from:"KeithBJohnson"

Why is that, you think? I can think of three potential reasons (remembering I 
haven't seen it):

1. The old belief Americans don't like big monster movies is true.  Don't think 
that's it. Hope not...
2. Simply the winter doldrums for film? Also don't think that's it...
3. The word-of-mouth about the shaky camera scared off a lot of people. Have to 
admit, that's done it for me and my friends.
4. It's just not very good. Don't think that's it as reviews I've heard have in 
the main been pretty good.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Cloverfield Drops To Fourth 
 
 A week after setting an opening-weekend record for the month of January, 
 Cloverfield fell to fourth place at the box office, taking in just $12.7 
 million in its second weekend of release, the Associated Press reported. 
 The monster movie, from producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves, 
 saw a steep 68 percent drop from its initial take of $41 million. 
 
 Despite the decline, Cloverfield easily surpassed its reported $25 
 million budget, with a total box-office gross of almost $65 million in 
 10 days. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=47650 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[scifinoir2] Re: Soliciting Movie Recommendations

What, no help? No one seeing movies, or you all getting them on bootleg? :)
By the way, Michael Clayton is very good. It is, however, and actor's movie. 
There's next to no action interms of fights, explosions, and whatnot. Of course 
the trailers play that up, but it's not the case. In tone and pacing, it 
reminded me of Paul Newman's The Verdict, another great movie. Clooney was 
really good.

-- Original message -- 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith Johnson) 

Tomorrow I'm going to see Michael Clayton, the George Clooney legal thriller 
that's gotten good reviews. Next weekend I'm going to see the animated film 
Persepolis, Atonement, and possibly a film called War Dance, about 
Ugandan children who are victims of war who enter a dance contest to help bring 
some cheer to their lives. But there's a lot of other films out there I haven't 
yet gotten to see. So many, in fact, that I need to make some choices, so I 
catch good ones before they leave the theatre, and don't spend time on ones not 
so good. So i'd like to get opinions on any of the films below you may have 
seen. 

Are they worth paying to see at the theatre?

The Great Debaters - I always try to support Black films. How is it?
Honeydripper- I always try to see a John Sayles film, but this one was here and 
gone so quickly
Cloverfield - There have been many opinions on this one, but I fear that shaky 
camera would be too much...
No Country for Old Men - Getting rave reviews...
Charlie Wilson's War
There Will Be Blood - Daniel Day-Lewis disappears into another role
First Sunday - Just kidding; I have no desire to drop my ducats on that 
slapstick-looking crap! Am I wrong?
Mad Money - Ditto, I think?
The Bucket List - Never been a fan of comedies dealing with death. Any good?
The Orphanage
The Golden Compass
National Treasure 2 - hated the first one, so doubt i'd even consider this 
seriously
Kite Runner
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Nolan on Heath Ledger

Ledger seemed to have been going in the direction of someone like Daniel 
Day-Lewis, taking roles based only on learning something new, disappearing into 
the role, often bringing it home with him. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Charisma as Natural as Gravity
NEWSWEEK
Updated: 3:21 PM ET Jan 26, 2008

Heath Ledger, 28, Actor

Best known for his haunting, Oscar-nominated performance as Ennis Del 
Mar, one of the gay cowboys in 2005 ' s Brokeback Mountain, Ledger was 
a massive young talent on the cusp of greatness when he died last week 
in New York. The native Australian, who is survived by his 2-year-old 
daughter, Matilda, had recently finished work on this summer's Batman 
sequel, The Dark Knight, in which he plays a villain, the Joker. 
Christopher Nolan, the film's director, shared these memories:

One night, as I'm standing on LaSalle Street in Chicago, trying to line 
up a shot for The Dark Knight, a production assistant skateboards into 
my line of sight. Silently, I curse the moment that Heath first skated 
onto our set in full character makeup. I'd fretted about the reaction of 
Batman fans to a skateboarding Joker, but the actual result was a 
proliferation of skateboards among the younger crew members. If you'd 
asked those kids why they had chosen to bring their boards to work, they 
would have answered honestly that they didn't know. That's real 
charismaâas invisible and natural as gravity. That's what Heath had.

Heath was bursting with creativity. It was in his every gesture. He once 
told me that he liked to wait between jobs until he was creatively 
hungry. Until he needed it again. He brought that attitude to our set 
every day. There aren't many actors who can make you feel ashamed of how 
often you complain about doing the best job in the world. Heath was one 
of them.

One time he and another actor were shooting a complex scene. We had two 
days to shoot it, and at the end of the first day, they'd really found 
something and Heath was worried that he might not have it if we stopped. 
He wanted to carry on and finish. It's tough to ask the crew to work 
late when we all know there's plenty of time to finish the next day. But 
everyone seemed to understand that Heath had something special and that 
we had to capture it before it disappeared. Months later, I learned that 
as Heath left the set that night, he quietly thanked each crew member 
for working late. Quietly. Not trying to make a point, just grateful for 
the chance to create that they'd given him.

Those nights on the streets of Chicago were filled with stunts. These 
can be boring times for an actor, but Heath was fascinated, eagerly 
accepting our invitation to ride in the camera car as we chased vehicles 
through movie trafficânot just for the thrill ride, but to be a part of 
it. Of everything. He'd brought his laptop along in the car, and we had 
a high-speed screening of two of his works-in-progress: short films he'd 
made that were exciting and haunting. Their exuberance made me feel 
jaded and leaden. I've never felt as old as I did watching Heath explore 
his talents. That night I made him an offerâknowing he wouldn't take me 
up on itâthat he should feel free to come by the set when he had a night 
off so he could see what we were up to.

When you get into the edit suite after shooting a movie, you feel a 
responsibility to an actor who has trusted you, and Heath gave us 
everything. As we started my cut, I would wonder about each take we 
chose, each trim we made. I would visualize the screening where we'd 
have to show him the finished filmâsitting three or four rows behind 
him, watching the movements of his head for clues to what he was 
thinking about what we'd done with all that he'd given us. Now that 
screening will never be real. I see him every day in my edit suite. I 
study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly.

Back on LaSalle Street, I turn to my assistant director and I tell him 
to clear the skateboarding kid out of my line of sight when I 
realizeâit's Heath, woolly hat pulled low over his eyes, here on his 
night off to take me up on my offer. I can't help but smile.
URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/105580


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: Edwards Dropping out]

Obama's catch phrase is Change, and the saying cropping up around him now is 
Yes we can!

Guess my mantra from here on will be Multi-party system! Nationwide primary!  
 :(

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

  Original Message  
 Subject: Edwards Dropping out 
 Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:36:20 -0500 
 From: CINQUE 
 Reply-To: 
 
 John Edwards to quit presidential race 
 
 By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 3 minutes ago 
 
 Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday, ending 
 a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward progressive 
 ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' 
 sympathies, The Associated Press has learned. 
 
 The two-time White House candidate notified a close circle of senior 
 advisers that he planned to make the announcement at a 1 p.m. EST event 
 in New Orleans that had been billed as a speech on poverty, according to 
 two aides. The decision came after Edwards lost the four states to hold 
 nominating contests so far to rivals who stole the spotlight from the 
 beginning  Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. 
 
 The former North Carolina senator will not immediately endorse either 
 candidate in what is now a two-person race for the Democratic 
 nomination, said one adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity in 
 advance of the announcement. 
 
 Edwards waged a spirited top-tier campaign against the two better-funded 
 rivals, even as he dealt with the stunning blow of his wife's recurring 
 cancer diagnosis. In a dramatic news conference last March, the couple 
 announced that the breast cancer that she thought she had beaten had 
 returned, but they would continue the campaign. 
 
 Their decision sparked a debate about family duty and public service. 
 But Elizabeth Edwards remained a forceful advocate for her husband, and 
 she was often surrounded at campaign events by well-wishers and 
 emotional survivors cheering her on. 
 
 Edwards planned to announce his campaign was ending with his wife and 
 three children at his side. Then he planned to work with Habitat for 
 Humanity at the volunteer-fueled rebuilding project Musicians' Village, 
 the adviser said. 
 
 With that, Edwards' campaign will end the way it began 13 months ago  
 with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still ravaged 
 by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring symbol 
 of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries of the 
 downtrodden. 
 
 Edwards burst out of the starting gate with a flurry of progressive 
 policy ideas  he was the first to offer a plan for universal health 
 care, the first to call on Congress to pull funding for the war, and he 
 led the charge that lobbyists have too much power in Washington and need 
 to be reigned in. 
 
 The ideas were all bold and new for Edwards personally as well, making 
 him a different candidate than the moderate Southerner who ran in 2004 
 while still in his first Senate term. But the themes were eventually 
 adopted by other Democratic presidential candidates  and even a 
 Republican, Mitt Romney, echoed the call for an end to special interest 
 politics in Washington. 
 
 Edwards' rise to prominence in politics came amid just one term 
 representing North Carolina in the Senate after a career as a trial 
 attorney that made him millions. He was on Al Gore's short list for vice 
 president in 2000 after serving just two years in office. He ran for 
 president in 2004, and after he lost to John Kerry, the nominee picked 
 him as a running mate. 
 
 Elizabeth Edwards first discovered a lump in her breast in the final 
 days of that losing campaign. Her battle against the disease caused her 
 husband to open up about another tragedy in their lives  the death of 
 their teenage son Wade in a 1996 car accident. The candidate barely 
 spoke of Wade during his 2004 campaign, but he offered his son's death 
 to answer questions about how he could persevere when his wife could die. 
 
 Edwards made poverty the signature issue of both his presidential 
 campaigns, and he led a four-day tour to highlight the issue in July. 
 The tour, the first to focus on the plight of the poor since Robert F. 
 Kennedy's trip 40 years earlier, also was an effort to remind voters 
 that a rich man can care about the less fortunate. It came as Edwards 
 was dogged by negative coverage of his personal wealth, including his 
 construction of a 28,000-square foot house, his work for a hedge fund 
 that advised the superrich and $400 haircuts. 
 
 But even through the dark days of summer and as Obama and Clinton 
 collected astonishing amounts of money that dwarfed his fundraising 
 effort, Edwards maintained a loyal following in the first voting state 
 of Iowa that made him a serious contender. He came in second to Obama in 
 Iowa, an impressive feat of

Re: [scifinoir2] Cloverfield Drops To Fourth

The shaky camera means i'll be watching in on the small screen at home. As for 
not seeing the monster until near the end, I'm okay with that as long as the 
story itself is exciting and engaging.  Sometimes nothing's so suspense as 
being forced to wait until the terror is finally seen. But I do think the 
device of telling it from the point of view of just a dude running with a 
camera wasn't the best way to go. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Idi not see it, so everything I say is based on hearsay. I think the 
following. 

Even people who like it, knowingly or not, point out aspects of the film 
that make it less appealing to those who are thinking about going to see 
it. They include the following: You do not see much of the monster, 
many people and critics speak of getting nauseous from the shaking 
camera, hearing remarks that the characters are either irritating or 
unlikeable, the story is only told from a found camera so you never find 
out about the origins of the monster and many rudimentary questions are 
left unanswered, some people who saw blair witch are not enamored with 
that way of storytelling - at least not exclusively.

Word of mouth about all those issues likely dampened the public's desire 
to run out and see it. Ironically, Word of mouth made it a record 
breaking first weekend hit and word of mouth probably took it down to 
fourth. However, I think it will be a best seller again once it is on 
DVD. If you take into consideration that it had a relative small 
budget, it is still a big money maker. 

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Why is that, you think? I can think of three potential reasons (remembering I 
 haven't seen it):

 1. The old belief Americans don't like big monster movies is true. Don't 
 think that's it. Hope not...
 2. Simply the winter doldrums for film? Also don't think that's it...
 3. The word-of-mouth about the shaky camera scared off a lot of people. Have 
 to admit, that's done it for me and my friends.
 4. It's just not very good. Don't think that's it as reviews I've heard have 
 in the main been pretty good.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 
 Cloverfield Drops To Fourth 

 A week after setting an opening-weekend record for the month of January, 
 Cloverfield fell to fourth place at the box office, taking in just $12.7 
 million in its second weekend of release, the Associated Press reported. 
 The monster movie, from producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves, 
 saw a steep 68 percent drop from its initial take of $41 million. 

 Despite the decline, Cloverfield easily surpassed its reported $25 
 million budget, with a total box-office gross of almost $65 million in 
 10 days. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=47650 



 Yahoo! Groups Links 



 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
 Yahoo! Groups Links





 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Soliciting Movie Recommendations

i hear you

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Yeah I sneak stuff in when I take the kids as well. I'd really like
to have a big screen but I am concerned about the resultant power use
on my electric bill. I'm hoping there will be greener models soon.
Of course, I can't afford them either but it's nice to dream.

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 not a prob. I really want a nice 42 or larger plasma screen for my
 home to make the experience better, espeically for stuff like The
 Dark Knight or Pirates of the Carribbean. But that'll be a
 while-probably another year. Just bought this house a year ago, and
 there are other financial issues ahead of a big TV. But even with a
 widescreen I'll still do the movie route. I just enjoy the
 experience too much to give it up. Though,getting hit with a
 matinee price of eight dollars a ticket stings quite a bit! Then
 to deal with often stale popcorn or over iced drinks costing as
 much as a whole two-litre bottle, served up by profoundly bored and
 distinterested kids moving at a snail's pace? Not fun
 
 That's why I never feel bad sneaking the bologna sandwiches, chips,
 pound cake, Arby's sandwiches, egg rolls, fried chicken, and cans
 of soda into the theatre in my coat pockets and wife's movie bag!
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I never see anything generally until the DVD stage these days.
 Sorry
 I couldn't help
 
 B
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  What, no help? No one seeing movies, or you all getting them on
  bootleg? :)
  By the way, Michael Clayton is very good. It is, however, and
  actor's movie. There's next to no action interms of fights,
  explosions, and whatnot. Of course the trailers play that up, but
  it's not the case. In tone and pacing, it reminded me of Paul
  Newman's The Verdict, another great movie. Clooney was really
  good.
  
  -- Original message -- 
  From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Keith Johnson) 
  
  Tomorrow I'm going to see Michael Clayton, the George Clooney
  legal thriller that's gotten good reviews. Next weekend I'm going
  to see the animated film Persepolis, Atonement, and possibly
 a
  film called War Dance, about Ugandan children who are victims
 of
  war who enter a dance contest to help bring some cheer to their
  lives. But there's a lot of other films out there I haven't yet
  gotten to see. So many, in fact, that I need to make some
 choices,
  so I catch good ones before they leave the theatre, and don't
 spend
  time on ones not so good. So i'd like to get opinions on any of
 the
  films below you may have seen. 
  
  Are they worth paying to see at the theatre?
  
  The Great Debaters - I always try to support Black films. How is
  it?
  Honeydripper- I always try to see a John Sayles film, but this
 one
  was here and gone so quickly
  Cloverfield - There have been many opinions on this one, but I
 fear
  that shaky camera would be too much...
  No Country for Old Men - Getting rave reviews...
  Charlie Wilson's War
  There Will Be Blood - Daniel Day-Lewis disappears into another
 role
  First Sunday - Just kidding; I have no desire to drop my ducats
 on
  that slapstick-looking crap! Am I wrong?
  Mad Money - Ditto, I think?
  The Bucket List - Never been a fan of comedies dealing with
 death.
  Any good?
  The Orphanage
  The Golden Compass
  National Treasure 2 - hated the first one, so doubt i'd even
  consider this seriously
  Kite Runner
  The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  
  
 
 I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
 I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.
 
 You know these things that happen,
 That's just the way it's supposed to be.
 And I can't help but wonder,
 Don't ya know it coulda been me.
 
 __
 Be a better friend, newshound, and 
 know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.
 http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 
 
 
 
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 

I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

You know these things that happen,
That's just the way it's supposed to be.
And I can't help but wonder,
Don't ya know it coulda been me.

__
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. 
http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: Edwards Dropping out]

some good ideas, but most will never pass. Get rid of retirement benefits? 
They'll revolt

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I'm a proponent of the some the following ideas to change government.

End Corporate and business campaign contributions of all kinds. Make
them illegal. Limit personal campaign contributions to a very small
amount. End all gift giving or corporate sponsored trips for
politicians. Curtail campaign advertising and limit the spending.
Garauntee equal TV access for all candidates. 

Make elected positions of leadership on the same payscale as other
civil service jobs like postal workers. End the fat retirement
programs and bring them in line with all other government workers.
Make retirement benefits equal to time on the job. two term senators
should not be getting better retirement benefits than a postal
employee who served 25 years or a career Armed Forces officer.

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Obama's catch phrase is Change, and the saying cropping up around
 him now is Yes we can!
 
 Guess my mantra from here on will be Multi-party system!
 Nationwide primary! :(
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 
   Original Message  
  Subject: Edwards Dropping out 
  Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2008 09:36:20 -0500 
  From: CINQUE 
  Reply-To: 
  
  John Edwards to quit presidential race 
  
  By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer 3 minutes ago 
  
  Democrat John Edwards is exiting the presidential race Wednesday,
 ending 
  a scrappy underdog bid in which he steered his rivals toward
 progressive 
  ideals while grappling with family hardship that roused voters' 
  sympathies, The Associated Press has learned. 
  
  The two-time White House candidate notified a close circle of
 senior 
  advisers that he planned to make the announcement at a 1 p.m. EST
 event 
  in New Orleans that had been billed as a speech on poverty,
 according to 
  two aides. The decision came after Edwards lost the four states
 to hold 
  nominating contests so far to rivals who stole the spotlight from
 the 
  beginning  Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. 
  
  The former North Carolina senator will not immediately endorse
 either 
  candidate in what is now a two-person race for the Democratic 
  nomination, said one adviser, who spoke on condition of anonymity
 in 
  advance of the announcement. 
  
  Edwards waged a spirited top-tier campaign against the two
 better-funded 
  rivals, even as he dealt with the stunning blow of his wife's
 recurring 
  cancer diagnosis. In a dramatic news conference last March, the
 couple 
  announced that the breast cancer that she thought she had beaten
 had 
  returned, but they would continue the campaign. 
  
  Their decision sparked a debate about family duty and public
 service. 
  But Elizabeth Edwards remained a forceful advocate for her
 husband, and 
  she was often surrounded at campaign events by well-wishers and 
  emotional survivors cheering her on. 
  
  Edwards planned to announce his campaign was ending with his wife
 and 
  three children at his side. Then he planned to work with Habitat
 for 
  Humanity at the volunteer-fueled rebuilding project Musicians'
 Village, 
  the adviser said. 
  
  With that, Edwards' campaign will end the way it began 13 months
 ago  
  with the candidate pitching in to rebuild lives in a city still
 ravaged 
  by Hurricane Katrina. Edwards embraced New Orleans as a glaring
 symbol 
  of what he described as a Washington that didn't hear the cries
 of the 
  downtrodden. 
  
  Edwards burst out of the starting gate with a flurry of
 progressive 
  policy ideas  he was the first to offer a plan for universal
 health 
  care, the first to call on Congress to pull funding for the war,
 and he 
  led the charge that lobbyists have too much power in Washington
 and need 
  to be reigned in. 
  
  The ideas were all bold and new for Edwards personally as well,
 making 
  him a different candidate than the moderate Southerner who ran in
 2004 
  while still in his first Senate term. But the themes were
 eventually 
  adopted by other Democratic presidential candidates  and even a 
  Republican, Mitt Romney, echoed the call for an end to special
 interest 
  politics in Washington. 
  
  Edwards' rise to prominence in politics came amid just one term 
  representing North Carolina in the Senate after a career as a
 trial 
  attorney that made him millions. He was on Al Gore's short list
 for vice 
  president in 2000 after serving just two years in office. He ran
 for 
  president in 2004, and after he lost to John Kerry, the nominee
 picked 
  him as a running mate. 
  
  Elizabeth Edwards first discovered a lump in her breast in the
 final 
  days of that losing campaign. Her battle against the disease
 caused her 
  husband to open up about another tragedy in their lives

Re: [scifinoir2] The Forbidden Kingdom

Li and Chan was a dream pairing people have been asking for for years. I hope 
chan's trademark humour is kept to a minimum, and that this is a serious 
effort on his part

-- Original message -- 
From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
http://www.cinematical.com/2007/12/19/exclusive-the-forbidden-kingdom-
poster-premiere/

Cinematical has just received this exclusive poster for The Forbidden 
Kingdom (click on the image for a larger version), otherwise known as 
the film that pairs up martial arts veterans Jackie Chan and Jet Li 
for their first ever big-screen collaboration. Directed by Rob 
Minkoff (The Lion King), The Forbidden Kingdom follows an American 
teen (Michael Angarano) and all-around Kung Fu nut, who comes across 
a mysterious Chinese staff that transports him back to ancient China. 
While there, he meets up with two Kung Fu masters (Chan, Liu Yifei) 
and the Silent Monk (Li), and the four head off to fulfill an ancient 
prophecy to free the jailed Monkey King. Of course, there's another 
set of warriors who will attempt to make their journey just a wee bit 
difficult.

Not long ago, a (sort of) teaser trailer premiered announcing the end 
of principal photography, and the footage looked pretty insane. Keep 
in mind the film's fight choreography is from Yuen Wo Ping (The 
Matrix films, Kill Bill) with cinematography from Peter Pau 
(Shoot 'Em Up) -- which means we're definitely in store for some 
wicked visuals. The Forbidden Kingdom will arrive in theaters on 
April 18.


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Cloverfield Drops To Fourth

i think they might do a sequel if they address some of the complaints. The main 
thing I heard from people who liked it was the plot was thin (no origin story) 
and the monster not seen soon enough. Bring in a sequel with an origin, have 
the monster or monsters front and center, and it'll do well

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The shaky camera is why I said it will be a big hit on DVD. I think 
that a lot of people, myself included, think the camera effect will not 
be as extreme on the small screen. a lot of people, even the fans, say 
the plot is not that developed. I think the other issues I listed 
combined with the shaking and light plot made it into a movie a lot of 
people said, I'll wait for the DVD I'm one of them. I'm still 
looking forward to seeing it.

I was thinking the guy running with the camera should have been big 
part of the story but not the entire story. The viral marketing 
included all this background about the company, the chemical spill, the 
characters blogs, etc. it was ground breaking in how it seemed as if 
the story started before you you even got to the theatre. I think it 
fell short in how the did not really connect the offline story totally 
to the movie, or how you have to get answers about the monster's origins 
from reading interviews. The after movies release of photos was cool 
through. I'd like to see Abrams or someone else take this style of 
movie telling through related web sites, blogs and viral marketing to 
the next level.

Now that the movie made is no t as much as they anticipated, do you 
think that they will still make the sequel?

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 The shaky camera means i'll be watching in on the small screen at home. As 
 for not seeing the monster until near the end, I'm okay with that as long as 
 the story itself is exciting and engaging. Sometimes nothing's so suspense as 
 being forced to wait until the terror is finally seen. But I do think the 
 device of telling it from the point of view of just a dude running with a 
 camera wasn't the best way to go. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Idi not see it, so everything I say is based on hearsay. I think the 
 following. 

 Even people who like it, knowingly or not, point out aspects of the film 
 that make it less appealing to those who are thinking about going to see 
 it. They include the following: You do not see much of the monster, 
 many people and critics speak of getting nauseous from the shaking 
 camera, hearing remarks that the characters are either irritating or 
 unlikeable, the story is only told from a found camera so you never find 
 out about the origins of the monster and many rudimentary questions are 
 left unanswered, some people who saw blair witch are not enamored with 
 that way of storytelling - at least not exclusively.

 Word of mouth about all those issues likely dampened the public's desire 
 to run out and see it. Ironically, Word of mouth made it a record 
 breaking first weekend hit and word of mouth probably took it down to 
 fourth. However, I think it will be a best seller again once it is on 
 DVD. If you take into consideration that it had a relative small 
 budget, it is still a big money maker. 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 Why is that, you think? I can think of three potential reasons (remembering 
 I haven't seen it):

 1. The old belief Americans don't like big monster movies is true. Don't 
 think that's it. Hope not...
 2. Simply the winter doldrums for film? Also don't think that's it...
 3. The word-of-mouth about the shaky camera scared off a lot of people. Have 
 to admit, that's done it for me and my friends.
 4. It's just not very good. Don't think that's it as reviews I've heard have 
 in the main been pretty good.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 


 
 Cloverfield Drops To Fourth 

 A week after setting an opening-weekend record for the month of January, 
 Cloverfield fell to fourth place at the box office, taking in just $12.7 
 million in its second weekend of release, the Associated Press reported. 
 The monster movie, from producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves, 
 saw a steep 68 percent drop from its initial take of $41 million. 

 Despite the decline, Cloverfield easily surpassed its reported $25 
 million budget, with a total box-office gross of almost $65 million in 
 10 days. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=47650 



 Yahoo! Groups Links 




 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]




 Yahoo! Groups Links






 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
 Yahoo! Groups Links





 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Cloverfield Drops To Fourth

i think we'll see more of it. it's not the bringing people in that's the issue, 
but living up to the promise, and the subsequent less-than-enthusiastic 
word-of-mouth that does a movie in. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Totally agree. What do you think this means for the future of 
integrating viral marketing into the storytelling of the movie? Do you 
think we will see more, or is this a one time thing

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 i think they might do a sequel if they address some of the complaints. The 
 main thing I heard from people who liked it was the plot was thin (no origin 
 story) and the monster not seen soon enough. Bring in a sequel with an 
 origin, have the monster or monsters front and center, and it'll do well

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 The shaky camera is why I said it will be a big hit on DVD. I think 
 that a lot of people, myself included, think the camera effect will not 
 be as extreme on the small screen. a lot of people, even the fans, say 
 the plot is not that developed. I think the other issues I listed 
 combined with the shaking and light plot made it into a movie a lot of 
 people said, I'll wait for the DVD I'm one of them. I'm still 
 looking forward to seeing it.

 I was thinking the guy running with the camera should have been big 
 part of the story but not the entire story. The viral marketing 
 included all this background about the company, the chemical spill, the 
 characters blogs, etc. it was ground breaking in how it seemed as if 
 the story started before you you even got to the theatre. I think it 
 fell short in how the did not really connect the offline story totally 
 to the movie, or how you have to get answers about the monster's origins 
 from reading interviews. The after movies release of photos was cool 
 through. I'd like to see Abrams or someone else take this style of 
 movie telling through related web sites, blogs and viral marketing to 
 the next level.

 Now that the movie made is no t as much as they anticipated, do you 
 think that they will still make the sequel?

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 The shaky camera means i'll be watching in on the small screen at home. As 
 for not seeing the monster until near the end, I'm okay with that as long as 
 the story itself is exciting and engaging. Sometimes nothing's so suspense 
 as being forced to wait until the terror is finally seen. But I do think the 
 device of telling it from the point of view of just a dude running with a 
 camera wasn't the best way to go. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Idi not see it, so everything I say is based on hearsay. I think the 
 following. 

 Even people who like it, knowingly or not, point out aspects of the film 
 that make it less appealing to those who are thinking about going to see 
 it. They include the following: You do not see much of the monster, 
 many people and critics speak of getting nauseous from the shaking 
 camera, hearing remarks that the characters are either irritating or 
 unlikeable, the story is only told from a found camera so you never find 
 out about the origins of the monster and many rudimentary questions are 
 left unanswered, some people who saw blair witch are not enamored with 
 that way of storytelling - at least not exclusively.

 Word of mouth about all those issues likely dampened the public's desire 
 to run out and see it. Ironically, Word of mouth made it a record 
 breaking first weekend hit and word of mouth probably took it down to 
 fourth. However, I think it will be a best seller again once it is on 
 DVD. If you take into consideration that it had a relative small 
 budget, it is still a big money maker. 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 Why is that, you think? I can think of three potential reasons (remembering 
 I haven't seen it):

 1. The old belief Americans don't like big monster movies is true. Don't 
 think that's it. Hope not...
 2. Simply the winter doldrums for film? Also don't think that's it...
 3. The word-of-mouth about the shaky camera scared off a lot of people. 
 Have to admit, that's done it for me and my friends.
 4. It's just not very good. Don't think that's it as reviews I've heard 
 have in the main been pretty good.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 



 
 Cloverfield Drops To Fourth 

 A week after setting an opening-weekend record for the month of January, 
 Cloverfield fell to fourth place at the box office, taking in just $12.7 
 million in its second weekend of release, the Associated Press reported. 
 The monster movie, from producer J.J. Abrams and director Matt Reeves, 
 saw a steep 68 percent drop from its initial take of $41

Re: [scifinoir2] Cloverfield Drops To Fourth

yep. I still don't get the National Treasure thing. first movie sucked...

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
If the plot had been better, showed more of the monster and less of the 
shaking camera as well as tied it to the viral marketing as they 
implied, this movie would have kicked national Treasure II [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The 
word of mouth combined with the viral marketing would have sent it over 
the top

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 i think we'll see more of it. it's not the bringing people in that's the 
 issue, but living up to the promise, and the subsequent 
 less-than-enthusiastic word-of-mouth that does a movie in. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Totally agree. What do you think this means for the future of 
 integrating viral marketing into the storytelling of the movie? Do you 
 think we will see more, or is this a one time thing

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 i think they might do a sequel if they address some of the complaints. The 
 main thing I heard from people who liked it was the plot was thin (no origin 
 story) and the monster not seen soon enough. Bring in a sequel with an 
 origin, have the monster or monsters front and center, and it'll do well

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 The shaky camera is why I said it will be a big hit on DVD. I think 
 that a lot of people, myself included, think the camera effect will not 
 be as extreme on the small screen. a lot of people, even the fans, say 
 the plot is not that developed. I think the other issues I listed 
 combined with the shaking and light plot made it into a movie a lot of 
 people said, I'll wait for the DVD I'm one of them. I'm still 
 looking forward to seeing it.

 I was thinking the guy running with the camera should have been big 
 part of the story but not the entire story. The viral marketing 
 included all this background about the company, the chemical spill, the 
 characters blogs, etc. it was ground breaking in how it seemed as if 
 the story started before you you even got to the theatre. I think it 
 fell short in how the did not really connect the offline story totally 
 to the movie, or how you have to get answers about the monster's origins 
 from reading interviews. The after movies release of photos was cool 
 through. I'd like to see Abrams or someone else take this style of 
 movie telling through related web sites, blogs and viral marketing to 
 the next level.

 Now that the movie made is no t as much as they anticipated, do you 
 think that they will still make the sequel?

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 The shaky camera means i'll be watching in on the small screen at home. As 
 for not seeing the monster until near the end, I'm okay with that as long 
 as the story itself is exciting and engaging. Sometimes nothing's so 
 suspense as being forced to wait until the terror is finally seen. But I do 
 think the device of telling it from the point of view of just a dude 
 running with a camera wasn't the best way to go. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Idi not see it, so everything I say is based on hearsay. I think the 
 following. 

 Even people who like it, knowingly or not, point out aspects of the film 
 that make it less appealing to those who are thinking about going to see 
 it. They include the following: You do not see much of the monster, 
 many people and critics speak of getting nauseous from the shaking 
 camera, hearing remarks that the characters are either irritating or 
 unlikeable, the story is only told from a found camera so you never find 
 out about the origins of the monster and many rudimentary questions are 
 left unanswered, some people who saw blair witch are not enamored with 
 that way of storytelling - at least not exclusively.

 Word of mouth about all those issues likely dampened the public's desire 
 to run out and see it. Ironically, Word of mouth made it a record 
 breaking first weekend hit and word of mouth probably took it down to 
 fourth. However, I think it will be a best seller again once it is on 
 DVD. If you take into consideration that it had a relative small 
 budget, it is still a big money maker. 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 
 Why is that, you think? I can think of three potential reasons 
 (remembering I haven't seen it):

 1. The old belief Americans don't like big monster movies is true. Don't 
 think that's it. Hope not...
 2. Simply the winter doldrums for film? Also don't think that's it...
 3. The word-of-mouth about the shaky camera scared off a lot of people. 
 Have to admit, that's done it for me and my friends.
 4. It's just not very good. Don't think that's it as reviews I've heard 
 have in the

Re: [scifinoir2] Cloverfield Drops To Fourth

ha-ha! Juno is very good, but not a must-see,especially not with today's 
exorbitant theatre prices. Ditto for Michael Clayton. I paid matinee prices 
for both and don't regret it, but I can see why you wouldn't want to rush to 
drop ducats on them
-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Keith, I'm taking NT2's still being on top as proof of just how little there is 
out there to see. And the trailers I've been seeing of late, from Strange 
Wilderness to Roscoe Jenkins, makes me more happy than ever that I'm a poor 
man.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yep. I still don't get the National Treasure thing. 
first movie sucked...

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
If the plot had been better, showed more of the monster and less of the 
shaking camera as well as tied it to the viral marketing as they 
implied, this movie would have kicked national Treasure II [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The 
word of mouth combined with the viral marketing would have sent it over 
the top

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 i think we'll see more of it. it's not the bringing people in that's the 
 issue, but living up to the promise, and the subsequent 
 less-than-enthusiastic word-of-mouth that does a movie in. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Totally agree. What do you think this means for the future of 
 integrating viral marketing into the storytelling of the movie? Do you 
 think we will see more, or is this a one time thing

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 i think they might do a sequel if they address some of the complaints. The 
 main thing I heard from people who liked it was the plot was thin (no origin 
 story) and the monster not seen soon enough. Bring in a sequel with an 
 origin, have the monster or monsters front and center, and it'll do well

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 The shaky camera is why I said it will be a big hit on DVD. I think 
 that a lot of people, myself included, think the camera effect will not 
 be as extreme on the small screen. a lot of people, even the fans, say 
 the plot is not that developed. I think the other issues I listed 
 combined with the shaking and light plot made it into a movie a lot of 
 people said, I'll wait for the DVD I'm one of them. I'm still 
 looking forward to seeing it.

 I was thinking the guy running with the camera should have been big 
 part of the story but not the entire story. The viral marketing 
 included all this background about the company, the chemical spill, the 
 characters blogs, etc. it was ground breaking in how it seemed as if 
 the story started before you you even got to the theatre. I think it 
 fell short in how the did not really connect the offline story totally 
 to the movie, or how you have to get answers about the monster's origins 
 from reading interviews. The after movies release of photos was cool 
 through. I'd like to see Abrams or someone else take this style of 
 movie telling through related web sites, blogs and viral marketing to 
 the next level.

 Now that the movie made is no t as much as they anticipated, do you 
 think that they will still make the sequel?

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 The shaky camera means i'll be watching in on the small screen at home. As 
 for not seeing the monster until near the end, I'm okay with that as long 
 as the story itself is exciting and engaging. Sometimes nothing's so 
 suspense as being forced to wait until the terror is finally seen. But I do 
 think the device of telling it from the point of view of just a dude 
 running with a camera wasn't the best way to go. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Idi not see it, so everything I say is based on hearsay. I think the 
 following. 

 Even people who like it, knowingly or not, point out aspects of the film 
 that make it less appealing to those who are thinking about going to see 
 it. They include the following: You do not see much of the monster, 
 many people and critics speak of getting nauseous from the shaking 
 camera, hearing remarks that the characters are either irritating or 
 unlikeable, the story is only told from a found camera so you never find 
 out about the origins of the monster and many rudimentary questions are 
 left unanswered, some people who saw blair witch are not enamored with 
 that way of storytelling - at least not exclusively.

 Word of mouth about all those issues likely dampened the public's desire 
 to run out and see it. Ironically, Word of mouth made it a record 
 breaking first weekend hit and word of mouth probably took it down to 
 fourth. However, I think it will be a best seller again once it is on 
 DVD. If you take into consideration

Re: [scifinoir2] Looking Forward to Movie Jumper

Ah-hah!Not reading my e-mails I see! Note my last line in the original post 
below: Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity).  Well, i am 
long-winded: can't blame you for flaming out before getting to the end of my 
posts!  :)  

But seriously, I think it'll do okay. I haven't heard a lot of buzz about it, 
that being taken up by Cloverfield. Heck, I just found out about it in the 
theatre myself! But if the opening weekend fan response is positive I think it 
could be a moderate hit. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I just saw the trailer, it looks really good. Also, I did not know 
that it was directed by the guy who did Borne Identity and Mr and Mrs. 
Smith. He's got some skills with action flicks. If the buzz is good, I 
think I might actually brake out of my home DVD viewing rut and go see 
it in the theater. Do you guys think it is going to be a hit?

Astromancer wrote:
 one was written by a female...That was the problem when I went looking for 
 it...There are several novel with the title Time Wars...I remember it started 
 out with the protagonist waking up staring down the barrel of a gun, but when 
 it goes off, he is suddenly on the other side of the room...That is why it 
 sounds so familiar...

 Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Pal, I think that was Simon Hawke, actually 
 a pseudonym for a Russian author.

 Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I saw the trailer for the first time 
 today...the movie vaguely reminds me of a novel I read as a teenager named 
 Time Wars...I wish I could remember the author...

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ha-ha! You're right!

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Keith you paid back the next three films your wife lacks interest in.

 I saw the trailer for Jumper I think when I saw the Sweeney Todd
 Disappointment Hour. I thought it sounded cool as well. Samuel
 Jackson as a badass is always fun fun fun 

 B
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 I saw 27 Dresses last weekend (that's right, I said it! Payback
 to the wife for seeing Am I Legend the week before). The movie
 was about as good as you'd expect, the trailers were about as good
 as you'd expect: trailers for a romantic comedy aren't exactly
 scintillating. Let's just say I didn't get to see the Star Trek
 teaser. :( 

 But I did see an intriguing one for a movie called Jumper,
 something I'd never even heard of before. The movie deals with a
 character named David Griffin(Star Wars' Hayden Christensen) who
 has the ability to teleport himself anywhere in the world
 instantly--like Blink in Marvel Comics. This makes David a
 Jumper. Cool as this power is, there's a catch: Jumpers have
 existed for centuries, and for all of that time have been at war
 with powers that want to destroy them as threats to humanity. One
 such force is the Paladin Organization, whose agents hunt and kill
 Jumpers. So deadly effective is the Paladin Organization, very few
 Jumpers live to see age 20. David's parents were killed by Paladin
 when he was 9, but he has beaten the odds, outwitting Paladin until
 well into his 20s. David is being hunted by the fanatical Agent
 Roland (Samuel Jackson, in black leather, carrying a katana sword,
 and sporting blonde hair like Sisqo from Dru Hill).

 Don't know much about the movie past that, but it seemed to be
 pretty action-packed. The jumps David made were cool, and
 Jackson's look is comic-book cool. I really enjoyed looking at the
 trailer online. Also encouraging, it was co-written by David Goyer
 (Batman Begins, Blade, Dark City) and directed by Doug Liman (The
 Bourne Identity). Maybe this will be just the fun action film
 we've been looking for recently! Better yet, it premieres on
 Valentine's Day, so we can try to present it as a date movie! :)

 Check out the trailer at this site: 
 http://www.jumperthemovie.com/

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

 I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
 I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

 You know these things that happen,
 That's just the way it's supposed to be.
 And I can't help but wonder,
 Don't ya know it coulda been me.

 __
 Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. 
 http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so I'll 
 only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you might 
 say something that interests the Community, and you really, really don't want 
 to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie

 -
 Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





 There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only

Re: [scifinoir2] Lost Did you watch?

i missed all of last season. Got sick to death of ballyhooed blocks of new 
shows that included about half a dozen, interspersed with out of sequence 
reruns. And then I don't get ABC, just don't get it: If Lost was such a big 
deal, why the hell didn't they rebroadcast all of last season in the last few 
weeks? I planned to catch up on it then but all they reran was the two-hour 
season finale. WTF???

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I have not seen it yet. I am waiting for the first episode to appear
online at ABC.com 

I love this show and I am dying to know what up. 

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I am not a Lost fan. Actually I hate the show. I watched the first
 episode of 
 the new season and it was okay. What did you think?
 
 
 
 **Start the year off right. Easy ways to stay in
 shape. 

http://body.aol.com/fitness/winter-exercise?NCID=aolcmp0030002489
 
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 

I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

You know these things that happen,
That's just the way it's supposed to be.
And I can't help but wonder,
Don't ya know it coulda been me.

__
Be a better friend, newshound, and 
know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. 
http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ 


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Looking Forward to Movie Jumper

haha! I'm just funning!

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Me Senile. I love your long posts

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Ah-hah!Not reading my e-mails I see! Note my last line in the original post 
 below: Directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity). Well, i am 
 long-winded: can't blame you for flaming out before getting to the end of my 
 posts! :) 

 But seriously, I think it'll do okay. I haven't heard a lot of buzz about it, 
 that being taken up by Cloverfield. Heck, I just found out about it in the 
 theatre myself! But if the opening weekend fan response is positive I think 
 it could be a moderate hit. 

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I just saw the trailer, it looks really good. Also, I did not know 
 that it was directed by the guy who did Borne Identity and Mr and Mrs. 
 Smith. He's got some skills with action flicks. If the buzz is good, I 
 think I might actually brake out of my home DVD viewing rut and go see 
 it in the theater. Do you guys think it is going to be a hit?

 Astromancer wrote:
 
 one was written by a female...That was the problem when I went looking for 
 it...There are several novel with the title Time Wars...I remember it 
 started out with the protagonist waking up staring down the barrel of a gun, 
 but when it goes off, he is suddenly on the other side of the room...That is 
 why it sounds so familiar...

 Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Pal, I think that was Simon Hawke, 
 actually a pseudonym for a Russian author.

 Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I saw the trailer for the first time 
 today...the movie vaguely reminds me of a novel I read as a teenager named 
 Time Wars...I wish I could remember the author...

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ha-ha! You're right!

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Keith you paid back the next three films your wife lacks interest in.

 I saw the trailer for Jumper I think when I saw the Sweeney Todd
 Disappointment Hour. I thought it sounded cool as well. Samuel
 Jackson as a badass is always fun fun fun 

 B
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 
 I saw 27 Dresses last weekend (that's right, I said it! Payback
 to the wife for seeing Am I Legend the week before). The movie
 was about as good as you'd expect, the trailers were about as good
 as you'd expect: trailers for a romantic comedy aren't exactly
 scintillating. Let's just say I didn't get to see the Star Trek
 teaser. :( 

 But I did see an intriguing one for a movie called Jumper,
 something I'd never even heard of before. The movie deals with a
 character named David Griffin(Star Wars' Hayden Christensen) who
 has the ability to teleport himself anywhere in the world
 instantly--like Blink in Marvel Comics. This makes David a
 Jumper. Cool as this power is, there's a catch: Jumpers have
 existed for centuries, and for all of that time have been at war
 with powers that want to destroy them as threats to humanity. One
 such force is the Paladin Organization, whose agents hunt and kill
 Jumpers. So deadly effective is the Paladin Organization, very few
 Jumpers live to see age 20. David's parents were killed by Paladin
 when he was 9, but he has beaten the odds, outwitting Paladin until
 well into his 20s. David is being hunted by the fanatical Agent
 Roland (Samuel Jackson, in black leather, carrying a katana sword,
 and sporting blonde hair like Sisqo from Dru Hill).

 Don't know much about the movie past that, but it seemed to be
 pretty action-packed. The jumps David made were cool, and
 Jackson's look is comic-book cool. I really enjoyed looking at the
 trailer online. Also encouraging, it was co-written by David Goyer
 (Batman Begins, Blade, Dark City) and directed by Doug Liman (The
 Bourne Identity). Maybe this will be just the fun action film
 we've been looking for recently! Better yet, it premieres on
 Valentine's Day, so we can try to present it as a date movie! :)

 Check out the trailer at this site: 
 http://www.jumperthemovie.com/

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
 I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
 I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

 You know these things that happen,
 That's just the way it's supposed to be.
 And I can't help but wonder,
 Don't ya know it coulda been me.

 __
 Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your home page. 
 http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 Akin, but no matter what you think, I am concerned for your life, so I'll 
 only say this once; if you talk too much or ask too many questions, you 
 might say something that interests the Community, and you really, really 
 don't want to get them interested. - The Side Street Chonicles by C.W. Badie

Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: Microsoft offers $44.6B for Yahoo]

2008-02-01 Thread KeithBJohnson

I've said this before: in the next Star Trek film, the camera should zoom in to 
the surface of one of the consoles, to reveal and emblem that says Made for 
Microsoft Windows--right next to the Intel Inside logo.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 --- Original Message  
 Subject: Microsoft offers $44.6B for Yahoo 
 Date: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 06:29:26 -0800 (PST) 
 From: James Pearson 

 *By MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Business Writer 29 minutes ago * 
 ** 
 ** 
 *SAN FRANCISCO - Microsoft Corp. has pounced on slumping Internet icon 
 Yahoo Inc. with an unsolicited takeover offer of $44.6 billion in its 
 boldest bid yet to challenge Google Inc.'s dominance of the lucrative 
 online search and advertising markets. * 
 * * 
 *The surprise offer of $31 per share, made late Thursday and announced 
 Friday, comes with Sunnyvale-based Yahoo in a vulnerable position.* 
 ** 
 *In a statement Friday, Yahoo said it will carefully and promptly 
 study Microsoft's bid.* 
 *With its profits steadily sliding, Yahoo's stock slipped to a four-year 
 low earlier this week and a new management team has been trying to steer 
 a turnaround but sees more turbulence through 2008.* 
 ** 
 *The announcement sent Yahoo's share price up 60 percent in premarket 
 trading, while Google fell 8 percent, weighted down by a fourth-quarter 
 earnings report that missed Wall Street expectations.* 
 ** 
 *In a letter to Yahoo's board of directors, Microsoft Chief Executive 
 Steve Ballmer indicated the world's largest software maker is determined 
 to bring the two companies together.* 
 *To underscore its resolve, Microsoft is offering a 62 percent premium 
 to Yahoo's closing stock price Thursday.* 
 ** 
 *Since reaching a 52-week high of $34.08 in October, Yahoo shares have 
 fallen 46 percent. Yahoo climbed $10.40 a share, or 54 percent, to 
 $29.58 in premarket trading. Microsoft shares fell $1.40, or 4.3 
 percent, to $31.20.* 
 ** 
 *Ballmer revealed in the letter that Yahoo had rebuffed a previous 
 overture a year ago, saying it had a turnaround in the works. But he 
 pointedly noted Yahoo has instead deteriorated significantly.* 
 ** 
 *A year has gone by, and the competitive situation has not improved, 
 Ballmer added.* 
 *Microsoft's previous offer was rebuffed by Terry Semel, who stepped 
 aside last year as chief executive under shareholder pressure.* 
 ** 
 *Microsoft sent its latest takeover offer to Yahoo late Thursday, 
 shortly after Semel resigned as the company's chairman. The letter is 
 addressed to Semel's successors, new Chairman Roy Bostock and the 
 current CEO, co-founder Jerry Yang, who is one of Yahoo's largest 
 shareholders.* 
 ** 
 *Microsoft's consistent belief has been that the combination of 
 Microsoft and Yahoo! clearly represents the best way to deliver maximum 
 value to our respective shareholders, as well as create a more efficient 
 and competitive company that would provide greater value and service to 
 our customers, Ballmer wrote.* 
 ** 
 *In a prepared statement, Yahoo said its board will evaluate this 
 proposal carefully and promptly in the context of Yahoo's strategic 
 plans and pursue the best course of action to maximize long-term value 
 for shareholders.* 
 ** 
 *Under terms of the proposed deal, Yahoo shareholders could choose to 
 receive cash or Microsoft common shares, with the total purchase 
 consisting of 50 percent cash and 50 percent stock.* 
 ** 
 *Microsoft said it sees at least $1 billion in cost savings generated by 
 the combination, and intends to offer significant retention packages to 
 Yahoo engineers, key leaders and employees. The software giant said it 
 believes the takeover would receive regulatory clearance and close in 
 the second half of 2008.* 
 ** 
 *Signaling Microsoft doesn't intend to take no for an answer, Ballmer 
 wrote that the company reserves the right to pursue all necessary steps 
 to ensure that Yahoo's shareholders are provided with the opportunity to 
 realize the value inherent in our proposal.* 
 ** 
 *Google shares fell $46.55, or 8.3 percent, to $517.95 in premarket 
 trading after the Mountain View-based company reported fourth-quarter 
 earnings that missed analyst estimates. * 
 *While Yahoo is struggling, Microsoft is thriving. The Redmond, 
 Wash.-based company last week forecast a rosy 2008  despite broader 
 economic worries  after it blew by Wall Street's expectations for a 
 second consecutive quarter. * 
 *___ * 
 *AP Business Writer Jennifer Malloy in New York contributed to this story* 

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Re: [scifinoir2] 'Sanctuary' Pulls Tapping Away From 'Atlantis'

2008-02-02 Thread KeithBJohnson

I agree. Tapping was obviously plugged into the role simply as a recognizable 
face from SG-1. She's not *bad*, just not scintillating.  I just didn't think 
she fit as the leader. I agree too that Picardo's character would be good.  
Seeing as he's a civilian, a bit of a paranoid, and a bureaucrat to both, it'd 
make for great tension with the Atlantis crew. Another good choice would be the 
hardass commander of one of Pegasus, played by from Mitch Pileggi The 
X-Files. He's much more of a by-the-book soldier, with little of the more 
liberal leanings of Sheppard. He and Shephard don't get along all that way, 
since he thinks Sheppard's a goldbrick, and Sheppard think he has a stick up 
his arse. His commanding would also make for great conflicts.

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
IMO, that wouldn't be a great loss for Atlantis. Tapping's presence has been 
close to negligible on the series. At times, she seems to be no more than 
another face in the crowd, much less the base CO. Fun part'll be in finding a 
replacement for her. They can't bring Torri Higginson back, unfortunately, 
since they've conveniently written her into being a neo-bad girl. Off the top 
of my noggin, best choice would be Robert Picardo's character, whose name 
escapes me at the moment.

Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: By 
MICHAEL HINMAN
Source: SyFy Portal
Jan-31-2008
http://www.syfyportal.com/news424678.html
While fans of the Web series Sanctuary have good news from SciFi 
Channel in its decision to pick it up as a television series, Stargate: 
Atlantis fans have something to mourn: Amanda Tapping's stint as a 
regular on the show will end when the fourth season ends in early spring.

Tapping, who starred in the online version of Sanctuary, plans to 
follow the show onto the cable channel thus limiting her availability 
for Atlantis, a role she took on following the end of the 10-year run 
of Stargate SG-1.

That doesn't mean there won't be any Samantha Carter for Season 5, 
however. SciFi Channel officials said that Tapping will make guest 
appearances on several episode of Atlantis during its fifth season, 
but will still be more focused on the 13-episode order of Sanctuary, 
which she plays Dr. Helen Magnus, a woman on a quest to track down, aid 
and protect all manner of strange creatures that walk the Earth.

Sanctuary, a pet project of SG-1 producer Damian Kindler and 
Atlantis scribe Martin Wood using live action characters in a 
computer-generated universe. In fact, not much will change from the Web 
to television as Sanctuary will become the medium's first ever series 
using live actors against mostly virtual sets.

The show will have a production feel similar to that of the movies 300 
and Sin City. Along with Tapping, the show also will include Sam Egan 
of Jeremiah fame as an executive producer.

'Sanctuary' promises to be a totally fresh television viewing 
experience, said Mark Stern, VP of original programming for SciFi 
Channel. This stylistic approach to virtual sets has proven hugely 
popular on the big screen, and we have been looking for a chance to use 
it on a television series. We've worked with Damian, Martin, Amanda and 
Sam on numerous projects in the past, and think they are the perfect 
team to tackle something this ambitious.

No premiere date has been set, but a reworking of the series pilot is in 
the works that will help expand existing characters and bring the 
Internet series to the network.

Tapping spent 10 years as Samantha Carter on SG-1, and is slated to 
appear in two upcoming direct-to-DVD movies based on the show.

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Re: [scifinoir2] Re: [Fwd: Microsoft offers $44.6B for Yahoo]

i'm sick of Microsoft and other companies buying up everything in sight. In the 
media world it's Rupert Murdoch, acting like a giant Pac-Man gobbling up 
businesses in order to spread his brand of news around the globe. Even in the 
videogame world you have it, with the likes of EA (Electronic Arts), which has 
been buying up other companies for years, and now has a major stranglehold on 
videogame development, especially when they sewed up an exclusivity deal to 
produce official NFL games.

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Marian, at that time, I had two Hotmail accounts and, after the purchase, I 
began getting more spam than actual mail. And, to accomodate the extra spam, 
Hotmail was ever-so-kind-enough to begin chucking my *regular* e-mail into the 
spam bin. After about four weeks of this, I got fed up, tried to close bth my 
accounts (because the spam-count had gotten so massive that Hotmail was 
refusing me access to the accounts until I ponied up $20 for the extra memory 
space needed to access the spam, so that I might get rid of it. Needless to 
say, optimist that I am, I suspect that was a money scheme long in the 
planning. I still have the two extra accounts, just sitting there, Hotmail 
occasionally asking me to come in and clear the account out.

maidmarian_thepoet [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is deja vu time for me. I 
opened a yahoo account when Microsoft
bought Hotmail. The website deteriorated so badly that I bailed for a
year or so from Hotmail. They added more servers and improved service
eventually, but it was painful for a year.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 IMO, this would be akin to one clown college buying another out.
(Martin hates clowns...)

 If it goes through, I guarantee you one thing. Inside of a year, we'll
log in to this group, and find the MSN homepage staring at us. Not a bad
thing, mind you. Not a good one, either.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

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Re: [scifinoir2] It's nice when your work is in a Super Bowl ad

that talking stain ad was hilarious! 

-- Original message -- 
From: g123curious [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
(Yeah, I know this is OT and not about sci-fi.)

You can view all Super Bowl ads at:
http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads

During the 2nd quarter, the Tide To Go commercial aired. At my day job 
(www.digitas.com) I worked on the web site mentioned in the ad:
http://www.mytalkingstain.com/

Be the stain! (smile)

George


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[scifinoir2] Way OT: Giants Slay the Giant

Like a mighty warrior defeated by another, who then gives the victor his 
respect and fealty:  when the NY Giants beat my beloved Cowboys (aka America's 
Team) I was devastated, but had to honor the fortitude of the Giants.  I 
followed them as the hope of the NFC now that Dallas and Green Bay were 
dispatched, and was impressed by their never-give-up-never-give-in attitude.  
They didn't win pretty, they didn't dazzle, but like a ragtag marauding army, 
they marched into Tampa, Big D, and Green Bay, and took down the defenders. 
And--to stretch this analogy to the extreme--this band of hardscrabble rabble 
took on the shining, handsome knights of Brady and company, and beat 'em in a 
fair fight! While not really invested in the game, I have to admit it was 
perversely fun to see golden boy Brady knocked on his arse a few times, and the 
coach looking like he was gonna explode after the game!  

Bip ups to the Giants! I know a lot of people were upset but they're partying 
down in Miami!

Enough of the make-believe world of sports; now on to the real war--Super 
Tuesday!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] It's nice when your work is in a Super Bowl ad

Saw the pigeons one, missed the other. I'll need to check that Top Ten list 
George sent

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
My favorite was the FedEx ad with the giant mutant pigeons. The silent Pepsi 
ad also touched me more than I thought it would. I used to work with the 
profoundly deaf, and it brought back a lot of memories for me.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: that talking stain ad was hilarious! 

-- Original message -- 
From: g123curious [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
(Yeah, I know this is OT and not about sci-fi.)

You can view all Super Bowl ads at:
http://www.myspace.com/superbowlads

During the 2nd quarter, the Tide To Go commercial aired. At my day job 
(www.digitas.com) I worked on the web site mentioned in the ad:
http://www.mytalkingstain.com/

Be the stain! (smile)

George

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

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Re: [scifinoir2] Way OT: Giants Slay the Giant

me too!

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Keith, I admit to getting far too much emotional satisfaction out of that.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Like a mighty warrior defeated by another, who then 
gives the victor his respect and fealty: when the NY Giants beat my beloved 
Cowboys (aka America's Team) I was devastated, but had to honor the fortitude 
of the Giants. I followed them as the hope of the NFC now that Dallas and Green 
Bay were dispatched, and was impressed by their never-give-up-never-give-in 
attitude. They didn't win pretty, they didn't dazzle, but like a ragtag 
marauding army, they marched into Tampa, Big D, and Green Bay, and took down 
the defenders. And--to stretch this analogy to the extreme--this band of 
hardscrabble rabble took on the shining, handsome knights of Brady and company, 
and beat 'em in a fair fight! While not really invested in the game, I have to 
admit it was perversely fun to see golden boy Brady knocked on his arse a few 
times, and the coach looking like he was gonna explode after the game! 

Bip ups to the Giants! I know a lot of people were upset but they're partying 
down in Miami!

Enough of the make-believe world of sports; now on to the real war--Super 
Tuesday!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Way OT: Giants Slay the Giant

yeah, that was wild wasn't it!

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Especially at seeing Mister Belibozo (as a Yahu sportswriter dubbed him) 
runnign off like a spoiled brat after losing.

Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Keith, I admit to getting far too much 
emotional satisfaction out of that.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Like a mighty warrior defeated by another, who then 
gives the victor his respect and fealty: when the NY Giants beat my beloved 
Cowboys (aka America's Team) I was devastated, but had to honor the fortitude 
of the Giants. I followed them as the hope of the NFC now that Dallas and Green 
Bay were dispatched, and was impressed by their never-give-up-never-give-in 
attitude. They didn't win pretty, they didn't dazzle, but like a ragtag 
marauding army, they marched into Tampa, Big D, and Green Bay, and took down 
the defenders. And--to stretch this analogy to the extreme--this band of 
hardscrabble rabble took on the shining, handsome knights of Brady and company, 
and beat 'em in a fair fight! While not really invested in the game, I have to 
admit it was perversely fun to see golden boy Brady knocked on his arse a few 
times, and the coach looking like he was gonna explode after the game! 

Bip ups to the Giants! I know a lot of people were upset but they're partying 
down in Miami!

Enough of the make-believe world of sports; now on to the real war--Super 
Tuesday!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[scifinoir2] OT: Preaching to the Choir - I Hope

2008-02-05 Thread KeithBJohnson

For the Georgia primary, my wife and i decided to vote early.  It was a simple 
thing, voting this time, less complicated than the last two general elections. 
This time there were no crowds, no hours-long wait in lines until well after 
dark, fighting fatigue and hunger. No shivering and dripping in the cold wet 
outside, only to face the stifling heat and discomfort of being crammed into a 
packed room on the inside. There were no TV cameras with reporters sticking 
lights and microphones into our faces, no fanfare about the important event. 
Gone was the heightened tension in the air, radiating from the people on both 
sides of the vote, their faces strained with an almost desperate sense of 
urgency to make sure their candidate won. No, voting four days early, at 5 
pm--on a Friday no less--this was as easy and uneventful a voting experience as 
one could have. My wife and I were done less than ten minutes after arriving. 
Nothing could have been simpler. 
 
And yet for all that, there was a sense of import on me in that booth that far 
surpassed all the previous elections in which I've participated. 
 
It started as we drove to the polling place.  I remember feeling excited the 
closer we got to our.  Parking the car, I could barely contain my eagerness. I 
hadn't expected that: while wanting to vote early to avoid the Tuesday crowds, 
much of me was doing this out of a sense of duty, a determination not to look 
back later and say I wish I had participated.  That sense of duty was 
expected, but what wasnt expected was this other--thing--to take hold of me. 
This is a big deal, a voice inside started saying. This is history.  I'd 
spent the whole day tired, stressed at work, worried about a doctor's visit, 
determined to do my duty, wanting to get this over with.  So wrapped up had I 
been in other affairs, I still hadn't even made a choice as to which candidate 
would get my vote.
 
 Aw--I'll figure it out when I get there, I'd said earlier. No big deal.  
 
But it *was* a big deal, that inner voice said. A very big deal indeed. Walking 
across the street, I glanced at the building ahead, and corny as it sound, a 
thrill went through me.
 
 Im about to *vote*, I thought. Im about to help chose the President. This 
is so cool!  I kept looking around me, up and down the street, at the faces of 
all the passersby, the people in cars. I just knew they had to be as excited as 
I was starting to feel. Weren't their inner voices talking to them too? Were 
their pulses speeding up, their breathing quickening, their heads almost dizzy 
with realizing what they were about to do? We were about to cast a vote for the 
leader of the most powerful nation on Earth. We were about to help shape the 
future of this country. And for the first time in too long a timedepending on 
how the nation voted--that leader could possibly be a woman or a person of 
color.  Big deal indeed. By the time I reach the building I was practically 
sprinting. 
 
Inside, not even the rude and borderline hostile security guard--perched behind 
a counter like a guard dog, growling at anyone who tried to walk by her without 
filling out the appropriate paperwork--could dull my excitement. Nor was I 
discouraged by the guard's partner, the officious lady who checked our work 
with a bored expression and rote repetitions of thank you, that way to vote.  
I was too busy reeling at the awesome burden I was now shouldering. Who to 
pick, who to pick, how to choose?! Frankly, at this point I could have used a 
long line to give me time about my choice; but there were only two people in 
front of me.   
 
When the time came, I drew it out, walking as slowly as possible to the booth. 
While others came and went quickly, making their choice in seconds, I took a 
long time.  I thought about the significance of what I was doing, the state of 
our country and the world, the course the next leader would try to set, the 
likelihood of his or her success. I weighed the factors of experience versus 
service versus likeability. Most of all, I weighed the symbolism of the 
choice, the message and image the next Prez would send the world and succeeding 
generations. (Not something to be discounted: Reagan, like or loathe his 
presidency, was and remains an important image to draw upon). I thought of my 
late father, who endured so much to vote in Texas in the 40s, who only death 
could finally keep from the polls.
 
Finally, after what seemed like a lifetime (but was probably only two minutes) 
I took a deep breath and made my choice.
 
Outside, grinning from ear to ear, I exclaimed to my wife I am so glad we just 
voted! All that evening we chatted about it, both proud and happy that wed 
just helped shape the future. My wife, whod been so outwardly cool and sure of 
her choice, was excited about what was coming from here on in. Whatever did 
happen, no matter the ultimate choice, we both knew that we could say with 
pride We did our

Re: [scifinoir2] Way OT: Giants Slay the Giant

2008-02-05 Thread KeithBJohnson

LOL!!

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I understand that he's *still* sort of in hiding, that no one knows exactly 
where he is. Probably a soundproofed room, so that no one can hear the baby 
bawling...

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, that was wild wasn't it!

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Especially at seeing Mister Belibozo (as a Yahu sportswriter dubbed him) 
runnign off like a spoiled brat after losing.

Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Keith, I admit to getting far too much 
emotional satisfaction out of that.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Like a mighty warrior defeated by another, who then 
gives the victor his respect and fealty: when the NY Giants beat my beloved 
Cowboys (aka America's Team) I was devastated, but had to honor the fortitude 
of the Giants. I followed them as the hope of the NFC now that Dallas and Green 
Bay were dispatched, and was impressed by their never-give-up-never-give-in 
attitude. They didn't win pretty, they didn't dazzle, but like a ragtag 
marauding army, they marched into Tampa, Big D, and Green Bay, and took down 
the defenders. And--to stretch this analogy to the extreme--this band of 
hardscrabble rabble took on the shining, handsome knights of Brady and company, 
and beat 'em in a fair fight! While not really invested in the game, I have to 
admit it was perversely fun to see golden boy Brady knocked on his arse a few 
times, and the coach looking like he was gonna explode after the game! 

Bip ups to the Giants! I know a lot of people were upset but they're partying 
down in Miami!

Enough of the make-believe world of sports; now on to the real war--Super 
Tuesday!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[scifinoir2] Barry Morse Dies in London at Age 89

2008-02-05 Thread KeithBJohnson

Funny. Though Morse will always be remembered first and foremost for  The 
Fugitive, I first saw him on Space: 1999 as a youngster. It was only after 
that that I watched him in The Fugitive. So to me, Morse will always be the 
doctor from Moonbase Alpha.  May he rest in peace...

**8
Barry Morse Dies in London at Age 89
7 hours ago
LONDON (AP)  Barry Morse, who played a detective pursuing the wrongly accused 
Dr. Richard Kimble in 1960s TV series The Fugitive, has died, his son said 
Tuesday. He was 89.
Hayward Morse said his father died Saturday at University College Hospital in 
London after a brief illness.
Born in London in 1918, Morse trained at London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art 
and appeared in British repertory and West End theaters before emigrating in 
1951 to Canada, where he became a regular on radio and television.
The actor's Web site estimated he had played more than 3,000 roles on radio, 
TV, stage and screen over a seven-decade career.
In 1963, he was hired by producer Quinn Martin to play Lt. Philip Gerard on 
The Fugitive. The series ran for 120 episodes over four seasons, teasing 
audiences with the cat-and-mouse pursuit of Kimble, wrongly accused of 
murdering his wife, by the implacable Gerard.
He thought it was a good show  well-filmed, well-directed and well-acted, 
Hayward Morse said. He had nothing disparaging to say about `The Fugitive.'
Morse also played Professor Victor Bergman in the 1970s science fiction series 
Space 1999.
In 1966, he was named artistic director of the Shaw theater festival in 
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, rescuing it from financial crisis.
Morse was a lifelong devotee of playwright George Bernard Shaw, and his son 
said reviving the festival, which produces the works of Shaw and his 
contemporaries, was his proudest achievement.
Morse is survived by his son and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
His family planned a private cremation.

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[scifinoir2] OT: African American Lives 2 on PBS

2008-02-06 Thread KeithBJohnson

Tonight I watched African American Lives 2, the PBS special in which Henry
Skip Gates does genealogical history for several stars. Gotta admit, I was a
little doubtful about the show this time around. Not the concept, which is
cool. I was thinking that watching the lives of the rich and famous would leave
me a bit cold. Give this chance to more of us regular folk, I thought. The
rich folk have enough money to get this done on their own. But I have to say
it moved me. Putting aside their celebrity and just seeing them as Black people
like mewith hopes and dreams and sad and glorious stories in their pastsI was
really able to get into it. Skip Gates digs up some amazing history on the
ancestry of these stars (and one regular person chosen for the show). The
people are often moved to tears as they find out about ancestors who were state
senators, donated land for schools to be built, were owned by Natives, fought
in the Civil War, etc. The biggest shock of all is Tom Joyne
r, who discovers that two of his uncles were electrocuted in South Carolina for
a crime they didnt commit, along with three other Blacks--all in the same day.
Great show, I highly recommend you check PBS schedule to see when it airs again.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_africanamericanlives2_2008-02-06

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/about.html

ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2

Series Overview
Building on the widespread acclaim of African American Lives (2006) and Oprah's
Roots (2007), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 again journeys deep into ancestry of an
all-new group of remarkable individuals, offering an in-depth look at the
African-American experience and race relations throughout U.S. history. Harvard
professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns as series host, guiding genealogical
investigations down through the 20th century, Reconstruction, slavery and early
U.S. history, and presenting cutting-edge genetic analysis that locates
participants' ancestors in Africa, Europe and America. Joining Professor Gates
in the new broadcast are poet Maya Angelou, author Bliss Broyard, actor Don
Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson
Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio personality Tom Joyner, comedian
Chris Rock, music legend Tina Turner, and college administrator Kathleen
Henderson, who was selected from more than 2,000 applicants to have her
family history researched and DNA tested alongside the series' well-known
guests.

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Re: [scifinoir2] OT: African American Lives 2 on PBS

I wonder how many Natives owned slaves? I used to think they there was 
this--brotherhood--between Blacks and Natives, as we fought against a common 
enemy. So many of us have Native blood, after all. And there's so many stories 
of mixed blood people who became great explorers, lawmen, or soldiers. But i 
hear more about them enslaving us, and read bout things like the recent push 
for some tribes to deny people with African heritige membership in the tribe. 
Makes me wonder...

What's the deal with Gates' website?

-- Original message -- 
From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The Don Cheadle story was really interesting. I live in a county just
outside of Charlotte that was Indian Land for a very very long time after
slavery. I am now curious as to whether or not the tribes that lived here
owned slaves. 

This series is great family viewing, and even though it's on in February,
it's refreshing. I also think it could be a great way to drive traffic to
Dr. Gates' new website, but I didn't see a mention of it during the show.

On 2/6/08 10:59 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:

 Tonight I watched âAfrican American Lives 2â°, the PBS special in which 
 Henry
 âSkipâ° Gates does genealogical history for several stars. Gotta admit, I 
 was
 a little doubtful about the show this time around. Not the concept, which is
 cool. I was thinking that watching the lives of the rich and famous would
 leave me a bit cold. Give this chance to more of us regular folk, I thought.
 The rich folk have enough money to get this done on their own. But I have to
 say it moved me. Putting aside their celebrity and just seeing them as Black
 people like meËwith hopes and dreams and sad and glorious stories in their
 pastsËI was really able to get into it. Skip Gates digs up some amazing
 history on the ancestry of these stars (and one âregularâ° person chosen 
 for
 the show). The people are often moved to tears as they find out about
 ancestors who were state senators, donated land for schools to be built, were
 owned by Natives, fought in the Civil War, etc. The biggest shock of all is
 Tom Joyne
 r, who discovers that two of his uncles were electrocuted in South Carolina
 for a crime they didnât commit, along with three other Blacks--all in the 
 same
 day. Great show, I highly recommend you check PBS schedule to see when it airs
 again.
 
 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_africanamericanliv
 es2_2008-02-06
 
 http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/about.html
 
 
 ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2
 
 Series Overview
 Building on the widespread acclaim of African American Lives (2006) and
 Oprah's Roots (2007), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 again journeys deep into
 ancestry of an all-new group of remarkable individuals, offering an in-depth
 look at the African-American experience and race relations throughout U.S.
 history. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns as series host,
 guiding genealogical investigations down through the 20th century,
 Reconstruction, slavery and early U.S. history, and presenting cutting-edge
 genetic analysis that locates participants' ancestors in Africa, Europe and
 America. Joining Professor Gates in the new broadcast are poet Maya Angelou,
 author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman, theologian
 Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio
 personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, music legend Tina Turner, and
 college administrator Kathleen Henderson, who was selected from more than
 2,000 applicants to have her
 family history researched and DNA tested alongside the series' well-known
 guests.
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links
 
 
 


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Re: [scifinoir2] OT: African American Lives 2 on PBS

i was thinkig about the Buffalo Soldiers too.Amazing what we've done in order 
to be accepted

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I don't know for certain but I don't think that Native Americans own
African Slaves was a common thing. Though clearly, it happened. 

It should also be balanced by the history of the Buffalo Soldiers
many of whom fought as hard as the whites in the post Civil War
Indian Wars to subjugate and annihilate Native American tribes.

Bosco

--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I wonder how many Natives owned slaves? I used to think they there
 was this--brotherhood--between Blacks and Natives, as we fought
 against a common enemy. So many of us have Native blood, after all.
 And there's so many stories of mixed blood people who became great
 explorers, lawmen, or soldiers. But i hear more about them
 enslaving us, and read bout things like the recent push for some
 tribes to deny people with African heritige membership in the
 tribe. Makes me wonder...
 
 What's the deal with Gates' website?
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 The Don Cheadle story was really interesting. I live in a county
 just
 outside of Charlotte that was Indian Land for a very very long time
 after
 slavery. I am now curious as to whether or not the tribes that
 lived here
 owned slaves. 
 
 This series is great family viewing, and even though it's on in
 February,
 it's refreshing. I also think it could be a great way to drive
 traffic to
 Dr. Gates' new website, but I didn't see a mention of it during the
 show.
 
 On 2/6/08 10:59 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
 
  Tonight I watched âAfrican American Lives 2â°, the PBS special
 in which Henry
  âSkipâ° Gates does genealogical history for several stars.
 Gotta admit, I was
  a little doubtful about the show this time around. Not the
 concept, which is
  cool. I was thinking that watching the lives of the rich and
 famous would
  leave me a bit cold. Give this chance to more of us regular
 folk, I thought.
  The rich folk have enough money to get this done on their own.
 But I have to
  say it moved me. Putting aside their celebrity and just seeing
 them as Black
  people like meËwith hopes and dreams and sad and glorious
 stories in their
  pastsËI was really able to get into it. Skip Gates digs up some
 amazing
  history on the ancestry of these stars (and one âregularâ°
 person chosen for
  the show). The people are often moved to tears as they find out
 about
  ancestors who were state senators, donated land for schools to be
 built, were
  owned by Natives, fought in the Civil War, etc. The biggest shock
 of all is
  Tom Joyne
  r, who discovers that two of his uncles were electrocuted in
 South Carolina
  for a crime they didnât commit, along with three other
 Blacks--all in the same
  day. Great show, I highly recommend you check PBS schedule to see
 when it airs
  again.
  
 

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_africanamericanliv
  es2_2008-02-06
  
  http://www..pbs.org/wnet/aalives/about.html
  
  
  ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2
  
  Series Overview
  Building on the widespread acclaim of African American Lives
 (2006) and
  Oprah's Roots (2007), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 again journeys
 deep into
  ancestry of an all-new group of remarkable individuals, offering
 an in-depth
  look at the African-American experience and race relations
 throughout U.S.
  history. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns as
 series host,
  guiding genealogical investigations down through the 20th
 century,
  Reconstruction, slavery and early U.S. history, and presenting
 cutting-edge
  genetic analysis that locates participants' ancestors in Africa,
 Europe and
  America. Joining Professor Gates in the new broadcast are poet
 Maya Angelou,
  author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman,
 theologian
  Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie
 Joyner-Kersee, radio
  personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, music legend Tina
 Turner, and
  college administrator Kathleen Henderson, who was selected from
 more than
  2,000 applicants to have her
  family history researched and DNA tested alongside the series'
 well-known
  guests.
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  
  
  
  
  Yahoo! Groups Links
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links
 
 
 
 

I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

You know these things that happen,
That's just the way it's supposed to be.
And I can't help but wonder,
Don't ya know it coulda been me.

__
Looking for last minute shopping deals? 
Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
http://tools.search.yahoo.com/newsearch/category.php?category=shopping

Re: [scifinoir2] Robert Picardo Joins 'Stargate: Atlantis'

Looks like Martin called that one! Good choice. I still hope Pileggi gets a 
bigger role...

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Stargate Atlantis begins shooting its fifth season soon, and with it 
 comes the addition of a new castmember and an important milestone. 
 
 The People's Choice Award winner will begin production later in February 
 for its new 20-episode season that will include the series' benchmark 
 100th episode, it was announced Tuesday, Feb. 5. 
 
 Also, actor Robert Picardo, who has appeared as International Oversight 
 Committee rep Richard Wooley on previous episodes will officially join 
 the Atlantis cast this season as he takes command of the Atlantis 
 expedition. The team of military and civilian explorers use the 
 Ancients-created Stargate to travel to the Pegasus galaxy in order to 
 find other technologies left behind the Ancients. 
 
 In this pivotal season, change is the watchword. Friends are lost and 
 made, while alliances are forged and new alien races are discovered. 
 Wooley's unique leadership style requires a bit of an adjustment for the 
 team led by Lt. Colonel Sheppard (Joe Flanigan) and including Dr. Rodney 
 McKay (David Hewlett), Teyla (Rachel Luttrell), Ronon (Jason Momoa) and 
 Dr. Jennifer Keller (Jewel Staite). 
 
 As previously announced, the characters Col. Samantha Carter (Amanda 
 Tapping), Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) and the late Dr. Carson 
 Beckett (Paul McGillion) will return for a handful of episodes apiece as 
 guest stars this upcoming season. 
 
 Stargate Atlantis is filmed in Vancouver, Canada. 
 http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-robertpicardostargateatlantis,0,2760058.story
  
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

Like i said, an opportunistic flip-flopper. He was pro-choice, pro immigration 
(in terms of working something out instead of sounding like a Klansman), not 
averse to taxes as needed (which he calls fees, but same difference). I heard 
a speech he gave just a few years back where he explicitly said he didn't want 
to try and recreate the Reagan days. Now he's a rabid ultr-conservative nut who 
evokes Reagan more than some of us call on God!

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I think Romney would have the support if he was not always recreating 
himself. He is who ever you need him to be at that minute. if you need 
something else tomorrow, that's fine too. He lies without blinking and 
it is obvious to his target market If he did not go from very liberal 
to very conservative in the space of 24- 48 weeks, they might have come 
to see his Ken doll characteristics as presidential like Reagan

Bosco Bosco wrote:
 What fascinates me about the relative lack of support party wide for
 Romney  Huckabee is what it says about the mainstream of the
 Republican Party. Apparently, mainstream republicans are tired of
 conservative stranglehold as well.

 I find it most fascinating that almost universally, the Conservative
 Pundits have gone to war against McCain and he's basically been
 completely unaffected by it. I mean if you watch the guy talk, he's
 neither compelling nor striking. He lacks the presentation of Obama
 and the confidence of Clinton. he's kind of dorky. He paces like he's
 nervous. he delivery is both akward and shaky. He's simply not the
 calm cool confidence of his opponents and he's cleaning up in spite
 of the overwhelming machinations of the conservative core of his
 party against him. It's really telling

 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 I'll be darned! this is the most interesting election year I can
 remember since, well, the last couple of election years! Good
 riddance, I say: spend some time looking at how he *used* to feel
 on issues, and how he feels now, and you talk bout an opportunistic
 flip-flopper! I'm also amazed at how Limbaugh and the others of his
 ilk have so embraced this Mormon ( who in other times they'd be
 attacking as not a real Christian, no doubt), just because they
 hate the liberal McCain! 
 More interesting is the reaction of many of my co-workers, who are
 perfect barometers for the ultra-conservative, braindead segment of
 society. They're all but in morning. Oh, it might be a riot up in
 here if Obama or Hillary wins come Election Day!

 **

 CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid
 for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN.
 Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests,
 compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.
 Romney had no public events Wednesday and instead met with aides to
 discuss strategy to stay in the race through March 4. 
 It is tough to saddle up this a.m., one Romney adviser told CNN
 the morning after his disappointing Super Tuesday finish.
 Although he outspent his rivals, Romney received just 175 delegates
 on Super Tuesday, compared with at least 504 for McCain and 141 for
 former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, according to CNN estimates.
 Romney came in first in Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado
 and Utah on Super Tuesday. In the early voting contests, he won
 Nevada, Maine, Michigan and Wyoming.
 After his win in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, former
 Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee became Romney's chief rival for the
 party's conservative vote. 
 Huckabee on Tuesday won Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and
 West Virginia.
 Primaries are a killing field, said CNN senior political analyst
 Bill Schneider. They take losing candidates and get their bodies
 off the field.
 Suspending a campaign has a different meaning depending on the
 party.
 On the Republican side, decisions on how to allocate delegates is
 left to the state parties.
 On the Democratic side, a candidate who suspends is technically
 still a candidate, so he or she keeps both district and statewide
 delegates won through primaries and caucuses. Superdelegates are
 always free to support any candidate at any time, whether the
 candidate drops out, suspends or stays in.
 National party rules say that a candidate who drops out keeps any
 district-level delegates he or she has won so far but loses any
 statewide delegates he or she has won. 
 Romney is expected to announce his decision Thursday afternoon at
 the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington,
 three Republican sources told CNN.
 The 60-year-old former investment banker had touted his management
 credentials throughout the campaign, citing his experience in
 Massachusetts and his turnaround of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter
 Olympics in Salt Lake City. But despite pouring millions of his own

Re: [scifinoir2] A follow-up book -Re: OT: African American Lives 2 on PBS

thanks, I will check this out

-- Original message -- 
From: Meta [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Here is a link to the site of William Loren Katz. He is the author of
a book called, 'Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage'. I read this book
about twenty years ago.

http://www.williamlkatz.com/

The book is still available at Amazon.

Meta

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I wonder how many Natives owned slaves? I used to think they there
was this--brotherhood--between Blacks and Natives, as we fought
against a common enemy. So many of us have Native blood, after all.
And there's so many stories of mixed blood people who became great
explorers, lawmen, or soldiers. But i hear more about them enslaving
us, and read bout things like the recent push for some tribes to deny
people with African heritige membership in the tribe. Makes me wonder...
 
 What's the deal with Gates' website?
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 The Don Cheadle story was really interesting. I live in a county just
 outside of Charlotte that was Indian Land for a very very long time
after
 slavery. I am now curious as to whether or not the tribes that lived
here
 owned slaves. 
 
 This series is great family viewing, and even though it's on in
February,
 it's refreshing. I also think it could be a great way to drive
traffic to
 Dr. Gates' new website, but I didn't see a mention of it during the
show.
 
 On 2/6/08 10:59 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
 
  Tonight I watched âAfrican American Lives 2â°, the PBS special
in which Henry
  âSkipâ° Gates does genealogical history for several stars.
Gotta admit, I was
  a little doubtful about the show this time around. Not the
concept, which is
  cool. I was thinking that watching the lives of the rich and
famous would
  leave me a bit cold. Give this chance to more of us regular folk,
I thought.
  The rich folk have enough money to get this done on their own.
But I have to
  say it moved me. Putting aside their celebrity and just seeing
them as Black
  people like meËwith hopes and dreams and sad and glorious stories
in their
  pastsËI was really able to get into it. Skip Gates digs up some
amazing
  history on the ancestry of these stars (and one âregularâ°
person chosen for
  the show). The people are often moved to tears as they find out about
  ancestors who were state senators, donated land for schools to be
built, were
  owned by Natives, fought in the Civil War, etc. The biggest shock
of all is
  Tom Joyne
  r, who discovers that two of his uncles were electrocuted in South
Carolina
  for a crime they didnât commit, along with three other
Blacks--all in the same
  day. Great show, I highly recommend you check PBS schedule to see
when it airs
  again.
  
 
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/?campaign=pbshomefeatures_2_africanamericanliv
  es2_2008-02-06
  
  http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aalives/about.html
  
  
  ABOUT AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2
  
  Series Overview
  Building on the widespread acclaim of African American Lives
(2006) and
  Oprah's Roots (2007), AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES 2 again journeys deep
into
  ancestry of an all-new group of remarkable individuals, offering
an in-depth
  look at the African-American experience and race relations
throughout U.S.
  history. Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. returns as
series host,
  guiding genealogical investigations down through the 20th century,
  Reconstruction, slavery and early U.S. history, and presenting
cutting-edge
  genetic analysis that locates participants' ancestors in Africa,
Europe and
  America. Joining Professor Gates in the new broadcast are poet
Maya Angelou,
  author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman,
theologian
  Peter Gomes, publisher Linda Johnson Rice, athlete Jackie
Joyner-Kersee, radio
  personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, music legend Tina
Turner, and
  college administrator Kathleen Henderson, who was selected from
more than
  2,000 applicants to have her
  family history researched and DNA tested alongside the series'
well-known
  guests.
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
  
  
  
  
  Yahoo! Groups Links
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
Yahoo! Groups Links

* To visit your group on the web, go to:
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* To change settings online go to:
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Re: [scifinoir2] OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

yep, it's telling, telling that Republicans are sick of being shut out by their 
leader, have lost their taste for a war (which i knew was coming, curse them 
for supporting it in the first place), and prefer an uninspired speaker who 
tells the truth much of the time as opposed to Bush.  I used to like McCain a 
lot more when he was even more independent than he is now. I lost a lot of 
respect for him when he supported Bush.

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
What fascinates me about the relative lack of support party wide for
Romney  Huckabee is what it says about the mainstream of the
Republican Party. Apparently, mainstream republicans are tired of
conservative stranglehold as well.

I find it most fascinating that almost universally, the Conservative
Pundits have gone to war against McCain and he's basically been
completely unaffected by it. I mean if you watch the guy talk, he's
neither compelling nor striking. He lacks the presentation of Obama
and the confidence of Clinton. he's kind of dorky. He paces like he's
nervous. he delivery is both akward and shaky. He's simply not the
calm cool confidence of his opponents and he's cleaning up in spite
of the overwhelming machinations of the conservative core of his
party against him. It's really telling

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I'll be darned! this is the most interesting election year I can
 remember since, well, the last couple of election years! Good
 riddance, I say: spend some time looking at how he *used* to feel
 on issues, and how he feels now, and you talk bout an opportunistic
 flip-flopper! I'm also amazed at how Limbaugh and the others of his
 ilk have so embraced this Mormon ( who in other times they'd be
 attacking as not a real Christian, no doubt), just because they
 hate the liberal McCain! 
 More interesting is the reaction of many of my co-workers, who are
 perfect barometers for the ultra-conservative, braindead segment of
 society. They're all but in morning. Oh, it might be a riot up in
 here if Obama or Hillary wins come Election Day!
 
 **
 
 CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid
 for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN.
 Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests,
 compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.
 Romney had no public events Wednesday and instead met with aides to
 discuss strategy to stay in the race through March 4. 
 It is tough to saddle up this a.m., one Romney adviser told CNN
 the morning after his disappointing Super Tuesday finish.
 Although he outspent his rivals, Romney received just 175 delegates
 on Super Tuesday, compared with at least 504 for McCain and 141 for
 former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, according to CNN estimates.
 Romney came in first in Massachusetts, Alaska, Minnesota, Colorado
 and Utah on Super Tuesday. In the early voting contests, he won
 Nevada, Maine, Michigan and Wyoming.
 After his win in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses, former
 Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee became Romney's chief rival for the
 party's conservative vote. 
 Huckabee on Tuesday won Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and
 West Virginia.
 Primaries are a killing field, said CNN senior political analyst
 Bill Schneider. They take losing candidates and get their bodies
 off the field.
 Suspending a campaign has a different meaning depending on the
 party.
 On the Republican side, decisions on how to allocate delegates is
 left to the state parties.
 On the Democratic side, a candidate who suspends is technically
 still a candidate, so he or she keeps both district and statewide
 delegates won through primaries and caucuses. Superdelegates are
 always free to support any candidate at any time, whether the
 candidate drops out, suspends or stays in.
 National party rules say that a candidate who drops out keeps any
 district-level delegates he or she has won so far but loses any
 statewide delegates he or she has won. 
 Romney is expected to announce his decision Thursday afternoon at
 the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington,
 three Republican sources told CNN.
 The 60-year-old former investment banker had touted his management
 credentials throughout the campaign, citing his experience in
 Massachusetts and his turnaround of the scandal-plagued 2002 Winter
 Olympics in Salt Lake City. But despite pouring millions of his own
 fortune into the campaign, he struggled after Huckabee upset him in
 the Iowa caucuses and McCain came from behind to beat him in the
 New Hampshire primary
 
 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
 
 

I got friends who are in prison and Friends who are dead.
I'm gonna tell ya something that I've often said.

You know these things that happen,
That's just the way it's supposed to be.
And I can't help but wonder,
Don't ya know it coulda been me.

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

i hear you. What did you think of him when he was gubnor?

-- Original message -- 
From: g123curious [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I live and work in Massachusetts. Romney will not be missed. On the 
way out, don't let the door hit him where the sun don't shine.

George

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I'll be darned! this is the most interesting election year I can 
remember since, well, the last couple of election years! Good 
riddance, I say: spend some time looking at how he *used* to feel on 
issues, and how he feels now, and you talk bout an opportunistic flip-
flopper! I'm also amazed at how Limbaugh and the others of his ilk 
have so embraced this Mormon ( who in other times they'd be attacking 
as not a real Christian, no doubt), just because they hate 
the liberal McCain! 
 More interesting is the reaction of many of my co-workers, who are 
perfect barometers for the ultra-conservative, braindead segment of 
society. They're all but in morning. Oh, it might be a riot up in 
here if Obama or Hillary wins come Election Day!
 
 **
 
 CNN) -- Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney will suspend his bid 
for the Republican presidential nomination, GOP sources tell CNN.
 Romney had won 270 delegates in through the Super Tuesday contests, 
compared with front-runner John McCain's 680.

snip


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

2008-02-08 Thread KeithBJohnson

well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind: weighing what you 
think is right versus what those you serve think.  Always keep only your own 
counsel, and you're an autocrat, harmful to the people. Do whatever is popular, 
and you're a weakling, not helping the people to see what's best for them in 
times when they don't know it themselves. 

Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think of those 
times in history when the majority (or the most vocal and influential minority) 
of the population wanted something that wasn't right or moral, or simply 
efficacious in the long run: when whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. 
When men didn't want women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively 
agreed with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans wanted 
their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A century from 
now, perhaps some will look back on a society that taxed gays but refused to 
let them serve in the military equally, or enjoy the same domestic rights as 
the rest of us, and say If only there had been a leader who'd done what was 
right instead of what was popular.  After 9-11, this country wanted 
blood--anyone's blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed 
dog that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and his gang 
poin
ted us in that direction, then said This is what they want. And all of our 
leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few notable exceptions--went 
along with that fevered fervor, afraid to buck the will of the people. Well, 
that's why I have a leader: to see things more clearly in times when perhaps I 
can't, to make decisions based on more information and considered thought than 
I have.  

If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has the capacity 
sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger picture in ways I can't always 
do. That requires someone with certain convictions and basic principles that 
will guide him or her, that won't change with the times or the whim of the 
public.  A leader should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I 
know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes sticking to a 
set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is proof of that in the way he's 
singlemindedly pursued a disastrous foreign policy.  But you know, at least I 
know where Bush stands, and that's a good thing because i can then decide that 
he's not right for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've 
decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and courage in his 
stance, that allows me to see him for what he is and then--fire him. And that's 
the point: a leader leads by trying to get us to go in cert
ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best for us. If 
those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that leader will be sent packing. 
Look at how McCain is hated for ultra-conservatives because he wants a more 
reasoned approach to illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts.  But despite 
what it's costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time, 
he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people. A balancing 
act.

But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood of the day, 
how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or bad for us? How will I 
know that in that one moment when I am wrong, and I need him to be right, he 
won't do the popular thing instead of the right thing?

A
-- Original message -- 
From: maidmarian_thepoet [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I may be stepping into it...but what exactly is wrong with a public
official supporting the wishes of his constituents? I wish that my
officials here really supported my beliefs instead of catering to the
religious right. Of course, you can say that they are supporting
them---but that's my point. Wasn't he being a true representative of
Mass. voters at that time? Now he is claiming that he could be a true
representative of conservative voters. Isn't that his job?

I am still recalling listening to a This American Life episode in
which a guy who was pro-choice supported Bush because he didn't
flip-flop on issues. He admitted that he didn't like any of Bush's
stances on issuses, but he voted for him because he didn't flip-flop. 
Why on earth should I vote for someone who won't vote my way? He's my
representative, not a representative of his own convictions. If he can
change my mind because he believes me wrong, that's one thing. But he
shouldn't be voting his convictions whilly-nilly.

Ok, I will get off my soapbox now. :-)

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Like i said, an opportunistic flip-flopper. He was pro-choice, pro
immigration (in terms of working something out instead of sounding like
a Klansman), not averse to taxes as needed (which he calls fees, but
same difference). I heard a speech he gave just a

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

2008-02-11 Thread KeithBJohnson

thanks, i have no real excuse--none at all

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Queueing in third.

Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Ditto, Keith...What are you waiting 
for???


Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Damn Keith. You're a hell of a good writer. I love your insights and
the skill with which you present them. Have you ever considered
pursuing it further? If so, have you written anything I could see?

Bravo!!!

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind:
 weighing what you think is right versus what those you serve think.
 Always keep only your own counsel, and you're an autocrat, harmful
 to the people. Do whatever is popular, and you're a weakling, not
 helping the people to see what's best for them in times when they
 don't know it themselves. 
 
 Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think
 of those times in history when the majority (or the most vocal and
 influential minority) of the population wanted something that
 wasn't right or moral, or simply efficacious in the long run: when
 whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. When men didn't want
 women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively agreed
 with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans wanted
 their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A
 century from now, perhaps some will look back on a society that
 taxed gays but refused to let them serve in the military equally,
 or enjoy the same domestic rights as the rest of us, and say If
 only there had been a leader who'd done what was right instead of
 what was popular. After 9-11, this country wanted blood--anyone's
 blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed dog
 that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and his
 gang poin
 ted us in that direction, then said This is what they want. And
 all of our leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few
 notable exceptions--went along with that fevered fervor, afraid to
 buck the will of the people. Well, that's why I have a leader: to
 see things more clearly in times when perhaps I can't, to make
 decisions based on more information and considered thought than I
 have. 
 
 If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has
 the capacity sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger picture
 in ways I can't always do. That requires someone with certain
 convictions and basic principles that will guide him or her, that
 won't change with the times or the whim of the public. A leader
 should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I
 know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes
 sticking to a set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is proof
 of that in the way he's singlemindedly pursued a disastrous foreign
 policy. But you know, at least I know where Bush stands, and
 that's a good thing because i can then decide that he's not right
 for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've
 decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and
 courage in his stance, that allows me to see him for what he is and
 then--fire him. And that's the point: a leader leads by trying to
 get us to go in cert
 ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best
 for us. If those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that leader
 will be sent packing. Look at how McCain is hated for
 ultra-conservatives because he wants a more reasoned approach to
 illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts. But despite what it's
 costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time,
 he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people. A
 balancing act.
 
 But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood
 of the day, how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or
 bad for us? How will I know that in that one moment when I am
 wrong, and I need him to be right, he won't do the popular thing
 instead of the right thing?
 
 A
 -- Original message -- 
 From: maidmarian_thepoet [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I may be stepping into it...but what exactly is wrong with a public
 official supporting the wishes of his constituents? I wish that my
 officials here really supported my beliefs instead of catering to
 the
 religious right. Of course, you can say that they are supporting
 them---but that's my point. Wasn't he being a true representative
 of
 Mass. voters at that time? Now he is claiming that he could be a
 true
 representative of conservative voters. Isn't that his job?
 
 I am still recalling listening to a This American Life episode in
 which a guy who was pro-choice supported Bush because he didn't
 flip-flop on issues. He admitted that he didn't like any of Bush's
 stances on issuses, but he voted for him because he didn't
 flip-flop. 
 Why on earth should I vote for someone who won't vote my way? He's
 my

[scifinoir2] Jericho Returns Tonight

2008-02-11 Thread KeithBJohnson

Well, the fan-resurrected Jericho returns to CBS tonight at 10 pm EST.  I 
must admit I'm looking forward to it, as I became a fan of the show after my 
first indifferent thoughts on the early eps.  I was a little miffed at CBS for 
not rerunning the entire series recently.  ABC did the same thing with Lost. 
They showed maybe the last ep or two from last season recently, and that's it. 
Given all the hype on these shows, I can't understand why the networks wouldn't 
rerun the past season in order to build it up even more--especially in 
Jericho's case. Yeah, I know you can see all these full eps on the Net, which 
is cool. But for all those people who don't have high speed connections, a big 
computer screen, or a fancy computer/TV hookup, that's cumbersome.   I do see 
that SciFi is now airing Jericho season one on Monday nights, starting with a 
three-hour arc last night. Maybe that's the reason. At any rate, it starts 
tonight, and if, like me, you missed the last couple of episodes fr
om season one, you can wait for SciFi to air them in a few weeks, or watch them 
online at CBS' site, where the entire season is available:

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/jericho/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign

2008-02-11 Thread KeithBJohnson

yes, dad! :)  

thanks, seriously, though

-- Original message -- 
From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Ditto, Keith...What are you waiting for???


Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Damn Keith. You're a hell of a good writer. I love your insights and
the skill with which you present them. Have you ever considered
pursuing it further? If so, have you written anything I could see?

Bravo!!!

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind:
 weighing what you think is right versus what those you serve think.
 Always keep only your own counsel, and you're an autocrat, harmful
 to the people. Do whatever is popular, and you're a weakling, not
 helping the people to see what's best for them in times when they
 don't know it themselves. 
 
 Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think
 of those times in history when the majority (or the most vocal and
 influential minority) of the population wanted something that
 wasn't right or moral, or simply efficacious in the long run: when
 whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. When men didn't want
 women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively agreed
 with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans wanted
 their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A
 century from now, perhaps some will look back on a society that
 taxed gays but refused to let them serve in the military equally,
 or enjoy the same domestic rights as the rest of us, and say If
 only there had been a leader who'd done what was right instead of
 what was popular. After 9-11, this country wanted blood--anyone's
 blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed dog
 that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and his
 gang poin
 ted us in that direction, then said This is what they want. And
 all of our leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few
 notable exceptions--went along with that fevered fervor, afraid to
 buck the will of the people. Well, that's why I have a leader: to
 see things more clearly in times when perhaps I can't, to make
 decisions based on more information and considered thought than I
 have. 
 
 If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has
 the capacity sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger picture
 in ways I can't always do. That requires someone with certain
 convictions and basic principles that will guide him or her, that
 won't change with the times or the whim of the public. A leader
 should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I
 know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes
 sticking to a set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is proof
 of that in the way he's singlemindedly pursued a disastrous foreign
 policy. But you know, at least I know where Bush stands, and
 that's a good thing because i can then decide that he's not right
 for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've
 decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and
 courage in his stance, that allows me to see him for what he is and
 then--fire him. And that's the point: a leader leads by trying to
 get us to go in cert
 ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best
 for us. If those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that leader
 will be sent packing. Look at how McCain is hated for
 ultra-conservatives because he wants a more reasoned approach to
 illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts. But despite what it's
 costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time,
 he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people. A
 balancing act.
 
 But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood
 of the day, how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or
 bad for us? How will I know that in that one moment when I am
 wrong, and I need him to be right, he won't do the popular thing
 instead of the right thing?
 
 A
 -- Original message -- 
 From: maidmarian_thepoet [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I may be stepping into it...but what exactly is wrong with a public
 official supporting the wishes of his constituents? I wish that my
 officials here really supported my beliefs instead of catering to
 the
 religious right. Of course, you can say that they are supporting
 them---but that's my point. Wasn't he being a true representative
 of
 Mass. voters at that time? Now he is claiming that he could be a
 true
 representative of conservative voters. Isn't that his job?
 
 I am still recalling listening to a This American Life episode in
 which a guy who was pro-choice supported Bush because he didn't
 flip-flop on issues. He admitted that he didn't like any of Bush's
 stances on issuses, but he voted for him because he didn't
 flip-flop. 
 Why on earth should I vote for someone who won't vote my way? He's
 my
 representative, not a representative of his own convictions.

[scifinoir2] OT: Bush: Noose displays 'deeply offensive'

2008-02-12 Thread KeithBJohnson

Wow, two things that guy has said in his whole tenure in the White House with 
which I agree. (The other was when he stated that a measured approach to 
immigration reform was needed). Well, glad to see him condemn the practice. 
That's it, then: all the illegal wars, wiretappings, the jingoistic 
belligerent attitude, refusals to speak to Iran and N. Korea for so long, 
attempts to stir up the Iranian situation, lies about ties between Iraq and 
Al-Qaeda, destabilizing the Middle East, ruining America's rep in the world, 
ignoring the internal stabillity of the US--it's all forgiven now!

-- Original message -- 
From: Lord Sauron [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Bush: Noose displays 'deeply offensive' 

By DEB RIECHMANN 44 minutes ago 

President Bush said Tuesday that recent displays of nooses are disturbing and 
indicate that some Americans may be losing sight of the suffering that blacks 
have endured across the nation.

The era of rampant lynching is a shameful chapter in American history, Bush 
said at a black history month event at the White House, which began with 
serious comments about prejudice and ended with music performed by The 
Temptations.

The noose is not a symbol of prairie justice, but of gross injustice, the 
president said. Displaying one is not a harmless prank. Lynching is not a word 
to be mentioned in jest.

As a civil society, Americans should agree that noose displays and lynching 
jokes are deeply offensive, Bush said.  They are wrong, the president said, 
referring to such displays and jokes. And they have no place in America 
today. 

For decades, the noose was a symbolic part of a campaign of violence, fear and 
intimidation against blacks, the president said. Sometimes, he added, it was 
orchestrated by the law enforcement officers charged with protecting them. Bush 
also said the noose was a tool for intimidation and killing that conveyed a 
sense of powerlessness to millions of blacks throughout the country.

Fathers were dragged from their homes in the dark of night before the eyes of 
their terrified children, he said. Summary executions were held by torchlight 
in front of hateful crowds. In many cases, law enforcement officers responsible 
for protecting the victims were complicit in their deaths.

The Justice Department says it is actively investigating a number of noose 
incidents at schools, work places and neighborhoods around the country.  The 
FBI reported in November that hate-crime incidents in the United States rose in 
2006 by nearly 8 percent. Police across the nation reported 7,722 criminal 
incidents in 2006 targeting victims or property as a result of bias against a 
particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin or 
physical or mental disability. That was up 7.8 percent from the 7,163 incidents 
reported in 2005.

At the event, Bush honored Rep. John Lewis, the Georgia Democrat who was a 
leader of the civil rights movement and organized freedom rides, sit-ins and 
voter registration drives; and William Coleman, the first black American to be 
a clerk on the U.S. Supreme Court and who served as President Ford's 
transportation secretary. Coleman thus was the first black to hold a Cabinet 
post in a Republican administration.

Bush also recognized Ernest Green, one of the nine black students in Little 
Rock, Ark., who were escorted into the city's all-white Central High School 
following the historic Brown vs. Board of Education of the mid 1950s, and Otis 
Williams, a leader of the The Temptations.

After the president's remarks, his podium was replaced with five microphones 
and the members of the group, sporting gray suits trimmed in black, got the 
packed East Room clapping in time to their music. By the end of the eighth 
tune, My Girl, the group had the audience standing and singing along.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign Off List

2008-02-12 Thread KeithBJohnson

i was saying yes, dad to Astro. No, no offense at all! I appreciate your 
compliment and comments, same for everyone else.

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Hey Keith

I am sure that I am probably just missing something here. I didnt
really understand your response and I wanted to make sure I had not
caused offense.

thanks

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 yes, dad! :) 
 
 thanks, seriously, though
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Ditto, Keith...What are you waiting for???
 
 
 Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Damn Keith. You're a hell of a good writer. I love your insights
 and
 the skill with which you present them. Have you ever considered
 pursuing it further? If so, have you written anything I could see?
 
 Bravo!!!
 
 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind:
  weighing what you think is right versus what those you serve
 think.
  Always keep only your own counsel, and you're an autocrat,
 harmful
  to the people. Do whatever is popular, and you're a weakling, not
  helping the people to see what's best for them in times when they
  don't know it themselves. 
  
  Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think
  of those times in history when the majority (or the most vocal
 and
  influential minority) of the population wanted something that
  wasn't right or moral, or simply efficacious in the long run:
 when
  whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. When men didn't want
  women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively agreed
  with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans
 wanted
  their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A
  century from now, perhaps some will look back on a society that
  taxed gays but refused to let them serve in the military equally,
  or enjoy the same domestic rights as the rest of us, and say If
  only there had been a leader who'd done what was right instead of
  what was popular. After 9-11, this country wanted
 blood--anyone's
  blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed dog
  that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and
 his
  gang poin
  ted us in that direction, then said This is what they want. And
  all of our leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few
  notable exceptions--went along with that fevered fervor, afraid
 to
  buck the will of the people. Well, that's why I have a leader: to
  see things more clearly in times when perhaps I can't, to make
  decisions based on more information and considered thought than I
  have. 
  
  If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has
  the capacity sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger
 picture
  in ways I can't always do. That requires someone with certain
  convictions and basic principles that will guide him or her, that
  won't change with the times or the whim of the public. A leader
  should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I
  know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes
  sticking to a set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is
 proof
  of that in the way he's singlemindedly pursued a disastrous
 foreign
  policy. But you know, at least I know where Bush stands, and
  that's a good thing because i can then decide that he's not right
  for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've
  decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and
  courage in his stance, that allows me to see him for what he is
 and
  then--fire him. And that's the point: a leader leads by trying to
  get us to go in cert
  ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best
  for us. If those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that
 leader
  will be sent packing. Look at how McCain is hated for
  ultra-conservatives because he wants a more reasoned approach to
  illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts. But despite what it's
  costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time,
  he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people.
 A
  balancing act.
  
  But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood
  of the day, how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or
  bad for us? How will I know that in that one moment when I am
  wrong, and I need him to be right, he won't do the popular thing
  instead of the right thing?
  
  A
  -- Original message -- 
  From: maidmarian_thepoet [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
  I may be stepping into it...but what exactly is wrong with a
 public
  official supporting the wishes of his constituents? I wish that
 my
  officials here really supported my beliefs instead of catering to
  the
  religious right. Of course, you can say that they are supporting
  them---but that's my point. Wasn't he being a true representative
  of
  Mass. voters at that

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign Off List

2008-02-13 Thread KeithBJohnson

thanks. I mean that.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
PressureAlert. so when you going to call me so I can set up a fast blog 
for you. a simple one with a few add ons can be done in less than two 
hours. 

Pressure over. I know you got a lot going on. Take care of the 
important stuff first. I will be here when you are ready

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 i was saying yes, dad to Astro. No, no offense at all! I appreciate your 
 compliment and comments, same for everyone else.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Hey Keith

 I am sure that I am probably just missing something here. I didnt
 really understand your response and I wanted to make sure I had not
 caused offense.

 thanks

 B
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 yes, dad! :) 

 thanks, seriously, though

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Ditto, Keith...What are you waiting for???


 Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Damn Keith. You're a hell of a good writer. I love your insights
 and
 the skill with which you present them. Have you ever considered
 pursuing it further? If so, have you written anything I could see?

 Bravo!!!

 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 well, that's the balancing act of being a leader of any kind:
 weighing what you think is right versus what those you serve
 
 think.
 
 Always keep only your own counsel, and you're an autocrat,
 
 harmful
 
 to the people. Do whatever is popular, and you're a weakling, not
 helping the people to see what's best for them in times when they
 don't know it themselves. 

 Maybe I'm a cynic, maybe I distrust authority. But I always think
 of those times in history when the majority (or the most vocal
 
 and
 
 influential minority) of the population wanted something that
 wasn't right or moral, or simply efficacious in the long run:
 
 when
 
 whites wanted slavery, then later, Jim Crow. When men didn't want
 women to vote. When Germans actively wanted--or passively agreed
 with--the subjugation of the Jews. When white South Africans
 
 wanted
 
 their colored countrymen to remain as second class citizens. A
 century from now, perhaps some will look back on a society that
 taxed gays but refused to let them serve in the military equally,
 or enjoy the same domestic rights as the rest of us, and say If
 only there had been a leader who'd done what was right instead of
 what was popular. After 9-11, this country wanted
 
 blood--anyone's
 
 blood. I always liken America's mood then to that of a crazed dog
 that snaps at and attacks whomever happens to be near. Bush and
 
 his
 
 gang poin
 ted us in that direction, then said This is what they want. And
 all of our leaders--almost every dang one of them with a few
 notable exceptions--went along with that fevered fervor, afraid
 
 to
 
 buck the will of the people. Well, that's why I have a leader: to
 see things more clearly in times when perhaps I can't, to make
 decisions based on more information and considered thought than I
 have. 

 If I'm going to have someone lead me, it's because he or she has
 the capacity sometimes to make me better, to see the bigger
 
 picture
 
 in ways I can't always do. That requires someone with certain
 convictions and basic principles that will guide him or her, that
 won't change with the times or the whim of the public. A leader
 should be a rudder for a ship in a storm (lots of metaphors I
 know!) that can guide us in the right direction. Yes, sometimes
 sticking to a set of beliefs stubbornly can be wrong. Bush is
 
 proof
 
 of that in the way he's singlemindedly pursued a disastrous
 
 foreign
 
 policy. But you know, at least I know where Bush stands, and
 that's a good thing because i can then decide that he's not right
 for the job and get him out. I know who and what he is, and I've
 decided he's not right for me. There's a certain honesty and
 courage in his stance, that allows me to see him for what he is
 
 and
 
 then--fire him. And that's the point: a leader leads by trying to
 get us to go in cert
 ain ways, based on what we want and what he or she thinks is best
 for us. If those two views differ greatly, then perhaps that
 
 leader
 
 will be sent packing. Look at how McCain is hated for
 ultra-conservatives because he wants a more reasoned approach to
 illegal immigration, and the Bush tax cuts. But despite what it's
 costing him, he still holds to those views. yet at the same time,
 he's trying to modify them somewhat to go along with the people.
 
 A
 
 balancing act.

 But with someone like Romney, who keeps changing to meet the mood
 of the day, how can we ever know whether he's ultimately good or
 bad for us? How will I know that in that one moment when I am
 wrong, and I need him to be right, he won't do the popular thing
 instead of the right thing?

 A
 -- Original message

[scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

2008-02-13 Thread KeithBJohnson

The fact that the one guy states animated films always appeal to a younger 
audience kind of troubles me. Such an American attitude. Not the greatest fan 
of CGI animated films, either. I wish they could have brought back genius Gendy 
Tartakovsky, who did the great Clone Wars animated shorts for Cartoon 
Network. Unless the series is exceptionally good, a CGI series aimed at younger 
audience won't reel me in, especially since I like Star Wars, but can't really 
call myself a fan.

***

New `Star Wars' Film Animated Will Be
By JAKE COYLE  3 hours ago 
NEW YORK (AP)  The Star Wars universe, already substantially rendered by 
computer generated imagery, is giving in all the way to animation.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated film, will open in theaters Aug. 15 
and be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network 
and TNT this fall.
I felt there were a lot more `Star Wars' stories left to tell, said Star 
Wars creator George Lucas in a statement. I was eager to start telling some 
of them through animation and, at the same time, push the animation forward.
Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, both the film and TV show will be distributed 
through Time Warner Inc., which owns TNT, the Cartoon Network and the film's 
distributor, Warner Bros.
Lucas, who serves as executive producer, is also planning a live-action 
television series spinoff of the franchise, which he began working on last 
fall. The animated series has long been in the works, though the theatrical 
release was only announced late Tuesday.
The movie and subsequent series takes place between the ground covered in 
episodes II and III of the Star Wars films: Attack of the Clones (2002) and 
Revenge of the Sith (2005). It will include cartoon versions of many familiar 
characters, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala and 
General Grievous.
A new character named Ahsoka, Anakin's padawan, will be the first female Jedi 
to be a character of focus.
It turned out to be an idea that George wanted to explore, said Dave Filoni, 
director of the Clone Wars movie and supervising director of the series. 
Henry Gillroy (a writer on the series) and I very much wanted to have a female 
Jedi in more of a lead role because you've had all the boys.
More than 30 episodes are planned, though Filoni declined to say exactly how 
long the show will run. He acknowledged it's a finite timeline before 
encroaching on Revenge of the Sith story lines.
Though the Star Wars films have been extraordinarily lucrative, the force 
won't be expected to be as strong in cartoon form. The film and series are 
clearly aimed at younger viewers, though Filoni hopes to also entice the many 
Star Wars die-hard fans.
An animated series always appeals more to a younger audience, said Filoni. 
But at the same time, we've tried to do some sophisticated things and ensure 
that we are going to satisfy the broad spectrum of `Star Wars' fans.
Though Lucas farms out various Star Wars projects in what's known as the 
`Star Wars' expanded universe, Filoni says that Lucas ensured The Clone 
Wars has that `Star Wars' feeling.
Fans will also remember other animated series following the first time Lucas 
completed a Star Wars trilogy. After Return of the Jedi, the series Ewoks 
and Droids ran in the late `80s.
The Cartoon Network also ran an earlier version of a Clone Wars animated 
series for three seasons beginning in 2003.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Re: [scifinoir2] Re: OT: Romney Rumoured to Be Suspending Campaign Off List

2008-02-13 Thread KeithBJohnson

okay, y'all are really guilting me into this. I will take everyone up on this, 
promise. I have a couple of things to take care of, hopefully in the next week 
or two, then i'll be free to concentrate on this.
Thanks, James

-- Original message -- 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Keith:

When you are ready and do start to blog, I'll be happy to reprint some of
your entries in my own blog with links back to your blog. My feed is
syndicated into LexisNexis and EBSCO and the extra exposure can help you
build your readership a little quicker than with conventional weapons.

__
James Landrith
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
cell: 703-593-2065 * fax: 760-875-8547
AIM: jlnales * ICQ: 148600159
MSN and Yahoo! Messenger: jlandrith
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jlandrith
http://www.jameslandrith.com
http://www.multiracial.com
http://www.multiracial.com/abolitionist/
__

Keith Johnson said:

 thanks. I mean that.

 -- Original message --
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 PressureAlert. so when you going to call me so I can set up a fast blog
 for you. a simple one with a few add ons can be done in less than two
 hours.

 Pressure over. I know you got a lot going on. Take care of the
 important stuff first. I will be here when you are ready



 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

Clone Wars' is some of the best animation I've ever seen, in terms of quality 
of writing and action.  But what else would you expect from the man behind 
Samurai Jack, another huge fave of mine?

As for the films, i agree, i was underwhelmed with 1 -3, especially 1, which i 
hated. I've only watched it once, which for me, is saying a great deal. Ep 2 is 
only marginally better, picks up in action only in the last 45 minutes, has 
painfully bad dialog between the young lovers. Ep 3 is good, but still has 
crappy dialogue and stilted acting. I was disappointed that some battles 
weren't as long and exciting as the trailers led me to believe (when the evil 
Senator kills the Jedi who confront him, Mace's fights with the Senator and 
Anakin, Obi Wan's battle with Grievous). Good movie, would have benefitted from 
the superiour writing that was evident in The Empire Strikes Back.

But, I will say one thing about the first three flicks:  Ep 2 has one of the 
most awesome, pulse-pounding scenes--two actually--in all of the films. At the 
very end when the Jedi are standing above a vast field of spaceships going off 
to battle, untold thousands of clones marching into them, and the ships 
blasting off with thunderous engines--wow! I remember trying to take the whole 
scene in in the theatre. And as that trademark  music started up and Yoda says 
Begun the Clone Wars has, I was thrilled. Watching all the ships that we 
*know* will later become the tools of the Empire? Wow. And didja catch Jimmy 
Smits' character at that moment? He has a look of profound regret on his face 
at this necessary evil. He even pounds the railing of the ledge on which he's 
standing once, as if to say I hate that it's come to this.  Then, they seque 
into Anakin and Padme getting married, which really blew me away.  Those last 
few minutes are the best in the whole film. If only the whole thin
g could have been on that level.

-- Original message -- 
From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

I'm in for a Clone Wars feature. I thought the series was pretty good and
gave depth to some of the characters I was actually interested in. I like
Star Wars a lot and episodes 1-3 really fell short for me, personally. I
thought Clone Wars was better than all three films. Lucas needs to le this
live action project go. My son and I have been playing the Star Was Lego
video game for 2 months now, and I have to say...even THAT's better than
1-3.

On 2/13/08 10:07 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:

 The fact that the one guy states animated films always appeal to a younger
 audience kind of troubles me. Such an American attitude. Not the greatest fan
 of CGI animated films, either. I wish they could have brought back genius
 Gendy Tartakovsky, who did the great Clone Wars animated shorts for Cartoon
 Network. Unless the series is exceptionally good, a CGI series aimed at
 younger audience won't reel me in, especially since I like Star Wars, but
 can't really call myself a fan.
 
 ***
 
 New `Star Wars' Film Animated Will Be
 By JAKE COYLE  3 hours ago
 NEW YORK (AP)  The Star Wars universe, already substantially rendered by
 computer generated imagery, is giving in all the way to animation.
 Star Wars: The Clone Wars, an animated film, will open in theaters Aug. 15
 and be followed by a TV series of the same name, to air on the Cartoon Network
 and TNT this fall.
 I felt there were a lot more `Star Wars' stories left to tell, said Star
 Wars creator George Lucas in a statement. I was eager to start telling some
 of them through animation and, at the same time, push the animation forward.
 Produced by Lucasfilm Animation, both the film and TV show will be distributed
 through Time Warner Inc., which owns TNT, the Cartoon Network and the film's
 distributor, Warner Bros.
 Lucas, who serves as executive producer, is also planning a live-action
 television series spinoff of the franchise, which he began working on last
 fall. The animated series has long been in the works, though the theatrical
 release was only announced late Tuesday.
 The movie and subsequent series takes place between the ground covered in
 episodes II and III of the Star Wars films: Attack of the Clones (2002)
 and Revenge of the Sith (2005). It will include cartoon versions of many
 familiar characters, including Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Padme Amidala
 and General Grievous.
 A new character named Ahsoka, Anakin's padawan, will be the first female Jedi
 to be a character of focus.
 It turned out to be an idea that George wanted to explore, said Dave Filoni,
 director of the Clone Wars movie and supervising director of the series.
 Henry Gillroy (a writer on the series) and I very much wanted to have a
 female Jedi in more of a lead role because you've had all the boys.
 More than 30 episodes are planned, though Filoni declined to say exactly how
 long the show will run. He acknowledged it's a finite timeline before

Re: [scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

ha-ha-ha! It was pretty cheesy wasn't it? I'm still tripping over Darth James 
Earl Jones Vader, going Is Padme alright?, then, finding the truth, 
Noo!  I actually laughed at that supposedly poignant scened, with his 
Frankenstein walk and melodramatic acting.  Ep 3 has a good premise, moments 
that could have been so much more. But frankly Lucas isn't a great writer or 
director and he couldn't put life into his own characters. Look at the 
expression on Obi Wan's face when he watches the recording of Anankin/Darth 
killing the younglings. It should have been an intensely painful moment, yet 
McGregor--a really good actor--looks more like he's in a trance, or perhaps 
trying to remember his lines.  I kept thinking that's it???  Even if he were 
in a state of shock, it just didn't look right.

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Dude 

Episode 3 is Lucas' last chance to redeem the self rape of what
should have been the the greatest science fiction legacy of all time.
That Lucas did that to his own work is painful to remember much less
ever watch again. That said, Let me recap what's wrong with Episode 3
with a short rewrite/synopsis of the final moments before Anakin
becomes the greatest villian of all time

Anakin. I'm terrified you are going to die like my mother. I had to
side with the Emperor to save you
Padme: I can't believe you'd do this. You're killing me. Obi-Wan
agrees this is terrible
Anakin: You betrayed me to Obi-Wan. Die bitch Die.

From highly fear motivated tragic figure to pointless ignominy in the
space of two minutes. Lucas should have just wiped his but with Movie
Posters from Episodes 4-6 and filmed himself flushing it. It would
have been better than those first three episodes. I'm still crying
today.

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Clone Wars' is some of the best animation I've ever seen, in terms
 of quality of writing and action. But what else would you expect
 from the man behind Samurai Jack, another huge fave of mine?
 
 As for the films, i agree, i was underwhelmed with 1 -3, especially
 1, which i hated. I've only watched it once, which for me, is
 saying a great deal. Ep 2 is only marginally better, picks up in
 action only in the last 45 minutes, has painfully bad dialog
 between the young lovers. Ep 3 is good, but still has crappy
 dialogue and stilted acting. I was disappointed that some battles
 weren't as long and exciting as the trailers led me to believe
 (when the evil Senator kills the Jedi who confront him, Mace's
 fights with the Senator and Anakin, Obi Wan's battle with
 Grievous). Good movie, would have benefitted from the superiour
 writing that was evident in The Empire Strikes Back.
 
 But, I will say one thing about the first three flicks: Ep 2 has
 one of the most awesome, pulse-pounding scenes--two actually--in
 all of the films. At the very end when the Jedi are standing above
 a vast field of spaceships going off to battle, untold thousands of
 clones marching into them, and the ships blasting off with
 thunderous engines--wow! I remember trying to take the whole scene
 in in the theatre. And as that trademark music started up and Yoda
 says Begun the Clone Wars has, I was thrilled. Watching all the
 ships that we *know* will later become the tools of the Empire?
 Wow. And didja catch Jimmy Smits' character at that moment? He has
 a look of profound regret on his face at this necessary evil. He
 even pounds the railing of the ledge on which he's standing once,
 as if to say I hate that it's come to this. Then, they seque
 into Anakin and Padme getting married, which really blew me away. 
 Those last few minutes are the best in the whole film. If only the
 whole thin
 g could have been on that level.
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 
 I'm in for a Clone Wars feature. I thought the series was pretty
 good and
 gave depth to some of the characters I was actually interested in.
 I like
 Star Wars a lot and episodes 1-3 really fell short for me,
 personally. I
 thought Clone Wars was better than all three films. Lucas needs to
 le this
 live action project go. My son and I have been playing the Star Was
 Lego
 video game for 2 months now, and I have to say...even THAT's better
 than
 1-3.
 
 On 2/13/08 10:07 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
 wrote:
 
  The fact that the one guy states animated films always appeal to
 a younger
  audience kind of troubles me. Such an American attitude. Not the
 greatest fan
  of CGI animated films, either. I wish they could have brought
 back genius
  Gendy Tartakovsky, who did the great Clone Wars animated shorts
 for Cartoon
  Network. Unless the series is exceptionally good, a CGI series
 aimed at
  younger audience won't reel me in, especially since I like Star
 Wars, but
  can't really call myself a fan.
  
  ***
  
  New `Star Wars' Film Animated Will Be
  By JAKE COYLE  3

Re: [scifinoir2] What has been goig on in Sci Fi

I dropped a post last weekend about Jumper, which premieres today. Gonna 
check that out this weekend.  I also posted bout Jericho returning to TV this 
week. Did you catch it?

-- Original message -- 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
What are the new movie releases?

What was the movie take last week? 

Which shows have been canceled?

**The year's hottest artists on the red carpet at the Grammy 
Awards. Go to AOL Music. 
(http://music.aol.com/grammys?NCID=aolcmp0030002565)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

yeah, Phantom Menace did it for me, too. That entire movie was useless and 
didn't really move the story forward. The *only* things i liked in the entire 
flick were the fight between Obi Wan, his master, and the evil dude with the 
cool light staff, and that beautiful silvery spaceship.  I always felt Lucas 
should have introduced young Anakin, then gone ahead and moved him to a young 
man *in the same movie*. That would have moved up things so that the setup for 
the Clone Wars would have taken place in Ep 1. They could have fleshed out 
Anakin's character, showing him being trained and growing in power.  Could have 
taken time to create a better, more logical background story for the war. Ep 2 
then would have shown more battles and the actual *war* (the stuff covered by 
Gendy Tartakovsky's animated series).

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I had waited for that moment from the second I began to hear about
the origin of Vader and dreamed of the telling of that part of the
story since I was a teenager. I figured he was gonna blow it after I
saw Phantom Menace but I held on to hope that no one was dumb enough
to destroy their own legacy that brutally given their endless
options, resources and desire to tell the story. I can't imagine what
the hell he was thinking.

I really would love to see a real director take that story and remake
it from start to finish with real scripts and a greater eye to
character development out side the realm of 2D. I think that this is
a place Joss Whedon could actually do something brilliant with the
source material.

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 ha-ha-ha! It was pretty cheesy wasn't it? I'm still tripping over
 Darth James Earl Jones Vader, going Is Padme alright?, then,
 finding the truth, Noo! I actually laughed at that
 supposedly poignant scened, with his Frankenstein walk and
 melodramatic acting. Ep 3 has a good premise, moments that could
 have been so much more. But frankly Lucas isn't a great writer or
 director and he couldn't put life into his own characters. Look at
 the expression on Obi Wan's face when he watches the recording of
 Anankin/Darth killing the younglings. It should have been an
 intensely painful moment, yet McGregor--a really good actor--looks
 more like he's in a trance, or perhaps trying to remember his
 lines. I kept thinking that's it??? Even if he were in a state
 of shock, it just didn't look right.
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Dude 
 
 Episode 3 is Lucas' last chance to redeem the self rape of what
 should have been the the greatest science fiction legacy of all
 time.
 That Lucas did that to his own work is painful to remember much
 less
 ever watch again. That said, Let me recap what's wrong with Episode
 3
 with a short rewrite/synopsis of the final moments before Anakin
 becomes the greatest villian of all time
 
 Anakin. I'm terrified you are going to die like my mother. I had
 to
 side with the Emperor to save you
 Padme: I can't believe you'd do this. You're killing me. Obi-Wan
 agrees this is terrible
 Anakin: You betrayed me to Obi-Wan. Die bitch Die.
 
 From highly fear motivated tragic figure to pointless ignominy in
 the
 space of two minutes. Lucas should have just wiped his but with
 Movie
 Posters from Episodes 4-6 and filmed himself flushing it. It would
 have been better than those first three episodes. I'm still crying
 today.
 
 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Clone Wars' is some of the best animation I've ever seen, in
 terms
  of quality of writing and action. But what else would you expect
  from the man behind Samurai Jack, another huge fave of mine?
  
  As for the films, i agree, i was underwhelmed with 1 -3,
 especially
  1, which i hated. I've only watched it once, which for me, is
  saying a great deal. Ep 2 is only marginally better, picks up in
  action only in the last 45 minutes, has painfully bad dialog
  between the young lovers. Ep 3 is good, but still has crappy
  dialogue and stilted acting. I was disappointed that some battles
  weren't as long and exciting as the trailers led me to believe
  (when the evil Senator kills the Jedi who confront him, Mace's
  fights with the Senator and Anakin, Obi Wan's battle with
  Grievous). Good movie, would have benefitted from the superiour
  writing that was evident in The Empire Strikes Back.
  
  But, I will say one thing about the first three flicks: Ep 2 has
  one of the most awesome, pulse-pounding scenes--two actually--in
  all of the films. At the very end when the Jedi are standing
 above
  a vast field of spaceships going off to battle, untold thousands
 of
  clones marching into them, and the ships blasting off with
  thunderous engines--wow! I remember trying to take the whole
 scene
  in in the theatre. And as that trademark music started up and
 Yoda
  says Begun the Clone Wars has, I was thrilled. Watching all the
  ships

Re: [scifinoir2] Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

Not surprised. I've been a supporter of Blu-Ray from the get-go. Sure, HD-DVD 
is cheaper and uses existing facilities to create the discs, but its storage is 
smaller.  And we all know that companies bilk you in buying disks: that is, if 
you had to buy, say, two HD-DVDs to get the same storage as on one Blu-Ray, you 
might end up paying more than twice as much as the cost of a single Blu-Ray. 
Beyond that, Blu-Ray has superiour overall tech specs and features, and is a 
better technology. I get tired of the cheapest, easiest tech winning all the 
time (VHS over Betamax, for example). 

The saddest thing of all is that all the parties involved should have been able 
to work on a single standard. I'm a huge fan of competition and choice in the 
marketplace, but sometimes it doesn't make sense to throw several different and 
mutually exclusive options at consumers. There should have been one standard.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say 
 Company says no decision has been made 
 By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel 
 
 Feb 15, 2008 
 The format war has turned into a format death watch. 
 
 Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format 
 sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a 
 rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement 
 in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc 
 format after May. 
 
 Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of 
 marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Based on its 
 technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best 
 format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in 
 our player offerings, she said. 
 
 But she hinted that something's in the air. Given the market 
 developments in the past month, she said, Toshiba will continue to 
 study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, 
 particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players. 
 
 Immediately after the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North American 
 Promotional Group canceled its Consumer Electronics Show presentation. 
 The following week, data collected by the NPD Group revealed Blu-ray 
 took in 93% of all hardware sales for that week. 
 
 Toshiba subsequently fired back, drastically cutting its HD DVD player 
 prices by as much as half, effective Jan. 15. But a hoped-for consumer 
 sales surge never materialized; retail point-of-sale data collected by 
 the NPD Group for the week ending Jan. 26 still showed Blu-ray Disc 
 players ahead by a wide margin, 65% to 28%. 
 
 Software sales have declined as well. The latest Nielsen VideoScan First 
 Alert sales data show the top-selling Blu-ray Disc title for the week, 
 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Across the Universe, sold more than 
 three times as many copies the week ending Feb. 10 as the top HD DVD 
 seller, Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Elizabeth: The Golden 
 Age. Blu-ray Disc titles also accounted for 81% of all high-def disc 
 sales for the week, with HD DVD at just 19%. 
 
 Toshiba had been pitching its discounted HD DVD players toward the 
 standard DVD crowd as well as high-def enthusiasts, noting in its ad 
 message that the new players would make DVDs look a lot better as well. 
 And as a last-ditch effort, the company ran an ad during the Super Bowl 
 -- a 30-second spot that reportedly cost $2.7 million. 
 
 But in the end, sources say, the substantial loss Toshiba is incurring 
 with each HD DVD player sold -- a figure sources say could be as high as 
 several hundred dollars -- coupled with a series of high-profile retail 
 defections has driven the company to at last concede defeat. 
 
 
 
 An announcement is coming soon, said one source close to the HD DVD 
 camp. It could be a matter of weeks. 
 
 Microsoft is the other big player in the HD DVD equation. Last fall when 
 Paramount Home Entertainment announced it was dropping its dual-format 
 strategy and would release titles only in HD DVD, giving that side a 
 brief resurgence, a pitch to journalists for interviews came from a 
 Microsoft email address. 
 
 Several phone calls to Kevin Collins, Microsoft's normally accessible 
 HD DVD evangelist, were not returned. Nor were calls to Ken Graffeo, 
 the Universal Studios Home Entertainment executive who doubles as 
 co-president of the HD DVD North American Promotional Group. 
 
 When Warner abandoned HD DVD in January, the format was left with just 
 two of the six major studios backing it, Universal Studios Home 
 Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Blu-ray support among 
 independents is rising. ADV Films, Tai Seng Entertainment, Topics 
 Entertainment and National Geographic have all confirmed they are going 
 Blu-ray exclusive, while more than one indie that was releasing titles 
 just on HD

Re: [scifinoir2] Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

agreed

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I think netflix dumping them this week was the final nail in the coffin.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Not surprised. I've been a supporter of Blu-Ray from the get-go. Sure, HD-DVD 
 is cheaper and uses existing facilities to create the discs, but its storage 
 is smaller. And we all know that companies bilk you in buying disks: that is, 
 if you had to buy, say, two HD-DVDs to get the same storage as on one 
 Blu-Ray, you might end up paying more than twice as much as the cost of a 
 single Blu-Ray. Beyond that, Blu-Ray has superiour overall tech specs and 
 features, and is a better technology. I get tired of the cheapest, easiest 
 tech winning all the time (VHS over Betamax, for example). 

 The saddest thing of all is that all the parties involved should have been 
 able to work on a single standard. I'm a huge fan of competition and choice 
 in the marketplace, but sometimes it doesn't make sense to throw several 
 different and mutually exclusive options at consumers. There should have been 
 one standard.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 
 Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say 
 Company says no decision has been made 
 By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel 

 Feb 15, 2008 
 The format war has turned into a format death watch. 

 Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format 
 sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a 
 rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement 
 in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc 
 format after May. 

 Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of 
 marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Based on its 
 technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best 
 format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in 
 our player offerings, she said. 

 But she hinted that something's in the air. Given the market 
 developments in the past month, she said, Toshiba will continue to 
 study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, 
 particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players. 

 Immediately after the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North American 
 Promotional Group canceled its Consumer Electronics Show presentation. 
 The following week, data collected by the NPD Group revealed Blu-ray 
 took in 93% of all hardware sales for that week. 

 Toshiba subsequently fired back, drastically cutting its HD DVD player 
 prices by as much as half, effective Jan. 15. But a hoped-for consumer 
 sales surge never materialized; retail point-of-sale data collected by 
 the NPD Group for the week ending Jan. 26 still showed Blu-ray Disc 
 players ahead by a wide margin, 65% to 28%. 

 Software sales have declined as well. The latest Nielsen VideoScan First 
 Alert sales data show the top-selling Blu-ray Disc title for the week, 
 Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Across the Universe, sold more than 
 three times as many copies the week ending Feb. 10 as the top HD DVD 
 seller, Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Elizabeth: The Golden 
 Age. Blu-ray Disc titles also accounted for 81% of all high-def disc 
 sales for the week, with HD DVD at just 19%. 

 Toshiba had been pitching its discounted HD DVD players toward the 
 standard DVD crowd as well as high-def enthusiasts, noting in its ad 
 message that the new players would make DVDs look a lot better as well. 
 And as a last-ditch effort, the company ran an ad during the Super Bowl 
 -- a 30-second spot that reportedly cost $2.7 million. 

 But in the end, sources say, the substantial loss Toshiba is incurring 
 with each HD DVD player sold -- a figure sources say could be as high as 
 several hundred dollars -- coupled with a series of high-profile retail 
 defections has driven the company to at last concede defeat. 



 An announcement is coming soon, said one source close to the HD DVD 
 camp. It could be a matter of weeks. 

 Microsoft is the other big player in the HD DVD equation. Last fall when 
 Paramount Home Entertainment announced it was dropping its dual-format 
 strategy and would release titles only in HD DVD, giving that side a 
 brief resurgence, a pitch to journalists for interviews came from a 
 Microsoft email address. 

 Several phone calls to Kevin Collins, Microsoft's normally accessible 
 HD DVD evangelist, were not returned. Nor were calls to Ken Graffeo, 
 the Universal Studios Home Entertainment executive who doubles as 
 co-president of the HD DVD North American Promotional Group. 

 When Warner abandoned HD DVD in January, the format was left with just 
 two of the six major studios backing it, Universal Studios Home 
 Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Blu-ray support among

Re: [scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

have you seen all the flicks?

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
(refusing to invest either time or money in the Great Lucas Money Vacuum)

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, Phantom Menace did it for me, too. That entire 
movie was useless and didn't really move the story forward. The *only* things i 
liked in the entire flick were the fight between Obi Wan, his master, and the 
evil dude with the cool light staff, and that beautiful silvery spaceship. I 
always felt Lucas should have introduced young Anakin, then gone ahead and 
moved him to a young man *in the same movie*. That would have moved up things 
so that the setup for the Clone Wars would have taken place in Ep 1. They could 
have fleshed out Anakin's character, showing him being trained and growing in 
power. Could have taken time to create a better, more logical background story 
for the war. Ep 2 then would have shown more battles and the actual *war* (the 
stuff covered by Gendy Tartakovsky's animated series).

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco 
I had waited for that moment from the second I began to hear about
the origin of Vader and dreamed of the telling of that part of the
story since I was a teenager. I figured he was gonna blow it after I
saw Phantom Menace but I held on to hope that no one was dumb enough
to destroy their own legacy that brutally given their endless
options, resources and desire to tell the story. I can't imagine what
the hell he was thinking.

I really would love to see a real director take that story and remake
it from start to finish with real scripts and a greater eye to
character development out side the realm of 2D. I think that this is
a place Joss Whedon could actually do something brilliant with the
source material.

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 ha-ha-ha! It was pretty cheesy wasn't it? I'm still tripping over
 Darth James Earl Jones Vader, going Is Padme alright?, then,
 finding the truth, Noo! I actually laughed at that
 supposedly poignant scened, with his Frankenstein walk and
 melodramatic acting. Ep 3 has a good premise, moments that could
 have been so much more. But frankly Lucas isn't a great writer or
 director and he couldn't put life into his own characters. Look at
 the expression on Obi Wan's face when he watches the recording of
 Anankin/Darth killing the younglings. It should have been an
 intensely painful moment, yet McGregor--a really good actor--looks
 more like he's in a trance, or perhaps trying to remember his
 lines. I kept thinking that's it??? Even if he were in a state
 of shock, it just didn't look right.
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco 
 Dude 
 
 Episode 3 is Lucas' last chance to redeem the self rape of what
 should have been the the greatest science fiction legacy of all
 time.
 That Lucas did that to his own work is painful to remember much
 less
 ever watch again. That said, Let me recap what's wrong with Episode
 3
 with a short rewrite/synopsis of the final moments before Anakin
 becomes the greatest villian of all time
 
 Anakin. I'm terrified you are going to die like my mother. I had
 to
 side with the Emperor to save you
 Padme: I can't believe you'd do this. You're killing me. Obi-Wan
 agrees this is terrible
 Anakin: You betrayed me to Obi-Wan. Die bitch Die.
 
 From highly fear motivated tragic figure to pointless ignominy in
 the
 space of two minutes. Lucas should have just wiped his but with
 Movie
 Posters from Episodes 4-6 and filmed himself flushing it. It would
 have been better than those first three episodes. I'm still crying
 today.
 
 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Clone Wars' is some of the best animation I've ever seen, in
 terms
  of quality of writing and action. But what else would you expect
  from the man behind Samurai Jack, another huge fave of mine?
  
  As for the films, i agree, i was underwhelmed with 1 -3,
 especially
  1, which i hated. I've only watched it once, which for me, is
  saying a great deal. Ep 2 is only marginally better, picks up in
  action only in the last 45 minutes, has painfully bad dialog
  between the young lovers. Ep 3 is good, but still has crappy
  dialogue and stilted acting. I was disappointed that some battles
  weren't as long and exciting as the trailers led me to believe
  (when the evil Senator kills the Jedi who confront him, Mace's
  fights with the Senator and Anakin, Obi Wan's battle with
  Grievous). Good movie, would have benefitted from the superiour
  writing that was evident in The Empire Strikes Back.
  
  But, I will say one thing about the first three flicks: Ep 2 has
  one of the most awesome, pulse-pounding scenes--two actually--in
  all of the films. At the very end when the Jedi are standing
 above
  a vast field of spaceships going off to battle, untold thousands
 of
  clones marching into them, and the ships blasting off with
  thunderous engines--wow! I remember

Re: [scifinoir2] Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

do you own or plan to buy either an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player?  A lot of people 
are unmoved like you because they aren't rushing to by either. They're quite 
happy with standard DVD (not everyone has a hi-def TV so they can't see the 
quality anyway) or using HD cable broadcasts and pay-per-view. Outside of 
people with PS3s (whcih have Blu-Ray built in) I hear a lot of folks are just 
waiting for their current DVD player to break before buying something else. And 
even then, you can buy a standard def dVD player for a song. Lots of people, 
too, are just going to skip this whole phase and wait for expanded hi-def 
video-on-demand and the advent of true streaming of movies and programs across 
the Net.

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Doesn't move me in the least. 

Even *if* HD DVD had remained viable, I wouldn't put Dime First toward it until 
the day when I went looking for a movie I absolutely *had* to have, and it was 
*only* on one of those formats.

Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say
Company says no decision has been made
By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel

Feb 15, 2008
The format war has turned into a format death watch.

Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format 
sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a 
rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement 
in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc 
format after May.

Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of 
marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Based on its 
technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best 
format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in 
our player offerings, she said.

But she hinted that something's in the air. Given the market 
developments in the past month, she said, Toshiba will continue to 
study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, 
particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players.

Immediately after the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North American 
Promotional Group canceled its Consumer Electronics Show presentation. 
The following week, data collected by the NPD Group revealed Blu-ray 
took in 93% of all hardware sales for that week.

Toshiba subsequently fired back, drastically cutting its HD DVD player 
prices by as much as half, effective Jan. 15. But a hoped-for consumer 
sales surge never materialized; retail point-of-sale data collected by 
the NPD Group for the week ending Jan. 26 still showed Blu-ray Disc 
players ahead by a wide margin, 65% to 28%.

Software sales have declined as well. The latest Nielsen VideoScan First 
Alert sales data show the top-selling Blu-ray Disc title for the week, 
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Across the Universe, sold more than 
three times as many copies the week ending Feb. 10 as the top HD DVD 
seller, Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Elizabeth: The Golden 
Age. Blu-ray Disc titles also accounted for 81% of all high-def disc 
sales for the week, with HD DVD at just 19%.

Toshiba had been pitching its discounted HD DVD players toward the 
standard DVD crowd as well as high-def enthusiasts, noting in its ad 
message that the new players would make DVDs look a lot better as well. 
And as a last-ditch effort, the company ran an ad during the Super Bowl 
-- a 30-second spot that reportedly cost $2.7 million.

But in the end, sources say, the substantial loss Toshiba is incurring 
with each HD DVD player sold -- a figure sources say could be as high as 
several hundred dollars -- coupled with a series of high-profile retail 
defections has driven the company to at last concede defeat.

An announcement is coming soon, said one source close to the HD DVD 
camp. It could be a matter of weeks.

Microsoft is the other big player in the HD DVD equation. Last fall when 
Paramount Home Entertainment announced it was dropping its dual-format 
strategy and would release titles only in HD DVD, giving that side a 
brief resurgence, a pitch to journalists for interviews came from a 
Microsoft email address.

Several phone calls to Kevin Collins, Microsoft's normally accessible 
HD DVD evangelist, were not returned. Nor were calls to Ken Graffeo, 
the Universal Studios Home Entertainment executive who doubles as 
co-president of the HD DVD North American Promotional Group.

When Warner abandoned HD DVD in January, the format was left with just 
two of the six major studios backing it, Universal Studios Home 
Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment. Blu-ray support among 
independents is rising. ADV Films, Tai Seng Entertainment, Topics 
Entertainment and National Geographic have all confirmed they are going 
Blu-ray exclusive, while more than one indie that was releasing titles 
just on HD DVD, including Surround Records and Opus

Re: [scifinoir2] Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

i keep thinking about it. Prices are coming down on Blu-Ray, though actually a 
PS3 is actually about the best deal for a Blu-Ray player. Keep struggling with 
that, too, but i'm such a casual gamer i can't currently justify putting out 
the dough for a PS3. I'm still happy with my SNES, Genesis and PS2. I tend to 
think when I get my 50 plasma screen TV I'll get a Blu-Ray player, and Lord 
knows that won't be anytime soon!

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 unless something dramatic happens, I'm fine with the regular DVD 
 player. Blue Ray is extremely expensive. I'm definitely not going to 
 be an early adopter on this one 
 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
  do you own or plan to buy either an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player? A lot of 
  people 
 are unmoved like you because they aren't rushing to by either. They're quite 
 happy with standard DVD (not everyone has a hi-def TV so they can't see the 
 quality anyway) or using HD cable broadcasts and pay-per-view. Outside of 
 people 
 with PS3s (whcih have Blu-Ray built in) I hear a lot of folks are just 
 waiting 
 for their current DVD player to break before buying something else. And even 
 then, you can buy a standard def dVD player for a song. Lots of people, too, 
 are 
 just going to skip this whole phase and wait for expanded hi-def 
 video-on-demand 
 and the advent of true streaming of movies and programs across the Net. 
  
  -- Original message -- 
  From: Martin 
  Doesn't move me in the least. 
  
  Even *if* HD DVD had remained viable, I wouldn't put Dime First toward it 
 until the day when I went looking for a movie I absolutely *had* to have, and 
 it 
 was *only* on one of those formats. 
  
  Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) 
 wrote: Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say 
  Company says no decision has been made 
  By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel 
  
  Feb 15, 2008 
  The format war has turned into a format death watch. 
  
  Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format 
  sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a 
  rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement 
  in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc 
  format after May. 
  
  Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of 
  marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Based on its 
  technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best 
  format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in 
  our player offerings, she said. 
  
  But she hinted that something's in the air. Given the market 
  developments in the past month, she said, Toshiba will continue to 
  study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, 
  particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD 
  players. 
  
  Immediately after the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North American 
  Promotional Group canceled its Consumer Electronics Show presentation. 
  The following week, data collected by the NPD Group revealed Blu-ray 
  took in 93% of all hardware sales for that week. 
  
  Toshiba subsequently fired back, drastically cutting its HD DVD player 
  prices by as much as half, effective Jan. 15. But a hoped-for consumer 
  sales surge never materialized; retail point-of-sale data collected by 
  the NPD Group for the week ending Jan. 26 still showed Blu-ray Disc 
  players ahead by a wide margin, 65% to 28%. 
  
  Software sales have declined as well. The latest Nielsen VideoScan First 
  Alert sales data show the top-selling Blu-ray Disc title for the week, 
  Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Across the Universe, sold more than 
  three times as many copies the week ending Feb. 10 as the top HD DVD 
  seller, Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Elizabeth: The Golden 
  Age. Blu-ray Disc titles also accounted for 81% of all high-def disc 
  sales for the week, with HD DVD at just 19%. 
  
  Toshiba had been pitching its discounted HD DVD players toward the 
  standard DVD crowd as well as high-def enthusiasts, noting in its ad 
  message that the new players would make DVDs look a lot better as well. 
  And as a last-ditch effort, the company ran an ad during the Super Bowl 
  -- a 30-second spot that reportedly cost $2.7 million. 
  
  But in the end, sources say, the substantial loss Toshiba is incurring 
  with each HD DVD player sold -- a figure sources say could be as high as 
  several hundred dollars -- coupled with a series of high-profile retail 
  defections has driven the company to at last concede defeat. 
  
  An announcement is coming soon, said one source close to the HD DVD 
  camp. It could be a matter of weeks. 
  
  Microsoft is the other big player in the HD DVD equation. Last fall when 
  Paramount Home Entertainment announced it was dropping its dual-format 
  strategy and

Re: [scifinoir2] Animated Star Wars Movie, Series Coming This Year

ha-ha! I got taken the same way for lots of ducats with that movie re-release 
and special box sets

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Every last stinkin' one, the first four on my dime. Phantom Crap- uh, 
Menace, I surprised myself by going to see it. Remember back in '97, when the 
Money Master decided to juice up Eps 4-6 FX-wise, then re-release them to 
theaters for the 20th anniversary of Star Wars (had to fight myself from 
posting a very rude analogy there), then put them on video the following month? 
Well, I was one of the masses dumb enough to wait until all three were ina nice 
boxed set, only setting me back fifty bucks. The following month, the Money 
Master put out a Special Edition box set, with *extra* features, for $20 LESS.

When Lucas passes on, I'm buying at the bar.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: have you seen all the flicks?

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin 
(refusing to invest either time or money in the Great Lucas Money Vacuum)

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: yeah, Phantom Menace did it for me, too. That entire 
movie was useless and didn't really move the story forward. The *only* things i 
liked in the entire flick were the fight between Obi Wan, his master, and the 
evil dude with the cool light staff, and that beautiful silvery spaceship. I 
always felt Lucas should have introduced young Anakin, then gone ahead and 
moved him to a young man *in the same movie*. That would have moved up things 
so that the setup for the Clone Wars would have taken place in Ep 1. They could 
have fleshed out Anakin's character, showing him being trained and growing in 
power. Could have taken time to create a better, more logical background story 
for the war. Ep 2 then would have shown more battles and the actual *war* (the 
stuff covered by Gendy Tartakovsky's animated series).

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco 
I had waited for that moment from the second I began to hear about
the origin of Vader and dreamed of the telling of that part of the
story since I was a teenager. I figured he was gonna blow it after I
saw Phantom Menace but I held on to hope that no one was dumb enough
to destroy their own legacy that brutally given their endless
options, resources and desire to tell the story. I can't imagine what
the hell he was thinking.

I really would love to see a real director take that story and remake
it from start to finish with real scripts and a greater eye to
character development out side the realm of 2D. I think that this is
a place Joss Whedon could actually do something brilliant with the
source material.

B
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 ha-ha-ha! It was pretty cheesy wasn't it? I'm still tripping over
 Darth James Earl Jones Vader, going Is Padme alright?, then,
 finding the truth, Noo! I actually laughed at that
 supposedly poignant scened, with his Frankenstein walk and
 melodramatic acting. Ep 3 has a good premise, moments that could
 have been so much more. But frankly Lucas isn't a great writer or
 director and he couldn't put life into his own characters. Look at
 the expression on Obi Wan's face when he watches the recording of
 Anankin/Darth killing the younglings. It should have been an
 intensely painful moment, yet McGregor--a really good actor--looks
 more like he's in a trance, or perhaps trying to remember his
 lines. I kept thinking that's it??? Even if he were in a state
 of shock, it just didn't look right.
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Bosco Bosco 
 Dude 
 
 Episode 3 is Lucas' last chance to redeem the self rape of what
 should have been the the greatest science fiction legacy of all
 time.
 That Lucas did that to his own work is painful to remember much
 less
 ever watch again. That said, Let me recap what's wrong with Episode
 3
 with a short rewrite/synopsis of the final moments before Anakin
 becomes the greatest villian of all time
 
 Anakin. I'm terrified you are going to die like my mother. I had
 to
 side with the Emperor to save you
 Padme: I can't believe you'd do this. You're killing me. Obi-Wan
 agrees this is terrible
 Anakin: You betrayed me to Obi-Wan. Die bitch Die.
 
 From highly fear motivated tragic figure to pointless ignominy in
 the
 space of two minutes. Lucas should have just wiped his but with
 Movie
 Posters from Episodes 4-6 and filmed himself flushing it. It would
 have been better than those first three episodes. I'm still crying
 today.
 
 Bosco
 --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
  Clone Wars' is some of the best animation I've ever seen, in
 terms
  of quality of writing and action. But what else would you expect
  from the man behind Samurai Jack, another huge fave of mine?
  
  As for the films, i agree, i was underwhelmed with 1 -3,
 especially
  1, which i hated. I've only watched it once, which for me, is
  saying a great deal. Ep 2 is only marginally better, picks up in
  action only in the last 45

Re: [scifinoir2] Pick SCI FI Wire's Best SF Films

Before i get to my picks, I have thoughts on the choices proferred here:

I guess I get Star Wars ep 4 because it was the first that set the tone for the 
whole series, but personally I'd put The Empire Strikes Back in its stead. 
I'm not getting how Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome is scifi, and, if so, why 
they'd put that more crowd-pleasing, heavily hyped product ahead of the far 
superiour movies Mad Max and The Road Warrior. Thunderdome was basically 
a big Hollywood to-do with Tina Turner and stuff. Road Warrior is the 
visceral, seminal movie from the series that introduced most people to Gibson.  
Men in Black is entertaining, but I can't recall a thing about it that would 
put it on the best scifi of all time list. It wasn't groundbreaking or earth 
shattering in any way that I can recall. What's up with that? I'd drop it and 
replace it with someting like 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea if we're going 
that route.
How can they possibly leave the first, black and white, frightening Godzilla 
film off this list?? That movie rocked!!!
If Beyond Thunderdome is scifi, then wouldn't Batman Begins also be scifi? 
In that case, I'd put it on the list. I'd also add the original Superman, 
which was groundbreaking in the FX, the cinematography, the fact that it 
developed an actual story (Superman and all the action don't show up until well 
into the film).

Another interesting thing: note how so many of the movies on this list are 
*not* the remakes, but the original versions (War of the Worlds, Invasion of 
the Body Snatchers, The Time Machine, Planet of the Apes, Rollerball, 
Frankenstein, Stepford Wives, Invisible Man). Outside of The Fly ,  remakes 
are basically ignored, which makes sense to me. I've seen very few remakes of 
classic scifi films that i prefer over the originals, even with updated FX and 
all...

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Pick SCI FI Wire's Best SF Films 
 
 The American Film Institute has come up with a list of 50 SF films that 
 it deems among the best ever; it will pick 10 as the best SF movies of 
 all time for a TV special that will air on CBS in June. 
 
 But readers of SCI FI Wire don't have to wait until then to come up with 
 their own list of the best SF movies of all time. 
 
 Pick from the list below of your top 10 and send it to SCI FI Wire 
 before March 1 with Top 10 in the subject line. Editors will post SCI 
 FI Wire's Readers' Choice list of the top 10 that week. 
 
 If your favorite movie isn't in the list below, feel free to add it to 
 your choice and SCI FI Wire will run a separate list of the top 10 most 
 underappreciated SF movies of all time. 
 
 The AFI defines science fiction as a genre that marries a scientific 
 or technological premise with imaginative speculation. It has selected 
 the following 50 movies as contenders for the best, in alphabetical 
 order (in the case of movies that have been made more than once, we've 
 designated by date which version the AFI has selected): 
 
 A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Alien, Altered States, The Andromeda 
 Strain, Back to the Future, The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms, Blade Runner, 
 Children of Men, A Clockwork Orange, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 
 Cocoon, Contact, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Destination Moon, E.T. 
 the Extra-Terrestrial, Escape From New York, Eternal Sunshine of the 
 Spotless Mind, Fantastic Voyage, The Fly (1986), Forbidden Planet, 
 Frankenstein (1931), The Incredible Shrinking Man, Independence Day, 
 Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Invisible Man (1933), It Came 
 From Outer Space, Jurassic Park, Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, The 
 Matrix, Men in Black, Minority Report, Planet of the Apes (1968), Repo 
 Man, RoboCop, Rollerball (1975), Silent Running, Soylent Green, Star 
 Trek: The Wrath of Khan, Star Wars: Episode IV--A New Hope, Starman, The 
 Stepford Wives (1975), Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Them!, The Thing From 
 Another World, The Time Machine (1960), Total Recall, Tron, 2001: A 
 Space Odyssey, The War of the Worlds (1953), Westworld. --Patrick Lee, 
 News Editor 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=48610 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Trek Moved To '09

Mistake to my mind. I was looking forward to a winter release. They better hope 
there's not even more competition during the summer blockbuster season, or 
it'll tank.
Have I mentioned recently that i *hate* this artificial system of releasing 
only certain movies at certain times? A great movie will bring in the audiences 
at any time. Oscar hopefuls shouldn't have to only get released during the fall 
and winter. Summer shouldn't be the domain of big-budget FX heavy flicks. I can 
remember seeing some of my favorite movies of all time at all kinds of odd 
times of the year.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Trek Moved To '09 
 
 Paramount on Feb. 13 pushed its highly anticipated Star Trek movie to 
 May 8, 2009, from an original Christmas 2008 release, to take advantage 
 of the summer box-office season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 
 
 Star Trek is moving to summer because its has so much box-office 
 potential, Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman told the trade paper. 
 It does not need any script tweaks. They're two-thirds of the way 
 through shooting, and we would have delivered a great movie at Christmas. 
 
 Trek is one of several films the studio has shuffled to new dates now 
 that the writers' strike has ended. Trek's shift is reportedly unrelated 
 to script or cast considerations. 
 
 Replacing Trek on Paramount's holiday 2008 schedule is the Brad 
 Pitt-Cate Blanchett fantasy film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 
 which moves to Dec. 19 from Nov. 26. 
 
 Case 39, meanwhile, moves to April 10, 2009, from Aug. 22 of this year. 
 And Nowhereland, an Eddie Murphy fantasy comedy previously set for Sept. 
 26, now will bow June 12, 2009. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=48530 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Wal-Mart dumps HD DVDs to back Blu-ray By Franklin Paul

Wow, it's just like the Democratic primaries: everyone's jumping ship to back 
the increasingly popular side!

-- Original message -- 
From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080215/tc_nm/walmart_dvd_dc

2 hours, 16 minutes ago

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) has decided to exclusively sell high-
definition DVDs in the Blu-Ray format, dealing what could be a 
crippling blow to the rival HD DVD technology backed by Toshiba Corp 
(6502.T).

The move by the world's largest retailer, announced on Friday, caps a 
disappointing week for HD DVD supporters, who also saw consumer 
electronics chain Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) and online video rental 
company Netflix Inc (NFLX.O) defect to the Blu-ray camp.

In a statement on its Web site, Wal-Mart said that over the next few 
months it will phase out sales of HD DVD systems and discs. By June, 
it will sell only products in the Blu-ray format which was developed 
by Sony Corp (6758.T).

We've listened to our customers, who are showing a clear preference 
toward Blu-ray products and movies with their purchases, said Gary 
Severson, a Wal-Mart senior vice president.

The move affects 4,000 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores in the United 
States, as well as related online sites. The stores will continue to 
sell traditional DVD players and movies.

The so-called format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray has been a thorn 
in the side of retailers, which have had to commit shelf space to 
devices from both camps even as they field complaints from frustrated 
and confused customers.

Next-generation DVDs and players, boasting better picture quality and 
more capacity, were expected to help revive the $24 billion global 
home DVD market. But Hollywood studios had initially split their 
alliances between the two camps, meaning only certain films would 
play on a consumer's DVD machine.

Like the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, having two DVD standards 
has dampened sales of both and put retailers in a conundrum of having 
to either choose sides or sell products that have a chance of 
becoming obsolete very quickly.

The balance of power, however, tipped toward the Sony camp in January 
after Time Warner Inc's (TWX.N) Warner Bros studio said it would only 
release high-definition DVDs in Blu-ray format. With that, studios 
behind some three-quarters of DVDs are backing Blu-ray, although some 
release in both formats.

Blu-ray also has support from News Corp's (NWSa.N) 20th Century Fox, 
Walt Disney Co (DIS.N) and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF.N). 
Sony's PlayStation 3 game console can also play Blu-ray films.

So if you bought the HD player like me, I'd retire it to the 
bedroom, kid's playroom, or give it to your parents to play their 
John Wayne standard def movies, and make space for a BD player for 
your awesome Hi Def experience, Wal-Mart's movie and gaming blogger, 
Susan Chronister, wrote in a posting.

To be sure, Toshiba has secured agreements with studios including NBC 
Universal's Universal Pictures, Viacom Inc's(VIAb.N) Paramount 
Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc (DWA.N).

Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O) Xbox 360 also currently works only with HD 
DVD. However, Microsoft said in January it could consider supporting 
Blu-ray technology at consumers' behest.

Toshiba could not be reached to comment on Wal-Mart's move.

Earlier on Friday, the Hollywood Reporter quoted unidentified 
industry sources as saying Toshiba was widely expected to pull the 
plug on HD DVD in the coming weeks.

Toshiba spokeswoman Junko Furuta said none of what was reported in 
the magazine had been decided. She declined to comment further, 
saying: We cannot comment on speculation.

(Reporting by Franklin Paul; additional reporting by Kiyoshi Takenaka 
in Tokyo; editing by Phil Berlowitz and Gerald E. McCormick)


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

ha-ha! Good one!

-- Original message -- 
From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Boy, I tell ya, there's nothing EYE hate more than the death of a 
paradigm! I thought I would go to my grave full in the knowledge that 
the crappiest product or technology would always win in the great 
American marketplace. Now, what am I supposed to tell my kids?

~(no)rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

Beyond that, Blu-Ray has superiour overall tech specs and features, and 
is a better technology. I get tired of the cheapest, easiest tech 
winning all the time (VHS over Betamax, for example). 


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Bay Writing Transformers 2?

well hell, how hard could that be? The plot and dialogue for the first film was 
lame beyond belief. Bay isn't close to a fav of mine, but he could hardly do 
worse

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Director strikes back by penning sequel himself. 
 by Stax 
 
 February 12, 2008 - As the writers' strike appears poised to finally 
 end, Transformers director Michael Bay has revealed that he's already 
 penned the story for the sequel himself, despite the fact that his 
 screenwriters -- Alex Kurtzman  Roberto Orci and Ehren Kruger -- were 
 not allowed to work on the project during the strike. 
 
 I've been writing Transformers 2, Bay revealed to RottenTomatoes.com. 
 We've got our characters all designed. I always write all my scripts, 
 my movies anyway so at least I've got something to give the writers. 
 It's like a template. We have a really good outline so I worked on that. 
 
 Bay justified his strike-bypassing approach by saying, We had to 
 because I want to make my date. I'm not going to let the strike take me 
 down. Transformers 2 is slated for release June 26, 2009. 
 
 The helmer added that he expects to have a lot more fun with the 
 sequel. We can actually make the depth of these characters more fun and 
 a lot more interesting characters. 
 http://movies.ign.com/articles/851/851632p1.html 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Trek Moved To '09

Jaws helped start it, Star Wars cemented it, i believe. it's still 
artificial to me.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Summer used to be when they drumped the rejects, until the success of 
Star Wars, I think.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Mistake to my mind. I was looking forward to a winter release. They better 
 hope there's not even more competition during the summer blockbuster season, 
 or it'll tank.
 Have I mentioned recently that i *hate* this artificial system of releasing 
 only certain movies at certain times? A great movie will bring in the 
 audiences at any time. Oscar hopefuls shouldn't have to only get released 
 during the fall and winter. Summer shouldn't be the domain of big-budget FX 
 heavy flicks. I can remember seeing some of my favorite movies of all time at 
 all kinds of odd times of the year.

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 
 Trek Moved To '09 

 Paramount on Feb. 13 pushed its highly anticipated Star Trek movie to 
 May 8, 2009, from an original Christmas 2008 release, to take advantage 
 of the summer box-office season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

 Star Trek is moving to summer because its has so much box-office 
 potential, Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman told the trade paper. 
 It does not need any script tweaks. They're two-thirds of the way 
 through shooting, and we would have delivered a great movie at Christmas. 

 Trek is one of several films the studio has shuffled to new dates now 
 that the writers' strike has ended. Trek's shift is reportedly unrelated 
 to script or cast considerations. 

 Replacing Trek on Paramount's holiday 2008 schedule is the Brad 
 Pitt-Cate Blanchett fantasy film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 
 which moves to Dec. 19 from Nov. 26. 

 Case 39, meanwhile, moves to April 10, 2009, from Aug. 22 of this year. 
 And Nowhereland, an Eddie Murphy fantasy comedy previously set for Sept. 
 26, now will bow June 12, 2009. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=48530 



 Yahoo! Groups Links 



 

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Re: [scifinoir2] Bay Writing Transformers 2?

i don't know. he can always direct. This is the guy behind Bad Boys, The Rock, 
The Island, Armageddon, Pearl--pretty much all his movies suck plotwise and in 
terms of dialogue, but they turn a profit. I don't think that if his writing is 
awful and the movie tanks he's done.

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Awful chance he's taking, though. If it tanks, he's cutting his throat 
career-wise.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: well hell, how hard could that be? The plot and 
dialogue for the first film was lame beyond belief. Bay isn't close to a fav of 
mine, but he could hardly do worse

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Director strikes back by penning sequel himself. 
 by Stax 
 
 February 12, 2008 - As the writers' strike appears poised to finally 
 end, Transformers director Michael Bay has revealed that he's already 
 penned the story for the sequel himself, despite the fact that his 
 screenwriters -- Alex Kurtzman  Roberto Orci and Ehren Kruger -- were 
 not allowed to work on the project during the strike. 
 
 I've been writing Transformers 2, Bay revealed to RottenTomatoes.com. 
 We've got our characters all designed. I always write all my scripts, 
 my movies anyway so at least I've got something to give the writers. 
 It's like a template. We have a really good outline so I worked on that. 
 
 Bay justified his strike-bypassing approach by saying, We had to 
 because I want to make my date. I'm not going to let the strike take me 
 down. Transformers 2 is slated for release June 26, 2009. 
 
 The helmer added that he expects to have a lot more fun with the 
 sequel. We can actually make the depth of these characters more fun and 
 a lot more interesting characters. 
 http://movies.ign.com/articles/851/851632p1.html 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

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Re: [scifinoir2] Trek Moved To '09

to have a conversation with myself. I was thinking about the so-called August 
doldrums, where H'wood says no one goes to the movies, and thus crap films are 
dumped. It's a perfect example of H'Wood talking about a phenomenon that they 
have to follow. But, could the reason for the malaise in film going possibly be 
that the  public is burned out after three solid months (May - July) of 
must-see, big-budget, guaran-damn-teed blockbusters?!  I mean, look at those 
schedules: studios jockey for position starting around Memorial Day in May. 
Then for several weeks it's one big splashy film after another. Every weekend 
it's the same old stable of actors and films: big budget big FX films like 
Harry Potter or Narnia or whatever the magic film of the moment is...something 
else with Will Smith or Johnny Depp or Tom Cruise or Brad Bitt, Angelina Jolie 
or Nicole Kidman...comedies from Will Farrell or Chris Tucker...outer space 
adventures, spy movies, war movies, magic makers, rampaging dragons, 
kids in battles with evil forces, buccaneers waving swords around--it's 
overwhelming. You know I love to see movies, but I end up almost needing a 
scorecard to keep up. And now, the way H'Wood pulls films quickly if they don't 
make eleventy billion dollars the *first* weekend, it's even harder to catch 
some fims that might be good, but don't have Smith or Cruise in them. So we get 
overloaded, we spend a lot of money, we miss some films we might have liked to 
have seen because they're pulled quickly. And frankly, i think we just burn out 
over blockbusters. How many consecutive weeks of ear-splitting, senses-popping, 
FX-heavy movies can you see before you're done? By the time August rolls 
around, H'wood has emptied its vaults of all the blockbusters because they 
*had* to show them during May - July, audiences are broke and worn out, and 
maybe August suffers from something that was *created*, not which is natural.  
And I think that's the crux of the problem for much of the way movies are 
researched, marketed, and focus-grouped to death nowadays.

-- Original message -- 
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
yeah, I agree. And this whole mindset that big movies make it big in the summer 
because kids are out of school, people see more movies during Labor Day and 
Fourth of July is crap. True, you have times where people can see movies during 
the day since school is out. And yes, people go see films during holidays. But 
again, if he movie is *good*, people will see it any time of year. For example, 
they always talk about the August doldrums, a time period during which no one 
sees movies and studios drop most films that they don't have too much invested 
in for the most part. Yet August is still the summer, kids are still out of 
school, so why is that such a bad time? Temperature? No, there are lots of 
parts of this country that are okay in August and you're inside in a cooled 
theatre anyway. Lots of films released in August have done well, including The 
Bourne Ultimatum, Rush Hour 2, The Sixth Sense (major because it was from a 
then unknown writer/director), Talledega Nights, and others. 

http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=08p=.htm

I'm a strong believer in putting out a good product, marketing it, and the 
people will find it. And frankly, in the summer months I'm actually more loathe 
to sit inside a theatre, preferring to be outside enjoying nature. Winter is 
when i like sitting inside a warm theater to be entertained--but I don't demand 
only high brow Oscar fare during those months either. Give me comedy, scifi, 
magic, monsters, drama, big films, small indie films. Long as they're good I 
don't care what the calendar says.

I'm continually amazed at how a trend or belief system can be created and then 
become self-fulfilling. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I agree with you, Keith. Doesn't anyone in H'Wood see that such competition 
between big movies can only kill one or more of the competing movies?

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Mistake to my mind. I was looking forward to a winter 
release. They better hope there's not even more competition during the summer 
blockbuster season, or it'll tank.
Have I mentioned recently that i *hate* this artificial system of releasing 
only certain movies at certain times? A great movie will bring in the audiences 
at any time. Oscar hopefuls shouldn't have to only get released during the fall 
and winter. Summer shouldn't be the domain of big-budget FX heavy flicks. I can 
remember seeing some of my favorite movies of all time at all kinds of odd 
times of the year.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Trek Moved To '09 
 
 Paramount on Feb. 13 pushed its highly anticipated Star Trek movie to 
 May 8, 2009, from an original Christmas 2008 release, to take advantage 
 of the summer box-office

Re: [scifinoir2] Trek Moved To '09

yeah, I agree. And this whole mindset that big movies make it big in the summer 
because kids are out of school, people see more movies during Labor Day and 
Fourth of July is crap. True, you have times where people can see movies during 
the day since school is out. And yes, people go see films during holidays. But 
again, if he movie is *good*, people will see it any time of year. For example, 
they always talk about the August doldrums, a time period during which no one 
sees movies and studios drop most films that they don't have too much invested 
in for the most part. Yet August is still the summer, kids are still out of 
school, so why is that such a bad time? Temperature? No, there are lots of 
parts of this country that are okay in August and you're inside in a cooled 
theatre anyway.  Lots of films released in August have done well, including The 
Bourne Ultimatum, Rush Hour 2, The Sixth Sense (major because it was from a 
then unknown writer/director), Talledega Nights, and others. 
  
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=08p=.htm

I'm a strong believer in putting out a good product, marketing it, and the 
people will find it. And frankly, in the summer months I'm actually more loathe 
to sit inside a theatre, preferring to be outside enjoying nature. Winter is 
when i like sitting inside a warm theater to be entertained--but I don't demand 
only high brow Oscar fare during those months either. Give me comedy, scifi, 
magic, monsters, drama, big films, small indie films. Long as they're good I 
don't care what the calendar says.

I'm continually amazed at how a trend or belief system can be created and then 
become self-fulfilling. 

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I agree with you, Keith. Doesn't anyone in H'Wood see that such competition 
between big movies can only kill one or more of the competing movies?

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Mistake to my mind. I was looking forward to a winter 
release. They better hope there's not even more competition during the summer 
blockbuster season, or it'll tank.
Have I mentioned recently that i *hate* this artificial system of releasing 
only certain movies at certain times? A great movie will bring in the audiences 
at any time. Oscar hopefuls shouldn't have to only get released during the fall 
and winter. Summer shouldn't be the domain of big-budget FX heavy flicks. I can 
remember seeing some of my favorite movies of all time at all kinds of odd 
times of the year.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Trek Moved To '09 
 
 Paramount on Feb. 13 pushed its highly anticipated Star Trek movie to 
 May 8, 2009, from an original Christmas 2008 release, to take advantage 
 of the summer box-office season, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 
 
 Star Trek is moving to summer because its has so much box-office 
 potential, Paramount spokesman Michael Vollman told the trade paper. 
 It does not need any script tweaks. They're two-thirds of the way 
 through shooting, and we would have delivered a great movie at Christmas. 
 
 Trek is one of several films the studio has shuffled to new dates now 
 that the writers' strike has ended. Trek's shift is reportedly unrelated 
 to script or cast considerations. 
 
 Replacing Trek on Paramount's holiday 2008 schedule is the Brad 
 Pitt-Cate Blanchett fantasy film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, 
 which moves to Dec. 19 from Nov. 26. 
 
 Case 39, meanwhile, moves to April 10, 2009, from Aug. 22 of this year. 
 And Nowhereland, an Eddie Murphy fantasy comedy previously set for Sept. 
 26, now will bow June 12, 2009. 
 http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=0id=48530 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

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Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: average age of the world's greatest civilizations]

What about Rome, Egypt, and China? I know they've all gone through various 
incarnations and changes in structure/leadership, but surely one of their 
continuous incarnations lasted more than 200 year? And the Byzantine Empire, 
didn't that lasted for a solid millennium?

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

  Original Message  
 Subject: average age of the world's greatest civilizations 
 From: Chris de Morsella 
 Reply-To: Chris de Morsella 

 The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been two 
 hundred years. 
 These nations have progressed through this sequence: 
 From bondage to spiritual faith; 
 from spiritual faith to great courage; 
 from courage to liberty; 
 from liberty to abundance; 
 from abundance to selfishness; 
 from selfishness to complacency; 
 from complaceny to apathy; 
 from apathy to dependence; 
 from dependency back again into bondage. 
 Sir Alex Fraser Tyler: (1742-1813) Scottish jurist and historian 

 Yahoo! Groups Links 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Preview: Knight Rider Is Back!

The Hoff (love that name!) says the original series had a message One man 
can make a difference. Somehow I never got that, though i think it was stated 
in the intro. I got more the message one man with a multi-milion dollar AI car 
and the backing of a giant corporation can drive around Callie picking up 
chicks and occassionally beating up bad guys--all to the beat of some really 
bad covers of bad pop songs!
Of course, you know i'm a sucker: i'll be there for the premiere, probably 
laughing and groaning my way through it!

-- Original message -- 
From: brent wodehouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
http://www.tvguide.com/news/knight-rider-kitt/080215-01

Preview: Knight Rider Is Back!

by Tom Russo

Knight Rider airs Sunday at 9 pm/ET, NBC.

The realization hit Justin Bruening the moment the Ford Mustang Shelby
GT500KR slammed its own doors. At 28, Bruening was only six when the
original Knight Rider, which made a star of David Hasselhoff, roared off
into TV mythology. Now, as the former All My Children actor slid into the
Hoff's old seat behind the wheel of the franchise's signature (but
updated) supercar, he felt the moment.

We have a version of the car that's driven by remote control, says
Bruening. So someone's sitting a hundred yards away with two little
joysticks, and I get in the car in the middle of a scene, and the doors
slam shut on their own. That was the first moment that I went, 'Oh, crap,
this is real - KITT actually lives.' It's cool that we're upping the ante
that way, but it's a little disconcerting.

The producers hope enough viewers hitch a ride to launch the two-hour NBC
TV-movie into a series. The retooled Rider casts Bruening as Mike Traceur,
an ex-Army Ranger whose old girlfriend, Sarah Graiman (Deanna Russo),
talks him into the driver's seat of the new KITT. Sarah's dad, Charles
(Bruce Davison), is KITT's inventor, and his latest automotive putterings
have drawn attention from nefarious forces. Sydney Tamiia Poitier lends
backup as an FBI agent, and Val Kilmer provides the voice of the Knight
Industries Three Thousand (KITT to friends), replacing William Daniels'
classic snit with contemporary snark.

Even Hasselhoff turns up to reveal some surprising ties between Traceur
and Hoff's old character, Michael Knight. There are all these great
connections back to the original series, executive producer David Bartis
says. Our goal is to make everybody who loved the original embrace this
and bring a younger audience to it as well.

This isn't the first attempt to jump-start the franchise. Hasselhoff, who
drove a customized Trans Am in the original 1982-'86 series, returned in
the 1991 teleflick Knight Rider 2000 with a '57 Chevy. The syndicated Team
Knight Rider came and went in 1997, and five years ago a Hollywood studio
considered a feature-film version. Last year, Hasselhoff says, I did a
video called 'Jump in My Car,' about me and KITT pickin' up chicks. It was
downloaded nine million times. The show's fans are relentless.

Transformers fans might have been equally influential: The latest Rider
got the network go-ahead shortly after the battling 'bots movie opened
huge last summer (hence the new KITT's morphing technology).

But the road to contemporary cool can be a bumpy one for a franchise
fondly recalled from a kitschier time. (Just ask Bionic Woman.) There's a
lot of nostalgic baggage in KITT's original trunk that fanboys might find
hard to unload: Daniels' persnickety vocals, the goofiness of many of
those old missions, that general '80s Trans-Ammy vibe. You've got to be
on board with Knight Rider's tone from the get-go, Bartis admits. But I
think the light-action hour has been missing from television. Traceur's
relationship with Sarah will lend some romance, adds Russo. A story just
about this guy and his car was good enough for an '80s audience, but it
felt like we needed something more multilayered.

Thrilled as the Hoff is about the revival, even he had an initial
question. How do you update a show about a talking car when all cars
talk now? he says. Still, he adds, The original had such a positive
message: One man can make a difference. The world needs that right now.
Ride on!

Check out Knight Rider clips in our Online Video
Guide[http://video.tvguide.com/shows/Knight+Rider].


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: average age of the world's greatest civilizations]

can't believe i left the British Empire out of it

-- Original message -- 
From: Justin Mohareb [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
England's imperial age lasted at least a little longer than two centuries.

It's a cute piece of polosophy, but like most things is a bit simplified.

JJ Mohareb

On Feb 16, 2008 11:19 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 What about Rome, Egypt, and China? I know they've all gone through various
 incarnations and changes in structure/leadership, but surely one of their
 continuous incarnations lasted more than 200 year? And the Byzantine Empire,
 didn't that lasted for a solid millennium?


 -- Original message --
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor)
 [EMAIL PROTECTED]

   Original Message 
  Subject: average age of the world's greatest civilizations
  From: Chris de Morsella
  Reply-To: Chris de Morsella
 
  The average age of the world's greatest civilizations has been two
  hundred years.
  These nations have progressed through this sequence:
  From bondage to spiritual faith;
  from spiritual faith to great courage;
  from courage to liberty;
  from liberty to abundance;
  from abundance to selfishness;
  from selfishness to complacency;
  from complaceny to apathy;
  from apathy to dependence;
  from dependency back again into bondage.
  Sir Alex Fraser Tyler: (1742-1813) Scottish jurist and historian
 
 
 
 
  Yahoo! Groups Links
 
 
 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

-- 
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

never been a GTA fan, but Burnout is a strong enticement for a PS3

-- Original message -- 
From: B. Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I have a HDTV in our family room and I had no plans to replace any of
our other electronics this year but things have a strange way of
happening. A friend of ours had a set that died on her so we decided
to give her our bedroom tv. So now I'm shopping for a flat panel and I
plan to get a PS3 after the new GTA is released.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 i keep thinking about it. Prices are coming down on Blu-Ray, though
actually a PS3 is actually about the best deal for a Blu-Ray player.
Keep struggling with that, too, but i'm such a casual gamer i can't
currently justify putting out the dough for a PS3. I'm still happy
with my SNES, Genesis and PS2. I tend to think when I get my 50
plasma screen TV I'll get a Blu-Ray player, and Lord knows that won't
be anytime soon!
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 
  unless something dramatic happens, I'm fine with the regular DVD 
  player. Blue Ray is extremely expensive. I'm definitely not going to 
  be an early adopter on this one 
  
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
   do you own or plan to buy either an HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player? A
lot of people 
  are unmoved like you because they aren't rushing to by either.
They're quite 
  happy with standard DVD (not everyone has a hi-def TV so they
can't see the 
  quality anyway) or using HD cable broadcasts and pay-per-view.
Outside of people 
  with PS3s (whcih have Blu-Ray built in) I hear a lot of folks are
just waiting 
  for their current DVD player to break before buying something
else. And even 
  then, you can buy a standard def dVD player for a song. Lots of
people, too, are 
  just going to skip this whole phase and wait for expanded hi-def
video-on-demand 
  and the advent of true streaming of movies and programs across the
Net. 
   
   -- Original message -- 
   From: Martin 
   Doesn't move me in the least. 
   
   Even *if* HD DVD had remained viable, I wouldn't put Dime First
toward it 
  until the day when I went looking for a movie I absolutely *had*
to have, and it 
  was *only* on one of those formats. 
   
   Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) 
  wrote: Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say 
   Company says no decision has been made 
   By Thomas K. Arnold and Erik Gruenwedel 
   
   Feb 15, 2008 
   The format war has turned into a format death watch. 
   
   Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format 
   sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say,
after a 
   rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's
announcement 
   in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc 
   format after May. 
   
   Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of 
   marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. Based on its 
   technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the
best 
   format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality
inherent in 
   our player offerings, she said. 
   
   But she hinted that something's in the air. Given the market 
   developments in the past month, she said, Toshiba will
continue to 
   study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, 
   particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD
DVD players. 
   
   Immediately after the Warner announcement, the HD DVD North
American 
   Promotional Group canceled its Consumer Electronics Show
presentation. 
   The following week, data collected by the NPD Group revealed
Blu-ray 
   took in 93% of all hardware sales for that week. 
   
   Toshiba subsequently fired back, drastically cutting its HD DVD
player 
   prices by as much as half, effective Jan. 15. But a hoped-for
consumer 
   sales surge never materialized; retail point-of-sale data
collected by 
   the NPD Group for the week ending Jan. 26 still showed Blu-ray Disc 
   players ahead by a wide margin, 65% to 28%. 
   
   Software sales have declined as well. The latest Nielsen
VideoScan First 
   Alert sales data show the top-selling Blu-ray Disc title for the
week, 
   Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Across the Universe, sold
more than 
   three times as many copies the week ending Feb. 10 as the top HD
DVD 
   seller, Universal Studios Home Entertainment's Elizabeth: The
Golden 
   Age. Blu-ray Disc titles also accounted for 81% of all high-def
disc 
   sales for the week, with HD DVD at just 19%. 
   
   Toshiba had been pitching its discounted HD DVD players toward the 
   standard DVD crowd as well as high-def enthusiasts, noting in
its ad 
   message that the new players would make DVDs look a lot better
as well. 
   And as a last-ditch effort, the company ran an ad during the
Super Bowl 
   -- a 30-second spot that reportedly cost

[scifinoir2] Jumper Takes Top Spot at Box Office

Jumper took number one at box office. I didn't get to see it this weekend 
because my wife got sick and we stayed in. Anyone see it? What did you think? 



Jumper leaps to top of North American box office
Sunday February 17 2:56 PM ET

The sci-fi thriller Jumper leaped to the No. 1 spot at the North American box 
office on Sunday as moviegoers ignored critics' dire warnings for a second 
weekend. 
The movie, in which Hayden Christensen plays a man who is able to teleport 
around the world, earned an estimated $27.2 million for the Friday-to-Sunday 
period, distributor 20th Century Fox said. 
It fended off three other rookies. The urban dance sequel Step Up 2 the 
Streets opened at No. 2 with $19.7 million for the three-day period, followed 
by the children's literary adaptation The Spiderwick Chronicles with $19.1 
million. The romance Definitely, Maybe opened at No. 5 with $9.7 million, 
failing to rouse much Valentine's Day passion. 
Last week's champ, Fool's Gold, fell to No. 4 with $13.1 million. After 10 
days, the romantic adventure starring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson, has 
earned $42 million. It was released by Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc. 
In an unprecedented strategy, all four newcomers opened on Thursday -- a day 
earlier than usual -- in hopes of pulling in some Valentine's Day business from 
couples. Including Thursday sales, Jumper earned $33.9 million, Step Up 2 
the Streets $26.3 million, The Spiderwick Chronicles $21.5 million and 
Definitely, Maybe $12.8 million. 
Both Fool's Gold and Jumper were eviscerated by critics, but moviegoers 
evidently warmed to their storylines or advertising campaigns. 
Jumper, directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity), cost in the 
$80-million range to make, said Fox. About two-thirds of the audience was male 
moviegoers under 25, according to first-day polling data supplied by the News 
Corp-owned studio. The film was based on Steven Gould's young-adult sci-fi 
novels Jumper and Reflex. 
Step Up 2 the Streets revisits the formula that made Step Up a surprise hit 
in 2006: urban street dancing, relatively unknown buff actors and cutting-edge 
hip-hop music. Both films were released by Walt Disney Co. 
Paramount Pictures' The Spiderwick Chronicles, following the exploits of 
three children and a menagerie of goblins and fairies, pulled in a crowd that 
was 80 percent families, said the Viacom Inc-owned studio. Budgeted at just 
over $90 million, the movie is based on the best-selling short books by Tony 
DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. 
Young women made up about two-thirds of the audience for Definitely, Maybe, a 
$24 million project starring Ryan Reynolds and Isla Fisher, said Universal 
Pictures, a unit of General Electric Co's NBC Universal. 
(Reporting by Dean Goodman; editing by Cynthia Osterman) 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[scifinoir2] Ancient devil frog may have eaten baby dinosaurs

2008-02-18 Thread KeithBJohnson

Wow, a frog big as a bowling ball?! Don't see that much nowadays. The artist's 
rendering is wild: combination of funny and creepy...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080218/sc_nm/frog_devil_dc

Ancient devil frog may have eaten baby dinosaurs 
By Will DunhamMon Feb 18, 5:03 PM ET 
It was the biggest, baddest, meanest froggy ever to have hopped on Earth.
Scientists on Monday announced the discovery in northwestern Madagascar of a 
bulky amphibian dubbed the devil frog that lived 65 million to 70 million 
years ago and was so nasty it may have eaten newborn dinosaurs.
This brute was larger than any frog living today and may be the biggest frog 
ever to have existed, according to paleontologist David Krause of Stony Brook 
University in Stony Brook, New York, one of the scientists who found the 
remains.
Its name, Beelzebufo ampinga, came from Beelzebub, the Greek for devil, and 
bufo -- Latin for toad. Ampinga means shield, named for an armor-like part of 
its anatomy.
Beelzebufo (pronounced bee-el-zeh-BOOF-oh) was 16 inches
long and weighed an estimated 10 pounds (4.5 kg).
It was powerfully built and possessed a very wide mouth and powerful jaws. It 
probably didn't dine daintily.
It's not outside the realm of possibility that Beelzebufo took down lizards 
and mammals and smaller frogs, and even -- considering its size -- possibly 
hatchling dinosaurs, Krause said in a telephone interview.
It would have been quite mean, added paleontologist Susan Evans of University 
College London, another of the scientists.
Their findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National 
Academy of Sciences.
Even though it lived far away, Beelzebufo appears to be closely related to a 
group of frogs that live today in South America, the scientists said. They are 
nicknamed Pac-Man frogs due to their huge mouths. Some have little horns on 
their heads, and the scientists think Beelzebufo also may have had horns -- a 
fitting touch for the devil frog.
Beelzebufo was bigger than any of its South American kin or any other living 
frog -- as if it was on steroids, Krause said. The largest one today is the 
goliath frog of West Africa, up to 12.5 inches long and 7.2 pounds (3.3 kg).
The presence of Beelzebufo in Madagascar and its modern relatives in South 
America is the latest sign a long-lost land bridge once may have linked 
Madagascar to Antarctica -- much warmer then -- and South America, the 
scientists said.
That would have let animals move overland among those land masses. Fossils have 
been found of other animals in Madagascar from Beelzebufo's time similar to 
South American ones.
KING OF FROGS
The first frogs appeared about 180 million years ago, and their basic body plan 
has remained unchanged. Beelzebufo lived during the Cretaceous Period at the 
end of the age of dinosaurs, which went extinct along with many other types of 
animals 65 million years ago when a huge space rock clobbered Earth.
Beelzebufo did not live an aquatic lifestyle, hopping among lily pads, the 
scientists said. Instead, it lived in a semi-arid environment and may have 
hunted like its modern-day relatives, which camouflage themselves and jump out 
at prey.
Its first fragmentary fossils were found in 1993, and the scientists have since 
assembled enough fragments to piece its remains together like a jigsaw puzzle, 
Krause said. 
While it was the king of frogs, Beelzebufo is not the largest amphibian ever to 
have lived. Many reached truly astounding dimensions, such as the 
crocodile-like Prionosuchus that grew to an estimated 30 feet during the 
Permian Period, which ended about 250 million years ago. 
(Editing by Peter Cooney)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Original Battlestar Galactica, Night Gallery, Buck Rogers, Tek War get ne

2008-02-20 Thread KeithBJohnson

And many of these, old as they are, would still be more desirable than remakes 
like Bionic Woman and Knight Rider

-- Original message -- 
From: brent wodehouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSN2031765420080220?feedType=RSSfeedName=internetNews

A-Team and Kojak get new life on NBC sites

Wed Feb 20, 2008

By Alex Woodson

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC Universal said Tuesday it will stream
full episodes of old TV shows, including The A-Team and Kojak, on its
Web sites.

Beginning this month, the shows will be available on NBC.com and on
network-owned niche sites SciFi.com, ChillerTV.com and SleuthChannel.com.

The NBC.com additions are A-Team, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Miami
Vice, Buck Rogers, Emergency, Night Gallery and the original
Battlestar Galactica.

Buck Rogers and Battlestar Galactica also will be available on
SciFi.com, along with Tek War and Night Gallery; Hitchcock, Swamp
Thing, Tremors, Crow and Night Gallery will be featured on
ChillerTV.com; and SleuthChannel.com will present the Telly Savalas
starrer Kojak, Miami Vice, A-Team, Night Gallery and Simon 
Simon.

The content also will be available on Hulu, the online video joint venture
that NBC Universal launched with News Corp. last year. Through Hulu, the
shows will be syndicated to Yahoo, News Corp.'s MySpace, MSN, Comcast,
Time Warner's AOL and other Web destinations.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Narnia in neon

2008-02-20 Thread KeithBJohnson

at least one of the Kroft brothers was a known smoker of marijuana. Remember 
the lyrics to H.R. Punfstuff? :   ...can't get a little when you can't get 
enough?  What was that about? Just like the old Popeye cartoons, there was 
clearly some hidden dope culture in those shows

-- Original message -- 
From: brent wodehouse [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/review/2008/02/19/krofft/

Narnia in neon

Sid and Marty Krofft introduced a generation of children to freaky Day-Glo
fantasy worlds with singing monsters and talking inanimate objects. Whoa,
flashback!

Editor's note: Salon's weekly feature, Re-Viewed, offers a fresh look at
great TV shows available on DVD: foreign gems, forgotten faves and more.

By Sarah Hepola

Feb. 19, 2008 | The Krofft shows were some of my earliest television
viewing experiences, which might be cause for concern. The live-action
fantasies devoured by a generation of children every Saturday in the late
'60s and '70s -- H.R. Pufnstuf, The Bugaloos, Lidsville, Sigmund
and the Sea Monsters, Land of the Lost, The Lost Saucer and Far Out
Space Nuts -- are about as close to an acid trip as kids programming
gets, with their freaky Day-Glo colors, talking monsters and surreal
daydream sequences. The Krofft shows (which later included The Krofft
Supershow) are one of those cultural phenomena that convince you, in
retrospect, that the entire '70s entertainment industry was smoking a
giant fattie and sprinkling acid over their morning cereal. Co-creator
Marty Krofft has pshawed these claims. You can't do drugs when you're
making shows, he's said. Sre. Tell that to the cast of Saturday
Night Live.

It's been years since I watched the Krofft shows, but every once in a
while some stitch of detail will pop into my consciousness like a
recovered memory of a drunken escapade. But instead of wondering, Did I
really pole-dance at the office party? I'll think, Was there really a
show about Freddy the Talking Flute? (There was. It was called H.R.
Pufnstuf. And as anyone who remembers it will tell you, it's waaacky.)
I'm not alone. The trippy shows were rediscovered and championed by the
stoners and hipsters who grew up on them, the perfect entertainment to
enjoy while firing up their bongs.

Brothers Sid and Marty Krofft came from a family of puppeteers and rose to
prominence in a pre-CGI time when that art form felt exciting and fresh.
Along with Sesame Street and The Muppets, the Krofft shows represent
something of a golden era of strings and foam. But unlike the Children's
Television Workshop shows, where friendly monsters ambled down placid
streets, the Kroffts' visions were loopy inverted realities. Children were
stranded in an alternate universe, the '70s equivalent of Alice in
Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, Narnia in neon. In H.R. Pufnstuf, a
little boy washes up on the shores of Living Island, a place where
everything is alive. In Land of the Lost, an earthquake sends three
rafting adventurers through a time warp and spits them out in a
prehistoric era. One of the shows' trademarks was to begin each episode
with a song that explained these wacky rabbit-hole fantasies -- I was just
minding my own business, and then I wound up on a flying saucer, or
smuggled a sea monster into my beach house, or accidentally launched a
spaceship. Whoops! Cue opening credits. (If only Lost could begin with
such a snappy musical summary.)

Sadly this DVD of seven pilot episodes doesn't include my favorite Krofft
show, the 1976 girl-power classic, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (starring
Deirdre Hall, who would go on to star as Marlena in Days of Our Lives,
thus following me through my adolescence as I slid over from
Saturday-morning cartoons to weekday soaps). So this is not the Krofft DVD
for completists. (That would be the The World of Sid  Marty Krofft, or
the complete series of H.R. Pufnstuf, or the complete series of Sigmund
and the Sea Monsters.) However if, like me, you're less committed than
you are curious, this sampler is a good way to dip a toe in the deep end
of psychedelic nostalgia without drowning in it. One episode of Sigmund
and the Sea Monsters is kind of cute. Ten episodes of Sigmund and the
Sea Monsters is a kind of cruelty.

My experience with Sigmund and the Sea Monsters is actually fairly
typical for the collection: I loved the show as a kid and adored Sigmund,
the lovable sea monster who refused to scare humans (played by Billy
Barty, who also played Sparky the Firefly in The Bugaloos). But as an
adult, I found the show painfully broad, even a bit boring. It's no
cornier than, say, an episode of The Smurfs or The Brady Bunch, but my
memory of the Krofft shows is that they were amazing, epic.

There is a little bit of the epic in Land of the Lost, which ran from
1974 to 1976. In a post-Jurassic Park era, Land of the Lost is nothing
short of laughable, with its Claymation dinosaurs and cutout scenery. But
the ambitiousness of the show is almost touching.

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Preview: Knight Rider Is Back!

the intro scene I saw, she was fully clothed and packing her gun, saying 
goodbye to the lady--that's right--she evidently picked up at a bar the night 
before

-- Original message -- 
From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Okay. I get it. Knight Rider redux = BAD. More importantly, is it 
true that the ravishing Sydney Poitner (JR.) essayed her part of her 
part in her underwear?

I just wanna know before I DVR the repeat on Saturday.

~rave!


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Jumper - SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

i've had several people tell me to stay away from this movie at all costs. But 
I really need a fun time waster to take my mind off some things. Is it at least 
a good popcorn flick Phyllis and I can lose ourselves in for a couple of hours 
without feeling regret?

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I saw it. It definitely was not theater worthy, but I think it would be 
a great TV show. I love the teleportation concept and some of the 
mythology and laws were good too. Unfortunately, it came across like a 
pilot movie for a scifi tv show. To mad it is not a tv series

ravenadal wrote:
 To me, teleportation has always been the coolest of all superpowers. 
 Couple it with a proximity sense, keen hearing (so you can hear 
 when a shot is fired and teleport an instant before it gets there), 
 or just plain common sense and you have one heck of a skill set!

 ~rave!

 --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, DJ VIBE [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 
 
 On Feb 15, 2008 6:31 PM, ravenadal ravenadal@ wrote:
 
 
  There is a scene in the new Jumper movie (no, I have not seen 
 
 it)
 
 
  SPOILER
  
 
 ALERT!!
 
 
  where the hero is watching the aftermath of the Hurricane 
 
 Karina on
 
  his television. He gets dressed and teleports...to London, 
 
 where he
 
  has a date. So much for great responsibility coming with 
 
 great 
 
 power!
 
 
 
 It was right in keeping with how his character was established in 
 the movie, although for a moment there I thought he might think of 
 using his abilities for good. 

 Overall, I found the movie pretty good, with one exception. How 
 
 the 
 
 hell did the Paladins continually catch jumpers? Its one thing if 
 you get the drop on one, but if you're standing in FRONT of one who 
 is fresh and the jumper sees you and you try to get him with your 
 stun-wand, how are you gonna get him? In less than three minutes, 
 my wife and I came up with several ways to use a teleportation 
 
 power 
 
 offesinvely (i.e. teleport in a circle around your opponent a la 
 Nightcrawer. et. al) and in all of those cases we came up with, no 
 normal human would have a chance against a jumper.

 




 
 Yahoo! Groups Links





 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Preview: Knight Rider Is Back!

ah, it was as silly as the rest of the movie. It was such an obvious let's add 
something spicy and kinda edgy move

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
And I have to miss *that*?

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: the intro scene I saw, she was fully clothed and 
packing her gun, saying goodbye to the lady--that's right--she evidently picked 
up at a bar the night before

-- Original message -- 
From: ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Okay. I get it. Knight Rider redux = BAD. More importantly, is it 
true that the ravishing Sydney Poitner (JR.) essayed her part of her 
part in her underwear?

I just wanna know before I DVR the repeat on Saturday.

~rave!

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
Country

-
Never miss a thing. Make Yahoo your homepage.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] John McCain emphatically denies romantic relationship

Martin, you read my mind!! I was just stomping around the house today saying 
the very same thing. The Times released a statement today saying in effect, we 
don't ever publish anything unless we've checked the facts, and i immediately 
said, oh, like you fact-checked the *dozens* of articles you gave front page 
space to supporting Bush's dumb ass lies?.  I've listened to Bill Moyers' 
Buying the War program half a dozen times, and the Times was as culpabe, as 
criminally, unforgivably *wrong*, as everyone else. I can honestly say I don't 
when my respect for them and many other supposedly free-thinking outlets will 
ever be restored.
Guess it's Tavis Smiley and Democracy Now and McClatchy for me!

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
One thing that strikes me as funny in this is that the right-wingers are all 
decrying this, painting the Times as that liberal rag. How quickly they 
forget that, back during the run-up to the War on Terror (reg, TM, copy), the 
Times was right in lockstep with the GOP in prosecuting the War. I guess 
they're only good as long as they're spouting *your* propaganda...

ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lobbyist

McCain says report on lobbyist not true By LIBBY QUAID, Associated 

1 hour, 44 minutes ago


John McCain emphatically denied a romantic relationship with a female 
telecommunications lobbyist on Thursday and said a report by The New 
York Times suggesting favoritism for her clients is not true.

I'm very disappointed in the article. It's not true, the likely 
Republican presidential nominee said as his wife, Cindy, stood beside 
him during a news conference called to address the matter.

I've served this nation honorably for more than half a century, 
said McCain, a four-term Arizona senator and former Navy pilot. At 
no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public trust.

I intend to move on, he added.

McCain described the woman in question, lobbyist Vicki Iseman, as a 
friend.

The newspaper quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged McCain 
and Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed 
presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The 
Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with 
McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged her 
to steer clear of McCain.

Weaver told the Times he arranged the meeting before the 2000 
campaign after a discussion among the campaign leadership about 
Iseman.

But McCain said he was unaware of any such conversation, and denied 
that his aides ever tried to talk to him about his interactions with 
Iseman.

I never discussed it with John Weaver. As far as I know, there was 
no necessity for it, McCain said. I don't know anything about it, 
he added. John Weaver is a friend of mine. He remains a friend of 
mine. But I certainly didn't know anything of that nature.

His wife also said she was disappointed with the newspaper.

More importantly, my children and I not only trust my husband, but 
know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our 
family, but disappoint the people of America. He's a man of great 
character, Cindy McCain said.

The couple smiled throughout the questioning at a Toledo hotel.

We think the story speaks for itself, Times executive editor Bill 
Keller said in a written statement Thursday. On the timing, our 
policy is we publish stories when they are ready.

McCain's remaining rival for the Republican nomination, former 
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, called McCain a good decent honorable 
man and said he accepted McCain's response.

I've campaigned now on the same stage or platform with John McCain 
for 14 months. I only know him to be a man of integrity, Huckabee 
said in Houston. Today he denied any of that was true. I take him at 
his word. For me to get into it is completely immaterial.

The published reports said McCain and Iseman each denied having a 
romantic relationship. Neither story asserted that there was a 
romantic relationship and offered no evidence that there was, 
reporting only that aides worried about the appearance of McCain 
having close ties to a lobbyist with business before the Senate 
Commerce Committee on which McCain served.

The stories also allege that McCain wrote letters and pushed 
legislation involving television station ownership that would have 
benefited Iseman's clients.

In late 1999, McCain twice wrote letters to the Federal 
Communications Commission on behalf of Florida-based Paxson 
Communications  which had paid Iseman as its lobbyist  urging quick 
consideration of a proposal to buy a television station license in 
Pittsburgh. At the time, Paxson's chief executive, Lowell W. Bud 
Paxson, also was a major contributor to McCain's 2000 presidential 
campaign. 

McCain did not urge the FCC commissioners to approve the proposal, 
but he asked for speedy consideration of

[scifinoir2] Tyler Perry to Create Madea Cartoon

Dislike or deride Perry if you want, you must acknowledge and admire his 
accomplishments. I hear a lot of people downplay his movies. I admit I got 
tired of Madea really quick, find the Browns to be a bit too slapstick, his 
plays a bit predictable and corny at times. He ain't Shakespeare. House of 
Payne is a pretty awful show that I just can't watch.  But I applaud a Black 
man trying to focus on Black people, showing Black love and faith. I salute 
someone who shows us good and bad, as drug addicts and preachers, cheating 
husbands and great dads, blue collar workers and college professors.   Someone 
who shows *real* Black people and who in the end loves us for what we are and 
what we can be. I just wish that more of us were trying to do what he's been 
doing.  And you can't ignore his financial successes, which are often the 
things that copycat Hollywood must have to give others like Perry a chance.  
Don't hate Madea--just create some choices in addition to him/her...

http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur41056.cfm


'MADEA'THE CARTOON: Yes, Tyler Perry is animating his famous gangsta grandma 
for a new TV series.

Now that Madea has left her rather large mark on the stage and big screen, the 
next step for creator Tyler Perry is to bring the gun-toting grandma to life in 
her own cartoon series. 
   Perry has teamed up with animation company Exodus Film Group for the 
untitled series, which will be produced entirely up front before shopping to a 
network or releasing on DVD  or both.   
   After receiving thousands of letters from parents telling me how much 
their kids love Madea and realizing that a lot of the plays were not kid 
friendly, said Perry, I wanted to do something more appropriate, and this 
seems to be it. A 'Madea' animation looks like the best way.   
   The playwright-turned-filmmaker will create, write and executive produce 
an undetermined number of 22-minute standalone episodes and also provide the 
voice of Mabel Madea Simmons.   
  Perry has turned his Madea plays into such movie box office hits as 
Madea's Family Reunion and Diary of a Mad Black Woman. The next Madea 
feature, Meet the Browns, will be out next month from Lionsgate. He also has 
written for television with the current TBS series Tyler Perry's House of 
Payne, which Perry also funded and produced before shopping to networks.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
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Re: [scifinoir2] John McCain emphatically denies romantic relationship

you said it!

-- Original message -- 
From: Bosco Bosco [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
if you'd like some more insight into the culpability of the Times,
the Post and other bastions of the liberal media, check out
Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media.

That the left's foremost thinker is essentially unknown in his own
country underscores the idea that the various liberal media outlets
are as liberal as the multi-national corporations that own them.

If that's not enough evidence, try to find an article by Greg Palast
published in a paper in the US. 

Bosco
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 Martin, you read my mind!! I was just stomping around the house
 today saying the very same thing. The Times released a statement
 today saying in effect, we don't ever publish anything unless
 we've checked the facts, and i immediately said, oh, like you
 fact-checked the *dozens* of articles you gave front page space to
 supporting Bush's dumb ass lies?. I've listened to Bill Moyers'
 Buying the War program half a dozen times, and the Times was as
 culpabe, as criminally, unforgivably *wrong*, as everyone else. I
 can honestly say I don't when my respect for them and many other
 supposedly free-thinking outlets will ever be restored.
 Guess it's Tavis Smiley and Democracy Now and McClatchy for me!
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 One thing that strikes me as funny in this is that the
 right-wingers are all decrying this, painting the Times as that
 liberal rag. How quickly they forget that, back during the run-up
 to the War on Terror (reg, TM, copy), the Times was right in
 lockstep with the GOP in prosecuting the War. I guess they're only
 good as long as they're spouting *your* propaganda...
 
 ravenadal [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_el_pr/mccain_lobbyist
 
 McCain says report on lobbyist not true By LIBBY QUAID, Associated 
 
 1 hour, 44 minutes ago
 
 
 John McCain emphatically denied a romantic relationship with a
 female 
 telecommunications lobbyist on Thursday and said a report by The
 New 
 York Times suggesting favoritism for her clients is not true.
 
 I'm very disappointed in the article. It's not true, the likely 
 Republican presidential nominee said as his wife, Cindy, stood
 beside 
 him during a news conference called to address the matter.
 
 I've served this nation honorably for more than half a century, 
 said McCain, a four-term Arizona senator and former Navy pilot. At
 
 no time have I ever done anything that would betray the public
 trust.
 
 I intend to move on, he added.
 
 McCain described the woman in question, lobbyist Vicki Iseman, as a
 
 friend.
 
 The newspaper quoted anonymous aides as saying they had urged
 McCain 
 and Iseman to stay away from each other prior to his failed 
 presidential campaign in 2000. In its own follow-up story, The 
 Washington Post quoted longtime aide John Weaver, who split with 
 McCain last year, as saying he met with lobbyist Iseman and urged
 her 
 to steer clear of McCain.
 
 Weaver told the Times he arranged the meeting before the 2000 
 campaign after a discussion among the campaign leadership about 
 Iseman.
 
 But McCain said he was unaware of any such conversation, and denied
 
 that his aides ever tried to talk to him about his interactions
 with 
 Iseman.
 
 I never discussed it with John Weaver. As far as I know, there was
 
 no necessity for it, McCain said. I don't know anything about
 it, 
 he added. John Weaver is a friend of mine. He remains a friend of 
 mine. But I certainly didn't know anything of that nature.
 
 His wife also said she was disappointed with the newspaper.
 
 More importantly, my children and I not only trust my husband, but
 
 know that he would never do anything to not only disappoint our 
 family, but disappoint the people of America. He's a man of great 
 character, Cindy McCain said.
 
 The couple smiled throughout the questioning at a Toledo hotel.
 
 We think the story speaks for itself, Times executive editor Bill
 
 Keller said in a written statement Thursday. On the timing, our 
 policy is we publish stories when they are ready.
 
 McCain's remaining rival for the Republican nomination, former 
 Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, called McCain a good decent honorable
 
 man and said he accepted McCain's response.
 
 I've campaigned now on the same stage or platform with John McCain
 
 for 14 months. I only know him to be a man of integrity, Huckabee 
 said in Houston. Today he denied any of that was true. I take him
 at 
 his word. For me to get into it is completely immaterial.
 
 The published reports said McCain and Iseman each denied having a 
 romantic relationship. Neither story asserted that there was a 
 romantic relationship and offered no evidence that there was, 
 reporting only that aides worried about the appearance of McCain 
 having close ties to a lobbyist with business before the Senate

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Jumper - SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

thanks, that helps a great bit.
Yout two cool now?

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Actually, that is why I did it. Chris and I had a fight. When that 
happens, we try to walk away and come back together after we cool off. 
I needed to kill a few hours, and take my mind off stuff, so I drove up 
to the theater. Jumper was about to start, so I chose it. It took my 
mind off of stuff. I know you got more serious stuff going on, but it 
is just what the doctor ordered. I went with very low expectations so I 
enjoyed it and went home to make up with Chris

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 i've had several people tell me to stay away from this movie at all costs. 
 But I really need a fun time waster to take my mind off some things. Is it at 
 least a good popcorn flick Phyllis and I can lose ourselves in for a couple 
 of hours without feeling regret?

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I saw it. It definitely was not theater worthy, but I think it would be 
 a great TV show. I love the teleportation concept and some of the 
 mythology and laws were good too. Unfortunately, it came across like a 
 pilot movie for a scifi tv show. To mad it is not a tv series

 ravenadal wrote:
 
 To me, teleportation has always been the coolest of all superpowers. 
 Couple it with a proximity sense, keen hearing (so you can hear 
 when a shot is fired and teleport an instant before it gets there), 
 or just plain common sense and you have one heck of a skill set!

 ~rave!

 --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, DJ VIBE [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 
 
 On Feb 15, 2008 6:31 PM, ravenadal ravenadal@ wrote:
 
 There is a scene in the new Jumper movie (no, I have not seen 
 
 it)

 
 SPOILER

 
 ALERT!!

 
 where the hero is watching the aftermath of the Hurricane 
 
 Karina on

 
 his television. He gets dressed and teleports...to London, 
 
 where he

 
 has a date. So much for great responsibility coming with 
 
 great 

 
 power!

 
 It was right in keeping with how his character was established in 
 the movie, although for a moment there I thought he might think of 
 using his abilities for good. 

 Overall, I found the movie pretty good, with one exception. How 

 
 the 

 
 hell did the Paladins continually catch jumpers? Its one thing if 
 you get the drop on one, but if you're standing in FRONT of one who 
 is fresh and the jumper sees you and you try to get him with your 
 stun-wand, how are you gonna get him? In less than three minutes, 
 my wife and I came up with several ways to use a teleportation 

 
 power 

 
 offesinvely (i.e. teleport in a circle around your opponent a la 
 Nightcrawer. et. al) and in all of those cases we came up with, no 
 normal human would have a chance against a jumper.


 



 Yahoo! Groups Links






 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



 
 Yahoo! Groups Links





 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]


 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Bionic Woman Laid to Rest

i often have this silly fantasy that a really rich billionaire could create a 
cable channel and fund shows that draw small-but-dedicated audiences for their 
quality. In this fantasy world, the billionaire would underwrite shows like 
Threshold, John Doe, Odyssey 5, Space: Above and Beyond, The Dresden 
Files, Karen Sisco.  We'd get another season of Exo-Squad and Samurai 
Jack.  The like of Coto would get a chance to really see their projects to 
fruition. 

Frank's Place would return.

Yeah, yeah, a fantasy indeed. No one would do that, and even if they did, the 
backer would likely not have the same taste as mine, and still cancel good 
shows.  But in a world where billionaires buy boats big as apartment complexes 
and fund science fiction halls of fame, i can dream, can't i???

-- Original message -- 
From: Lockhart, Daryle [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

Jason Cahill and Manny Coto should do a show together. They are both great 
at saving failed projects.

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:26:42 -0500, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. 
Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 It's now official: The Commander in Chief award for the most spectacular
 freshman flame-out of the 07-08 TV season goes to... Bionic Woman!

 Although NBC isn't talking, I'm told by multiple sources that Bionic
 staffers were informed late last week that the troubled reboot has
 indeed been canceled. That means no spring relaunch under new
 show-runner Jason Cahill â which is too bad. Cahill's a talented guy
 (see: The Sopranos), and I was anxious to see what he would do with the
 show. But I guess it wasn't meant to be.

 At least now the first stage of grief can get under way. No, not shock â
 the snarky postmortem! What do you think felled Bionic Woman in the end?
 Was it the lackluster pilot? The absence of a clear, creative vision?
 Not enough Starbuck? Too much Isaiah Washington? All of the above? Sound
 off in the comments section below!
 http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/70049



 

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Re: [scifinoir2] It's Over for Jericho

I posted an e-mail the day the show was returning, then posted a follow up 
asking if anyone here was watching. Only one reply, and that was from Gymfig, 
who doesn't watch the show at all. Is anyone here watching it?

I also have to repeat my complaint at CBS' not showing the entire series again 
in the weeks leading up to the return. That irritates me. I watched the whole 
series, but missed the last three eps and didn't want to watch them on my 
laptop. I was waiting and waiting, just *knowing* that CBS would rerun the 
series again, in order to build up more interest. But they didn't. I guess they 
were too busy selling it to SciFi. I don't get that strategy. ABC did the same 
thing with Lost, which is maddening.

Too bad. Maybe my fantasy billionaire will pick up the show! :)

-- Original message -- 
From: Justin Mohareb [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Nuts.

JJ Mohareb

On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 7:13 PM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey
L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 Sources: 'Jericho' To Wrap It Up


 By MICHAEL HINMAN
 Source: SyFy Portal
 Feb-21-2008

 It looks like the Jericho experiment is about to come to an end.

 Sources have told SyFy Portal that CBS is gearing up to air the series
 finale version of the post-apocalyptic series on March 25, one of two
 endings shot that would either allow a cliffhanger going into a third
 season, or a proper amount of closure for Jericho fans who fought hard
 to force CBS to reconsider its previous decision to cancel the show.

 There are a lot of people here who really care about what happens to
 'Jericho,' and I think we all wanted to see it succeed, the source, who
 asked not to be identified, said. Numbers are numbers, and [CBS] had to
 do what [CBS] had to do.

 Ratings for the first two episodes were well below even some of the
 worst numbers the show experienced at the end of the first season which
 helped prompt network officials to move toward cancellation. Although it
 is competing in a post-American Idol scheduling environment, Jericho
 struggled to compete with shows that were either in reruns, or not part
 of mainstream viewing habits.

 At the same time, audiences in key demographics of 18 to 49 -- a demo
 that isn't typically attracted to CBS for many of its other programmings
 -- were noticeably absent from the first pair of viewings from the show,
 and there is little chance they'll suddenly return in the coming weeks.

 But the decision isn't quite final yet ... network executives still have
 room to change their mind.

 If the audience can come back to the show in the next two episodes, and
 I mean a lot, [CBS] may reconsider, the source said. Fans definitely
 have a say, and they had a say last summer [with the 'Nuts to Jericho'
 campaign], but I think the final decision this time is going to come
 down to hard numbers, and they're just not there for 'Jericho.'

 Please note that none of this has been confirmed by CBS, and should be
 treated as any rumor would.

 Jericho airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

 http://www.syfyportal.com/news424744.html




-- 
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com

 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Jumper - SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

that's good to know. i unfortunately can argue and debate for hours, literally, 
if really passionate about something. My wife and I are admittedly both a bit 
sensitive and stubborn, so we can go for a while. I long ago learned to figure 
out when it's time to just leave the discussion for a while in order to go 
somewhere and cool down, then come back and talk. If she's being recalcitrant 
or even hurtful, I have to make an effort to remind myself she's not 
intentionally hurting me, and once i can remember that, i can discuss things 
more rationally. Same with her.

I have a really bad temper, which i'm sure is genetically inherited from my 
birth mom, so I have to be sure not to take stuff personally too quickly.  
Combine that with my love for talking and my desire to understand all sides of 
an issue, and whoo boy!  Back when i was home for my mother's funeral, my older 
brother jumped me about a comment I made about Mom that he felt was 
disrespectful. That led to all kinds of stuff being aired in a five hour 
discussion from 1 am to sunrise. At the end, he was amazed that I was still 
able to discuss and debate with vigor, though dead on my feet.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
We fight now and then. Its rarely serious. It happens with two people 
who both are right :). One of the reasons I married him, is he does 
not like prolonged battles nor misunderstandings. I'm the same way, I 
hope. 

When I came home, we talked and made up. We are cool. thanks for 
asking :)

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 thanks, that helps a great bit.
 Yout two cool now?

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Actually, that is why I did it. Chris and I had a fight. When that 
 happens, we try to walk away and come back together after we cool off. 
 I needed to kill a few hours, and take my mind off stuff, so I drove up 
 to the theater. Jumper was about to start, so I chose it. It took my 
 mind off of stuff. I know you got more serious stuff going on, but it 
 is just what the doctor ordered. I went with very low expectations so I 
 enjoyed it and went home to make up with Chris

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 
 i've had several people tell me to stay away from this movie at all costs. 
 But I really need a fun time waster to take my mind off some things. Is it 
 at least a good popcorn flick Phyllis and I can lose ourselves in for a 
 couple of hours without feeling regret?

 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 I saw it. It definitely was not theater worthy, but I think it would be 
 a great TV show. I love the teleportation concept and some of the 
 mythology and laws were good too. Unfortunately, it came across like a 
 pilot movie for a scifi tv show. To mad it is not a tv series

 ravenadal wrote:

 
 To me, teleportation has always been the coolest of all superpowers. 
 Couple it with a proximity sense, keen hearing (so you can hear 
 when a shot is fired and teleport an instant before it gets there), 
 or just plain common sense and you have one heck of a skill set!

 ~rave!

 --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, DJ VIBE [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:


 
 On Feb 15, 2008 6:31 PM, ravenadal ravenadal@ wrote:

 
 There is a scene in the new Jumper movie (no, I have not seen 

 
 it)


 
 SPOILER


 
 ALERT!!


 
 where the hero is watching the aftermath of the Hurricane 

 
 Karina on


 
 his television. He gets dressed and teleports...to London, 

 
 where he


 
 has a date. So much for great responsibility coming with 

 
 great 


 
 power!


 It was right in keeping with how his character was established in 
 the movie, although for a moment there I thought he might think of 
 using his abilities for good. 

 Overall, I found the movie pretty good, with one exception. How 


 
 the 


 
 hell did the Paladins continually catch jumpers? Its one thing if 
 you get the drop on one, but if you're standing in FRONT of one who 
 is fresh and the jumper sees you and you try to get him with your 
 stun-wand, how are you gonna get him? In less than three minutes, 
 my wife and I came up with several ways to use a teleportation 


 
 power 


 
 offesinvely (i.e. teleport in a circle around your opponent a la 
 Nightcrawer. et. al) and in all of those cases we came up with, no 
 normal human would have a chance against a jumper.



 

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[Non-text

Re: [scifinoir2] Re: Jumper - SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!

Same here. Whenever Phyllis and i argue, i always ask myself one question Is 
she *trying* to hurt me?  The day that question is answered yes, there's an 
issue. But as long as each of us knows the other is simply trying to express an 
opinion, that we love each other still (and perhaps more importantly, *like* 
each other) then we can put the overly sensitive nature aside and try to work 
things out. So much of it is that the person you trust the most can also hurt 
you the easiest, so you have to  remember that it's not intentional. I've seen 
couples who argue who are trying to hurt it each other, and it's a painful and 
sad thing to watch that often ends in divorce.  

We also do things like making sure to let the other talk instead of talking 
over each other, saying things like This is what I feel you're saying, or 
What I just heard you say is. The latter allows the other to say no, that's 
not what I meant or Sorry, i used the wrong words.  This replaces stuff like 
Don't say that to me! or How dare you say that?! etc.  Frankly, some of the 
same tools we're taught to negotiate disagreements in the business 
world--trying to step back, analyze, restate--help in relationships.

What's helped me too is like you--life. Losing so many loved ones, having so 
many health issues ourselves recently, trying to find happiness in life 
sometimes when jobs and finances beat you down. You can do two things: start 
working with each other more as friends and partners, or let the anger/fear 
make you snipe at each other. We've taken conscious steps to remind ourselves 
that we're partners and best friends who need to be working together, not 
against each other. And frankly I've spent more time asking myself sometimes 
why I'm angry during an argument: is it really at her, or is it symptomatic of 
more general dissatisfaction with other aspects of my life. That makes me focus 
more on changing the things in my life that are making me unhappy, trying to 
live a better and happier life and remove those sources of stress that may come 
out in arguments with my wife, but really have nothing to do with her.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
You guys are not really different than Chris and I. While we have 
always gone out of our way not to say things that would hurt each other, 
we both can be marathon fighters. Our circumstances forced us to do 
another way. We had Kira. When she was an infant, we would go in 
another room and argue in low tones. (or at least try to). But it was 
still good practice with learning not to yell. Can't say that I have 
mastered it. Then with that horrible situation in Mexico with our lives 
falling apart and both of us getting sick, a couple of things happened. 
We were arguing all the time because of our dire circumstances, she was 
older and harder to keep away from the fray. She could see that I seemed 
to be dying. She asked me if I was going away sometimes and started 
having nightmares. I was in so much pain that her normally extremely 
affectionate Mom, winced she touched me. Not a great situation for 
her. With the situation so bad, we had to do something about what was 
in our control. So we started discussing way to better handle our 
disagreements and to really talk to each other when we were not angry. 
Separating and coming back seemed to be the best way. Our true nature 
is to come out swinging and win, but in the end you get nothing. So 
this stepping back approach, while less rewarding in the very short 
term, usually has us talking it out and making up so we can be the 
laughing, teasing, silly and affectionate parents Kira is used to having 
around. 

Sounds like even without a kid around, you guys are working to do the 
same thing.

When are you going to see Jumper? 

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 that's good to know. i unfortunately can argue and debate for hours, 
 literally, if really passionate about something. My wife and I are admittedly 
 both a bit sensitive and stubborn, so we can go for a while. I long ago 
 learned to figure out when it's time to just leave the discussion for a while 
 in order to go somewhere and cool down, then come back and talk. If she's 
 being recalcitrant or even hurtful, I have to make an effort to remind myself 
 she's not intentionally hurting me, and once i can remember that, i can 
 discuss things more rationally. Same with her.

 I have a really bad temper, which i'm sure is genetically inherited from my 
 birth mom, so I have to be sure not to take stuff personally too quickly. 
 Combine that with my love for talking and my desire to understand all sides 
 of an issue, and whoo boy! Back when i was home for my mother's funeral, my 
 older brother jumped me about a comment I made about Mom that he felt was 
 disrespectful. That led to all kinds of stuff being aired in a five hour 
 discussion from 1 am to sunrise. At the end, he was amazed that I

Re: [scifinoir2] Bionic Woman Laid to Rest

Yes, indeed. I found a decent transfer of Exo-Squad to DVD on eBay.

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Keith, you are making my heart hurt. Odyssey 5, The Dresden files, 
 Franks place and exo-squad in the same sentence. If only Don't you 
 have Exo-squad on DVD? 
 
 Martin wrote: 
  Keith, again we're on the same wavelength. 
  
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i often have this silly fantasy that a really 
 rich billionaire could create a cable channel and fund shows that draw 
 small-but-dedicated audiences for their quality. In this fantasy world, the 
 billionaire would underwrite shows like Threshold, John Doe, Odyssey 5, 
 Space: Above and Beyond, The Dresden Files, Karen Sisco. We'd get 
 another 
 season of Exo-Squad and Samurai Jack. The like of Coto would get a chance 
 to really see their projects to fruition. 
  
  Frank's Place would return. 
  
  Yeah, yeah, a fantasy indeed. No one would do that, and even if they did, 
  the 
 backer would likely not have the same taste as mine, and still cancel good 
 shows. But in a world where billionaires buy boats big as apartment complexes 
 and fund science fiction halls of fame, i can dream, can't i??? 
  
  -- Original message -- 
  From: Lockhart, Daryle 
  
  Jason Cahill and Manny Coto should do a show together. They are both great 
  at saving failed projects. 
  
  On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:26:42 -0500, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. 
  Minor) wrote: 
  
  
  It's now official: The Commander in Chief award for the most spectacular 
  freshman flame-out of the 07-08 TV season goes to... Bionic Woman! 
  
  Although NBC isn't talking, I'm told by multiple sources that Bionic 
  staffers were informed late last week that the troubled reboot has 
  indeed been canceled. That means no spring relaunch under new 
  show-runner Jason Cahill â¤ which is too bad. Cahill's a talented guy 
  (see: The Sopranos), and I was anxious to see what he would do with the 
  show. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. 
  
  At least now the first stage of grief can get under way. No, not shock â¤ 
  the snarky postmortem! What do you think felled Bionic Woman in the end? 
  Was it the lackluster pilot? The absence of a clear, creative vision? 
  Not enough Starbuck? Too much Isaiah Washington? All of the above? Sound 
  off in the comments section below! 
  
 http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/70049
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
  
  
  
  
  Yahoo! Groups Links 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
 organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
 Country 
  
  - 
  Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
  
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Re: [scifinoir2] News For Martha Jones Fans - Dr. Who/torchwoord


what ep or eps do I need to see to get the scoop?
-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 Something happened when Jack died and at the end of the episode you saw, 
 he was still alive. Now he can't die. In fact, he and Rose have met 
 him when they travel to the future. They just do not know it is him. I 
 can not tell you more because it is a spoiler 
 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
  What's the premise of Torchwood? I only just now caught up on the eps of 
  Dr. 
 Who were Rose was trapped on the alternate Earth with her mom, sometimes 
 boyfriend, and alternate reality father. I saw the first four or five eps of 
 the season with Martha, but that's it. I remember some references to 
 Torchwood 
 in the show. But didn't Captain Jack die in Dr. Who? How is he alive, what is 
 Torchwood, and how did it come to exist in our time? 
  
  -- Original message -- 
  From: Martin 
  Gymfig, the BBC is capitalizing on her unexpected popularity by 
  split-tining 
 her between Torchwood and DW. She'll be in those eps on Torchwood, then 
 return to be the Doctor's co-companion with Catherine Tate for the rest of 
 S4. 
  
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
  In a message dated 2/22/2008 7:12:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
  [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 
  
  season of Doctor Who, she will have an additional three-episode run on 
  the adult-themed spinoff for BBC Two and BBC America, Torchwood. 
  
  I love Torchwood. I heard about this on the sci fi channel. I am glad that 
  she is back but I am sad that she is only back for three episodes. 
  
  
  I still don't understand what is the big deal with Capt. Jack. He does not 
  seem to be that cold leader his character is supposed to be. It is quite 
  laughable to see him be threatening. 
  
  **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. 
  
 (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
  
  2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) 
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
  
  
  
  
  
  There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
 organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
 Country 
  
  - 
  Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 
  
  [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 
  
  
  
  
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  Yahoo! Groups Links 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] [Fwd: RE: Surprising nature flick ~ amazing and unexpected finish]

amazing. did you watch the Planet Earth series? If so, did you see the 
nighttime attack of the lions on that elephant? As they attacked it, the 
night-blind elephant panics as the desperately hungry lions keep striking it, 
finally bringing it down. Absolutely phenomenal

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 
 You got to see this! 
  Original Message  
 Subject: RE: Surprising nature flick ~ amazing and unexpected finish 
 Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2008 23:26:41 -0800 
 From: Chris de Morsella 
 To: Tracey de Morsella , 'paul 
 demorsella' , 'julia demorsella' , 
 Rae , 'Loyd Atwood' 
 
 
 
 http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2008/02/lions-versus-buffaloe
  
 s-and-elephants.html 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Yahoo! Groups Links 
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Re: [scifinoir2] News For Martha Jones Fans - Dr. Who/torchwoord

okay, thanks

-- Original message -- 
From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
The last three or four episodes of last season that have Martha and Capt 
Jack in them.

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 what ep or eps do I need to see to get the scoop?
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

 
 Something happened when Jack died and at the end of the episode you saw, 
 he was still alive. Now he can't die. In fact, he and Rose have met 
 him when they travel to the future. They just do not know it is him. I 
 can not tell you more because it is a spoiler 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 
 What's the premise of Torchwood? I only just now caught up on the eps of 
 Dr. 
 
 Who were Rose was trapped on the alternate Earth with her mom, sometimes 
 boyfriend, and alternate reality father. I saw the first four or five eps of 
 the season with Martha, but that's it. I remember some references to 
 Torchwood 
 in the show. But didn't Captain Jack die in Dr. Who? How is he alive, what 
 is 
 Torchwood, and how did it come to exist in our time? 
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Martin 
 Gymfig, the BBC is capitalizing on her unexpected popularity by 
 split-tining 
 
 her between Torchwood and DW. She'll be in those eps on Torchwood, 
 then 
 return to be the Doctor's co-companion with Catherine Tate for the rest of 
 S4. 
 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 In a message dated 2/22/2008 7:12:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 

 season of Doctor Who, she will have an additional three-episode run on 
 the adult-themed spinoff for BBC Two and BBC America, Torchwood. 

 I love Torchwood. I heard about this on the sci fi channel. I am glad that 
 she is back but I am sad that she is only back for three episodes. 


 I still don't understand what is the big deal with Capt. Jack. He does not 
 seem to be that cold leader his character is supposed to be. It is quite 
 laughable to see him be threatening. 

 **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. 

 
 (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
  
 
 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 





 There is no reason Good can't triumph over Evil, if only angels will get 
 
 organized along the lines of the Mafia. -Kurt Vonnegut, A Man Without A 
 Country 
 
 - 
 Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search. 

 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 




 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] 




 Yahoo! Groups Links 






 

 Yahoo! Groups Links 



 

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Re: [scifinoir2] News For Martha Jones Fans - Dr. Who/torchwoord

thanks for the info

-- Original message -- 
From: Martin [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Keith, the eps that present the spoilers Tracey's thinking of are Utopia and 
Time Crash. The former explains the reason Captain jack can't die, and the 
latter is the Big Bomb. BIG Bomb.

Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The 
first episode I saw discussing Torchwood is the episode in which the 
Doctor and Rose go back in time and meet Queen Elizabeth and encounter a 
werewolf. The queen set up Torchwood after that encounter

Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) wrote:
 I do not remember which episode he died in, but I think it was one of 
 the Bad Wolf episodes with the reality tv theme
 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
 what ep or eps do I need to see to get the scoop?
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. Minor) 

 
 Something happened when Jack died and at the end of the episode you saw, 
 he was still alive. Now he can't die. In fact, he and Rose have met 
 him when they travel to the future. They just do not know it is him. I 
 can not tell you more because it is a spoiler 

 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 
 What's the premise of Torchwood? I only just now caught up on the eps of 
 Dr. 
 
 Who were Rose was trapped on the alternate Earth with her mom, sometimes 
 boyfriend, and alternate reality father. I saw the first four or five eps 
 of 
 the season with Martha, but that's it. I remember some references to 
 Torchwood 
 in the show. But didn't Captain Jack die in Dr. Who? How is he alive, what 
 is 
 Torchwood, and how did it come to exist in our time? 
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Martin 
 Gymfig, the BBC is capitalizing on her unexpected popularity by 
 split-tining 
 
 her between Torchwood and DW. She'll be in those eps on Torchwood, 
 then 
 return to be the Doctor's co-companion with Catherine Tate for the rest of 
 S4. 
 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: 
 In a message dated 2/22/2008 7:12:33 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
 [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: 

 season of Doctor Who, she will have an additional three-episode run on 
 the adult-themed spinoff for BBC Two and BBC America, Torchwood. 

 I love Torchwood. I heard about this on the sci fi channel. I am glad that 
 she is back but I am sad that she is only back for three episodes. 


 I still don't understand what is the big deal with Capt. Jack. He does not 
 seem to be that cold leader his character is supposed to be. It is quite 
 laughable to see him be threatening. 

 **Ideas to please picky eaters. Watch video on AOL Living. 

 
 (http://living.aol.com/video/how-to-please-your-picky-eater/rachel-campos-duffy/
  
 
 2050827?NCID=aolcmp0030002598) 

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Re: [scifinoir2] Re: It's Over for Jericho

agreed. 

-- Original message -- 
From: B. Smith [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
I was still watching. I think the network's scheduling decisions
doomed the show. Killing off one of the main characters in the season
finale seems to have hurt the show as well.

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:

 I posted an e-mail the day the show was returning, then posted a
follow up asking if anyone here was watching. Only one reply, and that
was from Gymfig, who doesn't watch the show at all. Is anyone here
watching it?
 
 I also have to repeat my complaint at CBS' not showing the entire
series again in the weeks leading up to the return. That irritates me.
I watched the whole series, but missed the last three eps and didn't
want to watch them on my laptop. I was waiting and waiting, just
*knowing* that CBS would rerun the series again, in order to build up
more interest. But they didn't. I guess they were too busy selling it
to SciFi. I don't get that strategy. ABC did the same thing with
Lost, which is maddening.
 
 Too bad. Maybe my fantasy billionaire will pick up the show! :)
 
 -- Original message -- 
 From: Justin Mohareb [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
 Nuts.
 
 JJ Mohareb
 
 On Fri, Feb 22, 2008 at 7:13 PM, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey
 L. Minor) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
  Sources: 'Jericho' To Wrap It Up
 
 
  By MICHAEL HINMAN
  Source: SyFy Portal
  Feb-21-2008
 
  It looks like the Jericho experiment is about to come to an end.
 
  Sources have told SyFy Portal that CBS is gearing up to air the series
  finale version of the post-apocalyptic series on March 25, one of two
  endings shot that would either allow a cliffhanger going into a third
  season, or a proper amount of closure for Jericho fans who
fought hard
  to force CBS to reconsider its previous decision to cancel the show.
 
  There are a lot of people here who really care about what happens to
  'Jericho,' and I think we all wanted to see it succeed, the
source, who
  asked not to be identified, said. Numbers are numbers, and [CBS]
had to
  do what [CBS] had to do.
 
  Ratings for the first two episodes were well below even some of the
  worst numbers the show experienced at the end of the first season
which
  helped prompt network officials to move toward cancellation.
Although it
  is competing in a post-American Idol scheduling environment,
Jericho
  struggled to compete with shows that were either in reruns, or not
part
  of mainstream viewing habits.
 
  At the same time, audiences in key demographics of 18 to 49 -- a demo
  that isn't typically attracted to CBS for many of its other
programmings
  -- were noticeably absent from the first pair of viewings from the
show,
  and there is little chance they'll suddenly return in the coming
weeks.
 
  But the decision isn't quite final yet ... network executives
still have
  room to change their mind.
 
  If the audience can come back to the show in the next two
episodes, and
  I mean a lot, [CBS] may reconsider, the source said. Fans definitely
  have a say, and they had a say last summer [with the 'Nuts to Jericho'
  campaign], but I think the final decision this time is going to come
  down to hard numbers, and they're just not there for 'Jericho.'
 
  Please note that none of this has been confirmed by CBS, and should be
  treated as any rumor would.
 
  Jericho airs Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.
 
  http://www.syfyportal.com/news424744.html
 
 
 
 
 -- 
 Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
 http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
 
 
 
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Re: [scifinoir2] Bionic Woman Laid to Rest

alas, 'tis true!

-- Original message -- 
From: Astromancer [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Definitely the literal definition of Theatre of the Mind... for that is the 
only place it exists...

[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: i often have this silly fantasy that a really rich 
billionaire could create a cable channel and fund shows that draw 
small-but-dedicated audiences for their quality. In this fantasy world, the 
billionaire would underwrite shows like Threshold, John Doe, Odyssey 5, 
Space: Above and Beyond, The Dresden Files, Karen Sisco. We'd get another 
season of Exo-Squad and Samurai Jack. The like of Coto would get a chance 
to really see their projects to fruition. 

Frank's Place would return.

Yeah, yeah, a fantasy indeed. No one would do that, and even if they did, the 
backer would likely not have the same taste as mine, and still cancel good 
shows. But in a world where billionaires buy boats big as apartment complexes 
and fund science fiction halls of fame, i can dream, can't i???

-- Original message -- 
From: Lockhart, Daryle 

Jason Cahill and Manny Coto should do a show together. They are both great 
at saving failed projects.

On Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:26:42 -0500, Tracey de Morsella (formerly Tracey L. 
Minor) wrote:

 It's now official: The Commander in Chief award for the most spectacular
 freshman flame-out of the 07-08 TV season goes to... Bionic Woman!

 Although NBC isn't talking, I'm told by multiple sources that Bionic
 staffers were informed late last week that the troubled reboot has
 indeed been canceled. That means no spring relaunch under new
 show-runner Jason Cahill â which is too bad. Cahill's a talented guy
 (see: The Sopranos), and I was anxious to see what he would do with the
 show. But I guess it wasn't meant to be.

 At least now the first stage of grief can get under way. No, not shock â
 the snarky postmortem! What do you think felled Bionic Woman in the end?
 Was it the lackluster pilot? The absence of a clear, creative vision?
 Not enough Starbuck? Too much Isaiah Washington? All of the above? Sound
 off in the comments section below!
 http://community.tvguide.com/blog/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/70049


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[scifinoir2] Star Trek/Brokeback Mountain Mashup

That was hilarious! 

My gosh that was funny! I 'bout busted a gut when Shatner said I don't want to 
take him back. He's like an animal (speaking of his evil half in The Enemy 
Within), or when Spock is lying on the sickbay bed screaming harder! (from 
A Private Little War) 

Great stuff! Didja catch what eps they lifted the scenes from? It was 
relatively easy for me to tell: they mostly pulled from Where No Man has Gone 
Before, The Enemy Within, Amok Time (they replaced the knife Spock was 
holding behind his back with some CGI roses), This Side of Paradise, The 
Naked Time, Journey to Babel,  Bread and Circuses, The Alternative 
Factor, Elaan of Troyus, City on the Edge of Forever (voice of Shatner 
saying I'm beginning to think I'm in love with... and they replaced Edith 
with Spock), Miri, A Private Little War, and Operation: Annhilate

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Re: [scifinoir2] It's Over for Jericho