Shelter (2007)

Until the major studios decide to produce a major gay love story, they’ll remain the dominion of the independent circuit. I’ve seen many gay related films -mostly the staple of them, the coming out stories - and have listened to the director/writer/cast commentaries on the DVD’s. One of the many things that comes across is how quickly these films are shot, mostly in three weeks or less. So you hear the director bemoan missed coverage shots, filming in natural light and chasing the sun to complete them; single takes that they wished they could’ve re-done.

Its all about compromise in many of these small budgeted films.

Now most of these stories work, like Eating Out, Beautiful Thing, Edge of Seventeen, Trick, The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green and even to some extent, Another Gay Movie. But to be honest, there are many more that fail to capture the real relationship between the two male leads. It’s about sex, most of the time.

Shelter, written and directed by Jonah Markowitz, does try to correct this and, in my opinion, gives us a truly romantic gay love story without falling into the stereotypes that have befallen other films of this ilk.

Zach (newcomer Trevor Wright) puts his future on hold so that he can work to support his young nephew Cody because his family is fractured, a dead mother, a father who barley survives with some back injury and a sister who seems to make many bad decisions. In his free time, he spends time with his nephew (Jackson Wurth), his friend Gabe (Ross Thomas), his girlfriend Tori (Katie Walder) and riding the waves surfing. When Gabe's older brother Shaun (Brad Rowe) comes back home searching for a cure for writer's block, he and Zach start hanging out, mostly surfing. But their friendship blossoms into love, leaving Zach confused and worried about how people will react. Once the relationship is discovered, Zach is once again put in the position of putting his family first and suffer for it or he must fight for what he wants, as Shaun and Tori want him to do.

What makes this film work is the chemistry between Rowe and Wright. Despite the short, three week shoot, the actors worked well together. On the commentary, writer/director Markowitz mentions he filmed the kisses between the two actors linearly, in hopes of creating a natural flow for Wright’s character of Zach. And while there is sex between the characters, this film is about intimacy and even romance between the two males leads.

Trevor Wright shines as the put-upon young man who seems to be the only adult in his family, even though at times you wonder how much more crap Markowitz will throw Zach’s way. But Wright comes across as believable; a typical young man confused as to his sexuality, his place in the family and what he’ll need to further give up in life to take care of his nephew.

There are also strong performances from Tina Holmes as Zach’s sister, Jeanne. Her character comes across, at times, unappealing. She’s a horrible mother, forcing her younger brother to become a father to her son. Yet, at times, you have sympathy for as well. And Katie Walder is great as Tori, a girl hurt by Zach’s distance even before Shaun’s return, and the only one who realizes sooner than anyone that she knows why.

Among some of the many great scenes in the film comes late, when Gabe visits Zach at his job to talk to him about why he never told him he was gay. Zach tries to change the subject, but Gabe presses him, and only appears to be weired out that Zach is having sex with his older brother. Gabe informs him that nothing changes in their friendship, and I love the fact that here is this straight guy telling his best friend that. It’s a touching scene.

Not a great film, but it sure is a good one. And if more independent films can be made like this, one can hope a major studio will some day produce a grand, epic gay romance without fear of reprisals from conservative groups.

Self Pic's

Last Week, Part 4

Everyone comes out when they feel its the right time. And it's really hard to judge them -as if you should, but it is human nature - when it seems that they hide it longer than they should've.

Now, I have only known him for the 2 1/2 years I've worked on the HF Productions -Hidden Frontier, Odyssey and The Helena Chronicles. As noted in part three, after a great day at Universal Studios and dinner at Planet Hollywood, a few of us discovered a co-worker on our production had outed him self on the HF forums.

I kinda pride myself on having good gaydar. I sometimes can even detect really closeted guys. But I got to tell you, I was a bit surprised when he wrote about it. I never suspected for one minute the Woz was gay. Nope. Sorry, did not see that coming.

He had his reasons for not telling his friends at HF, but I pondered the idea that if there was one place Woz could come out, it was at HF. Most of the crew is gay, along with a few actors on Odyssey and Helena Chronicles.

And while I'm curious at what made him finally say those words, I know its none of my buisness. He's a great person, and I like him. He's smart as a whip, and loves all the straight guy stuff like explosions and movies that make little sense, script wise.

And shock of all shock, he's never seen Steel Magnolias. Oh well, that's another stereotype shot to hell.

So, anyways, got home last Monday from Universal and went online to forums to read what Woz had said. I posted a supporting comment and finally crawled into bed at about 1am. Slept pretty good, and was up at 6 to get ready to go to Disneyland.

At first, it was awkward. Woz was there, and I certainly did not want to make a big deal out of it, but you could tell ow -but some noticed at Universal - that Woz was much more relaxed, as if announcing his gay thing, he had lifted a burden. Which, in a way, he did. Most gay men who do this, usually feel better; the weight of the world type crap, you know.

It was a fun day at Disneyland. There was a feel things that went wrong -tons of standing deciding what ride we were going to do next - and a few high school style issues of who was the cool kids, but overall an entertaining day.

I like Disneyland, and should get a year-round tickets, as I'm less than half-hour away from the place.

So, that was June 3 through the 10th. 7 days of little sleep, some surprises and a week I'll never forget. We finished filming Operation Beta Sheild, started work on Star Trek: Federation One and a few people started some relationships.

Gotta love living here.

Last Week, Part 3

The behind of us as we started out at Universal

Star Trek: Intrepid leads Nick Cook and his lovely wife Lucy
Andrew and boy stud Will

With Alex stashed in the spare bedroom, I went to bed about 10:30 on Sunday. I told Alex that due to the typical LA traffic, we needed to get up early for the first of two Away Missions. So while it was nice to sleep in my own bed, and I was tired, I still slept fitfully. I was up at 6, but layed in bed until I heard Alex get up and shower.

Scheduled to met the cast and crew from HF and the fans who stayed after the convention at 9am at Universal City Walk, Alex and I got under way a little before 8 am. We ran into some traffic, but we got going in the carpool lane and made pretty good time on the 210 to the 134.

Alex and I eventually got there and met up with Rick. And while it took more than a half-hour plus to get all of us together, we ventured into Universal Studios for a fun day. It had been a way since I was last there, but I didn't mind. We went on the new Simpsons ride, which I liked a lot, though I was not impressed with other rides like Shrek 4D. The studio tour is always interesting and going when all the shows are in hiatus means we see more. They took us by the fire damaged New York Street area, though you could see very little of it, as a fence with green mesh hid most of it.

We traveled down the european streets and the block built for War of the Worlds -the scene where a plane crashes into a suburban block. We traveled done Wisteria Lane, which has been used for many streets in TV history.

Anyways, the day was a blast and as the park began to close at 7 we all headed over to Planet Hollywood for dinner. I called Stephen before he left and he came over to join us for dinner as well (along with Rob and Beo and Heather with baby Jayden).

Things were fine, and it was getting late, so as we headed out, I ran into Rob, Beo, Stephen and Heather talking about something. It turned out, after Stephen pulled it up on his i Phone, one of our crew members had outed himself on the boards. A guy everyone assumed was straight.

So, after that bomb shell, I tried to fin my car. Yep, I lost my car in the car park of Universal Studios. After almost an hour, I found it where I left it, got home and quickly fired up the computer to discover why this crew member had outed himself.

It was surprising, yet not. Tomorrow at Disneyland, I thought, was going to prove interesting.

And sleep that night, would prove to be elusive as the previous night.

To be concluded....

Straight Boys?

Candy Everybody Wants

Book: The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

Remember in the old Star Trek episode City on the Edge of Forever? Kirk saves Edith Keeler and some how Earth’s timeline is altered. It’s not until Spock discovers that Edith was a sort of lynch pin in time, that she had to die so Earth could go on its normal way. In The Yiddish Policeman’s Union, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, the always entertaining Michael Chabon, takes a real historical idea - a-pie-in-the-sky proposal in 1940 to open up the Alaska Territory to European Jews.

While Congress killed the real plan and in the book, a character named Anthony Dimond is the divergence point, Chabon takes on the classic What if scenario and spins a wonderful tale of alternate Jewish history. Added on is a glorious, hilarious Raymond Chandler style detective story.

We are introduced to Meyer Landsman, an alcoholic homicide detective with the Sitka police department, examining the murder of a man named Emmanuel Lasker in the Zamenhof, a fleabag hotel where Landsman also happens to live. Landsman notes how professional the murder looks; the man was shot in the back of the head execution-style, the gunshot silenced by a pillow. Landsman notices syringes, packets of heroin, an open cardboard chess board in mid-game, and a beat-up copy of Siegbert Tarrasch’s book, Three Hundred Chess Games.

From there the novel unfolds like a flower, as Meyer navigates his way through red herrings and his failed marriage with fellow officer Bina, who is no his superior. Chabon takes us down this brilliant alternate history filled with appealing -and not so appealing -characters right out of the golden age of film noir.

A triumph.

Doctor Who 4.10 Midnight

There are some who love Midnight, the tenth episode of Doctor Who’s fourth season, and there are others who’ll hate it. It is a bottle episode, taking place, more or less, on one set. Russell T Davis wrote the story, and while his writing can be uneven, he does create good ideas. But the ideas here, are lifted from The Twilight Zone.

The Doctor and Donna have stopped off for a little R&R. Donna wants to stay and get a suntan, while the Doctor wants to explore the planet. There's a lot of scene-setting about how dangerous it is to go out onto the airless, highly irradiated surface... so we know that something is going to happen, and that the cliched group of people are going to trapped together.

Midnight is not bad, and I’m assuming there is a message in there some place, but the passengers are so badly drawn, you really don’t get to know them, to feel anything for them. Of course, as a guest star on any show, you generally don’t get much into their history, but there are actors who can take these small parts and create someone memorable.

Lesley Sharp as the lonely, just split from her girlfriend, is the only person who shines in this story, as she takes on what was probably the toughest part of the story.

There are attempts to explore some of the Doctor’s fascination with humans, and the potential problems that arise when the humans are cornered, but most of that is lost in endless shouting. Still, as always, David Tennant shines. He proves you can take a somewhat muddled script and still come across as fascinating.

Rose makes another cameo, and in next week’s trailer we see her fully again, as the three-part season finale begins.

Last Week, Part 2

Excelsior Ball III began on Friday, around 1 pm. Due to the lack of sleep and just having no energy, I did not get to the Raddison until after 4. There I saw some fans who were at the Studio and a few who came on Friday.

Conventions on a whole no longer interest me. I could go into a long, and very winded discussion as to why, but then I would probably piss off a lot of sci fi guys and girls. Just to say, that some of the fans are a bit clingy.

Dinner was at Subway down the street from the hotel, where me, Tobey, Michael, Ryan, Will, Richard, Alex, Andrew, Sharon, and Adam all enjoyed our meal. We headed back to the hotel for some episodes of HF and ODY, and then, eventually, bed.

Two things happened that night, one which I missed, and another I whish I missed. It seems, apparently, later on in the evening a group of people -fans and some cast - got around the piano in the lobby of the hotel and sang half the night away.

Not knowing of this, I went to bed and tried to sleep. Tried, being the word in only the vaguest sense. Alex, whom I shared a room with, snore like he was cutting half the forest in upper Washington state. And since I still have problems sleeping outside of my own bed, I could not get to sleep. I was so tired, yet even with ear plugs, Alex's noise kept me awake most of the night. Sleep came, but only in fits, at around 4 am. I was then up at 7.

So, Saturday came early for me. Stephen and I ventured out to I Hop for breakfast. I enjoy being with Stephen, and we seem to have many things in common. But while I would not mind spending a whole lot more time with him, he seems not to see me in that way.

So, God laughs at me again. I find a guy I'm willing to be open with, who is actually only 5 years younger than me, and he seems only midly interested. Then agian, maybe I'm pushy.

Anywho, Saturday's events went with out a hitch. And after a long day, we all went to Cozeymel's for "dinner with the stars." It was a nice, fun dinner with the fans and cast and crew.

We got back to the hotel at a little after 10, where people went various places. Some headed back to the piano and eventually -with more people - we sang more showtunes and gospel tunes while Beo or Andrew played the piano.

About an hour or so into the singing, a really handsome guy came out of the elevator and saw us. He smiled at the group and I sensed he wanted to join in, but he vanished a few minutes later. Only to turn up a few minutes later with a bottle of vodka.

It turns out this handsome, hot guy was named David, from New Zealand. He was an army guy passing through the LA area on his way to the UK. He saw us having fun and he wanted to join in the games. The vodka he poured around was awful, some kiwi stuff. But, oddly, you could not stop drinking it.

The party in the lobby went on until I could no longer stand up -not from drink, but just tired. Alex had gone up to bed already, and Jason (for member of the USS Angeles series and Hidden Frontier's predecessor) was sleeping on the floor of our hotel room.

As we got ready for bed, Jason and I got a talking about Jason's relationships. He seems to have broken up with his last two boyfriends mainly because he said he felt trust was lost. He was unclear on what that meant, but I gather from his talking that Jason thinks he needs to be successful in life - a career, money and all those things that go with it - before he can really settle down. It's like he wants to be the traditional husband, but in the gay way.

We talked on and on for about two hours, before I realized it was 20 minutes to 4. Sleep was not going to come easily for me again, and I must've only gotten something close to two hours before I got up at 8:15 to shower and grab a bite to eat over at Subway.

The final day of EBIII was slow, as most people -both cast and crew - did not get going until after 12 pm. The convention wrapped at 5 with a heartfelt speech from Rob (who hates getting up in front of people) and dedication plaque Jonathan had made up for Federation One - the next spin-off from Hidden Frontier.

It was there, I learned two things. My name was included on the plaque and Rob had shown the opening credits to Fed One. Apparently, my name is in the opening cast list. I knew I was playing Selek, the Vulcan Admiral, but I did not know it was going to be part of the cast. I thought it was just a "guest star" role.

So, EBIII came to a close. But the week was not over, and as I headed home with Alex (who was to stay over two-nights at my house), I pondered the Away Missions planned for Monday and Tuesday. I also wondered if I was going to get any sleep.

Can we say no way?

To be continued....

Tila Tequila

Reality twit, and all around reason to have your head examined if you watch this shit, Tila Tequila is taking credit for the legalization of gay marriages here in California.

"It is because of me. I definitely think my show has helped the movement. Before it came out, everyone was still a little apprehensive about it. Then they realized, ‘Wow, everyone is really into this stuff, and it is fine.’ The next thing you know, gay marriage is legal."

Yeah, I got nothing else to say about this.

Well, maybe...who the hell is she and why does anyone care about this train wreck of a person?

Last Week, part 1

On June 3rd, I began a week's vacation from my real job to work on my non-paying part-time job that, as times, can be a full time job.

After a few months of filming Star Trek: Operation Beta Sheild on various weekends (and occasional weekday) with the current cast from Hidden Frontier, the cast from Scotland's fan created series, Star Trek: Intrepid arrived to film their scenes for the feature-length epsiode.

Nick, Lucy, and Bobo (and Alex, though he was not playing his Intrepid character) filmed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Both were very long days, starting at 9 am and ending on Tuesday just before ten and a little after 11 on Wednesday. Thursday turned out to the longest, with filming on various scenes for OBS and our third spin-off, Federation One.

Becky came down from Seattle to film her scenes as Vindenpawl, the leader on Vrijheid. Becky Woods is a brilliant actress, having played three very important (and different) roles during Hidden Frontier's seven season run. Her return as the beguiling leader of Vrijheid who is thrust into the limelight she likes, is a true test for an actress. The fact that she's returning to the LA area next year fill me with happiness.

Anyways, we finished just before midnight. And I was happy it was over. I was tired. During that 72 hour period, I probably slept about 12 hours. I'm a lite sleeper, and never been one of those people who can sleep anywhere they lay their hat, so I more or less cat slept then any actual deep, sound sleeping.

Plus, during those three days, various fans from around the US came to the studio in preparation for the up coming Excelsior Ball III to be held at the LAX Raddison Hotel on the 6, 7 and 8th of June. Some helped out during the shot, Donald and Ryan both handling slating, while Chris ran tape.

Some just sat around the studio's talking to various members most only know from the weekly chats.

Anywho, I got home at 1:05 am on Thursday/Friday and quicky went to sleep. However, sad as it may seem, I was up at 6am. Don't know why -beyond that being the usual time I would get up if I was working on a Friday - but I could not dfall back to sleep.

So, I got up, and sat in front of the computer, checking email, looking at porn and, you know....

I had zero energy for most of the morning, and by the time the housemate got up to go to his adult porn show in LA, I finally decided I better get my ass in gear to actually go to the EB III convention.

I needed a shower, gas and money.

Oh, and more sleep. But sadly, again, the up coming EB III was not going to be hours filled with sleep.

To be continued...

Universal Fire

Images I took this past Monday when I visited Universal Studios. Click to embiggem them.

Well, ain't this a bit of a hoot?

I'll be back tomorrow. Tales to tell to come.

Fire rages through Universal backlot

A massive fire swept through Universal Studios Hollywood today, destroying The Back to the Future Courthouse, and damaging the clock tower from the same movie and the King Kong Exhibit. The fire also destroyed three blocks of the New York City Street facades and the town used by the CBS series The Ghost Whisperer.

Roughly 40,000 to 50,000 videos and reels were in the video vault, but there are duplicates stored in a different location, said Ron Meyer, NBC Universal president and chief operating officer, so nothing irreplaceable was lost. No actual films prints were lost.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, and no initial damage estimates were given.

In 1990, a fire broke out on a Universal lot. During that event, Santa Ana winds were instrumental in the overwhelming damage done to the New York Street facades. That particular blaze was ruled as arson. The 1990 blaze resulted in more than $50 million in damage and required a major undertaking to rebuild each of the sets.

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.