28 July 2009
70 Degrees
25 July 2009
Quote of the Week
I recently reread Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett:
[Newt had] given up on ecology when the ecology magazine he'd been subscribing to had shown its readers a plan of a self-sufficient garden and had drawn the ecological goat tethered within three feet of the ecological beehive. Newt had spent a lot of time at his grandmother's house in the country and thought he knew something about the habits of both goats and bees, and concluded therefore that the magazine was run by a bunch of bib-overalled maniacs.
[Newt had] given up on ecology when the ecology magazine he'd been subscribing to had shown its readers a plan of a self-sufficient garden and had drawn the ecological goat tethered within three feet of the ecological beehive. Newt had spent a lot of time at his grandmother's house in the country and thought he knew something about the habits of both goats and bees, and concluded therefore that the magazine was run by a bunch of bib-overalled maniacs.
Labels: books
24 July 2009
Awwww....
After last night's Torchwood, I definitely needed this:
[hat tip to Monkey See]
[hat tip to Monkey See]
Labels: random silliness
23 July 2009
Seattle Train Update
I just saw on the news -- they're having problems with the trains. And after all that practice, too! Aren't we all surprised?
[Also, I didn't see tonight's Torchwood. Well, maybe I did, but I'm trying really, really hard to pretend I didn't. Character death, you say? What character death? La la la la la....]
[Also, I didn't see tonight's Torchwood. Well, maybe I did, but I'm trying really, really hard to pretend I didn't. Character death, you say? What character death? La la la la la....]
21 July 2009
Torchwood?
Today the universe tried really hard to make me miss tonight's Torchwood. (Bad universe! Very naughty!)
I ran home to watch the 6pm broadcast (like I did last night) but discovered that my cable was out. Well, not all of my cable. Just the channels above 100. BBC America is 162. So, no Torchwood.
I went to the grocery store and came home with plans to eat dinner, then watch the 9pm broadcast.
Then my aunt called to make plans for us to meet so she could give me her tickets to tomorrow's Seattle Storm game. I ran out to meet her a little after 8:30, and got home at 8:55 -- just in time.
Foiled again, universe!
(And if my cable goes out again, I'm going to cry.)
I ran home to watch the 6pm broadcast (like I did last night) but discovered that my cable was out. Well, not all of my cable. Just the channels above 100. BBC America is 162. So, no Torchwood.
I went to the grocery store and came home with plans to eat dinner, then watch the 9pm broadcast.
Then my aunt called to make plans for us to meet so she could give me her tickets to tomorrow's Seattle Storm game. I ran out to meet her a little after 8:30, and got home at 8:55 -- just in time.
Foiled again, universe!
(And if my cable goes out again, I'm going to cry.)
Labels: Seattle Storm, Torchwood
20 July 2009
Torchwood!!!
Episode one aired tonight. It was awesome!!! Can you tell I'm excited? Whee!!!!
The next episode will air tomorrow, but that seems so far away! I guess I shouldn't complain -- at least I don't have to wait a week for the next installment.
Did I mention it was awesome? It was awesome.
Amongst all the drama and action, there was still some sweetness and some humor. One of the funniest bits came from (of all people) Gwen:
[Gwen's driving from Wales to England, while on the phone with her husband, Rhys.]
Gwen: Oh my God, Severn Bridge. I'm going into England. Farewell forever.
Rhys: Good luck. Have you got currency?
Gwen: Yes, and I've had my injections.
I've watched a lot of British TV, and I'm used to English people making fun of the Welsh. It was nice to see the Welsh giving back a little bit. Hee!
The next episode will air tomorrow, but that seems so far away! I guess I shouldn't complain -- at least I don't have to wait a week for the next installment.
Did I mention it was awesome? It was awesome.
Amongst all the drama and action, there was still some sweetness and some humor. One of the funniest bits came from (of all people) Gwen:
[Gwen's driving from Wales to England, while on the phone with her husband, Rhys.]
Gwen: Oh my God, Severn Bridge. I'm going into England. Farewell forever.
Rhys: Good luck. Have you got currency?
Gwen: Yes, and I've had my injections.
I've watched a lot of British TV, and I'm used to English people making fun of the Welsh. It was nice to see the Welsh giving back a little bit. Hee!
Labels: Torchwood
18 July 2009
Shuttle Buses
While waiting on the street for my bus tonight (since the bus tunnel was closed to buses today), I saw several route "97" buses go by. Often they would be right behind each other, and all of them were mostly empty. I had never seen a "97" bus before, so I was puzzled.
When I got home I looked them up online to find out what they were.
So, "every five minutes" explains why I saw so many of them. It doesn't, however, explain why they thought they needed so many of them!
(Did I mention they were mostly empty?)
(And can you tell I'm still bitter about buses being banned from the freaking BUS tunnel? Yeah.)
When I got home I looked them up online to find out what they were.
So, "every five minutes" explains why I saw so many of them. It doesn't, however, explain why they thought they needed so many of them!
(Did I mention they were mostly empty?)
(And can you tell I'm still bitter about buses being banned from the freaking BUS tunnel? Yeah.)
Labels: bus
17 July 2009
Quote of the Week
I finished my Angel re-watch, and started Firefly.
This is from the second pilot episode, "The Train Job". (The first pilot is called "Serenity", and the idiots at Fox decided to air it last.) Anyway, it was the first episode of Firefly I ever saw, and this was one of my favorite scenes:
[Mal and Zoe have just discovered Alliance troops on the train that they're trying to steal something from.]
Zoe: Sir, is there some information we might maybe be lacking as to why there's an entire Fed squad sitting on this train?
Mal: It doesn't concern us.
Zoe: It kinda concerns me.
Mal: I mean, they're not protecting the goods. If they were, they wouldn't be letting people past them.
Zoe: You don't think that changes the situation a bit?
Mal: I surely do. It makes it more fun!
Zoe: Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing.
Mal: Come on. We stick to the plan. We get the goods [and] we're back on Serenity before the train even reaches Paradiso. Only now we do it under the noses of twenty trained Alliance Feds. And that makes them look all manner of stupid! Hell, this job I would pull for free.
Zoe: Then can I have your share?
Mal: No.
Zoe: If you die, can I have your share?
Mal: Yes.
This is from the second pilot episode, "The Train Job". (The first pilot is called "Serenity", and the idiots at Fox decided to air it last.) Anyway, it was the first episode of Firefly I ever saw, and this was one of my favorite scenes:
[Mal and Zoe have just discovered Alliance troops on the train that they're trying to steal something from.]
Zoe: Sir, is there some information we might maybe be lacking as to why there's an entire Fed squad sitting on this train?
Mal: It doesn't concern us.
Zoe: It kinda concerns me.
Mal: I mean, they're not protecting the goods. If they were, they wouldn't be letting people past them.
Zoe: You don't think that changes the situation a bit?
Mal: I surely do. It makes it more fun!
Zoe: Sir, I think you have a problem with your brain being missing.
Mal: Come on. We stick to the plan. We get the goods [and] we're back on Serenity before the train even reaches Paradiso. Only now we do it under the noses of twenty trained Alliance Feds. And that makes them look all manner of stupid! Hell, this job I would pull for free.
Zoe: Then can I have your share?
Mal: No.
Zoe: If you die, can I have your share?
Mal: Yes.
Labels: Firefly
15 July 2009
Cracked
Back in January, I discovered the website TV Tropes. As I predicted then, it is an excellent time-waster for me.
Apparently I'm not the only one to get sucked in, though. Check out this xkcd comic.
When you hold your cursor over the comic, it mentions another (excellent time-wasting) site: cracked.com.
I'm not sure whether to thank or curse the writer of xkcd!
Apparently I'm not the only one to get sucked in, though. Check out this xkcd comic.
When you hold your cursor over the comic, it mentions another (excellent time-wasting) site: cracked.com.
I'm not sure whether to thank or curse the writer of xkcd!
Labels: random silliness, xkcd
14 July 2009
Tunnel Update
After all that practice, they're finally going start taking passengers on the trains this coming Saturday.
Which, naturally, means that they can't have any buses in the tunnel this Saturday and Sunday.
No, wait, that doesn't make any sense.
Which, naturally, means that they can't have any buses in the tunnel this Saturday and Sunday.
No, wait, that doesn't make any sense.
Labels: bus
10 July 2009
Quote of the Week
Linda Holmes -- she writes what I think, but much more cleverly.
"Cougar Town, starring Courteney Cox as a divorced single mom learning all about dating. Now...I try very hard not to decide things are not going to be good before I even watch them, because it's certainly possible to defy a bad premise and be a reasonably funny show. But...I honestly feel like, on instinct, I would rather watch the entire run of Wings on DVD five or six times than watch a single episode of Courteney Cox in a show called Cougar Town. Seriously, Cougar Town. What town is it? Cougar Town! Where are we stranded? Cougar Town! Where do we exile sitcom actresses who accidentally turn 40? Cougar Town! I can honestly say it's the first time I've ever been utterly filled with despair by the title of a sitcom."
"Cougar Town, starring Courteney Cox as a divorced single mom learning all about dating. Now...I try very hard not to decide things are not going to be good before I even watch them, because it's certainly possible to defy a bad premise and be a reasonably funny show. But...I honestly feel like, on instinct, I would rather watch the entire run of Wings on DVD five or six times than watch a single episode of Courteney Cox in a show called Cougar Town. Seriously, Cougar Town. What town is it? Cougar Town! Where are we stranded? Cougar Town! Where do we exile sitcom actresses who accidentally turn 40? Cougar Town! I can honestly say it's the first time I've ever been utterly filled with despair by the title of a sitcom."
Labels: Linda Holmes
09 July 2009
Twilight
I haven't read it or seen it, but I've certainly read and seen about it.
Here's two of my favorite Twilight-related videos:
A debate: Which is better, Harry Potter or Twilight?
(To quote my awesome niece, "What's to debate?")
A match-up: Buffy vs. Edward
Here's two of my favorite Twilight-related videos:
A debate: Which is better, Harry Potter or Twilight?
(To quote my awesome niece, "What's to debate?")
A match-up: Buffy vs. Edward
08 July 2009
BMI
Here's some reasons why the BMI is stupid and useless.
Of course, Stephen Fry put it more succinctly: "Body Mass Index. Something horrid made up by doctors to make me feel ashamed."
Of course, Stephen Fry put it more succinctly: "Body Mass Index. Something horrid made up by doctors to make me feel ashamed."
Labels: health, Stephen Fry
04 July 2009
Quote of the Week
I'm into the final stretch of my Angel re-watch: season five. When I'm done, I think I'll re-watch Firefly and then season one of Dollhouse, so I can be ready for season two to start in the fall. It's a Joss Whedon-a-thon!
Anyway, this quote is from Angel episode 3.7 "Offspring".
[Darla unexpectedly shows up again after a long absence.]
Angel: Darla.
Wesley: Darla.
Cordelia: Darla.
Fred: [to Gunn] Who's Darla?
Gunn: Angel's old flame from way back.
Fred: The one who died?
Gunn: Yeah. No. Not that one. The other one that died and came back to life. She's a vampire.
Fred: Do y'all have a chart or something?
Gunn: In the files. I'll get it for you later.
Anyway, this quote is from Angel episode 3.7 "Offspring".
[Darla unexpectedly shows up again after a long absence.]
Angel: Darla.
Wesley: Darla.
Cordelia: Darla.
Fred: [to Gunn] Who's Darla?
Gunn: Angel's old flame from way back.
Fred: The one who died?
Gunn: Yeah. No. Not that one. The other one that died and came back to life. She's a vampire.
Fred: Do y'all have a chart or something?
Gunn: In the files. I'll get it for you later.
Labels: Angel
01 July 2009
Practice. Lots and Lots of Practice.
Since the Seattle Bus Tunnel -- oops, I mean "Transit Tunnel" -- reopened in 2007, they've had signs proclaiming "Light Rail -- coming in 2009!". I recently read that the train will start running in mid-July.
When the tunnel expanded its hours in May of this year, we started seeing "test trains". They don't have any passengers, they just drive up and down the track.
This week, the tunnel is back to its old, shortened hours. Why? So they can do more testing.
On the one hand, I guess it's good that they're making sure that everything's running smoothly. On the other hand...
What exactly are they testing?? For two months? And now they have to do special testing when the tunnel is closed? Huh?
Cynically, I expect there to be problems withing the first few months of actual operation.
When the tunnel expanded its hours in May of this year, we started seeing "test trains". They don't have any passengers, they just drive up and down the track.
This week, the tunnel is back to its old, shortened hours. Why? So they can do more testing.
On the one hand, I guess it's good that they're making sure that everything's running smoothly. On the other hand...
What exactly are they testing?? For two months? And now they have to do special testing when the tunnel is closed? Huh?
Cynically, I expect there to be problems withing the first few months of actual operation.
Labels: bus
