By Michael Seese
I hadn't planned to write today. But this morning I received this.
So it bears repeating. Spammers take advantage of current events. And today, Christmas is a current event. So let us look at the "From:"
- jardata@jardata.com
And where the links take me (determined by hovering)
- http://espinosagomez.com/media/96qh1zivHlQIEfdn1O4wh4jytThymkZ3qfsr91ZMOv4=/WalmartForm
Neither of these looks like Walmart, does it?
These folks deserve coal in their stocking. No, wait.You can use coal for heating. They deserve used Kleenex.
And, seriously, my friends, have a safe and happy holiday season.
Ho ho ho!
By Michael Seese
Only three weeks late. But just in time for the holidays...
Ho ho ho! The folks behind Castle decided to give us a bit of holiday cheer with the episode "Secret Santa." If you can get past the dead Santa at the beginning, that is.
This was a "standard" Castle: seemingly implausible murder (victim falls from the sky, with no commercial flights having passed over; a chip of red paint in his possession), multiple suspects (David Dunne, Tim Cabot, Michael Case), and then a quick resolution.
I thought they nicely mixed the murder mystery with the holiday good cheer: Castle's family surprising him by canceling their Christmas Even plans; Beckett's surprising Castle by switching shifts; Esposito surprising Ryan with his support; Esposito surprising the Cabots with the heirloom clock; and the overall redemption of Edmund Smith.
Santa lines dominated.
Beckett: "I hate to break it to you, Castle, but there is no Santa Claus."
Castle: "Well, not any more."
Captain Gates: "Lord I hate the holidays." (As my wife noted, that scene let Gates be uncharacteristically open about her personal life.)
Castle: "Yet another quality she has in common with the Grinch."
Ryan: "What does this mean for the future?"
Esposito: "It means one less guy dressed up as Santa."
Castle: "...and then launched into space?"
Beckett: "And how is that less plausible than your sleigh?"
Castle: "I think you mean less clausible." (His smirk probably was my favorite "look.")
A few other noteworthy points:
- I liked the scene where Espo went to visit Lanie, and that she was receptive to getting together in the future...just not Christmas Eve.
- Much like the rock-and-roll-tinged theme at the first commercial break of "Swan Song," "Secret Santa" had jingle-bell-like song, with a candy cane replacing the pen.
- The arrest of Dunne was great. He fought Esposito with a giant candy cane, and then fled to the tune of "Run, Run Rudolph."
"And to all, a good night..." I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.
If you still remember the episode, feel free to share your thoughts. Otherwise, until January 7...
