New Animals

I like meeting new animals. They end up liking me. Here's how one encounter went recently:

Dog: BARK BARK BARK GROWL.

Me: Hmmm...

Dog: *Sniff sniff sniff*

Me: Yep. Check me for threats. I'm good.

Dog: *licks hand*

Me: *starts petting*

Dog: *looks up, tail wags, loves it*

If only socializing with people was as easy.

Tidbits

In Socialism, the people who say, "I need all this power to do good" are inevitably followed by the people who say, "I need all this power to do whatever I want." If you welcome the former, you will eventually have the latter - and usually sooner than you'd like.

Finn and Poe

I will admit Finn is my favorite of the new humans in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He had actual growth and development in the film. His subplot was the closest the movie came to having an actual coherent story. The actor did a fine job allowing Finn to be human and flawed without being pathetic - and also able to overcome those flaws. Had it focused more on his background as a trooper, the sort of life he'd had to lead, it could have setup contrast with the First Order leaders and Kylo Ren, one who intentionally indulges his flaws.

This is why Poe is such a great foil for Finn, since Poe represents the freedom Finn seeks, as well as the greater morality/satisfaction he didn't find with the First Order. As I've said before: if it'd been Poe and Finn only with no Rey (or Rey with a reduced presence, her back story saved for the sequel), TFA would have been greatly improved.

Bias and Evidence

"I need evidence of your view before I believe it."

"You're just claiming to be skeptical because you haven't been exposed to the evidence!"

"That argument does not constitute the evidence I requested. My point stands."

Recently had this argument. Apparently you don't need to counter with evidence anymore, just say the person is biased and that's why they haven't seen it yet.

Mood Music 8 - Feeling Silly

For this one I thought I'd be a little silly. A list to reflect my playful side.

Tidbits

Thanks to a word problem involving Deadpool, I taught my kids what chimichangas are. Most of them had never heard of them.

Smash Bros. Commentating

Back in early 2016 I had a chance to "commentate" on a Super Smash Bros. tournament. The commentary was streamed live to an online audience. I played the role of the "questioner" - I had the more knowledgeable partner explain things to me and, in turn, the audience.

Highlights of my time as commentator:

1. Audience wanted llamas. I gave then llamas.

2. One asked me to sing her Happy Birthday. I did. She told me it was the only birthday celebration she'd had all day.

3. When I first came on, one viewer exclaimed, "Who's the cutie?!" Took me a bit to realize she meant me.

4. Whenever someone asked, "What game is it?" (as in match of the tournament) I'd reply, "Smash Bros." Got an amusing reaction each time!

Overall, 10/10 would commentate again.

Justin Trudeau

Something about the way Canada's PM, Justin Trudeau, speaks is really creepy. I'm used to Canadian accents, but the way his words come out remind me of the "good veneer masking sinister evil" type villains. I seriously expect him to have ot be taken out by James Bond at some point because he's building a Canadian Ice Ray of Doom.

Tidbits

If a student asks what happened to a classmate who transferred to another class, I laugh evilly and talk about how lovely their blood looks on my wall at home. No one's caught the "I have to keep the wall wet!" JTHM reference yet, sadly.

Story Prompt: A Twist

Story prompt idea: take a question with an obvious answer and create an AU where the answer is a twist.

Examples:
Who's buried in Grant's tomb? An unknown soldier.
What color was Washington's white horse? It wasn't a horse.
What weighs more: a ton of feathers or bricks? Feathers have varying weight thanks to being anti-grav.

And so on.

DC Legends of Tomorrow

Legends of Tomorrow is about Rory stealing a TARDIS from the Time Lords and assembling a team of companions to stop the Master.

But with superheroes.

I like it.

--

"This isn't my first prison break." - Captain Cold, Legends of Tomorrow

It takes so many great characters and keeps what's great about them.

Tidbits

"Hey, America, if you could elect a president who didn't think bombing people was the go-to solution to national security, that'd be nice, okay?"

Asian Immortality

"How old are you?"

"I'm in my 30's."

"Wow. I didn't think you were past 21."

"I'm Asian. We're practically immortal."

Ra-PUN-zels

Which princess shines the best?

Ray-punzel.

Which princess is most proficient with boats?

Row-punzel.

Which princess do you want to go mountain climbing with?

Rappel-zel.

Which princess has the best singing voice?

Do-Rei-punzel.

Which princess drops the sickest rhymes?

Rap-unzel.

Which princess makes the best cowgirl?

Rope-unzel.

Once Upon a Time Reactions Part 8

Season 5 continues. By this point, I was watching the show in real time as it aired, so my reactions were more spaced out.

Season 5 Part 2:

I wonder when OUAT will give us their take on the 3 pigs? I don't remember them mentioned except in passing. And while Ruby is a werewolf, we haven't seen this wolf yet.

Does everyone in OUAT have daddy issues? It seems to be the go to trope for the writers. Maybe THEY all have daddy issues.

Belle and Rumple are back! Yay! What a sweet and touching reunion, just as I predicted. It's good to see Rumple's character moving forward and -

...OH COME ON WRITERS WHAT THE HELL.

About the only good thing about the OUAT Winter Finale: we'll get to meet Hades soon. The sass levels should be amazing.

Greg Germann will be OUAT Hades? Yes, I think he will have sufficient sass. Good casting. (Unlike Merlin, where they royally effed it up.)