The Marvonomicon

Writer's Block: Robotic (Viv Posting)

2009-01-25T11:54:44Z

Who (or what) is your favorite fictional robot?

When I saw this writing block topic I felt that Crys would have loved to respond to it. So I have in his stead.

I don't think Crys had a favourite fictional robot. Anyone that knew him knows he loved them all and had the userpics to prove it!

Still 'Bicentennial Man' and Data from ST:TNG were certainly high on his list. Plus, Gort of course.

V

Rainbow Bridge: a Tribute to Crys O'Regan

2008-12-01T16:38:34Z

The Mirror of Isis, a Fellowship of Isis publication, published the following:

A Tribute to Crys O'Regan.

Cthulhu from below

2008-11-01T16:49:23Z

Keep your friends close...(Random Photo Post)

2008-11-01T16:46:00Z

This is a picture of the spider that 'lived' in our front garden for about two weeks. It finally "moved on" when the winter snows came. It (I don;t know if it was a he or she) built it's web in such a place that I could not leave the house without passing (or ducking in case it had expanded the web). I am arachnophobic, but thankfully I also seem to have the mental strength to occasionally, and for a short time, 'short circuit' my fear to be able to deal with situations where action is needed (Like if we find a spider in the house).
However, with my little 'friend' in the photo the only choices I had were to ;
a) knock down the web
b) Call work and resign and spend the rest of my life huddled in a corner forever in fear of leaving the house in case I see a spider.
or
c) Find a way to live with a spider and still keep my sanity.

Now, obviously the 'normal' answer would be a. I mean. Who, epically an arachnophobic, would have any trouble destroying a web? Or even squishing the spider?

Well I guess this is one place I tend to deviate from the 'normal'.

Guilt.

I would feel guilty destroying a spiders web, or killing a spider. Or any thing. (I sometimes even feel guilty if I choose two teabags and only need one!)
If I have, in my mind, no chose, like if a spider was in the house and there was no option to get it out alive I would have to, for the sake of my own sanity (what there is of it) Have to kill it. But still feel guilty.

Is this perhaps part of my upbringing? A healthy respect for life is one thing. But guilt about a spiderweb (or even a tea bag)?? That sounds plane crazy to me.

But anyway. What I meant to explain before I started waffling, was that my way to avoid destroying the web, or staying inside was to 'make friends' with the spider. Accept it was something that was there, and that would not harm me, could not harm me, and was therefore nothing to fear.

So that's how I did it.
And that's why I feel slightly sad in losing it.
Yes. I am insane.

Haloween 2008

2008-11-01T14:15:47Z

Friday was a 'dress down/dress up' day at work. £1 to be donated from each person to the local flying ambulance service. As there was a Halloween theme I had decided to 'zombie myself up'.

I won 2nd prize. Probably the scariest gift possible - a kids Halloween Karaoke DVD! *Shudder*

Ironically, I was beaten by someone dressed as a witch!

I do that every day! ;)

LJ Idol - Voting for Week 6

2008-11-01T13:43:52Z

This week Viv's entry for LJ Idol is very Halloween orientated.
The topic was Ghosts.

And once more caersidi has excelled herself (And I'm not just saying that because I'm her husband.)

This entry is like reading a synopsis for a great Ghost story book or film. Not just interesting, but exciting too.

So please go and read and Vote For Viv.

Ho Ho.. Wrong Season!

2008-10-31T17:33:26Z

A Happy Halloween / Samhain to one and all.

I won 2nd place in the works Fancy Dress (Photos to be posted later)

Ironically I came 2nd place to someone dressed as a witch!

Not been bad day/week

But extremely busy at work.

Loving Dead Set. Very horrific, more so than many Horror movies!
Well done E4
And Well done Devina!

And Bad boys Jonathon and Russel! Tut Tut! At least that poor, innocent girl you said such horrible things about has been rewarded with pages of free publicity - In The Sun!

One thing I have to say to both of them - Don't change. (But maybe lay off the prank phone calls - It's not big and it's not cleaver. But it can be funny)

Remember Alien?

2008-10-27T11:30:59Z

A feel like John Hurt just before that famous scene.

I dislike Mondays

Vote for Viv: Week 5 LJ Idol Voting Poll

2008-10-26T16:36:52Z

Once more Viv (caersidi) has outdone herself in her entry for this weeks LJ-Idol.

Please read LJ Idol Week 5: Open Topic. Instant Invisibility Spell!, enjoy, and vote for Viv (Tribe Two)!

In other news.

Busy at work.
Watched House, Wargames 2 and Mirrors - All quite enjoyable.
Work is busy
Had a wonderful meal out for Viv's Birthday
Busy at work.

Nerd and proud

2008-10-23T14:44:28Z

Happy Birthday my Darling

2008-10-22T06:25:39Z

Robin Speaks!

2008-10-18T13:52:21Z

I can't embed this, I can only put it on facebook. So I hope this link works.

Robin Speaks

Vote Viv!

2008-10-18T13:50:42Z

I know I do this every week. And some may assume it's only because I'm married to Viv.

but really, read her entry: The Name's Snape, Professor Snape.

She's caersidi : Tribe 2 Poll.

This week you have to join the group to vote: Read this - it's well worth it. Read some of the others entires too if you don't believe me. :) You're allowed to vote for as many folk s you want.

Global Warming?

2008-10-12T12:29:47Z

I had no idea the Global Economic Meltdown was an actual 'meltdown' and would effect the weather!!

This week the average temperature here has been about 14 degrees C (around 52f) Today it 22c/71f.

That's warm!

Vote for Viv: Week 3 LJ Idol Voting Poll

2008-10-11T09:24:26Z

Meet 'Simon Owl'. Viv's 'Sponsor' for LJ Idol.

You can find her entry on Bliss HERE It's Wonderful.

Please vote HERE.

Police warning - carjacking

2008-10-09T09:14:34Z

This is probably just a Viral Email Scam.
But I'd feel very guilty if something happened to one of my friends because I didn't pass this on. (Which is totally how Viral Emails work!)

BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE--NEW WAY TO
DO CAR JACKINGS

.. You walk across the car parking, unlock your car and get inside. You
start the engine and shift into Reverse.
When you look into the rear-view mirror to back out of your
parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle
of the rear window. So, you shift into neutral, unlock your
doors, and jump out of your car to remove that paper (or
whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach
the back of your car, that is when the carjackers appear out
of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically
mow you down as they speed off in your car.
And guess what, ladies? I bet your purse is still in the car.
So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your
money, and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are
now compromised!
BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS NOW BEING USED.

*edit* - Looks like this is a Viral Email. Still good advise though.

The Dark Secrets Post

2008-10-07T17:53:11Z

The Dark Secrets Web Site

Set in asylum for occult task force agents who have gone insane

My Character was Ivan. His story is a complex one.

He was a police officer with some occult knowledge. He trapped a demon and banished it.

Unfortunately he did it wrong and the demon got out and killed a lot of people. The only way he could stop the demon was to take it into himself. This meant that every time he falls asleep the demon is in his dreams and chasing him. He soon went insane.

He also started to suffer from narcolepsy and fell asleep at the wheel of his car.

It was after that he was institutionalise and he believes he cannot use his legs. This is just psychosomatic. He is kept on heavy stimulants during the day to stop him sleeping, and heavy sedatives at night to stop him dreaming.

Due to the events at the asylum the ‘protection’ of the building is down and if he sleeps the demon (Box Head) comes out and starts killing!

It took the players a long time to work this one out. But when they did there was a hair-raising time when I had ‘disappeared’ because one of the processed spirits had took me out of the complex and left me in the woods (Which I found extremely relaxing)

To cut a very long story slightly les long...

Nope. The story for the asylum was so good, and so complex there is no way I could write it up in anything less than a book!

It was brilliant. Trust me on this one.

Highlights

1. Being ‘in character’ even when the players were not around. (We joked that in fact, we were the only ones NOT role playing. We were just being ourselves – that is to say – insane)

2. The food – Morgan gave us wonderful food.

3. Nice and clean - Nice and clean - Nice and clean - Nice and clean

4. The Monsters and background sound effect we truly scary

5. Constantly commenting on anything and everything. Acting like everything I assumed was obviously the trust (example; when my character heard that “the owners were visiting” He obviously assumed we had all been sold into slavery! And made sure he told everyone about it)

6. Being a character that had to stay awake I was constantly fed massive amounts of coffee. (Thanks for the ‘rocket coffee’ Morgan)

7. Kerry being the perfect nurse – in modern and Victorian characters.

8. Febs going insane and my character doing his best to make him worse (The EYES!!)

9. Having the players so confused they tried to summon the demon from the wheelchair instead of me! (and took me out of the chair to do it! – And almost trying it on my blanket as well!)

10. Sitting in the woods with my Zen playing the soundtrack of The Fountain – Death is the road to awe – and being totally relaxed

11. The players, monster team, refs and everyone being incredibly friendly and in character.

12. And of course Russ for making it all possible.

Thee is so much more but too much to write about.

The Asylum Day Room

The Medication cabinet, with Emma the Nurse and ~~Thug~~ male nurse

BOX HEAD!

Generation Gorm stricks again!

2008-10-07T15:11:52Z

Gormless illiterate 21 year old breaks into police sting car with CCTV - And has Name and Date of Birth TATTOOED on his neck!

Vote Viv!

2008-10-04T12:25:12Z

I really recommend reading the entry too :)

LJ Idol Voting - Week 2

This week's topic was linked to apathy and Viv's post on the subject is here for those who might have missed it first time round. I'd like Viv to stay in and your vote would be appreciated though obviously only if you think the post is good enough. At this stage you don't have to be a member of the community to vote though some weeks this will be the case.

Here is a link to Tribe #3 poll. She is caersidi.

Here also is the entire Week 2 Poll entry with links to all the entries.

Vote for Viv!

2008-09-29T11:45:24Z

Viv has entered therealljidol this year and I thought I'd post a link for my friends who are not friended to her to ask for them to give her some support.

The voting link is here: Week 1 and she is in Tribe 3 (username caersidi).

Her entry for Week 1 topic 'saying goodbye' is here: Saying Goodbye.

It is really worth reading she deserves votes.

Voting closes at 1pm EST (that's USA about 17:00 UK time).

The Weekend

2008-09-29T11:36:01Z

The is my third attempt at starting this post.

I had such a fantastic weekend I want to write it all down and including all the details.

But how to start and how to stop it being a unreadability massive post?

One thing at a time

Work was okay this week. My first full week since my holiday. Very busy due to the v10 update. but because of being so busy the days went very quickly.

This weekend I went to the Dark Secrets LRP event.

Now I've spoken about this before. But just in case I'm going to dedicate this post to what Dark Secrets is. then do another one about what happened.

So. What's Dark Secrets?

This is from their Website:

Dark Secrets is a modern day, horror Live Role-Playing game. It is designed to be low rules, high immersion. We hope to be able to scare you both in and out of character if possible.

The themes of the stories will include almost anything that has been in a horror film. That includes religious and occult themes. Inspirational films include Prince of Darkness, Exorcist III, Dog Soldiers, Evil Dead, Resident Evil and Silent Hill, to name a few. RPG inspiration includes CHILL, Call of Cthulhu and Kult.

Every character has something that they want to hide, some dark secret that haunts them. It could be an event in their past, or an unusual trait that people may misunderstand. There can be a supernatural link or not. Whatever it is, expect it to have a strong influence on the personality of your character. The more interesting the background, the more likely the Design Team will use it against you and make your experience as a player more interesting and personal.

The world of Dark Secrets is not very different from our own. History is almost exactly the same. The only difference is that there is more evidence of the paranormal. More stories in the media, more people have experienced something they cannot explain. The paranormal is out there, but as far as society is concerned, it is the elephant in the room that everyone is ignoring. People will laugh off talk of ghosts, but the look in their eyes tells a different story.

I was taking part as an 'NPC' (None Player character) This is kind of like having a part in a movie, but unscripted.
I was an inmate in a privately owned menial institute. My name was Ivan Stanford and I was insane because I had a demon inside me. It only came out when I was dreaming. i I was on contact medication to keep me awake during the day and medication to stop me dreaming. and because I could not dream I had gone insane.
If I did dream then a demon called 'box head' could come out and kill people.

That was all I knew about my character. The rest I had to fill out myself.

The event took place in a scout came near Leicester and thankfully for me, was mostly indoors. We had a large room made into a 'recreation area' for the inmates -Tables and chairs, a jigsaw, some colouring books and crayons and classical music playing in the background. The entranceway was made into a reception with desk and phone and so on. To the side of this was the dining area and kitchen and that the led to the dormitories. So quite a big area really.

Outside was some dirt roads and a grass play area and playground opposite.

About 300 yards up one of the roads was the 'Monster hut' Where the teams got together for make-up, costumes and so on.

So that's about Dark Secrets and what I was doing there.

next post will be about mt character

Water!

2008-09-25T15:12:09Z

Today I have finally managed to drink 1.5 Liters of water.

Plus two giant cups of machine coffee.

I have achieved my liquid quota.

marvo @ 2008-09-23T14:17:00

2008-09-23T13:19:24Z

You Are 56% Goth

You definitely have some gothicness going on, but you're far from being a stereotypical goth.

You enjoy certain elements of goth culture, but you're not going to be into something simply because it's goth.

It's likely that you're the type of person who totally defies labels. Good for you!

If you are into something, it's because you sincerely love it. Not because it projects a certain image.

Are You Goth?

Dam!

2008-09-20T11:35:56Z

Hadron Collider forced to halt

Interesting Links

2008-09-20T09:05:03Z

Amazing asteroid impact video

Will the Internet Evolve into a Lifeform?