skyswing

Any thoughts on the last season of the new Battlestar series so far? I thought this last one (aired in the U.S. this past Friday) was a stunner. Anyone else?

QUOTE (udanax @ May 16 2008, 03:11 AM) make sure you read Praetorians posts on CP as well..... They "biker dude" that told the man to go away was not Michael, as some assume, but the maitre'd of the restaurant. Im sure he would have handled the situation a lot better. Oops I didn't read this until just now. OK, well if it wasn't Michael, then I'm not sure why the guy was running interference unless he was directed to do so.

QUOTE (Marathonist @ May 16 2008, 09:07 AM) QUOTE (skyswing @ May 16 2008, 08:42 AM) It sounds like Michael takes his role as Neil's Praetorian very seriously and probably is acting on Neil's standing wishes to be left alone by anyone he doesn't already know or who attempts to initiate the contact with him on his or her own. That's what Michael is paid to do. According to the CP thread, Neil's been threatened with bodily harm by a "fan" before, and we know there have been plenty of incidents where the bus gets followed, or someone manages to sneak onto the bus and wait for him. Heck, if I logged onto the internet and saw photos of me and my bike that someone had taken from a hiding place in the bushes fifteen feet away from me, and I'd had no idea that anyone was there at that time, well. . .that's pretty creepy. A big part of Michael's job is to be on the alert for and assess any potentially threatening situation. It isn't all about isolating Neil from his fans just because Neil doesn't feel like chatting. Yeah, you're right Marathonist. Michael's not just being a jerk to be a jerk. Neil documents on his own a number of creepy incidents with fans which would give most of us the willies. In one of his books, he talks about a guy who left him some beer at his hotel room and then called to see if he liked it (obviously after having seen that Neil had retrieved it from the doorstep.). Like you said, Michael was conducting threat assessment and following Neil's wishes.

QUOTE (edgyspice @ May 15 2008, 01:20 PM) I think we've missed the larger issue here, guys, which is that our argument is based on YouTube comments. That's like trying to have a Socratic debate after looking at the wall of a gas station rest room. Great point, edgy! That being said, I think what happened is that this guy, who was at rather small party, naturally assumed that saying "Hello" to someone like Neil in a gathering like that would be OK. The guy obviously was not as familiar as most of us here are with Neil's aversion to general public contact based solely on his fame - especially when the other person initiates the contact. It sounds like Michael takes his role as Neil's Praetorian very seriously and probably is acting on Neil's standing wishes to be left alone by anyone he doesn't already know or who attempts to initiate the contact with him on his or her own. If Neil decides to initiate contact, it's probably another story altogether. Listening to him on things like the S&A MVI, I think he would be the kind of guy I'd love to shoot the breeze and just hang out with. Sadly, that probably won't happen unless the opportunity arises (fat chance) and he starts the conversation (even fatter chance). If I didn't know his background, I probably would be offended too.

QUOTE (fs2112 @ May 14 2008, 09:46 AM) terrible news. he probably was a guy with a lot of class and integreity. he couldve capitalized on rush's popularity and written a few books about the early years of rush, or gone on a few talk shows to gossip about geddy and alex. he couldve even recorded a few solo albums in 82 or 83 when rush was becoming very popular. instead, he did the classy thing and stayed out of rush's fame. RIP JR. I really haven't thought of this but it sure sounds right to me - He moved on with his life and didn't try to ride the coattails. Thanks for helping this band get a healthy start, JR.

QUOTE (ReRushed @ May 13 2008, 08:02 AM) Wow. 55 is too young. R.I.P. No doubt. I appreciate his contribution to Rush, especially helping to get them on the map in the first place. Rest in peace.

QUOTE (1-0-0-1-0-0-1 @ May 8 2008, 01:02 PM) I've seen it a few times. Loved it. I thought Janeane Garofalo's and William H. Macy's deadpan deliveries made the movie. Great, great movie! Very underrated. To paraphrase my late Mom, I wish I had a battle jitney! EDIT: She used to say she wished she had a tank so she could navigate her way through or over traffic.

I first learned of this by seeing The Owl's post last night. I wasn't sure just what I would say in reacting to the news at the time. As a person, he was a great American who stood solidly and boldly for beliefs and for that he should be admired. As an actor, he played well many roles of historical significance and did it with passion and intensity. He also could read the Bible better than anyone else I'd ever heard. Mr. Heston, thanks for the memories and work you've left behind for us to remember and enjoy.

As usual, another great piece from NPR. Very educational and informative. It's interesting what they had to say about what they see as the negative effects of parents trying too much to be friends to their children.

You betcha. Two of 'em in this household. This is one of the best television shows I've ever seen. They took the original and massively tweaked it into a gritty, tangible, awesome human drama. Glad and sad that the final season is under way. No major answers yet, of course!

QUOTE (iluvgeddy05 @ Mar 21 2008, 09:26 AM) One of the only known photos of my nephew, Josh, smiling http://s4.photobucket.com/albums/y149/iluvgeddy/josh.jpg He's a handsome young man, ILG!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t71/towncrier86/TRFEasterpic.jpg Here's our daughter this morning at the start of Easter Sunday here. Happy Easter everyone!

Why do I stay up until 1 a.m.?

Yeah, I've been there a few times. I didn't know until this week that there's a print version. It's like April Fool's Day everyday with these guys or "Cracked" or "Mad" news. Some of it can be quite funny!

QUOTE (lerxt1990 @ Mar 18 2008, 09:49 PM) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzNwxoPLVOA Brush Your Breath! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7s0UZJzp74 Just Brush! Those were the days! Man, that gum ad looks older than it says. Does that mean I'm older than I feel?! Yikes! Thanks for sharing this, man!

QUOTE (Fridge @ Mar 16 2008, 05:32 AM) QUOTE (treeduck @ Mar 16 2008, 10:08 AM) It's metal and you know it!!! I'll get even for this! Expect your special scotch stash to mysteriously go missing in the near future... Expect barbequed Duck a L'Orange if this happens Duck and Fridge, y'all crack me up with your brotherly sniping. Seeing as how both my wife and I have used lines from "Out of the Cradle" to derive our nicknames (hers is RockTheCradle), I think it's safe to say we like it. It's a perfect closer and isn't the weakest track on the album - I lean toward "How It Is" for that distinction. For a while, I was swayed by some of the arguments here that "Vapor Trails" was a weak effort overall, but in recent listens, I've come out of that perspective. I'm solidly with the camp who says we should be grateful "Vapor Trails" happened, because the band might not still be together if Neil hadn't chosen to move forward and ultimately help craft this album. Way more than half of this album has solid songs on it, so that in and of itself shows it is not a weak effort. "Out of the Cradle" possesses an energy and drive which leaves a listener wanting and expecting more on the next effort. That's a perfect closing song.

QUOTE (liquidcrystalcompass @ Mar 9 2008, 02:19 PM) "Chump don't won't no help, chump don't get da help. Jive ass dude ain't got no brains anyhow!" "Right arm!," as Smitty the white cop used to say on "Sanford and Son." The stuff they did in these movies wouldn't fly today, homes.

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t71/towncrier86/Snowblog93-8-08.jpg Our daughter got her first real experience with snow today - We got about half an inch here in this part of Mississippi. It's a pretty rare thing. I got her out of bed just before 7:30 this morning and she played in it for about 20-25 minutes. By 9:45, most of it was gone. Just thought we'd share a special moment!

OK, the two adults in this household LOVE some "Firefly/Serenity." I think we only have the movie but wouldn't mind having the series sitting around. Yes the ladies are talented and lovely, but let's not forget the men folk here. Nathan Fillion as Capt. Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds; Ron Glass as Shepherd Book; Adam Baldwin as Jayne Cobb; Sean Maher as Dr. Simon Tam and Alan Tudyk as Hoban "Wash" Washburne. I think my favorite quirky aspect of this show is that Chinese is depicted as the universal language, not English, and that "companions" (prostitutes) such as Inara are often revered in the culture. (Morena Baccarin plays Inara) Great, interesting show. Wish they would pull it back together for a short run or another movie.

RockTheCradle and I went to see "Vantage Point" Sunday night and I really liked it. Packed with action and a bit of suspense, it kept my interest and was really something to watch. Has anyone else seen it and have any thoughts to share?

Yeah remembered the Warriors from back around the time it first came out. It's got a cheesy coolness to it. I love the Joe Walsh song with it.

Yay! Slack's in charge. What do we have to make sure doesn't look torn or broken before the Moms and Dads are back? EDIT: Looks like they're already back. Oh well.

QUOTE (Echoes @ Feb 10 2008, 03:44 PM) "Begin the day with a healthy choice, a side dish unobtrusive" "Plays that sauce that's so elusive and the magic music makes your morning meal"

Yes indeedy - count me in as part of the Jack Pack! Lock and load!

QUOTE (the invisible man @ Feb 2 2008, 09:14 AM) http://www.narniaweb.com/forum/uploads/kaleb70/82329_Mr_T.jpg "I pity the fool who trys to turn this thread political. You think im bad, mess with Jack." Right on! I too have an interest in military science and I've had it for as long as I can remember, at least back to the good ol' days of "Baa Baa Black Sheep." I haven't watched the Military Channel in some time but it's one of the reasons I like our digital cable lineup. To outline some of the reasons I like the Military Channel: 1) I am a Cold War-era National Guard veteran (without combat experience) who has a long lineage of soldiers, sailors and airmen included on both sides of my family, including my late father, who was a Battle of the Bulge veteran with the 84th Infantry Division. He was wounded in action in Belgium in early January 1945. 2) I like to see the development of combat, from its earliest modern forms to the current approaches and into the future. It just plain fascinates me. One of my favorite shows on the network is: "20th Century Battlefields."