So I was walking home from school tonight when I heard some weird noises on the grass beside the sidewalk. I looked down, and saw two birds fighting. Like, two small black birds with bright yellow beaks going at each other. One was clearly winning, as it had the other bird's leg in its beak and was pressing its little talons into the other bird's face. Then he started pecking him in his belly.

I didn't really know whether to intervene or not. I stepped closer and nudged my foot towards the birds but they didn't even seem to notice me.

Just when it looked like the other bird was a goner, they both righted themselves and flew up into a nearby tree.

Weird!

Today I'd like to talk about gaming.

I'm not really a gamer. I don't spend endless hours playing games on my computer all the time. But I'm not really a casual gamer either. Adding the term "casual" to gaming reminds me of "casual sex", which is not really my relationship with gaming at all.

I think that's it. I have a relationship with games. There are a few select games or genres of games or creators of games that I have an intense craving for.

For example. The Sims. I used to think I would outgrow that. But no. I don't think I ever, ever will. The desire to be god and create little people is too great.

Also, my RPGs, like Oblivion, and KOTOR (Knights of the Old Republic)--one and two. I've always wanted to be a jedi and that game fills that desire because I can (within limits of the story) impact on the outcome of the world. As for Oblivion, same reason, but there are less limits. If I don't *feel* like locating Sean Bean and naming him Emperor, then maybe I'll just go pick every flower in the game and line them up meticulously on my alchemy bench.

And we can't forget Spiderweb Software games.. This one guy makes whole games. Graphics aren't great, but it doesn't matter because his stories are engaging. And that's what matters the most.

Because that's what games are. Interactive stories. Stories with heavy visual elements which you manipulate to affect the outcome.

And everybody likes to feel like they're in control of the story.

Lots of work to do.

I always thought that maybe I could make a magazine by myself, but I have since banished that thought from my mind. I'm doing the advanced magazine workshop as the last part of my degree, and there are four other people in my group. It's not easy dividing up writing articles, photo editing, indesign layouts, editing choices and all those little details that you really don't notice that need decisions between five people.

And doing it all in 6 weeks doesn't help either.

At least in the end, I'll know a little bit of what goes into designing a magazine. Then I can have my own. Soon, soon.

Read this.

The senator slams the University of King's College for teaching students critical thinking.

The article says that he says we learn from two main texts: Manufacturing Consent (Noam Chomsky) and "other books" that teach critical thinking.

We didn't have that book on any of our reading lists for journalism, not in any of the classes I took. And I wouldn't say that everyone that goes here is a leftist. We're taught to be objective and get all the facts when writing stories.

Well, some of my classmates didn't Duffy' comments, and decided to show their "appreciation" for him by sending him a Noam Chomsky book. Have fun reading that.

I've been thinking of writing an interactive story for the blog. I think it would be fun, and help take my mind off the mounting stress of Advanced Magazine class.

Check back over the next few days for updates!

Our misadventuring kitties, pictured here, have found a Facebook home.

If you want to follow their crudely drawn adventures, see the Facebook page.

So, so, tired. It's been really sunny these past few days in Halifax. Good for melting snow and people who like mild winters. Not so good for not wanting to wake up at 6:30 every morning with the sunrise.

We should really invest in curtains. But, seeing as I'm moving out in a month, and we have to buy our own curtain rods, that's definitely not going to happen.

I went to Atlantic News last night. I've been itching to go there ever since starting the Advanced Magazine workshop. You see, we're examined regular non-fiction magazines, but I wanted to see with my new pair of magazine-trained eyes how fiction magazines are laid out.

I got two: Realms of Fantasy, and Polygraff. I really like Realms of Fantasy's layout. I think there's a good mix of text and ads/pictures, although I disagree with some of the placements of the stories (it's a little top heavy, two much in the FOB [front of book]). There's also great illustrations there and entertaining short stories.

Polygraff has the mix of fantasy, sci/fi and horror that I'd like to have when I create my own fiction magazine. This is only their second issue, and it's printed in Quebec! Because they're really new, half of their magazine is filled with public domain works. I don't really mind that, I just can't wait to see if this magazine will grow.

I think after my Creative Book Publishing Course at Humber College, I'll apply for some grants and start a fiction magazine again.

While walking to school, I passed a graveyard. There was a mother and toddler daughter walking behind me.

"What's that?" the little girl asked her mother.
"That's a graveyard," she replied. "That's where people go when they die. We bury them underground...and write their names on the stones, and when we read the names, we remember them."
The little girl paused to consider this. "Where's my name?"
"It's not there. You're alive."
"I am?"

Aww.

I finally got Facebook.