Steve’s Update 1/3/2015

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Hello everyone, and Happy New Year!

Not too much to report right now.  Let’s see where I am:

I’m considering my next generator plans at Seventh Sanctum.  I want to do the Plot Twist generator, but admit the Writing Prompt Generator gave me pause as I have to think how I can do it right.  Still, i want to do it, because it was requested and after seeing how the Writing Prompt Generator went over, I see it as very useful.

Beyond that generator I have the Magical Power Generator and a few more ideas.  In the year to come I have a few non-generator ideas I hope to work on.

Writing-wise, the redone MuseHack has really got some good stuff coming.  I’ll be speaking on geek health in the coming week, and plenty more to come in the future.

If you’re in the SF Bay Area, be sure to come by AODSF, I’m going to be doing some great presentations there!

How’s your New Year’s looking so far?
Respectfully,

- Steven Savage
http://www.musehack.com/
http://www.informotron.com/
http://www.seventhsanctum.com/.

He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Steve’s Update 12/29/2014

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Well I am managing to update more . . . though it’s mainly been food.

So what’s up for me?  Well . .

The new Muse Hack look is done, and thats’ part of the new focus – it’s going to be for my in-depth work on Applied Geek, with me as more of a ringmaster for ideas and information, and having guest bloggers or other contributors (Scott is of course staying on).  It fits what I’ve always done – introduce people to things.

Seventh Sanctum has a new generator – for Fantasy Metals.  This lets you get ideas like ‘Negative Orichalcum’ and ‘Unkowable Steel Of The Night.”

I just joined Goodreads – so go on over and say hi!

That’s it for me, what about you?
- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Rooster Sauce (Steve’s Sriracha)

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So in the end I decided to learn how to make Sriracha.  I am not addicted to the sauce like many, but it’s OK and it’d be nice to have a good hot sauce – oh, and it’s fun to try.  Here’s my first round.

  • 2 lbs red chili peppers; I used jalapeños.
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup
  • 4 Tbsp crushed garlic cloves garlic (12 cloves)
  • 1 Tbsp salt
  • ½ cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce
  1. Remove step and split peppers
  2. Puree all ingredients but red wine vinegar and soy sauce in blender into a coarse mix.
  3. Place mix in airtight jar. Leave for seven days, stirring once a day with a wooden spoon.
  4. Place mixture into pan with vinegar, bring to boil, simmer 5 minutes, let cool. Stir.
  5. Place mixture into a strainer over a bowl. Press mixture with wooden spoon repeatedly to drain all the liquid.
  6. Add soy sauce to drained liquid. Pour liquid into an airtight bottle via a funnel.
  7. Store in refrigerator. May keep up to six months, but not sure.

The result?  Not bad the first try, it’s got a good taste, a slow but not unpleasant burn afterwards, a bit like a tabasco, though frankly I like it far better than tabasco.  Not as much character as I’d like, probably as it’s really just a pile of jalapeños, and I think I got the garlic wrong.

However it’s still darned tasty, makes a good hot sauce, and has that fresh, home-made taste that is just unique.  I also mix it with equal parts soy sauce as an absolutely amazing dip.

So next try, I’m going to drop a few jalapeños, add a habanero and a regular red pepper for diversity, double the garlic, maybe add one more tbsp maple syrup, and possibly twice the soy sauce.

However until then, I’ll enjoy this . . .

<strong>- Steven Savage</strong>

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Recipe: Curried Green Peas and Yams

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My latest creation – a curried meal of green peas and yams.  it came out nice and tasty, though I think I need to slightly reduce the curry poweder, and I may add soy sauce for more depth of taste, and/or a tomato for depth of taste and a thicker sauce.

You can also scale this recipe – at it’s core each serving is one cup of peas, one cup of diced yams, a little under 2 tsp of curry powder, a dash of cayenne pepper, a dash of black pepper, and 1/8 tsp of salt.

Ingredients:

  • 4 cups of green peas (frozen or thawed)
  • 4 cups of diced yams (depending on the yams available, this could take 2 or take 4-5).
  • 2 tbsp curry powder
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, ground.
  • 1/8 tsp ground black pepper
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp lime juice
  • Clinatro to garnish

Directions

  1. Dice the yam and place them in a lidded pot with a thin layer of water on the bottom. Bring to boil and simmer with lid cover, stirring and adding water as needed to keep the bottom fully covered. There should be enough to really steam the yams as opposed to boil them.
  2. When the yams start to soften (about 5-7 minutes) add everything else. Mix thoroughly, adding water if needed to mix the spiced. Blend so everything is coated – heat through.
  3. Serve with cilantro.

- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Steve’s Update 12/14/2014

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No, I didn’t vanish – but work and the holidays are keeping me real busy.  So what’s going on?

At Muse Hack I did two columns on the question “is there a gap in hiring in IT” – if you work in IT you’ve heard the claim it’s hard to hire people.  In part one I examined the basic numbers and what they tell us, but then dived deeper into specifics and reached some surprising conclusions.  Short form, there’s probably a gap for senior people, it’s concealed due to certain factors – and we’re making it worse.  If you work in IT check it out – it’s very educational

Muse Hack is going to be, as noted, more personal, so I’m still getting it quite right.  I’ve got some more intense, deeper pieces, weekly links, and Way With Worlds as my focus.  Let’s see how it goes.

Another update to the Civic Geek Catalog today – after taking a break.  The more I do this the more I find I like resource gathering, so I may always have one of these “resource” projects in mind for cultivated geek stuff.

Starting to form my next book plans or two.  I’m debating geek citizenship, but i’m also thinking I should bundle up Epic Resume Go! and Quest For Employment with my other job advice columns for a definitive “Steve Talks Careers” book.

Otherwise, some new generator work at the Sanctum planned, you can read more at The Codex.

Thanks everyone, and if I don’t post before Christmas, Happy Holidays!

 

 

- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Steve’s Update 12/1/2014

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OK a bit behind – been busy, been traveling, so here’s what’s up!

First of all, I’m working out my final speaking engagements at AODSF.  It looks like it’ll be on writing, curry, and networking.  Yep, the full Steve Savage Obsession Range will be a-go.

MuseHack, as you saw, is re-structuring – to be my more voice yet a voice of enablement.  That’s taking time, but I like how it’s shaping up – and expect a lot over the holidays!  I also just finished my Fandom Identity series, and started a new two parter on “Is There An IT Gap.”  I also have a few more things coming up after that as I focus more longform.

I’ve been discussing my next book plans with some people and will probably start a new book project sometime in the new year.  Still shaping it up, but I’ve found a few things to focus on.

Next up for Seventh Sanctum will probably be a magical power generator, for those anime like Fairy Tail and some early fantasy where “superpower” and “magic” and “martial arts” were kinda slammed together.  But it’ll be a little crazier than you may expect . . .

That’s it for me.
- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Birdman

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So the short form: Critics who praised it didn’t praise it enough – literally it is better than I expected even with the praise.

So basically, you’ve heard the story: Michael Keaton plays a former superhero actor trying to revive his career by doing an adaption of a Raymond Chandler story, and it’s a bit of a dark comedy/character piece. That honestly doesn’t do it justice as it’s far more complicated, deep, heartfelt, and clever.

The film is extremely well-crafted, and doesn’t use the standard three act structure – it uses a single camera view (the directing and editing is exceptional) to tell the story with occasional “sped time” or “scenery-as-wipe” transitions, which makes it even more powerful. The film in an amusing way limits itself from using many Hollywood tropes. Which is sort of the point.

Mildest of spoilers, the film’s themes include but aren’t limited to:

  • Madness and embracing madness.
  • A critique of Hollywood.
  • A critique of theater.
  • A celebration of theater.
  • A critique of AUDIENCES.
  • A critique of critics (in an exceptional scene).
  • A celebrating of the power of actors.
  • Pretty much noting actors aren’t gods.
  • The need for love.
  • The need for identity.
  • Some Buddhism on top of this.

Plus there’s a variety of self-referential and foreshadowing elements elements that put me in mind of both “Fuse: Memories of a Huntress” only the references are thematic not causal. it also reminded me of the storytelling work in “Laura.”

The performances are great and the film remains grounded in its humanity, in all its flawed and human characters.

It’s the kind of film that made me believe in films again. Often I leave my intellectual stimulation to text and use visual entertainment for less intellectual pursuits except for documentaries. This is making me rethink my habits.

Only warning? See it with someone. You need someone to discuss the film when it’s done.

I will see this again. I will probably buy it. It probably will become a regularly-viewed cult film.

- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Steve’s Update 11/9/2014

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I hope this finds everyone well.  Let me know how you’re doing – and remember my newsletter comes out soon!  Sign up!

What’s going on?  Well beyond getting tired of Borderlands The Pre-Sequel, and being weirdly interested in Overwatch . . .

  • MuseHack is going to see some changes coming, a bit of a re-focusing so stay tuned.  I think you’ll like what’s coming.
  • Also on the subject of MuseHack, the Geek Catalog is trundling along.  I also expect to have a few more things coming in that regard in the weeks to come, so stay tuned.
  • Seventh Sanctum has been getting more attention due to NaNoWriMo – and enough I think any new generators may not be worth introducing right now.  I’ve also penned the draft of the 52nd column on the Way With Worlds rewrite.  Can you believe it’s been that long?  Now I’m still doing rewrites so as you may guess it’s gonna be larger than the original run.

 

That’s it for me.  What about you?

 

- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.

Steve’s Update 11/2/2014

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Hello everyone, and how’s it going?

Well you’re probably doing NaNoWriMo – and for the first year I had a NaNoWriMo surge over at Seventh Sanctum.  I think either my user demographic changed or I got a lot of newcomers as most NaNoWriMers were well aware of it and used it.

Muse Hack is going to go through some changes in the next two months.  Based on feedback from people who’ve worked with it and me the goal is to work on making me a central, promotional voice – an Ed Sullivan finding new Beatles as it were.  I feel good on that – and it’ll let me cut loose and get a bit crazy.

Also the Geek Catalog is shaping up – and some surprises are in store . . .

- Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at http://www.stevensavage.com/.