This is it, Harry Potter fans - the very last preview peek you shall get (through official channels, anyway) of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2:
Warner Bros. has released the latest spot for their epic wizard finale, which features the final face off between the absolute good of Harry Potter and the pure evil of Voldemort. Directed by David Yates, the film strikes a tone of bleak darkness, yet contains the thread of hope that The Boy Who Lived can save the world, once and for all, from the Dark Arts uprising.
'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2' NEW TV Spot:
"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2," is the final adventure in the Harry Potter film series. The much-anticipated motion picture event is the second of two full-length parts. In the epic finale, the battle between the good and evil forces of the wizarding world escalates into an all-out war. The stakes have never been higher and no one is safe. But it is Harry Potter who may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice as he draws closer to the climactic showdown with Lord Voldemort. It all ends here. WarnerBrosPictures May 13, 2011
Here's the official Warner Bros. clip of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2" NEW TV Spot (5.13.11). I could have sworn that we'd already had a 'TV spot No. 1' but perhaps with all the hash-tagging something got lost in the translation. This does have some new dialogue. It's hard for me to tell sometimes just what part of the endless battle that is Deathly Hallows Pt. 2, our heroes as well as the big bads, are engaged in.
It's time for Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) to grow up and embrace his destiny. The Chosen One is done hiding behind his friends and mentors and in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, his fate meets his future. He's learned everything there is to know, and Harry Potter is now ready to do what he was born to do -- destroy Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes)! In this new Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 TV spot, Potter isn't the only one getting in on the action. Wizards are hopping on brooms and armies are marching to the beat of their own drums. The world is falling apart! The Dark Lord and his Death Eaters have gained more power than we could have ever imagined and Harry's in a serious race against time.
"Harry’s only hope is to find the Horcruxes before Voldemort finds him. But as he searches for clues, he uncovers an old and almost forgotten tale -- the legend of the Deathly Hallows. And if the legend turns out to be true, it could give Voldemort the ultimate power he seeks." Oh, the drama! It looks like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 might be the finale to end all finales. The movie co-stars Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Helena Bonham Carter and Alan Rickman. The film is directed by David Yates and will be released in 2D and 3D on July 15.
First Look featurette for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II:
This 'featurette' for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II shows some never before seen footage from the final installment while interviewing cast and crew. The general consensus seems to be that this last installment will be loaded with thrilling action sequences.
I'm not a Harry Potter fanatic but this little taste of Deathly Hallows part 2 gave me chills. Without resorting to exaggeration, I think this film may be remembered in years to come as one of the best Harry Potter films in the series, if not THE best. I seriously cannot wait for it to come out!
However, other that the youngest child that can be sold on anything it is absolutely unnecessary to see it in 3D as the trailer urges. 3D movies are not going to 'save' the movies. Good movies will. IMO, nothing replaces the movie theatre experince and unlike complaints that people usually voice about why not to go--which mostly have to do with 'other' people and the noise or mess they make, there are so few people attending that I've found that they are not a problem at all.
Even Deathly Hallows part I on it's second weekend had plenty of seating, certainly no lines. I was amazed that it's numbers were said to be so good. I live in a Northwest (of Chicago) suburban area. I admit that I do enjoy no crowds but I worry 'no crowds at the theatre' will spell the end of the movie theatre experience.
IMO, the 'new darkness' on True Blood is not 'who' but more 'what.'
My feel is that Alan Ball will not whip up an entirely new big bad. One only has to look at the casting news to see that at least in part, Ball and his writers are following the Sookie Stackhouse book series (book #4). The plethora of witches, shifters, werewolves, faeries and of course, vampires has me leaning in the direction of the books in that there will be a supernatural war.
That is very much OK with me as Charlaine Harris's fourth book in the Southern Gothic series, 'Dead To The World,' is my favourite.
Q: How about some True Blood scoop? Ausiello: ... Remember last season’s legendary head-turning sex scene between Lorena and Bill? Well, the word around Bon Temps is that there’s a sequence in the upcoming fourth season that will have folks buzzing just as (if not more) loudly. The character at the center of said scene? One Jason Stackhouse.
Q: How will Alcide and Sookie’s relationship evolve this season — if at all? Will Alcide begin to develop real romantic feelings for her? Ausiello: “I think Alcide has already developed real feelings for her,” responds exec producer Alan Ball. “But there are certainly obstacles to overcome for both of them.”
Q: Any dish on the upcoming season of True Blood? A: Stephen Moyer spills, "We've got a new presence. There will be a new kind of specter that represents darkness. We had the wonderful Denis O'Hare as the king of Mississippi last year and he's [gone] at the end of season three, so we've got something else (my italics - CM) coming in to replace that darkness, which is going to be really interesting, I think, this whole new sort of topic that we haven't covered."
Guesses on who the new "darkness" will be? (see above)
[CAROLINE BELLEFLEUR] We finally get to meet the matriarch of long-time Bon Temps fixtures, the Bellefleurs.
In her 70s, Caucasian, formidable, refined, and beautifully dressed, she is Portia’s (Courtney Ford) and Andy's (Chris Bauer) grandmother who dislikes vampires but warms to Bill’s charm. Guest Star. Aww. Makes me miss 'Gran' (Lois Smith).
[EMMA] Native American / Hispanic, 6 years old to play 5 years old, happy, playful and talkative, she is the daughter of a shifter and a werewolf. Strong Recurring.
[HEAD PRIEST] Male, Hispanic, 40s to 70s, seen in a flashback to 1610, he instigates the burning of a witch at a medieval church, and he clearly takes pleasure in describing the procedure. 3 lines, 1 scene. Actor must speak Spanish.
Paola Turbay has joined HBO's drama True Blood as a recurring. She will play Antonia. We don't know much about her except for the fact that she speaks fluent Spanish and is 'fierce'. The Houston, TX-born Turbay, who moved to Colombia at age 10, is former Miss Colombia and Miss Universe runner-up. She made her U.S. series debut as a regular on CBS' Cane and has been recurring on USA's Royal Pains.
The Walking Dead - Season 1 (all) Promo Screencaps (10.31.10)
It's Raining Walking Dead (My extended 'Walking Dead 'Album w/no screencaps (just promo stills, posters all copyright AMC/Fox).
The Walking Dead, The New York Times Best-Selling comic book series about a group of survivors in the middle of a zombie apocalypse premiered on AMC, with: "Days Gone Bye."
Rick Grimes stole her bike but left her like this for awhile. Did you see the cool "making of" video for this particular actor? Very neat, like for instance though obviously CGI is needed for her missing lower half, her ribs are part of her makeup and prosthetics. See the nifty 5-minute 'making of' for this poor creature that SPOILER!!! Rick utimatelyseeks to put out of it's misery.
Story: Some time after suffering an injury during an intense shootout, police officer Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) awakens from a coma only to find himself trapped in a new nightmare. The world he remembers is gone, replaced by a bleak wasteland filled to the brim with a flesh-eating horde of undead monsters. October 31, 2010 @10/9C.
Directed/writen by Frank Darabont (Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, The Mist), Produced by Gale Anne Hurd (Aliens, Terminator), special effects/make-up designer Greg Nicotero (Land of the Dead, Sin City), Composer: Bear McCreary (“Battlestar Galactica,” “Sarah Connor Chronicles”).
The show is full of serious gore but zombie gore for some reason, has never bothered me, maybe because they are dead already. But what about the survivors? How 'bout this: The name of the show refers to the survivors(!)
Next week : Walking Dead
EP 102 – “Guts”
Rick unknowingly causes a group of survivors to be trapped by walkers. The group dynamic devolves from accusations to violence, as Rick must confront an enemy far more dangerous than the undead.
Info Credit: BuzzFocus.com Credit: http://www.buzzfocus.com/2010/10/26/the-walking-dead-premiere-whos-who/
I haven't done much personal blogging on TypePad for some time. Just the same, hearing today that TypePad has sold out is quite a shock--even though in hindsight, I suppose it shouldn't be.
This is partly my comment in response to the official announcementwhich ominously stated that "nothing in TypePad changes today." (my italics).
This is pretty sad for us long-time TypePad bloggers. I've been reading how this "merger" was reported in the news. Here's the NYTimes link: Blogging Pioneer Bought by Video Ad Firm - NYTimes.com http://nyti.ms/alenoC.
It's a bit more...direct in stating what is going on.
I've been w/TypePad since 2003. A Movable Type user suggested you as I'm not a techie-type (or I thought I wasn't).
TypePad worked out smashingly for me. I so loved it here and I was pretty happy for you in your successes through the years.
Yeah, I tried Vox when you asked, I did the BETA thing, even sat on a TypePad consumer panel for a year. I've felt the shift. You're very, very interested in "big" bloggers. I'm totally not and I never will be because I hate selling myself.
Monetizing a blog successfully is incredibly difficult. EVERYONE knows that. So one either goes for the bucks or blogs for free.
There's no point in regular bloggers staying with not-Six Apart.
Monetizers--big bucks bloggers like HuffPost perhaps will find not-6A appealing.
After seven years I hate to leave and certainly I'll try whatever is coming but this is not good news at all for me.
Please, one request, give me time to migrate my 7 years worth of writing to another host.
Best of luck,
Cyn
EDIT/ This is not meant to be an indignant rant. I realize that I've only been renting space from you. I own the content--you own the space. You are now selling the space. Your space, your choice.
To celebrate my forty-fifth birthday, E
asked me to select a dessert recipe from our vast collection. I gave
the decision much thought—should I choose a new and exotic recipe or one
that had already proven itself? Should I pick brownies, cake, cookies,
pie, or something offbeat and eccentric? We just happened to have made
chocolate pudding from scratch last month, and because the result was
underwhelming, I opted to return to the beginning, to where it all
began, to the very first recipe I ever called my own: my original
fudgin’-A brownies.
For those unfamiliar with the story,
here’s a quick recap. My college roommate and supposedly best buddy,
Moondog, had the unfortunate habit of hording his CARE packages,
especially baked goods. I returned to our dorm room alone one afternoon
and was soon tantalized by a rich, chocolate aroma. It took me a few
minutes, but I tracked it down to the top shelf in his closet, where I
found a half-eaten pan of homemade caramel brownies. One bite, and the
course of my destiny was fixed. I had never tasted anything so delicious
in my life. It was all I could do to save Moonie a couple of bites.
I
wanted more, so I went to Jewel and bought a caramel-brownie mix. The
results were predictably dismal, but I noticed that they were
nonetheless popular among guys and girls alike. Especially the latter. I
thus began to explore the world of baking from scratch in a quest to
replicate the splendor of those caramel brownies. I somehow became
sidetracked, however, when I had at last created a remarkably tasty
batch of fudgy brownies. They weren’t caramel, but they were very
popular just the same, and friends often asked for them for their
birthdays. We quickly became bored with brownies, so we explored other
avenues of baking and then of cooking in general. Years later, I entered
the fudgin’-A brownies and a batch of cinnamon cream cheese brownies in
a bake-off; the latter won first prize, and fudgin'-A’s were ignored
entirely. Only rarely would I ever again return to that classic recipe.
Until
today. About to turn forty-five, I’m feeling nostalgic, so we blew the
dust off the fudgin’-A recipe and once more worked our magic.
But not really. The magic of the fudgin'-A's is gone.
Somehow,
our tastes have evolved over the years. The brownies taste the same,
but the tongues tasting them are different. Yeah, they’re fudgy and
nutty and gooey, but still, there’s nothing really interesting there.
Not anymore. Not for us.
So
adieu, fudgin’-A brownies. We had a lot of good times, and you made a
lot of people happy in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. I’m still trying to
lose the pounds you added. I’ll try to remember you not as you were
today but as you were then: moan-inducing.
It's either laugh or cry about the BP Gulf oil spill disaster. I prefer to laugh. Also, I use the "I am disappointed" thing on my kids when the situation merits. It conveys the message loud & clear but skips the "angry Mom" scenario. At least overtly.
nerimon — May 25, 2010 — "Everyone's talking about it, few people seem to understand it - but I do, so I thought I'd help you out!
I make music which you can hear for free, check it out: www.alexdaymusic.com."
This is brilliant. Darlton needed this guy for the past 6 years as their proxy for every interview they ever gave.
You know those Oceanic 815 plane crash images that ran after Jack's (Matthew Fox) eye closed and the "Lost" logo appeared on our TV screens? Some "Lost" fans and TV critics have wondered if they were a last Easter egg from the producers, a clue meant to lead us to conclude that no one survived Oceanic 815's crash landing — and therefore everything we've seen over the last six years never really happened.
Funny because by the time we got to the end of LOST finale "The End," our heads were so spun around by what had unfolded that the rusting wreckage was the least of our concerns.
This:
was cause for worry.
Honestly, I think the EW 12 different-collectible covers and this dead portrait thing is uninspired. It does nothing for me and it's missing Charlie Pace (Dominic Monaghan) and Daniel Faraday (Jeremy Davies) while inserting nominally important people like "Naomi" (in the afro) and "Libby."
We've been hit over the head for years now with a shoulders-up shot of Locke in a coffin--so this seems just like more of the same--minus any tie-in to the actual LOST storyline.
If they were going to fish around on the "C" or "D"- lists why not go with someone like Neil Frogurt?
For the Kate haters: She could kick your pasty-white, cubicle-enclosed asses.
In seriousness, you probably couldn't care less about Evangeline Lilly but for a model with no acting experience prior to LOST just like Josh Holloway as Sawyer, I think she did alright. She rocked the action scenes. When Holloway ran it looked like he had a load in his pants. Why didn't you bitch about Holloway's acting chops? Because the :ahem: writers gave him some occasionally witty dialogue. What did they give Kate? A craptastic backstory, a three-way romantic dilemma and a penchant for wandering the Island after...usually Jack or Sawyer. Oh yeah. She took Aaron home as a consolation prize.
(Above) LOST: "Across The Sea" S6x15 - Young Jacob
I can't really tell you if "spoilers" are good or bad. I don't believe they in any way dissuade people from watching a show that they would have otherwise watched. One might guess that interest might be peaked prior to viewing an episode that had been "spoiled." Theoretically, more people might tune in to an episode to find out if what has been said to be revealed, actually plays out.
My experience as a viewer is that it does take some of the enjoyment out of viewing after one learns at least a key point or two about an episode.
As a writer however, it enhances my ability to form an opinion because I've had time to mull it over. In entertainment news/opinion time is of the essence. I don't' have a roster of volunteers at my disposal to crank out an uber-timely post so any help I can get via insider info prior to the show is greatly appreciated.
Just as theLOST
Spoilers site owner thanked people on the inside at LOST, seven of
which provided leaks about LOST production, casting, filming locations
and much, much more, I extend a thank you to him and to his site for the
wealth of material they have made available--most of it supplied with
only the request that it is correctly attributed (see link).
With that said, the following thumbnails will take you through Episode 16 of 18 episodes of LOST including a major incident in which there are many deaths. If you click the thumbnails you will read stuff that includes who dies through episode 16. People who are truly invested in the show may be quite upset about not only the deaths but other key plot points that are revealed way before we are supposed to know about them.
For my part, I'm pretty bummed about one death, a strong character since the very beginning. I hoped against hope that it wouldn't happen and now I'll be bummed through May. I guess I deserve it for being a spoiler junkie.
One more thing. I have multiple blogs and I've written both here and at The Love You Make which is where my LOST work is currently. Ultimately, I'm merging the blogs. WordPress shall win out over TypePad but only geeks care what platform I'm serving on.
SCENE ONE - "She's a Hell of a Girl" - Michelle Forbes' Maryann meets Tara's (Rutina Wesley) mother (Adina Porter), but it isn't all love and warm feelings:
Oh, here it is! I've been waiting for Michelle Forbes to be turned loose. And that's the beauty of this actress. She can cut someone straight through using only the weapon of her words. Here, Tara's mother gets a taste of being "Maryann's" bad side. Excellent scene!
SCENE TWO - "We're All Equals Here" - Jason Stackhouse (Ryan Kwanten) tells a visiting minister that God has a purpose for him:
This may be unfair but I think the "Jason finds Jesus" storyline sounds the absolute weakest. It's an Alan Ball creation (not from the books) which I believe will segue into Jason's next adventure which should be way more appealing, IMO. I'm guessing though that his next adventure willnot start in earnest until the end of Season 2 or even not 'till Season 3.
SCENE THREE -"This Is All Your Fault" - Bill (Stephen Moyer) explains to Sookie (Anna Paquin) how Jessica (Deborah Ann Woll) came into being and how long she'll be around.
Getting the tension between Sookie and Jessica started from the get-go, Bill answers Sookie's string of Jessica-related questions honestly, though with a strong streak of "but I did it for you" runningthrough his explanation. In truth, Bill turned Jessica upon hearing that the Spanish Inquisition-era trained "judge" of his crime against vamps--the staking of Longshadow to save Sookie--told him he could show him some "real" torture.There was no threat against Sookie When Bill turned Jessica. All Sookie had to lose was Bill himself. Perhaps this act of selfishness on Bill's part is an exmaple of his "human" fraility?
SCENE FOUR - "We Made a Deal" - Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) lets Bill (Stephen Moyer) know that he still has need for Sookie:
This scene is odd with vamps Eric and Bill with a shopping mall as the backdrop. The pissing match between these two continues with Eric again (predicably) keeping the upper hand in procuring Sookie's services in locating the ancient vampire Godric..
WEEDS : SEASON 5 : EPISODE 1 "Wonderful, Wonderful" FULL Video
Previously on my Twitterfeed:
Heavy t-strms last nite killed tv cable. No Nurse Jackie/Weeds b4 Weds! Am peeved at shoddy Comcast connection. Switch to AT&T imminent.about 5 hours agofrom web
EDIT/ They are showing it for free in HD on YOU Tube--and it's embeddable. Joy!
I shall watch it tomorrow!
Below: A good article from a viewer of Weeds Season 5, E1
Click link above for full article. I agree almost wholly with the author--plus I think this person said it better than me. After I view Wonderful, Wonderful,after Comcast Wednesday afternoon, fingers crossed,hopefully I will have more to add. Meanwhile, if you've watched the episode let me know what you think in the comments. Cheers!
The episode ended with Nancy sitting at an outdoor mall, sipping away at her drink, when she suddenly stumbled into one of those T-Mobile viral Web videos (OK, Drew from Everybody Hates Chris said it was a flash mob, but we all know the truth, right?). It was a sequence that was sort of quintessentially Weeds, in that it seemed like it was pointing toward some higher purpose or some obscure symbolism that seemed just out of reach (though, yeah, this series really likes its musical interludes, so I could be trying too hard). And then it all ended with a nice bit of menace, as Nancy realized that she wasn’t as safe as she’d like to be, baby or no baby. Still, I’d just like to know what the hell it all means. Which sort of describes the series as a whole.
The ending is rather amusing and I hate to point this out because it feels sort of third grade but it really isn't a big leap to go from God Hates Fangs to God Hates (drop the letter "n").
Even here in the video as the woman who is viral marketing her hate campaign, shouts out "God hates fangs," it sounds very close to a real epithet.
Didn't anyone at True Blood marketing have any qualms about this? Sort of hard to believe.
"The blogging empire is temporarily welcoming a new site into its fold
that’s written and paid for by HBO to promote the network’s noir
vampire drama, True Blood. And the word “advertisement” won’t appear
anywhere in the project’s vicinity."
I'm gonna say it.
Wowsa.
I've been blogging in the "sponsored post" arena since November 2007, and there has not been one minute that it has not been controversial. Initially and I was late to the party by at least 18 months, all sponsored posting was baaaad. Only bad people with bad intentions did paid blogging without the blog post itself screaming "I'm an advert!!! She's getting money to write this!"
I
admit I had not thought through what the ethical implications were to
writing short blog posts which pushed products. I didn't think it was
doing any harm as I talked about what I thought of the product or
simply talked about the product in the days where I was assigned work
that if I turned it down I would get no further work.
That company
literally did not care what I wrote. They simply wanted me to insert a
link. So for example, if I had to write about a diet supplement I would
talk of the dangers of dieting and if you ever did use a product like
"X" do so only under your doctor's care.
Frankly, I was glad when that
company told me to choose them or another another company to work for. The other other company told me to work for
whomever I pleased. Guess who I chose? At the same time, in fact years before, Google was
getting very agitated because companies that had bloggers share their
opinions about products got free "Google" juice when a "do follow" link
was used in the post. That means, to make it very simple, that the company pushing a product was in direct competition with Google's
Adsense when it came to search engine results that Internet users would get.
Huge no-no in the land of GOOG. Again, I totally had no idea that what I was doing was in violation of Google search engine rules. They stripped me of PageRank which is a metric which is considered to be a short-hand way of telling the world what your blog is worth.
Since
11/2007, I've made over $4000 doing paid blogging some with "do follow"
links and here now only with "nofollow" links. There are
no ads on this blog that violate Google's policy. I only very occasionally
write adverts here and all of them have a big honking in-post badge
saying I got paid, along with the non-Google juice producing nofollow
links. I might add that I'm offered many posts per pay for decent money but the advertisers do not want me to disclose that I'm writing an advert. So I never write them. For one, I'm acutely aware that I'm being used (for my Page Rank! I feel so dirty!). They want to take advantage of my PageRank so they get sweeter link juice--for about a week--because that's when Google will strip me of my PageRank and if I have anything to say about that, it's not going to happen. I know better now.
If
you read an ad on this blog you'll know it's an ad. And this is
important, too: I hand-pick all my ads. As I said, I turn down money
each day--and that's really painful, believe me. But I'm preserving my
PageRank and my integrity.That's the other part of Gawker's experiment (their wording)
that I find intriguing. Will they too lose PageRank? One would think
that the Blood Copy ads will be in violation of Google's rules. I know I'm staying tuned in order to see what happens when one of the big guys does what the little guys got crushed for.
Lastly, Gawker is utilizing paid blogging to advertise one of my favourite shows. I have to be honest. I'm excited about this. I'm interested to see how it plays out, yes and I'm curious to hear what kind of reception the advertising gets from various fronts but most importantly from the consumer because friends, despite being told as we grew up that the Hokey-Pokey was what "it" is all about, that is simply not true. In this great land of consumers what it is all about is selling stuff, the more stuff the better. The ways of selling are changing at a dizzying rate. With newspapers, magazines, and television losing ground in the advertising wars, those that want to sell stuff need to be willing to experiment with a variety of venues. That's what it's all about, folks.
Entries from the blog, BloodCopy, will appear as cross-posts in the mix of Gawker Media’s eight verticals, which include Gizmodo, Kotaku, and the flagship. They’ll be set off by a border and labeled as BloodCopy posts but otherwise indistinguishable from editorial content — except that the blog is written by an undead, bloodsucking ghoul.
“With vampires, we thought we could be a little looser with the disclosure and create some disbelief,” Chris Batty, Gawker’s vice president of sales and marketing, told me yesterday, dismissing critics of the advertorial as “humorless.” He also made a bold prediction that surprised me so much I made sure to confirm I’d heard correctly:
“If we’re around in three or four years,” Batty said, “the majority of our advertising revenue will be in sponsored posts like this.”
Thanks to xdanceintherainx! WHEN A SPY IS DISCOVERED IN THE DOLLHOUSE ECHO BECOMES SHERLOCK HOLMES TO UNCOVER THE TRAITOR ON DOLLHOUSE FRIDAY, APRIL 10, ON FOX
When a traitor is discovered inside the Dollhouse, Echo and Sierra are programmed as spy hunters to uncover the culprit. Meanwhile, Ballard receives surprising news from Mellie, and Adelle harbors a secret in the Spy in the House of Love episode of DOLLHOUSE airing Friday, April 10 (9:01-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX.
"Needs"
Dollhouse
Season 01E08
Echo leads the Actives in an escape from the Dollhouse.
This is bound to put Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles fans into another round of teeth-gnashing and wailing.
Though Airlocke Alpha disclaims it's information to "be treated as any rumor would..." their article does have some intriguing info as to how Terminator:TSCC got it's back nine episodes (back-room deal) and why after the potential payoff of that deal is no more therefore so shall T:TSCC ( be no more). Even more surprising is that the utterly unimpressive "Dollhouse" is up for consideration of renewal. I thought for sure after viewing the Dollhouse episode "Needs"--the third episode I've viewed--that Dollhouse was done for.
I'd sworn off ever watching Dollhouse givenWhedon's deep reservations, but decided to be fair that I should watch the "new, improved" episodes beginning with S1E06.
I've now watched Dollhouse Episodes 6, 7, and 8--"Needs" shown in full above. Eppy 6 was OK but both episodes 7 and 8 were no better than the worst of Sarah Connor. Ironically, while Dollhouse has stayed not great, the past couple of episodes--indeed the last episodes ever of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles have seemed to come back into focus and are among the best of not only this season, but of the series.
I fully understand from a business angle "why" FOX is waiting to make the announcement (that they long ago decided) that Sarah Connor is to be cancelled. It's all about money as that is why they call it commercial television. It behooves them in the most obvious way to keep viewers engaged through the end of the series, even if it break the hearts of the loyal viewers that are hoping against hope.
I felt 90% certain that surely that it was over based onSummer Glau's comments about her feelings about Season 2 of Sarah Connor finishing filming. One does not get "sad" about simply a season ending when one is looking at a season to come. Summer knew then that the show was finished forever in this incarnation. My gut feel was she was trying to hint broadly without it sounding so. (This is where all those years training to be a therapist help me write about teevee shows!). I can't remember which actor on T:TSCC stated their feelings as "sad," in re: the show too, but two "sads" at a season ending versus series ending could've only added up to cancellation, all things considered.
So all this going back and forth about official announcement or lack thereof. Most of the time you don't need them to predict the fate of a show.
I'm not shocked that FOX is toying with the idea of keeping Dollhouse for another season.FOX screwed Dollhouse creator Joss Whedon once with Firefly. I think, given the rabid fan following that Whedon carries, they've been alerted to the error of their ways. If FOX thinks they can still make money as in DVD sales (for which Firefly did very well) and paid downloads it is certainly worth a ponder.
I'm not a business-minded person when it comes to what we use to fondly refer to as the "boob tube." I'm here to be entertained, informed, moved and the like by my television shows and Dollhouse does none of these consistently for me. In fact, Terminator is better than Dollhouse and would have been more deserving of reconsideration of cancellation.
I'm incredulous that anyone saw anything redeeming in Dollhouse, Episode 8, "Needs." There are a couple of good actors stuck in this mess and they are enjoyable but not so much that I can sit through the awfulness that is the "actives" when they are in their non-emotive state. They put me to sleep. And that dopey dude who speaks like a refugee from Buffy--Fran Kranz as "Topher Brink." His psuedo mad scientist routine coupled with Buffyspeak? It's not working, Joss.
And Eliza again--why is she always the leader? Two words to make Dollhouse better: Ensemble cast. The only way I'll keep watching Dollhouse is if Tahmoh gets more to do than shirtless scenes. It's gimmicky already how often they are having Tahmoh strip and show us his "gym rat's" buff physique.
Do something because I don't care how much the Whedon fanboys and girls fawn: Dollhouse does not entertain me. And don't yell at me, please. I'm a Whedon fan myself.
Also, get Amy Acker's storyline beefed up tout de suite!
I'm just realizing how much I've missed her. I would in fact love to trade out Eliza Dushku who has very average acting skillz with Amy Acker who has actually grown as an actor over the years.
Read the article and find out more about the Terminator-Dollhouse debacle. At least Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles will be put to rest after April 10.
RIP T:TSCC. You could have been great.
Source:Airlocke Alpha The Fox network is just a step away from shaking
up its Friday lineup for the 2009-10 season, canning one show and
considering a move to a new night for a second.
Let's hit the
good news first. Airlocke Alpha has learned that Fox is looking to give
its struggling "Dollhouse" a second season, to see if it can grow some
legs on a new night. Fox had originally intended "Dollhouse" to air
Mondays with "24," but Fox instead decided to move "House" to that spot
to replace "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," and to create
sort of a genre theme night on Fridays.
The audience for
"Dollhouse" are not exactly where Fox had hoped they would be, however,
critical reaction to later episodes following its February premiere has
grown more positive toward the series as it has had the chance to flesh
itself out. Showrunner Joss Whedon had said ahead of its premiere that
he had gone back to retool certain aspects of the show, including using
a new premiere episode than what was originally planned, eventually
canning what would have been the premiere.
The move seems to be
an easy one for Fox. While the audience hasn't been as large as
expected, it has instead remained stable. It's not a number that Fox
uses, but "Dollhouse" carries a BlipNetwork Stability Index Rating of
92.0, better than every other network genre show currently on
television outside of "Reaper" on The CW, which has a 94.7. A Stability
Index Rating is the comparison of the show's highest overnight rating
and its average overnight rating to see how much of its overall
audience a show has retained.
Other factors in favor of the show
continuing is that it's not as expensive as other Fox shows. Much of
its upfront costs, including the construction of the elaborate set that
is the dollhouse itself, were covered by funds that normally would've
paid for a pilot (no pilot was made for "Dollhouse"). Also, while
Whedon's Mutant Enemy Productions and star Eliza Dushku's Boston Diva
Productions are tied to the series, 20th Century Fox Television is
still the primary production company involved, which means its
licensing fee is not as steep as it would be if the show was produced
by another studio.
That, along with ratings, is one of the
aspects killing "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." That show is
set to end its second season April 10 after a 22-episode run, but its
sophomore season has been nothing but a complete struggle.
After
a so-so debut on Mondays and never finding its grip after that with
audiences, Fox teetered on canceling the show until surprisingly
deciding to give it a full-season pickup and moving it to Fridays as a
lead-in to "Dollhouse." Rumors were that Warner Bros. Television, which
produces the show, slashed its licensing fee to prompt a pickup as a
way to help it promote its upcoming "Terminator: Salvation," which
premieres May 21.
Once "Salvation" premieres, it seems Warner
Bros. will have little use to keep "Sarah Connor" on the air, and
likely will not continue to provide a licensing fee discount for a
third season. That almost assuredly will allow Fox to make the move it
normally would've done before New Year's, and that's cancel the show.
Last
year, "Sarah Connor" had the worst Stability Index Rating of all
network genre shows, mostly from its inflated series premiere following
the National Football League playoffs. This year, it's Stability Index
Rating is stronger, but out of 14 network genre show tracked by Airlock
Alpha this season, "Sarah Connor" is ranked 13th. Only "Life On Mars"
had a worse Stability Index Rating, mostly from its freefall following
its move from Thursdays against "Eleventh Hour" to Wednesdays following
"Lost."
Of course, none of this has been confirmed by Fox, so it
should be treated as any rumor would, meaning information can change,
or could even be wrong.
"Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles" airs Fridays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. "Dollhouse" airs Fridays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
Cast Dollhouse: Eliza Dushku as Echo; Tahmoh Penikett as Paul Ballard;
Olivia Williams as Adelle DeWitt; Fran Kranz as Topher Brink; Harry
Lennix as Boyd Langton; Enver Gjokaj as Victor; Dichen Lachman as
Sierra
Guest Cast: Amy Acker as Dr. Claire Saunders; Reed Diamond as Laurence
Dominic; Miracle Laurie as Mellie; Valerie Cruz as Ramirez; Liza Lapira
as Ivy; Tim Chiou as Nikoden
Eick Blog: Final Read Through
Battlestar Galactica
Behind the Scenes|04:03|
The cast and Ron have an emotional read through of the series finale.
Again, to keep the BSG withdrawal away for a bit longer, have a look at this incredibly comprehensive list from one of the best Battlestar Galactica sites on the web.
Huge thanks to GALACTICA SITREP!
Bear McCreary is the composer of the epic musical score for Battlestar Galactica. In his own blog he explained as only Bear can what went into the making of the Season 4.5 episode "Someone to Watch Over Me" and this clip gives you a feel for what he said. Be sure to click the link to Bear's Battlestar Blog and read much more about it.
On "Battlestar Galactica,"
Cylon couple Saul and Ellen Tigh manage their troubles, which range
from garden-variety marital discord to discovering they’re really
members of a robotic race, by hitting the bottle.
Often.
So with the acclaimed Sci Fi Channel drama coming to an end Friday,
the Canadian actors who portray the Tighs, Michael Hogan and Kate
Vernon, took coping cues from their small-screen alter egos.
Over cigarettes and pale ale Monday night at the Four Seasons Hotel
in Beverly Hills, Hogan said the pair was –- to use the show’s favorite
curse word –- pretty "frakked up" about it. "I don't know if I'll ever
be able to growl 'gods damnit' ever again," he said.
Vernon sipped Chardonnay and recalled how surreal it was playing
Ellen, who was "ripped" during her entire first episode. "It was
drunkalogue after drunkalogue after drunkalogue," she said.
"There seems to be this hidden supply of booze and cigarettes aboard
Battlestar Galactica. We're totally out of food, we're on the run, but
still we have booze," joked Hogan. "When Ellen came back, it was like,
thank God, we know we're going to have more booze."
(cont. after jump)
From TVGuide: Who at TVGuide.com attended the Battlestar Galactica press screening on Monday night? And what's the frakkin' word? — Danny ..."we sent TVGuide.com Nerd High
Priestess Erin Fox. Once Doc Cottle revived her with smelling salts,
she said this: "The first hour-and-a-half of the finale is so intense,
you'll find it difficult to breathe. So many questions will be answered
— including some you probably thought wouldn't be addressed due to time
constraints. Also, if Mary McDonnell
isn't recognized by the Emmys this year, it'll be a frakkin' shame. She
had the crowd in tears more than once with her brilliant performance."
Erin then hugged her Cylon toaster to her chest, placed a paper bag
over her mouth and nose and breathed gently until it was safe to stand
again."
Vernon was recently revealed to be the mother of all Cylons — "I'm
the OctoCylon!" she said — and admitted difficulty letting go of the
show. She's been hosting viewing parties for the final batch of
episodes in her Sherman Oaks home for the show's Los Angeles-based cast
and crew.
"Everybody on the show was a fan," she said."I love watching with the episodes with Michael. We hold hands and go, 'Awwww.'"
When the actress learned Sci Fi Channel would be changing its name
to SyFy in hopes of appealing to a less geeky demographic, she scoffed.
"It never even occurred to me that we were shooting a science-fiction
show," she said. "Never. It's always been just good drama."
I want it to be rescheduled, rethought, removed and recalled.
Tomorrow
the story will be over, my tale having been told, and never again will
there be the sweet anticipation of waiting for the next episode to be
shown to fans and friends. The thought of it makes my heart ache even
as swells with pride.
All I know is that today there is a show called Battlestar Galactica and tomorrow there was.
There
will be joy in that too, I’m sure, touching the thread of memory and
feeling it resonate all the way back to soundstages, locations, cutting
rooms, writers’ rooms, and sound bays where I lived for all these years
and being comforted by the knowledge that a part of me will never truly
leave those places. There will be reunions and retrospectives, special
editions and extended cuts, interviews and seminars. Solace can be
found.
We’d called the last season Senior Year and here, today,
as I prepare to present the final episode to an audience of friends,
colleagues, and family, I find myself feeling the same way I did on
Graduation day at Chowchilla Union High, all those years ago. The
mosaic of faces I’d grown accustomed to seeing day after day would
regroup for one last event, one last celebration of our lives together
and what we’d done, and then it would be gone but for the transcendent
threads of memory waiting to resonant down through the years. I didn’t
want that day to happen either and fervently wished for it to be
rescheduled, rethought, removed and recalled.
Somehow I get the
feeling that today’s wish will not be granted either. So this day, like
that one, will wax and wane and all I can do is ride the wave and let
it carry me where it will.
Thank you, all of you for coming here
through the years. The shippers and the haters, and everyone in
between; you’ve watched and you’ve posted and you’ve been a touchstone
for my experience with the audience ever since that night back in 2003
when we first declared that the Cylons were created by Man and things
were going to be different. It’s been a genuine pleasure to surf your
thoughts, rants, questions, snarks, complaints, praise, and humor as
you watched our story play out and rest assured I will be here again
tomorrow poring through the posts, laughing, cursing, sometimes just
shrugging at what you take away from this crazy show.
It’s been an honor to be your storyteller.
Ronald D. Moore About to be former Executive Producer of Battlestar Galactica
"The new Quorum motions to abandon and strip Galactica of her parts when it becomes clear the ship is damaged beyond repair, and the Final Five argue with Adamaabout sending out a rescue mission for Hera. Meanwhile, Kara turns to Baltar to determine the truth about her resurrection, Boomer returns to Cavil with Hera, the Cylons experiment with Anders by turning him into a Hybrid, and a devastated Helo begs Adama’s permission to find Hera on his own.
"The new Quorum motions to abandon and strip Galactica of her parts when it becomes clear the ship is damaged beyond repair, and the Final Five argue with Adama about sending out a rescue mission for Hera. Meanwhile, Kara turns to Baltar to determine the truth about her resurrection, Boomer returns to Cavil with Hera, the Cylons experiment with Anders by turning him into a Hybrid, and a devastated Helo begs Adama’s permission to find Hera on his own."
There are now a good handful of great Battlestar Galactica sites. Still, my top choice has been and remains, BattlestarWiki. They've got the goods along with some insights that I often miss until later viewings(if not completely).
Now I can put this promo photo in it's proper perspective. It's not from "Someone to Watch Over Me" (last episode). It's from "Islanded In A Stream Of Stars"--and it's Boomer with the kidnapped Hera. Both of them are projecting into Boomer's dream home whilst in a Raptor on their way to rendezvous with Cavil at the Cylon home world, known as "the Colony."
Here's a good thumbnail on the newest in-charge Six (Tricia Helfer),
Summary((BattlestarWiki): Sonja is one of the platinum blonde Sixes, similar in appearance to
Caprica/Virtual (Head!) Six. She is elected to represent the rebel Cylons in
the Fleet's new Quorum. Her first duty is to request the Cylons be
given custody of Sharon Valerii
in order to put her on trial for treason. Given her new posistion, the
Colonials have accepted at least part of the deal the Cylons made
through Tyrol and now have the representation they wanted in the
Colonial Government. ("Someone to Watch Over Me")
"For
a moment of night we have a glimpse of ourselves and of our world
islanded in its stream of stars— pilgrims of mortality, voyaging
between horizons across eternal seas of space and time." Henry Beston - The Outermost House.
In this clip for next week we've got Adama barking at what looks like the entire populace of the Galactica, who have assembled on that huge,lower deck area, that he was taking volunteers to go on what is "likely to be, a one-way trip."
Also there's the ever-helpful Head!Six explaining to Gaius that "the End Times are approaching." Pfft! Look around Six, they are already here! ;)
I was looking for the upcoming Battlestar Galactica episode called "Islanded in a Stream of Stars,*" but found this first. If this video is what I think it is, it's really cool.
I love the exteriors of the earlier model Cylon basestars, now commonly referred to as "baseships."
The video is of the destruction of the Cylon race's central "hub" of resurrection; it's basestars failed to protect it form Kara Thrace- "Starbuck" and Lee Adama-"Apollo." The score by Bear McCreary paired up with the scene is tear-inducing--so vital to the story.
Synopsis: Battlestar Galactica- Battlestar Best Explosion:The Resurrection Ship
A merciless Viper attack proves that Cylons in big glass ships shouldn't grow clones.
*I wanted to know if "Islanded in a Stream of Stars," meant anything in particular."Imran Ali" blogs:
Islanded In A Stream of Stars is from Night on the Great Beach, "in Henry Beston's The Outermost House...
"For a moment of night we have a glimpse of ourselves and of our world islanded in its stream of stars— pilgrims of mortality, voyaging between horizons across eternal seas of space and time."
I hope the episode is stellar as I think this is my favourite BSG episode title evar.
I have a blog with a name that was in inspired by the Beatles song The End from the last line--though to my dismay it seems that it was a McCartney song with little input from Lennon though as usual, credit went to both: "Lennon-McCartney." I’d chosen it for my first WordPress blog after about 8 years with it for my email addy. The blog, which is about a year old is The Love You Make.
John Lennon was killed about a week after my 21st birthday–which sort of took the wind of that milestone. It was years before I could listen to a song of his without thinking of how he died.
The line “And, in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make” is essentially the Beatles closing statement. It is the last lyric on the last album they recorded. Let It Be was the last album they released, but it was recorded earlier. This contains the only drum solo Ringo ever performed. He hates solos and had to be persuaded to do it. Lennon, McCartney and Harrison took turns doing guitar solos. Each had a distinctive style which McCartney felt reflected their personalities. “Love You” is repeated 24 times. This starts over the end of “Carry That Weight.” It is the last song in a suite at the end of Abbey Road. This ends with a 30-piece orchestra.
Thanks to Red Pen for posting this for everyone's viewing pleasure. Also thanks to my bro for forwarding the very amusing Sarah Palin Flow Chart (below). It's seems to have worked like a charm for her!
When we are not feeling terrified by the prospect of Sarah Palin being a 72 y.o. heartbeat away from running this country we should try to invoke as much humour as humanly possible in order to stem the fear. In that spirit, I give you this.
...are a couple of things that are suggested as packing items to be added to the bags you intend to kiss goodbye to check in with the airline when you next travel by airplane.
Chances are good that bags are going to get lost--so that is the advice being doled out by the Big Three airlines and travel experts. Plus, in the words of another airline representative, If you fly, "ask a million questions" but "don't tax the system" or things may turn ugly.
Flying was scary enough without veiled threats and directives to put "unusual objects like purple dinosaurs or ruby slippers" in each of your checked bags because when the inevitable happens you'll have a better shot at getting your bags back. Last new bit of advice for airline passengers that I learned today: Make multiple copies of your itinerary and laminate one for each checked bag. That way when they lose your luggage it will help them in maybe getting it back for you.
I feel travel plans being canceled and road trips coming on.
It appears as if one of my blogging buddies has up and quit. She deleted her blog completely--just poof--overnight. I hope she is okay--as well as her son and her 2 four-legged friends. It's very strange when someone disappears online but I guess not so different than when someone gets out of someone else's life completely offline. It's just a weird process. In the case of the now-missing blogger, we'd exchanged private, more-personal-than-on-the-blog messages--so I thought I was a bit closer but...I guess I'll see. I haven't had this situation in a while where a one-time blogging friend just...goes.
Gunderson Bee! Where are you?!
Here's what my Vox blog looks like as of today (posterity). Changing backgrounds changes everything. :)
I love the blue skulls-- and that there are lots of colours and other designs! NowVox, share with TypePad like a good sibling!
EDIT/ TypePad closed down Vox.
(Below) As an aging feminist, I can relate. We'd really like to see a woman in the White House in. our. lifetimes.
Yoko Ono in front of John Lennon's portrait at a
news conference in Tokyo, October 4, 2005. She has called for the
anniversary of Lennon's death to become a worldwide day of forgiveness
but said she could not yet absolve her husband's killer. REUTERS/Toru
Hanai
Say what you will about Yoko Ono, she seems to have remained unwaiveringly loyal to John Lennon's memory.
Her stark honesty about not being able to forgive Lennon's killer is
something I can completely understand, too. My heart is not big enough
to include that nut job (whose name I feel should not be repeated)...
Rest in Peace, John.
"It's not that we 'could be' the weaker sex - we are the weaker sex. Even when men and women have the same disease, we often find that men are more likely to die." DR. ROBERT TAN,geriatrics specialist in Houston.
This is just more evidence supporting conclusions that were drawn long ago. Ashley Montague's The Natural Superiority Of Women, written in the 1960's cited reams of science from an anthropologic/sociologist viewpoint that made such a conclusion seem like one everyone would agree with. Didn't happen. It's heartening that they are still trying.
I find it fascinating that there's such reisistance to the acceptance that women were built to last longer than men.
"These polls seem to suggest the public has decided to just 'throw
the bums out,'" said Karlyn Bowman, a public opinion analyst at the
conservative American Enterprise Institute.
"These are huge,
huge, numbers and they are very bad for Republicans," she said. "There
is not a shred of good news in these polls for Republicans."
This is certainly disturbing. Even the peaceful Amish cannot any longer keep random gun violence out of their bucolic communities. Very sad. It's troubling in and of itself without even thinking of the "big picture" this week. Three schools. Multiple deaths by gunfire of people in various ages & stages of their lives.
The ripple effect--I imagine it travels pretty far and cuts pretty deep.
I dislike sounding alarmist but I think a bit more preparation for the unwanted/unexpected would require that all schools do what the 18 school school (K-8) district do--namely having keycards open the doors when it is not official leaving and entering times. Otherwise, the school office has to buzz you in.
When I brough this up in an informal chat with my two kids I got the thumbs down on that idea from my freshman high school student and my oldest son--and for the same reason. It would be too inconvenient. Too inconvenient?! I think not. And if so, too bad.
It's inconvenient now on airplanes but we put up with it.
Let's face it--the world grows larger each day. More people=more problems. I used to dislike the word "proactive" (too new-agey sounding) but proactivity is just what could be the first line of defence against unwanted and/or dangerous persons roaming our schools.
Man Storms Amish School, Kills 3, Self
By MARK SCOLFORO, Associated Press Writer
43 minutes ago
NICKEL MINES, Pa. - A milk-truck driver carrying three guns and a childhood grudge stormed a one-room Amish schoolhouse Monday, sent the boys and adults outside, barricaded the doors with two-by-fours, and then opened fire on a dozen girls, killing three people before committing suicide.
At least seven other victims were critically wounded, authorities said.
It was the nation's third deadly school shooting in less than a week, and it sent shock waves through Lancaster County's bucolic Amish country, a picturesque landscape of horse-drawn buggies, green pastures and neat-as-a-pin farms, where violent crime is virtually nonexistent.
Most of the victims had been shot execution-style at point-blank range after being lined up along the chalkboard, their feet bound with wire and plastic ties, authorities said. Two young students were killed, along with a female teacher's aide who was slightly older than the students, state police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said.
"This is a horrendous, horrific incident for the Amish community. They're solid citizens in the community. They're good people. They don't deserve ... no one deserves this," State Police Commissioner Jeffrey B. Miller said.
The gunman, Charles Carl Roberts IV, a 32-year-old truck driver from the nearby town of Bart, was bent on killing young girls as a way of "acting out in revenge...Roberts was not Amish and appeared to have nothing against the Amish community... he apparently picked the school because it was close by, there were girls there, and it had little or no security.
The attack bore similarities to a deadly school shooting last week in Bailey, Colo., and authorities there raised the possibility that the Pennsylvania attack was a copycat crime.
Miller said Roberts was apparently preparing for a long siege, arming himself with a 9mm semiautomatic pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun and a rifle, along with a bag of about 600 rounds of ammunition, two cans of smokeless powder, two knives and a stun gun on his belt...
As rescue workers and investigators tromped over the surrounding farmland, looking for evidence around this tiny village about 55 miles west of Philadelphia, dozens of people in traditional plain Amish clothing watched _ the men in light-colored shirts, dark pants and broad-brimmed straw farmer's hats, the women in bonnets and long dark dresses.
Reporters were kept away from the school after the shooting, and the Amish were reluctant to speak with the media, as is their custom.
The victims were members of the Old Order Amish. Lancaster County is home to some 20,000 Old Order Amish, who eschew automobiles, electricity, computers, fancy clothes and most other modern conveniences, live among their own people, and typically speak a German dialect known as Pennsylvania Dutch...
The shooting took place at the one-room West Nickel Mines Amish School, a neat white building set amid green fields, with a square white horse fence around the schoolyard. The school had about 25 to 30 students, ages 6 to 13.
According to investigators, Roberts walked his children to the school bus stop, then backed his truck up to the Amish school, unloaded his weapons and several pieces of lumber, and walked in around 10 a.m. He released about 15 boys, a pregnant woman and three women with babies, Miller said.
He barricaded the doors with two-by-fours and two-by-sixes nailed into place, piled-up desks and flexible plastic ties; made the remaining girls line up along a blackboard; and tied their feet together with wire ties and plastic ties, Miller said.
The teacher and another adult at the school fled to a farmhouse nearby, and someone there called 911 to report a gunman holding students hostage.
Roberts apparently called his wife around 11 a.m., saying he was taking revenge for an old grudge, Miller said. Moments later, Roberts told a dispatcher he would open fire on the children if police didn't back away from the building. Within seconds, troopers heard gunfire. They smashed the windows to get inside, and found his body...
Killed were two students, and a female teacher's aide who was 15 or 16 years old, authorities said...
The shootings were disturbingly similar to an attack last week at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey, Colo., where a man singled out several girls as hostages in a school classroom and then killed one of them and himself. Authorities said the man in Colorado sexually molested the girls.
"If this is some kind of a copycat, it's horrible and of concern to everybody, all law enforcement," said Monte Gore, undersheriff of Park County, Colo.
Miller, though, said he believed the Pennsylvania attack was not a copycat crime: "I really believe this was about this individual and what was going on inside his head."
On Friday, a school principal was shot to death in Cazenovia, Wis. A 15-year-old student, described as upset over a reprimand, was charged with murder.
The Pennsylvania attack was the deadliest school shooting since a teenager went on a rampage last year on an Indian reservation in Red Lake, Minn., killing 10 people in all, including five students, a teacher, a security guard and himself.
Nationwide, the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Littleton, Colo., remains the deadliest school shooting, with 15 dead, including the two teenage gunmen.
In Pennsylvania's insular Amish country, the outer world has intruded on occasion. In 1999, two Amish men were sent to jail for buying cocaine from a motorcycle gang and selling it to young people in their community...
Kenneth Trump, president of the National School Safety and Security Services consulting firm in Cleveland, said the Colorado and Pennsylvania crimes underscore the lesson that no school is automatically safe from an attack.
"These incidents can happen to a one-classroom schoolhouse to a large urban school," he said. "The only thing that scares me more than an armed intruder in a school is school and safety officials who believe it can't happen here."
Men are seen with a State Troopers vehicle near a schoolhouse, in which police say a gunman killed several people, in Nickel Mines, Pa. on Monday, Oct. 2, 2006. A 32-year-old milk truck driver took about a dozen girls hostage in the one-room Amish schoolhouse Monday, barricaded the doors with boards and shot several people, killing at least three of the girls and apparently himself, authorities said. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Brings back memories. Not good ones, either. As a nation, we were disheartened. The US involvement in the Vietnam War came sputtering to an end in 1974 (the last U.S. helicopter lifting off the roof of the U.S. Embassy in
Saigon marked the official end of the Vietnam War in 1975), but the revelation that there was a break-in at Democratic National Headquarters by Republican Party operatives during the 1972 Nixon re-election campaign and the ensuing ruckus raised by The Washington Post with the help of "Deep Throat" had led to the threat of impeachment of the President of the United States.
Nixon had to go--but he clung to The Office of the President like a lifeline even as he surely must have known his presidency was beyond the realm of recovery.
So "Deep Throat" was the Number 2 FBI guy. Passed over for a promotion by Nixon for the number 1 spot. No possible motive there, huh? A true "American hero," says his grandson. I suppose now that the chapter ends, history will eventually settle on a portrait of "who" Mark Felt was and why he was willing to greatly facilitate Nixon's resignation. Over time for good or ill, history will paint the picture.
Former U.S. President Richard M. Nixon gives his farewell speech to
members of his cabinet and staff in the East Room of the White House,
following his resignation August 9, 1974. Photo by
Reuters/File/Bettmann-UPI
Former FBI No. 2 was 'Deep Throat' - Woodward
Tue May 31, 2005 06:59 PM ET
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former FBI No. 2 Mark Felt is "Deep Throat," the
legendary source who leaked Watergate scandal secrets to the Washington
Post and helped bring down President Richard Nixon, journalists Bob
Woodward and Carl Bernstein said on Tuesday after 30 years of secrecy.
The two Post reporters, whose aggressive stories on Watergate led to
Nixon's August 1974 resignation, confirmed Felt was "Deep Throat" after
Vanity Fair magazine and Felt's family members made his role public.
The unmasking of "Deep Throat" solves one of the greatest political and
journalistic mysteries of modern times and ends three decades of
speculation on his identity by historians and political observers.
"W. Mark Felt was 'Deep Throat' and helped us immeasurably in our
Watergate coverage," Woodward and Bernstein said in a joint statement
posted on the Post's Web site.
Vanity Fair had reported earlier on Tuesday that Felt, now a
91-year-old retiree living in Santa Rosa, California, had told the
magazine and his family that he was the Post's anonymous source.
"I'm the guy they used to call Deep Throat," Felt told lawyer John O'Connor, author of the magazine story.
Felt's grandson told reporters on Tuesday his grandfather was "an
American hero" for his role in uncovering the Watergate scandal, and
his daughter said he had "a big grin" upon learning of the Vanity Fair
article.
Woodward and Bernstein had refused for decades to reveal the name of
their source, spawning multiple books, documentaries and investigations
guessing at his identity.
Only three people -- Woodward, Bernstein and former Post Editor Ben
Bradlee -- knew his name, and they vowed not to reveal it until after
his death. The Post quoted Bradlee as saying that knowing "Deep Throat"
was a top FBI official gave him confidence about the newspaper's
reporting on Watergate.
"The No. 2 guy at the FBI, that was a pretty good source," Bradlee told the Post.
I found this extremely interesting...The issue of will the Catholic Church's stance turn to to "saving" the Western world, which is consumed by consumerism, and how will the Church hang on to the new recruits so to speak, the vast number of Catholics in Latin countries--how to stop them from leaving the fold and going Pentecostal, not to mention how to deal with the Asian priests that want to marry.
--Cyn
The next pope faces challenges so urgent that many church leaders and
analysts worry that even a pope with the charisma and capacity of John
Paul II will have to resort to a strategy of triage.
The rich nations pose one set of concerns: the Roman Catholic Church
is withering in Europe, the continent that once supplied it with
priests, cathedrals and intellect, while in the United States, the
church is self-consciously struggling to make its message relevant in a
materialistic society where even religion is market driven.
The poorer countries pose a different set of concerns: in Latin
America, home to 4 of every 10 Catholics in the world, priests say they
cannot compete effectively with the exuberant, proliferating
evangelical and Pentecostal churches. In Africa and Asia, growing
Catholic populations often live uneasily among Muslims, Hindus and
Buddhists.
The Roman Catholic Church is, more than ever, a global institution
with global problems. With more than one billion members, amounting to
half the world's Christians and 17 percent of the world's population,
it is the largest and wealthiest religious or charitable institution on
the planet.
But the biggest concerns of the new century - the turmoil within the
Muslim world and the explosive shift of economic power to India and
China - did not draw the focus of John Paul. As he proved, the church's
leader is capable of changing the course of history. But the church has
to make choices.
One question that the leadership of the church has to ask itself,"
said Christopher M. Bellitto, academic editor at Paulist Press, a large
Catholic publishing house, "is will it invest most of its time and
money and energy in what we used to call the third world, or will it
try to pull Europe and North America back from the materialism that
John Paul II said was the curse of capitalism?"
The choice may be embodied in the selection of a new pope. In the
weeks leading to the conclave, the cardinals will be discussing among
themselves not only who should lead, but what the church's priorities
are. If they choose a candidate from Africa, or more likely, Latin
America, it may signal that their primary concern is with the church in
the Southern Hemisphere. Or they could choose a pope from Europe
because he can speak convincingly to the West about its growing
religious indifference.
Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson said, "As a church I think we're
kind of tired, and I think we've lost a little bit of our confidence."
The church in the United States, and in countries like Austria and
Ireland, is still reeling from the disclosures of sexual abuse by
priests. Bishop Kicanas's own diocese declared bankruptcy in the face
of mounting lawsuits by people asserting abuse.
He says he regularly meets Catholics who are hungry for spiritual
teaching but skeptical that the Catholic Church actually lives what it
preaches. The major challenge facing the church is, he said, "to
articulate the message of the faith in a way that's actually
influential and convincing to people."
The most pressing problem facing the church, said Cardinal Theodore
E. McCarrick, archbishop of Washington, is "the secularity of our
society, the passivity of people with regard to things of God."
In the third world, the church does not face the problem of making
Christianity relevant. By serving the poor, refugees or people with
AIDS, by speaking out on corruption, deforestation or global debt
relief, churches are engaged in peoples' lives.
A crucial and delicate challenge for the next pope is relations with
Islam at a time when militant Islam is on the rise. The church under
John Paul focused its major interfaith and ecumenical initiatives on
mending relations with Jews and Orthodox Christianity. But now the most
urgent interfaith dialogue must be with Muslims, said Daniel Thompson,
a theology and religious studies professor at Fordham University.
This should be headline news around the world but at most it'll be buried as a science/feature story.
I think it was an evil character, perhaps on the teevee show Carnivále, who made the point that man was the only animal who utterly depletes and destroys his environment and when nothing's left moves on--to another area using it up and discarding it. Wasn't a startling revelation other than the setting of the show was the 1930's. Regardless of which evil character uttered those words, he/she is right. We are the destroyers of the earth or as my 12 y.o. son says, "Humans are the Earth's worst enemy." (Yes, I know it's been said before but it does sound rather chilling coming from a child).
Human Damage to Earth Worsening Fast -Report
Wed Mar 30, 2005 05:38 AM ET
By Alister Doyle, Environment Correspondent
OSLO (Reuters) - Humans are damaging the planet at an unprecedented
rate and raising risks of abrupt collapses in nature that could spur
disease, deforestation or "dead zones" in the seas, an international
report said on Wednesday.
The study, by 1,360 experts in 95 nations, said a rising human
population had polluted or over-exploited two-thirds of the ecological
systems on which life depends, ranging from clean air to fresh water,
in the past 50 years.
"At the heart of this assessment is a stark warning," said the 45-member board of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
"Human activity is putting such strain on the natural functions of
Earth that the ability of the planet's ecosystems to sustain future
generations can no longer be taken for granted," it said.
Ten to 30 percent of mammal, bird and amphibian species were already
threatened with extinction, according to the assessment, the biggest
review of the planet's life support systems.
"Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly
and extensively than in any comparable time in human history, largely
to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber
and fuel," the report said.
"This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in
the diversity of life on earth," it added. More land was changed to
cropland since 1945, for instance, than in the 18th and 19th centuries
combined.
GETTING WORSE
"The harmful consequences of this degradation could grow significantly
worse in the next 50 years," it said. The report was compiled by
experts, including from U.N. agencies and international scientific and
development organizations.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said the study "shows how human
activities are causing environmental damage on a massive scale
throughout the world, and how biodiversity -- the very basis for life
on earth -- is declining at an alarming rate."
The report said there was evidence that strains on nature could trigger
abrupt changes like the collapse of cod fisheries off Newfoundland in
Canada in 1992 after years of over-fishing.
Future changes could bring sudden outbreaks of disease. Warming of the
Great Lakes in Africa due to climate change, for instance, could create
conditions for a spread of cholera.
And a build-up of nitrogen from fertilizers washed off farmland into
seas could spur abrupt blooms of algae that choke fish or create
oxygen-depleted "dead zones" along coasts.
It said deforestation often led to less rainfall. And at some point,
lack of rain could suddenly undermine growing conditions for remaining
forests in a region.
"We're seeing an increasing risk of abrupt changes in many ecosystems,"
Walt Reid, executive director of the assessment, told Reuters.
The report said that in 100 years, global warming widely blamed on
burning of fossil fuels in cars, factories and power plants, might take
over as the main source of damage. The report mainly looks at other,
shorter-term risks.
The study, to be handed to governments, said big changes in
consumption, better education, new technology and higher prices for
exploiting ecosystems could brake damage.
"Governments should recognize that natural services have costs," A.H.
Zakri of the U.N. University and a co-chair of the report told Reuters.
"Protection of natural services is unlikely to be a priority for those
who see them as free and limitless."
