magicdog

I have an issue with Kuvira as the big bad in the future - if only because I'd like to think she would have been executed for her crimes. Of course Zaheer wasn't executed for his crimes - merely chained in a super secure prison so I suppose it could happen. I do like the thought of the next Avatar having been brainwashed to serve as a ruler of the [world], only to realize their true purpose. However - wouldn't Korra's spirit (or perhaps Rava) try to warn [him]?

Hopefully when FS is done with its first run eps Wylie can return for more appearances.

To be fair, SWAT teams as we know them didn't exist until after 1966 (the infamous Texas Tower Sniper incident is cited as the reason police needed to step up their tactics). Even when they were organized, they were still limited to large police departments that had the manpower and funding to train them (LA, NY, etc.). When Bulletproof vests came along - they were made of lead, not kevlar. That made them very heavy and not easy to move around in them. Many cops chose not to wear them.

Except the episode was originally written as a season finale for season 2. It wasn't liked much by TPTB so it got put on the shelf. When QL was cancelled with barely any notice, the producers wanted to air something new with a semblance of a finale and went and used it. It was reedited somewhat but it wasn't meant to be a series finale. It would have been nice had Sam been shown to go home periodically and/or stop it completely and reveal a thread that connected all the people whose lives he changed.

It happened following Flo's death. It was in part because Bull was fond of both characters and it came down to losing Selma, being bad enough, but losing Flo and so soon, just pushed him over the proverbial edge. I do remember Halop being honored with a still at the end of the episode with the voice over of one of the cast members (I think it was Richard Moll) saying, "We'll miss ya Flo!".

Wan's story was well told in the two eps dedicated to him. In fact, I think instead of Korra, I think they should have gone with a Wan mini series first. Plenty of questions would have been answered and there would still be enough to entertain without taking up an entire book or series of books. I'm also curious how the world would look if the next Avatar was born after Korra; her world was modeled after the 1920s. Perhaps the future would somewhat resemble the 1950s (Satomobiles covered in chrome and drag racing through the streets) or a 60s mod world(As if Carnaby Strret was reimagined in Hong Kong. Also, would Korra live a long life or would she have been an Avatar that was cut short? Aang died younger than most Avatars (but that was explained), and since Korra doesn't have that issue, would she be as long lived as Kyoshi or Roku? Correct me if I'm wrong but Avatars (and benders in general) tend to be long lived; in which case she could live another century.

Except the Avatars were already doing that over the centuries. The connection allowed them to seek out their wisdom but ultimately it's up to the current Avatar to make their own decision.

But there were already built in weaknesses for Avatars too. Getting killed in the Avatar state would eliminate the Avatar forever. If their physical bodies were harmed while their spirits were separated from them they'd be killed . Plus Avatars were subject to the same mistakes and foibles others could make - heaven knows we've seen Korra's weaknesses in earlier books. Bryke, you're full of it! You ran out of ideas or were under pressure to end your story but didn't know how. You mistook shock and awe for character development. Personally, I have a hunch that this separation from the Avatar's past lives was originally going to be done with Aang (when he was nearly killed by Azula) but poor reception at the idea lead them to nix it, so he decided to use it with Korra.

It definitely can get quite cold here - even in the daytime. Right now we're in a cold snap which has nights near or just below freezing and daytime highs in the upper 40s. Also, many people have gas fireplaces and might use them more for show than actual warmth. Once upon a time one could zip across one end of the Las Vegas Valley to the other in 10-15 minutes. Now it can take 30-45 minutes depending on traffic conditions. As someone who regularly drives to work in 35 minutes (28 miles each way) it's not that bad. A 25 minute commute is not uncommon but 35-40 minutes are the norm.

I call BS! It's established the Avatar is supposed to be powerful and that connection is what makes the Avatar state what it is - it helps them do their jobs. This is their own bible and their rules! They knew each Avatar would be a bit more powerful than the last. They would need that power. They were probably afraid they'd write themselves into a corner if Korra became strong enough to kick butt without her crew. This excuse reminds me of Bruce Timm's excuse about Superman in the first season of Justice League - who was depowered to the point where he'd get knocked out by some alien in the first round so the other heroes could shine.

Now that Korra is done, there has been thought as to what will happen next. Ideally, it would be nice if Bryke could make another Avatar series, this time focusing on an Earth Avatar. However since Nick treated the last series rather horribly (not even airing most of the episodes on TV, and cutting the budget for the final book), it's likely one won't come on Nick, if at all. If Bryke were to get the green light (or perhaps commissioned a comic) what would the Earth Avatar be like? I'd like to think that we could go back to the past - perhaps to the last Earthbender in the cycle - prior to Avatar Kyoshi. I would think it would be a male who has been Avatar for a while (perhaps a decade or more) and is almost at the peak of their power. In this way, we'd see how the Avatar lived in the past, long before Aang, the respect and knowledge of an experienced Avatar who already is master of their powers and knows how to keep the balance. Since it's in the past, he'd have access to other past lives and we'd get a bit more info on other past Avatars. It would be long before 100 year war and each nation would still be as they were before the upheaval Fire Lord Sozin created. The series need not even last as long as Korra or the original series - perhaps another mini series lasting 15-20 episodes. If a series were to move forward, that means Korra would die and the new Avatar would be born in the new Earth [Republic]. That could be decades down the line and who knows what the future world would be like since Korra's time.

Well, I'm finally going to bite the bullet and get myself back into shape. I'm going with DDP Yoga. It seems good to use for any age or fitness level; if I can regain some flexibility as well as weight loss all the better. Before starting the routine though I have to learn the poses first (though I can go back to study them if I'm not doing them correctly). Has anyone else tried this one or know someone who has? I have seen great results on the DDP website (expected) and Youtube has plenty of vids (some on DDP channel, many others not) showing success with the program. The program also includes specific recommendations for changing eating habits (even showing what foods should be eaten with another - some combinations are not good), and recipes. I've made a few of the recipes and they're quite good.

Not a double post! Another accidental discovery: The Viscounts' instrumental of "Harlem Nocturne" It's so noir!

I've seen it twice this month - both on AMC! Odd TCM didn't air it. Holiday Inn also ran on AMC, preceding WC; I suppose it was to compare and contrast. There's very little to compare - except for the inn, two entertainers, and the events taking place in Vermont (or was Holiday Inn set in Connecticut?). I found White Christmas to be a significant improvement.

I was always dubious of the narrative given for this movie. I'd always thought Sony knew they had a turkey and they had to do something to cut their losses. It seems the claims of being hacked by North Korea are already crumbling. The hack was an inside job As for viewers: Audiences sing "God Bless America" at the theatres.

Sad song for me: "Roses Are Red" by Bobby Vinton. He sings about his long time sweetheart, only to lose her to another guy during a prolonged absence. When he meets up with her years later, he sees her with a daughter, and mentions sweetly how she looks a lot like her. All the while being an awful good sport about the whole thing. Sometimes I can't bear to hear the song all the way through! Silly song? There are a few - mostly old novelty hits of the 50s and 60s. "They're Coming To Take Me Away" by Napoleon XIV is good for a giggle, especially when referring to the woman who scorned him as a "mangy mutt"! There's also, "The Flying Saucer, Pt. 1" by Dickie Goodman and Bill Buchanan which could be seen as one of the first records to use the technique of sampling. One that I absolutely adore is "Shaving Cream" by Benny Bell. I heard it on the radio when I was in high school and thought it was just hilarious!

I loved the film ever since I caught it on cable many years ago. While I can't speak for all fans of the film, I like it because in a way I feel like Ralphie (and by default, Jean Shepard) and I are kindred spirits.. Even though we grew up in different generations, he described events in childhood many of us have been through at some point: bullies, dealing with little siblings, dreaming of that very special Christmas gift you were thrilled to get. Much of Ralphie's experiences mirrored my own to an extent - right down to some of the fantasies! My parents enjoyed it for the same reason - plus they were of Ralphie's generation and reminiced about "dampers", knob and tube wiring, listening to Little Orphan Annie on the radio (and the decoder rings!), and eating soap when a dirty word was uttered in Mother's presence. From a cinematic standpoint, it's a good film due to the casting, the period details (except for Raphie's mother's hairdo!), the humor and the pacing.

Oh my YES! The whole time I kept hearing about "princess room this" and "fairy tale that"; it was driving me buggy! Something tells me Miss "I want a 4000 sq ft house" doesn't wash her own floors either. To want a house that big, they must expect to have maid service make regular visits. Another annoyance for me was the references to "South Las Vegas". I live in LV, and the city is identified as East & West, and subdivided into Northwest, Southwest, Northeast, and Southeast. There is no "South Las Vegas" per se. Many parts of town are identified by neighborhoods. We have Summerlin, Centennial Hills, The Lakes, etc. The house located "in the north" most likely was in the "Summerlin" community.

She became a prostitute. It looked like a brothel had been raided in the scene we see her in. In the film's normal timeline, it was mentioned how Violet "loved all the boys" and was a notorious flirt who tried to land George at various times. She'd walk down the street wearing a sexy dress, and when George asked what she was wearing, she replied, "Oh this? This is something I wear when I don't care how I look like!".

One of my favorite Christmas songs (which is so good, I listen to it all year long) is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen by The Barenaked Ladies. Their unique arrangement of the song turned an almost forgotten Christmas tune into a new standard. I also like a tune from the folk group, The Chad Mitchell Trio, who recorded "The Marvelous Toy" back in 1963. Best part is, you just can't figure out just what the toy is!

The Bishop's Wife (1947), the film it's based on, IMO is far superior.  Agreed. Although I wish Potter had received his comeuppence. I know SNL did a sketch back in the day (with Dana Carvey as George Bailey) , but I wish Capra had seen fit to use his original idea which was for Potter to have .

Beware! Unpopular opinions to follow: Sorry to be the party pooper but the finale left me angry! I hated seeing Kora and Asami go off together like that. I was hoping they wouldn't go there, but they did. It was out of left field and I found it to be pandering on the part of Bryke quite frankly. I didn't hope for either Korra or Asami to get back with Mako, but I didn't want this either. I was also disappointed with Kuvira giving up and willing to take her punishment. I would have wanted to see her defiant and angry to the bitter end! I wanted her to get taken down by the spirit vines (as previously speculated) or self destruct. I liked that Varrick and Zhu-Li finally got together - their relationship at least made sense. Bolin is legally able to conduct weddings now? Since when? Hiroshi Sato, we hardly knew ye! Too bad you didn't have more time with your daughter now that you've had three - four years of prison to realize what you'd lost. A new spirit portal? Whaaa? No, I'm not happy with that. Especially since the spirits showed no interest in protecting or helping our heroes. RC is good enough to grow your vines in, but not good enough to defend? I was also a bit disappointed with Prince Wu's conclusion; I thought it was good that he was improving as a person and potential leader (and he seems to have inherited his great grandfather's way with animals - loved his work with the badger moles!), but I hated that he was so quick to give up the throne. I would have liked to have seen him try to take the reins of the old kingdom and perhaps modify his role as a constitutional monarch rather than an absolute ruler. I do agree that I don't see many parallels between Kuvira and Korra other than their brash natures. Kuvira was willing to do what it took to take over the Earth Kingdom because she wanted power, and definitely would not have stopped with RC if she hadn't been defeated. She was williing to betray her adopted family/mentors (Su Yin's family), willing to kill her finace, subjugate her people, and destroy any city with her spirit weapon. Korra, while she was a hot headed kid who was all gung ho to be the Avatar and take the world by storm, at least wasn't out to harm people or sell them out to do it. I was also unhappy Korra never reconnected with her past selves. Secretly, I would have preferred to have seen her find a new way to do so. IMO, she screwed up the role of Avatars big time. Agreed. I wouldn't have minded if they had begun a romantic relationship when they were a bit older and their age difference would have been less jarring.

Sugarplums. They're not bad either! This. It's worse still when there is a bible or set of rules which out of desperation, are broken by TPTB. I think of Quantum Leap in which one of the rules was that Sam would never leap into somone famous (he ended up leaping into a young Elvis and Lee Harvey Oswald) or something preposterous (leaping into a chimp). There was a plan to leap Sam into a dog and an infant; luckily the show limped to an end before that happened.

I think it depends on the version. I hate Madonna's version of "Santa Baby" - Eartha Kitt's version from 1953 is the original and the best as far as I know. Try it . I love "I Saw Mommy..." by a variety of artists, but I'm weary of The Ronettes' version which seems to get the most airplay on our 24/7 Christmas stations. In fact, I don't like any Christmas song sung by them! Their version of "Frosty The Snowman" grates - especially when Ronnie Spector's accent takes over (FRAW-stee, duh snoo-MAN). 

I finally got to see the ep for myself and it's definitely one of the weaker ones for several reasons. The producers' legal consultant obviously wasn't scrutinizing the script since, as previously mentioned, some legal jargon was misused (the civil trial, etc.). Someone should have caught that. As for Erin's case, I hope the writers plan to revisit it because it ended too abruptly. We needed to know what became of the brother. However I loved it when Erin let the girl have it about the jailbird lawyer myth. If she ends up in prison, the best she'll be able to do is clog the legal system with paperwork about how there's a lack of crunchy peanut butter in the commissary. Someone needed to yell at that girl, especially since she could have gone to her boss about the problem way before this. It also shows how slack Erin is about office security; her access card should NEVER have been accessible to anyone. It should have been on her person or locked in a drawer. Frank's problem I understood - It's a matter of pride. When bad things happen under his watch, it ultimately reflects on him as well of the department. The Commish is the top man in the NYPD. He has quite a burden since it's very easy for some group to get angry over an issue and accuse him of purposely ignoring them. Frank's been at the job long enough to still be in this way of thinking. It's also not unusual for similar situations for private citizens to hire private [armed] security. It shouldn't really have been an issue. Even the NYPD can't be there 24/7 and have plenty of other crimes to deal with. As the old saying goes, when seconds count, the police are minutes away. Ditto. I also loved how he wasn't intimidated by Baez's threats! Linda did the right thing. She may be married to a cop, but she's not one herself and confronting the guy directly would have only lead to trouble. Just because you have a gun [as a civilian] doesn't mean you should automatically draw it. Speaking of which - this storyline could have been dealt with better. A first time concealed gun owner would have been advised about holstering it. After buying the gun, the salesperson would have discussed with her some concealed holsters. A woman carrying a gun in her purse is never advised (and the image of such in this day and age is an insult) as she wouldn't have quick access to it. If anything, she'd have had a bra holster or a similar concealed holster. That was also weak. While it's true gun ownership isn't for everyone, they shouldn't have had Linda chicken out. If anything she could have asked her husband to help teach her how to use it or at least get lessons at an area shooting range. It's not uncommon for crazy things to go down in an ER, especially in NYC. Some patients are gangbangers and may still be armed with something that wasn't found on them when they were brought in. Other times someone just plain nuts could wander in and threaten the staff. Of course, it also depends on if the hospital considers itself a gun free zone or not - in which case the staffers are out of luck (short of armed security guards). I was also annoyed that Linda claimed Danny was "disrespecting" her. IMO, he wasn't.