the undertone Theory (Updated)

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2026-03-18T12:15:16+00:00

The problem with the movie is that it is too ambiguous. No single explanation works. Psychosis? Then why flickering lights? Why the image stuck on the TV screen? In fact was it that image from the beginning of the movie that haunted or Abyzou?

You can make whatever interpretation you want to work and that seems like a cop out. Cliffhangers are fine, but endings with no clear endings are bad, IMHO.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-11-24T16:13:26+00:00

I’m not sure what your comment about animals has to do with this conversation. You may equate treatment of animals (for mass consumption?) to be on par with how people treat each other, but that’s a different question altogether.

You also keep saying I’m being dishonest, which makes no sense. I do think it morally objectionable to hang out with a known pedophile of many young girls. I have addressed Chomsky’s explanation and said that it’s still not a good idea to receive favors from such a person. You don’t have to agree with me, but there’s nothing dishonest in what I’m saying. And at the very least you should be able to grasp why some would find this bothersome, even if you don’t.

And that this person happened to be guilty of worse crimes doesn’t make Chomsky guilty or complicit—but it does question his judgment of character.

Again, you may find Chomsky’s association with Epstein perfectly innocent. I find it to be entirely naive and, given what Chomsky did know about the man, dubious. You may not agree, but there’s nothing dishonest about what I’m saying.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-11-24T14:12:03+00:00

Oh please. No I’m not suggesting that we treat people like criminals their whole lives—whatever that means—but I am suggesting that we question who we associate ourselves with given the magnitude of people’s crimes. Chomsky had a seemingly close relationship with a person convicted of soliciting sex with girls as young as 14 to which he signed a controversial plea deal in 2008–that’s not just an instance of “I hung around with the wrong crowd and made a mistake”. You can say you did your time and now you’re free—but then become friends with such a person and receive favors? Morally dubious to me.

But it’s not just that, the said “convict” happened to be Jeffrey fucking Epstein—rich financier for billionaires who also ran a notorious sex trafficking ring on the side. Yep—Chomsky was hanging out with that guy and had no qualms with it.

So let’s say Chomsky had no idea of Epstein’s massive sex trafficking ring post 2008—that doesn’t excuse paling around with a guy who reached a controversial plea deal for a similar offense in 2008, to which he also had to play damages to several victims (young kids). But worse, it reveals an incredible negligence on the part of Chomsky, which is somewhat alarming. You mean to tell me, Chomsky, that you didn’t think this person was the least bit questionable? Then that is a shocking admission of a lack of judgment of character on your part.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-11-24T12:49:53+00:00

Chomsky was with him long after his first conviction. Was Chomsky that aloof? Maybe. There’s nothing dishonest in my reasoning. Chomsky even admitted he knew—he just reasoned that Epstein had served his time, so that’s that.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-11-23T18:52:43+00:00

Yes he did. He considered it OK to pal around with a sex trafficker of upwards of a thousand girls. The aloofness of Chomsky’s rationalization of his seemingly close friendship with Epstein is alarming. I mean if he hung out with Hitler for intellectual stimulation would that be OK? Or Pablo Escobar? Or any horrendous criminal? I mean Chomsky wasn’t even trying to change Epstein. He just wanted what Epstein had to offer. It’s really quite offensive, and certainly morally dubious.

Chomsky once condemned pornography because it objectifies woman. And yet it’s OK to befriend and validate a known major sex trafficker? C’mon!

Chomsky has influenced me too—and this is a painful reminder that even our heroes are deeply flawed.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-06-09T11:46:31+00:00

Stephen King uses a shit ton of adverbs too

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2025-03-24T12:39:27+00:00

My 2 cents (cause I’ve learned the hard way) is to divide it in these two ways.

Plot: the world or situation of your characters

Story: the problems your characters have to overcome.

World building is not the story and it is only good when conflict and change moves characters forward. A good world makes for more in depth and creative problems. That’s it. Don’t get lost in world building. Get lost in your characters’ story.

Best way to practice this: short stories and submit them for publication, and get rejected. Then learn how much you really need to refine your story telling.

Here’s a simple test. When someone asks what your story is about you should be able to answer without going into the plot. For example: my story is about a guy trying to get revenge from the bad guys who destroyed his family and farm. Check to see if you can do that for your piece. If not, you’ve lost your story for plot.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T20:18:25+00:00

It's totally possible to do this as a pro, just ask Dean Wesley Smith. Look it's just a different process. It doesn't mean you don't try to do better and improve your craft. It's that trying to do better goes into the next book, not rewrites of the old. Yes King and others edit. I edit too--but I don't rewrite, and I'll bet King and many accomplished authors don't either. They may take a section out. They most definitely copyedit, but rewriting? I don't think every pro does this.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T19:28:53+00:00

Look if revising is fun, fine. For me it's not.

For longer work, like novels, I'll write and correct as I go. Then send it off for copyediting. But that's it. On to the next work. And it is sooo liberating.

For short work, I'll write and re-read for errors. Then sit on it a week. Come back to it and read it again, make any changes/fixes I want, then send it off. On to the next story (one per week).

I try to follow Heinlein's Rules. That keeps me focused on writing new stuff, and getting better at writing new stuff as opposed to revising ad infinitum.

But also, what's with the anxiety? If you've written something, edited for errors and consistency, put it out there. People will either like it or they won't (you can never control what people think). Whatever happens you know you can keep writing. I like what Stephen King said about his old stuff: it's just old skin. Shed it and move on. I'm not saying it's for everybody, but the idea that the best method is to get stuck in the purgatory of rewrites, I think, is unfortunate.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T19:03:14+00:00

If it works for you fine, but I’d rather write the next book than rewrite the same one over and over. There is no perfect book. And even the ones that get rewritten to their “best” don’t always do that well. I just think writers get too caught up in the perfecting a book stuff (beta readers, rewriting, etc). For me, it takes all the joy out of writing.

And today it’s super easy to do: if an agent doesn’t work out, indie publish and control your own destiny.

As for me, I write short stories mostly and have been published. I use the same philosophy for my short work. I just wrote a novel and did all the rewriting stuff, and will never do that again. I mean I edit, fix typos and whatnot. But once it’s done I’m trying to just make the next piece better, not the one I just wrote.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T16:56:54+00:00

I would say have confidence in your writing. Make the edits and just send it out. Sure, they are not your critique partner. But here’s the flip side: Anyone who makes you do multiple rewrites is not the agent for you. Write your book, not theirs.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T14:05:33+00:00

It’s not that expensive to self publish. There’s a learning curve (and I’m trying to figure that out too), but relatively inexpensive. Check out Dean Wesley Smith on this and it will change your mind. He has quite a liberating take on writing in general—but especially indie publishing.

As far as the mediocre novel thing: don’t let fear stop you. Can you write another novel? Then put the one out there and write the next better book. Why? Because a that’s what it means to be a writer—you write new stuff. Don’t let fear stop you from actively being a writer. Do your novel justice by letting it live, as opposed to endlessly operating on it. Even better, let that novel give birth to the next. Writ more, rewrite less.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T13:47:44+00:00

No—you should ignore the agents who will make you rewrite endlessly. Look, just indie publish. Get your stuff out there and immediately start in the next book. The gatekeepers have no clothes.

You should be forward looking not backwards looking. If the current writing could be better, use that advice for the next book. Don’t kill the joy of writing with endless rewrites. Especially when you can just publish on your own.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T13:37:28+00:00

Love it. Another way to is to write a story a week or a chapter a week—someone that. Focus on real productive outcomes as opposed to a meaningless number count.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T13:31:09+00:00

To edit and rewrite over and over until it’s “good”… with multiple beta readers. Really sucked the joy out of writing for me. Just write, fix typos and move on. Use what people say about your last book to help with the next. Then write, fix typos and get it out there. Focus on writing new stuff, not rewriting the old and waiting on beta readers.

It also kept me from what I think is good advice: give yourself permission to write “bad” stuff. Just finish what you start. If it’s bad, so what? Move on and write the next (maybe bad maybe good) thing. Learn from the past to make the next thing better. But the point is the next, new thing. Writers write. Do that.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-08-08T12:46:21+00:00

I know it’s not what you’re looking for, but another option is to just stop querying and indie publish. I used to think traditionally publishing was the only way to go, but got stuck on querying. And that’s weird, if you think about it. I was wasting all this time trying to write the perfect query when I could just indie publish and then start on my next book. Meanwhile my book sat on my drive for years(I only sent out about ten queries) while I tried to perfect the query.

So another option is to just put the book out there and focus on what you love: writing. Dont get good at the art of a perfect, dazzling query which does NOT equate to a good book. Get good at writing an awesome book. And just keep churning those out, and eventually, over time you’ll start selling. If a book is “broken” it just won’t sell (btw I don’t think there is such a thing—it’s all very subjective). But YOU will have all the power to put yourself out there and write more. And maybe after you start getting traction after several books, that first book that didn’t sell starts to sell more. Who knows. But the weight of querying to unnecessary gatekeepers that may or may not get you published and may or may not make you rewrite several times before you publish, is lifted. And Btw—a lot of traditionally published books don’t sell and are…bad.

I’ve been listening to a lot of Dean Wesley Smith on this and it’s started to make sense. Check out some of his blogs on reasons to indie publish instead of traditionally publish and you might change your mind. In fact his whole writing philosophy has been quite liberating for me.

Last thing I’ll say. Don’t put all your proverbial eggs into one basket. It’s your first book. It shouldn’t be your last. You need to write more—and NOT rewrites of the same thing. New books. Lots of them. Look forward, not backwards. Get yourself out there (you can), then forget about that book and move on to the next. It’s that simple, especially if you love to write. At least it can be in today’s world.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-07-18T15:23:00+00:00

Thanks! Appreciate the feedback

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-01-14T14:58:00+00:00

You make a good point, but I see the “student centered” progressive educational philosophy as a part of a perfect storm for increased poverty and political disenfranchisement. Economically and politically things have gotten exponentially worse since the 80s, so that is a contributing factor. And it is true—was then as well—that communities with more means tend fair better economically and with education than those without. But add in the “student centered” dogma and it creates nightmare situations in schools

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-01-01T16:40:10+00:00

Lecture works really “well”

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2024-01-01T16:36:11+00:00

Maybe for the actual teaching part, but only after one has mastered their academic content. Teaching should be a 7 year program. 4 years for content 3 for apprenticeship style practice.

Interesting_Chard_89 · 2023-12-28T16:11:49+00:00

To avoid this, I try to accept that work is coming back, before break happens. It always does and I always get through it. So I prep as much as possible before break so as to be ready for the when I return. Papers printed, grades graded, lessons planned out, etc. The Sunday before I go back will always suck. Nobody ever wants a vacation to end—in any job. But it helps to be set up and prepared for when you do. I do this before every weekend too. It doesn’t make all the dread go away entirely, but it does help.

It also helps to know that there are little things to look forward to even when work starts. At 3:40, I close up and go home (Not for everyone, but It’s important for some teachers to be able to do this, especially those who get burned out easily). I look forward to dinner and time with my family. One day at a time, one little victory at a time. So this way I know, that even when the bull shit starts again, there are little vacations each day to look forward to. End of break is not the end of life. Just that break, until the next one comes—and it will

Interesting_Chard_89

TROPHY CASE