Beden

"A boy's a son 'til he takes a wife, a daughter's a daughter for all of her life." Of course that dates back to, oh, I dunno..the 1700's?

Don't know and couldn't say but it's an interesting idea. Unless there was a non-fraternization clause in their contracts I don't know what could be done about it other than be angry...but then I'm no lawyer. Of course there could be some breech of contract if Bam (and his lady friend) had signed on for some # of seasons and then bailed; that could be a problem.

I just figured he was tired of being on camera all the time and---maybe--wanted a honeymoon with his new bride without it being available on DVD when the season ends. Or maybe he just wanted to draw a few free breaths without having to toe the company line/script...now that he's in his 30's and all. And with brother Matt out for rehab for a while, he would be expected to step in and fill the big brother shoes (when they weren't staying at the Hoonah Lodge). Of course, he could just have been fed up.

It's seemed to me, over the years, that the family are/were raised to be fairly --what?--dated?--traditional? in their attitudes concerning gender roles. Mom Ami obviously tends the house and does the cooking, stays close to the fire and sews, knits and makes bracelets out of dog fur. She's held on a pedestal and protected by her men. The boys do the majority of 'man' work--building, sawing trees, making deliveries and making decisions; she largely defers to Billy about most things. The girls were clearly watched over--perhaps because the youngest is so much younger and the last born but she and her sis were shown (likely in a stupid set up) playing with dolls around the fire while the menfolk did manly stuff. Bird may just be a tomboy (as was I when I was younger and am still pretty self-reliant, thank you) who may enjoy being included in her brother's activities and even get some validation out of being acknowledged as the best shot. If we're to believe the storyline, who else was she supposed to hang out with? I won't speculate on Bird's sexual preference other than to say that sexual orientation is--according to multiple reputable psychologists and studies over several decades--predetermined before birth. If she's gay, not only don't I care, it's none of my business. And no, I don't want to get into a discussion about any of the Brown's sex lives. Eeewwww...though I have vaguely wondered if Noah and his ladyfriend have moved past the holding hands stage. I may have nightmares....

If I believed that any of this hot mess was real I'd think that she might have problems with a outsider being brought into the family fold since they've lived in the bush their whole lives and never ever see anyone else aside from occasional barters and quick (and rare) runs into some village for supplies. A new member being brought in would have top affect the dynamics of the group and maybe even bring in new ideas, grandbabies and who knows what all else. If the boys find girls who are willing to theoretically live in the wild, things won't be the same, the family interactions could change and--who knows--various member may move away (cough-Bam-cough) or bring in-laws in for the holidays or whatever. I mean, if any of this was real. Like if they really lived in bush and were really broke and they weren't being paid some decent money to bullshit their way onto TV.

Oh dear God...that means that they could all DIE!!!!!

Only if they grease the pole first to make it more awesomely extreme.

I was also impressed how much their wind turbine skills increased from the slapped together 2X4 construction which tipped over (oops) smashing the turbo Noah had cobbled together from chewing gum and spare deer bones. 'Wondered where they got the 50' or whatever it was main support, the guy wires, the guy bases....and why all 8 or 9 of them had to stand on the beach watching for the barter boat to arrive. I mean, couldn't maybe one or two of them have been doing, oh, I dunno--anything else? It also looks like the cow is about to be shipped to her real home since the local cow expert pointed out that a cow needs to have given birth to produce milk. Since the cow is 120 years old, her calving days are behind her (hence the reason she was rentable). Dumber and dumber...are the rumors true that there will be another season? ...sigh....

Unless, of course, that was just what was in that week's shooting script....

Oh...so that's where she keeps her balls....

Of course they can't but the production crew will be able to come up with it one way or another--if they even have to since this is all BS scripting and has no more to do with reality than the cow and chickens or their hauling business do. I share your pity for this young lady; clearly she's drunk the koolade or is seriously playing her part as a born and bred bush baby to the hilt. If it's the latter she may clean up just fine off camera (her teeth notwithstanding). The younger girl (I've whiffed on her name for the moment) just seems to be playing along then goes back to the rented rooms at the Hoonah lodge and lives her real life like a real person.

12' long by one foot nominal width by one inch nominal thickness is twelve board feet. You have to remember that board feet is a measure of volume. Yes, you're right--my answer was incomplete. And, seriously, this is ABP; in 5 minutes (or the next episode) the plot/script will have another 'project' for the boys to play with and the saw mill will be relegated to wherever the cow was returned to, the chickens really live or simply abandoned like 90=% of everything they do for the cameras.

I agree completely that the wood will never be delivered (unless the paid crew does the actual work) but board feet are different than # of boards. A, say, 12 foot long board which is a foot wide would = 12 board feet. It's still a buttload of wood, no matter how you look at it and the erector set mill courtesy of Matt is, well.....um...yeah.

Realityobserver--'can't thank you enough for filling me in since I missed last night's ep while at a birthday dinner for a friend. So, okay, 'didn't really miss anything other than SSDD...but glad to hear the cow rental contract is up--I actually was felling for that poor animal, even though I'd guess a couple of crew members were assigned to make sure she was okay. I'll maybe catch up with the ep next week when we get the annotated version...and then the last till next time? Assuming that there may be a next time/year, I guess.

I agree with you--Billy likely does keep his family as close as he does because of a fear of losing them. It makes simple sense and the kids, knowing no other real life accept it as reasonable. I'm not talking about their BS 'bush' lifestyle--I mean the us against them mentality. The idea that family is all, that they're the only ones you can count on and must stay together at all costs is what they've all embraced and base everything on. On one hand it's a nice sentiment, on the other it causes the kids to become infantalized, dependent and socially awkward--unable to fully adjust to living in the world and interacting with the general population, even in a contained and small society like Hoonah. Unless Billy deals with his own issues--which will likely never happen--that mindset will remain largely status quo, even if Bam and Noah manage to find lady friends. And the fact that they're making it work for them, laughing all the way to the bank as they play at being destitute backwoodsmen, reinforces that they can beat da'man at their own game.

Lol, true enough. But what other skills do they have? Scamming? BSing? Bill/obligation avoidance? Questionable personal hygiene?

Which is why the need to live in the bush where big gubmint don't have no right nor reason to force them to live in their little boxes... Okay, yes, that was that new thing called sarcasm. Obviously a few of them shouldn't be able to have guns (and yes, I am also a believer in the 2nd amendment as well as all the rest--but I also have a brain and recognize reality).

Perhaps this was left on the cutting room floor, but with all those various structures and private 'homes' for the kids (or some of them) and that 2 story main house--how many cords of wood should they have ready by now to last the winter? I know I use at least 2 every winter and I'm not in Alaska--I'm in the Northeast and have a new oil burning furnace keeping my small house at 60. The wood stove is to warm it to comfort levels during the day when I'm awake and about. At night I have an as warm as they get make comforter. Oh, and my roof and walls don't leak... The rumbles of discontent were rumors but basically said a couple of the boys were tired of shooting and having the cameras in their faces--understandable if true. On the other hand we know that they're getting some decent to okay money for this mess so the show goes on (for most of them). And yes, for me Billy's schick is getting old, repetitive and redundant.

While it wouldn't be a surprise that they're tired of being shown as mindless morons do we know that's one reason there were rumbles of dissent when TPTB wanted to get the new season going? I could also see the kids just wanting to get their lives back without cameras following them everywhere--even with a paycheck and a nice, comfy lodge to actually live in, that would get old. Could also be why Bam finally jumped ship. Anyone know? (And yes, I'm embarrassed to even ask...)

Yes, I'd heard that he was seeing someone on the staff--even heard a rumor that they'd married but don't know if that's true or not. I guess time will tell.

So many layers of stupid last night, let me count (some of) the ways... The turbine fell. After a week or so ago they said that the supports weren't really secured but why let that stop you from using them anyway, just because they were obviously leaning? Ha! But wasn't it lucky that they found all the needed parts for their turbine in the dump? I gotta do me more shopping there... The high tide swamped the support, turning the ground into, I assume, mud. Because they never checked the high tide line. The moron twins used a shiny, new shovel (tags still clearly visible) as a paddle. That's what I always did..."damn, lost a paddle, let's go to the hardware store and get a really big, heavy shovel which will probably cost more than an oar/paddle". And a rowboat uses oars. Canoes use paddles, you dimwits. Just in case the rented cow gets out let's make her a bell out of a metal cup and a nail or something because everything is ready for winter. Oh, right... WINTER'S COMING!!! Quick--let's all waste time by using hours to pick up the new girlfriend, watch Ami crochet, and have Matt waste hours rigging a sliding door from a bed frame and emptied cartridges. Because time is of the essence. And Billy can stay busy doing...uh...um...something. If only Bam weren't GF hunting in the lower 48 we could have everything done and perfect. Anyone have any idea what the real reason is that he jumped ship??? So much more but I don't want to hog it all and be greedy.

Just, OMG--you guys are so totally cynical and it's hurting my heart this very minute. Bam is going to find his true love and, coached by baby Bro Noah, wouldn't bang his ladylove until at least the Bans had been posted...or hold hands even. And, okay, he may not actually be a teenager anymore but you're only as old as you feel, right? They get paid for this show????? This is a community service, I'm sure of it--bringing attention and income to the good Bush folk of Hoonah so that they can thrive and be happy, even if they do insist on that lower 48 stuff like telephones and electricity and freezers and pizza and microwaves and candy machines. And I bet Ami can cast with the best of them--or she could if she hadn't sprained her wrist skinning that deer Matt brought back last week (or whenever it was) and you guys could have a little compassion here... Jeez.

I've no idea but maybe she needs the money for some reason (though wasn't she pretty rich?) Just a thought.

Not a bad idea but Papa grew up to be a cop; not someone the Browns would likely want to have hanging out with them too much...or would that be a case of 'keep your friends closer and your enemies closer'?

Yes, I stand corrected and blame my mistake on the cold I'm fighting (and currently losing against). Growing up I was taught to put sugar or cinnamon sugar on my pancakes by my grandfather. Growing up poor his family couldn't afford maple syrup and so used sugar. That's how I eat them to this day.