Messages

2821

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 13, 2009, 12:42:27 am »

What shitty situation in life?

It's not like it has to be good, it's just NaNoWriMo. Kudos to you for even being on track with your word count and all that shit. It just seems like you'll reap nothing but mockery if you post it on 23ae.

Does it matter the situation?  I mean, you seem to have very much decided how you feel about it.  I doubt anything I could answer that with would suffice.

I'm not trying to make it good, I'm keeping it readable for my own sake.  I'm having fun with it and I thought the selection I put up was a fun passage.  If it's not the kind of thing we're looking to put on 23ae then I won't, plain and simple, it was an attempt at a contribution because I don't have much time to come up with another one when I'm doing NaNoWriMo.

If you're worried about the mockery I would reap from 23ae why are you unconcerned with contributing to it here?

2822

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 13, 2009, 12:08:26 am »

You're writing a story about an unlikable character who copycats a historical figure?

Does he die in the end?

I'd like to know, I haven't figured out what I'm writing today, nevermind the end.  What from the excerpt makes him unlikable?

Well, he's a copycat who declares himself emperor. What's to like?

He's having fun, not letting a shitty situation in life get to him, and he's got a great sense of humor.  Maybe originality isn't one of his strong points, but give the fella a chance.   

2823

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 11:56:20 pm »

You're writing a story about an unlikable character who copycats a historical figure?

Does he die in the end?

I'd like to know, I haven't figured out what I'm writing today, nevermind the end.  What from the excerpt makes him unlikable?

Things like Joshua Norton can only be done once.  Nothing could do him justice.

Well then I'll fail and I'll do so with fervor.  A NaNoWriMo that nobody will read isn't going to detract from anything he did.

The kid isn't running around shouting 23PINEALFNORD and Discordia isn't mentioned whatsoever.  It's really a vehicle for pointing out that not everything needs to be incredibly serious all the time.  Apparently though the memory of Norton is though.  Very, very much so.

2824

Apple Zone / Re: Things I hate

« on: November 12, 2009, 11:15:16 pm »

Hipsters.

that's pretty much it right now.

Holy shit aren't you on the west coast?

Good luck with that.

2825

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 10:44:07 pm »

I had to google it.  The guy from Buffy?

Previous user here.  Aka "Eric".  Declared himself Norton II.

Why does everyone insist on pissing on the memory of Joshua Norton?

I just figured the Christians had so much success doing the same to Jesus that I'd give it a shot, Roger.   

Yeah, well, don't let me stop you.  Why NOT stomp all over his memory?  Knock yourself out.

So far I haven't paralleled any events in Norton's life, referred to the original one other than in name, or even give it much of an effect on the narrative at all.  The whole thing would work the same if he declared himself minister of his own religion or the reincarnation of Lewis Carrol.  I liked the idea of it being a tribute to a pretty amazing story, and given that it's a personal project I don't see what the problem is.

Then again, you made up your mind already and I might as well be arguing in favor of torturing puppies.

Then why use the name?  Honestly curious, here.  People who don't know about Joshua Norton won't get it, and people who do will just roll their eyes and hit the scroll button.

Seriously.  It's been tried. 

But, hey, it's your rant. 

Okay, it's been tried.  News to me.  Does it change the fact that I already answered your question of "Why use the name?" with "I like the idea of it being a tribute to a pretty amazing story"?

Where's the rant you're referring to?

You have a point though, why should I use the name if, for certain, everyone either won't get it or react the exact same way you did.

2826

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 10:29:10 pm »

I had to google it.  The guy from Buffy?

Previous user here.  Aka "Eric".  Declared himself Norton II.

Why does everyone insist on pissing on the memory of Joshua Norton?

I just figured the Christians had so much success doing the same to Jesus that I'd give it a shot, Roger.   

Yeah, well, don't let me stop you.  Why NOT stomp all over his memory?  Knock yourself out.

So far I haven't paralleled any events in Norton's life, referred to the original one other than in name, or even give it much of an effect on the narrative at all.  The whole thing would work the same if he declared himself minister of his own religion or the reincarnation of Lewis Carrol.  I liked the idea of it being a tribute to a pretty amazing story, and given that it's a personal project I don't see what the problem is.

Then again, you made up your mind already and I might as well be arguing in favor of torturing puppies.

2827

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 10:20:26 pm »

I had to google it.  The guy from Buffy?

Previous user here.  Aka "Eric".  Declared himself Norton II.

Why does everyone insist on pissing on the memory of Joshua Norton?

I just figured the Christians had so much success doing the same to Jesus that I'd give it a shot, Roger.   

2828

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 09:53:55 pm »

I had to google it.  The guy from Buffy?

2829

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 09:48:38 pm »

It's about a guy living in the present day who gets sick of the bullshit around him and decides to declare himself Emperor of the United States.  Working title is Norton II.

Oh, you didn't...

Didn't what?

2830

Principia Discussion / Re: 23ae

« on: November 12, 2009, 09:42:35 pm »

I probably won't write anything particularly unique, how about an excerpt from my NaNoWriMo?  It's about a guy living in the present day who gets sick of the bullshit around him and decides to declare himself Emperor of the United States.  Working title is Norton II.

             With the freshness imbued by beloved rays Curtis rushed through the morning as though eating and bathing were unwanted distractions.  His announcement, crisp of dried mud and rain and numbering a hundred waited in his trunk.  Dressing in the most unassuming business casual attire he could find, complete with a lanyard for his keys and accessorized by a clipboard, he loaded the weathered stack of papers onto his person.  A pen, a staple gun, duct tape, and a thick black felt marker accompanied him.
             Curtis was a flurry that day, a storm of sharp staples and shiny tape and his edict.  He sensed telephone poles and bulletin boards as though by radar; colleges were goldmines and Boston, have to love it, is a college city.  The fervor with which he posted ran out when he saw his stack so greatly diminished after so short a time.  Three quarters through the pile, on a student activity board in Boston College, an administrative looking man walked up to him.
             "Excuse me, this board is for use by students and student businesses," he said irritably.
             "Right, well I'm a student and the papers are my business," Kurt, in exaggerated movements, stapled his sheet on top of something about guitar lessons.  His insolence was not lost; he realized after all the edicts he'd put up that day that the indoor boards were not meant for the heavy staple gun and their removal would necessitate a sizable chunk of the cork coming with it.
             "Let me see your student i.d. then," the man said impatiently.
             "Sorry, I don't have time, I need to get to class."
             "Oh?  Eleven fourteen is a strange time for class to start."
             "Actually, it's an eleven thirty class, and a sizable walk away so I need to get to it."
             "Ah, right.  Which building is that in?"
             "The, uh, English building."
             The man pointed out the window, his gesture landing a distance not two hundred yards from the door behind them.  "That English building?"
             "Oh, thank you so much for your help, I was a transfer this spring and I'm still learning my way around.  Putting these ads up must have turned me around worse than I thought.  Well, have a nice day," he strode off toward the door.
             The administrator watched him go, the series of lies running through his head.  He turned to see what it was this young man he was positive did not belong here was so eager to post.  He read the proclamation and read it again. 

Dear beloved countrymen, honorable citizens all,
 
On this day, April the fifteenth in the year two thousand and nine, I, Curtis Norton Mayhew declare myself Emperor of these United States.  I shall henceforth be known as Emperor Norton the Second, being the next in that line.
 
As Emperor of the lands, all sovereignty rests on my crown.  My coronation announcement is to follow in the weeks to come, an affair to which the current heads of state shall be invited.  I am sure to find them respectful quite as much as they are found to be respectable, their acknowledgment of this rightful throne both complete and enthusiastic.
 
The timeliness of this declaration is owed to the demand of a great many of the citizens of the United States of America, currently overburdened by the numerous crises of our time.  By the authority invested in me as Emperor I intend to address these concerns directly and efficiently, the action being not only my expressed desire but also an obligation to my people.
 
Cordially and sincerely,
Emperor Norton the Second

     His salute to the new throne was to snatch the stained paper from the board and crumple it.  Down the hallway, determinedly inspecting an advertisement for this season's new clothing line, an actual student caught the bizarre interaction.  With her phone at the ready, she caught the frustrated man in a photo at just the proper moment.  Curt noticed the girl noticing the man noticing his flier with a glance over his shoulder as he opened the door.  He stopped and turned in her direction.
             "Just saw a friend of mine, figured I would say hello since I have all this free time now," he explained to the man, walking off before a rebuttal could be formed.  He stopped before the girl, telling her, "walk with me."
             She did.  "What was that all about?"
             "I don't know," he confessed, "some guy with a lot of concern over bulletin boards.  Listen, let me see that picture."
             She showed him, the administrator sweeping his hand forward to snatch the offending paper.
             "Beautiful.  Listen, print this out and send it to the school newspaper.  They'll love it," he promised, then, noticing her trepidation, "or you could send it to me and I'll do it."
             "No, I'll take care of it," she assured, "suggested headline 'Staff Interferes with Student Activities'."
             "Oh, I love it.  What's your name, by the way?"
             "Tiffany," she told him.
             "Tiffany," he stopped and looked her in the eye earnestly, intensely, "you are now an operative under the command of Norton the Second, Emperor of the United States."
             Confusedly but not without humor she replied, dutifully, "The Emperor has my loyalty."
             He could have kissed her then, he was so happy with the turn of events.  He made a note to pick up the school paper the following day and it dawned on him.  "One more thing," he handed her one of his proclamations, then exiting the building and leaving the college behind.  An operative must be worth quite a few posters.

2831

Discordian Recipes / Re: Freaking awesome hot buttered rum mix

« on: November 12, 2009, 06:11:50 am »

Ooh, hot buttered rum.  I very well might have to try this out.

2832

Apple Zone / Re: Things I hate

« on: November 12, 2009, 02:32:18 am »

Is that one of Enki's pics? Because I have his server blocked. 

I guess it is.  I just took one of the sigils at random.

2833

Or Kill Me / Re: Suu's typical rant on how you should properly tip your waitstaff.

« on: November 12, 2009, 02:31:18 am »

Garbage men, now do you pay them for your curbside pickup, because wherever I've lived it's just been a city service.  If it's a city service do you still tip them?

Yes. The city contracts with them to provide a service. You don't "tip" per se, you give them small occasional gifts of cash.

Edit:  Oh, and the using on the spot thing.  If I'm buying a pound of coffee at a coffee shop, which generally takes more time to get together than the cup I would order, is that a tipable service?  

No. Unless they grind it for you. That's a service.

The same would apply to the bagels and cream cheese that I take home to eat throughout the week.

Don't tip for those unless they put the cream cheese on FOR you or carry them out to your car. It's groceries.

Ah, that's what I was trying to figure out, thank you.  I guess equating that to getting a cup of coffee wasn't entirely accurate.

The garbage men and contractor ones are news to me, so I'll tuck them away for potential future home ownership.

The room service I did manage to learn at a young age.  That's usually in the welcome pamphlets they have lying in the room.

2834

Or Kill Me / Re: Suu's typical rant on how you should properly tip your waitstaff.

« on: November 12, 2009, 01:41:10 am »

You're an asshole.

And attacking my character for not liking the way I phrased a purely innocent response is a dick move.

2835

Or Kill Me / Re: Suu's typical rant on how you should properly tip your waitstaff.

« on: November 12, 2009, 01:29:02 am »

I was always told it was 15% minimum, which I've given on a few occasions of shitty service, but I generally do just over 20%.  I also went a few embarassing years not realizing that I was supposed to be tipping the hair dresser.  Hopefully I haven't been screwing any others out of their pay without knowing it.

The bagel place I go to has a line on the receipt for tips, but isn't it sort've like coffee shops?  Tipping is a nice gesture but they're still paid regular wages on top of it.  I mean they make breakfast sandwiches and stuff here, but if I'm asking for a half dozen bagels and a container of cream cheese I don't usually tip.  It'd be like tipping the butcher or the fishmonger.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, it's exactly like coffee shops. Which means they make minimum wage and work hard, and you should tip.

So if I were to walk into a place and ask for a coffee, regular drip coffee, they turn around, pour it into a cup, and hand it to me, I should pay how much extra for that work?  We're talking 30 seconds of work, or in the case of the bagel place up to two minutes.  Do I pay a dollar tip for a $1.50 cup of coffee?  And what if I'm already paying the higher price to go to support a locally owned business?

I'm not arguing that they're paid great or that their job is easy, but at what point does this start getting out of control?  The people in the dressing rooms at stores get about minimum wage, do I tip them for showing me which one to use?

Don't get me wrong.  I'm all for tipping where it's due.  This is my devil's advocate act because I am genuinely confused.

Okay.  At your job, you should be paid less for every hour in which your work is less difficult than average.

I wonder if my employer takes personal checks.