When Pigs Fly

When the bird flew, I thought nothing of it; now, it’s been said, swine flew — the world will never be the same again.

Red Dwarf: Back to Earth Part 1

The direction and pacing of the episode is slightly off, and the first episode seemed to be one padded storyline, preparing the audience for the touted trip to earth. There is a sense of mystery to the story in that we don’t know who the new hologram really is, but beyond that, I also got a season 1 vibe to the whole story. This is probably because the budget, like the first season, is low (though CGI helps make it look much higher than it is), and with low budgets, characterization instead of special-effects slapstick works best.

3/5.

Busy Easter Weekend

It’s going to be quite busy. Not only will I be celebrating the resurrection of Christ, I will have new Doctor Who and Red Dwarf episodes to watch

The Doctor Who story is called, Planet of the Dead, and doesn’t sound or look as interesting as some of the stories which will come out later this year. But I’m hoping it is better than it looks.

Now Red Dwarf apparently is three episodes, starting with one on Good Friday. It celebrates the 25th anniversary of the show, and brings the crew… Back to Earth.

That looks like classic Red Dwarf!

Cherry Blossoms Are Out

It’s cherry blossom time again in DC; the festival opened this weekend, with rain showers on Saturday making it less than ideal for the festivities, although I am sure the sun we got on Sunday afternoon allowed some people to get a good look at the blossoms at the mall.

There are a few cherry blossoms around where I live, and I thought I would try to capture it with my new camera. Alas, when I went out, we got a cloud, and a quick rain shower pass through, so the pictures I got were quick, and not with the proper lighting to show them off. Here’s a sample of what I got.

Glad that is done

Well, it’s one of the things expected of us in academia. We go and present papers. We go and listen to the papers of others. I admit, it’s not my favorite thing at all. I prefer reading papers myself, and talking about the implications with the author.  But, it’s the way things are, and I have to do it.  The best part of conferences are interactions between papers; and this time I got to meet many young scholars like myself, and get some connections, though it is hard to keep long-term connections, except by talking to them at other conferences, unless one runs across someone else interested in the same research and decides to work together with you. Still, I think was able to get to meet more this time than at the national conference, so that should help in the future.

I just hope I don’t get sick

For the past few months, our weather pattern has had more ups and downs than a roller coaster. 70 one do, 30 the next. It’s no wonder people get sick. And it seems right now, people are.

Now would not be the best time for me to get sick. I want to be as healthy as possible as I deliver my paper on Tolkien and Morris next week at the regional AAR meeting.

That saying, while my throat feels rough this morning, it might just be nothing. I hope it is.

Sleep, what is it?

Egads, I woke a little after 1 this morning, and couldn’t get back to sleep afterwards. I just hope I get an adrenaline rush to keep me through the day.

Because of the Watchmen Movie, This Crater on Mars Has Become Popular

Get On Your Boots

The video for the new U2 song is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZOwH6IqwRqM — it cannot be embeded, so one has to click on the link to watch it).

While I like the new U2 cd, I just can’t help but think this was the wrong song to use as the first single from the cd. The title song, No Line on the Horizon, would have been best. As it is, I think people will get a false impression of this album.

Do certain words or thoughts have the power to wake us up?

I don’t know. But I have often noticed that when I am dreaming, certain words or thoughts, when I have them in the dream, suddenly bring me out of the dream and wakes me up. I don’t know if it is dream specific, if it is a one time event (since I don’t remember all my dreams), or if there are specific words which will always wake me up. This morning, the word was redemption. I don’t remember how that word came across in the dream, but I remember thinking the word, then finding myself awake thinking of the word. If dreams have the power to tell us something, what about the words which are used to wake us up?

Time Change, Never A Good Thing

Well, it happened quicker this year than ever before. Our clocks have changed again. Strange thing is, I expected to be able to “sleep in”, but I woke up early, making it around the same “time” as normal. But with less sleep.

It will take a couple days to adjust I think.

Who Watches the Watchmen?

Many, many people. That is who. But, for those unitiated to the story, they need to realize: this film is vulgar, it is violent, it portrays heroes whose personal qualities make them to be more like villians than heroes, and much of the story is morally questionable. This is not to say there are not elements of true beauty and grace within it; there are, but they are hidden in a residue of filth that it would be difficult for one to find it without aid.

Despite being a “superhero” film, it’s not for kids. Rape is treated here, and is a significant thread throughout the film. How it deals with rape is complex, and disturbing.  But worst of all is its image of humanity, which is dark and sinister; the image of God within is nearly wiped out and lost, turning everyone into animals of one sort or another. Not very uplifting, is it?

As the Snow Melts, The Animals Come Out To Play

Snow in DC

Yesterday morning, I woke up to a great surprise. But it looked like it was over. It wasn’t. 

Overnight Snow

It’s still coming down, but will warm up and probably melt by the afternoon.

Some Have To Fly To Get To Church on Time

 

My Window Often Shows Me The Most Beautiful of Sites

Tonight is no expection.

 

Whenever I Set Out On The Road, I’m Always Amazed At The Number of Birds Living in the Bushes

It’s always cute and funny to see the birds react when someone walks by. Either they take off in a flock, and move to another bush, or they jump down inside the bush, thinking we can’t find them.

Why do people do this to their dogs?

This upset me — I’ve never understood why people, when they went out, felt the need to take their dogs with them and leave them in the car. I can understand if one is on a trip, one might take them with. But what trip leads one to a library (where I took this picture)? And with four dogs?

No Ashes For Me

The Byzantine tradition, having already led us into Lent, does not use ashes, but rather, follows what Jesus said one is to do during fasts: anoints the faster right before the fast begins.

For those beginning Lent: I hope it is a good, spiritual time for you. We can now journey upon it together.

If Man Was Not Supposed To Photograph Airplanes, He Wouldn’t Have Been Able To Invent The Zoom

The Great Fast

As the first day of the Great Fast begins, I found myself waking up early, making it clear it is going to be a long first day of the Great Fast. Thankfully, I went to Forgiveness Vespers, and partook of the annointing; hopefully the graces involved will help me make it through the day.

I do find it ironically interesting that the Great Fast begins this year on the feast of St Polycarp (i.e, his name sounds like it means many fish, though it really means much fruit).

Thy name was verified by thy works, O wise Hieromartyr Polycarp. Thou wast a fruitful olive tree in the house of the Lord, and dost nourish the Church with the spiritual bounty of thy words and deeds. Thou dost intercede for our souls, O hierarch and steadfast Prize-winner. (Troparion of St Polycarp).

Slumdog Will Probably Win Best Picture Tonight

Of the films nominated, it’s clearly the best choice. It’s innovative and unique in its presentation, and, like any classic film, it highlights elements of both the best and the worst in humanity.

This clip, I think, shows the relationship Slumdog has with the Oscars… the film isn’t the one in the hotseat, the Oscars is. If it doesn’t win, everyone will know something is up.

These Are So Well Done. Always Funny If One Knows The Comics

The Doctor is trapped

Brief Snow Shower

The snow came down fast and furious, but only for a short amount of time. We didn’t get much more sticking to the ground than this.

Ghost Car Caught By My Camera

Ghost Car Appears Out Of Nowhere

Whatever happened to Solomon Kane?

Last I heard, all the principle filming of Solomon Kane was finished, and that was several months ago. I would think by now we would have heard a release date for the film. I now fear, while it had so much potential, it will now be a dud. Still, there could be other explanations; maybe they are trying to get more money from the studio to improve some special effects?

Spielberg and Žižek

I started reading Žižek’s book, Enjoy You Sympton! yesterday (where he analyzes the history of film based upon Lacan), and what he said about Spielberg was interesting: all his major films include a biological father having to learn what it means to be a father. I can’t think of an example where this wasn’t the case.

I Got a New Camera

I bought a new digital camera yesterday, and now I have to get adjusted to it. My old one was getting old — it took good pictures, but I had other problems with it (especially with its battery), and so I knew I had to get another one sometime. I got this on sale. Some of my first few pictures didn’t turn out too well (since I still have to adjust to it), but I did get one which shows the promise of the camera ( to really get the quality of the picture, one will have to see it in full size).