If you are active on Facebook, please consider joining this group.  Hate-filled speech is not "free" -- and hate group affect everyone!  --Olivia


Facebook | United Against Holocaust Denial On Facebook

Not slash - my a**!  Still, it's hilarious, no matter how you read it! -- Olivia


YouTube - Star Trek "Steady As She Goes" Music Vid

Another great music vid!  I didn't make this -- but, I highly recommend it, it's awesome!  I love Sapphire and Steel, and this gets the creepy what-the-heck-is-going-on feel perectly! --Olivia

YouTube - Sapphire & Steel - Dilaudid

Hi all,

I got this from a friend on Facebook.  Feel free to reply with your own fifteen books, or to comment (nicely) on my choices.  Flames will be used to toast marshmallows and then deleted.  --Olivia

15 books you've read that will always stick with you

Don't take long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First 15 you can recall in no more than 15 minutes.

 

1.  Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Trilogy, later 5 books) - Douglas Adams

2.  Lord of  the Rings (Trilogy) - JRR Tolkien

3.  Tale of  Two Cities - Charles Dickens

4.  Animal Farm - George Orwell

5.  Gambit (Nero Wolfe Mystery) - Rex Stout

6.  1984 - George Orwell

7.  Seeing Voices - Oliver Sacks

8.  Red Harvest - Dashiell Hammett

9.  Shards of Honor - Lois McMaster Bujold

10.  The Warrior's Apprentice - Lois McMaster Bujold (Both books introduced me to her wonderful Miles Vorkosign series)

11.  Storm Front - Jim Butcher (Introduced me to the Harry Dresden series)

12.  Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - JK Rowling

13.  The Other Log of Phileas Fogg - Philip Jose' Farmer

14.  Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne

15.  Paris in the 20^th Century - Jules Verne

 

Notes:

 

Douglas Adams' trilogy books had a big influence on me because they went through my high school like wildfire.  EVERYONE was reading them.  I loved the first two books so much that I more-or-less memorized large sections of the books.  I eventually read all five, plus the short story ("Zaphod plays it safe" - only available in the omnibus edition) as they came out.  I also read the radio scripts book, heard the full-length radio plays (and the edited-down version which I found first), watched and now own on DVD the British TV mini-series, and watched the American movie (it was ok, but not great -- and missed the boat in a lot of areas).  I do love the humor of the books though.

 

Tale of  Two Cities -- read it on my own and loved it.  One of the books that got me interested in reading classic literature "just because" instead of  "because I have to".  Also, made me realise that I really love *novels* not short stories.

 

Animal Farm and 1984 -- read both on my own in grade school or junior high.  Really liked Animal Farm.  Wasn't as enthusiastic about 1984 (among other things the whole premise of language disappearing was faulty -- English is not losing vocabulary, it's GAINING it and always has been, since the Norman Conquest introduced enough change to create English out of the Celtic languages).  Had to read 1984 at least twice in school (later on after reading it on my own) - where it became even less of a favorite book.  But, yeah, influenced?  It had an influence!

 

Lord of the Rings -- found it in my junior high school library in 7^th grade.  Read it, loved it, ended-up reading it about every three years.  I loved the films too.  Actually, I really need to watch my DVDs of the films again soon.

Seeing Voices -- Awesome book about a completely different culture (and a culture whom many outside of it don't see AS a culture). Probably the first anthropological book I ever read -- and before I really knew anything about anthropology!

Gambit, Rex Stout, Because it was the first Nero Wolfe mystery I read, and I ended-up reading the entire canon over a period of several years and became a bit of a fan.

 

BTW - Sherlock Holmes too -- finally finished the entire canon (Complete SH Ed in one volume), which I had been working on for years (I'd read a few stories, put it down, wait several months or even a year, read a few more stories, etc).  I love Holmes, and I remember reading "The Red-Headed League" in an English class, but what really got me hooked on Holmes was watching Jeremy Brett in the Granada SH TV series which actually adopted the original short stories and novels.  But I can't really remember what specific book I read first.

 

Red Harvest -- got to read it in a "Pop Lit" class in high school -- totally turned me on to Dashiell Hammett, and hard boiled/film noir detective stories.  I must say though, over all, I think I enjoy watching film noir films over reading hard boiled detective fic.  Still, Hammett's books have a very literate, intelligent quality that I like.

 

Bujold -- Still one of my favorite SF series of all time.  I've been desperately waiting for a new Miles book.  I might have to re-read them soon!

 

Storm Front / Jim Butcher -- right now he's my favorite fantasy novelist.  I love that it's a combination of  film noir (hard boiled) style and fantasy.  I love that Harry's a protagonist not a hero.  I love that the series is set in Chicago too!

 

Harry Potter -- yep, caught-up in the mania for this one too.  However, I really liked the earlier books (1-4) rather than the later ones (5-7).

 

The Other Log of  Phileas Fogg -- I've read this book like three times, and every time I really enjoy it.  I even wrote a review and posted it to the "The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne" Yahoo Group and archive.  Not only is it a fun book, one that's enjoyable to read,  but it shows that a professional can write fan fiction (Farmer also wrote books about Doc Savage, Tarzan, and I think John Carter of Mars -- the man loved his pulp heroes).

 

Around the World in 80 Days -- My favorite of the classic Jules Verne books, even tho' it's probably considered to be a juvenile title.  It's still fun -- and shows a Victorian novel CAN be fun!

 

Paris in the 20^th Century -- Verne's "lost" novel.  I absolutely adored everything about this book!  The predictions are astondingly accurate.  The writing was flawless.  It was just the most cool thing.

So what are everyone else's influencial books?

--Olivia
 

Oppps -- posted the wrong link before, that was the summary.  Here's the real link.  Be sure to click through to page two to read the entire story (it's about a page and a half total - if you only see one paragraph you're on the wrong link).
--Olivia


Star Trek: Spock, Kirk and Slash Fiction | Newsweek Movies | Newsweek.com

Title:  The Smell of Reeves and Mortimer

Featured Actors:  Vic Reeves (Jim Moir), Bob Mortimer

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  12

Total Seasons (Series): 1

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Another of  Reeves and Mortimer's New Wave comedies.

 

Title:  Space: 1999

Featured Actors:  Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Catherine Schell

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set): 6

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  Do to an accident at a nuclear-waste disposal site on the moon, the moon is sent hurling away from Earth.  The people working at moonbase are trapped on the moon, and soon find themselves discovering new life and new civilizations as the moon has sort of  become a spaceship.  This is a live-action Gerry Anderson series.

 

Title:  Thunderbirds

Featured Actors:  Peter Dyneley, Shane Rimmer, David Holliday, Jeremy Wilkin, Matt Zimmerman, David Graham, Ray Barrett, Sylvia Anderson, et. al.  (All voices only)

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6 (sets 1-4), 5 (set 5), 3 (set 6)

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  Gerry Anderson's most famous and best Supermarionation television series.  The series features Jeff  Tracy, millionaire, business executive, and former astronaut as the head of International Rescue - a service organization that he started to rescue people anywhere in the world.  International Rescue is also a top-secret organization, no one in the world at large knows that Jeff and his sons are the organization.  Jeff's sons are:  John Tracy, space monitor aboard Thunderbird 5 a geostationary satellite that can monitor any frequency in the world for distress calls (and communicate back to those in distress); Scott Tracy, the pilot of Thunderbird 1 a super-sonic reconnaissance craft that is normally the first on the scene in the disaster zone; Virgil Tracy, pilot of Thunderbird 2, the organization's huge transport that carries rescue equipment to the disaster site; Alan Tracy, astronaut and pilot of Thunderbird 3, the organization's space rocket; and Gordon Tracy, aquanaut and pilot of the organization's tiny yellow mini-sub.  Other regulars include:  Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward and her driver/butler Parker, the organization's London agents; Ma Tracy, Jeff's mother; Kyrano, Jeff's loyal gardener, chef, and servant as well as friend; and Kyrano's daughter Tin-Tin.  The regular villain is the Hood.  Although a bit dated in places (particularly the use of a villain like the Hood), most of  this series really stands up well.  Set 4 was the first DVD set I ever bought and I was amazed how well the stories stand up.  (I probably would have bought Doctor Who first, but Thunderbirds came out earlier).  You do get used to the Supermarionation technique - in many ways, it's like watching something animated, but of course with models.   Derek Meddings did the model work on this and Doctor Who and later became one of the world's most famous and accomplished model makers, having worked on the James Bond films and many other projects.

 

Torchwood  - See separate entry under Doctor Who

 

Title:  UFO

Featured Actors:  Ed Bishop, George Sewell, Michael Billington, Gabrielle Drake, et. al.

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  13

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  1 Region: NTSC

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  Gerry Anderson live action series.  Much, much better than Space:  1999.  Although the series starts slowly, once it gets going it's a very good SF series.  What I particularly liked is that it gives you the feeling the main characters are always behind the 8-ball.  No matter what they find out about the aliens they are fighting, it's never really enough to help them win, and often information comes too late to help.  Like all Gerry Anderson shows, including Space: 1999, the model shots are pure perfection.  However, unlike Space:  1999, UFO has great characters and good, consistent, plotting.  It is, however, a bit of a 1970s program, so many of  the main characters drink like fish and smoke like chimneys.  (And yes, it is a bit unrealistic that members of  a super-secret organization like SHADO would drink so much while on duty, but it's a sign of the times.)  SHADO - Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation, is an secret organization who's purpose is to investigate, research, and ultimately stop the strange UFOs that are suddenly attacking Earth (or at least England) and also kidnapping people.  Trust me, it's fun.  And it's pronounced "you-FOE" as if it's all one word, not "you-F-oh" like individual letters.

 

Title:  A Very Peculiar Practice

Featured Actors:  Peter Davison

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  7

Total Seasons (Series): Unknown (I have series 1)

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Peter Davison plays a doctor for the third time (the others being a vet in All Creatures... and of course, The Doctor in Doctor Who).  This time around he's a medical doctor at a university campus.  This show is also very strange.  I bought it because it had Peter Davison in it, and I was never really sure if it worked or not for me.

 

Title:  The Original Vic Reeves Big Night Out

Featured Actors:  Vic Reeves, Bob Mortimer

Episode Length:  30

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  7

Total Seasons (Series):  2

Note:  Sold in a single DVD set of all 14 episodes.

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  Channel 4

General Information:  The first of  Reeves and Mortimer's New Wave comedies.  This one has a bit of structure, in that it's designed like a late-night talk show, although it's actually a complete parody or send-up of  that format.  It's really a parody of David Letterman, even down to the stupid human tricks.

 

Title:  Wire in the Blood

Featured Actors:  Robson Green, Hermione Norris

Episode Length:  2 hours

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  3

Total Seasons (Series): 4 or 5 (ongoing)

Format:  1 Region: NTSC

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  Based on a popular series of novels, Dr. Tony Hill is a clinical psychologist and university instructor, who is initially called in to help local Bradford police DCI Carol Jordan on a serial murder case.  Tony becomes a regular contributor to solving cases for the department, while balancing his own work at the university, and growing personal feelings for Carol.  I love this show, but I've seen it wildly out-of-order and haven't gotten all the DVDs yet.  Still, highly, highly recommended.  Please note - besides being creepy, because this series deals with violent serial killers, and sex crimes in a realistic way, it is not for the faint of heart nor for those under 18.  BBCA stuck a "mature" warning on it for a reason, folks.

And that's all folks.  Next up a listing of  my US and other series on DVD, a write-up on Doctor Who and it's spin-offs, and a list of  movies I have on DVD.  Again - any questions on any of these series are most welcome.  Any other suggestions of other British series to look out for are also welcome.  And I'm hoping to do a panel on the topic for Mediawest, I just need to contact there panel person.

--Olivia
 

 

Hi all,

Again, my TV DVD collection is pretty vast, and of course includes American shows as well as British ones, but in prep for a possible panel next Mediawest I'm writing-up and posting these mini-reviews.  This takes off from the previous post which ended with "The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy".  Enjoy!  And feel free to comment with your own suggestions of British TV on DVD.

--Olivia

Title:  Hornblower  (AKA The Adventures of  Horatio Hornblower)

Featured Actors:  Ioan Gruffudd, Robert Lindsay, Jamie Bamber, David Warner.

Episode Length:  2-hr movies

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  4, 2, 2

Total Seasons (Series): 3

Note:  I have the Complete Series boxed sets from A&E which is a total of 8 2-hour movies in 3 boxed sets.

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  The Life and Times of Horatio Hornblower, naval officer in 1794, from a wet-behind the ears ensign with sea-sickness to a seasoned officer, based on C.S. Forester's series of books.  Beautifully shot, with gorgeous tall ship design British fighting ships, including Horatio's ship The Indefatigable.  Think Master and Commander but with a lower budget, though, honestly, it doesn't really look like a low budget production -- again, the filming is gorgeous, despite the budget.  A bit of trivia, the original C.S. Forester novels were one of Gene Roddenberry's inspirations for Star Trek.

 

Title:  Jeeves and Wooster

Featured Actors:  Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  5 or 6

Total Seasons (Series):  4

Format:  NTSC  Region:  1

Production Source:  Granada

General Information:  Based on PG Wodehouse's short stories, Jeeves and Wooster is about Bertie Wooster (Laurie) a upper-class twit in 1920s England (although in the last series he spends several episodes "abroad" in the US) and his perfect valet Jeeves (Fry).  Jeeves can do anything.  He also pulls his charge out of trouble, prevents him from getting in trouble, sees to it that he's always in style, and basically cares for him like a kid.  Watch for Laurie's piano playing - it's often the highlight of the show.

 

Title:  Life on Mars

Featured Actors:  John Simm, Philip Glenister

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  8

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  PAL  Region: 2

Note:  At least Series 1 of this series is also available in NTSC, Region 1.  But, because there is an American series of the same name, make sure you are buying the right one.

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Sam Tyler is a detective in modern London who's knocked down by a hit-and-run car.  He wakes up in 1973.  However, it is very unclear whether he's in a coma and dreaming, gone totally off  the deep end and has created his own world, or he's really time-traveled to 1973.  And this intentional ambiguity is what made the show very, very special.  The second thread of the program was that it gave the producers the chance to do a 1970s-style cop show, without running into obvious social changes involved.  Life on Mars does actually deal with 70s social issues, including those specific to the UK such as football hooliganism, but in a very clever way, since Sam is from 2006 and has modern viewpoints, and he's confronted with a world that's very different.  Someone once said, "The Past is a Foreign Country," and this show deals squarely with that concept.  Third, it is a fun 70-style cop show.  The publicity, press, and special features all mention that the show is like The Sweeney, something I've never seen (so I don't know), but I found it very similar to The Professionals, which was another reason I really liked it.

 

Title:  NeverWhere

Featured Actors:  Gary Bakewell, Laura Fraser

Episode Length:  30 Minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series):  1 (mini-series)

Format:  NTSC Region:  1

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Based on Neil Gaiman's novel, this fantasy series follows a man, Richard Mayhew, who falls into another world below the London Underground.  The plot of the novel is very similar to L. Frank Baum's novel The Wizard of Oz, in that once he discovers the fantasy world he just wants to go home.

 

Title:  The Piglet Files

Featured Actors:  Nicholas Lyndhurst, Serena Evans, Clive Francis, John Ringham

Episode Length: 30 Minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  7

Total Seasons (Series): 3

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  London Weekend Television

General Information:  Peter Chapman is a teacher at a small Polytechnic, when he is recruited by MI5 to teach the field agents how to use technology.  Over time, he also becomes a field agent himself.  This is an extremely funny series - smart, clever, intelligent, etc.  It also really pokes fun at the British secret services, and various programs (The Sandbaggers, James Bond, etc) that celebrate them.  However, to call The Piglet Files a British Get Smart would be an over-simplification because the program is not a parody and Peter is not working for his own agency, the way Max works for Control.  Rather, Peter really is working for MI5 but in this series they are very much taking the Mickey out of the British security services, especially MI5.

 

Title:  The Professionals

Featured Actors:  Gordon Jackson, Lewis Collins, Martin Shaw

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  14 or 15

Total Seasons (Series): 5

Note:  Packaged as 4 boxed sets

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  London Weekend Television (ITV)

General Information:  William Andrew Philip Bodie (who goes by just Bodie) and Ray Doyle are the top agents for CI5 (Criminal Intelligence 5), a fictional British security agency - somewhere between Scotland Yard, MI5 (internal security) and MI6 (external security).  Their "Controller" (or boss) is George Cowley, a principled and dedicated agent of the State.  Although this 1970s-era program focuses on anti-terrorism plots for the most part (think about when it was made and what was going on in the UK at the time), the fact that it is a fictional agency with a wide purview allows for a wide plot landscape.  There is even a stunning episode that focuses on what happens when an individual representing the State is given too much policing power - that is, citizens may be safe from crime but they also have no freedom ("In the Public Interest").  That's another focus about "Pros" that makes the show particularly interesting for an American viewer - here's a show that is willing to criticize the very "agency" it also portrays as heroic.  Similarly, the heroes are not perfect - they make mistakes, they mess-up and when they do innocents die.  Of course, since it is a 1970s show, there's plenty of  jiggling women who are portrayed as a distraction to Bodie and Doyle, and other attitudes of  the 1970s prevail.  But it's still well worth watching, especially in this day and age.

 

Title:  Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased (2000)

Featured Actors:  Vic Reeves (Jim Moir), Bob Mortimer, Tom Baker, Emilia Fox

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6 or 7

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  A remake of  a 1960s ITV series of the same name, in my personal opinion the 2000 version is better.  Jeff  Randall and Marty Hopkirk are best friends and partners in the private detective business.  In the premiere episode, Marty is murdered and returns as a ghost to help his friend and partner solve his own murder.  When circumstances force Marty to remain past sun-up, he is stuck on Earth as a ghost that only Jeff can see.  Tom Baker plays Wyvern, Marty's "spirit guide", who teaches him the ins and outs of being a ghost.  Jeannie is Marty's fiancée who ends-up becoming Jeff's new partner in the detective business.  Since she cannot see Marty and doesn't know that Marty's ghost visits Jeff, this adds a comic element.  Because of Jeff and Marty's genuine friendship - there is also a bittersweet element to the series, since Jeff is in mourning for his friend - yet his friend is still around.  This particular version of the series also has a supernatural or paranormal focus.  A very, very good program that should have lasted at least one more season.

 

Title:  Robin of Sherwood (AKA Robin Hood)

Featured Actors:  Michael Praed (Series 1 & 2), Jason Connery (series 3 only), Clive Mantle, Ray Winstone, Judi Trott, Peter Llewellyn-Williams, Phil Rose, Mark Ryan, Nickolas Grace, Robert Addie, et. al.

Episode Length:  1 hour normally but with several 2-hour episodes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6, 6, 13

Note:  I have The Complete Boxed set which consists of 22 episodes on 8 discs (counting each of the many 2-hour or 2-part episodes as a single episode.)

Total Seasons (Series):  3

Format:  PAL Region: 2  (Also available in NTSC, Region 1)

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  The single best version of  Robin Hood I've ever seen.  Robin, in this version, is a follower of Herne the Hunter, a mysterious figure who speaks like Obi-Wan Kenobi or a Vorlon.  However, when not possessed by Herne, the very old human male lives in a cave.  Robin, as Herne's son, gets advice from both HERNE, the mysterious god, and Herne the guy who gets possessed by the god.  It's a little confusing but it gives this version of Robin Hood it's lovely mystical quality.  Because Michael Praed leaves after the second series and is replaced with Jason Connery, this is also the only version of Robin Hood I've seen that deals with the death of  Robin Hood.  And, both versions of the legend are used - Praed is the traditional pauper Robin Hood; whereas Jason Connery is Lord Robert of Huntington, a Peer of  the Realm, who turns his back on Society when he sees how the people are being exploited and takes up Robin's role, gathering Robin's scattered men and women in the process.

 

Title:  The Sandbaggers

Featured Actors:  Roy Marsden, Richard Vernon, Dennis Burgress, Ray Lonnen, Alan MacNaughton, Bob Sherman, Jerome Willis, Michael Cashman, et. al.

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series): 3

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  Granada

General Information:  A serious fictional portrayal of MI6.  Although there are some great funny lines in this series, overall it's very, very depressing, and regular characters are killed off on a routine basis.  But, it's still very much a "do not miss" show if you like the spy genre.

 

Title:  Sapphire and Steel

Featured Actors:  David McCallum, Joanna Lumley, (and David Collins, occasional)

Episode Length:  30 minute episodes, forming multi-part stories

Story Length: 4-8 30 Minute episodes, one story per disc.  The boxed set contains all six stories.

Format:  NTSC Region: 1

Production Source:  ITV

General Information:  A mysterious, moody, and dark series.  Sapphire and Steel are "elements" who act sort of time detectives or police officers, showing up after time has messed-up to fix things and set things right.  This is the weirdest TV show I've ever seen and still enjoyed.  (The Prisoner is weirder, but I don't like it - it's too strange.)  Needless to say, you really don't know what is going on.  Ever.  Though in the individual stories, all of  which are very, very different from each other, you can follow what's going on, it's just really hard to describe such a strange show, accurately.  It's also very scary and dark.  Joanna Lumley is Sapphire, normally dressed in blue, with the powers of  telepathic communication with Steel, and the ability to manipulate time to some extent.  David McCallum is Steel who is super strong and has the ability to lower his body temp to near absolute zero (though' it also takes a lot of energy).  Because of the 30-minute cliffhanger format (the same as classic Doctor Who) the series is very addictive.

 

The Sarah Jane Adventures - See separate entry under Doctor Who

 

Title:  Sea of Souls

Featured Actors:  Bill Paterson

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series): 2 (that I know of)

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Set in Scotland, this series follows a university professor and his students as they investigate paranormal mysteries.  Each episode is a 2-hour movie, however on the DVD set they are broken into 1-hour parts with a "to be continued" card.

 

Title:  Sherlock Holmes  (AKA, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, The Return of Sherlock Holmes, The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, and various movie specials)

Featured Actors:  Jeremy Brett, David Burke (Series 1 only), Edward Hardwicke (thereafter)

Episode Length:  1 hour, some 2-hr movies

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  varies

Note:  I have the Complete Boxed set, which is 41 episodes on 12 discs. It is sold in the US under the title "Sherlock Holmes the Complete Granada TV Series".

Total Seasons (Series): 5

Format:  NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  Granada

General Information:  No one can play Holmes like Jeremy Brett, and surprisingly both Watsons work extremely well as well since the changeover is made between "The Final Problem" and "The Empty House" when Watson is supposed to be three years older anyway.  What makes this version of Sherlock Holmes so good is that they actually adapted the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories - which are, of course, darn good.  And, it being British, the historical detail is unmatched.

Hi all -

In prep for a panel I might do at next year;s Mediawest (and yes, I do owe you guys a con review - it's been busy here.  And raining alot!) I wrote up brief summaries for all the British TV in my DVD collection.  Keep in mind I also collect US TV and US film on DVD.  Actually, I'm guessing I have around 200 films on DVD and all but a couple are American films.  I do really like British TV tho - so, tho' I have American stuff, yeah, my collection is heavily weighted to British TV.  I might post just a list of my American TV shows (possibly not annotated - as most should be well known.)  Because the list is long it will be posted over several days.  Doctor Who and it's spin-offs will be posted seperately.

Vocabulary Guide:

British-American Usage Chart

•Programme      =         Series

•Series                =          Season

•Part                   =         Episode

•Serial                =        Story or Episode (for Doctor Who or Sapphire & Steel)

•Double-length   =      Two-part story or episode

Ep. -- Episode, in the American sense of the word.

AKA -- Also Known As (Some British series had different titles in the US, or each season (series) had it's own title)

MI5 -- Military Intelligence 5, the British internal security service, similiar to the FBI in the US.

MI6 -- Military Intelligence 6, the British external security service, similiar to the CIA in the US.

Scotland Yard -- the British National Police Force.  Somewhat like the FBI in the US, and somewhat like the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) in Canada.  They are generally invited in to cases throughout the country, but may also cover rural areas, like the RCMP.

The Met -- Depends on context, but usually short for the London Metropolitan Police.

Oxbridge -- Oxford and/or Cambridge -- not only refers to the two universities, or to someone who as graduated or attended either one, the term "Oxbridge" also refers to an attitude of intelligence, breeding, cultured-ness, etc.  Somewhat like the US terms, "High brow" or "Ivy League" but without the snobbishness that implies.  (The British universities allow anyone with the intelligence to do so to attend, without the costly fees that would keep poorer students away.)

 

British TV Recommendation List (AKA my Personal (UK) DVD List in alphabetical Order)

 

Title:  All Creatures Great and Small

Featured Actors:  Robert Hardy, Peter Davison, Christopher Timothy, Carol Drinkwater (Series 1-3), Lynda Bellingham (Later Series)

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  13 or 14, depending on set

Total Seasons (Series):  7, Series in my personal collection: 3, plus Christmas specials

Format:  NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  Based on the series of autobiographical novels by James Herriot, this series is about vets in 1930s England.  It's a really great show about people, surviving in bad times, and dealing with hardship in a blunt, yet accepting way.  If you've never seen it you are missing something.  Also, like many British shows, familiar actors do show up in guest roles, including Patrick Troughton and Nicholas Courtney (not in the same episode).

 

Title:  Bang Bang It's Reeves and Mortimer

Featured Actors (Comedians):  Vic Reeves (Jim Moir), Bob Mortimer

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set): 

Total Seasons (Series):  

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  A British sketch comedy show.  However, this isn't Oxbridge, it's working-class comedy.  Reeves and Mortimer were among the first of the New Wave, lower/working class (AKA Blue Collar) comedians, and one of the most successful.  (Similar New Wave comedies include:  The League of Gentlemen, Little Britain, and Absolutely Fabulous).  Overall, I wasn't that impressed, but I had picked up all of the Reeves and Mortimer series after seeing Randall and Hopkirk, Deceased (see entry).

 

Title:  Black Adder

Featured Actors:  Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, Stephen Fry, Tim McInnerny

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series):  4, plus specials

Format: NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  BBC

Note:  I have "The Complete BlackAdder" boxed set, which includes all four series and the specials.  The box set is 27 episodes and 5 discs.

General Information:  A Oxbridge comedy that is quite possibly the funniest British show I've seen, this historical comedy also teaches history (albeit in a twisted way).  Blackadder consists of four series (seasons), each with it's own title, set in different time periods (The Middle Ages; Elizabethan England; The Regency, and World War I.  Specials included a Victorian Christmas Special, a special set during the Parliamentary wars, and a futuristic special with time travel to various eras.)  The casts were different for each season and some popular guests returned as different characters in other seasons.  Notably:  Brian Blessed in series I only as  Richard IV; Rik Mayall as Lord Flashheart (Series 2) and Cap't Flashheart (Series 4); and Gabrielle Glaister as the cross-dressing Bob (a girl pretending to be a guy) in Series 2 and 4.  Nicola Bryant is in the Christmas special.  Again, if you somehow missed it, do yourself a favor and check it out.

 

Title:  Blake's 7

Featured Actors:  Paul Darrow, Gareth Thomas, Michael Keating, Sally Knyvette, Jan Chappell, Jacqueline Pearce, et. al.

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  13

Total Seasons (Series):  4

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  A group of criminals escape from an Earth that is under the control of a tyrannical Federation in an alien spacecraft they re-name The Liberator.  An anti-Star Trek science fiction program.  Although there are some great funny lines in this series, overall it's very, very depressing, and regular characters are killed off on a routine basis. Although this was my favorite British SF show after Doctor Who in the 80s when I first saw it, it doesn't stand up that well.  But still worth investigating if you don't mind the really bad special effects.

 

Title:  Brass

Featured Actors:  Timothy West, Caroline Blakiston, Geoffrey Hisliff, Geoffrey Hutchings, James Saxon, Emily Morgan, David Ashton, Shaun Scott, Gary Cady.

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  13

Total Seasons (Series):  1

Format:  PAL  Region:  2

Production Source:  Granada

General Information:  A British version of Soap, in that it parodies soap operas.  This series follows the adventures of two families in a Welsh mining village; the poor Fairchilds who work in the mines, and the rich Hardacres, who own the mines.  The show also parodies Dallas and other night-time soap operas, but in a very British style.  The word "brass" itself is British slang for money (not "upper-echelon military" - that's American slang).  Brass is a very, very funny show.

 

Title:  Catterick

Featured Actors:  Vic Reeves (Jim Moir), Bob Mortimer

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series): 2 (only 1 on DVD so far)

Format:  PAL Region: 2

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  A fantastic British New Wave comedy but with a plot.  There is also a heavy use of music in this series, so if it ever  makes it's way onto Region 1/NTSC discs be on the lookout for the dreaded music replacement notice.  The show involves a man, just out of the military, on his way home, when chaos ensues.  This series is very weird, but since it does have a plot, and music, and it's also lots of fun, it's more approachable than the other Reeves and Mortimer comedies.

 

Title: DangerMouse

Featured Actors:  Animated

Episode Length:  10 minutes or 30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  Varies

Total Seasons (Series): 7

Note:  A&E bundled two Series in each set originally, and subsequently has issued a Complete boxed set.  I have the Series 1 & 2, Series 3 & 4, and Series 5 & 6 boxed sets.

Format:  NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  Thames

General Information:  "He's terrific, he's magnific, he's the greatest super agent in the world - Danger Mouse!  Danger Mouse, our Mouse, he's terrific, he's magnific, he's the best! Danger Mouse!"  Danger Mouse, the world's smallest secret agent is a small white mouse known for his white turtlenecks and black eye patch.  Aided by his hamster assistant, Penfold, he reports to Colonel K (a Badger) and fights evil and chaos (usually in the form of Baron Greenback, a frog, and his assistants Nero, a caterpillar, and a crow).  Danger Mouse lives in the top flat of a normal red pillar-box style post box.  Full of puns, silly situations, parodies of just about everything, and witty dialog - Danger Mouse is enjoyable for both children and adults.  The Narrator gets some of the funniest lines, like the Narrator in the US-series Rocky and Bullwinkle.  Note:  in some areas in the US, when episodes of Danger Mouse were aired they were joined together and the narration stripped out - this destroyed an awful lot of the humor of the show.  The DVDs faithfully restore all the narration.  Also, the voices are the original ones, not the dubs (apparently, again, only when shown on TV in certain areas, some of the characters were over-dubbed for unknown reasons).

 

Doctor Who - See Separate Entry (There's an awful lot and I have just about all of it)

 

Title:  Fawlty Towers

Featured Actors:  John Cleese, Prunella Scales, Andrew Sachs, Connie Booth

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  12 - in Complete Set

Note:  I have the complete collection boxed set - 12 eps, on 3 discs.

Total Seasons (Series): 3

Format:  NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  John Cleese as exactly the wrong man to run a hotel.  Nuff said.  Actually, this Oxbridge comedy is a true classic.  The episodes often started with one small thing that then snowballed with hilarious results.

 

Title:  The Grand

Featured Actors: 

Episode Length:  1

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  

Total Seasons (Series): 2

Format:  1 Region: NTSC

Production Source:  Granada

General Information:  Russell T. Davies' historical drama set in a hotel in the 1920s.  I bought this because it is Russell T. Davies (Doctor Who) producing, and I wanted to like it.  But, to me, it came off a cheap imitation of  Upstairs, Downstairs.

 

Title:  Hamish MacBeth

Featured Actors:  Robert Carlyle, David Ashton, et. al.

Episode Length:  1 hour

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  5 to 7

Total Seasons (Series):  3

Format:  PAL  Region: 2 (Note:  These are also available in NTSC, Region 1)

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:  A small town constable in the Scottish Highlands solves mysteries (with his Highland White Scottish Terrier) while sorting out his love-life and figuring out his destiny.  A bit strange, but very good.  PC MacBeth's goal in life is to solve crime in his beloved Lochdubh, without getting promoted, since that would mean leaving the village.  Avoiding promotion is an issue because he's very good at his job.

 

Title:  Heat of the Sun

Featured Actors:  Trevor Eve, Susannah Harker, Michael Byrne

Episode Length:  2-hr Mystery! movies

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  3

Total Seasons (Series): 1 (that I know of)

Format:   NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  Unknown

General Information:  Trevor Eve,  whom I've long admired as an actor, plays a Scotland Yard Detective sent to Kenya, partially as punishment, and partially to "clean up the town" as the saying goes.  Det. Albert Tyburn is an honest cop, who is thrown into a situation where the super-rich ex-pat "locals" do whatever they want and the police have stopped caring.  Tyburn wishes to do something about this.  An excellent mystery series, I wish there was more.  Beside, Trevor Eve, in khakis, running around, looking hot, and boy does he - what's not to love?

 

Title:  Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Featured Actors:  Simon Jones, David Dixon, Peter Jones (as the voice of  the book), Mark Wing-Davey, Sandra Dickinson

Episode Length:  30 minutes

Number of episodes per series (DVD set):  6

Total Seasons (Series): 1 (mini-series)

Format:   NTSC  Region: 1

Production Source:  BBC

General Information:   The original British television mini-series, based on the books by Douglas Adams, which was in turn based on the radio series.  Although the effects are not good, the mini-series is far superior to the American movie by the same name.  The plot goes like this:  Arthur Dent is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect shortly before the Earth is destroyed by a Vogon Destructor Fleet to make way for a hyper-space bypass.  In a bit of irony, Arthur's house had been slated for destruction for precisely the same reasons.  Ford  introduces Arthur to the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the galaxy's most useful and popular book.  Again, a Oxbridge comedy filled with biting wit and sarcasm, very funny asides, interesting, useless, and possibly untrue trivia, iconic characters, outright silliness, the works.  And even though it has some truly awful effects (Just ignore Zaphod Beeblebrox's second head), the "computer-generated" drawings by the Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Galaxy were actually all hand-drawn animation which is pretty incredible.  It's a must-see!

And we're only up to "H".  More to be posted in the days to come!
--Olivia

Music Meme / Writing Prompts -- May 2009

 

Hey, I know this is quite late, but it's been a busy month.  This is how it works, as always.  Set iTunes, your Ipod, or other music device to "shuffle" or "random", then write down the first line of every song played for 10 - 20 songs.  I'm going to list 15 here.  Then, guess or try to figure out what the song title is and who the artist is who sings it.  Lines can be used as inspiration for fanfic.  If you write a fic using these prompts let me know and please provide a link to your fic.  Thanks and have fun!  Here's the answers!  Enjoy!

 

1.  Giveaway #1:  Martha's Theme, Doctor Who Series 3 Soundtrack, Soundtracks

 

2.  "Everyone in town knew Mr. Webster.  He worked at the bank for 40 years."

"Mr. Webster", The Monkees, Missing Links Vol. 2, Rock

 

3.  "Now it's getting so I'm mad when someone says your name.  Cause I've had to say goodbye to friends who had to stay away."  Stan Rogers, "California", Northwest Passage, Folk

 

4.  Giveaway # 2:  "I'm a ... from ... I have money and acres of land." (LOOK UP) "Catch Me If You Can", Chris Ball, Irish Pub Classics - Vol 1., Irish Folk

 

5.  "Me brothers and me sisters, everybody out there, can you feel this?  Let me see you move to the beat, now bump it, let hear you scream if the jam is jumpin'."  Kia Kidari, "True Soul", The Dead Zone Original Soundtrack, Soundtracks

 

6.  "Hey, I'm a cow, I'm curious.  Hey, watch me now, I'm furious."  "Tiny Little Song", Barenaked Ladies, Maybe You Should Drive, Rock

 

7.  "Marti was a fighting man, whose story should be told.  He was the son of circumstance he couldn't quite control.",  "Marti's Last Stand", Enter the Haggis,  Soapbox Heroes,  Irish Folk / Rock

 

8.  "You and I have been through this before, I owe you my whole life nothing more."  "Great Provider", Barenaked Ladies, Maybe You Should Drive, Rock

 

9.  Giveaway #3:  The Rite of Spring:  Sacrificial Dance, Igor Stravinsky, Classical

 

10.  "Daylight, comes through my window."  "Daylight", The Washington Squares, Troubadours of Folk, Vol. 5, Folk

 

11.  "Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light, those days are over, you don't don't sell your body to the night."  "Roxanne", The Police, The Very Best of Sting & the Police, Rock

(check lyrics)

 

12.  Giveaway # 4:  "Every Night", D.L. Menard, "Cajun Spice:  Dance Music from South Louisiana", Cajun/Zydeco (Yes, it has lyrics, in French, and my transliteration would be terrible).
 

13.  "Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall is the day when my ship will set sail",

"Triangle" -- Gordon Lightfoot, Gord's Gold, Folk / Rock, (Find lyrics or list as a giveaway)

 

14. "I'm going to lay down my sword and shield."  "Down By the Riverside" (aka "Ain't Going to Study War No More", Peter, Paul & Mary,  Around the Campfire, Folk

 

15.  "London Calling through the far away towns, now war is declared and battle come down."  "London Calling", The Clash, The Essential Clash, Rock

 

16.  "All the world over, so easy to see, people everywhere just wanna be free.  Listen, please, listen that's the way it should be, peace in the valley people got to be free."  "People Got To Be Free", The Rascals, Songs of Protest, Folk

 

17.  Giveaway #5:  Symphony #6 In F, Op. 68, "Pastorial" - 4. Allegro, Beethoven, Classical Thunder 3, Classical.

 

18. Giveaway #6:  "The Gaelic Reels", Capercaillie, Celtic Moods, Irish Folk

 

19.  "In darkness we do what we can, in daylight we're oblivion.  Our hearts so raw and clear."  Dougie MacLean, "Turning Away", The Best of Folk Music, Irish Folk

 

20.  Giveaway #7:  The Celts, Enya, The Celts, New Age

 

21.  Giveaway # 8:  "A Pressing Need to Save the World", Doctor Who Soundtrack Series 4, Soundtracks

 

22.  "Ring out the bells, upon this day of days."  "Wedding Chorale", Les Misérables, Soundtracks

 

23.  "As we walk together through the Autumn, nearing winter, through the dying leaves and trees we call our home and native land." "You Will Be Waiting", Barenaked Ladies, "Maybe You Should Drive, Rock  (Bonus points if you can identify the national anthem quoted in the song)

Music Meme / Writing Prompts -- May 2009

 

Hey, I know this is quite late, but it's been a busy month.  This is how it works, as always.  Set iTunes, your Ipod, or other music device to "shuffle" or "random", then write down the first line of every song played for 10 - 20 songs.  I'm going to list 15 here.  Then, guess or try to figure out what the song title is and who the artist is who sings it.  Answers will be posted in one week.  Lines can be used as inspiration for fanfic.  If you write a fic using these prompts let me know and please provide a link to your fic.  Thanks and have fun!

 

1.  Giveaway #1:  Martha's Theme, Doctor Who Series 3 Soundtrack, Soundtracks

 

2.  "Everyone in town knew Mr. Webster.  He worked at the bank for 40 years."

Hint:  Rock

 

3.  "Now it's getting so I'm mad when someone says your name.  Cause I've had to say goodbye to friends who had to stay away."  Hint: Folk

 

4.  Giveaway # 2:  "I'm a ... from ... I have money and acres of land.", "Catch Me If You Can", Chris Ball, Irish Pub Classics - Vol 1., Irish Folk (I tried to find the lyrics on-line and I couldn't, and the first line is totally incomprehensible, so it's a giveaway)

 

5.  "Me brothers and me sisters, everybody out there, can you feel this?  Let me see you move to the beat, now bump it, let hear you scream if the jam is jumpin'."  Hint:  Soundtracks

 

6.  "Hey, I'm a cow, I'm curious.  Hey, watch me now, I'm furious."  Hint: Rock

 

7.  "Marti was a fighting man, whose story should be told.  He was the son of circumstance he couldn't quite control.",  Hint:  Irish Folk / Rock

 

8.  "You and I have been through this before, I owe you my whole life nothing more."

Hint: Rock

 

9.  Giveaway #3:  The Rite of Spring:  Sacrificial Dance, Igor Stravinsky, Classical

 

10.  "Daylight, comes through my window."  Hint:  Folk

 

11.  "Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light, those days are over, you don't have to sell your body to the night."  Hint:  Rock

 

12.  Giveaway # 4:  "Every Night", D.L. Menard, "Cajun Spice:  Dance Music from South Louisiana", Cajun/Zydeco (Yes, it has lyrics, in French, and my transliteration would be terrible).

 

13.  "Oh the gist of it all is the first day of fall is the day when my ship will set sail"
Hint:  Folk / Rock

 

14. "I'm going to lay down my sword and shield."  Hint:  Folk

 

15.  "London Calling through the far away towns, now war is declared and battle come down."  Hint:  Rock

 

16.  "All the world over, so easy to see, people everywhere just wanna be free.  Listen, please, listen that's the way it should be, peace in the valley people got to be free."  Hint:  Folk

 

17.  Giveaway #5:  Symphony #6 In F, Op. 68, "Pastorial" - 4. Allegro, Beethoven, Classical Thunder 3, Classical.

 

18. Giveaway #6:  "The Gaelic Reels", Capercaillie, Celtic Moods, Irish Folk

 

19.  "In darkness we do what we can, in daylight we're oblivion.  Our hearts so raw and clear."  Hint:  Irish Folk

 

20.  Giveaway #7:  The Celts, Enya, The Celts, New Age

 

21.  Giveaway # 8:  "A Pressing Need to Save the World", Doctor Who Soundtrack Series 4, Soundtracks

 

22.  "Ring out the bells, upon this day of days."  Hint:  Soundtracks

 

23.  "As we walk together through the Autumn, nearing winter, through the dying leaves and trees we call our home and native land." Hint:  Rock  (Bonus points if you can identify the national anthem quoted in the song)

Hilarious!  -- And very well edited.  --JM


YouTube - Star Trekkin

Train Travel

 

"Have you ever been on a train?", and my answer is "yes, in four countries". Well, I thought that would be a good topic for a blog entry, so here it goes.

FACT 1: I love traveling. I really do. Only by traveling can you have truly different experiences, meet new people, and really find out how the world works. If you never leave your home town, you just can't do that.
FACT 2: I don't mind flying, I really don't (although the new regulations suck), but I hate airports. I'm extremely claustrophobic, and airports tend to hit my claustrophobia and make it sky high. I got searched for that in Ireland, so... not the best combination. But airports, like O'Hare, especially, are dark, cramped, have few windows, and have you ever noticed -- there are no exits once you get into your flight area. Freaks me right out. But once I get on the plane, I'm absolutely fine. Relaxed. Even excited to be off on a new adventure.
FACT 3: Trains are GREAT! I've traveled by train in four countries and every single time it was a great experience, even when I got lost or went the wrong way.
Here's some great train trips!

Summer, 1987, Chicago to San Francisco (Amtrak, California Zephyr)
My graduation present from my folks was this trip. Mom and I went first class, with a sleeper car. This meant we had our own compartment (with our own porter) and the seats folded down into a flat bed at night. The second bed folded down from the ceiling. So, at night you had a traveling hotel room, and during the day you had a private compartment. The trip also included gourmet meals in the dining car, and a welcome aboard basket of fruit, cheese, and wine (couldn't have the wine, darn it). I spent most of my trip in the observation car. It was GORGEOUS!!!! Everyone, and I do mean, everyone should take a train trip across the US once in their lives. This particular train went through gorgeous red rock canyons, some of which you can only see by train. Way cool!
The return trip was on the Empire Builder across the Northern US, and not quite as pretty - just lots of green. And it was dark when we went through the Rockies.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada Subway, Various trips (late 90s)
Toronto has only two subway lines, the yellow line (which has two branches forming a "Y" before hitting the main yellow line) and the Green line. The Yellow one goes North/South, the Green one goes East/West. Easy-peasy. I sorta' wished I'd used this one PRIOR to the Tube in London, UK, but still.
Every time I go to Toronto, I try to get a hotel on the West side (near us) with free or included parking, and I leave my car there. I then walk to the subway and take that into Toronto. You do NOT want to drive in downtown Toronto. I've done it, but not fun, and parking is a nightmare. Besides, in the summer, the city is a beautiful place to walk -- and the weather is very nice (not as hot as say, Chicago). I've not really been to Toronto in winter, but I know they have "Underground Toronto", "PATH", and various skywalks -- between the three systems you can get pretty far without going outside. Anyway, the subway is the easiest way to get into the city, and to get around quickly from point-to-point. And, yes, like most subway systems, as long as you don't leave the station, you can switch to another line or even go in the opposite direction. (Just don't try to jump across the platforms. Ouch.)
London, England, UK, Spring 1988
The London Tube. The Underground. Color-coded maps that look like a plate of spaghetti. The London Underground actually got it's start in the Victorian age (1800s) and some of those really old lines still exist. And in some of the biggest stations, like King's Cross, all those lines not only cross but are stacked with the oldest (like the Metropolitan, if I'm not mistaken) the furthest down. BUT, with all that, it's still fairly easy to get around (the color-coding helps), and if you do get lost - remember the Golden Rule of subway travel - Do Not Leave the Station. As long as you stay in the Station you can catch a different train and fix your mistake. Trust me, I have done this.  Twice, I think.

I was in London on a college art history trip -- and I really wish I had had more time on my own.  I really only had part of a single day to myself, and didn't get to see a lot of the stuff that I wanted to see.

Still, you know, it was London, so like, awesome!

 

Ireland,  October 2001

A friend and I booked a one-week vacation in Ireland.  We stayed (with a tour group, who turned out to be retirees from Wisconsin, but that's another story) in the middle of nowhere.  OK, it was County Meath, but trust me -- middle-of-nowhere.  Our first couple of days we did the extra-cost package tours that the package tour recommended.  By bus.  Let me tell you - even with a tour guide, you do not want to take buses in Ireland.  Unless you enjoy car sickness.  But anyway, after a couple of days of that we wised-up and started to take the train.  So we went to Galway one day by train, and Dublin the other day by train.  (Where we were staying was about half-way between the two.  To give you an idea, it's like Galway was Grand Haven, Detroit was Dublin, and we stayed in Lansing.)  The trains were again very easy to use.  Also, really, really fast.  The train to Dublin, especially, which was fairly full of commuters with laptops and mobile phones was fast, efficient, and real easy to understand and use.  Once we got to Galway we just walked around the tourist section of town (our second day there, we'd gotten there the first day by bus).  We also walked all over Dublin, though' if I went back I'd look into trying out their public transport - whatever they have.  Great things to do in Dublin:  See the illuminated manuscripts, including The Book of Kells, in the Trinity College library (It was great!  Very pretty.  The only problem was, it was Rush Week for the college, and my friend and I were wearing backpacks to hold our stuff - so the students thought we were students and kept trying to get us to join every organization and sports team on campus.  But still -- the library, museum, and manuscripts themselves, all really neat and definitely worth it.  Have High Tea in Grafton Street.  We found a store that was three different restaurants and a tea & chocolate shop (and I'll tell you -- those chocolates were incredible, and the tea was great too).  My friend and I found this place on the first day in Dublin, and we were a little hungry, so we thought we'd get tea and a little cake or something.  We both ordered tea.  The waiter said, "tea for two then?" and we nodded, and I was thinking, "uh, yeah, there's two of us".  Well, it turned out we got TEA - as in a meal.  Not only a teapot with at least 10-12 cups of really good tea, but one of those little multi-level server things filled with tiny sandwiches, cream puffs, fruit things, chocolate yummy pastry things, and tons of other food that I couldn't even describe.  We'd discovered - TEA - The Meal.  Gosh, was it good.  We couldn't eat it all.  Went back the next day -- still couldn't eat it all.  And not that expensive.

Finally, go to the St. Stephen's Green in Dublin (near Grafton Street), but it was like Central Park in New York, I guess.  The thing is - the minute you got in the park it was totally quiet, no car horns, or traffic noise - just birds and stuff.  There was all sorts of historic monuments, which were cool to look at, if a bit sad.  There was a big duck pond with a bunch of confused-looking Mallards (My friend kept wondering what they were doing there) and other ducks.  There were flower gardens and all sort of stuff.  We only went in the park once, but it was way cool and I'd love to go there again.

Finally, in terms of shopping, the one place we went, again, twice, besides a lot of really good candy and chocolate shops, and various bookstores, was Forbidden Planet - the SF bookstore chain of the UK and Ireland.  Great place.

 

So anyway, I like traveling, and I like train travel.  I've also done short hops in and around Chicago (yep, been on the "L" but only with a native guide).

--Olivia

The first part of Henry Jenkin's positive article on Web 2.0 menions this website.  It sounds absolutely awesome - getting kids involved in real life politics, through the positive values of Harry Potter.  I think it's totally awesome!  Check it out.


The Harry Potter Alliance

--Olivia