tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032Thu, 28 May 2009 16:02:39 +0000Writing. Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Movies. Tv. Books. Geekery. Its whats in my brain.http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)Blogger126125http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.giftag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-6595732068923591249Tue, 17 Feb 2009 04:28:00 +00002009-02-16T23:29:52.578-05:00TechI've decided to setup a site of my own, and have moved my blog (and its contents) over there.Please update your links to go here now for the main page, and here for the blog.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/9qMAvy0D3-w/moving-my-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2009/02/moving-my-blog.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-2675952358792605522Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:11:00 +00002008-12-22T13:15:41.324-05:00personal2008 is drawing to a close, and with the new year around the corner and so many things in my life in flux, I find my thoughts turning to the year ahead.I've never been one for making resolutions. Despite our best intentions Real Life has a way of coming in and scattering the best laid plans to the four winds.I started to think about how I could make next year better than this one and had http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/ByRB6b2Ux-I/absent-friends.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/12/absent-friends.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-7772704217053025339Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:14:00 +00002008-12-17T14:17:48.846-05:00GovernmentRan across this somewhere this afternoon...AWESOME!! (click the pic to embiggen)Only trouble is I don't recall where I found it. I had a bazillion tabs open in Firefox and closed too many too quick. If anyone knows who is responsible for this ironically truthful ad, please leave a comment below.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/Y8Wd7m9Vzsg/big-three-bailout.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/12/big-three-bailout.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-4758061005994659987Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:38:00 +00002008-12-08T12:56:19.366-05:00TelevisionIan McShaneIn 2009, NBC has a new Sci-Fi (ish) show called Kings hitting the streets [via].I went and checked the full trailer out over here, and realized that the guy playing King Silas Benjamin is none other than Ian McShane himself.Must. See. This.McShane of course brought Al Swearengen to life on HBO's Deadwood, probably my favorite character from any series ever. (Side note: if you haven't watched http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/lT-QKrrAgZ4/ian-mcshane-becomes-king.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/12/ian-mcshane-becomes-king.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-4913829740951818752Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:07:00 +00002008-11-26T09:17:58.033-05:00Star TrekKhan Noonien Singh, the Eugenics Superman who tried to overthrow the Enterprise in Space Seed, and then again in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, turns 88 today.Best Khan quote (to Kirk):I've done far worse than kill you, Admiral. I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me, as you left her: marooned for all eternity in the center of a dead planet, buried http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/MrkaO3qhyyw/khan-turns-88-today.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/khan-turns-88-today.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3661656357920203625Fri, 21 Nov 2008 14:24:00 +00002008-11-21T09:41:11.644-05:00GRRMA Game of Thrones(Warning: links embedded in this post might contain spoilers.)I've listened to the audio book recording of A Game of Thrones literally over a dozen times. Martin is such a brilliant and subtle writer, I always find something new layered within his writing with each listen through.It wasn't until this morning as I listened to this touching scene between Father and daughter that I realized that onehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/XEt3N2DtGC4/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-112208.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-112208.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-8032856066264974388Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:40:00 +00002008-11-19T13:03:00.372-05:00GovernmentThis is the problem with government bailouts.You've got CEO's from Detroit's "Big Three" automakers begging for 25 billion dollars of public money (ie, OUR money) to help bail them out.Of course these chuckleheads don't see the hypocrisy in having flown to do their begging using private corporate jets.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/NfdW12RsJIg/ceos-beg-for-public-funds-using-private.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/ceos-beg-for-public-funds-using-private.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-7744278576178103599Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:55:00 +00002008-11-12T13:44:02.973-05:00HBOGRRMAmidst the chaos and uncertainty of my professional life, someone somewhere is doing something right.HBO has given the thumbs up for the pilot of "A Game of Thrones" to be filmed. This is huge news.Read about it on Martin's blog and everywhere else genre news is reported!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/-ZSJS5vZvsE/hbo-greenlights-game-of-thrones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/hbo-greenlights-game-of-thrones.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-8444444671877279900Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:11:00 +00002008-11-07T08:19:04.655-05:00ReviewsDresden FilesTitle: Small Favor (Book 10 in the Dresden Files series)Author: Jim ButcherPublisher: RocISBN-10: 0451461894ISBN-13: 978-0451461896Genre: Urban FantasyPage Count: 432 pagesRelease Date: April, 2008First Line:Winter came early that year: it should have been a tip-off. Jim Butcher has reached the halfway point in what he has stated is a 20 novel run for Chicago's resident Wizard/Supernatural http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/wz_I0LabEDo/review-small-favor-jim-butcher.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/review-small-favor-jim-butcher.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3611364206721021828Thu, 06 Nov 2008 12:12:00 +00002008-11-06T07:14:14.189-05:00ElectionThis video via a story on Scalzi's blog. People would ask me who I was voting for prior to the election. I generally avoid getting into political conversations in depth, so I usually would say something like:I used to like McCain before he started campaigning. Then when he picked that numbskull chucklehead Palin for his VP, that was the nail in the coffin for me.I can't tell you how many odd http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/4GFSDCvF4mo/sarah-palin-dope-by-5th-grade-geography.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/sarah-palin-dope-by-5th-grade-geography.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-5987910631325270333Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:20:00 +00002008-11-05T07:21:04.783-05:00Election'Nuff said.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/NM33u4RQLvk/nightmare-is-over.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/nightmare-is-over.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3446889480839373639Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:38:00 +00002008-11-04T10:43:17.182-05:00ElectionToday's the day. Go out and vote. Unless you're stupid, in which case please stay home. Actually if you're stupid you probably are staying home anyway, but you get my point.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/p0Di3l-RJCc/go-vote.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/11/go-vote.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-2995613685179605687Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:48:00 +00002008-10-23T12:05:41.875-04:00SecurityFelix pointed me at Bruce Schneier's Security blog in one of his posts this morning. I can't believe I'd never read this guy before. After a few minutes reading some of Schneier's posts, its obvious this blog is pure gold to anyone employed in technology and information security - thanks Felix.Today's post over there deals with some airport security penetration testing Schneier was part of thathttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/DsI4UsXzcZs/airport-security-not-so-much.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/airport-security-not-so-much.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-6838511993946504180Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:50:00 +00002008-10-21T07:55:41.684-04:00GamingOK I'm soliciting advice here.I'm going to buy a gaming console, but don't know which one I should get: The Wii, The XBox 360 or the PS3.I should point out that I had a Wii earlier this year but sold it along with some other luxuries when I thought I was going to get laid off. The family loved this thing, and I'm tempted to just go buy it all again since we had such a good time playing Mario http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/e8E_qhY3Dfc/which-gaming-console-should-i-buy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/which-gaming-console-should-i-buy.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3477029487692368443Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:14:00 +00002008-10-13T10:51:55.591-04:00ReviewsNeil GaimanBooksTitle: The Graveyard BookAuthor: Neil GaimanPublisher: HarperCollinsISBN-10: 0060530928ISBN-13: 978-0060530921Genre: Horror/FantasyPage Count: 320 pagesReading level: Ages 9-12Release Date: September 2008First line:"There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife."Publisher's Summary:Nobody Owens, known to his friends as Bod, is a normal boy.He would be completely normal if he didn't live http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/StEker1Ky4I/review-graveyard-book-neil-gaiman.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-graveyard-book-neil-gaiman.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-5554030673829283660Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:13:00 +00002008-10-10T11:13:47.853-04:00monkey ninjaBest. YouTube. Video. EVER.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/fNUULyMZzCg/monkey-ninja.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)1http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/monkey-ninja.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3899883559957534262Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:52:00 +00002008-10-07T12:57:22.206-04:00GeekeryThis is so awesome I'm not even going to explain it to the non-geeks. I'll just shake my head and feel sorry for you that you don't get it.More of the Geek ABCs over here.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/2xZpD-2AWoE/is-for-alignment.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/is-for-alignment.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-5585185286398487580Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:37:00 +00002008-10-07T12:38:22.525-04:00Robot ChickenI love Robot Chicken....div#main{overflow:visible;}http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/bKn7WB-uEfA/robot-chicken-dolly-hates-you-too.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/robot-chicken-dolly-hates-you-too.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-1969555402254552153Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:15:00 +00002008-10-06T13:21:21.383-04:00ReviewsBooksTitle: Any Given Doomsday (Phoenix Chronicles #1)Author: Lori HandelandPublisher: St. Martin’s PaperbacksISBN-10: 0312949197ISBN-13: 978-0312949198Genre: Urban fantasyPage Count: 352Release Date: November 4, 2008Excerpt available at the author's website.First line:"On the day my old life died, the air smelled of springtime–budding trees and just born flowers, fresh grass and hope. I should have http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/oSAJi0iv_hc/review-any-given-doomsday-lori.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/review-any-given-doomsday-lori.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-1448311169769729111Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:26:00 +00002008-10-06T07:33:09.580-04:00GRRMGeorge RR MartinToday's George R.R. Martin quote of the day comes from Storm of Swords, book 3 in the Song of Ice & Fire series. (Warning: the links embedded in this post might be spoilery).The source of the quote is Jaime Lannister, the Kingslayer. He is reading through the White Book, which chronicles the deeds of each member of the Kingsguard, past and present.The earlier part of Ser Barristan’s storied http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/gmvLFeIgUbY/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-1062008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-1062008.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-3708781876229057174Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:22:00 +00002008-10-01T20:44:31.105-04:00Random Stuff-There is a great 3 part interview with Joe Abercrombie over at Writer Unboxed. He talks about the writing process mostly, which is fascinating for those of us who dabble in the craft. Joe's gritty fantasy First Law Trilogy is well worth the read. I've read the first two books and have the last one on order. The trilogy consists of: The Blade Itself, Before they are Hanged and Last Argument http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/FlcOBq_X8Sw/random-stuff-1012008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/10/random-stuff-1012008.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-8631165787226331268Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:34:00 +00002008-09-30T11:32:11.583-04:00GRRMStorm of SwordsToday's George R.R. Martin quote of the day comes from Storm of Swords, book 3 in the Song of Ice & Fire series. (Warning: the links embedded in this post might be spoilery).The source of the quote is Davos Seaworth, the Onion Knight and faithful servant of Stannis Baratheon. Davos used to be a smuggler who was raised to Knighthood for smuggling food (including onions) to Stannis during the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/uL3FBxg4PVI/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-9292008.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/09/george-rr-martin-quote-of-day-9292008.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-99281253545072720Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:56:00 +00002008-09-26T10:09:36.558-04:00Random Thoughts-Washington Mutual collapses. The FDIC seized it Thursday and sold its banking assets to JPMorgan Chase & Co. for 1.9 BILLION.-I think I'm giving up on Fringe - at least as a 'must see' each week show. I thought I could get past the lack of plausibility in the science behind the show, but now I think that this is its major fault. The show reminds me a lot of the X-Files, which was one of my http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/5EDRPj4D3Lo/friday-9262008-random-thoughts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)0http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/09/friday-9262008-random-thoughts.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-2179002053909977407Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:54:00 +00002008-09-24T09:11:06.018-04:00WTFRantPETAPETA writes to Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream and suggests they stop using cow's milk in their ice cream and instead substitute breast milk. See here.I can just see the new flavors now: Boobie Batter and Mom's Best Bodily Fluids. While I am a true believer in the benefits of breastfeeding, and I understand the negative effects of consuming cow's milk, this is just plain ridiculous. PETA continues to http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/XgIGqEoQo7Q/is-that-breast-milk-in-my-ice-cream.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)1http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/09/is-that-breast-milk-in-my-ice-cream.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490651583978197032.post-6888064196182104451Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:53:00 +00002008-09-23T08:09:19.945-04:00RantGovernmentThis really annoys me.I'm no high finance expert. I generally ignore economic news, but with recent events, who can do that?I won't waste time arguing whether the government should spend our money to bail out $700 billion dollars worth of bad debt (they shoudn't).The gist of the bill gives Henry Paulson, the Secretary of the Treasury the power to buy whatever mortgages he sees fit from banks. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SeeWhatsInMyBrain/~3/wxAHcpKOnNo/secretary-of-treasury-gets-blank-check.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Michael Natale)1http://seewhatsinmybrain.blogspot.com/2008/09/secretary-of-treasury-gets-blank-check.html