I really can't think of a witty title for this...

So, TLC has decided to just on the success that A&E is having with their show on hoarders. They aired a show last night on extreme hoarders.*
The first person on the show is an ex-military guy, which was kind of weird and just goes to show you that anyone can have this disorder. The second person was a woman who has Fibromyalgia.
My heart sank a bit when she said that, because I'm reasonably sure I can see where this is going to head in the Fibro communities.
OCD's are a touchy subject in the Fibro community. A large amount of the people with Fibro have an anxiety disorder of some kind. Sometimes they are generalized anxiety disorders, sometimes they even manifest as eating disorders, but most of the time they are OCD disorders. Mild ones, but still there.
People with Fibro often have so many other problems that the anxiety disorders go untreated. Sometimes you get a doctor that will give you a drug that will combat it, but not always. Assuming you found a doctor that believes you in the first place. We try hard to appear normal, and act normal, because for years we have been known as crazy women (and men). Fibro isn't real, you're faking, it's not that bad, and so on.
For years we have been fighting that label of "crazy women". This program really didn't help. Look at the crazy hoarder woman, she has Fibro. I wonder if my co-worker/friend/sibling/etc. is crazy too. So thanks TLC, for both giving us more exposure and putting the cause back. I'm not sure if I'm happy about it or sad, that now if I tell someone I have Fibro they will think of a crazy hoarder woman down south who hid stuff she picked up in the trash in her bushes so her husband didn't know she had it.


*Hoarders are people with a complex OCD that manifests itself in them buying and then keeping objects that they do not need but retain a connection to. Because of the connection they often times can not let go of their collections. Extreme hoarders are just that, they have so many things in their houses and on their property that it is no longer safe. Just an FYI.

I slept with Tiger Woods

Dear media:
You can not underestimate how much I do not care about who Tiger Woods slept with. My interest level with Tiger Woods has always been pretty low, and at the moment you are now treading deep into irritation territory. I am sure there are people out there who care if his wife was taken to the hospital last night, I am not one of them. This should not be your lead story (hint: the huge storm could be your lead story. Just an idea).
Dear media, leave the guy alone. Yeah, he probably cheated with everyone with the proper parts and a pulse. Whatever, I really don't care. I feel kind of sorry for his family who now have this being splashed all over the world.
Dear media, knock it off and get on to real news, hmm?
Love,
Me.

Alice, or watch the purists heads pop off

When you come into my house one of the first things you notice (after you notice the shitloads of books. I collect books, so there are, quite literally, shitloads of them) is the Alice in Wonderland stuff.
I am a very big fan of the Alice books. I wrote papers on the books in college (how the stories themselves changed children's literature from the "good kids all die" model of the Victorain era to a more liberal and fun model, and how the poetry was part of a cutting and funny social commentary that runs through the books. Yeah, I'm a geek, stop staring). I collect editions of the book itself. I have collectables, playing cards, tarot cards, pictures, and all manner of other items Alice related scattered through the house.
So, you might imagine I was excited when I found out they were "re-imaging" the stories on SyFy.
I was.
So far it's a little dark, has many of the same characters, it's set 150 years in the future, and is pretty fun. But somewhere off in the distance I can hear Alice purists (the Alice in Wonderland version of the people who freak right the hell out over the Harry Potter movies being different from the books) screaming. Why? Because Alice should be left alone, it was perfect the way it was, etc.
Honestly, if it gets people interested in the story then awesome! We can always use more people reading. And Alice is a book that carries well into adulthood. It's wonderfully disturbing, which is one of the reasons why I won't read it to the kiddo yet.
Now all this may change by tomorrow after I've seen the second part (after all, Tim Man kind of fell apart at the end, so this one might too), but if it does at least generate some interest in a story I love very much, the more power to SyFy.
And expect a post like this one when Tim Burton's movie comes out next year. But with more fangirl screaming. Because Depp as the Hatter is just too perfect.

I watch cartoons after my kid goes to bed...

Yeah, I admit it, I do. Mainly I watch Phineas and Ferb on Disney, because it is funny as hell. It is one of the few kids cartoons that really is made for adults too (The Fairly Oddparents is another. It is the only current cartoon that referenced the death of Archduke Ferdinand. If you don't know why that is important go back to school). Phineas and Ferb has referenced the trend of LOL Cats, mentioned Bastille Day, makes fun of the whole super villain/secret spy genre, and is also goofy enough to keep the attention of a little kid.
Essentially I keep looking for a replacement for the Bugs Bunny cartoons, which were sharp and intelligent while also being slapstick and goofy. They were good viewing for kids and adults. Lots of the really great cartoons out there that are knows for being intelligent aren't so hot for 4 year olds to watch (i.e. The Simpsons, which remains #2 on my list of favorite cartoons, right after Bugs).
I wish they made more cartoons like Phineas and Ferb and the Fairly Oddparents. If anyone knows any other kid appropriate cartoons like them, please let me know. I'm always on the look out for something other than Spongebob, even if it does have Clancy Brown in it.

Dear BBC America

Umm, well, let's get the bad new out of the way first. First Primeval, now Torchwood. I want to see a new mini series, season, or special out of RTD for Torchwood ASAP. And I don't want to hear about Barrowman's other obligations. Drag his ass into the studio.
Good news is, Planet of the Dead kicked ass. That was brilliant. And was the perfect end to a weekend completely spoiled by Torchwood's finale. I would love to see Christina again, I am in love with her.
Love,
Me

In other news, I finally saw Watchmen. It was... OK. I liked the comic better, but it was beautiful. Of course it was the same director as 300, which would be why. He can make a mean movie.

Dear RTD,

FUCK. YOU.
So help me god, fuck you.
Bring Ianto back right now.

Love,
Me.

Yeah, Torchwood Day Four made me cry. Bastards.

Torchwood Day Three Spoilers

*Spoilers**

**And yet again, spoilers**

Not bad. I am in love with Jack's daughter, she seems very capable. And it looks like she got her father's instinct for survival.
If Gwen climbs up on her moral high horse about Jack, I will probably throw up. She is so intolerable, I hate her sometimes. Heart of Torchwood my ass.
And boy, these aren't the Doctor's aliens are they? I can't imagine how he would react to something like the 456. Though, it would probably be kind of funny to watch.
I'm really glad these are being played every night, because I can not wait to see what happens next.

Dear BBC America

You really don't need to blur out Jack's butt on Torchwood. For one thing, there are some people who are watching just for that. And also, his butt is hardly the most racy thing on that show.
I would imagine anyone here in the US who might have been offended by his ass wouldn't have still been watching after his and Ianto's kiss.
KTNXBIE!
Me

Percy Jackson and Torchwood

So they are making the first Percy Jackson book into a movie. The casting looks spectacular, though a little odd at points. The funny little thing I am running into is that if they make the second book into a movie they will have to cast someone as one of the goddesses I worship. I haven't run into the problem before. All in all though, I'm pretty excited about the movie. I got all goose pimples when I saw the preview.
And speaking of goose pimples, Torchwood started last night. Brilliant and ended on a major cliff hanger. I was so upset, until I remembered it continues tonight. Whew! But it is quite good, better than I thought. Can't wait to see how it ends.

Friday Randomness

It's time for the return of Friday Randomness!!

A co-worker walked in on a really strange conversation I was having with a salesman the other day. We're both avid gardeners, and both dealing with the similar PA soil situation. In short, we have clay. So we were discussing effective and inexpensive ways to make the soil workable without simply carting in top soil. Apparently most people don't know about the term loam, because we did get a look. Gardening rookies.

BBC America had a sneak peak of the new Torchwood mini series. Wow, looking good guys. I love that Jack and Ianto are such a cute couple. Yeah, couple.

Michael Jackson is still in the damn news. I'm going to say it now, and hopefully never again: I. Do. Not. Care. Not at all. Not one wit. Stop talking about it. Christ.

The Daily Show's recent bit on Obama's healthcare plan and the panic surrounding it was fantastic. It was on the July 15th show, and if you get a chance go ahead and watch it.

TV Time!

It's been a while since I've been excited about TV, but BBC America is running a Doctor Who month. They ran the Christmas special, which was wonderful.
Next up is the Tirchwood mini series. I imagine that my brother and I will end up doing for that what we did for the Doctor, he'll call the day after to find out what happened. I swear he should just stop his hike to watch the series, it's only going to be 5 nights.
Then comes the next Doctor Who special. Yay!!
Of course Primeval is playing throughout.
I am in geek heaven, people. Seriously.
And that doesn't even take into account that Harry Potter comes out next week.

Ooo, did you see it last night?!?

Jon and Kate are getting a divorce!
God, it's like watching a train wreck.
No, not the divorce, who cares about that? The media coverage of it. Christ.

News of the World

So there is so much going on in the news that little things are getting lost. Such as...

- Today is Juneteenth, or Freedom Day. And it celebrates the end of slavery in the US. I had no idea until someone wrote it on the whiteboard here at work.

- On Monday Jon and Kate will make a "major announcement" on their show. This is news to me in the fact that they are local (they live a county over), and they are really bugging the crap out of me. I used to watch their show, the octuplets are the same age as the kiddo so I liked seeing another family going through what I was going through, times 8. Now I can't sit through a show. I read someone who said that they watch the show to make sure the kids come out alive in the end, and I think that sums it up.

- Glenn Beck is doing some kind of comedy thing. There is a fantastic review of it here.

- I have found a new blog, and I am in love. The Unrepentant Old Hippie. It's snarky goodness. And it is joining the blog roll.

I know I'm forgetting stuff, though, this has been a strange week.

Randomness!

Yay! Time for Randomness!

I watched Discovery's Men vs. Wild last night, which was Bear taking Will Farrell out into the wilds of Sweden. I love both those guys, and enjoyed the show quite a bit. I really loved that Bear couldn't tell when Will was joking, he took everything seriously, which was awesome! And totally something I would do! Heh.

My brother left this morning on his Great Walk (it gained proper noun status about a week ago). He'll be hiking the Pacific Coast Trail. What's funny is that California is so broke that they are closing parks, such as those along the trail. My brother is thrilled, because that means he doesn't need back woods passes to hike the trail (so the rangers know you are in the park).

The new Twilight movie hasn't even been released yet and I am tired of hearing about it. I'm thrilled that people are reading, I really really am, but couldn't they read something...better? Teenage girls? Allow me to introduce you to Artemis Fowl (also applies to teenage boys). Or Percy Jackson, both of which are series that feature extremely strong and compassionate female main characters who same the day. Wonderful role models. Or the Series of Unfortunate Events, which is chock full of strong women. Seriously, the women in Twilight are sociopathic. Christ, don't emulate them.

That is all for randomness.

Friday Randomness

I watched part of the National Spelling Bee last night. Those kids were so intense! I was a little afraid for them when they got eliminated. I mean, they did fantastic, and should be proud. I hope they are all proud of themselves, everyone did better than I ever could.

I'm about half way through the second season of The Tudors. Even knowing how this season ends (spoiler alert: badly for Queen Anne. Heh) I am captivated by the story. I have always loved Anne Boylen. While we will never know how much of her rise was due to her family's political ambitions and how much was because of her own ambition to rise above her station, hers is still a compelling story.

I'm really excited about Wil Wheaton's upcoming book. And reading his posts about writing it is just making me more excited about it.

Why on earth do people insist on calling new positions in government that were created to oversee and coordinate things "czar"? Do they not know what a czar is? Man that really bugs me.

What you may not be watching

On TV. Tonight is "Better off Ted", which is quirky and funny and probably getting canceled soon, so catch a peak while you still can.
On Tuesdays is "Deadliest Catch". If my office is any indication not all of you may be watching this nail biter on the Discovery Channel. Last season was very good, and this season looks to be just as good. I'm always happy to spend Tuesday night with the Hansen brothers and thank my lucky stars I don't have to work with them.
If you like baking cakes you might not be watching the "Food Network Challenge" series "Last Cake Standing". A mix of Survior and standard competition that is a bit of a departure from their usual food porn (I like making cakes and so I LOVE this series, and have favorites among the chefs because I know their work).

I think it's about time that I admit I'm watching Hero's for Sylar and his amazing scene stealing eyebrows.