Losing Ground

I drove to work today on a new stretch of road and saw a coyote running around in the grass nearby. I felt so bad for that little guy; all that land gone with new buildings popping up along the roads they just built. High income housing communities pop up all over the place in untouched areas and people wonder why they see more wildlife running around. It's just sad.

Spartacus: Blood & Sand

So I'm not a professional reviewer by any means but here I go:

When I first started watching this I thought "Wow, the acting's kind of bad. The graphics are overdone, there's blood flying everywhere and I'm laughing. I don't think I'm supposed to be laughing." So from the first episode, I was not impressed. But it's free on netflix and Lucy Lawless is in it, with Tapert and Raimi involved with this show, and the other occasional Xena alum in the mix it's got to be interesting. I just got through the 6th episode last night and I have to say, it's gotten so much better with each episode! Of course when there's more Lucy scenes it makes the show better, and I love her interaction with Ilithyia. I'm not bothered by how graphic the show is, it's true to the Roman times and it works for the show. They even have a disclaimer now to explain to people who don't get it that 'the graphic nature of the show is to provide an historically accurate time period.' I could do without scenes of someone wearing the face of a guy he just killed (it was only one episode but eww..), but hey it puts you into the times I guess. I'm never bothered by the constant nudity. I think most people are shocked more at the situations the characters are in than the actual nudity and sex itself. When Lucretia and Batiatus are about to get it on, they use their slaves to get themselves aroused before going to each other. It's unsettling actually but again, those were the times (and if you think about some areas of the world today, still going on). It does make me think about how little life was(is) valued unless you were of substantial status. Killing, mutilation and forced sex was merely a pass time, a thing to do. A way to make a little money. No one mourned these people. But back to the show.. If you liked HBO's Rome but want it even dirtier, try this show out. If you can get past the first episode you'll like it. It gets better and better, the characters become more interesting and the drama keeps building! And they use less of the 300 blood spatter effect. It's still there, trust me, but not quite as much to where you burst out laughing.