This and that and the other thing
May. 28th, 2025 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatI woke up in a decent mood and started the day, happy and carefree - yet by the end of it? Grumpy. I think the world likes to chip away at us at times?
Also it's raining, and my right leg is bothering me again. It was fine this morning - more or less, but started bugging me again at lunch time. To cheer myself up - I got a discounted Grand Central mouse pad/post-card, and a NYC 2025 Guide Book (both discounted off by 20%). Also, got a matcha latte. (I'm in love with matcha lattes - with almond milk - they are unsweetened, have almost no calories, and healthy). Sitting at home now, with a heating pad on my back.
1. The Truth About Why You Keep Waking Up at 3AM
I've basically done everything that has been suggested. I'm working on the diet bit - because I think that may be a factor. I realized that my sleep deprivation over the years is most likely why I have some of the health issues that I currently have - well that and menopause and ceiliac disease are probably factors, plus genetics. Honestly there's never one solution or one cause, if there was, the pharmaceutical industry would be out of business.
2. My Buffy Re-Watch - has made me aware of a few things? I'm still in S2.
Why is it that all of the actors (with the possible exception of Anthony Stewart Head and Julie Benze) are better in this series than in all the others they've done? I'm thinking it has got to be the writing and directing? And just pitch perfect casting?
Xander? Can you be a bigger asshole? Sheesh. One of the many 20th Century tropes that have gotten dropped in recent years, that I do not miss - is the nerdy boy who has to or desperately wants to score the pretty girl and parade her on his arm like a trophy. It was a popular trope in the 20th Century - specifically the 1980s-1990s. Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Buffy, Revenge of the Nerds, Knocked Up, Freaks and Geeks, the list goes on.
If they do the Buffy Reboot? I hope they kick that guy to the curb. They might, it's women running the show, not nerdy guys who still think they should get the cheerleader or heroine.
I actually like Cordelia. I do not remember liking Cordelia this much? She's hilarious. And delightfully ditzy.
Yep, still can't stand Harmony. That has not changed. This is a character I kept wishing they'd kill off, but noo..instead they killed off Jenny Calendar.
Two characters that I wanted more of? Jenny Calendar and Ethan. Two characters, I'd like less of? Xander Harris and Harmony
They truly hit gold with Angelus, Drusilla and Spike. Actually Spike and Dru were gold. I can see why they couldn't kill them off. People were watching for them. Best villains on the series - partly because they were likable. A good villain is one that is likable and you love to hate. A bad villain is one that you just wish would die already, they are too annoying to be tolerated. The Master and the Annoited One were bad villains. Darla was a good villain.
Part of the reason S2 is better than S1 and much more fun to watch is Angel/Angelus, Dru, and Spike. Angelus is more entertaining than Angel and less predictable. Also, the arc episodes in S2 are better, while the stand-alone's were better in S1. And I think this has a lot to do with the villains. A good villain is golden in a story. And hard to pull off.
I bet the other writers, producers, and show-runners, ganged up on Whedon and told him not to kill off Spike and challenged him to come up with a better idea and twist. They probably appealed to his ego.
3. I do not know what to make of Amanda Palmer. I tried to unsubscribe to her Patreon, but it keeps popping up in my inbox. And I keep deleting. And she keeps talking about how all she does is love, gets browbeaten by trolls, but fights back, and can't talk about what happened until the lawsuit is over. I feel sorry for her - she gets trolled, but I also think that she's been infected by Fame and can't let go of the addiction? What I don't get is why people troll her? I get the anger? But trolling solves little? We're all flawed, let people be.
4. Bono (U2) of all people gave me a smattering of hope today.
Bono on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Kimmel asks him where he stands on the Trump vs. Springsteen issue. He's of course in Springsteen's corner...yada yada yada. But what he says that gave me a smattering of hope is this: "I founded a non-profit bipartisan foundation called ONE and it is made up of a lot of conservative and highly religious people, Anglicans, Catholics, Fundamentalist Christians, etc and they are VERY angry about what the person they voted for is doing to their country and how he is dismantling various fundamental and important life saving aid programs such as US AID and the Peace Corps which have saved millions of lives from AIDS and other diseases and poverty around the world. Taking away programs of compassion and kindness - which are what America is all about. What we are about. So angry that trust me on this, they and we are about to make a lot of good trouble."
I can't emphasize this enough to anyone who stumbles upon my journal, there are numerous coalitions forming around the United States and Globally to fight this administration and it's project 2025 plan. And they are growing daily.
5. MTA vs. the Federal Government.
Tee Hee, the MTA is winning!
MTA: The Feds want us to give up congestion pricing and tell us how to control traffic and transportation in our city. But the Federal court prevented them from vindictively punishing us by removing Federal funding. We are not giving it up. Look here? The New York Times dug deep and proved it is working.
I feel sorry for the MTA, they are fighting everybody. Including idiotic talk radio hosts who think the subways are dangerous. They are not dangerous. I take the subways twice daily, five days a week and sometimes on weekends and to doctor's appointments, basically everywhere. They are safer than cars or buses. And far less stressful. Not to mention cheaper.
Very few people die on the subway. The worst thing I've seen on the subway was a man who was scarred from third degree burns on every inch of his body and begging for money. Also once during the pandemic - a homeless man with a knife. But we were perfectly safe - the conductor stopped the train, got us all off, and called for assistance at the next station.
Also it's raining, and my right leg is bothering me again. It was fine this morning - more or less, but started bugging me again at lunch time. To cheer myself up - I got a discounted Grand Central mouse pad/post-card, and a NYC 2025 Guide Book (both discounted off by 20%). Also, got a matcha latte. (I'm in love with matcha lattes - with almond milk - they are unsweetened, have almost no calories, and healthy). Sitting at home now, with a heating pad on my back.
1. The Truth About Why You Keep Waking Up at 3AM
I've basically done everything that has been suggested. I'm working on the diet bit - because I think that may be a factor. I realized that my sleep deprivation over the years is most likely why I have some of the health issues that I currently have - well that and menopause and ceiliac disease are probably factors, plus genetics. Honestly there's never one solution or one cause, if there was, the pharmaceutical industry would be out of business.
2. My Buffy Re-Watch - has made me aware of a few things? I'm still in S2.
Why is it that all of the actors (with the possible exception of Anthony Stewart Head and Julie Benze) are better in this series than in all the others they've done? I'm thinking it has got to be the writing and directing? And just pitch perfect casting?
Xander? Can you be a bigger asshole? Sheesh. One of the many 20th Century tropes that have gotten dropped in recent years, that I do not miss - is the nerdy boy who has to or desperately wants to score the pretty girl and parade her on his arm like a trophy. It was a popular trope in the 20th Century - specifically the 1980s-1990s. Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club, Buffy, Revenge of the Nerds, Knocked Up, Freaks and Geeks, the list goes on.
If they do the Buffy Reboot? I hope they kick that guy to the curb. They might, it's women running the show, not nerdy guys who still think they should get the cheerleader or heroine.
I actually like Cordelia. I do not remember liking Cordelia this much? She's hilarious. And delightfully ditzy.
Yep, still can't stand Harmony. That has not changed. This is a character I kept wishing they'd kill off, but noo..instead they killed off Jenny Calendar.
Two characters that I wanted more of? Jenny Calendar and Ethan. Two characters, I'd like less of? Xander Harris and Harmony
They truly hit gold with Angelus, Drusilla and Spike. Actually Spike and Dru were gold. I can see why they couldn't kill them off. People were watching for them. Best villains on the series - partly because they were likable. A good villain is one that is likable and you love to hate. A bad villain is one that you just wish would die already, they are too annoying to be tolerated. The Master and the Annoited One were bad villains. Darla was a good villain.
Part of the reason S2 is better than S1 and much more fun to watch is Angel/Angelus, Dru, and Spike. Angelus is more entertaining than Angel and less predictable. Also, the arc episodes in S2 are better, while the stand-alone's were better in S1. And I think this has a lot to do with the villains. A good villain is golden in a story. And hard to pull off.
I bet the other writers, producers, and show-runners, ganged up on Whedon and told him not to kill off Spike and challenged him to come up with a better idea and twist. They probably appealed to his ego.
3. I do not know what to make of Amanda Palmer. I tried to unsubscribe to her Patreon, but it keeps popping up in my inbox. And I keep deleting. And she keeps talking about how all she does is love, gets browbeaten by trolls, but fights back, and can't talk about what happened until the lawsuit is over. I feel sorry for her - she gets trolled, but I also think that she's been infected by Fame and can't let go of the addiction? What I don't get is why people troll her? I get the anger? But trolling solves little? We're all flawed, let people be.
4. Bono (U2) of all people gave me a smattering of hope today.
Bono on Jimmy Kimmel Live
Kimmel asks him where he stands on the Trump vs. Springsteen issue. He's of course in Springsteen's corner...yada yada yada. But what he says that gave me a smattering of hope is this: "I founded a non-profit bipartisan foundation called ONE and it is made up of a lot of conservative and highly religious people, Anglicans, Catholics, Fundamentalist Christians, etc and they are VERY angry about what the person they voted for is doing to their country and how he is dismantling various fundamental and important life saving aid programs such as US AID and the Peace Corps which have saved millions of lives from AIDS and other diseases and poverty around the world. Taking away programs of compassion and kindness - which are what America is all about. What we are about. So angry that trust me on this, they and we are about to make a lot of good trouble."
I can't emphasize this enough to anyone who stumbles upon my journal, there are numerous coalitions forming around the United States and Globally to fight this administration and it's project 2025 plan. And they are growing daily.
5. MTA vs. the Federal Government.
Tee Hee, the MTA is winning!
MTA: The Feds want us to give up congestion pricing and tell us how to control traffic and transportation in our city. But the Federal court prevented them from vindictively punishing us by removing Federal funding. We are not giving it up. Look here? The New York Times dug deep and proved it is working.
I feel sorry for the MTA, they are fighting everybody. Including idiotic talk radio hosts who think the subways are dangerous. They are not dangerous. I take the subways twice daily, five days a week and sometimes on weekends and to doctor's appointments, basically everywhere. They are safer than cars or buses. And far less stressful. Not to mention cheaper.
Very few people die on the subway. The worst thing I've seen on the subway was a man who was scarred from third degree burns on every inch of his body and begging for money. Also once during the pandemic - a homeless man with a knife. But we were perfectly safe - the conductor stopped the train, got us all off, and called for assistance at the next station.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 07:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 12:34 pm (UTC)But I do think we are uniting against the Republicans and Trump, which is not what they expected?
Two decisions just came down from the courts:
1. The US panel on the International Trade Court declared that it was unconstitutional for Trump to inflict tariffs, that is outside of his authority and the tariffs were immediately appealed and his upcoming tariffs halted - this was in response to two lawsuits filed by the Attorney Generals of multiple States, the leading States were Oregon and Arizona.
2. Another court refused to dismiss the case against DOGE and Elon Musk - and allowed it to progress, which was filed - stating that the formation of DOGE and establishment of Elon Musk to preside over it was unconstitutional, and damaged the US. Even though Musk officially announced he was leaving - it's too late, he can still be held accountable for the damage he has caused, which can be in the billions. They did however dismiss Trump as a defendant. The DOJ lost it's attempt to get it dismissed.
But it takes time for things to go through our court system - it's multiple layers.
I do think that if the Senate doesn't rip apart that ugly bill, and if they pass it - that will end up before the Supreme Court with the question of constitutionality.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-29 12:38 pm (UTC)What's weird about the actors is that they may have had success elsewhere (DB, AH), but they weren't nearly as *good*. The successful roles were pretty rote, phone it in. The biggest letdown was SMG. She really is great as Buffy, but after that, meh. Part of it, I think, is that she's had bad judgement on which roles to take, but I think you're right about the writing and directing being key.
I always think of TV and movies as requiring credit to a very large number of people: writers, directors, actors, editors, etc. But Buffy demonstrates to me that the writers and directors are first among equals.
no subject
Date: 2025-05-30 01:11 am (UTC)I think Cordy is less annoying if you take the character in small doses? Also she has an excellent character arc. Buffy is a notable series for it's excellent character arcs.
What's weird about the actors is that they may have had success elsewhere (DB, AH), but they weren't nearly as *good*. The successful roles were pretty rote, phone it in. The biggest letdown was SMG..
I could say the same about Marsters. Although, he makes a really good point when he states that he didn't make Buffy great, it was the writing, the direction, the stunt coordination, etc. He says that over 400 people were involved in putting his character and that show together, he just happened to be in it.
And he's right about that. Also, I don't think the actors have a lot of control over their choices? They take what they get offered or what they like. Marsters has done a lot of voice work as has Gellar, surprisingly enough. (I don't think of her as a voice actress.)
And typecasting becomes an issue. Boreanze did well partly because he played a solider, leader, FBI Agent, Detective - all variations of the Angel role. The Angel role was the most interesting, but the others lasted longer due to the type of series. Hannigan did well because it was silly comedic role - she basically played the girl from American Pie over and over again.
Yeah, it's definitely the whole creative team. Television is truly a collaborative art. It's not just one part, it's all of it. There's a reason Firefly, Dollhouse, the Nevers, and sigh Agents of Shield never did quite as well as Buffy and Angel.