Rants about ridiculous things. Raves about amazing stuff. Random crap about life.

Merry Christmas from the Voyager Crew

Just having a little fun with my favorite Voyager characters. Snatch ‘em up and use as avatars wherever you wish, but please do not hotlink! Click on each image for a 300×300 version.

Original Voyager images are from TrekCore and background starscapes are from NASA.

Enjoy!

Addendum, 12/21: A few of our favorite aliens and semi-regulars on the show, just for the fun of it.

Some thoughts on Starving Secrets, a new show on eating disorders

I just finished watching Starving Secrets, a new show on Lifetime about eating disorders featuring Tracey Gold. Because of my own experience with an eating disorder, I am drawn to shows like this. I am also hypercritical of them. My verdict on this one: I’m reeeeaaaaallly not sure if I like this show or not. I don’t feel comfortable judging the show based on only one episode, but for better or worse, some things did grab my attention. Like every other eating disorder show out there, it got some things right and others not so much (in my humble opinion, of course).

The good:

  • First and foremost, awareness of the existence of eating disorders is important. Yes, they’re real, and no, they don’t happen only to rich white girls and/or celebrities. The people on this show could be anyone: you, your sister, your neighbor, your co-worker. It’s important to stress that.
  • The overall focus is on treatment, as it should be. The show does demonstrate eating disordered behavior to show just how desperately in need the clients need treatment, but I can forgive that because unlike a lot of series, this one shows the ups and downs of treatment. The show does strive for a happy ending, and I sincerely hope that the clients weren’t sugar-coating things for the camera. Their conversations sounded sincere, so I hope I’m not being fooled.

Side point: I know firsthand just how difficult the adjustment to life after treatment is. The humdrum of day-to-day life without an eating disorder isn’t easy. In fact, it might be just as hard or even harder than treatment itself. It’s incredibly rare for a TV or movie program to jump into this aspect of recovery from an eating disorder, and I consider that a shame. Just because it doesn’t translate into onscreen drama doesn’t mean that some serious upheavals are being conquered. I would love it if more shows delved into this beyond a status update at the very end.

The bad:

  • “Labeling” the girls as anorexic or bulimic at the start of the show had me fuming. Nevermind that in the midst of their disorders, people with eating disorders feel their identity is that of the disorder — but that’s not who they really are! Don’t validate that! They are people suffering from anorexia or bulimia. Please note the difference.
  • The show eventually revealed the weight of the girl suffering from anorexia and not the girl suffering from bulimia. In my opinion, you reveal everybody’s weight or none at all; you don’t just show the extremely low weights for the shock value. The real stunning truth about weight and eating disorders is that people of all weights can suffer from eating disorders, and they are destructive at any weight.
  • The overdramatic voiceovers that frequently stated just how sick these girls were and how badly they needed treatment drove me crazy. Visually, it’s pretty obvious they desperately need help. Yes, it’s pretty clear this behavior is destructive and the people we are watching will die if they don’t stop. You don’t need to tell me for the third time. Doing so smacked of corny TV movies on the subject.
  • Besides being the token “I’ve been there and done that” spokesperson for eating disorders, I’m not completely sure what Tracey Gold’s role is on this show. Toward the end, it seemed to me that she was the hero that “saved” these girls’ lives. While that’s all well and good, and that might have actually been the case (in part, at least — what about the treatment team?), we didn’t see her doing much beyond asking questions and checking on the girls’ progress in the final cut, so it kind of pissed me off that she was being portrayed that way. If she’s motivating these girls to enter treatment and stay in it, I want to see her in way more action than what we got!

Did anyone else watch? Thoughts?

My life’s true ambition is revealed

My friend Kyrsten kindly invited me to guest post on her blog, The Stifled Artist. Her blog is about all things creative, so for this post, delving into my reawakened love for writing fiction was perfect. Writing fiction has been my escape from reading news all day, five days a week, in recent months. It’s also been a process of revelation: I always knew what I wanted to do with my life, but I didn’t pursue it. You’ll have to read my post at Kyrsten’s blog to find out what it was, why I didn’t follow through with my plans, and why I’m thinking of pursuing it again.

Spock is Not Impressed

Tumblr is full of useless shit. It’s an oversaturation of animated .gifs, Photoshopped images, “reblog if…” memes, screencaps from various shows and “keep calm” images that have been reblogged so many fucking times you’ve seen them five times – and you’re following only five people.

That’s what I love about Tumblr. It may be useless, but it’s fun as hell.

A new favorite of mine is Spock Is Not Impressed. People take images from things such as historical events, action scenes, ridiculous things, etc., and superimpose the unimpressed Vulcan in. It’s briliant. I have shamelessly wasted my free time and made a few. Enjoy. Click on the images for a full-sized version.

Spock is not impressed by daredevil stunts.

 

Silhouettes practicing karate at sunset do not impress Spock.

 

Not impressed by the Miracle on Ice. He must’ve been rooting for the commies.

 

Spock is not impressed by Snookie. Nor should anyone.

 

A 720 with a twist? That’s nothing when you have Vulcan-level strength. Spock is not impressed by extreme sports.

If you wanna make your own, here’s what you need: Spock with legs or Spock without. Then submit them to the Spock is Not Impressed Tumblr blog, and/or your own. Now knock yourselves out and waste some precious time. :)

TV Rave: NTSF: SD: SUV

Yeah, the dialogue is corny. Yes, the characters are stereotypes. Yes, it’s over-the-top. That’s the point. NTSF: SD: SUV  is the best stupid show out there, hands-down.

If you didn’t already gather from the title, NTSF: SD: SUV is a parody of crime shows like Law and Order and CSI. You needn’t worry if you don’t watch crime dramas — you’ll still understand the mockery. If you are a fan, you’ll still laugh. And, like most shows on Adult Swim, the program is only 15 minutes per episode, keeping the story moving at a breakneck pace. Boredom is not an option.

The show boasts an excellent cast of well-knowns. Series creator Paul Scheer plays Trent Hauser, the show’s main character. Rebecca Romijn plays Jessie, the sexy scientist. Martin Starr plays Sam, whom I remember from his Freaks and Geeks days. And my personal favorite, Kate Mulgrew, steals the show with lines like these:

It’s time to get drunk and get freaky. Who’s with me?

(In bed) You were good…but I was better. (She lights a pipe)

Somebody call a waaaaaaahbulance, we have a first degree crybaby over here.

I’m going out tonight and I’m going to get laid. Twice!

If none of that entices you, watch it for yourself.

Episode 1: One Cabeza, Two Cabeza, Three Cabeza… Dead!

 

Episode 2: The Birthday Party That Was Neither

 

Episode 3: Exes and Oh-No’s!

 

Want more? Sorry, but the show is only three episodes in. Catch it at 12:15 a.m. Thursdays on Adult Swim (Cartoon Network), or keep tabs on KatyJaneway on YouTube. She’s been uploading episodes a day or two after they have aired and YouTube hasn’t pulled them (yet).

Roundup: New season of Beavis and Butt-Head

For the lucky bastards who were at Comic-Con, none of this is news to you. For the rest of us, things are ever-so-slowly coming out about the new season of Beavis and Butt-Head, set to air sometime this fall. Here’s what I know so far, and if any of this is innacurate, please comment.

  • Beavis and Butt-Head have not aged. The new episodes will take place in present time, but they are still the teenage idiots we know and love.
  • The new season will air on MTV this fall. Dates and times have not yet been announced. No news yet on how many episodes will make up the new season, and if successful, if the series will continue.
  • Not only will Beavis and Butt-Head comment on music videos, but they’ll be watching episodes of Jersey Shore, 16 and Pregnant, UFC Fighting, as well as YouTube videos.
  • We’ll hear a couple of guest voices. See video below for a few more vague details.

And now, the real goodies. First, a sneak peek at one of the new episodes.

Here’s a short interview with Mike Judge via MTV News (beepabeepbeepbeepbeepbeep…you hear it first):
And lastly, clips from the Comic-Con panel! Moderator Johnny Knoxville kicks things off with a couple of brews, asks a few questions, and questions from the audience follow. All in all, a well-rounded mix of Judge’s background, Beavis and Butt-Head themselves, and some tidbits on the new episodes.
I, for one, am STOKED for the new episodes. How about you?

Amazing stuff: TV Edition

“Raves about amazing stuff” has been a part of this site’s slogan since its inception. For no real reason, I haven’t done much raving over the last two years, so I’m changing that starting now with a handful of TV shows I’ve recently become addicted to. I’ll be adding more collections on a number of categories shortly.

How the States Got Their Shapes

Tuesdays, 10/9c, History Channel

Why this show rocks: If you have ever wondered why the states have the borders the do, look no further. This is the show for you. Not only is it educational, but it’s entertaining – and I’m not talking entertaining in an empty, voided way that comes with watching crappy reality TV – this is brain food that will make you laugh as it studies history and culture. With each installment, you’ll come away enriched with facts about the good ol’ US of A and fascinated about how and why past events have shaped this country into what it is today. This could have been a horrific, boring subject for TV, but instead it shines.

Potential drawbacks: This show does embrace stereotypes to an extent. For instance, Utah’s segment had a lot to do with the Mormon population and tied that into how that led to Utah’s statehood. That’s not to say that this program says “everyone from Utah is Mormon,” but if you dislike the stereotypes associated with your state, this might irk you a little bit. Just remember that stereotypes are based, in part, out of truths that become exaggerated over time. I’ll remember this myself when the program discusses Wyoming.

Then again, this show also tears down stereotypes. Did you know that cowboys originated in Florida — and are still there? Me neither. Not all cowboys live in Texas and the more rural states.

Watch this if: you enjoy educational programming and/or want to learn more about the USA.

New episodes are airing now and also available online.

Wipeout

Thursdays, 8/7c, ABC

Why this show rocks: What’s not to love about people biffing it every 5 or 6 seconds on an obstacle course? It’s hilarious every time! If you don’t believe me, watch this show. Even my great-grandmother laughed when she watched it. It’s a perfect hour of TV after a long day when all you want is to zone out and laugh at someone else’s expense.

Drawbacks: Unlike How the States Got Their Shapes, this program is void of any educational value whatsoever. It’s mind-numbing if you’re looking for anything more than a few laughs.

Watch this if: you want to decompress after hard work and/or stress, enjoy pointless TV programs or if you’re looking for a way to kill an hour.

New episodes are airing now and also available online.

Shatner’s Raw Nerve

Mondays, 10/9c, Bio Channel

Why this show rocks: This is a sit-down between William Shatner and his guest of the week talking candidly about the guest’s life, career and/or issues. I know it sounds like a Barbara Walters celebrity interview, but it’s much deeper than that. Regardless of the guest and whether I give a shit about him or her prior, I find myself drawn in when I watch this program. Shatner practically plays therapist, asking open-ended questions that lead into what makes the person in the other chair who he or she really is, and that’s what’s interesting. It’s part biography, part interview, part therapy session, and the result is something worth watching — especially when he’s sitting across from a fellow actor from Star Trek lore. LeVar Burton, Walter Koenig and Scott Bakula all sat down with Shatner last season, and the conversations were, well, fascinating.

Drawbacks: Not everyone’s a fan of watching two people sit down and talk for half an hour — and that’s exactly what this is. Don’t watch if you’re not into that sort of thing.

Watch this if: you’re a Star Trek fan; you’ll see Shatner in a completely different light. Don’t miss this if one of your favorite actors/actresses has been on the show. Or, if you’re simply interested in learning about any of the people on the show, this is for you. It’s like Biography, only more intimate.

The show is currently on hiatus. Some clips are available on the Bio Channel’s website, but not full episodes.

30 for 30

Times vary, ESPN

Why this show rocks: I love documentaries when they are well-done, and this series showcases work from some of the finest documentary makers in the business. Each installment of this series examines an event in sports history that’s happened over the last 30 years. I’ve seen only a handful of  these programs, but I’ve enjoyed each one I’ve watched and plan on catching the rest.

Drawbacks: Non-sports fans might not appreciate this series. Despite the fact that it’s so well-made, it still might not reign you in.

Watch this if: You enjoy sports, documentaries, a well-told story, or all of the above.

The series is complete, but ESPN still airs episodes regularly. You can also watch installments online.

iPhone Ringtone fun

What do you get when you add one standard iPhone ringtone to another? My husband’s new ringtone.

 

For those select few in Vancouver who think setting other people’s shit on fire is cool

Should’ve posted this yesterday, but too bad. Here ya go.

 

What have I been up to? Not much.

In the course of a month, this was my life:

  • My husband graduated
  • I quit a job
  • I was offered a new job, accepted, and started said job
  • We saw System of a Down in Denver. It poured rain almost the entire time (fortunately, we had ponchos)
  • We moved back to Casper
  • I was maid of honor at my sister’s wedding

Whew. That was enough. I’m hoping June will be a little more calm when it comes to quantity of life changes.