Biosynth

Congrats to Jennifer! I did like Ari as well. I was stumped on FJ. Oh well.

I know that some of the larger cons will do two costume contests, one for actual craftsmanship and the other as a Masquerade. But I doubt Wizard World New Orleans is one of those cons. Still 6 hours sitting and watching one is really really excessive! I liked Jesse's costume the best, and then the guy who did Shazam. I thought that was a really nice costume. I'm glad he got recognition. Carl needs to apprentice with someone and take some basic classes. Maybe the others didn't and he doesn't see why he should, but his stuff needs more refinement. it just doesn't quite do it. He got sort of close with Hunt but there were little things that were bothersome. He could have glued things down better, he could be less sloppy. That's what dings him. I thought Yaya's Syn costume was really lovely. I wouldn't mind meeting her at a convention sometime. I've actually been thinking about going to Wizard World Portland next year, maybe she'll be there. (I'm obsessed with Portland for some reason and would love to visit anyway, so win win!) I'm not feeling the Peter Pan thing, though I think a Peter Pan's Labyrinth is a great idea. I hope they make it creepy enough. And I used to play Soul Caliber a lot so I was excited to see some do those costumes! Though, I'm not quite sure I understand why Sophitia is such a hard costume in comparison to one that is all armor. *shrug* Sentient Wood, hahahaha

Congrats again, Jennifer! :) And suck it Trebek! I'm sure the answer is so very easy when you have it written on a card for you to stare at whilst others struggle. Sheesh. I didn't get FJ. I was thinking the answer was somewhere up in Northern Europe. Like Sweden or Finland. Oh, and Jennifer, I knew what you were talking about with Madame Alexander. I have a Juliet Madame Alexander. She's quite old and never played with. She's in perfect condition and in her original box. :) I'm not sure when my mom got her, but I still have her tucked away.

I'll repeat everyone's congratulations here. Well done, Jennifer! :) You seemed a little nervous at the start but you really hit your stride later on. :) Good job! And was Chris' name really Culo?

Surprisingly, Jesse will be at Dragoncon this year, so I will probably go to his panel or get in the autograph line to chat. They do a Hall of Fame there and the stars are often times at their tables waiting for anyone who wants a signature. I'm sure Jesse won't be swamped. I'll report back on what he says (but that's at Labor Day weekend so it will be a while.) In regard to judging, I've often wondered that as well. The really good cons will judge on construction quality, creativeness, and stuff like that. The last contest I won was a group costume and was for humor at Dragoncon. That was a real thrill. Since then I've not competed seriously. I've always gotten my costumes done on time but there are always one or two people in my group who bring their sewing machines to the hotel and will feverishly sew in an attempt to get things done. It's pretty common, especially for procrastinators. As for Chloe, I find her pretty pleasant and all, it just bugs me a little that it seems like every show they trot out her dad and some famous friend. Most costumers don't have these connections. It is good, however, that she doesn't win all the time inspite of that. But rest assured, the costumes that are winning have been in the works for months.

I too think I'm just tuning in for Wings, Flying and Battles. I am determined to give this show a chance, but we'll see. I know that most of you disliked Michael, but I liked him, so I'll watch for him, haha. I liked the twist too. I'll keep going to see how that pans out. Otherwise, meh. I was a little irritated by Princess perfect, but we'll see how she handles things. I am a little miffed that a "bad angel" was a fat dumpy woman. :( And the good are all slim and tall. Bleh. The off putting thing for me is that I don't think the higher powered angels or most angels would be behaving like this. And also, it would be fun to get some Cherubim and Seraphim in there. Even though they are depicted as cute, they are major butt kickers. Not to mention getting the merkabah involved. That would be freaky!

I'd love to compete in another costume contest, but I don't have a dad who pioneered the special effects in Star Wars and my Buddy isn't making amazing stuff on Mythbusters. Woe is me.

Andrea, I wish you had won! :( Well, the money from the previous night was great compensation. :) How much do you get for second place? I really really disliked Paige. I didn't like her snark and attitude, especially with enunciating GNC. She seems like she thinks she's better than anyone else. I told my husband last night that two people from one of my forums are on Jeopardy and he laughed and said "Your turn!" Haha, believe me, I'm trying!

Andrea! Great game! :) I hope you continue to! But if you don't, what an experience! And the money doesn't hurt. What did you all talk about at the end during the end credits? :) Also, I have a little question for you. The devices you use to ring in...I heard they were stiff like when people push in the cap to a marker. Are they? Ever since I heard that I wondered if it was true.

I realize that "Cosplay" technically is reserved for Anime, but it would be nice to have some recognizable nonAnime costumes (Yes, I know, Ironman is prominently featured). Costuming for me runs all different media, not just video games and Anime. Should this show be titled, Heroes of Anime Cosplay? Most of the time I have no clue what they are supposed to be. Also, since a majority of "our gang" live in Atlanta, I wonder if we'll get a Dragoncon episode eventually? Dragoncon costumes are behemoths, so maybe the people on the show won't stack up in comparison? For that matter, Worldcon costumes are also legendary. That would be a real humbler for these people. Even Yaya. God forbid they ever do a Costumecon.

Count me in on the Nato category being poorly put together. It didn't make sense to me either. I got Australia and didn't get the other in FJ and I struggled to remember the capitol of Australia.

I got Sagan too, right away, just like I got Malta the other night. I excel at those types of questions, but my stumpers are literature, so I guess I ought to study that if I ever want to be on the show. Andrea, Jennifer, can't wait to see your shows! I hope you did well! :)

I guessed Malta right away as I was doing a little research about Malta last year. I was planning my trip to Sicily and debating if we should pop over to Malta and I read that English is one of their official languages. Now if only I can get questions like that on the Jeopardy quiz rather than mostly baseball questions.

"Help" instantly came to my mind on FJ. And I had nothing in my brain on the TS, but before the contestant could speak I blurted out Jingoism! It's amazing how things come to suddenly like that. And headless Jeopardy sounds like fun! haha!

I liked the episode. And I also think that the right people won the costume contest. I have to say though the Skeksis was an impressive attempt, should she do it again at another convention she really needs to refine it a bit and have some help with her. Perhaps part of the reason she didn't win anything was that you could see her elbow in her movements of the neck and you could see the top of her head. A few tweeks and this should be cleared up. Non matching thread? Huh? Skeksis are a jumble of stuff together, how is non matching thread a problem? I was ready to scream when Yaya said that you can't really be glamorous while wearing glasses. Piffle! Jessie has won for his Assassin's Creed Pirate last season, so he has won. I thought the Madarin was a good choice for him. I liked the metal casting. He should keep up with it and refine it. It would give him a good side job for creating metal items for other costumers...for profit. I know someone who does that as well. But when he went to Jessica's for help with the topknot and his concern about her missing box and how he talked softly and supportively, I just thought so much better of him and came out of this episode thinking he was a real sweetie. So far I haven't wanted to throw my shoes at the TV, so perhaps this season is an improved one? :)

Actually, the Steampunk Tigger is in my larger groups of sci-fi friends. I don't know him personally, but he's in my sci-fi meetup club. He went to Steampunk World's Fair last year. I got some photos of him. I'm always looking around the show to see if there is anyone I know. I've been conventioning for a long time and cosplay myself. I do find it laughable that they are doing a mad scramble a week before their contest. That is kind of par for the course when you are talking about soft costumes like skirts, dresses and the like, sometimes there are last minute additions, but stuff like big complex components, generally they are all done way far in advance. Thank GOD Monika isn't around. I HATED her.

I play as well. Right now I'm playing a Ranger. One of these days I'll work up to GM but until then, I'm a player. Actually, my current game, we are working with Pathfinder. Anyone used that?

I was yelling Carousel at my TV. Oh well. Tigershark, I'm with you, I would have done True Daily Double on any of the Rogers and Hammerstein questions, I too am a musical theater dork, haha. I was quite surprised that Irish Man didn't get to answer any of the British spellings category. I thought he would have run that one.

Dagny, there is a movement in the Science community that the populating of the Americas was first achieved by boats traveling down all the way down the West Coast of the U.S. down to the tip of South America. Likewise there is also suggeston (and some proof) that people came in boats along glacial ice from the France region to the U.S. mostly Southern Virginia and Carolinas. I worked with a man who was one of the people spearheading the Pre-Clovis concept. We have a site in Virginia called Cactus hill. You should check it out. Mike Johnson is his name, if it comes up. This predates the Clovis Settlement idea by a few thousand years. (And one of the arguments is that the stone tools made by these earlier settlers of North America were very reminiscent of Solutrian tools made in Europe.) I enjoyed the show. Lots of good information.

Jennings still has it!

I've tried the online test a few times, but I always seem to get a lot of sports questions, which is my weak spot (that and math). Meh, I'll keep trying. Perhaps some day.

You are all hitting the nail on the head for me about Ben. His stuff is really good but the ego just kills it for me. I was imagining, this episode, if he did win and his attitude toward his future co-workers. I pictured him condescending professionals in the shop he'd be working in and how quickly they'd show him the door. I would love a Melissa or Robert win, though. I think they really have a bright future!

I don't mind Dave and the son all that much. He may make mention that he's an old guy but at least he's not saying it in decibels approaching only what dogs can hear like Rachel does. Mentioning Rachel, and Brendan, wow the utter hubris of those two. I'm a Big Brother fan and I have to say that the introduction of Rachel on that show was the utter worst. She was HORRIBLE every time she was on. A real disgusting person. And Brendan might have been decent before meeting her, but my God he's become insufferable as well. I would like them to explode in a blinding ball of fire and get the heck off my TV. They infiltrate everything! Even the David Tutera Wedding show! As for the two blonde ladies, I don't mind them and the Afghanimals seem to be a couple of fun ( in a drunken frat way) couple of guys. The cowboys were nice. Oh well.

Thank the GODS that Nene (or as someone aptly put it here, MeMe) is gone! I couldn't stand the constant screaming and the misplaced sense of self entitlement. And I'm surprised that no one here is commenting about her bit in the routine where she presses that one dancer's face between her boobs. WTH? That was about as bad as Peta's outfit. Speaking of which, though I really do think James is gorgeous and though he was very pretty in his outfit, it still was a bit too much for family TV. And Peta and her porn star outfit, just no. I think she sleeps with all her partners, doesn't she? Isn't it implied in every season? Candice was fantastic. Wow did she deliver. And I actually like Mark. He did a nice job with her. :)

I'm not sure why people are disparaging of her being a Witch. So what? Would you say the same if she said she was a Christian? Anyway, her not helping with the food acquisition bugged me. I'm a little surprised those two didn't move camp if it were so dangerous to be there with the potential flooding. Vince killed a scorpion. Waste of protein. The poison in a scorpion is only in the tail. They could have chopped that off and eaten the body. But Nooooo, Mr. I'm the best in the world didn't think of that. I found it really rich that he went on and on about how he's a talker, he talks too much, his wife tells him to knock it off and then he got offended when Sabrina agreed with him. What the heck? Shut up about it then! I too was really surprised that he brought a friggin fire starter kit. I would bring a flint fire starter. More reliable. I remember once the lady in one of the Africa espisodes brought a cook pot, which was brilliant because it would be easier to boil the water. Vince could have brought a pot and then used found sticks to do the fire starting with. Jerk, he kind of screwed the whole thing up. Mr. Best in the world could have made fire without his stupid kit. I was thinking Sabrina got sick shortly after eating that parrot head. That's the problem with eating carrion. Human systems don't handle rotting meat, even if she didn't think it was rotting, it probably was. I miss people like Manu who really was a strong spirit.