If you have been following the fantastically-complex and sci-fi thrilling series LOST, you know what is coming on February 2nd. It will be the two-hour season opener to, sadly, the final season of LOST.   Yes, the ABC series (also produced by JJ Abram's Bad Robot Productions) will come to an end this year. 

I have mixed feelings about this being the final season.  I am glad that series writers and producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (along with many others) will be able to complete the story arc and tell the complete story.  On the other hand, they have opened so many cans of worms, introduced so many compelling characters, it's hard to believe just one more (fairly short) season will leave us feeling satisfied.  I hope I am wrong.  To help tied you over until the series premiere, here's a link to the recap for Seasons 1-5 on iTunes.  Enjoy! 

2010 fizzled in for me and my pile of tissues and repeated viewings of The Twilight Zone.  As my "winter break" came to an end, my bleary, too-much-TV-watching eyes happened upon a sci-fi movie I had managed to somehow avoid all of these years:  Ray Bradbury's The Martian Chronicles, starring Rock Hudson.  Rock Hudson!  I only know him as a trivia answer...now a real Rock Hudson movie, and it's based on a great Bradbury novel...I'm in! 

So despite having had my fill of media all weekend, I settled in to watch The Martian Chronicles on the stragely named "THIS" channel.  (I've never happened on this channel before- is it new?  Does anyone know anything about who's behind it??)  Released in 1980, the far future (2007!!) is shown with lots of silver spray painted boards and rooms filled with white plastic furniture.  All computers have large banks of blinking lights, and everyone has very large collars.  (to better fight the Martians, I suppose)

I found this interpretation of Bradbury to be very compelling.  I was sucked in, and even my itchy trigger finger found itself far from the remote.  It may have low production values by today's standards, but the effects are fun and creative.  It reminded me of playing outer-space as a child.  The story is true to the writings, and I really enjoyed the pretty cheesy ending.  It may have been the Nyquil, but I highly recommend you add this classic to your sci-fi list if you haven't already.  You'll be glad you did.  :D

Matt & Kim:  daylight.  Ok, it isn't that new, or amazingly groundbreaking.  But I like it.  It has a fun catchy beat and clever lyrics.  It's a song I can turn up on my iPod during my train ride, and close my eyes.  The men-in-suits reading the Wall Street Journal and ladies wearing skirts with goofy track shoes and too much purfume disappear from around me.  I actually escape to another place during this track.  By the end of the song, I'm wearing a small wry smile and can almost tolerate the loud-phone-talker two rows behind me.  (Note to said loud-phone-talker: we don't care what kindergarten your daughter got into, or how much your slipped disc hurts- just read your newspaper and be quiet!) 

 Get it free on their site.  Or, if you like their songs, you can buy the whole album on iTunes.

Happy New Year everyone!  I'm starting 2010 with the iTunes album of the year for 2009.  Now you may ask, Macgirl, why look back to 2009?  It's true, this new decade will (hopefully) have great new artists to highlight..  But this album is worth a belated mention. 

The Kings of Leon have a winner in Only By the Night and deserve to be the iTunes album of the year.  Their sound has grown and broadened, and its their time to shine.