Random Odds and Evens
Jan. 28th, 2011 03:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
capri0mni7. It almost got cancelled the season before this last one. But then, Subway restaurants (Sandwhich chain) basically agreed to pay for the entire production, if the writers put blatant ad copy into the script. It was kind of ridiculous. The first scene of every episode had a Subway sandwich somewhere in the foreground of the shot, while one of the actors tried to incorporate the list of ingredients into the dialog and make it sound like this was actually a natural conversation.
But I didn't mind so much, if they got it out of the way quick, and got on to the silly romp adventure.
For the first time in its broadcast history, it started its season this year in September, instead of January, and the news I found on the Web said this we'd get a full 26 episodes.
But then, it went off the air after Thanksgiving, and we didn't even get repeats until the middle of January.
And then, in the teaser at the end of the last episode, the announcer said something like: "Everything will come to a culmination."
I mean, yeah. I can see why: They're basically running out of plot. When you put a computer program inside your protagonist's head that gives him exactly the knowledge and ability he needs at the moment he needs it, it's kind of hard to keep thinking of engaging storylines -- there are only so many ways you can make that program break down before it gets repetitive. And every episode has big budget movie type explosions and fight scenes.
But I was promised 26 episodes. I want 26 episodes. And even though the first season was the probably the best, I'll miss the characters, and the sheer spirit of fun and friendship that invades the show.
Everything else on American TV these days is so dark and angsty -- or full of soap opera type sexual tension. So bah.
At least, they're giving me a week's notice. They didn't do that with my other Geek Pride show: Numb3rs.
3. I bought a dozen soup and teaspoons each when I moved into this house. I'm now down to one each. And even then, I often have to go on a glasses-type hunt for them when I want my coffee or soup. This is such a deep part of my life that when I first came across the phrase: "Out of spoons," I took it a lot more literally. (I told you this would be random and odd)
6. It's a human need to feel like you belong -- to a family, a circle of friends, a nation, a creed. And naming yourself -- labeling yourself -- is one way of choosing which group is your own. It can be empowering as well disempowering. I feel like starting to use the word "Badge" instead of "label" when talking about this good side of naming. Badges can be really snazzy.
11. She has sleeping places all over the house. But as soon as I go to bed, and pull the blankets up, she'll hop onto the bed, peek over the edge of the comforter to see that it's really me, and not some alien replicant. Only after I assure her that it really is me, will see curl up / flump down behind my legs.
In the morning, if I'm still dozing after she's been up and around for a bit, she will sit next to my pillow, and reach over and tap me on the shoulder. Only after I rearrange the blanket, so it's not all curled up underneath me, and say these specific words: "You wanna come snuggle?" will she resume her flumping spot.
94. While I was drinking my first coffee of the day, I wondered if I should really use that specific Steinbeck quote1. There's the copyright issue, for one thing (I think I'm perfectly within my rights, as it's only one line, and that falls under "brief excerpts" clause of fair use, I think. But in order to start the shop, I'll have to sign a contract, and have to take lawyers I don't know into account). For another thing, owhere on the Internet have I found its original context, only a link to another site. And for a third thing, it's a lot of words that take up space where I might otherwise fit more bunnies. And a fourth thing: meme of plotbunnies is so widespread, especially among those who'd buy products from CafePress, that I wonder if the quote is needed at all. I might paraphrase it: "Ideas: you start with a couple, and then ...."
1. So, over this last year, Charlie Rose has done a series on the emerging science of the brain. And for this series, he's had as his co-host Eric Kandel of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Eric Kandel wears bowties. All the other male scientists who've been guests on the show have all worn regular ties. Every time I've watched any of these shows, I find myself looking forward to the camera settling on Eric Kendal. He's got a nice face. But I think it's really the bowtie that's the draw. The fact that every one of the bowties he's worn has been some variation of "red with polkadots" just makes it better.
4. I think the design of my new wheelchair puts her off. The arms are shorter, and the joystick is bulkier, so I think that changes the lap experience. Instead, she likes to use the back of my chair as her security perch. I kind of feel like a pirate with a parrot, except I'm a geek with a cat. She's up there right now, sweeping her flaily!tail over the top of my head, and flicking my nose with the tip of it
1Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
But I didn't mind so much, if they got it out of the way quick, and got on to the silly romp adventure.
For the first time in its broadcast history, it started its season this year in September, instead of January, and the news I found on the Web said this we'd get a full 26 episodes.
But then, it went off the air after Thanksgiving, and we didn't even get repeats until the middle of January.
And then, in the teaser at the end of the last episode, the announcer said something like: "Everything will come to a culmination."
I mean, yeah. I can see why: They're basically running out of plot. When you put a computer program inside your protagonist's head that gives him exactly the knowledge and ability he needs at the moment he needs it, it's kind of hard to keep thinking of engaging storylines -- there are only so many ways you can make that program break down before it gets repetitive. And every episode has big budget movie type explosions and fight scenes.
But I was promised 26 episodes. I want 26 episodes. And even though the first season was the probably the best, I'll miss the characters, and the sheer spirit of fun and friendship that invades the show.
Everything else on American TV these days is so dark and angsty -- or full of soap opera type sexual tension. So bah.
At least, they're giving me a week's notice. They didn't do that with my other Geek Pride show: Numb3rs.
3. I bought a dozen soup and teaspoons each when I moved into this house. I'm now down to one each. And even then, I often have to go on a glasses-type hunt for them when I want my coffee or soup. This is such a deep part of my life that when I first came across the phrase: "Out of spoons," I took it a lot more literally. (I told you this would be random and odd)
6. It's a human need to feel like you belong -- to a family, a circle of friends, a nation, a creed. And naming yourself -- labeling yourself -- is one way of choosing which group is your own. It can be empowering as well disempowering. I feel like starting to use the word "Badge" instead of "label" when talking about this good side of naming. Badges can be really snazzy.
11. She has sleeping places all over the house. But as soon as I go to bed, and pull the blankets up, she'll hop onto the bed, peek over the edge of the comforter to see that it's really me, and not some alien replicant. Only after I assure her that it really is me, will see curl up / flump down behind my legs.
In the morning, if I'm still dozing after she's been up and around for a bit, she will sit next to my pillow, and reach over and tap me on the shoulder. Only after I rearrange the blanket, so it's not all curled up underneath me, and say these specific words: "You wanna come snuggle?" will she resume her flumping spot.
94. While I was drinking my first coffee of the day, I wondered if I should really use that specific Steinbeck quote1. There's the copyright issue, for one thing (I think I'm perfectly within my rights, as it's only one line, and that falls under "brief excerpts" clause of fair use, I think. But in order to start the shop, I'll have to sign a contract, and have to take lawyers I don't know into account). For another thing, owhere on the Internet have I found its original context, only a link to another site. And for a third thing, it's a lot of words that take up space where I might otherwise fit more bunnies. And a fourth thing: meme of plotbunnies is so widespread, especially among those who'd buy products from CafePress, that I wonder if the quote is needed at all. I might paraphrase it: "Ideas: you start with a couple, and then ...."
1. So, over this last year, Charlie Rose has done a series on the emerging science of the brain. And for this series, he's had as his co-host Eric Kandel of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Eric Kandel wears bowties. All the other male scientists who've been guests on the show have all worn regular ties. Every time I've watched any of these shows, I find myself looking forward to the camera settling on Eric Kendal. He's got a nice face. But I think it's really the bowtie that's the draw. The fact that every one of the bowties he's worn has been some variation of "red with polkadots" just makes it better.
4. I think the design of my new wheelchair puts her off. The arms are shorter, and the joystick is bulkier, so I think that changes the lap experience. Instead, she likes to use the back of my chair as her security perch. I kind of feel like a pirate with a parrot, except I'm a geek with a cat. She's up there right now, sweeping her flaily!tail over the top of my head, and flicking my nose with the tip of it
1Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
no subject
Date: 2011-01-28 08:44 pm (UTC)Why stop with badges when we could have pieces of flair?
I am laughing at the pirate with a parrot/geek with a cat juxtaposition,
no subject
Date: 2011-01-28 09:03 pm (UTC)It's so much easier to sell brands of beer and chips, and cars to Jocks, or Executives, or Wannabe beauty queens. So those are the types of people at whom television producers are aiming their shows. Those are also the type of people who get their kicks laughing at the geeks.
Well, yes. But a badge is "a piece of flair" -- especially if you add embroidery and ribbons. And as a noun, it's a near synonym for label.
I was laughing as I typed that (because Trixie's tail tickled)! *laughs at your icon*
no subject
Date: 2011-01-29 10:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-01-29 06:49 pm (UTC)Two things going in Chuck's favor:
1) It's an action comedy which deliberately spoofs its own tropes. So reeling off ridiculous dialog and then saying: "I can't believe I just said that" fits right in with everything else.
2) It's set in a suburban mall with a home base in the basement between "Best Buy" and "Orange Julius" clones, so it makes sense tha computer nerds working long hours would have a fastfood chain sandwhich sitting at their work station.