Featured Band: Cavo

I'm a big fan of Cavo's music, and they're definitely one of the best hard rock bands out there. So, without further ado, here are some of my favorite Cavo songs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQQKcssHLvg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcaLJBxFr9Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ak28juqVWf0

Philosophy

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Dresden.

I find myself endlessly fascinated by the topic of philosophy, so I decided that, for my next few posts, I would do descriptions of the more popular philosophic belief systems. Keep in mind I'm not endorsing any of these viewpoints, just telling you a bit of information about them.

First up, a personal favorite: Solipsism.

Now, at the basic level, solipsism is fairly simple. It is the belief that nothing outside of your own minds can be trusted or confirmed as true. To put it even simpler, I cannot be sure that anything except my own thoughts exist. For all I know, the entirety of existence is just a construct I've dreamed up. Solipsism is a very unpopular form of philosophy, with an infinitesimally small amount of followers. However, it is well known, if only for its radical viewpoints.

Three main points of solipsism are:

1. The only knowledge that can ever be certain at all is my thinking. My thoughts are verifiable and true, but anything beyond that is completely unknown.
2. There isn't necessarily a link between purely mental constructs (thoughts) and purely physical ones (pain, hunger, the five senses, etc.) For all we know, we could be a brain in a vat, who is only experiencing these things through some sort of advanced technology we are unaware of.
3. The experience of a given person can only be certain to that specific person

To a true solipsist, other people aren't real. This does not mean they are unimportant or not to be cared about. As far as a solipsist is aware, other people are just background ideas that their brain has crafted for some ineffable purpose. However, their conscience is, according to solipsism, quite real, and going against causes verifiable mental anguish.

Many people find the ideas behind solipsism to be depressing, but some espouse it as a freeing ideal. If nothing exists besides yourself, then there isn't a real need to worry about external conflicts. However, the positive or negative effects of solipsism on the human brain aren't my concern. That, my dear readers, is for you to think about.

I hope you've enjoyed this, leave a comment if you have a particular philosophic view point you'd like me to research and report back on.

Game Releases

Hello, ladies and gents, this is Dresden.

Seems we've finally hit the tail end of the summer game rush. The month of July seems pretty skint on releases. August too, is looking pretty empty. Really, the only releases of note in these two months is the NCAA game, the new Madden, and Sniper 2. None of which am I chomping at the bit to get at. However, September will pick right back up, with the release of Far Cry 3 and Borderlands 2, both highly anticipated sequels.


Here's a link to the first Borderlands Game of the Year Edition, if anyone wants to check out the original before thinking about playing the sequel.
Take-Two 39982 Borderlands GOTY X360 Video Game

Source: www.VGReleases.com

As always, this is Dresden, signing off.

P.S. To those of you are historically inclined, did you know that July was named after Julius Caesar, and that August was named after Emperor Augustus, his adopted son? I love history.

Shift

Hello ladies and gents, this is Dresden.

Cold Nights is currently in rewrites. For the foreseeable future. So, I figured that if I was going to keep posting literature, I'd better switch stories. This is Shift, an urban fantasy story I've been working on. I hope you guys enjoy it, the link is to the first chapter. It's rated Mature because of the violence, which is occasionally intense.

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/Dresden/1002874/

Any feedback would be appreciated.

Game with The Wolf crew.

A few of our writers, and the owner of the blog, like to play Battlefield 3 together. If any of you readers would be interested on playing with us over Xbox Live, please leave a comment saying that you're interested.

Octane's Big Uns

Here's the latest list of the top 15 hard rock songs on Octane:

15. Godsmack – “Rocky Mountain Way”
14. Nonpoint – “I Said It”
13. Art of Dying – “Sorry”
12. Baroness – “Take My Bones Away”
11. Five Finger Death Punch – “Coming Down”
10. Emphatic – “Put Down the Drink”
9. Otherwise – “Full Circle”
8. Adelitas Way – “Criticize”
7. Stellar Revival
6. Chevelle – “Hats Off to the Bull”
5. P.O.D. – “Lost in Forever”
4. Thousand Foot Krutch – “Let the Sparks Fly”
3. Evans Blue – “Halo”
2. Rains – “Pressure”
1. Linkin Park – “Burn It Down

Dresden's Shows

I like good TV. I feel that the best-written shows can be just as good at telling a story as a good book can be. With that sentiment in mind, I decided to review a show that was recommended to me by the fine articles of TV Tropes.

Sherlock is aired on the BBC Network and was written by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss. It sets classic Sherlock Holmes stories in a modern day time period, keeping the original plot alive, while also modernizing the brilliance of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle to this generation. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the eponymous Sherlock and Martin Freeman as Dr. John Watson, Sherlock has been met with near-universal acclaim, winning several awards.

Okay. The first thing that we need to get out of the way is that, yes, the writers of the show do make a few changes to the classic Holmes stories. However, these changes are done so beautifully as to impress even the crustiest of Holmes purists. Cumberbatch and Freeman are magnificent in their roles, delivering performances that range from heart-wrenching to side-splitting.

I was skeptical at first of the advisability of setting Sherlock Holmes stories in the modern day, but the concept is pulled off beautifully, and each ninety-minute episode is a masterpiece of storytelling. Each season consists of three hour and a half episodes, and two so far have been released, with a third season already greenlit.

I would recommend this brilliant series to fans of classic Holmes and newcomers alike. The acting is top-notch, the writing is downright unbelievable, and the fine layer of nostalgia sprinkled over the top combines to make a show I'd recommend everyone watch at least once.

Final Score: 9/10. Really, the only reason I couldn't justify giving this show a 10/10 is its brevity. Three ninety minute episodes a season is really just not enough Holmes.

As a side note, does anyone know the point when British television suddenly became awesome?

The Book Store

Hello, ladies and gentlemen, this is Dresden, for The Book Store.

I'm aware that it has indeed been awhile since there was any new activity on this blog, but I felt it was high time to change that. In this edition of The Book Store, I'll review one of my new favorites, Johannes Cabal the Necromancer, by Johnathan L. Howard.

I myself am a huge fan of TV Tropes. Any Tropers who may be reading this, keep in mind that TV Tropes will ruin your life. But, I'm getting off topic. I found this book on one of my frequent Trope binges, and just from the title alone, thought it looked interesting. I was soon proved wrong. This book was not only interesting, it was enthralling. Set against the backdrop of a Steampunk world, the dry wit and fatalism of the eponymous character is especially entertaining. Every twist and turn of the plot had me reeling.

The story starts with our... protagonist... Cabal entering hell to have a chat with Satan. It's revealed rather early on that Cabal once sold his soul to the devil in return for understanding the secrets of Necromancy. However, he has come to realize that the fruits of his labors would be pointless without a soul to enjoy them with. Therefore, he has come to hell in order to strike a new bargain with the Father of Lies. Satan agrees to a wager: if Cabal can, with the assistance of several demonic helpers and powers, deliver one hundred freely-given souls to Satan within one year, he will win back his.

I loved this book. I even got the sequel, and plan to keep reading the series as long as Howard continues to write novels in it. The main character is a cold hearted, manipulative, and all-around emotionless and inhuman bastard, but he is written so cleverly and appealingly, that one cannot help but root for him to succeed. I would recommend any fan of Fantasy to pick up this book. Likewise, any fan of clever wit and sarcasm. Or any fan of the printed word. Basically, I'm telling you to go buy this book. Just... go buy it. Right now.

Final Score: 9.5/10 The only negative thing I can really say is that much of the cast, apart from the main character, seemed disposable, and a bit two dimensional. The superb dialogue and writing makes up for it, for sure, but you'll hard-pressed to remember the names behind the wit.

The Book Store

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Dresden for The Book Store.

Nice to see you all again, in a metaphorical sense at least. So, I figure that, since I've done positive reviews in the past, it's high time I do a negative review for you fine patrons of literature. I think I'm just fooling myself on that score. In any case, this time I'll be reviewing For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway.

Okay, first off, let me summarize the entirety of my feelings for this book in one sound: Auuuughhhhbleeeeggghhhh. This novel was a legitimate chore to read. The literary style was not only poorly conceived, it was next to impossible to comprehend. This may be just my failing as a reader, but honestly, I think it's more of the fault of the author. Everyone is stated directly, all dialogue, all narration is completely lacking in subtlety. Until of course it goes from dry intonation to completely impenetrable abstract nonsense.

I'm not going to even bother to touch the plot because, in some sick way, I have a modicum of respect for it. I honestly believe that if a different author had written the story of this plot it would have been downright fascinating.

All in all, I absolutely despised For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Review Score: 3/10 It's only that high because apparently the entire populace of America besides myself adores this novel, for whatever inconceivable reason.

As always, my friends, stay reading. This is Dresden, signing off.

Cold Nights Chapter Five

Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Dresden.

Here's Chapter Five of my short story Cold Nights. I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter Five

And, as always, stay reading my friends. This is Dresden, signing off.

Lonewolf's Thanks!

Thank you to all the followers and views, we have hit 2000 views as of this morning!

Sincerely,
The Wolf: News and Reviews

Political Minute: Political Humour

“’The Hunger Games’ is opening this weekend. The movie is based on the books where people are chosen in a lottery to compete in a televised battle to the death. Why can't we do this to the Republican primaries? Wouldn't that be great?” –Jay Leno

“Mitt Romney got a big endorsement this week. The bad news: It was from Etch A Sketch.” –Jay Leno

 

“Did you see the story about the mother duck and her ducklings helped through a a fence at the White House property? The Secret Service pushed the little ducks through the fence. Of course, the Secret Service checked to make sure the ducks had donated enough money to President Obama's re-election campaign.” –Jay Leno

 

“Jeb Bush has come out and endorsed Mitt Romney. He said it was the hardest decision he's had to make since endorsing his brother, George W.” –Jay Leno

“Newt Gingrich today said he’s jealous because the only tool he ever gets compared to is a dildo.” –Bill Maher on Mitt Romney being compared to an Etch-A-Sketch

"Rick Santorum said he’s not an Etch-A-Sketch. He said what you see is what you get, and also because turning the two knobs is a little too much like playing with boobies.” –Bill Maher

"Then he held up the Etch-A-Sketch and Sarah Palin said, 'Hey, give me back my iPad.'” –Bill Maher

“This law they have in Florida, this “stand your ground’ law where you can use can use any amount of force if you think there is some amount of perceived threat; good thing they don’t’ have that here because my lawn would be littered with Jehovah’s Witnesses.” –Bill Maher

“New Rule: Now that John Boehner has cried while listening to traditional Irish music at the St. Patrick's Day luncheon it's not funny anymore. Seriously, John, tell us: where did the priest touch you? Show me on the doll.” –Bill Maher

“At the White House this week, President Obama and the first lady hosted a St. Patrick’s Day reception for the Irish prime minister. They had a bartender pouring green beer, which is about as close as the White House has come to creating green jobs so far.” –Jay Leno

“The candidates are choosing their Secret Service code names. Why do they tell us? You’d think that should be secret.” –Jay Leno

“Mitt Romney picked ‘Javelin’ as his Secret Service code name. Rick Santorum chose ‘Petris’ because that’s his grandfather’s name. Barack Obama chose ‘Gas prices are not my fault.’” –Jay Leno

“Yesterday was a crazy day for Tim Tebow. They said he was with the Jets, then they said there was a snag, he might not be. Then they said he could go with the Rams or with the Jaguars. The last two days he's been traded back and forth more than Rod Blagojevich on that first night in prison.” –Jay Leno

“There are reports that John Edwards visited a brothel here in New York while running for president and paid with campaign funds. Do you realize what this could do to his reputation? Absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing to that man’s reputation.” –Jimmy Fallon

"Rick Santorum wants to ban pornography. That's one of the few thriving industries America has left." –David Letterman

"This weekend President Obama will visit the border that separates North and South Korea. Not to be outdone, Newt Gingrich will visit the border that separates the KFC from the Taco Bell." –Jimmy Fallon

"President Obama is calling on Iran to give its citizens better access to the Internet. Right now they only have one social networking site: 'Cover-Your-Face Book.'" –Jimmy Fallon

When I heard the Republicans were in President Obama's home state, I said, 'They're holding a primary in Kenya?'" –Craig Ferguson

"Some top Republicans are urging Newt Gingrich to leave the race, but he says he's sticking around. If they could get him to marry the race, he would probably leave it eventually." –Jimmy Kimmel

“This Wednesday Mitt Romney goes one-on-one in a debate against the one man who stands in the way of his nomination: Mitt Romney." –Jimmy Kimmel

"Last week a tourist in Puerto Rico took a picture of Rick Santorum shirtless on the beach. I don’t want to say he looked chubby, but his new Secret Service code name is 'Newt Gingrich.'" –Jimmy Fallon

"According to a new book, President Obama blames Fox News for his political problems and losing voters. How could Fox News lose voters? If you're watching Fox News, you're probably not voting for him in the first place." –Jay Leno