RhymePhile's Rat Race

Mininova.org has been forced to revert to Content Distribution only due to whatever new stupid-ass laws out there that have taken effect. THAT MEANS NO MORE TV SHOW TORRENTS! They've essentially killed Mininova.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! No more Doctor Who (or the last 2 eps unless I wait for the BBC America versions in December)! No more uncut and unedited Torchwood! No more British TV whatsoever! No more beautiful avis of Nip/Tuck that I've been providing my friend who doesn't have cable TV!! ZOMG.

I don't download movies, nor do I download music. I'm in it for the TV and now it's been cut off. WWWWWWWWWWOOOOOOOEEEEEEEE. Pirate Bay keeps telling me that the search engine is overloaded. I know they're going to have to stop sharing stuff as well.

I wouldn't mind paying for a torrent/download service if I used it all the time, but usually it's random episodes that I need (or random shows, like the British comedy Gavin & Stacy). I don't see why it's such an issue when people are sharing TV shows that air for free (I realize you need a license to watch British TV) here in the US. Hell, I've never even downloaded pay-cable TV shows that run on HBO or Showtime.

UGH. *sniff* This sucks.

Obviously I'm going to ask if anyone knows of reputable torrent sites out there that won't try to kill my computer with evil shit, even if I have to pay. Comments are screened.

I was still pissed off about last night's Supernatural when I woke up, so:

( How last night's episode offended fans, women, gays, and coherent storytelling )

I don't feel like working today. The boss is on vacation, I have all the shit he dropped in my lap to take care of, but I don't feel like it. This day is turning into a complete wash.

Mom's birthday turned out really lovely. Everyone had a great time. I tried to get photos of my 21-month-old nephew, but the kid barely keeps still. He's entered the Terrible Twos a bit early -- he's reached the point where if he gets frustrated or impatient, he SCREAMS at the top of his lungs. ZOMG my ears. I'm looking forward to the quiet of my apartment.

In other mom-related news, how is it that they always find ways of making you feel completely horrible about yourself, your life, and the direction you chose with just a few words? My mother loves me to death, but I know she will always be disappointed I didn't follow my brother's path: marriage, home, children. This, despite being the only person in the family to get a college degree, never borrow money from anyone, own my own car, rent my own apartment, and basically do everything for myself, ALWAYS. Fuck, I can even change my own oil.

It makes me feel like shit. She also has the annoying habit of ignoring the fact that I have been in a committed relationship for 2 and a half years because, yes, it's to a woman. To her, the most important person in my life doesn't exist. She constantly reminds me of the story of one of her friends, whose daughter "never met anyone, and then suddenly when she was 41, she met a guy and got married and had a baby!" *sigh*

But mom is of the generation where (and she tells me this all the time STILL) "guys want to have a woman on their arm they can show off." She also feels bad that I "don't have any friends to talk to." Yes, well. I have a hard time of that. I'm insecure and self-conscious and have been in many a situation in my youth when people have been cruel, and frankly, I don't want to deal with it anymore now that I'm an adult. Fuck all that social anxiety of trying to measure up to the skinnier, prettier, better-dressed people. I can't do it anymore. I don't give a shit.

In summation, the ride back in the car from my brother's house was mostly filled with awkward silence and me trying not to cry. I've tried to explain in the past why I'm perfectly content having a girlfriend, but now I just go silent and let mom wish I were someone else.

As many of you may (or may not) know, I've been biking in Manhattan for the past month. I don't do it every day, because if it looks like it's going to rain, I take the subway.

I enjoy biking, despite its many dangers. Poorly-paved streets, double-parked cars, taxicabs, trucks making deliveries, cars pulling out into traffic, construction -- I've faced all of these.

But the absolute worst danger that I've encountered thus far is goddamn pedestrians walking in the bike lane or crossing against the light into the bike lane!!!

There is a separate, green-painted path on 9th Avenue that's for bikes only. We even get our own traffic signal in the lane. It's nice to have because you're safe from traffic, more or less. But the lane is right next to the sidewalk. I can't tell you how many times people just walk into the bike lane in order to cross the street without even looking. I have a bell that I ring when I'm coming to an intersection, but people are oblivious.

This morning was the worst. I had to slam on my brakes, causing my entire bike to wobble and skid to a stop because some fucking bitch with headphones on didn't bother to slow down during her morning jog!!!! Since she then had to come to a stop on the island in the middle of the street before crossing all the way over, I screamed at her that she could have at least said sorry for almost causing me to fall off my bike!

It's not easy to bring 200+ pounds of Rhyme to a complete and sudden stop. Jebus.

And if I even hit someone, I'm sure I would be sued even if it wasn't my fault.

Now I'm cranky and pissed off, and I could really use a vacation. Except my fucking boss, who took two weeks off around July 4 to go to fucking Paris is again going to take a week off at the end of this month. Since all the layoffs there are only two of us in the department now, and I only get 10 measly days. Motherfucker.

Hey there, everybody! How did your morning start?

Mine started with a man, fleeing police, jumping from a fourth floor window! (Don't worry, he lived).

And I got photos! Make sure you click on each for a larger view. I labeled the window in the photo below.



( The whole explanation, plus more photos, behind the cut )

( I won't even bother to put anything outside of the cut. Lots of angry within )

TV Guide Magazine has an exclusive interview with Meloni about the contract negotiations for another two seasons of SVU. You can read the whole thing here.

Side note to any Supernatural fans avoiding spoilers: Don't look at the top left corner of the page! Dammit!

I will cut and paste the quote I thought the most notable, which was this:

TV Guide: Were the fans with you and Mariska during the negotiations?

Meloni: [snip] The vast majority believe money's not the issue. They were like "These are guys who are workers. And if they’re in a position to get as much as they can for the work that they do, good for them." And then there’s the other side that I'll call the "playa haters," who begrudged and were very upset that we should ask to get paid what we thought was at the very least fair market value.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA OMG MELONI. SHUT UP. There are people who have lost their homes, their jobs, and can't afford to feed themselves or their families and you're bitching about MORE MONEY FOR ONE SINGLE EPISODE THAN PEOPLE SEE IN THEIR LIFETIMES??? LOLOLOLOL! SHUT UP AGAIN.

Damn, it feels good to be a playa hater. WTF? Really?

And y'know what Mr. Meloni? I think it's time we broke up. It was a sweet ride with highs, lows, sexy thoughts, and much obsessiveness in between, but I feel I've outgrown you. I think I will move on to more healthy TV relationships, and we'll both be happier for it. Oh, now, don't cry. You still have your $8.8 million and your other devoted fans. You won't miss me.

I'll continue to hold Oldskool Elliot and Chris Keller in my heart of hearts though, because good characters are forever. Someday I might even watch you in other things, to think back about the good days.

But really, it's not me, it's you. And don't bother sending flowers. This is better for both of us.

So, Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni brokered a deal with Universal/NBC to stay on Law & Order: There Are No Scripts That Make Sense Anymore for another two years.

I officially gave up with SVU after that stupid-ass "Stabler gets shot and then the squad saves a monkey in a basketball" episode last year. Good LORD, what are they smoking to write that shit? Honestly.

Apparently they both asked for work "flexibility" to be worked into their contracts. I guess that means more guest stars while the scripts mention Stabler and Benson being in court, huh? Whatevs.

I covered my opinion on these contract talks once already, but to know that they'll be making $8.8 MILLION for an average of 22 episodes a season is astounding. There was no way Universal was going to risk losing them, no matter what the suits say. They can't be replaced, and it's about the only drama on NBC that continually makes money. No way they're going to recast. They'll pay out the nose.

But the unique thing about a contract is that they get paid even if they're not in an episode.

I hope they're worth it. Buy a couple more houses, guys! I won't be watching anymore. They should be using that money for frickin' writers.

I'll be 35 this year. I consider myself a fangirl: writing fic, loving characters, collecting toys, buying merchandise. I like what I like and in the past I focused on things (eating, sleeping, breathing X-Files for years), but never, ever, NEVER have I seen something like this.

It's an Italian-made (I think, guessing by the titles) video mash-up of fans' YouTube reactions to the trailer of the new sparklevampire Twilight film, New Moon. Gawker did a post on it.

First, watch the trailer:



Next, the fan reaction mash-up:




WHAT THE FUCK, world? Really? Jebus, I bet it's like this in most fandoms, and if I were a star, I would never show up for cons or public appearances. It's frightening. (Also, most of those girls look like they could kick Cedric Diggory Robert Pattinson's ass.)

This is also part of the reason I've retired the going-to-cons thing. It's too damn scary out there, fer realz.

Y'all, I am now officially a New York driver! And it only took me 2 and a half hours!

I went to Herald Square DMV in Manhattan this morning. As I tried to enter the building I was informed there was a line, as it turned out, around the block. The office opened at 8:30, and I was there around 8:15 or so.

I waited outside in the rain for a while, then they herded us in small numbers into elevators, which took us to the eighth floor where the DMV was. Then there was more line waiting. And then I waited on line. Also, line waiting. For you in the UK, I was queued in the queueingest queue there ever was!

Some excitement: two Chinese women who didn't speak a word of English were cutting the line, and some Hispanic lady (or is it Latina? I'm not up on my political correctness) got pissed and went to get a uniformed employee, growling, and I quote, "Oh, you gonna make me, ain't you?" Hee! Then there was swearing and hand gestures and blank stares and much Cantonese (or maybe Mandarin). Eventually, it got sorted even though the guard was all, "I have no idea what you're saying." I was laughing hysterically.

I was doing fine until I went to get my registration. My insurance had to have been in effect for at least 45 days. My card said April. Y'know, I researched the shit out of the NY DMV website, took almost an hour and a half filling out forms last night (no lie), and still I got screwed up. Christ.

I then had to visit Staples on the second floor, call Geico, and get them to fax me a new insurance card. Sheesh.

Then luckily I got an expedited ticket to get helped again, and eventually got it all sorted. In all that time, I listened to music and watched the Supernatural episode "On the Head of a Pin" on my Playstation Portable. Angels, torture, and tears sure pass the time at the DMV!

Unlike New Jersey, I have to wait for them to send me my license. I got a temporary one. I have no idea how my photo will turn out, because I swear the guy that did it looked like one of those weird recluses that live amongst stacks of their own filth and newspapers, I kid you not. Where do they find these people? And I wish they would tell you what's happening. I kept asking "What do I do next?" a thousand times because they never offer information of their own volition. I also had to tell the guy that I didn't need to get my car inspected in 10 days, because my NJ inspection isn't up until November and it will carry over. GAH.

I'm going to miss my Jersey license. I actually look nice in it! I know I'm going to look like hell warmed over for this one. There's no way Weird Creepy Dude took a normal photo!

Anyone feel like prompting me with something Supernatural-related? I don't feel like focusing on work (or calling State Farm for like the 13th time trying to straighten out my insurance frak-up), so give me something to take my mind off it.

Prompt anything SPN. I'll even do Wincest in the comforting arms of prompt space.

May I rant for a moment due to State Farm insurance? Yes? Thank you.

Back when I moved in March, I called the local State Farm office, wanting to transfer my New Jersey car and apartment insurance I had with them to New York. I had to call twice before I could spend the time to go through all the coverage options and blah blah blah. I probably spent about half an hour on the phone trying to work my coverage down to an affordable price. New York car insurance with them was more than New Jersey!

Well okay, I thought, I'll go with them for now, and then change it later. I just wanted coverage since I had moved. The woman I was dealing with said she would call my old agency, cancel that, and then call me back with all my info.

A week goes by and I don't hear anything. So I call her back and she's like, "What coverage options did you want again?" ARGH. So I went through the whole rigamarole *again*, and she said she would call back. Well, she never did.

Thus, I got pissed off at waiting, and went to Geico. I set that shit up online in like 15 minutes, called the dude, he e-mailed me a temporary insurance card, and the price per month? State Farm wanted over $200 a month and that was even with me dropping some coverage options. Geico? Only $68 a month, with full coverage.

I called State Farm back *again* because I still hadn't heard from this woman, and basically said You know what? NEVERMIND. She couldn't get her shit together, she never called me, so forget it. And I'm saving money.

My problem? I'm getting bills from State Farm! For whatever reason this woman couldn't get her shit together when I needed it, but my policy somehow wound up getting through, and I keep getting bills. Like, $255 worth of bills. If this screws up my credit I'm gonna hit the roof.

So once again I called this morning and talked to another woman and told her that because Woman 1 never called me back in March, I went with someone else, called her to tell her nevermind, but I'm still getting bills. WTF? I've had Geico since April 12 or 13, which is when I canceled my New Jersey State Farm (because the woman never did!).

Now Woman 2 told me to call back in 20 minutes (again, WTF?) because she was "on hold with the company" whatever that means.

Thank GOD my direct debit was discontinued.

The thing I'm worried about is that the New York office may think I owe them for April-May, which is why I keep getting billed. I received the cancellation confirmation, which was dated May 12, but they need to understand that I *never actually had the damn insurance at all*. UGH. Shit like this (like an insurance bill overdue) can get my credit screwed up.

I still have my cold by the way, although it's slowly moving its way out.

Weekend was filled with cleaning and cutting up moving boxes and hot dogs on the George Foreman grill.

Hope everyone had a pleasant holiday!

Read the story here.

And here's more news from TV Guide's Michael Ausiello.

You know, I can understand when, as an employee, you think you're doing a good job and would like some more money. Everyone thinks about it, yet few are in a position to make that happen.

But this thing where Meloni and Hargitay are angling for more money strikes a nerve with me. I don't think any TV actor deserves the money they are paid (except maybe Tina Fey, because she writes, produces, acts, and pretty much has her hand in everything on 30 Rock), and in this financial climate, a TV star who earns millions every year should not be asking for more money.

I also don't want to see spreads in glossy magazines about his Connecticut beach house or multi-million dollar Manhattan loft. Fuck. I'm eating Ramen noodles for lunch, TV actor.

Jesus Christ, maybe they should take some of Meloni's and Hargitay's money away and invest it in WRITERS. I've stopped watching SVU completely. They are not doing Shakespeare, here.

Back in 2007 they held out for more money, and got $330,000 per episode. That's over $7 million dollars for 22 episodes -- if they hit that much. They only shot 19 last year.

My actor-love in general has been decreasing. As my mother so eloquently put it, "They shit just like the rest of us." So true, ma! It reminds of that scene in A Bronx Tale when the kid tells Chazz Palminteri he idolizes Joe DiMaggio or whoever baseball player it was, and Chazz is all, "He don't care about you. He makes millions every year. Why would you idolize him?" or something to that effect. Yeah! That's how I feel. I'll just watch them on the screen and be blissfully ignorant of who they are in real life.

Long story short: Chris and Mariska, you don't deserve raises. You get paid more than enough money. You get paid more money than many of us will ever see in our lifetimes. Be grateful for what you have and stop fucking asking for more.

The oz_big_bang writer sign-ups end on May 11, and for the life of me I haven't been able to come up with an idea worthy of 25,000 words. I kinda wish this had been bandied about like two or three years ago, when I was in the height of my Oz love.

The other problem, as I see it, is that it's entirely possible to write 25,000 words of something, like an AU or crossover, that no one will be interested in. As great as it would be to say I wrote 25,000 in one shot, I'd hate the thought of working under the pressure and deadline only to discover like two people read the thing. And yes, I'd rather write to an audience than do it "just because."

The longest thing I ever wrote was the Smile Series, and that was like one big soap opera separated into manageable chapters. That took me a year!

Also? I suck at plotting. My talent is strictly in dialogue. I always want to hurry up with the story to get the characters talking because I'm not good at the other stuff. Internal thought? Ugh, I suck at it. A paced narrative? Can I just have two guys sitting in a room talking for 25,000 words? Didn't think so.

You know what else I'm not very good at? Writing sex. I don't particularly like to do it, but that's what *everyone* wants. That and a happy ending. Of course I'm generalizing here, but overall that's what sells. I admit I sometimes enjoy killing characters. There, I said it. But if you stick deathfic up there in a header, people don't want to read it.

Gah, I'm whining.

I saw one of my TV boyfriends, Felix Gaeta (Alessandro Juliani) last night on Smallville while waiting for Supernatural to start. He was playing a doctor or something maybe, I don't know, because I had it muted since that show is awful. I also saw another BSG alum, Crashdown (Sam Witwer), whose character turned green and had horns or some shit. LOL. Anyone ever play the The Force Unleashed video game? Witwer provides the voice for The Apprentice, and damn if it doesn't look exactly like him, too.

I think I'm going to have to run like 50 feet of freaking coax cable into the bedroom because waiting for the super to drill the hole I need through the wall is killing me because NO INTERNET, *criez*. In related news, the dishwasher is still broken! In other other news: two dudes are coming early tomorrow morning to take the dead air conditioner out of the window. I LIKE SLEEPING LATE, BITCHES, FRAK.

I finished all my work for today, huzzah.

SO: PROMPT ME, YO.

I can't guarantee I'll get to everybody's, but fandoms I can write in (slash, het, etc, I'll go for it, I'm bored):

Supernatural
Battlestar Galactica
X-Files
Jossverse -- Angel, Buffy, Firefly, Doc Horrible
The Wire
Torchwood
Nip/Tuck
Law & Order:SVU
OZ


NOTE: This is the only time I will write Wincest, so if you have a prompt that strikes my fancy, I will attempt it.

PROMPT ME!

Y'all, I got this even before TVonDVD.com! WHOO. They always get shit earlier than I do (they got some mad connections, and I'm in the biz. WTH?). Dammit. Well, at least I have them high-res from the source. Take that!

Here are two high-res images (1224 x 1176) of the Battlestar Galactica Complete Series box set, scheduled to street July 28th. The Blu-ray version of the box is the same according to what I've heard.

Feel free to visit the TVonDVD post about special features and such so I don't have to format them here from the Universal e-mail press release, because it's a pain.

So, on to the images!!! (Click the thumbnail for full size)





Feel free to link friends here.

If you live in New York and work in Manhattan, you are at the mercy of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA, to get where you need to go. Of course, you could always drive (if you could afford to park your car) and deal with traffic day in and day out.

The subway is a mostly dirty, smelly, crowded way to start anyone's morning. Right now the fare is $2, and come May 31st, the MTA has decided to increase the fare to $2.50. That's $100 a month just for the subway. A subway that's dirty, smelly, and crowded. I swear to God, the 1, 2, and 3 downtown platform at Times Square smells like piss Every. Single. Morning. I hold my nose and breathe through my mouth waiting for the train.

And I also found out this morning that the Metro-North railroad fares are going up...by almost $50 fucking dollars. I paid $165.62 this month. In June it's going to be $211.68!!!

So add up rent and travel, that's a little more than half of my monthly take-home paycheck. I'm not even kidding. GAH. And that's before I pay bills.

At least I have a job, and I'm thankful to Whoever Is Looking Down On Me. I don't have to dig ditches, or be in the hot sun all day, or work on a line (I could never, ever do that type of job). But sometimes when I think about where I am in life, after a college education and everything, and wonder if this is how it will always be. I have to be mindful of everything and it grinds on you.

Now I also have to deal with getting that goddamn air conditioner for the summer. *sigh*

I have off tomorrow. I need to set up my home computer!

I tried calling Legal Aid to simply have my question answered, but they couldn't even answer a question without first entering me into the system and asking how much money I made to qualify for legal aid. I make too much, obviously. *bangs head*

Here's Apartment Owner's response:

Regarding the air conditioner, I feel terrible about it and I will have an electrician in to fix the outlet. However, air conditioning is not included with the apartment - I just left my air conditioners there for you to use because I don't need them in my new apartment. After you move out, I plan to sell the apartment, so I won't need an air conditioner for that apartment in the future. So, if you want to replace the one that broke, at least you will own the air conditioner you buy and can take it with you down the road. If you do replace it, be sure to have the super install it for you.

She did say she would fix the dishwasher, so, yay?

So I get to rent a place that had air conditioning, but no longer does unless I spend my own money to replace it. We're on legal shaky ground here, but frankly, I don't have the money to pay a fucking lawyer. It's cheaper to buy a new air conditioner.

I just...I dunno. Guess I better start saving.

Tomorrow it will be exactly a month since I moved in, and I don't consider it "home" yet. Yes, I have a bed and dresser and a nice bookshelf. Things are slowly coming along. But this stress with Apartment Owner is giving me anxiety.

I ran the dishwasher again last night, and the water isn't draining properly. I emptied a whole mop bucket and a half of water from the bottom of the thing. The dishes aren't being rinsed properly either. *huge sigh*

So, I e-mailed Apartment Owner this morning and mentioned the dishwasher. I told her I wanted to tell her before I called the super to come look at it.

I also mentioned the air conditioner. I'm putting it sweetly first, and then if she still refuses then I play hardball. Here's what I said:

I was also wondering if you might reconsider either repairing or replacing the air conditioner, since it was there when I moved in. One of the main reasons I chose to rent your place on the sixth floor were the air conditioners. Unfortunately, without the living room being cool in the summer, I can't really get the full benefits of the apartment.

I can understand your schedule with school [she's a teacher] and everything. I would have no problem researching and arranging to get another air conditioner, which I would deduct from my rent, if that would be easier on you. I would research and provide different options to choose from if you'd rather not look into yourself.

Sounds nice enough, right? No threats or demands there. We'll see what comes back. *fingers crossed*

So, I was doing research this morning, trying to find out about my tenant rights and all that crap. I found a book on Google Book Search, Every Tenant's Legal Guide (new edition coming in May) which states:

If your written agreement (the lease) describes or lists items such as drapes, washing machines, swimming pools, intercoms, or dishwashers, your landlord must provide them in decent repair. And the promise to provide them carries with it the implied promise to maintain them.

My lease mentions the air conditioners.

Here's another quote from the book:

Suppose your rental agreement doesn't mention a garbage disposal, but there is one, and it was working when you moved in. Now it's broken, and despite repeated requests, your landlord hasn't fixed it. Do you have a legal leg to stand on in demanding that your landlord make this minor repair? Yes. Many courts will hold a landlord legally responsible for maintaining all significant aspects of your rental unit. If you rent a unit that already has [emphasis from the book] certain features -- light fixtures that work, doors that open and close, faucets that don't leak -- many judges reason that the landlord has made an implied contract to keep them in workable order throughout your tenancy.

It also mentions what to do when the landlord won't make repairs: taking them to small claims court. Hopefully that's not necessary, but this quote is interesting:

In court, your argument will be that you are not getting the benefits of what you're paying rent for -- for example, a functioning dishwasher, presentable paint, or a working air conditioner.

I would say I would very much like to enjoy the benefits of an air conditioner on the sixth floor in the summer.

I also called a place in Yonkers called Cluster, which is an agency that assists Yonkers and Westchester counties with landlord-tenant problems. The woman I needed to talk to was in court today, and I left a message. I hope she calls me back.

I tried to find an online guide for tenant's rights, but most of it was for NYC. But I did find this on the NYC Rent Guideline Board site. It's not exactly "it broke and he won't repair it" but it's close:

Q: My air conditioner, originally included in the apartment, died and my landlord wants to replace it - shouldn't he repair it?

A: Your landlord is responsible for maintaining your air conditioner in operable condition. Whether he repairs the a/c unit or buys a new or used one is essentially his choice but he cannot increase your rent simply based on repair of the a/c unit or buying another unit. However, having said this, if you REQUEST a new a/c and sign the necessary papers, the landlord can increase your rent 1/40th of the cost of the appliance, which remains part of your rent for the remainder of your tenancy.

I'm working on it! Thankfully I still have about two months before the heat moves in. The apartment owner can't just tell me she's not replacing it. The lease I signed is a binding contract. Not repairing things that were already there when I moved in is a breach of that contract.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT, RAH RAH RAH! Once I hear back from the woman from Cluster, I can draft en e-mail to Apartment Owner and get things rolling. Her husband is a mergers and acquisitions lawyer, so I want to get my legal ducks in a row before I mention anything to her.