A little birdie told me...

So, here's what I find interesting about Twitter. Some people have a fairly constant tone, and some don't. Weird, right? But here's the thing. Tone is VERY hard to sell over the interwebs. You don't get tone from writing, for the most part, unless the writing is "voice-y," as some say. Some, of course, being me. Anyway, there are those, like me, that just post bits and pieces over twitter. An observation, a plea for assistance, a quick response to someone else. Just little things. And then there are those that seem to use Twitter as a means to get their shit out into the world. These are the people, whom, I suspect, are just overflowing with ideas, and can't quite contain them in a single day. People like Rainn Wilson and Mindy Kaling--the obvious choices, to be sure--but people who post several times a day, alerting the world to the stuff going on in their heads. I think it's awesome. I wish I had that much stuff going on in my head. But even these two have a tone. Rainn's (we're close now) tweets are often funny and quirky, and usually interactive in some way, either responding to or pinging someone. Mindy's tweets are similar, but cuter, not necessarily girlier, but cuter, and you can often hear her voice saying them. They're more spoken word, perhaps.

Michael Sheen likes to keep his fans in the loop, so to speak, and posts pictures regularly of where he is and what he's doing. This fan enjoys it immensely. Nathan Fillion recently regaled fellow twitterers with grammar lessons and mini-travelogues from Europe. And my friend Kim uses her twitter feed for good, and not evil by bringing people together to help each other out, as well as entertaining us all with regular tweets about how challenging kids can be.

Me? I haven't found a voice yet, as I said. I just post bits and baubles. I think between this blog, Facebook, and Twitter, I might be worded out. But it's still a fascinating thing. I mean, there's currently a movement on Twitter to show support for the Iranian elections by giving your icon a green overlay. That demonstrates just one aspect of Twitter's impact. In 10 years, we'll stop saying things like "The world is getting smaller every day," because it won't even make any sense. 10 years! Think of where we were 10 years ago!

But you should come and play with us. Here's something that surprised me. George Stephanopoulos used his whole last name in his Twitter username. People, your username sucks up characters in your tweets! Crazy! Why not go with Gsteph? He lost a lot of real estate with that choice.

Captain of my own destiny

So, I've been trying to come up with a way to make better use of my unemployment time, because it's excessive. So, I've been trying to learn to edit, which I find fairly boring, but a necessary tool that may become more interesting the better I get. I'd like to say I've been doing lots of other things, but really, I haven't. I have, however, been thinking through a project I've always wanted to do, but couldn't figure out how to get it off the ground. But now, I think I've got it, and I might, if I'm able to pull all the pieces together, debut something right here in this very space in the coming weeks. That's a lot of ifs, right? Well, I'm lazy, and getting this up and running will force me to depend on others, who may or may not be lazy, too. But we'll see, right?

So, stay tuned to this space for further developments. Otherwise, go about your business.

In other news, I'm considering signing up for extra work again. This was one of the jobs I had back when I first moved here. It wasn't terribly lucrative then, and I was like 40lbs lighter, and 10 years younger, so I can only imagine how useless I'd be now, but it's easy money, and a fantastic time suck. I'm definitely of the opinion that it's better to do something, rather than sit around doing nothing, and should I stumble across a real job at any point, extra work would be VERY easy to walk away from.

Also, I'd like to swing the focus back onto my diverse voiceover career. You know, the one that never happened? Man, all these great careers that never fell into my lap. My cup runneth over.

This rambly post has been brought to you by Friday. Friday: Heralding the weekend to everyone, including those who don't observe them.

Seriously?

I actually saw this a few days ago, but am just now getting around to sharing. Because of all those OTHER things I do, y'know.

I was at the bookstore. I love the bookstore. All those books, just waiting to be read! I can browse at the bookstore for hours. I love to wander up and down the aisles, and make notations to my list of books to read. Yes, I keep a list. Shut up. Anyway, I got to the area where they have the clearance books, which is really my favorite section, as a cheap bastard. I turned the corner to head up the next aisle, and found a whole FAMILY camped out in the aisle. Like, they'd hit the brakes on the stroller, gotten out a small blanket, and were seated on the floor, playing with the baby, and looking at books. And to this I have just one thing to say. SERIOUSLY? This is ok now? To just hijack an aisle where other people might want to be? In a public place that's not a park? How is this ok? What is it with people? IT'S NOT OK. I stared at them for like a full minute, and then finally had to walk down the last aisle to get to the other side of this one, and then stepped over their crap to get to a book I wanted to look at. And, of course, I got a dirty look for coming near their baby. Dude. Your baby is on the FLOOR OF A BOOKSTORE. I'm the bad influence? Seriously? I later saw this family all packed up, heading down the ESCALATOR with their stroller. Sigh. I guess if you're going to have bad manners, have them at all times, by all means.

Honestly, though. What is it with people? How can you not realize that there are OTHER PEOPLE on the planet? And that maybe, it might be nice if you gave them a moment's consideration before you park your ass on the floor, where others MIGHT want to be. Is it the sense of entitlement? People just don't learn manners? WHAT? I must know. Perhaps we can combat it if we know.

In completely unrelated news, I had drinks last night with a friend that I hardly ever see, but whose company I always enjoy. Why don't I do this more often? The very same day, I had a conversation with another friend I rarely see, and we actually asked this of each other. Yes, she has two kids now, but I'm unemployed. I could go see her. Why don't we get together more often? And so I ask you, lone reader, how do you keep in touch with friends? Email? Facebook? Harangue them until they agree to see you? I think a combination of the above might do the trick, but who knows? It's a strange modern world we live in.

Also, as it turns out, I REALLY ENJOY $5 drinks.

There's a blog post in here somewhere.

So, I’ve been reading a bunch of TV reviews lately of all the season finales, and it’s inspired me. I once thought I’d be a fantastic TV reviewer. I mean, I watch a metric ton of TV, right? What else is there? Well, there’s more, as it turns out. You have to be a critical viewer. Not as in “that sucked," but more of “well, that’s not really working, and here’s why.” And, well, I don’t do that. I’m just not often paying that close attention. As I slowly make my way through the stuff recorded in the past week and a half by my TiVo while I was away, I can tell you that both Lost and House were very interesting, and that Bones was lame. If I put some thought into it, I could even tell you a little bit about why. But mostly, what I would come up with is that Lost and House were cool and twisty, and Bones was not. And that’s all I’ve got! Very subjective, and not constructive at all.

I do watch a lot of TV, and consider myself a bit of a model viewer, so long as your show is to my taste. Reality TV, for the most part, is not. I deal with real people all day. I refuse to subject myself to them in the evening, especially when they’re doing something I envy, and want to do myself, like dancing or singing. I also don’t watch much half-hour stuff, though I don’t think of all of it as bad. It’s just not as compelling to me, for some reason. But honestly, if your show is up my alley, you can slip almost anything by me. It has to be a truly egregious error for me to notice. I put up with Alias long after any sane person should have. Buffy, too. I could go on and on. You could stamp an expiration date on a show, and give it a vague, moldy flavor, and I would still be there, so long as I once enjoyed it. It takes a tremendous effort to get me to move on. I left ER only after they finally annihilated Mark Green, but came back to see Rocket take on the helicopter not once, but twice. I don’t have what one might call a discerning palate. I am weak and shallow and watched Xena: Warrior Princess from start to finish. Oh, foreign-produced action shows, how I (for the most part) love you.

But reading reviews of these shows just fascinates me. These people catch SO MANY things I miss. It’s amazing. I’m so glad I read this stuff before I tried to apply for a job doing it! I would have been tremendously embarrassed after turning in my first review that would have said, and I quote, “It was really cool. And that dude is a really good actor. I enjoyed it.”

So, anyway, the shows I mentioned. I do have a few opinions. House is starting to be a problem for me. Talk about procedural. How many times in one ep can he be wrong before he’s right? The average is 3, but they sometimes push it out to 5 or 6. Can he really give up the vicodin (or oxycontin, is it now?) and be less of an ass? I don’t think so. Can we contrive of a way to have Cutthroat Bitch back on next season? I hope so. Kutner as well. There was a good chance he was far more interesting than 13, but we’ll never know now, will we. She, btw, is painfully dull. I don’t even think of her as that pretty. Maybe you have to be into girls. But honestly, the dullness of the character kills any level of attractiveness for me. I just want her and her wee problems off the screen. But, I do have to know what happens after House gets out of the hospital, so I’ll be back next season, at least in the beginning.

Bones, that was just sad. I don’t even have that much to say. I don’t CARE what these people are like inside Booth’s coma. I loathe the character of his brother, even though I’m supposed to have a soft spot for the Roswell guy. It’s such an obvious way to nail home the whole “Booth is a father figure” thing without resorting to his son. Please stop beating the dead horse, show. The only tidbit I got was when Jared and Seely got in a fight, and Jared told Seely to grow up. Is that a hint of how Booth sees himself? Not sure. Anyway, the rest of the season was fun, so I’ll be back, but this was a craptastic way to deliver a promise without actually delivering. There’s a phrase for this, but it’s not polite, and I am.

If you’re keeping track, I believe that’s 3 promises of hookups by the end of the season, and 0 for actual delivery. Chuck, Bones, and House. Though Chuck’s is actual, I’m not sure the making out counts enough. You know what I mean. Did I miss anyone? That puts both the death and sex count pretty low this year. Interesting.

And Lost? I just don’t have much to say here, either. Others have said it far better, so I’ll just leave you with a couple comments. I thought it was going to be Jacob in the box, and not Locke. I think it was totally bizarre for Juliet to back Jack. Jack’s still a tool. Sawyer is FAR more compelling as a grownup than as a petulant adolescent, which is what Kate makes him. I’m really tired of Sun’s WTF look, and hope she gets more to do next season. And I think Jacob was probably a very interesting character, and now he’s gone, because Ben didn’t think for himself, which I thought was also out of character.

That’s all I’ve really sat through so far. So much more to view! Better get to it, and stop whining about what I’ve already seen!

I just thought you guys should know...

On Friday, at 9 AM, someone else came to have a look at the bathroom fan. I think it has it's own fanpage on Facebook now or something. But the manager brought two more people over (with no warning, yet again, I might add) to have a look at the fan. When she knocked, and I asked who it was, she said that they needed to look at the smoke detector. I have now figured out that's what she always says, so I will no longer be suprised. When I opened the door, the apologized, and asked to see the Magical Hydraulic Technicolor Dreamfan, as I think it should now be called.

I think we're up to a grand total of 5 people in 2 and a half months, just to have a look at the fan. And just to remind you, THIS IS A FAN I WILL NEVER USE.

Pet peeve

Ok, when did this national travesty happen? Why are two words suddenly becoming one? Nevermind? Nevermind? That's not a word! It's never and mind. Two words. TWO WORDS. Just like high school. Also two words. Not highschool. It's high, and school. Two separate words denoting two separate concepts.

I know I sound like a crotchety old fuddy duddy complaining about the "kids" and their "grammar" these days. But honestly. Is it so hard? Hard to hit that space bar? Your thumb is already hovering over it. Just hit it. Drop your thumb down just a hair, and it's done. So easy. I'm not a big fan of the netspeak, either, but I can understand it's use when tweeting. However, seeing that netspeak crap in a professional email? Grow up. Use your words, smartypants. I used to have a coworker at the old company who would do this. No capitals, no punctuation, no nothing. Just a stream of words. It's like getting an email from ee cummings. That's almost too easy a call to make, but still.

In a modern world of computers filled with spellchecks and auto-correct, there is absolutely no reason to be making these errors. Yes, the auto-correct bugs the crap out of me, and I've considered turning it off, but only because it's judgy. The auto-correct often does not approve of foul language, especially on the iPhone. No, I didn't mean "shot," iPhone. I'm pretty sure I typed it right the first time. But, if you shut your auto-correct off because it's correcting you ALL THE TIME, chances are you REALLY need it. Perhaps so that you don't burn the eyes out of your potential audience. It just wants to help you. It loves you, and doesn't want you to look like an idiot to your coworkers/friends/internet buddies/potential love interests, or any combination of the preceding.

Perhaps this is harsh to you. Perhaps you're all "but what does it rilly matter? u no what i mean!!!1!1!!!" And I say to you that I, like all old people before me, fear for the future of this planet. No one really likes ee cumming's poems, after all. They're just fun to read in junior high (also two words) when nothing's more awesome than an adult rebel. As you grow up, even just a little, to high school, you realize ee cummings is kind of a tool. Dude, it's lame. Break out a comma or a capital letter once in a while if you want people to have a clue. You've made your point. Now turn the damn auto-correct back on.

And get off my lawn.

(This post is in no way meant to truly bash ee cummings. I can't even remember a single poem. But we all know why the guy's really famous, don't we? I don't know. Maybe his poetry was good. Junior high was a REALLY long time ago.)

random

I don't have much to say today. I had lunch with an old friend, one of my oldest friends here in LA, and then came back home, and have really been on the computer ever since. This friend always has good stories about the people we used to work with, and how nutty some of them are, and he's also getting married later in the year, so he had some good stuff to share today.

While I was gone, I assume that my apartment manager came in and "inspected" my apartment, whatever that means. When they showed up yesterday, with no warning, to put in the cover on the light fixture, she also had someone come in and take a look at the kitchen. That guy declared that my range hood needs replacing. I would once again argue that the range itself needs replacing, and not just the hood, but what do I know? It's sort of fascinating to me that they keep insisting on replacing things I don't use. What will be next? The safety features in the guest bedroom? Ooh! The doorbell box in the living room! That hasn't been used in years! By anyone! There's also a giant speaker underneath it, from an old school intercom system. Maybe they'll paint that.

I would have liked to see the inspection. I'm dying to know what they inspected. It's windy out today, so I wonder if they noticed how windy it is in the guest bedroom? I doubt it. I left the door open, so they could see. I'm sure they didn't run the oven, which barely works, or the dishwasher, which also barely works. I also like that they did the inspections in the middle of the day, when most people are working, so no one could complain while they're here. I don't even know who it was that did the inspecting. The city sent inspectors a while back, and then the same guy did a f0llow up a couple weeks ago, so I can't imagine they'd be back. But maybe? Who knows.

In other news, I bought some more books. I know. But I had a coupon! A birthday coupon! It's like not using a gift. I just spoke to a friend of mine that's been unemployed for 4 months now, so it seems I'll have plenty of time to read these books.

Also, I'm about to start on my Final Cut learning odyssey. I suspect it won't go smoothly, but we'll see. New computer should be arriving in a week or so, and once that's set up, I will be ready to go. Sort of. Wish me luck!