Phineas Fahrquar's Comments

Big Hollywood : 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D' Review: Surprisingly Hilarious Family-Friendly Film

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:10:54 +0000

"This is supposed to be a kids’ movie, and her choice of outfit is a bit too much for young audiences." I suspect the teen males in the audience won't be offended at all. Especially in 3D. :)

49ersnews.com : Aldon Smith Arrested for DUI

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 00:49:58 +0000

Too much money, too little sense. D'oh!

Big Government : Instead of Eliminating Primary Elections, Process Can and Should Be Improved

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:42:35 +0000

"Bringing party professionals into the mix might spare us another Sarah Palin debacle." You mean, the same "debacle" that enabled McCain to get as close as he did and energized conservatives to come out and vote for him? Your dictionary must have a different definition of "debacle" than usual. The real debacle was McCain's campaign, itself.

Big Government : 112th Congress Passed Just 80 Bills, Lowest Number Since 1947

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:28:15 +0000

That isn't necessarily a bat thing; one can argue that Congress spends too much time passing too many bills, more often than not. In fact, this slowdown is just what the Republican House was elected to do. It's the quality of the bills that really worries me.

Big Journalism : Perry Confronts Politico Reporter Over Story: âYou Got A Name?â

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 19:29:55 +0000

A pleasure to watch, but I wish Rick had done this earlier in the race.

Big Hollywood : Ellen Barkin Blasts Bloomberg Over #Occupy Arrests, Claims NYPD 'Threatened' Her

Mon, 2 Jan 2012 17:29:03 +0000

*Sigh* I liked her much better as Penny Priddy in "The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai."

The Powers That Be : Kim Jong Il's Son Skippy Jong Il Issues First Threat Against South Korea

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:37:31 +0000

I believe France already has surrendered.

Big Peace : Eurocrisis: Invite Great Britain To Join NAFTA

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:49:29 +0000

Great idea (in fact, I know I heard this pitched back in the 90s), except for the common currency. Invite Australia to join, too.

Big Peace : Drone Crash in Iran Could Reveal Our Security Secrets

Fri, 9 Dec 2011 01:54:26 +0000

I'm sure the Chinese have been all over it already. But, this is war (and has been since 1979) and war is risky; assets are meant to be used, but sometimes fall into enemy hands.

Big Peace : BREAKING: Iran Claims It Shot Down U.S. Spy Plane

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:25:02 +0000

Nothing ever goes perfectly in war, and war is what this is. I'll bet the Chinese are eager to get their hands on the drone -- assuming the story is true; the Iranians have told big lies before. (These are the same people who warned of Zionist squirrels as spies: http://is.gd/t4OFi9 ) I'd like to think there was an auto-destruct device that could be set off on it right about now, as a nice surprise for the IRGC.

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:14:26 +0000

"Don't know why they had her play a lesbian cop. Trendy? " Why not? Some female cops are undoubtedly lesbian, and her loving relationship with her girlfriend made a good contrast to McNulty's womanizing. Sohn is a fine actress and did a great job with the part. While I'm glad she has work now , it's a shame it's on such a bad show as "Body of Proof."

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:05:00 +0000

To be fair to The Mentalist, I stopped watching after the season that had Red John launch his massacre in the CBI offices (season 3?), so they well have improved the characters since then. My complaint was about the roles, not the actresses.

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:01:55 +0000

Yep, Brenda's parents have visited several times over the series, and both are Southern through and through. I liked the show and the character of Brenda (and several of the supporting cast) quite a lot early on, but it developed a "sameness" that lessened my interest over time. I will give them a lot of credit, though, for making Brenda finally face consequences for all those times she's skirted the law.

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Sun, 4 Dec 2011 06:57:28 +0000

Mary Shannon is a great character, and McCormack does a fabulous job with the role. "In Plain Sight" doesn't get nearly the love it deserves.

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 15:55:29 +0000

You left out a good one: Jennifer Esposito, who plays Jackie Curatola on "Blue Bloods." She has a secondary role as Donnie Wahlberg's partner, but Curatola is a great character who deserves some stories on her own. On the ones you mentioned: Maria Bello: Annoying as heck, but not as much as the whole show overall. They take every stereotype of "annoying New Yorker" and turn the dial up to 10. It's on the road to cancellation and deservedly so. Rizzoli and Isles: Awful, boring show with cliche characters and uninspired stories. They hooked their audience by broadly hinting in the scripts at a romantic attraction between the two lead characters, then loudly (and unbelievably) denied that was their intention at the start of the second season, going so far as to turn Isles into a very het horndog in an attempt to scream "they're not gay!" All a cheap bit of marketing to make up for weak scripts. As for Rizzoli's lack of femininity, come on, that's the character's background: she grew up a tomboy in a loud Italian-American family, and is meant to contrast in an "Odd couple" manner with Isles. Unlike the rest of the show, that's very believable. The Closer: You object to Brenda Lee Johnson's Southern accent? Well, bless your heart. You do realize the character is from the Atlanta area, right? It was meant to emphasize her "doesn't fit in" with the local culture aspect. There's your clue. You're welcome. The Mentalist. Tunney and Righetti's characters have all the depth of wading pools. Anyone from central casting could do the same job. Castle: Almost total agreement on Stana Katic, she's done a great job with the role. One quibble: I think the Beckett character is as sexy as the Nikki Heat character in Castle's novels, but she doesn't know it because she's so focused herself on being a cop in the wake of her mother's murder. She does show it occasionally, as at the times she makes Castle's jaw drop when she shows up at an event in some fabulous outfit.

Big Government : Sunday Open Thread: NBA Edition

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:22:51 +0000

I stopped following the NBA years ago, when it turned into a near-thug league of prima donnas. Spoiled millionaires vs. greedy billionaires, wouldn't miss'em if the season never came back. The only people I'm happy for with this resolution are the little people: workers in related businesses whose livelihoods are dependent on the NBA season, such as concession workers and... escort services: http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/22... Think of the jobs the NBA and the union have created or saved. :)

Big Hollywood : 'Person of Interest' Review: Strong Cast Drives Unique Crime Drama

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:55:08 +0000

Spot-on review, but you left out another good character, Kevin Chapman's "Detective Fusco," the corrupt cop whom Reese blackmails into serving as his mole in the NYPD. Fusco is interesting because, while 98% crooked, he shows moments in which he genuinely seems to want to help, presenting the possibility of redemption. The show plays it right, though, as you never know the character's arc -- to save himself or betray Reese. The only weak link I can think of is Tarji Henson's "Detective Carter." While thankfully not another "supermodel pretending she could be a believable cop," the character is still almost wholly 2D and in real need of development. Overall, this is a great show and I hope it lasts for a good long run.

Big Peace : A Less Kind Canada? Senator Wants To Change National Emblem From 'Vegetarian Rodent' To 'Walking C

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 00:07:22 +0000

Just goes to show how useless the Canadian Senate is, if this is what it takes up its time with. Wake me when they dump the Maple Leaf and go back to a real flag: the Red Ensign.

Big Government : BREAKING: Leaked Progress Ohio Memo Says Ohio Issue 2 May Be Dead Heat

Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:40:39 +0000

Good news, and it adds a bit to the egg on Romney's face for his timid failure to endorse Kasich's reforms while visiting Ohio the other day. Win-win.

Big Journalism : Counterpoint: In Defense of Jennifer Rubin

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:48:30 +0000

Joel, Jennifer goes well beyond reasoned, trenchant criticism of positions and strategies to displaying an elitism toward any popular (and populist) pol "not to the Beltway born." Her attacks on Sarah Palin (often unjustified. For example, see http://is.gd/XTvTn0 ) regularly bordered on PDS. I liked Rubin at Commentary and PJM, but, since going to the Post, something's changed, and not for the better.

Phineas Fahrquar's Comments

Big Hollywood : 'Journey 2: The Mysterious Island 3D' Review: Surprisingly Hilarious Family-Friendly Film

49ersnews.com : Aldon Smith Arrested for DUI

Big Government : Instead of Eliminating Primary Elections, Process Can and Should Be Improved

Big Government : 112th Congress Passed Just 80 Bills, Lowest Number Since 1947

Big Journalism : Perry Confronts Politico Reporter Over Story: âYou Got A Name?â

Big Hollywood : Ellen Barkin Blasts Bloomberg Over #Occupy Arrests, Claims NYPD 'Threatened' Her

The Powers That Be : Kim Jong Il's Son Skippy Jong Il Issues First Threat Against South Korea

Big Peace : Eurocrisis: Invite Great Britain To Join NAFTA

Big Peace : Drone Crash in Iran Could Reveal Our Security Secrets

Big Peace : BREAKING: Iran Claims It Shot Down U.S. Spy Plane

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Big Hollywood : Grading Television's Female Police Officers

Big Government : Sunday Open Thread: NBA Edition

Big Hollywood : 'Person of Interest' Review: Strong Cast Drives Unique Crime Drama

Big Peace : A Less Kind Canada? Senator Wants To Change National Emblem From 'Vegetarian Rodent' To 'Walking C

Big Government : BREAKING: Leaked Progress Ohio Memo Says Ohio Issue 2 May Be Dead Heat

Big Journalism : Counterpoint: In Defense of Jennifer Rubin

Big Journalism : Perry Confronts Politico Reporter Over Story: âYou Got A Name?â