I've mentioned Warner Bros' practice of releasing movies in create-dvd-on-demand format before, with a number of interesting minor movies available (ranging from Doc Savage to She to even some failed Gene Roddenberry pilots.

Now, though, they have some new ones for the season, including one that has stuck in my brain because of one song.

Yogi's First Christmas

I remember this movie because it was a musical episode of Yogi, with a number of songs, including the song that introduces the hermit antagonist. (The hermit hates Christmas, you see...) His song begins "I'm mean, sour, nasty and cruel. That's my disposition as a general rule..."

Its not high art and I'm not really tempted to buy it, but its gratifying and amusing to see it come to DVD at last.

One of the many things on my RSS feed is a football column, the Fifth Down, from the NY Times. They have a variety of things to fill the week, but today is "matchup day", when Mike Tanier looks forward to Sunday's games and how the teams stack up.

Imagine my delight, when reading todays column, when I came across this entry:

49ers (4-5) at Packers (5-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Line: Packers by 6 1/2

The college coach Jeff Tedford drew inspiration from Isaac Asimov, programming Aaron Rodgers and others (Trent Dilfer, Joey Harrington, A.J. Feeley) with the Three Rules of Quarterbotics. Rule 1: Always hold the football directly under the chinstrap. Rule 2: Methodically read the defense, dumping to a running back if nothing else is open. Rule 3: Obey Rules 1 and 2 at all costs, even if it means washing out of the N.F.L. Pro scouts grew suspicious of Tedford’s automatons four years ago, opting instead for spread-option freewheelers like Alex Smith.

Rodgers abandoned Asimov for Philip K. Dick: like Roy Batty in “Blade Runner,” he rejected his programming. Rodgers is now the dangerous loose cannon, and Smith (drafted first in the 2005 while Rodgers sweated for the cameras and tumbled to No. 24) is trying to outgun him while chafing against a system that doesn’t maximize his limited talents. Smith found an origami swan in his locker after practice this week. It cannot be a good sign.

Football AND SF. What could be better?!

Via matociquala, some beautiful, almost ethereal, underwater photography:

http://thechive.com/2009/03/underwater-photography-by-zena-holloway-20-photos/

Lovely stuff. I don't think I'd dare bring my camera underwater, even with the right equipment and casing (not until I had a second camera--just in case).

NB: Unemployment has *not* done wonders for my reading time.

Next up is the latest in the Roadside Geology series, in my adopted State no less.

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I've seen this idea somewhere, but I can't tell you for the life of me where. But I am going to create a meme for it and let it loose for you the reader to play with in your blog, in your mind or wherever.

The idea is to reimagine a synopsis of a movie in terms of the other characters played by the actors in the movie. I think I came across this in terms of thinking about some of the high powered casts of Superhero movies, but you really can do this for any range of films.

So, a few examples for you to get started.

SHE
Grand Moff Tarkin explores the African desert, and find a city ruled over by Bond Girl Honey Ryder and her henchman Saruman.

KNIGHT'S TALE
In Medieval France, the Joker, Wash,and Silas the albino monk team up to win jousting tournaments.

INKHEART
Rick O'Connell gets the help of Silas the albino monk in taking on Gollum, who is seeking to bring an even greater evil than he into the world.

AIR FORCE ONE
Now President of the United States, Indiana Jones has a new personal terrorist enemy--none other than Sirius Black, seeking to hijack the titular plane.

A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE
Aragorn, living the life of a restaurant owner, reveals to his wife that he has secret skills in killing people when Major Koning comes calling on the behalf of Aragorn's brother, Inspector Frank Bumstead.

INDEPENDENCE DAY
Agent J, Data, Lone Starr, Jayne Cobb, Lester Marlow and Dr. Ian Malcolm take on aliens invading the Earth on the titular holiday.

I saw 2012 with my friend Felicia today.

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Via starcat_jewel

1) How do you know omorka?

I have not yet met her in person but we have a few Roleplaying friends and acquaintances in common.

2) What made you decide to start reading my journal?

I liked and enjoyed your comments in Omorka's journal.

3) What drew you to Minnesota, and is that why you're still there?

Friends drew me here after my relationship cratered in California. I had to get out of dodge, and Minnesota wound up being my choice. As far as why I am crazy as to remain here, well, it used to be because of stable employment. Now...its more of a dicey proposition.

4) How do you like to spend your leisure time?

Roleplaying, reading, playing computer strategy games. Getting out and doing photography--exploring parks and the world around me.

5) Name 3 favorite: authors; musical artists (living); movies; foods.

Authors:
Liz Williams
Chris Roberson
Jim Butcher

Musical Artists:
Yes
Electric Light Orchestra
The Decemberists

Foods:
Chili (although Texans would disagree)
New York Style Cheesecake
Dark Chocolate

I suppose that would be my favorite album, ever, TIME, by the Electric Light Orchestra.

It's poppy prog rock with a story cycle to it.

Time on Wikipedia

If I had a preference, I'd take the remastered version with the B-sides included.

According to Wikipedia, Lynne only did this and the subsequent two albums because of contractual obligations. That's a pity, because even more than Eldorado (my second favorite ELO album), I think Time does ELO right. And Steve Winwood likes it. How can you go wrong with that?

Where did the years go?

20 years ago, the Berlin Wall fell. This means, now, that more of my life has been spent without the Berlin Wall than it was with that edifice in place.

The Berlin Wall fell as I was beginning college, and making my way in the world. It was an exciting time and I can't imagine it wasn't even more exciting, there. I have a friend who had been to East Germany before the Wall fell.

From his stories, its clear that the adage that "the past is a different country" is definitely true.

And I still need to see the classic movie about the fall of the wall, "Goodbye Lenin!"

I had a major windows crash that necessitated a reinstall of windows.

I probably lost your contact information. Please send me phone numbers, addresses, et cetera if I had it. Please send it to jvstin at gmail.com. Thanks!

Joshua Palmatier, part of a cloud of East Coast/NY authors that I first became aware of thanks to tryslora has posted for free the first six chapters of his first novel, the Skewed Throne. (His fourth novel is coming out next Spring). If for no other reason than to promote good non-urban fantasy (Urban Fantasy, personally, I think is a glut on the market these days), I provide a link so you can try them for yourself. There does seem to be something good in the water up there. I find it interesting how Joshua's work resonates with other authors in that cloud of writers.

As for me, unemployed, I DO have to finish reading the series (I've read Skewed) if I can find them in the local library...

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18114-giant-crack-in-africa-formed-in-just-days.html?DCMP=OTC-rss&nsref=online-news

A crack in the Earth's crust – which could be the forerunner to a new ocean – ripped open in just days in 2005, a new study suggests. The opening, located in the Afar region of Ethiopia, presents a unique opportunity for geologists to study how mid-ocean ridges form.

it's possible that this crack will enlarge and grow over the next few million years, and be the basis for the formation of a new ocean someday. Or, the rift could fail, since there are plenty of failed rifts scattered across the world. The Mississippi river runs through such a rift. There is also one that forms the Lake Superior basin. And others.

The indefatigable Jo Walton (herself an author of merit in her own right) has been blogging about favored novels on Tor.com (And really, you are missing out if you aren't subscribed to the feed).

Anyway, today, she talks about one of my favorites, Piper's Kalvan of Otherwhen. Pennsylvania Trooper Calvin Morrison gets accidentally shunted sidewise in time to another world where he really can be a hero thanks to his knowledge of gunpowder.

Walton makes excellent points about how a few things, culturally, don't work in modern sensibilities, but the rollicking story, narrative and characters (including a princess who is no wilting flower--I just love Rylla too) make the story a classic.

The Complete Paratime (Ace Science Fiction)

And its still in print on Amazon, so you don't even need to work that hard to find it.

In addition to it being Guy Fawkes Day in Great Britain (Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November), it is also Step Up! Day in Second Life for those of us who are concerned about Content Creation Theft.

We've got events going on all day in Second Life to raise awareness about this. So come and check out the Blog for more information!

To Whom it may concern

In the modern workforce world, there are things that are central, that matter, that are true. These are the things that make a company succeed in a cutthroat state, regional, national and international environment.
Attention to the little and large details that make a difference in a company's bottom line is essential. The necessity of Good Service: be it service to outside Customers, inside Customers, or even simply to other departments within an organization, cannot be overstated or underestimated. We all have to get along in this world to get along.
This world is also becoming ever more complex, and employees who can handle, or even relish tackling that complexity, even as it continually changes, is a must.

With my attention to detail, familiarity with complex and changing information, and strong customer service skills, I can help you succeed in that world. You can help me succeed in my career goals. Let's work together.

Sincerely,
Paul Weimer

I've neglected my blog and livejournal lately, especially after my unemployment. Let's have some photographic action goodness, just like I do on Twitter and FB. This is one of tbe bluffs in the North Dakota Badlands, taken in June 2009

Here is a base ordinary picture...



Here's what it looks like under false color infrared.



Here is what it looks like under monochrome infrared



And here is what it looks like when run through photoshop



-----

My next book is another book-for-review deal, the latest Discworld book by the irrepressible Mr. Pratchett...
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Minnesota State Park Map

We here in Minnesota have a pretty good set of State Parks. No, they aren't "National Park" class parks (although Minnesota has two NPs, a couple of Monuments and a Waterway too).

It usually costs $5 for a resident to visit a park for a day.

However, Minnesota's DNR has an insane deal: A year pass costs $25.

I have such a year pass and this year have really used it.

This year, I have visited 18 of Minnesota's State Parks:

Grand Portage
Judge Magney
Cascade River (twice)
Temperance River (twice)
Tettegouche
Split Rock Lighthouse
Gooseberry Falls (several times)
Jay Cooke (several times)
Scenic
Itasca
Mille Lacs (twice)
Father Hennepin
Banning
Interstate (several times)
William O'Brien
Fort Snelling
Minneopa
Forestville Mystery Cave


It turns out that out of the 7600 items I have uploaded on Flickr, 1500 of them I have tagged as being in a state park. I think a few of these might be state parks elsewhere, but the vast, vast majority are Minnesota.

All of my Flickr State Park photos

If the weather holds, I will visit my 19th State park of the year, Frontenac, tomorrow to get one last glimpse at fall color.

And some of these parks can be pretty in the winter, too...

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/10/sign_the_social_contract.html

As I have mentioned before, Roger Ebert blogs about things other than movies. Here, he talks about the Social Contract, and provides an emotional argument for Health Care reform.

The fallacy of the free enterprise argument is that there is a faith that corporations are motivated to bring about the public good. Corporations are motivated to maximize profits for shareholders. That is the primary mission of all corporate executives, and they retain their jobs by placing the bottom line and the stock price above all else.

And I love, in the comments his idea of the "argumentum ad Moorum"--when you drag Michael Moore into an argument, you've already lost (sort of like Godwin's Law). The argumentum ad Cubaum is also another good point in the comments. Dragging Cuba into an argument is also an automatic argument-loser.