Website is back online and didn't lose any posts/info. Hosting company tells me there's a corruption somewhere in the system. They are looking into the errors... So... We'll just have to wait and see...
More website problems, though it's only been back online for 2 weeks. Basically these problems have been nonstop since www.nwowatcher.com first launched way back in '04. Though I tried to persevere, cyber-fate has consistantly been mocking me from the beginning of my web voyages. Supsicious viruses sent to me, hacking, threats, attempted infiltrations, aggressive spam campaigns, increased fees meant to rip me off or shut me down... It's been blatant and unyeilding.
If I didn't know any better I'd say that the website has been sabotaged and purposefully attacked dozens of times in the past 5 years, and within minutes of the problems which arose today at the website, a helicopter (not an unmarked black helicopter, mind you) was circling my apartment for 20 minutes. Of course it would be paranoid of me to somehow connect the two events, but in this line of research you can't help it sometimes.
I'm trying to sort things out with the new hosting company, but can't help to get the impression that something ("GOD" itself?) doesn't want me to be doing what I'm doing. Needless to say some reconsiderations are in order. Even though I might be abbrassive and angry from time to time (surely some people think I'm a total asshole) I'm trying to do the right thing and get valuable information out to the public... yet all I seem to get is grief and troubles, interspersed by very brief moments of accomplishment or contentment. I don't regret it, but wonder if it's even worth it anymore.
Since it seems that 'Verbal Vortex' is going to be serving as a real blog of sorts, with a few of the recent events going on in my life as well as personal thoughts and feelings (opposed to my other "blogs" which are geared more towards general INFORMATION and random strangeness)... it's necessary to update this place at least once or twice a week, so here I am! ;)
Especially nice when you've got some good news to report, which is an increasing rarity in this day and age. As admitted before, I've been an on again off again 'Star Trek' fan since I was a little kid, and recently started digesting some of the books that had been on my 'to-read-list' for quite a few years now. Besides, they were bargain items and I simply couldn't pass them up!
Thankfully I didn't pass them up because over the past 4 months I've devoured Imzadi II, the sequel to the classic, bestselling work of Trek fiction by the illustrious Peter David (first read when I was 13 years old, and again a couple years later)... and had the profound pleasure of reading The Eugenics Wars Parts I and II, To Reign In Hell, The Q Continuum and The Black Shore by one of my new favorite authors, Greg Cox.
Though I'm more of a 'Next Generation' kinda guy, and wasn't necessarily a fan of the classic character Khan Noonien Singh (a genetic superman (played by the late Ricardo Montalban) who is cryogenically frozen in the late 20th Century after instigating 'The Eugenics Wars'), I've always had interest in finding out more regarding the 'Eugenics Wars' within Trek mythology, and how this tied into the ultimate formation of The Federation and Prime Directive.
The dangerous and powerful Khan eventually awakens from suspended animation in the 23rd Century to inevitably do battle with Kirk and the original crew of the Enterprise. 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' remains one of the most popular films of the franchise, and a variety of entertainment polls have ranked Khan among the 'Top 50 Science Fiction Villains of all Time'.
Needless to say, Greg Cox penned a wonderful trilogy of books which brings forth an important new dimension and insight into this classicl Trek icon, and finally establishes necessary details involving the disastrous 'Eugenics Wars' of the 20th Century. I couldn't put these books down and am extremely psyched(!) to relay that Greg Cox has agreed to an interview in late April, which, fingers crossed, will be made available shortly before the release of the new 'Star Trek' film.
And of course, there is plenty more to talk to Greg about besides 'Star Trek', as he has a very cool and impressive resume of bestselling works under his belt. I'm extremely thankful for opportunities such as these and looking forward to hearing any advice he might offer for emerging writers and struggling authors.
Are you a fan?!? Got questions you'd want to ask him about Trek or his work in general? Please send them my way and I'll keep you updated!
I've got nothing to prove to anybody but myself, and we're all our own worst critics, right? Here are 10 goals I'd really like to accomplish in '09 to feel a little more at ease with my own sense of fulfillment and modest accomplishments...
1) Really work towards getting a book finished. I've been writing a half dozen books for the past 10 years, with literally 1000 pages completed between them, but have never been able to pull a single one into adequate cohesion. 2009 really needs to be the year where I focus on ONE of them intensely and strive for publication (even if self published).
2) Hit the streets with info, info, info! I've got a bit of an upbringing with locally distributing my own zines, printing off flyers, stickers, etc. I need to, hard-core, get back in to this habit, and try to get a new zine out to the public this year, even if just a single issue or two.
3) Embrace weirdness, but strive to be kinder and make sense of all this chaos. Help in general understanding and don't be too obtuse or allegorical when trying to present a message of truth.
4) Keep working on the music. Get back in to a groove with it; even consider holding a concert or event sometime this year with local musicians & artists.
5) Count my blessings, and try not to be depressed or overly worried by the fact that "things could always get worse". Stop and smell the flowers, appreciate the little things.
6) Get a much larger amount of (legitimate) traffic to the websites and reach out to more people with a truly alternative & independently motivated message.
7) Conduct a new and insightful interview that really makes me stop and say F'CKING WOW! I can't believe they agreed to an interview!
8) Patience. In teaching a well as learning.
9) Be honest, be genuine, be yourself. Also be open minded and welcome to drastic changes if necessary.
10) Stop making so many online lists about your personal affairs. Just do it!
It's one of those fucking days. You know the type, where you realize, for the 1000th time, that nobody really gives a shit. First off I've been dealing with a server transition for the past 2 weeks now, but can't help but to feel that I'm getting the run around from my hosting company. I've submitted two tickets, 2 live chats, and now they want me to call headquarters before they can finalize what should be a fairly routine clone/transfer of the website. To add insult to injury I tried to upload EPISODE #9 of the Upsidebackwards podcast today, but the file size exceeded limitations, so I gotta go back and edit everything down. On top of all that, a night full of BAD DREAMS... The type where your entire city is bombed to the ground, leaving smoldering piles of rubble and bodies in its wake.
It's just one of those days where I feel rather... chemically imbalanced and my stupid fucking neighbors are blaring their shitty music and I feel like going down there with a fucking machete and chopping all their heads off... Oh well, I'm going to go for a walk and try to get some fresh air, put things in perspective. Maybe watch a little 'Monty Python' later for some much needed laughs.
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