Clark Ready for New Year's Eve Return: "The 76-year-old Clark, the focus of increasing speculation as his annual New Year's Eve hosting gig draws closer, has shunned public appearances and interviews since a stroke nearly 13 months ago."
This will probably be the highest-rated New Year's Rockin' Eve EVER. I know I'll be watching. Or taping.
12.30.2005
Speaking of Cute Animals.
Look at this little pika.
Poor little thing is headed toward extinction and I never even knew such a thing as a "pika" existed!
Poor little thing is headed toward extinction and I never even knew such a thing as a "pika" existed!
And so another year begins.
Just sitting here on my lunch hour, eating a Smart Ones Ravioli Florentine and picking the spinach out of my braces, waiting for word on whether they're releasing us early today for the holiday weekend. No definite word on a time yet, but things are looking good.
I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday week. Despite having to work, it was a nice one for me. We saw lots of family (photos to come), ate lots of food and exchanged lots of presents. It was our second Christmas since our father passed away, and he was missed very much. Spending time with Daddy was so much a part of the celebration for us that it will be some time before Christmas will really feel like Christmas again. Or maybe it will just have to be something different. Just as nice, but different.
Sheila got a wireless PS2 controller from Tommy so she's been immersed in Splinter Cell Chaos Theory all week, while I've been playing wing man for her. It's time for me to get back to Jak II so I can (hopefully) finish it and move on to the pile of games I have waiting for me. The wireless controller is the best thing since sliced bread, I'll tell ya - you can even play with your hand under a blanket, a necessity since home heating prices are going through the roof!
Our New Year's weekend is looking pretty quiet at the moment. We have an invite to a friend's house tomorrow night, but we're sort of playing it by ear, seeing how we feel tomorrow. Also, we're supposed to have some foul weather tomorrow night, so it might make more sense to stay at home. Whatever you all end up doing, have a wonderful time, and stay safe!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday week. Despite having to work, it was a nice one for me. We saw lots of family (photos to come), ate lots of food and exchanged lots of presents. It was our second Christmas since our father passed away, and he was missed very much. Spending time with Daddy was so much a part of the celebration for us that it will be some time before Christmas will really feel like Christmas again. Or maybe it will just have to be something different. Just as nice, but different.
Sheila got a wireless PS2 controller from Tommy so she's been immersed in Splinter Cell Chaos Theory all week, while I've been playing wing man for her. It's time for me to get back to Jak II so I can (hopefully) finish it and move on to the pile of games I have waiting for me. The wireless controller is the best thing since sliced bread, I'll tell ya - you can even play with your hand under a blanket, a necessity since home heating prices are going through the roof!
Our New Year's weekend is looking pretty quiet at the moment. We have an invite to a friend's house tomorrow night, but we're sort of playing it by ear, seeing how we feel tomorrow. Also, we're supposed to have some foul weather tomorrow night, so it might make more sense to stay at home. Whatever you all end up doing, have a wonderful time, and stay safe!
12.28.2005
Sweet.
Kenya's Hippo, Tortoise Mark Year Together: "The unlikely couple of a baby hippo and a 130-year-old tortoise were still together, a year after the hippo was separated from its family by a tsunami. "
12.24.2005
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Originally uploaded by gina64.
Wishing you all a very Happy Holiday season and a new year filled with good health, happiness and love.
Gina, Sheila and Marty
12.22.2005
More 'Alias' Chatter.
Is The End Truly Near For Alias? : "'The good thing about getting the news now,' Pinkner says, 'is that we have 10 episodes left to really wrap things up. We can kill characters and not worry about what to do without them next year. We can tell the epic story that this deserves to be.'"
Which leads me to mention something I've been mulling over since it occurred to me during the SpyDaddy piano scene. This is based on nothing but pure speculation on my part and is in no way a spoiler, but I think they're going to kill Jack. Good God in Heaven, I really think they'd do it.
One thing mentioned in this article is the possibility of an Alias spinoff.
Please. No. Don't.
Which leads me to mention something I've been mulling over since it occurred to me during the SpyDaddy piano scene. This is based on nothing but pure speculation on my part and is in no way a spoiler, but I think they're going to kill Jack. Good God in Heaven, I really think they'd do it.
One thing mentioned in this article is the possibility of an Alias spinoff.
Please. No. Don't.
Marty Update.
Listening.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
Marty had his x-ray this morning, and contrary to what we (and the doctors) thought, he has 5 stones in his bladder, still. Whether or not these are newly formed, or some of them were hiding on the last x-ray, we're not sure.
He's been feeling better, we think - no blood in his urine, he's getting his peeing under control. and he's on his special prescription food - so the waiting continues. He goes back in 3 weeks for another x-ray and if the stones are still there, he'll have the surgery.
12.21.2005
"I must find a way to keep Christmas from coming!"
That, my friends, is Pope Benedict in a Santa hat. Not quite the effect he was going for, I think.
12.20.2005
12.19.2005
Katie Holmes Turns 27 Amongst Other Imprisoned Playthings: "You're not going to eat this cake? Oh, missy, I think you are. Check your contract. Yes, I realize I say that a lot, but I wouldn't have to if you weren't so resistant to improvising every once in a while.. Now when I grab a fistful of your hair, and I'm not going to lie, it's gonna hurt a bit because I'm a little amped up right now- you open your mouth like a good girl and get ready for a faceful of the finest Fudgey the Whale money can buy."
That photo would be really disturbing if the defamer folks weren't so funny.
That photo would be really disturbing if the defamer folks weren't so funny.
Through His Webcam, a Boy Joins a Sordid Online World:
"Weeks before, Justin had hooked up a Web camera to his computer, hoping to use it to meet other teenagers online. Instead, he heard only from men who chatted with him by instant message as they watched his image on the Internet. To Justin, they seemed just like friends, ready with compliments and always offering gifts.
Now, on an afternoon in 2000, one member of his audience sent a proposal: he would pay Justin $50 to sit bare-chested in front of his Webcam for three minutes. The man explained that Justin could receive the money instantly and helped him open an account on PayPal.com, an online payment system.
'I figured, I took off my shirt at the pool for nothing,' he said recently. 'So, I was kind of like, what's the difference?'
Justin removed his T-shirt. The men watching him oozed compliments.
So began the secret life of a teenager who was lured into selling images of his body on the Internet over the course of five years. From the seduction that began that day, this soccer-playing honor roll student was drawn into performing in front of the Webcam - undressing, showering, masturbating and even having sex - for an audience of more than 1,500 people who paid him, over the years, hundreds of thousands of dollars. "
A long, disturbing, yet engrossing article that I recommend. I don't directly blame his parents for his victimization, and I'm not one to point fingers, considering I have no kids, but I am astounded that what went on for 5 years went unnoticed by his parents. Or by his mother, actually, since his father was in on it towards the end. I just think that things wouldn't have gone so far if they had been more involved in his life and actually knew what he was doing.
Parents don't let your kids have a computer in their room!
"Weeks before, Justin had hooked up a Web camera to his computer, hoping to use it to meet other teenagers online. Instead, he heard only from men who chatted with him by instant message as they watched his image on the Internet. To Justin, they seemed just like friends, ready with compliments and always offering gifts.
Now, on an afternoon in 2000, one member of his audience sent a proposal: he would pay Justin $50 to sit bare-chested in front of his Webcam for three minutes. The man explained that Justin could receive the money instantly and helped him open an account on PayPal.com, an online payment system.
'I figured, I took off my shirt at the pool for nothing,' he said recently. 'So, I was kind of like, what's the difference?'
Justin removed his T-shirt. The men watching him oozed compliments.
So began the secret life of a teenager who was lured into selling images of his body on the Internet over the course of five years. From the seduction that began that day, this soccer-playing honor roll student was drawn into performing in front of the Webcam - undressing, showering, masturbating and even having sex - for an audience of more than 1,500 people who paid him, over the years, hundreds of thousands of dollars. "
A long, disturbing, yet engrossing article that I recommend. I don't directly blame his parents for his victimization, and I'm not one to point fingers, considering I have no kids, but I am astounded that what went on for 5 years went unnoticed by his parents. Or by his mother, actually, since his father was in on it towards the end. I just think that things wouldn't have gone so far if they had been more involved in his life and actually knew what he was doing.
Parents don't let your kids have a computer in their room!
TIME's Persons of the Year
TIME magazine has named Bill and Melinda Gates and Bono as Persons of the Year, in recognition of their humanitarian work. In a year filled with so much human devastation and unthinkable suffering - the tsunami, Katrina, the earthquake in Pakistan - it's good to see these individuals recognized for their work as good samaritans. Many people, including a very good friend of mine, have quietly gone beyond the call of duty to give what assistance they could, and I sort of see the naming of the Gates' and Bono as Persons of the Year as a symbolic recognition of everyone who does good works. It's nice to see people celebrated for doing something worthwhile for a change.
Marty's on the mend, we hope.
Hi there, Marty.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
When last we spoke, Marty was fighting a UTI and the effects of his antibiotic. He seemed to do better once he was off the antibiotic, but then his symptoms returned. He had x-rays taken and it turned out the little guy had 6 bladder stones, which were going to have to be removed surgically.
He was scheduled for surgery on Thursday, Dec 8, but his x-rays that day showed that he had passed 4 of the stones himself in the 3 days since his first x-ray. So no surgery for Marty, yet, but he is on a special diet (which he loves) and a painkiller. He has more x-rays on Thursday this week, when we'll see if he's passed the other two stones.
In the meantime, he's more snuggly than usual and has taken to peeing in the house. We're hoping that the reason for that is physical and not behavioral. We'll just have to keep on top of him - take him out much more often and follow him around with paper towels and a bottle of Fantastic inside - and hope he recovers soon.
He's still a good boy, though.
12.18.2005
Santas Go on Rampage in New Zealand City: "The rampage, dubbed 'Santarchy' by local newspapers, began early Saturday afternoon when the men, wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes, threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an Auckland overpass, said Auckland Central Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty."
This "movement" is called Santarchy, and is supposed to protest the commercialization of Christmas. Just a bit misguided, methinks.
12.16.2005
The One Where SpyDaddy Says "Thong".
(original airdate 12/7/05)
Bob
Oh yeah, it's also the one where Sark comes back.
Let me just say right now that this week's episode (The Horizon) was so good that it has almost completely obliterated my memory of "Bob", so this will be brief.
This episode was weird - a lot of stuff went down, and there were some great moments, but it was really just middle-of-the-road for me. I think I liked it more for the details than the overall storyline. For instance:
~ There was some whacky stuff going on with the accents: Sark is played by an American, who was pretending to be a Brit who was pretending to be American, while Rachel was an American pretending to be British. And she did a pretty good job, I thought. I'm liking that they're not making her into a super-spy, and that's she still nervous and makes mistakes.
~ Syd made a cute face when Jack said he was going on his mission with Elizabeth, sort of like a "Oooo, Dad and Elizabeth sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..." sort of face. It was definitely implied that they had a past together, and I hope we get to hear a little more about it before the show ends. Elizabeth's pretty kick-ass and I wouldn't mind seeing her again. SpyDaddy definitely has a "type".
~ Rachel's expression when she saw Sark on the computer screen was priceless. I bet she won't be having any more one night stands for a long while. I'll tell ya though, she must be good for Sark to have turned down money!
~ Liked the "I guess what happens in Brazil stays in Brazil." "What happened in Brazil?" "Rachel got food poisoning." Heehee.
~ Also loved: "Just so we're clear, you approached me. You were the one who was stupid enough to let me into your room and afterwards? You were the one that wanted to cuddle." "About what you just heard --" "Don't know, don't wanna know."
~ Finally, I wonder why Jack was at home and Sydney was left with Dixon as a surrogate father to hug. It was sweet, but I wished it was her SpyDaddy she was hugging. So did she, and I suppose that was the point. I really like the quiet, sad scene of Jack playing piano. Good stuff.
~ Wait! One more thing. Thongs!
Bob
Oh yeah, it's also the one where Sark comes back.
Let me just say right now that this week's episode (The Horizon) was so good that it has almost completely obliterated my memory of "Bob", so this will be brief.
This episode was weird - a lot of stuff went down, and there were some great moments, but it was really just middle-of-the-road for me. I think I liked it more for the details than the overall storyline. For instance:
~ There was some whacky stuff going on with the accents: Sark is played by an American, who was pretending to be a Brit who was pretending to be American, while Rachel was an American pretending to be British. And she did a pretty good job, I thought. I'm liking that they're not making her into a super-spy, and that's she still nervous and makes mistakes.
~ Syd made a cute face when Jack said he was going on his mission with Elizabeth, sort of like a "Oooo, Dad and Elizabeth sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g..." sort of face. It was definitely implied that they had a past together, and I hope we get to hear a little more about it before the show ends. Elizabeth's pretty kick-ass and I wouldn't mind seeing her again. SpyDaddy definitely has a "type".
~ Rachel's expression when she saw Sark on the computer screen was priceless. I bet she won't be having any more one night stands for a long while. I'll tell ya though, she must be good for Sark to have turned down money!
~ Liked the "I guess what happens in Brazil stays in Brazil." "What happened in Brazil?" "Rachel got food poisoning." Heehee.
~ Also loved: "Just so we're clear, you approached me. You were the one who was stupid enough to let me into your room and afterwards? You were the one that wanted to cuddle." "About what you just heard --" "Don't know, don't wanna know."
~ Finally, I wonder why Jack was at home and Sydney was left with Dixon as a surrogate father to hug. It was sweet, but I wished it was her SpyDaddy she was hugging. So did she, and I suppose that was the point. I really like the quiet, sad scene of Jack playing piano. Good stuff.
~ Wait! One more thing. Thongs!
12.15.2005
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Vikings party scandal fallout: "Crew members complained that some people took off their clothes and engaged in public sex acts during the cruise..."
Old news, I'm sure, but sports are so far off my radar that this is the first I've heard of it. Nice.
Old news, I'm sure, but sports are so far off my radar that this is the first I've heard of it. Nice.
12.14.2005
Man in Traction Flees New Zealand Hospital: "It was not immediately clear how the man sustained the injuries that put him in hospital, nor why he fled before completing his treatment."
I'd like to know how he fled!
I'd like to know how he fled!
A Lutheran minister and Special Ed teacher lied about volunteering with his National Guard unit to aid Katrina victims in order to attend a religious conference in Brazil:
"Thomas, 55, told the Daily News last night that his troubles began when he fell off a ladder last year in his church, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran, and didn't get mental health care afterward."
Unless he fell on top of a group of toddlers, crushing them all to death, I ain't buying it.
"Thomas, 55, told the Daily News last night that his troubles began when he fell off a ladder last year in his church, St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran, and didn't get mental health care afterward."
Unless he fell on top of a group of toddlers, crushing them all to death, I ain't buying it.
Showtime may book 'Arrested'. I've also been hearing that ABC might be interested, too. I would prefer ABC since I've been seriously considering dropping the Showtime package from our cable system to save a buck or two. Either way, though, this could be great news!
A DUI arrest and now 3 speeding tickets in as many months - Michelle Rodriguez should have her car and license taken from her before she kills herself or someone else. It's looking more Ana Lucia might be the next person killed off the island.
12.12.2005
Actor, Friend Face Charges in Police Death: "Brancato got his acting break as a 16-year-old in the Robert De Niro-directed film 'A Bronx Tale' in 1993. He appeared in a dozen other films, including 'Crimson Tide' and 'Enemy of the State.' On 'The Sopranos,' he played mobster wannabe Matt Bevilacqua in a half-dozen episodes before he was executed by the mob boss."
When I heard one of the shooters was a Sopranos actor, I thought for sure it was Robert Iler (AJ).
When I heard one of the shooters was a Sopranos actor, I thought for sure it was Robert Iler (AJ).
12.07.2005
Holiday Favorites.
It's that time of year, when they start playing Christmas music WAY too early. Are they starting earlier every year? While I can avoid the radio stations that go "all Christmas music all the time" as early as Thanksgiving weekend, I can't hide from it at home, where Sheila begins baking her Christmas cookies even earlier than that and likes to play Christmas music to help get her in the spirit. Oy!
To tell the truth, I don't mind so much, and while a good portion of holiday music is complete crap, I do have my favorites. Do you?
Here are a few of mine, in no particular order, to start things off:
To tell the truth, I don't mind so much, and while a good portion of holiday music is complete crap, I do have my favorites. Do you?
Here are a few of mine, in no particular order, to start things off:
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, by Judy Garland
- Merry Christmas Darling, by The Carpenters
- The Christmas Song, by Nat King Cole
- Santa Claus is Comin' to Town, by Bruce Springsteen
- It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, by Andy Williams
There are more, but those are the ones that spring to mind. Post some of your favorites in the comments.
This is your TV Guide speaking...
REMINDER: Alias is on tonight at 10:00, following a repeat of LOST (the one where Hurley has to hand out the food). The same goes for next Wednesday: repeat of LOST at 9:00 and a new Alias at 10:00.
Don't forget!
Don't forget!
Stupid Question.
Saddam's Trial Adjourned Until Dec. 21.
This headline has reminded me of something I've always wondered about but never remembered to ask: Is "Saddam" his first name? If so, why is it OK that we use his first name like that? It seems to me that we should call him Hussein. Am I wrong? Do we or have we ever referred to any other world leader that way? Look at all the other "bad guys" in recent history: Hitler, Stalin, Kruschev, Castro, Qaddafi, Amin - did the media call them Adolf, Joseph, Nikita, Fidel, Muammar or Idi?
Is it weird that we call him Saddam, or is it just me?
It's probably just me.
This headline has reminded me of something I've always wondered about but never remembered to ask: Is "Saddam" his first name? If so, why is it OK that we use his first name like that? It seems to me that we should call him Hussein. Am I wrong? Do we or have we ever referred to any other world leader that way? Look at all the other "bad guys" in recent history: Hitler, Stalin, Kruschev, Castro, Qaddafi, Amin - did the media call them Adolf, Joseph, Nikita, Fidel, Muammar or Idi?
Is it weird that we call him Saddam, or is it just me?
It's probably just me.
12.06.2005
Jamie Lee Curtis on Plastic Surgery:
"The 47-year-old star also talks to Jann about aging gracefully in a superficial industry and delivers her candid opinion on the plastic surgery trend that has become alarmingly too common in recent years.
'I think more than ever it's an epidemic that's out of control and it seems like people are under a drug,' says Jamie Lee. 'What's so sad to me is these people are completely ruining their faces, their beautiful God-given faces, and they look like aliens, and yet it's as if nobody is saying anything.'"
I've become so used to seeing nothing but "perfection" on the TV that I was so surprised to see her, and her real body, in theParker Brothers Hasbro commercials. Good for her.
Speaking of people ruining themselves with plastic surgery, I just ran across this guy and YIKES. WTF is wrong with people? A quarter of a million dollars.
That is so sad.
"The 47-year-old star also talks to Jann about aging gracefully in a superficial industry and delivers her candid opinion on the plastic surgery trend that has become alarmingly too common in recent years.
'I think more than ever it's an epidemic that's out of control and it seems like people are under a drug,' says Jamie Lee. 'What's so sad to me is these people are completely ruining their faces, their beautiful God-given faces, and they look like aliens, and yet it's as if nobody is saying anything.'"
I've become so used to seeing nothing but "perfection" on the TV that I was so surprised to see her, and her real body, in the
Speaking of people ruining themselves with plastic surgery, I just ran across this guy and YIKES. WTF is wrong with people? A quarter of a million dollars.
That is so sad.
Not-so-Petty cash to rock bat mitzvah: "For his daughter's coming-of-age celebration last weekend, multimillionaire Long Island defense contractor David H. Brooks booked two floors of the Rainbow Room, hauled in concert-ready equipment, built a stage, installed special carpeting, outfitted the space with Jumbotrons and arranged command performances by everyone from 50 Cent to Tom Petty to Aerosmith."
My cousin, who works at the Rainbow Room, was filling me in on this monstrosity as she was helping to prepare for over Thanksgiving weekend. According to my cousin that price tag is accurate, despite Brooks' denials. All for a party for a 13-year-old. What an idiot.
My cousin, who works at the Rainbow Room, was filling me in on this monstrosity as she was helping to prepare for over Thanksgiving weekend. According to my cousin that price tag is accurate, despite Brooks' denials. All for a party for a 13-year-old. What an idiot.
Eddie Izzard Lands Fx Pilot: "'Low Life' is the first FX pilot to feature a family front-and-center. Izzard will play the father of a family of traveling con artists who, after hitting a spiritual and midlife crisis, settles down with his wife and kids in a suburban community."
Jeezy Creezy! It may perhaps be time to re-visit my Dress To Kill tape.
Jeezy Creezy! It may perhaps be time to re-visit my Dress To Kill tape.
TV Download Choices Increase: "NBC Universal programming now available on the iTunes Music Store spans from the 1950s to the present, including NBC's 'Law & Order,' 'The Office,' 'Surface,' 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,' 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien,' USA Network's Emmy Award-winning 'Monk' and Sci-Fi Channel's 'Battlestar Galactica'... "
Oo, a direct line to my L&O connection, just what I need. Like an IV filled with TV Crack. (I'm also psyched about Battlestar Galactica)
Oo, a direct line to my L&O connection, just what I need. Like an IV filled with TV Crack. (I'm also psyched about Battlestar Galactica)
LOST Baggage.
What Kate Did.
And so the Daddy issues keep coming.
I’m sounding like a broken record but again, I really liked this episode. Kate isn’t a favorite of mine, but I don’t hate her (I don’t have a severe dislike of anyone on the island, actually), so I didn’t mind seeing more of her backstory. I sort of get the whole “I killed him because after the years of him drinking too much, beating on my mother and looking at me the wrong way, finding out he was my real father was the straw that broke the camel’s back” reasoning, and that she’s attracted to Sawyer because of the whole redneck/bad boy similarity to her father, but I didn’t quite buy the father’s reason for not telling her that Wayne was her real father: “Because you would have killed him.” Huh? Was she particularly murderous as a little girl? Anyhoo, she’s going through a serious inner struggle with her badness (something else she has in common with Sawyer – and I like her better when she’s interacting with Sawyer than with Jack – she’s more relaxed), and I think the kissing of Jack was a way to try to connect with the goodness in him. But he didn’t seem to react the way she wanted him to. Or perhaps it's the other way around?
So, the horse. Since Sawyer saw it, too, I say it’s similar to the polar bear, in that something on the island made it manifest itself from her subconscious mind. What does it represent to her? I don’t know. Her freedom? I thought the horse helped her get away from the Marshall, but I've seen at other sites that people are saying that it was a deer that ran the car off the road and then the horse appeared. I don't know, I'm still convinced it was the horse that ran in front of the car. Or maybe it represents her chance to leave her past behind, which is a kind of freedom. It's a pretty horse, whatever it represents. I think Sawyer/Wayne attacking her and asking her why she killed him was the same thing – from her subconscious mind – but Sawyer telling Jack that he loved Kate was really Sawyer. (Or maybe that was Jack’s subconscious revealing itself?)
I picked this tidbit up at TWoP: Check out this screencap from the scene where Kate enters the recruiting center where her father is working:
http://timdorr.com/images/Lost/thatsjustsayid.jpg
Look who’s on the TV in the background! Someone was saying that the voiceover was saying something about the army, the desert, Iraq, Kuwait...probably a recruiting film. Neat.
I liked all of the hatch stuff. Locke and Eko make a great pair. I nearly jumped when I saw it was the cut piece of film in the bible, but sadly it didn’t reveal much more than I had already surmised – don’t use the computer for anything besides inputting the code. Interesting, however, that doing so will bring about another “incident”. What does that mean? Is that really what will happen? And where is the power source coming from for all of this?
The best part was, of course, the “Dad?” !! I may be dense, but I did not see that coming. I was too freaked that Michael was using the computer for something besides inputting the code right when the guy was telling them not to. I thought maybe they should have racked up the drama there a little bit more, insofar as they are marooned on a desert island and here is a possible connection to the outside world, hence a possible rescuer, and Michael's just like, "Oo, someone wants to chat." I'm not sure if that was the real Walt or not. Could it be an island trick? Or the Others trying to trick the computer's user into causing another incident? Question: When Michael looked at the countdown clock, was it stopped at 23:00?? I actually taped it last night because I was doing laundry at the same time, so I’ll have to take a look at that again.
And what are those blast doors all about?? Do they shield the place from something like an EMF pulse or “incident”? Michael really is a Renaissance man, huh?
I liked the scene between Jack and Ana Lucia, too. Like Kate is with Sawyer, Ana Lucia is more palatable when she’s interacting with Jack.
I see the castaways have started putting down roots in the area, with their little hut village on the beach now. I was thinking last night that we haven’t had a storm episode yet, where a hurricane or typhoon or something blows through.
And the award for the most visually pleasing moment of the episode goes to:
Heads up: There will be no new LOST episodes until January. That's just not right.
And so the Daddy issues keep coming.
I’m sounding like a broken record but again, I really liked this episode. Kate isn’t a favorite of mine, but I don’t hate her (I don’t have a severe dislike of anyone on the island, actually), so I didn’t mind seeing more of her backstory. I sort of get the whole “I killed him because after the years of him drinking too much, beating on my mother and looking at me the wrong way, finding out he was my real father was the straw that broke the camel’s back” reasoning, and that she’s attracted to Sawyer because of the whole redneck/bad boy similarity to her father, but I didn’t quite buy the father’s reason for not telling her that Wayne was her real father: “Because you would have killed him.” Huh? Was she particularly murderous as a little girl? Anyhoo, she’s going through a serious inner struggle with her badness (something else she has in common with Sawyer – and I like her better when she’s interacting with Sawyer than with Jack – she’s more relaxed), and I think the kissing of Jack was a way to try to connect with the goodness in him. But he didn’t seem to react the way she wanted him to. Or perhaps it's the other way around?
So, the horse. Since Sawyer saw it, too, I say it’s similar to the polar bear, in that something on the island made it manifest itself from her subconscious mind. What does it represent to her? I don’t know. Her freedom? I thought the horse helped her get away from the Marshall, but I've seen at other sites that people are saying that it was a deer that ran the car off the road and then the horse appeared. I don't know, I'm still convinced it was the horse that ran in front of the car. Or maybe it represents her chance to leave her past behind, which is a kind of freedom. It's a pretty horse, whatever it represents. I think Sawyer/Wayne attacking her and asking her why she killed him was the same thing – from her subconscious mind – but Sawyer telling Jack that he loved Kate was really Sawyer. (Or maybe that was Jack’s subconscious revealing itself?)
I picked this tidbit up at TWoP: Check out this screencap from the scene where Kate enters the recruiting center where her father is working:
http://timdorr.com/images/Lost/thatsjustsayid.jpg
Look who’s on the TV in the background! Someone was saying that the voiceover was saying something about the army, the desert, Iraq, Kuwait...probably a recruiting film. Neat.
I liked all of the hatch stuff. Locke and Eko make a great pair. I nearly jumped when I saw it was the cut piece of film in the bible, but sadly it didn’t reveal much more than I had already surmised – don’t use the computer for anything besides inputting the code. Interesting, however, that doing so will bring about another “incident”. What does that mean? Is that really what will happen? And where is the power source coming from for all of this?
The best part was, of course, the “Dad?” !! I may be dense, but I did not see that coming. I was too freaked that Michael was using the computer for something besides inputting the code right when the guy was telling them not to. I thought maybe they should have racked up the drama there a little bit more, insofar as they are marooned on a desert island and here is a possible connection to the outside world, hence a possible rescuer, and Michael's just like, "Oo, someone wants to chat." I'm not sure if that was the real Walt or not. Could it be an island trick? Or the Others trying to trick the computer's user into causing another incident? Question: When Michael looked at the countdown clock, was it stopped at 23:00?? I actually taped it last night because I was doing laundry at the same time, so I’ll have to take a look at that again.
And what are those blast doors all about?? Do they shield the place from something like an EMF pulse or “incident”? Michael really is a Renaissance man, huh?
I liked the scene between Jack and Ana Lucia, too. Like Kate is with Sawyer, Ana Lucia is more palatable when she’s interacting with Jack.
I see the castaways have started putting down roots in the area, with their little hut village on the beach now. I was thinking last night that we haven’t had a storm episode yet, where a hurricane or typhoon or something blows through.
And the award for the most visually pleasing moment of the episode goes to:
Heads up: There will be no new LOST episodes until January. That's just not right.
Drive Thru Review
In Good Company - Dennis Quaid, Topher Grace and Scarlett Johanssen in the one about the middle-aged ad exec who's supplanted in a corporate takeover by a 26-year-old who had no experience and is sleeping with his college-age daughter. A surprisingly mature movie. Conventional yet unconventional. And sweet.
Rockefeller Center, NYC.
Rockefeller Center, NYC.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
This was my first trip to Rockefeller Center at Christmastime. It was a bit crowded, but I didn't mind. I was too excited about seeing the tree.
And no, I didn't skate. I am TERRIBLE at it and haven't had a pair of skates on in about 20 years. If I had a couple of cocktails in me, however, I could very have been persuaded to give it a go.
Little Drummer Boy.
Rockefeller Center, NYC.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
One of the toy soldiers at Rockefeller Center. Handsome fella.
Horse and buggy on Fifth Avenue.
Fifth Avenue, NYC.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
One of these days I'm going to take a ride in one of these.
9 West 57th Street, NYC.
9 West 57th Street, NYC.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
It's so beautiful when they cover the entire tree with lights, but who has this kind of patience? Not me!
Waiting for Kong.
Empire State Building, NYC.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
I had a nice little trip to the big city, and I brought back a few photos that I'm going to post here for your viewing pleasure.
This, obviously, is the Empire State Building. Unfortunately, due to time constraints and a long wait in frigid temperatures, we couldn't get the full tourist experience by going to the top. Still, it was neat to finally see it.
12.02.2005
NYC, Here I Come.
My friend Jill from Seattle is in Manhattan for a class this week, and a couple of us locals have decided to meet up with her and do the touristy thing. I'll just be going to for tonight, and I'm leaving in about a half hour. I'm hoping to get a peek at the tree at Rockefeller Center, and maybe some good photos, if I can figure out how to shoot at night.
I'll be back in town tomorrow afternoon, but probably not back here until Monday. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Oh, and before I go...
Britney's Birthday Letter of Fug: "Yeah, so, I guess what happened was that last week, I brought the baby to the Peninsula and I actually seriously had lunch with Justin (so he could meet the baby and also my new boobs, oh yes, I said it) and oh my god, don't tell anyone, but he is still SO CUTE and I sort of think I might still be in love with him but I am scared to say that aloud, but seriously, how can he really be happy with that skinny crackhead Cameron Diaz? I mean, for one thing, she is OLD, but anyway, he told me really really seriously that he thought I was better off without Kevin and I thought about it and I thought about it and I realized that Justin is right because Kevin totally doesn't even care about what happens in our family, like he just laughed that I time I thought the dog was having her brother's babies and I can't be with a man who doesn't understand that incest is wrong. Plus he keeps taking money out of my purse."
Those GFY girls are running on all cylinders lately.
I'll be back in town tomorrow afternoon, but probably not back here until Monday. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Oh, and before I go...
Britney's Birthday Letter of Fug: "Yeah, so, I guess what happened was that last week, I brought the baby to the Peninsula and I actually seriously had lunch with Justin (so he could meet the baby and also my new boobs, oh yes, I said it) and oh my god, don't tell anyone, but he is still SO CUTE and I sort of think I might still be in love with him but I am scared to say that aloud, but seriously, how can he really be happy with that skinny crackhead Cameron Diaz? I mean, for one thing, she is OLD, but anyway, he told me really really seriously that he thought I was better off without Kevin and I thought about it and I thought about it and I realized that Justin is right because Kevin totally doesn't even care about what happens in our family, like he just laughed that I time I thought the dog was having her brother's babies and I can't be with a man who doesn't understand that incest is wrong. Plus he keeps taking money out of my purse."
Those GFY girls are running on all cylinders lately.
12.01.2005
Goodbye Fug: Randy Quaid:
"It's tough to be Randy Quaid.
Well, okay, not really. He's a talented actor, he's funny, he grilled burgers made of Hamburger Helper in National Lampoon's Vacation, and he can probably afford a mortgage in this town, which is more than a lot of people can say. In that sense, being Randy Quaid isn't such a heinous thing.
But it's got to be hard when your brother is Delicious -- er, I mean, Dennis -- and you will always be considered the Quaid who, sure, is great at what he does, but maybe got stuck in the shallow end of the physical gene pool while Dennis was busy marinating in all that good DNA juice that buxom blonde hotties have spent his lifetime licking off of that manly, sculpted chest."
"It's tough to be Randy Quaid.
Well, okay, not really. He's a talented actor, he's funny, he grilled burgers made of Hamburger Helper in National Lampoon's Vacation, and he can probably afford a mortgage in this town, which is more than a lot of people can say. In that sense, being Randy Quaid isn't such a heinous thing.
But it's got to be hard when your brother is Delicious -- er, I mean, Dennis -- and you will always be considered the Quaid who, sure, is great at what he does, but maybe got stuck in the shallow end of the physical gene pool while Dennis was busy marinating in all that good DNA juice that buxom blonde hotties have spent his lifetime licking off of that manly, sculpted chest."
Garner on Alias Finale
Any intel on the big finale? "If it's what I think it's going to be, it will be the most… Oh, gosh, I'm afraid to say anything. You know, one thing about not doing the show — I look forward to just being able to talk about what I'm doing and not always having to stop myself.... It won't be one of those finales where it ends, and you go, ''Oh, that was it? After all of this?'' We came in with a bang, we'll go out with a bang."
11.30.2005
'Law & Order' actress stretches out: "'It's a great episode about how one will try to bend the law to make it work for a friend,' said Merkerson, whose normally rules-bound character feels pressure to cross the line after the daughter of a close pal is found dead. "
God, they're going to suck me in again, aren't they?
(best part about this article: The "S" in "S. Epatha" stands for Sharon!)
God, they're going to suck me in again, aren't they?
(best part about this article: The "S" in "S. Epatha" stands for Sharon!)
Drive-Thru Reviews
Batman Begins - Very well done and probably the best installment in the Batman franchise (although I do like the campiness of Batman Returns). An outstanding cast (including Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Linus Roache, Rutger Hauer, Gary Oldman, the list goes on) that help to elevate the story. I especially liked Michael Caine's Alfred, and Caine's choice (if it was his choice) to use his real, Cockney accent. Lent a real sense of believability to his character. Make a point to see it, if you can.
Local Hero - This movie is in my top ten, I think. This was only the second time I've seen this movie (I saw it Monday night on IFC - it's airing throughout December. If you have IFC, check their schedule), the first time being 20 years ago, and it has lost none of its charm. It's a about an 80s oilman (Peter Riegert, the pickle man from Crossing Delancey, another favorite of mine) who is sent to purchase and entire Scottish seaside village, only to be profoundly changed by it. Please see this movie.
Local Hero - This movie is in my top ten, I think. This was only the second time I've seen this movie (I saw it Monday night on IFC - it's airing throughout December. If you have IFC, check their schedule), the first time being 20 years ago, and it has lost none of its charm. It's a about an 80s oilman (Peter Riegert, the pickle man from Crossing Delancey, another favorite of mine) who is sent to purchase and entire Scottish seaside village, only to be profoundly changed by it. Please see this movie.
Prepare the O.R. (and A.A.): Dr. Drake Is Back.
That's right ladies, Rick Springfield is returning to General Hospital this Friday, after a 20-year absence. I remember him being on the show, and that he had a thing with Bobbie, but I couldn't have told you more than that. Sheila, however, could. To wit, our coversation this morning (yelling from room to room):
ME: "Guess what?"
SHEILA: "What?"
ME: "Rick Springfield is coming back to General Hospital."
SHEILA: "Dr. Noah Drake?!"
Apparently, Dr. Drake is now a neurosurgeon with a serious drinking problem, living in Atlanta, and another returning character (Dr. Robin Scorpio, Robert daughter! I AM old!) heads south to bring him back to Port Charles to perform a surgery only he can do (or something like that).
I may have to tape this.
That's right ladies, Rick Springfield is returning to General Hospital this Friday, after a 20-year absence. I remember him being on the show, and that he had a thing with Bobbie, but I couldn't have told you more than that. Sheila, however, could. To wit, our coversation this morning (yelling from room to room):
ME: "Guess what?"
SHEILA: "What?"
ME: "Rick Springfield is coming back to General Hospital."
SHEILA: "Dr. Noah Drake?!"
Apparently, Dr. Drake is now a neurosurgeon with a serious drinking problem, living in Atlanta, and another returning character (Dr. Robin Scorpio, Robert daughter! I AM old!) heads south to bring him back to Port Charles to perform a surgery only he can do (or something like that).
I may have to tape this.
Boston "holiday tree" stirs controversy: "Boston set off a furor this week when it officially renamed a giant tree erected in a city park a 'holiday tree' instead of a 'Christmas tree.' "
I have no qualms with the recent practice of retailers like Wal-Mart and Target changing the word "Christmas" to "Holiday" in their advertising and when they greet their customers. They have a diverse customer base and not everyone celebrates Christmas.
But this... come on! If that's a "holiday tree", then a menorah is a "holiday candelabra", okay? They can both be on the town green at the same time (and most times are). It is a holiday display that includes a Christmas tree and a menorah (and maybe something for Kwanzaa, but I don't know enough about it to say what that would be), and such a display celebrates our diversity and doesn't try to homogenize the whole thing by taking away the very thing that they are trying to acknowledge - our diversity. Am I making sense? I can't tell.
I say let everyone have a symbol in the holiday display that represents what they celebrate this time of year, what the hell; but don't make them call it anything other than what it is.
I swear, if Christmas didn't have the word "Christ" in it, this wouldn't be as much of an issue.
I have no qualms with the recent practice of retailers like Wal-Mart and Target changing the word "Christmas" to "Holiday" in their advertising and when they greet their customers. They have a diverse customer base and not everyone celebrates Christmas.
But this... come on! If that's a "holiday tree", then a menorah is a "holiday candelabra", okay? They can both be on the town green at the same time (and most times are). It is a holiday display that includes a Christmas tree and a menorah (and maybe something for Kwanzaa, but I don't know enough about it to say what that would be), and such a display celebrates our diversity and doesn't try to homogenize the whole thing by taking away the very thing that they are trying to acknowledge - our diversity. Am I making sense? I can't tell.
I say let everyone have a symbol in the holiday display that represents what they celebrate this time of year, what the hell; but don't make them call it anything other than what it is.
I swear, if Christmas didn't have the word "Christ" in it, this wouldn't be as much of an issue.
Framed!
I like how someone had the good sense to take a picture. Methinks Mr. Dufield does not rank among the great thinkers of our time.
I like how someone had the good sense to take a picture. Methinks Mr. Dufield does not rank among the great thinkers of our time.
My friend, Holly.
Helping hurricane victims: "Veum was one of 10 employees chosen in September for the assignment during a companywide drawing. The Ashland resident said this week she does not mind the wait to travel south because people still need help. "
I'm proud to know you, Hol!
I'm proud to know you, Hol!
11.29.2005
Ronald MacDonald Charged in Wendy's Theft - Yahoo! News: "MANCHESTER, N.H. - You'd think that just working at a Wendy's restaurant would be difficult for Ronald MacDonald. Now, the 22-year-old MacDonald, no relation to Ronald McDonald, the clown, has been charged with stealing money from a safe at the Wendy's.
Police said the restaurant manager called police early Monday, saying he found MacDonald and another employee taking money from the safe at about 1:30 a.m.
MacDonald and Steve Lemay, 20, both of Manchester, were detained at the store until police arrived."
11.28.2005
ABC: 'Alias' mission to end in May: "'Alias' executive producer Jeff Pinkner promised that the writing team was prepared to 'wrap up the story of Sydney Bristow in a surprising and, we think, thrilling way.' Instead of prolonging the tough decision about the show's fate, the early notice from ABC and Touchstone will allow cast and crew 'the freedom to end the series in the climactic way it deserves,' Pinkner said."This makes me sad, of course; but if they are going to cancel it, I'd rather it's done now and they have a chance to wrap things up properly. Now it's really must-see. Oh, and I was also wondering if now that this is really the last chance to do it, if Lena Olin will give in and come back one more time as SpyMommy. Oh please!
Poor baby.
Poor baby.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
Marty wasn't feeling too well in this photo and just wanted to be held all the time. He was on an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection, and while the symptoms of the infection had abated, he seemed to be getting sicker. Very listless and tired and not eating his food, and vomiting occasionally. Sheila called the vet and it was what we expected - the antibiotic was making him sick. The girls at the vet's office neglected to give her the special instructions she should have had when she picked up the medicine - give the pill with food, feed him only ground beef and rice, etc. - and so the cure was worse than the sickness for the poor guy.
Sheila came home from work that night and gave him his special dinner and within an hour he was back to his cheerful old self.
UPDATE: Although he perked right up and was certainly feeling better, he has had the most toxic gas for the last few days. Good Lord!! On Thanksgiving Day he farted almost every time he moved, including during the taking of that adorable photo posted below. Who knew such a little guy could be so deadly?
LOST Two-fer.
How do I get so far behind on these things?
The Other 48 Days
I really liked this episode. It says something for the show's creators that even though I knew who survived and who didn't, and what was coming, I was still on the edge of my seat.
~ They set me on the edge of my seat with the crash at the opening of the show. I missed the first 5 or 10 minutes of the series premiere and so missed the first crash; if it was half as chaotic and frightening as this one, I'm sorry I missed it.
~ I was reserving judgment on Ana Lucia, for the most part, waiting for them to flesh out her character, and I'm glad I did. She's not necessarily likeable, but she's definitely more sympathetic after last night. I think people began deferring to her because she's a natural leader (maybe from military service, i.e., the knife?), saved a little girl's life, got Bernard down from that tree and is willing to make the tough choices (even if she was wrong about Nathan). Or maybe she's just bossy. I actually found myself misting up when she broke down crying with Eko.
~ Anyone else thinking Eko is/was a priest? The praying, the bible, the 40 days of silence? What an awesome character he is. They had better allow him to live at least through the season.
~ The reveal of Goodwin as an Other totally took me by surprise. I knew he would die and was bummed because I liked the character and then wham! they throw me for a loop. The scene between him and AL, when she figures it all out, was well done.
~ So Nathan wasn't taken, according to Goodwin, because he "wasn't a good person", huh? That would explain why the children are being taken and brings up a couple of interesting question: Why do they need "good people"? Are they saving them from some terrible fate that the Others feel the "not good" people deserve? Are they continuing experiments on the island and need "bad" people for them? And what does it say about the people who have not been taken? I find it hard to believe that Bernard wouldn't be considered good.
~ That was a nice loose end tied up with the radio scene.
~ Interesting items they found in the bunker: a bible, blankets, a radio and a glass eye. What on earth could that mean?
~Finally, the big thing: Ana Lucia DID kill Shannon. It was fun to speculate, but in the end, I'm happier with this version. It's a much braver choice on the part of the writers and there will be a much bigger dramatic payoff, I think.
Collision
This show is on a roll. Another very good episode, at least as far as I'm concerned.
~ We finally get Ana Lucia's backstory. She is no more likeable for me, but certainly more sympathetic. After being shot, miscarrying her baby and having her boyfriend leave her, she trusts no one, least of all her own judgment. And so she turns to her gun. Question: Were we suppose to infer that she was telling Sayid that she shot and killed her shooter, vigilante-style, while she was flashing back? Because that's the impression I got. Why else would he say they were both "dead already"? Great chemistry between them, btw.
~ So, Kate and Sawyer, huh? I was half-expecting Jack to suggest they get a room. I get Kate and Sawyer together, but then I was looking at screen grabs from the trailer for this week's episode and Kate's kissing Jack. Okaaaay.
~ One of my favorite parts of the episode was the Locke/Eko (I wonder if Eko's initials are "C.L."? Stretching it, I know) meeting. "Hello." "Hello."
~ While I never really bought the Sayid/Shannon relationship, Naveen Andrews made me believe it when he sadly picked up her body and carried it past Jack.
~ The reunions! At last, the groups are merged and we can get off of the sort of schizophrenic track we were on and start focusing on the new, combined group. The last 5 minutes or so had me all misty - Michael and Vincent, Sun and Jin and most of all, Bernard and Rose, at last. What a payoff that was. I need to see her give him that candy bar now.
The Other 48 Days
I really liked this episode. It says something for the show's creators that even though I knew who survived and who didn't, and what was coming, I was still on the edge of my seat.
~ They set me on the edge of my seat with the crash at the opening of the show. I missed the first 5 or 10 minutes of the series premiere and so missed the first crash; if it was half as chaotic and frightening as this one, I'm sorry I missed it.
~ I was reserving judgment on Ana Lucia, for the most part, waiting for them to flesh out her character, and I'm glad I did. She's not necessarily likeable, but she's definitely more sympathetic after last night. I think people began deferring to her because she's a natural leader (maybe from military service, i.e., the knife?), saved a little girl's life, got Bernard down from that tree and is willing to make the tough choices (even if she was wrong about Nathan). Or maybe she's just bossy. I actually found myself misting up when she broke down crying with Eko.
~ Anyone else thinking Eko is/was a priest? The praying, the bible, the 40 days of silence? What an awesome character he is. They had better allow him to live at least through the season.
~ The reveal of Goodwin as an Other totally took me by surprise. I knew he would die and was bummed because I liked the character and then wham! they throw me for a loop. The scene between him and AL, when she figures it all out, was well done.
~ So Nathan wasn't taken, according to Goodwin, because he "wasn't a good person", huh? That would explain why the children are being taken and brings up a couple of interesting question: Why do they need "good people"? Are they saving them from some terrible fate that the Others feel the "not good" people deserve? Are they continuing experiments on the island and need "bad" people for them? And what does it say about the people who have not been taken? I find it hard to believe that Bernard wouldn't be considered good.
~ That was a nice loose end tied up with the radio scene.
~ Interesting items they found in the bunker: a bible, blankets, a radio and a glass eye. What on earth could that mean?
~Finally, the big thing: Ana Lucia DID kill Shannon. It was fun to speculate, but in the end, I'm happier with this version. It's a much braver choice on the part of the writers and there will be a much bigger dramatic payoff, I think.
Collision
This show is on a roll. Another very good episode, at least as far as I'm concerned.
~ We finally get Ana Lucia's backstory. She is no more likeable for me, but certainly more sympathetic. After being shot, miscarrying her baby and having her boyfriend leave her, she trusts no one, least of all her own judgment. And so she turns to her gun. Question: Were we suppose to infer that she was telling Sayid that she shot and killed her shooter, vigilante-style, while she was flashing back? Because that's the impression I got. Why else would he say they were both "dead already"? Great chemistry between them, btw.
~ So, Kate and Sawyer, huh? I was half-expecting Jack to suggest they get a room. I get Kate and Sawyer together, but then I was looking at screen grabs from the trailer for this week's episode and Kate's kissing Jack. Okaaaay.
~ One of my favorite parts of the episode was the Locke/Eko (I wonder if Eko's initials are "C.L."? Stretching it, I know) meeting. "Hello." "Hello."
~ While I never really bought the Sayid/Shannon relationship, Naveen Andrews made me believe it when he sadly picked up her body and carried it past Jack.
~ The reunions! At last, the groups are merged and we can get off of the sort of schizophrenic track we were on and start focusing on the new, combined group. The last 5 minutes or so had me all misty - Michael and Vincent, Sun and Jin and most of all, Bernard and Rose, at last. What a payoff that was. I need to see her give him that candy bar now.
11.24.2005
Thanksgiving Snow.
Thanksgiving Snow.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
There was a little snow on the ground when we woke up this morning!
11.22.2005
Actor snaps over ringing mobile: "Actor Richard Griffiths ordered a woman out of his West End play, after her mobile phone rang for the third time. "
Three cheers for Uncle Vernon! (Dursley, Harry Pot-- oh, nevermind). I can understand a phone ringing once because someone forgot to turn it off, but after that? No excuse. How rude can you get? Don't even get me started on the people who walk around stores with their headset on, loudly carrying on a conversation. Back in my lean video store manager days, I refused to wait on a customer until she ended her call and acknowledged my existence. Oh, and on trains?! Oh, I can't stand it.
Three cheers for Uncle Vernon! (Dursley, Harry Pot-- oh, nevermind). I can understand a phone ringing once because someone forgot to turn it off, but after that? No excuse. How rude can you get? Don't even get me started on the people who walk around stores with their headset on, loudly carrying on a conversation. Back in my lean video store manager days, I refused to wait on a customer until she ended her call and acknowledged my existence. Oh, and on trains?! Oh, I can't stand it.
Man Who Kept Dead Mom in Freezer Sentenced: "Schuth has said he fantasized about being married to 'Alias' star Jennifer Garner. At his sentencing, he said: 'I apologize to Jennifer Garner and her pool boy Ben Affleck for involving them in my fantasies.'"
Hoo boy.
Hoo boy.
11.21.2005
Alias Two-fer
I am so behind on this! Here are some quick thoughts on the last 2 episodes of Alias.
Solo
This wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it was going to be - I was afraid that Rachel's first solo outing as a field agent would stretch the bounds of believability to the breaking point, but they did a good job of making her look like what she is, and amateur.
There isn't really much else about this episode that stands out for me, except for a few small things:
~ the scene between Rachel and Grace in the gym was well done. I like Grace, but if he looked and talked less like Charlie Sheen, I'd like him even more.
~ Dixon's love-crazy African/Indian with a speech impediment was a riot - just where was that acccent supposed to be from? Any Dixon is good Dixon.
~ Shout-out to the spork!
~ Looks like we have the answer to whether Rachel is gay or not - she talked about the slut who stole her male prom date
~ That was a terrible scene between her and Peyton, including the fight. Poorly shot and poorly acted.
Fait Accompli
This episode was just jam-packed!
~ I liked being brought back to the early days of Alias when Sydney ran into her old college professor, Mr. Wu.
~ The Sloane/Dean storyline moved along nicely, with Sloane confessing to APO that he was being forced to cooperate with Dean, Dean's capture, his torture and ultimately his death at the hands of Sloane. I liked that Rachel could play a part in his capture in her own small way, by clobbering him with a shovel. Twice. Anyone have the exact words that Dean said to Sydney near the end of their little talk? If I remember correctly, it was ominous.
~ So, Nadia is still a zombie. It was a nice scene for the few minutes she was normal.
~ Pregnant or not, Sydney's still got it when it comes to the undercover work. Great stuff at the track.
~ Does the new bad guy look familiar to anyone else? Was he in this show before? I just looked him up on imdb and his name is Angus MacFadyen and he's Scottish (you think?). His character's name is Joseph Ehrmann and he's not listed as having appeared in Alias before.
~ I'm guessing that all of that computer/network chasing was to find out that Prophet Five has infiltrated the government, just like the Alliance did. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
~ And finally, the best part of the episode, Crib-building with SpyDaddy.
Alias is on Wednesday night at 10:00 this week, after LOST. This isn't a permanent move, though. It's just for a couple of weeks. Those network people really know how to kill a show, huh? I'll give a heads-up here when I hear more.
ETA: How could I forget Sark in the previews?! Sark!
E(again)TA: Oops, my bad - Alias is not returning until Wednesday, December 7, when it will be on at 10:00, after LOST. Sorry about that!
Solo
This wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it was going to be - I was afraid that Rachel's first solo outing as a field agent would stretch the bounds of believability to the breaking point, but they did a good job of making her look like what she is, and amateur.
There isn't really much else about this episode that stands out for me, except for a few small things:
~ the scene between Rachel and Grace in the gym was well done. I like Grace, but if he looked and talked less like Charlie Sheen, I'd like him even more.
~ Dixon's love-crazy African/Indian with a speech impediment was a riot - just where was that acccent supposed to be from? Any Dixon is good Dixon.
~ Shout-out to the spork!
~ Looks like we have the answer to whether Rachel is gay or not - she talked about the slut who stole her male prom date
~ That was a terrible scene between her and Peyton, including the fight. Poorly shot and poorly acted.
Fait Accompli
This episode was just jam-packed!
~ I liked being brought back to the early days of Alias when Sydney ran into her old college professor, Mr. Wu.
~ The Sloane/Dean storyline moved along nicely, with Sloane confessing to APO that he was being forced to cooperate with Dean, Dean's capture, his torture and ultimately his death at the hands of Sloane. I liked that Rachel could play a part in his capture in her own small way, by clobbering him with a shovel. Twice. Anyone have the exact words that Dean said to Sydney near the end of their little talk? If I remember correctly, it was ominous.
~ So, Nadia is still a zombie. It was a nice scene for the few minutes she was normal.
~ Pregnant or not, Sydney's still got it when it comes to the undercover work. Great stuff at the track.
~ Does the new bad guy look familiar to anyone else? Was he in this show before? I just looked him up on imdb and his name is Angus MacFadyen and he's Scottish (you think?). His character's name is Joseph Ehrmann and he's not listed as having appeared in Alias before.
~ I'm guessing that all of that computer/network chasing was to find out that Prophet Five has infiltrated the government, just like the Alliance did. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
~ And finally, the best part of the episode, Crib-building with SpyDaddy.
Alias is on Wednesday night at 10:00 this week, after LOST. This isn't a permanent move, though. It's just for a couple of weeks. Those network people really know how to kill a show, huh? I'll give a heads-up here when I hear more.
ETA: How could I forget Sark in the previews?! Sark!
E(again)TA: Oops, my bad - Alias is not returning until Wednesday, December 7, when it will be on at 10:00, after LOST. Sorry about that!
It's almost Thanksgiving, y'all!
Yesterday morning we happily stumbled upon "Paula's Southern Thanksgiving" on the Food Network. Oh my goodness! Paula was in true artery-clogging form and everything looked delicious beyond words.
We're having a very small Thanksgiving this year, just myself, my sister Sheila and our mother. I bought the turkey and fixings last night. Since there's only 3 of us, I was looking at the smallest birds they had, at around 10 lbs, but they were practically emaciated and very bony. So I grabbed a 13-pounder. I'm the cook on Thanksgiving - it's a lot of work, but I really enjoy doing it. We do the standard dinner - turkey, mashed potatoes, a couple of vegetables, lots of gravy, a sausage stuffing, biscuits and a couple of pies (at least one pumpkin is mandatory). We'll have some appetizers, as well, and tune in to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, another tradition.
We usually eat pretty early, around 2:00 PM, which leaves the rest of the day to wallow in our gluttonous glory. Absolutely no football, though (unless we have guests who watch). Sacriligious, I know, but there you have it. There will probably be a viewing of a Christmas movie in the evening, maybe Elf or The Ref.
I'm fortunate and have a lovely four-day weekend since our office closes on Friday. I remember those days when we would be open and I wasn't able to take a vacation day because I had to cover for my boss, who always took that day off. Man, that was a bummer.
We're having a very small Thanksgiving this year, just myself, my sister Sheila and our mother. I bought the turkey and fixings last night. Since there's only 3 of us, I was looking at the smallest birds they had, at around 10 lbs, but they were practically emaciated and very bony. So I grabbed a 13-pounder. I'm the cook on Thanksgiving - it's a lot of work, but I really enjoy doing it. We do the standard dinner - turkey, mashed potatoes, a couple of vegetables, lots of gravy, a sausage stuffing, biscuits and a couple of pies (at least one pumpkin is mandatory). We'll have some appetizers, as well, and tune in to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, another tradition.
We usually eat pretty early, around 2:00 PM, which leaves the rest of the day to wallow in our gluttonous glory. Absolutely no football, though (unless we have guests who watch). Sacriligious, I know, but there you have it. There will probably be a viewing of a Christmas movie in the evening, maybe Elf or The Ref.
I'm fortunate and have a lovely four-day weekend since our office closes on Friday. I remember those days when we would be open and I wasn't able to take a vacation day because I had to cover for my boss, who always took that day off. Man, that was a bummer.
Finally!
Makeover, cont'd.
Originally uploaded by gina64.
I finally finished painting my bedroom this weekend. Hallelujah. I'm really happy with the way it came out. There is still some decorating to be done - hanging pictures, new bedding - but it's amazing what a coat (or 2) of paint will do for a room.
11.18.2005
Where's your fuggin' father?
Oh that's right, your fuggin' father is Rod Stewart: "'Hey, Paris? Paris? It's Kim. Kimberley. Kimberley STEWART. Dude, I'm getting married! MARRRRRRIED! To Talan. Talan! Talan Torisisisisisisisisisico, or something, I don't really know what his last name is exactly, but whatever. "
11.16.2005
"Everything's un-Godly!!"
The talking bobblehead of the Crazy God Warrior. I don't watch Trading Spouses, but I have seen the clips and OH.MY.GOD. Comedy gold (even if I do feel sorry for who am assuming are her daughters in the clip).
Make sure you click on the pictures for some audio.
Make sure you click on the pictures for some audio.
I'm so LOST without you.
On last week's episode, in just under the wire.
Ah, the joys of remaining spoiler-free and the benefits of having no memory to speak of.
I thought the episode was really good.
~ I was so glad that Sayid saw Walt. That at least takes the possibility that Shannon was crazy out of the mix. I think Walt has certain telepathic abilities and he’s using them to try to warn people. So I think he’s alive. One of the things they studied on the island was “remote viewing” (“remote viewing is the alleged psychic ability to perceive places, persons and actions that are not within the range of the senses.") and I wonder if that plays into things, too.
~ I guess some people thought that the “telegraphing” of Shannon’s death was really heavy handed – finally getting it on with Sayid, the sympathetic backstory, the “I love you and believe in you” from Sayid – but I swear I did NOT seeing it coming. I had even forgotten that they said something about one of the castaways dying in the previews a few weeks ago. My jaw was just hanging open in that scene. The look on Michael and Jin’s faces was so sad, and that was some awesome acting from Naveen Andrews. I really want Sayid to go all Iraqi Republican Guard on Ana Lucia’s butt. At the very least, if AL did kill Shannon, it sets up an interesting dynamic when the two groups merge. I say "if" because there is some (supportable) speculation out there that Shannon's wound was clearly not from a bullet but is a long slash mark (possibly from a machete?) and that she was killed by one of the Udders and AL shot that person.
~ Speaking of losing a castaway – what the hell happened to Cindy?! That was scary.
~ I liked Locke and the baby. He’s totally right about the swaddling (although how he knows that is beyond me), too. They love to be wrapped up like little burritos, don't they? Anyhoo, I’m glad Claire told Lock about Charlie’s Virgin Mary stash. I’m not sure where they’re taking Charlie’s character, though. Sometimes I like him, sometimes he’s a bit irritating.
~ Maggie Grace (Shannon) really had a very good swan song, acting wise. Her face when the doctor was telling her and her stepmother that her father had died just killed me. I was never a big Shannon (or Boone) fan, so while it was a shock to see her killed, I’m shocked in a good way, if that makes any sense, lol.
~ So now we know why one of the Udders was dragging a teddy bear – they took children from the tail section group. Creepy. Maybe that’s the reason for taking Walt – nothing to do with his special powers or anything – they just want children for some reason?
~ No Kate or Jack (except for that quick pass-by in the hospital hallway), and that was fine.
~ I liked the little scene between Sawyer and Michael, just before Sawyer slipped into unconsciousness.
~ Mistereko is a very cool character. They had better not kill him off any time soon.
~ Boone’s wig was horrifying.
~ I wonder why, when Shannon had Vincent smell the shirt and go find Walt, Vincent led her to Boone’s grave? Or did she just stop there?
~ And finally, I went to the TWoP board to find out what it was Walt was saying backward: it was “They’re close, and they’re coming.” Or something like that. Oh, and there are some bitter people there. There’s a reason I stay away from that board.
Tonight's episode looks to be a good one, much better than I was anticipating when I heard it was going to be about the Tailaways first 48 days. I’m looking forward to seeing what happened to them. Oh, and don't forget - this episode is 65 minutes long, so set your VCR and/or Tivo (if you can) accordingly.
Ah, the joys of remaining spoiler-free and the benefits of having no memory to speak of.
I thought the episode was really good.
~ I was so glad that Sayid saw Walt. That at least takes the possibility that Shannon was crazy out of the mix. I think Walt has certain telepathic abilities and he’s using them to try to warn people. So I think he’s alive. One of the things they studied on the island was “remote viewing” (“remote viewing is the alleged psychic ability to perceive places, persons and actions that are not within the range of the senses.") and I wonder if that plays into things, too.
~ I guess some people thought that the “telegraphing” of Shannon’s death was really heavy handed – finally getting it on with Sayid, the sympathetic backstory, the “I love you and believe in you” from Sayid – but I swear I did NOT seeing it coming. I had even forgotten that they said something about one of the castaways dying in the previews a few weeks ago. My jaw was just hanging open in that scene. The look on Michael and Jin’s faces was so sad, and that was some awesome acting from Naveen Andrews. I really want Sayid to go all Iraqi Republican Guard on Ana Lucia’s butt. At the very least, if AL did kill Shannon, it sets up an interesting dynamic when the two groups merge. I say "if" because there is some (supportable) speculation out there that Shannon's wound was clearly not from a bullet but is a long slash mark (possibly from a machete?) and that she was killed by one of the Udders and AL shot that person.
~ Speaking of losing a castaway – what the hell happened to Cindy?! That was scary.
~ I liked Locke and the baby. He’s totally right about the swaddling (although how he knows that is beyond me), too. They love to be wrapped up like little burritos, don't they? Anyhoo, I’m glad Claire told Lock about Charlie’s Virgin Mary stash. I’m not sure where they’re taking Charlie’s character, though. Sometimes I like him, sometimes he’s a bit irritating.
~ Maggie Grace (Shannon) really had a very good swan song, acting wise. Her face when the doctor was telling her and her stepmother that her father had died just killed me. I was never a big Shannon (or Boone) fan, so while it was a shock to see her killed, I’m shocked in a good way, if that makes any sense, lol.
~ So now we know why one of the Udders was dragging a teddy bear – they took children from the tail section group. Creepy. Maybe that’s the reason for taking Walt – nothing to do with his special powers or anything – they just want children for some reason?
~ No Kate or Jack (except for that quick pass-by in the hospital hallway), and that was fine.
~ I liked the little scene between Sawyer and Michael, just before Sawyer slipped into unconsciousness.
~ Mistereko is a very cool character. They had better not kill him off any time soon.
~ Boone’s wig was horrifying.
~ I wonder why, when Shannon had Vincent smell the shirt and go find Walt, Vincent led her to Boone’s grave? Or did she just stop there?
~ And finally, I went to the TWoP board to find out what it was Walt was saying backward: it was “They’re close, and they’re coming.” Or something like that. Oh, and there are some bitter people there. There’s a reason I stay away from that board.
Tonight's episode looks to be a good one, much better than I was anticipating when I heard it was going to be about the Tailaways first 48 days. I’m looking forward to seeing what happened to them. Oh, and don't forget - this episode is 65 minutes long, so set your VCR and/or Tivo (if you can) accordingly.
China confirms first human bird flu cases - Nov 16, 2005: "China on Wednesday reported its first three confirmed human cases of bird flu as the government raced to vaccinate billions of chickens, ducks and other poultry in a massive effort to stop the spread of the virus."
My rational side is well aware of the scare tactics employed by the news media, but this scares the shit out my irrational side.
My rational side is well aware of the scare tactics employed by the news media, but this scares the shit out my irrational side.
11.15.2005
Fuggin' Funny: "Omarosa appears to be taking great, fiendish joy in wearing a denim frock whose wash is forcing our eye toward that prickly cave of danger she calls a crotch."
11.14.2005
Calling Bill Kurtis.
Kidnap Suspect Scrutinized: "When a Connecticut salesman was charged with trying to kidnap a New York teenager from her school parking lot Halloween night, police believed it was a random, isolated abduction attempt...Two weeks later, the Waterbury man is being investigated in at least three states for unsolved sex and murder cases. When police searched his work van following his arrest in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., they found a tarp, a noose and other things in his van. "
Yeesh. For those of you who don't know, I live in Waterbury. If they've got the right guy, he's been at it for almost 20 years. I'm dying to hear more about it.
Yeesh. For those of you who don't know, I live in Waterbury. If they've got the right guy, he's been at it for almost 20 years. I'm dying to hear more about it.
11.11.2005
LOST for good: "Fans never like to see their favorites go. Cuse remembers that before 'we killed Boone last year, Jorge's (Garcia) mother called up and said, 'I hear they're going to kill a character on the show.' And Jorge was like, 'Yeah, Ma.' And she goes, 'I hope it's not Sawyer.' '"
Thanks, Ma.
Thanks, Ma.
I hate FOX.
I guess I knew it was coming: "The Bluth clan of Fox's ratings-challenged 'Arrested Development' is also headed for the exit after Fox cut the third-season order on the Emmy-winning comedy to 13 episodes."
11.10.2005
Former FEMA chief Brown off payroll: "Former FEMA chief Michael Brown is no longer on the agency's payroll, the Homeland Security Department said Wednesday, ending nearly two months of compensation after he resigned under fire."
And what were they paying him for?
"Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he extended Brown's contract for an additional 30 days, until mid-November, to help the agency complete its review of the response to Katrina."
Huh? Wha? I can't even.
And what were they paying him for?
"Last month, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said he extended Brown's contract for an additional 30 days, until mid-November, to help the agency complete its review of the response to Katrina."
Huh? Wha? I can't even.
11.09.2005
Doubts Raised About Toilet-Seat Case: "A man who sued Home Depot last month claiming a prank left him glued to a toilet seat made a similar allegation about another restroom more than a year ago, an official told a newspaper. "
But he's sticking to his story!
But he's sticking to his story!
11.08.2005
The Man with Two Brains.
OK, so on last week's Alias...
~ Hip hip hooray! Evil Sloane is back. Kinda. It’s so nice to see Ron Rifkin able to do something besides beg for forgiveness. He is SO good when he’s evil. And subtle in the way he showed just a twinge of regret when he walked away from the Senator. But damn, when he was smiling at that girl and telling her she "skated like an angel"...just...EW.
~ I like Rachel and Marshall facing off over the tech. She seems to be able to pull off the intelligence, which surprised me. The scene between her and Syd at the beginning, about being a mother, was nice. There has been a lot of speculation on various message boards that Rachel is gay - the whole "he's not your type/no competition when it comes to men" conversation she had with Peyton - and I wonder if they're setting up a crush on Syd. They seem to be steering away from a romantic relationship between her and Grace, which I'm happy about. I think if Rachel was gay and she was crushing on Syd, it would be a great storyline.
~ Getty was good, but there’s something about his inflection, the way he talks – he seems to end all of his sentences “up”, with the emphasis on the last word. Other than that, I'm liking his character. I think the scene between him and Jack at the firing range was the best of the episode, and it had my favorite line: "Sorry I never met her, she sounds like my kind of woman." Ha!
~ So, the guy in the box. Am I crazy, or was DeSantis’ brain transplanted into Renee’s father’s body? They did mention the presence of that drug used to fight off organ transplant rejection. The guy playing him was in Carnivale and was creepy in that, too. If I remember correctly, he was shacked up with the bearded lady.
~ So, Sloane knows Dean. From way back? Has Sloane known about "The Shed" all along? Is Dean former SD6, or Alliance? Jack totally knows that Sloane is up to no good and I like that Dixon is in on that with him.
This week, Rachel goes solo.
~ Hip hip hooray! Evil Sloane is back. Kinda. It’s so nice to see Ron Rifkin able to do something besides beg for forgiveness. He is SO good when he’s evil. And subtle in the way he showed just a twinge of regret when he walked away from the Senator. But damn, when he was smiling at that girl and telling her she "skated like an angel"...just...EW.
~ I like Rachel and Marshall facing off over the tech. She seems to be able to pull off the intelligence, which surprised me. The scene between her and Syd at the beginning, about being a mother, was nice. There has been a lot of speculation on various message boards that Rachel is gay - the whole "he's not your type/no competition when it comes to men" conversation she had with Peyton - and I wonder if they're setting up a crush on Syd. They seem to be steering away from a romantic relationship between her and Grace, which I'm happy about. I think if Rachel was gay and she was crushing on Syd, it would be a great storyline.
~ Getty was good, but there’s something about his inflection, the way he talks – he seems to end all of his sentences “up”, with the emphasis on the last word. Other than that, I'm liking his character. I think the scene between him and Jack at the firing range was the best of the episode, and it had my favorite line: "Sorry I never met her, she sounds like my kind of woman." Ha!
~ So, the guy in the box. Am I crazy, or was DeSantis’ brain transplanted into Renee’s father’s body? They did mention the presence of that drug used to fight off organ transplant rejection. The guy playing him was in Carnivale and was creepy in that, too. If I remember correctly, he was shacked up with the bearded lady.
~ So, Sloane knows Dean. From way back? Has Sloane known about "The Shed" all along? Is Dean former SD6, or Alliance? Jack totally knows that Sloane is up to no good and I like that Dixon is in on that with him.
This week, Rachel goes solo.
Weekend in New England.
Cape Neddick Light (color)
Originally uploaded by gina64.
So yeah, I went away this past weekend, to York Beach, Maine. Plans to go with my mother had fallen through and since I had the reservation already, I decided what the heck. I'd go by myself and enjoy some solitude and relaxation.
It turned out to be nice weekend, in spite of the foggy and rainy weather. Saturday was nice for most part, and my friends Holly and Krys made a road trip up for some geocaching. I finished the Firefly boxed set and was sad to be done with it. Serenity, the feature film that picks up where the cancelled show left off, comes out on DVD on December 20. *hint hint*
Anyway, this is a photo I took of Cape Neddick Light, or Nubble Light, just before I left on Sunday. It was very foggy and misty. I wish the sky wasn't the same color as the lighthouse, but I'm not an advanced enough photographer to solve those types of problems. Yet.
It's Aquama - - !
Fine physical specimen, I agree. But here's my question: Why wear a shirt at all? Seriously, I thought he was painted green. And what's with those "shorts" (and I use the term loosely, which is OK because that seems to be the way he likes his shorts)? Purpose? Anyone?
Publisister No More.
Cruise Hires Publicist to Replace Sister: "Bloch replaces Cruise's sister, Lee Anne DeVette, who took over as his publicist in March 2004 after he left longtime representative Pat Kingsley."
Who apparently deserved every last dollar she got for the outstanding job she did shielding us from Cruise's complete bat-shit craziness.
Who apparently deserved every last dollar she got for the outstanding job she did shielding us from Cruise's complete bat-shit craziness.
TV a la carte.
It's getting closer to reality every day:
NBC, CBS to offer shows on demand for 99 cents: "The two latest TV deals add CBS and NBC shows such as 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' to the mix of programs networks are scrambling to deliver outside of traditional broadcasts. "
NBC, CBS to offer shows on demand for 99 cents: "The two latest TV deals add CBS and NBC shows such as 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' and 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' to the mix of programs networks are scrambling to deliver outside of traditional broadcasts. "
Snopes completes the glue-attack trifecta for me (sort of): "Although this story has frequently been reported as true in the media and has existed as a legend since at least 1984, we know of no verified cases of superglued penes occurring before 2000. That year saw two such cases. "
("penes" - heehee!)
One of which I linked to below. Had she heard the legend and felt inspired, or was it just a coincidence? I don't really care, especially now that I have Lionel Ritchie's "Stuck on You" stuck in my head.
("penes" - heehee!)
One of which I linked to below. Had she heard the legend and felt inspired, or was it just a coincidence? I don't really care, especially now that I have Lionel Ritchie's "Stuck on You" stuck in my head.
11.07.2005
Actress breaks arm performing 'Accident': "Actress Sutton Foster was rehearsing a number called 'I'm An Accident Waiting to Happen' earlier this week when she fell and broke her arm."
Hee!
Hee!
11.04.2005
Tsunami Hero Girl Sees U.N., Meets Clinton: "Tilly Smith, just 10 years old at the time, put her geography lessons to good use: By quickly recognizing the warning signs of a tsunami, the English schoolgirl saved about 100 people from near-certain death at a Thai resort."
Man Sues Ex-Girlfriend Over Glue Attack: "Slaby contends that O'Toole invited him over to her home on May 7, 2000, where he fell asleep. He woke up to find that O'Toole had used Super Glue to stick his genitals to his abdomen, glued his buttocks together and spelled out a profanity on his back in nail polish."
Oh, man! One more and we'll have a glue attack trifecta.
Oh, man! One more and we'll have a glue attack trifecta.
11.03.2005
Federline Rap Posted on Internet: "Over an industrial beat reminiscent of Kelis' 'Milkshake,' Federline represents himself as a brash, newsworthy figure ahead of his time. 'People always asking me when's the release date / Well, baby you can wait and see, until then all these Pavarottis followin' me,' he raps, nicknaming paparazzi after the Italian opera singer."
Oh, my ears are bleedin' already.
Oh, my ears are bleedin' already.
Why do they do this to me?
Why do they do this to me?
Originally uploaded by gina64.
Poor Marty on Halloween. The excitement was more than he could bear.
'Can I quit now?' FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged: "A Louisiana congressman says e-mails written by the government's emergency response chief as Hurricane Katrina raged show a lack of concern for the unfolding tragedy and a failure in leadership."
What a weasel. Isn't he still on FEMA's payroll, as some kind of consultant? Inexcusable.
What a weasel. Isn't he still on FEMA's payroll, as some kind of consultant? Inexcusable.
11.01.2005
Don't take away my sky.
I'm 5 episodes into the 14-episodes season (the one and only season) of Firefly that I rented on DVD, and I'm hooked. I'm sort of glad that I missed the boat on this show the first time around. I would have hated to have FOX rip the rug out from under such a good show while I was watching it. Now I'm really looking forward to seeing "Serenity".
Special Prosecutor Indicts Scooter: "The indictment of the 43-year-old muppet — long the right-hand man to Muppet Show host Kermit T. Frog — sent shockwaves through both Washington and the Muppet Theater, as the investigation moved closer to implicating other muppets, including Dr. Teeth, Sam the Eagle, and George W. Bush."
10.28.2005
Bad Week for Bush.
Who will be indicted today?
Looks like Scooter is the only one likely to take a bullet for the administration at this point, but I'm glad to hear that Rove is still under investigation.
These paragraphs in particular caught my attention, since they could have been written while reporting on any time of trouble during Bush's administration:
"Officials said that Mr. Bush, who traveled to Florida on Thursday to view the damage from Hurricane Wilma, would keep to his planned schedule today, including a speech on terrorism in Norfolk, Va., if indictments were announced.
Administration officials said that the White House would seek to keep as low a profile as possible if indictments were issued; Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, did not schedule a briefing today, and Mr. Bush plans to leave in the afternoon for a weekend at Camp David."
When things start getting a little dicey politically, Bush loves to whip out that terrorism card and wave that flag. And go on vacation.
Looks like Scooter is the only one likely to take a bullet for the administration at this point, but I'm glad to hear that Rove is still under investigation.
These paragraphs in particular caught my attention, since they could have been written while reporting on any time of trouble during Bush's administration:
"Officials said that Mr. Bush, who traveled to Florida on Thursday to view the damage from Hurricane Wilma, would keep to his planned schedule today, including a speech on terrorism in Norfolk, Va., if indictments were announced.
Administration officials said that the White House would seek to keep as low a profile as possible if indictments were issued; Scott McClellan, the White House press secretary, did not schedule a briefing today, and Mr. Bush plans to leave in the afternoon for a weekend at Camp David."
When things start getting a little dicey politically, Bush loves to whip out that terrorism card and wave that flag. And go on vacation.
It's that gruesome time of year again: "The apparent suicide of a woman found hanging from a tree went unreported for hours because passers-by thought the body was a Halloween decoration, authorities said."
10.27.2005
Don't Go In the Light!!
This is just under the wire, but I wanted to comment on last week's Alias before tonight's new episode.
I liked it. Actually, I think it was my favorite so far this season. Good writing, good acting, good action.
I really enjoyed the Sloane parts. It was great to hear someone say that they weren’t going to believe his lies this time. I am so happy he is out of jail and especially that he had to sell his soul to the Devil to do it. Come to think of it, he must have had to buy it back from the Devil a few times since he’s done this more than once.
Both of the new guys were good and I didn’t find myself wishing that they would just go away, which is progress. And I like Sydney in the take charge role. I think it’d be really interesting to see her develop some of her mother’s characteristics (in terms of strength), and maybe not succumb to tears as she has so often in the past. That said, I had a huge smile on my face when she was stuck up in the car and Dean told her she had a half hour to produce Mockingbird and she said, “I have to call my dad!”
I was pleased that Dixon had a larger role and Marshall a smaller one. A little bit of Marshal goes a long way and that dice scene was hysterical.
For the first time this season, I'm looking forward to a new episode.
Embattled Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers has withdrawn her nomination.
Her nomination was tearing apart the Republican party, or so it seems. I wonder which old friend and crony Bush will nominate next? He is in a pickle, though, isn't he: If he chooses someone who is outwardly anti-abortion, such a candidate would satisfy his largest consituency but incur the wrath of the entire Democratic party and some moderate Republicans; if not, his pro-life, right-wing support will be ripped away, leaving a gash in the fabric of the Republican party.
Her nomination was tearing apart the Republican party, or so it seems. I wonder which old friend and crony Bush will nominate next? He is in a pickle, though, isn't he: If he chooses someone who is outwardly anti-abortion, such a candidate would satisfy his largest consituency but incur the wrath of the entire Democratic party and some moderate Republicans; if not, his pro-life, right-wing support will be ripped away, leaving a gash in the fabric of the Republican party.
10.25.2005
Drive-Thru Reviews - Halloween's a Comin'
Carnival of Souls - 1962 cult horror that I bought at Target for $1 last year. You know the movie's not going to be so great when the editor and sound guy have roles. It's really quite bad, but the director does a pretty decent job of conveying a spooky atmosphere and delivers a couple of pretty good frights.
Arsenic and Old Lace - An old (1944) favorite that I highly recommend. A screwball comedy about serial killers and family insanity.
Friday the 13th - Watch Halloween instead.
Arsenic and Old Lace - An old (1944) favorite that I highly recommend. A screwball comedy about serial killers and family insanity.
Friday the 13th - Watch Halloween instead.
10.24.2005
10.20.2005
LOST "...And Found."
I really enjoyed last night’s episode, again. The actress who plays Sun is just amazing. Her reaction to finding the wedding ring almost had me in tears.
Random things:
Random things:
- I liked how they intertwined the “lost and found” theme throughout the show. Locke said something about how he didn’t feel lost anymore, and that you find what you’re looking for when you stop looking – Sun and Jin found each other (what a sweet scene that was) after they both failed in their respective searches; Sun found her ring (and hope) after saying that she knew that Jin and the others were not alright; and this doesn’t exactly fit, but Jin and Echo found Michael after...stopping to get a drink of water?
- I liked how they had Sun interacting with everyone separately. Nice character interplay, especially between her and Hurley. He said something that made me laugh out loud, and now I can’t remember it. Something about the "good Korea or the bad Korea", I think.
- The scene where Jin and Echo (oops, it's Eko) hide and watch the Others walk by was very well done. So was that Walt walking with them carrying the teddy bear?
- I thought the actress who plays Sun (Yunjin Kim, perhaps?) did a great job of playing her younger self. Even the way she walked, in the first flashback, across her bedroom when she was getting ready for the matchmaker date, was very much like a young girl. I’ve always loved the Jin and Sun flashbacks.
- Why is not saying goodbye to Sawyer a reason for Kate to be rifling through everyone’s personal bottle messages? I've read speculation that that was just a lie Kate told Sun to cover her real reason for going through the messages - that she was looking to retrieve hers because it had damning information in it. Remember, though, that Sawyer was reading through everyone's messages while on the raft, so if she is trying to hide something, he knows what it is. Or maybe she was hoping that Sawyer had left a message in the bottle and wanted it as a memento? But why would he do that? He was on the raft and could deliver his message himself. Hmm.
There's the usual great discussion going on over at TMFT, in the comments thread. Check it out.
10.19.2005
Oh My GOD, Y'all, Now I'm a Mom!: "I mean, didn't you sort of suspect that I might just totally start showing up places wearing like a muu-muu and one of those old lady rain hats made out of old plastic bags and chain-smoking or something? Like I would just decide that I was totally going to just give up on all that exercising they used to make me do and start living on, you know, fiery Cheetos and Jolt?"
Drive-Thru Reviews
Flight of the Phoenix - Really just a wisp of a movie. Don't bother.
Sahara - Another desert movie, but this one I liked. Outrageous action, but they pull it off. Steve Zahn steals the movie, I think. And great soundtrack.
Monster-in-Law - A romantic comedy with inconsequential romantic leads. Jane Fonda (and Wanda Sykes) STEALS this movie. Some good laughs.
Million Dollar Baby - (no link because there's a spoiler on the imdb page) Incredibly good, emotionally powerful film. Really, really good. Did I mention how good it was? With a beautifully spare soundtrack by Eastwood. I cried for the last half hour.
Sahara - Another desert movie, but this one I liked. Outrageous action, but they pull it off. Steve Zahn steals the movie, I think. And great soundtrack.
Monster-in-Law - A romantic comedy with inconsequential romantic leads. Jane Fonda (and Wanda Sykes) STEALS this movie. Some good laughs.
Million Dollar Baby - (no link because there's a spoiler on the imdb page) Incredibly good, emotionally powerful film. Really, really good. Did I mention how good it was? With a beautifully spare soundtrack by Eastwood. I cried for the last half hour.
10.15.2005
10.14.2005
TV on the download: "Think of it this way: Apple boss Steve Jobs believed that if you priced music cheaply and made it easy to download and store, people would pay for it. He sold 28 million iPods and 500 million songs on that belief. If you think the same strategy can't work with TV programming, you're not seeing the big picture. "
I completely agree with him.
I completely agree with him.
James Blonde.
Daniel Craig Unveiled As New James Bond.
My first pick would have been Clive Owen, but I think Craig is a good choice and he has a nice, rough edge that I think today's Bond needs.
My first pick would have been Clive Owen, but I think Craig is a good choice and he has a nice, rough edge that I think today's Bond needs.
10.13.2005
Bye-Bye VCR
And it's probably cheaper than a DVR: "In addition to music videos, the iTunes Music Store also features select Disney and ABC television shows, ready to download. For $1.99, you can own the latest episode just one day after it airs. With full seasons of Lost, Desperate Housewives and That's So Raven, plus episodes of new shows like Night Stalker and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody at your fingertips, you'll never miss your favorites. Plus, you can sync shows to the new iPod and watch them on the go. Just try that with your big-screen TV."
I'm a lazy bastard and I would definitely be willing to shell out $1.99 to watch LOST or Alias again and not have to deal with taping it and making sure I have a blank tape, etc. Just sit down in front of the computer and watch. Awesome.
ETA: I downloaded iTunes last night and opened an account. I purchased Wednesday's LOST episode this morning. It took about 20 minutes to download and the file size is 191 MB. Not too bad. I watched a small portion before leaving for work, and the quality is decent, too. I can archive it to CD and keep it forever, too. This is great. Now if Apple can strike up deals with the makers of Alias, Arrested Development and Battlestar Galactica, I will be all set.
I'm a lazy bastard and I would definitely be willing to shell out $1.99 to watch LOST or Alias again and not have to deal with taping it and making sure I have a blank tape, etc. Just sit down in front of the computer and watch. Awesome.
ETA: I downloaded iTunes last night and opened an account. I purchased Wednesday's LOST episode this morning. It took about 20 minutes to download and the file size is 191 MB. Not too bad. I watched a small portion before leaving for work, and the quality is decent, too. I can archive it to CD and keep it forever, too. This is great. Now if Apple can strike up deals with the makers of Alias, Arrested Development and Battlestar Galactica, I will be all set.
10.12.2005
Awesome.
ETA: This is obviously a mistake. I do not think it's awesome that this woman just had her 16th baby (although that hairdo is pretty awesome in a WTF kind of way). This is what I thought was awesome.
ETA: This is obviously a mistake. I do not think it's awesome that this woman just had her 16th baby (although that hairdo is pretty awesome in a WTF kind of way). This is what I thought was awesome.
10.11.2005
Anderson Cooper does 'Jeopardy': "They tape a week's worth of shows in just one day, and by the time I got to the set Tucker Carlson had already creamed Bob Woodward and Peggy Noonan. The green room was abuzz because Woodward had missed a question about Watergate."
10.10.2005
Drive Thru Review
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Extremely silly, extremely British, had me laughing out loud quite a few times and really kind of sweet. I am not acquainted with the book(s), radio or television show, and that did not hamper my enjoyment of it in the least. Oh, and the answer is 42.
Extras - Very similar in style and substance to The Office, but Gervais is more likeable in this one. Very, very funny.
Extras - Very similar in style and substance to The Office, but Gervais is more likeable in this one. Very, very funny.
Loss.
It seems to be surrounding us lately, doesn't it: the earthquakes in Pakistan and Kashmir, the mud- and landslides in Guatemala, the losses from Katrina. It's almost too much to bear. Then this morning I come in to work to find that Peter, one of our partners, lost his mother this morning. She died after a long battle with cancer, and her death was expected, but that doesn't make it any less of a loss. She was one of the good ones. A truly good person. May you rest in peace now, Joyce.
Now, this is not a loss to compare in any way to those listed above, but it still sucks: Fire destroys 'Wallace and Gromit' warehouse: "The company behind the new 'Wallace and Gromit' film said Monday its 'entire history' has been destroyed in a fire at a warehouse containing props and sets."
Now, this is not a loss to compare in any way to those listed above, but it still sucks: Fire destroys 'Wallace and Gromit' warehouse: "The company behind the new 'Wallace and Gromit' film said Monday its 'entire history' has been destroyed in a fire at a warehouse containing props and sets."
10.05.2005
The best and worst character names on television
: "No wonder so many TV shows fail at it, and miserably. It's hard to beat the successes of the real world. Rep. Zach Wamp already had a pretty awesome legislator name. Now if he succeeds in becoming Majority Whip, he'll be Whip Zach Wamp, which is not only a title and a command, but also a pretty awesome onomatopeiatic phrase in the grand old style of 'Batman.' (Whip Zach! WAMP!)"
Guess who made the 'best' list? Bob Loblaw!
God, that never gets old.
: "No wonder so many TV shows fail at it, and miserably. It's hard to beat the successes of the real world. Rep. Zach Wamp already had a pretty awesome legislator name. Now if he succeeds in becoming Majority Whip, he'll be Whip Zach Wamp, which is not only a title and a command, but also a pretty awesome onomatopeiatic phrase in the grand old style of 'Batman.' (Whip Zach! WAMP!)"
Guess who made the 'best' list? Bob Loblaw!
God, that never gets old.
Bob Loblaw Speaks.
Baio Feedback: "Thirty-four years in show business has made Scott Baio a little...weird. He comes off as a bit fed up, a little paranoid - even entitled. In other words he's a perfect addition the hilariously dysfunctional Bluth family on Arrested Development. "
Conan to Turn Entire Show Over to U2.
This is Thursday's show, 12:30 AM (which is actually Friday morning). I'll have to remember to put in a tape, since that's about as close as I'll get to seeing them in concert this time around.
This is Thursday's show, 12:30 AM (which is actually Friday morning). I'll have to remember to put in a tape, since that's about as close as I'll get to seeing them in concert this time around.
Oh, that's champion!
"Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit": "There may be greater moments of pleasure at the movies this year than watching...a spiral of bunnies swirling around in the transparent canister of an ultra-humane bunny-rabbit-sucker-upper known as the Bun-Vac 6000. But I have yet to encounter them. 'The Curse of the Were-Rabbit' is animator Nick Park's first full-length 'Wallace & Gromit' feature, 85 minutes of bliss with a script that holds together better than those of most live-action pictures. "
(viewing of ad required for site pass)
10.04.2005
Oh man, they HAVE to do this: "Hungering for new cash, the three major networks might start selling on-demand viewing of hit shows next season for $1 a peek - without the commercials. "
Or just .50 if they leave the commercials in. I saw just saying to Sheila that I would love it if the broadcast and non-pay cable-channels offered On Demand, but as long as advertisers were a part of the picture, they never would.
Hopefully I was wrong.
Or just .50 if they leave the commercials in. I saw just saying to Sheila that I would love it if the broadcast and non-pay cable-channels offered On Demand, but as long as advertisers were a part of the picture, they never would.
Hopefully I was wrong.
In other AD news...
Ricky Gervais will be appearing in an Arrested Development episode.
I hope it's not cancelled before that.
I hope it's not cancelled before that.
Bob Loblaw. Bob Loblaw. Bob Loblaw.
Last night's Arrested Development was awesome, and I'll let freakgirl from Too Much Free Time take over from here.
A month for new episodes?! Stupid baseball.
A month for new episodes?! Stupid baseball.
Nicolas Cage gives Superman's birth name to son.
I always thought he was a freak (and an overrated actor). This just confirms it. That poor kid!
I always thought he was a freak (and an overrated actor). This just confirms it. That poor kid!
10.03.2005
Courthouse Evacuated After Attorney Tries To Enter Explosive Evidence: "A county courthouse was evacuated Thursday after officials said they found a possible explosive device -- one brought in by an attorney. Officials said the item brought into the Carroll County Courthouse in Berryville was an undetonated firecracker that Cindy Baker intended to enter as evidence in a trial."
A little perspective here, people! It was a firecracker for crying out loud!
A little perspective here, people! It was a firecracker for crying out loud!
9.30.2005
Adieu.
To Monsieur Vaughn, who's not really dead, and to you all, as I take off to Kennebunkport, ME for the weekend.
Have a good one, and I'll see you on Monday.
9.29.2005
1-800-GOT-HUNK: "1-800-GOT-JUNK? is proud to present the 2005 Hunks of Junk! For years our men in blue have been dubbed the 1-800-GOT-HUNK's?. Now you can vote for your favorite Junk Hunk and the most popular hunks will be featured in our upcoming Hunks of Junk Calendar with all current proceeds going to the Salvation Army's Hurricane Relief Effort. "
I've used these guys twice, once for a big job at work and the other for a small job at home, and I would recommend them to anyone who asked. They were prompt, professional, really nice and the guy that was supervising both jobs had the most incredible blue eyes.
Go vote.
I've used these guys twice, once for a big job at work and the other for a small job at home, and I would recommend them to anyone who asked. They were prompt, professional, really nice and the guy that was supervising both jobs had the most incredible blue eyes.
Go vote.
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