Full Moon Saturday II

See, the moon is out and very full

Full Moon Saturday

The final day of June reminds me of how fast the year has gone. Besides being my step-dads birthday, it also means that in a few weeks you'll begin seeing the days grow shorter as we head towards fall in September. Here, of course, that means nothing. No matter how short the days get, it will still be hot here until October at least.

Next week we could see triple digits here and in the valleys of LA. As much as I love it here, the real hot weather, the 100 plus days with no rain, or even a cloud in the sky, can be horrendous. But, I live in a desert, so what should I expect?

Rode my bike again, the fourth day I've done that in a row. This time, I decided to see how far the bike path that starts in Claremont goes to. Following it at a good pace, I eventually came to its end at Grove Avenue in Upland, about 8 miles from home -though it seems longer. There was a path sign that indicates that this path should eventually go all they way through to Rialto, deep in San Bernardion County. But it currently ends, this path does, at Grove Avenue. Construction is continuing, but it looks like it will be a while before its done.

I'm off to Target to spend money (jebus!!), but it's also to get out of the late afternoon heat.

But, at least there's a full moon tonight.

The Kiss III

What I know today

That from some reason, riding my bike makes me.., you know...er...horny.

I thought, at first, there was no connection.

But the last few time I've ridden my bike for a while, I need to take care of busines, if you know what I mean.

I'm sure there is a reason for this, and I can kind of guess what it is. I think that maybe why I enjoy bike riding.

I like it when I make connections.

Random Hotness

Juggler

Powerless Monday

Monday at work proved different.

Just as I was going on break at noon, the power decided to go to Crazy City. Half the store went out, and we lost all air conditioning, computers and phones. The registers still worked, but were now operating at off-line status.

Jeff called Edison, and ended up in bureaucratic hell with them. But eventually, they "claimed" that there was a planned "rolling black-out" -though the temps today and this week are suppose to be near normal -but a transformer blew.

So, when we found this out at 2:30, Jeff decided to close the store. After all, it was possible that the power would be out the rest of the day, and the registers back-up battery power was beginning to fail.

After we cleared out the store, some people decided to leave, and I thought I could do some work until 4, and finish out the day. Then at 3, the power failed all together.

I love people who came up the door, finding it locked and looking at the sign we posted as if its printed in another language. Then they try the door again. Or move to the other doors, as if they would be open.

Anyways, just as I was about to leave, the power came back on.

Scars

The Sound of Drums: Doctor Who

In part-two of the three-part season finale, The Doctor, Martha and Jack escape the Futurekind of 100 trillion years in the future by using Jack's Vortex Manipulator. While Jack claimed it was broken, the Doctor was able to fix it and retun them to the 21st Century.

Here, the Doctor reveals that he knows the Master is here, because before the Time Lord stole the TARDIS, the Doctor was able to freeze its control, sending it back to the last place it was before it travelled into the future.

The Master -who after leaving the Doctor in the future- arrived 18 months prior to when the Doctor met Martha, and began his scheme at become the Prime Minister of Great Britian. Which he succeeds at doing.

It's up to the Doctor to stop his old enemy from releasing the Toclafane into this dimension. But the Master is very much aware of the Doctors plan, and stops him.

The episode ends with the Toclafane arriving to do the Master's bidding.

************************************************************************************

As with all three-part shows, this was basically the set-up for next weeks season finale. But aside from that, it was still good. There is much to ponder here, as we get a better understanding of Gallifrey and the Time War, and how the Master -last seen trapped in the Eye of Harmony by the eigth Doctor in the 1996 TV movie survived.

I suspect that the Futurekind are the Time Lords themselves -after all, the Master contends that if the Doctor did know the truth, it would break his hearts. Plus, the Master says that the word Toclafane is from their childhood.

The series once again plays to long-time fans of the series, by having the Master giving jelly babies to his wife, or "companion." Or when the Master begins talking to the cameras, and the world, he says "People of Earth, please attend carefully." Those were spoken by the Master in 1981's final episode of Tom Baker's reign as the Doctor, Logopolis.

There was a Sea Devils comment that I missed, also.

Next week: The Last of the Time Lords

School Officials Black Out Photo of a Gay Student’s Kiss

Illicit, eh. How quickly the word is used by people who have no understanding of it.

It seems in the article she quickly bowed to pressure from other people before understanding what the issue was to begin with. Her decision, which at best was reckless, speaks volumes of the influence of people who probably threatened her with some sort monolithic condemnation if she did nothing about it.

Did anyone who helped black-out the photo realize what they were doing was censorship at best, but just plain wrong morally?

And her comment that she now wants to meet the guy because he was “was personally hurt,” by this and that “bothers” her seems only to placate what should be a coming storm. I hear the sound of backpedaling.

Beep, beep.

(And they should reprint the books with the unaltered photo her expense).

Happy Birthday, Mom

Long before I was born, my Mom was a lovely bride. Today is her 72nd Birthday, and while I cannot be there to celebrate it with here, I wish her the best the world has to offer.

Hugs and Kisses.

Traveling shot

I want to fly back to Chicago in August. However, I’m having issues with the cost of the plane ticket. I mean, I work retail for god sakes.

The cheapest I’ve seen so far is $254. While that seems a tad expensive, it’s alright. I guess. I would also have to fly on a Tuesday to get that fare, which I really don’t have an issue with, also. My biggest problem is working in friends and family, without earning the wrath of my mother.

Plus there would be an issue with accommodations and getting around. All of them live a good driving distance from each other, plus all of my friends live in Chicago.

To be honest, the one reason I want to go back is for Halsted Market Days, August 10th and 11th. It’s one of the biggest street fairs in the city, drawing a crowd that is almost as large as the Pride Parade. It’s also in the heart of Boys Town, so it has plenty of hot guys (and girls), with all the bars spilling out onto the street.

As a street fair, it has your typical stuff, but its basically a huge garage sale. I actually enjoy it more than the Parade.

So, if I was to go home, I would need a place to stay. Obviously, my Mom’s would be the most logical. But, as much as I love her, I don’t want to be stuck in suburbia hell without a car. And since they moved down to one car, I would be trapped with her.

My older sister would be better, as she is not working. Plus we get along so good, I would personally just like to stay there. But there still is a travel issue. I don’t know, maybe I should rent a car. Plus that opens a whole new kettle of fish, as my mom would see it as a slap in the face.

Of course, then they would have me for Wednesday (cause, as of now, the only flight in on that day -August 7 - arrives at midnight), Thursday and part of Friday, before I would want to go downtown to see my friends. Now, my friend M said I could stay with him if I was to visit, and I’m hoping he keeps up that promise. So, Friday, Saturday and Sunday would be covered. That would leave me with just Monday and some of Tuesday to visit family.

So essentially, I think I could not see everyone because my weekend would be spent in Chicago. I know, I just know, I would hear grief for this.

And, if I fly in and not tell anyone, then there will be hell to pay also.

Damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

Also, its Summer, bitches!

Self Pic's 2

Musings of a Virgo

I'm a Virgo and I'm supposed to be precise, refined, and a lover of cleanliness, hygiene and order. Conventional, with a rather reserved manner, Virgo's are usually observant, shrewd, critical, and patient. Supporters of the 'status quo', and conservative in all areas of life. Virgos are also undemonstrative due to a coolness in their nature. Very selective, and non committal in friendship, they prefer to keep relationships on a superficial basis.

For the longest time, I've thought to be a fiscal conservative, and a social liberal. These days, I'm leaning more towards conservative views, though I'm gay, so I have a tendecy to be liberal in those issues and abhor religion. Plus, I'm all for small goverment, and no amnesty for people who are here illegally. So, I guess I fit into some of the above ideas of Virgo's.

I am very critical, sometimes to my own mortification. Which may explain why I'm still single, though I have other issues (body mainly, that also covers self-esteem). I also do lack a certain sponaneity, something many Virgos suffer. Like others of this sign, I like plan things in very minute detail. So, what I lack in passion, I make up in clear-cutness. Plus I'm a very hard worker, at times a perfectionist, and run into problems with people because I have a low tolerance for idiocy and crappy work.

This has lead to problems with other people insomuch as I like to be right, and will not listen to other people's POV -even when I know I'm wrong.

Which also effects my work, as I realize that I am a better worker -cause I pay attention to the details, alot of times missing the big picture because of it - than a leader. And while I would not expect others to do what I would not do, I still sometimes go to the pains of doing it myself because I think I can do it better. I also have a habit of turning molehills into moutains. It can border on obsessivness -like making all the soft chairs at work set in one way and the cafe tables and chairs must be set up the same way everyday.

One other trait I do have for a Virgo is that I choose my friends wisely. When you become a friend of my, it's usually for life. I'm very, very particular to whom I will call a friend, because I'm very loyal and that is a rariety indeed in this world.

The reason I started this was because, at times I do not fall into all the ideals of a Virgo, and, even a gay man. But I realize that people are no longer charmed by me. As Spock said in Star Trek VI (yes, geek I am), I've become so old and set in my ways that maybe I've out lived my usefulness, and would that constitute (to the very logical Vulcan and me, the Virgo) a joke?

Heroes to end sescond season in April; spin-off Origins to air during May sweeps

When NBC renewed Heroes back in January, there was little surprise. The series had done extremely well, and was quickly becoming one of the few break-out hits of the 2006-07 TV season.

But the ever increasing problem that serialized shows have fallen into is when they go on hiatus -usually during the holiday season and post February sweeps. The Peacock Network did order two additional episodes, bringing season two to 24 “chapters”. Plus, the network had ordered a semi-spin-off called Heroes: Origins. Speculation at the time was that these six shows would fill in during the parents series hiatus.

Now, with the show resuming production on Monday, creator Tim Kring confirmed at a press conference held today, that Heroes will end its second season in April instead of the usual May, and that the spin-off/miniseries will air during the May sweeps. He mentions that there will still be 24 episodes, but the hiatus gap will be smaller, meaning that while some shows are in re-runs during the month of March and April, Heroes will air new shows.

Kring also talked about what Origins is about, and its basically an anthology (apparently, this is a rarity in TV these days) series set with in the Heroes universe, but focusing on a new superhero every week.

Monday Hunks

Doctor Who: Utopia: Spoilers ahead

The third season of Doctor Who gets better, as Utopia, episode 11 of the series, ended with a surprise twist and the the beginning of three-part season finale.

Ledgendary actor Derek Jacobi guest stars in this story set at the end of the universe (but seemed to miss the resturant), where TARDIS, the Doctor, Martha and returning Captain Jack encounter the last surviving humans trying to get to Utopia.

But as the Doctor helps the humans to escape from the Futurekind, a kindly old professor named Yana turns out to hide a great secret. One Martha realizes when she see's him carrying the same style pocket watch the Doctor used when hiding from The Family of Blood. A watch only a Time Lord would have.

But while to Martha and Jack seemed to be convinced this means the Doctor is not the only Time Lord left (as the the Face of Boe mentioned in Gridlock), the Doctor is not so sure.

When Yana finally opens the watch, his life is returned to him and he knows who he is, and who the Doctor is, but that is cut short when his assisstant -in a last bit of life left in her - shoots him.

As his body begins to die, he rushes into the TARDIS, locking the Doctor out. And it is here, as he plots his escape, he regenerates.

The Master is reborn.

Next week: Trapped at the end of the universe the Doctor must save Martha and Jack from his worst enemy while John Saxon takes over as Prime Minister of England. A man who strangly looks like the newly regenerated Master.

Be there for the The Sound of Drums.

Addendum:

Continuity is a terrible hobgoblin. I’m thinking, trying to figure out if Russell T Davies will bother with The Master’s plot hole.

At the end of 1981's The Keeper of Traken, it was revealed that The Master was nearing the end of his twelfth regeneration -the end for a Time Lord. With help from the Source on Traken, the Master took over the body of Tremas. For the rest of the series run, the Master remains in this form, seemly trapped in this body. In The Five Doctors, the Time Lords ask him to save the Doctor, with his reward if he succeeds, a new life cycle (which is never revealed if they gave it to him, or if they could even do it).

In the last episode of the original series, Survival, the Master is trapped on the planet of the Cheetah people, until we see him again in the 1996 TV movie. Here, the Master is put to death for all of his crimes, by the Daleks no less. But, as the arch enemy can always do, the essence of the Master survives and he’s able to take over the body of an EMT guy. The Doctor leaves the Master trapped in the Eye of Harmony.

Now, in Utopia, the Professor (which Ace used to call the seventh Doctor) Yana turns out to have the same Chamaeleon Arch watch the Doctor had from the recent two-part story Human Nature and The Family of Blood.

Will Davies reveal how The Master ended up where he did, how he escaped the Eye of Harmony from the TV movie, how he survived the time war?

We are Friends

Is it hot outside or is it just these guys?

In The Pale Moonlight

According to The Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion, this episode was proclaimed to be DS9's “highest-ranked episode” according to Sci-Fi Entertainment magazine. And the Star Trek Communicator recorded that members of the Official Star Trek Fan Club voted the episode in the series Top Ten.

For the most part, since Gene Roddenberry died in 1991, both Rick Berman and the late Michael Piller tried never to waver from the creators ideals of the 23rd and 24th Century. What began in TOS was continued in TNG, with Starfleet officers who acted, essentially, like Boy Scouts. They were to be trustworthy, loyal, friendly, obedient and brave. During DS9's run, the series found those ideals difficult to maintain as the conflict with the Dominion became the series main focus.

In the Pale Moonlight was a late season six story, and opens with a troubled Sisko in his quarters, talking out a private log entry. The events of the last two-weeks have has forced him to consider where things went wrong, and where he went wrong.

We flash back two-weeks, as Sisko is going over the ever increasing casualty list in the Wardroom. He sees the number of Starfleet personal who’ve been killed; the wounded, the missing. Sisko notes that the starship Cairo disappeared after a Jem’Hadar attacked them near the Romulan Neutral Zone. He muses that this would not had happen if the Romulans had not signed a nonaggression treaty with the Dominion.

Sisko believes that eventually the Dominion will invade Romulus, and probably a scenario already exists somewhere deep in Cardassian Prime. In a fateful decision, Sisko ask Elim Garak, the lone Cardassian on DS9 and a ever resourceful former spy, to see if any of his contacts on his onetime homeworld know of any planned invasion.

When Garak reports back, Sisko is more frustrated. Garak informs him that while they might be a few willing to help, they’ve all been killed with in hours of talking to Garak. Then the Cardassian, logically, suggests that if Sisko needs relevant evidence that the Dominion is indeed plotting an invasion of Romulus, why not manufacture it?

At first, Sisko would not want to do that, after all he has codes to stand by as a Starfleet officer. But when news reaches DS9 that Betazed has been invaded, he makes the decision that sets him down a dark “road to hell.”

We’ve seen Sisko obsessed before, most notably in For the Uniform and Rapture. But its in this episode that the obsession becomes ever chilling. Also, more so, because its fueled by Garak, who clearly enjoys pushing the captain to the edge. Never before have we seen a Trek captain break so many ethics (even Kirk himself), as he resorts to bribery, releasing criminals and keeping secrets from his colleagues. Sisko tries to believe that this all for the greater good, while Garak seems to enjoying it immensely, because that is what he is good at -scheming.

And while the plan eventually comes together, and the Romulans join in the war, Sisko’s moral sense is eating at him. But its Garak who puts all of it perspective:

“That’s why you came to me , isn’t it, Captain? Because you knew I could do those things that you weren’t capable of doing. Well, it worked, and you’ll get what you want: a war between the Romulans and the Dominion. And if your consciences is bothering you, you should soothe it with the knowledge that you may have saved the entire Alpha Quadrant and all it cost was the life of one Romulan Senator, one criminal and the self-respect of one Starfleet officer. I don’t know about you, but I’d call that a bargain.”

And as we return to Sisko in his quarters, finally finished with his log, he realizes that he was an accessory to murder. But in being so, the Romulans have entered the conflict. But, as he says, “I can live with it.”

There is a sting in this story that forces the audience to make up their own minds about how the events of the episode and the questions that are raised. In the Pale Moonlight was about as far as one can get from Gene Roddenberry’s ideal Starfleet officer, but it also clearly showed how “easily” one can turn down that “road to hell.”

Self Pic's

Poor showing for Hostel sequel

The associated press is reporting, perhaps, a good sign that people are lossing interest in the torture porn:

Lionsgate's gory horror sequel Hostel: Part II, about rich people who pay to kill victims in grisly ways, opened at No. 6 with $8.75 million, less than half the $19.6 million debut of last year's Hostel.

Random hunks

What?
Going commando

If I take a spill it's me

Yesterday I took a tumble off my bike.

Since I started riding again a few months ago, I've had "issues" with my tires. Well, really with the inner tubes. I replaced the front one twice, after buying the $3 cheap one. I eventually bought the $6 self-sealing one and now have no problems.

I replaced the rear tire with the cheap one, also. It loses air everytime it sits, but never when I ride it. So, with that in mind -and because I bought a pump - I've yet to replace that one with the more expensive self-sealing one.

But, the one problem I seem not to able to correct is getting that rear tire centered between two bars. It seems that after a while, the tire sort of moves closer to the side bar, rubbing against and slowing me down.

So yesterday, I stopped at an innersection for a stop light -after passing three cars on the side of Foothill who got into a minor fender bender. Somehow, I missed the warning.

So, the light turns green, I put all my strength into my left foot to take off and the bike goes nowhere and I tumble, as Helen Mirren once said, tits over heels. I landed on my left side, scrapping my skin off my elbow down my forearm. I also had the wind knocked out me -something that has not happened since I was kid. It was brief few seconds of not being able to suck in any air, but it quickly passed.

I sat there for a few seconds, then realized I was in the street, and got up. I picked up my bike, which just a moment ago had slung me like a bad cowboy off a bull, and dragged it to the side of the road. Sure enough, the rear tire had shifted and grabed hold of the left bar.

My arm was bleeding, I was 10 miles from home and had no tools to fix my bike.

I made my way back west on Foothill, passing where the three-car fender bender had happened. There was a twenty-something girl being comforted by what I guess was her boyfriend. Maybe, I thought, this was her first accident. But I was just as shaken as she was, could I get some lovin from the boy?

I looked across Foothill hoping to see a hardware store, a auto store, anything that sold tools, because I was not pushing my bike all the way home. I saw one of those useless .99 stores (until now, that is).

I trudged across the street, blood oozing down my arm and beginning to feel a pain in the left side of my chest.

Anyways, I was able to buy a wrench and also bought some gauze to clean up my wound. I did have an extra bottle of water, which helped make my arm look a little less like I had just fought a battle -and lost.

I fixed my tire, and headed home.

So, today I looked at my wounds beyond the arm, as I discovered a nice bruise and scrapped skin on my inner thigh, plus I probably bruised a rib, as my left side under my arm is all tender, and sometimes hurts when I take a deep breath. My left arm also hurts, and not only where I turned my skin into road rash.

I did ride this morning, and it was uneventful. I still need to replace the inner tube on the rear tire, but I also think I need to take to the repair place and have them tighten the rear screws better so I don't make an ass out of myself agian.

Plus, I guess, I need to consider buying a helmet. While I came no where near my head when I fell, it could've happened.

So, I feel lucky, if not just a little sore.

Paris Hilton does not pass go, does not collect $200.

Totally stole this from Naked Came I.

But it is very, very funny.

Boat

Butt 2

Horror films: torture porn or misunderstood allegories?

I’ve always believed that the makers of horror films that bathe themselves in gore, and the ones that see them, are, like porn, getting off on the violence. David Edelstein of New York Magazine called these recent spate of gore films, including director Eli Roth of Hostel fame, “torture porn.”

Chicago based Capone of Ain’t It Cool News recently talked to Roth about Hostel, Part II and the genre itself.

Of course, Roth basically thinks the critics “discredit” horror films when they are accused of swimming in gore, and that they miss the “any intelligence that goes into making the film.” He says the violence of these films blinds people, so they miss the allegory of what the writer and the director wanted to say.

Personally, I still think these movies are nothing but masturbation fantasies for straight males, and nothing Roth says can change my opinion. On the other hand, I understand, in some dark aspect of my mind, that these films serve a purpose. The problem is, I don’t know what that is.

Still, I find Roth's justification interesting.

AICN

Young hottie

From where I stole this from, they claim this guy is ony 18 years old.

Nice body, but I think he missed a lot of books.

Boomsday by Christopher Buckley

Having never read Christopher Buckley, he of many humorous political novels like Thank You For Smoking, I decided to take the galley copy of his recent work, Boomsday, I got at work.

From the back of the book:

Outraged over the mounting Social Security debt, Cassandra Devine, a charismatic 29-year-old blogger and member of Generation Whatever, incites massive cultural warfare when she politely suggests that Baby Boomers be given government incentives to kill themselves by age 75. Her modest proposal catches fire with millions of citizens, chief among them "an ambitious senator seeking the presidency." With the help of Washington's greatest spin doctor, the blogger and the politician try to ride the issue of euthanasia for Boomers (called "transitioning") all the way to the White House, over the objections of the Religious Right, and of course, the Baby Boomers, who are deeply offended by demonstrations on the golf courses of their retirement resorts.

The novel idea here, is to take on what amounts to be a very boring subject -social security, but make it funny and, maybe, a bit thought provoking. Still, Buckley leaves no one off his radar, as he attacks the boomers, politicians, the media, the public relations business, the Christian right and the Catholic Church. The only issue, I guess, I have with the novel is that 99.9% of the characters are assholes. It sometimes becomes hard to think that this might be the way Washington really is. Anyways, marked by a savvy understanding of the truth behind the headlines and a perceptive wit that holds no target sacred, Buckley delivers a comedic look at what potentially could happen when all of these boomers begin to retire.

Now its official: Battlestar Galactica to end in 2008

A few weeks ago, Battlestar Galactica co-star Edward James Olmos ruffled some feathers at a convention, mentioning that the series would end in 2008, after it's fourth season on The Sci Fi Channel.

Well, both the cable network and executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick claimed no such decision had been made about the fate of the highly lauded, very expensive series the channel makes. Execs at the network have loved the show and have loved the press, who've praised the re-booting of the 1970's classic series since it began.

But, as the wind blows, ratings for the heavily serialized show have not improved with that said priase, even dropping further in season three. The show, however, retains a number 1 spot on the demographic scale of importance: the 18-34, which explains why the series did not end after season 3.

But now, both Moore and Eick have announced that indeed, the show will end after four years. The sad part is, much like Farscape before, when one of its original, character based shows, becomes a hit, the cable net cancels the show -though the pair reiterated in their press release, that it was their decision to close the series, hinting at the struggle just to get the renewal for its fourth season.

This odd problem of axing better shows to make room for crap like The Dresdin Files and to some extent, Eureka, is making me not care about the network anymore. Plus, since adding wrestling to its line-up, its obvious they care little about the product and more about the cash.

And instead of buying defunct shows from the defunct UPN, like Special Unit 2 (which I could've gone another decade or two without it ever being broadcast agian), it could've poured the cash into BG.

But, alas, money that these rerun generates goes to NBC/Universal so we can more seasons of Law & Order.

As of right now, there is nothing on Sci Fi that I care to watch. Once BG ends, I could be done with this disappointment of cable channel.