Lost Fans Finally Get Their Due?

Tonight marks the return of the only show on TV that can possibly make the writers’ strike feel a bit less painful for all of us. Where we left off last season, Through the Looking Glass, we saw a glimpse of what the future held for both Jack and Kate after they returned from the island and reclaimed at least a piece of their former lives. Notice, I conveniently left off the inclusion of “selves” in the previous sentence. That is because the future was not so bright for Jack as he seemed unable to reconcile his past with his present, or rather, future as the case may be.

SPOILER ALERT!

A preview of tonight’s episode, eerily titled, The Beginning of the End which starts at 8/9 PM picks up where last season ended with Jack and Kate rejoicing in their preeminent rescue (and the thought of seeing other people aside from the rest of the incestuous crew perhaps) and with others like Ben and Locke who are not quite so excited by the prospect of getting off the island and getting back to their former lives. To throw a wrench into all of this, Desmond rejoins the group and bears a dying message from Charlie that the rescuers might be up to no good.

Be sure to stay tuned for the Amaldo post-Lost show, er, um, blog post.

No Jinx Allowed

I hate when people put the cart before the horse. The New England Patriots are favorites to win Superbowl 2008 over the New York Giants, with more then 12 points spread. That’s fine by me, and if you want to bet on the game, I’m OK with that too. What I don’t like, is that the city of Boston is already making preparations for the Pat’s victory parade. Excuse me, I am a Pat’s fan and live in Boston, but this parade is what you will find if you open the dictionary in the word Arrogance. Not to mention that they plan the event to take place on Tuesday, that happens to be Super Tuesday, where people are expected, and being encouraged to go and vote in the presidential primary elections. In general, there is too much Non-Football related stuff going on with the Patriots in the last couple of weeks, and the biggest beneficiary are the Giants, who get all the peace and quiet they need. Let’s just hope that all this parade BS will not jinx us, and that the Pat’s will win the game.
I really wanted this post to be about politics, but what can I do, even Boston’s Mayor Menino knows, that Football is more interesting…

Out Of The Office Reply: The Dunder Mifflin Newsletter Has Arrived

It’s been a long couple months not knowing how the Jim and Pam relationship has progressed in and out of The Office.

I heard a rumor from an unreliable source that Jim and Pam were supposed to have a dinner date with Michael and Jan at the condo just before the holidays, but I guess we’ll never know what kind of awkward moments could’ve ensued. Just the thought of an intimate dinner with the paper company’s most clueless Regional Manager turns my cheeks a bright shade of red.

(That’s what she said.)

For those of you also wondering what the Scranton-branch employees have been up to this winter, the newest Dunder Mifflin newsletter is here for your enjoyment:

January Newsletter

Michael reviews an Oscar nominated film, Pam leaves Jim behind, and Kelly loses a clothing item. Just don’t expect any plot reveals. It’s as tight-lipped as Dwight’s Beet Potato Pie secret family recipe.

Anyway, Day- Lewis Always Win

The question is not who will win an Oscar but if the event will ever take place. If to judge by Hollywood’s outspoken I know how to fix the world wannabe George Clooney, the Oscars will only happen if the Writers Guild of America and TV and film producers will reach an agreement that will end the writers strike, and he offers to help solving this issue: “When the strike happens, it’s not just writers (affected)… Our hope is that all the players will lock themselves in a room and not come out until they finish. We want this to be done. That’s the most important thing.” He told Hollywood.com. Oh come on George, you got your nominees, let go will ya? It reminds me a South Park episode from a couple of years ago, when a cloud of smug, carrying Clooney’s Academy Awards speech, was threatening to destroy society.
Daniel, Javier, don’t lose hope, Michael Clayton is not such a great movie…
And besides, Day- Lewis always wins!

Heath Ledger Dies, The World Mourns

Film star Heath Ledger died today of an alleged drug overdose. The 28-year-old who recently split with his Brokeback Mountain co-star Michelle Williams, with whom he shared a daughter, was found dead in his NYC apartment this afternoon by his maid, naked and unconscious. While sleeping pills are rumored to be the culprit and foul play has not yet been ruled out (but most likely will be), police are awaiting a formal autopsy before they make an official call.

A bizarre twist on all this: The deputy police commissioner originally cited that the apt. Ledger was found in was owned by none other than troubled former tween queen, Mary-Kate Olsen - no stranger to emotional foibles herself. The commissioner later retracted his comment when Olsen’s publicist went on record denying the twin owned the apartment.

Ledger had been cast as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie and was already filming The Dark Knight with former Brokeback co-star, Jake Gyllenhaal’s, older sister Maggie. No word on how/if this role will be recast.

Life After People- A Quick Review

I could have said that The History Channel’s Life After People is I Am Legend, minus Will Smith and the huge budget. I could but I won’t because Life After People is far more interesting, and so much better then the box office hit. The name of the show gives up what it’s all about. It all starts with the first day after human race suddenly disappear forever, and goes on for weeks, months, years, and centuries. As a case study, the show goes to a place that was actually deserted 20 years ago- the city of Pripyat, Ukraine-the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
As a disclaimer I just want to say, that though I think Life After People was excellent and worth watching, my dear wife didn’t like it at whole, especially the parts showing our good friends the rats and cockroaches.

The Blond, The Prisoner, And The Burger

This week, in our usual Amy Winehouse update, its all about the The Prisoner, The Blond, and The Burger.

“Love you handsome, gorgeous one” shouted the now blond Winehouse to her husband Blake Fielder-Civil in a London court where he had his hearing. Amy almost missed Blake’s court appearance, and arrived just five minutes to the end. To the reporters she only said: ” I am not talking to you.”
Then she was led out by Georgette Fielder-Civil, Blake’s mother, who gave her take on Winehouse condition by saying: “She’s fine, thank you.”
The good news is, that after this drama, instead of getting a drink, Amy went to one of her favorite places: McDonald’s. These are good news because if to judge by what she looks like in recent photos, a burger is exactly what she needs.

Customer Service Rant: My Via Dolorosa

It all sums up to one simple question: When was the last time you actually got a good customer service? And if your answer starts with something like: I do remember getting a good service…. you just prove my point. We are so surprised when we call to ask something and get a courteous and knowledgeable response that we remember when it happened. We all know how it works. You walk into a shiny store, or go to a fancy website, find what you want and buy it. But it’s not so fancy anymore when you need something from the dark side of the moon: the call center. And it is literally the dark side of the moon because all call centers were outsourced a long time ago to India, The Philippines and other countries that are about 10 hours ahead of us. In the dark side, a simple question turns to a Via Dolorosa of repeating your private information and random answers that are being scripted to the poor representative who can barely speak the language, but will tell you a thousand times in perfect English that he or she understand you, and that a supervisor will give you the same answer. I admit, I snap. I rise my voice and won’t let go until I get what I want, but I know its not worth the effort. And this brings me to my next question: How much more are you willing to pay for a good, local based customer service? 10% more? Maybe 20%? I know I will, maybe…

The Real iChange

It seems like the beginning of this year belongs to Apple. The impact is being made not by the sounds and sights of smiling presidential candidates, making empty promises of a change to a brain washed crowd, but the new ultra thin MacBook Air, the iPhone and iTunes upgrades, the Time Capsule wireless hard drive, and basically, everything Steve Jobs. The magazine Fast Company, dedicated its latest issue to Apple, and had a computerized Steve Jobs portrait. Also, everybody talks about MacWorld Expo. So if there is one man that will bring a change, it’s not going to be McCain, Obama, Clinton, or God forbid racist Romney, it will be an iChange, and Steve Jobs will iBring it.