bookworm

Hi, Danny the Navy Seal, glad to welcome you to Scorpion, i.e., Macgyver meets TBBT meets A-Team! :-) I like to watch this show VOD when I need some inoffensive noise in the house; it reminds me of older, more innocent, TV shows and I like it. I always know what's going to happen, roughly, but I like seeing how they make it happen. Even though it is extremely predictable I feel that it has lots of heart and I hope they don't lose that to make it more appealing to the jaded Gen-Whatevers. I snerked when I saw Happy's Dad. I had forgotten that he is played by H!ITG Jamie McShane. My first thought was "I wonder if Cabe knows he has an IRA gun-running connection in his garage? Think we'll see SAMCRO come to visit sometime?" I love that (so far) they have been able to keep the Ralph the Wunderkind subplot going, and sometimes show Ralph being really smart, without making him into a Wesley Crusher. I am so sick of kids who take over the whole show with all the adult characters they took time to create and flesh out becoming props for the amazing wonderfulness of the sooper-genius kid. Lastly, this episode had an illustration of a writing tic that makes me grind my teeth. I realize that this is a by-product of the premise, but come on writers at least try to be a little more realistic! I hate (grr! argh!) that they write moments for Walter where he learns/solves something instantaneously and it's chalked up to his high IQ. In this ep he told Danny he taught himself Morse code by just listening to it for a bit. How is that something you can do merely because you have a high IQ? I wish they would focus more on Walter being a grown-up Ralph, a sooper-genius, and not just that his IQ somehow magically makes him able to do everything immediately. Having a high IQ usually means you are able to learn lots of things and learn them faster than the average person, but it doesn't mean you can pluck complete knowledge from the air. That said, I really do like this show for chore background noise! :-)

I just watched this and it motivated me to actually sign in to write something! The something I want to express is my total sadness at how these young designers seem to have some talent, interesting ideas and drive and how, after fourteen seasons, I know that by the time each of them are auf'd they will be ground into fashionable dust. This show holds out the ideal of winning based on talent and effort and then appears to provide an experience that seems more akin to Survivor meets Big Brother. The show puts these poor designers through a high-pressure meat grinder of competitions which have nothing to do with fashion or creation, while locked in a claustrophobic workroom, unable to escape the cameras or each other. Well, as the previous posters have noted, we're probably going to end up with copious quantities of tears as the plus-size designer is auf'd first, because we remember the horror experienced every time there is a "design for a real person (who is not six feet tall and a size zero)" week. Then the final few will be the preppy-ish self-regarding guy, the combative large guy, the Bettie Page, and the ice princess. At least with this preview anyone who is seriously interested in the designers as designers can have a few minutes before they are turned loose in a meat packing plant to create uniforms to be worn at VegansRUs on tofu chicken wings night. I apologize, the sarcasm is roaring through me as the final minutes of the preview tick on. At least I got to see Uncle Tim and the pre-judges, none of which were Michelle, and they all appeared supportive of the newbies.

Yes, she's an awesome young lady and I am blessed to have her in my life. The stupid comment was from my teen; I agree with you, and we went on to discuss, how lucky she and her friends are that they don't lack for support and approval in their lives. We talked about how many people who get caught up in this type of situation are, as you have said, not cared for, unheard and unnoticed. He provides all these things and then once they feel accepted and loved he starts withholding as a means of control It is very scary. Watching some of the things that flow across my daughter's Tumblr dash shows how a very persuasive and charismatic individual can influence people online, not even needing to be present in the flesh.

Interesting that Charlie's primary girl is Sadie, and he's the one who he trusts to go with Emma to the record producer's house. Then, she's the one who is most concerned with Emma leaving until Charlie reassures her. I believe that one of the other girls was Katie. Those are two of the girls who killed on Charlie's command, later. It has been interesting to watch Charlie establish his control over the girls using brainwashing techniques, including giving and withholding affection and approval. My teenage daughter is finding Aquarius dull semi-history and wonders how these girls are so stupid that they would follow some platitude-spouting guru who just wants them to exchange parental control for his control. I'm half cheering because this tells me my lovely daughter is probably not a candidate for some high school lothario, and half thinking to myself that she and her circle of friends are really lucky.

I have some experience with standardized testing and opting out. My daughter is 16 and I just wrote a, really long and testy, letter to the county opting her out of a standardized test. Our state has four tests, in biology, english, math and government, that every student has to pass to graduate; they take one each year. The tests are basic, at the level of "Can you function as an adult human out in the world?" But, this year they decided to try to get into some funding pool, Race to the Top?, by switching over to the PARCC test, which is the one JO was talking about kids barfing and crying over. The test comes in two halves taken several months apart and each of the halves has several parts. My DD took part of the first half and then was absent for the other part of half #1 because of a field trip. We tried over and over to get her into a makeup for the other part of the first half. First, the state messed up the admin's sign on, then the admin showed up too late to start the test, then the computers didn't work, etc. Finally, they announced the second half would be in a week, right in the middle of AP tests. So we contacted the school about getting the last parts of half #1 completed before half #2 was administered. They said the state had "closed the window" for taking half #1 and there was no way to finish. However, DD should take half #2 because it's a standardized test, which cannot be missed or the sky will fall. When I started asking how they would report the PARCC on her transcript if she never finished the test (the four basic tests are reported as is the score which is considered passing for each) they had no idea. They don't even know how they're going to report the test, yet, just that it will be there somehow. They also didn't know if they could/would note she didn't take the whole test. A teacher told me about opting out, but the staff tried to argue that without my daughter "the curve" would be affected because they count on her to pull the curve up. They were worried they wouldn't get some of the money they wanted without her test scores but they had no idea how the partial information would be reported to colleges. She has tried too hard to get sidetracked by this kind of crap; I opted her out the next day.

I feel so sorry for that mother, having to know what happened to her son but having no way, under the law, to pursue it any farther. And to have everyone still live in the same town and see each other at the Piggly Wiggly. I know it happens a lot but it's not something normally shown on television. A side note: I am from a small town near Kingsport, TN, and I have to note how amazingly well the photographers and editors did at showing what TN looks like. I am not quite sure how to put it... they captured the "geography" and "ambiance" of NW TN, maybe? They showed how a lot of the roads are terrible switchbacks, right next to four-lane highways, and how so many of the houses are one level and have large, covered porches with chairs and swings. They showed that we have all these hills and valleys surrounding us, everywhere we look. I was so homesick! I can't really describe it, but I give major props to the CJ team. If they have captured the other towns they have visited as well as they did here then we're getting a good slice of life as well as following the team. Teenagers have so many dramas in their lives. My DD is 16 and everything is a drama, all day long. To add the fear that your life, in a small town where many people would be judgmental and not understanding, would be destroyed by a revelation of alternate sexuality could be overwhelming, and both boys used that threat. One sad aspect is that, I am guessing from past experience here, no one would have really been surprised by a public revelation that the two boys were having a relationship. Robert, allegedly, committed a murder that achieved nothing except to bring pain to everyone.

I just clicked On Demand and saw the "WARNING: we're really not kidding this time, campers!" which made me tense up instead of say "yeah, yeah" like I do with GoT or Spartacus. Then, they open on Jamie and BJR the morning after and I had such foreboding and pearl-clutching feelings that I had to share them with someone. Since hubby's out gardening and DD is still asleep (teens, argh) I thought I would come share my feelings with you guys since you would understand. I can absolutely see why the non-book readers are setting up the torch and pitchfork mob. I knew when I read the book in 1991 that it was following tons of rapey romance novel tropes but it was so engrossing that I just cringed and kept reading; when you're reading you can skip/skim things like the Wentworth scenes. To see it all onscreen, and we don't get a say in what we get to see onscreen except for the FF button, is almost overwhelming. I just got a view of Little BJR and while I say Emmys all around, I really didn't need to know Tobias that well. And, onward, to the play button. Wish me luck! ETA: Holy crap. I finished the ep and can I reiterate: Emmys all around. Sam deserves all the awards. I did have to mute the two big scenes and watch through my fingers, though. I'm glad they dropped the magic healing through sex angle. I thought they sort of hit the bases with a little fighting back, a little forgiveness, and then getting rid of the brand. I have loved this show and feel they have done an incredible job of adapting the book. The first half of the season was stellar but it seems that the second half suffered from terrible pacing. This episode suffered, particularly, from them spending so much time on the wandering minstrels that too much of the plot was left for the last episode. I wonder if they had problems because when you pull the main plot points out that must be hit to keep the story going they are pretty dark in the second half. After Lallybroch, it's not as cute and quippy and the angst isn't really leavened by fun bits. Also, if they had pushed more into the first half of the season in order to spread out the dark parts of the second half, the first half might have seems overfilled and rushed. The reveal of time travel and the choice at the stones was a perfect break point, but then how do you go from dark to dark to dark in the second half? I see their problem and why they would give more time to Murtagh and Claire traveling around, as well as just wanting more of Murtagh because he's awesome, I just don't think they balanced it as well as it could have been. I absolutely second the motion that this episode could have benefited from a two hour running time.

I see we noticed exactly the same things. It did seem as if he wanted to cry a bit when it became clear that the general populace either had no idea whatsoever about him or was conflating him with Julian Assange. But he did seem to settle in and play along with the questions and premise when it became clear that JO did actually have a purpose for being so apparently dismissive of a lot of the intricacies of the situation. By forcing the discussion into one path, internal communications, and one subject, dick pics, JO helped Snowden make his point better, more clearly, and regarding something people "care" about.

The Quiet Man was exactly what I thought of chocolatetruffle! Maybe that's what they were going for, a reference to that famous scene where he drags her across the town, which is played as totally the proper thing to do and the music for that is quite lilty as well. Although it seemed a jarring choice for some of us, I can really see what some are saying: that they were trying to stay completely within Jamie's headspace in this episode so the music fits from that perspective. I guess after watching and discussing and hearing comments and commentary I just commend them on at least deciding on a way to go and then going there with as much integrity as possible.

For those wondering about timing, it showed up on our Starz On Demand (Comcast in Maryland) at 9am! I turned on the TV to catch a little Saturday morning Law&Order and lo and behold, there was my baby! I really loved the episode and think they wound their way through a minefield of plot points, emotional whiplash moments, huge swathes of intense dialog, and character-growing situations with quite a bit of facility, if not perfection. I don't think that perfection would be possible given the book sets forth some of the problematic things and they really have to hit some of these to lay foundations. I thought the spanking scene was handled about as well as it could have been, except for the total miss of the background music. I am guessing they were going for a bit of a traditional donnybrook feeling since she was fighting back pretty strongly, yay for kicking him right in the nose. It was a huge fail, though, because the whole scene was so delicate that the jaunty tune just tossed me right out. I also think that they showed Jamie didn't want to do it for himself but realized that if he didn't punish her in some way she would be ostracized forever, if not allowed to be killed/taken. At the same time, Jamie has been spanked and subjected to physical punishment his whole life, and so has everyone he knows (they established this really strongly with Laoghaire facing physical punishment in front of the whole castle and guests). It is just an expected thing, so he doesn't really want to do it but he can't really understand why Claire is making such a ruckus. It speaks volumes of his character that he is able to see her point, consider it in terms of his own life, and then really take it to heart. It is one of my greatest joys of this series that Claire is allowed to, by the writer, and able to, by Jamie's flexibility of thought, shape Jamie's worldview so strongly. It isn't often that we see not just a strong woman on TV, but one who effects changes around her, not just in plot or circumstances, but in adults. Wow, didn't realize I had so so much to say! So, briefly... Loved that the men took her straight back into the group once she had faced her "righteous" punishment for putting them all in danger. Loved the awkward welcome moments at the castle. I like the political overtones and the Jacobite maneuvering so I liked that Jamie was shown acting as an effective leader with Colum, Dougal, and Ned Gowan; I thought it really moved him away from the "stable-working nevvy running away from the law" persona. I thought Claire freezing out Jamie, then the vow, the resulting sex, and then her mastering the moment and Jamie to give him her own filip on the vow was well done, although I thought the sex went on a bit too long and the O-faces are unnecessary. Sam and Cait have roaring chemistry, a little subtlety and reticence in scenes wouldn't go amiss; you don't have to convince us, really. The Laoghaire scene by the river wasn't my favorite, but it established a foundation for the future events, Jamie unknowingly encouraged her because he was "nice" and she feels as if he has been stolen from her by magic since Claire did give her the click three times love charm incantation. Stunts and scenery were spectacular, per usual. Big props for Tobias for how he shows Black Jack being a sort-of rousing villain, who takes joy in villainy, but then sometimes the eye-shutters are removed and we see into his truly festering soul. Ugh, playing that must be debilitating sometimes. So, this is the longest post ever to say: in my opinion, well done, show.

Holy crap! Watched this last night but needed some sleep time to process. Our whole family was riveted, from 16 to 53, we all sat here with our mouths open. When Edward Snowden actually walked into the room we were floored, but to have him stay and answer questions was incredible. John Oliver did a better job of getting to the heart of what Snowden thought he was doing right on our behalf, what he did that was actually wrong and dangerous, and also explaining the issues in a way that everyone in the room both got and stayed laser-focused on. He got Snowden to admit some culpability for the unintended consequences and the fact that he didn't vet all the docs he decided to make public, letting that decision rest with various press businesses. In the interviews I have seen and read, admittedly not all, Snowden has always been somewhat smug and self-congratulatory and winkles out of a lot of responsibility. This should win every TV show and TV reporting award it possibly can. It was amazing. Not only does it make the issues crystal clear no matter how uninterested the viewer. I would love to see a few of the dick-pic quotes on the stage behind NPH at the Emmys.

Love Red bidding on himself. Also love the moment when the winner tells Red that he's not going to Joburg, the $40M was "On your head!" as he distractedly taps the head-sized briefcase he's carrying. Of course, one hopes he bought the waterproof and drip-proof case at Staples.

This episode broke my heart. I was so glad that no one wrote this lovely woman and mother off. I agree with those upthread who were glad that Devyn had become part of such a loving family situation and that they were so open to maintaining contact with his mom's family. I can't believe how much this show affects me and my family. We've been somewhat upset lately because the team hasn't been able to convince the DAs to go ahead and make arrests. It is completely understandable because these are real cases, sometimes really old cases. and not TV scripts that wrap the case up in 42 minutes, but it is sad. I, too, was incredibly happy to see a woman as a head detective. I loved it that the team just chugged along as usual without any botheration about a group of women being in charge. I am old enough that this is new and remarkable. Yay, women. I especially note this year that Kelly and Yolanda are often verbally name-checking and specifically deferring to the local authorities. I don't mean to imply that they were glory-hounds before, because they have never seemed to be about acclaim, but it may have been a bit of a problem that the show was overtaking the local police who sometimes have put years into keeping these cases alive. I don't know how I'm going to fill my time between now and April 10.

I thought that looked a lot like the JFK limo which, as I remember, was a dark blue 1961 Lincoln Continental that could have the roof removed to be a convertible. I wrote a report for school, Torqy and I will go sit in the "I'm too old to be posting in a TV forum" section of the room, and I think the real limo had a lot of modifications after 1963 like armor, bulletproof glass and handholds for the Secret Service. It remained in service for many years as an official limo and I think it is in a museum now. That said, I would love for Red to have absconded with the real limo because there's some evidence of some conspiracy and have hidden it for years under Rev. Creepy's pulpit. I love Red doing anything conspiracy-ish. He makes the show worth watching.

Something I really love this season is that the models/mime performers seem to have gotten the idea to/been allowed to add a bit of performance element to the final viewing. It makes the characters pop to life so much more vividly to have someone crouching and hopping around like a winged monkey jester. A while ago, when there were two similar looking alien goddesses, both looking kali-ish, the model who was performing the goddess looked so much more interesting. I also noticed the model who was being a bird character and using her "wings". A side note is that I love it that this show is so kind to the models. Tim always has been very polite and kind to the PR models, but, until this season, the judges and contestants don't really notice them much. In this show, the judges and the contestants are so polite and make a point to thank the models for performing the characters and allowing themselves to be encased in paint and plaster. It is just so refreshing to see thoughtfulness on a competition show. My DD likes Dance Moms and I cannot be in the house when she has that crud on. The depth of horror to which ALM/ALDC will subject the dancers is beyond imagination. Even Gordon Ramsey encourages his cheftestants on his various shows to cooperate with each other and be civil. Face Off wins the niceness trophy, are we sure the show isn't made in Canada? :-)