For four

If I were not a snob and were the sort of person who drank beer out of a can, I would require - nay DEMAND - one of these.

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Rain. Actual rain. Like a lot of it. Enough to require an umbrella and fear a little for my life on the freeway. This is a novel experience. It's been so long, I'd almost forgotten.

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I've been loaned a novel by a friend: Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan.

It reads like an RPG campaign. I can't help but enjoy it. I'm on page 43 of 649 and this is part of a series. Apparently Sullivan self-published in ebooks this before getting picked up by a publisher for print copies.

While I'm enjoying it, I'm kind of mired in exposition at the moment. I'll probably have more to say when the plot starts to form.

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After jogging a few miles yesterday, I returned home and convinced myself that I needed to undo any health benefits gained from running by making dessert.

I've already pretty-much mastered the fine art of making angel food cake from scratch. While tasty, angel food cake is a little boring and it's a bugger to shoot those little Cherubs out of the sky, skin them, and... um... yeah. You don't want details.

So I went a little towards the Dark Side and made chocolate angel food cake. I needed the practice.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The experiment was a success and I am pleased with the unhealthy results. It's not my first (or even tenth) time making such, but it's been a while. Good to know I've retained the skills.

I say, old chap

I am a snob and I need a monocle now.

Though I love Guinness and have a streak of Egalitarian in me.

If you live in California, drop everything and do this

Political bit. You were warned.

Ever wanted to know what monolithic marketing agencies actually have on you in their files?

The Right to Know Act requires companies to give users access to the personal data the company has stored on them-as well as a list of all the other companies with whom that original company has shared the users' personal data-when a user requests it. It would cover California residents and would apply to both offline and online companies.
I dunno about you, but I think this is LONG overdue and should be a nationwide thing.

To support it, go here. Sorry, but this is for California residents only.

/Political bit.

Mummy Dearest

I hate when an injury keeps me from doing the sorts of healthy recreational activites I enjoy. It's bad enough I have to hold off of martial arts (especially since I've already paid the damn non-refundable tuition) but that I can't ride my bike without experiencing problems is just damn insulting.

Getting old sucks.

Though, as I'm often told by older friends, it beats the alternative.

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Today's "Worst Case Scenario" lesson is "How to Kill a Mummy". In a nutshell, use fire. There's an addendum here that I wasn't aware of. I guess you're supposed to tear the heart out of the burned shell of the mummy, burn the heart separately (again?), then scatter the ashes in the desert sands.

I suppose it always pays to be thorough when dealing with the undead.

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So Zombie Tools has another blade in their list of offerings: the T'ai Fighter.

I love the names of their blades.

Until seeing this, I would swear that an Apokatana or a Zakasushi would be my next blade choice (if I ever have that much disposable income handy). Now the T'ai Fighter is neck-and-neck in my lust list.

The Apokatana is a smidge less than $400, before shipping. The Zakasushi is a drop less than $300, also before shipping. The T'ai Fighter is almost $330 (before shipping), putting it nicely between the two.

Want so badly...

Though I freely acknowledge that ain't happening for a good long while. I have to get savings built up, now that I don't have car payments. Plus need actual sundries that are more practical (new shoes, tuition, etc.).

I'll have to make due with my current supply of sharp objects, should zombies attack.

Random musings on Doctor Who

I haven't been terribly-subtle about my feelings regarding the direction Steven Moffatt is taking for "Doctor Who".

I'm not known for being subtle, so that's okay.

Moffatt's done some solid stuff, but those are mostly in his hand-crafted single episodes. "The Empty Child" was thrilling genius. The Library eps were genuinely creepy and clever with the addition of River Song (who is now very much overdone).

I maintain that "Blink" was a masterpiece and possibly one of the best episodes I've ever seen, both old and new series inclusive.

With all that said, Moffatt's story arcs suck ass.

The Pandorica arc was ridiculous beyond words for more reasons than I care to bother rehashing. The arc covering the Silence and the mystery of River Song was slightly better. The Silence (the aliens, not the movement) are awesomely-creepy. The Silence (the movement, not the aliens) is fairly ridiculous in both its goals and its inconsistent abilities.

And the entire backstory for River Song? Overdone and very ridiculous.

I mean...

making her a home-cooked Time Lady? Overdone.

(I finally Googled how to do the spoiler tags. Yay me.)
Okay, enough naysaying. I've said before that I'd love to see the Time Lords brought back in some form or another, and I think reintroducing them would help with a lot of the more contrived elements of Moffatt's story arcs.. A few thoughts:

• The Silence (the aliens) appear to have access to TARDIS like console thingies. Make them a creation from the Time War, or perhaps debased Time Lord Morlocks of some kind. That would explain how they perform their manipulations in the story arc and it would explain the entire premise behind the Pandorica story altogether.
• Perhaps a few other Time Lords survived and opted to withdraw into isolation. They fear/dislike the Doctor for his part in obliterating Gallifrey, but see a benefit to his wandering about and meddling. So they've been manipulating him. That would explain the shadowy beings that appear in the prequel "Webisodes" for getting the Doctor to go do things (like go to Skaro in "The Asylum of the Daleks") or the "woman in a shop" Clara interacted with off-screen.

Indeed, having two, disparate groups of Time Lord-esque factions mucking about behind-the-scenes makes the entirety of the Moffatt seasons a giant chess game with the Doctor as the main piece being used. It fits well in the "old series" mythology and it's the sort of dickish move even "good" Time Lords would pull off.

I don't know. I'm not saying I could do a better job than Moffatt has done, but as a fan, I can see an awful lot of room for improvement in the actual plot/storylines of the series.

EDIT: So Topless Robot ran this after I posted my musings. I more-or-less agree with it, FSM-help-me.

I feel obliged to excessively share my thoughts this morning

So now I have this awesome, breathable, Goorin Bros hat.

And I forget it when I leave for work.

I have to admit that part of it is timidity over the fashion change. I usually don't give a rat's ass what other people think of my fashion choices (or demonstration of a lack of fashion sense on my part) but every now and again I get twitchy.

Especially with hats. Funny how that is. I must be sensitive about it. I see folks wandering about wearing hats that seem - to me - to be odd and I immediately find I make some sort of judgment. I suppose I'm afraid of that same judgment being applied right back at me.

Which is funny, as it would probably be justified and if I thought about it, I probably wouldn't care.

That was sort of much ado about nothing, wasn't it?

I need more coffee.

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No rain today.

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Made muffins for myself for the week. And I forgot to add sugar.

Wow. Just... wow. Tasted like I imagine cardboard would taste. Only with blueberries.

Fools foolin' fully foolishly

Happy April 1.

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We have actual rain in the Bay Area this morning. Real rain. It actually woke me up this morning. That's a novel change.

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Bureaucracy is the purest, most sublime form of Hell on this Earth. Nothing says "fun" like trying to get reimbursed for medical expenses and learning I have to make a return trip to my provider and persuade them to fill out a goddamn form.

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I'm still irritated over "The Bells of St. John". It really should have been a better episode. Matt Smith's Doctor is solid, or was before the latest behavioral shift. Jenna Louise Coleman is great, or was on her previous appearances. The writing for the show seems more suited for attempting a romantic comedy than an actual science fiction program.

And "Doctor Who" is not a RomCom. It's a sin to try to make it such.

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Was a fun, if weird, weekend. Spent some time with geeks and made a new geek friend. I traveled to parts of the Bay Area I've not visited in many years.

I visited Goorin Brothers and actually broke down and bought a hat I can't really afford. I regret nothing?

I completely forgot it was Easter Sunday until I tried to go buy some stuff at Target and found them closed.

Yes, Target closes on Easter Sunday. Whodathunkit?