Off Topic - That Was the Week It Was - August 1, 2010

It's Sunday morning ... kind of sort of. It's actually really really late on Saturday night. Anyway, it's time for my weekly off television topic look back at the past week in words and photographs I've taken. If you're looking for the latest Big Brother live feeds update, that will be up later in the morning.

I was on a staycation this week and enjoyed every minute of it. The beginning of the week was super-hot, so I rejoiced in air conditioning. Then, the latter part of the week turned to the kind of summer temperatures I enjoy -- highs in the 80s, low humidity. I'd prefer temps in the 70s, but I suppose that's not really summer.

In addition to watching a lot of the BB live feeds and writing reports on them for the blog, reviewing the show for TV Squad and all that stuff, I caught up on some movies I bought on DVD and did some reading. A certain attention-monger cat got his just due of attention, too.

The biggest thing happening this week is my purchase of a new camera. A real fancy-schmancy SLR is out of my budget, but I took a step up with a new Canon PowerShot SX120 IS. It has a much better zoom and, although I'm familiar with a lot of it as my most recent digital camera was a Canon, lots of nifty settings which I will have to experiment with down the road. Like my other Canon and the Pentax before that, it takes AA batteries. They might make it a bit heavier, but it's so much better than a proprietary battery. If my batteries die, I can pick them up anywhere!

Onto this week's photos (with the new camera!) ... clicking on an image will open it larger in a new window:

Whazzat? A new camera? Paparazzi?

A rare white-breasted squirrel checks out my new technology. Okay. I lied. I think most squirrels have white chests.

Pants on the ground
Pants on the ground
Lookin' like a fool
With your pants
On the ground

Thank you, American Idol! This is at the Plainfield Train Station. I had to stop by to buy my monthly pass. It's either that or get it last minute on the other side of the station ultra-early Monday morning.

Oh, rats.

Somewhere off Park Avenue in Plainfield.

Workman at work

They're finally doing something with the old Miron Furniture Warehouse building on East Second Street in Plainfield. Now, instead of gaping holes in the roof, there is a new roof covering. I won't be able to take photos of pigeons sitting in the window frames anymore as they've finished almost two floors worth of windows. It's being turned into apartments. I'd be curious to see what the apartments will look like.


He looks worried, but he's just watching traffic as he's going to jaywalk. East Second Street by the Miron building.

Bookends

No loitering in this area, eh? They're just having a harmless chat and the building is closed for business (Saturday). I edited the photo to leave the people and sign in color. Watchung Avenue, Plainfield.

Whoa! Check it out!

You never know what's going to drive by you when you sit on a bench on Park Avenue in Plainfield. I have no clue whether it's a kit car or the real thing. I'm sure the real thing didn't come with the orange wheels!

Mmm ... Blackberry's ... what kind of beverage is that?

So, I went across Watchung Avenue and found it it's their Uptown, a fruity iced tea beverage. I took a free sample. I'm not an iced tea fan, but this was great! While I was out there sipping at my sample, one of the folks I regularly greet on my commute came out of the restaurant. It turns out that he works in the kitchen. He started telling me of all the dishes ... and I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so ...

Soul food, here I come!

I raised my Uptown towards the building and headed inside. Now, you might think I'm pale for soul food. Not so! Soul food, to me, is basically good down home cooking, with an emphasis on Southern dishes. Blackberry's also has foods with a Jamaican influence -- jerk chicken and such.

Why I'm not a food photographer ...

I'm too lazy to get up and I already ate some of the chicken. This was my $4.99 lunch special. Baked chicken, seasoned rice, green beans and a salad. I couldn't have gotten that much at a fast food place for the price. Not only that, but the woman working there (the mother of the owner) was such a dear -- friendly, helpful and just a very pleasant lady. Plus, the food was delicious, like a real home-cooked meal!

Blackberry's interior

Clean and neat with a cool theme of vinyl albums, album covers, 45 RPM records, memorabilia and African art. Some of the records were ones I have in my own collection. Creative and different!

Back out on the street

I didn't strike up a conversation with him. Watchung Avenue

Off to the park!

I stopped by Mindowaskin Park in Westfield on Thursday. I wanted to do a Trader Joe's run and the park is right nearby. I have to say I'm very disappointed with the lack of upkeep in the park on this visit. Algae all but covered the lake and no one seems to be picking up after dogs. It was never in this shape during previous visits. Of course, that didn't stop me from taking photos. This is a dragonfly on a rock at the water's edge.


This is the same dragonfly closer up. Unfortunately, the sun was bright and the shadows kind of obscure the actual wings.


Patterned after Central Park in Manhattan, I find this bridge for the walkway mesmerizing in its potential for photos -- the shape, the reflections in the water, etc.

The goose has no neck!

Maybe someone told him to duck! Alright, he does have a neck, he's just walking around pretending to be short or something.

Did someone say duck?

A mother duck with her ducklings.

Ducklings at rest

The two ducklings settle down for a rest by the water's edge. The algae-covered water's edge ... grr.

Another dragonfly

This one seems to be a blue dasher.

Common whitetail skimmer

He was nice enough to fly back and pose on the walk for me.

No one will notice me if I hide in the grass.

Oh, that bridge!

Ignore the goose butt in the lower left corner.

Did you call me a goose butt?

What's going on over there?

I think it's paparazzi!

Day lily

Can't a goose sleep in peace?

The blue dasher from another angle.

It's classified as a "skimmer" in the dragonfly um ... genus? (I'm forgetting all the science I once learned.)

Whazzat? A new camera?

This is the first photo I took with the new camera. I no sooner loaded the batteries and memory card, turned it on ... and there was Vincent peering into the lens. What a Nosy Parker!

How was your week?

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Saturday Daytime, July 31

Hayden went from this to ...

... solitary confinement with bread and slop.

The majority of today was a snoozefest on the live feeds. That is, until the POV competition (which, of course, we couldn't see):

• BB woke them up early once again -- around 8 AM their time.
• That would be oversleeping for me, but I'm not in the house.
• I miss Evel Dick getting up very early and talking to the Internet. I wish one of this crew did that. I'd like them solely for the effort!
• Right now I'm not really liking anyone in the house all that much. It's weird not to have a favorite to cheer on.
• Rachel told Kathy that if she (Kathy) wins POV and pulls either Kristen or Hayden off, she'll consider it a personal attack.
• But, she's not threatening her. Oh, not much!
• Kathy ran to Kristen to tell her what Rachel said. Kathy went on to say that if she wins, she'll take Kristen off just so American gets to see the look on Rachel's face.
• Now, that could be fun!
• But it's not meant to be.
• Rachel told Brendon that Kathy didn't agree to not use the POV if she should win it. She also said Kathy was never friends with Kristen until this week.
• That's basically true. Kathy usually follows the power. I think she didn't do that this week because Rachel's been acting so off the hook since winning HOH. Cathy knows the rest of the house is against Rachel.
• Britney told Matt and Ragan that she gets free health insurance because she's 1/16th Native American.
• Say what? I ought to collect on that! I have more Native American in me than that! And, I look as Native American as Britney does ...!
• They did the POV pick with the feeds blocked -- Britney, Ragan and Enzo. Brendon is the host. I can see it now ... "Heeeyyy, I pick ... BRENDON! [teeheeteehee]"
  
• Rachel is still ticked that Kristen kept putting her up every time in the HOH comp.
• Rachel thinks that she and Brendon could get Lane into an alliance with them.
• Brendon doesn't trust Lane.
• Enzo thinks the worst case scenario would be if Kristen wins POV and saves herself -- they don't want two Brigade members on the block!
• Matt told Hayden that he thinks America must be voting on something this week (coup d'etat, America's Player, etc.) as we're not voting on what goes with the slop.
• Hmm ... maybe he is a super-genius!
• I don't think I would have made the connection.
• Kathy told Kristen and Hayden she would be willing to be put up as a replacement and go home herself so that they can stay.
• I don't think Rachel would buy that one. She really wants Kristen out.
• Finally, at about 2:40 PM their time, the feeds were cut for the POV comp.
• About 5:15, the feeds return and Britney won the POV.
• About time she won something! I think the girl knows the game very well and I'd like to see her play it better.
• There were prizes in the POV comp, some not so good.
• Enzo won a television, Rachel won $5,000, Ragan won some sort of Veto pass (possibly enables him to compete in a veto comp when not chosen? I'm not sure), Hayden has 24 hour solitary confinement in the Have Not room with bread, water and cold slop, Kristen has to wear a "hippie" unitard.
• Kathy and Kristen are trying to figure a way to have Britney use the veto to save her (Kristen) and then Kathy goes up.
• Ain't gonna work.
• Britney doesn't like Kristen and the move wouldn't really help her in the game.
• There's no guarantee that Rachel would put up Kathy in her place.
• Kristen thinks she's going home.
• I think so, too.
  

Eye centipedes, a scourge worse than bedbugs.

Matt took his duckies and pirate flag with him to keep by his bed.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Bulletin - POV July 31

The feeds were here briefly, now bubbles again. Kristen did NOT win POV. More as soon as I know ...

Enzo didn't win as he told Britney two people he likes are on the block and he can't do anything about it. Rachel herself doesn't look happy. Will update this post soon. Britney won the POV.

A full report on the day's events will be posted a bit later tonight.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into Saturday Dawn - July 31

Brendon deserves an award for his patience. Either that or a kick in the butt for going all sappy over a woman who definitely has enough issues to have her own magazine. After the nominations, he spent HOURS trying to calm her down and get her to discuss things with him before she does them, tell him what she's planning to say. She doesn't seem to get that he's right -- her game affects his game at this point.

Here's what happened in that Big Brother House of Fool in Love:

• As Brendon and Rachel had their never-ending talk, the mood was lighter elsewhere.
• At one point, Britney balked because Matt and Enzo called her "Casper."
• Enzo claimed it's because she's so friendly, as did Matt.
• Enzo, proving he actually does have a vocabulary, said that she must be thinking of another connotation -- perhaps skin pigmentation.
• Nah, that wasn't it, the guys said. It's friendly ... why, it's even part of Casper's name ... the friendly ghost!
• Maybe you had to be there. But it was better than the Brendon/Rachel soap opera.
• Kristen told Hayden that they need to play up to Rachel and Brendon, then stab 'em in the back. One needs to get off the block, with Kathy going up.
• Rachel, at the request of Brendon, gave Hayden and Kristen a half-hearted apology claiming it wasn't personal.
• Hayden wouldn't even look at her, "Okay. Whatever."
• So that didn't work too well, did it?
• After a lockdown, they went out to the yard to find a giant crudely-built pinball kind of thing sans any lights and buzzers.
• It's apparently so they can practice for PoV.
• It's Matt's 30th birthday today (Saturday).
• They all spent time practicing the game.
• Kathy cleaned the kitchen.
  
• Britney complained about how cold it is there. Where is that hot California weather?
• Obviously, it dispersed to the East Coast.
• Britney is still disappointed that her red team didn't win in the luxury comp.
• Enzo is still looking forward to seeing the movie. They don't know what the movie is yet. I just keep thinking how BB tends towards the Will Ferrell genre of stupidity.
• No offense to Will Ferrell fans, of course. Just sayin'
• Kristen and Hayden talked about being put up on the block for just cuddling and kissing.
• That is about as far as they have seemed to have gone.
• Not as innocent as Jeff and Jordan, yet not as sordid as Brendon and Rachel.
• Brendon thinks Matt is only really loyal to Ragan.
• Surprisingly, the Brigade is still a secret.
• Now, if they could up their performance in comps, they might have something.
• Hayden and Kristen decided to chill their relationship in the house for the good of both of their games.
• Kathy told Hayden and Kristen that she's willing to leave the house because she can't stand being in it with Brendon and Rachel.
• Kathy pulled the Good People Card talking to the Internet about how Rachel deserves nothing because she slept with men on "dates."
• I say Rachel deserves nothing outside of good psychiatric care because she's such a needy-manic so-and-so.
• Rachel and Brendon made out, had sex, whatever. I'm so tired of them hogging the feeds!
• All are asleep as I post this.
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Bulletin - Nominations

Brendon is upset that Rachel is challenging people to come after them. He says she's made herself the villain and he feels he's fighting a losing side with her.

Kristen and Hayden are on the block, not unexpected.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Friday Daytime, July 30

There's a new sheriff in town. Suspecting that cop Kathy was getting between her and her man, Rachel kidnapped Kathy and stashed her in Howie's old jack shack. That will teach the evil cougar for going after her boy toy!

Okay, I lie. I'm sorry.

Here are today's happenings from that Big Brother House of a Shrewd Shrew:

• BB woke up the hamsters early, approximately 7:30 AM their time. They were told to get ready for a game.
• A game which didn't start for hours and hours. Heehee.
• While waiting, Rachel and Brendon had another tiff. I just don't understand her. All he was doing was to try to give her the advice to calm down and make more of an attempt to be friendly to others.
• She cut him off at every sentence accusing him of not being on her side.
• @@
• Afterwards, Ragan had practically the same talk with her and she bought it from him.
• Apparently any instance in which Brendon doesn't think she was 100% right or perfect, he's not caring about her and being mean to her.
• That gal has problems.
  
• Kathy told the others that she's been shot, but not in the line of duty. She said she can't talk about it. Hmm ...
• After she calmed down some, Rachel decided she should call people to the HOH room to discuss things before she makes the nominations.
• Hayden was first. Now, this kid seems really worried. He distanced himself, his decisions, and his votes from Kristen's in the talk.
• Hayden, unlike Rachel, said he's more concerned with his own safety in the house.
• He also said he can't speak for Kristen.
• Hayden told Brendon and Rachel that "someone" -- later decided by Brendon to be Matt -- told him that Brendon said a "strong couple" dropped out of the surfing comp early and should go on the block.
• Hayden never admitted who said it.
• And I don't remember.
• Rachel told Hayden that she likes him and really doesn't want to put him up on the block.
• But she doesn't say she WON'T put him up.
• Then the comp/game/whatever started and the feeds were blocked.
• When the feeds returned, they had on striped prison pants, orange shirts with numbers and Brendon had a green skinny headband. Hayden had the same headband doohickey. Teams, I assume. Rachel had a badge.
• Enzo won a movie, Britney and Matt lost that by five seconds.
• Brendon and Enzo were on the same team in the comp.
• Enzo buttered up both Brendon (saying he always wanted to be on his team in comps) and Rachel (saying that Kristen is going about things all wrong and should take it upon herself to go talk to Rachel to clear the air).
• Who says he's dumb?
• Rachel isn't telling anyone she talks to that they are or aren't going on the block. Ragan, her confidant when Brendon is so mean to her, is surely safe.
• In her talk with Rachel, Kathy denied being a floater but admitted to having continual problems with the comps.
• Kathy told Brendon and Rachel she loves them.
• Gag.
• Lane also sucked up to them in his talk with them.
• Don't they realize that everyone, except perhaps Kristen, is just going to tell them what they want to hear?
• Rachel told Britney that she has no idea who she'll be putting on the block.
• I think Kristen is still a sure bet and she's just undecided on the second one.
• Kristen told Kathy that she finds it hard to pretend to like someone when she doesn't.
• Obviously, Kristen doesn't work in the corporate world, huh?
• Kristen talked with Rachel. She told her that Rachel was never her target until she rubbed the HOH in her face.
• Rachel told her she gets feisty when someone tries to mess with her and her man. Oh geez.
• Kristen said she never had any intentions to come between them.
• Super @@
• Although fairly calm, they both went back and forth (and back and forth again) saying the same things and neither is really giving in and accepting the other as their long lost friend from Toledo.
• They do both agree that they don't want to fight anymore.
• Rats. I like a good cat fight screaming match. Meow.
  
• Sometime tonight, Rachel needs to make her nominations.
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into the Dawn, Friday July 30

Rachel reads the letter from her sister.
It was mostly about dogs.

Lots of fake cheers and excitement over Rachel's HOH room.

After the initial brouhaha after the live show (blocked to the feeds), things haven't been too exciting or volatile in the house. Rats. I want cat fights! I want fisticuffs! I want warnings from the Big Brother voice! Notice that the live feeds advertisements no longer say 24/7. It's because they block them too much. The blocking was weird last night -- we had audio with bubbles a lot. The bubbles are this year's chicken cam, spider cam, fish cam ... take your pick.

Here's what went down in the Big Brother House of Rachel RULZ OMG OMG!!!!!111:

• Above, of course, is my own imitation of Rachel when she won HOH.
• They ate. We're talking steak, burgers, pizza ... anything they could get their hands on.
• Enzo's probably going to have more gastronomical difficulties after chowing down.
• He is worried about fat and calories, though.
• Kristen didn't want to see Rachel's HOH room. Kathy told her not to sink to Rachel's level.
• Hayden is sure Rachel will nominate him and Kristen.
• I think so, too.
• Rachel keeps telling the floaters to grab their life vests. But I still think she'll go after Hayden and Kristen.
• Hayden told Rachel that he would put up floaters if he won HOH.
• He lied. He would definitely put Rachel and Brendon up now.
• Hayden and Kristen consoled each other. Aw, ain't that sweet!
• Ragan said the diary room told him they'll have a "game" tomorrow (today).
• It can't be food, maybe luxury.
• Kristen told Rachel to stop smirking at her.
• Rachel denied it and told Kristen to stop making up drama.
• Meow.
• Brendon told Rachel that he's going to cut her off from the alcohol if she can't control her emotions.
• Like that's going to happen, eh? Rachel loves her alcohol. She might be willing to give up the money winnings for her boytoy, but she's not going to give up her alcohol.
• HOH reveal and Kristen didn't come up. Everyone else overacted their excitement a bit.
• Ragan told Rachel that he trusts Kristen. Oh my.
• Rachel told Ragan that she already apologized to Kristen and Kristen wouldn't accept her apologies.
• Battle lines have been drawn.
• Enzo tried to tell Hayden that Kristen is bad for the Brigade.
• Brendon thinks they should stick with Matt until the end.
• So, Matt's super-genius plan worked? Only because Brendon and Rachel are looking for any friends they can find in the house and are fools about it!
• Kathy denies being a floater.
• They're all asleep as I post this.
• I stand corrected. BB just woke them up and told them to get ready.
• Ready for what, I don't know.
  

Who wants to bet this couple won't last outside the house?

Britney is doing so much better in the house without Monet.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Since Eviction, July 29

It's poetry in motion
She turned her tender eyes to me
As deep as any ocean
As sweet as any harmony
Mmm - but she blinded me with science
"She blinded me with science!"
And failed me in biology
-- "She Blinded Me With Science" by Thomas Dolby

I begrudgingly admit that Rachel can play the game well, especially when her back's to the wall. That doesn't mean I like her. She thinks she's a Janelle and she's not. I wasn't a huge huge Janelle fan, but Rachel is foul-mouthed, jumped into bed with Brendon within days of meeting and wants to control who can even speak to her man. I don't like. But she's the new HoH. Sigh.

Here's what's gone down in that Big Brother house of Misguided Misfits since the live show:

• Rachel and Brendon's new kick is "This one's for Andrew!" Um, how does Rachel's goodbye message fit in here?
• She's saying it more than Brendon. Can you say two-faced? I thought you could.
• Rachel is still all hyper and excited.
• Brendon tried to calm her down.
  
• Before the feeds returned, we seem to have missed a fight. Brendon apologized to Hayden.
• Kathy told Hayden that "people like that have no morals and just want the heat off of them." She also went on about people whose strategy is to lie, lie, lie.
• I have no clue.
• And I'm not lying about that.
• Hayden went to talk to Rachel. It was long, it was boring, it didn't accomplish much.
• Rachel still despises Kristen, but likes Hayden. She also said she's leaning about putting them both on the block but hasn't made up her mind.
• She keeps going on about Kristen putting her up in the HOH comp every single time she could.
• But she's hurt more that Hayden pitted Brendon and her (Rachel) against each other when he said he wouldn't put them up.
• What? He said he wouldn't put them on the block! She isn't computing the difference.
• They didn't scream. They didn't fight. But now Hayden's one scared Animal.
• Hayden told Rachel that every single person in the house would have put Brendon and her on the block.
  
• Brendon tried to apologize to Kristen for the fight we missed.
• Apology not accepted.
• Matt told Ragan he didn't feel safe. Yeah, sure.
• Rachel told Hayden that Kristen wasn't even her target until she said she was gunning for them.
• Brendon doesn't want Rachel to put Hayden on the block.
• Brendon and Rachel think Matt and Ragan are on their side.
• They're not, but I'm sure they'll let them go on thinking that.
• Kristen is as mad at Rachel as Rachel is at her.
• I need a cat fight. Meow meow.
• Rachel tried to apologize (at Brendon's urging) to Kristen.
• Bwahaha! Like that will work! Kristen isn't buying it at all.
• Britney said that Andrew's swearing in his speech will cost more than his stipend in FCC fines.
• Rachel is worried about how many times she swore on the live show.
• It won't keep her from swearing on the live feeds!
• Enzo thinks Julie Chen has a crush on him.
• Maybe Andrew wasn't so off-base with the intelligence talk (or lack thereof) regarding Enzo.
• That's it for now.
• Meow.
  

Product placement

By tomorrow night, those nails will be down to the quick.

Project Runway Talk - Season 8

The show begins tonight and here's your discussion post! I'll gussie it all up a bit later.

Big Brother 12 - Live Eviction Show Blog Party - July 29

The show is about to start on the East Coast. As it 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. Everyone is welcome to party, er ... hang out in comments and share your thoughts!

The vote:
Kristen --> Andrew
Rachel --> Andrew
Britney --> Andrew
Commercial break
Enzo --> Andrew
Brendon --> Andrew
Lane --> Andrew
Hayden --> Andrew
Ragan --> Andrew (Institutionalize and evict)

Andrew is gone.

Rachel is the new HOH.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into the Dawn, Thursday July 29

"I'll cry. I'll cry, cry, cry ... 96 tears ..."
- a nod to Question Mark and the Mysterians

A new showmance? Say it ain't so!

Okay, it ain't so on the romance. It is so on the Andrew crying scene although that's changed, too. Here's the scoop from last night in that Big Brother House of Manic Andrew and the Ship of Fools:

• First, not really in the house, my review of last night's show is up on TV Squad. Give it a like on Facebook! :-)
• Andrew cried about his inevitable exit all because Matt made him a pawn.
• Enzo has been having severe constipation problems due to the two weeks of slop and its related extras.
• While the others made dinner, Enzo begged for ExLax and went into graphic details of his woes.
• Andrew contemplated eating as they can't penalize him anyway as he's surely going out the door.
• Rachel talked about dates with rich men, going off to Hawaii or Aspen with them, then dumping them.
• Britney knew those kind of dates but her dates tend more towards The Olive Garden.
  
• Kristen does not have dates like Rachel.
  
• I hope that Britney and Kristen's dating history is more the norm. I'm just glad I'm not in the dating scene.
• Rachel claims she doesn't sleep with those dates.
• Suuure.
• Enzo finally went. And went, and went.
  
• Britney told Lane that she would go after Kristen next week, not Rachel and Brendon.
• Lane told her the rest of the house would be angry at her if she did that.
• Rachel would like liquor. Some things never change.
• When Matt asked Lane why he shaves his arms, Lane said that's what Texans do -- wrestle in back yards, shave each other's arms, and carry guns.
• I thought New Jersey had bad representation this season. I stand corrected.
• Lane lied to Enzo, telling him that if she wins, Britney will put Brendon and Rachel on the block. Hmmm ...
• Andrew called a big house meeting, but unlike Rachel's previous meeting, there were no fireworks.
• He apologized to Brendon and Rachel for saying he'll target them, apologized to Kristen for yelling at her, then cried and told everyone how much he loves them.
• Then he went to his Have Not room to pray and cry some more.
• 96 tears is probably a low estimate.
• Later he would turn into Happy Smiley Boy. His manic behavior is starting to get me on edge.
• The hamsters think he's way too volatile and unpredictable to keep. They're probably right.
• But Kathy is boring. As a viewer, I find Andrew more entertaining.
• Ragan wants to protest a day longer on slop than other week's.
• Brendon suggested a strongly worded letter.
• I can't help but think I might like Brendon if he wasn't glued to Rachel.
• Enzo thinks his fan base had to increase with The Amazing Enzo shown on the POV show. Meow meow.
• They're all asleep as I post this. I don't really expect things to change today -- it still looks almost unanimous for an Andrew exit.
  

Karma, karma, karma chameleon

At least Matt didn't wear the funky pajamas all evening.

Bayonne's best ... not saying much about Bayonne, eh? Well, he is better than the last BB hamster from Bayonne, the expelled Justin from season two.

Eww! Eww!

Big Brother 12 - Episode 9 Blog Party - July 28

The show is about to start here on the East Coast. As it airs, I'll post important updates in this entry. But the real fun is in the comments section. Everyone is invited to join in with your thoughts! Later tonight (or, worst case scenario, early in the morning), my full show review will be posted over on TV Squad.

Lane's the first out in POV. Matt is out. Kathy is out. Brendon and Andrew tied at 2 points. Rachel none. Three points to win. Brendon won POV - house will be taken over by Brenchal.

Brendon didn't use the POV to save anyone as Rachel would go up.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Wednesday Daytime, July 28

Finally, some action in the house.

Enough action as to bring a tear to Andrew's eye. But, it was his fault. He started it.

Here's the skinny:

• Not long after they got up this morning, Andrew went to the bathroom where Kristen was and said, "You two are playing me like a fiddle." He walked out.
• Matt, in the kitchen heard it.
• Andrew and Kristen went on to have a confrontation in the bedroom. She is TICKED.
• He claims that she's been there for Kathy and doesn't care about him.
• She said that she told both of them when they went on the block that she'd be there for them.
• She also said that she would specifically be there to console Kathy this week as she thought she needed her.
• Then she said Kathy came to her and Andrew never did.
• Andrew said he shouldn't have to come to her, she should come to him to console him.
• Andrew said that he has nobody in the house.
• Kristen said that Kathy didn't either and came to her -- had he come to her, she would be just as sympathetic with him.
• Andrew doesn't understand, doesn't think he should have to go to anyone, they should come to him.
• Andrew claimed his "you two" comment wasn't aimed at her.
• Kristen and Kathy were the only ones in the room at the time. Hence, they believe the "you two" comment must have been aimed at them.
  
• Everyone thinks that Andrew is on the edge and is digging his own grave.
• He is, but many of them threw their shovels of dirt on the grave long before his body was laid to rest.
• Kristen is obviously no longer the Invisible Hamster. Andrew's behavior has placed her on the front lines.
• Andrew cried in the Have Not room, alone again, naturally.
• Andrew told Kathy that he has no one and can't go to Brendon because he said he's after him.
• Enzo, Lane, and Ragan all have said they're voting Andrew out. Kristen is definitely voting him out with her buddy Hayden sure to follow suit. Britney doesn't like either Andrew or Kathy but has said she's voting Andrew out. Rachel has said all along that she wants to vote out Andrew over Kathy.
• Now, after the latest, even Brendon is talking about how he can't support his reasoning to keep Andrew in the house.
• Oh my ... will this be another unanimous vote? It could be!
• Kathy, perhaps eager to jump in on a rather safe deal, told Kristen that Andrew's been going around saying Kristen is running the house.
• Say what? I haven't heard him say that and it has no basis.
• Andrew told Ragan he loves and respects Brendon and his game.
• Brendon tried to console Andrew a bit and suggested he apologize to Kristen.
• Kathy told Enzo that Brendon flat-out told her he isn't voting to keep her because he doesn't feel he can control her actions.
• Does that mean he feels he can control Andrew? Hmmm ... maybe it's time for Brendon to do some damage control, eh?
• Enzo said that Andrew's getting desperate and will do anything for sympathy.
• Andrew went into the kitchen and cried some more while eating his baby food.
• Matt got his HOH camera and snapped a shot of miserable Andrew with his baby food.
• That's about it for now.
• At least Rachel and Britney aren't crying and Andrew doesn't dab his eyes carefully to keep his make-up from running.
  

The reason some men shave their heads.

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds - Into Wednesday Dawn, July 28

How cold is it in Los Angeles these days? If they were on the East Coast, they'd stay inside with air conditioning instead of bundling up with jackets and throws!


We need drama in the house. I've said it before, I'll probably say it again. Yet my words fall on deaf production ears. Maybe it's because I'm not supposed to talk about production, I don't know. Here are the latest non-happenings from that Big Brother House of Monotonous Miscast Misfits:

• BB yelled at the boys for trying to burn a lime with a magnifying glass in the yard.
• They threw apples around the yard.
• They made a football out of aluminum foil.
• Matt and Kathy said they think Rachel would voluntarily quit if Brendon got evicted.
• I don't think she would.
• Andrew doesn't seem to realize that he's not just the pawn anymore, but the target.
• Hayden burned his toe with the magnifying glass. Maybe he should focus it on his hair and get rid of some of that!
• BB took away Britney's hoodie because it had a trademarked logo on it. They're very restricted in that regard -- anything with logos needs permission or, better yet, advertising dollars thrown the BB way.
  
• Brendon said he'll have a prenuptial agreement before marriage as he's been burnt before. Rachel vehemently is against it. But not enough for interesting drama.
  
• They talked about how they couldn't believe the fights and drama past seasons.
• They don't seem to realize that watching a houseful of hamsters who get along is BORING and that they're most likely the most boring group ever cast in the show.
• For being so much "in love lust," Brendon and Rachel certainly have a lot of arguments. I think they might be starting to realize they jumped into this way too quickly and for all the wrong reasons.
• But maybe not.
• They (Brendon and Rachel) are still divided on the vote. As such, they'll virtually have NO vote and it will be up to the rest of the house.
• The rest of the house is planning to vote Andrew out at this time. They still want Kathy out, but Andrew is more of a priority for them right now.
• Matt cut Enzo's hair. Enzo said it was better than Rachel's haircutting efforts.
• Rachel and Britney trashed Kristen and Kathy while they took a bath in the HOH tub.
  
• Britney is upset that people think she's lived a privileged life just because she's been places on vacation.
• Both talked about working up to three jobs if needed to pay the bills and having to support themselves.
• They don't think that people who complain about the lack of money (Kathy, Kristen) need sympathy on the show -- they could be out working earning money instead of being on a reality show.
• OMG -- I actually agree with them there. I'm SO tired of people on these shows saying how much the need the money and how poor they are. I didn't ever think I'd agree with Britney and Rachel, but there you go. If folks NEED money so badly, they should be out WORKING (yes, it it takes two or three jobs -- I've done it myself over the years) instead of being on reality shows.
• There. I said it.
• That said, I'm not sure where Rachel's VIP cocktail waitress position falls in the world of working for a living, but ...!
• The guys played pool.
• BB - take that pool table away, please!
• Britney told Matt that Kristen would be Rachel's target if she won HOH.
• Ragan thinks a double eviction is coming up soon. I'd say in about two weeks -- sometime mid-August.
• Enzo has a lot of gas from the BB slop and baby food. He all but admitted to Britney that he cheated last week as a Have Not. There has been no penalty for that. However, I haven't seen him cheating this week.
• Ragan talked to the live feeds crowd while alone in the hammock before bed.
• He said that if he plans to throw the HOH this week (which he's leaning toward), he will wear a long-sleeved navy blue shirt.
• Oh goody, now we have some suspense for the live show. Thank you, Ragan. Please talk to us more.
  

Rub-a-dub-dub

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds - Tuesday Daytime July 27

Andrew makes faces at his bok choy.
He might be better off cooking it.

Seriously, something must be done to liven this house up. I'm talking seriously. Really. Here's the big scoop of the day from that Big Brother House Blatant Boredom:

• BB didn't wake them up until 9 AM their time today.
• Rachel made French toast for the Haves. Brendon questioned why she put sugar in it and said it wasn't needed as the syrup already had sugar. Brendon can't have the French toast anyway.
• I wonder why she put sugar in it, too.
  
• They talked about iPads and Twilight. Yawn.
• Brendon and Rachel kissed for a change.
• They talked about college.
• Someone made a mess in/on the HOH toilet. Matt suspects Enzo.
• Yeah, probably.
• Brendon and Rachel argued more about the vote. He still wants to keep Andrew, she wants to keep Kathy.
• Rachel, "Are you dating him or what?"
• Oh my.
• Andrew misplaced his yarmulke (or, as Rachel calls it, his "Yom Kippur")
• He found it. There was no conspiracy.
• They've napped and lazed around.
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Into the Dawn, Tuesday July 27

I wonder if BB got Matt's PJ's from a costume shop.

I keep expecting the unexpected but BB just isn't delivering it. Oh, I long for the days of a Cappy showdown or an Evel Dick brouhaha. Although there are definite sides in the house, these folks just aren't lively --- and they get along too well, even the "enemies." Here's the latest from inside that Big Brother House of The Problem with Pawns:

• It really looks like Andrew's speech during the PoV ceremony might have sealed his fate. I don't know exactly what was said, but most of the house is pro-Kathy now.
• Brendon and Rachel can't agree on the vote. Trouble in paradise, eh? Their votes will likely cancel each other out. Not a good thing for power players in the house.
• Lane thinks that Hayden doesn't have a personality and possesses a dry sense of humor.
• I'm not all that into Hayden, but contend that if he indeed has a dry sense of humor, he has a personality.
• Hayden does seem a bit boring. Maybe it's because I can't see his eyes.
• Britney mentioned that she's been on a lot of cruises, Hayden's been on none.
• I've never been on a cruise. I've been on whale-watching and deep sea fishing boats, but I guess it's not the same.
  
• Lane agreed with Ragan about keeping Kathy this week.
  
• Lane claims it will be Brendon and Rachel's fault if Andrew leaves this week.
• Huh? Especially if their votes cancel each other out! I guess he means it's because of the Rachel/Brendon/Andrew connection.
• Kristen told Matt for sure she'll be voting for Andrew to go.
• They talked about how BB is editing them. Matt says that the show is portraying Enzo as total Jersey guy and capitalizing on the popularity of The Jersey Shore.
• He does have a point there.
• Britney is on her Hayden/Kristen being brother/sister kick still. She said that Kristen told her that her parents named all the children with "en" at the end of their names.
• Meanwhile, watching and listening to Hayden and Kristen shows they're no way brother and sister. If it's some kind of surprise reveal, they're going to be horrified at their actions.
• Britney thinks Andrew has eaten some non-kosher items. Don't ask me ... unless it's something blatant, I don't know.
• Enzo doesn't think he's anyone's target. He's basically right although he doesn't realize that he's considered a bit sketchy by Brendon and Rachel.
• Matt thinks it will be an 8-0 vote to evict Andrew. Maybe, possibly a 7-1 if Rachel sticks to her guns.
• Looks like Captain Kosher is piloting a sinking ship.
  

Big Brother 12 - Live Feeds Monday Into the Evening, July 26

Another day in that Big Brother house of Poor Casting:

• Brendon and Rachel are the early birds this season, once again getting up before BB wakes them up.
• They've noticed that Enzo, Lane, Hayden and Kristen hang out a lot together and are thinking there may be an alliance there.
• They don't seem to think Matt is a part of it.
• I actually think Matt is the loose card of the alliance and the Brigade would do better with Kristen in his place.
• Brendon and Rachel are worried about Enzo and don't trust Britney. Um, okay.
  
• Enzo is really on a "get rid of Andrew this week" trip as opposed to his earlier "get rid of Kathy" trip.
• They went on an outdoor lockdown in prep for the PoV ceremony.
• Bam, no feeds for the ceremony!
• The nominations remain the same as we expected. Brendon couldn't use the PoV or Rachel would go on the block (supposedly).
• Apparently Andrew said something about Matt being in cahoots with Brendon and Rachel.
• Oh my. Andrew should have remained quiet. This might be enough to change up the vote and give him the boot.
• Matt told Andrew he liked the speech. Andrew told him that if he stays he won't be gunning for him.
• Andrew knows Matt indeed has alliances.
• Ragan said the PoV meeting was the weirdest ever and Andrew made him laugh with his speech.
• Hayden said he thinks Andrew's speech was all an act.
• Kristen told Matt that, since the speech, she decided to vote out Andrew. She said Rachel's weird reaction to it makes her think he's in with them (B/R).
• Britney agrees with Kristen.
  
• This speech seems worth the watch Wednesday!
• Matt claims that he's worried who Kathy would nominate if she won HOH.
• That's just silly.
• Kathy is the least likely to win any comp on the show.
• I think Matt's working both sides of the house ... still. His only allegiance is to himself and his fake-disease wife.
• Kristen, Hayden, Britney and Enzo seem to be solid votes to boot Andrew. Lane is a maybe.
• Unless something big happens, Ragan is going to vote to evict Andrew.
• I think Andrew got himself in hot water.
• And it's all because Matt put him up as a pawn and didn't nominate EITHER of the ones they all claim are the targets.
• Super Genius strikes again.
• It seems like Brendon and Rachel still might be a split vote on this one. She wants to get rid of Andrew and he doesn't.
• We'll see.