Forever A Fangirl

Homeland - Episode 2.03 - Carrie's Struggle For Her Sanity Intensifies @SHO_Homeland @SHO_Kareem

Damian Lewis and Claire Danes in the Emmy-award winning "Homeland' (Credit: Showtime)

Homeland : 'The Tailor' Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

Roya tasks Brody with a new mission.

Homeland : Bipolarity (VIDEO):

Writer and Consulting Producer Meredith Stiehm discusses writing a bipolar character.

An important part of the reason that HOMELAND resonates with people is the harrowingly realistic portrayal by Claire Danes of Carrie Mathison, a woman afflicted with the oft-misunderstood bipolar disorder. Instead of the 'disease of the week-type' of treatment that viewers are so used to seeing in  television drama, Homeland has chosen, with the input of people including Writer and Consulting Producer Meredith Stiehm (see video interview above), to integrate having bipolar disorder as a very important component of what makes Danes' former CIA agent seem authentic and even relatable. I really do think that is part of why audiences have taken to her character so deeply.

I excerpted an article after the jump which further expands upon how "Carrie's" affliction serves to make her character perhaps the most identifiable for many viewers. It all comes down IMO, to the creatives behind the show including Ms. Danes, taking their character's disease very seriously--not glossing over it nor amping it up above what is believable. It works to serve the story in such a compelling & compassionate way.

BTW, Homeland episode 3 is the one that I 'warned' you about. Your mind will be blown. I can't say any more without spoiling it but I will say it is definitely worth watching more than once!

Homeland : 'Wired' Sneak Peek (VIDEO):

Carrie finishes up a report.

HOMELAND Episode 203 – “State of Independence” SYNOPSIS:

Written by Alexander Cary
Directed by Lodge Kerrigan

Fresh from her adventures in Beirut, a restless Carrie prepares for what she hopes will be a triumphant return to the CIA. Meanwhile, Brody learns that the Gettysburg bombmaker is on a terrorist watch list and in danger of imminent discovery. With no time to lose, Brody attempts a last-minute exfiltration. And Jessica takes risks of her own as she steps into the political limelight. (Source: Showtime)

Below: Episode 2 Highlights VIDEO:

Homeland : Dissecting a Scene: Beirut is Back (VIDEO) Interview:

The cast and crew discuss creating the assassination attempt scene.

Official HOMELAND Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HomelandOnShowtime

Official  

HOMELAND

 

 Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHO_Homeland

Official  

HOMELAND

 

 Series Page: http://www.sho.com/site/homeland/home.sho

After the jump:

'Sookie' and 'Bill' of True Blood Fly Away from L.A. (2.18.2011) #trueblood #paquin #moyer

Stephen Moyer and Anna Paquin departing from LAX airport (February 18):

 

Source:

http://www.paquinanna.com/photos/thumbnails.php?album=819

Rarely would I publish shots of Anna Paquin (Sookie Stackhouse) and Stephen Moyer (Vampire Bill Compton) off-stage but in this case they are in a very public place and don't seem to be hiding or try to eat a meal or some-such. Folks into their show are in  mega withdrawal from True Blood so here's a fix.

Notice that in the LAX airport shots that Anna is wearing her hair in the only signature Sookie Stackhouse  hairstyle--a high ponytail-- that she sometimes does off set? Very simple and polished-looking.

Photo credit: HBO

Currently, Paquin & Moyer are about one-third into shooting season 4 of True Blood which begins airing new episodes on June 12, 2011 on HBO.

More mundane* snaps of them acting like a normal couple making their way through the airport after the jump:

*'Mundane' in what they are doing--not how fantastic they look.

 

Update! ACTING OUTLAWS - LA La Ride Prep & Sendoff - Katee Sackhoff, Tricia Helfer Video

Update! Tonite:

 

Continually urged to "make out" and "show us your boobs" by a few infants that troll ustream, Tricia gives in and gives Katee some lovin'

 

actingoutlaws | October 25, 2010

Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer prep on the day they leave for The LA La Ride -- taking them 2500 miles from Los Angeles, CA to New Orleans, Louisiana.

Follow Katee and Tricia's ride via live video chats every night at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-la-...

  (BTW, Katee is on CSI tonight--check your local listings.)

Katee, trying to read a fast moving stream of ustream comments reads eleven "Bichon" (dogs) as "eleven bike on." Here she reads. Trica starts to realize that ...

...the subject is ownership of 11 Bichon dogs...

Katee starts with that infectious, crazy "Starbuck" laugh...

...which sends Tricia into fits of laughter...

 Pulling themselves up from the floor LITERALLY, they try to get back on track but Katee...

...keeps bursting into laughter and gets Tricia going each time. By now they are both crying ...and Katee has peed herself (update/ "maybe a little").

Probably some much-needed hilarity. It's still up on ustream  (see links on this page). These women totally rock. Frak a TV show with Ben and Locke. Wouldn't you rather watch these two each week?

You've seen Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff on both the big and small screens. They will be rememberd for decades for their iconic portryals of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace and the cylon "Six" on Battlestar Galactica.
Here though, they are not portraying anyone.

On Ustream and in their tweets Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff are for reals. Most of the time completely without makeup-- both stunning, natural beauties--what comes across even more so is their humour and great big hearts of gold.

Last night's live feed of them was hysterically funny. They are so exhausted from the trip that they are punchy--plus they have a glass or 2 or wine and/or some "Vive"(idk, I think w/alcohol, tho') drink before they broadcast. This makes for great entertainment though they never lose sight of why they are nearly killing themselves in some horrendous conditions to bring awareness to and raise money for http://www.healthygulf.org and http://www.gulffuture.org and continue to help the people and the wildlife in the gulf region who will bee affected by the BP oil spill possibly for decades.

Get more information at http://www.actingoutlaws.org

Please visit http://www.healthygulf.org and http://www.gulffuture.org to donate and continue to help the people and the wildlife in the gulf region who continue to be affected by the BP oil spill.

Video directed/edited by Justin Berger for HKL Films
Produced by HKL Films and Acting Outlaws
http://www.hklfilms.com

How Did Battlestar Galactica's Starbuck & Six Turn Into Biker Chicks For Charity?

 

"At the #BMW dealer in Longbeach getting fit for the motorbikes!!"

@kateesackoff and @trutriciahelfer get ready for a 2500 miles cross-country trip to raise awareness and $ for the devastated Gulf area.

actingoutlaws | October 05, 2010

Actresses Katee Sackhoff and Tricia Helfer prepare for their 2500 mile trip from Los Angeles to Louisiana with the help of Heather Lewis as they test which BMW bikes they want to take on the trip and practice maneuvers to prepare them for any unpredictable weather conditions and unforeseen problems which may arise.

"The LA La Ride" is a charity ride to raise money and awareness for the Gulf in regards to the BP oil spill disaster and is in conjunction with the Gulf Restoration Network. BMW has graciously donated the bikes Katee and Tricia will be riding.

Get all the details at http://www.actingoutlaws.org

Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/actingoutlaws
and Twitter http://www.twitter.com/actingoutlaws

Text to donate: "FUTURE" to 85944 to donate $10 to the Gulf Future campaign for Gulf Coast recovery.
http://www.healthygulf.org

actingoutlaws | September 16, 2010

Beginning Friday, October 22nd, Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica, 24, Nip/Tuck) and Tricia Helfer (Battlestar Galactica, Burn Notice, Dark Blue) will ride from Los Angeles, CA to New Orleans, LA to raise funds and awareness for the continuous conflict and enduring environmental impact that the Gulf Oil Disaster has caused to this region.

Says Sackhoff and Helfer, "On a quest to do our part to protect the earth and all its inhabitants, we sought a way to marry our love of the open road with our love of humanity. Welcome the Acting Outlaws."

Clip directed and edited by Justin Berger for HKL Films
Clip produced by HKL Films and Acting Outlaws
http://www.hklfilms.com

Katee just deadlifted this bike!

Be sure to follow them @kateesackoff and @trutriciahelfer and @actingoutlaws.

Though neither own BMW bikes yet, both women are very serious about mastering the art of riding them.

I really, really, want to buy  one of those t-shirts! EDIT/ Keep checking the actingoutlaws.org site as the t-shirts for men, women & babies (also fits canines, according to Katee) should be up for sale soon! Marketing peeps pls. put something together where buying one = donating to the cause! (I'm donating anyway.) Or/Also, they make donating $ super easy and only suggest $10! Go HERE: Text to donate: "FUTURE" to 85944 to donate $10 to the Gulf Future campaign for Gulf Coast recovery.
http://www.healthygulf.org

(Below) Both Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff explain how they got started riding motorcycles and why they think more women should. They are quite a duo.

losangelestimes | September 01, 2009

Susan Carpenter, motorcycle columnist for the Los Angeles Times rides with Battlestar Galactica stars Tricia Helfer and Katee Sackhoff on Angeles Crest Highway.

 

Bicycle Rush Hour in Utrecht (Netherlands): Must Been Seen...

markenlei — April 28, 2010 — Morning rush hour in the 4th largest city in the Netherlands. Streets look like this when 33% of ALL trips are made by bicycle!

This is an ordinary Wednesday morning in April 2010 at around 8.30 am. Original time was 8 minutes that were compressed into 2 minutes, so everything is 4 times faster than in reality. The sound is original.

These cyclists cross a one way bus lane (also used by taxis and municipal vehicles), two light rail tracks and then a one way street that can be used by private vehicles.

This is one of the busiest junctions in Utrecht a city with a population of 300,000. No less than 18,000 bicycles and 2,500 buses pass here every day. And yet Google Street View missed it. Because private motorized traffic is restricted here.

Behind the camera is a railway (you can hear the squeaking sounds of the trains passing) and the main railway station is very close too. A number of rental bikes from the station pass and many of the cyclists will have come by train for the first part of their commute.

For those who frown upon the total absence of bike helmets in this video, consider these findings from a US study:

"Cycling in the Netherlands is much safer than in the USA. The Netherlands has the lowest non-fatal injury rate as well as the lowest fatality rate, while the USA has the highest non-fatal injury rate as well as the highest fatality rate. Indeed, the non-fatal injury rate for the USA is about 30 times higher than for the Netherlands.

Injury rate per million km cycled: USA 37.5; NL 1.4
Fatality rate per 100 million km cycled: USA 5.8; NL 1.1"

From: Pucher, John and Buehler, Ralph (2008) 'Making Cycling Irresistible: Lessons from The Netherlands, Denmark and Germany'.

http://policy.rutgers.edu/faculty/pucher/Irresistible.pdf

I want a bike. I miss riding my bike.

I totally love that there is a total absence of bike helmets in this video. 

There are only a couple of standards scenario when you fall from a bike, only one of which in many years of cycling have I personally participated in:

You wipe out on your own and almost always your limbs take the brunt of it. I have a very nice scar on my knee to show for it. I have never hit my head while bicycling. Helmets are for toddlers.

Just as a P.S., I'm curious how the rate of obesity in Utrecht compares with an American city of equal population. Something tells me they ain't equal.

Trading Detroit-Windsor For Port Huron-Sarnia

View Larger Map

Starting back in June when we drove to Maple Lake, Ontario to open up the cottage for the summer we endured what was the most dreaded part of the trip--crossing the border into Canada at Detroit.

Crossing into Canada at Detroit-Windsor is frustrating, time consuming, confusing and worst of all IMO, frightening if you are unfortunate enough to to do so when it's dark.

Due to various commitments here we often did it in the dark--and I did it alone--for the last time I might add. The second to last time that we came home I made up my mind: no Detroit crossing for me. It appeared that crossing the border by driving slightly north--via Flint, MI would be viable though possibly of a longer duration. Every other trip we'd made via Detroit--six of them previously this summer--resulted in a travel time of a minimum of 13 hours. We don't dawdle or make excessive stops, either. Short stops with some brisk walking (we have a dog) and back on the road. This trip we ventured out and decided to blow Detroit off completely. The crossing at Port Huron-Sarnia was painless and fast and on the way home we made the almost 700 mile trip in 12 hours flat!

We had a superb long Labour Day weekend. We took an extra day so had three full days at the cottage. The weather just got better each day with the last actually getting quite hot. It was hands-down the best weather of the 5 weeks total that I spent on Maple Lake this year* and it was a fantastic send off for summer.

*They broke a 70-year record for rainfall.

My very favourite Maple Lake photo from summer, 2008.

 

Two weeks later this groin (the rock thing above that spouse built) help form this much beach (below w/ red canoe). There was no beach initially due to rain all summer.

   

 

Spouse is a master beach-maker!

 

Labour Day Forecast : Awesome!

Spouse and I will be driving north tomorrow and will be at Lake on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. If I didn't have responsibilities you could not pry me away to come back home. However, from the perspective of being home my biggest responsibility--my family--is also the one that I get the most joy from.

I have a feeling that September at Maple Lake Ontario is going to rock!

At least spouse and I get to enjoy 3 days of it! Woot!

Wait 'till you see the Moocards I ordered today-almost all have Haliburton cottage country scenes that I photographed. They are beautiful and now are updated since my sample pack--which I don't want to give away the last of, is really outdated and the contact information is outdated as well (one of ways to customize Moocards is as mini-business cards).

NOT A PAID POST~

Days gone bye

Four of them have and I've not got a lot to show for it.
Took son school supply shopping ostensibly for just his engineering class. Dropped $50 in the blink of a eye. Haven't gotten the supply lists for other classes but he thinks that we may not have to purchase 4 extra books for English again this year (we didn't have to but it was suggested so that when mid-term test time rolled around he'd have the books from which a chunk of it was based on).
Remember when all you needed to purchase for school supplies was a pencil and later, a pen? No? Then you are too young to relate. Modern parents buy a tons of stuff and then pay hundreds in book fees.

The second day home I took son and two of his long-times buddies to Gameworks from early afternoon through evening.

Son's 16th birthday and first day of school were yesterday and by then I felt like a wet dish-rag. The long drive home alone from the doesn't really hit me until a day or two later--and that's when (in my fantasies) I chill at home leisurely unpacking. There's been no chilling and nothing leisurely. Also no unpacking.

However I was reminded today of how much I missed the school-day "debriefings" son and I do immediately after school. I get to hear the news of the day whilst it is still fresh and he reinforces what is on his plate for each class. He really doesn't seem to mind it though it came about as a way for him to be better organized/us better informed.

So far, he's really digging his AP Physics and AP Trig and Calc classes. With the exception of one or two friends he's got a goodly amount in each class so the social aspect seems to be off to a good start, too.
Apologies to anyone who I've neglected online. It's just a pretty big deal to go away for a month but leave one person here--one person who does not really clean--yet didn't do anything strikingly bad either. I just have to wipe off everything before I touch it which was exactly as I did for the first week in the cottage after it was sealed up tightly for nine months.
Plus, no person of the male persuation in this house can "see" dust collecting EVERYWHERE.
Housework should be called house hard labour.

So OK, here I am about to attack the gmail. Stay tuned for some graphics of why my drive home took 1.5 hours longer than it should have (14 hours, total).

From Battle Creek to Climax to Kalamazoo, Michigan--one lane highway--many big trucks--top speed 20 mph. Usually 5 or 10 mph. The truckers, me, and other souls who had to shift gears were not really thrilled with this. Burned a quarter tank of gas.

Oh Detroit, what can one say that hasn't already been said? Who made the detour so I had to fear for my life to be able to get back in to the US? It's just a big circle! And my, what a lovely little tour of the city one gets! The construction mini-highway signs seemed to be directing me correctly but as I saw the last choice --94 East and no sign that said 94 West, I pulled into a well-lit Marathon station. The bullet-proof glass looked like it would be highly effective. The nice man inside quickly verified that I just needed to continue down the road and the on-ramp would be on my left. Then he added a grave-sounding "Be careful!" Holy moley. I was being careful--did not need confirmation that this was a scary place. I was sincerely trying get the heck out of there as quickly as my 5-speed would let me. So home is where I am, feeling sort of normal, finally. Still haven't unpacked my suitcase though I've been cheating and getting clothes to wear each day from it so I'll have less to drag out of there.

Think I smell dinner. Hasta.

Halfway Through Driver's Education And Still Alive To Tell Of It

This is one of the videos the kids watched today in summer school elective driver's education class. 

The kids are about halfway through the course, after which here in Illinois there is another 6-7 months before they/my son can be licensed with the heaviest restrictions in the country for new driver's. Go Illinois. It's funny, because if I may get tangential a bit, some surrounding states have some of the loosest laws on the books for various people-controlling situations. Some state laws have left me slack-jawed with how little they seem to worry about kids driving a lethal weapon with a truncated amount of driver's training. It's a situation by situation call but sheesh, the Chicago area is strict!  I'm completely happy however, to have non-farm living kids defer driving as long as they need to. A couple years driving experience is what is required here in Illinois before a kid under the age of 18 can drive on an unrestricted license. Age 18 is when they have full freedom behind the wheel. In fact, at age 18 one needs no driver's training whatsoever to obtain an Illinois driver's license--just take the easy written and basic driving test test and voilà! no matter how bad of a driver you are--you too can get around on four fast wheels!

I'm glad my kid is low-key by nature because he's very serious about driving--but doesn't seem nervous at all--just very focused. Being so new at this, he's slipping up here and there, making too abrupt a lane change, sometimes forgetting his signal that he is changing lanes but I must admit it's kind of fun to be side by side when he drives at night for the very first time as we did coming home from Wall-E Sunday night. Overall, I know he's doing tonnes better than his unfortunate driver's ed. partner, a young lady who has a strong chance of not passing the course (though it makes no difference to the state if she passes or fails--she proceeds the same way my son will).

Son says the scariest thing his driving partner does is make turns into oncoming traffic (!) The driving instructor has grabbed the wheel a couple of times due to that. Son also reports that the young lady doesn't seem to be a good judge of knowing when to stop in time before hitting the car in front of her so the instructor has used his passenger -side brake numerous times. My son says hs "can always tell when he's using his brake because his leg jumps and it (the stopping) feels different." I just  am a bit flabbergasted that my son has gone for multiple drives with this girl and had to sit in the back seat with no power what.so .ever. to correct what must be a pretty intense situation. :/

One last thing. The video above is graphic by US standards. In fact, outside of driver's training class I've never seen such a public advertisement. My feeling is that the United States government is too cozy with the American automakers to put out something so blatantly a warning about how dangerous operating a passenger vehicle is. Service to the public interest?  That's to be chuckled at. The video is not, however-- you've been warned.

Purple Dinosaurs and Ruby Slippers...

 

...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.

A moment or two in my garden of life~ 06.22.08

Drove almost to Wisconsin to our 2 y.o. nephew's birthday party and his bro's baptism dinner. ZOMG! Top down in the Mustang through the country was awesome. Spouse picked up his aunt in his car as we couldn't all fit n the 'stang.

Got great gas mileage even for an 8 cylinder stick!
I am totally needing a shower!

(Below) Our garden pics snapped at 8 p.m.
I love natural light!

Dad's Day recap

Today was a bit different.

My 15 y.o. took me out for his practice driving. It was only the second time he's ever driven a car and he did well.

We started in a parking lot and went to side streets. The downside to side streets is that they can be narrow and the downside to life is that some people cannot parallel park so we had a very near brush with an oversize parked SUV hogging a chunk of the road. I gasped involuntarily but otherwise did not get at all alarmed on the outside. :p

It's actually kind of cute 'cos Chris is saying stuff like, "I can't go out onto the main road because I've never driven behind a car." So innocent-sounding. Even though he's a teen there's still a wee bit of the stuff that I got all mushy about when I towered over him, not the reverse as it is now.

His dad works 7 days a week so we had a nice take away dinner from Sizzling Wok and then went and did our usual Sunday evening thing of mini-golf. "Al," the manager recognized us from last season and said the fees were "on him"! That's $25.75, ladies and gentlemen. My wallet thanks him--and I thought he was a cool dude before.

The rain held off until the 7th hole and by the time we got to the 13th it had stopped but we were soaked. We rode top down and got semi-dry on the way home where we did prezzies--just sensible stuff--clothes. Cool greeting cards though that we mocked up ourselves and printed so a nice ending to the weekend.

I hope everyone had some fun. Here we go--another week!

Take care and make it a good one!

xx

Cyn

From last weekend:

My Uncle Jim w/ a three-lb. pickerel (small pike) his 9-y.o. granddaughter caught in Maple Lake on our first day there.

That is spouse behind him.

What would you most like to change about your life?

I wonder how many folks would

have their change be to have

more money?

To get what I want I would need lots more money. The "change" being the ability to travel the world.

That more than anything, is what I would change. And this is funny to me because a few years ago I would have said I want a healthy heart again and that still would be great. But I don't yearn for it the way I do to see the Pacific Ocean from the perspective of a beach in Kauai or to go on what looks to be the fantastic adventure of getting acquainted with Australia.