Eucalyptus-Munching and Adorable: The Koala

Posted on July 7, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

The koala is a little, leaf-eating marsupial from Australia, which many people recognize as quickly as the kangaroo.  They are also called koala bears even though they are related to wombats more than bears.  Part of this is because their faces are circular with round ears, big eyes, and fluffy ears like a teddy bear.  I will say that I’ve seen the phrase used much less as an adult than I did as a child, so maybe it’s a kid thing.

Koalas was least as vulnerable until Australia listed them as endangered in 2022.  Their population is between 100,000 and 500,000.  Threats to the koala are the usual suspects due to humans living nearby.  Many get hit by cars or killed by dogs.  Habitat destruction is an issue since they can be very picky eaters even with eucalyptus species.  Climate change is damaging the eucalyptus trees as well, so their only food source is not as plentiful.  Finally, they have a major problem with chlamydia, which causes blindness and infertility.  Populations being pushed into smaller territories makes this disease more likely to spread.

So, what are some fun koala facts?

  1. They have 5 digits on each hand with the front ones have 2 digits opposed to help with climbing.
  2. The hind paws have the 2nd and 3rd digits fused together to act as a grooming claw.
  3. Koalas are nocturnal, but usually sleep 18-20 hours a day.
  4. They sleep a lot because it takes a lot of energy for them to safely digest the toxic eucalyptus leaves, which give them very little nutrition in the first place.
  5. Each koala has a collection of home trees to create their territory.  They are the only ones to visit these trees for food and rest.
  6. Females are fully mature by age 2 and males by age 3 or 4.
  7. Koalas get all of their water from the leaves they eat, but they will drink during droughts or fires.
  8. They have keen senses of smell, which allows them to pick out the best, most nutritious leaves on a tree.
  9. Males have scent glands in the middle of their chests to mark their territory.
  10. Males can live up to 12 years while females live up to 15.
  11. Babies are called joeys and are born blind and without ears, so they find the pouch by touch and smell.
  12. Babies stay in the pouch for 6 months before coming out to ride on their mother’s back.
  13. Koalas can eat 0.5 to 1 kilogram of eucalyptus leaves per night.

Now for the pictures and videos everyone enjoys.

Posted in Animal Posts | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Goal Post: Didn’t Realize It’s Saturday

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

I haven’t really had a good track of time this week.  Without work and getting my son since Tuesday afternoon, I haven’t had my usual day markers.  So, it took me this long to realize I didn’t make a goal post.

Honestly, this week hasn’t been a big activity one.  Nothing that will shake the author side of my life to the core.  I finished the hand-editing of Darwin & the Avenging Elf, but I haven’t started typing things in.  No time with Pokemon Go, movies, and other activities with my son.  We went with friends to see ‘Inside Out 2’ and took advantage of the good weather periods before it got really hot.  Think I’m still fairly baked on the arms and back of the neck.  Wish I had more to report on that front, but nothing.

Perhaps the only thing of interest is a new idea I’m tinkering with.  This is in spite of a voice pointing out I never get to any of my other ideas.  My idea is having two groups of thieves who work in the same guild, which is run by 5 leaders.  One group is created by a thief who was betrayed by the leader of the other group.  They unite a bunch of other members that have a grudge with the other group and are backed by on one of the 5, who doesn’t like the the ‘bad’ group is protected by their peers.  I’m liking how the groups will be working under the same roof while feuding.  Might pull from a failed idea and have the plot revolve around one group finding a lost treasure horde.  The guild charter could be that whoever finds it becomes the new guild master, which is why some members of the 5 would want it to stay hidden.  Leaning towards trilogy with first book being earning recognition as a group, second is the beginning of the hunt, and third is recovering from major setbacks.  Might be what I tinker with in Oswego at the end of the summer.

Next week is going to be pretty chaotic.  Camp starts for my son and summer school starts for me.  The heat is going to be rough, but our 2 field trips are all indoors.  I’ve heard the school we’re in has really good air conditioning too.  So, at least I’ll be comfortable while handling what comes my way.  First week is always the toughest for students and teachers because we have to get into the new groove.  It’ll be fine.  With any lucky, I’ll have energy to start typing in the edits and maybe even finish that by the end of next weekend.  I won’t hold my breath though.

Adding to the mayhem will be an event called ‘Pokemon GoFest’.  This is the big yearly event for the game my son and I play.  They have special things going on 6-7 every weekday evening starting on Monday.  Then, the big stuff happens next Saturday, which could require me being out in the park for at least 4.5 hours.  Sunday won’t be as crazy, but a few things will carry over and needing to be finished for me to get all the stuff that is offered.  My hope is that the weekday events are successful enough that I don’t have to worry too much about the Saturday/Sunday things.  At least as far as the raiding goes, which means I only have to be outdoors for 4 hours.  Starting to worry that the game is causing me to lose writing time, but it does get me outside and keeps me active.  I’m able to balance it better when there isn’t a big event going on.

Beyond all of that, I really don’t have much else going on.  Health is a little wonky for some reason.  Even with a full night’s sleep, I’m waking up tired.  I’m thinking it’s the heat and my body still getting me up around 5:30 AM.  That should fix itself just in time for work to start and me to be waking up at 6 AM.  Need to figure out lunches for next week as well since I have at least 3 days where I have to bring something.  Leaning towards my usual tofu and pineapple rice bowl.  Then again, I have leftover pineapple chicken tenders, which means 2 sandwiches.  Why does adulthood have so many of these decisions and none of the fun stuff I was told about as a kid?

Goals of the week!

  1. Summer school begins!
  2. Get son to camp and pick him up.
  3. Pokemon Gofest.
  4. October blog posts if I don’t have a lot of time.
  5. Type in hand edits of Darwin & the Avenging Elf if I have more time.
  6. Lego Gotham City to relax.
  7. Hydrate!  Hydrate!  Hydrate!
  8. Tinker with thief story idea.
  9. Make list for Oswego trip at end of August.
Posted in Goal Posts | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Evil vs Misunderstood

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Google Image Search

As stated, there is a trend to turn evil villains into more sympathetic and misunderstood characters.  This has caused some people who like bad guys to come up with their own explanations for how they are misunderstood instead of being evil.  Some explanations can work while others are highly stretched.  So, what is the difference?

I think the big difference is the perception of others and the audience about the character.  An evil villain is doing truly evil things without question.  Their intentions revolve around power, pain, and doing harm with the knowledge they are bad.  Characters understand this because it’s clear as day.  A misunderstood villain is one that are acting because they think they are pleasing others or don’t realizing they’re committing harm.  Those around them think they are evil, but the audience knows there is more to it.  Eventually, other characters will learn it too.

The pictures above are good examples too.  Maleficent is knowing doing evil things to cause pain and fear.  There isn’t any real misunderstanding even with her rewritten background of being wronged.  (More on that later.)  Then, you have Draco Malfoy who is considered a villain, but is more brat than evil.  People understand that he’s a child and trying to please his father or friends.  This is clear when you realize how often he does things that aren’t evil, but closer to rivalry with Harry.  Draco also has enough normal, humanizing actions and failures that you get a sense his heart hasn’t fallen completely to evil.  The difference might be subtle, but it’s there.

Now, I know at least one person will bring up the Maleficent movie and say that makes her misunderstood.  Yes, but look at what had to be done.  When you want to shift an established evil villain into misunderstood, you need to redo their entire history or establish one that hadn’t existed before.  Maleficent couldn’t just shift considering she was one of the greatest Disney villains for decades.  She had to be changed, which included altering her ending.  Now, you have this alternate version of this villains.  It’s basically a revamp and doesn’t really build on the original story.  Think of it as a multi-verse thing, which ends up causing division among fans.

To be honest, I don’t really understand this trend of turning evil villains into misunderstood ones.  How does this make a story better, especially if you have to turn heroes into bad guys and rewrite the whole thing?  I would prefer to see new villains who are misunderstood or evil instead of what I see now.  Then again, new stuff is hard to sell and typically doesn’t get off the ground.  Maybe the point of this trend is to get attention with existing creations and cause some friction.  Hope not because that can’t go well for the character in the long run.

What do you think about misunderstood vs evil villains?

Posted in Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , | 10 Comments

And the Grave Awaits, by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Let’s all welcome Robbie Cheadle. She’s here to tell us all about her newest publication and it sounds pretty awesome to me. Check it out, leave a …

And the Grave Awaits, by Roberta Eaton Cheadle
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Happy July 4th!

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

I know it’s just an American holiday, but I’ll be out having fun.  The poem that would have gone up was a downer too.  Enjoy some memes and a video.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

When Backstory Can Change a Villain’s Reputation

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Both of these characters are villains from ‘One Piece’.  Specifically, the Dressrosa Arc, which probably means nothing to all of you.  Donquixote Doflamingo is the main villain who took over a kingdom, was a weapons dealer, had an illegal drug industry, killed people, framed the previous king for crimes, and simply wants to plunge the world into chaos.  Senor Pink is one of his subordinates who follows orders to stop or kill anyone in his leader’s way.  It’s heavily implied he’s done the same types of crimes as the other pirates in the group such as stealing and killing.  Yet, their backstory has altered the way some fans look at them.  (Spoilers ahead!)

Continue reading →

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What’s Happening in the Writer’s World–Should you buy your own ISBNs?

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Jacqui here at Story Empire with the July edition of “What’s happening in the literary world? Should you buy your own ISBNs?” What used to be a …

What’s Happening in the Writer’s World–Should you buy your own ISBNs?
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Questions 3 and Looking Back at ‘Nytefall: Loyalty’

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Cover Art by Alison Hunt

Here we are at the start of the War of Nytefall recollections.  Not sure what else to call it and my brain isn’t braining as well as it should.  Loyalty is what started the series that depicts the vampire civil war of Windemere and introduces readers to Clyde.  It would be a more action-oriented, darker humor series than my previous work as well as investigating the balance between monster and human.  So, what are the general details?

Clyde is a vampiric thief who has been caught stealing from the Sun God and is in the process of being executed by light magic.  The Great Cataclysm strikes at that moment, which buries him for 50 years.  He is dug out by his old partner Mab, which brings him back into the world of vampires.  Only difference now is that Clyde has been changed into a Dawn Fang, which makes him stronger.  He can also turn other vampires into Dawn Fangs.  He allies with his old friend Xavier Tempest and the true loyalty of friends are revealed to kick off the Dawn Fang vs Old World Vampire war.

A Dawn Fang is a vampire who has a heartbeat, can eat regular food, doesn’t have to kill when drinking blood, and can walk around in the sunlight.  They are faster, stronger, and each one has 3 abilities in a physical/mental/magical system.  Most of the vampire characters were originally ‘Vampire: The Masquerade’ characters, so I couldn’t pull myself away from that.  Some of the abilities acted as doors to more than 3 abilities and there were hints that at least one character had an extra.  Either way, the Dawn Fangs are extremely powerful compared to their predecessors and that gave me a lot to work with in battles.  I mean, they could really wail on each other and walk off injuries that would kill others.

A key point I kept trying to bring up in promos and on my blog was that the Dawn Fangs also had human emotions and needs.  They felt love and friendship and sadness.  I tried to make it clear that they weren’t monsters to the core.  Clyde’s whole thing was that he’s so powerful and has a rage ability, which makes him question if he will lose his humanity at some point.  That’s why he has Dawn Fangs live secretly among humans before they’re discovered.  His plan is to prove that they aren’t monsters since they are already there with no incidents.  Many of his kind continually prove that they aren’t monsters.  That’s why it was frustrating whenever I got comments from people saying ‘I liked your first series, but I don’t like vampires’.  War of Nytefall is about vampires, but not with them being the villains terrorizing humans.  It’s about the rise of a vampire nation that wishes to live in piece with mortals.

The hardest part of Loyalty was that I had to introduce 13 characters within the main and secondary cast.  It was a lot of juggling and struggling to give each one enough to get their purpose across.  Some were easier than others like the Vengeance Hounds (Titus, Bob, and Luthor) being a group, Lou the silent butler/bodyguard, and Gregorio the neutral mentor.  All of the others needed more solo time for interactions.  If not in this book then throughout the series.  This is why I had to comb over my outlines to make sure I used everyone or gave a reason for them being either absent or minimized during this specific adventure.

Would I change anything?  I would probably tighten up a few character introductions since I couldn’t push anyone back to another volume.  All of them needed an opinion on seeing the emergence of a new breed of vampire.  Since Clyde could turn Old World vampires into Dawn Fangs, he became a greater threat to those who refused to accept the change.  If I introduced a character later, they wouldn’t have a strong opinion because they weren’t there for the reveal and betrayals.  Maybe I would drag the drama out a little more over the course of the series too.  Guess I got a little impatient on some plotlines because I was juggling a lot.

Some fun questions:

  1. Do you think vampires always have to be monstrous?
  2. What would you do if you were betrayed?
  3. Do you believe Clyde’s dream of Dawn Fangs and mortals living together in peace is realistic?
Posted in Questions 3, War of Nytefall | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Is There a Trend of Revamping Villains?

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Cruella

Maybe it’s primarily a Disney thing, but I’ve noticed a lot of movies where classic villains are given origins.  This ends up making them sympathetic characters and explains why they’re bad.  It even goes so far as to say they aren’t evil, but either misunderstood or misguided.  For a while, it seemed to be going well, but then the trend started to die off with Cruella.  Why?

Well, one of the things that seems to work for revamping an established villain is not going for one that could be considered irredeemable.  Maleficent is evil, but she does a lot of fantasy punishments that are rather over-the-top.  Darth Vader was already established as a fallen hero and died doing something good in ‘Return of the Jedi’.  So, showing them as good people who were turned bad by circumstances or cruel treatment can help the audience relate to them.  We wouldn’t go that far with their villainous actions, but we can see how they turned.

With Cruella, I saw a lot of people pointing out that her whole goal as a villain was to make clothing out of puppies . . . Yeah, I don’t care how poorly you were treated.  There’s no excuse for that type of villainy.  People typically don’t relate to anyone who goes on to kill animals or children.  In fact, you’re more likely to upset people with the former instead of the latter, so Cruella was a really bad choice.  This makes me wonder if there is more these villain origin stories that crop up at times.

I think ‘Joker’ tried to touch on this, but I didn’t see the movie, so I can’t be 100% certain of what I’m about to say.  Many people told me that it was about a regular person descending into madness.  You end up seeing how someone can turn evil.  Not because you want them to be sympathized with or seen as a victim, but for the audience to understand that nobody is born that way.  There are events in a person’s life to put them down the path of evil, which we don’t always acknowledge.  It’s easier to believe someone is born a villain instead of being made.  To think otherwise means accepting that we or someone we know could turn evil, which is unnerving.

A story that examines the psychology behind a villain makes sense to me.  It still can be dangerous depending on the character you’re analyzing.  Some crimes really don’t come off well if you try to say they did it because of past trauma.  Even though that could be true, people won’t take to it very well.  That’s because many don’t want to hear excuses for things like cannibalism, rape, puppy killing, etc.  So, villains who do some truly horrific acts probably won’t work out with an origin unless you make them somewhat unlikable prior to being a villain.  If not unlikable then at least pathetic to the point where the audience won’t mind turning on them.

So, what do other people think of taking established villains and giving them a sympathetic backstory?

Posted in Thoughts | Tagged , , , , , , , | 20 Comments

Using Real People in Fiction!

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Charles Yallowitz

Greetings to one and all in the amazing world that is Story Empire. Beem Weeks with you once again. Today, we shall discuss using real people in your…

Using Real People in Fiction!
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