US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.4 "Masquerade"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.7, Masquerade
Original Air Date:  October 28, 2010

The night of the Lockwood masquerade ball has arrived and it's also the night when Stefan, Damon and their group of friends have chosen to battle Katherine.  Everything goes according to plan until they learn that they aren't the only one with a witch on their side and that the battle with Katherine will affect Elena more than they figured it would.  Will having Katherine safely sealed away protect everyone or is Elena still in grave danger?  Life has changed for Tyler Lockwood.  Bonnie learns that she isn't alone as a Bennett witch.

Caroline tells Stefan and Damon about an encounter she had with Katherine that day while she was at the Mystic Grill to "quasi stalk Matt".  While in the ladies room, Katherine, posing as Elena, walks in and asks if she is alright.  Caroline knows it is Katherine and, when she tries to leave, Katherine tells Caroline to deliver a message to Damon and Stefan:  "I want the moonstone or I will rip this town apart until it rains blood.  Tonight, at the masquerade ball".  Damon and Stefan know Katherine was caught off guard by Mason's death.  Damon vows that he will kill Katherine at the ball but Stefan says Damon will not be the one to kill her, he will be.

Matt, Elena and Jeremy bring Jenna home from the hospital.  Jenna believes she walked into a knife rather than intentionally inflicted the wound on herself.  Jeremy questions Elena about what they are going to do about Katherine.  When she says nothing, he replies that they can't let her get away with trying to kill Jenna.  Elena feels convinced that because she broke up with Stefan everything will be fine with Katherine.  Jeremy insists she is being naive. 

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.17 "Gut Instinct"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Seventeen, Gut Instinct
Original Air Date:  October 27, 2010

A jewelery store owner and his wife are awakened by two masked men.  While one takes the husband, Isaac Goldberg, to his store to rob it, the other stays at their home with his wife, Gisella.  She is found murdered by her sister, Ruth Engleman, who arrives for a planned trip to the gym.  The case turns out looking like an inside job gone wrong.  When Bernice Waverley asks Detective Sergeant Peter Copeland to assist with the investigation, the trouble begins.

Matt arrives at work early to find Rhys already there hoping to get caught up on some work while everything is quiet.  However, a call takes the two out of the office.  Jennifer and Nick, who have rekindled their relationship, are called in just after 6:30 in the morning.

With information provided by Ruth Engleman, they learn that Isaac is probably at his store.  Matt dispatches Rhys and Nick to find him.  They find him tied to the staircase of his shop with tape over his mouth and wanting to know about his wife.

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.6, "In RE: Tyler Banks"

Outlaw
Season One, Episode Six, In RE:  Tyler Banks
Original Air Date:  October 22, 2010 (Canada) & October 23, 2010 (United States)

Garza and his team head to Miami to champion the cause of a fourteen year-old boy who will die in two weeks if he doesn't get a liver transplant.  Because he is in foster care, the hospital is removing the boy from the top of the transplant list.  Things get even more complicated when someone steps up to adopt Tyler but the adoption is denied because the candidate is gay.  Someone from Lucinda's past returns raising even more questions about her.

Garza and Claire arrive at an event as a massive protest is happening.  He is approached by Theresa Cain from Children's Light and informed the protest is against hospitals for removing sick children off organ transplant lists simply because they are in foster care.  Garza gives Theresa the ride up fifteen floors in the elevator to make her case to him.  Theresa shows Garza and Claire a video of a young man, Tyler Banks, who is number one on Greater Miami's waiting list for a new liver.  Tyler will not receive it because he is also in foster care.  Fourteen year-old Tyler will die in two weeks time without the liver.

Eddie gives his girlfriend Bethany (Bitsie Tulloch) a tour of Garza's house where he works and she is none too impressed.  She is certain he can't be happy there and wants to help him.  Her firm is throwing a party that weekend for the head of the litigation team who is retiring. 

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.9

Offspring
Series One, Episode Nine
Original Air Date:  October 24, 2010

Alice, Chris' absent wife arrives to see him.  Billie learns that her decision to have Stacy stay with Mick was a bad choice.  Stacy's actions lead Billie to do something that shows how much she still cares for Mick.  Nina makes some decisions of her own.  Cherie has a day for herself.

We pick up exactly where we left off last week with Nina coming to work and Kim stopping her to tell her about Chris' wife being there, then Chris seeing her.

Nina envisions Chris walking to Alice and kissing her passionately while everyone looking on claps wildly in approval as she is standing there, her heart breaking.  She decides to think of something else.  That something else:  Chris introducing the two women then asking "so, who's up for a three way?".  Dr. Clegg immediately pipes up "ME!" and Chris shoots him down. Clegg then offers to hold the camera, then the leash.  Nina then wonders "what can you hope for at a time like this?".  Kim goes into labor screaming "Nina!  My baby's coming early!" and chaos ensues. 

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.7 "Anonymous"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Seven, Anonymous
Anonymous, Original Air Date:  October 21, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Stalker", Season 8, Episode 18 (15th April, 1998)

When a young woman is found to have been thrown down the staircase of the building where she lives, the case takes on a new turn when Brooks and Devlin find e-mails from a cyberstalker in her home.  But when it appears the attack on the stairs might have been faked, things change.  The suspect is sent home and the woman is found dead a week later.  Because of the possibly faked attack, will who Brooks and Devlin believe killed the young woman get away with murder?

A young couple hears a commotion in the flat next to theirs late at night and upon investigating they find the body of a woman, Stephanie Blake (Michelle Bonnard), at the foot of the stairs.  The woman isn't dead but in serious condition.  The question is who hurt Stephanie and how did they get out of the building?

Using a spare key given them by the owner of the building, Maria Golofsky (Eileen Essell), Brooks and Devlin enter her flat and find a notebook full of e-mails addressed to the young woman all signed by "Giovanni".  She had tried blocking him and tracking him by the e-mails continued coming.  She had even changed her e-mail address a half dozen times.  The e-mails are extremely descriptive in a sexual nature and "Giovanni" appears to know every detail of Stephanie's life.  She had reported the e-mails to D.S. Frasier (Sara Woodward) at Northcross C.S.U.  Brooks and Devlin interview her and find out even more details about Stephanie's stalker including threats he had made against her.  Frasier gives them a tip about a prisoner at Ashbridge Prison who wanted Stephanie's new mobile number added to his list of approved numbers.

Shane Morgan (Mark White) had given Stephanie's name as well as number for his list of approved numbers but he claims he made a mistake.  After a little pushing from Devlin, Morgan admits that a bloke named Lowry wanted him to request the number because he was running low on phone credits and wanted to hook up with Stephanie.  Lowry was released from prison the week before.

UK Television: BBC One Dramatic Series "Luther" Filming a Second Series

Well, I'm just about as happy as happy can be here!

Ever since the first series of Luther ended a few months ago I have been wondering if the BBC One would renew the show for a second series.

Well, folks, wonder no longer.

According to information on the official Luther Facebook site, scripts for a second series are finished and the shooting for the second series has already begun.  There is even a photo of the scripts!  The Facebook posting was dated September 20th and the information given was "Scripts in.  Shoot starts two weeks today."

To read the postings on the Luther Facebook wall.  

To see the photo of the scripts.

BBC one also issued a press release announcing the recommissioning of Luther and the beyond excellent series Sherlock for second series'.  You can read the entire BBC one press release at their web site.

There's all kinds of great television news coming out of the UK right now, isn't there?  I can't wait to see Luther and the diabolical (but so likable) Alice back on the screen!

UK Television: 13 Episodes Commissioned for Law & Order: UK for 2011

It was announced on Monday, 18th October, 2010 that ITV has commissioned another 13 episodes for Law & Order:  UK that will air sometime in 2011.

This is great news for fans of Law & Order:  UK as season three is now complete for the series and there are currently six more episodes waiting to air for season four.  I'm hoping we will get those closer to the end of the year.  They would make a perfect Christmas present, wouldn't they?

You can read the entire press release on the ITV web site.

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.6 "Plan B"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.6, Plan B
Original Air Date:  October 21, 2010

Jeremy wants to help Damon in the fight against Mason and Katherine.  Caroline comes to the rescue when Stefan gets in trouble while trying to find Mason's moonstone.  Damon tries his hand at convincing Mason Lockwood to reveal what Katherine's plans are.  Caroline and her mother have a truly sincere mother/daughter moment.  Katherine steps up her plans in torturing Elena and those she loves.

Elena awakens with Stefan next to her and the two share a kiss when she mentions it wouldn't be good if Katherine found out they were still together.  Katherine has her own distractions, though.  She is spending some quality time with Mason Lockwood at the bed and breakfast she is staying at while in Mystic Falls.  Elena is still giving Stefan a little bit of her blood every day in hopes it will make him stronger as he thinks it will.  Mason promises Katherine he will give her the moonstone that night and Stefan promises Elena that they will get through everything that is happening.

Jeremy goes to the Salvatore house to speak with Damon.  He tells him what Tyler had told him about how the curse needs to be activated, that Tyler isn't a werewolf yet and that Mason is looking for the moonstone.  Jeremy says he knows where the stone is and wants to help.  When asked what Elena would think of his wanting to help Damon realizes Jeremy hasn't said anything to her. 

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.16 "Undercover"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Sixteen, Undercover
Original Air Date:  October 20, 2010

Jen and Nick, still undercover, must convince Muhammed Hartono that they can work for him again.  McCallister's plans for Jen and Nick aren't what they appear to be.  When things do not go according to plan, Homicide and SIS must team up to find Hartono's bomb before it is too late.

This weeks episode picks up where last weeks left off:  Nick and Jen are talking in the bedroom of the house they are staying in when masked men burst in.  The masked men aren't underworld figures but two men working with SIS.  McCallister isn't pleased with Jen and Nick's reaction to the masked gunmen.  Nick called Jen by her real name instead of calling her Trish.  McCallister is angry that they aren't handling the situation the way they should.  He orders Radcliffe to take them back to their house. 

One of McCallister's employees gives him photographs of Rhys and Allie going into Waheed's home.  The pictures make it back to Homicide where Waverley questions Matt about them.  Jarvis suggests that Matt's team has gone rogue on him but Stanley steps up for Matt.  Jarvis informs Matt that this incident reflects on Matt as a senior officer.  Matt is clearly extremely angry and assures Waverley he will be speaking to the team again.

El Camino del Rey 2010 HD: Balance

This amazed me. 

I'll admit, I'm horribly afraid of heights so this is something I could never, never, ever (did I mention never, ever?) do.  Ever.  I'm in awe of people who can do these sorts of things because they have to have nerves of steel, incredible patience and absolutely no fear of anything. 

I think what got me the most was the guy walking on the bare rail. 

I don't know who filmed the video or any other particulars about it and the site linked to from You Tube is in Japanese.  If anyone has any info on this at all, please do post about it in the comments.  I'd love to know more about it!

It's simply amazing.

Los 33 "Trailer"

I think the rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean miners was extraordinary.  I'm so very happy all 33 men were able to withstand such an ordeal.  I know I could never spend 1 day trapped in a mine, let alone 69, without going absolutely mad!  Bless them and their families for all they have gone through!

But, on the other side of things, we all know that Hollywood will not be able to let this rest.  They will have to find a way to cash in on the ordeal those 33 brave men went through.  In some darkened room at some studio there is an executive hunched over a notepad feverishly making notes of the actors, locations and personnel he wants to make his great "miner epic".

While checking Twitter today, the awesome Stephen Fry tweeted about the following YouTube video.  The uploader, trevino22 did a brilliant job putting this 'trailer' together.

You just know that if there was any way Hollywood could do this, they would.

10,000 Packages of Marijuana Seized on Tijuana/US Border

We are all more than familiar with the ongoing drug war being waged in Mexico and the fact it is spilling over into the southwestern United States.  The news is constantly dotted with headlines about the latest violence to erupt on Mexican soil.

So, it wasn't anything new to read that a shootout took place in Tijuana between members of the drug cartels and law enforcement.  However, it was surprising to read the amount of marijuana that was confiscated following the shootout:  10,000 packages totaling more than 105 tons!  The drugs are worth over $330 million on the Mexican market and as much as twice that if taken across the border and sold in the United States.

Soldiers and police arrested eleven people following the shootout between Tijuana policemen and gunmen in a convoy of seven vehicles.  The drug violence in Mexico has claimed almost 30,000 lives.

For more information and to see a photo of the massive amount of weed confiscated by authorities, you can refer to this article.

Monarch Butterflies Medically Treat Their Offspring

New research has shown that monarch butterflies use medicinal plants, including species of milkweed plants, to treat offspring for diseases even before they hatch.  Some of the milkweed plants the monarch caterpillars feed on produce chardenolides within the systems of the insects.  These chemicals are harmless to the monarch's themselves but toxic to predators even once the monarch's become adults.  Parasites that can invade Monarch caterpillars can stay with the insects even into adulthood and can be passed from infected females to her offspring. 

Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta conducted experiments with monarch caterpillars feeding some on milkweed.  Those exposed to the milkweed had fewer parasite infections and disease.  Researchers also conducted experiments with parasite-infected and uninfected females who had access to milkweed and tropical milkweed.  The infected females laid more eggs on the tropical milkweed (the medicinal plant) while uninfected females gave no preference.

Researchers next plan to work with a wider variety of milkweed and butterflies to expand their studies.

For more information on this fascinating way nature takes care of itself, you can read the MSNBC Technology and Science Article.

US Television, Beast Legends, Episode 1.5 "Wildman of Vietnam"

Beast Legends
Season One, Episode Five, Wildman of Vietnam
Original Air Date:  Thursday, October 7, 2010

Episode five begins with Steve and Francis in southeast Asia to get the ball rolling on the teams research into the Vietnamese Wildman.  Kathryn, Mike and Scott are back home in the Beast Lab researching the origins of the legend.  The Wildman of Vietnam is said to roam the rainforests.  The beast walks like a man, has superhuman strength and an appetite for flesh.  According the Kathryn, the legend has been around for centuries. 

First person accounts of the Wildman of Vietnam have been given by inhabitants of Vietnam as well as by American soldiers who fought on Vietnamese soil during the Vietnam conflict.  One American soldier who was willing to tell the tale of what he witness during his tour of duty is Gary Linderer.  Linderer was stationed in central Vietnam in 1968.  He had been in country for approximately a month before encountering the Wildman.  He was dropped into the jungle by helicopter before dawn.  When the sun came up, he saw the creature.  Linderer recorded his recount of his experience on video.  Linderer describes the creature as being approximately 5'6"-5'10" tall and the eyes were very clear and intelligent looking.  Mike begins constructing their creature by starting with the form of a man.

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.8

Offspring
Series One, Episode Eight
Original Air Date:  October 17, 2010

Nina's guilt is working overtime over her night with Mick while Chris was in Brisbane.  Mick is coping with the aftermath of his night with Nina and is getting plenty of concern and advice from the Proudman family.  Nina must perform a cesarean on a brain dead woman to try and save the baby.  An old friend of Billie's returns.  Nina reveals the truth to Chris.

Nina is feeling guilty about her night with Mick and wakes up seeing the word "guilty" written everywhere.  She fantasizes Chris sitting in her bedroom talking about how he went away for a few days and she couldn't resist another man.  When she denies it was anything like that, Mick shows up.  Chris and Mick end up having a conversation about how Chris sees Mick as Billie's man because he thinks they're meant for one another (as does Mick). 

At Geraldine's Billie questions Nina as to why she's barely spoken to her or looked at her all morning.  When Geraldine starts pressing Billie about what she is studying and any problems she might have then suggests Billie should have Nina help her, Billie says Nina is too busy having sex to help her.  This draws the curiosity of Geraldine and Jimmy and makes Nina even more uncomfortable than she already is.  Everyone assumes it was Chris Havel Nina was with the night before and when asked, she agrees.  Jimmy mentions that he's taking some food to Mick.  Nina and Billie ask him about in (in stereo!) and he tells them that Mick had an accident last night.  Jimmy took him to the doctor after Mick said he put his hands out to break his fall from a staircase and broke his wrists. 

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.5, "In RE: Tracy Vidalin"

Outlaw
Season One, Episode Five, In RE:  Tracy Vidalin
Original Air Date:  October 16, 2010

In the aftermath of a robbery, a policeman is murdered and the daughter of Senator Vidalin is being held as an accomplice to the murder.  Vidalin wants Cyrus and his team to help his daughter prove her innocence.  Is the young girl Cyrus Garza has always known to be sweet and innocent just that or could she really be involved in the murder?  Eddie and Mereta start uncovering details from Lucinda's past.

While Al, Mereta and Eddie are watching Cyrus throw the ceremonial first pitch at a baseball game on television, a call comes in for Garza.  Senator Vidalin's daughter is in trouble and needs his help.  Once he's home from the game, Cyrus and Al go to see Tracy Vidalin (Ashley Rickards) in jail.  Cyrus has known Vidalin for nearly 30 years and, for most of it, considered him a good friend.  Whatever bad points the Senator has, Cyrus thinks his daughter, Tracy, is a good girl.

Tracy tells them about her boyfriend, Lonnie Daws (Michael Stahler), and that he had a gun the night of the incident.  She recounts the evening for them saying the couple was parked figuring out where to get dinner when Lonnie said he had a surprise for her.  He gets out of the car and waits in the car for 10-20 minutes before hearing an alarm go off in an apartment building.  Lonnie runs out yelling for her to drive and he now has a gun.  She panicked and crashed the car after which Lonnie ran from the car and killed a policeman.

US Television: More News on the Fate of NBC's Outlaw

Last week, NBC announced they had suspended production of any further episodes for the new Jimmy Smits legal drama Outlaw.  Currently, eight episodes have been filmed.  NBC said they were going to air all of the remaining episodes in the regular Friday night time slot they had allotted to the show.

Now, NBC has stated they are going to move Outlaw to Saturday nights to air the remaining four episodes and air an expanded Dateline in the Friday night time slot vacated by Outlaw.

I guess the cancellation process for Outlaw is going to be a long, drawn out painful one for fans of the show.  At least we're getting to see the remaining four episodes before finally saying 'goodbye' to the show for good. 

Source:  http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.com/2010/10/nbc-pulls-outlaw-from-fridays.html

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.6 "Masquerade"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Six, Masquerade
Masquerade, Original Air Date:  October 14, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Admissions", Season 9, Episode 22 (19th May, 1999)

Student Archie Rahman is stabbed in his flat and Brooks and Devlin are left with only one solid clue to follow:  a library book.  The case takes a new twist when the girl who was at his flat claims she killed him in self defense after he raped her.  But is she telling the truth?

Archie didn't do drugs, wasn't a gang member, kept to himself and, by all reports, always had his nose in a book studying.  There was evidence that there had been a woman at Archie's flat but she is nowhere to be found.  Archie's father (Hassani Shapi) insists his son didn't have a girlfriend and focused instead on his schoolwork.  Archie's mother (Sameena Zehra) mentions a former girlfriend, Darla (Suzie McGrath) but they had broke up a few months prior.

A library book is amongst the items of evidence collected in Archie's flat and it leads the detectives to the Waterloo and City College Library.  They learn the book was checked out at eleven o'clock Sunday by Rebecca Anderson (Charlene McKenna).  Rebecca reluctantly provides them with the information that she was in the library with her friend, Sally Douglas (Kimberly Nixon) but that she doesn't know Archie Rahman.  Both Rebecca and Sally claim they were working in the library until it closed at six.  On a hunch, Devlin does a bit of checking and finds the library closes at midday contradicting the girls' stories.  When confronted with the truth about the time the library closes, Sally says the two girls went to the Region room, carried on with their work then went home.  She is studying philosophy and art history at university on her way to a lecture on Ancient Arts of Persia and the Subcontinent, which just so happens to be the subject of the library book.

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.15 "Reunion"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Fifteen, Reunion
Original Air Date:  October 13, 2010

An entire family (mum, dad and two children) are murdered in their home.  The father has a connection to both Jennifer Maplethorpe and Nick Buchanan.  The case quickly becomes embroiled in politics and secrecy when Jen and Nick learn the Secret Intelligence Service is involved and it changes their lives drastically by placing them in danger.

All of the murders were execution style causing Nick to note that it had to be a professional job.  At the scene, Nick and Jennifer both recognize one of the victims, Abdul Supomo.  Jennifer wants to tell Stanley Wolfe but the situation is complicated.  As they sit in their car talking about the murders and what they know, a man in a black SUV is taking pictures of them.

At headquarters, the briefing yields that the family was apparently model citizens.  The parents were immigrants and their children were born in Australia.  Stanley Wolfe takes charge of the case given its nature and delegates tasks to the team.  He places Jennifer and Nick in the position of lead detectives.

BBC One Dramatic Series "Luther" Begins Airing in America

The psychological drama Luther will begin airing in the United States on BBC America at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17, 2010.  The episode will be followed by Luther:  Inside Look - Episode 1.  This is "an exclusive behind the scenes look at tonights episode of Luther".

If you miss episode 1 this Sunday, don't worry!  It will be aired again:

Monday, October 18, 2010:
2:00 A.M., Episode 1
3:15 A.m., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

Thursday, October 21, 2010:
9:00 P.M., Episode 1
10:15 P.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

Friday, October 22, 2010:
12:00 A.M., Episode 1
1:15 A.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1
2:00 A.M., Episode 1
3:15 A.M., Luther, Inside Look - Episode 1

AUS Television: City Homicide "Lightens Up"

Noni Hazlehurst who portrays Detective Superintendent Bernice Waverley on City Homicide was recently interviewed by David Knox, a freelance tv.com writer.  In the interview, Ms. Hazlehurst revealed some very interesting tidbits for the remainder of the crime drama's fourth season.

The series will be focusing a tad more on the lives of the characters while still delivering the same gripping drama fans have come to love the last four years.  The tone of the show will lighten subtly as a bit of humor is injected into the storylines.  Don't think the show will become a comedy, because it won't.  It isn't to trivialize the seriousness of the cases the detectives deal with but to show the coping methods they use to deal with the grisly work they do day in and day out.

A six-party storyline will end the current season (which is scheduled to run 21 episodes) and Richard Jasek has got on board as a new executive producer.

You can read the full article at tv.com.

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.4, "In RE: Curtis Farwell"

Outlaw
Season One, Episode Four, In RE:  Curtis Farwell
Original Air Date:  October 8, 2010

Cyrus and his team take the case of Curtis Farwell, a man who was seriously injured when the car he was driving malfunctioned.  The accident was one of eight similar accidents involving the same make and model of car.  Four of the accidents were fatal.  Claire wants Cyrus to help her raise money for Senator Vidalin's favorite charity to prevent him from voting against the interests of her biggest clients.  The mysterious man Cyrus noticed watching him in the first episode returns.

Cyrus appears on an episode of Larry King Live (yes, Larry King made a cameo) opposed by Patty Friedman, a reporter from a political web site.  The subject of the show is why Garza quit the Supreme Court.  Cyrus treats the appearance as a chance to not only make it known he isn't a turncoat (except for turning his back on a justice system that doesn't always do justice) but to inject a bit of his sense of humor into the interview. 

Just as Cyrus is getting ready to enjoy a pleasant night with Miss Friedman, Claire calls.  Senator Vidalin is threatening to vote against the interests of her biggest clients unless she dumps Cyrus from her firm.  Her solution:  raise a boatload of money for Vidalin's favorite charity.  By time Cyrus is finished talking to Claire, Patty has fallen asleep putting a damper on the festivities.  He turns on the television and watches a news story about a series of accidents involving the Jupiter coupe. 

US Television: Vampire Diaries, Episode 2.5 "Kill or Be Killed"

Vampire Diaries
Season Two, Episode 2.5, Kill or Be Killed
Original Air Date:  October 7, 2010

It is revealed how the Lockwood Curse was triggered for Mason.  Damon and Stefan's secret is revealed to Liz Forbes.  Liz learns her daughter's shocking secret.  Stefan and Elena start down a dangerous road in the fight against Katherine.  It's revealed that Mason has a secret accomplice.

Our story starts off with Mason telling Tyler about an event that happened one year ago in Emerald Coast, Florida.  Mason Lockwood is leaving a bar after having a few beers and is followed out by someone who is, or was, a friend, Jimmy.  He confronts Mason telling him he knows about him and Marla.  The two men start to fight and Mason takes some pretty good hits.  Mason slams him to the pavement and Jimmy hits his head, killing him.  The Lockwood Curse kicks into effect almost instantaneously for Mason when Jimmy dies.  He warns Tyler that he has to be extremely careful so that he won't have a lifetime of living with the curse.

Tyler had apparently made a deal with Mason that if he told him how the curse became active for him he would give him the moonstone.  Tyler opens the safe in his father's study and Mason rifles through it but doesn't find the moonstone because, as we all know, Tyler has already taken it.  Tyler is blatantly lying to Mason and keeping the stone from him.  He wants to know why it is so important. 

UK Television: Law & Order: UK, Episode 3.5 "Survivor"

Law & Order:  UK
Season Three, Episode Five, Survivor
Survivor, Original Air Date:  October 7, 2010
Based on Law & Order (US) "Punk", Season 9, Episode 8 (25th November, 1998)

Two children find the body of a dead man, Charlie Tyner, who was a prison officer.  The investigation takes a new lead when they find out Tyner was dealing heroin.  When they are able to tie Tyner to a drug dealer they've been trying to catch for some time, they need the help of a woman in the prison where Tyner was an officer.  But getting that help isn't going to be easy.

The kids who find the body are themselves playing with a gun they found in the rubbish bin.  Turns out, the gun was the weapon used in the murder.  No identification is found with the body but the man is later ID'd as a prison officer named Charlie Tyner.  He had worked for 18 years at the same job but suddenly was promoted six months ago.

Brooks and Devlin go to Tyner's new assignment at Cold Norton Prison to learn more about him.  Charlie is described by his boss as having been "the best" officer.  He even saved a woman who tried to hang herself last week.  He took it personally when one of the inmates he supervised tried to self harm.  While he didn't have any problems at Cold Norton, he did have a run-in with a male prisoner at Ashbridge, Ellis Bevin (Celyn Jones) who has been out of prison for two days. 

Postal Union Election Delayed Because Ballots Were LOST IN THE MAIL

I'm not one who reads or watches Fox News but when I saw the link to this article I had to read it.

For anyone who has ever had a problem with the post, this will make you feel so much better.  Almost enough to make you feel like the universe has somehow righted some of the postal wrongs we've all suffered through one time or another.

The American Postal Workers Union recently had to extend the deadline for their internal election after thousands of ballots were lost in the mail.  Ballots were originally going to be counted this weekend in Washington D.C., but the deadline for submitting a ballot has been extended to October 14, 2010.

Now, tell me you didn't read this article and laugh out loud.  I certainly know I did.  Next time the post loses your letter to Aunt Martha, you can at least feel a little better about it knowing they lose their own mail, too.

Source:  http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/07/postal-union-election-delayed-ballots-lost-mail/?test=latestnews

AUS Television: City Homicide, Episode 4.14 "Twilight Zone"

City Homicide
Season Four, Episode Fourteen, Twilight Zone
Original Air Date:  October 6, 2010

An elderly man is pushed down the stairs in his wheelchair at the retirement home where he lives.  The suspects include his son, his fiance, her daughter, the nursing home manager and a resident who disliked the victim.  Meanwhile, a bit of mystery surfaces regarding Jen and Nick.

When Matt and Allie interview some of the residents of the retirement home they come to realize that life at this retirement home is more than meets the eye.  The victims fiance, Posy Pollard, takes quite the liking to Matt and does a fair bit of flirting with him while Allie speaks with Peter Marsh, a man who didn't get along with Branco.

The autopsy reveals Branco was still alive after the fall and his killer followed him down the stairs and kicked his head with a heavy-toed boot.

There is absolutely no love lost between Branco and his son, Andrew.  Andrew claims the hatred between the two was mutual.  He blames Posy for his fathers death saying she must have been after his money.

US Television: Sexy New "Conan" Promo

I love Conan O'Brien.  Love everything about him.  He's an awesomely funny guy as well as being an all-round good guy to boot.  I'm most certainly on Team Coco!

When I saw this new promo for his TBS show "Conan" I laughed until I had tears in my eyes.

Conan washes his desk to Def Leppard's Pour Some Sugar on Me and gets all sexy for us to promote his new show. 

WARNING:  Viewer discretion is advised.  This clip might be too sexy for some to handle.  View at your own risk!!!  Remember, you've been warned!!

US Television, Beast Legends, Episode 1.4 "Winged Lion"

Beast Legends
Season One, Episode Four, Winged Lion
Original Air Date:  Thursday, September 30, 2010

In this weeks episode, the team researches and creates the winged lion, or as it is also known, the griffin.

Steve and Francis begin in Germany where they are searching for the bones while the rest of the team is at home in the lab researching the griffin legends.

The Griffin can be traced back even farther than Greek legends to Mesopotamia onward to the Mongolian area of Central Asia.  Scott suggests that they break the project into two parts.  Since there is an eagle in the front and a lion in the back, he suggests starting with a cave lion.  Currently, there aren't lions in Mongolia but there were cave lions that went into extinction 10,000 years ago. 

Steve and Francis are looking for the bones of a cave lion found in Zoolithen Cave in Burggaillenreuth, Germany.  They enter a deep cave protected by scientists for the valuable information contained within it.  Dr. Cajus G. Diedrich takes them into the dark and dangerous cave.  They want to see the bones to help determine the size of their griffin.  Only 1% of the bones found in the cave were lion bones.  They find cave bear bones but must continue down through dark and tight crevices to reach the few precious lion bones the cave contains.  They turn off their torches and the cave is literally pitch black.  Steve describes a scenario of how it might have been for the sleeping bears when the lions came to prey upon them.  Francis takes some time to make some amazing drawings of the bears and lions but he still would like to get the scale of lion to human. 

AUS Television: Offspring, Episode 1.7

Offspring
Series One, Episode Seven
Original Air Date:  October 3, 2010

Chris leaves for Brisbane to check on the lead relating to his missing wife, Alice.  Something great happens for Mick with his music.  Darcy and Billie meet Cherie's adoptive father, the ultra-religious Gareth.  Bad telephone connections and disconnections lead to a massive break down in communication between Nina and Chris with disastrous results.

Chris makes preparations at work for his absence before leaving for Brisbane.  He takes Nina aside to apologize again for everything and to say goodbye.  He will be gone a week and Nina wonders to herself "what's the etiquette for saying farewell to a man you almost had sex with on the occasion of his search for his missing wife?".  That's a question we've all pondered at least once, right?  No?  I don't think so, either.  They share a quick kiss before she ushers him off so he won't miss his plane.

US Television: Law & Order: Los Angeles, Episode 1.1 "Hollywood"

Law & Order:  Los Angeles
Season One, Episode One, Hollywood
Original Air Date:  September 29, 2010

Usually, when I do a blog post about a show I start off with a short description of the episode then go into a more in-depth description with perhaps a few comments of my own thrown in (which I like to keep to a bare minimum if possible).  This post will not be following that formula.

I have to start off by saying that I am a massive fan of the entire Law & Order franchise.  I remember watching the very first show that aired on September 13, 1990 and being blown away by its brilliance.  Even now, I can watch that show on DVD and find it just as good after having seen it at least several dozen or more times as I did that very first time.  When Law & Order:  Special Victims Unit and Law & Order:  Criminal Intent came along, I was (and still am) right there for each and every episode.  I loved the short-lived Law & Order:  Trial By Jury.  Any chance to see the legendary Jerry Orbach in action was a pure pleasure.  In 2009, Law & Order went across the pond to England for Law & Order:  UK.  With an amazing cast and shows based on episodes of the original Law & Order series, L&O UK was a fast favorite of mine.

Like all die-hard Law & Order fans, I was heartbroken when NBC made the choice to cancel the flagship of the Law & Order series after two decades.  With Criminal Intent getting ready to end its run that would have left us with just Special Victims Unit and, for those able to view it, Law & Order:  UK.  Then came news that Law & Order:  Los Angeles was in the works and would be in our living rooms in the fall of 2010.  "If I can't have one, I'll take the other", I thought.

Sunday Funnies: Bruce & Jenny

Bruce and Jenny are only 10 years old, but they know they are in love.  One day they decide that they want to get married, so Bruce goes to Jenny's father to ask him for her hand.   He bravely walks up to her father and says, "Mr. Smith, me and Jenny are in love and I want to ask you for her hand in marriage."

Thinking that this was just the cutest thing, Mr. Smith replied:  "Well Bruce, you are only 10.  Where will you two live?"

Without even taking a moment to think about it, Bruce replied:  "In Jenny's room. It's bigger than mine and we can both fit there nicely."

Still thinking this is just adorable Mr. Smith says with a huge grin, "Okay, then how will you live? You're not old enough to get a job. You'll need to support Jenny."

Again, Bruce instantly replies:  "Our allowance, Jenny makes five bucks a week and I make 10 bucks a week. That's about 60 bucks a month, so that should do us just fine."

Mr. Smith is impressed that Bruce has put so much thought into this.   "Well Bruce, it seems like you have everything figured out.  I just have one more question. What will you do if the two of you should have little children of your own?"

Bruce just shrugs his shoulders and says, "Well, we've been lucky so far."

Mr. Smith no longer thinks Bruce is just the cutest little thing.

US Television: Outlaw, Episode 1.3, "In RE: Jessica Davis"

Outlaw
Season One, Episode Three, In RE:  Jessica Davis
Original Air Date:  October 1, 2010

Garza's bookie, Doc, surprises him with a nighttime visit.  Cyrus and his team take the case of a Baltimore mother who left her child in her car resulting in the child's death.  Meanwhile, Eddie and Lucinda work the case of one of Al's former clients, Desdemona. 

Doc and an extremely large and intimidating man, Tiny, awaken Cyrus in the middle of the night.  Doc wants his money and gives Cyrus twenty-four hours.  The next morning, Cyrus asks his boss for an advance of $200,000.  She ends up agreeing to give him the money after letting him know that her boyfriend asked her to marry him and she obviously said 'yes'.

Mereta presents Cyrus with a newspaper about the case of a woman in Baltimore who forgot her child in her car resulting in the child's death.  Cyrus, Al and Eddie all notice a story about a sports player, Ray Lewis, injured in his bathtub over the baby story shocking Mereta and Lucinda.  The case is interesting to Cyrus and the team because of similar cases in other cities and states that do not get prosecuted.  Some parents are prosecuted for the deaths, others not.  Cyrus' team is drafting a motion to dismiss the Davis case.

In Baltimore, Cyrus and Al speak with the district attorney prosecuting the case.  They want the case dismissed on equal protection.  The D.A. insists the case will not be thrown out on a "technicality".  When Cyrus asks him if he really wants to go after a mom who is stricken with grief, the D.A. sort of laughs it off asking if they have even met their client, which they haven't.