Obscure Alternatives

Breaths a sigh of relief - it's finally Friday. It's been a difficult week, I'm glad it's over. Although today wasn't bad overall? The weather was pleasant for once. If a touch on the hazy side.

Question a Day Meme : August

( days 8-15 )

*****

Facebook and other social media platforms - keep throwing Buffy the Vampire Slayer Revival articles at me. They keep calling it the Buffy Reboot, and people keep stating - "it's not a reboot". And then other people state: "no, it is a reboot, the other is a remake". Sigh. Keep in mind this is the same fandom that fought over what a soul meant, and whether vampires had breath. They also were still fighting over the shanshu and were worried the Buffy Revival would mess with their precious Angel. (No, the writers of the Buffy Revival couldn't care less about Angel. Gellar didn't care about Angel. I doubt she's ever watched it. ) That said? If they decide to bring back Spike or Angel - they will either have to be human (and there are many ways for that to happen outside of a shanshu, all you need is an imagination - I could do it, easy), or be insanely aged vampires (which is also possible), because both actors have definitely aged and they look their age.

Note, what I've learned from various articles thrown at me about the Buffy Revival?

It has an IMBD page now.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: New Sunnydale appears to be the working title.

Description? Follows Buffy Summers as she trains a new vampire slayer, to fight the forces of evil.
( Read more... )

Still rewatching S3, although debating skipping a few episodes and jumping to S4. I really don't like the Faith/Mayor main plot arc for some reason or other. I know I'm in the minority. Most people adore it for some reason or other.

***

Off to bed. Hopefully to sleep and dream of sheep...or ponies.

Now that we've all done the MCU, let's do the DCEU, or DC comics films and television shows (live action only, the list is long enough as it is). DC has been at it longer - so, they more films, and they are versatile - they have non-superhero adaptations in there. Neil Gaiman's and Alan Moore's comics were DC.

DC for the folks who don't know is behind the Arrowverse, Superman, Batman, and sigh The Watchmen, and Sandman.

Bold = Watched Entirety
Italic = Watched Part
* Watched more than once.
† Watched in the first few weeks of release (at least initially, for TV shows).

( insanely long DCU or DC comics movie list )

I was going to post a quote of the day, but I can't remember it? So probably not that important.

After a bit of a lull, here is the return of the Good News Report, which is mainly about the environment, and not for once, about a hundred different litigation disputes. (In case you didn't already know that that US is a highly litigious country, with an insanely complicated court system - 2025 has managed to educate you on that point with interest, and in less than six months. 2025 is providing litigation attorneys with a lot of work.)

Anyhow, this post is mostly about environmental good news, although I'm certain there will be court cases resolved and otherwise in the middle of it, because that's how we roll.

Disclaimer: As always, good news much like humor and beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. So mileage may vary on this?

1. The United Nations reported a global shift toward renewable energy, passing a “positive tipping point” where solar and wind power will become even cheaper and more widespread.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-change-solar-wind-power-fossil-fuels-6aca4846e594ea8405f91edda39a03ad?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

2. Todd Koehnke and Tim Macklin, cofounders of the Collective Oyster Recycling and Restoration, have set out to restore the health of Connecticut’s overfished oyster beds by collecting shells from about 50 seafood restaurants in the state and dropping them back where they came from.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/used-oyster-shells-connecticut-long-island-sound/?ck_subscriber_id=2496857656

3.Conservationists and AI are successfully teaming up to help save the California red-legged frog.

https://www.npr.org/2025/07/19/g-s1-78230/ai-california-frog-science-conservation-threatened-species?ck_subscriber_id=2496857656

4. Despite the national extension shutting down, Illinois is keeping its dedicated 988 lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth.

https://khqa.com/news/local/illinois-to-keep-988-suicide-crisis-lifeline-for-lgbtqia-youth-after-national-extension-hangs-up-federal-funding-cuts-trump-administration-governor-jb-pritzker-idhs-secretary-dulce-m-quintero-mental-health-behavioral-services-counseling-support-teens?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

5. There are now about 11,400 high-speed, public charging stations in the US, and hundreds more are being added every few months. Driven by the private sector, the rapid expansion has continued despite the Trump administration’s freezing of construction subsidies.

https://archive.is/

6.President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would recognize Palestine as a state in pursuit of what he called the historical French commitment “to a just and durable peace in the Middle East.”

https://archive.ph/CcnmN

7.Enbridge announced it will invest $900 million on a 600 megawatt solar power project in Texas.

https://archive.ph/Z9ARd#selection-1309.20-1319.206

8.In general, donations to NPR and PBS stations have surged since Trump’s cuts were signed into law.

https://archive.ph/vc5ex

9.Congo and Rwanda-backed rebels signed a declaration of principles to end decades of fighting, commit to a comprehensive peace agreement, and commit to “building trust” through various measures.

https://apnews.com/article/congo-m23-rebels-peace-qatar-rwanda-f80166117d557991896ef89d4cd3a324?user_id=66c4cab45d78644b3acfbcde&sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

10.Tree planting in England is now at its highest recorded rate in over 20 years

https://forestrycommission.blog.gov.uk/2025/06/27/a-year-of-growth-tree-planting-rates-hit-their-highest-level-in-over-20-years/?sh_kit=7a2950363f4b90b1881ae76c68d24551846eea9063b67a6a14e9fa39bc419e40

( the rest of the 30 items of note )

Work is aggravating me. I'd regale you with all the reasons why, but then I'd have to kill you - and we can't have that, can we?

I can tell you that I've found someone who might help me get my picture taken in Manhattan as opposed to going all the way to Hollis, Queens (which is about an hour and a half away from my work site, a pain in the neck to get to (I have to take three trains, and one of them runs on intermittent schedules - which means, if I don't plot it right - I could be standing around for thirty minutes at Jamaica), and an hour and a half away from my home.) Actually it may be closer to the work site - so about just an hour depending on time waiting for trains. Plus a gadzillion stairs. Welcome to NYC folks - the stair-master capital of the universe.

I did the switch from the R to the F at 4th/9th Streets again - and dang, that's a lot of steps. I counted. It's about four flights to the ground level, and then four more to the top. So eight flights. Steep. I was spent.
This is after going down ten flights, then another flight to get to the R.
The R is deep underground, doesn't have an elevator, and has one escalator at Whitehall going up. The one at 4th/9th doesn't have any escalators or elevators. No wonder the MTA is getting sued by the ADA advocacy groups.

****

Things I want to talk to you about, that I read...or noticed, and I've been pondering.

1. Whatever You Do, Don't Do the Silent Treatment

( excerpt )

I was pondering if I do that with Wales? Not really. I'm not sure if you can state deleting text messages and not answering them is the silent treatment? So much as protecting one's continued mental health? I answer the phone when she calls me. I've had it done to me - my brother likes to inflict it when he gets angry. And BYT was notorious for doing it. I don't like it - to be honest, mainly because I want things resolved and out in the open.

Also, there are situations in which it is called for? Such as social media.
IDK. What do you think?

2. Buddhism: If you have issues with someone correcting you, then you have an ego problem.

Except everyone hates being criticized? Right?

I wanted to respond to the Buddhism post on FB as follows: You are incredibly judgemental for a Buddhist. [I refrained.]

3. Comfort animals. Is it fair to use an animal to give oneself comfort? And have them for the sole purpose of comfort? Carrying the animal into stressful situations, such as plane rides, cars, trains, doctor's appointments, trips - just to soothe anxieties? Is this fair to the animal who is soaking in the human's anxieties and may be stressed or scared itself?
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Well Walking is considered an exercise, can't imagine why it wouldn't be? (Physical therapists prefer it - running causes lots of injuries. I should know, I used to run.)

And I've been doing "Japanese Walking" my entire life. Three minutes fast-paced, then slower walking, then increasing intensity, then a slow down.

I slow down to take pictures, then speed up. I walk everywhere. My preferred mod of transportation is my feet on the ground.

Also finally started on the watercolor of a woman I saw on the train, that was plaguing me. It's turning out better than expected. Now lets hope I don't destroy it - which I often do - by not adding to much to it.

***

Television Shows

1. Paradise - I don't know about this one. The mystery is okay. The science fiction trope - annoys me. I don't like the trope. I'm not a fan of ( spoiler for the reveal in the first episode )

Also, there's something about the lead actor, that always has grated on my nerves? A kind of smug self-righteousness or superiority? It comes across in every role he plays? I do however like Julianne Nicholson and Cassidy Freeman, so I may stick with it, not certain?

2. Andor S2 - Episode 7 was good. I kind of split it in half though. I do like the sense that each episode is its own separate movie?
It's getting better as it goes. And I've fallen for Cassian.


3. And So it Goes - Billy Joel documentary on HBO Max - is about five hours long, and I'm three quarters of the way through. It encompasses Billy Joel's life from a child to roughly 76 years of age now, where he is now. Joel as previously stated is an American Pop Singer, Song-Writer and Composer who rose to fame in the later half of the 20th Century. He was/is classically trained, and his musical underpinnings are classical - not blues or rhythm or blues like most rock and roll music. His musical structure tended to be closer to the 1950s and early 60s rock and the songs of Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Frankie Valley, the Sherrels. Which you either appreciate and like or you don't. Many rock critics have a fondness for the Blues, and don't like anything that veers away from it. The other problem was well - a prejudice against Long Island. There's a kind of Manhattan/NY snobbery about those who live out on Long Island or Jersey (it's silly of course, but people are well silly.)

The documentary much like the Beatles docs - focuses on the music, and the personal hand in hand. It's well edited, and well put together. But it does...how to put this exactly? Goes a bit overboard in promoting the product of Billy Joel, and how great Billy Joel is. And it's a difficulty I have with musician documentaries. At times they feel a bit like fan service? I find them slightly more interesting when they back down from the fan service and let the person and their life stand for who and what they are. Instead of asking - why do we like him, what appeals to us, and trying to answer that? Just let those questions and answers go unsaid? It's not a critical documentary at all - however, there are critical things under the surface? Joel married much younger and very beautiful women, post-Elizabeth Webber. The latest 33 years younger. Those were the women he has had children with. He also is a heavy drinker, and at least two of his marriages broke up because of heavy drinking, partying and not being around. And he was never satisfied - always hunting for something else, out there.

I think it goes back to my painting - adding too much on top, which causes problems. Sometimes stepping back and letting it stand is best.

I don't need to hear that music saved his life, or he doesn't know what else he could have done, or you do what you love...just let the music stand with the story, and let it just be that.

At any rate, others loved it, I have mixed feelings about it? But I've always had mixed feelings about Billy Joel and his music. And I can see why people don't like him.

***

Today's and yesterday's questions:

2. Do you like milkshakes? What’s your favourite flavour?

Yes. At the moment? Coffee. When I was a teen - Strawberry - I loved McDonalds'Strawberry milkshakes - I can't drink them now of course. But when I was in Junior High aka Middle School - I'd get one on my walk home from school at McDonald's which I passed in the mini-shopping center one block down from the school. (The Middle School is long gone - it's now an independent retirement center, and so too, is the McDonald's. I haven't seen them - was told this by a friend of my brother's - I've not been back to that area of the world in more than 20 years.)

3. Have you ever played hopscotch?

Yes, as a child, and as an adult.

It's a popular pavement or sidewalk game.

***

Here have a flower: