The Virtual Record of My Opinionated Rantings

If you're anything like me, you never really paid attention to who wrote the latest episode of your favorite show. You love (or hate) the plot, but you credit (or blame) the actors, or the directors, or maybe even the producer. I figured the writer didn't mean anything.

Then I had the pleasure of meeting Rift Fournier, who's written for shows like Charlie's Angels and NYPD Blue, and I learned that the writer is possibly the most interesting person involved in production.

I say that based solely on Mr. Fournier's personality. I could be dead wrong about the rest of them, so just in case I vow at this moment in time to never meet another one. I think it would be difficult to be a boring individual with a lifetime that began with an artist and a Frenchman, was changed by Polio, and included writing for Sid Caesar and working with Norwegians ("Scandinavia is seriously white. Not a diverse place.").

Of course, our class did not feature Rift for the sake of our amusement (though he is a thoroughly amusing man); we received some great advice.

"There are no original ideas in the world. None."

"Unless you're a reader, you will not make it."

"If you really want a job...bug the Hell out of them."

I gained new confidence in my spastic part-time career history when he told us how he put himself through law school as Deputy Sheriff and Deputy Coroner. At one point he wrote jokes for the prime price of $5 each while selling aluminum siding over the phone.

Advice is all well and good, but I honestly could not portray him through a few wise words and a brief life overview. Then again, I can't think of a way to really put the sense of entertainment that was abundant in that room into words. I mean, honestly, I don't believe there is a person in that class who was expecting a discussion of Grey's Anatomy ("She wasn't a dynamite dyke," he told us, reflecting on the firing of Brooke Smith.).


My notes are incomplete, because I was honestly absorbed in the stories he told. I've earned a new respect for people behind the scenes, and a different fascination entirely with Rift Fournier. Did I mention that his name was changed when he was young? The church wouldn't baptize him as Rift, because there weren't any "St. Rift"s, and as he himself said, there are "none in the near future."


P.S. Here is Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, in case you were curious. Check out www.drhorrible.com to buy the videos on iTunes.

Two questions:

1) What career path are you exploring? Specifically, I'm curious about legal and broadcasting/media fields.

2) Who did you cast your vote for on Nov. 4th?


I am curious. Your answers can help me figure something out, and I'd really appreciate it.

I can also promise not to attack anyone for who their ballot was cast for. You all know where I stand, and the election is over and I am going to be living under the same administration as everyone else.

There's this little show I like to watch, called House. This show is about a cynical jerk wad of a doctor who is sort of a super genius. Dr. Gregory House, the title character, is played by the brilliant and oddly attractive Hugh Laurie (see image at right). The only problem I've found with House is that it airs on Tuesday nights. Tuesday nights I spend sitting in an ugly chair next to the door of my dorm building playing Solitaire and listening to music.

Did I say this was a problem? I meant this is awesomeness in physical form.

Why? Well, you see, Fox decided to put full, current episodes of House online.

This is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Even though I don't get to watch it as it airs, I have the privilege of being paid to play mindless computer games and I don't have to miss out on my favorite show.

Fox knows that in this electronic age, the way to succeed is through the brilliant and deliberate merging of communication mediums. They know that people like me have a busy schedule, and would often rather watch their favorite shows at 2AM as opposed to 8PM.

The best part of House, aside from the British eye candy, is the dialogue. Dr. House says some positively snarky and hysterical things throughout each episode, and Fox knows it. Fox took the liberty of giving me a directory of the best quotes from each episode!

"Dying people lie too. Wish they'd worked less, been nicer, opened orphanages for kittens. If you really want to do something, you do it. You don't save it for a sound bite."

...because who needs support from the government when you can get donations from citizens with such amazing credentials!

Name: JarackBoe BOamabiden
Address: 2345 Fak Addrss Lane
Phone: 555-555-5555
Email: barackjoe@obama.com

Name: John Galt
Address: 1957 Ayn Rand Lane
City: Galts Gulch
State: CO
Zip: 99999

Oddly enough, the individuals attempting these donations also tried the same information through McCain's site and were rejected to to a disagreement between identity information and credit card information.

This is a standard safeguard on any online commerce tool.

The usual reason for disabling it is to allow for overseas donations.

There's the information. Check out Ace of Spades for a more in depth appraisal of The One's financial doings.

How come people who've registered with unverifiable information get to vote,
but men and women serving our country overseas can't?

It seems more than a little unfair to me.

This election...

...Joe the Plumber!

By far the most interesting of the debates was the third and final presidential debate on Wednesday night. It was obvious to any observer that not only is Obama now confident in his lead, but also that McCain is sick of him.

But let me tell you the story of Joe the Plumber. Joe the Plumber was hoping to buy the small business he has worked for for years. One day he approached Senator Obama and brought up the fact that, under Obama's plan, he couldn't afford to. Senator Obama responded by saying that he didn't want to punish Joe's success, he only wanted to make sure that those behind him could succeed as well. Obama believes that when you "spread the wealth" everyone benefits.

John McCain spent a good deal of the debate talking about economic policy directly to Joe the Plumber. Political gold, let me tell you. When someone on national television is speaking to a blue-collar worker with a name and a face, they're really talking to a good chunk of America.

On some questions, like the one about how suited each candidate felt their running mate was to hold the office of the president, Obama had a distinct advantage. Let's be honest: McCain didn't pick Sarah Palin as his running mate because of her stunning political background. Palin brought charisma to the ticket, and she rallied the far right base that McCain had lost by being too moderate for their liking.

Then there were the times when McCain managed to make The Golden Child look genuinely uncomfortable. After hearing the first prompt he could vaguely relate to it, McCain jumped into the debate with "ACORN this," and "Ayers that." I was intrigued to see Obama's normal response to personal attacks (of laughter) now be accompanied by him turning his head down, closing his eyes, and shaking his head. While I may be over-analyzing something that was simply Obama trying to play it cool, it intrigues me.

While we're talking about body-language, though, I can't help but mention the multiple times McCain seemed to be looking at Obama with an expression of forced placidity. His eyes said, "I'm going to eat your soul, Barack." (Pictures to come)

Discussions over health care and Supreme Court appointments were almost obligatory, and each candidate answered along party lines on health care and McCain answered correctly on appointments, stating that he would apply no litmus tests to justices.

I wish this had been the first debate. As a McCain supporter, I believe there would be a fleeting chance for a Republican victory were this the first debate with only more like this to come. I fear that the performance by McCain was lost on the masses who, at this point, would jump off a cliff if Obama only told them they should. It is too little too late. Between ACORN and idiots, Obama is the next president of the United States.

And I'm moving to New Zealand.