President Logan Is Back: A Reason to Watch "24" Again!

According to Michael Ausiello, King of the Scoop, the fantabulous Gregory Itzin is coming back as (ex) President Logan on 24! Oh joyous day!

The first ever season of 24 I watched was season 5, where Logan/Itzin was featured prominently as the at first buffoonish, ultimately creepy-evil traitorous Commander-in-Chief. It was a Macbethian performance, perfectly pitched and one that bounced well off Jean Smart's unhinged Mrs. Logan. Overall the season was impeccable, and Itzin was the best. One of the greatest injustices in Emmy history is his loss in the 2006 Best Supporting Actor race (Seriously, why did Alan Alda have to get it? He'd won four previous times!).

Well, then season 6 came along, and it wasn't nearly as amazing. Deceased President David Palmer's younger brother, Wayne, was president, and a very wimpy one at that. The preposterousness of Jack's brother and father being evil masterminds, and Audrey's strange miming affectation were beyond what I'd come to accept from the series.

It's strange to think there's only been one season since then (Thanks, Writer's Strike!). I didn't get a chance because of London, and not this summer either.

With the news of the return of Logan, I am definitely watching 24 again this upcoming season. And I am sooo excited!

"Modern Family" Hilarity

Modern Family is a pretty great show, though I haven't quite been able to put my finger on what I like about it so much . I have only rarely laughed out loud during the episodes, but the combination of ridiculously true hilarity and sweet lessons learned is very well balanced.

However, this week the show produced many more genuine belly-laughs, in a variety of ways. First, I found this amazing music video for free on iTunes.

As a preface, watch this segment from the episode two weeks ago.



The reactions are the best part.

So, the free video on iTunes was this.



I was laughing/crying the whole first two times I watched this. Little video extras are what really make shows I like shows I love. The world of the show becomes incredibly vivid and real. And this week's episode of Modern Family was the most hilarious to date, at least to me. Best part: the following. Cameron: "It's not unlocked!!!! Oh, oh. That is amazing, how did they do that? Did it come from space?"

Pet Peeves: My Fickle, Fickle Self

In my Writing for Series TV class we have to write a spec script for one series, and I chose the addictive, hilarious, creepy HBO show True Blood. After cramming both seasons, I was as hooked as Amy and Jason are to V. And, in all honesty, the very attractive cast doesn't hurt the situation.

One of the shifts during the second season was baddie vampire Eric's (Alexander Skarsgard's) gradual and modest softening. He became much more interesting and attractive (because I'm a sucker for wounded tough guys, as evidenced by Sawyer).


Knowing the arc Skarsgard's character goes through, I thought when I went back to season 1 Eric would be really appealing. But watching it all over again, I did not like Eric. And I think this has something to do with it.


I have a major issue with guys and long hair. It's an instant turn off in my books. I couldn't even look at Hugh Jackman when he grew out his hair for Van Helsing, and to this day have never watched that movie. Sawyer's hair can get a little ridiculous at times, and is the limit of what I can accept on guys.

I know it's picky and fickle, but I just can't help it. All I can say is, thank goodness Pam had to cut Eric's locks.

"Lost": YEEESSSSSSSS...but NOOOOOOOOO!!

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: Sara Ramirez

I really like Grey's Anatomy — it's a solid soap, and provides me with my cathartic tears for the week — but sometimes the show and the cast can seem a bit too serious. Take, for example, front picture of the cast on the show's Hulu homepage. Everyone looks so dour.


Well, I take that back. There is one person giving a huge, happy smile. Thanks, Sara Ramirez, for fully appreciating the stability of being on a hit show, having pretty good storylines and writing (at least so far this season), and the general hotness of the cast surrounding you.

Also, she was fab-u-lous in Monty Python's Spamalot. Check it out.

The Ithacan: "The Invention of Lying" Review

Ricky Gervais is a funny guy. I've really enjoyed his appearances presenting at the Emmys the past few years, this year (I totally did not notice his jacket was green when first watching the show — spiffy!) and last year. He's even hilarious going off the cuff with Elmo.

However, I didn't enjoy his latest film as much. It's not necessarily his fault in the acting department, but he could have done a better job as a writer.

Predictable comedy hinders film

By Anne Gould Northgraves Staff Writer | October 8, 2009

Imagine a world without lies of any kind. People are always honest — at times brutally so. For those who subscribe to an “honesty is the best policy” point of view, a truthful world may sound ideal. However, such a straightforward existence also entails no fiction, so movies within this world merely consist of readers reciting history lessons, and there’s no deeper meaning behind a characters’ actions. Everything is exposed directly on the surface, which makes for amusing circumstances but no real emotional connections.

This world is exactly what is depicted in the new film “The Invention of Lying.” The premise is mildly entertaining, but the movie is unable to balance the amusing frankness of the characters and the deeper emotional resonance of protagonist Mark Bellison’s (Ricky Gervais) problem of being the first and only person capable of lying. Moments of humor and grief that strike true do not complement each other or add to the cohesive structure of the plot.

Gervais, the British comedian responsible for television favorite “The Office,” brings the best of his self-deprecating humor to the film as its co-director and co-writer. There are plenty of laughs, especially in the first half of the film, at the expense of Gervais’ “fat, snub-nosed” physique. Anna (Jennifer Garner), the object of Bellison’s affection, is particularly hilarious in her upbeat, earnest and cutting honesty toward Mark, by directly telling him he is not in her league.

There are a number of cameo appearances, from quirky television staples Tina Fey, as Mark’s disparaging secretary, and Jeffrey Tambor, as his diffident boss, to Academy Award nominees Philip Seymour Hoffman and Edward Norton as a clueless bartender and a skittish police officer, respectively. The actors clearly enjoy the opportunity to be callously honest in a role, and their joy is palpable.

In addition, there are some genuinely poignant moments. When Mark invents the idea of a happy eternity after death so his dying mother will not be afraid, Gervais gives a glimpse of his convincing emotional range. The moment in the film could be interpreted as an indictment of the artificiality of organized religion.

Despite the quality of the awkward interactions between the truth-tellers and Mark, as well as the emotional depth of Mark’s relationship with his mother, the overall story has several major problems. The most glaring issue is the lack of a proper backstory for the relationships of the film. Other than Anna’s attractiveness and sweetness, no reasons are given to explain why Mark is so enamored with her, nor is there an explanation of how the two met and ended up on a date together.

Similarly, throughout the film Mark confides in Greg (comedian Louis C.K.), who is assumed to be Mark’s good friend. However, the film never explains how or why they are so close — Mark simply walks into a bar disturbed by his newfound ability to lie and begins talking familiarly with Greg.

The climax of the film is rather anticlimactic and predictable, with Mark merely getting the courage to directly confront Anna about his feelings. Had Mark and Anna truly grown as characters, the film would be a much more solid piece overall.

Gervais and his writing and directing partner, Matthew Robinson, have a great deal to learn before moving from remotely successful comedies to unified and meaningful works of fiction.

“The Invention of Lying” was written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Matthew Robinson.

What the Frick?! "Heroes" Channels "Lost"...Again

When Heroes first came out in 2006, I refused to watch it, thinking it was just NBC's attempt at finding it's own Lost. The comic-book-like show had strange sci-fi circumstances, a large cast of complex characters dealing with extraordinary events surrounding them, and a serialized story of epic proportions — all things just like Lost. Some of my high school friends were into both show, but I couldn't. Lost takes most of my devotion.

Over the years, Lost had a few episodes here and there that were less than stellar, whereas Heroes has slid into a creative nadir. And that's not just my alligence to the other show talking. Numerous fans of the NBC once-juggernaut have said so themselves: see here, here, and here.

I've watched a few episodes recently, mostly because I am crushing on Zachary Quinto after the amazingness that was Star Trek (and he was holding a baby in a photo from an episode, so of course I had to watch it). But the most recent episode really got my goat when I saw it was entitled "Tabula Rasa." Um, excuse me, Heroes, that was the title of Lost's third episode — a Kate flashback. So please stop trying to be Lost. Thanks.

One note on Heroes' "Tabula Rasa" — love the purple plaid shirt on Quinto that exposes a bit of chest hair. Don't love the long hair on him.

Here's the good version of "Tabula Rasa."

That's Funny, Cause He WAS Shakespeare!

I wonder if that line was written because Joseph Fiennes was Shakespeare...in Love.

I Never Experienced THIS Side of British Men

This is one funny video. I have no idea from what programme (if we're being British) the clips come from, but I'm interested in finding out.

I didn't laugh out loud — or rather gasp — until 2:57 in.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

These are a Few of My Favorite Things: Bryan Singer and "X-Men" Together Again?

Wonder of wonder, miracles of miracles! There is a possibility that Bryan Singer will return to directing X-Men movies! There is no end to the exclamation points, as there is no end to my excitement!

According to EW.com, Singer mentioned at the Pusan International Film Festival in South Korea that he is “still looking to possibly returning to the X-Men franchise"! Let us supplicate ourselves to the film gods to ensure that this happens! (Seriously, there's no stopping this!) If there were any (film) event I would use a time machine to go back and change, Singer's exiting the franchise would definitely be it. (It stopped! Oh no, it's back!)

Here's a tasty morsel to remind us of the good ol' days, and hopefully prep for the future return to awesomeness.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things: I Spy...

So, I have a really busy weekend — tons of writing to do for classes/midterms next week. However, I had to take a moment for a post I've been wanting to do for a long time.

I'm very easily excitable and have a real knack for recognizing faces and voices of actors. Put the two together and you get random bursts of squealing from me whenever I spot an actor who shows up in several shows I love. It's been happening a lot recently: I rewatched an episode of Life and noticed the actor playing a homeless man is also Sheriff Dearborne on True Blood, and then I also remembered he was Oldmann, the truth-serum making Dharma-version-of-Sayid on Lost. And the woman who plays Jessica on True Blood, Deborah Ann Woll, was also on an episode of Life. Exciting stuff (if you're me)!

What tipped the scale in favor of writing this post was the appearance of three brand-spanking new SQUEEE moments on Thursday's episode of FlashForward*. First, Joseph Fiennes' character's AA sponsor talks to a bartender (who's just serving him soda) who turns out to be Cassidy, aka Sawyer's baby-mama, on Lost. Then Joseph Fiennes' wife on the show — played by Penny from Lost — is randomly having lunch with Zoe from Firefly**. Those were pretty neat moments for me, but the pièce de résistance was noticing that the German security officer was played by they guy who was Captain Englehorn in Peter Jackson's King Kong (though it's not a TV show connection, it still counts as excitement in my book).

* I really feel like FlashForward is just one big modge-podge of actors from other projects. I know actors have almost always been in other projects before, but this show is full of them. The FBI LA office director was the chief on Law & Order: CI, Joseph Fiennes is Shakespeare in Love (and should NOT be talking with an American accent), his wife is Penny*** from Lost, the other FBI agent is Harold from Harold and Kumar, the man Penny is going to have an affair with is Commodore Norrington from Pirates of the Caribbean, etc.

** Though FlashForward revolves around an interesting concept and has some funny moments, I think my inability to remember characters' names and only refer to them by the actor's name or a different character they've played is a bad sign that I'm not invested in the show.

*** Seriously, she will always be Penny.

What the Frick?! Crazy Babies

I love kids, and can't wait to have them (someday, in the future (but not too far into the future)). But HELL. TO. THE. NO.

What I could deal with much more, getting pregnant two times in one month.

Buzzsaw: "Community" Review

This semester I am writing for Buzzsaw, a student-run magazine on campus, in addition to The Ithacan. I've learned a lot of the newspaper, such as working on a deadline and the broader points of AP style, but Buzzsaw is great because I get to show much more of my own style in what I write. Here's my first piece, a review of the new Joel McHale-headlined NBC comedy Community.

Community Holds Promise of Many More Laughs to Come

By buzzsawmag-import | September 27th, 2009 | Family, Ministry of Cool

By Anne Gould Northgraves

Joel McHale is a much funnier, taller, and generally less toolish version of Ryan Seacrest. But until recently, the multi-job-juggling– and the concurrent success– had belonged to the American Idol/E! News/Radio Host. However, with McHale’s high profile headlining NBC’s new comedy Community, about a misfit group of community college students, the comedian is poised to rival Seacrest’s domination.

McHale, and the show in general, is off to a relatively good start. He stars as Jeff, a fast-talking lawyer going back to school to get a legitimate diploma (when asked if he has a degree from Columbia, Jeff replies, “And now I have to get one from America”). And while it is a treat to see a character so unabashedly devious, Jeff treads a fine line between garnering corny sympathy and being too much of a haughty cad to care about. Whether McHale and the writers maintain the balance or veer too far in either direction remains to be seen.

The rest of the cast, while archetypal, complement each other nicely. Filling out the Spanish study group, we have a prim perfectionist with a drug-addicted past (Alison Brie), a mom looking to improve her job prospects (Yvette Nicole Brown), a “dumb” jock feeling societal pressures (Donald Glover), a geek of mixed Middle Eastern descent and a bad case of verbal diarrhea (Danny Pudi), a high school drop-out as idiosyncratic as she is attractive (Gillian Jacobs), and a pompous old man as much interested in spreading his (supposed) wealth of knowledge as he is in learning new things (Chevy Chase).

Pudi, Glover, and Chase are particularly hilarious. In the race for my favorite line of the night, Chase’s pitch-perfect delivery of the line “I am a prominent business leader, and a highly sough-after dinner guest” just beats Glover’s clueless, “You seem pretty smart, you’ve got a sport coat.”

This is only a small sample of the vast amounts of dialogue that fly by with alarming speed, and it is the highlight of a slightly uneven script. Any pilot has to navigate mounds of explication necessary to establish the various characters and general tone of the show. Doing so without any hiccups is almost impossible.

Community throws out information so fast, that the show is occasionally bogged down by it. Even so, the amount of great exchanges, zingers, and witticisms is so high that appreciating them all definitely requires repeat viewings.

Everything that is good about the show is certainly due to its excellent pedigree. Community’s creator and executive producer, Dan Harmon, also co-created the absurdity-filled The Sarah Silverman Program, while executive producers/directors/brothers Anthony and Joe Russo were directors of Arrested Development. The later series had a definite influence in the quick pace and rapid-fire dialogue of Community, and if the genius of Arrested is any indication, that bodes incredibly well for the freshman series.

Given the past performance of those involved, the potential the premiere episode points to and the next episode’s addition of The Hangover scene-stealer Ken Jeong as Spanish teacher Senor Chang, Community definitely passes.

Community is on NBC Thursday nights at 9:30. Catch up with by watching the premiere on nbc.com or hulu.com.

Random Quote: The Unintentional Hilarity of Bill

I've become a big (BIG) fan of True Blood. The show is such a unique mix of creepiness, hilarity, social allegory, and fantasy. The LOL moments are my favorite, and I don't laugh harder than when old-fashioned vampire Bill Compton gets flustered or formal. Take the following exchange —

Bill: Are you gonna leave or am I gonna have to throw you out. Through a window. That is closed!
Sookie: Bill, that is just rude.



There are no Bill quote compilations on youtube that aren't set to music, and I cannot abide music fan videos, and therefore will not subject you to them.

Random Quote: It's Hip to Be a Square!

The video on this link on (of course) EW.com is a-maze-ing. (Also check out Kelly Paul's comments). But the best thing about the Sesame Street Mad Men parody — besides the use of sycophant on a children's television show — is how it brought so many other videos to my mind, and my knowledge.

First, I started looking up clips that played when I was little for a little stroll down memory lane. I remember a ton of great segments: "It's Hip to be a Square," "Cereal Girl," "Great Balls of Fur," "Reach for the Sky" and so, soo much more. Check out these classics.



* I had a slight convulsive episode watching this. I just loved this song so much!



Maybe this is where the seeds for my CSI/forensic love were planted?



I then had to check out some classic famous people I remembered, only a few of which I actually recognized as famous when I was watching. Robin Willams I did know. This is one of my favorites. His shirt is also fantabulous.



And I don't remember this song, but I definitely remember Randy Travis' jacket.



Youtube also showed me some fun recent celeb appearances. You can look them up, but is are my favorite. Jack Black is still Jack Black, and I guess it fits, since he is just a giant child. "Eight stunning angles!"



Aww, memories.

Community = Joyful Good Times

Community is one of the many new shows I wanted to check out with the start of the new Fall TV season, because I love Joel McHale and it just looked funny. The good news is, it IS good. Very good, in fact. See my review of it in Buzzsaw (the link will go in once the site is up). Here's a clip!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

Best Site Ever: Funny Or Die

Most people have probably heard of Funnyordie.com, the website run by Will Ferrell and company. The site has some amazing videos, including my personal favorites The Landlord, pointing out how Ironman is cooler than Batman, and Puppies! (Though many videos are NSFW — so watch out!)

Anywho, I really can't stand the new Latisse product — why would anyone need to grow more eyelashes, that's what mascara is for! Especially when your eyes can change color, or other awful things could happen, not too far from what is described below.

Lashisse from Molly Sims

Gross, hilarious, and sickening, because it's kinda true.

Dilemma: The Dangers of "Lost" Devotion

Newsflash: I love Lost. I know - what a shock, right? Well, sometimes such unbridled devotion can be a baaad thing. For example: whenever I overhear total strangers talking about Lost, I struggle to not jump into the conversation, and if the mention incorrect information, I die a little bit inside doing the "normal" thing and not budding into their discussion. Though this is something many people struggle with.

Another example: when money is on the line. I hate spending money, but I do not mind shilling out for this dear, dear show. I've bought/pre-ordered all the previous four seasons, and in the process always got them for under $40, which is a big added bonus when drama season DVDs usually go for around$60. However, ABC/Universal went and decided that randomly, for the fifth season they would FINALLY put out a special edition box set. Look at this beautiful thing.


According to this website and contributor Peter Sciretta, this is only the conceptual artwork. But my, isn't it beautiful?

It's going to have the five discs, a VHS tape (!), and I'm assuming some cool pamphlets or something. But the VHS tape and and special edition-ness of it makes this a DVD worth buying. Lost has never put out a special DVD set, so I would assume they have some pretty great stuff for this. Also, the set (which is normally $119.99) is only $79.99 at Amazon (double !!).

But here's where my crazy type-A-ness comes in — if I were to get the Dharma Initiation Kit, as it's being called, it would not match my previous Lost DVD sets. Here they are. Aren't they pretty?



This is the regular season 5 DVD, which goes along with the previous jacket designs.

It is another serious pet peeve of mine when the companies change the style of the DVD jackets. Have they never heard of consistency? So the uniformity of Lost's is something that I really appreciate. Also, the regular edition is a cheaper $38.49 on Amazon ($59.99 otherwise).

So do I go for hopefully (but not guaranteed) awesome extras at a relatively good price, or cheaper similar packaging with pretty good extras?

I would pray on the subject, but I don't want to get smitten (or smote? Smoted?) by God for bothering him with something completely trivial.

The Ithacan: "The Informant!" Review

First review of the semester. This was a decent film, and I give it a better review than I actually felt about the film, because from an objective point of view it was very good, it just did not tickle my particular funny bone.

Damon fills out role as informant

By Anne Gould Northgraves Staff Writer | September 24, 2009

Describing “The Informant!” is as complex as the plot. And just as each character in the film has a different view of the complications and events, every viewer is going to have a different opinion on the movie’s merits ­— which is part of its charm.

The plot appears simple at first: Mark Whitacre (Matt Damon), a pudgy executive at a corn processing company, becomes an FBI informant when he learns of a global corn-lysine price-fixing scheme. But Mark is a compulsive liar with delusions of grandeur. Unable to untangle his own lies, Mark eventually finds himself on trial for criminal activities. While Kurt Eichenwald’s book treats this as a thrilling tale of corporate espionage, director Steven Soderbergh takes a much different view. Imagine drawing from Soderbergh’s own body of work: The winks and nods of humor from the “Ocean’s” series combined with the serious corporate fraud of “Erin Brockovich,” but concerning corn by-products instead of pollution.

“The Informant!,” based on the nonfiction book of the same name (minus the exclamation point), exposes the absurdity of the situation to the audience even as the characters are dead serious about the multiple frauds going on. And the types of fraud differ greatly: corporate espionage, price-fixing, embezzlement and lying to the FBI, to name a few. But the many twists could potentially confuse the audience. Even someone who enjoys the general tone of the film will have a difficult time keeping track of the truth beneath the lies, in part because more lies are always being revealed.

Under the convoluted twists of deception and fabrication is an aura of absurdity created by Mark’s deceit. Soderbergh, also the cinematographer on the film, puts a yellow-orange tint on most of the movie — mirroring Mark’s excited personality and colorful inner dialogue. The tone and bright background age the feel of the film, giving it a more authentic ’90s vibe.

Even more than the overall color palette, the music of “The Informant!” is vital to establishing the mischievous tones in each scene. Prolific composer Marvin Hamlisch, the mind behind Broadway’s “A Chorus Line,” penned the upbeat score and garners widespread laughs from the entire audience. It was made to contrast scenes of great ruin and success on the part of Damon and the other actors.

Though the entire ensemble excels in the subtlety required to make the situations real, the film belongs to the inspired performance by Damon. He is hardly recognizable, having gained roughly 30 pounds for the role and hiding under a bad wig and an unfortunate moustache. These physical changes help effectively establish Mark’s cluelessness, from checking on his secret-recording equipment during a meeting to wanting to remain the president of a company he is trying to take down. Wardrobe aside, the biggest insight into Mark’s, and Damon’s, greatest triumph in the film is the off-topic, stream-of-consciousness narration he provides.

Almost never pertinent to the subject discussed during the scene, Mark’s disconnected thought process provides both humor and a window into his world, where in the end everything has a purpose.

“The Informant!’s” complex structure and combative stories make it a difficult film to gain interest in. However, with a basic understanding of the plot, an open mind to let the story develop and a sense of humor, “The Informant!” definitely deserves to be seen.

“The Informant!” was written by Scott Z. Burns and directed by Steven Soderbergh.

The Ithacan: Resident ducks make a splash

With a new semester back at Ithaca comes a new group of The Ithacan articles! This first piece was not something I proposed — my editor Michelle had the story, and I volunteered to cover it. It was a bit of a difficult write, because obviously I couldn't talk to my subjects, other than getting a "quack quack," and it was a bit hard to find an angle on. My initial write up was scratched, rightfully so, because it didn't have a cohesive tone or subject. My second draft was a lot better, and after a final tweak to the lead, or "lede," it was done. And I actually got article of the week for the whole paper, which was nice!

Resident ducks make a splash

Two domesticated ducks make their mark on campus as friendly, personable celebrities

By Anne Gould Northgraves Staff Writer | September 17, 2009

Frank and Whiskey spend most of their mornings making their way from the Public Safety pond to the Roy H. Park School of Communications among groups of students and faculty. The journey is long for their little, webbed feet, but the rewards are plentiful as the bold pair approaches people, begging for breakfast.
With their human-friendly behavior, these two mallard ducks have gained a great deal of notoriety in a short amount of time.
Junior cinema and photography student Kristyne Fetsic, who began seeing the ducks this semester, said she already has an affinity for them.
“I’ve seen them outside just this year,” Fetsic said. “I call them Frank and Whiskey.”
Her name for the ducks would be more fitting if the two were male, but the lack of color on their heads and their overall muted coloring indicates that the two are, in fact, females.
Kit Straley, junior biology major, is especially interested in ducks and said she was shocked by the ducks’ interest in humans.
“One of the first days we were back … we were going to stop at Park, and they were just sitting outside,” Straley said. “I’ve always really liked ducks. I got really excited, and I slowly approached them, and then they just both stood up and ran over to us, which was a big surprise.”
This is the first semester these particular ducks have been seen by students. However, a pair of equally friendly ducklings were noticed this summer by junior psychology major Jacqueline Baum.
“I was here over the summer, and there were two baby ducks that were following everybody around,” Baum said. “We tried to leave them alone, and they kept following us around, so we had to wait ‘til they fell asleep, and then we ran away. We didn’t want to disrupt nature.”
Baum said she believes they are the same ducks because they make identical sounds and one of the ducklings had deformed wings, a trait shared with one of the Park School ducks.
“I assume they were the same ducks because they sound the same; they don’t really quack so well,” Baum said. “There’s one who has a wing stuck up in the back.”
In Straley’s close interaction with the ducks, she has observed the same deformity in the wings of one of the birds.
“Its wings were almost turned inside-out,” Straley said. “They fold out and up and stuck up like little spikes on its back, instead of [lying] down flat.”
Animal ecologist and assistant professor of biology Leann Kanda also observed the ducks and believes the malformation — and subsequently their inability to flee from humans — led students to start feeding one of the ducks. When the other noticed, it began begging for food as well.
“Since [the duck] couldn’t fly away when danger was approaching … basically it was stuck there,” Kanda says. “It started getting lots of attention. It started getting lots of food. And so its sibling said, ‘Hey, food.’”
To some it is very tempting to feed these cute animals. However, doing so is not in the ducks’ best interest. Straley said feeding bread to the ducks is not healthy.
“It’s bad for them,” she said. “Just like if you only ate bread.”
Sergeant Ronald Hart of Patrol and Security Services said he has responded to several complaints that the ducks, while not dangerous, are a bother.
“They don’t bite,” he said. “They can’t harm you. They’re more of a nuisance. We’ve had calls from people who’ve gone in [the building], and the ducks have walked in the building behind them.”
Kanda said the ducks’ comfort around people is more understandable given that they live on a college campus.
“Birds on campuses, [which are] very human-dominated landscapes, are always much more domesticated,” Kanda said. “They get used to humans being around that aren’t hurting them.”
Another reason not to feed the ducks is the hope that they might return to normal habits and participate in this fall’s migration. Straley said she noticed the deformed duck’s wings have been improving.
“Over time its [wings have] been sticking out a little bit less,” Straley said. “ I still can tell which one’s which because they act very different. But in terms of their wings, they now look exactly the same.”
This is positive news for all those who have become attached to the birds.
Straley said the ducks are becoming quite famous, starring in parts of several student projects.
“I took pictures of them for intermediate photography, and someone else used them for a CP class for a film called ‘Duck Films,’” Straley said. “They’re like celebrities.”
“I like them,” Baum said. “They’re kind of like the Park mascots now.”

A Brand New Day, a Brand New Blog (Format)

I've been wanting to spice up the blog for a while, and thought this picture in the header (scroll to the top, take a gander) was fitting and rather pretty. Also, I really didn't like how the width of the main content would adjust to how wide the internet window was. I need to have things be uniform, and tend to freak out, visibly or internally, when things change.

In the process of changing the template, I could not find a format with fixed sizes that was wide enough to accommodate the width of the Hulu videos I so often put in my posts. BUT I discovered how to adjust templates! It's a very daunting task, just look at all that html code:

So I was able to make it wide enough. How happy I am with myself.

9/22: The Day of Supplication to the TV Gods!

I was just coming back from an event at Church, when I ran into my friend, Kelly (Paul). We chatted for a minute before she said, "Oh, and Happy Hobbit Day."

"What?" I said.

"Hobbit Day," Kelly said, expecting me to already know.

After a moment, I suddenly realized. "September 22, yes!" I said with glee. "Happy birthday Bilbo and Frodo!"

But then, a strange sensation came over me. I went back, remembering...

WWWOOOOSSHHHH

September 22, 2004. It was a simpler time. I was just starting my sophomore year in high school. The Red Sox were only just in the running for the wild-card race - again. My sister had just started her freshman year at Fairfield. We had just gotten a new couch in the den where our TV is. And there was a hole in the television landscape where Friends and Frasier had been.

Then, at 8 pm, everything changed.



Feel free to watch the whole episode over again. I'll wait. Because it's worth it.

Beautiful, ain't it?

WWWWOOOSSSSHHHHH

Back in the present day, I begin to squeal uncontrollably.

That's right. Happy Lost Day everyone! Five years ago today ABC brought us what is arguably one of the most important shows in the last decade, if not the history of prime-time TV. Oceanic Flight 815 crashed on a strange Island. They were not rescued. They heard a monster. Jack was a doctor with control issues. Kate was a fugitive with a heart of gold. Charlie sang "You all everybody" and gave up drugs. Sawyer was a wise-ass con-man. Hurley was a chill dude except when the numbers were involved. Sayid was an Iraqi tech guy looking for love. Claire was pregnant with possibly a magic child. Jin was Korean and seemed mean to his wife. Sun was the stifled Korean wife who secretly spoke English. Michael was the rash father. Walt was his "special" son. John Locke was the wise bald man who used to be paralyzed. Boone was the do-gooder rich boy. Shannon was his spoiled step-sister. Vincent was the yellow lab. Rose was the spiritual older woman who believed her husband - also on the plane - survived.

What a simpler time it was! The cast aways were concerned about where the water was coming from, what they should do with the fuselage. There were no Others, no distinct knowledge of Smokey. No Dharma, no hatches (at least not the interiors), no buttons to push, no shootings, no Benjamin Linus, no ageless Richard, no time-bending/nose-bleeding, no Freighter invasions, no getting back to the Island, no flashes besides those that when back, no giant statues, and definitely no Jacob.

Though events on Lost have gotten quite complicated, it's still a character-driven show with all the big questions of life and death in this extreme situation. The bigger meanings are the subject of many theorizings — Doc Jensen is my personal favorite, especially his (and Dan Snierson's) Totally Lost videos — but I've never had the head for figuring out that stuff by myself. I just love the complex people that have been created, their interactions with each other, how they have grown and changed, and what they are willing to do in the crazy world that is the Island.*

There's also a lot of fun that happens on the show and because of Lost. Here are my personal favorites:

Charlie's physical comedy when trying not to read the kidnapped Claire's diary. It's so simple, yet sweet, endearing, and still makes me laugh.



"What?" It needs no more explanation. Ben has the best ones. Obvs.



Another compilation that makes my heart very happy, because it's Sawyer-centric. The nicknames are very inventive, which is a credit to the writers, but Josh Holloway's deliveries make them more than just witty, they become sublime. This is seasons 1-3, for seasons 4-5, see here.



My favorite fake video is a classic from season 1, but it still makes me laugh soooo much. "You know what, I'm sensitive to you."



Lost Rhapsody originally came from the first season, with the use of cutouts and Weird Al's version of "Bohemian Rhapsody," "Bohemian Polka." Though the original was great because it was the first, the second's beautiful rotoscoping and spot-on lyrics make it just that little bit better.



That's a heck of a lot of videos (and I could easily add at least 3 more). But I'll just leave this little taste, and let you look around for yourselves. It's the least we can do to celebrate the wonderful contribution to arts and entertainment that Lost will always be.

* Also, Josh Holloway is a great, and greatly attractive, actor. Those gratuitous shirtless scenes make all the bad worth it.

** We cannot forget Hobbit Day as well. Here's a video that addresses both joyous occasions to celebrate this day.

Best Site Ever: The Onion

The Onion, the hysterical fake-news group, has been around for a while — twenty years in fact. It was doing Jon Stewart before Jon Stewart did Jon Stewart. I've also known about it for some time, between watching their clips on Hulu, and I recall my sister giving my father an Onion book for Christmas a long time ago.

But it just struck me that this is my new favorite site (after EW.com, that is. My love for that site is like my love for cheese. Sure I eat other things, but I can and do eat cheese all the time). Exhibit A of why you should love The Onion too:


Facebook, Twitter Revolutionizing How Parents Stalk Their College-Aged Kids

It's funny 'cause it's true.

P.S. - Thank you, Mom and Dad, for not being involved in either of those sites.

Are Any Films NOT Improved by Being 30 Seconds...and Reinacted by Bunnies?

I have to admit, I was one of the very few people that did not like March of the Penguins that much. It was almost universally loved, but I just did not find the film that compelling and it was rather tedious, despite the adorableness of the animals and the kick-ass narration by A+ voice talent Morgan Freeman.

However, whist surfing the wild web yonder I rediscovered Starz 30-second Bunny Theatre. And their version of the film is much better (or just hilarious), what with the pretty decent Freeman mimicry, and the line "This is a story of survival and hot penguin loving." Check it out.



Want to get a load of the many other films that are just as, or even more, amazing when they are 30-seconds and re-enacted by bunnies? Check out angryalien.com. They are also rentable on DVDs!

The Baywatch Run: Renaissance Style, and Other Observations from the Hilarity That Is "Much Ado About Nothing"

Upon initially starting Kenneth Branagh's 1993 all-star film adaptation of Much Ado About Nothing, I was just going to write a little post about how hilarious the opening montage is. But the film as a whole became so over the top funny — both in the dialogue and the staging — this is going to be a bit longer.

But let's start at the very beginning (it's a very good place to start). If you want to watch the rather beautifully structure beginning, feel free to watch this video from the start (say what you will about Branagh, but his choice to start with the bard's own words before the actor/director/writer's images is incredibly respectful). If the hilarity is all you care about, skip ahead to about 5:36.



It's just a genuinely and generally hilarious opening. Sure, you could view the slow mo riding montage of the men returning from war as an emphasis on male dominance, but I see it as a rather delicious display of attractive men (Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Branagh, Robert Sean Leonard) for my viewing pleasure, a la the Baywatch run - hot yet ridiculous at the same time. And the following scene of the group bathing ups the WTF? ante.

All of the flirtatiously cutting dialogue between Benedick and Beatrice is comedy gold, and the idiocy of Dogberry and the other justice-servicemen is as insane as Quince's acting troupe in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Dogberry's lines, "Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves," crack me up every time.

But it's really the little things that made this movie amazingly hilarious...or hilariously amazing (take your pick). The mere presence of Keanu Reeves, so pretty in the face, with nothin' really going on upstairs. The creepy oil rubdown his manservant was giving him. Branagh's line inflections ("have ^you?", the peacock call) and silent movie-schtick with the folding chair. Michael Keaton's co-opting of his Beetlejuice speech patterns for Dogberry.

Thanks for all the fun, Shakespeare (and you too, Mr. Branagh).

I Want My 'Bones' Right Now!

I hear this Bones teaser trailer for the new fifth (fifth?!) season has been out for a little bit. But a perfect storm of interruptions — moving back into college, the Bones Hulu page for some awful reason not wanting to play anything, most of the campus' internet going out over the weekend — prevented me from seeing it until just time moment. And my, what a wonderful thing it is. There is honestly nothing I do not like about it, from the delightful intro by Glee's Jane Lynch (though I personally feel a bit lukewarm about that show, any dose of Jane Lynch is a good dose of Jane Lynch), to the underground death pit (not that I like death, but it's a fresh kind of murder-site).

Enjoy!



Looks like serious fun! And from what I hear, the premiere is typical Bonesian fun. This trailer also taught me a valuable lesson, for just when I thought the most attractive Boreanaz could get was sporting a big ol' smile and a sharp suit, here he is sporting a big ol' smile and some delicious scruff.

Which is the best Boreanaz look? Discuss.

Pet Peeves: Inaccurate Pictures

I first saw the term "pet peeve" in The Simpsons Forever! book - and I initially thought it had to do with pets. I still don't know quite where the term comes from, but now I know that it basically means "things that annoy me." And that pet peeves are my specialty. From my mother's CHHMMM EEEEMMMGGGMM throat-clearing to anyone who throws away food.

So, one of my irrational pet peeves is mislabeled/misrepresented entertainment information. And Hulu, though I love it so, just committed a major boo-boo. In the scrolling list of recent Hulu additions there is a page for Lost: Season 1 (above). Yet clearly Desmond, Juliet, Ben, Daniel, and Miles (hiding behind the title) were NOT in Season 1. Judging by those characters and the lack of certain others I'd say this is either Season 4 or 5, probably 5. This happened in a previous Hulu ad for Lost: Season 1 showing a promotional shot for Season 2. I could forgive that, because most of the characters were the same. But using Season 4/5 is a huge discretion in time. Fail, Hulu.

Fail.

What The Frick, Monday?! Or Is It Bad to Have Homicidal Feelings Towards a Day?

I mean, you can't actually murder it. And I don't think, even if there was a physical incarnation of a day of the week, I would carry out the wicked deed (I can't even bring myself to look at roadkill). Maybe I'd just throttle it a little bit.

Yeah, that's the kind of day I've had. A real bad case of the Mondays.

Listen, children, and you shall hear WHY it's been so awful I just ate some apple pie (ok, it was a quarter of a pie (well, a quarter minus approximately 1.5 bites)) (but it had fruit in it!) (and I had a small lunch of a salad and an apple!!).

Negative: I didn't get a ton of sleep, and was really lethargic all day.
Positive: I had stayed up watching LOTR.
Negative: There was a dead fox on the road into work.
Positive: I only found out about it from others, as I did not see it driving in or driving out!
Negative: Forgot to put the Netflix in the mailbox.
Negative: The cable was not working this morning, nor this afternoon.
Negative-Positive-Triple-Negative (resulting in a Double-Negative): I called Comcast, and got hustled around, though in the midst of the phone call the channels started working again! Then the lady said I had to leave the TV on for 20 minutes while it readjusted. The channels turned off. One hour and twenty minutes later, STILL NO CHANNELS.
Negative: Ithaca College decided to change Webmail, in an attempt to make it...cooler? More like iGoogle? More confusing? Harder for me to quickly check my e-mail? The worst addition to the Internet since Crazy Frog?
Negative: I wanted to check my mealplan and housing stati (real word? Mac spellcheck says it is) on Ithaca's Homerconnect site. It's not working.
Negative: After a call to Residential Life, there is no chance of us getting into an apartment until mid-September at the earliest.
Positive: This:



Thanks, television...on the Internet.

Hulu, once Again You Rock My Heart! This Time, to Space(ed)!!

I've heard that some people get into relationships with their DVRs. They record things you love, suggest others you might, and when they're temperamental, your whole world smashes to pieces.

Well, I wouldn't know. But what I DO know is that I think I'm starting to fall in love with Hulu. Sure, I've been expounding its virtues for a long time, but that was more like a bit of a crush. But after logging in today and watching the flipping menu to see what new offerings there were, what should I behold? Only one of my favorite. Shows. Ever. No, not Lost (there's a good chance they should be there soon though). Nor Arrested Development (they're already there). Or Firefly (again, Hulu's already got it). Its Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes nee Stevenson's amazing Channel 4 1999-2001 series Spaced, about a pair of new friends who pretend to be dating in order to get a flat.

To celebrate/entice additional obsessees, here's an admittedly longis clip (this is showing a lot of restraint). Hopefully you'll enjoy. If not, well, let's say irreverent modern British humor is not everyone's cup of tea.

What's It All About, Andy Rooney?

Whist flipping around the telly this evening, I happened on footage of fruit and an old man saying "mangoes." Well, of course I had to check it out. At the sight of shaky old hands and a distinctive whiny voice I realized it was Andy Rooney talking about fruit. And what was he saying about fruit? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. All I gathered from it was 1) There are a lot of fruits, 2) most are exotic, 3) Andy has not tried/does not like most of them, and 4) tomatoes should be with vegetables.

The complete uselessness of this segment of 60 Minutes got me thinking: what use does Andy Rooney serve? It's not his age - though I can't quite understand why, at 90, he doesn't want to take a break, go fishing, or take a nap in an easy chair - I mean, 87-year-old Christopher Lee has at least 5 films yet to be released, Maya Angelou is 81 and still working, and Sean Connery is still an inspiration to women around the world at 79. I guess I just have no stomach for solely opinion-based commentary when done is such an obnoxious manner.

Also, he didn't like mangoes. And, well, I have no use for people who don't care for mangoes. But that's just my opinion.

Random Quote: Miles Makes My Day

"You owe me a fish taco!" - Miles Straume, Lost



P.S. - In the process of finding an appropriate clip for Miles (there is an extreme lack of them, I have to say), I found a MILES/KATE romance video. Not to get too Grey's-Anatomy on y'all, but Seriously?

Seriously?

Summer Doldrums Are Hereby Interrupted By The Amazing Bender Bending Rodrguez!

Ah summer (Not Glau. Which isn't a surprising link to make if you'd been watching several episodes of Firefly [and the commentary] like I have). Between a near-week-long trip to Harrisburg to spend some much-needed time with my Ithaca people I missed while in London, hanging with my pEEps, a lack of universal internet in the house, attempts to read and clean my room, and the all-consuming entity that is summer television I haven't been able getting online much. I mean, seriously. It's like the universe wants me to be a big fat blob. Bones marathons. CSI marathons. Nights with Conan and the increasingly amusing Jimmy Fallon.

But man, I'm making time for THIS glorious news. Futurama is back! Sweet Hypno Toad's Heiny. Let's all jump on the Planet Express Ship and set sail to Comedy Central, sometime in 3010. Oops, I mean 2010. The network has picked up 26 episodes of the show, which hasn't seen new episodes since the four feature-length direct-to-DVD movies released since 2007, which were themselves broken up into 16 episodes shown on Comedy Central.


So until the joyous day when the new eps begin, I say we keep watching old (but never boring) Futuramas. Oh, the glory of summer.

It's the Little Things

File this under the category of Completely Pointless. But guess what, this is my blog - so I can write about whatever I want!

So, I was just signing in to Netflix from the homepage, where new members can sign up if they want to. And they have this cute pictoral to show how it works, with DVD examples and everything - which were No Country for Old Men, Lost: Season 4, and Iron Man. Not only do I love all those movies (ok, not Old Country. I found it really slow moving, though the performances were top-notch), I've seen them all. I can't explain it, but I got this little thrill shudder. It happens everytime I go through my 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die book, and I have all the movies on the page checked off. I just enjoy seeing things I've watched. Or rather knowing that I've seen a film.

Or maybe I'm just a little nuts. As if that's news to anyone who knows me.

Slap Chop: This Summer's Best Comedy!

You know Vince, that guy who shills all those things on infomercials? Like the Sham Wow! Well, I just saw the Slap Chop, and it. Cracked. Me. Up. I don't know what it was - I mean, I've seen it before. It's probably the combination of a very late time with the innate and unintended humor. But everything about it is magically delicious.



Um, "Stop having a boring tuna, stop having a boring life." "You're gunna love my nuts." The crazy-fast way he talks. The needless headset. (By the way, when he opens it up, on the TV he said "Like a butterfly," which I prefer much better.) The amazing way he throws the other food-chopper in the sink, over his shoulder. "Fugetaboutit." "Life's hard enough as it is, you don't want to cry anymore." "We're gunna make America skinny again, one slap at a time." (Really, we're all going to slap each other?) His amazing hand motion at "one slap." "The Graty." "Fettuccine, linguini, martini, bikini." It's hilarious!

Can Robert Downey, Jr. Star In Every Summer Movie Season?

There's no use denying my crush on Robert Downey, Jr. Even back in his unfortunate, so-glad-you've-recovered druggie days, he was devastatingly charming as Ally McBeal's short-term boyfriend. But since the amazingness that was Iron Man, I just can't get enough RDJ. Tropic Thunder was not a huge opportunity to see His Hottness underneath all that makeup, but oh boy, did we get to see his intense, hilarious, Oscar-nomination-worthy acting chops — which IMHO is just as sexy as his chiseled features.

Obviously, I was more than happy to finally be able to see the trailer for the Guy Ritchie-directed, RDJ, Jude Law, and Rachel McAdams-starring Sherlock Holmes.



My first thoughts during the trailer were "Oh, so this is going to be just your average Guy Ritchie movie? (which I'm not the biggest fan of)" There were a lot of explosions, and RDJ's accent didn't seem quite right. But then about the 1:32 mark, with the intense music, things start getting really good. I love the sideways shot of Rachel — I have a real softspot for sideways shots, maybe it's the use of the widescreen to frame things in an interesting way — the defeated way Sherlock throws the tiny sledgehammer (oxymoron?) at the Giant-man's chest with no affect, and the "pillow" line. Priceless. Can it be July 24th already?*

And next summer RDJ's going to be in Iron Man 2. Really, he should be in every summer.

* Obviously it did not come out this summer. But I still cannot wait, now for December!

"Lost": The Beginning of the End...or the Beginning of the Beginning?

Mind. Blown.

I know that I've said this about every Lost season finale. Season 1: Arzt dies in hilarity, first view of Smokey, emotional whammy of Vincent swimming after the raft, "man of science, man of faith," the numbers being on the hatch, Walt getting taken, and the long camera pull down the hatch. Season 2: Desmond showing up on the boat, Locke's determination to stop pushing the button, Jack, Kate, Sawyer, and Hurley following traitorous Michael to the Others, Sawyer finally hitting a long-distance shot, realizing the Pearl station was the fake one, Desmond's romantic back story, the Hurley-bird, Desmond's turning the key, Michael and Walt leaving, Jack, Kate, and Sawyer getting kept by the others, and the final flash to the Portuguese men in the snow calling Penny about finding the Island. Season 3: HUGE changes like Charlie dying, Patchy finally dying, the location of the Radio Tower, Hurley saving the day, Sayid revealing his amazing thighs of death, confirmation of Rousseau being Alex's mother, Jack going all crazy on Ben, Locke stabbing Naomi, calling the freighter, Daniel Faraday landing on the Island, and oh yeah THE FLASHFORWARD REVELATION! And finally Season 4, what lead us to this crazy-awesome ride: Sawyer and Jack going off to find Hurley, the joint forces of the Others and Sayid and Kate for the freeing of Ben, the tag-team beating of Keamy by Sayid and Richard Alpert, the freighter bomb reveal, Michael being a hero, the helicopter leaving, Sawyer jumping out of it like a hero, Ben killing Keamy, going into the cavern and turning the frozen donkey wheel, the freighter blowing up, Sun's heart-wrenching scream, the helicopter peoples getting picked up by Penny, Penny and Des' reunion, John Locke's dead body, and the ISLAND DISAPPEARING.

So, yes, each of the previous seasons have had mind-blowing finales. And yes, there are a lot of other things to talk about with this episode - namely the season-long parallels to season 2 brought up by the amazing Doc Jensen of EW.com, the implications for the upcoming final season (!!sorrow of sorrows!!). The great nuances of story points and acting. But for now, let's just focus on the amazing revelations as they come (with bracketed comments made after seeing the whole episode over again, and thinking about the larger meanings).

Jacob is revealed. Talking to Kyle Hollis (aka Titus Welliver) from Life.

SQQUEEEEEEE.

(What I presume to be) The Black Rock is floating off the coast of the Island. With the gigantic Anubis statue still erect.

LLLLOOOOOSSSSTTTTTT.

(So why is Jacob all out-and-about survival man back in the 1800's, but doesn't show his face in the later years? Interesting question that ought to be answered in Season Six. OMG I just had a HUGE epiphany. The man in the black shirt who wants to kill Jacob? He's SMOKEY!!! And he says "one of these days sooner or later I'll find a loop-hole my friend." Well, I think he THINKS he's found his loop-hole in John (not)Locke.)

Little Katie looks a good bit like adult —

WWWWAAAAHHHHHH?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

WHY IS JACOB THERE?

(The touching Darlton foreshadowed on Totally Lost has begun!)

OK, Juliet, you're interested in Jack just as much as Sawyer's interested in Kate. No judgments.

How does Sayid have the training to know how to remove a nuclear core? Does that mean Iraq DID have nukes?

Aww, little Daniel Faraday in utero. So that means he was younger than Charlotte? Hmm.

I want Razinksky to get severely hurt. He is such a little twit.

Umm, John Locke's really annoying in his pronunciation of Jacob. And his lying. And his everything. What is up with this dude? And now he's hinting at a Dharma-style Purge? Where is good ol' enthusiastic Johnnie boy?

(I wonder if Terry O'Quinn was told from the beginning of the season what was really up with notLocke from the get-go? Because that's a hell of a thing, to be playing your character but NOT your character. He's essentially playing Smokey, IMHO. But how and why did Smokey choose now [2007] and John to be the person of his Loop-hole insurection/murder of Jacob? Another question that must be answered by May 2010.)

I totally knew this was baby-James.

Arggh, more Jacob! Is it just me, or his he kind of sexy? He seems nice, concerned, wise.

TOUCHING!!! What is the point of this? And who is this man encouraging baby-James to not turn into adult-Sawyer? And what makes him not follow the lead of this seemingly caring man? Was it Jacob's touch?

Is Sawyer shooting the com-device why the sub is unable to contact people in the future? I wonder...

Is the whole nuke thing what Faraday was researching in Ann Arbor?

Whoa, did Jack just show faith in John Locke? What a big step for the man in regards to his nemesis. But that does make sense, because Jack has come to embrace the ideals of John.

I did not know that Ben would be so forthright with Locke about seeing Alex. Though he has always been a very honest person in his moments. Despite alllllllllll the lies.

(So is this where notLocke discovered the Loop-hole? Having Ben willing to blindly follow is going to bring him to kill Jacob. My theory: Smokey/notLocke cannot physically kill Jacob, a la Ben and Widmore not being able to kill each other. But having a proxy do it instead would work, and Ben's resignation to do whatever John says is what will allow Jacob's death. But why is notLocke surprised about what Ben saw, if notLocke is Smokey? Smokey/Alex said to follow Locke, but did it mean real Locke or notLocke? I'm going with notLocke really being Smokey, and knowing what happened to Ben in the Temple, but feigning surprise to keep conniving Ben.)

Those were some very pretty colored cars in the aerial of the LA road.

I'm very sad we haven't gotten more Sayid-Nadia time. They seem like such an adorable couple and it would have been very nice to see the softer side if Sir Kills-a-Lot.

Jacob sighting number three!

Oh, no Nadia! Even knowing it was going to happen was devastating. And thus we get the third Touching.

(OK, my question from this flashback is whether Jacob distracted Sayid in order to let Nadia get hit, thus inciting our erstwhile Iraqi to go on his vengeful rampage leading back to the Island, or whether Jacob stopped Sayid so he would not get hit aw well. Another question that I would like answered next season.)

I like to think "Take me home" was not meant as anything but a sweet and sad moment. These human moments are some of the best of Lost, and sometimes it is good when the do not have ulterior motives.

MMMhmmm, Richard, you swing that sledgehammer. Dee-licious. I love me some Richard.

So confirmation that Eloise is their leader. How did she get that position? How did she lose it? Was it voluntary in order to be away from the place of her son's murder?

Do Sayid and Jack seriously think they'll get out of Dharmaville a-okay? This is Lost, that does not happen.

OOhhh, shiznit, Sayid took a gut-shot! I surprised at how concerned AND unconcerned I am. After all the history this show has built up with the man, I expected myself to have a lot of concern over his well-being and ultimate demise. At least a lot more than I have right now. But at the same time, I do not forgive his shooting of baby-Ben. And therefore I'm surprised I care at all about his shooting. I really think Sayid's arc has been completed, and he should now be able to die in peace. Go to Nadia, no more torturing necessary!

Juliet, why are you looking longingly at the sub? If you really wanted to be on it, you should not have instigated the leaving of it!

VINCENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! How adorable was Sawyer's greeting of him?!

OMG Rose and Bernard! That was the best reaction of Rose ever. And Bernard. I love them.

Oh Jack, how very manipulative you're being. "If you want to save Sayid, go to the Swan!" "If you want to be with your wife, bring me to the Swan!" Jerk.

"Because we're retired." Classic. And Bernard's new locks - amazing! Love it. Very Island chic.

Aw Sawyer baby, I love your sad meaningful looks. But why are you looking at Kate! Juliet can totally see you! ARgh!!! Rose and Bernard's "together" talk is very important for these people to hear.

So, who is Illana? And who are those people with her? Later-day Dharma-ites? Others? Widmore people? Some other shady group? I want answers to these questions in Season Six!

How do they know about Jacob's Cabin? And why is the ash breakage so importante? Is the ash breakage from John Locke circa Season Three, or is it from earlier?

Why is Illana all bandaged (not that I care about her, just interesting to know), and when is it?

(Does Jacob visiting her mean that he knew what was going to happen in the foot with notLocke and Ben? This is a question very necessary! Also, who has been using the shack? I wonder if this ever was Jacob's cabin, because wasn't it Horace that was building it? Ben's telling Locke about it being where Jacob lived was probably a lie. It is probably just where the ghosties come. But then why did Illana and her posse come to find Jacob there? Too...many...questions...ok, my brain just came a little close to implosion. but I'm fine...for now.)

Flannery O'Connor — Everything that Rises Must Converge. Add that to the list. Especially since Jacob is reading it.

TOUCHING!!! John Locke!! Sighting number five!

I'm a little creeped out by Locke's moobs.

What do you have Locke?

I am loving Ben's line delivery (as always) "I'm a Pisces." What does that have to do with anything? haha.

I have to admit, though I don't want Jacob to die, Locke's reasoning is very logical. Locke who does not seem like Locke anymore is totally playing Ben - role reversal!!

Oh, Aaron's cradle! I hope Sun finds Charlie's ring!

She has, she has!! Oh, I love this show when it's all sweet and sentimental.

Sorry to burst your romantic bubble Jin, but isn't the earth always seperate from the sky? They're kind of different states of matter.

JACOB NUMBER SIX!!! Man, that...man gets around. And more touching! What could be the significance (if any) of Jacob speaking Korean excellently. My guess: since he's old, he's learned a lot of languages and had time to get them right. Not mind-blowing, but logical. And TOUCHING - DOUBLE TIME!

I'm looking forward to a major Jack - Sawyer face off. Those looks said it all - and it's been a very long time coming.

Here endith "The Incident: Part I."