Masters of Science Fiction

We've been watching Masters of Science Fiction, an anthology series that ABC has doomed to ratings failure by scheduling it at 10pm on Saturday nights (that's what DVRs are for!), and I've been consistently impressed.  It's definitely reminiscent of The Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits, but with a heavy science fiction emphasis (as opposed to supernatural or paranormal or whathaveyou--i.e. there's science in the fiction, it's spaceships and genetics rather than vampires and ghosts).  The stories are indeed those of the masters, Heinlein, Ellison, etc., and the actors are fairly high calibre people, including Terry O'Quinn, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell, John Hurt, a bunch of the cast of Law and Order.  The directors are an academy award winning or nominated bunch as well.  Clearly a lot of care, not to mention money, went into this production so I don't know why ABC has sabotaged it with the scheduling, but when the anthology comes out on DVD, I really recommend viewing it.  The last episode of the ones that will be aired is on this Saturday, but the DVD release will include two unaired episodes (because if ABC is going to be half-hearted about airing it, they might as well be really half-hearted and not even show it all).  This is significantly higher quality than any of the one-offs the SciFi Channel has been producing of late.

After watching this week's episode, "Jerry Was a Man" by Robert Heinlein, M and I have decided we want a miniature elephant.  Seti could ride it around the house and conquer Rome.  I do think there was some cowardice in the decision to make the joes humanoid rather than chimpanzoid, some pandering to anti-evolution people perhaps.  Come on, would they really be watching the show anyway?

Did an hour of yin yoga last night and feel very good today.  I feel taller.

for birders and photography people

This guy who lives in West Medford has some of the most amazing bird photography I have ever seen.  I think the little shorebirds blow me away the most.  Those are fast, unpredictable critters.  The mallard photo is gorgeous too, as are the night heron photos.  What I really like is that not only are the birds super crisp and clear but they all have personality as well.  The mammal gallery is beautiful too, but it's the birds that really knock my socks off.