Nick Davis's Blog, page 95

And now for a little light viewing… Cue elevator music…

Brought to you from my Cat Sanity Gallery, a new sighting that just doesn't seem right… Rory the Marley Puppy and Tayln the Cat laying together, just doesn't seem right, right? Now cue elevator music…

You can't go home again

You can't go home again. I've head this phrase many times and it is true you can't. Everything you remember when you were a kid is a lot different now your an adult. While nostalgia is a wonderful thing it can blind you to stories, to reimagines that vastly improve or build upon mythos of the original, never let yourself get stuck in the past, it closes the mind and you miss wonders you can never imagine.

For example I will choose Battlestar Galactica a franchise that has fairly recently ended a critically acclaimed series with some amazing writing, dynamic characters, based on what all intents and purposes was a show made to cash in on the Star Wars craze. When the original show aired back in 1978 it was one the most expensive shows on TV and Glenn Larson gave a show that had a dark undercurrent that slowly as the show developed got stripped away, and turned into a pure kids show. I remember watching this when I was a kid and totally blown away by the Vipers, the huge Battlestar and good vs evil story, it was a cartoon given life and I loved it. Sure in the end it got campy, you almost expected the Cylons to do the Can-Can during the Pegasus episode, and I think we only saw glimpses of what Glenn Larson wanted to bring.  It was good clean family fun.

Re-watching the series almost thirty years later with my kids, the show hasn't aged that well, while I appreciated the innocent fun of it, I had forgotten how it dragged in places, that some of the writing didn't really make sense, if the bad guys were this bad and the good guys this competent, where was the threat? Sure it was that live-action cartoon that I remembered complete with repeating stock footage,  but this was a show that was in a prime-time slot when it was first released it lacked the meat it promised with all those wonderful Star Log ads.

It did birth the re-imagined Battlestar Galactica series, which I nicknamed sweaty sci-fi, that took the concept of the show turned it on its head and I think delivered on those promises that Glenn Larson tried to put in the original. Ron Moore took risks, changed the concept of the Cylons, changed around gender on key characters (did you know Katee Sackhoff played Starbuck three times longer than Dirk Benedict – so who is the real Starbuck?) and wrote a show, that well… Was surprisingly good.  It delivered on that adult BSG that the original wasn't allowed to do, it was gritty and a real palpable sense that humanity was running for its life against an implacable relentless foe. It was different show, with some nice salutes to the original, it was what BSG should of been from the very beginning in the 70′s.

I am of the opinion that those that write off the re-imagined series as badly done retread of the original, never, ever watched an episode of the new series and rejected it out of hand. Perhaps it was snobbery? Or a refusal to except something new. After all beyond the name it was never mean't to be the original, it was mean't to be something different and the show managed that in spades. So we in essence we now have two BSG shows, a live action 70′s cartoon and an adult drama with thought provoking writing. Plus we now have Bryan Singer talking about a third incarnation of BSG in movie form, proving that this franchise is turning Gundam like with all its alternative universes.

Just like the G1 Transformers cartoon that amazed you when you were a child, but now is a pretty badly done piece of animation viewed through the eyes of an adult, you can't go home again. Nostalgia is just that, a little bit of fun, mostly harmless, but no reason to write off something new… So say we all…

Looking for web hosting service? Then I've got a deal for you

$5 a month Web Hosting

Unlimited bandwidth

Unlimited storage

This is a great deal for first anyone looking to make there first steps on the internet and wants to move away from the limitations, bandwidth rationing and shackles of a free blogging/website services. 

For $5 a month, which you can choose to pay monthly or an entire year,  you get unlimited bandwidth, unlimited storage with pre-installed WordPress blog for you to customize to fit your needs  or another application of your choice.

Applications available are

CMS packages – Drupal, Xoops, Joomala!

Blog packages – WordPress, Serendipity

Gallery/Forum packages – Gallery2, phpBB

eCommerce – Zencart, shopsite

Wiki – mediawiki

You get own subdomain which you link to your own domain. Contact me for more details. Web design services are also available. Check out http://jekpainting.alt-world.com/ to see what we can do for you.

Websites are hosted on a cluster server, which means zero down time, or slow website response. This is true unlimited bandwidth and storage, no rationed limit, no mysterious slow downs or denial of services.  Break the mold, get yourself a website that will grow with you. Contact me today and start your hosting tonight.

Alt-World went Black in support of STOP SOPA & PIPA

Today if you visited Alt-World between the hours of 8am to 8pm you may of noticed that big black screen that greeted you. We went black in support of Stop SOPA & PIPA two bills being considered by the Houses to regulate and censor the internet. How bad could these bills be? Well… Simply put, I could not review comic books, give opinion on movies or even mention someone else's copyrighted material on my website without running the risk of being shutdown without any notice or due process… It was so loosely worded Wikipedia couldnt run and Facebook would be dead in the water.  It was censorship in its most blatant form. Don't get me wrong I'm all for protecting copyright, but not when it infringes upon First Amendment & Due Process rights.  Click these links to sign a petition and make your voice heard to your Representative, you can make a difference and anyone who says you can't is wrong. Click https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/ or http://americancensorship.org/.

I was also busy today spreading the word about STOP SOPA as best as I can with a three quotes, with above links attached to the posts.

Quote#1 – Paraphrased from Captain America

 It doesn't matter what the Media says. It doesn't matter what the Politicians or the Mobs say. It doesn't matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: The requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequence.

When the Mob and the Media and the whole world tell you to move. Your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and the tell the whole world…

No… You Move…

Quote #2 – Mark Twain

I pray you to pause and consider. Against our traditions we are now entering upon an unjust and trivial war, a war against a helpless people, and for a base object–robbery. At first our citizens spoke out against this thing, by an impulse natural to their training. Today they have turned, and their voice is the other way. What caused the change? Merely a politician's trick–a high-sounding phrase, a blood-stirring phrase which turned their uncritical heads: Our Country, right or wrong! An empty phrase, a silly phrase. It was shouted by every newspaper, it was thundered from the pulpit, the Superintendent of Public Instruction placarded it in every schoolhouse in the land, the War Department inscribed it upon the flag. And every man who failed to shout it or who was silent, was proclaimed a traitor–none but those others were patriots. To be a patriot, one had to say, and keep on saying, "Our Country, right or wrong," and urge on the little war. Have you not perceived that that phrase is an insult to the nation?

For in a republic, who is "the Country"? Is it the Government which is for the moment in the saddle? Why, the Government is merely a servant–merely a temporary servant; it cannot be its prerogative to determine what is right and what is wrong, and decide who is a patriot and who isn't. Its function is to obey orders, not originate them. Who, then, is "the Country"? Is it the newspaper? is it the pulpit? is it the school superintendent? Why, these are mere parts of the country, not the whole of it; they have not command, they have only their little share in the command. They are but one in the thousand; it is in the thousand that command is lodged; they must determine what is right and what is wrong; they must decide who is a patriot and who isn't.

Who are the thousand–that is to say, who are "the Country"? In a monarchy, the king and his family are the country; in a republic it is the common voice of the people. Each of you, for himself, by himself and on his own responsibility, must speak. And it is a solemn and weighty responsibility, and not lightly to be flung aside at the bullying of pulpit, press, government, or the empty catch-phrases of politicians. Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide it against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may. If you alone of all the nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country–hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashamed of.

Only when a republic's life is in danger should a man uphold his government when it is in the wrong. There is no other time.

This Republic's life is not in peril. The nation has sold its honor for a phrase. It has swung itself loose from its safe anchorage and is drifting, its helm is in pirate hands. The stupid phrase needed help, and it got another one: "Even if the war be wrong we are in it and must fight it out: we cannot retire from it without dishonor." Why, not even a burglar could have said it better. We cannot withdraw from this sordid raid because to grant peace to those little people on their terms–independence–would dishonor us. You have flung away Adam's phrase–you should take it up and examine it again. He said, "An inglorious peace is better than a dishonorable war."

You have planted a seed, and it will grow.

Quote #3 – Paraphrased V for Vendetta

I do, like many of you, appreciate the comforts of the everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition. I enjoy them as much as any bloke. There are, of course, those who do not want us to speak. Why? Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their power. Words offer the means to meaning and for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there?

Cruelty and injustice…intolerance and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission. How did this happen? Who's to blame? Well certainly there are those who are more responsible than others, and they will be held accountable. But again, truth be told…if you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror.

I know why you did it. I know you were afraid. Who wouldn't be? War. Terror. Disease. There were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your reason and rob you of your common sense. So if you've seen nothing, if the crimes of this government remain unknown to you, then I would suggest that you allow this even pass unmarked. But if you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would seek as I seek…then I ask you to stand beside me, and together, we can make a difference…

Today, together we made a difference and a number of Senators including two key sponsors of the SOPA & PIPA bill have dropped there support for it. This means part of the battle has been won, but make no mistake this Bill is still going in front of the Senate on January 23rd and still stands a chance of passing.

If you value your freedom of speech and due process you cannot sit idle and let this happen… Just one person can start a movement just by simply standing up. Here are those links again to make your voice heard click https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/ or http://americancensorship.org/

 

Quick Sketch Challenge by Dan Nokes – A Teddy Bear Tale Tristan throws his mighty Frisbee shield

Throughout A Teddy Bear Tale Tristan is shown using a Frisbee as a shield as he defends his child from the Monsters under the bed. Today Dan Nokes, the artist for A Teddy Bear Tale took up the Quick Sketch Challenge I issued for Tristan throwing his mighty Frisbee shield Captain America style. I think he busted out an amazing image of Tristan in action and he did it within 20 minutes!!! Whataya think?

A Teddy Bear Tale Review & Book Giveaway on the Mommy's Block Party

I ask you all to check out the amazing review for A Teddy Bear Tale over on the Mommy's Block Party, they are also running a cool giveaway where you could win a signed copy of A Teddy Bear Tale. Click here to read the review and learn more about the giveaway.

A Star Trek Odyssey that has Boldly Gone where no Trek story has ever been…

The last couple of days I've indulged the Trekkie in me by raiding Netflix for its Star Trek content, not the TV series, but stuff I've never seen before. I waded through Red Shirts and the self-indulgent Captains documentary, where I could of watch 'The Shat' walk a Star Trek convention floor all day. I subjected myself to the 1973 Star Trek Animated Series, which actually had good writing, but everything that was wrong with US based animation of that period. I even topped off my little trip down across the Alpha Quadrant with the new Star Trek motion picture, which left me feeling the franchise is in good hands because it had all good things Trek in it… Now imagine my joy discovering a new Star Trek story, Boldly Gone a new set of Trek stories about the other guys, a Starship Captain who isn't quite as famous as Captain Kirk…  Check out Boldly Gone here.

Sigmartyr Vol.3 of the Epic Stikfas action web comic – Fire Fight!

Volume Three of Sigmartyr the Stikfas Action Web Comic continues. Fire Fight!!! Omega & Alpha vs Omega, trapped by the Omega forces and pinned down by a writhing hail of bullets, all the Alpha Team can do now is hold out and hope for reinforcements. Click here to view this epic story…

A Teddy Bear Tale Book Trailer – Wander my Friends

Something to start your morning the right way. Take a look at my first Book Trailer for A Teddy Bear Tale set to the beautiful Irish Folk song Wander my Friend. To learn more about The Teddy Bear Tale please visit the main website at http://theteddybeartales.com

Meet your Everyday Playtime Friend Tristan the Baby Teddy Bear

The loyal companion paired at birth and he traveled far and wide seeing much by his boy's side often being dragged by one limb or by ear. 

Meet your new everyday playtime friend, Tristan the Baby Bear the first bear to protect you from the Monsters under the bed. Born from the pages of A Teddy Bear Tale, this is Tristan as he would of been when his child was first given him; complete with blue scarf and unconditional love.

Tristan the Baby Bear is hand made in the USA by Dotsbears and is approx 15″ inches in height with soft honey tan fur and amber eyes. He comes complete with his blue scarf and undying devotion. Tristan the Baby Bear is available for $16.99 just click the paypal button below.

Please note that each Tristan the Baby Bear is hand made, which will make your Tristan Baby Bear totally unique, you also must allow two weeks from ordering for Tristan the Baby Teddy Bear to arrive on your doorstep.