Zola

Sarah Walter's "Fingersmith". This is my second book of hers after the hugely enjoyable lesbian period drama "Tipping the Velvet" Only 30 pages in so far, yet already I am engrossed and wanting the time to read more! Will it match, or even exceed "Velvet"? I certainly hope so!

"Koyaanisqatsi - Life Out of Balance" (1982) Managed to track this down via Kodi over the weekend. A friend recommended it a couple of years ago, but never really gave it much thought up until a saw a bit of it by accident not so long ago. A very relevant film, even by today's standards whereby our First-World Lives are becoming even more chaotic compared to when this documentary was made back in the early 80s. The juxtaposition between our Natural world and the man-made, technology-driven world in which we live, is quite remarkable and glaringly obvious. The former focusing in oceans, rock formations, valleys, gorges, and all that took million of years to slowly evolve; while at the other end of the scale is humanity, and it's need to be constantly on the move, always seemingly out of time, to do as many things as possible before it's too late! Composer, Philip Glass adds the finishing touches with some remarkably haunting scores throughout, and the ending is really quite shocking, as well as thought-provoking. And the film's message is simple - we really do need to slow down and take stock of the world in which we live before we destroy it and thus ourselves. Koyaanisqatsi

I have always had a close affinity/respect for Jodie Foster, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Yoah, Cate Blanchet and Audrey Hepburn. Different actresses exceeding in their own particular film niches, and perform so very well.

Helen Santos Eleanor (Ellie) Barlet Simon Donovan Debbie Fiderer Kate Harper

Tom Hanks and "Cast Away" A decent film that suffers from a rather flat 3rd and final Act. However, the film does contain one of my favourite scenes of all cinema - the moment when Tom, stranded on a makeshift raft, loses contact with his "friend" Wilson, the volleyball. Incredibly sad, but stays in the mind always. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7FLsIidvE8

Gloria Estefan's "Can't Stay Away From You", always makes me cry, primarily due to the breakup of what I thought was a great relationship! It's a very old song, going back to a time before I was even born, and I only got to hear it by chance. But it has struck a chord ever since - it's a beautiful song, but the paradox is that by listening to it it brings out all those sad memories again. As for happy songs: there are many. But at the moment I am into Desree and two old hits "Life" and "You Gotta Be"

Canadian rock band, Rush, and their "Exit: Stage Left" album from 1981. This is my dad's vinyl record, and sounds so much "warmer" than my CD rip.

Helen Santos Jordon Kendall Debbie Fiderer Eleanor (Ellie) Bartlet Mallory McGarry O'Brien

True! But we're talking Season 5 here ;-)

Not looking at all good for Ronna :(

No!!! Not Louise, Sheila and Ronna!!?? simon Donovan Debbie Fiderer Helen Santos Jane Braun Ellie Bartlet

Helen Santos Abbey Barlet Debbie Fiderer Simon Donovan Jack Reese

Even Leo had considerable reservations when Josh told him Vinick going for the Presidential nomination. It's not often I see Leo become overly concerned about anything, but the following conversation really hit home

Had it not been for such a wonderful ensemble cast, I would have not lasted much past a season or two had the show revolved around Rob Lowe's Sam character - it would have probably been nothing more than a relatively lightweight soap opera with some random politics thrown in to give it some gravitas. The pilot episode was a case in point - the opening 10-15 minutes and the show appeared to tick my "Oh no!" boxes - handsome Sam eyes up random woman at a bar; few minutes later, Sam is getting out of her bed dressed only in his boxers and showing off his manly chest; and then a little later in the show he is getting just a little flirtatious with Mallory- and again, I thought is this all this show is going to be about!? Admittedly there was a decent storyline bubbling along with the Laurie/Sam thing, but other than for Toby's wonderful one-liner to Sam's "I accidentally slept with a prostitute!", "Did you trip over something?", I just couldn't care less about Sam's character, and hoped the show would veer away from such silliness - and fortunately, thanks largely to the charismatic charm of Martin Sheen, it did!

When it first aired in the UK (2001, I think), i was about 8, and still living in South Africa, my home country. A couple of years later we emigrated to the UK but I still far too young to care much about the show - way past my bedtime in any case! I finally got round to watching the show during my undergrad years, and was blown away with S1! (and that includes Mandy!) But subsequent repeat-viewings in the ensuing years, and I find S1 rather lightweight compared to latter seasons. It is still great of course, but the initial episodes are now a chore and I just zap past them until "In Excelsis Deo", and for me that's when the show finds its straps.

Have just re-watched S6 again (well actually, that isn't strictly true! My definition of starting s6 begins at episode 09 - "Impact Winter"., and Josh's decision to support Santos in the Democratic nomination. Episodes before that I really couldn't care less about. However, i find myself becoming more allured to the arrival of Arnold Vinick full-time in S6 (E13 - "King Corn"). He just comes across as more statesman-like compared to Santos' constant stereotyping of himself, along with his political naivety/tantrums I loved Josh as Santos' campaign manager, but I found myself more and more drawn to Vinick and his campaign manager in Sheila. Perhaps it was because they were believable, rounded individuals compared to Santos and his incredibly irritating wife, Helen!

If have learnt many things from The West Wing, all of them good and informative. However, there's a word I had never of up until watching the show, and it was uttered by Josh to Toby in S3 I think. Josh was head-over-heels with Amy, and out of no where came "I am ensorcelled!" I had to look it up of course, and now I can't stop using it in formal/informal conversation purely because I too am now very much ensorcelled!

I loved that scene too, especially Sheila's barbed retort "I LIED!!!" Certainly put Vinick back in his box. But then again we're talking politics ,and with politics you'll find attached a whole bunch of stuff, not least, lies, bribes, duplicity, hypocrisy. short-term amnesia etc. Et Tu, Vinick?

All 5 seasons are beyond exceptional, which is a rare thing with TV drama these days. Have only just completed the show for a 2nd time, and will no doubt complete a 3rd before the year is out. It is hugely infectious, and given the subject matter for each season, coupled with the vast array of characters in each in each, it is incredibly difficult to give a judgement on which season is best. However, for the moment at least, I would put season 1 first, primarily because it sets the foundations for the entire Wire Empire: the characters, the environment, the city itself, the despair, the senseless deaths and violence et al. This is a season that gives fair warning to its viewings that this show is not like your happy-clappy formulaic network crime shows. Next up for me, was season 3, and the politics, the money, the power, the influence and all that corruption! Season 1 focused mostly on the drugs; season 3 focused on the money, and I loved every episode! Next would be season 2. Not everyone's favourite, and was always going to be difficult to continue from the excellence of S1. I guess a lot of viewers were expecting a direct continuation of S1, and truth it does; but the emphasis is shifted to ordinary working class people, while the gangster story arc was put on the back burner, even though it was still interlinked. Season 4, is next on my list. The school kids and teacher storyline was awesome, but for whatever reason I wasn't bowled over with some of the writing. The much maligned S5 - I found it difficult to have any empathy with the journalists. As McNulty once said in S1 "You're just a bunch of empty suits!" And that's more or less how I felt about the reporters in 5. And neither did I like McNulty seemingly going off the rails with some crazy serial killer case. On its own S5 is brilliant; but compare it to the other seasons, it just falls short of true greatness. I suspect my choices will change the next time I do a Wire marathon :)

The Wire, has so many interesting characters that you don't always get time to fully appreciate them all. Omar Little, is the guy that fascinates me most; but on repeat viewings I can get to appreciate the other lead characters, not least of course, Stringer Bell. Clearly a man who wants to be something other than a gangster/king pin; he tries to pass himself off as a legitimate businessman, and tries to educate himself in microeconomics, and a book library full of literally heavyweights including Adam Smith. He also tries to pull Avon away from the world of corners, packages and bullets, but at the end of the day he is nothing more than a gangster - a slightly more enlightened gangster but a gangster nonetheless. And yes, our very own Idris Elba did a fantastic job bringing that character to life and adding so many layers to it; more so given that Elba is a Londoner - something I would never have of guessed on first viewing.

"The Wire" is without doubt one of the finest TV shows out there - regardless of genre; it has so many fascinating and eclectic characters that is difficult to digest and try to understand each and every one in just one sitting. But as fascinating as they all are, it is Omar that stands head and shoulders over all of them! It is one of those strange paradoxes how one could be so attracted/supportive/endeared to such a gangster/killer, but Omar does it perfectly - or rather Michael K. Williams does! He reminds me of a mixed up, latter-day Robin Hood - steals from the bad, but doesn't exactly help the poor/innocent! But at the same time he strikes fear in the streets of Baltimore, as if he was some mythical god that not even the likes Marlo, Stringer or Avon ever could. He wasn't immortal, and he wasn't always successful with his shoot-outs, but he had such a remarkable magnetism that you didn't care about his limitations. But hey, it's all in the game!

If you were hosting a dinner party at your home, and you could invite 4 characters from the West Wing, who would they be and why? (it would have to be 2 main characters - CJ, Bartlet, Sam, Josh, Leo, Charlie, Donna, Toby... and perhaps Will - and 2 supports. So not 4 senior staff, for example) In my case, I would invite:- Leo - primarily because he is an easy conversationalist with a broad subject-matter, a few tales to tell, a cautious sense of humour, and he knows how to weave a good story (his confession to Jordon Kendall of his alcoholism, is just so vivid!) CJ - because she has a great sense of humour, probably has lots of press-gaggle stories/gossip to tell; has a very reassuring presence, is a little outspoken on certain issues, but seems fairly unhinged - just don't mention the Census! Ainsley Hayes - She's a spunky, demure, quick-witted, dry, a little naive but endearing with it. Her dinner party conversation might be a bit awkward given her bitty iambic pentameter. But am sure she will get on fine with my other guests. Sheila Brooks - Close friend and political adviser to Arnie Vinick. Very shrewd, quiet Conservative. Admits when she knows she's a liability and subsequently makes way; easy on the eye, a good talker, and is not brash, loud or annoying.

Quick update - seems there's a consensus for Toby being the leaker (8 votes currently); and yet 4 people voted for "Someone Else" - would be great to know who those "someone elses" are?

CJ's "woot cannoww" scene from "Celestial Navigation" was a highlight amongst many others. But then I also liked Danny balling out CJ over the Mandy Memo. I loved CJ as Press Secretary, but not so much as CoS, and as such she didn't have that many memorable scenes in the latter - at least not for me.

Thanks for the clarification. In hindsight I should have raised the question prior to posting.