Some may have noticed a few... minor changes to the layout of Casa de House (and also to our sister site Planet Houston!). After railing about how indifferent and/or insensitive I thought Cris Collinsworth was being last weekend over many players, coaches and officials wearing pink trimmed accessories, it occurred to me that I hadn't done anything about it myself.
And while I'm sure I would look just dashing in a pink piece of clothing, I'm much more active (and visible) online. So for the remainder of the month (and possibly some time after it since I started so late) both sites will sport pink layouts in support of breast cancer awareness.
Because frankly, I have a mother and sisters, friends and acquaintances, and many have gone through a scare or two in their lives (several of which they probably never even shared with me). A little color change is the very least I could do.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
HouseTV Review: Stargate: Universe Episode 4: Darkness
The new crew of the Destiny can't seem to get a break. They've only just resolved their issues with the air supply when they run into a new problem: power issues. While the rest of the crew pokes around various ship areas, Dr. Rush's obsession with the ship's dwindling power supply results in him blacking out shortly after the ship does. But even as the crew faces an uncertain future, the ship itself prepares to make a last ditch attempt to salvage their existence. But you know what they say about good intentions...
The good news is that I do enjoy watching this show. The overall theme and the dynamics provided are things that I want to see on television. I'll say again that I don't know how much of it is a clone of BSG (I still haven't seen much of that show; yeah, I realize that damages my sci-fi cred...), but I think it stands out on its own merits.
That said, one of the major things that is bothering me right now is pacing. Oddly enough, the episodes don't seem to move that slow in and of themselves. In fact, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed watching the two hour premiere a second time after thinking that its pacing was slow. But for some reason, when an episode concludes with an open ending, it just feels like they could have made more progress with the story.
Should there be plots and themes stretched out over multiple episodes? Certainly yes. But at the same time, you should feel some sense of resolution as the show moves on. This is the second time in four episodes where you get the feeling that the best part of a story has yet to be told. And while it's nice to have build-up, it feels more like the writers are saving the best parts for the second half, making me wonder just why I wasted my time with the first half.
Which makes it seem like I hated this episode, when the opposite is true. In honesty, it's the characters that drive the story, and they do the job well for the most part. Eli continues to be lovable as the everyman that will eventually be screwed (but not in the way that he'd like to be). Dr. Rush continues to be a pain in many peoples backsides, but at least we do continue to see that he has his reasons for acting the way he does and that he does actually care about them all surviving.
The other leadership continues to be shades of 'meh'. Col. Young is who you think you'd want in charge, but he seems to mishandle Rush just as often as he uses him as an asset. Col. Telford is such a huge A-hole that you can't find one redeeming thing about the way he acts (which means I should probably give a nod to Lou Diamond Phillips for managing to make him that grating). Lt. Scott is supposed to be the heroic action lead, but is far too needy for my liking at the moment.
And everyone else is still drifting aimlessly in the background, with only a brief moment of splendor to speak of. Or possibly two, if I count that one SGC chick with the huge bazooms. And big ups to Lt. Chesty for using her sex appeal to lure Eli into a trap, then acting irritated later while being ogled. Way to raise the standard there, lady...
But let us not forget the most dynamic character of them all: Destiny herself. As intelligent vehicles go, this ship scores right up there with KITT and other transports that are probably smarter than their occupants. The ship has already shown that it's more capable than its occupants by thinking ahead and attempting to provide them with what they need before they even realize they need it. Although as smart as it is, it makes you wonder how it got into the condition it's in, or why it's not just a little better at trying to provide needs.
And I know, as the show progresses, everyone should get fleshed out more. Which is good, because as much as I like this show, I feel like I should like it more. Now if only they don't go full sappy before my gag reflex is properly prepared for it... what happens this week? Aw, crap.
The good news is that I do enjoy watching this show. The overall theme and the dynamics provided are things that I want to see on television. I'll say again that I don't know how much of it is a clone of BSG (I still haven't seen much of that show; yeah, I realize that damages my sci-fi cred...), but I think it stands out on its own merits.
That said, one of the major things that is bothering me right now is pacing. Oddly enough, the episodes don't seem to move that slow in and of themselves. In fact, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed watching the two hour premiere a second time after thinking that its pacing was slow. But for some reason, when an episode concludes with an open ending, it just feels like they could have made more progress with the story.
Should there be plots and themes stretched out over multiple episodes? Certainly yes. But at the same time, you should feel some sense of resolution as the show moves on. This is the second time in four episodes where you get the feeling that the best part of a story has yet to be told. And while it's nice to have build-up, it feels more like the writers are saving the best parts for the second half, making me wonder just why I wasted my time with the first half.
Which makes it seem like I hated this episode, when the opposite is true. In honesty, it's the characters that drive the story, and they do the job well for the most part. Eli continues to be lovable as the everyman that will eventually be screwed (but not in the way that he'd like to be). Dr. Rush continues to be a pain in many peoples backsides, but at least we do continue to see that he has his reasons for acting the way he does and that he does actually care about them all surviving.
The other leadership continues to be shades of 'meh'. Col. Young is who you think you'd want in charge, but he seems to mishandle Rush just as often as he uses him as an asset. Col. Telford is such a huge A-hole that you can't find one redeeming thing about the way he acts (which means I should probably give a nod to Lou Diamond Phillips for managing to make him that grating). Lt. Scott is supposed to be the heroic action lead, but is far too needy for my liking at the moment.
And everyone else is still drifting aimlessly in the background, with only a brief moment of splendor to speak of. Or possibly two, if I count that one SGC chick with the huge bazooms. And big ups to Lt. Chesty for using her sex appeal to lure Eli into a trap, then acting irritated later while being ogled. Way to raise the standard there, lady...
But let us not forget the most dynamic character of them all: Destiny herself. As intelligent vehicles go, this ship scores right up there with KITT and other transports that are probably smarter than their occupants. The ship has already shown that it's more capable than its occupants by thinking ahead and attempting to provide them with what they need before they even realize they need it. Although as smart as it is, it makes you wonder how it got into the condition it's in, or why it's not just a little better at trying to provide needs.
And I know, as the show progresses, everyone should get fleshed out more. Which is good, because as much as I like this show, I feel like I should like it more. Now if only they don't go full sappy before my gag reflex is properly prepared for it... what happens this week? Aw, crap.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
HouseTV: Believe it or Not...
Many people (presumably my age or older, but perhaps a few retro fans besides that) will remember this show, but I felt the need to revisit it for a few reasons. I speak, of course, of The Greatest American Hero.
See, back before it was en vogue to do projects related to superheros and people were just getting used to believing that a man could fly, there was a man that was trying to embrace the idea himself.
I speak of Ralph Hinkley (played by William Katt), high school teacher and all around nice guy who is visited one night by strange aliens in the desert. No lie, this is how it all starts. It seems that because of his good nature and heart, he has been chosen to be a champion for justice. The aliens provide Ralph with a costume that grants him a wide variety of powers and abilities along with an instruction manual to guide him in the use of the suit. Ralph, as is the case in situations like this, promptly loses the manual, and with it, any chances of ever gaining full control of the super-suit.
And that's the main premise of the show. Ralph would often come to the aid of FBI agent Bill Maxwell (played by Robert Culp) and many times come into conflict in his relationship with girlfriend Pam Davidson (played by the disturbingly pretty Connie Sellecca). And of course, at various points in time, he would help any number of other assorted people and students, all while trying to figure out how to make his suit work.
As you'd imagine, the show is more of a comedy than a true superhero action show. Most of the time is spent showing the antics of Ralph and Bill getting into and out of trouble, with the occasional super feat tossed in at random points. There were two highly notable things about this show:
1) The super suit that Ralph had was awesome. And I don't just mean the design here (which in reality was pretty spiffy). Ralph was granted any number of powers by it, most notably flight, super strength and invulnerability (although since the costume granted the invulnerability, Ralph would end up covering his face anytime someone shot at him. Which makes no sense when you realize the number of times Ralph ran into/through stuff with no facial damage.) But on top of this, the suit also granted Ralph other abilities. He had psychometry, or psychic reading, which allowed him to see images of people by making contact with an object that they had touched. He could turn invisible. And there are no doubt any number of other things that I'm forgetting. If he had actually kept up with the manual for it, he would have been quite the force to be reckoned with. And he wasn't exactly chump change without the manual.
2) The show has perhaps one of the better and catchiest theme songs ever made. The DVD boxset for the show had a button on the front you could press to play the theme at will. And why not? Check this out.
And the show still has many fans floating around out there. There was recently work done on a comic book (which included as part of its writing team none other than William Katt). I stumbled across an interesting (if not disturbingly retro) web series based on the show on YouTube, and Nathan Fillon (you guys know him, right?) mentioned in an interview that he would be interested in playing the role in a feature film (even if he has a few weird ideas about it). So despite being dated as all get out and cheesier than Wisconsin cheddar factory, this show still remains a fond favorite of many, including yours truly.
Friday, October 9, 2009
A Primer on Stargate: Universe
So you missed the premiere of Stargate: Universe last week. Maybe you slept through it. Maybe you weren't all that interested in a new sci-fi show. Maybe you just didn't have the two hours to check it out any of the 200 times that SyFy will show it this week.
Well, fear not. In this (not so) small article, I will attempt to cover every major point that went down during the premiere episodes and go through the major players this far. With any luck, it will be just enough info to let you dive into the next episode of Universe without the hassle of having to watch the whole thing (although if you have the time, check it out; it's not a bad show, by any means).
It goes without saying that this primer contains MAJOR SPOILERS. If you'd rather watch the pilot, or if you don't want to be spoiled on some of its plot points, please stop reading now.
General Info:
SGC: Short for Stargate Command. The (mostly) military organization that oversees the Stargate Project on Earth. You should know this, but just in case you don’t here it is again. If anything, note that ‘SGC’ gets used as an abbreviation quite a bit of the time, both on the show and here.
Stargate: A device in the form of a big metal ring, the Stargate transports matter over long distances by generating a wormhole that connects it to another Stargate elsewhere in the galaxy. Gates are normally connected by “dialing” in an address that consists of seven coded symbols or chevrons that represent coordinates in space and the gate’s point of origin. In rare cases, gates have been able to dial addresses longer than seven chevrons.
Ancients: Name given to the race of people who originally designed and built the Stargate system. The Ancients are a race that precede most of the known history of most races in the SG universe. In fact, the reason that most of the races that the SGC encounters appear mostly or entirely human is that they are all descendants of the Ancients.
While the SGC tends to use some Ancient technology they have found or scavenged, much of that technology and how it functions remains a mystery to them.
Ascension: The process by which a corporeal being transforms their consciousness into energy and reaches a new plain of existence. Some time ago, virtually all of the Ancients ascended, leaving behind their technology, ships and bases to be discovered by others over the course of time.
SG: Universe-specific Info:
Eli Wallace: Eli is your average joe introduced in the form of a gamer geek. Eli solves a puzzle in one of his favorite video games and finds himself literally whisked away to SGC's offworld Icarus base. He is recruited because the puzzle he solved is actually part of an Ancient equation that will allow the SGC to dial a nine chevron address.
Icarus Base: An offworld base that has been specially built on a planet that has what's required to power a gate that will dial up a nine chevron code found in an Ancient archive. As has been discovered, dialing an eighth chevron sends them to a different section of the galaxy, so where this new gate goes is anyone's guess.
Dr. Nicholas Rush: The lead scientist overseeing the project at Icarus Base. When the base comes under a crippling enemy attack, Dr. Rush dials the nine chevron address instead of dialing back to Earth, sending the survivors of the attack to a mysterious ship in the outer reaches of space.
As evidenced by his first actions, Dr. Rush is driven just as much by his desire for discovery as he is for survival. This puts him continually at odds with the other survivors and the SGC crew in particular.
Lt. Matthew Scott: When their commanding officer is incapacitated during their escape to the Ancient ship, Lt. Scott is left in command of their operation. A seemingly capable leader, Lt. Scott ends up bumping heads with Dr. Rush on several occasions, in particular once Dr. Rush begins to claim that he is in command of the exploration/rescue effort.
Destiny: An Ancient vessel sent out on auto-pilot to explore the universe. The Ancients apparently planned to transport to it via its Stargate once it had gotten far enough out into the universe, but must have ascended prior to getting around to it. The ship is barreling along at Faster That Light (FTL) speed and has been damaged, with many of its systems currently offline or operating in diminished capacity. Of major import is that the air filtration systems are completely trashed and will only provide at best another day's worth of air.
There were several other ships deployed prior to the Destiny, also unmanned and tasked with the purpose of scanning ahead for planets with suitable atmospheres and creating Stargates for them. The Ancients, it would seem, planned their exploration out quite extensively.
Senator Alan Armstrong: A senator and supporter of the Icarus project, Sen. Armstrong and his daughter Chloe have the misfortune of visiting Icarus Base at the exact time that it gets attacked. Dragged with the rest of the survivors to the Ancient ship and suffering from a medical condition on top of a new injury, Sen. Armstrong chooses to sacrifice himself in an effort to seal off a damaged section of the ship. His efforts extend the amount of viable air left in the ship, but only provides a limited reprieve from the current crisis.
Col. Everett Young: The commander of Icarus Base, Col. Young is injured during the escape effort and rendered unconscious. Although still suffering ill effects after regaining consciousness, he reassumes command and attempts to use the Stargate on the ship to dial back to Earth, an effort that even he admits may not work.
When the ship drops out of FTL and the gate dials out to an address on its own, Col. Young forms a team tasked with going through the gate and exploring the world for items that might be able to fix the ship’s defective air systems.
And that’s about the gist of things for now. Check back later for more info and characters as they become more prevalent.
Well, fear not. In this (not so) small article, I will attempt to cover every major point that went down during the premiere episodes and go through the major players this far. With any luck, it will be just enough info to let you dive into the next episode of Universe without the hassle of having to watch the whole thing (although if you have the time, check it out; it's not a bad show, by any means).
It goes without saying that this primer contains MAJOR SPOILERS. If you'd rather watch the pilot, or if you don't want to be spoiled on some of its plot points, please stop reading now.
General Info:
SGC: Short for Stargate Command. The (mostly) military organization that oversees the Stargate Project on Earth. You should know this, but just in case you don’t here it is again. If anything, note that ‘SGC’ gets used as an abbreviation quite a bit of the time, both on the show and here.
Stargate: A device in the form of a big metal ring, the Stargate transports matter over long distances by generating a wormhole that connects it to another Stargate elsewhere in the galaxy. Gates are normally connected by “dialing” in an address that consists of seven coded symbols or chevrons that represent coordinates in space and the gate’s point of origin. In rare cases, gates have been able to dial addresses longer than seven chevrons.
Ancients: Name given to the race of people who originally designed and built the Stargate system. The Ancients are a race that precede most of the known history of most races in the SG universe. In fact, the reason that most of the races that the SGC encounters appear mostly or entirely human is that they are all descendants of the Ancients.
While the SGC tends to use some Ancient technology they have found or scavenged, much of that technology and how it functions remains a mystery to them.
Ascension: The process by which a corporeal being transforms their consciousness into energy and reaches a new plain of existence. Some time ago, virtually all of the Ancients ascended, leaving behind their technology, ships and bases to be discovered by others over the course of time.
SG: Universe-specific Info:
Eli Wallace: Eli is your average joe introduced in the form of a gamer geek. Eli solves a puzzle in one of his favorite video games and finds himself literally whisked away to SGC's offworld Icarus base. He is recruited because the puzzle he solved is actually part of an Ancient equation that will allow the SGC to dial a nine chevron address.
Icarus Base: An offworld base that has been specially built on a planet that has what's required to power a gate that will dial up a nine chevron code found in an Ancient archive. As has been discovered, dialing an eighth chevron sends them to a different section of the galaxy, so where this new gate goes is anyone's guess.
Dr. Nicholas Rush: The lead scientist overseeing the project at Icarus Base. When the base comes under a crippling enemy attack, Dr. Rush dials the nine chevron address instead of dialing back to Earth, sending the survivors of the attack to a mysterious ship in the outer reaches of space.
As evidenced by his first actions, Dr. Rush is driven just as much by his desire for discovery as he is for survival. This puts him continually at odds with the other survivors and the SGC crew in particular.
Lt. Matthew Scott: When their commanding officer is incapacitated during their escape to the Ancient ship, Lt. Scott is left in command of their operation. A seemingly capable leader, Lt. Scott ends up bumping heads with Dr. Rush on several occasions, in particular once Dr. Rush begins to claim that he is in command of the exploration/rescue effort.
Destiny: An Ancient vessel sent out on auto-pilot to explore the universe. The Ancients apparently planned to transport to it via its Stargate once it had gotten far enough out into the universe, but must have ascended prior to getting around to it. The ship is barreling along at Faster That Light (FTL) speed and has been damaged, with many of its systems currently offline or operating in diminished capacity. Of major import is that the air filtration systems are completely trashed and will only provide at best another day's worth of air.
There were several other ships deployed prior to the Destiny, also unmanned and tasked with the purpose of scanning ahead for planets with suitable atmospheres and creating Stargates for them. The Ancients, it would seem, planned their exploration out quite extensively.
Senator Alan Armstrong: A senator and supporter of the Icarus project, Sen. Armstrong and his daughter Chloe have the misfortune of visiting Icarus Base at the exact time that it gets attacked. Dragged with the rest of the survivors to the Ancient ship and suffering from a medical condition on top of a new injury, Sen. Armstrong chooses to sacrifice himself in an effort to seal off a damaged section of the ship. His efforts extend the amount of viable air left in the ship, but only provides a limited reprieve from the current crisis.
Col. Everett Young: The commander of Icarus Base, Col. Young is injured during the escape effort and rendered unconscious. Although still suffering ill effects after regaining consciousness, he reassumes command and attempts to use the Stargate on the ship to dial back to Earth, an effort that even he admits may not work.
When the ship drops out of FTL and the gate dials out to an address on its own, Col. Young forms a team tasked with going through the gate and exploring the world for items that might be able to fix the ship’s defective air systems.
And that’s about the gist of things for now. Check back later for more info and characters as they become more prevalent.
Monday, September 28, 2009
This Job Is Easy...
A breakdown of the advice given to people with "problems" by "sex experts"
80%: Talk to spouse/lover about this issue.
15%: I wouldn't worry about it unless [name serious medical condition, usually pain or discomfort] is involved.
5%: You should see a doctor about that.
Which means even with my limited experience, I could be a sex expert and still make 4 out of 5 people happy with my answer. Yes. I'm sure that it's that simple. Take that, Anna David.
80%: Talk to spouse/lover about this issue.
15%: I wouldn't worry about it unless [name serious medical condition, usually pain or discomfort] is involved.
5%: You should see a doctor about that.
Which means even with my limited experience, I could be a sex expert and still make 4 out of 5 people happy with my answer. Yes. I'm sure that it's that simple. Take that, Anna David.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Random HouseKeeping
Jeez, even the HouseKeeping isn't on schedule. Anyways...
Just to let you know what's up, I've been busy, but not necessarily with things here. Okay, obviously I haven't been spending time here. Mea culpa and junk like that.
First, Planet Houston Podcast is still running strong. Yes, I've gotten a little... zanier, shall we say? But the fact remains that the show's still being produced. I at least have it worked down to the point where the show can be produced in around an hour. So it should stick around for the time being.
Also, I'm still sort of collecting essays and posts together for a compilation. No, I still don't have a timeline for that. No, I haven't worked on my other book like I was supposed to. I've been busy, and I hate to admit that confidence took a brief nosedive for a second or two. But talking someone else up managed to pick me back up, too, so back to work on that, also.
Also, as a testament to just how behind schedule I've been, this update on how far behind I've been has sat around as an unfinished draft for the better part of two weeks. That makes no sense, whatsoever.
But hang in there. We're still doing what we do, even if it takes us a little while to do it.
Just to let you know what's up, I've been busy, but not necessarily with things here. Okay, obviously I haven't been spending time here. Mea culpa and junk like that.
First, Planet Houston Podcast is still running strong. Yes, I've gotten a little... zanier, shall we say? But the fact remains that the show's still being produced. I at least have it worked down to the point where the show can be produced in around an hour. So it should stick around for the time being.
Also, I'm still sort of collecting essays and posts together for a compilation. No, I still don't have a timeline for that. No, I haven't worked on my other book like I was supposed to. I've been busy, and I hate to admit that confidence took a brief nosedive for a second or two. But talking someone else up managed to pick me back up, too, so back to work on that, also.
Also, as a testament to just how behind schedule I've been, this update on how far behind I've been has sat around as an unfinished draft for the better part of two weeks. That makes no sense, whatsoever.
But hang in there. We're still doing what we do, even if it takes us a little while to do it.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Abstract Thought of the Day
Friend: But if it bothers you to see that person's face pop up in your friend's list, then why don't you just drop them as a friend?
Me: ... see, you just don't understand Facebook.
Me: ... see, you just don't understand Facebook.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
House Rant: RE: Dear {Facebook User}
So late last week, I made a rant wherein I pretty much went nuts. And while I titled said rant Dear {Facebook User}, which I thought gave it some degree of ambiguity, I've heard enough feedback from various sources that I feel the need to clarify just who the target of said rant was. Or more specifically, who the target wasn't.
So just for the sake of clarity, if you read said rant, or if by chance you are reading this one, you can be relatively assured that you weren't being referenced. If you're one of a handful of people that have spoken to me about said rant, or any rant I've made recently, or any comments I've made at all, you can be pretty sure that you weren't being referenced.
In fact, odds are pretty good that, in general, you weren't being referenced. Especially since I wasn't singling anyone out. I thought I had been clear about that, but before I start worrying or antagonizing people I had intention of doing that to, I want to be clear. This was never about one specific person, several people, or a group or groups. It was, in fact, a generic style rant targeted at several items and issues that tend to annoy me in life, specifically my electronic one.
I guess you could say that this was more of a "me" thing. See, I have this awful tendency of feeling like I'm intruding in other people's lives. And I know, you're probably thinking, "What? No. You? Who wouldn't want you around? You're great and blah blah blah..." but if you are, then that's your perception. Mine is that most people's lives roll along just fine without me, so why would they particularly want or need me pushing into their happy flow? Mind you, this is a perception issue that I fight with on a regular basis, so I do sometimes put myself out there.
Then of course there is the issue of electronic familiarity. It's very easy to let the electronic age we live in temper our view of others, especially those we've had a link to in the past. It's far too easy to run into someone you haven't seen or spoken to in years and feel like they're still the old familiar friend that you knew way back when. And while that may well be the case, the truth is also that they may have drastically changed since then, for better or worse, and that they may not hold the same memories (fond or otherwise) that you do.
So putting the two items together, you have a timid, somewhat reluctant personality trying to reach out to people they feel like they should be familiar with while not necessarily sure if said familiarity still exists or if said people even want to have them around. It's a personal recipe for disaster if ever there was one.
So you can forgive me, if, instead of playing the old classic game of mail/phone tag that I am prone to, a game that can become depressingly one-sided at times, I instead decided to empower myself. Not necessarily Oprah-level, "You go, girl!" empowerment, but I wanted to make sure that I told myself not to get caught up in that sick, sad web where I wonder if I'm good enough to have someone spare time for. I thought about it, decided I was, and then maybe got just a little too, ahem, "vocal" about my feelings on it.
Rest assured, though, that edge aside, I'm not particularly looking to grind an axe with anyone specific here. If anything, I would hope that in reading it you would feel empowered by my position and take your own self-dependent attitude into your life. Although, if you were to see it and feel a little bad about not keeping in touch with anyone (not just me), then just drop whoever a line and be done with it. Or accept that you really don't want to be part of that person's life, and be done with that, too. But enough of that. I don't want to get all edgy again. That's what started this in the first place...
So just for the sake of clarity, if you read said rant, or if by chance you are reading this one, you can be relatively assured that you weren't being referenced. If you're one of a handful of people that have spoken to me about said rant, or any rant I've made recently, or any comments I've made at all, you can be pretty sure that you weren't being referenced.
In fact, odds are pretty good that, in general, you weren't being referenced. Especially since I wasn't singling anyone out. I thought I had been clear about that, but before I start worrying or antagonizing people I had intention of doing that to, I want to be clear. This was never about one specific person, several people, or a group or groups. It was, in fact, a generic style rant targeted at several items and issues that tend to annoy me in life, specifically my electronic one.
I guess you could say that this was more of a "me" thing. See, I have this awful tendency of feeling like I'm intruding in other people's lives. And I know, you're probably thinking, "What? No. You? Who wouldn't want you around? You're great and blah blah blah..." but if you are, then that's your perception. Mine is that most people's lives roll along just fine without me, so why would they particularly want or need me pushing into their happy flow? Mind you, this is a perception issue that I fight with on a regular basis, so I do sometimes put myself out there.
Then of course there is the issue of electronic familiarity. It's very easy to let the electronic age we live in temper our view of others, especially those we've had a link to in the past. It's far too easy to run into someone you haven't seen or spoken to in years and feel like they're still the old familiar friend that you knew way back when. And while that may well be the case, the truth is also that they may have drastically changed since then, for better or worse, and that they may not hold the same memories (fond or otherwise) that you do.
So putting the two items together, you have a timid, somewhat reluctant personality trying to reach out to people they feel like they should be familiar with while not necessarily sure if said familiarity still exists or if said people even want to have them around. It's a personal recipe for disaster if ever there was one.
So you can forgive me, if, instead of playing the old classic game of mail/phone tag that I am prone to, a game that can become depressingly one-sided at times, I instead decided to empower myself. Not necessarily Oprah-level, "You go, girl!" empowerment, but I wanted to make sure that I told myself not to get caught up in that sick, sad web where I wonder if I'm good enough to have someone spare time for. I thought about it, decided I was, and then maybe got just a little too, ahem, "vocal" about my feelings on it.
Rest assured, though, that edge aside, I'm not particularly looking to grind an axe with anyone specific here. If anything, I would hope that in reading it you would feel empowered by my position and take your own self-dependent attitude into your life. Although, if you were to see it and feel a little bad about not keeping in touch with anyone (not just me), then just drop whoever a line and be done with it. Or accept that you really don't want to be part of that person's life, and be done with that, too. But enough of that. I don't want to get all edgy again. That's what started this in the first place...
HouseKeeping: The Path of the Writer
So I mentioned a week or so ago that I would get around to publishing at least one item within the next year. I'm still not sure what exactly will come out, but I have had a few ideas for things that I think might work well.
The first idea would theoretically be the easiest, and that would be to just do a compilation of some of my better rants and essays here. In my head, that would be simpler than any of the editing and rewriting I'd have to do to get my previous work together, even though I would probably end up editing a lot of crap... er, gems of gold before I put them in book form. The con side would be that all (or most) of the material would be available for free on the site. But the pro side (and what I would probably aim for) is that I could include any of a number of items that I may have worked on but never gotten around to posting. A bit of a bonus incentive for all both of you that stop by regular enough to have read all of the stuff I've posted.
That's assuming that I really care about that as an action, anyway. Honestly, I'll probably buy a copy, and then that'll be the end of it. I've thought about doing something wacky like offering up the proceeds to charity. But then I'd have to find a charity, and then I'd have to pretend that someone would buy it. Still, stranger things have happened.
The other option is to throw one or more of my independent projects together and put it out there. That's a much bigger kettle of fish for me to fry, though. If nothing else, it puts me into the position of exposing some of my work to the public (even if the public, in this case, would be a limited capacity). That, and I'm not really in love with my first major effort. And I told myself I was saving my next major effort for my NaNoWriMo project this year. Still, I might just say screw it and put it out there, anyway. It's probably better than I think it is, and if nothing else, it sets up the lead characters for the other stuff I have planned for them.
So that's that. I'll figure out which of either path I'll be taking over the next month and change, and presumably something should be out there by the end of the year (or early next year... I make no huge promise on the timeline).
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Adventures in Baking Part 3: Even More Music
(to the tune of Peanut Butter Jelly Time)
It's Peanut Butter-Chocolate Time! Peanut Butter-Chocolate Time!
o/~Where he at, where he at, where he at, where he at?
Now there he go, there he go, there he go, there he go!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate!
If you all alone, then quit *itchin'
Just work it out in the kitchen.
If you mull on it, you'll get madder.
So just work it out with some batter.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate...
Do the Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, with a mixing spoon!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, they'll be all baked soon!o/~
It's Peanut Butter-Chocolate Time! Peanut Butter-Chocolate Time!
o/~Where he at, where he at, where he at, where he at?
Now there he go, there he go, there he go, there he go!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate!
If you all alone, then quit *itchin'
Just work it out in the kitchen.
If you mull on it, you'll get madder.
So just work it out with some batter.
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate...
Do the Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, with a mixing spoon!
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, Peanut Butter-Chocolate,
Peanut Butter-Chocolate, they'll be all baked soon!o/~
Friday, August 28, 2009
Abstract Thought of the Day
Twitter is a strange beast. It is odd to see DJ AM become a trending topic as reports that he has died start to circulate. But it is even odder to see Travis Barker trend as well based on the sheer volume of people commenting something like, "That guy that was in a crash with Travis Barker?"
House Rant: Dear {Facebook User}
(And for once, this is a true rant about something wherein I tend to go off a bit. Be warned that I don't pull punches here, and please, please consider this was more about me than about any specific person in my life. Do not take the sentiment presented here personally. Although, if you can glean some kind of insight from it, more power to you...)
Dear {Facebook User}:
I've been pondering this for a while now. And now that I really think about it, no one has a really good excuse for not keeping in touch with me. Sure, life, blah blah, lost track of etc., etc. Whatever. I spend way too much time and waste way too much brain power trying to generate valid reasons for people not to contact me. You know what? I'm sick of it.
I get it. Your life is full of other stuff, and it is a little tricky getting back into a flow where you can bring people into (or back into) your life. I completely understand. I'm there, too. Which is why I can say this with absolute clarity and sincerity. I don't care what your excuse is.
This is not me blaming you or chastising you or even calling you out (and I know, it seems like that's what I'm doing, but I'm not). This is me clearing a vent in the old pipes of self-regret, and you are, unfortunately, just a little too close to the exhaust. Just close your eyes and straighten your hair up afterwards.
This is less about trying to dig into you as a person (which frankly, I wouldn't do; that would be shortsighted and just a smidge mean) and more about me getting myself out of the funk that is feeling like someone, anyone, or maybe even everyone should want to interact with me. Mind you, I'm not a lonely hermit, living in the shell that is his house who barely sees the light of day. I have activities. I have outings. I have friends and family and all of that stuff, too.
Which is why, again, I can say with a somewhat clear conscience that if you wanted to dig a few minutes out of your day to drop a line or a buzz or a poke or a tweet or a zonk or whatever the trendy thing is to do these days, you could do it. I know it's possible, because many people manage to do it. I manage to do it. And considering how anti-social I can be at times, that's saying a lot.
But I understand. You can't really be everyone's pal, after all. I just got done saying that earlier this week. And while this is a bit heavy handed, it's pretty much the same sentiment.
So know this. I have no problem with occasionally chasing someone down to touch base or whatever, but I will not do it indefinitely. As much as I might like to see you, I will not beg to spend time with you. As much as I like talking to and hearing from you, it will not kill me if that does not occur. And as much as I might like to keep you somewhere in the web that is my life, after a set period of time I will cut you off. I have no choice. I have neither the time, patience, or emotional fortitude necessary to maintain a one-sided relationship of any sort at this point in my life. I'd wager that I never could. And to be perfectly blunt, I'm not sure that I'd ever like to be.
You deserve better than to be pestered by me when you could be spending time on something more relevant to you, and I deserve better than to lower myself to hounding you like some... well, hound dog when I could be spending time on people and things that might appreciate it more.
Sincerely,
Thomas Houston
P.S. Please accept my apologies if, by some odd turn of fate, one of any of a handful of things has occurred that might take precedence over keeping in touch (you or a family member in a coma or something like that). I'd feel like a pretty big ***hole if I tore into you over your priorities and then found out that you really had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Although... talking to a friend can help shoulder burdens. Hey, I'm just saying...
Dear {Facebook User}:
I've been pondering this for a while now. And now that I really think about it, no one has a really good excuse for not keeping in touch with me. Sure, life, blah blah, lost track of etc., etc. Whatever. I spend way too much time and waste way too much brain power trying to generate valid reasons for people not to contact me. You know what? I'm sick of it.
I get it. Your life is full of other stuff, and it is a little tricky getting back into a flow where you can bring people into (or back into) your life. I completely understand. I'm there, too. Which is why I can say this with absolute clarity and sincerity. I don't care what your excuse is.
This is not me blaming you or chastising you or even calling you out (and I know, it seems like that's what I'm doing, but I'm not). This is me clearing a vent in the old pipes of self-regret, and you are, unfortunately, just a little too close to the exhaust. Just close your eyes and straighten your hair up afterwards.
This is less about trying to dig into you as a person (which frankly, I wouldn't do; that would be shortsighted and just a smidge mean) and more about me getting myself out of the funk that is feeling like someone, anyone, or maybe even everyone should want to interact with me. Mind you, I'm not a lonely hermit, living in the shell that is his house who barely sees the light of day. I have activities. I have outings. I have friends and family and all of that stuff, too.
Which is why, again, I can say with a somewhat clear conscience that if you wanted to dig a few minutes out of your day to drop a line or a buzz or a poke or a tweet or a zonk or whatever the trendy thing is to do these days, you could do it. I know it's possible, because many people manage to do it. I manage to do it. And considering how anti-social I can be at times, that's saying a lot.
But I understand. You can't really be everyone's pal, after all. I just got done saying that earlier this week. And while this is a bit heavy handed, it's pretty much the same sentiment.
So know this. I have no problem with occasionally chasing someone down to touch base or whatever, but I will not do it indefinitely. As much as I might like to see you, I will not beg to spend time with you. As much as I like talking to and hearing from you, it will not kill me if that does not occur. And as much as I might like to keep you somewhere in the web that is my life, after a set period of time I will cut you off. I have no choice. I have neither the time, patience, or emotional fortitude necessary to maintain a one-sided relationship of any sort at this point in my life. I'd wager that I never could. And to be perfectly blunt, I'm not sure that I'd ever like to be.
You deserve better than to be pestered by me when you could be spending time on something more relevant to you, and I deserve better than to lower myself to hounding you like some... well, hound dog when I could be spending time on people and things that might appreciate it more.
Sincerely,
Thomas Houston
P.S. Please accept my apologies if, by some odd turn of fate, one of any of a handful of things has occurred that might take precedence over keeping in touch (you or a family member in a coma or something like that). I'd feel like a pretty big ***hole if I tore into you over your priorities and then found out that you really had the weight of the world on your shoulders. Although... talking to a friend can help shoulder burdens. Hey, I'm just saying...
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Abstract Thought of the Day
I don't know who to be more pissed off at: the idiot in the truck going 20 MPH that decided to cut in front of me, or the jerk behind me in the SUV with his freaking high beams on.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Words of Impact: The L-Word
(Part of an ongoing essay series involving the impact certain words have on our life. Although really, it's not all that serious...)
I've reached a point in my life where I've decided to openly embrace the L-word.
... No, not that L-word. I'm referring, of course, to "like". Much like I feel that friendship is an overused and underappreciated term, I think that the concept of liking someone or something is underrated, too.
Let's face facts here. The other L-word, "love" gets a lot of the spotlight in life. It's the glowy, sparkly beacon of all things great in the world, and the experience that makes it worth rolling out of bed in the morning (or into it, if you are one so inclined... but that's a whole other discussion).
It's pretty easy to get so sidetracked with the love issue that you end up oblivious to other factors. I've fallen victim to it many times. It's very, very easy to become wrapped up in a new love, the potential for love, a lack of love, or even the wistful memories of a love from the past (requited or that kind that I tend to end up with...).
But what tends to get lost in the shuffle is the simple notion of like. Generally, most people have someone that likes them. Quite a few people, in fact. Friends, family, coworkers, even random and assorted associates and strangers can like you as a person, whether they say so or not. And while we tend to take that for granted, it is no small thing. Having people that prefer you and enjoy your company far exceeds having people that couldn't be bothered to care or that outright hate you.
And most people in the world simply aren't going to love you. It's a fact that you might as well learn to deal with. Even if they say the words, even if you achieve sainthood, even if they write a song about you... you will not be universally loved. Which isn't to say that you'll be universally liked, but you have a better shot at that than the other thing.
And while it sucks to love someone and not have that love returned, the fact remains that more often than not, the person in question does still like you, just not necessarily the same way that you like them. In some cases, that may not even be true. They just may choose not to want to alter the state of your relationship the same way that you do. And while it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to get past your own sense of being scorned, you can always take consolation in the fact that they do have some measure of affection for you.
And if, in fact, someone does love you, you better darn well hope that they like you. Because despite what people might believe, it is possible to love someone but not necessarily like them. At best, it's some fringe relative that you feel obligated to because they're family. At worst... well, it's the stuff of Dateline specials and Lifetime movies.
So I'm choosing to embrace the "like" in the world. Which isn't to say that I don't want more love in my life. Quite the opposite. But while I don't have a small army of women chomping at the bit to love me (unless they're just really, really quiet chompers...), I have quite a few people in this world that like me. And that can be just as much, if not more fun and way more important in the long run than having the ever glorious love.
(... Except of course when you're missing that one thing, but like I said, that's a different discussion altogether...)
I've reached a point in my life where I've decided to openly embrace the L-word.
... No, not that L-word. I'm referring, of course, to "like". Much like I feel that friendship is an overused and underappreciated term, I think that the concept of liking someone or something is underrated, too.
Let's face facts here. The other L-word, "love" gets a lot of the spotlight in life. It's the glowy, sparkly beacon of all things great in the world, and the experience that makes it worth rolling out of bed in the morning (or into it, if you are one so inclined... but that's a whole other discussion).
It's pretty easy to get so sidetracked with the love issue that you end up oblivious to other factors. I've fallen victim to it many times. It's very, very easy to become wrapped up in a new love, the potential for love, a lack of love, or even the wistful memories of a love from the past (requited or that kind that I tend to end up with...).
But what tends to get lost in the shuffle is the simple notion of like. Generally, most people have someone that likes them. Quite a few people, in fact. Friends, family, coworkers, even random and assorted associates and strangers can like you as a person, whether they say so or not. And while we tend to take that for granted, it is no small thing. Having people that prefer you and enjoy your company far exceeds having people that couldn't be bothered to care or that outright hate you.
And most people in the world simply aren't going to love you. It's a fact that you might as well learn to deal with. Even if they say the words, even if you achieve sainthood, even if they write a song about you... you will not be universally loved. Which isn't to say that you'll be universally liked, but you have a better shot at that than the other thing.
And while it sucks to love someone and not have that love returned, the fact remains that more often than not, the person in question does still like you, just not necessarily the same way that you like them. In some cases, that may not even be true. They just may choose not to want to alter the state of your relationship the same way that you do. And while it can be very hard (and sometimes impossible) to get past your own sense of being scorned, you can always take consolation in the fact that they do have some measure of affection for you.
And if, in fact, someone does love you, you better darn well hope that they like you. Because despite what people might believe, it is possible to love someone but not necessarily like them. At best, it's some fringe relative that you feel obligated to because they're family. At worst... well, it's the stuff of Dateline specials and Lifetime movies.
So I'm choosing to embrace the "like" in the world. Which isn't to say that I don't want more love in my life. Quite the opposite. But while I don't have a small army of women chomping at the bit to love me (unless they're just really, really quiet chompers...), I have quite a few people in this world that like me. And that can be just as much, if not more fun and way more important in the long run than having the ever glorious love.
(... Except of course when you're missing that one thing, but like I said, that's a different discussion altogether...)
Words of Impact: The F-Word
(Part of an ongoing essay series involving the impact certain words have on our life. Although really, it's not all that serious...)
Life's a strange thing. We have all of these words that define who and what we are, but when it's said and done, we really can't define certain things.
Take the word "friend" for instance. We toss it around all the time to describe people we know and meet in life. But really, don't we toss it around a little too much? Or at the very least, a little too freely?
How many times have you ever called someone a friend not because you really felt that way about them but because you didn't want to imply that they weren't a friend while they were standing there? Or maybe you were talking to someone abut that person, and you felt like it would be more awkward to say anything other than "my friend' when referring to the person. We've all been there at some point or another.
One of the main problems we have with defining our relationships with others is that we tend to oversimplify the nature of those relationships. When it's all said and done, we only have the three categories of relationships to refer to people normally: strangers, friends, and "more than friends" (using whichever word we feel comfortable with to describe that type of relationship).
Yes, there are acquaintances and associates and coworkers and all those other words you can toss around. But we all know the truth about those, which is they essentially mean nothing. If you aren't at least a friend to someone, you're just a different class of stranger. Not that being unfamiliar with someone is such a huge crime. You can't be pals with everyone.
Really, we shouldn't take it so personally. It's only society's impression that everyone should love everyone that perpetuates the notion that every person in the world should be friends with everyone else (Barney the Dinosaur might have played some small part as well...). There's nothing inherently wrong with someone not being your friend and vice versa, but it does make one ponder the nature of friendship.
Granted, calling someone you aren't that close with a friend isn't a terrible thing, but it does set a bad precedent. Calling any random person you spend more than a few hours with a friend devalues the word for the people you really care about. Not to mention the fact that it subconsciously sets you up with the notion that the person is more important or trustworthy than they may be.
I've seen tons of cases where people claim that someone they've known for a few years from school or wherever are their best friends. This is generally followed by some event wherein the person then feels utterly betrayed or deceived by said best friend. This inevitably leads to someone shouting the phrase, "You're supposed to be my best friend!" or somesuch, when the truth is that the offended party really doesn't know the person well enough to be shocked by their behavior. And no, this doesn't just happen on Jerry Springer or Maury Povich.
I guess my point here is to say that friendship is in fact a pretty important gift to give and to receive. Try not to trivialize or underestimate the power of true friendship. And also, remember that only a small handful of people you meet in life will ever truly meet the standard of being called one.
Life's a strange thing. We have all of these words that define who and what we are, but when it's said and done, we really can't define certain things.
Take the word "friend" for instance. We toss it around all the time to describe people we know and meet in life. But really, don't we toss it around a little too much? Or at the very least, a little too freely?
How many times have you ever called someone a friend not because you really felt that way about them but because you didn't want to imply that they weren't a friend while they were standing there? Or maybe you were talking to someone abut that person, and you felt like it would be more awkward to say anything other than "my friend' when referring to the person. We've all been there at some point or another.
One of the main problems we have with defining our relationships with others is that we tend to oversimplify the nature of those relationships. When it's all said and done, we only have the three categories of relationships to refer to people normally: strangers, friends, and "more than friends" (using whichever word we feel comfortable with to describe that type of relationship).
Yes, there are acquaintances and associates and coworkers and all those other words you can toss around. But we all know the truth about those, which is they essentially mean nothing. If you aren't at least a friend to someone, you're just a different class of stranger. Not that being unfamiliar with someone is such a huge crime. You can't be pals with everyone.
Really, we shouldn't take it so personally. It's only society's impression that everyone should love everyone that perpetuates the notion that every person in the world should be friends with everyone else (Barney the Dinosaur might have played some small part as well...). There's nothing inherently wrong with someone not being your friend and vice versa, but it does make one ponder the nature of friendship.
Granted, calling someone you aren't that close with a friend isn't a terrible thing, but it does set a bad precedent. Calling any random person you spend more than a few hours with a friend devalues the word for the people you really care about. Not to mention the fact that it subconsciously sets you up with the notion that the person is more important or trustworthy than they may be.
I've seen tons of cases where people claim that someone they've known for a few years from school or wherever are their best friends. This is generally followed by some event wherein the person then feels utterly betrayed or deceived by said best friend. This inevitably leads to someone shouting the phrase, "You're supposed to be my best friend!" or somesuch, when the truth is that the offended party really doesn't know the person well enough to be shocked by their behavior. And no, this doesn't just happen on Jerry Springer or Maury Povich.
I guess my point here is to say that friendship is in fact a pretty important gift to give and to receive. Try not to trivialize or underestimate the power of true friendship. And also, remember that only a small handful of people you meet in life will ever truly meet the standard of being called one.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
F***ed Up: Fast Food Edition
I thought this was a joke at first, but apparently this is being tested in certain areas:
http://www.foodgeekery.com/reviews/double-down-with-kfc/
Why on earth would anyone think this was a good idea? I barely can convince myself that a single fillet is worth eating, but two as the bread? What did your arteries ever do to you?
http://www.foodgeekery.com/reviews/double-down-with-kfc/
Why on earth would anyone think this was a good idea? I barely can convince myself that a single fillet is worth eating, but two as the bread? What did your arteries ever do to you?
Monday, August 17, 2009
This Week's Housekeeping
... which shouldn't imply that this will become a weekly thing.
What to say, what to say... there is so much going on these days. First of all, Planet Houston Podcast is still going strong and will continue to do so for the near future. There will probably be a few more Tuesday evening broadcasts before it's all over, but the desire remains to keep doing it. Thanks to everyone who has and continues to offer support.
Also, I have to announce that I am now on Twitter. Yes, I gave into the darkness within, but it does seem to have its uses. If nothing else, it could provide more access for some of the other things I am working on.
And speaking of that, you may have noticed that I posted several excerpts from a former writing project of mine (items that all one of you commented on... grumble, grumble...). Well, I've been bouncing around the idea, and looking at this Lulu.com thing that a few people I know seem to be utilizing, and I've decided... why not? So sometime in the not so near future (probably early next year at the rate of progress I seem to move at), I will publish... something. Whether it's going to be a previous project, some new project, or some compilation of old items, I can't say. But at some point, I will need some support... the moral kind if not the financial kind.
So that's what I'm up to. Unfortunately, it means a somewhat major commitment for me, but the end result should be a pretty good thing. I hope. At least I can always say that I did it.
What to say, what to say... there is so much going on these days. First of all, Planet Houston Podcast is still going strong and will continue to do so for the near future. There will probably be a few more Tuesday evening broadcasts before it's all over, but the desire remains to keep doing it. Thanks to everyone who has and continues to offer support.
Also, I have to announce that I am now on Twitter. Yes, I gave into the darkness within, but it does seem to have its uses. If nothing else, it could provide more access for some of the other things I am working on.
And speaking of that, you may have noticed that I posted several excerpts from a former writing project of mine (items that all one of you commented on... grumble, grumble...). Well, I've been bouncing around the idea, and looking at this Lulu.com thing that a few people I know seem to be utilizing, and I've decided... why not? So sometime in the not so near future (probably early next year at the rate of progress I seem to move at), I will publish... something. Whether it's going to be a previous project, some new project, or some compilation of old items, I can't say. But at some point, I will need some support... the moral kind if not the financial kind.
So that's what I'm up to. Unfortunately, it means a somewhat major commitment for me, but the end result should be a pretty good thing. I hope. At least I can always say that I did it.
House Review: GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra
As noted in the film's credits, GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra is based off of the Hasbro toy line. But much like its rival film, Transformers, you may as well credit the animated series and comic book for the characters' popularity. In fact, I'd wager that most people would remember the cartoon as the primary source of the characters.As characters go, you already know the primaries. Despite the potential depth of both the Joe and Cobra teams, the on screen rosters consist mainly of the characters you have already heard about or seen. This is actually a good thing, as it lets the characters have some chance to have some focus.
The film itself has a relatively straightforward plot. When Conrad "Duke" Hauser (Channing Tatum) and his pal Ripcord (Marlon Wayans) are ambushed during a military escort mission, they stumble into a world of global terrorists and the specially trained force that combats them.
Okay, so that sounds really formal and all, but it's just a pretense for the heroes to fight the bad guys. Seriously, this film is not an intricately laid tale of espionage and intrigue (although there may be an odd twist or two tossed in at points). It is, at its core, an action adventure flick based around a toy line. In that respect, it does a decent enough job with storytelling.
That isn't to say that there aren't problems with the story. There are plot holes that you could drive a Mack truck through, and the only way you can truly enjoy the film is if you're capable of shutting off the part of your brain that asks sensible questions. Trying to wrap your head around why either team's base is built the way it is, for example, will melt your mind into pudding.
But to its credit, there does appear to be some work done to keep the story gelled. Some items are contrived, but they are at least contrived in a way that keeps the story elements together. There are points where both the hero and villain teams meet with partial success, and most of the primary characters have at least a few moments where they step out of their cookie cutter molds and become more than just generic toy soldiers.
Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that no one character(s) truly stands out as an exceptional performance. Christopher Eccleston's performance as McCullen/Destro might have fit the bill if I wasn't constantly dragged under by his bonus deep accent. And while I wanted to like Tatum and his portrayal of Duke, I couldn't get past the notion of him being a "new" recruit, even if it was shown that he was an exceptional and experienced soldier. Dennis Quaid's Falcon was pretty solid, but lacked screen time (even if he actually had more scenes added to the film than he originally was supposed to... he was that good). And everyone else falls just above or below adequate.
I will note, though, that despite some people's apprehension, Marlon Wayans does put in a solid performance as Ripcord. Sure, he does get played for laughs at times, but you know going in that it was going to happen, and he still manages to give the character some heart. And despite being trapped in yet another masked/non-speaking role, Ray Park manages to breath life into Snake Eyes (who gets just enough action scenes in the film to satisfy any fan).
Aesthetically, the film... well, it is an action flick, right? Stuff blows up. It does get a bit effects crazy at times, but again (and let's beat this drum one more time) it's expected. There was a point where I started to wonder why they didn't just make the film completely in CGI for all the effects that were going on. And I swear, if I have to sit through one more shaky-cam action scene... We get it, Hollywood. Combat is chaotic. That doesn't mean that I want to have a seizure while watching one.
And speaking of the fighting... yikes. I remember saying that the violence level of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen was disturbingly high, and while this film may do a little better, there are still some rather rough moments along the way. And not just a "no parachutes" kind of rough. The fact that a certain Joe seemed to have a preoccupation with headshots (even if the end results were conveniently masked most of the time) might be a little unsettling for the younger crowd.
All in all, you'll take from the film what you put into it. If you want to trash it and pick it apart, there is more than enough fodder for you to pick at. If you can sit around and enjoy a little mindless summer popcorn flick, then you could do worse than checking out GI Joe.
Overall Rating (out of 10): 5.5 (Just average, but it gets a slight bump for having to deal with being an origin flick.)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
When Revengance Goes Wrong...
Long time, no see, mi compadres.
I just figured I'd stop by and leave this commentary, since I posted it elsewhere concerning the item and I got long-winded to actually fit here.
Apparently what happened was some guy by the name of Ryan ran into comic artist Rob Liefeld at a convention, and decided to... "get his revenge". He recounts the details here. I hear people saying that this Ryan guy was genius or a hero, and that Rob somehow mishandled the situation, and to them and others, I say this:
This Ryan guy was an idiot. And to anyone saying that Rob handled it badly... what exactly was Rob supposed to do in that situation? Actually apologize? Confronting some guy that shows up and demands an apology for something you did over a decade ago as if you somehow personally injured him would only cause more of a scene. I don't know if a thanks and a nod off was the perfect way to go about it, but it certainly was non-aggressive and bordering on polite.
But instead of letting it go at that, Ryan decides, "Hey, let's be more of a douche than we were before," and gives Rob a "gift". Note that despite what he claims Rob's reaction was, Rob appears to be relatively unaffected in the short clip he posted. If anything, I'd imagine he might be slightly concerned that some passive-aggressive geek loser was going to stalk him for the rest of the day. Which honestly, Rob doesn't deserve.
I feel horrible siding with Rob on this one, but there's really no reason to do something like this to someone. Especially when it's less about you being an injured party and more about trying to harass an artist that was paid to do a job and did it (whether or not it was liked). I don't mind someone being critical of an artist/writer, but no one put a gun to anyone's head and forced them to buy Rob's work.
But I do fault Rob for one thing. He didn't manage to go the extra step I would have and laugh at the situation. Because really, how much more deflated would that attempt have been if he and whoever it was at the table with him just shared a short laugh over someone wasting that much time and effort and then went right on back to earning a paycheck?
I just figured I'd stop by and leave this commentary, since I posted it elsewhere concerning the item and I got long-winded to actually fit here.
Apparently what happened was some guy by the name of Ryan ran into comic artist Rob Liefeld at a convention, and decided to... "get his revenge". He recounts the details here. I hear people saying that this Ryan guy was genius or a hero, and that Rob somehow mishandled the situation, and to them and others, I say this:
This Ryan guy was an idiot. And to anyone saying that Rob handled it badly... what exactly was Rob supposed to do in that situation? Actually apologize? Confronting some guy that shows up and demands an apology for something you did over a decade ago as if you somehow personally injured him would only cause more of a scene. I don't know if a thanks and a nod off was the perfect way to go about it, but it certainly was non-aggressive and bordering on polite.
But instead of letting it go at that, Ryan decides, "Hey, let's be more of a douche than we were before," and gives Rob a "gift". Note that despite what he claims Rob's reaction was, Rob appears to be relatively unaffected in the short clip he posted. If anything, I'd imagine he might be slightly concerned that some passive-aggressive geek loser was going to stalk him for the rest of the day. Which honestly, Rob doesn't deserve.
I feel horrible siding with Rob on this one, but there's really no reason to do something like this to someone. Especially when it's less about you being an injured party and more about trying to harass an artist that was paid to do a job and did it (whether or not it was liked). I don't mind someone being critical of an artist/writer, but no one put a gun to anyone's head and forced them to buy Rob's work.
But I do fault Rob for one thing. He didn't manage to go the extra step I would have and laugh at the situation. Because really, how much more deflated would that attempt have been if he and whoever it was at the table with him just shared a short laugh over someone wasting that much time and effort and then went right on back to earning a paycheck?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Some Minor HouseKeeping
Minus all that soup stuff that my bud Ivan talks about. Mainly because he took the only can of soup that I'd use...
So the blog has gone a bit... absent the past week or so. I've been working on stuff, for reals. Granted, I've mostly been working, but I've done some writing, too. In fact, I'm working on a series of short works/observations that I'm tentatively calling "Words of Impact".
It's a closer look at a few words that we may tend to overlook or take for granted at times. I guess my "Perspective" essay could be considered the opening volley of that exchange. I have a handful more that I'm working on, but I still need more time to refine them, lest they all end up sounding like they're just me babbling about same thing over and over again. And nobody wants to be Bill Cathcart.
Oh, snap! WTO-see you later, dawg! handle that burn.
Anyways, expect to see those in some way shape or form starting this weekend. I hope. One can never tell for certain.
So the blog has gone a bit... absent the past week or so. I've been working on stuff, for reals. Granted, I've mostly been working, but I've done some writing, too. In fact, I'm working on a series of short works/observations that I'm tentatively calling "Words of Impact".
It's a closer look at a few words that we may tend to overlook or take for granted at times. I guess my "Perspective" essay could be considered the opening volley of that exchange. I have a handful more that I'm working on, but I still need more time to refine them, lest they all end up sounding like they're just me babbling about same thing over and over again. And nobody wants to be Bill Cathcart.
Oh, snap! WTO-see you later, dawg! handle that burn.
Anyways, expect to see those in some way shape or form starting this weekend. I hope. One can never tell for certain.
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