My Sentiments Exactly

"If two plus two equals four every time, what good is it? That's no fun. Why take math? They've figured that stuff out already. Art, literature, how to read this and see it in a different way than somebody else, that I got a shot at. Or how to write this story and tell it in a way that no one else has told it, that I got a shot at. But two plus two will always be four whether I do it, you do it, or somebody else does it, so the hell with it."

—Michael J. Fox, Inside the Actor's Studio (airdate: October 30, 2005)

My Virtual Halloween Costume

As noted last year, I traditionally come into work on Halloween dressed as Clark Kent—glasses and tie with Superman shirt underneath. I thought I'd dress up the blog today as well.

Fall Forward, Spring Back

This bit of confusion brought to you by whoever instituted Daylight Saving Time.

Current Snackage

El Sabroso Original Guacachips.

I'm not always up for these, but this week, they are salty green goodness.

"Lonely Too Long"

...is the title suggested by Dave White for my latest draft of "Lost and Found". I usually avoid titling stories after songs, but this one does fit.

I've submitted the story to Skive Magazine.

AP: 'Star Trek' Trek Actor George Takei Comes Out

I'm glad Takei and Sheryl Swoopes felt the time was right to come out. The more we appreciate individuality, the further we go as a race.

Wake me up before you Zorro

Sorry for the Wham flashback, but has it really been seven years between The Mask of Zorro and The Legend of Zorro?

Where did my twenties go?

I remember being surprised Catherine Zeta-Jones was Welsh.

Buffy Sanders?

This week on Smallville, a sorority girl named Buffy Sanders (har-har), infected by meteor-mutated bats, spreads a vampirism-like disease.

Highlights:

Clark and Chloe infiltrate a sorority Halloween party.

Clark: I hate costumes.

Infected Lana takes a bite out of Clark and temporarily receives some of his strength and heat vision.

Chloe writes the vampire story and uses it to get a foot in the door with the editor of The Daily Planet (played by Carrie Fisher).

Next week: Lois goes undercover as an exotic dancer and Jonathan catches up with his oldest friend, Jake Jennings (Tom Wopat).

Makin' their way, the only way they know how...

Double Whammy

Received two rejection e-mails while I was sleeping. One of these was for the infamous story "Lost and Found", which I'd submitted to several markets back in May. Where will it end up and in what form? Should be interesting to find out.

The other rejection was for poetry. Next to being accepted, my favorite part of the submission process is working on rejected pieces. I've moved on in the meantime, so I can't help but look at past projects with new eyes.

White Sox Win

Last year the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918. This year the White Sox won their first since 1917. I'm glad to see these ignominious records fall. The White Sox in particular won with no big names, a different hero every night. Congrats to the South Side.

Next DetecToday Chat

The Wheelman author Duane Swierczynski will chat with DetecToday members live Sunday, November 6, 3:00 - 4:00PM ET.

Smallville Trivia

Saw this tidbit on IMDb's Smallville page:

In the episode "Delete", Clark's parents' email address is CNH320@instamail.org. CNH 320 was the license plate on the General Lee on The Dukes of Hazzard.

How about that?

IMDb: Cage Chose Kal-El for "Magical Ring"

Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage decided to call his baby son Kal-El because he believes the name has a "magical ring" to it. Cage, 41, and his 21-year-old wife Alice welcomed the arrival of their first child together earlier this month, and stunned fans when they announced the baby's unusual name, which was originally given to fictional superhero Superman at birth. The Leaving Las Vegas star says, "Alice and I wanted to have a name that was exotic and American and which stood for something good, because our son is exotic and he's American and we both think he's good. But having said that, I always liked the sound of the name. It has kind of a magical ring to it: Abracadabra Kal-El Shazam!"

I bought Cage's rationale until he actually used Kal-El as part of an incantation. It's the Superman-Captain Marvel controversy all over again. On the other hand, he could have named the boy Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo.

No Bandwagon-Jumper

I've wondered what it would be like to be Scott Podsednik for years. Well before his dramatic World Series walk-off homer (above). He's been dating recently engaged to Lisa Dergan (below).



Here's to their happiness.

THE NAKED DETECTIVE by Laurence Shames

My comments as posted to DetecToday:

...Shames's style is a good fit for his protag, Pete Amsterdam, a failed writer who declares himself a P.I. as a tax dodge. There's a leisured pace to the plot, My main complaint is that Amsterdam stays on the case more by convenient coincidence than for "earned" reasons. e.g. "For some reason, my bike took me in the direction of the crime scene."

The stakes are raised toward the end, but the story has more in common with amateur detective than with hard-boiled P.I. It didn't feel like an homage, as blurbs advertised, or a parody. I'd call it a decent story about a character who's roped into a medium-boiled P.I. plot.

AP: Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks Dies at 92

Thank you, Ms. Parks, for your contribution to equal treatment.

Pauley Perrette's NCIS Blog

TV networks have caught the blog craze, including a blog by Pauley Perrette (Abby Sciuto on NCIS) that I've added here under Fanboy.

"Wake up, limey fish!"

Kevin Kline turns 58 today. My favorite of his characters is Otto West, the pompous assassin from A Fish Called Wanda.

IMDb: Analog TV To Shut Down on April 7, 2009

The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday gave overwhelming approval to a measure aimed at ending analog television broadcasting by April 7, 2009. The measure provides $3 billion to help consumers who cannot afford new digital TV sets buy converter boxes that would allow them to receive digital broadcasts on older models. The bill also contains a provision to assist owners of low-power TV stations to make the switch.

AP: New 'Got Milk' Ad Upsets MLB Officials

SAN FRANCISCO - The latest "Got Milk?" commercial hit a little too close to home for Major League Baseball.

Poking fun at the sport's steroid scandal, the television ad for the California Milk Processor Board talks about a player getting pulled from a game "after testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance."

In the next scene, a coach pulls a carton of milk from the slugger's locker.

Not sure how I read this. On one hand, I can see the humor. On the other, it brings to mind images of tainted milk ala the A-Team spiking B.A.'s moo juice to sidestep his fear of flying.

Read or Write?

You may have noticed the books under Diversions haven't changed in some time. I find it hard to read novels while writing. Poems and stories are fine as they don't require as much time.

The inspiration I get from novels usually takes longer to process, though sometimes I will drop what I'm reading in favor of a great idea.

In any case, my writing bug is cyclical, and I'm nealy poemed and storied out, so it's time to get back to reading this month's DetecToday feature, The Naked Detective. After that, I'll get back to Lippman and Fleming.

Save it for a rainy day

Between episodes of Veronica Mars on DVD, I polished "The Observer". Word count stands at 680.

Now watching the World Series. Each pitching staff has two former Yankees. The Sox have a slight edge for my rooting interest only because of Chicagoan Jenny McCarthy.

Love This Stuff

Not sure how it happened, but the dialogue on Smallville has some of its snap back. Tonight Arthur Curry, star swimmer at U. of Miami (Aquaman), saves Lois from drowning. Clark is suspicious of A.C. until learning he's in town to stop a Lex-owned torpedo that endangers sea life.

A.C.: Maybe we should start a Junior Lifeguard Association or something.

Clark: Not sure I'm ready for the JLA just yet.


Lois: (about A.C.) I've known a lot of guys who want to own the world. I haven't met that many who actually want to save it. When am I ever gonna meet someone like that again?

Clark: Lois, I promise, one day you'll meet someone even more special.


Also this episode, Clark meets history professor Milton Fine, who's looking to expose the evils of LuthorCorp. The prof is actually Brainiac (Buffy alum James Marsters).

Next week, Lana joins a sorority of vampires.

Prof. Fine: Clark, there are no such things as vampires.

Fanatic

...[L]awyers reached a plea agreement Tuesday for a 30-year term for a man accused of shooting with an intent to kill and robbery. But Eric James Torpy wanted his prison term to match Bird's jersey number 33.

Nasty, Brutish, and Short

I hope to have reached new levels of noir and linguistic economy with "The Observer", a story targeted for Bryon Quertermous's new ezine, Demolition.

Sports Opinion

Joe Torre announced yesterday he'll return to manage the Yankees in 2006. I'm disappointed in this. Torre could have made a stand and showed Steinbrenner he wouldn't be toyed with. Don Zimmer and Mel Stottlemyre were gutsy enough to leave. Why not Torre?

Allan Houston retired from the Knicks. Finally. I like Houston, but even in his prime, he wasn't the playmaker the Knicks have needed for years. We've had good warriors like Houston and Ewing, but no one who can change the pace of game like Jason Kidd.

Zap2it.com: Perlman Leads 'Conan' Barbarian Invasion

LOS ANGELES - Ron Perlman will voice the titular barbarian in "Conan: Red Nails," the first animated feature about the famous hero.

The Swordplay Entertainment animated film has also recruited Marg Helgenberger ("CSI"), James Marsden ("X-Men"), Clancy Brown ("SpongeBob SquarePants"), Cree Summer ("Rugrats") and Mark Hamill ("Corvette Summer") to lend their pipes.

Based on the popular Robert E. Howard story, "Red Nails" will be produced on a budget in the $5 million range and will be released next summer by New Line Home Entertainment...

Food Quiz

Hamburger chips are:

a) meat
b) pickle
c) potato

Batman Superman

I've pre-ordered Batman Begins (out Tuesday) and Superman: The Animated Series Vol. 2 (due out December 6). I direct you to my review of the former.

As for the latter, this second 18-episode set includes two of my favorites: "Target", in which a techno-villain guns for Lois Lane, and "The Late Mr. Kent", in which Clark is the victim of a car bomb and must fake his death while Lois and Superman investigate.

Farewell, Flash Fantastic

Sorry to learn Flash Fantastic has been discontinued due to lack of time and editor availability. I consider myself lucky to have had a story published in what turned out to be the final issue. You can read it by clicking "Stunts" in my online portfolio. Scroll down to the second story. Publisher Nolan B. Canova will keep the archives up. Thanks again to Nolan and editor Art Brown.

I Can See Clearly Now by Johnny Nash

I can see clearly now the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way,
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.

I think I can make it now the pain is gone,
And all of the bad feelings have disappeared,
Here is the rainbow I've been praying for.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.
It's gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright) sunshiny day.

Look all around, nothing but blue skies.
Look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies...

New Bond, Old Bond

Amid the announcement of the new Bond, allow me to pay tribute to one of the old ones. Roger Moore, the Bond I grew up with, turns 78 today. While I've come to see his portrayal as too clean, he gets points for authentic British bearing and wry humor. Here's to you, Roger.

Craig, Daniel Craig

The next actor to play James Bond will be 37-year-old Daniel Craig.

I've only seen Craig in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in which he ironically played American to Angelina Jolie's faux British. I like that Craig is younger. After Brosnan, it would've been a stretch to go too much younger. I hope he does at least three movies. That's about the time it takes any actor to own Bond, though I did like Timothy Dalton's two turns.

Poet of the Morning

For the past few days I've gotten up at three A.M. I blame it on the rain (yeah, yeah) and shortening daylight hours. Anyway, this morning I polished a poem aimed for Contemporary Rhyme and revised two older poems headed to Zygote in My Coffee.

UPDATE (6:52 AM): Zygote editor Brian Fugett has accepted both poems. "The enlightened" will appear in Issue 51 (October 31st), and "Limbo" will appear in Issue 52 (November 14th). Many thanks, Brian.

That's My Smallville, Part V

This season's arc of Clark Kent being as vulnerable as any human came to a rip-roaring end tonight. We open with Clark and Lana waking up from their first night together, and Ma and Pa Kent catch them trying to sneak out of the house, but, ahem, to the A story...

An angsty anti-meteor-freak teen (Lot of those, aren't there?) targets an ICBM for Smallville. Fortunately, this teen has a thing for Chloe and warns her to get out of Dodge. Instead, Clark and Chloe go after him, and Clark takes a bullet in the process.

We get the drama of everyone reacting to Clark's death, which amazingly triggers the spirit of Jor-el in none other than Lionel Luthor(!) Jor-el transports Clark to the Fortress of Solitude and gives his powers back because his destiny is "far too important."

Clark flies into space and rips the warhead out of the missile. There will be payback for Clark's resurrection: Someone he loves will die. For now, though, everyone appears safe. This arc has been by far the best of the show's run, the closest to Jeph Loeb's A Superman For All Seasons.

Next week: Aquaman.

Reality vs. Fiction

Sarah Weinman cites an essay by Louise Welsh that argues:

...[E]ven if murder fascinates, is it an appropriate subject for fiction? Is it perhaps appealing to parts of us that shouldn't be appealed to? Might it excite readers into committing the very crime we're exposing? Why not write nice stories about people with simple problems? Perhaps we could concentrate on the loss of a handbag rather than the loss of a life?

We read novels for different reasons: entertainment, information, to make sense of our lives and to confront things that disturb us. Fiction has always dealt with difficult subjects and the writer's role is partly to confront what is happening within society.

There are many novels that entertain without challenging, novelists who present a genteel picture of a Scotland that I for one don't recognise - good luck to them. But the novel does not merely exist to support the Scottish tourist board. If novelists were confined to writing "nice books" we would end up with the fictional equivalent of Hollywood blockbusters - bland, unchallenging, with no-one we recognise ever appearing - a book full of product placements, a means to social control.

Crime, murder in particular, is a conduit through which we can explore what is going on within our world. When the modern fictional investigator delves into wrongdoing and corruption, he's also exploring the flip side of society, and the reader travels with him or her into places they would be ill advised to tread in real life.

We can pretend we live in a Scotland where there is no crime or violence, but I believe novelists should engage with society.

My extended comments:

Writers choose the fields they do, crime or otherwise, because those fields fascinate them--to the point they don't mind researching or crafting a story until they can become completely and gladly engrossed in it.

...[A]ll fiction is an escape of some kind. Writers wouldn't write fiction and readers wouldn't read it if real world news filled the same void.

The essential difference between fiction and reality is that fiction can be divided into beginning, middle, and end; expectation, action, resolution. Narrative structure provides the how and why missing from reality's most confusing, emotional events. If we know how and why an event takes place, it has less chance of scaring us; it becomes more palatable.

As realistic as fiction gets, it has to be palatable at least by an editor to be published. Ideally it should also be palatable by its intended audience so that audience will read more of the author's work.

Who'll Stop the Rain?

I like rain. In fact, I love a rainy night. But a week of relentless rain? I don't know. Still, I'm thankful to have been spared a hurricane.

Connect Four

One of the cool things about my switch to Linux is I'm able to play simple time-wasting games again. I say simple in terms of graphics. They are by no means easy, especially, I'm finding, Connect Four. The computer beats me every time. I can only win with heavy hintage.

Someday, though, I will be the most powerful Jedi ever.

Best Rejection Yet

"This Never Happened to Superman" was rejected by VerbSap.com, but feedback showed the editor "got" what I'm going for with the story, calling it "a modern Odyssey-gone-wrong,"

The story was rejected because a passage of toilet humor rang false. I've tweaked it a bit and submitted to Chick Flicks.

Playing Favorites

I have never liked the Yankees' trade for Alex Rodriguez. Time and time again he proves he cannot deliver with everything on the line. Case in point, tonight's series finale versus Anaheim.

Yankees down 5-3 in the top of the ninth. First batter Derek Jeter hits a single. Rodriguez, ineffective the entire series, hits into a double play. Two outs. Next batter Giambi hits a single followed by Sheffield with a single. Had ARod the good sense to strike out...

Most Valuable Player. Yeah, right.

Meanwhile Jeter remains the coolest Yankee presence since Don Mattingly. Bernie Williams, whose fifteen-year run with the team may be up, also deserves a mention.

All this said, an Angels-White Sox matchup should be of more interest to America than Yankees-White Sox.

Zap2it.com: Bring Back My License to Thrill

(Friday, October 07 12:00 AM)
By Daniel Fienberg

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) An open letter to the creative powers behind "Casino Royale"

Taking Stock

I've answered the Bernard Pivot questionnaire before, but I thought I'd participate again on Laura Lippman's blog:

What is your favorite word?
Precise.

What is your least favorite word?
Suck.

What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
Quiet (not silence), dreams.

What turns you off?
Insecurity.

What is your favorite curse word?
Crap.

What sound or noise do you love?
Natural rushing water, popcorn popping, basketball going through a net.

What sound or noise do you hate?
Phone ringing, including any elaborate ringtone. Also the Emergency Broadcast Signal. ("If this had been an actual emergency...")

What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
Acting.

What profession would you not like to attempt?
Food service.

If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
"You're in."

Second-Chance Sunday

Good to know if I miss Veronica Mars Wednesday night at 9 I can catch it Sunday night at 7.

Brandon Routh

Iowa native Routh, Bryan Singer's Superman, is 26 today.

Tony Shalhoub

Emmy-winner Shalhoub, best known as obsessive-compulsive detective Adrian Monk, turns 52 today.

Bakula's Birthday

Scott Bakula (right, with Dean Stockwell) is 51 today. Quantum Leap is possibly my favorite TV series of all time (pun incidental). Bakula owned the role of Dr. Sam Beckett in a way he was never allowed to own Enterprise captain Jonathan Archer. Since Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard, I find Star Trek tends to stifle actors instead of letting them play. I hope Bakula finds another series role he can own.

Sigourney Weaver

Sigourney Weaver (pictured above from 2004's Imaginary Heroes) is 56 today. Her Alien character, Ellen Ripley, is Entertainment Weekly's top butt-kickin' babe of the movies.

Up, up, and away

Some friends have said I should turn "This Never Happened to Superman" into a novel. I may do that someday, but I'd like feedback for now on the revision. To wit, I've submitted it to VerbSap ("Concise Prose. Enough Said.").

Ideally, the short story will be published and I'll still expand its world into a novel.

Greatness

Andrew Kaye and the crew of Defenestration have accepted my poem, "Greatness", to be published in January 2006.

The poem is based on my experiences as an adjunct sharing an office with a tenured prof.

Going Active

You may recall my troublesome mainstream story a.k.a. "Astoria", "Did Jimmy Olsen Ever Wonder?", "Stragglers", and "Stranded".

My latest revision of the story, written over parts of yesterday and this morning, switches the P.O.V. from a passenger in a cranky Oldsmobile Delta 88 to the driver of said Delta 88. The new title is "This Never Happened to Superman".

Catching Up with Fusilli

Next month's DetecToday featured novel is Tribeca Blues by Jim Fusilli. This is the third in Fusilli's Terry Orr series after Closing Time and A Well Known Secret. I ordered books two and three today. It should be interesting to catch up.

Also ordered Dirty Sally by Michael Simon, the original Brooklyn Noir collection, and Cuba Libre by Elmore Leonard.

Here's how it was

Lee Goldberg's blog features a good debate over Serenity. To summarize, Lee writes:

It's a one-joke/one-conceit concept (a "western in space, with cowboy dialogue and everything, pardner") that doesn't go any where beyond that.

I commented:

While there was some joking in Firefly/Serenity, at heart it was the story of Mal Reynolds's life after losing everything he believed in/fought for. The show and movie weren't about good vs. evil. Unlike the Star Wars Rebels, Mal wasn't trying to beat back the Alliance. He had no grand plan except to keep his spirit from bending to Alliance rule.

The secret at the center of the movie wasn't earth-shattering in the larger scheme of things. Mal's purpose was simply to reveal something the Alliance had covered up. This way people would have more information with which to make their own decisions.

Moviegoers might not "get" any of this and still enjoy Serenity as a western in space with cowboy dialogue. Maybe it doesn't go beyond that, but does it have to?

I don't doubt there are many people not into Firefly. Its ratings speak to that. I'm not sure why certain shows appeal to me and others don't. I like the concept of the new [Battlestar] Galactica, but I can't get into it. Does the new show hold to some darker, more serious intention of the original creators, ala Batman Begins? Why not create a whole new concept and avoid comparisons to an old show? I could go for that.

If You Want to Celebrate My Birthday...

Thirty-one.

Much less momentous than thirty.

Last year I mentioned never listing things to do before thirty. I'm glad for what I have done to exercise my talent and get my work out there, but at the same time it's never enough. I hope I never lose the healthy desire to improve.

Last year I attended S.J. Rozan's Absent Friends launch party at Partners & Crime. No plans like that today. (I'm usually the planner. Who wants to plan his own birthday party?) I live a good distance from my closest friends, making my house a veritable Fortress of So-litude.

In any case, I'm grateful to have lived this long and to have this blog whereby I've "met" so many of you. If you want to celebrate my birthday, read my work and let me know what you think.

Cheers, everyone.

UPDATE (3:08 PM ET): In the comments I mention I was born in the year of tiger. I'm celebrating with "Eye of the Tiger" on repeat:

So many times, it happens too fast,
You trade your passion for glory,
Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past,
You must fight just to keep them alive –

A cousin has invited me to a steak dinner.

I'm a Superman fan, but...

Nicolas Cage has named his newborn son Kal-el Coppola Cage.

IMDb: Smith Reportedly Quits 'Fletch' Film

Cult movie maker Kevin Smith has reportedly quit the planned Fletch Won film after spending years fighting for pal Jason Lee to play the reporter created in the 1980s by Chevy Chase. The Clerks director's decision to walk away from his labor of love comes after a spat with producer David List, according to film gossip website MovieHole.net. List tells the site, "Kevin Smith is no longer affiliated with the Fletch film as writer or director. His type of comedy just isn't Fletch. The movie is going to be made, and, if all goes as planned, should be in production in early 2006." List insists Smith's departure was amicable. Garden State star Zach Braff has long been a favorite of producers to play the lead character in the long-awaited follow up to 1989 movie Fletch Lives. Meanwhile, List claims funnyman Chase is being targeted for a cameo appearance in the new Fletch film. The producer adds, "I think it would be great. I think everyone will welcome his being a part of it."

I'm a fan of Fletch as created by Gregory Mcdonald. I wouldn't have guessed Kevin Smith was a fan from what I've seen of his movies, but he seemed passionate about the project and credited Mcdonald's dialogue-driven style as an influence.

Directors (or any artistic people) deserve a chance to break from their bodies of work and show something new. Who would have guessed Mark Steven Johnson, director of Grumpy Old Men, was a Daredevil fan? Marvel took a chance on his passion, and it paid off.

My Favorite Bullet

My poem, "Excuse me", appears in the latest issue of My Favorite Bullet. Thanks to editor David Bates.

Also Being a Fan

The Yankees won the American League East title on Saturday, then chose to rest Sunday's scheduled starting pitcher Mike Mussina in preparation for their playoff run. They lost Sunday's game to the Red Sox 10-1, having pulled their starting players in the 6th inning.

During the game, Yankees radio and TV announcers voiced outrage upon hearing Texas Rangers manager Buck Showalter similarly pulled his starters in the 3rd inning, giving up a 4-1 lead against the L.A. Angeles of Anaheim, and losing the game 7-4. After losing to Boston, Yankee manager Joe Torre and third baseman Alex Rodriguez voiced displeasure at Showalter's moves.

If the Yankees had won and the Angels lost yesterday's games, New York would have homefield advantage against the Angels in the first round of the playoffs.

In my view, managers are within their rights to rest or play whomever they want, whenever they want. I despise the Yankees' impugning Showalter's moves when they clearly did not go all out to win their own game.

IMDb: Bond Blamed for Rise in Unsafe Sex

Fictional superspy James Bond's spontaneous bedroom antics have failed to impress the medical world, as the character appears to champion unsafe sex. The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine has slammed movies including 2002's Die Another Day for their contraception-free antics between the sheets, and blames Hollywood for the rise in sexually transmitted diseases and accidental pregnancies. Raunchy movie Basic Instinct, which thrilled audiences in 1991, is also under fire for a reported six scenes of unsafe love-making, although none of the movies refer to the potential dangers. Dr Hasantha Gunasekera, the author of the research paper, says, "The social norm being presented in movies is concerning, given the HIV and illicit drug pandemics in developing and industrialized countries. The motion picture industry should be encouraged to depict safer sex practices and to depict the real consequences of unprotected sex."

IMDb: Dunst Reveals 'Spider-Man 3' Villains

Topher Grace and Sideways star Thomas Haden Church have inadvertently been confirmed as the new Spider-Man villains by Kirsten Dunst. After months of speculation about the actors behind the masks of the Spider-Man 3 bad guys - and the characters they'll play, Dunst, who is back to play Spider-Man's love interest Mary Jane, has let slip in an interview the identities of both the actors and their evil alter-egos. Speaking to website Zap2it.com, she says, "We have really great people as the villains in this film - Thomas Haden Church and Topher Grace - Venom and Sandman... Maybe I wasn't supposed to say that." Dunst then reversed her claim, admitting Church will play Sandman and Grace, Venom.

Serenity's Numbers

Serenity pulled in an estimated $10.1 million, finishing second to Flightplan ($15 million) at the box office this weekend. I'd gladly see it again.

Serenity

As planned, I used a free pass (Christmas gift from a fellow Browncoat) to watch Serenity. Without spoilers, I'll say it's everything a Firefly fan could hope for.

The characters are so distinct and memorable they've stayed with me since the show was cancelled in 2002. Perhaps because the show was short-lived, I feel like one of a lucky few to have recognized something special from the beginning. Serenity is Firefly come full circle.

Being a Fan

The Yankees' season hinges on this weekend series with the Red Sox, and I find myself only casually interested in the outcome. Last year I stayed up to watch most of the Red Sox historic comeback, but before that, in 2001 to be exact, I realized I would be a Yankee fan whether they won or lost.

I'm grateful to have seen four championship teams at a time when I could best enjoy them (college). The team doesn't have to dominate to hold my interest. I take what I can get. These crucial last games will end the way they do, regardless whether I watch. So I wish them well and work on projects I can control.

Night Stalker

Thursday night at 9 I watched ABC's update of Kolchak: The Night Stalker starring Stuart Townsend as Kolchak and Gabrielle Union as his competitive partner. I liked the feel of the show and the chemistry between the two leads. My only concern is that the show may fly to low under the radar against the other networks' solid hits.