Review 90s classic Quantum Leap

March 26, 1989 : I was 12 years old on this, the date, that the pilot for Quantum Leap aired.  My sister was 11 and we were hooked. Each week we tuned in to watch where the show was taking us next through the eyes of the main character Sam Beckett. That was nearly 37 years ago. I can hardly believe that myself. The show, sadly, had only a 5 season run. The last episode aired in May of 1993 and by then I was 16. I haven't seen the show since. Just a few weeks ago I decided to see if this was on any streaming network anywhere. I subscribe to a few after all. The only place I found was Amazon Prime Video and it's extremely over priced as you pay per episode or buy an entire season at a time. I wondered why a beloved 37 year old show was nowhere to be found. Apparently Netflix used to have it, Hulu perhaps and maybe Roku channel...but today..nada. Well the fans are out there and I found out the reason potentially is because of music licensing. Many of the episodes have 50s and 60s and other music integral to the episode. Perhaps the cost of getting licensing is too great for these streaming networks. I don't know. I do know that back in the early 2000s Universal put out dvds, however, they replaced all the music with public domain music which fans have said ruined many of the episodes. If you want more information on media that was released go here. In 2017 a bluray set was released said to contain all the original music plus improved video as it is 1080p. That said, the Mill Creek Entertainment set of DVDs released in 2017 claims to contain MOST of the original music; however it is only in 480p and a small aspect ratio. Still, this is the set I chose to buy as it can be played on my modern laptop with my 16 year old external disc drive using the VLC player. So, I've been rewatching this beloved show after 30+ years and loving every minute even though it can't fill my screen size and it looks like watching a VHS tape. 

Types of Art Pencils

Drawing and sketching for realism is much more involved then picking up a yellow number 2 pencil, the same as those that were required throughout your elementary and high school career. There are several types of pencils, from graphite, to charcoal to colored and watercolor. All have different uses and provide different shades and tones as well as texture.

So you think you’re ready to start drawing, so let’s make sure you have all the tools you need, or at least the essentials. I am going to assume you already know the proper techniques for drawing, but perhaps are just lost when you look at the array of pencils when you visit the arts and crafts store, so here I will help you in choosing the tools you need. 

Less Stressful Holiday Gatherings

 Top 5 ways to make your holiday gathering less stressful and budget friendly

So you were informed that you will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year at your house because everyone else is too busy, or will be out of town, or just doesn’t have the room. Maybe this is your first Thanksgiving meal you’ve ever prepared. Whatever the reason, here you are, planning for what tends to be a large meal with many people. Where do you begin? How do you make it easier on yourself so that maybe you’re not spending all day in the kitchen and not socializing on the day of the event? How do you keep the budget within your means and make less overall work for you? Here is a list of some of the top ways to achieve a nice family (or friends) Thanksgiving meal that won’t break your bank account as well as ways to keep the meal a little less stressful for you and easier cleanup as well.

Whirlwind

UPDATED: Last Edited in 2025 WHIRLWIND By Holly Stoner

There I was, sitting on the counter in that sterile room, staring at the sparkling clean floor. In fact, it was so clean you could eat off it, if you really wanted to bring food into the bathroom that is. I hopped down off the counter and planted my bare feet onto the floor, which was surprisingly warm despite how icy it appeared. I slipped my feet into the sandals that were sitting beside the tub and glanced at the shiny pink nail polish on my toes. The time had come. I took a deep breath and turned around and looked at myself in the mirror before looking down at the counter at the thin white stick which was showing two distinct pink lines.

My heart started racing, and I reached for the box which previously housed the plastic white stick. The purple box read “Pregnancy Test” on the front and showed the logo of the one-dollar store where I had purchased the test last week. I flipped the box over in a panic and read my worst fear. I was pregnant. I wondered if the test could be wrong. How could this have happened? We were careful, and it only happened one time.