Random thoughts

[Jabrosky]

I remember when The Learning Channel was actually educational and informative. Now it's TLC (Totally Ludicrous Cr*p) and I'm watching "My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding".

I know I don't actually enjoy this, but it's a train wreck of humanity and I can't look away.

Wait until you see the History Channel, or most other "educational" channels. These days, they stand for precisely the opposite of what we used to associated with them.

As for reality TV in general, it's one of those things which only persists because someone figured irritating the public was at least as lucrative as entertaining us. Notoriety is the currency of the 21st century.

 

[Reilith]

Don't research. Make stuff up!




Okay, so maybe that was bad advice. But I'm not totally kidding. When I was discussing a weapon for my Huntress in Nimue's game, she suggested Addison's axe have a "starmetal" core. I don't know what starmetal is to Nimue, but the very word sparked imagery–and it was just the name of a material. Simple, yet brilliant.

So if you can do that with plants, you're all set. I'd suggest "dragon fruit" to start you off, but ten years ago (I mean exactly ten–as in March 12, 2005), I found out that's a real fruit.

Actually I am doing my fare share of research and making up in an equal measure. But everything has to have an origin from something, so I need to research a tiny bit more. I was looking up animals, then magical creatures, etc. And yes, dragon fruit is a fruit - I found out about it in Don't Starve game.

 

[2WayParadox]

dragon fruit is apparently quite tasteless. it looks really funky though.

also, dragon fruits could be dragon testes, the ultimate aphrodisiac (always a big thing in many cultures)

 

[Ireth]

I've had dragonfruit before. To me it tastes kinda like a kiwifruit, but not nearly so tangy.

 

[Tom]

The first time I saw a dragonfruit, I though it was fake. Partially because I was seven at the time, and also partially because in Western New York, apples are considered exotic fruit out of season.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

dragon fruit is apparently quite tasteless. it looks really funky though.

Not tasteless at all, they're quite good! Of course, the best stuff doesn't get exported. My wife and I go to Asain grocery stores, but we never buy dragon fruit here. It's expensive and you can tell by looking it's not as good.

(Maybe certain parts of the U.S. and Canada get the good stuff.)

 

[2WayParadox]

Have any of you had Jackfruit before?

Jackfruit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now there's an experience. Tastes somewhat in the middle of a lichi and a banana, but it's not the taste that makes this a weird fruit. The flesh if the fruit is sticky and kind of hard to swallow. Like it's stringy. You chew it and all that does is flatten it a bit.

Still, despite its weirdness, I do like me a bit of jackfruit.

 

[Devor]

And here I still have to remind myself that "passion fruit" isn't fake.

It's been years since I've had the chance to really wander around NYC, but if I should find myself in a Chinatown grocery store, how would I pick out good dragon fruit from the rest?

 

[Ireth]

Never heard of jackfruit before! That one sounds interesting.

I have, however, heard of Durian. And I had the misfortune of being close enough to smell it. >_< Ewww. Couldn't bring myself to actually try it, though I had the opportunity.

 

[Tom]

The most exotic fruit I've ever had is starfruit. Nobody but me likes it in my family. It's crisp and a little sour, and the skin feels kind of waxy against your teeth.

 

[2WayParadox]

Never heard of jackfruit before! That one sounds interesting.

I have, however, heard of Durian. And I had the misfortune of being close enough to smell it. >_< Ewww. Couldn't bring myself to actually try it, though I had the opportunity.

I think the taste and feel of the flesh of a durian could be similar to a jackfruit

 

[Reilith]

This was one of those days when everything is out to get me. My mom is a case for the deepest ward of psychiatry, my PC is dying and I can't even play a game of lol to relax, and then my boyfriend starts acting like a total hypocrite. I don't really think it can get worse than this.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

We had a starfruit tree near where we lived in Hong Kong. It just grew out of the sidewalk, I guess.

Jack fruit… I used to eat that mostly in chip form.

Durians look deadly with that spiky shell. My wife, who normally refrains from vulgarities, used a common Cantonese term for the durian. Literal translation: "cat urine."

Here's one: dragon eye!

Spoiler: dragon eye

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

This was one of those days when everything is out to get me. My mom is a case for the deepest ward of psychiatry, my PC is dying and I can't even play a game of lol to relax, and then my boyfriend starts acting like a total hypocrite. I don't really think it can get worse than this.

Throw a durian at him!

 

[Ireth]

Any dA users know what's up with the "share to your watchers" button I see when I look at my newest deviations on my profile page? Aren't my deviations automatically shared with my watchers?

Said button, for the curious, looks like this:

 

[T.Allen.Smith]

Today, the wife and I went out of town to visit an old friend who is terminally ill. He has a limited few months left and, with a tumor in the brain, his cognition is failing and is expected to degrade rapidly.

We spent the day sorting through old pictures and memories, and I couldn't help but think of his life as a story from boyhood to the present. That's sounds a bit morbid, I know, but, I mean this in the most respectful fashion. He lived a long and interesting life with a career that put him in contact with power brokers of government and business across the globe.

Maybe that's the power of story, living momentarily in another's life. Seeing the world through different eyes, and connecting. Sharing experiences in ways we can't otherwise.

Just a few positive ramblings from a less than positive, but heart-warming day.

 

[Reilith]

I am really looking forward to today's free time between uni lessons - I'll have three hours to myself in a French themed coffee shop, writing, sorting out through the background of my story and creating my map. This looks like it is going to be a good day.

 

[Incanus]

I'm in a good mood because I finished the first draft of my novella this last weekend. It's the longest story I've completed to date, and probably the best one yet as well. It took too long, but that's another matter to address. Next--edit my pile of short stories, and the novella. And then--edit again.

 

[Reilith]

I'm in a good mood because I finished the first draft of my novella this last weekend. It's the longest story I've completed to date, and probably the best one yet as well. It took too long, but that's another matter to address. Next--edit my pile of short stories, and the novella. And then--edit again.

How many times do you approx. edit one work? Just curious.

On the other hand, I feel so proud of myself even though I am sleep depraved and will have a long and exhausting day in uni. I finally started the second POV in my WIP and it is smoorh sailing. I knew I was going to find this character easier to write, as he is flamboyant and over the top dramatic at times, which suits me perfectly.

 

[Jabrosky]

You know how the stereotypical fantasy quest is about finding the magic doohickey in a faraway land? Because I swear, that dude who decided to have his characters get rid of their magic doohickey instead was actually bucking the old cliche. I shouldn't even have to name the guy.