![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Scattered Thoughts on TV and other Things
Really want chocolate pudding or a piece of swiss cheese. It's odd the things I crave.
But I held firm and had pan seared tuna steak, string beans, yellow wax beans, shittake mushrooms over spinach and mustard greens. For dessert? Almonds and cashews.
Only lost 10 pounds, but this isn't really just to lose weight.
________________________________________________________________
TV Round-up.
1. Vampire Diaries is still amusing with wonky plot twists. Damon still has better lines than whomever Paul Westley is playing, currently Silas. (Which may explain why I keep thinking the Silas in General Hospital is a bad guy. Seriously, this isn't a popular name what are the odds both show would come up with it? Someone at GH is watching Vamp Diaries.)
Some people find sitcoms amusing, me? It's soap operas. Apparently I like unintentionally amusing?
* Damon's great line? "If I hear the word doppleganger one more time, I'm going to have to learn how to spell it." (So do I.)
* Poor Stefan is forced to drown continuously, while he dreams conversations with his brother and Elena. Damon tells him to turn off hisemotions humanity , Elena tells him to keep them. While I'm thinking - Stefan - the last thing we need is two Silases.
* One wonders if Damon really wants to find Stefan - he told Jeremy he didn't care that Katherine disappeared. For some reason Silas wants Katherine. Really badly. He was willing to trade Stefan's whereabouts for it. (I thought they knew where Stefan was planning on burying Silas? Guess not.) Now, he's compelled an entire town filled with people to hunt her down - after killing Bonnie's father, first. Poor Bonnie - that gal can't keep a family member alive to save her life...wait she's dead. She can't save herself either. (Except Jeremy apparently - she can save him. If she had resisted the urge, more family members might be alive including Bonnie.) So if she's dead and her Dad is now dead, why is she so upset? Oh that's right, her father will go elsewhere, he won't be stuck as a ghost like she is. So she's truly lost him, on the other hand he'll realize she's dead too.
* Katherine forces Jeremy to drive the car into a tree - almost killing Jeremy - again. (They really need to stop almost killing or killing Jeremy. I no longer believe they'll go through with it. Bonnie or Damon will just bring him back again.) Granted she had good cause - Jeremy was taking her back to Silas - who'd she'd been running from all summer long. Again why does Silas want Katherine? Does it have something to do with her being a doppleganger too or the fact that she took the cure and is now human, when he wanted it?
* Is Nadia a witch? And what did she and her friend do to Matt?
* Caroline is sick and tired of Megan, time to get rid of her already. I don't know, Megan seemed sweet to me, outside of the vervaine - but it's not like Caroline and Elena are the only vampires out there, she could be protecting herself from another one. But you know, it's all about Caroline. Oops, someone else killed Megan, vampire style, and campus security went out of their way to cover it up (bringing back memories of the Buffy episode The Freshman. Hmmm...is Sunday hanging out at Whitmore?) How much you want to bet the new cute guy making eyes at Caroline is a vampire? And his Mom is the head of security?
So, have they written Tyler out?
2. The Good Wife - I gave up and watched it on-demand. I ended up DVRing The Amazing Race (which irritates me - I admittedly have never understood the appeal of reality tv shows) and part of The Good Wife, because NFL Football went overtime. Good news? CBS On-Demand permits you to fast-forward through commercials. It's the only On-Demand channel that does. Odd, but good to know.
Enjoyed the heck out of this episode - particularly the subtly satirical humor aimed at NSA and it's ineptitude. Which may be more accurate than we would like. What amuses me the most about the Good Wife is how well it portrays the chaotic absurdity and ineffectiveness of US government, politics, and the justice system. You can't make this stuff up - as they say in my workplace. The only other series that excel at this sort of thing are Scandal and The Wire.
Alicia's life has gotten complicated.
They are doing a rather good job of showing how difficult it is to start your own law firm.
Not to mention messy. There's a reason not everyone does it. The Good Wife continuously reminds me of why I am not practicing law.
* Cary and Alicia are juggling a lot of balls, at the same time keeping Lockhardt/Gardner in the dark. Although I'm pretty sure Lockhardt/Gardner is aware that Carey is taking off with the 4th years. What they don't know is he's taking Alicia with him. That is not going to sit well with Kalinda, Diane, David Lee, and Will. Alicia's mother almost gave it away to David Lee this week - after he discovered she invested 140,000 in office space. (Office space for Alicia and Carey's firm.)
* The NSA throughout the episode are listening in on Alicia and Diane's phone calls - because they had a terrorist for a client. Under the Patriot Act, the NSA can listen in on calls, if a person is connected with a known or suspected terrorist. But, they can't go after people for other non-related crimes or infractions - those are protected under due process and the wire tape in those scenarios is a violation of due process. I'm thinking this as I'm watching. They do sort of bring it up - how they can't use anything that benefits the NSA in a lawsuit against Lockhardt/Gardner. But they seem to be unaware that illegal activity unrelated to terrorism is off limits. (Ironically they granted permission to extend the wire tap on Alicia's phones because the granddaughter of a known terrorist was calling Zac constantly.)
* After a year of fretting and choosing not too, Diane just rolled over Will to become Supreme Court Justice. It's ironic - because turns out she didn't have to. Peter had gotten the Chief Justice to back off. But Diane had already done the interview. Poor Diane. (I know I should feel sorry for Will...too.)
Currently I'm loving Alicia/Carey.
* Alicia and her mom have a close moment, but Mom isn't the lovey/dovey sort - which explains a lot about Alicia.
3. After reading the Downton Abbey spoiler for Season 4 (apparently its airing in the UK as we speak) - I've come to the conclusion that I am done with the series. Wasn't thrilled with last season...so there's that. But after reading the spoiler, feel no need to continue watching. The spoiler is for a soap opera cliche/trope that I personally find repulsive and overdone, mileage varies of course. It may just be that I've watched too many of these things in life time, not to mention read them. If you want to know what I'm rambling on about? Go here. Andyes it involves Anna and Bates - who I've decided Fellows has thrown every soap opera cliche in the book at. This couple has been through it all. After a while it just becomes tedious.
This particular trope can be done well of course, I know I've seen it - wrote a lengthy post detailing how it can be done in an interesting and insightful manner, but at the same time, I believe it has become a writer's crutch similar to the old let's run a character over with a bus routine or the classic, kill them off in a car crash. Too many writers across too many genres have used this trope or plot point to further character arcs. And often in an unrealistic and overly dramatic manner, making the journey more about "male violence or male characters" than women. In short, it's use at times feels quite misogynistic or sexist regardless of the gender writing it. I get why people write about it - but I wish they'd do less of it. If that makes any sense? Keep in mind that I've just come off of reading a lot of romance novels and watched soaps all my life - so my tolerance for this cliche is admittedly wearing thin.
_______________________________________________________________________
Regarding current affairs? I'll just quote Captain Kirk on Face Book:
KHAAAAN...GRESS!!! ARRRGH!
I'm tempted to sign the petition wandering around FB to dock the pay of Congress until this is settled. (Felt the same way about the NY State Congress/Senate - when they were in deadlock.) Hmmm...perhaps a move to either New Zealand or England is warranted? China is too rigid for my taste and everyone's way too short. Plus I'd never learn the language.
___________________________________________________________________
Books
Ready Player One is clearly written for videogame and Dungeons & Dragons geeks. There's some pop culture references, but it is mostly 1980s video games and Dungeons and Dragons - neither of which I played or cared about. I'm not into games, as you know.
D&D - involved a lot of counting and math in one's head - which sort of excluded me by default. So about 85% of the book is lost on me. I'm still reading though - because I have a similar idea I've been playing around with for a story in my head. Also it's weirdly compelling.
[This post is another attempt at formatting, which I clearly suck at. There's a reason I'm not a computer programmer. Or website designer.]
But I held firm and had pan seared tuna steak, string beans, yellow wax beans, shittake mushrooms over spinach and mustard greens. For dessert? Almonds and cashews.
Only lost 10 pounds, but this isn't really just to lose weight.
________________________________________________________________
TV Round-up.
1. Vampire Diaries is still amusing with wonky plot twists. Damon still has better lines than whomever Paul Westley is playing, currently Silas. (Which may explain why I keep thinking the Silas in General Hospital is a bad guy. Seriously, this isn't a popular name what are the odds both show would come up with it? Someone at GH is watching Vamp Diaries.)
Some people find sitcoms amusing, me? It's soap operas. Apparently I like unintentionally amusing?
* Damon's great line? "If I hear the word doppleganger one more time, I'm going to have to learn how to spell it." (So do I.)
* Poor Stefan is forced to drown continuously, while he dreams conversations with his brother and Elena. Damon tells him to turn off his
* One wonders if Damon really wants to find Stefan - he told Jeremy he didn't care that Katherine disappeared. For some reason Silas wants Katherine. Really badly. He was willing to trade Stefan's whereabouts for it. (I thought they knew where Stefan was planning on burying Silas? Guess not.) Now, he's compelled an entire town filled with people to hunt her down - after killing Bonnie's father, first. Poor Bonnie - that gal can't keep a family member alive to save her life...wait she's dead. She can't save herself either. (Except Jeremy apparently - she can save him. If she had resisted the urge, more family members might be alive including Bonnie.) So if she's dead and her Dad is now dead, why is she so upset? Oh that's right, her father will go elsewhere, he won't be stuck as a ghost like she is. So she's truly lost him, on the other hand he'll realize she's dead too.
* Katherine forces Jeremy to drive the car into a tree - almost killing Jeremy - again. (They really need to stop almost killing or killing Jeremy. I no longer believe they'll go through with it. Bonnie or Damon will just bring him back again.) Granted she had good cause - Jeremy was taking her back to Silas - who'd she'd been running from all summer long. Again why does Silas want Katherine? Does it have something to do with her being a doppleganger too or the fact that she took the cure and is now human, when he wanted it?
* Is Nadia a witch? And what did she and her friend do to Matt?
* Caroline is sick and tired of Megan, time to get rid of her already. I don't know, Megan seemed sweet to me, outside of the vervaine - but it's not like Caroline and Elena are the only vampires out there, she could be protecting herself from another one. But you know, it's all about Caroline. Oops, someone else killed Megan, vampire style, and campus security went out of their way to cover it up (bringing back memories of the Buffy episode The Freshman. Hmmm...is Sunday hanging out at Whitmore?) How much you want to bet the new cute guy making eyes at Caroline is a vampire? And his Mom is the head of security?
So, have they written Tyler out?
2. The Good Wife - I gave up and watched it on-demand. I ended up DVRing The Amazing Race (which irritates me - I admittedly have never understood the appeal of reality tv shows) and part of The Good Wife, because NFL Football went overtime. Good news? CBS On-Demand permits you to fast-forward through commercials. It's the only On-Demand channel that does. Odd, but good to know.
Enjoyed the heck out of this episode - particularly the subtly satirical humor aimed at NSA and it's ineptitude. Which may be more accurate than we would like. What amuses me the most about the Good Wife is how well it portrays the chaotic absurdity and ineffectiveness of US government, politics, and the justice system. You can't make this stuff up - as they say in my workplace. The only other series that excel at this sort of thing are Scandal and The Wire.
Alicia's life has gotten complicated.
They are doing a rather good job of showing how difficult it is to start your own law firm.
Not to mention messy. There's a reason not everyone does it. The Good Wife continuously reminds me of why I am not practicing law.
* Cary and Alicia are juggling a lot of balls, at the same time keeping Lockhardt/Gardner in the dark. Although I'm pretty sure Lockhardt/Gardner is aware that Carey is taking off with the 4th years. What they don't know is he's taking Alicia with him. That is not going to sit well with Kalinda, Diane, David Lee, and Will. Alicia's mother almost gave it away to David Lee this week - after he discovered she invested 140,000 in office space. (Office space for Alicia and Carey's firm.)
* The NSA throughout the episode are listening in on Alicia and Diane's phone calls - because they had a terrorist for a client. Under the Patriot Act, the NSA can listen in on calls, if a person is connected with a known or suspected terrorist. But, they can't go after people for other non-related crimes or infractions - those are protected under due process and the wire tape in those scenarios is a violation of due process. I'm thinking this as I'm watching. They do sort of bring it up - how they can't use anything that benefits the NSA in a lawsuit against Lockhardt/Gardner. But they seem to be unaware that illegal activity unrelated to terrorism is off limits. (Ironically they granted permission to extend the wire tap on Alicia's phones because the granddaughter of a known terrorist was calling Zac constantly.)
* After a year of fretting and choosing not too, Diane just rolled over Will to become Supreme Court Justice. It's ironic - because turns out she didn't have to. Peter had gotten the Chief Justice to back off. But Diane had already done the interview. Poor Diane. (I know I should feel sorry for Will...too.)
Currently I'm loving Alicia/Carey.
* Alicia and her mom have a close moment, but Mom isn't the lovey/dovey sort - which explains a lot about Alicia.
3. After reading the Downton Abbey spoiler for Season 4 (apparently its airing in the UK as we speak) - I've come to the conclusion that I am done with the series. Wasn't thrilled with last season...so there's that. But after reading the spoiler, feel no need to continue watching. The spoiler is for a soap opera cliche/trope that I personally find repulsive and overdone, mileage varies of course. It may just be that I've watched too many of these things in life time, not to mention read them. If you want to know what I'm rambling on about? Go here. And
This particular trope can be done well of course, I know I've seen it - wrote a lengthy post detailing how it can be done in an interesting and insightful manner, but at the same time, I believe it has become a writer's crutch similar to the old let's run a character over with a bus routine or the classic, kill them off in a car crash. Too many writers across too many genres have used this trope or plot point to further character arcs. And often in an unrealistic and overly dramatic manner, making the journey more about "male violence or male characters" than women. In short, it's use at times feels quite misogynistic or sexist regardless of the gender writing it. I get why people write about it - but I wish they'd do less of it. If that makes any sense? Keep in mind that I've just come off of reading a lot of romance novels and watched soaps all my life - so my tolerance for this cliche is admittedly wearing thin.
_______________________________________________________________________
Regarding current affairs? I'll just quote Captain Kirk on Face Book:
KHAAAAN...GRESS!!! ARRRGH!
I'm tempted to sign the petition wandering around FB to dock the pay of Congress until this is settled. (Felt the same way about the NY State Congress/Senate - when they were in deadlock.) Hmmm...perhaps a move to either New Zealand or England is warranted? China is too rigid for my taste and everyone's way too short. Plus I'd never learn the language.
___________________________________________________________________
Books
Ready Player One is clearly written for videogame and Dungeons & Dragons geeks. There's some pop culture references, but it is mostly 1980s video games and Dungeons and Dragons - neither of which I played or cared about. I'm not into games, as you know.
D&D - involved a lot of counting and math in one's head - which sort of excluded me by default. So about 85% of the book is lost on me. I'm still reading though - because I have a similar idea I've been playing around with for a story in my head. Also it's weirdly compelling.
[This post is another attempt at formatting, which I clearly suck at. There's a reason I'm not a computer programmer. Or website designer.]
no subject
no subject
Apparently they aren't refusing pay, they are just postponing it. I wonder what would happen if we could dock their pay? Each day you refuse to come to a decision and keep the government shut down - you lose $1,000. That would probably push things forward.
Curious if voters will react accordingly in November.
no subject
no subject
no subject
They are just like us!
no subject
I'd loved how they found a way to continue listening in and to even broaden their coverage. Most of the conversations they have to listen to are boring - apparently, and require translations. Although you'd think the NSA would hire people who understand the language that they are listening to.
no subject
no subject
Of course, I watch this show for the WTF factor. And yay on them for kicking the whole boring Originals Family to
the curbanother show where I don't have to watch them whine.no subject
constipatedpensive and not so great abs - hence the reason he has his shirt off less often.Seriously, none of these people are stellar actors. They are quite pretty though.
I watch it because it ...well it's so much fun to mock and yes, the WTF factor.
Haven't seen the Originals yet...I don't know, I'm torn. Their whining was fun at times - particularly when Klaus was snarking at them.