Measure of Me

So, the dullness that is my life continues (thus the lack of posts here on my blog). But times are interesting at work.

* My GM announced she is leaving the company, after 15 or so years with Borders. However, she's not leaving the book industry, just going back to being a DM for a Christian Book company. We also got a new DM for our region, after our last one was fired earlier this month. Since his firing, we've all learned about how piss poor the SoCal region is doing -we seem to be the redheaded step-child of Borders. Also, the GM for Riverside is also leaving next week, which proves how much damage the previous DM did the area and how much work is needed to make this area shine, though I'm guessing the damage is done.

* For the first time in a long time, I agreed to do an overnight shift on Sunday to set-up the holiday stuff. Mostly, the reason I said I do it was because last years crew did a shityy-ass job. So I'm hoping to correct this year; sort of do it right the first time mindset.

* The fate of Borders, by the way, is still not set. It will be an intersting holiday season to say the least.

Happy Halloween all and welcome back standard time.

And less we forget, the Day of The Dead is nearly here.

Peace out.

Ummm

Candy Everybody Wants

Cover for Under the Dome

This weekend

Nothing spectacular, this weekend. Had a quick Frontier Guard shoot on Saturday, was in and out of studio in two hours. We have a bit longer shoot on Tuesday night, which I'm already dreading. I stopped and had lunch before going home and then spent about two hours at Starbucks reading Stephen King's Under the Dome.

Today I went to Disneyland, now all decked out for Halloween. It was pretty crowed, with this weekend being the unofficial Gay Day. As typical, the bears where there early while the twinks showed up at around 1. In some ways, I wanted to be with them, all dressed in red shirts; to fit in. But there is also a part of me who does not want to thrown into such a stereotype.

Argh.

Been on Live Journal checking all the comments about Borders. Seems there are a lot of bitter people working for my company. I posted a few comments myself.

Borders is doomed. Ha!

So, this is Fall?

Fall officially started on Tuesday. It reached 113 that day here. It was 112 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Suppose to be as warm tomorrow and just a few degrees cooler on Sunday. I love California for its pleasant winters. But like in Chicago when spring arrives in March and its still in the 20s, you get really depressed when fall arrives here and its still blistering hot outside.

Sometimes it just makes me want to cry.

Books: Star Trek: Assignment: Eternity by Greg Cox

For a number of years during the 1990's, I collected almost all of the Star Trek books that came out. 99.9% of them, I never read. They sit now in box's in my garage, awaiting a fate I don't know.

Still, the above novel was published in 1998, and it was one I did not have (or if I did, I've lost it). So, I ordered a used edition. Why, may you ask, did I do this? I've always liked the TOS episode Assignment: Earth. That 1968 episode was originally planned as pilot for a potential spin-off. It featured Robert Lansing as Gary Seven, a mysterious human working for aliens who come from the future. Kirk and company use a gravitational slingshot around the sun and time travel to 1968 Earth for historical research (this time travel plot device was alluded to in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home). Suddenly, the Enterprise intercepts a highly powerful transporter beam from a thousand light-years away and a man dressed in a business suit materializes on the pad. He carries a black cat with a diamond collar. He converses with his cat, Isis, then introduces himself to Captain Kirk as Gary Seven.

That episode also featured an appearance by Terri Garr, who played Roberta Lincoln, a young woman who thought she was going for a job interview only to become entangled in Seven's plans.

Anyways, it was a cute episode that never went anywhere. So in 1998, Greg Cox revived the character for the Pocket Book Star Trek line-up. The novel also include many humorous references and inside jokes alluding to TOS, TNG, DS9 episodes, and the TOS movies, as well as references to some popular 1960's and 1970's television series not related to Star Trek.

The plot of the book has a Romulan traveling to the future and assassinates Spock in 2293 during the Khitomer Peace Accords (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country). Gary Seven's colleague, Supervisor 146 (a.k.a. Septos) alerts him, and he and Roberta Lincoln travel to 2269 to stop the Romulan and save Septos.

Cox would continue his take on Seven and Roberta in his two volume novels The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh (2001/02). Those I've yet to read, and have recently gotten used versions of them.

Pirates IV gets a title; based on Tim Powers novel?

Walt Disney Studios chairman Dick Cook made several major announcements about upcoming Disney films during an address at the D23 Disney fan expo in Anaheim, including the name of the upcoming fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie, which will be called Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides, which is due in summer 2011. Johnny Depp showed up in full Jack Sparrow regalia, in character, disturbed by the presence of a talking frog at the earlier Muppets presentation (who return The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made!).

The title begs the question of whether the fourth film is based upon fantasy author Tim Powers 1987 novel On Stranger Tides.

Powers novel is about puppeteer John Chandagnac, bound for Jamaica to recover stolen money from his uncle, who becomes Jack Shandy after pirates attack his ship and force him to join their crew. Shandy's struggle to accept his new life, even as Blackbeard and vodun magicians whisk everyone away to dreamlike lands where the Fountain of Youth itself awaits.

Tim Powers, born in New York in 1952, but relocated with his family to Southern California in 1959 has admitted in the past that On Stranger Tides tale was inspired by Disneyland's Pirates of the Carribean ride.

Books: This Is Where I Leave You by Jonathan Tropper

In a pitch perfect take on the family saga, Jonathan Tropper’s side-splitting This Is Where I Leave You is often funny as it is heartbreaking.

We learn, as Judd Foxman’s narrates, is not having anywhere near a perfect few months. Soon after discovering his wife in bed with another man -Judd’s obnoxious, popular radio personality boss - he learns of the death of his father. Faced with returning to his family and home, his future ex-wife compounds the problems by announcing she’s pregnant with Judd’s baby.

With this news, Judd returns to his home town of Elmsbrook where he and his dysfunctional family plan to sit Shiva - which surprises Judd, as he knew his father did not have a religious bone in his body. So, for the first time in years, the Foxman’s are together for seven days following the funeral. In the same house. Like a family.

There’s Judd’s mom, Hillary, is a psychiatrist and the bestselling author of Cradle and All: A Mother's Guide to Enlightened Parenting. "Predictably," Judd notes, "my siblings and I were screwed up beyond repair." Also, there is his sister, Wendy, who has three kids younger than 6 and a husband who works in hedge funds and pays more attention to his BlackBerry than to his wife. Bitter Paul, the oldest, is the partner with their dad in the family sporting goods store, and remains angry at Judd for his failure at a baseball career. Then there’s Philip, the youngest and “the Paul McCartney of our family: better looking than the rest of us, always facing a different direction in pictures, and occasionally rumored to be dead.”

The novel is filled with some wonderful, very sly dialogue about family and death. It’s laugh-out-loud brilliant and I found many passages matched my life, including “Sometimes it’s heartbreaking to see your siblings as the people they’ve become. Maybe that’s why we all stay away from each other as a matter of course.”

Anyways, by the end of the shiva, Paul has one arm in a sling, Philip has a broken hand, Judd has a split lip, Wendy hasn't slept in days and Mom has had a serious falling-out with her lover. And to Tropper’s credit, the comedy is never glib and not everything is resolved by the end.

Glenda Beck and the sorta-lame-ass version of what he thinks is the truth

You know, Glenda, you're becoming more and more crazy as the days go by, now finding menace in every shadow and every relief. You’re a pathetic propaganda machine for the Conservative Right. You and the rest of the Kool Aide drinking crowd grow desperate everyday to show a bunch of non-thinking idiots that some how you have the inside info on everything. You have no credibility and speak no language any rational human being would say.

Glenda Beck is a psychotic monkey who will tilt the world -along with the other cronies of Right and Faux News - into another Civil War. It's your ultimate goal to bring the collapse of America and set up a regime built and conceived on the notion that only religious folks should hold the key of knowledge and all power.

And while I would never stoop so low as to ask God to smite you down for just being a douche bag, I kinda hope that you'll see the light.

Until that day happens, you’ll never be more than a sad loser, a nobody. You’re a narcists, a clown in an expensive suit, who needs some sort acknowledgment to exist.

Candy Everybody Wants -Celebrity Edition

David Henrie

Zac Efron

Austin Butler

Preview of The Venture Bros. Season 4

Books: Retail Hell: Confessions of a Tortured Sales Associate by Freeman Hall

This book is for anyone who works in retail. And its for anyone who shops and wonders why most retail employees hate you. Author Freeman Hall details the life of a retail slave, one who has to put up with an endless parade of people who live by the mantra that the customer is always right (a fallacy created by the retail stores themselves. I’m with Curb Your Enthusiasm star Larry David when he says most customers are wrong. And are probably assholes. I’ve always found that living by that slogan day in and day out is a miserable way to run a company. It seems unfair that abusive people will and should get better treatment than nice ones).

Anywhoo, Hall’s hilarious rant on customers, customer service and working for The Big Fancy - a probable combination of Macy’s and Nordstroms where he used to work - hits many spots. As an aspiring screenwriter, Hall’s dose of customer insanity will remind anyone of David Sedaris and ultra hyper-reality in which he lives.

For some, they’ll say his stories are absurd, that the situations in his book could not happen. Hell, after 12 years of working with Borders (and add on 22 years in the book business and 29 years in retail overall), I can tell you stories about catching three men having sex in the men's bathroom, or the ones shooting up in the stalls; of hearing a story in my old store about a teenage boy completely naked -for whatever reason - in our bathroom. Then there's the story of me cleaning up a trail of wet, sloppy poop from the front of the store to the back. Yes, what we do for the unforgiving love of our customers.

So, what stories he tells are far from his imagination.

Interspersed, he tells his tale of coming to LA to become a screenwriter, and how working for The Big Fancy is crushing that dream. All of us know that our off days are truly not ours and even though we plan to grand things when we get those days off, we usually fail to do it, because exhaustion usually gets the best of us.

And while other jobs -ones outside the service industry - can be soul crunching, for some reason retail is worse. It’s all about numbers, quotas and reaching a higher quarter than the previous (even though, theoretically, along with the law of averages, is something not possible.

Anyone can quote leadership gurus like John Maxwell and Peter Drucker, but the reality of retail -and of Freeman Hall’s book - is that while the customer is always right is a good idea, in reality it’s a poor excuse to let people screw you up and down the month.

And who gets blamed for poor sales? Not the slumping economy, surely. Nope. It’s the guy, the girl behind the counter who gets blamed. I mean, how many times do we have tohear if we just sold $5.00 more bucks worth of merchandise, we would’ve made plan?

Books: NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley

Despite being a title for the young, Michael Buckley’s (The Sisters Grimm) new series is a comic treat, as fifth graders become secret agents, ala James Bond.

Combining all the excitement of international espionage and all the awkwardness of elementary school, NERDS, features a group of unpopular students who run a spy network from inside their school. With the help of cutting-edge science, their nerdy qualities are enhanced and transformed into incredible abilities. They battle the Hyena, a former junior beauty pageant contestant turned assassin, and an array of James Bond–style villains, each with an evil plan more diabolical and more ridiculous than the last.

There is much to like about this novel, and you can tell Buckely is enjoying himself. It's a nutty, sort of cousin to CN's The Venture Bros. series. The Hyena is the best, and her backstory is just brilliant. The villain Jigsaw reminds me of Hank Scorpio from the classic Simpsons episode You Only Move Twice.

Look for it September 1

Books: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

The final book in the Riordan’s Percy Jackson series is action packed from page one to its conclusion. The majority of the novel takes place in Manhattan, as the forces of Kronos and his Titans head towards The Empire State Building and its 600th floor where Mount Olympus resides. Percy, Annabeth, Grover and the rest of the campers at Camp Half-Blood come face to face with the meaning of the prophecy that started the series and traitorous Luke’s past is finally revealed. We also learn the fates of all as the Clash of Titans comes to a close.

While I think this is the best book in the series, I also felt that Riordan made it all too easy for Percy to defeat Kronos. I sensed that Riordan painted himself into a corner with his plot -which sometimes happens when dealing with a first-person setting. It was like he knew the only way Percy could figure things out was to cram a whole lot of dreams with all the exposition. I feel, somewhat, cheated that Percy could not figure it out himself without the dreams revealing it.

Then there’s Luke. While I had hoped that the kid was just a spy in the house of Kronos, his absolution rang sort of false, and reminded me of Harry Potter again.

Still, those are small quibbles to what was a funny, often clever series that also was history lesson on Greek myths. And while this was the final volume, apparently Riordan will return to Camp Half-Blood sometime in the future.

I’ll be waiting.

Candy Everybody Wants

John Hughes, writer/director and the voice of 80's teens, dies

As a writer and director, John Hughes, who died today at the age of 59 from a heart attack, found an ability to communicate to teens in the 1980s. His sharp-eyed look into their lives was a rarity in the age of Porky's and other somewhat nefarious teen comedies that proliferated the 80s like stale perfume. With such films as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Some Kind of Wonderful, he gave new insights into their lives rarely, if ever explored, and offered looks into their social habits.

Other great films included Pretty in Pink, National Lampoon's Vacation, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, the Thanksgiving classic Planes, Trains and Automobiles and the Home Alone franchise.

"He was such a great writer who created so many enduring characters for film, both as a director and a writer. His real gift was in creating these identifiable characters," actor, writer and comedian Steve Martin, who starred in Planes with John Candy, told CNN. "The script for 'Planes, Trains, and Automobiles' was the best script I had ever read," Martin added. "I asked John how long it took to write it, he said, 'I wrote it over the weekend.' The weekend. That shows you what he was able to do."

Like most prolific writers, he turned out some duds, such as Curly Sue and She's Having a Baby, but he could still save them somewhat with his sharp dialogue and great catch phrases. Even the uneven, heavy FX movie such as Weird Science (a personal favorite) still had some great lines in it.

He also did wonders for my home town of Chicago, were most of his films we set and filmed. Who cannot forget the parade sequence in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, with star Matthew Broderick singing Twist & Shout?

Hollywood did not make films for teens like he did before the 1980s and they've not done such a great job since he stepped back - he was spending more time with his family, maintaining a functioning farm in northern Illinois city of Harvard, where he supported independent arts.

He was a writer who understood the written word and how to make it work in a film, but he was also an important voice for teens and young adults during a decade that altered how young and old interact.

A sad passing indeed.

Books: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth

With penultimate volume of the Olympian saga, author Rick Riordan ramps up the suspense and action, as Percy Jackson and his friends must battle more Greek monsters, meet more plot twists and prepare for what is bound to be the ultimate battle between the half-bloods and the Gods.

With Battle of the Labyrinth, Riordan continues to re-create the old Greek myths with clever, modern turns. This novel mostly focuses on Daedalus, the famed inventor who created the Labyrinth that housed the Minotaur (that Percy battled in The Lightening Thief) and who’s son Icarus, flew too close to the sun. The story is also about seeking absolution for past sins and understanding how, and why the world works the way its does. Labyrinth also continues the theme of betrayal and the cost of power with friendships.

Now on to the finale.

Palin: What a crowded nation she must rule in her mind

Sarah Palin walked out on her job over the weekend, and now plans, as she says, "with this decision, now I will be able to fight even harder for you, for what is right and for truth.”

You betch’ya.

The, per her usual suspect style, went on to take a swipe at the media for attacking her and said they should be nice to new Alaskan Governor Sean Parnell (cause the “new governor has a very nice family, too, so leave his kids alone"), “So how about in honor of the American soldier, you quit making up things.”

Which is ironic, considering the conservative side of politics has cornered the market on making things up. But, to be fair, so has the liberal side. But the conservatives seem to think making things up (an old Ronald Regan chestnut, where if he said something untruthful three times, it some how became truth), to scare Americans with ludicrous threats that the gays are recruiting your children, that President Obama is not an American, that said president is tilting the world into Socialism (something I’m convinced Palin does not know the meaning of without looking it up on Wikipedia) is the only way to regain the power they let slip away from them.

And even if you believe that politics is merely a pendulum, swinging from conservative to liberal every few years, it does not erase the fact that making up lies is what conservatives are truly about.

Palin’s departure, and her rambling three-day Palin-lollapalooza goodbye tour, proves anything is that the women is at odds with reality. In the crowded nation she rules in her mind, she believes she is doing the right thing - abandoning her state in the middle of a term. That she now has some “higher purpose” to move forward with, because, well being a governor of Alaska did not feed her all consuming narcissistic nature.

And, perhaps not surprisingly, she still has mind-altered fans: "I will tell you one thing -- if we get a woman president, let it be her. She is a real woman. She knows what a woman is supposed to be. She is pro-life. She is pro-family. She is pro-woman," said Jon Eric Thompson, who attended the Sunday picnic in Fairbanks.

Seeing through her fog of reality is me. I have no issues with her being a woman, or a mother or what ever the Right will through at the nay sayers. I may call her crazy (and I do believe that), but she’s dumber than a box of hair. Crazy and dumb is a potent mix that her supporters seem to embrace. Screw being smart, screw even being an intellectual. All she thinks she needs, it appears, is a bunch of people as crazy as she is to think she could be our President.

Jebus in a pita pocket.

Books: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan

Much like the Series of Unfortunate Events, the third book in the Percy Jackson series breaks little ground, as it follows the near same story structure as book 1. Still, the book is filled its silly humor, and fast paced, by-the-seat-of-your-pants action that kept kids and adults reading.

This volume heightens the parent-child issues a bit more, making the readers feel that any relationship between their Olympian god parents and the half-bloods are very difficult and often uncomfortable.

Still, while its comparisons to the Harry Potter franchise continue, its an enjoyable romp and makes me want to continue to the end.

Movie: Pornography (2009)

In some respects, writer/director David Kittredge got what he wanted with his film, Pornography; days after the Saturday night viewing, I’m still think about it. Still, pondering this turgid tale that slides a hybrid ghost story that would remind anyone of The Ring, mashed with a reporter working on a book about the gay porn industry, only to stumble upon the mysterious disappearance of gay porn star fourteen years earlier has made me feel more disappointed with the film, especially for the way too many WTF moments Kittredge threw into the film, it seems, for the hell of it.

One of my favorite lines in Jurassic Park is when Ian Malcolm tells John Hammond that just because they can create dinosaurs means they should. So is with Pornography, Kittredge thought he should create an opaque film, leaving questions for the audience, and not spoon feeding them (as he told us audience members here at Outfest) the plot line in any sort of linear fashion so that they would debate the gist of the film at a later date. So, he’s succeed in that. Still, as one of my friends pointed out who saw the film with me, you should not be forced to sit through a film three or four times to get its meaning.

The film is split into three segments or acts, with a 25 minute opening set in 1995, a 40 minute sequence set in the present, and a fifty minute sequence that seems to be set in the present, but also a possible parallel universe. Only the middle segment seems the most interesting -and is the most linear of the three. And by this third act, as it were, Kittredge’s attempt to tie the three sections together loses its creepy credibility with a single phone call. One could not help but think of works of David Lynch, who has made a career of playing with his audiences heads.

After the film, Kittredge tried to hem-and-haw his way about explaining the meaning of the film (and trying to poo-poo the Lynchian feelings the film evoked) and what all the disjointed flashed and mysterious images appeared on the screen. He said, while editing the film, that he had three film names posted above him, Psycho, Rosemary’s Baby and The Exorcist. And I can see where he picked the bones of these great directors, Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski and William Friedkin. But I’m not turned off by that, as all three have great virtues. Still, this film fails to even match their worst efforts. Even David Lynch probably would say it’s so 1990's David Lynch.

As noted, only the middle segment has any life to it, if you can excuse the phrase. Matthew Montgomery, as reporter Michael, does wonders with what little is given to him and breathes life into a film in desperate need of it. His search for a lost porn star tumbles him and his boyfriend into a bazaar universe where plot lines from the original Japanese film, Ringu, were tossed out. The first and last segments seem only confuse what Kittredge was trying to say in this middle segment as well.

In many ways, I felt I stumbled into a film already forty-five minutes in and trying to figure out the plot based on the last one-hundred minutes with flash cards in a dark room.

Still, the film has merits, with its lush photography that belies its independent film status, a fairly interesting musical score that is both un-nerving and exciting. But ultimately, it fails to deliver on its premise, and Kittredge leaves many unanswered questions, including what is exactly haunting former porn star Mark (Jared Grey) in 1995 and then to reporter Michael (Montgomery) in 2009 and current porn star Matt (Pete Scherer) in some real/parallel 2009.

I get the ending, somewhat, but again, it took me a few hours of conversations with my friend to come to that conclusion. But while I give merit to Kittredge to produce a potentially interesting ghost story with gay characters, his over indulgence on keeping the plot as thick as maple syrup just out of the cold outdoors, just speaks volumes of his pretentiousness that he gave off at the screening (I mean, sure, the film has sold out at the gay fests its played in, but submit a film called Pornograpghy to a gay film festival, are you not surprised it’s sold out?).

Update

So a quick update here:

Yesterday was the 41 st anniversary of the death of my father from cancer. He would've been 74 this year, had he lived. Each year reminds me how odd it is that he's been gone that long.

An HF Production fan, who has now become a good friend, flew in from St. Louis to spend time with his new family of friends. He's staying at my place for two days before I send him off to a hotel for the remainder of his time here! Today we have no set plans, but probably heading to Santa Monica. Tomorrow we head to Disneyland to celebrate his 21st birthday -he gets in free!!!

Saw HP6 last night, as well. However, I got a major headache and could barely keep my eyes open to watch the whole thing. It's certainly different from the previous five, much darker and very adultish -despite the kids growing up antics. I will be seeing it again.

Also, on Saturday I went to Outfest with JayTee and Carlos to see the thriller Pornography that stars Star Trek: Odyssey star Matt Montgomery. A full review will follow in a few days, but all I can say now about it is I should not have to see a film three or four times to understand it.

Oh, and the pics are the first released on the filming of Doctor Who season five, with new Doctor Matt Smith and companion Karen Gillan, playing Amy.

Campy Pride and Prejudice and Zombies spawns another mash-up

In typical media fashion, as soon as a new idea hits big, sequels are always down the line.

This past spring, Quirk Books - known for The Worst-Case Scenario Survival books, which has spawned sequels, as well as a TBS television series and a board game - hit big with the campy mash-up Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith. Now, to further the genre they created, next month sees the release of Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters. In this update, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home by their conniving stepmother, only to land on a mysterious island full of man-eating sea creatures, instead of a nearby, downgraded, English cottage.

This new take however, will differ from P&P&Z, where Grahame-Smith used about 80% of Austen's text. S&S&SM has a 60-40 ratio of Austen material to new material. According to Quirk Books editor Jason Rekulak, using sea monsters allowed him and author Ben H. Winters to draw from a wide range of pop-culture sources, including Jules Verne, the TV series Lost and even Spongebob Squarepants.

Meanwhile, Seth Grahame-Smith has signed a deal with Grand Central to release Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter next year. See what happens when a little publishing house takes a risk and releases something that no one would expect?

Still, Quirk seems to be aware of the limited shelf life too many of these smash-ups on the market, but is willing to see how the market fairs when Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters is released. He told Publishers Weekly that "it may be that the appeal had solely to do with the zombies but, if people are intrigued with the idea of desecrating or mashing up classics, then there’s a lot we can do.”

Things that bother me

Like escalators and moving walk-ways.

I was a Disneyland last night, and JayTee and I are leaving the park. We get back to the parking structure and a group of teens runs toward the empty escalator. Now, I'm thinking that they want to walk up and get to their cars. But no, they get on and stand still.

See, I think if you're getting on a escalator or a moving walk-way (which are usually located in airports) you should walk up them and walk on them. We're a fat society and apparently walking up stairs -even ones that move - is too much.

But then again, I even like walking up the stairs at Universal Studios, and those things are steep.

Same goes with those moving walk-ways in airports. They're designed to get you through the place quicker, not for just standing on them because you life is so difficult.

One more thing, what is it with people who lean on shopping carts while walking through stores. Is you life, your day that tough you have lean on them like you fall down if you just pushed them?

I'm a curmudgeonly old man, it seems. Oh. My. Gosh.

Of co

Candy Everybody Wants

Books: Percy Jackson and The Olympians: The Sea Monsters by Rick Riordan

Percy Jackson's seventh-grade year has been surprisingly quiet. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get . . . well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of Percy's friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.

The second book in the series is better, and just as original and funny as The Lightning Thief. Once again, Riordan updates the Greek Myths with a wink, but is no longer bogged down by its set up, which helps us get into the action much quicker.

I'm beginning to suspect, however, that Riordan is setting things up for its later conclusion, in the sense, that I think I know where this is going. Still, much like the Harry Potter series, these stories are about friendship and trust, and dealing with an ever increasing idea that the Greek Gods are as dysfunctional as humans -especially when Percy confronts his family heritage.

How did Sci Fi Channel come up with its new name?

Back in March, I talked about how the cable channel Sci Fi was changing its name to SyFy, in some obvious attempt to brand itself to make money -after all sci-fi is a generic term to describe a genre. Hard to charge anyone a fee for using it.

Michael Hinman, who created and ran his own sci fi web site called Sy Fy Portal for a decade was paid by NBC/U (who own the Sci Fi Channel) so use that name. Hinman relaunched his site as Airlock Alpha.

After Michael Engleman, President of NBC/U, proclaimed he came up with the term, Hinman has really broken his silence. And while many -like me - were aware of this change (and Hinman has made several references to the name change), it seems Engleman (in typical Hollywood fashion) is ignoring the fact that while he (and most likely his team at NBC/U) worked out a new name, he forgets to mention that the company had to buy that name from someone else.

Here's his latest post on it:

Dear Michael Engleman:

Congratulations on your move to NBC Universal after what I'm sure was some hard work you did at CMT.

There, you took a network called "Country Music Television" and rebranded it "CMT." If it sounds like something you just doodled on a piece of paper after five minutes thinking about it, then we haven't heard about your most famous creation.

Let's hear what you told Fortune magazine writer Nadira A. Hira in a story that published July 7.

"I knew how important our roots are, and knew where we wanted to go in the future, and I asked myself a simple question," Engleman said. "What if we could change the name without ever changing the name? Five minutes later, with a ballpoint pen and a piece of scrap paper, Syfy was born."

Except it really wasn't born, was it? Not unless it's a born again brand. And maybe it is. Maybe the Syfy brand went up to some marketing altar somewhere and declared itself reborn. Because now it would be the name of a network, and not just some science-fiction entertainment Web site that people like me and our great staff of writers spent years busting our tails over.

But who cares that I had actually created the "Syfy" name more than 10 years before Engleman created it. I mean, who the hell am I?

Last year, NBCU made $16.9 billion. Our little SyFy Portal operation? About $40,000 and some change. Let's spell that out ... $16,900,000,000 versus $40,000.

NBCU and the people at Sci Fi Channel/Syfy claim they adore the fans, and listen to the fans. Yet, they don't even hesitate to stomp all over a site founded by fans, and operated by fans, who pretty much work next to nothing to get the news out to other fans.

To make matters worse, NBCU didn't even have the balls to approach us themselves. They used a shell company called New Fizz Corp. to buy the SyFy Portal domain name, as well as all of our branding that uses "SyFy" or even "Sy" (or even SFY). That allowed them to buy the brand for $250,000.

That's right. That is what they paid us to sell our domain name and our brand. A quarter million dollars. How much of a budget hit was that to NBCU? Let's spell it out again: $16,900,000,000 versus $250,000. That is 0.0014 percent of NBCU's overall revenue for a brand that they are now using on a major property.

If they had come to us as NBCU, they know that we would've looked at the $16,900,000,000 in revenue, and likely would've wanted to move the decimal point in the percentage of revenue to the right a few places. Even then, even if we had asked for $2.5 million for the brand and the domain name that we put so much of ourselves into, that would be just 0.014 percent of NBCU's overall revenue for the year.

Seems like a good deal, right? If you're NBC. They took a name that I had developed in 1998 and had effectively branded over a number of different projects like SyFy Radio, The SyUniverse Group, SyPod, the SyFy Genre Awards even SyFriday, and convinced us they were a company that made no more than a couple hundred thousand dollars, that prevented us from receiving the full value that such a name could command for the use they had planned.

But yeah, NBCU loves the fans, don't they?

Syfy was a great name for them. We had shown NBCU over and over again how it could be used to brand and separate yourself from everyone else. We stopped using "SyFy Portal" more than five months ago, yet you plug that into Google, and you still get 24,000 results.

So you're telling me that you, Mr. Engleman, who is described as a branding genius, didn't know that while you were trying to find a way to rebrand SciFi Channel, that you didn't look to see how other sci-fi related brands were working?

And even if you believe this hogwash that you somehow came up with the name independently, why is it so hard for your bosses at NBCU to simply acknowledge that while they may have come up with "Syfy" independently, it was used by its original creator -- me -- over the last decade.

I have used this example a lot in the past few months, and it still works. If Bill Gates decided that he wanted to buy the Ford Motor Co., he can't turn around and claimed he invented the assembly line and the Model T. Just because you're the owner of something doesn't mean you created it.

Variety credited you for "coining" the term "Syfy." You didn't coin it anymore than I could put an engine on a set of four wheels and claim I invented the automobile. Sure, I may have created it independently of any car manufacturer, but that still doesn't mean I can take the credit for its invention.

Does it?

Several years back, when we were trying to come up with a name for our new horror site, I had come up with the name "Screamscape." I loved it, and was dancing all over the place that we had such an awesome name!

I mean, I had sat at my desk, thought about it for 10 minutes, and wrote it down.

Then I Googled "Screamscape" and found out that it was already in use by a rollercoaster enthusiast site. Does that mean I created the name? Or do I have to buy out Screamscape before I can claim that I "coined" the term?

Maybe we should use this newfound "wealth" NBCU provided us and buy the "SciFi Channel" branding, and then we can claim that we coined the term. As long as we own it, right?

I know you might see this as an unfair attack, Mr. Engleman, and I don't mean for this to be personal in any way. I don't really know you, I've never met you, and you're probably a great guy. I know you work hard, and maybe you really believe that you created the name.

But it has been proven over and over again that you didn't create the name. Not in the least. You may or may not have been aware of SyFy Portal when you came up with it, as I'm sure you know how to use Google like the rest of us. But the fact is, when it's all said and done, the name you either "created" or "coined," based on whatever legend you have mustered up, was in use for a long time.

It was in use by fans who have worked hard to not just watch your network, but to support it through stories and coverage. By a site that was on the forefront of pushing SciFi Channel to turn "Battlestar Galactica" into a series (a claim that I don't make, but others involved in the early fandom movement following the success of the miniseries in 2003). By a site that wrote what it could about shows we didn't even care for. By a site that even defended the inclusion of wrestling, because we felt any additional money made there could go toward stronger television shows and movies.

And we are big fans of what SciFi Channel and now Syfy does. We like "Warehouse 13." We like "Caprica." We can't wait for "Stargate: Universe." We like Syfy president Dave Howe, who I had a chance to talk on the phone with quite extensively and enjoyed his professionalism and intelligence. We like Craig Engler, who is using the "Syfy" name quite effectively on Twitter. And to be honest, we even like you for taking the chance with such a different name, and weathering the short-lived, if not heavy, typhoon of criticism that hit you.

But what we don't like is when you try to drown out the fans. When you try to stomp us out. When you take from us for next to nothing, and then do what you can to make sure we can't even get our voices heard above the media machine you have created. How are fans supposed to take that?

So enjoy the new name. You turned a brand that was used for a $40,000 operation to one that is now on a $425 million operation. That's a value boost of what, 1,062,400 percent (I'm not kidding on that). And all you paid was $250,000.

That's an instant value return of $1,700 for every single dollar spent. From the corporate perspective, that's considered an amazing investment (hell, a return of $100 for every dollar invested is considered extraordinary to many).

But to those of us who are struggling to do the things we do ... it's yet another example of how mega-corporations do whatever it takes to make money, even at the expense of the little guy.

Sincerely,

Michael Hinman
The real creator of the term "Syfy"

So, as the world of big business works, the truth becomes muddle down. For Engleman its just feather in his cap to be used later, when seeking a new job. For Hinman and his team at Airlock Alpha, it just proves that despite creating and using Syfy for decade before NBC/U came a calling, you always, always get screwed.

Books: Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

This novel chronicles the adventures of twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, who discovers he is a demigod, the son of a mortal woman and the Greek god Poseidon. Percy and his friends go on a quest to prevent an apocalyptic war between the Greek gods Zeus, Poseidon and Hades. The story contains a multitude of encounters with characters from Greek mythology still alive in modern times.

In this fast-paced, often funny look at the way Riordan updates the Greek mythology. Percy is sarcastic, often wry and a little bit impetuous. Still, the series has been compared to Harry Potter (and there is a small in-joke towards the end of the novel), but though Riordan borrows much from the historical mythology, the series first book does not get too bogged down in its own mythology, if you can excuse the joke.

I'm a celebrity, get me out of here

Oh, poor Sarah Palin. Since Friday of last week, in what was a nearly confusing, grammatically challenged speech, the Alaskan governor said she was not only not seeking re-election in 2010, she was also resigning at the end of the month.

Reason?

None that was given, except that once she decided not to try again for the governor's mansion, she also thought she would want to avoid being a "lame duck," in 2010, she said. Apparently, she's not that kind of person, one who's not a quitter. So, she said, she had decided to ... quit.

"How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it’s about country," she said in a message posted on her Facebook page. "And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make. But every American understands what it takes to make a decision because it’s right for all, including your family."

So, Sarah Plain and Tall, what is this higher calling you spoke about? Just what qualifies as a higher calling to you? Does that mean being a good housewife and staying home to take care of your kids? Does that mean working with your Church 24/7 to make sure the homeless have a place to stay and food in their stomachs? Does that mean becoming sort of Good Will Ambassador to the world?

Or does it mean making more money than what Alaska is paying you by joining FOX News, where you become one more political pundit spouting on and on about the Obama administrations attempts to turn the US in a Socialistic country - and by the way, do you even know what means without being told by some paid sycophant?

Or does it mean running for Senator, in either your home state, or moving like Hillary Clinton did?

Because, to be honest, furthering your political career seem far from a higher calling. Politics is dirty, and at times, one of the most deceitful jobs a person can have, because its about power -who has it and who wants it. You have to lie a lot of the times to get what you want, break promises to one to appease two. Lawyers and politicians are made fun of because some -like you -deserve the criticism steered at you.

But because you are blind to your ambitions, to self-serving vices, you believe any attack on you is because your a woman or because your a conservative or because your a beauty queen or because, well, your about as ready to lead this nation as a box of hair is.

Your ego, thin as it is, is your driving force here to make these claims of a higher calling. And since you refuse to state what are the exact reasons you are resigning, voicing some odd, nebula's reason at that, you mock the press.

Yes, they don't understand. No one understands. And until you clear this up, they'll continue to ask, continue to mock you.

But maybe that's what you want. Since you returned to Alaska, no one cares about you anymore, and that bothers you. You loved the fame that McCain brought you, and like a junkie, once it went away, you needed to get a new fix.

On July third, you found it.

Only thing is, what McCain gave you was free. Now you're going to have to pay to keep the high of celebrity going.

This is what you wanted, just shut up and take it. Or tell the world what your doing and do it.

Either way, you'll still be mocked. But if a higher calling means getting out of politics, well I would take it. It's obvious you cannot live with a mirror in front of you.

Goodbye, my dear sweet Godfather.

Joseph A. Schafer

Joseph A. Schafer, age 94, Vet WW II. Beloved husband of the late Anna, nee Labant; loving father of Carol (Warren Sr.) Toepper and the late Joanne; dear grandfather of Sharon (Michael) Rezak, Warren Jr. (Amy), Kirsten (Lee) Haskell and Elizabeth (David) Williams; great grandfather of Lucas, Alexis, Anna, Abigail, Jack, Emily, Nathan and Jacob; dear brother of the late Edward (late Dorothy), the late Elizabeth (late Fred) Wudke and the late Isabel (late Vince) Betts; fond uncle to many.

Books: The Terror by Dan Simmons

In The Terror, author Dan Simmons takes a true, historical story of the famed Franklin Expedition to find the Northwest Passage and wraps a it into a thriller worthy of Stephen King.

The crewmen of the Terror, and its sister ship, the Erebus, have been trapped in Arctic ice for two years without a thaw when the novel begins. Shortly, we are told how the expedition began its voyage, with great detail, and how eventually they end up trapped in the Arctic. As the story moves forward, we learn that the real threat to their existence is not the ever changing, ever shifting arctic landscape, the victuals that are poisonous even before they’re opened, or even the slow destruction of the two ship caught in the grips of unforgiven able ice. The real threat comes from the darkness of the winter nights, from a supernatural creature that is stalking the crews one by one or whole groups, leaving bodies mangled or just plain missing.

Simmons takes his time setting up the story, going into great detail about both ships and its crew. And I suppose, killing off 146 people takes time and many pages (the mass market edition clocks in at 955 pages). As the horror of their adventure unwinds, I was often reminded of The Bridge Over the River Kwai and the role of Colonel Nicholson (played by Alec Guinness). Insomuch, I guess, as the Colonel plays by the rules of British military and dislikes anyone who questions his orders, especially lowly officers below his status. Colonel Nicholson, despite being a POW and forced to build a bridge, deplores sabotage and other deliberate attempts to delay its progress -after all, that is what the rules of his war states. So does the captain of the Terror, in essence. Despite being trapped in the ice, and with everything going down hill quickly, he decides to stay longer than they should’ve, thus dooming him and his crew to fate of the arctic and whatever is stalking them.

The characters featured in The Terror are almost all actual members of Franklin's crew, whose unexplained disappearance has warranted a great deal of speculation. The main characters in the novel include Sir John Franklin, commander of the expedition and captain of Erebus, Captain Francis Crozier, captain of Terror, Dr. Harry D.S Goodsir, and Captain James Fitzjames.

The book, maybe, is a bit over long, but it’s a damn fine adventure, horror story and thriller. The characters are well developed, but it was hard for me (anyways) to keep them all straight. And, perhaps, my only criticism lies in one gay character who becomes the leader of mutinous group and who kills at leisure and eventually goes mad. Now, I realize this is set at a time (1846 to 1848) when such men were hanged for being gay, but still (and there are two other gay men who are portrayed in more brighter light).

As for the monster that is stalking the men, Simmons reveals little of what it actually is, though he spends the last few chapters exploring Eskimo mythology. But in the end, whether the bear-monster is an actual mythological creature or something else is left unexplained.

Palin resigns; how soon will she join Faux News?

If this is a strategic move by her to spend a few years boning up on how to become president in 2012, I’m confused by it. To me, it seems almost counterproductive. Staying in office would give her justifiable experience to say she should be the Commander and Chief. Moving out now seems to indicate -to me- that there is something going on, and by playing the smoke and mirror card a day before America celebrates its birthday to get (maybe what she hopes) is a boost in her jingoistic, extremely conservative fan base, seems nothing short of a pathetic attempt to hide her real reasons for this resignation. Many can cite those pesky ethic issues that have dogged her since she returned to Alaska (and granted, most have been dismissed) and can say she backpedaled on her decision to reject federal stimulus funds, but it doesn’t take a Columbo to sense all is not right in the private life of one Sarah Palin.

I believe that is where lies the truth (though I would still not dismiss political wrong doings on her part). But the truth is nothing politicians can ever tell, for fear of alienating their contingency. It takes a bold person, with no fear, no worry to tell the honest truth.

She wants to be president.

I get that.

More power to her.

But unless she spends the next year or so getting a brain upgrade from the folks at Wolfram & Hart, I don’t see her succeeding. Plainly, the more center right conservatives will not vote for her (though they may shill for her). And even if President Obama’s plans only half succeed, Palin and her far right fan base still have to deal with the fact that they are seen as out of date, way too rich old white guys who legislate not for the people, but for themselves. And Black America will not vote for her.

So, what’s the real deal, Ms Palin? What has moved you to resign? What hides in the dark corner of your soul that might’ve come out had you stayed governor until you announce your presidency in 2010? Are you hoping that by doing this, by the time 2010 comes around, people will be convinced its more important to elect a fear-mongering Christian than the right person for the job?

One last thing: How soon before she joins Faux News to bitch about the presidents lack of progress in getting the US out of this recession?

The next day

He was eccentric, odd and probably damaged goods from his well documented childhood. He was also an extremely talented man, who entertained millions of all races and nationalities. His sudden loss -as death can be sometimes - has thrown many for a loop.

But for me, his death does not effect me in anyway. I’ve admired his talent, but was never a huge fan of his, even though his Jackson 5 days remain my favorite years. Those Motown times was, for me, were his best days. And like everyone, I too owned Thriller, but that was all.

Anyways, perhaps my dulled feelings are formed on the ghouls who’ve been out all day in search of his music, or any written word about him. Some would say it’s a tribute to him, to purchase his music today, even though forty-eight hours ago they would’ve never considered it. I just think its ghoulish.

It reminded me of when Princess Diana died, and all the mass of people who came out the next day to the book store in search of all those books about her life that most people considered trash and exploitive. You know the ones, the tomes that bordered and crossed over into expletiveness. Suddenly, after most thumbed their nose at them, they suddenly had to have them because she was dead.

We are an odd society in many ways. Over the last twenty years of his life, everyone has at one time or the other, snickered at his odd life style, and fun of his odd behavior. Some have ignored the media and the tabloids and have just concentrated on his music. Still, he was a man-boy in search of his lost childhood, and made way too many blunders in trying to get back to it. But, perhaps, he never realized that you could never go back, never change the past.

But to suddenly go out in search of CD’s, or to download songs off of iTunes at a rapid rate when just on June 24 you could careless is just...ghoulish. It’s the only word I can apply to it.

And on Monday, when all the weeklies begin publishing special issues, we’ll have people streaming in to the book store in search of them, trying to buy as much as possible (we sold out of all our newspapers today).

I’ve been catching some of the tributes to him on the networks and cable channels. One thing I’ve noticed was his desire to bring perfection to each of his performances, to each of his songs. One could say that was born in the years when he was growing up, when his father made sure the Jackson 5 were perfect. I like to think that most of that came from being a Virgo.

As one myself, we stride in the stereotypical way of trying to be perfect in everything we do. I understood those desires.

Of course, for many, buying his stuff now, 24 hours after his death is somehow a way to cope with his passing. I just don’t see it. Maybe I’m cynical. Or maybe, I just deal with reality better?

I just don’t know.

This and those

Here it is Thursday, and it's really the first time I can rethink these last few days. True, I had Tuesday night, but was so tired from the usual Tuesday work crap (new releases, the huge shipment) I just could not put words to screen.

On Saturday we finished up Frontier Guard, filmed a few sequences for another fan production starring former Hidden Frontier actor Dave Dial, and one for the Scottish series, Intrepid. Risha returned to film a scene as Shelby and I crossed over from Star Trek: Federation One to play Selek for Nick and his team. Then a party ensued, with a few fans like Rick and Chris coming from the East Coast for a visit. Then former Star Trek: Angeles actor Jason and boyfriend Kevin came in from Texas. Also on hand was Barbara, her husband Oz, JayTee and Adam, Frontier Guard star Corey, who brought along his very pretty girlfriend. Tim Foutch arrived, as well as PK, the other Chris (but he was there for the shoot, so that does not count). Rob's parents arrived and much fun was had with Becky, Kes, Dave Mason, Beo, and so many more. Fun night, though tiring.

Sunday brought another trip to Disneyland, where I bumped into Mason, Kes and their friend James (with his wife, whom I've forgotten her name and really cute baby, Nikki). I hung with them until Adam and JayTee arrived in the early afternoon. Another long day.

Originally, I was going to get over to JayTee's in the early morning (like 10 am) on Monday to help him with his little pod cast for Judas Kiss, but we both decided the night before at Disneyland, that maybe we should meet later in the day. I sort of slept in, but mostly just laid in bed watching the tube. Soon enough I got up, showered and headed to Silverlake. There we filmed some stuff for the pod cast that did not need Tim -as he was playing an intern hired to keep the office's of Blue Seraph nice and neat. Unfortunately, it appears Tim the Intern does not realize who JayTee really is. Hilarity ensues.

It was fun, and Rick Pike was there to help out as JayTee and Tim acted and I filmed them.

I got home late on Monday and went directly to bed, and began my ritual Tuesday regime at Borders: the new releases and changes to the front of store then the massive four pallets of merchandise. Tired as all hell by the time I got home on Tuesday. Too tired to say a thing.

But things were not finished yet, as yesterday, after work, I returned to Disneyland to meet up with Jenn, Katie (and husband Scott), Rick, Jason, Kevin, Kes and both Chris' for last half of their day at the happiest place on earth.

Kes, ever the thoughtful one, got me a fastpass for Tower of Terror, a ride she won't go on, but knows I like. Thanks for that, Kes.

So, spent many hours wandering around the park with these friends. Got home at midnight, and was awake by 6 am.

So, I'm tired, and have barley read my book all week long. 953 page book is not going to get done sooner if I don't work at it. Of course, look at me now, typing away when I could be reading. I do not the irony there.

But things with Rick are not done yet, as I'm joining them on Sunday for a trip to the beach. Don't know what beach or where, but none the less a relaxing Sunday at the ocean front sounds like a nice deal.

Bye to Ed, Farrah and MJ, BTW.

The three's continue...

And so does the latest chapter of my sometimes busy life...

Deep Something or other

With June Gloom set in here -and more so than usual - the days, while grown longer - have blended into one. It's interesting to note on how the days seem to pass like cars on the freeway, zooming towards a conclusion we all know is in our future.

It's what we do with the time, as they say, that makes us what we are. I'm not sure what I'll leave behind, but for some reason of late, it's been on my mind. Death is a part of life, and while for the longest time I've been afraid of it, these days I'm more comfortable with it. It's not to say that I still have issues with it, but since the loss of three close friends over the last eight months or so, I've come to understand that I need to do something to make this short life worth something.

Jamie was a person who packed a lot into her 32 years, and had a truism that speaks loudly. We should all, no matter what life throws at you, look at with defiance and try, oh so try, to accept it.

Jamie was a big girl, yet she never let that get in the way of enjoying life. She was this pixie girl who's energy an laughter exploded life a thousand splendid suns, and when you were with here, you could not help but feel the energy she gave off. She seemed to be able to lite that match under peoples arses.

Since she died, her philosophy -if you will - of her life outlook has made me think of what I should do with the rest of my life. I know there are many things I don't do, like enjoy spending time away from the house and doing things that make my days off worth it. Mostly it comes in the fear of spending money, feeling that if I do too much, I'll some how be punished for it. It's irrational to think that some entity is keeping track of how much I make and how much I spend then punish me when I'm having too much of a good time. The same way, I guess, that I'll be punished for being gay by a God or what not.

Still, I fear it (which seems to have overtaken, maybe, my fear of death). Spending money, that is. At times I think that fear is good, keeps me from doing wild things. But then I see others, who really have no fear, enjoying their life to the fullest. Sure they know that debt is bad, but they've decided to live their life and worry about the debt later. Some would call that short-sightedness, while others will say that in today's world, this is the only way to live.

Which comes to the next two weeks. I'm taking a vacation day on June 20 (that's another thing I need to get over, taking earned vacation days from work without feeling guilty. Most of the guilt come from forcing other people to do my work, though most of them have no guilt that they force me to their jobs when they call-out or take vacation days). Mostly its because we have one last day on the Frontier Guard shoot, and then we're having a wrap party being hosted by Rick, who's coming from the East Coast for a week to visit HF Productions. Sharon will be on her return flight from Italy with her husband, so I'll be finishing up directing, plus donning the Vulcan ears to play Selek for a cameo in an upcoming fan film production out side of Federation One. That still leaves me Sunday and Monday to do something. But since Rick will still be here, I'm going to try and spend time with him and who ever wants to tag along.

Also, the last week of June, I'm taking Saturday the 27th off. This will give me a three-day weekend of nothing to do, as filming on Odyssey will not resume until July 5. That weekend I want to do something, yet I don't know what. Such big ideas now, but we'll see what the next week brings.

Still, guilt and fear niggle at the back of my head like lose lug nut on a car wheel. Should I do something, spend money and forget about everything else. Even if the other proverbial shoe drops, should I just shrug and say that's life?

And that's where Jamie's life lessons can be applied, I guess. Maybe living life with the just do it attitude is better than worrying about what tomorrow might bring. We are taught, growing up, to fear things. We are taught that too much play is dangerous cocktail. But for me, too much worry has also become a dangerous drink. I need to find a balance between those two, you know?

Plus, I need to find someone to share my life with. I know now what is missing, and I think I understand why people marry. Love surely plays a part in it, but at the end of the day, its more companionship, more comfort that someone's there to get you through this existence. I'm missing that, and I want that. As much as I enjoy my solitude, I need another person to help me get through the rest of what time I've got left here.

And while I still don't know what lies beyond that "undiscovered country," I'm less afraid of it now. I still want to live to be 100, but I'll take what I can get.

Because when I go, I want to leave something here to show the world, or just my family and friends, that I was here and what I leave behind is just as important has what I do for the rest of it.

Morbid Monday comes to a close. Peace out.

Candy Everybody Wants

Good news, everyboby.

20th Century Fox has confirmed that Futurama will be back next year. The show, which had a recent resurrection on DVD with 4 feature-length titles, will produce 26 new episodes spread over two seasons.

The first half of those new episodes will begin airing on Comedy Central in mid 2010.

When Comedy Central began airing the original 72 episodes that aired on FOX, the show pulled in big ratings, by cable standards. Then deals were struck between the cable network and 20th Century to produce 16 new segments, or four interconnected episodes that were released on DVD as movies. The four sets sold extremely well, and Comedy Central aired them as 16 separate episodes. Ratings were good, apparently.

Since then, both 20th and Comedy Central have been kicking around ways to make a Futurama order make financial sense for both the studio and cable net.

While some cost cuts were made, mostly in the writing staff, along with a shorter delivery window, neither 20th or Comedy Central will make money. At first anyways. With these additional 26 episodes, it will bring the series over the magic 100 episode count (actually 113), which will enable 20th Century to syndicate the show more easily to off-network stations across the country and overseas. Plus, obviously, there will be more DVD box sets.

But, this is so cool.

What Jamie Dyer Dordek can teach you about life

The Huffington Post did a story on my late friend Jamie.

Check this out