Author: sokorra

A thirty-something Graphic Designer and writer who likes to blog about books, movies and History.
Posted in general, Politics, rant

Helping Others

Posted on by sokorra

A subject came up today on Facebook, and I felt like making my own post about it.  For those of you who didn’t know, I’m an American, therefore my knowledge base and information tends to have an US bias.  So this is more focused on my fellow Americans.

Often times, when a foreign group of people require our help, the phrase “We should help those who need it here first!” comes up.  I hate this phrase.  Why?

Because this is just an excuse by some people to not help anyone.

During the rest of the year when the crises of the world are not in our mind’s view, when things seem to be going alright, why aren’t these people actively trying to keep people thinking about the homeless or the other many needs of Americans?  If you only care about your ill-treated Veterans when someone else’s needs are being broadcast, you don’t really care.  You are just making an excuse not to help.

Right now, in Flint,  Michigan, there are many people sick because of bad water.  Its hard to believe that in this day and age, in such a affluent country, that we are reporting this.  And it was done to save money.  Yet I haven’t seen half the amount of posts about this subject as I have seen about *not* helping the refugees.

Why is this?  Why is the care of our citizens only important to people when it comes to saying we shouldn’t care about those outside our country?

I know people who said this and who *are* actively seeking people’s attention to the needs of their fellow citizens, but it seems like the majority are just seeking ways to not help and not be considered compassionate.

We are one of the richest countries in the world.  There is no reason we shouldn’t be able to help our own citizens AND help those in need elsewhere.  If you have the resources to help, you should do so, and if you don’t, it takes very little time to pass the information along to those who do by social media, or just by keeping the subject in the conversation.

For those of you who want to know how to help more those in Flint, Michigan, here’s an article on MIC about ways you can help.

And if you live in the greater Pittsburgh area, you can donate to Operation Safety Net, a program supported by Mercy Hospital to give out medical care to the Homeless of Pittsburgh.

 

Posted in fanfiction, general, writing

Writing deadines

Posted on by sokorra

I decided to try posting from my phone as I won’t always be with my laptop.   This app is new to me so I’m not sure how to access my drafts to give you the next part of my fandom starter kit series.   But I will talk about writing.no

Writing is my hobby right now but part of me wishes I could do it as more then a hobby.   To write professionally.   However that would mean being about to put out more then one book per decade.  I have many ideas but sadly not many get past the preproduction stage.

One of my goals this year is to stop procrastinating and get some stories done,  both in my original collection and in my Fanfiction group.   If I ever want to make it to being a credible author I must be able to finish something and not leave people in a lurch 12 chapters in.

One of my tasks this week will be taking an inventory of my works,  both in progress and completed.   Then making a list of stories that need finished.   Probably in order of how complete it is.

And I also need to find beta readers who can keep on me about deadlines.

So hopefully when next January comes around I can claim I finished a lot.

 

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Unless Max decides I can not.
Posted in film

Star Wars

Posted on by sokorra

I grew up with Star Trek, so I will admit I tend to go to that first, but I love Star Wars and since the movie recently came out (I have not seen it), I felt like writing a post about Star Wars.

I first saw Star Wars in sixth grade.  IT was the tail end of Return of the Jedi  and I thought that as Luke cut off the parts of the Robot dude that he was turning into the Robot dude.  Obviously, some things need context.

So eventually I got the movies out on VHS.  At that time Phantom Menace was just released, so I got that too.  And I decided to watch in order, which meant PM first.  Which, of course made a few things about the Original Trilogy not surprise me the way the original viewers were.  I also think watching this way made it so the Prequel trilogy didn’t bother me as much as some of my friends who were introduced to Star Wars long before TPM came out.

I love all six movies, although Revenge of the Sith is the only one I only watched once.  There were a few things that bothered me about the disconnect between the Prequels and what they tell you in the Original Trilogy.  My favorite characters were Han and Obi-wan, followed by Mara Jade & Leia.

Star Wars as a mostly awesome extended universe in book form.  I am kind of disappointed not more of it was incorporated into what I have heard so far of The Force Awakens.

 

 

Posted in essay, fanfiction, writing

Fandom Writing Starter Kit: Terminology

Posted on by sokorra

Whenever you first start reading fanfiction, you’ll see various terms used to describe what you are about to read.  Its important to understand some of these terms, especially when you are posting your own stories.  People look for certain things when they are reading, and its always good to describe your story in a way that will make them understand what they are looking at.  Here are some multi-fandom general terms.

Gen
Continue reading “Fandom Writing Starter Kit: Terminology” →

Posted in essay, fanfiction, writing

Fandom Writing Starter Kit: An Introduction

Posted on by sokorra

I started this series on Bubblews, but instead of a direct transfer, as I actually lost the copy, I’m starting a new.  So it’s  fresh version of an old post.

For those who are newbies to Fandoms in general, a fandom is a collection of fans who share a similar love for a show, movie, book, band, sports team, etc.  Although you often don’t hear people refer to sports as a fandom, it essentially is one.  Any time a group of people gather and enjoy the same entertainment, it’s a fandom.

Fandom writing therefore is fan created works relating to the be-fanned subject.  This is more popular in fandoms that are based on books, tv shows, and movies then other fandoms, but they still exist.  And it usually comes in two types: Meta & Fan-Fiction. Mainly in this series of articles I will be focusing on the latter. Continue reading “Fandom Writing Starter Kit: An Introduction” →

Posted in celebrity news, general, Uncategorized

Alan Rickman 1946-2016

Posted on by sokorra

I didn’t think I’d be writing two memorial posts in a single week.  Or that I would loose two parts of my childhood at the same age, from the same thing.  Alan Rickman passed away this morning at the age of 69 from cancer.

As with David Bowie, I grew up with Alan Rickman in films.  I remember my sister’s favorite film for awhile was Robin Hood: Price of Thieves  where Rickman played Nottingham and threatened to use a spoon on a Robin because it was dull and thus would hurt more

One of my favorite adaptations of Jane Austen had him as Colonel Brandon, an older man who falls in love with Marianne.

Coming out of High School there was Dr. Lazarus, from Galaxy Quest, Harry from Love Actually,  and Marvin the depressed Robot from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.

For many of my friends who liked Kevin Smith Films, he was also Megatron, the voice of God from Dogma.

However, I think for a entire generation he will always be Professor Snape. While over the years my love of Snape had decreased due to realising how much of creep he really was, Alan Rickman had me loving the morally grey character.

Also apparently he was the bad guy in Die Hard, but I’ve never watched Die Hard so I can’t really say anything about it.  But now I have a reason to watch it.

2016 is taking a lot of legends in their field.   Rest in Peace, Mr. Rickman.  Thank you for your decades of Entertainment.  You will be missed.

 

Posted in book reviews, bookit

Bookit Review: Jane, Stewardess of the Air Lines

Posted on by sokorra

Title:  Jane, Stewardess of the Air Line
Author:  Ruthe S. Wheeler
Publication date: 1934

My Grade: B-

My Review:

When I was younger, I liked this story alot.  Reading it as an adult I found it less likable.  Its not a horribly written story, but there isn’t much to grab onto.  The main character, Jane Cameron, is pretty much a Mary Sue.  By that I mean she has no flaws.  She graduated in the top of her class, is calm under pressure, is a natural at flying a plan, and anytime something big goes down she’s asked to be part of the responce team simply because she is so good at what she does.

I’m not sure she has any flaws except being in transit when people call her.    None of the other characters are really flushed out.  Quite a bit of them aren’t even given names.  Its a little difficult to figure out the passage of time because things seem to happen immediately even though realistically you know it must have been weeks.

On the positive front, its a Female protagonist who is not stuck in a love Triangle, who goes and gets what she wants from her career.  Even when people doubt her because of her gender, she stays firm.  And that is something I’m always glad to see.  Its especially good in a book written in the 1930s.

I definitely think this is a book that is good for younger readers if you want a book that focuses on a female protagonist.  Its a relatively easy read.  Some questions may be had due to cultural changes since 1934.  For example,  Jane gets paid $125 a month.  Using a online converter I found that is basically like being paid  $2,232.14

Posted in essay, Star Trek

A Letter to Writers of Long Term Franchises

Posted on by sokorra

Note:  This was written back in 2013 and originally posted on a website called Bubblews.  Since the site has been taken down, I feel free to repost it here.  I re-read it and sadly despite the time alot of it is still valid for several TV and film writers/directors/producers when it comes to long term projects like Star Trek, Star Wars, Doctor Who and Game of Thrones.  JJ Abrams is no longer part of Star Trek, but has moved on to a franchise he did enjoy (Star Wars), but Steven Moffat is still head writer on Doctor Who, although it seems to be close to the end of his run.

Also as an update, I have seen Into Darkness since I wrote this, but that is a rant for another day and mostly focuses around the character of Christine Chapel.

Continue reading “A Letter to Writers of Long Term Franchises” →

Posted in film, music

David Bowie

Posted on by sokorra

I woke up to the news today that David Bowie died last night after a long battle with cancer.  I wasn’t aware that he had been sick.  It was only a few days ago a friend and I were discussing him because it was his birthday.

David Bowie was one of those artists where I enjoyed them but was never OOOOH MUST HAVE about when a new album came out.  He was always in the background.  He was an artist you had to respect even if you didn’t like his music.

I grew up with David Bowie music.  His career spanned decades and ranged in style.  He showed up on soundtracks often, and a few movies as well.  I think part of me thought he’d be putting out new music for a few more decades.   So today with his passing, it seems like there is a hole in the fabric of music.

One of my favorite childhood movies was Labyrinth where he starred as Jareth, the king of the Goblins.   The soundtrack is also one of my favorites and he wrote most of the songs on the album if I remember correctly

Here are a pair of my favorite songs from the movie:

 

RIP David Bowie.  You will be missed.