another excellent review

This one looks at the science behind Star Trek.

i went to the 7:30 show

Still haven't gotten to see Wolverine (though i hear it's great), no i went to the movie that is destined to be the #1 show of the weekend: Star Trek. i went to WoW Insider last night and it was hilarious, just about all of the people over there had cleared their weekend for it. Well my sister Katie and i went tonight, after i had babysat while my mom and her sister went to a matinee. She's watched most of Voyager and all of TNG, but she's yet to see any of TOS or the old movies (i must remedy this soon). i was surprised how much she actually knew about TOS and dredged a lot of old memories out of the depths of my mind (i haven't been actively watching any Star Trek in so long, except for occasionally sitting in on my mom's recent Netflix rentals of TNG... i still haven't managed to buy a single movie or season of Star Trek on DVD, though i do have a bunch of overpriced Voyager videos somewhere on the other side of the attic...).

First off, let me just say WOW. i am totally crushing on Zach Quinto, i wouldn't call him my type at all, but his love scenes just get under my skin a little bit. The only thing i can figure is that he's got a young Julian McMahon/Leonard Nimoy thing going on, cuz WOW. This year he has slowly become one of my favorite actors.

Second off, i was trying to avoid spoilers, so the movie totally threw me for a loop. i expected the bad guys to be Klingons, not Romulans from the future sans hair and foreheads (you know the Romulan foreheads had a thing going on in TNG). My biggest issue with this... well i have many. Don't get me wrong, i loved the movie except for the Star Wars animal chase thing that was going on and the fact that it took so long to bring in the theme music, but at this point in Federation history it is my understanding that Starfleet really does not know much of anything about the Romulans (as i recall they had heard of them but never met one face to face--in person or via viewscreen--and no one knew of their cousin genetic relationship with the Vulcans). And there's the big thing about where said Romulans came from because: (spoiler warning)

not only is Kirk's father dead, changing his history, but Vulcan is dead as well, completely changing the historical course of the Alpha Quadrant. This means that characters like Saavik, Tuvok, and other lesser--but no less beloved--Vulcan characters are very likely never to be born. Simply put it changes the entire face of TNG, DS9, and Voyager because all of its characters are likely to be affected like Kirk was in unknown ways (Kirk's father wasn't the only person to die in that conflict, remember the anonymous woman that got sucked into space?). So basically all the TV shows have been erased. It would have been really easy to fix things when the red matter and Romulan ship caused the white nova (what the heck is red matter anyway? i had never heard of it), for it to have caused a reset, or it would have been nice for Kirk and Spock to go forward in time and fix things, but we didn't get that. We get a new universe with the old one most likely so largely changed that it has basically been erased, which is the problem with the new Terminator TV show: they are rewriting history and rendering beloved characters and storylines completely defunct). For instance, this totally erases bringing back Spock in Star Trek III because they can't take him back to Vulcan for that ceremony.

Also, does anyone else find it weird that Vulcan has no colonies already for their people to settle in? They had ALL of their eggs in one basket when they've had warp capability far longer than Humans did? How long is Spock supposed to stay alive and rebuild the Vulcan culture? Is Spock going to find a Vulcan female and do his part or stay with Uhura? Is his intended (T'Pring) dead?

So i guess that's all i have to say about that, i'm still trying to process this, and the movie raised a lot of questions. Winona Ryder as Spock's mom was just wrong. Of course, as soon as i saw the engineer in a red spacesuit... well we all know how that's going to turn out. They took way too long to bring in Scotty, and that little alien: i just kept expecting him to break into dance like an Oompa Loompa. There were a lot of unidentifiable alien races sprinkled throughout this movie, i think there were lots of things in here that were too close to Star Wars for my liking, such as warp looking like hyperspeed and working like jumps in Battlestar Gallactica and Wing Commander. i also don't think that Orion slave women are so liberated this early in the timeline (read Imzadi: the chick in the beginning of that book is strange for her species, and that's like two hundred years later or more).

Incidentally, saw the new Transformers preview, it looks awesome, and the G.I. Joe preview. Once again, Starship Troopers came to mind and how much they royally botched that movie by neglecting to give the grunts the suits they had in the book. It also occurred to me: what movie are they going to make next from an 80's cartoon, Rainbow Brite? Of course, as soon as i said that to Katie, and explained to her what Rainbow Brite was, it occurred to me that the next movie will probably be He-Man, and it's probably already in the works (which is rumored to be the case.

i knew i recognized that voice!!!!

Still thinking about the Fringe preview, i decided to look up who is playing William Bell: slight spoiler rofl. So yes, i am very familiar with that voice.

Fringe finale next week!

i finally got to watch this week's Fringe last night and i was really surprised on what the Watcher did. i expected to see him in the opening scene when the camera was turning around chaotically, just as she was about to combust. i also didn't expect the firey death at the end! i think next week we finally bet to meet Belly (or is that Bellie?) if the preview is any indication. The deja vu insights were amazing. It's going to be hard to wait all summer for season 2; i wonder when the dvds are gonna come out.

Suddenly it's all so clear...

Last week we read "The Importance of Being Earnest" in Brit Lit and the professor had a slideshow with images of Oscar Wilde. One of them was the cover/poster for the movie Wilde (which i know Orli Bloom is in, but it somehow escaped me that it stars Stephen Fry, which is ironic in light of V for Vendetta). And suddenly, the message that J.K. Rowling had subtly told her readers (as much pains me to admit) that Dumbledore is gay was blatantly staring me in the face. Remember when he goes to meet Tom Riddle for the first time in the orphanage? Yes, well, i guess this image is worth a thousand words.

"You knew...."

i will now provide an edited version of my response to tonight's Lost:

Oh no they didn't! They did not just kill Daniel!!!

Only when i said it, there was a lot of (&@#$(&@)($&#@)(*$&@#$ thrown in for good measure. i really need to work on controlling my tongue. But seriously: i was so surprised that a couple of bleeps worked their way in.

yesterday i was having a numa numa iei day...

Today i'm cracking up over Elijah Wood.



What in the world? Since when is he doing kiddie shows?

hectic finals preparation

i've only been watching Lost, Fringe, and two eps of Inu-Yasha lately. Every once in a while i'll catch an episode of Alias with my mom and sister (they're my dvds, but my sister is watching them for the first time, and some of them are new to my mom, too). i haven't been overly excited about Lost this season, it's been kind of interesting, but not enthralling. i'm hoping for a Daniel episode next week.

Fringe, on the other hand, is always interesting. i loved seeing the mini-Observer! And finding out about Olive... wow. Was it just me, or was her blanket starting to get bleached white when she woke up the first time (just like in the video at the end)??? It is going to be very interesting to see where this show is going. i think the woman in video is probably Nina Sharp and that next week we might finally get to meet the elusive CEO of Massive Dynamic (it's almost sweeps).

i am taking a break from WoW at least until finals are over: i don't have time to commit with it when i have work and school and am training for a triathlon. i have been reading a little bit of Twilight fanfic again and spoilers about New Moon. Mostly i am focused on RL though.

Saw the original Day the Earth Stood Still last week, was not impressed. It had pretty good special effects but the character development was thin while the director seemed to have an obsession with filming confused soldiers driving around in circles in the dark. i hope to see the new version with Keanu soon.

As far as reading, i'm slowly working on the War of the Rose trilogy (have the Last Paladin, can hardly wait to read it!) i should be focusing on Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, the Commitments, and other school related fare, but am sooo ready for summer break. i really, really, REALLY hate finals.

re: tonight's lost

Woohoo! Confirmation! (Dr. Candle is Miles' father)

argh

i can't watch Grey's Anatomy because the stupid player at ABC.com won't load and if i try to watch it through Veoh all it does is send me back to ABC.com.

re: bad Ben

Ben always has ulterior motives. He "went to see" John: does this mean that he killed him? He obviously isn't giving Sun the message from Jin to "stay away."

My sister Katie theorizes that John was bitten by the Medusa Spider / given its venom and isn't really dead. After his conversation with Christian Shepherd, i doubt it. i think John is really dead.

My sister Megan was shocked that Charlotte died; i was getting to the point where i couldn't see how it could be avoided. When it happened, all i could think was: "Well, there's the first one of the season." But i'm starting to really, really wonder just who her parents are. Perhaps Ben and his lost love Annie?

recent viewing

Wow, i really need to change the header.

So... i need to watch last week's Grey's in order to catch up. As you can see, it's not high on my list of shows to watch (though it is on the list): i'd much rather be watching Heroes, Fringe, or the Sarah Connor Chronicles.

There is, however, Lost. i think that Ms. Hawking is Daniel's mum (from the jewelry store). i'll go with the idea that Dr. Halliwax (or whatever you want to call him) is Miles' dad. But i can't for the life of me figure out who Charlotte's parents are.

As far as dvd viewing, the family has reached the end of Star Trek the Next Generation. i missed a couple of episodes here and there, but i have probably seen every episode of the series now. At the moment, Mom and Katie are watching Alias, and i sit in from time to time. Last night we watched the season one finale and season two premiere. i still drool over Mr. Sark. The weird thing is that Katie doesn't think he's attractive. i wish they wouldn't have killed Adam off on Heroes, i was really trying to hold to the hope that he would come back somehow.

Speaking of Heroes, whatever happened to Caitlin? Isn't she still stuck in the future? They just totally abandoned her there. i keep thinking Peter will get his powers back, too, and was thinking about just how powerful his father's powers became once he absorbed Peter's abilities. Their power is very similar really, to make another's power their own, though Peter is more powerful in a way because he doesn't have to touch anyone to do it. i just feel like they've majorly mucked up the storyline on Heroes and really wanted Sylar to go good and become a daddy.

Truth be told, i haven't really had a lot of time for viewing. Lui just became revered with Argent Crusade and still needs some gear to raise her dps for raids. i've been trying to level my priest Eviengeline because the guild needs a holy priest. i originally intended to take her shadow, but having the dual specs to switch between will be nice with her, and i don't mind healing. Perhaps i should say yet, because i haven't done much of it yet, mostly on my shaman in RFK and SM.

i recently bought a couple of dvds, one of them being Run Fatboy Run, which i figured how could i not like it with Shaun (Simon Pegg). Which reminds me, i need to watch the new Star Trek movie's preview (as seen during the Super Bowl) but forgot my headphones of course.

Hmmm... better get ready for my next class, can't think of anything else to write.

finally it's WEDNESDAY

For some reason last night i was thinking that it was time for the Lost premiere, even though earlier in the day i had gone to my Tuesday class. So i watched a little Alias with my Mom and the kiddos. My, weren't those episodes action packed? In one episode Sydney drives an ambulance while being chased (meanwhile Dixon is performing surgery to get a bomb out of a man's chest), rescues a German scientist and performs a switch with him, and blows up a factory in Germany after going home to have a Halloween party in between. Lost is positively sedate in comparison.

In other news, i have to work tonight, so i might have to watch Lost online.

wait a tic...

Now, i know i put the hourglass here before... at least as close to the same spot as i could manage without any way to really mark it (it's in the middle of an expanse of sand next to a dragon skeleton, for crying out loud!), but i really don't remember having that gear a couple of weeks ago! i also don't remember only meleeing the mobs that were trying to break the...er, interesting hourglass! What kind of hunter was i?!? i admit, i was probably survival at the time, but still, it's not like i had specced into Deflection and Counterattack. And why did i have Sneaux with me at lvl 75 but Future You didn't while Sneaux was with me at lvl 80 but not with Past You??? i know that Sneaux isn't immune to time travel effects, she's been to Old Durn repeatedly, Hyjal once i'm sure, and now Old Strat when i dinged 80. i guess it just goes to show you that things didn't always happen the way you remembered. As a matter of fact, i seem to remember doing the most work fighting off the nasties when i did this at lvl 75, and now that i'm 80 i feel the same exact way. Wait a second... i did do all the work!

WoW screenshot dump

i said "tomorrow," but i really meant "later tonight/this morning" lol



Here i am after fighting side by side with my "Future You" self, who is Level 80. Isn't it lame that she hasn't acquired any gear upgrades? i just picked up the next part of this quest from Chromie: now that i'm lvl 80, it's time to play the part of Future You, lest i cause a time paradox, etc. i wonder if i'll suddenly have the fist from the Occulus and guild tabard back (as opposed to my new rep fist and rep tabard)?

The next day, i finally had the chance to quest in Dragonblight with my old leveling buddy, Tankadin (and RL sister) Earley. Let's look at how things have changed from May (when i died on a Scholo run on the left) to December (when i caught sight of her for the first time in Agmar's Hammer on the right)



EGAD!!! My gay male belf sister is finally a straight female tomboy as nature intended!



Working on Winter Veil achievements on Christmas night, 2008.



Questing and exploring Crystalsong Forest: i couldn't help but see the obvious Star Trek the Next Generation reference. These trees even slowly rotate! And hum! Maybe i should have gone one step further and cried out: "Shields up! Red Alert! All hands to battle stations!" Fortunately, the tree didn't try to eat me.



On a guild daily in the Occulus (my first run there). i caught a glimpse of one of the bosses, did a /cower emote, continued killing dragons, and a couple minutes later realized that i was still cowering. Your character has to move to break the animation, but i was still sitting on the dragon! Cower didn't break until i landed to engage said boss, rofl.



i love the Halls of Lightning design (though the fights themselves are a bit annoying): constellation statues, rotating globes, and stars on the ceiling! i should have taken more screenshots. Here's Loony Lui posing with some moons.



And here's what happens to the final boss, Loken, after he's been dead for a few minutes and i am the only one still lame enough to be standing around trying to take cool screenshots of my level 80 bad@$$ self. (: i thought it was neat, he's turning back into the stars or somethin'.

DING 80!!!

Okay, so, i have been way too busy working full time, spending time with family for Christmas, and trying to find time to level on WoW to post here. i did finally catch up on Heroes (nooo, why did Sylar have to go psycho on us again?) but other than that i haven't gotten much done at all. That is, until i got sick last week. Being sick makes a great opportunity for legitimately finding time to level, particularly when you have joint aches, headaches, dizzy spells, and general weakness that is unaffected by typing and using a mouse. i called in sick at work two days, stayed home from church on Sunday (except for AWANA that night), and finally dinged 80 today. i have several screenshots to share, actually.

First off, i got this bow about three days ago, but the 44g rep bow had issues. When i opened a ticket i wrote:

I just bought the Sin'dorei Recurve Bow in Vengeance Landing. My old Bow of Bone and Sinew gets 362.5 dps with my current gear and the Timeless Arrow. My new bow says 303.1, and when I try to shoot an error message says "Ammo needs to be in the paper doll ammo slot before it can be fired." If i take the ammo out of the slot my old bow then does 300.4 dps, so my new weapon obviously isn't registering the ammo and should be doing 365ish.

They responded via e-mail:

We are aware of the situation you reported, and we are currently working on a solution. Please check the World of Warcraft website (http://www.worldofwarcraft.com) for future updates and corrections. We appreciate your patience.

Had i actually checked Thotbott in the first place, i needn't have bothered. The stupid bow shoots bullets.

In the process of lvling from 79-80 i started to look at armor upgrades. i'm not wanting to look at Naxx yet (this, as it turns out, includes disregarding the Eye of Eternity, because it turns out that's a raid, too), because i want to get geared to go into Naxx. My gear is actually pretty decent already because i saw some lw recipes drop in SSC and the Eye along with a trash drop in Hyjal and rare wrist drop off Supremus in BT while i was running with <Kids Next Door>; that paired with my badge gear (from running Naxx and Heroics until i was sick of them) gives me a hodgepodge of pre-t5, t5-comparable, and pre-t6 gear (save for my bow/gun and one-handers, which to be perfectly honest have sucky drop rates in TBC, i mean less than 15%, and i never got to see the bosses that would give me that gear, except for the one trash drop that was given to an enh shammy even though i won the roll). So now i'm starting to buy some rep gear and figure out where i need to go to get my dungeon gear (there are no dungeons sets in Wrath for me to go for, so i've had to do more searching to figure out what i need). This isn't that easy, since the Armory no longer compares upgrades to your current pinned character, and its search filters stink, but i finally figured out how to use Wowhead to good effect. Anyway, as far as rep gear, i've gotten the Fang of Truth and Unholy Persuader (my, don't they make a pair? lol). i plan to get the Cloak of Holy Extermination as soon as i ding honored with Argent Crusade (which isn't too far away, in fact, i could be doing quests and dailies for rep right now instead of writing this!).

So, in conclusion, i plan to eventually get the Zombie Sweeper Shotgun (rev with Arg Cru), but i enjoyed using the gun with bullets for all of two days, and today this dropped in the Halls of Lightning (i was really surprised, i thought it had a low droprate), just a couple of hours after i dinged (dang?) 80 while running CoT - Old Strat (in which this dropped, with another low droprate). It's painful deleting my old gear (that i spent so many hours raiding to acquire, sometimes in agony, sometimes having a lot of fun), but this is just comical. Ugh, i'm hungry and tired, and i didn't get to the screenshots. i think i'll get something to eat, and if i have the energy i might post those for you then... or maybe tomorrow as i don't have to go to work until 4pm or some such.