30 April 2008
At Last!
I finally figured out how to copy a DVD onto a videotape without getting the picture distorted.
In other words, I finally figured out how to circumvent the DVD's anti-piracy defenses.
Hmmm.....maybe I shouldn't be announcing this.....
But it's not like I'm going to sell copies or anything like that. I just want to be able to make a "mix" tape. You know, a tape with all the good bits from a series, without the boring stuff. Like if there's a show with a few characters I like, and a few that I hate, I want to be able to make a tape that just has the good ones.
See? All perfectly innocent.
In other words, I finally figured out how to circumvent the DVD's anti-piracy defenses.
Hmmm.....maybe I shouldn't be announcing this.....
But it's not like I'm going to sell copies or anything like that. I just want to be able to make a "mix" tape. You know, a tape with all the good bits from a series, without the boring stuff. Like if there's a show with a few characters I like, and a few that I hate, I want to be able to make a tape that just has the good ones.
See? All perfectly innocent.
Labels: DVD
29 April 2008
Gay Marriage
Same-sex marriage is a very important issue to me. Unfortunately, I'm terrible at debating the issue. I think I have a difficult time because it's all so obvious to me. I've heard the opposing arguments, but they don't make any sense to me. I think you really have to understand both sides to properly debate, and I really don't understand the people who disagree with me.
However, I've given it some thought, and I think I've figured out how to articulate why it's so important to me, and why I think it's right.
Here it goes:
There are two reasons I believe same-sex marriages should be legal.
The first is to give same-sex relationships the same legal rights as heterosexual relationships. This is important for all sorts of legal-type stuff, like power of attorney and parental rights and other legal-y things.
The second is that it would say: A same-sex relationship has as much validity as an opposite-sex relationship. That they have the same worth and importance. That the gay relationship is as real as the straight one.
However, I've given it some thought, and I think I've figured out how to articulate why it's so important to me, and why I think it's right.
Here it goes:
There are two reasons I believe same-sex marriages should be legal.
The first is to give same-sex relationships the same legal rights as heterosexual relationships. This is important for all sorts of legal-type stuff, like power of attorney and parental rights and other legal-y things.
The second is that it would say: A same-sex relationship has as much validity as an opposite-sex relationship. That they have the same worth and importance. That the gay relationship is as real as the straight one.
Labels: GLBT
28 April 2008
Passport
On April 17 I mailed in my application to renew my passport. Today when I came home, I found my new one in my mailbox! I was pretty impressed -- it came in less than two weeks. If you factor in time spent in the hands of the USPS, it took the government about a week to process my application and make me a new passport.
What was odd, though, was that my new passport came in a separate envelope than my old passport (that they returned to me). What's even weirder is that the envelopes were not the same. The old one came in a brown paper envelope, but the new one came in a white cardboard priority mail envelope. I guess different offices deal with the old and new?
What was odd, though, was that my new passport came in a separate envelope than my old passport (that they returned to me). What's even weirder is that the envelopes were not the same. The old one came in a brown paper envelope, but the new one came in a white cardboard priority mail envelope. I guess different offices deal with the old and new?
Labels: random weirdness
27 April 2008
Quote of the Week
Between the season two finale of Torchwood and the season four premiere of Doctor Who, I'm obsessing (yet again) about the Doctor Who-verse. So, here's a cute scene between Captain Jack and Ianto:
[Captain Jack has been interrogating a suspect]
Ianto: "Just us, in this room, for as long as it takes." Terrifying.
Jack: Really?
Ianto: Absolutely. [I had] shivers down my spine.
Jack: You don't look scared.
Ianto: It passed.
[Captain Jack has been interrogating a suspect]
Ianto: "Just us, in this room, for as long as it takes." Terrifying.
Jack: Really?
Ianto: Absolutely. [I had] shivers down my spine.
Jack: You don't look scared.
Ianto: It passed.
Labels: Torchwood
23 April 2008
Quote of the Week
I'm a little late with my quote this week, but I found a good one for y'all. It's from Tara Ariano's (aka Wing Chun) blog. This is the second of her "Three Short Arguments in Hawaii":
Tara: You know you're going to have to turn around eventually, right?
Dave: Why?
Tara: This is the highway that deadends at that beach...P-something Beach.
Dave: Right, but I was going to drive by the King Kamehameha statue.
Tara: We already passed it.
Dave: We already passed it?
Tara: It was in the town. Didn't you hear me say, "There it is"?
Dave: You really saw the statue?
Tara: What? Yes!
Dave: You saw it with your eyes?
Tara: It was on my side of the road. It was black and gold and there was a yellow lei around its neck and right hand.
Dave: Okay.
Tara: "Did you see it with your eyes."
Dave: Well...
Tara: No, I saw a six-foot black and gold statue of Kamehameha with my heart.
Tara: You know you're going to have to turn around eventually, right?
Dave: Why?
Tara: This is the highway that deadends at that beach...P-something Beach.
Dave: Right, but I was going to drive by the King Kamehameha statue.
Tara: We already passed it.
Dave: We already passed it?
Tara: It was in the town. Didn't you hear me say, "There it is"?
Dave: You really saw the statue?
Tara: What? Yes!
Dave: You saw it with your eyes?
Tara: It was on my side of the road. It was black and gold and there was a yellow lei around its neck and right hand.
Dave: Okay.
Tara: "Did you see it with your eyes."
Dave: Well...
Tara: No, I saw a six-foot black and gold statue of Kamehameha with my heart.
Labels: random silliness
19 April 2008
Exit Wounds
The second season finale of Torchwood was sad, but it still wasn't as sad as the second season finale of Doctor Who.
They did manage to kill off a rather large percentage of their leads, though. Season three should be interesting....
They did manage to kill off a rather large percentage of their leads, though. Season three should be interesting....
Labels: Torchwood
18 April 2008
More Snow....
Back in February, I confidently predicted that we wouldn't get any more snow this winter.
And I was right. We're getting more snow this spring.
But at least I'll have a reason to wear my boots!
And I was right. We're getting more snow this spring.
But at least I'll have a reason to wear my boots!
Labels: weather
Doctor Who Is Back!
In just two hours, the fourth season of Doctor Who will premiere! I'm so excited!!!! :) :) :) :)
This episode aired in the UK back in December, so it feels like I've been waiting forever to see it.
On a less fun note, the otherwise enjoyable New Amsterdam decided to end its run with a very tired lesbian-killer storyline. Bah.
Oh well.
Doctor Who! Yay!!
This episode aired in the UK back in December, so it feels like I've been waiting forever to see it.
On a less fun note, the otherwise enjoyable New Amsterdam decided to end its run with a very tired lesbian-killer storyline. Bah.
Oh well.
Doctor Who! Yay!!
Labels: Doctor Who, GLBT, TV
14 April 2008
Quote of the Week
I really do like "Dancing with the Stars". It's so delightfully cheesy!
Here's a quote from Kim's weecap:
Priscilla is wearing [a] seafoam green [dress], and I noticed many of the waltz ladies are wearing pastels this week. When they stand together, they look like the ill-advised pastel rainbow bridesmaid's dresses my second cousins had when she got married in 1976. You know -- each bridesmaid wore a different color of the rainbow? Except there was also a Bicentennial theme, so they were like Little House dresses? And everyone wore bonnets? How I wish I were making this up. I was the flower girl.
Here's a quote from Kim's weecap:
Priscilla is wearing [a] seafoam green [dress], and I noticed many of the waltz ladies are wearing pastels this week. When they stand together, they look like the ill-advised pastel rainbow bridesmaid's dresses my second cousins had when she got married in 1976. You know -- each bridesmaid wore a different color of the rainbow? Except there was also a Bicentennial theme, so they were like Little House dresses? And everyone wore bonnets? How I wish I were making this up. I was the flower girl.
Labels: Dancing with the Stars
11 April 2008
Losing The Cow
I've been reading "Miss Alli's" recaps on TWoP for years, and I was really bummed when I found out she was leaving. I found out she had her own site, though, and I've been enjoying reading it.
Recently she posted that she was going to restart an old site of hers: Losing The Cow. Much to my surprise, the site was about her struggles with weight loss.
She's got lots of interesting things to say, but so far, the post that has meant the most to me is this one.
I think this bit in particular sums up my recent lifestyle changes: "I’m not bailing out a sinking ship, you arrogant jackass, I’m just steering it in a different direction, and nothing makes it harder than people who can’t tell the difference."
Awesome.
Recently she posted that she was going to restart an old site of hers: Losing The Cow. Much to my surprise, the site was about her struggles with weight loss.
She's got lots of interesting things to say, but so far, the post that has meant the most to me is this one.
I think this bit in particular sums up my recent lifestyle changes: "I’m not bailing out a sinking ship, you arrogant jackass, I’m just steering it in a different direction, and nothing makes it harder than people who can’t tell the difference."
Awesome.
Labels: health, Linda Holmes
06 April 2008
Quote of the Week
From an article in TV Guide:
[John] Barrowman, 40, is openly gay (he and his partner, British architect Scott Gill, were joined in a civil commitment ceremony last year). He's as outspoken about prejudice in the industry as you'd expect from someone who was passed over for the part of Will in Will & Grace -- because the producers felt he was "too straight".
[John] Barrowman, 40, is openly gay (he and his partner, British architect Scott Gill, were joined in a civil commitment ceremony last year). He's as outspoken about prejudice in the industry as you'd expect from someone who was passed over for the part of Will in Will & Grace -- because the producers felt he was "too straight".
