I soooo want one!

He he he . . . trunk monkey

Fox nitwits

I caught the premier of Wonderfalls on Fox last night. Not a bad show. Rather surreal at times, absolutely hilarious at others. The show definitely has promise. Which means that Fox will probably cancel it. Friday nights seem to be a weak point for Fox . . . they've put on some really good shows in the past on Fridays that just couldn't find a following. Of course, I don't think it's really the competition or lack of general TV viewership--it's Fox's marketting, tinkering and impatience. For a perfect example of this, I draw your attention to the short-lived Firefly. It was, without doubt, the best sci-fi TV show ever. Yes, ever. You can add up all the enjoyment of all the Star Trek series', Farscape, Stargate SG-1, Andromeda (I like all of those, btw), and whatever else you want to throw in there and it still would not equal the pure, absolute entertainment of Firefly's 13 episodes. I'll even go so far as to say it was one of the best TV shows ever, sci-fi or otherwise, period. Engaging & intriguing characters; hilarity, sorrow, drama and romance; incredible individual episodes with an ongoing storyline; just plain and simple an incredible job. But, the nitwits and Fox decided to give it some absolutely horrific advertising ("Tonight on Fox, see the story of an intergalactic hooker on Firefly!"). Then, they insisted on showing the episodes out of order (note that "ongoing storyline" I mentioned a moment ago). So, of course it never developed a large viewership . . . most folks were probably put off by the ads (let's face it, who wants to watch a show about an "intergalactic hooker" on a network known for trash like My Big, Fat, Obnoxious Fiance?), and those that did tune in ended up getting a bit confused because of the disjointed, out of order episodes. Fortunately, the series is available on DVD, and I encourage anyone who likes sci-fi or westerns or just good programming in general to watch it. Note I didn't say "buy it". Find a friend who has one and get him/her to copy it for you. I normally don't advocate doing that kind of thing, but the twits and Fox do not deserve to make any money off this situation . . . they screwed it up, they should suffer. Heck, if I had a DVD writer, I'd pump out copies as fast as people could request 'em. Seriously. Anywho, I'm also hearing talk of a feature movie coming out . . . that'll be cool.

But, back to my main point. Wonderfalls looks like it'll be an entertaining series. Unfortunately, I really am concerned that Fox is going to screw it up, too. The ads have made it seem basically like a Joan of Arcadia ripoff (another show I quite like, btw), but that really isn't the case. It's much grittier, a lot more twisted and just plain and simple goofy fun. So, Fox is once again advertising a show to the wrong audience, which means they probably won't find the viewership they want. And the Friday timeslot will probably help to kill this wonderfully entertaining show.

Hey, you bastards at Fox--yeah, I'm talking to you. I'm still POed at you for screwing the hell out of Firefly. Between that and your piss-poor NASCAR coverage, I'm on the verge of never watching anything on your network again. Don't pull the same crap with Wonderfalls.

Teeny votes

What's this about Senator Vasconcellos proposing that 14 year olds should be able to vote? What kind of rediculousness is that? It's not that I think all 14 or 16 year olds aren't capable of making informed decisions--let's face it, they aren't any worse than most the "adults" in this country. But think of all the very real repercussions this would entail.

If a 14 or 16 year old is considered old enough, mature enough and responsible enough to make informed decisions and vote to influence the way in which their community, state or even country is run, then they must also be considered old enough, mature enough and responsible enough to . . .

. . . be tried as an adult.
. . . enlist or be drafted into the military.
. . . decide whether or not to stay in school.
. . . leave home and live on their own.
. . . enter into legally binding contracts.
. . . get married without parental consent.

I guess, maybe, since Senator Vasconcellos is proposing that 16 year olds get only a half vote, and 14 year olds a quarter vote, all of the above would be "prorated" as well. Kids would be tried as adults, but would only be imprisoned for half or one quarter the time. They'd only serve in Iraq for a few months, rather than a year or more. They could opt out of 1/2 or 1/4 of their high school classes. And they'd only be married on weekends, but free to do whatever during the week.

Sorry Senator, but your idea is rather hair-brained. I understand the desire (and need) to get people involved young, and I'm sure the realization that high schoolers will most likely vote more "liberal" isn't playing a part of your plan. But the simple fact is that this is not the way to get kids involved, and it'll do more harm in the long-run than good by forcing those same kids to take on "adult responsibilities" they're probably not ready for.

Rock the vote

Well, it's pretty clear that the two major players in the upcomming election are going to be Bush and Kerry. Yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Who's this guy think he is? Kucinich and Sharpton are still in the race, and the primaries are nowhere near over." But, I'm still gonna go out on a limb and stand by my prediction. Just a gut feeling. Other than Nader, I'm not sure who all else will have their hats in the ring. And that presents a problem. You see, there's no way I want Bush in there for another four years . . . he's already screwed things up enough and another term under his "leadership" will likely just lead to more imperialism or drive us into a full-on depression. But I really don't see Kerry as being any better. Now, I take my voting responsibilities very seriously . . . I believe it is not simply our right, as citizens, to vote but our duty. And if you don't vote, you forfeit any right to complain, IMO. Unfortunately, every four years our choices get worse.

Before the 2000 election, I vowed that I would no longer limit myself to the "lesser of two evils" approach. Up until then, I felt that I had never actually voted for a candidate, but rather against his opponent, and I was tired of that. So I resolved not to do that ever again . . . that even if it meant writing in a name, I would only vote for someone that I truly believed was qualified and deserving of holding the highest office in this land. Sadly, of the 10 (yes, ten!) candidates on the ballot, not a single one inspired me. And this year doesn't look any better.

Anyway, I want to encourage everyone to vote their conscience. Not just in the Presidential election, but always. As long as we let ourselves be duped into believing that we must limit our choices to the two major Parties we'll just be subjecting ourselves to more politics and usual . . . no progress, no change, no improvement. Don't fall for the "if you vote independant, you're throwing your vote away". If everyone voted their conscience, and voted for who they truly believed was the best candidate, instead of just the least bad, we'd see some real change in this country, and most likely for the better. At the very least, if enough folks vote "third party" it'll make the Democrats and Republicans stand up and take notice that we're tired of the status quo.

So, find a candidate you actually support. If that candidate happens to be a Democrat or Republican, fine . . . just make sure you're following your heart and not the rhetoric. Just don't vote for Nader. He's a putz.

Not very smart

Have you ever done something like, say, hit your thumb with a hammer? Sure you have. Ever have someone then make the comment "Gee, I'll bet that smarted!"? I'm betting you have. If you're like me (God help you) you must have wondered how in the world that saying came into being. I mean, whatever you did that resulted in pain obviously wasn't smart, right? So why is it that when you do something like hit your thumb with a hammer, or try to pick up a hot muffler with your bare hands, or check a knife's sharpness by running your thumb over it, we use an expression with the word "smart" in it?

I didn't want to know

For lack of anything better to do, I caught an airing of "I Know What You Did Last Summer" on TV this morning. How this movie was ever considered good, or at least good enough to spawn a sequel, I will never know. I guess there were enough teenie-boppers flocking to the box office in order to slobber over Sarah Michelle Gellar and Jennifer Love Hewitt in tank tops to impress the movie makers. I guess I've just never really been one for the mindless hacker flicks . . . I want my movies to make at least some sense. What ever happened to the real horror films that scared the bejeezes out of people? The ones that were frightening not because they spent a million dollars on fake blood and gore, but because of the psychological impact they had. Movies like "The Shining", "Amittyville Horror" or "Poltergeist". Sure, the blatant in-your-face and shock-value gore has its place, but it seems that this is the only kind of "horror" we see in films nowadays. And I don't know about y'all, but the whole "young, nubile, naive college students who lack common sense getting hacked on one-by-one by a mysterious unstoppable killer who will again haunt them (or their virtual clones) in a sequel" plot hasn't been even remotely entertaining to me since, oh, the original "Friday the 13th".

100 Things About Me

Since this seems to be a common blogger thing to do . . .

1. I'm perpetually single.
2. Though not by choice.
3. I own a hyperactive Golden Retriever.
4. I've had at least 1 dog in the house since I was 2.
5. I attended my first auto race in July 1970.
6. Yes, that was 4 months before my birthdate.
7. I'm a second-hand vegetarian.
8. That means I eat things that were vegetarian.
9. There are currently 172174 movies (DVD & VHS) in my collection.
10. I have all but given up on dating girls named Lori.
11. I'm a computer geek.
12. But not good enough to be a hacker.
13. I can do division of polynomials in my head.
14. Wolves are the coolest animals ever.
15. Except for Golden Retrievers.
16. No. 15 was added by my dog.
17. My 33x great-grandfather was Robert Brus, King of Scotland.
18. My 34x great-grandfather was Edward the Longshanks, King of England--Robert's nemesis.
19. Obviously that's following different family lines.
20. I'm also my own 17th cousin.
21. I am most proud of my Irish & Scottish heritage.
22. But will likely never be caught in a kilt.
23. My legs are too blindingly white.
24. I collected comic books as a kid.
25. And played D&D.
26. Okay, I still play D&D.
27. I'm a recovering Catholic.
28. Fishing & auto racing are too sports!
29. I like all kinds of seafood.
30. As long as it's cooked--no sushi for me.
31. It's been too long since I last vaccuumed.
32. I love kung fu movies.
33. But absolutely hated Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
34. I also love war movies.
35. But equally loathed The Thin Red Line.
36. I am amazed every day that both those movies got such high acclaim.
37. My CD collection contains at least one sample of every kind of music.
38. Except rap.
39. But yes, even reggae.
40. Okay, it's not really reggae--it's punk-reggae.
41. I don't excercise enough.
42. And adore sweets.
43. I believe Sean Connery is the only real James Bond.
44. I'm not a Republican.
45. I'm not a Democrat.
46. But I always vote.
47. I do not spoil my dog.
48. At least, not enough.
49. I have more computers than fishing poles.
50. But all my fishing poles work.
51. I'm eating fish sticks as I type this.
52. I have never, ever had a mullet.
53. Nor will I ever.
54. I like Pepsi better than Coke.
55. But don't like Pepsi's advertising.
56. I played 4 years of soccer growing up.
57. And 3 years of Little League.
58. And 2 years of football.
59. And even a year of basketball.
60. Which is probably why I don't like stick & ball sports.
61. I refuse to buy an automatic transmission car.
62. I dated Robin Williams in high school.
63. She was a 5'0" tall, blonde-haired, black-belted cutie.
64. I prefer using booze for cooking or baking than for drinking.
65. I've never experienced a hangover.
66. Because I've never been drunk enough to.
67. Guinness from the tap is the drink of the gods, though.
68. But don't ever try it from a bottle or can--gack!
69. People who type using no capitals or punctuation annoy me.
70. But not as much as idiot drivers.
71. I've lived within 30 miles of Pebble Beach for the last 20 years.
72. I've never been golfing.
73. I'm mildly arachnophobic.
74. And was even once attacked by a wild tarantula while fishing.
75. Okay, hissed at.
76. But it was still very frightening.
77. Every finger on both hands has been burned to blister at least twice.
78. Not intentionally.
79. But every time was avoidable.
80. And laughable.
81. I used to be a Civil War re-enactor.
82. I died in my first battle and saw no need to expierence that again.
83. All my bookshelves are full.
84. And there are books on my desk.
85. And on the floor.
86. And in the attic.
87. And in my parents' attic.
88. I enjoy cooking.
89. Especially stir fry.
90. And baking cakes.
91. But not decorating them.
92. I live in an area completely devoid of decent radio stations.
93. I hate going to hospitals.
94. Paper plates & plastic utensils are the greatest invention since the wheel.
95. My least favorite subject in high school was English.
96. My most favorite subject in college was English.
97. I have 5 active e-mail addresses.
98. Not including ones for work.
99. I will visit Ireland someday.
100. I hate wearing ties.

And we're off!

Okay, first "legit" post. I'd like to draw your attention to the Links section on the right of the page. I know there's not much there, but that just means you won't be very confused--or, if you are, it really doesn't matter since you probably haven't been able to read this far yet. A little something about each of them, starting from the bottom (just to be different).

Fishing is one of my favorite pasttimes. I just don't get to do it enough. Mostly, I fish for trout, with the occassional bass or catfish attempt thrown in. At least once a year, I head out into the wonderfull Monterey Bay or open ocean (on a party boat--I ain't rich enough to own my own) and target salmon or rockfish. Anywho, Anglernet.net is a fabulous site, "by the fisherman, for the fisherman". The forum is frequented by a large group (and growing) of California fishermen. Great group of folks. If you like fishing, and especially if you're here in the great state of California (or the state of confusion) stop on by and say hi.

One of my other pasttimes is watching auto racing. Specifically, NASCAR. Yeah, yeah, I know what you're thinking . . . fishing, NASCAR & use of the word "ain't". Oh my God! I've wandered into a redneck 'blog! Don't worry. I do have all my teeth, obviously know how to use a computer, don't chew or smoke tobacco and no dog that I have ever owned has ever been killed or injured in any porch-collapse related events. So, if you're a race fan, cool. If not, get a life (look who's talking). And before you start bitching and moaning about how much NASCAR sucks, just relax--I'll get to that in the near future.

Next up is the official website of the incredibly adorable Georgy Russell. As you are probably well aware (unless you've recently suffered a blunt head trauma) we here in Cali had an historic recall of our Governor. During that election, some 135 residents felt themselves qualified to take (then) Gov Gray Davis' place. In my opinion, only one truly was. Yes, I'll admit that her perky smile, natural beauty and thong selling are what first brought my attention to her campaign. But truly, it was her honesty, intelligence and genuine caring for California that brought me to vote for her. It was the only time that I can remember where I actually felt good about voting for a particular candidate. Bummer that we're stuck with the Gröpenfuhrer. A month or so after the recall, I had the opportunity to meet Georgy, and it re-enforced my opinion that she is the kind of person we definitely need in political service. Very sweet, intelligent & kind. Georgy, if you've somehow found yourself reading this (why? you've got much better things to spend your time on), I sincerely hope that you continue your pursuit of public service, and pledge to support you in any way I can.

Finally, the Google News thing was just a default link that Blogspot put there. I see no actual compelling reason to remove it, so it shall remain, at least for now. It's probably good anyway, as it offers the ever so remote chance that it will inspire someone to view a news link to become informed rather than waste their time surfing the web for imbicilic 'blogs, porn or Limbaugh jokes.

Obviously I'm reserving the right to add/delete links as I see fit. If you don't like it, tough--get your own blog.

Welcome

Greetings and salutations! I have absolutely no idea if anyone will ever actually read any of this. But, in case there is some wildly lonely, pathetic fool who had the misfortune of accidentally happening upon this poor excuse for a 'blog, thanks for stopping by! My ramblings here will most likely have little to do with reality, or offer any insights into our existence, but instead serve merely as an outlet for the periodic runaway freight trains that rumble through what passes for my mind. There will, in all likelihood, be more than one complaint, periodic (read: frequent) bitching about my work, home or life in general. This should not, in any way, be construed to mean that I am a bitter or pathetic individual--there are plenty of other reasons to draw that conclusion. Other times, I may post random snippets of short stories or other musings. Hopefully, you'll find things entertaining and/or realize that your life isn't all that bad. Have a nice day.