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October 24, 2006

A Different Kind of War

While in the doctor's office for mother's reconstruction and subsequent visits, I have been suprised by the number of political and military discussions that have were occurring around me amongst complete strangers. Apparantly the communal disarming feeling of having the doctor about to hack and slash into you loosens up the tongue.

There were several people in their 70s-80s... some obviously taking chemotherapy. A man in his 40s came in at one point and starting discussing the current war with a 70 year old. They both discussed feelings of frustration over the inability of the government to 'win' the war. The 40 year old admitting that he had been part of the navy during the first Gulf War, with the 70 year old admitting earlier military service.

It was obvious to both that the world is different than it used to be; that we don't seem to fight wars to win anymore (this from the 70 year old); that we fight with kid gloves on and worry too much about people getting hurt (this from the 40 year old).

Then they discussed their fear for nephews and grandchildren in the service now. For the families of service people called to duty in this 'different kind of war'.

There was no discussion of terrorism or grand designs to bring democracy to liberated peoples. Just how things were done and how it affected those that serve... trying to understand the 'newness' of it.

I could only listen and take it in.

Posted by Ravennacht at 10:40 PM | Comments (0)

Current Viewing Schedule

Sunday: Flip This House (A&E) 8pm; AQHF (Adult Swim) 10pm; Squidbillies (Adult Swim) 12am; Harvey Birdman (Adult Swim) 12:30

Monday: Heroes (NBC) 9pm

Tuesday: Dog the Bounty Hunter (A&E) 9pm-10pm

Wednesday: Jericho (CBS) 8pm; Lost (ABC) 9pm; Top Chef (Bravo) 10pm

Thursday: Ugly Betty (ABC) 8pm; CSI (CBS) 9pm; ER(NBC) 10pm

Friday: Battlestar Galactica (SciFi) 9pm

Saturday: Naruto (Toon) 9pm

Posted by Ravennacht at 10:26 PM | Comments (0)

October 22, 2006

View to a Reconstruction

Today was a bit better than the last few. The swelling is down much more but still quite a bit to go. The black eye is starting to go down as well, and at least now she can close her eye. She had several days where her eye was itching insanely because she couldn't tear well. Also bad headaches.

I called in to work for her, won't have to go in until Wednesday. Definitely don't need to be up in front of a class for 4 to 6 hours talking the whole time.

Picture attached:

Posted by Ravennacht at 10:35 PM | Comments (1)

October 19, 2006

Plastic Surgery

Today was a three hour plastic surgery round robin for the cancer removal repair. Involved were a course of needles up the nose and upon the nose to numb and already open wound (down to the cartilege) followed by an incision from the nostril all the way up the side of the bridge to near the brow (closer to where you a pair of glasses rest) for the repair. Swelling is monstrous. Can't wear glasses. Hard to keep ice on the side of your face like that when she is falling asleep all the time.

Can expect bleeding from the nose... possible necrosis of the skin... have to call the doctor if any bleeding comes through the bandage. She will be sleeping in the chair. I shan't be sleeping.

Posted by Ravennacht at 05:13 PM | Comments (0)

October 18, 2006

Cancer Removed

Spent the majority of the day at the hospital for mother's skin cancer removal. They had to cut a good amount of skin out of her nose, near the crease where it meets her cheek, to remove this latest cancer (I think this is the 3 or 4th time now, I can no longer keep track). It reaches from the crease to the nostril and is down to the cartilige. Luckily this one was caught early enough to have not gone too deep, however, it will leave a serious scar.

Scheduled to return tomorrow for the plastic surgery repair. There are some major concerns. She bleeds very badly every time and she is allergic to all of the normal topical cremes that would be normally used to treat these wounds... in fact the stuff end up killing the skin. Hopefully will get a prescription medication that can be used instead.

Posted by Ravennacht at 05:33 PM | Comments (0)

October 16, 2006

Internet Connection Loss

Been without internet since Thursday late when the cable went KABLOOOEY. They finally came today and put a band-aid on the system, but handed down the ominous warning that they would be back to completely redo all the lines. Seems that since the cable system has traded hands multiple times before being acquired by Time Warner, various couplings and lines have been run that have made the whole thing basically unstable. Hence the work order for 3-4 hours of diving under the house on October 30 for complete re-cabling.

In the meantime, we can expect shaky service. Yippy.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:08 PM | Comments (0)

October 09, 2006

Artistic Spirit

I always enjoyed drawing. It was one of the few things I could do well, so I thought... at least marginally better than some others. It was something that was me. I wasn't allowed to participate in music... in fact we were always expected to be quiet. I wasn't any good at sports... I hated people touching me, a drawback of what I would later be informed was my semi-autistic nature. I remember sitting for hours quietly on my own, just scratching out this and that... usually things I saw in magazines or on the television.

I used to love getting to watch cartoons and animations (I still do)... racing to my pencil and paper to try to make things happen the same way. I even remember making flip books so I could see a little cat I made run across the book. This all led to my first determined enlightenment of what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wanted to be an artist... maybe even an animator working for Disney.

This is one of the earliest pieces I have still surviving. I had done it for a science fair project that I was doing on the constellations. Draco the Dragon reproduced from a graphic.

The scope of my stuff has always been realism. For some reason (like I don't know), I have a need to make things match, to be perfect (not possible, I know). I would constantly be accused of copying over stuff, which I do not do, I match it by eye from the original. I have done so many drawings that I have destroyed because they "weren't right" that frankly I find it sad now.

When I got into school, I entered art classes with some of my peers. For a time it was quite enjoyable, allowing me to see different ways to make things appear on paper... not just by pencil, as was the only thing I had before that:

We were expected to do about ten drawings a week for grade, as well as our in class projects, which ranged from drawing (shading practice) grapes, vases and other objects on drapes, to painting color wheels strip by strip (add one drop of the darker color to the lighter mix, then paint, then again... all the way around the whole wheel).

(Dots only - Ink one shot)

(etching with scalpal on black cardboard)

By my second year in the art class, things started going badly. The teacher had a lot of favorites, spending most of her time lauding praises on them and judging the rest of us or just ignoring it completely. The criticism was a bit hard to swallow at the time... considering this was also in the highest period of stress for me at the time (divorce of parents occurring... torture at school... torture at home... etc). Art became a chore. It became something that just wasn't good enough for anyone... not the teacher, not the peers, not anyone at home... and finally not me. It felt like it was burned out of me. It was gone, the enjoyment was squelched.

I made it throughout college, rarely lifting a pencil to paper in artistic endeavour. I rarely felt the inclination or the drive. I never felt satisfied with anything. When I did feel the 'urge', It would take me forever to get anything done, I would stop and start, stretching out how long it would take to finish up a piece to over a year at times. It was like a chore.

(jaguar that caught my eye off a birthday card... took me over 3 years to finish it)

I started challenging myself to try to put out more, to break thru this mental blockade that seeps out anything that approaches enjoyment with the pencil. I wanted to try to draw people better, something I always had problems with and had never gotten guidance on how to do.

I became enamored with the works of Norman Rockwell. Not only did this man put out painting after painting on a timely basis for a living... but he also managed to capture the American Spirit and the ranges of emotions at specific moments. I can look at his paintings and 'feel' what the character is thinking at the time... whimsy, fear, exhaustion, etc. This is the man that is my greatest idol.

I still find myself cursed with the need for perfection. All of my pictures are wrought in uncertainty and dissatisfaction... my pencil stroke is harsh and jagged... I lack my ability to be certain... to be okay with however it turnes out. I have few drawings anymore which I consider 'originally mine', ie. something which I envision in my mind. I can never seem to be happy with whatever I try to make that way. I have countless unfinished pieces in my sketch book... all demanding my attention. I can see what they look like... I just can't seem to make it come out. I doubt. But then again, I doubt everything.

Sometimes I wonder what I would have been had I pursued this. If I actually still enjoyed it. I feel like I don't have the ability to dream sometimes... that it was burned away, taking this with it... diminishing it.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:55 PM | Comments (0)

October 08, 2006

Vote "None of the Above"

From Brewster's Millions (1985):

Monty Brewster: What are you gonna vote?
Crowd: None of the above!

How many times have you been faced with a ballot and you just wished that "NONE OF THE ABOVE" was an option. Not only to indicate your dissatisfaction with the candidates listed, but also to make it possible for them to NOT receive a majority of votes and hence not gain election.

I can't count how many times I have even met the dreaded "Vote for only one" and there is ONLY one candidate to begin with, ensuring victory to this unchallenged soul. That always makes me shudder internally... and I oft leave it blank if I dislike the candidate.

I can live with a run-off election with different candidates. We waste plenty of public money on more trivial drivel than this. I would be willing to pay for the opportunity to run out lifer, corrupt politicians and mud-slinging, PAC pandering, sharks. I would pay happily for the opportunity to vote for a real, genuine option.

Posted by Ravennacht at 01:07 AM | Comments (0)

October 07, 2006

Autumn has arrived.

I spent the majority of the day at my uncle's house that he bought just down the block from our house. It is a good 3 acres plus, full of trees, flowering vines and wildlife.

There are pears all over the ground. Which I LOVE pears. These have to sit in a paper bag for a bit to ripen though, cause they are hard as a rock off the tree. This pear tree is tiny, and its laden to the hilt so heavily that its poor branches are sagging to the ground.

The pears on the ground are attracting critters from the woods nearby. The deer are coming in the early morning and late night, and while I was there a ground hog made a running dash for cover of the forest line.

I have been trying to get the trees trimmed while I was down there. There are loads of maples and box elders, all that have not been shaped or trimmed up for quite some time (preferably up over your head height).

All the leaves are turning wonderful shades of russet, gold, crimson... making this pleasant rustling sound as the wind blows through them gently. The pines and spruce trees are all perfuming the air with this exhilerating scent.

Makes me kinda wish I lived in the country again instead of the city. I can deal without the noise and smelly exhaust. I like the wildlife and nature.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:44 PM | Comments (0)

October 05, 2006

Your momma's a "skank"

Went out today and discovered that Cricket's mother, whom we refer alternatively to as "ho-bag" or "skank", has deposited her second litter of the year in our yard. This time behind the truck cap (she had given birth to them in the neighbors log pile then moved them back to our yard.) Four in total, double her first litter with Cricket this spring.

Three are the dark tabby coloring with the creme color between (see picture... all marked like the father) whilst the fourth is the color and marking of the mother (which is also the marking of Cricket's littermate this spring).

I don't wish to be misunderstood. I like cats. I dislike FERAL cats.

Ho-bag is NASTY. She charges you. She threatens to attack (and she starts it by running at you). She spits, she spews. She's all around unapproachable.

The humane society in this county refuses to pick up cats. Unfortunately, her presence draws every feral male (I have counted six this year) to come courting each time she goes into season. And she inadvertently finds our yard appealing for raising the kittens before she dumps them (like she did with Cricket). Blast... if we only had the dogs still to keep the things out of here. They kill the birds, they kill the butterflies, they kill EVERYTHING.

Its about to the point where I want to trap her and take her and the brood to the farm. At least out there they can run loose and catch rats and other vermin to work for a living. Being feral and older, she wouldnt be able to be a pet. Plus if I took her in to the pound, they would put her down. Can't catch her, get her fixed and release her again.

What a dilemma. The poor kittens I worry over. Its already getting cold and this second litter is barely walking about steadily... probably be snow on the ground before they are weenable.

Posted by Ravennacht at 03:10 PM | Comments (2)

October 04, 2006

Congressional Pay Raises and Minimum Wage

From Congressional Research Service Report through Library of Congress (4/18/2006):

Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. Prior to 1969, Congress did so by enacting stand-alone legislation. From 1789 through 1968, Congress raised its pay 22 times using this procedure. Congressional salaries initially were $1,500. By 1968, they had risen to $30,000. Stand-alone legislation may still be used to raise Member pay, as it was most recently in 1982, 1983, 1989, and 1991, but two other methods are now also available, an automatic annual adjustment procedure and a commission process.

In January 2006, Members received a 1.9% increase under the annual adjustment procedure, increasing their salary to $165,200. They are scheduled to receive a 2.0% increase under the procedure in January 2007, to $168,500.

Granted... individual members of the Congress may refuse a salary pay increase, and some do.

Compared to the minimum wage facts for those states not with a higher minimum wage standard than the fed:

From Think Progress:

$5.15: Federal minimum wage

26%: How much the inflation-adjusted value of the minimum wage has eroded since 1979

0: Number of times minimum wage has increased since 1997

7: Number of times Congress has increased its own pay since 1997

$0: How much more a year people earning minimum wage earn today compared to 1997

$28,500: How much more a year members of Congress make today compared to 1997

$10,700: Amount a person making minimum wage will earn in a year

$5,000: Amount below the poverty level working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year at minimum wage will leave a family of three

Who is serving whom?

How about a few years of allowing congressional raises to be voted on by the general public in contrast to self raise voting and annual automatic increases (which occur unless they are specifically voted against). Naturally this won't be looked favorably upon. Or return to the days where they were paid for actually working, rather than salary... let them feel the bite of merit income over an easy paycheck that they set the terms of payment not counting their other benefits (public and private).

Isn't it just a bit hard to swallow to have a public servant... capable of setting their own salary... ignoring the income malady of the poor and lower middle class?

Then again, business as usual.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:05 PM | Comments (0)

October 03, 2006

Pedophiles

Forget three strikes and you are out with Pedophiles. I am so sick and tired of repeated second chances for diddlers in this world. I don't care if you are a Bishop, Priest, Rabbi, Fireman, Policeman, or even a Senator or Representative (how ironic... Representative Foley after available teen pages... he should be so fried)... you have no business breathing another breath of prison-free, fresh air if you even touch, attack, molest, or approach a child with sexual intention.

I am tired of listening to people defend the behaviour. I am tired of the double standard for women that do it to boys (heck, don't all boys want sex anyway? Its just indoctrinating him to sex early. What a pile of rubbish). I am tired of hearing perverts claimed they were seduced by a child. I am sick of hearing the child asked for it. Your past history doesn't give you any right to expect mercy or a brush-off from your first crime.

The judicial system is a joke in these cases. Time served... probation... a few years. This is a pattern crime. These people are sick, sick, sick.

I don't give a rat's ass about medical treatment. I don't prescribe to the belief that there is even a for treatment of pedophiles... it's not worth the risk... they aren't sorry for what they do... they are sorry that they are CAUGHT. I want them gone from society. I am with Webkittyn, Ship them to some remote desert island where they can be airlifted meager supplies from time to time. Let them prey upon each other for all I care, because I don't. Better yet, use the Lost in Space scenario and launch them into the sun.

What about using alcohol addiction or drug dependency as a reason for your behaviour? I don't think so buddy. You think a stint in alcohol rehab will get us to forget what you were doing? You think alcohol was the reason you were doing what you were doing? Get real.

You want me to cry and boo-hoo for you, the identified sex offender that has to identify himself to neighbors and community... isnt allowed to live near bus-stops or schools. Um... no. Fry in your discomfort, sicko. You gave up the right to any personal comfort when you took away the same thing from the child you messed with. Trust you? Trust is the greatest weapon these creatures use to get at children to begin with, they use it like a new appendage... find single mother... acclimate yourself as the helper to get in... befriend the kids... watch them alone... yada yada yada. Forget trust. How long should you be identified and pay... FOREVER! You made the choice to do what you did, don't babble to me about mistakes... in what universe is it even remotely okay to do what got you there to begin with. Pay for it forever.

This world needs to worry more about the rights of the victims and the price that society has to pay dealing with the scars that these children carry and deal with later in life... rather than worrying about these maggots that don't deserve the respect that they seem to think they deserve in the high life positions they seem to place themselves in to get away with this crap. Enough already.

Posted by Ravennacht at 03:16 PM | Comments (0)

Wedding Tribulations - pt 1

Several people have asked about how my brother's wedding went in May. All in all it was a beautiful event with a lovely ceremony. For me, however, it wasn't all that fun, based on multiple issues. Granted, these situations rarely are all that fun for me, given the social aspect that is inherent in them, however, when coupled with exposure to certain people that I personally never wanted to see again, it becomes another kind of event entirely.

I approached my attendance at the wedding completely from a standpoint of this being for my brother. I could swallow my discomfort and irritation for the space of a day and try to wear a nice mask for the sake of his day. I remember it becoming my mantra as I got closer and closer to the event, "This isn't about you. You can do this."

The day finally arrived and naturally I had a complete meltdown before I even left the house. Delving into the depths of that fugued mental state when nothing really makes sense and everything causes a panic.

Tony had flown into Ohio to attend the wedding, bringing his girlfriend and her 2 year-old along. They decided to drive up to our house, from Columbus where they were staying, just to visit grandfather... wanting us to "honk" as we passed on our way to Columbus for the wedding so they could follow us back.

Ian calls and wants me to burn a copy of all of our family photos to cd for father, just as we are about to leave out the door (literally we were loading the cars at that very moment). The request throws me a loop, automatically irritating me on multiple levels, but I just take a breath and go do as was requested, not trying to invest too much thought into it.

Given that we were to be at Columbus by 6pm for the rehearsal, we left at 4pm and stopped along the way to honk to get him to come out. No appearance, so we left and made our way on to Columbus, to be in time for the wedding. I had opted out of driving, as I was completely bound and tied by that point, freaking out. Rita and Sara rode with mom in her car, I rode with Lisa in hers.

We made it to the hotel just about 5:45pm, and I helped drag Rita and Sara's suitcases up the elevator and to their rooms, which I was going to be sharing with them. Neither helped my drag their stuff, which only escalated a back strain I had suffered from working during the week. Get to the door, and get them in, to have the first question be, "where are the ashtrays". "There are no ashtrays, this room is non-smoking." Enter tirade herein. "What do you mean there are no ashtrays? Where do we smoke at?" "You can go outside to smoke or go to one of the other rooms." "What does that mean?" "This room is nonsmoking because I dont smoke and you were sharing a room with ME. Mom's room is nonsmoking because she is sharing a room with an asthmatic. Cheryl's room is the only smoking room. If you want to smoke, go down there or go outside. Columbus is a non-smoking city now, so if you go to the restaurant, you can't smoke in there either... so just remember that, okay." "Well... I don't see why she should get the smoking room!" "She got the smoking room because we paid for the rooms and she was given the smoking room... look, i have to go, the reception is in like 5 minutes." Enter the half-cough thing people do when they are irritated. Click. Shut door, run down to find mother and leave for the rehearsal shaking my head in growing frustration already. Muttering to myself that I could care less about fucking cigarrette smoking at this juncture knowing what is coming.

We head off to the church which turns out to be a newly constructed barn next to the old historical presbyterian church. All exposed-polished wood, very open, airy, bright, with a terrace about the whole interior for a lofty type accent for chorus/band on second exposed level. It was quite beautiful.

I walk into the church, behind mother, and see my father sitting in the front of the church, second row. Ian and Mary Anne are in the front of the church already rehearsing stuff. Clench of jaw, stride to front row and sit down, ignoring his presence, even though I can feel him breathing down my neck just behind me. Given that I have no part in the wedding, I am pretty much free to watch the others as they figure out who is walking whom down the aisle when, and who is doing what on which cue. Naturally there is plenty of bantering going on... which as usual, I don't partake in... when my father erupts with one of his usual cackles from just behind me, loud enough to feel myself subconsciously rising to get away from him before I stop. Count minutes til I can just get away from the whole situation.

The rehearsal ends and everyone decides they want us to drive to the hall to see the directions and such and then go to Ian and Mary Anne's apartment before going to the restaurant. This starts to get me concerned, as I had not been able to eat all day, and already my sugar was starting to cause me problems with all the tension. The headache had already come, with the 'weak' feeling starting. Definite trouble coming.

We go to the hall first, where the lady is still trying to get things completed. It was quite a large hall, with chandeliers, plenty of round tables (more than I could count) all arranged with multiple chairs shrouded in cloth. A huge bar was set against the far side of the room with a full wall-length mirror which had been frosted with Ian and Mary Anne's names and the wedding date. All-in-all it was quite impressive. I made a point of avoiding father... even when he made several moves in my direction, I directed a level gaze at him and moved off, not interested.

Went on to Ian and Mary Anne's apartment where we brought out our family gift. A nice keepsake chest where we had placed several family heirlooms: a handkerchief made by great-grandmother; a pair of gold-rimmed champaigne glasses from great-grandfather's wedding; a pair of leiderhausen that Ian had worn when he was a child; and a family bible that grandmother had bought for him just before she died.

Ian and Mary Anne opened the gifts and were doing their usual "oohing and aaahing" asking questions about what they were and such. Ian gave me "the look" when they saw the bible, which I whispered to him was given to him as Grandmother had gotten one for each of us before she passed away, regardless of any personal religious belief, and just accept it as an heirloom (plus it had family history stuff in it as well). Mary Anne and her parents had a nice laugh over the leiderhausen, wanting explainations, which they thought was pretty interesting when they found out he had worn them... to which father has to chime in... pointing at me... that I had worn them also. Big breath, take a few pictures, just ignore him.

We went on to the dinner, at a restaurant that serves bison... yes, that's right, not beef... BISON. By now, I was in trouble, It was already around 10pm and I had had nothing whatsoever to eat. I was already getting the tremors and was having a hard time concentrating. I sat at the end of the table, and tried to figure out what to get quick to fend it off. I ordered early, ignoring everyone pretty much at the table, asking them to bring it early if possible, before the main meals, then went outside the restaurant and sat on a bench they had there for smokers (ironic, no?). Ian gave me that "what happened now" look when I stood to leave the table and put on my coat. Mom came out and gave me some gum and sat with a cigarette until the food came, then we returned to the table. Lisa whispers that Ian asked if there had been a problem at our end of the table (father was sitting close to our end), I look down at him and shake my head and smile. Still feel bad after eating, weak and tired.

The usual bantering going on while dinner is being eaten. The party is drinking, at the other side of the table, which I don't do, and my father is in the middle of the table doing his usual ruckus laughing and loud speaking. I feel the razor's edge I am walking starting to fray my patience. Jeremy, Ian's best-man, comes up with a game where we are to put in questions, or single words into a hat and the groom/bride are to explain to everyone else what it means... kinda like a "remember when" kind of thing. So several of our childhood stuff gets brought up with my father getting more and more animated and boisterous as it goes on. Finally he comes to one 'memory' that Ian is talking about and looks at me and says, "you were the instigator in all of these things."

Looking back now, and the state I was in... I am somewhat suprised that I even responded to him, as he was pretty much baiting for a reaction from me most of the night... but I looked square at him and said quietly, "that's right, I instigate everything." Levelling as much freezing air into my stare as is possible in a glance. I felt like my teeth were going to shatter in my jaw from all the clenching. So I just turned to Cricket and Gary, Mary Anne's parents, and tried to ignore him. They got up to smoke and I got the usual questions about what was said, which I brushed off and got ready to leave.

We get back to the hotel, thankfully, and I go back to my room with mom, to find all the lights out and Rita and Sara already in bed. A billouos cloud of smoke is still in the air, with tobacco smell everywhere, with makeshift ashtrays on the table filled with spent marlboros. "What the fuck!" I shake my head and just leave the room, not remotely suprised that no one listens to me anyway. I use Ian's room (he decided to stay with Jeremy anyway) and just try to sleep.

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:13 PM | Comments (0)

October 02, 2006

Pink for October - Cancer Awareness

I have decided to join in the Pink for October campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness. I cannot say that I have had any relative experience with anyone with breast cancer, however, my mother currently suffers from skin cancer, and my grandmother died from lung cancer, as well as some friends suffering from cancer as well, so I am willing to lend my meager support to the cause of any cancer awareness. If you are interested in supporting this cause, check out their site.

And yes, my pink is a bit darker... but I likes it that way!

Posted by Ravennacht at 02:56 PM | Comments (1)

Incumbent Stumping for Candidates

How refreshing it would be to actually have a politician spend the time in which they are in office ACTUALLY working and not using that time running for re-election or, especially, buffing the coffers of his party or extending his coat-tails to make appearances at underling events.

How many times have we watched the President or even a governor going to closed party events with paid plate dinners for the benefit of the party. Or speaking at some representative/senatorial candidate conference to amp the voters into thinking that such and such person is the ONE and only option to come to work with him.

I want people that work. I reward and vote for people on the merits of the work they do as MY representative, not the party's and not the President's/Governor's.

These people are elected to serve US while they are in office... not the party mechanations. They seem to lose sight of the fact that WE vote in everyone... not for the benefit of making their job easier, to get their policies passed more easily, to make redistricting pass smoothly, etc... we elect these people to serve.

Stop spending your time trying to brainwash us into thinking that as a leader you know what is right for us by leading us to the candidate that will make your life easier. Get back to work already. I don't respect this crap. In fact, how about you pay back the government (state or fed, whichever be the case) for the time you wasted by working for your party's benefit and not the public's like you are elected to do.

Better yet... how about we bill the party and/or the candidate for your time each time you pull one of these stunts.

Posted by Ravennacht at 12:00 AM | Comments (0)

October 01, 2006

Open Letter - Kafi's Challenge (Hollywood Movies)

Dear Hollywood Moguls, Cheesy Actors, Sycophants, Wine Swilling Writers, and Money Chasing Couch Directors:

Given that falling weekly ratings, weak ticket sales and poor tie-in sales are not breaking through the smog fugued basal ganglia that you call a collective hive mentality... allow us to translate. YOUR AUDIENCE IS BORED.

Why you ask? Quite simply, you have failed to deliver anything that is mildly original to entertain us in movies or television.

Instead of striving to deliver anything that is new on the screen each season, you continue to cookie cut shows from the same vein, this isn't double-mint fun ala Wrigleys. Take for example the multitude of Law and Order spinoffs and CSI clones. How many versions of the same story type can we stomach. Have you not seen what happens when something is copied over and over... it fades to obscurity, oft damaging even the brilliance of the original. Sin no more... fling not the sacred cow original upon thy fires of greed for the sake of a few weak suckling calves you call spinoffs. We don't want to watch them.

Allow not your jealousy of a productive idea by a competitor to lead you down the lane of shameless replication. Again, you think we cannot notice when there is more than one nanny show or wife swap theme... but it just happens to be on a different channel? Come on now. Next time you even think of copying a theme from another network, do us all a favor and just slam your head into the refrigerator door repeatedly until you forget.

Finally, let us delve into the greatest sin of all. The perpetuation of remakes. If you are so desperate for a decent story, do not think that you can delve DEEP into the past to resurrect mild television and movies for a market that you believe never saw the original. How many POSEIDON ADVENTURE ripoffs can we handle... the boat flips over, people try to get out... not a great difference there. Some should never even be made (BEWITCHED). Use some common sense here... slamming a decent actress into a bad movie... still leaves you with a bad movie.

In closing, attempt to consider why cable has seen a rise in viewership, whilst network television continues to take the flume ride down the flusher... why so many people wait for movies to come out on DvD for rental rather than paying to see the theatrical release. Stretch the envelope on ideas, don't use something already done.

Signed,
Apathetic Viewers

Posted by Ravennacht at 10:17 PM | Comments (1)