Bastet

And one of the handful of Kevin Costner films in which he is tolerable to me. For me, A League of Their Own is the best baseball film ever made, and Major League - which, yes, rips off Bull Durham at several turns - is second. But Bull Durham is probably third (yes, over Field of Dreams and The Natural). Or maybe fourth, with The Rookie third. But wherever I rank it, I'm glad to hear it has turned up on TCM.

Meh. If the rescue's policy is - as it should be - that no dogs go out without being neutered, and their "but we breed him" objection is the only reason the rescue won't "adopt" him back to the original owners, it seems there's a really simple way for this family to get their dog back. For whatever reason (the article doesn't say), they didn't find and claim him during the owner hold period at the shelter after he got out, got hit by a car, and came into the shelter, and then the rescue adopted him. If all they have to do to adopt him back is agree to have him neutered, and refusing to do so is why they're forcing a court case, I'm on the rescue's side all day long. But the rescue may be deeming them unacceptable on additional, ridiculous grounds, because that's what some rescues do. It takes me back to the dog - Beast? - whose owner was living with him in a cheap motel and got taken to hospital after a medical emergency. VRC didn't say "you can't take proper care of your dog; we're keeping him". Instead, they - seeing how the little room was set up to meet the dog's needs and the love the owner had for him (including objecting to being taken to get the medical care she needed because she didn't want to leave the dog) - offered to neuter and vaccinate him and connect her with some resources that could help improve the housing situation. She happily accepted, and offered to volunteer at VRC to pay back their generosity.

That's interesting. Not enough to get me to watch the show again (I want to keep up with her life by reading here, but the show long ago shifted far too much into "reality" show from documentary series for me to watch), but interesting. I certainly understand the "if you get into Harvard, damn straight you go to Harvard" mentality for the doors an Ivy League degree opens, but back when I learned she'd been accepted to Pomona, I said that would be the perfect environment for her. So it's interesting to learn that's what she was leaning towards. Or not; it's possible this divide is all for the show. But Greg, especially, as a lawyer (the national ranking of your law school is a significant factor in your job opportunities) would very likely have the "go to Harvard!" mindset. (I opted to attend the lowest-ranked law school to which I was accepted, because it thoroughly "clicked" as the right place for me. I had a wonderful experience there and graduated at the top of my class, so I've never second-guessed that decision, but, boy, did I hear a lot about it at the time [not from my parents, and I was an adult for whom law was going to be a second career, so it's different overall, but I relate to the general idea of being pushed to just go by the numbers]).

Well, her ingredients are exponentially worse than the original recipe, but that picture of the result doesn't actually look any worse than the ugly-ass cakes on display in the tasting test. That line-up of cakes looked like the results of a preschool project on parents day, where the parents made cakes and the kids decorated them. I'm still thinking about it, as I've never seen something so ugly on ATK/CC.

Being out, having shows I like better airing at the same times this show airs when I'm home, and my issues with the Pol practice mean I hadn't made the effort to track down any episodes yet this season, but tonight I was home to see most of the newest one about animals to be shown at the county fair. It was nice to see Dr. Nicole again; I know there is a dearth of large-animal vets today, so, wherever she winds up (because I certainly wouldn't fault her leaving PVS at any point), it would be nice to see her continue with such animals among her clients; she has a knack. Surprise, when you breed for an unnatural size, to sell more meat, bad things happen. It's good it was just an infection with George's pigs, but I was still annoyed. Nice to see his grandkids so enthused, though. The worst any of these folks could do is still better than the average factory farm, so the more we can keep family farms going, the better. And I, who can't stand kids, was enamored of little Chloe's efforts with Chase. Dr. Brenda's advice on the happy medium to strike with Duke, the Amish farm horse with an injured foot seemed, to this layperson, sound. And I liked hearing Bear's little girl owner wanting him to feel better so she can feel better, not wanting him to be ready for sale. It's all so weird to this city slicker to watch kids nurture animals with the hopes of selling them off, but I can understand what the money means to them and the genuine care they give in the interim. So it was a typical episode. A show I'll continue to watch and enjoy when possible, but not one I'll seek out.

Yikes. I, on the other hand, wonder why the hell he did that to himself to ruin what has long been such an accessibly attractive head.

Piper's bladder stones were huge, especially the largest one! I like Dr. Lavigne assuring the owner she may not have missed anything, that sometimes they don't show symptoms until it's advanced. I suspect there were things (e.g. the straining) she could - and should - have picked up on earlier, but when she did notice a problem, she did what needed to be done, so what matters is to fix it and teach her how to help prevent it happening again - and how to spot it early should it recur. Anxiety is adorable, but - especially on the heels of last week's episode with the filthy field - I have to wonder about FFA in the area, that his dad thought it would be easy to have a pig; did he just jump the gun, or did they not properly teach? But, for whatever reason he didn't know what he should, his mom ponied up for the vet visit, so it's a learning experience. And "Your pig, your poop" was funny. Scout was cute with a vet tech draped over him for comfort after his x-rays. It was nice to see him - with three generations of owners - back to normal. I like Dr. Blue joking but also impressing upon them how serious it is to prevent him from eating things like socks. It's interesting that an equine vaccine can work on birds; I would have thought the two species too different (in general, and influenced by my knowledge of Adequan - a drug to treat arthritis - where a canine version was developed after the equine version proved so effective in horses [and the canine version is prescribed off-label for cats because that shit happens frequently], rather than just using the same formula, adjusting the dose for weight, and there's more similarity between horses and dogs than horses and birds). I was all in for that wild bird facility, giving a good life to and deriving educational opportunities from birds that cannot be released into the wild, until the owner mentioned partnering with the zoo for a breeding program in conjunction with educational programs -- does that mean they're also breeding perfectly healthy and able birds that could survive in the wild and sending them into captivity? I hope I took that wrong. The stupid shit the guys do to compete always comes off as fun rather than pathetic; I really enjoy their relationship, so the opening segment was amusing.

That's ridiculous! If an adopter was 83, and especially if she/he was looking to adopt a young animal, I could understand delicately making sure they have someone firmly committed to taking the pet should they no longer be able to care for her/him (everyone should have that in place, regardless of age). But flat-out rejecting a 63-year-old - one who'd adopted from that same organization previously - because of age?! When my parents adopted Chester, an eight-year-old cat, from the shelter six years ago, they were in their early seventies. The only consequence of that was Chester was a "discount cat" through the seniors-for-seniors program, where senior people who adopt senior pets are given a reduced adoption rate. Poor Nine, the dog who'd been hit by a car in tonight's episode; it's incredible he didn't make a sound when Spencer picked him up (like he did at the vet's office). I'm glad he seems to have eventually recovered nicely. Krewe was seriously adorable on the couch; Lizzy and the other VRC employee are all bummed out because he's heart worm positive and now has to wait to go to his new home, and he - blissfully ignorant - is just wiggling around, excited he's out of his kennel. He was also very cute enjoying his "pupcake". I know almost nothing about heart worm, because I have cats and cats basically never get it in my area (and it's not prevalent in dogs, either - they take the preventative, I believe, but not many get it, and certainly nothing like in the New Orleans climate), and it's disturbing that a dog can test negative twice and be on preventative but still turn up with heart worm. It stinks that everyone had to wait a couple of months, but what matters is now he's home. And I like that two country guys, who didn't have a fence for their previous dog (as a lot of people in such an area don't), put in a fence because this dog needs one and he's who they fell in love with. Krewe making himself right at home, and destroying his tennis ball, was lovely to see. It is wonderful Spencer can learn a trade, and get paid, when he'd never be able to pay for training/classes. I hope it's something he takes to, and can turn into a marketable skill in the long run as he supports a child. I think gender reveal parties are one of the silliest, most-obnoxious things parents have come up with in recent years, but this one was almost cute (especially with Calamity knocking the hat off), and, yay, they're having a girl. Also, genetics are interesting - that Lizzy and Moe turned out a light-blonde kid. I wonder what the next one will look like.

I never thought of this upon previous watches of "Cheaters Never Prosper", but Andy thinking about this case more than he usually does with adult victims is a subtle way of setting up the changes he makes to his life starting in season two. I still think Nicole getting engaged - his "little girl" is starting her own family, and he can't ever get back all those years of her life he missed - is the primary impetus, but he's already starting to get a little more serious/thoughtful back at this point. I also noticed the nice wardrobe touch that on Saturday, when everyone (other than Andy and Mike, who worked overnight and are thus still in Friday's clothes) on the squad comes in dressed casually, Detective Connor is in a suit and tie. I think he, too, is in yesterday's clothes, which would fit with him having, upon being notified of his partner's death, offered to bring their case files to L.A. and arriving in short order -- it shows he didn't even go home to grab a change of clothes first. But even if he is in a clean shirt, it's still a good use of wardrobe as characterization, because, while those on their home turf are dressed down to work on a Saturday, he's dressed like a guest in someone else's jurisdiction. I commented about this episode at length the last time it aired, so I won't repeat myself other than to reiterate how utterly perfect I find Sharon and Rusty's first hug. She's refrained from physical affection all this time in deference to his reticence, but she is not sending him off to Daniel's for the weekend without a hug. And he takes a moment, and then kind of sinks into it, and it always makes me think about how long it has likely been since he had a proper hug. Then the extra little squeeze she gives before letting go caps it all off. Okay, and to say that the closing scene between them, when she discovers that Daniel punched him, is just as perfectly done. McDonnell and Martin eased into their characters' relationship very smoothly. “Personal Effects” is tonight's season four episode, but due to tonight's episodes airing early (because XFL football will be on in the usual prime time slot), I'll be watching something else instead. But it reminds me that last time it aired, I wondered why Provenza and Patrice chose his house to live in, when in “Chain Reaction” she didn’t even find it suitable for cooking Christmas dinner. It was suggested that perhaps he owns and she’d been renting, but in the time between that airing and tonight’s, I have watched season five of The Closer, in which we learn Provenza's house is a rental.* So, if her place is nicer, I don’t know why they didn’t just choose to live there, or rent someplace new altogether. The house wouldn’t be covered by L.A.’s rent control law, so that’s not the draw. Maybe he bought it from the landlord somewhere along the way, but he’s so cheap it’s hard to imagine that. It’s a small house that hasn’t been updated, so maybe he just has a good deal going on – maybe the landlord likes having a cop as a tenant. I know the real reason is a production one; they didn't want to find another house/build another set for a place we're not going to see very often. I'm just saying that, if these characters were real, their choice of abode would be a little odd. Then again, Patrice just waltzes in and declares Provenza will be shelling out to redecorate, so maybe it's a good location and she saw the potential to spruce up the interior. *I only have the Sharon Raydor years of The Closer on DVD, so I don’t know what we saw of Provenza’s homes in between the apartment from “To Protect and To Serve” and this house, I just know that by season five, he's in the house -- in “Make Over”, we see Georgette staying with him, and it’s this house. (It's in “Blood Money”, when they roll up to the McMansion to find their missing swindler, that Provenza says, “For once, I’m glad to be renting.”)

Now I'm watching (on a Cook's Country from last year) a taste test of mail-order king cakes. I'd never heard of king cake until several years ago (I've been to New Orleans several times, but never for Mardi Gras), and I'd never seen one until just now. Um, those were some seriously ugly cakes. I looked up a recipe, and, sure, I'd try it if some was handed to me, but it didn't sound like anything I'd want to seek out.

I have the PBS cooking shows on all afternoon on Saturdays, mostly as background noise. As I was walking through the room as Martha Stewart listed what she'd be baking this episode, I heard her conclude with "and peach butthole". Well, that can't be right. Ah, peach buckle.

I don't remember who originally recommended this Asian slaw with ginger-peanut dressing recipe, but last month it popped into my mind and I realized I hadn't made it in a while. I've made it three times since, and am having the latest batch right now. I don't know why this fell off my radar for so long; it's easy and delicious. It's also very colorful, so it's looks as good as it tastes. Because I use several of the same ingredients in the mango slaw I make to go in shrimp tacos, while I was chopping cabbage and cilantro anyway, I made that slaw (minus the mango, which I'll add tonight) and the dressing (mayo, lime juice, cilantro, chili paste, and a pinch of sugar), and I'll make those tacos for dinner.

But in an earlier episode, she'd been quick with a lesbian joke. So the writers just needed her slow on the uptake this time for the sake of the scene. Which is worth it, because her suggesting they not tell Rose because "she's not as worldly and sophisticated about these things as I am" is perfect. Twice a day, at that. I wish it was clearly played that she was having them on, to set Blanche up for that "those who talk about it most are usually having it least" zinger, because it's just utterly ridiculous. Them having sex every morning and every night is ridiculous on its own, but then add in that she'd been post-partum umpteen times and he was a traveling salesman, and it's downright impossible.

Braising is still not really my jam, but if I was going to eat a ragu, it would be like this pork, fennel, and lemon one I just watched -- fennel instead of carrots and celery, and a white sauce instead of red. I was a little surprised one of the fontina styles was Swedish, when I much more often see that style coming from Denmark. Like Julia, I prefer the "real-deal" Val d'Aosta, but I like the others, too (it's cheese!). I'm not sure if I've had the fontal (from Belgium).

I don't make sausage balls very often, but when I do I usually just mix the sausage with sage, bread crumbs, and onions that have been sauteed with balsamic vinegar and apricot preserve. The balsamic/apricot glaze (with a little bit of mustard) is also used as a dipping sauce. I've also made pork and shrimp balls - just toss shrimp, ground pork, scallions, ginger, garlic, cilantro, lime zest, and tamari in the food processor. The dipping sauce is made with honey, peanut oil, tamari, lime juice, sesame oil, ginger, and jalapeño.

According to witnesses, Alley Mills (his wife) was on the scene, but I don't know if she saw him get hit (like if she was waiting on the other side of the street as he crossed) or if she was in the theatre, heard the commotion, and ran out to find the aftermath. Awful memory to live with, either way. The circumstances sound like a tragic accident all around, and I also feel sorry for the drivers who will live with the trauma of being involved (and with people assuming they recklessly plowed down an old man, rather than reading what happened).

Finally, a religion/mythology clue I could answer! I had some work I opted to plow through and finish, rather than taking a break to watch the show, so I had to read the archive. I can't remember if I have she has ever been a clue before in the many years I've watched (almost certainly, over all that time, but I've forgotten). The Fred Astaire TS was a doozy; Fred MacMurray being a "before their time" TS did not surprise me, but Fred Astaire when they were spotted Fred, actor, and dancing? The megaphone, stripper, Fred Willard and "Daughter" TS surprised me a bit (that last one mostly that no one even guessed a family member that hadn't already been an answer in the category, and Willard because there was a picture). The missed DD of Nora Ephron made me a little sad, even though they chose my least-favorite of her films to include in the clue. I ran the first round, but the perfect game remains elusive, as I didn't do as well in DJ - I missed about half a dozen - and took so long to decide on a FJ answer (eventually picking the right author) that I can't give myself credit for it.

And the Country Music Hall of Fame - great museum! And, of course, Ernest Tubb Record Shop. Basically, you have to wander up and down Broadway, even though it's horribly touristy; to skip it would be like going to New Orleans and never setting foot on Bourbon Street. It has changed a lot, especially on the south side (SoBro), but there are still some old-school honky tonks locals will go to amidst all the new stuff. Another thing along these lines is the Hermitage, Andrew Jackson's home. If it is, there are a bunch of other listening rooms (such as The Listening Room, but you may have just as much trouble getting in) -- head out of downtown to the west end and try The Local. There are some cool art galleries on Fifth Avenue downtown, and in We-Ho (Wedgewood-Houston), just south of downtown. "Meat and three" food is very much not my thing, so I only went to one such restaurant, and can't remember what it was. I do like hot chicken, though, and my favorite place to get it was Hattie B's. Woolworth on 5th is an interesting place to eat, because its lunch counter was the site of many sit-ins during the '60s. And the park by the Capitol is a great place to picnic (there's a farmers' market right there). I haven't been in a while, but I used to travel regularly to Nashville on business. It's a nice city to visit.

Yep, Curtis Armstrong (he was in Risky Business).

I hardly ever use emojis, and only recently realized there was a button for inserting them, but let me help you, because ewww: 🤢🤮

Yes! I liked America's Test Kitchen in spite of on-screen Chris, not because of him, but I gave this new show a shot and quickly relegated it to something I keep on in the background after ATK. So I often don't pay much attention to it. To the extent I don't follow this show's topic, and only wound up here by mistakenly clicking on the ridiculously-unidentified "next unread topic" link after reading an ATK post and coincidentally landing here. That episode had me rolling my eyes at his nonsense. It's true; there are a good number of people who don't like lamb. I happen to like it, but, more importantly, that's what the dish calls for. Why not make your best version with lamb, and note chicken thighs could be substituted for those who don't like it/don't even want to try it? It's particularly annoying because he was always so myopic in his tastes on ATK, so with his history it inevitably comes across as "this is usually made with a meat enjoyed by many around the world, but some Americans aren't readily familiar with it, so we're making it with chicken."

Check out The Vet Life on Animal Planet. It's a great show about a great practice in Houston run by three black vets who met at Tuskegee's veterinary school and formed a friendship as well as a practice that continues to this day (and the practice has recently expanded to a second location) - a practice into which they've hired other vets, including women, and offered internships/residencies to students from their alma mater. They see mostly small animals, but they do make livestock calls. The rarity and particulars of being black vets is not a weekly focus, but is not ignored. They're also all married to great (black) women, with all three families close, so the home life segments are enjoyable, too.

My eyes bugged out at "Born in the U.S.A." being a TS - at least toss it out as a guess! I was also surprised Democratic was a TS. I can't decide if Billy Wilder and Elia Kazan being TS surprised me or not; I guess not, even though Oscar history is one of those subjects I figure most contestants study up on.

I find that song impossible not to dance to, so I'm with you on that one.

I can't believe no one guessed soccer. That no one deciphered Wind from the big hint in the clue was also surprising. The Spittoon and fridge answers amused me as much as they did Alex. I wish Travis and Paige had tied; I'd like to see both of them again. The only thing I didn't know/correctly guess in the first round was what YBS stood for. I was off to a good start in DJ, but Regicide and Haifa stumped me just as they did the contestants (the first one I just flat-out didn't know, the second I do but couldn't pull out of my brain). I'm not much for war history, so I was sure I was wrong with my guess of Robert E. Lee for FJ, but, lo and behold, I was right. So only three misses! At some point before I die (or lose my marbles), I will achieve a perfect game.