I want a "Goth for Christmas" store!

There's a new Web series -- "Written by a Kid," on Geek and Sundry's channel. Two grown men prompt kids between five and ten years old to tell stories. Then more grown-ups come in, and make a short film around that story, and the storytelling process.

...There's only been two episodes, so far. But for the most part I like it -- though I have to say: I wince a little, inside, when I watch kids getting interviewed by grown-ups. It's the in the same family of uncomfortable as listening to the recorded sound of my own voice -- I mean, I personally love getting into conversations with kids -- I just don't like listening to interviews with kids quite as much. I think it has something to do with the implied subtext that I'm supposed to laugh at the kid for not being as sophisticated as the adults -- for the way they just don't know enough to fill in the blanks.

However, that said, I really like this second episode, the story "Goth Boy" by 8 year old Cici. It's painted in broad strokes, and there are details missing (or are inaccurate) that adults would insist on fixing. But. It's a full story with character development and motivation (and it's just under three minutes).

And the best idea in the whole story? there's a chain store called "Goth for Christmas."

Why doesn't that exist in real life? I would totally shop there...

Also, this reminds me to get reacquainted with my eight-year-old storyteller (she's still inside me, under 40 additional layers of life), and get back to just tell "What happened next," instead of getting lost in an endless spiral of "But why?" (the reason I can write 50,000 words in thirty days, and never get out of the first chapter.

Ironic thing is, I signed up to "Instructables" so I could make usable footrests for my chair*

So, I've been on the Instructables.com mailing list for a few years, now, which means I get a newsletter in my email every Thursday with links to specific projects that they're promoting that week. Today, I opened the email and saw this lovely offering first on the list.


( *Pschyo Scooter Scramble -- The blindfolded Wheelchair Game )

Required equipment includes two (2) fully functioning motorized wheelchairs for the hacker to fiddle with their electronic control systems.

I spent a good bit of time debating whether or not to leave a snarky comment, like:

"So -- have you asked people who actually need to use motorized wheelchairs every day to play this game with you, or are they just big toys, as far as you're concerned?"

But in the end, I decided that that audience is one that just would not hear me, and it wasn't worth the spoons required. So I'm cranking here, instead.

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*The thing is: I need more than instructions. I need a proper work space, and someone with the dexterity and ability that I don't have to carry out the instructions, neither of which are available. So, after this, I'm seriously considering unsubscribing.