Big Brother 14: Live Feeds Sunday Into the Evening - Sept. 16

Danielle's body language says it all. She's defeated and resistance is futile. This could very well be the most awkward final three ever in the house. Here are the non-events from inside that Big Brother House of Misery:

• Danielle is not only acting about being mad at Ian, she's actually mad at him.
• She told Dan she wants to punch him (Ian) out and can't stand talking to him.
• Say what?
• All Ian did was win a comp. It's DAN who's bamboozled her all season!
• She told Dan she never liked Ian and was only putting up with him due to the alliance -- she doesn't need to pretend anymore. She also said she doesn't like Ian because he's an atheist.
• Dan corrected her with "agnostic."
• Doesn't matter. Still enough reason for misdirected anger and "hate."
• She spent most of the day sulking, pouting, sighing, fake-crying, a few real tears here and there and playing the martyr.
• Ian hammocked a good portion of the day away.
• Dan sleazed Danielle acting like he's got her best interests in mind and she basically bought it again.
• Oh, not hook, line and sinker (heehee) like before.
• But seeing as it's DAN she's talking to, not IAN ... something is still awry in her mindset regarding who did her in.
• Of course, it was Danielle herself who did herself in by falling for Dan's "coaching."
• She might just realize that but is now too dependent on Dan's input.
• Pavlov's dog hamster-style!
• By evening, she was acting civilly with Ian, but not having much fun at anything.
• We have three more days of this.
• BIG SIGH and I feel I need to put on my pouty face. Whatever did I do to deserve this kind of treatment from these hamsters?
• It's not fair! I've lived and breathed the live feeds for three months of my life and this is my thank you! HUH!
• Er. 
• Ahem.
• Danielle told Dan he's sitting pretty either way, whether he or Ian wins the third part.
• Heck, she doesn't really know it, but he's been sitting pretty with the final three, as well.
• She knows Ian won't take her.
• "What? You don't think I can win against Ian?" Dan asked her, referring to the last part of the final HoH comp.
• She didn't answer.
• Dan is still making sure Ian will bring him to the final two, but seems to have stopped thinking about how to get him (Ian) to throw the comp.
• That's because Ian said that would never happen -- he's planning on playing for the win.
• Good Ian.
• Dan, on the other hand, is thinking of throwing the comp so that Danielle's exit is at Ian's hands.
• He seems to think he might have a chance with the jury against Ian.
• Sigh. Three more days of this. 

Big Brother 14: Shane Eviction Fallout, Season Reflection Show Blog Party - Sept. 16

Apparently CBS is just now learning its lessons -- due to sports, the show is scheduled to begin at 8:30 PM ET here in the NYC viewing area. I'm putting this post up at the regular time as I know folks look for it and the show might be on time in other viewing markets.

Once it finally starts here, I'll update this post with the major events. I don't believe they'll be showing the two parts of the HoH comp already played, but I might be wrong on that. If you don't know and want to know, go back a few days in my posts and you'll find out.

The real fun is in the comments section. Come join us dissing ... er ... DISCUSSING ... the show!

8:36 PM ET and 60 Minutes just ended here. I'm ready for the show, how 'bout YOU?

It's the aftermath of the Shane eviction. Silly Danielle. "Dan lied AGAIN."

Celebration champagne brunch time ... and reflection time, too.

Finally, all the reminiscing is over and they're starting the Hook, Line and Sinker endurance comp. We know how it and part two end, but that won't be aired until Wednesday.

Survivor: Philippines -- The New Castaways, Part One

I already covered the familiar faces on this season's cast. Now it's time to take a look at some of the new faces coming aboard. 

First up are members of the Matsing Tribe (which include the previously discussed familiar face Russell Swan):

Zane Knight is a tire repair dude currently living in Danville, VA. Country and tattooed, he's obviously no high fashion recruit for the show. I'm not quite sure what to make of a man who has a pet peeve about ice cream sprinkles. He's 28 years old and married, loving his wife and Jesus. He wants to be on the show so he can afford to buy his own tow truck. Lofty dreams indeed. I'm wondering how he'll fare in the sun. He's more pale than I am! He claims he'll be most like Brandon. Sigh. I'm guessing Hantz not the Brandon Quinton from Survivor: Africa. Eww.

 

 

Roxy Morris, age 28, is a seminary student residing in Brooklyn, NY. While her online bio definitely touts religion, she isn't coming across as some very religious folks do in her video clip. She comes across quite secular and I'd bet she's spot on with her statement that she would assimilate well. She's an Army Chaplain and seems not only personable, but physically fit as well. Uh-oh. She also likes Brandon. Oh my gosh, what is wrong with people? The guy was a flake! I feel that Roxy will have a good social game, but I can't see her being overly conniving. While nice guys win now and then (Ethan comes to mind), the schemers usually win more often.

Malcolm Freburg is a 24-year old bartender living in Hermosa Beach, CA. While his video claims all the Dartmouth greatness, he's a bartender like so many reality show contestants we've seen in the past. I'm sure he didn't study "mixology" there. While he comes across way too cocky in his video, there's actually something about him I like. He's definitely a student of the game -- like Ian on BB14, he grew up watching it and wanting to be on the show. I like that he enjoys the strategic part. It looks like he'll have no problems in the physical arena. He believes he'll play a bit like Russell (Hantz). Oh my. I only hope he has a better social game. He's certainly better eye candy than Hantz!

Denise Stapley is a 41-year-old sex therapist. Well, that's something new and different for a career on the show, eh? She currently lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. On the surface, she should do well. She's into triathlons and such. As a therapist (sex or otherwise), she should know how to build a decent social game. She thinks she'll be most like Stephenie ... a good thing, I say. All that said, there's something about her which turned me a bit off in her video. I can't put my finger on it, though. Maybe it's the fast talking; maybe it's the therapist peeking through. I reserve judgment on her. 

Angie Layton, age 20, currently lives in Provo, UT. 20? She's a CHILD! She's a model, go figure. Oh, and if you watch the video, she mentions she "said yes to Survivor." Can we say recruit? She is very pretty as she should be having been Miss Utah Teen and runner-up for Miss Teen USA. She thinks she'll be considered a "dumb blond" and compares herself to Fabio. One of her reasons for being on the show, other than to win, is to "meet some hotties." I just don't know about this one.

That's it for the Matsing Tribe. Tomorrow evening, I'll post about the Tandang Tribe, Tuesday evening the Kalabaw Tribe members. On Wednesday, the season premiere leads into the finale of Big Brother 14.     

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - September 16, 2012

Good Sunday morning, world! Since it is Sunday morning, this is my weekly off television topic post reflecting on the week gone by in both words and photographs I've taken along the way. If you're looking for Big Brother content, never fear ... it's right here. But if you want a peek into my life, feel free to read on.

After a spritz of overnight rain early in the week, it was glorious weather here for the remainder. On the anniversary of 9/11, the weather was hauntingly like it was that day. Teenagers and college kids don't remember that we didn't used to have huge planters around the corners at Penn Station. They've grown up with security checks at airports. Not me. I remember a day with more innocence. I will never forget 9/11/01, the lives lost and the way the world has changed.

On the home front, the not as new now landlord had new washing machines installed in the laundry room. Oh my. An incentive to do laundry before it grows to two loads! They also put down gray carpet on the stairway and landings in the front of the building. That, at least for the immediate entry area, might be a mistake. The floor covering right at door level was some kind of fake stone-looking stuff. People entering the front door in bad weather make a mess. Oh, well. At least the carpet is gray already!

There is another thing about the landlord, this one a bit disturbing. For the second time, I noticed Craigslist apartment for rent advertisements for units in the building ... only in Spanish. Um. Is that even legal? It's not that they (landlord and company) even speak Spanish although many of their workers do. It sounds like they want Hispanic tenants rather than any other to me. I personally just want decent neighbors in the building -- I don't care Hispanic, black, white, Indian ... whatever. But many folks won't even know the apartments are available if the ad is solely in Spanish. Hmm.

We had a fire alarm go off in the building yesterday. As usual, I went out to make sure there was no real fire. It's always either a malfunction or someone's bad cooking. I know not to open my door if my cooking sets off the little alarm within my apartment (which it does sometimes as the CO/smoke alarm is way too fussy!). But, when fools open their doors, the main building alarm goes off and we get fire department response and all.

When I went out to make sure there was no fire, there was a tiny elderly black woman who looked very frightened and disoriented. She was obviously blind, about 90 years old and she just clutched my arm when I asked if she was okay. She was saying something, but I couldn't make it out. I've never seen her before in my life.

I released myself from her grasp when I saw a fire engine pull up, went and told them there was no fire, but I was worried about an elderly woman in the hallway. They didn't have much better luck communicating with her than I did. They called for an ambulance. She had house slippers on and obviously couldn't have come far. No one passing by in the halls recognized her, either.

One firefighter decided to check all the doors on the second floor. I was thinking the front of the building as I didn't know her. What? The apartment next door to me was unlocked and, upon opening it, there was a heater on (yikes, it had to be 90 in there) and the apartment even smelled like the elderly woman! Mind you, that's not a good thing. Now, I know the man who lives there. He's lived there for about four years now. I thought he lived alone. 

When I mentioned his name to her, she nodded. He's her son. Oh my. The firemen got her to call him. Upon discovering where she lives, I realized why she wasn't talking to us. I know the man living there is from Africa, although he speaks English. She doesn't speak English. She speaks Swahili. The poor woman. The fire alarm scared her and she left the apartment, but didn't know how to get downstairs. Between her blindness, her language barrier and probably what seems like a bit of dementia ... it's all a bit sad. At least if I ever see her again, I know where she belongs.

In other news, it was indeed my birthday yesterday. I want to thank everyone who sent me greetings and cards. Vincent didn't give me anything! 

Onto the photos for the week. Clicking on an image will open it on a Photobucket page, clicking again will make it larger. To return here, simply close that page.  

My new friend

I met this beautiful python walking on Watchung Avenue in Plainfield yesterday. No, the snake wasn't walking, I was! When I asked the man carrying it if I could take a photo, he offered to take photos of me holding it. I figured if he ran off with my camera, I'd take off with his snake.

The Alley

This is an alley off of East Front Street (Plainfield) leading to what's normally a parking lot. There were dueling Hispanic festivals going on yesterday in two adjacent city parking lots. One has been held for four years now in celebration of the independence of Mexico and Central America. It gets a huge turnout and I've enjoyed it each time I've attended. I'm about as non-Latina as one could be. But it's a fantastic thing for the city and draws more folks from all over the state each year. This year, with a second Hispanic festival adjacent, the crowds had to be several thousand. 

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE REST OF THE PHOTOS**

Big Brother 14: Live Feeds Saturday Evening into Sunday - Sept. 15-16

I've been a fool. I AM a fool.

Well, well, well. Y'see, hamsters are adorable and all. But when they don't get what they want, the claws come out. Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of It Finally May Be Dawning on Danielle:

• After the feeds returned post-Part Two of the HoH comp, Ian was covered with soot and Danielle was screaming at him.
• But that was an act.
• The night before, when Ian wasn't taking the bait to throw the comp to Danielle, that was Plan B -- If Ian won, Danielle was supposed to throw a fit, Dan was supposed to fight with her and hopefully they could get Ian to throw Part Three.
• In her screaming, she was actually threatening Ian if he didn't take her to the final two.
• Why, she'd taint the jury!
• Um. If evicted on Wednesday night, she won't have time to taint anyone to the jury!
• It didn't work.
• Dan and Ian celebrated a Renegades victory while Danielle showered and was in the Diary Room.
• Unfortunately, Ian still believes in the Renegades although it's obvious that he's been overcoming much of the mist.
• Dan hinted a million times that Ian should throw the last part so that he (Dan) would have the pleasure of evicting Danielle (who obviously hates him).
• Dan knows he's golden for final two whether he himself wins the last part or whether Ian wins it.
• But Dan would prefer to take Danielle with him over Ian. He has a plan and an idea he'd stand a better chance to win over her.
• But, then, if Ian wins, he'll take Dan to the final two over Danielle. 
• It would just be harder to win over the jury then.
• Danielle cried in the bedroom, rereading her HoH letters from home and apologizing for disgracing her family.
• It seems to have dawned on her that she's been playing Dan's game for a Dan win all along.
• D'oh!
• Ian, on the other hand, told Dan he didn't want to throw the comp. He actually wants to win this.
• Good boy, Ian. Do NOT trust Dan to take you to the final two.
• A lot men did and a lot men died ...
• (Women, too.)
• Ian was very worried about his stuffed snake and bear. They were (as usual) tucked neatly in his bed ... the bed next to the weeping and angry Danielle.
• Ian refuses to outright deal with Danielle's tantrum. He told her he was still weighing his options.
• When Dan prodded at Ian attempting to instigate more of a problem, Ian told him he should just leave Danielle alone and not be mean to her.
• Uh-oh. Ian's not reacting the way Dan had hoped!
• When Dan was alone and only the live feeds were with him, he pondered what to do.
• He thinks his best shot now would be to throw the comp to Ian so Ian would vote Danielle out (thus getting his hands bloodier).
• Dan and Danielle were sleeping when BB opened the backyard up to them.
• Ian is rocking on the hammock. All is well in his world again.
• It looks like, no matter what happens, Ian (at least) will really play for the win on the third part of HoH on Wednesday.

Like notches in his gun belt, such are the grays on the Memory Wall

I'm a disgrace

I'll be able to pay my college loans. No debt!