Comments for A Seat By The Fire

Comment on Flowchart of the Rings by Barliman

Barliman — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:03:15 +0000

I think if you follow the link to XKCD.com above, there might be a way to order this. I honestly have no idea, otherwise.

Comment on Flowchart of the Rings by jamie lutton

jamie lutton — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:49:48 +0000

Dear sir or ma’am:
Can I buy a copy of this flowchart? Or several?

I used to have a blow-up the ‘the map’ in my house. 4 feet by 5.
Now, I am lusting after this.

I could not find the “order” section for this, because, perhaps, I am dim.
Thank you so much

Jamie C.
PS would prefer to send a check. So, I will need an address.

PPS you people, as the kids say, rock.

Comment on Bad writers, bad! by Porkchop

Porkchop — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:57:05 +0000

Oooh, and if you want bad writing, watch Stargate Universe!

Comment on Bad writers, bad! by Porkchop

Porkchop — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:56:30 +0000

In my experience, people who aren’t trained to handle high levels of stress (ie they aren’t cops, ex-military, firefighters, etc) tend to do amazingly stupid things when they’re suddenly surprised by a very dangerous situation. Panic does not aid in focus. Google “woman runs over husband” but here’s a good example (with video):

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/28/earlyshow/main1556833.shtml?tag=contentBody;currentVideoInfo

I don’t know why it is always women running over men in SUVs, but there’s a real epidemic going on there.

But even without stress, think of all the people who die because they’re using their cellphone instead of paying attention when they’re driving or walking.

Even your thought-out example would get you killed. You can be just as easily be crushed to death by parked cars pushed by a truck as you can be by the truck.

Even so, though, I suspect the main problems were budgetary. Running people over the way you describe is cheap: running into the trees or a stairwell is yet another camera setup.

Comment on Bad writers, bad! by Rob Stubbs

Rob Stubbs — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 20:35:07 +0000

Fictional Life VS Real Life Thats one of the problems with writing a long running show about bad things happening so the team can come in and investigate. How many times can you create smart characters who still get killed or kidnapped or whatever without eventually running out of ideas of there was no other option. If I was that writer I would have set it up so the person in the second scene looks up as the Truck runs them over as they go to their car but then that eliminates the chase sequence.

Hrmmm not sure how I can think of a way to include a chase scene in a multi level parking garage. Well aside from making the car really expensive so the person has a reason to park it as far away from other cars as possible

Comment on Bad writers, bad! by Barliman

Barliman — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 19:22:03 +0000

Oh, I’ll agree that people in real life might well fall into blind panic and make a suicidal mistake. On the other hand, a real person in that situation might instead become incredibly focused on how to survive.

Trouble is, the “it could happen in real life” explanation doesn’t work well with drama, especially the one-hour (well, 48-minute) TV episode. It’s jarring. Once in a episode, I might be able to overlook, depending on how it’s done. But twice? Nah, it was just too much.

Comment on Bad writers, bad! by Rob Stubbs

Rob Stubbs — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:52:41 +0000

I can see your point but heres a counter point to that. When people get scared they sometimes abandon what an outside observer would call the smart option and do something incredible stupid.

Its like when you get a narrow focus on a situation then someone comes along and says “Why don’t you do that ?” and you are like ” Why didn’t I think of that? Its so obvious.”

Comment on Who is Number One? by Porkchop

Porkchop — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 03:46:01 +0000

- Jim Caza-whatsits was great in Outlander.

- The movie trailer thing wasn’t true for Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs (best kids movie of the year: provisionally the best movie of the year). Or Inglorious Basterds. Exceptions that proves the rule, though.

- Nobody blinks an eye when you revive a play. Are movies that much different? Besides, as recent episodes of both The Simpsons and Psych point out, Hollywood is out of ideas.

- Normally I’d say that Ian McKellen wouldn’t be on board if it was going to be awful. But, X-Men 3.

Comment on A murderer’s garden by Barliman

Barliman — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 22:34:19 +0000

I hope there’s a “please don’t eat the daisies” sign up.

Specialty bookstores have a hard time of it. There’s a dedicated mystery bookstore near where I work that has surprised me by surviving in a high-rent district.

Comment on A murderer’s garden by Porkchop

Porkchop — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:21:38 +0000

Kate’s Mystery Bookshop in Cambridge, MA, located in a neat Victorian house, had a walkway up to the shop that ran through the middle of a large garden consisting entirely of poisonous plants. It closed in August, alas: it isn’t clear if the new owners of the property will maintain the garden.