Lost Returns in 2008 on January 31

Wow! I should post more often, I guess. Maybe I'll make that a New Year's Resolution. Watching football this afternoon, I saw the ad for the new Lost season and I can't wait.

Heat Vision and Jack

Okay, so my post on The Wendell Baker Story is up for maybe a day and I get an email with a link to Heat Vision and Jack on YouTube. It's a TV pilot from 1999 and it's utterly hilarious. It's hard to describe. I particularly liked the duel between Paragon and Heat Vision at the gas station/diner.

The Wendell Baker Story

I went to see The Wendell Baker Story this morning. I only got to see the first half because the projector ate the film, but the first half had me interested enough to see the end.

The movie has a certain hometown kind of charm, even though I'm not from Austin. Luke Wilson plays title character Wendell Baker, a relentlessly cheerful guy lacking introspection, but full of entrepreneurial ideas--most of them illegal. Wendell has a girlfriend Doreen who just adores him and he adores her, although he doesn't show it much.

The movie starts with a voiceover by Wendell. He says that people always say you never know what you have until it's gone, but that he knew what he had, he just didn't realize how soon it would all be gone. The film continues in that vein, with pithy lines sometimes profound and often funny.

Wendell Baker is such a likeable character that I know I'll come back to this one. And I'll probably get the soundtrack, too. The music is seemingly random, but it really sets the tone, if that makes any sense. I'm not sure what "Scarlet Begonias" has to do with Wendell's insurance scam, but it fit for some reason.

Kids Who Exercise Stay Slim

Wow! What a clever idea. This article says that fifteen minutes a day of running around keeps kids from getting fat. Hmmm...

Thanks to Krista at Stumptuous for noticing this.

Battlestar Galactica Returns in 2008??

I TiVo Battlestar Galactica and watch it a day or two after it airs, so I'm slow on this one, but--it won't return until 2008? What? That's a long time from now. Especially after that zinger they threw at us towards the end. Well, there were a few, but how can they wait until 2008 to let us know what happens next?

New Romance Mag

Well, I was AWOL all February, but now I have news too good to keep silent. DEP is starting up a new magazine with the focus on romance short fiction. We're still working out the details, but the launch date will be in the fall. In the meantime, I'll still be at Haruah.

Sold To Baen's Universe!

Woohoo! I sold "Chicken Soup" to Baen's Universe! This is my first fiction sale, so it's quite thrilling. It's slated for the June issue. Can't wait.

I'm Mad At Afro Samurai

Yeah, I admit it, I'm mad at the Afro Samurai franchise. In the second episode, Okiku and Afro sleep together and then she is killed. How cliche. How disappointing. Are there no heroes any more? Why can't these super-duper, totally amazing, sword/gun/raygun wunderkind ever protect those they love or who love them? What good is that kind of skill if it isn't used for good (or excessive personal gain)? Couldn't he have pursued revenge for his father's death and helped those around him?

Not many characters do these days.

I like the intro song to Afro Samurai. The music is by the RZA.

Lost Cast at the Golden Globes

Videos of Naveen Andrews, Josh Holloway, and Evangeline Lilly are up at Lost Fanatic. After the interview with Lilly, the hosts criticize her choice of gown. Apparently, the hosts wore that dress ten years ago. Hope it doesn't rain on them.

Lost Preview

I think I have these out of order now, so I'm not sure which preview this is. Spoilers contained.

An Evening With Lost

I have some clips from the web cast "An Evening With Lost" up on Lost Fanatic. Some of them are quite funny and none of them are spoilers.

Is Juliet good or evil?
Matthew Fox and his tattoos
The secrets of Lost

Barefoot Contessa at Home

Ina Garten, former owner of the specialty store "Barefoot Contessa" and star of the Food Network's television show of the same name, has a new cookbook out called "barefoot contessa at home". Reviews of the cookbook and some recipes are in the San Francisco Chronicle and the Dallas Morning News. Ms. Garten just seems like such a nice person and a fantastic hostess.

Sneak Peek Ten

The most recent sneak peek is up at Lost Fanatic.

Day Break Online by End of February

Day Break will be online at ABC.com by the end of February.