Thursday, June 30, 2005

Well, its 4.30 in the morning, and I can't sleep. I can hear the rats in the roof - they're obviously pissed off they can't come down. I have two posts in mind - one is a Fox Force Five follow up, the other is, well, something else.

Did y'all see the "nationality" hit counter over there on the right? Cool yet retarded, huh? But kinda interesting - I really didn't think so few people visited here. Whatever.

I lied when I said it was 4.30, cos its now 4.22. I just hate this time of the day. It takes away from me any sense of being - its cold when I'm sweating, its smothering when I've thrown off the sheets. Yet it offers the promise of sweet daylight.

Daylight's promise tends to depend on twilight's demise. The more consumed, the deeper the sleep, the shallower the soul. If I were to believe in such things as souls, that is.

I'm going back to bed - and will no doubt delete this later.

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Blogenesis.

"seizethenite writes much better than you" observed S. as she browsed through my bookmarked blogs. I agreed.

"What's your blog about, anyway?" She asked, while reading a now de-posted post about a "Fox" character describing to his imaginary partner a devious scheme to create a mass market for highly profitable anti-depressant drugs in China.

I was going to answer with the well-worn Seinfeldism of it being about nothing, but replied with "Connections, its about interconnectivity" since the post she was reading was connected both to the Foxy theme and to the previous post. So I guess that is what it will be, if it hasn't so far been, about. After all, the site's logo is the molecular structure of dopamine, a neurotransmitter which enables one neuron to connect to the next.

The science blog started life as a means to an end, one not yet reached. It was intended as a forum through which to present pieces of science writing to potential publishers. Suffice to say my career as a science writer is still taxi-ing on the runway. However, if it didn't attain the goal of launching a new career, it did introduce me to the world of blogging. A few bloggers stumbled upon the blog and apparently liked it enough to leave comments, setting in motion the reciprocation/appreciation cycle.

Since my only means of "personal" blogging was through commenting on others' blogs, I decided to start another one and came up with the brilliant idea of a blog composed solely of lists. I labored under the delusion that this was a brilliant idea for a few days, posting my lists of most and least favorites in sport, music, cinema and so on, until I realized it was quite stupid and changed the blog title appropriately. These days I don't pay it much attention, but plan to at least post a list or two every now and then, if only for the one person who graces it (hehehe) by visiting.

After a while I realized that its pretty easy to create a new screen name and blog, and so could blog in a way that would not compromise my career goals. This blog began as a chronicle of my life with alcoholism. Not my "battle against alcoholism" or my "endless struggle with addiction" but more how I was (and am) trying to embrace it and convince it that it needs to moderate itself "a lil". I deleted those early posts, mainly because they were mostly written not only under the influence, but also at some very low points; it defeated the purpose. I think Super Kitty was the only person to see them. So I determined the blog would become more upbeat, focusing on the highs more than the lows.

And so it went. And one day, not so long ago, on a whim, I invented Fox and his foxy blog. It soon became apparent that having three screen names was more trouble than it was worth - leaving comments at others' blogs and having to decide who should be leaving them was just not worth it. So Fox joined Cali and here they are, apparently with an inspired agenda of interconnectiveness in mind.

Oh yeah, I shouldn't forget Pura Vida. This is where the novel that stirs and develops within me will some day find its stage. Until then its an empty blog - not sure which is most stupid.

Ohhh, that post about poor old Fox? I removed it because it was pretty stupid.

But when has that stopped me before?


"Hello, Scully? Look, can you get over to the National Institutes of Health as quickly as possible? I'd like you to find Dr. Riccardo Cerrione at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, he's an old friend."

"Well it looks like our friends have hatched up a new plan to increase their power base and we'll need Ricco's help in figuring out how to deal with it."

"Yes, I'm pretty certain he's behind it, but apparently he's using a nicorette patch these days."

"Okay, I'll explain. As you know, they've been buying up shares in high profit business sectors for a while now. Well, it looks like they've pretty much got a stranglehold on one of the highest profit sectors."

"Yeah, that's the one. And they're not wasting any time in using it."

"Okay. You may have seen a story on the wire about a new drug which can counter SARS infection."

"Yeah, Cinanserin. Like you say, its curious, but its not coincidental. Seems they've tweaked the SARS genome so that it produces a protease with an active site that accommodates a molecule of Cinanserin. We need Ricco to prove that this strain of SARS has been purposefully genetically engineered, and didn't just arise from random mutation."

"Well, as you know, Cinanserin was first introduced as an anti-schizophrenic. It blocks serotonin neurotransmission by acting as a 5HT-2 receptor antagonist."

"Exactly, just the opposite action of SSRI anti-depressants. Can you imagine the consequences of treating even a fraction of the Chinese population with a drug that may induce severe depression?"

"Well how would you treat it?"

"Exactly! With long term SSRI treatment. Bottom line? There's a SARS outbreak in China and overnight you've got the largest market the world's ever seen for a profitable psychoactive drug. And the Chinese Government pays for it! My source tells me they've already started ramping up production of Prozolaxil about a hundred-fold."

"Okay, great. While you and Ricco get to work on the virus' DNA I'm going to take a trip to Beijing - someone's getting ready to release a virus, and I plan to be there. Call me if you make any progress Scully.
Scully? Scully??"

Wednesday, June 22, 2005

After screening a large chemical library, researchers have come up with a drug that may be useful in treating infection by the SARS virus. They found that the drug Cinanserin could inhibit the SARS protease and thereby halt the SARS life cycle in much the same way as HIV protease inhibitors block HIV proliferation. If another outbreak were to start in China, or anywhere else, it's hoped that drugs like this, even if not 100% effective, would be able to stop the outbreak before it becomes epidemic. Curiously, and coincidentally, Cinanserin was first developed as a treatment for schizophrenia, based on its ability to block the neurotransmitter serotonin. In a simple sense it has the opposite effect of the "SSRI" anti-depressants like Prozac and Zoloft. Hopefully with the help of Cinanserin, the people of China will feel secure in being SARS-free.
Really fucking depressed, but SARS-free.

Batman began, came and went. And it totally rocked! Christian Bale was so impressive as Bruce wayne/Batman that its hard to fathom how Keaton, Kilmer and Clooney were ever picked to play the role. Clooney? What the hell were they smoking when they came up with that idea? Cillian ("28 Days Later") Murphy was superbly creepy as Scarecrow and Michael Caine defined the role of Arthur.
Talking of miscasting (the Clooney thing), on getting home, being too boring to go out on a Saturday night, and there being nothing else to watch, we started watching the movie "The Jackal". Now, in contrast to the inspired casting of the original "Day of the Jackal" which I've already referred to, this one featured Bruce ("Yippee-Kai-Yay, M*therf*cker!") Willis as the suave, low-profile, man-of-many-disguises, super-smart Jackal. But, even stranger, Richard Gere played the imprisoned IRA terrorist! Each time he came on screen I couldn't help smiling, then laughing ou loud when he started talking - didn't do much to suspend the tension ...... which was pretty much non-existent anyway.

The soundtrack to this morning's workout on the Precor. Not because you care, but because I can:

"Bela Lugosi's Dead" Bauhaus; "The virginal brides file past his tomb/Strewn with time's dead flowers/Bereft in deadly bloom"

"A New Morning, Changing Weather" The International Noise Conspiracy; "Hey independence, we're playing a little game"


"Gut Feeling" Devo; "I look for sniffy linings, but you're rotten to the core"


"Take It Off" The Donnas; "Stop staring at my D cup....Come on baby just give it up"


"Search and Destroy" Iggy and the Stooges; "Honey I'm the world's Forgotten Boy/The one who's searchin', searchin' to destroy"


"Regaining Unconsciousness" NOFX; "And you still believe this aristocracy gives a fuck about you/They put the mock in democracy and you swallowed every hook/The sad truth is you'd rather follow the school into the net/Cos swimming alone at sea is not the kind of freedom you actually want"


"Columbia" Oasis; "This is peculiar/We don't want to fool ya"


"Commando" The Ramones; "Second rule is be nice to Mommy"


"Alex Chilton" The Replacements; "If he was from Venus, would he meet us, on the moon/If he died in Memphis that'd be cool"


"On Top of your World" Sahara Hotnights; "Once and for all and forever to be"

Tuesday, June 14, 2005

Fox Force Five!

Long thought to have been destroyed by jealous husband Marcelus Wallace, the last reel of a legendary TV show was recently discovered collecting dust in the wine cellar of director Jimmie Dimmick's Beverly Hills home. Now, after more than ten years waiting, we bring you the pilot episode of Fox Force Five!

As the Fox Force Five theme, a Bangles cover of "Foxy Lady", plays, the opening credits roll.....

Starring:

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Mia Wallace as Raven McCoy. Expertise; knife play, acrobatics

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Beatrix Kiddo as Lark Dakota. Expertise; team leader, photographic memory

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Go Go Yubari as Suzume Taka. Expertise; martial arts

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Vernita Green as Robin Banks. Expertise; demolition

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Jaqueline Brun as Michelle Auspree. Expertease; coolness, seduction

88m
And with Bill Caine as "Falconer"

Episode 1. The Pilot.

The Fox Force Five are lounging, bikini-clad, around the pool at their luxurious Malibu beach house. Suddenly a large, two-sided screen emerges from the center of the pool. As the water streams down the shining black surfaces, an image of a man appears on each side of the screen. Perhaps in his late fifties, yet with a youthful glint in his eyes. He reclines in his black leather chair and speaks with a quiet, understated, yet strangely commanding voice.

"Hello Fox Force Five."

"Hello Falconer" reply the Five in unison.

"Fox Force Five, I have a code 1, top priority, maximum security, super secret assignment for you. At oh six hundred hours eastern standard time this morning, a top secret US Air Force prototype Solaris supra-sonic stealth fighter bomber carrying a full complement of short-range, search and destroy, air to surface, laser-guided, nuclear smart missiles and its pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Brock Towers, went missing during a routine training test flight over North Korea. The Vice President just called me to fill me in on the details and instructed me to assign you to the mission ASAP. Our national security depends on you finding and recovering the top secret prototype supra-sonic stealth fighter bomber, the search and destroy, air to ground, laser-guided, smart missiles and Lieutenant Colonel Towers."

"You can rely on us Falconer."

"Lark, as usual, as team leader you will be responsible for making executive decisions in the field and for communicating progress to me. However, since you'll probably be encountering some Koreans along the way, you should make full use of Suzume's experience and language skills."

"Ummm, actually I'm japanese...." Suzume interjects sheepishly.

"Okay, enough talking, Fox Force Five. Let's kick ass!"

In no time at all (quite literally), the Five are headed down Sunset in Lark's Chevy convertible, Lark at the wheel, Raven beside her and Suzume, Robin and Michelle in the back, swaying from side to side as the Chevy lurches around the bends and curves.

"Where are we headed, Lark?" asks Raven.

"I saw a piece in the Times last week about a visiting exhibition of ancient korean art at the Getty. I thought we'd start there. 너 생각한다 무엇이 저 아이디어에 관한 Suzu?" She asks Suzume in fluent korean,

"Japanese!" hisses Suzume through clenched teeth, glaring at the back of Lark's head.

Robin and Michelle stifle their giggles, and to diffuse the situation Robin shouts out,

"Hey, Rave, put some music on!"

Raven turns on the CD player and the speakers burst into life with the Bangles playing a cover of Bikini Kill's "Rebel Girl". Soon all five of them are singing along;

"Rebel Girl, Rebel Girl,
Rebel Girl, you are the queen of my world"

As the music fades and the Chevy winds its way northward toward the Getty Center we cut to commercial.

When we return .......

The United States, North Korea and China at the brink of nuclear war. And Raven tells the tomato joke.

Monday, June 13, 2005

I drink therefore I am.

Hedonism

90%

Existentialism

70%

Utilitarianism

70%

Nihilism

60%

Justice (Fairness)

35%

Kantianism

25%

Apathy

25%

Strong Egoism

5%

Divine Command

0%

What philosophy do you follow? (v1.03)
created with QuizFarm.com

Wednesday, June 08, 2005

Hire Me ....... Please!

Cali: "Man, reality TV reached a new low last night. I mean, admittedly I've been pretty picky about trying to get a job, and I probably could have tried harder to get one, but there have been many jobs I was perfectly qualified for, yet didn't get. To watch a bunch of jerks being given a job and then trying to fired on their first day to win $25,000 makes me pretty sick. There must be a hell of a lot of people out there who need jobs much more than I do - how the hell must they feel if they watch this crap?"
Fox: "Hopefully 'Fire me - please.' will bomb in the ratings and the m*therf*cker who came up with the idea, the asshole who produced it and that total dickhead of a presenter will all get their sorry asses FIRED. That would be sweet justice indeed, my friend. Though primetime redeemed itself a little with the Brad Pitt interview on ABC afterwards. I mean, Diane Sawyer was her usual sugary self, but Pitt really came across as a cool guy - someone who really means what he says about issues and cares enough to follow through on it."
Cali: "Yeah, he's a good guy - you know he did a guest appearance here before you joined us."
Fox: "Get outta here - really? Did he say any more about Angelina than he did to Diane?"
Cali: "Wouldn't stop talking about her. He was saying that during the filming of the movie they used to ......"
Angelina: "Hello boys."
Cali: "Oh shit, ummm, I mean hello Ms. Jolie, how are you? What brings you here?"
Angelina: "Brad sent me, said you were looking for someone to comment-whore for you."
Cali: "I thought he was sending Clooney - I mean, not that we'd rather have Clooney here ...."
Fox: "We were just talking about the great job that you and Brad were doing helping out in Africa and all that."
Angelina: "Thanks boys, now you'll stick to that topic, right?"
Foxycali: "Yes Ms. Jolie!"
Angelina: "Good. Now I have to get going, we're shooting a remake of Fox Force Five and I'm playing Raven. I'll see you later boys."
Foxycali: "Okay Ms. Jolie - may we call you Angelina? No, okay - that's fine, can't wait for the movie - who's playing Lark?"
Angelina: "Can't tell you boys, watch the original and maybe you'll get a clue."

Sunday, June 05, 2005

Introducing Fox.

"Look Vivica, duckies! Quack, quack!"
"Hmmm, nice."
"And over there Vivica a giraffe! See how long his neck is!"
"Yep, long, nice."
"And look Vivica, a fox!"
"Whoa, get her freakin' autograph! She totally rocked in Kill Bill!"

Okay, you thought that was bad? Fox and Cali decided to join blogs - this is just an example of what you're gonna get! Just wait til you hear the Fox Force Five tomato family joke - again.

Of course I managed to delete all my links while introducing fox.