Sorry I haven't been posting recently. ALL YEAR LONG, in fact. Just haven't really had anything worth saying.
I do have to say though, this was the PERFECT time of year to let my kittens out for the first time. My perennial laziness kept them from getting any sort of shots or other medical treatment until just recently, with them about 6 months old. (Maybe more, I dunno.) So, before then, I knew I couldn't let them out, even though they obviously wanted to.
Now, with their immune systems immunized and their who-hah's and what's'its fixed (which is to say, broken), they are free to explore nature in all its grandeur. And, as I have said, I couldn't have picked a better time to procrastinate to. For the past few days, it has been absolutely miserable outside. Of course, it's all new to them, but as they're exploring something new, I'm glad they have a clear contrast in their heads. My house is dry and warm, and very nice; outside is wet and cold and miserable. I also have a litter box and readily available food, though I can't necessarily promise that they couldn't find similar facilities outside.
Indeed, even with the outdoors being so terrible of late, trying to coax them back into my house when I wanted has been quite a chore. So instead, I've taken to letting them out when I leave for work in the morning, and then, 9 or so hours later, letting them back in, once they've gotten that out of their system.
18.1.08
13.12.07
26.11.07
"It's An Apple! It's FRUIT!!!"
Kittens don't eat fruit.
Sorry, the above conversation between myself and my kittens was too funny to not mention. Tonight I've been re-bitten by the writer's bug. Dunno why. But I do have a bit to share.
Okay, back. Hadda get my burrito out of the microwave. More on that later.
So, I dunno if I told you, but I bought a kilt. I like it. It's different. It's comfy. It feels like "me", somehow. Unfortunately, "me" is very shy. I don't do well in social situations, and so I had a hard time calling attention to the new "me" kilt. As in, I didn't wanna be seen in public wearing something like it. So the only times I wore it out of the house, I stayed in my car doing drive through.
Until last night. Yay me, I went out and bought batteries at CVS with it on. At like 945, just before they closed, so really no one was there, and I probably looked like some kinda freak who needed batteries for his camera so he could take pictures of himself in his kilt (which was totally the case, but I didn't really wanna admit to it), but I did it. I say yay for me.
Wearing the kilt makes me feel more attractive some how. I mean, no one ever sees me in it, but still. I feel sexy. Partly that's because, up until very recently, my wardrobe has been similar to that of a 10 year old boys. I love t-shirts with Transformers logos on them. And that's about it. T-shirts and cargo pants. And sneakers (Heelys now!) But a t-shirt and a kilt looks silly. And the period appropriate garment I bought with the kilt is silly as well, when not at a renaissance fair. So, I actually went out and bought some nice shirts. With buttons! Yay me again.
So, I have the wardrobe, and I'm getting to where I'm feeling brave enough to wear it in public. What's next? I need to get in shape. I mean, yeah, I'm skinny, and I know I'm dead sexy like an anorexic bitch, but I'm weak and scrawny and I don't really want to be. I don't wanna be fucking Arnold Strongman with pecs up to my eyeballs, but I could use a little meat on my bones, without getting fat. I've seen pictures of my Grandfather when he was my age. I look exactly like him. I've also seen what he looks like now. Metabolisms stop. I need to get in shape now so I won't be a lazy sack of fat when I'm his age. (Not that he's a lazy sack of fat, he's just got a bit of a gut. But I'M lazy. And when my body starts keeping more fat than it needs, I'll end up a lazy sack of fat. Or I could work out.)
Today I began my quest for fitness. I started by doing 10 pushups. It's been way too long. The first five were kinda easy, and then they got harder. Also, I might be doing them wrong. I added in some jumping jacks and crunches. All told, I got 20 push-ups, 20 crunches, and 100 jumping jacks in. Then, I decided I'd put on Podrunner (a podcast of hour long workout mixes) and go for an hour run. I ended up running about 5 minutes, then walking about 20. I grabbed my mail, and a bite to eat while I was out, though. It's a start, I say!
So here's my new years resolution. First: Buy a calendar (Yeah, I know it's November still, so what?) Second: Apply to and complete spring and summer semesters for the Video Gaming program. Third: Run a mile in 10 minutes. I know that's not very impressive, but considering I can't run a mile period right now, 10 minutes would be nice.
My doctor once told me that, because of my heart condition, I am always on my "second wind", and never really had a first one. Makes running long distances hard. I should work on that, huh?
Sorry, the above conversation between myself and my kittens was too funny to not mention. Tonight I've been re-bitten by the writer's bug. Dunno why. But I do have a bit to share.
Okay, back. Hadda get my burrito out of the microwave. More on that later.
So, I dunno if I told you, but I bought a kilt. I like it. It's different. It's comfy. It feels like "me", somehow. Unfortunately, "me" is very shy. I don't do well in social situations, and so I had a hard time calling attention to the new "me" kilt. As in, I didn't wanna be seen in public wearing something like it. So the only times I wore it out of the house, I stayed in my car doing drive through.
Until last night. Yay me, I went out and bought batteries at CVS with it on. At like 945, just before they closed, so really no one was there, and I probably looked like some kinda freak who needed batteries for his camera so he could take pictures of himself in his kilt (which was totally the case, but I didn't really wanna admit to it), but I did it. I say yay for me.
Wearing the kilt makes me feel more attractive some how. I mean, no one ever sees me in it, but still. I feel sexy. Partly that's because, up until very recently, my wardrobe has been similar to that of a 10 year old boys. I love t-shirts with Transformers logos on them. And that's about it. T-shirts and cargo pants. And sneakers (Heelys now!) But a t-shirt and a kilt looks silly. And the period appropriate garment I bought with the kilt is silly as well, when not at a renaissance fair. So, I actually went out and bought some nice shirts. With buttons! Yay me again.
So, I have the wardrobe, and I'm getting to where I'm feeling brave enough to wear it in public. What's next? I need to get in shape. I mean, yeah, I'm skinny, and I know I'm dead sexy like an anorexic bitch, but I'm weak and scrawny and I don't really want to be. I don't wanna be fucking Arnold Strongman with pecs up to my eyeballs, but I could use a little meat on my bones, without getting fat. I've seen pictures of my Grandfather when he was my age. I look exactly like him. I've also seen what he looks like now. Metabolisms stop. I need to get in shape now so I won't be a lazy sack of fat when I'm his age. (Not that he's a lazy sack of fat, he's just got a bit of a gut. But I'M lazy. And when my body starts keeping more fat than it needs, I'll end up a lazy sack of fat. Or I could work out.)
Today I began my quest for fitness. I started by doing 10 pushups. It's been way too long. The first five were kinda easy, and then they got harder. Also, I might be doing them wrong. I added in some jumping jacks and crunches. All told, I got 20 push-ups, 20 crunches, and 100 jumping jacks in. Then, I decided I'd put on Podrunner (a podcast of hour long workout mixes) and go for an hour run. I ended up running about 5 minutes, then walking about 20. I grabbed my mail, and a bite to eat while I was out, though. It's a start, I say!
So here's my new years resolution. First: Buy a calendar (Yeah, I know it's November still, so what?) Second: Apply to and complete spring and summer semesters for the Video Gaming program. Third: Run a mile in 10 minutes. I know that's not very impressive, but considering I can't run a mile period right now, 10 minutes would be nice.
My doctor once told me that, because of my heart condition, I am always on my "second wind", and never really had a first one. Makes running long distances hard. I should work on that, huh?
25.10.07
Zombie Photographers?
In my computer?
It's more likely than you think.
The prompt
And that's exactly what I did!!!
The Afterlife and Aftertimes of Nadar, French Photographer
In 1910, Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, also known as Nadar, the revolutionary European photographer, was put to rest in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery. Though it was a fitting end to a long and fruitful life, one that inspired a character in author and friend Jules Verne's From Earth to the Moon, Nadar's rest would not be peaceful for long. Before the year was out, Nader would need to be buried again.
As Tournachon's body lay in the dirt beneath the blooming lights of Paris, strange and foul machinations were taking place. Although many theories regarding the photographer's reanimation have been suggested throughout the ages, few have been replicated, and none have successfully raised another soul. The current leading presumption, according to researchers at Berkly and Oxford, is that as the Earth passed through the cosmic trail of Halley's Comet, some bizarre and unknown combination of chemicals and other-worldly radiation affected the dormant portions of Nadar's frontal lobe. It is unknown exactly how wide-spread this phenomenon actually was, but anecdotal evidence puts the number of awakened “zombies” in 1910 anywhere from 1 to 10 to 100.
Nadar's initial reappearance was seen by many observers as a stunt pulled by a man known for his outrageous life. Clearly, they believed, Nadar had faked his own death, and was now rising up to watch their reaction. Many dismissed his speech and movement impediments as side effects from whatever chemicals he had used to fake his death. Reporters interviewed Hatian voodoo wizards, African witch doctors, and others known for raising the dead. One newspaper headline exclaimed “Nadar's Greatest Work To Date!”
Gripped in a haze of undeath, Nadar's corpse sought to complete the works he'd started in his lifetime. Returning to his home, he managed to retrieve his camera, and began taking new pictures. Before anyone had realized that his zombification was not a prank, but in fact a serious condition, Nadar's come-back tour across Europe was already booked, with gallery exhibits set up from London to Moscow.
The tour never got farther than its first stop in Paris, France. While entertaining guests in the main hall of the Louvre, Nadar became perturbed by some critics opinions. Already, several articles had been written criticizing Nadar's newest works, noting the lack of a general composure, or overreaching theme, or even proper exposure. Other critics were so baffled they actually praised the gallery of works as legitimate art.
Still, some critics refused to pay lip service, even to an artist as well renouned as Nadar had been in life. “There's nothing groundbreaking about it,” wrote Jean Doublet-Ree, the most vocal critic of Nadar's new series. “It's just a mess. A drunk could have created better art than this.” Besmirching common courtesy, Doublet-Ree refused to bite his tongue in the presence of Nadar himself, and instead he attempted to goad the photographer right to his face. Doublet-Ree soon found that he had under-estimated the photographer, whose reanimation had made him both incalculably mad and superlatively strong. Witnesses gasped in horror as the hunched form of Nadar pounced on his critic, and bit a solid chunk out of Doublet-Ree's neck. Though little is known about what happened immediately afterwards in the ensuing chaos, a few short hours later, Paris had decreed a state of emergency, and it found itself in the five of what would be five twentieth century Zombie outbreaks.
Though the French Army fought valiantly to contain the crisis, the ultimate victory would not come until several members of Nadar's former club, The Society for the Encouragement of Aerial Locomotion by Means of Heavier than Air Machines, or SEALMHAM (pronounced “Seal, Ma'am”, which would later be shortened to just SEAL and adopted into the United States Military Command) took control of the streets, erecting barriers ironically similar to the ones Nadar himself had set up to protect himself from crowds. These so-called Nadar barriers were used to corral the hordes to a controlled location, and then funnel them into the labyrinthine Paris Catacombs. That was the last anyone ever saw of Nadar on record, though every so often, a photo album is found on the streets just in front of the Louvre, a chilling reminder to the chaos that ensued almost 100 years ago, and occasionally a good source for a filler event between headlining galleries. Many suspect that Nadar changed his first name to Ralph and attempted a few bids at the United States Presidency in the late 20th Century, but thus-far there has been no known proof that the undead Photograper and the unsuccessful politician were related.
It's more likely than you think.
The prompt
Her: yeah but i hate writng
Me: when I write, its always hard to get started, but for me, really, the problem is keeping it under control
Me: otherwise I'll ramble about stupid stuff for pages and pages
Me: which is kinda fun
Me: but silly
Her: im sure your teachers love that
Me: not so much
Me: also, I suck at using sources
Me: I'd much rather make shit up
Her: Felix Nadar devoted photographer. Stars are big and fun to look at
Her: me too
Me: In 1824, Felix broke free of his coffin, and started a post-mortem cross-continental photography tour
Her: lol
Me: his critics found his newer photos to be rather dull compared to the first set, and poorly lit
Her: he was only 3 in 1824
Me: Felix hunted down the critics, and bit them, starting the French Zombie infestation that still remains in the paresian catacombs to this day
Me: I don't care
Me: he time traveled
Her: wow if i wrote that i would fail so bad
Me: but you'd be laughing the whole way to summer school
Me: if I wrote it, would you turn it in along with your own paper, just to see what the teacher said?
Her: probally
And that's exactly what I did!!!
The Afterlife and Aftertimes of Nadar, French Photographer
In 1910, Gaspard-Félix Tournachon, also known as Nadar, the revolutionary European photographer, was put to rest in Le Père Lachaise Cemetery. Though it was a fitting end to a long and fruitful life, one that inspired a character in author and friend Jules Verne's From Earth to the Moon, Nadar's rest would not be peaceful for long. Before the year was out, Nader would need to be buried again.
As Tournachon's body lay in the dirt beneath the blooming lights of Paris, strange and foul machinations were taking place. Although many theories regarding the photographer's reanimation have been suggested throughout the ages, few have been replicated, and none have successfully raised another soul. The current leading presumption, according to researchers at Berkly and Oxford, is that as the Earth passed through the cosmic trail of Halley's Comet, some bizarre and unknown combination of chemicals and other-worldly radiation affected the dormant portions of Nadar's frontal lobe. It is unknown exactly how wide-spread this phenomenon actually was, but anecdotal evidence puts the number of awakened “zombies” in 1910 anywhere from 1 to 10 to 100.
Nadar's initial reappearance was seen by many observers as a stunt pulled by a man known for his outrageous life. Clearly, they believed, Nadar had faked his own death, and was now rising up to watch their reaction. Many dismissed his speech and movement impediments as side effects from whatever chemicals he had used to fake his death. Reporters interviewed Hatian voodoo wizards, African witch doctors, and others known for raising the dead. One newspaper headline exclaimed “Nadar's Greatest Work To Date!”
Gripped in a haze of undeath, Nadar's corpse sought to complete the works he'd started in his lifetime. Returning to his home, he managed to retrieve his camera, and began taking new pictures. Before anyone had realized that his zombification was not a prank, but in fact a serious condition, Nadar's come-back tour across Europe was already booked, with gallery exhibits set up from London to Moscow.
The tour never got farther than its first stop in Paris, France. While entertaining guests in the main hall of the Louvre, Nadar became perturbed by some critics opinions. Already, several articles had been written criticizing Nadar's newest works, noting the lack of a general composure, or overreaching theme, or even proper exposure. Other critics were so baffled they actually praised the gallery of works as legitimate art.
“Untitled Works 5-8”, which appear to be simply over exposed blurs of nonsense, make more sense when juxtaposed to the next quartet, “Untitled Works 9-12” which are if anything underexposed, as though the pictures were taken with a lens cap on. Together, these eight photographs starkly contrast the duality of nature, light against dark, and the fuzzy, blurred nature of emotion, with the crisp, solid rigidity found in the abyss. ... Without a doubt “Untitled Work 92”, the last work in Nader's newest series, is his most telling... [What] simply appears to be a slaughtered goat with Nader himself feasting over it... reveals mankind's true harsh nature.
Still, some critics refused to pay lip service, even to an artist as well renouned as Nadar had been in life. “There's nothing groundbreaking about it,” wrote Jean Doublet-Ree, the most vocal critic of Nadar's new series. “It's just a mess. A drunk could have created better art than this.” Besmirching common courtesy, Doublet-Ree refused to bite his tongue in the presence of Nadar himself, and instead he attempted to goad the photographer right to his face. Doublet-Ree soon found that he had under-estimated the photographer, whose reanimation had made him both incalculably mad and superlatively strong. Witnesses gasped in horror as the hunched form of Nadar pounced on his critic, and bit a solid chunk out of Doublet-Ree's neck. Though little is known about what happened immediately afterwards in the ensuing chaos, a few short hours later, Paris had decreed a state of emergency, and it found itself in the five of what would be five twentieth century Zombie outbreaks.
Though the French Army fought valiantly to contain the crisis, the ultimate victory would not come until several members of Nadar's former club, The Society for the Encouragement of Aerial Locomotion by Means of Heavier than Air Machines, or SEALMHAM (pronounced “Seal, Ma'am”, which would later be shortened to just SEAL and adopted into the United States Military Command) took control of the streets, erecting barriers ironically similar to the ones Nadar himself had set up to protect himself from crowds. These so-called Nadar barriers were used to corral the hordes to a controlled location, and then funnel them into the labyrinthine Paris Catacombs. That was the last anyone ever saw of Nadar on record, though every so often, a photo album is found on the streets just in front of the Louvre, a chilling reminder to the chaos that ensued almost 100 years ago, and occasionally a good source for a filler event between headlining galleries. Many suspect that Nadar changed his first name to Ralph and attempted a few bids at the United States Presidency in the late 20th Century, but thus-far there has been no known proof that the undead Photograper and the unsuccessful politician were related.
3.10.07
I'm A Conspirasy Nut
Questions raised over terror exercise
Now, I'd like to assume that this is just a drill, and I'm just being my usual paranoid self here. But apparently, and I'm too lazy to look up the actual details right now, but similar drills were scheduled for the mornings of the September 11th attacks and the London Metro Bombings. I actually heard the radio communication from the British officer who couldn't believe that the "fictional scenario" he was supposed to be prepring for was actually happening, in the same place his drill was scheduled, in the same time his drill was scheduled, and in the same way it was scheduled.
So yeah, don't plan any trips to Guam next week, k?
Oh yeah, and copy the article, so that if it gets pulled down before the attacks for "some reason", you'll be able to show them wrong.
By EILEEN SULLIVAN, Associated Press WriterWed Oct 3, 6:46 AM ET
The nation is preparing for its biggest terrorism exercise ever next week when three fictional "dirty bombs" go off and cripple transportation arteries in two major U.S. cities and Guam, according to a document obtained by The Associated Press.
Yet even as this drill begins, details from the previous national exercise held in 2005 have yet to be publicly released — information that's supposed to help officials prepare for the next real attack.
...
Now, I'd like to assume that this is just a drill, and I'm just being my usual paranoid self here. But apparently, and I'm too lazy to look up the actual details right now, but similar drills were scheduled for the mornings of the September 11th attacks and the London Metro Bombings. I actually heard the radio communication from the British officer who couldn't believe that the "fictional scenario" he was supposed to be prepring for was actually happening, in the same place his drill was scheduled, in the same time his drill was scheduled, and in the same way it was scheduled.
So yeah, don't plan any trips to Guam next week, k?
Oh yeah, and copy the article, so that if it gets pulled down before the attacks for "some reason", you'll be able to show them wrong.
20.9.07
Wishes
I've got to make a wish list for my family. That is, a list of things I would like to get for my birthday or Christmas (Dec. 24th and 25th, respectively), so my family will have ideas on what to buy me. Last year I made my wish list on it's own blog, and I'll probably do that again. I'll give you the link when I do, but for now I'm just gonna spitball a few ideas for things I'd like to get, without the formatting.
Top on the list is usually Transformers. First and foremost, the Michael Bay film comes out on DVD in October, so that's on there. The Widescreen format, obviously, preferably the 2-Disk deluxe version. As far as toys go, I'm still trying to get my hands on the Concept Camero version of Bumblebee, as well as the Eighty Dollar(!!) Ultimate Bumblebee, which is simply so over the top I need it in my collection. Speaking of over the top things, I'm still looking for the Cybertron Primus, because there aren't enough Transforming planets in my house. (Current count: 1 - Unicron.) I need some more from the movie line. I was thinking about putting Ironhide, Rachet, Blackout and the leader-class Brawl, to set up a huge action diorama like that scene from the climax. I also wanna grab the ten buck Arcee toy, cuz I've never had a real female Autobot before, and I think I need one, don't you? There's also a scattering of the Titanium class figures I'd like, like G1 Ultra Magnus and War Within Grimlock. I loves me some War Within figures.
So, moving on from there, what else do I want?... Eh, I suppose video games would be a good category. I've got a few things showing up on the Wii I'm very interested in. Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Galaxy both pop up to mind. Also, I never got a copy of Pokemon Battle Revolution, so I should ask for that... This is ridiculous, I work in the video game department. Why can't I think of games I'd like? Ummm... I got nothing. Oh! Metal Slug Anthology. I mean, other big stuff for it, I'm not so sure about. Mario Party 8 I wouldn't say no to, but I'm not sure who I'd play it with once all the family left town. (/me pulls up List of Wii games on Wikipedia) Ooh! Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. I managed to wait out all the other Lego Star Wars games, so this should be good. Nothing else really leaps out at me, though. ._.
So, uh, 360 games, maybe? I've got the system, but just two games. What else is there I want? Actually, the 360 adds a new problem to the list. Can I ask for games that aren't really "family appropriate"? For instance, I've been eyeing DOA: Extreme 2, the Dead or Alive bikini volleyball game. It's cheapish, and if it were $20, I'd probably have picked it up already. But its still hovering at $30 for now, and really, aside from being a very silly thing to pull out when I feel like some cornball gaming, I'm not sure if I need it that bad. Probably not enough to ask my family for the soft core porn game. But Crackdown and Dead Rising are a bit more of a grey area. I may also put Air Combat 6 on there, but again, not too much. The curse of working in the video game deptartment, when something comes out that I'm interested in, I know about it, and am constantly reminded about it WHILE DOING ACTIVITIES THAT EARN ME MONEY. Thus, I see game while working, and spend that hard earned money on it within a week or two.
PSP has a few bright spots - Jeanne D'Arc, Disgaea, and Final Fantasy Tactics, and maybe Air Combat. I'll probably snatch up the PSP 2000 myself at work, but other than that, I'm prolly gonna stop buying things until Christmas. In fact, I may just hold off on buying it until after Christmas, using the gift cards I'm sure to get.
I'm kinda sad there's nothing on DS that leaps to mind (I saw Sonic Rush Adventure, that may go on the list), but really, I'm too tired to search that list any more.
I'm trying to figure out some books too, but jeez, it's 2:30 now. Sleep time now. Gnight.
See, didn't I tell you it'd be a rough draft?
Top on the list is usually Transformers. First and foremost, the Michael Bay film comes out on DVD in October, so that's on there. The Widescreen format, obviously, preferably the 2-Disk deluxe version. As far as toys go, I'm still trying to get my hands on the Concept Camero version of Bumblebee, as well as the Eighty Dollar(!!) Ultimate Bumblebee, which is simply so over the top I need it in my collection. Speaking of over the top things, I'm still looking for the Cybertron Primus, because there aren't enough Transforming planets in my house. (Current count: 1 - Unicron.) I need some more from the movie line. I was thinking about putting Ironhide, Rachet, Blackout and the leader-class Brawl, to set up a huge action diorama like that scene from the climax. I also wanna grab the ten buck Arcee toy, cuz I've never had a real female Autobot before, and I think I need one, don't you? There's also a scattering of the Titanium class figures I'd like, like G1 Ultra Magnus and War Within Grimlock. I loves me some War Within figures.
So, moving on from there, what else do I want?... Eh, I suppose video games would be a good category. I've got a few things showing up on the Wii I'm very interested in. Super Smash Bros Brawl and Mario Galaxy both pop up to mind. Also, I never got a copy of Pokemon Battle Revolution, so I should ask for that... This is ridiculous, I work in the video game department. Why can't I think of games I'd like? Ummm... I got nothing. Oh! Metal Slug Anthology. I mean, other big stuff for it, I'm not so sure about. Mario Party 8 I wouldn't say no to, but I'm not sure who I'd play it with once all the family left town. (/me pulls up List of Wii games on Wikipedia) Ooh! Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. I managed to wait out all the other Lego Star Wars games, so this should be good. Nothing else really leaps out at me, though. ._.
So, uh, 360 games, maybe? I've got the system, but just two games. What else is there I want? Actually, the 360 adds a new problem to the list. Can I ask for games that aren't really "family appropriate"? For instance, I've been eyeing DOA: Extreme 2, the Dead or Alive bikini volleyball game. It's cheapish, and if it were $20, I'd probably have picked it up already. But its still hovering at $30 for now, and really, aside from being a very silly thing to pull out when I feel like some cornball gaming, I'm not sure if I need it that bad. Probably not enough to ask my family for the soft core porn game. But Crackdown and Dead Rising are a bit more of a grey area. I may also put Air Combat 6 on there, but again, not too much. The curse of working in the video game deptartment, when something comes out that I'm interested in, I know about it, and am constantly reminded about it WHILE DOING ACTIVITIES THAT EARN ME MONEY. Thus, I see game while working, and spend that hard earned money on it within a week or two.
PSP has a few bright spots - Jeanne D'Arc, Disgaea, and Final Fantasy Tactics, and maybe Air Combat. I'll probably snatch up the PSP 2000 myself at work, but other than that, I'm prolly gonna stop buying things until Christmas. In fact, I may just hold off on buying it until after Christmas, using the gift cards I'm sure to get.
I'm kinda sad there's nothing on DS that leaps to mind (I saw Sonic Rush Adventure, that may go on the list), but really, I'm too tired to search that list any more.
I'm trying to figure out some books too, but jeez, it's 2:30 now. Sleep time now. Gnight.
See, didn't I tell you it'd be a rough draft?
10.9.07
Daily Double
Alex Trebek is the smartest man alive. People constantly ask him questions, but he always has the answers.
9.9.07
The Simcity Board of Advisors
The Simcity Board of Advisors
YOU CAN'T CUT BACK ON FUNDING! YOU'LL REGRET THIS!
Someone should make a tool to let you make these on your own. Like the Motivator or ThreatDown Generator. Something that would let you insert your text, and either choose one of the default faces, or upload an image of your own. Much lawls would be had.
YOU CAN'T CUT BACK ON FUNDING! YOU'LL REGRET THIS!
Someone should make a tool to let you make these on your own. Like the Motivator or ThreatDown Generator. Something that would let you insert your text, and either choose one of the default faces, or upload an image of your own. Much lawls would be had.
20.8.07
Ever Heard Of The Jena Six?
Well, now you have.
Damn. That's pretty much all I have to say right now. Damn. Damn the system, damn the man, damn me for not being able to do anything more about this than sitting here and telling you that right now, in some tiny town in Louisiana, six people are being treated grossly unfairly. This story borders on an abomination of everything that I stand for as a human being, and what I believe this country should be about.
I had an interesting phrase pop into my head earlier today. It had nothing to do with this, but it seems relevant. "When is the American Dream going to stop being just a dream and actually be America." Or words to that effect. Basically, when is this country going to stop dreaming about the truths our forefathers held to be self evident, and actually live them out.
I need to find a bus to Jena, or just drive there some weekend and... Do what, exactly? Sit under the "White Tree" in protest? I'm too white. It would probably just get me beat up. Sigh. I don't have any money to donate, either. I'm too poor. I dunno, though. I should find a petition or something. I wonder if they'd let me wear a button to work that said "Free the Jena Six." Probably not. ._.
Words this true are not spoken often enough, and are heard even less.
P.S. - Add this to the list of stories they should put on the news: Stories of true injustice. Not "I didn't know the coffee would be hot," or "No one told me to remove my baby from the stroller before closing it." The kind where innocent people are being punished for being born. Being born is never a crime, no matter who you are.
Damn. That's pretty much all I have to say right now. Damn. Damn the system, damn the man, damn me for not being able to do anything more about this than sitting here and telling you that right now, in some tiny town in Louisiana, six people are being treated grossly unfairly. This story borders on an abomination of everything that I stand for as a human being, and what I believe this country should be about.
I had an interesting phrase pop into my head earlier today. It had nothing to do with this, but it seems relevant. "When is the American Dream going to stop being just a dream and actually be America." Or words to that effect. Basically, when is this country going to stop dreaming about the truths our forefathers held to be self evident, and actually live them out.
I need to find a bus to Jena, or just drive there some weekend and... Do what, exactly? Sit under the "White Tree" in protest? I'm too white. It would probably just get me beat up. Sigh. I don't have any money to donate, either. I'm too poor. I dunno, though. I should find a petition or something. I wonder if they'd let me wear a button to work that said "Free the Jena Six." Probably not. ._.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.-Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
Words this true are not spoken often enough, and are heard even less.
P.S. - Add this to the list of stories they should put on the news: Stories of true injustice. Not "I didn't know the coffee would be hot," or "No one told me to remove my baby from the stroller before closing it." The kind where innocent people are being punished for being born. Being born is never a crime, no matter who you are.
15.8.07
Viva El Presidente
Family Security Matters:
Everyone else who thinks this is scary bullshit, please raise your hands.
\o/!
EDIT:
I decided a rebuttal was in order.
President Bush can fail in his duty to himself, his country, and his God, by becoming “ex-president” Bush or he can become “President-for-Life” Bush: the conqueror of Iraq, who brings sense to the Congress and sanity to the Supreme Court. Then who would be able to stop Bush from emulating Augustus Caesar and becoming ruler of the world? For only an America united under one ruler has the power to save humanity from the threat of a new Dark Age wrought by terrorists armed with nuclear weapons.
Everyone else who thinks this is scary bullshit, please raise your hands.
\o/!
EDIT:
I decided a rebuttal was in order.
Mr Atkinson,Edit Number 2 - Electric Boogaloo: I just noticed what the post below this one was. I feel a little bit comforted by it.
I noticed your article was taken down. Did you guys realize it wouldn't work, too?
Americans, as much as we enjoy not being blown up, have a much deeper love of freedom. Think of such classics as: "Give me Liberty or give me death," "They can take our lives, but they can never take our freedom," and "Those who would sacrifice essential liberty for temporary security deserve neither." I think that Henry and Franklin, and even Mr. Gibson, would be shocked at your proposal. It violates the very freedoms President Bush, and the military men and women at his command, swore an oath to protect.
While the Roman people, by way of their Senate, might have buckled to Caesar's personal army, Bush would have a much harder time controlling the American population with our volunteer-army. Convincing the troops who had just committed genocide in a harsh desert that they must now come home and police their friends and neighbors would be no easy task.
Also, you can't forget how the story of Julius Caesar ends. He is killed, not by an invading enemy, but his own countrymen. Much like those back-stabbing Romans, Americans will not stand for a dictator. If the United States becomes a police state, the terrorists they will have to fight will bear less in common with Osama bin-Laden and more with Timothy McVeigh. The Colorado Rockies, much like bin-Laden's Middle-Eastern series of caves, will be a constant thorn in Bush's side, a nagging pest that you can always feel but never quite find. Freedom-loving Americans would band together and fight back, as much as possible, in very much the same way that the Iraqis are doing now - They wouldn't have to defeat the military outright, just make the operation too costly to continue. Unless Bush decides to nuke the Rockies, but even that would create more disloyalty, more anger at our new dictator, etc....
So, did your article get removed because you decided it wasn't realistic after all? Or, and this is what I truly hope, did you realize what you wrote was an atrocity that shouldn't have been said at all.
By the way, don't think I'm trying to tell you that you shouldn't be allowed to write that Bush should pull a Caesar (or a Hitler, to flip the coin), but when you do write something so insulting to America as a whole, expect to be called on it.
-Greg L
14.8.07
Psalm 23
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
I will fear no evil: For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
No News Is Good News
I guess I'm on a writing kick tonight?
At work, we don't get cable. Our breakroom TV only gets over the air signals, so roughly 5 and a half channels. During the daytime, when most of my shifts are, those channels are dominated by Jerry Springer, Divorce Court, and some sort of all knowing paternal expert telling elated vagrants "You are NOT the father!" In short, shit. And even worse, soap operas. But there's one show that I can count on to sort of be at least somewhat helpful to my daily life. The local news, with its local weather and, occasionally, traffic reports.
I remember from my youth, the catch phrase "News You Can Use", a segment during some news (half)hour show. The implication being, I suppose, that the other 25 minutes of news is information that I can't use. So, why am I tuning in? Entertainment? I don't find tales of police drug busts or car accidents from hours ago very useful. Nor do I find the details of a social controversy over in Ohio or whatever very helpful in my day to day life. Studies have shown that, for instance, people who watch Fox News are more likely to be misinformed about the facts, so this moves the problem from a waste of my time (news I can't use) to an actual detriment to my being (news that hurts me).
There is a problem here.
So, why isn't news simply news I can use? Who decided that they needed to fill the other twenty-five minutes after the weather and traffic was done? Just run another program or something. That seems to be the most cost effective route. Granted, knowing these channels its likely to be a paid advertisement for the Spammerator, a knife that slices fake meat AND sends enticing letters penned by fictitious African Kings offering large sums, but at least it'll be, theoretically, something I COULD use, if I wanted. (This way, I'll have something to eat while I wait for help transferring my obscenely huge fortunes.)
Actually, there was one thing on the news today that was helpful. They talked about a recall on several toys. Working in the toy department of Target, I had already been made aware of the risk (by the way, if you or anyone you love has bought the Disney's Cars toys - the ones about the size of Hot Wheels - you should take them back, there's something wrong with them), but for anyone who didn't work for a toy store, this is important information. Old ladies turning 100, a beauty pageant for kittens, and a turtle who got flipped upside down until local neighbors flipped him back; these stories are certainly not news-worthy, and yet they make headlines on my local news.
So, then, back to the question: what, exactly, should be reported. Obviously, weather and traffic are important. The same goes for public service messages like the toy recall, or possible medical alerts (ISSUED BY PROPER AUTHORITIES - I don't need to hear about every sick kid with the sniffles and how it could be an outbreak of Possum/Opossum flu). Political issues and races directly affecting me classify somewhat as news, though not to the extent they are currently covered. I actually saw a piece about whether or not candidates' hair made them appear "gay". That is news I cannot use. I, for one, do not care what my president looks like, as long as he gets the job done and doesn't screw up too badly. I don't need to know every notch in the polls because of every little happening in every nook and cranny of the nation, especially not 14 months before the election. Give me state by state primary results, maybe. Highlight key notes said at each candidates speaking events, but don't over do it. I don't need a 24 hour news channel devoting 72 hours to a botched joke or a weird shirt.
I'm okay with opinions. Believe it or not, I'm fine with The O'Reilly Factor. I tend to lean a little more towards the Kieth Olberman side of the spectrum myself, but to each his own, and I'm sure there's a place out there for all opinions. In fact, opinions are probably more useful to me than facts. Interpretation, even wrong interpretation, can help to get the process moving along. True, it can also lead a bunch of dittoheads to vote off a cliff like lemmings, but that's simply how people will work.
I also think it's interesting to see how the internet will affect all this stuff. With the internet, there's a place I can go to get specialized news. For instance, most people wouldn't care about when the next Transformers toys are due out, but I am very interested in such things. Obviously, while this information is news to me (news I can use, at that!) it's not really relevant to 99% of the population.
Anyway, I need to sleep now. Laters.
At work, we don't get cable. Our breakroom TV only gets over the air signals, so roughly 5 and a half channels. During the daytime, when most of my shifts are, those channels are dominated by Jerry Springer, Divorce Court, and some sort of all knowing paternal expert telling elated vagrants "You are NOT the father!" In short, shit. And even worse, soap operas. But there's one show that I can count on to sort of be at least somewhat helpful to my daily life. The local news, with its local weather and, occasionally, traffic reports.
I remember from my youth, the catch phrase "News You Can Use", a segment during some news (half)hour show. The implication being, I suppose, that the other 25 minutes of news is information that I can't use. So, why am I tuning in? Entertainment? I don't find tales of police drug busts or car accidents from hours ago very useful. Nor do I find the details of a social controversy over in Ohio or whatever very helpful in my day to day life. Studies have shown that, for instance, people who watch Fox News are more likely to be misinformed about the facts, so this moves the problem from a waste of my time (news I can't use) to an actual detriment to my being (news that hurts me).
There is a problem here.
So, why isn't news simply news I can use? Who decided that they needed to fill the other twenty-five minutes after the weather and traffic was done? Just run another program or something. That seems to be the most cost effective route. Granted, knowing these channels its likely to be a paid advertisement for the Spammerator, a knife that slices fake meat AND sends enticing letters penned by fictitious African Kings offering large sums, but at least it'll be, theoretically, something I COULD use, if I wanted. (This way, I'll have something to eat while I wait for help transferring my obscenely huge fortunes.)
Actually, there was one thing on the news today that was helpful. They talked about a recall on several toys. Working in the toy department of Target, I had already been made aware of the risk (by the way, if you or anyone you love has bought the Disney's Cars toys - the ones about the size of Hot Wheels - you should take them back, there's something wrong with them), but for anyone who didn't work for a toy store, this is important information. Old ladies turning 100, a beauty pageant for kittens, and a turtle who got flipped upside down until local neighbors flipped him back; these stories are certainly not news-worthy, and yet they make headlines on my local news.
So, then, back to the question: what, exactly, should be reported. Obviously, weather and traffic are important. The same goes for public service messages like the toy recall, or possible medical alerts (ISSUED BY PROPER AUTHORITIES - I don't need to hear about every sick kid with the sniffles and how it could be an outbreak of Possum/Opossum flu). Political issues and races directly affecting me classify somewhat as news, though not to the extent they are currently covered. I actually saw a piece about whether or not candidates' hair made them appear "gay". That is news I cannot use. I, for one, do not care what my president looks like, as long as he gets the job done and doesn't screw up too badly. I don't need to know every notch in the polls because of every little happening in every nook and cranny of the nation, especially not 14 months before the election. Give me state by state primary results, maybe. Highlight key notes said at each candidates speaking events, but don't over do it. I don't need a 24 hour news channel devoting 72 hours to a botched joke or a weird shirt.
I'm okay with opinions. Believe it or not, I'm fine with The O'Reilly Factor. I tend to lean a little more towards the Kieth Olberman side of the spectrum myself, but to each his own, and I'm sure there's a place out there for all opinions. In fact, opinions are probably more useful to me than facts. Interpretation, even wrong interpretation, can help to get the process moving along. True, it can also lead a bunch of dittoheads to vote off a cliff like lemmings, but that's simply how people will work.
I also think it's interesting to see how the internet will affect all this stuff. With the internet, there's a place I can go to get specialized news. For instance, most people wouldn't care about when the next Transformers toys are due out, but I am very interested in such things. Obviously, while this information is news to me (news I can use, at that!) it's not really relevant to 99% of the population.
Anyway, I need to sleep now. Laters.
To Want And To Be Wanted, And To Want To Be Wanted
I just wanna be loved unconditionally. I yearn for physical contact, someone to hold me at night when I go to sleep, and to lie next to me when I wake up. Someone to talk to me when it's quiet. Someone to watch dumb movies with me, or play video games with. Someone to tell me I'm awesome for being me, to find beauty in my flaws, and to let me know when I'm being an idiot (it happens more often than I think).
I want to be that for someone else, too. I want to love them unconditionally. I want to be their warm pillow, to hold them when they're tired, to wake up with them in the morning. Someone to have a conversation with, whether it's about religion or politics or the Transformers or the religion and politics of the Transformers. I want someone to want to watch dumb movies with me, or play video games with. I want to tell someone they're awesome because they are, to find beauty in ever part of them, and someone who won't hate me if I point out they're being an idiot (you women are so sensitive).
I like mirrors. I wonder, do they like me?
I want to be that for someone else, too. I want to love them unconditionally. I want to be their warm pillow, to hold them when they're tired, to wake up with them in the morning. Someone to have a conversation with, whether it's about religion or politics or the Transformers or the religion and politics of the Transformers. I want someone to want to watch dumb movies with me, or play video games with. I want to tell someone they're awesome because they are, to find beauty in ever part of them, and someone who won't hate me if I point out they're being an idiot (you women are so sensitive).
I like mirrors. I wonder, do they like me?
2.8.07
Emergencies And Other Trivialities
Someone's window just crashed in near my house. I'm not sure why. I feel like I should do something, but what? Call 911?
As I was driving around earlier tonight, I realized my Zune doesn't have any lights when it's on after the 15 second wait before the backlight goes off. Same goes for iPods and, I just noticed, my cell phone. I find this somewhat weird. Before this, whenever I had something electronic in my hands, I could tell at a glance if it was on or off. But in fact, as near as I can tell, iPods and Zunes NEVER really turn off, they just go into a standby mode. I wonder how this affects plane traffic. They say they want all your electronic devices shut off. How do I do that with my Zune? Or, for that matter, a wrist watch? I dunno, but whoever figures out a way to make an airplane-safe MP3 player will make a mint. I dunno if it's even possible, though. I'd have to do more research into figuring out why they ask you to turn off electronics in the first place.
Speaking of things I need to figure out, I've decided I need an "Oh Shit" backpack. By that, I mean a backpack I can pick up, put on, and run out the door with. Btw, I just finished watching the Bourne Identity, so that may be playing a big part of that. But I've got a few ideas for what I'm gonna need.
Also from watching the movie, mostly from the line "...at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking." This strikes me as a useful talent. The fact that he knew it just instinctively maybe less so, but I need to work on my own personal fitness. I'm not ashamed to admit that Matt Damon is an attractive man, and if I ever wanna be that good looking, an exercise regimen is in order. I'll probably start jogging. I wonder what the local high school would think if I just started jogging around the track every day...
Not tonight, though. Too dark, and I'm too tired.
-911, what's your emergency?God bless the hardworking men and women of Texas' ECS, who give their lives in the never ending battle against termites.
-Uh, yeah, I think my neighbor's glass door may be broken.
-So do you want us to send some police over to look at it, or what?
-Yeah, I guess. Texas has emergency carpenter service, right?
As I was driving around earlier tonight, I realized my Zune doesn't have any lights when it's on after the 15 second wait before the backlight goes off. Same goes for iPods and, I just noticed, my cell phone. I find this somewhat weird. Before this, whenever I had something electronic in my hands, I could tell at a glance if it was on or off. But in fact, as near as I can tell, iPods and Zunes NEVER really turn off, they just go into a standby mode. I wonder how this affects plane traffic. They say they want all your electronic devices shut off. How do I do that with my Zune? Or, for that matter, a wrist watch? I dunno, but whoever figures out a way to make an airplane-safe MP3 player will make a mint. I dunno if it's even possible, though. I'd have to do more research into figuring out why they ask you to turn off electronics in the first place.
Speaking of things I need to figure out, I've decided I need an "Oh Shit" backpack. By that, I mean a backpack I can pick up, put on, and run out the door with. Btw, I just finished watching the Bourne Identity, so that may be playing a big part of that. But I've got a few ideas for what I'm gonna need.
Cash - Probably about $500 in small bills, not too much, but enough that I can get to a motel for a few days till I figure something else out.My left eye is twitching up a storm; I should probably get to bed.
Flash Drive - loaded up with it's own little goodies, mostly an instance of Portable Firefox with a homepage set to a fresh and clean Gmail account and a specialized foxmarks account that includes stuff like 10 minute mail and other stuff. Basically, the flash drive is there to serve as a separate digital identity for me aside from my normal one. I'll probably also keep images of important documents and such on there.
Digital Camera - Taking pictures of stuff, obviously. Hopefully something that I can use to take pictures quickly without being noticed.
Pre-Paid Phone - I'll need to check and see if the minutes expire on stuff like this. If not, I'll just activate the phone and leave it there so it's good to go, otherwise I'll have to get to an Internet Cafe and activate it then and there. I'd obviously prefer the first option, though.
Swiss Army Hammer - I've seen these before. It's like a Swiss Army knife (lots of little tools, knives, corkscrews, screwdrivers, etc) but with a hammer on the end. Seems like it could come in handy.
Duct Tape - Oh yeah, I'm going the full MacGuyver here.
Battery-less Flashlight - Target has one of these. You shake it back and fort and a little magnet generates your power. I've seen ones that you pump a handle to go, but those are noisy. Not sure if I'd wanna make so much noise when I'm trying to hide. Unfortunately, the one I saw at Target was sorta broken, and also very cheap looking. I'll have to keep my eyes open for more like this.
Clothes - Whatever I've got on my back, plus a light hoodie, a jacket (I'd wear one or the other out the door), white t-shirt, jeans, socks, underwear, etc. Plain stuff, nothing eye catching. Also a ball cap, plain as well.
Eyewear - I usually wear glasses, so I'd probably want a spare pair in the bag. I'd also wanna pack some contacts and sun glasses.
More - I'm sure I've forgotten something, but I'll get to it later.
Also from watching the movie, mostly from the line "...at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking." This strikes me as a useful talent. The fact that he knew it just instinctively maybe less so, but I need to work on my own personal fitness. I'm not ashamed to admit that Matt Damon is an attractive man, and if I ever wanna be that good looking, an exercise regimen is in order. I'll probably start jogging. I wonder what the local high school would think if I just started jogging around the track every day...
Not tonight, though. Too dark, and I'm too tired.
29.7.07
Moved In
So I moved in finally. Not completely, of course, but enough that I am now living at my new apartment full time. I've got the Internet and a bed. I need no more.
Actually setting up the Internet was relatively easy. I got a random telemarketer calling from AT&T asking if I wanted to get DSL. I did. I was actually trying to apply online, but since the phone line wasn't in my name, it was difficult. On the phone, though, they took my word as the decision maker for the house, which was nice. I'd set up DSL at home, and now this time I'd sprung for the wireless router package (rather, my grandfather did, so thank him very much), which made setting up a network that much easier. The HARD part was reformatting my computers. They both are reformatted now, and working fairly well. Once I get my computer desk moved in to my upstairs study, I'll probably leave my laptop on up there 24 7 as basically a network server for all my files. I hope I can do that, anyway... I haven't gotten it to work yet.
Reformatting my computer allowed me to finally get a working Zune Pass. I wasted the 2 week pass that came with my Zune earlier by trying it at home, then discovering that it wouldn't connect to the marketplace for whatever reason. Anyway, I did that now, but I've discovered that I've got some pretty eccentric tastes in music. Feel free to replace "eccentric" with your own adjective phrase of choice, such as "bad" or "like a 12 year old girl." *Hums Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" to himself...* But anyway, I've got 30 gigs of Zune to fill up over here. I've been peeking at the stuff microsoft recommends, but it's been pretty lackluster so far. My "all you can eat" Zune Pass didn't include anything by Evanescence, or Ace of Bass, or any of a dozen soundtracks... Huzzah music piracy!
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Before the week is out, though, I'd like to post something about the new Transformers Movie, and other media involving transforming robots from Cybertron, as well as the only two customers (excuse me, "guests") I've had at Target that I wish I'd never met. Interesting stories, I'm sure.
Actually setting up the Internet was relatively easy. I got a random telemarketer calling from AT&T asking if I wanted to get DSL. I did. I was actually trying to apply online, but since the phone line wasn't in my name, it was difficult. On the phone, though, they took my word as the decision maker for the house, which was nice. I'd set up DSL at home, and now this time I'd sprung for the wireless router package (rather, my grandfather did, so thank him very much), which made setting up a network that much easier. The HARD part was reformatting my computers. They both are reformatted now, and working fairly well. Once I get my computer desk moved in to my upstairs study, I'll probably leave my laptop on up there 24 7 as basically a network server for all my files. I hope I can do that, anyway... I haven't gotten it to work yet.
Reformatting my computer allowed me to finally get a working Zune Pass. I wasted the 2 week pass that came with my Zune earlier by trying it at home, then discovering that it wouldn't connect to the marketplace for whatever reason. Anyway, I did that now, but I've discovered that I've got some pretty eccentric tastes in music. Feel free to replace "eccentric" with your own adjective phrase of choice, such as "bad" or "like a 12 year old girl." *Hums Avril Lavigne's "Girlfriend" to himself...* But anyway, I've got 30 gigs of Zune to fill up over here. I've been peeking at the stuff microsoft recommends, but it's been pretty lackluster so far. My "all you can eat" Zune Pass didn't include anything by Evanescence, or Ace of Bass, or any of a dozen soundtracks... Huzzah music piracy!
Anyway, I'm off to bed. Before the week is out, though, I'd like to post something about the new Transformers Movie, and other media involving transforming robots from Cybertron, as well as the only two customers (excuse me, "guests") I've had at Target that I wish I'd never met. Interesting stories, I'm sure.
24.6.07
Transformers Peeves
So, over the last month, I've been getting around, and so has word about the new Transformers movie. Of course I've heard of it. I've gotta say, I think it's really cool to see a whole bunch of media attention to the tiny robots that defined my childhood and much of my adult life, but just because you first heard about it when you went to see Shrek doesn't mean I haven't known about it since Stephen Speilburg was still fishing around for a director. I've tried to keep myself from any totally major spoilers - the ending, major details, and stuff, but things leak in, especially for someone in my position. Transformers IS my life, or enough of it that I can't avoid hearing about it. So, here now, I will share some of my thoughts about the movie so far.
1. They changed the character designs. This is the most noticeable thing about the film from it's cartoon counterparts. At first, my only thought was that they looked different, and, at first, different was bad. Optimus didn't used to have a flame paint job. Megatron shouldn't be a jet. Etc. But, again, I've been exposed to this stuff for years now. It's old hat. And, looking at them now, I can see Optimus behind the flames. I know what they were trying to accomplish. The designs are more alien than before, and look, to my mind, the way I would expect it to look if we (humanity) actually built a car that turned into a robot, rather than a toy car that turned into a toy robot. There's a slight difference there. Honestly, I would have preferred it if they'd looked somewhat more like the Alternators line, but even those toys were toys. They were hollow, and not really funtionally sound. Bay's bots are, or at least, look it, which is something you need if you're going to have them act alongside real actors.
2. The plot line is going to be a little bit junky. I mean, the emotional plot of Sam discovering that his car turns into Bumblebee, along with Earth finding itself in the middle of an extraterrestrial war, those could be okay, but the reason the Transformers are here in the first place... I still see toys on the shelf at target saying "WE MUST FIND THE ENERGON CUBE!" THE Energon cube, as if there was only one. Someone decided that the reason the Transformers arrived at Earth was because they are looking for something. A McGuffin, I believe the technical term is. The Energon Cube has since been renamed The AllSpark, the source of all Transformer life, but its still a bit cheesy. I realize it's too late now, but I much preferred the Decepticons when they were stealing resources on Earth. The IDW Infiltration storyline is pretty close to what they should be doing right about now. Decepticons hide in their undercover alt forms, causing havoc and eventually subjugating the planet, Autobots fight back, undercover at first, and eventually full scale as the conflict rises. Or, you know, SOMETHING, anything other than "O hay guys, we lost our cube thingy, so we're gonna rip up your planet to find it." Sigh... Just imagining the Havoc that Barricade could play. One police car that starts running down pedestrians in an urban area, that's about all it takes to get a huge sense of distrust towards authorities... man, it would have been great.
3. I REALLY a lot of the new characters, first and foremost being Barricade, the police car I mentioned earlier. I love the idea of an evil police car. It's so delicious. I could watch a whole movie about just him.
But a lot of the returning characters, I'm not so sure about. I don't like the fact that Starscream is as wide as he is tall. That strikes me as wrong. Scorponok used to be a giant battle station with a head that transformed into a smaller robot whose head ALSO transformed into an even smaller robot. Now, he's just a 5 meter long metal scorpion... I don't even see the point in him transforming. At least when the Dinobots did it, they could fly/glide (cept maybe Swoop, he just transformed when he had to land, pretty much). But Scorponok in the movie is pretty much all you need from him. A giant metal scorpion that hides in the sand and kills people. Scary as hell, I'm sure, but not really a "transformer." I really liked the idea that he was something like one of Soundwaves tapes, and instead of turning into a robot, he just turned into a robotic animal, like Ravage. I read somewhere that Blackout, the helicoptor, was supposed to be Soundwave in an earlier draft. I could get behind something like that. Soundwave drops a bomb or something, bomb unravels to reveal Scorponok, and I'm happy. I suppose Blackout/Scorponok still have that same vibe, but I still don't like Scorponoks robot mode.
4. "We are facing war against a technological civilization far superior to our own." This is a line I think is spoken by the President of the USA in the movie, in a speech to the public about why cars and planes and iPods are turning into robots all of a sudden. I don't approve of it. Sure, the Transformers may be cool and all, and they may be far more technologically advance than we are, but their civilization leaves much to be desired.
5. They gave Optimus his fucking ax again. I haven't seen that thing since Sherman Dam. I wonder if Megatron gets his energy mace, too.
1. They changed the character designs. This is the most noticeable thing about the film from it's cartoon counterparts. At first, my only thought was that they looked different, and, at first, different was bad. Optimus didn't used to have a flame paint job. Megatron shouldn't be a jet. Etc. But, again, I've been exposed to this stuff for years now. It's old hat. And, looking at them now, I can see Optimus behind the flames. I know what they were trying to accomplish. The designs are more alien than before, and look, to my mind, the way I would expect it to look if we (humanity) actually built a car that turned into a robot, rather than a toy car that turned into a toy robot. There's a slight difference there. Honestly, I would have preferred it if they'd looked somewhat more like the Alternators line, but even those toys were toys. They were hollow, and not really funtionally sound. Bay's bots are, or at least, look it, which is something you need if you're going to have them act alongside real actors.
2. The plot line is going to be a little bit junky. I mean, the emotional plot of Sam discovering that his car turns into Bumblebee, along with Earth finding itself in the middle of an extraterrestrial war, those could be okay, but the reason the Transformers are here in the first place... I still see toys on the shelf at target saying "WE MUST FIND THE ENERGON CUBE!" THE Energon cube, as if there was only one. Someone decided that the reason the Transformers arrived at Earth was because they are looking for something. A McGuffin, I believe the technical term is. The Energon Cube has since been renamed The AllSpark, the source of all Transformer life, but its still a bit cheesy. I realize it's too late now, but I much preferred the Decepticons when they were stealing resources on Earth. The IDW Infiltration storyline is pretty close to what they should be doing right about now. Decepticons hide in their undercover alt forms, causing havoc and eventually subjugating the planet, Autobots fight back, undercover at first, and eventually full scale as the conflict rises. Or, you know, SOMETHING, anything other than "O hay guys, we lost our cube thingy, so we're gonna rip up your planet to find it." Sigh... Just imagining the Havoc that Barricade could play. One police car that starts running down pedestrians in an urban area, that's about all it takes to get a huge sense of distrust towards authorities... man, it would have been great.
3. I REALLY a lot of the new characters, first and foremost being Barricade, the police car I mentioned earlier. I love the idea of an evil police car. It's so delicious. I could watch a whole movie about just him.
But a lot of the returning characters, I'm not so sure about. I don't like the fact that Starscream is as wide as he is tall. That strikes me as wrong. Scorponok used to be a giant battle station with a head that transformed into a smaller robot whose head ALSO transformed into an even smaller robot. Now, he's just a 5 meter long metal scorpion... I don't even see the point in him transforming. At least when the Dinobots did it, they could fly/glide (cept maybe Swoop, he just transformed when he had to land, pretty much). But Scorponok in the movie is pretty much all you need from him. A giant metal scorpion that hides in the sand and kills people. Scary as hell, I'm sure, but not really a "transformer." I really liked the idea that he was something like one of Soundwaves tapes, and instead of turning into a robot, he just turned into a robotic animal, like Ravage. I read somewhere that Blackout, the helicoptor, was supposed to be Soundwave in an earlier draft. I could get behind something like that. Soundwave drops a bomb or something, bomb unravels to reveal Scorponok, and I'm happy. I suppose Blackout/Scorponok still have that same vibe, but I still don't like Scorponoks robot mode.
4. "We are facing war against a technological civilization far superior to our own." This is a line I think is spoken by the President of the USA in the movie, in a speech to the public about why cars and planes and iPods are turning into robots all of a sudden. I don't approve of it. Sure, the Transformers may be cool and all, and they may be far more technologically advance than we are, but their civilization leaves much to be desired.
5. They gave Optimus his fucking ax again. I haven't seen that thing since Sherman Dam. I wonder if Megatron gets his energy mace, too.
13.5.07
Unhappyness
Jay Leno wrote something about how satisfied Americans are with the country. And he's right on a lot of things. We have so much food we are going obese with it, and a steadily rising industry ready to deal with that problem, too. We are a country of excess, and it's terrifyingly wonderful to live here. I suppose that some portion of the 67 unhappy percent are upset because we don't give enough to the rest of the world, but I doubt it.
I'm not angry at Bush for forcing our troops to fight in Iraq. As Leno said, any troops over there chose to enlist and serve the president. I suppose I should rephrase that. I'm not angry at Bush for forcing our troops to fight; I'm angry because he pointed them to Iraq. Something needed to be done after 9/11, that much is true, and Bush did a great job of focusing our power, anguish and rage, and directing it towards one place. Afghanistan was a good start. Other places, though, were not such wise choices, such as the USA PATRIOT ACT, secret prisons for anonymous "enemy combatants," and in general a disdain by the Executive branch for the rule of law in this country. Whenever anything comes up, 9/11 changed everything, we must fight terrorism, etc etc...
I'm glad I live in America, and the general scope of the country, when taken over the last century (let's face it, no matter how bad a job Bush did, he can't remove supermarkets in 8 years) has been good. But Iraq is, as many have described it, a quagmire. Actually, I think it seems much more like a tar baby - we attacked it due to a perceived threat, and the more we fight it, the harder it is to escape. Bush says that, given a chance to do it all over again, he would do it the same way. This is why I am dissatisfied with Bush's presidency. He has demonstrated on seemingly every possible occasion that he is unable to adapt or learn. Something tells me that he learned how to President (v) from his father, who rode the country through generally peaceful times, and invaded Iraq in a 30 day "war". Bush isn't trying to avenge his father. He is trying to mimic him, and he's doing a pretty poor job of it.
We should have stayed in Afghanistan, and that's all I'm going to say about the subject for tonight.
I'm not angry at Bush for forcing our troops to fight in Iraq. As Leno said, any troops over there chose to enlist and serve the president. I suppose I should rephrase that. I'm not angry at Bush for forcing our troops to fight; I'm angry because he pointed them to Iraq. Something needed to be done after 9/11, that much is true, and Bush did a great job of focusing our power, anguish and rage, and directing it towards one place. Afghanistan was a good start. Other places, though, were not such wise choices, such as the USA PATRIOT ACT, secret prisons for anonymous "enemy combatants," and in general a disdain by the Executive branch for the rule of law in this country. Whenever anything comes up, 9/11 changed everything, we must fight terrorism, etc etc...
I'm glad I live in America, and the general scope of the country, when taken over the last century (let's face it, no matter how bad a job Bush did, he can't remove supermarkets in 8 years) has been good. But Iraq is, as many have described it, a quagmire. Actually, I think it seems much more like a tar baby - we attacked it due to a perceived threat, and the more we fight it, the harder it is to escape. Bush says that, given a chance to do it all over again, he would do it the same way. This is why I am dissatisfied with Bush's presidency. He has demonstrated on seemingly every possible occasion that he is unable to adapt or learn. Something tells me that he learned how to President (v) from his father, who rode the country through generally peaceful times, and invaded Iraq in a 30 day "war". Bush isn't trying to avenge his father. He is trying to mimic him, and he's doing a pretty poor job of it.
We should have stayed in Afghanistan, and that's all I'm going to say about the subject for tonight.
10.5.07
Money Money Money Muh-ney.... MONEY!
I've reached the end of my Spring term at ACC. Yay for that. Also, I'm apparently less than a week away from a promotion to "Electronics Specialist" at Target, which is a step up from my old position: Salesfloor Team-member who specializes in Electronics. Whoo pay raise!
Interestingly enough, I think I've already started spending my pay before I get it. In my head at least. I've decided (deep breath) to finally move out into my own place. It doesn't look like I'm going anywhere big for a while, I've got a steady job (and a shiny new promotion, as I mentioned), gonna probably do another semester or two of ACC until I find something that really grabs me more than the jangle of the games case keys in my pocket. So yeah, I'm gonna move out. And I've got my eyes on a big-ass HD TV set: only $600 for a 32" flat-screen - score! I'm also thinking of getting an X-Box 360 Elite, once the price drops. I'll check out this "HAY-LOW" thing all the kids are talking about, and also use X-Box Live as a sort of DVR for TV programs. That Zune I talked about earlier is still something I'm looking forward to, too...
Speaking of money, though... I walked in the door and saw a stack of twenties next on top of my Mom's checkbook. Any sane person would assume that she had simply gone to the ATM and taken out some cash for shopping the week. My mind immediately jumped to the idea that she had passed a large tile marked "Go," possibly at a right angle.
Interestingly enough, I think I've already started spending my pay before I get it. In my head at least. I've decided (deep breath) to finally move out into my own place. It doesn't look like I'm going anywhere big for a while, I've got a steady job (and a shiny new promotion, as I mentioned), gonna probably do another semester or two of ACC until I find something that really grabs me more than the jangle of the games case keys in my pocket. So yeah, I'm gonna move out. And I've got my eyes on a big-ass HD TV set: only $600 for a 32" flat-screen - score! I'm also thinking of getting an X-Box 360 Elite, once the price drops. I'll check out this "HAY-LOW" thing all the kids are talking about, and also use X-Box Live as a sort of DVR for TV programs. That Zune I talked about earlier is still something I'm looking forward to, too...
Speaking of money, though... I walked in the door and saw a stack of twenties next on top of my Mom's checkbook. Any sane person would assume that she had simply gone to the ATM and taken out some cash for shopping the week. My mind immediately jumped to the idea that she had passed a large tile marked "Go," possibly at a right angle.
8.5.07
I Am Enjoying Pokemon
...Immensely.
EDIT: This post originally had two images embedded - Trainer cards. But the site I made them on underwent a reset, so they were lost. Hope theres not too much confusion.
Yeah, I picked a female character. (Note: The sprite in that picture is not the one that actually represents me in game, but I wish it did.) Why? Because the default boy looks like a total dork. Admittedly, I AM one, but when I'm playing a game, I want to pretend to be something I'm not. And I want to feel good knowing that I don't look like such a dork. Maybe in the next game Nintendo will let you pick from two or three sprites of each gender.
But I have been enjoying the game, regardless of gender confusion issues. I've even been doodling out a pokemon team to use once I've beaten the game and am ready to step out into the wide wide world of WiFi battling (they're on this second card, if you want a preview.) So yeah, I've got my friend code on there and everything. You should come battle me.
...Please?
How can you say no to that face?
EDIT: This post originally had two images embedded - Trainer cards. But the site I made them on underwent a reset, so they were lost. Hope theres not too much confusion.
Yeah, I picked a female character. (Note: The sprite in that picture is not the one that actually represents me in game, but I wish it did.) Why? Because the default boy looks like a total dork. Admittedly, I AM one, but when I'm playing a game, I want to pretend to be something I'm not. And I want to feel good knowing that I don't look like such a dork. Maybe in the next game Nintendo will let you pick from two or three sprites of each gender.
But I have been enjoying the game, regardless of gender confusion issues. I've even been doodling out a pokemon team to use once I've beaten the game and am ready to step out into the wide wide world of WiFi battling (they're on this second card, if you want a preview.) So yeah, I've got my friend code on there and everything. You should come battle me.
...Please?
How can you say no to that face?
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