But....but....Oh hell, I'll just go with it. Clash of the Titans, people! Get Ready to Rumble!
I feel like something inside me just died. And yet...ooh! Exciting! Apparently all you have to do to get me to like a trailer is to use a power metal soundtrack and include a lot of growling and quick cuts of slashes and grimacing faces. Whee!
(I don't get it. They look pretty color-coordinated to me...)
I feel like something inside me just died. And yet...ooh! Exciting! Apparently all you have to do to get me to like a trailer is to use a power metal soundtrack and include a lot of growling and quick cuts of slashes and grimacing faces. Whee!
(I don't get it. They look pretty color-coordinated to me...)
Flash-Forward
Imagine it's 20 years in the future and you're invited to a Naughties Party where you can party like it's a few years after 1999! You're encouraged to come in costume.
Poll #1483208 Re-live the Naughties!
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 3
Imagine it's 20 years in the future and you're invited to a Naughties Party where you can party like it's a few years after 1999! You're encouraged to come in costume.
Poll #1483208 Re-live the Naughties!
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 3
How do you dress?
What song do you make the DJ play?
What song do you pay the DJ not to play?
What vintage catch phrase is that annoying guy you wish you could've forgotten about throwing at everyone who tries to slip past him?
Seeking Music
Okay, Livejournal people, I need songs about personal growth. Whaddya got?
Okay, Livejournal people, I need songs about personal growth. Whaddya got?
Writer's Block: What is your muse?
Unfortunately, yes. That's why I write, or compose, or design. I don't do it for myself because that stuff is already in my head. The point is to get this stuff out of my head in a form that I can show it to others. I guess you can say it enhances the creative process because otherwise it wouldn't happen. And I suppose it impedes the progress if I think someone won't like it or if I think there's no interest in it.
Obviously I'm doing it all wrong. I wonder if anyone else thinks like this.
Unfortunately, yes. That's why I write, or compose, or design. I don't do it for myself because that stuff is already in my head. The point is to get this stuff out of my head in a form that I can show it to others. I guess you can say it enhances the creative process because otherwise it wouldn't happen. And I suppose it impedes the progress if I think someone won't like it or if I think there's no interest in it.
Obviously I'm doing it all wrong. I wonder if anyone else thinks like this.
A Gleeful Noise?
I started watching "Glee" through Hulu ('cause they're aliens). As a consequence, I now have the song "Gold Digger" stuck in my head. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I've never heard the original version of the song. And I've only heard the "Glee" version once. Do you know what version is stuck in my head? The Weird Al polka version. Over and over.
[EDIT] Decided to go ahead and listen to the Kanye version. Had a strong urge to interrupt it halfway through to inform him that the Glee version was better.
I started watching "Glee" through Hulu ('cause they're aliens). As a consequence, I now have the song "Gold Digger" stuck in my head. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I've never heard the original version of the song. And I've only heard the "Glee" version once. Do you know what version is stuck in my head? The Weird Al polka version. Over and over.
[EDIT] Decided to go ahead and listen to the Kanye version. Had a strong urge to interrupt it halfway through to inform him that the Glee version was better.
New New Nightmare!
A Nightmare on Elm Street in HD
Not a bad trailer. I kinda like it. Except for one thing: Freddy speaks in the beginning of the trailer like he's innocent of the accusations. Does that mean he didn't really kill those children in this version? I'm not sure how that works. I mean, I get how it can add a layer of sympathy for the character and that maybe in some sick way these kids deserve to get slaughtered in their dreams for their parents' mistake. Hmm, maybe that's simply how the story translates now from the 80s.
Think about it. The 80s was the decade of excess. Freddy was a guy who just couldn't get enough. He indulged in his fantasies in life as much as he could and simply continued after his death, dreaming up ever more elaborate ways to torture and kill. He didn't go after just the naughty teenagers. He went after everybody, innocent or guilty.
But now, perhaps there's a bid to add a bit of a moral about personal responsibility to the story. In both stories, the parents are punished for daring to bypass the normal wheels of justice and take matters into their own hands. But in the 80s they're justified. They simply didn't count on Freddy not being able to die. Now, they're just blind and misguided and created a creature of evil out of an innocent man? hmm.
This is all speculation based on a couple of lines. I really don't know how they changed the plot.
A Nightmare on Elm Street in HD
Not a bad trailer. I kinda like it. Except for one thing: Freddy speaks in the beginning of the trailer like he's innocent of the accusations. Does that mean he didn't really kill those children in this version? I'm not sure how that works. I mean, I get how it can add a layer of sympathy for the character and that maybe in some sick way these kids deserve to get slaughtered in their dreams for their parents' mistake. Hmm, maybe that's simply how the story translates now from the 80s.
Think about it. The 80s was the decade of excess. Freddy was a guy who just couldn't get enough. He indulged in his fantasies in life as much as he could and simply continued after his death, dreaming up ever more elaborate ways to torture and kill. He didn't go after just the naughty teenagers. He went after everybody, innocent or guilty.
But now, perhaps there's a bid to add a bit of a moral about personal responsibility to the story. In both stories, the parents are punished for daring to bypass the normal wheels of justice and take matters into their own hands. But in the 80s they're justified. They simply didn't count on Freddy not being able to die. Now, they're just blind and misguided and created a creature of evil out of an innocent man? hmm.
This is all speculation based on a couple of lines. I really don't know how they changed the plot.
Dollhouse Season Premiere
Remember this post?
Bastard did it to us again having them almost kiss in a flashback. I wonder if it's going to be a yearly theme.
Current Mood:
amused
Remember this post?
Bastard did it to us again having them almost kiss in a flashback. I wonder if it's going to be a yearly theme.
Current Mood:
amusedLinux "Supplies!"
I've been using Ubuntu Linux now for several years now and I'm amazed at how quickly it's advancing. It should not be easier than Windows, and yet I can install it now and everything "just works." I actually have to do more to get things working when I install Windows these days. Granted, I'm still using XP because the main program I installed Windows to use doesn't work with Vista. (I don't know about 7.)
Of course it still has its problems. The latest Ubuntu doesn't work with some older graphics cards I discovered. The solution (so far) is to downgrade bits of the OS. Irritating. On the other hand, if you have a graphics card that uses proprietary drivers, it's just a matter of clicking a button and Ubuntu says, "Oh hai! There are proprietary drivers available. Wanna use 'em?" And it's kinda done.
Just recently I learned that the screensaver controller I'd been using, gnomesaver, the one that has no way to change preferences, is not the best option. It's simply the default for Ubuntu. Why? I have no idea. Because the one it replaced, Xscreensaver, is awesome! It's fully customizable and has about a hundred more screensavers! I'm having a giggly good time configuring stuff, like my Star Wars scrolling screensaver now uses the opening monologues from all the seasons of Babylon 5. It did require manually disabling gnomesaver and I'd have to jump through some hoops to actually uninstall it, but it's good for now.
Anyway, Linux is fun. Just thought I'd share.
I've been using Ubuntu Linux now for several years now and I'm amazed at how quickly it's advancing. It should not be easier than Windows, and yet I can install it now and everything "just works." I actually have to do more to get things working when I install Windows these days. Granted, I'm still using XP because the main program I installed Windows to use doesn't work with Vista. (I don't know about 7.)
Of course it still has its problems. The latest Ubuntu doesn't work with some older graphics cards I discovered. The solution (so far) is to downgrade bits of the OS. Irritating. On the other hand, if you have a graphics card that uses proprietary drivers, it's just a matter of clicking a button and Ubuntu says, "Oh hai! There are proprietary drivers available. Wanna use 'em?" And it's kinda done.
Just recently I learned that the screensaver controller I'd been using, gnomesaver, the one that has no way to change preferences, is not the best option. It's simply the default for Ubuntu. Why? I have no idea. Because the one it replaced, Xscreensaver, is awesome! It's fully customizable and has about a hundred more screensavers! I'm having a giggly good time configuring stuff, like my Star Wars scrolling screensaver now uses the opening monologues from all the seasons of Babylon 5. It did require manually disabling gnomesaver and I'd have to jump through some hoops to actually uninstall it, but it's good for now.
Anyway, Linux is fun. Just thought I'd share.
QOTD
We must strive for excellence in everything we do. Except the Hokey Pokey. You can go ahead and phone that in.
We must strive for excellence in everything we do. Except the Hokey Pokey. You can go ahead and phone that in.
Happy 9/9/9!
Last night on a whim I decided to try making a 999 icon for today in Photoshop based on the 666 icon I have, and then I sort of went forward and tried experimenting with After Effects a bit. Then I fed that back into Photoshop to create an animated gif. I decided not to bother to try to make it small enough for Livejournal icons. That's often a very frustrating journey.
It's not perfect, but it's cute.
And then I fed that into Pro Tools and made a quick 10 second theme.
I find this all rather neat, but it's frustrating that I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to come up with a logo for my web page and have so far failed, yet this just popped up and I did all this in a few hours. So apparently I can pretty much do anything if I'm inspired to do so. Too bad I don't get inspired much.
Last night on a whim I decided to try making a 999 icon for today in Photoshop based on the 666 icon I have, and then I sort of went forward and tried experimenting with After Effects a bit. Then I fed that back into Photoshop to create an animated gif. I decided not to bother to try to make it small enough for Livejournal icons. That's often a very frustrating journey.
It's not perfect, but it's cute.
And then I fed that into Pro Tools and made a quick 10 second theme.
I find this all rather neat, but it's frustrating that I've spent the past couple of weeks trying to come up with a logo for my web page and have so far failed, yet this just popped up and I did all this in a few hours. So apparently I can pretty much do anything if I'm inspired to do so. Too bad I don't get inspired much.
Oh my.
Thanks to someone on Facebook, I now know the existence of this particularly interesting-looking slide:
And then one my own I found this fun-looking bouncy castle:
Somebody has got to bring these things together! A slide that shoots kids right into a bouncy castle? Genius! Why, a venture like that could trigger a growth spurt in the manufacture of both toys!
Current Mood: amused
Thanks to someone on Facebook, I now know the existence of this particularly interesting-looking slide:
And then one my own I found this fun-looking bouncy castle:
Somebody has got to bring these things together! A slide that shoots kids right into a bouncy castle? Genius! Why, a venture like that could trigger a growth spurt in the manufacture of both toys!
Current Mood:
amusedWell. Didn't see that comin'.
DISNEY TO ACQUIRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT
Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
So far, the response from the fan community has been a resounding, "Umm...what?"
[EDIT] This article puts it into perspective nicely.
DISNEY TO ACQUIRE MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT
Burbank, CA and New York, NY, August 31, 2009 —Building on its strategy of delivering quality branded content to people around the world, The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS) has agreed to acquire Marvel Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:MVL) in a stock and cash transaction, the companies announced today.
So far, the response from the fan community has been a resounding, "Umm...what?"
[EDIT] This article puts it into perspective nicely.
Books
There's a meme that's been floating around for a while about writing down the names of 15 books in 15 minutes. Books that "will always stay with you." I hesitated doing it for a long time but finally gave it a shot. Man, that's hard. I mean, to come up with 15 particular books that made an impact on you? Why some books and not others? And what sort of impact? I mean, I'll always remember Lord Jim because I absolutely despised being forced to read it. I remember crying because I just couldn't get through the damn book! I know I read it, but I couldn't tell you a bloody thing about it. And because of it I hate Joseph Conrad with a vengeance.
I remember lots of moments from books, but not necessarily the overall books. I spent five minutes trying to figure out one book because it turned out I got the title wrong. all I really remember about the book is a scene in a garden at night when children watch statues come to life. I remember them riding around inside a hollow elephant. I thought it was The Time Garden. I further thought it was written by Edith Nesbit. Turns out I was right about the author but wrong about the book. The Enchanted Castle is important to me because I remember it being the first "big" book I read. I believe it was nearly 200 pages which was amazingly big to me at that age, whenever that was. I was possibly in third grade? Anyway, it was a great triumph to me but I knew no one else would care. Edith Nesbit was an author who was very special to me as a child. I must've gone through three of her books before I realized that she had died in 1924. I was shocked that I was reading something so old and hadn't noticed and was enjoying it! And it struck me that once I read all of her books there would never be any more. I was saddened.
And then there are series that mean a lot to me but I can't pin it down to one book. And of course there are short stories from books I don't remember. And then there are books with short stories where...I remember the name of the anthology, but I don't remember the names of the stories or the authors. I do however remember the content. I was 12 when I read an anthology called New Dimensions 11. It featured a story about a spaceship being navigated by teenagers who steered the ship via sexual fantasies. And there was a "furry" story in there that really opened my mind to possibilities I had never thought of before. Ah, youth.
There are books I remember because of when I read them. They just happened to be exactly what I needed to read right then. Like The Girl with the Silver Eyes and Interview With the Vampire. The former gave me something to hold onto when I made the transition into junior high. And the latter possibly kept me from committing suicide in college.
I knew when I was doing this list that I'd forget something and kick myself about it. I totally forgot The Golden Compass which I adore very much and it really pulled things inside me. And there's Ender's Game. No matter what I think of the author now, I'll always think of that book very fondly. When panicked I sometimes find myself muttering, "Remember, the enemy's gate is down!" And I really should have included Stranger in a Strange Land. I just remembered that it taught me how to kiss.
I didn't even bother thinking about comic books. That would be way too confusing.
So anyway, here's my list. I did it more or less in 15 minutes. Possibly more. Okay, probably half an hour. But I tried.
( 15 Books )
Maybe there should be another meme where you take 10 books that have added something positive to your life and talk about them, and take as long as you like.
There's a meme that's been floating around for a while about writing down the names of 15 books in 15 minutes. Books that "will always stay with you." I hesitated doing it for a long time but finally gave it a shot. Man, that's hard. I mean, to come up with 15 particular books that made an impact on you? Why some books and not others? And what sort of impact? I mean, I'll always remember Lord Jim because I absolutely despised being forced to read it. I remember crying because I just couldn't get through the damn book! I know I read it, but I couldn't tell you a bloody thing about it. And because of it I hate Joseph Conrad with a vengeance.
I remember lots of moments from books, but not necessarily the overall books. I spent five minutes trying to figure out one book because it turned out I got the title wrong. all I really remember about the book is a scene in a garden at night when children watch statues come to life. I remember them riding around inside a hollow elephant. I thought it was The Time Garden. I further thought it was written by Edith Nesbit. Turns out I was right about the author but wrong about the book. The Enchanted Castle is important to me because I remember it being the first "big" book I read. I believe it was nearly 200 pages which was amazingly big to me at that age, whenever that was. I was possibly in third grade? Anyway, it was a great triumph to me but I knew no one else would care. Edith Nesbit was an author who was very special to me as a child. I must've gone through three of her books before I realized that she had died in 1924. I was shocked that I was reading something so old and hadn't noticed and was enjoying it! And it struck me that once I read all of her books there would never be any more. I was saddened.
And then there are series that mean a lot to me but I can't pin it down to one book. And of course there are short stories from books I don't remember. And then there are books with short stories where...I remember the name of the anthology, but I don't remember the names of the stories or the authors. I do however remember the content. I was 12 when I read an anthology called New Dimensions 11. It featured a story about a spaceship being navigated by teenagers who steered the ship via sexual fantasies. And there was a "furry" story in there that really opened my mind to possibilities I had never thought of before. Ah, youth.
There are books I remember because of when I read them. They just happened to be exactly what I needed to read right then. Like The Girl with the Silver Eyes and Interview With the Vampire. The former gave me something to hold onto when I made the transition into junior high. And the latter possibly kept me from committing suicide in college.
I knew when I was doing this list that I'd forget something and kick myself about it. I totally forgot The Golden Compass which I adore very much and it really pulled things inside me. And there's Ender's Game. No matter what I think of the author now, I'll always think of that book very fondly. When panicked I sometimes find myself muttering, "Remember, the enemy's gate is down!" And I really should have included Stranger in a Strange Land. I just remembered that it taught me how to kiss.
I didn't even bother thinking about comic books. That would be way too confusing.
So anyway, here's my list. I did it more or less in 15 minutes. Possibly more. Okay, probably half an hour. But I tried.
( 15 Books )
Maybe there should be another meme where you take 10 books that have added something positive to your life and talk about them, and take as long as you like.
Bright light! Bright light!
For the past couple of days I've been very sensitive to light. I swore it got brighter at work and it was giving me a headache. I was seriously considering picking up a pair of sunglasses just to sit in my cube. I'm better now though. Light levels are back to normal.
It's a pity. I was kinda hoping I was turning into a vampire.
For the past couple of days I've been very sensitive to light. I swore it got brighter at work and it was giving me a headache. I was seriously considering picking up a pair of sunglasses just to sit in my cube. I'm better now though. Light levels are back to normal.
It's a pity. I was kinda hoping I was turning into a vampire.
Specialized Knowledge
Every once in a while I come across something that I thought was common knowledge but actually turns out to be some bit of esoteric knowledge that only I know. Sometimes it's cool, sometimes it makes me feel strange and inadequate.
Today coworkers were talking about what they would want to do for their weddings--just passing time, you know--and I mentioned that I'd like the Tower of Power horns there. And they looked at me like I was crazy. "The what?" And for a moment I thought I'd made up their existence. But no, they're real. So I wonder if it's an age thing, or a subculture thing, or what. Am I just getting old?
So I need to ask:
Poll #1433673 Tower of Power
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 38
Every once in a while I come across something that I thought was common knowledge but actually turns out to be some bit of esoteric knowledge that only I know. Sometimes it's cool, sometimes it makes me feel strange and inadequate.
Today coworkers were talking about what they would want to do for their weddings--just passing time, you know--and I mentioned that I'd like the Tower of Power horns there. And they looked at me like I was crazy. "The what?" And for a moment I thought I'd made up their existence. But no, they're real. So I wonder if it's an age thing, or a subculture thing, or what. Am I just getting old?
So I need to ask:
Poll #1433673 Tower of Power
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 38
Have you heard of the Tower of Power?
View Answers
Head OF them, yeah. Never actually heard them.
5 (13.2%)
Hell, yeah! 9 (23.7%)
Maybe. I'm not sure. 5 (13.2%)
Who? 19 (50.0%)
thoughtful*gasp* YES! OH YES!
*pant, pant, pant*
I must have this game!!!
I...I can't feel my legs.
Current Mood:
excited
*pant, pant, pant*
I must have this game!!!
I...I can't feel my legs.
Current Mood:
excitedheh
Seeing this metaquote made me want to have kids:
Robbie, only 3-years old, says to his mother![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif)
katrinb last week:
"Why did you give me a Wall-E bowl and a Spiderman plate when they're in different universes?"
Ah, that takes me back. I had Spider-Man wallpaper and Superman sheets growing up. Somehow I instinctively knew this was wrong, but I liked them anyway.
Seeing this metaquote made me want to have kids:
Robbie, only 3-years old, says to his mother
katrinb last week:"Why did you give me a Wall-E bowl and a Spiderman plate when they're in different universes?"
Ah, that takes me back. I had Spider-Man wallpaper and Superman sheets growing up. Somehow I instinctively knew this was wrong, but I liked them anyway.
Recent Deaths
I suppose I've had a weird relationship with death. I never really knew how to react to it. And it's hard faking feeling things like grief. Yes, I do actually feel grief over certain deaths, but the majority, no. And I sometimes feel bad about not feeling bad. Anyway, I thought I'd post about the three recent celebrity deaths.
Ed McMahon: Honestly, I was under the impression he was already dead. Thus, I was surprised to hear about his death.
Farrah Fawcett: I do have a memory of her being part of my childhood. I remember her as vaguely connected to the Six Million Dollar Man, but I can't even remember why right now. So her death doesn't really affect me. Before she died, though, I did see some footage of Barbara Walters talking to her boyfriend that really touched me. His love for her was apparent.
Michael Jackson: I think I simply felt a bit of shock and incredulity. To me, MJ represented magic, fantasy, and the wish to live forever. He escaped an abusive childhood and attempted to recreate himself in his own image. His music videos were full of his dreams to become a magical creature, some mythological thing that can't be defined by reality. MJ's world was a world where everyone danced and nothing was truly dangerous. A heart attack at fifty? No way! Michael Jackson should die saving the world from a horde of dancing aliens! This is just wrong!
I mentioned yesterday that the slowness of Livejournal and Facebook was only a "Moonwalker" virus slowly taking shape into Mike Headroom, because the man surely had a contingency plan for immortality. I hope that in the years to come tabloids will post fuzzy pictures of MJ-like people in odd places and quote witnesses saying they saw him eating a burger in some out of the way diner. He deserves that. He will live forever in our culture.
Heh. Strangely, I didn't feel any grief until I wrote that. Weird. Also, read what Roger Ebert had to say about him.
I suppose I've had a weird relationship with death. I never really knew how to react to it. And it's hard faking feeling things like grief. Yes, I do actually feel grief over certain deaths, but the majority, no. And I sometimes feel bad about not feeling bad. Anyway, I thought I'd post about the three recent celebrity deaths.
Ed McMahon: Honestly, I was under the impression he was already dead. Thus, I was surprised to hear about his death.
Farrah Fawcett: I do have a memory of her being part of my childhood. I remember her as vaguely connected to the Six Million Dollar Man, but I can't even remember why right now. So her death doesn't really affect me. Before she died, though, I did see some footage of Barbara Walters talking to her boyfriend that really touched me. His love for her was apparent.
Michael Jackson: I think I simply felt a bit of shock and incredulity. To me, MJ represented magic, fantasy, and the wish to live forever. He escaped an abusive childhood and attempted to recreate himself in his own image. His music videos were full of his dreams to become a magical creature, some mythological thing that can't be defined by reality. MJ's world was a world where everyone danced and nothing was truly dangerous. A heart attack at fifty? No way! Michael Jackson should die saving the world from a horde of dancing aliens! This is just wrong!
I mentioned yesterday that the slowness of Livejournal and Facebook was only a "Moonwalker" virus slowly taking shape into Mike Headroom, because the man surely had a contingency plan for immortality. I hope that in the years to come tabloids will post fuzzy pictures of MJ-like people in odd places and quote witnesses saying they saw him eating a burger in some out of the way diner. He deserves that. He will live forever in our culture.
Heh. Strangely, I didn't feel any grief until I wrote that. Weird. Also, read what Roger Ebert had to say about him.