Big Brother 16: Nominations, Battle of the Block Show Blog Party - July 27

Hamster watchers ready? As tonight's show airs here on the East Coast, I'll update this entry with the major happenings. Refresh the page to get the latest news!

However, as always, if you're looking for the party, head down into the comments area and join in on the fun!

Both Frankie and Zach want to target Amber. But, of course, it will be Zach who has to do the dirty work.

Frankie got a Justin Bieber CD in his basket. Oh wow.

Christine picks at her toes as she refuses to throw the PoV comp for Zankie.

Due to losing a bet, Amber is stuck going on a "date" with Stalker Creep Caleb.

Neither wants to nominate Donny. Frankie is thinking Jocasta and possibly Victoria. Zach really wants to nominate Christine because he doesn't think she's carrying her weight in the alliance. He questions Nicole. She claims she and Christine are just friends.

Christine denies being in an alliance to Nicole.

Cody and Derrick solidify their final two pact and name themselves the Hitmen.

Donny gets the TA mission -- start an argument between two people at either the PoV or Nominations ceremonies. Since Zach wants to call out Christine in nominations, they think they're going to go with that.

Amber tries to work things out with Zach. Ain't gonna work.

Nominations - Frankie will nominate two weak players so they'll lose and he'll remain HoH. Zach is a wild card. Frankie nominates Jocasta and Victoria because it's 100% strategic, no blood on hands. Zach nominates Christine and Nicole. Christine because she's a floater. Nicole Froot Loop dingus, I bet you didn't see this coming.

TA mission failed.

Battle of the Block -- Caleb hosts, all set up like a wedding scene. Build a giant wedding cake, must stand on top with your partner three seconds to win. Christine and Nicole are nailing it, the other two built a mess.

Nicole and Christine win! Zach is dethroned. Jocasta and Victoria remain on the block and Frankie remains the sole HoH.

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Saturday night into Sunday - July 27

Caleb alone with his Slinky

I bet Caleb named his Slinky "Amber" and sleeps with her. In turn, she will give him the unconditional love and adoration he so deserves.

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Whirling Dervishes:

• Victoria tried telling Zach that he needs to be a bit less mean. After all, according to her, "If you die tomorrow, you don't want to be remembered for yelling at women."
• But, to Zach, the world is a joke. While he's entertaining to watch as he's so unpredictably hyper and all over the place, he would drive me crazy in real life.
• And, his silly abrupt clap-clap during voting is annoying me. Make him stop.
• Frankie and Derrick discussed the replacement nom for when Hayden takes Victoria off the block. Their target is Amber. But they want to smooth it over with Caleb first. If he's cool with it after they tell him she's been stringing him along (!!!), she'll be the one. If he says no to Amber going up, he will go on the block and go home. 
• They didn't talk about telling him that last part.
• Frankie said they can't put Donny up because of Team America.
• Derrick agrees but not with any enthusiasm. He thinks Donny plans on targeting him.
• Yep, Donny just might do that someday if he gets power. Donny is the only one really seeing what a fantastic game Derrick is playing and that, if Derrick makes it to the end, he'd win hands down against ANYONE in the house.
• They're scared they might fail the latest TA mission. Frankie's been working on Zach for a PoV meeting kerfuffle, but we'll see. 
• Frankie told Christine about his backdoor Amber plan. She's totally down with it.
• Christine would actually prefer that Donny or Jocasta go, though. She thinks they're more dangerous to her own game.
• Me? I'd prefer Christine go. I can't keep watching her mess with her toes then bite her nails. EW!
• Frankie and Derrick planned a Sunday morning memorial service for both of their grandfathers.
• Nicole continues to get upset that Victoria has clutched onto Hayden and hangs all over him.
• Jocasta has miraculously cured from her severe illness ... again.
• Derrick is still working wonders. He's giving sound advice to just about everyone in the house and acting like he cares about their game. He's toned it down a bit since he got the news about his grandfather. That will be the only thing which is hurting his gameplay -- he's getting a bit too cocky and trying to rule the world.
• Or, if Donny wins HoH and nominates Derrick.
• Those are about the only two things which could stop him in the game.
• Derrick's latest undercover mission (NOT Team America)? Convince Caleb he wants Amber backdoored out of the house.
• Oh my gosh ... could he be doing it?
• Zach told Hayden that they're making Caleb hate/mad at Amber so he'll be with the backdoor plan.
• "She'll come crawling back to me once she's out of the house," says Caleb. "Or Cody."
• Heh. I'd say between the two, it would be Cody. But I don't think Cody is really interested in doing anything other than flirting with her and being a friend.
• Caleb claims at home he has "hoes hanging all over him."
• I have a bit to say to that -- He's from a really small town, I bet they're garden hoes he needs to till the earth. And, second, how does he ever think any classy or even nice woman would ever be interested in him? I bet his mother is really proud. Yeah.
• They've done it.
• He's still in love with Amber, but he hates her, too.
• He's totally bought the hook, line and sinker.
• He stayed up long after all the others went to bed mumbling to himself about "Beast Mode Cowboy."
• Of course, the PoV ceremony isn't until tomorrow.
• Things could change by then.
• And, they might have to go with Plan B -- put CALEB on the block!
• Either way, this week should be interesting.
• Heck, I might even have an entertaining brouhaha or two to watch!

Caleb alone playing pool

Caleb alone walking the yard

Girls with girl talk

Hayden in a hat

Amber dumping cold water on Cody

Hallelujah! Miraculously well once again!

Off Topic: That Was the Week It Was - July 27, 2014

Good morning! Welcome to my weekly off television topic photo post! If you're looking for my Big Brother coverage, you can find those posts right here at this link. This particular post is one I do each Sunday morning throughout the year, BB or not! I reflect on the week gone by in both words and photos I've taken along the way.

Alas, I didn't have a great photography week. It seemed like I was always rushing or conditions just weren't right. Oh well, there will be many more photos to take in my life.

I'm going to go once again with some random thoughts from the week:

• Last night as I arrived home to my New Jersey 'hood, I had to hear two competing Mexican Polka Bands. Ack! One was at a house near the corner of my block -- they were having a huge child's birthday party with a bouncy-house and all set up in the front lawn. As I walked by, they sang Happy Birthday, then WHAM into Mexican Polka! The second band was at the usual suspect house in back of my apartment. Even with my windows closed, a fan and the AC on, I could hear the thump-thump of the music. It lasted until nearly midnight.
• Two very young misbehaving children on the NJ Transit train were yelling and carrying on without any effort on the part of the parents to control them. When the piped announcement said, "Watch out for the gap when exiting." -- the girl cried out, "Cat? Where's a cat?" (I'll admit that was cute.) Her mother told her, "Gap. Watch out for the gap." The girl asked, "What's a gap?" I almost said, "A gap is a monster that swallows children who don't behave." I bit my tongue.
• There's an abundance of lightning bugs around here this year. If I were several decades younger, I'd be all over that!
• My cable and power were out on separate days this week, each for about six hours, neither due to a storm. Of course, my cable could have also been out while my power was out. I have no way of knowing.
• I panicked a bit when I saw Vincent pursuing a long dark quick bug along the floor into the kitchen. Ah. A carpenter ant. Not that I want those in my apartment, but it must have somehow strayed in from outside. As I predicted, I have had no influx of bugs by refusing to have my apartment fogged with poisonous junk.
• Oh. And Vincent killed the carpenter ant and then wondered why it wouldn't play with him anymore.

Onto this week's photos --

Early morning sun

Although the days are getting shorter, it's not to the point that I'm seeing the sunrise on my walk to the train station. We have been lucky in that we haven't seen many actual heat waves so far this summer (temps over 90 for three days or more). But we've had a lot of humid days and it's been a summer for lots of thunderstorms. I took this shot on Church Street in Plainfield.

Cool old car!

I have no clue exactly what make and model this is, but it sure is cool. There was an older man driving it. While he'd be too young to be the original owner, he seemed appropriate for the car. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Looking up!

This Eastern Swallowtail Butterfly flew over my head at the Bridgewater Train Station. I was delighted to see I actually captured a halfway decent photo of him.

**CLICK THE 'READ MORE' LINK FOR THE WEEKLY FLOWER SLIDESHOW AND THE REST OF THE PHOTOS!**

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds Saturday/PoV Winner - July 26

The Don

Another busy day for the hamsters before they head into the three or four days of boredom. Here's what went down today (including the PoV winner) in that Big Brother House of Back to Back Comps:

• Uh-oh. The microwave isn't working. Whatever will they do now?
• I forgot to mention it yesterday, but feel the need to say this -- Christine is SO disgusting! [How disgusting is she?] She's so disgusting that she picks at her toes and toenails and THEN bites her nails! Ew! EW!
• Frankie once again is trying to get Zach to blow up at the PoV meeting on Monday (for the Team America mission).
• He already went whacko a bit at the nominations, but I'm not clear on whether that was enough or not.
• Either way, it's easy to get Zach to act up. It comes by naturally for him.
• The additional PoV players are Hayden, Donny and Christine. Amber is the host. Or hostess. Whatever.
• Amber wants the nominations to remain the same.
• I wonder if she has a premonition?
• Caleb thinks he'll be on The Bachelor next.
• @@
• What kind of prize is he? Sheesh!
• Apparently Victoria got the Houseguest Choice chip and chose Hayden.
• Caleb thinks they're working together.
• Well, they are -- Hayden promised Victoria she wouldn't be going home and taking her off the block would be perfect for him.
• But Caleb doesn't know that. We do.
• Frankie told Caleb that she chose Hayden because he's been saying how much he wants to play in a veto comp and has never been chosen.
• That has a ring of truth to it, as well.
• After the veto comp ... it was Hayden who won the Power of Veto!
• We know what he'll do with it.
• Shh ... don't tell Caleb or Amber.
• Jocasta is really sick again. I hope she gets better or this will blow the whole backdoor plan!
• They still plan on Amber going. Their rationale is that Amber won't be stuck in the jury house with Caleb if she goes now and Caleb will either refocus on his game or totally lose it and be out sooner rather than later.
• The only one who really seems to prefer Caleb going first is Cody.
• Frankie is worried about getting blood on his hands.
• Oh, boohoo. You're the HoH. You know the deal.
• They got the fish pizza delivery as the additional Have Not food. Along with the pizza, they have canned clams and sardines.
• They're happy with that.
• Well, when they think of some of the things they could have ended up with instead, they're happy.
• So, there you go ...

Chillaxin'

Zach cooks a huge M&M pancake

PoV Man with his lollipop

Jocasta is sick again

They LOVE the fish pizza for Have Nots!

Big Brother 16: Live Feeds into Saturday pre-dawn - July 26

Derrick and Frankie hug

Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of Sad Times, But the Show Must Go On:

• Before the news came down about Derrick's grandfather's death, Hayden gave Victoria some sage advice. 
• Apparently she had some fit of temper after losing the comp.
• Hayden told her that if she continued acting angry with everyone, it will turn the target on her. He told her to cry to the Diary Room, feel free to cry to him ... but outwardly act "normal" for the house on the whole.
• Later on in the evening, Derrick gave her pretty much the same advice.
• Hayden and Nicole know that Derrick, Zach and Cody have a final three deal. They think Zach is the weak/unpredictable link and must go soon.
• Hayden thinks they could backdoor Zach this week, but he'd rather Amber or Caleb get backdoored.
• Hayden pushed his backdoor either Amber or Caleb plan to Frankie, pointing out that voting out Victoria would be a waste as they can control her and Jocasta isn't a threat because she's unlikely to win HoH.
• Of course, they're all keeping Caleb and Amber under the impression that Victoria is indeed the target while telling Victoria she's safe this week unless she does something foolish and keeps acting out.
• Well, if she wins the veto again ...
• Derrick differs a lot from Frankie in his time of grief. Frankie had been open to hugs and tears and company. While Derrick seems touched that his fellow houseguests are so sympathetic, he's the kind who sat quietly for a long time while others didn't quite know what to do or say. Then he went to the Have Not room, laid atop the bed with a hoodie over his face to hide tears. He told Victoria he needed some time, a half-hour or so, to be alone and he would be okay.
• Frankie offered to go to the Diary Room and tell them he'd eat slop this week so Derrick could have real food. Derrick told him he appreciated the offer, but he didn't want (or need) any preferential treatment.
• Like Frankie's grandfather, Derrick's grandfather was watching the show because he's on it, but probably had no idea the whole premise or what was going on.
• Of course, some of us long-time hamster watchers are often in the same boat with that!
• Caleb says he first fell in love with Amber when he saw her in casting -- there were so many pretty girls there, but he knew she was the one he wanted.
• @@
• Caleb doesn't want to look like an idiot on television.
• A bit too late for that, don't ya think?
• Derrick is sure the double HoH bit will be going away soon. I agree -- just the logistics of the numbers in the house predict it can't last much longer.
• Derrick and Frankie think Zach needs to mend fences with Christine for the numbers. Zach doesn't want to.
• Derrick told Victoria she needs to stop going on about losing the Battle of the Block. It's over. Concentrate on winning the Power of Veto.
• They discussed other BB seasons. Derrick doesn't think people are liking this season so much; Hayden thinks it's possibly due to the unanimous votes and predictability. 
• He has something there. But, as far as casting goes, this season has a much better cast overall than last summers Season of Hate Speech.
• Nicole got to shun her Germa-tard at midnight in an awkward dictated by BB "strip" dance.
• Nicole told Victoria she thinks Amber is "fake nice."
• Yep, she is.
• Cody and Derrick are concerned about Zach -- he's messing up his game with his mouth and is so uncontrollable.
• Derrick is also worried that his Team America ally Donny might target him.
• He probably should worry -- Donny made him out to be the brains of the covert operations long ago.
• Cody thinks he will be the target of Caleb if Amber goes. He'd prefer if Caleb went first.
• Victoria told Cody that, before she left, Brittany told her to only trust Cody and Derrick.
• That brought back Cody's guilt over targeting Brittany.
• Hey, that's Big Brother.
• As it stands, it looks like Amber is the backdoor plan for the week if PoV is used. If not used, it's a bit of a toss-up whether it would be Victoria or Jocasta going home.