Canoga Park, CA

Clarke/Verne/Clarke SIgh!

So, I took the test to see which Science Fiction writer I was, and I turned out to be Arthur C Clarke. Of course I knew this couldn't be true since my brain is much smaller than his. Then My Friend Alan posted on his blog that he'd tested as Phillip Jose Farmer, which of course made me immediately jealous, so I took it again. Now, I don't really know what the difference in my answers was from the first time I took it to the second, but the second time I came up Jules Verne, so I was happy again. Of course I didn't cut/paste the necessary code, so I went back and took it again and ended up Arthur C. Clarke again, so I give up. I'm Arthur C. Clarke.

I am: Arthur C. Clarke Well known for nonfiction science writing and for early promotion of the effort toward space travel, his fiction was often grand and visionary.

Sunday Musings

Well, I can finally see the end of the current project. There are only three weeks to go and a few straggle days on the back-end to do pick-up sites and what not that refused me the first time around and have now been brought into the fold with an understanding that I will be arriving and was actually asked to do so by persons of much higher rank than they. I’m hoping to wrap up the whole thing by Feb 21 and then get on with more interesting and important things such as writing and trying to get some sort of stable job that doesn’t involve driving 100+ miles a day and standing in the rain, cold, or sun for any given day. There are only 53 sites left and at my current pace of three a day six days a week it should all work out. The straggle days also include a couple of full day round trips to only grab single sites on the periphery of nowhere. To say it hasn’t worn on me would be a lie, but it should seat me decently to take a bit of time off to focus on the more important things and to participate in whatever capacity is bestowed upon me in the pilot shoot in March. It would have been grand if the pilot shoot had been mine, but these things are fleeting at best and since I’ve made almost no contacts since I’ve been here rather an impossibility as well.

As you may notice from the contents of the “currently reading” portion of the sidebar I rewarded myself the other day with an extravagant expenditure of money for comics. I’ve also bee back into watching some shows that have begun to show again after the holidays. Some are good, some are interesting, and I don’t really waste my time with the ones that are neither. Current purusals have included but have not been limited to:

DIRT – I’m not really sure if this show has quite found it’s footing, but it’s at least interesting and enjoyable enough to continue watching to see if it does. I have a sneaking suspicion that the original script centered more on Don the schizophrenic photographer than it did the inner workings of a gossip rag but was reworked so that Don would have some sort of grounding. Truthfully though his story lines are still the most compelling and interesting. The set-ups of following certain celebrities as they are destroyed slowly though the actions of the magazine are OK, but they should take a queue from ENTOURAGE on these. Courtney Cox is engaging and has moved nicely from her Monica character with her independent film roles and this that I don’t see that character’s residue even so much as linger about her.

ROBIN HOOD – This was the BBC’s new series from last year. I’m about 8 episodes in and am only continuing to watch it because of my affinity for Robin Hood. The show is an odd mix and works only on occasion. It’s period, but the language seems too updated and the action often contrived. Maybe they’ll pull something out for the second season, but for now it’s unfortunately a bit of a limp effort.

THE DRESDEN FILES - The pilot wasn’t bad, but the pacing seemed off and the story was a bit lack luster. It’s sort of the reason that I find myself drawn to writing 2-hour pilots of the things I create, because when you have to do so much world building, and hour is never really satisfying. I’m surprised that Sci-Fi didn’t go this route anyway, because then if it didn’t pan out they’d have a decent 2-hour movie to slash onto DVD. The truth is, I think the Fred Ward CAST A DEADLY SPELL Det. Harry Philip Lovecraft movie from the 90s was more enjoyable and they probably should have looked to it for structure. The Dennis Hopper follow-up WITCH HUNT was even better than Dreseden wants to be. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed it as I do all shows of this ilk because the well is so very dry on this end of things. However, I will stick with it for now and hope it can get beyond the CURSED cliché and move into darker more interesting territory. How Sci-Fi can make something as engaging and original as THE LOCKED ROOM, and then let THE DRESDEN FILES just be lackluster I don’t know. Maybe they fall under two different heads of development.

LIFE ON MARS – Another BBC outing that I’m late coming to and have only just seen the pilot for the first season’s first episode, but it’s yet another in a string of very well put together and amazingly original efforts from the BBC. I’m pretty sure the first season just showed this last year on BBC America, so if you have that channel, look for it. I’ll forgo my explanation for what it’s about and simply place someone else’s blurb here:

“Sam Tyler (played by John Simm), who after being hit by a car in 2006 finds himself back in 1973. There, he is working for Manchester and Salford Police CID under DCI Gene Hunt (played by Philip Glenister). Over the course of the series, Tyler faces various culture clashes, most frequently regarding differences in approaches to policing between him and his colleagues. The series also features a strong ambiguity concerning Tyler's predicament: it is unclear whether he really has travelled back in time, is in a coma in 2006 and imagining his experiences, or is really from 1973 and mentally unstable.”

ROME – Season two is well under way. Enough Said.


The rest of last season’s shows I’m going to continue to watch are as follows:

30 Rock
Battlestar Galactica
Gilmore Girls
Heroes
Lost
My Name is Earl
Studio 60
Veronica Mars

All for now.

Malibu, ca

I would have liked to know if the person in the Ferrari, that was trying to ram itself up my A@# on the PCH this afternoon, was actually being driven by Larry David. I doubt it was, but that's the way it looked to me in my rearview. The only reason I Love Malibu is because it has exceptionally small banks.

That is all.

Caught in my throat

So, I occasionally go to the World Market on the corner of Westwood and Santa Monica to shop. Granted it's close and it is where I buy my coffee. But I also buy my rice there and on occasion, more often than not there is an occasion, box of cheese sticks. So, tonight I dropped in to get some rice. They didn't have my usual selection, but I picked up another brand and also a box of cheese sticks. While at the checkout, this is what the woman running the register said, "Oh, rice...I had to stop eating that, it gets caught in my throat. It's good for you though." Well, needless to say that was more information than I wanted, so I just kept my mouth shut and paid for my goods.

That is all.

Corona Del Mar, CA

A change of pace

I had a nice diversion last evening in the form of a friend in from NY. He and his girlfriend had started in San Francisco and had worked their way down to LA. I met them out a hip little place called Beachwood on Washington, which for the life of me I could not find. I later found out they'd had trouble as well, but while I was driving they were literally just trying to find it by walking a short ways down the street from their hotel. You could immediately tell how hip it was by the way it was hard to find. You could also tell by the fact they only had two beers on tap, one of them being Chimay. The last way was that one of the "attendants" kept telling us where to sit and how we had to rearrange the chairs we were sitting in so as to make room for the impending hipsters that would arrive much later than us. Either way I had a great time finally having an evening where I got to talk to people I know. Another Alum also came out to meet us and offered me a possible small job on his TV pilot. It'll be something in the range of a paid PA position, but anything other than banks is fine with me right now. It'll only be for about two weeks and I was planning on trying to take a month to write anyway once I'm done with this contract. So, possible nice changes for a portion of the month of March, even if after I have to return to putting stickers on ATMS.

11:55

"The Doomsday Clock, the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists' ticking nudge to the world's conscience, moved two minutes closer to nuclear midnight Wednesday, the closest to doomsday it has been since the Cold War."

Finally California becomes comfortable

Well, it would seem that I missed the rain this morning since I headed southeast toward Orange. By my third site I was rushing to finish before it started raining and in fact was successful. Coming back into West LA/Santa Monica, I ran into a bit of rain. About 3:00 PM the sky opened up, but luckily I was back in my apartment to do paperwork. That ain't dandruff on the car by the way.





DIRECT LINK TO VIDEO

Stomach

[POST REMOVED FOR REASONS OF RANTING HAVING A LIMITED LIFE SPAN]

New Gnome Home

Well, the 5th Annual Union Jack's Chili Cook-Off went off without a hitch last evening and so now the Lascivious Gnome has a new home. He'll probably like it better in TN than he liked it here in LA, where all he got to do was sit on a shelf. Congrats to Kathy, who may or may not have let her children help her cook the chili this time. It's probably for the best seeing as how he'd stopped writing limericks anyway.

RIP: Robert Anton Wilson

(January 18, 1932 - January 11, 2007)

Overview

Assorted texts

"Robert Anton Wilson Defies Medical Experts and leaves his body @4:50 AM on binary date 01/11."

Oddest Spam

This has to be the oddest 419 type spam I've ever received. The Priory of Sion? Really? So much for being a secret cabal.

-----------------------

Dear Beneficiary,

The Priory Of Sion Society of Edinburgh under the jurisdiction of the all Seeing Eye, Master Nick Cobb has after series of secret deliberations and random ballot as selected you to be a beneficiary of 2007 first quarter foundation laying grants and also an optional opening at the round table of the Priory Of Sion Society.

These grants are issued every first quarter of the year around the world in accordance with the objectives of the Priory Of Sion Society as stated by King Francis Aurthor I in 1815 which is to ensure the continuous freedom of man and to enhance mans living conditions.

We will also advice that these grant funds awarded to you which amount to $350,000.00 be used to better the lot of man through your own initiative and also we will go further to inform you that the open slot to become a Priory Of Sion is optional.

I hope you understood and for more information's on what you are to do to make claims of your grant funds awarded to you, do contact the Grant Claims Office Co-Secretary, Name: Barr. Richard Salter, E-mail: grant_claimoffice@Safe-mail.net, and do send along your personal information’s (Names, Residential Address,Occupation,Tel/Fax Numbers Sex, Age and Country) for the procurement of the necessary document that will enable you make claims of your awarded funds promptly.

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs. Judith Ernest.

Co-ordinator.

Priory Of Sion Society of Palmerston Place Lane, Edinburgh

TSA Guidelines for Moneky Helpers

I first read this posted on Boingboing.net and couldn't resist posting the full thing here from the TSA website. I wish I had a monkey helper.

Monkey Helpers

• When a monkey is being transported in a carrier, the monkey must be removed from the carrier by the handler prior to screening,
• The monkey must be controlled by the handler throughout the screening process.
• The monkey handler should carry the monkey through the WTMD while the monkey remains on a leash.
• When the handler and monkey go through the WTMD and the WTMD alarms, both the handler and the monkey must undergo additional screening.
• Since monkeys may likely draw attention, the handler will be escorted to the physical inspection area where a table is available for the monkey to sit on. Only the handler will touch or interact with the monkey.
• TSOs have been trained to not touch the monkey during the screening process.
• TSOs will conduct a visual inspection on the monkey and will coach the handler on how to hold the monkey during the visual inspection.
• The inspection process may require that the handler take off the monkey’s diaper as part of the visual inspection.

I'm smitten

They had me at, "Hello?"

Mmmm, Dark Matter

Space.com is reporting that, "Astronomers have mapped the positions of vast, invisible isles of dark matter in the sky, within which normal "bright" matter galaxies are embedded like glittering gems. The three-dimensional map spans not only space, but also time, and stretches back to when the universe was only about half its present age."

Odd Fellows

How odd. I had no idea.

["A man or woman of good character, who is loyal to his or her country and believes in a Supreme Being, the creator and pre-server of the Universe, is eligible for membership. Odd Fellowship strictly forbids any interference with one’s religious beliefs or political opinions. "]

More Interesting Stuff

After the last post, I thought I'd throw up some links to some more interesting stuff.

You can watch the first episode of Afro Samurai on the Spike TV web site.

Here's what Space Ghost looks like with his helmet off. It's a scan of the original Alex Toth character designs for the show.

Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica podcasts are up on iTunes. There are 3 that are particularly interesting to me. He took a recorder into the writer's room and you can here them break a show. If you don't have itunes, you can also access them on the SciFi site.

And finally, giant people sculptures by Ron Mueck.

the Lord didn't say nuclear

It's always nice to wake up on a Sunday morning to the news that Pat Robertson has once again opened his fear mongering mouth in an effort to scare cash out of his follower’s pockets.

Pat Robertson, an American Conservative Christian broadcaster says God told him a terrorist attack will result in "mass killing" in the United States in the second half of 2007.

The San Francisco Chronicle has a nice overview of his puerile insanity and reaction from actual Christians.

While on the subject of the Religious Right, if you think McCain is a good bet for the Presidential race in 2008, here's an updated flip-flop repoprt on him.

Windy

This is going to make things interesting today.

Today

Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower to mid 60s. Below passes and canyons from Malibu to the Hollywood Hills...north winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts to around 45 mph.

The sound of the wind kept waking me up all night long.

Thanks for tuning in

I guess I could say more than I intend to, but today was the first full day back doing my job. I was up at 5 and one the road by 6:30. For some reason I am still not sure of, I went south bound on the 405 instead of East bound on the 10. I lost almost an hour turning around and heading back in the direction I should have driven in the first place. I surveyed three sites and did a pick-up of photos from before vacation at a site where I’d missed photographing two signs. All-in-all it was an ordinarily boring day doing what I do best, which is subverting my goals why doing what I need to survive. Hope everyone out there had a more productive day than me. Tomorrow is an early morning trip down the 10 to the 5 to the 2 to the 210 and then once there to Sunland and then wrapping up the day in Burbank, where one of the sites is listed as a “main” branch, which is never a good thing. Please tune in here tomorrow where there will most assuredly be more depressing news of my life.

The Holidays

Roundtrip airfare home $ 426.19
Roundtrip taxi from airport $ 75.00
Gas for borrowed truck $ 49.95
Gifts for friends and family $ 349.39
Drinks out with friends $ 44.00 (You Suck!)
Total cost for trip $ 944.53

Seeing friends and family for the Holidays: Priceless

It was great to see everyone while I was there. I didn't really want to return here to LA, but I've made my bed, and you know the rest. I'll do my best to pick back up here where I left off. Since it was originally created for those of you I saw over the holidays, I didn't do much posting during that time. I hope everyone had as great a holiday as I did. I'm not sure how I got out of there without catching the FUNK, but it's best that way.

I'm happy to say the lamp and toaster made it. There is now light and toast in the land of opportunity. The heater seems to have gone out in the apartment while I was away though. Can't have it all I guess.

Back to work tomorrow and will be busting it through February.