So we saw a documentary on the youth magazine "Okej" from the 1980s. A guy was railing against the perverting effects of hard rock, and it got me thinking:
What happens to all the moral guardians once it becomes obvious whatever they were railing against is harmless? What do the moral-panic guys do when the Black Sabbath fans become responsible family fathers pushing on forty, when the guy who watches splatter movies becomes a store manager, when the gamers spawn little gamerlings and make surprisingly good parents? Where do the morally outraged go, what becomes of them once society accepts whatever they were railing against, as inevitably happens?
Do they just give up? Do they shut up, but grumble in silence about how "punk ruined the world" for the rest of their lives? Do they resent the new society where Satan-worshipping baby killer music is featured on Melodifestivalen? Do they admit they were wrong?
The guy who went on SVT in 1985 and seriously claimed that W.A.S.P. would be responsible for raising an entire generation of violent, hedonistic anarchists - what does he say now, when the hard rock generation works as accountants and nurses throughout the country? If you interviewed him, what would he have to say about it?
I'm really quite curious.
måndagen den 6:e februari 2012
fredagen den 3:e februari 2012
Quote of the Now
"Faerie contains many things besides elves and fays, and besides dwarfs, witches, trolls, giants, or dragons: it holds the seas, the sun, the moon, the sky; and the earth, and all things that are in it: tree and bird, water and stone, wine and bread, and ourselves, mortal men, when we are enchanted."
- J. R. R. Tolkien, "On Fairy-Stories"
- J. R. R. Tolkien, "On Fairy-Stories"
fredagen den 13:e januari 2012
Do You Want To Playtest 5E?
The fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons has been announced. It will likely come out sometime in 2013, and hopes are high that it will end the edition wars by uniting fans of 3e and 4e under a single banner. Whether or not it succeeds remains to be seen.
Mike Mearls, of Iron Heroes fame, is one of the lead designers, and he has published an article asking for playtesters. So here's my question: Would you like to playtest D&D 5E?
Mike Mearls, of Iron Heroes fame, is one of the lead designers, and he has published an article asking for playtesters. So here's my question: Would you like to playtest D&D 5E?
torsdagen den 5:e januari 2012
Soundtrack of Me
If someone were to make a movie about me, for whatever reason, I would want the following songs on the soundtrack. They're not necessarily my favourite songs in the whole world, but they're songs that I feel accurately represent me. Some of them wouldn't really work as a soundtrack as such, but never mind that - this little exercise is more about trying to represent myself with a small selection of songs.
Without further ado:
1. Supertramp – The Logical Song
This song is pretty much my theme song.
2. Pet Shop Boys – It's a Sin
3. Scooter – How Much Is The Fish
This song makes no sense, but it makes me happy and all pumped up. Plus, it's been following me since I was pretty small.
4. The Beatles – Fool On The Hill
5. The Beatles – Nowhere Man
It might be a bit redundant to include both this song and Fool On The Hill, but they are actually quite different songs. Both this and Fool On The Hill have been following me for quite some time.
6. The Seat Belts – Real Folk Blues
The theme song of a love story.
7. Bob Dylan – Positively 4th Street
The theme song of another love story.
8. The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
The theme song of yet another love story. I'll leave it up to you to figure out which is which.
8. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory – Pure Imagination
9. Aladdin – Friend Like Me
I know, I'm totally full of myself.
10. Gorillaz – Some Kind of Nature
11. Gorillaz – Revolving Doors
...Gorillaz song lyrics as a rule make no sense, so I'm not really sure if these songs say anything really applicable or meaningful, but I like the Gorillaz and their melodies, if nothing else, need to be on the soundtrack.
12. Dr. Steel – We Decide
Wouldn't at all work as a soundtrack for anything, I think, but I like the message.
13. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
14. Per Gessle – Farväl Angelina
I know the original is in English and by Bob Dylan, but I really like the Swedish version. Also, I feel like there maybe should be at least one song on this list in my actual native language.
Without further ado:
1. Supertramp – The Logical Song
This song is pretty much my theme song.
2. Pet Shop Boys – It's a Sin
3. Scooter – How Much Is The Fish
This song makes no sense, but it makes me happy and all pumped up. Plus, it's been following me since I was pretty small.
4. The Beatles – Fool On The Hill
5. The Beatles – Nowhere Man
It might be a bit redundant to include both this song and Fool On The Hill, but they are actually quite different songs. Both this and Fool On The Hill have been following me for quite some time.
6. The Seat Belts – Real Folk Blues
The theme song of a love story.
7. Bob Dylan – Positively 4th Street
The theme song of another love story.
8. The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
The theme song of yet another love story. I'll leave it up to you to figure out which is which.
8. Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory – Pure Imagination
9. Aladdin – Friend Like Me
I know, I'm totally full of myself.
10. Gorillaz – Some Kind of Nature
11. Gorillaz – Revolving Doors
...Gorillaz song lyrics as a rule make no sense, so I'm not really sure if these songs say anything really applicable or meaningful, but I like the Gorillaz and their melodies, if nothing else, need to be on the soundtrack.
12. Dr. Steel – We Decide
Wouldn't at all work as a soundtrack for anything, I think, but I like the message.
13. Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody
14. Per Gessle – Farväl Angelina
I know the original is in English and by Bob Dylan, but I really like the Swedish version. Also, I feel like there maybe should be at least one song on this list in my actual native language.
lördagen den 24:e december 2011
Twenty-Four.
“So,” said Andromeda, “We've tried shooting it, zapping it, blowing it up, and kicking it. It seems pretty impervious.”
She was looking at a peculiar metal door at the base of the tree. It was made of shining chrome, virtually featureless except for five letters engraved in its surface: S.A.N.T.A.
“I give up,” she said, taking a seat on a pile of snow. “Nothing short of magic can open this door. I suppose the Systematic Administrator left the message just to tell people to sod off.”
Danielle stood considering the door. So close, and yet so far away. Had they come this far only to not be able to revive the Administrator, after all? Her heart sank. She looked around at her companions, each and every one of which seemed to be of the same opinion as Andromeda. Well... all except one. Her eyes fell on the dark-haired man with the cybernetic leg: Darren. They had only just met, but Danielle noticed something different about him – while everyone else was looking at the door, he was looking at the sky.
“Have you got any idea, Mr... Darren, was it?”
“Maybe. Rita, could you tell me the message again?”
“When one-winged angels fly, magic will open the door. Or something like that.”
Darren got to his feet. He cleared his throat, and spoke up.
“I have an idea. Probably a stupid idea, but I got reminded of a saying. One-winged angels are people, see. The saying goes, we are angels with only one wing: We fly by embracing each other.”
Everyone looked at each other, and particularly Consul Danielle seemed stunned.
“Are you saying we revive the greatest AI in the history of the universe by... hugging?”
“It's a long shot, I admit. But it seems this Administrator guy... thing... whatever, was a little eccentric. I still can't figure out the magic bit though.”
Babs and Sylver shone up at the same time. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” - “That's it, isn't it?” - “I think it is!” - “It makes perfect sense: Friendship!”
They rushed to their feet and hugged whoever happened to be closest: Sylver squeezed Selma in what looked more like a wrestling move than a hug, and Babs tackled Sawyer to the ground. Krystof looked at Darren, skeptically.
“Well man, it was your idea.” he said with a shrug.
Before his partner could protest, Krystof grabbed him in an extremely manly bear hug. Soon, everyone was hugging someone else, and on the ground, Sawyer was laughing.
“Babs, whoever you are, you're crazy. Get off me. Merry Christmas.”
He had no idea why he said it. It just seemed to fit. It did.
§§§§§§§
And from that great door, there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from the ground to see what was the matter.
O, the great Tesla tree did both sparkle and flash,
And away from the lightning they quickly must dash.
A moon (or space station) shone down on the snow,
And it seemed like the planet itself was aglow.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a great cosmo-sleigh, and eight cyborg reindeer!
And there in the sleigh there was seated no man,
nor machine, not like anything made in Japan:
This strange, wondrous being, that flew for the sky
Was a powerful, marvelous godlike A.I.
A being of shimmering energy pure,
Now back from the dead – of that they were sure.
And yet somehow so plump, such a jolly old elf,
that each laughed when they saw him, in spite of himself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but just raised both his hands,
And displayed all his power by changing the lands.
First came there a cottage, so cozy and warm,
Then soon the whole planet was all terraformed!
There were so many gifts that he gave them besides:
Warm socks and warm sweaters of every size,
Both hoverboards, hovercats, and holograms
Of famous bands playing their favorite jams.
Now laid he a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up in space there he rose,
To stop the galactic war with his gifts
To give out such presents, as mend any rifts.
Away flew his sleigh, so fast you would get carsick,
For it crossed the whole Galaxy in but twelve parsecs!
But they heard him exclaim, throughout all space and time:
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL / AND GOODNIGHT / END OF LINE.”
She was looking at a peculiar metal door at the base of the tree. It was made of shining chrome, virtually featureless except for five letters engraved in its surface: S.A.N.T.A.
“I give up,” she said, taking a seat on a pile of snow. “Nothing short of magic can open this door. I suppose the Systematic Administrator left the message just to tell people to sod off.”
Danielle stood considering the door. So close, and yet so far away. Had they come this far only to not be able to revive the Administrator, after all? Her heart sank. She looked around at her companions, each and every one of which seemed to be of the same opinion as Andromeda. Well... all except one. Her eyes fell on the dark-haired man with the cybernetic leg: Darren. They had only just met, but Danielle noticed something different about him – while everyone else was looking at the door, he was looking at the sky.
“Have you got any idea, Mr... Darren, was it?”
“Maybe. Rita, could you tell me the message again?”
“When one-winged angels fly, magic will open the door. Or something like that.”
Darren got to his feet. He cleared his throat, and spoke up.
“I have an idea. Probably a stupid idea, but I got reminded of a saying. One-winged angels are people, see. The saying goes, we are angels with only one wing: We fly by embracing each other.”
Everyone looked at each other, and particularly Consul Danielle seemed stunned.
“Are you saying we revive the greatest AI in the history of the universe by... hugging?”
“It's a long shot, I admit. But it seems this Administrator guy... thing... whatever, was a little eccentric. I still can't figure out the magic bit though.”
Babs and Sylver shone up at the same time. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?” - “That's it, isn't it?” - “I think it is!” - “It makes perfect sense: Friendship!”
They rushed to their feet and hugged whoever happened to be closest: Sylver squeezed Selma in what looked more like a wrestling move than a hug, and Babs tackled Sawyer to the ground. Krystof looked at Darren, skeptically.
“Well man, it was your idea.” he said with a shrug.
Before his partner could protest, Krystof grabbed him in an extremely manly bear hug. Soon, everyone was hugging someone else, and on the ground, Sawyer was laughing.
“Babs, whoever you are, you're crazy. Get off me. Merry Christmas.”
He had no idea why he said it. It just seemed to fit. It did.
§§§§§§§
And from that great door, there arose such a clatter,
They sprang from the ground to see what was the matter.
O, the great Tesla tree did both sparkle and flash,
And away from the lightning they quickly must dash.
A moon (or space station) shone down on the snow,
And it seemed like the planet itself was aglow.
When, what to their wondering eyes should appear,
But a great cosmo-sleigh, and eight cyborg reindeer!
And there in the sleigh there was seated no man,
nor machine, not like anything made in Japan:
This strange, wondrous being, that flew for the sky
Was a powerful, marvelous godlike A.I.
A being of shimmering energy pure,
Now back from the dead – of that they were sure.
And yet somehow so plump, such a jolly old elf,
that each laughed when they saw him, in spite of himself.
A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head,
Soon gave them to know they had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but just raised both his hands,
And displayed all his power by changing the lands.
First came there a cottage, so cozy and warm,
Then soon the whole planet was all terraformed!
There were so many gifts that he gave them besides:
Warm socks and warm sweaters of every size,
Both hoverboards, hovercats, and holograms
Of famous bands playing their favorite jams.
Now laid he a finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up in space there he rose,
To stop the galactic war with his gifts
To give out such presents, as mend any rifts.
Away flew his sleigh, so fast you would get carsick,
For it crossed the whole Galaxy in but twelve parsecs!
But they heard him exclaim, throughout all space and time:
“MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL / AND GOODNIGHT / END OF LINE.”
fredagen den 23:e december 2011
Twenty-Three.
The little valley surrounding the metal tree was suddenly quite crowded. Sylver, Love and Selma stood in the middle. To one side stood Andromeda, Maximus and Sawyer, weapons drawn. On the other side stood Consul Danielle Ash and her friend, Kendra. Both of them looked quite calm. Nobody spoke; the only sound through the valley was the whining of Christmas Planets' loud winds.
“Step off of Selma.” said Andromeda, waving her pistol. Love casually did so. “You all right?”
Selma made some kind of noise that could be construed as a “Mostly”.
Presently the Consul spoke up. “I would advice you not to aim a gun at Love. She doesn't appreciate it.”
“I reckon she's fast, but can she dodge a bullet?”
“On Helios, I saw her dodge a laser. I'm Danielle, by the way.”
“Name's Andromeda. What are you doing here?”
Unexpectedly, another voice rang out as a third party entered the little valley. “The Consul is here because of something Love and me discovered. The four of us came here following these guys.”
“These guys” turned out to be Babs, Krystof, and Darren. The person speaking was someone both Andromeda and Sylver knew very well.
“Rita!”
“That's me. It looks like I've arrived just in time to provide the exposition.”
Danielle nodded, approaching the tree. “Please do share the story. I see no reason not to.”
Andromeda holstered her gun, and walked closer as well, helping Selma to her feet. Soon, they were all gathered around the strange metal contraption, as Rita cleared her throat.
“In ages past, some hapless programmers accidentally invented an incredibly powerful artificial intelligence. Nobody knew exactly how it worked, not even the inventors, but it seemed to possess strange, almost divine powers. The machine was dubbed the Systematic Administrator of Numerous Treasured Artifacts, because of its ability – and tendency – to give people the resources they needed. Gifts, if you will. For the few precious years it was operational, there was peace and prosperity throughout the Galaxy.”
She took a break, looking out over the assembled people. Andromeda spoke up:
“I thought the Systematic Administrator was just a myth?”
“It's a commonly held belief, yes. As I said, the machine was only operational for a few years. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but the AI just vanished one day, leaving behind a curious message – it would return on 'the darkest day'. There were some other peculiar passages in there as well – something about 'When one-winged angels fly', only then could the door could be opened, but even then only by – and I quote – 'magic'. The only part we could decipher was this: The Systematic Administrator would be waiting under a Tree of Snow.”
She gestured to the large metal tree.
“That, ladies and gentlemen, is the true Treasure of Christmas Planet – the key to reviving the Systematic Administrator of Numerous Treasured Artifacts. And it's right underneath our feet.”
Danielle, presently, produced something from her pocket. It looked like an incredibly advanced remote control, and she cautiously approached the tree, reaching out to touch the device to one of the branches. Immediately, it lit up like – well, like a Christmas tree. It also started to radiate rather a lot of heat.
“We're about to get a close look at it. Everyone stand back. I've activated the Tesla circuit.”
As they backed off, the snow around the tree began to melt...
“Step off of Selma.” said Andromeda, waving her pistol. Love casually did so. “You all right?”
Selma made some kind of noise that could be construed as a “Mostly”.
Presently the Consul spoke up. “I would advice you not to aim a gun at Love. She doesn't appreciate it.”
“I reckon she's fast, but can she dodge a bullet?”
“On Helios, I saw her dodge a laser. I'm Danielle, by the way.”
“Name's Andromeda. What are you doing here?”
Unexpectedly, another voice rang out as a third party entered the little valley. “The Consul is here because of something Love and me discovered. The four of us came here following these guys.”
“These guys” turned out to be Babs, Krystof, and Darren. The person speaking was someone both Andromeda and Sylver knew very well.
“Rita!”
“That's me. It looks like I've arrived just in time to provide the exposition.”
Danielle nodded, approaching the tree. “Please do share the story. I see no reason not to.”
Andromeda holstered her gun, and walked closer as well, helping Selma to her feet. Soon, they were all gathered around the strange metal contraption, as Rita cleared her throat.
“In ages past, some hapless programmers accidentally invented an incredibly powerful artificial intelligence. Nobody knew exactly how it worked, not even the inventors, but it seemed to possess strange, almost divine powers. The machine was dubbed the Systematic Administrator of Numerous Treasured Artifacts, because of its ability – and tendency – to give people the resources they needed. Gifts, if you will. For the few precious years it was operational, there was peace and prosperity throughout the Galaxy.”
She took a break, looking out over the assembled people. Andromeda spoke up:
“I thought the Systematic Administrator was just a myth?”
“It's a commonly held belief, yes. As I said, the machine was only operational for a few years. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but the AI just vanished one day, leaving behind a curious message – it would return on 'the darkest day'. There were some other peculiar passages in there as well – something about 'When one-winged angels fly', only then could the door could be opened, but even then only by – and I quote – 'magic'. The only part we could decipher was this: The Systematic Administrator would be waiting under a Tree of Snow.”
She gestured to the large metal tree.
“That, ladies and gentlemen, is the true Treasure of Christmas Planet – the key to reviving the Systematic Administrator of Numerous Treasured Artifacts. And it's right underneath our feet.”
Danielle, presently, produced something from her pocket. It looked like an incredibly advanced remote control, and she cautiously approached the tree, reaching out to touch the device to one of the branches. Immediately, it lit up like – well, like a Christmas tree. It also started to radiate rather a lot of heat.
“We're about to get a close look at it. Everyone stand back. I've activated the Tesla circuit.”
As they backed off, the snow around the tree began to melt...
torsdagen den 22:e december 2011
Twenty-Two.
“So, Sylver... do you suppose this giant metal tree is the treasure?”
“I don't think it is.”
They were waiting for the others to arrive. There wasn't much else to look at, so they were looking at the tree itself – a shiny metal contraption covered in chrome, about two meters of it sticking out of the snow. By the look of it, it was vaguely conical.
“The snow must be very deep here,” Selma commented. “I have a feeling the tree is pretty big.”
“I expect it is. Hm. I wonder what purpose it serves?”
Sylver got up from where she was sitting, and walked over to it. Neither of them had touched it up until now, but presently she put on a black rubber glove and poked it. Nothing happened. She waved Selma over.
“Could you touch it?”
“Why?”
“Just touch it.”
Selma reached out a hand to touch the tree with her bare hand. There was a bright flash – moments later, Selma was lying in a crater in the snow, smoking slightly.
“Hah! Just as I suspected – it's a Tesla tree! The entire thing conducts electricity! It must be some sort of security mechanism.”
“Thank you for sharing that information.” said Selma as she got to her feet. “I think I'm okay though, that hurt less than you'd-”
Here she stopped speaking, because she was suddenly ninja kicked in the chest. Sylver looked rather surprised at this turn of events, and looked quizzically at the woman who was standing on top of her assistant – a short-haired, black-clad woman. Sylver was about to comment on this peculiar way of introducing oneself, when a voice rang out.
“Love! That's enough.”
The voice belonged to a tall, blond woman that Sylver recognized from pictures: Consul Danielle Ash. Another voice answered her: It was Andromeda.
“You bet it is.”
“I don't think it is.”
They were waiting for the others to arrive. There wasn't much else to look at, so they were looking at the tree itself – a shiny metal contraption covered in chrome, about two meters of it sticking out of the snow. By the look of it, it was vaguely conical.
“The snow must be very deep here,” Selma commented. “I have a feeling the tree is pretty big.”
“I expect it is. Hm. I wonder what purpose it serves?”
Sylver got up from where she was sitting, and walked over to it. Neither of them had touched it up until now, but presently she put on a black rubber glove and poked it. Nothing happened. She waved Selma over.
“Could you touch it?”
“Why?”
“Just touch it.”
Selma reached out a hand to touch the tree with her bare hand. There was a bright flash – moments later, Selma was lying in a crater in the snow, smoking slightly.
“Hah! Just as I suspected – it's a Tesla tree! The entire thing conducts electricity! It must be some sort of security mechanism.”
“Thank you for sharing that information.” said Selma as she got to her feet. “I think I'm okay though, that hurt less than you'd-”
Here she stopped speaking, because she was suddenly ninja kicked in the chest. Sylver looked rather surprised at this turn of events, and looked quizzically at the woman who was standing on top of her assistant – a short-haired, black-clad woman. Sylver was about to comment on this peculiar way of introducing oneself, when a voice rang out.
“Love! That's enough.”
The voice belonged to a tall, blond woman that Sylver recognized from pictures: Consul Danielle Ash. Another voice answered her: It was Andromeda.
“You bet it is.”
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