Saturday, May 21, 2011

Yes, We Have No Rapture Today

While parts of the world hold their collective breaths in anticipation of the recently touted and well publicized Rapture of alleged Biblical proportions, why don't the rest of us relax and do something else?  Like what, you ask? How about going on with the rest of our lives? Serously.

Even if I thought the Rapture existed and was actually beginning at a particular time, is that a reason to stop everything for wait for it?  Hardly. And since I don't believe in it, even more reason not to sit around waiting for someone to beam me up.

Oh wait, I don't think I'm going. I write naughty stories, don't you know? Some of which contain  *whispers*  sexual congress among consenting adults.  Oh no! Le gasp! Whatever shall I do?

Keep on living.

If nothing else, I bet this strange but not isolated incident in man's history spawns a number of Rapture related/titled books and stories, and at least one porno. And it sure is gaining publicity for the guy who came up with it all. Like he didn't figure on that, right?

Most of the shows I watch have had their season finales. The Borgias is tomorrow night. I hear it's been renewed, which is excellent news.I'm surprised that there is nothing on Amazon yet for the DVD. After all, I found pre-order links for the second season of Justified when it had barely begun, so I figured The Borgias would be up by now. I'd buy it for Cesare alone. Top Chef Masters should have another four episodes or so by my calculation. I don't find it as interesting as Top Chef Allstars. I hope they start a new season of Top Chef after that, which should be #8.

I started rewatching the Beauty and the Beast on netflix. I'd forgotten how much I love that show. For those of you who are unfamiliar with it, Linda Hamilton (of Terminator fame) stars as Catherine Chandler. At the beginning of the series, she is a corporate lawyer in her father's firm, a fairly spoiled little rich girl with the world at her fingertips. Through a case of mistaken identity, she is assaulted and brutally slashed and left for dead where she is found and saved by the shadowy figure of Vincent (played by Ron Perelman, aka Hellboy). He takes her to his home, which is a subterranean lair beneath New York City where a number of people live outside of society's knowledge and approval - outcasts who have been mistreated and have nowhere to go - in  their own safe haven.

After the attack, Catherine goes to work in the Public Defender's office, while she and Vincent have formed a close symbiotic relationship, which is the heart of the series. Vincent cannot walk the earth where people might see him because of his differences. She cannot be part of his world because she has a world of her own. Although they cannot be together, they are never truly apart.

It's the most romantic show ever, and even time has not dimmed its impact on me. I find Vincent not only attractive but very romantic, kind, considerate and gentle (except when he's pissed off). Yes, I said it - Vincent is hot! Their romance is epic. One of my favorite parts of the show is when Vincent, through their shared bond, realizes that Catherine is in trouble, and goes to her. It makes me tingle to even imagine having someone love me so very much that he would be there for me like that. It's a classic series, one that I'll never forget. Someday I'd like to write my own Beauty and the Beast story, perhaps even make it m/m.

I recently watched my first Eleventh Doctor episode. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, and I imagine there are a few, I'm referring to Doctor Who, a British sci-fi children's series which has been going on since the 1960's. Doctor Who is a Time Lord who comes from the planet Gallifrey, has two hearts and has lived for many years (just how long depends on the writers, who tend to forget their own canon). So far there have been eleven of these gentlemen, each with his own unique style and personality. How does this happen, you wonder? Well, the Doctor has this wonderful ability, known as regeneration. When he reaches the end of one life cycle - presto changeo, here comes another Doctor to carry on the previous one's work, all memories intact. Quite a handy thing to do - overcomes death, and keeps the actors on their toes, knowing that they can and will be replaced. The longest running Doctor episode-wise was the Fourth doctor, played by Tom Baker and his scarf. He's my favorite, I have to admit, and I met him first.

I've seen all of the Doctors through Seven, and then there was a large gap. The Eighth Doctor appeared in a movie, not the TV series (played by curly haired Paul McGann) and it wasn't until a few years ago that the series, which was on a bit of a hiatus, returned, with Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor. I finally watched that season, which was wonderful. He only did one season, to be replaced by David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor (you may remember him from the HP film Goblet of Fire as the demented Barty Crouch). I've seen a couple of his episodes, including the Runaway Bride, whom I cosplayed at 2010's Archon. Now there is an Eleventh Doctor, Matt Smith, and I watched one of his, at my Sarah's behest. I have to admit that I was curious to see this episode, because it was penned by Neil Gaiman.

It was titled The Doctor's Wife, and I loved it. Prior to watching, I had rather discounted the Matt Smith portrayal of the Doctor as being very geeky and unattractive. I might just have to rethink that. It was a very well-written, fascinating episode, delving into the Doctor's psyche, and featured some very interesting characters, including the Doctor's companion, Amy Pond, and her husband Rory. The only disappointment was that I didn't get to see River Song (played by Alex Kingston), whom I've been curious to see. She's a rather shadowy figure in the Whoverse, who has inspired a great deal of speculation as to just who she is and what she is to the Doctor. Guess time will tell.

Well, since I'm not being Raptured, guess I should find something to do with myself, eh? Luckily I have edits to finish, books to beta, books to write and books to read, and shows and movies to watch!

Don't forget, there's still time to get in on the Captivations contest! All you have to do is follow my blog, and leave a comment, with your contact info, to win!

Have any thoughts on the Rapture? I'd love to hear them!

♥  Julie

10 comments:

  1. The last iteration of the rapture already spawned a whole sub-genre of books. There's a series called "Left Behind" which has sold something like 11 million copies over the last ten years or so. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind) And then there are the copycats and the spin-offs.

    Personally I wince every time I read someone interpreting the old testament prophets and the Book of Revelations, which is where this whole apocalyptic vision comes from. If you can't read them in the original language, and have a sense of the traditions and culture that produced them, you really aren't getting the meaning. I have yet to see one of these fundamentalist doomsayers who has a really solid grasp on Hebrew or Aramaic. I don't either, but I recognize that the translation is inadequate.

    Personally I think they were using image and metaphor to try to communicate spiritual insights that they just didn't have adequate words for, and we don't really either.

    A teacher of mine said recently that he doesn't thinkg the reason historically that so many spiritual teachings were transmitted orally was to keep them secret. He thinks that's because it's easiest to transmit something by demonstrating and talking in person. Communicating the same thing to a remote person by writing about it is much, much harder.

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  2. I think that essentially people believe what they want to believe, and they twist the words they hear or see into whatever fits their vision. Anytime you interpret something into another tongue, you are changing it by virtue of the translation. Words differ from culture to culture, and from age to age. Even within our own lifetimes, words change meanings as new words or phrases gain popularity and signifance for what we choose them to have at any given time. To us, for example, cool means good, interesting, done well, etc, while a hundred years ago, it referred to something's temperature.

    Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn!

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  3. Yeah I'm still here... no wait... um ... crap. LOL I guess I don't qualify for the rapture either. I've read most of the Left Behind books and they actually made some movies based on the books. Very preachy and although the concept and movies intrigued me because they were fairly well done, I didn't appreciate the alter calls before and after. But since I'm still here and didn't get claimed by the Lord, then it's all good. LOL.

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  4. I know why we're still here - snap! It hasn't hit our time zone yet! We still have time, want to get our choir robes out while we still can? While we're waiting, I think I'm firing up some Cosmo Jarvis. Sure as Hell Ain't Jesus sounds good.

    After I finish listening to Billie Jean!

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  5. LOL... Elton John... Lady GaGa... Prince... I think that's the run down I've heard on the radio this morning. Yeah I'm not too worried about going anywhere. I never claimed to be innocent and who'd want to be when there's so much fun in being bad. Okay mostly I write about being bad but you can't have it all. :)

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  6. My Katie had a suggestion - we might have to turn to looting for survival! Egad!

    Personally, I don't think anyone is going anywhere :) Too bad, there are some Holy Rollers I wouldn't mind seeing go somewhere else, and yeah, my bro is one of them.

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  7. When I saw the article in the newspaper all I could think was really?. Besides, I wouldn't want to qualify because it appears only pompous windbags who feel superior qualify. I couldn't live a stick up my butt!

    On a different topic, thank you for talking about Dr. Who. I think this new version of the show is so fabulous. I used to be a little in love with Tom Baker but then David Tennant took over and had Billie Piper for a companion and it was magic. Wow! And this recent episode with Matt Smith was genius. Neil Gaimann wrote an amazing script!

    Have a great day!

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  8. Jen - You're very welcome! I thought the episode was fabulous, I need to watch more of this doctor. I had a crush on Tom Baker, I almost got to see him live. He was here at an Archon, I think. Alas, it did not work out. The series has certainly grown since it first began, when William Hartnell was the Doctor. There were times when it appeared to be dying, but it's held on and I think it's doing great!

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  9. Hey just wanted to let you know I just read and loved your Silver Flash(s)!!

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  10. Ceagles - Thank you so much for letting me know! The next installment is done and ready for Wednesday!

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