Huh. Actually the small tag is making those quotes display smaller on my monitor, though the distinction isn't as clear as using the greater than carat (or indented like same).

Small works here fine.

Interesting. I'm using IE 6 on XP Pro. I have the text size set to "smaller" under view. You'd think that any t small text would appear smaller still, but it doesn't. If I change text size to normal, then t small does indeed appear smaller than normal text.

I'll teach her how to set the VCR.

Sigh, I'd estimate I've instructed my mom and my aunt how to set the vcr a dozen times over the last dozen years.

As opposed to teaching them, which apparently I haven't done successfully.

They are both bright people, so I have to assume it's just not being reinforced, or else it's just not their "thing." Heck, they can set the clocks, so...no blinking 12:00.

Write the instructions down, step by step. Then have them follow the steps while you are there. Be very simple in the wording. Sympathize a lot.

Now that I'm re-watching, I'm reading WAY too hard into everything.

Shannon (to Claire): Do you know what it is?

Claire: Not yet.

Me: Evil! EEEVILLL!!

How about this:

Claire: Did anybody hear that?
Me: (sarcastically) NO! They're all deaf! (to self) What a blonde.

eta: I'm not saying that blonde people are dumb, but this falls into "blonde joke" territory.

I had asked a question upthread that I just got answered...

tvtome.com has the next episode of Lost starting January 5 right before the Alias premiere.

Jon B. thanks, i was un-caffienated this morning and thought of the HTML error/s as i drove down the road. 'doh! thanks, i will get the hang of it, eventually.

new weird theory: courtesy of my 13 y/o daughter. what? sometimes she is brilliant. other times, not so much. *g*

she says that she thinks that ALL the survivors have a "special" skill/gift. and that when they are ALL together in the right place/right time, they have this life force that enables them to do good things, weird occurances (polar bear) or even possibly something evil. so somehow this power is a force that must be learned and controled. the island works as a conduit making the power/s stronger.

that is it...have at it. it is weird now that we share the same TV show love. i am still dealing with that. :P

edited b/c i have NOT had enough tea or something...and my grammar sucks.

An interesting article here about how actors in newer TV shows very rarely get recognized by awards show immediately. This is what they have to say about Lost:

Another innovative new drama, Lost, has garnered top ratings and plenty of attention for its twisty, mystery-laden plot, but the series also serves as a showcase for its excellent ensemble cast. The show focuses on a diverse group of plane-crash survivors marooned on a desolate island, each with a fascinating personal back story. As recovering junkie rock star Charlie, Lord of the Rings hobbit Dominic Monaghan is note-perfect; the actor skillfully hints at Charlie's darker depths without sacrificing the character's natural charm. Equally impressive is Naveen Andrews as Sayid, a former member of the Iraqi Republican Guard; the actor captures the character's psychological torment with compelling grace.

But perhaps the two most astounding performances on the show are from an actor who hasn't even had much in the way of dialogue yet and a respected character performer who's finally getting his day in the sun. Yunjin Kim's Sun, like many of the other characters, was a cipher when the series first started--all we knew was that she is a seemingly submissive Korean wife. Still, Kim made her instantly likeable. Further revelations have come via pre-crash flashbacks, in which we see Sun attempting to leave controlling husband Jin (Daniel Dae Kim). Kim hardly has any lines in this particular scene, but every possible emotion is etched on her face in the space of only a few minutes: sadness, longing, hope. In the eyes of TV viewers, this was the moment that marked Kim as an actor to watch. Rounding out this quartet of standout performances is veteran character actor Terry O'Quinn's turn as would-be adventurer Locke, a man with a tragic past who seems to have adapted to life on the island with a little too much ease. In previous TV roles, O'Quinn has often been the charismatic guy scuttling around in the background; you know he's fascinating, you just don't know why. Here the actor has a meaty, possibly career-defining role that just keeps getting better. As far as getting recognized with nominations, Lost's chances are better than Veronica's: It's one of the most water-cooler discussion-worthy shows of the season. Still, given that it's an ensemble show with a buzz-generating setup and no Jennifer Garner-style breakout stars--at least not yet--Lost is more likely to get recognized in the Best Drama and writing categories; its deserving actors may have to wait another season.