Triscribe

The latest “Explainer” on Slate.com explains “Why is Mars Red?”.

NY Times – fascinating article about why Washingtonians (in D.C.) can’t vote and are trying to vote.

Tonight’s Lehrer Newshour had a amusing panel talking about the “O’Connor Supreme Court.” Justice O’Connor is described either “the most powerful woman ever” with (depending entirely on how you like or dislike her opinions) an inconsistent or an analytical approach.

Last night’s “Alias” was freaky. Spoiler alert – skip this paragraph if you don’t want to be surprised. Then again, I’ll try not to reveal anything substantive anyway …. – I’ve had mixed reactions about the whole trip to the future that Sydney has pulled off; two years has passed since the season finale of May 2003; therefore, assuming the show even took place in May 2003, the season premiere of September 2003 actually takes place in September 2005. Maybe. I think. Now, near as I can tell, last night’s episode takes place some four months after this season finale – almost real time – January 2006. Kendall, Sydney’s old boss of last season, returns (not since his voice back in the season premiere has he even been “seen”) – and he reveals everything. He makes one go through the time traveling (“Ok, wait, so Sydney was gone for two years; brainwashed for six months; comes back – sort of – in nine months – and then goes underground for a year…?? What?”). Mind-bloggingly so. You really have to suspend all belief and just go along with the plot twists (the fun is in the journey, not in reaching the end anyway). And, then came the kicker at the end of the episode; gosh, how many plot twists am I supposed to digest here? “X-Files” gave me more breathing room.

Okay. Spoiler alert over.

Cabin fever must be kicking in, sooner or later.

“Joan of Arcadia” from this past Friday was quite good, with a nice mix of laughs and sadness. Kevin, Joan’s wheelchair user brother, is slowly moving on with his life. The writers did a nice job of wrapping up the Joan and Adam storyline. Joan’s father, the ex-Police Chief Girardi, got to lose his job unceremoniously (he’s a hero for exposing the corruption in the government of Arcadia; but the dissolution of the government meant no more city police department for him) and so he’s offered to be the under sheriff in charge; but declines the offer to be head of the detectives, now “Detective Girardi” – but isn’t that a demotion? Why not Lieutenant or Sergeant? I know, I know, it’s only tv.

Yesterday’s figure skating was awesome. Johnny Weir is the new U.S. men’s figure skating champion; is it a passing of the baton, when Michael Weiss is still around (yet none of the men did the elusive quad). Michelle Kwan is re-crowned the U.S. women’s champion; an amazing performance. Dick Buttons, ABC’s color commentator (and former multiple champion himself) got very enthusiastic and warm about the performance – his commentating was itself an amusing thing to watch/hear.

New episode of “Alias” tonight! Will Sydney finally remember what she did during her two missing years?

NFL playoffs continue with its drama – personally, I don’t get a kick on watching football players and their coaches and fans overcoming frigid temperatures. Was it merely a display of machismo when these football players walked on the field of Massachusetts (3 degrees, I believe, at night), with short sleeves? How smart was that?

What has been amusing with the NFL: the commercials promoting the NFL playoffs, wherein actor Don Cheadle is Big NFL Fan who’s telling the tv viewer that there is absolutely nothing bigger than the NFL playoffs. Cheadle’s enthusiasm is infectious (he is a good actor, after all, and maybe he really is a football fan): in one ad, here he is doing a run against a real running back and saying, “Yeah, I can run” (no, actually, you can’t, but it’s all for good); then, here he is running around in fake snow (with the fan on screen blowing the fake snow), demonstrating the drama of recreating playoffs games of yore in snow; and there he is, showing the glorious ring in his hand, what these players are all battling for. Hmm. Yeah, Cheadle’s making me want to watch the playoffs (well, no, I haven’t watched them with great attention, but I know they’re happening at least).

I’m still on-line? I must find something decently productive to do soon.

I’ve found out about these while checking websites – looked odd/amusing:
– “Which Star Trek captain are you?”

– “Which Lord of the Rings character… are you?”

More Mars stuff, on the NASA official website. The Martian terrain is eerie.

This week’s Entertainment Weekly – silly Jessica Simpson and no-less-silly Nick Lachey on the cover. At what point do we stop referring to them as mere newlyweds? They’ve been married to each other for awhile now (most certainly a lifetime long in comparison to Britney Spears’ quickie marriage). Inside the magazine – great article on Sean Astin, the actor who played Sam on “Lord of the Rings” – a balance of humor and information (I forgot that he played “Rudy”). Astin should really get nominated for an Oscar for his work as Sam.