Society for Aesthetic Deletions

My in-laws have finally gotten fed up with the changes in email due to cable companies changing constantly here in Massachusetts. No, Comcast hasn't said we're changing yet, but there's always a possibility.

I can go with a number of the usual options, but they don't need web space. It's mainly for email use.

So, does anyone have any recommendations? Note, I'm NOT looking for a webhost, but an email host. Frell, I can give them an account on my server if they want to do web stuff.

I should add, this is because they are going to be buying their own domain in the near future, and I'm looking for a place to host it. Just in case that wasn't clear.

I hereby absolve the SciFi Channel for cancelling FarscapeThe Invisible Man.

SCIFI.COM | Roar

Must. Clear. Space. On. ReplayTV. Tonight.

And, that was Heath Ledger? Where was my head? Why did I not recall this??

No Last Minute Save for SONICblue

For its part, D&M said, "D&M and SONICblue were unable to finalize the terms of a transaction before the deadline expired. D&M remains interested in these businesses and is evaluating the best way to proceed through the court auction process."

I am glad that I didn't buy the lifetime membership, just in case the folks who buy it decide to cancel the guide service.

Microsoft says to take aim at Google

"We do view Google more and more as a competitor. We believe that we can provide consumers with a better product and a better user experience. That's something that we're actively looking at doing," Bob Visse, director of marketing for Microsoft's MSN Internet services division, said.

Google couldn't be reached for comment.

I don't know about you, but it scares me.

After the move, I had forgotten to rename my RSS feed to the name I had previously used. Caught it last night, and fixed it, so if you use a feed reader to check my blog, all should be well now. The link in the sidebar is now updating properly.

1. Would you be willing to commit perjury for a friend? For example, would you testify under oath that your friend was driving carefully when she hit a pedestrian, even though she had actually been joking around and not paying attention?

No, I don't think I would be willing to lie in that case. I'd be more willing to state direct facts and leave out things, but I wouldn't lie.

2. Would you rather have a legal system that never punishes the innocent but often lets the guilty go free, or a system that sometimes punishes the innocent but never frees the guilty?

The former, rather than the latter. A lot really depends on the crime, but I do believe in rehabilitation, so I'd rather not leave the guilty to rot in prison.

3. On your death a memorial fund is going to be established in your name, with a substantial amount of money endowing it. For what cause would you want the money to be used?

Umm...I don't know. I don't have a "pet cause," so it's a tough decision. Probably something to do with space or space exploration.

1. How many houses/apartments have you lived in throughout your life?

Let's see...born in Alabama, moved to Maryland, then Portsmouth. From there, it was next to college. After college, it was the apartment in the house on Trenton Street in Providence, then home again. House on Lavaughn Street in Providence, followed by home again. Then it was the current apartment in Fall River, so that makes (counts) 6, not counting the dorms in college.

2. Which was your favorite and why?

The house in Portsmouth. It's home. It's where I grew up. It was also called Rivendell by my online friends when they came to visit, because it was so big. Six bedrooms in all. Two on the 2nd floor, two on the first, and we built two in the basement. Yeah, I'm from a big family.

3. Do you find moving house more exciting or stressful? Why?

Depended on why I was moving. But for the most part, more exciting than stressful. Because each time I was moving into a situation I wanted to be in. Sure, stressed at the packing and moving parts, but those are smaller than the other bits.

4. What's more important, location or price?

Price more than location, but I don't want to be in ia bad location just to be cheap.

5. What features does your dream house have (pool, spa bath, big yard, etc.)?

Lou and I talk about this regularly. We have plans for a dream house. Big place, big yard, pool, spa, all of the above. Now we just need to win the lottery to afford it!

1. Do you like to sing? Why or why not?

I love to sing. It relaxes me, it hops me up. It helps me remember the Preamble to the Constitution, altered moderately.

Put anything to music, and I'll remember it! It's why I still remember songs from chorus in the 6th grade and from then through high school.

2. Where do you like to sing? Why?

Anywhere, and everywhere. In the car, at home, not so much at work, but sometimes. I sing when the mood strikes me.

3. Do you sing in front of people? Why or why not?

Yes, but it depends on the people. I don't usually sing in front of or to strangers. They might think I was odd. ;)

4. What's your favorite song to sing along with? Why?

No particular one. Any and every one.

5. What song is your guilty singing pleasure? Why?

All of them. None of them. Singing isn't a guilty pleasure, it's just something I do.

Review: Juvenile felis catus

While the text is hysterical, I must insist that you follow a few of the links off the page as well.

And please, please remember their words of advice:

Remember: A pottery kitten is for life, not just for Christmas.

Wake Up has moved to its new location, and has converted to Movabletype. Whoo, Michael!

Now, how long before Jenn's blog is set up? :)

Birdcam 2003

Three eggs, but not ready to lay on them to hatch yet, it seems. So here's hoping for one more!

Well, it seems that I, like many folks in the blogisphere, did not plan well for Daylight Savings Time. Lou and I were up too late on Saturday night, which translated into being up too late on Sunday night, which means much tiredness this morning.

Why can't we all be like Arizona anyway, and not change times? Is it really necessary anymore?

I have to go with what I said to Lou this morning: The best thing about "Spring Forward" is the
Fall Back" in October.

1. Would you rather impress or influence others? Why? Which do you tend to do more than the other?

Influence. I'm not overly concerned with appearances, or at least I try not to be. I'd rather have had an influence (positive, I hope!) on someone, which would be longer lasting, than to impress them, which may not last beyond the immediate meeting.

Plus, I've got that whole evil influence thing going on...

2. Are you able to admit your weaknesses to others? How do you handle your weaknesses? Can you accept them and see them as a strength? (Do you strive to overcome them? etc.)

No, I have difficulty with that. I don't like to see myself as less than perfect, even though I know I am not. I also can (tend to) overreact, when I'm criticized. I have tried to change myself for the better. I hope some of it has actually worked...

3. How do you react when you are bossed around, treated as inferior or taken advantage of?

Not well. I was the one who told Lou, long ago, that he was being taken advantage of by his friends. I have a pretty good radar for that happening, and avoid it at all costs.

4. Do you live your life to meet your own needs, or do you live to meet the needs of others? Why?

Own needs. Definitely, own needs. Well, let me clarify. Own needs and that of my husband. When I answered "own," I really meant the both of us.

5. This is your Mission on Mondays, but what is your mission in life?

To live well and happily.

6. Can you focus on your goals and achieve them, or are you sidetracked by minor distractions along the way?

Yes, and yes. Depends on the goal and how much I want to achieve it. I can be distracted very easily. If the goal is something I don't really want to do, then I have my avoidance behavior and I do everything BUT the thing I need to do.

Actually, that's not entirely true. Sometimes I want to do the task, but I still avoid it. But at least I know and can recognize this behavior!

7. When was the last time you cried? What were you feeling at that moment (anger, sadness, etc.)?

Oh geez, I very nearly cried Saturday while we were at the movies! And it wasn't even the movie that did it to me, but a trailer before it. I forget what it was now, but I got all teary.

Then I was reading this story on Saturday evening and I got all teary from that, too. Hormones affecting me right now, I think.

But a really good cry, more than just teary? When I rewatched Farscape's series finale while transferring it to tape. D'Argo's scream got me going again.

All sadness. I don't tend to cry from anger. I can cry from laughing too much, though, and nearly did that this weekend, too!

Damn hormones.

And before anyone asks, no, I'm not pregnant!

has a weblog.

That is all.

The time had to come. I knew it would, I saw it coming. Slowly, the time crept up on me. Thankfully, there were delays, but I knew that one day, the day, it would arrive.

Masters of Orion III for the Mac.

Lou even came by the office today to pick it up. He's going to play it at lunch no doubt, since he brings his new laptop with him to work every day.

Ah well. At least I have this blog to keep me company.

Ain't It Cool News

No release date yet, but Fox Home Entertainment will be releasing. It sports the entire season, including the unaired eps, in 16:9 glory and, most likely, in the "correct" order. With lots of goodies.

Squeeee!

Dogs in Elk

I saw this originally posted on someone's live journal as text, and then a commentor posted to it about this site, complete with pictures of a pumpkin sculpture, in tribute.

So I had to link to this one. It sorts out the original poster and the comments better anyway. Plus, it has validity testing links!

And it all starts with this wonderful quote:

Okay - I know how to take meat away from a dog. How do I take a dog away from meat? This is not, unfortunately, a joke.

The Two Towers Special Edition Length Confirmation

According to an interview in the Official Lord of the Rings Fanclub Magazine, Peter Jackson has confirmed that The Two Towers Special Edition will come in at a whopping 222 minutes in length, a total of 43 minutes added to the film (that's 24% more movie!). Nearly all of this new footage will consist of character scenes, including a good deal of Treebeard expansion and Huorns at Helms Deep.

So, do we have a release date on this yet?

1. If you could script the basic plot for the dream you will have tonight, what would it be?

Oh, I don't know. Maybe one where I could change my shape into an animal (or more than one) and fly around above everything and look down. Just 'cause I could. That'd be fun.

2. What one thing do you personally believe all people should do or experience at least once in their lifetime, just to say they've done it?

Ride a roller coaster.

3. If you knew it would, within twenty years, halve the incidence of violent crime, would you want to eliminate all physical violence from television and film?

No, I don't think I would. There would still be violent crime; it wouldn't eradicate it entirely.

Plus, I love the violence in film every now and then. It's a good stress reliever. Fight Club, anyone?

Besides, you'd have to take it out of cartoons, too. And that would be bad.

Busy weekend, with no time to blog. So catching up today...

1. What was the first band you saw in concert?

I was originally going to say The Thompson Twins with Berlin opening for them on the Boston Common, but I think that was in the summer after my senior year. But then I realized I saw Duran Duran in my junior year, so I had to change it.

Original line-up, Duran Duran too. Simon, John, Nick, Andy, and Roger. Worcester Centrum. I may still have the ticket stub with all my Duran Duran memorabilia.

2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?

I don't really have just one. I like a variety of artists.

3. What's your favorite song?

Again, depends on the mood. No one song is a favorite.

4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?

I used to play clarinet in middle school. But if I could pick one, it'd be piano. Second choice is guitar. Acoustic guitar.

5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?

I'd like to meet the Dixie Chicks, so I could tell them that I support them, and I'm a fan of them and their music.

Current Music: Another Nail In My Heart from the album "Singles 45's And Under" by Squeeze

1. If you could live in any fictional (movies, television, books, etc.) reality, what would it be? Why?

I'd live ... ooh, tough choice. Probably in the Star Wars universe. Close second to Harry Potter, though, but only if I could not be the Muggle that I am. Lastly, in Amber, but only if I was a relative.

I think the "why's" are pretty self-explanatory, don't you? :)

2. If you could bring any fictional (movies, television, books, etc.) character to life, who would it be? Why?

Well, I'd be ripping them out of their own universe, out of their world, right? Not really very fair then, is it?

I don't know...umm...Flora, from the Amber novels, I think. I've always thought she was sharper than Corwin gave her credit for, and I want to know what she was planning while pretending to be stupid.

3. If you could time travel, where would you go? Why?

Into the past, and the future. I'd like to visit medieval times, prehistoric times, the Regency. I've read so much about it, I'd like to know what we have wrong. Then I'd like to go into the future so I can see if we ever get out into the far reaches of space. Plus, there's that whole Restaurant at the End of the Universe thing.

4. If you could bring any historical figure into the 21st century, who would it be? Why?

Umm...oh, probably Ben Franklin. Just to show him what's happened since his time. I think he'd get a kick out of it.

5. The red pill or the blue pill? Why? (Brownie points if you name the movie source for this particular question.)

Red, I think. Because then I could go back and visit the Matrix when I wanted to undose from reality.

1. When I was a kid, I used to always get Strep Throat. I seemed to get it every year. Are there any illnesses that you seem more susceptible to than others?

Not more susceptible, no. I do get colds every now and then. I have one now, alas. I'm hoping it doesn't develop into something more, my boss is on vacation until next Wednesday!

2. A recent poll stated that "Michael" and "Ashley" are the number one baby names in New York. (However, in Oklahoma it seems like there are two or three girls named "Madison" everywhere you go). What are your favorite boy and girl names? What names do you think are trendy or overused? If you have children, would you give them the same name if you had another chance?

See, I get to name my RPG characters, so I get to use names I like a lot. And then have to make sure that any children I might have don't have a bad connotation associated with them, whether it be one of mine or a fellow player's character.

That said, I don't have a favorite name, male or female. I do think that Britney (in whatever spelling) is trendy, along with all those 80's names (Tiffany is another example) and overused. I think it's tragic that Justin has become very trendy and overused, too. Blasted pop stars!

3. Any current songs on the radio (or elsewhere) that you think are pure crap? Why don't you like it?

I don't like some of the country songs that are "pro-war." Darryl Worley did a good song ("I Miss My Friend"), then the next few that have been out Lou and I aren't pleased with. "Have You Forgotten?" and "Family Tree" are the two in particular that we don't like.

4. I used to play the trumpet in High School. I was never very good and always seemed to be last chair. I tried to play it again last week and it was a pretty sad sight. Can you (now or in your youth) play any musical instruments? Do you still play?

As I said in the most recent Friday Five, I played clarinet in fifth grade, but nothing else. I can sight-read a little, and I know where the notes are on a piano.

I also sang. The voice is an instrument.

5. What is the most recent self-improvement program (fitness, weight loss, learning something new) that you began? Did you stick with it? Why or why not?

I do Weight Watchers. I've stuck with it for over three (four?) years now. I've been lax since late last year, but I've managed to stay only a few pounds over goal.

6. How would you look in a Hooters uniform?
- provided by Hootress

Like shit.

7. Have you ever had a dream where you interacted with a celebrity (sex or otherwise)? What happened?
- provided by Kat Lively

I'm sure I did, but I don't recall it. I don't tend to remember my dreams after a few days.

1. "Life is like a mountain." Discuss.

As you go through life, you find that it keeps peaking and peaking. There are always places to rest, but once you get to the top, it's all downhill from there.

2. "Life is like a river." Defend.

It moves continually, can sometimes throw you a curve you weren't expecting, has eddies and swirls and the occasional pocket where it's calm, but also has rapids (sometimes unexpected ones!). Often other rivers join together to make a mighty one, stronger than the one alone. And it all flows down into the sea.

3. "Life is like an open plain." Explain.

It's full of potential. Oh, I have no bloody clue.

I still haven't recovered from the switch to Daylight Savings Time.

I have a cold.

And Tuesday marked the 7th day of gaming in a row.

Last night it was dinner and Bulletproof Monk, which was fun. I was displeased at some of the editing choices during the fight scenes, but the rest of it made up for it. And Seann William Scott did better than I ever thought he would.

Game tonight, and then we have the entire weekend off of gaming. Inconceivable! But well needed.

It was 85 degrees yesterday, and today it is 36. Lou said he was able to watch the cold front come in and the temps dropped at least five degrees while he sat out front waiting for me to come out of work.

I've been thinking of starting a meme. Of course, now I've forgotten what it was I was going to do.

Jack has his 17" PB in hand, or so his away message tells me. Just in time for him to head to NYC with it. (He says it's "Tiny, yet huge.")

The Sluggybot (on Y!M and AIM) is hysterical.

I'm nearly caught up with UserFriendly since NaNoWriMo. Then I can start in on Sluggy. Woefully behind. Woefully.

Our cast iron skillet arrived from Amazon yesterday, and with it the two Berlin CDs (80's nostalgia, anyone?), and two DVDs: Roughnecks - The Starship Troopers: The Klendathu Campaign, which marks the full set that we have now. Have to reserve some time to sit down and watch them all; and 100 Girls, which Lou and I caught on cable a few months ago. It nearly made Lou late for his game, because he wanted to see how it turned out, so I Replay'd it so we could watch it, and then bought it for him on DVD. Very underrated film, I think. Not as much as, say, Can't Hardly Wait, but still rewatchable.

Still haven't gotten Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets yet, but maybe that'll be a WalMart pick this weekend.

Current Music: More Shouting / Bloke In A Dress from the album "Unrepeatable" by Eddie Izzard

1. Who is your favorite celebrity?

I don't really have a favorite. But I'm liking Orlando Bloom and Hugh Jackman a lot these days.

2. Who is your least favorite?

None comes directly to mind.

3. Have you ever met or seen any celebrities in real life?

I met Andrew Robinson (Garak on DS9) once. He, as a young man, attended the school at which I was currently working. I've also met Bruce Campbell (at a signing at Origins, have a picture), Mira Furlan (Delenn from B5, again at a signing at Origins, she signed my B5 rule book), J. Michael Straczynski (another signing, got him to sign my ToyFare magazine and sent the picture into ToyFare and was featured as a F.O.O.T. soldier in one issue). Oh yes, and I sort of met Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi from B5) at Origins, too. Long story. Someday I'll tell it, or maybe I can get Jim Gaynor to tell it, as he heard it directly and I only heard about it later. Mr. Doyle also was at a restaurant later with a small entourage of fans, and we were eating there too. I refrained from saying anything to him about it, though. I see various celebrities at GenCon and other conventions, but usually at a distance. Oh, and I had James Marsters answer my question at GenCon a few years ago, when he was there for an appearance.

4. Would you want to be famous? Why or why not?

I fluctuate between this. I don't think I'd want to be just famous. I'd rather be rich. Fame in and of itself can cause more problems than it solves.

Of course, if I become a best-selling author and get my fame that way, I'll deal. :)

5. If you had to trade places with a celebrity for a day, who would you choose and why?

Hmm...probably, oh, I don't know ... J. Lo. So I could sleep with Ben and then kick his ass out on the street. And cancel their stupid attempts to remake certain movies! *laughs*

Not from the elves of Lorien, but the original one Legolas used. Or a replica thereof. But it is a *working Bow*.

$10/pop for the raffle. Proceeds to charity.

Oh, deadline is tomorrow (April 19th), btw.

Abston Church of Christ

The pictures are just great, and I love the Construction diary.

Favorite quote under the "Cats in Church" section of photos:

My cats really liked rubbing their backs on the floor of the church. The studs must feel pretty good. They also liked rubbing their faces on the many corners. I had to vacuum the church before I installed the pews.

1. What's your favorite method of travel? Why?

Oh, probably car. As long as it's a comfortable car. I like seeing the sights as I travel. Though there is much to be said for arriving over a city at night, via plane.

2. What's the longest road trip you've ever taken? Where?

Oh, probably to GenCon. Okay wait, it depends on how you define "longest." Longest in amount of time taken, or farthest from me?

Now that I think about it, we took family trips when I was younger to St. Louis. I'm sure that was the farthest.

Getting lost coming back from AmberCon US that one time ... I think it was 24 hours or so from door to door. Lesson learned: Never take advice from someone who never drives anywhere...

3. How many plane trips have you taken in your life?

Tons! Too many to count. I flew back and forth from school a lot, until I had the car. Back and forth to England, and the same to Spain. Las Vegas. GenCon many times. Origins, too. Plus when we moved from Maryland to RI, we flew up. And a trip to Florida or two when Ken was down there. So I'd say well over 50.

4. What method of travel do you fear so much or intensely dislike that you avoid it? Why?

None. Though I am not fond of boats in storms, for I think the obvious reasons. I love to travel.

5. Describe the worst travel experience you've ever had.

Driving back from ACUS, lo those many years ago. We took a "short cut" that wasn't, and Lou and I had also stayed up until 5:00 in the morning roleplaying the night before. We left at like 7:00 a.m., so we were really beat. This was the time that Lou didn't make it to his bed, but fell on the floor and crawled to his bedroom, he was so tired. He pulled the blanket down on top of himself and slept on the floor. Me, I had the car and Ken Alves insisted on making sure I got home safe, so he slept on my couch. Corey got dropped off first, I think.

I don't recall a lot of it, other than that I was dead tired and very snippy when we got lost, for the obvious reasons.

So, starting this evening, my computer keeps shutting itself off, no warning. I'm getting very annoyed. Am now trying to do stuff without the power supply plugged in, and so far, so good. We'll see if it lasts. And if that's the true source of the problem or not. I'm hoping so, because it's easier to get a new power supply than to get the laptop fixed or a new laptop altogether.

So, with regards to the subject of this post...

This is sitting on our street right now. Yep, looks exactly like that one, too. Red, sport package with the spoilers and fog lights and everything. Let me tell you how all this started...

I've been saying for some time that Lou needs to get a new car. I was determined that we were not going to go through ANOTHER summer with him taking the minivan because it had air conditioning, while his Dodge Shadow did not. We've put more miles on the van than we had originally intended because it's more comfortable and convenient for us to drive, even on short trips. But the summer driving was the killer, both on gas mileage and general mileage on the van. Lou thought we'd get him one before the winter, I was determined before summer.

A couple of weeks ago, Lou's car started making a terrible noise. We brought it into Firestone, and they said it needed new shocks and struts, and a bunch of other stuff too (not all of which it really needed, to be honest), to the tune of over $1,000. Lou told them to fix the shocks/struts, and that came to $600. But he realized it was really starting to go (it is a 1993, after all), and he needed to start looking around.

We had him sit in Jack's Toyota Prius right after Jack got it, since a hybrid would be perfect for Lou's job. But it was a little bit too tight, I thought, for him to be comfortable using daily. The Honda Civic Hybrid, however, is at least an inch larger in just about every dimension. (oh yes, four doors is a necessity for our cars now, so no Honda Insight.) Lou also started doing some comparison shopping online, at Vehix.com, and found that the Toyota Matrix also got pretty good gas mileage.

This was the first weekend we've really had time to go even looking at cars since he had the repairs done. We did try to go by one dealership on Sunday, but they weren't open, much to our surprise.

Last night, we went out to dinner, and drove by a couple of dealerships afterwards. We couldn't find the Honda one we were looking for (it was further down the street. The same dealer had a Nissan/Volvo shop that we thought was the Honda one), but we did make it to the Toyota of Dartmouth dealership just after it had closed. The gate was still open, but no one was in the showroom. We took a look at the Matrixs (Matrices?), and they had this nice red one up front as a used car, but a 2003, which was odd. We resolved to come back the next day.

This morning, after breakfast at Persy's, we found the Honda dealership (thanks to the 'net last night, we found out that we had to go further down Rt. 6), but they had no Civic Hybrids. They did have those neat Honda Elements, but the gas mileage is nowhere near what we want/need. The salesman did say that the regular Civics had the same dimensions as the Hybrids, so he pulled one around for Lou to sit in.

It was ... okay. Definitely bigger than the Prius, but I could tell it still wasn't quite right for him. We got the salesman's card, with his promise to call us when they had one in stock, and we trundled out to head to the Toyota dealer.

A very nice salesman came out as we approached the Matrix we had seen last night, and he went and fetched the keys. After a false start with the wrong key on the correct tag, the right one was found and we opened it up. Lou sat in it and was much more comfortable right off the bat, I could see. It's still not perfect, but what car is going to be when you're his size? Not many, let me tell you. But the arm room was better, the leg room much better, and overall it just has much more room inside, including headroom. The salesman asked us if we wanted to go for a test drive, and after fetching a license plate and levering his overlarge body (he was probably a few inches taller than Lou, and had a few more pounds on his frame as well) very easily into the back seat, we were off.

A quick trip around the block, with some highway driving and down the pothole-filled Rt. 6, we were back at the dealership and the salesman asked us if he should run some numbers. Lou said yes, and we went in to see what they could do for us.

Oh, right, it's a used 2003. Should mention what was up with that. I asked as we were on the test drive, and this is what I was told. Turns out there was a nice married couple with two young kids who didn't want to get a minivan, and were doing everything they could to avoid buying one. They were able to fit the car seats in the back of the Matrix just fine, and drove it for about 3500 miles before they got the good news. The Mrs. was pregnant again. They traded up to a minivan, and the car was available for us to enjoy!

The numbers were run, options were discussed, and while I was not smart enough to ask to wait for the financing through AAA (I really had no idea how much of a break we could get through AAA. I knew what it was when I bought my Tercel in '91, and what we got for the van in '99. I should have just said no, but I did not, and we shall pay the interest difference, alas.), we ended up driving the '03 off the lot this afternoon for just under $19,000.

The options on the used one were: Sports/Sports Plus package (fog lights, some spoiler-type thingies), radio/CD/cassette player, a standard household type plug (so Lou could plug in his computer without needing an adapter), 4 wheel drive, cruise control, 16" alloy wheels, alarm and remote keyless entry, and of course, AC. (though air conditioning is standard on most cars these days) There may be a few other options that I'm not remembering now. The dealership even picked up the registration costs and the sales tax. Plus we can take it into the dealership twice a month to get it washed, which is pretty neat.

I highly recommend Toyota of Dartmouth for any future car needs to my friends, btw. Just remember to get an AAA membership and use them for the loan!

Now, we just have to find a place to which to donate the Shadow. We'll need the tax credit, since we didn't get the hybrid!

Warren Ellis is going to be interviewed by Slashdot. Get your questions ready!

1-Hour Arrest details the case of Peruvian immigrant Jacqueline Mercado and her boyfriend Johnny Fernandez, both of whom were arrested after an Eckerd Drugs employee notified authorities that the photos they dropped off to be developed were "suspicious."

The photos in question show two naked kids getting ready for a bath, a topless Jacqueline in bed with her two children (again, they were naked), and - the biggest offender - Jacqueline breast-feeding 1-year-old Rodrigo.

The charges against the couple have been dropped. But they still don't have their children back.

Courtesy of Kuro5hin.

1. Now that the weather (in America, that is) is getting nice and warm, what have you been looking forward to doing the most?

Taking walks with Lou. And maybe a walk on the beach before beach weather hits.

2. On Easter, I had to run around all day visiting family. It turned what was supposed to be a special day and turned me into one big stress-ball. Do you enjoy spending time with your family (parents, siblings, etc.) or do you prefer to see them now and then?

I like the occasional visit. I couldn't deal with everyone on a daily basis. There's just too many of them!

3. Did your parents play along with the whole "Easter Bunny" legend? Did you eventually figure it out or did someone tell you? How did that make you feel?

We did the Easter Bunny thing, but it wasn't as much of a secret as Santa Claus, I don't think. So I don't recall any crushing blows when I found out there wasn't a real bunny or anything.

4. This isn't necessarily a religious question (although it certainly can be if you'd like), but what does "Easter" mean to you personally?

Alas, to me it means chocolate and too much food. Like most holidays. Just not religious.

5. When I was a kid, we didn't have plastic Easter Eggs (except for those that came with Mom's L'eggs pantyhose), so we always hid real eggs. One Easter I remember I threw away a broken egg in my bedroom trash can and it took me weeks before I realized why my room smelled like something died in there. Do you have any funny or memorable Easter stories?

None that I recall.

6. I currently watch way, way too many TV shows. In fact, I feel some relief that some are being cancelled or are ending because I just can't give any of them up. Is there anything you do too much of and just can't stop?

Heh. Yes. (looks at LJ friends page in background.) I can stop any time I want. Really. Really really. *refreshes and then windowshades window* Would I lie?

7. Long ago, I took a leadership seminar. At one point the leader gave his philosphy on life: the three things that matter most in life are "your family, your religion and your job, and what they mean to you." Would you agree? What are the three things that matter most in life?

I would agree for some people that's important. Not me. For me, it's my husband, my family, and our health.

NP: No More Words from the album "Love Life" by Berlin

The new Hulk trailer is out.

I have to admit, you really can tell the Hulk is CGI. That doesn't mean I won't go see it, of course.

::sings quietly, "Doc Bruce Banner, pelted by gamma rays, turns into the Hulk..."::

[Edited to include the MP3 version of the original song. Is it Pelted or Belted? You make the call!]

Alias - The Complete First Season

September? I have to wait until September?? ::wails::

EXCLUSIVE: THE TWO TOWERS DVD ANNOUNCED! Menus, video, and more!

I'm still waiting for November, though. Maybe a rental.

1. You've been given the chance to go back to a point in your life and change a single decision you made; you'll lose everything that happened since then, but you'll get to live in the shiny new parallel timeline that develops. Would you? What would you change? And would you want to keep the memory of this timeline, too?

I'd go back and not get involved with someone - it was a bad idea and I should have stopped it before it started. I would definitely want to keep the memory of this timeline. It's likely a lot of events in my life would change, so I'd want to know about this one.

But all things considered, I don't think I'd change it, if I had the chance.

2. If you could legally sell your vote in the next Presidential election -- hand someone a signed, blank ballot in exchange for money -- would you do it? And what price would you ask?

No, I wouldn't do it. I thought the Nader vote exchange was ... incomprehensible, stupid, and just plain frelled up. A vote is not a commodity. It's intensely personal, and should not be bought or sold.

3. What one object to you own that has the most sentimental value to you?

For all that I'm a packrat, I'm sentimental at the oddest things. I think I'd have to say it'd be the cross with the "wampum" in the middle of it that my father bought for me. I've no idea why he did it - he was on a business trip (he took very few of them) and brought back the cross for me and something else for my sister. I am not particularly religious, nor was he, so it's an odd thing, but it's pretty much the only thing I have that he gave directly to me.

1. What was the last TV show you watched?

Farscape: We're So Screwed, Part II: Hot to Katratzi. I'm taping it off the Replay for a friend who missed the last episodes. Just two more left after this, then I can remove them from the Replay and have a huge amount of hard drive space again. Whee!

2. What was the last thing you complained about?

That Toshiba doesn't have specs on their website about taking their laptops apart like Apple does. My internal fan isn't operating, which is why it keeps shutting itself off, and I wanted to look at it, see if I could see what the problem might be. I can undo all the screws, but the case isn't easily coming apart, and I don't want to break it.

3. Who was the last person you complimented and what did you say?

My husband, probably. Told him he was cute or gorgeous or something like that.

4. What was the last thing you threw away?

The cut-outs I used for ATF last night.

5. What was the last website (besides this one) that you visited?

This site. I was going through my memes on which I am behind.

1. As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

At various times - an astronaut, a jockey, a school bus driver (believe it or not!).

2. When did you get your first job? What was it?

My first real job was a waitress at a diner, owned and run by my brother-in-law's brother (that's my sister's husband's brother). It was my junior year, probably actually starting the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, actually. The summer my father also died.

3. What is your job now? Do you like it? Why or why not?

I am a Systems Administrator/Help Desk Manager at a non-teaching department at Brown University. I enjoy my job quite a bit. For the most part, I have a very enjoyable work environment and like the people with whom I work. Plus, I adore my boss, but not in that way.

4. What would be the worst job for you to have? Why?

Probably the job that Lou has - dealing with people who have substance abuse problems as well as mental illnesses. I don't think I could take it for longer than a day or two. It's just not my thing.

5. What would be your ideal job if you could chose it? Why?

Writer. I would love to be able to spend my time writing things that people would be on the edge of their seats to read. I'd also love to be an artist or photographer, but I have no/little talent in that area.

Well, the laptop at home has a dead fan within it, which means that it shuts down when it gets too hot.

But that also means little blogging from home until I get it fixed. I'm going to be borrowing a laptop from work while the Toshiba is getting fixed. And little blogging from work as I'm busy busy busy while I prepare for someone to come and work at my office.

Just in case you were wondering to whither I had gone.

The Dante's Inferno Test has banished you to the Sixth Level of Hell - The City of Dis!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

You are Pope John Paul II. You are a force to be
reckoned with.


Which Twentieth Century Pope Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Well, is he joining me in the 6th circle of hell? (title is an Eddie Izzard joke)

Courtesy of ***Dave.