Hello!

Yes, I am still alive, just missing in action. I'm hoping to get back into the swing of things very soon. Thanks for waiting!

Headline of the Day

Bill Murray Sports Tiny Trunks for Film

Well, I was looking forward to seeing that movie.

Don't forget -

NORAD will be tracking Santa tomorrow night!

Santa's got clearance from the FAA. Dash away, dash away, dash away all!

Doo dee doo.

Can you tell I don't feel like working today? Our office parking lot was virtually empty this morning and we have a skeleton crew. The phone isn't even ringing, and it always rings.

I supposed I should take care of a couple of items that are waiting on me. Then maybe I'll get some lunch, take my antibiotic and do some more surfing.

Sinus Update

Looks like it was more than just dry, cold air that was bothering me. I actually haven't been feeling well for at least a month now, and I finally went to the doctor this morning. I have a sinus infection and I've got some drugs to help make me feel better.

Oh, speaking of the weather, we've gone from frigid cold 2 days ago to this:




What the?

Phew.

Finally, an answer: "An upcoming episode of UPN's Star Trek: Enterprise will address the so-called Klingon issue head on: Why do original-series Klingons have smooth foreheads, while their counterparts in subsequent series and films have bumpy ones? "

Now I can sleep at night.

Driving Miss Crazy

I was behind a Ford Expedition this morning, and there was a sticker on the back windshield that said, "Bad Ass Girls Drive Bad Ass Toys". Then I looked at the license plate, which seemed innocuous enough, at first. Then I figured it out: H2OMEN4.

I looked for the rainbow sticker, to no avail. I looked into the driver's side as I passed the truck, and to my delight, the driver was a man. I don't know why, it just made me laugh out loud.

He's cute, but for about $40.00 you can get one just as cute at the local shelter.

The character 'Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer' was created for the Montgomery Ward group of department stores.: "To most of us, the character of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, immortalized in song and a popular TV special, has always been an essential part of our Christmas folklore. But Rudolph is a decidedly twentieth-century invention whose creation can be traced to a specific time and person. "

Baby It's Cold Outside.

Damn it was cold here this morning:



And dry - my sinuses and the inside of my nose actually hurt with every breath I take.

Holiday Bears

This polar bear loves his snowman, and google has put up a winter logo.

Yay!

Sixth Harry Potter Book Due Out in July.

Pedro rips Red Sox, Schilling, 'arrogant' Epstein

Pedro rips Red Sox, Schilling, 'arrogant' Epstein: "Asked whether that meant he wanted to get rid of current Mets catcher Mike Piazza, Martinez said, 'I do want Piazza, too. Piazza is a good hitter. We can move him to first or somewhere. ... I want 'Tek. 'Tek is a good player, a good catcher.'"

You want him, Mets, you got him. What an egotistical, arrogant son-of-a-nutcracker.

ROTK: EE DVD Review

The Return of the Rings: "You swim in this story, and drink it and breathe it. By the time Sam rallies that last bit of willpower, if you're still with it, your defenses are entirely gone. You'll cry, too -- you just try not to. To envelop yourself in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" is to surrender all cynicism and irony, all reservations about underlying symbolism and troubling imagery, and to be carried along on an irresistible current, at least until Frodo sails off to the Undying Lands."

Man, Christmas can't come soon enough!

*gasp*

Coroner: O.D.B. died of drug mixture.

I, for one, am shocked.

New show.

I found a new show I like to watch: Waking The Dead, on BBCAmerica. (Mondays, 9:00-11:00 P.M.) The BBCA website describes the show thus:

"Reopening files on old crimes and applying cutting-edge techniques always seems to unearth chilling new dangers for the crackerjack members of the Cold Case Unit, led by Chief Inspector Boyd. But if anyone can track down a murderer years after a crime, they can.

Boyd and his tight-knit team, psychologist Dr. Grace Foley, forensic specialist Dr. Frankie Wharton and Detectives Mel Silver and Spencer Jordan, take on the coldest of cases in a furious race against the clock to catch the killers before they can strike again."

It's really quite good, and the chemistry among the actors is so strong that they really seem to be a "tight-knit team".

Speaking of shows I like, the frist two episodes of LOST are airing tonight on ABC at 8:00. Here's your chance to see it all from the beginning. I'm tempted to re-watch - supposedly the show's writers are suggesting that we all go back and watch the beginning again to see if we can pick up on clues and/or hints about what's going on on the island. It would be interesting to see, but there are a few things that I absolutely need to do around the house - switch my summer and winter clothes, color my hair, among others - and I can't afford to sit in front of the TV for 2 hours. Maybe I'll peek in every once in a while.

Drive-by Reviews

So I watched a few movies over the weekend:


Elf - "Did you HEAR that?" ... "SANTA! Oh My God!! I know him! I know him!!!" ... "Look at you!" ... "This is just like Santa's workshop, except it smells like mushrooms and everyone looks like they want to hurt me."

Sweet, funny, and with a rushed, hokey ending. But what would a Christmas movie be without a hokey ending? Will Farrell is pitch perfect. And the Gimbel's store manager gets an honorary mention.

Something's Gotta Give - Satisfying, if a bit predictable. Good script makes it stand out, and Diane Keaton, who didn't really impress me either way before this movie, was great. And beautiful.

Man on Fire - I love Denzel Washington, so it pains me to say this, but if you never saw this movie you wouldn't be missing anything. Dreary and excessively violent, the only bright spots are a supporting role by Chrisopher Walken and the cute but not cutesy Dakota Fanning. Oh, and the highly stylized cinematography is annoying.

Really?

Clooney Says People Think He's Old: "He's really 43. Clooney told the woman he couldn't believe she thought he was 50 and he asked her to guess again. She said '51?' "

I would have guessed closer to 50, too. Not that there's anything wrong with that. George can be however old he wants to be, that's just fine with me.

Meeeow,

George Michael Slams Elton John in Letter: "'And to this day, most of what Elton thinks he knows about my life is pretty much limited to the gossip he hears on what you would call the `gay grapevine' which, as you can imagine, is lovely stuff indeed,' Michael added. 'Other than that, he knows that I don't like to tour, that I smoke too much pot, and that my albums still have a habit of going to number one."

Oh, yay.

No babies for you.

Oo, Silvio, dude.

Who?

Kanye West Receives 10 Grammy Nominations: "Kanye West Receives 10 Grammy Nominations "

You know you're getting old when you've never heard of MTV Video Award nominees. You know you're getting ancient when you've never heard of a Grammy nominee.

GoldenPalace Grabs Grandpa Ghost

We've all heard the story about the woman who put her father's "ghost" up for sale at ebay in order to ease her son's fears, right? Well, that online casino that bought the Virgin Mary grilled cheese sandwich has done it again:

Online Casino Buys Ghost Cane for $65K: "An online casino offered $65,000 Monday for a metal walking cane that an Indiana woman put up for sale in hopes her son would believe his grandfather's ghost would leave their house with it. "

Alright, Hol, you asked for it.

Woman survives throat impalement:"A woman survived being impaled by a 12-foot metal fence post that pierced through her mouth and came out the back of her neck in a car accident, authorities said."

Freeze frame.

Was Bryan Adams cryogenically frozen in 1985 and thawed out recently? Twenty years and the man looks exactly the same, even the clothes.

Ow.

Man Impaled by 6-Inch Hook Through Skull.

Explains alot.

44% of Americans medicated.

Sometimes I wish I was.

Funniest thing you'll read all day.

BRITNEY!: "What was I talking about again? Oh right. Y'all keep talking about how I look crummy when I leave the house but that is totally unfair y'all. Y'all, I am in love. I am married now! I am a married lady! This is how I look, for reals, y'all. "

Drive-By Reviews

I watched a few movies this weekend:

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Best of the 3, I think. LOVE Gary Oldman and David Thewliss. Should have included origins of Marauder's Map. Need to watch again.

Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Couldn't sleep so watched a late night showing. Glad I did - it was sweet and not the least bit annoying. Gopher Trace or Topher Grace, whatever his name is, is adorable.

The Day After Tomorrow: Eh. Reminded me of the great disaster films of the 70s, but without the high drama, camp and cheese that made them great.

Secret Window: One and only reason to watch this movie: Johnny Depp.

Christmas is coming...

...and Gina's getting fat. God, I think I ate everything in sight this weekend.

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday. Thanksgiving has always been a low-key holiday for us, and this year it was pretty much the same. I cooked way too much food for 5 adults and 2 kids, the 4 dogs were surprisingly well-behaved and the weather was downright balmy. It would have been a perfect Thanksgiving in another time and place; for now, though, it was the first without Daddy and thus a relief to have it done with. I don't think I'll ever understand why God took him when he did, but I do give thanks for the time that he was here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Go Go Gadget!

"Oh my God, Inspector Gadget, I can't believe it's really you!"

Catorce!!

New U2 Album Melodious, Without Surprises: "The soaring melodies on 'Bomb' sometimes reveal Bono's vocal range is not what it used to be when he belted the high notes in his 20s. But overall the renewed emphasis on anthems suits the material and makes for the most vivid and passionate U2 album since 1990's masterful 'Achtung Baby.' "

God, I can't get that new song out of my head! I bought the "Bomb" last night, and I'm looking forward to listening to it.

Oh, and I would have killed to have been able to see them at one of their surprise NYC shows this week!

Ask the pilot.

Salon's flight expert nitpicks LOST: "Pilots don't watch these sorts of shows for entertainment; they watch them because they have a sardonic infatuation with crash depictions. It's a kind of self-affirmation therapy. They sit back, scornfully and contemptuously pointing out the numerous errors and impossibilities, then switch off the remote before the show is half over. "

While nitpicking usually bugs the crap out of me, I kind of enjoyed this. Plus, he admits that the mysterious force(s) surrounding the island may be responsible for the inconsistencies:

"Word has it that upcoming episodes will attempt to justify the strange circumstances of the crash. Stuck on this eerie haunted island, the castaway cast has clued in to the fact that their jet's death plummet should not have been survivable. What's going on here?

For pilots, of course, that takes away all the fun."

(viewing of ad required for day pass)

Deathbed Confession.

Woman Confesses to Murder on Her Deathbed: "A woman dying of cancer confessed to her daughter that she killed her husband years earlier and hid the body, authorities said this week after finding the remains inside a storage unit. "

C-SPAN at 2:00 in the morning.

Pomp and populism: "By the time U2's lead singer, Bono, appeared onstage under a green umbrella, the spirit of bipartisanship had washed away in the downpour. Bono saluted Clinton for forgiving the debts of the poorest nations and for his involvement in the Northern Ireland peace agreement, before launching into a rendition of 'Sunday Bloody Sunday.' Bono's presence was part of the effort to combine humble talent and international sophistication."

I had a sinus pain/teeth flareup during the night that woke me at around 12:30. So, after taking a Claritin-D and some Advil, and while I sat on the couch waiting for the pain to subside enough for me to go back to sleep, I surfed through the TV channels and came across C-SPAN's coverage of the dedication of Clinton's presidential library. Actually, what I came across was the precise moment mentioned above: Bono singing an unplugged version of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" while the Edge accompanied him on acoustic guitar. Very bizarre to watch all the presidential types standing around in the rain looking in every direction but at the band - the Clintons seemed to be the only VIPs there who seemed to know there was a band on stage and who they were. However, it was pouring rain, so they all probably wished the whole thing would just be over with and they could get inside where it's dry.

I fell asleep while watching "Cold Case Files" on A&E, I think, and woke up about 45 minutes later, at 3:30, feeling well enough to go back to bed. I'm feeling much better this morning, except for the fact that I'm exhausted!

Spielberg coming to Connecticut

Naugatuck site picked for movie shoot: "Director Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise are coming to the town to film perhaps the ending of the adaptation of H.G. Wells' interplanetary invasion classic 'The War of the Worlds.' "

They'll be shooting at the Uniroyal Chemical plant, which is just a couple of exits south of where I live. Hmm.

More on Fallujah and the Media

Bono's New Casualty: 'Private Ryan': "As the crunch comes, we'll learn whether media companies will continue to test such Iraq war stories against 'reality-based' reportage, or whether they'll kowtow to an emboldened administration, spurred on by its self-proclaimed mandate and its hard-right auxiliary groups, that can reward or punish them at will. For now the most dominant Falluja image has been that of the 'Marlboro Man', the Los Angeles Times photo of the brave American marine James Blake Miller, his face bloodied and soiled by combat, his expression resolute. It is, as Mr. Rumsfeld might say, a slice of truth. But other slices, like the airlifting of hundreds of American troops to Germany to be treated for the traumatic fallout of Falluja's graphic violence are, like 'Saving Private Ryan' on Veteran's Day, missing from too many Americans' screens."

(registration req)

The heartbreak of war

How a single photograph brought home the horror of Iraq: "No, it is our dear leaders who must be held to account. They chose to fight a war of conquest -- a much more violent proposition than other types of war -- without good reason. They sold the war on false evidence and false assumptions about the effect on the civilian population. We will bring the shining light of democracy to the Iraqi people, they said. Americans were led to believe that only those who chose to fight would suffer. Never, ever should anyone try to sell a war by sugarcoating its realities, by implying that it will be an antiseptic video game of surgically precise weapons, that there will only be the most 'minimal' loss of innocent life. That is the stuff of Tom Clancy novels, not real war. I find it inconceivable that a man who professes to be 'pro-life' could so blithely commit so many others to die. Tonight, George Bush will go to sleep happy, comfortable in his electoral victory and looking forward to spending that political capital he says he 'earned.' Meanwhile a man and his innocent child lie rotting on a dusty Fallujah street. "

(viewing of ad for free day pass required)

Here we go again.

Powell: Intelligence suggests Iran trying to adapt missiles for nukes: "Powell partially confirmed claims by an Iranian opposition group that Tehran is deceiving the United Nations and is attempting to secretly continue activities meant to give it atomic arms by next year."

Sources also revealed that Iranian officials are hoping to acquire atomics legs by 2006.

Sorry, but if I don't joke about it, I think I'll cry.

Wednesday is JJ Abrams Day.

"Alias" moving to Wednesday at 9:00: "In the most notable move, Alias will inherit the 9 p.m. slot after Lost on Wednesdays, starting Jan. 5. Alias had had trouble finding a wide audience, but Lost is the No. 6 most-watched series this season."

Taking FPS to a whole new level.

That moose may soon be just a mouse click away: "'We were looking at a beautiful white-tail buck and my friend said 'If you just had a gun for that.' A little light bulb went off in my head,' he said."

Yes, whenever I see a beautiful wild animal, I always wish I had my gun with me so I could kill it.

Sorry, make that grilled cheese on white, don't hold the V.M.

eBay reopens Virgin mary cheese sandwich auction: "The Internet auction house eBay Inc. reversed itself Tuesday and is allowing bids for half of a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich that its owner says bears the image of the Virgin Mary."

Grilled cheese on white, hold the Virgin Mary.

eBay pulls 'Virgin Mary sandwich': "The people at eBay were no believers in this cheesy miracle: half of a 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich whose owner claimed it bore the image of the Virgin Mary."

I can definitely see a woman's face, but it looks more like Marlene Dietrich than the Virgin Mary to me.

Like Steve McQueen.

If I could buy any car I wanted to, right now, it would be the 2005 Mustang GT. Damn, I want that car.

I'm not sure I'm diggin' the commercial for it, though. Have you seen it? They aired it during last week's "Lost". A voice whispers, "If you build it, he will come." The guy in the ad gets on his tractor and plows a race course through a cornfield. As he looks down the road he just made, a man walks out of the corn and starts toward him and the car. Close-up on the guy from the corn reveals him to be "Bullitt"-era Steve McQueen, in all his CGI-zombie glory. It's a cool ad, but creepy, you know?

Awesome, awesome car, though.

Hot British Man Sandwich.

I never thought I'd say this, but right now I wish I was Renee Zellweger.

Actually, this photo might scare me even more.

Mommy, the scary lady keeps staring at me.

Yikes!

God this picture scares the shit out of me.

I miss the good old days of streakers and soy bombs.

Fight at Vibe awards; one person stabbed: "'It's really important that we don't take a negative incident like this and do away with the awards,' Suge Knight told reporters."

Because we all know there aren't enough awards shows.

I'm just an EMT...

Famed Rocker Roth Goes From No. 1 to 911: "The singer, who spent a decade with Van Halen before embarking on a solo career, except a collaboration with the band for two new songs on a greatest hits album, has been riding along with crews in the Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn several nights a week."

Dam expensive wallpaper.

Beavers Make Dam Out of Stolen Money: "The third bag of cash couldn't be found, Martin said, so deputies started breaking down the beaver dam to drain the pond it was holding. That was when they saw the dam's expensive decoration. They eventually found the missing bag, which the beavers hadn't completely emptied."

I can't say I'm surprised.

Colin Powell submits resignation: "Several officials said the White House bore no ill will toward Powell, but simply desired to move smoothly through the Cabinet transitions. One said that, had Powell stayed longer, it would have 'a ripple effect' on other planned changes."

Powell's performance and duties as Secretary of State under the Bush administration have left his reputation a bit tarnished, I think. I hope his new career proves more fruitful for him.

Who is this man?

And what did he do with Ray Liotta?

Those Crazy Christians

Groups protest film about sex prof: "Focus on the Family, an influential Christian ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said in a review of the film that 'Kinsey' mocks Christianity and condones immorality...'To say that it is rank propaganda for the sexual revolution and the homosexual agenda would be beyond stating the obvious,' wrote reviewer Tom Neven."

They're going to give the rest of us a bad name.

Law & Order: Total Freak

'Intent' Star Faints on the Set: "'He is so hard to work with a total freak. He constantly complains about the scripts and has held up production a lot.' "

What are people so afraid of?

Gay activists focus on election results: "It is tough when 'the vast majority of citizens in your state not only do not understand you but take hostile steps to change the constitution to take away rights we never even had,' Foreman said. 'There's no way you can put lipstick on that pig.'"

Did I mention "Lost" is on tonight?

How 'Lost' Careered Into Being a Hit Show: "The speed with which ABC's Wednesday night breakout hit drama 'Lost' went from a network executive's half-baked suggestion to one of the most elaborate and expensive pilots ever filmed was brain blurring."

Lemonade Out of Lemons.

Lemonade stands exceed $1 million for cancer research: "Alex was diagnosed the day before her first birthday with neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of childhood cancer. She set up a lemonade stand in 2000 in front of her suburban Philadelphia home. She took in $2,000 that first year, and $200,000 through 2003."

Britney vs. Chucky

Seed of Chucky Disclaimer: "In a tongue-in-cheek statement, a spokesperson said the studio's intent was to declare that 'no actual Britney Spears were harmed during the filming.' "

Watch Lost.

Watch Lost. Watch Lost. Watch Lost. Watch Lost. Watch Lost. Watch Lost...

Pure Imagination.

Take a look at the poster for the new Tim Burton movie Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Johnny "Yum-Yum" Depp.

Democrat = Heathen, Apparently

Liberals Dismayed by 'Moral Values' Claims: "Family values, traditional values and now, 'moral values.' Most American adults would say they have them, and yet that two-word phrase is the focus of an ideological tug-of-war heightened by President Bush's re-election, with conservatives declaring principal ownership and liberals scrambling to challenge them. "

Check out how this nutjob charactarizes the Democratic party:

"There is no reconciliation between good and evil," wrote Mary Ann Kreitzer of Les Femmes, an organization of conservative Roman Catholic women. "Voters rejected the party of gay activists, radical feminists, the Hollywood elite, pornographers, death-peddlers, anti-Christian bigots and apostate Catholics."

Talk like this scares the crap out of me.

Holly, This is Right Up Your Alley.

Debriefing: Working Stiffs: "It's been a bad few years for the economy, but with crime shows dominating the schedule, the market for corpses on television is in an extraordinary growth period. Now that murder victims are becoming television's most valuable role players, we asked this coming week's cast of stiffs what it's like to play dead. "

7 secrets of 'Arrested Development'

7 secrets of 'Arrested Development': "'They write past humor to comedy, and to the situation rather than the gag,' said the actor of the 'Arrested' writers, led by Mitch Hurwitz, who won an Emmy for his writing on the show. 'I don't think they come up with the gag first -- I think they come up with the dynamics of the family. I think it's character-driven.'"

(registration required)

100 Greatest TV Characters.

Bravo to salute icons of the television age: "Ready for an in-depth character study? Bravo will devote a week-long, five-part series to The 100 Greatest TV Characters. It begins Nov. 22 (9 p.m. ET/PT) and will use interviews to bolster its case. "

Who are some of your favorite TV characters (and by favorite I don't mean the ones you lusted after ;)? Among mine would be, let's see...probably Jim Rockford, Jamie Somers, Magnum, Mulder and Scully, Lucy, Frasier Crane, Buffy (including Scoobies and Giles and Spike)...I know there are many more, but those are the ones that come to mind quickly.

Lost

OK, so let's talk Lost. I still haven't seen last week's episode (it's airing tomorrow night at 8:00), so I'm not sure what the dynamic between the Korean couple and the black couple is like now, or what's passed between them.

I liked Charlie's backstory, although there were really no big surprises, except, I think for the fact that he was very religious. I'd like to see that aspect of his personality emerge more as they start forming their society and community. He's felt as though he's been useless so far - maybe he could find a purpose in serving as a sort of spiritual leader for the group.

The theme of choices was a good one, although I found the whole moth bit to be a little heavy-handed. I wonder who hit Sayid? Who doesn't want them to be found? While Sawyer's been portrayed pretty much as a scumbag so far, I have a feeling he's going to end up being a tragic figure, for some reason.

What did you all think?

Speaking of Hope...

Aides: Ashcroft Likely to Leave AG Post: "Ashcroft is expected to resign before Bush's Jan. 20 inauguration, said aides who spoke only on condition of anonymity. They said there is a small chance he would stay on, at least for a short time, if Bush asked him. "

(thanks, Jill)

Sore Loser.

That's me. I cannot be gracious about the results of this election, at least not right now. In the future? Maybe, but probably not. I have plenty of vitriol to spew, but I will refrain; there's enough of that going around as it is, and ranting will only make me feel worse right now. So, suffice to say, I am disappointed beyond words.

I will just have to look to the future and hope.

Nobody's Monkey - Yet

Look out, Jon Stewart : "The paradox of a fake newsman becoming news himself is not lost on Daily Show executive producer Ben Karlin. It's very easy to go from media darling to media whore to media washed-up-on-the-street-corner. That's a path that we've seen many, many times, and one they poke potholes into on the show. We just want to make sure we embrace (the attention) so tightly, the irony is lost on nobody."

Vote!

Finally, one way or another it will all be over. Remember to get out there and vote today.

For your Election Day pleasure, something from my Indecision 2004 newsletter:

"Conspiracy theorists have been burning up the Internet with guesses about what the out-of-left-field October campaign surprise will be. We couldn't imagine a better use of the Election Decoder® than to fire it up to give us a few educated predictions.

Using a radical new mathematical formula where we took the inverse of an eigenvector, multiplied it by its own inertial frame and subtracted the median weight of the average obese American child, the Decoder was able to spit out the following predictions:


1. The Kerry campaign releases a statement that Alexandra Kerry, Vanessa Kerry, Catherine Edwards and Emma Claire Edwards are all lesbians.

2. George W. Bush announces that WMDs have been found hidden in an ancient tomb in Iraq and that Geraldo Rivera will reveal them to the world LIVE on November 3.

3. Ben Affleck threatens to make three to five more mediocre films unless John Kerry is elected president.

4. Donald Rumsfeld announces that chatter in the terrorist community reveals Johnny Damon of the Red Sox will be kidnapped unless all of Massachusetts votes Republican.

5. All Iraqi insurgents simultaneously drop their weapons, embrace and declare George W. Bush the "Granddaddy Peacemaker Forever and Always."

6. John Kerry is magically blessed with the power to make his health plan work for every man, woman and child in a swing state. He can also raise the dead.

7. Dick Cheney promises that if he and Bush are re-elected, he will support a constitutional amendment requiring Jude Law to bed every woman in America within the next four years.

8. It's revealed that flu shots mysteriously make the elderly in Florida write in Pat Buchanan on the ballot.

9. Osama bin Laden agrees to appear on Larry King, breaks down crying, asking, "Why can't we all just get along?"

10. John Kerry rips off his droopy mask, reveals himself to be Jeb Bush. "

Where's the horror?

Be Somewhat Afraid; Tricks for Horror Fans: "...And I don't even like the Chucky movies much. It's just that the series' out-there gruesomeness and frank stupidity strike me as preferable to the more recent style of big-budget action/horror pictures like 'Resident Evil: Apocalypse' and the coming 'Blade: Trinity' (Dec. 8). The heroes and heroines of this sort of film do battle against traditional horror-movie threats - mutants, lethal viruses, vampires, homicidal computers and the like - but in a proactive, can-do sort of way that seems to negate the true power of the genre: the dire possibility that the malignant, irrational forces we struggle against may finally be stronger than we are. Who could seriously doubt that these sleek paramilitary operations, full of advanced weaponry and preening computer-generated imagery, will succeed in beating back the dark implacable enemy? There might as well be a 'Mission Accomplished' banner in the background of every scene."

I have to agree with this assessment. While movies like "Blade", "Resident Evil" and "Underworld" provide plenty of thrills, they really aren't scary at all. Scary is what I watched last night: George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead", in which those "malignant, irrational forces" actually prevail.

What are ya, blind?

Well, actually, yeah...

Blind car thief crashed into tree: "He told police: 'I just wanted to prove to myself that I could do anything I wanted - despite my handicap. I only crashed because I was not sure of the way home.'"

How sad is it that in order to prove he could do anything, he stole a car?

Lavigne on Simpson

Lavigne: Lip-syncing singers 'pathetic'.

So are pop singers who think buying clothes at Hot Topic makes them punk.

Wockadoo, wockadoo, wockadoo!

Bob McAllister's Wonderama: "Wonderama was the nation's local kid show - delivered every week via cable TV over the Metromedia Superstations. Host Bob McAllister assaulted the senses for three hours every Sunday - and made a lot of friends over the years!"

The first time I saw a bagel was on Wonderama. I remember singing along to "Kids are People, Too", doing Jumping Jacks while singing the "Exercise Song" (exercise, exercise, come on everybody do your exercise!), and trying to whistle after cramming half a stack of saltines into my mouth. Ah, the memories.

By the Light of the Moon.

Spooky shot of the moon, taken on Wednesday night at the beginning of the eclipse. (link from weather.com

The moon that was rising as I was driving home last night was stunning - a golden color and absolutely huge, it looked like it was about to bump into the earth at any moment. I love the moon this time of year.

Cute.

A polar bear and a pumpkin. The cutest thing about this photo is his feet, I think.

What now?

With Nothing Left to Win, Fans of Red Sox Suddenly Feel a Loss"They're going to be heartbroken at not being heartbroken," said Mr. Epstein, a novelist who is chairman of the creative writing department at Boston University. "It's not just a joke. That's what's made us unique. We were the Boston Red Sox that never could win."

(registration req.)

Finally.

Boston Wins Series, 4-0: Red Sox Erase 86 Years of Futility in 4 Games: "On Wednesday night, Babe Ruth gave up. From Bangor to Brattleboro, Nashua to Nantucket, Waterbury to Woonsocket, the fans of New England can finally say it: The Boston Red Sox are the World Series champions. Nothing will ever be quite the same."

Big, no make that HUGE congratulations to all of you faithful Red Sox fans. I'll bet you're glad that's over with! My father was a Boston fan, and I have to believe that one more angel in heaven routing for the Red Sox could only have helped matters. They finally did it, Daddy. :-)

I smell a Disney movie.

Canine pitch invader back at home: "When Martin Burn settled down to watch the second Test of the International Rules series on Sunday on TV, he could barely believe what he saw. There was much hilarity among the 60,000 crowd at the game, as a small dog got onto the pitch and chased the ball. He recognised the pitch invader as the family pet, and the dog was eventually returned home."

Actually, does Disney even make those "Soccer Dog"-type movies anymore? Cute story, nonetheless.

Getting 'Lost'

Feeling out to sea?: "On 'Lost,' 46 plane-crash survivors are stuck on a remote Pacific island. Or at least they might be survivors; they might also be souls in purgatory, hovering between heaven and hell, defending their lives on the sands of judgment. Or at least they might be on a sandy island; they might also be inside a 'Truman Show' --like zoo, or on a planet where polar bears thrive in tropical climates. If indeed those beasts in the 'Lost' forest are bears, and not emissaries of God, or grotesque alien creatures, or Mulder, Scully, and the Log Lady on a journey to the Hellmouth."

References to three of my most favorite shows, ever? (X-Files, Twin Peaks and Buffy) It's no wonder I like this show so much.

More Halloween-Cancelling Idiocy

Halloween bedevils some U.S. churches: "'It's a demonic spirit day,' said Deborah Griggs, 36, of Newnan, Ga., who does not allow her three boys to celebrate Halloween. 'God should get the glory on Sunday and Saturday as well. Halloween should be canceled altogether.'"

And you know what, lady? Oh, forget it, I can't be bothered.

Well-Deserved Rest.

Whedon wants out of TV: "'I spent a lot of time trying to think what my next series would be,' Whedon said. 'I couldn't think of anything. When that happens, it generally means something is just not working. I didn't feel like I could come up with anything that the networks would want.' "

Fidel go boom.

What are Cubans going to do when Castro dies, a day which seems to be fast approaching considering how delicate he appears to be?

By Gosh, By Golly.

They did it. Congratulations to all of you long time Boston fans. This moment is sweet. You were the better team and you deserve to win. Bask in the glow.

"Lost" gets picked up for a full season.

ABC Stays "Lost" and "Desperate": "The Alphabet net has given full-season orders to its two breakout rookie hits, the twisted suburban soap Desperate Housewives and the survival drama Lost. The freshman series have helped boost ABC to its first strong showing in the ratings in at least four years. "

While this is clearly a no-brainer, I would not have been surprised if things went the other way. Programming execs have been known to make a mistake or 2, from time to time.

"Lost" was good again last night. So Jack was seeing his dead father. Was he a stress-induced hallucination? The spirit manifestation of some sort of island magic, as Locke implied? I wonder what Jack "did" that his mother referred to? And speaking of mother, what did Veronica Hamel do to her top lip? Looks like another collagen implant disaster. I'm having trouble understanding what the scene with the coffin was all about - was that another part of the plane? Was that Jack's Dad's coffin? If so, why was it empty? And why did pulverizing the casket to a pile of splinters make Jack feel better and ready to take on a leadership role? Dad isn't any more dead at the end of the episode than he was at the beginning. Anyone?

Not This Year, My Pretty!

In an attempt to avoid offending witches, School District Bans Halloween: "A Puyallup School District internal email dating from October 2000 warns that 'the Wiccan religion is a bona fide religion under the law, and its followers are entitled to all the protections afforded more mainstream religions. Building administrators should not tolerate such inappropriate stereotyping (images such as Witches on flying brooms, stirring cauldrons, casting spells, or with long noses and pointed hats) and instead address them as you would hurtful stereotypes of any other minority.'"

How many people think this is taking political correctness WAY too far? Raise your hands.

(thanks, fark)

Holy Cow.

Another great game last night. It's so amazing that the Red Sox have been able to come out from under a 3 games to none deficit and tie the series; but these games are killing me! I'm exhausted. And for the first time in my life I'm starting to feel ashamed of being a Yankees fan. Mostly because of that cheating brat, A-Rod, but also because of the thuggish behavior of the fans at the game. Show some class, people.

I still can't understand why Rodriguez did what he did. What the hell was he thinking? Actually, I think I know - it's the 8th inning, the Red Sox are winning, this is not the way it's supposed to be, OhMyGodThisCan'tBeHappeningThisIsNotFair- I'mTellingMyMommy*SLAP* Take your ball and go home if you can't play like a grownup, A-Rod.

Curt Schilling could teach that boy a thing or two. I saw the blood on his sock right from the beginning of the game and I couldn't believe the announcers never mentioned it! I'm like, "He's bleeding, does anyone besides me notice he's bleeding?? Hello!" I read this morning that before the game they sewed his dislocated tendon into place by suturing his skin to something underneath it. It must have been the sutures that were bleeding. Damn.

Game 7 tonight. I'm not sure I'll be able to watch!

Now I know what they mean by "talking head."

Jon Stewart Bitchslaps CNN's 'Crossfire' Show
: "In an era when the media is increasingly fragmented and viewers can surround themselves with programming that falls right in line with their own views, be they on the right or the left, Stewart's blast seemed especially on point. It seems fitting that the tirade came on a day when much of the media attention focused on the presidential race was directed at the mention of Vice President Dick Cheney's daughter during the last presidential debate, as opposed to the issues addressed at that debate."

Jon Stewart, I love you.

Aw, Frell!

I wanted to tape today's Farscape episodes, to refresh my memory before watching the mini-series on Sunday. I wrote myself a note and left it at my desk at home. I sent myself an e-mail from work to home, reminding myself to pop a tape in and set the VCR. I bet you can guess how that all turned out. Mhm. Forgot.

Oh well. How about some Scapey goodness?

Tale of the Scape: "The Peacekeeper Wars is as good a place as any to jump in; a brief series recap at the beginning provides a Farscape for Dummies crash-course that's less of a brain-melter than reading through the show's four-season history at SciFi.com/Farscape (though also recommended). And, if the miniseries does as well as the Scapers expect, it could make that rarified comeback from cancellation."

Why the Frenzy Over Farscape?: "The show's greatest strength is that whatever crisis Moya and her motley crew confronts, the richly drawn characters always come first. In the mini-series, for example, Sun and Crichton don't let a military assault get in the way of a domestic spat."

The Farscape Factor: "The 'Farscape' campaign is an example of 'fan power at the grass-roots level,' Schaeffler says. 'It shows that a group of individuals can draw together a larger group of fans and create change. The whole theme is of more power to the creative people, more power for fans and for advertisers to influence future content.'"

(all links thank to tvtattle.com)

Who's there?!

82 percent.

I Watched.

I remembered to watch "Lost". Another great episode. I really liked the reveal they did on the John Locke (sp?) character - maybe I'm thick, but I was not expecting that at all. Now I understand why he was walking around with that weird look of wonder and shit-eating grin on his face while everyone else was devastated (or dead). That crash is the best thing that ever happened to him.

And who's the guy with the suit and the white shoes? Do you think the tail section of the plane is on the other side of the island with another bunch of survivors? Does Kate climb trees in her spare time? Oo, maybe she's a cat burgular!

On a completely unrelated note, I just checked the game and the score is 3-0, NYY over BOS, and it's the 8th inning. So why am I disappointed? I should be happy. What's happening to me?

Oo, wait - I just checked again and it's 3-1. Maybe if I don't watch...

Test Post

Please work.

X-Files 2?

I did not know that Frank Spotnitz had a blog. In a post dated last Thursday, he says: "I'm happy to confirm, as David has in several interviews, that the rumors about a second X-Files feature film are true. In fact, the studio approached us about doing another feature way back in the summer of 2001, before the ninth and final season of the series was even broadcast. I can't speak to the accuracy of the timetable you outline above, but I can tell you that Chris and I have been working on the story for some time. If and when contract negotiations with the studio are finally concluded, we will get to work on the script right away."

Looks like this might actually happen. Frank's blog is new, but in his initial post he welcomes readers to post questions to him that he will try to answer as part of the blog "conversation". So, if there's anything you've always wanted to ask Frank Spotnitx, now's your chance.

I Wanna See a Cage Match!

Roseanne on Dr. Phil: "Dr. Phil is just a used car salesman with barnyard psychology. Once he turns off those cameras, nobody does anything that he says. He's a fat slob talking about how to lose weight. Who wants to hear that? . . . I just hate Dr. Phil and his wife! I shouldn't go off like this, but he's just so stupid and the cause of the dumbing down of America. It's so purely evident if you just watch five minutes of this guy. He's just a huckster used car salesman, scam artist "

I'm with ya, Roseanne, for the most part (I'm not sure you've done anything to fight the dumbing-down of America). Plus, I think he looks retarded, like he has Down's Syndrome.

Note to Self

Watch Lost tonight. Watch Lost tonight. Watch Lost tonight. Watch Lost tonight. Watch Lost tonight...

U2 Planning Tour!

U2 to tour next year: "We are still very much in the planning stages of our tour for next year which will visit the US, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia, and the band is really looking forward to getting out on the road."

Pick a Century.

Nigerian court condemns women to death by stoning: "Islamic courts in Nigeria sentenced two women to death by stoning for having sex out of wedlock, but two men whom they said they slept with were acquitted for lack of evidence, authorities said Tuesday."

TV Watch

Big TV weekend coming up! I've heard a rumor that fX will be airing 8 episodes of Arrested Development on Saturday, starting at 12:00 P.M. If you want to know what the fuss is all about (including an Emmy for Best Comedy), this is your chance! (series premieres on November 7, I think, on FOX)

Then, on Sunday, it's the long-awaited Farscape miniseries, "Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars", which picks up where we left off when SciFi so uncermoniously dumped us. Part 1 will air on Sunday night at 9:00 and Part 2 will air on Monday at 9:00 (each part is 2 hours). All airings:

Part 1:
10/17 - 9:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.
10/18 - 1:00 A.M. and 7: P.M.
10/24 - 3:00 P.M.

Part 2:
10/18 - 9:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M.
10/19 - 1:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M.
10/24 - 5:00 P.M.

Also, SciFi's been airing all 4 seasons of Farscape during the day, last week and this week. I meant to remind people right before they began, but I put it on the back burner and forgot about it and that little thought went right up in smoke like all the others in my brain. If you can, try to catch some of the miniseries - you don't need to have seen the entire series in order to enjoy it, I'm sure. If you like it, spread the word - there still might be a chance for a season 5.

Buffy Movie Still Possible?

Gellar Hesitates Over Buffy Movie: "Although she has some hesitation about bringing her vampire slaying Buffy character to the big screen, Sarah Michelle Gellar says she hasn't completely ruled out the idea. "

I think it could be done very well, and I think with the passage of a little more time, the idea of a movie will be even more attractive to her.

Yankees and Red Sox:

Only One Can Survive: "The Yankees finished three games ahead of Boston in the American League East, but the teams could not be much more evenly matched. "

I'm a Yankees fan, simply because that's what I've always been, as far back as I can remember. Probably because my mother is a Yankees fan. But I will be just as pleased (and maybe a little more) if the Red Sox win the ALCS and go on to the World Series. If any team deserves it, they do. Game starts at 8:00, on FOX, tonight.

My bags are packed, it must be the weekend.

And so I head out again, off the to the great state of Massachusetts to visit with friends til Sunday. I should have some photos to post when I get back, not only from the weekend, but also from my nephew's birthday party and a photo from my brother Tommy's swearing in ceremony for the Ridgefield Police.

Oh, and I meant to mention - can you believe I forgot to watch "Lost" on Wednesday night? After all of the praising, I forgot. Forgot! If anyone has it on tape, or knows if it's being re-broadcast, please let me know.

Anyway, have a great weekend, and see you in a few days!

Olly Olly Oxen Free

I'm at 42%, baby, and I think I'm finally getting the hang of it! And my right thumb is worse for the wear. Kinda silly for a 40-year-old woman to have a sore thumb from spending too much time playing video games. But then silly isn't such a bad thing.

Not in Kansas Anymore

Tornado reveals child porn cache: "'It was the largest seizure of child pornography I've ever seen,' Rolle said. 'We had to bring in a pickup truck to get all of it out of there.'"

The Lord works in mysterious ways, huh? Now he just needs to smite the bastard.

Blah Blah Blah

So, how was everyone's weekend? Not much to tell from here. I'm finally home from the 2 weeks housesitting/dogsitting at my father's house while my stepmother was in Maine. It feels SO good to be home, sleeping in my own bed. We went to my nephew Zachary's birthday party in Rhode Island yesterday afternoon - he's 5 years old now. It was a beautiful fall day, so it was nice to spend it outside at the park.

Playstation is still taking up much of my free time, and right now I'm playing Splinter Cell. Definitely more challenging than the first 2 games I've played (X-Files and Alias); thankfully I had my brother Tommy around for a week to play along with (he's already played the PC version). I was able to pick up on the mindset behind the game by watching him, so now I know what to be on the alert for and how to think about the way to do things. I prefer the stealthy parts to the shooting parts - I'm too slow on the uptake with the gun. I'm about 31% of the way through the game right now. I'll let you know if I get any farther.

Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book)

I got my grubby little hands on it just a little while ago: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Book) : A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (The Daily Show With Jon Stewart Presents). (inhale) Haven't cracked it open yet, but I'm dying to. I'll let you know what I think of it.

Thar she blows.

Mount St. Helens' blows smoke, ash: "While an eruption could ooze magma within the crater, the larger concern is that it would send up a cloud of ash that would be spread by the wind and could become an aviation hazard, scientists have said. Scientists do not expect a repeat of the 1980 eruption. "

Phew. Stay safe out there, my Seattle friends. Well, friend.

I need...toseethis!

William Shatner has just revealed to the town of Riverside, Iowa that they were set up for a new Spike reality show about a supposed new Shatner movie project: "Shatner and company chose Riverside, an old-fashioned Midwestern farming community with a population of 900, in large part because of its love for all things Trek--the town bills itself as the 'future birthplace of Captain Kirk' and hosts an annual festival gathering for Trekkers called Trek Fest.

Cameras captured on- and off-set hijinks of the faux production, with Shatner playing an over-the-top version of his usually hammy self. Locals were told that Invasion Iowa was an indie picture Shatner and Trek costar Leonard Nimoy (news) had been working on for more than 30 years.
Even local media were hosed, printing stories on Shatner finally getting the chance to make 'his baby.' One newspaper said that Shatner's pals at Priceline.com were even going to do a documentary on the making of Invasion Iowa for the DVD.

Aside from the unsuspecting townsfolk, Shatner was surrounded by an entourage that included stressed-out assistants, his spiritual advisor and a space cadet of a leading lady--all played by improvisational comedy actors."

The show will air next year.

It's a Right-Wing Conspiracy!

I usually stop at 7-Eleven for a large (20 oz) tea on the way in to work. I did so yesterday morning, and when I went to grab a 20 oz cup, I saw “BUSH” emblazoned across the outside of the cup, with “Your Vote Counts” and “7-Election 2004”. I couldn’t believe it! They expected me to carry around a cup with Bush’s name on it?! How dare they force their political views on the rest of us?! There was no freakin’ way I was going to be a walking advertisement for that guy. But then, just as I was figuring out how to place that heat-protecting cardboard band in such a way that it completely covered “BUSH”, I saw that right behind the Bush cups were Kerry cups (which would be accessible from the counter on that side). Apparently, you pick which cup (candidate) you want and the cashier scans the bar code on the cup. Some kind of mock election, I guess. Although it’s really only an accurate representation of the votes of people who drink 20 oz coffees.

Thank God I didn’t say anything I was thinking out loud!

It's a Man Pillow, Baby.

In Japan, Women Can Doze With Man Pillow: "Linen maker Kameo Corp.'s new 'Boyfriend's Arm Pillow', which consists of a headless torso and a stuffed arm that curls around the sleeper, might make some people uneasy."

Uh, YEAH.

Lost

So, I watched the second episode of "Lost" last night, on ABC. Which is quite remarkable, since I cannot recall the last time I got past the first episode of a new show (that wasn't on HBO), or even cared enough to remember to watch the following week. Wait, yes I can - it was "Arrested Development". I've been waiting to see something about the AD season premiere - has anyone heard anything about it?

Anyhoo. The pace of "Lost" has slackened a bit, but it was still compelling. From bits that I've read, it looks like the "monster" will be revealed soon and the show will concentrate on character development more. And that particular onion started to peel last night, as we discovered new information on the background of some of the characters (I won't give anything away, since I know there are some of you who are planning on watching the show - but I will in future, so consider yourselves warned). I think it's a great idea - we start at the same point as all of the characters - we will learn who these people are right along with everyone on the show. And since it's JJ Abrahams (sp?), I'm sure there will be a few cool surprises along the way.

If you haven't seen the show and you want to catch up, ABC is airing the first 2 episodes this Saturday night.

Patty, the Cartoon Lesbian

It's not who you think it is.

Hey Hey Hey!!

Bear ransacks kitchen, steals chocolate: "A paralyzed man in Aspen, Colorado, lay helplessly in bed for two hours while a black bear known as 'Fat Albert' went through his kitchen breaking dishes and looking for a tasty snack."

Alias Cartoon

Alias latest to make cartoon leap: "The seven-minute 'Animated Alias' on the new third-season DVD of the ABC thriller is the latest example of a renaissance in the short-cartoon format inspired by the success of 2003's 'The Animatrix.'"

Oo, I wouldn't mind seeing this. The art work featured in the article is nice.

Hung Over

OK, your 15 minutes are up, pal. Take a hike.

Bye, Freddy.

Have a nice life!

Step Away From the Phone.

Loud cell phone call leads to pregnant woman's arrest: "Aaron said the officer approached her as she walked to catch a bus, telling her to keep her voice down. She twice tried to break away, but he caught her arm, then placed her face down, handcuffed her, and charged her with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest."

A little rough, considering she's pregnant, but I wish sometimes I could make a citizen's arrest and take 'em down, too. Like I want to hear all about your day, or about the idiot at your job, or be privvy to the stupid things you and your significant other fight about. Just shut the f*** up, already.

"...the most promising new television show of the fall season."

And that would be? According to a reviewer on NPR, it's ABC's new show, "Lost". And while I haven't seen any other new fall series (nor do I really have any desire to), and have nothing to compare it to, and so am in no place to be making judgments, I will anyway. I need to watch a couple more episodes before I know for sure, but I think he may be right.

I stumbled upon the show on Wednesday night (it airs Wednesdays at 8:00 P.M., a little early, I think) and it was compelling enough to keep me watching til the end. For those of you who don't know what it's about, the premise is as follows: 48 survivors of a plane crash on a deserted South Pacific island have to contend not only with each other and the forces of nature, but also with very scary (and so far unseen) creatures who are roaming the jungle, roaring and tearing down trees and mauling people. Among the cast are Matthew Fox (from Party of Five), great character actor Terry O'Quinn (much seen in X-Files and Millennium) and Dominic Monaghan (Merry from Lord of the Rings) and the interactions between the characters are fraught with the strangeness of it all; for example, when one of the female passengers has to remove a pair of hiking shoes from a dead body so she can have good shoes to walk around the island in, she is obviously distressed at the gruesome task. The camera cuts to a shot of O'Quinn walking by and looking at her sort of sweetly, with a half smile, like he understands. Then he lets his smile widen and he has the rind of an orange completely covering his teeth and what would have been funny at another time is clearly inappropriate here. The show is full of moments like that, that make you feel uncomfortable and are the sort of thing that keeps this show from sinking into cliche.

I think one of the best things "Lost" has going for it is also what may spell its doom - it is unlike anything else on television, and we all know how far originality and creativity go in network TV. Hopefully this one will make it.

*chirp* *chirp* *chirp*

Real life is keeping me away again. We're installing new computers here at the office, so I've actually had to work, God forbid, and I've been housesitting/dogsitting since last Friday, so my blogging time has been severly restricted. Things should quiet down a bit at work soon, but I'll be housesitting for another week, so things won't be as active around here.

I'll do my best to poke in as often as I can. In the meantime, thanks for being so patient!

Spears Marries Dancer in L.A. Ceremony: "At the Emmys, Dennis Haysbert, who plays President Palmer on Fox's '24,' joked, 'I was just getting used to the other guy.'"

First: Mmmm, Dennis Haysbert.

second: According to CNN: "The couple exchanged rings and danced to Journey's "Lights," the tabloid reported. Guests reportedly dined on chicken fingers, crab cakes, ribs and Waldorf salad."

Some things just write themselves.

Want Fries with That Ice Cream? Ah, You're Pregnant.

I love dipping McDonald's fries into a chocolate milkshake. Just imagine what I'd be eating if I was pregnant.

Man Tries to Sue Wife for 5-Day Sex Denial.

He'd probably kill himself if he were me.

Salon reviews "Mr. 3000": "'Mr. 3000' is smart, funny and shaped meticulously but seamlessly, an example of the great work that can come out of Hollywood when it puts the right people to work on the right material. Stone instinctively understands the difference between reaching out to an audience and stooping to it. His movie feels like a present, not a product. It makes the multiplex feel like home again. "

Wow. I've been cracking up at the trailers, but I had no idea.

Rick James Autopsy Shocker: "In addition to cocaine and crystal meth, the Los Angeles county coroner's report noted the presence of seven other drugs found during the autopsy--specifically Xanax, Valium, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Digoxin, Chlorpheniramine and Vicodin. No single drug was found in quantities that would establish lethal quantities, hence the accidental death ruling."

I think "shocker" may be a bit of an exaggeration. And I think the toxicology report reveals something much more important - Rick James is the reason for the success of those drug offer spam e-mails!

Hamm Brothers Met by Screaming Girls.

Authorities later realized that the screaming girls were, in fact, the Hamm brothers.

LaToya Jackson is now whiter than me.

Awesome photo.

Which Peanuts Character Are You?


You are Rerun!

[The one Peanuts charcter I have never heard of!]

(thanks, popculturejunkmail.com)

Don't mess with the Bushes: "The first President Bush is presented as a weak yes man, driven not by political vision but a savage preppy spirit of competition instilled in him by his whirlwind of a mother. But it is his wife, Barbara (whom the ex-wife of White House counsel C. Boyden Gray calls 'bull-dyke tough'), and their eldest son, George, who are the true pieces of work in Kelley's book, a mother and son team brimming with such spite and ambition they would give the ruthless duo in 'The Manchurian Candidate' the shivers. In one of the creepier passages of the book, a family gathering from hell at Kennebunkport, Maine, Barbara is shown mercilessly baiting her dry-drunk son, then governor of Texas, as a teetotaling 'Chosen One,' while he keeps pleading to skip the cocktails and put on the feed bag, and his elderly father 'drools over [TV newswoman] Paula Zahn's legs.'"

True or not, I have to read this book.

President Bush thwarted our attempts at every turn: "Watching the convention on television, Breitweiser felt not teary-eyed, she said, but frightened. She found the speakers angry and bellicose, and she worried that the Bush administration seemed to revel in war. 'I am scared [by] the mentality that my daughter, who is 5 years old, is being handed a tomorrow that will be a war for a lifetime. My husband was killed on 9/11. I do not want to lose my daughter 18 years from now when she's walking or living in a large city, and it's payback for our actions in Iraq,' Breitweiser said."

Martha Stewart to do time now: "The homemaking expert and entrepreneur said the decision was a hard but necessary one for her to get on with her life and her business, and that she was anxious to get back to work as soon as she could. "

I honestly can't say I blame her for not wanting this hanging over her head. An appeal could last far longer than the 5 months of prison time and be unsuccessful, with the result that she goes to prison anyway. Better to do your time and pay for what you did and get on with the rest of your life.

OK, who's that woman on the car, and what did she do with Oprah?

Actress Tracey Gold Nabbed For Drunk Driving. (includes mug shot)

I was going to make a joke, but then I read that her husband and 3 kids were in the car when she lost control and rolled it, and the seven-year-old was injured. Wonder if the husband was even more drunk than she was.

Well, that wasn't too bad.

I still need to clean up and categorize the archives by month, add some color to the page, fix comments, etc., but I think I'll go with this template.

Men At Work

Well, just me, really. I've been thinking about changing the look of this place again, and some of the templates provided by Blogger are kinda nice. So, please excuse me while I tear the place down and try to put it back up again.

Be back soon.

I hope.

'Batman' protest at queen's palace: "The campaign group Fathers 4 Justice said the man scaled the palace's outer fence helped by a would-be accomplice dressed as comic hero Batman's sidekick Robin.

Meanwhile, other protesters distracted the attention of armed police by climbing on the front gate.

The group said police had threatened to shoot Robin unless he got down from the fence, 'which we think is unacceptable because this is a peaceful, non-violent protest.' Police declined to comment on the incident. "

Heehee.

A brand new car -- for everybody!: "In other segments on the show, taped Thursday, Winfrey surprised a 20-year-old girl who had spent years in foster care and homeless shelters with a four-year college scholarship, a makeover and $10,000 in clothes. And a family with eight foster children who were going to be kicked out of their house were given $130,000 to buy and repair the home."

Nice.

On a failed paintball mission with William Shatner: "'I called `Medic!' a lot, got wiped a lot,' he says. 'It reminded me of my babyhood: call for help, get wiped, press on.'"

VH1 Gets More 'Surreal': "Spurred by the boffo early numbers, Cronin says he is already working on a series project revolving around 'Surreal Life' housemates rapper Flava Flav and action star Brigitte Nielsen. "

Just the idea scares me. I missed last night's ep - was too engrossed in my Alias game. I do want to catch it during the week, though.

Ivan satellite photo. Run for your lives!!

Naomi Campbell Goes Public About Her Drug Addiction: "'This is a very good day for lying, drug-abusing prima donnas who want to have their cake with the media, and the right to then shamelessly guzzle it with their Cristal champagne,' he said in a statement."

Oh, MEE-OW. I love it when people say stuff like this about other people in the press. Especially when they deserve it.

Expelliarmus!

I have finally caved and started on the Potter books. I had to skip the first one since it's out on loan to a friend of Sheila's. I started with The Chamber of Secrets last week and tore through that and The Prisoner of Azkhaban and by last night I was dipping into The Goblet of Fire. Good fun.

Pup shoots man, saves litter mates: "Bradford said he decided to shoot the 3-month-old shepherd-mix dogs in the head because he couldn't find them a home, according to the sheriff's office."

"Crrrrazy Beetch!"

Time for a confession. I got home last night from the hairdresser to find that Sheila had The Surreal Life on. You know, the show that throws a handful of B-List celebrities into a house, makes them live together and waits for the hilarity to ensue. This season the housemates are: Brigitte Nielsen, Dave Coulier ("Full House"), Flava Flav, Jordan Knight (New Kids on the Block), Ryan Starr (American Idol, first season) and Charro. I swear to God, I never thought I'd laugh so hard at such a stupid show, but I did. Mostly at the expense of Brigitte Nielsen, clearly a raging alcoholic who Charro calls "a crrrrrrrazy beetch", and who likes to parade around the house clad only in a white apron and a black thong.

Observations: Knight is a complete d*ck, Starr is a little too nice and normal for this crowd and I'm not sure she will last, and Charro must have been cryogenically preserved - she hasn't changed at all.

The season premiere reruns tonight, with a new episode on Sunday night, on VH1. Beware: In Sunday's previews, Nielsen and Flav get pretty damn cuddly. God, my eyes.

ROTK:EE Street Date: December 14th!

(Translation: the extended edition of Lord of the Rings: Return of the King is being released on December 14th and includes 50 minutes of extra footage)

Devastating Hurricane Ivan eyes Jamaica: "Ivan -- the most powerful hurricane to hit the Caribbean in nearly a decade -- has damaged 90 percent of Grenada's homes and destroyed a prison that left criminals running loose, officials said Wednesday. "

I can't believe no one has called it Ivan the Terrible yet. Grab onto something and hold tight, Florida.

Space capsule crashes to Earth after 3-year mission to the sun.

Oo, someone's in trouble now.

Bacall Balks After Kidman Called 'Legend': "'She's not a legend,' Bacall said, cutting off interviewer Jenni Falconer in mid-sentence. 'She's a beginner. What is this 'legend'? She can't be a legend at whatever age she is. She can't be a legend, you have to be older.'"

Good for her.

School Siege: Russia Grieves for Children and Putin Vents His Fury: "'Why don't you meet Osama bin Laden, invite him to Brussels or to the White House and engage in talks, ask him what he wants and give it to him so he leaves you in peace?' he said, according to The Guardian. 'You find it possible to set some limitations in your dealings with these bastards, so why should we talk to people who are child-killers?'"

I'm not sure who from our country suggested that the Russian government have talks with the Chechen separatists after last week's tragedy, but whoever it was has some nerve. Quite frankly, I don't blame Putin for being pissed off.

I'm going to the Lord of the Rings Exhibit at the Museum of Science in Boston on Saturday. Woohoo!!

Exhausted but Proud, Hugh Jackman Retires His Sequins: "ITH its pharmacopeia of teas, powders, pills and soothing cinnamon candles, Hugh Jackman's dressing room at the Imperial Theater is little more than a pit stop for his eight-times-a-week endurance marathon. Singing in 20 of the 27 numbers in 'The Boy From Oz,' he is onstage for all but three or four minutes. Critics reviewing the opening last October were glad of his omnipresence, applauding his Broadway debut as the flamboyant performer and songwriter Peter Allen, while panning almost everything else about the show, especially its schematic and sometimes cringe-inducing book. But Mr. Jackman's charm made the production (which improved with time) a hit anyway; when it closes next Sunday, after 32 previews and 365 regular performances, it will have recouped its initial investment of $8.25 million on gross ticket sales of more than $42 million. Astonishingly, when Mr. Jackman sat down for a conversation a few weeks before closing, he had not missed even one of those performances, a feat that gave him, he said, a masochistic thrill but had also taken its toll."

I called my brother Tommy on his cell phone this morning. He's a Broward County Deputy Sheriff down in Flordia, so I was checking to see what they expecting from hurricane Frances and to make sure that he stays safe. He said that they weren't all that worried, that they had put up their shutters last night and that the worst of the storm was supposed to hit about 60 miles north of them in Palm Beach. He gets off duty at 6:00 tonight, so he'll be able to ride it out at home, and then deal with the cleanup when he goes back on duty.

Toward the end of the call, he says, "No, it's okay, I've got a rag here in the car" to someone there. "What are you talking about," I asked. "Oh, nothing. I'm on a call and I've got fingerprint dust on my forehead."

Dork.

Oops!

Danny Kaye, James Beard and me: "When he got here, he walked straight into the kitchen. The drawer I keep sharp knives in was open. Kaye saw it and immediately screamed, 'That's no way to keep knives! No! No! No! They bump into each other and they chip.' He picked up a few knives and looked at them closely, and then he had a fit. He ran into the living room, jumped up on the couch, and did a kind of tribal war dance back and forth on the cushions -- all the time yelling that you should never keep kitchen knives in a drawer. "

Good little story. I loved Danny Kaye, too. And I never thought I'd say this, but that onion sandwich sounds good.

(requires viewing of ad and includes the recipe for the onion sandwich)

Soldiers Storm Russian School; Fate of Hostages Is Unclear: "As the battle began hundreds of relatives standing at the security cordon around the school began to scream and sob with despair, only to regain hope as children emerged alive. Two girls emerged from the back seat of a car, their clothes tattered and stained with dried blood, and raced into their family's courtyard near the school, where they met and hugged a woman who appeared to be their mother."

God, I knew it wouldn't end well. In fact, the ending is still ongoing, with military and rebel forces still fighting in and around the school. The images of the bloodied, bruised children fleeing the scene in just their underwear are ones I won't quickly forget.

I'm sick of crying over news stories. The bombings, the shootings, the plane crashes, the exploding buses, the murdered families. I heard my first Amber Alert this morning, for an 18-pound one-year-old after her mother was found stabbed to death and stuffed into a garbage bag. What drives us to such cruelty?

I need distraction. Maybe there is some good news out there.

Judge drops charge against Bryant.

What a colossal waste of everyone's time, money and energy. And okay, what the hell is this supposed to mean:

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."

Wha? The only thing I can figure is he likes it rough and she doesn't?

Anyway, at least we'll have a break from the incessant coverage for a while, until the civil trial starts up. If it does, I should say - they may settle yet.

Follow Up

Family of decapitated rider pleads for driver: "'It's just a horrific accident, and we are all just in mourning right now,' said Margaret Hutcherson, the driver's mother. She said the victim was 'a part of our family, just like Johnny was a part of their family. I feel like I've lost a son.'"

This is just a sad story, all around. They still haven't explained how he didn't notice the headless body next to him or the blood on his own clothes. I'm assuming he was just as drunk as his unfortunate friend.

Hostage Crisis Unfolds in Russia as Guerrillas Seize School: "It was not immediately clear how many guerrillas were involved nor how many hostages were being held, though officials estimated there were as many as 200 hostages in the school's gymnasium. Middle School No. 1 in Beslan has nearly 900 students overall and 59 teachers, officials said. "

God, this is not going to end well. The picture of the soldier rescuing the little girl made my heart skip a beat and put a lump in my throat. Those poor children.

Movie Recs

I'm still in the honeymoon stage with Netflix. We just adore each right now. I finally saw "Monster" this weekend, and I am happy to say that the movie, and especially Charlize Theron's performance, lived up to its hype. Not easy to watch, but even hard to turn away from.

The other movie I saw was "Calendar Girls", with Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Cute, and nice that it's a true story.

Intruder! Backup!

I think I hear those words in my sleep. The past few days have been spent, when not at work, completely immersed in my Alias PS2 game. Frighteningly addictive. I may have just spent 2 hours trying to get past a certain character, my hands may be sweating and shaking and my blood pressure is probably through the roof, but stop? What do you mean, stop? Let me just play to the next Save Point...

Oh. My. God.

Family Blames College in Son's Drowning: "When University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student Jared Dion's lifeless body was pulled from the Mississippi River, he was found to have drunk so much that it would have been illegal for him to drive. But his family thinks that if he'd had to get behind the wheel he might still be alive. Dion, a popular wrestler who had recently turned 21, took one of the university's Safe Ride program buses from the campus into La Crosse on April 9 and got drunk in the city's bars."

And the idiot who drank so much that he fell into a river and drowned bears absolutely no responsibility. How naive are these people that they actually believe their son would have drank less if had to get behind the wheel of a car?? What kind of logic is that? If he had killed himself or someone else in a drunk-driving accident because the school had no "drunk bus", the parents would, I'm sure, lay the blame on the school for not providing a safe form of transportation to and from the bars and/or parties.

HIV diagnosis wrong after 8 years: "Jim Malone spent years battling depression and losing weight, expecting to die at any time. He attended support group meetings and accepted free meals from an AIDS charity."

Man, what a complete mindf*ck. The article said he lived as though he expected to die at any time. Did he make himself that sick? It's kind of sad that the diagnosis sent him into a downward spiral, as opposed to getting him up and out and cramming as much as possible into the short time he believed he had left. I hope he takes this positively, and considers this a new lease on life, but I have a feeling that won't happen.

'Miracle': Missing boy, 3, found safe: "Scantily clad and without food, Kenneth Gerken survived three nights with temperatures dropping into the low 40s. He was found Sunday by a volunteer taking part in the search."

Good news. Does it seem to you, as it does to me, that there have been a few more kids straying from campsites and going missing this summer than ever before? I wonder why.

'Flushed' toon draws rat pack for voice roles
: "Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis, who gained international fame as Gandalf and Gollum in the 'Lord of the Rings' movies, are reuniting for a trip into the London sewers, and Hugh Jackman may be joining them. "

In a new stop-motion animation feature [from Aardman Animation ("Chicken Run", "Wallace and Grommit") and Dreamworks] about a pampered pet rat who accidentally gets flushed down the toilet of his penthouse and into the sewers. Cool.

Gene Simmons May Appear on 'Queer Eye'. Good God what a show that will be.

Climbing Big Trees to Understand Them: "They eventually make their way up to their 'tree boats' -- canvas hammocks some 160 feet up the tree. Levine's 'feels more like a ledge than a bed,' she says. And this is where she and the few others who've made the climb spend the night."

That sounds so awesome.

Book Rec

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic and Madness at the Fair That Changed America, by Erik Larson.

I am not a fan of historical novels, fiction or non-fiction, so this one really surprised me. Here's a description from Kirkus Reviews, copied from the barnesandnoble.com listing for the book, which aptly describes what makes this book so good:

In roughly alternating chapters, former Wall Street Journal reporter Larson (Isaac’s Storm, 1999, etc.) tells the stories of Daniel H. Burnham, chief planner and architect of exposition, and Dr. Henry Howard Holmes, whose rambling World’s Fair Hotel, just a short streetcar ride away, housed windowless rooms, a gas chamber, secret chutes, and a basement crematory. The contrast in these accomplishments of determined human endeavor could not be more stark--or chilling. Burnham assembled what a contemporary called "the greatest meeting of artists since the 15th century" to turn the wasteland of Chicago’s swampy Jackson Park into the ephemeral White City, which enthralled nearly 28 million visitors in a single summer. Overcoming gargantuan obstacles--politically entangled delays, labor unrest, an economic panic, and a fierce Chicago winter--to say nothing of the architectural challenges, Burnham and his colleagues, including Frederick Law Olmsted, produced their marvel in just over two years. The fair was a city unto itself, the first to make wide-scale use of alternating current to illuminate its 200,000 incandescent bulbs. Spectacular engineering feats included Ferris’s gigantic wheel, intended to "out-Eiffel Eiffel," and, ominously, the latest example of Krupp’s artillery, "breathing of blood and carnage." Dr. Holmes, a frequent visitor to the fair, was a consummate swindler and lady-killer who secured his victims’ trust through "courteous, audacious rascality." Most were comely young women, and estimates of their total rangedfrom the nine whose bodies (or parts thereof) were recovered to nearly 200. Larson does a superb job outlining this "ineluctable conflict between good and evil, daylight and darkness, the White City and the Black."

As I read the book, I found myself thinking, "I can't believe I didn't know this."

Internet Gives Teenage Bullies Weapons to Wound From Afar: "The technology, which allows its users to inflict pain without being forced to see its effect, also seems to incite a deeper level of meanness. Psychologists say the distance between bully and victim on the Internet is leading to an unprecedented - and often unintentional - degree of brutality, especially when combined with a typical adolescent's lack of impulse control and underdeveloped empathy skills."

Let me say once again that I am so happy that I am not a kid right now. And let me also say to the parents out there: "Take the computers out of the kids' bedrooms and put them where you can see what they're doing."

Is August almost over already??

Where the hell did this month go?

Sorry I've been away for so long. Real life has been pulling me in a couple of directions, work has been busy and I have been sucked into the Playstation 2 vortex, with this Alias game.

I'm going to try to "put the controller down" this weekend and get some much needed stuff done around the house, cleaning being priority number one. The dust bunnies are getting so big you can trip over them. I also need to decide what color to paint my bedroom. I've toyed with the idea of a few different colors, but I think I may actually paint it a white and get a carpet and drapes that will add color to the room. I really need to paint it, though - I can't the current color anymore. It's a very vivid baby blue. Ick.

Then there are the remaining boxes in the back room, most of which are filled with photo albums. Lots and lots of photo albums. I'm working on some ideas for storing them, but it's going to be tricky, I think.

Oh, I've been really enjoying Netflix. Mostly because of the ease of use. And it's fast. I've got "Master and Commander" and "Monster" waiting for me at home, so I'll try to squeeze them in in the next few days, too.

Hope you're all doing well. Now, how about some posts?

How about we start the day with a nice story?

Ex soldiers reunited by postman: "Mr Dillon addressed a letter: "Mr Adam Hastings, (Aged 70 years), Somewhere in Newcastle upon Tyne, Can a Kind Postman Help, Do Your Best For An Old Army Pal, (At One Time Lived At Benwell)." "

(via fark.com)

So, I go to Netflix to check on my queue, see what I've got coming next, and the page that loads addresses me thus:

"Regina, based on your last few rentals, here are other relevant movies you might enjoy ..."

These movies include:

The Last Samurai
Blade 2
Enough
High Crimes
The Recruit
One False Move

Um, NO.