One reader asked recently if I'm going to crossdress for Halloween this year. I'm not. I do really want to. I really, really, really want to. I just don't have a party to go to. Over the weekend some friends and I met at a bar to have a "surprise" birthday party for me and the bar had a costume contest that I didn't know about. Had I know, I might have dressed up. There was one guy dressed as a cocktail waitress and the other as a Playboy bunny, both quite comical. And being comical is the key to pulling it off. Had I dressed up and not been, people might have thought that I was much too comfortable and at ease in women's clothes for just Halloween. And I think my outfit would have fit me much better then theirs did.
Oh, and the Buckeyes are 9-0!!!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Book MeMe
I copied this meme from Hiromi:
1. One book that changed your life.
Not really an earth-shattering change, but Dune by Frank Herbert (science fiction) really drove home the concept of conservation and recycling.
2. One Book That You've Read More Than Once.
I can't just stop at one: Dune (and the rest of the series that Frank wrote), The Lord of the Rings series, The Joy of Homebrewing, Cosmos, and a bunch of the '70's Star Trek books.
3. One Book That You'd Want On A Deserted Island: Gardening for One on a Desert Island. No, its not a real book.
4. One Book That Made You Laugh: Sienfeld
5. One Book That Made You Cry.
None that I can think of, although my differential equations math course book in college made me come close to crying in frustration.
6. One Book That You Wish You Had Written.
SPC for the Rest of Us. Its a great book on explaining statistical process control. I'm not a statistician, but this book really made sense of the subject to me.
7. One Book You Wish Had Never Been Written.
Don't know. I'm sure there's one that is so poorly written that it doesn't make any sense to anyone but the author.
8. One Book That You Are Reading Right Now.
I'm between books right now. The next one will be Dune: The Machine Crusade. As I mentioned in a previous post, these new books aren't as great as the originals, but its interesting to see how the stories develop.
9. One Book That You Have Been Meaning To Read.
I've a long list of them. I've read several science fiction "Best of..." Compilations of various authors' short stories that I'd like to read more of some of the authors.
10. Tag five others that you would like to do this meme.
To quote Hiromi "Anyone who's reading this, but please let me know in comments so I can go have a look."
1. One book that changed your life.
Not really an earth-shattering change, but Dune by Frank Herbert (science fiction) really drove home the concept of conservation and recycling.
2. One Book That You've Read More Than Once.
I can't just stop at one: Dune (and the rest of the series that Frank wrote), The Lord of the Rings series, The Joy of Homebrewing, Cosmos, and a bunch of the '70's Star Trek books.
3. One Book That You'd Want On A Deserted Island: Gardening for One on a Desert Island. No, its not a real book.
4. One Book That Made You Laugh: Sienfeld
5. One Book That Made You Cry.
None that I can think of, although my differential equations math course book in college made me come close to crying in frustration.
6. One Book That You Wish You Had Written.
SPC for the Rest of Us. Its a great book on explaining statistical process control. I'm not a statistician, but this book really made sense of the subject to me.
7. One Book You Wish Had Never Been Written.
Don't know. I'm sure there's one that is so poorly written that it doesn't make any sense to anyone but the author.
8. One Book That You Are Reading Right Now.
I'm between books right now. The next one will be Dune: The Machine Crusade. As I mentioned in a previous post, these new books aren't as great as the originals, but its interesting to see how the stories develop.
9. One Book That You Have Been Meaning To Read.
I've a long list of them. I've read several science fiction "Best of..." Compilations of various authors' short stories that I'd like to read more of some of the authors.
10. Tag five others that you would like to do this meme.
To quote Hiromi "Anyone who's reading this, but please let me know in comments so I can go have a look."
The Buckeyes are now 8-0 after beating Indiana last weekend. I was not able to watch it as it was broadcast on ESPN-U which my cable provider doesn’t. Minnesota is up this weekend, and hopefully it will be on a channel that I receive.
This is going to be a busy weekend as I have two 5K races, one Saturday morning and the other Sunday morning. I haven’t run back-to-back races before, so I’m interested in seeing how I’ll perform on Sunday.
“Arena” was the latest remastered Star Trek episode to aire. I’m getting used to the new CGI effects. Call me a nit-picker, but a blinking Gorn?! Is nothing sacred?! rotflmao
This is going to be a busy weekend as I have two 5K races, one Saturday morning and the other Sunday morning. I haven’t run back-to-back races before, so I’m interested in seeing how I’ll perform on Sunday.
“Arena” was the latest remastered Star Trek episode to aire. I’m getting used to the new CGI effects. Call me a nit-picker, but a blinking Gorn?! Is nothing sacred?! rotflmao
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Star Trek Remastered
Has anyone been watching the remastered original series Star Trek? What do you think? If you don't like to hear me nit-pick, just move along....
I have mixed feelings after watching a few of the episodes. The first thing I don't like is the updated opening theme music. They added a female voice to it. That is not what I don't like, it actually sounds pretty good. The original music changed from season to season, so just by listening to the music, I could identify in which season that episode was made. Sure, I know which episode belongs to which season by title (or even within the first 30 seconds of watching a specific episode).
They're also using CGI to replace the planets and the Enterprise when viewed from space, as well as some details within the ship. The planets look beautiful. In the episode I, Mudd, the android Norman opens a panel on his stomach to show Kirk that his is an android. This was CGI'ed in the remaster. Sure, it looks good and the effect is smoothly inlaid. However, the "roughness" of late '60's TV production and special effects technology are two of the things that gave the series character. (Remember when The Twilight Zone recorded a few episodes using tape rather than film?) The new effects just look too "new" to me to blend in seamlessly.
And scenes are landing on the cutting room floor. I don't know if this is something that the local TV station or the production company is doing. For example, in The City on the Edge of Forever, in the scene where the guy takes McCoy's phaser when McCoy passes out in the alley, the part where he overloads the phaser and is obliterated was cut. Not a big scene in the episode, but it makes on wonder how much more is being removed.
Ok, I'll take my Spock ears off now...
I have mixed feelings after watching a few of the episodes. The first thing I don't like is the updated opening theme music. They added a female voice to it. That is not what I don't like, it actually sounds pretty good. The original music changed from season to season, so just by listening to the music, I could identify in which season that episode was made. Sure, I know which episode belongs to which season by title (or even within the first 30 seconds of watching a specific episode).
They're also using CGI to replace the planets and the Enterprise when viewed from space, as well as some details within the ship. The planets look beautiful. In the episode I, Mudd, the android Norman opens a panel on his stomach to show Kirk that his is an android. This was CGI'ed in the remaster. Sure, it looks good and the effect is smoothly inlaid. However, the "roughness" of late '60's TV production and special effects technology are two of the things that gave the series character. (Remember when The Twilight Zone recorded a few episodes using tape rather than film?) The new effects just look too "new" to me to blend in seamlessly.
And scenes are landing on the cutting room floor. I don't know if this is something that the local TV station or the production company is doing. For example, in The City on the Edge of Forever, in the scene where the guy takes McCoy's phaser when McCoy passes out in the alley, the part where he overloads the phaser and is obliterated was cut. Not a big scene in the episode, but it makes on wonder how much more is being removed.
Ok, I'll take my Spock ears off now...
Monday, October 16, 2006
Argh!! My blog is not gone. Saturday night I was working on the format of my blog on a different computer that I usually use. Something happened during the editing process and, poof!, it was lost. I didn't realize it was gone until this morning. Its a good thing I had the template backed-up. A word of advice: Back up your template NOW!!
The college football season is really starting to get interesting with the release of the BCS poll. OSU is ranked #1. Michigan is still unbeaten. OSU plays Michigan on 11/18. Assuming both teams remain unbeaten until then, this will be the big game of the season. (Note to self - clear calendar for 11/18, buy beer and pretzels on 11/17.)
The college football season is really starting to get interesting with the release of the BCS poll. OSU is ranked #1. Michigan is still unbeaten. OSU plays Michigan on 11/18. Assuming both teams remain unbeaten until then, this will be the big game of the season. (Note to self - clear calendar for 11/18, buy beer and pretzels on 11/17.)
Thursday, October 12, 2006
10,000 Hits!!
Thank you!!! My appreciation to all of you that frequently read or just stopped by once. Without you, just counting my hits here may have only totaled 8,000 or so. Hopefully my blog has provided you with some information, entertainment, or just something to divert your attention from life's challenges. I hope that my future posts continue to do the same.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
The Buckeyes beat BGSU last Saturday! Their record is now 6-0! The game was not broadcast out here in Philly, and the newspaper didn’t have much to say about it, so I can only imagine that it was a blow-out as the score suggested. On to Michigan State this weekend.
Have you read this book, "My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up" by Stephen Elliott (Cleis Press)? I have not as of yet, however, I will. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is what attracted me to it. If there is any one pose for a picture that I’m particularly fond of, it is similar to the cover photo – the woman sitting, legs crossed at the knees, and her suspended foot dangling in front so as to expose the sole of her foot. It displays the legs and feet/shoes very well. With the perspective of the viewer below the woman, the viewer is in an overtly submissive position, under her foot and she’s looking down. In this specific picture, she’s obviously dominant – dangling handcuffs, leather or vinyl fetish clothing, the expression on her face. I wonder if this was a real picture that they then Photoshopped, or if were a painting. If it were a real picture, I’d love to see more of them.
Speaking of books, does anyone else read science fiction? Specifically, the Dune series? I read, and have re-read several times, the original novels by Frank Herbert since I was a teen. Great stuff if you’re looking for my recommendation. Lately, I’ve been reading the new books by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin Anderson. What do you think about them? They are good stories, but not as well written as Frank’s. They read rather quickly, whereas Frank’s were a bit more meaty.
Have you read this book, "My Girlfriend Comes to the City and Beats Me Up" by Stephen Elliott (Cleis Press)? I have not as of yet, however, I will. They say not to judge a book by its cover, but the cover is what attracted me to it. If there is any one pose for a picture that I’m particularly fond of, it is similar to the cover photo – the woman sitting, legs crossed at the knees, and her suspended foot dangling in front so as to expose the sole of her foot. It displays the legs and feet/shoes very well. With the perspective of the viewer below the woman, the viewer is in an overtly submissive position, under her foot and she’s looking down. In this specific picture, she’s obviously dominant – dangling handcuffs, leather or vinyl fetish clothing, the expression on her face. I wonder if this was a real picture that they then Photoshopped, or if were a painting. If it were a real picture, I’d love to see more of them.
Speaking of books, does anyone else read science fiction? Specifically, the Dune series? I read, and have re-read several times, the original novels by Frank Herbert since I was a teen. Great stuff if you’re looking for my recommendation. Lately, I’ve been reading the new books by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin Anderson. What do you think about them? They are good stories, but not as well written as Frank’s. They read rather quickly, whereas Frank’s were a bit more meaty.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Another great weekend in a number of areas. The Buckeyes won again, 5-0! The first half of the game could have gone either way. Once Iowa threw an interception, the game was pretty much in OSU's hands. Next week: Bowling Green at home. Although not financially advantageous, it would be more interesting to see the game at Bowling Green: small stadium, big demand for tickets. It would be the biggest thing to hit BGSU in a long time.
The race was also a success: I placed second in my age group. This will probably be the last time this happens in a while as my birthday later this month will push me up into the next age group and more competition. Not that I'm a fast runner, I just got lucky to run a personal best time in a small race. If the race were twice as big, it never would have happened. The hot chick that I see at all of the races was there as well. I was hoping to run with her as I tried to do in the last race (and I was never able to catch up to her). I started out quickly, hoping she'd pass me at some point, but she ended up about 10 seconds behind me. I’ll see her again at two races later this month.
The race was also a success: I placed second in my age group. This will probably be the last time this happens in a while as my birthday later this month will push me up into the next age group and more competition. Not that I'm a fast runner, I just got lucky to run a personal best time in a small race. If the race were twice as big, it never would have happened. The hot chick that I see at all of the races was there as well. I was hoping to run with her as I tried to do in the last race (and I was never able to catch up to her). I started out quickly, hoping she'd pass me at some point, but she ended up about 10 seconds behind me. I’ll see her again at two races later this month.