Thoughts of the sMelMoOO

Survivor South Pacific -- Two Games!

2011-12-18T22:53:00.000-05:00

Kicking Marc's Ass... Again.

Tucker's Nuts
9. Benjamin "Coach" Wade -- 2ND!!!!
1. Keith Tollefson -- OUT
2. Christine Shields Markoski -- OUT
3. Dawn Meehan -- OUT
4. Elyse Umenoto -- OUT
5. Stacey Powell -- OUT
6. Mikayla Wingle -- OUT
7. Edna Ma -- OUT
8. Brandon Hantz -- OUT

Asssshfault!
6. Sophie Clarke --
7. Albert Destrade -- 3RD
9. Oscar “Ozzy” Lusth -- OUT
1. Jim Rice -- OUT
2. Mark Caruso -- OUT
3. John Cochran -- OUT
4. Rick Nelson -- OUT
5. Semhar Tadesse -- OUT
8. Whitney Duncan -- OUT

Maniac Meg has joined the world of trying to beat me in Survivor.

Here are the teams!

Tucker's Nuts
6. Sophie Clarke -- WINNER!!!!
9. Oscar Ozzy Lusth -- OUT
1. Mark Anthony Caruso -- OUT
2. Semhar Tadesse -- OUT
3. Christine Shields Markoski -- OUT
4. Dawn Meehan -- OUT
5. John Cochran -- OUT
7. Elyse Umenoto -- OUT
8. Rick Nelson -- OUT

Maniac Meg
9. Benjamin "Coach" Wade -- 2ND!!!!
7. Albert Destrade -- 3RD
1. Keith Tollefson -- OUT
2. Edna Ma -- OUT
3. Jim Rice -- OUT
4. Stacey Powell -- OUT
5. Brandon Hantz -- OUT
6. Whitney Duncan -- OUT
8. Mikayla Wingle -- OUT

Hotmail is Dead

2011-05-17T16:37:00.000-04:00

Getting hacked twice in one week was enough for me.

Please delete my hotmail address and use this one from now on.

I apologize for an inconvenience that the other may have caused you.

Brian

Survivor Competitions Update

2011-05-15T23:23:00.001-04:00

Survivor 1 in Borneo -- Richard Hatch (No Game)
Survivor 2 in Australia -- Tina Wesson (Ashfault!)
Survivor 3 in Africa -- Ethan Zohn (Ashfault!)
Survivor 4 in Marquesas -- Vecepia Towery (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 5 in Thailand -- Brian Heidik (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 6 in Amazon -- Jenna Morasca (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 7 in Pearl Islands -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 8 ALL STARS -- Amber Brkich (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 9 in Vanuatu -- Chris Daugherty (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 10 in Palau -- Tom Westman (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 11 in Guatemala -- Danni Boatwright (Ashfault!)
Survivor 12 in Panama (Exile Island) -- Aras Baskauskas (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 13 in the Cook Islands -- Yul Kwon (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 14 in Fiji -- Earl Cole (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 15 in China -- Todd Herzog (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 16 in Micronesia (All Stars-ish) -- Parvati Shallow (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 17 in Gabon -- Bob Crowley (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 18 in Tocantins -- James Thomas, Jr. (Ashfault!)
Survivor 19 in Samoa -- Natalie White (Ashfault!)
Survivor 20 in Heroes vs. Villians -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 21 in Nicaragua -- Judson "Fabio" Birza (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 22 -- Redemption Island -- Rob Mariano (Pork Chop Express)

Overall Totals

Pork Chop Express -- 16
Assshfault! -- 5

Tucker's Nuts -- 2
FBT -- ZERO

Survivor 22 -- Suck It Russhole

2011-05-15T21:03:00.000-04:00

Tucker’s Nuts
Rob Mariano (16) -- WINNER
Natalie Tenerelli (1) -- THIRD
Andrea Boehlke (13) -- Booted Episode 12 - FIFTH PLACE
Mike Chiesl (12) -- Booted Episode 9 - Ejected Episode 13
Matt Elrod (4) -- Booted Episode 2 - Booted Episode 8 (again) - Ejected Episode 13
David Murphy (5) -- Booted Episode 9 - Ejected Episode 10
Sarita White (8) -- booted Episode 7 - Ejected Episode 8
Krista Klumpp (9) -- Booted Episode 5 - Ejected Episode 6
Francesca Hogi (17)- Booted Episode 1 - Ejected Episode 3

Asssshfault!
Phillip Sheppard (7) -- SECOND
Ashley Underwood (2) -- Fourth Place
Grant Mattos (10) -- Booted Episode 12 -- Ejected Episode 13
Ralph “Rooster” Kiser (6) -- Booted Episode 11 -- Ejected Episode 12
Steve Wright (14) -- Booted Episode 11 -- Ejected Episode 12
Julie Wolfe (15) -- Booted Episode 10 - Ejected Episode 11
Stephanie Valencia (11) -- Booted Episode 6 - Ejected Episode 7
Kristina Kell (3) -- Booted Episode 4 - Ejected Episode 5
Russell Hantz (18) -- Booted Episode 3 - Ejected Episode 4

Survivor Competitions Update

2010-12-19T23:09:00.000-05:00

Survivor 1 in Borneo -- Richard Hatch (No Game)
Survivor 2 in Australia -- Tina Wesson (Ashfault!)
Survivor 3 in Africa -- Ethan Zohn (Ashfault!)
Survivor 4 in Marquesas -- Vecepia Towery (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 5 in Thailand -- Brian Heidik (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 6 in Amazon -- Jenna Morasca (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 7 in Pearl Islands -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 8 ALL STARS -- Amber Brkich (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 9 in Vanuatu -- Chris Daugherty (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 10 in Palau -- Tom Westman (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 11 in Guatemala -- Danni Boatwright (Ashfault!)
Survivor 12 in Panama (Exile Island) -- Aras Baskauskas (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 13 in the Cook Islands -- Yul Kwon (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 14 in Fiji -- Earl Cole (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 15 in China -- Todd Herzog (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 16 in Micronesia (All Stars-ish) -- Parvati Shallow (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 17 in Gabon -- Bob Crowley (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 18 in Tocantins -- James Thomas, Jr. (Ashfault!)
Survivor 19 in Samoa -- Natalie White (Ashfault!)
Survivor 20 in Heroes vs. Villians -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 21 in Nicaragua -- Judson "Fabio" Birza (Pork Chop Express)

Overall Totals

Pork Chop Express -- 15
Assshfault! -- 5

Tucker's Nuts -- 2
FBT -- ZERO

Survivor -- Geezers vs Tighties... FINALE!!!!!!!!

2010-12-19T22:06:00.000-05:00

Tucker's Nuts
Judson "Jud" Birza (17) -- WINNNNNNEEERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!
Danny Lembo (16) -- Fifth Place
Jane Bright (12) -- Booted Week Thirteen
Ben Henry (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
Brenda Lowe (5) -- Booted Week Ten
Alina Wilson (4) -- Booted Week Eight
Jill Halmi Behm (9) -- Booted Week Seven
Kelly Bruno (1) -- Booted Week Six
Jimmy Johnson (20) -- Booted Week Three
Shannon Elkins (13) -- Booted Week Two

Assshfault!
Chase Rice (6) -- SECOND
Matthew "Sash" Lenahan (3) -- THIRD
Holly Hoffman (15) -- FOURTH
Na 'Onka Mixon (10) -- QUITTER TURD WEEK ELEVEN!!!!
Kelly Shinn (14) -- QUITTER WUSS WEEK ELEVEN!!!!
Marty Piombo (11) -- WEEK NINE!!!!!!
Yve Rojas (7) -- BOOTED WEEK SIX!!!!!!!!!!
Tyrone Davis (2) -- BOOTED WEEK FIVE!!!!!!!!!
Jimmy Tarantino (18) -- BOOTED WEEK FOUR!!!!!
Wendy Jo Desmidt-Kohlhoff (19) -- BOOTED WEEK ONE!!!!!!!

Survivor Returns!

2010-09-15T17:33:00.002-04:00

And so does the game! See below... as we picked our draft picks...

This season is old vs. young... so the challenges are not as physical, but rather... intellectualy.

Let's root on Tucker's Nuts over that stinky... stinky... stinky... Asssfault!!!!

Tucker's Nuts
1. Kelly Bruno (1)
2. Alina Wilson (4)
3. Brenda Lowe (5)
4. Ben Henry (8)
5. Jill Halmi Behm (9)
6. Jane Bright (12)
7. Shannon Elkins (13)
8. Danny Lembo (16)
9. Judson "Jud" Birza (17)
10. Jimmy Johnson (20)

Assshfault!
1. Tyrone Davis (2)
2. Matthew "Sash" Lenahan (3)
3. Chase Rice (6)
4. Yve Rojas (7)
5. Na 'Onka Mixon (10)
6. Marty Piombo (11)
7. Kelly Shinn (14)
8. Holly Hoffman (15)
9. Jimmy Tarantino (18)
10. Wendy Jo Desmidt-Kohlhoff (19)

Inception Movie Going Experience

2010-08-15T21:48:00.001-04:00

Animal Kingdom

Stone

Tron Legacy

The Social Network

Devil

Due Date

The Town

Book 39 of 52 -- Kathryn Stockett's The Help

2010-08-15T21:39:00.000-04:00

Kathryn Stockett hits a home run with her very first novel THE HELP. This novel is a success on so many different levels and in no way shows signs of a first novel. Ms. Stockett writes with an authoritativeness, honesty and literary ease that equals a writer of the highest caliber who has been writing for years.

Fantastic book.

Book 38 of 52 -- Stephen King's The Colorado Kid

2010-08-13T21:32:00.003-04:00

I was very much into the story. I feel it was well written and the characters were very well developed, as is always the case with Stephen King. I was held by the story and actually read through the book extremely quickly as I was "sucked into" the story completely. The only really problem I have is the ending. It seems Mr. King has come to the point in his life where he doesn't mind leaving things untied in his stories. He would chastise me for saying this as someone who doesn't understand or who puts too much stock in the ending instead of the journey getting there. Maybe so, but I still like to have endings a little neater than what we get from this book. I am not going to go into details and provide spoilers for it, but I was disappointed upon reaching the last page with where I was left by this ending.

Book 37 of 52 -- James Patterson's Private

2010-08-11T09:28:00.003-04:00

Just plain boring.

I usually don't like his books with other authors and might consider that practice after this.

It is not a James Patterson book.

Book 36 of 52 -- Janet Evanovich's Sizzling Sixteen

2010-08-09T21:22:00.003-04:00

I wouldn't go so far as I didn't like this book, but it was a let down. There seemed to be a serious disconnect between Stephanie and Morrelli. Usually there is more tension between the Morrelli and Ranger vying for Stephanie, and here we barely hear a peep out of Morrelli. Lulu was also figured very promiently, maybe too much so. I would've also like to have seen more interaction between Grandma Mazur and Stephanie's long suffering parents---that's always entertaining. Maybe I expected too much---I'm always thrilled when I hear of a new Plum book coming out---but this one didn't quench my thrist.

I'm also wondering if I missed something. The jacket said something about Vinny running up porn charges from Rangers apartment. I didn't see any mention of that. Was it ommitted or did I skip some pages???

Book 35 of 52 -- Miles Kington's How Shall I Tell the Dog?

2010-08-08T09:19:00.000-04:00

Miles Kington writes beautifully about almost nothing, and somehow he makes you laugh out loud. When he found he was dying fast, he kept writing and this is, for me, a hilarious book about the death of my old Oxford friend. After reading it you may never be afraid of dying--though death can be a bit of a downer, for others at least.

Book 34 of 52 -- Steve Harvey's Act Like a Man

2010-08-06T09:15:00.000-04:00

This terribly-written book has Harvey spouting humorless relational philosophy, such as "men are simple creatures." And he proves that point by writing such a simple-minded book that it's a complete waste of time to read it.

The book is sexist, stereotyping all men into knuckle-dragging, sports-loving hunters that just need a little sex to keep them happy. The book is addressed to women, telling them to dress better, accept that the guy won't talk much, and give sex more often in order to keep their guy from straying.

Most offensive is Harvey's constant references to "the Lord" and Jesus, leading people to believe he upholds spirituality, yet he point blank tells people to have sex after 90 days together and accepts a couple living together without being married. He often mentions going to church--didn't he learn anything there?

He also conveniently fails to mention that he has been married three times. The book would lead you to believe he was married once, to a woman he admittedly slept with and cheated on before she threatened to walk out on him. There is also no real mention of his children. A quick check of his bio online will uncover the truth. If you can't trust a guy writing a book about relationships to come clean about his own relationships, then why read the book?

There are a couple of valid points, such as the fact that men need respect and loyalty from women. But the lousy writing style and simplistic examples negate any reason to read this book.

Book 33 of 52 -- Linda Castillo's Pray For Silence

2010-08-04T21:08:00.003-04:00

Pray for Silence is a crime thriller about the investigation of a family massacre on an Amish farm in a small Ohio town. The case is particularly difficult for Police Chief Kate Burkholder, as she grew up Amish and the current case brings up her troubled past. This is strong writing with a good pace, tight plot, well-developed characters, and an interesting setting. The setting is one of the strongest aspects of the novel, as Linda Castillo does a great job of bringing the Amish community to life.

I would strongly recommended that you read the previous book, Sworn to Silence, before reading Pray for Silence. If you enjoy the crime/thriller genre (Kathy Reichs, Tess Gerritsen, Harlan Coben, et al), you're going to want to read them both anyway, and they will be much better in proper sequence. The first book, Sworn to Silence, is even better than Pray for Silence as it delves much deeper into Kate Burkholder's past. This background is alluded to in Pray for Silence, but you wont' get the full effect without having read the first book.

The Kids Are All Right Movie Going Experience

2010-08-01T10:43:00.001-04:00

Great movie, but we really need an intervention for Julianne Moore who just seems to want to be naked all the time.

Previews!!!

Nowhere Boy

Never Let Me Go

Jack Goes Boating

The Social Network

Catfish

The American

It's Kind of a Funny Story

Predators Movie Going Experience

2010-07-19T22:44:00.001-04:00

Previews... on a Monday Night....

Wall Street: Money Never Dies

Step Up 3D

Lottery Ticket

Machete

Books 31 and 32 of 52 -- Charlaine Harris' Dead Until Dark and Living Dead in Dallas

2010-07-15T21:12:00.003-04:00

I was lent these two books after watching the HBO show based on this series. I enjoyed this book from the first chapter. Each book is one series in the tv show but there are enough differences that if you have seen "True Blood" you will get more of the background and in depth story telling that makes this series so enticing.

I can honestly say each book gets better and better. There is a whirlwind of mystery, suspicious characters and humor to keep you hooked. I would recommend this to anyone wanting to escape with the help of a great book.

Book 30 of 52 -- Jon Katz' Soul of a Dog

2010-07-14T21:10:00.001-04:00

Soul of a Dog was a delightful look into the relationship of the author with his farm animals. Although not scientific in the least, he highlights those traits in our relationship with domestic animals that make our friendship so strong. However, he naively believes that the beef he eats at a restaurant in town is somehow different than the sweet bull that he feeds Snicker Bars to. The book was too long for the subject and while fun to read failed to improve the discussion of animal intelligence a single dot or tittle.

Book 29 of 52 -- Andre Agassi's Open

2010-07-13T21:07:00.003-04:00

For me, Andre Agassi's book is most memorable because we learn that the "real" Agassi is not the Agassi we thought we knew. The disjunction between public image and private reality is rarely explored in an autobiography, and Agassi (and his ghost-writer) have gone into areas usually untouched by people on the public stage. Agassi was, in many ways, an abused and neglected child. He did not know who he was; he was hardly the "rebel" or "enfant terrible" that the press made him out to be. His wrenching struggles and his personal growth took place despite the efforts of the media to tell a pat story about him, and they occurred away from the tennis court.

Agassi's frankness about himself separates this book from most autobiographies. It's not really a book about tennis but a book about how to become a human being. In fact, with a few exceptions, the accounts of Grand Slam matches are not very enlightening to the amateur tennis player on the technical level. But the accounts of Agassi's depression, his self-doubt, and his hatred for tennis are unforgettable.

This book could, however, have been 50 to 100 pages shorter without losing its impact.

Book 28 of 52 -- Stephen King's Billy Blockade

2010-07-12T21:04:00.001-04:00

Though I consider this "book" to be a minor addition to Stephen King's vast literary canon, I found myself enjoying it. Some of King's books could be a bit of a slog trying to get through. This novella is definitely not one of those. I enjoyed the descriptions of the old time baseball scenarios. The story centered on the super-talented catcher "Blockade" Billy Blakely, whose name was inexplicably removed from the records book (the constant reader does not learn why until near the end of the story). It is a fairly straightforward baseball fantasy up to the time it arrived to its Stephen King trademark twist ending. I really enjoyed it for the fast reading and the thrills. I also read this story from the standpoint of being a potential movie script. I was able to see this story fitting nicely as a cinematic offering. If handled correctly by the right director and actors, it will be a viewing experience that few will forget.

Book 27 of 52 -- Richard Roeper's Bet the House

2010-07-11T21:01:00.003-04:00

Fun and light read, but the whole book was pointless.

I like to gamble too and even I was like... uhhh... what?

Despicable Me Moviegoing Experience

2010-07-11T14:46:00.001-04:00

Previews

Nanny McPhee Returns

Smurf'd

Ramona and Beezus

Alpha and Omega

Megamind

Cats and Dogs - The Revenge of Kitty Galore

Good movie that started a bit slow and then kicked into gear with the introduction of the kids.

Book 26 of 52 -- Phillip Margolin's Supreme Justice

2010-07-10T20:58:00.003-04:00

In order to enjoy this book you really do have to suspend belief a bit, because the US Supreme Court is hopefully, no where near as lively and dangerous a place as Margolin portrays it. However, the book is well crafted in the usual Margolin style and weaves several plot lines neatly together to produce a very good summer read, if not the five star effort we have come to expect from this author.

This book follows on from Executive Privilege with many of the same characters from that book getting up to their elbows and eyeballs in a piece of intrigue that is very,very dangerous.

The connector for the storylines is a petition for a writ of certiorari from a convicted murderer in Oregon to the Supreme Court, the granting of which will unravel some very large misdeeds done by some very important and powerful people who are willing to kill to prevent their misdeeds from being discovered.

Telling you more about the plot would do the book a disservice because the story has many unexpected and unforseen twists and turns which are the hallmark of this author. The court is in session....

Book 25 of 52 -- John Heilemann & Mark Halperin's Game Change

2010-07-09T20:55:00.002-04:00

This is an entertaining look at the 2008 Presidential election from a couple of Washington insiders who viewed some of it up close and personal, and had a lot of connections and sources to fill in the blanks. Since the campaign itself immersed a lot more of the population in process, this is a good look back for a lot of readers. There is a slight Obama slant, but the public gets to see far more of the "warts" of politics at this level, and really, has to wonder why anyone would choose to insert themselves into this crazy process.

I tried to ignore the early gossip about the book and the "reveals" and just evaluate it on the face of my own reading experience.

Edwards, Palin, McCain and Bill Clinton take the most hits of any other figures in the book. Hilary, while at a loss in the race, comes off as the most believable and heroic of all the figures (and I'm a fan!). There is good support for all the smart moves made by the Obama campaign and realistic introduction of some of the criticsm of his past connections. All in all, a fascinating account, without any particularly laudable skill in the phrasing or historical significance.

Book 24 of 52 -- David Baldacci's Deliver Us From Evil

2010-07-08T20:52:00.002-04:00

In this sequel to The Whole Truth, Shaw accepts the job of 'extracting' Evan Waller, a millionaire whose legitimate businesses launder the profits from trafficking in sex slaves and selling weapons-grade nuclear materials to Islamic terrorists.

Unknown to Shaw, Regina Campion, an assassin from a shadowy British vigilante organisation, plans to kill Waller, who she knows to be Fedir Kuchin, a KGB officer who continued Stalin's genocide of Ukrainians until the collapse of communism. Waller/Kuchin also has the character flaws of many movie villains: bad taste in henchmen, and a weakness for overly complicated deathtraps.

Action-packed, with little else to distract.

Book 23 of 52 -- James Patterson's The 9th Judgment

2010-07-07T20:48:00.000-04:00

Some of the old James Patterson faults are there, such as, a not very interesting sadistic serial killer who targets mothers with children. This sort of murderer appears in most Patterson books. Then there's a female cat burglar/lesbian with a cruel husband. She just happens to be romantically involved with the sadistic killer's wife. Weird. There are also obligatory heterosexual scenes that are thrown in for the fifteen-year olds who may read this book.

But there are fewer obvious errors of fact and syntax, silly errors that a good editor should have caught. And there are no insulting passages in bold lettering to tell the dimbulb reader that This Is Important. In the past these have been standard fare. However, the book runs about twenty pages longer than it should. The author had a very good final line and they kept right on going.

This is not a mystery novel. As usual Patterson lets us know from the start who the killer is. Thus, there are really no surprises. We know that the come uppance is coming up and we know who is going to get it. This would have been much better had we not known the killer's name and motive--a la Agatha Christie, for example.

Book 22 of 52 -- Stuart Woods' Lucid Intervals

2010-07-06T20:44:00.001-04:00

First let me say that I have read all of Mr. Woods books. His books are usually amusing and light with enough action and romance to keep it interesting.

On the other hand I do get a little tired of the Airplane jargon when it does not really pertain to the story that much. Its in all his books and this leads me to believe that Mr. Woods has a healthy interest in planes and flying them. That being said I don't believe this was one of his better books. It dragged in a lot of places and did not hold my interest as his books usually do. Case in point I now know way to much about planes.

Book 21 of 52 -- Sarah Silverman's The Bedwetter

2010-07-05T09:28:00.000-04:00

Ok, I admit to being totally smitten with Sarah Silverman. I find her smart, funny, clever, ironic, outspoken, and cute as a button.

So it's no surprise I would be receptive to her book.

Sure it's a quick read, and there are lots of photos and other nonsense, but she offers plenty of insight too, on her life growing up a Jew in very gentile New Hampshire, her problems with depression and bedwetting, and her rise through the comic ranks in New York, through SNL, Jesus is Magic, and finally her hilarious (now cancelled) Comedy Central show. She also touches on some controversies in her career and explains quite directly why she doesn't plan on making fun of Mohamed any time soon.

A fun, easy read.

Book 20 of 52 -- Robert Crais' Hostage

2010-05-25T09:19:00.004-04:00

Rock on for a good book... and I can totally see why it was turned into a movie.

The book was better...

Book 19 of 52 -- Chris Moore's Bite Me

2010-05-23T09:12:00.002-04:00

What can I say? I can read Christopher Moore's stuff and never get tired of it. The dude seems to have some sort of direct link to my funny-bone. Is this an author guilty of some cheese? of trying too hard? of formulaic turns of phrases? YES! But I don't care.

The plot is herky-jerky with lots of surprises. The ending wasn't what I expected. I am very pleased that he decided to return to the blood-sucking fiends world for this story.

I'm now so giddy about Christopher Moore that I believe that he'll be able to turn out, oh, 25 more books without any loss of quality.

Book 18 of 52 -- Chris Moore's Suck It

2010-05-21T09:10:00.001-04:00

As a follow up to Bloodsucking Fiends, Chris Moore wrote You Suck! As the vampires in San Francisco continued their wacky adventures against new and old enemies, the book follows the same characters through another set of adventures.

This book is not one of Chris Moore’s best books. It is, however, an incredible follow up to the book I love – Bloodsucking Fiends. I suppose that a better way of saying it is… that it is an appropriate follow up to the original book.
Chris Moore is a funny writer.

He is a great writer… and even his weaker books such as You Suck! are still great books.

Book 17 of 52 -- Jonathan Kellerman's Deception

2010-05-19T09:05:00.002-04:00

I enjoyed DECEPTION more than the last few Alex Delaware novels Jonathan Kellerman has published. I may have liked this book better than the other recent books because I personally enjoyed the parts that are set at a very upscale prep school in Brentwood where all is not as perfect as the buildings and grounds lead outsiders to believe. Still, DECEPTION comes nowhere close to the quality of Kellerman's great books such as BILLY STRAIGHT (not considered a Delaware) or WHEN THE BOUGH BREAKS the first of the Alex Delaware/ Milo Sturgis mysteries which with the publication of DECEPTION can now claim twenty-five volumes.

In DECEPTION Kellerman does bring back more of the authentic, well realized Southern California settings and characters that make his best books so enjoyable to read. And in this new outing Milo and Alex rely on social networking sites to do some online sleuthing keeping the detective duo who first debuted in 1985 up with the times. Alex's annoying girlfriend, Robin, is thankfully on the periphery of this outing and Milo's relationship with his long term love interest (handsome and apparently perfect emergency room physician Rick) gets a few mentions but seems as unlikely and puzzling as ever. A great deal of suspension of disbelief is also needed to believe that civilian Delaware is allowed so much access in to high profile LA crimes and Kellerman might be more believable if he just permanently put him on the LAPD's payroll. DECEPTION is another quick pageturner from Kellerman that is marginally better than his last few efforts.

Book 16 of 52 -- Chris Moore's Bloodsucking Fiends

2010-05-17T09:01:00.001-04:00

As I have written many times before, one of my favorite writers is Chris Moore. He is hilarious and his books really need to be checked out by everyone who has a funny bone inside of their bodies.

Bloodsucking Fiends was one of the first novels that he ever wrote. It is the story of vampires in San Francisco. A million funny things happen in the novel and it is chock full of details and humorous stuff.

This is the third time that I have read this novel and I picked it up again because Chris Moore just released another one of his novels and it is the sequel of Bloodsucking Fiends and You Suck.

Bloodsucking Fiends was chock full of details and plot that I completely forgot. I literally was reading and laughing out loud again and again. This is a fantastic book… it really is… and I was so happy to discover it all over again.

Survivor Competitions Update

2010-05-16T22:14:00.000-04:00

Survivor 1 in Borneo -- Richard Hatch (No Game)
Survivor 2 in Australia -- Tina Wesson (Ashfault!)
Survivor 3 in Africa -- Ethan Zohn (Ashfault!)
Survivor 4 in Marquesas -- Vecepia Towery (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 5 in Thailand -- Brian Heidik (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 6 in Amazon -- Jenna Morasca (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 7 in Pearl Islands -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 8 ALL STARS -- Amber Brkich (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 9 in Vanuatu -- Chris Daugherty (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 10 in Palau -- Tom Westman (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 11 in Guatemala -- Danni Boatwright (Ashfault!)
Survivor 12 in Panama (Exile Island) -- Aras Baskauskas (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 13 in the Cook Islands -- Yul Kwon (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 14 in Fiji -- Earl Cole (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 15 in China -- Todd Herzog (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 16 in Micronesia (All Stars-ish) -- Parvati Shallow (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 17 in Gabon -- Bob Crowley (Pork Chop Express)
Survivor 18 in Tocantins -- James Thomas, Jr. (Ashfault!)
Survivor 19 in Samoa -- Natalie White (Ashfault!)
Survivor 20 in Heroes vs. Villians -- Sandra Diaz-Twine (Pork Chop Express)

Overall Totals

Pork Chop Express -- 14
Assshfault! -- 5

Tucker's Nuts -- 2
FBT -- ZERO

Survivor 20 -- Heroes vs. Villians Template

2010-05-16T22:05:00.001-04:00

Tee Hee.... I win again.

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2) -- FIRST... WINNER!!!!!!
Parvati Shallow (3) -- SECOND
Jerri Manthey (6) -- FOURTH
Rupert Boneham (7) -- Booted Week Thirteen
Danielle DiLorenzo (10) -- Booted Week Twelve
Amanda Kimmel (11) -- Booted Week Eleven
Courtney Yates (14) -- Booted Week Nine
Coach Ben Wade (15) -- Booted Week Eight
Rob Mariano (18) -- Booted Week Seven
Tyson Apostol (19) -- Booted Week Six

Assshhfault!!!!
Russell Hartz (5) -- THIRD
Colby Donaldson (1) -- FIFTH
Candice Woodcock (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
JT Thomas (9) -- Booted Week Ten
James Clement (17) -- Booted Week Six
Tom Westman (13) -- Booted Week Five
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Happy Birthday Pops.

2010-05-16T09:00:00.000-04:00

it's Smelmooo's dad's birthday!

Survivor -- Chumps vs Dopeys

2010-05-14T12:43:00.000-04:00

I know this is the 20th season, but because of many of the people playing, it is the best one since the first season.

Good times. Good times.

I am full on rooting for Sandra now.

Go Sandra!

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7) -- Booted Week Thirteen
Danielle DiLorenzo (10) -- Booted Week Twelve
Amanda Kimmel (11) -- Booted Week Eleven
Courtney Yates (14) -- Booted Week Nine
Coach Ben Wade (15) -- Booted Week Eight
Rob Mariano (18) -- Booted Week Seven
Tyson Apostol (19) -- Booted Week Six

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
JT Thomas (9) -- Booted Week Ten
James Clement (17) -- Booted Week Six
Tom Westman (13) -- Booted Week Five
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Book 15 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Coronado

2010-05-14T08:55:00.003-04:00

Urgh...

Dennis Lehane is quickly becoming my one of my favorite authors, and I was very excited to see something new for him (short stories), but these just are not very good. Some stories have potential, but they just don't get developed and others are just BORING. If you've never read Lehane, I recommend him HIGHLY, just don't start with this book.

Book 14 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Prayers Before Rain

2010-05-12T08:53:00.000-04:00

While I don't think Prayers for Rain is the best of the Kenzie/Gennaro books, I found it thoroughly satisfying.

Like its predecessors, Prayers for Rain takes us through the darker side of Boston, as viewed through the eyes of an appealing, well-drawn set of characters. In part, this book coasts on the solid characters established in its four predecessors, but it still has altogether amusing dialogue. The book is worth reading simply to find out how Patrick and Angie interact after the events of Gone Baby Gone.

The plot works reasonably well, though I think some developments are telegraphed in advance. The villain is particularly devious and despicable, and there are some solid twists thrown in. Perhaps the climax was a bit rushed, but the ride through most of the book is pretty suspenseful. While the book clearly benefits by standing on the shoulders of its predecessors, it remains a worthwhile, charming, suspenseful read. Let's hope that Lehane is not done with these characters.

Book 13 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island

2010-05-10T20:34:00.002-04:00

If you enjoy eerie suspense then you will like this book. It feels like a modern day Alfred Hitchcock. Very heavy on the suspense with tones of creepiness and deep mystery.

I was surprised to find out the BOOK is not filled with gore and blood. There is a big difference between eerie and slasher and Shutter Island, the book, was eerie. LEhane often writes really gritty stuff...

I don't want to write much about the storyline because it is a mystery and I wouldn't want to spoil the mystery for anyone. So all I am going to say is that if you enjoy a good mystery and like books that engage you as a reader, then this is a great choice.

Book 12 of 52 -- Stephen King's Under the Dome

2010-05-10T05:42:00.000-04:00

King has ventured into sci-fi once again. His characters suffer horribly, heroes emerge, and lots of people die.

But at the last minute, one character has a break-through, and we finally get some relief from feeling trapped with the folks under the Dome.

The insignificance of the human race as mirrored in the "bug-in-a-jar" is chilling, and reminiscent of one scene in "Men In Black", where someone opens a locker door to see all possible worlds. But the character development, the capacity of men to do evil to fellow men, and the interaction make it hard to put down.

Even though it is more than a week's read, you just have to finish it, because King's storytelling is spellbinding, regardless of the setting or subject.

You must read this, just to see what the man was thinking of "next".

Book 11 of 52 -- Stuart Woods' Kisser

2010-05-07T23:04:00.000-04:00

As a long time Stuart Woods and Stone Barrington fan, I was very disappointed with this book. As has been stated many times by other reviewers, way too much sex, that did nothing to enhance the story line (and not much story line here either).

This is not the Stuart Woods I'm accustomed to, and certainly not the Stone Barrington I've come to know.

Stuart, your fans adore you, but you've got to do better than this one. Please!!

Survivor Heroes vs. Villians -- Week Twelve-arooni

2010-05-06T21:46:00.000-04:00

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7)
Danielle DiLorenzo (10) -- Booted Week Twelve
Amanda Kimmel (11) -- Booted Week Eleven
Courtney Yates (14) -- Booted Week Nine
Coach Ben Wade (15) -- Booted Week Eight
Rob Mariano (18) -- Booted Week Seven
Tyson Apostol (19) -- Booted Week Six

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
JT Thomas (9) -- Booted Week Ten
James Clement (17) -- Booted Week Six
Tom Westman (13) -- Booted Week Five
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Clash of the Titans Moviegoing Experience

2010-04-19T22:51:00.002-04:00

Went to see the 3D showing of Clash of the Titans... it was a fun movie except for the bullshit attempt at making a movie that wasn't filmed for 3D ... 3D.

Previews:

Some Jim Carrey cartoon I forgot already

Piranha 3D

Tron Legacy

Step Up 3D

Hot Tub Time Machine Movie Going Experience

2010-03-28T07:41:00.001-04:00

Previews

Death at a Funeral (Again... sigh..)

The Losers

The Sorcerer's Apprentice (Huh?)

Kick Ass (When did it become alright to use Kick Ass so brazenly in open dialogue?)

Iron Man 2 (Not sure how I feel about it.)

Survivor - Heroes vs. Villians Week Six

2010-03-24T21:06:00.001-04:00

This is ridiculously lucky.

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7)
Danielle DiLorenzo (10)
Amanda Kimmel (11)
Courtney Yates (14)
Coach Ben Wade (15)
Rob Mariano (18)
Tyson Apostol (19) -- Booted Week Six

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8)
JT Thomas (9)
James Clement (17) -- Booted Week Six
Tom Westman (13) -- Booted Week Five
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Survivor -- Heroes vs Villians Episode Five

2010-03-11T22:22:00.000-05:00

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7)
Danielle DiLorenzo (10)
Amanda Kimmel (11)
Courtney Yates (14)
Coach Ben Wade (15)
Rob Mariano (18)
Tyson Apostol (19)

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8)
JT Thomas (9)
James Clement (17)
Tom Westman (13) -- Booted Week Five
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Survivor 20 -- Heroes Vs. Villians

2010-03-04T22:13:00.000-05:00

Mwahhhhhh ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7)
Danielle DiLorenzo (10)
Amanda Kimmel (11)
Courtney Yates (14)
Coach Ben Wade (15)
Rob Mariano (18)
Tyson Apostol (19)

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8)
JT Thomas (9)
Tom Westman (13)
James Clement (17)
Cirie Fields (4) -- Booted Week Four
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Survivor 20 - Heroes vs Villians Week Three

2010-02-25T21:10:00.001-05:00

Tucker's Nuts
Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
Parvati Shallow (3)
Jerri Manthey (6)
Rupert Boneham (7)
Danielle DiLorenzo (10)
Amanda Kimmel (11)
Courtney Yates (14)
Coach Ben Wade (15)
Rob Mariano (18)
Tyson Apostol (19)

Assshhfault!!!!
Colby Donaldson (1)
Cirie Fields (4)
Russell Hartz (5)
Candice Woodcock (8)
JT Thomas (9)
Tom Westman (13)
James Clement (17)
Randy Bailey (20) -- Booted Week Three
Stephenie LaGrossa (12) -- Booted Week Two
Sugar Kiper (16) -- Booted Week One

Book 10 of 52 -- Chris Moore's Island of the Sequin Love Nun

2010-02-17T15:40:00.000-05:00

This is a re-read.

Still entertains me.

He is such a magnificent writer.

Book 9 of 52 -- Bill Engvall's Just a Guy

2010-02-16T15:37:00.000-05:00

I found this book to be like a strong sprinting horse - fast out of the gate with hilarious floor-rolling stories from his youth, only to lose my interest as he entered the college and professional years.

I laughed over the stories of the misadventures of his childhood, but found his tales of college and finding his professional way to be just like a million other 'how I found my comic career' stories.

Book 8 of 52 -- James Patterson's Worst Case

2010-02-14T15:33:00.000-05:00

Good characters... weak villian... will keep reading this series...

Just wish he would focus more on quality instead of quantity...

Book 7 of 52 -- Howie Mandel's Here's the Deal: Don't Touch Me

2010-02-12T15:31:00.000-05:00

I love Howie Mandel and I enjoyed the book.

Not the best, but it made me laugh a lot.

Survivor Heroes vs Villians -- Week One

2010-02-11T22:34:00.002-05:00

Tucker's Nuts
1. Sandra Diaz-Twine (2)
2. Parvati Shallow (3)
3. Jerri Manthey (6)
4. Rupert Boneham (7)
5. Danielle DiLorenzo (10)
6. Amanda Kimmel (11)
7. Courtney Yates (14)
8. Coach Ben Wade (15)
9. Rob Mariano (18)
10. Tyson Apostol (19)

Assshhfault!!!!
1. Colby Donaldson (1)
2. Cirie Fields (4)
3. Russell Hartz (5)
4. Candice Woodcock (8)
5. JT Thomas (9)
6. Stephenie LaGrossa (12)
7. Tom Westman (13)
9. James Clement (17)
10. Randy Bailey (20)

8. Sugar Kiper (16) -- BOOTED WEEK ONE!

Book 6 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Gone, Baby, Gone

2010-02-11T15:29:00.000-05:00

Reading about the scum of humanity that Lehane's Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro come up against is like watching a David Fincher movie.

It's all grit staring you right in the face with unflinching honesty.

The fourth book in the detective series has the duo searching for a missing child.

In true Lehane fashion, there are more twists than a crazy straw, and the plot gets deeper and deeper and more horrifying as the truth comes out.

Luckily there's the character of Bubba to add some needed comic relief to the story.

A story that's hard to put down, and harder to shake when you finish it.

Book 5 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Shutter Island

2010-02-10T15:26:00.003-05:00

Dennis Lehane's prose is very well paced; secrets behind every corner.

Plot twists abound, but I can't say the whole book surprised me because I thought of just about every scenario Marshals Daniels and Aule could get into.

At first I thought the premise of two US Marshals looking for an insane, escaped murderess on an island during a hurricane was a little to zany to work, but man, I'll tell you, the whole book is so well done!

And I was TOTALLY satisfied with the denouement.

The dialogue really grabs you.

It's funny at times, heartbreaking at others and completely true to life.

Book 4 of 52 -- Dennis Lehane's Sacred

2010-02-09T03:22:00.001-05:00

Sacred is another terrific mystery in the series featuring Patrick Kenzie and Angie Gennaro, the team you'd want on your side if you needed a private investigation -- if only they were real people.

Lehane describes these characters in such realistic detail and uses such crisp dialogue that you forget that they are only fictional characters.

Nonetheless, they are characters you want to get to know better, and Lehane successfully evolves the personalities of Patrick and Angie in each of the five books in the series.

Thus, it's best if you read the series in chronological order.

Sacred is very fast-paced and loaded with surprising plot twists, which forces you to read on non-stop.

Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to all of Lehane's books.

The Blind Side Moviegoing Experience‏

2010-02-01T08:37:00.000-05:00

PREVIEWS

Nine

Avatar

The Last Song

It's Complicated

Valentine's Day

Invictus

Crazy Heart Moviegoing Experience

2010-01-24T20:29:00.001-05:00

Yay! A theater FULL of old people and the average age with us in the theater was 63.6

Only two previes.

The Last Station

Date Night

Book 3 of 52 -- Nick Hornby's Juliet, Naked

2010-01-12T09:40:00.001-05:00

I enjoyed this book so much. My recommendation is don't bother with my review just go get the book so your reading pleasure can begin as soon as possible.

Annie, Duncan, and Tucker have reached middle-age and are stuck in lives that have not, in their own opinions, been well lived. Regrets abound and all are seeking a way out of their own misery and confusion. Unbeknownst to them their lives are all about to collide. Their regrets couldn't be more opposite. Tucker has littered his life with ex-wives and children he has not done well by while Annie and Duncan have cohabited lazily for 15 years without committing to either marriage or children. With those conflicts laid out clearly Hornby proceeds to tell their individual stories with a tenderness and poignancy that illuminates the human condition. These three people come so alive and are handled with such a masterful touch that I enjoyed every single word of dialogue, description, and detailed insecurity. This book will make you laugh, it might even make you cry a little, but it cannot help but make you think about life and relationships and how each of our actions affect those around us every day.

Well done, Sir, very well done.

The Young Victoria Moviegoing Experience

2010-01-09T18:26:00.000-05:00

Same day as A Single Man... we ate some lunch in between.

:)

Crazy Heart

Loss of a Teardrop Diamond

A Single Man Moviegoing Experience

2010-01-09T18:25:00.001-05:00

Two previews in a small theater in Montclair.

The White Ribbon

Youth in Revolt

Book 2 of 52 -- James Patterson's I, Alex Cross

2010-01-09T09:40:00.000-05:00

This is a quick, undemanding, unsatisfying read.

It relies on a tired story line that goes something like this: Our hero is the only person on the planet who can go up against the dark powerful forces who are doing horrific things, and bring them to justice. Everyone else has failed. The pressure on him to give up is intense. And incredibly, everyone else who is near this case ends up either dead or dead-ended, but somehow our hero gets a free pass.

Sounds sort of silly, doesn't it? And of course, let's not forget, the dark forces go right to the top, to the top I tell you. (No spoiler here, the White House is mentioned at the start of the book)

I read this book, there was nothing to it. But unlike Chinese food I'm not hungry for more an hour later.

Book 1 of 52 -- Sue Grafton's U is For Undertow

2010-01-04T09:39:00.002-05:00

I have been reading Grafton's alphabet series for a very long time now, and I really do enjoy Kinsey and the stuff she gets up to.

I didn't think that this book was stellar, but I thought it was still strong.

I found that there wasn't that much suspense and the plot was fairly predictable.

I like the mix of the times of 1988 and 1967 and the way Ms. Grafton goes back and forth between the two, and the characters are still very good although there isn't that much of Henry in this one.

The book is all Kinsey as she tries to find out what happened in a 20 year kidnapping case where a little girl has been missing since she was abducted.

I still love the series and I really like Kinsey and in this book we get another fascinating look at her as a young child.

Yes, I am waiting for "V".

Invictus Moviegoing Experience‏

2010-01-02T17:29:00.001-05:00

There were only three other people in the theater for a 10:20 am showing.

MY THEATER!

MWAH HA HA HA HA HA

PREVIEWS

Crazy Heart

Death At A Funeral

Up In The Air

Green Zone

Book of Eli

Edge of Darkness

Avatar Moviegoing Experience‏

2009-12-31T21:33:00.001-05:00

It was in 3D!
I spent three bucks on the movie after a coupon and got free popcorn.

And... because I used my Movie Watchers card... I earned a free movie and soda ticket for a future movie!

Good times.

Previews:

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Knight and Day

Clash of the Titans

Despicable Me

Shrek Forever And Ever

Alice in Wonderland

Book 67 of 52 -- Jill Jonnes' Conquering Gotham

2009-12-31T11:15:00.000-05:00

Jill Jonnes does a wonderful job of describing the long and difficult saga concerning the digging of the Pennsylvania Railroad tunnels under the Hudson and East Rivers, as well as the construction of old Pennsylvania Station in the middle of turn-of-the-century New York's infamous "Tenderloin" district. Very well-written and easy to read, she discusses the travails Alexander Cassatt and subsequent PRR presidents had in dealing with New York's Tammany Hall, the shifting muck and silt under the Hudson River, which at times threatened to doom the project, and a number of other issues related to an undertaking that was described as one of the world's greatest engineering feats. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in railroading, New York City, or the Pennsylvania Railroad in particular.

I stole the review from Amazon... but it is a great book.

Book 66 of 52 -- Stuart Woods' Hothouse Orchid

2009-12-30T11:16:00.000-05:00

Mr. Woods is on cruise control with his books... so I will remain on cruise control for my review.

Cmon Stuart.

You can do better than this.

Smelmooo

Book 65 of 52 -- Jon Katz' Izzy & Lenore

2009-12-29T11:12:00.002-05:00

OK, so it's not quite fair for me to review a Jon Katz book, because I am a dog lover. I

f you are like me and you'll cross the street to visit with a dog to give him a pat, ask the owner's his name, and never think to ask the owner's name, here is a book for you.

I have never read a Jon Katz dog book, or any of his non-dog books, and this one is a keeper.

Intense, yet sweet, it give you everything you want: mug shots of his adorable dogs, tear jerker stories within a story, and of course, more and more and more about the two stars of the book, Izzy & Lenore.

Read it. You'll eat it up.

Up In The Air Moviegoing Experience

2009-12-27T22:26:00.001-05:00

Previews!

Crazy on the Outside

Greenberg

Death At a Funeral

Leap Year

The Lovely Bones

Shutter Island

Survivor Samoa Finale!

2009-12-20T22:00:00.000-05:00

We are live... in Florida... watching the finale and nowhere near our house which has about a foot of snow in the yard.

Heh heh.

The first immunity challenge is over and Bret has won again. The original Foa Foa Four now has to vote someone off...

First Tribal Council
Mick, Jaison, Jaison, Jaison
The fifth place finisher is: Jaison (Keep hope alive for Tucker's Nuts!)

Final Immunity Challenge
Wow... in what was a heart wrenching and suspenseful challenge, Russell barely edges out Bret to win the final immunity.

Second Tribal Council
Suspense is driving me nuts and it is down to Bret or Mick.
Brett, Mick, Brett, Brett... so that makes Brett the fourth place finisher.

The final three are Russell, Natalie, and Mick.

Final Vote Time to count! (Votes are FOR the million dollars.)

Natalie
Russell
Natalie
Russell
Natalie
Natalie
Natalie

The winner is Natalie and Tucker's Nuts loses... again.

Tucker's Nuts
Mick Trimming (14) -- THIRD PLACE
Brett Clouser (10) -- FOURTH PLACE
Shannon Waters (18) -- Booted Week Thirteen
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Natalie White (13) -- WINNER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Russell Hantz (12) -- SECOND PLACE
Jaison Robinson (20) -- FIFTH PLACE
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa -- Week Thirteen

2009-12-19T20:16:00.000-05:00

Ugh... the mullet is gone!

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
Shannon Waters (18) -- Booted Week Thirteen
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa Week Twelve... Double Boot Episode!

2009-12-10T20:47:00.003-05:00

First boot... Shambo, Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave... DAVID BALL...

Second boot... Monica, Russell, Russell, Monica, Monica... MONICA!!!!!!!!!

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
Shannon Waters (18)
David Ball (15) -- Booted Week Twelve
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Monica Padilla (8) -- Booted Week Twelve
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Survivor Samoa Week 11

2009-12-03T21:05:00.003-05:00

Suck it John.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
John Fincher (1) -- Booted Week Eleven
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

The Fantastic Mr. Fox Moviegoing Experience‏

2009-11-30T22:59:00.001-05:00

How to Train Your Dragon

Alice in Wonderland

Despicable Me

The Tooth Fairy

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel.

Book 64 of 52 -- Nicholas Sparks' The Last Song

2009-11-30T10:17:00.003-05:00

This story seemed to take a bit longer to get into, but, when I did, I was hooked and I enjoyed the unfolding.

The beauty of reading a Nicolas Sparks book is that I can read it any time of day.

Dammit.

:)

Survivor on Thanksgiving

2009-11-26T20:21:00.000-05:00

The DVR program description is promising me a new episode tonight.

I bet it is just a clip show.....

Yeah... it was.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 63 of 52 -- Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol

2009-11-25T22:10:00.002-05:00

Not entirely bad, but it was too long formulaic.

I saw this from someone on the web and it describes a typical Dan Brown/Robert Langdon book.

Character A: Have you heard of X?
Character B (usually Langdon): Yes, but I thought that was just a myth.
Character A shows or tells B something.
Character B reacts with shock.
Then, insert scenes of people walking from one place to another, being chased.
Then, insert the sentence "Suddenly everything made sense." At least for the next ten pages.
Repeat.

Funny.

Dancing With the Stars Season 9 FINAL RESULTS!!!!!!!!!!

2009-11-24T22:56:00.009-05:00

Everyone from the season is introduced and the final three enter... cute and fun... but then they go to the recap from teh night before and the video fails... showing us the back of Miss Piggy's head. What a great way to start the night...

They go to commercial and immediately start it over... We learn that tonight... they will all dance at least one more dance to hopefully save themselves!

Whitney Houston starts the night with some singing and she doesn't seem able to move at all. She sounds good though.

It's time to meet the "Loser's Club." Something Jeffrey Ross created... so this is some pretty funny/entertaining video of people who were to be voted off first. We come back to live television and Jeffrey Ross officially inducts Ashley Hamilton into the Loser's Club. This is a funny way to get to Ross' strength of roasting and leads into Ashley dancing with Edyta... and Ross for a funny ending.

Video Montage! -- The first three weeks of the season. Aaron cried... I think every week.

Kathy Ireland and Tony Dovolani dance a final dance...
Macy Gray and Jonathan Roberts dance a final dance...
Debi Mazar and Maksim Chmerkovskiyaweafadsfasdsky dance a final dance...
All three remind us why they were booted early.... *yawn*

Video Montage! -- The effects the flu had on everyone. As Seth and Amy would say... Really?

Tom Delay and Cheryl Burke dance a final dance...

Video Montage! Let's review the fourth and fifth weeks of the competition.
Chuck Liddell and Anna Truyinska dance a final dance...
Mark Dascascos and Lacey Schwimmer dance a final dance...

Video Montage! Adam Carolla gives out advice to each contestant... I think he is funny and it was funny.

Natalie Coughlin and Alec Mazo dance a final dance...

Video Montage! How the Team dances affected the way the competition played out.

Melissa Joan Hart and Mark Ballas dance a final dance...

Video Montage! The judges give us a closer look at the three finalists. We then get some dramatic entries by the finalists ... oh boy... THey will be dancing another dance and ranked... and given points accordingly.

Before they start dancing... here are the scores so far:
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 = 87
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 = 85
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 = 76

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel are up first. We see a recap video of her time on Earth... and I think she is a woman now... *puke*. She dances the Viennese Waltz again and it was good. Everyone is crying.... Especially Louie... Wait a second... Aaron didn't dance!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin dance second after a fun and sweetly boring video. They dance their Jive again, which was very good. It always is. THe judges fawn over her...

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are last... great and sweet video and great Argentine Tango. The judges agree.. Let's rank em already!

First for 30 Points -- Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Second for 28 Points --Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
Thrid for 26 Points -- Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

Final Scores
Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 + 28 = 115
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 + 30 = 115
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 + 26 = 102

Louie Vito and Chelsie Hightower dance a final dance... They dance to Puppy Love sung by Donny Osmond... LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVEEEE!

Grudge Match! It is time for Jerry Rice vs Michael Irvin. They will each dance and the judges will pick a winner. I get a strange feeling that they will... tie. Michael Irvin and Anna Demidova vs Jerry Rice and Anny Treyunska. They dance the Paso Doble side by side and it is to the Monday Night Football theme song. They give it to Michael Irvin. I cringe... and they make up something else to give Jerry... so no one really wins or losers.

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnov dance a final dance... and they do the Muppets dance again.

Steve Wozniak, Cloris Leachman, Jerry Springer are all interviewed by Miss Piggy. Apparently, they are all going to dance the Mambo against Joanna Krupa... right after a Video Montage of the 8th and 9th weeks. They are all reunited with their original partners and participating in the Mambo Dance Off... each will be eliminated at some point. Cloris Leachman and Corky Ballas are booted first. Jerry Springer and Edyta Sliwinski are booted second. Steve Wozniak and Karina Smirnoff are booted third. Derek Hough and Joanna Krupa are the winners.

Whitney Houston sings... again... and... sings badly.

It's time to boot a couple... the third place couple is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- Good... Joanna should have been there.

The bottom two are Mya & Dmitry Chaplin and Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

Second Place are Mya & Dmitry Chaplin

Your winners for Season 9 are... Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

Great!

Dancing With the Stars Season 9 Finals

2009-11-23T21:25:00.001-05:00

The last night and I have to see the whole season through... even though it has been the most boring season yet.

Three rounds tonight... Individual... a Mega Mix where all three will dance together... and the Free Style!

ROUND ONE -- INDIVIDUAL DANCE

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel kick off the show and they are watching the video of past dances and talking why they are inthe finals and how much she has matured. They are doing the Argentine Tango and Carrie Ann is here to help them practice. Sarcasm: Uh oh... Kelly has to be a woman... can she do it? Argh... the whining has worked for her all season. Now... the dance starts and dammit.. it is actually pretty damn good. Ozzy busts a move... or shakes violently. One of the two. Len loved it. Bruno liked it but offered criticism. Carrie Ann babbled a bunch. Their scores are 9, 9, 8 for a total of 26.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are up to their season narration. I fell asleep until Len came in to help them with their Paso Doble. Harold Wheeler and his cronies... are screwing up Queen's We Will Rock you. UGH!!!!!!!!! It was good. Very good. Bruno loved it. Their scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson bring up the rear in the first round. Their video starts right after Tom reminds them that they are lucky to be here. He is funny and Kym barely wears clothes... which almost seems on purpose this season. Bruno gives them tips this time around. They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. Not the greatest dance, but it was fun. The judges liked it and noticed one mistake. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

ROUND TWO -- MEGA MIX CHALLENGE

The dancers will doing three dances all in a row (Vienesse Waltz, Samba, and the Jive) and against each other. They will be ranked in first, second, and third and given points accordingly. The video is cute. They dance it and we are all amazed.... because... they were literally all dancing the same dance next to each other. It is cool and kind of a train wreck... at the same time.

Let's get the rankings.

First for 30 points -- Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
Second for 28 points -- Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson
Third for 26 points -- Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

FREESTYLE ROUND

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel will be dancing to I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor... because it represents something... and BAM... here is this week's cry baby reason for people to vote for her... torn cartiledge in her feet. It seems messy and then Louie drops Kelly... and I cheer... seriously... I cheer. The judges speak nicely about her... and this is more proof that she is just not judged the same way. Their scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin debate what kind of dance they will dance and they choose the Hairspray dance theme. It was very safe. It seemed VERY safe. Carrie Ann thought it wasn't outstanding, but fun. Len agrees as does Bruno. 9, 9, 9, for a total of 27.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up last and they will try really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really really hard. It was a Broadway medley and it was a lot of fun. Their scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 30 + 30 + 27 = 87
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 27 + 28 + 30 = 85
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 26 + 26 + 24 = 76

C'mon America... and the Mormons... Vote for Donny!

Precious Movie Going Experience

2009-11-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

Thank you SC and TW for a great morning out. :)

Crazy Heart

Up in the Air

Invictus

The Princess and The Frog

Brothers

Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too

Bood 62 of 52 -- Audrey Niffenegger's Her Fearful Symmetry

2009-11-20T16:22:00.001-05:00

This is an intriguing story and not at all what I expected. I loved Niffenegger's previous novel, The Time Traveler's Wife. When I saw this was set in and around an English cemetery, I wasn't sure it would be my cup of tea. It took a couple chapters to warm to the eccentric characters, but by then, I could hardly put the book down. Niffenegger has a true gift for prose, and though I felt the ending was too ambiguous to be satisfying, it was all artfully presented. Much of the story revolves around twins, as there are two sets in the tale, the younger twins being particularly interesting as they are mirror images of one another, with handedness, moles, and even internal organs reversed. I'm grasping for another novel to compare it to, but can't quite come up with anything. It is set in the present day, yet has a Victorian cemetery figuring very prominently, and thus has the feel of a historical novel. Sensual, surprising, and oddly tender, this is a story that will haunt you.

Survivor Samoa Week 10

2009-11-19T22:05:00.001-05:00

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19) -- Booted Week Ten (I am alright with this for some reason.)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-11-19T01:26:00.000-05:00

Book 61 of 52 -- David Baldacci's True Blue

2009-11-18T16:21:00.002-05:00

Mace wants vindication affirmed only by regaining her badge. Beth at the risk of her career will do what she can to support her younger sister because she is perhaps the only person in blue who believes Mace's story. Attorney Roy Kingman is in the middle of a gigantic case involving the murder of a US Attorney and the rape-killing of another lawyer. He is attracted to feisty Mace who sees solving the spectacular case as redemption. With her sister's support and a need to work in the shadows as another US Attorney wants to return her to jail, Mace investigates only to find roadblocks from the affluent who prefer the case go cold.

This is an action-packed fast-paced over the top of the Washington Monument investigative thriller that grips fans throughout as long as the reader ignores credibility. The sisters make the tale with their support of one another as they seek a killer and redemption for Mace. David Baldacci provides his fans with a very entertaining whodunit with hopefully more appearances from the TRUE BLUE blood siblings.

Dancing With the Stars Seminfinals Elimination Episode

2009-11-17T22:03:00.003-05:00

I don't get it, but there is no way that Kelly Osbourne is not winning DWTS.

There... I said it.

Mya is the best dancer... Joanna is a close second... Donny is a great showman... and Kelly has manipulated the audience over and over and over again.

With that... let's get to a live episode with three live performers by three washed up or three peopel that the ABC/Disney machine wants to shove down my throat....

LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE

The encore dance is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin's Salsa. Len liked saying... "Tooty Fruity Booty" again.

They did another video recap... and ... what? Who woke me?

Wow... just a few minutes into the show (8 to be exact... ) we are ready to save someone!

The first couple saved is... UGH... not cool... to be revealed... "Shortly."

VIDEO MONTAGE! The contestants all talk about each other... and how great everyone is.

Our first random performance is a dance number from the cast of the upcoming movie musical version of the Broadway Show "Nine." It has a Fiddler on the Roof feel to it.

Alicia Keyes sings. Samantha tells me she is "phenomenal" and if Ellen was hosting, she would say she is "amazing".

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough and Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are brought down to the stage to hear their fate as the top two scoring couples.

The first couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
They won't tell Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough their fate until later. Ugh.

Leona Lewis is singing...

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel and Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are brought down to the stage to hear their fate as the bottom two scoring couples.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are saved

That means the bottom two are Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough and Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The Bee Gees sing.... and the boring Melissa Rycroft dances to their music. I can't figure out who gets the biggest cheers.

Video Montage! The professionals discuss how hard it is to choreograph the other dances done on the Results Show.

Finally... after all the delay... we finally get the results. Tom and Samantha ask the rhetorical questions and update us on how the public felt.... and then they do the commercial thing again. Blech.

When we come back from the commercial, Samantha tells us that these two might not necessarily be in the bottom two. Ooooooh! Drama!!!!

The final couple saved Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

This pisses me off. She is the second best dancer of the season and this is just not right.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough are eliminated and asked to dance a routine again.

So sad.

Dancing With the Stars Semifinals!

2009-11-16T22:02:00.000-05:00

Before we begin... we can be a bit creepy for a second and we can all take a moment to oooh and aaaah Joanna Krupa being naked in the new issue of Playboy.

Creepiness... over.

Second level of creepiness... Joanna Krupa is on Ellen today...

Borderline creepiness... over.

Tonight is the semi-finals and it is scheduled to run a full two hours so that means there is going to be a ton of filler in the show. They all have to perform three full individual routines... two dances and then their "knock Out" dances that none of these had to perform the week's before.

Round One

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up first, but they were in last place after last week. For the practice of the Tango, Kym brings in the uber sexy Gilles Marini and he is teaching him to be sexy and passionate. GIlles tells him tha the has to make everyone uncomfortable. Donny wants to do that during his Tango. The music is a bit too light for me to feel uncomfortable, but it is a dcent enough dance... with a good ending. He wasn't happy with his own dance. THe judges agree that he lost itduring the middle of the dance somewhere.... He won't shut up about messing up and her dress got in the way. Their scores were 7, 7, 7 for a total of 21.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough dance second and were second last week by the judges. She is feeling pressure and Derek is being really hard on her during rehearsals. Where the happy go lucky Derek that we all love. Brooke Burke comes in and gets them to role play each other. Cute enough. The first dance is the Viennese Waltz. I am biassed, but I think it was lovely and worth all 9s. THe band killed the song Halleluah from Jeff Buckley and I couldn't get over it. The judges seem to be near what I think. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is the only person that hasn't been at the top of the leaderboard left. Kelly's dog ... not her dog... one that she is helping ... died. So... let's dance... she's mature now! They are dancing the Rumba. She is "going to own it." I am going to puke because no matter how bad the dance is, the judges will continue to treat her differently. The dance was sweet enough. As my friend Lori thinks... Carrie Ann and Kelly need to get a room. Len thinks she is competent and Bruno is critical. Suck it Carrie Ann. Theirs scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin dance last in the first round. Mya annoys me. That's it. I said it. Annnooooooooooooooyyyyying. The vdeo is an attempt to be funny and it is soooooo boring and forced. Blech. Boot camp! They are dancing the Waltz. Of course it is a nice dance. But I am bored. Len loved it and so did Bruno... and Carrie Ann gushed, but was critical. She treats them differently... and expects more. Their scores are 9, 9, 10 for a total of 28.

SECOND ROUND!

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson have a great deal of pressure. The video shows us where he came from and his background. DRAMA!!! They are dancing the Samba. He has a smile on his face. This dance is far better and it is because he is smiling and seems to actually be enjoying the dance. Bruno thinks he nailed it. Carrie Ann thought it was better but she called it sloppy. Len disagrees completely with Carrie Ann and he loved it. Their scores are 8, 9, 9 for a total of 26.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough The video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. Whoa. She is confident and looks good doing it. How is this going to be a bad score? Carrie Ann thinks it was great. Len thought it was clean and crisp. Bruno thinks she is "just natural sex." Awkward. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van AmstelThe video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! As her video ends... I am not sure what to say or do... except maybe gouge out my eyes and chop off my tongue. They are dancing the Quick Step to 99 Red Balloons. Dance was fine with a nunch of mis-steps and I thought the dance was going to end with a drop. They just don't treat her the same. I am not sure that she is going to lose this show... the crowd really does adore her. Her scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin The video shows us where she came from and her background. DRAMA!!! Ugh... boring. Except the part about her mom almost dying. Their Samba is frenetic and good. Ok? I admit it. Give her her high scores so we can move on to seeing more Joanna please? Bruno stands and yells "Sensational." Carrie Ann loved it. Len says "Tutti Fuiti, What a Booty." That was a great dance. Her scores are 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30.

THIRD ROUND -- KNOCK OUT DANCES -- These dances were songs and dances chosen by the contestants and are only 30 seconds long.

VIDEO MONTAGE! We can see everyone's dance preparation.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson have chosen the Jitterbug. That was frigging awesome. Really really really great. The judges loved it. Their scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough have chosen the Salsa. Great dance. What can you say about 30 second dances except good or bad? Great! Len loved it. Bruno thought it was delicious and flirtacious. Their scores were 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel have chosen the Cha Cha Cha. They waste a bunch of time in the beginning, but I am sure the judges will love her. I was right.... I just don't get it. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin have chosen the Cha Cha Cha... and it was frigging amazing but not perfect. Carrie Ann didn't like it. Len was disappointed it wasn't longer. Bruno loved it. Wacky. Their scores were 9, 10, 10 for 29.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 28 + 30 + = 87
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough -- 27 + 27 + 27 = 81
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 24 + 27 + 27 = 78
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 21 + 26 + 27 = 74

A Serious Man Movie Going Experience

2009-11-15T19:22:00.001-05:00

Previews

The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

Pirate Radio

Book 60 of 52 -- Michael Connelly's 9 Dragons

2009-11-14T16:18:00.002-05:00

Connelly totally missed the mark with this book.

I don't even want to spend the time criticizing it since he didn't spend the time to write a good book.

He is sooooo much better than this and I am afraid he is getting into the trap of churning out two books per year and quality will get sacrificed.

Survivor Samoa Week Nine!!!

2009-11-13T21:27:00.002-05:00

Russell plays his immunity idol.

Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Russell
Kelly
Kelly
Kelly

Bye bye Kelly.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11) -- Booted Week Nine
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 59 of 52 -- Jonathan Kellerman's Evidence

2009-11-12T16:18:00.000-05:00

Johnathan Kellerman's newer books are good but do not have that edge they once did.

This book is no exception, A night watchman finds two people dead in a half built mansion.

When Milo and Alex start to investigate they find all kinds of problems.

Eco-terrorizm and bribes. Oooooohhhhh eco-terrorism.

The man that was killed was a womanizer and a former eco extremeist.

The more they delve into the case they find far reaching clues that point to asian royality and possiable mob hits.

This book was good to pass the time but not like his other books they don't have you staying up till 3:00 am to finish it.

Book 58 of 52 -- Jeff Lindsay's Dexter By Design

2009-11-11T16:17:00.002-05:00

Jeff Lindsay is back!

Thank you for returning Dexter to where he should have been and not that distracting and horrid third book that you wrote.

Welcome back Dexter.

I missed you.

Dancing With the Stars Week 8 Elimination!

2009-11-10T11:11:00.001-05:00

Soooo... the Facebook advertisement of the show is trying to make me watch by telling me that Michael Buble and Susan Boyle are singing tonight... Anyone else think that I am going ot fast forward during those segments?

:)

We are LIIIIIIIIIIIIIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For the Repeat Dance, we get to see the futuristic Paso Doble again... even though Mya got a perfect 30 yesterday. I still think that they got robbed big time last night. This was the best dance of the night. Period.

First video montage! Here the dancers' opinions and review their scores!

Let's save a couple! The first couple saved is Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough Good... we don't have to worry about them. I am rooting for them and Donny.

We get a recap of last night and then a heartfelt song from Michael Buble and then Samantha butchers the English language by interviewing Derek and Joanna.

It's time to save another person! The second couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin A strong strong yawn comes from my mouth.

Dance Center is on and it is with Kenny Mayne, Len Goodman, Jerry Rice and Stacy Keibler. This never gets old. Len is funny and Mayne makes it awesome.

The Macy's Design a Dance is here... Sabrina Ryan is dancing with Mark Ballas and they are dancing the Paso Doble to Eye of the TIger. Buble then comes back...

Let's save the third couple... Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

The bottom two are Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff and Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

Susan Boyle sings.... and Dance Center part II is on... I continue to laugh.

Let's save a final couple and boot someone!

The final couple saved is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The booted couple is... Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

Dancing With the Stars Week 8

2009-11-09T22:10:00.001-05:00

Our stars will be doing two complete dances tonight... one latin and one ballroom as "they dance through the decades".... hrm...

LIIIIIIIIIIIVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE

Hey kiddies... Samantha is wearing red... what does that mean?

VIDEO MONTAGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hate these frigging things.

BALLROOM ROUND

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin is up first and they are dancing the Foxtrot. During the video set up... Mya is feeling stressed... no way! I can't believe that people are feeling stressed during the show. So they go out to the mountains and ride horses. She is re-charged and ready! Her dance was really good, but that still doesn't mean that i have to like her. With the way that the audience liked her... (not really... ) she needs to get good scores. Len was disappointed in her dance because he couldn't find anything to criticize. Nice trick judge! Bruno called it "quality." Carrie Ann called it graceful and awesome. Her scores were 9, 10, 10 for a total of 29.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are up second and Aaron is turning on the Waterworks feature during his video. He has "never won anything" before and now America is feeling bad for her. She is sick and they keep dancing with SARS masks on. Oh boy... cue dramatic music. They are dancing the Foxtrot. I can't take him seriously. He annoys the living piss out of me. Bruno thought it was tense and a good attempt. Carrie Ann agrees. His scores were 7, 8, and 8 for a total of 23.

Tomorrow night is DANCE CENTER! Stacy Keibler will be on it as well!

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough is up third and they are dancing the Quick Step this week. During the video, they make the case why Mya is a more awesome dancer... and then they worked really hard. This is finally something different and good. She's a doll. The dance starts and ends and I thought it was simply lovely. Carrie Ann thought it was full of content and good. Len thought that it was "not the standard for the quarter finals" and Bruno was equally tough. Her scores were 8, 7, 8 for a total of 23.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is up next. Let's see if she can find an 8th reason to cry during the video montage.... It is tiresome... incredibly tiresome... Instead of crying, they resort to humor and show off all the distractions in her life and during their rehearsals. They are dancing the Foxtrot and Kelly is smiling a whole bunch during her dance. I guess the dance is fine, but I have such trouble liking her. The judges play to the crowd and say nice things about her. Their scores are 8, 8, 9 for a total of 25.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are up last in the Ballroom Round and they are dancing in fancy clothes. They are dancing the Viennese Waltz. We learned during the video that he is burned out and wants to do well while balancing his family life. Again... I thought it was really nice and I will be wrong. Bruno admits that the showmanship is top notch and fails to comment on the dancing. Carrie Ann was mesmerized. Len made positive comments and also called arty farty. 0Their scores were 9, 8, 9 for a total of 26.

It is the middle of the show and I really think that I want the winner to be Donny or Joanna Krupa.

LATIN ROUND!!!!!!!!

For the Latin Round, each of the couples will be dancing one of their dances and it will be based upon a decade. 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and the future! Before we start the round, we are going to watch it from the pros.

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin are dancing their 70's Samba. We learn that they are going to incorporate some Disco moves into their dance. I just announced to TW that I wouldn't want to watch her dance the Samba with a professional dancer because it is too "Grindypants." She laughed out loud... a little too long at my expense. The dance was certainly a 70s dance and it seems obvious after the dance that they will remain in first place since she is actually smiling! All the judges love her and their scores of 10, 10, 10 for a total of 30 (First one of the season) reflects the comments.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are dancing a 1990s Samba. Aaron likes it because it is the "era" that he grew up in. HE plans on doing the Rodeo move in it. I hoep it is a frigging train wreck... It is too the Spin Doctors' Two Princes and he seems out of breath before the dance even starts. The dance is chaotic and they don't seem to be on the same page. The judges want him to do well so I am sure that he will get good scores. The judges liked him. Shit. Their scores are 9, 9, 9 for a total of 27.

Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough are going to dance a futuristic Paso Doble and the make up is crazy insane. Derek is putting a lot of pressure on her to get her dance steps right. Somehow... it seems nice coming from him and if it was Maksim... it would have been a dick comment. I don't want to like this, but it is crazy good. CRAZY GOOD. Their scores were 9, 10, 10 for a 29. Robbed.

Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel is dancing a 1960's Jive and during her video, she was really excited by it. Well.... the dance starts and it will be this week's reason for crying. It wasn't good at all. LEN?!?!? WHAT THE FUCK? YOU THOUGHT THIS WAS GOOD? BRUNO THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD TOO? F&CK ME. Carrie ANn is officially insane too. The judges are out of their frigging minds. Their scores are 8, 9, 9 for a total of 26.

Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson are dancing a 1980s Paso Doble. The make up is not anywhere near good. I am not sure how to write about what I aw, but it is good to me... The 80s theme seemed to get in the way of the dance though. Len thought it was the craziest Paso he has ever seen, but he liked it. Bruno said it had more camp in it than a Drag Queen Convention. Their scores are 8, 8, 8 for a total of 24.

Scores... Just a reminder!

Mya & Dmitry Chaplin -- 29 + 30 = 59
Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough -- 23 + 29 = 52
Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel -- 25 + 26 = 51
Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff -- 23 + 27 = 50
Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson -- 26 + 24 = 50

An Education Moviegoing Experience‏

2009-11-08T07:03:00.001-05:00

Me and Orson Wells

Brothers

The Young Victoria

Up in The Air

The Imaginarium of Doctor

Parnassus

Broken Embraces

Book 57 of 52 -- Steve Martini's Guardian of Lies

2009-11-06T16:17:00.000-05:00

The Paul Madriani series of books are the typical legal/courtroom thrillers, but this book, however, is not.

While Paul is a character in the book, it wouldn't matter if he was an attorney or private citizen for the plot line. Guardian of Lies is more of a spy thriller book.

Many characters are followed as their part in the plot unwinds.

Paul and Harry are there, but are not followed in any more depth than the other characters. With all the characters, Paul (and Harry) are not developed any further in this book.

I enjoyed the book and since I read thrillers in general, it didn't bother me that this wasn't really a legal drama.

Survivor Samoa Week Eight

2009-11-05T21:04:00.002-05:00

Message to CBS -- Stop putting too much information into your advertisements. It's less fun to watch when you pretty much know who is getting booted out.

By the time we get to Tribal Council, it is going to be either Monica, Erik, or Russell.

At Tribal Council, Erik shows his true colors. He is a humungous DICK.

The way he talks to the former Foa Foa tribe and then about Jaison at Tribal Council is ridiculous.

And to surprise the tribe... Russell plays his hidden immunity idol.

Jaison
Jaison
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik
Erik

Erik is voted out and the first member of the jury.

Tucker's Nuts
Brett Clouser (10)
Kelly Sharbaugh (11)
Mick Trimming (14)
David Ball (15)
Shannon Waters (18)
Laura Morett (19)
Elizabeth Kim (7) -- Booted Week Seven
Ashley Trainer (3) -- Booted Week Five
Betsy Bolan (2) -- Booted Week Two
Mike Borassi (6) -- Pulled out In Episode Two (Illness)

Assssshhhfault!!
John Fincher (1)
Monica Padilla (8)
Russell Hantz (12)
Natalie White (13)
Jaison Robinson (20)
Erik Cardona (5) -- Booted Week Eight
Russell Swan (16) -- Removed in Week Six (Medevaced)
Yasmin Giles (17) -- Booted Week Four
Ben Browning (4) -- Booted Week Three
Marisa Calihan (9) -- Booted Week One

Book 56 of 52 -- James Patterson's Alex Cross' Trial

2009-11-04T04:16:00.000-05:00

Ugh...

I don't think he even writes anymore.

Also... how can you have ALEX CROSS in the title and not even have Alex Cross in it?

It is a book written by James Patterson's Alex Cross character.

Frigging annoying... and predictable... just set many years earlier.

Dancing With the Stars Week Seven -- The Results

2009-11-03T22:02:00.001-05:00

To start the night, we get treated to the Team Tango, which was the far better team dance last night.

Oh look! Samantha smiled at me. :) Then they ruined it and did the recap.

The first couple saved this week is Kelly Osbourne & Louis Van Amstel

The first couple in the bottom three is Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer

Colbie Calliet is up and I fast forward!!!!!!!!!! Samantha interviews the saved couple and the possible loser couple and mumbles through only 4 words.

The second couple saved is Donny Osmond & Kym Johnson

The second couple in the bottom three is Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova

We are "treated" to the singing debut of Derek Hough and Mark Ballas. It is pretty obvious that they are lip synching. oof. AND THEN A VIDEO MONTAGE! Sheeet.

The third couple saved is Mya & Dmitry Chaplin
The fourth couple saved is Joanna Krupa & Derek Hough

The third couple in the bottom two is Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

The bottom three are Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer, Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova, and Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff.

Rod Stewart is here to sing a classic for us and a video montage is about fighting for your life in DWTS in a dance off.

The first couple eliminated by having the lowest score is Michael Irvin & Anna Demidova

DANCE OFF!!!

These two couples will now each dance a special dance that they have prepared and the judges will have the sole decision on who they eliminate. Let's watch their dances right after some dramatic moments.

Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer are up first and they prepared this as a pair last week so now that Lacey is back, they should be good. They are dancing the Cha Cha Cha. And... I liked it a lot. It was a pretty tight 30 seconds. The judges thought Mark was back to being a good dancer again now that Lacey is back. Len thought it was brilliant. Bruno thought it was good and Carrie Ann liked it.

Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff are up second and they have their hands full. They are dancing the Jive. The dance starts off slow and is filled with a bunch of goofy fimmicks. His footwork seems tight though. All three judges thought it was great.

The final couple saved in a unanimous decision is Aaron Carter & Karina Smirnoff

Therefore, the second couple going home tonight is Mark Dacascos & Lacey Schwimmer (Hasta Pasta).

Dang.