BeckerBlog

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4

More-al Dilemma
2008-02-17 01:32:00
Thanks to everyone who responded to my Moral Dilemma blog about whether to contact a certain someone in The World. Even though being a Fixer probably IS "The Best Job in The World," it still gets a little lonely sometimes and that's what was making me think to check in. That and also because this someone was really cool to hang out with on that night we met in the Dream. Of everyone who responded: I got 35 "Break The Golden Rule" votes, 104 "No Way, Dude. It's Not Worth It." votes and 3 votes that made no sense and were probably written by someone's little sister when they left the computer on. Like "I want a cookie," and ?Mommy plays Candyland with Uncle Andy.? Anyway, I still haven't quite decided what to do. I wish I could manage a little friendly check-in and not get caught but if convicted by the Court of Public Opinion I could lose my Badge AND get sentenced to time in Seemsberia. For those of you who read the weather forecast for Seemsberia in my other blog ? y...

Writer?s Strike Averted on Both Sides!
2008-02-13 20:41:00
Reprinted w/permission of The Daily Plan SP ? World/Seems, 00:2:15. by David Brendelfly A potentially World-threatening writer?s strike has been averted on both sides of the In-Between, sources close to the WGAE, WGAW, & WGAS confirm. The nearly four-month old walk-out was averted after 11th hour negotiations in Sector 103 and 71, finally yielded a compromise solution. Writer s in The World had stopped creating content because of a dispute over new media compensation. Seemsian writers, it was rumored, were contemplating a similar action as a show of solidarity with their Worldly brethren and sistren. Stanley Grammor of the WGAS: ?We are extremely pleased that Scribes and Wordsmiths on the other side are finally getting a fair shake. If Seemsian pens had been put down, the flow of Creative Juices to The World could have been jeopardized, and from there we can only speculate?? Eve Hightower, Second-In-Command of The Powers That Be issued this release: ?The Big Building and all...
More About: Sides , Strike

Cheaters Never Prosper, Redux
2008-02-12 04:11:00
As a huge fan of the Rutgers Women's basketball team, I want to remind the Tennessee Volunteers and their fans of one thing... 18-1. P.S. The Jinx Gnomes are coming for you...and not even a cheating clock (or clock operator) will be able to save you then...
More About: Prosper , Cheaters

Writer's Guild Strike Could Affect The Seems
2008-02-09 18:05:00
Reprinted w/permission of The Daily Plan SP ? World/Seems, 00:24:12. by David Brendelfly The ongoing writer?s strike in The World, could affect operations in The Seems, sources close to the walk-out report. In a show of solidarity, inkers in The Seems ? responsible for mythmaking, Big Ideas, Twists of Fate, and in some cases assisting Case Workers with intricate Chains of Events ? are considering a walkout if talks in The World do not reach conclusion soon. Head of the Writer?s Guild of The Seems (WGAS) Stanley Grammor was quoted as saying, ?Writers are a close knit family, on both sides of the In-Between, and perform the critical task of bringing entertainment and understanding to The World.? Grammor went on to say that the extraordinary step of cutting off the flow of Creative Juices was under consideration, but stopped short of saying whether this drastic measure would be taken. Since the October 31 strike, World based writers have been deadlocked with Hollywood studios over a ...
More About: Strike

The Super Bowl/A message to the New England Dranes...
2008-02-04 06:00:00
As I said some months ago in this blog, and over the phone to my cousin Michael in Rhode Island after the Patriots beat the Giants in the last week of the season, there is one thing that I know for sure after having checked with the Department of Justice in The Seems... CHEATERS NEVER PROSPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The only thing better than watching the Giants take down the Pats will be when the U.S. Congress exposes Belicheck for the crook he always was and Spygate puts a black eye on all the previous Super Bowl s they've won before...go Arlen Specter, and go Eli! P.S. The only bummer about yesterday was that after the game was over, and all my Giant fan buddies like Bloom and Melvin Sharp were practically in tears, it hit me that as good as I felt, I really have as a Jet fan is my hate. P.P.S. Have to admit, it feels good to hate the Pats, though... P.P.P.S. Especially when they're 18-1.
More About: England , Message , New England

Early Retirement?
2008-01-29 15:59:00
I really like my current job, but I just got my benefits package in the mail from The Seems and I couldn?t help notice the Early Retirement program. Depending on what job you have, after a certain number of years all employees of The Seems are available for a ?Golden Parachute.? A Golden Parachute is like a whole package of benefits that you get when you retire. Included are a rent-controlled apartment in Alphabet City or Who Knows Where (towns in The Seems) as well as Seemsian Security ? a monthly check to help buy food and clothes. For easier jobs like assistant Snooze Chef or Reality Checker, it takes like twenty years before you?re eligible for your GP. But for some of the very high-pressure positions like Case Worker and Fixer you can become eligible in ten years. So, I did the math, and I?m 13 now, which means at twenty-three I could be eligible for early retirement. I guess I?ll have to see what?s going on in the World at that time. If they really need me, of course I...
More About: Early retirement , Tire

Juno
2008-01-26 04:53:00
Awesome movie, loved it, but how come Juno reminded me more of Pandora, this super-cool spoken word poet/artist/musician who hangs out at the Chapter One coffeeshops, than any of the sixteen-year old girls who baby-sit the Drane brothers? (I'm only twelve, so I'm not embarrassed to admit to the fact that yes, I still have babysitters. Yet.) I'm just sayin'... P.S. Check out Pandora at... http://www.pandorascooter.com/

Weather in Seemsberia
2008-01-23 03:03:00
I was watching SNN Weather and saw this. I have to admit, I feel bad for The Glitch I snagged in Sleep, but you know what they say? ?Don?t do the crime if you can?t do the time!? 5-Day Forecast for Seemsberia Sunday -- -5° F | -16° F Monday -- -2° F | -16° F Tuesday -- 1° F | -11° F Wednesday -- 6° F | -16° F Thursday -- 0° F | -13° F

Snowhere to be found
2008-01-20 17:43:00
I?m starting to get very suspicious that either there is a broken Flake Gasket in the Snow Blower or The Tide is up to more Global Warming attacks. (Many people believe The Tide is responsible for Global Warming, but that?s another story.) What I wanted to blog about is that there has been like no snow in my town this entire winter. I don?t know about you, but I here in New Jersey and by February there is usually at least one substantial snow. The Weather Channel has predicted a number of big storms but at the last minute they all seem to dry up (or wet up) and all we get is rain! Very suspicious. I happen to like it when it snows because things start to look like a winter wonderland and we always have our annual ?Drane/Crozier vs. Hutkin Boyz Battle to The Death Snowball Fight Texas Steel Cage Death Match Royale.? This year we have had nothing to throw at each other and pretty soon, if it doesn?t snow I fear it will degenerate into throwing Clementines, figs, or any other pro...

The Majestic Twelve
2008-01-18 04:42:00
My flophead friends the Chapman sisters just turned me onto my new favorite band, the Majestic Twelve . A bunch of their videos are on YouTube, but here's the on for their new song, "CRY." I think you'll dig it...

Anybody feel that?
2008-01-14 02:31:00
If you just had a weird feeling like you just came out of a really long daydream but you don't remember any of the details, or like you maybe you forgot where you were and what you were doing there, don't worry, it pretty much happened to every single person in the World. What really happened was that The Department of Time was putting were doing a routine diagnostic on the pipeline to Reality, and they had to shut things down for a few seconds. Everything turned out fine, but Time Management wants to take every precaution and I don't blame them. To be honest, things have been pretty sketch in that Department ever since the Tide stole a bunch of Frozen Moments from the Daylight Savings Bank, and the fear is that they're working on another Time Bomb. I can't really talk about what happened last time, but suffice it to say, no one wants that to happen. Security in Time Square has been like google plexed, and chances are the person next to you in line at the Magic Hour coffee...
More About: Feel

Thanks a lot...
2008-01-02 00:24:00
...o the Department of Health for the stomach virus that has laid waste to my entire family (not to mention half of HP). I know viruses are as much a part of the Plan as humans or birds or lizards, but this kind of sucks. Can't move. Can't sleep. Can't eat. Burning up and freezing at the same time. And what's it's doing to my...well, let's just say we're divvying up bathrooms at the Drane estate, because no one wants to be second through the door... No chance I'll be in school tomorrow, but the real bummer is that I'm almost up on the Rotation, and I was dying for a sweet Mission to make up for some of the important but let's be honest lame ones I've been given the last two times (not including Missions that are more long-term)... Now I'm just dying...

Moral Dilemma
2007-12-26 16:51:00
As I think I've said before, privacy matters are a huge concern in The Seems, because the last thing anyone over there wants to make someone over here feel is that their lives are an open book for anyone else to read. Not to menion even bigger issues like free will, Thought crimes, and Memory Bank security, but those are topics for another day. What I'm getting at today is a certain moral dilemma that I'm facing right now, one I was hoping to get some opinions on... One of the most important Rules in The Seems is called "The Golden Rule," which states the following: "No employee, advocate or agent of The Seems having accessed (or with access to) the confidential Case File of a person in The World may engage in contact, communication, and/or relationship with said person, romantic or otherwise." It's pretty much considered the grandaddy of them all, at least where human beings are concerned and breaking it is considered like a seriously bad call. Criminal, even. That sai...
More About: Dilemma , Moral , Dile

Better Than A Good Night's Sleep
2007-12-23 12:11:00
Woke up at 3 AM this morning, for no reason other than the fact that my parents turn the heat up to like a million degrees at night and there's literally no moisture in the air of this house. All attempts to get comfortable again failed, and being that I'm pretty sure The Glitch who messed things up last time is safely tucked away in Seemsberia, I was pretty sure this was an isolated incident. But while waiting for my replacement package of GNS to arrive, I turned to the next best thing...a YouTube binge. Spent most of the last two and a half surfing through my favorite new musicians/bands, some of whom I'd never actually seen before, and thought you might dig a few videos and live performances... Hope you enjoy, and that you're sleeping a whole lot better than I am... P.S They won't let me embed this awesome New Kingdom song, so check it out here at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyHJ_EnmDm k
More About: Sleep , Good

Holiday Cheer
2007-12-13 13:35:00
When it rains, it pours. I waited all this time for my first Mission and now I?ve gotten assigned TWO long term Missions all in one month. A ?long-term? Mission is what Fixers are often assigned to work on in their ?spare time.? It?s not that the Mission isn?t important it?s just that it?s not ?World-critical.? Ie?The World is not at imminent risk but rather it?s something we need to take care of as soon as time permits. The new one I got assigned is called ?Holiday Cheer .? I never knew this, but every year The Department of Thought & Emotion tries to increase the amount of Good Cheer in The World, to get people in the ?holiday spirit.? Most people think that it?s just the snow and the Christmas lights that get you in that mood, but mood is largely a factor of what Thoughts and Emotions are dredged from the Wells, packaged in Issue Paper and sent down the Thought Tracks and into The World. Of course, it?s up to you in the end, but sometimes if you feel really happy or sad...

Bee Careful
2007-12-11 01:14:00
I don?t know if it?s because of the holidays or what, but ever since my first Mission, things have been really busy in The Seems. It?s against the Rules to discuss Missions in Progress but let?s just say I?ve been working on some very cool projects. Me and one other Fixer actually got put in charge of a new Mission called ?Bee Careful ? which is all about the disappearance of the bees in The World. I?m not sure if you?ve been paying attention, but the honey bees have been disappearing at an alarming rate in over 24 different Sectors in The World ? particularly in the USA. Scientists are brain fried about what?s causing it. There are all these theories that it?s cell phone radio waves and a virus and this and that, but of course ? we know better. Myself and Fixer #31 are looking at causes in The Department of Nature ? particularly the Flower Plant -- to try to get to the root of the problem. There is also an ongoing investigation as to weather Tide involvement is at play here. ...

Review for Transformers: The Movie
2007-12-05 16:24:00
Rad.
More About: Movie , Transformers , Review , The Movie

The Fixer's Lounge
2007-12-03 15:21:00
For the record, I would very much like to apologize for the fact that the Fixer?s Lounge is not yet as stocked as I want it to be. The plan is to have one of those mini-refrigerators stocked with Coke, Diet Coke, Snapple, Red Bull, & Fresca. To have big lounge chairs or even egg shaped chairs from back in the day. To have live entertainment on Thursdays and Sundays (just kidding). To have mood lighting, a full jukebox (that plays for free!), ping pong tables, and a whole library where people can check out Fixer lore, illustrations, stories about little known Missions ? and basically just the stuff that people like me and you who are serious about The Seems will like. Unfortunately, if you?ve ever built a house, you know how delays seem to mount. The dry-wall people show up late, the refrigerator turns everything to ice, the dog eats your lore, etc?etc? That plus the fact that I have been very busy. Not only is saving The World a little stressful right now, but it?s the en...

Happy Birthday, Stu!
2007-12-01 04:30:00
Just wanted to wish a happy birthday to my longtime pal, Stuart Wexler. We've been friends as long as I can remember, even used to ride our bikes to the Rt.1 flea market to pick up comic books on Sunday mornings (when there WAS a Rt.1 flea market...now it's a Loew's multiplex) but every year I forget his birthday, and I have to admit, this year was much the same. But thanks to Loraine D. for sending out her annual reminder email (as usual, way too late in the day for me to pretend that I remembered in the first place), I'm not totally blowing it. However, instead of making the pathetic 10:25 PM half apology, half happy birthday call this year, I'm posting it here, on my blog, for all the world (or at least a couple visitors)(and Stu)) to see... So again, happy whatever birthday it is for you, hope this one's the best, and here's to many more years of life in the Stubaru's engine...
More About: Happy , Birthday , Happy Birthday

A Little Bit of Both
2007-11-28 17:20:00
By the way, thought you guys might dig a short film that was made by and about some friends of mine from New Brunswick, which is the city across the river from Highland Park. They all go to Lincoln Middle School, which is right near my dad's office at Rutgers, and I met a lot of the kids in the movie playing soccer and basketball or just hanging out around RU. Anyhow, the movie's called "A Little Bit of Both," and it's a pretty cool documentary about their lives and their school and they wrote and shot and directed it themselves as part of their after school film program. I wish Lafayette had something like that, because I have this great idea for a movie about The Night They Robbed The Memory Bank, but the closest thing we get in HP is the theater club, which is about to do the "Music Man" again. I'm not much of a singer, but I might give it a try, because as Dr. Kole always says, a well-rounded life is a well-rounded life. Or something like that. In the meantime, check ...

...and the winner is!
2007-11-25 02:44:00
Good Guys 27, Bulldogs 0. It doesn't make up for the Mets and Jets, but it comes pretty close...
More About: Winner

Highland Park vs. Metuchen
2007-11-24 16:23:00
Later today is the famous Thanksgiving weekend Highland Park vs. Metuchen football game, and everyone here in HP is getting pretty pumped. Metuchen is the next town over and they're like our arch rivals and even though I?m not in high school yet, I still hate them with a passion. If you want an analogy, Highland Park is like The Fixers and Metuchen is like The Tide. They are evil ? I think because of something in the water over there or because they have nicer restaurants than we do, but that's another Another Story. Every year we play in the big game and every year someone pulls some sort of prank ? like one year Metuchen spray painted ?Go Bulldogs? on the Albadome. The Albadome is the dome on top of our high school. I don?t know how they got up there, but it was a good prank. So the next year, Highland Park burnt ?Go Owls? directly into their football field. That wasn?t very safe, either ? but you know how high schoolers are. As an asisde, I admit that neither ?The Ow...

Tryptophan
2007-11-23 17:14:00
As you probably know, the only official day off in The Seems for all Seemsian personnel is Ice Cream Sunday. That?s when the famous Skeleton Crew takes over operations so that all the regular employees can take a break and enjoy the festivities. On the other hand, Thanksgiving is not an official holiday in The Seems, but this year I put in a request to take the day off cause I knew a lot of people were coming to my house. I had off from school, of course, but my request to be off from Fixing was denied, because I?m one of the newest Fixers, so other people got priority. That was ok ? I just had to wear my Blinker ? but I also had to be very careful not to consume too much tryptophan and fall asleep on the couch. Tryptophan is the stuff that?s in turkey that makes you so tired after you eat it. I also think that eating three pounds of mashed potatoes and two apple pies can help in the "making you tired process" (assuming there?s no Glitch in Sleep!!), but that?s just my theory. ...

A message from Becker (and Benjamin!) Drane
2007-11-22 15:35:00
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
More About: Message , Becker , Benjamin , Mess

Don?t leave your computer on and yourself signed into your Blog unless you
2007-11-14 22:35:00
Dear Friends, I would like to apologize to everyone for the last series of ?Blog s? posted by my brother Benjamin. I was away at a sleepover at my friend Connell Hutkin?s house, and I accidentally left on my computer. For those of you who have little brothers and sisters, you probably understand. They are kind of like lice ? even if you cut your hair and get that special shampoo, it?s still not a 100% guarantee that they will go away. I?ve decided to keep up the so-called ?Benjamin Blog? just so that people can fully understand the pain and obnoxiousness that I must deal with on a daily basis. Benjamin is not a bad little brother ? in fact on some days during the year I almost like him ? but he is also a mischievous little monster, who if left to his own devices would probably like to take over the world ? as you can see from his Blog. And we thought The Tide was scary. That said, I am very happy to be back and I apologize for this misunderstanding. For those of you who have b...
More About: Computer , Signed , Leave

Goodbye
2007-11-14 02:11:00
My brother came back from his friend Connell?s house because he forgot the cartridge for Juvenile Delinquent and saw that I typed on his computer and punched me in the chest and now he got grounded but then he apologized and I said I was sorry for going in his room and I wasn?t but I didn?t have anything to do cause all my friends were at karate at the Y. Thank you for reading my Blog. It was really fun to write a Blog and if you are a younger brother or sister also and you know what I mean. If you want me to write more Blogs will you please email Becker at beckerdrane@gmail.com and tell him that Benjamin?s Blog rules and BeckerBlog is just okay and then he should appreceeight me more next time? Thank you. The End. Benjamin Drane
More About: Goodbye

In My World
2007-11-13 23:57:00
If I could change the world to be a better way it would all be in charge by little brothers and sisters instead of older brothers and sisters and then there would be no problems and then we would spend all our money on like candy and stuff and big league chew instead of like wars and gas and milk. In my world I would be like the president and Percy and Georgiana would be like the army and we would have a car and we would go to New Brunswick and eat at Old Man Rafferty?s and Toys R Us would be open all night and then we would go there and build a racing set. In my world Becker would be like a slave and have to wait on me and sleep in a doghouse in the backyard. But if he was good, he could come in if it was really cold.
More About: World

Percy and Georgiana
2007-11-13 22:13:00
I?m back. My best friends at school are Percy and Georgiana. Percy has two moms that are girls which is very common now in my generation which is six year olds and above. Being six is fun accept there are not a lot of fun things to do because I am too young and my friends to go to the mall on Route One and too old for playgroup so we go to Gymboree and talk on our cell phones but my parents are cool, especially my Mom. My Dad is cool too, but he?s a professor. Georgiana is my other best friend and she has red hair and freckles. Someone's coming up the stairs. Gota go.

The Seems
2007-11-13 21:57:00
A lot of problems in the world are caused because of older brothers and sisters because they are mean. My brother thinks he has a job in this place called The Seems and I pretend to believe it because I?m only six, but really I think it?s just his imaginary world he made up because our friend Amy died and she was really cool and Becker was really sad so he came up with The Seems to make him feel better but he beat me up one time and tried to put me in the clothes dryer. Right now my parents are downstairs and they don?t know I?m in Becker?s room. I?m not allowed to go in Becker?s room because he?s my older brother but my room is cool too because I have a bed inside a race-car. I better get out of here before I get cawt.

Benjamin's Blog
2007-11-13 21:45:00
Hi. This is Benjamin . My brother went to his friend Connell?s for a sleep over party and I went into his room to steal anything good and I noticed he left his computer on and his Blog . Becker?s Blog is good but I think it?s time probly soon for Benjamin?s Blog. Benjamin?s Blog will be really fun and more for 6 year olds than old people like Becker. Being six is fun.