MAIL CALL: TECH TALK

I got an interesting e-mail from MediumRob, my blog-buddy from Britain (the link to "The Medium Is Not Enough" is to the left, dear reader!):

I think 'CSI: Miami' needs explaining in Toobworld. Although it's supposed to be set at the same time as 'CSI' and 'CSI: NY', the technology in it doesn't actually exist yet (the producers actually go to Microsoft's think tank for inspiration about what will be used in years to come). So I think you should see if there's a way some evil villain's special computing resources have ended up in use in the Miami PD but hasn't entered into usage in 'CSI' or 'CSI: NY'.
It was Rob who clued me in to the idea that Cylon technology (from the original 'Battlestar Galactica') has been incorporated into the original KITT on 'Knight Rider'. But I think in this case, it's just another example of the differences between Toobworld and the real world.

As I told Rob, Toobworld is far more advanced than the real world. Back in the early seventies, there as a secret CONTROL base on the Moon (as seen in 'Get Smart'). This was the site that suffered the nuclear waste dump explosion in one of the last moments of reality for 'Space: 1999'. (Most of the show took place in Commander Koenig's coma dream-world who survived the detonation - which was caused by some jerk using a laser cannon to write "7-Up" into the lunar surface.) And there have been androids living among the human population of Toobworld for the last forty-plus years. So I don't think there's any need to splain away the advanced technology on 'CSI: Miami'; it's just something that they have that the Miami PD would not.

As to why they have it and not their sister shows set in Las Vegas and New York City? For some reason, the Miami Police Department has a bigger budget. (They probably figure they need it, considering they have a serial killer preying on other serial killers at work in the area.....)

BCnU!
Toby O'B

BOOK 'EM, BOKONON

Kurt Vonnegut has his own televersion in Toobworld, thanks to his appearances in blipverts for Discover credit card, the Nissan Murano, and for TIAA-CREF. And as a writer, he shares something in common with Agatha Christie, Mark Twain, Shakespeare, and Stephen King, among others: he exists in the same world as his literary creations - at least the ones adapted for television.

Back in 1972, PBS presented "Between Time And Timbuktu" which combined many of Vonnegut's stories into one dramatic storyline. Jingle contest winner Stony Stephenson was blasted into the Chrono-Synclastic Infundibulum and wound up in all realities, past and present, at the same time.

At one point, he met the prophet Bokonon, author of "The Books Of Bokonon", on the island of San Lorenzo. Bokonon was a character in the novel "Cat's Cradle", and it was from that book which Detective Eric Delahoy of 'The Unusuals' (episode: "Crime Slut") read several passages, all of them excerpts from "The Books Of Bokonon".

In the real world, Kurt Vonnegut created Bokonon and his spiritual musings for the novel "Cat's Cradle". In Toobworld, Vonnegut recounted the true events of Ice Nine and Bokonon - even if they may have existed in an alternate TV dimension.

So even though Delahoy was reading a novel, the passages from "The Books of Bokonon" were real.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

True Blue

Baby I love you......
Can't get the Madonna song out of my head!
This design is what got it in there in the first place, hehe. :P

Thistle, artichokes, and delphinium.

AS SEEN ON TV: STALIN

JOSEPH STALIN

AS SEEN IN:
"Stalin"

AS PLAYED BY:
Robert Duvall

Today we're showcasing Joseph Stalin since today is May Day.

And we're showcasing him; definitely not honoring him.

Others who have portrayed the Soviet dictator on television include Jose Ferrer, Michael Caine, Brian Cox, Colin Blakely, Al Ruscio, David Burke, and Melvyn Douglas.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

TVXOHOF, O5/2009-A: LA LIZ

Traditionally, the TV Crossover Hall of Fame celebrates this month with a Queen of the May inductee, and this year will be no different even though we have a new member each week.

This week, from the League of Themselves, we have Elizabeth Taylor. She's not only a movie queen but also the Queen of Diamonds - White Diamonds, to be exact. In fact, an entire evening's line-up on CBS was once given over to being a plug for her White Diamonds fragrance with her appearance on four succeeding sitcoms.

Although he disapproved of the stunt, my Crossover comrade Thom Holbrook has all the details at his Crossovers & Spinoffs site.

As for my take? Meh. All's fair in love and Toobworld.

Here are the shows in which she played a fictional version of herself: Murphy Brown Feb 1996

Can't Hurry Love Feb 1996

High Society
The Family Jewels Feb 1996

The Nanny
Where's the Pearls? Feb 1996

Roseanne 1996

The Simpsons
Krusty Gets Kancelled May 1993

Here's Lucy
Lucy Meets The Burtons Sept 1970
Of course, 'The Simpsons' would be of her Tooniverse avatar.

And here are two others of interest:

The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show Jan 1966

What's My Line Nov 1954
Being connected to four series in one night puts her on a par with Luther Van Dam, Jerry Van Dyke's character from 'Coach'. But in his case, he actually made the appearance on all four shows in ABC's Vegas night. Still, even if she phoned in one appearance and used a stunt hand in another, for all intents and purposes it was La Liz connecting all four shows. Coupled with her other appearances, Elizabeth Taylor deserves to be the Queen of the May.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

and at the end of the day

I took a walk outside and dang it, we got da best grass of any yard in the neighborhood. The inside of the house looks like a disaster, but our grass looks like carpet. And then I passed our mailbox and there she was, a bluebird. The bluebird of happiness. Harleigh and I savored a long hug today and laughed at what a day it was indeed. We wondered . . . do we suffer more home disasters and in-need-of-mendings than most? Maybe, but we're happy. 

Chateau Gahan at its finest . . .

The aftermath. (See previous post for the messy details.) And what's really fun is looking at the post before that — "Chateau Gahan by Ali Harper." Ahhhh, I remember the serenity, the beauty, how clean and homey everything was.

(Oh, and did I mention that when I moved a batch of clothes in the closet from the bottom rod to the top to clear space for the workmen, the closet system pulled out of the wall. Oh happy day.)

Putting things into perspective

Last night at 10:00, ready for bed after watching American Idol, I heard a sound from the hall closet (where the hot water heater is . . . worst place to have one, BTW). It sounded sorta like the heater when it's running, heating the water. But a little different. And I remembered that I had heard the same sound a couple hours ago. All that equaled a very long time for the heater to be running, considering I wasn't running the dishwasher or washing machine. Peeked in and there was water squirting out in a fine mist from the compression tank (that blue thing) above the heater itself. 

The linoleum floor was covered in about a half inch of water. Called the plumber and was told how to turn everything off. Thought all the water was contained to the closet. But then this morning I walked into my bedroom closet and the carpet was soaked. Went into the living room, which borders the other side of the closet, and the hardwoods were cracking and warping. The hallway carpet is wet too.

Way worse than I had thought. So today I'm at home.

The plumber just came and fixed the hot water heater. The water removal team is here pulling out baseboards, ripping up carpet and linoleum, pulling up hardwood, and setting up giant fans (which will run for three straight days, 24 hours a day). The insurance adjustor should be calling soon, and the estimator for the damage is on his way.

I've dealt with water damage before, and I suppose of all the damages to a home, water is the easiest to deal with. It will get fixed. Thank God for insurance. And maybe I'll get new carpet out of the situation.

This morning as I was slouched over the kitchen counter, phone in hand (as I have been most of the day), feeling defeated and daunted by all that lays ahead in terms of upheaval and the house being in shambles, Harleigh put the Bible in front of me, opened to Matthew 6:34. It has honestly put everything into perspective. We're healthy and happy. I've got water damage. Big deal. Not the first time. And probably not the last.

I have handed it over. And it is in good hands. The best.

Hava Nagila: I Can't Believe I'm Here

I'm embarrassed for you, Levi!

(Photo:Casey Gibson/VeloNews)

Old Guys Don't Win In Pro Cycling

I'm actually surprised I missed this one. Mongo usually has a nose for dopers like a pig onto some Truffles. Here was an obvious case hiding in plain sight.

Thirty seven year old Davide Rebellin, who just won Fleche-Wallonne, has been busted for using CERA during the Olympic Games last year.

Oh, and guess what? He won the Silver Medal. Guess what else? He rode for Gerolsteiner last year...Along with Michael Schumacher and Bernard Kohl. All busted for CERA! Look at Rebellin's results from the past year and a half...all accomplished over the age of thirty six. The results are so strong that I'm amazed he slipped under the radar for so long.

2008
1st, Tour du Haut Var
1st overall, Paris-Nice
4th, Milan-Sanremo
4th, Amstel Gold Race
6th, La Flèche Wallonne
2nd, Liège-Bastogne-Liège
3rd, Clásica de San Sebastián
2nd, Olympic Road Race
4th, UCI Road World Championship
2009
1st, two stages, Vuelta a Andalucia
1st, La Flèche Wallonne
3rd, Liège-Bastogne-Liège

(Photo:VeloNews)

AS SEEN ON TV: HENRY L. STIMSON

HENRY L. STIMSON

AS SEEN IN:
"Backstairs At The White House"

AS PLAYED BY:
Unknown

From Wikipedia:

Henry Lewis Stimson (September 21, 1867 – October 20, 1950) was an American statesman, who served as Secretary of War, Governor-General of the Philippines, and Secretary of State. He was a conservative Republican, and a leading lawyer in New York City. He is best known as the civilian Secretary of War during World War II, chosen for his aggressive stance against Nazi Germany, with responsibility for the Army and Air Force. He managed the conscription and training of 12 million soldiers and airmen, the purchase and transportation to battlefields of 30 percent of the nation's industrial output, the building of the atomic bomb and the decision to use it.

He served in the administrations of Taft, Wilson, Coolidge, Hoover, Roosevelt, and Truman.

The actor who played Stimson in the mini-series had only one line and received no credit.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

ANY MAJOR TOOB WILL TELL YOU III

Hey hey, it's your deejay Run-TOB3 and we're taking requests!

This is going out for my blog-buddy Ivan, who wanted to hear Steely Dan performing "Peg".

"Peg" was the kick-off for their appearance on 'Today' in Rockefeller Center, May, 2000. Katie Couric interviews them before the song:



And as a bonus, here's another song from that 'Today' set, "Black Friday", with an introduction by Florence Henderson!



BCnU!
Toby O'B

ANY MAJOR TOOB WILL TELL YOU II

Here are a couple more Steely Dan appearances from TV. Going back even farther to 1973, when they appeared on 'The Midnight Special'.

Even though this song closes out the show, I thought I'd start with "Reelin In The Years":



And here, they "Do It Again":



I think David Palmer got that shirt from the Sixth Doctor!

BCnU!
Toby O'B

ANY MAJOR TOOB WILL TELL YOU

No splainin why, but I'm on a bit of a Steely Dan kick via YouTube this morning. So I thought I'd share a few of their songs as performed on Television - of course!

First up - Becker & Fagen and Co. close out 'Today' in Rockefeller Center with "Kid Charlemagne":



And then we have Steely Dan on David Letterman's 'Late Show', with a song from their first recording in 20 years, 'Cousin Dupree':



Steely Dan - my all-time favorite band. And although I already liked them back in the day, it was "Cousin Joel" Fontanella who really got me hooked into them.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

INTRODUCING: ZACH NICHOLS

Sunday night saw the introduction of a new character into Dick Wolf's corner of Toobworld. Jeff Goldblum joined the cast of 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' as Detective Megan Wheeler's new partner, Zach Nichols.

So far, we don't know much about Nichols. He used to be Captain Danny Ross' partner, but he's been on "sabbatical" for the last seven years. (Captain Ross would say only of those intervening years that he got a postcard from Nichols, sent from Cleveland.)

I'm sure as time goes on, we'll learn more about why Nichols left the force, and where he went, what he did during those seven years.

But it is tempting to speculate.....

First off, Cleveland. I know this would NEVER be suggested on the show, but maybe he got involved with Buffy Summers and her Scooby gang while there. (It was suggested by Giles in the final episode of 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' that they might go to Cleveland, where there was another Hellmouth.)

I'd like to think he also went out to Los Angeles, where he learned from Lt. Columbo; gained skills in figuring out who the suspect was right away. (In the early years of the show, we'd see the process 'Columbo' went through in determining the guilty party, but by the end - most notably in "Murder With Too Many Notes" - the Lieutenant seemed to just zero in on the killer for no other reason than he was the biggest guest star.)

Like I said, we'll probably learn more as Jeff Goldblum settles into the role, so these two ideas are probably moot.

But then again, seven years is a long time to account for.....

BCnU!
Toby O'B

Z TRAIN, BOSS, Z TRAIN!

"The Third Man"
"West Side Story"
"Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins"

Do you know what those movies have in common?

They were all filmed at locations that technically no longer exist.

"The Third Man" takes place in Vienna right after WWII, when it was a bombed-out ruin. "West Side Story" was set in the slums that were later razed; Lincoln Center stands now in their place. And "Remo Williams" engaged in a big fight sequence on the scaffolding that surrounded the Statue of Liberty during its renovation twenty years ago.

I always like checking the establishing shots from shows like 'Naked City', 'Kojak', and 'The Odd Couple' because they serve as historical archives of a New York that no longer exists. Even more (relatively) recent shows like 'The Equalizer', 'Wiseguy', 'NYPD Blue', and 'Law & Order' already have scenes of places that are lost to history - most notably the World Trade Center.

A new cop procedural on ABC, 'The Unusuals', has provided such a shot, of something that will soon be extinct.

In last week's episode, Detective Allison Beaumont chased after the "Crime Slut" who had robbed the Brooklyn pawn shop where Beaumont was trying to pawn her jewelry. Beaumont turned the corner and peered down into the entrance of a Z train subway stop, but she lost the perp. Although that site may still serve as a subway station, it won't be for the Z train for very much longer. The MTA has announced draconian cuts to service to begin this summer if Albany doesn't come through with a bailout. One of those cost-cutting measures will be the elimination of the Z line, which runs from Brooklyn to Fulton St. in lower Manhattan.

You can find just about everything in Wikipedia:

The J Nassau Street Express and Z Nassau Street Express (earlier Jamaica Express) are two rapid transit services of the B Division of the New York City Subway. They are colored brown, since they use the BMT Nassau Street Line in Lower Manhattan. The J runs at all times, while the Z only operates during rush hours in the peak direction; both services use the entire BMT Archer Avenue Line and BMT Jamaica Line from Jamaica Center–Parsons/Archer over the Williamsburg Bridge to Lower Manhattan.

Rush hour service in the peak direction is express west of Myrtle Avenue, and the J and Z form a skip-stop pair east of Myrtle Avenue. During weekdays, the J and Z run to the southernmost station on the Nassau Street Line, Broad Street, but the J is cut back on weekends to Chambers Street. Broad Street and Fulton Street are thus the only two stations that are not served full-time.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

PUFF PIECE

After Jack Donaghy mentioned that he put his wedding announcement into "Cigar Afficionado" on last week's '30 Rock', the magazine was quick to post a story online that they do NOT publish wedding announcements. I guess they were afraid that people here in the real world would want to do the same thing.

They can protest it as much as they like, but the truth is that in the TV Universe, they DO publish wedding announcements. Just another trivial example of how Toobworld differs from the real world....

BCnU!
Toby O'B

AS SEEN ON TV: SENATOR EVERETT DIRKSEN

SENATOR EVERETT DIRKSEN

AS SEEN IN:
"Citizen Cohn"

AS PLAYED BY:
Fritz Weaver

From Wikipedia:

Everett McKinley Dirksen (January 4, 1896 – September 7, 1969) was a Republican U.S. Congressman and Senator from Pekin, Illinois. As Republican Senate leader he played a highly visible and key role in the politics of the 1960s, including helping to write and pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Open Housing Act of 1968, both landmarks of Civil Rights legislation. He was one of the Senate's strongest supporters of the Vietnam War.

BCnU!
Toby O'B

BEA GIRL: IT DOES NOT FEMPUTE!

BE A SUPERSTAR!

Advertorial

What's this?!




It's a close-up of a Chipster potato chip!



Not any Chipster potato chip...

It's the new Chipster flavour - TOMATO TORNADO!

AND... It's only one of the TWO new Chipster flavours!

The other one is Flaming BBQ, which I completely didn't manage to buy despite going to two different places to look for it. It's like sold out everywhere!


Anyway, I love new products!!

BECAUSE WITH NEW PRODUCTS
ARE ALWAYS CONTESTS!!!

Just open your new packet of Chipster and you will find a little red card inside that allows you to join the all new CHIPSTER SUPERSTAR contest!!


I'm excited about this contest because it actually gives you a chance to go on TV with a movie you create!!

The "movie" is actually already created by Chipster lah... All you have to do is to paste faces in and come up with some witty lines!!!

The movie I chose is called "James Blog" and it's like a spoof of James Bond.


So now it's time for me to cast my handsome lead... AND I CHOSE............

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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.
.
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PUMPKIN!!

Mad funny can!??!?! So ridiculous and fluffy!! And the body is like wearing a men's suit and holding a gun!!

My movie clip is supposed to be called "Pie. Pumpkin Pie."

YOU KNOW, like BOND, JAMES BOND!! Because Pumpkin Pie is Pumpkin's full name!! WAHAHAHA!


And as for the damsel in distress...

ME!!!!!!!!!!

And I put Godzilla as the nemesis!!

You can watch my creation here:

I AM GOING TO WIN BECAUSE
MY ENTRY IS MAD CUTE!!!

Think you can do better than me?! Then go buy a packet of Chipster and join the contest too!! The prizes are.........

Grand prize: MACBOOK AIR


1st prize: 2 X IPOD TOUCH


Consolation Prize: 8 X IPOD NANO!

Can't say I am a big fan of the Apple products but if I won the Macbook Air I might change my mind!!

Anyway just go join!!

Chipster.com.my!!

p/s: Wanted to put Plastizilla's face as the enemy but decided on Godzilla instead - look more pleasant.

Pink+Terra Tabbytosavit= AWESOME

I can't even begin to tell you how talented Terra is.....like seriously.
I was impressed with her easy going nature and by how nice she was as a person, then was further impressed with her professionalism and by the pictures she threw up on her laptop for the same day slide show that guests were able to see during the wedding reception. The pictures untouched were AMAZING and I couldn't wait for her to blog. I have been stalking*uh, checking* her site for the last two weeks and today I saw these!!!

I think the pictures are stunning, I think Adie looks freaking great! Nina is another artist I want to highlight because she did such a great job at making Adie look glam yet herself at the same time. She looked great but didn't look made up. Does that make sense???
Anyhow, back to Terra.

She's awesome and these are her pictures from her blog of the pink and chartreuse wedding I had a few weeks ago.

What a great looking wedding party, right?

Go to Terra's blog now and drool over her pictures! :P

Terra Tabbytosavit

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I posted about my blue wedding a few weeks ago and it was this past weekend at the Cliff House.

I'm a big believer of creating an event that you as the couple are happy with, ya know?
It's your wedding, so have whatever your hearts desires.
When it comes to flowers, there are no real rules.
period.
So when I met with my couple and they were adamant about a few details I was actually happy that I finally got a couple that was like forget tradition-we want what we want! :)
They said NO to Boutonnieres and Cosages. (My fingers thank you)
She wanted a true blue bouquet with her lovely Phalaenonpsis orchids.


Before I go on let me tell you my little story about blue roses this week.

I showed up on Thursday to pick up my blue flowers from a vendor I don't usually deal with, but since they were the only ones that had blue roses, I had no choice.
Anyhow, they said sorry, don't have them, we thought you needed them on another date.
Hmmm, yeah. That doesn't really help me....
But by now, I'm used to this, so I calmly walked over to Shibata floral supplies in the market and picked up this baby.

Dip it by Design Masters in Deep Blue. I bought some white roses and did it myself.
My hands and glass vase were blue for two days but hey, that's the price I pay for flowers! hehe




She had a printout of a gift box that she wanted to sit on the guest check in table.

In transit a maniac caused me to to suddenly hit my brakes and the water spilled over causing my ribbon to get soaked. Damn bird....
LOl! Just kidding, it really was a maniac.
I wasn't worried since it was early and I knew it would dry by the time the reception got going.


She wanted her BM's to have bouquets to compliment their dress and she loves shocking blue hydrangeas with white callas.


A bride after my own heart, one of my favorite couples yet! :)

Congrats guys, much love and happiness to you both, R & J you guys are a such a nice couple, thanks for letting me be a part of your day! :)

RED SHIRT TALES

Since 'Star Trek' is known as a TV show in Toobworld, everybody is familiar with the concept of the red shirts. Boone brought it up in an episode of 'Lost' - that the person wearing the red shirt on the sci-fi series was bound to die.

Boone:

"Ever watch Star Trek?"

Locke:

"Nah, not really."

Boone:

"The crew guys that would go down to the planet with the main guys,

the captain and the guy with the pointy ears,

they always wore red shirts.

And they always got killed."

And 'Astro-Quest', the series that ripped off 'Star Trek' (as seen on 'CSI'), always had a red-shirt killed off in the first five minutes of an episode.

So how was it possible that Gilligan lasted as long as he did on the island?

Captain Franklin Howe, Rebecca's father, visited her at the bar 'Cheers', and he quickly grasped this situation:

"As a man who has thirty years of naval experience, I can say with all confidence that if that crew got together and shot Gilligan, they'd have been off that island in a week. Problem solved."

And yet Gilligan survived to finally escape the island (not "The Island") with the other six castaways.

He's probably dead now, however. The actor who played him, Bob Denver, passed away when he was 70 years old, and I think this is one case where it would be fitting if both of them left the world stage together.

And it would probably be safer for the world as well.....

BCnU!
Toby O'B