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Post by Sue on Sept 27, 2011 20:23:19 GMT -5
So, Terra Nova: I like it so far. I guess maybe low expectations. I was worried about having high expectations so I had low expectations. It's not perfect by any means but it makes me think a LOT of Falling Skies (a dad trying to keep his family together and safe in a new world; a tough guy mission leader who may have another agenda we don't know about; opposing human forces that throw a kink in things (and what is their secrect agenda?); and another mystery that is obviously not going to be immediately revealed, although it did do a better job of starting things off more quickly. There is more going on than just "Land of the Lost." No matter how good the CGI the dinosaur parts actually get pretty boring very quickly (IMO). Pilot was written by Brannon Braga (didn't he do Farscape?) and David Fury. Most bothersome stuff is how easily some of the backstory is set up then just dismissed. Okay, so we didn't see how he escaped from prison and how they got the kid from wherever she was etc. But the casual explanation that "it seemed like a good idea at the time" to explain why a DOCTOR and a COP, who can see the state the world is in and already have 2 teenagers suffering as a result of all of that just go ahead and break the law (legally and morally I'd have to say) and just have another kid? Really, knowing the risks? And on top of that they could have just "paid a fine." So the rich can continue to have extra kids, huh? And a nit-pick: shoulder pads/armor, really? I get the bullet proof (claw proof?) vests but other than look "cool" and semi Mad Maxian why shoulder pad armor? Which the body guards wear but the actual head guy? That's just silly. [I give Falling Skies some props for the costume dept, but then they had the school hallway of eternally lighted candles which made NO sense to me either. Yes, I can believe that people can go 85 million years back in time and I'm annoyed that they were extraneous shoulder pads. But -- the pilot was 2 hours long and I was mostly entertained for long stretches. And am curious to see who has what agenda and what other mystery is as well. Karen -- however I was confused by your comment about the son possibly being "the bad guy"?
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 8:36:02 GMT -5
What I want to know is how Anne managed to get the backwards "R" in her name!
Diane *recovering from exhausted collapse*
EDIT: Okay, now I know.
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 8:38:44 GMT -5
Wait: Saint B= Benedict? What a coincidence? I'm unlikey to watch Terra Nova as it hits my unkink for post-apocalyptic settings really hard. Ringer is in danger of being off-limits to my recovering soap addict status, and I keep forgetting Person of Interest is on. Franklin and I have talked about Prime Suspect and decided we are Helen Mirren fundamentalists. On the other hand, Fringe, OMG Fringe, what a great start to the season, even if they did killJoe Flanigan in the first ten minutes. Julia, should discuss that in the TV thread but must get dressed and go batten down the chicken hatches (heh heh, get it?) in case they're right and the wind will be blowing a gale this afternoon. Always wished I'd seen the Mirren vehicle but we didn't bet BBC at that time. Now it's okay because I think Mario Bello is terrific. Whether we stick with the show may depend on time and Jim's input. We have a LOT of cop and lawyer shows and a number of female cop shows (Closer, Rizzoli and Isles). But Bello is top notch, supporting cast is good, writing is .. well characterization and dialogue were above average but the mystery and the linchpin of it's solution required some suspension of disbelief and it will depend on how much of that I have to do. In "real-world" type fiction I know it can't be totally realistic or we'd be too bored to watch. Just depends. Very nasty crime, though, so that may squick you out. Bonus is the casting of the guy who was a friend of Olivia's on Fringe. Lots of semi-familiar faces. Review I saw quoted the writer as saying she was going for a female Sipowicz and an NYPD Blue vibe rather than trying to copy Mirren exactly. Actually, Mirren's Prime Suspect ran on PBS not BBC. I didn't care for her or it so no comment. Ian loved it, though.
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 8:40:08 GMT -5
I am still coveting that roll up piano keyboard they showed on ST:TNG once. They exist. Amazon has 'em.
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 8:42:49 GMT -5
And, again my petty annoyances are put in place: Tom's apt was broken into while he was in the shower. The "good" news is that even tho they cut his ethernet cord, dumped some clothes out of a bag, put both his work and personal laptops into the bag -- they left it on the kitchen counter. Maybe he(?) heard Tom getting out of the shower and just fled? His bike was moved from the living room to the kitchen (there is a back door there, one floor up). His wallet was left untouched next to his TV (too large for one person). The only thing he is sure is missing is his work I-phone. So he's gone online and reported it and had it "locked." But .... scary. I came home from the bar one December night (where I'd been listening to Celtic music and eating pizza, both made by friends) and walked in on a burglar who threw a stereo speaker at me and took off: the worst thing they stole was my brand new down comforter. Julia, not a grand experience. The best thing I can say about our home invasion guy was that he didn't hurt Ian, who was getting out of the bath at the time. So sorry to hear. Nasty experience--always.
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Post by Queen E on Sept 28, 2011 10:52:53 GMT -5
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 28, 2011 11:51:37 GMT -5
Also, I just browsed the Google News results for this and the phrase "academic freedom" was entirely absent from the comment threads: what do they teach children in the schools these days? Julia, not what they taught me in the dark ages, apparently
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 28, 2011 11:53:19 GMT -5
Sue, Brannon Braga was showrunner for ST: Voyager.
Julia, it was Rockne O'Bannion for Farscape.
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 12:53:46 GMT -5
Also, I just browsed the Google News results for this and the phrase "academic freedom" was entirely absent from the comment threads: what do they teach children in the schools these days? Julia, not what they taught me in the dark ages, apparently ...or even mine in the even darker ages. Diane *remembers the 60s--which in itself is quite a feat*
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Post by Anne, Old S'cubie Cat on Sept 28, 2011 16:10:44 GMT -5
Also, I just browsed the Google News results for this and the phrase "academic freedom" was entirely absent from the comment threads: what do they teach children in the schools these days? Julia, not what they taught me in the dark ages, apparently One would think that a university would be a bit more, shall we say, broad-minded. One would find oneself sadly mistaken. Short version: Oh, good grief. Having a grumpy achy day, S'cubies, may I have a hug too, please?
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 28, 2011 16:40:18 GMT -5
Also, I just browsed the Google News results for this and the phrase "academic freedom" was entirely absent from the comment threads: what do they teach children in the schools these days? Julia, not what they taught me in the dark ages, apparently One would think that a university would be a bit more, shall we say, broad-minded. One would find oneself sadly mistaken. Short version: Oh, good grief. Having a grumpy achy day, S'cubies, may I have a hug too, please? Joining you with earaches and sore throats from the past two weeks of allergy madness.
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Post by Julia, wrought iron-y on Sept 28, 2011 20:36:51 GMT -5
Well, at least the huge limb has finished falling down. Don't have time to go make sure nothing got squashed under it.
Julia, tired, omigod, and still have to cook dinner
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Post by Sara on Sept 28, 2011 20:48:49 GMT -5
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Post by SpringSummers on Sept 28, 2011 22:20:40 GMT -5
Ah! Brings back sweet memories of this incident on our campus: For 15 years, Patrick Washburn has displayed a Reconstruction-era rifle on the wall of his office at Ohio University (OU). The firearm, a family heirloom passed down from his great-grandfather, seemed to be an appropriate antique for Mr. Washburn to hang there: Mr. Washburn is a journalism professor specializing in the history of wartime press.
But now, he's the one doing battle with Ohio University administrators . . . they dispatched campus police to Mr. Washburn's office and ordered him to remove the 1878 Springfield rifle . . . moreIt caused quite a ruckus, without even the saving grace of getting to see pretty Nathan Fillion pictures. I actually love this part of being on a campus - I mean, the drama! After nearly 25 years working in many capacities on this campus, and getting to know people from every part of the University, one of my very favorite all time quotes is from Henry Kissinger: "University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small."
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Post by S'ewing S'cubie on Sept 29, 2011 7:06:04 GMT -5
Please send some of these photos to National Geographic. You're as good as any photographer they've ever featured. These are wonderful. You've captured the uniqueness and beauty of each creature to perfection.
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