Geek Summer Day 5: Star Trek

    I have gone back and forth trying to watch Star Trek: The Original Series for about 5 years. I am 9 episodes in. I should have just watched the damn movie first. My struggle with the series was that we the viewers really got thrown straight into the dynamic without any sort of introduction. I had no clue who these people are, what they were doing, or why I should care. The movie fixed that for me.

    I believe that a solid 10 minutes towards the beginning of the film was dedicated to showing off the set and prop designer's work on The Enterprise, which I'm not in the least bit mad about. It was beautiful, I did appreciate their work thoroughly. Basically the entire first hour of the movie was dedicated to introducing the viewer to the characters, set, and dynamics. I appreciated that a lot. Nothing major really happened that was exciting, but it made the events of the second half worth it. I don't think there would really be any other way for them to set it up. I heard it was boring, but maybe only for the severely brain rotted. Watching that movie has dramatically improved my experience watching the series.

    This movie also really made me want to jump, but in a positive way. There's not a single person with access to this blog that doesn't recognize the fact that I love the show The Big Bang Theory, particularly the character Sheldon Cooper. If you haven't watched the show, you might not be aware of his fixation on Spock. In this movie, Spock gave me the exact same gut-wrenching feeling that every Sheldon-centered episode of The Big Bang Theory gives me. I can't fully explain it.

    I saw an edit for Spock the other day, after watching this movie, to the song Let Down by Radiohead. I have avoided all "emo" music since middle school because I'm not sure that it's of any use to my mental health to acknowledge these things in such a fashion. Anyone reading this post may have some idea about my struggle to feel connected to the relationships that I've had throughout my life. A good friend recommended to me after the events earlier this year that I should strive to be alone for a while no matter how much it hurts. You know, I did try. Some people came through for me and filled the space I was left with, and I went right back into a sense of normalcy. I appreciate you all deeply for that. Sometimes though, sometimes, I am reminded that nothing really did change. I'm still not in that place where I can be comfortable. Maybe I should have listened harder to that friend. Or I could continue to pretend that I don't care. The only person who gets hurt when I do that is me.

    I don't want to watch Wrath of Khan yet. I only know one spoiler for it, and I'm not sure I'm emotionally prepared for it. For now, I will be watching the series until I reach Star Seed. Then I'll watch it. 

10/10

Geek Summer Day 4 Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

        No, I am not counting the days by the calendar, I am counting them by the days that I have engaged in my Geek Summer experiment. 

    Day 4 was actually quite a few days ago, but I kept telling myself that I'd write this post tomorrow. Well, "tomorrow always comes" as put so thoughtfully by the Manhattan Undergarment Company, inc. in 1941. On Geek Summer Day 4, I watched Return of the Jedi.

    The first thing that was noticeable to me in this film is that the harsh lighting seemed to age everyone on set. Mark Hamill may actually look younger today than he did in Return of the Jedi. Of course, casting a 30-something to play a 20-something always runs that risk. 

    Jabba, still looking as disgusting as ever, has begun a run of human trafficking. His victim? The beautiful Ms Carrie Fisher playing Princess Leia. After being caught attempting to free Han Solo from carbonite (although I'd make that risk too, have you seen Harrison Ford?) she was given the Princess Jasmine treatment of skimpy reflective clothes and a chain around her neck like a dog. Maybe this is where Sabrina Carpenter drew inspiration from for her new album, Man's Best Friend.

    Luke shows up in a cape, and you know how I feel about capes. He saves the day with jedi magic, and a lot of fighting later he goes back to see Master Yoda, now on his deathbed. Plot Twist: the hot girl who was Luke's whole motivation for getting involved in the Star Wars? Yeah, that's his sister. I suppose that makes up for Han Solo totally stealing his girl.

    A few crises later and Luke is off to confront his father, but not before talking to Leia in private and making Han jealous. Han however, a progressive, and apologies for acting brashly towards Leia and forgives her for her hesitance in telling Han what was going on. I love a feminist.

    Luke is now up in the reconstructed Death Star confronting his father, convinced he can turn him back for good. Vadar takes him back to the emperor who reveals everything was a trap again, of course, and all of Luke's friends will die. He intentionally provokes Luke to try to draw his anger and bring him to The Dark Side. 

    It's actually hilarious to me how many conservatives are also Star Wars fans. This episode directly criticizes the same techniques used by conservatives and cult leaders alike. What radicalized me? Star Wars. I cannot imagine that the prequels are any less political with the timeframe they were released in. 

    Evil made Darth Vadar ugly. I won't get too much into the ending because I was crying, but Luke should've put that helmet right back on. I'd also like to see a follow up with Luke getting grief counseling, because he's had all of no mentors stay alive. I also would have liked seeing Leia meet her father too. 

10/10 I see why this series is a classic.

Miss Cathy has Chickens

     Yes, you read that right. Cathy has chickens. What's the issue, you might ask? Our city hasn't allowed chickens since 2009. So what are her arguments?

• Her residence has always had chickens, since 1986. Her chickens should be grandfathered in.
• Her husband has Huntington's, so he needs to keep all 11 chickens to maintain peace.

    Cathy, chickens don't live 17 years. Every chicken that has been born on her property or else-wise acquired has broken the ordinance. Also, there is no way that your husband's doctor genuinely believes that he needs 11 chickens for his Huntington's.

    I honestly couldn't believe this, I though Miss Cathy was rage baiting. The chicken obsession has gone too far, so far in fact that she has overtaken our city's extreme right-wing Facebook group just to talk about how her "rights" are being violated. There's no way her 60-something year old husband with Huntington's really needs all of those chickens, and she's only ever posted one photo of him even around them! But her, she posts photos with her chickens almost daily. I thought it had to be a joke, so I went with two of my good friends to check it out. 

    We drove to her address, which we were able to easily find online. I was surprised to see that what she called her "farm" was in fact a regular house alongside a plastic bag distributer, which is where Google Maps actually took us to. From the parking lot of the plastic bag distributer, we were able to get a glimpse at this "farm." A moderate backyard, complete with a chicken coop. We actually did see one of her chickens! It's real! I saw it with my own two eyes, and my two good friends saw it too.

    

    It's one of those things you have to see to believe. 11 chickens in someone's backyard in a city with ordinance against fowl isn't something you see every day. I think we'll really be hard pressed to find another resident of my city with such character as to spend all of their time, energy, and money into defending their over-crowed chicken "farm."

    As for Miss Cathy and her husband? They were nowhere in sight. I also couldn't see a car from where we were. Is Miss Cathy's husband ok? Does he really need 11 chickens? That's a question I couldn't answer today, but I can say the chickens are real.

Geek Summer Day 2 + 3: The Empire Strikes Back, Moutain Dew, and the Hot 7-Eleven Clerk

     Yesterday I watched The Empire Strikes Back by popular vote. First off, I'd like to note that half of my voters voted after the poll timer ended, but it didn't matter because The Empire Strikes Back still ended up winning. Second off, I hate all of you for that. I intended on watching Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark on Geek Summer Day 3, but The Empire Strikes back just had to end on a cliff hanger. There may be another poll soon. As for watching another movie today? I'm tuckered out.

    First off -- Han Solo is still a hot scoundrel. Princess Leia is still a bitch (positive.) and a leader. We got introduced to Yoda, and honestly, I would've reacted like Luke. They said Luke was being immature, but this guy just went through all of his stuff and took his lamp. Crazy. I suppose after the reveal he's a likable character, but I just can't get behind the "test of character" trope. 

    Billy Dee Williams? An icon. I wanted him at Met Gala 2025. That cape made every scene he was in better. Hate with a capital H that the movie ended with him and Chew still searching for Han. Bring Han Back 2025. 

    I knew from the get-go that Darth would end up being Luke's father, but I feel that added to the suspense for me. I knew it was coming, I just didn't know when. Him cutting off his son's hand though in attempt to convince him to join their side? Wack. Our ole' Dear Leader wouldn't even do that. Mark Hamil, I love you, but you sucked at convincing me that you had no hand. None the less, I literally could not look away. I had some chips to eat, but even hearing myself eat them took me out of the scene too much and I quit. 

    10/10 Geek Summer is going well.

    I've never had Mountain Dew, not that I can remember at least. After going to confirm that Miss Cathy is real and does have 11 chickens in her back yard, I stopped by the local 7-Eleven with my good friend. We had been there last week, and I thought that clerk was so hot I just had to go back. This time, he asked for my name. I totally mispronounced it, I don't know what he even heard. I'll have to either invent some excuse or gaslight him if I see him again, and boy I hope I do.

    Anyways, Moutain Dew is a staple in the geek community as I know it. I told myself I wouldn't drink it until enough time since the death of my 3rd and 4th grade computer teacher, Mr Kaunelis, had passed but I think it has been long enough. Then, I didn't drink Mountain Dew because of a guy I dated who is now a local drug addict to the best of my knowledge, it was his favorite drink too. However now, in the spirit of Geek Summer, I will have my first taste.

    As I cracked open the lid, an interesting aroma was emitted: a strong citrus scent, reminiscent of a fresh lemon as it's being cut into for the first time. I had absolutely no knowledge about the flavor of Mountain Dew prior to this, so the citrus scent excites me. 

    The carbonation is about average for a Pepsi soda, I made sure mine had settled to only a slightly chilled temperature so that I could get the most accurate tasting. The flavor is strong, there's no mistaking this is meant to be a citrus drink. Sprite, Sierra Mist/Starry, and their generic alternatives have never tasted lemon/lime to me, but Mountain Dew certainly does. It almost tastes just like a carbonated lemonade, and looks like it too. They must have reduced some of the radioactive green dye that they had in my childhood. This drink is a solid 8/10, great soda but somehow not as exciting as I expected it to be.

    That's the thing about Geek Summer though, I don't know what to expect from anything. All I know is that people really, and I mean really, love these things. I will too.

Biology Study Day 1: Exploring the Living World and How Life is Studied

     I picked up a Biology for Dummies book to read over the summer, since of course Mr. Burnett had to make every advanced STEM class during 6th hour this year, and I couldn't take AP Bio. The last time that I've even thought about Biology was freshman year. Well, now I have to take Biology again starting August 26th!

    Here is what I took away from Chapter One, Exploring the Living World:

Biology: The study of all living things

• The smallest unit of life is a cell
• Meiosis is the type of cell division present is sexual reproduction
• Chromosomes carry genetic information in the form of DNA
• 23 chromosomes come from each parent, totaling 46 chromosomes in each cell
• DNA contains the instructions for proteins that execute the functions of each genetic trait
• Recombiant DNA technology takes genes from one organism and places them into the cells of another
• Homeostasis is the balance that all living things work to maintain as change occurs around them. 
• I remember quite literally all of this from 9th grade.

    That last point is a good thing, at least I haven't lost the basics! 

Why I Changed My Name

     I didn't like it.

    That's all.

Geek Summer Day 1: Star Wars

 "When it first came out when I was in basic training, I left the theater. Then I tried watching it again years later and couldn't do it. This is the first time I've ever watched this movie all the way through."

    Thanks Dad, you failed me!

    I'm kidding of course, but I am sorely disappointed. Not in Star Wars: A New Hope, but in my family for lying to me. That movie was anything but boring.

    Now, I don't watch a lot of movies. I don't have that kind of attention span. My top movies are the Sissi Trilogy + Victoria in Dover, and the Anne of Green Gables Trilogy - the third movie. You may be thinking: "But Laurie aren't these incredibly long movies with zero action and a plot that drags on? Also isn't Sissi in German?" YES, but they are movies filled with gorgeous women, so they get a pass. But let me say with my lack of film expertise, this was one of the best movies I've ever seen.

    The beginning was long and slow. It was hard to follow exactly what was going on. I had no clue who anyone was or what they were doing -- then I did. Then everything came together. Then, I was hooked. After about twenty minutes, you could not drag me from my seat if it was on fire. 

    Some of the visuals were a bit funny, especially for someone who doesn't deal with any sort of supernatural films beyond Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie. I won't lie, I laughed when I first saw Jabba. But oh, cara mia, the Millennium Falcon and Death Star were beautiful. As a GeoGuesser warrior, I appreciate good architectural design. 

    I wish that Chewbacca would have shut up, I could not stand that sound. 

    The plot was great. I think I'd have to rewatch it a few times to catch all of the intricacies. Han Solo was hot, Miss Carrie Fischer was a total bitch in the best way, and Luke was. . . a believable teenage boy. I usually don't like action of any kind, it's just filler to me, but I didn't mind it at all here. It was actually somewhat exciting.

    My original reasoning for Geek Summer was just to know the kinds of things the type of guy I like enjoys, so that I'm not forced to rely on someone else to teach me. . . but I actually already love it. I said I'd never watch Star Wars, but I lost my Star Wars virginity today and guaranteed my actual virginity for the rest of my life.

    10/10 really geared me up for Geek Summer.