(This is so the wrong topic, but I have a vaguely similar notion about B5 & Galactica's approach to communities.)

Well, that's interesting or it would be if I grooked spaceship shows. Course I never pictured liking a Western again, either. After my pioneer phase. But I need another show like I need another tit. If you'll follow me.

I never watched B5, but Galactica is mostly excellent.

If it is too pompous, I expect I could tell you to get the fuck over yourself.

Get your engines started. I haven't mentioned Schopenhauer yet, but given my recent writing, he's definitely waiting in the wings.

You can trust me to be honest. You got into Simon's stash, didn't you? The one he's on when he talks about The Wire as reflecting urban zeitgeist and shit. I thought that comment was insightful, honestly, but at the same time hoped he would not lead off with that at HBO "Comstat" Hoped Lippman or George P. would nudge him discreetly off the German because even after I heard it and agreed I thought "Simon, we want people to *watch* the shit. Know what I'm sayin'?" Maybe I'm just class-conscious.

I never watched B5, but Galactica is mostly excellent.

B5 was rarely excellent. The ideas were almost always superior to the execution, but that was kind of the appeal.

More on the book about M Night in context of the weak opening of his movie.

I liked that piece. It gives enough room for different views. I guess I think Shyamalan is someone who could use a good shaking, but I don't really doubt his sincerity even if I do think he's deluded about himself and how he's perceived.

Mostly I think that he'd have been better off if Sixth Sense hadn't been such a smash. If I was his friend I'd tell him to go do some low-budget movies that aren't going to have the same hype levels, because that shit would make anyone crazy. But I've never been in a position to turn down millions of dollars from people who assure me that I'm brilliant. More's the pity.

It's frustrating, because I feel like he could be the next Kubrick, and instead he's gonna wind up as the next Spielberg. If he's lucky.

I just saw Lady in the Water. Based on what I'd learned already, I was braced for the twist, and ...there really wasn't one. The message, such as it was, was muddled, as it tends to be in his movies. I think this one's the weakest of his offerings.

Also, casting yourself - with a major speaking part - in your own movie? Is lame.

and cereal, because I remember that creepy episode of Little House - I hadn't even remembered that it WAS Little House, because it's about the only episode of it that I do remember. I knew the baby's father was her father, too, even at the young age I was then.

Also, casting yourself - with a major speaking part - in your own movie?

That's what bugged me about Signs. I think director cameos are cool and cute, whatever, but he was a goddamn pivotal character. That's not a cameo. If you want to be Hitchcock, film yourself walking a dog and be done with it.