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May. 7th, 2007 06:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieI can't do it, y'all. I watched the first fifteen minutes of the latest DW episode, and I can't bring myself to watch the rest. Does anyone not know how that will end? If so, have you ever seen or read any other sci-fi, ever?
But Martha looked pretty in her party dress. That's nice.
*
General question for PC users: is there a way to exchange the functions of the control key and...um...I think it's the option key? The one next to the space bar. Command/open-apple on a Mac. They're exactly the opposite of what I'm used to after two decades of Mac keyboards, and it's been driving me batty at work. I've heard murmurings about some way to do this sort of thing around the internets, but I fail at Google today. I'd prefer not to have to download a program to do this. Is there something in the control panel to do it, maybe?
But Martha looked pretty in her party dress. That's nice.
*
General question for PC users: is there a way to exchange the functions of the control key and...um...I think it's the option key? The one next to the space bar. Command/open-apple on a Mac. They're exactly the opposite of what I'm used to after two decades of Mac keyboards, and it's been driving me batty at work. I've heard murmurings about some way to do this sort of thing around the internets, but I fail at Google today. I'd prefer not to have to download a program to do this. Is there something in the control panel to do it, maybe?
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Date: 2007-05-08 01:01 am (UTC)As to the Who: BWAHAH! Secret: stop watching for the A-plot. That way lies madness. (Although if your sci-fi education taught you to predict "the Doctor will totally defeat the scary monster (nice CGI, by the way) by cranking a cathedral organ 'up to 11,'" well, then... bravo? It was actually a pretty decent episode, apart from the stolen plot, due to cracktasticness and, um... you should watch it anyway, if only to see DW out-innuendo the Innuendo Squad. No, SERIOUSLY. What is this "watershed" you speak of?
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Date: 2007-05-08 01:35 am (UTC)Becca, I can't remember if you can switch Windows keys (been too long since I supported the things), but I feel your pain, especially after a summer with no Windows machines, and then having to go back to school. I know you can set up keyboard codes, but that's not the same thing. I'm not sure you can actually switch key functions. :(
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Date: 2007-05-08 01:51 am (UTC)It *was* heavy on the corridor-running and mad scientists, huh? A bit ridiculous, but lots of fun.
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Date: 2007-05-08 02:20 am (UTC)I'm still unclear on how the whole pipe organ thing actually worked (as in, I'm not convinced it actually did--well, not in any way that actually makes sense), but by then I just didn't care, because I was too busy being amazed by the lack of Screaming!Ten and the fact that I'd had the most fun with Who that I've had since Nine--even with Martha's annoying Mum around.
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Date: 2007-05-08 08:01 am (UTC)Yeah, the "dangers of twisted science!" theme felt... Cold War-ish? I'm not all that familiar with old Who beyond a little of Four and Seven (does Eight even count?), but I knew enough to cheer at the reversed polarity! (And I do love it when DT channels Tom Baker.) Unfortunately, the Eliot had me thinking Eliot -> Cats -> Tallulah was right about his "musical theater" leanings? Heh.
I'm still unclear on how the whole pipe organ thing actually worked (as in, I'm not convinced it actually did--well, not in any way that actually makes sense)
Welllll... if you assume the screwdriver was converting the regular sound waves of the organ to "hypersonic" waves... I suppose they could've blasted Lazarus's jury-rigged DNA modifications all to pieces? Or something. I pretty much gave up on the "science" portions of this after they showed that blatantly wrong DNA model...
I was too busy being amazed by the lack of Screaming!Ten
I know! DT is capable of so much more than they give him, sometimes. When screaming is demanded by the script, he does it tolerably, but I want better scripts!
even with Martha's annoying Mum around.
She was just like Jackie, except not at all awesome! What was up with that? Is there such a thing as a good parent in this universe?
I can't quite pick out why this week's was so fun, but... I'll take it? Better than another parade of Daleks, at least!
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:25 am (UTC)It reminded me of "Inferno," which was from Jon Pertwee's first year--1970?
I'm not all that familiar with old Who beyond a little of Four and Seven (does Eight even count?), but I knew enough to cheer at the reversed polarity!
Does Eight count?!? ::points at icon:: Of course he does! ;) Can't remember off the top of my head if he reversed the polarity in the TVM or not. That was mostly a Pertwee line.
if you assume the screwdriver was converting the regular sound waves of the organ to "hypersonic" waves... I suppose they could've blasted Lazarus's jury-rigged DNA modifications all to pieces? Or something.
See, I figured something logical, if not scientifically accurate, would be to run the cathedral carillon from the organ console--'cause, hey, bell tower! Only....no. And there used to be at least glimmers of actual science going on, back in the Good Old Days (TM), but these days it's sort of like "Oh, who cares about the science, just make it look cool." Which is nice, except for those of us who actually try to follow the plot...(Of course, as another LJ friend pointed out, he's really not a scientist anymore. They've made him a magician. Gah.)
And you're right about the scripts. I've been saying that since series 2 started last year. Could we please give the man something real to work with, instead of just having him spontaneously yelling at people, if not actually threatening them?
It was better than More and More Daleks Until You Can't Stand Them Anymore, for sure!
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Date: 2007-05-08 03:37 am (UTC)Hmm. For those fifteen minutes I watched, I spent the entire time glancing back and forth between the screen and the clock before deciding I had better things to do. Maybe once I finish this fic that's eating my brain, I'll go back and watch this.
I found a program that does what I want as far as switching the keys. I was hoping there would be a setting to change instead of a program to install, because if it doesn't work, having to call IT and be like, "...Yeah, I was installing a random program and now my computer is screwed up. I swear it was to increase my productivity?" = NOT COOL.
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:08 am (UTC)I'm sure there are programs to switch the keys, but I'm pretty sure there's nothing built into Windows, is what I was saying. Seriously, if you give it a month or two (maybe less), your muscle memory will make the shift for you, I'm pretty sure. It just takes a while for it to get the clue.
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Date: 2007-05-08 09:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 09:59 pm (UTC)Yeah, I know. Me too. That's what I mean when I say that eventually, your muscle memory can and will catch up, if you're willing to let it.
Have you talked to the IT folks at work? They may know of something.
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Date: 2007-05-09 01:01 am (UTC)I'm not sure who the IT folks at work are. I assume we have such a department, given how large the company is, but so far we've always gone to either the boss or the techie guy in our group for computer issues. I suppose I could ask one of them, but it's not quite annoying enough to make me want to do that. Besides which, the entire company is based on PCs. There isn't a Mac in the building. I'd totally be laughed out of the room. *g*
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Date: 2007-05-08 01:41 am (UTC)Possibly. Whichever one is closest to the space bar. It tends to bring up contextual menus when pressed along with a letter key.
I use ten programs, plus the finder, during the course of a day, so I don't think macros are my answer. I did find a shareware program that will do what I want (Keystroke Converter), and I suppose, since they insist we install AIM on our computers in order to talk to other members of the department, and don't mind music and pictures ending up on the computers, that this wouldn't offend anybody.
My sci-fi education taught me to predict the old-young guy not getting all he wanted out of being young again and probably dying horribly, with multiple opportunities for the Doctor to make big, emo speeches about how horrible living essentially forever is, and Martha maybe realizing that he isn't really the kind of guy she should be chasing. No, wait, that last one was my fantasy. I assume it resolved itself somehow like that, although no, cathedral organs didn't figure quite so prominently in my supposition.
Innuendo? Eek. What was it?
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Date: 2007-05-08 02:09 am (UTC)Um... isn't that kind of the whole premise of the new series? You may be out of luck there.
and Martha maybe realizing that he isn't really the kind of guy she should be chasing.
Pfft. Right. Although she did get to tell him off again this week.
Innuendo? Eek. What was it?
THE ENTIRE EPISODE. Pretty much. Giant runaway train of subtext. More visual than anything (except for meeting Mrs. Jones - did you get that far?), but woah. And... if Martha winds up pregnant, there's canonical evidence that it could be the Doctor's? VIA SCIENCE. Seriously.
I did find a shareware program that will do what I want (Keystroke Converter)
Ooh, nice. (Also looks handy for when people spill entire cups of coffee into their keyboards and are too cheap to get new ones, heh...)
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Date: 2007-05-08 03:45 am (UTC)It didn't used to be! I think what I really want is for the current Doctor to be less freaking emo.
Pfft. Right.
Pipe dream, I know.
Although she did get to tell him off again this week.
Yay!
THE ENTIRE EPISODE. Pretty much. Giant runaway train of subtext.
Perhaps like certain other runaway trains?
More visual than anything (except for meeting Mrs. Jones - did you get that far?)
I got that far. That, in part, was what made me stop watching.
And... if Martha winds up pregnant, there's canonical evidence that it could be the Doctor's? VIA SCIENCE. Seriously.
...I AM NEVER WATCHING THIS SHOW AGAIN.
(Also looks handy for when people spill entire cups of coffee into their keyboards and are too cheap to get new ones, heh...)
True, true... I think i'm going to use it to automate some of the stuff I have to do for every package, actually. That would be awesome. Oooh, I'm gonna play with this tomorrow.
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Date: 2007-05-08 07:14 am (UTC)Hey, I would *enjoy* the emo, IF ONLY IT WENT SOMEWHERE. I was so excited with Gridlock, because he went a step beyond the usual "woe is me for vague reasons!" to "woe is me for this reason which I'm finally going to more fully articulate for once after two years and then perhaps move on!" But... no. It's just getting repetitive without adding anything. If they were to *expand* on it, I would be all over that like stink on cheese.
Pipe dream, I know.
I think a good Martha-backstory ep would do a lot to improve the annoying pining thing. Right now all we really know about her is that she's usefully science-y (yay!) and pining (boo!). If she had a personality beyond that, it'd help...
Perhaps like certain other runaway trains?
Can anvils run?
That, in part, was what made me stop watching.
It was amusing, in a "wait, what show am I watching?" kinda way...
...I AM NEVER WATCHING THIS SHOW AGAIN.
Well, Suddenly Transgenic Timelord-esque Martha would be a better bet (they get stuck in a gene-hacking blender machine for a few seconds because he, um, takes a little too long fiddling around with... his screwdriver... under her dress....um....), but.... no really, watch it, it's fun!
Oooh, I'm gonna play with this tomorrow.
Toys!
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:19 am (UTC)Ehh...maybe. At this point, though, I just think it's overdone and way, way past time to move on. I suppose I should be grateful he's stopped talking about Rose, though.
I think a good Martha-backstory ep would do a lot to improve the annoying pining thing.
Would it have to involve her incredibly annoying family? If so count me out. If you could do it without Mama Annoying coming along for the ride, then it might be interesting.
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Date: 2007-05-08 09:49 pm (UTC)Martha as a Time Lord would be AWESOME. New Romana, yo.
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:16 am (UTC)Amen! I thought, upon first seeing Ten, that the lingering "waaaaaahhhh" went away with the regeneration (and hell, even Nine didn't get this bad). I thought "Hey, look! Cute! Fun!" and that the whole Harriet Jones thing was just a flukey regeneration thing. And then what we got, well...there's a reason I stopped writing Ten!fic, which was basically that my idea of Ten and Rusty's turned out to be radically different, and I don't especially enjoy writing characters who start shouting on a dime.
I got that far. That, in part, was what made me stop watching.
Yeah, the whole "Every companion has a family" thing really needs to go away. We've seen it once. We don't need to see them go through the same things every single time there's a new companion. Enough with this "grounding the series via companion families" nonsense--I'd like my show a little less grounded, actually (especially if it means we get the hell away from Earth, hahaha)
...I AM NEVER WATCHING THIS SHOW AGAIN.
Yeah, that'll be jumping the shark for sure. If that happens, I'll definitely be burying my head in old-school/Big Finish, possibly indefinitely.
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Date: 2007-05-08 01:56 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 02:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 03:40 am (UTC)I do enjoy me some contextual menus. Easier to right-click than to control-click, I think.
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Date: 2007-05-08 11:12 am (UTC)You do know you can often just hold the Mac button down and get the contextual menu, right? Not in MS Word, because MS has its head shoved up its arse about such things, but in Firefox, I think Safari...not sure what all else (and Firefox disabled it in 2.0, I think, but it's a quick fix to get it back).
If you knew that already then just, you know...ignore the geek... ;)
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Date: 2007-05-08 10:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 02:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-05-08 10:07 pm (UTC)It's lasted two or three years now, and I expect it will last many more. I never seem to have trouble with mice breaking; I've only ever gotten new ones because we upgraded to USB-connected computers from SCSI, and for going from one-button to two-button mice. That's three mice over a lifetime, I think.