Huzzah for Employment!

Hey internet.  It's been a while.  I wish I could write more often, but I'm currently working FULL TIME!!!  No more swinging to separate part-time jobs, I've found a full time job that pays better than either of my previous jobs.  As a consequence, I'm working more than usual, and have less time to spend with you.  The upshot to the upshot is that I'm working for Computer Renaissance!  For those that don't know, it's a franchise of computer repair shops seen all across the country.  It's been about a year and a half since I last held a techie position, and even then I couldn't really geek out with my co-workers, as that was a job with the University, and my co-workers were usually international students who couldn't get a job locally.  Now, I work with some of the best and geekiest guys I've ever met, and I couldn't be happier.  Even the customers are enjoyable most of the time!  What this means is that I'll be forced to limit my entries, as I work most days out of the week, and when I'm not working I'm either playing with my band or spending time with my girl.  Wish I could spend more time with you, but the ball's gotta be dropped somewhere, and it seems to have decided on here :(.   Oh well.  I'll do my best to keep on this, just thought you should know.

Firefly = Science?

     So, last weekend, I was sitting at my parents' house, flipping through channels, when I decided to see what was on the Science Channel.  For those that don't know, this is similar to the Discovery Channel, but with a little more focus on science, and less on reality shows.  In any case, when I got there, I was surprised to find they were playing a Firefly marathon.  Now, the easy, and more logical, explanation is that the science-fiction geeks at the Science Channel convinced those in charge of programming to host a firefly marathon (and I'm assuming a showing of Serenity at the end of it).  However, the first thought that entered my brain was "Wow, I didn't realize that Firefly was science!"  The show, which features the exploits of Malcolm Reynolds and his merry crew of smugglers, as well as their passengers (a preacher, an escort, a fugitive doctor and his sister the government science project), is centered more around their daring exploits and questionable career choice, as well as their relationships, than science and facts.  It's a gritty space-western where the government isn't always looking out for you, and savages might crop up at any moment to "Rape us to death, eat our flesh, and sew our skins into their clothing, and if we're very very lucky, they'll do it in that order" (Zoe, in the pilot episode).

     Sprung from the genius mind of Joss Whedon, creator of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," Firefly was picked up by Fox, the canceler of awesome TV shows, for a full season.  It was subsequently canceled (what did I tell you?) after only airing 11 of 14 produced episodes.  The release of the episodes on DVD, however, inspired Whedon to create a feature-length film called Serenity which served to tie up loose ends left after the show's premature cancellation.  The series has become a "cult classic," and is expanding rapidly.  I guess what they say is true, art is always appreciated more when no more of said artwork will be made.

I don't think the Science Channel was implying any scientific merit to the series by having the marathon (though there are some interesting ideas thrown around), but it was still a laugh to run across by accident :)

Okay, let's kick things off!

     Hello blogosphere!  welcome to my little geek-rant page.  I've spent many years getting riled up about many of our cultural contributions, and decided I could use an outlet.  Here we can discuss both the awesome and the crappy.  So, look forward to many insightful entries in the future.  I'll update as fast as I find things to be passionate about.