Fringe "A Short Story About Love"

The metal capsule makes its return!

I've been lukewarm on season four. It isn't because the season as a whole has been poorly written. Or the cases and main story line have been bad. With the return of David Robert Jones (one of the shows greatest villains), the humanization of Walternate (I still think "Alter-Walter" is more fun to say), and some double crossing that has still yet to see full fruition (Alt-Broyles being a baddy), this season has had its good moments. The relationships Olivia has with Nina and Walter are both aspects I'd say are enjoyable.

I'll admit that I've been underwhelmed with the Blue Universe Lincoln. He's kind of whiny, a little Olivia obsessed (though who isn't), and just doesn't stack up to Red Universe Lincoln (who's a badass). But the biggest problem I've had with season four has to do with what was revealed by September to Peter in the second to last scene. Took the show fifteen episodes to tell the audience something (something important, I might add) that any of us with a brain knew since "Back to Where You've Never Been". Peter is in his universe. Has been the whole time. Now can we move on to more pressing issues?

Dragging out a story line isn't something new to television. Fringe didn't do anything special here. But that doesn't make it any less annoying. The blame, in my opinion, should be placed on the 22 episode seasons that networks put their shows through. Thirteen episodes always struck me as a better length for Fringe. It suits the serialization that the fans love without taking away the characterization, creating a tighter story that doesn't have to be filled with "Monster/Bad Guy of the Week". But, fifteen episodes into season four is a little late for that. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Anyway, onward to this week's episode.

"'Lovey Bad Guy' hated cleaning that mess"

I named this week's "M/BGotW" "Lovey Bad Guy" because I can't recall his actual name at the moment. The story wasn't really that particularly interesting because it only served as a "lesson" for Olivia, making her not want to give up on her love for Peter. I didn't really get why he was attacking the couples. His explanation sounded like your basic crazy talk from a crazy man. Though he did kill his victims in an original way. Dehydration cannot be a fun way to go!

"Love" had bountiful scenes of good conversation between the characters. Olivia and Nina had a good scene to start the show in the diner for their weekly breakfast that Olivia can't remember. But their last scene was great. Even though Olivia has decided to allow her original memories to have full control, she isn't willing to give up on her relationship with Nina. I'm hoping they can start rebuilding the relationship before Nina's original memories begin to take over as well. A close relationship for Olivia (especially Mother/Daughter) can only be good for the show and its characters.

The other great scene happened between Peter and Walter when Walter extracted the disk from Peter's eye (creepy). It was rather touching that Walter showed such respect to Peter for what he deemed to be the ethically correct decision. It also gave the show a chance to revisit the Greek phrase (not even going to try the Greek) "Be a better man than your father". I think if Peter is better than Walter is now, he's a pretty damn good man.

And for the shippers, we got one of the most Shippertastic TM endings ever. The looks towards each other at a distance. The walk turning into a run. Peter lifting and spinning Olivia around. The kiss. The only thing it was missing was a sunset and the beach. Even my cold heart melted some.

This week's glyphs spell out: QUILL.

Let me know what you think about tonight's episode and the big reveal!

You can follow me on twitter at: @Jake_Collin

M.D. Pearce, Druggist

So The Winslow Museum in Winslow, Arkansas (run by my mother) has decided to put on a couple of short plays (and I do mean short) in the spring about one of Winslow's most prominent citizens in its history: Maud Dunlap (Pearce) Duncan. The plays will be centered around Maud's becoming the third woman in Arkansas history to pass the Pharmacy exam in 1906, and with Maud becoming one of the first female mayors in the United States and the head of the second all-female municipal government in the country, aptly named "The Petticoat Government", whom ran Winslow from 1925 through 1927. Since I'm a burgeoning writer trying to get as much on my rather thin (nonexistent, really) resume, and I'm also not above trying to play off my mother's nepotism, I've been commissioned to write said plays.

Chipper, You Will Be Forever Missed

Chipper Jones announced today that the 2012 season will be his last. When that last day comes, it will be a sad day for the Atlanta Braves, their fans, and baseball in general.

I'm not going to write trying to make a case for Chipper being a first ballot of Hall of Famer (he is) or where he ranks among 3rd basemen in the history of the game (top 3). This is about my favorite player on my favorite team.

The Braves were my first true love. It's something I share with my older brother Eli. I had just turned 8 when they won the World Series in '95. I can still see that David Justice home run to right center in the 6th inning of Game 6 like it happened yesterday. Elation doesn't begin to describe how I was. The Braves never did win another World Series, despite getting to two more ('96, '99. Damn Yankees!)

Chipper was second in the Rookie of the Year ballot for '95, behind Hideo Nomo. It was also the beginning of one of the greatest careers in Braves, and baseball, history.

Chipper won the MVP in 1999. This was during the home run surge of the late '90s, where everyone thought the balls were juiced. (Turns out it wasn't the balls.) He didn't lead the league in home runs. He didn't lead in batting average or RBIs either. He just played the best all around baseball of anyone in the league, leading Atlanta to the World Series. Sadly, they got swept by the Yankees. Damn Yankees!!!

I remember when the Braves signed Vinny Castillo, and Bobby put him at 3rd base. Chipper just took it in stride, moving to left field. After Vinny left, Chipper took back 3rd like nothing ever happened.

One of the greatest memories I have of the Chipper Era was the heated rivalry with the Mets. Every time he came to the plate in Shea Stadium, the Mets fan would chant "Larry! Larry! Larry!" He would usually follow that up by murdering the baseball. He owned the Mets, and their fans hated him for it. But I guarantee you after Chipper's final game in New York against the Mets on September 9th, those Mets fans that hate him will show how they also respect him.

He was the anchor in the Braves lineup for the majority of the years during that 15 season stretch atop the division. Since that streak ended, the Braves and Chipper have both fallen on harder times. They've missed the playoffs 5 of the last 6 seasons. Chipper has had continuous injury problems during that stretch. How Chipper goes, so go the Braves.

As sad as it is too see, I'm glad Chipper announced before the season. Now he'll get to go out on his own terms. Questions won't get asked. Teammates won't get bothered. He'll get his victory lap season just like Bobby did two years ago. And next year, Chipper will come out and be honored at Turner Field. He'll probably throw the first pitch. The number "10" that he's worn since he came to Atlanta will be retired, forever being tied to him. And if things get a little crazy this year, maybe he'll be getting his second World Series ring.

You can follow me on twitter at: @Jake_Collin

Why My Son Won't be Playing Football Anytime Soon

"Momma said 'Knock you out!'"

One year. That's how long Saints coach Sean Payton has been suspended for lying about his knowledge of the bounty program under DC Gregg Williams (now with the Rams). Other punishments were handed down to the Saints, like a $500k fine and the loss of two second round picks (2012 and 2013). Payton will also lose over $7 million in salary. That's a lot of cheddar.

Ok, so enough with the news sounding part. You want that, just follow the link to ESPN where they pay people to be unbiased. Or at least, that's what they say.

Look, Goodell is not my favorite person. I think he's boorish and conniving. It's pretty obvious he doesn't really care about the players (18 games? Really?). The fact that this suspension is political because the NFL is currently facing 20 some odd lawsuits from former players regarding concussions and the lack of forethought by the league on that issue is quite evident. People are right to point out the hypocrisy of Goodell's decision.

But that doesn't mean the suspension is wrong. Or unjustified. Or even excessive. Honestly, I wish it would've gone further and included any players that were involved. If Gregg Williams had been expelled from the league, I would support it. This isn't about the hypocrisy of the league or Goodell. It's not.

COACHES ARE PAYING PLAYERS TO PURPOSELY HURT EACH OTHER!!! HOW THE HELL CAN WE ACT LIKE THAT ISN'T A HUGE FUCKING DEAL!!!

Football is a violent sport. It is. No getting around that. And I think the truth is most people in America get that. But this goes far above and beyond regular injuries. At least in my not so humble opinion. In the real world, paying someone to purposely hurt an individual is a crime. Purposely hurting an individual is a crime. It's called "assault and battery". It's a violation of property rights. It's wrong. Immoral. I hope you get where I'm headed here.

I never play organized football (no matter how much the coaches and I pestered my mother), so I don't really know if players go out there to hurt each other whether there is a bounty or not. But the fact that so many players came out and said they weren't surprised by this development is disconcerting as a fan. It seriously makes me not want to watch. And because so many players and coaches (and fans) seem to have such a nonchalant view to this, it will trickle down. Anything that happens in the NFL always trickles down to college and high school. Sometimes this is good (teams using concussion reducing helmets). In this case, it would be horrendous.

I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that players seem to have no problem with the bounty system, or that fans aren't just egregiously appalled by that fact. I'm appalled. I don't know if I'm going to watch the NFL at all next year. I probably will. Sports (strategy, really) is a bit of an obsession for me. Goodell really cracking down on this kind of shit would go a long way to restoring my somewhat limited faith on the NFL actually wanting to protect its players, even if coaches and they apparently don't care themselves.

But I can tell you a couple of things: 1) My mother may not have as been as uncool as I thought she was when she wouldn't let me play football in school, and that's because 2) I'm not letting my son play football.

You can follow me on Twitter at: @Jake_Collin.

Why I'm Starting This Blog

At one point, I had four blogs. I know. Excessive. It stems from my incessant need for compartmentalization. My first blog, One Man's Liberty, was political. I discussed every and any thing involved with politics, from the Federal Reserve and monetary policy to immigration to drug policies to foreign policy. Some people even read it! (Not many though)

My second blog, Jake's Studio, was about my writing. I posted original stories and reviews of any TV shows that I felt like reviewing along with any TV, movie, or book news I found interesting. Some people read it too. Mainly Russian and Chines bots.

As for the other two, Just 4 U (MIL's and SIL's invitation/fancy stuff business) and Academy of Free Thought (my education blog), I haven't actually posted any content to them yet, and I won't unless my MIL and SIL decide they want to start the website.

What I want to do with The Rantin' Arkansan is condense these blogs into one, plus add other areas. Basically, anything that interests me. I'll discuss politics. I'll discuss philosophy. I'll discuss education. I'll discuss writing. I'll discuss TV, movies and books. I'll discuss sports. I'll discuss family, life, and emotions. I'll post stuff bragging about my son (because he's awesome!), and I'll post stuff bragging about my wife (because she's awesome too!). I promise you that I won't always write like this. I am quite capable of varying sentence structure and syntax. I think.

WARNING: I will piss people off! Sometimes I curse. Sometimes I curse a lot. I'm a market anarchist. I will explain that later. I can be arrogant, indignant, and a complete jackass sometimes (or so my wife says). I hold many unpopular opinions, and I'm not afraid to put them out there. I will not kowtow to politically correct language. But, I also won't try to say things that are mean or overly insensitive. I do ask, when (more likely if) commenting, please don't attack people. I also do not tolerate trolling.

Essentially, I started this blog because I feel like I've got stuff to say, and my wife is tired of listening to me bitch about it all. I look forward to some fun discourse (if anyone ends up ever reading this).

-Jake