17 Endings for ER

Thursday, January 29, 2009



I've been watching ER for years. Reports that George Clooney might appear in the series final got me wondering what the end would really be like. This got me thinking about a bit from Wayne's World, where they played around with different endings, so why don't we do that here?


  1. There is the obvious ending. This would be the one where the budget is cut so bad that County General Hospital is shut down, never to open again. This could somehow be tied to the bad economy with various social commentary.
  2. They could do the Dallas Bobby Ewing move. Dr. Green (Anthony Edwards) gets out of the shower only to realize that all of the episodes since his death were just a dream. This would also be a way to bring the actor back who's character died of cancer several years ago.
  3. They could also try the Newhart ending. One of Bob Newhart's shows ended with him in bed with his wife on a previous series and the series that was just ending was a dream. I'm not sure how this cold work out but I'm sure there is a way.
  4. Maybe the could do a Michael Crichton tribute. The famous author that created the series and is known for Jurassic Park and other books, who died late last year, could be put into the story some how. They could find images and do some kind of CG sequence with him creating the series, they could also do a documentary style episode that showed things behind the scenes and showed some history of the show.
  5. Lets not forget the Butterfly Effect. Some far flung event could draw many of the ER staffers away, forcing the closure of the hospital. Dr. Carter might make a desperate plea for help in Darfur or somewhere else.
  6. How about the Terminator ending? Abbey and Luka's son comes back from the future because someone is saved in the ER that changes the course of human kind and they must be allowed to live.
  7. How about the Star Trek ending? There is a shortage of qualified medical personal in the Federation, so the staff is beamed away. The show ends leaving us the possibility that they could come back.
  8. They could do the Jurassic Park ending. We see a bunch of dinosaurs stomping around. The camera pans in on one sleeping. The dinosaur is dreaming of a hospital in the future.
  9. Maybe the could apply the Michael Jordon ending- A promotion involving the Chicago Bulls and it world famous former star brings M.J. to County. He notices some of the crew playing hoops and decides to form his own Harlem Globetrotters maybe with a reality television twist starting with the folks at County. President Obama could even stop in for a game of one on one.
  10. How about the Presidential ending? George H.W. Bush is giving a speech in Chicago and a stroke brings him to County general. Of course he will be visited by George W. Bush, other past presidents and dignitaries, maybe even President Obama. Bottom line is that all the secret service and security precautions close the ER and the hospital to the public.
  11. The could do the "Must See TV" ending. NBC reminisces about a time when they had Seinfeld, Friends, and ER in their Thursday night primetime slots. The Friends cast is having a reunion in Chicago watching Seinfeld performing and due to some poisoning at the venue, they all need to be rushed to the ER. To make things more interesting they do things backwards (via that Seinfeld episode where they all went to India for a wedding).
  12. ER goes American Idol. Morris decides that he has to give American Idol a try. This inspires the crew to go Hollywood and chase their wildest dreams.
  13. The Dr. Carter returns. Dr. Carter (Noah Wyle) comes back to County and reminisces about all his days in the ER. Since he was on the show for most of its run, they could use flashbacks and so on to bring back some of the other actors that have left. In reminiscing, someone could ask whatever happened to this and that character.
  14. There could be the HMO nightmare. One of the gigantic corporations that owns and operates hospitals buys County. There could be the usual commentary and dialog about patient care suffering and the staff decides to leave in protest.
  15. The X-Files effect- Mulder and Scully come to County because an alien is being treated there. Strange things happen all around and the F.B.I. closes the hospital to the public.
  16. The Ending Ending- We see a film crew going around the hospital and the staff being interviewed. We find out that ER has been the chronicle of life in a major American metroplitan emergancy room looking at treatment of patients and the lives of the doctors and nurses there. In the closing shot we see a camera on another camera filming a scene and we here the director shout "cut", the light goes out on the camera we have just been watching, the camera man walks away and then the camer filming this goes out, fade to black.
  17. The unexpected ending- ER has been a ground breaking series and they have done a lot of things that hadn't beed done on other television series. Chances are very good that they'll come up with something totally unexpected.
I've really enjoyed the series over the years. Since moving to Germany a few years ago, the episode are always aired several months behind the U.S. because they all get dubbed into German, so I'll need to wait a few months after the American viewer to see what really happens. I'm curious to see the end but will be sad to see it leave. So, how will it end? Do you have any ideas, why not tell us about them in the comments. Fade to black (just for now).

Photo Credit: Hospital courtesy of Woopidoo2

Said By Presidents...

Tuesday, January 20, 2009



Getting ready for the inauguration yesterday, I found some interesting quotes from past American Presidents and posted them on Twitter. 43 American Presidents have had a lot to say, some of it has been inspiring and others have been funny. Here is look at some of the more memorable Presidential quotes.


George Washington (1789-1797), the first president and often referred to as the father of our nation said...

"Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

"To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace."

"Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder."


John Adams (1797–1801) said...

"I pray Heaven to bestow the best of blessing on this house (the White House) and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof!"

"A pen is certainly an excellent instrument to fix a man's attention and to inflame his ambition."


Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809) said...

"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."


James Madison (1809–1817) said...

"The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted."

"The problem to be solved is, not what form of government is perfect, but which of the forms is least imperfect."


James Monroe (1817–1825) said...

"A little flattery will support a man through great fatigue."


John Quincy Adams (1825–1829) said...

"May our country be always successful, but whether successful or otherwise, always right."


Andrew Jackson (1829–1837) said...

"I know what I am fit for. I can command a body of men in a rough way; but I am not fit to be President."


Martin Van Buren (1837–1841) said...

"It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't."

"As to the Presidency, the two happiest days of my life were those of my entrance upon the office and my surrender of it."


William Henry Harrison (1841) said...

"A decent and manly examination of the acts of the Government should be not only tolerated, but encouraged."


John Tyler (1841–1845) said...

"Here lies the body of my good horse, 'The General.' For twenty years he bore me around the circuit of my practice, and in all that time he never made a blunder. Would that his master could say the same!"


James Polk (1845–1849) said...

"I am heartily rejoiced that my term is so near its close. I will soon cease to be a servant and will become a sovereign."


Zachary Taylor (1849–1850 ) said...

"The idea that I should become President seems to me too visionary to require a serious answer. It has never entered my head, nor is it likely to enter the head of any other person."


Millard Fillmore (1850–1853) said...

"An honorable defeat is better than a dishonorable victory."

"The man who can look upon a crisis without being willing to offer himself upon the altar of his country is not for public trust."


Franklin Pierce (1853–1857) said...

"The storm of frenzy and faction must inevitably dash itself in vain against the unshaken rock of the Constitution."

"The revenue of the country, levied almost insensibly to the taxpayer, goes on from year to year, increasing beyond either the interests or the prospective wants of the Government."


Jame Buchanan (1857–1861) said...

"The ballot box is the surest arbiter of disputes among freemen."

"There is nothing stable but Heaven and the Constitution."


Abraham Lincoln (1861–1865), a man that is legendary among presidents, Americans, and mankind in general, said...

"You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."

"If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong."

"Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?"(sounds like something that Gandhi might have said, doesn't it)


Andrew Johnson (1865–1869) said...

"If the rabble were lopped off at one end and the aristocrat at the other, all would be well with the country."

"Honest conviction is my courage; the Constitution is my guide."

"The goal to strive for is a poor government but a rich people."


Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) famous Northern general of the Civil War said..

"The Southern rebellion was largely the outgrowth of the Mexican war. Nations, like individuals, are punished for their transgressions. We got our punishment in the most sanguinary and expensive war of modern times."

"My failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent."

"I have never advocated war except as a means of peace."


Rutherford B. Hayes (1877–1881) said...

"He serves his party best who serves the country best."

"Nothing brings out the lower traits of human nature like office seeking."


James Garfield (1881) said...

"I have had many troubles in my life, but the worst of them never came."

"Whoever controls the volume of money in any country is absolute master of all industry and commerce."

"We can not overestimate the fervent love of liberty, the intelligent courage, and the sum of common sense with which our fathers made the great experiment of self-government."


Chester Arthur (1881–1885) said...

"If it were not for the reporters, I would tell you the truth."


Grover Cleveland (1885–1889) said...

"It is the responsibility of the citizens to support their government. It is not the responsibility of the government to support its citizens."

"A man is known by the company he keeps, and also by the company from which he is kept out."

"Above all, tell the truth."


Benjamin Harrison (1889–1893) said...

"The disfranchisement of a single legal elector by fraud or intimidation is a crime too grave to be regarded lightly."

"Lincoln had faith in time, and time has justified his faith."

"We Americans have no commission from God to police the world."


William McKinley (1897–1901) said...

"In the time of darkest defeat, victory may be nearest."

"That's all a man can hope for during his lifetime—to set an example—and when he is dead, to be an inspiration for history."

"Unlike any other nation, here the people rule, and their will is the supreme law. It is sometimes sneeringly said by those who do not like free government, that here we count heads. True, heads are counted, but brains also . . ."


Theodore Roosevelt (1901–1909) said...

"The only man who makes no mistake is the man who does nothing."

"To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public."

William H. Taft (1909–1913) said...

"The intoxication of power rapidly sobers off in the knowledge of its restrictions and under the prompt reminder of an ever-present and not always considerate press, as well as the kindly suggestions that not infrequently come from Congress."


Woodrow Wilson (1913–1921) said...

"If you want to make enemies, try to change something."

"Some people call me an idealist. Well, that is the way I know am an American. America is the only idealistic nation in the world."

"We grow great by dreams. All big men are dreamers."


Warren G. Harding (1921–1923)said...

"Ambition is a commendable attribute without which no man succeeds. Only inconsiderate ambition imperils."

"Our most dangerous tendency is to expect too much of government, and at the same time do for it too little."

"My God, this is a hell of a job! I have no trouble with my enemies . . . but my damn friends, they're the ones that keep me walking the floor nights."


Calvin Coolidge (1923–1929) said...

"I have never been hurt by anything I didn't say."

"The business of America is business."


Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) said...

"Absolute freedom of the press to discuss public questions is a foundation stone of American liberty."

"Peace is not made at the Council table or by treaties, but in the hearts of men."


Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) said...

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."


Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) said...

"A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities and an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties."

"You can not stop the spread of an idea by passing a law against it."

"We need not fear the expression of ideas—we do need to fear their suppression."


Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961) said...

"There is nothing wrong with America that the faith, love of freedom, intelligence and energy of her citizens cannot cure."

"I never saw a pessimistic general win a battle."


John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) said...

"If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity."

"The American, by nature, is optimistic. He is experimental, an inventor and a builder who builds best when called upon to build greatly."

"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."


Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) said...

"If government is to serve any purpose it is to do for others what they are unable to do for themselves."

"A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right."

"You ain't learnin' nothin' when you're talkin'." (what does this say about many politicians?)


Richard M. Nixon (1969–1974) said...

"I like the job I have, but if I had to live my life over again, I would like to have ended up a sports writer."

"A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life's mountaintop experiences. Only in losing himself does he find himself."

"Always give your best, never get discouraged, never be petty; always remember, others may hate you. Those who hate you don't win unless you hate them. And then you destroy yourself."


Gerald Ford (1974–1977) said...

"A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have."

"We . . . declared our independence 200 years ago, and we are not about to lose it now to paper shufflers and computers."

"Truth is the glue that holds governments together. Compromise is the oil that makes governments go."


Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) said...

"We must adjust to changing times and still hold to unchanging principles."

"The best way to enhance freedom in other lands is to demonstrate here that our democratic system is worthy of emulation."


Ronald W. Reagan (1981–1989) said...

"We are a nation that has a government—not the other way around. And that makes us special among the nations of the earth."

"America is too great for small dreams."


George H.W. Bush (1989–1993) said...

"If anyone tells you that America's best days are behind her, they're looking the wrong way."


Bill Clinton (1993–2001) said...

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, not how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit."

"There is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America."


George W. Bush (2001-2009) said...

"Recognizing and confronting our history is important. Transcending our history is essential. We are not limited by what we have done, or what we have left undone. We are limited only by what we are willing to do."

Barack Obama (2009-?)

Well, I guess that we"ll need to see what he has to say!


If you're interested in more quotes from the presidents here are a few places that you might look...


Maybe you're inspired now or have had a good laugh. History is often times just as intriguing and stranger than fiction. I hope that you enjoyed your visit.

Photo credit: Abraham Lincoln Memorial courtesy of tomlara.

Hessen Votes Today

Sunday, January 18, 2009



Today is a big vote in the German federal state of Hessen. The biggest thing at stake is who will be the Minister President for Hessen.

Roland Koch, who is the current Minister President is from the CDU (Christian Democratic Union) and he failed to get enough votes to keep the position nor was he able to wrangle enough votes to keep the position via a coalition. Andrea Ypsilanti from the SPD (Social Democratic Party) is his main competitor for the position. In the primary election, Ypsilanti ended up with 36.7%, 1% less than Koch. She promised that she would not form a colition with die Linke party (the Left party), but as the saga dragged on she attempted to do just that. When a vote was held about forming the colition, she came up short, notably Dagmar Metzger kept a promise not to line up with die Linke.

The Hessen Parliment is located in Wiesbaden and the largest city is Frankfurt. The outcome of the Minister President for Hessen will influence the direction that Hessen takes and it could branch out effecting national politics as well.

As an American citizen, I don't believe that I'm able to vote but I'm certainly interested in the outcome. There are a lot of discussions about the future that the educational system and this will effect the choices that we can make for our kids in Hessen.

I found a good synapsis setting up the first election (held January 27, 2008) at All Things German (this is one of the better things that I have found written in English). The Frankfurter Allgemeine has quite a section with several articles about the Hessen vote, (in German).

I hope that the results from today are clear and that the process doesn't continue to drag on!

Photo credit: This is a picture that I took of the Frankfurt skyline from the balcony of a friend or ours in September 2008.

Beardie Walk for January 2009

Monday, January 5, 2009




Our breader had her first Beardie walk of 2009 on January 3rd. We've attended a few of these now and this one had the most Beardies so far. There were at least a dozen Beardies and their owners. There were several sibblings of Hobbit and a young brown and white puppy named Ian. It is hard to believe that Hobbit was once this little! There were several other Beardies that weren't from Hobbit's litter as well as one dog that wasn't a Beardie at all! Hobbit was preoccupied with his sister Toffy, he played with her most of the time and he hardly seemed to notice all the other dogs. Since all these Beardies together were so active, I wasn't able to take to many pictures. Maybe I can post some of that later (if I ever figure out how to edit the format of our video camera!). The top photo is of Ian. The next picture is of Hobbit with his sister Kira taken on a visit taken on December 28th.



Gone But Not Forgotten in 2008

Thursday, January 1, 2009

We saw some actors/actresses; singers; designers; writers; and even a zoo keeper pass away in 2008. I thought that I’d take a moment to mention some of the people that are gone but not forgotten in 2008. I have listed some of the things that they’re known for within their respective careers as well as some links to biographies about them at the Internet Movie Database, Wikipedia, and other sites if you’d like to read more about them.

Heath Ledger was born April 4, 1979 and died January 22, 2008. This actor is probably best known for playing the Joker in The Dark Knight. He was also well known for his role in Brokeback Mountain. I recently saw The Dark Knight, and like many others, was blown away by his performance as the Joker.

His biography at the IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

A fan site with lots of information about him.

His N.Y. Time Obituary.

Roy Scheider was born November 10, 1932 and died February 10, 2008. This actor is probably widest known for his role in Jaws. He has also appeared in The French Connection, Marathon Man, and All That Jazz.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

The Roy Scheider Resource, a website for fans

N.Y. Times Obituary.

Hollywood Reporter Obituary.

L.A. Times Obituary.

Sydney Pollack was born July 1, 1934 and died May 26, 2008. The American director, producer, actor, writer was involved in over 40 movies over his career some of the more famous ones include: The Way We Were, Out of Africa, Tootsie, Absence of Malice, and The Firm.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Photo gallery from Variey.com.

Eves Saint Laurent was born August 1, 1936 and died June 1, 2008. This famous French fashion designer was actually born in Algeria. You certainly can’t deny his influence on haute couture and making ready-to-wear more accepted within the fashion world.

His biography at Wikipedia.

His biography at Fashion.Infomat.

Eves Saint Laurent website.

Estelle Getty was born July 25, 1923 and died July 22, 2008. This actress is world famous for her role of Sophia on the television series Golden Girls, but also appeared in The Mask (the 1985 movie about a boy with a sever muscle deformity and his biker mother’s attempts to provide a “normal” life for him, not the later Jim Carey movie by the same title), television series Empty Nest, and was on the 1998 season of Hollywood Squares.

The Estelle Getty fansite.

Her biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Bernie Mac was born October 5, 1957 and died August 9, 2008. This American actor and comedian has appeared in Ocean’s Eleven (the remake with George Clooney) and its two sequels as well as televisions series Mac Midnight, and the Bernie Mac Show.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Bernie Mac's Death: What Happened? (from People magazine online)

His Myspace page.

Isaac Hayes was born August 20, 1942 and died August 10, 2008. This singer-songwriter, actor, and musician penned “Soul Man” that became a hit for Sam & Dave, he was the film score composer for Shaft (I’m sure many of you are familiar with the title song), and he’ll be remembered for playing Chef on the television series South Park. He was one of the main creative forces behind the Stax Record label with Hot Buttered Soul and Black Moses being a couple of his more famous records.

Official Isaac Hayes website.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Thomas Dörflein died September 23, 2008 and was 44. He became world famous for taking care of Knut, the polar bear cub who’s mother rejected him shortly after birth at the Berlin Zoo.

Nice story about Knut and him at the DailyMail Online.

About Knut and him at Green Packs.

I recently wrote about Knut’s 2nd birthday

Paul Newman was born January 26, 1925 and died September 26, 2008. He has appeared in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Cool Hand Luke, Butch Cassidy And the Sundance Kid, The Sting, Absence of Malice, The Verdict, The Color of Money, Nobody’s Fool, and Road to Perdition. He started Newman’s Own line of products based on his own recipes, raising over 250 Million dollars for charity. In his career he has worked with a veritable who’s who of actors and directors from Marlon Brando, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Robert Redford, Martin Scorsese, Alfred Hitchcock, Robert Altman, Tom Cruise, Bruce Willis, and Tom Hanks.

Paul Newman: In memory” (from Roger Ebert)

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Newman’s Own line of products.

L.A. Times Obituary.

Guillaume Depardieu was born April 7, 1971 and died October 13, 2008. This actor has spent much of his life being overshadowed by his famous French actor father (Gérard Depardieu) and led a very troubled life. He has appeared in Pas Si Méchant Que Ça, Tous les Matins du Monde, Les Apprentis, Pola X, Comme Elle Respire, and Comme Elle Respire.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Obituary at the Guardian Online.

Michael Crichton was born October 23, 1942 and died November 4, 2008. This famous author has sold over 150 million books and has written Jurassic Park, Andromeda Strain, Disclosure, and was responsible for creating the long running television series ER.

Michael Crichton the official site.

His biography at IMDB.

His biography at Wikipedia.

Obituary at the BBC online.

His Myspace page.

Earth Kitt was born January 17, 1927 and died December 25, 2008. The singer, actress, and cabaret star was known for her sultry version of the song “Santa Baby” (released in 1953), she played Catwoman in the third season of the television series Batman. Orson Wells reportedly once referred to her as the most exciting woman in the world.

Eartha Kitt the official site.

Her biography at IMDB.

Her biography at Wikipedia.

While the contribution made by each of these people that we lost in 2008 varies greatly, they’ll all be missed. So why not take a moment to remember these people and maybe watch one of their movies, read one of their books, or listen to one of their songs. I've embedded a couple of videos of Isaac Hayes below.



Live 1973 version of Shaft


Live 1973 version of Never Can Say Goodbye
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