After a taxi ride listening to various LP, LP/Jay Z and Fort Minor songs (all have Mike Shinoda in common), I was thinking about the two DVDs. Live in Texas (LiT) has been with me in Prague and in Beijing, and watched multiple times in both countries. Milton Keynes (MK) is relatively new, I got it when I was Stateside back in January.

Besides venues, the main difference between the two DVDs is material. LiT was released in 2003, so only had material from Hybrid Theory and Meteora. MK was released in 2008, so had material from the first two major albums, plus Minutes to Midnight and their collaboration with Jay Z Collision Course. If I have to choose, I prefer LiT. The performances seem to be more energetic, plus the camerawork was better. Also, I found the sound to be clearer.

This isn't to say I don't like the MK DVD, I do. Especially because it has the Minutes to Midnight songs and a short bit with Jay Z, it's just I find LiT to be the superior DVD.

The whole title was supposed to be: Paris Hilton kicks the bucket and Liam Neeson kicks booty (and Leverage is just plain awesome) but it didn't all fit.

House of Wax was the worst money I'd spent on a DVD in a long time. I wasn't expecting it to be anything wonderful, but I was surprised by how absolutely awful it was. I fast-forwarded through most of it, especially after Jared Padelecki's characters dies. But I stopped when Paris Hilton's character got speared through the head. That was enjoyable, since the rest of the movie was a waste of time.

The next movie I watched was Taken. It was a good enough action movie, but Liam Neeson definitely rocked hard. He's such a hot Irish guy, and he's aged well (just like Pierce Brosnan). It's a different role for him, this kind of action movie. I was pleasantly surprised. He does a good action hero. He could rescue me anyday.

And speaking of someone who could rescue me anyday... Christian Kane from Leverage. He plays Eliot Spencer- retrieval specialist. There isn't much known about his character, besides the fact that Eliot liberated Croatia, has been to Belgrade, cooks, plays chess and doesn't like guns. I like the fact that he plays a badass, has long hair, wears glasses sometimes (he should wear them more) and isn't a slimy bad guy like Lindsey (his character from Angel) was at times.

And to think I didn't waste my entire weekend- I did *finally* go to the YongHeGong Lama Temple and the Confucious Temple yesterday and today I ended up in Sanlitun and found a place to get a decent burger. And next weekend- Chengdu.

I've been following this story since I'm quite the Liam Neeson fan. When I first heard about the skiing accident, I had a feeling it was going to be bad. Living near a major ski area (I've been living near Vermont's Killington for a couple years now), I've heard the tragic stories about the accidents that can happen. Skiing isn't an inherently safe sport, but there are ways to limit the risk. Would a helmet have saved her life? I couldn't tell you. I'm not a brain expert.

I just know what I've learned from skiing. Both my parents wear helmets when they ski, but none of us have had a skiing accident that involved a head injury. I'm lucky, the worst I got were pulled muscles. My mom's done her knees in before, but that's the most serious of them.

In the end, the tragedy remains. The world lost a talented actress and one of its beautiful women. My heart goes out to her family and friends. She will be missed.

Yup, they are all (somewhat) related. Since getting back to China, I've waded through Season 4 of CSI:NY, Seasons 1-3 of Criminal Minds, and I'm working through Season 2 of Supernatural. Season 3 will be next since I missed a lot of that one too.

I started watching Supernatural when it first came out (Jensen Ackles- yes, please, two please). But I ended up moving to Prague in November, which meant I missed a lot of season 1. And by the time I got back from Europe, season 2 was just starting. And between moving, and only having 1 TV in the house, I didn't get to watch SN b/c mom and dad were more keen on watching CSI. Then there was the whole "China" move, which also stunted my SN (and TV in general) watching. Thank goodness for DVDs.

I just finished reading the Supernatural tie-in book Bone Key (it's set during Season 3 just after the Christmas episode). Good, fun read. Not perfect, but you can tell it was written by a professional author with an editor (not like some other TV tie-in books that were more like fan fiction than a pro job). I started the other book, Witch's Canyon, and so far, so good. Nevermore I read a while ago, and I remember liking it, though not loving it.

And I have two more TV tie-in books waiting for me, but these are both Criminal Minds. I read Jump Cut a while ago, and I remember liking it, but not loving it too. I have high hopes, though, for the two that are waiting for me- Killer Profile and Finishing School. I'm hoping for a lot of Morgan and Morgan/Garcia banter. I wouldn't mind a good dose of Hotch, either. Can you tell who my favorites are?

Time for bed, and I'll let you know how the books turn out. I'll put more about my thoughts on Bone Key too, maybe this weekend since I'm not working.

Thank the higher deities for TV on DVD. In my Beijing apartment, I only have one English TV channel- CCTV9. And let me tell you that's on the interesting level of CNN, on repeat, on Prozac. DVDs have been saving my sanity, especially since my roommate's not gonna be back for a few weeks yet. I've already gone through season 4 of CSI:NY, season 3 of Criminal Minds (since I missed a few episodes). I'm rewatching season 1 of Criminal Minds because I can... and because of that wonderful and really hot Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore). I have season 2 right behind it, then I can follow with 2 seasons of Psych and season 2 of Supernatural. I'll buy season 3 when the time comes. And I'll be looking for the recent seasons when the time comes.

Oh, only to be able to watch the most recent episodes like I did at home. Alas, c'est la vie when living abroad. At least I have DVDs to keep me company.