BathKol

Agree. I could not read LotR for enjoyment, but I did read many parts to compare to the movies and found the last book, Return of the King, heartbreaking for Frodo. I don't consider myself conservative by any means (does being Eastern Orthodox count?), but I don't like fantasy novels that are dogmatic in their anti this/that views. I tried to read 'Mists of Avalon'. I decided to browse through the book when I got home and some of the scenes with Morgase I believe and Arthur were...strange. Okay pornographic. But creepy. I threw the book out and was pissed I had wasted $21 on that crap. I'm not a goody two shoes either - when I was younger I used to read grimories and spell books and tarot cards because I was an idiot and was angry with my dad and thought that was a solution to my problems. Nope.

And don't forget Next Food Network Star winner Guy Fieri, who basically half owns the Food Network now. Tyra used to sorta do nice makeovers, but then by cycle seven or eight I don't know what happened to her. I guess she had an epiphany and decided to do whatever she wanted to these people's heads, like rats in a test factory. Phil has gotten work but it is mostly in the hipster modeling genre. You still have to be reasonably beautiful to be a major working male model, you know, without too much of anything on you. He's not going to be walking Givenchy or Commes des Garçons with a nappy ass weave growing on his head like a hairy tumor I can tell you that.

Thank you. I noticed, too, how warm it was when we went. My grandmother and I had gone walking along the Thames river one day and it was a high pressure day like in California - deep, clear blue skies, a balmy wind, around 72. It was actually colder in Paris than it was in London. Most mornings started out overcast and sometimes stayed that way. When my mom and grandma had visited a few years back in the winter it only sprinkled.

Unfortunately, they either spend the money on frivolous, useless things or get caught up in legal trouble with the team because they do something stupid, like not reading the contract, and lose it all. The only big money sport I understand is horse racing. I am vaguely aware of basketball and tennis because my mom and grandfather are big fans and if I can't wheedle them into watching the Breeder's Cup or local meets I have to sit up and stare at that. Football is a weird world to me.

It's like the Tyler Perry of commercials.

Wooh, that's a lot to swallow. I don't agree with his God/Christian ranting (if that's what he's on about?) and since he seems to be a big fan of Philipp Pullman, whose books I tried to re read before donating, so unfortunately I don't think we're on the same page exactly. I just found LotR a bit complicated and massive and vast...

It could be from handling fabric dye over long periods of time. The cloth smiths of Zanzibar have indigo hands and fingers from soaking linen in big tubs of dye. However, I think it's a weird form of tattooing I've heard about where they mark the skin beneath your nails for the crescent moon look... I have to look next time I'm watching.

I'm pretty neutral on Heidi and Alyssa. All Stars has a much lighter (read: less bitchy) tone than normal PR seasons, mainly because these people have already lived the TV experience and thus, aren't hamming it up as much. Well, except Jay. What a drama kween. I don't like Zanna from her vibes - despite the fact she says nothing of any noticeable importance, she's there because she wants to be there. She comes off to me as a bit pinched and narrow, like she has tunnel vision when it comes to fashion and people. Not in a conservative sense, but more or less like those annoying people who love modern art/dance/music and refuse to believe it's hideous and a bit deforming to the human condition. They'll stand up for hours explaining to you that this BLANK canvas with its singular RED dot is an expression of FEAR and doubt in the midst of the emptiness that is MODERN MAN. It's not to say that is not true, but it is most certainly not the best or most beautiful way to represent an idea.

Whomever did her product design such as the compact colors and lipstick tubes did a tacky job. Looks like drug store quality. I can't vouchsafe for her products as NARS and Smashbox have already done multi use beauty sticks and probably do them better. Lipstick is kind of old now and you can get away with stained balms for more natural color.IDK. I'm happy for Tyra and she seems like a relatively versatile woman who has the ability to exist in a market where self-pimping sexuality becomes the norm. Maybe she's getting ready to close the door on ANTM finally? I've been a begrudging fan since its early days and now that C.22 is in casting...it has been over 12 years since this show was considered fresh, divergent, and exciting. It's bad but I hope she ends it before it gets worse.

His versatility extends to how far his left eyeball can rotate in its socket in a photo.

Just happened upon this: the cinematography looks stunning, and except for all the naked gyrating people and the fact Marco Polo was probably not a buff kick ass dude...I would try Netflix to watch this.

That's what I was worried about, Haleth (pretty username btw). I just like to try no matter what, because on a recent trip to the bookstore I purchased a copy of Tolkien's short stories and loved them! It took me by surprise. I had a problem with all the characters in LotR vs. the actual story/setting. I don't think Frodo and company had left the shire till about what, chapter 38???? I couldn't take it anymore.

Thank you, Joe! I was just worried because in another forum a poster seemed to have gotten upset about something I said in fun only. ;-)

I am not trying to offend or anything. A lot of people thought this was on the table so I just kind of threw it out there - I'm not a diehard Tolkien fan so I just stay on the fringes of the gossip. The only thing I want is that beautiful illuminated copy that a German ??? art student created for his degree. I've also been meaning to read the book since it gives a general outline to the world but never seem to get around to it.

Or trying to put oil paint on tissu paper. Ain't gonna happen. To me, Hobbit is just another mega cash cow for probably some future project Jackson is working towards; studios have a tendency to do this before they start production on complicated years long films. I think they'd done better to adapt the Silmarilon (did I spell that right???) than the Hobbit, which is either rumored to be on the table or was originally the direction Jackson was going before TPTB suggested Hobbit as a Christmas Family Adventure Trilogy.