Life as an Extreme Sport

Absent

...and everything else, Summer 05, Summer Institute

Well, I’m largely done with the Summer Institute. As usual, I didn’t write here as much as I wanted to. Seemed my voice always got stuck in my throat (or would that be my fingers?). Regardless,…

Anyhow, I’ll get the stuff from the SI up soon (my project, that is). I also need to finish the MHE class, as well as CHID 390. But til school starts again, I’m going to give this a rest, unless something brilliant crosses my mind, or eyes.

See ya Sept 30th, whence once again I shall try to comment daily on the life of a student.

bare

life and living

I found myself in a gesture of familiarity yesterday that amused me, for its reference, and for its casualness – reaching across the office to nudge my officemate with my bare foot, as opposed to using a hand or my voice to get his attention. The reason? He needed to up the volume on Firefly. (Another one succubs and becomes one of us!)

Watching him watch Firefly has been immensely entertaining. We have a routine of watching some show or other together during the week, while working; we’d been going through CSI and CSI: Miami, so Firefly was a fun diversion. He was initially a touch apprehensive, but last night messaged me to tell me how much the theme had grown on him. By this afternoon, even the old west had grown – and that was only by Safe. Can’t wait to hear what he thought of disc three.

It’s fun to watch the show with someone else, and be able to laugh and talk and just share a sense of camaraderie. It’s also nice to drop into a comfort level where nudging with my foot seems a natural thing to do.

to move towards gracious

life and living

I’m feeling very isolated, sheltered, and alone again. I know enough now to realize that this is a sort of typical end of a project/quarter feeling for me, and I’m trying not to let it get to me. But I can’t get over the feeling that it all just goes on out there, extended and distant from me. I seem to be only capable of establishing the most tenuous of connection to people, and unable to nurture them to anything more than that.

Someone called me reserved the other day. It was surprising, but I think accurate. I’m such an odd mix, even to myself and I know me (given that I live with me, and all). On the one hand I am passionate and outgoing, cheerful and I wear my heart on my sleeve. On the other I keep everyone at arms distance, form few (if any) strong friendships, and keep myself isolated and alone.

I have these grand dreams of what I’d like life to be like. I see, in my minds eye, how clean and simple and pretty my home could be. I can see myself graciously entertaining guests with a light dinner, tea and conversation. I have this vision of a peaceful and serene existance, one that is mixed well with school, work, and social. And then I have life, which is so far from that vision that I cannot even see the road to move towards.

I’m sick. I’m tired. I have no energy, no motivation, and no food. (This last has suddenly become a growlingly present concern.) I don’t like being like this, but am stuck in a loop and I don’t see how to break it. I want to be different… but would it even matter? Would anyone even notice?

Atlantis: Condemned

Stargate

Again, Atlantis reuses a plot from SG-1: the team gets trapped with a penal colony; in the original episode, it was a one way gate (that they eventually used manually). This time, the gate is in the middle of an Alcatraz-like island, used as a dumping ground for criminals and a Wraith-offering/feeding ground. The ship is shot down and they’re taken hostage, during which time McKay is told to fix the downed ship or else. (“Who do you think I am, MacGuyver?!”)

The leader of the penal coloney takes McKay on (more David Hewlett airtime!), claiming that he’s a Scotty-figure, claiming he can’t do it so that he can be heroic when he does succeed. He also realizes that McKay is not motivated by personal threat of violence, but of violence on his friends, and thus threatens the lives of everyone else on the ship. (Amusing sidenote: Sheppard’s nickname for Ronan? Chewie. I like.)

The team eventually discovers that the penalty of being sent to the island is such a deterrant that crime rates are too low to keep the island populated for Wraiths. People end up being sent there for the smallest crime.

And whoa, major spoiler that I won’t reveal here, but I did NOT see that coming. The Wraith, however, are terribly interesting. Reptilian and Asian, with a weird Vampire Hunter D quality thanks to the hand-mouth.

So although the major ideas of the plot are recycled, the writers manage to pull an original story out of it anyhow, and one filled with amusing dialogue and character interaction. It’s nice to see Sheppard doing a bit more; although I love the focus on the scientists, this is supposed to also be military. That Sheppard admitted he doesn’t fight because he’s lazy was just precious, and endearing.

I do have one complaint: it appears that they sped up the film when Teyla and Ronan are fighting hand to hand; whatever they did, it’s a visible effect that ended up looking cheesy and not at all good.

Okay, I take that back. Two complains – while I praise SG-1 for its literal morals debate, I have to wonder at the ethics of what the team did, and how the episode ended. I’m not entirely certain I like their sanctioning of the cull.

SG-1: The Powers That Be

Stargate

This episode started off as the rest have, not terribly holding my attention. Yesyes, Mitchell being sassy, Daniel annoyed at Vala, Vala did something stupid and Teal’c just stands around. Four episodes, and it’s already dull. Oh dear – is this what SG-1 is going to be now? Such potential wasted…

…and then suddenly I sat up. It was nearly 25 minutes into the show, but I sat up, and ended up on the edge of the couch, intently ignoring everything else for the television. For Daniel and the Prior. Discussing religion, belief, technology, knowledge. You see, the team has gone to a planet where Vala reigned, imitating a goa’uld. The Prior has arrived, challenging that the Ori are the one true gods. Daniel convinces Vala to admit she’s not a goddess, which doesn’t go over well.

Just because you don’t understand something at first doesn’t mean it’s the magic of the gods.

And then the religious discussion starts. In the middle of Vala’s trial. A fabulous, moralistic dialogue between two strong characters, Daniel and the Prior. What is religion? What is power? What does ascention, a higher plane of existance, knowledge, magic, technolgy and more all mean? Is it truly a religion if it seems magical and mystical, or is it just the unknown to be learned, taught? It was nearly 10 minutes of theological and philosophical dialogue, and I can only heartily applaud the writers for such an engaging, gripping, and brave choice.

Vala had her changing-point, too, which I sort of suspected was coming. Doing good feels good, it’s hard to be a nice person, etc. It was a kind of a predictable point in the arc of the character, and although it was nice to see a non-irritating Vala, I suspect it will go away too soon.

The episode also included more backstory on Lam and Landry; I guessed that one right. Guess if you’ve (kind of) been there, you recognize the signs.

Overall, if this is the way SG-1 is going to go, with a continuing dialogue on what is religion, what is technology, what is magic and knowledge, I will be happy.