It is a quiet day...

[thebitterguy]

So, I ask you to...

Please ask me a question, something you think you should know about me but don't. If I answer your question, I get to ask you a question in return.

Comments

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

What's your checking account number? :-)

In all seriousness, now that we know the source, the wellspring if you will, of your bitterness, has it mellowed at all over time or just become sharper with age?

[mr-weasel.livejournal.com]

What is the absolute weirdest RPG you've ever played?

[thebitterguy]

Well, this probably won't surprise you since you were there, but StarChildren. The whole experience was fairly surreal: playing a game at GenCon, with the creator and my best friend at the table, as an alien punk musician who like violence but wasn't very good at it (well, wasn't SUPPOSED to be very good at it). It was a strange experience.

Following that, the variant (VERY) D&D game I was in in Kingston for 2 sessions. It was sorta 3E before 3E (Dwarf Paladins n' stuff) with Monty Haul elements. The GM made so many alterations to the system he had a hundred page PHB supplemental that players had to buy from him. He'd stop the game to smoke a jay, and then his infant son would wander into the room. Occasionally we watched really bad movies.

[thebitterguy]

Oh, mellowed significantly. Or at least diffused. I have many things to direct my bitterness at now, instead of just one. God bless being a functioning member of society.

It's really the kind of thing that would have made me burn out if I'd have hung onto it.

My question: Do you have a 30 second pitch for your film? What is it? IF not, what is it about? Would you like to have it shown at the TIFF?

Oh, yeah: My turn

[thebitterguy]

Do you think you'd have been better off if you'd just quit pharmacy work and gone to school full time, or even taken extra courses to get through it quicker, without the physical and emotional drag of your day job?

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

If you just want a synopsis:

"Claire and Tommie are nothing alike, on the surface. But they share a deep psychic connection that Claire has been exploiting to indulge her worst impulses. But what happens when Tommie slips the leash...and starts fighting back?"

That's the problem with synopses, they're so short. :-)

As for what it's ABOUT, in the pretentious sense, on one level it's about striking a balance between our dark sides and our light sides and the dangers of not doing that. I'd call it a thriller with fantasy elements (in fact I'm in the rough stages of planning my festival strategy and those are the fests I'm focusing on.) It also has hot lesbian sex right in the opening and a decent body count (with a running time of about 75 minutes less credits), lest you think me pretentious.
:-)


As for the TIFF, I'd love to screen there! I'm debating whether to submit; the odds are pretty long especially considering I'm a wee tiny filmmaker shooting on DV up against a lot of indies with bigger budgets and more mainstream subject matter who shoot on film, and I'm not the only wee tiny filmmaker considering submitting.

[ketronic.livejournal.com]

What's your biggest fear in life?

[granolademonic.livejournal.com]

What'cha gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you?

[rentagurkha.livejournal.com]

Do you have any interest in writing RPGs?

[thebitterguy]

Wow. You don't go for the small stuff, do you? My biggest fear is a pretty cliche one, really. The thought of dying alone. Not being mourned or remembered or acknowledged in passing. Not being appreciated or noticed. Being insignificant. I do not like to feel small.

I'm so glad I'm posting this for everyone to read. :) I suppose it's a common fear, though.

Okay, for my question: what is the career path for a RMT? Is it usually something you would do freelance until you retire? Do people usually start their own clinics after a while? Are you incorporated?

[ketronic.livejournal.com]

career path for an RMT....

well, there are several situations actually. i'll explain mine first, which is the most common. we're contract workers, so we're considered self-employed. rmt's, when working for someone (ie., a clinic, a chiro, ec.) either work on a split or pay rent for the use of their room. we work on split, so for me, i give a percentage of each person i see, to the clinic. a lot of therapists aspire to own/run their own clinic one day, but we're so poor (we really don't make much money, the average therapist makes btwn $25,000 - $35,000/yr) that it's hard to make ends meet if you have your own clinic.

other rmt's are hired employs at spas, on cruise ships, through organizations, etc., and are salaried. this is GREAT if you can swing it, b/c they get benefits (in most cases) and women also get paid maternity leave (!!!) which is huge for us!! however, being an employee, they usually work you to the bone, which decreases your career-lifespan. the average therapist, as it is, lasts only about 7 years or so. i'm into my 3rd year now, helene is into her 9th and tracy is into her 7th.

[thebitterguy]

Take him out with a flying closeline, brother! Then an elbow drop from the top rope.

My question: Was the Montreal screwjob the greatest tragedy in sporting history?

[pyat.livejournal.com]

What gods do you pray to?

Seriously, what's your take on religion?

(I was that anonymous comment, ignore that one)

[mercuryeric.livejournal.com]

I am unclear on your stance on pizza. New York or Chicago?

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

I hate to brush up against the bitterness of the past, but How long were you in the Navy (Reserve) and did you ever go or do anything cool there?

Me? I froze my ass off in Norway and destroyed a whole year of University courses at the exact same time.

Doug.

[thebitterguy]

Definitely. I've loved writing and gaming since I was in short pants; hell, my first professional writing jobs were two pieces I sold to Dragon when I was a teenager.

On the other hand... Dealing with the industry is something I'm disquieted by. I've seen too many people going slowly (or quickly) nuts trying to meet deadlines (I've seen a lot of LJ posts that read "XX,000 words by Saturday. I will be quiet until then"), and I don't know if, with the industry propensity for slow/non payment, I like the idea of slagging myself for the benefit of industry renown. If I want to write for a small audience and no pay, I have LJ.

I COULD do RPG writing, and I'd probably (might) enjoy it, but my interest level has been ebbing recently.

My question: Have you and Leslie felt any social feedback (I can't think of a non stupid way to say it) about your relationship due to your divergent ethnic backgrounds?

[rentagurkha.livejournal.com]

Very little. The only place we've been to where we felt that people really reacted at all oddly was Florida, and even it wasn't that bad.

[thebitterguy]

My active time in the reserve was approximately three weeks. For the situation in excrutiating detail, you can read this entry from a couple years back.

I, thankfully, only ruined a summer vacation, and travelled to Nova Scotia.

Question: So, is your big thing wargaming or roleplaying? And do you consider yourself worthy of the title "Grognard"?

[granolademonic.livejournal.com]

Was the Montreal screwjob the greatest tragedy in sporting history?

Um, HELLO?!? Ted Dibiase turned Hercules into his SLAVE! (Or tried to, at any rate.)

Surely that was a darker day for sports and humankind.

(Serious answer: probably, yes.)

Re: Oh, yeah: My turn

[mr-weasel.livejournal.com]

Well, it might have been quicker but I would be in much more debt. If I had been in a financial position to go back to school full time, I probably would have finished in three years.

I guess I'm trying to have a life and get my career turned around at the same time. This requires more time on my part.

Did I answer the question?

:)

[mr-weasel.livejournal.com]

My biggest fear is a pretty cliche one, really. The thought of dying alone. Not being mourned or remembered or acknowledged in passing. Not being appreciated or noticed. Being insignificant. I do not like to feel small.

You know that won't happen. You have too big a heart not to be noticed.

[uniquecrash5.livejournal.com]

Do you dig Trek?

[thebitterguy]

I believe a baldwin brother once had a line that went Pizza is like sex. No matter what, it's pretty darn good. I have learned enough in my time to know that that is, in fact, a lie on both counts.

However, I do crave the pie, and if I had to choose, I would go with the deep dish deliciousness of Chicago. Since I live in Canada, all pizza is in between, medium crust.

Your question: What's the most fun you've had gaming in the past while? Video/table top?

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

And if not, how do you seek to rectify this severe character flaw? ;-)

[viktor-haag.livejournal.com]

How often do you change your "she's calling me" ringtone?