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I'd watch another season if there was one but would prefer it become more of an ensemble. I could do with a lot less focus on boring and badly acted MacLaren.

Organizational peeve: Why do so many websites omit dates on their articles and posts? I have to think it's deliberate but don't know why it would be of benefit to do so.

This was many years ago but was the eeriest out of things that have happened to me. I was awakened at a little after 2 am by a woman's voice repeatedly saying, "Help me." I got up and looked out my balcony and into the apartment hallway but couldn't see anyone. The voice was so clear and distressed that I even got dressed and went outside to search around the carports outside my windows. Didn't see anyone. The next day I went to visit my husband who was in the burn ward at the hospital after an accident. I asked how he had slept and he said not well because a woman in the unit had woken him up calling for help. What time was it? About 2 am.

This article is pure speculation of course, but Tony Ortega asked a "source" inside the Celebrity Centre to rank the top 20 biggest stars in order of the likelihood that they would defect.

Ah, yes. That Gilligan's Island book by Charles Dickens is a classic.

My ex is Polynesian and grew up in a large extended family where everyone (mother, stepdad, grandmother, siblings, two uncles/wives and their seven children) lived in a compound with three houses and slept on their mats in the same room. After he and I moved to the States, there was a time I was going to be gone for a couple of days on business. He had never in his life spent a night by himself and was actually a little frightened. It was one of the (many) occasions I looked at him with an inquisitive head tilt, like he was a foreign species. He ended up going over to stay at his sister's house. Anyway, there are some extroverts in this world who thrive on the hubbub! (His family didn't have a TV, though. They were all about the talking.)

From what I've read, many people who "blow" return willingly once they're found. After all the shrewd planning and luck, they cave when confronted and allow themselves to be browbeaten into going back. One man was at the airport waiting for his flight. Jeez dude, it's a very public place. Make a scene and refuse to leave! As to why some Sea Org members are heavily tracked and others aren't, who knows. It may be related to how high up they are? Leah, her sister, and mother used to be Sea Org members but left and became public members. She never gave details of that in her book that I recall. If they officially routed out they would have had to pay their freeloader's debt. It's all madness.

I needed one to wipe my tears of laughter while watching Winona Ryder in Stranger Things. I thought she was awful -- scenery chewing awful -- but she's been nominated for three acting awards already so what do I know.

Chris Shelton mentioned in one of his Q&A videos (and I shouldn't have been surprised at this point but still was) that everyone who is sent to the Rehabilitation Project Force knows about it and signs an agreement/waiver beforehand that spells out the terms of their confinement. I had imagined that people were taken from their offices without notice and frog marched away under guard, but no. As usual, they WILLINGLY COMPLY and in fact consider themselves fortunate to have been given a chance at redemption. There is just no getting through to these people! I wonder if any families have used cult deprogrammers and if they were successful? An excerpt from a waiver is below. Reading it, I can understand how the courts might very well rule against someone who subsequently tried to sue.

You be you! The actor is doing a terrific job making him more than a redneck stereotype. (Also, he's 40 IRL, which surprised me.)

Oh, dear. I've been catching up this year on shows I never watched while they aired and now have to add Dexter to the "I simply do not get it" list. So many fans, accolades, and awards but ... I pretty much think it's terrible. My objections are not to do with the gore or serial killer-itis -- it's just so freaking self-aware and winkingly coy about it. The narration is killing me.

It's kind of amazing how many times Leah herself has learned something as she filmed this series. The deceit and falsehoods run deep and are never ending. But honestly? Those special event videos are SO CHEESY! Even snark-hearted me felt really sad for Claire when she talked about her forced abortion. It was nice to see that she and Marc had established happy lives and a family outside Scientology. So many marriages are fractured, even when both spouses stay. By the way, what kind of rat-assed organization is it that, within three months of joining, promotes a 15-year old to an executive position? Even if she is an adult in a teen's body, that's nuts. I liked how Leah is so sincerely delighted about things like a tract house in the Denver suburbs.

Regarding the stories of many Scientology staff members being sent to work for Cruise to clean his house, care for his children, be his personal assistants, repair his motorcycles, etc. -- doesn't the man have enough money to hire someone to install pavers in his stupid driveway? Gawd. Scientology gives public awards to people who have donated millions. But I've never see any photos of Cruise getting one. Or Travolta. Do they donate privately? Tony Ortega's site has an article that says Cruise was recognized in 2005 for giving $2.5M, but hasn't been mentioned since. Would Miscavige the Money Hungry Troll let Cruise freeload these days because of his PR worth?

Hey, another viewer! We may break double digits. Not that I'm the arbiter of What Everyone Should Like, but it makes me wonder why a show like Stranger Things got so much media attention, accolades, and viewers when this didn't. I personally enjoyed both equally.

Goodness. It took a decade but I finally started watching this week. So much praise and hoopla, but I sincerely don't get it! I dislike Lt. LaGuerta, Deb, Rita, and Dexter himself. With special loathing for sniveling, pasty-ass Rita. And yes, I GET IT already with the flashbacks to Dexter's father. IMDB tells me that James Remar appeared in 85 episodes, which ugh. I'm almost through season one and will probably push through the next for curiosity's sake (and also: retired now) and to try to figure out why I'm Bizarro on this. Personal idiosyncrasies!

I loved Carrie's talk show on Oxygen, Conversations from the Edge. It was filmed at her house with her guest seated in a comfortable chair across from her, without an audience. Carrie's intelligence and sardonic always shone. She seemed to have lived at least three lifetimes' worth of stories. Here's Carrie playing herself on Sex and the City:

I can't remember which, but one of the anti-Scientology sites I've run across recently has photos of members "helping" after a disaster by setting up a tent, handing out their pamphlets, and doing "touch assist" on people. Here's at least one instance of their volunteer "ministers" providing direct assistance (mostly for PR is my guess).

The more I learn about Scientologists, the more amazed I am that Leah's family -- husband, mother, stepdad, sister, brother in law -- all upped and left the church with her. It may be the only time that has ever happened. I'd love to hear what those conversations were like! Leah wouldn't even have been able to broach the subject without everyone immediately writing up a Knowledge Report and putting themselves in jeopardy for associating with her. Her mom and stepdad were freaking OTVIIIs!

Some writers get so amped up on being twisty that they lose coherent thought. I don't want to be forced to keep a spreadsheet in order to follow what's happening!

The dog? The ones that still gut me personally are Garry Shandling and Anton Yelchin.

I couldn't imagine it, either, but I find it fun to watch other people try!

Something also struck me this week about children who are raised in or brought into Scientiology by their parents even later in life -- they really believe. How many people have we seen on the show whose children disconnected? I think all of them? Contrast that to people who were brought up in other mainstream religions and have no problem ditching the teachings they were raised with -- probably a million Catholics alone! It kind of reinforces how good Scientology is at indoctrination and cultish mind control. You'd think the children of someone like Rinder, for example, would listen to a man who was formerly at the highest level of the organization -- and THEIR FATHER -- when he tells them the church is bogus. But no.

Was it odd that Jason's stadium presentation piece was available? It seemed awfully specialized, even given the football theme. I'd imagine all the contestants would have wanted to use it. Anyway, I'm glad he won again. His kid partner was fun and likable. I know Jason is a HOME BAKER and all, but I wish he'd set up a mail order business for me.

Jesu, Mother. I started dripping tears at the Christmas dinner toast to absent friends, which was what -- three minutes in? It got worse when Shelagh brought up the Thalidomide and I kind of never recovered. And yet I never think of the show as being depressing or dark. It repeatedly slices into my heart (little brother with polio) but it's the happy parts (leg braces) that cut the deepest. Awesome episode, all told. I felt sorry for Fred at his age being sent on a long, hard trip and made to do manual labor, but at least Patsy and Delia got some alone time. Up with women!

After a couple of decades of tabloid scandals, drugs, arrests and ill health, I truly hope his passing was peaceful. I loved his music and was inspired by his talent.