Bastet

About ten years ago, I attended a demonstration of a different type of solar cooker; it was being given to women in the refugee camps in Darfur. They had been cooking over fire, but wood had become scarce and they were having to venture further and further out from the camps to get wood ... which left them vulnerable to being raped by the Janjaweed. The solar cookers allowed them to remain within the relative safety of the camps. It was a very simple design and easy to use, but I'd have had no clue without it being demonstrated, so I'm assuming the chefs got a tutorial on their more complex solar ovens/stoves that just wasn't shown. I wish they'd edited the Quickfire segment in a way that gave more insight into how they worked.

That's what I do with pork roast. That's how my mom made it, and now I can't make it any other way.

There's a great boxed set of Cagney & Lacey with everything -- the Loretta Swit TV movie pilot, the Meg Foster episodes, the "real" run of the show, and the "Menopause Years" reunion TV movies. Maybe you can treat yourself to it next year. That unsettled dynamic between them worked perfectly for me, because it was something we saw so much through the course of C&L, and the actors love playing it. I feel like the episode gave us everything that was great about them as C&L -- a long-standing friendship, drinking and laughter, protectiveness (when Gless' character asks Amy if Maxine's boyfriend is deserving of her), and conflict. I wish I'd known it was going to be on; I'd have recorded it.

I thought this year-end review show fell completely flat. But on the whole I've really enjoyed this inaugural "season" with Trevor, and look forward to its return. I just watched Wednesday night's show, too, and that one knocked it out of the park. With fodder like the Republican debate, I suppose it would be hard not to, but Blood Bath and Beyond was inspired. I always love "What the Actual Fact?" and this time particularly enjoyed, "That one's true, if words don't mean what they mean."

It's Andrés, not Andreas, but I also thought they were having a little fun with it.

I still, for what seems like a month now, haven’t seen the show, but I've finally at least checked the archive, and read through the clues from last night's show: I sucked at recent cinema; Meryl Streep was the only one I knew. Data dump really surprised me as a TS in a category that spotted the alliteration. I knew ground game in the same category, but I can see that one going unanswered. Data dump, I’d have put money on being better known. No one knowing what the radical sign (square root) was called was also surprising. Same with tweed. Not knowing Robert Blake = Baretta less so, but still something I’d have thought at least one contestant could answer. For the Spice Girls member, I thought I was supposed to come up with what the B in Mel B. stood for. The Poe FJ was an instaget for me; tell me the title refers to a theft, and purloined – one of my favorite words – springs instantly to mind.

Yeah, squid is not an exotic ingredient to me although I'm certainly aware it is to many. These folks live in L.A., though, and more than one of them recognized it from eating calamari. I didn't much care for John's repeated, "Is this chicken?" but I didn't care for the, "We'll tell you after you eat it" response, either. If someone asks you what you're serving, tell them. I know it runs the risk of someone hearing an unfamiliar ingredient and shutting down without trying it, but that's on them. So I wasn't annoyed with John, up through when he said he didn't care for it but praised the other part of the dish, basically the epitome of polite under the circumstances. But then he started going on about being disgusted and losing his appetite, and I changed to "Is this the Down's Syndrome talking or are you just an ass?"

When the friend with whom I email most regularly got a smart phone, her emails became riddled with errors. I knew it was auto-correct, but pointed out some particularly amusing errors and jokingly asked if she was drunk or had otherwise been struck dumb. She had a good laugh and confirmed her new phone's auto-correct function as the culprit, but I had the same reaction: So turn it off; you sound like an idiot.

True, but any number of young (or not-so-young) adults without disabilities would have to line up beside him and confess to the same lack of logical thinking.

Tonight wound up being my only time to clean the house for a dinner party this weekend, so this was merely background noise. So, from that limited exposure, I have only two comments thus far: As someone astounded that a gender slur has become an acceptable element of casual conversation, I loved Jiselle (I think?*) saying she would not work with someone who called her a bitch. While I disliked Grayson this time around, as opposed to her first appearance when I quite enjoyed her, and both respect and generally like Tom, I get an absolute kick out of her disdain for him and am somewhat sad to be without it for the rest of the season. Oh, one more: The judges' reaction to Philip (?*) explaining his dish from under a tablecloth pretty much made my night. *Why can't they put the chefs' names and faces in the intro as per usual?!

I remember getting my first text, probably ten years ago. I'd given someone my cell phone number (which I'm normally pretty stingy with) because I was going to be on the road when she'd need to call to let me know whether she could attend a board meeting in my place or if I'd have to go. Except she didn't call me, she sent me a text message. I had this moment of, "Holy crap, I have no idea how to text back" panic, but thankfully it was very logical. If I had to answer a smart phone, I'd probably be lost. A few years ago I had someone shove theirs into my hand, asking me to take a picture with it. Um, how? I mean, it's easy once you know, but I didn't even know which way it should be facing.

I was fully expecting that attitude when I went into the AT&T store recently to get a new flip phone, but the woman I dealt with was the exact opposite, with a "Yeah, why get more than you're going to use?" mentality. She showed me my four options, checked which ones would work with my SIM card (although I wound up needing a new one, anyway, as mine was a 2G and they're no longer going to be supporting that), told me the prices (I paid a whopping $15), and chatted amiably as we completed the transaction. I wrote the store's manager an email praising her customer service.

With the way he went from shutting down the conversation completely to being excited about the very same idea -- moving to a smaller place with them for a bit, and then transitioning to his own place -- after a passage of time (and photos of a House Hunters style kitchen), I'm more sympathetic to Sean's parents. They seem to be seeking a way he can live semi-independently, knowing it will have to play out in stages, and sort of testing the waters. I suspect much will hinge on how he does at his job. It was sweet to hear him say he messes up sometimes, and his potential boss just say everyone does. It was interesting to hear Cristina's dad say her mental age is 6 for X task, 8 for Y, and then 40 for being in a romantic partnership, since it brings up the issue of consent. They seem like a great family, and the boyfriend an equally good man, so I'm eager to explore that storyline.

I initially didn't care much for many of Jordan Klepper's pieces, but ever since Trevor took over as host I've really come around on him. And he's just been on fire lately, with the "good guy with a gun" segment and this "Um, why?" piece with the Trump supporters. When the field of Republican candidates was first set, I would not have imagined there could come a day when I'd think, "Gee, I'll be sad to see Ben Carson drop out/lose." But every time I see Trevor close his eyes and bring his hands up to impersonate him, I realize I am not ready to see Carson crawl back into obscurity to take his place as a footnote in political history. That's my favorite of his many impressions.

Procrastinating again ... Perhaps my favorite line delivery of the entire series is Bruce's, when Lee and Amanda are searching her laundry for a missing ... microdot, perhaps? ... and he tosses down her "Hot Mama" shirt in frustration, saying, "Well, Hot Mama ..." Also when Billy gives him an assignment he doesn't want (maybe when he gets the Q Bureau) and he says, "Now I know why they issue us cyanide capsules. If you make me do this, I'll swallow mine." Then Billy tells Amanda something like, "If he survives, help him [something with the assignment]." I enjoy Lee so much when he's aggravated, so the first two seasons are especially great in that respect. I also like Amanda's teasing about his dating life. When Lee winds up stuck with Punky Brewster's brother and calls Amanda for help with "this kid" he's having trouble with, she asks, "By kid, do you mean one of those girls you date?" And when he asks her to accompany him to some function because he's no longer seeing the woman he was going to take, she says, "You do go through them, don't you?"

I've been watching some first season episodes lately, and I am so glad they dropped the recurring storyline where gullible Charlene does something monumentally stupid despite everyone around her pointing out she's being taken advantage of, all her friends have to help clean up the resulting mess, she declares she's never going to trust anyone again, and someone objects, giving a speech on how wonderful it is that she assumes the best of everyone. The absolute worst of this era for me is the one where they all get arrested in that warehouse of stolen goods because of Charlene's latest guy. They're in jail, and she's still babbling on about his innocence. Then he's arrested for the same thing in Chicago with a rap sheet a mile long, they wind up with police protection because they're being threatened with death if they testify, and Charlene a) protests that, no, when she visited the guy in jail he explained that his friend making those threats is just a big ol' practical joker, so everything is okay, you see, he's just upset at the idea of their testifying because it "makes him sound guilty" and b) refuses to testify because she doesn't want to get him in trouble. I start liking her so much more in season two, and then they bring in Bill. They're great for each other, but I hate watching sickly sweet "schmoopy" people, so I don't enjoy watching their relationship except for the humorous moments. But on her own, I can finally enjoy Charlene's hilarious comments and musings.

That made me laugh, because it didn't seem like Elena could see her roll her eyes (which would have been rude). I'd have a very hard time being around Elena in real life, but I'm glad she's on this show because I find her struggle for self acceptance quite poignant. I like that all these people are being presented as they are, including their annoying qualities. Rather than some saintly portrayal because they have a disability.

#2

It wasn't just soaps in the '80s; across the dial, there was a significant shift in talking about sex on TV starting in the '70s, and in showing sex on TV starting in the '80s (as many a thesis has explored; I rather hope the subject is no longer eligible for a degree). Moonlighting was a contemporary of this show, and we saw it there. This show was predated by Cagney & Lacey, and we saw oodles of sex scenes between Mary Beth and her husband, and quite a number between Chris and her boyfriends (some short-term, some long-term). Miami Vice and Hill Street Blues took somewhat different approaches to their characters' sexual relationships, but neither shied away from showing them. Roseanne showed the sex lives of both Roseanne (married) and Jackie (single), even in its early years (late '80s). thirtysomething of all its characters (same timeframe). I'm pretty sure we saw it on L.A. Law (and St. Elsewhere?) Hell, The Thornbirds was in the early '80s.

Oh, I might try those cookies, then. A local place just made a separate batch of ginger beer for a holiday Moscow Mule -- so spicy it warms you up. There's a nice chunk of crystallized ginger in it to suck on as you drink. They warn that mule is only for those who love ginger, so my friend and I immediately ordered a round ... and kept ordering for the rest of the night. I only saw bits and pieces of the holiday special and wasn't impressed, but I'd like to catch the whole thing if I happen upon a repeat.

A close friend of mine was one of the gazillion extras in Fight Club, and she's miffed that I won't watch it. "But I'm in it!" Um, yeah, but so is Kathy Griffin.

I'm procrastinating, and my latest tactic is trying to recall quotes from this show. "Tell the big fellow to keep quiet." "Quiet, big fellow." I love so much from that episode (when the Russians think Amanda is Scarecrow). "I don't know how anyone could mistake me for you, you're so much taller." My favorite from the pilot, for reasons I'll never be able to explain other than Kate's delivery is fantastic and they feel like a real family from the word go: "Philip, do not hit your brother in the head with trash." When Lee is questioning Amanda (because she's managed to make herself look like she's a double agent) and she responds, "Are you Perry Mason? Am I supposed to crack under the pressure or something?" "Call me a cab." "You're a cab." I swear, only these two can pull off one of the oldest and stupidest jokes in the book. Because they're so corny, but just enough, and it's so casual that it comes off as just the sort of silly exchange they'd have. When they're undercover as a married couple (in only their first assignment together, I think, after the pilot) and Lee is pissy about being stuck in the kitchen making drinks for the neighbors. "I hate this assignment. I want a divorce." Every.single.time Amanda says, "the weasel-faced man." Ooh, that same episode (I think), where Lee gets shot outside that crazy armed RV and tells her to leave him, she ignores him and drags him inside, scoffing, "'Leave me,' he says." Lee's "They tell us to say that. Thank god you never listen to me" is one of my favorites.

Yeah, we were denied a proper love scene, because the wedding episode ends with us outside the door and then the honeymoon episode had to be completely reworked because Kate was having surgery. (That one originally opened with them in bed together.) I give writers a hard time for being afraid to put their characters together, worrying it won't be interesting any more, but I have to admit this is one show where I did get bored -- I was pretty checked out after Nightcrawler (the engagement episode). But it wasn't just because they were together; the show had just basically run its course. It rested on two fundamental tensions -- the romantic tension and that between an amateur and the professional spy who keeps getting stuck with her. Well, by this point both are resolved -- they're together, and Amanda is an agent (or at least in formal training; I don't remember the specific timing). Now, if late-season episodes hadn't needed to be rewritten to accommodate Kate's reduced availability, they'd have been more interesting, certainly. But this was never a show that anyone watched for the cases. So they were never going to pull off a spy thriller where the agents happen to be married for any length of time (and no, writers, coming up with that stupefyingly stupid secret marriage plot did not allow you to have your cake and eat it too).

I don't know if they took it out to leave open the possibility they weren't yet sleeping together (why, I don't know - airing early on CBS maybe, but this is the late '80s not the Production Code era, so whatever) or because they realized they'd already made it seem like they were sleeping together - or at least created that possibility - so it would be confusing to present this as a first time. But they took it out before it was even filmed, so if they just wanted to eliminate the first time aspect they could have just changed the dialogue and still had them going upstairs. It's all weird, but you can bet we've paid a lot more attention to this than they ever did, so it's sort of a choose your own adventure as to when they started sleeping together. I don't see how it could be any time after their weekend trip, because there's no reason for them not to be sleeping together that weekend (whether they have before or not), and I'm still putting consummation back at the first good opportunity after Stemwinder -- they've known each other for years, they've been dating for months, and they've said their "I love you"s.

I remember that episode, because it's just a series of nitpicks. There are wardrobe changes that make no sense, the Corvette magically transports itself from one location to another ... it is just hilariously bad in its continuity. And, yes, the reason for Amanda barely being in the tennis episode is that Kate's father died and they had to re-write it at the last minute to plug Francine in to Amanda's role and just tack on that telephone call at the end. I don't remember what was cited as the original source for the concept that Buck and Leslie were brought in as potential romantic foils, but I have never believed it with respect to Buck. Leslie, obviously, although she's there for one episode and as some obvious cardboard cutout of a character to make Lee realize his true feelings. But Buck? He's not written that way at all. That was bizarre. Because they're nowhere near the point in their relationship where they'd be draped all over each other in front of their boss (not that there's ever a point at which that is appropriate). I know Kate Jackson idolized Katharine Hepburn, so whenever she did one of Amanda's breathless rambles I got a kick despite my annoyance with some of them, because it reminded me of Hepburn as Susan in Bringing Up Baby.