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July 27, 2022
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Dude, you are a good writer.

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Now Looney Tunes makes more sense

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founding

If it happens more than once, does it negate this effect?

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"Falls in a well, eyes go crossed, gets kicked by a mule, they go back to normal."

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as long as you wind up with an odd number you're good

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Damn, I lost count.

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At this point I'm open to anything. But all I got after my last head injury were these stupid suicide headaches (CCH.)

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Cluster headaches? Psilocybin.

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Who needs a head injury when you have access to clusterbusters :) Also the depression has been a real doozy lately. My guy succumbed to his final stages of cancer, took a heroic dose & opted out. Been up shit creek without a paddle for almost a year now (but I'd have done the same, don't get me wrong.) I need to learn how to be less awkward and make new friends.

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Saw your original message. Unfortunately, my one friend in your area moved to Thailand. Go to any hippie type festival and youll be tripping over people who are happy to help.

Also, you can order readymade cubes 100% legally. Spores already in substrate. Just dont cut an X in the cube and mist the X a few times per day and you wont be breaking any of the lovely laws designed to protect us from living meaningful lives.

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Lol too late. I got in a car accident at 18. The only one I ever didn’t wear my seatbelt. Spider webbed the windshield and got a concussion.

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“No, I’m not recommending you get punched in the head or hit by a car.”

Me and the person I hired off of Craigslist immediately after reading the post: https://youtu.be/TV5faBBHfkw

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Ah! This goes back to the story you reviewed that I wrote—- “Tumble Salts.” I have been revising it. My life sure changed after that—-for sure.

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My little Snickers passed away today. I had her for 18 years. Trying times and punches in the face do reset your mind and get you back on track when it comes to understanding what is truly important.

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Sorry for your loss :(

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author

Was that the dog I met in Portland? I am so very sorry.

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founding

Oh we have yet to meet and Snickers is my cat. She's a huge fan as well. Thank you Mr Palahniuk.

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author

Sorry, my bad. When you're ready for a new love, please let me send some cat toys.

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founding

Thank you so much Mr. Palahniuk.

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I just got done reading the first 3 short stories in Thom Jones "The Pugilist at Rest" and wow. The stories are tremendous. The combination of head injuries, descriptions, flash backs, head authority, and setting are just spectacular. It reminds me of all the stories my dad told me about the Tet Offensive. How they had to run out to the dead bodies in between human waves to gather the ammo off the warm bodies. How he launched a rocket into a Bus filled with NVA and listened to them scream as the fireball burned them alive. He told me how war is the worst thing we do to each other as human beings and it's part of the reason I joined the Navy instead of the Army.

I'm grateful for my health. I really don't want a head injury. I never wanted to go to war. I hope my writing can measure up to the Titans that went before me.

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The story "Unbreak My Heart" was always my favorite, but it's never been collected in his best-of books. A shame. "It's like beating my hands against a tractor tire." I recall that on-the-body line from 1993? 1994? Forever.

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I was hit by a car in 2014 while crossing the street [in the crosswalk, I might add]. I don't have any memory of the incident - the side of my head met the concrete curb and knocked me out.

And despite the resulting concussion, I am still not a creative genius. Boo ☹️

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It could've been worse.

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Yes, that is true. It was February and it had been raining... I ended up face down in gutter. I'm told I was "gurgling."

Alive and not a creative genius is better than drowned in a gutter trying to walk to sushi.

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I mean... if that's what it takes...

Side note, anyone every attempt anything like Edison's idea-sparking-while-dozing-off technique? I think there were a few other scientists/creatives who used falling objects while entering the dream state, but can't recall at the mo.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/thomas-edisons-naps-inspire-a-way-to-spark-your-own-creativity/

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author

Fascinating. I do do the Edison cat nap thing, taking small micro naps when I get stuck mid-story.

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A micro nap for me is an hour.

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I’ve known too many people who’ve suffered from long-term consequences of brain injuries, some for more than a decade. Some of these were shocking accidents, some were from falling in the bathroom, or hitting in to the edge of a pool. Those who were affected so much after minor concussions had often had half a dozen or more over their lifetimes.

I wouldn’t recommend it, just like I wouldn’t recommend being in the control group for a randomized trial on the effectiveness of seatbelts.

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Agreed. I used to do cognitive assessments on former football players and boxers with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), and I'll never forget some of those presentations. Wild. And sad.

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Yes it is, and so many years of experts etc not taking them seriously.

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Played tackle football in a gym in 5th grade. I had broken away for a touchdown and was sprinting full clip when a faster kid snagged my ankle. Spun around and smacked the back of my head on the tile floor. I dont recall having a concussion. Just that my nose started running after hitting my head.

Not that I can compare myself to Roseanne or Sam or you in any way. I very much still have a filter, but Ive never been afraid to broach subjects that most people steer clear of.

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So, was the second example Sam Kinison? I can't remember.

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Yessir. According to his brother, getting hit by a car when he was little eliminated his inhibition. Former preacher turned one of the greatest comics ever, until the fame and coke took hold. Then a drunk redneck eliminated any chance at redemption.

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Speaking of inhibition, I get the feeling that many of the adults around you when you were a kid used much less polite language than you do.

Do you believe that crass language takes something away from the story? Even when its appropriate for the character?

Only time I can recall anything near that is the son telling the highly inappropriate jokes he heard from his dying Dad in Make Something Up. That one hit too close to home.

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Growing up, my siblings and I weren't allowed to say "hell" or "damn" or any excretive expletives. We weren't allowed to use the word "hate" but had to say "dislike" instead. At Freightliner Trucks I only swore to fit in, and it never felt natural. And while writing 'Fight Club' I decided to use f--k only once (in the Tyler speech). Swearing seems like such a cheat that I cringe when writers overuse it. It seems like a lazy way to create shock, and anymore it doesn't add much.

And the story you cite, 'Knock-Knock,' was very autobiographical. My brother and I were programmed with those jokes before we had any chance.

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I find myself questioning my character's cursing, but in my world there is no shock value. Its just how people talk.

Going to guess that your mother kept the bad language under wraps. I didnt have that balance.

I could tell. Pretty good at getting a read on people, even if it is only through text. Theres a lot more surrounding this that I would love to ask about, but not publicly.

People are fascinating.

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Or as Haunted phrased it "Shoo-rook!"

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I go sparring 4 times a week, no big epiphany just yet. Might go and poke the biggest guy at the gym tomorrow, just to see if that shakes something up.

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I heard somewhere that in pre-historic times, a clan who wanted to record an important event would traumatize a young child (by almost drowning him). The child would then remember everything that happened that day and be able to recount the event for many years. I can't find any evidence to support this theory.

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July 27, 2022
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No but I will watch it if you recommend.

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July 27, 2022
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Thanks!

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author

Amazing! Thank you.

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