"Dexter, of which I have not and will never see an episode, appears to be Saw made into a series. "

Well...no, it's actually not nearly as graphic as you think it is. Nor is it as concerned about the psychological terror of murder for it's victims that any of the Saw films attempt to depict (and they mostly fail at that). In fact Dexter is much more complicated than anything else I've seen on TV or pay-cable in years, not since the Sopranos or The Wire. It's probably the creepiest show I've ever seen...and I absolutely love it.

But alas, since you don't even have the guts to watch one episode in it's entirety, how can you possibly comment on the merits or foibles of a TV show? Eh?

How many Noble Prize winners were homeschooled?

While this is a noble (no pun intended) experiment being documented on Salon, I cannot abide by the author's suggestion that this is ultimately better for their children than putting them into the school "system" in their local area. Even if this is well-intensioned, there's a reason why public school systems work throughout the rest of the civilized world (and even in the not-so-civilized areas).

Not one "critic" gave a full nod to "Miller's Crossing?" I can't believe for a minute that it hasn't received the praise it deserves.

Then again, I'm not too surprised it was lost in the mix...A lot of the Coen Bros. films are hard to take or "get" for me the 1st time around, and "Miller's Crossing" (and "O Brother Where Art Thou?") fall in that category. But after the 2nd or 3rd time, those films really grow on you. By that point, you actually get to catch ALL of the snappy dialogue that populates every film of their's (and especially these 2 films). And by that point, you just absolutely love the films for what they are...true works of art, with some of the best script-writing you'll ever find in Hollywood.

Christ, there are a ton of great lines in "Miller's Crossing" that I use, almost in everyday speech. In fact, I'll go so far to say that "Miller's Crossing" really is our X Generation's "Casablanca"...or at least is should be.

Besides, how could you NOT love Albert Finney showing how he's "still an artist with the Thompson," to borrow one of his henceman's lines from the film?

I'm still torn about how to watch "Chinatown" now that I know the whole story about Polanski and issues with our justice system here in the U.S. But after Woody Allen's trials in the media regarding his underage relationship with his half-daughter, it took me a long time to be able to sit through "Manhattan" from beginning to end again.

And the sad thing is, I used to hold that film up as one of Woody Allen's best pics in my mind. Better than "Annie Hall" or "Hannah" or "Crimes and Misdemeanors." Then the Woody had to go all creepy on us, and now it's VERY hard to watch that film without feeling a little guilty for ever liking it.

I know, I know, life is more complex than that, and we shouldn't damn or condemn an artist's work just because we don't like the artist and their lifestyle choices. But from the upbringing I came from, that's extreme difficult to do...way I was raised, if somebody done wrong, they get punished and you don't cut them any slack.

Let's face it people...is anyone on Salon as sympathetic to Polanski as they are to Michael Vick? In fact, shouldn't we be MORE understanding and forgiving to Michael Vick because he did the time and admitted guilt, rather than run off when it looked like he might do some serious time?

I guess I'll just wait a while longer before watching "Chinatown" again. Or maybe I can just look the other way like most folks do...I mean it's not like Jack Nicholson or Faye Dunaway is the culprit here. Still though...

Ugh, why does life have to be so complicated ALL the time!

Every day it seems like another nail is put in the RNC's coffin.

It's been a good (and very entertaining) 11 months since Obama won the election. Watching the opposition collapse like this is just like seeing that great big imperial starship crash into the Deathstar in "Return of the Jedi"...I just can't get enough of it!

"What has President Obama actually accomplished?"

"More than your sorry black ass."

RNC = LOL