You'd think the emergency surgery for a snapped ankle would have been enough to keep this guy at home. Far be it for me to laugh at another's misfortunes but,...LOL.

Happy Halloween!

Speaking of The X-Files, Bill Davis has been a busy little bee. Good to see him getting all this work - he's a nice guy who deserves it. Watch out Smallville!

In case you're running out of things to spend your money on, here's a link to Sotheby's X-Files Auction, all proceeds to benefit Hollywood Cinema Production Resources (Hollywood CPR) and West Los Angeles College. Although I would never spend money on any of the stuff (at least not as much as they're asking), some of the items are pretty cool:

• the log from Detour
  
• the alien embryo from Erlenmeyer Flask
  
• the pig head from the Peacock's porch
  
• burned x-files
  
• Tooms' psych report
  
• a pack of Morleys from Musings of a Cigarette Smoking Man
  
• a can of Die Bug Die from War of the Coprophages
  

Makes me want to drag out those season 1 and 2 DVDs...

The second season premiere of "24" is airing tonight, at 9:00 P.M. on FOX, presented with no commercial interruption by Ford. I'm scheduled to work tonight, of course. Thank the gods for vcrs. There's a NYT article on the premiere here if you're interested - I stopped after the first paragraph for fear of becoming too tainted with spoilers. I hope you're able to watch it; and if you didn't watch the show last season and feel that you'll be lost coming into this one, there's still time to remedy that: "24"'s first season is available now for rental at your local video store. Spoken like a true worker bee assistant manager, huh?

A fascinating New York Times article that reports on the recent release of "the largest single repository of raw data and expert analysis on the Sept. 11 attack in Lower Manhattan," and the new perspectives on the tragedy that this material may provide.

Adult Film Title of the Week (Tie): Do Me Ray and Weapons of Ass Destruction

This story's got something for everyone: a porn star, an insider trading scandal and Martha Stewart (well, sort of on that last one).

Have they got the guy(s)? It would seem so, wouldn't it? And if this is the guy, then it's probably safe to say that he is not simply a "psycho serial killer" but a terrorist in his own right. And what is his motivation in turning himself in? (the article implies that the sniper himself was the tipster who pointed police to the liquor store robbery in Montgomery, AL) Did he want to be stopped? Or was he frustrated that the police hadn't caught him, thereby providing him the attention and credit he craves (as most terrorists do)? Maybe he can be categorized as a "psycho serial terrorist killer".

Of course, as of this writing the men haven't been charged with anything so this is all pure speculation. But boy do I hope they got their guy.

Separated at Birth?



Faith, honey, Britney's supposed to be emulating you, not the other way around.

I would have a massive coronary upon discovering this and would die on the spot. But I would die happy.

I think it's time for a new job, pal.

There are two kinds of people in this world...Part I

There are two kinds of people in this world: those who put the jelly and peanut butter on separate slices of bread and then put them together and those who put the peanut butter and jelly on the same slice and then cover it with the other slice of bread. I am the latter. Which one are you?

(And if you're one of those people who doesn't eat pb&j sandwiches, please don't bother replying - you'll only mess with my whole "two kinds of people" theory, which really doesn't hold up under close scrutiny. And now that I think of it, besides an allergy to peanuts or any of the other ingredients, what kind of a person doesn't like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches? You're obviously a weirdo.)

Recipe for the perfect cuppa.

His plan would have worked if it wasn't for those pesky policemen.

A new post from Sir Ian McKellen in his X-Men2 diary, Magneto's Lair.

The Ira Einhorn trial finally ends in a conviction. I hope it sticks.

Here's a Wired news article that discusses how speculation on the sniper's identity and motivation is sweeping the blog community. I particularly like this theory:

Is it completely beyond the realm of possibility that Jimmy Carter is helping to fund the activities of the D.C.-area sniper? After all, it was 'former' 'President' 'Carter,' who coined, in his ONLY speech to the United Nations in 1977, the phrase 'Dear Policeman, I am God,' and he has, in the past, shown interest in the black art of the tarot. The pattern is clear.

Oh my God. Why didn't someone think of that sooner?

In the news...

...the Washington-area sniper is still terrorizing the population, and now he's left a message at the scene of his 12th shooting. This image shows how a Fairfax, VA Texaco station is taking measures to protect its customers. I hope for all of the people in that area, and for the police (especially Chief Moose), that this psycho is caught soon.

...So, North Korea has decided to fess up and tell the world that, in violation of a 1994 treaty, it has pursued a nuclear weapons program and successfully developed their own nuclear weapons. Isn't that nice? But it's Iraq that we really need to worry about, right?

Waking up

So here we are, at the start of another week. I looked after Marty this weekend while Sheila visited friends in Massachusetts, so things were pretty quiet around here. It rained on Friday and Saturday, but yesterday was a beaut, a crisp, fall day. I met friends from MA halfway in Vernon, CT for my very first cache -- well, the first I've done with my own GPS. Now that I know how to enter and goto a waypoint I need to get Sheila to join me on a couple before the weather turns nasty. It was a great day and a wonderful (but too short) visit.

OK, I need some help, if you can give it to me -- we still haven't decided on costumes for Saturday's party. It's very geeky, but I suggested we go as hobbits last night. There's no makeup involved, and we would be comfortable. Sheila didn't dismiss it outright and seemed to be mulling it over, so hobbits are still a possibility, but I'm still open to suggestions. Anyone? Bueller?

Mary and the kids, Hannah (soon 7) and Zachary (3), came to visit this past weekend. We made caramel apples, tissue ghosties, Halloween cookies, shopped for pumpkins and visited friends. The kids spent some down time coloring at the kitchen table, and here are a few samples of their artistry. (mouseover thumbnail for description)

Angie Harmon at the VH1 Fashion Awards. Or what's left of her. Looks like it's time for some force-feeding. And what's with that getup? She always makes those best-dressed lists - here she looks like an emaciated reject from the Moulin Rouge.

Who killed Farscape? An excellent article by Clare Sainsbury of Strange Horizons that outlines and dissects SciFi's cancellation of Farscape.

The campaign continues, with the focus shifting to the possibility of another network picking up the show. There is, however, a small chance of SciFi still picking up the show for its fifth season: if ratings for the show's return in January (for the final 11 episodes of the fourth season) were to increase to a 2.0 share, the network may not be able to justify the cancellation for lower ratings. So expect me to be pushing the show come January.

October Day

A few photos I took with my little Intel PC Camera this morning. Autumn from my porch.

Anyone else think that Robert Downey, Jr.'s "companion" is a bit manly?

Headline of the Day:

Spacewoman Stuck in Orbit with Too Much Shrimp

Finding out that carnival games are rigged was like learning the truth about Santa for me. We were avid carnival- and fair-goers when I was a kid (and still are, to some degree), and coming home with one of those cheapo knock-off stuffed pink panthers or tweety birds was a real achievement. It didn't happen very often, mind you, but as a kid, you thought you actually had a decent chance of beating the game. We get older, of course, and wiser in the ways of the world, and we understand that there's no way we are going to get that dime to stay on that plate. And we do our best to avoid the midway games and the temptation they offer.

Well, not anymore.

(thanks, popculturejunkmail.com)

"If you've managed to stay awake for more than twenty minutes of it, you might have noticed that the 2002 Fall Season seems a little, shall we say, uninspired? "

t.p. or not t.p....Sorry about that. It's novels not plays...

I see a huge problem with this idea: It would only work in a single person household, or one where every individual has their own roll. Otherwise, can you imagine it?

Gunter: "Has everyone finished pages 8-20? I need to take a crap!"

"This Sucks..."

The Boyz at Filmwise need your help. They are learning that inevitable and hard lesson of the Internet - nothing is ever really free. At least not anything good and not for long (just ask the folks at twop). So please, do what you can to help them out (and the twop people, too, if you can). Because a twisted mind is a terrible thing to waste.

(They are still posting new Invisibles, and this week it's Oh, Canada)

This sniper case is growing more horrifying with every passing day. Now a man has been shot at a gas station in Manassas, VA, 30 miles southwest of DC. Ballistics have yet to link this shooting to the others, but I'd bet good money it's the same guy. What kind of a person does this? Obviously it's someone who needs to feel in control of and superior to others, but to be so methodical, so cold and calculating, so patient. From what I've read, the sniper is more concerned with proving his superiority over the police than he is with instilling fear in the surrounding population. That seems to be incidental at this point.

Well, incidental or not, abject fear would keep me housebound if I lived in the area, unwilling to leave for any reason except maybe if someone set the house on fire, and even then my ass would have to be catching.

Someone's been sipping from the Erlenmeyer Flask.

My nephew Zachary is crazy for SpongeBob (I got him SpongeBob underoos for his birthday). According to the Wall Street Journal, so are gay men.

Devil Dog

Marty's already set for Halloween, but Sheila and I are trying to come up with something good that we can do together, like Daphne and Velma (or is that Roy Orbison in drag?), our costumes last year. One idea was to go as Men in Black, putting a little black jacket on Marty, but including him would limit our options for places to go. Any ideas?

This thief's getaway car was a red rider mower. LOL

UFO: Unidentified Flaming Object?

Sorry, link seems to be dead

I'm Jo, which ambiguous dyke are you? Quiz by Turi.

(thanks, snarkcake)

Tired of getting all that work done? Neglecting to neglect all of those things you should be neglecting? Don't worry, Bookworm will decrease your productivity in no time. I guarantee it.

(thanks, popculturejunkmail.com)...(I think)

"Data, where are you going?"

"I'm setting boody traps."

Extra Credit: What movie is this from?

Been busy at work the past few days, and I'm on my way there now, for a few hours. I'll return to posting this afternoon, but until then I leave you with

Adult Film Title of the Week: Bi-Bi Love

Vancouver or Bust!

Gael Cooper, whose popculturejunkmail.com I've just recently discovered, is the Travel Editor at MSNBC.com. Her column this week: My Love Letter to Vancouver. I share Gael's fondness for the city, and after three visits in the past 4 years, my desire to get back has not waned a bit. Her column has only strengthened my resolve to get there next summer.

Hehe

It's official. The votes have been tabulated, the data has been analyzed and the chuckles have been counted. The World's Funniest Joke is:

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other man pulls out his phone and calls emergency services.

He gasps to the operator: "My friend is dead! What can I do?" The operator in a calm, soothing voice replies: "Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead."

There is a silence, then a shot is heard.

Back on the phone, the hunter says, "Ok, now what?"

I have to admit, that made me laugh. And the weasel one was pretty good, too. You can read more about the study at the Laugh Lab.

A post-feminist view of Buffy.

(thanks, tvtattle.com)

The sad, strange, and sordid tale behind the new Bob Crane movie, "Auto Focus."

Adult Film Title of the Week: Lexington Steel Staff: He'll Give You The Shaft

The Power of Darkness Grows

Anticipation for the next installment in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Two Towers, is heating up. You can download and watch the incredible theatrical trailer for the film by clicking here. It took me about an hour to download the large version with my 56k connection, but it was worth it! If you would like to see a frame-by-frame review of the trailer, TheOneRing.Net has done a fabulous job. December 18 can't come soon enough.

Golly

Has it been a week already?? Sorry for the lack of updates - too many distractions lately.

Let's see, what have I been up to...I worked Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and I've been training for the Assistant Manager position, so that's been keeping me busy. I'm learning opening and closing procedures, and I'll be opening the store for the first time by myself this Sunday. Oh! I was so excited yesterday - I got to choose a special section and set it up (just an endcap, really), and I chose Tommy Lee Jones movies. I searched for TLJ films, picked 15 of them and made up a sign. It'll be interesting to see if any customers actually rent one of the movies, or even notice.

My mother was staying with us all last week, another distraction, and we took her back to Rhode Island on Sunday morning. It was nice to get back into my own bed at night, instead of the couch.

My truck was in the garage for a couple of days, too. I left the house on Saturday morning to run an errand and noticed my battery light on; I looked at the battery gauge and it was registering down near "L". I drove a bit further, stopped at a stop sign, and the light went off and the gauge shot back up. Drove a bit further and it dropped again. I called my mechanic and he did a quick test on the battery. As I figured he would, he said it was difficult to tell with an intermittent problem like this and it could be the alternator, but he wasn't really sure. The best I could do is wait for it to die. I went home not liking the idea very much. I decided on Sunday to just drop the truck off at the garage with a note. I work at night in New Haven and the prospect of getting stuck down there in the middle of the night was not too appealing. They were able to finish the repairs by late Monday and I picked it up late yesterday. Turns out it was the alternator, but the problem was something they had not seen before (of course!): whenever the rpm's hit 3000 or above, the alternator would fritz out and the engine would switch over to the battery. Once I was in neutral (at a light or a stop sign), the alternator would kick back in and recharge the battery. So, $265 later I have my truck back, as well as peace of mind.

Final distraction: another bee sting. This time on my chin. We were at a local fair called "Dog Days of Oxford", where people bring their dogs and there are competitions, contests, booths and food. Mostly it's for people and dogs to mix and mingle. I was having a good time until I got stung. My chin swelled right up - I looked like a superhero! - and then my palms began itching. By the time I got home they were extremely red and hot, and the redness had spread down into my wrist. I never had an allergic reaction to bee stings until earlier this summer, and this recent reaction was a bit worse. Looks like I may have to look into seeing a doctor and getting something a bit stronger than Benadryl to carry with me, just in case. Damn bees.

And that's what's been going on with me. Time to eat lunch.