Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - July 25, 2010

It's Sunday morning (well, actually really really late Saturday night) and it's time for my regular off topic glance back at the week gone by in words and photographs I've taken. Big Brother live feeds coverage will return later this morning.

This summer is SO not a good one for me in the weather department. I'm one of those people who can take the cold much better than the heat. With heat wave after heat wave and 35 days so far this summer being over 90 degrees (usually coupled with high humidity levels), it's beyond horrible. Thankfully I do have air conditioning at home, as well as enough means to pay the bill to stay relatively comfortable indoors. Alas, I do have to go outdoors daily. Case in point, I should be a hermit or a recluse ... something to that effect.

I won't be going out heading work this week because I'm on STAYCATION! Of course, I'll be doing writing work with the BB season on. But, it's different if I WANT to go out to the store, etc. I can choose the time I go, like early in the morning or in the early evening.

Let's see ... what else was there besides work and heat this past week?

I feel compelled to mention in my town's (Plainfield, NJ) budget crisis, they sent the animal control folks packing. I have a police scanner and heard a heart-wrenching call earlier this week. A puppy had been hit by a car. A police officer called in that the dog was in bad shape and he had the juvenile (16 years old) puppy owner with him. The teen's parents weren't available.

When the officer requested animal control, he was advised that they'd come from Newark with an estimated time of an hour and a fee of $100. The officer requested they try something closer -- Newark is about 18 miles away and it was rush hour with NYC commuter traffic. He was told the town only has a contract with Newark. The officer started flagging cars down trying to get someone to bring the dog to the local animal hospital (about a ten minute drive). No one would do it. The officer requested permission to take the juvenile and dog there himself. Denied. Someone must have stepped in because the officer, after a phone call, did just that.

This had to be a nightmare for the officer, the puppy and its owner. I would think there had to be other fat which could have been lopped off the budget leaving the two part-time animal control people in place. There have been, though not recently, situations with rabid animals in town. There's a proliferation of tough dogs in town, many who seem to run free. Deer wander into town. Newark ain't gonna cut it, contract or not. Our ambulance situation is even worse. Sigh.

Onto this week's photos -- clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

I keep seeing dead people

Scarf lady has a new friend. I read in the paper that NJ Transit is experimenting with quiet cars on one train line. Those would be rail cars where cell phones, screaming kids, loud talkers, etc., aren't welcome. I want that on my line. In the mornings it's not too bad, but sometimes the cell phone idiots (who do you talk LOUDLY to at 7:00 AM?) drive me up the wall.

Coming home is another matter. The sports fans are usually obnoxious and NJ Transit feeds into it by allowing them to drink alcohol on the trains. The other evening there was a woman in front of me LOUDLY talking on a cell phone in Hindi, a man behind me LOUDLY talking on a cell phone in Spanish, across the aisle another man yelled at his cell phone in English, two seats away someone was watching a soap opera on some sort of device with no headphones, a child old enough to be able to behave in public wasn't and his mother was ignoring him, I could also hear someone's iPod and know they'll be deaf in another few years if I can hear it six seats away.

I end up putting on my own not-an-iPod just to drown out all the noise around me. No, my not-an-iPod can't be heard by anyone but me. PLEASE, NJT -- quiet cars on all the lines! No, not all the cars are quiet, just a few on each train.

Uh-oh. Am I the only one left in the world?

It's like the old Twilight Zone episode in which the man wanted to be alone and got his wish. This is my early (Monday) walk to the train. Once I round the corner, there will be people again ... I think. East Front and Church Street, Plainfield.

Kind of, sort of

I went from blogging to um ... well ... a blogging job. AOL/TV Squad hired me due to my earlier blogging days.

181

I'm going to document the epic fail of this house number. I edited this shot to leave some in color, some in black & white. North Street.

Here comes the sun(flower)

A sunflower is ready to burst through on East Front Street.

It's the bee's knees!

Or, the yellow jackets' domain. As this nest gets bigger, it's going to be interesting to watch it from the back. Bridgewater, NJ.

New Jersey Transit, "The Way to Go"

Two very different NJT buses stop near the NJT Railroad overpass. The first bus is the style which makes Manhattan runs. The seats are fairly comfy with more legroom than on Greyhound (or its ilk) buses. The second bus is one which makes small local runs like to the Metuchen train station and such. It rattles and the seats aren't lush like the first bus.

At five o'clock it's much too crowded
Much too crowded, so crowded - "Expressway to Your Heart" by The Soul Survivors

You aren't in Kansas anymore

To be more exact, you aren't in Roselle. Why was a fire engine from three towns away going lights and siren through Plainfield? A Fanwood (adjacent town) one also went screaming through, but my camera wasn't ready for that one. This was Tuesday early evening, corner of Watchung and East 4th. When I got home, I turned on the scanner and heard there was some sort of fire scene on North Avenue, but it never hit the local papers or local bloggers. Our ambulances are cut, but the fire department is still manned pretty well. What's up?

Do not disturb any further

I can't believe it! Someone actually tried to load the yellow jacket nest honor box with papers! That must have been quite the surprise for them, eh? It dislodged the two dead soldiers stuck in the plexiglass flap a bit, but the nest seems to be still in action. Now they're mad. I didn't get real close.

Vroom Vroom

No, it's not that brand of car. But it sounds like that! I had a Vroom for my bicycle when I was young -- a thing which made engine noises. It was better than attaching playing cards with a clothespin to hit the wheel spokes. Anyone remember the Vroom? East Fourth Street, Plainfield, outside of Custom Underground, edited for the black and white/color effect.

Bat without a belfry

Yes, it's a bat sleeping way up high in Bridgewater, NJ. There used to be a lot of bats, but the population has taken an incredible hit with white nose syndrome. I'm always happy to see these little guys ... unless one is in my apartment, that is. They're fascinating creatures and kill bugs which annoy me a lot more than bats!

Chicory thrives

Due to the lack of rain, the grass looks more like kindling than grass in most places and even the leaves on trees are turning brown and falling. But the chicory grows wild all around the Plainfield Train Station.

A tri-shroom!

I noticed this growing in front of the main post office in Plainfield. It's HUGE.

Baked by the next morning

This is the very next day. They're bigger in diameter, but flattened.

I can't seem to find a sunflower without a bumblebee attached

East Front Street, Plainfield.

It's a sunflower jungle

Other parts of town might be an asphalt jungle, but it's sunny here. The walkway at my sunflower site. They're as tall as previous years, but the flowers aren't as big and the plants themselves are less lush. I blame the heat and lack of rain.

Storm clouds move in

This was at the corner of Watchung Avenue and East Fourth. It only sprinkled a bit, though. Many heavy-duty storms hit north of us, but very little rain right here.

Life is bare, gloom and misery everywhere
Stormy weather, just can't get my poor old self together
I'm weary all the time, the time, so weary all of the time
- "Stormy Weather" as sung by Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday (take your pick)

Early morning skies

And it's hot once again. Taken from the Plainfield Train Station at about 6:30 AM Monday.

I will close my eyes each time you take a shot

Vincent didn't want to cooperate with the camera. He's not asleep. He's just closing his eyes every time I hit the button on my camera. Silly kitty.

How was your week?

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds, PoV, Saturday July 24

Do you really want to hurt me?
Do you want to make cry?

Oh geez, now I can't watch Rachel without thinking Boy George and humming Culture Club tunes.

The big news of the day is that they did have the POV comp despite it being Andrew's Sabbath. Here's how the day went down in the World of Wacky Wombats ... er, Hamsters:

• After being awakened by BB, they were immediately on indoor lockdown.
• They think this season is all about punishment. Enzo thinks it's because of the saboteur theme.
• Maybe all the punishment is due to them sending the saboteur packing in the first week!
  
• They don't KNOW punishment. Punishment is watching them on the live feeds.
• They still think BB is stacking the deck for Brendon and Rachel.
• Matt told Enzo that Ragan doesn't want either Brendon or Rachel to go home. According to Matt, leaving them in for now provides good targets.
• What good is a target if you don't target it? <-- my question for that theory.
• The Brigade thinks it's smarter to keep Andrew because Kathy will side with Brendon and Rachel.
• The feeds were blocked for a few hours for the POV comp. From what they said afterward, it was the stay or fold comp redux.
• Brendon won.
• That kind of kills the backdoor Brendon plan.
• They (R/B) know that if a nominee is removed one of them (Rachel, since Brendon won POV) will go up.
• So the nominations should remain the same.
• Matt told Andrew that he thinks he probably has enough votes to stay in the house as the only sure bets for Kathy are Brendon and Rachel.
  
• He advised him to campaign anyway.
• Andrew's not a real happy camper. He never wanted to be a pawn.
• Ragan fussed about being a Have Not.
  
• Hey, it could be worse -- he could be like Andrew, a Have Not on the block!
• Plus, he could have stayed up in the comp instead of throwing it to Matt.
• Britney told Matt that Kathy is on the outs with Rachel because they haven't talked since Rachel lost power.
• Well, Kathy has to follow the power!
• That's pretty much it for now. It looks like yet another dull evening ahead.
• Karma karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go ...
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Saturday Morning, July 24

This could be interesting, so to speak. There hasn't been anything all that interesting going on in the house since the Saboteur eviction, so I'm talking relative here. I was expecting the PoV comp to be yesterday. It didn't happen. Now, Andrew is on the block and he has already said he won't compete in competitions on his Sabbath -- which is Saturday. I wonder how that's going to go if they have the comp today.

Here's the skinny from that Big Brother House of Lonesome Losers:

• Enzo told Andrew he didn't deserve to be on the block since he had worked so hard at the HOH comp and did so well.
• Rachel put peaches in the iced tea and Andrew, who has told her his religious dietary restrictions many times, can't drink it. He thinks she's dense.
• She is.
• Kathy thinks she was nominated because she voted for Monet to stay.
• That's not the reason. Her Brendon/Rachel connection is the reason.
• They picked players for the PoV. Enzo will host. Rachel, Brendon and Lane will play.
  
• Matt, Enzo and Lane thinks the bag for players was rigged, full of Brendon and Rachel. There was no houseguest choice and Matt said they wouldn't let him look in the bag.
• Hayden and Kristen told Andrew he needs to win POV.
  
• They're not necessarily right. If Brendon or Rachel (or Kathy, but that's a joke) win PoV, Kathy will come off and Brendon or Rachel (whichever one didn't win PoV) will go up.
  
• Andrew, while in the beginning was a huge target, basically gets along with most of the house, albeit not a loving relationship.
• Kathy told Lane not to use the veto on her if he wins. Huh? She must mistakenly think Andrew is the target.
• Lots of small talk about previous seasons and their comps. Britney is definitely knowledgeable about her BB stuff.
• Britney, Matt and Lane think either BB or America love Brendon and Rachel.
• Britney doubts it's America.
• Oh my. Don't tell me I'm going to have to start liking this girl. To be honest, without Monet around to be catty with, she is a lot easier to take.
• Rachel and Brendon had more undercover maneuvers.
• Matt told Hayden that Ragan spilled the beans and they need to keep Brendon and Rachel as they'd target Hayden and Kristen if they took power again.
• So, it's back to "Kathy needs to go" for the good of all.
• Well, except Kathy maybe.
• They're all asleep as I get this posted.
  

Big Brother 12 - Nominations Are In, July 23

As expected, Kathy is on the block with Andrew.

Big Brother 12 - Friday Live Feeds, July 23

Who's this? Oh my, could it be ...? It's Kristen!

My review of last night's show, as well as a special HOH comp live feeds report, are up over on TV Squad. Please check them out!

Here's what's been shakin' in that Big Brother House of Fools:

• Rachel cried because BB told her she wasn't allowed to get wasted. That gal has some serious drinking issues, methinks. She claims it's her job -- to have fun. @@
• Brendon and Rachel questioned Matt about his wife's disease and the surgery. He reacted as well as he did in the house meeting. When put on the spot, he's a very poor liar although he lies smoothly when creating the story.
• Matt has the rubber duckies Will had in the bathtub in the HOH room. We need a puppet show with them!
• Matt thinks the nerdy niche market for the show will love his on-air ChenBot reference.
• I guess I resemble that remark. I also liked her reaction. It was so much better than shutting down the one who kept calling her "Jules." Argh, I'm pulling a blank on who did that. But I remember she didn't like it.
• The ants are all over the kitchen once again.
• Rachel thinks there must be an "I hate Rachel" club. Why do they hate her? Because she has red hair!
• I have red hair.
• Mine is real.
• Rachel got drunk even though BB told her she couldn't get wasted. Brendon can't drink because he's a Have Not (along with Enzo, Andrew and Ragan).
• Brendon went to bed. Rachel stayed at the hot tub drinking.
• She told Julie that Brendon is more important than the money.
• He doesn't seem more important than alcohol, though.
• Britney tried to convince the others that Hayden and Kristen are really twins, as in brother and sister.
• That would be just too kinky in view of the showmance, but it's something blog commenter F.A. (formerly anon) came up with days ago.
• Matt wants to put up Andrew and Kathy, backdooring Brendon when the POV is used. That, of course, makes the assumption that one of them (or the nominees) will win the POV.
  
• The Brigade wants Rachel and Brendon out.
• Enzo thinks Monet was a nice girl.
• He didn't see the show edits and the diary room sessions, did he?
• Andrew was upset he didn't win HOH because he really wanted to see a picture of his daughter.
• While Enzo likes Monet, he spent a lot of time trashing Kathy.
• Not to her face, of course.
• Hayden and Kristen even have a birthmark in common.
• Matt doesn't want to tell the others that he made a deal with Rachel and Brendon that he wouldn't nominated them, but if the POV is used, one will go on the block. Ragan is the only other one who knows that.
• When Matt told Rachel and Brendon, he also told them he wouldn't encourage anyone to use the veto.
• Matt told Rachel he might throw the POV comp so he's not put in a position to use the POV.
  
• Rachel is worried that she and Brendon won't get chosen to play for POV and one of them will end up on the block. Heh.
• Matt told Andrew he wants to put him on the block as a pawn with Kathy as the target.
• Not surprisingly, Andrew questioned why the two main targets weren't going up.
• He accepted the backdoor bit, but seemed to be a bit concerned nonetheless.
• America voted for baby food and bok choy. At least it's a tad healthy.
  

Big Brother 12 - HOH Endurance Comp Coverage

6:50 AM ET update -- They're all still up, check out the skull and crossbones in Matt's HOH room. More details early this evening (Fri.)


Matt is wearing the HOH key and just told Rachel that Ragan didn't drop, he fell.

Feeds came back at 11:38 PM ET - No confirmation, but it sounds like Matt got it.


11:25 PM - We've had bubbles (blocked feeds) for about 20 minutes. I assume it's all over and went as planned with Matt getting HOH. They're probably letting them unwind and feeding them. I will post the winner when I know for certain. But Matt due to the talk between Matt and Ragan would be my prediction.

11:00 PM ET - Both still up, but the Matt/Ragan deal is in action. Ragan should be dropping before long.

10:36 PM - Ragan plans to drop in 15 to 20 minutes. The deal is that Andrew (pawn) goes up with Kathy (target). No deal on POV replacement for Rachel and Brendon, just that they're not nominated now. Nominations need to remain the same or one will go up.

They sent the others inside and Matt and Ragan talk about who they'd put up. Matt wants Kathy out no matter what, maybe Brendon or Rachel with her. Ragan cares what Rachel thinks of him. Matt suggests Kathy and Andrew. It's Ragan talking about dropping.

Now they want to tell Andrew he's a pawn and make a deal with Rachel and Brendon that they'll be safe -- Kathy go home (because she's the third).


10:27 PM ET - Andrew slipped. Now only Ragan and Matt still up.

10:15 PM ET - Still Ragan, Andrew and Matt up



Then there were three -- an unlikely three -- Andrew, Ragan and Matt still up


9:44 PM ET - WHOA! Brendon's down with his size 13s


9:39 PM ET - Enzo slipped and is out.

9:35 PM ET - Brendon, Enzo, Ragan, Andrew and Matt still up





9:15 PM ET -- Feeds back, Britney goes down -- Hayden and Kathy out

9:13 PM ET - Trivia, then bubbles



9:09 PM ET - Kristen out


Right now the feeds are still blocked. Once they come back up, this post will be updated with screen caps and the events.

9:07 PM ET - Feeds up, looks like they're all still on -- Lane just went down

Big Brother 12 - Episode 7 - Live Eviction Blog Party

The show is about to start here on the East Coast. As the show airs here, I'll update this post with the major events. Later on, I'll be writing up my full review of the show for TV Squad. This looks like it's going to be an endurance HOH comp. If so, after the show ends here in the NYC, I'll pick up the live feeds and I'll endure along with them.

Hamsters ready?

The vote:
Andrew --> Monet
Enzo --> Monet
Britney --> Matt
Commercial break.
Kathy --> Matt
Hayden --> Monet
Kristen --> Monet
Ragan --> Monet
Brendon --> Monet
Lane --> Monet

Buh-bye, Monet.

Before commercial break, the hamsters on surfboards in the yard.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Thursday Morning, July 22

There IS a Kristen in the house!

Today the hamsters will be cleaning house in anticipation of the live show. What they don't ever realize every season is that they're constantly in a live show on the feeds and their messes show! Here's what happened overnight:

• Monet cried to Kathy that she doesn't understand why they'd keep Matt over her.
• Maybe they like him more, I say.
• Kathy told Monet she has no idea what's going on with the others.
• She probably doesn't. Kathy is no shrewd cop on the beat in the house. She's friendly with all, but no one confides in her. We're talking pure floater.
• They remain on indoor lockdown. Kathy is so wanting a cigarette!
• Rachel told Ragan that she thinks if Matt wins HOH, he'd put her and Brendon on the block. Ragan doesn't think so, but commits to nothing on the point.
• Rachel feels sorry for crying Monet, but doesn't think she tried too hard to win the PoV.
• Monet and Britney worked for Lane's vote, telling him they had Andrew and Kathy.
• Andrew doesn't care for Matt, but doesn't want his name thrown in as a vote to keep Monet, either. He wants to go with the flow in the house.
• Britney says that Kristen and Hayden have a showmance going.
• You don't say ...!
• Britney also thinks if Kristen wins HOH, she's (Britney) history.
• Kathy is hedging on her vote to evict Monet. After Monet cried to her, Kathy told Brendon and Rachel that she finds some of the things Matt said the night before disturbing.
• Matt was way drunk that night. Way to go, genius! A real genius would NEVER get drunk in the house.
• Kathy decided she would vote for Matt to go as a warning, but that the vote on the whole in the house will be for Monet to go.
• Kristen told Andrew that, despite Matt's behavior the night before, if he were to win HOH, his targets would be Brendon and Rachel.
• The overall house sentiment is still a Monet ouster. Britney should be interesting without her BFF.
• The showmance couples split off and did their showmance stuff.
• Ragan talked to Lane. Lane told him the first time Annie talked to him was after she was nominated and he only went to console her because she was upset.
• They're all asleep as I post this.
• My review of last night's show is up on TV Squad!
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Wednesday Evening, July 21

Boy George in his Culture Club days

Rachel

Yes! Yes! I've been trying to think of who it is that Rachel reminds me of -- it's BOY GEORGE! Well, not the implants, of course. Thanks to the anonymous commenter who made the comparison on an earlier live feeds report. Now I can sleep at night.

I don't really have much to report, but here goes nothing (and I mean nothing!) --

• They've been on indoor lockdown most of the day. At one point we had a flash of the backyards on the feeds. There's metal framing out there.
• Ragan's probably right -- it's probably going to be an endurance comp. If so, I'll stay with it here after the show.
• Monet and Britney continued to campaign for votes to keep Monet in the house.
• At least, if Monet goes, I'll stop mistyping her name as "Money." I end up fixing that all the time.
• Matt and Andrew talked -- both said they're not after each other despite talk in the house.
• More showmance undercover escapades.
• Tons of non-game related small talk about previous seasons and other reality shows.
• I still predict a Monet ouster.
• The camera man tonight has a fixation with close-ups. Can you spot Kristen?
  

Big Brother 12 - Episode 6 - POV Show - Blog Party Post

The show is about to start here on the East Coast. Everyone is welcome to join in down in the comments area. The more, the merrier! Late tonight, my full review of the show should be up on TV Squad and this post will be updated to reflect major events as it airs.

Britney wins POV!

Britney saved herself and Matt (who volunteered) went on the block in her place as a pawn.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds, Daytime Wednesday, July 21

HOH camera time

Ho-hum, another day in that Big Brother House of Boozing Bores ...

• Brendon and Rachel were the first ones up today. Rachel did her hour in the stocks while Brendon catered to her and exercised.
• Afterward, Brendon and Rachel were having sex play under the covers when Kathy walked in.
• Kathy has a habit of doing that and seems oblivious to it all.
• I forgot to mention that last night Hayden told Kristen that he thinks America probably hates Brendon and Rachel.
• From the mouths of babes ...
• I don't actually HATE Brendon and Rachel, not even just Rachel. Her jumping on Brendon right off and party gal ways don't mesh well with me.
• Maybe I'm just a prude!
• Maybe I'm jealous.
• Yeah, right. At least I've had real red hair all my life!
• Ragan thinks the HOH comp will be endurance. He could very well be right. The first endurance comp is usually two to three weeks in if memory serves.
• Lots and lots of small talk, non-game related.
• The camera, Rachel's blog entry, and the tweet are today.
• Although Monet's been campaigning hard and Rachel has indicated she's thinking of keeping her, I think the votes will be for her to go.
• Stop back in a bit for the blog party as the show airs on the East Coast!
• Bring snacks, please.
  

Brendon tries to look 'hood in his mandana.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Wednesday, July 21

He's not drunk, he's just Enzo.

I realize I didn't want a weird twist this summer. But, without a twist, this group is way too dull. Now, had they had actual diversity in the casting -- ages, races, etc. -- the house would have more action. This group, despite the cattiness and little quibbles, gets along way too well.

Here are the events since my last report:

• There was a banner plane! Unfortunately it was some kind of advertising, nothing to do with the house. I saw a banner plane in NJ and thought of them.
• Monet continues to campaign.
• Kristen told Britney she and Monet had to stop saying they had her vote.
• Britney denied saying that.
  
• I haven't seen anyone other than Britney outright say Monet had their vote to stay.
• Kathy, accused of starting the rumor about the vote, got them together to confront Britney.
• Rachel admitted to Britney that her goal is to have Monet evicted -- they don't need Britney making more drama and Monet has the ten grand she won, so she won't go empty-handed.
• Matt, in his continued odd strategy, insisted to Ragan that the HoH group wants to flip the vote (and send him home).
• Monet got all upset over the Kristen vote kerfuffle and started crying.
• Monet said that Rachel told her she was targeted because she didn't even bother talking to her for 13 days.
• I don't know. It's kind of hard to talk to Rachel when she's doing the hanky-panky with Brendon a good part of each day!
• Then Britney thought she was being attacked, so she cried.
• Enzo told them there's no crying in Big Brother.
  
• Gee, I thought he knew the show. I guess not!
• After saying that Kathy screamed at her, Britney cried to Kathy that Rachel never liked her.
• @@
• Britney cried some more.
• Brendon and Rachel went over the pros and cons of keeping Matt or Monet.
• Rachel told Ragan (Matt's new bestest info-buddy) that she thinks Matt is this season's Ronnie playing both sides of the house.
• She's right, but Ragan doesn't think so.
• Matt told Rachel he thinks she's gone on a power trip with the HOH win and that she's strong-arming people.
• Monet accused Matt of volunteering to go on the block only to save Andrew.
• Matt denied being in any alliances in the house.
• If the Brigade could have looked up in the air and whistled, they would have done so.
• The Brigade remains a secret alliance, not even Kristen knows.
• Monet told them that they're after her for the ten thousand, but it's Matt they should worry about because he's fooling them all.
• Britney told Matt that she feels like she's in the middle and likes him.
• Britney told Ragan that she likes Matt, hates confrontation and was led to believe Matt was starting drama about her.
• The Brigade confirmed they would keep Matt and are pleased that they're still a secret.
• Britney doesn't like it when her name is tarnished. Maybe she shouldn't be so catty about others? Then she wouldn't be in the middle of drama as much.
• Those are my thoughts, of course. Britney doesn't think she herself could ever be catty.
• Rachel told Matt he'd have to secure Brendon't vote.
• Rachel cried.
• She told Matt that she just wanted to get to the jury house ... with Brendon.
• Rachel and Brendon think Enzo is the least of their worries. No one seems to worry much about Enzo.
• That's a good thing for Enzo, eh?
• Rachel told Brendon that she'd kind of like to see Monet and Britney play next week and they probably wouldn't target either of them.
• Yeah, right.
• BB gave them alcohol, only for the Haves.
• Matt drank a bottle of wine all by himself and staggered a lot.
• Kristen also got drunk.
• Not as drunk as Matt, though.
• Then it was time for the showmances to get some undercover action in.
• They're all asleep as I post this. I believe the vote will still be to evict Monet despite the Brendon/Rachel hedging right now.
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Tuesday Daytime, July 20

ATTENTION: Allison Grodner -- You need to do SOMETHING to liven this season up! You picked a cast for which there is no controversy other than cattiness. Your most "dangerous" character is Enzo and that's all persona rather than anything else. We always complain that it's boring in the beginning of the season, but this year we mean it. Showmances are nothing. We have computers. If we wanted to watch porn online, we could. We're here for Big Brother. Your big saboteur idea was blown to dust after one week. Have you nothing else planned?

/rant

Another day of virtually nothing on the feeds. Here's the scoop (or lack thereof):

• Matt's using Ragan for information.
• Lane is using Britney for information.
• Brendon and Rachel are using each other for sex toys.
• Brendon thinks that Enzo has no alliances except perhaps with Britney.
• He's wrong.
• Brendon, Kathy and Rachel think Matt's a liar and playing both sides of the house.
• He is, but he's not as annoying as some in the past.
• Matt is reminding me of Ray Romano at times. He shouldn't -- wrong accent and all. Yet it happens.
• Not everyone loved Raymond. Not everyone loves Matt.
• Monet tried to make nicey-nice with Kathy.
• Later Kathy, Brendon, and Rachel talked about how lazy and dependent on her parents Monet is. She has no job, lives off her parents, etc., etc.
• Hayden told Monet that he heard Rachel was thinking of backdooring Matt.
• Ain't gonna happen. Monet's the target although they don't care much for Matt, either.
• Matt has the Brigade behind him and, for some reason, no one is seeing that Boy Alliance Band.
• That's all she wrote. Meow.
  

I feel like Kathy's expression.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Tuesday Dawn, July 20

Monet and Rachel take stock in their living situation. Heehee. Apparently something in the recent comp (blocked to the live feeds) has the hamsters doing the stocks daily, some up to four days.

Here are the happenings from that Big Brother House Which NEEDS To Come to Life:

• They complained that they're bored. Well, now. That's a big surprise!
• Brendon still wants to cook for the others even though he's a Have Not.
• Some played pool, others played word games.
• Hayden and Kristen were off camera a lot. I wonder what games they were playing?
• Monet and Britney got all catty again. They talked of Britney looking like a hoochie with her double chin, stealing Kathy's cigarettes. Hoochie Mama!
  
• Brendon and Rachel, who have had tiffs, plan to stretch their last fight to lessen the target on them.
• Britney fussed about how little they're earning on the show.
• My heart goes out to her. Or not.
• As in past seasons, a spider has been adopted by some (not all) of the hamsters.
• Brendon and Rachel made out ... again.
• Enzo created a slop dish which he calls pastina. Lane gave it a try and declared it good.
• Many have noticed that Kathy is definitely just following the power in the house. This week she's Rachel's buddy, last week not so much.
• Kristen and Hayden have been discovered by the camera ... in bed. Who woulda thunk it?
• Ragan likes Matt as a pal. But now others are telling him how Matt's playing both sides of the house. Ragan wants to be friends with who he wants to be friends with and that's that!
• Ragan thinks Brendon is a snake and Kathy is a floater, especially after she told him she wasn't trying to win.
• Matt says he wanted to be nominated to avoid being bullied by Rachel and Brendon, plus sparing the decision of who to vote for this week.
• Yeah, right. I'm sure he has his motives, but volunteering to go on the block is a pretty drastic step!
• Ragan, a floater himself, thinks that Kathy needs to go or she'll float her way to the win.
• Matt thinks Brendon and Rachel need to be split up.
• Well, duh. They had their chance and blew it.
• Hayden and Kristen want Britney nominated.
• So do I.
• Hayden and Kristen did a lot of undercover actions. They must be on a mission, eh?
• All are asleep as I get this posted.