DVD: Agatha Christie's Poirot - Collector's Set (Volumes 1 - 6)

Volume 1 - The Disappearance of Mr. Davenheim, The Veiled Lady, and The Lost Mine

Volume 2 - The Cornish Mystery, Double Sin, and The Adventure of the Cheap Flat

Volume 3 - The Kidnapped Prime Minister, The Adventure of the Western Star, and How Does Your Garden Grow?

Volume 4 - The Million Dollar Bank Robbery, The Plymouth Express, and Wasps' Nest

Volume 5 - The Tragedy at Mardson Manor, The Double Clue, The Mystery of the Spanish Chest

Volume 6 - The Theft of the Royal Ruby, The Affair at the Victory Ball, and The Mystery of Hunter's Lodge

I love British mysteries and what is not to love about David Suchet as Agatha Christie's over-preening Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot.  Armed with only "the little grey cells", Poirot solves mysteries that leave the police baffled.  This is a wonderful series and I am looking forward to watching the remaining 6 volumes in this series filmed from 1990 to 2005.

Good stitching movie, although I had to do a little rewinding when I missed clues or important plot devices.

Oil Spill Update

The long, slender thread of white is a barrier island.  If our barrier islands were still intact, they would act as booms to protect the marshes.  While the oil spill would destroy the habitats of the barrier islands, it would be easier to clean those islands than to clean the coastal marshes.  Governor Jindal's sand berms are in effect, man-made barrier islands.  While the berms may temporarily effect the local ecosystems, I have to think that it would be a less detrimental effect than the majority of the oil reaching the marshes.

These berms, after they were cleaned, could be used as barrier islands for hurricane protection.  During the last 70 years, these islands have erroded and many have disappeared.  The marshy areas along our coastline have also erroded, we loose the equivalent of a football field each day. Our first line of hurricane protection is the barrier islands and marshes.  The tidal surge that accompanies a hurricane is blunted by the barrier islands and marshes and a hurricane passing over these "land" masses begins to weaken before reaching the large inland cities, like New Orleans.

Look a the change in the amount of land mass between New Orleans and the Gulf in the last 200 years . . .

Thought for the Day #1

There is no psychiatrist in the world

like a puppy licking your face.

                                        

                                                                  - Bern Williams

In Theater: Toy Story 3

I am always cautious seeing a sequel since they are usually a disappointment after the orginal, but Toy Story 3 is one of the few sequels that is worthy of the original.  Some time has passed since Toy Story 2 and Andy is preparing to leave for college.  Mom is urging him to go through his room to determine what items go with him to college, which are donated and which items are destined for the attic.  Woody makes it to the "for college" box and all of his other toys are meant for the attic.  In a mix-up, the toys end up going into the trash.  The toys rescue themselves from the trash narrowly missing the garbage truck and place themselves in the donation box for Sunnyside.  The toys are convinced Andy meant to throw them away.  Woody trys to explain what happened, but before he can convince the others, he ends up at Sunnyside, too.  WARNING:  This sequel is a little darker than the prior installments and Moms should keep a couple of Kleenex handy for some sentimental moments.

For a very detailed review, see Plugged-In's review of Toy Story 3

DVD: Sharpe's Rifles series

Sharpe's Rifles series

Sean Bean stars in the title role of Richard Sharpe in these adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's novels.  Set during the Napoleonic Wars, Richard Sharpe has risen through the ranks of Wellington’s army by his own merit and ambition. Full of action, adventure and romance and it made me curious to learn more about the Napoleanic wars.

I have watched 11 of the 15 available DVDs and I am looking forward to finishing the series.

Not quite as easy to stitch to as Jane Austen movies, but is set in the same era, which makes it stitching friendly for me.

DVD: Rockford Files - Season 1

Rockford Files - Season 1

I remember playing on the living room floor while my father watched Rockford Files on television.  Thought it would be fun to watch.  My DS even watched parts of a couple of episodes - he loved the car chases. 

What a change from the detective shows on television today.  Have to admit, the bad guys do not seem so menacing when compared with those in today's detective dramas.

It was a fun look back on the early 70s in all it's gilt-edged, gas guzzling, cheesy glory.