Big Brother 16: Nominations and Battle of the Block Show Blog Party - July 13

Are you READY? It's nominations. It's Battle of the Block. It's Big Brother. And, this is our party as we watch the show East Coast time. As it airs here, I'll update this post with the major happenings. Refresh the post to get the latest news!

Where's the party? It's in the comments area ... come join in!

After the PaoPao eviction, Devin starts exposing the Bomb Squad to all. Silly dude. Christine told her personal ally Nicole about it, fearing that she'd hear it from someone else.

The HoH room reveal. You know how that goes.

After a long discussion about nominees (they have more they don't want to put up), it's decided that Derrick will put up Caleb and Jocasta, Nicole will put up Amber because Amber nominated her. Caleb can "save" Amber as the target is to get Devin up there after PoV. Nicole is undecided on her second nominee.

Caleb is willing to go up, throw the comp to save Amber and to have Derrick remain HoH.

Nicole tells Donny of her dilemma and the plan to oust Devin with the backdoor. Donny blabs the Caleb throw plan to Jocasta and Brittany. Amber overheard it and runs to Nicole and Christine. After telling Nicole earlier she shouldn't trust Christine, now Nicole needs to not trust Donny!

Nominations time - Nicole is upset. Nicole nominates Amber, then Donny. Adore Donny, given information last second which influences decision. Derrick nominates Jocasta and Caleb. She's a floater by rumor, prove she's not. Caleb volunteered.

Devin knows it's a backdoor plan. Donny is upset, not realizing his spreading the news about Caleb is why he got the nomination.

Team America's first mission "get three other hg to spread the rumor that one hg is related to a previous one." They have four days. They decide to rumor that Zach is Amanda's cousin. Donny suggested to try with the dumbest first -- Caleb.

Donny and Nicole made up. Donny told her she never told him NOT to tell about the Caleb thing. They agree to work together. This time she tells him not to tell anyone.

BotB - Frog Wars. Fly to retrieve pieces, assemble puzzle.

Donny and Amber win (of course). Nicole is dethroned. Derrick is the sole HoH. They made Nicole disappear on screen and are using it as a cliffhanger.

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Saturday night into Sunday - July 13

Jocasta is feeling a bit better

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Sealed Fates:

• Amber trusts Frankie more than she does her love puppet boy Caleb.
• Donny has confirmed with Frankie and others that he will use the veto to save Jocasta.
• While Da Boyz would prefer Caleb not remain on the block when Devin goes up, it is what it is (as they say way too often in the house).
• Devin is still going to go home, no matter who Donny saves with the veto.
• On the Team America front, Frankie thinks that they should tell Devin the rumor that Zach is Amanda's cousin because he'd probably take off with it and spread it all over the house.
• Donny said he'd be happy with Caleb/Devin on the block since they nominated him the first week.
• Knowing that Donny confirmed to him he'd save Jocasta with the veto, Frankie went to Amber and told her that Donny said he may not use it.
• Heh.
• Little pot-stirrer!
• Nicole told Hayden, Christine and Victoria that Donny told her that Zach is related to Amanda from last season. She thinks it's some sort of twist and told them not to repeat it.
• Zach took Frankie for a ride telling him that the house will probably go for voting out Caleb.
• Heh.
• Caleb thinks he looks like a stud because he saved Amber.
• @@
• Derrick got wind of what Zach's been saying about voting out Caleb instead of Devin and warned him not to. He reminded Zach that he (Zach) is one of Devin's main targets while Caleb isn't interested in getting Zach. At least not in the immediately foreseeable future.
• They're all worried about all the down time they're facing. With only the PoV ceremony tomorrow (I think), they have nothing to do until Thursday.
• At one point, Caleb asked Derrick, Cody and Zach, "Any hunters here?"
• Crickets.
• And not Donny cricket noises.
• After all said they weren't hunters, Caleb launched into a long story about getting dressed and prepared to face a cold pre-dawn morning hunting.
• Why?
• All because he thinks Amber is wrong to go to bed in the Have Not room all dressed up warmly -- if she wakes up cold in the night, she has nothing else to put on.
• Of course, she could cuddle with Caleb!
• Cough.
• Da Boyz are irked at Frankie for planting the seeds that Donny might not use the veto. They say if it's Jocasta and Caleb remaining on the block, they probably should vote out Caleb even though he's a number on their side.
• All in all, I'm pretty sure Donny will save his friend Jocasta.
• Devin up.
• Devin gone.

Hammock buddies

Hayden joins in

Trying to reinvent the mandana?

Zach trance

The cheese sits alone AGAIN

Why does Devin make such odd faces?

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - July 13, 2013

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic reflection on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way. If you're looking for the latest Big Brother show or live feeds posts, you can find them right here at this link. This here is a weekly post I make year-round; you can peruse it or skip by it if you wish.

About the biggest thing this week here is about next week. My landlord's exterminator is going to be fogging most of the building next week. I'm sorry ... but (a) I haven't seen a cockroach in the past ten years or so, (b) they already treat the apartment once a month and were just here last week, (c) I really don't want to have to spend weeks bleaching or otherwise cleaning that poisonous residue off of all the surfaces in the place, (d) I don't want to take chances with my own health or Vincent's health with dangerous poison in here, (e) I don't have a bug problem, neither do my immediate neighbors with whom I've talked, (f) I can't board Vincent on such short notice, nor can I take him to work (g) if I have to pack up all of my worldly belongings in plastic bags, I might as well just MOVE as my lease renewal is September 1. Part of the reason I'm not moving is because I hate to pack everything up!

I got the notice Thursday evening and the fogging is planned for Tuesday. With my work schedule, there isn't even enough time in the day for all of this even if I don't sleep for three days! So, I called the office to tell them I wouldn't be able to have the apartment ready for Tuesday. They told me it's fine to refuse the service and they'd note it with the exterminator not to do my apartment, no problem. Yay! I plan on putting Vincent and his stuff in my bedroom with a towel under the door to keep any fumes out if they spray the hallway common area. I'll leave a "NO FOGGING" note on the door referring them to the office and I'll call the office to remind them.

I personally doubt it will happen (I don't think this wing of the building has any infestation issues), but if my apartment is buggy after they do the fogging elsewhere, I will deal with it. The bait traps they sell for cockroaches work better than the silly spray they spray my place with every month anyway. I honestly think the exterminating company, a new replacement of the old one, is looking at the building as a cash cow and trying to milk the landlord for more money. If the building had such an issue with roaches, I think I would have seen a few in the past decade. I guess I'll find out! But, if the bugs do come in here, I'll take care of it without dangerous poison residue all over everything. I worry about the sick and elderly people here, as well as the cat down on the first floor. I think this is all very unnecessary.

Anyhow ... onto the photos for the week --

Dapper Dude

Not what the average Plainfield man is wearing ... especially on a 90 degree humid summer day! Although not "cool," that suit is cool! Watchung Avenue, Plainfield

Chowing down

This squirrel on East Front Street in Plainfield kept digging for treasure and he found it!

Rabbits are the new squirrels

I wonder where the East Front Street bunnies go in the winter. They seem to be pretty street smart when it comes to moving traffic, unlike their squirrel friends.

****CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK TO SEE THE FLOWER SLIDESHOW AND THE REST OF THIS WEEK'S PHOTOS!****

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds into Saturday evening and PoV - July 12

Guess who was drawn to play PoV?

Quite the eventful day in the House of Hamtserality:

• Jocasta, who still has to play for the PoV as she remains on the block with Caleb, is sicker than a dog.
• Huh. Where did that expression come from? It's CATS who um ... regurgitate so much, not dogs.
• Anyway ... she's very sick.
• Derrick is worried that someone might win the PoV and not use it. That would blow the Backdoor Devin Plan.
• Donny, whose buddy PaoPao went away this week and his other buddy Jocasta is on the block, was relieved when Hayden told him the plan is still Devin up, Devin go home.
• Although blocked to the live feeds, we find out the picks for PoV players. 
• We're special like that.
• Christine, Donny and DEVIN were drawn from the bag.
• Devin?
• Oh, noes! Say it ain't SO!
• Derrick and Caleb think that Devin would use the veto to save Jocasta if he wins it.
• And, if he wins it, as the veto holder, he cannot be nominated.
• Cody was picked to host the comp.
• Then it all went down, blocked to the feeds once again.
• But, remember, we're special snowflakes. We find out what happens!
• DONNY WON THE POWER OF VETO ... AGAIN!
• Although Derrick would like him to take Caleb off, Donny wants to take Jocasta off the block.
• No real difference -- Devin up, Devin go home.
• Derrick and Nicole talked about how Devin is not only unpredictable, he can be a brute in comps. What comps he hasn't won, he's been close to winning.
• Meanwhile, Caleb hasn't had a good showing since the very first HoH.
• Hmm. Derrick really would prefer Donny take Caleb off the block. He told Donny that "America wouldn't like him if he went against his wishes."
• Derrick, cut that out! You're better than that!
• When Derrick told Donny that Jocasta was his ally, Donny said she was his FRIEND.
• Caleb told Donny that if he didn't use the veto to save Jocasta, she would go home and he (Donny) would be targeted next.
• Testosterone much, boys?
• Sheesh. Pick on Donny, will ya.
• But ... Derrick is noticing how smart Donny is. He (Derrick) figured out something in the PoV, but for some reason couldn't or didn't need to do it, told Donny once (backwards?) how to do it and Donny snagged it right away.
• They said Devin was trying to cheat.
• The Have Nots were chosen. Going by the old Bomb Squad volunteers -- it's Devin and Caleb, with Christine and Amber.
• But wait ... Hayden volunteered to go in Christine's place because she would have health issues with the food.
• But wait ... Devin claims he didn't volunteer. Derrick is going to check out whether he can keep him a Have Not or not.
• The food chosen by America is some kind of tripe tortilla stuff. Innards, y'know. It does a body good!
• Frankie thinks Devin is freaking out with paranoia yelling at everyone. Derrick and Nicole reassured him Devin will be the replacement nominee and the overall house wants him out.
• Donny is worried that people are starting to think of him as a threat.
• He is right to be worried. Too late to do anything about it, though.
• Hayden wore high heels while doing the dishes.
• Now, he's whack, too. But he's more of a fun whack than Devin is.

HoH and dethroned HoH frog talk

Donny flirts with Amber

I'm glad Christine keeps her clothes on

The Caleb Strut

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Friday night into Saturday - July 12

Rivet-rivet

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Rapscallion Rodents:

• As per the bulletin I posted last night you already know that Caleb and Jocasta remain on the block, Derrick remains the sole HoH and Nicole (the ousted HoH) has to wear a frog costume. Donny and Amber are off the block and safe. So far, the backdoor plan seems to be working through its first step. Oh, yeah. It's the Backdoor Devin Plan.
• Derrick told Caleb NOT to go around telling people he threw the comp.
• So, Caleb has insinuated it a few times.
• @@
• Silly boy. What he doesn't realize is that, if the Backdoor Devin Plan falls through, he's (Caleb) going home.
• He thinks it would be Jocasta leaving.
• Silly boy.
• Derrick told Cody that if he draws Houseguest's Choice for the PoV, he's going to pick him.
• No surprises there.
• On a bit of a side note -- I'm getting to like Hayden more and more each day. I find that surprising as he's a recruit who's not a real fan of the show. But he's coming across as a really nice guy and definitely not as goofy as portrayed. He's quite smart and good with people.
• Back to the regularly scheduled house happenings ...
• It seems like there's a lot of trust issues going on in the house.
• Alas, many have to do with Donny.
• Oh noes!
• Derrick doesn't really trust him (outside of the Team America thing). Brittany doesn't trust him. Frankie is worried about him.
• Then again, few really trust Frankie these days. They're onto him.
• Derick says that Caleb didn't throw the comp.
• Yeah, right.
• Derrick thinks it should be Caleb coming off the block with the PoV just in case the house flips.
• But I can't see them NOT evicting Devin if they can get him up there with no comp to save himself.
• If it's Jocasta and Caleb remaining on the block Thursday, it's Caleb who will be evicted.
• Uh-oh. I'm repeating myself. It's because they keep repeating themselves! Oy!
• Derrick is playing head games trying to figure people out.
• Nicole told him that Brittany does trust him. So he goes to Brittany and told her that Nicole told him she doesn't trust him.
• Whether for reaction purposes or to see if she runs to Nicole, I don't know.
• She knew he was lying and told Nicole.
• Victoria thinks Donny is going around lying about her being in an alliance.
• Oh, no! It's a SPOOL OF LIES! (Re: Howie BB6)
• Supposedly Jocasta, Brittany and Frankie have medical issues which preclude them from being good candidates to be chosen for Have Nots (if they pick again). 
• Hey, I know that with the old Bomb Squad rules, it would be Devin and Caleb volunteering this week!
• Victoria thinks the Diary Room loves her. @@
• Cody and Zach want to make a final four deal with Christine and Nicole.
• Hey! What about their buddy Derrick? Or Hayden? Christine and Nicole are both in with Hayden!
• Frankie thinks that Devin is in some sort of weird make peace with the world before I die kind of phase.
• Yep, that would describe it.
• Devin still calls everybody, male or female, "dude." He needs to stop that. it's annoying. I know someone who calls every guy "brother." I find that annoying, too. People have names. Call them by name or don't call them anything. Cousin bugs me, too. I'm weird that way, I guess.
• Brittany went to Cody and told him that someone is spreading rumors that Derrick wants to put her on the block.
• She's worried that Caleb is trying to convince him to put her up in his place.
• Nicole is worried that America will hate her for putting Donny on the block.
• Yup, I've been seeing some reaction to that point. However, I knew the plan would be all along that he's safe. 
• I still like Nicole. I doubt she'll win. But I do like her anyways.
• Cody thinks Amber is flirting with him for her own game purposes.
• Y'think?
• Team America decided they would spread the rumor that Zach is Amanda's cousin and it's another twist in the game.
• Lame, I say.
• But I'm all aboard for them earning five grand each for succeeding. They have to get three people to tell others and it works on a point basis for each one who spreads the rumor.
• Yawn.
• Eek! They heard gunshots in the distance while in the yard, a police helicopter, police PA calls ... and then BB demanded an indoor lockdown.
• Cody and Derrick talked about how Brittany shows up everywhere. Is she playing an Andy game?
• Derrick, most likely for the purpose of his own game, would prefer Caleb stay this week. He really wants Devin out, but now is worried about the ramifications if Caleb goes as a second choice.
• Derrick thinks Donny grew his beard just for BB. Although fish cut the feeds when he was talking about it, Donny didn't have the long beard when he saw him at the airport for interviews. I'd say he had to have some kind of beard even if it was early in the casting process. You can't grow that thing in a month!
• If Devin wins PoV, Cody and Derrick are thinking of putting Victoria on the block. Brittany's name was also tossed around a bit.
• Derrick was talking about his "past" with Frankie. He pretty much said that BB probably chose him because he made bad choices as a youth, in trouble with the law and straightened his life out with his wife and baby ... and the job in parks and recreation. He went on about all of his duties in the parks and rec job. Then he said, "I'm an undercover detective."
• Heh.
• Frankie bought the whole park and recs thing, the juvenile delinquent stuff, hook, line and sinker.
• Frankie told Derrick he's actually playing to build schools for underprivileged kids, but not to tell anyone.
• I don't think Derrick quite bought that story as well.
• Cody's psoriasis is acting up. Oh, the heartbreak!
• That's about it.
• For now.

Victoria is in with Derrick

Is it that cold in there?

Happy to be OFF the block again!

Finally took off the stupid fake glasses