http://scifiwire.com/2009/12/star-trek-the-original-se-2.php

When I reviewed the original Star Trek: The Original Series DVD sets five or six years ago, I was a lot more lukewarm about the show than I am now. It's been a weird kind of revelation to discover just how much I love Trek, at least in its original incarnation: shows from the first two seasons surpassed my previously-low expectations by a wide margin. In fact, in the last 12 months, I've developed such a passionate appreciation for the show that I feel no longer capable of differentiating great episodes from terrible ones.

Unfortunately, the recently-released Blu-ray set for Star Trek: The Original Series—Season 3 offers little in the way of clarification or guidance via commentaries or new interviews, although its other bonus content—including an unaired, alternate cut of "Where No Man Has Gone Before"—certainly fulfills all of the requirements for folks with blind fan love like mine.

Interestingly, even the cast and crew of Season 3 acknowledges that much of the material was inferior to the previous two. In "To Boldly Go," a featurette that includes interview footage with Leonard Nimoy, William Shatner and others, they admit that a combination of low production budgets, network constraints and a terrible time slot (Fridays at 10 PM) resulted in a collectively lackluster season, at least in comparison to Seasons 1 and 2. That said, so many of the stories in Season 3 remain not only memorable, but classic.

http://scifiwire.com/2009/12/why-the-bloody-sexy-spartacus-was-renewed-before-it-premiered.php

The upcoming 300-meets-Gladiator-esque Spartacus: Blood and Sand promises plenty of graphic violence, nudity, sex and now something else ... a second season. Spartacus, which is due to premiere on Friday, Jan. 22, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, has already been renewed for a second season, which will be titled Spartacus: Vengeance.

"We couldn't be happier with the first season. Spartacus delivers on all levels—action, characters, intrigue, romance and excitement," said Starz Entertainment EVP, Programming, Stephan Shelanski. "Spartacus is the most ambitious original project we've ever undertaken and speaks to the commitment to our subscribers to provide truly original programming along with our unmatched lineup of theatrical features."

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AintItCoolNews/~3/zyN-SLlTXe8/43492

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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AintItCoolNews/~3/KUPXIgYo-V8/43489

http://www.thinkgeek.com/caffeine/wacky-edibles/ce04/?cpg=wnrdf

http://www.metafilter.com/87870/An-Alternative-Version-of-Passion-Pits-Sleepyhead

http://mennonitegirlscancook.blogspot.com/2009/12/cheese-fondue.html

We have enjoyed cheese fondue with our Swiss friends on many occasions...and find it is a wonderful camping dish or a treat to enjoy with friends around the table on a winter evening. This is a recipe that came from a 'Taste of Home' collection at one time. Make a meal of it by dipping raw vegetable pieces and cooked chicken strips as well as the usual cubes of bread.

• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1 clove garlic, peeled
• 1 loaf of fresh French bread, cubed
  

Directions:

1. Rub inside of large saucepan with the clove of garlic.
2. Bring the apple juice to a boil over medium heat...then reduce to low heat.
3. Toss the cheeses with the cornstarch, pepper and nutmeg...stir into the juice.
4. Cook and stir constantly for 3-4 minutes...or until cheese is melted.
5. Transfer to a fondue pot to keep warm.
6. Serve with cubed bread for dipping.

http://feeds.ew.com/~r/ew/popwatch/~3/zMVNJy6Sezc/

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http://www.metafilter.com/87868/Frak-meeeeee

http://www.metafilter.com/87867/How-fortunate-are-the-dead-Dennis-Brutus-dead-at-85

http://www.metafilter.com/87866/When-the-days-activities-include-the-likelihood-of-getting-your-brains-shot-out-maybe-a-little-slap-and-tickle-while-not-desirable-is-not-the-end-of-the-world