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Get the Stitches

Posted by Rick Tetrault at 10:45 PM 1 comment: Death from Lack of Vaccination

There are several things to note about this incidence of Hib: 
Act Now!!

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 12:28 PM 6 comments: Science vs. The Bible? 
Episode 4 This week we talk about Ricardo Montalban, a new Buck Rogers series, and read some of your emails.
Starbase 66.
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 1:57 PM No comments: Last weekend Mrs. Marius announced her intention to put in for a couple of days off at work. She is currently working two jobs, and gets no days off, so it was quite understandable that she would need a breather. The day after this announcement I got word that the Hoggtowne Medieval Faire, in Gainesville, was starting this weekend. We still only have the one car(waiting on tax refunds for down payment)so even when she does get time off all she ends up doing is sitting around the house, so the faire was just the right medicine. Thus yesterday morning we piled into the car and headed north. Normally we'd dress up in our period finery for such an outing, but we decided given the chilly weather, and the desire to just relax, we'd dress normally and be part of the great, unwashed masses.(although we did shower)

The nice thing about Hoggetowne is that there is a very strong SCA presence at the faire, so it is a bit more grounded in reality than most renn faires. You still get your fair share of elves and wizards wandering around, but the general atmosphere is friendlier. We also got to see many old friends who happen to live in Gainesville. Friends such as his Baronship, Syr Terrell: As you can see, one of his trademarks is his serious, humorless demeanor.(and just by way of explanation, his lady and he are major Gators fans)

Also at the faire was a place where you could get a ride on one of the war horses used in the jousting demo, and since the COA is quite stereotypically in love with horses, she went for a ride: Later the SCA put on a fighting demonstration: We also ran in to some very old friends, Dell and Widget.(yes, her real name is Widget...she's on the left): But my most pleasant encounter was with my second mom, Natasha. We met more than 25 years ago, and she has been Mom to me ever since. With the events of the last couple of months still all too fresh in my mind it was so good to see her I can't really describe it: Finally, around 4ish, Mrs. Marius had seen all she wanted to see, eaten all she wanted to eat, and bought nearly all she wanted to buy.(you could easily go broke at one of these things) We made the rounds, got hugs and said our goodbyes, and headed home. The diem had been fully carped, and my lovely wife was in a better mood than I've seen her in for quite some time.

All in all, it was a good day. :-)

Posted by Rick Tetrault at 7:06 AM 7 comments: 

I just received this in my in box:

Dear World:


Posted by Rick Tetrault at 5:08 AM 6 comments: Happy Obama Day 

And that's a change I can live with.

Marius the Hopeful
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 10:27 AM 3 comments: 
Well, That's A Fine How D'Ya Do! 

Adios, y'all,
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 12:52 PM 5 comments: 
Starbase 66, Episode 3 This week we are joined by Mark from California(El Diablito on the Intertubes) to discuss the treatment of gay and lesbian characters on Star Trek and Science Fiction.

Starbase 66
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 10:56 AM No comments: 
Star Wars?

This is priceless! Thanks, Deb. :-)

Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 2:33 PM 1 comment: 
To The Last, I Will Grapple With Thee... Prior to 1982 had you asked me to make a list of Star Trek villains I probably would have started with Harry Mudd, and then went on to Bele, Kor, Kang, Balok, and eventually the name Khan would have appeared. But in that glorious Summer, my first as a high school graduate, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan premiered and changed everything. From that day forth when you say Star Trek villain, the first name that comes to mind, screamed at the roof of an imaginary cave, is KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Ricardo Montalban died today at the age of 88. He was known across the genres as a movie star, TV star, car sales spokesman(who among us over the age of 30 can't quote, in a shameful parody of that marvelous accent, "rich CorINthian leather"?) He was Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island, a benevolent/sinister granter of wishes, and from all that I've read he was a gentleman and a truly nice guy. What many people don't know about him was that in the early 50s he was thrown from a horse while filming a movie, and then got stepped on by another horse. The resulting back injury left him in constant pain for the rest of his life, yet you would never know it to watch him.

I can't say it's a tragedy when an 88 year old man dies, but it is very sad. But at least, for whatever it is worth, he is no longer in pain.

Adios, amigo. You will not be forgotten.

Posted by Rick Tetrault at 8:24 PM 4 comments: 
Blog? I have one? No kidding. Ok, I suck harder than Paris Hilton on X. I've been so wrapped up in events and stuff that I completely forgot to update you wonderful people re: said events. I humbly beg your forgiveness.

Enough grovelling. On to the news. Firstly I am totally digging podcasting. A year ago, when my mother-in-law gave me an MP3 player for Christmas I thought I'd check out podcasts. I had heard of them, but since I did not own an iPod I thought that I could not access them. Then I discovered that podcasts were not behind the Apple Curtain, and anyone could listen. So I searched for science, science fiction, and of course Star Trek. This led me to my fated introduction to the Simply Syndicated podcasting empire. The more I listened, the more I thought, "Hey! I could do this!" But the thought languished in unrealized fantasy until very recently. About two or three months ago it occurred to me that there were two people on the Simply Syndicated forums whose opinions of Star Trek and Sci Fi were harmonious with my own, and the idea flared in my brain. I contacted them, and was thrilled when they agreed to join my endeavor. It took us a while to get all the bits and pieces together, and a few abortive recording sessions to work out the worst of the bugs, but we now have three episodes in the can(2 published, and one awaiting editing) and I am enjoying this far more than I ever dreamed. I am constantly thinking of what to do next, whom to try to interview(if any of you out there have connections with any genre celebrities, or just want to join me at the Admrial's Table to talk about your connection with Star Trek or Sci Fi just drop me a line), etc. I haven't been this passionate about an enterprise(hee) for a very long time. Of course the idea of this leading to fame and fortune always lurks in the back of my mind, but I must be honest with myself. Fame of a sort is possible, but fortune is highly doubtful. But should it ever develop in a way that brings even a few pennies our way, who would complain?

In other local news, the COA returned from her Christmas visit to her father, and once again we had to do damage control. Among her many emotional peccadilloes is an unfortunate tendency to forget the basics of personal hygiene. We know that here, and know to remind her from time to time. Her father, on the other hand, does not. She started complaining of back pain, and I attributed it to sore muscles from playing. Eventually it became clear that this was no backache, and we took her to the doctor. She had a kidney infection. So a bottle of antibiotics and several unpleasant days later she's fine and back in school.

And now: product placement. I recently picked up some Zip-Lock vacuum bags. They are just like regular Zip-Locks, but they come with a little bicycle pump. On the bag is a valve that allows you to pump the air out of the bag. These things are frikken awesome! I bought a tomato that I've been using for the COA's lunch sandwiches. Normally a tomato will last a couple of days in the fridge before you have to throw the majority of it away. This one has been in the fridge for a week, and is still as fresh as the day I bought it. Tomorrow will see the last of it go into a sandwich.

I take pleasure where I can get it, folks. ;-)

See ya!
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 7:43 AM 8 comments: 
Episode 2: The Movies Episode 2 is now active.
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 3:46 PM 1 comment: It All Becomes A Little Clearer Posted by Rick Tetrault at 6:47 AM 2 comments: 
Philosophical Mutant? 

But I still hate basketball.
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 6:06 AM 8 comments: 
She Got Me Again! Darn that Stinkypaw and her stealth tagging. I decide to go into blogging hibernation for a few weeks, and when I wake up, BOOM!, there's a tag on my ear. Oh well, I suppose I'll just do as I'm told this once. ;-)

1. I have come to accept that no one will ever make the book Dune into a decent movie.

2. My complete lack of mathematical ability is very frustrating.

3. I'm really enjoying podcasting.

4. Coming up with ten things about myself that are interesting is not the easiest thing to do at 6:30am.

5. My immune system is fine, what I need is a pill that will boost my willpower.

6. Most of the stuff I believed in as a young man is bullshit, but the universe is still a groovy, exciting place.

7. I prefer Miracle Whip over mayonnaise.

8. When I was 12 I was so in love with Marie Osmond that I truly believed that she was singing to me on her show.

9. I still think Superman is a cool hero.

10. I am really trying to accept the premise that the Star Trek canon should be flexible since it is, after all, just an entertainment franchise and not life as we know it...Jim.

Ok, if you're still awake and want to do this too, go for it. My damned dart gun is jammed, so no tagging from this quadrant. And I promise to blog more henceforth. If nothing else it will be good therapy for getting back to normal...whatever that may mean. ;-)

In nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen

Marius is Risen.

(ooo, I'm a naughty boy)
Posted by Rick Tetrault at 6:28 AM 4 comments: 
Slothman Strikes...well, be fair Lays Around Again 

Posted by Rick Tetrault at 12:19 PM 6 comments: