Quit Your Day Job

Stargate Universe: Earth – human resources disasters – oh and there are spoilers

Lee — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 11:35:39 +0000

I thought to myself, even if this episode is a weak filler like every single episode since the second one I’m going to keep with it, I’m sure at some stage or the other the show will become interesting and live up to some of the promise made in the pilot.

But the I accidental saw some of the one line descriptions of upcoming episodes and a prominent keyword in each of those is ‘flashback’. So I really don’t know if I can do this any more, I mean I’m not even disappointed anymore, I expect the next episode to be crap and frankly they are fulfilling that expectation.

So the other week we highlighted the stupid and exploitative scene where the nerds used a keno to check out the officer with the large breasts (honestly it is so annoying that this is all I’ve got to describe this character – the writers REALLY suck). A guy I work with had a really good point about the scene, the way that Young as the commanding officer handled it, rather than create a non sexist working environment and making sure that the two idiots knew that the behaviour would not be accepted he took on a boys will be boys kind of attitude and let it slide.

It doesn’t surprise me then, when we get to the episode ‘Earth’ so named because the writers are trying to be cool with their episode titles that the characters including Young act in such a morally reprehensible and inappropriate fashion with the borrowed bodies on Earth.

I’m sorry I know it is just a story device but to take someone else’s body and then go and have sex with someone!?!?!? You don’t know anything about that person, what if they have a disease, what if the person you are having sex with has a disease!?! I can’t even articulate the level of inappropriateness of this!

I thought it was bad enough using their bodies to go out drinking, what if they were alcoholics? Or have a condition? What if they just get drunk and fall down?? It’s so stupid.

It’s bad writing.

What did we learn this week?

Jack O’Neal looks bloody terrible!
Jack O’Neal sounds bloody terrible!
Jack O’Neal looks and sounds like he doesn’t want to be there, I know how he feels.
Oh cool the guy from 24 is there… OMG is this a crossover!?!?! Could Jack Bauer be on soon!!!
No it is not a 24 crossover.
You know what this show needs more of? Talking.
Not.
You know what else this show needs more of? Communication stones.
NOT.
Apparently they DO need some HR directives for people to follow… or BETTER WRITERS!!!
When someone you work with visits your mother apparently it’s not weird at all and they’ll make cookies!?!?!?
There is WAY too much back story in these characters maybe we could have some current story??
Young has become THAT GUY, you know, the awful ex.
Lou Diamond Phillips’ character is just an unpleasant to watch jerk, I thought the Wraith were lame but sheesh.
Oh look, they went to a club in Stargate… how much did that cost, maybe next time we don’t go to the expense of building a club set and filling it and we hire better writers.
I think Eli was driving a Porche? I could be wrong, it doesn’t make any sense… oh that’s right worst writing ever.
I really enjoy the Eli and Young Big Brother show.
NOT!!

Seriously does anyone think this show is really good? Better than SG1, hell better than Atlantis?? Because they cancelled Atlantis to produce this lame crap.

Robocop was a student once

Lee — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:25:53 +0000

What can I honestly say about this!?

I mean obviously the words Awesome and Bloody Marvellous come to mind, but it also raises some questions not the least of which is why isn’t Robocop trying to sell me stuff in Australia!?!?

It’s OK to desperately crave noodles at the end of the ad!

PS I know about the crispy chicken things that Robocop tries to sell us in that other ad!

V is shiny awesomeness – a spoiler free gush fest

Lee — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 09:07:49 +0000

I really wanted to love Stargate Universe.

I really did.

I may still yet.

But it burnt me, there was a hole in my heart for a weekly science fiction show that would make me want to rush out and buy a watercooler, fill out the required forms to get permission to install it in my office, position it in a strategic point not too far from my desk but not too close that if my phone rang I would have to leave the water cooler area to go answer it and then discuss this golden science fiction show at the watercooler.

I just watched the first episode of V.

Perhaps I can love again?

Because the first episode of V did more in terms of things happening and characters being developed than SGU has done all season.

The show is tight, and there are a lot of characters for us to get across but none seem to be ignored in this first episode. By the end of the episode they have established the show and set it up to head off into must-watch-television-land. The cast is really good, and I will note that Scott Wolf is a real asset to the show rather than as I expected a bit of a drag (I have no idea why I don’t generally like him, none at all, maybe it was a vicious rumour that I told myself).

As Anna the Visitor supreme commander Morena Baccarin is perfect, she has captured that reptilian leader that Diana was in the original series but dare I say it, better.

The look and feel of the show is really great as well, if I was asked I’d actually say it was bloody marvellous. Everything has a consistent visitor feel to it, and watch out for the nod to the original series when you see some Visitor writing on a screen (oh look a little geekgasm). There are of course other elements from the original series that are handled so well in an exciting way especially in the characters.

I’m already in love with the show, all it needs to do is keep up the good work.

Mystic Ninja in Sharpies

Lee — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 23:00:53 +0000

I will admit that Mystic Ninja was actually one of my least favourite of the characters that I created for the Goodies and Baddies card set. I don’t know what it was, I probably just couldn’t put a back story to the character (they were all created specifically without back stories so people could personally work them out for themselves). Quite a few people commented to me that he was their favourite so I didn’t feel so bad about him after all. But since I am writing a graphic novel at the moment featuring these characters I had to flesh them out in my own mind.

I finally worked out Mystic Ninja.

Essentially he is a ninja that became so expert in the physical arts of ninja that he eventually transcended into the magical realms. Literally the fight is over with him before it begins.

His elevation to this godlike existence has however detached him from our plane of existence and he is only tethered here by his natural form.

I wanted him to feel a little more badass so I threw together a thought piece – I’m assuming that skull was someone who just engaged him in combat:

Goodies and Baddies trading card set: Baddies

The podcast is back and we’re making fun of the talking Iron Man toy

Lee — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:39 +0000

It’s been a while since the last season of the Quit Your Day Job podcasts but they are finally back:

This is the Iron Man figurine in question, looks bloody marvellous but sounds otherwise:

Movember details

Visit Dan at All That Comes With It

Visit Karen at Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum

Check out my progress and donate at my Movember page!

Comic book treasure at the second hand shop

Lee — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:53:38 +0000

A couple of weeks back Tracey and I went to do a little second hand store shopping and unearthed some real bargains. We actually only even went in because there was a privacy screen in the window that Tracey spotted and she’s been after one for ages.

Whilst in there I couldn’t resist going down to the book section even though I already own my fair share of books! Now I’ll give you comic book and science fiction geeks a bit of a tip, in second hand book stores and general second hand stores always check out the children’s section, a lot of science fiction makes it’s way into that section as well of course as comic books!

The first find I made were some Buffy the Vampire Slayer trade paperback novels each for $1.50!!! These things are minimum $15 in your local comic book shop and the books are in perfect condition, I got:

Ring of Fire
Crash Test Demons
The Remaining Sunlight
Uninvited Guests

So frankly at this stage I was pretty happy and would have walked away satisfied but then I found a pile of King Classics comic books from 1978 in perfect condition for 50c each! I picked up:

Lawrence of Arabia
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
Don Quixote of La Mancha
Ivanhoe
The Black Arrow
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court
The Last of the Mohicans
Swiss Family Robinson
Around the World in Eighty Days
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Davy Crockett
Moby Dick
A Christmas Carol
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
The Three Musketeers
Great Expectations
Treasure Island
The Prince and the Pauper
Robinson Crusoe
The Gold Bug
Gulliver’s Travels

And as I said these comics are all in pristine condition, I could easily turn them around for a profit on eBay but at this stage I’ll be hanging on to them (and reading them of course). So check out your local second hand stores because there is gold to be found!

Just to recap, we have twenty-one over thirty-year-old comic books for $10.50 and four trade paperbacks for $6.

So have you found any gems in your local second hand shops?

Five great moustaches from popular culture

Lee — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 01:11:29 +0000

With this being the first day in Movember I thought it might be cool to have a look a five truly great moustaches from popular culture.

5. The Stranger – The Big Lebowski

The mysterious cowboy narrator played by Sam Elliot who has pretty much one of the most impressive moustaches in Hollywood. I mean really has a man’s face ever demanded a moustache more? I suspect it has it’s own trailer on set and a separate contract for appearances.

4. Doctor Strange

I keep intending on reading the original Doctor Strange comics, it’s on my list because apart from the impressive handle bar moustache I don’t quite get the character yet he’s been going strong for years. He’s a master of the occult, or is that ‘the’ master of the occult? And for mighty Marvel magic cross overs he is the go-to guy.

When he first started out (technically a villain named Dr Strange was the first appearance… oh sorry forgot the comic book geek alert) he had the pencil moustache like Tony Stark or Clark Gable’s but it developed into either a full handle bar moustache or a hybrid pencil handle bar moustache depending upon the artist. Of course today he has succumb to public pressure and grown the goatee despite the handle bar moustache being sported quite proudly by men such as Nick Cave.

3. Lando Calrissian

I have no idea why Lando is so damn cool, it must be something to do with the moustache. I mean the guy betrays everyone’s favourite character yet still doesn’t get his arms ripped off by a Wookie and is given the chance to redeem himself. I know that they were thinking ‘Damn he could have tipped us off but sheesh that moustache is neat so lets trust him’.

Of course his costume is pretty sweet too, it serves to enhance the moustache and not overwhelm it… OK I’m going to stop staring at Lando’s picture now and grow my manly moustache.

2. Tony Stark

You want to know what slowed up the production of the Mark II Iron Man armour, Stark was trying to work out a way so people could still see his impressive Clark Gable pencil moustache and protect his identity as well. Obviously even his brilliant mind couldn’t work out the problems and ultimately he let the idea go. Safe in the knowledge that when he did remove the helmet that his rocking moustache would still be there.

Of course being a trend setter Stark adapted his moustache throughout the years to reflect the times but unlike Dr Strange (who secretly was copying Stark’s facial hair) Tony didn’t go the handle bar, knowing it was more manly to go the Magnum PI.

Then something horrible happened.

Tony abandoned the moustache and grew it into a goatee?!? (which of course Strange copied…)

1. Magnum PI

The gold class of moustaches, untouched by changes in style, a consistent winner.

So remember that I’m growing a Magnum PI Mo for Movember and I’m looking for donations to go to really great cause, men’s health which often gets overlooked.

You can follow my progress over at http://au.movember.com/mospace/204841/ or go directly to the donation page and throw my mo growing endeavour some cash!

Stargate Universe: Water – Just like The Abyss except less water and not really very good

Lee — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:10:45 +0000

So last week I commented that you all might be thinking that I don’t really like Stargate: Universe and may not be giving it much of a fair go and I wanted you all to know that this wasn’t the case.

Well this week I’m not 100% sure.

This week I was really bored.

This week I can’t wait for next week’s premiere of the remake of V.

This week I could barely care if SGU is even on next week.

This week the characters were all unlikeable, boring and I really could care less.

What did we learn this week?

When you are spying on people it makes you feel like a spy… so stupid
The dust storm alien was just a dust storm alien and was just drawn to water… think of a completely unlikeable group of tribbles
That the close ups on the kissing and the sound effects are icky… oh and poor-man’s-River/Chloe is icky too
Rush doesn’t like women in command… he probably doesn’t like men in command either… I wonder how he feels on dust cloud aliens in command?
That the bald trouble making jerk from last week has a name
We can fit two pop geek culture references into one episode
That the red shirts are very poorly trained in dealing with the unknown despite working for SGC. Why would he shoot at a swirling cloud – I’m glad it killed Gorman - screw him and his hatred of dust clouds
Rush actually said some home truths and Eli should man up.
Greer’s hobbies include origami, collecting Bon Jovi stuff and making flame throwers…
It would be cool if those ancient suits had rockets in them… they don’t.
New jerk of the week is science type guy who is worried about his civil liberties
Even without flashbacks an episode can suck
Chloe was worried that if Scott died she would have to go to the trouble of taking her standard 15 minutes to shack up with some other guy
We can probably confirm that Young said ‘lotta work’ last week in his mumble’athon because this week he said clearly “Damn, he’s a lotta work” about Rush.
Why would the commander go to Hoth????? Dumbest command decision for this week.
Three people stuck in a hole worked for Stargate Atlantis – this week on SGU it was one guy stuck in a cold hole… yawn.

So what did you learn this week from Stargate Universe? Star Trek Voyager isn’t looking quite so crap now is it!?

Bringing back the Magnum PI Mo for men’s health!

Lee — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:29:32 +0000

So I finally committed to it and I am now growing a moustache this year for Movember. Now I’m not just growing any old moustache to help raise awareness and funds for men’s health – specifically prostate cancer and depression in men. No I am growing the ultimate in manly man moustaches:

The Magnum PI Mo

That’s right I am taking on the challenge for one month to go from:

to this:

So why is this so important that I would take my usual Miami Vice Stubble to Magnum PI Mo?*

You see what a lot of people don’t realise is that close to 3,000 men die of prostate cancer each year in Australia alone and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetime – many of whom don’t seek help. I’ve had my own brushes with men’s health issues, so that and those facts have convinced me that I should get involved and I am hoping that you will support me.

To sponsor my Mo, you can either:

Click this link http://au.movember.com/mospace/204841/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
Write a cheque payable to ‘Movember Foundation’, referencing my Registration Number 204841 and mailing it to: Movember Foundation, PO Box 292, Prahran, VIC, 3181

Remember, all donations over $2 are tax deductible (in Australia).

Movember is now in its sixth year and, to date, has achieved some pretty amazing results by working alongside The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCFA) and beyondblue: the national depression initiative. Check out further details at: http://au.movemberfoundation.com/research-and-programs.

If you are interested in following the progress of my Mo, click herehttp://au.movember.com/mospace/204841/. Also, http://au.movember.com has heaps of useful information. I’ll also be keeping everyone up to date via my Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and of course here at QYDJ!

Thank you guys!! Any support you can give will make my day!!!!

* I have no idea why 80’s television rules my facial hair!!??

They either have a great sense of humour or they are sticking it to us

Lee — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:05:02 +0000

Over the years I’ve seen some weird product tie-ins to films and wondered what the thinking behind them, especially figurines and statues. I’m having some trouble thinking of one now and I’m sure someone in the comments can suggest some (the ridiculous Mary Jane washing Spider-Man’s clothes does comes to mind).

Now funny enough from the same company Sideshow Collectibles we have the new Indiana Jones collectible figurine with nuclear explosion proof refrigerator accessory.

I’m the last person to judge what some one else considers to be a collectible, if you’re really into something then you’ll possibly buy anything associated with it. But of all the scenes to choose to make a collectible out of?!

It’s like salt in the wounds, the only way it could get worse is the Mutt swinging through the trees diorama or motion activated gophers that hum the Indiana Jones theme music.

I mean don’t get me wrong I can’t fault the company for bringing these out, just look at what else they released:

Awesome.