RackstrawConcepts!

06:36 pm - Rorschach Line of the Day

"Told press I'd made sexual advances to you. Not true. Very bad."

08:15 pm - Time For a Poll!

Poll #1476401 Online DVD Rental Companies
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11

Which online DVD rental company do you recommend?

03:39 am - This Day in 80s Pop Sci-Fi

Twenty four years ago, Rorschach got arrested. (My Watchmen real-time reread resumes apace.)

Six years from today, Doc Brown arrives with Marty McFly and Jennifer to keep their kids out of trouble.

12:02 pm - Living and Learning

Lessons of the past year and beyond...

On Social Interaction
If you know someone who speaks ill of others when they aren't present, don't assume you are exempt.

Communication is the best policy. It's also a two-way process.

Some people will know each other for years only peripherally while not really getting to know one another well. Others will develope a very strong rapport over a very short period of time.

Beware of those who say "life is not fair" as a way to justify their own actions and judgments. One person can always have the capacity to be fair to another and to judge fairly.

If someone's being emotional or fanatical, attempting to debate them rationally can be fruitless.

On Honesty
Having a creed against lying doesn't do much good if few people know about it or if you're going to break it even once.

On Physiology (Or just common sense if you prefer...)
One who has had nothing to eat all day should have nothing to drink all night.

</b>On Relationships</b>
When given a wonderful gift, thank the giver profusely in writing even if you're showing your appreciation in other ways and you think it's quite obvious or known. (Come to think of it, I did...though perhaps not profusely enough.)

Personal relationships are not an exception to the proverb about "being easier to destroy than to create." (All those nights of staying up late talking about our feelings just seemed to fly out the window, all because of a little misinformation.)

Give her a ring and she'll take it very seriously regardless of context. (Sorry if this is a sexist or cultural stereotype but I'm referencing personal experience.)

On Emotions
Feelings change.

Feelings may seem unjustified or petty but, if they're there, they need to be acknowledged.

To say one person's feelings are justified or understandable whereas others have no right to feel the way they do is wrong. One person may be more emotionally mature or stable than another and that's to be admired. The feelings themselves, however, are not rightful or wrongful. Feelings simply are.

Never trust one person to represent another emotionally. If you want to know how someone feels, the only way to be sure is to ask directly. (I've both made this mistake and been a victim of others making it.)

Don't be afraid to share the truth with someone you love, even if it's going to hurt them.

***

There's more that I'll keep to myself. I may also post more if I think of any.

11:54 pm - Watchmen In Real Time

Unlike a few of my peers, I can't make the claim that I was into Watchmen before it was cool. I first started reading it about a year ago in anticipation of the movie which came out on my birthday. I hope there will one day be an adaptation of one of Alan Moore's works that gets the approval of the man himself (my vote would be for The Killing Joke) but, of those in existence, Watchmen is my favorite.

I had no idea how many classics took inspiration from this one story over the years. To name a few; The Dark Knight Returns, Rising Stars, The Incredibles, and others all owe something to Watchmen.

So I decided to do a re-read in sort-of-real time. Rorschach's journal and other story elements give specific calendar dates. October 12th, marked the 24th anniversary of The Comedian's murder. One day later, Rorschach seeks out Ozymandias and Dr. Manhattan to brief them on the crime.

(In the film, Adrian Veidt, a.k.a. Ozymandias, has the conversation about the murder not with Rorschach but with Dan Dreiberg, secret identity of Nite Owl. The scene is seems to be a good interpretation of how Dan would behave in that situation.)

On Thursday the 16th, I'll continue onto Comedian's funeral. (Yes, my plan for the first, forecast non-rainy weather in three days is to be reading a comic book. Does that count as ironic?) It's a frequent-flashback chapter.

Can anyone tell me if Rorschach's interrogation of Moloch also takes place on the 16th? Or does it happen on a later date?

07:00 pm - Portent of Friday the 13th

Are there any movies coming out on Friday the 13th, next month? Might be interested.

You know those spooky cases of people accurately predicting the date of their deaths? I don't think I can do that.

However, I do expect that a professional, feared and respected by many, will render me unconscious on Friday the 13th. I will be left with permanent damage (of sorts) to my lower skull.

Hope everyone's enjoying Autumn and the budding, Halloween season! :-)

05:50 pm - Interesting Casting Call

Beau Bonneau Casting is working on a fun non-union commercial for "Tourism" that will be aired on television and the internet. We are looking for visually stunning, brilliantly bizarre, head turning, lean forward inducing, wickedly cool, totally mind blowing, WTF human tricks that you can do with your body (eyes popping out of sockets), or with someone else, or with a prop (lightning bolt catcher) etc. Licking your elbow is not enough.

IMPORTANT:

Auditions will be held by appointment only on Wednesday, September 30 at our office in San Francisco. You must be available for the shoot (one day between October 12-14) in order to audition. If selected for the shoot you will receive $650.

If you would like to be considered for an audition, send an email to
info@beaubonneaucasting.com asap with the following info:

* First and last name
* Photos or video of you doing your mind blowing human trick
* 2 Telephone contact #'s.

Submitting does not guarantee an audition or employment. Your human tricks will be reviewed and we will contact you if chosen for an audition. This is not an open call. Drop-ins and phone calls to the office will not be accepted. Any submissions beyond our request will be deleted. This is an unattended mailbox, do not reply to this address. Thank you.

Beau Bonneau Casting Staff
www.beaubonneaucasting.com

12:20 am - Violence In San Jo

Yesterday (or very early this morning, if you prefer), a house-mate was attending the show at the Voodoo Lounge on 2nd Street. Another house-mate was going to pick him up and I came along as company.

When we exited 87, I explained that slow traffic on Santa Clara Street is common on club nights. Turned out, though, that something more was going on.

We navigated around and parked on 3rd. However the police were blocking off a stretch on Santa Clara. There was also an ambulance preparing a gurney.

Openly nervous about all this, my house-mate reparked farther away from the action while I found a way to the front of the Voodoo Lounge on foot. Meanwhile, the police were blocking off sidewalks on 2nd on the other side of Santa Clara.

Some civilians said something about violence in a dive bar on Santa Clara. I also saw a woman lifting a dress slightly, exposing her thighs while one officer took pictures. Had she been recently abused?

We met the house-mate and left. Police were still interviewing a lot of people and it seemed like quite a lot of street and sidewalk blocked off.

So we never found out just what was up. Anyone catch anything about it on the news?

02:28 pm - HB2CO

Happy Birthday, today, to chriso who, judging by her lj, seldom neglects a friend's.

12:18 pm - Flying Free

At least I know it wasn't likely a speedometer malfunction that confused that cop.

Yesterday I was on 85 in clear, afternoon traffic. I had the cruise control on at a tick below 70 mph as per my habit. In plain view was a police officer on the shoulder operating a radar gun. I didn't change my speed.

It is a 65-MPH highway so the officer ignored me.

Radar Stories, Funny But True

This one came from one of those random trivia books.

A crossing guard was frustrated by drivers' lack of respect for the school zone speed limit. Pleas like signaling and shouting at people weren't working.

Then he had a pretty original idea. He simply started bringing a hair dryer to work and pointing it at approaching vehicles! Speeders slowed down.

Here's another good story I remembered from a Leno's Headlines article.

An elderly woman was surprised to get a speeding ticket. She seemed to think the presence of a portable vacuum cleaner on her dashboard would make her immune. Her family had supposedly told her so.

I've always had fun imagining the conversation that might have taken place later: "No, no, Granny! We told you to buy a radar scrambler and the brand name is Fuzzbuster!"

09:18 am - The Reason For the Resolution

I don’t lie. By and large, I gave up lying years ago.

At the end of last year, a small group of people put forth the false conclusion that I’d lied maliciously, repeatedly, and unrepentantly about multiple subjects. They argued this semi-publicly while comparing notes and conspiring privately, agreeing amongst themselves to keep me out of their discussion. (They gave only vague or partial clues about what they discussed over a long period. From these I’ve had to deduce how the misinformation flowed.) They were staunchly and consistently unreceptive to hearing out the truth.

Left with an undeserved reputation as a liar that seemed like it was going to spread, I made a public New Year’s Resolution to tell no lies whatsoever for fifteen months. Expanding upon and tightening my established policy, I also swore off other forms of deception that didn’t fit the literal definition of lying.

This resolution met with general approval from most. However, the very party that inspired it took it upon themselves to thrash it in different ways. One friend has been relentlessly critical and found fault with the resolution wherever possible. I also began getting anonymous comments repeatedly calling me a liar but offering no rationale. I have good reason to believe at least some of these comments were left by two or three of the original, wrongful accusers.

From February through July, a serious personal matter was hanging over my head. I thought it best not to blog about anything remotely related to sensitive issues.

My resolution was on the back burner but by no means forgotten. I had intended to write about the experience and philosophy of complete honesty frequently throughout the year. I’ll probably start giving updates on it again, soon.

The personal matter’s resolved now but the truth doesn’t change. I was wrongfully branded a liar. I will rightfully correct this bad rep if possible.

One statement claimed I was trying to pass myself off as “a martyr” in doing this. Well, that’s certainly a word I never would have chosen. :-)

04:12 pm - The Truth In Brief

I never tried to get anyone to take my side.

I merely asked them to hear out the truth.

There's a difference.

11:48 pm - Happy 7/1

The first half of the year ended yesterday.

Good time to reinvigorate those New Years resolutions and whatnot. Ask yourself how they're going. If you're off the wagon for anything, set a new goal and try again.

I remember mine, of course.

06:54 pm - Can Pause the Serenity?

Everyone was in high spirits as ever at Can't Stop the Serenity, last night. I think Dr. Noe's Mal costume won something.

Unfortunately, the DVD froze up just at the scene when they watch the recording about Miranda and what the Alliance was trying to cover up. The technical problem was repaired but we missed seeing most of that particular, crucial monologue. The legion of fans filling the theatre dutifully filled in the viewers who had never seen the movie before; an estimated three people.

One of them was a friend from SF who was largely unfamiliar with JW. She remarked on how dissimilar the two features (Serenity and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) were, apparently finding them to be an odd pairing. I explained the relationship (didn't ask if she'd noticed Nathan Fillion as captains in both) and she became slightly agog. "Those were by the same writer?"

04:35 pm - Last Sequel I Saw.

I like some level of believability in movies.

I like economy.

I like a sci-fi that takes itself seriously.

I like faithfulness to the source material in an adaptation.

The Transformers movies deliver none of the above. The new one worked for me a bit better than the first (perhaps because I was able to brace myself) but still seemed to have failings on every level. Many of the human civilians at least take a break from being walking jokes but there remain too many Farrelly Brothers style antics and too much of Michael Bay trying to hammer an old property into his customary style.

In developing the first film, I'd bet money someone made a conscious decision to merge the love story from Spider-Man with the anti-alien war story from Independence Day. Combining that with the dozen, or so, other arguable rips put me on high alert for other out-of-place similarities to older films in the new sequel.

At least I can say very few jumped out at me. There were only the stories of Megatron and Optimus ringing somewhat of Magneto and Xavier in X2. And the scene where the woman is desperately saying "I love you" to revive her unconscious-or-dead mate while other characters are yammering on about something called "the matrix?" Yeah...

I propose a measure on the ballot to give Michael Bay something that fits more with his style to work on while Zack Snyder reboots Transformers.

12:54 pm - Graveyard Humor

The mad groundskeeper at a cemetary realized he had run out of plots to sell. As a solution, he contrived to dig up a tract of graves that were all over 200 years old. Since no one visited those graves, it seemed like no one would be the wiser.

But what to do with the exhumed contents of the graves? Cleverly, the groundskeeper stacked up all the coffins and advertised them as free to anyone who could haul them away.

On the day of the big event, a passing sheriff noticed an unusual amount of foot traffic at the graveyard. He politely asked one man in the process of carting off a remarkably well-preserved, long pine box if he'd mind explaining what was going on. The law enforcer found the story interesting and opened the box. Both men were horrified to discover the remnants of a rotting corpse still inside!

The groundskeeper had actually neglected to dispose of the decrepit remains! Everyone was getting cadavers already included with their free coffins!

Disgusted, the lawman found his way to the front of the line and crossed his arms authoritatively. The groundskeeper immediately realized the game was up and asked how he'd been found out.

Quote the sheriff: "All these people spending their Saturday at a cemetary? It's a DEAD GIVEAWAY!"

02:54 am - Wednesday Night Movies

Poll #1420411 Tonight's Movie Options
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

Which movie might you see tonight?

06:58 pm - My Name Is Kahn

Looks like the need's more urgent for that movie thing, this weekend. I note the ethnic preferences aren't there anymore. I'd do it but my tomorrow's already booked.

Beau Bonneau Casting is seeking last minute availability for
adults 18 and over to portray a movie extra in the film My
Name is Khan, tomorrow Saturday, 6/20 in Novato.

Rates/Hours: These are day time shoots; however we never know the exact start time or location until the afternoon or evening before each shoot day. Film shoots are long, typically 10 - 12 hours. Saying you are available means all day without conflict, from very early morning to late night hours. You must have your own reliable transportation to get yourself to and from the shoot.

( Read the rest... )

11:57 am - Card Use Incentives

For years, I've been transferring money to Pay-Pal before spending it. Then I'd use my Pay-Pal debit card as a MasterCard and collect a 1.5% refund credit they give on each purchase.

The advantages were always more obvious on large purchases. When I got my $1000 computer in 2005 or so, I got about $15 back. When I bought my car, Toyota accepted $2000 of the price by credit card so I got $30 back.

This has always worked nicely but I've noticed there's no such refund credited on my recent payments. I guess they stopped doing the %1.5 rewards program. That means there's little point in my keeping funds in Pay-Pal for the time being.

I can go for the incentive on my WaMu (becoming Chase) card but it doesn't seem as rational. They have the picks-up-the-tab thing. They randomly choose a MasterCard payment out of thousands and make that one purchase free to whomever conducted it.

I also have an ING credit & debit card but I don't remember offhand if they have any kind of reward system for using it. Will look that up.

Can anyone recommend a card that does something for the card-holder on each transaction? Note that I don't want to apply for a credit card. I'd like another debit MasterCard or Visa.

Alternatively, does anyone know of a good community to post this question?

11:55 am - Wednesday Night Movies

If anyone's interested, remember the 1955 movie To Catch A Thief will enjoy a free, outdoor screening tonight at the Historic District on Post Street in downtown SJ. Show-time is "dusk." Last week, a band played before the show started.

Chairs are usually provided at these things but bringing your own portable furniture or picnic gear is recommended.