Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 31

November 25, 2024: 3 Life Changes I Made That Saved Me a Bunch of Money!

1 ) I changed the way I eat

I used to eat a modest breakfast, a big lunch, and an even bigger dinner but, over time, I began to realize I was always over-eating late.  So I changed things up.  First off, I decided to skip breakfast.  I realize most people (like Akemi) can’t do without something first thing, but I was never hungry in the morning so, instead, I simply enjoyed an early lunch.  A massive early lunch because THAT would be my big meal of the day.  I do a matcha latte mid-afternoon to tide me over, and then a light dinner – usually a couple of eggs, some yogurt with fruit and/or granola.  I have never been a snacker, so 6:00 p.m. is my cut-off.  No more food at 6:00 p.m.  This decision was made out of a desire to be more health conscious.  As it turns out, I had started intermittent fasting – not eating for 17 hours.  Even though that had’t been my intent when I adopted this schedule, it’s really worked out for me.  I’ve lost weight, generally feel better, and we save on those more modest dinners.

2 ) I got rid of my car

Like skipping breakfast, getting rid of a car is not feasible for most, but it was for me given I live downtown and most everything is within walking distance.  And whatever isn’t within walking distance is an occasional bus or uber ride away.  It’s been about six years since I sold my car and this decision has saved me the price of a car, maintenance fees, insurance costs, and parking expenses.

3) We adopted a dog with separation anxiety

Back in my previous relationship, I would eat out every meal.  Almost EVERY meal.  On the rare occasions we didn’t eat out, we would order in.  I was 15 lbs heavier too!  But when I started dating Akemi – who is a terrific cook by the way – our dinners out decreased significantly.  Prior to adopting Sharky, my average had dropped to 1, maybe 2 outing a week, occasionally to one of those fancy high-end restaurants I used to love so much.   Once we adopted Sharky, however, those fancy dinners became a thing of the past because we couldn’t bear to leave him alone.  The only times we could go out would be for patio lunches that could accommodate a dog – and those were usually very casual places…and only open during the warm weather months.  As a result, we have saved bigly on dining expenses.

There are other smaller steps I’ve taken to bring our monthly budget down including cancelling pointless subscriptions (adios, Netflix!), cutting back on those supervillain statues and t.v.-themed cufflinks, and simply having Akemi run a monthly budget to make me aware of how much I spend on lattes, chocolate, and whiskey.

So, I’m curious.  Are you all cutting expenses?  If so, what are you losing?

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November 24, 2024: Sharky Sunday!

Sharky pressures mom for treats…

Out and About with Sharky – Quantum Coffee with Ella…

A taste of croissant makes Sharky do a double-take…

Fruit Fight!

Sharky gets his teeth brushed…

Sharky puts his toy away…

Sharky snacks: smashed pork!

Sharky enjoys some freeze-dried fruit…

Sharky’s Top 5 Mushroom Names for Dogs…

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November 23, 2024: Our Outer Limits rewatch begins with season 1, episodes 1-4!

Season 1, Episode 1 “The Galaxy Being”

This episode first aired September 16, 1963.

The episode was clearly inspired by The Day the Earth Stood Still (1961).

Originally titled “Please Stand By”, it was produced for ABC as a pilot for a series originally named Please Stand By.

The show was picked up by ABC but executives were leery about a sci-fi show, so they requested every episode include some sort of monster, and that the monster would appear in the first five minutes of the episode. Apparently, creature shows were okay.

Several scenes from the original pilot were cut for the broadcast version including scenes where the Galaxy Being warns that his people might destroy Earth and another where Allan attempts to shake his unconscious wife back into consciousness.

The shimmering alien effect was achieved by dressing actor William Douglas in a backwards black neoprene wet-suit slathered with glycerin that would reflect off the hot studio lights. “In post-production, this footage was negative-reversed and then superimposed onto the main footage. The net effect was one of the most economical but effective aliens in film or television.”

The alien’s eyes were glass crow’s eyes acquired from a taxidermist.

Series creator Leslie Stevens, who wrote and directed this episode, would go on to work on Battlestar Galactica (1978) and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979). He reflected back on William Douglas’s portrayal of the alien being: “Douglas added a touch of weirdness in the way he walked by using a praying mantis as a model. You can see how he look and turns with his whole body. The creature perceives a world that is to him made of glass.”

Series producer Joseph Stefano adapted Robert Bloch’s novel, Psycho, for the big screen.

Actor Cliff Robertson, who played Alan Maxwell, also appeared in two Twilight Zone episodes (“A Hundred Yards over the Rim” and “The Dummy”). He is best known for his performance in Charly as the character of the same name.

Jacqueline Scott, who played Carol Maxwell, makes a return appearance in season 2’s “Counterweight”. She appeared in The Twilight Zone episode “The Parallel” and had recurring role as Richard Kimble’s sister, Donna, in the r.v. series The Fugitive. She also played chimpanzee scientist Dr. Zira in The Planet of Apes. Commenting on the post three-hour makeup process she had to undergo for the role: “When some of the crew said how pretty I looked, I knew they had been on the show too long!”

Lee Phillips, who played Gene “Buddy” Maxwell, also appeared in two episodes of The Twilight Zone (“Passage on the Lady Anne” and “Queen of the Nile”). He enjoyed a prolific career as a t.v. director on shows like MAS*H, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and The Waltons. He directed 60 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show.

Bert Metcale, who played DJ Eddie Phillips, was another Twilight Zone alum who appeared in “The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street”. He produced, associate produced, and executive produced MAS*H over its entire 11-year run.

A solid start to the series, this episode establishes the template for episodes to come – the obsessed scientist, the misunderstood alien, the suspicious supporting characters invariably complicating the situation. I thought the alien effect quite well done for the time and the overall performances very good (although the female characters could have been a tad less hysterical). Having grown accustomed to The Twilight Zone’s half hour run time, I did find the one hour format a little more challenging given the story, but interested to see how the ensuing episodes play out.

What did you all think?

Season 1, Episode 2 “The One Hundred Days of the Dragon”

This episode first aired September 23, 1963.

Although this episode was the second to air, it was actually the seventh episode produced for the show’s first season. Creator Leslie Stevens said he was: “delighted to see that go as an early show. It gave the series the impetus and power to get it started and make it do well from the very first . “

A month after this episode, depicting the assassination of a presidential candidate aired, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

The manipulation of Selby’s facial features was a fairly shocking visual at the time of this episode’s airing. The effect was achieved by using a Projected Unlimited clay bust of Shelby that was never shown full-face onscreen because, according to make-up artist Fred Phillips: “Somebody always had their fingers in it.”

Byron Haskin, who directed this episode, helmed Walt Disney’s first live-action film, Treasure Island (1950). He also directed The War of the Worlds (1953), The Naked Jungle (1954), Conquest of Space (1955) and The Power (1968). He is perhaps best known for directing the cult classic Robinson Crusoe on Mars (1964).

This was the first script sale for the writing team of Allan Balter and Robert Mintz. Balter would later work on Mission: Impossible. Not surprisingly, this episode as a definite M:I feel.

Tony Award-winning actor Sidney Blackmer, who played the part of Williams Lyons Selby, is best remembered for his portrayal of the warlock Roman Castevet in Rosemary’s Baby (1968).

This marks the second television episode in which a character played by Philip Pine has someone else assume their facial features. The other episode was The Twilight Zone’s “The Four of Us Are Dying”.

If you can get past the silliness of the premise, and the absurdly lax security surrounding a presidential candidate, and the fact that a sudden difference in someone’s teeth would be quite obvious to all, this is a pretty riveting hour of television that clearly drew inspiration from The Manchurian Candidate. Some of the narrative elements are a little…uh…dated, shall we say?…yet “The One Hundred Days of the Dragon” proves highly entertaining all the same.

Season 1, Episode 3 “The Architects of Fear”

This episode was first broadcast September 30, 1963.

This was the last episode of the show to use the extended introduction sequence.

Vic Perrin, the Control Voice, never watched an episode of the show.

The opening shots of people running for their lives was reused footage from It Came from Beneath the Sea and the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms.

When this episode first aired, some stations considered the alien too scary and cut to black whenever it appeared onscreen. Other stations moved the episode to the 11:00 p.m. time slot out of an abundance of caution.

This is one of only thirteen Outer Limits episodes with an original score by Dominic Frontiere.

The shot of Allan on the operating table partway through his transition was created by actor Robert Culp and makeup artist Fred B. Phillips, surprising director Byron Haskin.

The scientists’ plot is very similar to the final reveal of Alan Moore’s Watchmen. When this was pointed out to Moore, he included a scene of one of the characters, Sally Jupiter, watching The Outer Limits.

Meyer Dolinsky, the writer of this episode, would go on to write “Plato’s Stepchildren” for Star Trek (1968).

Producer Joseph Stefano included the scene in which the hunters encounter “the alien”, while director Byron Hoskin included the dog. According to Hoskin: “I used the dog as the first being to encounter the Thetan. Its reaction was more spontaneous and therefore more real. A dog can’t reason per se, and yet it was scared. ”

In the original ending, the scientists actually attempt to destroy the rampaging Thetan by severing its nitrogen cable and flooding the lab with oxygen.

Actor Robert Culp, who played the doomed Allen Leighton, was best known for his portrayal of Kelly Robinson opposite Bill Cosby in I Spy (1965). He has the distinction of playing five different murders on Columbo. He returns for one of The Outer Limits’ most beloved episodes, “Demon with a Glass Hand” in season 2. Culp reminisced: “I really didn’t understand how they were going to get away with doing this show on the sort of budget they had, but I was game. I went home and pretty soon the script showed up. I have alway adored science fiction, what I didn’t realize was that it was a part of me, and was going to be apart of me for the rest of my life after that.”

Geraldine Brooks, who played Yvette Leighton, received a Tony nomination in 1970 for “Brightover” on Broadway. She’ll return to play William Shatner’s wife in season 2’s “Cold Hands, Warm Heart”.

Janos Prahoska was a talented actor and acrobat who portrayed the Thetan. He built a career playing various creatures in gorilla and bear – and occasionally alien – suits. On The Andy Williams Show, he played a bear who was always trying to get a cookie from Williams. Recalled director Haskin: “When I first met Janos, he came into my office, put a beer bottle on the table, and then stood o his head with his finger in the bottle, supporting himself. He could defy the law of gravity.”

But working in the suit (with all that airplane glue) was tough. According to producer Joseph Stefano: “It was heartbreaking to see him when they finally let him out for air. The man was soaking wet and heaving. I just couldn’t understand why he would it but, you know, you need somebody to play a monster and somebody always says “Okay” and then you’ve got to worry about air-conditioning his suit!”

Janos would, tragically, die in a plane crash along with his son while working on the ABC t.v. series Up From the Ape in 1975.

This one was a pretty terrifying episode. While the scientists’ plan was clever on a conceptual level, I can’t help but feel they didn’t really think it through. In a similar vein, I feel Allan didn’t real think things through either. I mean, wouldn’t it have been a good idea to tell his wife what was going on from the get-go? Certainly before he had sex with her during his transformation? I really did love that shot of Yvette coming down the stairs of the lab, the shadow cast on the wall showing her very (ominously) pregnant.

My favorite episode of the young season to date.

Season 1, Episode 4 “The Man with the Power”

This episode was first broadcast October 8, 1963.

From this episode moving forward, a shorter version of the Control Voice intro is used.

Also from this episode moving forward, the teaser is a flash-forward clip from a later scene.

The operating theatre set used in this episode was the same one used in the previous episode, “The Architects of Fear”.

The Finleys living room was previously occupied by Ted and Anne Pearson in “The Hundred Days of the Dragon”.

The energy cloud is comprised of roiling smoke overlaid with lightning bolts and electrical discharges.

Actor Donald Pleasance, who played Harold J. Finley, is best remembered for his portrayals of Dr. Sam Loomis in the Halloween films and Ernst Stavro Blofeld You Only Live Twice. He also delivered a memorable performance as Professor Ellis Fowler in the Twilight Zone episode “A Changing of the Guard”.

His annoying boss was played by Edward C. Platt, a fellow Twilight Zone alum who gained fame playing the Chief on Get Smart 1965.

This one was a little underwhelming in comparison to the previous episode, although I did love the fact that Harold was as much a victim of his abilities as, well, his victims – and that despite the power bequeathed him, he struggled against his subconscious desires until the very end. Pleasance is terrific here and it was quite a coup for the production to land him. He was apparently wrapping up filming a movie at the time when he was convinced to extend his visa another two weeks to guest on the show.

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November 22, 2024: Heading back home!

My mother’s house is falling apart. Last week, we learned she would need to replace the heat pump.  Then, this morning, while doing laundry, I heard the sound of water dripping, opened up the garage door, and was greeted by this sight…

My mother located her old address book and gave me the plumber’s number.  But she cautioned: “I haven’t called him in many years. He may be dead.”

As it turns out, it’s not a plumbing issue but a roofing issue as the leak is actually rainwater runoff.  The roofer (Who, if you believe my mom, was somewhere in his 80s when he completed the job) was not up to the challenge.  Alas, he was the cheaper option – in every way.  The same could be said for the guy in charge of the kitchen renovation who got the job done at a rock bottom price delivering rock bottom quality.

Heading home tonight.  This weekend, I need to prep two pitches – one for my android-themed murder mystery (combining two of my favorite genres), the other a big deal, big budget adaptation that sees me partnered with an absolutely brilliant mind.  As always, I await word on: the cozy mystery series, the action-adventure series, the monster show, and the horror movie.

It’ll be nice to get back to the wife and dog!

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November 21, 2024: Wrapping up the Montreal trip!

Name an under appreciated book that needs a t.v. or film adaptation.

My pick…

In 3016, the 2nd Empire of Man spans hundreds of star systems, thanks to faster-than-light Alderson Drive. Intelligent beings are finally found from the Mote, an isolated star in a thick dust cloud. The bottled-up ancient civilization, at least one million years old, are welcoming, kind, yet evasive, with a dark problem they have not solved in over a million years.

What book would you love to see get the small or big screen treatment?

Akemi insists Japanese crows are even more formidable due to hyper-intelligence developed as a result of their consumption of discarded McDonald’s meals.

This was pretty on point, even back in the day…

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Heading back home tomorrow after spending a few days with mom.  We did some rearranging yesterday to make room for the hospital bed mom received.  She found it much more comfortable for sleeping as it’s easier to get in and out, and also offer the option of remote-adjusting the foot and head.  So much so, in fact, that she encouraged me to give it a go while she was downstairs.  I respectfully passed.  Think I’ll hold out while I still can.  Also, ordered LifeLine security system that is comprised of a necklace/bracelet with a panic button in case she falls while no one is home or the remote doesn’t work and she can’t turn the t.v. on to watch Murder She Wrote.  I have been doing a lot of sitting while I’ve been here and I very much look forward to resuming my slightly less sedentary lifestyle.

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November 20, 2024: Amazing Covers!

A few that caught my eye this week…

Spider-Gwen: Ghost Spider #7 – cover art by Nic Klein

The Immortal Thor #17 – cover art by Alex Ross

Ultimate Spider-Man #11 – cover art by Corin Howell

Action Comics #1076 – cover art by Clayton Henry

Action Comics #1076 – cover art by A.L. Kaplan

Batman #156 – cover art by Ryan Benjamin

Catwoman #70 – cover art by Sebastian Fiumara

Catwoman #70 – cover art by W. Scott Forbes

Catwoman #70 – cover art by Frank Cho

Catwoman #70 – cover art by Homare

Dark Knights of Steel: Allwinter #5 – cover art by Homare

The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 – cover art by Cian Tormey

The Question: All Along the Watchtower #1 – cover art by Jorge Fornes

ThunderCats #10 – cover art by Lucio Parrillo

ThunderCats #10 – cover art by Rahzzah

Gun Honey: Collision Course – cover art by Alex Roland

Tales of Asunda #1 – cover art by Jae Lee

Life #2 – cover art by Dan Panosian

Ascencia #28 – cover art by Ben Oliver

So, which were YOUR favorites?

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November 19, 2024: Recent Yes/No’s – best and worst!

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BEST: Macadamia white snow chocolate frappuccino

WORST: Picklewitch

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November 18, 2024: This and That!

Back in Montreal for the week!

That time Gilligan’s Island introduced a new generation to both Hamlet and Carmen…

This scene from the season finale of The Penguins was wild…

Jen Blood over on X comes up with the most awesome Sharky-themed gifs – even going to the trouble of sampling Sharky for his new single…

A reminder…

Our Outer Limits rewatch begins this Wednesday, November 20th with episode 1, “The Galaxy Being”.. Join us!

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November 17, 2024: Sharky Sunday!

Snack time!

Out and About – checking out the food court at The Well…

Fluffing it up!

Doggy Advent Calendar!

Massage instructions…

Sharky’s top 5 Favorite Snacks – November, 2024

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November 16, 2024: Our next classic rewatch!

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Well, that’s it.  The people have spoken.  Thus our Outer Limits begins this Wednesday, November 20th with episode 1, “The Galaxy Being”, the story of a technician at a radio station who makes contact an alien from the Andromeda galaxy.  Who’s in?

Swiftegressophobia: Fear of being caught in a crowd leaving a Taylor Swift concert…

I have anxiety just thinking about it.

Akemi was amazed at the fact Taylor Swift concert tickets were going for 20k a pop.

Akemi: “Does that include food?”

What was the last concert YOU attended?

[image error]Anyone want to go halfsies with me on Morning Joe?  I can rebrand and not have to change the name of the show!

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