Synaptic Discharge

I'm bummed

2009-07-01T09:04:00.000-04:00

Board Recommends Discharge of Knights Out Co-Founder 1LT Dan Choi

Star Trek: a Brief Review (with spoilers)

2009-05-12T12:53:00.004-04:00

Star Trek was very good, though not quite as overwhelming to me as some made it out to be.

There were a couple of ridiculous deus ex machinas: Spock kicks Kirk off the Enterprise, to some ice planet (Delta Vega? oddly close enough to Vulcan so that Old Spock can see it destroyed), where he is miraculously is rescued by old Spock, and they walk to a nearby Star Fleet installation, where they meet Scotty, who just happens to have figured out 'trans-warp beaming' so they can send themselves to the Enterprise while it is at warp, presumably very far away. They didn't even have trams-warp beaming in the Next-gen time...

And they throw promotions around like there's no tomorrow. Kirk goes from 'Just about to graduate but under suspension,' to 1st officer of the fleet flagship (named by Captain Pike) to acting captain, then officially named captain of the brand new flagship of star fleet. Pretty ridiculous. Harry Kim stayed an ensign under extreme circumstances for 7 years on Voyager.

That said, the casting was great. There are some funny lines, Sulu gets to do some acrobatic fighting (you see a little in the previews); and John Cho was cute playing him. Karl Urban probably came closest to channelling the original actor (DeForest Kelley) as Dr. McCoy, but I was fine with the others doing their own take on the characters. Chris Pine makes a great young Kirk (it was cute, right at the very end, when he's in the captain's chair and he crosses his legs just like Shatner often would at the end of an episode), and Quinto is pretty amazing as Spock. Oh and that weird kind of romance thing with supposedly emotionless Spock and Uhura that I didn't care for it or understand it, and found a little creepy. No rules about fraternizing with superior officers I guess!

Special effects were great of course.

Graham Norton

2009-03-25T08:25:00.000-04:00

I've been watching The Graham Norton Effect (which is on Logo now but originally appeared on Comedy Central about 4 years ago) and the Graham Norton Show, which I see on BBC America.

I loved how the guests entered on Effect: he had two sets of model-beautiful twins, always dressed in some costume related to the show's theme; the blond guys were always shirtless. The guest would enter from the back of the audience, arms linked with the smiling twins and coming down the stairs. What I loved was that Carson Kressley, John Waters and the little cutie Alan Cumming came in arm and arm with the guy twins. ;-)

More Bush Horrors

2009-03-03T12:59:00.000-05:00

Bush Adm. Weighed Restricting 1st Amendment

I guess it shouldn't be shocking; we pretty much knew they were considering this crap, but to see it spelled out...

It reminds me again of the great Star Trek:TNG episode: Drumhead with some wonderful quotes:

"You know, there are some words I've known since I was a schoolboy: ' With the first link, the chain is forged. The first speech censured, the first thought forbidden, the first freedom denied, chains us all irrevocably.' Those words were uttered by Judge Aaron Satie as wisdom and warning. The first time any man's freedom is trodden on we’re all damaged. I fear that today..."
"How dare you – you who consort with Romulans – invoke my father's name to support your traitorous arguments? It is an offense to everything I hold dear. And to hear those words used to subvert the United Federation of Planets. My father was a great man. His name stands for integrity and principle. You dirty his name when you speak it. He loved the Federation, but you, captain, corrupt it. You undermine our very way of life. I will expose you for what you are. I've brought down bigger men than you, Picard!"
- Picard, quoting Judge Aaron Satie, and Admiral Satie, losing all of her credibility

"We think we've come so far. Torture of heretics, burning of witches, is all ancient history. And then, before you can blink an eye, suddenly it threatens to start all over again."
- Picard, to Worf

"Mr. Worf, villains who twirl their mustaches are easy to spot. Those who clothe themselves in good deeds are well-camouflaged."
"I think, after yesterday, people will not be so ready to trust her."
"Maybe, but she, or someone like her, will always be with us – waiting for the right climate in which to flourish. Spreading fear in the name of righteousness. Vigilance, Mr. Worf – that is the price we have to continually pay."
- Picard and Worf, discussing Admiral Satie

Mom already on food stamps before having octuplets | Front page | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

2009-02-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

Mom already on food stamps before having octuplets

This just makes me furious. How did this woman afford all these expensive fertility treatments? The doctor should lose his license, the children should be taken away from her, because obviously she is not fit to care for 14 children, and she should not be allowed access to any more fertility treatments. She is a selfish, sick woman. Meanwhile California taxpayers are supporting here and will no doubt foot the bill of hundreds of thousands of dollars to care for the premature octuplets.

The Mystery of Borderline Personality Disorder

2009-01-14T09:27:00.000-05:00

This TIME article was very interesting. I think I'm really just mostly Avoidant. Hence my hesitation about going to the Inauguration; why would I want to be in the middle of the biggest. Mob. Ever.

PD test

2009-01-14T08:19:00.001-05:00

Disorder	Rating
Paranoid Disorder:	High
Schizoid Disorder:	High
Schizotypal Disorder:	Very High
Antisocial Disorder:	Low
Borderline Disorder:	Moderate
Histrionic Disorder:	Low
Narcissistic Disorder:	Moderate
Avoidant Disorder:	Very High
Dependent Disorder:	Moderate
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder:	Low
-- Personality Disorder Test - Take It! -- -- Personality Disorders --

Asian Men Redefined

2008-12-30T11:44:00.000-05:00

Ohh! There's a new Asian Men Redefined calendar for 2009! I bought last year's and it was cute. I get them of course cause it's a charity thing. Yeah. Right.

Star Trek: The gay episode

2008-12-28T15:09:00.003-05:00

Well, Rick Berman would be spinning in his grave, if only he were dead (can't happen soon enough but at least he can't control the new movie). The gay character he always refused to allow (even a minor one, despite Roddenberry's wishes) has finally come to (at least) a webisode. I have to give the New Voyages guys credit, especially Cawley (who supposedly made his money as an Elvis impersonator? I have no idea how he funds this) who endorsed this interestingly timely episode written by none other than David Gerrold, the author of the most popular original TOS ep ever: Trouble With Tribbles, who also happens to be gay.

This is a pretty bold step though, since it re-introduces Kirk's nephew Peter, who survived from a plague in an episode of TOS and is now a young (cute, though he could use a haircut) adult in Star Fleet. Here are some pics of him and his Med Tech BF on the Enterprise courtesy of
towleroad. Guys kissing! OMG!

And here you can download the the whole FIRST PART:
The New Voyages

God! We have to wait to see if Peter and his cute boyfriend live to get married by Kirk a la Balance of Terror. All I can say is, it better not end THAT way!!!

The CG graphics are so far ahead of the old series, they seem awesome; though compared to a high-budget movie of course they are just cool. And the sets are loving recreations of the kind of cheesy old series ones (again, in ways they look better than the old ones). The acting is, well, what you would expect. Peter Kirk and his boyfriend are sweet though. And one amazing thing about this series is the old music. Old TOS fans will know there are about a dozen musical themes (if that) they used over and over. And for some reason to hear the 'romance/love' theme (you old fans will recognize; it was usually reserved for Kirk and his love of the episode) when Peter and his BF are together is like old time vindication, Thank you Cawley and Gerrold!

Korean Boy singing "Touch My Body" (with Subtitles)

2008-12-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

YouTube - Korean Boy singing Touch My Body(with Subtitles)

The subtitles are hilarious!

New Year's Eve

2008-12-16T18:46:00.003-05:00

Color me excited! Kathy Griffin is teaming up with Anderson-hottie-Cooper to host the CNN NYE coverage again this year! She's single now so she can put the moves on him--hilarity ensues!

Asian News

2008-12-16T18:45:00.000-05:00

I get all my juicy asian news from angry asian man. In this link, unfortunately, is the bad news that the whole cast of the live action movie of Airbender is white. Huh!? I just assumed that they were all asian of various regions. Sokka and Katara are darker and from the pole so I thought they might be eskimo-related, while Ang seemed Chinese to me and Zuko (who is even voiced in the animated series by an Asian guy, and his uncle was voiced by the wonderful Mako!) and the Fire Nation seemed very Japanese.

Also AAM notes that the Dragonball Z movie is also cast white. Very sad. In happier news, Daniel Dae Kim is going to play the Prince of Siam! I'd love to see that.

BP Online - The History of Bethel Park High School

2008-12-09T19:52:00.000-05:00

BP Online - The History of Bethel Park High School

I'm going home.

Well, one of my childhood homes. I have not been back here in many years. I link to this because I was at the 'old' high school when it was the middle school, and I remember walking over the terrazzo seal on the breezeway many times. That was a very traumatic time for me: parents divorcing, first beginning to realize that I was 'different' than other boys. I remember hiding in practice rooms and crying for no reason I could understand. And though I miraculously avoided getting bullied much, there was this one little jerk, John Tomyko (you still out there john?) who did his best to make me miserable. He kept challenging me in band. I should have just given him what he deserved. Oh, well.

So that old school has been demolished but they saved the seal. I kind of look forward to driving around my old hometown.

Jesse's Girl

2008-11-18T22:17:00.001-05:00

As a fan of Rick Springfield (yes, really) from way back, I loved this clever cover and homage t him and hideous 80's fashion

New Star Trek Trailer!

2008-11-18T09:15:00.002-05:00

Very cool, we see Kirk and Spock as Kids.
I think it's weird that they are building the Enterprise on the ground, even if they do have gravity control. But I guess Abrams thought we've seen the Enterprise fly out of drydock enough times.

Virtuous cycles

2008-11-17T12:49:00.000-05:00

I've thought about how all that cardio equipment should be generating electricity so many times while at the gym. Somebody's finally doing it.

JKL

2008-11-15T19:55:00.005-05:00

Since my last post inspired more comments than any in recent memory, I thought I'd go ahead and post a more provocative picture of my current crush. Wow is he dreamy or what?

Oh, and I got my nipple pierced today, Randy talked me into it. What can I say, I am weak. I have had my ear pierced 2x but this hurt a bit more. I took the opportunity to badger him about the Mormons and prop 8., At least he admitted that he voted for Obama, so there is hope for him.

James Kyson Lee

2008-11-14T09:11:00.001-05:00

Uber hottie James Kyson Lee was on CSI last night! Wasn't a big role, he played a Las Vegas cop/translator, so he got to use his native Korean language skills, though sadly not much opportunity to show off his other, um, assets.

Remember Robert Wone?

2008-10-31T18:43:00.000-04:00

It is even worse than I feared... but at least it turns out the investigation was proceeding.Three Men Accused of Impeding Probe of Lawyer's Death - washingtonpost.com

Phoenix in Safe Mode

2008-10-30T09:33:00.000-04:00

According to the latest
Phoenix Mission Status Report, weather conditions are deteriorating (who'da thunk water-ice clouds would be a factor on Mars?) The lander has exceeded its 90-day mission though, and made some cool discoveries. Unlike the Rovers, who are still going years later, the Phoenix doesn't have much of a chance to last too long, because it's going to get really cold at the pole soon...

Campaign time!

2008-10-24T11:35:00.001-04:00

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I'm scared

2008-10-24T07:56:00.000-04:00

I'm scared of some of the people in this country. I was listening to this fascinating NPR story where York (PA) Voters Untangle Rhetoric On Race, but the most chilling thing was a preview of the ATC program tonight talking about fear, and this woman says "I fear if we put Obama in the White House, there will be chaos." What!? A black man in the White House will cause society to collapse!?! Colin Powell was in charge of our military, and Secretary of State and the social order didn't break down. Geez.

And then there was a story from Missouri where some guy said he was voting for McCain because he was antiabortion and against gay marriage, two 'moral' issues which have absolutely no direct bearing on this man's life. WTF!?! He said that because of that, god would be on our side, and that's all that mattered, How ignorant and intolerant can you be. Obviously he is clinging to his guns and religion.

Poor Archie Johnson

2008-10-20T08:51:00.000-04:00

He's the hot Asian lab tech onon CSI, but he's kind of typecast as the computer expert and almost never gets out of the lab. There's stuff on the Wiki page about him that I didn't know though. And there is a funny scene in one ep where he kind of jumps out of his chair, to the surprise of the other CSI. He kind of shrugs and says "I've been sitting here all day watching surveillance video; my butt fell asleep!"

True Life: I'm Coming Out Pt 1

2008-10-20T08:37:00.000-04:00

This morning at 4:00 am I watched this episode of True Life (a series I've never seen) about three teens coming out. The boy in segment 1 was so cute. There's a young man in segment 3 who was a Mormon Elder. The episode was disturbing though because segments 2 and 3 did not go well, and their stories were left unresolved. I wanted to know what happened to them! The girl in segment 2 was so sad, and the Mormon was clearly traumatized by his inner conflict.

One Year ago...

2008-10-10T10:40:00.000-04:00

Interesting that exactly a year ago I was having this same bad congestion problem. I think it's seasonal weather change as much as allergies. And it has been a year since Hung won Top Chef!? Wow.

Happy Birthday sis!