End of the world, plus other stuff (cuz it's cold and rainy outside)

[wraithfodder]

A couple signs of the impending apocalypse...

Jif peanut butter. It used to be you'd tell folk how tasty your food was, now theyr'e telling you won't get poisoned. Seriously. Just saw an ad about how 'safe' it was to eat. (Never mind that it's the 'industrialized' (gack) stuff that's got the salmonella). Ohmygosh, the government is twittering! Yes, went to their FDA site and you too can now get tweets about bad food! http://twitter.com/fdarecalls. Jus thope they're not as prolific as Wil Wheaton. I had to un-follow Mr. Wheaton cuz I'd check my twitter when I got home from work and find myself buried under just his tweets.

Dollhouse. Okay, I know lots of folk think Joss Whedon is IT, but after watching two episodes of this show, despite liking the actors, I don't think I'll ever go back again. Last Friday's episode in which the main character was programmed into - face it, a live blow-up sex doll for a client - was distasteful. Okay, yes, sure, she killed the SOB who hunted her (and good grief, that plot point was so transparent it was ridiculous) so she's reclaiming whatever, but it doesn't make up for the fact that this show treats women (as the male dolls aren't seen doing much at all from what I can see) as definite objects.

Remaking 80s movies - just go here -http://www.cracked.com/article_16665_5-upcoming-remakes-80s-movies-that-must-be-stopped.html - one's already in the theater, and alas, doing well, so that means they'll keep at it! Nooooooooooooo!

But on the other hand...

http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/ - a neat blog on grammar. Some fanfic writers could definitely use it, and come to think of it, a couple local newspapers could too! ;)

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/11/09/60-beautiful-examples-of-night-photography-2/ - Beautiful Examples of Night PHotography - and wow, they are, and they have more galleries just like this.

Bored? Shoot some sheep! http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/humanbody/sleep/sheep/reaction_version5.swf - it's a game, of course ;)

Help a hedgehog - http://www.sttiggywinkles.org.uk/


 

Comments

[graculus.livejournal.com]

From the first I heard about it, I thought the whole premise of Dollhouse sounded creepy and wrong and something to be avoided... programming folks (mainly women) to do something and then taking away their memories afterwards? Rohypnol anyone?

Also, it's hard to take anything seriously when it comes to Jif peanut butter, as Jif used to be the name of a bathroom cleaner over here. ;)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it is like Rohypnol. Women are just objects- dolls. fortunately, Flashpoint seems to be thrashing it in the ratings, so maybe the show will disappear...

Jif bathroom cleaner? Hmm. Well, Jif peanut butter is held together with chemicals too ;)

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

This is an entire series based on date rape?
Sounds like it. Although I haven't watched it, I don't think I will. Ick.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Gah, hope not. But the 'not remembering' part is definitely part of it. apparently the lead character (now named Echo) did something so heinous she signed up for this nefarious organization - probably didn't read the fine, fine print or they outright lied. I mean, even if she had KILLED someone she'd do time in the slammer. This way, though, I think they have her for five years and then release her, unless of course she gets killed or something. Basically they can imprint any personality on her - party girl, accountant, killer. The premise is icky, unless of course she eventually remembers it all and takes down the entire organization, but I have no desire to stick through episode after episode to find out.

[tavabean.livejournal.com]

OK, sounds a slight bit like La Femme Nikita, but different (LOL).
I liked that show.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but on LFN, she never had her mind wiped... here. it's just do what they tell her to do, reset, do something else, reset.

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

This way, though, I think they have her for five years and then release her, unless of course she gets killed or something.

That's what they told her when she signed up. I keep wondering if they'll honor that, though. It's not like she remembers anything, so she won't know that her five years are up or that she's supposed to be released then.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

They could keep her forever. How's she gonna remember?

[tjackson.livejournal.com]

agreed. i've made it through the first two eps. that's about enough of that.

[suekay-87.livejournal.com]

If you like night photography, here's a link to my friend's site...he's a professional photographer and his work is exceptional - http://grphoto.co.uk/ARP/Welcome.html

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Oooh, very cool shots! Thx!

[suekay-87.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :)

I've never tried night photography...maybe one day :)

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I have some on my LJ here. Oh geez, did I tag it?? argh...

[strange-magic.livejournal.com]

I really don't care for Dollhouse either and I too feel the exact same way about the last episode. I thought they were suppose to be agents, not every mans fantasy if you can afford it. And honestly... if a douchbag like the "hunting man" can find the dollhouse... why can't an FBI agent find it? And why is he even looking for her? Seriously, this show has a TON of flaws.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Obviously the FBI agent is inept... that's the only thing that can explain it!

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

And honestly... if a douchbag like the "hunting man" can find the dollhouse... why can't an FBI agent find it?

'Cause Alpha hired the hunting douchebag and sent him to the Dollhouse. Just sayin'.

Have ranted extensively on the pimping out of live action inflatable dates on my own LJ and one TV review blog.

[strange-magic.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, of course. I didn't take that into consideration.
I think a lot of people aren't happy with the show. I mean I haven't run into one person who has said, "I like it!".

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I have, but they've mostly been TV review bloggers who are also (a) Joss fans, and (b) men. I also have a male coworker who really likes Eliza Dushku's gams the show.

The reviewer on the TV blog I commented on described the plot of "The Target" in such a way as to completely gloss over the nonconsensual prostitution aspect like it wasn't even there. I had to stick my two cents in just to make him talk about it when he replied to my comment (which, surprisingly, he did).

[nialla]

I haven't actually watched Dollhouse yet, since I've been watching Flashpoint. I've been saving the eps to watch in one sitting though. I'm hoping later eps improve on the concept so I can get through the first ones knowing that.

I'm just wondering how much of the creepy date rape aspect is due to Fox's tinkering. There was a lot of talk about they were wanting stuff redone, just like they did with Firefly. Then they've stuck it in the Friday Night Death Slot, and those godawful "Grindhouse" ads for it and Terminator aren't exactly inspiring me to want to watch.

Love the Joss, hate the Fox.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I don't know who is responsible for what, but well, they're responsible for it. I gotta admit Flashpoint is the show for me ;)

[nialla]

Just saw a Dollhouse/Hulu ad... ick. They're really trying hard to make me not want to watch this show.

[kangamoo-oz.livejournal.com]

I have to agree with you on Dollhouse. I keep waiting for some awesome Whedonesque dialogue but it hasn't happened.

The whole whorehouse aspect is unpleasant, they really should have stayed away from that, as it easily becomes just plain creepy.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The second (and for me, last) episode was just, what's the word? ah, repugnant. As I said in another reply to another comment on this entry, if this had been done as a miniseries, with beginning and end, it could have been more powerful and thought provoking, but right now, it looks like a teenage boy's wet dream.

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I'm continually amused that every time Joss fans see something they like on a Joss show, he's an epic genius for the ages; but every time they see something they don't like on a Joss show, well the network must've made him do it because he's an epic genius for the ages.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Even though I'm a fan of actors and writers, etc., I rarely if ever shy away from going "gawd, that was awful." Fawning admiration is nothing more than egoboo and it doesn't pay the bills ;)

[nialla]

Could be because a lot of the time when things aren't great, there's evidence of network tinkering. Though on the other hand, when things are good, it might also be due to network tinkering.

I have to say the premise of the show didn't thrill me, but the ads I've seen are turning me off even more. But then it was much same with Firefly, and I ended up loving that show when I finally got to see the complete run on DVD.

Dollhouse

[sgafan33.livejournal.com]

Joss Whedon is big on equality for women. I'm thinking this is the set-up, showing what a distasteful thing it is to be an Active in the Dollhouse. It's slavery of the worst kind. Even if Echo did sign a 5 year contract, she thought she didn't have a choice at the time. And I bet nowhere in that contract did it say, oh, by the way, we're going to erase your mind and download other personalities into you and and you could get put into life threatening situations. I'm sure she knew she was signing up for something illegal, so I don't see how a contract would be valid, anyway.

Dollhouse only has a 13 episode initial run, so I'm going to see where Joss is going with this. He's gotten a lot of bad reviews, so maybe it won't go any further than this.

Re: Dollhouse

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

The thing is, how many viewers are going to be just turned off, or worse, turned on, but the treatment of women. Some guys are probably like 'wow, my only programmable chick!' Honestly, this should have been done as a miniseries, and then it would have had beginning and end and the potential for a lot of thought-provoking discussion on what is self, etc.