March, 2009

science fiction / television — 4 Comments
23
Mar 09

Battlestar Galactica: Hitchiker’s Guide Edition

The Battlestar Galactica finale is properly entitled “Daybreak II” and it will be available on Hulu this coming Saturday. In the meantime, here’s Part 1 for your viewing pleasure and to get you up to speed.

I have sufficiently cleared the spoiler zone, but I’m a little late for my taste. However, if you haven’t seen “Daybreak II” on live broadcast on Sci-Fi Channel, on DVR, or on iTunes, then deal with it. You can always watch BSG’s finale 6 days from now.

One of my favorite shows has come to an end. Unfortunately, so has a personal blogging tradition over the couple of years. Thankfully, my blog isn’t completely dedicated to BSG, or else I’d be obligated to follow up on all cast and creative staff of BSG in their new endeavors.

ThePete posted his reaction to “Daybreak II” yesterday and he wasn’t too thrilled. As a creative exercise, he started writing his own finale last week and it is a good read!  I half-hoped to see a blog reaction from Brian, but I’ve already seen his reaction on Facebook.We both agree that the ending was very “Hitchhiker’s Guide.”. Throughout the series, the Fleet could have used a Hitchhiker’s Guide to get them through the Galaxy before they plotted their half-baked trek to Earth.

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film / Internet — No Comments
19
Mar 09

Super Size Me


Warning: some scenes definitely NSFW. Also, a few other scenes not safe for the stomach.

In the past, I’ve had my students watch this movie. It’s a school-friendly documentary and it’s easy to create class discussions and writing assignments based on it. During one class, one student even got into it by bringing some McDonald’s take-out to the viewing. No, he didn’t bring enough for everyone.

I showed the movie in my class several semesters until I got burnt out on it. Now, I pass the joy onto you, on Hulu.Com for your viewing pleasure.

Uncategorized — No Comments
16
Mar 09

Stay Tuned…

Just a few things on ShindoTV:

I created a new blog, The Shindobrarian, to chronicle my journey through the MLIS program through San Jose State University. I’ll post about the process of starting and what happens in my studies along the way. Also, I plan to post Library and Information Science-related material on the Shindobrarian. I have yet to determine a posting schedule, so I’ll post as I get my thoughts together on these subjects. I may cross-post here, but it helps to have a blog focused on that subject. Since I’ll do a great deal of my coursework online, it helps to have a place to point my classmates to outside of the cyber-classroom. There’s always Facebook too.

On the Shindobrarian, I’ve been working on a curriculum vitæ. It’s definitely a work in progress.

I’m delaying the latest installment of Resplendence for another week.

Also, I’ll post the entry for the rooster picture soon.

Stay tuned.

Uncategorized — No Comments
16
Mar 09

Battlestar Galactica: Daybreak, Part 1


Islands in the stream… Oh, not that one. Here’s the episode from last week, just in case you missed that one. “Daybreak” vid to show up this coming Saturday

I looked on Hulu for a clip of Deadpan Chick giving a recap of “Daybreak,” and it’s not up yet. Darn.

Anyhow, this lead-up to the finale has resorted to a Lost style of story telling where there are lots of flashbacks. Baltar wears a white outfit because he thinks he’s John Lennon or Jesus or both. However, he treats his father with the coarse Arelon brogue badly in front of his Cylon girlfriend. In keeping with some of her ironically humane touches (like killing an infant before the Cylons bombed Caprica), Six arranges for Old Man Baltar to be put in a retirement home where he’ll only have a few days, months, etc., to enjoy life before the end of civilization.

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science fiction / television — No Comments
13
Mar 09

Battlestar Galactica: Islanded in a Stream of Stars

Listen to Deadpan Chick catch us all up on last week’s BSG episode.

There is my promised BSG post. Only bummer is two more episodes and the show is finis. C’est tout.

There are still numerous Sixes and Eights in their sexy worker uniform patching up the insides of the Galactica with Cylon tar. No Tyrol this time overseeing the joint workforce. Instead, it’s an anonymous deck chief who’s not enthusiastic to work with the Cylons but is later impressed that a honey-blonde Six gives her life to save everyone else when there’s a hull breach in their work area.

How come there aren’t any Leobens in the sexy male version of the Cylon worker outfits?

Adama soon accepts that it may be the end for the Galactica. The new council of ship captains do as well, but most of them wish to cannibalize the old ship. Adama, however, seems to have other plans for it, which should play out next week. Perhaps we’ll find out more about how Kara Thrace is the Harbinger of Death. The Hybrids, which now include Sam Anders, keep saying it. Some Cylon algorithm keeps pointing them to it.

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gadgets / technology — 5 Comments
13
Mar 09

Small Talk is Cheap

3350076131_44a96ba0bc_oNever have I been so disappointed in an Apple product and I haven’t even had the chance to see it in person. For close to a decade, I have been using Macs and related products, and I’ve been very enthusiastic about them. I have owned a G4 tower and Blueberry monitor (beautiful display, but too heavy), an iBook, a MacBook, two iPods, a first generation Shuffle, a second generation Nano, and an iPhone. This latest version of the Shuffle, however, fails to impress me.

The Shuffle and overall surprise of (the lack of) features was a hot topic of discussion on Twitter, which led to some very funny jokes. My blog friend ThePete ripped the latest incarnation of the Shuffle apart in a post, and he’s also self-styled “Mac Head.” Then MacWorld delivered blow with their review, where they comment on the Apple’s war on buttons. It doesn’t bode well for Apple when a product isn’t well received by their core market. If we’re not into it, then how else can they expect the rest of the buying product to be on board?

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blogging / science fiction / television — No Comments
12
Mar 09

BSG post – delayed

I’m really sorry about not posting the BSG post. I’ll post that on Friday morning, which leads up to the next to last episode.

It’s hard to believe the show’s almost over. The reinvention of the cheesey 1970′s franchise has been brilliant, despite Ronald D. Moore coming up with some half-baked ideas. I’m still appalled he had no idea who the Final Five were from the beginning and that some episodes were downright sloppy. Overall, the show has been intensely more human and dramatic than its predecessor, and that’s quite an accomplishment, warts and all.

I haven’t seen a clip of Deadpan Chick telling us what happened with last week’s episode. I wanted to hear her summarize it, even if she doesn’t say “goo bath.” Hopefully, she’ll do a recap before the finale.

Enjoy Ronald D. Moore’s commentary on “Someone to Watch Over Me.”

career / teaching — No Comments
12
Mar 09

Rubric’s Cube, II

If I’m not interested in teaching college English as a long term goal, then why do it? Ironically, I find my several semesters of being in the classroom something of value, especially as I’ve been getting my act together. Yes, I used the past progressive, not the passive voice in past tense. I have been working on being a better teacher, but I am also working on skills that will help me in my new career path.

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Internet / scams / Wall of Shame — 1 Comment
10
Mar 09

I’ve Been Ning’ed

I’ve pointed out in both of my “Gone Phishing” entries that spammers often use the free e-mail services (Hotmail, GMail, etc) instead of having proper company websites. Now, it’s become apparent that they don’t even use company websites. Why do that when you can do Ning.Com? After all, it’s free and not everyone has caught on to it like MySpace.

A few days ago, I got this lovely spam note. It’s good enough to fry, get some rice, and wrap it up with some nori:

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art / fiction / NSFW / Resplendence — No Comments
9
Mar 09

Resplendence: Feuille 41

3321511819_1f5406f401_o Continue reading →

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