MechTurtle

When fandoms kinda bump into each other

mechturtle — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:55:23 GMT

Looks like I got BBC America just in time:

"Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!: A Royal Pain in the News" edition, Dec. 23 at 8/7C

Behind the Scenes clip #2; hear Carl Kasell say 'fish fingers and custard' at 1:13

Death of an app

mechturtle — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 18:53:20 GMT

Last week I finally got the internet memo that the e-reader app Stanza isn't compatible with iOS 5, and likely won't be updated in the future, ever. It's been a great app for me to use for reading fanfic, especially after I figured out that it could handle AO3's exported epub versions of stories, and I'm disappointed that it won't be maintained.

A number of message boards have been soliciting suggestions for replacements, though nothing seems to be able to do all of what Stanza could (or has all the bells and whistles that mattered to me). ShuBook is pretty close to meeting my needs, despite some issues with it ignoring all but the first two pages of certain stories after I change the font size. The developer of MegaReader has been hanging out at Stanza/Lexcycle's non-forums and says he's working on incorporating Stanza users' wish lists into a new update(s). That app is $2, but I probably still wait to see how the feedback is on it before trying it out.

Is that a snowflake in hell?

mechturtle — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:32:22 GMT

I actually received good news from my cable company last month: they're adding BBC America to my channel line-up! It's one of the very few channels that would tempt me to upgrade channel packages, and now it will be mine. \o/

AAAAAAHH and augh

mechturtle — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:42:49 GMT

1. OMG SWARMING ANTS OUTSIDE THE DOOR YOU STAY THE EFF AWAY FROM MY LIVING SPACE.

2. To my frustration, I've re-discovered the internet echo chamber that is "incorrectly transcribed song lyrics when no official version is available". For crying out loud, web sites, do you really think those words in verse three that you likely copied from another site make sense in that order? Really?

How much longer until the fall season?

mechturtle — Tue, 10 May 2011 20:33:08 GMT

So I clicked to see this picture (big version, no spoilers) from Mark Gatiss's Twitter of a recent Sherlock table read, and heard high-pitched dolphin-like noises. And then I realized I was the one making them.

"It wants to hug you!"

mechturtle — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:49:55 GMT

MWAHAHAHA slime molds! Today's xkcd:

"People ask me, 'Can I smell you?'"

mechturtle — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 23:08:42 GMT

Have you seen this awesome behind-the-scenes video of the latest Old Spice commercials? The technical aspects of the special effects and changing scenery are really neat. And the subject is easy on the eyes... :)

I need to join tumblr, don't I?

mechturtle — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:23:00 GMT

...so I can comment directly to posts like these:

If you're looking for me
You better check 2-2-1-B
'Cause that is where you'll find me...

When tannenbaums are smiling

mechturtle — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 05:14:00 GMT

If all the ornaments are taken off, I think an artificial Christmas tree wouldn't look too out of place during St. Patrick's Day. I mean, it's green, right? That's my story as to why it's not put away yet, and I'm sticking to it.

"We are currently over capacity." You don't say.

mechturtle — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 17:37:50 GMT

Am participating in SDCC's Web Page Reload-a-thon for tickets. I did know enough not to worry about starting right at 9:00am PST, and fortunately I can multitask during this. Watching Twitter posts, some people are getting through part of the reg process and then the next time they need to load a page, get the "over capacity" message. I wonder which will happen first, the site shuts down or so many people get discouraged and give up so traffic goes down and the page will load for me. Place your bets...

ETA: @Comic_Con: "We’re obviously not happy with this morning’s events. We are trying to find answers and get to the bottom of this." Even with this message, I'm finding it more difficult to not just click "reload" every second for a minute straight."

ETA2: I have been taunted by the purchase page, where now you can buy only one ticket at a time, and then thwarted by "over capacity". Am now doing the Reload-Resend keyboard dance.

ETA3: Second view of purchase page, no 4-day passes available, still can't check out. Now hoping for day passes.

ETA4: Alleged RT from @TicketLeap: "There are plenty of #sdcc 4 day passes available. They get held for 15 min and return to inventory if not purchased. Keep trying." Yeah, that helps if/when I end up buying day passes because the form won't let me buy anything else.

ETA5: Aaand that's what will probably happen. Have resorted to using two computers. Entered billing info for page buying day passes and got the busy signal again. More reloading in my future.

ETA6: Four-day passes inaccessible again.

ETA7: GOT DAY PASSES FOR TWO DAYS. Am questioning the wisdom of trying to get an additional day.

ETA8: Am lucky and weak and got another day. Over two hours after starting this, will now go eat something and try not to choke on frustration.

ETA9: @Comic_Con: "Badges are being processed at an extremely slow rate and, while you may receive a sold out message, many badge types are still available." OH, GOOD TO KNOW, SDCC. THAT HELPS.

Third time's the charm?

mechturtle — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:41:49 GMT

The San Diego Comic-Con announced their next attempt at mass on-line registration: Saturday, Feb. 5 at 9:00am PST. Guess I know what I'll be doing for two hours that day.

Gareth Keenan Investigates!

mechturtle — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:30:33 GMT

I love Martin Freeman, but it turns out that the only way I can stand to watch The Office (UK) on DVD is to turn on subtitles, play at 2x (the subtitles are still visible), and then hit Play at normal speed when Tim comes on. The US Office falls in to the same uncomfortable-to-watch category as Seinfeld for me. I figured that the UK version probably would, too, but that maybe I could distract myself while watching to make it bearable. No such luck. And annlarimer's observation on British DVD menus still holds.

+4 Car of Geekitude

mechturtle — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 20:18:23 GMT

While I was running errands yesterday, I saw a black Trans Am-like car approaching me with a set of red scanning lights right where you'd expect them on KITT. As it passed me I saw its license plate: TETSAIGA.

The Auric Spheroid Deception

mechturtle — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 00:19:17 GMT

Darn you, NBC's Today Show's Natalie Morales, for fooling me into watching the Golden Globe's pre-show thinking I'd see this Natalie Morales. *shakes fist*

May the odds be ever in your favor

mechturtle — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:50:36 GMT

I've got the book for only a 10-day library loan and the waiting list is huge, but dang, I'm not sure I'm in the right mood to be a third into reading Mockingjay right now. Current mood-lifters include: Sherlock DVD extras and a Sesame Street coffee table book I got at the used book store.

Speaking of DVDs, I thought I was done with my friend's copy of the Spaced set, having heard all the original UK commentaries and not feeling like I needed to hear the additional US-stars-for-Region-1-viewers commentaries. Then I re-read the packaging and realized that the new ones included Edgar, Simon, and/or Jessica, so yeah, add another week of viewing. Kevin Smith was what I expected, I kind of liked Bill Hader, and Patton Oswald got way too creepy in spots.

Life imitates memes

mechturtle — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:26:19 GMT

Apart from the too-appropriate-to-be-real "EPIC Fail" of the San Diego Comic-Con payment system this morning, I almost feel sorry for them: the Event Planning International Corporation lists their phone number on their "Registration System Error" page. I hope they survive the geek-wrath...

ETA: The phone number is gone and now it's like an error randomizer.
- "Sorry! Server is too busy. Please try a few minutes later."
- "The web system has encountered an error while attempting to service your registration process."
- "The connection was reset."
- "HTTP Error 503. The service is unavailable."
- "Unable to connect."

EATA: And registration has been shut down again (for errors, I assume, not for being sold out by any means) with an update coming later on today. Gotta admit, watching it all unfold over Twitter made me feel less alone and more grateful I didn't get up too early to do this.

My, what small t's you have.

mechturtle — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 05:41:14 GMT

Yay, the Sherlock DVD set from PBS is the uncut version! Although based on the font size of screen menus (that swoops in like Sherlock's textual observations), they're assuming I have a larger TV screen or telescopic vision.

Portal's Edge?

mechturtle — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 23:43:30 GMT

I haven't played "Mirror's Edge", but I dig this art by Bill Mudron of its main character, Faith, chatting with Chell from "Portal". Women! Who are not white! That are main characters of video games! Hanging out together! And prints are for sale.

Summer planning

mechturtle — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 04:18:18 GMT

aslkdjf;lkas Alan Davis is going to be at SDCC?! Dang, I may have to think about going next year.

PBS, don't make it hard for me to love you

mechturtle — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 04:32:55 GMT

I was all excited that ShopPBS.org had free shipping and a Gift Center discount going on for their Sherlock DVD that expires this evening. So I place the order, figuring the set would be the same as the ones at BBC America and Amazon. Then I surf around reading post-PBS-airing discussions and find out no, probably not so much.

But are they local?

mechturtle — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 14:36:05 GMT

A Google search I never thought I'd enter in my lifetime:

"taxidermy repair"

"A Study in Time"

mechturtle — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:38:37 GMT

Via lamardeuse and by di0br on YouTube, A Sherlock/Doctor Who mash-up trailer that is INCREDIBLY AWESOME and makes me wish it was a real thing in the world.

Mind your k's and y's

mechturtle — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 17:17:27 GMT

Okay, so I may have spent about two hours this morning unsuccessfully trying to track down the phone text font from Sherlock. Via tzikeh, Sherlock's POV font from "A Study in Pink" is close to ITC Johnston and London Underground (nomadicwriter points out the similar and free London Tube).

ETA: Identifont is giving me Depot, Ronnia Light, and Facit. Someone proposed Titillium at WhatTheFont but the submission is still "unsolved". Other folks in tzikeh's post have proposed Tahoma, Trade Gothic, Frutiger, and Myriad, but the k's, l's, and y's aren't quite matching.

ETA2: WE ARE CLOSE/HAVE A WINNER! A duplicate posting to WhatTheFont suggests AF Generation Z Medium.

Con panel etiquette

mechturtle — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:48:40 GMT

The original posts refer to San Diego Comic-Con, but they can apply to plenty of others. *cough*Dragon*Con*cough*

Ten Simples Rules For Asking Questions From The Floor, from Mark Evanier

Tom Spurgeon's 135+ tips for attending San Diego's CCI 2010: Tip #113, "...The key points to remember are a) no one else in the audience cares about you and b) you're not going to become friends with the panelists." -- Tom Galloway

Leverage tidbit

mechturtle — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 22:29:55 GMT

More soon, but gotta say: Yay fungus shout-out!! Plant pathology and agricultural bio-terrorism FTW!