woot. photo of Lady Deathstrike.
this is the second time I posted this. the first one got lost. if anyone sees it wandering around, please tell it to come home immediately.
and yummy Wolverine.
Friday, October 18, 2002
Thursday, October 17, 2002
"People like you a lot - but they wouldn't want to see you working with sub-atomic particles."
I'm a FIREFLY SAD GEEZER (test here)
I am also a MANIC ACADEMIC Buffy FANATIC. (test here)
[via whedonesque]
I'm a FIREFLY SAD GEEZER (test here)
I am also a MANIC ACADEMIC Buffy FANATIC. (test here)
[via whedonesque]
Blood, Text and Fears, the international academic conference devoted to Buffy. I hope some of these theses and transcripts of lectures are posted online or published.
the director of The Ring talks about the film with Scifi Wire.
"Gore Verbinski, who directed the upcoming supernatural horror film The Ring, told SCI FI Wire that he made changes to the hit 1998 Japanese film on which it is based in order to make the English-language version more accessible to American audiences."
Translation: Had to dumb it down and make it simpler for the simple American masses, who thought Beavis and Butthead were clever.
"Gore Verbinski, who directed the upcoming supernatural horror film The Ring, told SCI FI Wire that he made changes to the hit 1998 Japanese film on which it is based in order to make the English-language version more accessible to American audiences."
Translation: Had to dumb it down and make it simpler for the simple American masses, who thought Beavis and Butthead were clever.
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
I hate when someone in my department has a birthday. The Boss gathers us together and says, "Come on, we have to sing." Today's birthday girl even said that she doesn't want anyone singing to her, but even that doesn't deter The Boss. "I'll start. Happy Birthday to you…" I slither quietly into a corner where he can't see if I'm singing or not. I notice most of my co-workers trying to do the same. It ends up with him singing, a few of co-workers mumbling along with him, and one I'm sure was just saying "Wuuuuuuuuh."
davisdvd has some details on the two-disc re-release of X-Men. something about anamorphic and 5.1 and some other stuff I don't understand, but the part that made me wet my knickers is that "Actors Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellan and Hugh Jackman all join [Director Bryan] Singer on the commentary track." Patrick Stewart. Sir Ian. Together. Based on interviews I've seen with those two and various former cast-mates, that commentary will probably make me wet my knickers all over again.
also, from the same website, Buffy season 3 dvds are set for release on January 7 next year. I may have known that already, but if I did, I forgot, so it was a good thing to see (again?).
also, from the same website, Buffy season 3 dvds are set for release on January 7 next year. I may have known that already, but if I did, I forgot, so it was a good thing to see (again?).
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
How much time must pass since my last cigarette before I'm considered an ex-smoker?
A little over a month ago, rather than trying yet again either to go cold turkey or gradually step down the number of cigarettes I had each day, I joined a smoking cessation program offered through Indian Health Services. It sounds all programish, but really, it was just two meetings of a Marine medical guy (he never said he was a doctor) lecturing. The first was an "educational" Dangers of Smoking thing, physiological reactions to smoking, and also discussed Brain Things (the role of neurochemicals in addiction). The second was to discuss the aids we were being given to help us stop smoking, and was much more educational than the first.We were given patches (that I never used) and Zyban.
On the fourth day of the Zyban, I suddenly dropped from a pack a day to one cigarette a day. At that rate, it took me a week to finish off the pack, and I haven't had a cigarette since. It took a few more days before I stopped having periodic cravings, which were easy to ignore if I did something, anything else. After that, I needed another week to break myself of old habits (like reaching for a cigarette while "medding" during Everquest, after reading a particularly thought-provoking article online, in restaraunts while waiting for the food to arrive). Since then, I've no desire to smoke and no cravings of any kind, even when I'm around other people who are smoking. It seems that the program was successful for me. Yippee.
(The Zyban has had other effects, all positive, though I'm still mulling over what they mean exactly in light of the Brain Things discussed in the second meeting. I'm thinking I should speak with a physician to find out if I may be… a little off, but until then, I'm going to enjoy being my old, fidgitey self again)
Anyway, I'm not saying things like "It's been one week, 4 days since I last had a cigarette." I've lost track of how many days it's been. I don't think about how much money I'm saving, how my clothes don't reek of smoke, or that, Hey! I'm not coughing up icky, phlegmy stuff anymore! I no longer think about Not Smoking, and that's what makes me an ex-smoker.
So I'm going to go celebrate with lots of booze and cocaine.
A little over a month ago, rather than trying yet again either to go cold turkey or gradually step down the number of cigarettes I had each day, I joined a smoking cessation program offered through Indian Health Services. It sounds all programish, but really, it was just two meetings of a Marine medical guy (he never said he was a doctor) lecturing. The first was an "educational" Dangers of Smoking thing, physiological reactions to smoking, and also discussed Brain Things (the role of neurochemicals in addiction). The second was to discuss the aids we were being given to help us stop smoking, and was much more educational than the first.We were given patches (that I never used) and Zyban.
On the fourth day of the Zyban, I suddenly dropped from a pack a day to one cigarette a day. At that rate, it took me a week to finish off the pack, and I haven't had a cigarette since. It took a few more days before I stopped having periodic cravings, which were easy to ignore if I did something, anything else. After that, I needed another week to break myself of old habits (like reaching for a cigarette while "medding" during Everquest, after reading a particularly thought-provoking article online, in restaraunts while waiting for the food to arrive). Since then, I've no desire to smoke and no cravings of any kind, even when I'm around other people who are smoking. It seems that the program was successful for me. Yippee.
(The Zyban has had other effects, all positive, though I'm still mulling over what they mean exactly in light of the Brain Things discussed in the second meeting. I'm thinking I should speak with a physician to find out if I may be… a little off, but until then, I'm going to enjoy being my old, fidgitey self again)
Anyway, I'm not saying things like "It's been one week, 4 days since I last had a cigarette." I've lost track of how many days it's been. I don't think about how much money I'm saving, how my clothes don't reek of smoke, or that, Hey! I'm not coughing up icky, phlegmy stuff anymore! I no longer think about Not Smoking, and that's what makes me an ex-smoker.
So I'm going to go celebrate with lots of booze and cocaine.
"Any time anybody is randomly shooting, randomly killing, randomly taking life, it's cold-blooded murder."
our President is a friggin' genius. the article also has a "Quickvote" with which i'm quite put off: "Is the D.C.-area shooter acting alone or with accomplices?" should a news organization be encouraging speculation?
our President is a friggin' genius. the article also has a "Quickvote" with which i'm quite put off: "Is the D.C.-area shooter acting alone or with accomplices?" should a news organization be encouraging speculation?
Last night, I dreamed I was stuck on an island of mad monkeys who had organized themselves and slaughtered a village of hobbits. I was trying to escape from the island, but it was surrounded by some sort of plexiglass-like barrier. The only exit in the barrier was a large wooden dock that was heavily guarded by armed monkeys. They weren't armed with firearms. They used rotting fruit as their weapons. I awoke before I escaped (if I escaped). It wasn't a frightening dream, but those were some mean little monkeys.
Monday, October 14, 2002
Past Week's Movie Recap:
The Rules of Attraction [Cinema] — Wow! Who knew Dawson could look so hot? It was worth the matinee ticket price (yeah, I'm a cheap bastard). I'd see it again. Claire Kramer was in it, but I can't remember if she had any lines.
The Swan Princess — OK, let me get this straight. The Princess is kidnapped by a "large animal," her father and his captain fail to mention that the "large animal" was a man who did some flashy pyrotechnics to become a "large animal" (thus making him a sorcerer, or some such, but no one has a word for it, I guess), and the Prince decides to save her, but (as one of the songs states) practices using his bow for days before setting off to rescue her? Oh, and the frog is French? I see.
The Count of Monte Cristo [DVD] — not bad. I've never read book, so I can't compare the two, but I enjoyed the movie. Prison beatings are always fun. I was a little disappointed that there weren't more swords, but the sword fight at the end was good. That, the fun and frisky revenge angle, and Guy Pierce make up for the lack of swords.
Scotland, PA. [DVD] — I liked this film, a lot. It was quirky, and I spent much of the film either pointing at the sceen and saying "Ooh! I remember that!" or with a happy little grin "Ah! Clever little adaptation there" (I got all happy because it's been a long while since I last read MacBeth. I blocked most of high school out of my memory, so remembering happy things from that period makes me happy). As an aside, does any one else think that one day we'll read about Maura Tierney losing it and going all Michael Douglas-in-Falling Down? Look at her closely in Newsradio, E.R. and now Scotland, PA. It's like there's something there behind her eyes, something almost at the point of "I've had enough, and I'm taking as many people with me as I possibly can!" She's probably start with her old castmates. Joe Rogan, watch out!
The Rules of Attraction [Cinema] — Wow! Who knew Dawson could look so hot? It was worth the matinee ticket price (yeah, I'm a cheap bastard). I'd see it again. Claire Kramer was in it, but I can't remember if she had any lines.
The Swan Princess — OK, let me get this straight. The Princess is kidnapped by a "large animal," her father and his captain fail to mention that the "large animal" was a man who did some flashy pyrotechnics to become a "large animal" (thus making him a sorcerer, or some such, but no one has a word for it, I guess), and the Prince decides to save her, but (as one of the songs states) practices using his bow for days before setting off to rescue her? Oh, and the frog is French? I see.
The Count of Monte Cristo [DVD] — not bad. I've never read book, so I can't compare the two, but I enjoyed the movie. Prison beatings are always fun. I was a little disappointed that there weren't more swords, but the sword fight at the end was good. That, the fun and frisky revenge angle, and Guy Pierce make up for the lack of swords.
Scotland, PA. [DVD] — I liked this film, a lot. It was quirky, and I spent much of the film either pointing at the sceen and saying "Ooh! I remember that!" or with a happy little grin "Ah! Clever little adaptation there" (I got all happy because it's been a long while since I last read MacBeth. I blocked most of high school out of my memory, so remembering happy things from that period makes me happy). As an aside, does any one else think that one day we'll read about Maura Tierney losing it and going all Michael Douglas-in-Falling Down? Look at her closely in Newsradio, E.R. and now Scotland, PA. It's like there's something there behind her eyes, something almost at the point of "I've had enough, and I'm taking as many people with me as I possibly can!" She's probably start with her old castmates. Joe Rogan, watch out!
Things You Should Never Say to Your Boss:
Boss: I don't understand this part in this email you sent me. What do you mean?
Me: Um, I guess I could have worded it differently… I meant [Blah blah blah blah].
Boss: Hold on. I'm still not following.
Me: Well, how about this: [Blah blah blah].
Boss: Furrowed brow, quiet look of 'Uh...." on his face
Me: OK, I'll try this again a little differently, but I don't think I can dumb it down any more than that.
Discovered a new game this weekend: Earth & Beyond. It was actually one that Jason (that'd be the Boyfriend) picked as an alternative to Everquest (which he doesn't play anymore).
It's an interesting little game, an online RPG galaxy in which your character belongs to one of six professions and flies around the galaxy doing whatever your job is. I chose play a Tradesman, so I get to fly trade missions and make things. I've already made a nice little sum of money (I think it's nice, judging by what I've seen some items auctioned for. I'm not completely certain about how developed the economy is on my chosen server though). Mostly, I just like flying the little ship around.
Speaking of, you get to "customize" your ship, though most of the customization is in choosing the colors of different parts of your ship. The choices for the actual form of your ship are limited (three sections of ship with three choices each for the Tradesman). The same applies to customizing your character, though there are more parts to customize on your character and more options for each part.
I like that I have options for how my character and ship look, but the customization is completely cosmetic. My ship's stats start out exactly the same as every other Tradesman's, though I am able to improve different components of my ship through gameplay. Overall, I thought the character creation was a little tedious, devoting way too much time to something that doesn't affect gameplay at all. I could have just hit the Random button and let the computer take care of all that, but this was my avatar! I couldn't allow my representative to be thrown together all willy nilly.
The user interface isn't complex, which is nice. I'm not sure if I found it so easy to use because of my experience with online RPG interfaces, or if the UI is intuitive. It's mouse-based, though you can set up the keyboard to take care of most actions. There is a tutorial available with each new character that will take you through the basics, and the first time you do something or are in a situation not covered in the tutorial (like targeting another player or docking in a spacestation), you get text and sound to teach you.
Combat at low levels gets repetitive. 1) Target MOB 2) Push the "Fire" button. 3) Repeat step 2 until MOB is destroyed. If it's that simple, I'd prefer to be able to automate the firing to free me up for to prepare and use one of the special abilities of my ship. Simple combat bores me. I'm hoping that it's a bit more complex at higher levels, requiring a little strategy.
All in all, it seems to be a good game. I played up to level 13 in a few hours, completely explored four sectors, made lots of money, and got my butt kicked a couple of times by some hostile space creatures. It no replacement for Everquest (who could give up a lizardman who animates the dead and siphons the life from others?), but it should be a nice alternative when I feel like a change of setting.
It's an interesting little game, an online RPG galaxy in which your character belongs to one of six professions and flies around the galaxy doing whatever your job is. I chose play a Tradesman, so I get to fly trade missions and make things. I've already made a nice little sum of money (I think it's nice, judging by what I've seen some items auctioned for. I'm not completely certain about how developed the economy is on my chosen server though). Mostly, I just like flying the little ship around.
Speaking of, you get to "customize" your ship, though most of the customization is in choosing the colors of different parts of your ship. The choices for the actual form of your ship are limited (three sections of ship with three choices each for the Tradesman). The same applies to customizing your character, though there are more parts to customize on your character and more options for each part.
I like that I have options for how my character and ship look, but the customization is completely cosmetic. My ship's stats start out exactly the same as every other Tradesman's, though I am able to improve different components of my ship through gameplay. Overall, I thought the character creation was a little tedious, devoting way too much time to something that doesn't affect gameplay at all. I could have just hit the Random button and let the computer take care of all that, but this was my avatar! I couldn't allow my representative to be thrown together all willy nilly.
The user interface isn't complex, which is nice. I'm not sure if I found it so easy to use because of my experience with online RPG interfaces, or if the UI is intuitive. It's mouse-based, though you can set up the keyboard to take care of most actions. There is a tutorial available with each new character that will take you through the basics, and the first time you do something or are in a situation not covered in the tutorial (like targeting another player or docking in a spacestation), you get text and sound to teach you.
Combat at low levels gets repetitive. 1) Target MOB 2) Push the "Fire" button. 3) Repeat step 2 until MOB is destroyed. If it's that simple, I'd prefer to be able to automate the firing to free me up for to prepare and use one of the special abilities of my ship. Simple combat bores me. I'm hoping that it's a bit more complex at higher levels, requiring a little strategy.
All in all, it seems to be a good game. I played up to level 13 in a few hours, completely explored four sectors, made lots of money, and got my butt kicked a couple of times by some hostile space creatures. It no replacement for Everquest (who could give up a lizardman who animates the dead and siphons the life from others?), but it should be a nice alternative when I feel like a change of setting.