2004-04-06

newnumber6: Ghostly being (Default)
2004-04-06 12:39 pm

Shopping Foo

So, went out shopping, as I had to get a birthday present for my Dad (his birthday's Tomorrow). I got him the Two Towers Extended DVD, because I know he'll like it and doesn't have it.
Of course, since I was at Eaton's Centre and right in the vicinity of the World's Biggest Bookstore (and a used bookstore right next to it), I also picked up the following books for myself (and to use up a gift card I got for Xmas):
American Gods, by Neil Gaiman (2002 Hugo and Nebula award winner)
Double Contact, by James White (the last Sector General novel I need to complete them all)
The Vor Game, by Lois McMaster Bujold (1991 Hugo Winner)
Sirius, by Olaf Stapledon (which I've been looking for forever.. a 1944 book about a artificially bred superintelligent dog)
newnumber6: Ghostly being (Default)
2004-04-06 11:36 pm

Reality TV and Porn Wars (no relation)

I've found a reality TV show I must admit I really quite like. Sure, there are a couple that I may, if pressed, shamefully admit that I like, but this one I don't have a problem with it.
It's called Spymaster and here in Canada plays on TLC, Tuesdays at 10pm (and other times) but may be different in the states (I believe our TLC is slightly different than the US one).
Basically it's putting the 'contestants' through a condensed version of real CIA training at the Farm. I just get a kick out the training scenarios, what they go through, what the instructors are looking for, etc. The instructors are all real Special Ops type people. I hope they get more intensive as time goes on, I really want to see how these people behave in training scenarios. Y'know, not just 'here's how you fire a gun', but things like, 'Okay, there's a hostage in this room and you have to get him out'. I think I'm a sucker for those kind of things, because they're like RPGs, but more intense, for higher stakes.

Also, because the War on Terror is apparently wrapped up, they've decided to move on to the next more pressing issue:
The War On Porn
No, not child porn, which is IMHO a perfectly legitimate target, but general over the counter porn. It's a threat to the American way of life, y'know. Good thing I'm in Canada and therefore safe from its evil influence.