Gene Splicer PHD

Well when I got diagnosed, it became my responsibility to manage myself. That's why I tell close friends. I can't control my emotional state very well sometimes, but I can sure try to manage my reactions and do what I can to not be in situations where things could escalate. That's the core of my "take five" behavior. I'm really glad I have the ability to do that.

I have been diagnosed as a very low-grade, high-functioning "aspie". It's not evident to people around me and in fact over the last couple of years - with some work - has pretty much stopped affecting me like it used to. It takes a lot of practice and I have to be very attentive to people and what they are saying, and then compare that to what their body language is telling me. I do have good friends who will also "fill in the gaps" if they think I'm misreading something someone is saying or doing. When I am tired or inattentive, I miss social cues, like when someone is angry or upset. I also can completely misunderstand why people are upset or even happy. I have trouble reading people's moods, and that can also lead to misunderstandings. When I get in situations where this causes problems, I get very stressed and nervous, which makes it worse. This happens when I don't know what to do to fix it, usually. Long ago, I would hold this in and then pop off at people or situations, and really overreact in some extreme ways. Rage was common, so was isolating and being an insufferable ass. Nowadays, it means I need to take five and regroup away from the situation for a while. I don't know where this kid sat with his diagnosis or treatment, and I'm sure I'm not anywhere near the level of extreme stress or antisocial behavior that consumed this guy. Still, I don't think that Aspergers is the issue here. It doesn't fit. Aspergers doesn't make you murder people. It makes you confused and mad - mostly at yourself. i think there have to be other factors aside from AS here. I don't think we will ever know what went on in this kids world to make him go off like he did. The whole thing is just sad and rotten.

Just got The Who's entire discography from a friend. Mamas got a squeezebox. Headphones rock.

I do post with some...regularity.

I don't have time to watch it right now, but is there anything in there about defibrillating myself? It's been a tough day.

Bad vapors? Did someone fart? Good chapter!

I murdered two nuns to get the last plow they had at Tractor Supply. I broke them of their BAD HABITS I'll see myself out

YEAH A GOAT FARM HAHAHA I'll get my coat

Yeah that had to be a dinner. Wonder how anyone had an appetite after all that

I want a review box at the bottom of every chapter, like efiction had. I'd be a lot more inclined to just drop words in a box about the chapter I've read if I could do that. That review could pop up on the reviews page for the story.

I think that spinning the individual studios that make up the Lucasfilms studios off into individual properties, to make or break on their own (employee owned, maybe?) would be far better for the industry than just adding the whole lot to Disney. They're smoking the tax breaks and insurance payoffs they get when movies lose money, of course.

Well it's not like Lucas has been setting the world on fire with SW 1,2,or 3. Lets face it, those movies were some world-class franchise milking right there. Which fits right in with the new owners. I'm quite happy to see Lucas turn the reins over to someone else, but not so happy that it's Disney.

A little tip from IT land - you don't prepare for disasters. You prepare for the effects of the disaster and the recovery from it. So - Winter storm and a hurricane combo: Prepare for: No power, limited mobility heat problems, probable property damage, maybe injured people - Have on hand for an extended period: non-spoilable foods, water, batteries, medicines/prescriptions, tarps, blankets and medical supplies - if you have a fireplace, stock up on wood, if you can get a generator, do it before the storm, and get plenty of gas for it - at least 25 gallons. - Go to the bank and get a decent amount of money - I keep about $1500 in cash in the house during the winter months if I can. - Get a battery powered radio or TV. Things to do - Move necessary prep and repair tools to hand - shovels, hammers, screw gun, nails/screws, plywood, road salt or sand, tarps and plastic sheeting, etc. - those tools don't do any good in the shed out back, move them to the house. - Charge all cell phones and batteries. Remove batteries from important devices when they aren't needed or power off the devices to keep the battery charge as long as possible. - Make sure the car has a good battery and a full tank of gas. - Put the valuables in a safe place. - Prepare the property - clear branches away from windows, clear the yard of anything that's going to blow around/away/into things when the winds hit, board up windows if you think the storm is bad enough, that sort of thing. It's all common sense stuff, really. My point is to prepare for the effects of a weather related disaster, no matter what it looks like, and you will be far better off than your typical neighbor.

Yeah, I'm along for the ride too. Occasionally I'll pop up with an opinion, but I just think Mark's writing is really good and the stories are really fun to read. I still think the Bacchante should show up and shell the beach house into gravel.

They get those scripts cheap, don't have to pay a crew very much - they don't have to be very talented, after all - and the script writers can kick them out quick because there's no thought at all about how it will translate to a tv screen. I agree with you a hundred percent, but they're not interested in quality or having an audience that actually thinks. They just want the content to be 'sticky' enough to keep the viewers watching the ads and soaking up the product placements. It's not like the current Syfy audience is one that you'd see at a lecture hall or owning a telescope. Their core audience thinks the Milky Way is a candy bar.

You can get all the aliens and science fiction you want, right over there on the History Channel, the Science channel, National Geographic Channel, and TLC. It's not like there aren't aliens. Just ask this guy.

This will only be relevant after they mount the lasers on the sharks heads. FRICKIN LASER BEAMS...

The US Canada Kenya Sudan Italy Japan S. Korea Vietnam Taiwan Thailand Singapore Hong Kong Oman Iraq Bahrain The Philippines Australia Coming up: Britain Ireland Germany The Netherlands Ohio

That had to be really hard to write. Well done. Reminded me of this: http://imgur.com/LaXQ4

Yep, good chapter. Can't wait until you have Gray set up a mortar/gun battery onshore and shell Atlantis/Kookaburra, sending them to the bottom with all aboard. Or an alternate ending, where the Australian Navy engages the boats in a battle to the death. Followed by the big reveal - Ned's been dreaming the whole thing and wakes up in a shower stall, with Shane in the bedroom saying things like "Bobby, are you okay?"

Nicotine withdrawal plus lack of sleep. Wait 1 day, then if it doesn't stop, go to the ER. They will work with you if you don't have health insurance, but the most important thing is this: if you are the least bit worried that this wont fade or gets worse, get to an urgent care or ER facility IMMEDIATELY. Brain stuff is not something you want to wait on to see if it gets better on its own. Money is no reason to wait. I quit smoking, so I know that it can be really hard, and part of that is the physical withdrawal stuff. Headaches are common when you quit smoking. But that is irrelevant if it gets bad, get to a doctor.

I don't post because I don't have time. I think this is a great story - let there no be no doubt about that. But I have my complaints, and I've refrained from spouting off, because it really is your story to tell. But you've given me the opportunity, so... I don't have time because I can pretty much skip a good three chapters and not lose any of the essentials of the story. Maybe I mean I don't have the patience. You're moving people around on the chessboard, but no pawns are taken, there's no 'check'. The last really major event in this story was the beheading of the mob boss, some ten chapters ago or so. Everything since then has been "Bridget reads a fax" - "Gray drives a car with Trevor in it" - "Rachel and Martin sail around awhile" - "Shane takes off his shirt". That's all great, but I want to read how the boy who had weights tied to him as he sank under the water, with his boat adrift above him, finally gets his revenge. I think you've gotten too wrapped up in the detail in this story. I think its neat that there are a lot of plot devices in play, that there are a lot of interesting little details to plot out - if I had a calendar and a sextant and a spreadsheet to keep track of it all, and the time I'd need to really figure out where all the little niff-naw details are going to all suddenly come together and make something happen. You say there are five chapters left. I think it's closer to fifteen, because all these details need their own exposition and their own storylines to track, and while I think it's great that a diver under Atlantis found the zinc anode, I know that an experienced diver has spent some time around boats, and you don't need a forensic expert to diagnose that Atlantis is basically a new boat. Two lines: "What did you find?" "The fiberglass is really clean, the glass is new, the running gear is all new. The sails still have creases. That boat hasn't been in the water long". - would have sufficed to let Gray deduce that Trevor is sailing a boat that's pretty much a total refit. CJ, that's one stroll down a dock to deduce the condition of the boat. The ropes would be very clean, and neatly faked out on the dock, and very twisty because they just came out of the bag. The boat would be tidy and clean, as a very proud boat owner would want to show off their prowess and their shiny new boat. The running gear - lines, bumpers, the zodiac, is all new, and that would be very apparent to someone whose been around a marina - especially a diver. But you turned it into a full paragraph of exposition about scratches on locks. Why did you handle it that way? I think you did that specifically so you could string out the story with the bubble trail and throw in an unnecessary cliffhanger. Tension in a story is a great thing, but when it's done with such a targeted, specific reason - string the reader along - it becomes tedious. It's a lot like the news broadcast telling me I need to tune in after the break to find the criminal in my neighborhood. Cliffhangers are fun - once in a while, used in moderation. Not every chapter has to string me along - I've been reading for 135 chapters, it's not like a quiet end to a chapter is going to stop me now. Almost a million words, and if you really look at what's gone on in each chapter and ask "what happened in this chapter?" the answer is usually "not much". Turn it into a web serial, which has no end, but is the "continuing adventures of Trevor and Shane". Write as many cliffies as you want in that environment. You're at 143 chapters before its finished, at least. Finish it. And then you will get a really great bit of review from me. As it is, I'm a little tired of catamarans floating around Australia while somebody reads a fax in Bermuda.

Your conference paper should include references to 18th century wealth management strategies, or at least a short couple of paragraphs on the cost of outfitting a warship for long sea voyages, concentrating on the financial impact of 8 pounders over grapeshot on local blacksmithing operations in the port vicinity. Or something. Also, threaten to shell the conference facility from the fleet of sail powered warships you've got anchored nearby if people don't pay attention.

AGAIN? Spill brother. WHAT DO YOU KNOW?

*too