Goal Post: A Winter of Break

Posted on February 21, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

I don’t feel like I was successful this week, but I was.  Only goals that I failed to accomplish were finishing the April blog posts and tinkering with ‘Phi Beta Files’.  To be fair, I’m only 1 away from that first goal and I tried started at the second one.  No idea what happened there beyond I had gone out to a bar with a friend beforehand.  The bartender had some experimental drinks that she wanted to try and I agreed to be a guinea pig.  Wasn’t drunk, but was buzzed to the point of mellowness.  Anyway . . .

All of that means I finished writing Darwin & the Joy Path.  It got pretty hairy at a few points due to some unexpected appointments.  Managed to slip in some writing between those to not fall too far behind.  Then, I used Wednesday to write an entire chapter, which I haven’t done in about 2 years.  Guess it wasn’t that hard because it was the final one and the final section was the 1.5 page foreshadowing for the next book.  I might have to go back to Darwin & the Fate Bracelet for some continuity questions, but I think having this item on a returning character could just be something they picked up over time.

The weather was decent enough that I had fun going out for a few Pokemon events last weekend.  I ended up being in the park longer than expected, but only because I ended up socializing.  Seems it had been weeks since most players hit the area due to the frigid temps and lingering piles of snow.  So, there was a lot catching up and discussing how things might work not weekend.  It’s the big end of season event, which spans the entire weekend with a lot of fun stuff to do.  This another reason why I was determined to finish Darwin & the Joy Path during this break.  Means I don’t have to go 3 weeks with only the closing chapter to do.

All writing basically stopped once my son came home for my half of the break.  We went to the zoo on Thursday, but it wasn’t a picture heavy outing.  Not that it wasn’t fun, but things are low key there during the winter.  My son was observing animals to see if any inspired him to make monsters for a future video game.  I’m trying to teach him my tricks for creature creation, which depends a lot on having animal knowledge.  It kept him off his phone for most of the trip too, which was interesting.  Think he figured out over 30 critters, but he isn’t sharing.

We aren’t having the a lazy break either.  Family visited yesterday and he has his own plans today.  Tomorrow is supposed to be when we get hit by another blizzard, which goes into Monday.  We bought food to make for when we’re stuck inside.  You can tell we are working around ‘big events’ to do our own things.  I still plan on preparing blog posts and outlining while he is designing monsters and trying to teach himself some basic computer coding.  There’s us watching shows together and video games.

Speaking of video games, I did buy the ‘Castlevania’ bundle only to be reminded how brutal the first game from the 80’s could be.  No cheats, easy way to farm lives, easy to find health, or enemies who stay dead.  I feel like the game is set to hard mode too because I don’t remember taking this much damage from one hit back in the day.  I think I can still reach the same place I usually failed.  My son got destroyed by the first level and decided he wasn’t into old games.  It’s going to be rough when I make an honest attempt.

Next week is going to be fairly crazy.  I’m scared to make any goals because of how things are looking.  It starts with a possible blizzard, which could give us a snow day.  Then, we go back to school/work while there are piles of snow around. Driving will be messy and all the kids are going to be thrown off.  Leading up to the Pokemon Go season finale will be nightly events, but the weather and roads might not allow for me to easily get to them.  It’s going to all end with the big event next weekend.  Last time I did one of those was in November and I ended up getting the bacterial infection over the course of that.  Needless to say, I’m a little nervous.

There’s a lot of other things going on too, which I can’t get into.  My son is doing better, but the Disney trip debacle still comes up with him asking why the person did it.  I have no answer and neither does the person.  Feels like much of my parenting time lately has been playing damage control for other people.  Tired of trying to explain the actions of others towards my son when I don’t even agree with them.  He knows I’m doing my best and trying to be the bigger person, especially since I can’t hide my exhaustion at having to do this over and over and over again.  Hopefully, I get a day off from this mess when we’re just hanging out between shovel outings.

Goals of the week?

  1. Spend time with son.
  2. Finish April blog posts.
  3. Shovel if blizzard hits.
  4. Work on ‘Phi Beta Files’ outlines.
  5. Play Pokemon Go as best I can with the weather.
  6. Stay warm.
  7. Get extra sleep.
  8. Puzzle time to relax.
  9. Go back to work.
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A Little More to the Left

Posted on February 20, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Princess Bride

Torturer– “I’ll get you to talk.”

Prisoner– “Never!”

T- “Your lips will flap when I start using these.”

P- “Don’t make me . . . They meeting at the docks tomorrow night at 9.”

T- “You won’t be laughing for long. Wait, did you just give me what I wanted?”

P- “Yes.”

T- “Talk about ruining my fun. Why?”

P- “Your tools look really like they could really hurt. That one doesn’t look clean and I don’t want an infection.”

T- “I dip them in the antibacterial liquid right before usage. I’m not a monster.”

P- “Oh, I thought that was an acid.”

T- “Never work with the stuff.  Makes too much of a mess and I hate the smell. Big risk of spilling it on myself.”

P- “That makes sense.”

T- “Soooo . . . I get paid by the hour, so I need to do something.”

P- “But I have nothing else to tell you.”

T- “There has to be something. Any weaknesses of your allies?”

P- “Nothing to speak of.  We could just hang out. I think there’s a boardgame in the cabinet over there.”

T- “It’s Monopoly, which I only use when I need to turn prisoners against each other.”

P- “I always wondered if that game was a torture device. Are they watching?”

T- “No. I need you to look exhausted and pained. Maybe I can give you a cut on the top of the foot and you can smear the blood on other parts.”

P- “Sure since you clean your tools.  What’s the feather for?”

T- “I need you to make some loud noises, so I’m just going to tickle you before making a cut.

P- “Please don’t.  Here’s another secret.  I have a fear of bald cupcakes.”

T- “You mean muffins?”

P- “Is that what they’re called?”

T- “Now I’m not sure who is being tortured.”

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Poetry Day: The Burning Lamb

Posted on February 19, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

(Not 100% certain where the title came from.  The poem is about people who live entirely for others.  Not the sacrificial types who help those in need.  It’s about those who are raised to put themselves second and never attempt to do anything other than support those around them.)

How does one live

Without a sense of self

Born and trained

To always do for others

Put those around you ahead

Leaving your own wants

Your own tender ambitions

Stored in a satchel that you always carry

And rarely opened to the light of day

Asking for one’s own benefit

Is met with criticism

Accusations of selfishness

Declarations that one must give

And never complain

Such an action is hated

For the ones at the bottom

Should never whine to those standing

Heavy upon their crumbling shoulders

Is there anyone who will sacrifice

For those that always give

And rarely receive what they truly want

A scrap of time to dream

A second to indulge the heart

And forget that their life

Is always lived for others

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Why Can Some Heroes Get Away With Torture?

Posted on February 18, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

The Punisher

It does seem to be a double-standard.  Villains torture people and they are rightfully hated by the audience.  Heroes do it to bad guys and most people shrug it off.  Touches on how humans can be okay with questionable actions if they are rationalized.  Killing bad guys is another example, but torture is even more extreme.  Yet, the latter is probably more common than the former.

For some clarification: One can say that putting any type of stress on a person to get information is torture.  The hero shooting a bad guy in a major joint for every ten seconds they don’t speak is an extreme example.  It’s along the lines of what we would normally think of being in this category.  Yet, Batman holding someone over the edge of a building or Punisher putting a gun to a thug’s head are also forms of torture.  People seem to gloss over this, which means our definitions differ.

Torture is when you inflict pain and/or suffering on someone as either a punishment or to get information.  Note that I made one word bold here.  You don’t have to cause physical pain to make it torture.  Inducing enough fear and anguish to have someone act against their own interests or give up information counts.  Heroes tend to go this route since authors might feel inflicting pain is going too far.  It’s rather strange since a physical wound takes less time to heal than mental ones.  So, one could easily see how Batman dropping a goon off a roof only to catch them will take longer to recover from than simply being punched in the face.

Still, it is strange how heroes can still get away with it, right?  No.  Why?

Humans will accept bad things when they happen to bad people.  It isn’t only villains getting killed or suffering some karmic backlash at the end.  All characters who are shown as ‘bad guys’ fall into a category where they are allowed to be tortured, killed, or put through just about anything.  We don’t usually realize this because we are raised on a pure ‘good vs evil’ concept.  Good guys always do what is right and win while bad guys always do bad things and get their comeuppance.  As long as nothing humanizes the villains to the point of pushing them even slightly towards good, we accept the heroes doing what would normally be unforgivable actions.

You also have anti-heroes who are allowed to get away with a lot.  Many would say that this label has to be put on a character as soon as they cross the line.  I keep mentioning Batman because I’ve seen him come up in ‘hero vs anti-hero’ debates.  Torture ends up being subjective for each reader because they have different lines before they would consider an action as such.  So, Batman dropping a goon off a building with a bungee attached would be seen as fine by some and torture by others.  Hence, some people will say he can do this with no damage to his hero reputation.

As you can see, this can get very messy and you might disagree with everything I’ve said here.  So, what do other people think about heroes torturing villains?

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Heroes of Windemere Profile: Fizzle

Posted on February 17, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

(Can’t do this series without Fizzle.)

Hair– Purple Scales
Eyes– Changes depending on mood
Race– Drite
Hometown– Visindor Forest
Career– Guardian of Visindor
Weapon(s) of Choice– Magic and Hallucinogenic Breath Weapon
Debut Book– Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero

Originally the guardian of Visindor Forest, Fizzle met Luke Callindor during the warrior’s first adventure.  He was already known to Selenia and her students, especially since he routinely appeared in the cafeteria to claim an apple pie.  Having learned Tradespeak from a child, Fizzle had some trouble explaining his thoughts, but he still became a vital member of Luke’s team during his time at Hamilton Military Academy.  To the surprise of everyone, the small dragon decided to hand over his duties to his cousin and follow his new friends on their adventures.

Fast, cunning, and powerful, Fizzle has proven to be a threat to the Baron’s agents, including the deadly Stephen Kernaghan.  His fierce loyalty to the champions has caused him to take the lead and challenge beings that are much stronger than himself.  Yet, Fizzle always has a trick in mind or simply attempts to make his enemies ‘go poof’ with a disintegration spell.  Outside of battle, his knowledge of magical creatures and lore is essential.  Although, he is easily confused when in cities, especially when he sees aspects of society that he can’t connect to something from the wild.

He is also the mascot for Do I Need to Use a Dragon?

Cover by Alison Hunt

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Torture in Fiction (Sensitive Topic)

Posted on February 16, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Minions!

I’m sure most people can think of a story where the heroes are captured and about to be tortured.  Sometimes they don’t escape in time, so pain gets inflicted.  I did that several times in my two series.  Didn’t even think twice though, which now strikes me as odd since torture is horrible.  Yet, it’s so common in fiction.

There are three reasons that I can think of for this:

  1. The villain is shown to be ruthless and evil.  Most people see torture as one of the worst things you can do, so it solidifies the villain’s reputation.  It’s makes cheering for them much more difficult because you have to rationalize these actions.  So, authors can do this later in a series if they feel like the villain is becoming more popular than the hero while still being evil.
  2. A hero who withstands torture gets a boost to their toughness.  Even if they were proven to be durable and strong before, the readers now see that they can hold up to extreme pain.  Think about how we feel about real soldiers who were captured, tortured, and survived without breaking.  They are rightfully called heroes and gain respect.  So, a watered down version of this happens for the hero.
  3. The opposite can happen as well if you want your hero to break or a supporting character to ‘betray’ without turning villain.  For the hero, you now have a recovery arc while they try to regain their courage.  It helps if they’ve become so strong and brave that you can’t reasonable write them losing.  Now, they’re back to the start.  With the supporting character, they may have already been seen as weaker, so them giving in to torture isn’t surprising.  It garners sympathy though and allows the villain to get an advantage without sacrificing another character.

So, there is definitely a use for torture in terms of story and character development.  It’s still a difficult tool to use because it can be triggering.  People who have trouble seeing others in pain might have a hard time with such scenes or turn off to the book entirely.  I think this makes the use of torture a gamble and should be considered very carefully before being added.  There are other ways to have a villain come off as evil without going this route.

As stated, I’ve used torture before in my books.  The champions in Legends of Windemere seemed to find themselves in such situations a lot.  Probably the roughest torture scene I wrote was with Luke Callindor, which made me feel gross afterwards.  I still stand by it because I needed him to go through a trauma for the rest of his story to make sense, but it’s rough.  Taught me that empathy for my characters could make such things tricky, so I had to turn it off for a bit.

So, what do other people think about the use of these scenes?  I know many won’t want to go near them, especially if you don’t like specific genres.

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World Hippo Day!

Posted on February 15, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Today is ‘World Hippo Day’.  I thought I would repost the one about the two types of hippo species.  Enjoy.

There are two types of hippopotamuses.  First, you have the common one that we tend to think of when we hear the name.  The one that is the top killer of humans in Africa and listed as vulnerable.  There are about 150,000 in the wild.  Then, you have the pygmy hippo, which is listed as endangered and doesn’t kill people.  There are about 3,000 in the wild.  So, what are the similarities and differences?

  1. Common hippos are large and fat with heads that are bigger compared to their bodies. Pygmy hippos are small with heads smaller compared to their bodies.
  2. Common hippos can run 29 mph while pygmies run 18-19 mph.
  3. Both are herbivores.
  4. Common has a bite force of 2000 pounds per square inch while pygmies have 1800 pounds per square inch.  Not bad for a much smaller animal.
  5. Common hippos have thick, fatty skin for protection while pygmy hippos have thin skin to keep cool.
  6. Pygmy hippos are antisocial and avoid attacking while common hippos live in groups and are violently territorial.
  7. Pygmy hippos can reproduce easily in captivity while common hippos have trouble.
  8. Common hippos have no real predators aside from humans while pygmy hippos are hunted by leopards and crocodiles.
  9. Pygmy hippos have shorter legs to help them move through rainforests.  Common hippos live in shallow rivers in the plains.
  10. Both species produce a sweat that acts as sunscreen and is antibacterial.
  11. Common hippos are polygamous while pygmy hippos are monogamous.
  12. Both have muscles that close their ears and nostrils when they dive.
  13. Pygmy hippos have a four-chambered stomach while common hippos have three chambers.
  14. Common hippos evolved from pygmy hippos.
  15. Both can hold their breath for 5 minutes.

Now for the pictures and videos:

Common Hippo

Common Hippo

Pygmy Hippo

Pygmy Hippo

 

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Goal Post: Determined To Make Progress

Posted on February 14, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

As expected, the week before winter break was challenging.  Only because everyone was getting more restless and tired as we got closer to the weekend.  It’s how it always goes at both work and home.  So, I am surprised that I accomplished anything, especially since tensions are still high from my son not going on his trip.  He’s doing better thanks to his friends, but the whole incident is still a source of frustration.

Last weekend, I was able to get a lot of April blog posts set up.  I’ have 4 to go and even came up with some for May, which involve art and mental health.  This might not sound like a major accomplishment, but I really couldn’t bring myself to do any writing because of my mindset.  Even after my son was here for two days, I didn’t have it in me to try to outline ‘Phi Beta Files’ much less write chapter sections.  Needed to make sure he was okay and keeping up with school since he had a bunch of tests.  We did the best we could with all of that.

It wasn’t until Thursday and Friday that I managed to open up Darwin & the Joy Path once more.  I got a section done though.  That leaves me with 10, which I could finish before my son comes home Wednesday night.  I’m still nervous about how the penultimate challenge takes place in one chapter and goes right into the final one without any pause between them.  Part of me feels it’s rushed, but I also know that there isn’t any logical delay to prevent Darwin and his friends from going right into the finale.  There’s nothing to discuss or plan.  So, it’s going to be a chaotic sprint through a barrage of enemies who have been converging on the area.  On the plus side, the sections I will get to over the weekend are easier to figure out.  Gives me time to think about the rest while I do a daily Pokemon Go outing.

I guess I’m lucky that I already caught what I wanted from the current Pokemon event.  I only have to go out for a bit this and tomorrow afternoon for a bit.  After the weekend, I have even less of an interest in going out more than once to do the daily stuff.  I might even be able to get 3 sections done on Monday and/or Tuesday.  I shouldn’t get too greedy, especially since I’m supposed to get together with a friend to hang out.  Really should reach out to him at some point to figure out a time and place.  Worse case scenario, I can write the final sections while my son does his own thing.

My main goal for winter break really is to finish writing Darwin & the Joy Path.  I want this project done before things get chaotic for the rest of the school year.  The weekend after break is a big Pokemon event too, so not having to juggle writing and participating in the season finale weekend would be nice.  I think I want to spend a few months outlining future ideas too.  ‘Phi Beta Files’ isn’t too far from completion and then I have to decide on the next series involving a group.  Keep looking at ‘Coven of the Gray’ only because I can’t remember the overall concept beyond ‘witches in Windemere’.

The temps are starting to rise, but not enough to rapidly melt the ice and snow.  I think some of it does melt, but freezes on the road overnight.  Makes me worried about driving around, so I’m being careful.  Hoping that my son and I can make a trip to the zoo like we normally do.  Winter trips there are fun because you have fewer guests and some of the exhibits are closed, so you move through faster.  Overall, it’s simply nice to get away with my son and spend the day chatting . . . Or me talking while he catches Pokemon or texts with his friends.  I’ll be happy if I get a grunt of acknowledgment, but at least we’re spending time together.

Winter break is always a downer anyway.  The weather is never nice or comfortable, so you can’t do much outside.  Inside activities are crowded if you can get into them in the first place.  That’s why it’s the perfect time to get home projects done, causally get together with friends, and simply recharge.  The next break isn’t until April 1st too, so it’s 5.5 weeks of school without a rest.  That stretch always wears on the students and teachers to the point where people are nearly dragging themselves to the finish line.  Really wish a federal holiday would be made in March.

So, what are the goals of the week?

  1. Rest during my break.
  2. Finish writing Darwin & the Joy Path before returning to work.
  3. Time with son during my half.
  4. Finish the April blog posts.
  5. Finish a Lego set.
  6. Start a puzzle.
  7. Tinker with ‘Phi Beta Files’.
  8. Make food at home more than bring in.
  9. Catch Pokemon to get fresh air.
  10. Buy ‘Castlevania Bundle’ for Nintendo Switch since it’s really cheap.
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Time to Heal

Posted on February 13, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

I’ve been staring at the screen for a while, but I wonder if anything has to be said in regards to healing.  We should all know that people need time to recover, including in fiction.  You don’t just bounce back after receiving damage.  Definitely learned that one personally last year.  So, what should be said?

Honestly, the only thing I can think of is that there are people out there who don’t let others heal.  In regards to physical injuries, they will wait until you appear functional or show the earliest signs of recovery.  Then, they start making demands.  Others won’t even wait that long and never stop with their stress-inducing manipulations.  It’s worse for mental injuries because these types won’t acknowledge that you’re suffering.  Yet, they’ll milk their own mental issues without hesitation.

I guess my point is to be the opposite of that.  Be caring if you sense that a relative, friend, or anyone in your circles is suffering.  Maybe a casual ‘are you okay?’ or helping in small ways when possible.  The person might not want others to know what they’re going through, but you can still show basic human kindness.  I’m glad I know more people who fall into this category than the previous one.

To connect this to fiction, you should have your heroes do the same.  Even a villain might be like this when one of their allies is sick or injured.  As long as it’s somewhat in their nature, it works.

Healing takes time.  Something as minor as a papercut doesn’t disappear in seconds.  So, a broken bone, virus, bacterial infection, depression, anxiety, grief, and everything else won’t vanish quickly either.  Give people the time they need and the positive energy, which can speed up the process.  Having doctors who joked around, smiled, and made me feel comfortable did more than I realized at the time last year.  Friends texting to chat and visiting me in the hospital too.  Just keep all of this in mind.

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Poetry Day: The Banshee Bash

Posted on February 12, 2026 by Charles Yallowitz

Banshee

(Just a fun poem about spooky stuff.  A wave of creative inspiration.)

Shadows stir
Among the blackened trees
As the sun is suffocated
And buried
By her pale-faced brother

 

A ghoulish howl
Cuts wind and nerve
A sign
That the nightly terrors
Have come to call

 

The first to arrive
A misty Feldarj
Screeching at the stars
And searching
For a meal to a snatch

 

An oozing Lurgid
Bathed in filth and sludge
Releases toxic whispers
That rise in height
And volume

 

The meek Urzyl drifts
Along the lower branches
Seeking out a robin nest
To shriek
And shatter eggs

 

The crimson Yordjuril
And the emerald Pulg
Wail and moan
At a whimpering Ogdur
Robbed of its deafening voice

 

While midnight looms
More banshees rise
Some for the hunt
Some to birth more terrors
All to scream the night away

 

The forest is silent
As the dark congregation
Gathers for some fun
Forcing all who want to live
Into hiding

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