Random Bits

I'm noticing a trend in literature - especially YA literature - that publishers are numbering books in a series... oddly.  There will be a book series, say its a trilogy, so you get Book One "Foo,"  Book Two "Foo Too," and Book Three "Foo as Well."  Then, there will be a prequel, maybe not even a full book length called Book ZeroPointFive "Before Foo," and between Book Two and Book Three there might be a side-story for a secondary character that doesn't fit in the story arc called Book TwoPointFive "Not Foo, But Related to Foo."

I mean, I know Douglas Adams did it for laughs (I'm looking at the Hitchhiker's guide "Trilogy" that went on for five books and one omnibus was called "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: the Trilogy of Four" and after that came the fifth book which had as its subtitle "The fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhiker's Trilogy").

But really?  Producing a novella or a short story and then tacking a PointFive to whatever number you want it to come in the story arc as a whole just seems like shoddy storytelling.  Either develop the story fully, or cut out the bits that don't add anything but giving anything a PointFive numbering looks like a marketing ploy in order to get more money out of me so I can read the "Full Story/Back Story/Secondary Character's Story."

I mean, I guess I have accepted that the publishers are asshats along about the time they re-numbered the Narnia series in 1994 to be "in sort of chronological order" even through if you read them for the first time in that order you would be very confused and kind of put off (You NEED the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe to get the introduction to Narnia - starting with the Magician's Nephew when you don't KNOW what Narnia is about just makes no sense - and the Magician's Nephew is kinda boring anyway). 

I guess I am Just Not A Fan Of The PointFives.

JFC I wish the utility companies and cable companies gave you a TAD BIT more time between the billing and the payment due date. Because I was out of the flippin' country from the day the bill was likely delivered (day I left) to the time it was actually due (day before I arrived home).

And don't tell me I should "pay online" - I know WAY TOO MUCH about exactly how not-secure the Internet is to be comfortable doing that. Hazards of the job. Maybe when security comes a little farther (and yes, I am aware that for 99% of the people the security holes in online banking will never be breached so the odds are in my favor. I still can't do more than check my balances).

Feel free to skip this - I am unavoidably grumpy.

I just got the FOURTH baseball schedule from a real estate agency in less than a week. I don't care about baseball. I am not a Red Sox fan, or part of Red Sox Nation, or whatever the hell. STOP spamming me with the schedule of games as fridge magnets, or postcards, or placards!

RELIGIOUS ADVERTISING - WTF people? Why all of a sudden are the catholic religious advertisements all over television? The whole thing is fairly distasteful. And a little creepy, to be honest.

Those TD bank commercials with Regis and whatsherface. The latest one must have been shot when they were both sick, because hearing their congestion and raspyness makes me cringe - I have to mute the TV when they come on - neither one have particularly aurally pleasing voices anyway.

Automatic cell phone OS updates - I am not pleased that the latest update renamed and erased some of my most used apps. Minor irritation that I know I'll get used to - but why relabel "Alarm Clock" just "Clock"? It USED to be the very first app - now I have to hunt for it under "C."

As much as I love my Wii, the little Fit Plus scale critter annoys the crap out of me. No, I will not "think about" the reasons for my weight gain. I gained two pounds. I am hormonal, not snacking or eating late. Just normally HORMONAL. grrrr.

Huh. I feel better. But I reserve the right to come back and bitch the next time I need to.

Netflix is so much fun - and quite the mixed bag...

( Movie Reviews )
Other than the movies, not much going on here. The last few days have been extremely hot and humid, and the weather seems to be unstable, as today started out fairly cool and dry.

I auditioned for a play, but did not get cast. I knew I would not get cast, because I don't dance, and dancing was essential. I won't say I *can't* dance, because it kind of remains to be seen. Lets say I have never *studied* dance. And being the klutz I am, dance was never going to be a very good fit. However I always wanted to learn at least some of the basics. I just haven't had the opportunity. One thing I wished I had growing up. Less piano lessons. After just over two years of lessons my teacher told my mother perhaps piano wasn't the right activity for me. Old bat.

Ah well. So no rehearsals in my near future, sadly. I always love the process of putting together a show. Its just that this show slotted so neatly into my schedule. I so need a new job so I don't have to plan around these stupid meetings anymore.

Well, I've finished my bitchfest. What's new out there with all of you?