Saturday, 25 October 2025

 he name “Axis of Evil” was chosen humorously by astronomers in 2005. Here’s the story:

  • When researchers analyzed the large-scale patterns in the cosmic microwave background (CMB), they noticed that some of the biggest temperature fluctuations lined up along a particular axis in the sky.

  • This alignment was very unexpected because the standard cosmological model predicts no preferred direction — the universe should look statistically the same in every direction.

  • Erik Eriksen and colleagues, who published a paper about this anomaly, jokingly called it the “Axis of Evil” because:

    1. It disrupts the “peaceful” uniformity of the early universe.

    2. The name is a playful reference to George W. Bush’s political phrase “Axis of Evil,” which was in the news around the same time.

So basically, it’s a tongue-in-cheek name emphasizing how disturbing and mysterious this cosmic alignment was to cosmologists.

2019 Reading Log and Master Watch Log into a single organized table/log, keeping the same level of detail but separating Mathematics and Media/TV & Film sections. Here’s a clean, merged version:


2019 Reading & Watching Log – Combined

Section A: Mathematics Materials

Title Type Author(s) Year Pages Quality Explanations Notes
Math 12, Advanced Functions: The Key: Study Guide (MHF4U) Study Guide Jasmin Benavides 2008 264 Poor ❌ None Mainly exercises; lacks explanations
Mathematics: Applying the Concepts 10 Textbook Wayne Erdman 2000 460 Medium ✅ Some Decent for concept understanding
Mathematics for College Technology 12 Textbook Bob Alexander, Peter J. Harrison, Antonietta Lenjosek 2003 451 High ✅ Comprehensive Strong textbook; thorough coverage
Math 11, Functions Study Guide Sonya Witzman 2011 267 Poor ❌ None Mostly exercises; no explanations

Appendix L: Letters / Library Feedback

  • Library Response (Toronto Public Library – Answerline): Work order created to update catalog entry for Mathematics for College Technology 12 to include subjects. Feedback on pronoun selection forwarded to manager.

  • Original Email from Phyllis I. Scholz: Reported missing subjects and absence of “Other” pronoun option on Feedback Form.


Section B: Master Watch Log (Alphabetical, Narrative Style)

Title / Episode Year Watched Major Stars Estimated Cost Distributor Rating Notes / Trivia
Gilmore Girls – S1E2: “The Lorelais’ First Day at Chilton” 2000 2025 (assumed) Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Kelly Bishop, Edward Herrmann $1–2M per episode The WB ⭐ Good Establishes witty dialogue & mother-daughter relationship; introduces Chilton; pop-culture references from late 1990s / early 2000s
Jack Ryan 2018 Incomplete (2025 assumed) John Krasinski, Wendell Pierce, Abbie Cornish $8–10M per season Amazon Prime Video 😐 Okay Procedural TV approach; lighter than films; less engaging spy thriller
The Walking Dead: World Beyond 2020 2020–2021 Alexa Mansour, Nicolas Cantu, Aliyah Royale, Hal Cumpston $5–7M per season AMC / Amazon 👎 Poor–😐 Okay Weakest in TWD universe; underdeveloped characters; younger survivors; pacing issues
The Wheel of Time 2021 2021 Rosamund Pike, Josha Stradowski, Marcus Rutherford, Zoë Robins $10–15M per season Amazon Prime Video 👎 Bad–Horrible Adaptation of Robert Jordan’s novels; criticized for pacing, performances, confusing adaptation
Upload 2020 2020–2025 Robbie Amell, Andy Allo, Allegra Edwards, Kevin Bigley $6–8M per season Amazon Prime Video ⭐ Very Good Satirical take on corporate / tech culture; created by Greg Daniels; praised for depth and satire
WPC 56 2013 Incomplete (2025 assumed) Olivia Vinall, David Leon, Janet Montgomery £1–2M per season BBC One 😐 Okay Set in 1956; first female police constable; period costumes and societal challenges
You, Me, Her 2016–2020 Incomplete Greg Poehler, Rachel Blanchard, Priscilla Faia $2–3M per episode Audience Network / streaming ⭐ Good Explores polyamorous relationship; character-driven storytelling; humor & heart
Younger 2015 2025 Sutton Foster, Hilary Duff, Debi Mazar, Miriam Shor, Nico Tortorella $3–4M per episode TV Land / Jax Media ⭐ Good Created by Darren Star; filmed in NYC; Hilary Duff prior Toronto connections
Yes Man 2008 2025 (assumed) Jim Carrey, Zooey Deschanel, Bradley Cooper, Rhys Darby $70M Warner Bros. Pictures ⭐ Good Loosely based on Danny Wallace memoir; return to Jim Carrey comedic style; LA landmarks
The Happy Hooker Goes to London 1977 Not yet Martine Beswick, Robin Askwith, Xaviera Hollander Modest Cannon Films TBD Based on Xaviera Hollander memoir; campy British humor; over-the-top performances