Nyx Goldstone

I don’t think I can take TechCrunch seriously anymore. Then again, I don’t think I ever have.

This morning I was catching up on my LiveJournal friend’s page after avoiding it for November and December (NaNoWriMo eats my Friend List’s souuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuul!). I came across a post from Jakkal whom I love and adore for her art and quick wit. I especially love her “Don’t Do This” tag. It was that tag that lead me to the article that would cement my view on TechCrunch for now and probably forever.

Now, keep in mind that I went to the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. For 75% of my high school career, I was surrounded by aspiring artists of every type from dance to music to visual art. 500 people ranging from 13 to 18 struggling for a career in their chosen art field, training for hours at a time. In the end, it’s all subjective. Did the teacher enjoy teaching you enough to enjoy your art to want to stick their neck out for you? Did the right person show up at the right performance at the right time? Did you choose the right piece to put in the gallery?

DeviantART reminds me a lot of when I was in high school. Most of it are kids who are terrified to know the truth about the creation they put a piece of their soul into, and yet are braving the harsh cruel world to find out. In fact, I seriously believe that the internet is an even harsher place then the competitive environment I got my critiques in. In cyberspace, there is no risk of having etching acid thrown at you for being a complete and total arse. Even so, in the end, it’s all about who views the piece and what they think of it.

Every form of art is subjective. What makes one trumpet player better than another? What makes my work nothing and Chris Sanders’ wonderful? It’s all personal preference. I love KhaosDog’s artwork, and the article writer used Khaos’ most recent piece as a prime example of mediocre artwork. I don’t think it’s mediocre. Actually, I think it’s kinda great. Unfortunately, I don’t have some high profile blog to put that in. What’s worse is this TechCrunch writer is supposed to be writing about technology. DeviantART is an art site. At least if he would have picked something steampunky or tech related, he’d have some leg to stand on.

As hypocritical as it sounds, I guess everyone with access to the internet and a blog feel they have the right to be a critic.

Well, if I keep this up, I know I’ll at least make 50 books this year.

Books 35 and 36 were the 5th and 6th books in the Jack Sparrow books: The Age of Bronze and Silver. As much as I both do and don’t enjoy these books, I’m apparently destined to read them. I found Age of Bronze at a local Barnes & Nobel for a dollar new, and Silver used at Bookman for almost two dollars. In that order, even! Who am I to turn that away, huh? The series either is growing on me, or it’s getting better. The little notes when references to previous books are made still make me laugh a little too harshly, but they’re getting faster for me to get through. I read both books in two sittings.

My 37th book was Sarek. Yes, another Star Trek book. I’m thinking of changing my name to “Nyx No-I’m-Not-A-Trekkie Goldstone.” I keep getting ribbed by my friends for being so focused on the Vulcans. At least I’m not going stereotypical and going on about the Klingons, right? Of course, I’ve never done anything typical. Really… The Vulcans are far more fascinating to me than Klingons are. Though, I did geek out a bit while reading this and had to look Klingon words up to know what they were saying. I think I looked up 3 of them. I don’t remember now.

Speaking of geeking out… I confess. I picked up a new pet project when I read my first Star Trek book. While trying to figure out which books to read, I’ve noticed that not a single site has a complete list of books, nor what order they should be read in if you’re wanting to follow chronologically. I’m a big chronological person. I like to know histories and I like to understand references to previous events. I don’t plan on posting my progress until after I read a fair number of books, so it doesn’t look any stranger of a list then it already does. Yeah, that’s the other thing… So that I know exactly where it fits in the time line, the book won’t be added until I finish it. This is a long, long, LONG project in the works.

Go me, right? >.<

Just finished Spock’s World, my first attempt at Star Trek novels and the 34th book in my challenge. I’m glad I picked this book to explore this fandom with the written word. Since seeing the new movie, the entire concept of the Vulcan race intrigued me. Then, at the local public library, I found this book.

Every other chapter is a segment in Vulcan’s history, staring from the creation of the Milky Way galaxy and the white star that makes up Vulcan’s sun and bringing us “up to date” with the birth of Spock. Fascinating! With each jump in history, I learned a little bit about the Vulcan culture. Strange, coming from me, since I have little interest in very few human cultures (enough to get me by in my own, and a few that were just idle curiosities for me).

The main plot didn’t hold my interest too much. Will Vulcan secede from the Federation, or won’t it? Living with Trekkies, I already knew the answer. I think anyone who read this book already knew the answer before the question was asked. It was a nice tie-in with a season two episode of the original series, though. So, thus begins my newest obsession.

I’m only a few years behind the times, right?