tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59618681222651405972024-02-19T10:58:20.259-05:00Volunteer, Advocate, Trekker.A collection of musings on characters, travels and the zany antics that ensue.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-3681046480869624832020-10-01T11:24:00.006-04:002020-10-17T16:46:36.791-04:00Faceless races for Star Trek: Lower Decks to animate to their heart's content<p>While Star Trek has created an incredibly intricate and <i>mostly</i> internally consistent universe, some episodes through the years have referenced a species in a throwaway line never to return to them again. Now that <i>Star Trek: Lower Decks</i> has a blank canvas to design species without the constraint of makeup budgets, here are a few unseen races with fairly little defining background that the writers could choose to flesh out - or create a killer look, slap an existing name on it and build the canon.</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PkuuA_na0B4y0s2Jcp4Rav_LvxgpRjmlMq5XRHfTfTEFnl0OA6rTkjZt_MCdN-2d5760loHSAXcoKkfzzpz0iTm9oDEe7juyfx5uI7QK_qKEpY_xw2yDQh4c7Q5dZq1mIwGeXmMOEQI-/s480/Nimbus_III_ape_face%252C_screen_test.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="480" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PkuuA_na0B4y0s2Jcp4Rav_LvxgpRjmlMq5XRHfTfTEFnl0OA6rTkjZt_MCdN-2d5760loHSAXcoKkfzzpz0iTm9oDEe7juyfx5uI7QK_qKEpY_xw2yDQh4c7Q5dZq1mIwGeXmMOEQI-/w200-h139/Nimbus_III_ape_face%252C_screen_test.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Unnamed "Ape Face" from <br />Nimbus III (Star Trek V)<br /><br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>The <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Demerian" target="_blank">Demerians</a></b>. Mayweather's family was set to make a delivery of stromatopod larvae to the Demerians in 2153. (ENT: "Horizon") <i>So they were spacefaring and friendly in Earth's neighborhood pretty early. Were they even bipeds? How many sexes did they have? Did they eat the larvae, or why did they need Humans (the snail mail of the era) to deliver them?</i></li><li>The <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/B%27Saari">B'Saari of B'Saari II</a></b>. The B'Saari made first contact with the Denobulans sometime prior to the 19th century, so they've been around a while. (ENT: "Future Tense") They've also experimented Dr. Frankenstein-style with reviving the dead! (ENT: "Horizon") <i>Why does my brain imagine they're blue? What alien concepts did they introduce to the Denobulans? Do they use dilithium, artificial singularities, or one of the wacky Delta Quadrant-forms of propulsion? How many lungs do they have?</i></li><li>The <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Byzallian">Byzallians</a></b>. Busy professionals, the Byzallians were planning to hold a conference on Deep Space 9 in 2371, according to background chatter unrelated to the plot. (DS9: "Defiant") <i>Friendly enough to the Federation, were they in the vicinity of Bajor or was this conference a hike? How tall are the Byzallians, how many children do they typically have? Do they lay eggs? How many fingers do they have?</i></li><li><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg163Sut1kJA8_i6wGPitS3kMZAdUOLO8Nk-59tz0-D30gCw4eUVlKpKAlx-_yTS7R_v11GvqjOWzeoSJ7tK51tsrotmyOFNHMiCcPKJqTwCHfSrw84LC95cdOZGI53uExvohyphenhyphenL6QsTaG7v/s474/Pterodactyl+so+big+it+couldnt+fly.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="474" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg163Sut1kJA8_i6wGPitS3kMZAdUOLO8Nk-59tz0-D30gCw4eUVlKpKAlx-_yTS7R_v11GvqjOWzeoSJ7tK51tsrotmyOFNHMiCcPKJqTwCHfSrw84LC95cdOZGI53uExvohyphenhyphenL6QsTaG7v/w200-h182/Pterodactyl+so+big+it+couldnt+fly.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dachlyd. Pterodactyl. <br />Am I the only one <br />who thinks it?</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Camorite">Camorites of Camor V</a></b>. Those nasty Cardassians left many Camorites orphaned c. 2358 during the Cardassian Wars (fought between Cardassia and the Federation c. 2347-2366), leaving Picard's brief flame Miranda Vigo to host a school for them and her son Jason. (TNG: "Bloodlines") <i>We never see the Camorites, but their government seems all but destroyed by the Cardassian wars. A handful of aliens live on the planet - suggesting some level of interstellar activity.</i></li><li>The<b> <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Gemarian">Gemarians of Gemaris V</a> </b>and the <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dachlyd">Dachlyds of Dachlyd</a></b>. Both described as extremely stubborn, Captain Picard once mediated a trade agreement between these neighbors in 2366. (TNG: "Captain's Holiday") <i>I feel like Dachlyds would resemble Pterodactyls, or is that just me? <br /><br /></i></li><ol><li><i style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus Reference: </i>Deep Space 9's <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vilix%27pran">Lt. Vilix'pran</a></b> was quite the family man, having between 8 and 18 hatchlings, known for getting their wings tangled, but we never learned his species. <i>Maybe he was a Dachlyd? Just a thought... </i></li></ol></ol><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtCTXokxNQuJ5MaFo_UZvmKnQun9bfmr9a5zvPp7BfxCdSFnSlb8pAsQ0cpRn44qTvXu8xoEvr8oRjNOgp7RMPzT7FHzDHh1wFCRteLZRX2DSA7B_DIyDINT3Pr0L6V1hgPIw7NDnTEQv/s2048/Star+Trek+Lower+Decks+Season+1+poster+Seek+Out+Life+Mariner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtCTXokxNQuJ5MaFo_UZvmKnQun9bfmr9a5zvPp7BfxCdSFnSlb8pAsQ0cpRn44qTvXu8xoEvr8oRjNOgp7RMPzT7FHzDHh1wFCRteLZRX2DSA7B_DIyDINT3Pr0L6V1hgPIw7NDnTEQv/w256-h320/Star+Trek+Lower+Decks+Season+1+poster+Seek+Out+Life+Mariner.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>For an exhaustive list, you can also check out Memory Alpha's <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Alpha_and_Beta_Quadrant_species" target="_blank">Alpha and Beta Quadrant species</a></b> list.</div><div><br /></div>It's October 1, 2020, and season two of <i>Star Trek: Lower Decks</i> is probably already written. But I am loving the show! It is exactly the kind of humor I wish I could have with other die-hard Star Trek fans in real life, but it's still funny to someone who's not a Star Trek trivia nerd like me.</div><div><br /></div><div>For more observations on Star Trek, politics, and whatever TV show I happen to be watching, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AJHalliwell">follow me on Twitter</a></b>.</div><p></p>AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-14455731011247618492020-06-25T14:51:00.003-04:002020-07-29T10:11:32.881-04:00Evolution of Intelligent Life on Planet Denkir IV<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSReJ-VrFeacEvA_-Sew85Ci-gkk_CBFpQKs7r5p9saXLYMtVKsaWThUEkqG9XXbTvwh9jR9jvCq1zcllXlyL2TqaQkOYYXSnY3DbO8MIQ5HtiMgSd4dLwAGDfuITXrj4YFl-7D1WEGVc6/s1800/Denkir+IV.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1648" data-original-width="1800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSReJ-VrFeacEvA_-Sew85Ci-gkk_CBFpQKs7r5p9saXLYMtVKsaWThUEkqG9XXbTvwh9jR9jvCq1zcllXlyL2TqaQkOYYXSnY3DbO8MIQ5HtiMgSd4dLwAGDfuITXrj4YFl-7D1WEGVc6/s320/Denkir+IV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(<a href="https://www.icollector.com/STAR-TREK-TNG-STARSHIP-ENTERPRISE-SCREEN-USED-CONTROL-PANEL-A-GRADE-15_i30068364" target="_blank">Forgive the yardsign-shadows</a>)</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Denkir_IV" target="_blank">Denkir IV</a></b> was the fourth planet in the Denkir system, located near the Cardassian border and Sector 21505. It was known to Federation science for its diverse aquatic life. <div><br /></div><div>Paintings of Denkir IV were popular aboard the USS <i>Enterprise</i>-D in the 2360s.</div><div><br /></div><div>In 2364, the elementary school aboard the <i>Enterprise</i> was learning about the Evolution of Intelligent Life on Planet Denkir IV, between recreational time with the new puppies aboard.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd16uuryzJKNFwvzsCRraYg2cZnJT1ATYs-G1e1bwRE3CotgAoNmsUJwZ9ucWTcVUvAYq4gLMa_16yvyQBrmk_bXQr2t2V83VEIMfzfF6rmWfOTOsLCIXGNmza2qEPy_bmGXXjQVXpTdFS/s1257/USS+Enterprise+D+school+evolution+of+life+on+denkir+iv.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="907" data-original-width="1257" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd16uuryzJKNFwvzsCRraYg2cZnJT1ATYs-G1e1bwRE3CotgAoNmsUJwZ9ucWTcVUvAYq4gLMa_16yvyQBrmk_bXQr2t2V83VEIMfzfF6rmWfOTOsLCIXGNmza2qEPy_bmGXXjQVXpTdFS/w256-h185/USS+Enterprise+D+school+evolution+of+life+on+denkir+iv.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recreational time between lessons. (TNG: "The Child")<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbopHZSS9OENGspUqcoC7eAgBbMRJjtEM0djMm7ytyn4ZVnlZpd4Jj818z6LRP6hMnGKNiAzbXZA2syylytbJwDVW3-q5tI6PMq-PwQon-EKaFTBDcRJ4thzboBtsoXkcyY8VhzkklHWE/s875/USS+Enterprise+D+school+evolution+of+life+on+denkir+iv+2366+the+offspring.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="643" data-original-width="875" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbopHZSS9OENGspUqcoC7eAgBbMRJjtEM0djMm7ytyn4ZVnlZpd4Jj818z6LRP6hMnGKNiAzbXZA2syylytbJwDVW3-q5tI6PMq-PwQon-EKaFTBDcRJ4thzboBtsoXkcyY8VhzkklHWE/s320/USS+Enterprise+D+school+evolution+of+life+on+denkir+iv+2366+the+offspring.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Learning about life on Denkir IV again in 2366. (TNG: "The Offspring")<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoOTm45DGPBQNMOp_p0_dHFQQwSmw5KJfXdKcYGkAx7KoJpRHO1lpcs57_G-lXjTvNzPkuRR-cYyMW55KMJsYDzBWjS4Cmk1tDX6fACGY_L_NASgU66Rec8DEuBtqARKAjepZcYbBLDL9/s800/Evolution+of+Intelligent+Life+on+Denkir+IV+-+black+white+photostat+rick+sternbach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqoOTm45DGPBQNMOp_p0_dHFQQwSmw5KJfXdKcYGkAx7KoJpRHO1lpcs57_G-lXjTvNzPkuRR-cYyMW55KMJsYDzBWjS4Cmk1tDX6fACGY_L_NASgU66Rec8DEuBtqARKAjepZcYbBLDL9/s320/Evolution+of+Intelligent+Life+on+Denkir+IV+-+black+white+photostat+rick+sternbach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>(<a href="http://www.communaute-francophone-star-trek.net/t5849-la-collection-de-cephalateur" target="_blank">No shadows, but harder to read</a>)</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="168" data-original-width="479" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjQy-Z5Vz9VvAAhk78RUrg89wMQub1WuEd0MgDiDdQBuEr13PtTJFkHDoihTMVF2VJRr6nZdqwprEBOTHgwEmb-m6dAU4wYPmq6WtRNzxxtAPnOqywxeOLmNDJaELzcZo8vtztua4bHNY/s320/Squaluformus+Vino+S.+Vino+Shiro+life+Denkir+IV.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfejxpcWYZc_daMbq0wHs85iFWBwOEbbWKsXEWTzsF0xOnNeVkMSGykKTend8lIEcILAeiPLxHKzrlTVGNP_AId1AQ3KlxlwJ3AvINxjjVwPHwZgz7djNW4J_MJCYPD9zLCX2RftRy1-uJ/s501/Oceosauroida+Neopictis+N.+Spinotap+Cochrani+life+Denkir+IV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="277" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfejxpcWYZc_daMbq0wHs85iFWBwOEbbWKsXEWTzsF0xOnNeVkMSGykKTend8lIEcILAeiPLxHKzrlTVGNP_AId1AQ3KlxlwJ3AvINxjjVwPHwZgz7djNW4J_MJCYPD9zLCX2RftRy1-uJ/s320/Oceosauroida+Neopictis+N.+Spinotap+Cochrani+life+Denkir+IV.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe8wbdpA9phlJznrakMfRWFbJxh5d7aPVfWbQgtkcvkSFzgPnBSffoq6HN_uLg6HIXEG5n5hYVyg8i3jyhB-lk7ZnPxhdWVktCA5d2rJarYz5m4hrHoCkMIwdf-D2GulFvKbdroAq55Yh/s494/Delphoidia+Moroboshi+D.+Moroboshi+Lum+D.+Moro+life+Denkir+IV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="494" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqe8wbdpA9phlJznrakMfRWFbJxh5d7aPVfWbQgtkcvkSFzgPnBSffoq6HN_uLg6HIXEG5n5hYVyg8i3jyhB-lk7ZnPxhdWVktCA5d2rJarYz5m4hrHoCkMIwdf-D2GulFvKbdroAq55Yh/s320/Delphoidia+Moroboshi+D.+Moroboshi+Lum+D.+Moro+life+Denkir+IV.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIVj-7xbzkFVSSiKOP5AEk79TRsd61fM6FU3PDCYrXPp0oTAEXHfYc3eXXvfV1PdRJoStXpykLLUacI429g74cMvTCOBarmidqe3JBL4XW2NBfUFj8miZkymO2G3SVKB2wAnsAImGu4gG/s842/Delphoidia+Cochrani+life+Denkir+IV.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXIVj-7xbzkFVSSiKOP5AEk79TRsd61fM6FU3PDCYrXPp0oTAEXHfYc3eXXvfV1PdRJoStXpykLLUacI429g74cMvTCOBarmidqe3JBL4XW2NBfUFj8miZkymO2G3SVKB2wAnsAImGu4gG/s320/Delphoidia+Cochrani+life+Denkir+IV.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzgJSvMpyPVJWOhaiCpaCJ-htLIllwFqwQdsI6a_el-DLQh-wqk9ofqr0IUaWvsdcdyWp3CSq-aSgFmWKFEI5vTPbf9_msUIS2wFeC0Y8vyFilJKNCGhrgEZ_weDeNtxIpxB9S5-5LTuG/s924/Oceosauroida+mendo+life+Denkir+IV.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="305" data-original-width="924" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFzgJSvMpyPVJWOhaiCpaCJ-htLIllwFqwQdsI6a_el-DLQh-wqk9ofqr0IUaWvsdcdyWp3CSq-aSgFmWKFEI5vTPbf9_msUIS2wFeC0Y8vyFilJKNCGhrgEZ_weDeNtxIpxB9S5-5LTuG/s320/Oceosauroida+mendo+life+Denkir+IV.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><i>Oniboshi lum</i></li><li><i>Squaluformus</i></li><li><i>Neopictis</i></li><li><i>Squaluformus vino shiro</i></li><li><i>Neopictis gourami</i></li><li><i>Neopictis spinotap cochrani</i></li><li><i>Neopictis spinotap</i></li><li><i>Oniboshi lum ran</i></li><li><i>Oniobshi benten</i></li><li><i>Vermacelli alfredo</i></li><li><i>Squaluformus vino</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia cochrani</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia cochrani tempus</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia cochrani obliquidens</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia moroboshi</i></li><li><i>Delphoidia moroboshi lum</i></li><li><i>Oceosauroida</i></li><li><i>Oceosauroida mendo</i></li><li><i>Oceosauroida mendo shinobu</i></li><li><i>Oceosauroida mendo shutaro</i></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>For more observations on Star Trek, politics, and whatever TV show I happen to be watching, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AJHalliwell">follow me on Twitter</a></b>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-63217465685142127992020-05-16T15:20:00.003-04:002020-08-03T11:01:44.069-04:00Vulcan utensils from Star Trek: Enterprise "Home"As a lover of props and making a fictional universe seem realistic, <i>Star Trek: Enteprise</i> did a great job adding new layers to the iconic + historic Vulcans.<br />
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I recently stumbled upon <b><a href="http://yourprops.com/">YourProps.com</a></b>, what appears to be a reputable gallery of Star Trek props and/or replicas, with a lot of images I haven't seen before - even things not in the <a href="http://startrekpropcollector.com/trekauctions/" target="_blank">"It's a Wrap!" auctions</a>.<br />
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My favorite find would have to be <b><a href="https://www.yourprops.com/Extra-Production-Pieces-from-Home-original-set-dressing-pieces-Star-Trek-Enterprise-TV-2001-YP805919.html" target="_blank">the Vulcan silverware / utensils</a></b> that T'Pol, Trip and T'Less ate with in "<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Home_(episode)" target="_blank">Home</a>." <i>(An episode I've already found <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/ajhalliwell/art/Eyewitness-Vulcan-Vulcan-Home-252034202" target="_blank">especially inspiring</a> in the past, check out my "Eyewitness" artwork <a href="https://www.deviantart.com/ajhalliwell/art/Eyewitness-Vulcan-Vulcan-Home-252034202" target="_blank">here</a>.)</i><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP0xJwhNV33iWI92LolcTwvJrhGRaJmiT9QFj3y7LjLP_JgQDWs_8flPCfQuF9fdyw_fyT6RN1QB_8s5RJXT7TC9enq5HASMoR3fgCjPAzisTX023RQffLUaa4NhLMDw2AzLA-AjG8k_D/s1905/Vulcan+breakfast+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1057" data-original-width="1905" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCP0xJwhNV33iWI92LolcTwvJrhGRaJmiT9QFj3y7LjLP_JgQDWs_8flPCfQuF9fdyw_fyT6RN1QB_8s5RJXT7TC9enq5HASMoR3fgCjPAzisTX023RQffLUaa4NhLMDw2AzLA-AjG8k_D/w410-h227/Vulcan+breakfast+2.png" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a5ulUVf6nD2jTpl__R3o9Hdmwo7kDxyOgBR-6Ox6qPvBTmp6FUF6ZVzHskoQSJvgtC31iPRxZhBKGEHWxv20jpWEHWDG8GrnMHSGTqMSfuq2CLviXQI4GQ5CJ9bAcEsYWglJAMgU19tC/s1596/Trip+eating+gespar+on+Vulcan+Home+Enterprise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1596" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3a5ulUVf6nD2jTpl__R3o9Hdmwo7kDxyOgBR-6Ox6qPvBTmp6FUF6ZVzHskoQSJvgtC31iPRxZhBKGEHWxv20jpWEHWDG8GrnMHSGTqMSfuq2CLviXQI4GQ5CJ9bAcEsYWglJAMgU19tC/s320/Trip+eating+gespar+on+Vulcan+Home+Enterprise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKV9czuDh4WZ8fMC7dMvee8eVy0ppX6X2vtOuwOBDH_FgjZevLr_fx-FQDwMxze5HFBAf3nEzmIZerDZSrZUVShgXsveenDdoWR-pZT2MMc0KSTA1kWbKK5aTRGSwhITTxQi107_uSVj_/s1600/Vulcan+silverware.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="900" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDKV9czuDh4WZ8fMC7dMvee8eVy0ppX6X2vtOuwOBDH_FgjZevLr_fx-FQDwMxze5HFBAf3nEzmIZerDZSrZUVShgXsveenDdoWR-pZT2MMc0KSTA1kWbKK5aTRGSwhITTxQi107_uSVj_/s320/Vulcan+silverware.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Way back in "<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Broken_Bow_(episode)" target="_blank">Broken Bow</a>", T'Pol noted that Vulcans do not touch their food, cutting a bread stick with a fork and knife. A cool little nod to come up with some interesting alien utensils.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysa9Po4wselweJ9OuDe2QBM1SLmTeoVjEZwiKd-ZY8uP0DQO_HnURZ6HYXR6UW1fH76a0yTOQHZo9Zy6C_Z8hErFbnCWN1_Neihr3eso_q_tZnVOGik_H5xBAzLKZYwRV4_8vTzqRLOq/s1600/TPol+breadstick+Enterprise+Broken+Bow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="1010" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfysa9Po4wselweJ9OuDe2QBM1SLmTeoVjEZwiKd-ZY8uP0DQO_HnURZ6HYXR6UW1fH76a0yTOQHZo9Zy6C_Z8hErFbnCWN1_Neihr3eso_q_tZnVOGik_H5xBAzLKZYwRV4_8vTzqRLOq/s320/TPol+breadstick+Enterprise+Broken+Bow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Screen-used props are expensive, so I was super excited that I didn't have to Google "bamboo spoons" very far to realize these are a fairly common and inexpensive Chinese Gong Fu tea ceremony set!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpztrQynyAy_xJURdAtc2YfSv6GO4oSb6lfU_7E9blnnzlUPsvRMeUeu-hWPTL-MjWSqK3X8Fe-n8Jpbjh13xeweSyJWVRSIX9dWI7r8QihGHGSUx8LoMybc-OgjxkiZonvOiNtKjwoxaG/s1600/Vulcan+Home+Gong+Fu+Tea+utencils.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="498" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpztrQynyAy_xJURdAtc2YfSv6GO4oSb6lfU_7E9blnnzlUPsvRMeUeu-hWPTL-MjWSqK3X8Fe-n8Jpbjh13xeweSyJWVRSIX9dWI7r8QihGHGSUx8LoMybc-OgjxkiZonvOiNtKjwoxaG/s320/Vulcan+Home+Gong+Fu+Tea+utencils.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So heads up: <a href="https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M6VWTH0/" target="_blank">you, too, can eat your <i>gespar </i>like a Vulcan</a> by heading over to eBay or Amazon.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEnOVJjXC6wxgaSvVSkq5lA98iU6uhz77VhFmHppojyBjeKNxZzvIbeznB87x5NUxKuKuwr4ABVWtIDPC4aplf6UoPAn6_T6GcCFqFnM5IeZaSfICNN9-_GnksRN2VrTKPyoFIm7f3UUf/s867/T%2527Pol+tongs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="867" data-original-width="831" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEnOVJjXC6wxgaSvVSkq5lA98iU6uhz77VhFmHppojyBjeKNxZzvIbeznB87x5NUxKuKuwr4ABVWtIDPC4aplf6UoPAn6_T6GcCFqFnM5IeZaSfICNN9-_GnksRN2VrTKPyoFIm7f3UUf/w314-h328/T%2527Pol+tongs.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div><br />For more observations on Star Trek, politics, and whatever TV show I happen to be watching, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AJHalliwell">follow me on Twitter</a></b>.<div><br /></div><div><b>Update: </b>Re-watching "<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/The_Forge_(episode)">The Forge</a>", I noticed that Syrran, T'Pol and Archer eat their oatmeal-porridge with the Vulcan bamboo spoons (with distinctive curvature) from "Home."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXaCqJwoz9Q3oXhpUFYnuaaww7cEgSAKkaw8qFcHW9wptta564fKriFcYQfpJFRNFZeHMXSeHg4BzTZvX-QZBT3quHjMbpxZ7VeQR6AyyMCVkACqleBl0qDa8eNcuEUVM_LplzlDaPNXW/s850/Syrran+Vulcan+Spoon+The+Forge+Enterprise+Star+Trek+Arev.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="850" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXaCqJwoz9Q3oXhpUFYnuaaww7cEgSAKkaw8qFcHW9wptta564fKriFcYQfpJFRNFZeHMXSeHg4BzTZvX-QZBT3quHjMbpxZ7VeQR6AyyMCVkACqleBl0qDa8eNcuEUVM_LplzlDaPNXW/s320/Syrran+Vulcan+Spoon+The+Forge+Enterprise+Star+Trek+Arev.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-87184215868989802812020-04-23T16:25:00.002-04:002020-07-29T10:14:17.754-04:00The 32 Planets Malcolm Reed has set foot on, from Star Trek: Enterprise "Terra Prime"<i>"32!"</i><br />
<i> "Hmm?"</i><br />
<i>"This is the thirty-second planet I've set foot on!"</i><br />
<i> "248!"</i><br />
- Malcolm Reed and Phlox, after getting out of the shuttlepod on Mars. ("Terra Prime")<br />
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More or less since the Star Trek: Enterprise episode "<b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Terra_Prime_(episode)" target="_blank">Terra Prime</a></b>" aired in 2005, I've intended to go back and count those up to see how many planets it is suggested that tactical officer <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Malcolm_Reed" target="_blank"><b>Lt. Malcolm Reed</b></a> set foot on off-screen. (Spoiler: It's 12.)<br />
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Note that other than Earth and Mars, these numbers are for my counting and while they may be in the right order, there may be some between those listed that didn't happen during episodes.<br />
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<b><u>Season One (2151)</u></b><br />
1. <b>Earth</b> - <i>Based on the phrasing, I'm counting Earth by default.</i><br />
2. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Rigel_X" target="_blank">Rigel X</a></b> ("Broken Bow")<br />
3. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Archer_IV" target="_blank">Archer IV</a></b> ("Strange New World")<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1fFYCpdeDifzzBA7hbj5Bfdiga4q_7-RaAemmaeI286Wotj6lLnJRRlv8lc7zGOGApKamp1wlFPolAlQrZeHpOLt_Il-SAcSWcn9gG0w3CoTlSY5J5CNuVxGPzQNu-ld_19atOz3tuLc/s1600/Enterprise_NX_landing_party_on_terra_nova.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="358" data-original-width="640" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT1fFYCpdeDifzzBA7hbj5Bfdiga4q_7-RaAemmaeI286Wotj6lLnJRRlv8lc7zGOGApKamp1wlFPolAlQrZeHpOLt_Il-SAcSWcn9gG0w3CoTlSY5J5CNuVxGPzQNu-ld_19atOz3tuLc/s320/Enterprise_NX_landing_party_on_terra_nova.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terra Nova Colony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
4. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Terra_Nova" target="_blank">Terra Nova</a></b> ("Terra Nova")<br />
5. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/P'Jem" target="_blank">P'Jem</a></b> ("The Andorian Incident") - <i>Note it's not 100% clear the planet's name is P'Jem.</i><br />
6. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Coridan" target="_blank">Coridan</a></b> ("Shadows of P'Jem")<br />
7. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Dakala" target="_blank">Dakala</a></b> ("Rogue Planet")<br />
8. <b>Symbiotic entity planet</b> ("Vox Sola")<br />
9. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Torothan_homeworld" target="_blank">Torothan homeworld</a></b> ("Desert Crossing")<br />
10. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Risa" target="_blank">Risa</a></b> ("Two Days and Two Nights")<br />
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<b><u>Season Two (2152)</u></b><br />
11. <b>Tessic's deuterium mining planet</b> ("Marauders")<br />
12. <b>Gosis' homeworld</b> ("The Communicator")<br />
13. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Xantoras_(planet)" target="_blank">Xantoras</a></b> ("The Breach")<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnHsQLr474maC6u8yZoxT_ZfVAeuyFrg1zq3zH-c7WNIOBpHHC_JBcz2NkExxNhTXAkDIrl5b63hZUV-7ehaSpSY_Uk9waWDrbSNiXOZ9M5dGvj0NucQyr84AQn_fOGDkFmxsnzg-jCge/s1600/Reed+and+Tucker+tied+up+on+Risa.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1024" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlnHsQLr474maC6u8yZoxT_ZfVAeuyFrg1zq3zH-c7WNIOBpHHC_JBcz2NkExxNhTXAkDIrl5b63hZUV-7ehaSpSY_Uk9waWDrbSNiXOZ9M5dGvj0NucQyr84AQn_fOGDkFmxsnzg-jCge/s320/Reed+and+Tucker+tied+up+on+Risa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tied up on Risa</td></tr>
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<b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Season Three</b><i> (When none of the planets are given names!) </i><br />
14. <b>"Tulaw" (Trellium mine)</b> ("The Xindi") - <i>Unnamed in the episode, but named in a novel.</i><br />
15. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Loque'eque_homeworld" target="_blank">Loque'eque homeworld</a></b> ("Extinction")<br />
16. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Xanthan_homeworld" target="_blank">Xanthan homeworld</a></b> ("Rajiin")<br />
17. <b>Xindi-Arboreal colony</b> ("The Shipment")<br />
18. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Skagaran_colony" target="_blank">Skagaran colony</a></b> ("North Star")<br />
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<b><u>Season Four (2155)</u></b><br />
19. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Vulcan_(planet)" target="_blank">Vulcan</a></b> ("The Forge")<br />
...<br />
32. <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Mars" target="_blank">Mars</a> </b>("Terra Prime")<br />
<i><br /></i>
If Reed had set foot on 12 other planets - but not Earth's closest neighbor - I presume most or all of them have been during Enteprise's missions and not during his earlier Starfleet career.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Honorable Mention</u></b><br />
Not planets, but worthy of mention among Reed's away mission exploits.<br />
<ul>
<li>Archer's comet ("Breaking the Ice") - <i>I think it's suggested he and Mayweather are the first humans to set foot on a comet?</i></li>
<li>Tandaran moon ("Detained")</li>
<li>Rura Penthe (Klingon moon) ("Judgement")</li>
</ul>
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We don't know much about Reed's Starfleet career before <i>Enterprise</i>, aside from his time with Section 31. By the 24th century, <b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Venus" target="_blank">Venus</a></b> did have facilities for Starfleet officers, so that's a possibility. Otherwise, I can't remember any other adventures that are implied to have occurred off screen like <i>Star Trek: Voyager</i> occasionally mentioned.<br />
<br />
For more observations on Star Trek, politics, and whatever TV show I happen to be watching, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AJHalliwell">follow me on Twitter</a></b>.</div>
AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-37403536396572841572020-04-15T11:58:00.001-04:002020-07-29T10:14:36.060-04:00The Universal Translator Malfunctions from Star Trek: Discovery "An Obol for Charon" - TranslatedThe <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Universal_translator" target="_blank">universal translator</a> is one of Star Trek's greatest thematic devices, used to explain <a href="https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AliensSpeakingEnglish" target="_blank">why all the aliens seem to speak English</a>. Like many Star Trek inventions, we're inching closer and closer to a universal translator (for known, Earth languages) <a href="https://translate.google.com/" target="_blank">being a reality</a> - even if it doesn't somehow change the speaker's lip movements.<br />
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In the <i>Star Trek: Discovery</i> second season episode <span id="goog_2087227462"></span>"<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/An_Obol_for_Charon_(episode)" target="_blank">An Obol for Charon</a>,"<span id="goog_2087227463"></span> the universal translator malfunctions translating the crew's spoken English into what I've liked to call "a chaotic cacophony" akin to the Tower of Babel; the crew can't understand each other or their consoles. (You can watch the scene <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FEMdqbLQBw" target="_blank">over at YouTube</a></b> or below.)</div>
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Since the episode aired, I've looked for someone to have translated the scene -- but to my surprise, no one has, so in addition to the edits I've made <a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Talk:An_Obol_for_Charon_(episode)#Universal_Translator_scene" target="_blank">over at Memory Alpha</a>, here is the scene as I've been able to put it together.<br />
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<b>Burnham: qav'ap vISuDbogh vIyaj. ghurlaHbe' vummeH Domaj. (</b><a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Klingonese" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Klingon</a><b>) [<a href="http://klingon.wiki/En/DSC204" target="_blank">KlingonWiki</a>]</b><br />
<i>I understand the stakes. We're working as fast as we can. </i><br />
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<b>Pike: Pourquoi parlez-vous Klingon? (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/French_language" target="_blank">French</a>) </b><br />
<i>Why are you speaking Klingon? </i><br />
<br />
<b>Owosekun: <span style="background-color: yellow;">Wetdetto kesto dian dopyenojian. (UNCLEAR) </span></b><br />
[Translation]<br />
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<b>Detmer: Endon deth pednog. Arabic kayenn? (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Andorian_language" target="_blank">Andorian</a>) </b><br />
<i>I can't read my console. Is this Arabic? </i><br />
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<b>Owosekun: Jeg kan ikke forstå noe som helst. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Norwegian_language" target="_blank">Norwegian</a>) [<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/fxzesd/norwegian_english_star_trek_discovery_translator/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>] </b><br />
<i>My controls have gone crazy. I can't read anything. </i><br />
(I can’t understand anything at all.)<br />
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<b>Pike: Töte die alarme. Was ist passiert? (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/German_language" target="_blank">German</a>) </b><br />
<i>Kill those alarms. Someone tell me what happened? </i><br />
(Kill the alarms. What happened?)<br />
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<b>Nhan: Il traduttore universale no funziona. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Italian_language" target="_blank">Italian</a>) </b><br />
<i>Universal translator must be malfunctioning. </i><br />
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<b>Bryce: Capten Pike. Mae'r gronnell wedi ateb ein trawsyrru... a dyma sy wedi digwydd. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Welsh" target="_blank">Welsh</a>) [<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/fylolk/welsh_english_sphere_answered_our_hail/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>] </b><br />
<i>Captain Pike. The sphere answered our hail... and then this happened. (Bryce) </i><br />
(Captain Pike. The sphere/globe has answered our transmission(s)… and here/this is what has happened.)<br />
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<b>Pike: Hat jemand eine idee? (German) </b><br />
<i>Anyone got any ideas? </i><br />
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<b>Pike: Barokh' haba l'mig'dal babal. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Hebrew" target="_blank">Hebrew</a>) </b><br />
<i>Welcome to the Tower of Babel. </i><br />
(.ברוך הבא למגדל בבל)<br />
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<b>Burnham: I bǐ chuánshàng de oi yung dōu duō. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Mandarin_Chinese" target="_blank">Mandarin Chinese</a>) </b><br />
<i>You know more languages than anyone on the ship. </i><br />
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<b>Saru: Shì. Jiǔshísì. </b><br />
<i>Yes. Ninety-four. </i><br />
(是。 九十四。)<br />
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<b>Burnham: El traductor universal ha sido invadido por un virus. Está traduciendo todo a un idioma diferente. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Spanish_language" target="_blank">Spanish</a>) </b><br />
<i>The universal translator's been invaded by a virus. It's translating everything into a different language.
</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Saru: Tengo ojos y oídos, Burnham. </b><br />
<i>I have eyes and ears, Burnham. </i><br />
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Male on comm, or Bryce (?): (...gondo res navos comandos.) (UNCLEAR, Spanish?) </b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">(Background, Unclear… 'commands' ?)</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Female on comm (?): (...something something something day.) (UNCLEAR) </b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">(Background, Unclear…)</span><br />
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<b>Saru: Ordinaatëer, <span style="background-color: yellow;">appal baropa laapa vingalu</span> téeméer ak ñeent-fukk juróom ñett dëgre. (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Wolof" target="_blank">Wolof</a>) [<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/fyjr2y/wolof_english_maintain_helm_stability_axis/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>] </b><br />
<i>Computer, maintain helm stability at one-hundred-forty-eight degrees off axis. </i><br />
(Computer, limit … thinner one-hundred and forty-eight degrees.)
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<b>Computer: Waaw. Degg naala.</b><br />
<i>Confirmed. </i><br />
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<b style="background-color: yellow;">Female on comm (?): (Shimi tem...) (UNCLEAR) </b><br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;">(Background, Unclear…)
</span><br />
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<b>Computer: Défaillance du logiciel de traduction détecté. (French) [<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/g1y1e0/portuguese_english_traduccion_de_dictate_star/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>] </b><br />
(Failure of the universal translator detected.)<br />
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<b>Computer: (Gibberish in multiple languages: Pat-, nep-, loo-, lik-... annouce-... traduttore... selefante...) </b><br />
([Gibberish, except when it's not. Italian?])<br />
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<b>
Burnham: Ya izolirovala sistemu svyazi. Gotov k povtornoy initsializatsii? (<a href="https://memory-alpha.fandom.com/wiki/Russian_language" target="_blank">Russian</a>) [<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/translator/comments/g31c99/russian_english_initialization_cycle_scene_star/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>] </b>
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<i>I've isolated the communications system. Ready to reinitialize? </i></div>
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(Я изолировала систему связи. Готов к повторной инициализации?)</div>
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<b>Saru: Vhozhu v tsikl initsializatsii. Davay. </b></div>
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<i>Entering the reinitialization sequence. Now. </i></div>
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(вхожу в цикл инициализации. Давай.)<br />
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For more observations on Star Trek, politics, and whatever TV show I happen to be watching, <b><a href="https://twitter.com/AJHalliwell">follow me on Twitter</a></b>.</div>
AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-83909782421748210422013-12-25T19:09:00.000-05:002013-12-25T19:09:07.810-05:00The Eleventh HourMerry Christmas blog-followers, as I was telling Angela the other day -- this year has been so busy with things to do it's almost like I'm too busy living life to blog about it. A dilemma I'm certainly happy to suffer from! I just hope that I remember to enjoy the moment, if I am not documenting them quite as diligently.<br />
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The family got together for Christmas at Grandma's yesterday, and the immediate family is all here at home today. David got mom and I gifts for the first time in more than 10 years -- and he got mom cash "to make up for all the years he forgot to get her gifts." Which I thought was bizaare, and I don't think mom quite knows how to react to it, but I'll make sure she spends it on gifty-things for herself. It just seems to go against tradition to get your parents cash for a gift ever. Even gift cards are pushing it, if there isn't some level of thought put into it. Like, "I got you this giftcard to [store] because I know they have the type of shoes you like." etc.<br />
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Well, David got me "The Last of Us" -- a video game Game Stop, and people on Tumblr, have recommended to me quite a bit actually, so once I finish this blog and catching up on the Merry Christmas text messages I'll play that until 9:00 p.m. when the Christmas special of Doctor Who airs. Then I'm actually happy to go back to work tomorrow.<br />
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<b>Quote of the Day: </b>Mom really wanted to see a movie today, for some reason, so we humored her and saw <a href="http://screenrant.com/secret-life-of-walter-mitty-movie-reviews-2013/" target="_blank">"The Secret Life of Walter Mitty"</a> -- a remake of a 1947 classic about a man (Ben Stiller) who lives a boring life, never having done anything noteworthy and then wants to win the affections of Kristin Wiig - so he trips to Greenland, and Iceland, and the Middle East. It was actually pretty good, it definitely got me thinking and excited for my January trip to Europe!<br />
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<b>“<em>To see things thousands of miles away, <br />things hidden behind walls
and within rooms, <br />things dangerous to come to, <br />to draw closer, <br />to see
<br />and be amazed.</em>”</b></blockquote>
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- The "Motto" of Life Magazine, in the movie.<br />(Not sure if that's true, or just poetic.)</div>
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<b>Song of the Day: </b>My favorite new Christmas-y song this year has been <u><b>"Sleigh Ride" by Fun.</b></u> in the album: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holidays_Rule" target="_blank">"Holidays Rule"</a>, which doesn't feature as many artists I'm already familiar with, but oh well. I first heard this song while buying 50% off clothes at American Eagle on Black Friday!<br />
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AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-78326134240126338102013-12-16T20:40:00.000-05:002013-12-16T20:40:20.778-05:00Barnes and Noble Book Cover Posters on CanvasIf you're like me, when you go to Barnes and Noble - you want those classic book cover posters on canvas they hang near the ceiling. If you're very like me, you've asked how to purchase them, or where to buy them, to no avail.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure why all these pictures are such bad quality...</td></tr>
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And because I'm me, I never gave up on Googling those things -- for years now I've been trying to find them, and the internet is filled with <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/where-to-buy-classic-book-cover-artwork-good-questions-186726">deadends</a>. A lot of people who, like <a href="http://ajhalliwell.blogspot.com/2010/11/where-is-real-sabrina-house.html">the Victorian House from Sabrina</a>, are trying to answer you without really understanding the question.<br />
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Without further ado, our <i>website of the day</i> is <a href="http://candlesbook.com/shopsite_sc/posters_book_covers.html"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>Candlesbook.com</b></u></span></a> -- the website where you can buy the canvas posters! There are actually a bunch more options than just what Barnes and Noble have purchased, too. Only downside is the canvases of the size at B&N are over $100, and my poor budget can't afford that.<br />
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<br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-81718153696100272652013-04-28T15:57:00.002-04:002013-04-28T15:57:55.987-04:00On the Possession of Leadership<span style="font-size: small;">For the longest time, I thought leadership was not really a “skill”
or “trait.” I thought it was just a thing you displayed, it wasn’t really
something you learned or had to learn, kind of like quickness or bravery. You
did something quickly; you were brave in a situation; you lead a grou<span style="font-size: small;">p to a place</span>.
But the more I see groups of people from the outside looking in, the more I
realize that not everyone is cut out to be a leader. Not everyone wants to be a
leader. And being a leader really is a skill in itself.</span>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Saturday, the old Circle K gang got back together for one
last hurrah – we had not assembled in that manner in probably 2 or 3 years;
sure there have been the occasional parties, outings, or other events, but this
was something different. I think part of it was also the fact that Sarah is
moving to Connecticut. But it was interesting to see still how we all
interacted, what roles we all played in the group dynamic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">We started off at Spaghetti Warehouse (where the food is
always subpar, the service is average, but the presentation is certainly
noteworthy.) And it was nice seeing the gang all gathered together again! Then
we made our way over to the new Winking Lizard & Lizardville in Montrose.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>April 27, 2013: Group shot from Saturday. We had some trouble with the lighting.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Skipping<span style="font-size: small;"> some details, my point is: this lov<span style="font-size: small;">able group of <span style="font-size: small;">service-minded misfits still cluster like lost baby ducks <span style="font-size: small;">in any Point<span style="font-size: small;"> A to Point B situation. I <span style="font-size: small;">have never been able to figure out in my years of Circle K, why some<span style="font-size: small;">times no one takes the lead <span style="font-size: small;">in a situation. Or why so many situations require someone to ta<span style="font-size: small;">ke the lead<span style="font-size: small;">? A lot of times we all know what we have to do, it<span style="font-size: small;">'s just a matter of doing it, but we kind of flut<span style="font-size: small;">ter around.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63FUZrdhSAHa_gaaU4_-ETWD18ppDWbDOdf41hK-fTV25Jahuy3AlETem0UHOTXg6Es9WQ1NN7lhRso7X6AnjUZ4Sxikgxm_sDAb9mczyrFsv7sVRAScaxW2Q-B9BLrl-TMtPFbWHSJgQ/s1600/OLD+Circle+K+Picture+-+August+28+2008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63FUZrdhSAHa_gaaU4_-ETWD18ppDWbDOdf41hK-fTV25Jahuy3AlETem0UHOTXg6Es9WQ1NN7lhRso7X6AnjUZ4Sxikgxm_sDAb9mczyrFsv7sVRAScaxW2Q-B9BLrl-TMtPFbWHSJgQ/s320/OLD+Circle+K+Picture+-+August+28+2008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>August 28, 2008: The First end-of-year Circle K Banquet</i><br />
<i>at Spaghetti Warehouse</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I think it was Ange<span style="font-size: small;">la the other day who said, when we were at a <span style="font-size: small;">baseball game for one reason or another, that the whole point of going <span style="font-size: small;">was to s<span style="font-size: small;">ee this thing <span style="font-size: small;">that w<span style="font-size: small;">e knew was at this l<span style="font-size: small;">ocation. <span style="font-size: small;">But she wanted me to lead the way, and do the looking for it<span style="font-size: small;">. I even asked <span style="font-size: small;">that it was her idea, and her thing, why do I have to lead<span style="font-size: small;">? And she's like <b><i>"What do you mean!? It's what you d<span style="font-size: small;">o - it'<span style="font-size: small;">s why I brought you!"</span></span></i></b></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFmi7ZowRHZZnSbJHkCEEH75lLcEYNIvkIgz9nvHenPdc_b4I32shsllIMmbLS5wcJkwx9zBjzJEcrWkXPiRgndEE2PncsB471WSHlms2HukOpu7-2fogqwqt6XTGC3cW0tOFDFMq-3LF/s1600/Mayor+Mills+is+awesome+OUAT.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFmi7ZowRHZZnSbJHkCEEH75lLcEYNIvkIgz9nvHenPdc_b4I32shsllIMmbLS5wcJkwx9zBjzJEcrWkXPiRgndEE2PncsB471WSHlms2HukOpu7-2fogqwqt6XTGC3cW0tOFDFMq-3LF/s1600/Mayor+Mills+is+awesome+OUAT.gif" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mayor Mills being awesome and leading.<br />Even though she's evil.</i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I do<span style="font-size: small;">n't mean to sound arrogant <span style="font-size: small;">[in thi<span style="font-size: small;">s particular instance], but I am proud <span style="font-size: small;">of how many of my friends really see leadership potential in me. Even if it is silly things like <span style="font-size: small;">always knowing where to take our group,<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">subconsciously</span> <span style="font-size: small;">keeping track so we don't lose anyone, and <span style="font-size: small;">mak<span style="font-size: small;">ing sure everyone understands whats going on and feels their voice is heard in <span style="font-size: small;">decision <span style="font-size: small;">making.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;">Quotes of the Day<span style="font-size: small;">: </span></span></b><span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">"</span>This is what you’re like in a bad mood? I hate you.<span style="font-size: small;">"</span> </i>- Tiffany. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Haha, I <span style="font-size: small;">had some issues going into the dinner last night that I was not able to take care of be<span style="font-size: small;">cause mom went m<span style="font-size: small;">issing, but I <span style="font-size: small;">was able to repress that unhappiness enough to have a good time. I mentioned <span style="font-size: small;">being in <span style="font-size: small;">bad mood (which for me is s<span style="font-size: small;">till a pretty good mood - lol) and Tiffany commented<span style="font-size: small;">, <span style="font-size: small;">jealously.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Song of the </b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Day: </b><a href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/guillotine_lyrics_yadi.html"><i>"Guil</i></a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.lyricsmania.com/guillotine_lyrics_yadi.html"><i>lotine" by Yadi.</i></a> <span style="font-size: small;">So <span style="font-size: small;">I have not done a great <span style="font-size: small;">job of blogging this year<span style="font-size: small;"> because of my new job, <span style="font-size: small;">nor the end of l<span style="font-size: small;">ast year because of the campaign job, but I'm going to work on that. But <span style="font-size: small;">in the little time I have left, one of my <span style="font-size: small;">favorite shows is Once Upon a Time and my<span style="font-size: small;"> favorite character is Regi<span style="font-size: small;">na M<span style="font-size: small;">ills.<span style="font-size: small;"> And ABC <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://youtu.be/aGWentiQYCY">put out a <span style="font-size: small;">commercial</span></a> with this song, and later a whole <span style="font-size: small;">mini-music video<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>and I just love it and I find it getting stuck in my head fairly often. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <span style="font-size: small;">Official Music Video:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="169" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-fIkHOWi2Zo" width="300"></iframe></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Video </b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>of the Day: </b><span style="font-size: small;">The aforementioned m<span style="font-size: small;">ini-music video about Regina Mills/The Evil <span style="font-size: small;">Queen with the above song in it.</span></span></span></span> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="169" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/oYcKzYtElrc" width="300"></iframe> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-53623916743991663352013-03-01T13:31:00.001-05:002013-03-01T14:34:11.301-05:00Two TV Shows the 90's ForgotOkay, time for another search of the internet: there are two Television shows I really liked in the early '90s that I cannot for the life of me remember any solid details about.<br />
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Name That TV Show #1: <i><b>Art Show Guy!</b></i> It was probably on PBS (<a href="http://www.wviz.org/">the Cleveland station of which was WVIZ</a>) in the early 90s, but definitely had the film quality of being filmed in sometime between the late-60s and early-80s. If I had to guess, I would say average it out in the 70s somewhere? But it was just a late-40s-ish white guy, with curly brown hair, doing art projects on a desk between him and the cameras only angle. I seem to remember my Dad telling me that this guy was actually his Art teacher in school, which if actually true, suggests it was locally based (Dad went to school in Parma.) I remember one episode had him painting a picture with a watered-down glue, and using different things to pour on it and stick to it (like coffee grounds.) The downside of blogging like this is that I do not have a picture - haha.<br />
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He is not, however, to be confused with painter guy -- a guy with a mustache and white hair, who painted as he read a book. I don't know what show that was, but I didn't watch it, that was my brother's thing. <br />
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Name That TV Show #2: <strike>Puppets on the Street!</strike> This was a live-action show that featured a guy, and a miniature New York-ish street set with a bunch of little puppets. It may have been partially animated? But I do remember this piece of art at the Cleveland Art Museum always reminded me of it -- <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRRZ0ZWBEwN80VTzxaCjJaIEkHnLuEqIf9UGQDeH0RO7kgGITfytD4SS4_3yT7WJ6C3EFJpvSCOC3MGvUXp-mmqD99p9_wcrmvLw0MuwqoECNDCzfJmZEYTSHaVQ9HB-2p04OerL3WFWw/s1600/Looking+Along+Broadway+Towards+Grace+Church+-+Cleveland+Museum+Art+New+York+City+Street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMRRZ0ZWBEwN80VTzxaCjJaIEkHnLuEqIf9UGQDeH0RO7kgGITfytD4SS4_3yT7WJ6C3EFJpvSCOC3MGvUXp-mmqD99p9_wcrmvLw0MuwqoECNDCzfJmZEYTSHaVQ9HB-2p04OerL3WFWw/s320/Looking+Along+Broadway+Towards+Grace+Church+-+Cleveland+Museum+Art+New+York+City+Street.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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...yeah, "<a href="http://www.clevelandart.org/art/1991.27">Looking Along Broadway Towards Grace Church</a>" by Red Grooms reminds me of it - lol. It was probably not on PBS, because I seem to remember it being more adult humor.<br />
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UP! Found it. <span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weinerville">"Weinerville"</a> on Nickelodeon.</b></span> (I guess it wasn't adult humor per se, just called Weinerville haha. I imagine young-me would refuse to even say it.)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="263" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VfmwVDEChTk" width="350"></iframe><br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-34643308764320510142013-02-27T17:00:00.000-05:002013-02-27T20:05:59.325-05:00Clockstoppers: I don't know why I remember it so fondlyOkay, let's start with the fact that I HAD NO IDEA NETFLIX'S KIDS SECTION was a different database of movies/TV shows than normal Netflix. I totally thought the kids section was just the kids movies you can find in the "normal" section, with all the bad movies removed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3s_IIZO7QJS2PazcR44vvz701JYh46nLR1iohWO2fhIb2YhbwS4POyQkEyR8QZATo_GMPQ6Jc82vOeffzNp6w8pPYEwdakEuJMwj5oHUBBMJnDlmciPHeqtgZiTykE8pV-pRW5_n8ptB/s1600/Netflix+Just+for+Kids+Section.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3s_IIZO7QJS2PazcR44vvz701JYh46nLR1iohWO2fhIb2YhbwS4POyQkEyR8QZATo_GMPQ6Jc82vOeffzNp6w8pPYEwdakEuJMwj5oHUBBMJnDlmciPHeqtgZiTykE8pV-pRW5_n8ptB/s320/Netflix+Just+for+Kids+Section.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Turns out there are a BUNCH of things that don't come up on the normal section! Including the two Brave Little Toaster sequals, Arthur, Ahhh! Real Monsters, Clockstoppers, and well, a bunch of other things! For my purposes, I've decided to watch my favorite movie that I do not own: Clockstoppers. Which I haven't watched in like, 9 years probably.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Y8NmRZfncgqEDn6APq1-MVj5GmZNpuLgV39a16oBeYKvMjCFyKCmtFntCEEkeRjiy_RCVND_XFqF052_IT-MN1KXieiBzun1AY78BTTJ6RMtaAkfRxC5lsKNX3sPK1fDpyhBPGDRxwx/s1600/Not+how+eBay+Works+Clockstoppers+Typewriter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35Y8NmRZfncgqEDn6APq1-MVj5GmZNpuLgV39a16oBeYKvMjCFyKCmtFntCEEkeRjiy_RCVND_XFqF052_IT-MN1KXieiBzun1AY78BTTJ6RMtaAkfRxC5lsKNX3sPK1fDpyhBPGDRxwx/s320/Not+how+eBay+Works+Clockstoppers+Typewriter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Point, Snap-Autoupload, type in price in the box write? Um, no.<br />Also he's collecting checks he gets... those poor people trying to balance their books!</i></td></tr>
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Hold on a second, that's not how uploading works!! ...and that's not how eBay works!! ...and that's not how checks work!! UGGH. I give up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg248tzTLPUvKOFPeDmCxKeeH8LKjAbHOMOiWm7gWafJoLkRAlEkskYicQbrn3YoAE7V5643Y34fFWeGI305xf3IPnbZ8IyFp7YRKwEePqFFgujpMHWgucuB_Qdb2OKdPS_vwwfiJpAdKWA/s1600/Clockstoppers+-+Hey+Andrew+or+Professor!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg248tzTLPUvKOFPeDmCxKeeH8LKjAbHOMOiWm7gWafJoLkRAlEkskYicQbrn3YoAE7V5643Y34fFWeGI305xf3IPnbZ8IyFp7YRKwEePqFFgujpMHWgucuB_Qdb2OKdPS_vwwfiJpAdKWA/s320/Clockstoppers+-+Hey+Andrew+or+Professor!.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Woah. That was weird. It sounded like someone in the movie just yelled "Andrew!" unrelated to anything in the movie O.o. Right after the Professor/Dad talks to one of the other professors about the NASA project or something in the hallway, after he and his son leave the classroom. (About 8 minutes in.) Anyway.<br />
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So now we're at the Rock Climbing store. This movie would be much more interesting if lead Girl "Francesca" (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paula_Garc%C3%A9s">Paula Garcés</a>) was actually a young-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Alba">Jessica Alba</a> as she kinda looks like she is. (Jessica Alba was 19 when this movie was filmed, so that would have actually worked out really well!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Also if you see a possum during the day, because they're noctournal, it may have RABIES SO DON'T TOUCH IT!</i></td></tr>
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Haha, so our star (who's name is not very ingrained in the audiences' mind yet) accidentally freezes time for the first time and encounters a frozen possum. He then (assuming the possum is dead) BRINGS IT INSIDE. The most rationale scenerio here should actually be the possum is <a href="http://www.helium.com/items/2249383-the-meaning-of-the-term-playing-possum">PLAYING POSSUM</a> (aka: pretending to be dead so a predator leaves it alone. Origin of the phrase "playing possum.") Even if his assumption was correct, bringing the dead possum inside the house to show the girl he's interested in?! Dude's an idiot.<br />
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Lol, this movie is so bad. But not really bad, it's just so "Nick movie" that it is bogged down with era-specifics. The clothes at the rave for example look like something out of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zenon:_Girl_of_the_21st_Century_%28film%29">"Zenon: Girl of the Future"</a>?!? I mean, all the hair and fashion really. But also the fact that they have a DJ battle? It's very c. 2000. Just like if it was 5 years later they'd be having a breakdance battle. 10 years earlier and they'd probably be at some traditional sporting event, like Basketball or Football. ...haha, actually if I waited like 5 more minutes it does turn into a break dancing competition.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Take a moment to appreciate the hairstyles on the right of this picture.</i></td></tr>
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...if you're head was spinning on a record player/turn table thing, wouldn't there be a needle in the center piercing your head or something??? Meeker, isn't that a Muppet's name? I also noticed there was a person in the crowd at the rave who had a "The Flash" shirt on, interesting reference there because of the watch.<br />
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(Meanwhile, at the hospital) OMG: The daughter/sister is just playing with a defibralator!? Safety measure much, hospital!?!?! HAHA! Oh my God, a Payphone. Yeah, ain't none of those anymore. I wonder if anyone in this has a cell phone, I haven't been watching too closely. Okay, our star's name is Zak by the way.<br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;"><i>"I know this is the last thing you want to hear after a first date, but the cops are after me!" </i></span></blockquote>
You're right Zak. That is the worst thing to hear after a first date. Don't you have any other friends you can go to? I seriously have a dozen friends I would go to BEFORE the girl I just went on one date with. Although admittedly, she does know about the watch. But that just means the bad guys are more likely going to go after her too. Spread the wealth man, don't have a few people know everything, have everyone know a little and if they all somehow got together they'd know everything. Just a little look into my mindset.<br />
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Wow, well I know this movie is already winner of the "Worst Science of the Decade" award and all, but seriously, their use of hydrogen also sucks. I'm no chemist, but I know that's not how hydrogen works. Well, inconclusion, this is not a great movie - but I like it! I'm definitely glad it's on Netflix, haha. Oh my god this ending is so bad, hahahaha. Ooooooh, Nickelodeon movies.... <br />
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<b>Song of the Day:<i> </i></b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shake_It_Out"><i>"Shake It Out"</i> by Florence and the Machine.</a> You see, <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/ladygaga/monster.html">like Lady Gaga</a>, all Florence wants to do is dance. And you can't dance with the devil on your back, so Florence wants to hit home her remedy: <a href="http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/florencethemachine/shakeitout.html">shake him off!</a> <br />
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If you leave this song with anything, it's that you gotta shake him off.
I have never really listened (read:understood) the lyrics too closely,
but upon closer inspection yeah it's a nice song. It's definitely
catchy, I would say this song has been stuck in my head all week, and I
don't have it on iTunes so I listen to it on Spotify -- and I worry the
people who can see my Spotify feed are like "Why doesn't he listen to
more variety???"AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-7785859577283003762013-02-24T17:54:00.001-05:002013-02-24T17:54:26.143-05:00FlixerventionHere I am trying to write about a Netflix-ervention, and I'm having trouble because I'm distracted by Netflix! What better metaphor.<br />
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Well, for the last month or so, I've been trying Netflix and I gotta say it's AWESOME! I ended up having to cancel the Blockbuster subscription because there are no more Blockbusters within a hundred miles of here, and it just wasn't worth it anymore. Alas, I am a big supporter of brand loyalty but Blockbuster just couldn't cut it for me anymore.<br />
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<b>Picture of the Day: </b>While I haven't been playing <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_Online"><i>Star Trek: Online</i></a>, they've expanded into <a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Utopia_Planitia_Fleet_Yards">Utopia Planitia Ship Yards</a> and created a bunch of class development patches which I think are pretty cool. I threw in the modern day Intrepid's patch, and the 2150s Intrepid patch.<br />
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<b>Quote of the Day:</b> Is there anything worse than realizing how good a show is after it's already been canceled? That is how I feel about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Better_Off_Ted">Better Off Ted</a>. I've been slowly making my way through the two half seasons that are on Netflix, and O- M- G. This show is magical. I don't really like the lab guys, but Veronica and Ted are just the best. They have the Jack Donaghy/Liz Lemon rapport, but Ted isn't Liz-pathetic.<br />
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<span style="color: #e69138;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Ted walks through the empty office building to Veronica's Office*</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Ted: <i>"Where is everybody?"</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138;">Veronica: <i>"If Corporate calls I'm going with, </i>'It's Saturday.'<i>"</i></span></blockquote>
<b>Video of the Day: </b>The music video for the song: <i>"Revenge of the Nerds" </i>by Verbal. Leading off of the previous comment, Whaaaaat - after Better Off Ted was canceled one of the actors <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malcolm_Barrett_%28actor%29">Malcolm Barrett</a> who played Lem Hewitt, is a 'spoken word artist' (Rapper?) and the cast got back together for this! That is great.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/RDyRkOZzgj0" width="350"></iframe><br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-38961331743388439062013-02-21T01:08:00.002-05:002013-02-21T01:14:32.828-05:00Jack Donaghy's Office is THE DREAMAcknowledging for a just a second I've fallen behind on blogging a lot in the last month, much of that month has included watching 30 Rock on Netflix. And I just wanted to take a second to talk about how amazing-awesome Jack Donaghy's office is, because I've searched the internet and I can't find enough highlighting it.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>The Hidden Bathroom</i></b></span></span> <br />
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The first season of 30 Rock Jack has a different office set-up, that isn't really the reason I'm writing this blog - because I really truly loved 30 Rock second season on. I think the hidden bathroom might have been in the pilot actually? Here's the hidden bathroom really highlighted in the second season episode <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ludachristmas">"Ludachristmas."</a><br />
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Jack's mother, Colleen, uses the bathroom leading to her eavesdropping on <i>plot device plot device</i>.<br />
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I don't think we ever actually see the inside of the bathroom, this is probably the most we see.<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Hidden Tie Cabinet</b></i></span></span><br />
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I don't think this cabinet is meant to be implied it's always been there -- in the earlier episodes, I think there's a picture of Jack with Pope John Paul II there that does not quite fit the hidden cabinet.<br />
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Look at this awesome. In "Sunny All The Time Always" at the end of season 5, Liz impresses Jack by taking control of her life, and he rewards her with the gift of one of his neckties. There is another episode where Jack says something about having to switch to a weaker tie because he looks just too sexy in the one he chose; I wonder if the cabinet shows up in that episode...<br />
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Bottom shelf extended, haha, this is awesome...<br />
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<span style="color: #93c47d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The Hidden Suit/Tux Closet</b></i></span></span><br />
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This is from a random episode, but you can see in the back those two larger portraits have always been on some kind of hidden door. I wonder actually if the writers always knew what this room would be, or waited until the right joke came along.<br />
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As far as I can remember, it's only seen in season 2's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somebody_to_Love_%2830_Rock%29">"Somebody to Love"</a> when <i>yadda yadda yadda</i> and then Jonathan has to put one of Jack's pants away IN...<br />
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A SECRET TUX/SUIT CLOSET! WHAaaaaaaaaaaat. Haha, it's like a room Barney Stinsen would have! Above is Jonathan putting the pants away, and for good measure, below is a shot without him in it.<br />
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And that is my first look at my favorite parts of Jack Donaghy's office. I hope the people on the internet, having the same problem of no websites acknowledging these awesome parts, enjoy!<br />
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<b>Video of the Day: </b>Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee: Jerry Seinfeld & Alec Baldwin. This video is really funny, I don't completely understand why it was made, but it's so cool to see these actors really being friends in a very normal setting of getting coffee.<br />
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<b>Quote of the Day: </b>From the video above...<br />
Jerry Seinfeld: *Sees Alec Baldwin (30 Rock's "Jack Donaghy")* "You look good!"<br />
Alec Baldwin: (beat) "...are you surprised?" <br />
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haha, I just love this, because when I hang out and people say "You look nice!" I never know what to say since I pretty much dress classy all the time these days.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-5336319919667460452013-01-06T21:41:00.000-05:002013-01-06T22:16:54.330-05:00Why explore Abandoned Buildings?Ha, while aimlessly googling for Urban Exploration sites in Cleveland, I came across this nugget.<br />
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« <b>Reply #4 on:</b> December 11, 2009, 02:05:34 AM »<br />
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<i>I don't get why so many
people are into "exploring" old, rundown, dangerous buildings. To each
his own I guess...but it does provide some nice vantage points for
viewing the skyline!</i></div>
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Read more: <a href="http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,21538.0.html?PHPSESSID=5c716a8d759441f461e99a77ec590c66#ixzz2HDLrMKkm" style="color: #003399;">http://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,21538.0.html?PHPSESSID=5c716a8d759441f461e99a77ec590c66#ixzz2HDLrMKkm</a></div>
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<i>eh, ih, ouh, Whaaaat? </i>I have to admit, in all my travels, never has anyone really questioned the awesome of exploring abandoned buildings. People have questioned the safety (Brit), the scare factor (Patsy), whether it was personally for them (Jen), but everyone seems to get why *I* and my compatriots enjoy doing it. But setting that aside for a second, let's address this fair question.<br />
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The question isn't so much "Why explore abandoned buildings?" as "Why is exploring abandoned buildings fun?" Because "Fun" is the answer to the first question, but pretentiousness implies the second question. In no particular order:<br />
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>Reason #1: </b></span>Video Games. The other day I mentioned I think on Twitter that if I were to make a video game of my life, it would be all about exploring abandoned buildings! Panda replied something akin to "Aren't all video games about exploring abandoned buildings?" Which at first I was like "well mneeeh" :P but then I gave it some thought -- and it's pretty entirely true. Half the video games I own are really just plots that encourage exploration of abandoned buildings (most of which have supernatural figures hiding behind the next, poorly lit corner.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Indeed: Google "Silent Hill" and abandoned, and more REAL LIFE images referencing Silent Hill come up than screenshots from the game! BTW: I highly recommend doing that.</i></td></tr>
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Silent Hill (every game is filled with whole abandoned cities! Hospitals, Churches, Houses you have to search.) Uncharted (abandoned submarines, chateaus, and of course Mayan temples.) My new game F.E.A.R. -- the first two levels they even blatently describe it "We last saw the target going into this abandoned warehouse..." level two? Abandoned Hospital. So maybe people just want that experience of being a video game character, exploring abandoned buildings like levels of their life, confident... perhaps, that there aren't any supernatural creeps around the next corner. I know I personally enjoy that sensation that an exploration is like a video game! That's why I always try to collect, or at least photograph maps like the characters in games always seem able to do.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://uncharted.wikia.com/wiki/Chapter_6_-_The_Chateau"><i>Uncharted 3: Abandoned Chateau</i></a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>Reason #2: </b></span>That boyish sense of adventure! I don't know how else to describe it, girls have it to, but that 1980s movie little kid that wants to go on adventures with his toy telescope so gets into trouble with his buddies. We've explored most of the world, there isn't much room for a modern day Christopher Columbus of Francis Drake... so to fill that void for exploration in a young boys heart you have to explore the "Ancient Ruins" of modern day society, abandoned buildings right in your own backyard. At least that's what I feel exploring abandoned buildings, haha.<br />
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Reason #3: </span></b>Ghosts. This is not really why I do it, but many others seem obsessed with the supernatural spirits they try to find at these places. I am not really a believer in the supernatural, so I am more there for the first two reasons, but if a ghost was going to show itself, being alone in an abandoned building with boyish imagination seems to work for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_Adventures">the Ghost Adventurers</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaa2RJjVsRsdhIiENSOqfRUND-jqEGn3X54kdV96m8Vv9hj1LTVWcFIXpjIOWt22z8nKnJ11gUIEUEXybg7ynJdUrNbMXfmEkc2F7Kih14Vv6HkClwPnw8RZ-Fanf0bHrO-nIb09fVsEu/s1600/Ghost-Adventures-Pennhurst-evp-the-girl-did.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTaa2RJjVsRsdhIiENSOqfRUND-jqEGn3X54kdV96m8Vv9hj1LTVWcFIXpjIOWt22z8nKnJ11gUIEUEXybg7ynJdUrNbMXfmEkc2F7Kih14Vv6HkClwPnw8RZ-Fanf0bHrO-nIb09fVsEu/s320/Ghost-Adventures-Pennhurst-evp-the-girl-did.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #f1c232;"><b>Reason #4: </b></span>Timeless photography. Something about being forgotten by society, left alone for decades produces fantastic shots! I don't really take pictures of abandoned buildings with the intention of producing masterpieces, more to document the coolest things I can find, but some people's main purpose is to take really cool pictures, and post them on the internet. So more power to those people, cause they typically serve as the inspiration for me to keep going. "Look how cool this well lit abandoned factory <a href="http://www.abandoned.ru/">in Russia</a> is!"<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thecoolist.com/the-ruins-of-detroit-by-yves-marchand-and-romain-meffre/">The Ruins of Detroit.</a></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: #f1c232;">Reason #5: </span></b>Camaraderie? This one I'm kind of making up. But look at movies like the 2013 Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or The Blaire Witch Project, or Scooby Doo. You get a gang, you explore something just a little scary, and it's like a ritual to bond ya together. Of course in the first two examples of this people Die. But the fact that they die so quickly is highlighted emotionally because we feel how close they were to the other characters, because they're exploring!<br />
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<b>Song of the Day:</b> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Want_It,_Need_It">"Want it, Need it"</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plies_%28rapper%29">Plies</a> ft. Ashanti.</i> This song is awful. Like, awfully bad. It's more <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/12/sing-talk-parody-challeng_n_574197.html">"sing-talk"</a> than rap. I don't think this song ever played on the radio that I listen to, but it was part of a mix CD a former education friend of mine made, he was a part-time DJ or something. He moved to California that semester, and the rest of our car pool never heard from him again. But as for the song, first of all, Plies looks gross and creepy. Is that a grill in his teeth? He looks like a troll. The song itself is about a booty call. Some girl "only thinks of him on two occasions (That's: When she 'wants it', and 'when she needs it.')" Is there anyone left thinking our education system doesn't need more funding? Didn't think so.<br />
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My favorite line:<br />
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<i>"I'm asleep but I feel your hand in my boxers...<br />Baby, it's 5 in the morning, you rubbing on Oscar?"</i></blockquote>
Bahahahaaha, ooooooh man. Imagine my shock that this song never went anywhere. Unfortunately, I realized today the CD this is on is scratched and doesn't go past the 44 second mark, so I guess I'll never hear this song again. Tragedy.<br />
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[Update] Let me display my shock that this song had it's own Wikipedia page. Shock displayed. AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-15456122641205225542013-01-05T15:06:00.001-05:002013-01-05T15:14:22.301-05:00Nothing Special, Slow Saturday MorningWell, this morning has been a slower start than I was hoping. I thought I had a meeting as early as 10:00 am but it looks like it was actually another day so I have just kinda been catching some TV movies. The "Saturday morning cartoons" really sucked -- there's some modern version of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yu-Gi-Oh!"><i>Yu-Gi-Oh!</i></a> that looks ridiculous. <br />
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Flipped through channels, found <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Chef_%28season_10%29"><i>Top Chef: Seattle</i></a>. Moved on to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%26_Ted%27s_Excellent_Adventure"><i>Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure</i></a>, and now onto <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legally_Blonde"><i>Legally Blonde</i></a>. This movie is filled with actors and actresses from other things. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Garber">The guy from ALIAS,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_Taylor">the mom from Two and a Half Men,</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ali_Larter">the split-personality woman from Heroes,</a> and other characters look vaguely familiar. Haha, this movie is surprisingly entertaining after twelve-ish years. Oh hey, and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raquel_Welch">the one guy's ex-wife is Aunt Vesta from Sabrina!</a> She's wearing almost the same outfit, actually.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>How odd is that?</i></td></tr>
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And talk about giving me hope: Elle was a fashion major and went to Harvard Law, as an Education/Poli-Sci I feel like my transition is a little less of a stretch. Not that this movie is based in reality in the slightest.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.courant.com/entertainment/tv/bal-top-chef-recap-past-suppers,0,5210066.story">Quote of the Day:</a> </b>Watching <i>Top Chef: Seattle</i>, and the chefs are coming out with their food realizing they just cooked for like, all the world famous chefs there are, and most of them made pretty average dishes (like grilled cheese, chicken pot pie.) Brooke made the entertaining introduction:<i> <span style="color: yellow;">"Hello, group of intimidating people..."</span></i><br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b><i>"Watch Me Shine"</i> by Joanna Pacitti. This is played during Elle Woods' "I've decided to say fu*k you and do it on my own!" scene in Legally Blonde.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="263" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/fE7VMtglsCw" width="350"></iframe><br />
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<b>Upcoming Film of the Day: </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Movie_43">"Movie 43" (2013)</a> I have no real idea what this movie is about, the wikipedia page doesn't have anything resembling a synopse, and the preview just appears to be a variety of funny scenes mixed together with way more celebrities than an average movie. Emma Stone, Halle Berry, Gerard Butler, Hugh Jackman!? I can't say I'll promise to see this, but it definitely succeeds at catching my attention.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="197" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/6VneW1vtcWY" width="350"></iframe><br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-38356098519060112122012-12-31T14:06:00.002-05:002012-12-31T14:08:11.764-05:00So, that was 2012 huh...Well, that year had it's ups and downs, but I think was a pretty un-interesting year overall actually. Sure I got a lot done, but I just don't feel that sense of excitement and adventure I always hope for.<br />
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I student taught (man, that seems like forever ago), finished being Circle K Governor, graduated with much family and friend hoopla, went to New Orleans for Circle K and got my wallet stolen, went to the Clinton Presidential Library and Museum in Little Rock, Arkansas; went to my first Anime convention in Maryland, met the Green Power Ranger; picked up Patsy from Camp, visited the Jersey Shore and D.C.; passed the Foreign Service Officer exam; worked on Senator Brown's re-election campaign down in Chillicothe, got him reelected (woohoo!) paid my credit cards down to zero with the earnings from that, now in the process of getting my student loans taken care of so I have no debt to my name going into early 2013. Got myself a PS3, a new phone, mom got me a digital picture frame, and I went to Starbucks and the mall more often than any sane person should. Ever.<br />
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See what I mean? Nothing spectacular, I think even during the year many people looked at this as a very "status quo" year - nothing changed, we just kept pace with what we were doing. We got President Obama re-elected, but both the U.S. and Ohio Houses remain in Republican control. The Yaris continues to fall apart, because while I'm financially well off, I refuse to invest in a new car until I get my career in order.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Where I would like to be a year from today, but that's a stretch....</i></td></tr>
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Speaking of career, in January I'll hear back from the State Department (which I am hopeful, but it is always necessary to have multi-tiered back up plans) so I am applying to the Defense Department to teach at a Military Base abroad, Substitute Teach in my area, and I'm applying to a handful of other positions. I remain hesitant to work in food service or any other "entry level, minimum wage" job. I have a degree, damn it, and I'm Andrew: my luck, wit and magic will kick in to get me exactly where I need to be.<br />
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Well, I've gotta get off this thing and shower so I can go buy super-late Christmas gifts -- haha. Happy New Year, Internet! Here's hoping 2013 brings more adventures, more trips out of state, out of the country, a solid career, and perhaps some new characters into our lives.<br />
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<b>Video of the Day: </b>Wouldn't be a last video of the year if I didn't link to the JibJab 2012 Year in Review. I personally think this one is okay, not as laugh out loud funny as some other of their videos (I'm really disappointed they didn't do an election one this year!)<br />
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P.S. Wishes for a speedy recovery for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton! She is currently <a href="http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/31/16255487-hillary-clinton-hospitalized-after-doctors-discover-blood-clot?chromedomain=nbcpolitics">in the hospital for a blood clot</a>, which is what my Great-Grandfather died of. In our Prayers, Hill-Dawg!<br />
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P.P.S. <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/159587/hillary-clinton-barack-obama-admired-2012.aspx">Gallup just released that Hillary Clinton is the Most Admired Woman of the Year for the 11th Year in a Row.</a> She is one of the foremost leaders of our era, and I wonder how many people actually take a second to think about that.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-17474698586475379692012-12-30T13:07:00.000-05:002012-12-30T13:07:07.303-05:00What's in YOUR eBook reader?(That is supposed to be a play on "What's in your wallet?") Today's blog is on reading materials. This past Christmas, I got mom an eReader (a Kindle Fire, specifically) because we have all generally agreed the age of print media is on the decline, and all my friends' parents had eBook readers. And yet, ironically (but probably not in line with the definition of irony) -- my Christmas list had a bunch of books and DVDs on it. Books, the supposed dying medium, and DVDs, another group angry about illegal downloading along with music. (I admit, there was no music on my Christmas list this year - but in years past, while illegal downloading has been popular, I have asked for CDs for Christmas.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.chittyland.com/2010/07/print-media.html">Stolen from</a> Andrew Chittenden, over at <a href="http://www.chittyland.com/">Chittyland</a>.</td></tr>
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I think it was Lily Allen who was all for illegally downloading her music, because she understood the necessity to make money through music in other ways - legal downloads, youtube watches, concert sales, band merchandise, etc. I think more '20th century media' needs to come to this conclusion -- The Cleveland Plain Dealer is facing heavy cutbacks, resulting in many <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2012/11/28/cleveland-plain-dealer-plans-cutback-and-restructuring/1726479/">"Save the Plain Dealer!"</a> billboards across North-East Ohio. We are not the culture of the 50s and 60s where pa goes out to get the newspaper in his robe every morning and reads it at breakfast, looking over it occasionally to tell advise his young son "Well if the bully hits you, hit'm right back!"<br />
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Newspapers, book stores, bands/musicians all need to adapt to modern media. We live in the age of the internet, you need to find a way that you are making money but up to the minute reporting, like CNN and Fox News. I hate Fox News* (the cable channel), but something about their advertising technique must be working.<br />
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I wrote this in part because over at <a href="http://www.plunderbund.com/">Plunderbund</a>, <a href="http://www.plunderbund.com/2012/12/26/newspapers-begin-new-year-with-same-old-problems/">they're memorializing the 27 year anniversary of Columbus becoming a one-newspaper city.</a> <i>The Columbus Dispatch</i> has since degenerated into useless rags as fangirl-ish as Fox News for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Kasich">our awful Governor</a>. Too bad Plunderbund doesn't have a small magazine, maybe once or twice a week. I'd read that if it were cheap. Honestly I think I prefer magazines to Newspapers anyway, in the words of the internet: <a href="http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/sweet-brown-aint-nobody-got-time-for-that"><i>Ain't nobody got time for that!</i></a><br />
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Lastly, I wanted to comment on the book I just finished <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game:_My_Life_as_a_Spy,_My_Betrayal_by_the_White_House">"Fair Game: My Life as a Spy, My Betrayal by The White House." by Valerie Plame Wilson. (2007)</a> This book was AWESOME! People may remember back in c. 2003, there was a bunch of hype about the White House having outed <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Plame">an under cover US secret agent,</a> putting her life and many other lives in danger. It resulted in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scooter_Libby">'Scooter' Libby's</a> Federal grand jury investigation, and his resignation from the Bush administration. Anyway, the book itself is an interesting look into the mind of a woman working at the CIA, being a mom, and being in the national spotlight. It definitely rekindled my dislike for the Bush administration, and reminded me that men such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Rove">Karl Rove</a> will stop at nothing for power -- they will literally put our national defense in jeopardy. I also rented <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Game_%282010_film%29">the film based on the book,</a> which was okay, but I think I'd prefered if <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Penn">Sean Penn</a> wasn't in it. I can't wait to make a lesson plan about the movie and story for a Social Studies class someday!<br />
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Anyway, now I'm finishing up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreams_from_My_Father">"Dreams from my Father" (1995)</a> the first book by President Obama, written while he was finishing up her Law Degree at Harvard (so ten+ years before he was President.) It's got it's interesting points, but there are also long parts where even I get bored and don't know what he's talking about. He gets almost too flowery, speaking in symbolism and metaphor about "hope and change" as the sayings go, and this is long before he even dreamed of being President - ha! But it does make me think how outrageous accusations against him for being born in Kenya, or a "secret Muslim" are -- in addition to the paper trail, it is simply illogical that someone would create that much false data on the off chance of running for President some day. There is some not-so-flattering information in the book too, wouldn't he have done some kind of cover up work if cover up work was his method of rising to power? Instead he wrote a whole book, which was widely sold more than ten years ago, about his *first* trip to Kenya, and the emotional tidal wave that came with that, and his childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii. Anyway, almost done with that, and then I'll be on the market for some books to read in 2013.<br />
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<b>Video of the Day: </b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_the_Latte_Boy">"Taylor, the Latte Boy"</a> - performed by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristin_Chenoweth">Kristen Chenoweth</a>. I had never heard of this until the other day when a former Circle K Adviser mentioned it in a Facebook status, so I googled it, and it was hilarious! It reminds me of various friends who have been in love with baristas over the years. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="263" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zXS0nEOx_20" width="350"></iframe><br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-39854342073631378382012-12-17T15:06:00.000-05:002012-12-17T15:06:10.049-05:00Marina & The Diamonds vs. Lady GagaOkay, so I started this off kind of with the idea that Marina was copying off Lady Gaga, or at least there was an inordinate number of inspired-by scenes, but now I think I'm probably stretching a bit, and I'm actually coming to appreciate her music a bit more once I get over the fact she sounds a lot like Katy Perry.<br />
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Still, what's done is done: and now I have these comparison shots and they have to go somewhere.<br />
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It started with the above image, where I'm like "Oh. She's dancing in a white bath house. How very <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I"><i>Bad Romance</i></a>.<br />
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Then I noticed in Primadonna, the song that introduced me to Ms. Marina, that "walking around a rich person's house with a spot light on you" kinda sounded familiar. Low and behold, Gaga's been there and done that.<br />
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Then there was this confused dog. And I remembered Gaga serenaded dogs before! Only they didn't look as confused as Fido here on the right.</div>
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And if a dog is doing it, a cat's probably done it and decided it wasn't worth their time. Low and behold Marina's "Power & Control" features another furry confused creature. Then I tried to remember if there were any cats in Gaga music videos, and this sphinx cat came to mind. Hardly a "stole the idea to use a cat from Lady Gaga" but interesting different uses.<br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b>From the Primadonna link, the first song it recommended was <i><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_to_Be_a_Heartbreaker">"How to Be a Heart Breaker" by Marina & the Diamonds</a>.</b></i> We have a recurring joke that Angela has a gay army/mafia, that I think traces it's origin to a party where someone invited an annoying guy that none of us knew that was gay and didn't like Angela. We thought that it was funny cause Angela always invited a BUNCH of gay guys to her parties who would defend her in a heartbeat if that argument broke out. I don't remember him ever coming back, but the gay mafia often did.<br />
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Where am I going with this you ask? I think this song goes to show that like Angela and Lady Gaga, Marina is also the head honcho of a gay mafia, so ya know, don't challenge her to a scantly clad dance off in the shower or a toe-nail painting contest.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-88421959015257417302012-12-16T17:49:00.001-05:002012-12-16T17:49:02.692-05:00The 2012 Christmas List: Part 1Patsy asked me yesterday if mom still asks me for a Christmas list. Ha! No, she doesn't, I try to make her one though because she's really... odd about buying Christmas presents. I'm all for presents not being as important as the love of family, and it's the thought that counts, but mom is of a more practical straightforward mindset: "all Gift-cards! So you can buy what you want." Nobody wants to wake up on Christmas and just have Gift-cards! We live in the instant gratification generation, and I can't buy that vest at Express on Christmas day.<br />
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So I've constructed, for my friends and more as a thought excercise, what I want for Christmas this year. This will also help the week after Christmas during the sales when I'm all like "What do I want to buy that no one got me..."<br />
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<i><b>Section 1: Playstation 3 Games. </b></i>So as you may or may not know, I just bought myself a Playstation 3 - and it has been a blast! I'm lovin the Uncharted series. So there are a few games I would like, that given time, I would probably end up buying myself. But as I've elaborated to Panda: buying video games as a gift is kind of weird. It's not particularly personal, it's just a matter of buying the thing the person wants. And once the person is done playing the game, it just sits on a shelf. But I guess that's the same with books sort of? I dunno. Mixed feelings on video games.<br />
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1A: <u><b>"L.A. Noire"</b></u> - I've heard of this game before, looked into it a bit the other day when I realized one of the actors from Charmed is in it, and it sounds really cool. Mystery solving (CHECK!), 8-square mile habitat based on real historic Los Angeles (Awesome?!), and dozens of mysteries that take place in that environment. I think this game would last be quite a while, and be pretty cool, so it makes the list.<br />
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1B: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siren:_Blood_Curse"><b><u>"Siren: Blood Curse"</u></b></a> - I've searched and searched, but apparently this game was not released in the US. Panda tells me PS3s don't have regions like DVD players do, so I can just buy it from eBay even if it's from the UK or Australia (note: English* speaking country!) This game is considered by many to be one of the scariest games for PS3 out there! So that's awesome, cause I love horror video games. I admit I only understand part of the plot, and am saving the rest for when I actually play the game. But it's set in Japan, occult ritual, missing village sort of like Silent Hill.<br />
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1C: Then there are a few games that I would be fine if they were used, or missing their case or something to get them cheaper. Things that I like, but probably am going to put off buying myself for quite some time. I like Lego games, and own the complete Star Wars: Both Trilogies for Lego but haven't gotten around to playing it much. Indiana Jones lego would be cool, Batman lego I was not too impressesd with when I played it, and I'm not too optimistic about The Hobbit lego, not really into the whole Hobbit/LOTR genre. Harry Potter Lego, now that would probably be cool, but isn't it split up across multiple games? That's weird, but I'd probably like it. So <b><u>Harry Potter Lego and Indiana Jones Lego</u></b>.<br />
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Then there's <u><b>Playstation 3 All Stars</b></u> (which includes Nathan Drake from Uncharted) but he's probably the only character I'd ever play as, as I haven't played all that many PlayStation 3 games haha. Also no one ever comes to my house to play against me, and I feel like Panda's the only person I know with a PS3 and she doesn't have the game - so fighting games require a lot of set up time to truly enjoy. I'm pretty much a video game loner.<br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b><i>"Primadonna" by Marina & The Diamonds.</i> So I heard this on the radio, I think at a girls clothing store with Panda, and my first instinct was "this sounds exactly like Katy Perry." The music video is boring, kind of cookie cutter for aspiring pop stars. I definitely see elements we've seen before. Dog? Check. Dark Romp in an Expensive House? Check. Though this is the first time I've felt traces of Paranormal Activity thrown in -- haha. Still, I thought it was worth a listen.<br />
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<br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-78960111402469129042012-12-11T23:06:00.000-05:002012-12-11T23:06:37.833-05:00'Merica: Another Reason it sucks to be North KoreaSo I was googling, and apparently North Korea had <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20121211-north-korea-defies-warnings-fires-long-range-rocket-neighbors-say.ece">a successful "satellite" launch</a> test? (I like <a href="http://nationalinterest.org/commentary/ignore-north-koreas-temper-tantrums-7813">this story</a> better.) A test they have been trying since 1998, but has yet to be successful. It got me to wondering, what's North Korea up to? So I did some searching, and let me just say one more time how much I love America.<br />
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Ya see, while googling, I found these diagrams of <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/world/north-korean-prison-camps-2009/">North Korean political prison camps</a> and these images of a North Korean missile site. And it reassures me to no end that if these are the images we freely, publicly share on the news and the internet -- imagine what CIA and Covert Government programs must be able to see. Kudos, America, on being awesome, and sharing what several steps beneath our awesomeness looks like.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8Xcvzs9iaewbyyJNnlbfVM_0JmVuyjOqrBPkTcqO4mP2ep65AzlACRTIlBZk_D2GxvF8Kz5Kn2gfWYgJM2sA3RIzdpLcEpzQU4v3Nkoyf-8oZudK27onvFSJkzA_70hADq21jvXkodcp/s1600/North+Korea+from+Space.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB8Xcvzs9iaewbyyJNnlbfVM_0JmVuyjOqrBPkTcqO4mP2ep65AzlACRTIlBZk_D2GxvF8Kz5Kn2gfWYgJM2sA3RIzdpLcEpzQU4v3Nkoyf-8oZudK27onvFSJkzA_70hADq21jvXkodcp/s320/North+Korea+from+Space.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>I drew in those squares, where I took the following zoomed in pics.</i></td></tr>
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The North Koreans surely can't tell exactly how many canoes we have, at any given location. Unless we feel like sharing that information on Google Earth, which we do, because we are secure enough in our awesomeness and transparency is a value in our culture. But at the end of the day, I'm betting the North Koreans aren't happy we know exactly how many canoes they have.<br />
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Look, the North Koreans have even been so kinda as to incorporate <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contour_line">isolines</a> into their landscaping. Thanks North Koreans! Saves our geographers the hassle.<br />
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My final favorite part is this thing. I don't know what it is, North Korea, but you can bet our scientists do, and they know exactly how tall it is <a href="http://www.asprs.org/a/publications/proceedings/pecora16/Cordova_H.pdf">because MATH</a>. Yeah, we can see this, so don't try anything funny NK.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGB6H8V3Tv64wr6rJPEP-gfK-UPOWYVBszuKu6cEOvyGvIlrX0SQ_KLhBDLC-Wr1ie4_Gpq7QVa8vHS_YXmCIrD8H0b6djHjlDEyW8cTYu5wtMdNuYxeLMtzIQWJsHnnQSn4dV8aiGfL-/s1600/Norht+Korean+tower+thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxGB6H8V3Tv64wr6rJPEP-gfK-UPOWYVBszuKu6cEOvyGvIlrX0SQ_KLhBDLC-Wr1ie4_Gpq7QVa8vHS_YXmCIrD8H0b6djHjlDEyW8cTYu5wtMdNuYxeLMtzIQWJsHnnQSn4dV8aiGfL-/s320/Norht+Korean+tower+thing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://betanews.com/2009/03/31/high-resolution-satellite-images-offer-up-close-view-of-north-korean-missile-site/">These images were taken on March 11, 2009 from SPACE</a> bitches; and that last picture is an "Umbilical tower and launch pad."<br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b><i>"Sometimes Things Get, Whatever" by Deadmau5.</i> From his album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_Album_Title">"Random Album Title."</a> Released in September 2008 (so before President Obama was elected the First time...) it reminds me the first time I gave any thought to Deadmau5 was when a student of mine (while student teaching) was listening to it in the Computer lab and asked me if I listened to Deadmau5, which until that point I had not.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="263" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/GOzwOeONBhQ" width="350"></iframe><br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-87889271034827348612012-12-10T15:08:00.000-05:002012-12-10T15:08:54.517-05:00December means Cooking Show MarathonsI've noticed, <a href="http://ajhalliwell.blogspot.com/2010/12/3-restaurants-in-nyc.html">historically</a>, that I watch more cooking shows in Winter than on average. Well, indeed lately I've been catching <i>"Iron Chef"</i> and <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Next_Iron_Chef">"The Next Iron Chef:</a> Redemption"</i> and a few other shows here and there. Low and behold, my favorite TV Chef has returned.... Again!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Haha, he's just good television!</i> </td></tr>
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Marcel Vigneron, formerly of Top Chef season 2, season 8 (All Stars) and is back for <i>The Next Iron Chef: Redemption</i> after his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marcel%27s_Quantum_Kitchen"><i>"Marcel's Quantum Kitchen"</i></a> got canceled after only 6 episodes. I tell ya one thing, he being my favorite TV chef, if I knew the show existed during it's run I would have tried to watch it -- but apparently I first heard of it after it'd already been canceled, so I only got to watch it on SyFy's website. But moving on.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpge6fglG0Q13PlvJd86cCOi0J8BsDje7V2bZNU3Jy0_8-8ecE8XMeKi3GuHKZJDhEKjVoI7snlrIzXPRxQHT4g68mZzcr4WSPoDsWH5m0XlkVagNTeNpMTyAmC_EbHPc_0Zd4u2f3pw-/s1600/Carla+Hall+Top+Chef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbpge6fglG0Q13PlvJd86cCOi0J8BsDje7V2bZNU3Jy0_8-8ecE8XMeKi3GuHKZJDhEKjVoI7snlrIzXPRxQHT4g68mZzcr4WSPoDsWH5m0XlkVagNTeNpMTyAmC_EbHPc_0Zd4u2f3pw-/s320/Carla+Hall+Top+Chef.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Did I mention "Eat at the Restaurant of <a href="http://ajhalliwell.blogspot.com/p/andrews-bucket-list.html">one of my favorite Top Chef's" is #15 on my bucket list</a>? Carla, you qualify!</i></td></tr>
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Right this second I'm watching <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chew"><i>"The Chew"</i></a>, and it's reminding my that my second favorite TV Chef is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carla_Hall">Carla Hall</a> (also from Top Chef, season 5, and again season 8 all stars.) <i>The Chew </i>always comes off as a weird conglomeration of trying to do a bunch of things at once, but Clinton Kelly from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Not_to_Wear_%28U.S._TV_series%29"><i>What Not To Wear</i></a> is also on here, so if the topic at all manages to grab my attention I try to leave it on for a few minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Whaaat, can we look at this awesome Star Trek: The Chew picture!? Captain 'Clinton' <a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/James_T._Kirk">Kirk</a>, Carla '<a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Nyota_Uhura">Uhura</a>' Hall!</i></td></tr>
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Anyway, watching food shows also means I get the urge to actually cook things. Also mom is having a "bring a dish" Christmas party at work, and Mom said: <i>"I was just going to pick something up at Giant Eagle, since the only recipe we have is the Chicken Paprikas."</i> Whaaaaaaaaaat, False. Mom, I can cook pretty much anything. I have plenty of recipes up my sleeves. So accordingly, I've been experimenting with Holiday side dishes.<br />
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Yesterday I cooked <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/sweet-roasted-grapes-recipe/index.html">a roasted grape/walnut topping</a> to put on crackers with cheese, the recipe originally suggested with blue cheese on crackers; since mom always has a wide variety of cheeses in the fridge, we tried a bunch of different things on slices of traditional French bread. We found the Feta was best, but I don't think the roasted grapes was really the right choice for a party, I also think the butter in it doesn't really refrigerate well.<br />
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This afternoon I plan to make <a href="http://www.jameswhelanbutchers.com/info/1376/gingercake-apple-and-bacon-stuffing/">an apple-gingerbread bacon stuffing</a>. I originally liked the idea of a gingerbread-apple stuffing, but the only recipe I could find online also had bacon, and I'm not gonna say no to Bacon. But I will make two separate batches, one with the bacon, one without to compare. <br />
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<b>Quote of the Day: </b>Watched <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_West_Wing"><i>"The West Wing"</i></a> as I was going to bed last night, there is an episode at the end of Season 3 where White House Press Secretary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._J._Cregg">CJ Cregg</a> works out at the Secret Service Gym, and tries out the shooting range with her personal Secret Service protection person (whom she is falling for. No pun intended.)<br />
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<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><b>Simon: </b>I’m going to stand behind you and hold your shoulders</span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><b>CJ: </b>I don’t need training wheels.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><b>Simon: </b>Okay.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><i>CJ fires gun and falls to the ground</i></span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><b>Simon:</b> Be careful. That <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.357_Magnum">.357</a>’s got a bit of a kick.</span><br />
<span style="color: #d0e0e3;"><b>CJ:</b> That thing practically broke my arm! I’ve been wrong about guns, just hand these out to the criminals.</span></blockquote>
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<b>Upcoming Movie of the Day:</b> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Trek_into_Darkness"><i>"Star Trek into Darkness"</i></a> -- the second Star Trek film in the 'rebooted' series, This looks fantastic! With new secret bad guy played by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedict_Cumberbatch">Benedict Cumberbatch</a>, almost EVERYTHING about this movie has been completely kept secret. Star Trek fans have recieved a spare few clues about who the bad guy can be, hinted as being someone from the Original Series. The three leading suggestions have been Khan Noonien Singh, Gary Mitchell, and Garth of Izar. Without further ado...<br />
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<li><a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Khan_Noonien_Singh"><u><b>Khan Noonien Singh</b></u></a>: This was the early favorite, but now
it seems the momentum is favoring it's actually Gary Mitchell.
Introduced in <a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Space_Seed_%28episode%29">the original series episode "Space Seed"</a> played by famous
<a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalban">Ricardo Montalban</a>, Khan was a genetically engineered "super man" who took
over a third of the world during the "<a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Eugenics_Wars">Eugenics wars of Earths 1990s</a>."
When he was overthrown, he and his engineered followers were sent into
space in a 'sleeper ship' that put them into hibernation for centuries
until Kirk saved them. Yadda yadda yadda, he returns in the second Star
Trek movie: <i>"<a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Star_Trek_II:_The_Wrath_of_Khan">Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan</a>."</i></li>
<li><a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Gary_Mitchell"><u><b>Gary Mitchell</b></u></a>: The recent favorite, Mitchell was <a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Starfleet_Academy">a Academy</a> friend of Kirk's who later served on the Enterprise under Kirk; in the second episode of the original series he was turned into a omnipotent being and the power went to his head and Kirk had to kill him. I'm betting this is who Cumberbatch will end up playing.</li>
<li><a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Garth_of_Izar"><u><b>Garth of Izar</b></u></a>: This is who I would like it to be, but like I said, it's probably Mitchell. Garth was a famous war hero, who fought "<a href="http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Battle_of_Axanar">the Battle of Axanar</a>", a hero that Kirk read about at the Academy. But he had gone crazy, and was in a Federation Rehabilitation colony when the crew met him -- and he tried to take over the ship. (In fact, all three of our candidates are <i>"supermen who went power-crazy, and try to take over the ship."</i>)</li>
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AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-12333108877216412582012-12-06T17:45:00.001-05:002012-12-06T17:45:44.990-05:00The End of Unlimited DataThought I'd post this image real quick. The GPS chip in my cell phone is starting to malfunction, after I've had the phone for approximately two years, so I took it in to get a new one. They told me I would need to give up my unlimited data plan to get a new phone, and they took a look at my data usage and told me that I used significantly more on average than the average plan.<br />
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That to limit my data usage, I would need to in fact pay $40-50 MORE per month on top of my phone bill. That seemed fishy, so I said no thanks and walked out. Upon closer inspection of my usage though, I really don't use as much data as they made it seem under normal circumstances -- my time in Chillicothe <i>not</i> being normal circumstances.<br />
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Haha, as you can see, I wasn't about to pay $150 a month to have I think 4-5 GB of data a month when I really only use like $1.5 GB of data in an average month.<br />
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Still, the look on the guys eyes when he saw how much data I used reminded me of the Chinese restaurant in West Akron when I finished the hot sauce she delivered. She did a little hop in shock that I was able to eat the hot sauce, haha. Aw well, looks like I'll be limiting my data in favor of a new phone in the not too-distant future.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-34529780569738771442012-12-05T04:04:00.001-05:002012-12-05T04:09:00.478-05:00Right Click, Add "Fracking" to DictionaryWell, my friend Laura has been asking that I look into the documentary "Gasland" for some time now - probably since early summer, and I put it on my Blockbuster que (yes, still have one of those) at that time and they sent it to me probably in August. It's been sitting in it's sleeve since then (I even took it with me down to Chillicothe!) because I haven't had the time to give it the intellectual time I think it deserves, and at 2:11 tonight I think it's about time. So this blog will be my review, of sorts, of that documentary.<br />
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Let me tell you my first impression of the anti-Fracking movement. I first heard of "fracking" when mom was signing petitions against it online, did some googling, it didn't sound particularly environmentally friendly so my instinct was to oppose it but learn more when necessary. Fracking eventually came to Ohio, and I had lots of things on my plate, didn't really have a chance or need to learn more yet. Then it literally came to my city, and I happened to be at the City Council meeting (I like to pop in for fun, when I can) when numerous anti-Fracking people spoke to City Council. I gotta say, based on that meeting and the first part of the Documentary I've gottne through so far -- <u><b>the anti-Fracking movement needs to get their image together.</b></u> Everyone is in ragged clothes, messy hair, and it ruins their credibility when the pro-Fracking movement will <i>always</i> be in suits, ties, and <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2007/04/edwards_400_haircut.html">$400 haircuts</a>.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Subterranean Shale in the US (where Fracking targets.)</i></td></tr>
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News Stories I am reading, and have found noteworthy, are listed here:<br />
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<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/16/news/economy/clean_fracking/index.htm">Clean fracking: Moving to replace chemicals</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.nrdc.org/energy/files/frackingrisks.pdf">Natural Resource Defense Council: Protecting Americans from the Risks of Fracking</a></li>
<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/08/news/economy/penn_nat_gas/index.htm?iid=EL">Can shale gas be produced safely?</a></li>
<li><a href="http://money.cnn.com/2011/06/21/news/economy/fracking_public_relations/index.htm?iid=EL">The fracking public relations mess</a></li>
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Representative <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diana_DeGette">Diana DeGette</a> of Denver (D-CO) has in the past submitted legislation (The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fracturing_Responsibility_and_Awareness_of_Chemicals_Act">Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act</a>) that did not pass during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/111th_United_States_Congress">the Democratic controlled 111th Congress</a>, and though submitted did not come for a vote during <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/112th_United_States_Congress">the split 112th Congress</a> either -- so I do not have high hopes for it's future in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/113th_United_States_Congress">the 113th Congress</a>.<br />
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So to my friend, who is super eager to protect from Fracking to the point where last I spoke to her she opposed President Obama's reelection because he supported it - I plan to tell her the best first step is to get the Fracturing Responsibility Act passed. Since that has poor hopes right now, any stricter regulations do not really have a chance at this point. But regulating the industry to make it safer is necessary, I see why so many Democrats support it -- it brings in jobs and reduces our reliance on foreign oil - but we need to regulate it far more responsibly.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-19502289734773602952012-12-01T01:21:00.000-05:002012-12-01T01:21:30.561-05:00Blogging as a CareerI've been blogging since High School! (Maybe even middle school? But AOL & Myspace deleted those early blogs.) And the fact that these blogs are generally aimless is intentional, I just like having a record of my life that I can google/search for specific things if I need answers later. A lot of blogs are more focused, like the ones I follow about politics or the Foreign Service.<br />
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<i>"Tots weird, that is cray!"</i></div>
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Haha, the above video -- a movie preview, sort of, that I saw at the movies the other day made me think about just how many bloggers there are these days! Both of the characters happen to be bloggers, just saying, interesting coincidence. Every now and then, while I'm giving arrogant if informed advice on things, I feel like I would have a pretty interesting lifestyle blog like Men's fashion or Twenty-Something lifestyle. (Can I point out that, after googling, there are a lot of blogs out there titled some variation of "<a href="http://pinterest.com/jessica1407/the-twenty-something-lifestyle/">Twenty Something Lifestyle</a>" already.)<br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b><i>"Want You Gone"</i>, performed by <a href="http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/GLaDOS">GlaDOS</a> (voiced by <a href="http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Ellen_McLain">Ellen McLane</a>), written by John Coulton. Okay, don't read or watch this if you have any interest in not spoiling the end of Portal 2. I didn't know what to expect from the end of Portal 2, but boy was I glad when it was a song!<br />
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<br />AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-84341850025440225462012-11-29T16:17:00.000-05:002012-11-29T16:17:36.268-05:00Wisdom Teeth Removal & My DaySo I got all four wisdom teeth removed today, and I have to say my recovery is going much better than I expected because I started out with dirt-low expectations. So part of pre-surgery was not to eat or drink after 12 midnight because I guess some of the medication I was on could have made me vomit during the surgery (super ew.) That was easy enough, not even water though.<br />
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So woke up super early, surgery was scheduled for 8:45 -- I go in, leave my dead phone in my coat. Step one is take off my outer button up shirt because I wore too many clothes cause it seemed cold, lol. They put a laughing-gas mask on me, and they ask if I have any questions, and the only question I have is: "So will I have crazy singing/dancing dreams like on Glee?" The nurse chuckled that that was the only question I had, and the Doctor came in, and they commented that they'd never heard of anyone having dreams under anesthesia. So they put a IV-thingie in my arm, and it really doesn't hurt even as much as getting ready to give blood has.<br />
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Bam. I don't even remember what happened after that. Gone.<br />
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I wake up and seem to be running on auto-pilot, I am sitting in a waiting room and the nurse is explaining things to me and mom is there. I again have the "do you have any questions?" and all auto-pilot Andrew could come up with was something about drinking during recovery, which non-running-on-autopilot would NEVER have asked in front of mom. <br />
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Tons of gauze in my mouth, mom drives me home and I watch my recently purchased for less-than-3-dollars <i>Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life</i>. Take my first bit of medication, and the rest of my day has been The West Wing marathon (starting with the first season, considering doing the whole series?) and napping, trying to figure out what I can eat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Woah! <u>Ciarán Hinds</u> played the bad guy in Tomb Raider 2, that's where I'd seen him before. He was also former-President Hammond on "Political Animals" this past summer.</i></td></tr>
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Nap felt great, woke up feeling almost back to normal actually. Pain in my mouth got a bit worse, but I feel it's mainly from a breathing tube kinda thing rather than my teeth. I'm not allowed to eat how foods at first cause it could lead to more oozing x_x which is gross. So today has been yogurt and Orange pop-over-Icecreams (not really a milkshake, but I guess an Orange float?)<br />
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I finished Uncharted 2 the other day, so I'm going to try to put off Uncharted 3 a few days/weeks, because once it's done, it's done.AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5961868122265140597.post-10584130280291513832012-11-24T02:09:00.001-05:002012-11-24T02:09:09.564-05:00Black Friday and a MovieWell, I had an eventful enough Black Friday I think. Didn't partake in any late night shopping lines, stayed up late after my friend Danielle's Thanksgiving Wedding to play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncharted_2:_Among_Thieves">Uncharted 2</a> into the wee hours of the morning instead. (Favorite PS3 series, by the way!)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Almost bought this for $19.95; did NOT buy this for $76.96.</i></td></tr>
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In the afternoon, Panda and I went shopping out at South Park Mall -- haha, managed to spend the whole afternoon there and only bought one thing between the two of us. I got <i>Tomb Raider 2: The Cradle of Life</i> on DVD for a wopping $3! Almost bought some awesome dress clothes from <a href="http://www.hm.com/us/">H&M</a>, but they weren't priced correctly and I wasn't about to pay Express standard prices on Black Friday.<br />
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Then we went and saw <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wreck-It_Ralph">Wreck It Ralph</a>, which actually was better than I was expecting! I kinda hoped that the internet rumor I heard about GlaDOS from Portal being in it was true -- but it didn't take long for the logic of the in-movie universe to effectively rule that out.<br />
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<b>Quote of the Day: </b><i>"Welcome to the Boss level!"</i> - Bad guy in Wreck It Ralph. I plan to say this line in my actual life at some point, because.<br />
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<b>Song of the Day: </b>"When Can I See You Again" by Owl City. This was the end-credits song to Wreck It Ralph, and it's actually not bad. I'm glad Owl City and ...um, another band/group/person that I figured would be a one-hit wonder are actually back and making good songs. The video for this song obviously uses lots of W.I.R. clips, nothing spoiler-y at all.<br />
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I love his glasses in this, I've almost bought those in the past and
have commented if I ever need to go into the witness protection program
or something and need to reboot my entire fashion -- pixelation/video
games would be very prominent. I also like the pixelation in the set of this video -- makes me think it would look super cool to do that with a school play! AJ Halliwellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01176281646225706409noreply@blogger.com0