Survivor South Pacific -- Two Games!

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

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

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

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

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!!!!!!!!

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!

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

Animal Kingdom

Stone

Tron Legacy

The Social Network

Devil

Due Date

The Town

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.