Too much to talk about for one title

Howdy Blogreaders!

I know, I know... It's been a while since I was last here to write something, but I am back now. And boy do I have a lot to write about. First, a story about that radio station I listen to here in Ottawa (The New Hot 89.9), then onto one of my favourite subjects lately - Battlestar Galactica's storyline. There's also a couple of stories of the weird to throw in for comment, and even a quick mention of my friend's birthday party goings-on. I may end up throwing something else in as well, but at this point, that's all I plan on talking about... it's amazing how my mind can just go wandering off into some other dimension sometimes. So sit back, grab a beer/coffee/water/(insert favourite hallucinogenic here) and we'll get started.

Last weekend was Father's Day and I woke up on the Friday to the usual sounds of "The Morning Hot Tub" on that radio station I listen to, and one of the hosts had decided to play a bit of a father's day prank on an ex-boyfriend. So, just to set it up, her name is Josie and she had a boyfriend several years ago, and they broke up under bad circumstances and hadn't spoken to each other in about 4 years. So, she got his phone number and gave him a call, and they started to just chit-chat and catch up.

This is the point where it gets good. She starts to tell him that he has a son. Well, of course the guy freaks out and is off the charts trying to figure out what to do. Seriously, I had so much trouble not laughing loudly and waking up my wife, though I think she had woken up already and was listening too (or I was unsuccessful and I did wake her up!). So it goes like this for a few minutes and he says he is going to come to Ottawa (I think he was in Toronto) and they are going to get things figured out. Pretty impressive for someone to find out they have a son and be freaking out, but have the presence of mind and the courage to say he is going to figure things out. To add to the illusion, they had the 3 or 4 year old son of the show's producer throwing in comments every now and then like "Daddy, when are you coming to see me?" Oh my God, it was INSANE!!!! I loved it.

So, Mauler, one of the others who hosts the morning show, gets on the line and brings it to a close, letting the guy know that, indeed, it was a joke - a prank, if you will - and that Josie was just kidding. He laughs, is a good sport about it, and says that this is part of the reason that they broke up.

Now, to me, this was a funny prank. I have listened to many different pranks on the radio, and this one was one of the best. I could feel myself in this guy's shoes and the panic and "WTF!!!" that he was no doubt feeling, but he took it like a man and he saw the humour in it. It was good.

The problem, however, came on Monday. I had a little trouble getting up on Monday (this relates to the birthday party I will talk about later), so I didn't get the whole story, but I heard bits and pieces. It seems that many people who had listened to the show took great offense to what had taken place on the Friday and had written emails to the show's hosts to let them know of their disdain for the antics they had pulled. I could understand that, I guess - people all have different senses of humour, and some people certainly aren't going to find the same things funny that I do, but the apparent tone of these messages was what shocked me. There was, of course, no detail given as to the content of these messages, but it was mentioned that some people were being rude and downright insulting to Josie. That was what really annoyed me.

You know, it's one thing to disapprove of something someone says and even to let them know, but seriously, the electronic age has spawned all manner of rudeness as people send emails, post blogs, etc., about people and insult them to no end. How cowardly and callous! It's easy to sit at the computer and remain anonymous as you send an email detailing your dislike of someone or their actions. But what do you accomplish by being mean, insulting or rude? These people need to start thinking about how they would feel if, for example, they had been at a party and started making inappropriate comments about someone. Then, the next day people start calling them names and giving them crap about what they did by email, or on their facebook wall. Seriously, before you start being mean to others, you really need to own up to that action and think how you would feel in the others place. If you think it's deserved and you can take it - go UP to the person, if you know them, and let them know. Otherwise, talk to a friend of theirs and let them know your thoughts, but NICELY!!!!! Cheezzz...

As for Josie, I have met her a couple of times, mostly just in passing, and she seems a very nice lady. My wife and youngest daughter have also met her and they said she was very nice as well. Now, even if I thought that what she had done was a mistake, I would not have insulted her. She's not a generally mean person, she's just a person who has a job that sometimes leads to these situations. Things could just as easily have gone the other way and she could have been branded a prank-master for this show.

And, just to add further to my point - there was one point in time when this same morning show had made extensive use of the work "vagina" first thing in the morning. I have nothing against vagina's, and certainly nothing against the word, but my then-10-year-old daughter was listening to the radio and it seemed a little much for them to be mentioning that word over and over at 8-ish in the morning when this was the station that she, her friends, and most of her peers would listen to in this city, since it's the most popular music that they play. So, I blogged about it (another blog, many moons ago), mentioning that I thought this was inappropriate behaviour for a show that caters to so many people, many of whom are likely younger children.

Then, I sent an email to each member of The Morning Hot Tub, telling them that I had blogged about their show and if they wished to they were invited to read it. Three of the four (Josie was the only one not to respond) did look at it and wrote back to me about it. Their explanations, at first, I didn't agree with, and I mentioned that to them in replies. But in the end, Mauler was the one who convinced me that this is a more adult oriented show and parents should be monitoring what their children listen to. I had to agree that he was right in that respect.

So, through all of this, I wasn't insulting (OK, I called Mauler the "short-panted one" but in a joking, and fun-loving way - he is known to like wearing shorts almost exclusively), I wasn't judgmental, I just gave my opinion and allowed for a response. And in return, I was treated with respect and the views they had were pleasantly presented to me. Calling them names and being insulting would have done nothing but earn me their ire, and in turn I would have lost out on listening to a great radio show for being an arrogant a-hole (cuz I woulda stopped listening if they were rude back, I assume).

Anyway, Josie, if you ever read this, just know that I thought it was funny, and I am sorry that you were treated so rudely by so many people who obviously have no feelings and have no sense of right and wrong. Or a sense of humour. A sense of civility. An inkling of common sense and manners. Basically, people who like to be mean to others anonymously simply to make themselves feel morally superior. I'd almost like to dig into the backgrounds of those people and find their sins, which are likely much more severe than this incident was. Then we'll see if they still feel morally superior. (I know, hypotheticals and all that. Useless, but it would be nice for people like that to be put in their place, is my point).

OK... now I sound like a hypocrite. Wanting to make others feel bad because they made someone else feel bad. That's not good. OK, OK, I get it (before anyone says anything). Keep that eye for an eye thing going with thoughts like that. Well, I guess thinking it and actually doing it are different, but if I took myself up on my thoughts - a lot of really bad things would have happened to a lot of people who were not as bad as I thought they were at the time. That's why I am glad I am in control of my actions in that way.

Wow, getting way off into another dimension here. Well, while we're off in other places, let's move on to BSG - Battlestar Galactica!

So I watched the last few episodes recently and I was definitely impressed how the story arc turned. Gaeta lost his leg, the cylons steal the president and Baltar, Baltar almost dies, D'Anna comes back, and they find Earth. CRISMUS CAKE ON A STICK!!!

OK, the last episode, as they bring D'Anna over, she says she wants the Final Five, or at least the four that she knows of, and then starts killing people until they finally reveal themselves (or are revealed in the cases of a couple) then suddenly find Earth - that all seemed to happen a little too fast, but it was definitely exciting! As they reached Earth and looked at it and decided to land, I was wondering, which Earth would it be - prehistoric, pre-civilized, post-apocalyptic, or modern-day (that would have been too Galactica 1980 and very sad indeed!)? As they started their descent, I thought it looked like much of the land mass that was visible was covered in white, like it was in an ice age or something. Then, the landing and the clarification - Earth has been destroyed in some manner or other. Wow! So, the question is, if that was the mid-season finale... what comes next? Do they find survivors? Do the other cylons come and wipe out humanity for once and for all? Do they just restart the human civilization with the less than 40,000 people that are left?

And where, pray tell, is the fifth of the final five? Already on Earth? Or still among the fleet? Or, killed in one of the attacks back among the colonies? That's where the interesting part lies? I doubt it's the last since the opening always says "One will be revealed", so they are still there, and probably among the fleet.

Can't wait to see what happens next!!!

So last weekend, my buddy and neighbour Brian had a birthday celebrated at the local bar. With the 25 or so people who showed up, the bar had about 30 people in there, but it was still a really good time. We drank much, there was singing and music (his daughter is an incredible singer), and a couple of former colleagues and other local area musicians lent their talent to make for an amazing night. Of course the usual plethora of embarrassing moments occurred with all the drinking and merriment, but on the whole, the atmosphere was fun, and we all had a great time. And he's not nearly as old as I thought he was! lol

I guess that's all I have for today. I have another story that I heard this morning on the Morning Hot Tub that disturbed me to no end that I will comment about at another time. Right now, I have some things I need to get done, so I will chat about it later!

Take care y'all and come back and read all about it again some time!

Cheers!

Slyde

American Idol finale and more TV stuff...

I didn't watch a single episode of American Idol all season - I like the Canadian version better, and I am too opinionated on who does well and who doesn't. But, last night I decided to check it out for the finale. I was absolutely blown AWAY!!!

First, Michael Buffer comes on ("Let's get ready to RUMMMMBBBBLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLE!!!!"), which was a little cheezy, but they stuck with the whole boxing theme throughout the show. Then they introduced these two David's that I had never heard of before. I am guessing that all through the season these guys showed their stuff and deserved to be there, but regardless of how well David Cook had done through the rest of the season, this night was all Archuletta (I hope I spelled that right - I could look it up, but that would require some effort...). He absolutely dominated the show and was hands down the winner from the first note that escaped his mouth. I don't think I have seen such a one-sided show on any of these Idol shows or anything like that. It was absolutely incredible! If you missed it, you may want to see if you can download it from iTunes, or wait for the repeat. It was definitely one not to be missed.

My wife and I have missed a few episodes of Lost lately, but I have them ready to watch. The last I saw, it looked like things had jumped back and forth again - this season, instead of seeing the past lives of the "Lost", we have been seeing what happens after they get off the island, the Oceanic 6 at least. It seems that the rest of the people were either left behind, or were killed. From what I can tell, the Oceanic 6 are Jack, Kate, Aaron, Hurley, Sayid, and Ben, although Ben wasn't actually on the plane, so I am not sure how that one works out. Still, it looks to be an interesting final season of Lost.

Criminal Minds is still a good show, and the last one I watched was pretty good, but I have noticed a new trend lately in the show ever since the departure of Mandy Patinkin - the group gets split up into groups following different cases. I don't know if it''s good or bad, but it doesn't seem as intense when the action is split between two crimes and two scenes; things just seem to progress slower and the suspense that was there in some of the previous episodes just isn't as prevalent. Maybe it's just me, but I am feeling less interested in that new format.

We also get into CSI: Miami whenever we can, Cold Case as often as possible, and even Without A Trace. Obviously with these ones, the basic story in each show stands alone, but there is a bit of a soap opera as well, and I have noticed that I get a little lost in certain points when I don't know what's going on. For example, in Without A Trace, Jack was apparently shot somehow. I missed that whole story arc. In CSI: Miami, I know that Elizabeth Berkley is apparently Horatio's estranged wife and they have a kid together, but how or where she got all this money she appears to have, how Kim Coates is tied to her or what that whole story arc is about I don't know - I missed most of the one where they were introduced, and the follow-up showing how it is that H got out of Brazil.

Right now I am starting to watch the next episode of Battlestar Galactica - I really need to know what is going on. But if you go back a couple of posts, and you have been keeping track, didn't I predict the mutiny? Hehe. And Baltar as a religious figure - he is being hailed as such, isn't he? Damn, I should write this stuff. Maybe that'll be my next gig, and I can get out of the tech game, get into writing instead. Do you think anyone would enjoy my style of writing? ;) I guess something more that the stream of thought crap I spew directly from my brain and out onto the page would help to give a better sample in that respect...

But, that whole thing about Kara Thrace being the Harbinger of Death and bringing them all to their end...

***Whoa, that beginning of the episode was intense!!!! Oh man, Gaeta's leg... ***

Anyway... so, I still have to wonder what is going to happen when they reach Earth if Starbuck is going to end up leading them to their end. Or - could it mean that she will lead the Cylons to their end... hmmmm...

I need to get back to this show. I will come back and wite up something else later on.

Take it easy y'all!


Cheers!

Slyde

Battlestar Galactica shockers! ***SPOILER ALERT***

So I watched those 2 episodes of BSG this weekend, and then got the 3rd ep which I watched just today. If you haven't seen them and don't want to know what's going on, read no further, please...

OK, onto my thoughts:

OMFG!!!! I think I wet myself...

OK, so let's start with some of the early things that everyone has long wondered.

Some of the stuff about Kara just doesn't make sense. There's all this chatter on various BSG forums where she (Katee Sackhoff) has claimed that the venerable Ronald Moore has no less than come out and told her she (Kara Thrace) is not a cylon. Yet, she (Kara Thrace) believes, after a two month hiatus, that she has been gone for around 6 hours, despite the fact that she has apparently instantly transported to and from Earth that quickly, in a brand new Viper that looks like it is straight out of the factory. The whole idea of her being able to "feel" the way back and all of that is odd, to say the least, but there has always been something a little different about Starbuck. Something a little more than human, but certainly not cylon.

I did think that Adama letting her take a ship and crew and try to find the way back was a little odd, but it was an obvious direction of the plotline - it had to go somwhere so that they could resolve that whole issue of her impending madness. And, of course, the media getting hold of it weeks later was kind of hard to believe since it seems that when a sewage treatment vessel goes missing, someone would be swimming in shTuff, and it would seem pretty obvious that the sewage treatment vessel is no longer helping out... But that makes sense to me, maybe not to everyone...

Anyway, I think that Gaeta is going to lose it and try to kill her, and then Anders is going to end up taking him out and accounting it to an accident... Or to suicide (*OK, so that's not terribly original, considering...) Then again, Anders may end up losing it too, and I have this strange feeling he is going to out himself to Kara at some point, and Thrace is gonna pop the toaster/skinjob.

I do like the character of Tom Zarek, and the way he has turned from a badass activist to a political pot-stirrer. For a while, I thought he was going to turn "good" (that whole saving of Roslyn and all), which just didn't seem right, but then he came back full force as the vice-president, and reversed engines to stir the pot and actually get the process of democracy back in action. And now he has Apollo - an all-too-willing candidate - to take his causes up for him and make himself look bad while Zarek appears to be the president's right-hand.

It was funny as well, that when he mentions how the President doesn't actually like him, he didn't say that old addage (though I think someone may have said it at one point about this particular relationship): Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. Yet, as close as he is to the President and under her eye, he still manages to manipulate her through others. Classic!

Now, the plot-line that has the Cavils and the Sixes, basically, battling each other, was something I didn't expect, but it does make for an interesting side story. First, that the Cavils feel the Raider's need to be lobotomized because they are thinking too autonomously was not entirely shocking, especially considering what they did that seemed out of the ordinary to him. But it still makes me wonder, if a Raider knows one of the Final Five, how come the other 7 don't? If Raider's are simply tools, why would they even be programmed with the knowedge of the Final Five, who are not to even be thought of by the main 7, let alone be able to recognize one of them? And then, being tools and non-autonomous machines, why would they call off the attack themselves, instead of requesting permission to disengage? It is all very strange, but very interesting as well.

However, I agree with Cavil's comment that Six has opened up a real can of worms by removing the personality supression chip from the Centurions. That fact became quite clear when she told a Centurion to escort Cavil from the ship and it paused until she said please.

Then, however, when they made that plan to jump elsewhere with the Resurrection ship to reinstate the D'Anna line, and it turned out to be a plan to destroy the Sixes, Leobens and Sharons, it was quite a shock. Interesting that Brother Cavil, who appeared at one time to be somewhat a spiritual leader of the cylons would say to Sharon - who was obviously distressed at the final deaths of her "sisters" and the others, at least clinging to the hope that their souls would continue on even after their deaths - that cylons don't have souls; they are just machines.

An analysis of the first three episodes, of course would not be complete without mention of Baltar's new status as the Jesus Christ of the Colonial Fleet. It's interesting that he is preaching the cylon's belief of one God instead of a pantheon as the Colonials believe, and that there are others who are following this worship and even seeing him as some sort of saviour. His prayer to save the child was heartfelt, however (I know he's just an actor playing a part, but I was feeling it!), and that only added to the whole Jesus idea as I was watching it. It was as though he truly wanted to repent for his sins and allow the child to live, and he was certainly prepared to die. This, of course, will only lend further credence to his legend and it won't be long before he is being hailed as a religious hero. And when he is assassinated, he will be a martyr and live on forever.

Of course, him talking to himself instead of to Subconcious Six was a little strange, as they spoke of him wanting to get it on with Tory. I don't quite get where that is going, but it is a bit of an interesting change in things.

But, the most shocking part of all was the storyline around Callee and the Chief. You could see that she was losing it, and of course, we all remember the love-hate relationship they have had with each other for so long now. I do find it interesting that no-one has really picked up on the fact that Nicky (the baby, not the actress playing Callee) is another hybrid. You would think that one of the Final Five would have picked up on that somehow.

I was curious to see what would happen when Callee decided to just bust the three she now know are cylons, but I guess I should have seen that she would lose it, being on anti-depressants and such, and would attempt to take her own life. I thought, at first, that she was just going to get rid of Nicky, knowing what he was with Galen being a cylon. Then I saw she intended to kill herself as well, and for a moment, I thought she would take Tory out with her. But as soon as Tory asked her to hand over Nicky, I knew that was it, and Tory was going to try to kill her. I seriously thought that someone would stop her, though, and I was deeply shocked and saddened by the brutal and sudden death of Callee as she was blown out the launch tube... *RIP Callee Tyrol* *sniffle*

So, having seen all of that, I am most interested to know what will happen next. Kara can't take too long to find Earth (but she will and will test the limits of the patience of her crew); Baltar will get cocky and likely become a powerful figure, or a martyr - I predict the latter, however; Apollo will become Zarek's whipping boy, and willingly so; the President will begin to lose her power and her influence at Zarek's direction; the cylon's are going to enter a period of civil war, and it's going to be a frakking mess, if there are any Sixes, Leoben's and Sharon's left anywhere to take up the fight once the massacre is revealed.

I CAN"T WAIT!!!!

That is all for today...
Cheers!

Slyde

New Battlestar Galactica season, and other TV shows

Alright, so I don't really have much to say on this particular subject quite yet, as I have been unable to watch the two episodes of Battlestar Galactica Season 4 that I managed to download, and I haven't downloaded the next one yet either. Or were there two? Well, anyhow, however many there are, I have yet to watch them.

I had hoped to watch them at work during the periods of slowness that I have had lately, but for some reason the files are not playing on this computer. So, for now, I must wait and hopefully watch the two I have tomorrow (well, today now. I may not get much sleep, just so I can watch them!)

Surely, I am not the only one who is a fan of the show who has had all of the questions about "Who's the 5th cylon?" and "Is that REALLY Starbuck, or a copy, or is she a cylon"? Didn't she die last season getting sucked into that planetary storm, chasing a phantom cylon raider, when Apollo was trying to rescue her? So how is it that during that cool rendition of "All Along the Watchtower" at the end of the season, she should appear out of nowhere, fly up to Apollo and tell him she's been to Earth?

For the 5th of the silent cylons, my best guess is Baltar. I think it's kind of a copout, but it makes the most sense based on the way that he and Caprica Six have that subconcious manifestation of each other that talks to them in times of need. Hopefully it isn't Adama, because that would just be ridiculous, and I think that President Roslin would be a bad choice as well.

Dee (Anastasia Dualla) or Mr. (Felix) Gaeta, though. One of those two could indeed be the 5th cylon. I don't really have a compelling argument for Dee, but for Gaeta - like the Chief, Anders, and Tigh, at least; I'm not sure about Tory's involvment - he was specifically and directly involved in the fight against the cylons on New Caprica. It's interesting that those other 3 were so directly involved, and happen to be of this particular "outcast" offshoot of the humanoid cylons, yet so deeply ingrained is their humanity, that they do not turn from their duties aboard the ship and seek to almost prove that they are human, no matter that they now realize the truth about themselves. It makes me wonder about the exact nature of what happened to create these other cylons that they first seven won't even talk about, and how they relate to the other seven. Or if there is any relation at all?

Too many questions...

Then, in the between-seasons movie, Razor, first we learn a lot of different things about Carpica and Kane's relationship - kind of a shocker there, but it explains a few things as well. And, of course, there is that single sentence that really makes you wonder: "Starbuck will lead humanity to it's downfall." Does this mean that they are going to find Earth to discover that it is already barren, lifeless and empty, humanity already long gone by poisoning itself, or simply leaving again and heading elsewhere? Or, do the cylons come, find it, and decide - this is OURS, and goodbye humanity, soon thereafter levelling the civilizations on Earth and the "ragtag fleet" before taking the Earth as their new home?

Yes, still too many questions...

Well, I guess once I start to watch the series, some of these things will begin to take shape and clear up, and then, there may be even more questions still. I am alos looking forward to the new series Caprica that I have read about here and there on the net. Sounds very delicious!!! Can't wait!

Other TV shows I like that I have been watching lately include Survivor (fan since season 2), How I Met Your Mother (discovered it in season 2 and became an instant fan when I found a YouTube clip of the slap bet and a whole thing on Barney Stinson - Legen - wait for it... wait for it... DARY! Yeah!), Criminal Minds (though I am still trying to get caught up on Season 2 and then get into Season 3), and Stargate Atlantis (seen about half this current season, but I have missed a few of the middle episodes for the same reason I have yet to watch the new season of Galactica - darn codecs on these work computers!!!).

I have missed a couple of episodes of Survivor so far and will need to download those. I was really looking forward to this season with the Fans vs. Favorites, but when Johnny Fairplay came and went in a puff of thin white smoke, with no attempts to finaigle his way into the million dollars and the hearts and hates of all the world, I was very disappointed. The one character - for that is what they are, at the heart of the matter - who would have really shaken things up, was nothing more than a footnote, not a headline. Even now (or at least in the episode I last watched), the best they have are Ozzy and James. James, yeah, very likeable guy, but being romantically involved with Parvati, I have a feeling he won't last long, and Ozzy is going to dig his own grave soon as well. Cirie, while a likeable character before, is actually annoying me this go-round. Everyone is bowing to her whim, and she has really dictated the way things have gone (keeping in mind, that I am about 2 ep's behind, so this could be old news now).

Yes, I am behind on all of my shows. One of the pitfalls of the night shift, I guess, is that it is hard to keep up on all of those shows that I like to watch. Perhaps someday I will get into a day shift again and can catch up, or watch the shows as they were meant to be watched - sitting on the couch with a can of beer and a bag of chips, yelling at the kids to SHUT THE HE... no, not really.

Anyway, since I really have nothing at the moment, and I keep getting calls (it's been a busy night with only 6 of us staffing the phones tonight) I guess I will go and try to do some actual work... ;)

Be good, take care of yourselves, and don't forget to brush your teeth!

Cheers!

Slyde