Desperate Housewives’ fourth season, which will be beginning at the end of this month, is guaranteed to set our television screens on fire, just like the promotional pic. Creator Marc Cherry lets us in on some juicy details on its new season.

Edie Brit’s (Sheridan) fans would be happy to know that the blonde vixen, who was last seen on the verge of killing herself in the season finale, will be returning to the series.

“There will be an appearance by Miss Sheridan in our first episode, and it will be amazing,” Cherry said in a conversation with the Orlando Sentinel.

Cherry added that Hatcher’s Susan, who had always been unlucky in love, will “try, not so successfully, to settle down to domestic bliss,” with her new husband, Mike (James Denton). Playing Susan’s teenage daughter, Julie is actress Andrea Bowen, who told USA Today that Mike’s presence will ruffle her character’s feathers, thus creating a bit of a conflict between them.

“He tries to be a parental figure, and Julie rebels.” Bowen explained.

Moreover, Longoria’s Gabrielle, who discovered her new husband’s true motives in the season finale, will be entering a steamy affair with her ex-husband, Carlos (Ricardo Chavira).

Desperate Housewives’ season 5 will be revealing the real reason behind Bree’s (Cross) fake pregnancy and will further shed light on Lynette’s (Huffman) battle with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

“What we wanted to do is examine the effects illness had on family and friends. We don’t want to do some ridiculous she-might-die thing,” Cherry explained Lynette’s cancer storyline. “That’s not our point in dealing with the disease. It was mostly to see what being sick does to you and the people around you. And in the second episode, we do a fascinating story that one of the women doesn’t respond well to Lynette’s illness.”

Desperate Housewives premieres its first episode on September 30.

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Yes, I must come clean. I’m a fan of the show Lost and have been since season one. However that still doesn’t mean I really know what’s going on. Yet, each week, under protest and mocking from my wife and son who think the show is stupid, I park myself in front of my television set and endure another hour of trying to figure out just what is going on.

Don’t get me wrong so far I have learned a great many things about the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815. For instance, I know a plane crashed on some strange tropical island, inhabited by a group aptly named, the Others. I also know the Others, are not very welcoming to the new arrivals so every so many week one or more of the Survivors meets with an untimely end well except for Locke. The island seems to have some fondness for him so each week as the island takes control of his mind he seems to get stranger and stranger.

My daughter, who was an avid fan of show up until this year, has bailed on me due to what she refers to as “frustration by the constant turn of events on the show”. She says and I quote, “One minute you’re watching the people on the island the next their on the mainland, then back to the island, I’m lost,”

At times, I must agree with her, the plotline of the show can be very frustrating. In fact, this year I diligently watched every episode of the show in anticipation of finally getting answers to some of my most burning plot questions such as, “Will Jack dump the blonde woman for Kate?” or the ever-popular question “What’s up with the black smoke thing?” only to be disappointed at the end of the season. Of course, I can’t complain. I did get one of my questions answered.

At least I know who was in the coffin from last season. I was shocked when I found out that wait I can’t tell you that, it would spoil the surprise. Let’s just say after I saw the season finale, I threw the remote down on the couch, and swore to myself, swore as in making an oath , “Come next season I’m not going to watch the show anymore.”

To which my wife responds, “Yeah I’ve hard that before.” She laughs, and then leaves the room shaking her head. Whom am I kidding? I know she’s right. As soon as the new season of lost starts, I will be sitting in my comfy recliner, waiting to see if the producers sate my appetite for answer, knowing fool well it will a long frustrating season once again lost in the plot line of Lost.

Odds: 12/1

Last Five Seasons

2005/06 – 24 (League One Relegated), 2004/05 – 14 (League One), 2003/04 – 22 (Championship, Relegated), 2002/03 – 17 (Championship), 2001/02 – 18 (Championship).

2005/06 Cup Progress

FA Cup Fourth Round vs Stoke City (a) – lost 2-1.

Carling Cup First Round vs Crystal Palace (a) – lost 3-0.

Football League Trophy Southern Section Semi Final vs Swansea City (a) – lost 6-5 on penalties with the score at 2-2 after extra time.

Top Goal Scorer 2005/06: Matty Fryatt (striker) – 14 goals.

Players In

Tony Bedeau (Torquay United – Free), Martin Butler (Rotherham United – Free), Michael Dobson (Brentford – Free), Clayton Ince (Coventry City – Free), Hector Same (Port Vale – Free).

Players Out

Daryl Taylor (Bournemouth – Free), Steve Staunton (Released), Taiwo Atieno (Released), Dean Coleman (Released), Andy Oakes (Released).

Walsall finished rock bottom of League One last season but are one of the favourites for promotion according to the bookmakers. Club captain Dean Keates revealed the Saddlers endured a punishing pre-season training regime in the hope it will give them an extra edge when the new season begins in August.

A chronic goals shortage was one of Walsall’s weaknesses last season and there was nobody to replace top goal scorer Matty Fryatt when he departed for Leicester City during the January transfer window. Manager Richard Money has addressed this during the summer and signed two new strikers.

Striker Tony Bedeau arrived on a free transfer after finishing as the Gulls’ top goal scorer last season with 11 goals. The 27 year old Grenada international made almost 350 appearances for the club since making his debut in 1995.

Rotherham United striker Martin Butler, who began his career with Walsall and made his debut for the senior side in the 1993-94 campaign has returned to the Bescot Stadium on a free transfer.

Money made Brentford captain Michael Dobson his third signing of the close season following the defender’s release from the League One side. Dobson was Brentford’s longest serving player and made nearly 200 first-team appearances for the club.

The return of former Derby County midfielder Darren Wrack will be like a new signing. He has been sidelined since breaking his leg in early September 2005 and is almost ready to make his comeback after 12 months out of the game. Midfielder Michael Standing has left Walsall by mutual consent despite signing a two year contract extension in May 2005.

Verdict

Manager Richard Money has used the transfer market well this summer and the Saddlers should be good enough to secure a play off place at the very least, although the supporters will expect a top three finish.

I’m part of a group of 28 singles. This was a smaller group than expected, but I understand several people dropped out claiming fear of bird flu. I could sense I was part of a quality entourage of seasoned culture-vultures.

We began with an orientation tour at the top of Mt. Farber and its spectacular views. The group was impressed by this sparkling metropolis located between Malaysia and Indonesia. Singapore is the leader of S.E. Asia, a bustling port that was modernized by the East India Trading Company and the British Empire. It’s called the Lion City and inhabited by 4 million souls. 76% are Chinese and the other minorities all blend harmoniously. Singapore is a city, state, capital and country all in one and draws 8 million visitors per year, yet few Americans have yet discovered it.

We checked into the opulent Regent Hotel of The Four Seasons. I’m given a suite and swear this hotel wins the award for the most gracious staff on the planet. We’ve arrived at a perfect time with the “Great Shopping Festival” on full swing. There’s nothing like “retail therapy” to soothe our jet lag minds. Orchard Road, like a tree lined Fifth Avenue, was only a block away and center of all life. Shopping is the national obsession here and bargain hunting a blood sport.

There are 150 mega-malls with some that never close. I’m a label slave and purchased a used authentic Rolex with documents, for a fraction of its original cost. We had only 4 days here. So I had much to do, it’s like Hong Kong on steroids. The Arts Festival was on with many venues from painting and sculpture to music and dance. At night Clarke Quay on the river became party central with its trendy clubs rocking until dawn.
We had an astute and friendly guide named Farida who showed us all the sights with a wonderful sense of humor.

We visited the lush National Orchard Gardens with its 60,000 orchids, China Town with its markets and temples and Little India with its intense aromas and vibrant colors. Then we went to the ultra-contemporary financial district, Merlion Park with its landmark fountain and the historic colonial area that was established by Sir Stanford Raffles.

We stopped to sip a Singapore Sling at the famous Long Bar of Raffles Hotel where rooms start at $700 per night. Our other tours included Jurong Bird Park and the Night Safari at the zoo, considered the best in the world with its free roaming enclosures for 2500 animals.

In our free time, we rode rickshaws around town and took the cable car over to Sentosa Island.
Some of us opted to head back to the zoo for a Jungle Breakfast with the Orangutans. At night Terry & I dinned on jumbo chili crabs and rice cakes.

This vibrant island-state of Singapore is glistening clean with purple bougainvillea bushes lining the highways. All cars are equipped with alarms to sound if one exceeds the speed limit. No graffiti, no gangs and in this tightly “controlled democracy”, it’s the death penalty for drug traffickers. We all made jokes about getting caned for chewing gum or jay-walking.

It was a nice leisurely visit here. I usually feel like Jack Bauer on the TV series “24″ on my trips with non-stop itineraries. Here I felt well rested as I boarded for our 3 hour flight to Vietnam.

Arriving in Hanoi is like stepping into another world with rice paddies, sampans, lotus blossoms, coconut milk and noodle soups. It’s like a time machine dropped us back to the 15th century in this graceful land steeped in history. It was far poorer than I anticipated. There was however, an alluring charm which was found in the gentility of the people with the sincerest of smiles.

I’ve always been a fan of the Third World. Whereas Singapore was dynamic, Hanoi was culturally stimulating. The city was studded with lakes and shaded by tamarind trees. It was a dichotomy that bustled with Chi-energy and yet was tranquil at the same time.

We checked into the deluxe Sheraton Resort, an oasis of calm amidst the chaos. Our fabulous guide named Hong was with us for 6 glorious days.

His first lesson was to teach us how to cross the streets. The traffic here is horrendously busy with 7 lanes packed with 2.4 million motor scooters. “It’s called the Chicken Game” he explained. “Don’t run, don’t stop, just walk slowly so the drivers can predict your direction. They will miss you!” That afternoon I stood in fear stranded 20 minutes curbside realizing this “lesson” went against every one of my survival instincts. Entire families passed by on a single scooter; I understand this is called the “Vietnamese sandwich.” Everything was transported by these mopeds, 8 piglets, a dozen chickens upside down, a TV, a tree and more. The pollution was thick and heavy. The inner city looked tired and worn. Suddenly there was a monsoon downpour. People draped ponchos and it became raincoat city. The traffic never slowed. I ducked for cover. It dissipated as quickly as it began, life went on and the air was temporarily washed clean. I finally crossed the street by walking slowly at an even pace. Everyone missed me.

The sun shined every day on our tours which included the Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda, the French Quarter and the Ho Chi Mihn memorial. We lined up with hundreds of people and entered the tomb where Ho Chi Mihn’s preserved body is visibly encased just like Lennon in Moscow. Armed communist soldiers commanded us to remain in silent reverence, no cameras, umbrellas, sunglasses allowed and arms at our sides at all times.

Later we visited Hoa Lo Prison, or the Fiery Furnace. Built by the French in 1896, thousands of political prisoners were tortured here until 1954. We viewed the dungeons with leg irons, torture equipment and “head cutting machines.”

In the 1960’s the Vietcong used it as a prisoner of war detention center for American pilots shot down during the Vietnam War. It was our captive pilots that sardonically named this place “The Hanoi Hilton.” We also did a walking tour through the Old Quarter where each narrow lane was named for its ancient craft: Silk St., Coffin St., Grilled Fish St., etc. Hong led us to a food market with turtles, sea slugs, pig heads and other unmentionable creatures for sale. “Thit Chow” is dog stew which is considered peasant food here and “country rat” is ceremoniously served at all birthday parties. They say it’s much healthier than “city rat.”

Most of our meals were included and thankfully rodents were never offered. We enjoyed elaborate American and Japanese breakfast buffets and 10 coarse lunches. Every restaurant was affordable. One evening my dinner menu presented salad of jellyfish, deep fried eel, ginger crickets and sticky rice with tender roasted pigeon. It seems the Vietnamese will eat anything that moves because it all “tastes like chicken.”

We attended the Water Puppet Show, an ancient art form unique to Hanoi. This blend of music and dance on water was has been the source of entertainment of villagers for centuries.

We then scattered to explore the city, Asia’s oldest capital. Some went for massages and pedicures at prices that couldn’t be resisted. Some shopped for souvenirs while others had clothes tailor made for them. I had an embroidered silk dress cut to my body in 4 hours for only $45. We also visited the handicraft villages for bargains in art. Want a “Monet?” No problem, just $25. Be careful, it’s wet. There were also ceramics and beautiful lacquerware. The currency was a great challenge for us as $10,500 Dong equals 65 cents. We felt like millionaires, yet it was disheartening to learn that the annual per capita income is just $320! We tipped generously throughout.

Vietnam’s pulse is found in its cities whereas its decorous grace is found in its villages. We headed out through the countryside for a full day cruise on Halong Bay. The air was fresh as we passed rice paddies, duck and prawn farms. It was rice harvest time and hundreds of rice farmers were laboriously bent over their ponds. Timid children smiled and waved as we drove by.

We arrived at this natural UNESCO World Heritage Site and boarded our private wooden junk boat. Quietly we sailed into a peaceful dreamscape that looked surreal with 3,000 islands of sheer limestone cliffs emerging from the calm emerald sea. There was a timeless, haunting quality to this scenery. Nat. Geo. called it “magic in stone and water.” We enjoyed a fantastic seafood lunch with fresh caught crab and prawns. It was a perfect day in the sun in the land of escapism and serenity.

The highlight of the trip for me was our group’s cyclo-tour through Old Hanoi on the last day. We turned a corner downtown to find 28 bicycle-rickshaws lined up to peddle us individually for an hour through the narrow scooter filled lanes of oncoming traffic. There were some near-misses at the red lights which were always ignored. We all laughed as the locals stared. Terry at 6′4” is considered huge even in America. Here he looked like King Tut seated on a throne as his 90lb. driver peddled him effortlessly in line with our group.

Later we went our separate ways for independent exploration. After several hours, I found myself lost in an area of town with no taxis. I had to get back to join others for dinner. I had no choice but to hire a ride on a scooter. Dressed in a skirt with my arms full of bags, I mounted the tiny seat and off we went. On the highway, I wrapped my arms and legs around my driver like an octopus. He laughed the entire way to the Sheraton.

We flew back to Singapore for a good nights rest at the Le Meridian before our long flight home to Los Angeles via Tokyo. I reflected on journey well done with new insights gained on history and culture. It was like visiting two different planets within one vacation. The contrast of this trip is evident in our photos from the contemporary garden paradise of Singapore, to the new renaissance of traditional Vietnam. This is certainly an Asian affair to be remembered.

Narrated by the ever omnipresent dead housewife, Mary Alice Young, who continues to spy on her neighbours and friends from her safe haven in the afterlife, we have moved forward by five years to 2013 where there have been some changes. The cast itself is largely unchanged with the core housewives still very much in evidence. Susan Meyer (Teri Hatcher) appears to be having a little secret dalliance with her painter and decorator and does not appear to be grieving for Mike, although it has to be said that there is no mention of him at all. Lynette Scarvo (Felicity Huffman)seems to be fully recovered from her life threatening cancer and is now able to turn her full attention to her children who have changed into rebellious teenagers still intent on driving their mother to the brink of insanity – in this series she finds that they are using the family restaurant after hours to run an illegal drinking and gambling school! Bree Van De Kamp (Marcia Cross) has re-invented herself as the Martha Stewart of Wisteria Lane and appears to be treading on the toes of her more talented partner and there is a sense that this is a storyline which will develop in a satisfying direction. Finally the biggest change is in Gabriella Solis (Eva Longoria Parker) who having had two children has piled on the pounds and barely resembles the stunning ex model we remember from the end of season four – a bigger surprise is the hugely overweight four year old daughter who struggles to fit into a child sized pink princess outfit! Just outside the core housewives we see the return of vampish Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan) who has returned with a new, but very creepy husband in tow, played by Neal McDonough.

The first episode has set up many questions which will unravel over the coming weeks and after an award winning fourth season Desperate Housewives really is back on track so this series has an awful lot to live up to. The undertones of mystery surrounding Mike Delfino, and the identity of Edie’s new husband will help to keep the storylines fresh and invigorated. One big question is just how and why did Gabriella Solis go in five years from siren to frump? There seems to be a growing sense of reality as the residents of Wisteria Lane grow and mature but with a healthy dose of secrets and lies we are sure to revel in this season of our favourite dark comedy.

The Blood Pressure Cuff

The first feature, and the most important, for your consideration is the cuff. The cuff is that slightly scary, round contraption that inflates over your upper arm. It looks similar to an inflatable inner bicycle tube, if you’ve ever seen one. They come in multiple sizes to fit different sized people. For instance, you and your family members each would probably require different sized cuffs. If a cuff is too small, or too large, you may not get your true blood pressure numbers. So cuff size is important!

Your doctor can probably aid you in determining your cuff size. She’ll be able to tell you. Keep in mind how important this is. You want to make sure you are reading your blood pressure numbers right. Unfortunately, larger cuffs can cost more, which makes sense given that they require more material to manufacture. But it’s necessary that your cuff fits so this extra cost may be unavoidable.

For Your Consideration: The Display

The display, which allows you to read your blood pressure numbers, is also important. Without an interface that you can read, of course, you won’t know your blood pressure. Those with vision impairment might do well with an oversized display. Such a display is similar to reading a book with a magnifier. Essentially, find the blood pressure machine with a display that works for you.

Stethoscope

As anyone who has been to a doctor knows, you’ll employ the stethoscope to listen to your blood pressure while you take it. This will often come with the blood pressure monitor. Comfort and utility – meaning the ability to hear through it – are important when purchasing a stethoscope. Also, ask your doctor how to interpret the sounds you hear.

Time for Validation

Don’t choose your blood pressure equipment until you determine it has been validated. You can find this out from either your doctor or the manufacturer.

Price

In a perfect world, health costs aren’t an issue. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world. To deal with cost, for starters, see if your health insurance company will cover, or at least underwrite some of, the cost for your blood pressure equipment. Why would they do so? To possibly prevent having to pay for future heart treatment and other high blood pressure ailments. Remember, the healthier you are, the less need you will have for a doctor and thus the cheaper you will be for the insurance company to insure. In addition, some equipment is more expensive than other equipment. For example, a digital display or print out may cost more. But those features might be unnecessary for you.

This article has made clear the factors that go into purchasing home blood pressure equipment. To review, look at the cuff, display, stethoscope, validation, and cost. Hopefully, this will provide you with a good start in picking out the best blood pressure equipment for you. But this is only a start. Make sure you perform more research online about blood pressure equipment and health to keep you fit so that you can enjoy life.

There are two types of soap character recasts: the kind that replace a long-loved character because the show simply doesn’t want to get rid of this character, and the replacement of a more minor character to get the storyline over with. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Particularly quirky characters are hard to replace. Lackluster characters can come and go without viewers even noticing.

When Matthew Ashford left the character of Jack Deveraux on Days of our Lives the producers gave the viewers some time without the character at all. Enter a entourage of ‘non-Jack’ replacements and in the end we wouldn’t settle for anything less then the real thing – who actually happened to be a recast himself! In this case the best recast turned out to be irreplaceable!

General Hospital has it’s core characters that aren’t good candidates for replacement. There could never be another Audrey Hardy since she started in the 2nd season of the show back in the 1960s. While Ned Quartermaine has gone through a few changes, Alan and Monica Quartermaine could never undergo such a drastic overhaul.

A lot of times a replacement is inevitable. An actor may want to leave but the character has such a stronghold on the show that the producers have no choice but to recast. The best recasts often happen when there is time between the original actor’s exit and the new actor’s entrance. Viewers have had time to digest the show without this character so a new face with the same name isn’t as upsetting as seeing your favorite actor one day and a brand new one the next.

In the end viewers are usually just happy to have that character continue on the show. Sometimes the new actor takes the character to places the first actor couldn’t have and fans adapt to it. Occasionally the recast is so bad they have to remove them from the show for a while and regroup with a new actor months later. And the best is when the original actor decides to come back to us.

Apparently, Andrew Van de Kamp, who is played by teen actor Shawn Pyfrom, will be going through a lot of life-altering experiences soon, particularly with regards to his sexuality. The planned development of Pyfrom’s character has come at the best time, what with so many Americans battling with their sexuality today. Andrew may very well become the gay teen community’s next figurehead, although it must be said that hopefully the example he will set is a good one. After all, if one backtracks and studies Andrew’s past behavior, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that he is one disturbed kid. Still, the root of Andrew’s anger and resentment towards his mother, Bree (played by actress Marcia Cross), has been established as Bree’s non-acceptance of his true self, which means that perhaps if given the freedom to express himself and the unconditional love of a parent, Andrew may just step away from his rebellious ways. Therefore, will Andrew’s future exploits reflect a change in Bree’s perspective as well?

It is because of plot twists like this that make the show so exciting to watch. To add to the sweet anticipation for the next season, the show has also added two new cast members. The mother of Lynette Scavo (portrayed by Golden Globe-winner Felicity Huffman) is set to be played by Polly Bergen, while the father of Victor Lang (portrayed by John Slattery) is set to be played by M*A*S*H alumnus Mike Farrell. It looks like the beloved characters of Wisteria Lane are about to get a big dose of parental guidance.

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To begin with, I will offer up the show ENTOURAGE. On an episode by episode basis, this show is consistently funny and well written. ENTOURAGE is based on Vincent Chase (played by Adrian Grenier) and his entourage of friends. While many of the jokes and storylines involve the industry of Hollywood, the production is top notch. It is all topped off, of course, with the acting of Jeremy Piven. He plays, maginficently, agent to the starts Ari Gold. Without him, the show would be still be good but might be missing that extra punch needed in good shows.

Switching back to regular t.v., SCRUBS has been a funny and well liked show for going on six seasons now. Bill Lawrence has created a show that has fought to stay around each season and won out, thanks to what started as a loyal cult following and grown into something more. SCRUBS, in large part, was able to turn Zach Braff into a star. The show, in case some haven’t seen it, revolves around Braff’s character and his friends on the daily grind of working in the hospital. Always good for a laugh, SCRUBS could be in its final season. I definitely recommend checking it out at least once before its run ends. (Of course, there is always Comedy Central and re-runs.)

As my third show, I am going to pick HOUSE. Only because Hugh Laurie is a talented actor that portrays the title character. His demeanor is enough to keep me watching every week. The story lines are usually pretty good, although it does seem that Dr. House is usually able to solve every medical case thrown his way. (He’s that good. Maybe even better than TRAPPER JOHN, M.D.) HOUSE takes place at a research hospital and centers around a team of doctors, led by Laurie, that are always involved in new cases and studies of medical problems. The cases are taken from actual cases that have been researched in medical journals. So once AMERICAN IDOL stops hogging all of the air time, be sure to return to Fox Tuesday nights to catch HOUSE.

Now if only ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT hadn’t been cancelled, my television watching would be complete.