Let me start by introducing the topic of this blog...
There are more things wrong with this video than I can count but let me point out a few things that make my scalp itch.
Why don't I start at the beginning. The yellow-orange/brown combination is bad. No one has ever looked good in this combination of colors. If you aren't forced to wear these colors together by something like school spirt, don't. If they really are your school colors, do what you can to make your parents move. Your school is going to loose and you have a better chance at a scholarship playing for a better team anyway.
Then there is the performance. Let's be honest from the start. Ventriloquists are moderately creepy on their own and their dummies don't help improve things. I don't care who you are, if you disagree with that basic truth, you need to see a counselor. Sooner would be better. At the very least, please get help before you breed. It would be wrong of you to subject a child to something so heinous.
Now let's take a look at the ventriloquists themselves. Oh gods... There isn't a single one who isn't creepy beyond imagining. First, there is open mouth dude. You seem to be trying to smile but, clearly, it is a grimace and not to be mistaken for any kind of sign of pleasure. We can see your clenched jaw and flappy tongue. We can even see the tear forming in the corner of your eye. You know, the one you have been trying to hold back since you were seven?... Just let it go and put the dummy away.
Then there is "guy with the smile". Frankly sir, you need to have your head kept in a bag, with or without a dummy. You are creepy and I can feel my insides roiling and becoming pasty with sickness when I see you. Nothing you can do will be able to fix the problem anymore. Let the dummy go and go become a clown. At least they are acceptably creepy.
Big bushy mustache man... SHAVE! We can see your mouth moving even through that monster you have on your upper lip. I understand that you think it helps mask the fact that you are talking for your doll but you are wrong. You aren't fooling anyone anyway so why try?
Guy in the back row?... You have been doing this way too long. It seems clear to me that the dummy is, possibly, your only friend and that you are very fond of him. You are probably the best in the group in doing what you do but that only makes things more sad. I am sorry for whatever your parents or foster parents may have done to you when you were growing up that caused you to be so horribly broken but I am sure there is a medication that will help.
I haven't got the stomach to go through all of them individually but I think it is fairly obvious that nothing here is right. Seriously. Nothing.
There is one more thing that I have to point out about this video. Sadly, I think that this may be the most disturbing part of all. I have no idea what might be being said in the end but I am pretty sure I caught the name of the network.
NBC.
I know NBC has been going down hill for a while now and, according to some sources, may be dying entirely if they don't do something different. Here is an idea guys... STOP ALLOWING SHIT LIKE THIS TO EXIST ON YOUR NETWORK!!!!!
Sorry to yell like that but seriously, the answer is to find better programming and not to show things that scare away the few viewers you have left. I may be able to help with this. Fire both, the person who canceled "Life" and the person responsible for this atrocity. Within moments, the average intelligence in your offices will improve and then you can start looking for a way to turn things around. If you need more help, contact me. I will happily do what I can for you for a modest salary.
Anyway, sorry to have put you all through that video but I suffered through it and so you had to as well. Have fun!
Facts are ventriloquists dummies. Sitting on a wise man's knee they may be made to utter words of wisdom; elsewhere, they say nothing or talk nonsense, or indulge in sheer diabolism.
-Aldous Huxley-
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Truth...
I have nothing much to say this time around. I really think it would do each and every one of us good to read/hear/watch this at least once if not every day.
Please. Please pay attention and actually take this in. Please think about it honestly and deeply. Please show it to your friends and ask them to really consider it as well.
Watch this all the way through. Really. It is important.
The world we live in today is scary. We need to change something to save us from ourselves. Maybe, with this, we can start with ourselves and the change can flow outward.
Without further ado, Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed.
I am not going to to end with a quote this time. I am going to beg you, one more time, to share this.
Thank you.
Please. Please pay attention and actually take this in. Please think about it honestly and deeply. Please show it to your friends and ask them to really consider it as well.
Watch this all the way through. Really. It is important.
The world we live in today is scary. We need to change something to save us from ourselves. Maybe, with this, we can start with ourselves and the change can flow outward.
Without further ado, Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed.
I am not going to to end with a quote this time. I am going to beg you, one more time, to share this.
Thank you.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Rivers...
I just had a conversation with a neighbor/friend person I know and something came up that just won't leave my brain alone. I am going to share this with you in the hopes that it helps to quiet the screaming the voices are doing inside my head.
She shared a story wherein she took a friend of hers down to "the river" to go camping. Well, as it turns out this particular water has no water in it. Ergo, no river.
Oh gods did things ever take a turn.
First of all, do not tell me that I am not "country" enough to understand that it's still a river. It is NOT still a river. Rivers have water in them. Rivers HAVE to have water in them. It's what makes them a gods-damned river! If there is no water then it is a dried up river bed. It is not, I repeat NOT still a river when there is no water flowing through it!
That is something like saying to me, "Hey, what do you think of all this rain? Kinda dry, isn't it?"
No! No it isn't fucking dry! It is rain! Rain is water, water is wet! Go to your corner and HIT YOURSELF until you learn something. I don't care what you learn. The important thing is that when you come back to speak to me, you need to be smarter or I can't be held responsible for my actions.
Now... If you want to say something like, "Well, we just all call it the river," fine. You are still wrong but I can accept that you refer to it that way and let it go. But for fucks sake, don't you DARE tell me I am wrong for insisting that a river has water.
Let's go ask Erin at Wordnik again and see what they have to say.
RIVER
Item number the first: ~Water~
Item number the second: ~Flow~
I would take a moment to point out the words abundant or stream but then I have to look up more definitions with more words to point out and so on and so on... It would lead to stress, anarchy, plagues of frogs, zombie wars, locusts (::cringe::) and the eventual demise of civilization and I just can't fucking take it.
::Deep breath...::
Alright.
Seriously now though, I could have left it alone if it weren't for the phrase, "You don't know what you're talkin' about. You just aren't country enough..."
This is why people assume country folk are morons!
I have known plenty of people in the south and many more in the country. Some of them have even affected that bumpkin like speech pattern where they sound kind of like they are just too damned lazy to finish forming the words. I have to tell you though, some of those people are pretty damned smart! I will just about guarantee that any one of them can tell me about things I know nothing about.
What I am trying to say here is this. I am a very smart guy but I am more than willing to accept that there are things you know more about than I do. If you would care to correct or educate me on any one of those things, I welcome the chance to expand my personal knowledge. (Alright, honestly I am a bit of a know-it-all. But I swear, once I realize you are right and I am wrong, I will not only admit it but I will then apologize for ever having insisted I was correct in the first place.)
But never, ever, tell me that I am wrong on something that gods damned simple. Especially not when there are any number of ways to look and prove the truth.
So, to sum up... This is a river
This, is not a river.
Did everybody catch the difference? I hope it wasn't too subtle. (Just in case... The second one is DRY!)
You don't drown by falling into water. You drown by staying there.
-Robert Allen-
She shared a story wherein she took a friend of hers down to "the river" to go camping. Well, as it turns out this particular water has no water in it. Ergo, no river.
Oh gods did things ever take a turn.
First of all, do not tell me that I am not "country" enough to understand that it's still a river. It is NOT still a river. Rivers have water in them. Rivers HAVE to have water in them. It's what makes them a gods-damned river! If there is no water then it is a dried up river bed. It is not, I repeat NOT still a river when there is no water flowing through it!
That is something like saying to me, "Hey, what do you think of all this rain? Kinda dry, isn't it?"
No! No it isn't fucking dry! It is rain! Rain is water, water is wet! Go to your corner and HIT YOURSELF until you learn something. I don't care what you learn. The important thing is that when you come back to speak to me, you need to be smarter or I can't be held responsible for my actions.
Now... If you want to say something like, "Well, we just all call it the river," fine. You are still wrong but I can accept that you refer to it that way and let it go. But for fucks sake, don't you DARE tell me I am wrong for insisting that a river has water.
Let's go ask Erin at Wordnik again and see what they have to say.
RIVER
- noun A large natural stream of water emptying into an ocean, lake, or other body of water and usually fed along its course by converging tributaries.
- noun A stream or abundant flow.
Item number the first: ~Water~
Item number the second: ~Flow~
I would take a moment to point out the words abundant or stream but then I have to look up more definitions with more words to point out and so on and so on... It would lead to stress, anarchy, plagues of frogs, zombie wars, locusts (::cringe::) and the eventual demise of civilization and I just can't fucking take it.
::Deep breath...::
Alright.
Seriously now though, I could have left it alone if it weren't for the phrase, "You don't know what you're talkin' about. You just aren't country enough..."
This is why people assume country folk are morons!
I have known plenty of people in the south and many more in the country. Some of them have even affected that bumpkin like speech pattern where they sound kind of like they are just too damned lazy to finish forming the words. I have to tell you though, some of those people are pretty damned smart! I will just about guarantee that any one of them can tell me about things I know nothing about.
What I am trying to say here is this. I am a very smart guy but I am more than willing to accept that there are things you know more about than I do. If you would care to correct or educate me on any one of those things, I welcome the chance to expand my personal knowledge. (Alright, honestly I am a bit of a know-it-all. But I swear, once I realize you are right and I am wrong, I will not only admit it but I will then apologize for ever having insisted I was correct in the first place.)
But never, ever, tell me that I am wrong on something that gods damned simple. Especially not when there are any number of ways to look and prove the truth.
So, to sum up... This is a river
This, is not a river.
Did everybody catch the difference? I hope it wasn't too subtle. (Just in case... The second one is DRY!)
You don't drown by falling into water. You drown by staying there.
-Robert Allen-
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Perception and Reality...
I think, at this point, that it is largely accepted as fact that our perception shapes our reality. That what I perceive to be true is not necessarily the same as the truth perceived by the person sitting next to me.
I think about this more often than I care to admit. If truth be told, I probably think about it a fair bit more than would probably be considered healthy by some. Even so, I give it a lot of thought.
Just about every time I sit down here to write a blog, I consider how I might be able to discuss reality, perception and truth. Unfortunately, I find that the answer to how I might do that lends itself to the probability that I would need to devote a whole new blog to the topic. Maybe I will do that some day. :p
For now, I want to share something with you that touches on perception and reality at their very root.
I am certain I have mentioned in passing the existance of something called TED talks. TED is the modern day forum where people with great minds and great thoughts gather to share their views on pretty much everything there is. I am not sure I will ever get around to searching the TED database in it's entirety but I do try to watch the talks that appeal to me.
I recommend the site to anyone out there who happens to have an interest in anything. But for now, I am going to share with you a talk I found that relates to the topic at hand.
Enjoy!
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
-Albert Einstein-
I think about this more often than I care to admit. If truth be told, I probably think about it a fair bit more than would probably be considered healthy by some. Even so, I give it a lot of thought.
Just about every time I sit down here to write a blog, I consider how I might be able to discuss reality, perception and truth. Unfortunately, I find that the answer to how I might do that lends itself to the probability that I would need to devote a whole new blog to the topic. Maybe I will do that some day. :p
For now, I want to share something with you that touches on perception and reality at their very root.
I am certain I have mentioned in passing the existance of something called TED talks. TED is the modern day forum where people with great minds and great thoughts gather to share their views on pretty much everything there is. I am not sure I will ever get around to searching the TED database in it's entirety but I do try to watch the talks that appeal to me.
I recommend the site to anyone out there who happens to have an interest in anything. But for now, I am going to share with you a talk I found that relates to the topic at hand.
Enjoy!
Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.
-Albert Einstein-
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Friends...
Friend...
The American Heritage Dictionary (via Wordnik) defines the word friend as follows.
1. noun A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
It goes on from there to define the word at various other levels but I think I am going to stick with the original for what I want to talk about. I do think it worth mentioning one other entry from the good old AHD which is as follows...
7. Word History: A friend is a lover, literally. The relationship between Latin amīcus "friend” and amō "I love” is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos "friend” and phileō "I love.” In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, frēond, the Old English word for "friend,” was simply the present participle of the verb frēon, "to love.” The Germanic root behind this verb is *frī-, which meant "to like, love, be friendly to.” Closely linked to these concepts is that of "peace,” and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal names Frederick, "peaceful ruler,” and Siegfried, ”victory peace.” The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, "day of Frigg,” from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris diēs, "day of Venus.”
Damn! That is some interesting stuff! I am, by no means, a lexicographer. (I learned that word from Erin McKean. If you don't know who this wonderful woman is, I recommend meeting her here. She is also the entrepreneur behind Wordnik, a website dedicated to reshaping the dictionary to better fit in the current age. I encourage you all to check it out and offer your support!) But come on! The history and roots of our language are amazing!
Anyway... I guess that, in an effort to break all of that down to basics, friends are people you love.
Alright, I can get on board with that. Let me take a look at how that definition fits into my life.
I have tons of friends! Holy shit! Who knew!??
Seriously though... I have friends from every place I have lived over the years. I am going to set aside the trust thing for now (I have issues, alright?) and just focus on the people I love.
Family? Check! I may not be as close to them as many people are to their families but, whether from years of shared experiences or due to genuine connections I have formed with them throughout my life, I do indeed love most of my family. By the definition we are working with, my family members are my friends.
People I knew growing up? Check again! I will be honest here and say right off the bat that I don't really talk to many people from my childhood. (For the sake of this definition we will call my childhood anything that took place before I turned... Oh... Let's say around 13 or so.) When I really stop to think about it though, yes. Yes, there are still people from my childhood whom I love. Kieth, Jason, Duff... I may not be involved in, or even aware of their lives anymore, but I do still feel love for them. At least enough so that, if I found out they were in town, I would veritably jump at the chance to sit down and visit with them over coffee. Maybe even enough that, given the opportunity, I would happily reaffirm and revisit our friendship in the context of our lives.
So, from what I can tell I have about a hundred friends so far and I am just getting into my teens. Lets take a look at the next phase of my life.
Adolescence? Absolutely. There are a few people from this period of my life whose lives have become so inter-meshed with mine over the years that I dont think I will ever be rid of them! In particular Paul, Bob and Janelle. I see them far too infrequently and talk to them only a little more but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that these people are my friends. There are of course others, but these are the people who, if I ever needed a shoulder to cry on, they would not flinch from me in the least. More importantly, they know that should the need ever arise, I would do the same for them.
Moving right along... Eventually I moved out of high school and into college. I have to admit, I didn't do too well at living this phase of my life and, in retrospect, I can't say that I genuinely formed any bonds there. That isn't to say that the people there weren't worth bonding with. To the contrary, I do actually harbor some sadness that I am unable to name any of the people I knew then as friends. Maybe, (Hopefully?) some of them do consider me a friend and one day I will be able to return that bond when chance and circumstance permit.
::sniffle:: Alright, better get over it and move forward.
I can't think of an effective way to break down the years since school ended so it looks like the remainder of my life gets to get all thrown together.
Adulthood? Ohhh yeah. I have had any number of jobs over the years and at each and every one of them I have formed some kind of lasting love for someone. Some of those friends are people I am still sporadically in touch with. Others I haven't heard from in years but the list in my head of the people I have loved, and continue to love, in my adulthood are too numerous and too varied to even begin to list off. Suffice it to say that if any one of them ever needed my help with something and I were in a position to give them the help they needed, I would do so without batting an eye.
Scarily enough, I still have a couple of life periods (as I reckon these things) to touch on. Don't worry, I will do my best to be brief. (Insert rather long winded aside here. :p)
Tennessee? Oh hell yes. I only lived in Tennessee for about a year (this time around) but I do believe I made some lasting friendships there. I will admit readily that I am not the best at keeping in touch with any of them but I do genuinely try. More importantly, they know that and make an effort to remain in touch with me as well. I have to say in all honesty that, when I was with my friends in Tennessee was the time when I felt closest to a group of people. That group doesn't exist anymore and I still love each and every individual I had there. But when I look back with wonder and nostalgia in my eye, it is most often the group that I miss most.
Which brings us, finally, to the present. The present in this instance consists of the last two and a half years or so. To be more specific, the time I have lived here, in Austin. It has taken me a good deal of time to start developing friends here due mainly to my lack of social ambition. I am consciously working on that these days and, upon examination, I seem to be doing better than I had thought. I have several people with whom I am able to sit and converse on a variety of levels and topics and, as time goes on, some of them do seem to be turning into genuine friends and people I love. Each of them I think (and hope) knows who they are and, I hope, feels the same way toward me.
There is one person, however, from this most recent stage of my life, who deserves special mention. I have found through this time the one person I have been closest to. My roommate Manda and I have been living together since my arrival here and it has been wonderful. For the first time in my life, I have a person who I can genuinely connect with regularly and who I trust to be there as my support and sounding stone whether I need her to be or not. Even more amazingly, she has grown into someone who, even when I want to kill her for it, will tell me the honest and unadulterated truth. Someone for whom I can express both respect and love.
That isn't to say there aren't times when we drive one another insane or to the brink of homicide. The important thing is that we have both grown into our selves in such a way as to be able to accept the idiosyncrasies of one another. We have created a home together hinging on mutual respect and support and we are continuing to grow together now and for the foreseeable future.
If you find yourself without a person like this in your life, I truly hope you are able to meet one someday. Whether they be a friend, lover, sibling, spouse, parent or child, this truest of friends is someone to cherish so be sure that you do so. If you don't cherish them as they so richly deserve, I will find you. I mean it. And you really really don't want me to do that.
And so, in closing, I have friends. I am betting that you do too. I recommend that you take a moment now and then to take stock of that fact and relish it wholeheartedly.
A friend may well be the masterpiece of Nature.
A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud.
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson- four separate quotes from one amazing mind
The American Heritage Dictionary (via Wordnik) defines the word friend as follows.
1. noun A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.
It goes on from there to define the word at various other levels but I think I am going to stick with the original for what I want to talk about. I do think it worth mentioning one other entry from the good old AHD which is as follows...
7. Word History: A friend is a lover, literally. The relationship between Latin amīcus "friend” and amō "I love” is clear, as is the relationship between Greek philos "friend” and phileō "I love.” In English, though, we have to go back a millennium before we see the verb related to friend. At that time, frēond, the Old English word for "friend,” was simply the present participle of the verb frēon, "to love.” The Germanic root behind this verb is *frī-, which meant "to like, love, be friendly to.” Closely linked to these concepts is that of "peace,” and in fact Germanic made a noun from this root, *frithu-, meaning exactly that. Ultimately descended from this noun are the personal names Frederick, "peaceful ruler,” and Siegfried, ”victory peace.” The root also shows up in the name of the Germanic deity Frigg, the goddess of love, who lives on today in the word Friday, "day of Frigg,” from an ancient translation of Latin Veneris diēs, "day of Venus.”
Damn! That is some interesting stuff! I am, by no means, a lexicographer. (I learned that word from Erin McKean. If you don't know who this wonderful woman is, I recommend meeting her here. She is also the entrepreneur behind Wordnik, a website dedicated to reshaping the dictionary to better fit in the current age. I encourage you all to check it out and offer your support!) But come on! The history and roots of our language are amazing!
Anyway... I guess that, in an effort to break all of that down to basics, friends are people you love.
Alright, I can get on board with that. Let me take a look at how that definition fits into my life.
I have tons of friends! Holy shit! Who knew!??
Seriously though... I have friends from every place I have lived over the years. I am going to set aside the trust thing for now (I have issues, alright?) and just focus on the people I love.
Family? Check! I may not be as close to them as many people are to their families but, whether from years of shared experiences or due to genuine connections I have formed with them throughout my life, I do indeed love most of my family. By the definition we are working with, my family members are my friends.
People I knew growing up? Check again! I will be honest here and say right off the bat that I don't really talk to many people from my childhood. (For the sake of this definition we will call my childhood anything that took place before I turned... Oh... Let's say around 13 or so.) When I really stop to think about it though, yes. Yes, there are still people from my childhood whom I love. Kieth, Jason, Duff... I may not be involved in, or even aware of their lives anymore, but I do still feel love for them. At least enough so that, if I found out they were in town, I would veritably jump at the chance to sit down and visit with them over coffee. Maybe even enough that, given the opportunity, I would happily reaffirm and revisit our friendship in the context of our lives.
So, from what I can tell I have about a hundred friends so far and I am just getting into my teens. Lets take a look at the next phase of my life.
Adolescence? Absolutely. There are a few people from this period of my life whose lives have become so inter-meshed with mine over the years that I dont think I will ever be rid of them! In particular Paul, Bob and Janelle. I see them far too infrequently and talk to them only a little more but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that these people are my friends. There are of course others, but these are the people who, if I ever needed a shoulder to cry on, they would not flinch from me in the least. More importantly, they know that should the need ever arise, I would do the same for them.
Moving right along... Eventually I moved out of high school and into college. I have to admit, I didn't do too well at living this phase of my life and, in retrospect, I can't say that I genuinely formed any bonds there. That isn't to say that the people there weren't worth bonding with. To the contrary, I do actually harbor some sadness that I am unable to name any of the people I knew then as friends. Maybe, (Hopefully?) some of them do consider me a friend and one day I will be able to return that bond when chance and circumstance permit.
::sniffle:: Alright, better get over it and move forward.
I can't think of an effective way to break down the years since school ended so it looks like the remainder of my life gets to get all thrown together.
Adulthood? Ohhh yeah. I have had any number of jobs over the years and at each and every one of them I have formed some kind of lasting love for someone. Some of those friends are people I am still sporadically in touch with. Others I haven't heard from in years but the list in my head of the people I have loved, and continue to love, in my adulthood are too numerous and too varied to even begin to list off. Suffice it to say that if any one of them ever needed my help with something and I were in a position to give them the help they needed, I would do so without batting an eye.
Scarily enough, I still have a couple of life periods (as I reckon these things) to touch on. Don't worry, I will do my best to be brief. (Insert rather long winded aside here. :p)
Tennessee? Oh hell yes. I only lived in Tennessee for about a year (this time around) but I do believe I made some lasting friendships there. I will admit readily that I am not the best at keeping in touch with any of them but I do genuinely try. More importantly, they know that and make an effort to remain in touch with me as well. I have to say in all honesty that, when I was with my friends in Tennessee was the time when I felt closest to a group of people. That group doesn't exist anymore and I still love each and every individual I had there. But when I look back with wonder and nostalgia in my eye, it is most often the group that I miss most.
Which brings us, finally, to the present. The present in this instance consists of the last two and a half years or so. To be more specific, the time I have lived here, in Austin. It has taken me a good deal of time to start developing friends here due mainly to my lack of social ambition. I am consciously working on that these days and, upon examination, I seem to be doing better than I had thought. I have several people with whom I am able to sit and converse on a variety of levels and topics and, as time goes on, some of them do seem to be turning into genuine friends and people I love. Each of them I think (and hope) knows who they are and, I hope, feels the same way toward me.
There is one person, however, from this most recent stage of my life, who deserves special mention. I have found through this time the one person I have been closest to. My roommate Manda and I have been living together since my arrival here and it has been wonderful. For the first time in my life, I have a person who I can genuinely connect with regularly and who I trust to be there as my support and sounding stone whether I need her to be or not. Even more amazingly, she has grown into someone who, even when I want to kill her for it, will tell me the honest and unadulterated truth. Someone for whom I can express both respect and love.
That isn't to say there aren't times when we drive one another insane or to the brink of homicide. The important thing is that we have both grown into our selves in such a way as to be able to accept the idiosyncrasies of one another. We have created a home together hinging on mutual respect and support and we are continuing to grow together now and for the foreseeable future.
If you find yourself without a person like this in your life, I truly hope you are able to meet one someday. Whether they be a friend, lover, sibling, spouse, parent or child, this truest of friends is someone to cherish so be sure that you do so. If you don't cherish them as they so richly deserve, I will find you. I mean it. And you really really don't want me to do that.
And so, in closing, I have friends. I am betting that you do too. I recommend that you take a moment now and then to take stock of that fact and relish it wholeheartedly.
A friend may well be the masterpiece of Nature.
A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him I may think aloud.
The only reward of virtue is virtue; the only way to have a friend is to be one.
It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
-Ralph Waldo Emerson- four separate quotes from one amazing mind
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Individualization...
I got an email the other day from my little sister. This fact, in and of itself, was both surprising and pleasing but when I read the message she had sent I had to stop for a few minutes to think of a way to respond.
My sister is 13 years old now and is a freshman in high school. (Yikes! That is scarier than I care to admit.) I was 17 when she was born so, while we may have lived under the same roof for a few years, we were never exactly close as siblings. By the time she was old enough to be self aware I had already stared striking out to begin my own life. In fact, over the last few years, I have seen her only when I have been able to fly back home for my (rather infrequent) visits.
Not withstanding our lack of closeness, I have always held at least a modicum of sway over her tastes and preferences. I mean, I introduced her to Rocky Horror Picture Show when she was around three and she keeps viewing it regularly this day. (Note to self: Check with sister to learn current number of viewings to date.)
I also helped formulate her musical tastes by introducing her to music I myself enjoy. Perhaps it isn't surprising that she sent me a message asking me for feedback and ideas pertaining to new music that she should listen to and enjoy. What was surprising was the reason...
Apparently, my sister is striving to become an individual. She wants to set herself apart from her peers by having her own tastes and such.
I can get behind that to a point so I sent her some ideas. I recommended listening to several different musical genres that are less mainstream than she would generally hear on the radio. In particular, I mentioned show-tunes (a long time favorite of mine), along with classical and opera as being something new for her to check. I also recommended that she listen to some oldies just because, well, they are awesome and I think everyone ought to be able to find some kind of oldies to enjoy. Hell... If it has withstood the years and is still something people want to hear then there almost has to be something in it worth listening to!
Anyway, all that being said I think that there is something more important to keep in mind. Being an individual means more than just liking things that other people don't like or are unexposed to. Being an individual does encompass that but it is also having the courage and strength of character to hold to your own personal preferences. That includes the times when everyone else likes it too.
Just because everyone likes something does not devalue it as a thing to like. Distinguishing yourself as an individual by disregarding that in which others see merit is both ignorant and stunting. (I considered making a goth or indie dig here... Something regarding the uniform of non-conformity or some-such nonsense... But then I realized it would open a whole other can of worms that I just don't have the attention span to tackle right now.)
Not that you have to like things because everyone does. That is just ignorance in the opposite (and more frequent) direction. All I am saying is that, before disregarding something based on the preference of others, a person owes it to themselves to give it their attention and thought in an effort to decide for themselves whether or not they can see it's merit.
I suppose that what it comes down to is that individualism is something that is based solely on self. If you really truly wish to be an individual then you have to be honest, introspective and strong.
In other words...
You have to like what you like without regard to the opinions of others.
And let's face it here... Ignorance is no bar to individualism. Not knowing something is not the same as pretending that you either do or do not like something.
Yeah... I think I had it right... Honest, introspective and strong (courageous?) enough to hold tight to your own individual truth.
It is nice if you can do all that without trying to ram your opinions down the throats of others too. Doing so doesn't disqualify you from the "I'm an Individual" club... But it does grant you membership to the "I'm an Individual Who Thinks My Opinion is Better than Yours" club. I like to call that one "I Need My Ass Kicked" for short.
And for fucks sake... If you ever hear yourself utter the words, "In my humble opinion," please... Just stop there. If it is humble keep it to yourself. If you think it is worth sharing, well then, it isn't humble. That's fine, really, but don't bloody well lie about it. You aren't fooling anyone, you know.
It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.
-Giordano Bruno-
My sister is 13 years old now and is a freshman in high school. (Yikes! That is scarier than I care to admit.) I was 17 when she was born so, while we may have lived under the same roof for a few years, we were never exactly close as siblings. By the time she was old enough to be self aware I had already stared striking out to begin my own life. In fact, over the last few years, I have seen her only when I have been able to fly back home for my (rather infrequent) visits.
Not withstanding our lack of closeness, I have always held at least a modicum of sway over her tastes and preferences. I mean, I introduced her to Rocky Horror Picture Show when she was around three and she keeps viewing it regularly this day. (Note to self: Check with sister to learn current number of viewings to date.)
I also helped formulate her musical tastes by introducing her to music I myself enjoy. Perhaps it isn't surprising that she sent me a message asking me for feedback and ideas pertaining to new music that she should listen to and enjoy. What was surprising was the reason...
Apparently, my sister is striving to become an individual. She wants to set herself apart from her peers by having her own tastes and such.
I can get behind that to a point so I sent her some ideas. I recommended listening to several different musical genres that are less mainstream than she would generally hear on the radio. In particular, I mentioned show-tunes (a long time favorite of mine), along with classical and opera as being something new for her to check. I also recommended that she listen to some oldies just because, well, they are awesome and I think everyone ought to be able to find some kind of oldies to enjoy. Hell... If it has withstood the years and is still something people want to hear then there almost has to be something in it worth listening to!
Anyway, all that being said I think that there is something more important to keep in mind. Being an individual means more than just liking things that other people don't like or are unexposed to. Being an individual does encompass that but it is also having the courage and strength of character to hold to your own personal preferences. That includes the times when everyone else likes it too.
Just because everyone likes something does not devalue it as a thing to like. Distinguishing yourself as an individual by disregarding that in which others see merit is both ignorant and stunting. (I considered making a goth or indie dig here... Something regarding the uniform of non-conformity or some-such nonsense... But then I realized it would open a whole other can of worms that I just don't have the attention span to tackle right now.)
Not that you have to like things because everyone does. That is just ignorance in the opposite (and more frequent) direction. All I am saying is that, before disregarding something based on the preference of others, a person owes it to themselves to give it their attention and thought in an effort to decide for themselves whether or not they can see it's merit.
I suppose that what it comes down to is that individualism is something that is based solely on self. If you really truly wish to be an individual then you have to be honest, introspective and strong.
In other words...
You have to like what you like without regard to the opinions of others.
And let's face it here... Ignorance is no bar to individualism. Not knowing something is not the same as pretending that you either do or do not like something.
Yeah... I think I had it right... Honest, introspective and strong (courageous?) enough to hold tight to your own individual truth.
It is nice if you can do all that without trying to ram your opinions down the throats of others too. Doing so doesn't disqualify you from the "I'm an Individual" club... But it does grant you membership to the "I'm an Individual Who Thinks My Opinion is Better than Yours" club. I like to call that one "I Need My Ass Kicked" for short.
And for fucks sake... If you ever hear yourself utter the words, "In my humble opinion," please... Just stop there. If it is humble keep it to yourself. If you think it is worth sharing, well then, it isn't humble. That's fine, really, but don't bloody well lie about it. You aren't fooling anyone, you know.
It is proof of a base and low mind for one to wish to think with the masses or majority, merely because the majority is the majority. Truth does not change because it is, or is not, believed by a majority of the people.
-Giordano Bruno-
Saturday, October 3, 2009
May Contain Spoilers... 4 of 4
I think I am going to try to keep this section short and sweet. This is going to cover two categories. First, off season shows or shows that show during the summer. Then I am going to rattle off a couple of British shows that are worth looking at. Then I am going to go pass out.
So off season shows...
Well for starters there is True Blood. After two seasons I still can't decide that I like this show but I can be damn sure I can't stop watching it. I don't particularly care for either lead role but I am loving the hell out of the supporting cast. If vampires are real then magic must be real. They need to find a way to bring Godric back. Just sayin.
And Leverage! Hitter, hacker, grifter, thief... Throw in a mastermind and you have an outstanding ensemble show with the potential to go anywhere! The characterizations here absolutely live up to any hype you may have heard. And on the off chance you haven't heard any, consider this hype. Rumor has it that this show has already been renewed beyond the second season but from what I can see, there are still three unaired and unscheduled episodes of season two! If anyone knows what in the world is going on here please let me know!
The one new summer show I found this year was put out on Syfy. (What the hell was wrong with scifi by the way?) Warehouse 13 is a little bit more flighty and a lot less serious than most shows of its ilk but, certainly, no less entertaining for that. It centers around a team of agents who work at recovering artifacts that are, through various methods, imbued with special powers. If it sounds hokey, it is but seriously, well worth watching. (And on a random note, I love that Claudia is a regular character. I didn't think that was going to happen and was thrilled when it did.)
Ok... Off season shows covered... Lets spend just a moment talking about some foreign programs.
By some, I mean two and by foreign I mean from the BBC. (What!? I can only speak English so I am limited on my foreign viewing capabilities!)
First off, a show some of you may have noticed on NBC over the summer, Merlin. It is a period piece which means armor and old fashioned looking costumes. It also means that it will probably never really catch on here in the states but in the UK, it has been renewed for a second season and I am looking forward to it wholeheartedly. As the name implies, it is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend from a point of view centering around Merlin. What you don't get from the title is the fact that they are young, magic of any kind is outlawed, Uther Pendragon is still the king and Arthur is still being shaped by his experiences into the legendary ruler we know. If you know the legends you know most of the characters and if you don't know them, well, this seems like as good a way as any to fall in love with the magic and majesty that have captivated people for centuries!
And finally, before I pass out, I would like to tell you about a show centering around three housemates in Bristol, England. the show is actually surprisingly deep and amazingly done. It has inner conflict, external conflict, good guys, bad guys and enough drama that sometimes it isn't entirely clear which character is on which side. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... The three main characters are a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost. Being Human is actually a bloody amazing show in spite of (or because of), well, everything about it! :p
That having been said, I am going to go pass out... Happy viewing! See you soon!
So off season shows...
Well for starters there is True Blood. After two seasons I still can't decide that I like this show but I can be damn sure I can't stop watching it. I don't particularly care for either lead role but I am loving the hell out of the supporting cast. If vampires are real then magic must be real. They need to find a way to bring Godric back. Just sayin.
And Leverage! Hitter, hacker, grifter, thief... Throw in a mastermind and you have an outstanding ensemble show with the potential to go anywhere! The characterizations here absolutely live up to any hype you may have heard. And on the off chance you haven't heard any, consider this hype. Rumor has it that this show has already been renewed beyond the second season but from what I can see, there are still three unaired and unscheduled episodes of season two! If anyone knows what in the world is going on here please let me know!
The one new summer show I found this year was put out on Syfy. (What the hell was wrong with scifi by the way?) Warehouse 13 is a little bit more flighty and a lot less serious than most shows of its ilk but, certainly, no less entertaining for that. It centers around a team of agents who work at recovering artifacts that are, through various methods, imbued with special powers. If it sounds hokey, it is but seriously, well worth watching. (And on a random note, I love that Claudia is a regular character. I didn't think that was going to happen and was thrilled when it did.)
Ok... Off season shows covered... Lets spend just a moment talking about some foreign programs.
By some, I mean two and by foreign I mean from the BBC. (What!? I can only speak English so I am limited on my foreign viewing capabilities!)
First off, a show some of you may have noticed on NBC over the summer, Merlin. It is a period piece which means armor and old fashioned looking costumes. It also means that it will probably never really catch on here in the states but in the UK, it has been renewed for a second season and I am looking forward to it wholeheartedly. As the name implies, it is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend from a point of view centering around Merlin. What you don't get from the title is the fact that they are young, magic of any kind is outlawed, Uther Pendragon is still the king and Arthur is still being shaped by his experiences into the legendary ruler we know. If you know the legends you know most of the characters and if you don't know them, well, this seems like as good a way as any to fall in love with the magic and majesty that have captivated people for centuries!
And finally, before I pass out, I would like to tell you about a show centering around three housemates in Bristol, England. the show is actually surprisingly deep and amazingly done. It has inner conflict, external conflict, good guys, bad guys and enough drama that sometimes it isn't entirely clear which character is on which side. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention... The three main characters are a vampire, a werewolf and a ghost. Being Human is actually a bloody amazing show in spite of (or because of), well, everything about it! :p
That having been said, I am going to go pass out... Happy viewing! See you soon!
May Contain Spoilers... 3 of 4
New shows...
There are a few programs this season that have piqued my interest. I dont know quite as much about them as I do about the ones I have been watching for longer (duh) but I will give you what I can.
First things first, The Forgotten. Christian Slater (yep, swear to god, Christian Slater) is leading a band of volunteers who help to identify corpses. I will warn you, this i s both more and less strange than it sounds. The Forgotten is apparently a vast network of these volunteers who pick up where the police leave off. When the cops run out of leads these guys do all kinds of whacky research to identify a victim and then help bring the killer to justice. I suppose that it is kind of a new take on a cop drama but it is one I can stand behind. (Notice that none of the Law and Order shows make my list anywhere. It isn't that I don't like the shows, just that I think they have been overdone to the point of no return.)
The next show I have found this year with the potential to hold my attention is called Flash Forward. Imagine that you are driving along one day when suddenly you black out for 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Only you don't really black out. You actually flash forward 6 months and see where you will be and what you will be doing. And you aren't the only one! Every. Single. Person. on the face of the PLANET goes through the same thing. And as one little girl puts it when she trys to describe her "dream", "I dreamed there were no more good days." ... Damn...
Now everyone has to figure out what they did or didn't do and how to change it to avoid the hell that the future looked like it was going to be. And while we are at it, maybe we can figure out just what the HELL just happened here!
Oh, and by the way... An object in motion stays in motion... So when your flashback ends the world looks like Armageddon thanks to all the cars piled up and helicopters and planes that crashed and god knows what all else can go wrong in two and a half minutes... Shit, it is going to take a whole season just to straighten everything out, never mind reach a conclusion!
Then there is Glee. I don't want to like it... I don't want to like it... But I am a theater person from way back. Something about showtunes is lust making this irresistible tome.
Phew... Alright... I am calm. There are only three other shows to tell you about in the new category and I am not sure how I feel about any of them yet.
To begin with, Vampire Diaries. On the plus side, they aren't sparkly vampires. On the negative side, Glee is already stretching my ability to put up with high school drama. Conclusion... There is potential there, but I don't think I am going to be able to stick it out long enough for it to come to fruition. I hope you like it though!
Next we have Cougar Town. Pros: Not (primarily) high school drama. Cons: Primarily 40 year old recently divorced woman drama. Conclusion... Aww hell, the jury is still out on this one. I will stick it out a little longer in the hopes that it works for me.
And finally, Eastwick. You have heard of the Witches of Eastwick, I hope. Well, that is the basis. Kind of a cool concept I think. The good part is that the witches are all hot and (I think) decent actresses. Sadly, the Devil is the antithesis of this fact. At this point I am hoping that the director or someone is able to fix that fact as the season progresses. I would truly hate to have to hate a show because of a bad Devil. Hell, call the guy that played the Devil in Reaper! He was an outstanding evil and I can almost see that type of devil fitting here!
Ok... Almost done here... One more section and I can go to bed!
There are a few programs this season that have piqued my interest. I dont know quite as much about them as I do about the ones I have been watching for longer (duh) but I will give you what I can.
First things first, The Forgotten. Christian Slater (yep, swear to god, Christian Slater) is leading a band of volunteers who help to identify corpses. I will warn you, this i s both more and less strange than it sounds. The Forgotten is apparently a vast network of these volunteers who pick up where the police leave off. When the cops run out of leads these guys do all kinds of whacky research to identify a victim and then help bring the killer to justice. I suppose that it is kind of a new take on a cop drama but it is one I can stand behind. (Notice that none of the Law and Order shows make my list anywhere. It isn't that I don't like the shows, just that I think they have been overdone to the point of no return.)
The next show I have found this year with the potential to hold my attention is called Flash Forward. Imagine that you are driving along one day when suddenly you black out for 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Only you don't really black out. You actually flash forward 6 months and see where you will be and what you will be doing. And you aren't the only one! Every. Single. Person. on the face of the PLANET goes through the same thing. And as one little girl puts it when she trys to describe her "dream", "I dreamed there were no more good days." ... Damn...
Now everyone has to figure out what they did or didn't do and how to change it to avoid the hell that the future looked like it was going to be. And while we are at it, maybe we can figure out just what the HELL just happened here!
Oh, and by the way... An object in motion stays in motion... So when your flashback ends the world looks like Armageddon thanks to all the cars piled up and helicopters and planes that crashed and god knows what all else can go wrong in two and a half minutes... Shit, it is going to take a whole season just to straighten everything out, never mind reach a conclusion!
Then there is Glee. I don't want to like it... I don't want to like it... But I am a theater person from way back. Something about showtunes is lust making this irresistible tome.
Phew... Alright... I am calm. There are only three other shows to tell you about in the new category and I am not sure how I feel about any of them yet.
To begin with, Vampire Diaries. On the plus side, they aren't sparkly vampires. On the negative side, Glee is already stretching my ability to put up with high school drama. Conclusion... There is potential there, but I don't think I am going to be able to stick it out long enough for it to come to fruition. I hope you like it though!
Next we have Cougar Town. Pros: Not (primarily) high school drama. Cons: Primarily 40 year old recently divorced woman drama. Conclusion... Aww hell, the jury is still out on this one. I will stick it out a little longer in the hopes that it works for me.
And finally, Eastwick. You have heard of the Witches of Eastwick, I hope. Well, that is the basis. Kind of a cool concept I think. The good part is that the witches are all hot and (I think) decent actresses. Sadly, the Devil is the antithesis of this fact. At this point I am hoping that the director or someone is able to fix that fact as the season progresses. I would truly hate to have to hate a show because of a bad Devil. Hell, call the guy that played the Devil in Reaper! He was an outstanding evil and I can almost see that type of devil fitting here!
Ok... Almost done here... One more section and I can go to bed!
May Contain Spoilers... 2 of 4
Alright... Now on to greener pastures with shows that are still alive and kicking and need your support to return for even more hours of entertainment.
I am fairly certain that I am not alone in mourning the late Doctor George O'Malley but even so, I was excited to see Grey's Anatomy return for a sixth season. Season five was unbelievable and I doubt that they can keep up the heart-stopping dramatic pace they have been keeping but I am willing to watch it as long as they do. My biggest fear here is that they are going to over-extend and wind up sucking. Here is to keeping my fingers crossed that that doesn't happen.
Also returning this seasons are some of my favorites...
Supernatural, where Sam and Dean Winchester are trying to save the world from the apocalypse that they maybe kinda sort-of almost started.
Smallville, the retelling of the Superman mythos from way back in high school. Clark and Lex were best friends for years before becoming the most bitter of enemies. The Justice League is steadily forming around Clark and just last year they finally openly recognized the budding romance between he and Lois Lane. I haven't the faintest idea where season nine is going to take us but I for one am waiting with baited breath to see him finally don his costume and become the hero we all know and love. (Maybe this season they will find a way to have Bruce Wayne make an appearance. HINT!)
And let me not forget to mention Dollhouse! This show was last season's underachiever but thanks in no small part to the success of Joss Whedon's other shows it managed to get renewed for a second go at it. I cannot express just how much I urge you to watch this show on a regular basis. I don't care whether you watch it on your television, Hulu, Tivo or any other means. Just make sure you do watch it somewhere where it is counted. Please don't just download it. Downloading this show will hurt its ratings and we can't afford that is we are going to see it come back again. (Oh hell... Download it too, just set it to run on Hulu or something while you wait!)
Speaking of Joss (Hrmm... Seems I do that more than I realized...), David Boreanaz (Angel, you know, from Angel) is back for season number something on Bones and Nathan Fillion (Captain Mal Reynolds from Firefly... Duh...) is back for season 2 of Castle. Both shows are very worth checking out. I encourage you to go do so now!
Of course, also returning this year is Heroes. I have to admit, I have started getting a little but disenfranchised with this show over the last two or three seasons but this season has one big thing going for it in my eyes. Robert Knepper. Robert is one of those rare actors that is incredibly hard to recognise because he totally becomes his character. He stands out wonderfully in any role he plays but he is memorable as the role, not as himself. Does that make sense? Probably not... Bottom line: Any show with anyone from Carnivale is worth my time. Yours too! (If you are unfamiliar with Carnivale, fix the problem. I haven't the time, energy or heart to explain to you how devastating it was when it went off the air. You will love me for making you start it and then you can hate me when you see how it ends.)
The Big Bang Theory has exceeded my expectations as well. Geeks, Comics, Science, Hot Girls, Superheros... The list goes on and on as to why this show is as awsome as it is. I cannot possibly sum it up effectively for you other than to say one word. Sheldon. Watch the show, you will see what I mean.
And finally... Last years break out hit (in my opinion at least)... Fringe. At its core, this is a new, exciting twist on The X-files but as it plays out it is becoming much more with potential to go even farther. Walter is absolutely amazing and the entire rest of the cast matches him beat for beat. Even his son, Peter! (Joshua Jackson... The kid from Dawson's Creek. Not Dawson, the other one! Percy! Who would have thought the little S.O.B. would ever learn how to act?)
Seriously folks... If you haven't seen Fringe, do so. It is well worth the time of anyone who is interested in just about any genre of television there is.
Alright... That brings us to new shows...
I am fairly certain that I am not alone in mourning the late Doctor George O'Malley but even so, I was excited to see Grey's Anatomy return for a sixth season. Season five was unbelievable and I doubt that they can keep up the heart-stopping dramatic pace they have been keeping but I am willing to watch it as long as they do. My biggest fear here is that they are going to over-extend and wind up sucking. Here is to keeping my fingers crossed that that doesn't happen.
Also returning this seasons are some of my favorites...
Supernatural, where Sam and Dean Winchester are trying to save the world from the apocalypse that they maybe kinda sort-of almost started.
Smallville, the retelling of the Superman mythos from way back in high school. Clark and Lex were best friends for years before becoming the most bitter of enemies. The Justice League is steadily forming around Clark and just last year they finally openly recognized the budding romance between he and Lois Lane. I haven't the faintest idea where season nine is going to take us but I for one am waiting with baited breath to see him finally don his costume and become the hero we all know and love. (Maybe this season they will find a way to have Bruce Wayne make an appearance. HINT!)
And let me not forget to mention Dollhouse! This show was last season's underachiever but thanks in no small part to the success of Joss Whedon's other shows it managed to get renewed for a second go at it. I cannot express just how much I urge you to watch this show on a regular basis. I don't care whether you watch it on your television, Hulu, Tivo or any other means. Just make sure you do watch it somewhere where it is counted. Please don't just download it. Downloading this show will hurt its ratings and we can't afford that is we are going to see it come back again. (Oh hell... Download it too, just set it to run on Hulu or something while you wait!)
Speaking of Joss (Hrmm... Seems I do that more than I realized...), David Boreanaz (Angel, you know, from Angel) is back for season number something on Bones and Nathan Fillion (Captain Mal Reynolds from Firefly... Duh...) is back for season 2 of Castle. Both shows are very worth checking out. I encourage you to go do so now!
Of course, also returning this year is Heroes. I have to admit, I have started getting a little but disenfranchised with this show over the last two or three seasons but this season has one big thing going for it in my eyes. Robert Knepper. Robert is one of those rare actors that is incredibly hard to recognise because he totally becomes his character. He stands out wonderfully in any role he plays but he is memorable as the role, not as himself. Does that make sense? Probably not... Bottom line: Any show with anyone from Carnivale is worth my time. Yours too! (If you are unfamiliar with Carnivale, fix the problem. I haven't the time, energy or heart to explain to you how devastating it was when it went off the air. You will love me for making you start it and then you can hate me when you see how it ends.)
The Big Bang Theory has exceeded my expectations as well. Geeks, Comics, Science, Hot Girls, Superheros... The list goes on and on as to why this show is as awsome as it is. I cannot possibly sum it up effectively for you other than to say one word. Sheldon. Watch the show, you will see what I mean.
And finally... Last years break out hit (in my opinion at least)... Fringe. At its core, this is a new, exciting twist on The X-files but as it plays out it is becoming much more with potential to go even farther. Walter is absolutely amazing and the entire rest of the cast matches him beat for beat. Even his son, Peter! (Joshua Jackson... The kid from Dawson's Creek. Not Dawson, the other one! Percy! Who would have thought the little S.O.B. would ever learn how to act?)
Seriously folks... If you haven't seen Fringe, do so. It is well worth the time of anyone who is interested in just about any genre of television there is.
Alright... That brings us to new shows...
May Contain Spoilers... 1 of 4
I don't own a television but let's face it... There are some damned fine shows out there that are most definitely worth watching.
Thankfully, we live in an age filled with computers and technology so there are other avenues available to us.
I am not going to expend the time or energy listing out to you the multitude of choices available for online viewing of television shows. Suffice it to say that if you want to see it badly enough, I am fairly certain that you can manage to do so.
If you just plain aren't sure what to watch, or if you want to add something outstanding to your already viewing schedule, please, allow me to share some of my favorites with you!
Let me start by sharing with you the shows I miss and that you should find a way to see if you haven't already.
To begin with, I am going to share with you a show that is no longer being produced on television. I weep quietly to myself as I tell you this because, after seeing what some of this season's new offerings are, I am appalled that this show didn't make it into a third season.
Life's Detective Charlie Crews (played by Damien Lewis) spent twelve years in prison for the murder of his best friend and business partner. Having finally been proven innocent Charlie was further vindicated and offered a huge settlement (rumors have it at around fifty million dollars) which included his reinstatement onto the force.
With an outstanding supporting cast including both his former partner Bobby (Brent Sexton) and his new partner Dani (Sarah Shahi, soooo very hot. And she has handcuffs ::shivers::), the former inmate turned zen detective offers an outstanding blend of drama and comedy and some of the best, most original characterizations I have seen in a very very long time.
I will mourn the passing of this show for the foreseeable future and if anyone knows of any way to convince a network to pick it back up, please, let me know so I can throw some support in that direction.
You should also go back and check out such fine shows as Sports Night, a former Comedy Central offering of yesteryear that I commend to anyone with a sense of humor. Please bear in mind that it is NOT a sports show. I swear. It just takes place at a sports show... Gods, how do you explain that...
I also want to take this opportunity to draw your attention to a show that was all too short lived. Very recently, ABC took us to new heights (literally) with a show called Defying Gravity. I will be the first to admit that the show took a little while to get off the ground (gods I'm cracking myself up over here... I hate puns.) but it was only in the last 2 or 3 aired episodes that I really began to appreciate what this show had to offer. They they cut short the season and canceled it. BASTARDS! Did Fox/Firefly debacle teach you nothing!??... Oh wait... It taught you that I will go out and buy the DvD just so I can get some kind of closure. Damn you ABC...
I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention a few others. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly were all cut short before they had lived out their lives to the fullest and all three owe their beginnings to Joss Whedon. Joss never had anything to do with Dead Like Me (unless you count a brief guest appearance by Jewel Staite who was a regular on Firefly) but I think if you enjoyed any of his work, there is something for you to find there too.
Le sigh... Now I am depressed... Better think of the shows with good news next...
Thankfully, we live in an age filled with computers and technology so there are other avenues available to us.
I am not going to expend the time or energy listing out to you the multitude of choices available for online viewing of television shows. Suffice it to say that if you want to see it badly enough, I am fairly certain that you can manage to do so.
If you just plain aren't sure what to watch, or if you want to add something outstanding to your already viewing schedule, please, allow me to share some of my favorites with you!
Let me start by sharing with you the shows I miss and that you should find a way to see if you haven't already.
To begin with, I am going to share with you a show that is no longer being produced on television. I weep quietly to myself as I tell you this because, after seeing what some of this season's new offerings are, I am appalled that this show didn't make it into a third season.
Life's Detective Charlie Crews (played by Damien Lewis) spent twelve years in prison for the murder of his best friend and business partner. Having finally been proven innocent Charlie was further vindicated and offered a huge settlement (rumors have it at around fifty million dollars) which included his reinstatement onto the force.
With an outstanding supporting cast including both his former partner Bobby (Brent Sexton) and his new partner Dani (Sarah Shahi, soooo very hot. And she has handcuffs ::shivers::), the former inmate turned zen detective offers an outstanding blend of drama and comedy and some of the best, most original characterizations I have seen in a very very long time.
I will mourn the passing of this show for the foreseeable future and if anyone knows of any way to convince a network to pick it back up, please, let me know so I can throw some support in that direction.
You should also go back and check out such fine shows as Sports Night, a former Comedy Central offering of yesteryear that I commend to anyone with a sense of humor. Please bear in mind that it is NOT a sports show. I swear. It just takes place at a sports show... Gods, how do you explain that...
I also want to take this opportunity to draw your attention to a show that was all too short lived. Very recently, ABC took us to new heights (literally) with a show called Defying Gravity. I will be the first to admit that the show took a little while to get off the ground (gods I'm cracking myself up over here... I hate puns.) but it was only in the last 2 or 3 aired episodes that I really began to appreciate what this show had to offer. They they cut short the season and canceled it. BASTARDS! Did Fox/Firefly debacle teach you nothing!??... Oh wait... It taught you that I will go out and buy the DvD just so I can get some kind of closure. Damn you ABC...
I would be remiss if I didn't at least mention a few others. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly were all cut short before they had lived out their lives to the fullest and all three owe their beginnings to Joss Whedon. Joss never had anything to do with Dead Like Me (unless you count a brief guest appearance by Jewel Staite who was a regular on Firefly) but I think if you enjoyed any of his work, there is something for you to find there too.
Le sigh... Now I am depressed... Better think of the shows with good news next...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
