Over the last couple of weeks I've taken to paying attention to TV a little - I use the term very carefully as I listen to TV in the background a lot - just don't always watch it. Anyway - the new season has brought, through the power of the internet, Battlestar Galactica and Lost. BSG is an interesting beast - it continues to heap scorn on American foreign policy from orbit which is always entertaining. It's a little crass and heavy-handed in places - but is compulsive viewing. Even if they did blow the entire series SFX budget in the first few episodes. The main characteristic of the series to date has been the lack of sacred cows and the speed of change of direction. I just hope the enthusiasm of the network doesn't run out before the story does. Lost has also been engaging - though the flashbacks are starting to feel more and more contrived. I'm "getting" it a lot more which I suspect means that it's been dumbed down - and again I worry about the longevity of the concept. I can't help feeling it'll struggle to make five seasons.

Pitch Black was on Film Four last night and was diverting enough, more so if you enjoy Vin Diesel. Its quite budget origins were a little obvious in places but it passed a unchallenging couple of hours. In a fit of televisual ecstasy I also watched Death of a President which, while being terribly right-on and came across as trying too hard, did manage to hold my interest for its duration. Research on wikipedia (so it must be trueTM) showed the pedigree of the production team in doing speculative mockumentaries. Nice work if you can get it!

For some reason, I suspect miss_soap's Q&A, I was reminded of seeing a badger the other weekend - running along the road away from me. From the speed it made it would have been more at home in the M6 roadworks than on a quiet road in the dead of night. Still, I was glad I was in a car and not going nose-to-nose with it.

This weekend I shall be hearing a lot of music and hopefully remembering to repair my earplugs first. Friday is Mechanical Cabaret, Zeitgeist Zero, Tin Omen and ACID Tongue in Birmingham. Saturday probably Kryogenix in Nottingham then the M1 to Black Celebration for more XPQ-21 action. Plus some other bands on my friendslist :-P

Business continues to develop at a geological rate, but following the example of velvet_the_cat and having been annoyed by having to deal with a cheque - I'm now registered for online payments. Go me, etc. Now I can look forward with more interest to an expanded tax return next year.

Finally avid readers will remember my entry a couple of weeks ago about "control of distribution of photos" - well last night I was cruising MySpack and discovered the artist in question was using some of my pics - obviously ones he liked - on his page. A few positive comments reinforced my ego and then I found more on unter null's page and last.fm entry. Indeed if you are registered on last.fm do go to the Panzer AG page and vote for my picture! Fame at the moment stretches to Combichrist and unter null on last.fm; and Panzer AG, Tin Omen, Voltaire and the (contentious) Dream Disciples on wikipedia. So that's not very far! Spread the work!

Tags: birmingham, business, club, film, gig, internet, london, nottingham, photo, tv