in the form of Papa would join and our bored quadrant would find our selves in situations that were very un-boring and occasionally dangerous and/or illegal.
Well, Papa was elsewhere at the time. So Delta, Lima, and myself all found ourselves looking for something to do.
Then Lima found some matches.

They say most arson incidents are the results of children playing with fire. Fire captivates. Fire inspires. Fire burns things in a very pretty manner.
Well, this is all very true. And soon enough, we were at the top of the hill, trying to ignite branches of the lone tree up there.

Well, the branches lit.
So did the rest of the tree.
So did the rest of the hill.

Before we knew it, the entire left side of the hill was a raging inferno. We ran, of course. We got out of there, watching from a distance as the thing burned and the fire department came. We lied, obviously, when they asked if we saw what happened. I even remember thinking how great it would be to throw fireworks into the fire.
Well, eventually it went out. The fire even made news. Brush fire, they said. Yeah, it was a brush fire and a tree fire and an everything else fire.

But, that day remains in my memory for one reason and one reason alone.
It was, of course, something that Lima said. Something so corny that it makes me chuckle every time I think back on it.

”—I'd say that was...pretty hot stuff, wouldn't you agree?”

(And then David Carusso jumped out of the bushes and put on his sunglasses.)