The computerless life is not for me...

So, for those of you who've missed me, I've been conspicuously absent from the internet lately due to a malfunctioning power cord. My poor little laptop had no power, and so poor little Laura had no computer. But, $100 and a shiny new power cord later, all is well in the world (except my bank account).

Speaking of technology loss, the NY Times had a great article (which you may no longer be able to read, because it was so long ago) abut the Blackberry outage. It's hilarious how dependent on them some people are. I only just got mine, so it's still in the "novelty toy" phase - but the girl I work with, she's crazy about it. Like, she'll get up from her desk to leave the office, and she's checking her Blackberry by the time she gets in the elevator. Crazy.

I've been on an emotional rollercoaster with the possible canceling of Veronica Mars. After hearing it reported that the show was as good as dead, Enrico Colantoni said it wasn't canceled, but the FBI idea was out. Then, later, Rob Thomas said the FBI thing is very much a possibility, and Enrico is on crack. Bottom line: we won't know for sure until CW announces their fall lineup in May. Grrrrrr. I want my VM!

Elsewhere in the canceled series world, Drive has officially bit the dust. I can't really say I'm surprised, because Fox does this all the time. But it's kind of funny that it was canceled before I even got a chance to watch the 4 episodes that are in my possession. I wonder if it's even worth it now...

There's a really long, but good interview with David Fury, who has worked on almost all of my favorite shows. In this interview, he mostly talks about 24, but also some Buffy, Angel, and Lost tidbits.

In the Buffy news bin, Joss has an interview about the Angel season 6 comic. And I want everything on this website.

Did anyone else read the Baby-Sitters Club when they were younger? Because I was totally into them, and so I was superexcited to see that someone is re-reading the books as an adult and blogging about them! Her posts are absolutely hilarious, and it's fun to remember how much I loved that series as a kid.

And finally, your dose of random for today: Bidets that catch fire. Gives a whole new meaning to the phrase, "light a fire under your ass."

Good article

I've probably read a dozen articles on the Virginia Tech tragedy in the past few days. I keep expecting the phone calls to start in work, as legislators all try to introduce bills to make our college campuses safer. (Of course, they will never do anything about gun control, because this is PA, the northernmost state in the South.) Anyway, so I've read a lot of articles, but this one stood out to me, I'm not sure why. There's some great imagery - "the numbers tore across the bottom of the screen like bullets" and "angry young men who yearn to blast a hole in the world" really got to me.

Or maybe it's just the turkeys.

TV talk

Did anybody watch Drive on Sunday? I was so preoccupied with the season finale of the Dresden Files that I forgot about it, so I taped Monday night's episode in the hopes of catching up online or something. It doesn't seem like the reviews are all that great, but considering the dearth of good television right now, I don't mind too much.

Speaking of dearth, the news doesn't look good for Veronica Mars. Scroll all the way down to the end of this chat to read the bad news - VM is almost definitely canceled. :( Please excuse me while I rend my garments.

The Black Donnellys appears to have bit the dust (maybe they'll have the show's wake in the Donnelly brothers' bar), but you can watch the rest of the episodes online.

And for all of you who were counting on a new episode of Bones this week... well, not so much. Fox is pulling the episode because of the shooting at VA Tech (apparently the episode had something to do with a murder on a college campus). I don't blame them for doing this, but poor David Boreanaz. Every show he's on gets an episode pulled because of a school shooting. (Remember Earshot, and then Graduation Day?)

I am still watching 24, which is about the only show still on TV anymore. Last night's episode took a sharp U-turn from the entire preceding season, since we're abruptly ending the nuclear bomb plot, like, 6 hours early to go chase after Audrey in China. I think it's kind of funny how people at CTU are all shocked that Jack's gone rogue - like he hasn't done that at least once a day? And dumb Ricky Schroeder (standing on the side of the highway, where Jack left him stranded) yelling, "You can't go against the White House!" - clearly, Rick hasn't watched the previous 5 seasons. I did love Jack's line to the President - "You owe me." Oh, he soooo does. The entire Palmer family owes him their lives (several times over), not to mention how many times he's saved the city of Los Angeles from destruction and the country from utter chaos and war. So, yeah, that "You owe me" has been a loooong time coming. Way to go, Jack, for cashing in (even if it only lasted half an episode).

And finally, because I promised Kelly, why Buffy is a gay icon - don't ask me where I find this stuff.

This is why you need a Lt. Governor

So, if you live in New Jersey, you probably heard that the Governor was in a car accident on Thursday night. And the Senate President is again the acting Governor, at least temporarily. Poor Richard Codey. The man didn't want to be Governor, chose not to run, and ended up doing it anyway. Seriously, at the rate they go through elected officials in NJ, they really ought to look into a Lt. Governor (if they really wanted one, they could have CBK, I'm sure no one in PA would miss her, the crazy bat).

Random fact - the accident occurred while Corzine was on his way to mediate a meeting between Don Imus and the Rutgers women's basketball team (on which I emphatically have no comment). I have a conspiracy theory that the car that caused the accident was being driven by a die-hard Imus fan.

He just won't go away... Lynn Swann (a.k.a. the "40" in Governor Rendell's 60-40 reelection win) may be running for Congress. God help you, Pittsburgh. And in other PA political news, Patrick Murphy, my favorite freshman Congressman, got himself a nice write-up in the NY Times. Well done, Pat. (Sidenote: The Great American Diner is where my friend Stephanie had her baby shower.)

This strikes me as hilarious: GW students are protesting because their university president picked himself to be their commencement speaker. Honestly, I sympathize with them, but point out that it could be worse - they could've graduated from F&M last year, and had to listen to some other college's president speak at their commencement.

Newsflash: Even birds hate Dick Cheney. They're willing to commit suicide to get him out of office.

There's not much TV to talk about, since hardly any of my shows have new episodes. (I want my VM!!) I should note, however, that 24 sent South Park a suitcase nuke. I guess that's how TV shows say, "I like you."

And finally, your daily dose of random: This is hilarious, and also a lot of fun. Thanks to Megan for the Dancin' Doughboy!

Remember when I used to do this all the time?

Okay, lots of random stuff that I've been collecting over the past week or so:

This article reminds me an awful lot of high school...

Political discussion for today: an interesting way that third party candidates can affect the outcome of an election.

Now Megan will have another reason to come to PA - besides me, of course. And in other TV-related news, you can learn all about how they filmed Drive - and then watch the premiere on April 15th.

The winner of the Buffy essay contest was announced - also, a couple articles about the second issue of the comic. And finally, the Dresden Files/Buffy connection explained. (Speaking of Dresden, the season finale airs this Sunday at 10pm - hard to believe it's been 13 episodes already!) Oh, and Jim Butcher is all about James Marsters playing Thomas. I knew I wasn't the only one!

The five most annoying banner ads... you wouldn't think that this would make a good read, but it's actually pretty hilarious. Plus, the annual Peeps diorama contest! And, you too can be a punk rocker.

A great April Fools joke

I know it's a day late, but this just made me giggle, for so many reasons. Dick Cheney, joining Wolfram & Hart? Classic. Also note the last story in the Top Headlines section: "Sunnydale Crater Vigil Enters 1,245th Increasingly Creepy Day." Hee.