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from the Dutch Harbor Telegraph police blotter:

2 February, Saturday
1907 - Suspicious Person/Activity – A drunken man phoned police and said he was naked, cold, and exposing himself to passing vehicles and in need of assistance. He was unable to name or describe his location. Officers searched the common and not so common haunts of naked drunks but did not find the man in question. No other calls were received from the man.

22 January, Tuesday
1739 - Drunk Disturbance – Drunken brother reported his equally intoxicated sibling was being loud while they were watching television. An officer told both of the legal adults to be quiet.

8 January, Tuesday
1306 - Traffic Roads – Caller reported a pedestrian was walking on the roadway instead of using the sidewalk conveniently located only a few feet from the road. An officer contacted the pedestrian and advised her to walk on the sidewalk.

9 January, Wednesday
0123 - Assistance Rendered – Drunk reported that his brother stole his half-gallon of booze while he was being treated at the clinic. Officers found no half-gallon bottles, full or otherwise, in the house and advised the drunk to look for his liquor in the morning.

12 January, Saturday
2326 - Welfare Check – Wife, in Oregon, phoned police because her husband had not called today as expected. Officers found the husband and told him to call his wife.

11 February, Monday
2353 - Theft – Cab driver reported a passenger had refused to pay his fare. By the time officers arrived on scene, the man had paid and returned to his vessel. Both the passenger and the driver claimed that the other was rude.

12 February, Tuesday
1115 - Harassment – Two taxi drivers called each other bad names and directed rude gestures at one another. One driver believed the exchange was over allegations of stealing fares; the other driver believed it was due to parking in a handicapped parking space. The responding officer asked the two drivers to handle their business problems like adults.

13 February, Wednesday
0249 - Welfare Check – Caller asked police to check on an elderly neighbor whose door was open and whose dog was running about. Officers found the neighbor inside and determined he did not need police assistance. The dog was put inside and the door was shut before departure.

5 February, Tuesday
0122 - Welfare Check – Inebriated brother called to report that something was wrong with his inebriated sibling. Officers responded to the residence and were told that a pretty woman was doing things with his sibling.

0714 - Assistance Rendered – Inebriated brother called to report his inebriated sibling had told him to shut up. Officers responded to the residence and found the two were arguing about a pretty woman.

8 February, Friday
1912 - Suspicious Person/Activity – Driver reported a stumbling, apparently intoxicated man in the roadway. Officers found the inebriate in question sitting on the side of the roadway and ensured that he was capable of walking the remaining 200 yards to his residence.

9 February, Saturday
2242 - Welfare Check – Officer checked the airport terminal after multiple 911 calls were received from a pay phone at that location. The officer was told by one child that another child had seen a monster and so had phoned 911. The officer did not find any of the aforesaid monsters in the terminal.

31 January, Thursday
0115 - Trespass – Drunken homeowner asked that two women be barred from his home for the next year. An officer reminded the drunk that he often makes such requests only to rescind them the next day, and told him to call police again when he’s sober if he still wishes to take that course of action.

BIS Vacation: Chinocteague, VA

BISis and I recently took a trip to Chincoteague, VA, home of the Misty of Chincoteague stories. What can you do in a tiny island town in the middle of January? Well, not a huge amount, but it was a short trip (Friday-Sunday) so it wasn't bad. We spent most of our time in the wildlife refuge. This included the approximately 6.5 miles of Saturday hiking (with the last 1.5 miles on the beach). I am not in good enough shape for this. Note: In the off season, half the town is closed down. Also, they've got more, and better, bookstores than I do in BItown.

Where we stayed: Hampton Inn in Chincoteague.

It's consistently been rated the top Hampton Inn in the country and I can see why. The staff were fantastic, the views breathtaking, and the cost low (~$80/night). They were undergoing renovations to their breakfast area, but that didn't detract. Our beds were comfy and it's always nice to have a fridge and microwave in the room.I also love the fact they always have fresh baked cookies in the lobby.

View from the room

Sunset from the room's balcony

Where we ate:

Chincoteague Diner which was meh. Dessert was decent and the staff friendly, but based on the batter on my scallops, they were frozen.

Mr. Paul's Kitchen, Home Cooking which was great. It's only open for breakfast and lunch. We each had a burger. Mine was  a little dry, but very flavorful and the homemade applesauce was amazing (they add vanilla once it's done cooking). We also had a great time talking with our waitress (Love it or List it was on the TV and we all like the show).

Famous Pizza was our Saturday dinner. After all the walking on the beach, my ankles stiffened up too much to walk. I called down to the front desk and she recommended this place. They delivered right to the hotel room and in about half the time they said it would take. The crust had just enough 'snap' to it and the toppings were generous.

BISis wanted a little something more and ran out to Island Creamery. She called back to the room and read the menu out to me. Her choice was Birthday Cake and mine was Bourbon Caramel. They weren't kidding about the bourbon, but it wasn't as strong after a few dozen spoonfuls.

Additional pictures from the trip:

Our totally inadequate footwear (we forgot to toss boots in the car)

Misty of Chincoteague statue

Sunset on the beach

Lighthouse (because I'm a lighthouse freak)

Lighthouse again (that tiny white dot is the moon)

Sunset in the refuge

Wild Pony Overlook (see the horse shit?)

And most importantly, the ponies...

We saw the the wild ponies of Chincoteague on the first night as we were driving back from watching sunset on the beach. The car in front of us randomly stopped and we soon figured out why. They had absolutely no concern about the cars or people. The picture is dark because I didn't want to use the flash and startle them.

If it hacn't been for that, I would have assumed that there were no ponies and the rangers just scattered piles of horse shit all over the place (and I do mean all over). According to a friend, many go and never see the ponies.

BIS Movie Review: Parker

Directed by Taylor Hackford, Parker is part of the story of a thief who lives with a strict code where if you give your word you follow through. The character is based on a series of novels written by Donald E. Westlake, writing under the pseudonym Richard Stark.

Summary: Parker is finishing a job with a new crew that he had been introduced to by Hurley, former colleague and the father of Parker's girlfriend, Claire. The deal takes a sour turn though when the leader, Melander, decides Parker's stake is necessary for the next job and he leaves Parker for dead when he won't join in. As he recovers from his wounds, he plans how to get his money back from the gang and teach them not to go against their word ("it's the principle").

 

Like quite a few of Statham's movies, the plot is forgettable, but the action sequences are fantastic. They are beautifully choreographed and well executed. And our hero sustains injuries in the course of the fights and actually keeps them (yes, they remain visible and he shows that he is) in the film. I'm oddly excited about that fact. It comes across as more realistic.

The love story, or really lack there of, is a nice touch. Spoiler (highlight to read): [ He has a committed girlfriend, Claire (Emma Booth). He stays faithful to her through the film even though he believes she has no reason to stay with him. She, in turn, demonstrates she is committed to their relationship even though people are trying kill her to get even with him. The whole 'will they/won't they' vibe from Leslie (Jennifer Lopez) is all in her head. I like that it didn't turn into 'good guy gets the girl who helps him.' ]

Anyway, it was a fun movie, and much enjoyed by this action flick fan. And Patti LuPone was fantastic as Ascension, Leslie's sharp-tongued mother.

Parker...................Jason Statham
Leslie Rodgers..........Jennifer Lopez
Melander................Michael Chiklis
Carlson..................Wendell Pierce
Ross...................Clifton Collins Jr.
Ascension..................Patti LuPone
August Hardwicke...Michah Hauptman
Claire........................Emma Booth
Hurley..........................Nick Nolte

Related articles

First 'Parker' Clip: Jennifer Lopez Making Deal With Jason Statham

Hump Day Quote: Barack Obama

I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting.

America, I believe we can build on the progress we've made and continue to fight for new jobs and new opportunity and new security for the middle class. I believe we can keep the promise of our founders, the idea that if you're willing to work hard, it doesn't matter who you are or where you come from or what you look like or where you love. It doesn't matter whether you're black or white or Hispanic or Asian or Native American or young or old or rich or poor, able, disabled, gay or straight, you can make it here in America if you're willing to try.

I believe we can seize this future together because we are not as divided as our politics suggests. We're not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions, and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are and forever will be the United States of America.

President Barack Obama, excerpt from Acceptance Speech November 7, 2012 (via BBC News)

Hump Day Quote: Carnival of the Random

People who are fighting for equality may have differing opinions of what that means and different methods of approaching the fight; it doesn’t mean that they aren’t fighting for the same things. My vision of equality is simple: whatever someone’s choices are, it’s having the right to choose that matters. No slut-shaming, no victim-blaming, no prescriptivism determining the validity of choices. An end to the presumptive primacy of the male gaze and voice.
This is why we can’t have nice things: we don’t have equality yet. We’re a little more equal than we were fifty years ago, but people are still debating whether equal pay is a right. They’re still debating our right to self-determination over our own bodies, and the right of all citizens to legally marry. There is still bigotry ad nauseum.

Carnival of the Random, "Why we can't have nice things..."

Hump Day Quote: Gilda Radner

I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what’s going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.

Gilda Radner

Dragon*Con 2012: Panels

BISis and I cut back some on the panels this year to reduce stress and line standing.

Celebrity Panels:

I think the celebrity panels get bigger and wilder every year at Dragon*Con. BISis and I started the con off with John Barrowman's 10 am Friday panel with Rob Levy and Kai Owen. He was a wild man who mooned everyone after being introduced. Then he spotted a guy dressed in a headdress and speedo part of the way through the panel and got him to come up and be hugged/groped. I didn't get any pictures since we were so far back, but I'll link a video of the panel (uploaded by cos2mwiz). It was too fantastic to miss.

 

 

I drug my sister to see the Friday Josh Gates Destination Truth panel. She doesn't watch the show, but loved the book when I lent it to her. He was as funny and charming as you'd think from watching the show. She actually drug me and AT to the Saturday panel. I think we would have gone to the Sunday one as well if we hadn't had Braves tickets. I don't have any pictures from either panel because the man does not sit still well enough, but I do have video from the Friday panel. It's uploaded in 6 parts. The first is embedded and the rest linked below.

  

Dragon*Con 2012: Destination Truth Friday Panel with Josh Gates part 2

Dragon*Con 2012: Destination Truth Friday Panel with Josh Gates part 3

Dragon*Con 2012: Destination Truth Friday Panel with Josh Gates part 4

Dragon*Con 2012: Destination Truth Friday Panel with Josh Gates part 5

Dragon*Con 2012: Destination Truth Friday Panel with Josh Gates part 6

 

 

We also managed to snag great seats for the Sunday Eureka panel. BISis got the time wrong and got us there early. We were 23 and 24 in line. This one I do have pictures from. Niall Matter, Tembi Lock, and Kevin Grazier were fairly silent. Colin Ferguson and Jaime Paglia stole the show and went on to prove that hung over panels are the funniest ones out there. I laughed so hard I cried through most of it.

 

Fan Panels:

This was a big year for me. Last year I was only on one panel. This year I was on three. It still feels weird to introduce myself as 'Maggie from badinfluencespeaks.com.'

The first panel was Celluloid Tales: The Year in Film on Friday with Matt Frasier, Ryan Guthrie, Alex Ware, and J.A. Steel (who is a producer).  We covered our thoughts on the movies that have come out so far including Brave, Hunger Games, Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, and Dark Knight Rises, and briefly touched on upcoming movies (I'm really looking forward to Skyfall). J.A. is a producer and had some fascinating insight into the ins and outs of movie making.

Second panel was Eureka: No More Buttons For Fargo on Friday evening with Amanda Marron, Ryan Guthrie, Elizabeth Stacy, and Matt Frasier. I was much more active in this panel as we talked about our favorite moments from the show. I guess the fact that I can quote rather extinsively from it helps.

Third panel was on Saturday afternoon, Superheroes and Beach Blankets, with Henry Hanks,  Bill McIntire, Tom Morris, and Chris Snellgrove. We discussed the 3 superhero blockbusters of the summer, Avengers, Amazing Spider-Man, and Dark Knight Rises. Actually, Dragon*Con is the sole reason I saw DKR. I'm not much of a Batman fan, but I enjoyed the film. I'd love to see someone continue on where they left off. A audience member brought up the point that maybe [Robin was a code name so he'd know Bruce was all right and not actually his real name.]

I actually have a picture from this panel thanks to AT. My sister proved useless again this year at taking a picture of me on each panel. From left to right: Henry Hanks, Tom Morris (as Shrek), Bill McIntire (dragon hat), me, and Chris Snellgrove. (By the way, that Haven sign was a problem in every panel I sat on. It kept falling. I hope that isn't a bad omen for the show.)

Saturday Night Drive-In

I don't know who is chosing the creature features for this MST3000 style panel (I suspect Joe Crowe, the new head of the Sci-Fi Classics track). This year's movie, Mega-Python vs. Gateroid, might have topped Sharktopus from last year. Essentially it was Team Debbie Gibson vs. Team Tiffany. I'm Team Tiffany, by the way. It was truely and hysterically horrendous. I laughed myself silly. The production company also helped out by providing several DVDs to be raffled off. BISis won a copy of Abraham Lincoln vs Zombies. I can't wait to see it.

 

 

Dragon*Con 2012 posts:
Overview
Gadgeteers Showcase
Costumes

Hump Day Quote: Kim Harrison

Being poor is not an indication of potential or worth. It's a lack of resources.

Kim Harrison, A Perfect Blood

Hump Day Quote: Sherrilyn Kenyon

As the old saying went, a TV can insult your intelligence, but nothing rubs it in like a computer.

Sherrilyn Kenyon, The Guardian

Dragon*Con 2012: Gadgeteers Showcase

This is the second year BISis and I have swung by the steampunk showcase at the Westin. By the by, we found it's best to go later because it's less crowded. As usual it had such gorgeous creations.

Dragon*Con 2012 posts:
Overview
Panels
Costumes