UConn James

!@#$! ----- Reflecting further, this seemed to parallel "White Rabbit" pretty well. (Another ep with the white&black animal imagery/reference). Opening sequence where the flashback showed her trying to help someone (tho it's a much different concept of help than Jack sticking up for Mark Silverman). Sleep deprivation causing hallucinations, only what Kate was seeing turned out to be real, apparently. Both reject their fathers for who they are. Only thing is that Kate didn't have a breakthrough leadership moment, per se. But that would just be too closely paralleled, and besides, she's not going to be taking the reins from Jack, nor does she want to. But it is interesting to note that in the extras from the DVD, Kate's character was called "Our Hero." This was at the point where they were going to kill Jack off in the pilot. But. I wouldn't be surprised if, at some point, Jack does die and Kate takes over for his leadership. Also, to muse here.... Wouldn't it be possible to have this show extend past the point where they are rescued, if they ever are? Piecing all of their linkages together?

All I'm saying is, he'd better get a friggin' haircut. Especially for that Miami weather.

Confirmed it last night when I talked to him after "LOST." If you don't believe it, that's up to you. Note that the E-7 bump was shortly after they scheduled him to have dinner with a sergeant major so that he might be, ahem, convinced to re-up. Loophole somewhere. Despite what weapons-system Republicans might tell you, the servicemen and -women are the backbone of the military. They invested a lot of money in his training, and you don't piss that away over a few thousand $ pay increase.

I thought it was a very good ep. Lots of action, and finally a few answers that aren't entirely/immediately followed by new questions that completely overshadow it. I was getting a little tired of seeing the tail section group; we need to get on with the story Was surprised there wasn't an introductory close-up of Kate's eye to begin, which has been the normal establishment of the POV. But they have been tricky about that this season. The explosion caught me off guard. I'm going to have to reflect on how all of that backstory fits in with Tom and that toy airplane.... That scene with her and Jack --- she certainly headed off any question/accusation he was going to make. (And speaking of that topic, in the intro, it was made apparent that Jin and Sun got jiggy. Jin also finally got the handcuff removed --- a literal and figurative moment, perhaps?) How the hell does a black stallion get on the island, but as Charlie said.... Also makes you want to go back and read the Cliff's Notes on the book of the same name, as the writers haven't been shy about the extra-textual references. It's been a long time since I read that. Also, combined with the polar bear, it fits into the running black/white scheme (ie the backgammon pieces, the pebbles with Adam and Eve, etc). I'm liking Eko's character too. Especially since Locke has recently become something similar to what he was at the box company the past several weeks. What was the line that Eko said about coincidence and fate? And what was the tie-in with the biblical story? From the preview for next week, Eko seems to know exactly what was going on with that drug plane, almost like he's been on the island before. Or am I reading that wrong? Or could he now be getting some of the island's mojo that Locke has/had. Sawyer's first line when back from the brink was . I'm not discounting that it is Walt on the other end of the computer message. If you remember his whisper.... Funny about the blast doors, as Michael noticed. Yet they seem to enclose/protect the computer room.

Have at it!

You're not calling me a liar, but you're calling me a liar. But a lot of people he talks to also furrow their brows and say No way. The other guys (and gals) at the base all said that his was the fastest track they'd heard of (we brought them some home cooking after 9/11 when they were there 24/7). Joined in '96, was E-7 in 2002. Air Force SF & Phoenix Raven group. The AF has a different charge than the other branches tho, as far as the officer-to-enlisted Joe ratio. Most of it is highly specialized in a way that is conducive(? maybe not the right word) to fast advancement. To be sure, the Iraqi army isn't going to be running on this model; it's going to take some time before they're prepared to stand up so we can stand down. That's just how it is.

I think she's said that he father was a tracker/hunter (and likely military training) and she learned it from going along with him. I'm doubting that it was some kind of abuse that she did whatever she did. The times she has spoken about him seem bittersweetly positive. I'm going to guess that her father was suffering some kind of disease and she did a so-called mercy killing; which might help explain why her mother was so sh-- scared to see her in the hospital.

Don't you mean the Chair Force? Laughed my ass off when my brother's gf showed me that. And I beg to differ, but she often says that theirs is the opposite problem; advancement that's probably too fast. Case in point, my brother made E-7 in 6 years. But he is involved in some more high-profile (tho their objective is low-profile) stuff.

With those kinds of induction requirements, I can see why they're pacing it out a bit and leaving out some of the bigger names that should-be-in-but-are-not. It's so they have someone left to induct next year, five years, ten years later. Lasting, good r'n'r groups don't come around all that often.

Never been there, but I hear that it's a difficult place to find exhibits in. More than a few reports from people who've expressly tried to find the Jeff Buckley display case (I've seen a picture of it online w/ his guitar, jacket and notebooks, so it does exist) and came away empty. What kind of location system do they have there? Koisks with the classic "You Are Here" and an orange dot? "Freebird? Stairway to Freebird? I'm still alive with my Freebird?" Skynyrd wasn't inducted until just recently? My dad had a big mirror with "Lynyrd Skynyrd" painted on it in pyschadelic-colored balloon font. Anyone who has one of those in their name should automatically be in the RnRHOF.

How the Secular Humanist Grinch Didn't Steal Christmas | The "War on Christmas" is great for rallying the troops. Too bad the war doesn't exist. And imagine companies saving time, money and effort by using generic terms while putting up decorations so they don't need to change them 5 times in a month and a half. Capitalist bastards!!

You almost convinced me, except the bold part would be a classic reaction to a weak anti-hero (must say that I'm not arguing that she's liked for her character flaws, rather that they are simply understood and somewhat forgiven, just as you did above). Funny that you bring up Oedipus, b/c there are character similarities b/w him and AL. That was in the Greek definition of tragedy where the punishment was far worse than the crime committed. Despite what everyone including the chorus was telling him, he didn't stop doing what was the wrong move. Bad judgment compounded by quick action. Sound familiar? Going on the Greek def., unless AL is flayed alive by the Others, I don't know that it fits. And then there's Arthur Miller, who redefined the tragic figure: "Tragedy, then, is the consequence of man's total compulsion to evaluate himself justly" and has an "inherent unwillingness to remain passive in the face of what he conceives to be a challenge to his dignity." I understand how you can see this in AL's character. Really, I do, esp. in the scene after she cuts Sayid's rope and says 'I deserve to die.' Maybe you're right and it's just b/c I haven't finished my morning coffee yet. And probably, a determination shouldn't be made until we see how she acts going forward. Thing is, the tragic figure usually has to die, go to jail, etc soon after their self-revelation. I don't see how the writers can have AL maintaining this "tragic figure" role for much longer. If she is to stay on the island, it would fit more into the anti-hero, where we can understand why she did what she did and move on accepting that this is what she does. And, probably, her compunction to act quickly and with bad judgment will pay off one of these days.

Charles Rogers, Mike Williams, and Roy Williams. That's three first-round WRs, to go along with a dearth of everything else.

If that's the case, why is she returning to LA (was that where she was? I heard the first couple of minutes but missed the visual.... was washing off paint) now? It can't be very long afterward.

IIRC, they stole 10 computers/laptops near finals time. That's 10 lives they entirely disrupted. Term papers, research, class notes, etc.... Ten students who had to work like the Dickens b/c "My computer was stolen" isn't an excuse a lot of profs will buy. I remember losing one smallish term paper I stupidly only had saved on a disk and it threw off my schedule for a couple of weeks. I can't imagine how losing everything would be like. If I'm one of the ten, I would want to meet these punks in the dark alley behind Gampel, besides them being expelled. I really can't express how disappointed I am in the U, which has otherwise always been very forthcoming in stuff like this.

Bench points are crucial for any team. Marcus Williams and the other kid should have been expelled; as an alum, it's shameful that they've been allowed to stay on the team at all for what they did.

That, and we have 20 million people who think they can make a living as a singer, actor, entertainer/personality rather than having anything like a real job where they actually have to do something like work. Perish the fuggin' thought. Not that politicians are making it easier/economical for businesses to create real jobs here. They've made it known we want all of the superficial jobs we can get.

I don't think she can get on viewers' good sides. As I said, in story-telling, a character who kills a character we've come to know or like has to pay for that in some manner. Either in prison, mental health, their own death or any combination of that. Maybe the writers will try to redeem AL as a kind of anti-hero (look up the meaning of this, b/c it's probably not what you think it means*). This kind of character is a very tricky thing to establish. As you say, she'll probably have to rescue one of the group. I honestly don't see Ms. One-way doing that. *anti-hero: the/a central character in a play, book or film who does not possess traditionally heroic qualities, such as bravery, and is admired instead for, or despite, what society generally considers to be a weakness of their character Death will become a part of any show with a basis in disaster and being marooned on an island, except Gilligan's Island, o' course. The reason why she didn't ID him was so he would be back on the street where she could hunt him down, rather than entering the penal system where he's protected from retribution. Watch it again, and you know her mother knows what AL is thinking about doing. She asks her, what three times, to ID the guy? Her mother didn't get to be a captain by being stupid. In the flashback, AL shoots him, puts the gun in her jacket and then walks away; she didn't pick up the body and dump/bury it somewhere. Jason's prints are in the system, so he's easily identifiable; an arrest record search, nevermind the cops in the precinct would show her connection to Jason, which is instant motive. Someone had to have covered for her somewhere. What you're talking about is the part where AL lied when Sayid asked her if she ever saw (and an implied "Did you take revenge on...?") the guy who shot her. She said No, probably b/c she was thinking about her own present situation. If you're AL, you probably don't want to tell Sayid that when someone shot you, you gunned them down in cold blood.

He tortured people, yes. In the Republican Guard, that's what they did with Iraqis who were suspected of not being loyal to Saddam, people who were theives, people who did or were suspected of any variety of crime. Tantamount to police *ahem* coercing a confession out of a suspect and to find out what else they know. Some probably were innocent but if it weren't Sayid, it would have been someone else doing the torturing. It's kind of like how on the island, he doesn't question what things need to be done; he just does it (i.e. he doesn't ask what the computer was for, he fixed it first) b/c it's his job. Think what you want about that; he's a yes-sir follower, he's the muscle guy, whatever. But I wouldn't say that if it were his call, that he'd be jumping at the chance to torture an innocent person. What does Jack have in his past that's so bad? Hurley? Claire? Rose?

Well, considering that she emptied a clip into the guy, and then went closer for a double-tap to the head, I'm thinking it wasn't Sawyer. I think the guy's name was Jason. But he did look a little like Sawyer, probably not accidental. Something else to think about, the guy shoots AL. AL refuses to ID him which prompts his release. Guy gets shot. You would think AL is the prime suspect in the murder (b/c that's what it is, regardless whether you think it was justified). Her mother was the captain.... Then there was the domestic where she pulled her gun; which in itself is a serious matter and requires paperwork-up-the-ass over whether it was necessary; and it being her first day back on the job after a shooting incident, there would/should have been disciplinary action for it, and desk duty for a long time. Her partner didn't report that she drew her weapon, her mother apparently put a kibosh on the investigation of Jason's murder. This is a girl (I won't say woman) who has had people covering for her f--kups for a long time. And she's ugly.

Yup. I heard somewhere that people who get used cars retire 5 years earlier than those who buy or lease new cars. At the heart of it, it's a one-time investment of a few grand + some repairs and if it lasts you five years you're ahead of the game vs. constant monthly payments that really add up as your vehicle depreciates. I've gotten some good deals at state auctions. Usually Ford Escorts, Taurus, etc. that are about five years old and go for about $2-3K. Some need minor work, some need a little more extensive work, but still might be worth it. But there's some people who just need a new car, must have a new car, can't live without a new car. I just look at it in a Point A to Point B and 'it's just a hunk of metal and plastic' perspective.

I still hate AL; probably more than before. I hope she gets it, soon. Definitely don't think the writers should do a story of redemption, as I'm guessing they will try. In story, a person who makes a mistake as big as her has to be punished somehow --- it's usually in like kind of what they did, but there needs to be some kind of retribution. Fast-Draw McGraw, she is. And still barking out orders that no one follows, thinking she's in charge. So the ep was a parallel b/w her response to being shot (she murdered the guy, tho she lied about that to Sayid) and Sayid's response to her shooting Shannon, which was a very lame 'Sh-- Happens.' Or perhaps it was a parallel b/w the flashback and how AL is dealing with being the shooter this time, rather than the shoot-ee. Duey, there was definitely a kinship/mutual understanding b/w Locke and Eko. Locke is getting into the trappings of cubicle life again, doing the crossword while manning the button (Gilgamesh); I think he likes the structure and schedule of it. And yeah, the reunion was sentimental, and the music really played into that. Rose-Bernard. Jin-Sun (very nice to see that, after she thought he was dead). But there was also Vincent running toward Michael; and that is a sorrowful scene when you think about it. Here Michael is, right back to where he started from after having such high hopes, and his son has been kidnapped. It's going to be very interesting to see how it plays out w/ Michael's reaction over time and in how they're going to get Walt back.

There were "tones"? No, there were flashbacks just prior to Sayid getting on the flight that he aided the FBI in busting a terror cell and foil a major attack by using his previous friendship with one of the cell members. Which he did, at considerable personal risk, and which he didn't have to do. Sayid isn't down with hurting innocent people. He tortured Sawyer for cause and with approval from Jack and the other Lostaways. He didn't kill Locke even tho Shannon asked him to "do something about [Locke killing Boone]" b/c, despite his gut feeling, he had no proof that the crash wasn't accidental (nor did he hear Locke say, "Boone was a sacrifice that the island demanded" that showed malicious intent, at least). That would actually be pretty cool.

Well that's the thing in today's American economy. Producing a tangible product ourselves is so passé. With every free trade agreement, American becomes more and more a retail economy, where the only jobs will be selling stuff that other countries make. We have Bill Clinton and the Republicans to thank for sailing us down the river, and Dems who, in their few statements on this subject have broad ideas I agree with more than not but not many specifics about how we can become a production economy again. But come election time, they sit on the sidelines and talk about abortion.

That looks like me when the motion sickness sets in.