GPS - FAREED ZAKARIA

Lately, "GPS," the show by Fareed Zakaria (he's also editor of Newsweek International) has proven to have the best, most timely interviews on the most important international issues. He talks to the people who are on the front lines. They may or may not be "experts." They may or may not be right. But they are the people doing it: the people who are negotiating and the people making the decisions. Zakaria asks deeply informed questions. Recent, outstanding shows, centered on Iraq, Pakistan, China, and North Korea.

"GPS" --
CNN Sunday @ 1PM & 5PM --

The GPS website is also very rich, with many interesting features --

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/fareed.zakaria.gps/

Prince Harry

MPrince Harry

WPlays in Second annual Ve
New York City, NY
Wednesday, ?April ?22, ?2009

Red Carpet Photo

Prince Harry

MPrince Harry

WPlays in Second annual Veuve
New York City, NY
Wednesday, ?April ?22, ?2009

Red Carpet Photo

Prince Harry of Wales

Prince Harry

Plays in Second annual Veuve Clicquot Manhattan Polo Classic as part of the first formal Visit to the United States
Governors Island, NY
Saturday, ?May 30, ?2009

POLO Photo

My Review of Dexter's 3x06: "Si Se Puede"

Written by Charles H. Eglee
Directed by Ernest Dickerson

Dexter: �My dad used to say �be careful what you think you know about someone; you�re probably wrong.��
Miguel: �Smart man.�
Dexter: �Sometimes.�

Yes, the same man whose lies that were revealed from the previous two seasons have soured Dexter�s overall view of him. Harry might have been economical with the truth but there�s no doubt that�s he got Miguel�s number. Too bad that Dexter isn�t as easy to persuade nowadays.

Much as I like Jimmy Smits in this role and as much as I would like to go against all odds and think that Dexter may have finally found a friend, a friend that he can totally be honest with in Miguel, the truth is that Harry�s right. You don�t need powerful observational to come to that conclusion, just common sense.

Unfortunately Dexter seems to be leaving his common sense behind him whenever he�s around Miguel. It�s true that Miguel does have Dexter over a barrel (and that will be something he�ll inevitably use to his advantage or as revenge) but Dexter seems to think that Miguel is on his side and thanks the results of this episode, he�s gonna remain thinking that.

Harry told Dexter earlier on that Miguel wouldn�t be able to accept the real him and when Miguel kept asking Dexter uncomfortable questions about Ethan, Dexter�s response was to test Miguel. For that, Dexter showed some smarts but unsurprisingly enough, the test backfired on Dexter.

Dexter was hoping that Miguel wouldn�t be able (or would out right refuse) to bring Clemson Gull within his proximity. In fact it very much looked Miguel would refuse, he was citing enough reasons why neither of them should risk but it was still a shock to me as well as Dexter when he agreed to get Clemson.

Dexter noted that Miguel seemed to have a similar enthusiasm for killing bad guys as he did but Harry also pointed out that Miguel would sell him out in a second if they ever got caught. During Dexter�s fevered attempts of getting Clemson away from the courthouse, it very much looked like that Miguel was going to live up to Harry�s words. I guess now would be a little too soon for him to do that.

That being said, even though Miguel earned Dexter�s trust by helping him escape with Clemson, Dexter still wouldn�t let Miguel actually see the process in which he kills his victims. It�s obvious that Dexter would find some way of taking some control back from Miguel. Here�s hoping that he�s right about Miguel not holding a grudge for Dexter deceiving him though.

If Dexter and Miguel�s friendship is dangerous, then it�s nice that Rita and Sylvia are allowed to have a far normal friendship. Unlike their respective others, they�re not setting out to dismember bad guys but instead decide that working together in real estate could be a good thing.

Rita desperately needs a career for herself and Sylvia clearly seems to think that Rita could have a knack for real estate. I�m actually gonna be sorry to see this friendship fizzle out because if Miguel is unlikely to survive past this season, then Sylvia won�t either. Still at least her and Rita have the healthier friendship, compared to Dexter and Miguel of course.

Speaking of healthy, Angel seemed to be in a very good place this week as well. He finally managed to get a date with Barbara and all he had to do was not to fall for a honey trap. Come on, was there anyone who didn�t immediately realise that hooker wasn�t a set up? Either way it did its purpose and got Barbara to realise that Angel might be worth taking out for a meal.

Meals were also the rage for Camilla as well who wanted a key lime pie. It�s great to see her back, even though it�s under the sad circumstances of her having lung cancer. Dexter himself looked pretty crestfallen with her deteriorating state but there were some odd hints in the episode that Camilla wanted Dexter to kill her. Will he? Should he even?

Deb herself also had a hard time of it in this episode. Finding out that Wendell was the latest victim of the Skinner certainly put her on edge and with good reason. For a second, I thought she was going to think that the skinner was killing people because of her personally. She certainly wouldn�t have been wrong to have jumped to that conclusion and she was especially worried for Anton.

However thinking Ramon might have been the Skinner was a stretch in a way. Ramon�s volatile and dangerous and certainly not panicky when it comes to torturing people but even that�s not enough to make him the skinner. It was smart though that Deb at least looked into the option discreetly.

Also smart was that when she and Quinn discovered exactly what Ramon was really up to � torturing drug dealers to learn where Freebo was, she still played things by the book. Even Maria and Angel who weren�t overtly enthusiastic about her hunches couldn�t fault her this week.

Then there�s Yuki. She further made herself look bad by threatening to tell the station about Deb working with IA. Deb retaliated by telling Quinn that Yuki was investigating him. Quinn wasn�t all that surprised when he heard this but was he lying when he said that Yuki was doing it out of revenge? Yuki certainly seems vindictive enough and Quinn�s mostly okay.

Also vindictive was Ellen Wolf in building a smear campaign against Miguel to Maria�s disappointment. However it does look like Ellen might have good reason to go after Miguel though, especially given the strokes he pulled with the whole Chicky Hines thing.

Also in �Si Se Puede�

The title means �yes, you can�, �yes, we can� or �yes, it is possible�.

Harry (to Dexter): �I understood. I just couldn�t accept it and Miguel won�t either.�

Harry dressing up as Dexter during one of the fantasy sequences was perhaps one of the strangest things the show has done in a while.

Dexter: �Ramon�s got anger issues. I don�t want you to get hurt.�
Deb: �Aw, you do care about me.�

Anton: �You sounded kinda upset on the phone.�
Deb: �Yeah, kinda upset in person too.�

Wendell�s body was a lot gorier than any of the previous victims of the Skinner that we�ve seen so far.

Dexter (to Miguel): �We took out the garbage twice. We should both quit while we�re ahead.�

Maria: �Life catches up.�
Dexter: �So does death.�

For a minute there, during that exchange, I thought Maria was going to say something about Doakes.

Camilla: �Dying I can do. Hell, I�m doing it. The pain is unbearable.�
Dexter: �How bad?�

Deb (to Yuki): �If you weren�t such a fuckwad, I�d feel sorry for you if you weren�t in IA where careers go to die.�

Quinn�s hair grew a lot in this episode that I found myself liking him more and more. He looks better with more hair.

Harry: �We only see two things in people. What we want to see, and what they want to show us. You don't know Miguel any more than he knows you.�
Dexter: �You're not seriously going to lecture me on relationships after the debris field you left behind?�

Deb (re Ramon): �How do you want to do this?�
Maria: �Book him. I want to inform the family.�

Chronology: A day since �Turning Biminese�.

�Si Se Puede� has it�s moments as an episode but it�s not the series or this season at it�s best, even if it is still of very high standard though. For that I can�t complain too much, just can we have some more on the Skinner please?

Rating: 7 out of 10.

22 Excellent Fruit Photo Manipulations

LENO'S LAST (TEMP)

Jay Leno's final Tonight show was a warm tribute to his staff, his fans, & his silliness (ie JayWalking), and a warm handoff to Conan, his successor.

It will be interesting to see if he can re-invent primetime, or if he is just taking his aging audience and putting them to bed 90 minutes earlier.

I wish him well in his new show. It would be great if it is a groundbreaking invention (re-invention?) of the the prime time, topical, comedy/variety hour.

Agnes (Melodifestivalen 2009) is Released on UK CHART looks like a No:1 smash

AGNES is right here right now in UK this week.

She has a massive club-hit with her new song 'Release Me' over in UK. Along with Star Pilots 'In the heat of the night' was new entry at 21. We know Agnes very well from her debut entry in Melodifestivalen 2009 with 'Love Love Love' but now she looks set to storm the UK Chart with her new
dance hit. That is already No:1 in the Uk i-tunes charts.
Is this the 'new' Madonna in da house! in her new video she looks like it.

Schlager-Hero's 6-Norway's Hanne Krogh & Elisabeth Andreasson (Bobbysocks)

Hanne Krogh Sundb� was only 14 years old when she recorded her first record in 1970. The next year Hanne

won Melodi Grand Prix in Norway. This took her to Eurovision Song Contest 1971 in Dublin, when she hoped to follow in Dana's (all kind of everything) footsteps from the previous year.�

Singing a song 'Lyyken Er' ('Happiness is') see this a fantastic clip of this song, she came in 17th place. Next Hanne started up her acting career for a few years, up until 1978 when she returned to the studio to make her debut LP 'Hanne Krough' (see LP cover pic- even starting early' the flanno' shirt craze of late 80's!)�

In 1984 she joined forces with Elisabeth Andreasson to form 'Bobbysocks' a new swing harmony pop duo. They sang 'La det swinge' in Melodi Grand Prix & went on to take home Norway's first ever Eurovision Song Contest victory of 1985. Now Bobbysocks are rumoured to make a comeback in Oslo 2010- Fingers crossed meanwhile 'Bobbysocks'

are our Schlager Hero's 6 from both Norway & Sweden- Hope to see the girls back together soon..

'Lyyken Er' Norway ESC 1971

WOODSTOCK (40TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING)

ONE NIGHT ONLY!
The Director's Cut of

Woodstock

This Wednesday, June 3 at 7pm at the Film Society Of Lincoln Center.

Help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of one of rock's most famous events!

Special guests include director Michael Wadleigh and festival producer Michael Lang; original musicians Stu Cook from Creedence Clearwater Revival; Jocko Marcellino from Sha Na Na; Tom Constanten from the Grateful Dead; Gregg Rolie, Mike Carabello, and Michael Shrieve from Santana, and more.

The Director's Cut is magnificently restored and features newly added footage.

Hurry! Only Limited Seats Remain! CLICK HERE to order your tickets now!

Also for Woodstock Fans: Woodstock: 3 Days of Peace and Music -- the four-hour director's cut of the 1970 Oscar�-winning documentary -- will be released June 9 in a spectacular new Blu-ray and DVD Ultimate Collector's Edition (UCE) from Warner Home Video with three extra hours of bonus features, including two hours of unseen performances.

Rant #21: Who Supports Those Who Pay Child Support?

Finally, after checking with Albany, the capital of New York State, for the umpteenth time, my child support notice came into my workplace, so I am officially finished with my child support payments. After more than 18 years of having this money taken out of my earnings, my paycheck will finally reflect my salary, not less what I pay for this support each week.

To get this done in as timely a manner as possible--it has been two weeks since my daughter turned 21--I had to use my own checks and balances system to make sure that Albany was doing what it should have been doing--and no, they weren't.

I discovered this early on, when one of their representatives gave me a very hard time, lied to me about sending out the notice, and was completely unruly on the phone. The second representative I got when I called a few days later was nice, but basically paid me lip service, and did not send out the notice (I don't know if the notice we did receive came from her or from the next person I spoke to).

Finally, I called a third time, and whether it was through him or the previous person, the notice came to my work today. I am ecstatic ...

Well, almost 100 percent ecstatic.

Let me explain. Several years ago, when my payments started to go through Albany (ordered by the court as a way to put a buffer between myself and my ex-wife, as I had been actually handing her a check each week), I was told that it would be in my best interests to set up an account with the state, so if, for some reason, payment from my employer came late to them, they could use the money in the account to make a seamless payment to my daughter through my ex-wife. This actually happened a few times for whatever reason. Once money was taken out, it would be replenished.

The account was interest bearing, meaning that whatever money was in there would accrue interest for the length of time I had the account. Since I have had the account for more than a decade, the interest might provide a tidy sum at the end of my responsibility.

Well, the end is now, and I checked up on this. I found out that the state is only obligated to pay me whatever overpayment I made for child support (one week) and the principle in the account. Whatever interest accrued goes to--

The custodial parent with physical custody (I have joint custody, but not physical custody), which is my ex-wife!

I questioned this and I was told that a reimbursement such as this will never include interest.

Now remember, I have been paying taxes on my child support since day one, have not been able to declare my daughter as a dependent, and have not had a clue about how my child support was being used for my daughter's upkeep. When I was briefly out of work in the mid 1990s, the state took two-thirds of whatever money I had coming in for support, and I had to pay back what I "owed" when I became employed (no, I am not a wealthy person, by the way).

Now, they hit me with this nonsense, which I can tall you was never explained to me when I set up the account.

Yes, Albany loves to stick the knife in and turn it counterclockwise.

When I was on the phone and found this out, I decided right then and there not to ask about exactly how much interest had accrued. I didn't want to aggravate myself even more than I was.

I guess the main thing is that this nightmare is finally over--although, obviously, the financial support I provide for my daughter continues.

But you know what? It's better to want to help out than be forced to pay out as a form of punishment for a marriage that failed. I always felt like I was being blamed for this failure, rather than both of us bearing this responsibility.

So be it. I am done!

(By the way, the poster that I have included in this rant has nothing to do with me--I just put it in to show that guys like this--and any gals out there who pull this crap--should be locked up for failure to pay their support. However, when you use support as a punishment tool, you are going to have people running away from their obligation. Laws should be changed so such payments are not punitive.

Anybody who says they aren't the way things stand now is an idiot, just plain ignorant, or both, plain and simple.)

My Review of Ashes To Ashes 2x06: "Episode 14"

Written by Jack Lothian
Directed by Philip John

Stanley: �It�s not what it looks like.�
Gene: �Never is. Flash of anger, lifetime of regret, still murder.�

Yeah, there are plenty of things to regret. Things you wished you�d never said or done or perhaps things you wish you had said or done. Regret can certainly eat away at you and in this episode; it really had to have done it with Stanley Mitchell.

You live in a neighbourhood where scumbags like Trevor Riley can do serious damage for the hell of it, that�s bad enough but when your own son is stupid enough to get involved with such a dangerous man, it�s got to be enough to anger you.

I don�t think I could blame Stanley for disowning Colin under the circumstances. There are plenty of people out there stuck in a rut, desperate to get away from the confines that they�re under but only a foolish person would go to a man like Trevor Riley for help.

Riley�s the sort of fellow who�d happily get his minions to bash in your kneecaps if you so much as looked at him funny. It�s easy to see why so many people fear and loathe him in equal measures. It still didn�t stop Colin and his dopey wife Donna from getting sucked into his world.

Gene made a comment about scum being scum, which raises a certain point. No-one can resent the likes of Colin and Donna for wanting to do better for themselves. There�s not a single person who doesn�t feel that way but it�s how you improved yourself that�s the issue.

Colin and Donna chose to go the wrong way about it, to the extent that Donna was even strong armed into having sex with Riley in order to protect her husband. You don�t have to have Alex�s brand of sympathy to be disgusted by that, even if Ray mistook it for something consensual. The look on Donna�s face obviously meant that she wasn�t enjoying the experience.

I had sort of thought around the second half of the episode that she was the one who had killed Colin or had been involved in his death with Trevor. Gene did throw the accusation of her and Trevor being in cahoots with each other.

The interesting part was not only was I wrong about Donna but it also turned out that Colin�s killer was his father. While Stanley was pleased that Colin was trying to escape from Riley�s hold on him, he was pretty disgusted with the method that him and Donna had planned to use to fund their new life away from Riley�s grip.

It was plausible enough to get Stanley to snap and kill his own child and it certainly added a better twist to the story. Even when Gene became privy to Stanley being the killer, he seemed more compassionate with the man than usual. One could almost say too compassionate but maybe the situation called for or maybe bits of Alex are rubbing off him.

Bits of Alex do seem to have that effect as even Ray was somewhat influenced by her this week. His usual disdain for her psychological profiling got put to one side when he embraced the idea of patterns in people�s behaviour. Ray figured out the bloodied blankets in the car that was left unlocked so hats off to him in that respect.

Also this week, there were some pointed comments about Ray�s lack of girlfriends. It�s something that�s always been hinted at, no matter how Ray tends to brag about his prowess, we�ve never actually seen him with a woman. Even Chris was able to point it out this when Ray was teasing him about Shaz turning into Bridezilla.

Chris and Shaz�s pre-wedding jitters did make for a good side plot in this episode. It was obvious that Shaz wasn�t going to demand anything too big but that Chris would inadvertently put his foot into it somehow. It was also obvious that by the end of the episode Chris and Shaz would somehow resolve their differences and carry on full steam ahead. That being said, just because it was obvious, doesn�t mean it wasn�t enjoyable.

Also enjoyable was the closeness that a beating Gene received as well from Riley�s henchmen. Jokes about him and breakdowns aside, I loved that him and Alex connected on a few things. More importantly, I also had utter love for the comeuppance that Riley got as well.

Getting nearly crushed to death in a car by a furious Gene was one thing but having Ray and Chris nail Riley for outstanding parking tickets worked a treat for me, only because while Riley might be dangerous scum, the actor who played him didn�t really pull the role off as well as he could�ve done.

As for Alex, we�re at that time in the series where she�s hearing more stuff about her condition back in 2008 and believed that she was on the way home. Nice that she wrote each of them letters but did she really think that they were going to wait until she had left to read them? I�m not even sure if Gene was being honest when he said he didn�t read his, though it�s likely.

In terms of the Martin Summers/Operation Rose, this is the episode�s only misstep because nothing is advanced on it. However with the last two episodes around the corner, there�s no doubt that we�ll get enough stuff to keep us sated on that. I just hope the pay off is well worth it.

Also in �Episode 14�

The opening was a bit unusual with Alex and Gene catching suspect during a marathon. The suspect then threw himself over a bridge.

Chris (re victim): �Think he drowned then?�
Gene: �No, Christopher, I think he tried to drink the entire river for a bet and failed.�

Chris assumed that Colin�s marks at first had to do with Satanists. I wonder if that�s something this show would look into in the future.

Alex (to the neighbourhood watch meeting): �You should never take the law into your own hands of course.�
Gene: �Not unless you can handle yourself.�

Ray: �I�m like Liberace.�
Chris: �What, poofter?�
Ray: �No, no, the other one, what�s his name? Valentino. That�s it, I like Valentino.�

If you read Mackintosh�s report on the BBC website, he states Ray�s sexuality as unknown.

Donna (re Colin): �There must be some mistake. He�s not dead, he�s missing.�
Ray: �He definitely looked dead.�

Alex: �I am making a difference.�
Martin: �That�s sweet. Do you really believe that?�

Martin left Alex dried roses this time around. Why hasn�t anyone asked more questions about the continued flowers sent to Alex?

Shaz: �Right, so then marrying me is a circus and a hassle. Cheers, Chris, it�s nice to know how you really feel.�

Gene (to Donna): �Right, you took the word of a loan shark. You know you�re as bright as you look.�

If Gene and Alex were targeted by Riley�s henchmen, how come Chris and Ray weren�t either?

Alex (to Gene): �I feel different. I feel better. I think they�ve done it. You haven�t seen the best of me. Before I go, I think you�re really gonna be surprised because I haven�t felt this good in a long time.�

Gene (to Alex): �Something locked away usually means there�s something in there that you�re not supposed to see.�

In Alex�s letter, she talked about Shaz�s potential and Ray being repressed. Chris couldn�t understand a word of what she wrote about him and one can only imagine what she wrote about Gene.

Ray (re Gene): �He said he wanted to be alone.�
Alex: �Yeah and what people say they want and what they need are two very different things.�

Alex (re Trevor): �You nearly killed him.�
Gene: �Well, better luck next time, eh?�

Standout music: Motorhead�s �Ace Of Spades� (also used in Skins this year), Michael Jackson�s �Thriller� and Donna Summers �I Feel Love�. I love the contrasting music here.

Alex: �You�d miss me really.�
Gene: �Yeah, Bolls, I�d miss you. Cheers.�

Chronology: It looks like a few days have passed since Alex�s last meeting with Martin Summers.

Solid episode, quite enjoyable in a lot of places, especially with the reveal of what really happened with the main victim�s death but some more advancement on Martin Summers/Operation Rose would�ve been nice.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

My Review of Dollhouse's 1x02: "The Target"

Written And Directed by Steven S. DeKnight

Adelle: �If you�re amenable to the terms of your contract you will be assigned to Echo, one of our most requested Actives.�
Boyd: �What happened to her last handler?�
Claire: �You�re standing in him.�

After a surprisingly underwhelming pilot episode, it�s nice to know that the second episode gave viewers more of a glimpse of the excellence that could be achieved. The episode might have some bumps but it�s an improvement from �Ghost� and that�s as good a place to start.

We�ve seen her as a hostage negotiator and a date for some random rich bastard, so episode two makes her a random date for another rich bastard. I�ll halt the groaning because even though Connell�s spiel about wanting to be with an honest woman isn�t as nauseating as it should be.

The date in question is also a little more adventurous than a motorcycle race. It�s the outdoorsy type of experiences where rock climbing and archery are on top of the list. Sure, Connell also got his wicked way with Echo but if the idea of Actives being used for sexual purposes was hard to swallow, then so is killing them.

It should�ve been obvious from the moment Connell started mouthing off about having the right to live � shoulder to the wheel and the like. Connell believes himself worthy of survival because of his ability to take down prey. Unfortunately for Echo, she�s gone from date to target practice, proving that some men really are bastards.

This is something of an unoriginal and uninspired premise, very horror in its setting (of course they�d have to be the woods because a fight for survival on a beach isn�t going to have the same kind of resonance) but there�s some psychological elements that actually make you care about the episode.

Unknowing of her surroundings and pretty much kept away from Boyd, Echo literally was without a paddle in an episode where she had to fight for her life. Maybe she should trade places with Alex Drake. 1982 is moderately safer in comparison that being stalked by Robin Hood gone very bad.

For the most part, there�s a lot of running on Echo�s part and being tricked into drinking poisoned water wasn�t the smartest of things that could�ve happened to her. Connell clearly didn�t want to kill her there and then, which was strange but maybe he really is the type of person who feels he deserved a worthy adversary.

Partly drugged out in a weird way brought some stuff to the surface for Echo. As good as Topher blathers on about his imprinting prowess, there�s no chance that Caroline could be completely eradicated.

Echo kept seeing little bits of Caroline, almost trying to piece the bits together. It�d be too simple if she got to connect the dots this early in the series but it�s good that parts of Caroline are seeping through, given the abhorrence of what is generally happening to her.

The interesting part of this episode should�ve been her final smackdown with Connell. It wasn�t but it didn�t lack either. After Echo got bored with trying to understand what would compel him to hunt her down like an animal, she decided to get more vengeance like in her approach. Connell shooting Boyd as well contributed to that.

Connell�s death didn�t exactly reek of poetry but heck if I�m going to feel sorry for him. His death however did confirm that someone really is watching. Undoubtedly the person is Alpha and it�s equally obvious that he was the one to hire Connell to test Echo out.

Alpha was also the same person who left that nice little envelope there for Paul as well with Caroline�s picture. Paul is still a weak point for me this episode, what with him being a laughing stock by his co-workers, harassing Lubov/Victor and being seemingly harassed by overly affectionate neighbour Mellie.

I�m not going to pretend that I think Mellie is a doll because I would be incredibly surprised if she wasn�t. Mellie showing up just as Dominic and Adelle argued over on how to deal with Paul butting his nose into the Dollhouse. Dominic wanted to kill him but Adelle clearly thinks that having someone spy on him is a better solution. She�s probably right.

As for the rest of the episode, the use of flashbacks to explain a violent incident three months prior certainly had its point. We learned that Boyd replaced Echo�s old handler after he wound up a casualty of mad Alpha�s killing spree. In fact, there were a lot of casualties during that. It was also Boyd who believed that Alpha was behind the set up for Echo, though Claire was all too quick to dismiss the idea.

It was because of Alpha we learned that Claire�s face was badly sliced up but apart from the Alpha information dump (why did he spare Echo?), the flashbacks also helped established Boyd�s introduction and disgust with the Dollhouse.

He pretty much treated Topher with contempt when he realised that he was responsible for botching up Alpha and he also didn�t treat Echo like a real person. However this episode more than showed that Boyd cares for her and the Active/Handler dynamic is pretty Slayer/Watcher like anyway in the general feel of it.

Another bonus with the episode was Dominic. His desire to kill Paul is one thing but the iciness towards Echo at the end of the episode was something else. He noted that people tended to die around her and he treated her with glaring contempt as well.

He�s very likely to be a dangerous threat to her and by extension to the Dollhouse as well. That might not sit well with Adelle who at the start of the episode did issue a thinly veiled threat to Connell if he hurted Echo. Not that an act of protectiveness like that would still make me think Adelle is doing the right thing with this organisation.

Also in �The Target�

The lighting for the flashbacks was a little jarring at the start, kind of similar to some episodes of Battlestar Galactica.

Topher: �What�s the magic word?�
Boyd: �Please?�
Topher: �I was looking for abracadabra but that�ll do.�

Topher talked about Actives being vulnerable when they�re not programmed. Isn�t that similarly stupid to giving them impairments like breathing difficulties?

Tanaka (to other FBI agent): �Agent Ballard is telling us to investigate. Thanks for the tip.�

Boyd: �You telling me you programmed one of your Dolls to be Jack The Ripper?�
Dominic: �Not my department.�

Dominic mentioned in the episode that he would put Echo in the Attic if he had the choice or kill her. I can only imagine that isn�t a good place to be.

Paul (re envelope): �Where�d this come from?�
FBI Agent: �Granny left it. Man, her teeth were big.�

Boyd (re Actives): �Look at them. Bunch of helpless children. Did the ones Alpha slaughter even put up a fight?�
Topher: �They wouldn�t know how.�

Alpha was able to slice his victims in eight seconds because of the surgical skills that had been imprinted on him at the time.

Adelle (re Paul): �I think you overestimate his abilities.�
Dominic: �Even a blind dog can find a bone if he digs enough holes.�

Echo (to Connell): �You know what gives someone the right to live? Not hunting them!�

Some sci-fi favourites were in this episode with Mark Sheppard as Tanaka and Matt Keeslar as Connell.

Ranger: �I don�t know, I swear to God.�
Boyd: �He�s not listening.�

Mellie (re Echo/Caroline): �Is she in trouble?�
Paul: �Maybe or she got caught up with the wrong people. Either way I�ll keep looking until I find her.�
Mellie: �Lucky her.�

If Mellie is a Doll, then Adelle must have been aware of Paul snooping around for some time because Paul definitely knew Mellie for a while by his attitude with her.

Boyd (re gun): �Do you know how to use this?�
Echo: �Four brothers. None of them Democrats.�

Connell (to Echo): �Is this the best date ever or what?�

Standout music: �Get Out� by The Vines and �Leave It On� by Deorentos. Also Sierra didn�t appear in this episode.

Echo: �I�m gonna go swim in the pool.�
Dominic: �If it were up to me, I�d put you in the Attic or in the ground.�

Chronology: We know that Boyd�s been working with Echo for at least three months but we still don�t know how long in her five year contract Echo has been working for the Dollhouse.

This was way better but I�ve liked Steven S. DeKnight�s work on Buffy/Angel for the most part, so his trademark wit for �The Target� and moments of horror and psychological testing made me a little more invested in the overall story. Good job.

Rating: 8 out of 10.

Rant #20: I Hate Spammers

At one time, during the pre-Internet days, spammers were people who liked to eat Spam. I never understood the fascination with this processed food, but so be it, they weren't bothering anyone.

In this day and age, the term "spammers" has taken on a brand new meaning. Spammers are people who spread negative email about subjects that no one wants to read about. Some spammers also spread pornography and computer viruses, malware, trojans, and the like.

I don't understand the philosophy behind what spammers do. Why do they do it? What do they get out of it? What pleasure do they get in doing this, and more importantly, where do they find the time?

Most email programs now have some sort of spam protection, but the spam still manages to slip through from time to time. As the owner of two blogs and several other music-oriented sites, I can tell you that while spamming is down probably 90 percent of what it once was, it still exists.

Again, I don't have the slightest idea what drives these people to do what they do.

And now, about people who like Spam ...

Rant #19: I Have Gas

Have you noticed how the price of gas has gone up and down during the past few months?

I don't truly understand why there is such fluctuation, but it is something that affects our pocketbooks, so it is something that I wanted to comment about.

Remember when gas, at least on the East Coast, was approaching $5 a gallon? The oil companies recorded record profits, while the rest of us swooned with misery every time we had to gas up. Some people were spending upwards of $100 per fill up.

Then gas nose-dived. I remember just about six months ago, you could get regular unleaded gas for $1.70 here on the East Coast, and while traveling, I noticed that in Georgia, gas plummeted at some stations to the $1.50 range.

Now, as the summer season begins, I notice that gas is getting closer to $3 a gallon.

Do you notice a pattern here?

Notwithstanding the official explanations (which personally I don't believe a word of) from the oil companies, I would say that the price jumps during the heavier driving summer, and it falls during the lesser driving winter.

I know that is simplistic, but based on the past several months, it seems to be true.

I don't blame the oil companies for trying to make a buck (more like several billion bucks). But why can't they tell us the real reason why gas goes up and down like an out of control yo-yo? Don't tell us about barrel prices, wars in distant lands, or cutbacks or rollouts--just tell us that you are getting us when we need the gas, and letting us off when we don't need the gas as much.

I think the American public would have slightly more understanding of these fluctuations if the oil companies were straighter with us.

Rant #18: I Speak, But No One Responds

This was brought up by one of the people that responds to my posts--the only person to consistently make comments about what I am saying via this blog.

Yes, I guess I am venting a lot of steam in my blog. Sure, it is personal, but I do talk about general subjects that have probably touched everybody at one time or another.

However, the feedback has been minimal at best.

I have tried to expand the reach of the blog, but so far, to no avail. Maybe through you, the regular visitors to the site, you can electronically spread the word that this site is up and running and ready for comments.

Please, let me know what you think about the blog. What you like about it, what can be improved.

I have worked pretty hard on this site. I am trying to do something both fun and stimulating. But I haven't heard from enough of you to know if what I am doing is beneficial in any way.

I know that people from around the world are visiting the site. The counter tells me that the site has been visited several hundred times, and that is with minimum promotion.

So praise me, raise me, dump on me--but please let me know your opinions.

And again, thanks to those who visit on a regular basis.

Absinthe Kubler Body Painting

Group body painting on semi-nude women with the Absinthe Kubler logo.





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* Red Bull Body Painting

Microsoft Windows Internet Explorer 8 Wallpapers, Imahes, Pics

Microsoft IE 8 Wallpapers | Download Free Wallpapers of Microsoft Internet Explorer 8. I used this and it's very nice browser, i think now Firefox and Chrome may be out of market or they might loose their popularity. From few months (1 or 2) Firefox has some problems when we open more than 10 tabs, firefox hang and we need to restart browser, now IE 8 is best option in replace of it.

Click & Download IE 8 Wallpapers

Historia de Dionisio Romero, el hombre m�s rico del Per�

Este es el testimonio de uno de los hombres m�s poderosos del Per�. Dionisio Romero pertenece a una de las familias con mayor capital econ�mico, con cerca de los 2 mil millones de d�lares.

Vean el reportaje y escuchen este interesante testimonio.

Rant #17: Don't Sell Me On Cell Phones

I know that we are in the high-tech age, where information is virtually at our fingertips.

I know that it is nice--and oftentimes a necessity--to be in touch with friends and loved ones.

However, I really can't stand cell phones and what they have done to society.

It would please me to say that most people are responsible with their cell phones, but alas, I really don't think I can ever make that statement. Most people that I know (and see around me) completely misuse this privilege. They use the phone during the most inopportune times, such as when they are driving, when they are at work, when they are food shopping, and when they are attending a movie or concert.

I have a cell phone, but it is an antique. I bought it a few years ago, and it really doesn't do anything but make phone calls. It doesn't take pictures, doesn't fold into my pocket, and doesn't do the myriad other things that today's cell phones do. And I like it like that.

I rarely use the phone. It has helped me out of a couple of scrapes, especially when my old car broke down. Other than that, I pay per use, so every three months I pay a flat fee and add x amount of time onto the phone. I have more than 700 extra minutes on the phone, and I will never use this time up.

I see people not paying attention to the road or anyone around them when they are on these things. Even though in New York it is illegal to talk on these phones (and text message) when you drive, I see countless people each day on the phone when they are behind the wheel. I have also nearly had a number of accidents because people can't talk and drive at the same time.

Not only that, but people use their phones in a rude way. The other day, I witnessed a woman having an argument with someone on the phone. I mean, does anybody need to hear someone else's personal business?

What did we do without cell phones? We made calls when they were necessary, mainly at home, but if necessary, at a pay phone. We did not yak about nothing in the supermarket or while driving.

I think the phone has become the new adult toy, but people act like babies when using these things.

I wish driving penalties, in particular, were increased for those caught using these things while driving. Since the cops are basically turning their backs on those using these phones, let's make the penalties stiffer, which would certainly give them more incentive to pull someone over when they are using the phone while driving. Let's make it a $1,000 fine for using the phone while behind the wheel, and the phone gets taken away, and has to be picked up at the local precinct the cop works out of.

I don't know if that would deter people from using these phones unsafely, but I know that it would scare the heck out of me.

Entree Jol is stijlbreuk bij Ajax

Aardige column van Chris Van Nijnatten (AD Sportwereld)


Op Radio 2 en later bij BNR werd me gevraagd of Martin Jol nu wel het juiste type is voor Ajax. De eindredacteur van Frits Spits schetste daar een beeld bij. ,,Die man met zijn petje op en een stuk kauwgom in zijn mond.�� Hij had er ook nog het onafscheidelijke trainingspak bij mogen noemen.

Een visserszoon de baas over godenzonen? Volgens mij is voor veel voetballiefhebbers Jol juist niet de man aan wie je denkt als je een echte Ajacied moet noemen. Dat heeft te maken met een door de actualiteit ingehaald beeld van wat een Ajacied is. Altijd maar weer moest de beoogde nieuwe trainer iets Amsterdams hebben, de goedkeuring van Cruijff wegdragen en zielsveel van Ajax houden. Hij moest zweren bij vleugelspitsen, de ledenraad te vriend houden, smurfen op het middenveld zetten, discussi�ren met capuchonnetjes en de stamboom van Sjakie Wolfs uit het hoofd leren.

Het huidige management van Ajax, onder aanvoering van directeur Rik van den Boog, heeft het aangedurfd te breken met deze clich�s. Anders kan de aanstelling van Jol niet verklaard worden. Zijn entree betekent een stijlbreuk. Dat ze dat hebben gedurfd, is knap en opvallend.

Niettemin past Jol precies in het profiel dat is opgediept uit het al zo vaak gememoreerde �Rapport Coronel�. Jol heeft een brede trainerservaring, een spectaculair netwerk, de aandoenlijke bereidheid een ander beter te maken en de passie van een tangodanser. Dat draagt hij dagelijks uit met een stem waarmee hij ooit zanger van de Pogues had kunnen zijn.

Het �karakter� Jol moet Ajax verder brengen. Hij legt het fundament voor de toekomst waarvan het de bedoeling is dat hij er lang deel van uitmaakt. Jol zou best in Nederland het Engelse managersmodel kunnen introduceren. En dat zoiets bij Ajax gebeurt, is dan toch weer �typisch Ajax.�

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FLASHBACK Euroband 'This is my Life' Iceland 2008 Wow! that was then.

This one FAN TASTIC Vid

from Euroband iceland's ESC Hope in 2008 - we hope Euroband and/or
Fridrik Omar qualify again soon in Iceland- Check out also Fridrik's new single

'I want to Know' - + YES 'its true' this talented Man
was on stage with Yohanna singing back-up in Moscow- showing there

is a lot more to Iceland than just Bjork....

Awesome Stone painting that are worth seeing