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The residents continue to celebrate Stan's pool win. Hilda can't bring herself to tell Stan that she filled out the coupon with the winning results and runs away from the party. Stan plans a trip to London with everyone to receive the cheque. Minnie hasn't any coal or money. Emily confesses her loneliness to her. Having heard the news, Irma goes to find her mum and hears that Stan hasn't won anything. David fetches Stan home in order that Hilda can break the news to Stan. She takes some Dutch courage and does so. He goes berserk and tries to kill her - she escapes. The next day, Clara and Ena blame each other for Minnie's money problems. Stan has a hangover while Jerry fixes the damage he did to the house in his rage. Hilda sports a black eye. Lionel shows David the workings of the Corner Shop. Annie gives Stan a bill for £6, 18/6 for the drinks. Ken calls on Jackie and they exchange a kiss.
Regular castEdit
- Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
- Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens
- Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
- Jerry Booth - Graham Haberfield
- Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
- Annie Walker - Doris Speed
- Jack Walker - Arthur Leslie
- Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
- Irma Barlow - Sandra Gough
- David Barlow - Alan Rothwell
- Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
- Miss Nugent - Eileen Derbyshire
- Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
- Kenneth Barlow - William Roache
- Valerie Barlow - Anne Reid
- Lionel Petty - Edward Evans
Guest castEdit
- Rovers Return Inn - Public/Snug
- 5 Coronation Street - Back room and hallway
- 9 Coronation Street - Back room/kitchen and hallway
- 13 Coronation Street - Back room and hallway
- Corner Shop
- Jackie Marsh's flat - Living room
- TV Times synopsis: Stan on the rampage and Kenneth on the tiles
- Viewing Figures: First UK broadcast - 8,250,000 homes (4th place).
- This episode was included in the Network DVD collection Coronation Street: The Best of 1960-1969, released on 31st July 2006.
|January 1966 episodes
|← Mon 3rd • Wed 5th • Mon 10th • Wed 12th
Mon 17th • Wed 19th • Mon 24th • Wed 26th • Mon 31st →


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Lions hit Scrabble for six to end 100 percent winning start
Lions inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Scrabble – denying them a 17th straight win – as they ran riot at Rowley Lane
MGBSFL Division Two:
Maccabi London Lions B 6 Scrabble 1
Sunday, 21 February, 2016
Looking to avenge their 2-1 defeat earlier in the year. Lions welcomed back Brahams, Nick Landesberg, Behar, and Cohen to face a Scrabble side yet to taste defeat this season.
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Lions started the brighter which was expected as the squad was given a Saturday night bedtime of 9.30pm by manager Sam Marchant. And their pressure paid off when the returning Cohen finished well after a great ball from captain for the day, Josh Bloom.
However, soon after, Scrabble drew level against the run of play. A long throw from the Scrabble right-back fell to the feet of Danny Sherman, who held off the Lions defence to turn and rifle it past Brahams.
After a short period of Scrabble pressure, the ball fell to Charlie Cohen in the Scrabble penalty area and he went to go past the Scrabble defender who then proceeded to bring down Cohen. The referee awarded the penalty which Landesberg duly converted to give them a deserved lead.
Lions continued to press with Eli Cohen impressing, covering every blade of grass in the first half, winning every single header. They then went 3-1 up after an audacious back-heel from Bloom that Jake Hyman ran onto, and clinically put it past the goalkeeper. Lions were truly on top at this point.
Shortly after, three became four after an excellent Sammy Kingston corner was flicked on and then headed in by Landesberg for his second of the game. It could've been five before half-time with a couple of clear-cut chances coming and going before the half-time whistle went. 4-1 Lions after the first 45 minutes.
The first goal in the second half was vital, and Lions were the ones to get it after another ridiculous piece of skill from Bloom who then put it on a plate for Cohen to convert for his second of the game.
Bloom was provider once again for his fourth assist of the game when his first time ball through to Hyman was brilliantly taken past the defender, and slotted into an empty net. 6-1 Lions and it was officially a rout.
It could've been double figures with a further six or seven clear-cut chances not being put away by Lions. But they weren't complaining after they ended Scrabble's winning streak quite convincingly.
Lions manager Samuel Marchant said: "A superb performance from everyone involved today, with the maltesers being shared around the changing room after the game.
By Brigit Grant
By Brigit Grant
By Jewish News
By Judy Elkus

subset: commoncrawl


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MMT Digital could be the place for you. We've always attracted the best – those with a burning desire to show just what digital can do for business. It's an exciting ride.
We recognise and appreciate that everyone's different. The one thing that brings us all together is our devotion to digital.
If you're looking for a new opportunity where you can nurture your own development and work with awesome people, you should take a look at our jobs below.
Then why not send us your CV and an email to email@example.com telling us what you think you can offer a growing technical consultancy? We'd love to hear from you.
No agencies please.
We sponsor two charities – The Mango Tree and the Seb Goold Trust and a few others as well. We do this in lots of different (and fun) ways:
Mainly though, we like to take on challenges to raise money for organisations that make a difference.
If you would like to discuss a project or learn how we can help you devise and deliver the optimal digital strategy, we would love to hear from you.


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Remember when there was a frozen yogurt chain in almost every town? Today, many of these once-popular establishments are out of business; like fashion, business is subject to the ebb and flow of consumer hype, and such fads tend not to last very long.
"Don't assume your fad is going to have revenue beyond a pretty short time," Mary Gale, a lecturer in entrepreneurship at Babson College in Massachusetts, told the Asbury Park Press. "Plan for the demise of that business, and don't fool yourself about when it's going to be."
Owning of a fad business could diminish your entrepreneurial spirit, but there are ways of bouncing back. Here are the business trends that entrepreneurs think will die off in the coming years, and how they can be adapted to fit the changing market.
Box subscriptions
Subscription services are all the rage right now, but Jeff Neal, creator of a mud-run series turned project manager and estimator, said box subscriptions — a business where a company sends subscribers a curated box of items every month — will taper off because they are more interesting than practical. Over time, he said, you will end up with way more of a certain product — like coffee, wine or cleaning products — than one person could possibly need or use.
If you run a box-subscription company, you might want to consider finding a "common denominator" with another type of business and adapting, said Neal. For example, you could branch out into retail sales: Subscription services like Julep (cosmetics) and Blue Apron (meal ingredients) allow subscribers to skip their monthly deliveries and instead purchase related products individually from the service's websites.
Daily deals
The trend of e-commerce "daily deal" websites hit complete market saturation in 2014, said Mike Catania, co-founder and CTO of savings community Promotion Code. However, with so many ties to small business communities, daily deals sites could easily morph into location-based apps that curate retail deals nearby, he said.
"Entrepreneurs in the field could also diversify by moving into the popular rebates arena, as they likely have significant amounts of purchase data from their existing daily deal customers," Catania added.
Tanning beds
The emerging information about the dangers of UV tanning has decreased the demand for traditional tanning beds. However, it is possible to stick with the tanning business and remain profitable, said Eric Anderson, CEO of Unlimited Tan. Switching the focus to spray tanning can increase business and even bring in a whole new clientele that would normally not visit a tanning salon.
"Adding a spray booth or custom spray tanning is a must to adapt to the changing needs of your customer base," Anderson said. He added that creative marketing and partnerships will keep customers engaged.
Laser and bleach teeth whitening
Although the teeth-whitening market has been alive and well since the days of the ancient Egyptians and Romans, today's health-conscious consumers are wary of modern methods like bleaching and laser treatments. Max Robinson, owner of Teeth Whitening Belfast, said he does far less traditional laser teeth whitening than he used to do, because most of his customers are now looking for natural treatments. As a result, he has had to diversify his business, he said.
"We use a lot of coconut oil, charcoal and baking soda, and provide different [whitening] treatments," Robinson said.
Nostalgic gaming apps
Pokémon Go was without a question the most popular new app this summer. But how many people do you know who still play the game regularly? AJ Saleem, academy director of Suprex Learning Houston, said he expects gaming apps capitalizing on nostalgia to die off in the coming year, if not sooner, because the games eventually lose their popularity (again).
"There are definitely ways to prolong its popularity, such as adding new additions and updating, but eventually the game will die out," said Saleem. "Those popular games aren't meant to last forever."


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To view insightful daily Omer reflections by Amichai Lau-Lavie with heartbreakingly beautiful drawings by Jacqueline Nicholls, click here.
Online Resources
Counting the Omer from Kabbalah 4 All
To view clear descriptions and complete blessings for counting the Omer, including Lam'Nazeiach and Ana B'Choach, click here.
Counting the Omer Resources from RITUALWELL
To view a wealth of resources from RITUALWELL on Counting the Omer, click here.
"REFLECT THE OMER" on Huff Post
To view daily postings of 49 Mystical Days Of Prayer, Reflection And Growth, click here.
Omer Counting with Rabbi Rachel Barenblat
To view Rabbi Rachel Barenblat's daily posts on her synagogue's website during the Omer Period, click here.
Also, to check out her exceptionally beautiful and inspirational writings on Counting the Omer at her Velveteen Rabbi blog, click here.
Counting the Omer at Peeling a Pomegranate
To view Ketzirah/Carly Lesser's incredibly beautiful and comprehensive website, click here.
Includes so many wonderful references and resources – plan to spend a good long while exploring this inspiring website!
Omer Counting Resources by Rabbi David Seidenberg
To view Rabbi David Seidenberg's many, varied and inspired original resources for the Omer period, including his Omer widget (which you can sign up to receive each day, reminding you to count the Omer), click here.


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What is surgery?
Surgery is the medical specialty that treats diseases and disorders by cutting and removing or changing the body with an operative procedure. A physician in this specialty is called a surgeon.
There are many reasons to have surgery. Some procedures can relieve or prevent pain and others find a problem, reduce the symptoms of a problem or improve a body function.
What is a surgeon?
A surgeon is a physician who has been educated and trained in the diagnosis of disease and in preoperative, operative and postoperative management of patient care.
©2011-2019 Baptist Medical Group. All rights reserved. Website reviewed May 5, 2019 | Terms of Use | Website design by Gorilla 76


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Mudras, Chakras, Mantras: Deceptive Meditative Techniques
A recent Facebook Post captioned: "Help Your Child Achieve Calmness!" showed a picture of a little girl sitting cross-legged, eyes closed, hands out, and with her fingers fixed in a mudra position. What finger position is that? To be precise, it is the "Gyan Mudra" or "Chin Mudra" finger position in which the index finger touches the thumb tip to form as perfect a circle as possible with the other fingers extending upward.
Why do people do this? Yoga aficionado Gertud Hirschi, in her book Mudras: Yoga in Your Hands, tells us why: "We can effectively engage and influence our body and our mind by bending, crossing, extending, or touching the fingers with other fingers." Hirschi goes on to pinpoint just what this finger position really means: "The thumb is symbolic of cosmic (divine) and the index finger is symbolic of individual (human) consciousness. The ultimate goal ... is oneness of humanity with cosmic consciousness."
Now, the purpose of this article is to inform teachers, parents, and grandparents that when either a child or adult uses mudra gestures, along with mantras, one is setting himself up to open up body areas designated as chakras. So, readers beware, each mudra gesture has far more wrapped up in in it than you might imagine; and it is not just an innocent finger technique to get one into a calmed state. To find out more--more on mudras, chakras, and mantras read on.
Mudra Information:
Mudra Definition: (muh-drah) A mudra is a symbolic or ritual gesture in Hinduism and Buddhism. It is a spiritual gesture and an energetic seal of authenticity employed in the iconography and spiritual practice of Indian religions. (Wikipedia) Right up front, these gestures are spiritual, but most definitely not Christian! For nowhere in Scripture do we read of various ways to fix our fingers; as a matter of fact Scripture does not even tell us to fold our hands! However, it does tell us that we can stretch out our hands toward heaven, and call to the Lord who will hear our prayer.
Another Mudra Definition: One of the symbolic hand gestures used in religious ceremonies and dances in India and in yoga. (Merriam-Webster)
Mudra Introduction:
The Eclectic Energies web page states, "Mudras have been in use in the East for thousands of years, particularly in Buddhism. Buddha statues often have the hands in certain hand positions. They have been used as a spiritual practice ... as a way on the path to enlightenment."
Buddha Mudras:
There are a number of sites where one can glimpse close up photos focusing in on the mudra gestures of the Buddha. One such site reads: "Mudras of the Great Buddha: Symbolic Gestures and Postures" while another says: "Hand Gestures of the Buddha (Mudras) and Buddha Iconography." Looking at these Buddha hands brings to mind the verses from Psalm 115:4-8 where it says: "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not; noses have they, but they smell not: they have hands, but they handle not; feet have they, but they walk not; neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like them; so is every one that trusteth in them." Truly sad, that the hands of precious children, along with undiscerning adults, are being taught to form Buddhist mudras.
http://www.exoticindiaart.com/mudras.htm and
Children's Mudras:
Speaking of children's hands, the book title: Yoga for Busy Little Hands: Mudras for Children
by Marsha Therese Danzig says it all. Under its title it suggests this book is "great for kids with ADD, ADHD, Autism, and in the Classroom." And its back cover reads, "Yoga Educator and Founder of 'Color Me Yoga for Children' Marsha Therese Danzig, Ed. M. Harvard, Registered Yoga Teacher 500 Hours, illustrates the wonderful world of mudras, or sacred hand gestures." (Reiki Master too.)*
It continues, "Mudras are ancient healing techniques relevant to children in modern times. The hand has a series of meridians or rivers of energy that link the body, mind, and spirit. Mudras teach child-ren self-empowerment, allowing them to access and send energy where it needs to go for physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Yoga for Busy Little Hands, first in Color Me Yoga's Educational Yoga Series for children, "satisfies the linguistic learner with foreign language skills, (Make that Sanskrit.)* ... the music learner with the rhythm of affirmation and mantra, ... the intrapersonal learner with meditative practices, and the spiritual learner with expanded conscious awareness."
*Note: I have highlighted some words, and added inserts.
This book description describes what mudras are all about showing these finger actions are not akin to nursery rhyme movements, or action rhyme movements used by teachers of young children. The book also paints mudras as something very educational--yes, educating one into deceptive meditative techniques!
A look at the book contents reveals even more of its spiritual agenda. Here are some of its "Mudra Categories" such as "Energy" as Live (Prana); "Nature" as Flow (Varuna); "Confidence" as Focus (Hakai); "Healing" as Surrender (Suchi); "Calm" as Quiet (Dhyana); and "Spirit" as Om (Shunya).
In addition, Danzig designed an hour webnar: "You've Got the Whole World in Your Hands: Mudras for Children." (No! He's Got the Whole World in His Hands!) to "illuminate the many ways specific, purposeful hand movements can increase positive energy ...." "Mudra means seal," explains Danzig, "so in practicing a mudra, it is like sealing the body, mind, and spirit together." Just simple hand movements? No, one hundred percent no! These are hand movements taking one straight into a New Age spirituality!
More Mudra Materials for Kids:
The Global Family Yoga publishes a downloadable eBook Mudras for Children with an introduction to mudras, how and why to practice mudras, and instructions for ten simple mudras suitable for children. Of mudras they write, "They are like mini yoga poses for your hands and are one of the many techniques used for self-regulation and to develop awareness. Mudras tune us into the subtle energies of the body." Of mudras and meditation they observe, "Meditation is one of the best ways to give the mind a rest and mudras are a wonderful way to facilitate the one-pointed concentration that leads to meditation." http://globalfamilyyoga.com/mudras_for_children/
An enticing book, Evyatar's Mudras or Magical Hand Gestures by Alex Man, and Elizabeth Futerman, pictures a very young child meeting the morning by doing mudras in his bed. This book includes nine basic mudras, and how to practice them on one hand or two.
Another tool is Lori Lite's mudra poster entitled "The Feelings in You Are the Feelings in Me" which shows mudra hand positions demonstrated by eleven children photographed listening to Indigo Dreams CD/Audio and book. These mudra gestures include: heart, vision, peace, color, imagine, universal, truth, love, create, intuition, happy, and breathe. Below the poster it says, "Yoga mudras have new meanings when children explore hand positions that empower them to be active participants in their own healthy, heart driven lives." Notice the kids' poster photos as they sit cross-legged listening to mesmerizing stories, and music all the while doing sacred mudras. Awaken! This is not what one would desire for any child, or student!
Don't Do Mudras!
Be warned when one allows a child to do mudras to calm down, they're being set up to go deeper into meditative techniques that will teach them to affirm their own goodness, and their own divinity.
They will also be taught that they can control their bodies, and that they can use these mudras to learn to open up their "chakras." All the hype about de-stressing, relaxing, calming, and breathing will have that child, at some point, ready to be a full blown meditator falling into very dangerous habits. Instead of being "from a child knowing the Holy Scriptures" they will be hooked on mudras and
mantras, and the pagan worldviews associated with them. And instead of trusting Jesus as Savior, and protector they will be looking within themselves as divine.
Chakra Information:
Chakra Definition: Chakras are centers of energy, says Eclectic Energies, are located on the midline of the body. There are seven of them, and they govern psychological properties. The chakras located on the lower side of the body are the instinctual side, while the highest ones are the mental side. http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/introduction.php
Chakra Description: The Sanskrit word chakra literally translates to wheel or disk. In yoga, meditation, and Ayurveda this term refers to wheels of energy throughout the body. There are seven main chakras which align the spine beginning from the base of the spine right up to the crown of the head. One can visualize a chakra as a swirling wheel of energy where matter and consciousness meet. This invisible energy, called prana is a vital life force, keeps one vibrant, healthy, and alive.
Chakra Chants:
In "Opening the Chakras" from Eclectic Energies it explains in detail how to use chakra chants that use mudras to open the chakras. The mudras, says the article, have the power to send more energy to particular chakras. Basically the mudra method involves fixing your hands in a designated arrangement, concentrating on a particular chakra, and chanting sounds to awaken it.
"How to Open Your Seven Chakras-As Explained in a Children's Show":
Aired on October 18, 2013 on Nick TV a chilling kids' show, "The Last Airbender," now a You Tube video, vividly described how a young boy was taught by his guru to open his chakras. The video,
labled Y7 FV, demonstrated step by step how this cartoon character opened up all his chakras--from the earth chakra right up to the crown chakra. Adults should watch this ten minute video to get an eye-opening glimpse into some of the mind-blowing teachings on this kids' cartoon. Watch here:
Check Out These Children's Chakra Materials:
Chakra Webnar:
Marsha Danzig has recently developed a new webnar "Little Spinning Wheels: Chakras for Children." In it she says one can fine tune children's sensitivities to the chakras--those related to specific glands and earth qualities as roots, water, fire, air, ether, sound, light, and space which will make them better beings on the planet!
While looking at this site click on the colorful butterfly to see it up close, to notice the wing colors beginning with the red (root chakra) color and the bottom all the way to the violet (crown chakra) at the top. Notice, too, its black body with the colored chakra energy balls from the bottom right up through the top. Clever! Deceptive! https://kidsyogaacademy.net/faculty/marsha-therese-danzig/
Chakra Book:
A 2015 book titled: The Rainbow Tower: Understanding Chakras, Auras, and Reiki Energy for Kids can be viewed on Amazon.com books. Click onto the book photo "to look inside" and what a tale you'll find there. Its author, Kytka Hilmar-Jezek, has spun a story even the youngest child can understand all about the Chakra Tower with its colorful chakra lotuses.
Hilmar-Jezek wrote a parental letter saying in part: "Have you always wondered how to explain chakras, auras, and reiki to your children in a way they would understand? Maybe you are a beginner looking for answers about auras, chakras, reiki, and healing energy or life force." We all, asserts Hilmar-Jezek, have this Universal Life Force with an energy field made up of aura which shows itself in seven colorful layers and the chakra system.
Note: While indoctrinating children, these books go after parents too. So, take heed!
Then in giant print Hilmar-Jezek emphasizes, "Even the youngest kids can learn the most about the seven chakras through the color story in the book." Later, the author again uses oversized print to add, "This book helps children easily begin to understand their body as energy cen-
ters." http://www.amazon.com/The-Rainbow-Tower-Understanding-Chakras-ebook/dp/B00YYUJJ40
Chakra Poster:
A Lori Lite Stress Free Kids' "Chakras Color Our World" Poster (March 2005) from Indigo Dreams renamed the chakras this way: earth (red); creativity (orange); feelings (yellow); love (green); voice (blue); knowing (indigo) and angel (purple). These seven, says the poster, will empower kids to be active participants in creating their own healthy, heart driven, peaceful lives. Marketed as a great tool for teaching chakras to children of any age this poster boasts that kids of any nationality may look different on the outside, but inside we all share the same inner colors. However, Isaiah 53:6 says that inside we're all sinners who have gone astray, turning everyone to his own way, and that because of this we need a Savior.
Kids' Chakra Affirmations:
Affirmation Book/CDs:
Lori Lite wrote Affirmation Weaver: A Believe in Yourself Story. In this innocent sounding tale about sea creatures, Lite uses the oft repeated reason one needs such a book for children who are stressed out, and need calming, that she, Lite, has the book for you--a book that will boost your child's belief in himself through the repeating of positive sounding affirmations. Now, an affirmation, according to Lite, is a compliment that you give to yourself. Here's a Lite quote, "I love myself the way I am. I can do anything I believe I can."
Discerning reader, stop here, recall that this view is so opposite of what the Word teaches. For it clearly says in Proverbs 20:11: "Even a child is known by his doing whether his work be pure, and whether it be right." Jeremiah 17:9 sums it up like this, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked and who can know it?"
As Christians we want our children to trust the Lord Jesus as personal Savior. However, no amount of positive affirming meditative mantras are going to prepare a child to know the Lord; rather they are going to prepare him to focus in on himself speaking to his chakras and saying things to his "root chakra" as "I am divine being of light, and I am peaceful, protected, and secure." But, only the Lord is divine! He is the Light of the World wanting to rescue us from the darkness of sin. Flee from these techniques, open up your Bible, and teach from it! Check out chakra affirmations and know where Ms. Lite is leading you in such "relaxation" books filled to the brim with mudras, mantras, and more.
Be aware too Lite produces CD story sets as "Indigo Dreams," and "Indigo Ocean Dreams" with kids' stories said to reduce stress, anger, and anxiety while increasing kids' centering on self. Both covers show a child seated in the lotus position, eyes closed, hands fixed in a mudra with the caption that these CDs will one de-stress and relax.
Think on II Corinthians 6:17: "Wherefore come out from among them (idolaters, unbelievers ...), and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, ...." We need to leave behind these New Age ideas that purport to help us, but instead lead us and our children far from the Lord.
Mantra Information:
Mantra Definitions:
A mantra is a motivating chant. A mantra is usually any repeated word or phrase, but it can also refer more specifically to a word repeated in meditation. Mantra comes from Sanskrit word meaning a "sacred message," or text, charm, spell, counsel. (Vocabulary.com)
A mantra is (Originally in Hinduism and Buddhism) a word or sound repeated to aid concentration.
A mantra is also a Vedic hymn. (Oxford Dictionaries)
A mantra is (Hinduism or Buddhism) any sacred word or syllable used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power. (Dictionary.com)
Mantra Materials for Kids:
Liz Bragdon of "Move with Me" (Yoga Adventures) has written an article entitled: "Affirmations and Mantras for Kids." In it Liz lays out what a mantra is, and what a mantra will do. Liz says, "When you think of a mantra ... you will probably think of the recitation of beautiful Sanskrit phrases with a spiritual purpose. In a nutshell, the idea behind mantras is that the specific words you repeat may become part of you and reveal, over time, truths about yourself and your connection to a deeper source, when recited regularly with faith and feeling." Liz asserts, "Mantras ... encourage us to tune into our authentic inner voice and tune out the negative, distracting, thoughtlessly repeated messages that divide us from that authentic, wise, and loving voice."
Liz then goes on to list six simple mantras for children that are fun. "However," she adds, "they are also for grown-ups. A simple message is sometimes a powerful message." Liz shares that some of her favorite kids' mantras taken from the performance of well-known chant artist--Snatam Kaur.
Three of her favorites include: "Sa Ta Na Ma" a mantra that uses finger movements with a lovely song from Snatam's video. Another: "Peace: Om Shanti, Shanti, Shantih" should be repeated three times: for oneself, for all living things, and for the whole world and the universe. She also finds lovely: "I am Happy, I am Good" with its "Sat Nam, Sat Nam, Sat Nam ji," and its "Waheguru, Waheguru, Waheguru, ji" from Snatam's video. Always these mantras teach children that in ourselves we are good, just the opposite of what our Bible says in Romans 3:23: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; "
When one views these little tots using mudras, and loudly chanting the "Wahe Guru" mantra one might smile, and think how cute! However, here's what "Wahe Guru" really means, according to Kunalini Yoga Boot Camp (KYBC): "Wahe (Wha-hay) means 'Wow' or 'Ecstasy'" ... while Guru (goo-roo) means that force which brings one from darkness into light." KYBC comments, "For example Wahe Guru is another way of expressing the joyous ecstasy that comes from knowing your true essence--call it God, call it soul, call it Self ... whatever." Sad indeed that Christians today are allowing little kids to learn yogic techniques, and who knows what teacher just might teach your young child to chant mantras declaring they are divine in themselves. How deceived, and naïve are the parents who think these so called "calming" mantras will help their children.
Another article by Shannon Sexton gives "Six Reasons to Chant with Your Kids." Sexton says, "There's a new generation of yoga-children out there who calm down and find peace through mantra musical meditations as "Kirtan" which is a form of call-and-response chanting from India. Sexton lists six reasons why your child should become a yoga kid beginning with it helps kids focus--therefore try "bedtime mantras" which are sure to soothe! Mantras help diffuse conflict too, says Sexton, so "Let's 'Om' Together!" Besides, Sexton maintains that Sanskrit mantras are great for teaching yogic values. Of course, these mantras will help kids quiet their minds, and help kids to know they are "spiritual beings." "Just imagine," muses Sexton, "if we were all walking around singing, 'I am divine love.'" Yes, becoming a "chanting junkie" will help one bond. And finally, suggests Sexton, sing mantras with others, or join a live Kirtan event which will help one connect with community. Discerning reader, I challenge you to research what is out there to entice parents, grandparents, and teachers to try out these wondrous mantra methods with their little ones. Beware!
Like an Angel of Light--Snatam Kaur--Sacred Chant Artist and Kids' Kundalini Yoga Teacher
If ever there was someone who appears quite angelic Snatam Kaur would have to be it. To watch her beautiful face, and to listen to her melodious voice as she teaches those she calls her "Little Yogis," or "Tomorrow's Teachers" one would think she is a goddess herself. But, do not be deceived, these chants are sacred mantras to captivate and to lead precious children deep into a New Spirituality. To open your eyes watch this seductive video here: http://www.spiritvoyage.com/yoga/Shanti-the-Yogi---Mountain-Adventure-DVD/Snatam-Kaur/DVD-002410.aspx
One of Kaur's DVDs is "Shanti the Yogi"--Mountain Adventure DVD" which is filled with beguiling illustrations as well as alluring musical mantra lyrics. Composed of eight tracks the words to the lyrics can be found on "Welcome to Shanti the Yogi Dot Com" by clicking on "Lyric Sheets" PDF. Oh, and there is a Coloring Book PDF as well. http://www.shatitheyogi.com/shanti_frame.html
Just a brief look at the lyrics will quickly let you know that each track song has teachings exactly opposite to Scripture. Track 1, for example, "Feeling Good Today" teaches the idea that we're feeling good today for God who is in my inside is in you too. Verse three reads: "God and me, me and God, are one, Sat Nam." "Sat Nam," the common Kundalini mantra greeting, means "I see your true nature, " or "I recognize the divinity within you." Similar to "Namaste" it acknowledges we are the same, we are one. A site named the "Kundalini Way" explains, "Sat Nam is a mantra commonly used in Kundalini Yoga and is repeated three times at the end of a yoga session. ... It has been called the process of naming one's self 'Truth.'" But in John 14:6 Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." For we are not truth, nor are we divine; but we are sinners in need of a Savior! https://kundaliniway.wordpress.com/sat-nam/
Then there is Track 6, "I Am the Light of My Soul," that teaches the child he again is divine by having him sing, "I am the light, light, light, light of my soul. I am beautiful, I am bountiful, I am bliss. Beautiful I am, I am, Bountiful I am, I am. I am bliss." No, we are not any of this! Once again our Bibles tell us Jesus is the Light, and he is the great I Am. For as Jesus said in John 8:12: "I am the light of the World: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Track 7, "Sa Ta Na Ma," is one of most common mantras of Kundalini Yoga, which young children learn with ease belting it out while doing mudras. Bragdon, in her affirmation piece named above, mentions Kaur's video of this mantra by saying, "This mantra incorporates finger movements, or mudras. For kids they are just fun things to do with your fingers. Both hands are doing the finger plays (hardly finger plays!!), simultaneously. Bragdon then details the motions touching pointer finger to thumb for "Sa," and so on. Below this explanation Bragdon includes this disturbing mantra video from Kaur. Hear here: http://move-with-me.com/uncategorized/affirmations-and-mantras-for-kids/ The bottom line is: stay far away from this seductive female Sikh, New Age Indian devotional musician, Kundalini Yoga teacher for kids, and meditation and Kirtan guru--Snatam Kaur, and anyone else endorsing these practices!
"Stand Up for Truth" has an in depth article "Warning: Kundalini Yoga's 'Highest Mantra Meditation'"--the Sa Ta Na Ma-- describing its mudras and mantras in detail. It says, "You will notice the very same greeting in Kundalini Yoga 'Sat Nam' contains the Sa Ta Na Ma components. Sat Nam is the seed mantra ... while Sa Ta Na Ma is understood as Existence, Life, Death, and Rebirth. Kirtan Kriya makes this most important mantra the centerpiece of the meditation."
"Kirtan Kryia," the article explains, "exploits the power of mantras, hand positions (mudras), mind power, naad yoga (yoga of sound) to work its magic ...." For more of this informative warning read here: http://standupforthetruth.com/2011/12/warning-kundalini-yogas-highest-mantra-meditation/
In Conclusion: We Can Choose!
We can choose to follow the gods of the people around us as did the Children of Israel, or we can choose to follow the Lord. For as Deuteronomy 5:14 noted, "Ye shall not go after other gods, the gods of the people which are around you." Or as Joshua 23:7-8 reads, "... neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves to them: But cleave unto the Lord your God ...."
We can choose to form sacred mudras, or we can stretch out our hands to the Lord. For as Psalm 44:20-21 records: "If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god: Shall not our God search this out? ...." Or as Psalm 63:3-4 so beautifully describes, "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live, I will lift up my hands in thy name."
We can choose to mumble Sanskrit mantras--to multiply sounds and words; or we can choose to exalt the Lord of Lords, and King of Kings! For as Matthew 6:7 reminds us, "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." Or as Psalm 8:1 says we can shout out, "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth."
Yes, we have a choice to follow the way that seems right to a man, or the one way of truth--we can allow our children, or even ourselves to follow after pagan techniques touted to calm us, and ground us; or we can choose, as the Psalmist penned in Psalm 19:14, to declare: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in they sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer." We can choose, it is our choice; but as Joshua of old may our choice be to say: "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!" (Joshua 24:14)
Learn to Discern Granny Verse: Matthew 21:16
"Hosannas, Not Mantras!"
"And they said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus said unto them, Yea, have you not read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise."
More Information:
For Many Shall Come in My Name by Ray Yungen (Lighthouse Trails)
Out of India by Caryl Matrisciana (Lighthouse Trails)


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Aliota's Starters
Pub Nachos $9.00
Homemade tortilla chips, generously topped with nacho cheese sauce, black olives & scallions.
Served with Sour cream & Pico de gallo
with Ground Beef $10.00
with Grilled Chicken $11.00
Mozzarella Marinara $7.00
4 Hand-rolled wonton wrapped mozzarella sticks. Fried to golden brown perfection, served with a side of marinara
Cheesy Cheese Curds $6.00
Wisconsin cheddar cheese curds
Jumbo Chicken Wings $10.00
Snack like a
Wing Sauces: Smokehouse BBQ, Hot, or Cajun Dry Rub.
Dip: Ranch or Bleu Cheese
Zucchini Fries $6.00
Served with marinara
Cheese Fries $5.00
Aliota's Hand Cut French Fries, perfectly seasoned & smothered in nacho cheese
add Chili (In Season) $6.00
Quesadilla $8.00
2 flour tortillas
add Grilled Chicken or Philly Steak $11.00
Aliota's Arancini $8.00
Seasoned ground beef, mozzarella & basil pesto stuffed inside
Made fresh daily & Perfezione!
The Pub's New Freshly baked bite-size soft pretzel bites, lightly salted.
Served with choice of nacho cheese or honey mustard
Rueben Rolls $8.00
4 Handmade rolls with corned beef, sauerkraut, swiss cheese, rolled in a wonton wrap & deep fried.
Served with
Loaded Fries $6.00
Nashville Hot Dry Rub Wings $10.00
8 pieces


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228 East 13th St, 1 - East Village, New York
Quintessential east village one bedroom with high ceilings, hardwood floors and tons of character. Enter into the entry gallery and take in the charming living room. Your generous kitchen has solid wood cabinetry, butcher block counter top and stainless steel appliances where your culinary heart will sing. The pin-drop quiet bedroom has a built-in captain's bed and an amazing custom closet that extends from floor to ceiling, providing plentiful storage. 228 East 13th is a boutique prewar building conveniently located between Second and Third Avenues. Co-purchasing and pied a terre are permitted. Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Union Square and its many transportation options, some of the most amazing restaurants, cocktail bars, shops and nightlife are minutes from your front door.
This listing courtesy of Douglas Elliman
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December 2012 Archives
Book Two, Chapter Three, Verse 12: "Thus I giveth thee instructions how to maketh the most of thine time that wasteth during the interminable escape fromest thine Goblin cave. Focus not on the chase, neither shalt thou focus on the swordplay, nay, I say unto thee, focus on the Scream. And most specifically doth I say unto thee, focus on the one Scream, knowneth throughout the film world as the Wilhelm Scream. This is The Scream thou shalt waiteth for, and this be The Scream thou shalt notice, and be thus rewarded for thine noticing. By focusing on The Scream shalt time pass more quickly for thee, and thine squirming in thine seat for this notoriously long sequence in The Hobbit film shalt be minimized to thine satisfaction. Here now are the instructions for observing said Scream. Whilst thou sitteth squirming waiting for the protagonists to escape from the cave of numerous Goblins, The Scream occureth soon after the shot of the dwarves who droppeth a Ladder onto the heads of many Goblins who are then pushed back by the dwarves whilst said Goblins remaineth stuck in said Ladder. Thou must wait for the Ladder sequence, for The Scream ye seeketh occureth not before. If said Dropping of the Ladder sequence hath not yet been reached, then The Scream ye seeketh shalt hath not yet been issued. If the dwarves hath escaped out of the cave then thou hast missed The Scream right out, and thouest art a very silly person and as penance thou shalt attendeth another screening forthwith. Only after the Dropping of the Ladder shall ye hear The Scream. Once thou hast witnessed the Dropping of the Ladder, beest thou most ready, for The Scream occurs soon thereafter. Not before, not there, but thereafter. Noteth thou, how the Dwarves pusheth the Goblins back with the ladder and then the Goblins drop off into the abyss. They may scream but hark! None of their screams is The Scream. But now thou hast best sit up most vertically and payest thou most serious attention as The Scream ye seeketh be but mere seconds away. Watchest thou for additional, but mere momentary, running away by the dwarves and additional but also mere momentary combat with persnickety Goblins. Beest thou most keen for one particular Goblin to be dispatched by a particular dwarf and throwneth off the right side of one of the perilous walkways. Not on the left side of the walkway, mindeth thee, but on the right, doth this forsaken Goblin plummeteth. Said Goblin plummeteth into the abyss and whilst said Goblin doth plummet doth he belteth out the Wilhelm Scream. Much music and audio mayhem occureth at the same time as The Scream so beest thou most careful and attentive and if thou doth listen thou shalt hear, for it is there. Hearest thou The Scream and with luck others in thine auditorium shalt have also heard the noise, and when such a situation presenteth, there shalt be much rejoicing. Thus having heard said Scream thou hast achieved True Wilhelmitude and can carry on with the rest of the film."
Clarification right up front: As a movie, it was fine. No major problems. A little long, but whatever. My issues and the title of this blog post all have to do with the high-frame-rate screening of the film, which is, in my opinion, execrable.
I just came from seeing a 48fps 3D screening of THE HOBBIT in the widescreen auditorium number 7 at the La Jolla Arclight. All I can say is high frame rate digital s-u-c-k-s.
If I could have walked out of the movie, I would have, but dammit, I am too polite, and I was squeezed in in the dead-center of a very wide row of seats, and would have had to pull a Bugs Bunny "excuse me, pardon me, excuse me, pardon me" maneuver, climbing over tons of people and probably stepping on someone's foot.
Within sixty (60!) seconds of the opening of the film, I knew, I just *knew*, that I had made A Mistake of Unusual Size. So I had to sit there and endure 170 minutes.
Suddenly, all those 1970s too-brightly-lit, soundstage-shot British TV sci- fi programmes came crashing back. THE HOBBIT looked absolutely wretched in 48fps. I mean, really really bad.
In RIGHT STUFF terms, we just went right up to the edge of the envelope and got a peek at what's on the other side. And guess what: it sucks.
It's one thing to lose 24fps celluloid. And after seeing some movies in 4K digital, I was okay with losing the celluloid. But THIS . . . THIS is a whole 'nother story. It's like an insult to the history of film. And the future now looks not only very bright, but harshly bright and terribly artificial.
THE HOBBIT in 48fps is like a video game. And the 3D? Another insult, a gimmick by the fucking studio to wrench another few bucks out of the suckers in the theatre.
Wow. Just wow.
Never again.
Jim Cameron, Peter Jackson: you guys were wrong. This is NOT a good thing. Except in that it makes you realize, *real* fast, how precious and how magical 24fps is. If all movies go this way, well, time to give up movies.
Live from Montreux, 2005
Great audio quality. Turn it all the way up, up to cops-banging-on-the-door level. Only way to listen.
Very cool composite shot of every airplane on landing approach in San Diego on this past November 23:
Landings at San Diego Int Airport Nov 23, 2012 from Cy Kuckenbaker on Vimeo.
Copyright © 2002-2010 Birdrock Ventures. brianstorms is a trademark of Birdrock Ventures.


text: Piloting Murky WatersBy Josh HadleyPiloting Murky Waters By Josh Hadley. "The way they make shows is: they make one show. That show's called a pilot. Then they show that show to the people who make shows, and on the strength of that one show they decide if they're going to make more shows..."The way they make shows is: they make one show. That show's called a pilot. Then they show that show to the people who make shows, and on the strength of that one show they decide if they're going to make more shows. Some pilots get picked and become television programs. Some don't; become nothing."—Pulp FictionMost people don't realize that for all the TV shows they see, there are a great number of shows they never get to see. For every TV show that makes it to the air, there are five pilots that the network passes on. These are filmed and shown to Network Monkeys (Executives), who proceed to kill any future episodes and, in most cases, shelve the pilot. They have various reasons for doing this, everything from "it's not right for our network at this time," to "I just didn't get it," to "GET THE HELL OUT OF MY OFFICE!!!" These reasons are rarely good reasons. Of the unaired pilots I have viewed (and I've seen a lot), over half of them are as good or better than the shows that actually make it on the air. Hell, there are some pilots that are just brilliant and would make amazing series, but whatever network forked over the dough was perhaps too scared to put it on the air. To be fair, they do let you see some of these from time to time. You would not believe how many "TV Movies" are really failed two-hour pilots. Failed pilots are also often run as "specials." What follows is a discussion of both unaired and unsold pilots. Cable channels such as Trio or the Sci-Fi Network will occasionally air pilots as a treat to viewers. Even then, there are usually still differences from the copies on the bootleg market to the ones that air, such as music changes and scenes cut out to make more room for commercials. In at least two cases, there were multiple episodes filmed of a series rather than just the pilot, before the simians in suits decided to stop production. "Manchester Prep" (three episodes) and the "NYPD Blue" spin-off, "Public Morals" (thirteen episodes), are two such series. Also, there are times when a pilot gets picked up to become a series, but only after some network tinkering; everything from changing casting to rewriting the premise of the show. I will try to give a good breadth of information about the pilots I discuss as best as I have the information (as most of these were never meant to be seen, there is very little info out there about them). I will also be giving my opinion of these pilots, which is purely subjective."Adventures in Babysitting"This was a pilot that aired on CBS in 1989 that was meant to turn the hit movie into an ongoing series. The pilot was awful, and while I am not sure that is why CBS chose not to pick it up as a series, it might be a good indication as to why the ratings for it were in the toilet. The cast were all nobodies, unless you count a very young Joey Lawrence. They even seemed to renew the THOR license with Marvel Comics as THOR imagery is seen throughout the pilot, and is a part of the plot. We as viewers are no worse off for this never making it to a series."The Agency"Okay, we all remember this post-9/11 CBS series about the CIA, produced by Shaun Cassidy and Wolfgang Petersen. It was a pretty good series, actually, had some good stories, and even a crossover with fellow CBS series "The District." The show was originally set to debut on Sept 11th, 2001, but, as the morning of 9/11 rolled around, this pilot was dead in the water. Even after the networks returned to regular programming, "The Agency" was being gutted. The pilot episode was actually about Osama Bin Laden, who was mentioned by name, planning to blow up a government building in London. There is also a shootout with the CIA and terrorists inside the World Trade Center. Needless to say, in the post-9/11 days, this could not air. So, rather than film a new pilot or simply make edits, they just took the second episode of the series and edited into the new pilot the scenes from the original where the characters are introduced. The editing was clunky and the show would go on to last two seasons. Later, they did show the original pilot but, with edits made, the WTC was no longer the location of the shootout. Instead, they renamed the building. OBL was changed to a generic name, and the terrorists plotted against a fictional building. Ah, but there is more: even before CBS picked up the show as a series, there was a change made. In the original pilot, the Lisa Fabrizzi character was not played by Gloria Reuben but instead by Andrea Roth, who would go on to "Rescue Me," so all of the Fabrizzi scenes had to be edited and re-shot as well. All in all, the series was a good one, but the unaired pilot was great."Alaska"Brad Johnson stars as a small-town Alaskan sheriff on the border of the U.S. and Canada. A vile murder has been committed just over the Canadian border—by a U.S. citizen. Johnson and the DA, Michael Ironsides, attempt to find out what happened without crossing jurisdictions. Not a bad pilot, but I am not sure how far "small-town sheriff and DA in the middle of nowhere" would have gone as a series."Alligator Point"This sitcom pilot, starring Nathan Fillion (of "Firefly") and Paula Marshall, had Fillion as a former NASCAR driver who married his high school sweetheart years ago, and now works for her father at his seafood restaurant in the titular Alligator Point. They are now divorced, her father is dead, and she owns the restaurant. Since her father loved Fillion, she keeps him on as an employee. Paula Marshall is a big-town doctor who just moved to Alligator Point. Fillion and Marshall go on a date, which upsets his ex-wife. Let the hilarity ensue. This comedy was not picked up, probably because it's not funny at all."All in the Family"First there was this British series called "Till Death Do Us Part," about a family that fought non-stop and dealt with issues of the day. American TV Producer Norman Lear bought the rights to this series, wrote his own characters, moved it to America, and changed the title to "And...Justice for All." At this early stage, the family's last name was Justice, not Bunker. The first pilot was filmed in black & white and minus Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers. It was shown to ABC; they passed. The second pilot was filmed with the characters still called Justice, but the title changed to "Those Were the Days." Still no Rob Reiner or Sally Struthers; and Mike was not Polish in this version. He was Irish, so instead of "Dumb Polack," Archie called Dickie (his name in this version) a "Stupid Mick." "Those Were the Days" was shown to CBS and they liked it, but they still had problems with it. A third pilot was made, this time called "All in the Family," with Rob Reiner and Sally Struthers as Mike and Gloria, and that's the version that made air in 1971. The "Those Were the Days" pilot aired on TV Land in the mid-'90s as a special one-time thing from the Museum of Radio and Television, but the "And...Justice for All" pilot has never aired. Norman Lear fears it does not exist any longer, because it cannot be found."Bates Motel"In this 1987 attempt to make a series out of a fairly famous fictional location, Bud Cort and Lori Petty star in this "spin-off" of the PSYCHO film franchise. However, the connection is tenuous at best. Bud Cort was in the nuthouse with Norman Bates at some point. After Norman died, he left the Bates Motel to Cort. Okay, sounds alright at this point—but wait, here is where things go wrong. Cort wants to run the motel as a serious business and gets lots of odd guests. Turns out only one, Lori Petty, is real. The rest are ghosts. Cort and Petty solve problems for these "guests." This show missed the boat on the current slew of "dead talking to the living" shows like "Ghost Whisperer," "Medium," and "Raines." The 90-minute pilot drags, and there was a need for more of a connection to PSYCHO than this show was willing to give."Becoming Glenn"This one is really odd. Starring Johnny Galecki, Samantha Mathis, Gerald McRaney, and Sally Struthers, "Becoming Glen" was produced by Ricky Blitt. This pilot was made in 2003 and was passed on by FOX, but in a truly bizarre turn of events, it has since been made into a new show called "The Winner." The cast is completely replaced and all traces of humor seem to have been removed, thanks to Seth "Family Guy" MacFarlane. The plot has protagonist Glenn Abbott looking back at the summer of 1994, the year he became a man and the year he turned 32. Glenn is an OCD case, do-nothing layabout who has not left his house in six years, because his spastic colon once caused a homophobic homeless person to lose both his legs. His dream girl moves back in after having lived in Los Angeles for years. To win her affections, he tries to get a job and honestly befriends her neurotic son Josh. "Becoming Glenn" is funny as hell, with the jokes coming out of left field. For safety's sake, most of those jokes have been surgically removed for "The Winner.""Birds Of Prey"The unaired pilot of "Birds of Prey" was really good, while the version aired was a joke; and not a killing joke. The dark tone and several story points were in keeping with Alan Moore's Batman comic story, "The Killing Joke." That Helena Kyle (Ashley Scott) was the daughter of Selena Kyle (Cat Woman) and Bruce Wayne (Bat Man) was implied in the unaired pilot. In the aired version it was expressly stated. Other major changes included numerous re-shot scenes that included bad, snarky dialog with a "hipster" feel to them. The biggest casualty of the unaired pilot has to be poor Sherilyn Fenn. Not only was Fenn replaced by Debra Messing in "Hungry for Survival"—the pilot version of "Prey"—but she was dropped from "Birds of Prey" as Dr. Harleen Quinzel, better known as "Harley Quinn." Mia Serra took over the reins as the psychotic Arkham Asylum psychiatrist. The unaired version felt akin to the Batman of Tim Burton while the aired version recalled the Joel Schumacher atrocities."Black Bart"This misfire was Mel Brooks trying to make his hit film, Blazing Saddles, into a TV series. In 1975, there was no way that any of the humor used in Blazing Saddles could be used on television, so the jokes here are watered down to the point that they pack absolutely no punch at all. Louis Gossett, Jr. takes over for Cleavon Little as Bart, the black sheriff of a small town in the old west. He is still not taken seriously, yet is still called on to continuously save the day. This was aired as part of Trio's "Brilliant but Canceled" week, and I experienced physical pain when seeing how bad this was."The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H."Talk about a complete reboot: this shortlived series from CBS a few years ago was about three brothers in the small town of Poland, New Hampshire. One was the town sheriff, one was the mayor, and one was a slacker. Produced by David E. Kelley, the show started to confuse viewers right from the first episode. The pilot episode was never shown on TV because, as David E. Kelley put it, "The pilot was not representative of the series as a whole." So, while a few scenes were edited into the second episode, which aired as the pilot, there were things that the characters referenced in the past tense that the audience never saw. This might sound odd, because you would wonder why they would film the pilot in such a manner that it did not represent the series, but having seen the pilot, I can attest that it did not. The unaired pilot was very violent, unlike the series. It had a dark tone, but the series had a much lighter tone, while remaining serious, and it started two plot lines that the series would ignore outright. You can kind of understand why it was not aired. A lot of people did not like this series, but I was one of the people that did. Seeing the pilot that CBS and David E. Kelley didn't want you to see only serves to enhance the series."Chameleon"Bobbie Phillips is a genetically altered super agent in the future who can blend in with her surroundings (and inexplicably make her clothes do the same). It had a fairly large budget for a TV pilot, but really came off as a weak idea. ABC must have really liked Bobbie Phillips or this premise a lot. They filmed three separate pilots for this, none of which they picked up. All three have since been released to video as Chameleon, Chameleon II: Death Match, and Chameleon III: Dark Angel. This could really throw some people off. While the videos sound like they are a series, the three have no connection to one another besides the premise. The first pilot had a small role for a very pre-"Farscape" Anthony Simcoe."Callahan"In 1982, Jamie Lee Curtis was just coming off Halloween II and was trying to not get typecast. I guess she thought a pilot that combined Raiders of the Lost Ark with goofy comedy would be the answer. Hart Bochner was Callahan, a blatant Indiana Jones knock-off, and Curtis was his new secretary. They have odd adventures searching for treasure and whatnot. Not really bad, just bland. Never picked up, but aired as a special in '82. Apparently, it was in vogue to rip off Raiders of the Lost Ark, as "Tales of the Gold Monkey" came out the same year."CountDown"This series takes place in real time, even accounting for commercials. The premise allowed viewers to see the last hour of a SWAT rescue every week. The pilot concerns a bank robbery gone wrong. The bank manager has a bomb strapped to his chest, SWAT arrives, and we are introduced to the main characters. There are no credits, but the only actor I know offhand was Chi McBride. In the next 40-some minutes, the robbers are killed and the cops win. Nothing distinctive about this pilot at all, and its failure to go to series is not a surprise."Dark Eyes"Kelly McGillis stars in this 1995 pilot, and Steve Harris has a supporting role. McGillis is a detective who gets caught up with a corrupt partner, and blah, blah, blah— you have heard this plot tons of times before on dozens of other shows. Nothing new here, cop show with a female lead, nothing new—very Lifetime-y. IMDB lists this as a series, but I can find no information on other episodes being made (the pilot was never even aired in the U.S.; I saw mine from a Canadian broadcast)."Day One"This was the most expensive pilot in the history of the WB (as of 2001, when it was made) and the fact that they spent so much and still didn't air it was a crime. I recognized quite a few actors in this, but the only one I know the name of is Brad Johnson (from "Soldier Of Fortune, Inc." and, as this list attests, quite a few more unaired pilots). Written by Michael Piller ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "The Dead Zone"), "Day One" is based on a British mini-series called "The Last Train." Our main characters, as well as some that don't survive the pilot, are each shown boarding a train near Pittsburgh and we get a bit of story with each character. One guy in particular is really nervous. He's shown placing a call to his wife and talking about cryptic things like not getting to his destination in time and if he will ever see them again (at the time, we have no idea what he is talking about). After a few minutes on the train, things start to shake and the nervous guy releases a canister of something that seals the train compartment and literally freezes everyone inside. As things thaw out (in a matter of seconds), the nineteen or so people emerge to find the tunnel emptying into what looks like the "Land Of The Lost" (minus the dinosaurs). Turns out that Mr. Nervous was a NASA scientist who knew of an asteroid that was going to hit the earth, and he was trying to get to the safe bunker that the government had set up (freezing everyone was the contingency). These people have been frozen for seventy years, and, since they were sealed in that compartment, they survived the Armageddon that came. The asteroid impacted in Russia and sent the toxic hydrocarbons in the massive oil deposits and petrol into the atmosphere that killed most life on earth (except plants, which have overrun everything), and even these people have to fear the air. Nothing mechanical works as the petrol has since seeped into everything from engines to the gunpowder of bullets. A few people explore the city and try to deal with what has happened, while a few others refuse to accept the truth and "go for help" (these people get killed by a pack of wild dogs). In the end, they find a car that still works (it was sealed in long-term storage) and, as they drive off, the silhouettes of human-shaped figures are watching them in the distance. One of the figures turns to reveal mutated eyes… The End. I loved this pilot. Characters reactions were realistic, the story was engaging and the plot had lots of possibilities. In the post-"LOST" era, this might have been picked up."Don't Ask"Do you remember the short-lived FOX series with John Goodman called "Normal, Ohio?" It's the same premise but with a different cast (only cast members on both versions are Goodman and the actor that played his kid). This version had Ellen Muth of "Dead Like Me" and Anthony LaPaglia from "Without a Trace" as the friend and friend's daughter. While this version isn't funny, it's not as bad as the version that aired."The Elvira Show"Can Elvira go mainstream? This 1993 pilot had the lovely Cassandra Peterson and her assets on display. Co-starring Katherine Helmond, "The Elvira Show" was written, produced, and starred the bodacious horror hostess. Peterson and Helmond are real witches that run a "medium" business that is mostly fraud (they have powers but don't use them much) when the local DA stings them. Everything turns out okay and nothing funny happens. Also, Elvira's virginal niece moves in and is also a witch but hates it. I really like Elvira but this was horrendous. The jokes are all forced that they lack humor while the acting is as stiff as a pedophile in a grammar school."Fargo"Edie Falco takes over for Frances McDormand as our preggers cop in this 2003 pilot that was meant to follow the movie. Lots of oddball people about town, an investigation into a murder, and other small-town nonsense make this a fairly fun hour. I have never seen Fargo (I know, flog me) so I am not sure how this holds up to the movie in tone or style, but I liked the pilot."Fearless"Based on the book series by Francine Pascal, this pilot was as dumb as they get. It's about a girl born without the gene that causes fear. I always thought fear was a chemical reaction in the brain based on the stimuli supplied to it rather than a genetic predisposition, but what the hell do I know? Somehow this lack of fear makes her superhuman. She can survive drops from the tops of fivestory buildings and can move in "bullet time" to dodge projectiles. It also makes her nearly emotionless, which isn't the best trait in a main character. Starring Rachel Leigh Cook as heroine Gaia Moore, the show moves Gaia out of high school and into the FBI. Her partner, Jordan Gray, is played by Ian Somerhalder. Their performances, along with that of professional show-killer Eric Balfour, are terrible. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, the WB canned this show shortly before it was to air in 2004, despite the commercials and ads that ran in Entertainment Weekly. The lack of "Fearless" is not a loss to the world."Global Frequency"Based on the Warren Ellis comic book of the same name, "Global Frequency" stars Michelle Forbes ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") as Miranda Zero, the head of a secret organization of global operatives who are activated as needed. This network of experts is the Global Frequency. Directed by Nelson McCormick, the pilot was very well made and stuck fairly close to the comic. The casting of Forbes was ideal. Fast-paced but not at the expense of characterization, the rampant bootlegging of the unaired WB pilot was such that the network almost relented and greenlighted the series."Ghost Cop"Alexis Denisof is a phony psychic. Unfortunately for him, after he's killed his ghost remains behind, trying to convince a detective that he's really a ghost and that she should solve his murder. Made in 1998, this pilot has a Fox feel to it. Its tired "I don't believe in ghosts but there's one talking to me now" shtick falls flat. Opening scenes are played as darkly serious. Then the story moves into slapstick territory. It's obvious that the producers were not sure if they wanted a drama or a comedy. As a dramedy, it fails."Gramercy Park"Filmed twice with two different casts for ABC, this show never got off the ground. The premise (of both) follows the lives of the residents and service personnel of a luxury high-rise off of Gramercy Park. The first version was called "111 Gramercy Park," and the second was simply "Gramercy Park." Between the two, there was a large pool of interesting actors, including Paul Blackthorne, Gina Torres, Frank Langella, Tippi Hedren, Mimi Kuzyk, Kate Hodge, Joanna Going, John Kapelo, and the late Jonathan Brandis. It kind of makes you wonder when the network tries so hard to get a show off the ground and nothing happens with it."The Grubbs"This 2002 abortion was a blatant attempt to make a new "Married with Children." It was about a family of low-class people that reveled in being low class (and trust me, the jokes were worse than low class). It was not funny in the slightest. Despite a decent cast with the likes of Randy Quaid, Carol Kane, and Michael Cera, and songs in the pilot by Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, the show was crap. And, Randy Quaid's character said on the promos for the show, "Son, when life gives you crap, make Crapenade." Sadly, that must have been one of the jokes that the creators found funny."Halley's Comet"A David E. Kelley show about young doctors trying to make it in their first year of residency. Does this 2005 pilot sound a lot like "Grey's Anatomy?" Made at about the same time for the WB, this is just as bad as "Grey's," but an even less-appealing cast."Hate"This 2005 pilot was led by Marcia Gay Harden as an obsessive-compulsive police captain that heads the Manhattan Hate Crimes unit. Think "Monk" with less strained jokes. The pilot was obviously made for either HBO or Showtime, as there are a number of "f-bombs" peppering the dialog and a graphic male-on-male rape scene. The audience is made privy to characters' inner-thoughts via voice over á la Wings of Desire or Dune. Other than this interesting aspect, this should be considered simply a more focused and graphic "NYPD Blue" clone. I liked this pilot and I would have watched this as a series."Hawaii 5-0"Gary Busey and Russell Wong starred in this 1997 attempt to revive the original series that put "5-Oh" in the popular lexicon. Rather than a remake, this was a continuation of the original with original actors playing their characters as old farts (Danny "Dano" Williams (James MacArthur) is a retiring captain in this). Wong is taking charge of the new department and Busey is (what else?) a grizzled, burnt-out cop on the edge who is brought in to find who put a hit on Dano. Wong and Busey have to work together to solve the mystery. Nothing really new or original, but it was not as bad as it could have been and would have made a decent new version of an old classic. Producer Stephen J. Cannell also seemed to spare no expense in producing this; if it was not filmed in Hawaii, it fooled me."Hollyweird"I have no evidence of this, but I have a sneaking feeling that this was a very early attempt at what would become "Freakylinks"—perhaps somewhere before "Freakylinks" was called "Fearsum." Same basic idea, same character dynamics, and same network (this was for FOX as well). Although the tone was completely different and this had nothing supernatural about it, this was documenting serial killers instead of the supernatural while using lots and lots of handheld camcorder footage shot by the characters. Starred Melissa George ,and created by Shaun Cassidy and Wes Craven."Ice"This incredibly funny show was one of the rare comedies lacking a laugh track. Set at an isolated research station in the Arctic, Ryan Reynolds, Michael Jeter, and Leland Orser star. Good jokes run alongside odd subplots, including a female penguin with a crush on Reynolds and Orser being so obsessed with "Star Trek" that he wears a Star Fleet uniform and records all of his logs with "star dates." This show had potential to be really cool (no pun intended)."L.A. Confidential"A prequel to the film of the same name, this 2003 show stars Kiefer Sutherland as Detective Jack Vincennes, David Conrad as Detective Ed Exley, and Melissa George as Lynn Bracken. According to an interview with Sutherland, "L.A. Confidential" was to be an HBO series. The version I saw runs a little over forty minutes, with nothing objectionable for network TV. When it was aired on Trio it bore a frustrating "To Be Continued" at the end, finishing on a cliffhanger moment."Life on Parole"Pilot made in 2003 starring David Herman, Jon Polito, and Ana Ortiz as parole officers and the odd people that they have to deal with day in and day out. Filmed as a single camera comedy with no laugh track, it was actually kind of funny (a few jokes worked)."Lookwell"One of the most famous unaired pilots out there, "Lookwell" has been called "the best show that never was" in some circles. Created by Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel, Adam West is Ty Lookwell, a '70s TV cop who thinks he is a real crime fighter. Not only was this actually funny (a rarity for O'Brien), but West is so self-deprecating that I was impressed at how far he was willing to go to make fun of himself."Lost in OZ"Not to be confused with the Tim Burton-produced Lost in Oz of 2000, this 2002 unaired pilot was very interesting. Alex Wilder (Melissa George) is a Kansas girl swept up in a tornado with her horse (she was hiding in a barn when she got nabbed). The pair land in Oz, where she encounters some fragments of the yellow brick road and the burnt-out remains of the Munchkin village. Seems some bad shit happened in Oz since the events of The Wizard of Oz. After Dorothy murdered the Wicked Witch (that is how it was perceived by the Oziens), all hell broke loose. The essence of the Wicked Witch found a new host. Apparently, there is a need to keep balance in the universe. If either a Wicked Witch or Good Witch dies, their essence will find a new host. Loriellidere (Mia Sara) is the new Wicked Witch, and Bellaridere (Lynn Whitfield) is the new Good Witch. Alex meets up with an Air Force pilot, Caleb Jansen (Colin Egglesfield). Though she's traveled from 2002, he arrived in Oz in 1939 and has only been there for a few months. Time moves oddly in Oz. In a strange bit of self-reflexivity, the pilot has seen The Wizard of Oz, though he refuses to believe that he's living in an actual incarnation of the movie's setting. The two team up and are given a guide by the Good Witch. This guide hates the new Wicked Witch with a massive passion, as her essence took over her friend. The group is attacked and taken to the new Wicked Witch's castle. Let me back up a bit—the new Good Witch gave Melissa George a sphere that contains a magic tornado that can get her and the pilot home, or it can be used to rescue the princess of Oz, but not both. Alex uses it in the manner that keeps them in Oz and therefore the promise of more adventures. Oh—and we find out that if Alex kills the new Wicked Witch, the essence will take her over next and she will be the next Wicked Witch. Honestly, the above sounds like a lot of back story and exposition, but this was a damn good pilot (and I am not a fan of the Oz movies) and was really dark and grim for the fairly light-hearted tone that the movies had."Lost In Space"Poor Brad Johnson; you may notice his name on quite a few entries here, and this is yet another one. This was a 2004 updating of "Lost in Space" (no relation to the 1998 movie) directed by John Woo. This time, Earth just finished a massive and devastating war with a very hostile alien race about 200 years in the future. Brad Johnson is Capt. John Robinson (not a scientist anymore), the hero who won this war for us, although details are never given as to how he did this. He and his family (In another large change from the old series and the movie, there is another kid here, an 18-year-old son, as well as the 10-year-old Will, 13-year-old Penny, and 20-year- old Judy.) on the way to settle a new world, their ship is attacked by the aforementioned alien race and the 18-year-old son is captured while the rest of the family is trapped in an escape pod with a pilot (Don West). They drift off, truly lost in space. All in all, this was not bad, but the WB seemed to pull the plug before this was even completed (there are numerous scenes with just blue screens, and two scenes in which the wires holding actors up are clearly visible). If this was made, I would definitely have watched it."Man Made"Joss Ackland heads a secret government organization with a mandate to police criminal abuses of science (that is, keep anything manmade in check). For the pilot, it turns out that a former agent (who the organization thought was dead) has figured out a way to completely cloak himself from electronic devices (cameras, radios, motion detectors, etc.) and commit robberies all over the U.S. Not a bad show, but it feels derivative of "Alias" and the non-alien/non-supernatural "X-Files" episodes."Manchester Prep"In the late '90s, Fox meant to turn Cruel Intentions into a TV series. After Fox execs saw the shows (three episodes were filmed), they knew that they were too sexually explicit to air on TV. It was shelved and in 2000, the episodes were edited together with newly shot footage to make the direct-to-video movie Cruel Intentions 2 (see Cashiers du Cinemart #13 for a review)."Mercy Point"Like the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" pilot, this was a "test pilot" rather than a real pilot. It ran about 30 minutes and used stock footage from Starship Troopers and Armageddon in it. Basically, it was just made to show what the real series would be like. For those who don't remember "Mercy Point," it was a UPN series about a space station hospital that treated alien races. Think "St. Elsewhere" meets "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine." The unaired pilot featured the same basic story as the aired pilot, but moved briskly."Nick Knight"Filmed in the '80s, this pilot starred soap actor/singer/teen heartthrob Rick Springfield as Nick Knight. Sharing the basic story as the two-part pilot of "Forever Knight," "Nick Knight" has some major differences, including a sex change (the doctor played by Catherine Disher in the series is a male here); different actors (other than Springfield, John Kapelos is the only other hold-over from the pilot); budget (the pilot had much larger budget than the series—a situation lamented on the "Forever Knight" DVD sets); location (the pilot takes place in Los Angeles, not Canada); and survival rate (not everyone who lived in "Forever Knight" made it through the pilot intact)."NYPD 2069"Alex Franco, a cop from "today" is comatose after a hit-and-run suffered while investigating Harlan Kroger, a rich man who's murdered his wife (you can guess who arranged the auto accident). The cop's wife agrees to a radical new procedure to freeze the brain of her husband. In 2069, he is awakened and finds that a lot has changed (turns out many others have been revived, but he is the only one that recovered completely). Not only has he been cured of his brain damage, but policing has changed radically in the intervening years. Does this sound like Demolition Man to you? After acclimating to this new world, he is offered a chance to be a cop again, although under a false name as they want to keep him being a 20th-century cop under wraps. The justice system is a completely new monster now; trials are held on scene and executions are carried out by the officers (and all officers wear glasses that transmit all video and audio to the precinct). All U.S. citizens' D.N.A. is on file, so all crimes can be solved nearly right away. Sounds like a Republican's wet dream of the justice system. Anyway, our main cop friend is dealing with all of these new procedures, as well as keeping a false identity and dealing with the fact that his wife died while he was in stasis and his son is now an old man with Alzheimer's. This was actually a pretty cool pilot made for Fox by Steven Bochco in '04 that was not picked up."The Pool at Maddy Breaker's"Watching this 2003 pilot actually gave me dain bramage, I think; it was that bad. Not a single joke in this laugh-free sitcom worked. Three dumb-as-a-stump "pretty" girls were the total peak of coolness in high school; everyone wanted to hang out at the pool at Maddy Breaker's house. Flash forward six-or-so years and all three girls are still dumb as dead cats, but are depressed that they reached their peak in life as seniors in high school. Nicholas Brendon from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is just as bad of an actor here as he is in "Buffy." This also featured Jodi Lyn O'Keefe as Maddy. Seriously, this is in the top three worst pilots I have ever seen, only slightly edging out "The Grubbs.""Popeye Doyle"Ed O'Neill takes over for Gene Hackman as Popeye Doyle in this attempt to bring The French Connection to the small screen. NBC aired this in 1986 as a TV movie. It wasn't bad. Not amazing, but not bad either."Power Pack"Based on the Marvel comic about kids of various ages with super powers, this light-hearted pilot was obviously made for a 12-year-old audience. It's hell on earth for an adult to sit through."Practical Magic/Sudbury"Produced by Sandra Bullock, this is based on the movie Practical Magic. Kim Delaney and Jeri Ryan take over for Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. The story picks up shortly after the film, with Jeri Ryan being beaten by her no-good boyfriend. She uses some rare herbs to put him to sleep so she can get away. However, she uses too much and he dies as a result. She runs to her sister Kim Delaney's house to hide out. Meanwhile, Delaney is trying to leave magic behind and raise her daughters after the death of her husband. Ryan's boyfriend comes back as a ghost and, as you can imagine, he's kind of pissed off. The sisters have to team up and use the magic to dispel the spirit. Overall, not bad, but I am not sure how long it might have lasted as a series."Public Morals"More than simply a pilot, this was a pretty much an unaired series. Twelve of the thirteen episodes filmed never aired, and the one that did, wasn't the first, but fifth, episode! "Morals" was a quasi-spin-off from "NYPD Blue" with the complication that "Blue" was airing on different networks and, thus, could not reference each other. The two series shared a character with John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup). After he left "NYPD Blue" to work "upstairs," he went to this show and the Public Morals division of the NYPD. Think of this as the opposite of "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant." "Public Morals" wasn't a gritty cop drama; rather, it was a sitcom with laugh track and goofy set-ups. There were some funny jokes, but most fell flat. Ultimately, after one episode, the show was canceled. Officially, it was due to low ratings but there were numerous complaints about the sexually graphic dialog (admittedly pretty damn raunchy for network TV). I have seen all thirteen episodes, and some cable channel should give this show a run just so people can see it."Sick In the Head"Trio aired this a few years ago as a "Brilliant but Canceled" special. Apparently, Trio and I have different ideas of what "brilliant" means, as I found this pilot about a fresh-out-of-college psychiatrist who gets too close to his patients to be tedious and not the least bit funny. A very young David Krumholz is our main character ,and he delivers his lines like he is rehearsing rather than filming. No one missed anything with this crap not being picked up."Skip Chasers"Glen Morgan, Darin Morgan, and Jim Wong: damned if they didn't have the worst time trying to get pilots picked up. They had something like five unaired pilots from four networks in six years. This one was for CBS in 1998. It starred George Eads (CSI), Arsenio Hall, Cloris Leachman, Doug Hutchison, and future Morgan Kirstin Cloke (she and Glen Morgan got married a few years later). There was also a really funny cameo by David Duchovny. With that name, you can guess that this was about skip chasers—bounty hunters who catch bail jumpers. Hall is a mailman who screws up a capture by Eads, Cloke, and Hutchison and now has to help them fix it. They all work for Leachman at her agency. At the end, Hall joins up with the agency. Overall, it was a good pilot. It was funny; witty (sci-fi movie references and a really funny riff on the old cliché of tracking someone down in a strip club); had good performances (even from Hall); and might have worked. Morgan & Wong were told by CBS that, while it was not picked up in 1998, they would pick it up for mid-season. That never happened."Tales of Frankenstein"This '50s black-and-white pilot for a new series was created by the thennew Hammer Studios, who would go on to revitalize the horror genre in the '70s. As you can guess, it's about Dr. Frankenstein stealing corpses and trying to make a monster, and the people who try to stop him. The pilot is about what you would expect: nice B&W film, an interesting concept, but ultimately, no surprise that it was not picked up as a series."Time Tunnel"A 2003 update by Fox to the old '60s series. Andrea Roth stars. Seems, while creating a (you guessed it) time tunnel, the U.S. government created a "time wave" that is moving backwards in time and messing things up, therefore altering the future. The only people who are unaffected by the time changes are the scientists who were working on the tunnel when the accident happened. Now, they have to fix whatever changes the wave makes, without changing anything else. This was actually fairly good, making me interested in seeing more. This is included as an extra on the final DVD release of the old "Time Tunnel" show."Trash"This 2003 pilot by the people who bought us the amazing "Action" in 1999, starred Mike Erwin, Richard Burgi, and Lisa Blount (with a cameo by Charles Napier) and was not only funny (with jokes that you never saw coming), but also had the potential of have quite a few differing stories told. Mike Erwin lives in a trailer park with some of the oddest residents in the world. He makes digital videos of these folks all the while trying to keep his mom from losing the trailer (they just got the car repossessed because his dad hadn't made the car payments for six months). "I guess the cost of whores and coke went up." He has a best friend in Gypsy, a punk girl who is clearly in love with him, but whom he is completely clueless. He also has a new job as the lawn boy for the Blu family, a rich, snotty family "on the hill." Turns out his mom used to be in love with Bud Blu and there is no shortage of bad, bad blood between these families. Bud tries to keep Mike Erwin from his daughter Luna and let's just say the Blu lawn would make helicopter pilots giggle by the time Erwin is done getting revenge. This was a hilarious pilot that had good production values and great direction that really deserved to be picked up. I have no idea what network this was for, but it feels like it was made for Fox."Venus on the Hard Drive"Oh, Jennifer Aspen, why must you always be in shitty sitcoms? While I love Jennifer Aspen as an actress, this was an awful pilot. A pair of computer nerds gets a program, Venus, from the net. This advanced defense program is visually a hot chick rendered in really bad late- '90s CGI. This is WEIRD SCIENCE meets WAR GAMES meets S1M0NE meets "Max Headroom" meets a dumb sitcom."Veronica's Video"Just how far can Corbin Bernsen fall? From being a huge name on "LA Law" to doing direct-to-video movies and horrid sitcom pilots, I actually feel for the guy. Here our falling star runs Veronica's Video, a shitty video store in a shitty neighborhood. He got the store from his ex-wife and is forced to employ his college dropout son whom he does not get along with at all. For a sitcom set in a video store, you would think that there might be some jokes here. You'd be wrong."Witches of Eastwick"Five years after the feature film came this attempt to turn the movie into a series. Ally Walker of "Profiler" fame stars with Julia Campbell and Catherine Mary Stewart. The plot concerns our witches conjuring up the "perfect" man. Turns out he's just too darned perfect and they have to "recall" him. This takes some dark arts know-how. The light-hearted story didn't fit with the darker tone of the film."The Wonder Cabinet"Another Morgan and Wong failed pilot, and another one that would have been a great series. This had an impressive cast: James Morrison, Poppy Montgomery, Currie Graham, Kim Coates,and Glenn Morshower. You may not know them by name but you'd recognize them on sight. For a plot, we go back to the day when people collected odd items of human interest and kept them in what was called a "Wonder Cabinet." These days Kim Coates is the liaison for a shadow group that is collecting evidence of medical and scientific changes in the human species. He gets a group of outcasts from their respective fields (we have a famous heart surgeon who crashed and flushed his career down the toilet; a medical student who shares views that put her at odds with the Establishment of sciences; and a neurosurgeon who lost his license to practice due to gambling issues) to find these items all over the globe. That's the premise. Very "Chicago Hope" meets the "The X-Files." While I thought it was good, ABC didn't agree. As you can see, a good chunk of the time, what you finally see when your favorite show hits the air differs greatly from the original intent of the producers. Back to Issue 15


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McDonald's is recalling 29 million fitness trackers in the US included in its Happy Meals after reports of customers experiencing skin irritations.
The recall comes after the fast-food chain pulled the children's toy from restaurants last week.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that there have been more than 70 reports of incidents while children have been wearing the wristbands.
McDonalds is advising anyone who received the wristbands to stop wearing the device and return them to its restaurants in exchange for a yogurt tube or a bag of apple slices.
"We have taken this swift and voluntary step after receiving limited reports of potential skin irritations that may be associated from wearing the band," McDonald's told Business Insider in a statement. "Nothing is more important to us than the safety of our customers and we are fully investigating this issue."
The fast-food giant swapped out the traditional Happy Meal toy for a Step-it fitness tracker for a limited time in the US and Canada, USA Today reported.
The fitness trackers were part of a larger goal at McDonald's to project a healthier image. The chain has been making changes such as swapping margarine for butter, forgoing iceberg lettuce for more colorful vegetables, and testing menu items such a kale salad.
"A lot of people have assumptions about what McDonald's food is," Jessica Foust, McDonald's corporate chef, told Business Insider in July. "The industry in general is challenged because there's a stigma in general about what [quick-service restaurant] food is, and that is very, very unfortunate. Personally, I don't think that helps people eat well."
The Happy Meal has long been a point of contention at McDonald's. Critics of the chain have pointed to the meal, complete with a toy, as evidence of a plot by McDonald's to make fattening meals more appealing to children in particular, playing a role in increasing childhood obesity rates.
Many parents are now wary of feeding their kids food from McDonald's, Goldman Sachs analysts wrote in a report last year, noting that Starbucks was gaining an advantage.
"Starbucks is virtually the only large incumbent that can offer millennial parents the convenience of a (fast food chain) and food they would not feel guilty/embarrassed to feed to their kids," Goldman Sachs' analysts wrote last year.
In 2004, McDonald's added apples as an option for kids' meals. After realizing in 2011 that the choice between apples and french fries was causing conflict between kids and parents, the chain adjusted the meal to include apples and — fewer — fries.
Adding fitness trackers to Happy Meals for a limited time isn't a long-term change, like adding apples to the menu. Still, it suggests that McDonald's believes that it needs to do better when it comes to health.


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Home > Clothing & Footwear > Men's > Footwear > Sandals > Flip Flops > Rainbow Men's Single Layer Hemp Natural Sandals
Rainbow Sandals
Rainbow Men's Single Layer Hemp Natural Sandals
Item # M301AHTSNAT
product description The Rainbow Men's Single Layer Hemp Natural Sandals are sure to be your new summer favorite. The hemp softens as it ages, creating a soft textile feel against your skin for comfort. Sponge rubber "memory" on each foot allows your foot to impress its silhouette into already arched structure. Each Single layered flip has premium rubber and foam adhered by specifically formulated glue that avoids delamination and decay.
product specs
- Hemp natural top sole and double stitched thong straps
- Single layer arch support
- Box X Toe construction with resin bonded nylon thread to keep straps secure longer
- Triple glued to avoid delamination and to give the sandals a longer life
- Non-slip outsole
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