Went to the zoo. Saw cute animals. All John wants to talk about is the McLaren we saw on the way home
CP: When I Fall — Barenaked Ladies
It’s cute how Van is clinging to the old comment thread. 😛
I said something. Hopefully more will join us
Well this is all rather embarrassing.
Don’t worry, it happens to everybody 😉
My first post from the new house!
Moving day was hot AF, but it went without any challenges.
Now to figure out where everything goes.
Yes Van, I’m not sure what we’ll do about the American southwest’s water issues.
John Oliver mocked the idea of a pipeline from the Mississippi, but IDK. . . . If Keystone was going to pump oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, then I’d imagine a pipe of water from the east should be just as doable – – and much safer (?).
The new James Webb images are amazing, even without the inevitable photoshops.
So finally watched the series finale of the Lost in Space reboot.
Not too shabby of an ending.
I just posted this to Facebook:
Beta Reader Invitation!
So, I have completed a solid draft of my new book: “Spherical Void.” (deep breath) It’s Science Fiction. I can dance around all of the genres and classifications that this draws from, but it’s really a Sci-Fi story at its core.
*”Void” is an entirely new, standalone work that requires no knowledge of any other materials. Yes, it has loose ties to my 2006 novel/Podiobook, “Spherical Tomi,” but no knowledge of that old thing is necessary. “Spherical Void” is not a sequel, prequel, or companion; it’s its own piece.
I’m looking for a few beta readers to check out the current draft and provide feedback. Any and all reactions are welcome, especially about:
-Clarity
-Flow/pacing
-Setting
-Accuracy in my usage of Japanese culture and language
A few points:
-Beta Readers will get special acknowledgments in the published book. This won’t be a paid gig.
-“Spherical Void” clocks in at about 56,400 words, which is a short novel.
-“Spherical Void” closes with “END OF BOOK I,” meaning there will be some unresolved story threads. (i.e., the central characters don’t sail off to the Grey Havens [SPOILER]). I am at work on BOOK II, which I expect to be about the same length. Completion date on that one is TBD.
-There is zero pressure, zero obligation, zero expectation from me for you to ever read any iteration of this book. You’re busy. You have a lot going on right now. There’s a really good series on Netflix. Your reading list is already long, as it is. You’re really struggling to beat the end boss on Level 7. I get it. We cool. It’s just an invitation.
-This invitation is limited to a select few. If you think of someone who might be interested, or who I may have forgotten to include, then please suggest them to me, and I’ll contact them.
Feel free to DM, call, or email me if you have any questions. I’ll answer what I can.
At last, those Japanese language and cultural lessons can be put to use.
New thread, who dis?
Morning Pan
A little work this morning then playing Lords of Waterdeep with friends this afternoon.
Secrets of Dumbledore last night with the older 3 of us.
It was fine, I guess. That is my review.
Crap joke for the day:
A rookie police officer pulled a biker over for speeding and had the following exchange:
• Officer: May I see your driver’s license?
• Biker: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.
• Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle?
• Biker: It’s not my bike. I stole it.
• Officer: The motorcycle is stolen?
• Biker: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner’s card in the tool bag when I was putting my gun in there.
Officer: There’s a gun in the tool bag?
• Biker: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the dude who owns this bike and stuffed his dope in the saddle bags.
• Officer: There’s drugs in the saddle bags too?!?!?
• Biker: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the rookie immediately called his captain. The biker was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the biker to handle the tense situation:
• Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
• Biker: Sure. Here it is. It was valid.
• Captain: Who’s motorcycle is this?
• Biker: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the registration.
• Captain: Could you slowly open your tool bag so I can see if there’s a gun in it?
• Biker: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the tool bag.
• Captain: Would you mind opening your saddle bags? I was told you said there’s drugs in them.
• Biker: No problem. The saddle bags were opened; no drugs.
• Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole this motorcycle, had a gun in the tool bag, and that there were drugs in the saddle bags.
• Biker: Yeah, I’ll bet he told you I was speeding, too.
I have come here to complain!
But I’ll can it.
I owe some of you emails. Prob overnight tonight.
Just finished Series 3 of Umbrella Academy. I really liked seasons 1 and 2. I hate to be the dissenting voice, but I just didn’t feel season 3. Starting from the first episode, there were big scenes that I just felt were a bit silly (which almost hurts to say from me who really likes silly and unexpected, it just didn’t seem to fit with the tone of what had been set up to that point). And the ending was just not what I wanted on any level. I know others really liked it and I wish I could be part of that crowd. Just didn’t work for me. I felt like there was a lot of potential that just didn’t come to be.
I think that’s up next for us? Or the newest season of The Boys.
Although the overall story arc was simple, I really enjoyed this show, liked the characters and the music was great.
Oh and hang around watching the credits on the final episode, there is a scene you want to watch.
Overall I liked it and I like the characters. It does seem to be a mix of Bollywood and a Disney show aimed at young teens.
So there is a game on iOS called Warbits, basically an Advanced Wars clone.
It hasn’t been updated in years, the aspect ratio is still 4:3, but it’s one of those games you started playing and the hours just fly by.
I am so sick of the ‘crisis by design’ working model.
/complaints
Jack’s brain sez:
Between the move, the broken work/life balance, and the fatigue, I have not made any forward progress on the rest of Spherical _____ (working title: Spherical Void).
I need to remedy all of the above.
Well.
Except the move – – that’s still a work in progress.
Well, in the psychological thriller “City Slickers” there was this exchange:
Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
[holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean shit.
Mitch: But, what is the “one thing?”
Curly: [smiles] That’s what *you* have to find out.
Tackle one thing until completion, that’s what Jack Palance would do.
Jack Palance would do pushups to prove a point
Believe it or not.
*Heavy breathing between every word*
I liked it better when it was Angie Dickerson breathing heavy between every word.
Tonga volcano causing spectacular skies in Antarctica:
I went for my 4th dose this morning and was denied because I’m not over 50, not in healthcare, and not immuno-compromised. A near-miss on all 3 counts.
My last one was in Oct 2021, but I still don’t qualify. They did say that the 4th doses should be authorized for the general public in about a month.
We can’t get them here either unless you’re over 65.
Looking like autumn before I can get a fourth booster.
Fourth jab, second booster.
My age qualifies me. I’m been putting it off to see if Moderna gets a more updated vaccine.
While that does suck… there is a chance that waiting might get you a version that is more tailored for the BA 5 strain which has now become dominant in the US.
JW: Lightyear
Haters are gonna hate but I enjoyed that.
CP: Doomscroller — Metric
Last night I joined TEB in having watched,
“Watched Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
That is my kind of movie. That is not to say I exactly know what was going on. But it was wonderfully made, kept your brain engaged as you tried to follow it and it had some wonderful performances.
Michelle Yeoh May be one of the most under rated actresses out there. I dont think I have ever seen her in a movie where she wasn’t simply brilliant.
I also love that someone was able to actually get the money to make a film that is this messed up and absolutely NOT mainstream.
Hard agree jj about Michelle Yeoh.
I saw the film on my visit to the US and really enjoyed it.
That one’s definitely on my list. My daughter saw it and Dr. Strange with a friend of hers and they agreed that the non-Marvel movie was the better multiverse story.
It’s also a film you can watch without needing to have watched a shit load of films and tv series to understand the plot (looking at you Doctor Strange).
I’ll disagree with you on the plot for Dr. Strange. What you said is true for knowing more about the characters, but the plot was awfully light, imo. It felt more like contrasting two character studies, tbh. I liked it, but not one of my favorites.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing Everything.
I loved Dr. Strange for its inventiveness and Raiminess. Absolutely one of my favorites from the Marvel catalogue.
Which I respect. I’m miffed on Wanda’s behalf. The heroes failed her multiple times since End Game. It’s no wonder she went off the rails, ala “Falling Down”. That does not excuse her in anyway.
On my list too.
Crap joke of the day:
A mathematician, engineer, and statistician go in for a job interview, the only question is “What is 3+3?”
Mathematician: “6.”
Engineer: “About 6? Plus or minus a bit?”
Statistician: “What do you want it to be?”
We’ve decided to rearrange the (home) office. That means I’ll be stuck without a computer for a couple of days. That is going to seriously interfere with a lot of things
Finished watching “Midnight Sky” tonight, even knowing it wasn’t getting renewed.
Damn shame, too. A pretty original story and strong performances from Simmons and Spacek.
You confused me for a second, Midnight Sky was a movie, Night Sky was the tv series.
Well crap…guess I’m getting old.
The rather generic name probably didn’t help with the series trying to find an audience.
It looks like I’ll be on The Metal Voice tomorrow morning to discuss some current events:
Nita Strauss
John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy
The Pantera reunion tour
My husband is emptying bookcases while I’m sitting on my butt playing games on the iPad. This rearranging the office stuff is really easy
My only interaction with him wasn’t great, but it was also fleeting. I had no overall negative impression of him.
I know he was a beloved figure, and I didn’t really know him at all. His impact was undeniable. Sad news for the Sci-Fi publishing world.
I didn’t actually meet him, but found a table that he was supposed to be manning at a convention and got a picture of myself with the “Flint” sign in front of me (my actual last name is Flint). We are no relation that I know of.
Bloody hell it feels like Arizona today, half expecting the desert to come sweeping in.
I’m experiencing that in Florida as well. Also hearing it from just about everyone else everywhere. But somehow, now message from all the people that like to joke about “doesn’t look like global warming to me” when we have a cold winter day.
Note: I am well aware that the current hot streak is also a small blip in the overall pattern that is just as unrelated as when we have colder winters than expected. Just saying that the same people that take cold as fodder for their climate change denial don’t seem to change their minds when they experience warmer than usual temperatures.
Morning Pan
Taking hubby shopping today. He’s leaving town for a week on Wednesday and he wants some new shorts
We did see the newest Thor over the weekend. No, it’s not Ragnarok, but it’s not a real drop-off. Lots of laughs, lots of pathos. Greatly enjoyed it.
Apologies for linking a NY fucking Post article. I only just started reading, and it seemed interesting. I don’t think I agree with where she’s going, but I’ll finish and come back with more thoughts.
CP: Shame Reactions — Pom Pom Squad
I bought a desk this morning. Now I need to wait three to five business days for it to arrive. Hubby’s going to be upset that I’ll be putting it together without him
This is the difference between when hubby and I go on a trip. He leaves first thing tomorrow morning. I would have been pretty much fully packed yesterday. He hasn’t even started
“The Chauffer” is the favorite song of ever devoted Duran Duran fan.
OK that isn’t me, but it is a pretty excellent, overlooked song.
I never knew there was a NSFW video for the song.
I am a big fan of the Chauffer.
Has a VERY definate mood to it.
Yes. I remember that video. I’d say it has nothing to do with the song … but then I’ve never really figured out what the song was actually about. So…
Listening to a podcast about the Code 46 film and thinking ‘damn! I’m going to have to watch this now”
Off to the airport. I miss hubby already
That is sweet.
I’m jealous.
You’re jealous of John leaving, or the fact I miss him?
I might owe Jack an apology. 11 pages is probably a bit much.
Your feedback is fantastic! I’m blown away. Thank you!
“Of”
Hubby texted. He has landed at his destination. It’s the island life for him for the next week
A tropical island with moderate temps sounds exactly right. I’m also jealous.
Or a west coast Vancouver Island visiting his parents
Given how things are down here right now, I think I’d still prefer being on a small Vancouver island.
Taken from David Gerrold. I have not vetted (I also shared this on the Deadpan FB page):
Google is so powerful that it “hides” other search systems from us. We just don’t know the existence of most of them.
Meanwhile, there are still a huge number of excellent searchers in the world who specialize in books, science, other smart information.
Keep a list of sites you never heard of. http://www.refseek.com – Academic Resource Search. More than a billion sources: encyclopedia, monographies, magazines. http://www.worldcat.org – a search for the contents of 20 thousand worldwide libraries. Find out where lies the nearest rare book you need. https://link.springer.com – access to more than 10 million scientific documents: books, articles, research protocols. http://www.bioline.org.br is a library of scientific bioscience journals published in developing countries. http://repec.org – volunteers from 102 countries have collected almost 4 million publications on economics and related science. http://www.science.gov is an American state search engine on 2200+ scientific sites. More than 200 million articles are indexed. http://www.base-search.net is one of the most powerful researches on academic studies texts. More than 100 million scientific documents, 70% of them are free
“Fortunately, this change is not especially impactful on how the telescope as a whole functions – and NASA has said that its performance is continuing to exceed expectations – but it fundamentally reduces the accuracy of the data collected.”
I meant this as a joke, but for giggles, I uploaded a James Web image and doubled the res. Holy! I’ll upload the image to Facebook.
Under “of course”
John got a gift card to a Calgary gaming store as a gift when he left his school. He ordered a game and was told it wouldn’t be in until closer to the end of the month. Now that he left town, He got a message today saying the game was in.
Luckily, he hadn’t put the gift card in his wallet so I can sneak out tomorrow and get Ark Nova
Yesterday I bought the panoramic editions of Monument Valley 1 and 2.
Basically PC conversions of the mobile games. Some of the rooms look rather splendid in wide screen.
If you are a Netflix subscriber you can now download Into the Breech for iOS and Android:
Well, I am pretty sick.
Started yesterday as sinus drainage then became kind of a thick throat.
That led to a raw throat which has led to a burning in my chest and finally a little while ago, a very slight fever.
The easy money says it’s Covid but the home test last night was negative. Also little or no coughing.
On the other hand, I am a 6 hour car ride from home and my Doctor.
Meh
Oh, Joe.
Feel better
False negatives seem to occur with the home tests, unfortunately.
Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was…a thing we watched today.
Don’t see this one cracking anyone’s top 10 list of MCU films.
Loved it. But then, I love Sam Raimi’s movies.
Stupid cat
Yesterday we got up earlier than normal to get John to the airport.
This morning the cat decided this getting fed early thing should be done again today. I didn’t get up when she wanted me to but that doesn’t me she let me sleep either,
I’m tired
I don’t know if that should make want to click or to avoid the link.
As I’ve been thinking about and assessing my half-completed “Spherical Void” book, I’ve been reading “All the Birds in the Sky” by Charlie Jane Anders, which is fantastic – – and perfectly demonstrates all the things I feel like I’m missing from my Spherical book.
Hopefully it will be better than that last DND film:
That fight sequence with him and the two leads was awesome.
It does get extra points for lack of romance between Ryan and Ana’s characters.
Well, why only once? Was it for gore or disturbing stuff?
I thought it went on for too long. Some impressive set pieces but it dragged in places for me.
Yeah….. The Anne Rice books are some of my all-time favorites. I’m not feeling it with the trailers for this new series. The guy who plays Louis was good in GoT, so I’m not concerned about him. The rest, though. . .
The Wakanda Forever trailer, on the other hand, is better by itself than half the MCU films. I hope the movie is even half as good as its trailer.
Agreed.
It has been a horrible month and this week has been even worse. So, for a little retail therapy, I got the box set of Akira. This thing is a beast. It probably weight 35lb (16kg). I’m amazed it wasn’t damaged during shipping.
I’m looking forward to reading the whole thing.
Oh ditto. I hope things go better for you *hugs*
Enjoy your “therapy”
Ditsuoooo!!!!!
Srsly, sorry for the stress. Have you read Akira before?
No I haven’t. I’ve only ever watched the movie.
Hmm, Rifftrax doing Plan 9, should be good for a laugh.
I loved David Warner in so so many things. Always felt that Alan Rickman took on the roles that David Warner would have played if he was still young enough to tackle them.
David Warner was a presence every time he was onscreen. Even in Quest of the Delta Knights.
But especially Time Bandits.
Today I met with my boss in person to discuss the transition of my leaving. It’s only been two months since I gave notice
Right now I figure it’s 50/50 odds she actually shows
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
She cancelled!
Phooey.
So I guess I’m a house owner now.
Should you and Jack start a club for new house owners?
Should those of us who have owned homes for awhile start our own club?
Well this house is not exactly new, not even to me.
Is your house fully paid off?
Yup, no mortgage.
A bit late in life to get on the property ladder, but benefit changes means it’s the only chance I’ve got to retire before 67.
Congradts on the purchase.
Sooo party at your place next weekend?
Well, the newsletter is ready to go out tomorrow and the website has been updated. I’m ready to go back to bed.
Day 6
I’ve been 24hrs with no fever now. Not really had a cough for 2 days. Still really light headed though. 🙁
SO has bad cough but no fever.
Fun fact- She repeatedly tested negative til I suggested something I had read on-line… swab the back of her throat INSTEAD of the nasal passages. The test showed positive emediatly.
Fun fact 2 – two other couples we know tested positive at about the same time. We were in 3 different states. I suspect the current wave is MUCH worse than is being reported based on the fact that we all home tested and would have to go searching for someone to report these results to. None of us has.
Oh last note – thank God for modern science/medicine. I was double vaxed and boosted and had a rough time. Would not have wanted to face that virus with unboosted immunity.
I do wonder how the unreported home tests are being underreported.
I’m glad you’re on the mend, even if you and yours are still dealing with the blecch. Speedy recovery wishes.
The article’s points are actually hard to dismiss. I don’t doubt that there are places where being an older, straight white male can be a barrier to entry – – and I’d agree that it isn’t fair, even if history has been unfair in their (our) favor.
But I’m sure there’s also plenty of bellyaching from chronic whiners.
Is it as bad as JCO – – a publishing legend, sure, but also born in 1938 – – is saying?
I can’t read the article but JSO is rather infamous on twitter for some rather strange views that are not supported by data.
JCO rather.
CP: Lost — Zola Jesus
And it’s Monday. Must be time for a new set of artificial emergencies. Please don’t remain calm. Here are some hollow words of encouragement. Enjoy it, that’s all you get.
TL;DR: Companies are hiring writers from all over the world to mass-produce kitschy by-the-numbers genre erotica stories for the Western romance reader market.
Wasn’t able to read yesterday’s due to paywall but without the clickbait here of “werewolf” and “erotica“ this seems to be just a rehash of “Creatives who pander to the masses are able to make rent.”
Or “The (insert specific media) industry looks at what they sell as product and only pushes the product that made them money the last time.”
It seems like an interesting thing to outsource. This isn’t making iPhones or Nikes, it’s trashy romance. I wonder if we’ll see sweatshops next.
So that brings up an interesting perspective.
If what you create can be created on a computer and delivered over the internet … is it actually outsourcing or has corporate realized their “workforce” is global.
Weird development for the workforce. If you live in the first world you may now be offered 3rd world wages. If you live in the 3rd world, you may now be able to actually support yourself.
That certainly happened to a portion of the animation industry in the 2000’s
Crap joke for the day:
A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing.”
“What do they say?” the priest inquired.
“They say, ‘Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?'” the woman said embarrassingly.
“That’s obscene!” the priest exclaimed, “I can see why you are embarrassed.”
He thought a minute and then said, “You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I’m sure your parrots will stop saying that…that phrase in no time.”
“Thank you,” the lady responded, “this may very well be the solution.”
The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest’s house.
As he ushered her in, she saw his two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying.
Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them.
After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, “Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?”
There was a stunned silence.
Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, “Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered!”
Is it wrong that I’m now to the point where I consider the fact I have never played Wordle a kind of badge of honour?
Wordle is exactly my thing.
Posting Wordle results on social media is not my thing.
100%
I feel that way about Smartwatches.
Never played Angry Birds…
Although this spring, we had Cardinals throwing themselves at our windows every morning.
I don’t know if that is considered Irony or Karma.
CP: No Horses — Garbage
At the airport waiting to see the man of my dreams
Don’t let your husband find out.
I got a “Johnny Cash” moment from Joey Belladonna, the lead singer of Anthrax, but I fear I didn’t get it with either camera.
I didn’t actually do anything to piss him off, I think he was just clowning around.
Phenomenal show.
+ 50
Was “I am the Law” good?
I Am the Law absolutely killed. Joey is 63, but still sounds like he did in 1986. My only gripes: they left out I’m the Man and AIR.
And I checked – – I ended up with a slightly blurry close-up of Joey’s middle finger. Which is not usable, but hilarious.
How naive am I? You may ask.
Well today was listening to a podcast about ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ and it was mentioned that one reading of the film is that the spider is a Vagina that the nail is a penis that kills the vagina.
So that reading has never occurred to me till today.
Um.
I lost a crown while flossing my teeth last night. I guess it’s a trip to the dentist for mr today
I didn’t know the Duffer Bros were going back and making small changes to old Stranger Things episodes.
It’s a mostly benign change. I don’t feel strongly about it one way or the other.
Counterpoint – if we as a viewing society hadn’t become such a bunch of pixel-peeping fuckwits, this change wouldn’t have to ever have been considered, much less carried out.
We can’t just enjoy the story, we have to deconstruct the meaning of the color choices for every character’s backpack and point out that such and such model of car didn’t go on sale until the year after the story took place.
We deserve this.
I actually have no objection to edits, as long as the original versions are still always available.
Turns out I didn’t lose a crown, I pulled out part of the tooth next to the one with the crown. Next week I go in and get the rest of the tooth pulled, then I get a bridge put in. It was strange as I felt nothing when the tooth came out. I assumed it was a crown because of that but couldn’t see as it fell down the sink when it happened
For now, I have a hole in my head
Of course it couldn’t be easy
I’ve had a bridge in for over 30 years, so at least they can last a long time.
So judging from twitter, some men would rather play as a stray cat then a woman.
Due to the vagaries of my shift pattern it’s a long weekend for me as well.
So I’m going to be low-key about it, but it turns out I’m back on the job hunt.
This time, it was the toxic tyrant manager. I shouldn’t be surprised when the person who’d spent most of the time during my one-on-one meetings shit-talking and gossiping turns on me. . . and I wasn’t. But the timing is still a drag.
I’ll take any leads and any LinkedIn recommendations, if you got ’em.
Bummer man.
Humans are the worst.
I’m saying it here because this is a pretty private part of the web.
I’ll keep it off of the bigger Social Medias.
*hugs*
CP: The Hell of It – Paul Williams
Nice little folky song, performed by actual everyday humans.
Best of the trailers yet. I’m super looking forward to this one. 😀
Dum de dum de dum
August already, this year has flown past.
Started the process of making a will today, mortality knocking on the door..hard!, icky conversation with the solicitor had me feeling my expiration date had already been decided.
Fate been tempted is how I feel today, silly I know but I’m still feeling it.
I have been putting this off for two years.
Just before Covid hit we went and started the process. Saw a solicitor and got the lowdown on what we need to do … but sitting down and doing it is the hard part.
We did get right to making a “living will”. So there is that.
… but the other. Still telling ourselves “We need to get on that”.
We’ve done the opposite. We’ve had a will for quite some time, but haven’t had put together a living will yet.
Ooh, can I claim stuff on your wills?
It is not looking good for the Joe Bonamassa concert tomorrow night.
It’s been 5 days since I have had any symptoms and 12 days since I first felt symptoms but unfortunately I still tested positive last night.
The science is unsure enough about whether I am still contagious, that I would feel responsible going to the concert in a mask … but it is a two hour drive and a late night show so we were going to stay with friends in town and I don’t want to do that unless I am negative.
That is a damn disappointment. Sorry, J0e.
But I also think of all the “I do what I want” people, who would just go anyway.
CP: Shadows In The Rain — Sting
Speaking of Wordle, it got me tonight. My streak has ended.
Got me as well because I forgot to do it.
I was lucky with that one after getting 3 letters on my 2nd guess.
Today’s nearly beat me.
It was actually today’s that got me – – I hit it right after midnight.
Tricky word.
So this day 299 years ago, the dumbest alien invasion flick was released, yes I’m talking about ‘Signs’.
Umm..20 not 299.
Now I feel sheepish.
I like Signs as a metaphor and story.
If you watch it as an invasion movie, then you’ll be disappointed.
Pulled the stove out and cleaned under and behind it. I really should do that more often
A spider has decided to guard the back door so I refuse to use it. Hubby likes spiders so now I can only use the front door.
Note: if one does get in the house, the husband subscribes to a catch and release program. This has come up in discussions more than once
I’m trying to evolve them to hide. If I see them they die and if I don’t they don’t.
If anyone here is a mobile developer or knows a mobile developer that is looking for a new job, the company that I work for is looking for someone. We used to be Orlando only, but (like everyone else since COVID) we now hire fully remote for some positions, like this one. I have been with the same company (https://designinteractive.net/) for 10 years now because it is a great company and I really like the people I work with and the projects I get to work on. Please spread the word as we’re having trouble finding someone with the skillset we need. Also, please use my name (Jesse Flint) on any applications. If I help to get someone hired, it gets me a bonus.
This bit of England would have been under water when the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs hit.
That is fun.
We have a “mountain” in our town (only a few hundred feet high) and in my youth I found some fossils in a rock at the top. Spiral shells and stuff that were ocean floor type creatures.
Based on this web site, they would have had to have been 300 million years old. The last time that spot would have been under water.
I surprised that no one offers “fossilize” as a burial option.
It’s rather foggy out this morning
That’s what the dinosaurs said the next day..
Crazy monsoon here overnight – – woke me up a bunch of times.
Good opportunity to check out the water tightness of your new digs.
I considered it, but decided that if there are leaks, I didn’t want to learn about them at 4am. Any other time of the day is fine.
So according to the twitter scuttlebutt, we might be getting S2 of Moon Knight.
If it doesn’t get renewed that was not a bad ending to a series.
CP: Young & Wild — The Strumbellas
Morning Pan
Yesterday I had the rest of my tooth pulled. Today I feel like I’ve been hit in the jaw.
Dentists are agents of evil.
Well first episode of Sandman watched, going to try to not binge the series.
No idea when we’ll get to this, but I’m damn eager.
Crap joke for the evening:
A woman decided to give herself a big treat for her 70th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice hotel.. When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00.
She demanded to know why the charge was so high “I agree it’s a nice hotel, but the rooms aren’t worth $250..00 for just an overnight stay – I didn’t even have breakfast!”
The clerk told her that $250.00 is the ‘standard rate,’ and breakfast had been included had she wanted it.
She insisted on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: “This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center which are available for use.”
“But I didn’t use them.”
‘Well, they are here, and you could have.” He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous.”We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here.”
“But I didn’t go to any of those shows..”
“Well, we have them, and you could have.”
No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, “But I didn’t use it!” and the Manager countered with his standard response.
After several minutes discussion, and with the Manager still unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him. The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check.
“But Madam, this check is for only $50.00”
“That’s correct I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me.”
“But I didn’t!”
“Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have.”
This joke is dated
CP: Bad Education (No Context Remix) — Tilly & The Wall
I’m not sure what I’ve become. I met up with old colleagues for some drinks, and I really just wanted to get home to watch Sandman.
Ok, still no idea whether it’s artistic choice or someone fucked up but the Aspect ration of The Sandman is definitely wonky, not the only one to notice either.
I did not notice the aspect ratio.
Eps 1 and 2 consumed. Both are great, but that’s coming from someone who once wore a Sandman costume at Halloween. (The girlfriend’s idea. She was Death. As her Halloween costume.)
JW: Prey
Thumbs up from me, on Hulu in the US and Disney+ elsewhere.
Just a heads up if you want to watch the Comanche Dub, on Hulu it’s an option at the bottom of the screen when you select the film. On Disney+ It’s under EXTRAS when you select the film to watch before hitting play.
I actually worked on a film with him right after he had done The Return of the Living Dead. He was a funny guy with a dry wit.
Some one who was unaware he had just done Living dead ask him one day what he had just finished shooting and he went into this monologue about the tender, heart touching film he had just done. A gentle love story with deep introspective charactures. Had everyone cracking up.
Definately a staple of B horror films.
I’m trying to drop names up in here to seem cool, but you worked with Clu Galagher! That is amazing.
As I recall (and it has been quite a while) the film “From a whisper to a scream” featured a series of short stories involving horrific things that had happened in this single town over the course of it’s existance.
The film had an intro and VO from Vincent price but didn’t get to meet him. All his stuff was done in LA.
So Clu played the “momma’s boy “
To an over controlling invalid mother who made him give her creepy baths and never let him have a social life. Till he kills her so he can go on a date. But he keeps having fantasies of the date being dead (bloody girl hanging on a meat hook in a sexy dress asking him to come dance with her. That sort of thing.)
So of course he kills her.
THEN has sex with her.
Of course some time later, she gives birth in the grave to a demon baby that claws its way out and comes looking for daddy. Hilarity does NOT ensue.
You know… THAT kind of a B movie.
I do have to say that the special effects guys were really, disgustingly good.
And ironically, DMB had a song called “Don’t Drink the Water.”
I frightened hubby. He was downstairs and came running up when he heard me squeal. I had looked out the window and saw a big ass spider fighting with a dragon fly. It freaked me out.
Big Ass Spider vs. Dragonfly sounds like a fantastic Kaiju battle.
I don’t mind Maneskin, but they really sound like Live 2.0 to me.
CP: Good Pain — Live
Crap joke for the evening:
The crusty Navy Master Chief noticed a new face and barked at him, “Get over here! What’s your name, sailor?”
“John,” the new seaman replied.
“Look, I don’t know what kind of bleeding-heart pansy crap they’re teaching sailors in boot camp these days, but I don’t call anyone by his first name,” the chief scowled. “It breeds familiarity, and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my sailors by their last names only; Smith, Jones, Baker, Jackson, whatever. And you are to refer to me as ‘Master Chief.’ Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, Aye, Master Chief!”
“Now that we’ve got that straight, what’s your last name?”
The seaman sighed. “Darling, My name is John Darling, Master Chief.”
FBI raid at Mar-A-Lago! Dare we hope that criminals face jus. . . hahahaha, sorry, back to reality.
Why can’t people read what’s given to them?
I was put in charge of the Tyche programming stream for When Words Collide. Now that we are only a few days out, I have all my program participants constantly emailing me with questions. I sent out an email to all of them last week that basically answered every question I’ve had so far.
*sigh*
My favorite situation like this was when I asked someone in an email a series of questions (in a numbered format so that it was obvious there were several questions).with the last one requiring at least a paragraph of writing to put into a report. They sent back an email that said “yes”.
“Yes” is better than “maybe” ?
The insistence of NTY to use duplicate letters in wordle sometimes makes it easier, imo.
I love The Walking Dead TV series (and of course, the comics). I haven’t liked any of the spinoff series yet. We’ll see what happens with the “Tales of the Walking Dead” starting this weekend. More importantly, I’m really starting to wonder about the sanity of the people at the highest levels of production. In the upcoming spinoff series that focuses on Daryl Dixon, they are going to ship him off to France and possibly have him facing off against fast moving zombie variants. I’m really thinking that despite the differences between the TV series and the comics, the only thing that keeps these people on the rails is the semblance of a story arc that the main series has to follow based on the comics. Seems like every spinoff where they get to do what they want just immediately turns into an absolute train wreck.
Three nuns were driving round Hampshire. The Mother Superior was at the wheel, crashed into a tree and all three died. They soon arrived at the Pearly Gates.
Waving at St Peter, they explained they were Brides of Christ and asked for prompt admission. “Not so fast, girls” declared the gatekeeper. “We’re choc-a-bloc with dead nuns at the moment. You first have to pass an Entrance Test. But don’t worry; it’s all graded depending on your rank in the Convent.
First up was nun Celia. “And what grade were you in the Convent?” he asked. “Just a novice, St Peter.” “Ah: it’s an easy question for you. When Adam first met Eve in the Garden of Eden what were they wearing?” “Fig Leaves, St. Peter” Celia answered.
St Peter smiled. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven”. Next up was Annunciata. “And what grade were you in the Convent, Sister?”
She explained she was a cook. St Peter said: “So it’s a medium question for you. When Adam first met Eve, what fruit did she give him?”. She knew the answer: “It was an apple, St Peter”. Easy-peasy. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.” said the gatekeeper.
Third up was the Mother Superior. St. Peter explained: “With your seniority you get a really hard question. When Eve saw Adam running toward her in the Garden of Eden, what was the very first thing she said?”
The Mother Superior pondered, observing: “Wow, that really is a hard one, St Peter.” Yet to her great surprise he smiled and promptly replied: “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Apparently St. Peter was feeling generous with the first two, since their answers were wrong…
Third was is probably correct 🙂
I’m through 6 of the episodes of Sandman so far. Astoundingly well done so far. I read the comics many years ago, listened to the Audible adaptation, and then re-read the comics just a month or so ago. They are staying astoundingly true to the original works. Any adjustments are super tiny and don’t seem to bother me. I rarely see this kind of respect for the original works.
Also, in the first episode especially, I saw a number of direct references to the art work that Sam Keith brought to the earliest issues. Another “well done” on that front.
We just watched the diner one. Which was as unsettling as it was meant to be.
As someone who has read and reread the comics, I’m astonished at how well done it is.
Just started the dollhouse part of the series. Odd that they killed off Rose’s mother and replaced her with some random other person who I’m not exactly sure what the relationship with Rose is. That just seems like a pointless change. Maybe there is a reason later in the episode or series.
A-ha! I think I have sussed why they beefed up The Corinthian’s role in Sandman. I was just telling my brother who never read the comics to be prepared in that Sandman is more like a series of loosely tied together short stories than it is one cohesive plot. I’m thinking they stretched the Corinthian out across all of the episodes to help tie all the stories together and make them seem more like one cohesive plot. All makes sense to me now.
Weird, link is also misbehaving for me… I’d just tell you to go to podcast software but still not appearing in Apple Podcasts or overcast or anywhere.
I was able to find it on Apple Podcasts by searching for “idjit”. Great to hear your voice again Paul.
I also saw an attempt to redirect to a link that was something like “funnydatingsites”
But – – not trying to miss the bigger picture – – it’s great to see your Really Big return to podcasting!
Looks like this link mayhem is only happening on mobile, I just tried again on my laptop and it went where it was supposed to. I’m more concerned that it is taking forever for the show to be listed as its own feed on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else. As far as I can see it is only appearing in masterfeeds like Dog Days of Podcasting or the QuadrupleZ masterfeed.
I figured this was the first place to tell about new Really Big Things
Well subscribed now, although I loved That 70s Show I still haven’t seen the follow up series.
Well, they have That 90’s Show coming up this fall and it’s apparently a much more direct sequel to That 70’s Show.
Looking forward to it!
Using Raspberry Pi in drones for Search and Rescue:
Occaisionally these days, technology is the “good guy”.
BTW: Bullet Train is absolutely nuts. And an absolute blast.
The other rando people in the theater were overheard afterwards griping about how awful it was. In this case, I took that as a validation of my enjoyment.
Haven’t seen the film but did enjoy the book it was based on.
That’s exactly what I’m looking forward to. 😀
I’m a fool for Joey King, so I might need to see this.
Morning Pan
Busy weekend ahead of me.
CP: Microphone Fiend — Rage Against The Machine
I was a fiend before I became a teen,
Meltin’ microphones instead of cones of ice cream.
I strongly disagree with most of the opinions in the article, but it’s still a really good read and examination of Dr. Strange 2:
The first thing I noticed was how the heading of the article is spelled “happyness”, even though the link spells it correctly.
I think he’s referring to the Will Smith film of the same title.
I wondered about that too, but why spell it correctly in the internet link?
Some of what he says, I agree with, other stuff not so much. He is a little too tied to certain comic storylines, but this part resonates with me: “Because all the men responsible for this movie can think to do with Wanda Maximoff is make her the mother from hell, turning a grieving character struggling toward heroism in several previous movies and a TV series into a mass-murderer who will commit any depraved acts necessary as long as she can be a mother.”
I don’t find the movie a crushing disappointment. It is fun, and enjoyable, and especially Raimi-esque. But the above and a few other details really bother me about the movie.
To be fair, that is how some of the comic storylines have gone, but the MCU has insisted on their own continuity which I have enjoyed. This particular choice didn’t feel quite right.
RE: the sexism thing in Dr. Strange 2 – – if a woman feels that the plot exploits female/matronly stereotypes, then I will 100% support and back them on that. I’d never tell anyone how they feel or should feel about issues in a movie.
For my reaction – – I didn’t find her homicidal grief to be lazy stereotyping. The boys weren’t the only traumatic loss in her life.
And ya know. . . TV show spoiler. . . protagonist or not, she was kinda the true villain all along on WandaVision. . . .
I never felt like she was presented in Dr. Strange 2 as (Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist) just a fragile dame who got all emotional about family and chick stuff (/Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist).
Sexism in lazy writing goes both ways. My one real disappointment so far with the Netflix Sandman is that there is a pair of foster parents in the comic that are both evil shits to their foster child. In the series the foster father is evil and abusive and the mother is timid and afraid. This is bad from both ends, because apparently not only can women not be strong, but men can only ever be abusive assholes. If there was only one lazy writing cliche I could get rid of over all others it would be the abusive asshole husband/father thing. I get that they are out there, but TV/movies make it seem like that just about all that’s out there.
Having read the article, I can agree with most of the problems he points out. But most of his quibbles can be dismissed by the fact this is very much a Sam Raimi movie. This is Marvel’s version of Evil Dead, and many character choices were driven to service that. If Raimi gave in to all these points, we would have had a completely predictable movie. I’ll leave it to the inevitable standalone Scarlet Witch movie for the redemption arc.
So, here’s my hot take on Dr. Strange 2 and Phase 4 in general – I think it’s generally set the MCU back quite a bit and the comic book beats that it relied on are why a lot of folks don’t take comics books seriously as literature.
I think the author had a lot of valid complaints about how Wanda was handled. Just because you can trace the storyline back to beats from 20 to 40 years ago, doesn’t mean they’re good ideas for story beats today.
There were certainly some good parts and I generally thought the Disney+ series were stronger than most of the Phase 4 movies.
And, Sony gave us the best phase 4 MCU movie with the latest Spiderman.
Well finished S1 of The Sandman.
Enjoyed it, the ending felt a bit anti-climactic but hopefully we will get a S2.
We decided to watch season three of Locke and Key before Sandman. Crazy, I know
Still haven’t finished S2.
Abandoned L&K S2.
Same
Fun premise, poorly executed.
When Words Collide starts later today. I’m pretty sure there was a (health) reason I stopped working behind the scenes for these conventions.
Ugh
Is there a postmortem called “After Worlds Collide?”
Actually I’d be shocked if nobody has asked that already.
I saw Tim Reynolds post a photo – – but with no Ryah in it!
Now there’s something you don’t see every day. There are 2 movies coming out at nearly the same time that will center on a young Edgar Allan Poe. Not, mind you, based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. No, no. Both having a primary character in the movie that is a young Edgar Allan Poe as a primary character.
I’ve only seen scenes from the film but this tv series gets off to a good start.
It’s on Amazon Prime.
My friend Jeff and I used to go on many double dates with our girlfriends-who-were-best-friends – – and I recall one occasion where the movie choices coming down to Cool World and A League of Their Own. I insisted on Cool World, which turned out to be colossally terrible. And of course, A League of Their Own achieved legendary, beloved film status.
Yeah, I never lived that one down.
Ah yes, “film choices you were completely wrong about”.
In my case it was begrudgingly going to see what I thought was some “chick flick” just to make my girl friend happy.
The film was “The Princess Bride.”
I know I’m a broken record on this, but just watched the season 3 finale of For All Mankind and it was fantastic.
I mean pay the five bucks (if you can’t get a free trial) and just binge watch all three seasons.
Crap joke for the evening:
A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye….It reads:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
10 MILES
He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without a second thought…
Soon he sees another sign which reads:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
5 MILES
Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
NEXT RIGHT
His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, ‘What may we do for you my son?’
He answers, ‘I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business…. .’
‘Very well my son. Please follow me.’ He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, ‘Please knock on this door.’
He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door… This nun instructs, ‘Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway.’
He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him.
The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign:
GO IN PEACE.
YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS.
SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER.
Just finished the Season 4 finale of West World. Quite the turnaround compared to Season 3 and well worth the ride.
I know they intend a final fifth season, but I’ve also heard it hasn’t been renewed yet. With the new questionable ownership of HBO, we might not get it. If we don’t, this made for a satisfying ending.
Yeah, the word on the street is: “Westworld Seasons 2 and 3 were TERRIBLE, but but worth it to get to the greatness of Season 4.”
I enjoyed Season 1, but I can’t get myself to start Season 2.
1 was great, 2 wasn’t bad, but 3 I wish I would have skipped. We started 4 and it is better so far.
Got the elder daughter moved into her dorm today. Classes start on Thursday.
How do I feel? Proud, terrified, anxious, grossed out about the thawed out mouse that I already had to feed to her snake.
I haven’t processed it fully, yet.
Wow!
Congratulations.
Been a long and winding road.
The first time is hard. My daughter moved to her apartment this weekend with her best friend. Time for sophomore year.
A man met a beautiful lady and decided he wanted to marry her right away.
She said, ‘But we don’t know anything about each other.’
He said, ‘That’s all right, we’ll learn about each other as we go along.’
So she consented, they were married, and off they went on a honeymoon at a very nice resort.
One morning they were lying by the pool, when he got up off of his towel, climbed up to the 10 metre board, and did a two and a-half tuck, followed by three rotations in the pike position, at which point he straightened out and cut the water like a knife.
After a few more demonstrations, he came back and lay down on the towel.
She said, ‘That was incredible!’
He said, ‘I used to be an Olympic diving champion. You see, I told you we’d learn more about each other as we went along.’
So she got up, jumped in the pool and started doing lengths.
After seventy-five lengths she climbed out of the pool, lay down on her towel and was hardly out of breath.
He said, ‘That was incredible! Were you an Olympic endurance swimmer?’
‘No,’ she said, ‘I was a prostitute in Liverpool but I worked both sides of the Mersey’…
CP: Popmuzik — M
A classic!
The local rock video channel is doing 30 years of loud. I agree Rob Zombie’s Dragula counts
Sounds like a good way for delivery drivers and evangelical Christians to contact you.
I don’t even wanna click that link, TBH.
Hubby started back yesterday. Almost in a regular routine now.
We have these little black flies that are small enough to get through our window screens. However, they also seem to die the minute they do. I’m spending a lot of my summer wiping bug carcasses off my windowsill.
We have quite hard water here so today I soaked my shower door in vinegar and dish soap to clean it. It’s all better now
(can you tell I’m doing housework today?)
CP: A Million Miles Away — The Plimsouls
So watched the last episode of Better Call Saul, bloody great.
Well acted, with a sensible ending. As memorable as the end of Breaking Bad? Not really.
I liked both endings.
I’d started BCS, but didn’t stick with it. Strange, because I preferred it to BB.
I will get back to it, for sure. Especially with all the love for the finale.
We’re having tacos for dinner tonight. I never have tacos on a Tuesday. Hubby laughs at me because I refuse to conform
Amazon Prime had Mass Effect Legacy Edition for free last month so I picked it up. Have now started playing it. It’s been long enough that I don’t actually remember much of the story.
I’m kicking myself over this as I saw the news story but couldn’t work out how to claim the game.
Crap joke for the day:
A businessman in the first class cabin decided to chat up the drop dead, gorgeous flight attendant:
Businessman: “And what is your name, if I may ask?”
Flight Attendant: “Angela Benz, sir”
Businessman: “Lovely name … any relation to Mercedes Benz?”
Flight Attendant: “Yes sir, fairly close”
Businessman: “How close?”
Flight Attendant: “Same price”.
The ghosts are out and about today
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Adams? That works.
I’m not sure how much I trust Tim Burton any more. He was brilliant in his early career when he was creating all new content. Since he started redoing other people’s stuff I haven’t really liked his work. I’ll definitely be waiting to see how other people think about Wednesday before I check it out.
Now, the new Munsters from Rob Zombie is going to be a hard pass. And every time I see new information on it, that hard pass gets harder and harder.
More and more I feel like Rob Zombie’s “creative” decisions are coming from the marketing department.
With David Lynch or early Tim Burton I always felt like they were just putting their fever dreams on the screen and we were invited to watch…or not, they really didn’t care because they were doing it for themselves.
I feel like Rob Zombie is trying to make “product”.
Hubby has been back at work this week but the kids don’t come back until next. He’s quite enjoying his no tie, no kids time.
Under “gee what a surprise”, it’s the second time my boss has cancelled an in person meeting to discuss my departure. It will be interesting to see when it actually happens. Especially since I’m hinting very strongly I may actually leave before the end of the year.
This is going to get progressively more awkward.
Enjoyed the first episode of She-Hulk but will go on record that is the dumbest origin story.
If is ripped from the comics then meh!
I gather from Wikipedia it is from the comics, so MEH! Again.
Oh shut up.
Make me!
The episode was good, the creation of She-Hulk was dumb, even dumber than the radioactive spider.
YOU FUCKIN ARE!
I still enjoyed it so calm your tits.
I’ve read reviewer comments that EP 1 is meh, but everything after is fantastic.
Eh well they be RONG
I actually enjoyed the first EP.
Wait til she releases the full-length album.
Anyway, former Wehrmacht soldiers formed a secret army after WW2:
The PDF version is free, but I ordered a hardcopy. It seems like a good system for the storytellers out there. There is a guy on Youtube that is doing a solo play-through. Seems pretty interesting.
Ep 1 of She Hulk is a GD delight. Tatiana Maslany is a GD Canadian treasure.
That’s kind of what I was thinking. With Tatiana Maslany how bad can it be?
I’d watch her eat butter for an hour
Sounds like a recipe for high cholesterol.
But what a way to go.
HA!
I’d watch all of her clones.
So a bonus episode of The Sandman has just dropped on Netflix. It’s just over an hour long so definitely pushing they concept of ‘bonus’.
Some rumblings that the release of this episode means there won’t be a S2.
Gaiman says the numbers have been strong.
This still sounds like a bit of a stunt, though.
Well just watched 11, the cat one is nice but feels like an excuse to get some some of Gaiman’s celebrity friends to do voices.
The Calliope story, is set just before Morpheus escapes so seems weird to put it at the end of the series. The actress playing Calliope has a weird accent, some times she sounds Irish and other times she doesn’t.
They are pretty true to the order of the comics. Calliope and Dream of a Thousand Cats are the next 2 comics to come out after the run that was in the series. The only change is that Calliope came first so not sure why they switched those 2 around.
Bonus episode. Oh FFS I already have too much new shit to catch up on. Frustrating when I have to go back and add back in something that I’ve crossed off my list.
And I agree that Better Call Saul ended well (unless they have a bonus episode up their sleeve that I haven’t seen yet).
Off to the city this morning
Back a my neck getting dirty and gritty
Playing a short audioplay of “The Little Mermaid” – – narrated by Roy Dotrice. The same guy who’s narrated all of the GoT audiobooks.
I am going to cut this off before we get to Arial and Prince Eric’s Red Wedding. Sebastian’s fate is just too appalling.
How cellphones helped women prisoners in Argentina:
A beautiful young woman was staring across New York harbour, clearly in distress. A sailor passed by and asked her problem. “I want to leave America and go back home to Italy. But I have no money. The only thing left to do is drown myself.”
“But you’re much too young and beautiful for that.” said the sailor. “All your life is still ahead of you. And I can help. As it happens my ship is going to Italy and I can find you a secret cabin on board.”
She was happy, and met him at dusk on the busy quayside and he took her deep into the ship where a small cabin was already fitted out for her. She had her amusements and even a small bathroom. Every day the sailor would bring her a pile of sandwiches and fruit. They shared a bottle of wine and made love.
After a week or so the captain came on his inspection round and discovered the young woman. “What are you doing here?” he asked. She explained about the kind sailor and how he was taking her home to Italy. “Italy, eh? And that’s all there is to it?” asked the captain. She blushed and admitted “Not quite. He has me every evening as well.”
“I see.” said the Captain “And he’s certainly doing that.” What do you mean?” asked the young woman. “Because this, my dear, is the Staten Island Ferry.”
Alan Arkin as a super hero. Christopher Lee singing. Musical/fantasy/comedy. It looks like a complete and utter travesty… and I NEED to watch it.
And Richard O’Brien wrote a bunch of the songs? And:
“Apparently, this movie is one of writer Terry Pratchett’s favorite movies. Pratchett has said: “May I also add that the film ‘The Return of Captain Invincible’, which is a series of bad moments pasted together with great songs and a budget of fourpence, is also a regularly-viewed video in the Pratchett household.”
Wow, a list that is really thorough and full of great choices. I was especially tickled to see Jennifer Batten, Gretchen Menn, and Vicki Genfan included, since I’ve spoken to all of them.
So many amazing players here, and many I’ll need to check out.
I’m thrilled they didn’t pass over Charo! Her version of Romanza d’Amour is still the best ever recorded.
My husband accidentally broke my newest statue (Majima). Now, how long can I milk the guilt?
And here we are in Carlsbad for a spur-of-the-the-moment Legoland getaway before work next week.
And this will guilt hubby how?
Funny how this page does replies.
It will guilt him because…… we can get little figure statues here….?
So $165 US dollars of guilt divided by hubby’s hourly rate = ….
Profit?
So watched the first episode of House of the Dragon.
It was ok.
But gawd am I sick of fantasy with a medieval setting.
it was really Beastmaster 2 that oversaturated the genre.
Just finished it ourselves. Pretty strong opening salvo.
I am curious, Van, about what other High Fantasy shows and movies you’ve seen. There’s been plenty of schlock, but only the LOTR, early GoT, and Schwarzenegger Conan had any rewatch value.
We had a tiny bit of rain last night. Not nearly enough but much better than the nothing we’ve had for the last two weeks.
Welp, I guess I’m heading in to see if Majima can be saved. If he can’t, well, hubby will owe me big time.
I’m curious to know what you tried and what you learned.
We had a nice weekend. TBird and I played the first scenario of “Gloomhaven – Jaws of the Lion” which was fun. We both had to work some, but with the cooler weather I rode the Can Am Spyder to the office. We had some time in the pool and then watched “House of the Dragon.”
“rode the Can Am Spyder to the office”
Win.
CP: Unicorn – The Irish Rovers
Successful day at Legoland. Leeloo’s first rollercoaster experience wasn’t great. It was a kiddie coaster, but still a bit too much for her.
Everything else was fun and good, though. Lego has evolved a LOT since the last time I was here, in 2010.
I never outgrew disliking roller coasters.
Your crap joke for the morning:
A policeman is out patrolling and sees a car driving dangerously slow on the highway. He pulls the car over and comes up to see a car full of older ladies.
“Morning officer.”
“Good morning, Ma’am. Do you know the reason I pulled you over?”
“No, sir.”
“You were doing 35 mph on the highway.”
She frowns. “The sign there says 35.”
He holds back a smirk. “That is because it is Highway 35, not 35 mph. The speed limit here is 65 mph.”
“Oh, goodness.”
“I am going to let you off. I hope this has helped.”
“Yes, indeed, officer. Thank you.”
The police officer notices the older ladies with her are quiet, staring straight ahead, and all of them are extremely pale.
“Are your passengers okay?”
The older woman says, “They’re fine, we just got off of 136.”
Bonus crap joke:
A man walked out to the street and caught a taxi just going by. He got into the taxi, and the cabbie said, “Perfect timing. You’re just like Brian!
Passenger: “Who?”
Cabbie: “Brian Sullivan. He’s a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happen like that to Brian Sullivan, every single time.”
Passenger: “There are always a few clouds over everybody.”
Cabbie: “Not Brian Sullivan. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy.”
Passenger: “Sounds like he was something really special.”
Cabbie: “There’s more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody’s birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Brian Sullivan, he could do everything right.”
Passenger: “Wow. Some guy then.”
Cabbie: “He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Brian, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Brian Sullivan.”
Passenger: “An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?”
Cabbie: “Well, I never actually met Brian. He died. I’m married to his widow”
So the new thing on twitter is body shaming Matt Smith over his role in House of the Dragon.
That doesn’t mean anything. While Netflix is notorious for only doing one or two seasons, they often wait months after releasing the season before deciding on another
Word is getting out that I’m leaving my job at the end of the year (or sooner). I’m already getting requests to do independent work for some self-published author friends I know. The occasional few extra nickels on the side sounds like a good thing
I think freelancing for toonies will suit you.
So we’ve strayed from the standard parenting rulebook and never shown the little one any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh cartoons. She has almost no concept of those characters.
But we listened to a podcast reading of A.A.Milne‘a original text, and she was absolutely enchanted.
So I guess we’ll show her the cartoons.
Okay I’m curious, what was the rationality behind not showing your daughter the Disney Pooh cartoons?
I’ve always been a fan of showing my kids what I am passionate about, but allowing them to find their own passions as well. I wouldn’t recommend feeling bad about not being passionate enough about Winnie the Pooh to make the grade before this point.
Then again, the one and only piece of parenting advice I will ever give anyone is to not listen to a damn thing I say about parenting.
We just didn’t get around to the Winnie the Pooh cartoons – – focused on educational and Ghibli instead, plus the modern stuff she likes.
And I didn’t recall the Winnie the Pooh stuff a being essential, even though they were forcefed to every child born after 1970. I may also have been offput by just how brand-oriented they’ve become in recent years.
But the original A.A. Milne stories from the 1920s are delightful (I love so much of the writing of that era).
We watched the first batch of Disney WtP animations – – the ones we all saw as kids – – and they do a good job capturing the charm of the books. I don’t think we’ll deep dive into much more.
Agreed 10000% about introducing your kids to your own personal age-appropriate treasures (We’ll wait on Pulp Fiction) – – but also fostering their enthusiasm when they find their own favorites.
Have you introduced her to
Paddington Bear stories? The books are charming.
Noted!
BTW, Paddington is known here, but I don’t think it was ever as popular.
I just saw a comment stating that the final Indiana Jones movie is going to take place in the 1940s with Indy fighting Nazis.
Um. What?
Are they going to CGI de-age Harrison Ford in every frame? Or have some kind of time travel ? Or a decades-spanning story? Or just old Harrison telling stories of the old days?
I just hope it was the wrong info.
Well they had aliens in 4 so maybe he gets access to a time machine.
There was no 4th one.
This is the only correct answer
Once more, “Only Murders in the Building” wrapped up another sublime season and we know that a third one is on the way.
So, at least we have that going for us.
TBird and I find it a great mix of old and new comedic tropes. Looking forward to season 3.
This is the “Shows and Films with Alarmingly Old Lead Actors” section of the page.
So after watching a bit of Event Horizon, I conclude that that the rear speakers on my surround sound system really do enhance watching horror film…well at least the ones with a 5.1 soundtrack.
Yes I know I’m being Captain Obvious today, roll with it.
Well ticket booked to see Bullet Train later on today.
Enjoyed that, some major plot difference between the book and film. But nothing aggravating.
Having never read the book, I only took the film on its own lunatic merits.
I really wonder if writers actually hate to have their works described in the “x meets y” format. If I had spent the time and effort it takes to write what I considered to be a unique piece of work I definitely wouldn’t want it to be reduced to “well it’s really just this thing meets that thing” which sounds to me like someone is saying “it’s really just a ripoff mishmash of existing concepts”.
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl.”
The priest asks, “Is that you, little Joey Pagano?”
“Yes, Father, it is.”
“And who was the girl you were with?”
“I can’t tell you, Father. I don’t want to ruin her reputation.”
“Well, Joey, I’m sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?”
“I cannot say.”
“Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Was it Nina Capelli?”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot name her.”
“Was it Cathy Piriano?”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?”
“Please, Father! I cannot tell you.”
The priest sighs in frustration. “You’re very tight lipped, and I admire that. But you’ve sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself.”
Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, “What’d you get?”
“Four months vacation and five good leads”
I feel like the moon just hit my eye like a big pizza pie.
Looks like I’ll be playing “The Last of Us” part 1 for the 4th time in a 3rd version. 😀
If it comes to PC, I’ll actually play it for the first time
They say this version will release to PC, but I don’t know when that will be. I hope it does. It and the sequel are two of my favorite games.
I got stuck a while back and couldn’t continue further. Looking forward to buying a PS5 next year and playing Horizon Zero Dawn 2. On the PC front, I may be getting a 3080 TI soon.
Because of population changes, Canada is changing some of its voting districts. Because we are not the US, it is done by an independent group and created (mostly) along population numbers. No gerrymandering
Crazy, I know
My last weekday off. So I slept in. New gig on Monday.
After many disheartening months, working with/for and applying to a bunch of lost souls, I’m pretty confident that this is a step in the right direction, re: the day job sitch. Fingers crossed.
Great news! Here’s hoping your new gig is skeksis free.
Yeah, that’s the hope. I get a really good vibe.
I’ll share one story from the interview stages at a different company. Details are important:
I was being treated as The One for this other company, during the interview rounds. The responses during the calls were glowing; it felt like I was a shoe-in.
In each Zoom call, I talked about how I’d mentored younger team members in past roles. One guy asked about web testing, and I introduced him to a powerful web testing tool that none of them had used before.
In the final round – – with the company chiefs – – I spoke of the importance of hard work, but also the need for family focus, and talked about how in some places, when we talk about processes, it’s sometimes forgotten that these are humans running the processes.
Stonefaces.
Then a week later, the recruiter told me they’d gone with someone else, because I didn’t have enough experience with web testing or with mentoring younger coworkers.
I didn’t plead my case, just said that their response didn’t make sense.
My conclusion: they balked when I hinted at the importance of work-life balance.
The money at that place would have been really nice, but I think I would have been unhappy.
My new bosses and teammates seem to have perspective. They’re passionate about the work, which is great – – but also seem to be aware of life outside. I’m looking forward to it.
Fingers crossed sir!
Good luck, Jack!
Sounds good!
Good luck!
I somehow missed a really good Roaming Asshat comment from about 2 weeks back:
“Sexism in lazy writing goes both ways. My one real disappointment so far with the Netflix Sandman is that there is a pair of foster parents in the comic that are both evil shits to their foster child. In the series the foster father is evil and abusive and the mother is timid and afraid. This is bad from both ends, because apparently not only can women not be strong, but men can only ever be abusive assholes. If there was only one lazy writing cliche I could get rid of over all others it would be the abusive asshole husband/father thing. I get that they are out there, but TV/movies make it seem like that just about all that’s out there.”
This trope probably wasn’t as tired when young Neil wrote it in the 80s, but it makes me cringe now. Of course there are real abuse situations like this, but there are also many other kinds. In fiction, the trope is tired at best, socially harmful at worst.
A golden oldie crap joke for the evening:
A traveling salesman walked up to a farmhouse hoping to sell some insurance and noticed a three legged pig enjoying the comforts of the cool grass in the front yard. He hadn’t seen this in all the states he had traveled. The curiosity was overwhelming. He knocked on the door and the farmer, on his break, answered the door. He salesman introduced himself and …. He had to ask. “I just got to know, why do you have a three legged pig on your front lawn?”
The farmer replies “That pig right there is special! Let me tell you about that pig. One November morning, I was up at four in the morning to milk Betsy. I had stayed up late the night before’cause the in-laws dropped by and wanted to drink some beers. Anyhow, Betsy hauled off and kicked me knocking me unconscious and knocked over the lantern. When I awoke, that pig was dragging me by my pant leg to safety. The barn was a total loss. That pig saved my life!”
The salesman looks him in the eye and says “That’s an incredible story, but that doesn’t explain why he only has three legs”.
The farmer tells him “I was plowing the back forty. The plow got tangled up in some weeds I jacked it up, climbed under to pull ’em loose when the jack fell over. I was pinned! It was pert-near a hundred degrees and I hollard and hollard.and no one could here me. My time had come. I said my prayers and don’t you know who came to my rescue? That darn pig! He rooted me out with his snout and dragged me out! That pig saved my life again!”
“That’s the most amazing story I’ve ever heard “ says the salesman. “But it doesn’t explain why the pig has three legs”.
The farmer squints and look right at him “You stupid cityslicker! Ya’all don’t know anything! When you got a pig that great, you don’t eat him all at once!!”
Well lots to disagree with, apart from the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, 100% agreement on that one:
I’ve only seen a few of these shows, and even fewer of their finales.
But yes, The BSG finale was a flaming trash heap.
I actually enjoyed the rush of the Lost finale as it happened. . . but it definitely didn’t hold up to later examination.
I haven’t seen most of those shows. I disagree with their opinion on Quantum Leap.
I’m an outlier as I didn’t hate the endings of BSG or Lost, could they have been better, probably.
The last episode of House was pretty cool actually. The only issue is the fate of Wilson, which I agree they could have handled better. Out of the nine employees of House, 2 died tragically, and two had terminal illnesses.
The critic of GOT was on point.
I’ve seen many of the other shows but I had given up on them way before the final. I’m looking at you X-Files.
And Castle didn’t get a mention with an ending that could have been written by a 3rd grader.
My memory of that film was that the film itself was completely forgettable. What made it worth watching was Chevy’s performance.
I like JH but … yeh, this looks underwhelming.
I haven’t seen them in decades, but yes. It was mostly about watching Chevy Chase doing comedic bits throughout the whole series. Very similar to Beverly Hills Cop.
Some fans of the books Fletch was based on have been enthusiastic for the choice of JH.
They completely wrote out Inspector Flynn?! Outrage! Flynn was the best part about Confess, Fletch as well as his own novels.
After looking further, the Francis Xavier Flynn character was tied up for rights reasons and they couldn’t use him in the movie.
Still, boo!
The days are starting to get shorter. The sun is just starting to show its’ face when hubby leaves now.
Oooh. Am I first?
Off to the zoo this morning
Congrats to the Mangans for their new home
I second that!
Went to the zoo. Saw cute animals. All John wants to talk about is the McLaren we saw on the way home
CP: When I Fall — Barenaked Ladies
It’s cute how Van is clinging to the old comment thread. 😛
I said something. Hopefully more will join us
Well this is all rather embarrassing.
Don’t worry, it happens to everybody 😉
My first post from the new house!
Moving day was hot AF, but it went without any challenges.
Now to figure out where everything goes.
Yes Van, I’m not sure what we’ll do about the American southwest’s water issues.
John Oliver mocked the idea of a pipeline from the Mississippi, but IDK. . . . If Keystone was going to pump oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, then I’d imagine a pipe of water from the east should be just as doable – – and much safer (?).
I say this from my armchair of ignorance.
Well that’s just not cricket:
https://t.co/2KPkhrap1q
Put away your ukulele or I’ll tell you where to stick it!
Well if Facebook is correct TEB has survived another trip around the Sun, so Happy Birthday!
I said happy birthday on FB, but I might as well make it official and say happy birthday here. So… Happy Birthday Bunny!
Crap Joke for the day:
A new teacher was trying to make use of her psychology courses.
She started her class by saying, “Everyone who thinks they’re stupid, stand up!”
After a few seconds, Little Johnny stood up.
The teacher said, “Do you think you’re stupid, Little Johnny?”
“No, ma’am, but I hate to see you standing there all by yourself!”
Happy birthday. Bunny!
https://www.npr.org/sections/pictureshow/2022/07/12/1111002820/webb-telescope-images-nasa
The new James Webb images are amazing, even without the inevitable photoshops.
So finally watched the series finale of the Lost in Space reboot.
Not too shabby of an ending.
I just posted this to Facebook:
Beta Reader Invitation!
So, I have completed a solid draft of my new book: “Spherical Void.” (deep breath) It’s Science Fiction. I can dance around all of the genres and classifications that this draws from, but it’s really a Sci-Fi story at its core.
*”Void” is an entirely new, standalone work that requires no knowledge of any other materials. Yes, it has loose ties to my 2006 novel/Podiobook, “Spherical Tomi,” but no knowledge of that old thing is necessary. “Spherical Void” is not a sequel, prequel, or companion; it’s its own piece.
I’m looking for a few beta readers to check out the current draft and provide feedback. Any and all reactions are welcome, especially about:
-Clarity
-Flow/pacing
-Setting
-Accuracy in my usage of Japanese culture and language
A few points:
-Beta Readers will get special acknowledgments in the published book. This won’t be a paid gig.
-“Spherical Void” clocks in at about 56,400 words, which is a short novel.
-“Spherical Void” closes with “END OF BOOK I,” meaning there will be some unresolved story threads. (i.e., the central characters don’t sail off to the Grey Havens [SPOILER]). I am at work on BOOK II, which I expect to be about the same length. Completion date on that one is TBD.
-There is zero pressure, zero obligation, zero expectation from me for you to ever read any iteration of this book. You’re busy. You have a lot going on right now. There’s a really good series on Netflix. Your reading list is already long, as it is. You’re really struggling to beat the end boss on Level 7. I get it. We cool. It’s just an invitation.
-This invitation is limited to a select few. If you think of someone who might be interested, or who I may have forgotten to include, then please suggest them to me, and I’ll contact them.
Feel free to DM, call, or email me if you have any questions. I’ll answer what I can.
At last, those Japanese language and cultural lessons can be put to use.
New thread, who dis?
Morning Pan
A little work this morning then playing Lords of Waterdeep with friends this afternoon.
Secrets of Dumbledore last night with the older 3 of us.
It was fine, I guess. That is my review.
Crap joke for the day:
A rookie police officer pulled a biker over for speeding and had the following exchange:
• Officer: May I see your driver’s license?
• Biker: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my 5th DUI.
• Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle?
• Biker: It’s not my bike. I stole it.
• Officer: The motorcycle is stolen?
• Biker: That’s right. But come to think of it, I think I saw the owner’s card in the tool bag when I was putting my gun in there.
Officer: There’s a gun in the tool bag?
• Biker: Yes sir. That’s where I put it after I shot and killed the dude who owns this bike and stuffed his dope in the saddle bags.
• Officer: There’s drugs in the saddle bags too?!?!?
• Biker: Yes, sir. Hearing this, the rookie immediately called his captain. The biker was quickly surrounded by police, and the captain approached the biker to handle the tense situation:
• Captain: Sir, can I see your license?
• Biker: Sure. Here it is. It was valid.
• Captain: Who’s motorcycle is this?
• Biker: It’s mine, officer. Here’s the registration.
• Captain: Could you slowly open your tool bag so I can see if there’s a gun in it?
• Biker: Yes, sir, but there’s no gun in it. Sure enough, there was nothing in the tool bag.
• Captain: Would you mind opening your saddle bags? I was told you said there’s drugs in them.
• Biker: No problem. The saddle bags were opened; no drugs.
• Captain: I don’t understand it. The officer who stopped you said you told him you didn’t have a license, stole this motorcycle, had a gun in the tool bag, and that there were drugs in the saddle bags.
• Biker: Yeah, I’ll bet he told you I was speeding, too.
I have come here to complain!
But I’ll can it.
I owe some of you emails. Prob overnight tonight.
Just finished Series 3 of Umbrella Academy. I really liked seasons 1 and 2. I hate to be the dissenting voice, but I just didn’t feel season 3. Starting from the first episode, there were big scenes that I just felt were a bit silly (which almost hurts to say from me who really likes silly and unexpected, it just didn’t seem to fit with the tone of what had been set up to that point). And the ending was just not what I wanted on any level. I know others really liked it and I wish I could be part of that crowd. Just didn’t work for me. I felt like there was a lot of potential that just didn’t come to be.
I think that’s up next for us? Or the newest season of The Boys.
https://screenrant.com/star-wars-movie-trilogy-unedited-footage-video-disney/
So first season of Ms Marvel watched.
Although the overall story arc was simple, I really enjoyed this show, liked the characters and the music was great.
Oh and hang around watching the credits on the final episode, there is a scene you want to watch.
Overall I liked it and I like the characters. It does seem to be a mix of Bollywood and a Disney show aimed at young teens.
So there is a game on iOS called Warbits, basically an Advanced Wars clone.
It hasn’t been updated in years, the aspect ratio is still 4:3, but it’s one of those games you started playing and the hours just fly by.
I am so sick of the ‘crisis by design’ working model.
/complaints
Jack’s brain sez:
Between the move, the broken work/life balance, and the fatigue, I have not made any forward progress on the rest of Spherical _____ (working title: Spherical Void).
I need to remedy all of the above.
Well.
Except the move – – that’s still a work in progress.
Well, in the psychological thriller “City Slickers” there was this exchange:
Curly: Do you know what the secret of life is?
[holds up one finger]
Curly: This.
Mitch: Your finger?
Curly: One thing. Just one thing. You stick to that and the rest don’t mean shit.
Mitch: But, what is the “one thing?”
Curly: [smiles] That’s what *you* have to find out.
Tackle one thing until completion, that’s what Jack Palance would do.
Jack Palance would do pushups to prove a point
Believe it or not.
*Heavy breathing between every word*
I liked it better when it was Angie Dickerson breathing heavy between every word.
Tonga volcano causing spectacular skies in Antarctica:
https://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/media/news/tonga-volcano-afterglow-causes-dazzling-skies-in-antarctica
Next meetup?
From one kind of desert to another.
And we could play this: https://tinyurl.com/46r6k8v8
I went for my 4th dose this morning and was denied because I’m not over 50, not in healthcare, and not immuno-compromised. A near-miss on all 3 counts.
My last one was in Oct 2021, but I still don’t qualify. They did say that the 4th doses should be authorized for the general public in about a month.
We can’t get them here either unless you’re over 65.
Looking like autumn before I can get a fourth booster.
Fourth jab, second booster.
My age qualifies me. I’m been putting it off to see if Moderna gets a more updated vaccine.
While that does suck… there is a chance that waiting might get you a version that is more tailored for the BA 5 strain which has now become dominant in the US.
JW: Lightyear
Haters are gonna hate but I enjoyed that.
CP: Doomscroller — Metric
Last night I joined TEB in having watched,
“Watched Everything Everywhere All at Once.”
That is my kind of movie. That is not to say I exactly know what was going on. But it was wonderfully made, kept your brain engaged as you tried to follow it and it had some wonderful performances.
Michelle Yeoh May be one of the most under rated actresses out there. I dont think I have ever seen her in a movie where she wasn’t simply brilliant.
I also love that someone was able to actually get the money to make a film that is this messed up and absolutely NOT mainstream.
Hard agree jj about Michelle Yeoh.
I saw the film on my visit to the US and really enjoyed it.
That one’s definitely on my list. My daughter saw it and Dr. Strange with a friend of hers and they agreed that the non-Marvel movie was the better multiverse story.
It’s also a film you can watch without needing to have watched a shit load of films and tv series to understand the plot (looking at you Doctor Strange).
I’ll disagree with you on the plot for Dr. Strange. What you said is true for knowing more about the characters, but the plot was awfully light, imo. It felt more like contrasting two character studies, tbh. I liked it, but not one of my favorites.
I’m very much looking forward to seeing Everything.
I loved Dr. Strange for its inventiveness and Raiminess. Absolutely one of my favorites from the Marvel catalogue.
Which I respect. I’m miffed on Wanda’s behalf. The heroes failed her multiple times since End Game. It’s no wonder she went off the rails, ala “Falling Down”. That does not excuse her in anyway.
On my list too.
Crap joke of the day:
A mathematician, engineer, and statistician go in for a job interview, the only question is “What is 3+3?”
Mathematician: “6.”
Engineer: “About 6? Plus or minus a bit?”
Statistician: “What do you want it to be?”
6 points awarded for this joke.
Hmmm:
https://youtu.be/G1gOhewhjbw
We’ve decided to rearrange the (home) office. That means I’ll be stuck without a computer for a couple of days. That is going to seriously interfere with a lot of things
Ooooh:
https://youtu.be/2vGEb78AjVM
Finished watching “Midnight Sky” tonight, even knowing it wasn’t getting renewed.
Damn shame, too. A pretty original story and strong performances from Simmons and Spacek.
You confused me for a second, Midnight Sky was a movie, Night Sky was the tv series.
Well crap…guess I’m getting old.
The rather generic name probably didn’t help with the series trying to find an audience.
It looks like I’ll be on The Metal Voice tomorrow morning to discuss some current events:
Nita Strauss
John Petrucci and Mike Portnoy
The Pantera reunion tour
My husband is emptying bookcases while I’m sitting on my butt playing games on the iPad. This rearranging the office stuff is really easy
Found this today:
http://sfreader.com/r/story-contest/sixteen-pieces-at-a-time-by-jack-mangan/
Still a good read !
So swing on my twitter feed that the author Eric Flint has died.
Seeing not swing
Anyway:
https://t.co/V8BFTQE905
My only interaction with him wasn’t great, but it was also fleeting. I had no overall negative impression of him.
I know he was a beloved figure, and I didn’t really know him at all. His impact was undeniable. Sad news for the Sci-Fi publishing world.
I didn’t actually meet him, but found a table that he was supposed to be manning at a convention and got a picture of myself with the “Flint” sign in front of me (my actual last name is Flint). We are no relation that I know of.
Bloody hell it feels like Arizona today, half expecting the desert to come sweeping in.
I’m experiencing that in Florida as well. Also hearing it from just about everyone else everywhere. But somehow, now message from all the people that like to joke about “doesn’t look like global warming to me” when we have a cold winter day.
Note: I am well aware that the current hot streak is also a small blip in the overall pattern that is just as unrelated as when we have colder winters than expected. Just saying that the same people that take cold as fodder for their climate change denial don’t seem to change their minds when they experience warmer than usual temperatures.
Morning Pan
Taking hubby shopping today. He’s leaving town for a week on Wednesday and he wants some new shorts
We did see the newest Thor over the weekend. No, it’s not Ragnarok, but it’s not a real drop-off. Lots of laughs, lots of pathos. Greatly enjoyed it.
https://nypost.com/2022/07/16/parents-should-let-kids-live-like-stranger-things-characters/
Apologies for linking a NY fucking Post article. I only just started reading, and it seemed interesting. I don’t think I agree with where she’s going, but I’ll finish and come back with more thoughts.
CP: Shame Reactions — Pom Pom Squad
I bought a desk this morning. Now I need to wait three to five business days for it to arrive. Hubby’s going to be upset that I’ll be putting it together without him
https://www.stereogum.com/2193568/roger-waters-the-weeknd-drake/news/
No one ever accused Roger of being humble.
This is the difference between when hubby and I go on a trip. He leaves first thing tomorrow morning. I would have been pretty much fully packed yesterday. He hasn’t even started
“The Chauffer” is the favorite song of ever devoted Duran Duran fan.
OK that isn’t me, but it is a pretty excellent, overlooked song.
I never knew there was a NSFW video for the song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1B__8N5d_LA
I am a big fan of the Chauffer.
Has a VERY definate mood to it.
Yes. I remember that video. I’d say it has nothing to do with the song … but then I’ve never really figured out what the song was actually about. So…
Speaking of NSFW, have you seen the new music video by Maya Hawke of Stranger Things? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jKIiVyrUPY
I kinda dig the song. Caution, the NSFW is real.
Wow, that’s unexpected!
Quirky little Indie song.
Listening to a podcast about the Code 46 film and thinking ‘damn! I’m going to have to watch this now”
Off to the airport. I miss hubby already
That is sweet.
I’m jealous.
You’re jealous of John leaving, or the fact I miss him?
I might owe Jack an apology. 11 pages is probably a bit much.
Your feedback is fantastic! I’m blown away. Thank you!
“Of”
Hubby texted. He has landed at his destination. It’s the island life for him for the next week
A tropical island with moderate temps sounds exactly right. I’m also jealous.
Or a west coast Vancouver Island visiting his parents
Given how things are down here right now, I think I’d still prefer being on a small Vancouver island.
Taken from David Gerrold. I have not vetted (I also shared this on the Deadpan FB page):
Google is so powerful that it “hides” other search systems from us. We just don’t know the existence of most of them.
Meanwhile, there are still a huge number of excellent searchers in the world who specialize in books, science, other smart information.
Keep a list of sites you never heard of.
http://www.refseek.com – Academic Resource Search. More than a billion sources: encyclopedia, monographies, magazines.
http://www.worldcat.org – a search for the contents of 20 thousand worldwide libraries. Find out where lies the nearest rare book you need.
https://link.springer.com – access to more than 10 million scientific documents: books, articles, research protocols.
http://www.bioline.org.br is a library of scientific bioscience journals published in developing countries.
http://repec.org – volunteers from 102 countries have collected almost 4 million publications on economics and related science.
http://www.science.gov is an American state search engine on 2200+ scientific sites. More than 200 million articles are indexed.
http://www.base-search.net is one of the most powerful researches on academic studies texts. More than 100 million scientific documents, 70% of them are free
My Boo is here for lunch. We’re having Greek
Enjoy!
Well that is indeed a bugger:
https://t.co/sXF4aQHzyQ
“Fortunately, this change is not especially impactful on how the telescope as a whole functions – and NASA has said that its performance is continuing to exceed expectations – but it fundamentally reduces the accuracy of the data collected.”
I’ve got NASA covered.
https://imglarger.com/?sscid=71k6_kai94&
I meant this as a joke, but for giggles, I uploaded a James Web image and doubled the res. Holy! I’ll upload the image to Facebook.
Under “of course”
John got a gift card to a Calgary gaming store as a gift when he left his school. He ordered a game and was told it wouldn’t be in until closer to the end of the month. Now that he left town, He got a message today saying the game was in.
Luckily, he hadn’t put the gift card in his wallet so I can sneak out tomorrow and get Ark Nova
Yesterday I bought the panoramic editions of Monument Valley 1 and 2.
Basically PC conversions of the mobile games. Some of the rooms look rather splendid in wide screen.
If you are a Netflix subscriber you can now download Into the Breech for iOS and Android:
https://toucharcade.com/2022/07/19/into-the-breach-mobile-download-netflix-games-app-store-google-play-android-iphone-ipad-advanced-edition-update-patch-switch-steam-pc/
Well, I am pretty sick.
Started yesterday as sinus drainage then became kind of a thick throat.
That led to a raw throat which has led to a burning in my chest and finally a little while ago, a very slight fever.
The easy money says it’s Covid but the home test last night was negative. Also little or no coughing.
On the other hand, I am a 6 hour car ride from home and my Doctor.
Meh
Oh, Joe.
Feel better
False negatives seem to occur with the home tests, unfortunately.
Do rest up and feel better asap.
Sorry Joe, hope you feel better soon.
Tron’s 40th anniversary.
https://www.fatherly.com/entertainment/tron-40-year-anniversary-disney?utm_source=pocket-newtab
Still better than the sequel.
Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness was…a thing we watched today.
Don’t see this one cracking anyone’s top 10 list of MCU films.
Loved it. But then, I love Sam Raimi’s movies.
Stupid cat
Yesterday we got up earlier than normal to get John to the airport.
This morning the cat decided this getting fed early thing should be done again today. I didn’t get up when she wanted me to but that doesn’t me she let me sleep either,
I’m tired
Goodbye to Alan Grant:
https://t.co/xMd6CIFJcy
Off to the city. Must pick up hubby’s game
Ouch.
https://thehustle.co/americas-favorite-family-outings-are-increasingly-out-of-reach/?utm_source=pocket-newtab
There are tentacles:
https://youtu.be/KxKu5bzcVUg
I don’t know if that should make want to click or to avoid the link.
As I’ve been thinking about and assessing my half-completed “Spherical Void” book, I’ve been reading “All the Birds in the Sky” by Charlie Jane Anders, which is fantastic – – and perfectly demonstrates all the things I feel like I’m missing from my Spherical book.
Hopefully it will be better than that last DND film:
https://youtu.be/Uoi2KbNL3OQ
Could it be worse?
It looks like it’s at least true to the game.
It actually looks pretty schlocky but on the plus side, it has an owlbear
Plus a mimic and a gelatinous cube, hopefully, a passible B film.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mPnbo5ST9BW934VuexKRR23KvslfHRJac
Best album of 2022, so far at least.
Well, I’ve had two nights alone. I survived, but just barely. Still several more days to go
I’ve seen this movie. . .
It’s always a nasty surprise when you find an industrial disease that should be extinct is still going strong in parts of the world:
https://www.thenation.com/article/society/coal-black-lung-safety-health/
My floors are nice and clean.
CP: Mind Your Own Business — Delta 5
CW: The Last Movie Stars – Chapter 1
Documentary about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward.
FFS:
https://t.co/jyKI3tPDXi
Well, on the bright side, this will make sure there are no shortages of the Florida Man.
My husband has two bachelors degrees and a Masters degree. I guess He’s way too over qualified to teach in Florida
Well fuck:
https://t.co/5dGOnuiQ3u
That is truly awful. Humans are the worst.
If you can’t remember a name of a movie you saw decades ago than this site might be able to help:
http://www.whatismymovie.com/
I’m more impressed the TV was still working…
https://www.reddit.com/r/fireTV/comments/w5f6qx/i_just_hooked_up_an_amazon_fire_stick_into_a_late/
I now have the strangest urge to play Pitfall!
Running up that Hill played on a robotic dulcimer:
https://youtu.be/vrS-SjBaq7E
JW: Gray Man
Worth a watch…once!
I disagree. We enjoyed it, but then again, we really enjoy action flicks. It also wears its Bond inspiration on its sleeve, though minus the misogyny.
I also have to say, we loved the Tamil “Lone Wolf”. This guy was awesome. 😀
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333687/?ref_=tt_cl_t_6
That fight sequence with him and the two leads was awesome.
It does get extra points for lack of romance between Ryan and Ana’s characters.
Well, why only once? Was it for gore or disturbing stuff?
I thought it went on for too long. Some impressive set pieces but it dragged in places for me.
Yeah….. The Anne Rice books are some of my all-time favorites. I’m not feeling it with the trailers for this new series. The guy who plays Louis was good in GoT, so I’m not concerned about him. The rest, though. . .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0P0loX83H6A&t=5s
https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2351809049/?listId=ls053181649&ref_=hm_hp_i_2
The Wakanda Forever trailer, on the other hand, is better by itself than half the MCU films. I hope the movie is even half as good as its trailer.
Agreed.
It has been a horrible month and this week has been even worse. So, for a little retail therapy, I got the box set of Akira. This thing is a beast. It probably weight 35lb (16kg). I’m amazed it wasn’t damaged during shipping.
I’m looking forward to reading the whole thing.
Oh ditto. I hope things go better for you *hugs*
Enjoy your “therapy”
Ditsuoooo!!!!!
Srsly, sorry for the stress. Have you read Akira before?
No I haven’t. I’ve only ever watched the movie.
Hmm, Rifftrax doing Plan 9, should be good for a laugh.
Good lord.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpdjMHLN9V8
Goodbye to David Warner:
https://t.co/xvcJblaeX4
I loved David Warner in so so many things. Always felt that Alan Rickman took on the roles that David Warner would have played if he was still young enough to tackle them.
David Warner was a presence every time he was onscreen. Even in Quest of the Delta Knights.
But especially Time Bandits.
Today I met with my boss in person to discuss the transition of my leaving. It’s only been two months since I gave notice
Right now I figure it’s 50/50 odds she actually shows
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!
She cancelled!
Phooey.
So I guess I’m a house owner now.
Should you and Jack start a club for new house owners?
Should those of us who have owned homes for awhile start our own club?
Well this house is not exactly new, not even to me.
Is your house fully paid off?
Yup, no mortgage.
A bit late in life to get on the property ladder, but benefit changes means it’s the only chance I’ve got to retire before 67.
Congradts on the purchase.
Sooo party at your place next weekend?
Well, the newsletter is ready to go out tomorrow and the website has been updated. I’m ready to go back to bed.
Day 6
I’ve been 24hrs with no fever now. Not really had a cough for 2 days. Still really light headed though. 🙁
SO has bad cough but no fever.
Fun fact- She repeatedly tested negative til I suggested something I had read on-line… swab the back of her throat INSTEAD of the nasal passages. The test showed positive emediatly.
Fun fact 2 – two other couples we know tested positive at about the same time. We were in 3 different states. I suspect the current wave is MUCH worse than is being reported based on the fact that we all home tested and would have to go searching for someone to report these results to. None of us has.
Oh last note – thank God for modern science/medicine. I was double vaxed and boosted and had a rough time. Would not have wanted to face that virus with unboosted immunity.
I do wonder how the unreported home tests are being underreported.
I’m glad you’re on the mend, even if you and yours are still dealing with the blecch. Speedy recovery wishes.
Reactions?
https://twitter.com/JoyceCarolOates/status/1551210510389022723
tweeting about
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/24/opinion/book-banning-censorship.html?smid=tw-share
The article’s points are actually hard to dismiss. I don’t doubt that there are places where being an older, straight white male can be a barrier to entry – – and I’d agree that it isn’t fair, even if history has been unfair in their (our) favor.
But I’m sure there’s also plenty of bellyaching from chronic whiners.
Is it as bad as JCO – – a publishing legend, sure, but also born in 1938 – – is saying?
I can’t read the article but JSO is rather infamous on twitter for some rather strange views that are not supported by data.
JCO rather.
CP: Lost — Zola Jesus
And it’s Monday. Must be time for a new set of artificial emergencies. Please don’t remain calm. Here are some hollow words of encouragement. Enjoy it, that’s all you get.
Goodbye to Paul Sorvino:
https://t.co/6hsnO3DSaP
The past is a lie:
https://www.thrillingtalesofoldvideogames.com/blog/pac-man-hockey-pucks-paku-paku
The Sandman adaption is looking good:
https://youtu.be/d0v_A6gBTQM
I’m catching Anthrax tomorrow!
Meaning I’ll be photographing the first show on their 40th anniversary tour.
And they require masks of the photographers, so I should (should) get no static from any morons.
Sweet gig!
Fascinating, semi-connected to the JCO story I posted yesterday:
https://restofworld.org/2022/china-romance-novels/
TL;DR: Companies are hiring writers from all over the world to mass-produce kitschy by-the-numbers genre erotica stories for the Western romance reader market.
Wasn’t able to read yesterday’s due to paywall but without the clickbait here of “werewolf” and “erotica“ this seems to be just a rehash of “Creatives who pander to the masses are able to make rent.”
Or “The (insert specific media) industry looks at what they sell as product and only pushes the product that made them money the last time.”
It seems like an interesting thing to outsource. This isn’t making iPhones or Nikes, it’s trashy romance. I wonder if we’ll see sweatshops next.
So that brings up an interesting perspective.
If what you create can be created on a computer and delivered over the internet … is it actually outsourcing or has corporate realized their “workforce” is global.
Weird development for the workforce. If you live in the first world you may now be offered 3rd world wages. If you live in the 3rd world, you may now be able to actually support yourself.
That certainly happened to a portion of the animation industry in the 2000’s
Crap joke for the day:
A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, “Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing.”
“What do they say?” the priest inquired.
“They say, ‘Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?'” the woman said embarrassingly.
“That’s obscene!” the priest exclaimed, “I can see why you are embarrassed.”
He thought a minute and then said, “You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I’m sure your parrots will stop saying that…that phrase in no time.”
“Thank you,” the lady responded, “this may very well be the solution.”
The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest’s house.
As he ushered her in, she saw his two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying.
Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them.
After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, “Hi, we’re prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?”
There was a stunned silence.
Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, “Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered!”
Hubby comes home today!
Hubby comes home today!
Well ok then.
Look closer:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CfTrmu9Dafp/?igshid=NmZiMzY2Mjc=
Is it wrong that I’m now to the point where I consider the fact I have never played Wordle a kind of badge of honour?
Wordle is exactly my thing.
Posting Wordle results on social media is not my thing.
100%
I feel that way about Smartwatches.
Never played Angry Birds…
Although this spring, we had Cardinals throwing themselves at our windows every morning.
I don’t know if that is considered Irony or Karma.
CP: No Horses — Garbage
At the airport waiting to see the man of my dreams
Don’t let your husband find out.
I got a “Johnny Cash” moment from Joey Belladonna, the lead singer of Anthrax, but I fear I didn’t get it with either camera.
I didn’t actually do anything to piss him off, I think he was just clowning around.
Phenomenal show.
+ 50
Was “I am the Law” good?
I Am the Law absolutely killed. Joey is 63, but still sounds like he did in 1986. My only gripes: they left out I’m the Man and AIR.
And I checked – – I ended up with a slightly blurry close-up of Joey’s middle finger. Which is not usable, but hilarious.
How naive am I? You may ask.
Well today was listening to a podcast about ‘The Incredible Shrinking Man’ and it was mentioned that one reading of the film is that the spider is a Vagina that the nail is a penis that kills the vagina.
So that reading has never occurred to me till today.
Um.
I lost a crown while flossing my teeth last night. I guess it’s a trip to the dentist for mr today
Lesson: flossing is bad for your teeth.
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/stranger-things-netflix-retroactively-editing
I didn’t know the Duffer Bros were going back and making small changes to old Stranger Things episodes.
It’s a mostly benign change. I don’t feel strongly about it one way or the other.
Counterpoint – if we as a viewing society hadn’t become such a bunch of pixel-peeping fuckwits, this change wouldn’t have to ever have been considered, much less carried out.
We can’t just enjoy the story, we have to deconstruct the meaning of the color choices for every character’s backpack and point out that such and such model of car didn’t go on sale until the year after the story took place.
We deserve this.
I actually have no objection to edits, as long as the original versions are still always available.
McClunkey.
Mothers against Gregg Abbot:
https://youtu.be/faTNMTVsgAA
Good ye to James Lovelock, 103 not a ban innings at all:
https://t.co/PuXZWbwl6D
As a lefty I agree but your mileage may vary:
https://t.co/a9GJYGfqLM
From this side of the pond, Reagan (and Thatcher here) headed governments that did a lot of damage.
I’m just dumb enough to have thought this was an article about left-handed people.
However, I read the whole damn thing. Critics might bemoan a few assumptions, but he hits the nail on the head. Perfectly stated.
Yep.
The article is spot on.
I couldn’t find a single thing to disagree with.
Those weird monuments in former Yugoslavia counties have a more complicated story behind them:
https://t.co/vQzrVqlUTC
Turns out I didn’t lose a crown, I pulled out part of the tooth next to the one with the crown. Next week I go in and get the rest of the tooth pulled, then I get a bridge put in. It was strange as I felt nothing when the tooth came out. I assumed it was a crown because of that but couldn’t see as it fell down the sink when it happened
For now, I have a hole in my head
Of course it couldn’t be easy
I’ve had a bridge in for over 30 years, so at least they can last a long time.
So judging from twitter, some men would rather play as a stray cat then a woman.
My eyes cannot roll hard enough.
https://www.polygon.com/23269073/competitive-classic-tetris-ctwc-jonas-neubauer-andy-michael-artiaga
Fascinating look at competitive Tetris.
Talking of Tetris:
https://youtu.be/WkkhcwXpYy4
Bernard Cribbins was my favorite Doctor Who companion. Not even kidding. RIP
Also the singer of one of my fav novelty songs;
https://youtu.be/r5XX9LX2es4
Had heard that phrase but never the song.
Til now.
I knew there was a band called Right Said Fred, but didn’t realize it was based on an older song. Learn something new every day.
Kurt Vonnegut’s father rotated a building:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGegneT9KfQ
I haven’t lost any more teeth so that’s something, I guess
I have a bone to pick with the Oppenheimer teaser:
https://youtu.be/hflCiNtY6MA
It mentions the power of the sun which is bollox, the atom bomb used fission not fusion.
CP: Amends — Garbage
Nope:
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/dead-spiders-reanimated-in-texas-lab-to-become-necrobotic-grabbers/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
Fucking terrible day.
Hope things improve for you soon Jack.
I hear you, Jack.
You have my sympathy.
CP: Don’t Talk to Me About Love – Altered Images
CP: The Day Before You Came – Blancmange
CW: Paper Girls Episode 1
Might actually get a Steam Deck this year:
https://www.engadget.com/valve-steam-deck-shipments-production-2022-173334621.html
CP: Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard — Paul Simon
Isn’t it ironic:
https://t.co/XHZBkLBpc7
Long weekend. Woo hoo!
Due to the vagaries of my shift pattern it’s a long weekend for me as well.
So I’m going to be low-key about it, but it turns out I’m back on the job hunt.
This time, it was the toxic tyrant manager. I shouldn’t be surprised when the person who’d spent most of the time during my one-on-one meetings shit-talking and gossiping turns on me. . . and I wasn’t. But the timing is still a drag.
I’ll take any leads and any LinkedIn recommendations, if you got ’em.
Bummer man.
Humans are the worst.
I’m saying it here because this is a pretty private part of the web.
I’ll keep it off of the bigger Social Medias.
*hugs*
CP: The Hell of It – Paul Williams
Nice little folky song, performed by actual everyday humans.
https://livesessions.npr.org/videos/todd-burge-never-alone
New Homeworld game due to be released this year but first a bit of history of the series:
https://fal.cn/3qF1H
Some good news:
https://t.co/H1gZpw0Of2
So you can make meringues in a microwave:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/microwave-meringues-minutes
Well that was new to me.
What people get wrong about the Potato Masher:
https://youtu.be/GIBJo5ks-ho
And here I was expecting some tutorial on how to more effectively mash potatoes…
I too am disappointed at the lack of butter and gravy atop this post.
I recommend a healthy dose of watching films set during WW2 ASAP.
LIES! There are no butter and gravy scenes in WW2! 😉
Goodbye to Uhura:
http://dlvr.it/SVq8RM
We knew this day wasn’t far off, but it still guts me to read, now that it’s here. 🙁
Absolute legend. RIP.
Sadness
So Shatner, Koening, and Takei are the only TOS majors left? Am I missing anyone?
Nope. Gary Lockwood is still alive but he was a villain and was only in one episode.
(I interviewed Gary Lockwood and Keir Dullea onstage at Phoenix Comicon, many years ago. Please think I’m cool!)
We’re not worthy!
https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/jul/30/neil-gaiman-sandman-netflix-interview
I intend to read this later.
..and goodbye to the actress that did voice of Ursula:
https://t.co/Zym6MImQpi
Moravec’s Paradox:
https://clivethompson.medium.com/when-robots-attack-83102761c6d5
Trailer for Andor has dropped:
https://youtu.be/cKOegEuCcfw
Best of the trailers yet. I’m super looking forward to this one. 😀
Dum de dum de dum
August already, this year has flown past.
Started the process of making a will today, mortality knocking on the door..hard!, icky conversation with the solicitor had me feeling my expiration date had already been decided.
Fate been tempted is how I feel today, silly I know but I’m still feeling it.
I have been putting this off for two years.
Just before Covid hit we went and started the process. Saw a solicitor and got the lowdown on what we need to do … but sitting down and doing it is the hard part.
We did get right to making a “living will”. So there is that.
… but the other. Still telling ourselves “We need to get on that”.
We’ve done the opposite. We’ve had a will for quite some time, but haven’t had put together a living will yet.
Ooh, can I claim stuff on your wills?
It is not looking good for the Joe Bonamassa concert tomorrow night.
It’s been 5 days since I have had any symptoms and 12 days since I first felt symptoms but unfortunately I still tested positive last night.
The science is unsure enough about whether I am still contagious, that I would feel responsible going to the concert in a mask … but it is a two hour drive and a late night show so we were going to stay with friends in town and I don’t want to do that unless I am negative.
That is a damn disappointment. Sorry, J0e.
But I also think of all the “I do what I want” people, who would just go anyway.
CP: Shadows In The Rain — Sting
Speaking of Wordle, it got me tonight. My streak has ended.
Got me as well because I forgot to do it.
I was lucky with that one after getting 3 letters on my 2nd guess.
Today’s nearly beat me.
It was actually today’s that got me – – I hit it right after midnight.
Tricky word.
So this day 299 years ago, the dumbest alien invasion flick was released, yes I’m talking about ‘Signs’.
Umm..20 not 299.
Now I feel sheepish.
I like Signs as a metaphor and story.
If you watch it as an invasion movie, then you’ll be disappointed.
The great junk transfer:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-the-great-junk-transfer-inheritance-decluttering-canada/
I’ve had this conversation many times with my mother about her basement and attic.
CP: #inferno — ever so android
Wow, what a trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUvjaPIEIBs
Can’t wait. 😀
Definitely looking forward to this one. And so glad that it’s an actual documentary and not a “biopic”.
There is a sort of biopic released in 2020:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stardust_(2020_film)
Count me in!
CP: STONEFIST — HEALTH
Pulled the stove out and cleaned under and behind it. I really should do that more often
A spider has decided to guard the back door so I refuse to use it. Hubby likes spiders so now I can only use the front door.
Note: if one does get in the house, the husband subscribes to a catch and release program. This has come up in discussions more than once
I’m trying to evolve them to hide. If I see them they die and if I don’t they don’t.
The shop vac is the homeowners best friend.
First Kill cancelled by Netflix:
https://t.co/PidT8fQCVR
https://deadline.com/2022/08/warner-bros-batgirl-1235083809/
Imagine just throwing away 90 million dollars.
I hope it gets leaked.
CP: Asphyxiation — Autoerotique
If anyone here is a mobile developer or knows a mobile developer that is looking for a new job, the company that I work for is looking for someone. We used to be Orlando only, but (like everyone else since COVID) we now hire fully remote for some positions, like this one. I have been with the same company (https://designinteractive.net/) for 10 years now because it is a great company and I really like the people I work with and the projects I get to work on. Please spread the word as we’re having trouble finding someone with the skillset we need. Also, please use my name (Jesse Flint) on any applications. If I help to get someone hired, it gets me a bonus.
https://recruiting.paylocity.com/Recruiting/Jobs/Details/1199411
I have asked around, but I don’t have any takers.
I do have one other person in mind. I’ll let you know.
“Fun” part of job hunting in 2022: the scammers.
A cool map. Plug in the name of a city and you can see what the earth was like in that area up to 700 million years ago
https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#0
This bit of England would have been under water when the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs hit.
That is fun.
We have a “mountain” in our town (only a few hundred feet high) and in my youth I found some fossils in a rock at the top. Spiral shells and stuff that were ocean floor type creatures.
Based on this web site, they would have had to have been 300 million years old. The last time that spot would have been under water.
I surprised that no one offers “fossilize” as a burial option.
It’s rather foggy out this morning
That’s what the dinosaurs said the next day..
Crazy monsoon here overnight – – woke me up a bunch of times.
Good opportunity to check out the water tightness of your new digs.
I considered it, but decided that if there are leaks, I didn’t want to learn about them at 4am. Any other time of the day is fine.
So according to the twitter scuttlebutt, we might be getting S2 of Moon Knight.
I was unaware of a twitter scuttlebutt.
I’m fine either way with Moon Knight, I think.
http://dlvr.it/SW112x
JW: The Orville S3 finale.
If it doesn’t get renewed that was not a bad ending to a series.
CP: Young & Wild — The Strumbellas
Morning Pan
Yesterday I had the rest of my tooth pulled. Today I feel like I’ve been hit in the jaw.
Dentists are agents of evil.
Well first episode of Sandman watched, going to try to not binge the series.
No idea when we’ll get to this, but I’m damn eager.
Crap joke for the evening:
A woman decided to give herself a big treat for her 70th birthday by staying overnight in a really nice hotel.. When she checked out the next morning, the desk clerk handed her a bill for $250.00.
She demanded to know why the charge was so high “I agree it’s a nice hotel, but the rooms aren’t worth $250..00 for just an overnight stay – I didn’t even have breakfast!”
The clerk told her that $250.00 is the ‘standard rate,’ and breakfast had been included had she wanted it.
She insisted on speaking to the Manager. The Manager appeared and, forewarned by the desk clerk, announced: “This hotel has an Olympic-sized pool and a huge conference center which are available for use.”
“But I didn’t use them.”
‘Well, they are here, and you could have.” He went on to explain that she could also have seen one of the in-hotel shows for which they were so famous.”We have the best entertainers from the world over performing here.”
“But I didn’t go to any of those shows..”
“Well, we have them, and you could have.”
No matter what amenity the Manager mentioned, she replied, “But I didn’t use it!” and the Manager countered with his standard response.
After several minutes discussion, and with the Manager still unmoved, she decided to pay, wrote a check and gave it to him. The Manager was surprised when he looked at the check.
“But Madam, this check is for only $50.00”
“That’s correct I charged you $200.00 for sleeping with me.”
“But I didn’t!”
“Well, too bad, I was here, and you could have.”
This joke is dated
CP: Bad Education (No Context Remix) — Tilly & The Wall
I’m not sure what I’ve become. I met up with old colleagues for some drinks, and I really just wanted to get home to watch Sandman.
We did watch ep 1, which was pretty marvelous.
Did you notice the wonky aspect ratio?
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHg1sVThC-gOV_2LmFfK3J1isqPYs2H70
The Full MTV 120 Minutes Archive:
2,512 videos
This is one of the best things
ever.
One last link:
Check out my hater article part 2:
https://www.metalhalloffame.org/terrible-songs-from-brilliant-albums-part-2/
The subject mater is A bit out side of my experience but nicely written article.
Thank you, sir!
After two negative articles in a row, I’m gonna post something different next month.
About really great songs from otherwise sucky Albums?
Ha! That will trigger a different unruly mob.
Brazil fought in WW2…WTF:
https://t.co/pi71U8Ofqv
Ok, still no idea whether it’s artistic choice or someone fucked up but the Aspect ration of The Sandman is definitely wonky, not the only one to notice either.
It was deliberate:
https://t.co/zvOlQe5hqi
I did not notice the aspect ratio.
Eps 1 and 2 consumed. Both are great, but that’s coming from someone who once wore a Sandman costume at Halloween. (The girlfriend’s idea. She was Death. As her Halloween costume.)
JW: Prey
Thumbs up from me, on Hulu in the US and Disney+ elsewhere.
Just a heads up if you want to watch the Comanche Dub, on Hulu it’s an option at the bottom of the screen when you select the film. On Disney+ It’s under EXTRAS when you select the film to watch before hitting play.
It’s a dub so there are lip syncing issues.
Goodbye to Clu Gulager:
https://t.co/tPcmT8MTqd
B-movie icon. RIP
I actually worked on a film with him right after he had done The Return of the Living Dead. He was a funny guy with a dry wit.
Some one who was unaware he had just done Living dead ask him one day what he had just finished shooting and he went into this monologue about the tender, heart touching film he had just done. A gentle love story with deep introspective charactures. Had everyone cracking up.
Definately a staple of B horror films.
I’m trying to drop names up in here to seem cool, but you worked with Clu Galagher! That is amazing.
As I recall (and it has been quite a while) the film “From a whisper to a scream” featured a series of short stories involving horrific things that had happened in this single town over the course of it’s existance.
The film had an intro and VO from Vincent price but didn’t get to meet him. All his stuff was done in LA.
So Clu played the “momma’s boy “
To an over controlling invalid mother who made him give her creepy baths and never let him have a social life. Till he kills her so he can go on a date. But he keeps having fantasies of the date being dead (bloody girl hanging on a meat hook in a sexy dress asking him to come dance with her. That sort of thing.)
So of course he kills her.
THEN has sex with her.
Of course some time later, she gives birth in the grave to a demon baby that claws its way out and comes looking for daddy. Hilarity does NOT ensue.
You know… THAT kind of a B movie.
I do have to say that the special effects guys were really, disgustingly good.
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-salary-you-need-to-buy-a-home-in-50-u-s-cities/
Holy shit.
So the dog in Prey was called Coco and was a lovable mess:
https://t.co/ukwFM09P6m
Remind me, what were the restaurants and BBQ places we went to during the KC MMMmmmeetup?
Morning Pan
Having a friend over after lunch. We’re going to build zoos in Ark Nova
How far we have progressed:
https://youtu.be/GBlQb6Me_1k
That’s a pretty good slice of science geek history. When my Dad was right out of college, Bell Labs was a science Mecca .
Do you remember?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Matthews_Band_Chicago_River_incident
Do you remember?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do_You_Remember_Rock_%27n%27_Roll_Radio%3F
In that case I don’t ♀️
And ironically, DMB had a song called “Don’t Drink the Water.”
I frightened hubby. He was downstairs and came running up when he heard me squeal. I had looked out the window and saw a big ass spider fighting with a dragon fly. It freaked me out.
Big Ass Spider vs. Dragonfly sounds like a fantastic Kaiju battle.
Goodbye to the guy who did the voice of Pingu:
https://t.co/VChEorOp0t
I don’t mind Maneskin, but they really sound like Live 2.0 to me.
CP: Good Pain — Live
Crap joke for the evening:
The crusty Navy Master Chief noticed a new face and barked at him, “Get over here! What’s your name, sailor?”
“John,” the new seaman replied.
“Look, I don’t know what kind of bleeding-heart pansy crap they’re teaching sailors in boot camp these days, but I don’t call anyone by his first name,” the chief scowled. “It breeds familiarity, and that leads to a breakdown in authority. I refer to my sailors by their last names only; Smith, Jones, Baker, Jackson, whatever. And you are to refer to me as ‘Master Chief.’ Do I make myself clear?”
“Aye, Aye, Master Chief!”
“Now that we’ve got that straight, what’s your last name?”
The seaman sighed. “Darling, My name is John Darling, Master Chief.”
“Okay, John, here’s what I want you to do ….”
Goodbye to Olivia Newton John:
https://t.co/WtDwjY8KvJ
What a Gen X childhood icon. Between Grease, Physical, and even Xanadu, she was everywhere.
Yes, people are more than their attractive exteriors, but she was an absolute knockout.
Yes. This. Well said.
And despite having a bad rep, I really liked Xanadu.
RIP also to historical writer, David McCullough:
https://www.npr.org/2022/08/08/1116337415/historian-david-mccullough-died
FBI raid at Mar-A-Lago! Dare we hope that criminals face jus. . . hahahaha, sorry, back to reality.
Why can’t people read what’s given to them?
I was put in charge of the Tyche programming stream for When Words Collide. Now that we are only a few days out, I have all my program participants constantly emailing me with questions. I sent out an email to all of them last week that basically answered every question I’ve had so far.
*sigh*
My favorite situation like this was when I asked someone in an email a series of questions (in a numbered format so that it was obvious there were several questions).with the last one requiring at least a paragraph of writing to put into a report. They sent back an email that said “yes”.
“Yes” is better than “maybe” ?
The insistence of NTY to use duplicate letters in wordle sometimes makes it easier, imo.
I love The Walking Dead TV series (and of course, the comics). I haven’t liked any of the spinoff series yet. We’ll see what happens with the “Tales of the Walking Dead” starting this weekend. More importantly, I’m really starting to wonder about the sanity of the people at the highest levels of production. In the upcoming spinoff series that focuses on Daryl Dixon, they are going to ship him off to France and possibly have him facing off against fast moving zombie variants. I’m really thinking that despite the differences between the TV series and the comics, the only thing that keeps these people on the rails is the semblance of a story arc that the main series has to follow based on the comics. Seems like every spinoff where they get to do what they want just immediately turns into an absolute train wreck.
https://bloody-disgusting.com/tv/3726519/the-walking-dead-norman-reedus-spinoff-will-take-daryl-dixon-to-france/
CP: Low Is A Height — Great Northern
Tower 57 on Audible is a pretty good sci-fi drama.
It appears Prey was a hit:
http://thr.cm/Gq87LN7
Well it only took 28 years:
https://bit.ly/3QanZdM
I only ever played the Mike Tyson version on the NES.
Why using gold in fantasy and medieval settings is messed up:
https://t.co/nAi5F6OwbO
Goodbye to Raymond Briggs:
https://t.co/IWyydYtVij
Not good news:
https://t.co/RKNU3kWqgG
I blame Dave Matthews
Crap joke for the day:
Three nuns were driving round Hampshire. The Mother Superior was at the wheel, crashed into a tree and all three died. They soon arrived at the Pearly Gates.
Waving at St Peter, they explained they were Brides of Christ and asked for prompt admission. “Not so fast, girls” declared the gatekeeper. “We’re choc-a-bloc with dead nuns at the moment. You first have to pass an Entrance Test. But don’t worry; it’s all graded depending on your rank in the Convent.
First up was nun Celia. “And what grade were you in the Convent?” he asked. “Just a novice, St Peter.” “Ah: it’s an easy question for you. When Adam first met Eve in the Garden of Eden what were they wearing?” “Fig Leaves, St. Peter” Celia answered.
St Peter smiled. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven”. Next up was Annunciata. “And what grade were you in the Convent, Sister?”
She explained she was a cook. St Peter said: “So it’s a medium question for you. When Adam first met Eve, what fruit did she give him?”. She knew the answer: “It was an apple, St Peter”. Easy-peasy. “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.” said the gatekeeper.
Third up was the Mother Superior. St. Peter explained: “With your seniority you get a really hard question. When Eve saw Adam running toward her in the Garden of Eden, what was the very first thing she said?”
The Mother Superior pondered, observing: “Wow, that really is a hard one, St Peter.” Yet to her great surprise he smiled and promptly replied: “Welcome, Sister, to the Kingdom of Heaven.”
Apparently St. Peter was feeling generous with the first two, since their answers were wrong…
Third was is probably correct 🙂
I’m through 6 of the episodes of Sandman so far. Astoundingly well done so far. I read the comics many years ago, listened to the Audible adaptation, and then re-read the comics just a month or so ago. They are staying astoundingly true to the original works. Any adjustments are super tiny and don’t seem to bother me. I rarely see this kind of respect for the original works.
Also, in the first episode especially, I saw a number of direct references to the art work that Sam Keith brought to the earliest issues. Another “well done” on that front.
We just watched the diner one. Which was as unsettling as it was meant to be.
As someone who has read and reread the comics, I’m astonished at how well done it is.
Just started the dollhouse part of the series. Odd that they killed off Rose’s mother and replaced her with some random other person who I’m not exactly sure what the relationship with Rose is. That just seems like a pointless change. Maybe there is a reason later in the episode or series.
A-ha! I think I have sussed why they beefed up The Corinthian’s role in Sandman. I was just telling my brother who never read the comics to be prepared in that Sandman is more like a series of loosely tied together short stories than it is one cohesive plot. I’m thinking they stretched the Corinthian out across all of the episodes to help tie all the stories together and make them seem more like one cohesive plot. All makes sense to me now.
The rot goes on:
https://t.co/ZkRWoev101
CP: Believe Me — Moist
So this happened…
https://quadruplez.com/2022/08/one-idjits-thoughts-on-things-of-unusual-size/
When I click on a link it’s gets Hijacked and I’m told I’ve won a prize.
Tha show is not appearing in listings yet but here’s the RSS
https://feeds.feedburner.com/quadruplez/oneidjit
Weird, link is also misbehaving for me… I’d just tell you to go to podcast software but still not appearing in Apple Podcasts or overcast or anywhere.
I was able to find it on Apple Podcasts by searching for “idjit”. Great to hear your voice again Paul.
I also saw an attempt to redirect to a link that was something like “funnydatingsites”
But – – not trying to miss the bigger picture – – it’s great to see your Really Big return to podcasting!
Looks like this link mayhem is only happening on mobile, I just tried again on my laptop and it went where it was supposed to. I’m more concerned that it is taking forever for the show to be listed as its own feed on Apple Podcasts or anywhere else. As far as I can see it is only appearing in masterfeeds like Dog Days of Podcasting or the QuadrupleZ masterfeed.
I figured this was the first place to tell about new Really Big Things
Well subscribed now, although I loved That 70s Show I still haven’t seen the follow up series.
Well, they have That 90’s Show coming up this fall and it’s apparently a much more direct sequel to That 70’s Show.
Looking forward to it!
Using Raspberry Pi in drones for Search and Rescue:
https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/searchwing-maritime-search-and-rescue-drones/
Occaisionally these days, technology is the “good guy”.
BTW: Bullet Train is absolutely nuts. And an absolute blast.
The other rando people in the theater were overheard afterwards griping about how awful it was. In this case, I took that as a validation of my enjoyment.
Haven’t seen the film but did enjoy the book it was based on.
That’s exactly what I’m looking forward to. 😀
I’m a fool for Joey King, so I might need to see this.
Morning Pan
Busy weekend ahead of me.
CP: Microphone Fiend — Rage Against The Machine
I was a fiend before I became a teen,
Meltin’ microphones instead of cones of ice cream.
I strongly disagree with most of the opinions in the article, but it’s still a really good read and examination of Dr. Strange 2:
https://www.tor.com/2022/08/10/the-pursuit-of-happiness-doctor-strange-in-the-multiverse-of-madness/
The first thing I noticed was how the heading of the article is spelled “happyness”, even though the link spells it correctly.
I think he’s referring to the Will Smith film of the same title.
I wondered about that too, but why spell it correctly in the internet link?
Some of what he says, I agree with, other stuff not so much. He is a little too tied to certain comic storylines, but this part resonates with me: “Because all the men responsible for this movie can think to do with Wanda Maximoff is make her the mother from hell, turning a grieving character struggling toward heroism in several previous movies and a TV series into a mass-murderer who will commit any depraved acts necessary as long as she can be a mother.”
I don’t find the movie a crushing disappointment. It is fun, and enjoyable, and especially Raimi-esque. But the above and a few other details really bother me about the movie.
To be fair, that is how some of the comic storylines have gone, but the MCU has insisted on their own continuity which I have enjoyed. This particular choice didn’t feel quite right.
RE: the sexism thing in Dr. Strange 2 – – if a woman feels that the plot exploits female/matronly stereotypes, then I will 100% support and back them on that. I’d never tell anyone how they feel or should feel about issues in a movie.
For my reaction – – I didn’t find her homicidal grief to be lazy stereotyping. The boys weren’t the only traumatic loss in her life.
And ya know. . . TV show spoiler. . . protagonist or not, she was kinda the true villain all along on WandaVision. . . .
I never felt like she was presented in Dr. Strange 2 as (Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist) just a fragile dame who got all emotional about family and chick stuff (/Movie Bigwhig Chauvinist).
Sexism in lazy writing goes both ways. My one real disappointment so far with the Netflix Sandman is that there is a pair of foster parents in the comic that are both evil shits to their foster child. In the series the foster father is evil and abusive and the mother is timid and afraid. This is bad from both ends, because apparently not only can women not be strong, but men can only ever be abusive assholes. If there was only one lazy writing cliche I could get rid of over all others it would be the abusive asshole husband/father thing. I get that they are out there, but TV/movies make it seem like that just about all that’s out there.
Having read the article, I can agree with most of the problems he points out. But most of his quibbles can be dismissed by the fact this is very much a Sam Raimi movie. This is Marvel’s version of Evil Dead, and many character choices were driven to service that. If Raimi gave in to all these points, we would have had a completely predictable movie. I’ll leave it to the inevitable standalone Scarlet Witch movie for the redemption arc.
So, here’s my hot take on Dr. Strange 2 and Phase 4 in general – I think it’s generally set the MCU back quite a bit and the comic book beats that it relied on are why a lot of folks don’t take comics books seriously as literature.
I think the author had a lot of valid complaints about how Wanda was handled. Just because you can trace the storyline back to beats from 20 to 40 years ago, doesn’t mean they’re good ideas for story beats today.
There were certainly some good parts and I generally thought the Disney+ series were stronger than most of the Phase 4 movies.
And, Sony gave us the best phase 4 MCU movie with the latest Spiderman.
Well finished S1 of The Sandman.
Enjoyed it, the ending felt a bit anti-climactic but hopefully we will get a S2.
We decided to watch season three of Locke and Key before Sandman. Crazy, I know
Still haven’t finished S2.
Abandoned L&K S2.
Same
Fun premise, poorly executed.
When Words Collide starts later today. I’m pretty sure there was a (health) reason I stopped working behind the scenes for these conventions.
Ugh
Is there a postmortem called “After Worlds Collide?”
Actually I’d be shocked if nobody has asked that already.
I saw Tim Reynolds post a photo – – but with no Ryah in it!
Goodbye to Anne Heche:
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2022-08-12/anne-heche-dies-car-crash-fire-mar-vista
Now there’s something you don’t see every day. There are 2 movies coming out at nearly the same time that will center on a young Edgar Allan Poe. Not, mind you, based on Edgar Allan Poe stories. No, no. Both having a primary character in the movie that is a young Edgar Allan Poe as a primary character.
https://geektyrant.com/news/trailer-for-shudders-horror-film-ravens-hollow-about-a-young-edgar-allan-poe
https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3726739/netflixs-edgar-allan-poe-movie-the-pale-blue-eye-starring-christian-bale-gets-an-r-rating/
I’d rather have decent movies based on Poe stories.
We’d have a difficult time finding anyone to disagree with your statement. Which is why I’m so amazed it’s happening twice at the same time.
Looks like they were having fun:
https://youtu.be/bIHFk-oPQrE
So finally watched the last episode of Night Sky.
Like Tales from the Loop, shame it didn’t get a S2.
Bored now
..and then the murders began.
Karl Urban breaks down his most iconic roles:
https://bit.ly/3QCbG9V
CW: A League of Their Own E1
I’ve only seen scenes from the film but this tv series gets off to a good start.
It’s on Amazon Prime.
My friend Jeff and I used to go on many double dates with our girlfriends-who-were-best-friends – – and I recall one occasion where the movie choices coming down to Cool World and A League of Their Own. I insisted on Cool World, which turned out to be colossally terrible. And of course, A League of Their Own achieved legendary, beloved film status.
Yeah, I never lived that one down.
Ah yes, “film choices you were completely wrong about”.
In my case it was begrudgingly going to see what I thought was some “chick flick” just to make my girl friend happy.
The film was “The Princess Bride.”
Thank you, girl who shall remain nameless.
IIRC, this was a Dumb!Ass!Memory!
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/aug/12/movie-stars-killed-brad-pitt-tom-cruise-meryl-streep
Interesting
Freakin powerful song and vid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_InH0i_2gmg
I know I’m a broken record on this, but just watched the season 3 finale of For All Mankind and it was fantastic.
I mean pay the five bucks (if you can’t get a free trial) and just binge watch all three seasons.
Crap joke for the evening:
A man is driving down a deserted stretch of highway when he notices a sign out of the corner of his eye….It reads:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
10 MILES
He thinks this is a figment of his imagination and drives on without a second thought…
Soon he sees another sign which reads:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
5 MILES
Suddenly he begins to realize that these signs are for real and drives past a third sign saying:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
HOUSE OF PROSTITUTION
NEXT RIGHT
His curiosity gets the best of him and he pulls into the drive. On the far side of the parking lot is a stone building with a small sign next to the door reading:
SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS
He climbs the steps and rings the bell. The door is answered by a nun in a long black habit who asks, ‘What may we do for you my son?’
He answers, ‘I saw your signs along the highway and was interested in possibly doing business…. .’
‘Very well my son. Please follow me.’ He is led through many winding passages and is soon quite disoriented. The nun stops at a closed door and tells the man, ‘Please knock on this door.’
He does so and another nun in a long habit, holding a tin cup answers the door… This nun instructs, ‘Please place $100 in the cup then go through the large wooden door at the end of the hallway.’
He puts $100 in the cup, eagerly trots down the hall and slips through the door pulling it shut behind him.
The door locks, and he finds himself back in the parking lot facing another sign:
GO IN PEACE.
YOU HAVE JUST BEEN SCREWED BY THE SISTERS OF ST. FRANCIS.
SERVES YOU RIGHT, YOU SINNER.
Just finished the Season 4 finale of West World. Quite the turnaround compared to Season 3 and well worth the ride.
I know they intend a final fifth season, but I’ve also heard it hasn’t been renewed yet. With the new questionable ownership of HBO, we might not get it. If we don’t, this made for a satisfying ending.
Yeah, the word on the street is: “Westworld Seasons 2 and 3 were TERRIBLE, but but worth it to get to the greatness of Season 4.”
I enjoyed Season 1, but I can’t get myself to start Season 2.
1 was great, 2 wasn’t bad, but 3 I wish I would have skipped. We started 4 and it is better so far.
Got the elder daughter moved into her dorm today. Classes start on Thursday.
How do I feel? Proud, terrified, anxious, grossed out about the thawed out mouse that I already had to feed to her snake.
I haven’t processed it fully, yet.
Wow!
Congratulations.
Been a long and winding road.
The first time is hard. My daughter moved to her apartment this weekend with her best friend. Time for sophomore year.
https://www.prevention.com/life/g35894735/mandela-effect-examples/
I took today off. I needed it.
Crap joke for the day:
A man met a beautiful lady and decided he wanted to marry her right away.
She said, ‘But we don’t know anything about each other.’
He said, ‘That’s all right, we’ll learn about each other as we go along.’
So she consented, they were married, and off they went on a honeymoon at a very nice resort.
One morning they were lying by the pool, when he got up off of his towel, climbed up to the 10 metre board, and did a two and a-half tuck, followed by three rotations in the pike position, at which point he straightened out and cut the water like a knife.
After a few more demonstrations, he came back and lay down on the towel.
She said, ‘That was incredible!’
He said, ‘I used to be an Olympic diving champion. You see, I told you we’d learn more about each other as we went along.’
So she got up, jumped in the pool and started doing lengths.
After seventy-five lengths she climbed out of the pool, lay down on her towel and was hardly out of breath.
He said, ‘That was incredible! Were you an Olympic endurance swimmer?’
‘No,’ she said, ‘I was a prostitute in Liverpool but I worked both sides of the Mersey’…
CP: Popmuzik — M
A classic!
The local rock video channel is doing 30 years of loud. I agree Rob Zombie’s Dragula counts
OK then!
https://www.cnn.com/videos/business/2022/08/15/youtuber-allen-pan-robotic-legs-for-snake-orig-ht.cnn-business
Nope
Ok, have you heard of this service before:
https://www.qbell.io/
Sounds like a good way for delivery drivers and evangelical Christians to contact you.
I don’t even wanna click that link, TBH.
Hubby started back yesterday. Almost in a regular routine now.
We have these little black flies that are small enough to get through our window screens. However, they also seem to die the minute they do. I’m spending a lot of my summer wiping bug carcasses off my windowsill.
We have quite hard water here so today I soaked my shower door in vinegar and dish soap to clean it. It’s all better now
(can you tell I’m doing housework today?)
CP: A Million Miles Away — The Plimsouls
So watched the last episode of Better Call Saul, bloody great.
Well acted, with a sensible ending. As memorable as the end of Breaking Bad? Not really.
I liked both endings.
I’d started BCS, but didn’t stick with it. Strange, because I preferred it to BB.
I will get back to it, for sure. Especially with all the love for the finale.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/15/world/artemis-i-mementos-scn/index.html
Neat stuff in spaceships.
Goodbye to Wolfgang Petersen, Das Boot is a classic:
https://t.co/6xsv4gdiDV
We’re having tacos for dinner tonight. I never have tacos on a Tuesday. Hubby laughs at me because I refuse to conform
Amazon Prime had Mass Effect Legacy Edition for free last month so I picked it up. Have now started playing it. It’s been long enough that I don’t actually remember much of the story.
I’m kicking myself over this as I saw the news story but couldn’t work out how to claim the game.
Crap joke for the day:
A businessman in the first class cabin decided to chat up the drop dead, gorgeous flight attendant:
Businessman: “And what is your name, if I may ask?”
Flight Attendant: “Angela Benz, sir”
Businessman: “Lovely name … any relation to Mercedes Benz?”
Flight Attendant: “Yes sir, fairly close”
Businessman: “How close?”
Flight Attendant: “Same price”.
The ghosts are out and about today
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Adams? That works.
Luis Guzman as Gomez?
Excellent.
https://youtu.be/Di310WS8zLk
I’m not sure how much I trust Tim Burton any more. He was brilliant in his early career when he was creating all new content. Since he started redoing other people’s stuff I haven’t really liked his work. I’ll definitely be waiting to see how other people think about Wednesday before I check it out.
Now, the new Munsters from Rob Zombie is going to be a hard pass. And every time I see new information on it, that hard pass gets harder and harder.
https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3727807/rob-zombies-the-munsters-herman-and-lily-sing-i-got-you-babe-for-new-single-video/
More and more I feel like Rob Zombie’s “creative” decisions are coming from the marketing department.
With David Lynch or early Tim Burton I always felt like they were just putting their fever dreams on the screen and we were invited to watch…or not, they really didn’t care because they were doing it for themselves.
I feel like Rob Zombie is trying to make “product”.
Oh, it’s Tim Burton. Never mind.
CP: High On a Wire — Black Box Revelation
Jack during his high jumping years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ug72Zkta7d0
Finally clicked this link. Jack Mangan is so young!
Fantasy authors read mean reviews:
https://youtu.be/1DyEHA3NL04
https://www.fatherly.com/love-money/miles-davis-my-father-taught-me
Another side of Miles Davis
Hubby has been back at work this week but the kids don’t come back until next. He’s quite enjoying his no tie, no kids time.
Under “gee what a surprise”, it’s the second time my boss has cancelled an in person meeting to discuss my departure. It will be interesting to see when it actually happens. Especially since I’m hinting very strongly I may actually leave before the end of the year.
This is going to get progressively more awkward.
Enjoyed the first episode of She-Hulk but will go on record that is the dumbest origin story.
If is ripped from the comics then meh!
I gather from Wikipedia it is from the comics, so MEH! Again.
Oh shut up.
Make me!
The episode was good, the creation of She-Hulk was dumb, even dumber than the radioactive spider.
YOU FUCKIN ARE!
I still enjoyed it so calm your tits.
I’ve read reviewer comments that EP 1 is meh, but everything after is fantastic.
Eh well they be RONG
I actually enjoyed the first EP.
Wait til she releases the full-length album.
Anyway, former Wehrmacht soldiers formed a secret army after WW2:
https://t.co/k4IiL2XXuO
Why did Kubrick do so many takes:
https://youtu.be/qt7PKYAn0iw
A deep dive on one scene from Red Alert 3:
https://t.co/Uhd2q2mYEg
So I recently bought this indy game on Steam.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1765780/ADACA/
If you’re looking for a game like Half-Life 2, I would recommend it.
Also, this ttrpg came into my radar. https://www.ironswornrpg.com/
The PDF version is free, but I ordered a hardcopy. It seems like a good system for the storytellers out there. There is a guy on Youtube that is doing a solo play-through. Seems pretty interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVxJ3exjfgI&list=PLDvunq75UfH_Z92nrYPUsTO_fTHnLTNaT
I’m in!
Ep 1 of She Hulk is a GD delight. Tatiana Maslany is a GD Canadian treasure.
That’s kind of what I was thinking. With Tatiana Maslany how bad can it be?
I’d watch her eat butter for an hour
Sounds like a recipe for high cholesterol.
But what a way to go.
HA!
I’d watch all of her clones.
So a bonus episode of The Sandman has just dropped on Netflix. It’s just over an hour long so definitely pushing they concept of ‘bonus’.
Some rumblings that the release of this episode means there won’t be a S2.
Gaiman says the numbers have been strong.
This still sounds like a bit of a stunt, though.
Well just watched 11, the cat one is nice but feels like an excuse to get some some of Gaiman’s celebrity friends to do voices.
The Calliope story, is set just before Morpheus escapes so seems weird to put it at the end of the series. The actress playing Calliope has a weird accent, some times she sounds Irish and other times she doesn’t.
They are pretty true to the order of the comics. Calliope and Dream of a Thousand Cats are the next 2 comics to come out after the run that was in the series. The only change is that Calliope came first so not sure why they switched those 2 around.
Bonus episode. Oh FFS I already have too much new shit to catch up on. Frustrating when I have to go back and add back in something that I’ve crossed off my list.
And I agree that Better Call Saul ended well (unless they have a bonus episode up their sleeve that I haven’t seen yet).
Off to the city this morning
Back a my neck getting dirty and gritty
Playing a short audioplay of “The Little Mermaid” – – narrated by Roy Dotrice. The same guy who’s narrated all of the GoT audiobooks.
I am going to cut this off before we get to Arial and Prince Eric’s Red Wedding. Sebastian’s fate is just too appalling.
How cellphones helped women prisoners in Argentina:
https://t.co/VWHT4cYQI9
The only photos ever of the surface of Venus:
https://www.planetary.org/articles/every-picture-from-venus-surface-ever
Crap joke for the evening:
A beautiful young woman was staring across New York harbour, clearly in distress. A sailor passed by and asked her problem. “I want to leave America and go back home to Italy. But I have no money. The only thing left to do is drown myself.”
“But you’re much too young and beautiful for that.” said the sailor. “All your life is still ahead of you. And I can help. As it happens my ship is going to Italy and I can find you a secret cabin on board.”
She was happy, and met him at dusk on the busy quayside and he took her deep into the ship where a small cabin was already fitted out for her. She had her amusements and even a small bathroom. Every day the sailor would bring her a pile of sandwiches and fruit. They shared a bottle of wine and made love.
After a week or so the captain came on his inspection round and discovered the young woman. “What are you doing here?” he asked. She explained about the kind sailor and how he was taking her home to Italy. “Italy, eh? And that’s all there is to it?” asked the captain. She blushed and admitted “Not quite. He has me every evening as well.”
“I see.” said the Captain “And he’s certainly doing that.” What do you mean?” asked the young woman. “Because this, my dear, is the Staten Island Ferry.”
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086189/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0
Alan Arkin as a super hero. Christopher Lee singing. Musical/fantasy/comedy. It looks like a complete and utter travesty… and I NEED to watch it.
And Richard O’Brien wrote a bunch of the songs? And:
“Apparently, this movie is one of writer Terry Pratchett’s favorite movies. Pratchett has said: “May I also add that the film ‘The Return of Captain Invincible’, which is a series of bad moments pasted together with great songs and a budget of fourpence, is also a regularly-viewed video in the Pratchett household.”
I’m in.
No:
https://t.co/VNCIXo18Wd
No
Probably not even remotely true.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Stargate/comments/w3klyv/psa_giant_freakin_robot_is_generally_not_a/
Giant Freaking Robot is like the National Enquirer of geek fandom.
Yeah, I always dismiss Giant Freaking Robot articles.
https://www.heraldweekly.com/move-over-hendrix-these-female-guitarists-have-insane-skills/
Wow, a list that is really thorough and full of great choices. I was especially tickled to see Jennifer Batten, Gretchen Menn, and Vicki Genfan included, since I’ve spoken to all of them.
So many amazing players here, and many I’ll need to check out.
I’m thrilled they didn’t pass over Charo! Her version of Romanza d’Amour is still the best ever recorded.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkgy8S4R7RU
My husband accidentally broke my newest statue (Majima). Now, how long can I milk the guilt?
And here we are in Carlsbad for a spur-of-the-the-moment Legoland getaway before work next week.
And this will guilt hubby how?
Funny how this page does replies.
It will guilt him because…… we can get little figure statues here….?
So $165 US dollars of guilt divided by hubby’s hourly rate = ….
Profit?
So watched the first episode of House of the Dragon.
It was ok.
But gawd am I sick of fantasy with a medieval setting.
it was really Beastmaster 2 that oversaturated the genre.
Just finished it ourselves. Pretty strong opening salvo.
I am curious, Van, about what other High Fantasy shows and movies you’ve seen. There’s been plenty of schlock, but only the LOTR, early GoT, and Schwarzenegger Conan had any rewatch value.
We had a tiny bit of rain last night. Not nearly enough but much better than the nothing we’ve had for the last two weeks.
Welp, I guess I’m heading in to see if Majima can be saved. If he can’t, well, hubby will owe me big time.
I’m curious to know what you tried and what you learned.
We had a nice weekend. TBird and I played the first scenario of “Gloomhaven – Jaws of the Lion” which was fun. We both had to work some, but with the cooler weather I rode the Can Am Spyder to the office. We had some time in the pool and then watched “House of the Dragon.”
“rode the Can Am Spyder to the office”
Win.
CP: Unicorn – The Irish Rovers
Successful day at Legoland. Leeloo’s first rollercoaster experience wasn’t great. It was a kiddie coaster, but still a bit too much for her.
Everything else was fun and good, though. Lego has evolved a LOT since the last time I was here, in 2010.
I never outgrew disliking roller coasters.
Your crap joke for the morning:
A policeman is out patrolling and sees a car driving dangerously slow on the highway. He pulls the car over and comes up to see a car full of older ladies.
“Morning officer.”
“Good morning, Ma’am. Do you know the reason I pulled you over?”
“No, sir.”
“You were doing 35 mph on the highway.”
She frowns. “The sign there says 35.”
He holds back a smirk. “That is because it is Highway 35, not 35 mph. The speed limit here is 65 mph.”
“Oh, goodness.”
“I am going to let you off. I hope this has helped.”
“Yes, indeed, officer. Thank you.”
The police officer notices the older ladies with her are quiet, staring straight ahead, and all of them are extremely pale.
“Are your passengers okay?”
The older woman says, “They’re fine, we just got off of 136.”
Bonus crap joke:
A man walked out to the street and caught a taxi just going by. He got into the taxi, and the cabbie said, “Perfect timing. You’re just like Brian!
Passenger: “Who?”
Cabbie: “Brian Sullivan. He’s a guy who did everything right all the time. Like my coming along when you needed a cab, things happen like that to Brian Sullivan, every single time.”
Passenger: “There are always a few clouds over everybody.”
Cabbie: “Not Brian Sullivan. He was a terrific athlete. He could have won the Grand Slam at tennis. He could golf with the pros. He sang like an opera baritone and danced like a Broadway star and you should have heard him play the piano. He was an amazing guy.”
Passenger: “Sounds like he was something really special.”
Cabbie: “There’s more. He had a memory like a computer. He remembered everybody’s birthday. He knew all about wine, which foods to order and which fork to eat them with. He could fix anything. Not like me. I change a fuse, and the whole street blacks out. But Brian Sullivan, he could do everything right.”
Passenger: “Wow. Some guy then.”
Cabbie: “He always knew the quickest way to go in traffic and avoid traffic jams. Not like me, I always seem to get stuck in them. But Brian, he never made a mistake, and he really knew how to treat a woman and make her feel good. He would never answer her back even if she was in the wrong; and his clothing was always immaculate, shoes highly polished too. He was the perfect man! He never made a mistake. No one could ever measure up to Brian Sullivan.”
Passenger: “An amazing fellow. How did you meet him?”
Cabbie: “Well, I never actually met Brian. He died. I’m married to his widow”
So the new thing on twitter is body shaming Matt Smith over his role in House of the Dragon.
This is why we don’t deserve nice things.
Ah Rounders:
https://homework.study.com/explanation/what-is-the-difference-between-rounders-and-baseball.html
So Paul Rudd is going to be in S3 of The Only Murders in the building.
Told ya that episode 11 drop was ominous:
http://dlvr.it/SX5xhv
That doesn’t mean anything. While Netflix is notorious for only doing one or two seasons, they often wait months after releasing the season before deciding on another
Word is getting out that I’m leaving my job at the end of the year (or sooner). I’m already getting requests to do independent work for some self-published author friends I know. The occasional few extra nickels on the side sounds like a good thing
I think freelancing for toonies will suit you.
So we’ve strayed from the standard parenting rulebook and never shown the little one any of the Disney Winnie the Pooh cartoons. She has almost no concept of those characters.
But we listened to a podcast reading of A.A.Milne‘a original text, and she was absolutely enchanted.
So I guess we’ll show her the cartoons.
Okay I’m curious, what was the rationality behind not showing your daughter the Disney Pooh cartoons?
I’ve always been a fan of showing my kids what I am passionate about, but allowing them to find their own passions as well. I wouldn’t recommend feeling bad about not being passionate enough about Winnie the Pooh to make the grade before this point.
Then again, the one and only piece of parenting advice I will ever give anyone is to not listen to a damn thing I say about parenting.
We just didn’t get around to the Winnie the Pooh cartoons – – focused on educational and Ghibli instead, plus the modern stuff she likes.
And I didn’t recall the Winnie the Pooh stuff a being essential, even though they were forcefed to every child born after 1970. I may also have been offput by just how brand-oriented they’ve become in recent years.
But the original A.A. Milne stories from the 1920s are delightful (I love so much of the writing of that era).
We watched the first batch of Disney WtP animations – – the ones we all saw as kids – – and they do a good job capturing the charm of the books. I don’t think we’ll deep dive into much more.
Agreed 10000% about introducing your kids to your own personal age-appropriate treasures (We’ll wait on Pulp Fiction) – – but also fostering their enthusiasm when they find their own favorites.
Have you introduced her to
Paddington Bear stories? The books are charming.
Noted!
BTW, Paddington is known here, but I don’t think it was ever as popular.
I just saw a comment stating that the final Indiana Jones movie is going to take place in the 1940s with Indy fighting Nazis.
Um. What?
Are they going to CGI de-age Harrison Ford in every frame? Or have some kind of time travel ? Or a decades-spanning story? Or just old Harrison telling stories of the old days?
I just hope it was the wrong info.
Well they had aliens in 4 so maybe he gets access to a time machine.
There was no 4th one.
This is the only correct answer
Once more, “Only Murders in the Building” wrapped up another sublime season and we know that a third one is on the way.
So, at least we have that going for us.
TBird and I find it a great mix of old and new comedic tropes. Looking forward to season 3.
This is the “Shows and Films with Alarmingly Old Lead Actors” section of the page.
So after watching a bit of Event Horizon, I conclude that that the rear speakers on my surround sound system really do enhance watching horror film…well at least the ones with a 5.1 soundtrack.
Yes I know I’m being Captain Obvious today, roll with it.
Yes it does. Yes it does.
https://twitter.com/KillerMartinis/status/1561871108361666561?s=20&t=rvSKAI232GJ1V-hedEaF-Q
Now I want to read her book.
Well ticket booked to see Bullet Train later on today.
Enjoyed that, some major plot difference between the book and film. But nothing aggravating.
Having never read the book, I only took the film on its own lunatic merits.
I really wonder if writers actually hate to have their works described in the “x meets y” format. If I had spent the time and effort it takes to write what I considered to be a unique piece of work I definitely wouldn’t want it to be reduced to “well it’s really just this thing meets that thing” which sounds to me like someone is saying “it’s really just a ripoff mishmash of existing concepts”.
https://geektyrant.com/news/hell-to-pay-promises-to-be-hellboy-meets-indiana-jones-action-this-november
To be fair, metaphor and simile have been tools of communication for quite a long time.
If something is truly “unique” then how do you describe it?
We are relational beings to the point where we see patterns even when they don’t exist.
So, what ya gonna do?
Who you gonna call?
Trope Busters!
I think I’d only object if it was an inaccurate reference, or linked to things I find distasteful.
E.g., if someone said. “Jack’s new book is like a cross between My Little Pony and Bill O’Reilly.”
Odd, that’s exactly what I thought of the new book.
note: joke
I knew I shouldn’t have renamed her “Pinky Pie”
OMG. The Rhett room music video channel so playing David Hasselhoff. I don’t even know how to react to this
Rhett room. = rhettro.
Stupid auto correct
I want to listen to the music from the Rhett Room channel.
Bring ear plugs.
It looks like Majima can be repaired. Hubby survives another day
It will no longer be a bad Mama jama.
CP: Meet Me on the Corner – Lindisfarne
Yah:
https://t.co/ZB8gespRHV
Crap joke for the evening:
“Bless me Father, for I have sinned. I have been with a loose girl.”
The priest asks, “Is that you, little Joey Pagano?”
“Yes, Father, it is.”
“And who was the girl you were with?”
“I can’t tell you, Father. I don’t want to ruin her reputation.”
“Well, Joey, I’m sure to find out her name sooner or later so you may as well tell me now. Was it Tina Minetti?”
“I cannot say.”
“Was it Teresa Mazzarelli?”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Was it Nina Capelli?”
“I’m sorry, but I cannot name her.”
“Was it Cathy Piriano?”
“My lips are sealed.”
“Was it Rosa DiAngelo, then?”
“Please, Father! I cannot tell you.”
The priest sighs in frustration. “You’re very tight lipped, and I admire that. But you’ve sinned and have to atone. You cannot be an altar boy now for 4 months. Now you go and behave yourself.”
Joey walks back to his pew, and his friend Franco slides over and whispers, “What’d you get?”
“Four months vacation and five good leads”
I feel like the moon just hit my eye like a big pizza pie.
Looks like I’ll be playing “The Last of Us” part 1 for the 4th time in a 3rd version. 😀
If it comes to PC, I’ll actually play it for the first time
They say this version will release to PC, but I don’t know when that will be. I hope it does. It and the sequel are two of my favorite games.
I got stuck a while back and couldn’t continue further. Looking forward to buying a PS5 next year and playing Horizon Zero Dawn 2. On the PC front, I may be getting a 3080 TI soon.
Because of population changes, Canada is changing some of its voting districts. Because we are not the US, it is done by an independent group and created (mostly) along population numbers. No gerrymandering
Crazy, I know
I admire the dedication:
https://youtu.be/Gh4weSLztd0
Lunch with my Boo today.
My last weekday off. So I slept in. New gig on Monday.
After many disheartening months, working with/for and applying to a bunch of lost souls, I’m pretty confident that this is a step in the right direction, re: the day job sitch. Fingers crossed.
Great news! Here’s hoping your new gig is skeksis free.
Yeah, that’s the hope. I get a really good vibe.
I’ll share one story from the interview stages at a different company. Details are important:
I was being treated as The One for this other company, during the interview rounds. The responses during the calls were glowing; it felt like I was a shoe-in.
In each Zoom call, I talked about how I’d mentored younger team members in past roles. One guy asked about web testing, and I introduced him to a powerful web testing tool that none of them had used before.
In the final round – – with the company chiefs – – I spoke of the importance of hard work, but also the need for family focus, and talked about how in some places, when we talk about processes, it’s sometimes forgotten that these are humans running the processes.
Stonefaces.
Then a week later, the recruiter told me they’d gone with someone else, because I didn’t have enough experience with web testing or with mentoring younger coworkers.
I didn’t plead my case, just said that their response didn’t make sense.
My conclusion: they balked when I hinted at the importance of work-life balance.
The money at that place would have been really nice, but I think I would have been unhappy.
My new bosses and teammates seem to have perspective. They’re passionate about the work, which is great – – but also seem to be aware of life outside. I’m looking forward to it.
Fingers crossed sir!
Good luck, Jack!
Sounds good!
Good luck!
I somehow missed a really good Roaming Asshat comment from about 2 weeks back:
“Sexism in lazy writing goes both ways. My one real disappointment so far with the Netflix Sandman is that there is a pair of foster parents in the comic that are both evil shits to their foster child. In the series the foster father is evil and abusive and the mother is timid and afraid. This is bad from both ends, because apparently not only can women not be strong, but men can only ever be abusive assholes. If there was only one lazy writing cliche I could get rid of over all others it would be the abusive asshole husband/father thing. I get that they are out there, but TV/movies make it seem like that just about all that’s out there.”
This trope probably wasn’t as tired when young Neil wrote it in the 80s, but it makes me cringe now. Of course there are real abuse situations like this, but there are also many other kinds. In fiction, the trope is tired at best, socially harmful at worst.
A golden oldie crap joke for the evening:
A traveling salesman walked up to a farmhouse hoping to sell some insurance and noticed a three legged pig enjoying the comforts of the cool grass in the front yard. He hadn’t seen this in all the states he had traveled. The curiosity was overwhelming. He knocked on the door and the farmer, on his break, answered the door. He salesman introduced himself and …. He had to ask. “I just got to know, why do you have a three legged pig on your front lawn?”
The farmer replies “That pig right there is special! Let me tell you about that pig. One November morning, I was up at four in the morning to milk Betsy. I had stayed up late the night before’cause the in-laws dropped by and wanted to drink some beers. Anyhow, Betsy hauled off and kicked me knocking me unconscious and knocked over the lantern. When I awoke, that pig was dragging me by my pant leg to safety. The barn was a total loss. That pig saved my life!”
The salesman looks him in the eye and says “That’s an incredible story, but that doesn’t explain why he only has three legs”.
The farmer tells him “I was plowing the back forty. The plow got tangled up in some weeds I jacked it up, climbed under to pull ’em loose when the jack fell over. I was pinned! It was pert-near a hundred degrees and I hollard and hollard.and no one could here me. My time had come. I said my prayers and don’t you know who came to my rescue? That darn pig! He rooted me out with his snout and dragged me out! That pig saved my life again!”
“That’s the most amazing story I’ve ever heard “ says the salesman. “But it doesn’t explain why the pig has three legs”.
The farmer squints and look right at him “You stupid cityslicker! Ya’all don’t know anything! When you got a pig that great, you don’t eat him all at once!!”
Well lots to disagree with, apart from the rebooted Battlestar Galactica, 100% agreement on that one:
https://bit.ly/3PU4zJ5
I’ve only seen a few of these shows, and even fewer of their finales.
But yes, The BSG finale was a flaming trash heap.
I actually enjoyed the rush of the Lost finale as it happened. . . but it definitely didn’t hold up to later examination.
I haven’t seen most of those shows. I disagree with their opinion on Quantum Leap.
I’m an outlier as I didn’t hate the endings of BSG or Lost, could they have been better, probably.
The last episode of House was pretty cool actually. The only issue is the fate of Wilson, which I agree they could have handled better. Out of the nine employees of House, 2 died tragically, and two had terminal illnesses.
The critic of GOT was on point.
I’ve seen many of the other shows but I had given up on them way before the final. I’m looking at you X-Files.
And Castle didn’t get a mention with an ending that could have been written by a 3rd grader.
Genghis Khan! Maybe!
https://archaeology-world.com/archaeologists-unearth-tomb-of-genghis-khan/
My biggest hope is that this goes on a massive road tour a-la King Tut. I’d go to see him.
And if it goes on a King Tut like tour, I hope we get a song about Genghis Khan from Steve Martin.
FTW
Thought he was holy-a, and conquered Mongolia.
I know there’s some Fletch nostalgia round these parts. No objection to Jon Hamm in the role, but this trailer is pretty underwhelming.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pb2Pu5EjC1s
My memory of that film was that the film itself was completely forgettable. What made it worth watching was Chevy’s performance.
I like JH but … yeh, this looks underwhelming.
I haven’t seen them in decades, but yes. It was mostly about watching Chevy Chase doing comedic bits throughout the whole series. Very similar to Beverly Hills Cop.
Some fans of the books Fletch was based on have been enthusiastic for the choice of JH.
They completely wrote out Inspector Flynn?! Outrage! Flynn was the best part about Confess, Fletch as well as his own novels.
After looking further, the Francis Xavier Flynn character was tied up for rights reasons and they couldn’t use him in the movie.
Still, boo!
The days are starting to get shorter. The sun is just starting to show its’ face when hubby leaves now.
Marvin’s last scene:
https://youtu.be/vA2vCG6WwQA
I love book 4 of HH, Arthur finds happiness of a sort and it was so nice to read that. DA then pissed it all the good vibes away in book 5.
I get all of the books after the first 2 kinda jumbled. I recall being pretty unimpressed with last few. Especially Eoin Colfer’s book 6.
Yes SLATFAT Fish was definitely enjoyable and Mostly Harmless felt nihilistic afterwards.
CW: Point Break
Haven’t seen this since it was first aired at the cinema.
Lori Petty is pretty hot as a surfer dudette.
I am an FBI agent!
I am the walrus.
CP: THE MESSAGE — M.I.A.
I’m tired. Can I go back to bed now?
I think I’m going to take today off
DJi’s new drone looks pretty cool:
https://youtu.be/u9sDHw6HrZ8
I’ve finally realised what Oreo cookies remind me of:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourbon_biscuit
Well taste wise anyway.
I never could get into Oreo’s. I don’t think I’d like these either. Dark chocolate just does not work for me.
We’ve tried a bunch of the Oreo varieties around he