Getting this permission was worth the extra effort, because it removes any legal roadblocks from the use of previously copyrighted material.  The negotiations were straightforward and went smoothly much to my relief.  The finished video now has the Virgin EMI recording in the credits with the proud statement, “Used with permission.”

The trailer can now be seen on YouTube http://youtu.be/GE78TOSt5vQ

Lachlan develops his characters well and keeps the reader engaged as the fate laid out by the myth gradually devours them.  A wonderful read by an author who, one senses, understands the true nature of magic.

The next phase was writing a simple script which featured important key words and phrases, one at a time, to instill a sense of drama and anticipation leading to a brief plot summary, devoid of “spoilers.”  The last key word was “transformation” which I felt needed an animated sequence.  This proved to be the most difficult part.  For about two seconds of animation I had to make thirty frames with the action progressing to a conclusion by the end of the thirtieth frame with an exciting transition to yet another animated sequence displaying the plot summary.

I avoided serious “spoilers” by using text mostly from the back cover of the book.  I’m now in negotiations to obtain permission to use the music I added as background for the 43.77 seconds of action in the trailer.  Waiting to hear.

I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with
particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations.
Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn
manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root
in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in
all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those
of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their
worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit
of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries
has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But
this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and
miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and
repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of
some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns
this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public
liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless
ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of
the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise
people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public
administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false
alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally
riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption,
which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels
of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to
the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the
administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty.
This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical
cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of
party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it
is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain
there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there
being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public
opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a
uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of
warming, it should consume.

It is important, likewise, that the habits of thinking in a free country
should inspire caution in those entrusted with its administration, to confine
themselves within their respective constitutional spheres, avoiding in the
exercise of the powers of one department to encroach upon another. The spirit of
encroachment tends to consolidate the powers of all the departments in one, and
thus to create, whatever the form of government, a real despotism. A just
estimate of that love of power, and proneness to abuse it, which predominates in
the human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us of the truth of this position. The
necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing
and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the
guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by
experiments ancient and modern; some of them in our country and under our own
eyes. To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. If, in the
opinion of the people, the distribution or modification of the constitutional
powers be in any particular wrong, let it be corrected by an amendment in the
way which the Constitution designates. But let there
be no change by usurpation; for though this, in one instance, may be the
instrument of good, it is the customary weapon by which free governments are
destroyed. The precedent must always greatly overbalance in permanent evil any
partial or transient benefit, which the use can at any time yield.

I’m beginning the process of developing a “trailer” for my recently released fantasy novella “Sea-Change” and I will be providing future updates on progress as well as commentary on what works and what does not.

A common thread seems to be a total lack of information (even the local branch managers seem to be unable to check the status of any of these processes) about where the loan or refinancing applicant stands and a total disregard for timely action. For these “too big” banks, it would seem that the only thing that matters is loaning money to each other, not to their depositors. The local branch associates are usually helpful in the initial stages but once the transaction is set up the paperwork moves to a location often far from the point of origin. Since banks susposedly make money by loaning money to other people this seems like a crazy way to do business. Deals that aren’t completed bring no money into the bank’s coffers, but apparantly they feel that they don’t need it (“too big to fail” remember?)

Granted that many overpressured zones are shales with little porosity and permeability and thus can be handled with little extra difficulty. But at that depth (about 5000 feet water) it seems that the extra precautions wold have been worth it ( if it was indeed the failure of BP to anticipate an overpressured sand).

Just a thought and no way to prove it.

The trap comes with the fact that the more you post the more money I earn, and so the time that I could be spnding on potentially more lucrative projects is not available.