Finally, it's gone public

I was working on one site for the University and it has several new features. Then was the long long wait because it wasn't public yet.

It's finally public and official. The Transit of Venus site.

Key features - updates to our base home page layout to include new areas.
New background image.
And most important, a page that can optionally include a google map and a Disqus comment box. The google map can happen any time content is added to our content management system with geopositions. All up, very cool.

The Fallen - Part 1

(Disclaimer - I've been posting this to tumblr so some of you may have seen this already.)

The Fallen

I was surrounded by four, well let’s just call them angels, as we descended from the airborne city to a mountain top. Two angels to hold me still while two carried out the sentence.

Six times over, there was a loud snap followed by my screams of agony. The three main bones in each of my wings were snapped in half. The two who broke the wing bones were careful to realign them so eventually the wings would heal. But they would never be strong enough to lift my weight again. 

The angels flew away, up and out of sight. I watched, tears in my eyes as they soared away. Grounded forever more from my own stupidity.

Perhaps, I should start at the beginning?

—

Ah, the beginning, I’ll skip over the first memories, early lessons and etc. You’ve probably read so many of those that you already have a hundred such stories already rolling around in your head.

I was actually a reasonably good youth. I did work at lessons, I didn’t play around when I wasn’t supposed to. I listened to the elders and all the official storytellers.

My passion was flight.  Oh how I loved to fly. Of course, when you’re still small, they limit where you can fly.  I would spend some of every day soaring from one edge to the other of what the elders would allow. It was always in the floating city, never beyond.

My friends, my family, they all flew when they had to get somewhere. Me? I never wanted to stop. I was happiest in the air, feeling the wind shift under my wings.

As I grew older, I was allowed to fly further. Then when I finally reached my 100^th birthday, I was allowed to fly away from the city and explore the lands below.

The first flight away from the city, it was so exhilarating. I plunged through a couple of cumulus clouds rejoicing in the cold damp air that made up the cloud.  And the warm bright sun when I reached the other side. Diving through a flock of pigeons just to watch them scatter. I know, that was juvenile, but it was fun and funny the first couple of times.

All too soon, I felt the need to return to the city. I decided to drop by my best friend’s house.

“What is your fascination with flying outside the city, Luc? Come on to the club, I can introduce you to some new hot chicks I met last week.”

My pal, Mic, was way more into clubs and girls then I was. “You know I hate the club. I like to talk to people, not shout at them.”

He laughed at me. “You’re not into talking to people even when you don’t have to shout at them. Come on, let’s go party.”

The club scene was pretty typical really. The music wasn’t as loud or as banal as I was expecting. They had a small live band instead of normal recorded music. The band wasn’t bad. Not great, mind you but not bad. 

There was a few people at the bar. Some of them casually trying out scents to see which they liked best and a few getting wasted on the cheapest scent available. I hadn’t really tried scents yet. Just another one of those ways I wasn’t like most of the people I know.

Like many of the more popular clubs, there was the Cage toward the back, for the thrill seekers. Outside the door to the Cage was an attendant who only opened the door after you signed a disclaimer. The lucky got out of the cage with a few new bruises. Broken bones were pretty common. Today’s game seemed to be for a pair to fly in circles around each other fast. The first to lose control lost the game. Given the size of the Cage, that also usually involved a big collision with a wall and I saw one wing broken within a few minutes of our arrival.

Most of the patrons were dancing, in pairs and alone. A few of the couples were utterly in sync; arms, legs and wings all in harmony. The average couple, more of a tangle of wings and arms then anything else.

I was leaning back against the wall, wondering how long I should wait until I could leave the club. Mic was pretty much in his element, I wasn’t worried he’d notice. He had a few girls who were watching him and his current partner with envy in their eyes.

“Hey, handsome. Holding up the wall?”

“Yeah, it was looking a bit unstable so I thought I’d prop it up.” 

“Can I take you away from that vital job? There’s a slow dance coming up and I *so* want to be up there.” I looked at the girl. She wasn’t the most attractive girl at the scene, but her eyes seemed to carry more of a spark of interest. She was wearing a black dress and had dyed her wings to match. The tips of the flight feathers were silver to add contrast.

“I don’t dance. This is what I’m good at,” nodding toward the wall.

“You don’t dance. You obviously don’t do the Cage, you haven’t the scars. You don’t do scents. Why the hell did you come?”

“Friend thought I needed to get out.”

“Well, in that case, I think you need to dance. Come on, it’s starting.” She grabbed my hand and started dragging me from the wall. After a minute of trying to stay put, I gave in and flew up to the dance.

By the time we had found a space, the music was playing. 

I can’t believe I let some chick I didn’t know talk me into this. She pulled me close and we started to dance.

Of course, slow dance is all about wing control. Some of the couples in the air had perfect control and rhythm with their partner. We tried for awhile to find a matching wing beat but her wings were just enough shorter than mine that it just wasn’t working.

I gently tapped her right wing with my hand. “Would you allow me?” She folded her wings and allowed me to take control of the dance.

Once I had control, I could maintain a slow easy spin like most of the couples in flight.

“So, My Lady, if you wanted to dance so much, why are you here alone?” 

“I didn’t come alone. I came with a date. The idiot decided he could rule The Cage tonight.” She nodded toward the pile of people nursing their wounds outside of The Cage. “He spun out in moments and cracked a wing. He won’t be flying for months.” She smiled at me. “I’m glad I talked you into this. You are very good.”

“So, does he look jealous?”

“Let me just make sure.” Her warm soft lips suddenly gently touched mine. “From his expression, I’d say yes.”

“Whoa, slow down there. I’d like to know who I’m kissing.” We were still slowing spinning in the air, arms tightly wrapped around each other. 

“I’m Maria. I’m 104, I have an office job, and I love to dance. Your turn.”

“Ok, I’m Lucifer though my friends all call me Luc. I’m 102, and I haven’t found a job that suits me. I do love to fly.”

The music slowed to a halt. I looked down to see a rather angry looking fellow glaring up at Maria. “Maria, do you like being the cause of club scenes?”

“Not particularly. I’m just here for the music.” She started extending her wings. I waited until she had enough lift before I released her.

“I don’t know about you but I’m ready to fly out of here. I think there will be a scene if we get close enough to your grounded friend.” I smiled at Maria. “You certainly did manage to make him very jealous.”

“He’s an idiot if he thinks I’ll sit around all evening because he has to prove something by going in The Cage. I could use some food.” 

We flew up and out of the club. Maria’s grounded friend had no hope of following.

“Come on, Luc. I know a little place not far from here. The food isn’t the greatest but it’s cheap and it’s filling.”

I shrugged. “Lead on, Maria. But I hope your friend doesn’t think to look for us there.”

She giggled. “My apartment isn’t far from here either. If the idiot doesn’t go to a medic to get his wing fixed, that’s the more likely place for him to be looking.” We were spiralling down to street level, just in front of a small cafe. “And, I’ve never been here with him.”

We entered the cafe. It was fairly quiet, it was between the times that people stopped to grab a bite before going home and when the club crowd would all want to eat.  We found a booth in a quiet corner and sat down. A bored looking waitress brought us menus. She perked up when she realised it was Maria.

“Hey, doll, good to see you back. And you brought another one? I like your style.” She winked at me as she handed me the menu. “That one is a wild one. Watch out.”

“I thought you said you’d never been here with the idiot?” I asked.

“I haven’t been with that guy but I have been here with a few others. As you might have guessed.” She closed her menu. “What will you have? It will be my treat tonight.”

We ordered. I ordered a basic sandwich. Takes talent to really get a sandwich wrong. She ordered the house special salad.

“So, Maria, is this night going somewhere? I don’t have expectations, one way or the other but I’d like to have this clear before too much longer.” It was a funny thing about having been slow dancing together. I felt like we’d already been an intimate couple. I wasn’t about to assume that Maria felt the same though.

She smiled across the booth at me. “Well, I was hoping that I might be able to spend the night at your place. Just in case Johnny boy does turn up at my place sometime tonight. He is going to be seriously peeved tonight. But I did have another motive,” she paused for a deep breath.

Naturally, our order arrived before she could continue that thought. Once the food was on the table, I realised that I was a lot hungrier than I expected to be. Fortunately for me, Maria was more interested in her plate for the moment. So for some time, the only sounds were our utensils hitting plates.

“Maria, you were about to tell me your motive for bringing me here?” I finally asked.

“Yes, right. I do have a motive. I told you I really love to dance.” I nodded. I wasn’t about to forget something in that short a space of time. “Well, there’s a dance competition coming up in a couple of months. But to enter you need a partner. And I’ve had no luck finding someone to enter with me. Most amateurs have long term partners, and I don’t.”

“So, you think you can convince me to be your partner?” I shook my head.

“Look, it may not be what you normally do for fun. But you have talent, especially so for one who says he doesn’t dance.” 

“I’m not sure I see what’s in it for me. I mean, for a start, how much time would it take?”

Maria reached for my hand. “Well, if we wanted to do it properly, we definitely want to spend 6 hours or more a week practicing. Preferably more.” She gently stroked the back of my hand. “The competition I have in mind requires 3 routines and one freestyle. I know someone who can help create the routines but without a partner why ask?” She interlaced her fingers with mine and gave them a small squeeze.

“This brings me back to the other question. What’s in it for me?”

“Well, I could try saying fame and fortune but that’s not going to fly for long. The only prize worthwhile in this class would be first and it usually takes years to get to that level.” She sat there chewing her lower lip. “Can’t ask as a friend since we’ve just met. It’s good exercise but I can tell you don’t need more exercise in particular.”

A few moments later and she let go of my hand. “Well, really, I can’t see that there’s anything in it for you. Except spending time with me and we don’t even know if we’d like each other.” She gave a deep sigh.

I looked at her closely. I liked her honesty and well, it had been some time since I last had a date. “Didn’t you say you wanted to go back to my apartment?”

She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I really don’t have the energy to deal with Johnny if he does turn up at my place tonight.”

“Let’s finish up here. Then see if you can stand to stay at my place, it’s been a while since I last had visitors. We can work out if we do like each other.” 

Once upon a time

Back in the year 2008, I signed up for a to-do service. Played with it. Forgot about it.

About a week or two ago, it started sending me emails about overdue to-do items. Due in 2008.

No idea why after all this time it started to do that either. Just freaking weird.

Oh my

Good thing I have a personal policy against ever exposing where the hits for this blog come from.
Cause the latest set of referrers look like browser hijack urls.

New IPad arrived

Hubby got it engraved.

I need to check that everything important the iPad 1 knows about, the new iPad 3 knows about! But I think we are good to go, and he can take the old one and wipe it.

Check out these covers.

Excited!

Hubby has pre-ordered an iPad 3 for me.

He'll be adopting my iPad 1.

Huzzah!

I hate temptation

Temptations can take many forms. Today it was, oh, look so-and-so has their chat on. I haven't seen them in ages, I'd love to chat.

Lead me not into temptation, I can find it on my own.

a) the chat might not deliberately be on,
b) it's been red since I noticed it
c) really, no chatting with random friends while at work.

Hurray, I didn't do it.

Nicarra's photostream

Nicarra's photostream on Flickr.

New - half decent pics of a Frill Necked Lizard in Townsville

Local Frilled Neck Lizard

Look carefully at that skinny tree. A young frilled necked lizard is clinging to the lower part of that tree.

If you are a blogger user and in a different country

If you live outside the US, when you go to look at your blog, it gets redirected to myblog.blogspot.com.(??)

Currently, this is annoying because you can't edit anything directly on your blog main page, you have to go back to the blogger interface to edit it.

There is a trick!

Go to myblog.blogspot.com/ncr - this will stop the country code redirect (ncr == no country redirect)

Now you are back to the normal blogger space and can edit the posts and widgets directly from the blog page again. Yippee.

We can hope that eventually, if they force a redirect, they fix it so you can edit as normal.

I didn't hear about this until they made the complete movie but it's an interesting idea. They chopped Star Wars IV into 15 second clips. Fans then claimed a clip and remade it in any fashion that they wanted. There's animations, live reenactments, computer graphics etc.

So now they've remade the movie patching the best of those 15 seconds of fan made clips back together.
Check out the project here.

How to tick someone off in one easy move

Misspell their name. It's annoying, rude and careless.

Especially if it's a simple name. I don't care if Lyn is the common spelling in Australia. Mine is Lynn
It's not that hard and I don't know why you can't bother to get it right.

You want who to do something urgently for you? Well, if I find that Lyn you're after, I'll let her know. THAT ISN'T ME.

Referrer Spam

From time to time, I have some very odd url/domains hitting my blogs. I used to wonder how one got from there to one of my blogs.

The answer is, they don't. It's an automatic process that hits web sites hoping that the referrer log will be posted, therefore giving them a much wanted hit in search engine stats. I found it doing a search on one of the more persistent referrers and found it mentioned in the Blogger help forums.

Don't ever click a link from an unknown url in your stats. It will only encourage them and they could have some nasties waiting for silly souls if you do.

Why do so few pedestrians know?

I've studied road rules in a couple of different places and can find this advice online. And yet either few pedestrians hear of it or pay attention.

If you are a pedestrian walking along a street - walk FACING the traffic.
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Pedestrians-and-walking/Pedestrian-guide/Walk-safe.aspx
 "Always walk on footpaths or nature strips where possible. If there is no footpath or nature strip, walk so that you are facing oncoming traffic."

We walk dogs daily and very very few other people walking/jogging on the streets ever do this.

FACE the cars and live!

Good deed for the day

"There is a lizard in the tea room."
There was too. It's a type I usually refer to as the nearly legless lizard.
Quite likely a Glaphyromorphus, though exactly which one is hard to be certain.
I caught the little guy, took it outside and released at the edge of a garden. It will be much happier there, tile is not a very good place to be for a lizard that moves like a snake.

The House of the Rising Sun - as performed by old computer parts

What does it say about me that the first time I started watching this, I nearly died laughing?

week off

We get the week from Christmas till new year off. I am so looking forward to this.

Skyrim, here I come!

Happy Holidays

Hoping you and yours have a lovely peaceful time over the holiday season.

If you ever decide to write fantasy

First write the story/book.
Second buy and read Diana Wynne Jones' book "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland"
Third now see how many fantasy conventions you've followed

• Map
• Colour coding
• Food
• Animals
• Various types of races/species met

I'd read the book before writing a second fantasy novel so every time my poor characters ate stew - I laughed. 

#NaNoWriMo - Winner Circle!

Hurray! 50K of novel done in 29 days.

Mind you, the plot hasn't actually finished yet but that's a minor detail.

Shiny certificate.

Nearing the end of NaNoWriMo

So, in my part of the world, it's Sunday the 27th at 10:54 pm

I have complete 46K words for the novel, I have a mere 4,000 words to go.

This is the first time I ever tried to write a 50K novel in 30 days. It's been an interesting experience.
But to some extent, I never would have made it without taking 2 weeks off work. I can base that on two problems

1. it was pretty rare for me to just 'go for broke' typing. I kept going through ideas in my head working through things and that's not in the NaNo spirit.
2. if you are going to write a novel in a mere month, it really is a good idea to have a solid picture of the main events, the major characters. Give everything names, write up sheets about them and get to know them IN ADVANCE. Cause if you don't, problem 1 kicks in again. 

NaNo Snippet 10

Onyx jumped at the voice, letting go entirely of the knife. He looked around to see a boy only a year or two older. The boy was dressed strangely, more fur and feathers, not cloth.

“What do you mean, kill him? I’m trying to help him.” He looked at Master Dervin, now looking extremely pale.

“If you pull that knife out of him now, he’ll bleed to death. You’ve naught prepared to staunch the flow of blood that I can see.”

“Could you help me keep him alive? It sounds like you know something about this. I don’t know anything about healing,” he looked pleadingly at the stranger. “I’m Onyx, and that’s Master Dervin.”

“My name is Sam.” Sam knelt down by Master Dervin examining the wound and the knife. “Removing that knife will be tricky. We’ll have to work together, if you want any chance of Master Dervin surviving. Are you sure you don’t want to just finish him off instead? That will be easier.”

Onyx shook his head. “I need Master Dervin. He’s teaching me…stuff.” Onyx found himself reluctant to say the word magic after Frillion. “What should I do?”

Things I look forward to post NaNo

Briefly visiting the various TS3 saves of mine and checking that all seems well. Then back up and install Pets EP plus update Twallan's mods.

Shannon will have her baby here http://artflowsthrough.blogspot.com/
Nick will manage to have his way and there will be baby 2 here http://wowindianasam.blogspot.com/
Then finally Sammy will be sent in to find out what's new and cool about Pets http://sammysimmie.blogspot.com/ This Sammy is definitely due to have a boyfriend/husband and thanks to Kaleeko - he'll have a fluffy pink shirt - LOL

NaNoWriMo Snippet 9

It wasn’t long before Onyx realised that they were being followed through the streets. He glanced back to see a group of men and boys, ranging from his age to men in their twenties. Master Dervin was moving steadily through the crowds, so Onyx decided that his attention was better placed at moving then on the followers. Still, once having noticed the following crowd, Onyx couldn’t help but glance back again. He regretted that immediately, the group was bigger and a little bit closer.

Onyx tried to pull Pungo even with Lady Evelyn. That was when the crowd stopped merely following.

“Get the boy,” someone shouted.

Master Dervin whirled around. “Do not touch my apprentice. Leave us be, we are leaving.”

“We’ll show you what we think of your kind. Grab the boy.”

Lightning flashed from one of the storm clouds, now directly above the city. “I said leave him. I don’t want to cause harm, but I will. Don’t try it.”

Two of the crowd darted forward, closing the gap between them and Onyx.

There was a flash of light with a deep boom. Master Dervin had sent the lightning crashing to within a hairs breath of those trying to grab Onyx. Both Pungo and Lady Evelyn tried to bolt, Pungo lashing out with his back legs. Onyx blinked trying to see again after the blinding flash.

Master Dervin turned to grab Pungo’s lead when a knife flew out from the crowd. It buried itself deep in the master’s right shoulder. Dervin gasped with pain and released the full fury of the storm he’d been holding. Cold rain with large hailstones poured out of the sky. It wasn’t long before the streets cleared of all traffic, except Dervin, Onyx and the two donkeys. Master Dervin had invoked a barrier that kept the rain and hail from them.

Post NaNo plans

I plan to spend most of December doing other stuff, unless I have yet to finish the first draft of the NaNo novel. I'll finish the first draft, if that's not done yet.

By January, my brain should be clear enough to start the editing. I'm more likely to read what's really there and not what I think should be there. How long the edits will take? No clue at all.

So when can you read it? Well, a brave soul might have access to the 1st draft but that's a true warts and all. Second draft should be much better whenever that happens.

NaNoWriMo - best character introduction

Onyx removed his master from Lady Evelyn as gently as he could. Master Dervin was no longer awake and the amount of blood on his clothes looked massive. Onyx reached for the knife, preparing to remove it from the wound.

“Ah, trying to finish him off?” came an unexpected voice from behind. “Do you need help?”

NaNoWriMo Snippet 8

The sun was low in the sky when Master Dervin noticed a small manor house off one side of the road. “Never hurts to ask, though I doubt this crop needs our assistance.” Onyx nodded his agreement, there were very healthy looking plants in the fields.

Master Dervin noticed a man working in the fields, “Good evening to you, sir. We were wondering…”

The man straightening up, his eyes widening in surprise. “Margo! We have visitors, dear.” The door to the house opened and a plump middle aged lady beckoned the pair over.

“Come in, come in. Are you hungry?” She looked at Onyx, “Of course you’re hungry, I can see that you’re a growing boy.”

“Well, first we’d like to take care of the donkeys, if that’s possible?” said Master Dervin.

“Ben, Larry, come here boys.” A pair of young men strode into view. “You take those donkeys and put them up in the barn. Be careful of Molly, you know she’s been a bit tetchy lately. Molly is our plow mule,” she said to Master Dervin.

“We were going to ask for shelter for the night.”

“Of course you can stay. We haven’t had visitors in ages. Now, you two get inside.”

“Yes m’m,” replied Onyx.

“If you’re sure,” said Master Dervin.

“There’s plenty of food, between our field hands and the boys, I have to be sure of that. We have guest quarters too, no problems.” Ben and Larry returned with the packs. “You boys put those in the green guest room. Then wash up, supper is nearly ready.” She turned to her guests. “Well, go on then, follow the boys to your room. Food should be ready in half an hour, I’ll send someone up to tell you when.” Master Dervin raised his hands in surrender, he’d realised that he was never going to get a word in edgewise.

NaNoWriMo Snippet 7

And if the weather was fine at the midday break, Onyx had more lessons on summoning the wind. Master Dervin was very patient about that first lesson. “Now, let’s try this again.” It was the end of the week and Onyx felt no closer to being able to move the leaf as he was on the first day.

“But master, I can’t do it. I can’t work out how to call the wind deliberately. And if I call it accidentally, I’m likely to hurt someone seriously.”

“You can do it, Onyx. It’s not an easy thing, but you will be able to do it. Just relax, be patient, let your mind wander.” Master Dervin was using a small dust devil to cause the leaf to dance on the grass.

“That dust devil, it doesn’t feel the same as the breeze,” remarked Onyx.

“Very good, apprentice. A dust devil is born of wind, and can be summoned much the same way. However, the dust devil is a small entity of itself, and once it exists, it’s completely independent of other weather.”

Onyx idly watched the leaf dancing back and forth. After a couple of minutes, he decided to snatch the leaf away. The dust devil danced on without the leaf for a few more moments.

“Congratulations Onyx, you’ve done it.”

“What?”

“You called a puff of wind to steal the leaf from my dust devil. It was a bit stronger than I would have liked,” Master Dervin pointed ruefully at the leaf which was a good 5 meters away, “but you’ve done it. Now fetch the leaf back and try to be more gentle this time.” Onyx started to get up to move the leaf closer again. “No, lad, you don’t need to touch it yourself. Ask the wind.”

Onyx sat stunned for a minute while he tried to remember exactly how he’d stolen the leaf from the dust devil. His plan had been to reach over and grab it but then he had asked the wind to do it for him. He closed his eyes and visualised a little puff of wind pushing the leaf his direction. When he opened his eyes, the leaf was a good meter closer than it had been.

NaNoWriMo Snippet 6

Back at the tavern, the farmer quickly settled the account while Dervin and Onyx finally had breakfast.
“Does anyone threaten to not pay what they’ve promised?”

“Well, Onyx. I’ve never had that happen, but it’s not a surprise. An angry weather mage can do a lot of damage. A sudden freeze, a sudden flood, temperatures soaring, a large hailstorm. I don’t think there are many people willing to risk such damage, since they have some idea what a weather mage can do.” He looked at Onyx.  “That’s why it’s important that you make your status clear. Most people know not to do anything to mages, but they do have to know it’s a mage they deal with. There are always some stupid enough to take that risk, your bullies probably wouldn’t have left you be even knowing there was a risk that you could call weather. But those who know enough to pay, also know enough that they must pay if services were rendered.”

Onyx nodded as he scrapped the last few oats from the bottom of his bowl of porridge. “I hadn’t done anything to provoke them.”

“I believe that. Sometimes there are people who seem to need to prove they’re superior by putting down others. That particular lot decided to prove it by brute strength, I suspect they knew you’re brighter than they are.”

“But Mark, in my class, he knew way more about reading and maths than I do.”

“Mistress Anna told me that you were unusually talented and were catching up to all of her current students quickly. Mark might have suspected that you are quite smart, you’ve just never had the chance to develop it. His type always tries to get even with anyone who seems to be better than they are.”

 Breakfast finished, the pair returned to their room and picked up the bags. They walked to the stable and prepared their donkeys for the day’s journey.