The Occasional Solipsist

On the off chance that you are a fan of Battlestar Galactica that has not yet seen the season 2 finale yet, stop reading this immediately and go watch it (rent the DVD from the video store, download the torrent, whatever) because I am about to do some serious spoiling.

I just finished watching the finale and have spent the last hour or so trying to find out what the internets have to say about the most shocking season finale since, well, maybe the LOST finale a few days earlier. Which I'll have to post about once I've watched that again two or twelve more times. Four toed Argonath anyone?

But back to BSG, the show has almost completely reinvented itself (again) by moving the storyline ahead a full year and making more changes than I'm able to keep track of, or notice.

But here is a short list, mostly in the order we find out about them as the episode unfolds, in one sucker punch after another:

Baltar kicks Roslin's ass in the presidential election, after a Floridian voting debacle takes place

The Pegasus' Number 6 sets off a nuke on Cloud Nine, after banging Baltar first, taking at least two more ships with it

The fleet colonizes New Caprica, leaving skeleton crews to command the Battlestars and support ships still in orbit

Baltar becomes some kind of weird mesh of Bill Clinton and Scarface, what with the pills, the cigars (harhar, Clinton?) and the pair of what can only be defined as 'hos'

Adama grows the fucking moustache back, Starbuck gets extensions, Tyrol gets glasses and knocks up Kalli, Blanders is dying, and pretty much everybody gets fat

The Cylons invade in full force, and after the fleet bails to live to fight another day, the Cylons promise no violence so long as no resistance is met

Baltar surrenders

Holy fuck. Who knew you could pack that much into 90 minutes of television?

All I can really say about this, through the haze of what the fuck I’m trying to type through, is this is one seriously bold move for Ron Moore.

I mean, here's the thing: The guy has finally started to get the acclaim he’s due for taking a cancelled cheesy 70’s show and re-imagining it as a deep, thoughtful investigation into what motivates and drives humanity, that just happens to be set in space. With this show Moore has taken scifi into the bright glare of mainstream television by delivering gritty, character driven content in ways that all of his years on various Star Trek projects never could. A lot of people after watching the finale are probably scratching their heads, wondering why he is taking such a huge gamble with the show seemingly moments after the accolades have started to come in. Myself included.

Check out the ‘official’ thread for this episode over at SciFi.com. Be warned, because as of this post, the thread is over 1500 posts long.

Here's a recap of Moore's appearance at this year's Grand Slam, answering questions from fans about the finale.

And here is Moore talking about what we can expect with season 3.

Whether you love what happened with the finale of Battlestar or you want to see Moore's head on a pike for frakking with a good thing, one thing is certain: We'll all be glued to our televisions come this October to see what happens next.

So say we all.

Updated 10/9/2006 10:01:00 AM - After just re-watching this episode in preparation of viewing the recently downloaded and very shiny season 3 premiere, I have come to a few further conclusions about it.

First, Adama and Roslin were idiots for not stealing the election. Who the frak (to coin a phrase) cares about rigging an election when the lives of the few remaining human beings is hanging in the balance? Me, I would've shot Baltar dead quite a while ago. What good is the moral high ground if no one is left alive to stand on it? Though of course, killing Baltar might be a bit detrimental to the dramatic tension of the show.

And second, hot are they going to write themselves out of the corner they're in and get the gang back on track for Earth? Yes I know I'll find out if I wait patiently download the series asap, but I'm not sure I can wait that long.

Labels: scifi

(begin unpaid plug here)

Do you call people long distance?

Do you have a mic for your pc?

Then how would you like to have free long distance anywhere in the US and Canada for the rest of 2006?

All you have to do is fire up Skype (or download it if you weren't savvy enough to already have it) and use their SkypeOut service to make calls. It's free. To any land or mobile phone based in the US or Canada.

No foolin'.

I'll be using it to call of my friends in ... uh, well there's my friend in ... hmmm ... well there's always .... no he doesn't talk to me anymore either. Hmmm. Well I'll be using it primarily for phone sex, which starts out toll free anyway. But if you have friends, you could use it to call them.

Read more here.

(/end unpaid plug here)

I came across this post on Better Living through Chemistry while blogsurfing for traffic on BE on my lunchbreak this morning.

After the hysterical laughter died down, I thought this would make an excellent recommended read. It's timely, what with the global shitstorm currently surrounding the release of the theatrical version of the Dan Brown book, The DaVinci Code.

And it finally answers the question that all christian fundies must eventually ask:

"If Adam and Eve only had sons, who exactly were their daughters-in-law?"

And the image of Abel taking a dirtnap is the piece de resistance of the whole thing.

Labels: atheism

I guess I'm just a sucker for a good love story.

I have considered Quentin Tarantino's first movie, True Romance to be my second favourite movie since I first watched it over ten years ago. My first favourite movie will be the subject of another post if I get around to watching it again anytime soon. I'll give you a hint: klaatu barata nikto.

I first got turned on to True Romance by Dave Cooley, one of two brothers who were both very good friends of mine. Dave knew I'd like the movie, a modern day Romeo and Juliet full of violence, drugs and sex, because he knew the kind of guy I was. He even called me a softie all the time when no one else was around. It took one to know one pal.

Every time I watch the movie, and I’ve seen it a lot, I marvel over the brilliant performances by the likes of Gary Oldman, Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, Michael Rapaport, Val Kilmer, and of course Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette. And Brad Pitt’s turn as the pothead Floyd is the best you’ll ever see him. The scene where he offers the gangsters a ‘bowl’ while they ask for directions is priceless.

But it is the unusual love story between Slater’s Clarence and Arquette’s Alabama that makes the movie so great. As a short, comic reading geek myself, it’s easy to see why I root for Clarence from the beginning. I may not shoot pimps or talk to the ghost of Elvis, but I’m at least as fucked up for other reasons.

And who doesn’t want to see the real prostitute with the heart of gold make it? Beautiful, sweet, smart, deadly dangerous when backed into a fight. She reminds me a lot of my wife.

Except for the prostitute part.

And if you listen real close during the scene outside Clarence’s place after they have sex, you find out that Alabama likes Star Trek. Can't beat that.

I’ve read that the movie follows Tarantino’s script identically, except for two major changes: The original script called for shooting the movie in the standard non-linear Tarantino format we have all come to know and get tired of, and one change to the ending that would have completely ruined the movie.

I for one am glad that he only wrote and didn’t direct this movie. It's okay for there to be a happy ending Quentin, even if for nothing other than a change of pace.

Better reviewers than I am (though I am still working on that book – watch out Dan Brown) have written reviews worth reading. The wikipedia article is a good one.

So if for some reason you haven’t seen True Romance, go rent/add to your zip.ca queue/buy it. When it's over, you'll be glad you did. Elvis and all.

I've blogged before about how Smallville is my Melrose Place. I have seen and have a copy of every episode of this show. After watching the latest episode, I usually regale anyone who will listen (read: my wife) with my thoughts on where the show is going, how whatever happened ties in with the arc, etc.

Why the fuck does she stay with me again?

Ahem. Its safe to say that I'm a fan.

During my stint as a fan of this fantastic Superman re-imagination, I have come to have more than a passing thing for the Chloe Sullivan character, played by the gorgeous and talented actress Allison Mack. (For similar fanboy obsessions, see any post of mine about Billie Piper.)

Anywho.

I really enjoy the show, particularly the way they depict the transition of Clark Kent from a confused teenager to the Superman we all know and love. At least, that's what I tell people. My Melros-ian fixation with the show is another thing entirely, and ends up being more about whom Clark ends up with than what so called freak-of-the-week he beats up in any given episode.

Here's the thing: The audience already knows that Clark Kent ultimately ends up with Lois Lane. Everybody familiar with Superman canon knows that.

However, on the show for most of the last five years, we've seen Clark pine over Lana Lang, be laughed at and teased by an over the top Lois Lane, and be secretly admired by Chloe Sullivan. I guess you'd call it a love quadrangle.

The problem is that neither the Lois or Lana characters are remotely worth the guy's time. It is the Chloe character that is always there for Clark, supporting and counselling him, and sharing the secret of his superpowers. And if these characters were based on real people, and I were Clark (which would make me Superman, but let's not go there) I like to think that I would go for the smarter, less glamorous, true friend than the bit of eye candy that is about as shallow as a street puddle. At least, I like to think so.

Plus, I think Allison Mack is about a million degrees hotter than the other girls on the show.

So I can't overstate my satisfaction when in the season finale (begin spoiler) Chloe finally lets Clark know how she feels, without any kryptonite influence or other similar phenomenon that will let the writers pretend it never happened, by making out with him after he saves her life. (end spoiler)

Now I know that Clark/Superman can't end up with Chloe. But it was great to see the kiss, all the same.

And yes, I know what going on like this about a TV show aimed at teenyboppers says about me.

But what can I say? It's my Melrose Place.

Labels: smallville

I read an article online the other day (for which I can't find the link again) that referenced a recent study on gamers, and their demographics. It turns out that the average video game player is a caucasian male, aged 31.

They couldn't have had it more right if they'd used my name.

There are some people I know that would laugh if they found out (or know) that I spend a lot of my free time (of which there is so little nowadays anyway: see any post about my daughter) playing videogames. I couldn't give a flying fuck what those people think anyways, but it’s nice to know that I am not even close to alone in what I choose to do with my spare time.

I have owned most of the major consoles at one time or another and I now own a PS2 and PSP, and a decent gaming pc.

I have so many vivid memories of playing games either with good friends or experiencing a particular game on my own. It's probably hard for someone who doesn't understand the inherent fun in losing yourself in a great game to get the whole thing, but they're the ones missing out.

I am literally a child of the videogame generation. (Generation V, mebbe?)

My first memory of videogames is my old man drinking with a buddy of his and playing pong in my parent's living room. I couldn't have been more than 2 or 3. It made a profound impression on me. The whole concept totally fascinated me.

I could go on and on about my passion for gaming; I could talk again about one of my tattoos and its videogame inspiration, but I don't want to scare you off too fast.

I guess I've had gaming on the brain so much because E3 just ended, and I've been following it religiously. A buddy of mine and I were supposed to go this year, but it fell through. I was just devastated when I found out I wasn't going to go. I was really looking forward to it.

And I just finished watching Grandma's Boy, a movie about two things: videogames and pot. In only one viewing it has just become one of my favourite movies. If you haven't seen it yet, and you like videogames at all, go get it. It's much funnier than the critics would have you believe.

And the game shown as they run the credits? Galaga. And here's a great online version of the game. Great for those coffee breaks.

And while I'm doling out game related links, here's Joystiq's salute to those most precious of endangered species, The Booth Babe. As I mentioned in a forum post about having to hang out with women that look like this AND get to be immersed in the forefront of the gaming industry, Battle on brave soldiers. Battle on for the rest of us.

Labels: gaming

I always knew it. Even back in Link's 2d sidescrolling era, the character looked suspiciously female. I mean, no self-respecting dude since the middle ages could get away with that whole tunic and tights look.

And once Ocarina of Time came out, there was no getting around it: Link was a chick. Which obviously made her a lesbian, what with all of the 'falling in love with Princess Zelda and saving her from the bad guy' point to every single game in the franchise.

And to boot, Link is now a smoking hot chick, which makes it so much the sweeter.

Props to Joystiq for finally getting the goods.

Labels: gaming

I came across an excellent article this morning that compares Stephen Harper's foreign policy mandate with that of the man in charge of our southern neighbours.

The author does a pretty fair job of saying what most Canadians won't because we're all too goddamn nice, even though we're mostly ashamed of voting the Conservatives into power just to spite a corrupt Liberal administration: That Harper is a dick.

Here's a sample:

Maybe Canada should not be tying itself ever closer to an increasingly isolated and undisciplined (and somewhat inept -- when was the last time the U.S. won a war without help?) military superpower that is being run by a renegade government that has little respect for the interests of the world as a whole or for any international treaties (bilateral or multilateral) and is headed by a president who does not claim a mandate derived from the citizens of the United States, but one bestowed by God.

Come to think of it, maybe that's also what gives Harper (a fundamentalist Christian) the right to govern as if he controls a majority in the House of Commons. Perhaps he believes (like George Bush) that the Almighty put him into office and so any decision he makes -- democratic or non-democratic -- is the right one.

Full article here.

Labels: politics, rants

With over 2 million units sold in just over a month, FFXII, the latest installment of the Final Fantasy franchise (which the Western hemisphere won't get to see for another 5 months) seems pretty much unstoppable.

This game is so highly anticipated, it'll probably outsell all bibles for every religion on the planet this year. So I'm wondering, at what point can Vaan proclaim that he's bigger than Jesus?

Here's a great article that defends some of the perceived flaws in the game, and explains why this is probably the best game in the series yet.

While I wait for the release date, I'm going to snap up Tomb Raider: Legend, Crisis Core and at least one of the superhero RPGs that are coming out over the next few months.

But FFXII is still the only game I'm really waiting for this year.

Labels: final fantasy, gaming

Dear Trinity,

As of today, you have now been with us for 10 months. Almost an entire year!



I find my perceptions of time so confused since you arrived. At times, it seems like you've been with your Mom and I for as long as the two of us have known each other (which is at this point about 15 years so far). But at other times, it seems like you just got here, and in no small way made us realize how empty our lives were without you.

I have seen you both less and more over the past month. At the beginning of April I began working 12 hour night shifts 4 days out of every 8. So I have seen you less in the evenings (I miss putting you to bed!), but on my 4 days off I get to spend all my time with you and your Mom. So it’s working out great. I miss you and your Mom a lot, but I know that it’s worth it.

You have really taken this crawling thing to an unexpected level. You can get from our couch in the living room to the kitchen sink (maybe 20 feet) in less than 30 seconds. I know because I followed you trotting in to check out what your Mom was up to just the other day.



As always, you are more expressive, and emotive, and communicative. You are starting to tell us when you like or don't like things. Under the 'don't like' category, vegetables come to mind, particularly sweet potatoes. Because every time I wear them after a feeding wherein you spray them across my face, you are laughing your ass off the whole time.

You are starting to understand the finer points of spatial relationships. When we hide a toy under a blanket, you know that it is still there, and are absolutely delighted with yourself when you find it again.

Lately you have been really cultivating your separation anxiety. Or we have. I'm not sure which. When I leave for work you cry, and when I see you in the morning you go bananas. And when we are around people you don't know (or don't remember) you cling to us as tight as you can, making yourself feel as secure and safe as possible.

One last thought about nicknames. We've been using two new ones for you this past month.

The first, Trinitysaurus, is usually brought out at feedings that don't go at all as planned. Lots of roaring and spitting of food about. When we use this nickname it usually means I'm going to need a shower.

Your next one is trotted out only during the more sleepless of sleepless nights. When we can't seem to make you comfortable no matter what we do, that's when we call you the No-sleepinator. Sort of like the Terminator, but sweet and cute and the only casualty is sleep that I probably make up the following night.



Just in case these names don't stick and you never hear them again, I thought you should know that we had fun with you way back in 2006. I can't wait to see what fun you're inspiring over the next month.

Love Daddy

Labels: trinity

If you’re a Final Fantasy fan (VII or otherwise) you don’t need me to tell you to see Advent Children.

If you’re not an FF fan don’t see it because you just will not get it. And you’ll probably just have some lame joke about the huge sword being an overcompensation for something else anyways.

I’ll spare the review; there’ll be plenty of them online by now. But I will say that this movie did a great job of recapturing the best parts of probably the most popular videogame ever made. And the CG was just fucking awesome.

Between the appearances of Tifa, Yuffie, Vincent, Cid, Barrett, Bahamut, Midgar, the Airship, the Limit Break, and even Aeris, I was in fanboy heaven.

So if you are a fan and you haven’t had the chance to reconnect with your old pals from Avalanche, you should get on it.

But man, after watching this movie I am so jonesing for Crisis Core (psp) or Dirge of Cerberus (PS2) now.