OH. MY. GOD.

So, I just discovered that iTunes is now selling vast numbers of classic Doctor Who episodes. It's only by virtue of being completely broke that I haven't gone crazy and started downloading like mad.

Somehow I'm going to have to come up with a way to see all of these. Seriously, this is like my childhood returning in full force. Maybe if I strictly ration myself to one episode arc a week...

My head is NAKED!

Look how short my hair is!

I'm still kind of in shock.  I think it's a good kind of shock, though.

We control all that you see and hear

I've recently rediscovered the Outer Limits.  This little gem from my late childhood is coming to me thanks to the ever-wonderful Sci-fi channel.  They've been doing mini-marathons about once a week, which has been keeping me well-stocked thanks to the wonders of DVR.  

There are several things that I like about the Outer Limits.  First of all, it's deliciously campy.  You get aliens, fairy tale monsters, and divine intervention, all in one show.  That brings me to the second thing that I love about it.  Every episode is a completely fresh story (with some loosely connecting every once in a while).  I think that more shows should follow this example.  While overarching story lines can be compelling, there's really something to be said for starting with a clean slate each time.  It also means they can vary the setting, although the vast majority feature the present or the near future.

They also had some pretty awesome guest actors.  I just finished watching an episode where Neil Patrick Harris played a mentally disabled (although shockingly good at problem solving when the story required it) young man in a town infested by brain-eating slugs.  (Did I mention it was campy?)  Also, as it turns out, I'm kind of in love with Neil Patrick Harris.  Another episode had Malcolm from Firefly (aka Captain Tight-Pants.)

Now, I have a few issues with it, mainly, to be honest, regarding how they portray scientific research.  Somehow, the nation is plagued by mad scientists who make giant strides in knowledge without any supporting research at all.  I can handle pseudoscience, but this is a bit ridiculous.  Plus, it always seems to go wrong in a completely predictable way.  (Unless it goes right, which does happen occasionally.)

On a side-note, 90s fashion and standards of beauty were HILARIOUS.

Belated Lollapalooza Blog: Day 1

So my original plan was to write about my Lollapalooza experiences every night after the festival. Well, we can see how well that went, considering how it ended three days ago.

So anyway, Lollapalooza. This year turned out to be a testament to how some music lends itself to live performances much better than other music.

12:00 - I show up at the gates. Big mistake, considering how this is exactly when the music begins and everybody and their mother is lining up to get into the park. While I'm in line, I put on my first coat of sunscreen and discover that Banana Boat makes my eyes burn like a bitch.
1:00 - I finally get into the festival and make my way over to Rogue Wave. Lesson #1: pleasant indie pop does not lend itself to particularly exciting live shows. Especially when the next stage over is three times as loud as you and makes life really distracting.
1:45 - I give up on Rogue Wave and head over to The Go! Team. By this point I've lost my shirt and put on my second coat of sunscreen. My eyes burn even more and my lips start to kick in too.
2:15 - The Go! Team starts and I decide that I totally need to own a pair of rainbow knee socks, and maybe then I'll learn to rap and sound like a spastic cheerleader at the same time.
3ish - Laura and Mike have showed up and we head over to see the Kills. Then I learn that minimalist blues-punk really doesn't lend itself to live shows. Laura and Mike give up after 15 minutes, and I stay just long enough to hear No Wow, which was the only redeeming part of their performance. Whatever, I still love them.
4ish - I wander around for a while and manage to catch Duffy singing "Mercy." I think I was too quick to judge her, I think she has some genuine talent. That voice still gets on my nerves, though.
5:15 - CAT POWER!!! I would consider going straight for Chan Marshall. However, I feel a little sorry for her because her voice sounds like it's a hairsbreadth away from giving out. You don't wanna end up like Janis Joplin, girl. I don't know if it's smoking or overuse or what, but be careful. Oh well, it sounds awesome regardless.
6:15-7:00 - I think this is when I ate? Who knows, it's all kind of a blur.
7:00 - CSS. Now, I enjoy them quite a bit. However, let's face it. The lead singer is batshit crazy, and can't sing anything near in tune. If she took some lessons, and learned to stay away from spandex bodysuits, they might be awesome.
8:00 - Radiohead. *Snore*. Sure, I can appreciate them, but...I'm not in love. I can handle Thom Yorke's voice for about 10 minutes before it starts putting me to sleep. I seem to remember I spent most of this time sitting on Laura's blanket and talking.
9:30ish - We caught the six home and I stated about 4 times that I was showering first thing when I got home. Well, two rum-and-cokes later, I gave up on that idea and passed the hell out. All in all, it was a good first day. And I didn't get sunburned!!!