Green eggs and ham? No thanks

Dear Manufacturer,

I don't need artificial sweeteners in my products! I don't need them in my carb loaded bagels, or any other bread product. I don't need them in my gum or mints. I don't need them in my toothpaste, and I don't need them in my mouth wash. I don't need them in my chapstick or lipstick. I don't need them in my nail polish. Enough already!

Pretty Vegas

In the past month I have made 2 trips to Las Vegas totaling 8 days. I had a great time, and learned several things:

1. The Sahara hotel, although a bit run down, is comfortable to sleep in.

2. Zumanity is a riot and a great show

3. The Stratosphere is walking distance from Sahara and has a great buffet.

4. The cheapest way to get around Vegas (aside from walking) is a combination of the bus system and the monorail.

5. Taking the Deuce (bus) from one end of the strip to the other will take more than an hour. You are better off taking the monorail to the nearest location and getting the bus from there

6. The strip is between 3 and 4 miles long. That's a lot of walking.

7. If you want to see a burlesque show, see Peepshow

8. The Chin Chin in New York New York remains my favorite restaurant in Vegas

9. New York New York is a great hotel to stay in

10. Coyote Ugly is more fun when its packed, but allowing the crowd control of the music results in some very strange musical combinations.

11. The bar at Coyote Ugly is way fun to dance on

12. The CSI Experience at MGM is easy, corny, and fun

13. I've got the names of 2 women I can go hang out with if I'm ever back

14. Pimps in Vegas are so stereotypical it was hilarious

15. 4 days is the max before the air and the smoke start to really get to me

Behind the times

I'm always behind the times, late to the party. I don't know why, I just am. In the aftermath of Comic Con (something I vow to go to one of these years!) I read a lot of Tweets and Blogs referring to The Guild. Curious, I looked it up. Then I proceeded to watch both seasons immediately. In one sitting. It was fantastic! I have no idea how or why I missed it before, but if you haven't watched it, you should.

On 8/17 The Guild released their music video and song (Do You Wanna Date) My Avatar. Since I was in NY for work, I again missed the boat. However I caught wind of it when I got home, and immediately checked it out. I've yet to get the song out of my head, which I'm cool with, but the video inspired me with something else too: this year's Halloween costume.

I'm not sure if I can pull it off, but I am going to attempt to go as Felicia Day as Codex for Halloween. I'm excited!

That said...anyone know a good seamstress?

Have I got an eye for you

I have been remiss in blogging - I apologize. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to get everything done that I want to.

Geekiness abounded at work today. I got into a discussion with one of our developers about the possibility of using Biometrics as a security measure in our software. Specifically we were discussing the use of fingerprint scanning. OK so we were mostly talking about how cool that would be, despite the knowledge that it is completely unrealistic for our application. That led to talking about retinal scanning. Oh the geek levels were off the meter!

That was pretty much the extent of the discussion, but as I was driving back from my popcorn craving run, I had the craziest thought: what if touch screen monitors were Biometric? Our software is touch screen compatible - if the screen itself was able to identify the operator with every touch, you couldn't pass yourself off as someone else. It's the ultimate security - unless someone steals your body.

And now for a word from my OCD

Anyone who knows me will agree that I am obsessive compulsive. There's a bit of attention deficient disorder mixed in there too. I *have* to have something to obsess over. What that is varies - sometimes it's a game that I spend every waking moment playing. Sometimes it's a bar or restaurant that I *have* to go to every time I go out for a drink. Sometimes it's a job, and sometimes it's a bit of information.

Since Holly's death I have been obsessed with feline diabetes. I want to quit my job and devote my time to teaching cat owners and vets about feline diabetes. (Only my long list of bills and the need for a roof over my head keeps me from actually quitting my job to do that.) There is a diabetic cat at the shelter that I volunteer for and I made it my personal mission to find him a home. (There are actually 2 diabetics, but the other is also FIV+ so I don't know that I'll be able to find him a home, though I will certainly try.)

So for anyone that cares to read my blog, here is my personal PSA about feline diabetes:

Do you own cats, or care for them? Listen to me very carefully, for what I am about to say might one day save you a lot of money and heartache:

DO NOT FEED CATS DRY FOOD!!!!! EVER!

Cats are carnivores ok? Do you think they feed the lions and tigers at the zoo dry kibble? No, they feed raw meat. The digestive system of a cat is not designed to be able to handle/process grains. What is the primary ingredient of dry cat food? Grains!

A lifetime of eating dry food is a leading cause of diabetes in cats. In a diabetic person the first thing the doctor will tell them is that they need to change their diet. The same is true for a cat! Yet most vets have little to no experience with diabetic cats, and they will prescribe DRY FOOD as the diet! These cats end up on huge doses of insulin, and a shortened life span.

Diabetes is not a death sentence for a cat. Many live very full lives after diagnosis. With proper diet many also go into remission.

If you love your cat, I strongly urge you to visit this website and read all the documentation, especially about diet. http://www.felinediabetes.com

Thank you.

The New Star Trek (Wars)

WARNING: Major spoilers, so do not read if you have not watched the movie. That is all.

I just got home from watching the new Star Trek movie. As a long time Star Trek fan, I faced watching the movie with trepidation, because they were messing with an established line of characters and an established universe. I didn't think that I would be able to watch the movie and not see Harold and Sylar. I didn't think I would be able to accept this new cast in the roles established through years of work on the part of the original cast.

As it turned out, that was the least of my problems with the movie.

OK, to be fair, it was a good movie, and I did enjoy it. I will even watch it again. That being said, here is what I had trouble with:

CAST

I didn't have as much trouble with this as I thought I would. I actually thought they did a really good job. The only characters I had trouble believing were Scotty and Uhura. In Scotty's case, it may have just been because he didn't have much screen time. Or maybe it was the Ewok he was hanging out with.

STORY

The story. Yeah...so was I watching Star Trek, or Star Wars? There are soooo many parallels that were drawn that I just started to laugh at one point. I mean come on, the scene with all the cadets marching off to their shuttles - rebel base anyone? Since when do cadets crew starships (much less command them!) anyway? What the hell is the point of even having the academy and the military rankings if you can just toss any cadet into a high ranking position on a starship?

Star Wars parallels aside, my biggest issue with the story is of course the time travel, and the resultant parallel universe. Now, from the perspective of JJ Abrams and the reboot of the franchise, this was brilliant, because it gives them carte blanche to do whatever they want with Star Trek now. Spock and Uhuru were never lovers? Well this is a parallel universe! Kirk didn't grow up without his father? Well this is a parallel universe! Cadets don't captain starships? Well this is a parallel universe! You get the idea. The problem is, the whole parallel universe thing pisses me off. It's such a cop out, it always has been. Instead of rebooting the franchise while remaining true to the established universe, they've said fuck you, we're doing it our way. Which maybe isn't a bad thing, given that the Star Trek franchise had essentially died.

All in all, it isn't my Star Trek. That's probably a good thing. But I will be watching, and waiting, to see what the future brings.

Kitty Mafia Part 3

With proper diet and medication, Holly was soon back on her feet and ruling the Kitty Mafia again. The house we lived in had a rival kitty mafia in the neighborhood. A territory war soon broke out. Holly entrusted Cleo with the job of running off the other cats. She did a good job of it, culminating in busting through a window screen to attack the enemy.

After a couple more years I finally bought a house and the Kitty Mafia had a new locale to run. Cleo got straight to work making sure the place was fit to be their headquarters. Once again there was a rival kitty mafia in the neighborhood, so she set out to run them off. The Kitty Mafia more or less tolerated my presence, as long as I continued to bring them food that satisfied their cravings.

Before long Holly took ill again. This time she would not recover. To help Cleo with her mafia duties, I brought in Danu. Cleo became the underboss, and Danu the new associate. Danu was charged with waking me and keeping me on task with my feeding duties, while Cleo focused on the enemy mafia.

The mafia was dealt it's final crushing blow with the passing of its Don. Unsure what to do with themselves in the resulting chaos, Cleo and Danu have turned mercenary. On her death bed, Holly must have left orders for Cleo and Danu to avenge her, because I have become the target of numerous assassination attempts. Cleo tries to kill me by tripping me and poking holes in my veins so I can bleed out. Danu tries to decapitate me, and chew off my legs, leaving me at their mercy. They are quite tenacious, except when I bring their food. Then they grudgingly take a break to replenish their energy.

Will I survive the Kitty Assassins? I'm not sure. We'll have to wait and see.