Silly Federal Government - Working for You!

Really? The entire site is closed? Because of snow? I'd love to know their definition of "high volume of traffic". Hope and change, folks. Hope. And. Change. 

Ah, The New York Times

From Tuesday's New York Times - The Country's #1 Newspaper, The Paper of Record, The Grey Lady

I'm starting the new year with the sinking feeling that important opportunities are slipping from the nation's grasp. Our collective consciousness tends to obsess indiscriminately over one or two issues--the would-be bomber on the flight into Detroit, the Tiger Woods saga--while enormous problems that should be engaged get short shrift.

The brain trust from the New York Times who seems to think an attempted act of terrorism is not important is named Bob Hebert.

He'd rather the Federal goverment focus on creating jobs (a task for which it has proven time and again to be wholely inept and yet they continue to try, or even worse, trying to take on Health Care. But on the other hand, a task that is specifically called out in the Constitution as being the job of the Federal government is not something we should be focusing on (i.e., defending Americans from FRAKING TERRORISTS) is not worthy of that body's attention. It is on par with Tiger Woods' sex life.

And people wonder why newspapers are failing all over the country. It isn't because of the Internet, or at least, not wholely because of it, it is mainly due to idiots like this guy who write crap like this, opinion or not.

Sliding. Glass. Door.

My neighbors must be petitioning to make glass door sliding an Olympic sport. They have opened and closed their door at least 30 times in the last hour. Their balcony is small. Perhaps 10 feet by 5 feet. What could they possibly be doing out there besides just sitting out there?

Anyway, it isn't the number of times that they open it, it is the sheer force they used upon the door to open it. It is a very audible sound. If they would open it at a normal speed, I probably wouldn't hear it at all. Of course, it is also the number of times they've opened it. I'm trying to watch Half-Blood Prince here and they are making all this noise.

At least they aren't playing fetch with the dog in the apartment.

Half-Blood Prince

Can someone tell me what's wrong with taking the book as written and adapting it rather than drastically changing the entire story to suit a movie?

That's not to say that Half-Blood Prince is a bad movie. It isn't Goblet of Fire. That was a horrible adaptation from the writing the acting from certain female leads. No, Half-Blood Prince is a good movie but a poor adaption. Starting with the open, it completely ignores the brilliant verbal beatdown that Dumbledore gives the Durleys (most deserved). It completely ignores Dumbledore's request that Harry bring Ron and Hermione up to speed on everything in the prophecy, including the part removed from the fifth film (reason, unknown). It completely removes several trips through the pensive that would have been helpful for us viewers come movie 7. Skipping ahead, it adds a scene where Beletrix blows up The Burrow. Why? Who knows. It doesn't accomplish anything except that now, The Burrown can't be used for Bill/Fleur's wedding, which quite honest, probably won't be in the 7th film at all because we've never even met Bill in the movies and the last time we saw Fleur, she was being inaccurately portrayed by an unknown actress in movie four.

I'd continue but the list goes on. I fear for book 7. They are taking a book that is very good, and no doubt changing it drastically, to make two movies. I just hope that they at least stick to the story as written this time. Who cares if each movie is three hour long. They are going to make a gazillion dollars each no matter how long they are.

Dexter

If you have the means, I highly recommend Dexter. It is probably the best show on TV right now that, for reasons unknown, gets no love from Emmy voters. Michael C. Hall is brilliant as Dexter and if John Lithgow doesn't get nominate for his role this season, I'll be very upset. Oh, and there is the beautiful Julie Benz is who is also excellent. 

Goodbye, Good Ridance and All That...

This is actually a thank you to the doctors, nurses, techs, cleaning staff, kitchen staff, etc for their great treatment of me over five rounds of chemo. So, thank you, this is nothing personal, but I hope I never see you again. In the hospital, of course.

Glee is the show you aren't watching but should be. The show won't be coming back for a while but when it does, watch it. You'll be glad you did. I don't necessarily like the lyrics of Imagine, but the performance on this past week's Glee is pretty amazing. Unfortunately, you can't get that performance on the iTunes store. I think you can view the entire episode on Hulu.

Fringe is the other show you aren't watching but should be. As is Dollhouse (BIH Fox, again). It's good show and finally showing some originality and getting away from X-Files like mystery-of-the-week episodes. They will always be some of those but each week they also push the greater mystery and that's what I like about it. That they don't forget about the seriel nature of the show.

Chemo V to Begin

I go for my last round of chemo this coming week starting Tuesday.

Chemo IV To Begin

With the surgery complete and my hair growing back nicely, the doctors have seen fit to bring that to a crashing stop (the hair growth, that is). The fourth chemo treatment is set for November 3. All the same drugs/poisons so it shouldn't be too bad. Other than the hair loss. Can't avoid that. But it will grow back. Some time in January.

I Can Haz Snow Leopard?

The answer is 'no'. At least, not this weekend. Every Best Buy in the city is sold out and the Apple Store is closed undergoing renovations. 

Update on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 7:20PM by Mike

Good news on the Snow Leopard front. My copy will be arriving tomorrow courtesy of UPS and Amazon.com. Not only that, but the price on Amazon dropped by $5 and I'll be getting the new price. Go Amazon. Now all that has to happen is a timely delivery by UPS. 

This Post is Rated "R" for Depictions of Smoking and Cigarettes

Facts are facts.