Yes, I used Mad Max as the example because it was a science-fiction Western that did not look like Cowboys & Aliens. The Old West aesthetic just isn't on trend at the moment. Like I mentioned, I wonder if Defiance would have a larger audience if it had masked its Western underpinnings from the beginning (more like…

I wonder if people are skipping the show because it has a sci-fi Western aesthetic. Even Josh Whedon concedes that the term "science fiction Western" has a negative effect on people's perception. If this was visually designed more as "Mad Max with aliens", while still keeping the Western story tropes (sheriffs,…

Hi, you must have me confused with Frieman. Nothing you just wrote does me any good since I am not a citizen of that country. I was merely clarifying that your birth certificate analogy is not applicable to what Frieman is doing. He wants a legal ruling that his stack of paper is not a person. He wants to lose. (^_^)

Oh, okay. Well, then don't forget to grow a tree on top of your totem pole, in commemoration of Kenya. She did die among the flowering trees.

Jesse Rath actually did a behind-the-scenes video that showed how much effort it takes to get into makeup. It's either the Perks of Being Human or the Becoming Castithan video; can't remember. He says it takes hours to get ready, so shooting doesn't begin until around midday (the human characters don't have to show up…

I like the idea of letting your spirit literally soar on the wind! Lightbending is also a nice idea, though I don't know if the show will go that far. I'm assuming spirits are visible from whatever glowing ectoplasm comprises their bodies.

His point is that a corporation is not a person, but is instead a stack of paperwork. Since the state recognizes personhood for corporations, his only recourse was to bring the stack of paperwork that proves this "person" exists. Paperwork doesn't substitute for a living individual, so birth certificates don't count,…

The most recent article I could find was in the link I stuck in Frieman's name. They ruled that he needed to pay the ticket, which is seemingly what he wanted to happen. This allows him to appeal to a higher court. His intent is to keep appealing (he expects to lose) all the way to the Supreme Court.

That's Jonathan Frieman from Marin County.

1. I know! I mentioned I shouldn't have used the "bending" term. I tried to clarify that air benders like Jinora are more apt to comprehend how their spirit selves work (even without bending, their spirit forms don't behave like corporeal bodies). Bringing this into the material world, Jinora knows how to move her…

Yes, voyaging into the spirit world has always been a known ability (it's how we met Koh). It's astral projection within the material world that seems new with Jinora. Otherwise, why is it a high level air bender move?

1. Hah, I'm not making myself clear. I know they can't bend in the spirit world because of the lack of bodies. I'm saying that air benders, deprived of their element, naturally acclimate to this situation because of their spirituality.

Hmm, well then I hope the ratings stop falling. In spite of the show's weaknesses, I feel it fulfills a niche (alien societies) that isn't really on air nowadays. Even Falling Skies is really about human society with vague aliens on the periphery. I think the Stargate franchise was the last one to accommodate that…

Oh, it didn't occur to me that Nolan could have deputized Rafe for that mission. Although that would still require the establishment to overlook the fact that the suspect was shot from behind while fleeing unarmed (and conveniently un-cuffed). I think this kind of thing is a non-issue outside the formal borders of…

Yes, the extras are probably a huge chunk of the budget. I really admire the show's commitment to display a new world, but it can't be cheap. I think creating multiple races is also really stretching their budget.

What a fantastic pile of misery! Thanks for that list. You should build a totem pole made of human corpses to celebrate it.

I agree with this idea. I think maybe the act of teleporting your spirit around is specific to air bending due to spiritual strength. Like, how earth benders can invoke heat to produce lava, but not to the extent that fire benders can. Water benders also invoke heat when they extract it from water to form ice. So,…

1. I know, but I'm saying that entering the spirit world forces air benders to deal with the other thing in which they train: their spirit. Deprived of their element, they are the most naturally inclined to comprehend the workings of their spirit selves. I mean, it seems like Jinora is basically creating air…

Of the first three seasons, I do agree that the second was the best. I'll wait until halfway before I make a call on how this season is turning out. So far, they're looking at various means of suppression, whether by indoctrination, blackmail, or placation. However, I don't know if the show has anything interesting to…

"… I'm mocking religion and claiming my power now."