Like Billy Joel, I’m moving out… I hate to say it, but there’s just too much in the world that ISN’T related to sex, and I need the freedom to go where I list in terms of blogging… because I think we all know I haven’t exactly blogged on this one often… It’s still unpolished in terms of looks, but if you’d like to, you can head over to my new blog and check out my first and second posts ^^

Arthur’s Everything Blog

I know some furries who'd be ALL over getting this done to them...

Look, I’m no freak about my belief system. Or lack of same. But when people start blathering on, and on, and on about how Christ saves, or Allah is most great, or even what eastern herb will save my life this week, I get a little butthurt.

Eventually I lash out.

Oops. My bad. *ish not really feeling guilty* ^^

There’s this great little site called livescience.com that features a bunch of nifty science content. one such set of content is a series of articles called bad science, by Benjamin Radford, managing editor of the Skeptical Inquirer science magazine. The articles tackle the ‘supernatural’. As you may have gathered, the articles aren’t exactly friendly to the woo-woo set. Hence, I read it. Anything to get me away from voodoo science and straw men… Anyway. On with my story.

Recently, I read an article about the story behind the story behind the movie “The Haunting in Connecticut” … I know, I’m getting dizzy, too.

Funny thing, but this modern ghost story ‘based on a true story’ turns out to be based on a fraudulent and deceitful lie made up by people who wanted MONEY! *gasps in feigned shock*

I know, shocking, isn’t it…. *meditates on the wisdom of Barnum*

Aanyhoo… Then I decided to read the responses…

*bad idea*

I proceeded to get all butthurt as these semi-religious, new-age hippy-dippy crystal gazing spiritualist retards ignored completely the thrust of the article (i.e. that there was more than sufficient proof of fraud) in favor of advancing the cause of E.S.B. *rips hair out of a rapidly balding skull*

Oh, yeah. In case you didn’t already know, E.S.B. stands for extra-sensory bullshit.

So here, reproduced faithfully, are the worst two offenders’ worst two comments, and my replies. *it may be just a leetle spiteful to give myself even MORE room for my ideas, but, well… they’re good ideas. and it’s my blog… ^^* (All comments are reproduced faithfully, unedited except for formatting, and adding links to mine … ’cause I told me I could)

ok im not sure i believe everything this family says, but
SPIRITS ARE REAL. I can see them, most people can't because
in order to see them you MUST BE COMPLETELY OPEN to the idea,
that means not being scared of the unknown and believing in it
with all your heart and mind, something most people can't do.

^^ Uh-huh. I believe you. Aaaand the tooth fairy is real, too.
And if I clap my hands hard enough, an imaginary character in a
book written by a Calvinist playwright will live.
 Phhht.
   How many times does the science need to be shoved down a person's
throat? And don't tell me that your claims are 'just unprovable' or
that scientists just can't see because they're close minded, because
that's bull. Scientists are ALWAYS trying to find new explanations
for the way the world works, experiencing new phenomena, creating
new ideas to take us beyond our wildest imaginings.
  Not to mention that extraordinary claims require MORE proof, not
less.
   If a scientist had an experience which he couldn't prove,
by cracky, he'd go out there and FIND a way to prove it! I heartily
suggest you do the same.
   I think I know why people cling to this belief in the supernatural
(well, the deluded ones, anyway) - and it's all based around a
deep-seated feeling of inadequacy, of something missing from their
lives/a fault in themselves that they need to fill. So... the
supernatural.
   I even understand the attraction. I like a good fantasy book or
movie just like the rest of us, and I even have moments where I wish
that *insert fantastic person/place/thing/ here* existed. Unlike
these people however, I don't ever confuse my fantasy with reality.
   If you need a warm wet suffocating fantasy blankie to hide from
this rational, amazing, complex, beautiful and unique universe we
exist in, bleedingheart, that's fine. But don't imagine for a second
that you're fooling the rest of us.

And #2...
Bishopice611 wrote:
Hauntings are real, I have had stuff happen to me that was pretty
freaky. I know that I'm gonna get bombarded for saying this but hey.
None of it compares to demon rapes and what not and anyone making
claims like that I would think was a liar. But as it was happening
I listed 80 plus occurences over a ten year period. Not the wind or
a creaky old house either. I didn't except anything that wasn't a
fully audible voice or a person  that I couldn't dismiss as anything
else. And hearing/seeing someone or something that shouldn't be
there is truly scary all by itself.
gareball wrote:
I urge you to contact The James Randi Educational Foundation in Ft.
Lauderdale, FL  at once. There just may be a cool $1 million in it
for you.
It amazes me that NOT ONE person has been able to collect that money
yet, what with all the seemingly endless paranormal activity around
us.
arthrpanther wrote:
And the very moment you can submit laboratory quality proof of your
anecdotal, unscientific and illogical claims, I'll be more than
happy to change my view of you as either a) a deluded nut-job, or
b) a fraud.

^^ 'nuff said.

Okay. So here’s the deal: I have five guys interested in sleeping with me: one of whom wants to be my slave (and who has a long term partner), one of whom wants to be my pet, one of whom wants to be my partner, and one of whom I’ve already laid, and who is happily committed to another guy.
Not to mention the ex I constantly drool over, who likes to screw with me but can’t stand being kissed because it might bring up the past for him. ^^;

1+1+1+1+1+me=confuzzled…

I could have the one who wants to be my slave if I move out to cincinnati (which I am anyway, so…) and maybe drag the one who wants to be my partner out there with me, but it’s uncertain I could have both of them since one (guess who) is verry christian. And everybody else… well, forget it.

If I stay in washington, I can have the boy who wants to be my pet, my ex, and the current f-toy, but I’d have to stop if I decided to go after the partner. and… I’m not sure I want to. I mean, i just got out of a really painful heartbreaker of a relationship. Not to mention that there would be four very pissed off runners up out there. And if I don’t leave the rest for the boy who wants a relationship, It’ll end in a very 90210 way. Not so happy.
And I love them. all of them. I really do. Each of them is wonderful in a different way, and I’m not just talking about the sex. ^^

If I had to give advice to someone in my current predicament, I would say that the sex is nice, but you should go for your heart or your wallet in situations like this. Preferably both heart AND wallet, if possible. It makes your life sooo much more content and stable when you have decent finances and someone who loves you.
That’s true even if he/she isn’t the homecoming queen and a ferarri all rolled up with a bag of chips…
I think a lot of people wind up in situations like this: no bad choices, per se, according to current data, but no good ones, either. and the decisions I make now will affect my life for months, possibly years, to come.
But I want to have my cake and eat it too! ^^
*sigh*

I thought I could keep this blog about sex only.

I was wrong… *hangs head in shame* See, there’s not much to write about at the moment regarding that (at least from personal experience ^^; ), so I’m going to write about something else, just to keep my hand in, so to speak ^^.

I just recently got a Zune… and I decided I should tell people my experiences so far. This way, I can write about something that looks sexy, and a crush, and the ultimate disappointment that all crushes bring when we realize the object of our lust is not perfect in every way.

At least, unless you want to hear about my love affair with the companion cube, which I grant you is DEFINITELY kinky, but not very sexy ^^.

Okay. So a lot of you, I mean A LOT, are viewing this from Apple computers. And I’ll tell you right off: I have no problem with you doing that. Apple makes some really nifty products. If you like them, even if you like them more than Microsoft or any other brand, that’s totally cool.

I, on the other hand, had a series of freak bad occurrences with the one apple tech product I did buy. Bad customer service sealed the deal (more in another article, if I ever get around to it – it’s one of my favorite bitchy stories, so I probably will; and it’s all true!) – I will never buy an apple product again.

So I was left with a fairly limited set of choices for a new mp3 player. I wanted a big brand name, because I rarely do name brand (I’m not exactly rich) and this was a splurge item for me, a reward for having good steady employment where I can afford something like that. I also (for the same reasons) wanted bells and whistles and *cool*. that narrowed the list down considerably, to a Zen or a Zune. (wonder why they both start with a z… )

So, being a Washingtonian by birth, and for the most part knowing how to deal with MS software, I figured I’d get the Zune. ^^

I purchased the 30GB version of the zune,  at a fraction of the price I would have paid for it when the first gen came out (MS doesn’t even bother carrying them anymore). I opened the (rather nifty-ish) box, and looked at the quick-start instructions. I was infatuated. I started the install.

*Sigh* I wish I was joking or exaggerating when I say that two hours later, I was still installing the damn software. I’m not in microsoft’s corner, but I’m not out of it, either. And I often feel like Bill got a bad rap for some of the shit people put on him. but… two hours… Really, Bill? Really?

I thought it was clear sailing from getting the software installed. Then it told me I needed to restart my computer.

I hit the restart now button… wait… wait… BSOD.

Great. *shrug* these things happen.

Reset button.

Blank screen. Oh, God, what if it fried my graphics card or something?

Reset button.

Blank screen.

Call a friend (who works in tech support) in a panic, get told to give my computer a hard boot.

I do so.

Compy boots fine. *breath of relief*

I start the damned program that almost killed my most prized posession, and it welcomes me by making me fill out forms for five minutes before it’ll even let me look at the damned player. And it had tons of other little quirks, too. The first time I ran the program.

Every time since has been without more than the type of minor grumbles I had (and still have) with iTunes (A fine player, but I wish *they* would tweak this that and the other if *they* are going to make it mandatory software for their mp3 players – ditto Zuneware).

All that said, and all of it meant quite vehemently, I now have one of the most rockingest mp3 players I have ever seen, iPod included (I don’t count the iPhone simply because it is primarily a phone and only offered through a cellular company). iPods (especially the iPod touch) may have some really good things going for them. and that’s fine. I’m not pissing on them. But for those who don’t like Apple’s way of doing business, or those who prefer a device that is more adaptible and flexible to different user’s demands…

Hell, for those that don’t want to have their music player look like everyone else’s ( mine has a crane on it and an inscription that reads ‘ “never try to outstubborn a cat” L.L. ‘ – not to mention my background, currently a photo I took of my cat’s paw clinging for dear life to a window ledge) – For those patient stubborn individualists who care more for freedom than security, more for change than a life without effort, a Zune is the best of all possible worlds.

Thus did a smooth crush meet reality, and, like with any good relationship, overcome the pitfalls, withstand the tough times, and weather into the rough and pitted marble of deep and abiding love.

(just don’t tell my Zune about the companion cube, okay? It… it’s kind of on the down-low right now ^^)

so..... many.... typos...!

so…. wait. does that make me a perv? or an english geek? or both?…. Anyway, yeah. My friend Alex Hawk, who has written erotica for niche markets since the internet, asked me to help him out and cover the editorial work on his latest story, titled brad and jesse. it’s an adult story, so only follow the link if you’re over eighteen and not easily offended, ok?

Anyway, I found it… an interesting experience. editing a document is a very analytical thing for me, very fussy and precise, and I enjoy it in the way I might enjoy a wordsearch: detached, intellectual, unemotional.
so to do that kind of thing with a porn story… well. it confuzzled me. I have to admit that I felt conflicted between letting myself drop out of the story to correct an error, and between letting the story take me to… umm… happy places. ^^

I feel rather proud of myself for having caught all the errors I did, because Alex is a rather accomplished writer, where I can’t even keep this damned blog up and running. (For god’s sake, the man has three! two update daily!)

Anyway, if there are any errors in the story’s grammer, punctuation, or spelling, let me know, so I can hone my art, because Alex wants me to edit more of his stuff. ^^ And I want to do the best I can. Thanks for reading!

Mommy, Why am I in black and white now?

So…. yeah. I have been working pretty constantly, and am in the depths of post con depression, made worse by the fact that I had such an awesome con this year… I wish I could live at a con… sigh *mopes* oh well. ttys!

So, yeah. I’m going to a con! *GLEE*

For those of you who aren’t geeky enough to be in the know, a convention is a gathering event for the fen to get together and exude sweat, tears, drool, and other types of goo at each other and their favorite fannish obsession. That, and so that they can get drunk or find someone else who has a three hundred piece collection of George Lucas figurines to bump uglies with….

While dressed as stormtroopers. ^^ Not my bag, but hey… kudos for the kink!

There are a lot of really good reasons to go to a convention: Interesting and informative panels on everything and then some (which you can never find until they’re over);

Art and Costume shows (the fen call the costume show the masquerade, or the fur-suiters parade, depending on your dialect of geek);

Free (all it cost was the $30-60 you shelled out at the door for your badge) cheap snacks to keep you motoring through three sleepless nights;

Aaand enough alcohol to embalm a herd of horses (thus completely abrogating the salubrious effect of the aforementioned panels on one’s intellect).

The convention circuit has a few things going for it, though, that make up for all the bad parts…

One, you’re among your own kind, and can freely speak in the shorthand gibberish of geek without being beaten up or misunderstood;

Two, you can engage in mating displays without fear of more than a gentle rebuff (as one of my friends once said, ‘it’s dating on training wheels!’);

And, when all is said and done, at the end of the day you know that you’re among friends.

somewhere between sixty and five thousand friends.

drunk friends.

and some of them are hot.

So I’m taking a break from writing in my blog to attend this convention (It’s called Rainfurrest, if you want to know – I also attend Rustycon and Norwescon), and I think from that article above me, you can all guess why. Yes, it’s because I’ll be too busy attending panels (liar) and the costume party (LIAAAAR). I most certainly will not be imbibing any alcohol, or engaging in sex with someone who looks cute and has an interest in my Magic card collection (‘Web of lies!’) …

See y’all when I recover from the debauchery ^^

I feel a Haddaway song coming on...

I know it’s a daunting (and seemingly useless) topic for my first post. I’m going to be dealing with the nuts and bolts details of love and relationships (not to mention sex), however, and I rather fancy the idea of starting off with an examination of just what, exactly, I’m going to be nattering on about.

So what exactly is love? The wikipaedia article seems to cover the bare essentials, and does it by talking in circles. Plato has these things to say:

“Every heart sings a song, incomplete, until another heart whispers back. Those who wish to sing always find a song. At the touch of a lover, everyone becomes a poet.“

“Love is the joy of the good, the wonder of the wise, the amazement of the Gods.“

Yes, but… what does it all mean?

My feeling on this, my opinion, is that there is really no definition for the word love that can be the palest shimmering echo of the real thing. And so people give up on defining it.

Well, that’s not good enough! I am hell bent on defining love, because I’ve put too much effort into it (reading a couple of articles) to give up now!

Before I give you my crackpot personal definition of love….  I do think that everyone needs to come up with their own definition, as love is such a personal and individual thing. I think it would be wonderful if they then would share it with their friends and family to see how that definition differs from the ones that their friends and family have come up with. Better than just being a conversation piece, the conversations it starts could theoretically  resolve long held grudges and disagreements….

Now, for my definition.

Love: A name given to the emotion of caring about anothers mental, emotional, and physical welfare. In extreme cases, caring more about the welfare of the loved one more than one cares for ones own emotional, physical, or mental condition.

I know that seems a little bare bones, and sort of strips away some of the glamor we’ve built up over the years about it, but think a bit more about it. Actions carry a more powerful message than words. Can you think of any instance of demonstrated love that doesn’t fit into this definition?

I would love to hear some feedback, and will gladly respond to posts, even if you disagree with me, so long as you do so respectfully And hey, I’d love to hear what your personal definitions of love are!

There. My mission statement is done… lol.

Upcoming events: Arthur gets off his fat lazy ass and writes a real post!