Jump to content

JAG18

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    3,148

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    7

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by JAG18

  1. JAG18

    Best Songs of 2020

    By JAG18,

    Another year has come and gone, which means it is time to share my annual year-end songs list.  For obvious reasons things were different for music this year, but there were still plenty of great songs that were released and if you know anything about my taste in music then you can probably guess that none of those great songs made my list...but regardless these are my favorite songs from 2020 (links to the playlist on Spotify and Youtube at the end of post).
     
     
     
     
    #2. Confessional - Janet Devlin.  Since, number one isn't SFBZP, here my second favorite song of 2020.
     
    #11. The Baddest - K/DA; (G)I-DLE, Bea Miller Wolftyla.  No joke, in a year where I found myself drawn to a lot of dark and depressing music, K/DA provided the one bright spot of nothing, but fun and upbeat music. 
     
    #15. Knife Under My Pillow - Maggie Lindemann.  It only took four years, but Maggie Lindemann finally made I song I like; probably the biggest musical surprise of 2020 for me. 
     
    #29. Really Don't Know - Angie & Jenny.  A brand new pop duo from France are (along with Babyqueen) my pick for new artist to watch out for in the future.
     
    #33. No Rules - Meredith Bull.  Like I said, in a year full of dark, brooding, angsty, downer, and depressing songs this is one of the few happy and fun ones that made my list. 
     
    #54. Skindeepskyhighheartwide - Lawrence Rothman feat. Pale Waves.  I only saw two movies that came out in 2020 and one of them was "The Turning" and I hated it, but two songs off the soundtrack made this list.
     
    #75. Millennia - Luna Shadows.  Luna Shadows, Magdalena Bay and especially Ava Max, were the artists I've listened to before that I come to appreciate and enjoy even more this year. 
     
    #99. Adrenaline - PRXZM.  For whatever reason, EDM didn't do as well on my list compared to years past, by here a song I enjoyed a lot.
     
    JAG's Favorite Songs of 2020 Playlist:
    Spotify - Youtube
  2. JAG18

    Song For The Moment Right Now

    By JAG18,


    Real Life
    (Some lyrics aren't safe for BZP, so instead of a youtube video here's the album art instead.)
    I'm too sad to cry, too high to get up
    Don't even try ’cause I'm scared to mess up
    Don't like to talk, I just lay in my bed
    Don't even try to go out with my friends
    Lied to my doctor, she knew I was fakin'
    Gave me some pills, but I'm too scared to take 'em
    I try and I try, but I'm too sad to cry
     
  3. JAG18

    Law Bringer Teaser #2

    By JAG18,


    Real Life
    I know it has only been a week since I posted a teaser here and a 1,500 word lore dump isn't the best way to drum up interest in a new Sci-Fi IP, but I felt compelled to write this yesterday and while I've shared pieces of the following on other sites I haven't done so here yet.  Like all my creative works, make of this what you will. 
     
    In the mid-40th century, humanity had achieved what many informed observers considered the highest level of civilization ever seen.  Hundreds of worlds in dozens of galaxies were colonized, new technologies were easing the hardships of existence, and for most people times were good.  Obviously, times were better for some like the industrialists of Wakile or the elite of Oyoheri Prime especially when compared to the rough living of the farmers of Mye-Othol or the inhabitants of war torn Iterlop.  Potential troubles and problems still abound from renegade asteroids threatening to wipe out all life on entire planets, to widespread crime in the faraway parts of the universe, to the plight of the explorers pushing the edges of the map and encountering terrors beyond civilized space.  Regardless of such inequalities and problems, overall the spirit of the age was optimistic.  And this prosperity was due in no small part to one group: The Order of The Law Bringers.
    Founded in 3,455 A.D. by the greatest heroes of that century brought together by the legendary vigilante hero Ionnes Acanthio, for centuries The Law Bringers maintained peace and carried out justice across the known universe serving as security for rich and poor alike and never turning their backs on those in need.
    Unfortunately by this time, prestige, power, and complacency transformed The Law Bringers into something else.  Agents prioritized helping people who would increase their fame and wealth over the needs of the average citizen and several officers abused their positions and acted as vile as the criminals they swore to oppose.  By the 3,940’s, the people of the universe had come to hate and despise their protectors, although The Law Bringer’s leaders chose to downplay and ignore this change.  The Order could have fallen on hard times even if it hadn’t been for the single-minded crusade of one man: Nicholas Caldwell. 
    A middle-aged business man whose insane wealth had sketchy origins, around this time Caldwell put his massive resources towards the destruction of The Law Bringers.  He funded media that attacked The Order at every turn and spewed a steady stream of anti-Law Bringer rhetoric to anyone listening.  True, much of it consisted of lies and blatant propaganda, but legitimate misbehavior on the part of agents such as Captain Gripus made it possible for the average person to believe the universe would be better off without The Law Bringers.  He also lobbied the governments of the universe to pass laws limiting or outright banning The Order from operating in their territories.  At the time, the officers of Law Bringer High Command laughed at the idea of a “petty demagogue” tearing down an organization that had stood for five centuries.  What they couldn’t so easily dismiss however were their so-called replacements.  Most planet leaders were unwilling to risk calling up their militias to remove The Order from their lands and thus as an alternative Caldwell built the largest private army in existence The Justice Brigade.  All he asked for was the approval of states and his army would disband The Law Bringers and take up their duties.  By whatever means necessary. 
    In 3,951, this finally happened when the president of Oyoheri (the greatest and most powerful of all human nations) signed The Official Security Act, effectively outlawing the Law Bringers and enshrining The Justice Brigade as the nation’s new primary policing organization.  The Order declared they would resist the act and their defiance gave Caldwell the opportunity for violence he wanted.  So it was that October 13 would be remembered as the darkest day in The Order’s history the day of The Sacking of Tobe.   
    On the planet of Tobe rested The Law Bringers’ largest academy from where the training of thousands of agents including future officers was overseen.  With the help of the disillusioned Law Bringer Brutus Eskarus, The Justice Brigade sacked the academy, killing thousands of agents and cadets and burning their magnificent buildings to the ground.  Caldwell hoped this would be the first of many massacres of Law Bringers, but he couldn’t have imagined the tenacity of journalist Suzi Vi who was present for and survived the sacking.  The official narrative pushed by Caldwell’s lackeys accused The Order of stockpiling weapons to stage a coup against the Oyoheri government, but Suzi’s footage destroyed this idea.  Her reporting and especially the images of supposedly noble Justice Brigadiers, slaughtering thousands of cadets ages fifteen-nineteen, as well as hundreds of unarmed agents after they surrendered, and desecrating the academy grounds turned the tide of public opinion against Caldwell.  Even though more massacres followed the sacking, it was clear to anyone watching that no one wanted The Justice Brigade to replace The Law Bringers.  In response, the government hastily passed a series of acts, which established an official Security Corps and The Justice Brigade would disband a few years later. 
    The Order had suffered a serious blow, but not one they couldn’t recover from, but Caldwell wanted to be sure they would not and he set in motion the next phase of his war on The Law Bringers.  Unable to use his private army to kill agents, Caldwell instead outsourced the task by placing huge bounties on the heads of any Law Bringer foolish enough to step foot on an Oyoheri planet.  Thousands of bounty hunters rose up to meet the demand including long time veterans (some of whom in the past worked alongside Law Bringers) as well as newer daring rookies hoping to buy their own planet by the age of twenty-five.  The resulting violence is remembered as The Shadow War and the results were brutal.  Order agents daring to operate in Oyoheri risked walking into deadly ambushes, although not doing so would mean abandoning their mission to protect the innocent.  Combined with the loss of much of their funding (most of The Law Bringer’s financiers abandoned The Order in the face of bans or died under mysterious circumstances) these agents operated with limited resources, poor leadership, and in the face of hostility from locals.  The Order organized teams to avenge their fallen brethren by tracking down their murderers and bringing them to justice, but soon enough, some Law Bringers acted more out of a desire for revenge than true justice.  The most extreme example being Major Bitucus Bassus who formed a squad of like-minded agents and even non-Law Bringers to take the fight to the hunters.  Eventually, it devolved into a band of marauders and The Order was forced to send a special task force to stop him. 
    By this point, the universe had had enough of the constant fighting between Law Bringers and bounty hunters, as it often led to bystanders being harmed or even killed.  This problem was exasperated by the fact certain hunters committing outrageous crimes and atrocities to draw Law Bringers out of hiding.  Thus, with his bloodlust finally sated, Caldwell lifted the bounties and ten years after The Sacking of Tobe, was content to believe his blow to The Order was fatal. 
    On some planets Law Bringers were allowed to continue their work, such as on Riqura, which was ruled by Queen Izebel Ezkira who as a young girl lost her family to anarchists and had it not been for the intervention of The Law Bringers she would have been killed as well and her country left in ruins.  Out of gratitude, she refused to comply with The Act and instead turned her planet into a safe haven for agents.  Other localities behaved similarly and despite Caldwell’s insistence, the government refused to crack down on local rule what with The Secession Crisis of ’44 being too recent a memory.  Despite these signs of hope the situation for The Order looked bleak.  Gendarmes, The Order’s battle-hardened elite force, swore to fight for was right to the end and many fought and died this way during this time, but most agents had families to support and a mass exodus occurred of lower ranking Law Bringers.  Some retired early while others joined The Security Corps, or migrated outside of Oyoheri to serve The Order on planets less hostile to them.  Their numbers dwindling, their image destroyed, and recruiting efforts stifled, the end of The Order in Oyoheri would certainly come sooner rather than later. 
    But the time for change is now and destiny is calling.  On the small planet of Aheju, in The Borderlands (the crossroads of the major nations of the universe) a young man has been given the chance to rekindle his lost dream and change history forever.  As a boy growing up in the shadow of a Law Bringer base, this young man idolized the heroes and wanted to be just like them, but events beyond his control prevented this and he remembers the day The Order left his town as the worst of his life.  Twenty years after The Sacking of Tobe, after spending years working for Law Bringer knock-offs created to fill the void left by the incompetent Security Corps, he has been given the opportunity to take up the mantle of Law Bringer and finally fulfill his dream by resurrecting The Law Bringers. 
     
    To be continued in Law Bringer: The Return. 
     
  4. JAG18

    And We're Back Baby!

    By JAG18,

    Thanks to the great generosity of Bfahome this blog has returned from the ashes (for a little while anyway).
     
    Expect entries about the same inane things I used to blog about (mostly music and uh...stuff) shortly!
     
    Until then, bye!
  5. JAG18

    The Horror of The Baterra

    By JAG18,


    Bionicle
    Remember the Baterra from the 2009 storyline?  Have you ever asked yourself, "What if they were horror movie villains?"

    Quick refresher (long one at BS01), the Baterra were a group of shapeshifting robots created by The Great Beings to end The Core War...by killing anyone holding a weapon because I guess The Great Beings get their morals from "Chappie".  After the war they did a number on the remaining Skrall on Bara Magna and forced them to move south and become the villains of the 2009 storyline.  The Baterra following the Skrall south was a minor plot point of '09.   
    I'm wracking my brain to remember what it was like in 2009 (which was somehow 14 years ago) when the Baterra were introduced.  I remember Greg hinting at them in answers saying the Skrall were running from something else, which was honestly good hype.  I can't remember how we found out about their origin and purpose, but I know it was before "Yesterday Quest".  Either way, in late 2009 the robots appeared briefly in the Skrall serial and the next year in the really cool graphic novel "Legends of Bara Magna".  (Side note, does anyone remember the effort the community made to get as many people as possible to preorder that comic because Greg said we might not get anymore if doesn't sell well?  Good times.) 
     
    Both of their minor story appearances highlight their potential as horror villains especially the forest ambush in the comic.  Imagining a horror movie with them is pretty easy I mean they're killer robots they can hide in plain sights and can get you before you even know they're there.  Think of the jump scare potential!  And the last thing we learn about them (outside of Greg quotes) is they refused to shut down after the war ended, which also screams horror.  
    Obviously the Baterra (or a Baterra-like robot/creature) would fit right into the slasher or monster genre.  Heck, a Baterra hunting people in a city would basically just be "The Terminator".  I'm bringing up that movie because the Baterra have another connection to that franchise. The second Terminator movie featured the T-1000 a robot made of liquid metal, which according to Greg is how the Baterra shapeshift.  
    Like many pages for things relevant to Bionicle's last years, the Baterra page is littered with small tidbits from Greg made since Bionicle's end.  The liquid metal info being one, which is nice although something I don't like as much is the Baterra being the inspiration for the Bohrok and also them being the same height as the little rolling guys from 2002.  I know I wasn't the only one who imagined the Baterra as tall and slender to be disappointed to learn that.  
    When the story ended the Baterra were on a collusion course with the newly united good guys.  I don't know if Greg would have used the Baterra if he had continued writing the serials, but in all honestly I can't see that going well.  Probably it would have been a minor conflict resolved in a couple of chapters so Greg could focus more on ideas he had more interest in.  The weapons of the Baterra, which slew hundreds of Skrall red shirts would be no match for our heroes' plot armor.  Sure, maybe a couple of minor characters like Trinuma or Vastus would die to build up the tension, but in the end Nuparu or some other tech guy would come up with a clever way to defeat the Baterra and finally put an end to a really cool footnote in the legend of the Bionicle.  
    But, I still want see to that horror story.
  6. JAG18

    Law Bringer Teaser #3

    By JAG18,


    Writing
    Is an actual short story in OTC. 
    I don't think I have anything else to say.  This is my first time sharing something from the project I've been working on for about six years now (I wrote this story last April) and what better place to share it than BZP?  Read it if you want, upvote, like, reply in the topic whatever.
    Also, this story is a slightly censored version.  The violence in the original isn't that much worse, but I didn't want to risk breaking any rules.  That's partly why I probably won't post another "Law Bringer" story here on BZP so if you want more you'll have to wait until I launch the official "Law Bringer" site, which hopefully will be later this year (fingers cross) and of course I'll drop a link to that when the time comes. 
     
  7. JAG18

    Ask Me Anything

    By JAG18,


    AMA
    It's been almost five years since I did one of these and the last time I did one I opened it with a cringey joke.  Either way, I want to post here (before my ten year anniversary next month) and this is all I could come up with so ask away.  
    Or don't, it's a free website. 
    But I hope you do because it's kind of the point.
     
  8. JAG18

    Music Questionnaire #4

    By JAG18,


    Music
    I haven't done one of these in awhile mostly because I don't visit this site that often anymore, but also because I only have four of these and I've covered three of them already in this blog (find them all here).  The three I've already covered I found circa 2011 and had a lot of fun with them in high school, but this new one I found years later (maybe 2016) on deviantart from user Amei-San.  It is a little longer than the others (25 questions) so if time or playlist size is an issue keep that in mind.  Either way, since I haven't used this one much (or done any of these in awhile if we're being real) why not use my Favorite Songs of 2021 Playlist? 
     
    The Fourth Music Quiz: 

     
    1. If someone stole your favorite item, what would you yell out of anger?
    “Cry Little Sister” – CHVRCHES (OK, that is funny, not super appropriate, but funny)
    2. You trip and fall in front of your crush, they say:
    “The Very First Night (Taylor’s Version)” – Taylor Swift (No comment I guess?)
    3. A moment of disappointment hits you, what do you mutter?
    “Harshest Critic” – Alison Ponthier (Oof, that’s almost too perfect)
    4. If you could have anything in the world, what would it be?
    “Crash and Burn” – Maggie Lindemann (Well, that could actually happen so…)
    5. What's the best way to describe your closest friend?
    “Inferno” – Sub Urban; Bella Poarch (Hey a BIONICLE book title, not bad)
    6. Best movie of all time?
    “Love Took Her For a Ride” – Bella Goldwin (Sounds like a movie title, but not for a good movie)
    7. Best make-out spot to take someone?
    “brutal” – Olivia Rodrigo (No comment, next)
    8. A song that would play during a wicked torturing of your enemies?
    “Whatever It Takes” – Zyra (NO MERCY)
    9. A theme song that would play every time your parent(s) enter a room?
    “Nothing” – Jetty Bones (Not feeling it)
    10. You're walking home and you find 20 bucks, what you say?
    “Conman” – Shima; Sumire (Yes, this is very sussy)
    11. Your Theme song?
    “Player of Games” – Grimes (That’s funny if you remember I used to be active in Games and Trivia, but doesn’t really fit now)
    12. The end of the world is near, your reaction?
    “Everyone Is Disappointing” – ari hicks (Wow)
    13. A good song to kill to?
    “Creep” – carolesdaughter (Double wow)
    14. Someone broke your heart, what will you do now?
    “Flux” – Poppy (That is actually kind of fitting)
    15. Your make-out song?
    “virtual reality” – Renforshort (starting to get the feeling either the quiz or my playlist is trying to make me feel bad)
    16. You punch someone in the face, what do they cry out?
    “Burning Bridges” – Sigrid (No comment)
    17. A rock is thrown through your window with a note on it. It says?
    “IH8EVERY1” – Sarah Barrios (Yeah, I got the message)
    18. Someone compliments you on something, your reply?
    “Bonnie & Clyde” – YUQI (Meh)
    19. What does the world and everyone in it think of you?
    “I Don’t Wanna Be Touched” – Meredith Bull (By me?  Ow)
    20. An opening fight scene song?
    “All I Ever Wanted” – Claire Ridgely (Meh)
    21. If you were one of the 7 deadly sins... which would you be?
    “Rumors” – Maria Domark (The odds of it being one of the actually sins was pretty low I think)
    22. Your favorite bedtime story?
    “Build A @#$%&” – Bella Poarch (No comment, but dang it now I got censor this)
    23. The song you'll make your husband/wife dance to when you get married?
    “I Just Needed You” – Pale Waves (OK, not bad)
    24. You and a friend are trapped on an island, how will you decide leadership?
    “Time Of My Life” – UPSAHL  (What?)
    25. How will people remember you when you're dead and gone?
    “Ghost In Me” – Darla Jade (It fits, but I don’t think it should)
    Favorites: 1, 6, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19
     
  9. JAG18

    The Day Is Finally Here

    By JAG18,


    Writing
    I can't believe it's been over a year since I first teased "Law Bringer" on this blog.  Of course, I've been working on it for much longer than that, but today is the day I get to share it with the world.
    Where does this story start?  With the kid who used to write knockoff as well as actual bionicle fan fiction?  Or the young man who rediscovered an old hobby and stumbled upon a story that eventually grew into something he had to share with at least someone.  
    Whether you liked the story I published in OTC*, or any of the teasers in this blog, or think it has potential (or think I have potential) you can follow me on my journey here.  Or if you'd rather listen instead "Law Bringer" is also on Youtube.  Obviously Bionicle is still an influence on my writing and you can expect some references to sneak in, but even if you just like fast-paced sci-fi action adventure stories than maybe spare a glance at my work.
    Either way, I'm happy this day is finally here and wish me luck! 
     
    *Actually, the short story I posted there is a slightly censored version so if you want to read the official version keep on eye on that space for it. 
  10. JAG18
    I don't know how anyone would know this, but I adore and collect stuffed animals and have for as long as I can remember.

    Might as well start with the OGs.  Left-to-right: Gram Paul "Uncle Grandpa" Penguin, everyone's favorite old man who's gotten up in years and now needs a wheelchair.   His son Fat Penguin (named long ago in a different time and place) who's probably the favorite animal I own.  He's got a wife and five kids, but we don't need to talk about them right now.  Glacier the walking ticking time bomb who likes to throw is little brother.  Said little brother Iceberg who's a kleptomaniac and who only has one foot, but everyone swears he lost before his brother threw him.  And finally their Italian cousin Gelato who's catchphrase is, "You guys are mean!"  He gets to say it a lot around this lot.

    A small sample of all my bears, the largest species in my collection.  Rapid fire family left-to-right:
    Germania Kirk: got his name from when me and my sister played "Star Trek", but afterwards we couldn't stop calling him Kirk.  Is a preacher and married to...
    Maple: The Canadian bear.
    Dimples: their son who was the first bear baby in the world and is now a doctor.  Everyone used to call him baby boy because he was the first.
    Erin Erwin: the Irish ice cream man.
    Millennium: Erin's wife and the undisputed best chef in the land.
    Nikki: their daughter and now married to Dimples, hence...
    Baby Boy: Dimples and Nikki's son who has his dad's old nickname.  His catchphrase is "Ta da", which he is also sometimes called.
    Not shown are the two Erwin family boys, Cuddly and Winnie.  They moved away awhile ago and are living their best single life with their friend Curly.
    Spangle and Brittany: I think I forgot their last name.  Spangle used to be a superhero (Spangle Boy!), but now I think he just sits in his pajamas all day.
    Caramel: their third kid and former cheerleader.  Somehow fell in life with...
    Sweeter: a gingerbread man and baker who can never match Millennium.
    Lindy "Lucky Lindy": their daughter who's actually a clone of her mother because you know bears and cookies can't.  Anyway, she's a bit of a trouble maker.

    For whatever reason, most of my and my sisters' stuffed animal collections consisted of bears and penguin to the point that are few other animals were given the kind of offensive term "nonie" (NON-ee).  Either way, the nonies' lot has improved over the years and Punxsutawney Phil has been the mayor for eight years or more.  His chief advisor is his cousin Phil (the one without the hat) and together they wisely govern the town's treasury (the chests).  The big monkey is their bodyguard Lazlo Khan and his little monkey son Bongo.  The hedgehog is Lothario (that means "the lover") advisor/jester.  The green thing is a recent gift from my sister that I don't know what to do with so I let him hang in the executive suite. 
    Also, Meltdown isn't there to hold the flag for them or anything he's just also on my desk and photobombed them.

    More recent additions now that I love referencing things.  Left-to-right (back row), Pabu the red panda, Greywind the dire wolf, Bosco the black bear, Gojira the spinosaurus, and 51 the alien.  (Front row) Bruce the shark, Lottie the axolotl and her son Verde. 
    I've just realized that my love for writing might have started with the stories and backgrounds I created around all these animals.  Either way, this is a small sample of my collection, I probably have a hundred more, but what I really want to do is create some kind of archive of all of them with their names and histories to make sure I'll never forget.  Will I find time?  No idea, but this is a start I guess.
    -JAG
     
  11. JAG18

    Coming Soon

    By JAG18,


    Real Life
    Notes:
    By "coming soon" I'm speaking in relative terms.
    Yes, I know that's a Mass Effect skin by Todd McFarlane, but until "soon" gets closer I don't need to hire someone to make art for this yet.  In the meantime, I do need to say this out loud.  Or I guess write it out loud...you know what I mean.
    I'm pretty sure this site gave me my love of comic sans and some people I hang around now enable the habit so that's my reasoning behind the font choice. 
    Get ready. 
  12. JAG18

    Law Bringer Day 2

    By JAG18,


    Law Bringer
    Feature photo is the art for "Meet The Commander".  Above is art for "Meet V Squad".  
    When I sat down to write the first draft of this post a couple of weeks ago I wanted to write something ten times more depressing, angry, bitter, and cynical, but I decided I wanted this to be a happy day since I'm supposed to be celebrating so here's a happier post instead.
    Seven years ago today, I wrote a little story about four stereotypes (cowboy, ninja, killer robot, and ex-military guy) saving a (not very competent) vampire hunter from a horde of vampires.  The little piece grew into something much larger than I could have imagined and lead me down roads I also couldn't have imagined.  
    When I wrote last year's Law Bringer Day post I wrote that I'd be sharing "Law Bringer" with the world soon.  I didn't mean for "soon" to mean nine months, although technically I shared "Meet The Deserter" here in February.  Either way, I had further to go after that, but I reached the midpoint a couple of days ago when I posted "Meet The Commander".
    Now is the hardest part to remain positive with.  The part where I have to admit my greatest accomplishment after all this effort is a feeling of, "At least I did it."
    As for any future plans.  I'm set to finish posting Season 1 at the end of March (taking a couple of breaks to post spin-offs I've posted elsewhere, but not on the substack), which means I'll publish the entire thing together as my first book a month or two after.  
    I need to spit out the weird spin-off "Mors" next spring.  Like write it in a month and revise in another one level speed.  Then the fun begins.  I can work on my prequel, which needs to be ten times more depressing, angry, bitter, and cynical than anything I've ever written before.  As a bonus the social media content will create itself (wish I could say the same for Season 1), which might allow me to actually get an audience.  
    Hopefully, I'll be done with that in late 2024, then the real challenge comes.  I need to write the book that will decide the fate of all of "Law Bringer" forever, but I should stop planning past next year's Law Bringer Day.   
    I'll send off with a quote from Mr. Nightmare, "You'll never know how far you'll get unless you try." 
×
×
  • Create New...