Bastet

F is for flatulence, to which Sophia was particularly prone.

That has always creeped me out about Big, a film I otherwise find charming.

Hostel II. I was a big horror movie fan in the '70s and '80s, but other than the Scream franchise and some scattered films here and there, I don't watch much of the newer stuff. And I had no interest in the "torture porn" genre. But this was on IFC one night and for some reason I decided to give it a try. I made it through the man-eating dogs and assorted scenes that were gross for the sake of being gross, but when it came time for some roving gang of street kids to gleefully play soccer with a severed head, I was really ready for the movie to end. It's always worse for me when it's based on a true story, so The Accused and Boys Don't Cry are difficult films to watch for their rape (and murder) scenes, even though they're to be commended for being among the least-exploitative out there.

When that came out, I was prepared to hate it as a knock-off of my beloved Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House, but it wound up being enough of its own film that I enjoyed it. I just watched it again recently for the first time in many years, and found myself thinking it should air more often.

I keep meaning to ask -- is it a coincidence or was this game chosen for this forum because Betty and Rue used to play an alphabet game during taping? (They'd run through the letters during breaks, and if they hadn't finished when it was time to shoot a scene, one would give her letter just before the camera started rolling, and then the other would follow up with the next one as soon as cut was called.)

After I had quit watching but before I had changed the channel, as I was passing through the room I heard Precious' owner say something about "maybe I should find her another home" and it just made me want to scream. Where does she think this mythical "other home" is? There are millions of cats euthanized in U.S. shelters each year because there are that many more of them than there are homes for them. Approximately 70% of all cats who enter the shelter are euthanized there, and "all cats" includes kittens; the euthanasia rate for adult cats alone is even higher. During kitten season, an adult cat's chances are, on average, next to nothing; in some areas, entire litters of kittens are euthanized without ever even hitting the adoption floor, because there just isn't room for them. This is the sad reality in which we currently live. So where is this "other home" she's going to find? And if she does find someone willing to take her cat, that's one less home available to shelter cats; most people have a finite number of pets they are willing and able to care for. I'm just so tired of these people. They create a problem, they do jack all to resolve it until they can get their 15 minutes of fame while doing so, and all the while they blather on about dumping their pet rather than living up to their responsibility. I get that part of the reason are shelters are so full of cats is because people do take this attitude, but if I'm going to see them on TV, I'd also like to see Jackson hit them with some hard truths. Like when the husband in Mia's family states that he'll take Mia to the shelter if things don't improve, I don't want to just see Jackson make his sad face and camera talk that the stakes are high. I want to see him tell that jackass exactly what is likely to happen to Mia if he does so.

I finally watched Mia's segment, but changed the channel after about two seconds of Precious' owner and her dipshit boyfriend. "It's me or the cat." Fool, bye. Mia's story gave us yet another clueless family, headed by a man who declares his intentions to dump the cat at the shelter should s/he not magically stop exhibiting the behaviors the owner induced. Let's see - a group of people who understand what fire is got out of the house, and a terrified little creature who has no idea what's happening was left behind for hours. Everybody lived someplace else for a time, and then upon returning to the repaired house the humans get living spaces and touches of home while the feline gets jack shit. Gee, I'm certainly stumped as to why she's acting out. But as much as I'm over these idiot owners, I'm also over Jackson as he plays for the cameras. The melodramatic pauses were one thing on their own, but now he's declaring that a cat is suffering flashbacks - which he knows by having walked through a simulated fire. And that poor cat was clearly terrified to begin with, nevermind by upset to her routine, and they haul in a production crew -- Jackson, at least two camera operators, a boom operator, lighting equipment and technician(s), etc. -- and call it help? I remain a fan of his as a behaviorist, but this show has long since crossed a line.

The ninja who replaces stolen items with new versions is in a series of Nationwide commercials, and the Lily who banters with Grant Hill and manages not to kill the fools who expect the entire world to whisper around their baby is in a series of ads for AT&T. I don't think they're the same actor.

Crisis. The pilot had some issues, but allowing for the inherent growing pains and knowing the series was planned for a self-contained 13-episode run, it gave the impression it could really be something interesting. Instead, it quickly revealed itself as a convoluted mess completely lacking in suspense.

"You're not getting into this bed." "Then where am I supposed to sleep?" "On the floor, like any dog."

I love WASP, and Two Weddings and Flashover are pretty good. I know many fans disagree, but I also enjoy the two-parter with Susannah Thompson. I think the show started strong out of the gate, and thus really enjoy season one. I find the first five seasons fairly consistent, with one through four being the strongest, and season six is when it really started showing its age (but I absolutely love Officer Down).

They were, but in this period of the show it still featured people doing so in the genuine way one goes about finding one's identity at that age rather than the calculated method of playing a pre-scripted role showcased now. It could be cringeworthy at the time, but it was relatable. And in hindsight, given modern "reality" television, it's refreshing. Ha - I had forgotten that. The silly moments were always so much fun; I adored the "Shit They Should Have Shown" specials for the plethora of such random moments.

As much as I couldn't stand that show for the dynamics of their on-screen marriage, I nevertheless agree -- a beautiful moment. Since heaven forbid we hear the word "pregnant" on television back then, one must be extra creative in delivering the news. This was perfectly them.

I only watched in bits and pieces, and only the first half or so, but I had some sympathy for the guy whose partner needed him to do things like put her shoes on for her. She's putting her health at risk in a major way (and, why, exactly, was she intending to go ahead with that second pregnancy?!) and turning him into a caretaker to boot. The other guy, though? Absolutely disgusting. Meeting his mom, it's plain to see how he got that way. Yeah, she needed to get in better shape, but it was hardly the dire situation he made it out to be. Even if it was, the way he expressed himself would be unacceptable. I don't think he had any genuine concern for her health or happiness. I would hope the update at the end (which I didn't see) revealed that the woman had dumped his ass, but I know better than to do that to myself.

Yes, it is already being filmed.

"I don’t really mind Clayton being homosexual, I just don’t like him dating men." "You really haven’t grasped the concept of this 'gay' thing yet, have you, Blanche?" "Well there must be homosexuals who date women." "Yeah. They’re called lesbians."

Another one I've been known to paraphrase for my own purposes is Lionel Tribbey's response to Leo's admonition that we practice tolerance for those whose beliefs differ from our own: "I believe as long as Justice Dreifort is intolerant towards gays, lesbians, blacks, unions, women, poor people, and the First, Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Amendments, I will remain intolerant towards him."

As someone who is not a big fan of movie musicals, I think of them as films in which characters routinely burst into song to further the story along. A film including a character who is an amateur or professional singer, shown performing on stage - not a musical, just a film that includes a bit more music than most. For me, it's about characters using song instead of dialogue to tell the audience a story. My favorites are Love Me Tonight, Chicago and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. That's about it; it's just not my genre, as I always want to ask, "Why are you randomly singing right now?" I'm more open to it on stage, although my favorites list there isn't much longer.

Having watched more than one man stand in front of an open refrigerator as if items were going to magically move themselves and jump out at him, I like that one, with her wondering where her son gets this behavior ... and then the tree whence the apple fell walks in. And since all she does is open the smaller door for each of them, instead of saying, "Look in the other section, dumbass," I'm not mad at her.

He's what passes for a major national reporter these days, not a buffoon from some little-watched niche show, and he's far from alone in asking women - but not men - that type of question. It's maddening.

Eating a late-night, simple dinner reminds me ... I roast chicken just about as often as Ina does, and I always make chicken salad sandwiches from the leftover breast meat. I change up the formula based on what I have on hand at the time, but I concur with her that the best chicken salad must contain tarragon.

I know it's cliché, but I swear I could climb a mountain to that song.

It's always pictures that get to me. The home movies at the end of Philadelphia left me unable to get out of my seat until several minutes after the credits stopped rolling. And that was fiction; seeing actual candids of someone who really died ... forget it.

I haven't seen the show in what seems like eons, and only caught parts of tonight's episode. Congrats, Tigershark. I cannot believe they put up pictures of Putin and Ahmadinejad. Why bother having the text of the clue?

Her coverage and analysis of US Supreme Court decisions is highly accessible, so I'm looking forward to this.