EarlGreyTea

Good point. A victory, though a hollow one. And the scandal was only interesting during Hillary's press conference, where she looked supremely disdainful of some of the questions. I was so happy to hear Rachel's owl signs were so popular. I really want to order one now after hearing they're available.

The Night Circus. Lots of hype surrounded it, and I really did like the beginning. However, I think it's one of those books that really should have been a movie because of how visual it is, and how abstract the plot is. The plot was meandering too slowly for me, and the pieces didn't come together quickly enough for me. I got bored and frustrated and never finished. I will also say it should've been a film because of the constant food descriptions. Those were good enough to warrant a film adaptation alone. I have also struggled to finish Outlander. The beginning was very good, and the premise is so interesting, but I've hit enough dull spots that I keep putting it down.

One small nitpick this episode: Michelle and Cindy talking while working out. I absolutely hate being talked to while doing cardio. If you're doing it right, shouldn't you not be able to carry on a conversation due to being out of breath and concentrating? Interesting, could you elaborate in the Jana thread? I'm curious.

I know the real Eddie wanted that abuse put into the show, and has been vocal about his disappointment that it has not been shown. None of the main networks would probably touch it with a ten foot pole, but Netflix, HBO, Showtime, etc. might have. I was surprised to hear that he is the narrator for the show, given how disappointed he is at some aspects. Maybe he's contractually obliged to do it, or has accepted that the show is not going the fully accurate route. Nevertheless, it IS based on his life so it's fitting he is the narrator. I was pretty appalled at the abuse detailed above. Definitely changes my view of the real life Huangs.

I really wish she lived in a culture that accepted that some couples just do not want kids, or just want two or three. She and Ben could have fulfilled lives of traveling, learning a trade (someone who suggested she should be a fundie makeup artist/hairstylist was genius) or whatever they want. That said, they're going to have kids anyway, and I tend to think she might join the Miranda Hobbes school of "I don't like any kids except my own." Which is fine.

I kind of hope it doesn't negatively affect Jana, like having the reins pulled tighter on where she can go and when. Or of it does affect her, maybe she realizes all the possibilities out there and sees people are rooting for her and decides to break free. Of course, I thought the same thing about Jinger, so.

They might have Sirius XM in their cars set to religious music stations and/or podcasts. Or Creed CDs (although maybe Creed is too secular for them, heh). Although I bet one of them, at least once, found themselves tapping their foot to a catchy pop song in the grocery store, with most of the innuendo going over their heads. And maybe one of them has a secret pop song they love without anyone else knowing. Your last sentence is pretty grim - they're so clueless they don't know they're clueless.

One of the most poignant posts I ever read on here was on the subject of Jessa's wedding. The poster said something like: "I wish we'd have seen Jessa moving in a dorm instead of getting married." I so agree, and that's why I hope this story about Jana is true. All of the kids deserve that experience of freedom, making friends, developing critical thinking, and realizing how big the world is from your hometown. That said, this is probably not true. But we've read so many stories about Jana breaking free that I tend to think when there's smoke there's fire. Or maybe I'm wrong and websites have taken to making fan theories appear as fact.

I've been a bit disappointed at Rachel's low coverage on the email scandal (although she's covered it a lot more this week). Granted I hope it blows over soon, but she's covered it much less than I expected. I think it's a combination of all the things you mentioned - she thinks it's boring, a non-event, and I also think she wants it to blow over faster, which only happens when news anchors stop talking about it. Rachel keeps pointing out that Hillary's career trajectory is so unusual that it is hard to predict the upcoming race like we have in the past, which is comforting when I remember that it's been a very long time since two Democrats were elected in a row. I too think it's much ado about nothing and I think it will blow over.

Long time lurker, first time poster. A while back, Jill (or maybe it was Jessa) posted about some sermon she'd listened to while at the gym. It irks me that none of these kids will ever know about the power of great workout music. I couldn't get through a workout without SOME kind of fast-paced music. Sometimes you just need Kool and the Gang while sweating it out on the elliptical. Which leads me to what gets on my nerves: the enormity of what they're missing. All the great secular music they're unaware of: Prince, the Commodores, Rick James, Elvis, etc., etc., (just pulled artists off my workout playlist). Others have said it better in this thread, but a lack of curiosity about anything secular in the world is sad. They have no idea what it is to truly fall for a song on the radio, or have a perfect song to get them through a hard time, or dancing along to a good beat. Then I thought about all the good literature and poetry they're missing out on (the Harlem Renaissance poets immediately come to mind) and felt even sadder. As I write this I remember most of them play an instrument, so at least there's that. And so they must know some really great classical artists and their work. But sometimes you just want to party like it's 1999.