JamesSavik

Aggregate is what engineers call the materials added to concrete mixtures to add volume and strength. The aggregate most people are used to are pebbles, but this also includes simple rebar, metal meshes, special metallic rods and even styrofoam. New mixes of concrete are harder, lighter and more durable than ever before and can set so quickly, the pour has to be carefully timed. One of the key characters in The Company, David Bridges, is an engineer/contractor who has made a close study of modern cement and has the ability to use modern cement mixes and form injection techniques. He can build structures faster and cheaper than has ever been possible before.

I was new at school and a kid I played sports with invited me over Saturday and said, bring a couple of your favorite albums - the more obscure, the better. We love hearing new stuff. HAA! Boy could I ever do obscure. I took Can Future Days, Yes Close to the Edge and ELP Tarkus. This wasn't exactly a party. It was just a few dudes with albums showing up with chips and snacks and listening to music. It was always cool. We got to hear new stuff. I literally heard Kansas for the first time at one of these get-togethers. This isn't something that I've ever seen anyone doing since. Something cool has been lost. This is a custom I would love to see make a comeback. Just a reminder to some authors of some things we did for fun back in the day.

'Mericans call it one for the road. DUI attorney's call it the new boat fund.

I agree!

These kids need a good engineer to get their mix right. Call me. Dat's how I made my beer money in college.

I like to end the story with the protagonist having a smoking hot redhead on his arm.

Siamese are such a tease, Tabbies make me happy, Korats are such fine cats, and Russian Blues are sassy. Don't make me choose because each one, is unique in its own way. Cats are neat and always a treat When they decide you're cool and stay.

"The Gates Of Delirium" Anderson, Howe, Squire & White Stand and fight we do consider Reminded of an inner pact between us That's seen as we go And ride there In motion To fields in debts of honor Defending Stand the marchers soaring talons, Peaceful lives will not deliver freedom, Fighting we know, Destroy oppression The point to reaction As leaders look to you Attacking Choose and renounce throwing chains to the floor. Kill or be killing faster sins correct the flow. Casting giant shadows off vast penetrating force To alter via the war that seen As friction spans the spirits wrath ascending to redeem. Wars that shout in screams of anguish, Power spent passion bespoils our soul receiver, Surely we know. In glory We rise to offer, Create our freedom, A word we utter, A word. Words cause our banner, victorious our day. Will silence be promised as violence display? The curse increased we fight the pow'r And live by it by day. Our gods awake in thunderous roars, And guide the leaders hand in paths of glory to the cause. Listen, should we fight forever Knowing as we do know fear destroys? Listen, should we leave our children? Listen, our lives stare in silence; Help us now. Listen, your friends have been broken, They tell us of your poison; now we know. Kill them, give them as they give us. Slay them, burn their children's laughter On to hell. The fist will run, grasp metal to gun. The spirit sings in crashing tones, We gain the battle drum. Our cries will shrill, the air will moan and crash into the dawn. The pen won't stay the demon's wings, The hour approaches pounding out the Devil's sermon. Soon, oh soon the light, Pass within and soothe this endless night And wait here for you, Our reason to be here. Soon, oh soon the time, All we move to gain will reach and calm; Our heart is open, Our reason to be here. Long ago, set into rhyme. Soon, oh soon the light, Ours to shape for all time, Ours the right; The sun will lead us, Our reason to be here. Soon, oh soon the light, Ours to shape for all time, Ours the right; The sun will lead us, Our reason to be here.

I had fresh tomatoes on the vine today and had BLTs for lunch. Fresh home-grown tomatoes are different. They are almost as sweet as watermelons. Don't get any ideas about home-grown. I don't do that anymore.

Bacon is the gateway drug to cheeseburgers.

Half the stories today are hybrids consisting of elements of more than one genre. Remember this guy? Ridley Scott's Alien/Aliens franchise uses elements of sci-fi and horror. You aren't doing anything forbidden.

From Porcupine Tree's new album

DOH! I misread the word of the day as preprocessing. That's a little different and a LOT more expensive.

Southern Empire is a good prog rock band from Australia.

Puddin Pops & Special K.

I’ve experimented with short and long chapters. In The Cloud, I tried short, punchy chapters. The Company chapters are very long as they are practically a stream of consciousness as the protagonist goes through his day. Both have their strengths and weaknesses. The shorter chapters make you work hard to make the scene complete and balanced. Longer chapters give you more room and don’t have to be as tightly wound. You have more options for characterization, sub-plots and all the little touches that make the magic. What’s best? It depends on the story you want to tell and how you decide to present it.

Spooky Lead Yorktown Reconnaissance Section 7 Light Minutes North of the Plane of the Ecliptic Stonegarden System Lt. Lisa Mays twitched when the enemy task force appeared less than 30 light seconds from her Raven reconnaissance craft. Master Chief Lindsay, her Weapons Systems Officer or WSO, chuckled and said, “Well now, look who crashed our party. It looks like they brought all brand-new toys. I’m reading two Javelins, four Condors, and a couple of dozen escorts.”

1) That's what they can see. Keep reading. Farmer is more than he appears. 2) Anything Federal or DOD operates with both hands tied behind their back and blindfolded. 3) The Army's job is to kill people and break things. There are people in that org that actually enjoy their mission.

I tried hard to create a character arc for Phillip that was consistent and believable. At first, he seems like just another teen horn dog, but there's more too him. There are reasons why he is like he is. Not just Phillip but Mikie as well. Watch him toward the end. He grows up quite a bit.