January 6, 2011: Getting to the bottom of things! At my place, it's Christmas all year round (or at least until I take down the tree)! And the mailbag!

Last night, I eschewed the tried and true remedy I've always used to cure past maladies (a.k.a. ignoring the pesky ailment until it eventually tires of trying to win my attention and redirects its focus onto some other poor sap) in favor of the speedy solutions of the internet age.  After about fifteen minutes googling my symptoms, I'd narrowed down my mystery illness to blood poisoning, circulatory issues, or a hilarious difficult to pronounce albeit deadly virus.  Anyway, needless to say my insomnia was back.  Today, I finally got to the bottom of things by going to see my doctor.  Thankfully, no diagnosis of any of the aforementioned conditions.  Instead, he didn't know what was wrong with me either.  Whew, what a relief.

He figures its stress-related and suggested Claritan.  And some blood tests.  And a full physical.

In two weeks.

Hey, how long is too long for a Christmas tree to remain up after the holidays have ended?  I mean, it's obviously something I'll get around to, but I've got other things to do and it's not really hurting anyone sitting there all festive and such.  The same could be said for my giant plastic Halloween pumpkin, but my sister wasn't buying it.  Guess it'll join the tree and the creepy dancing gift-giving grandma back in the garage.  Eventually.

Today's entry is dedicated to the memory of my sister's chameleon, Buffy the Cricket Slayer…

Mailbag:

Ponytail writes: "It was pretty cool of your mom to come visit you. Especially since she had broken her leg just last year. I guess she has gone home now? Did she have any advise for you? Don't you have any more pictures of her visit?"

Answer: Sure.  Here's a shot of her relaxing with the kids.

As for advice – she's a mother!  She had plenty.

Arctic Goddess writes: "I've been very impressed with Space Channel's support of the show so far. Does MGM or Bridge have an agreement with Space, or are they just being great Sci-Fy fans?"

Answer: They're just being a great broadcaster.  They've gone all out to promote the show and have produced THE BEST teaser-trailers out there.  Check 'em out http://www.spacecast.com/Stargate-Universe.aspx

SyFySucks writes: "Can't say I'm that surprised by the cancelation. When the President of the network, Mark Stern, can't even be bothered to mention the show on his twitter, you know the shows days are numbered. The move to Tuesday nights and lack of promotion was the last in a series of moves designed to sabotage the franchise."

Answer: First of all, Dave Howe is the President of SyFy.  Mark Stern is the Executive Vice President of Original Programming for the Network.  Second, while in retrospect the moves did hurt the show, I don't think there was any malicious intent.  In fact, while risky, I saw the logic in trying to move the show to Tuesday nights where, hopefully, viewers would be less likely to record (Friday is the most heavily DVR'd night of the week) and more likely to watch live.

DeanGrr writes: "You've talked in the past about the need for ratings and DVD/download sales to renew a show, but is it possible to do a direct approach (similar to Sanctuary), and say, produce a pilot and then ask for online donations, while MGM still holds ownership."

Answer: Sorry, this isn't an option.

DeanGrr also writes: "You've probably answered this before, but was the Atlantis finale Enemy at the Gate meant to be a 2-parter that got compressed into 1 show (i.e. would you do things differently if you could go back?)."

Answer: No, Enemy at the Gate was always planned as a single episode.  If there was anything I would have done differently, it would have been to seed the notion of the wormhole drive earlier in the season.  It was a technology intended for the movie that we saw the opportunity to set up in the series – but would have felt more "organic" had it been introduced sooner.

Major D. Davis writes: "Hey Joe.. I know your busy… so no rush, but I sent you an email (im assuming you still have the same email)."

Answer: Sorry.  Didn't receive it.

Chris writes: "I don't mean to be rude and keep on asking you but seriously….Stargate Worlds the mmorpg game…whats going to happen?"

Answer: Haven't a clue. Sorry.

Shannon writes: "I am curious now after your statement on the King book – what is the freakiest experience you've had with a fan?"

Answer: The vast majority of fans I've met have been very, very nice people.  The weirdoes who tend to talk shit on the internet are uniformly gutless in person.

Shannon also writes: "Have you ever read anything by Connie Willis?"

Answer: Yep.  To Say Nothing of the Dog, Fire Watch and Doomsday Book.  Blackout is sitting on my to-read pile.

Cody writes: "Out of curiosity… could your stomach and other issues be a result of unconscious stress."

Answer: Probably.  But it looks like things are going to sort themselves out.

osirisoflight writes: "I borrowed Masked from my local library recently and just finished reading Downfall. It was a great story and i thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I know there is supposed to be something significant about the box that smelled like jasmine and sandalwood but i just can't figure it out. Can you explain?"

Answer: I sent you an email with an explanation of the final twist/revelation.  Shhhh.  Spoiler alert!

Thornyrose writes: "I'm no doctor, but I'm going to prescribe two things. No more House episodes for the next 6 months, and no googling medical symptoms for the next 3. We already know you have a reasonably active imagination, or you wouldn't be in the line of work you are in."

Answer: Ha.  I sent off an email last night in which I effectively summed up that same sentiment: "I'm a hypochondriac, have chosen a career that forces me to be very imaginative, AND I watch a lot of House.  The dreaded trifecta.

Mirth Mistress writes: "Chris Kimball of Cook's Illustrated fame wrote Fannie's Last Supper chronicling his 2 year saga of recreating a 12 course Victorian dinner from the Fannie Farmer Cookbook…"

Answer: Ooh, sounds like a book I'd like to read.  And meal I'd like to eat.

Marjorie Roden writes: "With some of the ideas that I've been bouncing around with other fans, it's included going into co-production with other networks (Canada's Space or CTV perhaps?)…"

Answer: I'm certain the studio is pursuing any and all options.  We would, of course, love to continue our relationship with Canada's Space Channel.