This morning I woke up, decided life wasn't worth it, then went back to bed. But after I realized I didn't have any bread to make toast, I had to get up so I could go to the store. Without toast, life isn't worth living.
• Star Redux. I've been in a real renaissance with the original Star Wars films lately. I've been re-watching the real movies on LaserDisc... taking another look at the amazing "Making of" books... re-reading the novelizations... going through the comic book adaptations... that kind of thing. This is probably in anticipation of the movies coming out on Blu-Ray later this month. And even though there's a lot of controversy raging over George Lucas once again crapping all over the films, I still can't wait to see them in high-def. I especially can't wait to have all the deleted scenes with one of the more interesting characters in the entire franchise... Biggs Darklighter...
Now, if you've only ever seen the original movie, you might remember Biggs being mentioned in passing when Luke is whining to Uncle Owen... and again when the Rebels are off to attack the Death Star... and then again at the end where he gets blown up by Darth Vader. But, in the original Star Wars script, there is more to the character than that. Unfortunately, those scenes got cut (though some snuck through to the novelization). And while these cuts were probably a smart move story-wise, they're disappointing fan-wise... especially for fans who have read Biggs' back-story in the "Expanded Universe" books and comics. These rumored "never-before-seen scenes" will help add yet another dimension to an important character we only thought we knew (or didn't know).
• Dance Redux. On a list of things that I couldn't possibly give a crap about, Dancing with the Stars would be near the top of the list. As far as entertainment goes, it's right up there with Pauly Shore movies and diarrhea. But once I heard the controversy over the casting of this season's contestants, I decided to investigate who would be on the show. After taking a look, I admit that I am very upset. I simply cannot fathom how such a popular program would intentionally decide to attack this country's sense of decency and our respect for the Natural Order. I am disgusted at the thought of children tuning in and being exposed to a total freak show and abomination towards God. I am mortified that this "person" will be given even more media exposure so they can further destroy all that is good on this earth with their reprehensible behavior. I am, of course, talking about Nancy Grace...
This vile, disgusting, evil, pathetic excuse for a human being has absolutely no business being on television. And it only goes to show that the people behind Dancing with the Stars only care about one thing: stirring up controversy to get ratings. Just like Nancy Grace, they obviously don't give a fuck how many people they hurt in their effort to attract viewers. For once I agree with the lamestream conservative media... this is absolutely disgusting, and just one more reason I won't be tuning in for this stupid shit.
UPDATE: Oh. Some readers have pointed out that all the controversy isn't about Nancy Grace after all (as one would expect)... it's instead over Chaz Bono?!? I don't get this at all. So he used to be a woman. Big deal. I'd argue Chaz Bono is more of a man and less sexually confused than Marcus Bachmann or "Doctor" Keith Ablow, yet you don't see anybody complaining about them being on television...
What a crock of bullshit. I have to wonder if all the people in an uproar over this are just confused about their sexual identity, and are taking it out on Chaz Bono because he has the balls to get it all sorted out. Or they are sexually attracted to Chaz Bono and don't know what to do with their self-loathing. Or they really, really hated being subjected to Cher's auto-tune travesty, Believe, being constantly blasted on the radio in the late 1990's (if that's the case, I guess I see their point... Cher's not on television much anymore, so I suppose torturing her offspring is the next best thing?). Whatever the case, I find it fascinating that people are still freaking out over this kind of stuff in the year 2011.
• TV Redux. I have more than a couple friends who are "periphery Apple fans." Meaning that they're not Mac users, but they do like their iPods, iPhones, iPads, and whatnot. This morning I got a call from one of these friends with an Apple TV. He knew I had one, and was wondering why I haven't blogged about it...
I explained that my older television didn't seem to support it because the picture was all fuzzy and jumpy. And since I'm unable to use it, the thing has been collecting dust in my closet for over a year. That's when he drops the bomb and tells me that the Apple TV firmware had been updated a while back which fixed the video display problems for a lot of people. So I dig it out, plug it in, and apply the latest software. Now it works perfectly. And it is awesome.
I love being able to use "AirPlay" to stream stuff from my MacBook, iPhone, and iPad. I really love how much easier it is to use Netflix Streaming (compared to using my Xbox like I do now). And iCloud makes it dead-simple to stream all the television shows I've purchased right to my TV without having to download them to my Mac first. It's an amazing little device and, now that I can use it, worth every penny of the $99 price tag. If you've got an HD television with HDMI, it's worth a look.
• Mercury Redux. In anticipation of his new novel Mercury Rises being released next month, Thrice Fiction contributor Rob Kroese has unleashed a FREE Kindle eBook short story... Mercury Swings...
You can get your copy at Amazon and have it sent to your Kindle or any device with Kindle Reader installed (like Macs, PCs, iPhones, and the like). It's funny and it's free, so what are you waiting for? Go and get Mercury Swings today!
And that's all she wrote for this edition of Bullet Sunday. Tune in next week when all my bullets will be double-jacketed.
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Heh heh. You said “ablow.”
As for SW, I count myself lucky that I had a friend rip the laserdiscs to DVD for me. I cherish those DVDs of the OT and they are the only ones I own of the OT at all. I do still have my old VHS (unaltered editions) and I have the DVDs of the PT, but you won’t see me buying anything else. Nuh uh.
I just went over to that site you linked about the NOOOO in ROTJ and watched the video. While I agree that the addition is nothing more than a way to “establish some thin and wholly silly symmetry,” it really doesn’t bother me as much as I would’ve thought. Sure, it’s completely unnecessary, but it’s not like Greedo shooting first or the ghost of young Anakin at the end of ROTJ or Boba Fett staring at the viewer in the landing bay at Mos Eisley Spaceport practically screaming “Look at me! Look at me!”
Am I getting more tolerant in my old age?
Hello…hello….ahem…is this thing on? Just testing the waters to see if anyone is still around after these summer months of my being gone. And what do you mean no toast in the house….I always have a spare loaf in the freezer…but perhaps that’s my OCD or ADD or XYZ kicking in. We were actively pursuing a Roku box this past week….numerous reviews put it ahead of the Apple box. But all of that has been tabled for now….I got a $50 per month reduction from Comcast! So we’re waiting……
Not too many people, even hard core Star Wars fans, had the Laserdisc versions of the original movies. I miss Laserdisc.
The crap fest that Lucas is doing once again with his redux crap appears to be another “why oh why is he messing with a great movie” mantra us fans utter more than we should.
I love your Nancy Grace segue into Chaz Bono. Brilliant.
I don’t like NG either (though I’ve never seen her show–just hear the ads on XM). Did I ever tell you what my old lawschool girlfriend’s boss (a DA) said about dating NG when she was a prosecutor? Apparently, she was quite the naughty vixen back in the day.
My problem with Nancy Grace is not the ideal of having somebody speak for people who have no voice.
My problem is that she is an evil ratings whore. She will do anything or say anything to get ratings… which means that she ends up anointing herself judge, jury, and executioner. Needless to say, this can have disastrous results. Like her ruthless persecution of the Duke University Lacrosse Team back in 2006. She mercilessly hounded them day after day after day… whipping up public opinion in a brutal frenzy of hatred. THEN, when the girl who had accused them of rape recanted, and the Duke Lacrosse Team was proven innocent, what does she do? The filthy whore TAKES THE NIGHT OFF so she doesn’t have to make an apology or admit she made a horrible mistake. NO personal acknowledgement of any wrong-doing.
Nancy Grace is a horrible, evil, awful, pathetic excuse for a human being who feeds on misery and hatred… for money and fame.
And not in a good way.
Ohhh, I didn’t know the Blu-Ray versions had those deleted scenes. They are worth getting for that alone. Now, if only I had a Blu-Ray player…
George making changes again? NNNNnnnnoooooooo!!!!!