The Ramblings of a Random Freak

Yup, Big Bang Theory, those goofy awesome nerdy folk -- and a big part of what makes me giggle on a monday night… the video is an excellent selection of opening sequences from the show, which mostly verge on brilliant.

I totally didn’t realize that Belarus has a ripoff version called “The Theorists” that’s, well… hard to understand from the perspective of an English speaker… but one thing is for sure -- the theme song for Big Bang Theory is WAY better. You can judge for yourself -- the next video is the theme from “The Theorists”, and the one following is the one from Big Bang Theory

It all started with a Big Bang…. BANG! (so much catchier)

yeah yeah… it’s a band…

I heard one of those “Stand up to the broadcasters” commercials from Shaw Cable.

stand up to who?

basic story is this: Broadcasters in Canada want Cable providers to pay a fee to carry their programming (shock, awe, et cetera)

The cable companies are saying it’s not fair, because if they have to pay, then they have to pass the cost on to their subscribers. Seems fair, right?

Except, despite the fact that they currently get that programming for FREE… they already charge their subscribers to receive it.

This is the crux of the argument the broadcasters have made – if YOU are going to charge for something we give away for free, you should share in the profits you’re making doing so. Why should we get nothing for profits you make off of us?

say you design something, and provide it for non-commercial use for free… does that mean you have to give it to those using those products commercially for free as well?

Nope.

That is exactly the argument in this case.

Maybe the cable providers should get the product for free – but in that case, they should also provide it for free, since it isn’t costing them anything, seeing as it uses the same infrastructure that they use to provide programming that they pay for.

It seems, to me, to be a slam dunk kinda case.

Of course, the cable companies don’t want you to look at it that way – they like making profits off of something that they don’t pay for – can’t say I blame them – but don’t believe for a second that they would have to charge more if they paid, since they already do charge more.

Again, if you charge for something someone else makes, whoever made it should get a share in the profits.

Small scale example – if I give you a cup of coffee free, and you sell it for 5 bucks… what is my incentive to give you another cup of coffee? I mean… I’m out a cup of coffee… and you have 5 bucks… so give me a buck, and I’ll give you another cup, which you can turn around and sell for 5 bucks (supplier/distributor model)

So, just on a whim I decided to start watching the show Stargate SG1 – not sure how many people have seen it or know about it, but it puts a really interesting spin on the history of earth, and the pyramids.

Pretty quick synopsis… thousands of years ago, a space faring race with access to a wormhole technology tried to enslave earth, but failed. During the period of enslavement (ancient egypt), the long lived parasitical beings took humans as slaves, from earth to many other worlds.

The Stargate teams explore different worlds, and come across these different human civilizations, which have evolved from their beginnings along different paths.

They also run into actual aliens, but there is more of an emphasis on the humans, and the evil enslaving race, who because of their long lives and technological powers were viewed as gods (mostly Egyptian)

Anyways, a couple weeks ago I decided to start watching this series, and well… I’m shocked and amazed I didn’t find it when it first came out – it’s actually rather brilliant, and a heck of a lot of funny… It also sheds a lot of light on the stupidity of our governments, and exactly how short sighted we, as humans, tend to be. Are we really THAT stupid?

If you have any doubts about it, you probably are (99.999% chance anyways).

My sleep issues are pretty well documented (insomnia times terrible, x10)… but oddly enough, I’ve been sleeping pretty well the last few weeks

After I picked up a bottle of melatonin… it’s an insanely wonderful substance that has done wonders for my sleeping cycle

after 3 or 4 weeks of taking it, I can honestly say it’s one of the most amazing things I’ve ever encountered – and it works beautifully. For anyone with a sleeping problem, between 1 and 5mg per night of melatonin will likely solve the problem. At the very least, it’s worth a try (unless you’re pregnant… in which case, well… just read the label before you buy it)

So in my well rested, feeling more alive state of being, I’ve had a few (minor) realizations…

no… she isn’t worth waiting for.

yes… lift is good already.

investing in rejection is just plain stupid, so I’m cutting my losses.

and I’ve resolved to do a little self employment on the side for a while… tech services, computers (building, maintainance and networking) and a little graphic design. Not starting today, but in the new year.

and since this seems to be a rather random entry, I had a flashback to the 80′s over the last week or so!

Started with the TV Miniseries “V”, followed by the TV Miniseries “V – The Final Battle”, and now I’m watching “V – The Series” – my suspicions were quite right – the original series did it much, much better. There is the whole… graphics and such are cheesy and poorly done, but it was a very long time ago, and for a TV series, they did an amazing job… But what really sets it apart from the new series is how well they wrote it.

They spent time on buildup, they teased, but didn’t give away… and then BAM! she swallowed a rodent

and the rest is history.

If you haven’t, watch the mini series (both of them) before the new show, and you’ll see exactly what I mean… and the cheese effects and acting are good for some laughs too.

Been an a bit of a TV overdose lately – watched 4 seasons of How I Met Your Mother, working on Fringe right now…

How I met your mother has had me in stitches since episode one – now that I have to wait a week between episodes, it’s a little frustrating though (happy the fat NPH thing didn’t last *shudders*)

And Fringe, while weird, is watchable and actually very good when you start from the beginning

Killing time… Going for breakfast at 8, then sleep… I love my sleep

Other TV series to pay attention to?

Stargate Universe
Being Erica
House (duh!)
Glee
Lie to Me
Big Bang Theory
Dexter
Californication
Chuck (coming back in January)

Any suggestions?

There are a couple things I really, really didn’t like about the premiere of the new sci-fi series, V

First, they introduced the reptilian thing WAY too soon – if you’ve seen the original mini-series, the follow up mini-series, or the actual series that followed, they used suspense and didn’t reveal the nature of the “Beast” for several hours into the series… yeah, there’s still a lot they haven’t revealed, but they went in FAR too quickly, and skipped a lot of the suspense leading to discovery. They also skipped some crucial character development – the mini-series to series way allowed immense character development, so you knew and loved the characters before they let the cat out of the bag.

Secondly, the application of a nickname the day the aliens arrive… I’m sorry, but when they call themselves the Visitors (we’re visiting!) and they get nicknamed the V’s immediately? Poor choice… things like that happen, but the first day?

I got the feeling they were doing too much, too fast – like the guy who finishes 10 seconds into the first time with a new person, and just giggles and thinks it was great for everyone…

The second episode was better… maybe because the first crammed 6 hours worth of build up into 40 minutes, and now they can move forward at a less frantic, reckless pace, but that first episode?

It REALLY should have been at least a 6 hour mini-series.