One more before the month ends

Thought I would post again to get one more post in September. Which doesn't really matter, but hey, three posts in a one-week period should be a record for me. Maybe not, but of late, it's pretty good.

I'm watching Spirited Away right now. Well, not right this minute. I'm watching the ABC lineup of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers & Sisters. It is premier night, after all.

There's so much I could watch on TV of late. I don't know that it's ever been as good as it is now (over the past 5 years), and I'm talking about broadcast TV: ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and CW, not Showtime, HBO, etc. To give credit where due, however, HBO & Showtime really started this trend of making decent shows worth watching. The networks took notice that decent writing, complex stories, etc. were drawing people. Even though the Networks do have limits imposed upon them as to language and certain adult situations (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), they took these lessons to heart and started making shows people really wanted to see rather shows that people watched by default.

The downside, of course, is that some shows don't find their audience because there is so much good stuff from which to choose. Ten years ago, these canceled shows would have been top 10 for sure (for the most part — there are still turkeys that come out, but by and large less so now than a decade ago). Two shows I'm thinking of in particular are Invasion and Night Stalker. Well, I liked them, anyway. Ten years ago, I'm fairly confident they would have been five-season shows for sure (lasting five years).

For the current season, I'm most looking forward to Pushing Daisies on ABC on Wednesday nights. It starts this next Wednesday. The premise: this guy, Ned, has a gift of being able to bring people (and creatures) back from the dead. He makes a living using this gift to bring back murder victims, find out who killed them, and collect the reward money. Not bad work if you can find it.

With great power, however, comes a great curse: Ned's second touch sends the person back to the Great Beyond (perhaps permanently, I suppose; otherwise, there's no tension to hold one's interest). One of the people he resurrects is a young lady with whom he comes to hold great affection; the feeling is mutual. And they can never hold hands, kiss, or have any physical contact whatsoever. Otherwise, it's curtains for her.

What a great premise! I hope this show makes it. I think it provides a great deal to explore. At least, I can think of a bit they could do. Fortunately, in this day and age, even if it gets canceled after 13 shows, it most assuredly will be released on DVD (just a little cynical there), and one can always wonder what could have been.

Another show (on NBC) that looks intriguing is Life (I watched the premier free on Amazon Unbox video service). Premise: a cop is (wrongly) convicted of murder (framed, even), serves 12 years, and is then freed. As part of his deal, he receives an untold amount of money and is made a detective. I hope this show makes it, too, but I have my doubts. The main guy is far too eccentric to make a connection to a wide audience (or even a sustainable narrow one) methinks. It's a shame because the very last scene really changes what the show has made itself out to be so far (for motivation and purpose).

If I watched everything I wanted to, this would be my list:

Will Watch	ABC	CBS
House Bones Life Extreme Makeover HE Desparate Housewives Brothers & Sisters Cops	Carpoolers Lost Ugly Betty Women's Murder Club	CSI CSI: Miami. CSI: New York Big Bang Theory Criminal Minds Jericho Kid Nation NCIS Numb3rs Without A Trace
NBC	Fox	CW
Heroes Bionic Woman Journeyman The Office My Name is Earl	24 Prison Break Back to You K-Ville New Amsterdam	Smallville Supernatural

Life could be full. Or overcrowded.

Random Thoughts

So much of the time, I don't write here because I think of great things to write about but never at a time that I can write about them. It seems like a laptop and a trip on the bus could solve some of that since driving to/from work are the usual times I come up with ideas. I tried keeping a tape recorder around, but it scared the thoughts right out of my mind.

Hey, James Blunt just climbed on top of the piano during his performance on "Jimmy Kimmel Live". That suddenly made a somewhat uninteresting song ("1973"?) more palatable. [And, hey, I don't dislike the James, but this song on first listen doesn't do much for me, even live.]

I've thought of many story ideas and conversation snippets; I'm sorry I've forgotten the vast majority of them. Though none of them are as interesting as the idea I read in a Swamp Thing comic (or maybe Sandman) about trees that lure people into their thick to torture them (or something — it's been a few years since I read that particularly story.)

And now, I've forgotten about everything else I was going to write here, even if just a sentence or two.

Meow. Mrow. What's that, Clark? mmrowww laptop? Oh, laptop!

Every November, there is an endeavor undertaken by an increasing number of people. The endeavor is National Novel Writing Month. I'd like to write a novel one day, but motivation escapes me. Oh yeah, an idea, too. Well, I still have lots of ideas that I do remember, but making a whole novel out of some/most of them doesn't seem to plausible at this point. I really think I'd like to have a laptop, too; I could take the bus to work and write for about 30-45 minutes a day, and I could go anywhere and write.

How lame and lascivious: On the next "Inside Edition", are cheerleaders purposefully used to distract the opposing team's players?

A Fine Example

This morning, I read an article on NYTimes.com that really exemplifies a dichotomy between personal beliefs and the Constitution. I don't normally get political or address much social issues here. In fact, it seems I don't address much of anything of late. I get so much I want to write about that I'm frozen into non-activity, which is much like the rest of my life, it seems. Perhaps that's a problem.

Meanwhile, back at the article front of the state of disarray of Jack's brain...

The gist of the article is that Verizon Wireless has so far refused to carry text messages from NARAL, a pro-death "abortion rights" group, on the grounds that it

does not accept programs from any group “that seeks to promote an agenda or distribute content that, in its discretion, may be seen as controversial or unsavory to any of our users.”

I'm pretty much against abortion — except in the very small number of "special cases" of i*cest, r*pe, and endangering the mother's life; in no case do I think it should be the automatic "Solution" (what is the problem when this is the solution?). Note: I'm not against anyone who has had an abortion for whatever reason, nor do I advocate violence against the doctors who perform them or the clinics where they are performed. People will be won over by truth and love, not violence and dogma and demonstration. The "other" side also loses by attrition &mdash more abortions = fewer people to be raised in that environment and continue raising the banner (see Idiocracy for an example of this.

But what is controversial or unsavory? Who determines this? Looney Tunes are controversial for some people because the cartoons advocate violence toward others and instill a sense that hurting someone doesn't really hurt. These people want big fluffy creatures sitting around doing nothing as what children should watch. We have demonstrated controversy; therefore, Verizon Wireless will not carry any messages promoting Looney Tunes. As a result and via its own policy, Verizon Wireless cannot allow anything against Looney Tunes to be sent, either, as that would be pushing a differen agenda.

As distasteful as it is, and as much as I would like that movement to be thwarted completely, the free speech guaranteed to us in the Constitution (not prevailing wisdom from leading nations, and not by fiat of the Court) really takes precedence here. I hate what they're promoting, but I will defend their right to promote it. Only when it is determined and established by the government as detrimental (like crying "Fire!" in a crowded theater) should it then be restricted speech.

From Bad to Worse

I recently wrote about unfunny Spike Feresten show. Apparently, the new season started tonight. (Why there was a second season is beyond my ken.)

The show opening credits were better. And Ryan Seacrest is the guest tonight. (Must be because of the Fox in common.)

But, not only does Spike hoover in a most major way, he's really moving into downright nastiness and vulgarity. I really detest this show vehemently. I might even write to Fox about it.

[Edit 9/30: small number misalignment in second para]

TMZ

For the fall season, a new TV show has started entitled, TMZ. This is a video production based on the website, tmz.com. Essentially, this is a celebrity gossip show/site. Their idea is that most anything a celebrity says or does is worthy of plastering all over the world. They are the ones that "broke" the story of Mel Gibson's drunken raving about the Jews. I guess my big question is, "So, what?" These people decided that this was so important that they got people to at least break confidence (from the police department) and leak this info to be publicized.

What purpose does this serve other than to drag someone through the muck and trash their name? Did this serve the public good? Was some massive cover-up exposed or some criminal mastermind brought to justice?

No, it is merely salacious judgmental GOSSIP.

As much as I could be interested in the show, I have decided not to participate. I will not contribute to that part of belittling our society. Certainly in the interest of fair play, who would want to live life under a microscope, with every misstep, idiotic action, and misspoken word broadcast for all the world to see and pass judgment? Would you be willing to accept such scrutiny? How would you feel if it were forced upon you anyway?

So your printer mangles your paper?

If your printer is shredding, spindling, and mutilating your paper, what could the problem be?

Check out this link for a possible cause:

Paper Shredding

Why is this show still on?

One of the shows I enjoy watching is Stargate SG-1. Not having access to the Sci-Fi channel, I can only watch it in syndication (and a season behind -- though my most recent purchase from Amazon will bring me the 10th and final season of the show in the next couple of weeks. But I digress.)

Locally, Stargate regularly shows on Saturday night at 11:30, which helps contribute to my night-owl-ism, I'm sure. Prior to this past year (which is almost a pun if you know the 9th season storyline), IIRC, Stargate came on at 11:00 right after Mad TV. All in all, a good night of TV watching.

This past year, though, Fox decided to air a show, Talk Show with Spike Feresten. I'm all for giving new shows a try; one never knows when something decent will come along, and a comedic vehicle is always appreciated. I watched the first episode. And the second show. And the third. I didn't even crack a smile, not even inwardly. This show is not funny in any way that makes sense to me. This guy's big claim to fame? He used to be a writer on Seinfeld.

Oh, I tried flipping over to CW (formerly WB) for the 30 minutes the decidedly unfunny Mr. Feresten continued in his lame attempt at entertainment, but watching TV while reading email and/or web surfing remove my focus enough (at least for a show I'm not all that interested in) that I would forget to turn back to Stargate.

So now, I suffer through this unfunny show so that I can watch Stargate. (Note: I have laughed exactly ONE (1) time during this show -- a 40ish gentleman donning rave gear, including pacifier, glow sticks, etc. takes a hit of E (aka Extasy) and goes wild. Whoever said I was normal or traditional in my tastes?) I look forward to the end of this tragedy of a comedy (but not the end of Stargate).