Thursday, September 30, 2010

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.4 "Memory Lane"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.4, Memory Lane
Original Air Date:  September 30, 2010


Katherine reveals secrets from 1864 to Stefan that he didn't know.  Jenna holds a barbecue that Damon uses as a chance to prove Mason Lockwood is a werewolf.  Caroline puts ideas into Elena's head about Stefan's concerns for Elena.  Katherine gives Stefan an ultimatum about his relationship with Elena.

Stefan has a nightmare where he is in 1864 at a party at the Lockwood Mansion with Katherine.  A jealous Damon looks on as they dance until Katherine points out that Damon has found someone else to spend his time with.  Stefan looks over and sees it is Elena.  As Damon and Elena leave, Stefan runs after them and ends up in the Mystic Grill watching Damon and Elena play pool together.  Katherine tells Stefan that it hurts to see Elena with Damon and now Stefan knows how she feels and that he loved her once and he will again.  Stefan awakens holding Katherine. 

Damon is going to be attending Jenna's barbecue much to the surprise of Elena.  Actually, the barbecue was his idea and he is using it as a means to get to know Mason Lockwood better and prove he is a werewolf. 

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.4 "Confession"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Four, Confession
Confession, Original Air Date:  September 30, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Bad Faith", Season 5, Episode 20 (26th April, 1995)


A police officer is found shot in a park and Brooks and Devlin are called in.  The case is extremely personal to Devlin as the officer was his good friend.  The investigation soon begins to focus on the former parish priest of both Devlin and his friend.

Pete Garvey, the deceased officer, wasn't working the night before despite leaving a note for his wife that he was working late.  He had also illegally removed a firearm the property store and the gun wasn't found at the crime scene.  A courier saw two men arguing outside the park.

A question is raised as to whether or not Pete was a dirty cop.  Devlin insists Pete was straight as a string but Brooks states that there are only two reasons someone goes to a meeting armed:  to protect himself or to kill the other person.  Both Brooks and Chandler worry that Matt Devlin might be too close to the case.  Chandler orders them to go through Pete's closed cases since they've already gone through his active cases.

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.13 "Once Bitten"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Thirteen, Once Bitten
Original Air Date:  September 29, 2010


An off-duty Rhys finds himself in trouble when he pursues two kids he witnessed committing a robbery.  One of the men bite him and they both get away.  Upon investigating the scene closer, Rhys finds that the owner of the business was murdered.  The case gets complicated and Rhys faces a danger that could cost him his life.

While listening to a witness relate what he'd seen (or not seen) to Nick, Rhys sees an onlooker in the crowd that draws his interest but the man disappears into the crowd.  Matt orders Rhys back to headquarters to get an ID on the men. Once there, he finds that his bitten arm is in a pretty bad condition.  He gets a call from Matt and, ignoring his injury, he heads out to work on the case.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

US Television, Beast Legends, Episode 1.3 "Mega Jaws"

Beast Legends
Season One, Episode Three, Mega Jaws
Original Air Date:  Thursday, September 23, 2010


In this episode of Beast Legends, the team is researching the Fijian legend of Dakuwaga, the Shark God.

While Scott, Francis and Mike stay in the lab researching the legend, Steve and Kathryn head to a small Fijian island to meet with the locals to learn more about the Dakuwaga legend.  The legend states that Dakuwaga is a shapeshifter that can be a man, sea snake or giant shark.  The Shark God protects the innocent and punishes evildoers.  The all-knowing, all-seeing Shark God has a terrifying wrath.

Tiger, reef and bull sharks are known in Fijian waters and are used as the starting point for the team to base their creature on.

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.6

Offspring
Series One, Episode Six
Original Air Date:  September 26, 2010


Nina is nervously making preparations for her date with Chris Havel.  Billie is convinced that Cherie is having an affair with an older man.  Geraldine has a date with a mystery man, the identity of which turns out to be shocking to Jimmy.  Nina's date with Chris doesn't exactly go as planned so they plan and second date.  The identity of Cherie's "mystery man" is finally revealed.  Chris Havel gets some big news.

Nina goes to buy condoms for her date with Dr. Hottie.  What she imagines while looking over the vast selection of condoms is hiliarious!   One of the best scenes from a television show ever!

While Nina is getting ready for her date with Doc Hottie, Billie points out that Nina hasn't "de-owled" her room.  She's got owls all over the place which Billie artfully points out isn't good because they're almost totally sexless as far as birds go.  Nina doesn't want to overthink things but when she thinks Chris has arrived, Nina begins madly removing all traces of her owls from her bedroom.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.2, "In RE: Officer Daniel Hale"

Outlaw
Season One, Episode Two, In RE:  Officer Daniel Hale
Original Air Date:  September 24, 2010


Garza and his team go to Tuscon, Arizona when a uniformed police officer shoots a Latino man three times putting him in the hospital.  The side of the issue Cyrus chooses to take surprises everyone, even his own team.

Cyrus, who is partying in Las Vegas flies into Tuscon to meet his team.  They are all aware of the case as it has been a major headline on the national news.  The team are shocked to learn they aren't there to support the man who was shot, James Reyes, but to instead defend the police officer who shot him, Daniel Hale.  Al is strongly against taking the case.  He doesn't feel they need to support racial profiling.  Garza takes it despite Al's objections.  Eddie is probably the only member of the team to agree with Cyrus in taking the case.

Eddie is told by the doctor who has been researching Reyes' injuries for the prosecution that one of the shots hit him in the back.  While at the hospital, Lucinda sees his wife Melissa.  She sits down with her and casually talks with her to gain her confidence.  Melissa Reyes comments that her husband loved to fight and was almost arrested a year ago for a fight he had gotten into.

Friday, September 24, 2010

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.3 "Defence"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Three, Defence
Defence, Original Air Date:  September 23, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Pro Se", Season 6, Episode 21 (8th May, 1996)


Three people are found brutally murdered in a shop with a fourth having been seriously injured.  The investigation turns to a homeless man that Brooks and Devlin must find before he has the chance to hurt anyone else.  Things become complicated when the man, John Smith (Rupert Graves) wants to represent himself at trial.

The murder was violent and done with some sort of sword which is later identified to be a U.S. Army issued bayonet, circa 1950.  The only piece of information they have to go on is that an Italian couple had a row with the man who ran the shop.  The Italian couple are arrested and brought in for a talk.  They insist they didn't kill anyone but the woman does give them a tip about a crack head in an alley.

The investigation turns to the man in the alley and is bolstered when the only survivor awakens and identifies the sketch Brooks and Devlin have of him.  A woman from a chemist shop provides them with a tip that the "mystery man" was following one of her customers, Linda Bowers, who was also one of the victims. 

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.3 "Bad Moon Rising"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.3, Bad Moon Rising
Original Air Date:  September 23, 2010


Damon, Alaric and Elena travel to Duke University to look through Isobel's research.  Stefan consults with Bonnie about making a day-walking ring for Caroline.  Mason Lockwood transforms into a werewolf and Tyler learns the full truth of the Lockwood secret.   Caroline makes a big sacrifice for love.  Katherine is back.

Alaric attends a meeting with Damon, Stefan and Elena about the Lockwoods.  He reveals Isobel had "lycanthrope" in her research and that the information should still be at Duke University.  Damon isn't happy at all with the possibility that there could be werewolves in Mystic Falls.

As Damon, Alaric and Elena are getting ready to leave for Duke, Damon taunts Stefan that he'll take really good care of Elena for him since Stefan is staying behind to care for Caroline.  Elena makes a point of kissing Stefan in front of Damon.  Poor Damon, he just can't catch a break, can he?  He and Elena argue in the car about why she hates him so much. 

Once at Duke, they meet Vanessa Monroe, a research assistant of Comparative Folklore and one of Isobel's former students.  As the three look around Isobel's old office, Vanessa disappears.  She returns a few moments later and shoots Damon in the back with an arrow as he jumps in front of Elena to protect her.  Elena pulls the arrow from his back and he vows to kill Vanessa.  Elena refuses to let him, however, threatening him that she'll never speak to him again if he touches her.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Titanic Expedition Begins and Ends After Capturing Remarkable Images

Few names spark the imagery that "Titanic" can.  The name conjures images of romance, luxury, opulence, tragedy and death.  When the Titanic struck an iceberg and sank on her maiden voyage from England to New York City ninety-eight years ago in 1912, more than 1,500 souls perished in the icy waters of the Atlantic.  Seventy-three years later, some 370 miles (600 km) south-east of Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, Dr. Robert Ballard of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Jean-Louis Michel of Ifremer discovered the wreckage of the Titanic 2 1/2 miles (4 km) beneath the Atlantic's surface.

The ship has always been at the center of interest for researchers.  Before Ballard and Michel discovered the ship, many wanted to do just that.  Some even wanted to raise it.  There have been several visits to the site with submersibles being dispatched to collect artifacts, video or photographs.

Ninety-eight years later, yet another expedition to the Titanic site has come and gone.  Plagued by both Hurricanes Danielle and Igor, the research expedition was conducted in two parts.  The first ended in August of 2010 when Hurricane Danielle forced the expedition to return to port in St. John's, Newfoundland.  The goal of the expedition is to document little-known areas of the wreckage before it completely disintegrates.  Their focus is the stern of the ship.  It hasn't been studied since the Titanic was discovered in 1985.  Once all danger of Danielle had passed, the expedition on the research vessel Jean Charcot returned into the cold Atlantic waters to continue their work. 

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.12 "Tomato Can"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Twelve, Tomato Can
Original Air Date:  September 22, 2010


Curtis "The Kid" Conlon is killed in the boxing ring but the death wasn't an accident, it was murder as he had been drugged.  The suspects are all blaming everyone else, as usual and the list takes them to everyone from a bookie to Conlon's opponent in the ring.  Matt Ryan returns with a new rank.

Matt is back this week!  Not only is he back but he's now Detective Sergeant Matt Ryan.  He's got a lot to get used to.  Emma is gone, having moved to France for her new job.  Matt's new position as Detective Sergeant is something he's always wanted.  He is approaching his new rank with the same vigor he always had as a detective but he seems a bit uncomfortable at the same time.  He's used to taking orders and working the cases rather than giving orders and organizing the team.  On more than one occasion Jarvis has to spur him on to push the team.  On advice from Stanley Wolfe, Matt knows now that his relationship with his mates and colleagues has to change.  There's a lot our Matt has to deal with now!

Coral Faces Second Mass Die-Off

The weather has been rough this year.  Hurricanes, rough winter and extreme summer heat.  that extreme summer heat has caused more issues than just high electricity bills from running the air conditioner.  The world's coral reefs have come under severe stress and scientists fear they are in danger of dying off.

The heat is causing the coral to shed its color, or bleach.  Many corals have already expired and the dying isn't stopping now.  Warm water in the Caribbean could cause coral there to undergo drastic bleaching within the next few weeks.

This is the second time coral has undergone a mass die-off.  In 1998, some 16% of the world's shallow-water reefs died.  However, scientists fear that in some areas, such as Thailand, the die-off this year will be worse than that of 1998.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

UK Television: Birth of Britain with Tony Robinson

If you don't live in one of the countries of the British Commonwealth, chances are you might not be that familiar with Tony Robinson.  If you aren't British and you do know him then you most likely know him only as the hygenically-challenged S. Baldrick, dogsbody to Sir Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh from the wildly popular UK comedy series Blackadder.  While Baldrick always had a cunning plan to get himself, Edmund and Lord Percy Percy deeper into trouble (while supposedly trying to get them out), Tony Robinson has a cunning plan to educate the populace.  From Time Team, The Worst Jobs in History and Tony Robinson and the Paranormal to Man on Earth, Tony Robinson's Crime and Punishment and Catastrophe, Robinson has traveled throughout Europe to provide viewers with a wealth of knowledge on a fascinating array of subjects.

Robinson's latest project is Birth of Britain with Tony Robinson.  The three part documentary series airs on the UK National Geographic Channel.  The series has already aired once in its entirety and there are more repeats of each episode scheduled.  In each hour-long episode, Robinson looks at a different aspect of Britain's explosion (literally!) into life.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Parachuting Dog, Behind the Scenes World War II Hero

This news story is a bit old but I found it quite interesting and thought it deserved a mention here.

The men and women of World War II faced a lot of obstacles.  Not only did they face the enemy firing upon them but the environment in which they flew posed a problem.  A team of American physiologists researched the effects flying had on the human body and, in the course of their experiments, used an unlikely subject:  a St. Bernard dog.

One doctor made a high-altitude jump to experience the effects the dive would have on the human body and nearly died in the process.  However, he was able to use the information from his jump to calculate the exact time a parachute should be opened to limit the impact of the g-forces on the body.

Enter Major, a 145-pound St. Bernard dog.  Major was thrown from an airplane 26,000 feet in the air to test parachute straps at a high altitude.  He wore a custom oxygen mask and was able to dog paddle all the way to the ground and land safely.

Major's 26,000 foot down dog paddle and the efforts of the doctor before him not only assisted in the war effort but left research that led to modern breathing equipment.

For more information about the research into flying and diving during World War II and Major, please visit the full MSNBC.com Technology and Science Article.

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Music: Thao with the Get Down Stay Down "When We Swam"

Fans of the hit Australian television show Offspring know the song When We Swam very well as it is the theme song for the series.

When We Swam is an upbeat number that gets into your head and refuses to leave.  The song, appearing on the bands current record, Know Better Learn Faster (2010), is super catchy and super addictive.  Days, and even weeks after you hear it you will still be humming the tune and catch yourself singing "oh, bring your hips to me" at random times throughout the day.  Thao's awesome vocals grab you right off.  I love her voice.  When We Swam has made me an instant Thao with the Get Down Stay Down fan!

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.5

Offspring
Series One, Episode Five
Original Air Date:  September 19, 2010


Nina is struggling with the realization that she may be in love with a man who has a missing wife and what to do about it so she opts to try avoiding him.  Kim has some big news for her partner, Renee.  Jimmy and Odile's relationship ends.  Chris and Nina finally work on getting past all the obstacles.

I got a good laugh when Nina blamed her coffee for ordering a slice of double chocolate mud cake with whipped cream and sprinkles.  The poor coffee.  I'm sure it didn't mean to make her have the cake.  Coffees really should mind their manners a bit better.

Nina thinks if she keeps her feelings out of the situation with Chris that will make it easier.  How she acts when she sees him at work only makes him ask why she's avoiding him.  She insists she isn't but she clearly is.  She doesn't know how to deal with the situation so avoiding Chris is the only thing she knows to do.  She can't seem to get through her day without having vivid fantasies of her and Chris in bed.  To avoid him, she spends part of her day hiding in a cupboard.

US Television, Beast Legends, Episode 1.2 "Fire Dragon"

Beast Legends
Season One, Episode Two, Fire Dragon
Original Air Date:  Thursday, September 16, 2010


In the second installment of the Beast Legends series, the team sets out to create the fire dragon.  Kathryn, Mike and Scott are in the lab researching the dragon legends.  The Polish legend of Smok the Dragon is their starting point.  They next look over images of dragons from all over the world and find they all typically have wings and fire breathing in common.

Steve and Francis start in southern Poland on their search for information about the fire dragon.  They are in Krakow, Poland looking for the bones of Smok the Dragon at Wawel Castle.  They see the bones that have hung on the cathedral wall for centuries.  What has been believed to be the rib bone of the dragon Steve identifies to be the jaw bone from a whale.  The skull, Steve identifies as that of a rhino, possibly even an Ice Age woolly rhino.  The large thigh bone:  an elephant or mammoth.

They get in out of the rain where Francis begins his sketching.  Using the measurements of the bones at the cathedral, the sketch shapes up to look more like an "overweight dragon" than the fearsome beasts of mythology we've all come to know.  Even once the dragon is on the computer, it still doesn't look the least bit fearsome thanks to its roly-poly belly.

Sunday Funnies: International Talk Like a Pirate Day

Today's Sunday Funnies be in honor o' International Talk Like a Pirate Day. This entire post be dedicated t' speakin' like a pirate. This day only comes around once a year so we might as well have a ball with it while it lasts!

If you don't quite have a grasp on speakin' like a Pirate, thar be several sites on t' net that can help you out.

T' start out with, let's visit t' Original TLAP web site.  There, you can find tons o' links t' get you on your way t' livin' t' pirate life. (Well, speakin' it, anyway.)

If you want t' see some pirate talkin' in action, then I suggest you head t' t' TLAP YouTube page.

But t' fun doesn't stop thar! There be pirate quizzes t' let you know just how much o' a pirate you are, name generators for your ships and for yourself if you're havin' trouble settlin' on just t' starboard pirate name, links t' info on real pirates and even links t' buy some pirate gear t' make you look like a real pirate.  Have a look around. I'm aye you'll find somethin' that strikes your fancy.

I did me pirate quiz and found out just who I would be on t' ship:

You are The Cap'n!


Some men and women are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any scalawag who stands between them and unlimited power. You never met a man - or woman - you couldn't eviscerate. You are the definitive Man of Action, the CEO of the Seven Seas, Lee Iacocca in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. You're mission-oriented, and if anyone gets in the way, that's his problem, now isn't? Your buckle was swashed long ago and you have never been so sure of anything as your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off his head if he shows any sign of taking you on or backing down. If one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.


What's Yer Inner Pirate?

brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

Just what member o' t' pirate rank and file be you?

Have a happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day, me buckos!

Saturday, September 18, 2010

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.2 "Hounded"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Two, Hounded
Hounded, Original Air Date:  September 16, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Mad Dog", Season 7, Episode 18 (2nd April, 1997)



Paul Darnell (Kevin Doyle), a convicted sex offender is before the board for parole.  Steel testifies that the man hasn't changed and will offend again.  Ashanti Walker, a sixteen year-old girl is found  dead in her bed and the death appears to be consistent with a stroke and the medical examiner can't say for certain if she was sexually assaulted or not.  The case ends up leading to Paul Darnell.

The police have virtually no evidence to prove the girl was raped.  All they know is that she had sex before she died.  It isn't until they investigate the laundry she had done prior to her death that they find evidence she was possibly suffocated with the laundry bag. 

The modus operandi of the case leads to Paul Darnell.  Steel orders Darnell to be investigated quickly before he can rape again.  In the three months he'd been released, he has been a model citizen.  Further investigation shows an hour and a half of time unaccounted for on the day Ashanti died.

Friday, September 17, 2010

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.2 "Brave New World"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.2, Brave New World
Original Air Date:  September 16, 2010


Caroline awakens with an appetite and a new life.  Bonnie and Elena talk about Katherine and Damon.  Stefan gives Jeremy a vial of vervain to protect him.  Damon has a meeting with Carol Lockwood where she asks him to spearhead the Council since she will be acting as interim mayor.  Mason quizzes Tyler about his anger.  More about the Lockwood "secret" comes to light.  Matt tells Caroline he loves her. 

When Caroline awakens, she's a bit foggy on what had happened, and she's hungry.  She goes into an adjoining room and looks at a bag of blood.  A nurse interrupts her and ushers her back to her own room but Caroline was able to steal a bag of blood.  She takes a drink and is at first repulsed by it and throws it to the floor.  A few seconds later, however, she grabs the bag and drinks from it no longer sickened by it.  The next morning, she tries putting her hand in sunlight from the window and finds it burns.  When she is getting dressed to leave the hospital, her silver necklace burns her skin.  As she's looking at herself in the mirror, her eyes change and her fangs grow.  She compels and attacks a nurse who comes in to check on her.  Once night arrives, Caroline leaves the hospital. 

Thursday, September 16, 2010

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.1, Pilot

Outlaw
Season One, Episode One, Pilot
Original Air Date:  September 15, 2010


Gregory Beales, a man on death row has one last hope of saving his life for a murder he claims he didn't commit.  His attorney makes a case for a stay of execution to the Supreme Court and Justice Cyrus Garza grants the stay despite warnings not to.  At the same time he grants the stay, Garza resigns from the Supreme Court shocking everyone, including his staff.  Garza gathers his team to work the Beales case so that the justice he believes Beale was originally denied will finally prevail.

Supreme Court Justice Cyrus Garza (Jimmy Smits) is the most conservative justice on the Supreme Court who has a penchant for gambling and the ladies.  Garza's father, Francisco Garza, was also a judge but the complete opposite of his son.  Cyrus is in trouble with his bookie to the tune of a half million dollars and we all know that isn't a good thing.

Garza's staff is made up of young, bright and driven individuals.  Lucinda Pearl (Carly Pope) is the private investigator working for him.  She's pretty cool.  She's young, intelligent, outspoken and has a wild streak.  Eddie Franks (Jesse Bradford) is Garza's clerk.  He's Yale-educated and straight-laced and seems to be Lucinda Pearl's favorite person to tease.  Mereta Stockman (Ellen Woglom) is sort of the female equivalent of Franks and the exact opposite of Pearl.  Rounding out Garza's staff is Al Druzinsky (David Ramsey), Beales attorney. 

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.1 "Broken"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode One, Broken
Broken, Original Air Date:  September 9, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Killerz", Season 10, Episode 2 (September 29, 1999)


The body of a 6 year-old boy, Connor, is found and the police originally look to the boyfriend of a woman who lived in the same building as Connor.  When the man's alibi is backed up by CCTV, the detectives are shocked and horrified when two new suspects they never would have imagined come to light.

I wasn't going to blog about Law & Order:  UK.  But, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted to blog about it.  Some shows just need to be blogged about.  I'm a big Law & Order fan and I'm also a big fan of UK entertainment.  Put the two together, and you've got something that is very appealing to me.  Right now, I'm going to focus on just this episode.  Within the next couple of weeks (if not before), I'll try to get an "Introduction" post together (as well as short summaries of the 13 episodes of the first two seasons) with details about each character and the show itself.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

UK Television: Luther, North American DVD Release Information

Back on September 1st, I posted that the BBC One dramatic series Luther starring Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson would be coming to DVD in North America.  I didn't have many details then, but I've go them now!

BBC Warner will be releasing Luther as a 2-disc set on November 23, 2010.  The set will contain all six episodes of the series for a total of 360 minutes.  The retail price for the set is $34.98 but amazon.com currently has it up for pre-order for $25.99.  There's currently no info on a Blu-Ray release.  Just DVD.

As of right now, the box artwork hasn't been released and the only special feature listed is Luther:  The World of a True Maverick.  Closer to the date of release we will get to see what the artwork looks like and, hopefully, get more information about the special feature.  A few more special features wouldn't hurt either.  The more Luther the better, right?

Amazon.com Pre-Order Page:
Luther

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.11 "Pirates"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Eleven, Pirates
Original Air Date:  September 15, 2010


A man is found dead with a name and mobile phone number written on his hand.  The name and number leads Jennifer and Nick to a teenage boy, Stewart Franklin.  The investigation leads the detectives to DVD piracy.

When Jennifer and Nick go through the dead man's hotel room they find he was a private investigator checking up on DVD piracy for movie studios.  The investigation leads to an old drug suspect and Jarvis takes the lead on the arrest since he knows the suspect, Phong Lam.  Allie saves Levitt's tail at the bust when a man in the house comes up behind Rhys with a knife.

Jennifer takes special interest in finding Stewart when she learns he's missing.  When he is found dead she's convinced he was murdered.  The case becomes even more important to her than it was to start with.  When she and Nick interview Stewart's employer, Lance Hardwick, they find yet another teenage boy who is connected to the case, Jarod.

Monday, September 13, 2010

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.4

Offspring
Series One, Episode Four
Original Air Date:  September 12, 2010


Billie brings a man home but finds things with him aren't what she thought they would be.  Micks old girlfriend, Ivy, shows up at the pub.  Jimmy and Odile house sit.  Jimmy puts a profile of Mick on the online dating site seeking an older woman.  Darcy has a date which ends with a shock. 

In one of several quite funny scenes from this episode, Nina tries yoga to relax and while in a position, has a quiet moment of flatulence.  She hopes no one heard it then goes back to fantasizing.  She wants to be home in bed and she sees herself there with Chris.  Once again, here comes the flatulence.  The look on Nina's face here is priceless!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Season 2 DVD & Blu-Ray Preorder. Already!

Season two of the wildly popular CW Network series The Vampire Diaries just premiered this past Thursday.  I'm as surprised as anyone to see that Internet seller amazon.com already has pre-order information up on their site for this second season in both DVD and Blu-Ray format.  The DVD is currently listed at $41.99 (LP:  $59.98) and the Blu-Ray at $48.99 (LP:  $69.97).  As is to be expected for such an early pre-order, there is no information about content (any extras, etc.) and the artwork is simply promotional images from the show.  When more information is available you'll most certainly be able to read about it here!

Season Two, DVD:
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season

Season Two, Blu-Ray:
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete Second Season [Blu-ray]

While you're there, check out The Vampire Diaries, The Complete First season:

DVD:
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season

Blu-Ray:
The Vampire Diaries: The Complete First Season [Blu-ray]


For more information on The Vampire Diaries:
Official Site:
  http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-vampire-diaries
The Internet Movie Database:  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1405406/
TV Rage:  http://www.tvrage.com/The_Vampire_Diaries

Sunday Funnies: Five Surgeons Take a Coffee Break

5 surgeons are taking a coffee break and conversing about their patients:

1st surgeon says, "Accountants are the best to operate on because when you open them up, everything inside is numbered."

2nd surgeon says, "Nah, librarians are the best. Everything inside them is in alphabetical order."

3rd surgeon says, "Try electricians, man! Everything inside them is color coded."

4th surgeon says, "I prefer lawyers. They're heartless, spineless, gutless, and their heads and butts are interchangeable."

5th surgeon says, "I like engineers ... they always understand when you have a few parts left over at the end."

Saturday, September 11, 2010

US Television, Beast Legends, Episode 1.1 "The Kraken"

Beast Legends
Season One, Episode One, The Kraken
Original Air Date:  Thursday, September 9, 2010

I've got to say, I love stuff like this.  I've always had a fascination with mythology and legend.  When a television show comes along that looks to take myth & legend and build upon it with biological facts I've got to check it out.

Beast Legends is a new six-part documentary series currently being aired on the SyFy Channel.  The goal of the show is to take legendary creatures and bring them to life using state-of-the-art computer graphics.  Behind those computer graphics is old fashioned research, planning, animation and hard work.  The investigative team consists of five individuals who bring a unique eye and imagination to each project.  Steve Leonard is an adventurer and veterinary surgeon.  Francis Manapul is a very talented comic book artist.  Kathryn Denning (anthropologist, archaeologist & associate professor, York University, Canada) is a Legend Specialist.  Scott Edwards (Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University) is a biologist.  Mike Paixao is an animator skilled at bringing anything to life using a computer.

Friday, September 10, 2010

CDN Television: Rookie Blue, Episode 1.13 "Takedown"

Rookie Blue
Season One, Episode Thirteen, Takedown
Original Air Date:  September 9, 2010


Callaghan put in an offer to buy a house and asks Andy to live with him.  Peck and Epstein are involved in a secret undercover operation with Detective Boyd.  Andy and Diaz go to a disturbance at Epstein's girlfriends house and end up blowing the undercover operation.  Peck must step up to help Diaz before it's too late.

Uh-oh.  Looks like Andy has a hand in blowing yet another undercover operation.  First, she blew the one Sam Swarek was working on at the beginning of the season by arresting him.  Now, she and Diaz have blown a major drug operation.  Both Swarek and Barber can see where Andy acted as a normal cop would by seeing something suspicious in a vehicle and checking it out.  Boyd is still furious.  Swarek ends up getting the man Andy arrested to give him information about the drug buy.

CDN Television: Rookie Blue, Episode 1.12 "To Serve or Protect"

Rookie Blue
Season One, Episode Twelve, To Serve or Protect
Original Air Date:  September 9, 2010


It's evaluation day for the rookies.  Williams and McNally respond to the death of a teenage girl, Julia, at a party.  Nash's ex is wanting back in the picture and Jerry seems a bit worried about it.

Diaz and Epstein find copies of their evaluations and aren't pleased at what they say.  Knowing they have one more shift before they receive those evaluations, they want to prove everyone wrong, prove that they are good cops.

McNally is worried when her father didn't show up for one of the nightly meetings he's been attending.  He returns her call saying he attended another meeting.

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.1 "The Return"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.1, The Return
Original Air Date:  September 9, 2010


Katherine has returned to town.  She introduces herself to all the main characters.  Caroline, who was injured in the car accident, is still in the hospital in poor condition until Damon steps in.  Mason Lockwood arrives in town after the death of his brother.

I've been eagerly waiting for this show to return and it most certainly didn't disappoint!  From the events of the first season finale I knew there would be some great fireworks when the new season started up and there most certainly were.

Katherine proves to the viewers just what a cruel and heartless woman she really is.  Course, she's a vampire.  She can't be all warm and fuzzy, can she?  Her first act in Mystic Falls is to try and murder John Gilbert.  She cuts off the fingers of his right hand where his ring is so it cannot save him then plunges a knife into him.  Thankfully, Elena is arriving home at about that time.  She calls the paramedics and they arrive in time to save John.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.10 "Just Desserts"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Ten, Just Desserts
Original Air Date:  September 8, 2010


A celebrity chef, Sal Barbieri, is brutally murdered and the suspects range from his wife to critics to his badgered staff.  Rhys Levitt joins the Homicide team and is paired up with Jennifer to work the case.

Chef Barbieri isn't a very nice man to start off with.  He's cruel to his staff and a serial adulterer.  So, there aren't a shortage of suspects.  Just about anyone who knew him would want him dead.  This wasn't one of the more complicated cases that has been dealt with on the show.  It was pretty straightforward.  I think the introduction of the new character was almost a bigger event than the actual case.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

ASPCA-Sponsored Petition Regarding Horse Roundups

Yesterday, I posted about horse roundups being conducted by the United States government (Bureau of Land Management, BLM).  I was hoping to have a link to an online petition at the time I wrote the post but I didn't.  Well, I've got one now.

If you'd like to sign the ASPCA sponsored petition you can do so here:  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/517/697/713/.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Horses vs. Helicopters: Roundup in the US West

In ten of the fifty United States there is a showdown going on.  It's between some 40,000 wild horses and the cowboys who are trying to round them up.  But this isn't the kind of showdown we've all read about or seen in movies depicting the Old West.  The cowboys aren't riding horses wrangling the animals to where they want them to go.  The cowboys doing this roundup are swooping down on the horses in helicopters in this high-tech showdown.  For the past month, the cowboys have been working in the states of California and Nevada and have caught over 1,200 wild horses. 

Just how do the roundups work?  Horses are spotted from helicopters then driven toward the trap site through a funnel shaped opening into a temporary corral.  Once in there, a "judas horse" is released to lead the wild horses into the trap where they must become accustomed to their new lives.  ("Judas horses" are animals specially trained to lead other horses into these traps.)  Sometimes the horses manage to outsmart the helicopters and can escape.  Most of the time, however, they do not.

Monday, September 6, 2010

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.3

Offspring
Series One, Episode Three
Original Air Date:  September 5, 2010


Nina goes back to work Monday after obsessing over the situation between Chris and Zara all weekend.  Darcy and Cherie are giving a naming ceremony for their son, Ray, and they've sent invitations to all of the family and friends.  Cherie wants everyone to bring one object that "defines" them for a time capsule.  Mick tries to work on his music but struggles because he's missing Billie.

Nina is still upset over the incident at work with Chris and Zara and wants to send him an e-mail about it but Billie advises her against it saying she'll look like a total psycho.  Billie is full of advice for her, it seems.

Every time she sees Chris or Zara she envisions them together.  At work, things are rather uncomfortable between Nina and Chris.  When Chris finally does talk to her and tries to explain the incident in the storeroom, Nina takes Billies advice and tells him she hasn't given it a second thought and that she has a date with someone named Ricardo.  Note to Nina:  Billies advice might not always be right, you know.

Government-Endorsed Wolf Killings in the United States

Some twenty years ago, the Endangered Species Act began protecting gray wolves in the United states.  The animals had been poisoned to near extinction and the U.S. government took swift action to protect the animals.  The wolves began making a recovery.  Currently, at least 1,700 wolves inhabitat Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.  Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin have a population of more than 4,000 gray wolves.  Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Utah and the New England states are seeing a rise in wolf populations as well.  Recent court actions have set the gray wolf as an endangered species in every state in America with the exception of Alaska and Minnesota.

That should be good news, right?  One would think.  The purpose of protecting an animal under the Endangered Species Act is to protect the animals on the list from being slaughtered.  However, the gray wolf is finding themselves in the sites again and the government is looking through the sites.

Government agencies are seeking authority to conduct "conservation" and "research" hunts, gas pups in their dens and surgically sterilize adult wolves.  Officials claim that the hunts and public wolf hunting is a necessity to prevent packs of wolves from forming and causing problems.  The most shocking of all the governments proposals is to bury wolf pups in their dens and poison them with carbon monoxide gas.  They say this method would be used only when the rest of the pack has already been killed.  Idaho has proposed one method of controlling wolves by surgically sterilizing them then tagging the wolves to monitor them.

Hunts have already been held in Idaho and Montana in 2009.  A court ruling in August of this year nixed plans for a hunt for this year.  The usual method of controlling problem wolves is shooting them from the air or ground.

Democratic Senator Max Bacus from Montana wants ranchers in his state to have the freedom to shoot and kill wolves harassing their livestock.  Montana and Idaho want to re-instate wolf hunting seasons giving them more politically correct and less-barbaric sounding names such as "conservation hunting" or "researching hunting". 

The Center for Biological Diversity is none too happy about the plans to kill the wolves.  They feel that recent court rulings underscore the importance of protecting the wolves.

You can read much more about this situation here.  For more information on the Center for Biological Diversity, including any current actions they have may have underway to help protect the wolves, you can visit their website:  Center for Biological Diversity.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Ford Workers Find Surprise in Auto-Parts Crate

On July 29, 2010, workers at the Van Dye Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights, North Carolina were surprised to see a small animal scuttle across the loading dock.  They called the Sterling Heights Animal Control officers to catch the animal which turned out to be a foot long blue and gray Yucatan spiny-tailed iguana. 

Not very remarkable you might think?  But it was.  Turns out, the Yucatan spiny-tailed iguana is found in one place and one place only:  the Yucatan Peninsula.

So how did the little guy make it all the way to North Carolina?  He stowed away in a shipment of auto parts made in Mexico and managed to survive the journey all the way to the Sterling Heights plant. 

The Yucatan spiny-tailed iguana is one of the smallest species of iguana.  This little guy, who now has a permanent home at the Detroit Zoo, has a five inch body and a 7 inch tail.  He was put into quarantine upon his arrival at the zoo to make sure he doesn't have any illnesses that could be transmitted to other zoo animals.  (His time in quarantine should be just about up.)

Once he is in his permanent home, he will be living with a female black iguana.  But there won't be any sparks between the two since they are of two different species and the female is two to three times larger than the male.

To see a couple of awesome photos of the rare Yucatan spiny-tailed iguana check out this article in the Asheville, North Carolina Citizen-Times.

Sunday Funnies: The Farmer, The Truck, The Salesman and the Cow

A wise old farmer went to town to buy a pickup truck that he saw advertised in the paper for a certain price. After telling the salesman which truck he wanted, they sat down to do the paperwork. The salesman handed the farmer the bill, and the farmer declared, "This isn't the price I saw!" The salesman went on to tell the wise old farmer how he was getting extras such as power brakes, power windows, special tires etc. and that was what took the price up. The farmer needed the truck badly, He paid the price and went home.

A few months later, the salesman called up the farmer and said, "My son is in 4-H and he needs a cow for a project. Do you have any for sale?" The farmer said, "Yes, I have a few cows, and I would sell for $500.00 apiece. Come look at them and take your pick." The salesman said he and his son would be right out. After spending a few hours in the field checking out all the farmer's cows, the two decided on one and the salesman proceeded to write out a check for $500.00. The farmer said:  "Now, wait a minute, that's not the final price of the cow. You're getting extras with it and you have to pay for that too." "What extras?" asked the salesman.

Below is the list the farmer gave the salesman for the final price of the cow:

BASIC COW:  $500.00
Two tone exterior:  $45.00
Extra stomach:  $75.00
Product storing equipment:  $60.00
Straw compartment:  $120.00
4 Spigots @ $10 ea:  $40.00
Leather upholstery:  $125.00
Dual horns:  $45.00
Automatic fly swatter:  $38.00
Fertilizer attachment:  $185.00
GRAND TOTAL:  $1,233.00

Friday, September 3, 2010

CDN Television: Rookie Blue, Ben Bass Interview

Anyone who has read any of my Rookie Blue posts the past few months has got to know that I'm a fan of Ben Bass' character, Sam Swarek.  I'm a definite cheerleader for Team Swarek hoping that, eventually, Andy McNally and dashing officer Swarek will find happiness together.  (I've been a fan of Bass for a while now so maybe I'm a little biased.)

tvfanatic.com recently published an exclusive interview with Ben Bass where he talks about the show, his character and the people he works with.  He also reveals that they started working on season two of Rookie Blue on September 1st.  It's a great interview and well worth the few minutes to read if you are a fan of the show, of Bass or his character.

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2010/08/exclusive-interview-ben-bass-on-rookie-blue-character-second-sea/

CDN Television: Rookie Blue, Episode 1.11 "To Serve or Protect"

Rookie Blue
Season One, Episode Eleven, To Serve or Protect
Original Air Date:  September 2, 2010


Epstein and Diaz see someone in their squad car as they are leaving a call.  They chase the person but he gets away.  The call they make reporting the incident becomes a tool to make a point at the next briefing (as well as a good joke).  McNally and Swarek do a favor to his nurse friend Monica by taking a statement from a patient.  The statement leads to the discovery of the murder of a man that was a suspect in one of McNally's fathers old cases.  Some of the evidence in the murder points towards Tommy McNally.  Shaw finds the person who was in Diaz and Epstein's car, The Guardian, was accessing information in the car. 

Epstein and Diaz go to the apartment of the drug dealer The Guardian accessed information about and find Guardian at the building when they arrive.  They manage to capture him this time.  When they get him back to the Barn, the seasoned officers are right there with their cameras to take pictures and further tease Epstein and Diaz.  The more Diaz and Epstein talk with Terry Porter (Guardian), the more they learn he isn't what they originally thought.  He's a guy who made a mistake as a kid and is trying to do something good.  Using photographs Porter was able to take, the police can work to make a case against a local drug dealer.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.9 "The Hit"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Nine, The Hit
Original Air Date:  September 1, 2010


Disgraced former Detective Superintendent Gary Beck is killed at his mothers funeral and Terry Jarvis is a witness.  Duncan and Kingston are the primary detectives on the case and, the further they and the team dig into the killing the more surprises they uncover around every twist and turn.  Beck wasn't the target, Jarvis was and who ordered the hit comes as an even bigger surprise.  Duncan must weigh his loyalty to the job with his feelings about his past with Claire and Jarvis.

Duncan Freeman is one of my very favorite City Homicide characters and Jarvis is right up there with him.  I was expecting a great hour of television with this episode and it surely delivered.

As fans of City Homicide know, Duncan Freeman and Terry Jarvis have a less than amicable past with one another.  A drug sting led by Jarvis led to the death of Freeman's fiance Claire Jackson (Kat Stewart).  Freeman never has forgiven Jarvis for Claire's death.  In this episode, that past was put to the ultimate test.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

BBC One Dramatic Series: "Luther" Coming to DVD in North America

It has been announced that Luther, the psychologically thrilling crime drama aired by BBC One a few months ago is scheduled for a North American DVD release.  On November 23, 2010 Warner Home Video will be releasing all six episodes on a 2 DVD set for a list price of $34.98.

There currently is no word about any possible extras/features and the package artwork is yet to be revealed.  Once more information is available I'll most certainly be posting it here!