Enigma Earth

Enigma Earth: The Theme Music

Every TV show has theme music right? Well, while "Enigma Earth" is just found in the written word of a blog of fiction, I thought it would still be nice to have a theme. Usually, at work, when I am working on a new production, it takes me a long time to go through music to find just the right piece. This was not the case with "EE." I had not even started searching.

Recently, I was listening to one of my Pandora stations. The one I call, "Positive Refuge," from WC3PO. I heard " The Vanished Gardens of Cordoba," by composer, Ray Lynch. It struck me immediately that this piece envoked feelings in me that I wanted to convey for "Enigma Earth." The piece comes from the album, "Nothing Above My Shoulders but the Evening," circa 1993.

Here is a quote of a review from his website:

"The Vanished Gardens of Cordoba ", the most orchestral piece Ray has done, expresses the majesty and the melancholy of incarnation, the paradox of human existence with both the promise of possible transcendence and inevitable mortality (with all the melancholy attending the perception of a paradise lost). Passionate and stirring melodies with members of the San Francisco Symphony on flute, English horn, oboe, solo strings, guitars, piano, brass, and his trademark richly textured keyboards."

This description certainly fits with the feelings I want to evoke. In listening to this, I imagine a fade up from black at the beginning of the first story, "Good Morning and Goodbye." The camera sweeps over the still dark skyline of Symmzinnati ( the setting for the story that parallels the real world Cincinnati, Ohio.) The camera leads up to the top of the Carew Tower where our protagonist, Silas Whowood, contemplates the world and his life.

The follow mp3 file comes directly from Mr. Lynch's website. It is © copyright, Ray Lynch Productions 1995-2007. Go to raylynch.com to find out more about his music and how to order some for you own.

And now, here is "The Vanished Gardens of Cordoba," by Ray Lynch.
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Enigma Earth, a fantastical fiction series from T.D. Miller.

This is an illustration from the Enigma Earth story, "Good Morning and Goodbye." It shows the container of Stalin's DNA leaking out it's cryogenic ooze. It is reaching out to meld Boris Savchenko and Stalin, the man of steel into...what? Intrigued? Here is the story so far:

The Continental Blogcasting System and T.D. Miller proudly present... Is it a strange past, a warped present, or a surreal future? A place that might be or might have been. This is Enigma Earth.

Silas Whowood, is former Clear Vox News commentator with a mysterious past. As he is about to leave his hometown of Symmzinnati, Ohio, in search of a new future, part of that past arrives in the form of ex-girlfriend, Nell Chandler. Nell arrives with fiancé Boris Savchenko, a Soviet government official and hero of the Perestroika Revolution of the 1980s. It was a revolution that heralded a new Soviet Union of freedom and democracy.

Meanwhile forces loyal to the old Soviet Union are plotting to resurrect the old order when oppression and gulags were part of the supposed worker’s paradise. One sample of DNA and a human host is all they need to re-animate their god, Stalin.

Can Silas, with the help of his friends and a young Ukrainian woman, stop the evil that is about to be unleashed upon the world? Find out in the first story of the Enigma Earth Series, “Good Morning and Goodbye.”

EE Update: Announcing, "Gentleman Agitator"

Dear Reader:

A continued thanks for reading Enigma Earth and patience between episodes. While you wait to read more about what the young woman from Ukraine is going to do against the evil entity of Stalin that is in Symmzinnati, not to mention Silas Whowood and the rest, I have something new for you to read. It's called, "Gentleman Agitator." This is my second weblog. There you will find my thoughts on life, the universe and everything. My first post was dedicated to the writer and former Czech president, Vaclav Havel, one of my heroes. You will meet more of my heroes as time goes along. It was in the spirit of my quote of Havel at GA that inspired me to begin GA. I am also commenting on the recent election here in America.

Best wishes to my readers....

T.D.

For Gentleman Agitator go here----> http://nexus-station.typepad.com/gentleman_agitator

Columbia Babylon: The Flag

Dear Reader,

Below, you see the flag of Columbia Babylon, a freedom protector of the Conglomerated States of America. At least that is what the country in the Enigma Earth universe is called. You might know it better as Iraq. It took a long time for some high priced ad firm outsourced to the Defense Division to come up with this one. The CSA higher ups needed a great name for these new "freedom protectorates." It needed to be marketable to both the American people and the citizens of the CSA's new subsidiaries. At first, the name "American Iraq," was sent up as a trial balloon. A focus group of 18 to 24 year olds thought the name meant a new reality show. Well, they were right in a way and wrong in another. The agency went back to the drawing board. There was also, once again, the constant bickering between the government's religious overseers and the one's who only looked to make a profit and gain glory for the country. One bright ad exec put on his alma mater's sweatshirt one day and exclaimed, "Columbia!" Columbia was a word that was a nickname for America in its early days. It stood for the new, improved, youthful image of America as the bringers of democracy and useless consumer goods. The money people got what they were looking for. The religious authorities decreed the name Babylon. Iraq had no biblical ring to it and since this is where the CSA was going to make a stand against the horrorist infidels, it seemed prophetic. Also, the ad agency thought Iraqis would be reminded of the glory days of their country long, long ago. Little did they know that when Maddam Insain was overthrown, little glory lay ahead. The flag ended up a mix of American and Iraqi. Lady Columbia is seen bringing liberty to the repressed with a sword. When the great CEO saw it, he chuckled, "Yeah, it reminds me of that saying. What is it? "Give you liberty or give you death."" To pacify the natives the old Arab colors were pieced together along with the stars and "God is Great," words from the old flag. As the day-to-day operators of C.B., the Hellnburnton Corporation, proudly displays their logo. People have stared at the flag for a long time. The new "Babylonians," are still not quite sure who the lady with the sword and the winter beanie is.

- T.D.

CLICK ON SMALL IMAGE TO SEE LARGER OR GO TO ARTWORK SECTION OF EE

EE Update: Clear Vox Network Logo

Dear Reader,

I apologize for the long delay in returning to our story. I was ill for awhile and then I was out of town for awhile. I hope we will be getting back to "Good Morning and Good Bye," next week. Until then, I have had time to finish the EE universe's logo for the Clear Vox Network. At Clear Vox, "Mother Tells You, You Listen." - T.D.

EE Update: Hooray for Norway!

I would just like to thank my Norwegian reader(s). As best as I can decipher from my stats, I get quite a few views from there. So, let’s say hooray for Norway!

One of my many interests, besides writing is Vexillology. Vex-a-what you may ask? Vexillolgy is the study of flags. I have liked flags of all sorts ever since I was a kid. I did not know people actually studied flags until I was an adult. So, in honor of Norway, let me show you the standard Norwegian flag and a couple of others I found that I thought were neat. Norway really has an interesting flag history. At the bottom of the post are: the national flag, the flag of the Norwegian defense chief, circa 1901 and the flag of the city of Jondal. If you would like to see more flags from Norway or flags in general, check out: http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/index.html It's an awesome website for flags.

I hope you enjoy the flags. As for “Enigma Earth,” hmmm, what’s Halley’s plan for getting the passes for Boris and Nell? What to do with the evil essence of Stalin? These and other questions will be answered or not, in the next exciting episode of “Enigma Earth!”

T. D.

EE: Internal Memo from CBlogS Executive

TO: T.D. Miller, creator: “Enigma Earth.”
FROM: Fred Armani, V.P. for Programming, Columbia Blogcasting System
Reference: Where is this thing going?

Mr. Miller:

We here in the programming office of CBlogS are concerned about the state of your blogovision series, “Enigma Earth.” At first we were all for something new an innovative in the world of blogging. However, we have some concerns the way this production has been going.

First of all, you promised the pilot episode in ten parts. You are already at eight and there is no end in sight. We were warned of your Tolstoyan proclivities. Could you please tell us how many more installments there will be? Perhaps a nice sitcom wrap up where nothing makes sense, but everyone laughs is a consideration.

Second, when you first suggested the use of dead actors in this production, we were all for it. The cost in salaries in hiring dead people cannot be better. And we thought, if Fred Astaire can do mop commercials, why can’t Ingrid Bergman make a comeback on the blogosphere? We love the marketing potential. However, you have marginalized her in the pilot and I am tired of taking calls from her deceased agent! Some of us up here on the top floor still wish you had picked Hillary Duff for that part. Think about it. Also, the casting of Dana Andrews as the lead was at first an idea reasonable to us. We wonder though, does he have the gravitas to pull it off in a full-length series? Granted being dead, means scheduling him is not a problem, but will audiences really buy a hero played by a dead person? Please consider the use of dead actors in future episodes. Perhaps we can use living actors with dead careers. That should keep costs about in line with the already deceased.

Speaking of future episodes. We are not exactly thrilled with the ratings for the pilot so far. You have few hits per day and only a few, constant, reading subscribers. As for the international audience, only one from Norway as far as we can tell. Surely, Mr. Miller we can do better than Norway. Our studies show that what people want these days is what we call C.R.A.P., a constant, regurgitation, of all programming. A healthy dose of sex, violence, exploitation of real people in reality scenarios and re-treaded plots may just be the thing to raise your numbers. Think about it.

Lastly, we hired you based on your reputation for being funny. So far, what you call EE has very little humor that we can see. Twenty-five years ago you were a young hot shot willing to poke fun at the world, at authority, at news, at popular culture. What was it called? “The Once and Future Saga?” You even liked to poke fun at network executives like me back then from what I hear. You have yet to make fun of network executives. If you wish, I can gather a focus group to look at how network executives and in fact any middle management suck ups like myself can best be satirized. Best wishes on the further adventures of Silas Whowood and company. Remember, T.D. we are here to help.

Sincerely,

Fred Armani

Taliesin West: More Images

Dear Readers,

More images of my visit to Frank Lloyd Wright's, Taliesin West are now up. More to come. Please visit the "IMAGES," section to view.

T.D.

EE Update

Dear Reader,

As you can see, the EE has changed in layout again. I am especially pleased with the new title banner. It is more simple and clean and incorporates the theme phrase. I hope you like it.

T.D.

Rounding Out Cast is....

I definitely wanted to get the cast set before this first story is over. Terry O'Quinn as Hans Volkswagen and LeVar Burton as Steve Roberts.