30 April 2009
Quote of the Week
Xena was such a fun show. I remember loving the "Norse Trilogy", and recently The Torch Online.com reviewed it:
"The Norse trilogy is Xena's usual audacious blend of legend and history, in this case loosely mixing Norse mythology with the stories of Beowulf and the Das Rheingold opera. But of course, the legends of history left out the central role Xena played in all these stories. Beowulf shows up, sure, but he's merely a supporting player in his own legend."
"The Norse trilogy is Xena's usual audacious blend of legend and history, in this case loosely mixing Norse mythology with the stories of Beowulf and the Das Rheingold opera. But of course, the legends of history left out the central role Xena played in all these stories. Beowulf shows up, sure, but he's merely a supporting player in his own legend."
Labels: Xena
29 April 2009
PNW Accent
The totally addictive TV Tropes site has an entry on various American accents. Here's their blurb for my accent:
"Pacific Northwest: Basically an entire area of Newscaster English, with a twist. People from this area do, actually, have a unique accent if listeners pay attention. They merge vowels, resulting in the following words being indistinguishable: cot = caught; caller = collar; Don = Dawn; Led=Lead; often Full=Fool. Placenames and other special vocabulary also get unique treatment. Words like "geoduck" ("gooeyduck"), "Puyallup" ("pyew-ALL-up"), "Issaquah" ("iss-SOCK-wah") or "Pend Oreille" ("pond oray") are some examples. Except for "Pend Oreille", these are all loan-words from Salish tribes of native Americans (Pend Oreille is a loaner, too, but from the French fur traders who used it to refer to a tribe in the area). Another case is Oregon, being the historical name of the entire area and the name of one the major states. Natives call it Or-Y-Gun while non-natives unfamiliar will call it Or-E-gone. This has lead to bumperstickers with ORYGUN being popular in the region. Stereotype: Eco-friendly, distinctly laid-back."
My first thought upon reading this was: caught=cot, caller=collar, Don=Dawn, led=lead.....of course! How else can they be pronounced?? I had my linguist, grew-up-all-over-the-U.S. best friend speak her versions of "caught" and "cot" for me, and I can hear a difference, but I can't replicate it.
There are some goofs, though. Full=fool? No. Not even close. And their phonetic spellings of local place names aren't great. "iss-SOCK-wah"? I say something closer to "ISS-a-cwah".
On a totally different note, I wish I had bought an "Orygun" bumpersticker when I lived in Eugene. Those are cool.
"Pacific Northwest: Basically an entire area of Newscaster English, with a twist. People from this area do, actually, have a unique accent if listeners pay attention. They merge vowels, resulting in the following words being indistinguishable: cot = caught; caller = collar; Don = Dawn; Led=Lead; often Full=Fool. Placenames and other special vocabulary also get unique treatment. Words like "geoduck" ("gooeyduck"), "Puyallup" ("pyew-ALL-up"), "Issaquah" ("iss-SOCK-wah") or "Pend Oreille" ("pond oray") are some examples. Except for "Pend Oreille", these are all loan-words from Salish tribes of native Americans (Pend Oreille is a loaner, too, but from the French fur traders who used it to refer to a tribe in the area). Another case is Oregon, being the historical name of the entire area and the name of one the major states. Natives call it Or-Y-Gun while non-natives unfamiliar will call it Or-E-gone. This has lead to bumperstickers with ORYGUN being popular in the region. Stereotype: Eco-friendly, distinctly laid-back."
My first thought upon reading this was: caught=cot, caller=collar, Don=Dawn, led=lead.....of course! How else can they be pronounced?? I had my linguist, grew-up-all-over-the-U.S. best friend speak her versions of "caught" and "cot" for me, and I can hear a difference, but I can't replicate it.
There are some goofs, though. Full=fool? No. Not even close. And their phonetic spellings of local place names aren't great. "iss-SOCK-wah"? I say something closer to "ISS-a-cwah".
On a totally different note, I wish I had bought an "Orygun" bumpersticker when I lived in Eugene. Those are cool.
Labels: random silliness
28 April 2009
ORCA
I got my ORCA pass today! I'm very excited.
Sometimes I buy a monthly bus pass, and sometimes it's cheaper to pay cash so I don't. The ORCA pass will function as both. And if I buy a $1.75 pass, but take a $2.00 ride, it'll charge me 25ยข for the ride. It's going to be awesome!
Assuming, of course, that the system works the way they say it will...
Sometimes I buy a monthly bus pass, and sometimes it's cheaper to pay cash so I don't. The ORCA pass will function as both. And if I buy a $1.75 pass, but take a $2.00 ride, it'll charge me 25ยข for the ride. It's going to be awesome!
Assuming, of course, that the system works the way they say it will...
Labels: bus
26 April 2009
Unbareable
I went to "Jack in the Box" on my way home from work tonight. They had a handwritten sign posted saying:
"Please bare with us. We only have two workers."
While I was happy to bear with them, I wasn't comfortable baring with them.
"Please bare with us. We only have two workers."
While I was happy to bear with them, I wasn't comfortable baring with them.
Labels: grammar
25 April 2009
Unusuals vs. Southland
As you may recall, I loved the pilot episode of The Unusuals and found the pilot of Southland grim and a little dull.
The second episode of The Unusuals wasn't as good as the pilot, but the second episode of Southland was better than its pilot.
Last week ABC aired two episodes of The Unusuals, and both were good. The third episode of Southland was even better than the second.
I still like The Unusuals better, and think it's a more enjoyable show, but Southland is growing on me. It's most interesting when it focuses on the uniform cops (as it did in the most recent ep). The detectives (mostly) aren't that interesting.
The second episode of The Unusuals wasn't as good as the pilot, but the second episode of Southland was better than its pilot.
Last week ABC aired two episodes of The Unusuals, and both were good. The third episode of Southland was even better than the second.
I still like The Unusuals better, and think it's a more enjoyable show, but Southland is growing on me. It's most interesting when it focuses on the uniform cops (as it did in the most recent ep). The detectives (mostly) aren't that interesting.
Labels: TV
23 April 2009
Quote of the Week
From Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear:
"The funniest thing about the government, to me, is that they recently decided to judge how much company car tax you pay on how much carbon dioxide comes out of the back. What a stupid thing! It's not a killer gas. Look, we've got this chart here. And this shows where carbon dioxide comes from. 95.5% comes from nature! Do they go around taxing farmers for their flocks of cows? Do they tax Mt. Etna every time it blows? That is ridiculous! Only this little orange sliver here comes from man. And of that, 34% from power stations -- people charging up their electric cars! And then you've got 14% from "domestic" use. Potterton's boilers: tax them! Put them out of business! Because look what they're doing. Only 13% of that little tiny bit there comes from cars. Ridiculous. But, we have the rules, and it's our job on Top Gear to show you a way around them."
"The funniest thing about the government, to me, is that they recently decided to judge how much company car tax you pay on how much carbon dioxide comes out of the back. What a stupid thing! It's not a killer gas. Look, we've got this chart here. And this shows where carbon dioxide comes from. 95.5% comes from nature! Do they go around taxing farmers for their flocks of cows? Do they tax Mt. Etna every time it blows? That is ridiculous! Only this little orange sliver here comes from man. And of that, 34% from power stations -- people charging up their electric cars! And then you've got 14% from "domestic" use. Potterton's boilers: tax them! Put them out of business! Because look what they're doing. Only 13% of that little tiny bit there comes from cars. Ridiculous. But, we have the rules, and it's our job on Top Gear to show you a way around them."
Labels: Top Gear
22 April 2009
Ack!
Is there anything more difficult than not eating the donuts you just bought?
Well, there probably is. Childbirth, for instance.
But it's hard!!
Well, there probably is. Childbirth, for instance.
But it's hard!!
Labels: food
15 April 2009
Quote of the Week
From Linda Holmes at Monkey See:
MGM is finalizing plans for its Three Stooges movie, which will be directed by the Farrelly brothers (There's Something About Mary, Dumb And Dumber). And who's going to be in it? Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro. My guess is that you are now thinking either, "I will be the first person in line," or "I would not see that movie if the theater showing it were the last available refuge from rampaging Visigoths."
MGM is finalizing plans for its Three Stooges movie, which will be directed by the Farrelly brothers (There's Something About Mary, Dumb And Dumber). And who's going to be in it? Jim Carrey, Sean Penn, and Benicio Del Toro. My guess is that you are now thinking either, "I will be the first person in line," or "I would not see that movie if the theater showing it were the last available refuge from rampaging Visigoths."
Labels: Linda Holmes
14 April 2009
New Show Reviews Addendum
When I mentioned that Southland and The Unusuals had a lot in common, I actually forgot two things:
1) Both main characters come from money, but are hiding it from their new co-workers.
2) Both main characters shoot and kill a perp in the first episode.
Really, it's a little weird how much the two shows had in common.
1) Both main characters come from money, but are hiding it from their new co-workers.
2) Both main characters shoot and kill a perp in the first episode.
Really, it's a little weird how much the two shows had in common.
Labels: TV
12 April 2009
Britain's Got Talent
Maybe I'm just weepy from watching "The Body", but this clip from Britain's Got Talent made me cry.
[Hat tip to Linda Holmes at Monkey See.]
[Hat tip to Linda Holmes at Monkey See.]
Labels: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, random silliness
Fruit Punch
In my Buffy re-watch, I reached "The Body".
The second season finale of Doctor Who may be the saddest episode ever, but "The Body" is a close second.
The worst (best?) part is Anya's "fruit punch" speech. I always cry. Always. Even when I watched it a second time to listen to the commentary tonight, I still cried for that speech.
The second season finale of Doctor Who may be the saddest episode ever, but "The Body" is a close second.
The worst (best?) part is Anya's "fruit punch" speech. I always cry. Always. Even when I watched it a second time to listen to the commentary tonight, I still cried for that speech.
Labels: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
10 April 2009
New Show Reviews
Usually I do my new show reviews in October. But this year, only one of my new shows (Fringe) premiered in the fall. Dollhouse started in February, Kings started in March, and The Unusuals and Southland both premiered this week. So, here were are in April, and I'm finally ready to do my reviews.
It feels a little odd, because I've seen fifteen episodes of Fringe, nine episodes Dollhouse, four episodes of Kings, but only the pilots of The Unusuals and Southland. It seems unfair, but that's just how it is.
Ready? Here we go....
Fringe
The main character is bland and uninteresting. The supporting characters, however, are fun and funny. The father/son characters of Walter & Peter Bishop are pretty much why I keep watching. They're awesome. If only the plots were a little more intriguing....
Dollhouse
This was the show I was most excited to see. It was created by Joss Whedon (a.k.a. the creator of Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and stars Eliza Dushku (Faith on Buffy) and Tahmoh Penikett (Helo on Battlestar Galactica). The first few episodes were decent, but the last few have been fantastic. The rumor is that the network, the almost-always-idiotic FOX, meddled with the initial episodes, but eventually let Joss Whedon do his thing. It's really, REALLY obvious when the network stopped meddling. It's unlikely that Dollhouse will get renewed for a second season, and I think that's a shame.
Kings
Every once in a while a scifi/fantasy show I watch will do an alternate universe (AU) episode. With very few exceptions, I LOVE these episodes! So when I heard there was going to be a entire AU show, I was excited. Unfortunately, the show varies from being pretentious and over-written to dull to (occasionally) mildly interesting. The main characters are bland and earnest or scenery-chewing bores. Some of the supporting characters (primarily the Queen and the Prince) are interesting, but don't get nearly enough scenes. I think what killed this show for me was a scene in last week's episode: Main-character-hero-guy has been sent to quell a political protest. When he started to speak, everyone politely quieted down. When a protester asked him a question, the question was well-phrased and asked in a oddly unemotional tone of voice. I think the show-runners are going for epic and dramatic, but they've made a show that is pretentious and boring.
The Unusuals & Southland
These two shows premiered the same week, and have a lot in common: They're both cop shows. They both star a former "teen" actor (former Joan of Arcadia Amber Tamblyn on The Unusuals and former O.C.-er Ben McKenzie on Southland). Both of their characters are new to their jobs. (She's a detective who has been suddenly transferred from vice to homicide, he's a rookie uniform cop.) All of their co-workers have secrets to hide. Both have rocky relationships with their new partners. And for both, their best ally seems to be the only female cop in their unit.
That being said, the shows are completely different. The Unusuals mixes the quirky in with the dark, and is occasionally quite funny. Southland was gritty and filmed in a quasi-documentary style.
The other big difference: If I remember, I'll probably watch the next episode of Southland. On the other hand, as soon as I finished watching the premiere of The Unusuals, I wanted to re-watch it. It's my second favorite new show of the season.
It feels a little odd, because I've seen fifteen episodes of Fringe, nine episodes Dollhouse, four episodes of Kings, but only the pilots of The Unusuals and Southland. It seems unfair, but that's just how it is.
Ready? Here we go....
Fringe
The main character is bland and uninteresting. The supporting characters, however, are fun and funny. The father/son characters of Walter & Peter Bishop are pretty much why I keep watching. They're awesome. If only the plots were a little more intriguing....
Dollhouse
This was the show I was most excited to see. It was created by Joss Whedon (a.k.a. the creator of Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, and Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog) and stars Eliza Dushku (Faith on Buffy) and Tahmoh Penikett (Helo on Battlestar Galactica). The first few episodes were decent, but the last few have been fantastic. The rumor is that the network, the almost-always-idiotic FOX, meddled with the initial episodes, but eventually let Joss Whedon do his thing. It's really, REALLY obvious when the network stopped meddling. It's unlikely that Dollhouse will get renewed for a second season, and I think that's a shame.
Kings
Every once in a while a scifi/fantasy show I watch will do an alternate universe (AU) episode. With very few exceptions, I LOVE these episodes! So when I heard there was going to be a entire AU show, I was excited. Unfortunately, the show varies from being pretentious and over-written to dull to (occasionally) mildly interesting. The main characters are bland and earnest or scenery-chewing bores. Some of the supporting characters (primarily the Queen and the Prince) are interesting, but don't get nearly enough scenes. I think what killed this show for me was a scene in last week's episode: Main-character-hero-guy has been sent to quell a political protest. When he started to speak, everyone politely quieted down. When a protester asked him a question, the question was well-phrased and asked in a oddly unemotional tone of voice. I think the show-runners are going for epic and dramatic, but they've made a show that is pretentious and boring.
The Unusuals & Southland
These two shows premiered the same week, and have a lot in common: They're both cop shows. They both star a former "teen" actor (former Joan of Arcadia Amber Tamblyn on The Unusuals and former O.C.-er Ben McKenzie on Southland). Both of their characters are new to their jobs. (She's a detective who has been suddenly transferred from vice to homicide, he's a rookie uniform cop.) All of their co-workers have secrets to hide. Both have rocky relationships with their new partners. And for both, their best ally seems to be the only female cop in their unit.
That being said, the shows are completely different. The Unusuals mixes the quirky in with the dark, and is occasionally quite funny. Southland was gritty and filmed in a quasi-documentary style.
The other big difference: If I remember, I'll probably watch the next episode of Southland. On the other hand, as soon as I finished watching the premiere of The Unusuals, I wanted to re-watch it. It's my second favorite new show of the season.
09 April 2009
Quote of the Week
I'm still re-watching Buffy. I've made it to Season 5, although this quote is from the Season 4 episode "Something Blue":
[Buffy, under a love spell, is looking at a wedding dress. Riley approaches.]
Riley: Hey, Buffy. What's up?
Buffy: Riley, look [at the dresses]. Aren't they beautiful?
Riley: Ummm... Yeah? They're nice. A little dressy, maybe, for school, but...
Buffy: Riley.
Riley: Buffy.
Buffy: I really like you. I hope you know that you mean a lot to me. And if things were different...
Riley: Different than what?
Buffy: I want you to promise me that we can always be friends. And I'd really like you to be there on the day.
Riley: The day when....?
Buffy: The wedding!
Riley: The wedding. What wedding?
Buffy: My wedding! I'm getting married; can you believe it?
Riley: I don't think 'no' is a strong enough word.
Buffy: I know, it's crazy! I mean, we fought for all these years, and then.... Sometimes you just look at someone, and then you know, you know?
Riley: No.
Buffy: I think maybe we fought because we couldn't admit how we really felt about each other.
Riley: Can we start [this conversation] again?
Buffy: You'll really like him. [pause] Well, nobody really likes him...
Riley: I just need to clear a few things up...
Buffy: ... I don't even really like him.
Riley: Buffy....
Buffy: But, I love him. I do.
Riley: Who?
Buffy: What?
Riley: What's his name?
Buffy: Who?
Riley: The groom?
Buffy: Spike.
Riley: That' s a name?
Buffy: Don't be mad.
Riley: I'm not mad.
Buffy: No, you are mad.
Riley: No, I am. I really.. I.... Wow. Who is this guy? Does he go [to our school]?
Buffy: Spike? Oh, no. He's totally old.
Riley: Old?
Buffy: Well, not as old as my last boyfriend was...
Riley: Ok, it's late, and I'm very tired now. So I'm just going to go far away and be... away.
Buffy: But...
Riley: No. Stay.
[Riley leaves]
Buffy: You're ruining my happy day!
[Buffy, under a love spell, is looking at a wedding dress. Riley approaches.]
Riley: Hey, Buffy. What's up?
Buffy: Riley, look [at the dresses]. Aren't they beautiful?
Riley: Ummm... Yeah? They're nice. A little dressy, maybe, for school, but...
Buffy: Riley.
Riley: Buffy.
Buffy: I really like you. I hope you know that you mean a lot to me. And if things were different...
Riley: Different than what?
Buffy: I want you to promise me that we can always be friends. And I'd really like you to be there on the day.
Riley: The day when....?
Buffy: The wedding!
Riley: The wedding. What wedding?
Buffy: My wedding! I'm getting married; can you believe it?
Riley: I don't think 'no' is a strong enough word.
Buffy: I know, it's crazy! I mean, we fought for all these years, and then.... Sometimes you just look at someone, and then you know, you know?
Riley: No.
Buffy: I think maybe we fought because we couldn't admit how we really felt about each other.
Riley: Can we start [this conversation] again?
Buffy: You'll really like him. [pause] Well, nobody really likes him...
Riley: I just need to clear a few things up...
Buffy: ... I don't even really like him.
Riley: Buffy....
Buffy: But, I love him. I do.
Riley: Who?
Buffy: What?
Riley: What's his name?
Buffy: Who?
Riley: The groom?
Buffy: Spike.
Riley: That' s a name?
Buffy: Don't be mad.
Riley: I'm not mad.
Buffy: No, you are mad.
Riley: No, I am. I really.. I.... Wow. Who is this guy? Does he go [to our school]?
Buffy: Spike? Oh, no. He's totally old.
Riley: Old?
Buffy: Well, not as old as my last boyfriend was...
Riley: Ok, it's late, and I'm very tired now. So I'm just going to go far away and be... away.
Buffy: But...
Riley: No. Stay.
[Riley leaves]
Buffy: You're ruining my happy day!
Labels: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
08 April 2009
How I Spent My Week
Considering what I was doing last Friday, my week was pretty uneventful. What was I doing, you ask? Thank you for asking!
I spent Friday afternoon throwing up. Something I ate, I guess. (I hate not knowing why I got sick. It makes me suspicious of everything I ate that day.)
When this sort of thing happened in the past, it would knock me out for days. But this time, I was able to go to work the next day. I was tired, but I made it through the day. By Monday I was pretty much back to normal. By Tuesday I was able to do a normal
workout.
Maybe it was just a mild nastiness, but I like to think that I was better able to handle it this time because I'm in physically stronger that I used to be.
I spent Friday afternoon throwing up. Something I ate, I guess. (I hate not knowing why I got sick. It makes me suspicious of everything I ate that day.)
When this sort of thing happened in the past, it would knock me out for days. But this time, I was able to go to work the next day. I was tired, but I made it through the day. By Monday I was pretty much back to normal. By Tuesday I was able to do a normal
workout.
Maybe it was just a mild nastiness, but I like to think that I was better able to handle it this time because I'm in physically stronger that I used to be.
Labels: health
01 April 2009
Quote of the Week
One of my favorite characters on Lost is Miles:
[Miles is guarding Kate, Jack, and Hurley in a house.]
Jack: You're telling us we're under house arrest?
Miles: No, you're all free to leave whenever you want. But I'll shoot you in the leg.
[Miles is guarding Kate, Jack, and Hurley in a house.]
Jack: You're telling us we're under house arrest?
Miles: No, you're all free to leave whenever you want. But I'll shoot you in the leg.
Labels: Lost
