Random Quote:
Saturday, November 07, 2009
Health reform will pass the House, but will exclude coverage for icky girly parts.
I mean, try to wrap your heads around this: the public plan will not cover abortion, following the general federal (sexist, unconstitutional) rule of not using federal money to help poor women get abortions. But that's not enough for these freaks. They don't want any plan in the exchanges to cover abortion, ostensibly because some people in the exchange will be using federal subsidies to purchase insurance, and some of those people would choose plans with abortion coverage (you know, along with coverage for hundreds of other legal medical procedures).
So all private insurers who participate in the exchanges will have to offer abortion-free plans to get into the exchanges.
Most if not all Republicans, along with the conservative Democrats, will likely vote for this amendment, which will then pass. These are the same people who decry government takeover of the private health insurance industry.
It baffles the mind.
I mean, try to wrap your heads around this: the public plan will not cover abortion, following the general federal (sexist, unconstitutional) rule of not using federal money to help poor women get abortions. But that's not enough for these freaks. They don't want any plan in the exchanges to cover abortion, ostensibly because some people in the exchange will be using federal subsidies to purchase insurance, and some of those people would choose plans with abortion coverage (you know, along with coverage for hundreds of other legal medical procedures).
So all private insurers who participate in the exchanges will have to offer abortion-free plans to get into the exchanges.
Most if not all Republicans, along with the conservative Democrats, will likely vote for this amendment, which will then pass. These are the same people who decry government takeover of the private health insurance industry.
It baffles the mind.
Friday, November 06, 2009
Previous post. And now the update:
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (inactive)
1993 Babylon 5 (inactive)
1994 My So-Called Life (inactive)
1998 Cupid (inactive)
1998 Felicity (inactive)
1998 Sports Night (inactive)
1999 Farscape (inactive)
1999 Spaced (inactive)
2000 Coupling (inactive)
2000 Gilmore Girls (inactive)
2002 Andy Richter Controls The Universe (inactive)
2003 Dead Like Me (inactive)
2003 Reno 911 (active)
2004 Deadwood (inactive)
2004 The 4400 (inactive)
2004 Rescue Me (active)(Tuesday)
2005 Dr Who (active)
2005 Extras (inactive)
2005 How I Met Your Mother (active)(Monday)
2005 It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (active)(Thursday)
2005 Weeds (active)(Monday)
2006 Big Love (active)(Sunday)
2006 Dexter (active)(Sunday)
2006 Friday Night Lights (active)(Wednesday)
2006 Life On Mars (inactive)
2006 The Lost Room (inactive)
2006 30 Rock (active)(Thursday)
2006 Torchwood (active)
2007 Big Bang Theory (active)(Monday)
2007 Burn Notice (active)(Thursday)
2007 Chuck (active)(Monday)
2007 Flight Of The Conchords (inactive)
2007 Mad Men (active)(Sunday)
2008 Ashes To Ashes (active)
2008 Better Off Ted (active)(Tuesday)
2008 Breaking Bad (active)(Sunday)
2008 Castle (active)(Monday)
2008 The Middleman (inactive)
2008 True Blood (active)(Sunday)
2008 Parks And Recreation (active)(Thursday)
And the reviews:
Sports Night - Good. In retrospect a lot of this feels like a dress rehearsal for The West Wing, but still, as one character says in the series finale: "anybody who can't make money off of Sports Night should get out of the money-making business." Now there's a quote that could be applied much more broadly.
Friday Night Lights - Really Great. I can't imagine how amazing this show must seem to people who don't actively hate football like myself. It certainly had to win me over, but oh did it. Season One is just about a perfect season of television. The quality and breadth of acting is right up there with Battlestar Galactica, and the Taylors are my favorite couple on television. Season Two had an infamous story misfire, but the acting remained strong throughout. Ironically (for this viewer), part of the problem was that the show started focusing less on football. Season Three fixed the problems, and Season Four is off to a great start.
So that was it for my insane funemployment television watch, which gave way to employment and October scary movies. Oh, and the fall season. Here's my current schedule, followed by some comments:
Sunday: Mad Men, The Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef America
Monday: Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, The Big Bang Theory, Castle
Tuesday: V
Wednesday: Modern Family, Glee, South Park, Friday Night Lights
Thursday: Community, The Office, 30 Rock, Fringe,Flash Forward, It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
Friday: Smallville, Dollhouse, Stargate: Universe, White Collar
Saturday: The Spectacular Spider-man, Batman: The Brave And The Bold
Plus: The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson
Mad Men has one episode left. I didn't know about The Next Iron Chef last year, but I'm enjoying it this year. I'm sure Top Chef is better, but I'm a brand shopper I guess.
Heroes is neither the worst or best it's ever been, but I doubt it will survive to a fifth season. Gossip Girl got much better after the season premiere. Castle varies. The two Monday comedies remain hilarious.
Glee is very good and flirting with great. Modern Family and Community are funny but uneven. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has had a good run so far (I'd say Season Three was the nadir).
I've been able to record Flash Forward live so far because ABC was repeating it on Friday nights, but no longer, and Fringe had a few weeks off, but no longer. So my DVR didn't grab it last night, and I can't say I'm inclined to download it. I missed out on watching Lost from the start, but I think I'm okay here. If the show gets amazing I'm sure I'll hear about it.
Smallville blew all the good will it had built up with me early this season with some truly atrocious writing in the last few episodes.
White Collar is another character-driven crime-related procedural from USA. I watch Burn Notice but not Monk or Royal Pains, but White Collar features Matt Bomer (aka Bryce Larkin of Chuck), and more importantly, Natalie Morales, aka Wendy "Dub Dub"/"Dubby" Watson of The Middleman.
Next up: As you may have noticed, Parks And Recreation is back on the list. Many people I trust have caused me to doubt my decision to quit on the show two-thirds of the way through Season One. But I doubt I'll get caught up again (I still have a stinker or two to muscle through) before the next bought of funemployment.
Meanwhile, I'm eagerly awaiting the return of Chuck, Burn Notice, Party Down, Breaking Bad, Better Off Ted, Ashes To Ashes, and Lost.
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. (inactive)
1993 Babylon 5 (inactive)
1994 My So-Called Life (inactive)
1998 Cupid (inactive)
1998 Felicity (inactive)
2000 Coupling (inactive)
2000 Gilmore Girls (inactive)
2003 Dead Like Me (inactive)
2003 Reno 911 (active)
2004 Deadwood (inactive)
2005 Dr Who (active)
2006 Big Love (active)(Sunday)
2006 Dexter (active)(Sunday)
2006 Torchwood (active)
2007 Flight Of The Conchords (inactive)
2008 Parks And Recreation (active)(Thursday)
And the reviews:
Sports Night - Good. In retrospect a lot of this feels like a dress rehearsal for The West Wing, but still, as one character says in the series finale: "anybody who can't make money off of Sports Night should get out of the money-making business." Now there's a quote that could be applied much more broadly.
Friday Night Lights - Really Great. I can't imagine how amazing this show must seem to people who don't actively hate football like myself. It certainly had to win me over, but oh did it. Season One is just about a perfect season of television. The quality and breadth of acting is right up there with Battlestar Galactica, and the Taylors are my favorite couple on television. Season Two had an infamous story misfire, but the acting remained strong throughout. Ironically (for this viewer), part of the problem was that the show started focusing less on football. Season Three fixed the problems, and Season Four is off to a great start.
So that was it for my insane funemployment television watch, which gave way to employment and October scary movies. Oh, and the fall season. Here's my current schedule, followed by some comments:
Sunday: Mad Men, The Next Iron Chef, Iron Chef America
Monday: Heroes, How I Met Your Mother, Gossip Girl, The Big Bang Theory, Castle
Tuesday: V
Wednesday: Modern Family, Glee, South Park, Friday Night Lights
Thursday: Community, The Office, 30 Rock, Fringe,
Friday: Smallville, Dollhouse, Stargate: Universe, White Collar
Saturday: The Spectacular Spider-man, Batman: The Brave And The Bold
Plus: The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson
Mad Men has one episode left. I didn't know about The Next Iron Chef last year, but I'm enjoying it this year. I'm sure Top Chef is better, but I'm a brand shopper I guess.
Heroes is neither the worst or best it's ever been, but I doubt it will survive to a fifth season. Gossip Girl got much better after the season premiere. Castle varies. The two Monday comedies remain hilarious.
Glee is very good and flirting with great. Modern Family and Community are funny but uneven. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia has had a good run so far (I'd say Season Three was the nadir).
I've been able to record Flash Forward live so far because ABC was repeating it on Friday nights, but no longer, and Fringe had a few weeks off, but no longer. So my DVR didn't grab it last night, and I can't say I'm inclined to download it. I missed out on watching Lost from the start, but I think I'm okay here. If the show gets amazing I'm sure I'll hear about it.
Smallville blew all the good will it had built up with me early this season with some truly atrocious writing in the last few episodes.
White Collar is another character-driven crime-related procedural from USA. I watch Burn Notice but not Monk or Royal Pains, but White Collar features Matt Bomer (aka Bryce Larkin of Chuck), and more importantly, Natalie Morales, aka Wendy "Dub Dub"/"Dubby" Watson of The Middleman.
Next up: As you may have noticed, Parks And Recreation is back on the list. Many people I trust have caused me to doubt my decision to quit on the show two-thirds of the way through Season One. But I doubt I'll get caught up again (I still have a stinker or two to muscle through) before the next bought of funemployment.
Meanwhile, I'm eagerly awaiting the return of Chuck, Burn Notice, Party Down, Breaking Bad, Better Off Ted, Ashes To Ashes, and Lost.
G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra (2009)
directed by Stephen Sommers
rating: 6 out of 10
rented from Netflix
I remember the details of G.I. Joe even less than Land Of The Lost. I don't think I owned a single action figure. When are they going to make a damn M.A.S.K. movie?
Anyway, I basically remember Cobra Commander, "knowing is half the battle," and that's all. So no nostaglic expections here, and I don't give a shit that the Joes are now an international force.
And I... enjoyed it! Mostly. I mean, I had pretty low expectations. The main guy, Duke, they didn't even try to make him act, which was probably for the best. It took me a while to recognize Rachel Nichols, which means she wasn't annoying me as much as she used to on that infamous last season of Alias.* I didn't recognize Sienna Miller at all - did she get fake boobs or something? She certainly looks better as a blonde. Dennis Quaid plays everything admirably to the hilt.
Anyway: it had story structure! There were flashbacks and backstory! The first scene is set in 17th century France for frak's sake. Way to get my attention early. And it all sort of hung together fairly well!
The action is pretty fun (love those accelerator suits), and I enjoyed watching the ending of Return Of The Jedi take place under water. Although the villainous lair in question kept reminding me of Sea Lab. I liked how the villain not only did not explain his evil plan (which the good guys never do figure out), but it's actually a pretty intelligent plan. And the sci-fi wasn't too outlandish, although this made me laugh for the wrong reasons (paraphrasing): "We've been using these [nanobots] to destroy cancer cells, but now we've discovered how to program them to eat metal!"
* That second post led me to this one, a review of Undertow, which I do not remember in the slightest. I mean, not a single detail. I'd seen a Kristen Stewart movie before Adventureland? Really? Fuck I'm senile.
directed by Stephen Sommers
rating: 6 out of 10
rented from Netflix
I remember the details of G.I. Joe even less than Land Of The Lost. I don't think I owned a single action figure. When are they going to make a damn M.A.S.K. movie?
Anyway, I basically remember Cobra Commander, "knowing is half the battle," and that's all. So no nostaglic expections here, and I don't give a shit that the Joes are now an international force.
And I... enjoyed it! Mostly. I mean, I had pretty low expectations. The main guy, Duke, they didn't even try to make him act, which was probably for the best. It took me a while to recognize Rachel Nichols, which means she wasn't annoying me as much as she used to on that infamous last season of Alias.* I didn't recognize Sienna Miller at all - did she get fake boobs or something? She certainly looks better as a blonde. Dennis Quaid plays everything admirably to the hilt.
Anyway: it had story structure! There were flashbacks and backstory! The first scene is set in 17th century France for frak's sake. Way to get my attention early. And it all sort of hung together fairly well!
The action is pretty fun (love those accelerator suits), and I enjoyed watching the ending of Return Of The Jedi take place under water. Although the villainous lair in question kept reminding me of Sea Lab. I liked how the villain not only did not explain his evil plan (which the good guys never do figure out), but it's actually a pretty intelligent plan. And the sci-fi wasn't too outlandish, although this made me laugh for the wrong reasons (paraphrasing): "We've been using these [nanobots] to destroy cancer cells, but now we've discovered how to program them to eat metal!"
* That second post led me to this one, a review of Undertow, which I do not remember in the slightest. I mean, not a single detail. I'd seen a Kristen Stewart movie before Adventureland? Really? Fuck I'm senile.
Labels: Movie
Superman/Batman: Public Enemies (2009)
directed by Sam Liu
rating: 8 out of 10
rented from Netflix
The latest in the "whatever continuity we feel like" DC Animated movies from Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and the gang. This is a fairly straight adaption of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness's arc on Batman/Superman. The Supergirl stuff is missing, but they might go there in a sequel.
The big news is that Clancy Brown, Tim Daly, and Kevin Conroy gather to reprise their roles as Lex Luthor, Superman, and Batman for the first time since, I believe, the "World's Finest" arc of Superman: The Animated Series (Tim Daly didn't do Justice League or JLU). These guys own those three characters completely and it's just pure geek joy to listen to them play off of each other.
Also returning is CCH Pounder as Amanda Waller, and Alison Mack (still the best thing about Smallville) becomes the first actress to portray Power Girl in any medium.
Only real flaw: only a no-lines cameo from Lois Lane! Where was Dana Delany?
Next up: Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths! With James Woods as Owlman!
directed by Sam Liu
rating: 8 out of 10
rented from Netflix
The latest in the "whatever continuity we feel like" DC Animated movies from Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, and the gang. This is a fairly straight adaption of Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness's arc on Batman/Superman. The Supergirl stuff is missing, but they might go there in a sequel.
The big news is that Clancy Brown, Tim Daly, and Kevin Conroy gather to reprise their roles as Lex Luthor, Superman, and Batman for the first time since, I believe, the "World's Finest" arc of Superman: The Animated Series (Tim Daly didn't do Justice League or JLU). These guys own those three characters completely and it's just pure geek joy to listen to them play off of each other.
Also returning is CCH Pounder as Amanda Waller, and Alison Mack (still the best thing about Smallville) becomes the first actress to portray Power Girl in any medium.
Only real flaw: only a no-lines cameo from Lois Lane! Where was Dana Delany?
Next up: Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths! With James Woods as Owlman!
Labels: Movie
I was heading northbound on Morrisey Blvd. around 6:15 am, sitting at the traffic light at the turn onto Columbia Point and UMass. I had actually made it there without incident for the first time in a while. But then, the woman in front of me rolled down her window and yelled, "Why aren't you on the sidewalk?"
I'm ashamed to admit that she caught me off-guard and that my response was pretty lame: "Because I'm .... on a bike? .... and it's the law?" Weak. But it was my first verbal, face-to-face confrontation with a motorist. I passed her as she made the right turn, and I'm pretty sure it was she who blared loudly at me. I gave her a hearty wave.
Next time: "Why aren't you on the sidewalk?" Or perhaps: "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 85, Section 11B, as amended. Bitch."
I'm ashamed to admit that she caught me off-guard and that my response was pretty lame: "Because I'm .... on a bike? .... and it's the law?" Weak. But it was my first verbal, face-to-face confrontation with a motorist. I passed her as she made the right turn, and I'm pretty sure it was she who blared loudly at me. I gave her a hearty wave.
Next time: "Why aren't you on the sidewalk?" Or perhaps: "Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 85, Section 11B, as amended. Bitch."
Thursday, November 05, 2009
This douche is operating in my neighborhood.
Amherst, Massachusetts will take in some former Gitmo detainees, becoming the first U.S. municipality to do so.
Best state in the nation, mine.
Best state in the nation, mine.
Goodwin Procter, where I worked on contract for 14 months, is laying off 21 attorneys and 34 staff. Yikes.
Just what you'd expect from an illegal immigrant.
And by classy I mean gross.
"For Fri: Instant Streaming Disc for PS3." Squee!
Dirty fucking hippies.
Steve Benen has been practically begging for Republican leaders to release their promised alternative health care plan. And they finally did! And it's awful!
Preventing global catastrophe would make George Voinovich sad so we can't even talk about it. Or something.
Watching Al Gore on Letterman the other night... that made me sad. What a president that guy could have been.
Watching Al Gore on Letterman the other night... that made me sad. What a president that guy could have been.
Land Of The Lost (2009)
directed by Brad Silberling
rating: 7 out of 10
rented from Netflix
In a perfect world, Brad Silberling would be on his third Lemony Snicket movie by now. Alas.
I really don't understand how this got so many bad reviews. I would watch Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, and Danny McBride do just about anything for two hours. I mean, the script here could have been eight pages long. Then again, no, that brilliant gag with the walnut had to have been written down in advance. Silly and weird in just the right ways. Were people angry that it wasn't a faithful adaptation or something? Because it was silly and weird too.
I remember watching the television show at random times on random stations (probably on one of those fuzzy New Hampshire stations - they always had the weirder stuff). I remember little except the Sleestaks and the part that always fascinated me: the variously-colored crystals and their different functions, and how they could be combined to produce different effects. That, frankly, is something that I think could have been mined for lots of laughs, but they were reduced to plot device here. Oh well.
Still, it feels like Ebert and I were alone at being in on some of the jokes: "The dinosaurs are so obviously not really there in shots where they menace humans that you could almost say their shots are about how they're not really there. Confronted with such effects, the actors make not the slightest effort to appear terrified, amazed or sometimes even mildly concerned. Some might consider that a weakness. I suspect it is more of a deliberate choice, and I say I enjoyed it."
UPDATE: And while as a film geek I tend to notice a lot of the puppet strings of movies, sometimes to my lesser enjoyment, I continue to not understand people's obsession with noticing griping about product placement. I didn't notice a thing about Subway in this movie, and I won't be going there for lunch today. What I do notice is when people drinking sodas labeled "SODA." Product placement, as long as it's not in your face, is win-win. It funds things we like and makes them more naturalistic.
I mean, how well would the framing joke of the movie have worked if they had used a fictional morning host instead of Matt Lauer?
UPDATE 2: Judging from the comments here, people really were upset that it wasn't a "serious" adaptation, and that it made fun of the original. I'm not sure how it made fun of the television show at all - there wasn't the slightest element of "you all were idiots for enjoying that show." The offense seems to be merely that they turned it into a comedy at all. Very weird.
directed by Brad Silberling
rating: 7 out of 10
rented from Netflix
In a perfect world, Brad Silberling would be on his third Lemony Snicket movie by now. Alas.
I really don't understand how this got so many bad reviews. I would watch Will Ferrell, Anna Friel, and Danny McBride do just about anything for two hours. I mean, the script here could have been eight pages long. Then again, no, that brilliant gag with the walnut had to have been written down in advance. Silly and weird in just the right ways. Were people angry that it wasn't a faithful adaptation or something? Because it was silly and weird too.
I remember watching the television show at random times on random stations (probably on one of those fuzzy New Hampshire stations - they always had the weirder stuff). I remember little except the Sleestaks and the part that always fascinated me: the variously-colored crystals and their different functions, and how they could be combined to produce different effects. That, frankly, is something that I think could have been mined for lots of laughs, but they were reduced to plot device here. Oh well.
Still, it feels like Ebert and I were alone at being in on some of the jokes: "The dinosaurs are so obviously not really there in shots where they menace humans that you could almost say their shots are about how they're not really there. Confronted with such effects, the actors make not the slightest effort to appear terrified, amazed or sometimes even mildly concerned. Some might consider that a weakness. I suspect it is more of a deliberate choice, and I say I enjoyed it."
UPDATE: And while as a film geek I tend to notice a lot of the puppet strings of movies, sometimes to my lesser enjoyment, I continue to not understand people's obsession with noticing griping about product placement. I didn't notice a thing about Subway in this movie, and I won't be going there for lunch today. What I do notice is when people drinking sodas labeled "SODA." Product placement, as long as it's not in your face, is win-win. It funds things we like and makes them more naturalistic.
I mean, how well would the framing joke of the movie have worked if they had used a fictional morning host instead of Matt Lauer?
UPDATE 2: Judging from the comments here, people really were upset that it wasn't a "serious" adaptation, and that it made fun of the original. I'm not sure how it made fun of the television show at all - there wasn't the slightest element of "you all were idiots for enjoying that show." The offense seems to be merely that they turned it into a comedy at all. Very weird.
Labels: Movie
The Man Who Laughs (1928)
directed by Paul Leni
rating: 6 out of 10
rented from Netflix
And so my October ended in something of a whimper. Those three discs never showed up: Let The Right One In, The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse, and The Old Dark House will have to wait until next year.
Meanwhile, this was shot like a horror film, but it's really just a melodrama. Veidt is good and that makeup job is great, and the movie was surprisingly sexy and risque (silents got a way with that a lot, but still). This was my backup-backup plan, but now I wish I'd remembered that I still haven't seen The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari. Oh well.
directed by Paul Leni
rating: 6 out of 10
rented from Netflix
And so my October ended in something of a whimper. Those three discs never showed up: Let The Right One In, The Testament Of Dr. Mabuse, and The Old Dark House will have to wait until next year.
Meanwhile, this was shot like a horror film, but it's really just a melodrama. Veidt is good and that makeup job is great, and the movie was surprisingly sexy and risque (silents got a way with that a lot, but still). This was my backup-backup plan, but now I wish I'd remembered that I still haven't seen The Cabinet Of Dr. Caligari. Oh well.
Labels: Movie
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
I really do not understand these people:
As for your football analogy, from what I understand Hail Mary passes are pretty exciting, and the point of the game is to put points on the scoreboard. Moreover: the other team isn't even on the field! Republicans alone cannot prevent you from passing sweeping and popular health care reform.
Seriously: winning is fun! People like winners! What is the problem?
[S]ome centrist Democrats in Congress want to slow down on a more ambitious Democratic agenda, and focus on jobs and the economy going into 2010. "For all of these big issues, the trick is -- to use a football analogy -- to go for a first down instead of an 80-yard Hail Mary," said Rep. John Tanner (D-TN). "Some of the more philosophically driven people want to do an 80-yard Hail Mary, but getting first downs is how you legislate over time."You had your chance to do something about jobs and the economy. It was called the stimulus package, and you watered it down so that it would create fewer jobs and less growth.
As for your football analogy, from what I understand Hail Mary passes are pretty exciting, and the point of the game is to put points on the scoreboard. Moreover: the other team isn't even on the field! Republicans alone cannot prevent you from passing sweeping and popular health care reform.
Seriously: winning is fun! People like winners! What is the problem?
Democrats have now won all five special House elections this year. Clearly, this means that the Democrats should make the health care bill more conservative.
Among other advantages, biking in Boston traffic seems safer than taking the T these days. But at least rich people have low taxes.
UPDATE: It's my understanding that it would require hiring people to fix these things (unless robotics has advanced quite far lately) and that there are currently lots of people looking for work. If only there were some sort of large, perhaps national government body to which $543 million is a rounding error...
UPDATE: It's my understanding that it would require hiring people to fix these things (unless robotics has advanced quite far lately) and that there are currently lots of people looking for work. If only there were some sort of large, perhaps national government body to which $543 million is a rounding error...
I just can't wrap my head around these things: "The Australian dollar has jumped about 35% over the past 12 months as investors borrow in U.S. dollars to purchase Australian currency."
An open letter (which no one important will read) to the creative forces currently in control of the Star Trek franchise.
Folks,
I know it's fun to play in the toybox. And you clearly had fun making Star Trek (so much that you neglected to crack a science book).
So while I'm glad to hear you say you don't want to just rehash old episodes, I am still a little worried about the temptations you face (not to mention that your movie really was just a rehash of The Wrath Of Khan). I understand that the suits frown upon originality, that it's a safer bet to recycle, but I should think that the brand and the goodwill from your first movie would guarantee financial success. Khan was a great villain. Come up with a better one.
But I have a bigger concern. This isn't Star Wars, or Transformers, or Charlie's Angels or any of the other dozens of resurrected franchises that we have been bombarded with, to varied results. Gene Roddenberry and his collaborators created Star Trek because they had stuff to say, and science fiction gave them licence to say it.
So I don't really care if you think Nestor Carbonell or Javier Vardem would make a better Khan. What I want to know is: what do you have to say?
Folks,
I know it's fun to play in the toybox. And you clearly had fun making Star Trek (so much that you neglected to crack a science book).
So while I'm glad to hear you say you don't want to just rehash old episodes, I am still a little worried about the temptations you face (not to mention that your movie really was just a rehash of The Wrath Of Khan). I understand that the suits frown upon originality, that it's a safer bet to recycle, but I should think that the brand and the goodwill from your first movie would guarantee financial success. Khan was a great villain. Come up with a better one.
But I have a bigger concern. This isn't Star Wars, or Transformers, or Charlie's Angels or any of the other dozens of resurrected franchises that we have been bombarded with, to varied results. Gene Roddenberry and his collaborators created Star Trek because they had stuff to say, and science fiction gave them licence to say it.
So I don't really care if you think Nestor Carbonell or Javier Vardem would make a better Khan. What I want to know is: what do you have to say?
Well, that was more engaging than Flash Forward, at least.
That was probably the most explicitly sci-fi thing I've seen on broadcast television in a while. It's filled with veteran sci-fi actors: Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), with a guest appearance by Alan Tudyk (Firefly). And this viewer at least caught some more subtle references: Vandervoort as a beautiful alien (she played Supergirl on Smallville), a key address begins with 4400, and I swear the crazy resistance leader was played by the same guy who played the crazy detective in Dark City (both of whom recognized the aliens among us) but I'm having trouble confirming that with IMdB.
Anyway, the 9/11 imagery at the beginning was certainly unsubtle (that's not a judgement), the human drama was boring (mainly between Mitchell and her son), but the conspiracy stuff was interesting. We'll see where it goes. I wonder how closely the show will track Greg Weisman's pitch for Gargoyles: 2198. The circumstances there are different - the conquerers are open about their intentions - but a key aspect of that was the notion that if controlling the population became too much trouble, the Space Spawn would just destroy Earth and move on. Those kind of stakes were hinted at last night, at least.
Also: think conservatives hated the New Caprica parts of Battlestar Galactica? This show will be entirely about an insurgency against a powerful invading force proclaiming good intentions!
That was probably the most explicitly sci-fi thing I've seen on broadcast television in a while. It's filled with veteran sci-fi actors: Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost), Joel Gretsch (The 4400), Morena Baccarin (Firefly), Laura Vandervoort (Smallville), with a guest appearance by Alan Tudyk (Firefly). And this viewer at least caught some more subtle references: Vandervoort as a beautiful alien (she played Supergirl on Smallville), a key address begins with 4400, and I swear the crazy resistance leader was played by the same guy who played the crazy detective in Dark City (both of whom recognized the aliens among us) but I'm having trouble confirming that with IMdB.
Anyway, the 9/11 imagery at the beginning was certainly unsubtle (that's not a judgement), the human drama was boring (mainly between Mitchell and her son), but the conspiracy stuff was interesting. We'll see where it goes. I wonder how closely the show will track Greg Weisman's pitch for Gargoyles: 2198. The circumstances there are different - the conquerers are open about their intentions - but a key aspect of that was the notion that if controlling the population became too much trouble, the Space Spawn would just destroy Earth and move on. Those kind of stakes were hinted at last night, at least.
Also: think conservatives hated the New Caprica parts of Battlestar Galactica? This show will be entirely about an insurgency against a powerful invading force proclaiming good intentions!
Well.
Virginia went with the moderate Republican (he rejected teabagger support and congratulated Obama on the Nobel), to no great suprise (would Terry McAuliff have done better?). New Jersey tossed out the unpopular Jon Corzine in favor of ethically-challenged Bush Republican Chris Christie (who nonetheless ran to the center). While I'm no big fan of former Goldman Sachs CEOs holding public office, I think it's kind of bullshit to blame governors, who are stuck with Hooverish state constitutional rules, for national recessions, so I expect New Jersey will regret this.
In further bad news, high turnout in Maine led to victory for the forces of bigotry and family-hating: Maine's voters overturned the state's same-sex marriage law.
Meanwhile, in the not-slightly-important race in NY-23 (a district which will likely not exist after redistricting), the teabagging milquetoast Doug Hoffman lost to conservative Democrat Bill Owens. Which is a defeat for the Beck/Palin axis, but it may have been better for progressives in the long run to have them win, because it may have led to less-electable Republicans in more competitive races.
We also won in CA-10, a seat that had been more competitive historically. That had been a Dem seat recently, however.
So, we lost a couple of governorships, which will make redistricting tougher, but we have two new votes for Nancy Pelosi to corral. And we've taken a half-step back in the inevitable equality in marriage. Washington state, however, looks like it has expanded its domestic partnership law to "everything but the word 'marriage'" so that's good.
Nate Silver gives a fuller analysis here.
Meanwhile, closer to home, Tom Menino won an unprecedented fifth term as mayor of Boston. Newton elected its first African-American mayor, and Lawrence its first Latino mayor. Half of the four city councilors I voted for won (I didn't vote for the two incumbents, for no particular reason).
Virginia went with the moderate Republican (he rejected teabagger support and congratulated Obama on the Nobel), to no great suprise (would Terry McAuliff have done better?). New Jersey tossed out the unpopular Jon Corzine in favor of ethically-challenged Bush Republican Chris Christie (who nonetheless ran to the center). While I'm no big fan of former Goldman Sachs CEOs holding public office, I think it's kind of bullshit to blame governors, who are stuck with Hooverish state constitutional rules, for national recessions, so I expect New Jersey will regret this.
In further bad news, high turnout in Maine led to victory for the forces of bigotry and family-hating: Maine's voters overturned the state's same-sex marriage law.
Meanwhile, in the not-slightly-important race in NY-23 (a district which will likely not exist after redistricting), the teabagging milquetoast Doug Hoffman lost to conservative Democrat Bill Owens. Which is a defeat for the Beck/Palin axis, but it may have been better for progressives in the long run to have them win, because it may have led to less-electable Republicans in more competitive races.
We also won in CA-10, a seat that had been more competitive historically. That had been a Dem seat recently, however.
So, we lost a couple of governorships, which will make redistricting tougher, but we have two new votes for Nancy Pelosi to corral. And we've taken a half-step back in the inevitable equality in marriage. Washington state, however, looks like it has expanded its domestic partnership law to "everything but the word 'marriage'" so that's good.
Nate Silver gives a fuller analysis here.
Meanwhile, closer to home, Tom Menino won an unprecedented fifth term as mayor of Boston. Newton elected its first African-American mayor, and Lawrence its first Latino mayor. Half of the four city councilors I voted for won (I didn't vote for the two incumbents, for no particular reason).
Tuesday, November 03, 2009
At a minimum, I think menu labeling requirements should include some visible notice describing the average recommended caloric intake. A 2,000 calorie meal for $5 might seem like less of a good deal if people know they only should be eating 2,000 per day.
Football: still bad at math.
Cool Up posters.
Monday, November 02, 2009
I thought the chart I posted earlier was geeky, but this one is even more so. Though I contest the 12 Angry Men chart: sometimes smaller groups split off into the bathroom.
The election is Tuesday. Haven't decided yet who you are voting for in the Boston Mayoral and/or At-Large Council races?
I have not!
Want to know where the candidates stand on issues ranging from affordable housing to youth violence to economic development?
I sure do!
Then check out the Progressive Voter Guide, brought to you by the JP Progressives.
All right, I will.
UPDATE: 42 pages! Hmm, I'm not comfortable being quite that informed.
Link.
I have not!
Want to know where the candidates stand on issues ranging from affordable housing to youth violence to economic development?
I sure do!
Then check out the Progressive Voter Guide, brought to you by the JP Progressives.
All right, I will.
UPDATE: 42 pages! Hmm, I'm not comfortable being quite that informed.
Link.
A look at how we think the world will end (at least in pop culture) has changed over the years.
Oh no you did not:
What about the more than 60 percent of state residents that back a government-run insurance option, according to a Quinnipiac University poll last month?That's you, buddy.
Some of those respondents are confused about what such a plan entails, Lieberman said.
In one sense, the man who was wheeled out of my gym on a stretcher at 6:00am this morning was lucky: the gym is right next to EasCare Ambulance Services. I counted five ambulances and one more rescue vehicle outside.
Then again, as I was unlocking my bike I watched them giving him some half-hearted chest compressions, and they didn't seem in too big a rush to leave once they got him inside the ambulance, so it doesn't seem to have mattered.
Then again, as I was unlocking my bike I watched them giving him some half-hearted chest compressions, and they didn't seem in too big a rush to leave once they got him inside the ambulance, so it doesn't seem to have mattered.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The three discs I was meant to receive yesterday did not arrive with today's mail. I did receive the one due today (shoved into my mailbox grr) so I will achieve my goal, but I have no idea what happened to the other three. My mailbox doesn't lock - did some passerby take them? I don't exactly live in a busy area, it's a pretty insular neighborhood.
Anyway, it seems I need a new longterm solution to this problem.
Anyway, it seems I need a new longterm solution to this problem.
Behind The Mask: The Rise Of Leslie Vernon (2006)
directed by Scott Glosserman
rating: 8 out of 10
watched instantly on Netflix
So, I was set to receive three movies today. I picked out a short one to watch between work and my pumpkin-carving party, with the other two to watch on Halloween. Well, there was no mail in my mailbox when I got home. My neighbors did get their mail, though. More on that as events unfold.
But it was all right, because I enjoyed the hell out of this one (though I would have liked to watched it in higher quality). Remember when Scream first came out, when it was still fresh and without dozens of imitators, and you would think "that's so true!" at Jamie Kennedy's various observations about slasher films? Well this movie does that for its entire running time, without all of the baggage.
The premise is that the events of various slasher franchises all happened and Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, etc., are all real, at least in some form. A grad-school documentary crew receives a tip from a man named Leslie Vernon who claims that he will be the next big supernatural slasher. Most of the film - though not all of it - is their footage as they follow Vernon around as he explains what he considers to be his calling in life: to provide an evil so that good has something to battle.
The attention to detail is fantastic, I really don't want to spoil much, but for example: he shows the crew how to pick out a virgin whom he hopes will be his "survivor girl," and how to identify her slutty/jock friends whom he'll kill first (stoners, being slower, are good for padding one's killscore).
Throughout the film, we see bits of this eventual slasher movie playing out, mixed between the documentary footage. It's incredibly well edited. Robert Englund (who apparently isn't that hard of a get for your indie horror movie, though he seems to have mostly good taste) shows up in a very fun role. We also meet Vernon's retired mentor, who explains to the film crew how to survive an encounter with someone like him (I'm paraphrasing): if you hide, we'll find you; if you try to be a hero, we'll win; just run the fuck away and never look back. Yes!
I really don't want to say more. Highly recommended.
N.B. - This ended up on my queue through Netflix's own recommendations (as did Who Can Kill A Child?). Again, well done, algorithm!
directed by Scott Glosserman
rating: 8 out of 10
watched instantly on Netflix
So, I was set to receive three movies today. I picked out a short one to watch between work and my pumpkin-carving party, with the other two to watch on Halloween. Well, there was no mail in my mailbox when I got home. My neighbors did get their mail, though. More on that as events unfold.
But it was all right, because I enjoyed the hell out of this one (though I would have liked to watched it in higher quality). Remember when Scream first came out, when it was still fresh and without dozens of imitators, and you would think "that's so true!" at Jamie Kennedy's various observations about slasher films? Well this movie does that for its entire running time, without all of the baggage.
The premise is that the events of various slasher franchises all happened and Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, etc., are all real, at least in some form. A grad-school documentary crew receives a tip from a man named Leslie Vernon who claims that he will be the next big supernatural slasher. Most of the film - though not all of it - is their footage as they follow Vernon around as he explains what he considers to be his calling in life: to provide an evil so that good has something to battle.
The attention to detail is fantastic, I really don't want to spoil much, but for example: he shows the crew how to pick out a virgin whom he hopes will be his "survivor girl," and how to identify her slutty/jock friends whom he'll kill first (stoners, being slower, are good for padding one's killscore).
Throughout the film, we see bits of this eventual slasher movie playing out, mixed between the documentary footage. It's incredibly well edited. Robert Englund (who apparently isn't that hard of a get for your indie horror movie, though he seems to have mostly good taste) shows up in a very fun role. We also meet Vernon's retired mentor, who explains to the film crew how to survive an encounter with someone like him (I'm paraphrasing): if you hide, we'll find you; if you try to be a hero, we'll win; just run the fuck away and never look back. Yes!
I really don't want to say more. Highly recommended.
N.B. - This ended up on my queue through Netflix's own recommendations (as did Who Can Kill A Child?). Again, well done, algorithm!
Labels: Movie