So I’m reformating the Sister Site. Again.
In fairness to me, I’m closer to being finished with the last reboot than last time. And the work involves looking at every GOD DAMN REVIEW I’VE WRITTEN to not only change formatting to the new style, but also correct and clarify the texts.
Get this. I somehow managed to transpose opening paragraphs. How? I dunno.
Oh! And the next review is unfinished. No image captures. I have them, just haven’t uploaded.
And that’s my post for the month!
[The header image was AI generated. I only wish I could draw that good.]
A couple of years back (more or less) I wrote a little on Protagonists. As a refresher, here are the terms as I see them as a Writer, Critic, and in general mad man:
Let’s add one final term, just for fun:
That’s seems like a fine sampling.
Let’s look at a few stories, see how this shakes out. As I am who I am, we are looking at the three Godzilla movies that share the name Godzilla. Starting with the 1998 classic Godzilla.
Don’t make that face. It’s unbecoming.
Spoilers, for what it’s worth.
The Protagonist in Godzilla 98 is Nick Tatopoulos. He’s the one who makes all the choices that matter. He wants to stop Godzilla from causing destruction.
Opposing him as the Antagonist is, of course, Godzilla. All Godzilla wants is to roam about and be the best little monster it can be. Towards the end, with its offspring slaughtered, it actively tries to harm Nick. The size of its choices matter.
Ahem.
With Godzilla 14, things get interesting.
The Protagonists in this story are the bug like Muto. Everyone reacts to their choices. It doesn’t matter how they’re destructive. Being the Protagonist isn’t a moral choice, and every choice they make moves the Plot forward.
That said, once again the Antagonist here is Godzilla. He doesn’t want the Mutos to get what they want. They threaten his existence and until they stop, he won’t stop, either.
Now where does the human character, Brody, stand here? He’s the Hero. His actions, while important, don’t change the basic conflict between Muto and Godzilla. He helps Godzilla deal with the situation, unquestionably. But when everything is said and done, he does nothing that changes the Plot. If he wasn’t involved, the conflict would have continued and ended just fine without him.
Albeit perhaps not as happily for the world.
Now if you thought that last bit was wrong headed… well you ain’t heard nothing yet.
The Protagonist in the original Godzilla is the character you see the least: Daisuke Serizawa. Standing against him is the Antagonist… Hideto Ogata.
Yeah. That’s right. Godzilla doesn’t matter in his own first movie. at best he’s a Force.
Isn’t that wild? But hear me out.
What Godzilla is is unimportant. He doesn’t have to be a radioactive dinosaur. He could be anything from a giant octopus (which he almost was) to radioactive sludge.
What matters is that he’s a problem that needs solved.
Serizawa has the solution to that problem. It is his choice that matters the most in the movie. To refrain from acting means the threat continues unhampered. Acting, on the other hand, might unleash a far worse threat. In fact, Serizawa is pretty certain that it will.
Ogata, however, opposes this. He sees only the threat before them and forces Serizawa into a decision. And, in my humble opinion, that decision is the worst possible choice.
To reinforce this, remember there is only one scene between Serizawa and Godzilla. Godzilla, at the time, is minding his own business. His threat, while real and present, is also theoretical at that point.
As I’m throwing cod theory about, let me say that the real antagonist should have been Emiko Yamane. Ultimately she’s the one who betrays Serizawa on so many levels. But that’s expecting a little much from a film out of the Fifties.
Now that was fun. Might go back to this little thought experiment at another time.
NaNoWriMo, the website that is, is shutting down. I wrote my first novel (and a metric ton of unfinished novels) because of this little “contest”. Sad to hear it go.
Maybe in honor of it’s memory I’ll shoot for a novel next month. It’ll be 31 days instead of 30, but frankly I need the time….
[Feature image is AI made]
I have a certain fascination with AI. I’ll use it to make character portraits, to analyze my work, make feature images (see above) and to see just how dumb AI can be.
And it can be so, so dumb.
Today, though, a notion entered my tiny little mind: Why don’t I ask Twitter’s/X’s Grok about my blogs?
Genius, right? Much like Googling your name to see what comes up.
Okay, okay, maybe more narcissistic than genius, but I get a blog post out of it, so it’s cool.
Anyway, I went to the site and asked two questions. First, what can you tell me about the website Welltun Cares Presents? Second, what can you tell me about the website Welltun Cares reviews? The answer surprised me a little.
What follows is what’s known as a fisk. Grok’s answer will pop up in the quote section, my response right after it.
All that said, here we go.
Welltun Cares Presents is a personal blog and creative outlet run by Cullen M. M. Waters, a writer and blogger. The website, hosted on WordPress at welltuncares.wordpress.com, serves as a platform where Waters shares a variety of content, including short stories, serialized fiction, and personal reflections. It’s described as “The Writer Journal (and So Much More!)” of Cullen M. M. Waters, emphasizing its role as both a journal and a space for creative expression. The site features a mix of imaginative storytelling and occasional commentary on Waters’ writing process, interests, and experiences.
Right off the bat, I’m stunned. That’s not a bad summation of this site. Serialized fiction is wrong, I don’t think I’ve ever done that, but not bad/ Not bad at all.
The content is unique and engaging, showcasing Waters’ distinctive voice as a storyteller. While it doesn’t focus on providing writing prompts as a resource for others (despite some past AI-generated reviews suggesting otherwise), it does reflect his history of using prompts to inspire his own work. The site is paired with a sister site, Welltun Cares Reviews, where Waters offers opinions on books, movies, and other media. Both websites are noted for their clean design and easy navigation, though updates on Welltun Cares Presents are sporadic, as Waters himself has acknowledged it “still updates, just not as often as it should.”
The jaw just hangs. I have no idea what it’s talking about with “past AI- generated reviews.” I don’t think it’s talking about me. It better not be, as I only quote AI and don’t use it to write. But what sites have reviewed me?
Grok quotes fifteen sites for making up this essay. None of them review me or give that allegation.
The comment about Welltun Cares Reviews is also wrong. I haven’t reviewed a single book there save perhaps in passing. Print gets talked about here, not there, I’ve made a specific point in doing that.
Waters also touches on personal topics, like family events (e.g., his cousin Emily’s marriage and childbirth), and his hobbies, such as designing tabletop role-playing games, though he admits these rarely reach completion. The blog has been active since at least 2005, with a notable milestone of its first anniversary in March 2006, indicating a long-running, if intermittent, project. All content is copyrighted by Waters, with a clear stance against unauthorized use, reflecting his commitment to his creative work. Overall, Welltun Cares Presents is a window into the mind of a dedicated, if self-described inconsistent, writer exploring his craft and sharing it with a small but appreciative audience.
So I hit that bit about Cousin Emily getting married and I went, “WHAT, WHAT?” Not that I was shocked she was married. By this point that’s worn completely away. No, I was surprised that I mentioned it on this blog. The childbirth part caused another surprised response.
So I looked it up here and found nothing. Which isn’t a surprise, as I’ve rebooted the site and started fresh. Fortunately there’s an easily accessed archive to go to and search, and what do you know? I did comment on the marriage. And mentioned the little one.
Who would have thunk it?
Actually, that one’s too good to leave buried. Might have to resurrected her for, I dunno, an anniversary or something.
heh.
heh heh
heh heheh
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
I don’t see Emily nearly often enough.
To continue, I don’t design table top games. Any more. Did it as a teenager, don’t do it now. Computer RPGs, though… Guilty.
Not sure why Grok mentions the first anniversary. Other than the few mistakes mentioned, I’m not embarrassed by this collection of words.
Next, what does Grok think of the sister site? Bear in mind I asked this right after the first question and it might have messed w
Welltun Cares Reviews is a companion site to Welltun Cares Presents, both operated by Cullen M. M. Waters, a writer and blogger. Hosted on WordPress at welltuncaresreviews.wordpress.com, this site focuses on Waters’ reviews and opinions about various forms of media, including books, movies, TV shows, and occasionally other topics like short films or personal projects. It’s a more opinion-driven platform compared to the storytelling focus of Welltun Cares Presents, offering Waters’ takes on both contemporary and older works, often with a personal or nostalgic twist.
Why it insists on mentioning books I will never know. I don’t get the “personal projects”, either.
I was going to debate the “more opinion driven platform”, as a lot of this is opinion. But then I remember the pictures, the annoying autobio, the occasional story, and I’ll give this one to Grok.
The site features a clean, straightforward design typical of WordPress blogs, making it easy to navigate through posts. Content is organized chronologically, with Waters posting reviews sporadically—sometimes with gaps, as he’s noted both sites update less frequently than he’d like. Examples of reviews include his thoughts on the 1977 short film The Contraption, where he provides viewing impressions and afterthoughts, and reflections on his own past writing attempts, showing a mix of external critique and self-analysis. The writing style is casual, engaging, and reflective of Waters’ personality, often blending humor with earnest commentary.
I was going to go off in a rant about how the sister site had never missed an update, but… hee hee… it has in the early days. Still, I’ve a streak going now. No buffer to assure that streak, but a streak nonetheless.
I find it interesting Grok picked The Contraption of all my reviews to mention. It’s one of the one’s I’m most proud of, but it really doesn’t set an example of what I’m doing on the site. The rest of the sentence really doesn’t fit the review, either. Perhaps Grok got confused as it talked about things.
Unlike Welltun Cares Presents, which leans into creative fiction, Welltun Cares Reviews is more analytical, though it retains Waters’ unique voice. He’s been running these sites for years—Welltun Cares Presents hit its first anniversary in 2006, suggesting a similar long-term commitment to the review site. Updates may be irregular, but Waters has indicated plans to keep posting, with a mix of new and older reviews scheduled at times (e.g., a month-long review series mentioned in 2023). All content is copyrighted by Waters, emphasizing his personal stake in the project. It’s a niche, independent blog that appeals to readers interested in thoughtful, individualistic takes on media from someone who’s clearly passionate about storytelling in all its forms.
I must have mentioned the Month of Horror over on the sister site. That’s the only thing that makes sense for why it mentions a review series. And Grok really loves that first anniversary.
All in all, I don’t think I came out too bad. It seems to get what I do here. And if Grok can Grok me, certainly other, more thinking beings can, too.
Pretty reassuring, actually.
Though there’s always a chance Grok praises all the writers the same way….
So I’m sitting at my desk, eating ramen, trying to think of what do do with my day. Something that doesn’t involve playing Minecraft.
Don’t get me wrong, I love playing Minecraft. It’s just it has been taking up too much of my day.
I’ve been doing a lot of Blender stuff, so I’d like to get back on that.
But that means setting back my writing, and believe me I’ve done plenty of that.
Plenty of that.
So I’d like to get back on my writing. Notes, story, novel, something.
But I wouldn’t mind trying once again to finish a game.
I mean, I have three different RPGMakers in my collection. That’s a lot of money for nothing to show for it. True I enjoy the experience., But I’d enjoy a completed game more.
But I’d also wouldn’t mind building the game from scratch. I’ve options there, too. More money spent that could be put to creative use.
So I could go about figuring out how to make a game without RPGMaker.
But those games need computer graphics. Stuff that Blender makes. And I really should be learning that.
But….
Yep. Just sitting here thinking, eating ramen, trying to figure out what to do with my day.
I have been blogging for twenty years.
It’s hard to think I’m still doing this.
In some ways I’ve stopped. This site, which I pay good money for every year, doesn’t get updated more than sporadically.
The sister site hasn’t missed an update for over a year. I’ve come close, and will no doubt come close again now that my buffer is gone. But it’s doing well.
No one reads it, but it’s doing well.
I don’t think anyone reads this. Maybe Mom every now and then. Maybe the occasional passersby. But regulars?
Not anymore.
Too niche, I’m afraid.
Google has becoming an AI nightmare. The chance for success as a blogger has no doubt dropped to nil. Wise man would quit and move on. Focusing more on the other site, or other things.
I’m not wise.
This was more about improving my craft. And my craft has improved because of it.
It is a tool I don’t use as often as I should.
I find what I said on my tenth anniversary to be a germane now as it was then. Alas, it’s in the archives and not on this site, but that’s an easy fix. I’ll make it a page an put it here.
Rereading that, I find little I disagree with. What I said then, holds now. I’m older than those two Past Cullens. Not wiser, as I just said. But it’s possible I’ve learned a little since then.
It makes me a little sad, even though it shouldn’t.
I have a friend now I didn’t have then. One I talk with every week. It could be more than that. It could be just what it is. But its more than I had.
That’s enough.
I have a novel now. An honest to God novel. One that I’m trying (and failing) to rewrite. It might not come to more than that.
That’s enough.
I write more now than I did. I finish little, but when I finish, I finish strong. I like what I write still. I am my own number one fan.
That’s enough.
Twenty years. Things have changed so much since then. I have driven 15 hours straight, by myself, and survived intact. I have seen Texas, the Gulf of Mexico. I have met famous people, even eaten at their house.
That’s enough.
I don’t know if there’s another ten years of blogging, in this blog or in me. But I suspected it would die, completely die, long, long ago.
It hasn’t.
God willing and the creek don’t rise, it won’t.
That’s enough.
Now let’s see if something fun happens.
You wanna talk about old, this post is almost twenty! All of these smilies are now called emojis. And I’m still waiting.
Oh, and the header image is AI. For the record.
I’ve yet to come across a smilie for Homicidal Rage While Holding a Cheese Grater and Thinking of My Ex-Girlfriend Who Said She Wanted Us to Be Just Friends But Went to All of My Real Friends and Started Telling Horrible Lies About Me and a Cockapoo Which Never Happened Because I Was In California at the Time Doing A Favor For Her No Good Brother Who Stole Thirty Bucks From My Wallet Then Gave It Back To Me As a Loan (With 20% Interest) A Week Before He Shoved Me Down A Cliff Into the Wrathful Sea From Which I Was Only Escaped Through the Fortuitous Aid of a Pod Of Passing Dolphins and A Beautiful Blonde Who Still Won’t Return My Phone Calls Damn It.
Which makes me feel really restricted in what I can say on-line. I mean, what if all of that happened to me? Am I supposed to write that out every time? I think not.
There’s got to be some way of doing it. Maybe with a hyphen and a couple of commas… Yeah… Yeah, maybe…
There’s very little better than a Nero Wolfe mystery. They’re just something else. I’m reading Black Orchids right now. The only reason Wolfe is getting involved in the murder is so he can lay hands on the titular flower. That guy is so self centered, it’s hilarious. Book’s been fun so far, too.
[Sorry about the misleading title. Out of curiosity I asked WordPress’s AI to come up with one and this was its choice. With the post being only a paragraph at the time, how could I resist? The post header’s AI too, for the record.]
WELLTUN CARES PRESENTS 