Brothers In Blog

President Bush’s 2008 Stimulus Package has passed the House of Representatives and now goes to the Senate where it will be pumped so full of earmarks and free handouts that all it will do to our economy is bury it. Now, I’m all in favor of getting some of my hard earned tax dollars refunded to me but not if those that don’t pay taxes are going to get a “rebate” check too. It’s not a rebate if you didn’t pay into the system in the first place. This package also shouldn’t serve as a vehicle to get other politician’s pet projects through.

Hoping to leave his presidency on an upbeat note, Bush’s package depends on Americans spending their tax rebate and not saving it. This spending is supposed to help keep us out of a recession, but I fear its effect will be only short term. Take our simple poll below and tell us how you will spend your check…if it ever comes.

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The current writer’s strike has put nearly every show for this season into reruns. 80% of readers that answered our poll question back on January 17th didn’t care about the writers strike. So if no one cares, then what, if anything, are they watching?

Reality T.V. appears immune to the writer’s strike — but who’s watching?

The big three reality television shows this season don’t promise much relief. The celebrity version of The Apprentice is completely ridiculous (they should have left the show canceled instead of bringing it back from the dead). American Idol peaked two seasons ago and lost its credibility last season with the Sanjaya phenomenon when “Vote for the Worst” showed America that the votes could be manipulated. Survivor won’t be back on till some time in February so there is some hope on the horizon.

The writer’s strike hasn’t stopped all shows — as far as we know

There are a few series that don’t seem to be affected by the writer’s strike at the moment. Lost is scheduled to start its new season on January 31, and last week Barry reviewed the newest series on Fox, “Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles.” Anyone have any idea how these shows have managed to rise above the writer’s strike?

DVD rentals — the television oasis during the writer’s strike

Topping the list, in my opinion, as entertainment alternatives during the strike has to be DVD rentals. And, I’m not talking about movie rentals but rather television series rentals. I’m sure everyone can think of a couple television series they wished they had watched while they were popular but didn’t. Now is the time to catch up on some of those great shows, and it might even change the way you watch television once you get started.

Over a year ago my wife and I decided to start watching Lost. We were a full season behind so in order to quickly catch up we rented the entire first season from NetFlix. Since watching that first season we’ve found a whole new way to watch television: commerical free and on our schedule. Since starting this trend, we’ve discovered some great television series that we never had time to watch when they were originally aired. Here’s a short list:

• The West Wing: I never watched this series when it was on but heard it was a good show. Well we’re now into our third season of it and loving every episode. Also, it’s a pretty good pick for the whole family if your kids are teens.
• 24: What can I say? Jack Bauer is the new MacGyver. The show has an interesting format where each episode represents 60 real minutes. While the format is different, you do have to suspend reality during each episode because it’s hard to believe that much action can take place in 60 real minutes and that Jack’s daughter can be that insanely stupid. One final warning about 24: do not move from one season to the next without a break from the action. Too many seasons in a row and the show becomes very predictable and somewhat annoying.
• Alias: From the makers of Lost the series weaves an elaborate plot centering around Sydney Bristo (Jennifer Gardner) and her life as a spy. The plot is different, entertaining, and action packed. I watch it with the whole family but must warn you that the torture scenes become more frequent as the seasons progress.
• The Sopranos: Don’t have HBO? That doesn’t mean you have to miss some of their great series like The Sopranos. It’s a interesting series about mobsters in New Jersey. Not a show for everyone and definitely NOT a family show, but my wife and I have enjoyed each season and are finally starting part 2 of the final season. Can you believe I still don’t know how it ends?

It sounds like we watch a lot of television in my house but we really don’t. I work at home which affords me the luxury sit down with my wife and watch an episode with lunch. Do the math and that’s 5 episodes of some series a week. What used to take 5 weeks of viewing takes me 1. Also, once you remove the commercials a 60 minute show is 40 minutes and a 30 minute show is 20. If you’ve never watched a television series on DVD, you don’t know what you’re missing. Sure, you have to pay for something that is normally free, but for the cost of a single movie rental you get 4 to 6 episodes that you can watch on your schedule without commercials disrupting the flow of the show.

Writer’s strike, bad reality television, and few new shows getting aired — who cares? I’ve got plenty of television in my Netflix queue to keep me entertained for a very long time.

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Well, maybe not Arnold Schwarzenegger himself but his robotic friends and the Connor family have returned in “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” on FOX. As a die hard Terminator fan (Terminator III not included), I was hoping that this new television series would stay true to the storyline and action that made the movies such a hit. I’m happy to report that I wasn’t disappointed.

Often with theatre movies that try to continue living in the form of television dramas, they fall flat when it comes to the cast. Off the top of my head, I cannot recall a television series that was fortunate enough to have the original movie’s box office star(s) sign on to a weekly story. Fortunately for Chronicles, Lena Headey does a remarkable job filling Linda Hamilton’s shoes as Sarah Connor. She’s lean and mean while continuing to be a supportive and protective mother to her soon-to-be resistance leading son John played by Thomas Dekker.

Replacing Arnold as the Connor’s personal protective cyborg is Summer Glau. Although a robot, it’s obvious that there’s going to be some chemistry down the road between her and John as she learns to become more relaxed and less robotic in her gestures and responses.

Unlike the Terminator movies, there’s more background being divulged about the events that lead up to the day that the machines take over. This of course, cuts into the action scenes that kept me on the edge of my seat during the original movies, but I think the balance is good. If you’ve already missed the first few episodes of Chronicles, you can download them for $1.99 each at Amazon.com.

Whether Chronicles is just a media blitz for the 2009 release of “Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins” (aka Terminator 4) or a much needed replacement for the barrage of reality shows, I find it a welcome change. Terminator: The Chronicles of Sarah Connor airs on FOX on Monday at 9 p.m. Eastern/8 p.m. Central time.

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Unless you’re a television drama junkie, or think the humor of Leno and Letterman are worth staying up for, you probably weren’t aware that the Writers Guild of America (WGA) was on strike. Now entering its third month, the strike is being blamed for the cancellation of dozens of television pilots.

Personally, I gave up on the major networks months ago and restrict my viewing to cable networks such as HGTV, DIY, Food Network, Science Channel, etc. When I need a drama, I add a movie to my Blockbuster Online movie queue or pull something from my personal collection.

How has the strike affected you? Take the poll below and see what other viewers are reporting.

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An Iowa Mother told her son there were only two rules about having his own car that he could never break:

1. Always lock the doors
2. And no alcohol in the car

Well, Mom meant exactly what she said because when she found some alcohol in the car, she took back the car and put it up for sale. And let me tell you, the ad she placed wasn’t the slightest bit shy about why the car was up for sale.

Car for sale in Iowa

“OLDS 1999 Intrigue, Totally uncool parents who obviously don’t love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for 3 weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/Offer. Call meanest mom on planet.”

You gotta love it. It’s one thing for the parents to enforce their rules, but these folks enforce the rules with flare. Kudos to them!

Some actually disagree with Iowa parents

I actually heard some parents say they thought these parents from Iowa went too far. I suspect those types of parents say things such as, “Follow these rules or else.” Someone breaks the rule, and these types of parents fail to ever follow through on the “or else” part of their statement.

I support these parents from Iowa completely! They made two rules that were very clear and very easy to follow, and when rules are broken there are consequences.

Their example sets new rule in my house

When I saw this story on CNN, I was quick to drag my kids into the room to see it for themselves. I told them we would implement similar rules when they started driving and the consequences for breaking the rules would be exactly the same: break the rules and I sell the car. Of course, that assumes I’m going to buy them a car.

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There weren’t any blockbuster movies at the theatres this Holiday season, but some good ones were released on DVD just in time to be stocking stuffers. Of these movies, “The Kingdom” starring Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner is one I highly recommend. I desperately wanted to see this one on the big screen (for your plasma TV owners I mean movie theatre), but I just couldn’t work out a “guys night out” to see it. So, I downloaded a copy and watched it at home in the comfort of my leather recliner.

I’ll have to admit that at first I thought this was going to be one of those political statement movies about how we shouldn’t be in the Middle East and the United States is the great satan, but it wasn’t like that at all. However, it did open my eyes on how complex the issues are between the Saudis who want us there and their religious zealots that do not.

The sooner we rid ourselves of our dependency on foreign oil the better. Those that resort to murder to push us out are fanatics and we aren’t prepared to fight such an enemy. Prior to 9/11, the closest thing we encountered to suicide bombers were the Japanese Kamikaze pilots, but at least they still wore their military uniform.

“The Kingdom” is definitely one of those movies where you will find yourself yelling at the screen, gritting your teeth, and holding onto the arms of your chair. If you could grab a M16 and jump into the action you probably would. If nothing else, the movie will definitely make you mad. I give “The Kingdom” 2 thumbs up.

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I’m no where near an expert on the topic of hydrogen fuel cell technology, but I certainly can spot simple science when I see it. Basically, when you can build a toy powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, it doesn’t get any simpler. The embedded clip begs the question: “If they can make a toy powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, then why is it taking so long for a full sized car?” Yes, I know, hydrogen fuel cell cars do exist, and they are more complicated than a toy, but why are we still waiting? And please don’t say we don’t have the refueling infrastructure to support it. That argument never stopped the car from becoming popular when it was first introduced.

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It’s called “Murphy’s Law“. Whenever you’re in a hurry, there’s always someone in front of you who lacks your sense of urgency. Now, I’m not talking about those moments when you need to break the sound barrier on the highway to make your flight. I’m referring to those brief encounters with individuals who are “life-challenged”.

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