I am officially 50 years old.
The New London Day is one of the worst newspapers I have ever read. Their own redeeming quality is the letters to the editors section, the funniest stuff I have ever read. I remember the classic debate about Fisher Cats, which ranged from are they in CT to they are killing our cats and babies. Also, the classic series of letters about how this guy who killed a bird while driving down the highway should be arrested for murder.
Recently someone wrote in to complain about one of my favorite comic strips, Pearls Before Swine. They felt that it was setting a bad influence for the children who read it. Yeah, kids are reading newspaper comic strips, I would be happy if they would read anything at all. Then someone wrote in that while they think the bad influence comment was ridiculous, they thought that Pearls Before Swine was not funny, and was not funnier than the strip it replaced. This classic strip was Andy Capp which has not changed its jokes from 1960. I wrote a letter that was published in today's edition of the New London Day pointing this out.
Andy Capp indeed.
Damages (FX) had its season 3 premiere this week and this season looks as good as the previous two. Big shocker in this first episode, as we find out the Tom Shays gets murdered six months after finally making partner. What a great show, again showing that FX, TNT, and USA is the place to go to watch good TV. A
Marvel after announcing the cancellation of the four ongoing Avengers books, has now cancelled two of the ongoing Wolverine solo titles. Also, Doctor Voodoo is gone after five issues. They appear to be cleaning house so they can start up some new series with his Heroes Reborn theme start up. DC is doing the same with the Brightest Day theme start up. Let us hope we are not going to see multiple ongoing series with the same characters trend continue.
American Chopper (TLC) had a first in that Sr did not bad mouth any of his sons. Instead he brings his wife's kids into the shop for the day to work on bikes. Yeah, he alienates his biological sons, now he is going for the step children. Jr's dog park was revealed and I thought he did a nice job with the design. Mikey did his first stand up comedy routine and I thought he did a nice job with that. An improvement over the previous shows, though again the bike and the tailgate grill looked like crap. D
Oh well.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thoughts: 29-January-2010
Today, at 11:58 pm, I become 50 years old. I do not feel 50 and wonder about how fast time goes by.
When I went to College (Susquehanna University) in 1977, I fully intended to become a minster in the LCA (Lutheran Church in America, now ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). I planned on going to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA, even took four semesters of Ancient Greek to satisfy the seminary requirement and which satisfied the foreign language core requirement.
At that time, the LCA has just approved the ordination of women and so were not really encouraging men to go to seminary but instead were recruiting women. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I did not have the faith to be a minister and instead went into Behavioral Psychology with an emphasis on learning and memory. My undergraduate mentor, James Misanin who still is there at dear old SU, really encouraged me and gave me a great training to become a scientist, he was the first of two mentors that I hold dear to my heart.
After I graduated in 1981, I went to Kent State where I earned a MA in Experimental Psychology Animal Learning and Memory. I tried to switch to Cognitive Psychology, thinking it would be easier to get a job in that field, and was the first graduate experimental student to fail his prelim exams for the PhD. Still have a hard time believing that no one else had ever failed before me. This black day in my life turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I went back to my real love, learning and memory, and ended up getting a job at Ayerst in Princeton, NJ. I was on my way to becoming a behavioral psychopharamalogist in the drug industry.
In 1986, I was hired by Pfizer where I have spent the last 24+ years working with my second mentor, Patricia Seymour. She has taught me so much about science, experimental design, pharmacology, more than I ever could have learned in school. She truly is one scientist that I really respect. Of course, over such a long association, we have had our disagreement, but have always been able to resolve them. The scientist that I am today is due to both her and Dr. Misanin, and I am very proud and honored to know the both of them.
My two big achievements at Pfizer was to be on the preclinical in vivo team that discovered and developed Geodon, an anti psychotic. The other big moment was in 1993 at the Society of Neuroscience meeting at Washington, DC where I gave an oral presentation on CRH antagonists in the mouse light/dark test. At that time, none of the PhDs were given oral presentations, we all just did posters. In Pat's lab two of us, had submitted posters and had them bumped into oral presentations. This freaked out the management as they thought we lowly associates could not handle it. Pat with a lot of hard work help us shaped those presentations and both of her associates delivered them perfectly. So well in fact, that we made the other presenters look bad, as I humbly state. This achievement could not have been done with a person like Pat being behind me, and I once again thank her for that.
So, what is there to say? I have been blessed these past 50 years working and knowing some really great people. And I have to say that I am quite happy indeed, though I do not tend to show it.
Oh well.
When I went to College (Susquehanna University) in 1977, I fully intended to become a minster in the LCA (Lutheran Church in America, now ELCA, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). I planned on going to the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, PA, even took four semesters of Ancient Greek to satisfy the seminary requirement and which satisfied the foreign language core requirement.
At that time, the LCA has just approved the ordination of women and so were not really encouraging men to go to seminary but instead were recruiting women. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I did not have the faith to be a minister and instead went into Behavioral Psychology with an emphasis on learning and memory. My undergraduate mentor, James Misanin who still is there at dear old SU, really encouraged me and gave me a great training to become a scientist, he was the first of two mentors that I hold dear to my heart.
After I graduated in 1981, I went to Kent State where I earned a MA in Experimental Psychology Animal Learning and Memory. I tried to switch to Cognitive Psychology, thinking it would be easier to get a job in that field, and was the first graduate experimental student to fail his prelim exams for the PhD. Still have a hard time believing that no one else had ever failed before me. This black day in my life turned out to be a blessing in disguise as I went back to my real love, learning and memory, and ended up getting a job at Ayerst in Princeton, NJ. I was on my way to becoming a behavioral psychopharamalogist in the drug industry.
In 1986, I was hired by Pfizer where I have spent the last 24+ years working with my second mentor, Patricia Seymour. She has taught me so much about science, experimental design, pharmacology, more than I ever could have learned in school. She truly is one scientist that I really respect. Of course, over such a long association, we have had our disagreement, but have always been able to resolve them. The scientist that I am today is due to both her and Dr. Misanin, and I am very proud and honored to know the both of them.
My two big achievements at Pfizer was to be on the preclinical in vivo team that discovered and developed Geodon, an anti psychotic. The other big moment was in 1993 at the Society of Neuroscience meeting at Washington, DC where I gave an oral presentation on CRH antagonists in the mouse light/dark test. At that time, none of the PhDs were given oral presentations, we all just did posters. In Pat's lab two of us, had submitted posters and had them bumped into oral presentations. This freaked out the management as they thought we lowly associates could not handle it. Pat with a lot of hard work help us shaped those presentations and both of her associates delivered them perfectly. So well in fact, that we made the other presenters look bad, as I humbly state. This achievement could not have been done with a person like Pat being behind me, and I once again thank her for that.
So, what is there to say? I have been blessed these past 50 years working and knowing some really great people. And I have to say that I am quite happy indeed, though I do not tend to show it.
Oh well.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Thoughts: 25-January-2010
Well, I went 2-2 in my NFL playoff picks, bringing my overall record to 4 out of 10.
Colts 30 Jets 17: The miracle run of the Jets has come to an end.
The Colts are going to their fourth Super Bowl. There record is 2-1, with a loss to the Jets and a win over the Cowboys when they were the Baltimore Colts, and a win over the Bears in their first appearance as the Indianapolis Colts.
In the AFC, three teams have never made it to the Super Bowl. The Cleveland Browns (ironically the Baltimore Ravens who used to be the Browns did make it to one beating the Giants) and two teams from the Colts' division, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
Saints 31 Vikings 28 OT: Tough game with the Saints beating up the Vikings QB, Brett Favre.
The New Orleans Saints are going to their first Super Bowl after years of losing efforts. Only one team from the NFC has never been to a Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions.
So who do I, with a 4-6 record in playoff picks, like in the Super Bowl.
The Colts are the favorites, but I hate the Colts and Peyton Manning. I am picking the Saints.
Oh well.
Colts 30 Jets 17: The miracle run of the Jets has come to an end.
The Colts are going to their fourth Super Bowl. There record is 2-1, with a loss to the Jets and a win over the Cowboys when they were the Baltimore Colts, and a win over the Bears in their first appearance as the Indianapolis Colts.
In the AFC, three teams have never made it to the Super Bowl. The Cleveland Browns (ironically the Baltimore Ravens who used to be the Browns did make it to one beating the Giants) and two teams from the Colts' division, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
Saints 31 Vikings 28 OT: Tough game with the Saints beating up the Vikings QB, Brett Favre.
The New Orleans Saints are going to their first Super Bowl after years of losing efforts. Only one team from the NFC has never been to a Super Bowl, the Detroit Lions.
So who do I, with a 4-6 record in playoff picks, like in the Super Bowl.
The Colts are the favorites, but I hate the Colts and Peyton Manning. I am picking the Saints.
Oh well.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thoughts: 24-January-2010
When I decide to write these blogs, a dilemma always occur when I write about my TV shows. I have so much more to say about the crappy ones than I do about the ones I like. So I am going to streamline it a bit today and do some one liners of praise and complaints.
White Collar (USA): Nice to see this show back on the air and how nice the revelation of Peter wearing the ring and talking to Kate was resolved. Seems the ring is a 10 year FBI service ring and Peter is not the only one to have it. He talks to Kate and gets the feeling she is only using the lovesick Neal. Is this true or will more be revealed? I don't buy Peter being a bad guy and I like the way he and Neal work together to catch the bad guys. A
Burn Notice (USA): Another series of new episodes shows why USA is the best for new TV shows. I love the cast, why Jeffery Donavon does not get more love from the critics is beyond me. A
Leverage (TNT): Another series that I love and cannot get enough of. Yes Virginia, there is some good shows out there. A
And now the bad.
American Chopper (TLC): This show is getting so bad, the phony deal with Sr crying and making us think that Gus was going to die of cancer, only to reveal that the dog is okay. Then he takes the crew and Gus to a steakhouse and feeds him a steak was unfrakkingbelievable. Why would a restaurant allow a dog (and Gus is not a service dog as someone on the official website claimed who helps Sr deal with his blood pressure, there is not such thing) to be hand fed a steak right there for all their other customers to see? No reason other than to get free publicity on the show just like the 60 seconds they spent to show off their new security system, again done so in order to get something for free or very reduced cost in exchange of free publicity. F
Grey's Anatomy (ABC): Another stinker, Izzie who is the worst doctor in the world and did two serious frakkups that would prevent any other doctor from practicing is going to get another chance? I mean, really? I don't think this show has a clue where it is going. F
Private Practice (ABC): What is worst the Cooper-Charlotte break up or the Naomi, pro life for everyone but her daughter, or the whole Maya pregnancy deal? I hate this show. F
Dollhouse (Fox) has its series finale next Friday at 8 pm. Thanks to the Hope for Haiti telethon that had to be on very frakking channel, it was bumped to a time where I have three other shows to watch. I guess like Fringe (Fox), I will have to watch it on Hula.com. On one hand, I did not like the way the show started out, I thought that Joss Whedon spent too much time on the cat house for the perverted rich angle and not enough on trying to bring the Dollhouse down. Oh well, I watch enough crappy shows as it is.
Human Target (Fox): I am really liking this show and Mark Valley as Christopher Chance. The second episode was quite good and I hope it builds an audience. A
Oh well.
White Collar (USA): Nice to see this show back on the air and how nice the revelation of Peter wearing the ring and talking to Kate was resolved. Seems the ring is a 10 year FBI service ring and Peter is not the only one to have it. He talks to Kate and gets the feeling she is only using the lovesick Neal. Is this true or will more be revealed? I don't buy Peter being a bad guy and I like the way he and Neal work together to catch the bad guys. A
Burn Notice (USA): Another series of new episodes shows why USA is the best for new TV shows. I love the cast, why Jeffery Donavon does not get more love from the critics is beyond me. A
Leverage (TNT): Another series that I love and cannot get enough of. Yes Virginia, there is some good shows out there. A
And now the bad.
American Chopper (TLC): This show is getting so bad, the phony deal with Sr crying and making us think that Gus was going to die of cancer, only to reveal that the dog is okay. Then he takes the crew and Gus to a steakhouse and feeds him a steak was unfrakkingbelievable. Why would a restaurant allow a dog (and Gus is not a service dog as someone on the official website claimed who helps Sr deal with his blood pressure, there is not such thing) to be hand fed a steak right there for all their other customers to see? No reason other than to get free publicity on the show just like the 60 seconds they spent to show off their new security system, again done so in order to get something for free or very reduced cost in exchange of free publicity. F
Grey's Anatomy (ABC): Another stinker, Izzie who is the worst doctor in the world and did two serious frakkups that would prevent any other doctor from practicing is going to get another chance? I mean, really? I don't think this show has a clue where it is going. F
Private Practice (ABC): What is worst the Cooper-Charlotte break up or the Naomi, pro life for everyone but her daughter, or the whole Maya pregnancy deal? I hate this show. F
Dollhouse (Fox) has its series finale next Friday at 8 pm. Thanks to the Hope for Haiti telethon that had to be on very frakking channel, it was bumped to a time where I have three other shows to watch. I guess like Fringe (Fox), I will have to watch it on Hula.com. On one hand, I did not like the way the show started out, I thought that Joss Whedon spent too much time on the cat house for the perverted rich angle and not enough on trying to bring the Dollhouse down. Oh well, I watch enough crappy shows as it is.
Human Target (Fox): I am really liking this show and Mark Valley as Christopher Chance. The second episode was quite good and I hope it builds an audience. A
Oh well.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Thoughts: 18-January-2010
Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, where we honor this great civil rights leader. King is a fine example of what someone can do without resorting to violence to accomplish their goals. His life still teaches those lessons to us this very day.
NFL Playoffs Update.
I am 1-1 yesterday in my picks with a season total of 2-6.
Vikings 34 Cowboys 3: I hate the Cowboys and was happy to see my prediction come true. I love the whining the Cowboys are doing about the Vikings running up the score. How sad for them.
Jets 17 Chargers 14: The Jets continue their miracle run which I still cannot believe.
On to the conference championship games.
NY Jets at Indianapolis Colts: I hate both these teams and will not root for either one of them in the Super Bowl. The Jets HC Rex Ryan, just four weeks ago thought his team had been eliminated from the playoffs and then when they did make the playoffs shot off his mouth that they should be Super Bowl favorites. The Colts with the sicking Peyton Manning are not much better. Who will win, I am going to say the Colts.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints: On the other hand, I like and respect both teams in the NFC championship game. This is saying something for a big AFC fan such as myself. Both teams look good and it should be a great game. I am going with the home team and picking the Saints.
Sanctuary (SyFy) had its two hour season finale this past weekend and ended on a cliffhanger. I really like this show and I have to say that Amanda Tapping does a better job here then she did in the Stargate SG-1 series. Interesting ending and I would like to see how they resolve the story. A
Human Target (Fox) had its series premiere last night. This show is based on a DC comic book about a unique bodyguard named Christopher Chance who acts as a human target for someone one is being threatened with murder. In the comic book series, he actually was a master of disguise who would impersonate the potential victim. In this TV show, he just blends into the background and observes the situation until he makes the killer. Pretty good episode, I liked the way he noticed a drink was poisoned due to having different shaped ice cubes than all the other drinks. Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Hailey play his support team and I thought that they did a nice job. Lots of action and Mark Valley was really good in this performance. I like it. A
There was a previous Human Target show that starred Rick Springfield, a pop star and soap opera actor. I always think of the song Jimmy "the Mouth of the South" Hart sang during the WWE's rock and wrestling era entitled "Eat Your Heart Out Rick Springfield" whenever I think of this person.
24 (Fox) has its season 8 premiere last night. When this show started with the unique concept of have the entire season go as a 24 hour real time day, I never thought that they could pull off one season let alone 8. Kiefer Sutherland makes this show and without him it would not work. Pretty typical opening for the show, if you like 24 you will be happy with it. B
Oh well.
NFL Playoffs Update.
I am 1-1 yesterday in my picks with a season total of 2-6.
Vikings 34 Cowboys 3: I hate the Cowboys and was happy to see my prediction come true. I love the whining the Cowboys are doing about the Vikings running up the score. How sad for them.
Jets 17 Chargers 14: The Jets continue their miracle run which I still cannot believe.
On to the conference championship games.
NY Jets at Indianapolis Colts: I hate both these teams and will not root for either one of them in the Super Bowl. The Jets HC Rex Ryan, just four weeks ago thought his team had been eliminated from the playoffs and then when they did make the playoffs shot off his mouth that they should be Super Bowl favorites. The Colts with the sicking Peyton Manning are not much better. Who will win, I am going to say the Colts.
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints: On the other hand, I like and respect both teams in the NFC championship game. This is saying something for a big AFC fan such as myself. Both teams look good and it should be a great game. I am going with the home team and picking the Saints.
Sanctuary (SyFy) had its two hour season finale this past weekend and ended on a cliffhanger. I really like this show and I have to say that Amanda Tapping does a better job here then she did in the Stargate SG-1 series. Interesting ending and I would like to see how they resolve the story. A
Human Target (Fox) had its series premiere last night. This show is based on a DC comic book about a unique bodyguard named Christopher Chance who acts as a human target for someone one is being threatened with murder. In the comic book series, he actually was a master of disguise who would impersonate the potential victim. In this TV show, he just blends into the background and observes the situation until he makes the killer. Pretty good episode, I liked the way he noticed a drink was poisoned due to having different shaped ice cubes than all the other drinks. Chi McBride and Jackie Earle Hailey play his support team and I thought that they did a nice job. Lots of action and Mark Valley was really good in this performance. I like it. A
There was a previous Human Target show that starred Rick Springfield, a pop star and soap opera actor. I always think of the song Jimmy "the Mouth of the South" Hart sang during the WWE's rock and wrestling era entitled "Eat Your Heart Out Rick Springfield" whenever I think of this person.
24 (Fox) has its season 8 premiere last night. When this show started with the unique concept of have the entire season go as a 24 hour real time day, I never thought that they could pull off one season let alone 8. Kiefer Sutherland makes this show and without him it would not work. Pretty typical opening for the show, if you like 24 you will be happy with it. B
Oh well.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Thoughts: 17-January-2010
Well I am 1-2 in my NFL playoff predictions so far this weekend, giving me a 1-5 record to date.
Saints 45 Cardinals 14: Saints really took it to Arizona this weekend and I am glad that they did not slump as the last few games of the season seem to indicate. They are my pick to go the the Super Bowl from the NFC.
Colts 20 Ravens 3: Where were the Ravens who beat my beloved Patriots? I hate the Colts and cannot stand Peyton Manning. It sickens me to see his mug all over the TV schilling for products, I refuse to buy anything that he endorses. Please do not let the scumbag Colts make it to the Super Bowl.
Comic News Update.
DC is bringing back Birds of Prey and the Barry Allen Flash comics. Two of my favorites which I did not like seeing get cancelled. I also find out this weekend, that Bruce Wayne/Batman is not dead but roaming through the time stream (Didn't Marvel do this with the Steve Rodgers Captain America?). So that character will be returning and we will have to see how this affects the Dick Grayson/Batman character, will he go back to being Nightwing, keep on playing Batman, or creating a new character?
I like the current set up with Detective Comics featuring Batwoman and The Question. Red Robin aka Tim Drake book is okay, Batgirl with the Stephanie Brown character, I kind of would like to see Cassandra Cain return as Batgirl. Should be interesting to see what DC does.
Marvel announced that when the Siege limited series ends, the four Avenger books (New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Avengers: The Initiative, and Dark Avengers) will be cancelled. Speculation on the internet is that Marvel will be introducing 4 new comic books. While I would like to see the Avengers come back in 1 or 2 titles, I think that Marvel needs to stop this trend of creating multiple ongoing series, this trend tends to beat an interesting concept to death.
What I would like to see is, Ms Marvel come back in an ongoing series, The Mighty Avengers and Solo Avengers (which would do story arcs on individual members of the team who do not have their own book) and The Defenders come back. And I would love to see a Legion of Monsters type book featuring Man-Thing, Morbius the Living Vampire, and Jack Russell aka Werewolf by Night for example, though I doubt sales would support a book like that.
The Good Wife (CBS) is starting to get very interesting. We have the Chris Noth character going up against the State Attorney in a power play as Noth tries to get out of prison. The investigator working for the law firm is playing double agent in all this. And Alicia continues to do great work as a lawyer. Great blending of concepts here. A
Nip/Tuck (FX) is getting really bad, thank God there are only 7 more episodes before this show ends. The characters are losing all their appealing qualities and I do not have a clue why this is so. F
Leverage (TNT) returns with another great episode. I really like this show, the Jeri Ryan character has not come into her own yet as we wait for the actress who plays Sophie to return from her maternity leave. Still one of the best shows on TV. A
Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Crossover Event (ABC). First it was not much of a cross over as only Addison and McSteamy were involved in the crossover plot. Christine loves her mentor in Cardio, but she wants to leave because she loves Owen who loves Christine. Christine's desire to be a Cardio surgeon is so great that she gives up Owen to the Kim Raver character. Alex is fed up with Izzie and sleeps with Lexie who broke up with McSteamy because she does not want to live with his eighteen year old daughter and her upcoming baby. On the other show, Addison and McSteamy sleep together in her office, McSteamy wants to join the practice and move in with Addison with his daughter and grandson. The daughter, named Sloan, wants to give the kid up for adoption and go back to her Mom. And Cooper continues to be the biggest jerk in the world toward Charlotte who looks like she will be leaving this horse's ass. Good Lord, I would thank God every hour if I had Charlotte King as a girlfriend. Oh and Mia, the daughter of Naomi and the Taye Diggs character is pregnant. Overall, after writing this, I have to give these shows a D. What a convoluted mess.
American Chopper (TLC) is getting worst and worst. Sr looks like the biggest jerk around, and I only have to wonder how long Rick will stay with OCC. F
Oh well.
Saints 45 Cardinals 14: Saints really took it to Arizona this weekend and I am glad that they did not slump as the last few games of the season seem to indicate. They are my pick to go the the Super Bowl from the NFC.
Colts 20 Ravens 3: Where were the Ravens who beat my beloved Patriots? I hate the Colts and cannot stand Peyton Manning. It sickens me to see his mug all over the TV schilling for products, I refuse to buy anything that he endorses. Please do not let the scumbag Colts make it to the Super Bowl.
Comic News Update.
DC is bringing back Birds of Prey and the Barry Allen Flash comics. Two of my favorites which I did not like seeing get cancelled. I also find out this weekend, that Bruce Wayne/Batman is not dead but roaming through the time stream (Didn't Marvel do this with the Steve Rodgers Captain America?). So that character will be returning and we will have to see how this affects the Dick Grayson/Batman character, will he go back to being Nightwing, keep on playing Batman, or creating a new character?
I like the current set up with Detective Comics featuring Batwoman and The Question. Red Robin aka Tim Drake book is okay, Batgirl with the Stephanie Brown character, I kind of would like to see Cassandra Cain return as Batgirl. Should be interesting to see what DC does.
Marvel announced that when the Siege limited series ends, the four Avenger books (New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Avengers: The Initiative, and Dark Avengers) will be cancelled. Speculation on the internet is that Marvel will be introducing 4 new comic books. While I would like to see the Avengers come back in 1 or 2 titles, I think that Marvel needs to stop this trend of creating multiple ongoing series, this trend tends to beat an interesting concept to death.
What I would like to see is, Ms Marvel come back in an ongoing series, The Mighty Avengers and Solo Avengers (which would do story arcs on individual members of the team who do not have their own book) and The Defenders come back. And I would love to see a Legion of Monsters type book featuring Man-Thing, Morbius the Living Vampire, and Jack Russell aka Werewolf by Night for example, though I doubt sales would support a book like that.
The Good Wife (CBS) is starting to get very interesting. We have the Chris Noth character going up against the State Attorney in a power play as Noth tries to get out of prison. The investigator working for the law firm is playing double agent in all this. And Alicia continues to do great work as a lawyer. Great blending of concepts here. A
Nip/Tuck (FX) is getting really bad, thank God there are only 7 more episodes before this show ends. The characters are losing all their appealing qualities and I do not have a clue why this is so. F
Leverage (TNT) returns with another great episode. I really like this show, the Jeri Ryan character has not come into her own yet as we wait for the actress who plays Sophie to return from her maternity leave. Still one of the best shows on TV. A
Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice Crossover Event (ABC). First it was not much of a cross over as only Addison and McSteamy were involved in the crossover plot. Christine loves her mentor in Cardio, but she wants to leave because she loves Owen who loves Christine. Christine's desire to be a Cardio surgeon is so great that she gives up Owen to the Kim Raver character. Alex is fed up with Izzie and sleeps with Lexie who broke up with McSteamy because she does not want to live with his eighteen year old daughter and her upcoming baby. On the other show, Addison and McSteamy sleep together in her office, McSteamy wants to join the practice and move in with Addison with his daughter and grandson. The daughter, named Sloan, wants to give the kid up for adoption and go back to her Mom. And Cooper continues to be the biggest jerk in the world toward Charlotte who looks like she will be leaving this horse's ass. Good Lord, I would thank God every hour if I had Charlotte King as a girlfriend. Oh and Mia, the daughter of Naomi and the Taye Diggs character is pregnant. Overall, after writing this, I have to give these shows a D. What a convoluted mess.
American Chopper (TLC) is getting worst and worst. Sr looks like the biggest jerk around, and I only have to wonder how long Rick will stay with OCC. F
Oh well.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Thoughts: 14-January-2010
I went 0 for 4 in my playoff picks which is pretty much how they usually go. Here is what happened.
Jets 24 Bengals 14: I really thought that the Bengals would have played better at home and that the Jets would not play well.
Cowboys 34 Eagles14: Cowboys have beaten their playoff jinx.
Ravens 33 Patriots 14: This game really hurt. I called for a pizza, turned on the game, saw the Ravens won the toss, went into the kitchen to get a drink, and when I returned to the TV, the Patriots had the ball. Then I saw the score, on the first possession the Ravens scored. The game was over in the first quarter.
Cardinals 51 Packers 45 OT: This is the closest I got to a win.
So let's try again.
Ravens at Colts: I am not impressed with the Colts and I think that they will lose, I like the Ravens.
Jets at Chargers: The Jets' run ends here, I pick the Chargers.
Cowboys at Vikings: I like the Vikings to win.
Cardinals at Saints: I still think that this is New Orleans' year, I pick the Saints.
I finished reading a great book, Dust and Shadows by Lyndsay Faye. It is a Sherlock Holmes story where he goes after Jack the Ripper. It was very well written and I could not put it down. This is the author's first book and I cannot wait to see what she does for her next book which will not be a Holmes adventure.
Heroes (NBC) had a good episode last night, the best of the season so far. Maybe this show will turn around. The first season vibe was there. A
The Jay Leno at 10 pm experiment is over and now NBC has a real mess on its hands. Conan O'Brien wants to leave the Tonight Show rather than have it move a half hour back. NBC really blew it.
Oh well.
Jets 24 Bengals 14: I really thought that the Bengals would have played better at home and that the Jets would not play well.
Cowboys 34 Eagles14: Cowboys have beaten their playoff jinx.
Ravens 33 Patriots 14: This game really hurt. I called for a pizza, turned on the game, saw the Ravens won the toss, went into the kitchen to get a drink, and when I returned to the TV, the Patriots had the ball. Then I saw the score, on the first possession the Ravens scored. The game was over in the first quarter.
Cardinals 51 Packers 45 OT: This is the closest I got to a win.
So let's try again.
Ravens at Colts: I am not impressed with the Colts and I think that they will lose, I like the Ravens.
Jets at Chargers: The Jets' run ends here, I pick the Chargers.
Cowboys at Vikings: I like the Vikings to win.
Cardinals at Saints: I still think that this is New Orleans' year, I pick the Saints.
I finished reading a great book, Dust and Shadows by Lyndsay Faye. It is a Sherlock Holmes story where he goes after Jack the Ripper. It was very well written and I could not put it down. This is the author's first book and I cannot wait to see what she does for her next book which will not be a Holmes adventure.
Heroes (NBC) had a good episode last night, the best of the season so far. Maybe this show will turn around. The first season vibe was there. A
The Jay Leno at 10 pm experiment is over and now NBC has a real mess on its hands. Conan O'Brien wants to leave the Tonight Show rather than have it move a half hour back. NBC really blew it.
Oh well.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Thoughts: 09-January-2010
Today is my friend Sheryl's birthday, and as she one of the few that I know read this blog, happy birthday. Since my birthday is in January also, we always treat each other to breakfast which I plan on doing on Tuesday for her.
Rue Morgue had some good news for me in its latest issue. A favorite movie of mine from Australia finally made it to DVD. Razorback starring Gregory Harrison came out years ago and is about a giant razorback pig roaming the outback killing people. One of the many Jaws imitations that came out after the success of that film. It was directed by Russel Mulcahy who directed the first two Highlander films. I just ordered it from Amazon.com and cannot wait to get it.
NFL Playoff Predictions for Round One.
Ravens at Patriots: I already picked the Patriots to win by 7 in my last blog entry. Still stick by that given the home advantage for New England, but it will be a tough one.
Jets at Bengals: I like the Bengals to win. The Jets have been really inconsistent this season and the trash talk coming from Rex Ryan is going to doom them. Mark Sanchez has been very good in some games and very bad in others and while the Jets beat the Bengals in the last game of the season at home, the Bengals will not be the same team in their house.
Packers at Cardinals: I really don't follow the NFC at all, I do not care for any of the teams in that conference. Both Arizona and Green Bay look to me like pretty equal teams and a coin toss could be done to pick a winner. My gut tells me that Green Bay is on the rise and Arizona is on the decline, so I pick the Packers.
Eagles at Cowboys: Dallas defeated the Eagles on the road to take the division title and now host them at home. Dallas has been pretty bad in the playoffs for the last couple of years and I don't really see anything to indicate that they have improved. Being born and raised in PA, I am going with the Eagles.
By the way, don't gamble based on my picks, I usually am wrong.
Nip/Tuck (FX) had the start of its final season this past week and I was really underwhelmed. This show's time has come as they seem to be playing the same themes and plots over and over again. This past week Sean once again realizes how Christian has held him back in his career and life, which has been played out already so may times previously. Boring. And Kimber sure looks really unhealthy, well too thin and too tanned. C
American Chopper (TLC) had another show where it was all drama and no information on the build, which was a very innovative bike for wheelchair bound folks. Would have been nice to see how they solved the problems in building this bike. Instead we get to see Jr and his lawyers visit OCC to check the books on his 20% interest in the company. Jr says that he had hoped to be bought out but that did not happen. We know that Sr has launched a lawsuit against Jr about this issue so I was a tad surprised that the AC producers wanted to cover this in the show. We get to see some very staged interactions, come on guys do you really think that nobody in the shop knew Jr was coming to OCC? Very unprofessional antics with Sr addressing the troops about what a bad person Jr is and was. I hope that Jr's lawyers get a subpoena for this footage and nail OCC in the lawsuit. This show needs to end soon. D
Cold Case (CBS, reruns on TNT). I have been catching up on TNT with this show as I only starting watching it this past season. What a great show and much better than a lot of the stuff I am watching on the networks. I note that the latest episodes have been making the top 20, so I hope that show gets renewed. A
Ghost Whisperer (CBS). The latest show was pretty much business as usual, a ghost is haunting a radio station that pulled pranks that ended up with the death of our ghost. What I wonder is what is the mythology of this show? There seems to be no solid connection with what we learn about Melinda and her interactions with the ghosts. In season one, she met a spiritual being (angel maybe) who took the souls of newborns who passed away to heaven and chatted with her. Never saw a followup with that. We also get the watcher ghosts whose roles are not clearly defined. And now the shiny ones and the shadows? And one other point, Melinda wears way too tight and revealing clothing for a mother of a five year old who does not have a nanny taking care of a the kid, but then again that is why I watch this show so never mind. C
Oh well.
Rue Morgue had some good news for me in its latest issue. A favorite movie of mine from Australia finally made it to DVD. Razorback starring Gregory Harrison came out years ago and is about a giant razorback pig roaming the outback killing people. One of the many Jaws imitations that came out after the success of that film. It was directed by Russel Mulcahy who directed the first two Highlander films. I just ordered it from Amazon.com and cannot wait to get it.
NFL Playoff Predictions for Round One.
Ravens at Patriots: I already picked the Patriots to win by 7 in my last blog entry. Still stick by that given the home advantage for New England, but it will be a tough one.
Jets at Bengals: I like the Bengals to win. The Jets have been really inconsistent this season and the trash talk coming from Rex Ryan is going to doom them. Mark Sanchez has been very good in some games and very bad in others and while the Jets beat the Bengals in the last game of the season at home, the Bengals will not be the same team in their house.
Packers at Cardinals: I really don't follow the NFC at all, I do not care for any of the teams in that conference. Both Arizona and Green Bay look to me like pretty equal teams and a coin toss could be done to pick a winner. My gut tells me that Green Bay is on the rise and Arizona is on the decline, so I pick the Packers.
Eagles at Cowboys: Dallas defeated the Eagles on the road to take the division title and now host them at home. Dallas has been pretty bad in the playoffs for the last couple of years and I don't really see anything to indicate that they have improved. Being born and raised in PA, I am going with the Eagles.
By the way, don't gamble based on my picks, I usually am wrong.
Nip/Tuck (FX) had the start of its final season this past week and I was really underwhelmed. This show's time has come as they seem to be playing the same themes and plots over and over again. This past week Sean once again realizes how Christian has held him back in his career and life, which has been played out already so may times previously. Boring. And Kimber sure looks really unhealthy, well too thin and too tanned. C
American Chopper (TLC) had another show where it was all drama and no information on the build, which was a very innovative bike for wheelchair bound folks. Would have been nice to see how they solved the problems in building this bike. Instead we get to see Jr and his lawyers visit OCC to check the books on his 20% interest in the company. Jr says that he had hoped to be bought out but that did not happen. We know that Sr has launched a lawsuit against Jr about this issue so I was a tad surprised that the AC producers wanted to cover this in the show. We get to see some very staged interactions, come on guys do you really think that nobody in the shop knew Jr was coming to OCC? Very unprofessional antics with Sr addressing the troops about what a bad person Jr is and was. I hope that Jr's lawyers get a subpoena for this footage and nail OCC in the lawsuit. This show needs to end soon. D
Cold Case (CBS, reruns on TNT). I have been catching up on TNT with this show as I only starting watching it this past season. What a great show and much better than a lot of the stuff I am watching on the networks. I note that the latest episodes have been making the top 20, so I hope that show gets renewed. A
Ghost Whisperer (CBS). The latest show was pretty much business as usual, a ghost is haunting a radio station that pulled pranks that ended up with the death of our ghost. What I wonder is what is the mythology of this show? There seems to be no solid connection with what we learn about Melinda and her interactions with the ghosts. In season one, she met a spiritual being (angel maybe) who took the souls of newborns who passed away to heaven and chatted with her. Never saw a followup with that. We also get the watcher ghosts whose roles are not clearly defined. And now the shiny ones and the shadows? And one other point, Melinda wears way too tight and revealing clothing for a mother of a five year old who does not have a nanny taking care of a the kid, but then again that is why I watch this show so never mind. C
Oh well.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Thoughts: 05-January-2010
I am getting lazy and keep putting off writing this blog. Maybe I need the stimulation of comments from Reaper fans who would show up and post whenever I commented about the show.
The Patriots lost to the Texans 34-27, another game where New England was leading until the fourth quarter and then gave up 21 unanswered points. The Patriots finish up the season with a 10-6 record (2-6 on the road), the AFC East Title, and fourth seed in the playoffs. They also lost Wesley Walker for the playoffs with an ACL injury.
They take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday and are four point favorites. Being at home helps and while they beat the Ravens earlier in the season, I think that it will be much tougher this game. I still like them to win, 24-17 and then lose on the road in round two.
Capital One Bowl over the New Year's holiday, had Penn State beating LSU 19-17. A big win for Penn State as they finish the season 11-2. I did not think that they would win the game and I have to say that I am happy for the team that they pulled it off.
Florida State lost its appeal and will have up to 14 games stripped from Bobby Bowden's record as he drops from 389 to 375 in wins. In an interview with the Sporting News Today, he says that he would like to have stay on long enough to win 400. This was repeated and I think that he may return to coaching at a smaller Division One School just to try and gets some more wins to his overall record. Especially if Joe Paterno retires in the next couple of years. Yeah, that record is not important to those guys.
Heroes (NBC) had two episodes last night. I am so bored with this Samuel and his carnival storyline. Does anybody care? And making Samuel so powerful that only Skyler can take him down, that is if he was not having his own problems with his powers. I wish Peter still had the ability to retain all his powers like in Season One, where in the future he turned into a real bad ass. Of course, I wish it was still Season One for this show, at least I was interested. D
Desperate Housewives (ABC) revealed who died in the last episode. Karl, a one note character in my opinion is dead. Mona, the blackmailing nurse is dead. One of Lynette's unborn twins is dead. And Orson (I cannot believe how Kyle McLaughlin is wasted on this show, David Lynch where are you?) is in a wheelchair. I thought the fantasy part of what their futures may have been to be a tad too cute for my tastes. Yawn. C
Oh well.
The Patriots lost to the Texans 34-27, another game where New England was leading until the fourth quarter and then gave up 21 unanswered points. The Patriots finish up the season with a 10-6 record (2-6 on the road), the AFC East Title, and fourth seed in the playoffs. They also lost Wesley Walker for the playoffs with an ACL injury.
They take on the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday and are four point favorites. Being at home helps and while they beat the Ravens earlier in the season, I think that it will be much tougher this game. I still like them to win, 24-17 and then lose on the road in round two.
Capital One Bowl over the New Year's holiday, had Penn State beating LSU 19-17. A big win for Penn State as they finish the season 11-2. I did not think that they would win the game and I have to say that I am happy for the team that they pulled it off.
Florida State lost its appeal and will have up to 14 games stripped from Bobby Bowden's record as he drops from 389 to 375 in wins. In an interview with the Sporting News Today, he says that he would like to have stay on long enough to win 400. This was repeated and I think that he may return to coaching at a smaller Division One School just to try and gets some more wins to his overall record. Especially if Joe Paterno retires in the next couple of years. Yeah, that record is not important to those guys.
Heroes (NBC) had two episodes last night. I am so bored with this Samuel and his carnival storyline. Does anybody care? And making Samuel so powerful that only Skyler can take him down, that is if he was not having his own problems with his powers. I wish Peter still had the ability to retain all his powers like in Season One, where in the future he turned into a real bad ass. Of course, I wish it was still Season One for this show, at least I was interested. D
Desperate Housewives (ABC) revealed who died in the last episode. Karl, a one note character in my opinion is dead. Mona, the blackmailing nurse is dead. One of Lynette's unborn twins is dead. And Orson (I cannot believe how Kyle McLaughlin is wasted on this show, David Lynch where are you?) is in a wheelchair. I thought the fantasy part of what their futures may have been to be a tad too cute for my tastes. Yawn. C
Oh well.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Thoughts: 01-January-2010
Happy New Year to one and all, hopefully 2010 will be an improvement on 2009, it cannot get any worst can it?
2009 started off with Pfizer, the company I work for, laying off a number of workers in our department. That day in January 2009 was spent checking the email for the call to see a manager or the call to attend a group meeting for the survivors. I got the email for the group meeting and along with the other folk, thought that we were save for a couple of years.
Then the next day, we get the news that Pfizer is thinking of buying Wyeth which quickly became a reality. So the year was spent worrying about site closings, layoffs, and then the dreaded re-organization. Why is it that we are promised a delayering of management, but what happens is that one manager gets fired and is replaced by two? Maybe the Hydra from Greek mythology has transformed itself into the modern corporation.
Anyway, the Groton site stayed open, I get to kept my job for the moment, and we have a massive lab restructure which may result in new reporting relationships. My boss of 24 years, who hired me back in October 1986, is in charge of the lab that I was assigned to, I may still get to report to her or maybe to one of the new PhDs under her command. Our new CSO (chief scientific officer) expects PhDs to actually go into the lab and run experiments. This should be amusing.
2010 here we come.
ABC added big time insult to the few fans of the show Eastwick. It seems that they decided to skip an episode between the one that aired on Dec. 16 and the one that aired on Dec 30. We had a big time cliffhanger with Roxie kidnapped by Jamie and about to be killed, Darryl Van Horne knocked out, Kat whose life energy was drained by her healing was bleeding heavily into her bathtub, and Joanna and Max were placed in a paralysed state and were helpless. Now I know the show was cancelled, but could you at least telecast the remaining episodes in the proper order. Hell, show them on Saturday night like you did with Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. I give the Dec. 30 telecast (Episode 12 since 11 was not shown) a B in that the show tied up the cliffhangers and started a different direction with some secrets of certain new characters being slowly revealed.
Penn State meets LSU in the Capital One Bowl today, I am picking LSU to win 36-14 as Penn State has not done well in these big games.
Oh well.
2009 started off with Pfizer, the company I work for, laying off a number of workers in our department. That day in January 2009 was spent checking the email for the call to see a manager or the call to attend a group meeting for the survivors. I got the email for the group meeting and along with the other folk, thought that we were save for a couple of years.
Then the next day, we get the news that Pfizer is thinking of buying Wyeth which quickly became a reality. So the year was spent worrying about site closings, layoffs, and then the dreaded re-organization. Why is it that we are promised a delayering of management, but what happens is that one manager gets fired and is replaced by two? Maybe the Hydra from Greek mythology has transformed itself into the modern corporation.
Anyway, the Groton site stayed open, I get to kept my job for the moment, and we have a massive lab restructure which may result in new reporting relationships. My boss of 24 years, who hired me back in October 1986, is in charge of the lab that I was assigned to, I may still get to report to her or maybe to one of the new PhDs under her command. Our new CSO (chief scientific officer) expects PhDs to actually go into the lab and run experiments. This should be amusing.
2010 here we come.
ABC added big time insult to the few fans of the show Eastwick. It seems that they decided to skip an episode between the one that aired on Dec. 16 and the one that aired on Dec 30. We had a big time cliffhanger with Roxie kidnapped by Jamie and about to be killed, Darryl Van Horne knocked out, Kat whose life energy was drained by her healing was bleeding heavily into her bathtub, and Joanna and Max were placed in a paralysed state and were helpless. Now I know the show was cancelled, but could you at least telecast the remaining episodes in the proper order. Hell, show them on Saturday night like you did with Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money. I give the Dec. 30 telecast (Episode 12 since 11 was not shown) a B in that the show tied up the cliffhangers and started a different direction with some secrets of certain new characters being slowly revealed.
Penn State meets LSU in the Capital One Bowl today, I am picking LSU to win 36-14 as Penn State has not done well in these big games.
Oh well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
