WWRD

The infamous What Would Riggins Do? conversation

Riggins again

 Hey 7.

 Going to State

 QB1

 Conversation

Party at Tyra's

Okay so yeah I just spent the last 10 minutes searching through Friday Night Lights tumblrs. This one and this one.

Yeah so I love this

A long time ago, we used to be friends

Things I learned from TV shows

Veronica Mars
So much to learn from the sassy little blonde.
- Following people is a great way of finding out what they're up to. People just don't expect to be followed these days.
- Pretending to be someone else might be lying, but it's a good way of getting an important piece of evidence.

Gossip Girl
- Leave the scheming to the experts. If you think you might be able to pull off a complicated scheme against someone who does it regularly... you are fooling yourself. Chuck and Blair are experts - no one ever gets past them in the long run. Little J, Georgina, Vanessa, any number of other guest stars - all got smacked down.
- Money solves problems. Mostly. Ask Lily.

Friday Night Lights
Soooo many lessons to learn about teamwork, humility, sacrifice and friendship.
- But apart from those, FNL preaches the virtue of maximising your talent. If you're only ever going to be a mid-level player... be the best damn mid-level player you can be. If you've got the talent to be a superstar running back... then do the hard work to become that superstar. Coasting on your talent is wrong. You might be the best in your team - but are you the best you can be?
- Another lesson. Don't go searching for pics of Friday Night Lights because it will want to make you do an entire post of Friday Night Lights pics.

Fringe
- There is no limit to what you can achieve with creativity and ingenuity. Problems are solvable. Think of the impossible solution, and what it would take to make it possible. Start there.

- Never accept a free drink from a mad scientist.

Get on it

Quick update on shows you probably should be watching

Community
Yes it took me a while to get it too. But then it just took off and I fell in love. The paintball episode is fantastic. Dooda doesn't like it, but then he didn't like 30 Rock, so take that with a pinch of salt. Season two has been hilarious so far.

Misfits
British, funny, violent, crude, clever, different. Season two is on at the moment, so it's worth getting in to. There is a fair bit of swearing, a bit of violence and the occasional sexy time. So you can take those as positives or negatives depending.

Parks and Recreation
Season one (6 episodes) was so-so. Season two (24 epsiodes) kicked it up a notch to begin with and got better and better. From the creators of the US Office, it is funny, sharp and has a surprising amount of heart. Amy Poehler is great as Leslie, the deputy director of the Pawnee Parks Department. Aziz Anzari is awesome as Tom Haverford. But the real star is Nick Offerman as Department Director Ron Swanson. He hates local government as a concept. It's great.

Glee
It is up and down and can be very heavy handed. But the singing is a lot of fun.

Friday Night Lights
Seriously, if you've heard about the best show on television and haven't been watching it, I feel sorry for you. But I also feel very happy for you. Because it means that one day you will get to watch it and experience joy (maybe for the first time?). The final season, season five, showing now.

This song is called "I'm so sad, so very very sad"

If you've read a bad review of Scott Pilgrim, I can set your mind at ease. It's great. Without spoiling anything I can tell you that it's got a solid story. It's worth going in with the mindset that Scott thinks he's a nice guy, but is actually a bit of a jerk when it comes to dealing with women. It will explain a lot about the start and how some women react to him.

Now, if you want a breakdown of why I think the story is strong, SPOILERS BELOW.

Yes, Scott thinks he's a nice guy. But he clearly is a bit of a player with women. He just doesn't see himself that way. He's happy to coast through.

When he meets Ramona he realises she's the girl of his dreams (literally). He wants her. He goes hard for her. Unfortunately he's too much a wuss to break up with Knives Chau first, so he strings her along until she says she loves him... and that's when he dumps her. Yes, Scott is a jerk.

So he falls hard for Ramona. Unfortunately he realises she has issues. Basically, issues with her ex boyfriends. This is a pretty regular thing for a lot of guys to deal with. So Scott starts to fight for her. It gets difficult. He's never had to actually fight for something before. He loses heart, especially after he fights Roxy, immediately after defeating Todd.

Scott thinks her issues are too much to deal with. He gets frustrated and lashes out verbally at Ramona, which makes her realise that he is just as much of a jerk as her exes. Things aren't great.

Scott's friends remind him that it's time to grow up. Wallace wants his own space, and that means Scott moving out. Scott can't just be "that guy" anymore. It helps that he gets a passive-aggressive call from Gideon, the 7th evil ex and Ramona's controlling boyfriend. Scott realises that he loves Ramona and is willing to keep fighting for her, even though her issues are overwhelming.

He has a go. He reveals he loves Ramona and fights for her. It isn't enough. Why? Because he hadn't learned the lessons about himself. Luckily he has a second chance (he reloads!). He learns that he has been the guy that he's had to fight against, and it's not what he wanted to be. He learned some humility.

It meant he apologised to Kim for how he had treated her and behaved. He recognised he had cheated on both Knives and Ramona. He realised he wanted to fight for Ramona not just because he loved her, but because he needed to earn his own self respect. Finally, he had to face himself. He made peace with himself. Then after all that, he pursued Ramona again. Because he had fought through all her issues, learned a lot about himself on the way, and was still in love with her.

-------------------------------------

It's a good film. Apart from everything I said there, it's also HILARIOUS. And amazingly well cut. It tells the story of a journey that many young men go on. Marrying their self-image with their actual personality. The music is fun, the characters are great, and the action is good. The video game references, the Seinfeld bit, the random comic stuff. It's a lot of fun. Seriously see it.

Now, entertainment!

So Aussies are "taking over Hollywood" again. While I totally recognise this is part of the Australian "we cannot believe something we made is good unless it is validated in England or the USA" cultural cringe... I still feel it too. I love it when our actors or sportspeople or musicians do well overseas. Geez, even when Savage Garden had a couple of top 10 US hits I was like "nice work, Savage Garden".

All that said, the article makes some interesting points about Australian masculinity.

Di Bonaventura says the pool of US actors who radiate genuine toughness is drying up, so he and other producers and directors are forced to look globally, particularly Australia.

"I think there is something that is going on in American culture which is interesting - the toughness is getting a little bit eliminated from the culture," said di Bonaventura, while doing the promotional rounds for Red.

It might not be true, but I'll take the compliment. I'm wearing a flannie right now, so yeah, we tough.

Speaking of masculinity, this blog from Sam de Brito was great.

"Civilians balk at recognizing that one of the most traumatic things about combat is having to give it up," writes Junger, "and yet throughout history, men like ... O'Byrne have come home to find themselves desperately missing what should have been the worst experience of their lives.

"To a combat vet, the civilian world can seem frivolous and dull, with very little at stake and all the wrong people in power. When men say they miss combat, it's not that they actually miss getting shot at - you'd have to be deranged - it's that they miss being in a world where everything is important and nothing is taken for granted.

- In praise of Inception. Yes, it really was great. This article points out how the film mirrors the issues involved in making films. A really good reading of the movie.

- Kanye on Twitter. He used to hate it, now he's the best thing on it.

- Someone hatin' on Mad Men. I get where he's coming from. I find it hard to articulate why the show is so great. But I find it really good to watch. It's adult and complex and morally ambiguous.

- Want to take down the world's cyber structures? Spend two years and $100 million and you can do it.

- The Bedroom Philosopher coming back to Burnie, with his Awkwardstra. Great name.

- Is Eat Pray Love just more "white girl problems"?

- The journo who wrote Black Hawk Down talks about writing.

- An amazing account of a guy who entered rehab for sex addiction. This one is a bit graphic in terms of some of the things he talks about (no pictures, obv). Most pertinent was this quote:

My therapist said the fact I was aroused by **** and ****** **** meant I had brain damage, simple as that. His conclusion took a couple of days to sink in. Essentially, the part of my mind responsible for rational decision-making has been overridden by a huge desire for more pleasure chemicals, and I do stupid, dangerous things to get those chemicals no matter the consequences. That's addiction.

- Here is an interview with someone who has overcome sex addiction - Russell Brand talks to weekend television's most attractive presenter, Samantha Armytage.

Yes, they flirt. He is a terrible flirt. 

Friday Night Lights oh yes

Eight reporters try to go a week without using the internet.

Season four of Friday Night Lights is showing on NBC in America right now (it's already been on cable). They're up to episode four. Slate did a recap. Without spoiling anything, I liked this statement.

At some point Tami says to Eric about the pep rally, "Hey, if it's not great, you still get to come home with us." I love this line. I plan to use it with my husband in the future. But it's also very particular to the Taylors. Their family is a portable down comforter, something you get to carry everywhere for warmth and support. For everyone else in Dillon, family and home are complicated and overwhelming forces that can drag you down.

I think there are stacks of reasons why people connect with Friday Night Lights, and family is one of them. Another one is location. Coming from Tasmania, growing up here in the 90s, it wasn't an awesome place to be. We were in recession, there weren't a lot of jobs. Dillon feels similar. Family can be a good thing or something to escape from. Football means so much in Dillon because there is nothing else.

Damn I miss Friday Night Lights. Season five... can't wait.

Get on some TV

I haven't done this a while, but I figured some people might like to hear about some new shows to watch.

Maybe you're at the video store or Big W or sitting at your laptop thinking "I'd like to start a new show. Which one should I pick?"

30 Rock
In case you haven't got on it yet, this is the sharpest comedy on television right now. Season 4 just finished and it's better than ever. Season one is pretty good - better than other sitcoms - but it gets better and better each season. The show has also mastered guest casting.

Community
Another sitcom, this one is really quite clever. Set at a community college, it focuses on a study group. Not entirely consistent, but laughs every episode and it gets a pass because it's season one.

Fringe
Season two just finished and it is freaking getting crazy! The mystery of the week episodes are still great, but the over-arching story is getting huge.

Glee
The show Ryan Murphy wanted to make when he made Popular in the late 90s. A bit inconsistent, and can swing from drama to farce too easily (just like Popular), but it's entertaining.

Big Bang Theory
It might sound like a stupid American sitcom with a laugh track, but it's a lot of fun. Sheldon is a great character with his neuroses, while the Penny and Leonard dynamic works well. Howard and Raj can be hilarious too. Probably helps to watch this if you have some geeky tendencies. Three seasons out so far.

And some old ones you might not have considered, but I can definitely recommend.

The Wire
Kings
Mad Men
The Sopranos
The Office

"When you walk through the garden..."

I love seeing actors from The Wire pop up in random places.

Right now I'm watching some show called Mercy and Marlo Stansfield is in it and it looks like he's killed someone. Annnnnnd he just got shot.

Anyway, I've seen D'Angelo Barksdale and Wallace in Friday Night Lights, Cedric Daniels, Frank Srbotka (spelling?), Prez and Chris Partlow in Fringe, Stringer Bell and Beadie Russell in The Office, the icy black Councilwoman (can't remember her name) in Kings. I saw Avon Barksdale in a clothing ad. Michael was in some Rocawear ads and in the new 90210. Daniels was also in Lost for a while.

McNulty was obviously in 300, but I haven't seen Bunk in anything else yet. I think the new David Simon series has a few of the Wire alumni in it. I'd love to see Omar in something else, and Cutty. I don't know what the hell Snoop could do though. She is barely intelligble.

Friday Night Links

Clear eyes, full hearts... CAN'T LINK!

I love this examination of the technique of shooting Friday Night Lights. The directors and show runners aim for realism above all, so dialogue is loose, and all scenes are shot with three cameras, no rehearsals or blocking. No sets, no lighting either. (Spoiler free, basically. But wait til the end of season three if you're super paranoid).

Variety's review is great. And spoiler free.

As "Friday Night Lights" nears the conclusion of another winning season -- little seen, but enormously satisfying -- the parallels keep growing to another program that ranks among TV's best of the past decade, "The Wire."

And

The main frustration vis-a-vis "FNL" has been that the series has garnered scant attention for an element that should be universal: quite simply, the best marriage ever featured within a TV show. The central couple played by Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are loving, playful and sexy, yet also not immune to sparring about everything from child-rearing to money issues. Lip service is often paid to "family values," but here's a program that genuinely captures the value of family -- frequently by bringing the Taylors and other caring adults into the lives of teens lacking such role models.

Pajiba looks at Friday Night Lights season one and declares it one of the Best 20 Seasons of the Decade. (Spoilers for season one).

After two years of persuasive arguing — it’s not really a show about football, it’s the best family drama in the history of television, Taylor Kitsch often removes his shirt — there’s nothing left we can do to convince you to watch “Friday Night Lights.” At this point, you’ve either given into the brilliance of “FNL” or you haven’t, and I doubt anything I write here will sway you otherwise.

Here's a review from Dan Carlson, who doesn't like sports. But he loves Friday Night Lights, because it's not really about sports. (Spoilers for season one).

But "Friday Night Lights" works for me because it's not just about the game, but about the people playing it. I'm not just marveling at the grace of a fourth-quarter Hail Mary pass to win the game; I'm rooting for sophomore Matt Saracen to step it up and become a leader.

And here's Connie Britton (aka Mrs Coach) speaking before the start of season three (definite spoilers).

Fun!

When I get that feeling, I want...

...electoral healing.

Yes! An election today! Finally!

My prediction is 10 Labor, 10 Liberal, 5 Green. It will depend on how well the Greens go in Denison if they get six seats, which I think would come at the expense of the Libs, rather than Labor. That said, it's hard to know just how much on the nose Labor has become. There will be a swing against Labor, but who knows if it will mean enough for the Libs to win the 13 seats they need. Remember, they're only starting with seven. And two of the sitting members are retiring at this election (Michael Hodgman in Denison and Sue Napier in Basas). So effectively the Libs has five people with the kind of name-recognition they need. My old housemate Dr Harry has been doing some polling with his year nine students, so check out what he thinks. I'm working the night shift tonight, talking to the winners and losers in Lyons. Should be interesting.
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So I finally finished Friday Night Lights season 4. And yes, Wallace from the Wire shows up (and D'Angelo Barksdale!!). That show delivers quality on a nightly basis. With one final season to go, I'm intrigued as to how it's going to end. They've managed some cast transitions pretty well, which has been good. It starts on DirecTV on June 30, I think.
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Other TV news, 30 Rock is having the season of its life so far. Every new episode feels like a high water mark. If you haven't got into this show, or had a crack at it and didn't enjoy it, maybe try again.

Also, Mad Men season 3 is really good. So much of the show is about what is not being said, what is not being done. It's a bit like The Wire in that way. Anyway, I'm five episodes in. I'm a little bit spoiled about some things that happen, but I don't know details. Suffice to say, I'm looking forward to it.
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And just in case you haven't seen this - the 30 Worst Album Covers Of All Time. Some of these are new ones that I haven't seen before, so that's nice.

In which Angus expresses soppy ideas about community

Friday Night Lights is about community, and that's a big part of why I love it so much.


Take this bit from a recap of the second last episode of season 3:

And here is where I die just a little bit. There are so many ways in which this show is just so smart. When Coach Taylor told J.D. that people depending on him is a freedom? And when Tyra just talked about how it feels to be on the inside, not the outside? Those sentiments are so fresh, so bracingly different from Juno indie Hollywood style celebration of being on the outside (which never feels or looks as good in real life as it does in outsider-turned-entertainment-insiders accounts of it), from misguided veneration of being "an individual" first and above all, community be damned. The show is so beautifully about being a part of something, how good that feels.

Being a part of a group that achieves something is a really rewarding experience. Leading that group is even more rewarding. The sports teams I've been part of that have won trophies and finals have been a lot of fun. I have to say, organising seven people to produce eight pages of the next day's newspaper at a professional athletics carnival that ran into the night was one of my favourite memories from my time in my old job. Sure it was stressful, and sure it was hard work. But we delivered. On time, for the first time in a decade. And we had great stories, good photos, and all got out of there on time. It was fun.

Being on the outside is okay. But being on the inside is a lot better. If you're not currently involved in something that goes beyond your usual work and home life, I encourage you to think about it. It doesn't have to be a big time commitment, or cost you a lot of mental energy. Play a sport, join some sort of group, get involved in something. You'll feel better and you'll find you have something to look forward to. Some people get involved in too much and have to cut back, sure. But if not, give it a go.
 
Damn I love that show.

Tim Riggins!

Tim Riggins!

Tougar Cown

Why can't I hate Cougar Town???? I mean, I really should. But I can't. Because it is funny and it has heart.

It must be the Scrubs influence. Bill Lawrence was part of the Scrubs team for ages, and now he's behind Cougar Town. Remember how the first four seasons or so of Scrubs were really sharp, but also had a lot of emotional resonance? Well Cougar Town has a fair bit of both. And I have to respect that.

Anyway, Courtney Cox still has her comic timing. Busy Philips is also showing she can do comedy, which I always figured she could when she was on the last two seasons of Dawson's Creek.

We're up to episode 5 and it's pretty classic. I'll keep watcing it.

Texas forever, Street!

I never understood the appeal of the bad boy girls wanted to fix. "He's a tool! He'll only hurt you!" It was always frustrating seeing some girl go for a damaged guy in a belief that she was the one who could save him. It was the nurturing instinct, I guess. And a girl's idea that by saving him he would be forever grateful and devoted to her.

Of course we all know what happens. He is inconsistent, lets her down, and eventually breaks her heart. She gets cold and hard, and later on some nice guy has to work very, very hard to get her to open up again. I remember hearing a guy speak about how women become cunning, cold and calculating because men have not lived up to their responsibilities to them. It rings true.

Anyway, like I said, I never understood the appeal. Until I watched season one of Friday Night Lights. And I saw Tim Riggins.

A damaged youth with an alcohol problem, no reliable parents and a clear need to be loved, he also happens to be extremely attractive. This is irresistable to women. They want to help him, fix him, give him the love he clearly never had from his parents. They see the potential in him. And, I have to say, watching him in that first season I saw it too. I just wanted to put my arm around him and say "Riggins, let's just hang out and let's see what we can do to make things better." If I was a woman, I would have also said "And then let's kiss lots."

It's the same feeling I got with Tyra Collette, who clearly has some potential in her but keeps being held back by circumstances.

I am so glad I still have three more seasons to watch to see how these characters turn out. There is a lot of passion out there about this show. When the writers' strike and timeslot changes threatened the show, NBC did a deal with DirecTV just to keep it running. Clearly some people high up have a love for it too.

If you want a show that will lift your emotions, make you laugh, make you feel very, very deeply for some characters - watch this show. It is great.

Avatar/War on Terror spoilers within!

If you haven't seen Avatar, you should probably see it soon. Because it won't be in cinemas much longer. Anyway, I'm going to be talking about it like you've seen it.

So I watched Avatar again. And knowing what was coming, the Na'vi really annoyed me. They were really quite stupid. Here's why:

- They did not understand the Sky People's intentions, despite the signs being there to see. They ignored them and hoped the problem would go away.
- Despite their clear intelligence, they did not understand that their weapons had no effect on the Sky People's machines and armour. Their bows and arrows had not done any damage to them in years of trying... yet they persisted with them.
- Even when they were expressly told that the Sky People were coming to destroy their home, they gathered to attack them, using the same useless tactics. It was pointless and sad.
- It took a massive destruction event to make them realise they had been stupid in their approach. They ran away and retreated to their sacred places to regather.
- They only changed their approach once Jake Sully captured a giant freaking dragon to win their respect back, and he used his military knowledge to defeat the Sky People.

It reminded me of the West's approach to Islamic terrorism in the 1990s and 2000.
- We did not understand the terrorists' intentions, despite them being very open about it. Their public proclamations calling for the destruction of Western nations were ignored. Their calls for jihad and acts of terror went unheeded.
- Despite clear knowledge that our security procedures at our borders were not nearly good enough, we persisted with them. People had been coming in and out of Western countries for years, even though they probably should have been detained.
- When there was clear and mounting evidence that a major attack on American soil was brewing, those responsible for dealing with it just hoped it would go away. They relied on the same security procedures that had been repeatedly breached for years.
- It took a massive destruction event on September 11, 2001, for the West to realise its approach had been stupid.
- From there, the Western countries massively increased funding for security technology, intelligence assets on the ground, and changed their entire approach.

A lot has been made in America of the similarities in the film between the company (RDA) mining Pandora and the US military. Commentators have said it presents the US Military in a bad light. I think they've got it the wrong way around.

RDA had a clear purpose, a technological advantage and an enemy who underestimated it. The parallel is clearly with Islamic terrorists before Sept 11. On the other hand, the Na'vi had superior numbers and great firepower but lacked the conceptual knowledge on how to best use it to combat an enemy it didn't understand. Clearly, they are analogous to the Western military. Once the destruction event occurred, the game changed. The larger side was able to use its greater capabilities to overrun the side that had had the advantage.

What do you think?

Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!

I'm not going to be around for about a week, so I thought I'd better check in.

First of all, I am in LOVE with Friday Night Lights. It is my favourite favourite new show.
- I love sports movies. This has some great sports stuff in it.
- I love teen drama. This is one of the most realistic teen dramas I've seen in ages. Parents matter, kids change their opinions... great stuff.
- I love stories where young hearts get piled up with pressure. There is so much pressure on the young footballers in the small Texas town.

Oh yes, I am in love. A wonderful cast... AND it has four seasons in the can! No desperately hoping that it gets more seasons, or waiting for the next one to come out.

I was addicted - completely - in the first episode. I can't promise that will happen for you, but... isn't it worth taking that chance?

A wrapup of TV people, mostly

So, first up, Matt Le Blanc.
This project is a fair bit different from what I'd expect him to do, but I'm pleasantly surprised. I guess I was guilty of having the same expectations as the people in the clip. But anyway

EMBED-Matt LeBlanc Auditions for Episodes - Watch more free videos

Here's the bit from Pajiba:

The premise is laid out fairly well in the clip, but in case you can’t watch it, it is this: When a successful British husband-and-wife comedy team are lured by Hollywood to produce a new version of their hit series for a stateside audience, they’re initially thrilled at the prospects. But they soon realize what the American execs have in store for their precious show — including replacing the erudite British lead with the quintessential comedy star, Matt LeBlanc — and begin to sink deeper into the quicksand that is the TV business. Before long it’s clear that not just the couple’s show is at stake, but perhaps even their marriage.
So, basically LeBlanc — who hasn’t really been seen since “Joey” flopped several years ago — is the punchline. And LeBlanc will be playing himself, though in the clip below, he has to actually audition for the role. Of himself. And the fun part is, LeBlanc is actually playing the beleaguered straight man. And he’s kind of fantastic.

Watch it and let me know what you think!

If you haven't been following the Conan O'Brien vs Jay Leno thing, I'll break it down for you.
- Jay stole the Tonight Show from Dave Letterman, who always wanted it but was looked over in favour of Leno.
- In 2004 Leno and Conan made a deal: Conan would take over the Tonight Show in 2009 (Conan was then hosting the Late Show on the same network, NBC)
- In 2009 Conan got the Tonight Show and struggled a bit in the ratings, but nothing terrible.
- A couple months later, NBC gave Leno his own half hour show earlier in the night, five nights a week.
- It was a ratings disaster for local NBC affiliates, who had Jay's show lead into their late news.
- Sooooo, NBC decided to push the show back to after the late news, and push the Tonight Show with Conan back half an hour.
- Conan said "Um, WTF, that would kill the Tonight Show, which is a late night institution. I'll stay where I am thanks."
- NBC was like "Heh, actually, no. You either move, or we replace you with Jay."
- Conan: "I'm neither moving, nor quitting."
- NBC: "You're leaving."
- Conan: "Pay me $40 million."
- NBC: "If that's what it takes..."
- Everybody else: "HAHAHAHAHAHAHA this is hilarious."
- In the middle of it all, all the late night hosts were making jokes, mainly at Leno's expense. Jimmy Kimmell on ABC did a whole show dressed as Leno, and made the same kind of lame jokes that Leno uses. THEN, he actually went on Leno and did a "Top 10 at 10" ripping into Leno. It was awesome:

Leno: What's the best prank you ever pulled?
Kimmell: I think the best prank I ever pulled was, I told a guy that ‘Five years from now, I’m gonna give you my show.’ And then when the five years came, I gave it to him, and then I took it back almost instantly. It was hilarious. I think he works at Fox or something now.

 Heh heh heh.

- Anyway, Gawker have been running posts with clips from all the shows each day. It's been great. This post has the Kimmell as Leno stuff. This one has Kimmell on Leno, ripping into him.

More Christina Hendricks!
So since she wore that dress to the Golden Globes, there's been a bit of controversy in the blogosphere. Not over whether it was lovely and gorgeous (it was, although a few of the girls at work disagreed. Haters). No, over this line in the New York Times:

Not pretty Christina Hendricks in Christian Siriano’s exploding ruffle dress. (As one stylist said, 'You don’t put a big girl in a big dress.')

It was accompanied by a photo of Hendricks that was stretched to make her look fatter. You can see the comparisons here. She has some supporters in cyberspace (unsurprisingly).
Anyway, here's a really good interview with her done at the end of season two. It has some spoilers about early season three in it, so be cautious if you wish. Anyway, here's our favourite office manager:

Was that enough TV stuff?

According to MY design

For my first post of the new year, it's Star Wars time!

First off, here is a really interesting (if you like Star Wars) post about how to view the original films in light of the prequel trilogy.

As we now know, the rebel Alliance was founded by Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Bail Organa. What can readily be deduced is that their first recruit, who soon became their top field agent, was R2-D2.
...
As Star Wars opens, R2 is rushing the Death Star plans to the Rebellion. R2, not Leia. The plans are always in R2. What Leia puts into him in the early scene is only her own holographic message to Kenobi. Leia's own mission, as she says in the holographic message, is to pick up Obi-Wan and take him to Alderaan - or so she thinks. Actually, her father just wants her to meet Kenobi, which up to this point she never has. There's a reason for that.

I really enjoyed reading the article. Especially this bit:

Much of Obi-Wan's behaviour in this film (A New Hope), and Yoda's in the next, can best be understood if they are frankly scared to death of what Luke might become. (Ben is also scared that he himself will make all the same mistakes he made with Anakin.)

Awesome. Anyway, there's heaps more. Have a read.

And the debate - you're raising children and they get to watch Star Wars. Do you show them in order of release date or from I - VI?

Entertainment Weekly found a guy who had never seen any of the movies and sat him in front of a 14-hour marathon. He watched them all in order, and documented his thoughts.

It was also interesting to note the shrinking galaxy as the movies progressed throughout the night. The first trilogy boasts enormous cities with towering buildings and seemingly endless planets that surrounded them. The later trilogy is more focused on the core cast in desolate settings. Every planet seemed to be a forest, desert, or giant icicle. I missed the busy cities and vast galaxies.
...
For me, the biggest problem with seeing these films in their intended order is that Episodes IV-VI offered little surprises. I know who Luke's father is; I know that the little creature is Yoda. I have to sit through that uncomfortable kiss between Luke and Leia knowing that they are indeed brother and sister. Most of the mysteries and questions that drive the plots of the later episodes are nullified by having seen the first three. I almost envied those who saw them in original order, so I too could have enjoyed the shock and surprise of some of the plot's twists and turns.
...
However, I would be lying if I said that I wasn't sucked into this Galaxy Far, Far Away. The stories that Lucas has weaved are truly imaginative and exciting. The six movies flow together with ease, and I cannot imagine having to wait all that time between movies.

And the final article is a bit more challenging, but definitely worth pursuing. Slate argues that Star Wars is one big postmodern film experiment, with "the Force" the embodiment of "plot". The light side of the force represents instinct, chance and experimention, while the dark side is structure, order and control.

As viewers, we take pleasure in the implausible events that must happen for the narrative contraption to snap shut in a satisfying way. But the characters come to understand that there is another agent, external to themselves, that is dictating the action. Within the films' fiction, that force is called … er, "the Force."

It's an interesting reading of the films, and one I hadn't considered before.

Man, now I want to watch Star Wars again...

A mixed bag

So, Avatar. Thoughts.
- Definitely, definitely, definitely go see it at the movies. The 3D is too good to watch it on dvd.
- It is a technical masterpiece.
- The story... the story isn't that fantastic. I mean it's serviceable, and hits the right emotional points, but there are some leaps of logic and strange decisions that serve only the filmmaker's purposes.
- Seriously, go see it at the movies. Like, go now. Go tonight. Grab someone and go. Find a babysitter if necessary (and take them along!). But it's worth seeing on the big screen.
- There are things in Avatar that I have never seen on screen before. Things that make you smile like "oh I'm actually watching this and this is AWESOME" kinda things.
- It's a cool world James Cameron has dreamed up. Very cool.
- Go see it at the movies. Seeing it on dvd will make it about... 35 per cent less of a film.

Thoughts on the cricket
- Hauritz??!?! Really???? He took five wickets in the second innings and scored 75 quick runs as a nightwatchman... totally unexpected. He's gone from a "spinner" who didn't spin to a bowler with five wickets in an innings. I still wouldn't call him a spinner, but he's done bloody well. Sad for us fans of Jason Krezja though.
- Glad to see Watson do the biz. I remember when he was young and playing for Tassie and he looked like an absolute star. Could smash with the bat and bowl bloody fast. Has the talent to be a genuine all rounder, and seems to finally be staying fit long enough.
- I love seeing the young Pakistanis play. They're great to watch and they bring so much to the game.
- Pakistan's batting really let them down, as expected. They just don't have anyone to bat through the innings, aside from Yousuf.

Some links!
The guilty pleasure of gaming
A great article if you want to understand the emotion of sports fans. This guy describes exactly what it feels like to be a fan of a sports team and see them achieve something.
The sad story of why Duke Nukem Forever never got made.
And an excellent piece on why Adam Lambert (an American Idol singer) caused such a problem for TV networks in the US. The phrase "We don't care what you do in New York" is very interesting.