Smoke in the Sky

I'm Just Sayin'...

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:08:48 GMT

...britgeekgrrl and I gots the best friends in the world, and I'll defend that opinion to the death.

San Diego Comic-Con Assistance

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 00:28:05 GMT

Back in February, as a kind of late Christmas present, koga and xeyda bought me a full-on "Adults 4 Day Plus Preview Night" membership to Comic-Con. I've been hanging onto it in the desperate hope that I could figure out a way to go, what with the money crunch and all. Now, just as I was beginning to look into either getting koga and xeyda a refund, or rolling the membership to next year, a fairy godmother (who shall go nameless for now) has offered a Southwest ticket for July that s/he can't use.

All I need to do now is figure out accomodations. Anyone know anyone who could use a roomie? I wouldn't be able to throw much in, but I also take up very little room and I'm good for feeding myself.

The thing is, I need to know before Friday if possible, as that's the last (official) day for me to get a refund. I'll still be able to roll the ticket to next year or to switch it to someone else's name, but if my friends want cash back, the 19th is the last day I can do it.

Help?

David Carradine Hung Himself?!?!

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 14:53:21 GMT

WTF?

Weekend Changes

Thu, 21 May 2009 03:23:37 GMT

Right. It's been decided here that if I stay in this weekend, I'll go nuts. So I'm coming to KublaCon. I plan on getting on-site in the morning in time to get a badge and get into T & Danielle's LARP at the very least. I don't know if I'll get a two-day pass so I can attend any games on Sunday...I'll have to see how the finances can stretch. And I don't know if I'll drive home Saturday night or try and beg space with someone.

But I'll be there Saturday for sure. Woo!

One Last Time About "Star Trek"

Wed, 13 May 2009 23:44:05 GMT

Found by the_ogre, this "abridged script" for the new film pretty much summarizes everything I didn't like about the movie, and it's pretty damned funny, too.

The Review I Promised

Wed, 13 May 2009 01:44:01 GMT

Right...my thoughts on "Star Trek."

And yeah, there are spoilers here.

Seriously.

I mean it...I spoil the shit out of the film.

OK, you were warned.

Short version - I didn't like it. In fact, it may be fair to say that I hated it. I was kind of in a bad head space the day I saw it, and that may have had something to do with it. I also have a lot of emotional baggage where "Star Trek" is concerned, and that may have colored my perception of it as well.

The thing is, when the credits rolled, while everyone was cheering and clapping, I was sitting there rubbing my chin and trying to nail down what I didn't like about the movie. So here's where we go into "Why Alex Didn't Like The New "Star Trek" Film - The Long Version."

But first...one thing that I *didn't* mind, and that was the alternate timeline plot hook. "Star Trek" has been using that old trope for, well, as long as I've been alive, and it was about the only way you could make the franchise work if you went back to the crew's Academy days and you didn't want to get bogged down in 40+ years of continuity. The movie took great pains to keep emphasizing "ALTERNATE REALITY" over "NEW TIMELINE." The first means that the U.S.S. Enterprise and the Federation that we all know is still out there, running concurrently with the "new" reality; whereas the second phrase would indicate that the old ST universe was gone, blasted out of existence when Nero tripped into the black hole. I think Spock Prime, at the end of the film, knows this to be true, and he's just waiting for a chance to slide back over into his reality. That's just me, though.

Oh, and Karl Urban as McCoy. I *REALLY* enjoyed every second he was on screen, and you could tell he was having a fucking blast every time he opened his mouth. I could have watched an entire movie just with him.

And yeah, the effects were good. But it was Lucasfilm, so I wasn't worried about that standard.

OK, on we go to the criticisms...

(These points are in no particular order...just as I think of them.)

1. The first two minutes brought me totally out of the film. I liked the U.S.S. Kelvin overall (the bridge seemed both low-tech and advanced enough to be a 24th century space vessel), but when the Captain went down to Engineering, I actually said "what the fuck" out loud. Boilers? Pipes?? But later it was OK, 'cause when Scotty had to jettison the warp core at the end, the Enterprise could still cruise on steam.

That was sarcasm, by the way.

And let's not get started on the water pipes and the chomper that almost ate Scotty. "Galaxy Quest" did that one much better.

2. The plot was just stupid. I don't mean usual, run-of-the-mill action movie stupid, I mean insult-your-intelligence stupid. First, the raw series of coincidences that brought everyone together was staggering. Kirk joined up the very day Uhura and McCoy shipped off to the academy, on the same shuttle, in Iowa? Come on.

Second, if Nero came through time on the day Kirk was born, but didn't attack Vulcan until Spock Prime came through twenty-three years later, what the hell was he DOING in all that time? Just cruising around, taking in the sights? If he was all gung-ho about saving Romulus, why didn't he take his super-advanced ship to the Romulan Praetor and say, "here's a whole bunch of new tech that will allow you to save everyone from this cataclysm 125 years from now, AND smash the Klingons and Federation to paste at the same time."

3. Kirk jumped from ungraduated cadet to captain, leapfrogging over an entire bridge full of officers (including Spock) who had more time-in-service than he did. What? I could see him earning a battlefield commission from Pike in order to act as first officer pro-tem, but that would only get him to Lieutenant at BEST.

4. Some of the characterizations did not ring true for me, and some were borderline insulting to the original portrayals. Particularly Scotty and Chekov, who (in my opinion) were played almost strictly for laughs, which I didn't appreciate.

5. The acting was all over the place. For every Karl Urban and Bruce Greenwood, you had Eric Bana (who was just completely unthreatening) and Anton Yelchin (who seemed to me to be reading from cue cards). Pine did OK as Kirk, but there wasn't much characterization there past "arrogant cowboy." Zachary Quinto was better as Spock, but I kept seeing the "Sylar smirk," which if you've never seen "Heroes" probably doesn't mean much to you.

6. The science. Oh man, the science. Red matter? Transwarp beaming?? Spock Prime watching Vulcan collapse from Delta Vega??? I know "Trek" science is usually wonky at best, but Jesus Christ, at least get a NASA physicist to be a consultant.

I could go on, but I really don't want to, as just those points make my stomach roll over. I'll probably try to see it again, when the crowds thin out and I can watch it in a theatre mostly uninterrupted, just to give it another chance, but if this is the standard that Abrams and Co. are setting, i do not have high hopes for any sequel or ongoing series.

That's my two cents.

Not Wat I Expected

Sun, 10 May 2009 06:44:02 GMT

I might do a longer review later and tell you why I feel as I do, but for now I'm going to go against many, MANY of what my friends think and tell you that, in my opinion, the new Star Trek film...

...Well, it sucked.

I may have had too much of an emotional investment in it going in, given my deep and abiding love of all things Trek from nearly the day I was born. Maybe I was in a bad head space from stress. I dunno. What I do know is that from about two minutes in, I realized I couldn't connect on any level with what I was watching, beyond "whoa, those are some pretty effects."

I *do* agree that Karl Urban was born to play Dr. McCoy, though.

I may have to watch it again, and see if I feel differently. But for now, Joe Bob Alex says "save your money for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

It's Not Something I Want To Do...

Fri, 08 May 2009 23:40:34 GMT

...but because finances are so lousy, I have to. I'm going to be skipping KublaCon this year. I can neither afford the admission or what it would cost to stay for even one night, let alone three. And the money I'll be making at a part-time job I've got lined up next weekend would be better spent on bills.

Being a grownup sucks.

While I'm Working On The "Five Things" Meme

Sat, 25 Apr 2009 05:14:05 GMT

...I thought I'd share a site where you can make a zombie portrait of yourself.

Don't say I never did nothin' for you.

Yeah, I Can Finally F*@%ing Feel It

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 06:59:22 GMT

How is it that I can manage to pack more crap for a local three-day convention than I ever did in the military when I had to be prepared at all times for a 30-day deployment?

I love my hobbies. ;-)

Oh yeah, and before I forget, I'll actually be staying at the con, thanks to caramida offering me floor space. So at least I don't have to haul ass back and forth from the house, and I can now indulge in the partying a bit more than I was planning.

I swear, if I don't have fun this weekend, there's no help for me anymore.

As Was Expected

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:46:41 GMT

Oh look...it must be a DunDraCon weekend...it's raining buckets.

camino_volare will be soooo happy.

Oh, California.

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:03:05 GMT

I'm so very disappointed in you right now, Obama brought me high, and you took me back down that roller coaster. What's next...banning the way other people worship? How about the diversity of what we read, or say? 'Cause once you start removing rights, it's a long slippery slope to things even worse.

I got up from bed to see what the results were. With 86% of the counties tallied, I see no hope of Prop. 8 not being carried through. Congratulations. You're well on your way to getting the government you truly deserve. Maybe I'll move back to Kansas. They may be batshit loony Red Staters, but they haven't curtailed Constitutional rights...yet.

Obama '08

Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:23:47 GMT

My God. McCain is being gracious in defeat. Too bad his crowd at the speech isn't.

A black president. Whoah. MLK is resting a bit easier.

QOTD

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:22:20 GMT

Molly Ivins, talking about her own "scorching case of cancer."

"First they mutilate you; then they poison you; then they burn you. I've been on blind dates better than that."

Heard on the Radio Today

Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:09:05 GMT

"I don't intend to go out and vote, because I know God will let "Yes on 8" win."

That's right. He will. So you and all your mouth-breathing brethren and sistren (is that a word?) should just stay at home today. Let God do all the heavy lifting for you. The rest of us heathens will be lining up over here at our polling stations, in case you need anything.

If I've said it once, I've said it at least three times. Go and vote, motherfu@kers, if you haven't already. But please, make it an informed decision. If you're going to go and just pencil-whip the ballot, go sit with the brethren and sistren, OK? We don't need your help. that badly.

Health News

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 22:14:10 GMT

I got the results of my CAT-scan back today.

All existing lymph nodes are shrinking or are gone, there are no new tumors, and the area of concern in my liver is also responding well and shrinking rapidly. Combined with the blood test results I've been getting (CEA's are down to 3.3 and falling), I could be technically cancer-free by December.

On the flip side, I've discovered other things that my idiot former oncologist didn't tell me about, but they aren't anything to get excited about at all. Just general health things that he once again glossed over. I think I'll run him over with the car if I see him again. Just because.

Election Night

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:31:49 GMT

I know it's a weeknight, and I know returns will be coming in until really late, but would anyone like to get together on Election Night? I have a feeling that if things go well, I'd like to celebrate with friends, and if things go badly, I'll need consoling. Also, if this did happen, anyone got an idea where we could get together that's a) local, and b) cheap?

Birthday Wishes for manictao and doctor_toc

Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:44:20 GMT

Here's hoping that y'both have good ones, and that you get to kill all the stupid people you like for the next 24 hours (that last one was from Zod, who would do it for you himself, but figures you should have some fun on your birthdays).

Fnergh

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:04:12 GMT

Not much of an update today. Brain feels homogenized. So a meme instead.

Yoinked from moviegrrl - Post a picture in the comments of what you think describes me when you think about what/who I am. Give no written explanation though. Just an image.

NOTE: No Zod pictures. I got that one covered enough, thanks ;-)

(Optional) Copy and paste into your own journal and see what others think about you in pictures.

It's Like I've Always Said...

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 08:28:11 GMT

...don't vote, motherf*ckers. No, really. I've ALWAYS said that. Check the tag to see if I'm lyin'.

Although I have no idea why I'm telling YOU guys this. But maybe you can pass it on to someone who needs to hear it.

Picture Meme

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:38:09 GMT

"Take a picture blah blah blah..."

Methinks it's time to lose a little weight again, but THIS time I'll do it with exercise and dieting, instead of non-elective surgeries.

All Bow Down...

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 00:36:02 GMT

...to Joshua A. Norton, who on this day in 1859 proclaimed himself "Emperor of These United States."

So go out there and celebrate as the Emperor would want you to...by being kind to one another, and doing whatever you can for the equality of all, one of the Emperor's most dearly held and cherished beliefs.

But If I Win, How Do I Collect?

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:16:26 GMT

Chemo. Fatigue. Broke. Blah, blah, blah. Although I had a fairly nice weekend away from the house, which I think I need more often.

I just wanted to pop up, say hi, and send this on to my brainiac friends out there...

The Large Hadron Collider Drinking Game.

The rules are simple. Take a drink of your favorite beverage whenever one of the following occurs:

A proton crosses the border between Switzerland and France.
A magnet quench in a superconducting magnet causes all the liquid helium to boil away.
A Higgs boson is detected (2 drinks).
Scientists learn the secrets of the universe and go insane (2 drinks).
A miniature black hole forms (2 drinks if it absorbs Switzerland).
Strange matter is created (weird, unusual or eccentric matter doesn't count).
A petabyte of data is generated.
Someone sings the chorus of the LHC Rap.
The Super Proton Synchrotron reaches 300 gigavolts (2 drinks if it hits 400 GeV).
The Compact Muon Solenoid finds something that completely alters our understanding of the fundamental forces of the universe.
Flight 19 suddenly appears over Geneva.
Particle superpartners are found to have natural supersymmetry.
An intern confuses muons with gluons.
The experiment goes awry and someone ends up with superpowers.
Aliens show up and make us turn off the LHC before we implode reality.
Scientists go back in time (2 drinks if they create a paradox).
Someone says "Big Bang."
Particles crash into each other (2 drinks if there are Batman-tyle visual sound effects, like "Pow!" and "Zap!" when it happens; feel free to construct your own).
Someone says, "What's a hadron?"
Scientists access another dimension (2 drinks if that dimension is occupied entirely by Donna Summer impersonators; 3 drinks if denizens of said dimension eat the scientists; note that these two conditions are not mutually exclusive).
Someone on TV questions the amount of money spent to build the LHC.
Someone on TV worries that the LHC will destroy the world.
The world ends (drink whatever you have left).
Scientists prove string theory (3 drinks because we'll all pretty much have to take their word for it).
Someone uses the term "beam pipe" in a pickup line.

At The End Of The Day

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:17:01 GMT

There's a longer post-ConQuest entry coming, probably tomorrow. Today was infusion day for me, so I'm barely alive right now. However, there's something I think the "Llogyr" players would appreciate:

Logan's picture stream of the costumed folk from the "Llogyr" Game.

britgeekgrrl told me something about the picture below that I'm glad she didn't share at the time of the game...

Anyone ever watch HBO's "Rome?"

THIRTEEN!!

Question for the ConQuest Folk...

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 18:49:13 GMT

OK, so most of the game stuff is done (I've got to go through one more edit of the characters for britgeekgrrl, as she's brain fried when she gets home from work and quite honestly did enough in just writing all of them in the first place), and I've got a couple of pages of handouts to write for one character (he's got a diary that's important to the plot, you see).

No big deal. I can actually knock that stuff out in a couple of hours. If everything goes totally to hell, I can finish up the edits Friday morning before heading to the hotel, and print everything on site (I LOVE having a laptop and a portable printer).

And packing? Again, no big deal, as with the exception of ratontheroad's LARP (for that one I'm being furnished with most of my costume items, courtesy of rani23), this is actually a costume-light con for me, so packing is going to be a breeze.

So what's my problem? Well, I have no idea where Johanna and I will be sleeping Friday, Saturday, or Sunday nights. We can't afford a room, you see, so many people have offered to help us out. deirdremoon and tronpublic have very generously offered to let us use their spare room, as they live only a couple of miles from the hotel, but we'd like to stay AT the con if entirely possible.

If you're one of the people that offered us space, could you remind me here, so I can work out a schedule?

(Oh yeah, and in case it slipped your mind, it's juuuuust about T-26 hours to con. Ju know who I'm talking to, oh jess ju do...)