theschnauzers

STARZ has announced that the show is being renewed for an additional and final 8 episodes.

At the time, the western media reports seemed to indicate dissatisfaction with the entire controlled economic system and central control by the Party aggravated by the Reagan era arms race was the culprit. And the fact that Gorbachev’s perestroika campaign wasn’t having the desired results. Now, realizing the massive costs of containment, use of personnel, and disruption of production for consumer, industrial and military use, I think those factors were far more significant than anyone had thought, although the end result was approximately the same.

The exact totals including season 31 are 31 Races, 344 teams, 631 Racers (that counts each team separately each time they’ve appeared, hence 344 teams, but does not count each Racer’s multiple appearances separately (I.e., only once total, or that last number would be 688.)

I’m not reading any more into this show than what it is, a summer romp. And unlike many of those on CBS in the summertime it’s more comedic. i’ve been watching Matt ever since Hatfields &McCoys, and even last season’s Valor on the CW, so yes I will watch him in anything. These are the sort of roles you would have seen at the movies every week, back before television became the big thing, and Matt really is a throwback to that era and does it well. It’s interesting that the networks and services are increasingly doing these types of series now, because it is the sort of thing that works best in summertime.

If anything, they’ve gotten faster. And I do mean both Colin and Christie. This ability to speed through challenges is legendary.

In discussing the mindset of the decision concerning animals in the exclusion zone, keep in mind they had only the knowledge of what had happened in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and areas near the various nuclear tests sites, and nothing else. And they were trying to proactively prevent any more radiation exposure and harm, such as consuming food that was itself irradiated with isotopes having a long half-life.

The reality was that every single one of the farm animals and pets were doomed to die from either radiation or starvation and that wasn’t a happy choice for anyone. That choice was known from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, the various Pacific Ocean Islands, and even on land locations like New Mexico, during WWII with the early test of atomic weapons and the tests by various countries after WWII. The producers wisely avoided showing any pets being shot, but that old woman’s cow (obviously a stunt cow) was shown on its side after being shot. Yes, this was another tough episode but the producers did their best, me thinks to not make it explicitly gory.

What surprised e during that table read was that apparently in that table read script, the last scene was to be Dany’s death at the hands of Jon Snow! Obviously that changed by the time the last half of episode 6 aired, but that was a surprise! And that the final scene shot was Jon and Greyworm. And who knew that they built a massive King’s Landing set as well as Winterfell, and Mother Nature provided a lot of snow that season. It was interesting, but there are other things as well. I also enjoyed the Stark Solider, even as a stand in for all the extras who recurred throughout the entire series.

One historical point: Prior to Chernobyl, there had been only one massive population exposure to radiation — the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the most isolated exposure during the post WWII nuclear and hydrogen bond tests by various countries that ended with the Nuclear Test Ban treaty of 1963. So there was some medical knowledge of the short, medium and long term effects of radiation poisoning long before Chernobyl. Which makes the lack of more general knowledge in medical and government communities, and the failure to communicate these effects more explicitly even more shocking. It comes across as a concealment trying to avoid mass panic which put millions of lives at risk then. Its just astonishing!

I don’t normally quote myself, but Ben and Jeremiah performed “Make You Feel My Love” as a duet. Link to video on Ben Platt’s IG account https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx0HpOrBhG9/?igshid=160vcl5ieh44q

Re Tyler and Corey’s concern about being in Uganda. At the time this season was filmed, Uganda had taken an almost Sharia-like approach to the LGBTQ+ community in that country and there would be reason for concern in terms of safety, if teams were to have to self drive. The way the leg was structured, it seems to me TPTB surely planned out of camera range security presence and or made sure the tourism authorities got the memo about racers being protected. As to these episodes, I have not been thrilled with the head to head as a concept since season 30, Because it did have an impact on one episode last season, didn’t change the fact that it had virtually no impact this season. That being said, I liked the tasks on both legs. The fake out about the jump detour task was interesting given it actually introduces a virtual reality task, only to have the zip line to the pit stop later. One thing for sure, Rachel is not as cracked up a Racer as she thinks she is without Brendon with her. After this number of legs, halfway through, if a team can’t making fourth place even once, they’re not long for the Race. Colin and Christie continue to meet my expectations, and there hasn’t been even an hint of season 5 Colin!

There’s word this evening (confirmed on IG) that the first Idol finalist who is making an appearance not related to Idol will be tonight at Ben Platt’s concert in San Francisco.

I remember the US news coverage, and while the reports concerning the spread of airborne radiation was clear about that threat, and the long term adverse risks were seemingly accurate as far as those went, I don’t think the full consequences of a core meltdown were ever as clearly or fully explained as in this miniseries. So I am learning more than I knew. The depiction of radiation poisoning and its immediate effects are about as explicit as anything I can remember. I did think of “The Day After” (aired in the U.S. on television in 1983, and is credited to having the earliest best depiction of a nuclear winter, which influenced public opinion). And in terms of depiction of similarly horrifying incidents, I also thought of the 1978 miniseries “The Holocaust” which depicted the process by which victims were literally sent into the gas chambers at the Nazi concentration camps and the deposal of their remains. I think in this case the depiction does serve a salutary purpose, though difficult it may be to watch. It also made me realize that Chernobyl essentially led to the dissolution of he Soviet Union just two and a half years later. This event demonstrated the flaw in centralized rule and the tendency in a bureaucracy to tell superiors what they wanted to hear, even with dire consequences.

I’ve watched this show for Matt Barr, and yes, this show is intended to be summer escapism but I will be watching for Matt Barr.(And yes, last season he was the male lead in the CW’s Valor. It’s unfortunate he keeps getting cast in shows that are poorly written, as much comedies as light dramatic, but an actor has to work, and it is unfortunate that other than Hatfield’s & McCoys, everything he’s been in hasn’t been well written.

Katy is having Jeremiah sing her song “Unconditionally.” when you read the lyrics here then you’ll understand why she chose it; it’s unfortunate the producers made no attempt to find a known performer to pair Jeremiah with; or at least let him do another one of his original songs such as “Learn to Love,” which is available on Spotify..

After the live show ended tonight, Sia offered Joe $15000 if he would allow his long hair to be cut and donated to a children cancer charity. Joe accepted provided the $15000 also went to that charity. Survivor got an IG live fed going, and one of the hair stylists to perform the honors, and he got a really great looking hair styling out of it. The whole thing runs a half hour. Joe and Sienna has a conversation going the whole time after Sia left with the hair. Believe it or not, that happened. And you couldn’t love Joe any more than you already do for doing it.

I had very few problems with the end result of this house. About that door, the side of that door wasn’t painted, the height markings were left intact, the door was flipped so the marked side was facing the inside, not outside. The artwork in the entry I though was a unique touch and using the colors from the jewelry was a night touch. The number of bedrooms for that family could eventually lead to an expansion if that house is going to be a forever house. As to the mold, dampness etc. That’s tied to the HVAC problem.

The timing of the later episodes, when the military takes interest in the rocket and propulsion engines, is during the early days of World War Two. Source: https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/friend-of-dorothy

Actually they’ve answered that question in interviews. Basically, they just don’t feel there’s anything to be gained in their lives by being married. And that’s not as uncommon as one might think. (And in some states, there are tax and property reasons for not being married.)

I have no use for Charla and Mirna, and they’ve already had a returning racer’s season of their own. Not interested in them yet again, ever. The show tried to get Colin and Christie back in prior returning racer seasons, but having and raising children until this season was a understandable reason. And I see them in a redemptive arc in this season. And that’s a good enough storyline.

You’re confusing Laos and Vietnam.

TI’ve kept track over the years of every team’s average placement in their season(s), and it is clear that Colin and Christie haven’t lost much. They remain the only team not to have a finish below 4th place on any leg. And as soon as I saw from the previews and promos, I knew they’d have a good leg. Those two are one of the few teams in TAR history that could speed through challenges like they did tonight. I’m enjoying watching the non TAR teams making obvious rookie mistakes save for Victor and Nicole who seem to have gotten the hang of the game of TAR. And Bret and Chris seem to have a little bit of the Frats in their. Noticed how one of them was saying “Thank you, my friend” to some of locals who gave them help.

Loved seeing Colin Donnell for a major part of an episode and the writers could always discover that Daddy Merlyn in fact brought Tommy back years ago and no one knew it as a way to have Tommy back for the final season. That was a great self aware Tommy knew what was happening outside that collapsed basement even as Oliver remained semiconscious at best. Ben Lewis’ William really is the best thing in the Fast Forwards, and I’m guessing that will still be in Arrow next season. He’s just too good to not keep in the Arrowverse somehow. This episode sets up the season finale and next season. I have to guess when Emily Brett announced her departure from the show, they had already planned how a final eighth season would go. So they had room in this episode to have Vision Tommy appear to carry the story for much of it. And the meta of Colin’s other role and what had been going on since Tommy’s death was a hoot. Let’s see what the season finale brings. I get the feeling they’re holding back things now that there’s 10 episodes for next season with that possibly final mega crossover looming.

I don’t think you can describe Jeremiah’s vocal style as “Broadway”. Not even close. His “style” is closer to the Gospel/Jazz/Blues/Folk school more than anything else. The problem for those who aren’t country is that most Idol winners have been just that to some extent. And if you look at the Final Five, it’s now the same pattern.

Regarding the nail incident, Colin has confirmed it happened in Laos on his IG account.