It’s a fiction, taken to the fantastic. I mean, what is more unreal, being on the edge of our seats over a fictitious character, or talking via machine to a possibly fictitious person? What is reality, anyway...?

How about if they give 100% of their profits to a relevant charity?

I have mixed feelings about making a drama about a terrible tragedy. Yes, it can be edifying, and over the years I’ve seen a number of productions on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, the Titanic, and others, but it also feels ghoulish and exploitative. An opera (!) was made about the hijacking of the cruise ship Achille…

Presumably it is due to the quality of my TV screen, but when the scenes are in very low light there are dark-colored haloes around Elliot. Even if it’s not the cinematographer’s intention, it is very trippy and appropriate.

In all seriousness, I’ve been following my daughter’s example and doing more-or-less Veganember — going vegan (mostly) between Thanksgiving and Xmas, on the theory that when Christmas and parties and family get-togethers happen one is likely to go a little nuts, so this will hopefully create a pause in between feasts.…

“The Old Magic of Christmas” by Linda Raedisch (Llewellyn), a well-researched and chatty survey of Germanic and Norse folklore: all the beings who make their appearance in winter and are not necessarily friendly.

The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3.

I came late to this series and so only saw the last 3 or so episodes, and while I was well aware that she and Julian were not really going to go off into the sunset together, the behavior of her friend, selfishly inserting herself into the almost relationship, irritated me no end. I am somewhat in Eve’s realm, and the…

Getting mashed in Paris.

Overflowing.

Interesting thought... As hubby and I wondered one stoned evening, “Where does the software go when the hardware dies?”

I believe it has been explained that the E. coli contamination actually gets inside of the romaine as opposed to just being on the surface, which could be cleaned off.

She seems to be her mother’s daughter after all.

Seconded here. I kept flashing on the half-dozen of my forebears who served in the Canadian effort. As it happens, a 3-D version will be released soon.

I stumbled across the original novel recently, whch is an insufferably comedic pseudo-romp solely of interest to men who served in the British Army. Lester’s film may have failed miserably at turning it into an anti-war movie — in 1966 it was highly unusual to have anything negative to say about the War and many…

I’ve been waiting for bi/lesbian warriors in Star Wars for 40 years. Guess same-sex lovers will appear when we get peace in the Middle East...

I found the funeral dirge very beautiful. It keeps running through my head, and I will use the tune in appropriate ritual settings in future.

I skipped last season because it was just too gory for me, but wanted to know how things were going to transpire for our (anti) heroes. However, I couldn’t even finish the first episode last night. Does it HAVE to be so sadistic? This is my field, so I know that when you study Russian history it really is as dark and…

Hey, so am I, but nobody pays any attention.

“Striking” is the word. And I love the blues and greens they dress her in.