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-Penny quote: "Thank you, sir, for saving me."-

Had a dream I was with a group of refugees (how unusual! NOT) that were about to be wiped out by some kind of disaster, possibly a meteor. There existed a tree in this weird, weird world that could potentially save us, but the person who tended the tree would die. After much agonizing thought, we decided that we would allow the person (who had volunteered for the task) to sacrifice himself for the possible good of everyone else in our little band. However, when we went to the mall(!) to buy the tree, they were sold out. People ignorant of the tree's power were using it for decoration.

There's a message about consumerism there. I'm not precisely sure what it is, though.

A thought to chew on, partially sparked by a forum discussion. Why do people (especially parents) prod introverted people into spending more time with others than they normally would because "socializing is healthy"? I understand that often healthy things aren't enjoyable -- vegetables -- but wouldn't this fall under the category of emotional health? As in, if you're content with life, that would be emotionally healthy?

So how is forcing introverts out into the babbling world more often supposed to be healthy? Beneficial in other ways, perhaps, in that they get to know people that can later help them out. But how is it a matter of health? Extroverts almost seem to have this impression that if you leave an introvert unsocialized, it's like failing to socialize a dog. They might bite someone!

Of course introverts are socially awkward. It's because we don't like seemingly pointless small talk or large groups or spending too long without being able to sit and think. We're uncomfortable. But introversion isn't like a bad habit that we can kick with enough practice in social situations, though we may get better at acting like extroverts on the outside. Introverted is what we are. It's how we process data, for goodness' sakes! And you better be glad we do it that way, because though we're only about a third of the total population, we comprise 60% of the gifted population. Extroverts would still be smashing flints together if it weren't for us.

Don't get me wrong. We need extroverts. I like extroverts. They make connections in the hive mind of humanity that we all rely on, and they're usually fun, bubbly people to be around, in small quantities. It's just that sometimes I get tired of them trying to convert me.

Reality check. Of course, being online, I'm kind of preaching to the choir. Have fun with this Google Trends graph.

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-Scotch tape quote: "Photo-safe determined in accordance with ISO Standard 14523"-

Had a dream involving getting chemical burns this week. Can't feel pain in dreams? Ha!

As I discovered last week, you can bring a plant on a plane! I was quite surprised that the thing went through security without a hitch, not to mention the fact that the flight attendants didn't seem to mind when I held it on my lap instead of stowing it beneath the seat in front of me.

So far, the little African violet seems no worse for the wear, despite having been yanked from its (very lush and moist) greenhouse, taken on a hot 6-hour car ride, plunked in front of a south-facing window, taken on another car ride to the airport, sent through an x-ray machine, held on a plane (which is a much smoother ride than a car, at least), and finally driven to its permanent home, where it is currently gracing the kitchen table.

I decided that this African violet wouldn't get a name until I was sure that it would actually make it to that kitchen table. Well, it has survived, so I suppose I need to cook up a name. My brother suggests that I give it an ironic name such as Saruman (reader: this is a tiny miniature violet with white flowers blushed pink and light, variegated leaves. I picked it because it looks almost ghostly, like it was beamed down from the moon).

While I think a Lord of the Rings name is a little passé at this point in time, I think I will pick an ironic name, just for the laughs. The question is, what ironic name shall I give it?

Reality check. Spike? Richard? Thor?

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-tvtropes.com quote: "Tropes are devices and conventions that a writer can reasonably rely on as being present in the audience members' minds and expectations."-

I tend to have more interesting dreams when I'm off visiting family. I think it's because I make the decision not to spend the valuable time checking email or really doing anything on the computer, and I have less stress (and deeper sleep) as a result. Anyway, while visiting the southern GDDoD contingent, I had a dream in which I set out to vanquish a dragon with the help of a wizard and his wife who lived in a trailer. The wizard reminded me, oddly, of Telemain. Even though he's not a wizard.*

You know a sci-fi power that would be more frightening than telepathy? Precognition. By this, I mean a practical precognition, where the person sees what is going to happen to him before it does, continuously.

"Remembering" things even a minute before they happen would make the person foolish to even imagine he had free will -- if he had the free will to imagine (or not) as he chose. Yet the only thing that gives us this concept is that one minute that isn't shifted to the future. One minute of memory after what we already have, and the philosophy of free will is out like a light.

Even odder is the thought that these precognitive people could, theoretically, exist among us --trapped by their own memories into not speaking a word of their talent. Indeed, even people with their entire memories flopped upside-down could exist. Though their experience living time backwards would be alien to ours, it could also be completely undetectable.

Reality check. *I highly recommend the series in which he appears.

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-Magnetic Poetry quote: "ephemeral wood to book s"-

I have never before seen arrows that could be shot from crossbows four at a time yet look like blue-tipped matchsticks made of foam. Until last night, when I dreamed about them. Blue is an interesting color to pop up in my dreams... a dream analyst would say that my emotions are a roller coaster what with all the colors I've been seeing lately, but as far as I can tell, my emotions are as steady as ever.

I have a favor to ask of you, my readers. If you know any good ones, would you mind listing horror movies that actually engage the mind? It occurred to me yesterday that I have never seen a horror movie to which I have had the emotional reaction promised on the tin, and it's getting to the point where I think I never will.

When I see a movie others define as a "horror" movie, I end up analyzing what the director is doing and how the special-effects department might have done this scene or that. These movies have as part of their package that they don't spend too much time on character development (and it's so trope-ridden as to be describing no real people), so I couldn't care less whether they live, die, or are tortured beyond recognition. Especially since, once again, I know the actors aren't suffering beyond the discomfort of a great deal of makeup and stage blood.

The thing is, I have seen (very few) movies where I buy the story enough that the characters matter more than the actors. But never in a horror movie -- so the sting of it is gone.

Reality check. And what do people find so frightening about The Ring anyway?