Notes and Thoughts in a Virtual World

Weekend Music: Saturday

2008-08-29T14:11:00.002-04:00

3:00AM

JAGGPRO MCCANN LIVE at the Music Hall of Fame

"Come on over to the Music Hall of Fame for a Special 2 hour Party with Jaggpro McCann.Jaggpro is an Australian Professional Singer / Guitarist / Songwriter who Loves to Party and get the Audience Rockin' with his Acoustic Rock Folk and Blues! He performs many popular tunes from the 70' onwards and has a fine selection of his own Originals.

Jaggpro performs totally LIVE with all the vibes and energy of a Real Life Concert.
He will donating all the proceeds to the upkeep of the Music Hall of Fame in Bringiton's Absence." Music Hall of Fame

Never heard in SL, sounds interesting.

7:00AM

Mimi Carpenter 7AM on Nitida Ridge

"Mimi Carpenter is a dynamic young French singer who is passionate about music. She sings in both English and in French and is currently living in Germany.

Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of musical styles, Mimi is pretty eclectic and her repertoire includes covers with strong rock, indie and pop influences, accompanied by acoustic guitar.

She was mostly brought up on country, Anglo-Saxon and world music, which her parents enjoyed listening to.
" I wish to transmit what I feel through my music... It is for me a way to express myself as I am not so good in handling words, when I have to speak about myself and about what I feel..."

Web page: www.myspace.com/Mimi_Carpenter"

Heard, great singer. Hope to catch in world.

11:00AM

Kitzie Lane live at the Apfelland Airport

"Kitzie Lane plays acoustic guitar and sing mostly standard folk songs. She sings some Dylan, Donovan, Peter, Paul and Mary, Joni Mitchell, Simon and Garfunkle, John Denver and others. Kitzie constantly add new songs to the mix."

12:00PM

KelvinBlue Oh live blues at SugarBeach

12:00PM

Beauregard Freenote live at the Apfelland Airport

"Guitar Singer Song Writer... Performing In RL for Over 25 Years. Musical influences were Elvis, Woody Guthrie, Ramblin Jack Elliott, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams, and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band."

12:00PM

LIVE! Tone Uriza @ Rhapsody in Blue!

12:00PM

Sojurn Rossini live @ Cuddlers Cove

12:00PM

HARMONIA LIVE AT THE COVE!!

12:00PM

EddieGuitar Dagger in Whil'aK MuSic Live

12:00PM

ARTEL BRANDO @ THE POND

"ARTEL BRANDO, guitar player, singer and songwriter. Artel is from Chicago, he enjoys writing RockGrungeMetal songs about virtual reality romance and also does covers songs ie. Judas Priest, Led Zepplin, Bush, Papa Roach, Naztareth, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Rolling Stones, Beatles, David Bowie, Oasis, Green Day and Elvis. But what really stands out about this musician are his Lite Metal originals."

1:00PM

CYLINDRIAN RUTABAGA at the Opera House Zurich City

1:00PM

Allister Westland live in BoSamba !!

1:00PM

Krisalide Jazz Trio at the Bleu Katt

"Krisalide Jazz Trio is a new hot group, formed by pianist Adelchi Rossini, drummer and saxophonist Kristine Lowey and bassist Alduccio Barbosa. They play a mix of jazz and blues standards, bossa and samba with a spice of modern songs revisited in jazz. They have already performed in all the biggest venues in SL, always with a huge success. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/krisalidejazztrio.

Come down to the Bleu Katt and see them. We are a Blues/Jazz club and we support live music in SL. So come and help keep music live and pay us a visit. Event will be preceeded by DJ Expi..so come early and have a dance before the event."

1:00PM

PAKITO CRIMSON @ THE PALACE !

"Pakito Crimson is a guitarist and singer from Barcelona, Spain.
He has been playing with bands for years as bass player.
His shows have Bruce Springsteen, Red House Painters, Dogs d'Amour, Smiths songs... the kind of music he likes."
Oh, heard him. heh, needed event information to realize that.

2:00PM

Bosco Constantine **LIVE** to Legenda Antica

"Bosco Constantine (Born as John Bosco), a SecondLife Live Artist, has over 12 years of touring exprience. He plays from his professional in-home studio utilizing multiple guitars, and drum sets. He plays a variety of songs, including some of his originals based on his SecondLife experience."

2:00PM

Damian Carbenell Nantucket Theater

"Keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Damian Carbenell picked up the guitar at age ten and added the keyboards soon after. He began to write his own music at age 15 and now has an extensive collection of originals and cover songs under his belt. A typical Damian performance might include the Eagles, Green Day, Jack Johnson , Bon Jovi, John Mayer, Rob Thomas, or even Garth Brooks and Toby Keith. His wide variety in music style is sure to please everyone."

2:00PM

Bara Johnson Live @ McPol Kamachi exhibition, Da Vinci Isle

"Bara Johnson will perform a wonderful live concert at the McPol Kamachi exhibition, Hall 1, Da Vinci Isle. Come over and enjoy some wonderful paintings by this Brazilian Artist, and dance to Bara's wonderful tunes."

3:00PM

ICHIE KAMACHI LIVE AT LIVIN THE DREAM!!

3:00PM

Freestar Tammas live at SugarDolls Beach Club

4:00PM

Raspbury Rearwin @ Port St. James

"Raspbury Rearwin - Making another rare appearance in SL, Raspbury will serenade you with some sweetly seductive and surreptitiously snarky tunes. Gripping originals and eclectic covers, you've never had aural pleasure quite like this before."

5:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - Angee Seetan in The Garden

5:00PM

LIVE MUSIC**STELLA SILVANSKY!, SATURDAY @ 5 PM SLT

"Stella Silvansky streams her sultry voice live from Western Maine to her adoring fans in SL. Singing everything from Jewel to Norah Jones, Stella thrives off making a true connection both to her songs and to her audience. "

5:00PM	ROCKIN RENO SEGALL@ PRIM GODDESS GARDENS	Twilight Darwin
5:00PM	Charles Coleman LIVE at Triumph Cove!	Ursula Cinquetti
5:00PM	Reno Segall @ Prim Goddess In the Gardens	Twilight Darwin
5:00PM	SATIN AND ERIN68 PERFORMING LIVE AT MIDNIGHT ROMANCE	TxUptownGirl Beaumont
6:00PM	DAMIAN CARBENELL PERFORMING LIVE AT MIDNIGHT ROMANCE

6:00PM	Reno Segall @ Cocoa Beach Music	DawnRyder Wycliffe
6:00PM	Noma Falta LIVE at Mama's -- when ya got the blues

6:00PM	JEAN MUNRO @ FIRE N ICE GARDENS!	Summer Serra
6:00PM	Grace McDunnough on Heron Island	Carter Liveoak
6:00PM	HARMONIA LIVE AT CARVER'S COVE!!	Ashland Carver
6:00PM	Eyewall Paine LIVE at Triumph Cove!	Ursula Cinquetti
6:00PM	Vladamir Lamont LIVE @ The Lily Pad

7:00PM	Stella Silvansky live at Urbanity	IshtarAngel Micheline
7:00PM	ANGEE SEETAN LIVE

7:00PM

Dominick Manatiso @ Cocoa Beach Music

7:00PM

HEATH ELVEHJEM @ FIRE N ICE GARDENS!

7:00PM	~@~LIVE OnlyHalfCrazy Gumbo 7pm Jades Jazz~@~	Kinky Vavoom
7:00PM	Frogg Marlowe & Jaycatt Nico on Heron Island	Carter Liveoak
8 PM	BLAIR BONDE @BELLA VIDA 8PM SLT

8:00PM	Angelndskyz Galicia Live @ The Dive Inn @ 8:00pm SLT	Ledonna Leckrone
8:00PM	Dougie and Angelndskyz Live @ The Dive Inn starting @ 8:0...	Ledonna Leckrone
8:00PM	Cypress Rosewood and ChangHigh Trinity Sisters	Seychelle Bingyi
8:00PM	Niles Compton @ Cocoa Beach Music

8:00PM

Joaquin Gustav Live Music

9:00PM

Dougie Moonites Live @ The Dive Inn @ 9:00pm slt

Like to see some of these, though might end up seeing marathon of movies at movie theater.

Notes to remind myself: Tonight: Music

2008-08-29T13:35:00.008-04:00

I will probably get back home in time for SL starting at roughly 8:30 SLT.

So, shows already in progress when I am able to log in (maybe):
Starting at 8pm SLT:
PhoebeAnn Theas at Blue Fusion. Haven't seen this performer before. Been to Blue Fusion.
Ack, the website I use to get an idea of the music acts appears to be dead. Not sure what she is like. Well, I could actually click on the link and see what's there. heh.
From the event ad: "Hailing from the greater Seattle area, PhoebeAnn grew up immersed in the world of jazz standards and old time tunes. She's carried over those early influences of Nat "King" Cole, Doris Day, and Julie London in her current performances in SecondLife. While she is relatively new to streaming audio, she is no stranger to music, as she has been singing in choirs, small groups, and as a solo artist for most of her life. Music Style (self-described): Jazz Standards and torch songs, with a few modern tunes thrown in. Come join us, your Blue Angels, as we dance the nite away."
Blue Fusion SLurl

Also at 8:

kelvinblue Oh LIVE at Mama's -- when ya got the blues

"In RL, Kevin Allen Navy (Composer, Guitarist and Lead Vocalist) is the founder of Knavy and the Blues On The Run Band. From this first RL band to his incarnation in the virtual world of Second Life as solo bluesman Kelvinblue Oh, Kevin has been faithful to his music, earning him the admiring monicker of "The Real Deal" from a loyal and still growing army of fans."

Heard him before. I tend to try new acts, and since I'm coming in half-way through, probably try others at 8.
Mama's

8:00PM

MIKELC CRISS AT BAY VISTA MUSIC SCENE

"MIKELEC PLAYS HIS OWN ORIGINALS AS WELL AS THE BEST IN CURRENT AND CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC. ELECTRIC AND ACOUSTIC GUITARS ~ SIMPLY FANTASTIC!!"

been a while since I heard him.
Bay Vista

8:00PM

LIVE MUSIC - EDHAUSEN MORPORK LIVE AT BILLY BOB'S

"Paradise 4 Music Lovers Presents Live Vocalist EdHausen Morpork 8-9:00 PM at Billy Bob's Texas Longhorn in the Beautiful Jazzers Paradise sim

Please join us tonight (8/29/08) as we welcome LIVE Country Music Vocalist, EdHausen Morpork from 8-9 PM SLT at Billy Bob's Texas Longhorn. He is a singer, songwriter direct from Texas, so you know he fits here just fine! So, put on your stetson, your boots and join us to hear the very best in Live Country Music!

Hosted by: Lance Jansen"

Another one I haven't heard before.
Billy Bob's

8:00PM

Ictus Belford live @ Cuddlers Cove

8:00PM	VINCENT MERRICKS at SUNSET JAZZ CLUB
8:00PM	Von Johin Concert/Real Guitar Giveaway!

9:00PM	ROCKPIANOMAN PIENAAR @BELLA VIDA 9PM SLT
9:00PM	HARMONIA TREFOIL PERFORMING LIVE AT MIDNIGHT ROMANCE

"The beautiful and very talented Harmonia Trefoil will be performing live at Midnight Romance at 9 p.m. She is a seasoned performer on SL with many successful shows, and her style of music is a blend of country, standards, pop and oldies.

In RL, she has enjoyed success at open mic performances and is currently working with her guitar/piano accompianist on doing feature performances.

This is one show you do not want to miss. So Grab your dance partner, that special someone, or come alone to enjoy the wonderful music."

Midnight Romance

9:00PM

KAKLICK MARTIN at SUNSET JAZZ CLUB

"Kaklick is going to kick off the weekend up in the Sunset Jazz Club, a change after years down at Luxor Stage.. We wanted to see what fun he could cause up here :) Join us in this fabulous club, hear Klick's originals, including his crazy SL songs!"
Sunset Jazz Club

Tipperary by Frank Delaney

2007-08-13T13:16:00.000-04:00

Setting: Ireland, 1860-present

Mini-Review:
The book is now complete, and now a mini-review before the main review. The book is about a man named Charlie O’Brien, at the advanced age of 40, meets and falls in love with a woman named April Burke (who is around 19-23, probably closer to 23). The woman fears the man and finds him disturbing. The man is not put off and continues to seek her. Many years pass. Eventually the woman allows the man to help her in several important tasks. All told against the backdrop of the Irish War of Independence. Now the review that I wrote before the book was finished. The review that I was going to update as I went along, which I did for the most part up to chapter 4, but which I cannot now completely rewrite as I know too much now.

Main Review:
I begin this review with a warning: this review is based on what is called an ARE (or ARC), which is an Advanced Reader Edition (or Advanced Reader Copy), and my review might be out-of-date by the time the book is actually released in November 2007 (this review is written in mid-August 2007).

The beginning is very interesting and I was annoyed when I had to stop when I arrived at my metro station. Both because I didn’t want to stop, and because the natural break point (or a natural break point) had not yet been reached - the end of the first chapter (page 98).

The book bounces between two primary narrators. The first narrator is a Charles O’Brien whose life during the late 1800s and early 19000s is told in his own words through a manuscript found in a trunk in the 1990s. The manuscript tells O’Brien’s life story against the backdrop of the history of Ireland of the period. The second primary narrator is a man who remains unnamed until the fourth chapter. He describes the finding of the manuscript and offers historical data on some of O’Brien’s comments. Secondary narrators tell their story through journals and letters ((1) April Burke, (2) Mrs. O’Brien (Charles mother), and (3) Joseph Harney (oral history project, transcribed).

I have read many of these “manuscripts inside of manuscripts”works, but every prior work I had read had most of the action occurring in the “present.” This is the first time I’ve read this type of work where most of the action occurs in the past (injecting here from the wisdom of having read the whole book now to note that this is mostly true until the four chapter). For the first twenty pages, this mixture of “O’Brien’s life” and “unnamed narrator narrating”was quite interesting, but eventually I just wanted the narrator to stop interrupting the story (true until the four chapter - do not be discouraged - continue reading!). At times this mixture of manuscripts seems to be unneeded and to draw the reader out of the story, but there is an important element here. An important reason for the mix of past and future that will not be seen until much later.

Epilogue:
Would I recommend this book to others? For most of the book, I was very leery of coming to this question. Now that I’ve read the book, I do in fact recommend the book. As long as a reader likes history, and family.

Off Armageddon Reef: Final Entry: 60 Minutes Later

2007-03-02T13:21:00.000-05:00

Off Armageddon Reef: Second Entry: 330 Minutes Later

2007-03-02T11:48:00.000-05:00

Title: Off Armageddon Reef
Author: David Weber
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780765315007
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Human vs. Alien war, Post Apocalyptic
Series: ?
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 592
Pages: On: 543
Chapters: Many parts and I-II’s etc.
Chapter On:
Time spent: 370 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Book continued (added reading hours - normally only spend about 2 hours or so a day reading, if that, but added an additional 2 hours a night to “hurriedly” get through the library book - it is now 1 day overdue).

Book started as described before. 890 years later the personal cyborb/android/robot (or whatever it is) of one of the Lt. Commanders of the Operation Ark fleet is awakened. “She” has the personality, memories, and maybe even the soul (unlikely) of the Lt Commander. The robot is informed of what had occurred (original plan called for planting the colony, and eventually the colony would get to the point when it had a high enough tech basis to resume the fight against the Ghaba (the Ghaba are never going to give up killing all civilizations they find, and, at the same time, the Human and Ghaba tech basis were almost equal when the “final fight” occurred (Ghaba’s are presumed to have won because they have a much larger civilization). Ships were to have been left in the solar system powered down and among asteroids. Ghaba would not have been able to detect them. Operation Ark colonists, when they had the right technology, would fly out and get the ships. That had been Mission Controls plan, but the people they put in charge altered the plan. The mission director and staff (not all) altered the minds of the colonists, and set up a religion which forbade technological advance (their idea was that the Ghaba would not be able to find the colony if no high-tech signals were detected). Then they set themselves up as Archangels. The staff had some prolong life drugs that would have kept them alive for hundreds of years. The first settlers also had some prolong drugs in their system which would cause the “Adams” and “Eves” to live about a 120 years healthy lives (the nanobots in their system would kill any “invaders” in their bodies), while the children of the first settlers would not have those prolong drugs, and would expire in “normal” adult life-span.

As mentioned, 890 years later, the Robot, that later started calling itself Merlin, was awakened. Merlin had some high tech stuff lying around for him (the original personality was female, and is still female, but body was altered so that “he” or “she” would be able to function in a male dominated society). Merlin uses his high tech toys to learn the language and watch the world. After months of watching, Merlin heads toward the nation (kingdom) to which he expects would make the best nation to build up to get the colonists to the point where they could be told of the lies and get them situated to fight the Ghaba. Most of the book covers 890-892 and involves the tensions of the world - secular (nearby enemies try to undermine Chabis (sp?)), and religious (World Church - concerned with distance to Chabis and how rich and innovative that kingdom is becoming). Fight breaks out lead by Church to destroy Chabis (Church leaders in role as Secular leaders of the Temple Lands, not in their Religious Role, though that is a smoke screen).

Merlin helps advance the technological base of Chabis.

Beginning of book: wide spread human race with many space colonies with a tech base higher than 22nd century humans.
Rest of book (so far): 1 world (all other worlds are known to have been destroyed by the Ghaba, except for Earth, which is assumed to have been destroyed) that is at about 15th-18th/19th century tech level depending on the technology in question.

Off Armageddon Reef: First Entry: First 40 Minutes

2007-02-28T13:56:00.000-05:00

Title: Off Armageddon Reef
Author: David Weber
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780765315007
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Human vs. Alien war, Post-Apploc
Series: ?
Publisher: Tor
Pages: 592
Pages: On: 48
Chapters: Many parts and I-II’s etc.
Chapter On: ? Part 2?
Time spent: 40 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Mankind spread to the stars. A ship intercepts an alien world with evidence of advanced life. Life has been destroyed. Most believe the advanced intelligent life was destroyed by another intelligent race (Ghabba, or something like that, randomly chosen name).

Ghabba enter one of Mans far-flung colonies. Ghabba destroy colony. War erupts. Man about even technology wise (Ghabba have been around for 1000s, if not millions of years, but not flexibable, not innovative (at least anymore), stagnent culture), but Ghabba civilization is much larger Man (humankind).

Seeing the end of Man, “Mission Control” sends a colony fleet away from Earth using sneaky techniques to get away from observation (all other colony fleets tracked and destroyed - one got away, but scout ships eventually found that colony and destroyed it - believed technology signals emitting from colony lured the Ghabba to the colony).

Operation Ark sent out - 47 ships visible, 47 ships hidden from view. 47 ships then break away. Establish colony. Belief that technology will lead Ghabba to colony, a system is set up to deny use of and advancement of technology.

Adult colonists have minds altered with implanted false memories - believe they “awoke” fully formed as adults on the planet. “God” and his “angels” (the crew of the ships that deposited the colonists on the colony) “created” the adults, placed them on the planet, and the humans (“Adam”’s and “Eve”’s) told to reproduce like rabbits (not those exact words). Complicated . . . . more stuff but brain froze.

Note: I raced through the “last” book in the Axis of Time series so that I could start Off Armageddon Reef. Learned yesterday that I was going to need to return Off Armageddon Reef in two days (now 1 day), so I need to hurriedly read it.

Final Impact: Fourth Entry: Final 153 Minutes

2007-02-28T13:55:00.000-05:00

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 343
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 35
Time spent: 263 minutes
Rating: 4.35
Recommend?: If read first two books in the series.

Rushed through this book to get to next, as I had learned that I was going to need to return it to the library. I would normally have had about 6 more weeks, but the book had holds.

Final Impact: Third Entry: Next 75 Minutes

2007-02-27T09:32:00.000-05:00

Final Impact: Second Entry: Next 20 Minutes

2007-02-26T12:51:00.000-05:00

Final Impact: First Entry: First 15 Minutes

2007-02-26T11:50:00.000-05:00

Title: Final Impact
Author: John Birmingham
Date: 2007
ISBN: 9780345457165
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction, Alternate History
Series: Axis of Time
Publisher: Del Rey
Pages: 343
Pages: On: 11
Chapters: 35 (also a Prologue and epilogue)
Chapter On: 2
Time spent: 15 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?: ?

Prologue - “Future sub” takes out “future destroyer” in 1942. Chapter 1 - Helicopters, jets, landing craft head for France (I believe towards Calais (Sp?) Instead of Normandy).

Been too long since I read books 1 and 2. Not sure I’ll like this book.

Phobos: Final Entry

2007-02-26T11:05:00.000-05:00

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 431
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 49
Time spent: 247 minutes
Rating: 4.95
Recommend?: Yes

Phobos - completed, rated 5 stars. Great book. Too bad it appears that he wrote at most 1 more book, and neither were apparently well-received (at least in terms of buyers). Very well written.

1.7 pages per minute.

Not detailed concluding post as finished 2/24/07 in one lump and didn't have access to Internet.

Phobos, Fourth Entry: 36 minutes later

2007-02-24T09:33:00.000-05:00

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 137
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 14
Time spent: 137 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Troopers kidnap Brogue and toss him into the trash room and tell him to leave Phobos. Brogue escapes from the restraints and blindfold and returns to the barracks area. He notes that he will not leave.

Phobos, Third Entry: Third 15 minutes

2007-02-23T18:07:00.000-05:00

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 95
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 7
Time spent: 101 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Lt. Mike Brogue arrives on Phobos. Trooper in airlock - wants to go after the “Beast.” Brogue can’t talk him back inside, so he goes outside. Goes with the trooper to the Dust area. Trooper fires into the dust. Beast rushes forward and spears the Trooper. Brogue shots it, vaporizing some of it. As the “talon” retreats into the dust, Brogue watches as the talon repairs itself. Brogue then drags Trooper back to the station. On way, Trooper dies.

Phobos, Second Entry: Second 56 minutes

2007-02-23T13:20:00.000-05:00

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 69
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 4
Time spent: 71 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Lt. Mike Brogue. Lead character. Martian native from a defunct colony. First Martian to be an officer in the Peacecorps (military), father was first Sergeant. Story (after the prologue) starts with Brogue defusing a dangerous hostage situation. Makes him a hero, and Mayor wants to use him to help defuse tensions (native Martians want their freedom from the corporation that runs Mars - only reason Mars colonies continue is the barsooium(sp?) that is stronger than any earth metal and either twice the radioactive deflector than lead, or almost the same as lead (don’t recall now). Brogue is a hothead.

Purists (some long word that boils down to purists): want to wipe out all Martians.
Fredomists: Want Mars to be free.

Alien Life: Apparently, like Total Recall, finding alien life (or artifacts as in Total Recall) will get Mars its freedom from the corporation (EED?) that runs Mars.

Does seem to be something of a continuation of Total Recall, even if only vaguely (and with limited memory of both the original Philip K. Dick short story, and film (film is different, but with similarities, than short story).

Phobos, First Entry: First 15 minutes

2007-02-23T11:42:00.000-05:00

Title: Phobos
Author: Ty Drago
Date: 2003
ISBN: 0765305445
Genre: Science Fiction, Military Fiction
Series: ?
Publisher: TOR
Pages: 431
Pages: On: 27
Chapters: 49 (also a Prologue and Epilogue)
Chapter On: 1
Time spent: 15 minutes
Rating: ?
Recommend?:

Facing a choice between two books, a Sports Fiction book by an author I’ve read before, but didn’t particularly like (I’ve seen good reviews for the option book and thought I’d give the author another chance, only read 1 by him so far), and a Science Fiction, Military Fiction book by an author that I’ve never read before and have the impression that he hasn’t written any more books, I decided to catch up on my magazine reading. Then, today, I finally got around to reading another book. Picked the sports book up first, glanced at the first two lines, didn’t like the way they went and started the Science Fiction book. I’ve only read the prologue, so I do not know anything about the book (other than the book’s description, something about a Martian officer in the Earth space service facing some discrimination, and placed in a position near/on Mars when it revolts, or something like that), or if I will like it.

This is Drago’s First Novel. Never heard of the author, and never seen the book anywhere except at my library.

So Far: Prologue involved military unit on Phobos (near Mars) tracking some kind of killer “thing.” Private Manning killed. Then Lead Character Lt. Joseph Halavero killed by some snake thing that has the ability to change the shape of itself. Halavero’s last thought is that he is glad that his female sergeant finally called him by his first name (they were lovers when she was a private, and he was in officer candidate school). Ok, main lead character dead on a moon off Mars. Died in Moon Dust by Very Fast Giant Snake Thing (read something recently about how moon dust was speculated on by famous science fiction writer, but theory disproved).

Books Read, Goals, etc.

2007-02-23T09:48:00.000-05:00

Read one more than last year (92 vs. 91):

Read most ever (136 vs. 135):

Note, I finished the Wager book, but I wasn't able to keep track of the times/pages read.

High Profile: Third and Final Entry: Next 47 minutes

2007-02-16T13:08:00.000-05:00

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 290
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 63
Time spent: 138 minutes
Rating: 4.55
Recommend?: Yes (but only after the five Sunny Randall books have been read, and the five previous Jesse Stone books have been read; no need to have read any of the Spenser books, though there are sometimes common villains/friends/lovers that turn up from the Spenser books)

Case solved. Parker has lead me to the conclusion that it is much better to have never loved (the deep “true” love) than to have loved and lost. All his main characters, Spenser (and Susan), Jesse Stone (and Jenn), Sunny Randall (and Richie) are mixed up in relationships that involve deep love, but also an inability to stay together or to sever the connection. Why not separate? Because they love too deeply. Why are they apart? I haven’t a bloody clue.

High Profile: Second Entry: Next 15 minutes

2007-02-16T11:49:00.000-05:00

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 217
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 49
Time spent: 91 minutes

Some motives found. “Stalker” found. Both stalker and Jenn deny connection, despite photographic evidence to the contrary. Many of the people that are suspects in the Weeks murder case are found to have either lied or withheld evidence. As mentioned several motives found: 1) Weeks was going to divorce current Mrs. Weeks. Current Mrs. Weeks, Lorrie, “dating” the man who will replace Weeks on Weeks Enterprises (Alan Hendricks). Lorrie set to inherit Weeks Enterprises and 30 million. Hendricks a small amount of money. All the rest of the ex-wives are set to inherit $11,000. If the divorce went through, Lorrie would likely fall back to just inheriting $11,000 (plus whatever she got in the divorce).

High Profile: First Entry: First 76 minutes

2007-02-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

Title: High Profile
Author: Robert B. Parker
ISBN: 9780399154041
Genre: Murder Mystery, Legal Police
Series: Jesse Stone
Publisher: GP Putnam’s Sons
Pages: 290
Pages: On: 185
Chapters: 63
Chapter On: 41
Time spent: 76 minutes

I’m still reading the Wager book, but I gained access to this Parker book, and I wanted to read it immediately.

Walton Weeks & female friend (Carla(y?)? Lombardi? (Only part of her name I’m sure about is that her last name, at birth, was Young - the L last name is her married (and then divorced) name) are found murdered in Paradise Mass. Chief of Police Jesse Stone is on the case. Weeks found hanging from a tree, but quick check reveals that he didn’t die by that method (shot three times, any of the three shots would have killed him - loss of blood). Weeks female friend, personal assistant and current lover, is found later in a dumpster beyond Daisy Dykes (she is proud of her name) restaurant. She is also found to have been shot three times, by the same gun that shot Weeks, and also that she was 10 weeks pregnant with Weeks child. Later find out they bought a house together in Paradise. Walton Weeks is a Nationally known TV personalty, newspaper columnist and radio personalty. Note: Weeks, 50ish, has wanted a kid for a long time, but has never been able to get one, before he impregnated Ms. Young. Also: Weeks noted to his doctor that he really loves Ms. Young, never loved any of the other women (Weeks has had many wives and causal affairs).

Jesse Stone & Jenn Stone: were married, Jenn tried to “sleep her way” into an actress career (didn’t work), and Jesse found out. He had already had a drinking problem, but it got worse. He noted that he could forgive her once. She didn’t stop. He divorced her. Drinking problem deepened. Kicked off of the LA (LA?) Police force, had been a homicide detective at some point. Acquired a job as Police Chief in Paradise Mass. Trying to get drinking problem under control. Jenn, eventually, followed him out to Boston, Mass. (Paradise is a suburb, or at least close enough to be considered a suburb of Boston). Jenn got a job as a weather girl. Just recently (this book) moved over to “serious” reporter status. This book is the sixth book in the Jesse Stone series. He has also appeared in the Sunny Randall series. Despite their problems, Jesse and Jenn really love each other and can’t completely break away from each other.

Sunny Randall & Richie: were married, Sunny was a little leery of Richie’s mob connections (family in the mob, Richie would help his family, but is not directly connected to the mob), and “pressure” of Richie’s strong solid personality. They divorced. Similar situation with Jesse & Jenn, though Richie has remarried. Sunny Randall is a private investigator in Boston. Has her own series of books (5 so far; Susan, from the Spenser series, has appeared in Sunny Randall’s book series).

Sunny Randall & Jesse Stone: Meet, fell in love in Sunny Randall’s most recent book (Blue Screen). Both are tied to other people, and both know this fact.

Jenn Stone & Sunny Randall: Beginning of the book, Jenn calls Jesse and tells him to come immediately. He races over. She tells him she had been raped and wants Jesse’s help. Jesse can’t be bodyguard, hunter (of rapist), and police chief. Gets Sunny (who had come up recently to visit Jesse), to protect Jenn and hunt the rapist. Sunny gets Spike to also help.

Spike: Giant, aggressive, macho gay friend of Sunny’s.

Rosie: Richie and Sunny’s dog.

Suitcase Simpson: Police officer in Paradise.

Molly Crane: Police officer in Paradise.

Daisy Dyke: Restaurant owner in Paradise.

Lorrie Weeks, Stephanie Weeks: Lorrie is current wife, Stephanie ex-wife of Walton. There is a third one, the first ex-Mrs. Weeks, but I’ve forgotten her name. She has remarried and has been in Italy for the last 5 years.

Note: Book jacket says something about the “tender age” of the dead woman. The woman was 30.

Sledgehammer: First Entry: First 15 minutes

2007-02-15T17:24:00.000-05:00

Title: Sledgehammer
Author: Walter Wager
ISBN: 0812510380
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Forge
Pages: 278
Pages: On: 12
Chapters: 27
Chapter On: 4
Time spent: 15 minutes

Old military group reunites after one member is killed in an explosion.

Kiss Her Goodbye: Sixth Entry: 20 minutes later

2007-02-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 223
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 42
Time spent: 182 minutes

Interesting book. One plot twist I didn’t expect, and many plot twists that I saw a mile away.

1.2 pages per minute. 182 minutes. 223 pages.
Recommend?: Maybe
Rating: 4.22

Cover/title: Mixture of the title and cover gives a very wrong impression. Mixture of a small segment written on the back and cover gave impression lead character was the woman on the cover. It was flat wrong.

Kiss Her Goodbye: Fifth Entry: 16 minutes later

2007-02-15T11:38:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 209
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 41
Time spent: 162 minutes

Joe, Adam, and Tina capture Cooper.

Kiss Her Goodbye: Fourth Entry: 80 minutes later

2007-02-15T09:24:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 193
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 27
Time spent: 146 minutes

Joe released after Tina gives him an alibi for the night Ruth died (Tina’s real name is Ruth, oddly enough - Tina promised 10,000 by Cooper). Then witnesses come forward noting they saw Joe outside when he was supposed to be with Tina. Joe’s lawyer advises Joe to run. Lawyer hides Joe. Apparently the last place anyone would look for Joe is in the lawyer’s office. Adam gives Joe Gem’s diary, and Joe learns why Gem had been depressed, and why she had to get away. Cooper breaks Tina’s nose and informs her that he won’t pay her. Etc.

Note: I’m intentionally trying to include less information than I did with Lasko Tangent, to keep from giving too much away. Not that I appear to be succeeding as well as I should.

Kiss Her Goodbye: Third Entry: 13 minutes later

2007-02-14T17:24:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 66
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 12
Time spent: 66 minutes

Ruth Hope (nee Simpson).

Joe beaten by the cops when he arrives and is arrested in the island retreat of Adam Wright (who, oddly enough, is Ruth’s cousin, maybe they were not boyfriend/girlfriend).

While lying on a cot in the police station, before questioning, Joe imagines himself killing Ruth why she takes a bath. Did he kill her in that drunk, sleep deprived time last night?

Joe is questioned by Constable McGiven and Monkman. They ask why he killed Ruth. He replies because Ruth didn’t iron his shirts. Then ask if he killed Ruth. He says he didn’t. Makes his one call, calls Cooper. Cooper immediately asks Joe why he did it. For some reason, Wright, Cooper, and the police believe Joe killed Ruth.

Kiss Her Goodbye: Second Entry: 38 minutes later

2007-02-14T13:02:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 51
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 9
Time spent: 53 minutes

Joe Hope, after visiting a hooker and his boss’s place, heads to the island where Gem (his daughter “killed herself”). Taken into custody when he arrives at Adam Wright’s place (Gem’s boyfriend) for the murder of Gem and Ruth (Joe’s wife). Joe is naturally confused.

Language (profanity): Lot’s of cursing.
Language (Scottish slang, etc.): I have not yet read anything that I do not understand, except for what the Taxi-driver said on the island.
Violence: Joe beats up Billy, runs over pedestrian, though seems to have some desire to control his violent tenancies. Cooper seems to like to use his baseball bat also. Tina beats a pedistrian with Joe’s baseball bat.
Causal Sex: “Off screen”(mentioned, but not graphically described).

Characters:
Joe Hope: Loan Shark enforcer
Cooper: Loan Shark - friend of Joe’s and Joe’s boss
Park: Killer for Cooper

Ruth Hope: Joe’s wife, now seemingly dead
Gemma Hope: Joe’s daughter, dead

Sally: Cooper’s girlfriend and mother of Cooper’s child

Adam Wright: Gem’s boyfriend and a writer with a “Writer’s Retreat” in the islands off coast of Scotland

DC Monkman: cop arrests Joe

Billy Stratham: Loanee late on his payments - Joe and Cooper visited Billy at the beginning of the book.

Tina: Joe’s hooker/streetwalker (as opposed to Anglina, I think that’s her name, brothel worker)

Kiss Her Goodbye: First Entry: 15 minutes

2007-02-14T10:08:00.000-05:00

Title: Kiss Her Goodbye
Author: Allan Guthrie
ISBN: 0843953551
Genre: Scottish Crime Thriller
Publisher: Hard Case Crime
Pages: 223
Pages: On: 20
Chapters: 42
Chapter On: 3

Started another new author this icy morning. My first Scottish Crime novel.
So Far: Joe Hope is an enforcer for a loan shark. Just beat up a guy. Same night, daughter dies from pills. Didn’t learn about it until morning. Plans to go after the guy who promised that she would be ok.

Capitalism and Freedom: Eleventh and Final Entry: 15 minutes later

2007-02-13T17:16:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 202
Time spent reading (so far): 337 minutes.

Book completed. Capitalism + Freedom good. Government intervention bad. Many of the “Great Reforms” backfired.

The major flaw of the book, if it can be called a flaw, is that it is filled with information and examples of a world that no longer exists. Good and all, I suppose, but more if the historical nature of the examples is noted. The book was released with new prefaces in 1982 and 2002. At least one section looks like it might have been updated, but most still relie on out-dated information.

Capitalism and Freedom: Tenth Entry: 35 minutes later

2007-02-13T12:51:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 176
Time spent reading (so far): 322 minutes.

Tax: There should be a new tax system. Flat rate (23.5%) on ALL income above a certain level. ALL Income = broader definition of income (stock/capital/salary/inheritance/etc.). Corporate Tax eliminated (at least for corporation). All income for that year pushed down to stock holders - Dividends (included on stock holders tax returns as income) AND per share percentage of retained earnings (i.e, corporation gives out $5 dollars per share (dividend), and retains $50 dollars per share (retained earnings) - reported to stock holder, stock holder puts on tax return $55 per share as income, though only has $5 per share in actual money).

Capitalism and Freedom: Ninth Entry: 15 minutes later

2007-02-13T11:32:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 165
Time spent reading (so far): 287 minutes.

Current licensing arrangements retards development and limits market.

Capitalism and Freedom: Eighth Entry: 70 minutes later

2007-02-13T08:54:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 153
Time spent reading (so far): 272 minutes.

Registration, Certification, and License of Professions (like barbers, etc.). Some arguments for Registration, and Certification, but case by case basis and a lot of negatives involved. No justifiable reason for requirement of license. All arguments for requirement of license answered by certification.

Capitalism and Freedom: Seventh Entry: 40 minutes later

2007-02-12T15:36:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 105
Time spent reading (so far): 202 minutes.

More about Education and Government. This part about Higher Education. Government has almost no legitmate "Neighborhood Effects" reason to be involved, except for loans to students, as students underinvested in (loan-wise). Though need to be careful.

Capitalism and Freedom: Sixth Entry: 16 minutes later

2007-02-12T11:44:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 95
Time spent reading (so far): 162 minutes.

Due to “Neighborhood Effects”, government has a duty to fund a bare minimum of education (amount of funds up to debate). But, the government does not have a place in running schools.

Capitalism and Freedom: Fifth Entry: 45 minutes later

2007-02-12T09:18:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 85
Time spent reading (so far): 146 minutes.

Interesting discussion on whether to have a gold standard and effect on free enterprise, etc. Then very long section on how current gold situation and fixed monetary exchange rates adversely effecting the economy. Less interesting as that is not the world we currently live in.

Capitalism and Freedom: Fourth Entry: 15 minutes later

2007-02-08T17:37:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 50
Time spent reading (so far): 101 minutes.

Federal Reserve made the Great Depression worse. Federal Reserve, and central banks are evil.

Capitalism and Freedom: Third Entry: 41 minutes later

2007-02-08T13:08:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 37
Time spent reading (so far): 86 minutes.

Interesting: Government: Provide rules and a framework for free enterprise. Only in the most extreme cases should it operate a public monopoly. Private monopoly more acceptable, as long as free entry of competitors is not barred. Over time, technological changes will chip away at the private monopoly, and allow the segment of industry monopolized to become open to full free competition. Harder to change or remove the monopoly if it is a public/government monopoly. The interesting part comes in the part about Government’s provide rules and framework but Friedman is against certain regulation, like regulating the banking industry (I could very well be confused).

Capitalism and Freedom: Second Entry: 15 minutes later, getting confused

2007-02-08T11:49:00.000-05:00

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 17
Time spent reading (so far): 45 minutes.

Something about the historical record, and times when capitalism existed in a politically illiberal system. Then something about how the individual cannot truely be free in a Soalist system because of central planning, and limitations placed on work and free time.

Capitalism and Freedom: First Entry: First 30 Minutes

2007-02-08T08:54:00.000-05:00

- Note: Toomey book mentioned in earlier posts: Finished same day as finished Lasko Tangent (2/6/07).

- Wednesday: Catch up, somewhat, with magazines.

- Thursday: Start Milton Friedman’s “Capitalism and Friedman”

Author: Milton Friedman
Book: Capitalism and Freedom
ISBN: 0226264211
Genre: Nonfiction: Politics and Economics
Date: 1962, 1982, 2002
Pages: 202
Page on: 10 (which does not include the three prefaces, read, and introduction, read)
Time spent reading (so far): 30 minutes.

So far: Deep believe that you can mix and match Economic systems and Political systems, but Friedman notes that for Economic Freedom (Competitive Capitalism) you need Political Freedom (Democracy, limited government), and for Political Freedom, you need Economic Freedom.

Lasko Tangent: Last Entry: Another 20 minutes of reading

2007-02-06T13:20:00.000-05:00

Book Finished.

Great novel for a first novel, though there were some problems with “getting into the scene” - providing enough information so that the reader could get into some of the scences.

Overall rating: 4.39.
Recommend?: Yes
Read next book by author?: Yes

Recap:
Time spent reading: 220 minutes (3 hours and 20 minutes)
Pages: 255

Lasko Tangent: Fourth Entry: Another 16 minutes, another location visited

2007-02-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

Last Entry: on Page 217
Now on: Page 234 (17 pages read in 16 minutes)
Total pages: 255

Just 20 pages left.

Aftermath of crash on Boston highway. Paget checks out other car. Both dead. Martinson is alive, but heavily damaged (forehead had a bullet glance off it, jaw out of alignment, basically damaged). Mention made of ribs crushed, don’t recall if mention of breakage, but Paget doesn’t seem physically harmed from the crash, despite immediate believe he had cracked his ribs. Only emotional damage.

Cops arrive. Take Martinson to hospital. One of the cops is the Boston homicide lieutenant who is investigating the Lehman hit and run. Now believes Lehman murdered. Pulls Lasko in for questions, but can’t hold him. Hospital doesn’t know if Martinson will wake up, and if so, if he will have brain damage.

Paget visited asylum without authority. News will not reach his ECC bosses until evening/afternoon paper. Heads to Miami to place gave loan to Green?, the fellow who manipulated the Lasko Devices stock under orders of Lasko. First Seminole Bank of Miami. President and counsel wary of cooperating without subpoena. Then learn of deaths, and that Lasko tried to kill Paget (Paget shows them a paper he picked up at the airport - he leaves Boston on a plane at 2:30 am (or thereabout) and arrives at 2:30 pm (exactly), so the story is now in the afternoon papers - 12 hour plane trip - Boston to Miami?; just fixed “turned” to “tried” at beginning of sentence, how many mistakes am I letting through?). Bank shows Paget box 95 (95 in memo found in Lehman’s house). Lehman’s picture on sig. card. Head across street to bank across street (as memo suggests). Talk to that bank’s management (don’t recall bank name). Lehman on sig card, so is Lasko’s attorney. Paget notes that he believes 1.5 million dollars is in the box in that bank. Box opened. 1.5 million found. Paget tells them to secure the money, it’s evidence. Paget leaves. I stop reading for now.

Lasko Tangent: Third Post: Another hour and 36 minutes

2007-02-06T09:20:00.000-05:00

Economic Crimes Commission (ECC)

Let’s see, since last time:
Now on page: 217

Dead: 3 (Lehman, plus 2 “bad guys”)
Places visited: Boston; Washington, D.C.; St. Maartins in Virgin Islands; Old town Alexandria (Virginia)

Paget learned that Lasko acquired a company in St. Maartins and he can’t figure out why Lasko would do something so financially stupid. So he goes to St. Maartins (reminder, immediate bosses name is Feiner not Finder).

Goes by himself. Visits police first. They take him to the Carib Imports company Lasko bought. Man in charge, Martinson?, whom Paget wanted to visit gone (“stress”). Man left in charge very stingy on information. Building is a dumpy warehouse. Paget steals some chips out of box in warehouse. Visits wife Martinson’s (? Not sure on name) wife (after phone call, etc.). Tracy, the wife, is very worried and doesn’t know exactly where husband is now. Paget gets her to say that he said that he would be safe in Boston. Paget promises to find and protect Martinson.

Paget returns to Washington DC. Visits ex-girlfriend’s rich father (engineer) and gets him to compare the chips with some Japanese chips. Odd somewhat unexplained situation. Father seems to really like Paget, even if he isn’t connected with the daughter anymore (they, Paget and daughter, were together in Boston for a while, living together, argument, Paget kicked her out).

Recall witness had in earlier. Get him to confess to stock manipulation (Lasko contacted him, gave him money, told him to buy stock when and how much). Higher ups, Woods and McGuire, use this to close out the case (after Lasko makes a deal: promises to not do whatever they said he did again, though he will not admit he did it in the first place). Paget annoyed. Gets them to allow him to talk to police in Boston investigating Lehman death. Really wants to go to Boston to look for Martinson, who he believes is in an asylum Lasko invests in.

Paget and Mary hook up again. Listen to music. Paget offers Mary some marijuana/dope. She accepts without question. Odd. Very causal about everything, drugs, sex, etc. I don’t think Paget even likes Mary Carnelli?, and I don’t think she actually likes Paget. Or they do. Part of the problem, this is a first book.

Cons: Causal sex/drug use. First book - some of the scenes are a little too shallow. Sometimes hard to tell where the people are, what they are doing, etc.

Paget goes to Boston. Talks to police. They are not particularly receptive. Paget takes it upon himself to go to the insane asylum. Finds Martinson. Gets him out. Drives back to Boston. Car follows, shots fired. Other car crashed. Scene not written that greatly.

Oh, and I started Jim Toomey's Sherman's Lagoon "Planet of the Hairless Beach Apes". Started it so had something to read during commericals. Not bad. Read about half, I think.

Lasko Tangent: Second Post: Another 15 Minutes

2007-02-05T17:28:00.000-05:00

Second Entry: Another 15 minutes

- Chris Paget works for the ECC (which I already knew but didn’t report before).

- Night after Lehman’s death, Chris and Mary “hook-up”. Relationship moves from outright hostility on the part of Mary to lovy-dovy. Voice calls in the night (over the phone) and notes that Chris needs to be careful or he will end up like Lehman.

- Paget considers who it might have been who tipped off the murderer about where Lehman was going to be.

- Paget, Robinson (colleague of Paget’s at ECC), Lasko and Caitlow (Lasko’s attorney, the fellow Paget saw McGuire having lunch with earlier) meet at ECC. Lasko is fishing, trying to find out what Paget knows. Paget wants none of it. Angers Lasko and Caitlow, they threaten him, then leave.

- 12 pages read - 15 minutes. Disappointed. Not a race, but expect better.

The Lasko Tangent: First Post

2007-02-05T12:59:00.000-05:00

Author: Richard North Patterson
Book: The Lasko Tangent
Date: 1979
Note: Patterson’s first novel
Series: ?
Genre: Legal Thriller
Set: Washington DC, Boston

Started: 2/05/07
Currently on page: 91
Time spent reading: 1 hour 33 minutes

Interesting book about a USA government lawyer assigned a politically tinged case about Lasko Devices (and specifically about William Lasko, who is connected to the current USA President (unnamed, Jimmy Carter USA President at time, but no indication yet if USA President in book is supposed to be Carter).

Paget’s (main character) boss received a tip that there might be something funny going on with Lasko Devices stock. Paget’s boss (something like McGuire; Paget’s boss is actually Finder, who is under McGwire; Finder is depicted as a placeholder hoping to keep out of trouble, McGuire wants to become Commissioner McGuire) assigns Paget. Has to keep Chairman Woods and the Commissioners in the loop. Must keep Mary C . . . up to date (works for Chairman Woods).

Christopher Paget - 29, apparently of rich background; now cynical after three years working for Government. Reporter for two years between college and law school. Has a friend who is a reporter from his reporting days.
McGuire - from a poor background.
Mary C - “Indian cheekbones” “Aztec fierceness lingering on her face”

Lehman - Controller at Lasko Devices - panic when sees subpoena, wants to “come clean”; Paget goes to Boston to meet Lehman. They talk at the Ritz. Lehman has something “big” in a “memo” but doesn’t want to talk about it there. Meet later that night after dinner. Paget and Gruber (Paget’s colleague of the opposite side (defensive attorney for people/companies Paget’s agency goes after) watch as Lehman is run over by a Caddy why Lehman trying to cross the street from the Ritz to Boston Common. Dead at scene.

So, Who hasn't watched that pilot made by the people behind Scrubs?

2006-07-15T10:46:00.000-04:00

Three videos, about 9 minutes each. Two men make a tv show for the WB.

2006-07-05T17:26:00.000-04:00

Pregame entertainment

A video I took using my camera while at the Nationals game at RFK on July 3, 2006.

This is a test of the system, to see what happens if I attempt to "blog this video."

Flickr Favorites - May 27, 2006

2006-06-14T10:01:00.000-04:00

Hot and Cold Running Kitty
Originally uploaded by Lou Springer.

The picture that I added on May 27, 2006 to my vast collection of favorite pictures. Great picture, great looking kitty (see the big paws), reminds me of some former kitties that used to like to sit in the sink.

Flickr Favorites - May 26, 2006

2006-06-14T09:48:00.000-04:00

Taking a Break from Backseat Driving
Originally uploaded by Gossamer1013.

Of the 35 pictures that I added to my favorites on May 26th, this is the top favorite picture.

Flickr Favorites - May 25, 2006

2006-06-13T17:30:00.000-04:00

Baby Toji
Originally uploaded by fofurasfelinas.

Of the three pictures that I added to my favorites on May 25th, this is the top favorite picture.

Flickr Favorites - May 24, 2006

2006-06-13T17:21:00.000-04:00

Have a nice week-end! - Bon week-end!
Originally uploaded by des bleus au coeur / Anne-Marie.

Of the six pictures that I added to my favorites on May 24th, this is the top favorite picture.

Atlantic Ocean, Le Porge, Gironde, Aquitaine, France.

Flickr Favorites - May 23, 2006

2006-06-13T15:07:00.000-04:00

Last rays of sun
Originally uploaded by Pepito Solís.

My favorite picture of 12 pictures I added as favorites on May 23, 2006. Great looking kitty. I really liked all twelve pictures I added on May 23rd, and this was a tough decision.

Flickr Favorites - May 22, 2006

2006-06-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

My Toy
Originally uploaded by davidbdr.

My favorite picture of 7 pictures I added as favorites on May 22, 2006. Great looking kitty.

Flickr Favorites - April 17, 2006

2006-06-13T14:26:00.000-04:00

Sunset in Provo
Originally uploaded by DirtyRatBastard.

My favorite picture that I added as a favorite on 4/17/06.
Thanks!

Flickr Favorites - April 15, 2006

2006-06-13T14:00:00.000-04:00

Pantanal sunrise
Originally uploaded by Spy to die 4.

My favorite picture that I added as a favorite on 4/15/06.
Thanks!

Maui the straight-eared Scottish Fold

2006-06-09T22:13:00.000-04:00

Maui the straight-eared Scottish Fold
Originally uploaded by BigCat.

test

Fairfax County: Metro Station: Walkway

2006-06-09T10:53:00.000-04:00

Fairfax County: Metro Station: Walkway
Originally uploaded by BigCat.

Well, long time since my last blog entry. Let's see if I change this blog into a photo blog (I've mostly moved my entertainment related blog entries to various other blogs - I spread myself too thin).

This picture: Morning June 8, 2006. This picture and several others were taken while I drove to work. This particular picture shows the walkway that connects the parking garage at the Metro station in Springfield (the Franconia-Springfield station) to the Metro station.

Some Interesting Music to Check out

2006-05-06T19:25:00.000-04:00

Some interesting musicial acts to check out:
Celtic Fusion:
Gaelic Storm (MySpace.com, with songs to sample); Gaelic Storm on MP3.com: Other (Celtic)
Official Website: gaelicstorm.com

Peatbog Faeries (Their MySpace page with some songs to sample) & Peatbog Faeries: Folk Rock / Folk / Electronica (Celtic Fusion)
Official Website: peatbogfaeries.com

Country:
Big & Rich (MP3.com) & Big and Rich (Myspace.com): Country / Rock / Hip Hop
Official Website: bigandrich.com

Montgomery Gentry (MP3.com) & Montgomery Gentry (MySpace.com): Country
Official Website: MontgomeryGentry.com

Rachel Proctor (MP3.com) & Rachel Proctor (MySpace): Country
Official Website:rachelproctor.net

SHeDAISY (MP3.com) & SHeDAISY (MySpace): Country / Pop / Folk
Official Website: SHeDAISY.com

The Jeff Strahan Band (MySpace page with some songs to sample): Rock / Country / Blues
Official Website: jeffstrahan.com
(Thank HappyYellowBall for pointing this band out to me)

Gretchen Wilson (MP3) & Gretchen Wilson: Country / Country / Country
Official Website: gretchenwilson.com

Nashville Star:
George Canyon (MP3.com) & George Canyon: Country
Official Website: georgecanyon.com

Amy Dalley: Country
Official Website: AmyDalley.com

Miranda Lambert (MP3.com) & Miranda Lambert: Country / Southern Rock / Acoustic
Official Website: mirandalambert.com

Monique LeCompte(MySpace page with some songs to sample): Country / Pop / Rock
Official Website: there's a band website, but the link looks off for some reason

Chris Young (Their MySpace page with some songs to sample): Country / Indie / 2-step
Official website: ChrisYoungCountry.com

Pop:
3 Doors Down (MP3.com) & 3 Doors Down: Rock / Alternative / Pop
Official Website: 3doorsdown.com

Teddy Geiger (MP3) & Teddy Geiger: Rock / Pop; from Rochester, New York, United States. Acquired recording contract at age 16. Appeared as Wayne on television show Love Monkey.
Official website
CD: Underage Thinking
Label: Columbia Records

Hootie & the Blowfish (MP3.com) & Hootie And The BlowFish: Pop / Country / Rock
Official Website: hootie.com

Mandi Perkins: Rock / Pop / Alternative; based in Los Angeles, California United States, born in Toronto Canada (headed to California to attended university, and graduated with a degree in English Literature, with honors, from UC Berkeley.
Official website
(Thanks HappyYellowBall)

Selena Ryan: Pop / Soul / Blues; based in Studio City, California United States. Attended Cal State, acquired degree in Music Business
Official website

Carrie Turner: Pop / Rock / Acoustic; based in Hollywood, California United States.
Official website

Southern Rock:
Animal Bus: Southern Rock / Folk Rock / Blues; based in Centreville, Virginia, United States: Formed August 2005.

Brother Shamus: Southern Rock / Acoustic / Rock; based in Arlington, Virginia, US.: Formed July 2004.
Official Website

Lynyrd Skynyrd (MP3) & Lynyrd Skynyrd: Southern Rock
Official Website: lynyrdskynyrd.com

Van Zant (MP3) & Van Zant: Country / Southern Rock / Christian
Official Website: thevanzants.com
Notice the band members for the two bands above.

Other:
Folk Rock / Rock / Acoustic
Mindy Smith (MP3.com) & Mindy Smith (MySpace.com): Folk Rock / Rock / Acoustic
Official Website: mindysmith.net

Rockabilly / Psychobilly / Rock
Danny B. Harvey (MP3) & Danny B. Harvey
Rockabilly / Psychobilly / Rock
Official Website: dannybharvey.com
(originally suggested to me by HappyYellowBall)

Movies: Oscar Nominations

2006-01-31T09:01:00.000-05:00

Oops, that caused a huge coding problem leading to a very long time to load the page. Sorry about that, all removed now.

TV.com: Unofficial FAQ

2006-01-27T08:57:00.000-05:00

Now that the thread has been unpinned, I'll post what I have (though it might be some-what out of date as I noticed some people were editing the FAQ) :

Unofficial FAQ Part 1: Version 25.50

[color=#000000]Home[/color]
To navigate the guide click on one of the blue links to forward you to the section described:
Generic
Generic questions. For example: How do I become an editor?; points
User Specific Information Questions
Questions about your personal preferences, your profile (emblems), how to change certain options (icon picture), and features of your profile page (banner).
Contributions
Contributions: Explains how you can contribute to a guide and what the various guide sections are. Also elaborates on proper format for quotes and what the comment section on the submission form is for. Episodes: add or delete, and adding/deleting shows.
Forum Questions
Questions (or link) to rules and regulations on the Forum, and generic questions about forum usage.
HTML/BBCode
How to use HTML and BBcode.
Forum/Smiley Emoticons
How to make various :) ;) smilies.
Show Guide Questions
Questions about how to see the show guide in the method preferred by the user (i.e. an episode guide without ads; episode list numbered the way you want).
Known Bugs
Known bugs: a collection of known bugs, solutions (if available) and/or reminders of particular bug issues on the website.
TV.com Staff List
A list of TV.com's staff, as maintained by [b]The_Huntsman[/b].
Other Guides
There are many user made guides and threads that can be helpful to those trying to better use and understand this website.
Linked List of Genre
A television show on TV.com can be in several genres (some are in more than one genre). This section contains a list of genres on TV.com, and a link to the TV.com's page for that genre. The TV.com page contains a list of shows that fall into that genre (along with other things).
List of Themes
A television show can have many themes, and this section contains a list of the currently available themes. Unfortunately, you cannot sort shows by theme.

[color=#000000]Generic:[/color]

Q1) What is a “FAQ”?

A - Frequently Asked Questions

Q2) Could someone explain TV.com, present and future, to me?

Past: TV.com started life as TV Tome (a website that contained episode guides for tv shows). Somewhere along the line, Collaborative Content was formed (either before TV Tome was launched or after launch). Then "CNET purchased Collaborative Content which owned both TV Tome and Movie Tome" (quote from TVTome_John). After about three months of work (according to Snide’s blog) the new TV.com website went live on June 1st 2005.

Present: "They chosen for now to focus TV.com on only TV and not list movie credits."

Future: "They do however own Movie Tome and have access to all the info listed there. It's likely that at some point the TV and Movie info will be more highly integrated than it is now but exactly how that will happen hasn't been decided yet."

Thanks ntonks_tvtome & TVTome_John

Q2b) What is C/NET?

See [url=http://www.cnetnetworks.com/?tag=tv.ft.no]here[/url]

Q3) How does the System work?

Question is too broad.

Q4) Who can contribute to a television guide?

Any registered user that is at least Level 2. To register, click [url=http://www.tv.com/signup/basic]here[/url].

Thanks for reminding me summer_heat

Q5) How do I become Level 2, you might ask?

Basically: As summer_heat notes: "All registered users earn points toward their level for browsing the site, writing reviews, posting on the boards and posting in their blog. Levels are calculated nightly."

Q6) Is the contribution immediately added?

No, the contribution must be processed by an editor (or a moderator if there isn’t an editor, or if the editor doesn’t have control of processing contributions yet).

Q7) Is there a cap on the amount of points that I can receive in a day from contributions?

Yes. (there was a thread discussing this situation, but it has disappeared)

Q7b) What happens to the points that are not added, the points over the cap limit?

See Snide's Blog: the points, at the present time, spill over to the next day.

Q8[b][/b]) How do I become an [color=#000000]editor[/color]?

For shows without an editor: Contribute enough information to receive at least 80 points before someone else passes that mark.

For shows with an editor: Contribute enough information to have 80 more points than the current editor.

People Guides: Need at least 40 points to be made the editor of a People Guide.

thanks for the reminder to update the guide 123home123

Q9) I have 105 points more than the current editor has, but I have not been named editor. Why?

It is possible that a bug is keeping you from becoming the new editor. A more likely answer, though, is that the title has not yet shifted because a certain amount of time needs to occur before the title shifts, and that needed amount of time has not yet occurred. How much time? Not yet determined.

Q10) Why is there a point limit to how many more points you can have over a current editor to take the show away from them? Why doesn't it happen when you have more than one point and wouldn't it happen by the time you hit 30 more points?

Why? You need 80 more points than the current show editor and the transfer is not automatically made after one update because TV.com desires to keep the editor title from switching hands every day; also, this requirment is something of a "wake-up call" to the editor to get a move on and start contributing to the guide.

thanks for the tip Yakira; and the reminder 123home123.

Q11) How do I get [color=#000000]points[/color] on a specific show guide/In general?

Specific show: Make Contributions to the show including trivia, notes, allusions, stars (guest or show stars), etc.

General (as in, how do I advance in levels): Contribute to a show, rate episodes, write reviews, post in forums, in your blog (blog = web log, somewhat like a web diary), etc.

As neutronvortex05 notes: Do the following and your level/rank percentage will increase:
“Not exactly in order, but some do give more to the level/rank percentage than others do. No one really knows which ones give the most though.

1. Post in the forums.
2. Blog.
3. Comment in other people's blogs.
4. Submit reviews for shows and episodes.
5. Add shows/persons to your favorites' lists.
6. Get added to other people's friends' lists, add people to your friends list.
7. Surf the site.”
8. Work on your profile (banner/picture/etc.).

Q12) How many points to I get for various contributions?

The information can be determined by trial and error, but is currently and purposely left undefined by TV.com. Some speculation can be found in comments made in Snide’s [url=http://www.tv.com/users/snide/profile.php?fpage=jnl_entry.php&board=120&topic=44947]blog[/url].

Q13) Can I step down from becoming an editor?

Yes. Go to the show/person that you are listed as the editor. Click on the "Contribute" button in the "Community" section or the "All Show Contributors" button in the "Top Contributors" section. When you reach the next screen, you will see a button that says "Retire as Editor". Push that button Warning! "Please note that this decision is permanent and can not be undone."

Q14) What is a trusted contributor/How do I become one/What powers do they have?

A trusted contributor is chosen by the editor. A trusted contributor must have at least 40 points, and only two contributors may be made trusted contributors at one time (and you need to be in the top 5 on the Contributors list). Power: A trusted contributor has their submissions processed immediately (as compared to the editor's powers: "the editor's powers . . . also includ[e] the ability to edit the show summary and show stars, and to use the episode renumbering tool. And if Level 5 or above, be able to take over processing submissions").

Thanks Yakira, neutronvortex05, and GeorgeFergus
Back Home

[color=#000000]User Specific Information Questions:[/color]

Q15) What’s this weird puppet picture by my name/How do I change my [color=#000000]icon[/color] picture?

That is the default icon. To change the default icon go to “preferences” in the upper right corner next to your user name. A pop-up window will appear (at least in Internet Explorer). Select the Profile tab. Scroll down to the “About Me” section. Use the pull-down menu to select a new icon (menu next to current icon picture).

Q16) Is there a free image hosting website that I might use?

Suggestions: [url=www.Photobucket.com]Photobucket[/url], [url=www.2and2.net]2and2.net[/url], and [url=www.imageshack.us]imageshack[/url].

Thanks Yakira

Q17) How do you put shows onto your profile so you can make that little pie chart work (so that the show is added to your favorites)?

Go to a show, I'll randomly pick [url=http://www.tv.com/family-guy/show/348/summary.html]Family Guy[/url] for this example. Look at the right hand column. Look below the advertisement, see that "Add to My Shows" button? Click on it. That show will now appear on your profile.

Q18[b][/b]) How do I see my level/profile, etc.?

Click on your user name at the top right of the screen.

Q19) Why do they allow others to see my personal information?

Important: The personal information (real name, age, etc.) listed under your personal profile section on your user page? Apparently only you can see that information, except for the information entered in the "Communication" section on your Preferences menu (which can be set to public or private).

No need to set your profile to private to hide your personal information.

Q20) What does my rank (level) mean/What are [color=#000000]emblems[/color]?

There are 51 ranks/levels, and an unknown number of emblems. See the Official FAQ for a list of levels and emblems.

Q21) What are the powers associated with acquiring a particular level/rank?

Level 2: Can now contribute to guide
Level 3: Can now use bbcode/html
Level 5: If editor, now have access to your show's mod queue.

Q22) How do I tell if someone is tracking me?

First Note: Social Butterfly Emblem: as noted in the thread linked above, this emblem is for a “[u]ser [that] has over 20 friends.” If a person has this emblem, then this means that they are tracking over 20 people. Is there an emblem for those that have over 20 people tracking them? No.

Second Note: How do I tell if someone is tracking me? It's actually really easy to tell who is tracking you, even if the feature is not available at TV.com. Just go to MP3.com, log in using your TV.com details, go to your profle, select the "my friends" tab, and select the "people tracking me" button!

Thanks Yakira, for reminding me of this issue, and TheOldBill for his answer

Q23) What does that graph in my profile display?

The graph displays your percentage in a particular level. If you are 1% away from the next level, then most of the bar on the graph will be filled, and once you reach the next level, the percentage bar starts over.

Q24) What does that pie chart in the “Personal Statistics” displaying, and how does it work?

This pie chart breaks down all of the shows that you have selected as your favorites, and displays them according to the show’s genre. A show can have more than one genre. If a show is both a comedy and a drama, then that show will count in both the comedy and drama section of the pie chart (which is why it can seem as if you have more shows in your pie chart than you have selected as favorites).

Thanks Yakira

Q25) How do I know how many contribution points I have for a particular show/How do I tell which shows I have contributed for?

Unfortunately, as far as I can tell, there is not a quick method to check your total contribution points or find out which shows you have contributed information. If you scroll down your profile page, you will come to a section titled: “Contributions”. If you are an editor (only one possible per show) or a trusted contributor (only two possible per show), then you can click on the show displayed in this section. Scroll down, find the “Top Contributors” section, click on the “All Show Contributors” button. There is your contribution points for that particular show. For all other shows where you are not a trusted contributor or editor, you will need to search all shows to find your contribution points if you are in the top ten (clicking on the “All show Contributors” button as mentioned above, and found as indicated above).

Another method of finding your contribution points is to use Google. On Google: Go to advanced search, enter “TV.com” in the domain name section (make sure the drop down menu says “only”), insert your user name in the “with all of the words” field at the top of the screen, press the “Google Search” button. The Google's results will also have a "cache" button next to the result. If you are not currently in the top ten for a particular show, then you might find some notion of what your points might be by clicking on the "cache" button. It is possible that you were on the top ten list in the past and the cached website that Google finds for you might reveal this fact.

Note:There is some delay between new information being added to the internet and finding that information on Google (delay can be short or long).

Q26) How often does my rank/level change?/When is my rank/level updated?

As ntonks_tvtome notes: "the update is very erratic, it doesn't seem to be automatic yet" (and sometimes problems attack the automatic updating system requiring manual updates). Keep in mind that the TV.com staff work on the west coast of the USA. See Snide’s Blog: “Yes, it will be automated and run nightly. Not the whenever we decide to run it system we've used the last couple weeks.”

Special mention: Yakira

Q27) How do I add a picture to my profile?

Click on “Preferences” at the top of the screen (next to your user name). Click on the “Profile” tab. Scroll down to the “About Me” section. Insert a URL address into the “URL for Personal Image” field (yes, you need to have the image somewhere on the internet, there are hosting websites; do not violate copyright laws).

Q28[b][/b]) How do I add a [color=#000000]banner[/color] to my profile?

Click on “Preferences” at the top of the screen (next to your user name). Click on the “Profile” tab. Scroll down to the “About Me” section. Insert a URL address into the “URL for Profile Banner Image field (yes, you need to have the image somewhere on the internet, there are hosting websites; do not violate copyright laws).

Back Home

Unofficial FAQ Part 2: Version 7.50

Back Home

[color=#000000]Contributions:[/color]

Q29) I would like to contribute information about a show, how do I do that?

Go to the show that you would like to add information to (found by entering the show name in the search bar). I do not want to get to detailed at this time. If you have something to add for a specific episode, go to that specific episode and add the information in the correct section (have guest star information? Click on the episode tab, then click on the episode title, then click on the cast tab, then click on the add button).

Q30) What do the various [color=#000000]sections:[/color] sections mean?
(Allusions, Notes, Trivia, Episode Quotes, etc)

Using [url=http://www.tv.com/dream-on/show/136/summary.html]Dream On[/url] as an example: Starting on the front page you see:
Left Column:
Top: Station: The channel or station that the show appeared on in its initial run (Dream On was on HBO first, and later in the broadcast run, an edited version of the show appeared simultaneously on FOX, but only the HBO shows up on the page).
Show Status: Ended (original show run is over), Returning Series (show is currently on the air, or between seasons), New Series.
Show Category (a.k.a "Genre"): Show might fall into 1 of 14 categories (Action/Adventure, Animation, Children, Comedy, Drama, Game Shows, Movie/Mini-Series, News/Documentary, Reality, Science-Fiction, Soap, Sports, Talk Shows, Variety Shows).
Right Column:
"Add to My Shows" button - this is the button to press to add a show to your list of Favorite Shows (or shows that you track, this is also the list that is used for updates that are sent out).
"Review this Show" button - this allows you to review the entire show (Episode specific review - go to that episode and click on "review" button; Review section - Important Note: The summary section is for a summary of your review, not a summary of the show).
"Print Episode Guide" - Clean ad free copy of the episode guide (list of episodes with stars/writers/directors/and a summary of each episode).

Allusions: As mgreen789 noted: "Allusion is a reference to something else, as in a historical, literary, or TV reference of something that is mentioned in the episode.” As GeorgeFergus noted: "An allusion is a reference to something outside the show that the viewer might not be familiar with. This includes people, objects or events currently in the news, or from history, or from books, movies, or other TV shows." As my dictionary puts it: "an indirect reference to something." Example: 20th Dream On episode is titled: "Futile Attraction" which might be referring to the "Fatal Attraction" movie, both contain a relatively insane woman.

Notes: Again, as mgreen789 noted (and sorry to others who have provided good answers, hope to track them down eventually): "all the facts about the episode, if it was the first, how many viewers it had, if it was an actor's last appearance on the show, if someone didn't appear, etc." Basically, anything show related that doesn't belong in the episode synopsis/summary. For example, I have noted in the Notes section on the Dream On guide when a particular actor is listed in the credits as a "Special Guest Star."

Episode synopsis/summary: Basically: a short description of an episode, should contain something about the plot, characters in the episode, etc., but without giving away the ending.

Recap: A summary of the episode that details the entire show, beginning to end, and includes all the characters, plot points, etc.

Trivia: At the moment, this is the category to place goofs (which had its own category at one time). A brief example of a goof: In a scene on Dream On: Martin is given a tray with food on it, the camera looks away, then back at Martin, the tray has mysteriously disappeared. Trivia also contains the somewhat less show specific information that does not normally appear in the synopsis or Notes section. For example, for certain episodes of Dream On, I've included information about the actor in the trivia section (like the actor later starred on "Friends").

Episode Quotes: Quotes from the episode.

Q31) What is the Proper Format for Episode Quotes:?

The proper format for quotes is based on the format used in a TV script, where there are no quotation marks:

<>Speaker One (falling off his bike): @#5*%$!
<>Speaker Two: Is that a banned word?

Thanks GeorgeFergus; left out the ""'s around your words as I didn't want to complicate the issue

Q32) What is the Comment Section on the Submission Form for?

A: It is there to help the person moderating your submission process it more quickly. It is the first thing the moderator sees, and should describe what you are submitting, and provide any additional info the moderator may need to judge that it is an accurate contribution. If it is something simple like a new quote, very little comment is needed. On the other hand, if you are editing one word in the middle of an episode summary, you'll need to point that out so the moderator knows what to look for. If you are correcting a factual error, you may need to give a reference that allows it to be corroborated.

Another good reason to add a comment is to help you keep track of your own submissions. Suppose there is a delay in the acceptance of submissions, like there is right now, and you forget whether or not you have submitted a particular piece of information. If you go to the history of your submissions at [url=http://www.tv.com/usersubmission/submission_profile.html]http://www.tv.com/usersubmission/submission_profile.html[/url] and check the pending ones, all you will see is the date it was submitted, the name of the show, the type of submission, and your comment. A meaningful comment may be the only thing that allows you to remember exactly what each entry is.

Thanks GeorgeFergus; left out the ""'s around your words as I didn't want to complicate the issue

Q33) How do I add a person’s name (as guest star, producer, etc.)?

See above then continue here. Go to the “Add a new show star” section. Enter the last name of the person in the correct box. Press the search button. Move your mouse to that section. Highlight/select the first name in the results box. Press the key on your keyboard that corresponds to the first name of the person. (Example: looking for James Brown. Enter Brown, press the search button, “highlight” Deborah Brown (or whatever top name you get), press “J” on your keyboard, keep pressing “J” until you find James Brown).

Note: Please double check your work before you decide to “add” a name. If you are having trouble finding the name in the search box, check to see if the name exists by searching on another browser to see if the actor has a Person Guide. Thank-you. Thanks Yakira.

Q34) "How does one designate a special episode when adding it?"/How does one add a special episode like a pilot or TV movie?

Beginning of season/series: As the The_Unknown2 notes: "Well, if the episode is at the beginning of a season before the first episode, then you can type in "special" or another word, and the episode number will disppear.

Middle of season/series: As the The_Unknown2 notes: "If it appears later in the season, you can set it as the same number as another episode by just adding a ".5" after the number."

GeorgeFergus: "No, you shouldn't do that. When it has the same number as another episode, then neither of them can be edited. Every episode MUST have a unique number.

It is a bug in the entry form that it allows you to enter a number with a decimal and doesn't recognize it as a duplicate number."

What do you do if it is a special that occurs during the normal production run (in season special)? At the moment, I do not know.

End of season/series special: As the The_Unknown2 notes: "If it's at the end of a season, you can set the lifetime number as a high number and then set the season number to after the last episode of that season."

Thanks General_Atreyu & The_Unknown2, and GeorgeFergus

Q35) How do tell when your submission is accepted or denied?

Submissions/Contributions: As jekyll notes: "Go to your Profile>>>>My History>>>>Submissions" Click on your user name at the top right hand corner of the website screen. Click on the tab labeled "My History." Click on the tab labeled "Submission Status."

Q36) Why are the line breaks not showing when I preview submissions?

Because that is the way the system is set up. The line breaks should show up normally after submission accepted.

Thanks ianolito

Q37) How do I add an episode?

TVTome_Shadow: "Yes, click the blue "Contribute" button on the right, then click "Add a New Episode" on the following page."

Q38[b][/b]) How do I [color=#000000]delete[/color] an episode?

As VillaFan notes: "Only TV.com staff can delete episodes at the moment." ntonks: "you need to contact . . . [url=http://www.tv.com/users/waltmor/profile.php]waltmor[/url]."

Q39) How do change the name of an episode?

TVTome_Shadow: "Go to the episode, then click "Edit Episode Summary." You'll be able to change the episode title at the top of that form." And - "You just need to type SOMETHING in the episode summary box. A space, or "to be added", for example." Remember - "make sure you add something in the comment box about where you got the title, or it might be rejected."

Thanks GeorgeFergus & TVTome_Shadow

Q40) How do I add a show?

Use the [url=http://www.tv.com/form.php&stype=3]Request to Add a Show[/url] form.

Q41) How do I delete a show?

Use the [url=http://www.tv.com/form.php&stype=4]Request to Delete a Show[/url] form.

Thanks ianolito

Q42) I would like to add information to the news section, can I do that?

Simple answer: No. At the moment the news section is updated by TV.com staff. Eventually (if not now), an editor for a particular show will be able to add news information.

Q43) I would like to add pictures to show guides or people guides, can I do that?

Simple answer: No. Users cannot add pictures to the episode guides (shows) nor can they add pictures to the people guides. Because of copyright concerns, TV.com adds pictures, not users.

Q44) I could add pictures at TV Tome, why not here?

The seemingly simple answer is that TV Tome was a free website and TV.com is a commercial website. At the moment, though, this distinction is not easy to see, as both allowed free access to the guides, but required registration to contribute information. Both, also, had advertisements. Neither had/has a section or sections that requires payment to access (other CNet websites, though, have premium sections).

Q45) Who controls banners for shows?

At the present time, TV.com staff create and place the banners onto the various show guides. This might change in the future.
Back Home

[color=#000000]Forum Questions:[/color]

Q46) Are there rules and regulations to using the Forum?

See [url=http://forums.tv.com/show_messages.php?board=100&topic=54172&page=0]Community Terms of Service[/url].

Q47) Is it possible to report someone who is offensive/abusive and if so how?

VillaFan: "Just select the offending post from that individual and in the bottom right hand corner there's a "Report Abuse to Moderator" function you can use to alert staff of that offending post and member."

Back Home

Q48[b][/b]) How do I make the various types of emotions (like :))?

[color=#000000]Forum/Smiley Emoticons:[/color] credit to The RagingGamer

“These forums use the same smiley system as GameSpot, but in GameSpot we have a little pulldown bar for them that automatically inserts them in the post. Since this site doesnt have that (hint hint), heres a guide to all of them. Feel free to post this in other parts of the forums.

In order to use any of these smileys, simply insert the part left of the '=' anywhere in your post.
[b]
:D = :D
:arrow: = :arrow:
:| = :|
:? = :?
8) = 8)
:cry: = :cry:
:evil: = :evil:
:!: = :!:
:idea: = :idea:
:question: = :question:
:lol: = :lol:
:x = :x
:oops: = :oops:
:P = :P
:o = :o
:roll: = :roll:
:( = :(
:shock: = :shock:
:) = :)
:twisted: = :twisted:
:wink: [/b]or ;) = :wink:

Back Home

[color=#000000]HTML/BBCode:[/color]

Q49) I've made a list/FAQ/other and every time that I get to #8, I get a smiley face, what do I do?

Well, you could put the number down as #8, or - 8 - or the like, but if you want to put the number as 8[b][/b]), instead of 8), then you will need to put [ b ] [ /b ] between the 8 and the ).

Q50) How do you use bbcode/html code?

If you are below Level 3, according to Snide’s blog, you will not be able to use bbcode or html code, unless you are a level 2 and you are contributing something. Also, bbcode/html does not work in PM's.

If you use html/bbcode, don't forget to include both the opening and ending code (i.e. bold: opening: <> closing: ).

Bbcode: see the HTML guide below (substitute [ ] for < >, does not always work). Differences between HTML and bbcode are here:

1: [color=#FF5500]Color[/color]: [ color = #FF5500 ] [ /Color] -> slightly different than HTML.

For colors: [url=http://colormatch.dk/]Collection of Color codes[/url]

Another collection of colors: [url=http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/colors/article.php/3478961]Colors[/url]

Another Guide, this one specifically for HTML codes by rwing8 with modest additions and editing by me.

Ok I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out what you can and can't do with html on this site and I found this information. Feel free to use it, just if someone asks were you learned please give me (rwing8[b][/b]) some credit, thanks.

Here are some of the HTML codes: Spaces have been included to allow the code to be displayed (you can also see the how someone does something particularly neat by clicking on the “Quote” button as this will reveal the code for you) but remember to not include spaces between the codes or they will not work.

Text Modifiers:

<> Bold 

Bold

<> Italic 

Italic

<> Underlined 

Underlined

<> mssage <>
<> message <>

example: Emphasized text
br another way to hit enter
Strong text

Text with Color: < color = "Color Name"> message here 

example: message here

Text Size: < size = "Any number"> message here (Any number - I believe that it is 1-25).

example: this is 12 font

Text Font: < face = "Type of font"> message 

example: this is Times

Links:
Creating a link that will not open a new window:
< href=" http://www.tv.com/"> TV.com Home Page (description of link here) < /a>

example: TV.com Home Page

Creating a link that will open a new window:
[ url= http://www.tv.com/csi/show/19/summary.html ]CSI[ /url ]

[url=http://www.tv.com/csi/show/19/summary.html]CSI[/url]

OR

< href="Address" target="blank">TEXT< /a >

TV.com

Thanks [url=http://www.tv.com/users/Stig14/profile.php]Stig14[/url] and Afenla

Color Links:

To make a link be something other than blue (on TV.com), you need to change the color of the text.

< href=" http://www.tv.com/"> < color =" red"> TV.com Home Page (description of link here) < /a >

example: TV.com Home Page

Images/Pictures:

< src = "http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b308/MikeBriggs/maui.jpg">

example: (image wasn’t working, so here is one of the house cats for an example).

Resized Images/Pictures:

This is how you can resize an image:
Original image code:
[img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/Yakira620/1624d931.bmp"]
Gives you:

Changing the code to: < src = "web site link" width = "number" height = "number">

To Change the width/height of an image, example: This:
[img src="http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b86/Yakira620/1624d931.bmp" width = "200" height = "125"]
Gives you:

Remember to replace the [ and the ] with <> , repectively.

If you use this you will want to use a ratio so that the image does not end up distorted or stretched out.

Lines:

message <> message

example: Top of line

bottom of line

Preformatted Text:

<>< /pre > (for preformatted)

Q- I don't understand how to use the preformatted option. I don't know what it does or how it works. But it looks like something I would want to use. Could someone please explain it to me?

A- In general, on web pages in html, multiple spaces are ignored. They are reduced to a single space. So, even though you may have arranged something into nice columns in the editing window, the columns disappear when you view the result:

Example:
Starting
Title Season Year Rating Eps
1 Random 1 1952 4.45 83
2 Random2 83 1932 4.44 50

If, on the other hand, you precede and follow the exact same block of text with the tags <> and < /pre >, then you get what you originally intended:


My Favorite Shows:
                                  Starting
  Title         Season      Year      Rating   Eps
1 Random            1        1952      4.45      83
2 Random2          83        1932      4.44      50

Thanks Yakira and GeorgeFergus; and 123home123

Another HTML guide: [url=http://www.pageresource.com/html/index2.htm]Basic HTML Tutorial Guide[/url]

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Unofficial FAQ Part 3 Version 4.00

Unofficial FAQ Continued from Part 1 and 2 of FAQ found above.

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[color=#000000]Show Guide Questions:[/color]

Q51) Is there a way to see just the episodes (with summary) without all the advertisements and searching all the sections/Is there a “clean copy” of the episodes (with summary)?

Go to the show you wish to examine. Click on the "Print Ep Guide" button that is located on the right side of the screen (below the advertisement), and in the "Community" section. Clicking this button with provide you with a "clean" episode guide.

Q52) Formatting: I do/don't like seeing the episodes listed as: 2-1 (season 2, episode 1) or 15 (overall episode number, might be in the 1st, or later season)?

Click on the "Preferences" button at the upper right hand corner of the screen. Click on the "Profile" tab. Scroll down to the second section ("Browsing Preferences"). Change the first selection as desired ("Episode Number Format": Flat Count ("also referred to as the lifetime episode number when you submit a new episode"), Season-Episode number (i.e. 2-6), both).

Thanks Yakira

Q53) What are Production Codes?

GeorgeFergus' answer: "Production codes are numbers (or combinations of letters and numbers) that help to identify an episode. They usually indicate the order in which the various episodes were slated for production by the company that makes the show.

Rule #1: If you are submitting an episode and don't know the production code for it, leave this box blank. Don't just make up a number that you think looks right.

Sometimes the production code is displayed on-screen in the "fine print" at the end of an episode, but this is rare. Sometimes the production codes are given somewhere on the show's official website, such as NBC's site for The West Wing.

The production codes for many recent U.S. broadcast network shows can be found in their press releases, which can be found at places like thefutoncritic.

Production codes for a lot of U.S. shows, particularly reruns, can be found in Yahoo's TV listings at tv.yahoo.com or similar on-screen info provided by TiVo. Note that they usually omit any prefixes.

Production codes for a lot of older U.S. shows can be found in the Library of Congress copyright records at www.copyright.gov/records/cohm.html.

Production codes for upcoming episodes of U.S. and Canadian shows can often be found in the casting calls found at places like SidesExpress.com."

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[color=#000000]Known Bugs:[/color]

Q54) I can't see images, why not?

Some users will have some initial problem seeing images. As GeorgeFergus notes: "If you can't see any of the images on the site, such as buttons you need to be able to click on, it's probably because images are stored on a separate site called images.com.com, and you'll need to change the security settings in your browser to allow access to that site." Also: "Some of the content on the TV show pages may not be visible unless your browser has Macromedia's Flash plug-in installed. To test if you have Flash, you can go to the Macromedia website." As Digger 3000 noted: "I located the "HOSTS" file in my system directory and removed the line "image.com.com 127.0.0.1" from the file. That's the line that was redirecting image.com.com back to my computer." And as Talvix noted: "You can safely delete the entire line, it really shouldn't be there in the first place. Or you can comment it out by placing a # (hash character) in the beginning of the line:
# 127.0.0.1 image.com.com

It is also possible to change the numerical address to the corresponding IP address for image.com.com. But they might change addresses in the future so it would cause problems then."

Q55) When I click on the Next Button in a forum thread, I get a 404 error message (or something similar), why is that?

This is a known bug. Try refreshing the screen or trying again later.

Anyone have an answer? I normally don't notice this error

studog2961 adds: "I always seem to get this error 404 when trying to add a new eppy to a show. For example, I was trying to add new episodes to American Hot Rod, after I clicked "add", it took me to a place where the new episode will be if approved. They I tried to go to the "summary" page and it gives me that error."

Q56) Review Bug:

If you click on “Edit this Review” (for your own review) you will be taken to a “404 - Page not found” page. TV.com Staff are working on this bug.

Q57) Credits Bug - Cannot add titles of Producer, Executive Producer, Associate Producer and certain other crew

Crew: There are two places to add crew. 1) Show level crew: Click on a show guides website. Now click on "Cast," now click on either "Writers/Directors" or "Crew." Unfortunately, not all crew titles are available to be added for the entire show. 2) Episode level crew: go to a show guide. Click on the tab that says "Episodes." Find the episode that you know some crew information about (do not click on the title of this episode). There will be a large "Community Score" scale below the title of the episode, above this scale is a row of words, starting with "Recap" and ending with "Reviews." Click on "Cast." Click on either "Writers and Directors" or "Crew." Click on "Add." Unfortunately some people are have trouble accessing this form.

Thanks Yakira.

Q58[b][/b]) Why can't I put "February 29th" in for the air date?

This appears to be a bug. As GeorgeFergus notes: "There does not seem to be any way to enter February 29, no matter what the year is. Looks like it's another bug." Update: apparently you can change the date to 29, 30, or 31 if the episode is already listed as being in February, but if the episode is not already in February, then there appears to be no way to change it to Feb. 29th without first switching the show to a day in February, and then in a separate change, changing the date to February 29th. (Thanks: The_Huntsman).

Q59) Why are my posts count going down, doesn't that have an impact on my rating/Is this a bug?

The number of posts credited to you goes down if a post is deleted when: 1) a thread is purged, 2) a message/post is deleted, 3) Some mysterious energy is surrounding you that resets your post count to 332 after 24 hours (I believe #3 only applies to one individual).

Snide: "It is in fact a bug that post counts are dropping and yes, that it effects your level. It's one of our major priorities of the moment and hopefully we'll have it addressed by the end of the week. I really appreciate your guys patience in this and know it's frustrating."
(click here for the thread this appeared in).

Q60) Another Reviews Bug:

As Yakira found: “bug: the number of reviews by the pie graph reads zero even though a review has been written for the episode
http://www.tv.com/episode/802/summary.html
http://www.tv.com/the-west-wing/two-cathedrals/episode/38668/summary.html"

Q61) Yet another Reviews bug: Why do I see my own reviews when I go to someone else's review page and click on "2" below their reviews (or another number)?

A's - "[I]t's a known bug, we've already mentioned it a few times. weird that they haven't fixed it yet."
"In the meantime, as a temporary fix, put the person's username in the URL between the "users" and "history" slash.

Example:

http://www.tv.com/users/username/history.php?pg_user_reviews=2

And the number at the end is the page number, obviously. You can change that to the following page, as well."

thanks Z-Ring, ntonks_tvtome, & TVTome_Shadow

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Unofficial FAQ Part 4: Version 5.00

To navigate the guide click on one of the blue links to forward you to the section described:
Generic
Generic questions.
User Specific Information Questions
Questions about your personal preferences, your profile, how to change certain options, and features of your profile page.
Contributions
Contributions: Explains how you can contribute to a guide and what the various forms of contributions are. Also elaborates on proper format for quotes and what the comment section on the submission form is for.
Forum Questions
Questions (or link) to rules and regulations on the Forum, and generic questions about forum usage.
HTML/BBCode
How to use HTML and BBcode.
Forum/Smiley Emoticons
How to make various :) ;) smilies.
Show Guide Questions
Questions about how to see the show guide in the method prefered by the user (i.e. an episode guide without ads; episode list numbered the way you want).
Known Bugs
Known bugs: a collection of known bugs, solutions (if available) and/or reminders of particular bug issues on the website.
TV.com Staff List
A list of TV.com's staff, as maintained by [b]The_Huntsman[/b].
Other Guides
There are many user made guides and threads that can be helpful to those trying to better use and understand this website.
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[color=#000000]TV.com Staff List:[/color]

[u]Q62): Were can I find a staff member to contact, and which staff member should I contact about a specfic problem?[/u]

My list was out of date, so I've removed it.

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[color=#000000]Other Guides:[/color]

Person Guides: Duplicates & Other Issues By Yakira

A Guide about "Website/Forum/Smilie Tutorial & Forum Rules" By neutronvortex05

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Thank-you to everyone that helped provide the basis for the questions and answers.

[color=#000000]Linked List of Genre:[/color]

Temporary listing of the TV show Genres on TV.com (and the associated page):

At the moment, the Genre List:
Action/Adventure
Animation
Children
Comedy
Drama
Game Shows
Movies/Mini-Series
News/Documentary
Reality
Science-Fiction
Soap
Sports
Talk Shows
Variety Shows

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[color=#000000]List of Themes:[/color]

Temporary Listing of Themes:
Aliens
Animals/Pets/Wildlife
Anime
Art
Auction
Award
Biography
Boston
Cartoon, Adult
Cartoon, Children's
Celebrity Life
Championship
Chicago
City Living
Classic
College
Contest
Countdown
Court Room
Crafts (should be Arts/Crafts or Arts & Crafts)
Cult
Culture
Current Events
Dating
Educational
Erotic
Ethnic Culture
Family
Fantasy
Fashion
Financing/Investing
Fitness
Food
Foreign
High School
History
Holiday
Home Improvement
Horror
Horticulture
How-To
Interview
Lifestyle
Should have London, or U.K. on this list
Los Angeles
Mafia
Makeover
Married Life
Martial Arts
Medical
Medieval
Miami
Military/War
Music
Mystery
Nature
New York
Nostalgia
Office Life
Outer Space
Parody
Performace
Period Piece
Playoffs
Police
Political
PI
Professional Trade
Psychiatry
Real Estate
Religion
Romance
San Francisco
Satire
Science (Fact)
Seattle
Senior Citizen
Shopping
Single Life
Small Town Living
Solo Sport
Spy
Stand-Up
Stunt
Sword & Sorcery
Talent Show
Team Sport
Technology
Teen
Thirty-Something
Vehicles
Washington DC
Weather
Western
Wrestling

Tried to find links, but there does not appear to be a way to find shows that have the Western Theme (for example; though Western should be a Genre, not a Theme).

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Web Services: Marketleap

2006-01-26T08:22:00.000-05:00

Found an interesting free service while wandering around the internet. That service is provided by Marketleap and allows users to see how popular their website/blog is compared to other websites.

Here's the report for my various blogs:

URL List	Total	Google/ AOL	HotBot	MSN	Yahoo!/ FAST/ AltaVista
www.tv.com/users/mikebriggs/profile.php	1	0	0	0	1
www.Travelleap.com	2	0	0	2	0
michaelbriggs.wordpress.com	5	0	0	3	2
entertainmentuniverse.blogspot.com	92	5	3	21	63
www.popcornpalace.com	585	11	7	305	262
www.spinnakersailing.com	944	15	15	682	232
nationalsbaseballfan.blogspot.com	985	36	36	546	367

The bolded URLs are mine. The first one is my blog on TV.com. As I suspected, no one recognizes or cares about that blog. The second bolded URL is my newest blog over at Wordpress.com that I started to report various interesting things I find around the internet, though mostly use to talk about webcomics. The next one down the list is this blog. I wasn't surprised about the link popularity of the first three, but surprised that my baseball one is almost out of the white Limited Presence (0-1000 references) range. I have one more blog that isn't listed above, both because I didn't have ability to include it and because I don't use that blog anymore, and rarely wrote in it when I did use it.

Yes, as I suspected, it has little in the way of links . . . um, what? I have something like four entries, and it's my most linked blog, and is actually in the next level up (Average Presence) with 2004 links?

URL List	Total	Google/ AOL	HotBot	MSN	Yahoo!/ FAST/ AltaVista
www.Travelleap.com	2	0	0	2	0
www.popcornpalace.com	585	11	7	305	262
www.spinnakersailing.com	944	15	15	682	232
usapeople.blogspot.com	2,004	85	85	4	1,830

Ok, I see, most of the links are from just one website. Strange really.

Well, this was fun, off I go . . .

Movies & TV: UPN & WB Merge & Disney Looks like it will buy Pixar

2006-01-24T13:19:00.000-05:00

According to an e-mail I received from Variety.com, UPN & WB have decided to merge into "The CW."

The way the article is worded, it's actually the case of both UPN & WB being shut down, and the parent companies (Tribune & Warner Brothers) agreeing to start a new network together from the remenents of the two channels ("The new fifth network"). New channel, as mentioned, named "The CW" (new channel 50-50 joint venture between Time Warner and CBS).

"the merger of UPN and the WB caught most industry observers by surprise" - speculation was that WB would be shut down, not merged with UPN. Variety.com article.

Oh, and the new network will start airing in September, not sure what that means between announcement of the end of UPN & WB and the start date of "The CW" (what an awful name).

In other news, it appears that Disney might buy Pixar for $7 billion (Article).

Movies: Magnum PI film

2006-01-24T10:47:00.000-05:00

The movie people have finally gone too far. I didn't particular care if they turned "Charlie's Angels", or "Bewitched", or "The Brady Bunch" into movies, because I didn't particularly care (good or bad) about the tv show in question. Now, though, the movie people are turning one of my favorite tv shows into a movie. I'm rather annoyed and disappointed.

According to Variety.com, Magnum, P.I. will be turned into a film (article here). Rawson Marshall Thurber is mentioned as director and writer (Thurber apparently was behind the "Terry Tate, Office Linebacker" commercial(s?) and was the writer and director for "Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story" - the Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller movie), Brian Grazer is producing and original show creators Donald Bellisario ("JAG", "Quantum Leap", "NCIS") and Glen Larson ("Battlestar Galactica", "Knight Rider", "Buck Rogers") are executive producing. Apparently the co-writer (Mike McCullers) of the two Austin Powers sequels was given the first shot at writing the screenplay.

No news on actors is yet forthcoming.

CNN also has an article about this issue ("'Magnum P.I.' coming to big screen"). That article mentions that Thurber plans to make a film similar to the original show and not a spoof (which might have happened with McCullers at the writers desk).

Movies: Seen This Weekend

2006-01-23T11:19:00.000-05:00

Before Sunday there had been just one movie that I walked out of the theater on (some Vietnamese movie whose name escapes me) before the end credits began.

On Friday I saw two movies in the theater, “Hoodwinked” and “Last Holiday”. Hoodwinked was ok, but not up to the critical hype I’ve noticed in passing (I didn’t examine the critics reactions, just my impression of their reaction), while Last Holiday seemed better than expected (based on critical reaction). I gave Hoodwinked a rating of 4.15 out of 5 and gave Last Holiday a rating of 4.39 out of 5 stars. I don’t particularly want to write reviews for either of these movies, but I will just note that I’ve seen better animation in 1980/1990s video games than what was used in Hoodwinked (and that Hoodwinked is a CGI cartoon that is something of a take-off of the Little Red Riding Hood story (great, now I can’t recall the title of that story); and that Last Holiday is a movie about a woman that has been waiting for her life to begin until she learns that she has three weeks to live, and decides to live them to the fullest).

On Saturday I saw “Glory Road.” Glory Road is a movie about a little El Paso Texas college winning the NCAA Division I-A basketball championship in something like 1965 (one of my problems with the movie is that the date wasn’t nailed down until the end of the movie). I gave the movie a rating of 4.88 out of 5.0 stars. Very good film (I’ve mentioned elsewhere another problem I had with the film, but I’ll not mention it here); in comparison, I believe I’d give Hoosiers a rating of 4.98 out of 5 stars, but it has been a long while since I saw that film.

So, Sunday. I walked out on the film I started to see on Sunday, after staring at the screen for 1 and a half hours (the film is 135 minutes long). In that 1 hour and 30 minutes I learned what might have taken another film at most 30 minutes (I’m being generous, probably more like 10 to 15 minutes) to convey. People arrive in a new world. Meet some natives. Supplies short, so leader returns to get more supplies, in meantime a detachment is sent up river to see about trade while most remain behind. One of the crew meets up with a native girl and they fall in love. Food scarce. Tempers high. Ok, maybe this might have taken 30 to 45 minutes to convey, but not 1 hour and 30 minutes of watching the two main characters stumble around mooning over their missing love (missing in that they aren’t together every moment). Basically the movie is two characters staring around sadly and twirling. Oh, and in the background two civilizations meet up, conflict ensues. Music and plant life is deeply examined. Right. I’ve never seen a movie by Terrence Malick, and after attempting to watch “The New World”, I’ll never again attempt to see a Malick film. Just for comparison sake, I checked out some critics websites. Rottentomatoes.com believes the film is Rotten (113 reviews counted, 51 believe the film to be rotten). Metacritic gives the film a rating of 70 out of 100 (based on 36 reviews). RottenTomatoes and Metacritic are websites that boil down multiple critics reviews. Roger Ebert, a movie critic I sometimes check, gave the film 4 out of (I believe) 4 stars (don't recall last time Ebert and I agreed on a film).

Webcomics: Sluggy Freelance

2006-01-05T16:15:00.000-05:00

Sluggy Freelance is one of the first webcomics that I found and read. Pete Abrams started Sluggy Freelance on August 25th, 1997 (or at least, that is the first comic strip available for viewing). The series started strong and except for several lapses in judgment, has stayed a fun an enjoyable comic strip to read for its entire run (so far: running for 8 years and roughly 4 months).

I first found Sluggy Freelance while reading John Ringo’s Legacy of Aldenata series (the books include several Abrams Sluggy Freelance strips that use the Sluggy Freelance characters but put them in Ringo’s universe). I liked the book, and I liked the strips, but I didn’t realize that Sluggy Freelance was a real comic strip until I was wandering around Ringo’s website (he still includes a link to Sluggy Freelance, but I don't see the area where he had the Legacy of Aldenata Sluggy Freelance strips). Once I noticed though, well, let’s just say that my productivity took a huge hit as I hurriedly ate up as much of the comic strip as I could. And luckily for me, Abrams includes all his Sluggy Freelance strips for public absorbtion on his website (except for specials reserved for people that buy his books, I think that’s how the system is set up).

So, what is Sluggy Freelance? Sluggy Freelance is a somewhat strange little world that follows an angry murderous bunny, an hyperactive ferret, several women (who become main characters for brief periods and then, mostly, disappear, though some stick around), and most importantly: a character named Torg and a character named Riff, two friends that share the same dwelling.
The webcomic follows a strong plot-line (well, many plot-lines), takes the time to create story development and characterization, while also remaining funny. Abrams’ stories include a lot of science fiction (Riff is an inventor and is often coming up with odd little strange creations), various parodies (for example: stories that parody Harry Potter, Star Trek), and various seasonally connected stories.

I strongly recommend any and all to sample this series. Oh, and there’s a helpful new users section for those that are new. When I first started, I just leapt in and started reading from the beginning.

Note: I'll include this post here and on my new blog, as I've found that it a little difficult to work with the code on Wordpress. Blogger seems to have better access to the template, while Wordpress has categories but no real access to the template (other than changing "themes"; also, Wordpress seemed to put the posts backwards, and I couldn't figure out how to change that; not sure what I'm going to do).

Blogs: I've started a new blog . . .

2006-01-05T15:43:00.000-05:00

I like the idea of being able to link common weblog entries and have been unable to figure out how to do that on this blog. I eventually decided to test the waters by starting a new blog that allows the capability to have categories. So far I just have a recommendation/review for Sluggy Freelance on that blog. If I can figure out how to use categories on Blogger, I'll probably revert to using only Blogger.

"Fun Things in the Neighborhood" joins this blog (Entertainment Universe), my TV.com blog, my baseball blog, and my politics/history blog.

I'm not sure, but I think I'll keep the new blog (the "Fun Things" one) limited to noting interesting things I find while navigating the web (and probably starting off with some good/great webcomics I've found). My "Entertainment" one will continue to include my various rambling comments about books, tv shows, movies, music and whatever else that might conceivably be called entertainment. My TV.com blog is somewhat similar to my "Entertainment" blog, but tends to include both "Entertainment" blog posts (modified) and TV.com specific ramblings (or TV specific ramblings) that I don't feel the need to include on "Entertainment Universe" (like I don't feel the need to include non-tv reviews on TV.com; oh, I'd probably just have the one blog if it weren't for the fact that other websites don't recognize a blog on TV.com as a blog, but do consider a Blogger blog a blog). My baseball blog is for my various remarks about the MLB Washington DC baseball team (Nationals). My politics/history blog is/was basically dead on arrival (I started it around the time John Roberts was put up for the Supreme Court, and beyond one entry that I've since deleted from that blog and moved over here, didn't expand beyond that one topic, and didn't continue that one topic beyond the initial posts).

TV: Futurama Return from the Grave?

2006-01-05T08:48:00.000-05:00

According to an article in Variety.com, the people behind the TV show "Futurama" might start making new episodes.

Despite being off the air (original new programing, not reruns, see Comedy Central and Cartoon Network) since August 2003, "[t]he studio [20th Century Fox TV]is in early discussions to put "Futurama" back in production and create a limited number of episodes."

Like "Family Guy," "Futurama" might end up being revived due to DVD sales.

Please note the early discussions part of the quote.

TV: 2005 TV Episodes Watched and Ranked

2005-12-30T15:14:00.000-05:00

Chart is based on a 5 point scale, with 5 being the best rating.

Books: The List, What I read in 2005 And Reviews

2005-12-30T12:23:00.000-05:00

I read 101 books in 2005, and overall found it to be a good year (overall average of 4.30 out of 5 stars). I read books in many different genres and sub-genres, sometimes at the same time. I also read a Jane Austen book for the first time. I mention Austen because one of the two books I read by her was my highest rated book of the year, and a pretty good movie too. I'm speaking, of course, of "Pride and Prejudice" (movie website; book). I ended up giving the book a rating of 4.65 out of 5, and the movie somewhere between 4.40 and 4.55 stars.

The List, in order of when I finished reading it (does not contain all 101 books):

And at the end of 2005, here is my category chart (this list contains just the main categories, and none of the sub-categories):

My reviews:
My reviews appeared on Amazon.com (and through it seemingly throughout the web, based on an agreement they have with other websites), Epinions.com, my blog on TV.com (very few, though a samll acknowledgment of the book did pop up occasionally), and on this blog. The reviews tended to be for the same product but worded differently, and on occasion, with completely different reviews.

In Books:
5 Star Books, some notes
Roger Macbride Allen: "Rogue Powers" (Amazon, just information)
Doug Allyn: "The Burning of Rachel Hayes" (and the review on this blog)
Lawrence Block: "The Sins of the Father" (Amazon, currently first page, date: 3/28/05) (and here)
Aaron Elkins: "Where There's a Will" (Amazon, currently in the spotlight, date: 4/7/05) (and here)
Harry Harrison: "Stonehenge" (Amazon - just information about the book, not a review)
Nancy Kress: "Oaths and Mircales" (and the review on this blog)
Peter Lovesey: "The Circle" (and the review on this blog)
Margaret Maron: "Bootlegger's Daughter" (and the review on this blog)
John Maddox Roberts: "King of the Wood" (and the review on this blog)
John Maddox Roberts: "The Princess and the Pirates" (and the review on this blog)
James Rollins: "Map of Bones" (and the review on this blog)

In Movies:
Layer Cake (with the New James Bond) (and the version on this blog)
Kung Fu Hustle (and here)
Sahara (Amazon; I'm on there somewhere; date: 4/12/05) (and here)
Note on "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" and "Legend of Zorro"
Note on "Batman Begins" and "War of the Worlds"
Note on "Wedding Crashers" and "Fantastic Four"
Note on "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", "Sin City", "XXX: State of the Union", and "Kingdom of Heaven"
Note on James Bond

In Music:
CMT Most Wanted Volume 1 (Country) (and the version on this blog)
Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 (Spanish) <- apparently, my most read review on Amazon and Epinions (and the version on this blog)

In TV:
Top 10 Episodes of 2005
Pre-Midseason Report (11/18/05)
TV Fall Season: Monday
TV Fall Season: Tuesday
TV Fall Season: Wednesday
TV Fall Season: Thursday
TV Fall Season: Friday
TV Fall Season: Saturday
TV Fall Season: Sunday
TV: So Far (9/21/05)

My Guides:
A Guide to Ancient Egyptian Fiction (modern fiction set in ancient Egypt; updated version)
A Guide to Ancient Egyptian Fiction (earlier Amazon version)
A Guide to Books set in Ancient Greece or about ancient Greeks (Amazon)
A Guide to Books set in Ancient Rome (Amazon)
A Guide to Books set in Medieval History Part I (Amazon)
A Guide to Books set in Medieval History Part II (Amazon)
A Guide to Books set in the Renaissance period (Amazon)
A Guide to Alternate History Part I (Amazon)
A Guide to Alternate History Part II (Amazon)

History:
The Man Who Made Himself General: Nathaniel Bacon and his 1676 Rebellion in Virginia

Play:
Freshman Year

TV: Best Episodes of 2005 (Full Year)

2005-12-28T10:30:00.000-05:00

Top 22 Episodes of 2005, Full Year (25 episodes total):
Chart is based on a 5 point scale, with 5 being the best.

Number 1 episode is an episode of Committed (NBC).
Committed: was a series that lasted just 13 episodes in the spring tv season of 2005 (1/4/05-3/15/05) and starred Josh Cooke, Jennifer Finnigan, Darius McCrary, Tammy Lynn Michaels and Tom Poston. Overall, I gave the series a rating of 4.10 out of 5 (8.2 out of 10), but despite that relatively low rating, 2 episodes made it onto the top 19 list (and 2 episodes in the worst 19 episode list; the two episodes on the top 19 list: The Apartment Episode and The Perfect Person (1)). Relatively low 4.10 season rating? On my list of all seaons I've watched (season, not series), Committed ranked 259 out of 430 seasons watched. Committed was an ok series about two somewhat deranged people starting a relationship. Series was marred by both the fact that the episodes were shown out of order and the sense that the series was dead-on-arrival (DOA). Series was interesting, but at this point I’m neither eager to acquire a DVD copy of it, nor too disappointed that the series was cancelled.

Number 2 episode is an episode of Life on a Stick (FOX).
Life on a Stick: was another spring 2005 series (3/24/05-4/27/05). Series lasted just five episodes before being cancelled. I was able to see four of those episodes, and I gave the series an overall rating of 4.34. Keeping in mind that this is just based on four episodes, I’ll note that the season falls 23rd on my list of seasons seen. I don’t recall now what it aired against, but I recall seeing the series on a small tv that basically forced me to attempt to watch the episodes through fuzzy “snow.” Only reason I would watch on that small screen is if I was recording on the other TVs. I’m not sure if I overrated the series because I was compensating for the fuzzy reception or if I underrated the series because of being unable to see the episodes (basically turned into a somewhat funny radio program, with some shadowy flickering pictures). Series was marred (at least for me) by poor reception and, like Committed, a sense that the series was already DOA, and was just being burned off by the network.

Third ranked episode is from the series Bones (FOX).
Bones: is the first new series of fall 2005 on the list. Series is based on Kathy Reichs life and books (I read the first book long before I knew of the series and disliked it). Due to my dislike of the only book I’ve read by Reichs, I was somewhat hesitant to watch the series. I watched the first three episodes before its break for baseball, and was not tremendously impressed. The episodes ranged from bad to good with no consistency. When the series returned from its break, I had already decided to drop it and didn’t pay attention to the new episodes. Then the show I was watching in place of Bones took a break, so I ended up catching another episode of Bones. It was good enough to pull me in to try another episode, and eventually enough consistently good episodes to finally decide that this is actually a series that I’m watching instead of just something casual. Overall I’ve rated the series 4.25 (which actually falls 154th on my list of seasons watched).

And eventually, maybe, I’ll continue this rambling discussion with myself.

Books: Top 10 books published in 2005

2005-12-19T14:17:00.000-05:00

The "ten" best books that I've read in 2005 that were published in 2005 (actually 12 books because of ties).

Important note:
rating scale: out of 5 "stars" with 5 stars the high (best) and 0 stars the low (worst)


Rank    Author         Title               Rating
01    Roberts, John M. "The Seven Hills"    4.64
Series: Nova Roma (2nd book); Genre: Alt Hist War;
read: 3/4/05


02    Nance, John J.   "Saving Cascadia"    4.62
Series: none; Genre: Thriller Disaster Natural 
Earthquake; read: 11/23/05


03    Flint, Eric      "The Rivers of War"  4.49
Series: Sam Houston (1st book); Genre: Alt Hist War
read: 6/4/05


04    Geagley, Brad    "Year of the Hyenas" 4.44
Series: none; Genre: Hist Ancient MYS;
Read: 3/24/05


04    Turtledove, H. "End of the Beginning" 4.44
Series: Infamy (2nd book); Genre Alt Hist War WWII;
read: 11/14/05


06    Weber, David     "At All Costs"       4.43
Series: Honor Harrington (11th book); Genre: War 
SF; Read: 9/30/05


07    Roberts, John M. "The Princess and the
Pirates"
                                            4.39
Series: SPQR (9th book); Genre: Hist MYS Rome; 
Read: 6/8/05


08    Haig, Brian      "The President's Assassin"
                                            4.38
Series: Major Sean Drummond (5th book); Genre: 
Legal Lawyer, JAG; Read: 2/22/05


08    Lovesey, Peter   "The Circle"         4.38
Series: Hen Mallin (1st book); Genre: Legal Police 
Great Britian; read: 6/24/05


10    Ringo, John   "Into the Looking Glass" 4.38
Series: Into the Looking Glass (1st book); Genre: 
War SF; read: 5/17/05


10    Rollins, James   "Map of Bones"        4.38
Series: none; Genre: Advent Arch; read: 5/27/05


10    Weber, David & John Ringo
                       "We Few"              4.38
Series: Empire of Man (4th book); Genre: War SF;
read: 4/5/05

Notes:
1) to make the chart/list work correctly, I needed to put it within the "pre" code, which aligned everything correctly, but keeps me from using code inside the beginning and ending "pre" code.
2) Roberts, John M. is normally listed as Roberts, John Maddox, shortened to fit.
3) The categories (Genres) are of my creation, let me know if confused.
4) Rating scale - see top.
5) Read = date finished reading the book - no I did not read these books in one day.
6) The Rollins book is actually part of a loose series, or at least some characters and organizations from prior books reappear in this book.
7) The first books in a series are somewhat guesswork on my part (I'm guessing that they are a beginning of a new series). I've had some indications that they are in fact the first books in a new series.
8) Series names - some official some guesswork on my part.
9) the Peter Lovesey book could be considered, by some, as the ninth Peter Diamond book, but he is in the book just a very short period of time.
10) I've written reviews for the SPQR book, the "The Circle" book, and the "Map of Bones" book. Those reviews can be found on Amazon, Epinions, and my Entertainment blog (do not recall if all are on all websites, but do know that each website has a modified version of the review).

TV: Top Ten Episodes for Fall 2005

2005-12-19T14:08:00.000-05:00

Top Ten Episodes for Fall 2005:
1) Note: I rate on a 5 point scale, something rated 5 is best, something rated 0 is worst.

Updated: 12/16/05


Rank  Series  Episode Title      Rating  Airdate
01    Bones    "The Man in the"  4.68    12/13/05
02    E-Ring   "Cemetary Wind 1" 4.64    11/02/05
03    E-Ring   "The Forgotten"   4.57    11/23/05
04    E-Ring   "Tribes"          4.49    10/12/05
05    CSI      "Gum Drops"       4.44    10/20/05
06    C. Minds "L.D.S.K."        4.43    10/26/05
06    Out of   "Brothers Grimm"  4.43    10/17/05
08    C. Minds  "Natural Born"   4.39    11/16/05
08    2&1/2 Men “We Called”      4.39    10/17/05
10    C. Minds  “Won’t Be”       4.38    10/05/05
10    E-Ring    “Delta Does”     4.38    11/16/05
10    How I Met “Pilot”          4.38    09/19/05

Notes:
1) Criminal Minds shortened to C. Minds to fit.
2) Out of Practice shortened to Out of to fit.
3) Episode "Natural Born Killer" shortened to "Natural Born" to fit.
5) Two and a Half Men modified to 2&1/2 men to fit.
4) Episode “We Called it Mr. Pinky” shortened to “We Called”to fit.
5) Episode “Won’t be Fooled Again” shortened to “Won’t Be” to fit.
6) Episode “Delta Does Detroit” shortened to “Delta Does” to fit.
7) How I Met Your Mother shortened to How I Met to fit.
8) Bones episode: "The Man in the Fallout Shelter" shortened to "The Man in the" to fit.

So far I've seen 189 episodes that aired in the Summer of 2005 (some episodes were put on the Fall 2005 chart and some were put on the Spring of 2005 chart) or the Fall of 2005. Overall rating of 4.22 out of 5.0 (8.44 out of 10).

Series included on list:
American Dad (3 episodes, overall rating of 3.43)

Bones (6 episodes, overall rating of 4.25)
+1 episode raising average from 4.18 to 4.25

Boston Legal (1 episode, rated it 3.94)
Charmed (8 episodes, overall rating of 4.17)

Criminal Minds (11 episodes, overall rating of 4.25) -updated
after last episode overall rating dropped from 4.33 to 4.25; dropped from overall show rank of 17 down to 61 out of 171 ranked shows

CSI (7 episodes, overall rating of 4.23)
CSI: Miami (9 episodes, overall rating of 4.23)

CSI: NY (10 episodes, overall rating of 4.30) - updated
after last episode overall rating for season down 0.01 point

E-Ring (11 episodes, overall rating of 4.38)
Everybody hates Chris (1 episode - 3.79)
Family Guy (11 episodes - 4.18 - Summer and Fall)
Head Cases (1 episode - 4.23)
How I Met Your Mother (10 episodes - 4.27)
Invasion (1 episode - 4.11)

Joey (12 episodes - 4.23) - updated

Killer Instinct (7 episodes - 4.29)
King of the Hill (2 episodes - 4.04)
King of Queens (9 episodes - 4.23)
NCIS (9 episodes - 4.27)
Numb3rs (5 episodes - 3.96)
Out of Practice (10 episodes - 4.25)
Rome (9 episodes - 4.30)
Simpsons (2 episodes - 4.23)
Supernatural (10 episodes - 4.23)
Surface (2 episodes - 3.72)
Threshold (9 episodes - 4.29)
Two and a Half Men (10 eps - 4.28)

Books: Notes on some books that I've rated 5 stars

2005-12-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

Important Note: My ratings are out of 5 stars (with 5 stars being the highest rating), just double rating to match TV.com’s 10 point scale.


Author         Title   Copy date bks Rd  AVG
Piers Anthony “Steppe” 1976 1996  14    3.72

Genre: SF Game
Summary: A man of the far past is “reborn” in the far future and must compete in a game.
Notes: The book was an attempt to inject real history into a science fiction setting. Considering that Anthony wasn’t given a book contract to make this into a series, or to write more books like this, I would guess that the attempt failed to be commercially successful. I read the book too long ago to recommend it, unfortunately. I rated his version of “Total Recall” (movie novelization) an impressive 4.90 out of 5 stars, and rated his first book in the Magic of Xanth series, “A Spell for a Chameleon,” a just ok 4 out of 5 stars. Every other book I’ve read by Anthony has been a disappointment. Removing the three books mentioned above from my list of books read written by Anthony, and Anthony’s overall rating drops to 3.47 out of 5 stars (11 books). I rate combined authors books separately from their solo works, so I’ll just add that I read a book by Anthony and Francis Hall that I rated 4.80 (and raises the total number of books that I’ve read with Anthony on the cover to 15 books; I probably overrated that book because I read it around the time I saw the “Stargate” movie and the story was seemingly similar). I can’t recommend the author or the book.

Author        Title     Copy date   bks Rd    AVG
David Dvorkin “Central Heat” 1988 1989     7      4.23

Genre: Thriller Disaster Aftermath
Summary: A man journeys from an underground complex to see what the surface of earth is like many years after a disaster.
Notes: I picked this book up on a trip from a book store that does not appear to be part of a chain, at least I’ve never found that book store again (except in its original location). I read the book during that trip, and really liked it. The book I had said that Dvorkin was a bestselling author, so finding books by him should have been easy, right? I tried to find more books by the author and had trouble finding any more books by him. Many years later, I finally started finding books by Dvorkin, and none has lived up to my high hopes. If you try Dvorkin, and like him, I’d next recommend “Ursus” by him (and with a copyright date of 1989). I read the book a long time ago and my recollection of it doesn’t seem to be similar to reviews I’ve read of the book, so I’m somewhat hesitant to recommend “Central Heat” (though I read “Ursus” in 2002 and gave it a rating of 4.30 out of 5 stars).


       Author     Title   Copy date bks Rd    AVG
John Grisham   “The Firm” 1991 1993   10     4.37

Genre: Legal
Summary: A man just out of law school joins a southern law firm. Unfortunately the firm has strong connections to the mafia.
Notes: I don’t really have anything to say. I read the book a long time ago, so the rating is suspect, but I’ve read some books closer in time (date read, not copyright), and rated them highly (in 2003), but then again I’ve read two of his books in 2005 that I ended up giving ratings of 3.64 and 4.20. “Skipping Christmas” hit me in just the right mood and just at the right moment and ended up being rated by me a 4.88 out of 5. I’ve never seen the movie based on the christmas book, and my enjoyment of the book has been dampened by the commercial and critical reaction to the movie. I’ve also never seen the movie based on the other highly rated Grisham book, and I’m not sure, now, why I liked it so much, based on later reports from family to skip the book (told without realizing I had already read “The Runaway Jury” and given it a rating of 4.70 out of 5).

        
Author       Title      Copy  date  bks Rd AVG
James Howe “Bunicula”   1979    ?    5     4.40

Genre: children’s
Summary: A new pet bunny joins the family and the cat is suspicious (Bunicula - vampire rabbit), told from the point of view of the dog. Notes: I wasn’t much of a reader in my early days (childhood), but I really enjoyed the Bunicula series. I haven’t reread any of the books since I gained my adulthood, so I don’t know if I would recommend the book to anyone, child or adult. I believe the next book I read for pleasure after this series was “The Gunslinger”, many years later (I was annoyed when told that the author had died and no more books could be read by me because they didn’t exist, so I stopped reading altogether for pleasure for about 5 years - it took me awhile to get started reading, then I skipped the next 5 years, I’ve tried to make up for that since then).


     Author          Title         Copy  date  BKS RD  AVG
James W. Huston “Balance of Power” 1998 1998      6    4.62

Genre: Thriller Disaster Terrorism
Summary: Terrorists take over a US freighter and torture the crew. US President refuses to respond, and Speaker of the House decides get Congress to go after the terrorists (using language in Constitution).
Notes: Two books by the same author on the list and I can’t think of anything to say. Huston wrote a book a year from 1998-2003 (“Balance of Power” was his first book), but hasn’t published anything since (or he published a book a year). Huston is my highest rated author with more than five books read by me, but he stopped publishing his books. Quite disappointing. Just to be fair to the other authors on this list, I rated one of Huston’s books a 3.80, so he isn’t perfect (on the other hand, remove that book from the list, and his overall average shoots up to an almost un heard of 4.78 out of 5 - 1 book rated 4.70, two books rated 4.60 and the last book is below). Next two people down the list of having at least five books read by me and being highly rated, would be Paul Doherty and Eric Flint (both 5 books each and both rated overall 4.54). Michael Z. Lewin is a mutli-book-read-by-me-author higher rated than Huston, but that is just two books (4.80 overall rating); and Eric Flint & David Weber combo books (written by both) are also rated higher than Huston, but again, just two books (4.69). Take away that 1 3.80 book and Huston would have 5 books at a overall rating of 4.78 and be just below Lewin on the list.

          
Author            Title     Copy  date
James W. Huston   “Fallout” 2001  2001

Genre: Thriller Disaster Terrorism
Summary: A book about terrorists attacking the US, published and read by me prior to 9/11. Not sure I can recommend the book now, because of events that have occurred (about a year after 9/11, I read a book about terrorists attacking NYC written prior to 9/11 and couldn’t stand it).

     
Author            Title            Copy date
Michael Z. Lewin “Family Planning” 1999 2001 2 4.80

Genre: MYS PI Bath
Summary: A family of private investigators investigates cases in Bath England.
Notes: This is the second book in the Lunghi Family series. I first read Lewin in short story format, specifically Lunghi Family stories (among others), and finally found a book-length work that involves this family when I found “Family Business” (rated 4.60). Lewin is not a short-story writer that very occasionally writes book length work, nor a new writer, yet I’ve only read his most recent series (not counting children’s books). He has a long running series that follows the character the private investigator Albert Samson of the US (I think it might be of Indiana; the third book in the series has a copyright of 1974). If you like mysteries and private investigators, then I would strongly recommend this series, but start with the first book. Might as well, since there’s just the two of them.


Author          Title       Copy date bks Rd   AVG
Leigh Nichols “Shadowfires” 1987 1994    2    4.25

Genre: Horror
Summary: A woman is stalked by her supposedly dead ex-husband.
Notes: Leigh Nichols is a name used by Dean Koontz, bestselling horror novelist. I’ve read one book by Koontz under the pen name David Axton (“Icebound” - 4.70), one under the name Brian Coffey (“The Voice of the Night” - 3.50), six under the Koontz name (overall rating of 3.67), and two under the pen name Leigh Nichols (other book, “Twilight,” received a rating of just 3.50). If I recall correctly, all but the Axton book are horror books (the Axton one is a thriller), a genre type that I rarely read. It has been a while since I read the book, and the book I read was under the Dean Koontz name (reprint, might be exactly like the Nichols book, or might not be). Look time since I read it and I do not normally read this type of book, so I can’t recommend “Shadowfires.”


     Author         Title   Copy date bks Rd    AVG
Steven Saylor "Roman Blood” 1991 1999    10    4.46

Genre: Hist MYS Rome (Historical mystery set in Rome, specifically about 56 BC)
Summary: This is the first book in the Gordinous the Finder series that follows a somewhat lower class man that investigates for powerful people during the waning days of the Roman Republic (and the author’s first novel). In this specific book, Gordinous works for Cicero who is acting as the defense of Sextus, accused of killing his father.
Notes: I strongly recommend this book, especially since it is the first book in the series (I like reading books in order, and so it is easier if I can recommend the first book - in story chronological order, not necessarily published date order). Saylor has written other books, but I’ve only read his Gordinous the Finder series. I’ve found most of the books in the, so far, ten book series to be quite good, with just two to be somewhat disappointingly rated 4.20.


Author      Title                    Copy   date   bks Rd   AVG
David Weber “A Beautiful Friendship” 1998 04/30/04    25   4.42

Genre: Adventure SF
Summary: This short novel, which can be found in the book “More than Honor,” a collection of stories set in the Honor universe (though not necessarily starring Honor). This specific short novel tells the tell of the first pairing of Human and treecats.
Notes: I highly recommend this particular story, though no military or war is involved in the story. Just a little girl, a treecat, “jungle” and two species exploring. I think that a reader can like this story without knowing anything about the Honor series, but the rest of the stories in the “More than Honor” book would probably be best read by someone with at least a slight knowledge of the series. Oh, almost forgot, I actually rated this 4.98 out of 5, not 5 out of 5.


   Author   Title Copy date bks Rd    AVG
Eric Flint "1632" 2000 2000    5     4.54

Genre: Alt Hist War 100 Yrs War (alternative history, set during the 100 years war)
Summary: A 2000 AD (I believe) town in West Virginia is sent back in time to 1632 AD Germany during the 100 years war. This is the first book in the Assiti Shard series.
Notes: This is the first book that I’ve read by Flint and I had originally rated it 5 out of 5. At some point I downgraded it to 4.95, which still rounds up to 5. I have to warn you, though, that if you like the book, you will find that the rest of the books in the series, for the most part, are works written by Flint and some other author (including one with David Weber).

Notes:
1) copy = copyright date
2) Date = date finished reading
3) BKS RD = books read = books read written by the author
4) AVG = average = overall average rating of the books read by author

Books: A Guide to Ancient Egyptian Fiction

2005-11-22T13:32:00.000-05:00

Note: An earlier version of this guide was posted by me on the Amazon.com website.

Introduction to Ancient Egypt Fiction:
Readers can find books set at some point during the ancient Egyptian historical period in many genres. There are numerous series and non-series books that are set during this time period. A large number of the books in this guide can be found in the mystery genre, though some can be found in the science fiction genre. This particular guide deals with books set large or completely in ancient Egypt. Characters from other series occasionally visit ancient Egypt, but those books can be found in some of my other guides (for example, Steven Saylor’s Roma Sub Rosa’s main character visits Egypt, and some Egyptians visit Rome).

Many ancient Egypt books are set during the reign of Pharaoh-Queen Maatkare Hatshepsu, including at least two series and many stand-alone books. P.C. Doherty’s Chief Judge Amerotke investigates mysteries right at the start of Pharaoh-Queen Hatusu’s twenty-two year reign (a shortening of the name). Lauren Haney’s Lt. Bak is the head of the Medjay police force in a fort in ancient Egypt during Pharaoh Hatshepsu’s reign, though it is unclear when exactly his investigations occur. Several books follow the rise and life of this Pharaoh (Pauline Gedge’s 'Child of the Morning (The Hera Series)'; Judith Tarr’s 'King and Goddess (King & Goddess)').
Pharaohs Tutankhamun, Ramses, and Akhenaten can also be found in fiction, along with special figures like Moses, and more common every day people.

Rise of a Dynasty:
Start of the 18th dynasty.

Lords of the Two Lands Series (by Pauline Gedge)
Egypt has been taken over by foreigners and a descendent of the original rulers fights for the right for his family to return to power and to create the 18th dynasty. Gedge bibliography.
1. "The Hippopotamus Marsh"
2. "The Oasis"
3. "The Horus Road"

Pharaoh-Queen Maatkare Hatshepsu:
The life and times of Maatkare Hatshepsu, as found on the Internet: Hatshepsu was the fifth ruler of the 18th dynasty (more below on the 18th dynasty) and lived from roughly 1504 BC to 1458 BC according to numerous websites, including this one here (another website, and here is a link to some statues of the Pharaoh-Queen). One of the first female rulers recorded in history, Hatshepsu ruled for roughly 22 years.

Chief Judge Amerotke Mystery Series (by P.C. Doherty)
P.C. Doherty’s series is set in roughly 1479 B.C. and involves various mysteries that are investigated by Chief Judge Amerotke during the reign of Pharaoh Tuthmosis and later, after Tuthmosis dies in the first book (and is part of the mystery in the first book) during the reign of Pharaoh-Queen Hatusu. Interview with Doherty. Bibliography.
1. 'The Mask of Ra'
2. 'The Horus Killings'
3. 'The Anubis Slayings'
4. 'The Slayers of Seth : A Story of Intrigue and Murder Set in Ancient Egypt'

Lt. Bak mystery series (by Lauren Haney)
Lauren Haney’s series follows the investigations of Lt. Bak, commander of the Medjay police in the city or fortress of Buhen (a picture of the fortress might be found here; Buhen is an ancient city in Egypt having been a small settlement during the old kingdom of around 2686-2181 BC (according to this website here)), which is located in Wawat (Lower Nubia, controlled by Egypt (otherwise known as Kemet)). Both Doherty’s Amerotke and Haney’s Lt. Bak work during the reign of the same female Pharaoh. Doherty has shorted the Pharaoh-Queen’s name to Hatusu, while Haney uses the full name of Maatkare Hatshepsut, though in Haney’s series, unlike in Doherty’s series, Hatshepsut’s nephew Menkheperre Tuthmose “ostensibly shares the throne” with Hatshepsut and is Vizier of the southern lands (while Doherty has Senenmut as Hatusu’s Grand Vizier). It is unclear if the action in the two series takes place during the same time period, as Hatusu reigned for over twenty-two years (which might explain the difference in Vizier).
1. 'The Right Hand of Amon'
2. 'A Face Turned Backward'
3. 'A Vile Justice (Mystery of Ancient Egypt)'
4. 'A Curse of Silence'
5. 'A Place of Darkness'
6. 'A Cruel Deceit'
7. 'Flesh of the God (Mystery of Ancient Egypt)'
8. 'A Path of Shadows'

Pauline Gedge’s 'Child of the Morning (The Hera Series)' (interview with Gedge) and Judith Tarr’s 'King and Goddess (King & Goddess)' (a Judith Tarr website) more specially follow the life of Pharaoh-Queen Hatshepsut (as opposed to one of her subjects).

Pharaoh Akhenaten:
Tenth pharaoh of the 18th dynasty, likely ruled between 1352-1332 BC. (see this website here).
Pharaoh Akhenaten is found in several stand-alone novels. Judith Tarr’s 'Pillar of Fire' investigates whether Pharaoh Akhenaten was the same person as Moses. Pharaoh Akhenaten was the Pharaoh that introduced monotheism into the Egyptian world (the sun God Aten), and rejected the worship of other gods. Pharaoh Akhenaten’s body apparently went missing after he died and Moses came forth into prominence. Naguib Mahfouz’s 'Akhenaten : Dweller in Truth A Novel' was originally published in Arabic in 1985. Mahfouz’s book follows a young man twenty years after Akhenaten died. The man investigates the life of the “heretic” Pharaoh. Finnish author Mika Waltari's 'The Egyptian: A Novel' was originially published in 1949 in the USA. The book follows the life of physician Sinuhe during the reign of several pharaohs and covers the Eastern Mediterranean region, all the way from Thebes to Babylon in the north, and Egypt in the south (added at reader request; and the book does have 72 reviews and has a solid 5 stars out of 5 stars rating, and is in the top 10,000 in sales rank for books).

Moses:

Judith Tarr’s 'Pillar of Fire' is mentioned in the last section (is Pharaoh Akhenaten and Moses the same person).

Sons of Encouragement series (Francine Rivers):
This series follows the life of Aaron, the brother of Moses, as Moses fights for and leads his people from Egypt. Francine Rivers page.
1. 'Priest: A Novella (Rivers, Francine)'
2. 'The Warrior (Sons of Encouragement (Hardcover))'
3. "The Prince"

Pharaoh Tutankhamun:
Tutankhamun, a pharaoh of the new kingdom. Apparently the son of Pharaoh Akhenaten (otherwise known as Amenhotep IV – he changed his name; worshiper of just one god – Aten; Update: Tutankhamun was the brother of Akhenaten and the son of Amenhotep the Magnificent - Amenhotep died, Akhenaten took over the throne, died and his brother took over (forgot what his name was), then Akhenaten's brother Tutankhamun ascended to the throne). Tutankhamun ruled briefly and apparently died young around 1325 BC (from this website here; or look here). Pharaoh-Queen Maatkare Hatshepsu was apparently the fifth ruler in the 18th dynasty, and Tutankhamun was the 12th (ruling from around 1334 to 1325 BC, according to this website here).

Lord Meren mystery series (by Lynda S. Robinson)
Unlike Doherty and Haney’s Egyptian series, Robinson’s Lord Meren works for Pharaoh Tutankhamun. Lord Meren is the Pharaoh’s chief spy (the “Eyes and Ears of Pharaoh”), and investigates many mysteries. Homepage for the series.
1. 'Murder in the Place of Anubis (Lord Meren Mysteries (Paperback))'
2. 'Murder at the God's Gate (Lord Meren Mysteries (Paperback))'
3. 'Murder at the Feast of Rejoicing (Lord Meren Mysteries (Paperback))'
4. 'Eater of Souls'
5. 'Drinker of Blood (Lord Meren Mysteries (Paperback))'
6. 'Slayer of Gods'

Pharaoh Ramses II:
Likely the pharaoh Moses contended with in the Exodus (according to a website). A pharaoh of the 19th dynasty. Lived and ruled in 12th century BC (some history and a peace treaty).

Pharaoh Ramses series (by Christian Jacq)
The Ramses series follows the life and career of Pharaoh Ramses, starting when Ramses was 14 and not yet Pharaoh. Ramses ruled for over sixty years and is one of, if not the longest reigning Egyptian Pharaoh. Jacq bibliography.
1. 'Ramses: The Son of Light - Volume I (Vol 1)'
2. 'Ramses Volume II: The Eternal Temple'
3. 'Ramses: The Battle of Kadesh - Volume III (Vol 3)'
4. 'Ramses: The Lady of Abu Simbel - Volume IV (Vol 4)'
5. 'Ramses: Under the Western Acacia (Ramses Under the Western ACACIA, Vol. 5)'

Special Groups:
The Stone of Light series (by Christian Jacq)
Jacq’s series is set in a forbidden village in ancient Egypt. The people of the village are dedicated to working on tombs.
1. 'Nefer the Silent'
2. 'The Wise Woman (Stone of Light)'
3. 'Paneb the Ardent'
4. 'The Place of Truth (Stone of Light)'

Brad Geagley’s book, discussed later, also touches on a village of tomb makers.

Science Fiction:
Fred Saberhagen’s Pilgram SF Series
The first book in the series involves ancient Egypt. Tom Scheffler takes care of his great-uncle Montgomery Chapel’s apartment while Chapel is away. Scheffler knew that Chapel made his money selling antiques, but he did not understand how valuable Chapel’s apartment was until he moved in. Chapel’s apartment is filled with Egyptian artifacts that look a little too new. As the book unfolds, it becomes quickly obvious that Chapel is a tomb raider, one that uses time travel to get the best merchandise. Scheffler gets drawn into this time traveling and ends up visiting ancient Egypt and getting drawn into some of its myths and legends.
1. 'Pyramids'

Stand-alone books:
Several non-series, or stand-alone books are set in ancient Egypt. Brad Geagley’s 'Year of the Hyenas : A Novel of Murder in Ancient Egypt' is set in 1153 BC and follows a detective examining the death of an old female priest and who uncovers political intrigue. Judith Tarr’s 'The Shepherd Kings (Epona)' is set when Lower Egypt and Upper Egypt were separated after foreign invaders overran Lower Egypt. Pharaoh Ahmose, king/Pharaoh of Upper Egypt, has undertaken the task of trying to retake Lower Egypt after the Shepherd Kings have ruled there for hundreds of years. Wilbur Smith’s 'River God : A Novel of Ancient Egypt' is set around 1780 BC during an age of strife and civil war, as the Upper and Lower Egypt’s fought invaders, and each other for the two thrones. Paul Sussman’s 'The Lost Army of Cambyses' examines a Persian army that was sent into Egypt in 523 B.C. and disappeared. The book is set in the present world, but has a brief section set in ancient Egypt and deals with the present world character’s examining of the ancient Egyptian world.

TV: Pre-Midseason Report

2005-11-18T15:38:00.000-05:00

What, I have something like 5-7 more episodes, per show, before the mid-point, so I better hurry and gather my notes.

Sunday:
King of the Hill: It is in its last season, and I tried to watch this last season but I couldn't stand to continue watching the episodes (saw 2 episodes, overall rating of 4.04 (out of 5; = to 8.08 out of 10); 3.83 overall rating for series (98 eps seen). Dropped FOX

The Simpsons: watched some of the episodes but not when "Charmed" was on and new. Seen 2 episodes, overall rating of 4.23 for those episodes, overall rating of 3.94 for series (330 eps seen).
not dropped, I’ll eventually will see the reruns FOX

War at Home (or whatever that series is called): couldn't get through 1 episode) FOX

Charmed: missed last episode due to cable being out. Still confused as to why I watch this series, especially as it is in it's 8th season, and I didn't start to watch until the 7th season (or sixth, can't remember now, saw most of the 1st-through-5th or sixth seasons through reruns). So far this year, seen 7 episodes, overall rating of 4.22 (overall, entire show run has a rating of 3.95 (154 eps seen); this year: lowest rated episode received a rating of 4.10, highest rated: 4.31). Currently watching WB

Rome: good show, but like "Empire" outside events have conspired to interrupt my ability to see the show right when the season/series was coming to an end (lowest rated ep: 4.17; highest rated: 4.35; overall: 4.30). Currently Watching; well, currently recording, 2 episodes on tape ready to watch HBO

Family Guy: Skipped to see "Rome". Have not seen an episode yet this year. Watched 9 of the new episodes (during the summer), overall rating of 4.22; overall rating of 4.25 for series (59 eps seen). Skipped FOX

American Dad: would have skipped regardless of competition. Gave the summer run an overall rating of 3.43, saw 3 episodes. Dropped FOX

(In the past I have also have seen “Cold Case” (5 episodes, average of 4.00) and “Desperate Housewives” (3 episodes, 4.08 average) but have not seen either this season, I had also recorded the first two episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” but never watched).

Monday:
Surface: Saw pilot, was disappointed. Decided to drop series. Saw second episode because had it on tape. Wish I hadn't. 2 episodes, overall rating of 3.72. Dropped FOX

King of Queens: I did not watch, mostly, during first few years in first-run broadcast. For strange reason picked I had picked up the first 2 seasons on DVD this year. I ended up watching all but 2 episodes of the first two seasons, and decided then and there to go out and pick up seasons 3 and 4. Based on ratings, I believe I like this series better without commercials (4.28 rating for first season, 4.30 for 24 of 25 second season episodes compared with 4.19 rating for the 4 episodes I saw of season 7, and a rating of 4.23 for the six episodes I have seen this season (lowest rated: 4.15; highest: 4.34). Overall rating of 4.28 for series (59 eps seen). Currently Watching (both DVD season 3 and current season CBS

Kitchen Confidential: I had planned to catch at least one episode, but decided to try the series "Surface" first. After dropping "Surface", I decided to give this show or its time-slot competitor "How I Met Your Mother". I started to watch this show, the show went to quick commercial, during the commerical break I decided to check out a few minutes of “How I Met Your Mother” and I ended up staying on that channel. KC is now cancelled. I never did get to see an entire episode. FOX

How I Met Your Mother: Like the other shows I watch on Monday, if it was by itself, with nothing I wanted to watch before or after it, I’d probably skip the show. Good enough, funny enough show, but lacks something. The two-hour block of comedy is one of the few nights that I watch all episodes without taping to watch later (though I then tape CSI: Miami at 10pm). So far I’ve rated the series 4.25, average of the 8 episodes I’ve seen (lowest rated episode: 4.11; highest: 4.38). Currently watching CBS

Two and a Half Men: third season. Second season I’ve seen in first run, though I saw a large part of second season in rerun or taped, mostly out of order. Another show that is good enough to pass the time, but would likely skip if nothing else was on Monday nights (though I did make a point of watching it last year at 9:30, skipping over the last season of "Everybody Loves Raymond" to see 2&1/2 Men). Overall this season: 8 episodes seen: 4.27 out of 5 (lowest rated episode: 4.17; highest: 4.39); overall series: 4.20 out of 5 (39 other episodes watched).Currently Watching CBS

Out of Practice: Interesting show. It and HIMYM keep switching places on my list of shows rated. Currently, the eight episodes I’ve watched have an average of 4.25 (lowest rated: 4.05; highest: 4.43). I'm mildly annoyed that they have decided to air the episodes out of order. I hate when they do that, especially when it is obvious. Brother suddenly living with brother in one episode. Later episode we see medical doctor brother living in high-price condo/apartment, then having to move into shrink brother’s apartment/dwelling. Currently Watching CBS

CSI: Miami: Disappointing season so far. Saw most of the episodes on DVD or on tape, same with this year. So far: 6 episodes seen, overall average of 4.22 with the lowest episode rated 4.20 and highest rated 4.25. No great highs or lows. Solid middle of the road show. Overall series rating: 4.21 (58 eps seen). Currently taping CBS

(Also watched “Las Vegas” (13 episodes seen, overall rating average of 3.93) in the past - too light and fluffy, at least the episodes I saw; “Jake in Progress” will return after the NFL MNF is off the air, saw most of first season (10 of 13 episodes), probably will not see second season; tried to watch “24" in normal first-run viewing last year, decided then and there that it was a DVD show (along with “Alias”) and so will not watch 5th season except maybe on DVD (87 episodes seen of “24", overall series average of 4.28 - episode high mark: 4.66 = 9.32 out of 10, low mark: 3.60 = 7.20 out of 10).

Tuesday:
Bones: Bad reviews, low expectations = better than expected. Saw three episodes before it was replaced by baseball (instead of watching NCIS). Wasn’t sure if I would return to it when it came back, then found that I wouldn’t return after enjoying NCIS (and losing the tape of the first episode after hiatus; have second episode after break also on tape, I hope I don't lose this tape since it has other shows on it I want to see). Overall I rated the 3 episodes, on average, 4.06 (high: 4.34; low: 3.70). Probably Dropped FOX

NCIS: Otherwise known as “Navy: N.C.I.S.” (You know, Navy: Navy Criminal Investigative? Service) Watched all but 2 episodes of first season. Apparently I didn’t like it that much, not that I recall disliking the show, I say this based on my giving the first season an average overall rating of 4.09 out of 5 stars. That must be why I only saw 13 of the 23 second season shows, though I gave those 13 episodes an overall average of 4.24, and almost decided to drop the series before watching the 3rd episode of the third season (so far seen 6 season 3 episodes for an overall season average of 4.25; overall series average of 4.16). It gets better as it ages? I liked the woman on “Numb3rs” and they replaced her with an actress that I do not like as well. I liked the actress on “NCIS”, watched what I thought was the last episode last year, and then found out when reading up on this season that she died in the last episode (last episode I saw, it was the guy from “Dark Angel” that was dying, somehow overlooked real last episode). I skipped the season premiere as I didn’t like that they killed off Alexander (who wanted to leave), but I started to watch NCIS when Bones went off the air for baseball. I have found that I like the actress they have replaced Alexander with, though I’m pretty sure that is not the reason behind my disliking the current Numb3rs season, and liking the current NCIS season. Two highest rated episodes occurred in the first season (4.44 and 4.40), and the two lowest rated episodes also aired in the first season (3.70 and 3.78). still watching CBS

Supernatural: No highs or lows. Somewhat flat show. Solid, most episodes receive a rating near 4.20, though one received a rating of 4.15 and two received a rating of 4.25 (overall seen 8 episodes for an overall season average of 4.22). Everything is seemingly wrong with this show. I don’t particularly like horror (at least in movie form, though I seem to enjoy it on TV), and the two leads are male, and I believe either one has a slight acting problem, or is being given lines, or directions that tend to be somehow off-putting. Well, I’ll continue watching until the show is in its 70th season, and I’m watching from beyond the grave, probably, that or it will be cancelled tomorrow. Still Watching, though by watching tapes of it WB

“Threshold”: see Friday CBS (moved here)

(Also: keep trying to watch “Boston Legal” but have been only able to catch 1 episode, will probably stop trying to catch an episode; Tried watching “The Office”, forced myself to sit through first episode, gave it a 3.30 average)

Wednesday
E-Ring: Ah yes, the series that no one I know can stand (me/family =military background/family, live in area, visited/worked in Pentagon). The military personal are too old for their jobs, the location shots are questionable, and what else? Oh yes, anti-military bias detected. Well, with this background, my expectations were very low. Results? Oddly enough, though I hesitate to admit it, and would prefer to keep it hidden, but this series is my favorite series of the current season (new and returning shows). Highest rated episode: 4.64, lowest: 4.22, overall series average rating of 4.36. Watching, though mostly through taping it NBC

Criminal Minds: I admit that I gave this show a chance because of “Dharma and Greg” and “Princess Bride” actors. Good enough episodes to continue watching series. Seven episodes seen (and one yet to see, taped), overall rating of 4.33. Highest rated episode received a rating of: 4.43 (8.86) and the lowest rated episode received a rating of: 4.23. A series that I like to watch, seem to enjoy, but would probably not miss it if cancelled, strangely enough. Watching, some waiting tell later to watch tape CBS

CSI: NY: Glad I dropped “Invasion”, as it gave me a chance to sample CSI: NY again. I did not like the two episodes I had seen in its first season, and I had decided to never watch another episode. I was somewhat eager to watch something at 10pm on Wednesday night, had dropped “Invasion”, and so watched an episode of “CSI: NY”. Eventually I’ve found the series enjoyable enough that I’ve ended up acquiring the first season on DVD, and it is now my favorite CSI series. I’ve now seen 6 episodes of both seasons (12 episodes total), and the series has an average rating of 4.28 (high mark: 4.35; lowest rated episode: 4.05). Currently Watching, First-run and DVD CBS

Invasion: Watched first episode. Can’t remember why I dropped it immediately (without even giving it a second chance like “Surface”). Strangely enough, I gave the pilot episode a respectable 4.11 rating. Now I’m even more curious as to why I dropped the series. Dropped ABC

(Also: Have seen “That ‘70s Show” but mostly in reruns and DVD (own first 2 seasons), will probably not watch last season of the series (153 eps seen, overall series average of 4.09); Seen a surprising number of “Yes, Dear” episodes but will not watch this current season’s episodes (seen 57 episodes, overall series average of 4.08))

Thursday
Joey: Ok, so it isn’t as good as “Friends”, but I seem to like it better than most. I’ve given this seemingly dead/soon to be canceled series an overall average rating of 4.23 (31 episodes seen, 23 first season - 4.21 rating; 8 2nd season - 4.27 overall rating). I would be somewhat disappointed to see the show cancelled. It is the only show on the entire list that I actually, briefly, a couple of times this year, actually was eager to watch an episode. That feeling has somewhat disappeared, but that is better than all the other shows (except “Threshold”, where that “eagerness” to see a new episode was created by the pilot and somewhat still alive), where I kind of have to push myself to watch the episodes (where-upon I find that I’m glad I did so, or disappointed - “E-Ring” and “Surface” come to mind, I really didn’t want to see the second episode of “Surface” and wish I hadn’t, always have to push myself to watch an episode of “E-Ring” and I always seem to really enjoy the episodes despite that fact, unfortunately, the show has finally been pushed into the “eager to see” category - it’s all down hill from here (actually it has already started that slide, and it occured before that full-season pick-up). Still watching NBC

CSI: Easiest of the three CSI’s to watch, since it is on at 9pm, but I almost never can seem to get myself to watch it in first-run. Found an interesting method, though, to get myself to watch this season’s episodes in first-run: I record (or try to) CSI: Miami and CSI: NY, and then watch both on Thursday night before the new first run episode of CSI airs (and then watch that episode; an episode of “Joey” normally cuts one of the CSI episodes in half, watch half before and half after). CSI has the actors/characters that I “like” best, but for some reason it is the lowest rated of the three CSI’s. Overall series rating of 4.15 (4.22 for this season’s watched 5 episodes); high mark: 4.73; low: 3.79 (mean/mode/etc. would probably be interesting, but do not have time to create those). still watching, and eventually will watch 5th season on DVD CBS

(Also: seen a lot (relatively speaking) of the early “ER”, but that was before I started keeping a record of ratings, have not seen an episode in a long time, and keep forgetting that it is still on the air; “Alias” - see “24" note (76 episodes seen, 4.28 overall series average; tried to watch 4th season in first-run, stopped after 10th show (worst rated season, by that point, season average of 4.18[b][/b]); “Smallville”: never saw first-run, think I’ve seen a couple of reruns, mostly seen through DVD - I’ve seen 34 episodes, none past the third season (maybe third episode of 3rd season; it’s now in it’s 5th season); overall series average rating of 4.02) - didn’t even realize it was on Thursday now)

Friday
Killer Instinct: Good series. I know that I’ve missed at least 1 episode, maybe 2. It is better than the critics said it would be. Solid show: highest episode rating of 4.37 and lowest of 4.28 (seen 5 episodes, overall rating of 4.31). currently watching FOX

Threshold: Solid opening, slid next week, picked up ground the week after, slid again, so far and so on. Basically the show impressed me when I saw the pilot but no episode since has been outstanding (though some have come close). I had planned to continue to watch this series until it was killed, but they’ve decided to move it (maybe temporarily, I recall when they (Fox, as opposed to CBS) “Temporarily” moved “Wonderfalls” to Thursday nights, then promptly killed it). Not sure if I’ll follow the move to Tuesday nights (November 22nd). Seems to be the death blow to the series, and I’m tired of watching shows I like being killed (then again, “3rd Rock from the Sun”and I believe “Newsradio” and “Just Shoot Me” moved constantly, and managed to stay on the air for a while, and “JAG” jumped networks and stayed on the air for another 8 seasons, point being that I didn’t follow the jumping little ball and missed out on good shows). High rating: 4.35; low: 4.22, overall: 4.28. watching? CBS

Numb3rs: liked the first miniature season (saw 11 or 13 eps, 4.27 average - first season) but they’ve changed something (beyond the actress (who I liked on “Sliders” and “Sports Night”) and I now can’t stand the series (- seen 5 eps, 3.96 overall 2nd season average; overall series average of 4.17 - high mark: 4.34, low mark: 3.40). I’ve slugged through most of this season’s episodes, but I’ve finally decided to drop the series. Dropped. CBS

(No also section, just the fact that “Stargate SG-1" (174 eps seen, overall series average of 4.25; high mark: 4.95 = 9.9 out of 10; low mark: not sure, but I’ll just note that there have been a lot more “red” episodes on Stargate than most other shows (“red” = I mark any show that is 4.65 or higher in red, to better pinpoint them when doing searches)), “Monk” (47 episodes seen, 4.18 overall series average), “Battlestar Galactica” (15 episodes seen of old series (3.91 overall old series average), all mini-series episodes seen (overall mini-series average of 4.32), and 2 episodes seen of new series (new series overall average of 3.88[b][/b]), and “Stargate: Atlantis” (4 eps seen, overall average of 4.09) tended to be on Friday nights, - only “Monk” will I see in first-run, whenever it returns, if it does; Really liked the mini-series that lead to the new “Battlestar Galactica” series, but can’t stand the new series (the genius constantly talking to himself was very off-putting); Something about “Stargate: Atlantis” failed to spark an interest in me for the series, though I plan on seeing at least the first disc of the first season through Netflix, to confirm my beliefs; “Stargate SG-1" is one of my favorite television shows of all time, but I didn’t have Showtime when the series first started, so I’ve mostly watched the series through DVDs, of which I own every season (and a couple extra discs from season 1, as that was the method the DVD distributor first distributed the series).

So, in conclusion:
Currently still watching:
ABC: 00 shows (dropped “Invasion”)
CBS: 10 Shows
FOX: 01 show
HBO: 01 show
NBC: 02 shows
UPN: 00 shows
WB: 02 shows

History: The Man Who Made Himself a General: Nathaniel Bacon and his 1676 Rebellion in Virginia.

2005-11-18T15:31:00.000-05:00

Blog introduction: A look back at an early American colony rebellion. From a paper written for college.

Michael S. Briggs
April 23, 1998

Table of Contents
Home
Introduction
Bacon Before the War
Berkeley Before the War
Reasons for the War
Bacon’s Motivation - Ambition vs. Real Concern for the People
The War (Rebellion)
Consequences of Bacon’s Death before the End of the War
Results of the War
What would have Happened if Bacon had Won the Rebellion?
Conclusion
Bibliography

Introduction
Three hundred and twenty-two years after Nathaniel Bacon led his band of Virginia colonists on the Indian warpath that became a rebellion, I will reconstruct what the rebellion was about and why the rebellion occurred. I will examine both of the main characters, Bacon and Berkeley, before they became entangled in the conflict. I will then briefly examine some of the reasons for the rebellion, and I will consider if Bacon actually cared about these reasons or used them to advance himself. I will examine if anything was accomplished by the results of the rebellion. Lastly, I will examine what might have happened if Bacon had been successful in capturing the Virginia colony with his small band of troops. Could the colony have tried to become independent a hundred years prior to the actual independence? Would Bacon even have considered independence, or was he too much of an Englishman? Who was Bacon and what was he like before the war?

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Bacon Before the War

According to Mary Newton Standard, a star comes at the right point in history that “other men turn as to a savior, vowing to follow his guidance to the death; upon his head women call down Heaven’s blessings while in their hearts they enshrine him as something akin to a god” ( Standard, Mary Newton. The Story of Bacon’s Rebellion. The Neale Publishing House, New York; 1907; page 40). In the Virginia conflict of 1676, Nathaniel Bacon is history’s star (so much so, that when he died, the rebellion fell apart). Who is this “star”?

Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., was born on January 2, 1647 at Friston Hall England, to Thomas and Elizabeth Bacon ( Standard, page 42). Bacon’s family had long been an aristocratic family of country gentry. While Bacon’s family had long been aristocrats, they had also long been “rebellious” in thought, and tended to take controversial sides in conflicts. According to Charles Willard Hoskins Warner, “the Bacon’s were a family noted for freedom of thought and for a desire to explore controversial topics and beliefs” ( Warner, Charles Willard Hoskins. Road to Revolution. Garrett and Massie, Publishers, Richmond; 1961; page 7). Nathaniel Bacon’s grandfather sided with Parliament in the conflict between Parliament and Charles I (Warner). Thus, Bacon comes from a line of both aristocrats and rebels.

Between the ages of 14 and 21, Bacon attended Cambridge, and traveled around Europe. At 21 he finally acquired a masters degree from Cambridge. Two years before the rebellion, he married Elizabeth Duke, daughter of Sir Edward Duke. Seeking to make his fortune, Bacon and his wife set sail for Jamestown that same year (1674). Immediately upon arriving, Bacon’s “magnetic personality” and high connections led to speedy distinction in Virginia, where he quickly become a member of his Majesty’s Council, and became known as “the most accomplished man in the colony” (Standard, page 44).

Bacon, coming from an aristocratic and rebellious family, was also known to have had a fiery personality and a very stubborn backbone. According to Standard, Bacon’s heart was with the people, and when they told him of their problems he was sympathetic and “a mighty wrath . . . took possession of his impetuous soul.” He made an oath to “harry” the “redskins” if they meddle with him (Standard) When the “redskins” killed his overseer, to whom he was warmly attached, the stage was set for conflict, as he “proved himself to be a man as good as his word” (Standard). Bacon’s “oath” and desire to keep his oath, came about at a very “ripe” time, as “the whole country [was] ripe for rebellion” and he became their guiding light (Standard). At the age of 29, Bacon was ready to come into conflict with his “nearly seventy years old” cousin, who was “a veteran of the English civil Wars and of Virginia’s Indian wars,” Virginia Governor Sir William Berkeley ( Washburn, Wilcomb E. The Governor and the Rebel. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill; 1957; page 17).

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Berkeley Before the War

Sir William Berkeley is said to have been a very popular governor during his first two long terms, which were marked by his “attractive personality and intellectual gifts” (Standard, page 14). Standard goes on to say that Berkeley was “every inch a gallant soldier, every inch a gentleman, yet haughty, unsympathetic and unlovable; narrow in mind and heart . . . his slightest whim was holy; to question his motives or the rightness and wisdom of his commands was little short of blasphemy” ( Standard, page 16). In his first term, in 1642, Sir William Berkely overcame an Indian attack that killed hundreds and defeated the Indians, bringing lasting peace. Berkeley also “gave his assent to an act to make the Assembly“ (Wertenbaker, page 15). Wertenbaker mentions that Berkeley played the ideal role of being the official governor and popular leader, and this strengthened the “ties of affection for England . . . and won the loyal support of the colony” (Wertenbaker, page 15). Following a period when Berkeley was not governor, he was appointed to a third term. A change came over Berkeley in his third term, and he rapidly changed from a popular leader to a hated and feared governor. This change drove the people to search for someone else to become a popular leader, and eventually led to an open rebellion. The change has been explained in many ways, including the follies of taking a young wife, and possible senility. Wertenbaker believes that the change was caused by the English Civil war which resulted in the royalist’s defeat, the King’s death, and the forced acceptance of Cromwell’s people in Virginia (forcing out Berkeley). For the duration of the Cromwell years, Berkeley was a bitter private citizen, but then Richard Cromwell resigned and the Virginia assembly made Berkeley governor again, wherein he “tyrannically” ruled for another seventeen years.

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Reasons for the War

According to Robert Beverly, there were four reasons for the war. The first reason for the war was the very low price of tobacco and the “ill usage of the planters in the exchange of goods for it.” The second reason involved the splitting of the colony (wooded land and improved land) by the new King to give land to his supporters, and the large amount of taxes Virginians had to pay to send a commission to England to try to get the matter reversed. The third reason that Beverly gives is the heavy restrictions on trade made by Parliament, wherein trade between plantations was taxed but the taxes received were never used to help the plantations but instead into the tax collectors’ pockets. The fourth reason, in the order that Beverly noted the causes/reasons for the rebellion/war, was the Indian problem. Surprisingly, two reasons that most other people give are either not included or are given the last place. One of the main reasons that Bacon even started to get into trouble with Berkeley was that he wanted to run off and fight the Indians whether or not he had a commission to fight them. Another of the main reasons that are given by most other historians, is the problem of the oppressive government, and the unpopular governor. As Beverly appears to be someone who can only see the two administrations in which Berkeley was “a darling of the people” and does not recognize that Berkeley was rather disliked in his third term, then it is not a surprise that Beverly tries to overlook this issue.

The first thing that Wetenbaker says is that Bacon “protested against the repressive measures of the mother country, took up arms against the royal governor, drove him from his capital, defeated his troops and stood ready to give battle to the Redcoats sent over to suppress him” (Wertenbaker, page 3).

According to Standard, the low tobacco prices hurt the colony severely because it was the chief money crop. The government tried to diversify the economy and set up tanneries and towns, but these attempts failed, and these failed attempts were paid for by higher taxes (Standard, page 20). Another problem Standard notes, is that the Virginia Assembly had been sitting for thirteen years, and no longer represented the people but instead represented the Governor (Standard, page 21). As they represented the Governor, Berkeley was able to increase taxes however much he wanted to, and the proceeds went to pay the salaries and privileges of the Burgesses (including 2 horses, a manservant and other privileges). After the King came back into power, he “was pleased to grant away the whole colony, with very few restrictions, to Lords Arlington and Culpeper,” and the power they were given included the power to receive the “quit-rents and escheats,” grant lands, and collect all other taxes (Standard, page 24). The Indian problem was compounded by the monopoly that the Governor and his friends enjoyed over all trade relations with the Indians. The Governor did not want to have his profits lowered, so he did not try to stop the Indians from attacking and massacring the colonists (Standard, page 27). As the people were being driven away from their formerly popular governor, who did they look toward? The charismatic Nathaniel Bacon became the new popular leader, but was he right for them?
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Bacon’s Motivation - Ambition vs. Real Concern for the People

The question of whether or not Nathaniel Bacon really cared about the causes of the
people’s problems, or if he was just ambitious and used the people’s concerns to try to advance himself is unclear after these many centuries. It is true that he came from a family of aristocrats, which, in that time period, by definition, saw themselves as superior to the commoners. People of our era need to remember that Bacon came from a earlier era with a different viewpoint of life, and a different understanding of class differences. Whether or not Bacon believed that he himself was better than the commoners, is hard to say, but he did grow up in this kind of social milieu. Bacon, no matter how he viewed the commoners, could very well have been interested in improving their lot, but that does not necessarily mean that he wanted more equality. It is also true that Bacon came from a family with a history of freedom of thought, controversial opinions and rebellious kinsmen. Thomas Bacon, Nathaniel’s own father, protested the king’s policies on the matters of “taxes, church conduct, laws and arbitrary government” (Warner, page 7). These protests might or might not have been on behave of all people, or just on behave of aristocrats.

According to Washburn, “there is no evidence to show that he was at all interested in political reform in this period, although he is frequently credited with such an attitude” (Washburn, page 19). According to Standard, Bacon’s heart was with the people, and “his pity for their helpless and hopeless condition a mighty wrath against Governor Berkeley took possession of his impetuous soul” (Standard, page 44). Robert Beverley, a person who was very partial to Governor Berkeley, proclaimed that Bacon was very ambitious and wanted to become a General, so he used the Indian problems to advance himself and “pretended that he accepted of their [the people’s] command with no other intention but to do them and the country service, in which he was willing to encounter the greatest difficulties and dangers” (Robert Beverly. “Robert Beverley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 1704”). Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker, on the other hand, seems to paint a picture that is less “fraud” (falsely pretending as mentioned by Beverley) and more “people’s campaign:” “he believed himself, as undoubtedly he was, the champion of the people against misrule and oppression, and he was embittered that he should be forced into the position of a rebel for freeing the colony of the deadly Indian menace” (Thomas Jefferson Wertenbaker. Torchbearer of the Revolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton; 1940; page 163). Almost everyone that has examined the issue have come to differing conclusions on Bacon and what he was really trying to do, and what he really believed. Most of the authors that were researched picture Bacon one way or another, biased more on their own desired thesis than on anything else. They might picture Bacon favorably so that they can use him as a forerunner to the 1776 Independence, or they might picture him badly to try to boost Governor Sir Berkeley’s position in history. Primary sources may seem to provide raw information but may have been biased by second hand reports of the time. In other cases, the primary soures might be overwhelmed by simply having meet the celebraty (“This Surprising Accostment Skockt me . . .”) (Matthew). Such things seem to hide the man more than reveal him. There are many different views of Bacon, and it is hard to see which ones are biased, and which ones are true.

Warner, though, does provide some very impressive evidence that Nathaniel Bacon really was concerned for people’s causes, including how Bacon used his army to force Bacon’s Laws (discussed below). Warner also points out that Bacon was “not only regarded as a popular leader of great influence in his day, but also a century later” when President Thomas Jefferson “and his party saw in the man a spirit of freedom in which they believed and one which they admired” (Warner, page 22). Warner mentions that Bacon’s Laws (which were sympathetic to the people’s causes) were brought before the House of Burgesses by Mr. Thomas Blayton, a neighbor of Bacon’s. Blayton is said to have talked to Bacon immediately before his speech and “there is every evidence here that Blayton spoke [to the assembly] as an agent of Bacon” (Warner, page 23). More on this subject can be found later in this paper in the Results of the War section.

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The War (Rebellion)

As earlier mentioned, Nathaniel Bacon made an oath to “harry” the “redskins” if they meddle with him. The Indians killed his overseer. People had gathered themselves together ready to fight the Indians after word had spread that a great band of Indians were nearby and on the warpath (Wertenbaker, page 92). When the people saw Bacon, they chanted his name and begged him to lead them. Bacon agreed, and proclaimed that he would not stop until the Indian problem was solved and the “troops” grievances were rectified. Then the “three hundred men-in-arms, set out upon the Indian warpath” (Standard, page 50).

Sir William Berkeley promptly called the leader and his followers “rebels and mutineers, and [Berkeley got] a troop of soldiers together, [and] set out” after Bacon (ibid). On May 10, 1676, after failing to catch up to Bacon, Berkeley removed Bacon from his seat on the Council and “from his office as a magistrate” and he informed Bacon’s wife that Bacon would be hanged when he returned.

In the meantime, Bacon and his men finally reached an island in the Carolinas that was a center for the Ockinagees. Seeing that he was greatly outnumbered, Bacon used a “policy patterned after the savages’ own crafty methods of warfare, he made friends with one tribe and persuaded them to fall upon the other” (ibid, page 53). The Ockinagees then more or less destroyed the Susquehannocks, and then got ready to turn on the pale faces. Bacon’s half-starved men waded up to their shoulders to one of the Ockinagees’ forts and begged for food, but a shot from the mainland signaled battle. Bacon, knowing that the Ockinagees probably had people covering their retreat, led his men up to the fort, out of range of the attackers, and told his men to fire through the stakes of the palisades (ibid, page 54). For two days the battle raged, and with a loss of eleven of Bacon’s men and the destruction of the fort and “vast numbers of the Indians,” Bacon’s men “withdrew from the fray” (ibid, page 55).

As Sir William Berkeley waited for Bacon’s return, “the inhabitants farther down toward Jamestown began to draw into arms, and to proclaim against” Berkeley (ibid, page 56). Having heard Berkeley’s pronouncements against Bacon, Bacon responded: “if after the loss of a great part of his Majesty’s colony, deserted and dispeopled, freely with our lives and estates to endeavor to save the remainders, be treason, Lord Almighty judge and let the guilty die” (ibid, page 57).

Berkeley returned to Jamestown after noting the wrath of the people against him, and wished to appease them. On May 18th, Berkeley ordered the dismantling of the costly forts and the legislature that decided to build them, and called for new elections. The people, showing their democratic colors, chose among the freeholders, people that had just recently been servants. Before the June Assembly, Bacon sent a letter to the Governor through a neighbor that noted that Bacon abhorred rebellion and would have followed Berkeley if he had been there, and that he did not want to go against Berkeley’s authority (ibid, page 60). Standard notes that “Madam Byrd,” who had been driven from her home by Indians, wrote friends in England that Bacon and his troops did not touch anything English (property, lives), and that most of the troops were “substantial householders who bore their own charges in this war” (ibid, page 61). Henrico County sent Nathaniel Bacon as its representative to the new House of Burgesses. Bacon traveled down to take his seat with forty bodyguards in a sloop. After arriving at a bend of the river, Bacon sent a letter to Berkeley, asking if it was safe to take his seat, and Berkeley fired cannons at him. After a night in his sloop, Bacon attempted to travel home, but he was stopped by a boat and taken prisoner. Bacon was brought before Berkeley in front of the new Assembly and both made “friendly” exchanges, in which Bacon pleaded guilty and Berkeley forgave him, and jailed the Captain that on Berkeley’s orders had arrested Bacon. Bacon was restored to the Council, and was allowed to take his House of Burgesses seat. Bacon used the opportunity given to him, as he was now strong in both Burgesses and Council, and restored Universal suffrage, and ordered auditing of the public accounts. Then his party enacted laws requiring frequent election of vestries by the people, and prohibiting all trade with the Indians, long terms of office, excessive fees, and the sale of spirituous liquors, and some of the “most unpopular leaders of the Governor’s party were debarred from holding any public office” (Standard, page 69). Standard notes that “the wisdom of the Rebel’s legislation as to be later set forth by the fact that after his death, when the fascination of a personality which had bent men’s wills to its own was no longer felt, and when his name was held in contempt by many who failed to understand him or his motives, the people of Virginia clamored for the re-establishment of “Bacon’s Laws,” . . .; and in February 1677, many of them were actually re-enacted - with only their titles change[d]” (ibid). Not only did the council enact reforms, but they also built an army of 1,000 for “General Bacon” to fight his Indian campaign.

When all was done except the commission that the Governor promised, friends of Bacon heard that the Governor had ordered Bacon’s arrest or death. Bacon fled and the search was on. When Bacon reached “the up country,” people surrounded him asking what has occurred, and when they heard they swore to follow him back to Jamestown. “Four great guns” and thirty men, the only men that the Governor could get to defend the city, stood ready to face Bacon. Berkeley, disappointed at the poor turnout, decided to try to trap Bacon by removing the defenders (Standard, page 76).

Bacon returned leading an army of four hundred men, and one hundred and twenty horses, demanding his commission after he had secured the streets around the Capital building. Berkeley meet Bacon, called him a traitor, bared his chest and told him to shoot, then removed his sword and demanded to settle it then and there. Bacon responded that he did not desire to hurt a hair on Berkeley’s head and stated that he only wanted his commission. Berkeley fled toward his apartment, and Bacon declared that he would kill Governor, Council and all the Assembly and himself if he didn’t get his commission. The loaded muskets “pointed with steady aim and true toward the white faces in the State House windows” (ibid, page 79). A Burgess waving a white handkerchief proclaimed that he would have the commission. The Burgesses and the Governor argued for a night, but in the end, Bacon ended up with his commission, thirty signed blank commissions, and a letter “to King Charles explaining and excusing Bacon’s course” (ibid, page 81).

On the 25th of June, Indians “swooped down upon two settlements on York River, only twenty-three miles distant . . . and more than forty miles within the bounds of the frontier plantations, and had massacred eight persons” (ibid). The next morning the newly-commissioned General Bacon led his 1,000 troops to attack the Indians. Gloucester County, feeling the effects of some heavy-handed recruiting, petitioned the Governor Berkeley for relief and proclaimed loyalty to him. Berkeley formed an army out of Gloucester County to fight the Indians himself, but really to kill Bacon. Bacon turned his army around and civil war occurred. The Gloucester army, learning of their true purpose, refused to fight Bacon and left the field (ibid, page 91).

Berkeley fled across the Chesapeake to the Eastern Shore with few friends. Protected from the Indians, the people of the Eastern Shore were still loyal to Berkeley. As Berkeley built another army on the Eastern Shore, “Bacon found himself master of all Virginia from the Potomac to Lower Norfolk and from the Chesapeake to the frontier . . . he had become, unexpectedly and against his own wishes, the Cromwell of the Colony” (Wertenbaker, page 129).

Bacon set about consolidating his holdings, by sending his troops out to break up any bands from forming that were loyal to Berkeley. Bacon also had troops arrest all prominent supporters of Berkeley and confined them. Bacon then gathered as many prominent planters as he could, for he knew that “resistance to his authority would come almost entirely from the upper class” so he set about to involve them in his government so they would not feel the need to go against him. News of Berkeley’s actions at the strongest fort, taking all weapons with him for his use, backed up Bacon’s claims that Berkeley cared more about himself than the people, and the planters “affixed their signatures to the oath” (Wertenbaker, page 134). Bacon foreshadowed the “Redcoats” defeats against the French and Indians, when he proclaimed that Virginians could “lay ambuscades . . . hide behind trees to render their discipline of no avail” (ibid). This knowledge might have been useful if Bacon had lived.

Hearing news of Indians slaughtering people around the countryside, Bacon returned to his Indian campaign, but first he seized ships and sent them to arrest Berkeley and sent him home “to stand trial for his demerits toward his Majesty’s subjects of Virginia, and for the likely loss of that colony, for lack of defense against the native savages” (Standard, page 97). Bacon then left Colonel Hansford in control of Jamestown in his absence while Bacon left to go fight the Indians.

At the “freshes of York, Bacon was met and joined by all northern forces, under the command of Colonel Giles Brent.” They marched to the plantations farthest up the York River (Standard, page 100). Bacon then marched around looking for Indians.

While Bacon was away, Berkeley captured the ship sent after him and returned toward Jamestown with seventeen sloops and six hundred troops. The troops were promised 21 years without taxes to follow Berkeley. On September 8, 1676, Sir William Berkeley retook Jamestown after her defenders fled. Bacon returned toward Jamestown with only one hundred and thirty-six “tired-out, soiled, tattered and hungry men” and Indian captives, against the fortified Jamestown with six hundred defenders (ibid, page 114). On the way to Jamestown, Bacon’s army was raised to three hundred. On September 13, 1676, Bacon arrived back at Jamestown ready to fight, behind an earthwork thrown up outside Jamestown. Bacon’s troops were fired at from both the river and the town, but they were protected by the earthworks. The cross-fire continued for three days, with Bacon’s men so well shielded, they “do not seem to have lost a single man” (ibid, 123).

On the third day, Berkeley sent his troops out. The besiegers killed two and the rest scattered. After this Bacon set up the two artillery pieces that he had captured. Jamestown was in an inhospitable, marshy area, which caused most of Berkeley’s troops to desert him. Berkeley had to retreat again with 20 faithful troops. With the Governor just down the river on his boats, and likely to try to retake Jamestown, Bacon decided to burn it from further use. Berkeley continued his flight back to the Eastern shore, and Bacon moved his troops into Berkeley’s plantation, “Green Spring.” After moving in, Bacon denounced Sir William as a traitor to the people’s cause. Bacon tried to exchange prisoners, but Berkeley killed anyone Bacon requested. Bacon did not retailate by killing his prisoners. Just after moving into Gloucester Court House, Bacon received word that Colonel Brent, whom he fought alongside against the Indians, had decided to go back to the Governor’s side, and marched on Bacon with eleven hundred men. Marching out to meet the hostile army, Bacon found most of Brent’s army had deserted to Bacon’s side.

The siege of Jamestown, in which Bacon fought during a week of exposure in Jamestown’s marsh and swamps had “done its deadly work . . . the dauntless and brilliant young General met an unexpected and, for the first time during his career, an unprepared-for enemy in the deadly fever, against which he had no weapon of defense” (Standard, page 143).

On the fist day of October 1676, General Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., died at the “house of Mr. Pate, in Gloucester” (ibid). The followers were faithful after his death, and took his body away from his enemies, and still no one knows his final resting place. Berkeley captured top members of Bacon’s army and killed them, but his attack, led by Colonel Nathaniel Bacon, Sr. (the deceased Bacon’s cousin), and Colonel Ludwell, on a garrison under Major Whaly, “at President [Colonel] Bacon’s own house” was unsuccessful (ibid, 147). The rebellion only lasted a few more days, and twenty of Bacon’s closest friends and officers were hanged.

Governor Sir William Berkeley died not long after Bacon on his trip back to England. The King pardoned everyone involved in the Rebellion, if they offered an oath of allegiance, except for Bacon and Mr. Lawrence who had fled.

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Consequences of Bacon’s Death before the End of the War

Nathaniel Bacon is said to have been a very enthusiastic and impassioned speaker, and that “he was a man born to sway the hearts of his fellows, which he understood and drew after him with magnetic power” (Standard, page 46). Bacon placed too much of his rebellion onto his deep magnetic connection with the people. The people were “greatly cheered” by him, and they saw in him “the only patron of the country and preserver of their lives and fortunes, so that their whole hearts and hopes were set upon him” (Standard, page 49). When Nathaniel Bacon, Jr., the charismatic 29 year old who inspired a colony to rebellion in 1676 died suddenly without the rebellion resolved, the rebellion died with him. When their charismatic leader died, there was no one who could successfully take his place. The new leadership could not inspire the same amount of fire and devotion in the men that Bacon had been able to produce. The rebellion fell apart.

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Results of the War

According to Warner: “For many generations the greatest accomplishment of Bacon was considered to be the passage of those statutes known as Bacon’s Laws of 1676” (page 18). Warner mentions that not only was Bacon primarily responsible for Bacon’s Laws, but that the assembly of early 1676 controlled by the strongest conservatives in the colony would never have passed the laws by themselves. The laws were passed because Berkeley was threatened by rebellion, and needed to present himself in a good light, so a new assembly was elected in June 1676, and they passed Bacon’s Laws which “is doubtful that they would have been written but for the threat of his army” which surrounded Jamestown. Warner also counters historians who believe that Bacon was “only an Indian fighter who got caught up in a rebellion.” by pointing out that Bacon sought out the two people in the Assembly who were not interested in Indian Wars, but in Berkeley’s “French despotism”, Lawrence and Drummond (Warner, page 19). Warner points out that even one of Bacon’s biggest detractors, Robert Beverley, whose father supported Berkeley against Bacon during the war, agrees that Bacon was a molder of men’s thinking and that Bacon was in every way qualified to head his army. “He [Beverley] admitted that Nathaniel Bacon was therefore a very persuasive leader and even wrote that he was held “in great honor and Esteem among the people” (Warner, page 20).

Bacon’s Laws were repealed under Berkeley’s influence in February 1677. Copies were made, however, and “one copy came into the possession of Peyton Randolph, Speaker of the House of Burgesses” (Warner, page 24). This copy later came into President Thomas Jefferson’s possession. “Many of the popular ideals involved in Bacon’s Rebellion therefore won a victory. Such a victory helped give birth to the republic” (Warner, page 90).

The House of Burgesses, which had just recently been allies of the Governor, “were now voicing popular sentiments . . . Nathaniel Bacon, having directed his ideas against the governor’s party, had helped to give even the most wealthy a structural framework within which to pursue self-government” (Warner, page 91). Bacon’s rebellion did not succeed in the sense that Berkeley was driven from power, nor in that Bacon lived through the conflict, but it did succeed in that Bacon’s ideas opened up the Virginian colony to greater self-government and a creation of the strongest colonial assembly and government of the colonies.

According to Standard, although the leader was killed by disease, and “many of the bravest of his men paid for their allegiance . . . upon the scaffold, the cause was won - not lost” (Standard, page 162). Most of the grievances that were made against the government were “relieved by the reforms in the administration of the government” and the Indian problem had been solved until settlements were made west of the Blue Ridge (Standard, page 163).

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What Would have Happened if Bacon had Won the Rebellion?

Neither Bacon’s army, nor Bacon defeated Berkeley and took control of Virginia. Neither did Bacon’s Laws survive even a year (under their original names). Does this mean that Bacon’s ideas were lost? As mentioned before, Bacon did not physically win the rebellion, but his ideas, and some of his law, which were re-enacted under new names and lived on after him. What would have happened if Bacon had physically won the rebellion?

After Bacon’s death, Redcoats arrived to examine the situation in the colonies. If Bacon had won, and if he had wanted to break away from the King, then he would have faced the might of the English Empire. If Bacon had won, then other colonies might have followed his example, and their combined breakaway might have caused enough problems for the English that the breakaway colonies might have succeeded. If only Virginia had decided to try for independence, then the English Empire would have had an easier time taming the rebellious beast.

Would he have really broken from the King? Bacon’s family history, which includes both loyalty and disloyalty to the Kings of England, might lead Bacon in either direction. “If he could have laid his hands on Berkeley he would have kept him under guard until his own and his followers’ case had been put before the King. He would have told of the Indian massacres, of Sir William’s refusal to consent to an expedition to end them . . .” (Wertenbaker, page 129). Later in the war, Goode, who had fought with Bacon until the second of September, wrote a letter to Governor Berkeley stating that Bacon planned to fight the Redcoats, and that he believed that Maryland and Carolina would also “cast off his Majesty’s yoke as soon as they should become strong enough” (Standard, page 139).
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Conclusion

While it is not clear what Bacon would have done if he had defeated Berkeley, it is clear that Bacon’s campaign is more important than just a minor rebellion. Bacon’s activities forced certain ideas and laws onto Virginia’s government and society. While the laws were repealed in 1677, the ideas still existed, and were inspirations to both Peyton Randolph, Thomas Jefferson and other leaders of the 1776 campaign for independence. While it is not certain that these leaders would not have rebelled if Bacon’s ideas were never expressed, it is certain that the ideas played some part. Did Bacon really care about the “common” man? Most evidence, including an examination of Bacon’s Laws (which Warner proves were actually written, or inspired by Bacon), and Bacon’s family history of rebelling and siding with the commoners, shows that Bacon was ultimately on the commoners side (though they might not necessarily have been trying to be on the common man’s side). Did Bacon’s rebellion have any impact on future Virginia history? If for no other reason than forcing Berkeley to disband the corrupt assembly and call for elections, then Bacon’s rebellion forced an impact on Virginia history. Virginia had the strongest and most advanced colonial government among the thirteen colonies. Bacon’s rebellion failed physically in the short term, but not conceptually, over the long passage of time.

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Bibliography
Primary:
Beverly, Robert. “Robert Beverley on Bacon’s Rebellion, 1704.” Internet:
http://kuttp.cc.ukans.edu/carrie/docs/usdocs.txt/beverley.html

Matthew, Thomas. The Beginning, Progress, and Conclusion of Bacon’s Rebellion, 1675- 1676. c 1705. Contained inside Narratives of the Insurrections: 1675-1690. editor Charles M. Andrews, Charles Scribner’s Sons. New York; 1915; page 33.

Secondary:
“Bacon’s Rebellion and Racism.” Internet:
http://nunic.nu.edu/~dcunning/gs/his320/unit1/module3/bacon.html (note: does not exist anymore at this address).

Standard, Mary Newton. The Story of Bacon’s Rebellion. The Neale Publishing House, New York; 1907; page 40.

Warner, Charles Willard Hoskins. Road to Revolution. Garrett and Massie, Publishers, Richmond; 1961; page 7.

Washburn, Wilcomb E. The Governor and the Rebel. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill; 1957; page 17.

Wertenbaker, Thomas Jefferson. Torchbearer of the Revolution. Princeton University Press, Princeton; 1940.
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Movies: Seen: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang & Legend of Zorro

2005-11-14T15:36:00.000-05:00

Saw two movies over the weekend: Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang and Legend of Zorro.

Kiss Kiss stars Robert Downey Jr, Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan, and Corbin Bernsen. The film's writing is by Shane Black, the writer behind "Lethal Weapon" and the film itself is loosely based on the Brett Halliday novel: "Bodies Are Where You Find Them." Since I liked the film, I assume that it will do poorly at the box office and be critically disliked. Regardless, I found the modern-day film noiresque movie to be rather enjoyable, well-acted, and well, overall - good (I gave it a 4.64 out of 5). Oh, I suppose I should warn others of the R-rating for brief nudity, violence and profanity.

Looked for critics take, and found I was wrong. Metacritic found 72 generally favorable reviews out of 100 (that's the way they word it, it is actually based on 37 reviews). Roger Ebert's review has been converted by Metacritic into a score of 63 out of 100.

Rotten Tomatoes, another website that collects critics reviews, gives the movie a Fresh rating of 80%, i.e. 80% of the reviews liked the film. 101 reviews counted, 81 found the film to be Fresh and 20 found it to be Rotten.

In limited release, the Kiss Kiss movie has made $1,321,401 in the US, and roughly $1,487,338 in foreign theaters, according to Variety.com (they give the opening weekend as 10/21/05).

"Legend of Zorro": I realize that it is a critically disliked movie, and to a certain extent that kept me from checking out the film until Saturday. The film isn't a great classic work of art, but it was a good action/adventure/espionage film that I personally found to be an enjoyable diversion. I gave the film a rating of 4.43 out of 5. First time in a long time I've seen and liked two movies this much in the same weekend. I tend to give movies ratings around 4.20, rarely that much higher, and more commonly somewhat lower.

Rotten Tomatoes noted that only 25% of 114 films found the movie to be Fresh (28 reviews), while most (86) found the film to be rotten.

Meta Critic.com found a collection of reviews that liked the film better than the collection of reviews found by Rotten Tomatoes, but even so, it gave a rating of 47 out of 100 and its rating is based on 33 reviews.

In wide release, the Zorro movie has made roughly $32,888,737 since 10/28/05 in the US and roughly $22.55 million in foreign coin, according to Variety.com.

Film: Bond: Yet another announcement made about the next Bond

2005-10-12T13:33:00.000-04:00

For a long time an article in an Indian newspaper that announced that Orlando Bloom was the next Bond surfaced and kept being pointed to as either confirmation or new news that Bloom was Bond. I believe the article was from 2004, but it kept turning up as "evidence." Then I believe articles came up that said that Brosnan would be in one more film, some claiming that Judi Dench believed that to be the case. Clive Owen, Bloom, Statham (bald Bond anyone?), Hugh Jackman, Ewan McGregor, Colin Salmon (black Bond, was in "Keen Eddie" - connection found near end of entry) . . . has any actor not be been called the next Bond? I believe that even Mel Gibson has been mentioned for the role, for that matter, Jack Davenport of "Coupling" has even been mentioned as a possible Bond (of course, the actor who plays lead character on "House" has/had a large collection of comedy roles on his resume, and now he is most famous for a drama role - i.e., Davenport might be more famous for his comedy work on "Coupling" but that does not disqualify him ; also of note, I believe that Hugh Laurie might be one of the few English actors who hasn't been mentioned as a possible Bond - go from "too-old" Brosnan to 46-year-old Laurie - seems likely, eh?).

Latest reports state that Daniel Craig has won the race (some articles use something along those lines as an article title or as an article), though if you read most of the articles, it would be found that Craig, in fact, has just been named the latest "likely" candidate, not the actual next Bond.

Oct. 12th article in the UK Daily Mirror: BOND BIG TWO FIGHT OVER THE NEW 007. Director wants some unknown 22-year-old to play Bond in "Casino Royale" (first Bond book, involves a young Bond), Producer wants 37-year-old Daniel Craig to play Bond.

And just because - "tabloids have also reported that he had a "fling" with Sienna Miller - with whom he starred in Layer Cake and who has herself been mentioned in rumours as a potential future Bond girl" (Miller also starred in "Keen Eddie").

Filming is supposed to start in January. Considering the role and the tradition behind the film franchise, you would expect that an actor will assume the role and been official revealed as Bond before the film unrolls on-screen (interesting trailer choices, have to keep hiding the Bond actor's face so that the audience can be surprised when the film unfolds on-screen).

Television: New Season, So Far:

2005-09-21T10:36:00.000-04:00

New Shows: Seen so far: “Bones,” “Head Cases,” “Everybody Hates Chris,” “Rome,” “Supernatural, “Surface,” “Threshold.”

New Shows: Plan on trying to catch: “My Name is Earl,” “Just Legal,” “E-Ring,” “Criminal Minds,” “Invasion,” and “Killer Instinct.” - Other than “Invasion,” I would not be disappointed if I am not able to catch an episode of these new shows.

Bones: (9/13/05) -FOX- One of the shows that I was interested in before the year began. Two episodes have now aired, but I’ve only seen the first, as I was at a baseball game when the second one aired. I’ll reserve judgment on the show until I’ve seen more than 1 episode. I watched the first episode after reading a lot of negative reviews, so my expectations were low. Maybe because of that factor (plus the fact that I really disliked the one Kathy Reichs book that I have read, the first book in the Dr. Temp series - just looked the book up and was mildly surprised at how much I hated it, I gave it a rating of 2.60 out of 5), the pilot wasn’t that bad. The mystery was a little flat, and the side characters were more annoying than amusing, but the two leads seemed interesting enough. Just a quick note on Dr. Temperance - in the one book I read, she was a lot more whiny and annoying, and strangely “stupid” than she was on the show (in that one book, she goes to a very bad neighborhood alone, unarmed, and at night to investigate, wearing, if I recall correctly, skimpy clothing, as opposed to the pilot, where the “stupidest” thing that she did was to confront the Senator alone . . . and her actions ended up working well for her (both the actions and the results are part of the low rating of the book)). Out of 5 stars, I rated the pilot 4.15, which, I believe, converts to 8.30 out of 10. At the moment, I would be disappointed, mildly, if the show didn’t last a least through the fall season. - had the best premiere numbers for Fox in 4 years - might keep Bones and House on together and push Idol to another night, according to FOX exec talking with Variety.com.

CSI: Miami (9/19/05) -CBS- Three CSI’s, three different shows. I’m not sure why, but I’ve tended to rate CSI: Miami higher than the other two series, despite the fact that I don’t like the lead on Miami. The single season highest rating, though, belongs to the 4th year of CSI (4.24 out of 5). I’ve mostly watched Miami through DVD viewings, though I’ve occasionally caught the show in first-run. I only own the first season DVD, and watched most of the second through Netflix. Saw just 4 episodes of season 3. I’d prefer to not have to deal with the expense of buying or renting CSI: Miami, so I’m going to attempt to watch the series in first-run from here-on out (note: watched “24" and “Alias” through DVD viewing up to last year - started to watch both in first-run for same reason given earlier, and ended up dropping both series from my viewing line-up - I believe both are much better without commercial interruption and without a week between episodes). So, something of a test. First episode of season 4 aired 9/19/05 (“From the Grave”). I must have liked the episode well enough, I rated it 4.22 out of 5, but I can’t remember, now, what the episode was about. If I recall correctly, a somewhat thin storyline about a gang killing an “ex”-member because he was arrested for selling drugs (killed for the drugs issue, not for being arrested). Now that I think about it, the episode was anything great. Compared with the ratings I’ve given the new shows episodes . . .. Just a note - New CSI series have started after the newest CSI series is in it’s third year (with a cross-over episode in the second season of the newest CSI series) - mentioned just to point out that if this process continues, then the cross-over, introductory episode of the new CSI series would occur this year as, I believe, the next to last episode of CSI: NY.

Head Cases (9/14/05)- FOX - High flying lawyer has a panic attack and goes away for several months. Returns. Law firm fires him. Hot wife was in the process of leaving him before the panic attack, and is reluctant to take him back. The mental institution, or wellness center, or the lodge in the mountains, whatever the place was, sets the high flying lawyer up with a partner to try to help both get over their problems (the partner has trouble controlling his anger). Did not notice until this write up, but I guess I liked the pilot more than I realized, as I rated it a 4.23 out of 5. Neither Goldberg nor O’Donnell are actors that I particularly like. I’ve seen at least one acting performance by Goldberg that I liked, but otherwise I do not particularly like his acting. O’Donnell always seemed something of a lightweight in the acting department. I will apparently miss the second episode because of a baseball game, and unlike Bones and Supernatural, I do not believe that I will be able to get that episode recorded (mostly because I forgot it was on until this write-up). I like giving new shows a chance, otherwise I wouldn’t have seen the first episode of this series, and while I seem to have liked the first episode well enough to continue to watch this series, I would not be disappointed if I never saw another episode. - did worse than the shows in its time slot last year in the all important 18-49 audience numbers (I’ve seen it as 18-24, 18-24, and 18-49, pick a “young” range already).

Everybody Hates Chris -UPN- Received a copy of the first episode on DVD in Entertainment Weekly. Based on what I’ve since read elsewhere, maybe what I had was just a cut down verison of the pilot. I found the episode, or the clip, solid enough, but not particularly interesting. The narration by Chris Rock was more distracting than helpful, for the most part. Not a series that I will watch in first-run. Do not plan on watching, so not particularly concerned about its fate.

King of the Hill (9/18/05) FOX - Mention just to point out that this is the series final season. I’ve seen 96 episodes of King of the Hill, but I never watched the series on any regular basis. The series was good enough combined with something like The Simpsons or Futurama, but not great. As this is the last season, I plan on trying to watch the full season. Saw the first episode of the 10th season on 9/18/05. Episode was just ok, and receives from me a 4.15 rating out of 5 (I seemed to have been in a “4.15" giving mood).

Prison Break: I never caught an episode as the premise was too absurd. Maybe if I had watched the pilot, I would have been drawn in and the absurd plot points would have been overshadowed by good acting or good story or . . .. The one primary problem was the concept of a guy committing a crime so that he would go to the exact same jail as his brother (this issue, oddly enough, turned up in a promo for an episode wherein the warden told the Prison Break star that he was being transferred - that episode may or may not have occurred by now). This is a type of show that needs to be watched from the beginning, and as I wasn’t interested in the very beginning, I’ll end up not watching this series (I was initially interested because of the presence of the ex-“John Doe” actor). Not watching, do not care if it last full season or more.

Rome (HBO): I’ve caught every episode so far and I am happy that HBO has ordered a second season. I also watched the ABC mini-series Empire, and Rome is a superior series. I missed the final two episodes of Empire, and overall, gave the series a rating of 4.19. Rome, so far, has a rating of 4.30, and the highest rated episode, so far, has received a rating of 4.35 (and if anyone cares, it is the episode with the least nudity, if that means anything). I like history and have read many books set with historical themes (and liked those episodes of “Angel” that included scenes set in the past, and enjoyed the couple of episodes of “Roar” that I saw). I would be rather annoyed if Rome were to be suddenly yanked from the air, and would likely not watch HBO in the future if that were to occur.

The Simpsons - FOX: I’ve mostly just watched this series in reruns (mostly prime time, not syndication), but there are seasons that I’ve watched first-run. Caught the first two episodes of the 17th season, and so far the series still seems interesting and worth my time. I don’t want to get to deep into examining/discussing a returning show, so I’ll just note that I gave the first episode of the season a 4.15 rating (out of 5; 8.30 out of 10) and the second episode a 4.30 rating (out of 5). Overall, I’ve rated the series 3.94 out of 5 (average of all the seasons, season average is based on rating of the episodes in that season). Never ending?

Supernatural: (9/13/05) - WB- A lot of seemingly similar shows starting this year, at least in brief glances at the “flavor” of the shows (Supernatural, Invasion, Threshold, Surface). Considering the people behind the show, I ended up liking Supernatural a lot more than I expected. Despite that comment, I rated the first episode a 4.15 out of 5 (seen that storyline once too often, and trying to not give anything away, the second woman on the ceiling was obviously enough needed to push the main character into a certain direction, but was otherwise confusing as to what the “monster” had been attracted to - obviously enough women, maybe ones that have strong attachments to one man, and I had thought, wrongly, - some child or baby present). The atmosphere of the show was well constructed. It might be interesting to see what a regular line-up of Bones and Supernatural might be like, but once again, didn’t see the second episode of Supernatural because of a baseball game, so I’ll have to wait to see if I like the series. Interested in seeing that recorded second episode, and would be mildly disappointed if series did not last at least through the fall season. - 19% better numbers than last year’s One Tree Hill (Variety.com article).

Surface (9/19/05) NBC - Of the new science fiction/fantasy/supernatural/horror shows that have so far premiered, Surface receives my lowest rating of 3.93 out of 5. Unfortunately, I think that I do not like any of the characters (which is different from liking or disliking an actor), and some of the reactions and scenes were annoying and unwatchable (some scenes were great, though). I was slightly distracted when I watched the first episode, so I’ll watch the next episode (I try to catch at least 3 to 5 episodes of a new series). Obviously enough, I would not be tremendously disappointed to see the show cancelled (other than the loss of a science fiction show, and implications of its failure on other science fiction shows). - Surface - down from Fear Factor’s viewing numbers.

Two and a Half Men - (9/19/05) CBS - I have mostly seen this show in reruns, and only very occasionally in first-run airing. That viewing style is likely to have limited my enjoyment of the series and lowered the individual episodes ratings. The first season, which I watched completely out of order, is the season that I have liked least (4.06 out of 5), while the second season, which I saw somewhat more in order was rated by me a much more healthy 4.24 out of 5. I did not particularly like Everybody Likes Raymond, and there wasn’t anything else to bridge me to the 9:30 pm (EST) time slot that Two and a Half Men enjoyed previously. Now that the series is in the 9:00 pm slot, I plan on watching the series in its first-run airing. So far that plan is still working, as I’ve seen the only episode aired so far this year. I didn’t particularly like this episode. I rated the episode 4.23 out of 5. I’m beginning to think that I rather disliked shows like Bones that I rated less than this rating. - down from Everybody Loves Raymond’s numbers

Threshold (9/16/05) CBS - Of all the new shows, this one received my highest rating, but I have a feeling that its time on the air will be limited. I’ve forgotten, now, what my reasons were for this belief (which developed while watching the first two episodes), but they were probably similar to the reasons expressed by Grailwolf on www.tv.com (cost of the show, night on tv, shows being canceled that are liked). - already in trouble - while it did better than “JAG” its targeted audience did not watch in any large numbers (target - young 18-34 - got a 6 share)

Oh - forgot I tried to watch “War at Home” - stopped watching after about 5 minutes - could not stand. And I forgot I watched “Out of Practice” - it had its funny moments, and I’ll watch it in the future.

Just for my own records:
Sunday:
7:30 - King of the Hill
8:00 - The Simpsons
8:30 - some ½ hour DVD show
9:00 - Rome

Monday:
8:00 - “Surface” or “The King of Queens”
8:30 - if watch “The King of Queens,” then watch “How I Meet Your Mother” or “Kitchen Confidential”
9:00 - Two and a Half Men
9:30 - Out of Practice
10:00 - CSI: Miami

Tuesday:
8:00 - Bones (if cancelled or find I dislike it - replace with NCIS)
9:00 - Supernatural

Wednesday:
8:00 - ??????????? - That ‘70s show - maybe
8:30 - ??????????? - Yes, Dear - maybe
9:00 - “Head Cases” or “E-Ring” or “Criminal Minds”
10:00 - Invasion

Thursday:
8:00 - Joey
8:30 - DVD show
9:00 - CSI - maybe

Friday:
8:00 - ??????????????
9:00 - Threshold
10:00 - Numb3rs

Television: 2005 Fall Season: Sunday's line-up

2005-09-16T15:54:00.000-04:00

07:00 PM:

ABC: America’s Funniest Home Videos (Oct. 2)
About: People send in “funny” videos for the chance to win money.
Stars: Tom Bergeron
Official Website.
TV.com website
Not interested

CBS: 60 Minutes (Sept. 25)
news
Official Website
not interested

FOX: Animated Encores/NFL run-over.

NBC: Dateline NBC (Sept. 23)
news
Official Website
not interested

WB: Reba rerun

07:30 PM:

FOX: King of the Hill (Sept. 18) 10th season
comedy/animated/family
About: a family living in Texas
Stars: Mike Judge (Hank Hill, Boomhauer), Kathy Najimy (Peggy Hill), Pamela Segall (Bobby Hill), Johnny Hardwick (Dale Gribble), Stephen Root (Bill Dauterive), Lauren Tom (Minh, Connie), Toby Huss (Cotton Hill, Kahn), Brittany Murphy (Joseph Gribble, Luanne Platter), Ashley Gardner (Nancy Gribble)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Notes: This is King of the Hill’s last season
Saw some episodes, bad time slot. Might watch the King of the Hill’s final season if I can find the time.

08:00 PM:

ABC: Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (Sept. 25) 5th season
reality
About: a home is remodeled in a short period of time.
Stars: Ty Pennington
Official Website.
TV.com website
Not interested in “reality”

CBS: Cold Case (Sept. 25) 3rd season
crime/police/history
About: The police investigate old unsolved police files (cold cases).
Stars: Kathryn Morris (Det. Lilly Rush), Danny Pino (Scotty Valens), Jeremy Ratchford (Det. Nick Vera), John Finn (Lt. John Stillman), Thom Berry (Will Jeffries)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Saw five first season episodes, not bad, but did not capture me as a fan.

FOX: The Simpsons (Sept. 11) 17th season
comedy/animated/family
About: a never aging (for the most part) family living in Springfield.
Stars: Dan Castellaneta (Homer, Abraham, Krusty the Klown, Barney, Mayor Quimby), Nancy Cartwright (Bart, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum), Yeardley Smith (Lisa), Julie Kavner (Marge, Patty, Selma), Hank Azaria (Apu, Moe, Chief Clancy Wiggums, Comic Book Guy, Dr. Nick Rivera, Prof. Fink, Cletus, Sea Captain, Supt. Chalmers)
Official Website.
Official Episode Guide.
TV.com website
Notes:
Always seems to be other shows on, or other things to do when the Simpsons are on. Saw the 17th season opening episode, would rate it 4.15 out of 5 stars.

NBC: The West Wing (Sept. 25) 7th season
drama/politics
About: The White House and staff (Bartlet is a lame duck, Senator Vinick and Santos compete for Bartlet's job).
Stars: Martin Sheen (Pres. Bartlet), Alan Alda (Senator Arnold Vinick), Jimmy Smitts (Matt Santos), Stockard Channing (Abigail Bartlet), Kristin Chenoweth (Annabeth Schott), Allison Janney (C.J. Cregg), John Spencer (Leo McGarry), Bradley Whitford (Josh Lyman), Dule Hill (Charlie Young), Richard Schiff (Toby Ziegler), Joshua Malina (Will Bailey), Mary McCormack (Kate Harper), Janel Moleny (Donna Moss)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
Notes:
Never seen, never want to see.

WB: Charmed (Sept. 25) 8th season
drama/magic
About: three sisters find out they have magical powers (long line of witches) after their grandmother dies and must try to live (or not) with the consequences of having this power (first several seasons, then one sister dies and another is found to take her place).
Stars: Holly Marie Combs (Piper), Alyssa Milano (Phoebe), Rose McGowan (Paige), Brian Krause (Leo),
Official Website.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
Notes:
I’m not sure, but I think that I never saw an episode until around the six or seventh season when I started to catch the episodes from the first seasons in syndication (on TNT, I believe). Watched most of the episodes in syndication, then watched some of the sixth season episodes in first-run, rest in rerun, and then actually watched all but the last episode of the seventh season in first-run. Not sure why, have not rated the episodes that I’ve seen particularly highly.

08:30 PM:
FOX: The War at Home (Sept. 11) New Series
comedy/family
About: a family in the modern world . . .
Stars: Michael Rapaport, Anita Barone, Kaylee Defer, Dean Collins, Kyle Sullivan, Rami Malek
Official Website.
TV.com website
Saw first couple of minutes of the first episode. Could not stand it so switched to something else.

09:00 PM

ABC: Desperate Housewives (Sept. 25) 2nd season
drama/comedy/soap
About: housewives
Stars: Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer), Felicity Huffman (Lynette Scavo), Marcia Cross (Bree Van de Camp), Eva Longoria (Gabriella Solis), Nicollette Sheridan (Edie Britt), Andrea Brown (Julie Mayer), Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Carlos Solis), James Denton (Mike Delfino), Doug Savant (Tom Scavo), Alfre Woodard (Betty Applewhite), Mark Moses (Paul Young), Cody Kasch (Zack Young), Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young), Mehcad Brooks (Josh Applewhite), Shawn Pyfrom (Andrew Van de Kamp), Joy Lauren (Danielle Van de Kamp), Roger Bart (George Williams), Richard Burgi (Karl Mayer), Jesse Metcalfe (John), Steven Culp (Rex Van de Camp)
Official Website.
Official Recaps.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
Notes:
Saw reruns of the first and 5th and 6th episodes. Ok, I suppose . . .

CBS: CBS Sunday Night Movie
movie

FOX: Family Guy (Sept. 11) 5th season
comedy/animated/family
About: a talking dog, genius baby, fat guy, fat kid, attractive wife, and a daughter
Stars: Seth MacFarlane (Peter (the father), Stewie (the baby), Brian (the dog), Quagmire), Alex Borstein (Lois), Seth Green (Chris), Mila Kunis (Meg)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Notes: aired 1999-2002 then cancelled. DVD sales (and ratings on basic cable) caused FOX to bring the show back on the air in 2005.
Saw all the episodes that have been released on DVD and some of the new episodes. Not as good as it was prior to the first cancellation.

NBC: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Sept. 25) 5th season
drama/crime/police/lawyers
About: police and lawyers investigate and prosecute crime in NYC.
Stars: Vincent D'Onofrio (Det. Robert Green), Chris North (Det. Mike Logan), Courtney B. Vance (A.D.A. Ron Carver), Annabella Sciorra (Det. Carolyn Barek), Jamey Sheridan (Capt. James Deakins), Kathryn Erbe (Det. Alexandra Eames)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Notes:
Never seen. Mildly interested in it when it was new, but not particularly interested in it now.

WB: Blue Collar TV (Sept. 25) 2nd season
About: humor and sketches with a southern influence
Stars: Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, Larry the Cable Guy
Official Website.
TV.com website
Notes: The show is listed on TV Guide as being 1 hour, but I believe that the show is a ½ hour original episode and a ½ hour rerun.
Never seen, not interested.

09:30 PM:

FOX: American Dad (Sept. 11) 2nd season
comedy/animated/family
About: CIA agent, talking fish, alien, housewife, son, liberal daughter
Stars: Seth MacFarlane (Stan/Roger), Rachael MacFarlane (Hayley), Dee Bradley Baker (Klaus), Scott Grimes (Steve), Wendy Schaal (Francine)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Notes: From the people behind Family Guy.
Saw 3 episodes. Could not stand the first one, but kept going back to try to see if it would get better.

10:00 PM:

ABC: Grey’s Anatomy (Sept. 25) 2nd season
drama/medical
About: medical students/interns at a hospital
Stars: Ellen Pompeo (Meredith Grey), Justin Chambers (Alex Karev), Chandra Wilson (Miranda Bailey), Isiah Washington (Preston Burke), James Pickens Jr. (Richard Webber), Katherine Heigl (Izzie), Patrick Dempsey (Derek Shepard), Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang), T.R. Knight (George O'Malley)
TV.com website
Notes:
I recorded the first episode but never saw it, and am unlikely to ever see this series. Not interested.

NBC: Crossing Jordan (Sept. 25) 5th season
drama
About: a medical examiner
Stars: Jill Hennessy (Dr. Jordan Cavanaugh), Steve Valentine (Dr. Nigel Townsend), Miguel Ferrer (Chief ME Dr. Garret Macy), Kathryn Han (Lily)
Official Website.
TV.com Website.

Television: 2005 Fall Season: Saturday's line-up

2005-09-16T10:52:00.000-04:00

A night of movies and crime.

08:00 PM:
ABC: ABC Movie of the Week
movie
About: weekly movie
Stars: varies

CBS: Crimetime Saturday
various crime shows
About: Various CBS crime shows (like CSI, Cold Case, etc.) rerun in this two hour block.

FOX: Cops (Sept. 10) 17th season
reality
About: cameras follow cops as they go about their duties
Official Website.
TV.com website

NBC: NBC Saturday Night Movie
movie

08:30 PM:

ABC:

FOX: COPS

09:00 PM

FOX: America’s Most Wanted (Sept. 10) 19th season
reality/news
Stars: John Walsh
Official Website.
TV.com website

10:00 PM:

CBS: 48 Hours Mystery
news
About: news
Official Website.
TV.com website

Television: 2005 Fall Season: Friday line-up

2005-09-16T09:17:00.000-04:00

08:00 PM:

ABC: Supernanny (Sept. 23) 2nd season
Reality
About: a nanny helps troubled families
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested in "Reality"

CBS: Ghost Whisperer (Sept. 23) New Series
drama
About: Newly married Hewitt runs a antique store and tries to help dead people find closure. Sixth Sense + Medium
Stars: Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Aisha Tyler
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested in this type of show

FOX: The Bernie Mac Show (Sept. 23)
comedy/family
About: Bernie and Wanda raise Bernie's sister's kids while she is in jail.
Stars: Bernie Mac, Kellita Smith, Camille Winbush, Dee Dee Davis, Jeremy Suarez
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested in comedy on Friday

NBC: Three Wishes (Sept. 23)
reality
About: Amy Grant and her band travel around granting wishes.
Stars: Amy Grant
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

UPN: WWE Smackdown!
About: wrestling
TV.com website
Notes: Formerly the WWF, changed name after World Wildlife Fund sued the World Wrestling Federation.
not interested

WB: What I Like About You (Sept. 16) 4th season
Comedy
About: dad is in Japan. Sisters live together in NYC.
Stars: Amanda Bynes, Jennie Garth, Allison Munn, Leslie Grossman, David De Lautour, Wesley Jonathan
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

08:30 PM:

FOX: Malcolm in the Middle (Sept. 23) 7th season
comedy/family
About: a smart kid living with an average family
Stars: Frankie Muniz, Bryan Cranston, Jane Kaczmarek, Justin Berfield, Erik Per Sullivan, Christopher Masterson
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

WB: Twins (Sept. 16) New Series
comedy
About: Gilbert and Stanton play twin sisters, one with brains, the other with beauty.
Stars: Sara Gilbert, Molly Stanton, Melanie Griffith, Mark Linn-Baker
Official Website.
Creators: the people behind Will & Grace
TV.com website
not interested

09:00 PM
ABC: Hope & Faith (Sept. 30 - 1 hour)
comedy
About: Faith was an actress in Hollywood before being killed off on her soap, and Hope is Faith's married sister.
Stars: Faith Ford, Kelly Ripa, Ted Mcginley, Macey Cruthird, Paulie Litt, Megan Fox
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

CBS: Threshold (Sept. 16 - 2 hours) New Series
drama/science fiction
About: Aliens land in the ocean. US sets up a team to investigate.
Stars: Carla Gugino, Charles S. Dutton, Brian Van Holt, Brent Spiner, Rob Benedict, Peter Dinklage
Official Website.
TV.com website
mildly interested, will watch tonight's 2-hour show

FOX: Killer Instinct (Sept. 23) New Series
police/crime/drama
About: police in San Francisco investigate bizarre and deviant crimes.
Stars: Johnny Messner, Chi McBride, Kristin Lehman,
Official Website.
TV.com website
mildly interested

NBC: Dateline NBC
News
not interested

WB: Reba (Sept. 16) 5th season
comedy
About: Series started with Reba and husband getting a divorce. Reba is now remarried.
Stars: Reba McEntire, Scarlett Pomers, Gabrielle Leberger, JoAnna Garcia, Mitch Holleman, Melissa Peterman, Steve Howy, Christopher Rich.
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

09:30 PM:

ABC: Hot Properties (Oct. 7) New Series
comedy
About: Four women work in a real estate office in Manhattan.
Stars: Gail O'Grady, Nicole Sullivan, Sofía Vergara, Christina Moore, Amy Hill, Stephen Dunham, Evan Handler
Official Website.
Creators: people that behind Frasier
TV.com website.
not interested

WB: Living With Fran (Sept. 16) 2nd season
comedy
About: Fran plays a divorced woman raising her kids
Stars: Fran Drescher, Ben Feldman, Ryan McPartlin, Misti Traya
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

10:00 PM:
ABC: 20/20
news
not interested

CBS: Numb3rs (Sept. 23) 2nd season
crime/FBI/math
About: two brothers, one a math professor, the other an FBI agent, solve crimes
Stars: Rob Morrow, David Krumholtz, Judd Hirsch, Peter MacNicol, Alimi Ballard
Official Website.
TV.com website
watched all but two episodes of last season. Will watch this season.

NBC: Inconceivable (Sept. 23) new Series
Drama
About: Doctors at the Family Options Fertility Clinic
Stars: Ming-Na, Jonathan Cake, Joelle Carter, Mary Catherine Garrison, Angie Harmon, David Norona, Reynaldo Rosales
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

Television: 2005 Fall Season: Thursday line-up

2005-09-12T12:58:00.000-04:00

08:00 PM:

ABC: Alias (Sept. 29) 5th season
Drama/spy/action/adventure
About: spies
Stars: Jennifer Garner, Michael Vartan, Victor Garber, Ron Rifkin, Carl Lumb, Kevin Weisman, Mia Maestro, Greg Grunberg
Official Website.
Official episode guide.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
Notes: Audience share increased after airing after Lost. Now Alias moves to a new night and starts earlier than ever, leading off Thursday for ABC. Alias is paired with the new series "The Night Stalker" (journalist investigates strange events). "Primetime Live," a news program, closes out ABC's night.
Not interested. Watched all of the first 3 seasons and 10 episodes of the 4th. Didn't like the 4th season, dropped the show from my rotation of watched shows.

CBS: Survivor: Guatemala (Sept. 15) 11th
Reality
About: bunch of people attempt to win money by living in desolute area and competting in events.
Official Website.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
never watched. No desire to ever watch.

FOX: The O.C. (Sept. 8) 3rd Season
Drama/soap
About: people living in California
Stars: Ryan: Benjamin McKenzie, Marissa: Mischa Barton, Seth: Adam Brody, Summer: Rachel Bilson, Sandy / Peter Gallagher, Kirsten: Kelly Rowan, Julie: Melinda Clarke
Official Website.
Official epsiode guide.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
never watched, very vaguely interested in beginning. Interest faded.

NBC: Joey (Sept. 22 - 1 hour) 2nd season
Comedy
About: Joey, the character from Friends moves to California to pursue acting. 2nd season: agent now a regular . . ..
Stars: MATT LEBLANC (Joey Tribbiani), DREA DE MATTEO (Gina Tribbiani), PAULO COSTANZO (Michael Tribbiani), ANDREA ANDERS (Alex Garrett), JENNIFER COOLIDGE(Bobbie)
Official Website.
Official episode guide.
TV.com website
Not as good as Friends but I thought that it was better than other Internet users thought of it. will watch

UPN: Everybody Hates Chris (Sept. 22) New Series
Comedy
About: A family comedy set in the 1980s based on the life of Chris Rock, who narrates.
Stars: Chris Rock (the narrator), Tichina Arnold (Rochelle), Terry Crews (Julius), Tyler James Williams (Chris), Tequan Richmond (Drew), Imani Hakim (Tonya), Vincent Martella (Greg)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Saw first episode by way of free DVD insert in Entertainment Weekly magazine. I would not watch the show again (probably better without the narration).

WB: Smallville (Sept. 29) 5th Season
drama/soap/superhero
About: started off as superman/Clark Kent's high school years. Kent graduated high school at the end of the 4th season.
Stars: Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Kristin Kreuk (Lana Lang), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Allison Mack (Chloe Sullivan), John Glover (Lionel Luther), Annette O'Toole (Martha Kent), John Schneider (Jonathan Kent)
Official Website.
Official Website.
LutherCorp.
Smallville High Torch.
Smallville Ledger.
TV.com website
never watched first run, but seen all of first season and 10 episodes of 2nd. Lost interest

08:30 PM:

NBC: Will & Grace (Sept. 29)
Comedy
About: Two gay men, a straight woman, and rich woman.
Stars: Eric Mccormack (Will Truman), Debra Messing (Grace Adler), Sean Hayes (Jack McFarland), Megan Mullally (Karen Walker)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Seen 6 episodes. did not particularly like. Will not watch again. Will instead watch DVD collection.

UPN: EVE (Sept. 22)
Comedy
About: Eve works in the fashion industry.
Stars: EVE as Shelly Williams JASON GEORGE as J.T. Hunter ALI LANDRY as Rita Lefleur NATALIE DESSELLE-REID as Janie Egins BRIAN HOOKS as Nick Delaney SEAN MAGUIRE as Donovan Brink
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

09:00 PM:

ABC: Night Stalker (Sept. 29) New Series
Drama
About: a journalist investigates strange events.
Stars: Stuart Townsend, Gabrielle Union, Eric Jungmann, Cotter Smith
Official Website.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
does not sound interesting

CBS: CSI (Sept. 22) 6th Season
Drama/legal/police
About: The CSI team investigates crime in Las Vegas (collecting evidence, testifying about the evidence in court, etc.).
Stars: William Peterson (Gil Grissom), Marg Helgenberger (Catherine Willows), Gary Dourdan (Warrick Brown), George Eads (Nick Stokes), Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle), Paul Guilfoyle (Capt. Jim Brass)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Seen all of the first four season episodes, plus 2 episodes of season 5. Never seen during the show's first run. Might actually watch it this year when it airs.

FOX: Reunion (Sept. 8) New Series
About: 1986-2005 - tracking the lives of six people over 20 years, compressed into 1 year.
Stars: Will Estes (Will), Sean Faris (Craig), Dave Annable (Aaron), Chyler Leigh (Carla), Amanda Righetti (Jenna), Alexa Davalos (Samantha), Mathew St. Patrick (Det. Marjorino).
Official Website.
TV.com website
Does not sound interesting

NBC: The Apprentice (Sept. 22) 4th
Reality
About: Donald Trump and his team examine people that want to win the chance to work as an intern for Trump.
Official Website.
TV.com website
Television without pity page.
Never seen, do not want to see.

UPN: Cuts (Sept. 22) 2nd season
Comedy
About: a long time family owned barbershop is sold to a chain.
Stars: Shannon Elizabeth (Tiffany Sherwood), Rashaan Nall (Walt), Shondrella Avery (Candy), Marques Houston (Kevin Barnes)
Official Website.
TV.com website
not interested

WB: Everwood (Sept. 29) 4th season
Drama/soap
About: A doctor moves to the Rocky mountains and brings his son with him.
Stars: Treat Williams, Gregory Smith, Emily Vancamp, Debra Moony, John Beasley, Vivian Cardone, Chris Pratt, Stephanie Niznik, Tom Amandes
Official Website.
TV.com website ?
Have no desire to watch.

09:30 PM:

UPN: Love, INC. (Sept. 22) New Series
comedy
About: men and women matched at a dating agency
Stars: Busy Philips, Holly Robinson Peete, Vince Vieluf, Ion Overman, Reagan Gomez-Preston
Official Website.
TV.com website.
Not interested.

10:00 PM:

ABC: Primetime Live
News
About: News

CBS: Without a Trace (Sept. 29) 6th season
Drama/legal
About: NY FBI division searches for missing people.
Stars: Anthony LaPaglia, Poppy Montgomery, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close
Official Website.
TV.com website
never seen, unlikely to start now.

NBC: ER (Sept. 22) 12th season
Drama/medical
About: an emergency room in a hospital in Chicago
Stars: LINDA CARDELLINI (Samantha Taggart), LAURA INNES (Dr. Kerry Weaver), ALEX KINGSTON (Dr. Elizabeth Corday), MING-NA (Dr. Jing-Mei (Deb) Chen), PARMINDER NAGRA (Neela Rasgotra), MEKHI PHIFER (Dr. Gregory Pratt), SHERRY STRINGFIELD (Dr. Susan Lewis), MAURA TIERNEY (Abby Lockhart), GORAN VISNJIC (Dr. Luka Kovac), SHANE WEST (Ray Barnett), NOAH WYLE (Dr. John Carter)
Official Website.
TV.com website
Watched when Clooney was on. Haven't seen an episode in a very long time. Was not even sure who the stars were anymore before I looked them up. Not interested.