A History Lesson: First Love

How and when it all began is foggy. I really have no memory of my first ten years, and what I do remember I’m not sure they’re real memories or ones “implanted” by relatives. My dad died in July of 1968. I was 5 ½. His death had a major impact on my life and there was no one to talk to then, no counselors and even my mother’s church seemed unsure what to do, though one priest helped my mom cope; after all she had 4 kids to bring up.

Anyway, four doors down from my mom’s was a kid who would become my best friend. But when and how we met is a mystery to me. I only remember the years after my mom married her second husband. But, to say the least, I’ve known this guy for 35 plus years.

It was an odd relationship, really. I think what drew us together was a strict mother. My mom did not let us kids get away with anything, and neither did his mother. So, we became friends.

There is one thing I need to mention here, something even this late in life, I have a hard time talking about. I was born with something called pectus excavatum -or commonly called funnel chest. My sternum, basically, is depressed in a concave shape (see photo on the side). Again, while this can be fixed today, when I was a kid is was risky, life threatening surgery. My parents were unwilling to have it done. And then, as mentioned, my dad died of lung cancer. This disfigurement created a negative self-image for me (and still does today). I still have an unwillingness to be seen without a shirt while swimming, or even in my house when my roommate is home.

Anyway, this kid knew about that and was the only person who accepted me as “normal”. Of course, I was jealous that he could take his shirt off anytime he wanted. I do remember one time that when we played together he had his shirt off and requested that he put one on. I was just terribly self conscious of this and hated being around someone who could something I could not do: walk around shirtless without other people laughing at me (which I do remember, sadly).

Again, I don’t know when it all began, but our relationship took on different meaning when puberty struck. It became very physical.

During our early teens -he’s six months younger than me - his parents divorced. While his dad stayed in Illinois, he moved with his mom to Colorado. I knew I would miss him, badly, but I also could not tell you why. We sent letters back and forth for about two years, before he returned to Illinois to live with his father. Our friendship resumed, as well as our sexual relationship.

By then, while I knew something was different in me. I could not articulate it yet, but when I was with him, I knew I was safe from ridicule and anything else. We spent as much time as we could together, but because we went to different High Schools, we usually only had weekends. And his dad was always around then.

He also was dating girls by now, something I realize now, pissed me off. But he had a new girlfriend almost every week. None were ever serious. Just after High School, he joined the National Guard. During those four years, we spent very little time with each other, and when we did get together, we did nothing sexual.

But we always fell into the same slot, in the respect that we could be apart for a long time, yet within five minutes, it was like no time had ever passed between us. We had become friends, and I had fallen in love.

In our 20's, we drifted apart. He ended up in Southern California (I forget how) doing and studying sports medicine (while he was never a great athlete, he loved sports like football and basketball). One day, in early 1990, he calls out of the blue and asks me if I want to move to LA and work for a movie theater. Apparently, he had been help a district manager of Long Beach through some recovery and this guy had talked my friend up about the movie theater business.

Of course, I said yes. It was sad in some ways. While I was excited about the prospect of moving to California, the real idea was to see if we could re-start our relationship, at least the physical part, cause I knew that on the friendship level, we would be fine.

So, I packed up my things and came west, young man. But instead of coming to LA, we ended up in the Bay Area (long, and boring story on how that happened). Anyway, as soon as I got there, I knew things were only going to be friendship based. While he and I felt comfortable around each other -like being naked - anything else appeared to be off limits.

Then I began to hate him then. The way he walked, the way he talked and what not. Still, while I knew I was gay, I had not verbalized those words to anyone. In the almost two years I lived in the Bay Area and visited San Francisco many times by myself, I never explored my gay life. Ironic and very sad, indeed.

After about a year working and living together, he became dissatisfied with his job and was dying to get back into sports medicine. He quit and moved back to the Midwest, ending up in Milwaukee. I stayed in California for another 6 months and moved back to Chicago. During that time, I had very little contact with him, and over 3 years passed before I would see him again.

It was I who found him, working at a school on the south side of Chicago. I met him for lunch and we talked. I told him I was open about my sexuality, I remember that look in his eyes, as he flashed back to all those times we fooled around with each other. But, I’ve never told anyone about those times (until now, but his name is safely anonymous).

I even told him that.

Anyway, that day our relationship changed. After lunch, we went back to the school where he worked. It suddenly struck me that here, in this high school boys locker room, where he was kneading out teenage boys muscles and helping them through whatever physical therapy they needed that he could be hiding in plain sight, so to speak.

Could he be a closet case, unwilling to come out due to his job or himself? Was this the perfect job then for a guy so unsure of whom he liked?

But those questions remained in the air, never to be answered. Almost four years went by, before I tried to contact him, explaining in a letter my feelings for him went beyond friendship.

That I loved him.

We talked on the phone, and I could hear the disbelief in his voice. He said that he did not have those same feelings and that, as a matter of fact, he was getting married in a years time. I was not being invited, as he basically told me that he could not risk me acting all “queeny” at the wedding.

I realized then, after some 25 years of knowing me, he really did not know me. I would’ve never made a scene, but he felt he could not take that risk.

It’s now well over 10 years since I last saw or spoke with him. I don’t know if he really married, I don’t know what’s happened to him, really. Before I moved back to California in the summer of 2005, I tried to find him, but I could not find him without paying a ton of money. But, I think he’s still somewhere in Chicago.

Is he gay, or was he gay? Was our sexual play just “normal” things guys do before setting the “proper” course?

I don’t have those answers.

The thing is, I still love him. I love him for many reasons, beyond him treating normal as kid, even with this pectus excavatum. Our relationship was always based on the fact that we never bull shitted each other and that we always could fall into the same old grind, like trains on a track, no matter how much water had passed under so many bridges.

Even if he came through my door today, and he said he was gay and wanted a relationship, I would say yes.

But, to be honest, all I wish now is that we just had a friendship.

Doctor Who 4.8 The Silence in the Library (Part 1 of 2)

Since arriving on Doctor Who as a writer, Steven Moffatt has shown what the new Who can do with a well written script and a lot of atmosphere. He as written 6 of the most popular episodes, including The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances two-parter from season one, the brilliant The Girl in the Fireplace from season two, and last season’s near perfect scare-fest, Blink.

Now he has written the two part Silence in the Library/Forest of the Dead and continues his streak as the best writer Who has had since the its halcyon days of the early to mid 1970's.

This may be the reason why Moffatt will become the showrunner when Doctor Who resumes a full season of production in 2009 for broadcast in 2010.

The Doctor and Donna arrive in the 51st century at a planet-sized book repository simply called "The Library", summoned by an anonymous request for help on the Doctor's psychic paper. However, they find it completely devoid of humanoid life, though the Library's computers claim over "a million million lifeforms" exist. A Node, an information drone with a donated human face attached for communication, warns them to count the shadows. As they try to search for answers, they meet a team of explorers, led by archeologist Professor River Song, who have come to ascertain the meaning of the Library's final communication, which states that 4,022 people were saved yet none survived. River Song seems to know the Doctor, has a diary with a cover matching the TARDIS, and even possesses a sonic screwdriver. She will only admit that she will know him in his relative future, refusing to admit more for fear of "spoilers". Donna asks Prof. Song if the professor recognizes her name from the Doctor's future, but Prof. Song stays silent on the subject. The Doctor organizes the team to make sure the area is well lit as he explains that the shadows are occupied by the Vashta Nerada, microscopic carnivorous creatures that use shadows to hunt and latch onto their prey.

There is plenty of creepiness here, especially when the computer Node tells the Doctor and Donna to run in a matter-of-fact voice. And while libraries are not scary, at least ones I’ve been in, the show goes out of their way to make all of it creepy, with motes of darkness that apparently hide the Vashta Nerada.

For fans of the 1990's New Adventure novels (between 1989 and the shows return in 2005, novels were published called The New Adventures, featuring, mostly, the Seventh Doctor and Ace. When Ace was written out of the books, a new character was introduced, called Bernice Summerfield), the role Alex Kingston’s plays (who played Elizabeth Corday on ER for seven seasons) resembles Bernice in many ways.

The character, River Song, seems to the know the Doctor from some future timeline. Already we’ve been hinted, in the episode The Planet of the Ood, that the Doctor’s song is ending. And while series star David Tennant will be with the Doctor Who through its 3 specials scheduled to air in place of season five in 2009, no one knows if he’ll stay when the actual season five airs in 2010.

While the Ood episode hinted at the death of the Tenth Doctor, Song knowing him in some future timeline hints at the possibility that Tennant will continue on.

Dentist Sketch - The Carol Burnett Show

God Bless you, Harvey Korman. You'll be missed.

Michelle Malkin: A special kind of idiot

So there's this conversative wing-nut named Michelle Malkin, who, of course, hates liberals and thinks she's better than almost everyone.

Anywho, this nut-job went after a recent Dunkin Donut's ad featuring Rachel Ray wearing a fringed black-and-white scarf that Malkin says offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.

She said in her column that the "scarf" Ray is wearing resembles a kaffiyeh and she wrote "for the clueless, is the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad. Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant (and not-so-ignorant) fashion designers, celebrities, and left-wing icons."

In a statement, Dunkin Donuts said the scarf had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot. "Absolutely no symbolism was intended," the company said.

According to Amahl Bishara, an anthropology lecturer at the University of Chicago who specializes in media matters relating to the Middle East, said "I think that a right-wing blogger making an association between a kaffiyeh and terrorism is just an example of how so much of the complexity of Arab culture has been reduced to a very narrow vision of the Arab world on the part of some people in the U.S.," Bishara said in a phone interview. "Kaffiyehs are worn every day on the street by Palestinians and other people in the Middle East - by people going to work, going to school, taking care of their families, and just trying to keep warm."

While some extremists and terrorists may wear kaffiyehs, "To reduce their meaning to support for terrorism has a tacit racist tone to it," Bishara said.

Wow, you know, people like Malkin are xenophobic, rascist ass wipes who should be called on what they claim they think the world should be. They have a narrow, black and white, right and wrong point of view that divides Americans along party lines. Plus, they use their misguided power to convince older Americans, ones who are afriad to ask real, hard hitting questions that terrorist are going to strike at their home tomorrow.

What a useless turd she is.

The Pits

Minor rant?

When I was a kid, on holidays such as today -Memorial Day - stores closed so people could do what the holiday was meant to be, honor those who gave up their lives to keep America free. You went to a parade, listened to politicians, had picnics and enjoyed the day with family and friends.

Now, it's a day to shop.

Why? Have we become so politically correct that stores have to be open for the people who don't give a hoot for what the holiday means? In that theory, then, should then all stores be open on, say, Christmas? It's a Christian holiday, but there are loads and loads of non-believers, non-christians and agnostics out there who are forced to deal with that holiday and stay home because 90% of stores are closed on that day -drug stores and other convience stores don't count, as that's what they were designed for, which is to be open when the regular store is closed.

We were busy at work, with people coming and going, spending money they don't have on things they really don't need. They wander around enjoying a holiday and probably don't understand, or don't care, what Memorial Day was about.

But big business rukes all these days. Big buisness, in it's mad dash for the God almighty dollar, has deciceded to keep store open just because a small percentage of people might be pissed off that they can't get the lastest Dean Koontz book on Tuesday -not to mention Saturday or Sunday.

Hey, all I'm saying is that maybe being open on a holiday such as Memorial Day is okay, just maybe keep holiday hours, such as 12 to 6. You don't have to be open all fraken day.

Oh well.

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)

So, after 19 years, Harrison Ford returns in fine form as Henry Jones, Jr. in Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. While film works on many levels, like the two other sequels, nothing compares to the first film, Raiders of the Lost Ark. The film, for me, settles inbetween the darker, more violent Temple of Doom and the wimsey, ultra-light Last Crusade.

I liked it, but did not love it. And that’s mostly because I think there are enough mythical, superstitious stuff out there, here on Earth that the film did not have to become a prelude to The X Files. Hell, I almost expected the Cigarette Smoke Man to pop up and try to cover it up. Still, its loopy and at times confusing But its obvious that Harrison Ford is having a lot of fun, thus the film is a welcome return to the old style of grand movie making: it’s don’t have to make any sense, so just sit back and enjoy the ride.

And while Indy 4 does try to avoid giving into those trivial references to the previous films, there are some classy tributes to both Denholm Elliott (who played Marcus Brody in the first and third film, and who died in 1992) with a portrait hanging in the school and photo on Indy’s desk and a statue and Sean Connery (who played Henry Jones, Senior and while still with us, is retired and did not want to cameo in the film) in another picture on Indy’s desk.

Jim Broadbent does a fine job replacing Elliott, while Cate Blanchette hams it up as Russian Soviet agent Irina Spalko. The return of Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood also adds a better dimension to the film and like Ford, appears to be having the time of her life.

I’ve always kind of liked Shia LaBeouf and while he has the spoiled teenager/goofball down pat, his performance is subtle and a nice throwback to the greaser days of the 1950's (his ride in on his motorcycle is a tribute to Marlon Brando). And, if done right, I could see LaBeouf taking on the mantle for future Indiana Jones films.

Candy Everybody Wants

Borders continues spin it's future

As I mentioned yesterday, Borders issued a statement saying that it is continuing to review its “strategic options.” And thus, no new deals were close. I guess with the rumor mill spinning faster and faster, Borders had to say something, even if it was nothing.

Meanwhile, on the store level, the perks -always a sign of trouble - are vanishing faster than a republican caught at a porn convention. Borders has dropped two things just this week: paying time and half for the holidays (like this up coming Memorial Day) and suspending the free coffee and tea employees got.

The recent email about the coffee/tea suspension was headlined with “Let’s keep this positive.” Yep, they know it sucks, but let’s be positive (add 150,000 explanation points to that). I wonder how they expect the staff to be, as morale has sunken to an all time low. And what do they do about it, send their DM’s and talk about the numbers, the all important numbers. Like how sales are down, and even though the bulk can be explained by the “recession,” there is always the subtle emphasis that it’s also the employee’s fault.

How do you sell to people pinched by high gas prices, food prices and a housing market that is having a major stroke and a heart attack? Plus, with no Harry Potter this summer, there is no need-to-have book to drive customers into the stores. And we have to wait until August for Stephanie Myers final book in her Twilight vampire series.

Where does, in the end, Borders go from here?

I doubt at this time that Barnes and Noble will want to merge with Borders, if mostly because of the high debt. That is why no one will buy them. The $500 million is like poison.

Then, of course, there’s the whole antitrust thingy. Really, the only way it could work, would to wait until Borders declares bankruptcy -which I’m sure William Ackman and Pershing Square Capital probably would not like. Only then could B&N take over Borders, due to the flexibility provided by the courts.

Also, too, if they file for bankruptcy, it could help make the company become leaner (by getting out of those long-term leases/rents to close under performing stores, and then they would be in a better play to renegotiate the debt), and refocus on what made it good a long time ago, carrying a variety of books and meshing with the community to make sure they have an incredible atmosphere for your customers.

Still, Borders still has some good brand recognition, and had they not gotten in bed with Pershing and William Ackman, they probably could’ve gotten through 2008 with the improvements they’ve been doing. With Ackman broadcasting Borders problems, they’ll have a tougher time trying to find investors.

The company is going to have a rough year, and I expect further cuts at the store level -though I’m unsure how much more they can strip away, because since they love numbers, once they see the CSI scores drop and see the impractical, and very flawed, balanced score card numbers take a nose dive, I don’t know how we can do better.

Weather of the extreme

So, the extreme weather from yesterday continued today. While no thunder storms (though there are some in the high desert), there was plenty of rain. Flash flood warnings in burn areas and in the foothills are all over the place.

Still, nothing like yesterday, as Moreno Valley experienced a tornado, while most of Riverside County was dumped with hail that covered the ground like snow.

But it was a rainy day, one to stay in, even though its spring and the days are longer and you just want to get out. But with gas prices the way they are, my holiday weekend will be spent close to home.

Tacking into the Rain

California is not known for its wacky weather. It is, sadly, fairly predictable. But the weather has been a bit odd this week. We started with it being very hot, temps in the upper 90's and low 100's in some areas of the IE.

It's ending with rain, thunder, lightening and much cooler temps.

It rained on and off today -some areas got a lot, while others little. It poured at about 10am this morning at work, the hard rain hitting the roof like concrete. Then it was cloudy, and I think the sun came out for a little while. Going home from work, I drove into more rain, but the added sound of thunder and lightening flashes made it even cooler.

I miss thunderstorms and I'm happy when it does it here. Still, it poured and I'm not complaining at all. Went to dinner at the Old Spaghetti Factory with JayTee and Adam, which was nice.

I suggested afdter dinner to go see Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, but the only shows we could've seen were the 10pm ones, and Adam needs to be up at like 4:30 in the morning, so we're planning to go on Sunday. I hope I can hold out until then.

Finally, there is some more fallout regarding Borders and their future. The press has finally gotten wind of our problems and is apparently circling Ann Arbor looking for some bones with some meat left on them. The company released a statement, filled with a lot of big business words and what not that baically boiled down to they're in the process of doing something, but they're not going to say what that is, and will not be making any more statements, because they're going to zip it.

Crap.

The woes of Borders Books

While the reign of Borders CEO George Sanders has done little for this company I’ve labored for now starting year 11, most of this can be blamed on former CEO Greg Josefowicz, and his short-sightedness when it came to understanding what its core business wanted. Hell, it knew what its investors wanted, but had no idea what the people walking through the door wanted.

I believe Borders problems started when it went public in 1995, but was exasperated by some of the biggest business blunders anyone has seen. First would be not having any foot hold in the e-universe. Josefowicz’s failure to capture any sort of market share in the internet world in the late 90's resulted in a loss of millions, and then their idiotic partnership with Amazon led to even bigger loss, and making the company a laughing stock to any potential investor. Their excess baggage continued with the international expansion, which even Barnes & Noble realizes is a mistake by the virtue of them staying away from it all together. Then acquisition of Paperchase dragged Borders down even further. This has all lead to poor stock prices and a debt of $500 million.

Now, with Pershing Square Capital owning 18% of the company and Pershing’s fund manager William Ackman making an ass out of himself, they’re further eroding Borders as a company. I’m unsure of the logic Ackman uses, as any internet search of him brings up oodles of information on him. It appears Ackman buys up large shares of stakes in companies and then forces the Board into doing what he says, using what is called “stockholder activism” to get what he wants.

While I’m sure any stockholder should do what’s necessary to protect its investment, but it appears Ackman’s mischief-making gives a bad name to shareholder activism. What’s wrong with the old adage of buy low, sell high? I’m guess dealing with Ackman must be a pain in the ass.

Book: City on the Currents by Brian S. Matthews

So, instead of reading the Chabon novel as noted on the roght side of the blog, I took up Brian Matthews second volume in his New Wilderness series, The City on the Currents.

Starting six months after the first book, the crew of Compton Pit are still battling mother nature, still hoping to find a reason why all the animals, insects, birds and creatures of the sea, turned on humans beings.

One thing that has kept them safe in Compton Pit from the creatures of world is a vital piece of electronics. But when its stolen, Sid and his crew must set out to find it, before word of its existence changes the balance of power. But their trip becomes a journey that they never thought they take as the they track the device to the last aircraft carrier in the known world, now coverted into a floating city. It is here that Sid, Caps, Lena, Darcy and Noah confront their future. Here they find the device, and here they find an enemy who was once a friend.

Like the first book, this one moves at a swift pace. And while the gore is kept at minimum, Matthews continues to kill animals in a very glorious sort of way. The humor is ramped up a bit, but I found the pop culture references a bit tedious after a while - but I would probably be using them too.

The concept of the aircraft carrier becoming a city was well thought out, and I could almost envision it. The military come off as a bit wacky, but generally more sane than in other end-of-the-world thrillers.

While we get no more closer to understanding why the animals went crazy, we do get the real reason why Sid wanted the return of the Mimi.

My only complaint is the total lack of human life. People die horribly, left and right, and there is little remores. While I suppose there is a reason for it -after a decade of seeing loved ones die at the hands of Lassie, Garfield and Tony the Tiger, you probably have little in the way of emotions.

Still, it's a bit disturbing.

Now, I'll get to that Chabon book.

Candy Everybody Wants

Doctor Who 4.07 The Unicorn and the Wasp

The Doctor and Donna arrive in 1926, and almost instantly they become involved in a murder mystery, in this near brilliant send-up of the whodunit genre.

We are introduced to many, many stereotypical characters and situations right out the genre, including the legedary Agatha Christie herself. Even Donna comments how its all seemly looks like a game of Clue. It's a smart and funny take on the classic set-ups that include the old country house, people with mysterious pasts, red herrings and a murder.

Writer Gareth Roberts, who also dealt with another historical writer in last years The Shakespeare Code, does a loving tribute to the Agatha Christie, with characters speaking titles to Christie's novels -like when the chef is killed, her employer said she had "an appointment with death." And he speculates on the real life disappeance of Agatha Christie in 1926, adding a dimension that helps sell the story.

The acting, as always, is superb with actress Fenella Woolgar coming off brilliantly as Christie. Then there's the little stuff, like the charade bit between the Doctor and Donna, which just made me laugh out loud and the CGI effects with the wasp. And in a typical Christie red herring, the Unicorn referenced in the title of the episode -a thief - really has little to do with the plot. And typically, as a historical piece, the BBC proves why its so brillant at doing them, as the costumes, the settings and the little set etails make you feel it is indeed 1926.

For those who've been watching Doctor Who for all these decades, this episode brought back Christopher Benjamin, who appeared in two classic serials in the 1970's, Inferno and The Talons of Weng-Chiang.

While the younger audience may be bored with the whodunit formula, it's a treat for us older fans who enjoy a little poking at what is a British construction: the stiff upper lip.

Iron Man (2008) 3 stars

I liked Iron Man.

And that’s mainly due to Robert Downey, Jr.

Downey Jr. plays a high stakes arms dealer Tony Stark with little conscious - a man who has easily put aside the moral implication of designing these weapons and who takes no responsibility for how his weapons are actually used. But after being kidnaped by a rogue rebels, Stark realizes that he must rethink those blurred lines.

The film does take time setting up the premise, reminding me of the effort put into the first Spider Man film. But after that, the action and script falls into many movie cliches. While not even familiar with the comic book this film is based on, it was easy to realize from the beginning that the Beau Bridges character, Obadiah Stane, was behind the kidnaping. So it was no big surprise when it was revealed.

Gwyneth Paltrow is good as Pepper Potts, Stark’s His Girl Friday, but is given little to do other than look pretty. That might work in the comics, but in a film, it comes across as sexist - even though they give her a more strong, feminist mind. Though I’m unsure why they had to have her in high heels, as anyone will tell you walking on the iron grating in nearly impossible.

Still, as a gay man, I’m a still can’t get behind Terrence Howard’s homophobic mind set. Sure, as an actor, he’s very, very good. And though wasted here, when I look at him all I see is his comments he’s made about gay men. In tandem with those past comments, the scene where Downey Jr. makes fun of Howards character about some tranny or something strikes me the wrong way. And then there’s the scene in the beginning, where Stark does not realize that the driver of the Humvee is a woman, which comes across as a slight towards more butcher women.

Still, the film gives a message, or at least tries too, and Robert Downey Jr holds his own and makes the script work. And if the ending (after the credits) are any clue, we’re bound to see more of these films.

Which is already in the works, after it’s worldwide weekend release brought in $200 million. Look for Iron Man II in the summer of 2010 -with Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury as the ending (after the end credits) implies.

And because its me, there is one thing that caught. At the end of the film, just before Stark gives his press conference, we see Pepper Potts fiddling with Stark's suit. She makes sure the breast pocket has it handkerchief perfect. It's sticking out like its suppose to. Then, the next scene see's Stark giving his conference, and the handkerchief is no where to be seen.

Economic stimulus, Tires, a broken window and the heat

When I got my economic stimlas money this past week, I knew what I needed to do. I've been putting it off for a while, if only becaue I knew it was going to be expensive.

Tires. I needed new tires. Well, really only one -the driver side. But I've had the car for 6 1/2 years, and have replaced two out of four tires, whbich left 2 from the original purchase. At 67,000 miles, one was in desperate need of replacement, and the other was still in fairly good condition.

Still, I though, why not replace all of them? I got the $600 and instead of saving it or spending on stupid things like bills, I went an got the tires. So, with the four tires and an alingment, it came to $274 and some change.

Then there was the broken window.

The story is that a few weeks ago my driver side car door just broke. It's the thingy that keeps the door from shutting. Now, the door just opens and I have to be careful, cause it's no longer attached to itself.

So, when the door is wide open, I can lower my window, but because of the broke hinge thingy, when I try to close it the door, the window interferes. So, I have to roll up the window to make sure the door shuts (thus making able only to roll down my window a 1/4 when driving, because it encounters the broken you-know-what.

So, as I was getting my car set for the tires, I thought about mentioning it, but that quickly passed, because I assumed the worker would notice this. Yes, I assumed wrong.

Apparently, they pulled the car in with the window rolled down (because, as mentioned, if the door is not shut all the way, it works). The guy got, and slammed the door, and shattered the glass. It pissed me off, but I knew it was my fault for not telling the guy about it. It cost $143 to get it fixed, so I spent about $515 of that $600.

Jebus, this is the story of my life, a cautionary tale of getting things fixed before something casues it to cost more. Which it still will, as I still need to get the door fixed.

The guy who owned the glass company came over -with his worker- and fixed the window at the Big O Tires. He was this really cute Asian, small and compact. You could tell he took care of his body. His T shirt nearly formed to his body. We talked, I explained my door problem as we watched his worker replace my window.

He said with his money, he woould be out buying clothes, which more or less confirmed to me he was gay. It was not obvious, but my gaydar is pretty good. Sure he was at least 15 years younger than me, but he was hot.

He gave me his buisness card, but I think its only because he wants my business to fix the door. I wonder if I'll go there.

BTW, the heat is on. Started on Thursday and Friday it was over 100 here, and when I got up at 7am this morning, it was already in the mid 70's. It should hit the century mark today again, and probably close to it tomorrow. Then, it should moderate to more easier temps, in the low 80's, which is still above normal.

The heat is early this year, and has already started some brush fires in the Angeles National Forest near here.

To bike or not to bike

I've been torn about riding my bike to work. It's 14 miles to Victoria Garden, and riding my bike usually takes on average, about one hour and 15 minutes and some change. When I work at 7 am (on Monday and Tuesday) I need leave at 5:30am. On days that I would start at 6 am, I would need to be out at 4:30, and that ain't going to happen. Because, during the winter, it's still pitch black outside, and while I have stuff on and a bike light blinking, I sort of do fear for my life. Now that it's getting lighter nearlier, it might be better. But to leave at 4:30 am and ride 80% of that ride in the dark(now, with summer approaching, but in winter, it would be 100%), I just can't seem to do it. Sure, two days a week would save me money on gas and what not, but I fight myself to do this.

Take today, I woke up around 4am with a splitting headache. Felt like someone was using an ice pick and sticking it behind my right eye. So great, I had planned to ride the bike. But I would need to get up in an hour, and there was no way the headache was going to go away. So, I slept until 6 and did my normal things I do to prepare for work.

I felt guilty, as I always do, when it comes to excercise. I'm getting thick around the middle, and I would like to lose it, but I have no ambition anymore.

Still, it was a cloudy and cool day here -though they promise nicer, warmer and hotter weather by Thursday - and as I left work it began to rain. Not a hard one, but enough to get one wet had one had rode their bike this morning and had to ride it agin home. I would've been some what soaked, I guess.

So maybe it was a sign?

Of course, the rain precipitated me getting new wiper blades, something I've avoided for a while. The nice lesbian lady at the Kragen auto parts helped me out of $24 (blades and washer fluid, which I also needed). Of course, I don't know if she was lesbian, but she did fit the profile: tall, fairly apple shaped, with mullet of sorts for hair and walked with a mans gate. It was a profile in stereotyping really, me the queen not really knowing how to change my wiper blades, and here the big, burley lesbian helping me out in 2.4 seconds.

I'm bound to go back, because she was great with the customer service. And I like that.

Candy Everybody Wants

Doctor Who 4.06 The Doctor's Daughter

After viewing The Doctor's Daughter, I sat back and said to myself that this was a silly, silly, episode -a bottle episode, also - but that acting and the other bits of the plot are very interesting. The story picks up from last week's cliffhanger, where the TARDIS is hijacked and brought to this planet where the Doctor is forced to procreate a person who will aide some warriors in a battle with the Hath -some pretty good looking fish creatures.

It's an unimpressive war, due to the fact that it is an bottle show. Because if there was this huge war going on, it seemed to happening with only a handful of Hath and humans. Meanwhile, Martha Jones has been taken by the Hath, who appear for some reason to trust her. Maybe when she helps an injured Hath and stands up to its fellow Hath by proclaiming she's "Doctor Martha Jones, and who the hell are you?" they're impressed with it -after all, the Doctor does it all the time and it works for him.

Anyways, the plot goes no where, until the Doctor, Donna and his "daughter" Jenny (played by Georgia Moffett, who is the daughter of Peter Davidson, Doctor number five) begin the search for the source - some holy grail that will bring an end to this destructive conflict.

Its then, when things start looking up. Actress Catherine Tate once again brings much weight to Donna, making her one of the more rounded companions of the recent re-boot, bringing not only smarts like Martha, but an emotional depth with her in her releationship with the Doctor.

And Freema Agyeman's performance, always good, gets top mentions for her emotional take on the death of her Hath friend. It was touching. And while the death of the Jenny was predictable, it was still a sad scene. Her regeneration, however, and departure kinda made her more than you thought of her to be - a disposable character. How this will -if any - impact the series is unknown. I'm guessing we've yet to see the last of her.

Movie blah

One my coworkers see's movies all the time. He's pretty open to most thing, meaning he'll watch just any genre. He'll also go and see the films that open on Midnight. Last week he saw Iron Man and last night he saw Speed Racer.

He teases me because, thanks to a housemate who's a GM for Edwards Theaters, I can see movies for free. And I don't. And it's not like I have to go far, as there is huge movie house with in a few minutes walking.

I have yet to see a film in 2008. And probably will not see one until Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull opens in a fortnight.

One of the reasons is that I hate going by myself. Much like eating out -that would be a nice restuarant and not a trip to In 'n' Out - going to the movies by myself is akin to telling the world I'm a single guy who has no hopes of ever getting into a relationship. Funny part of it was that I used to do it all the time when I was younger.

Of course, like everyone else, going to the movies has become a pain. People think only for themselves and the groups of people they go with. They talk like they're in their living rooms. Chat on the phone -despite the nice trailer on the screen asking them to silence them - They use their mobile phones as lights when the fiulm is running, which is annoying.

Talking during the film is also irritating, so that's another strike. Plus, I'm picky. I won't see a movie just because everyone else does. I hate horror films, and is usually turned off by the blockbuster tentpole films the major studios put out.

I do like seeing small, indepentant films, but living here in the suburbs, they don't tend to make it out here, and I'll be damned if I'm going to drive 45 miles into LA to see an art house film.

Finally, I think, with the window between theatrical release and DVD release getting smaller, I would rather wait and rent the one I really want to see.

The sad part, as my co-worker is now understanding, I would rather read than see a film.

Book: New Wilderness by Brian S. Matthews

First off, I’ve never met Brian S. Matthews, however I’m very much aware of his work as a screen writer, as he’s written all the episodes of the online web series I work on, Star Trek: Helena Chronicles. He’s also scripted the feature Operation Beta Shield, which brings back major characters from the Hidden Frontier days and brings along the crew from the Scotland web series, Star Trek: Intrepid. He’s also scripted the season ender of Star Trek: Odyssey, due later this year along with the first episode of the four-part miniseries, Star Trek: Federation One.

So he’s prolific.

Anyways, before he became the writer of these web shows, Matthews wrote two novels he published himself. New Wilderness was released in 2005, and is the first part of a trilogy of tales about what happens on one lazy June 10 day (no year is given, but there is enough pop culture references to assume it began sometime in the late 1990's), when the animal kingdom - for some yet to be revealed reason- turned on the human race and brought about a world-wide devastation of civilization.

Over the years, I’ve read a few end-of-the-world type novels, and have seen many TV shows and movies about the same subject. Stephen King’s The Stand is perhaps, for the modern age, one of the best. While The Stand used a virus to wipe out most of humanity (one that seemed somewhat plausible back in 1978, but more horrific today), New Wilderness uses the animals like cats and dogs, our friends, to kill us, along with a whole host of other beasties. Is the author trying to say that in some way nature will strike back for what we’ve taken?

While the novel opens with the Turn, its primarily set a decade after New Wilderness (which is also a wink, wink at media’s attempt to title its news reports). Set in the Canadian west, near Vancouver, humanity is still trying to survive. But like any good end of the world tale, human greed seems to have survived (along with good guys and bad guys), as groups of people, holed up in various areas, are cornering the market on such necessities as technology, medicine, and gas.

The novel is, ultimately, a worthy addition to the genre, as Matthews keeps the pace going at a stride that makes you want to continue to read on, long after you should’ve gone to bed. There is plenty of violence and buckets of gore, but that I can forgive, if only because I believe something like this could happen to us once all our favorite things, the comfort stuff, is taken away. Mobile phones, iPods, our cars and how much money you make should not define your humanity, but God knows it will if the End of Days comes next Tuesday.

But, I also think its about 75 to 100 pages overlong -I could’ve done with out the flashbacks to some the characters life during the initial crisis. It wasn’t that those scenes were boring, just felt they really did not add to the plot. And the creepy ending, with the perverse kids who prey on young boys and worship a very bizarre God, borders on sadistic -even if it’s a plot point - and sort of reminds me that if there is one constant in the universe in novels of these kinds, homosexuality is still to be treated with universal hate.

May Gray with a little this 'n' that

After a glorious, warm week, that sadly ended on Saturday, Sunday brought a cooler and cloudy skies. Essentially, the May Gray has set in, and is bound to lead to its sequel, June Gloom.

Most of the days now will start cool, and cloudy. The marine layer will usually be deep and reach far into the Inland Empire. On good days, the layer will burn off in the IE by 10 am. And if we're lucky, the coast will see it gone by late morning.

But today was not one of those days. The marine layer stayed most of the day, with the sun just popping out once in a while. This supressed the temps, with the us only getting to 64 -about 12 degrees cooler. By late today, the clouds were starting to pull back towards the ocean, but they'll be back.

Sent mother a CD of music for Mother's Day. I hope see likes it, as she was not so pleased with the selection. It wasn't that she did not like the music, it just was too slow for those long drives they take for vacations. This one has more pop songs, less easy listening, so we'll see.

Work continues to be odd, as the company continues to send messages about saving money. You know, I've been working since 1980, so I 've learned the signs of when your company is doomed: it's when they start worrying about pens, paper and other office products. It's don't order what you don't need; contact other stores in the area to see if they'll go in with an order to get free shipping.

Oh, how the halcyon days are gone. But, spin it Ann Arbor, spin it like a top.

Doctor Who 4.04/4.05 The Sontaran Stratagem/Posion Sky

The Sontaran Stratagem/Poison Sky of Doctor Who's fourth series is perhaps the best throw back to the 1970's era of the original series. Both scripts were done well (written by script editor Helen Raynor, these two episodes makes up for last season's rather dull 2-part Daleks in Manhatten), but Poison Sky is perhaps the better of the two episodes.

This is what makes Who so much better, as it builds so much on origins. The welcome return of U.N.I.T just is hint of what made this story work (it also poked fun at itself, as there is great debate on what era those U.N.I.T stories took place, as the tenth Doctor muses he worked with them during the 1970's or, maybe, 1980's), along with the whole ATMOS system, which is the real throw back to Jon Pertwee's era as the Doctor.

Even the Sontarans come off more three dimensional than ever, often reminding me of what Ronald D. Moore did with the Klingons during The Next Generation's run. Turning them into a race of warrior who do not fear death and welcome the battle. Of course, most of it could go to actor Christopher Ryan, who brings great glee to his role as General Staal.

Filled with great humor and enough geeky past references to previous stories -both from the new one and the original (there is a mention of the Brigadier, now a Sir) - to make old fans happy, these two-part episodes are what makes me want to love this new series even more.

However, as with every episode, there is a drawback, and that being the spoiled child genius named Luke Rattigan. Beyond the silly last name, the character never full evolves beyond the typical meglomania of a guy too smart for everyone. His motives are muddled at best and you really don't care one way or the other why he did help the Sontarans.

THE EMPIRE STRIKES BARACK

This is pretty funny.

Candy Everybody Wants

Lost 4.10 Something Nice Back Home

First, let's deal with how Jack lost all his fur. It's been established that Jack Shepard has a nice mane of hair on his chest and stomach. When the episode opens, and we get what amounts to a gratuitous towel sequence, Jack has not a hair anywhere on his front side. Where did it go? Does the Island not like men with body hair?

Even better, Jack must've lost it long before he left the Island, as we see Juliet preparing Jack for his surgery, she is shaving a guy who already has no hair on his stomach. WTF?

Rose brings up something interesting here, when she tells Bernard that Jack getting sick goes against much of what we know about the Island; that it heals people (like her). Still, without Jack getting sick, the knowledge that Jin now knows that Charlotte speaks Korean -and setting up Sun's departure from the Island - would've never happened. So maybe the Island is allowing this to happen (like having Claire survive the bungalow explosion)?

While it was a solid hour of TV -which I fell asleep half-way through, so I rewatched it today-, it felt slow and very "bottle-like." Not much happened, though we learned how Sun (maybe) get's off the Island, and that Sawyer chose to stay (and just what favors is Kate doing for him in 2007 -according to the newspaper Jack picks up?) on it. And Claire, where is she?

Next week looks cool, with quirky actor Doug Hutchinson appearing to play another wacko character. Do with your strengths I guess.

OBS, Birthday and a fire

Yesterday was long, starting with continued filming of the feature-length Hidden Frontier episode, Operation Beta Shield. Summer returned this past weekend, and with Rob's air conditioner on the frits -though it started off great - the heat made the studio very warm, despite the fact we no longer use the hot, burning lights anymore.

After the shoot, we hemmed and hawed about going out to Planet Hollywood at Universal City Walk for Star Trek: Odyssey star Brandon McConnell's 26th birthday. But we all -Stephen, Rob, Beo and I - eventually went. It was a blast, with most people associated with HF Productions throwing the handsome star a birthday to remember.

While I had one drink, many of those guys had way to many. Poor Brandon, having all these lovely girls of HF dancing around him. He's got a girlfriend, but apparently ("it's complicated," the way I've heard it described) they don't do these things together. He's extremely hot, and I don't blame them. And while he's a southern boy born and raised, he's slowly starting to see that not all gay men are the stereotypes we're made out to be. This was his first real social gathering with us, and I hope this means he'll feel more comfortable with the cast and crew, plus playing Ro on Odyssey, the first Star Trek -official or fan - to have an openly gay character as captain of a starship.

Finally, on the way back to the studios in Pasadena, I noticed an orange glow on the horizon. I thought it was odd, but thought not to mention it to anyone else. I thought right off that there was a fire buring in the hills, but this was not the "normal" time of year for them.

As I headed home on the 210, I saw the orange glow again, and then I realized I was right. There hills around the city of Arcadia and Sierra Madre were on fire. It was surreal, as I've yet to get real close to a wildfire since moving here. I saw it on TV, but it was never close to where I traveled.

So here I was, on the freeway, trying to drive and watch the fire. Lucky it was nearly 1 am and the roads where empty, somewhat. My guess, since this fire broke out yesterday afternoon, had I left the studios any sooner, I would've been caught in some crikey traffic.

Most of the fire has consumed brush in an area known for hiking, though it's close to some homes. Some of those foothill areas, however, have not burned for 40 years.

Today it remains hot (its 97 at 4pm), and very dry. The winds are light, but even these are not welcome when fighting wildfires.

I hope this is not a prelude to another summer of 100-plus heat and the fire that seems to follow it.

fire

Book: Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Little over a year ago, a book came into the store. Called Heart-Shaped Box, it was a novel about a rock star named Judas Coyne who purchases a ghost in a heart-shaped box for $1000.

I thought it was interesting, but I had so much to read and I though maybe I'll read it when it comes out in paperback. I looked at the author photo and thought he looked familiar. Then, I don't know, a few weeks later, I discovered that the author, Joe Hill was the the second child of Tabitha and Stephen King.

I went back to the book shelves, and looked at the back flap where that picture was again and now I saw it. Joe Hill looked a lot like his dad. As a fan of Stephen King -having read almost every novel he's published - I wanted to see for myself if Joe Hill (an abbreviated form of his given name and a reference to executed labor leader Joe Hill, for whom he was named) could write a spooky story that kept me coming back to his dad for the last 30 years.

Sure enough, I think he did.

When Heart-Shaped Box finally came out in paper, I bought and put it at the top of my reading list -which happens all the time, by the way, pushing other books away.

Anyway, the novel and the author have very similar styles as his father. Major themes about the past, and how it never leaves you behind, remind me a many of times of the elder King's works. So does the characters themeselves, who evoke a terrible childhood, which is another trademark of Stephen King, along with paying attention to details with language, accents.

Now, its not to say anything of this is bad. By and far, Joe Hill speaks in his own voice, and Heart-Shaped Box is an effective and powerful first novel. I look forward to see how Mr. Hill grows and see if he can be a creepy and suspeness full as his dad.

Freeways and ramps

Every time I travel the northbound 15, and I approach the the exit towards the westbound 10, I feel anxious.

I don't really have a fear of heights, but on that ramp -the 15 to the 10 - I sometimes do. Like yesterday and today, after spending four-hours helping the Mira Loma Borders get ready for opening. As I traveled, the sun setting in the western sky, I exit the 15, and begin the climb on the big ass ramp. It goes and goes, and suddenly you realize you're way up in the sky. You look to your left, and then down. You see a few things, the ramp from the westbound 10 to the southbound 15. Then you see the eastbound ramp to the northbound 15, then finally, the southbound ramp to the westbound 10.

And for a moment, you feel your flying. And also in that moment, I feel that if there was going to be the big quake everyone knows is coming, this will be the time when it happens. When I'm at the apex of the 15 ramp to the 10.

It would be just like that 1970's disaster movie, funny enough, called Earthquake. I would be on that ramp as the earth started shaking. I would hear the pillars that hold the ramp up in the sky start to snap like redwoods caught in a tornado. The ramp itself would twist and turn like taffy at a carnival.

Then I drop, like a stone to the ground below.

Funny, though, the odds would predict that I would survive.

Working it

Work is fustrating.

Why do they resist holding people accountable, when that's all they talk about?

Grrrr.

Saturday in the Life

I have so many plans.

I've got a pile of shirts that need to be ironed. And I hate to iron, but because I care about how I look, I just can't pull the damn things out of the dryer and put them on. I have to iron them. It's my thing.

So, they've been sitting there, just gathering dust, as I had more and more. I wanted to do them today, but after coming back from Starbucks (and talking with a group of "regulars" that go there), I came home.

And suddenly, I didn't want to do them. I thought about going on a bike ride, but as predicted, the on shore breeze made the sun play cat and mouse with clouds, and the cool winds blew strong. I know that's an excuse, and I can deal with that.

I realize I'm motivated by other people. Because I'm limited to friends here -when not filming on HF related productions - I've got no one to push me to do anything. I've got no friends who'll call me up and say, let's go biking. So, I find excuses not to do it.

Bill went off to work, but even he's less motivated than me.

I did finished Company, which turned out nice. I sat outside, in the sun. But because it was also pretty cloudy, when the sun vanished behind a cloud, you could really feel the cool winds. It was distracting, so I came in and finished reading it on the couch.

After grabbing dinner at In & Out (while I love this place, the fast foods name is pretty oxymoronic {?}), I watched the season finale of Torchwood. While this Doctor Who spin-off has not struck a cord with me, I find the show interesting. And season two is, perhaps, better than the uneven first season. Still, I'm unsure how things will be resolved for season three, as Exit Wounds was, as they say in the biz, a shocker. Of course, I may have just made that up.

Book: Company by Max Barry

Max Barry takes on corporate America in this broad farce of a novel, Company. As I read the book, I could not help but think about all the jobs I've held with large corporations that turn employees into cogs with in the machine. While at its core, this novel is satire, it none the less rings very true. Plus, in many ways, this novel reads like something the late, great Douglas Adams would've wrote.

The story starts with Stephen Jones, who is surprised to discover he's been hired at Zephyr Holdings during a hiring freeze. As the days unwind, he ponders what exactly his company does, and tries to figure it out. While the rest of his fellow employees could care less, Jones - in a fit of inspired initiative - discovers what is at the dark heart of his company.

Barry attacks the way corporation dehumanize its employees and certainly provides laugh out loud takes on managers who's goals for the company border on the bizarre.

Meanwhile, the cast of characters, Jones' fellow employees, are rather cartoonish, coming from the world of TV's The Office. Still, while some are stereotypes, many strike true.

And the sad part is, this book would be funny if it was not for the fact that for most of us, this is real life.

Pope Benedict XVI, the Real Dark Lord of the Sith

Random Days

Tyler Bosserman and Wayne Webb

Due to Tyler's availability, we had to shoot his scenes for Operation Beta Shield on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Now, on a school night, I don't like to be out late, as being I need to rise before the sun does. Now Tuesday I was home by 12:05, in bed by 12:06, but woke up around 4:30 - a half-hour before I had to get up to go to work.

Yesterday, as the filming went on, and on, and on, I was growing weary. I was distracted and totally not into the the shoot. I finally left at 11:15.

I did get to go in at 7, so I got an extra hour of sleep, and while I still woke up before my radio coming on, it was no that bad.

This is the one problem with getting older. I cannot be out late and it takes days to recover. Granted, if I ate more healthly, tried to excersise more, I guess I could have the energy to stay the course. Of course, getting up at 4:55 every day does cause me to be tired by 8pm.

And I'm not a nap person, even as a kid, it was a struggle for my mom to make me nap. So, by not being able to nap - no matter how tired I am - makes me a wimp and I'm nodding off an hour after prime time starts.

Weather, by the way, has been nice. Not as warm as it was over the weekend, but while we have some cloud cover in the morning, it's been vanishing and the sun is out. Still a bit breezy, but that's what you get, I guess, living here.

Suppose to be a cool weekend -and the only weekend I have nothing planned in April - so we'll see what I can do. I need to finish Company, so I might make a concerted effort to do that.

Beyond that, nothing else much is going on.

Judas Kiss gets its first reading

JayTee in the pink shirt, and Carlos

Zach is in his 30's, aging as we all do, reflective of our past, often wondering how we ended up where we are now. He made a splash in his late teens, writing and directing a short film that got entered into a prestigious film festival.

But unable to captialize on it, he finds his dream of becoming a great movie director fall to the ground, swept away like fall leaves; he ends up producing wedding videos. But when a director friend asks Zach to fill in for him at Keystone, the film school they graduated from, he discovers his yesteryear is catching up to him.

For on that campus, where memory and time become one, Zach will be confronted with his demons of the past, the present and the unstoppable future.

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

Above, somewhat, is the premise for Judas Kiss, a film two good friends want to make. Writer Carlos Pedraza (Star Trek: Hidden Frontier, StarTrek: Phase II) and writer/director J.T. Tepnapa (Star Trek: The Helena Chronicles) got a group of actors together near LAX on Sunday to read the script for the first time out loud. This gave them a chance to hear it in other voices than their own. Thus a chance to see where the script needs to worked on. The actors, after both sessions, gave their opinon.

Two readings where done, starting at 10 am, with the other starting at 3pm. A few of the actor who helped out where from HF related projects, and Sharon brought some from her acting class -including this guy named Hunter who, well, is kinda of hot, but has a huge....ego. But he's good, and he read very well, but he's just some eyecandy.

There was one major eyecandy who also read. A nice guy, really. A major -from my perspective maybe -gay porn star, looking to cross over into legit films. He was charming, and with some coaching, he could play almost any role, including the star of story.

So, to the few who come here, if you want to help out, or know anyone looking to invest in a project of this kind -and it was filmed so potential investors can see and hear this original story - just click here and take a look at how you can help.

I also want to thank J.T. and Carlos for letting me be a part of this project. The script is good, very original, filmed with some tense moments, heartbreak and humor.

The heat of Summer in the Spring

Earlier in the week I had been complaining of the cool weather here -very cloudy, breezy with temps below normal. Today, summer rushed in.

It's 85 at 6pm tonight, and the temp had to be in the low 90's. It was just a fabulous day. Went for a bike ride, just to soak up the sun. It's suppose to remain like this through the weekend, before a slow down trend brings temps back to normal.

This day reminds me of Chicago, that seems like LA, to have only two seasons. Chicago never really seems to have a spring. Sure the days get longer, the flowers bloom, but the transition in temps never comes. It goes from cold winds -thanks to a wind off the Lake- to summer heat.

LA seems to be the same-though the old joke comes together as fire and earthquake seasons. Well, at least today gave us the reminder of what is due in just a few short months.

Of course, there is the June Gloom, which more or less means fog and low clouds in the morning, which then should be burned off by 10, giving us warm, but not hot day. The real heat of summer, those days in the 100's do not usually arrive until July. Then they go on, and on and you are sort of wishing for the days that happened earlier in the week.

The world is so complex.

Anyways, tomorrow filming contiues on the stuff for Operation Beat Shield that does not require the Scottish cast from Intrepid. Then on Sunday, I'm off to help JayTee and Carlos with Judas Kiss, as a reading of script with actors gets underway.

I'm thinking I'm a production assistant, cause I'm helping people to get where they need to be, and probably make sure the three cameras set up to film are coving everything that needs to be covered.

And, it seems, there will be a former gay porn (?) star reading one of the roles. That should be interesting...

Disney ramps up its animated movie schedule

Walt Disney Studios recently announced their most ambitious movie schedule in years, releasing 10 new animated films from both Walt Disney Animation and Pixar through 2012.

Among the line-up includes four new animated films, and six new Pixar films, along with four direct-to-DVD films featuring Disney Fairies from DisneyToon Studios.

First off, opening this June is Wall-E, from Pixar, while Bolt (Disney) bows in November. Also in November is the DVD release of Tinker Bell, the first in new series of films set in the world of Fairies.

Summer 2009 sees Pixar’s first 3-D feature, Up, followed by the Christmas Day release of the animated film The Princess and the Frog. Also out that month is the next film in the Fairies franchise, Tinker Bell North of Never Land.

In 2010, Pixar brings Buzz and Woody back, and in 3-D this time, for Toy Story 3. Then, at Christmas, comes the Disney animated film, Repunzel. Next up, is the DVD release of Tinker Bell: A Midsummer Storm.

Coming summer 2011 sees two Pixar releases, the summer film newt, followed by the Christmas holiday film, and their first fairy tale, The Bear and the Bow. Also out then will be the DVD release of Tinker Bell A Winter Story.

Finally, summer 2012 marks the return of Lightning McQueen, Mater the tow truck, and an international cast of favorite and new car characters in Pixar's Cars 2. Then veteran sci fi author Philip K Dicks only work of fantasy, the short story King of the Elves, will be adapted into animated film from Disney.

Creepy Commercials

Now, I've always thought the King from the Burger King commercials was creepy -popping out like some demented jack-in-the box - but now the Honda Spring Sales commercial, with this guy hauling around cars to various, isolated areas, just to inform people that they need to get back to buy a car.

It's just seems wrong, a bit stalky and all around just bizzare actions on the side of Honda to get people to buy their cars.

Haven't eaten at Burger King in ages, mostly because of the creepy King. I guess I'm off Honda's now, too.

Spring is currently sucking

So, day 6 of cool, cloudy days here. Yep, thought I would never whine about the southern California weather, but there you go. Sure, the sun has been out here and there, playing like a two year-old who's discovered the peek-a-boo is really fun, but its never out for long, and the breezy winds from the ocean, sent through the hills, have made the I.E. just a bummer to live in. Oh sure, can't complain about the weather too much, as after all, it's still fairly cool back in Chicago, where my family is wishing for 60's without winds off the lake or the skies opening with an ocean of rain.

Then there's Tornwordo, who does not have any sympathy for me, as he's living up in Montreal, where it's still snowing. He's from this area, and I think -kidding of course - he thinks I'm a bit silly bitching about the cloudy, cool days (get well, Torn)

Now, I do feel sorry for him. Really.

Snow really sucks, and even if I can no longer live here, I'm never going to live in Chicago again. I'll move to Texas before that happens. Though, I really probably stay in the Southwest someplace, like Arizona or New Mexico.

But these last few days have ironically, reminded me of my old home town during the spring. Which is why, maybe, I'm on about it -though we could use the rain.

Doctor Who returns to the BBC (and then Youtube)

The Sci Fi Channel will debut season 4 of Doctor Who on April 18 (after the April 11th start of the second spin-off, The Sarah Jane Adventures), with the broadcast premier of it's last Christmas special, Voyage of the Damned. The official season opener, Partner's in Crime, will air on April 25.

One of the reasons the cable net will air the show only three weeks after it's debut on the BBC, other than airing it in the summer, as it's done the last few seasons, is to curb viewer loss, as many can see the show on bittorents almost within moments of its airing (this was why, I'm also guessing, BBC America began showing Who spinoff Torchwood only 2 1/2 weeks after its BBC debut). So, wait a few more hours, and it's up on Youtube.

While the show does well on Sci Fi, how many people don't tune in because they've seen it already on the net, is one thing all the broadcast networks are wrestling with. All of them advertise now that you can watch your favorite shows on their websites, semi-commercial free. Even Sci Fi does it. It's an attempt at putting a band aid on what has become a major issue for them -and the people who produce, write, direct and act on them.

But to while the calculation of how many are not watching is questionable, there is no doubt that shows -especially newly produced shows - are losing viewers. Part of the recent drain can be blamed on the 100 day writers strike. And while broadcast network shows are finally returning, the shadow of an actor's strike this summer could further push people to the net to watch more shows not produced here in the states.

But still, the net offers -much like Tivo, DVD's and the almost forgotten VHS - people to watch shows at their convience. Don't want to wait three weeks to see Doctor Who, just wait because you can see it on the net in only moments.

Eventually, I see most shows available in any type of format almost instantly. Which means, that shows like this British import, will air on the same day here as it does in England. And while on Sunday, I did watch the season opener -and Voyage of the Damned - on Youtube, I'll still catch it on the Sci Fi Channel and will buy it on DVD.

I may have cheated by doing it -after all, I guess I can be like the majority of Americans who can no longer wait for anything - but I'll still catch it on Sci Fi. Of course, I'll DVR it so I can pass by all those pesky commercials.

Gods and the late night party drunks

From L to R: PK, Bailey the cat, Adam and Stephen
Front: JayTee

Last night was JayTee and Adam's God and Goddesses Party. I'm not much for dressing up for parties -I'm even a bit wary of Halloween.

Most of the people that came were dressed up, but there was an equal number who came dressed as, well, normal.

It was fun, I ate and drank more than I should and got home at about 2:15am.

Oh, the times when I could be up half the night, get a few hours sleep and have a full and productive day. Now, on a day like yeterday, where filming began on Operation Beta Shield, and then a full night at a party (or is that par-tay?) I suffer the entire day.

I guess is was helpful that today was a cool, cloudy, all around depressing day -much like the last two days. I've gotten used the sun. Go figure.

Anyways, an offshore flow should begin by midweek, pushing the temps to the upper 70's and low 80's.

I'm Tom Freakin' Skilling

Rage of old age

I don't know. Maybe I'm getting old, but I feel out of place at a gay bar.

Last night, I went to rage in West Hollywood for Beo's birthday. It looks just like any other gay bar in any nameless city; lots of mood lighting, a cheerless bartender and dance music blasted so high, the dead in Las Vegas can hear it.

While it was a blast to surprise Beo for his birthday -he knew he was coming to Rage, but did not know all of his friends would be there as well - but I felt, I don't know, like a the gay guy that I am, sitting in a roomful nuns. It was odd, very uncomfortable and just weird.

I've never enjoyed gay bars, per se. Especially the real popular ones. Back in Chicago, in Boys Town, there are many bars sandwiched between Addison and Belmont on Halsted. There's Spin and Sidetracks, along with Roscoe's and Hydrate (once known as The Manhole). Those are the most popular, the ones where all the boys are pretty, perfect, thin and probably all size queens. But they're also shallow, overpriced and generally boring if you don't fall into the above slots.

I like Sidetrack, if only because of Showtunes Sunday. Campy? Yes, but also fun.

Big Chicks, up in Andersonville (far north side of the city) is, perhaps, my favorite. You go there to drink, have some fun times with your friends, maybe dance, but you never feel like you have to be on display, like the bars in Boystown. It really has no attitude what so ever.

I've yet to find a place in West Hollywood that even comes close to it.

So, anyways, I just felt old there last night, and I sensed that the bored bartender knew I was from the 'burbs, thus I was, I'm guessing, uninteresting.

Don't get me wrong, I would like to go to gay bars, but I like to go for the conversation, music at a lower level and pretty boys who may not have a 32" waist and spend all their money on hair and face care products.

Then again, as freaky as a leather bar is, I actually find them more fun to go to. I wonder what that says about myself (get the whip out, sister).

Leno apologizes

Nearly two weeks later, Jay Leno has apologized for his comments on his show.

When actor Ryan Phillippe appeared on his show, Leno asked the actor to look at the camera and give it his "gayest look." You see, one of Phillippe's earliest roles was a gay teen on the soap One Life to Live.

That one incident sparked Avenue Q creator Jeffy Whitty to post about it on his blog, ending with a picture of him giving Leno the middle finger, saying that this was his "gayest look."

As only that can happen in this internet age, mygayestlook.com was born. Nearly 400 people submitted photo's (including yours truly) to the site, giving Leno our "gayest look."

Now, with some help from here (let's hope) and a little pushing from GLAAD, Leno said he was sorry.

"In talking about Ryan's first role, I realize that what I said came out wrong," Leno said. "I certainly didn't mean any malice. I agree it was a dumb thing to say, and I apologize."

I can and will accept the apology. However, he's still not funny.