Dreambiscuit

It depends on what kind of microchip and what it’s intended to do. I have no problem with something made to track a missing child, and would advocate it. I would not use something designed to eavesdrop on someone’s personal life and would never want anything made to track their interests or sell anything. It has to be based on the safety of the child and nothing else, but ‘illuminati’ as proposed in the OP is absurd, no matter how you look at it.

Whenever I write, I don’t start with a shopping list of the various elements I want to include because it gets in the way of spontaneous flowing story. In my experience it’s good to start with a very basic storyline and embellish as I go, and if I have a conscious idea what elements I want to include, I can add them as I proceed. Usually you get a ‘Eureka’ moment when the genesis of a story announces itself to your brain, and you take it from there. But since you already have what sounds like a detailed framework, you have a lot to work with, and that may be sufficient. The fact is that no two writers have the same approach, and you have to find out what works for you, at least to some degree, as you write. But my advice is to start simple and build on the inspiration that usually comes when it flows naturally, rather than get bogged down by story elements that may or may not fit smoothly on their own. Most movies, books, etc. these days suffer from trying to fit too many plotlines into a single film, book, etc, and they often cancel each other out and make for an over-written mess. Make each chapter focus on one or two of your themes and keep each one simple on their own terms. I guess the bottom line I’m trying to suggest is simplicity first, embellishment later, and keep it clear.

Anything that’s well-kept and maintained can be okay. But in general, I prefer the clean shaven look. I am not a fan of the three-day stubble look; I think it’s for men who think it’s cool being less than properly groomed. It looks like mange and that’s not for me. In many cases, men who sport a beard make themselves look older than they need to. No need to rush such things.

It depends on who I’m talking with. If it’s a complete stranger I have a variety of methods (again, depending on the length of convo I expect to be having) I may ask about their interests, what they’ve done that day and what they’d like to do. I sometimes take cues from the way they’re dressed and ask them things based on obvious interests (if they’re wearing an MLP t-shirt or something, for example). The age of the person I’m talking with also applies, as does gender, and I can base my convo accordingly. If I’m chatting it up with someone I know a little better I might talk about something more candid, because getting personal can really open things up and add some great levels of interest to things.

Tried it with water once, and tried both powdered and condensed milk. All of them sucked.

As impressive as all the scientific study appears to be, love is an intangible thing that, like the working of the human brain, is too complex to be distilled down into simple, categorized bundles that fit neatly under a few dozen blanket headings to explain all things. There may be a few things that contribute, but none that, on their own, cover the whole messy miracle called love. Conscious and subconscious things form the human psyche, and no one really knows how or why it works. In my opinion, falling in love with someone comes from recognizing something in another human being that others don’t see, and responding to it. This way, humans have the ability to make connections that are unique to themselves and create the love connection. If people didn’t have these ‘types’ they’d never be able to recognize a potential mate and everything would be random. So I think people develop, or have built-in, cues to assist in perpetuating the race. As for monogamy and the family unit, humans are designed to create and live in that setting, because it’s a system that works. Some animals may have the same system, but for humans, who live longer than most animals, it’s essential to develop over the long haul in a way that nurtures and supports their more complex brain and social system, allowing us to fine-tune and recognize the things we love and respond to in a positive way.

Sharpies and gasoline are definitely on the list, but I will also add chlorine, hot asphalt and, even though many paints smell good, oil paint in particular.

A fox. Foxes are elegant and attractive (that’s where they differ from me), and they can also be sneaky and clever (that’s more like me). They’re unique in that they have elements of both feline and canine, but seamlessly blend the best of both worlds. I’m kind of a jumble of disparate elements so I think it’s a good fit.

I love the movie. But I liked the earlier drafts of the script better than the final version that went before the cameras. Indy was originally going to have a spitfire daughter, which I think would have been fun, but Spielberg couldn't seem to get past his father/son obsession (despite having addressed it in Last Crusade) so we ended up with something that didn't really work. Even Shia LaBeouf said his character was the reason the movie didn't do as well as hoped, and despite his honest (and accurate) statement, he got blasted for heroically taking the blame.

This lovely little desert property, with unobstructed views on all sides. No bad neighbors; just the odd Tusken Raiding party, but you can hold off a whole colony with just one blaster. Comes with a nice array of Vaporators for those hot summer days, and plenty of room to expand.

The Star Wars prequel trilogy. Everyone was told up front that these movies were not going to be clones of the original classic Star Wars trilogy, but everyone complained anyway because they were something new and different. Then came the ‘let’s all hate Jar Jar Binks’ bandwagon, and everyone mindlessly jumped on without an iota of original thinking in the crowd. The same prejudice remains today, and pointlessly so.

The Six Million Dollar Man. I saw this growing up because my dad liked it as a kid. It has a certain something that works on a nostalgic level for those who appreciate the '70s, which I do.

Dredd (2012) I’m not gonna call this a masterpiece but I do like it, and it does occupy a place on my list of go-to peaceful movies (not that it’s very peaceful to anyone but me). Like The Raid: Redemption, this movies is a battle from the ground floor to the top of a high-rise full of criminals with guns. The story is simple; see badguy, shoot badguy. That’s all you need to know. 7.5/10 The Arrival (1996) Charlie Sheen plays an astronomer who discovers an alien signal, but when he tries to report it, the powers that be, shall we say, are already aware. This is a decent mid-level sleeper that I’ve always had a mild affection for. It’s not overly ambitious but it doesn’t hold back the story it wants to tell. 6.5/10 The Recall (2017) Junk. Aliens chasing some really, really stupid teenagers through the woods. Okay, I guess it helped get Wesley Snipes back in the acting game; he got a nice monologue, looked good against a cast of idiotic teens with no talent or personality, and his scenes could be filmed in two days. But the movie was incredibly lame. 3/10

I've mentioned this before, but for those who didn't catch the first act, here's an encore.

I had a slice of leftover pizza. Nothing too fancy, just Red Baron cardboard pizza.

I absolutely would NOT get surgery to live forever. The only reason I would get surgery is if I needed to correct something that would unnaturally shorten my life. I would want to live long enough to take care of my family, but otherwise I see no need to go on endlessly in this earthly existence; there isn’t enough on this wee planet to interest me for the long haul.

I get along great with kids. Being around kids is my natural habitat and I love the little critters. They make me feel young and happy.

I like summer best. I associate summer with travel and recreation, which really clears my head and brings me happiness. And I like hot weather as long as it isn’t too humid.

I do not own a telescope. I would like very much to have one because I love stargazing, but it’s not in my budget to get one that’s good enough to make it worthwhile, so it remains on a back burner.

Honestly I don’t understand the point of parties; a bunch of people standing around making small talk, with music blaring so loud that no one can hear any of it anyway. People drinking, disturbing the neighbors and acting like asses. Where’s the upside to any of this? Getting drunk? Getting sick? Embarrassing one’s self? I can enjoy myself far more in a casual setting without the label of ‘party’ as a cue to create the illusion of fun.

Video games: Why would anyone choose to get pissed off by badly written games that have unintuitive controls that seldom work right anyway? It can’t be immersive if you’re constantly reminded that the technology isn’t keeping up with the concept. Watching sports: Some people truly love sports and I can appreciate that. I personally don’t get why they’re as popular as they are because it seems sports need to be played in order to get the drama of the activity. Phones: What is the fascination with talking to someone or texting 24/7? Or being online all the time to the point where you never look up from the screen to see there’s an actual real world out there? Phones cost a fortune and give nothing in return. I use mine for emergencies only and see no further use of value. Facebook/Social media: It’s a waste of time that accomplishes nothing. It’s okay to have a hobby or to keep in touch with friends and family, but racking up scores of anonymous strangers to show how many followers someone has is kinda egotistical and sad. Clothing styles: Style is good, when there’s some actual style to it, but people going around in public wearing their pajamas is asinine. I know casual is comfy but there is such a thing as civilization and it demands a certain degree of personal dignity. I also dislike ‘boyfriend jeans’ which are designed to blur the fact that boys and girls aren’t built the same. Styles that delineate the sexes are part of what make clothing fun and meaningful. Tattoos: I assume people get these things do assert their individuality, but when everyone does so it isn’t very individual anymore. No matter what images are used, they still give the same initial impression, which is worldliness. People change and interests change, so can anyone trust themselves enough to assume the permanent images they emblazon their bodies with will still be of interest ten, twenty, thirty or forty years later? I wouldn’t, even if it’s something I love. I’d rather get a temporary tattoo for a fraction of the price that I can remove when the novelty wears off, or wear a t-shirt that announces my interests and individuality to the world if I need that kind of validation. Loud music: If someone likes their music, more power to ‘em, but there’s no reason to crank it up to eleven and nuke the neighborhood with it. Not everyone likes the same stuff and no one’s impressed by the wattage of someone else’s stereo. Modern music, movies and cartoons: Don’t get me wrong, I like movies, music and cartoons from every era, selectively. What I don’t understand is why so many embrace ONLY the modern stuff, good or bad, just because it’s modern. Especially since there are far fewer good movies, songs and cartoons now than there have been for decades. Most modern cartoons, by intent, look like they were scribbled by a 12 year old with a jagged crayon, rather than well-designed characters and animation that appeal to the eye. And let’s face it, burp and fart jokes can only carry a show so far, and it’s time to turn the channel. Alcohol, drugs and smoking: Who would want to be in a stupor that dulls the senses and causes permanent impairment of the brain and body? I’ve known people who have used both alcohol and drugs and the result is terrible. They’re just a shell of their former selves but they believe they are sharper and stronger than ever before. Alcohol, especially the hard stuff, tastes like goat piss (or so I imagine). Drugs are addictive, destructive and expensive. And cigarettes, even the less smelly ones, are not pleasant up close or at a distance. There’s no upside. Internet: A false world where people aren't accountable for their behavior among others. In my opinion, the worst invention in the history of mankind.

I collect a lot of Star Wars stuff. I have a lot of movies on dvd and vhs as well. And there's a fair amount of Disney stuff sprinkled here and there.

I was 24 years old when I started here and now I’m 33. No detectable improvements. I’ll keep trying.

A little bottle of Gatorade.

Over ALWAYS. Otherwise, it’s like being left-handed, or putting sugar on cereal before the milk; one could be in danger of developing a mental imbalance leading to criminal tendencies! Please, go over the top, for the sake of humanity!!