Tween Times, Weaving and Bobbing

There is a sign of life in the cavern these days.  A discussion about a possible upcoming movie is being followed, courtesy of the cavern forum.  I followed the link to the alleged Myst Movie.  Over a period of a few days the homepage opened with a puzzle piece format.  As a puzzle lover does, I’ve followed along putting together the various pieces to build a complete picture.  Not a D’ni linguist I relied on others to decipher the source code’s cryptic language.  It is proving to be a nice diversion for me.  I have no idea whether there really is a movie, but this is just the kind of story the explorers should have to wile away the time between restoration openings.  It keeps us all sharp witted and engaged.  Bravo to those who may be producing a film.  It is about time that someone realized (with real money) how rich a story it is that was discovered over the past 15 years.  My latest projects involve a documentary style look at the mysteries of the cavern, but surely a motion picture would increase my investor’s understanding of what our mission could be in a larger than life way.  While my objective is small screen, the movie sounds like a stadium theater, popcorn munching, family affair. 

If this story is a red herring, also bravo.  The forum  isn’t the place where I would go to make branches.  I prefer the D’ni Restoration forum, but there are benefits to a straight forward approach.  Everyone gets it upfront.  No weaving and bobbing.

Note:  I live for weaving and bobbing.

What good friends are for:)

I spent some time talking with Tom Knight last night.  He recently visited the cavern with a tour group from the Myst Explorations.  He was only in the cavern for week, but he got to places that I can’t yet reach.  Apparently the D’ni Restoration Council has not cleared the way for explorers to see some parts of the shaft that can be seen by entering the tunnel from just inside the rim of the volcano.  I am not sure whether the DRC approves of these tours, but the tours continue. 

Since I am working hard to pull together my documentary, I am sure Tom’s insights and photos are going to be extremely important.  Although I’m not sure I want to use his footage, I will definitely use his thought process and yeesha journal discoveries.  I plan only to make this movie once.  I need to get back to my work on repatriation of artifacts.  The films are are informative.  My firm needs additional funding to continue DNA research.

Tom agreed to send me some of his edited material this weekend.  I can’t wait to see it.  I hope to add a couple of photos to the blog.

Red, Red Lake, Red Sea, Red Tide

Today I decided to post about my father’s theory the gas that brought on the “physical” fall of the D’ni cavern poplulation was Red Tide.  Hesitant to do this, because it is surely information that will bring more attention to the what the cavern dwellers are doing about pellet production in order to light the lake off Ae’gura.  I am not sure whether I want to talk caution, when I all I really want to do is report on the “called” participation in the restoration.  What prompted me to post is the noticing that sluggishness in the cavern is accounting for a lack of activity, and any reason to invite explorers to get interested in coming down is a good reason to post.  It could be that explorers are still out on holiday break.  My investors returned to work yesterday, and I wanted to get an early start on observations.  I await to see what happens.

For a review of my comments, please go here.  I’ve not yet decided to join the D’ni Zoological Society.

Finding a Distribution Source for the Documentary

You may note I did not get my vidblog completed in time to publish it the last time I posted.  Over the weekend I put together some thoughts about who to contact about contributions.  Three colleagues come to mind.  I am not sure whether they are all available to work on the film, but I think I can convince them.  It is important work, this geneological study of where the D’ni may have come from.  I enjoy hearing about what I call “the outer space” origin of their species, but I tend to think there is more to this story than meets the fantasy eye. 

Coming up with a title, at least a working title for the film, was not so difficult as I thought it might be.  I am going to call it Mysteries of a Cavern Peoples.  No misleading poetry there.  A simple title to make a simple statement about the goodness of inquiry.  So many questions about the D’ni and the restoration are being left unanswered.  It appears that many “tourists” to the site argue for more ages to explore, but do not take time to learn about it’s historical and literary traditions.

Enough of my bandstanding!  I intend to bring in the professionals:  Desmond W. Buckman, author of many historical and religious history texts, Thomas Knight (an old friend of mine and DNA dabbler), who follows the trail of “Dan” so well, Felecia Cross, author of the popular and award winning book, From Tall Tale to Legend, and, if possible Ghaelen D’Lareh, a cavern historian, who is now reporting for Cavern Communications Network.

I am not sure whether I will be able to contact Ms. D’Lareh.  If my association with her means a like association with Ms. O’Degee, I may not want to depend on the network for scholastic research or distribution.  Ms. O’Degee is a well known agitant, who produces “quick” documentaries that could use further documentation and professional editing.  I want this production to be well produced, carefully edited and nicely filmed.  Its purpose is two-fold: 1) a resource for my flash freeze investors and 2) a competent and entertaining film that informs the public of the expedition impact.

Today’s First Vidblog

It is very quiet in the cavern these days.  I expect many explorers went home for the holidays, and won’t be back until sometime in mid-January.  Their absence gives me some time to look around and take some photos for my serial documentary.  I know there are others filming in various ages, but I want to start my video exploration from the top.  I want to see and document, while I go along from place to place.  I know some explorers will hesitate to view my films, because so much will be given away in the telling.  On the other hand there a good many explorers (like my investors) who do not want to unravel puzzles or leap from place to place on their own.  They are looking for mystery:  what happened to this cavern group and what will become of the explorers who are either restoring the cavern or resisting any restoration of the cavern.  My comments will be heard by those who share my middle of the road views, believing that its perfectly alright to restore the cavern, but it is not alright to alter it.  It is not my objective, or the objective of my investors to see the site turned into some sort of amusement park.

San Jose, New Mexico

After spending the last few years involved with the freeze project sponsored by SEU, I’ve not had the time to properly follow tips that might lead me to Loftin, or should I say Loftin’s remains.  It was a wonderful tip that I got last month about his most recent whereabouts, but most recent is still late 80′s.  Late 80′s is getting to be twenty years ago.   I was a younger man then (still in my teens).  If it had not been for my father’s last trip notes to San Jose, New Mexico I don’t think I’d know the story like I do. 

Then of course there is the flip side to this whole story.  This may not be the same Loftin who got banned from artifact preservation and fled to the desert to find some little known group’s kivas.  The name, including the nick matches, the fact he wrote many books and articles about the area, and the additional fact he was never heard from again leads me to believe I am right about this guy being the same guy.  So why do I doubt?  Spottings of Elvis and that thief who dropped from a parachute reminds me how much of a deteroiation time can be to a back story when so much happens after.   

1st Day, Cavern

I think I ran into a number of roadblocks today. I can’t seem to get any information on John Loftin.  I am not sure why, but over the last four or five years no one has asked about the man. 

Fair Trading on the Cavern Floor

I am not sure whether explorers involved with light producing algae projects in the cavern are aware of the side effects of producing the algae.  If there are explorers who are working in this field, I would like to meet with them.  Although I’m no expert in this field (it was my father’s domain), I could share his notes with these explorers in return for any information they can give me about how textiles and other artifacts are preserved by the D’ni Restoration Council (DRC).  Once the dialogue is opened, it might be possible to move on to whatever happened with the John Loftin incident.  I’ve already been told only one person knows about what happened to Loftin, but I am convinced that more explorers know, but are not willing to commit to spilling the details.  Whatever information I get is better than what I’ve got so far – a lot of innuendos and gossip.