UConn James

Can this season end the dopey men vs. women crap once and for all? Or at least make it 9 women vs. 9 men (rather than 7 men, 1 girlie-man, and 1 total ing pleonastic buffoon). This narrative has never worked for the show, it didn't work this time without the producers' intervention early-on, and its ending here really sucked. As for the S25 medical redshirts, the only one I can remember (I stopped watching for a number of seasons) was the guy with the impacted bowel (Bruce?) who up until that time seemed to be playing a good social game. I don't think Colton might be making a quick return. They certainly spent the lion's share of the reunion show on him... for a purpose, methinks. Seemed to have a pre-game fat reserve build-up going on. But then again, Christina appeared to have bulked back up as well. Speaking of, besides being the only thing they could nit on her for, I don't get why the Final Three snarked on her at the last tribal. The writing was on the wall for everyone to see. They had told her that she was next. That alliance had been cemented, bronzed, platinumed.... No amount of Christina making the rounds saying, "Will you vote for Sabrina??! C'mon, you know you want to!" I was with my father, who was a delegate, at a state political convention in 2010 and the people who came around asking b/w nomination rounds if he would switch his vote (governor was the most contested, I think there were 6 candidates) were just ing annoying. I don't understand how anyone could be that fickle even when a million bucks isn't at stake. Still, I was a little surprised that Kim took Sabrina. Chelsea was a coat-tail rider and it was obvious to everybody; she based her argument on attracting jury members who were butt-hurt, to use aj's word. Not that it was really a question about who was going to win, but Kim took a strong competitor over someone who was viewed as weak. Maybe it was a "to be the best, you've gotta beat the best" mentality to it. Or leave a possibly sympathetic player out and just take people who had backstabbed/schemed just as she had? Yeah, that last one. I wasn't implying that Russell would win the whole shebang just with the variable of Kim being there, but the point is that she would have actual competition, rather than, as I wrote, stupid people just laying down for her.

I've gotta say that the studio lighting was terrible. The fake fire was throwing shadows in the worst angles. It got better after they raised the Klieg lights shortly after the vote was revealed. I really don't give a stevestojan about her crocodile tears --- Alicia is a terrible person. She can say that she watched that and didn't know who that was all she wants. She still said it. She can say it was all in the heat of the moment. She still said that sp-ed kids are sub-human idiots/tools. It's like Gel Mibson's excuse that he's drunk every time he shouts Jews-this Jews-that. You're at your most honest in the heat of the moment. Again, if I were a sp-ed parent, I wouldn't let this shrew within 100 feet of my child. Kat's story might actually have helped her if she'd revealed it during the game. The narrative knock on her was her youth = stupidity. I bought that. Having faced open-heart surgery and facing another soon... that adds years and a measure of respect for what she's been through. Still, dumb as a bag of rocks. For all Tarzan's beating on chest, the one doing that most tonight was Troyzan. There's no million bucks for someone who plays into traps and then suddenly realizes he's in a too-small alliance with people who aren't loyal to him and it's too late to do anything about it. You're playing the game from Day 1, not Day 24. Yep, Kim won. Yeah, I can't say I'm surprised that she was recently divorced. Wonder if she told her ex at the divorce proceedings that it's just a game and to be quiet while his throat gets slit. I know her type. Yeah, out of this sorry bunch, she deserved it. If she faced ANYONE who could actually see more than one move ahead or had an attitude other than 'Just happy to be here!' / "I'll try to make your case from within the jury" she would've been toast. In All-Stars, she would be the stuff that Russell picks out of his teeth. What if everyone didn't just lay down for her?

The rumors about FSU bolting for the Big-12 have now picked up a lot of steam, with a U trustee now fanning those embers. Link Could be an interesting game of shuffleboard coming up in the next several months. I have to admit I would love for them to jump, and open a slot for UConn....

That's not to say it didn't happen. As they say, familiarity breeds contempt and absence makes the heart grow fonder. Congrats to BP, it's well deserved for the caliber of work he did during his time there. Those were truly special teams.

Be assured that Rasmussen has other, more nearly accurate methods of determining who a likely voter is other than ing skin color. You are aware that in these polls, they ask more questions than "Who you gonna vote for?!?" But MDP likes reductive reasoning, so....

Yup.

Just that, in following the tracking polls of likely voters vs. simply registered voters, Romney has had a lot of showings of being down by well within the margin of error, tied or ahead for some time. Narrower a couple months ago, and increasingly now. I've seen reliable numbers from a few sources that he's winning independents by 10+ points, more so based on the economy, jobs and debt/deficit than other issues but... those are going to be the bread and butter of this campaign. And anyone who tries to distract it with these stupid little faux wedge issues is going to be seriously surprised in November.

Chris Shays....

I just listed a large chest freezer for a little less than $300 on Craigslist last week and got the same kind of crap. Someone emailing about 10 minutes after I posted it with just a single line asking if it was still available. I got another shortly after with just about the same wordage as the OP, that he would pay an extra $50 for something to do with shipping (I don't remember) but it also demanded that I delete the ad since he said he was going to buy it. Yeah, OK buddy... So the idea that they don't bother with lesser-priced stuff isn't gospel. Got a few others that were suspiciously short that I simply responded to with "please call the number listed to discuss details." I think only one did. My rule of thumb is that if a response is really poorly written, is asking something you've already answered in the ad (I gave a good description and photos), then you tread carefully. That's one of the worst things about the advent of "smartphones" and the (predictable?) loss of grammar --- it's harder to tell apart non-English scammers and people who don't respond in complete sentences... or even a complete thought. If it doesn't seem right, then it probably isn't. I prefer to talk over the phone because that at least gives some verbal clues whether the person's interest is legit or otherwise. I've always had a cash-only policy. And when someone does come to look at something, I have company there either with a friend or two (and often, with two friends their names are Wesson and Smith).

I'm just going to note that while Dave and Rachel had an at-times contentious race, that's just how it is sometimes, even amongst the most solid duos in any kind of venture. In the heat of the moment, things get said. I can't throw any stones in this regard. I live in a glass house. I have a temper when people do stupid stevestojan that means I need to spend time cleaning up/fixing it. I can go off at times, especially when it's a bad day and this stuff is happening one after another. Do I hate people who can't resist the urge to touch things they have no business touching? Well, hate is a strong word. Put it this way, if people could stick to their core capacities rather than mucking up things they have the first clue about (this is the most dangerous situation because it gives them some confidence. If they didn't have the first clue, they might be too intimidated to do anything) but lack any kind of a second clue... the world would be a much easier place to navigate. Stress levels would go down markedly. But... we don't live in that world. Monkey see, monkey touch. Anyway, tho, their thing was that even tho they did get angry, they seemed to let go of the discrete missteps with each day in "Don't go to bed angry" style. They did not always make very good decisions or put each team member to the best use according to their abilities given a particular task --- see the notes for the hay stack Fast Forward episode for example --- but they managed to be better than other teams. I will also note that they got better as a team as the season went on. And in this last episode, even when they got mad at each other when they missed the bus, they took it in stride after some understandable fuming. Even when Rachel was shouting at him to STFU she did it with a smile, if you look. They've got some issues to work out maybe and have a lot of work to do at reconnecting aft Dave's deployment, but they'll make it. AR is high-stress and it might not have been a good thing to do that right after he got back. My brother is a First Sergeant, has been on IIRC six deployments in Afghanistan and that region. There is roughly an 80% divorce rate within one year of a solider returning from deployment in his unit. It happened to him in 2006. It's a hard thing to go through for everyone involved. There's modern communications, but by that same token there's also modern sensibilities; there's modern selfishness; there's a lot of people who have the idea that if they're doing something, they need to do it hardcore all-or-nothing; there's the modern thought of if it's broken, throw it away and get another. These attitudes permeate our conciousness and infect our thoughts. Wait... where was I???? Sorry for ranting there.... To sum up, it was a decent season with teams that at times showcased the best and the not-so-best of humanity. As long as there are two women racing, there's going to be cat-fighting. There's going to be people who should be able to get through a task that just don't (e.g. the guy twin who strung guitars but couldn't do the harp for his life). There's going to be chest-pounding. There's going to be someone who over-emotes. There's going to be someone who you just don't like. But there's going to be people who surprise you with their ability to overcome adversity (Vanessa, on an injured ankle, running a super fast treadmill and jumping up to grab three rubber chickens) --- it might take them a while, but you're guaranteed on AR to see someone gird their loins and JUST DO IT because they have to. You're going to see teamwork and people who care about each other in ways that will make you question your own friendships and whether anyone in your life would do the same for you (e.g. as has been pointed out, Mark and Bopper represented the highest ideals of America in the way they competed, why they were competing, and in their friendship. They ought to be back in a second chances race). As I watch each season finale, I think back on these bigger things. AR hits you in ways no other show out there does. It is a positive experience all the way around the globe. There's no murder, there's no violence, there's little or no shock value stunts that some "reality" shows have to manufacture to get people to watch their lowest common demominator crap. This is good teevee.

Week 1 9/9: Buffalo Bills at New York Jets Win Week 2 9/16 Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills Win Week 3 9/23: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns Win Week 4 9/30: New England Patriots* at Buffalo Bills Loss Week 5 10/07: Buffalo Bills at San Francisco 49ers Loss Week 6 10/14: Buffalo Bills at Arizona Cardinals Loss Week 7 10/21: Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills Win Week 8: BYE Week 9: 11/04 Buffalo Bills at Houston Texans Win Week 10: 11/11 Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots* Loss Week 11: 11/15 (Thurs) Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills Win Week 12: 11/25 Buffalo Bills at Indianapolis Colts Win Week 13: 12/02 Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills Win Week 14: 12/09 St. Louis Rams at Buffalo Bills Loss Week 15: 12/16 Seattle Seahawks at Buffalo Bills Win Week 16: 12/23 Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins Loss Week 17: 12/30 New York Jets at Buffalo Bills Win

The slide that was left on the cutting-room floor. Link

Winner.

OK, OK. But before you do.... I LOVE BACON!!!

In the manner of Mel Brooks saying you have to laugh at Hitler.... "Ten wives, and I still have to answer the door?!!?"

After Jack closed to the other thread (not without cause) there was a local biopic article I would've posted there, but alas I can't find her now.... Your loss, gentlemen!

"I need my hair to be pretty!!!" No, Rachel, you're ugly either way --- inside (you know... beyond perishable looks) and outside. Spoiled to the core.

After she won that reward challenge, Kat was bouncing around and displaying more testosterone than any of the men in the game. Seriously, what was the hell was that gibberish with her cousin? Are they, perchance, kissing cousins? Anyway, she wins reward and then makes it so obvious that she wants to form/solidify an alliance with Kim and Alicia. "I've wanted to get alone with these girls from Day 1. We're gonna go get drunk!!" Well... either an alliance or a scene that Rico would pay good money to watch tape --- that's for you, SDS --- of. It's just comical how many bitched think they "control" the game. At least Christina and Tarzan recognize that they are getting by via flying under the radar and hoping to win immunity at a crucial time to slip into the final 3. Did I get it right that initially, Kim told her sister that she wanted to take Kat and Alicia to the final because Kat is dumb and Alicia is "not well liked, but she doesn't realize that"? Wonder how it changes now. For sure, if I'm Kim-with-an-idol it's no Chelsea, no Sabrina because if either of them are there, they win. And those are going to be some real backstabs --- smile in your face while putting the knife in full hilt backstabs. But for the people who find those fun, I just don't think they're going to be that kind of fun this season. There just doesn't seem to be any kind of intensity or wits with this group. It lacks an edge, let's say. And I'll note that even when Rob had the game in his back pocket it was fun to watch it, almost like a comedy. This group is just BLAH. I'm watching just to watch, not because it's interesting. If Kat were smarter than a pile of bricks, I would be laughing over her 'Backstabs are fun! They're cool because the person being backstabbed doesn't realize it and then there's that look on their face when it actually happens.' And yes, Chelsea's point rings true --- 22 is old enough that you can't really blame your stupidity on youth and entirely laugh it away. I also had a hard time believing that Kim is 28, as one of them said. Seriously, I would've pegged her as mid-30s....

FJ is currently under contract (if memory serves he has two years left). He is not a Free Agent so why would the Bills be franchising him and then letting him walk, when those aren't even the parameters? Maybe you should know what you're talking about before you hit The reply button and let loose the clichés. This is an extension or new contract and rip up the old one type deal.

Except on point 2) I would add a "But pay for it through your own means. It's not the federal government's responsibility to give you free contraception or require insurers to do the same." And just to be sure, this view applies to a lot of other things besides contraception. It's about the $ only, not a social agenda.

Yeah. There's a difference b/w being frugal, being cheap, and then being disrespectful.e Three years and $15-17M likely already is skirting the line of frugality. And for a guy who was on Freddy's pace, what he meant to the team which was evident when he went down, you pay the man his due. Just b/c the Bills had all the levers on their side every time a contract came up doesn't mean that how they handled his deal was right. The waters aren't necessarily poisoned, but there's less leeway for Overdorf to come to them with a lowball without it being taken personally.

Also, since the Bills save a spot by having Brad Smith as the 3rd QB.

To be sure, ANYONE who is the president makes that call for someone like OBL. Otherwise, his own Joint Chiefs would probably seriously consider the possibility of assassinating the president and instituting a military junta. The military does what it does and if a president isn't on board with what the rank and file want, that's dangerous ground to be on... even here. And Romney never said he wouldn't authorize attacks across the border into Pak. What he said was that it was stupid to discuss invading another sovereign country so nonchalantly in public debate. You know, like what all of the posters here who have the first ing clue about the military and geopolitics, especially in that region, said at the time. There's no doubt he would've authorized it. And for Obama to make hay on this as if he was holding an M-16 himself is an argument Bourne of desperation. Yes, Obama is the current president and he's the only one who constitutionally can make these calls; that doesn't mean he's entitled to remain president, and it's cheap to use incumbency in this way.

I was saying it from the moment of seeing "Pack in a Box" that they picked the WRONG DAMN ONE. Their little bit at the end of mimicking Dave and Rachel (Army and wife) was really petty. I'm sure everyone does it and it simply depends on the edit a team gets. I suppose it was just a few seconds of entertainment while they suspected they were falling way, way behind, but still. And while it was fairly accurate of earlier legs, that team has been absolutely killing this Race for the last several episodes. If Rachel had simply cut her hair, they would have had a few-hour lead. Wow. Just wow. And I don't get how Green woman can be all pissed at Vanessa for certain comments when they've been true. That said, the acrimony there... I can't say I understand why it happens b/w two women, but I understand it happens. Even the Indian guy at the pit stop was rolling his eyes and saying "Oy!" and I was like, 'Phil, you need to step in here.' Maybe now the air has cleared a little.... To add to my note from last week, I hope CBS does something. And it makes sense to announce something next week at the finale event. It would be really stevestojanny for us all to hear that Mark's daughter is sick and he was playing for her treatment then it gets dropped. Even on that CBS Undercover CEO show, they shell out for that. It's only good PR for the show --- that all of these people except one pair will go away empty-handed, but they made the show how much $ by being a part of it? --- but in a case like this, you do the right thing. I'd say that's a big reason why I watch the show; it's almost all about this being a positive experience, about teamwork and faith and not ever quitting. I will be very disappointed if they do nothing there for Mark's daughter and perhaps share some of her story and where viewers can donate. Yeah, Kentucky has gotta be a fan favorite and it would be nice to see them get a second chance --- one where Bopper learns beforehand about motion sickness treatments and/or has his ears checked.

It's no longer a case of "Two out of three things that can happen when you throw the ball are bad." It can go incomplete, it can be intercepted, it can be caught.... but now, because of rules changes, there's a higher-than-ever chance you get a 50-yard pass interference penalty. Those kind of contact rules have effectively made this a throwing league.