For a long time, now, I've seen shows come and go on NBC. Shows that have been really good and have not been given a chance. So many shows like Crusoe, Kings, The Philanthropist, The Listener, Knight Rider, and My Name Is Earl have been ripped from NBC's programming. And they didn't even give Conan O'Brien a chance to build an audience for the Tonight Show. The way NBC is treating Conan and the Tonight Show, which is a show that should be respected. Johnny Carson is probably rolling around in his grave. I'm making a personal choice, a "stand" if you will, and I'm boycotting NBC. I will not be watching any of its programming anymore. Heroes is on its way out, anyway, so I won't be missing much. NBC, good riddance.

“Baneling:” Legend of the Seeker’s version of the zombie. This was definitely a darker episode than any of last season’s. Even though the books are much darker, with graphic violence and mature content scattered about the pages, this episode’s tone is starting to feel like the books. Richard’s insight of doing the right thing at the right time proves to be the work of a true Seeker. It’s in his blood; he is the true Seeker. And he proved it in “Baneling” when he approached the solution of burning the bodies of the dead.

The Underworld is a lot like Dante’s Inferno. In the Inferno, Hell is broken up into 9 levels in which each level is worse than the other. Except in the Underworld, the entire realm isn’t all gloom and doom. The first level of the Underworld is much like Heaven, or Valhalla. The further away from Heaven one gets, the more and more it starts to become like the Hell we know; the Hell we saw in “Marked” and “Baneling.”

And the ruler of the Underworld? The Keeper. Terry Goodkind’s version of the Keeper tells of a myth that one was to NEVER say the Keeper’s name for fear of invoking his presence and wrath. I haven’t read all of the books yet (I’m still on “Blood of the Fold”), but I’m guessing that “Keeper” is more like a title than the name of the person ruling the Underworld.

The question of the hour: why would the Keeper keep Darken Rahl around to do his bidding? The Keeper has enough influence in the material world to manipulate those that would worship him. There are two possible answers to this question:

1. Darken Rahl was enough of an iconic figure to the ruthless D’Haran army that the Keeper uses Rahl to further influence those that had so suddenly lost their ruler, their “Father.” Or,
2. Craig Parker probably has a set contract.

All in all, I really enjoyed “Baneling.” I hope the writers keep this season as dark as the first two episodes of the season.

“Community” is about a group of students at a community college in Greendale, Colorado. The series mostly focuses on Jeff Winger, played by Joel McHale of “The Soup” fame. He’s a suspended lawyer who goes back to school at Greendale Community College when his college degree had been deemed invalid by the State Bar Association.

If you’re familiar with the series, than you’ll know, although Jeff Winger is the focus, the character that steals the scenes is Abed Nadir, played by Danny Pudi. From what we’ve seen so far, Abed comes from a strict Indian family broken by divorce. Sometimes, he has difficulty socializing, so he comes up with ways of expressing himself.

Take, for instance, this week’s episode, Debate 109.

Troy discovers a few films produced by Abed about the study group. He uses actors that bear uncanny resembles to the group. One scene shows the group’s actions from a week ago. However, Troy states that the film was produced one week prior to the event. This makes everyone believe Abed has some sort of precognitive powers he conveys through his films.

Abed claims he can’t predict the future, he’s “a student of human character,” and his films are nothing more than just movies.

Shirley is such a believer, she exclaims, “You’re telling my future right now, you evil wizard.”

At one point, Shirley confronts Abed by taking his newspaper away. “What do you need a paper for? You knew what was going to happen yesterday, you Middle Eastern, magic 8-ball.” She pleads with him to tell her destiny; she needs to know.

His explanation is that he has no psychic abilities, “. . . I’m just an entertainer.”

Abed proceeds to show Shirley his latest project: the scene of movie-Shirley being chased by a werewolf while passing movie-Jeff and movie-Annie kissing in the study room. Shirley pauses at Abed, and then calls him a fool for producing such nonsense.

Abed’s predictions come true during the final debate meet. First, Annie kisses Jeff to prove her point that “man is evil.” And then, Prof. Whitman declares a party outside after Greendale wins the meet by saying, “It’s a full moon out tonight,” which makes Abed second guess his abilities.

Abed Nadir is what makes me such a big fan of “Community.” I tune in every week just to see what kinds of Tomfoolery he comes up with next.

Apparently, according to Variety.com, ABC is looking into cutting a deal for a new "Charlie's Angels" series. Josh Friedman, who brought us a new vision of "Terminator" in the quaint little show-that-could called "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," is supposed to be writing the pilot, as well as being an executive produce. Along for the ride is none other than one of Charlie's favorite angels, Drew Barrymore.

In the wake of such failed remade 70’s and 80’s shows such as "Knight Rider," “Tour of Duty” in the form of “Over There,” "The Bionic Woman," “Adam-12” in the form of “Trauma,” “The Night Stalker” with Stewart Townsend, and “Kojak” with Ving Raimes, now they’re thinking about rebooting, or re-imagining, or re-what-have-you, the franchise of “Charlie’s Angels.” Don’t you think the franchise movies were enough? Can television not find any original ideas anymore? Do we have to keep revisiting our television glory years in hopes of catching some semblance of how television used to make us feel?

What’s next on the agenda of reboots, Mork and Mindy? Maybe we can go in a totally different direction and cast Wayne Brady as Mork. Ugh!!

This is a direct transcription of The History Channel’s The Nostradamus Effect focusing on Sir Isaac Newton. I omitted experts’ quotes and opinions because I didn’t have their names at the time of my recording. I found the episode very interesting and found out some things I didn’t know about the scientist. The transcription isn’t as entertaining as watching the program, but it is informative. 2003. London, England. The secret papers of famed scientist, Isaac Newton, are reexamined after a mysterious absence of more than 200 years. In them, a prediction the world will end in the year 2060. (37:45) Are today’s political violence and instability, especially in the Middle East, random acts of hostility, or a sign of something more ominous? The divine plan envisioned by Newton. He writes: “The ruin of the wicked nations, the end of weeping, and of all troubles. The return of the Jews’ captivity, and their setting up a flourishing and everlasting kingdom.” ( Read more )

 

This is a direct transcription of The History Channel’s The Nostradamus Effect focusing on Sir Isaac Newton.  I omitted experts’ quotes and opinions because I didn’t have their names at the time of my recording.  I found the episode very interesting and found out some things I didn’t know about the scientist.  The transcription isn’t as entertaining as watching the program, but it is informative.

A calendar for Armageddon, based on numbers found in the Bible three centuries ago.  This is the work of Isaac Newton made in secret at the high point of his career.  The original documents containing his doomsday calculations now reside in a country considered by many the holiest land on earth; the state of Israel.  Some suggest that Newton’s harrowing predictions of the end of the world may actually be unfolding there today. (31:15)

Consumed by a powerful drive to identify the final date for Armageddon, Newton worked day and night to crack the Bible’s so-called code.  His prophecy year for the end of days?  2060.  But what, if any, are signs that Newton’s predictions are coming true?  And does actual proof lie in the volatile Middle East region as the famed scientist believed? (31:55)

Newton believed that the role of the Jewish people in God’s Crown was frighteningly clear.  The final chapter of the biblical Book of Daniel prophesied their return to Israel as the beginning of the end.  Newton also foretold that another sympathetic country would help bring this about.  He writes: 

 

“The commandant to return and to build Jerusalem may perhaps come forth not from the Jews, themselves, but from some other kingdom friendly to them.  And perceive their return from captivity and give occasion to it.” (32:50)

 

After World War II, the British aided in the creation of modern Israel, and the United States was the first country to officially recognize the new nation. (33:15)

Experts say, the return to the Jewish people to their Holy Land can be traced to the Zionist movement initiated in the 1890’s.  This is the first of three key dates used by Newton to identify the date for Armageddon.  Israel was created in the wake of WWII, which ended in 1945.  That year follows the second key date culled by Newton in the Book of Daniel; 1944.  And Newton believed other biblical prophecies also identified Jerusalem as the center of the universe. (34:00)

1967, Israel.  In just 6 days, the Israeli military emerges victorious from its decisive battle against three Arab countries.  It gains significant new territory.  The most critical of all is east Jerusalem.  For centuries, this 27 sq. mile plot of land has been under Muslim control.  Some firmly believe that this fulfills the biblical prophecy that the Jewish people will retake Jerusalem as their own. (34:50)

On that very site in Jerusalem, today, sits the Dome of the Rock.  It is one of the most important shrines in all of Islam.  And it is central to Newton’s prophecy.  Here lies the Temple Mount, foundation for the Dome of the Rock.  The Temple Mount is the location where the Temple of Solomon stood.  This is precisely where Newton believed the end of days would occur. (35:35)

According to the Bible, as the End of Days approaches, the Jewish people will return to Israel and rebuild their temple for a final time. (35:55)

Here, three major religions converge: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.  For over 50 years, this site has ignited religious passion and unrest on an unprecedented level.  Some believe that rebuilding Solomon’s Temple may very well trigger a war that would devastate the Middle Eastern region and possibly the world. (36:35)

Newton believed that just as God created the world, so would he destroy it, exactly as described in the Book of Revelation and in keeping with Newton’s timeline.  According to believers, many signs of the supposed Apocalypse seemed to have happened just as Newton predicted.  But does this support the idea that the sacred Temple Mount is actually the nerve center for Armageddon in 2060?  Some contend that the final resolution will perhaps be at hand with the return of the Bible’s darkest foe; the Antichrist. (37:30)

Source:  The History Channel, The Nostradamus Effect

One of the world’s greatest scientists, Isaac Newton, predicted the world would end in 2060.  Using numbers scatter throughout the Bible’s books of Revelation and Daniel, Newton believed he had calculated the timing of events leading to the Apocalypse.  Events that some believe may have already occurred, like dominoes, setting off a chain reaction that ultimately leads to Armageddon in our lifetime.  But scholars say he mysteriously hid his discovery from humanity.  Why?  Newton was one of many making prophetic statements in the late 17^th and early 18^th century.  He would hardly have been alone. (24:00)

Experts say Newton did not write his warnings for his contemporaries, but rather for us; those likely to be living in 2060, when he believed the end of the world would come. (24:25)

There was a danger that Newton’s calculations would be dismissed as the work of a lunatic, a charge that much of Newton’s behavior seemed to support.  Much like his search for clues to a biblical Apocalypse, he also scoured the Bible looking for supposedly hidden formulas to explain alchemy; the mythical process that would turn base metals, such as lead, into gold.  By the 18^th century, alchemy had been mostly discredited as a mystical folly practiced by would be sorcerers.  Yet, Newton, one of the pillars of rational science, irrationally obsessed over it. (25:10)

Newton’s obsession with alchemy suggests that a prophecy code hidden in the Bible might be a manifestation of an unstable mind undercutting his hypothesis of a doomsday calendar in Revelation.  Ironically, Newton was appointed later in his life as head of England’s mint and given charge of all coinage and precious metals in the entire British realm.  The job’s function also included regularly sending counterfeiters to the gallows; a gruesome task that may have contributed to Newton’s tormented interests in the final judgment of mankind by God.  He writes: 

“Gravity explains the motions of planets, but it cannot explain who set the planets in motion.  God governs all things and knows all that is and can be done.” 

Based on his doomsday calculations, some scholars have even taken to calling Newton “the dark heretic.” (26:25)

The Book of Revelation states: 

“Behold, I am coming soon.  Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecies of this book.” (26:45) 

What might have been driving Newton?  God?  Science?  An undiagnosed obsessive compulsive disorder? (27:00)

Experts say that Newton likely considered his prophecy the greatest, and possibly most dangerous, among all of his work.  This is perhaps the reason he went to such trouble to keep it secure after his death.  1727, London England, Isaac Newton dies, most likely of mercury poisoning.  Soon after, his secret papers containing apocalyptic predictions mysteriously disappear.  For more than two centuries, no one is aware of their existence.  Was this a calculated move by Newton, part of his plan? (27:55)

Then, just as they had mysteriously disappeared in 1727, they mysteriously reappeared in London.  In 1936, they were auctioned at Sotheby’s of London.  One of the buyers was one of the 20^th century’s influential economists, John Maynard Keynes. (28:30)

Another large portion of the papers were purchased by businessman and scholar, Abraham Yahuda. (28:50)

But both of the manuscripts owners mysteriously withheld them from the public until after their respected deaths.  More than a half century would pass before the papers finally became public. (29:30)

The very existence of the location of Newton’s doomsday calculations, the newly established state of Israel, is one of his Bible prophecies, a possible domino that, according to believers of end times, will perhaps trigger doomsday. (30:05)

Now that Newton’s biblical prophecies have finally been revealed to the modern world, how precise might they be?  Could he have actually calculated the return of the Jewish people to Israel?  And did he accurate reveal other signs that biblical Armageddon maybe coming true today?  The answer may lie in three keys dates. (30:45)

Source:  The History Channel, The Nostradamus Effect

In an article at FoxNews.com, Chinese scientists have actually built a table-top black hole.  According to the article, its "intense gravity bends the surrounding space-time, causing any nearby matter or radiation to follow the warped space-time and spiral inwards."  Its a device made with some sort of mysterious material that continues to affect electric fields.  They're calling this potentially cataclysmic event "a device?"  Really?  I especially love this line:  "To [curve] light [inward towards its center], the black hole uses so-called meta-materials that "bend light" to mimic the properties of a cosmological black hole."  Wait, what?  They're actually feeding this thing?  I'm no scientist, but I do know a black hole gets its strength from the material it consumes, which includes light.  The more they "experiment" using light or any other material, the more this thing is going to get out of control.  It's like a small campfire.  Remember when you were a child on a camping trip and you just wanted to keep feeding the campfire with twigs, paper, cardboard, or anything else you can get your hands on?  Eventually, the fire will grown and eventually spread wiping out an entire forest.  It's bad enough they built a black hole, but now they're feeding it, with a potential of it growing out of control.  A black hole on Earth, the only planet we can survive on, our home?  Really?

The Briefing

 

Magus Onhrel strode into the Chamber of Auspices to discover the waiting Black Rose.  Vyn D’grak twisted from the open window to greet him with a nod.  Baeryn Tayn’ir had been spinning a globe, but stopped it abruptly the instant Magus Onhrel entered.  Cirdan Inglorion was at the Magus’s maple desk; his feet propped atop of it.  Inglorion scraped dirt from underneath his fingernails and whispered, “’bout time.”  D’grak shot the sorcerer a glance.

Onhrel ignored the comment and stepped to a small water fountain known as the Diviner’s Stream.  He waited for the others to gather round.  Inglorion was the last to join them; he dawdled as he sheathed his dagger, took his feet off the desk, and then sauntered to the fountain.  The old wizard began when everyone was assembled.

Onhrel felt the coolness of running water as he touched the cascading flow.  Immediately, the image of a human with smooth, white skin appeared in the Stream.

“The Crimson Blossom has found,” Onhrel started, “there is a new leader among the Bloodfire.  His name is Warner Alan Simmons.  From what I’ve gathered, he is very ambitious and has very dangerous plans for the criminal group.  He surrounds himself with various ruthless people.”

Several pictures flashed over Simmons’s image; the faces of rough humans, evil dragonborn, and sinister dark elf.  After a brief demonstration, the pictures faded and left Simmons’s image in the Stream.

“The Blossom also informs me he is conspiring with an officer of the Royal Guard, Captain Isaiah McClure.”  Simmons’s picture shrank to half its size and moved to the left to accommodate the captain’s image.  “Apparently, he believes the King isn’t doing his job running the kingdom as well as he should be.”

The images of Simmons and McClure were set alongside each other.  “They plan on killing the King’s new bride in hopes of gaining control over the city. As you know, the King has been wedded to a very beautiful, elven princess.  It would be a shame if any harm to her at such an early stage in their relationship.”

A chime rang softly goading Onhrel to shift to the map of Traijan.  The slight sound originated from the amber incased map on the chamber’s wall.  When he stepped from the Stream, its images faded and the water stopped flowing.

“The Blossom tells me there is a meeting set for tonight in West District.”  He pointed to the map’s western region centering it to a detailed section of the district.  “We don’t precisely know where the meeting will be held.  According to the Blossom, the conspirators are being incredibly cautious, which means they are exceedingly close to striking.  I need the Black Rose to eliminate the problem.”

He touched the map again, the image retracting to display the entirety of the majestic streets of Traijan.  He faced the Black Rose.  “If you do not succeed, the King will wage war against the guilds, as well as his own people, turning this city into a battlefield of destruction.  I’m counting on you.”

Magus Onhrel left the chamber as quickly as he had entered leaving the Black Rose to contemplate their strategy.

This is a direct transcription of The History Channel’s The Nostradamus Effect focusing on Sir Isaac Newton.  I omitted experts’ quotes and opinions because I didn’t have their names at the time of my recording.  I found the episode very interesting and found out some things I didn’t know about the scientist.  The transcription isn’t as entertaining as watching the program, but it is informative.

“A stunning discovery of hidden papers points to cataclysm in our time.  These documents say the world will end in 2060.  The prophet of this ominous warning: famed scientist Isaac Newton.  Some suggest that Newton was secretly a dark heretic who calculated exactly when the end of days would come using clues he found in the Bible.  But is this possible?  Did his computations anticipate the Holy Land erupting in a nuclear Apocalypse?  Newton writes:

“A few scattered persons which God has chosen can set themselves sincerely and honestly to search at the truth.”

“Researchers with extensive knowledge of his life and work sayNewton obsessively studied the Bible for years.  They believe the most closely examined texts by the scientist were the Book of Daniel and Revelation.  These books tell of God’s plans for the end of the world, of the final battles of the Christ and the Antichrist, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.  And he began his search for clues within them. (11:45)