I gave a thesis student maps, data, and web resources for climatilogical and vegetative information about Presidio, Texas and Mexico... and he said, "You're the most helpful person I've ever met."
Dude. It's not just that that's a really nice compliment, it's that I got to use maps and statistics and a student was amazed and happy with the information my department provides. Yay!!
2.13.2008
2.12.2008
The Richard Donner Cut
This was an interesting cinematic experiment Alex and I performed last week. My original intention was to wait for our Superman I to be delivered, watch it, then rent the original cut of Superman II, and then watch the Richard Donner cut of Superman II.
What actually happened, was:
This led me to believe, before we started the movie, that it would probably seem less impressive, than if we had just watched the original two. We wouldn't 1) have seen the "worse" of the two SII options to compare it against, nor 2) would we already be in the 1980's vein of effects/drama. I was a little leery because of these points.
However. Wow.
I've come up with a few thoughts on how/why this movie was so awesome, and here they are, in some random order:
And let me say that I'm happy to live in an Internet age where enough of us, across the world, can clamor that this revised cut was made and Serenity was filmed. It's the age of the cult fan!
What actually happened, was:
- Our Superman I is one of our free rebate Blu-Ray discs, so we probably won't get it or the other four until Kingdom Come (which I'm anticipating in the middle of this century at some point...)
- I haven't seen the original cut of II released on Blu-Ray, and... um... yeah, it's starting to feel pointless renting DVDs. Don't hate me for being a snob; it's just when you know how gorgeous they can look... yeah.
- We were in the mood for something fun last Wednesday, and we had already narrowed our options down to Superman or Casino Royale. Now, I'm a Bond gal through and through, but... I just wasn't up to the action or the drama that night. I wanted something cozy and fun to watch, and short of a rom-com, Superman was it.
This led me to believe, before we started the movie, that it would probably seem less impressive, than if we had just watched the original two. We wouldn't 1) have seen the "worse" of the two SII options to compare it against, nor 2) would we already be in the 1980's vein of effects/drama. I was a little leery because of these points.
However. Wow.
I've come up with a few thoughts on how/why this movie was so awesome, and here they are, in some random order:
- The Superman movies (at least the first one and possibly the original cut of the second) must have been a lot better than I remembered. This is possibly due to the next point.
- Hi-def (whether Blu-ray or HD-DVD) really, really makes movies better (at least, if your screen is large enough that the difference is noticeable). Wow. I am guessing that half the reason 1980s movies instantly look "cheesy" to me when watched on TV is their spectacularly crummy resolution. This movie wasn't as deliciously crisp as, say, Transformers (duh), but it's gorgeous, and it's easier to take actors seriously when they don't look they're in a made-for-TV movie.
- I thought that Lois annoyed me a lot and was stupid. But she figures out Clark is Superman at the beginning of the movie! And later shoots him to prove her point! Dang, I like this gutsy gal.
- Superman letting Lois actually fall out the window, without catching her, was gutsy and hilarious and awesome and pretty shocking, to me. I mean yeah, he made sure she wasn't hurt--but man, this Superman's got some cahones. And a mischievious streak (something totally lacking in the fairly personality-less Superman of Superman Returns, although I have to say I don't hate that movie like many do).
- We watched a teeny bit of original footage in the Fortress of Solitude--man, Jor-El/Brando was waaaaay better than having Laura in that scene. And the effects were far less cheesy in the revised version, but not so fancy as to seem in-authenic in the 80's context.
- Superman got beat up!
- Superman kicked some butt!
- I was actually really emotionally invested in the movie, much to my surprise. Reeve was amazing in that film.
And let me say that I'm happy to live in an Internet age where enough of us, across the world, can clamor that this revised cut was made and Serenity was filmed. It's the age of the cult fan!
2.08.2008
My Fortune
Wow, this is hilarious. I found the link from my pal riofriotex, and the fortune it produced is eerily fitting for me:
Heh, heh.
In other news, I'm working remotely--er, I mean I have the day off--at my in-law's house. I'm "babysitting" the sheetrock crew, which is putting finishing touches on the addition that we'll be living in for awhile, while building the new place. Assuming, that is, that 1) we can ever get our place on the market, and 2) that it sells. This, in the midst of 3) all that +40 hours Alex and I spend at work on a weekly basis, 4) that fun 2 hours of commuting a day (how I'm going to miss my satellite radio next month!) and 5) those 9 hours of PhD classes. Sigh.
Yeah, I'm sure it's driving everyone nuts that I have to call them "PhD classes" instead of grad work... but dude, I'm trying to encourage myself as much as I can. It's a lot of work, dangit, and I need to remember I'm working toward that "Dr." label. Otherwise, it's just like, "Wait a sec--I'm still in school? Haven't I been doing this for over a decade... in college alone?" And then I try not to think about student loans.
On the up side, I've been able to get a lot of my professional development work done today. Yeah, that whole "day off" thing doesn't work too well when I feel behind in everything--but it's nice to have time devoted to prodev, instead of answering emails, reference questions, and the normal things I do in my work day. Er, I mean, I actually have still been answering email... right. I guess I saved myself the two hours' commute?
On the up side, when you're a librarian, this isn't called "workacholism." It's pretty par for the course. (Or wait, is that the down side...?) Hey, in the end, it's all because I love what I do.
Okay, back to that prodev. And maybe I can figure out why, when I'm wearing two sweatshirts, jeans, three pairs of socks, and a blanket, my toes are still freezing! Dang that bad circulation.
 | My Fortune Cookie told me: Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defense. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune |
Heh, heh.
In other news, I'm working remotely--er, I mean I have the day off--at my in-law's house. I'm "babysitting" the sheetrock crew, which is putting finishing touches on the addition that we'll be living in for awhile, while building the new place. Assuming, that is, that 1) we can ever get our place on the market, and 2) that it sells. This, in the midst of 3) all that +40 hours Alex and I spend at work on a weekly basis, 4) that fun 2 hours of commuting a day (how I'm going to miss my satellite radio next month!) and 5) those 9 hours of PhD classes. Sigh.
Yeah, I'm sure it's driving everyone nuts that I have to call them "PhD classes" instead of grad work... but dude, I'm trying to encourage myself as much as I can. It's a lot of work, dangit, and I need to remember I'm working toward that "Dr." label. Otherwise, it's just like, "Wait a sec--I'm still in school? Haven't I been doing this for over a decade... in college alone?" And then I try not to think about student loans.
On the up side, I've been able to get a lot of my professional development work done today. Yeah, that whole "day off" thing doesn't work too well when I feel behind in everything--but it's nice to have time devoted to prodev, instead of answering emails, reference questions, and the normal things I do in my work day. Er, I mean, I actually have still been answering email... right. I guess I saved myself the two hours' commute?
On the up side, when you're a librarian, this isn't called "workacholism." It's pretty par for the course. (Or wait, is that the down side...?) Hey, in the end, it's all because I love what I do.
Okay, back to that prodev. And maybe I can figure out why, when I'm wearing two sweatshirts, jeans, three pairs of socks, and a blanket, my toes are still freezing! Dang that bad circulation.
2.06.2008
Tablet-y Goodness
Yay, I finally broke out my Wacom tablet! (It's at work, not at home, but ah well. At least I'm finally using it.)
I hope your Tuesday was both Super and Fat. Mine was very, very long... but it ended in being migrated to Outlook (a big "Huzzah!" all around, now) and learning that 4 hours of no access to email leads to a very sparkling clean office. A silver lining to every cloud, eh?
I hope your Tuesday was both Super and Fat. Mine was very, very long... but it ended in being migrated to Outlook (a big "Huzzah!" all around, now) and learning that 4 hours of no access to email leads to a very sparkling clean office. A silver lining to every cloud, eh?
2.05.2008
SG-A News
Well.... dude! There are so many details about Stargate: Atlantis Season 5 in this page that I don't even know how to respond.
On the personal front, classes are going well for the most part--I am loving the reading and discussion, and our house gets ever closer to being on the market. I'm looking at my calendar for February and March and trying to take deep breaths. A lot.
At work, we finally got migrated to Outlook as our new email client, which is a welcome change... now if I could only ever finish a single day's to-do list, I'd be more ahead than I have been in months.
And then there are taxes to file... such is life!
But the huge, big, awesome news is... well, actually, I don't know how many people he's told yet, so I'll have to sit on this one a bit. But it's juicy!
On the personal front, classes are going well for the most part--I am loving the reading and discussion, and our house gets ever closer to being on the market. I'm looking at my calendar for February and March and trying to take deep breaths. A lot.
At work, we finally got migrated to Outlook as our new email client, which is a welcome change... now if I could only ever finish a single day's to-do list, I'd be more ahead than I have been in months.
And then there are taxes to file... such is life!
But the huge, big, awesome news is... well, actually, I don't know how many people he's told yet, so I'll have to sit on this one a bit. But it's juicy!
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