If I can only persuade you to buy 10 albums...

If I can only persuade you to buy 10 albums that you probably DON'T already own, then let it be these (in order from the best):

1. "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" by Brian Eno & David Byrne
2. "the Ocean Blue" by the Ocean Blue
3. "the Best of Simple Minds (remastered)" by Simple Minds
4. "Apollo" by Brian Eno
5. "Shooting Rubberbands at the Stars" by Edie Brickell & New Bohemians
6. "a Clockwork Orange" film soundtrack by Wendy/Walter Carlos
7. "So" by Peter Gabriel
8. "Remain in Light" by Talking Heads
9. "Rogha", "Clannad in Concert" or "the Best of Clannad" by Clannad
10. "the Flat Earth" by Thomas Dolby

My Top 10 Favourite Superhero Characters of All Time

Let me preface by saying that this list only applies to 'heroes' and not 'villains'.

Also, as a kid I subscribed to "the Micronauts", "Spider-Man", "the Fantastic Four", "the Avengers" and "the X-Men".


This list is also in order from my most favoured:

1. the Micronauts
2. the Vision (from Marvel's Avengers)
3. Dr. Henry "Hank" Pym (aka Ant-Man, Giant-Man, Goliath and Yellow Jacket)
4. Nightcrawler
5. the Green Lantern
6. the Fantastic Four (in order the Invisible Woman, Dr. Reed Richards, the Human Torch and the Thing)
7. Iron Man
8. Jean Grey (aka Marvel Girl & Phoenix)
9. Aquaman
10. Storm

Surprising omissions you may notice from this list are not only Spider-Man - but the Batman, Superman and Wolverine. I loved Spider-Man as a kid (like I said I subscribed to the comic) and I have always felt that he and the Batman have BY FAR the best "rogue's gallery" in the genre. I just didn't feel that he could make the top 10 in this case. Also, even though I loved the X-Men, I never really got into Wolverine until I was older (and the very same can be said for the Batman). I liked Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Storm and underdogs like Angel and Banshee. As for Superman, well he was always just a bit 'over the top' for me. I also used to watch "the Superfriends" and was drawn to Aquaman as the underdog character for the same reason.

TOP 5 FREE or OPEN SOURCE APPLICATIONS

1. UBUNTU (OS):  A Linux flavour that is easy to experiment with, includes a number of features right out of "the box" and makes it simple to locate additional applications to expand upon it.  It can also breathe life into an outdated PC or a inexpensive netbook.
2. DIGSBY/TRILLIAN or PIDGIN/ADIUM (IM):  All three clients (Adium is basically the same as Pidgin for Mac OS) are brilliant in some ways, but flawed in others.  Read my earlier post on comparing their features.  In a nutshell Pidgin/Adium is open source, cross-platform and is best for JUST IM - as it connects to virtually every conceivable protocol out there.  Digsby & Trillian are more limited to just the primary networks but also do email notifications, Facebook feeds, Twitter feeds (Digsby has a whole embedded client for Twitter), MySpace feeds (Digsby only) and LinkedIn notifications (again, Digsby only).  Digsby is still currently Windows only however, while Trillian is cross-platform a a bit prettier.  Both attempt to install junk-ware upon installation for funding, so check closely and untick any appropriate boxes.
3. VLC + DOUBLETWIST (media player): The lauded VLC Player can supposedly play ANY media file out there - audio or video, while doubleTwist serves as a brilliant alternative to Apple's iTunes and it's monopolistic grip.  doubleTwist includes such features as the Amazon MP3 store which is nearly as large as iTunes and usually with cheaper DRM-free pricing, a great Podcast search engine and touts itself as "iTunes for Android" - but it is also for nearly every other MP3 player and mobile phone, including iPods themselves!  There is also Songbird out there which was once a Mozilla project. This means it is of course open source and customizable with extensions as well, but it's features and gadget compatibilities are somewhat lacking behind doubleTwist.  I'm not so sure it is as well supported anymore as Firefox, Seamonkey, Camino and Thunderbird.
4. FIREFOX or GOOGLE CHROME (browsers): I have found my configuration of Firefox to be faster, sleeker and to take up less "screen real estate" than Google Chrome, but others swear by Chrome's speed and Firefox's bloated sluggishness or instability.  I believe that they comparing the clean version of Chrome to a Firefox that they have been using for years and jam packed with themes, add-ons and extensions to create an unfair assessment, but that's neither here nor there as both browsers are very well designed and brilliant.  I use them both interchangeably.  There are glitches and failings with Chrome that still annoy me (like certain pages don't render in it, Ad-Block doesn't really work with it as well as with Firefox, no native "Bookmarks" drop down menu button, no "Print" button?!?, no "Print Preview" at all?!? and you can't tile it in Windows) - but the sandboxing of tabs to prevent one page from crashing your entire browser and the amazing security of it's code are very impressive.
5. THUNDERBIRD + LIGHTNING  (PIM): If you don't have or use the FULL Microsoft Office version of Outlook and are stuck with the crappy "Outlook Express" or God help you "Entourage" then you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not using Mozilla's Thunderbird as your email client.  When you add in the Sunbird calendar extension called "Lightning" you will have a full featured PIM just like with Office Outlook!  Speaking of which, just like with Firefox, you can add extensions and themes to Thunderbird to expand and customize it's capabilities too!

the State Attorneys' Generals Going on a Craig's List Witch Hunt

The recent news regarding the States' Attorney Generals going on a witch hunt after Craigslist for it's "adult" (aka prostitution) listings has been so absurd I almost didn't see any need to comment, but it is truly getting me riled up now!

1)  Once again - prostitution, just like with marijuana and most drugs, has no business being banned or illegal whatsoever.  The government has NO right to tell us what we can and can't do with our own property, bodies and business - so long as we don't endanger anyone else (and there are already laws regarding that).

2)   Craigslist is nothing more than the online version of any newspaper or magazine's classified ads.  So to single them out is unfair.

3)  As for the argument regarding women (or men) that have been raped, attacked and killed while prostituting - I refer to #1  They should be fully aware of the dangers they place themselves in not unlike miners, soldiers, commercial fishermen, construction workers, etc.  They take that risk for the chance at easy money and it is still safer than being out on the streets or working for some pimp that beats them.  Also, as mentioned with point #1, there are laws already on the books regarding assault, battery, rape and murder in any case.

4)  At a time when jurisdictions are whining and crying like babies that they are sooo strapped for cash and must cut back on education, social services, police, fire & rescue, etc. - couldn't resources be focused on REAL crime (as in murder, robbery/burglary, rape, etc.)? 

5)  Let's be clear here.  This has nothing to do with morality, protecting women or anything of the sort.  It's simply a political stunt to gain points and say "Look what I did to clean the city up!  Now vote for me again so I can be a career politician!"  ...as said politician hypocritically customs prostitutes and engages in adultery behind closed doors.

http://infoworld.com/d/adventures-in-it/craigslist-state-attorneys-censor-744

An Education for MODERN Conservatives:

The original "Tea Baggers" and American Revolutionaries rightfully fought against Imperialists that sought to rob the people with outrageous taxes in order to fill their coffers and fund their lifestyle, wars, etc.

This, however, has nothing to do with the more Liberal Democratic (or even Socialist, but NOT extreme Communist) notion of improving one's nation for the benefit of all... and our society in general!

This is why I am not so much against Conservationism as I am the modern-day far-right Republican ideology, which seeks to embrace the VERY SAME crimes that historical, traditional Republicans/Conservatives fought so hard AGAINST!

When the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer - all the while the hardest working classes doing the most important jobs are still earning the least - you will ultimately end up with a revolution. Just like with France, just like with the American Colonies, just like with the UK's Global Empire, just like with the Russian Czars... it's only a matter of time before something gives.

TEN RULES TO LIVE BY:

1. If they advertise on TV during the daytime Monday - Friday it's a scam.

2. If you hear a politician or lawyer speaking they are lying.

3. If you hear a priest, preacher, minister, cleric, rabbi, imam, cardinal, pope, scientologist, etc. speaking they are full of shit.

4. Breathe lots of oxygen, drink lots of water, stay mentally & physically active and eat multi-coloured vegetables, 100% whole grains, the odd lean protein and citrus fruit.

5. If it feels too good, hurts too much or has the same negative result over and over again then don't do it.

6. Chances are your grandmother was right. Even if she seems crazy.

7. Speaking of your grandparents - if they wouldn't recognize the ingredients on the label then it's NOT food.

8. Murphy's Law, Moore's Law, Death and Taxes are all a constant given.

9. Emotions, both good and bad, are there to tell us something... listen.

10. The true path to joy is to bring it to others. The true path to bliss is to do what you love. Give & Love.

 

 

Top 10+ Classic Doctor Who Serials

For those that have only recently gotten into “Doctor Who” with the New Series (2004 – present) I thought I should create a list of the best classic Doctor Who stories, starting with one from each of the first 7 Doctors from that era, plus the 8th Doctor’s one-off appearance:

1) the Pilot / an Unearthly Child – 1963

2) Tomb of the Cybermen – 1967

3) Inferno – 1970

4) Genesis of the Daleks – 1974

5) Caves of Androzani (arguably the BEST filmed story of all!) – 1984

6) Vengeance on Varos – 1985

7) Curse of Fenric – 1989

8) the 1996 BBC/FOX telemovie introducing the one-off 8th Doctor

9) the Five Doctors (which was really ‘the Four Doctors’ as Tom Baker, the 4th, refused to take part so soon after leaving his STILL unsurpassed 7 year stint in the role on screen and so footage was used from the incomplete Douglas Adams story “Shada”. Also, the deceased William Hartnell was brilliantly replaced by look-a-like Richard Hurndall as the 1st Doctor) – 1983

10) the Daleks aka the Dead Planet (introduces the Daleks) – 1963


In addition there is:

“the Dalek Invasion of Earth” (long serial with extensive London shots + Susan leaves her ‘grandfather’) – 1964

“the Time Meddler” (first time the Doctor encounters another of his kind on screen, besides Susan) – 1965

“Terror of the Autons” (introduces the Master) – 1971

“The Dæmons” – 1971

“Frontier in Space” (a space opera with Daleks, Draconians, UNIT, Ogrons and the final appearance of the 1st Master/Robert Delgado on screen) – 1973

“the Three Doctors” (also introduces Omega) – 1973

“the Time Warrior” (introduces the Sontarans, first mention of Gallifrey by name) – 1973

“Pyramids of Mars” – 1975

“The Brain of Morbius” – 1976

“the Talons of Weng Chiang” – 1977

“City of Death” (if you like more humour in your sci-fi) – 1979

“Black Orchid” (only purely historical story since 1967′s “the Highlanders”) – 1982

“Earthshock” (return of the Cybermen after 8 years + the shocking ending) – 1982

“the King’s Demons” (odd scheme for the Master, but still well done) – 1983

“Mark of the Rani” (introduces the Rani + has the Master) – 1985

“Silver Nemesis” (modern day Nazis + Cybermen + a Baroque Villainess that seems to know more about the enigmatic Doctor than we do) – 1988

…and pretty much ANY story written by the brilliant Robert Holmes, Douglas Adams (“the Pirate Planet” & “Shada”), Terry Nation or Terrence Dicks.

The unlost, true ‘regeneration stories’ from the original series (basically only 10) are typically pretty bad with the exception of the epic serial “the War Games”, the mid-trilogy “Logopolis” and the near perfect “Caves of Androzani”. Such scripts often play second fiddle to the actual event of the Doctor being reborn again, but they are all still fairly important ones.