After weeks of misplays, it looks like Britney finally pulled off a solid move. Talking Frank into not putting Ian on the block could be the most shrewdest move this year. Britney put her alliance in perfect position to prevent the HOH, Frank, from sending any of them home. And the best part is she keeps her hand clean. Not that she's had a problem with that. Even with all the mistakes, she has been able to keep the focus on Dan and Shane and anyone but herself.
Of course the other side of this is Frank falling for Britney's smooth talk. The biggest downfall of Frank's game is has been not trusting his instincts and listening to others. If Frank followed his gut, Dan would be gone, Boogie would still be playing and Ian would be on the block forced to use his veto. There was no reason for Frank not to put Ian on the block. And the biggest warning sign that something isn't right, other then Boogie not getting a vote from Ian, is Ian getting upset that Frank would put him on the block with the veto. Why would Ian care? He has the power to take himself off. Frank is in a tough spot being alone in the game, but he needs to start trusting his instincts if he's going to win this thing.
Here's my rankings after week 6...
8) Joe - He's being used at the moment and nobody really likes him and he hasn't won a competition yet, so I think his chances of winning are as slim as it gets.
7) Danielle - She's riding coattails plan and simple. She's proven time and again that she doesn't have what it takes to win the game.
6) Shane - His ability to win competitions makes him a strong contender and if Frank gets the boot his chances rise, but I don't think he's smart enough to play the social aspect of the game. Once Britney and Dan decide they don't need him, he's gone.
5) Britney - She made a great move this week, but I have a feeling that she's going to reap what she's been sowing all season. Her actions are going to come back on her and she doesn't have the ability to fight back in competitions.
4) Jenn - Like I've said before, she the sleep this year. She hasn't won anything and she hasn't made any waves, but she's still around and that should be scaring the other house guests.
3) Frank - He's in a tough spot. He has no one in the house on his side, but he's such a force in POV's and pretty soon everyone is going to be competing in POV so they won't be able to backdoor him, that it's hard to say that he isn't a favorite to win.
2) Dan - He may be on the block, but this is when Dan turns the win competition switch on. He also has the fact that Ian has been ratting Frank and Boogie out under his hat that could pull the target off his back. He's much to strong a player to count out.
1) Ian - This one may bite me in the ass because things can turn on him quick, but I think Ian is in the best spot to win at the moment. I'm starting to believe that he isn't as awkward as he looks on TV. Everyone is going to keep him around and with the way he has been playing, he is a very dangerous player.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Big Brother 14: Double Eviction Journal
This is becoming a trend, once again a late posting of this week's eviction journal...
0:17 - Double Eviction Night!! Normally this would have me very excited. Double eviction means that its possible someone puts up two people without having much time to think about it and this can cause problems with alliances. But this year, I feel that the choices are too clear, that it doesn't matter who wins HOH, they already know who has to go up.
0:35 - I'm starting to get a little annoyed with these "last time on Big Brother" segments. Do we really have to go back to the forming of the alliances every episode? I pretty sure everyone watching is up to speed on that one by now.
1:43 - Dan is worried about outing Ian, but does protecting him matter for Dan's game at this point? Boogie is going home this week so Dan will have the numbers no matter what. Why not out Ian and help his own game? It would get Frank off his back.
5:23 - Frank is talking about getting votes to save Boogie... poor Frank doesn't realize there aren't any votes to get. Boogie is going home this week.
6:35 - Ian thinks he's being smooth. Ian, you're about as smooth as a piece of sandpaper.
12:01 - I think they announce the double eviction to the house guests too early. They should wait until after the person get evicted and then spring the DE on them.
17:00 - No surprise here, Boogie goes home. I am going to miss him. There is no personality left in the house.
18:00 - Oh Ian, ego kills. Why did you feel the need to let Boogie know you back stabbed him when he still has a chance to tell Frank? Now you become Frank's number one target. If you kept it quiet you might have been able to get rid of Frank without him ever knowing.
23:30 - What is Ashley doing in the background of the competition?
23:41 - Seriously, what is she doing? It's like a Farley brother's movie. That girl is just plain dumb.
24:23 - Frank is out of HOH... don't lose your cool and go on tilt Frank, you still have the POV to win tonight.
26:01 - Ian wins HOH. This kid might become hard to beat if a majority of the remaining competitions are not physical. He's clearly the smartest person in the house. I'm saying he puts Frank and Joe on the block even though he should wait and backdoor Frank.
28:01 - Ashley on the block? Interesting. I didn't think he would throw his girlfriend up there.
31:41 -Frank wins POV. Told ya Ian should have waited and back doored him. You can't let Frank play in competitions and it's getting close to the time where you won't have the chance to keep him out. Looks like Joe is going up and goes home.
34:47 - Joe vs Ashley... Ashley is beyond not being a threat, so they have to send Joe home.
36:07 - Oh Ashley... how do you function in the real world? You can't even talk. There's been some pretty stupid people on this show, but she is hands down the dumbest.
38:18 - Ashley goes home. I don't get it. Even if she is voting with Frank, the rest of the house has the numbers to run things and there has never been a surer thing in Big Brother then the fact that Ashley will never win a competition. Why not keep her around? Makes no sense to me.
0:17 - Double Eviction Night!! Normally this would have me very excited. Double eviction means that its possible someone puts up two people without having much time to think about it and this can cause problems with alliances. But this year, I feel that the choices are too clear, that it doesn't matter who wins HOH, they already know who has to go up.
0:35 - I'm starting to get a little annoyed with these "last time on Big Brother" segments. Do we really have to go back to the forming of the alliances every episode? I pretty sure everyone watching is up to speed on that one by now.
1:43 - Dan is worried about outing Ian, but does protecting him matter for Dan's game at this point? Boogie is going home this week so Dan will have the numbers no matter what. Why not out Ian and help his own game? It would get Frank off his back.
5:23 - Frank is talking about getting votes to save Boogie... poor Frank doesn't realize there aren't any votes to get. Boogie is going home this week.
6:35 - Ian thinks he's being smooth. Ian, you're about as smooth as a piece of sandpaper.
12:01 - I think they announce the double eviction to the house guests too early. They should wait until after the person get evicted and then spring the DE on them.
17:00 - No surprise here, Boogie goes home. I am going to miss him. There is no personality left in the house.
18:00 - Oh Ian, ego kills. Why did you feel the need to let Boogie know you back stabbed him when he still has a chance to tell Frank? Now you become Frank's number one target. If you kept it quiet you might have been able to get rid of Frank without him ever knowing.
23:30 - What is Ashley doing in the background of the competition?
23:41 - Seriously, what is she doing? It's like a Farley brother's movie. That girl is just plain dumb.
24:23 - Frank is out of HOH... don't lose your cool and go on tilt Frank, you still have the POV to win tonight.
26:01 - Ian wins HOH. This kid might become hard to beat if a majority of the remaining competitions are not physical. He's clearly the smartest person in the house. I'm saying he puts Frank and Joe on the block even though he should wait and backdoor Frank.
28:01 - Ashley on the block? Interesting. I didn't think he would throw his girlfriend up there.
31:41 -Frank wins POV. Told ya Ian should have waited and back doored him. You can't let Frank play in competitions and it's getting close to the time where you won't have the chance to keep him out. Looks like Joe is going up and goes home.
34:47 - Joe vs Ashley... Ashley is beyond not being a threat, so they have to send Joe home.
36:07 - Oh Ashley... how do you function in the real world? You can't even talk. There's been some pretty stupid people on this show, but she is hands down the dumbest.
38:18 - Ashley goes home. I don't get it. Even if she is voting with Frank, the rest of the house has the numbers to run things and there has never been a surer thing in Big Brother then the fact that Ashley will never win a competition. Why not keep her around? Makes no sense to me.
Monday, August 20, 2012
Big Brother 14: The Silent Six Is A Wrap
As I've stated numerous times over the last few years, Big Brother is a game of numbers. The best time to make a big move is when you will have the numbers no matter what happens. Shane just bought himself a one way ticket out of the house because he can't think ahead and do simple math. Lets play out the rest of the week... the nominations stay the same and Frank goes home which leaves Boogie and three floaters. That leaves a 4:8 chance of winning HOH, meaning there is a just as good a chance that someone not in the pack wins (even though Ashley doesn't count because she doesn't stand a chance in hell of winning anything) and giving the rest of the house the power to get rid of a Quack Pack member. If Shane had put up two floaters, Boogie and Frank still think there is an alliance so your chances of winning HOH are 6:8 and if Boogie and Frank were going to bale on the alliance they would be most likely targeting Dan not Shane. With one less floater in the house (or two if Frank and Boogie stayed loyal) you are giving them less votes to gather after you break the alliance. What I'm trying to say is, this move is a week to early. And at the very least, make the move after the POV. Now, if Frank wins POV, you are in all kinds of trouble. To make this a successful move you had to ensure without a question of doubt that Frank goes home. Shane didn't do that.
The person in the house this helps the most is Dan. He has no blood on his hands and can try to convince Boogie that he had nothing to do with it. Boogie will target Shane and Britney now before he goes after Dan. So, Dan just bought himself some more time in the house on Shane and Britney's dime. Not smart on Shane's part at all.
With that said, here are the year's second rankings now that we are back down to ten house guests...
10 - Ashley
She can't win a physical competition, she can't win a mental competition, nobody has a bad thing to say about her, she has zero chance of making the final two. She might make the final three, but then she's gone.
9 - Frank
This was a tough one to rank. If he doesn't win POV this week, he's gone. If he does win he could be around a while. Ultimately, I don't think his odds are very good, he's just to big a target.
8 - Shane
He just put the biggest target in the world on his back and I don't think he recovers. Even Dan has to see that once Frank is gone Shane is his toughest competition.
7 -Britney
She's been doing a little to much wheeling and dealing. I think it's going to bite her in the ass. This weeks nominations are going to reflect on her as much as Shane and that isn't good. I don't think she's crafty enough to win, all her moves are open and obvious and that tends to just get people mad.
6 - Danielle
As dumb as she is, she's made the right friends, the kind that will take her far and will keep the target off her back. I think when push comes to shove she doesn't have the right stuff to win (can't win competitions, isn't smart, isn't deceitful) but she is going to make it far and then anything can happen.
5- Ian
Poor Ian doesn't realize how much he is getting played by the others... or maybe he does, which is why I have him in the middle of the pack. He could easily go either way. I am just not very confident in his ability to win competitions which is going to hurt him eventually.
4 - Jenn
We saw her crumble a little this week, but I still think that she has kept under the radar enough to make a run. If the big guns start taking each other out, she might win a war of contrition.
3 - Boogie
Unless Frank wins the POV, he's going to be around next week and watch out because he will rally the troops and be on the war path. He is just to good as manipulating people to count out.
2 - Joe
This is my long shot guess of the week. Joe could easily be 10 next week, but I think the fact that most people in the house find him super annoying means he could be around a while. And much like Jenn, if the big guns start taking each other out, he might start winning and then all of a sudden he's the guy.
1 - Dan
Thanks to Shane, Dan is looking pretty at the moment. He isn't going to be Boogie's target any longer and since Dan wasn't the one who put Frank and Boogie on the block, there is still a chance he can make a deal with Boogie. Dan is a master at getting other people to do his dirty work and that's what wins Big Brother.
The person in the house this helps the most is Dan. He has no blood on his hands and can try to convince Boogie that he had nothing to do with it. Boogie will target Shane and Britney now before he goes after Dan. So, Dan just bought himself some more time in the house on Shane and Britney's dime. Not smart on Shane's part at all.
With that said, here are the year's second rankings now that we are back down to ten house guests...
10 - Ashley
She can't win a physical competition, she can't win a mental competition, nobody has a bad thing to say about her, she has zero chance of making the final two. She might make the final three, but then she's gone.
9 - Frank
This was a tough one to rank. If he doesn't win POV this week, he's gone. If he does win he could be around a while. Ultimately, I don't think his odds are very good, he's just to big a target.
8 - Shane
He just put the biggest target in the world on his back and I don't think he recovers. Even Dan has to see that once Frank is gone Shane is his toughest competition.
7 -Britney
She's been doing a little to much wheeling and dealing. I think it's going to bite her in the ass. This weeks nominations are going to reflect on her as much as Shane and that isn't good. I don't think she's crafty enough to win, all her moves are open and obvious and that tends to just get people mad.
6 - Danielle
As dumb as she is, she's made the right friends, the kind that will take her far and will keep the target off her back. I think when push comes to shove she doesn't have the right stuff to win (can't win competitions, isn't smart, isn't deceitful) but she is going to make it far and then anything can happen.
5- Ian
Poor Ian doesn't realize how much he is getting played by the others... or maybe he does, which is why I have him in the middle of the pack. He could easily go either way. I am just not very confident in his ability to win competitions which is going to hurt him eventually.
4 - Jenn
We saw her crumble a little this week, but I still think that she has kept under the radar enough to make a run. If the big guns start taking each other out, she might win a war of contrition.
3 - Boogie
Unless Frank wins the POV, he's going to be around next week and watch out because he will rally the troops and be on the war path. He is just to good as manipulating people to count out.
2 - Joe
This is my long shot guess of the week. Joe could easily be 10 next week, but I think the fact that most people in the house find him super annoying means he could be around a while. And much like Jenn, if the big guns start taking each other out, he might start winning and then all of a sudden he's the guy.
1 - Dan
Thanks to Shane, Dan is looking pretty at the moment. He isn't going to be Boogie's target any longer and since Dan wasn't the one who put Frank and Boogie on the block, there is still a chance he can make a deal with Boogie. Dan is a master at getting other people to do his dirty work and that's what wins Big Brother.
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Big Brother 14: Eviction Journal
Again, this is really late and probably not worth putting up, but I'm doing it anyway. Here's this week's eviction journal...
1:00 - I understand the whole "I'm not going to change who I am" attitude and the "I refuse to kiss ass" philosophy, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to act like an ass. Wil's performance in the HOH room is going to get him a one way ticket home. Not smart game play at all.
1:57 - If I were Frank I would have backdoored Dan. I'm not saying it's the right move, Boogie might be right that it's to early to mess with the alliance, but I would have taken the opportunity to get rid of one of the better players in the house.
4:46 - Dan is stressing about being backdoored. The thing is, his game play opens him up to that type of attack. If he would win competitions once and a while he wouldn't be able to be backdoored. Stop tanking and you'll have less to worry about Dan.
5:25 - Wil hopes Joe will dig his own grave... hi pot, meet kettle.
6:45 - Dan says he is always trying to win... no you don't and nobody believes that
8:32 - Dan is upset that Frank would turn on him... I'm pretty sure the point is for one person to win, so at some point everyone has to turn everybody else. You're still in the house, Dan, so you can't get upset.
12:15 - Ian's woman issues make me uncomfortable. Not is a creepy way, but in a you're so damn awkward way.
19:38 - Can we just put Joe's family in the house? Holly cow they were awesome. Throwing Dad/Husband under the bus two oar three times over the course of the piece... I love it!
20:41 - Alright, I like Jeff, he's one of my favorite people to watch in the house, but I don't care at all about his opinions on the game. Unlike Dr. Will, Jeff's specialty wasn't he strategy, so why do I care what he thinks about people's game play?
23:50 - Oh... OK... Jeff didn't give one opinion, it was all just an advertisement for him interviewing evicted guests on-line. That makes a lot more sense.
27:47 - This week was so boring they aren't even going to interview the HOH before the vote. They had nothing of interest to ask Frank about.
34:00 - Wil goes home... no surprise at all
38:50 - If we have learned anything about Dr. Will and Boogie over the years it's that you go for the money and forget about the power in these types of competitions, so I think it's safe to say Boogie is going for the $10 thousand.
42:30 - Told ya... why nobody else is going for it is beyond me.
1:00 - I understand the whole "I'm not going to change who I am" attitude and the "I refuse to kiss ass" philosophy, but that doesn't mean it's a good idea to act like an ass. Wil's performance in the HOH room is going to get him a one way ticket home. Not smart game play at all.
1:57 - If I were Frank I would have backdoored Dan. I'm not saying it's the right move, Boogie might be right that it's to early to mess with the alliance, but I would have taken the opportunity to get rid of one of the better players in the house.
4:46 - Dan is stressing about being backdoored. The thing is, his game play opens him up to that type of attack. If he would win competitions once and a while he wouldn't be able to be backdoored. Stop tanking and you'll have less to worry about Dan.
5:25 - Wil hopes Joe will dig his own grave... hi pot, meet kettle.
6:45 - Dan says he is always trying to win... no you don't and nobody believes that
8:32 - Dan is upset that Frank would turn on him... I'm pretty sure the point is for one person to win, so at some point everyone has to turn everybody else. You're still in the house, Dan, so you can't get upset.
12:15 - Ian's woman issues make me uncomfortable. Not is a creepy way, but in a you're so damn awkward way.
19:38 - Can we just put Joe's family in the house? Holly cow they were awesome. Throwing Dad/Husband under the bus two oar three times over the course of the piece... I love it!
20:41 - Alright, I like Jeff, he's one of my favorite people to watch in the house, but I don't care at all about his opinions on the game. Unlike Dr. Will, Jeff's specialty wasn't he strategy, so why do I care what he thinks about people's game play?
23:50 - Oh... OK... Jeff didn't give one opinion, it was all just an advertisement for him interviewing evicted guests on-line. That makes a lot more sense.
27:47 - This week was so boring they aren't even going to interview the HOH before the vote. They had nothing of interest to ask Frank about.
34:00 - Wil goes home... no surprise at all
38:50 - If we have learned anything about Dr. Will and Boogie over the years it's that you go for the money and forget about the power in these types of competitions, so I think it's safe to say Boogie is going for the $10 thousand.
42:30 - Told ya... why nobody else is going for it is beyond me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Book Review: Swamplandia! by Karen Russell (48 in 2012? #28)
As I read Karen Russell's first novel, Swamplandia!, I couldn't help but think of it as a lighter version of Geek Love by Katherine Dunn. That's not to say that Swamplandia! is a lighthearted romp. If you've read Geek Love you know lighter then that novel could still be pretty dark since Dunn's story is perverse on a Chuck Palahniuk level. Russell tells a compelling story that delves into the shadows of Florida's swamps without getting graphic or disgusting. This isn't a story for the light of heart, it is at times creepy, disturbing and heartbreaking, but Russell's true accomplishment is telling it while maintaining a feeling of hope. Swamplandia! shows that it is possible to create an uncomfortable atmosphere without succumbing to perversion.
Swamplandia! follows the members of a Florida family that has been running an alligator themed park for generations after the sudden lose of their mother and main draw to cancer. The park slowly starts to lose visitors due to the lose of their famous draw and the opening of a newer fancier theme park near by until the family starts to fall apart as they search for ways to keep the park alive. I guess it's the carny nature of the family and their business that reminds me of Geek Love along with the dark ominous tone. It shares some themes like alienation and naivety of the workings of the real world, but never goes as deep into those themes as Geek Love does.
Russell has crafted a wonderful novel. It's characters are deeply drawn and extremely compelling. Russell effortlessly moves between first person narrative and omniscient without interrupting the flow of the story, giving the story a stronger punch where needed. She makes you care for the family and their plight even though their behavior and lifestyle can only be described as weird. She also masterfully sets a dark ominous tone throughout the novel without erasing the hope that the family will find their way to some sort of happy ending. Russell has created a world that is equal parts creepy and exciting, dark yet inviting. Though this may not seem like it's in everyone's wheel house, it's a highly enjoyable novel, a must read.
Swamplandia! follows the members of a Florida family that has been running an alligator themed park for generations after the sudden lose of their mother and main draw to cancer. The park slowly starts to lose visitors due to the lose of their famous draw and the opening of a newer fancier theme park near by until the family starts to fall apart as they search for ways to keep the park alive. I guess it's the carny nature of the family and their business that reminds me of Geek Love along with the dark ominous tone. It shares some themes like alienation and naivety of the workings of the real world, but never goes as deep into those themes as Geek Love does.
Russell has crafted a wonderful novel. It's characters are deeply drawn and extremely compelling. Russell effortlessly moves between first person narrative and omniscient without interrupting the flow of the story, giving the story a stronger punch where needed. She makes you care for the family and their plight even though their behavior and lifestyle can only be described as weird. She also masterfully sets a dark ominous tone throughout the novel without erasing the hope that the family will find their way to some sort of happy ending. Russell has created a world that is equal parts creepy and exciting, dark yet inviting. Though this may not seem like it's in everyone's wheel house, it's a highly enjoyable novel, a must read.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Big Brother 14: When Do You Get To Dress Like A Lemon In Everyday Life
Only watching the CBS broadcasts it's hard to get a good read on who understands the game of Big Brother and who doesn't. I'm only given the sound bites that the producers want to broadcast and that leaves out many moments that shed light on where the players stand. Right now, the only players who appear to understand how to win Big Brother are, of course, the two who have won, Mike Boogie and Dan. Britney seems to know how to win but after her handling of last weeks Janelle booting, I'm not sure she has the ice water veins to do what is necessary. And the one player who I have no idea about, as I've mentioned in previous posts, is Jenn who the producers are giving us none of, but I have a feeling is playing the game better then any other new housemate.
Sunday's episode had two moments that showcase how much Boogie and Dan understand the game and the best ways to find yourself in the final two. The first moment is a strategy that seems obvious to anyone who's watched a full season of Big Brother, never get put on the block as a pawn. Dan bristled at the suggestion that he get put up as a pawn and begged Frank to not entertain the thought at all. It's a tough situation to be put in because ultimately you have no control over it; if the HOH wants to put you on the block as a pawn that's what you'll be. But Dan's fear of the mention is a stark contrast to Frank who went into cruise control when he was on the block and told that he wasn't going home. The block is never a good place to be, no matter how many votes you think you've counted, and Dan understands that. There have been players who have made it far spending copious weeks on the block, there are exceptions to every rule, and it looks like Frank might be an example from this season, but the safest way to get to the end is stay clear of the block at all costs.
The second moment is a philosophy that seems to be less understood through out the history of Big Brother. HOH brings tons of power with the title and with that power seems to come a sense of invincibility. Most HOHs tend to use their nominations to exact revenge for some slight or try to make a big move by knocking out a big player. What most players fail to realize is that those nominations have a greater chance of upsetting others then accomplishing the goals they were made for. Dan has never been shy about his strategy and Boogie seems to believe in it as well, that you win Big Brother by never being HOH; the best way to go far is to make other people do the dirty work and leaving the blood off your hands. But if you end up as HOH you have to be smart about your nominations because ultimately you're not the one sending whomever home. Frank's idea to get rid of Dan was a solid one but Boogie knows the game better and ended up being the voice of reason. Don't make a move on a player like Dan unless you know for sure he's going home. Putting him on the block to begin the week gives him the chance to win POV and when he wins that the only thing you've accomplished is pissing off a good player and ruining an alliance you've built. If you're going to get rid of Dan, you need to backdoor him. The backdoor is one of the most under used strategies in the game. The competitor in me feels it's a cheat, if I was playing I'd be pissed if I wasn't given the chance to fight for my life, but what's fair isn't what wins Big Brother.
In the end Frank did the right thing, he put up two safe people, one who is playing alone and will be very little threat if he stays, and another who has enemies and needs to go home. At the same time, getting rid of Dan is on the table. If I was Frank I would use POV to make deals with Joe, Jenn and Wil, secure their votes and try to backdoor Dan. This would get rid of a huge threat and hopefully protect Frank next week. Big Brother is a game of dodging the target, of getting rid of people without getting blood on your hands, and this is the best way for Frank to accomplish both goals.
Sunday's episode had two moments that showcase how much Boogie and Dan understand the game and the best ways to find yourself in the final two. The first moment is a strategy that seems obvious to anyone who's watched a full season of Big Brother, never get put on the block as a pawn. Dan bristled at the suggestion that he get put up as a pawn and begged Frank to not entertain the thought at all. It's a tough situation to be put in because ultimately you have no control over it; if the HOH wants to put you on the block as a pawn that's what you'll be. But Dan's fear of the mention is a stark contrast to Frank who went into cruise control when he was on the block and told that he wasn't going home. The block is never a good place to be, no matter how many votes you think you've counted, and Dan understands that. There have been players who have made it far spending copious weeks on the block, there are exceptions to every rule, and it looks like Frank might be an example from this season, but the safest way to get to the end is stay clear of the block at all costs.
The second moment is a philosophy that seems to be less understood through out the history of Big Brother. HOH brings tons of power with the title and with that power seems to come a sense of invincibility. Most HOHs tend to use their nominations to exact revenge for some slight or try to make a big move by knocking out a big player. What most players fail to realize is that those nominations have a greater chance of upsetting others then accomplishing the goals they were made for. Dan has never been shy about his strategy and Boogie seems to believe in it as well, that you win Big Brother by never being HOH; the best way to go far is to make other people do the dirty work and leaving the blood off your hands. But if you end up as HOH you have to be smart about your nominations because ultimately you're not the one sending whomever home. Frank's idea to get rid of Dan was a solid one but Boogie knows the game better and ended up being the voice of reason. Don't make a move on a player like Dan unless you know for sure he's going home. Putting him on the block to begin the week gives him the chance to win POV and when he wins that the only thing you've accomplished is pissing off a good player and ruining an alliance you've built. If you're going to get rid of Dan, you need to backdoor him. The backdoor is one of the most under used strategies in the game. The competitor in me feels it's a cheat, if I was playing I'd be pissed if I wasn't given the chance to fight for my life, but what's fair isn't what wins Big Brother.
In the end Frank did the right thing, he put up two safe people, one who is playing alone and will be very little threat if he stays, and another who has enemies and needs to go home. At the same time, getting rid of Dan is on the table. If I was Frank I would use POV to make deals with Joe, Jenn and Wil, secure their votes and try to backdoor Dan. This would get rid of a huge threat and hopefully protect Frank next week. Big Brother is a game of dodging the target, of getting rid of people without getting blood on your hands, and this is the best way for Frank to accomplish both goals.
Friday, August 10, 2012
Big Brother 14: I Can't Rationalize These Girl Feelings
Here's this week's eviction journal...
0:33 - Didn't Julie say something about the evicted players being given a chance to re-enter the game if the coaches reset the game? Why hasn't it been mentioned again? Why aren't the players freaking out about this potential twist? I must have heard wrong.
1:34 - I've made a lot of comments about Boogie riding Dr. Will's coattails and had a lot of concerns going into the season how he would perform without Will, but this week proved that Boogie has the skills to play alone. There is no way that Frank should be staying in the house this week, but it looks like Boogie made it happen. This was an extremely impressive performance by Boogie.
2:15 - Of course, Janelle helped. If she didn't act so shady Boogie would have had a harder time convincing the others.
2:42 - I find it hilarious that Danielle was all about Frank going home, the goal of the week was to make sure Frank goes home, and now she's ecstatic to get Janelle out of the house. This girl's mind and opinions are literally putty that the other housemates can mold into whatever they want.
5:15 - I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with Britney's acting at the veto meeting. She really looked totally shocked that Danielle put Janelle on the block.
6:23 - Oh, no! Janelle is going to call out Danielle! Danielle can't lie to save her life!!
7:15 - OK... if you are going to pull a huge backdoor move would you not figure that the person you are throwing up on the block would want to know what was going on? Wouldn't you come up with a lie to tell that person? Wouldn't you rehearse what you would say? There is no excuse for Danielle getting caught like this. The rest of the team should have had her prepared.
8:46 - "I feel it was a girl instinct thing." Great play by Dan!! I don't understand you girls and why you do things. How can you argue with that?
9:51 - Really Janelle? You're worried about makeup? You just got put up on the block out of nowhere, a sure sign that you are going home, and you're upset you didn't put makeup on because at least you would "look good." I hate to break it to you, but even with the makeup you look like a man.
11:35 - Why does Britney act paranoid when talking to Janelle? Just act confident that she's staying. How hard is it is reassure Janelle that she has your vote and question why anyone would want her to go home?
13:24 - Britney says she doesn't have it in her to be a mean person... that is why you will never win this game. Telling Janelle that she has you vote is not a hard play in the grand scheme of things. If you can't do that, your chances of winning are slim.
13:55 - Ian and Ashley are a "real life Big Bang Theory"... of course we're going to try to tie in other CBS shows.
19:16 - I agree with Mom, I find it really hard that Ian could date someone as stupid as Ashley. Eventually you have to got over the attractive factor and start getting annoyed by how dumb she is.
20:47 - Ian and Ashley are just like Leonard and Penny... except that Penny isn't a moron.
22:17 - So, along with the crazy, Frank didn't inherit his dad's mic skills. His speeches are horrible.
24:05 - I have a feeling that Jenn is going to be a big time player by the time this game is over.
27:36 - Janelle is booted 8-1. Why did Joe vote for Janelle? Was he not let in on what everyone else was told? Or was he just obstinate and refused to vote against Janelle? Either way, things aren't looking good for him next week.
29:19 - Boogie puts an arm around Jenn and starts to talk to her as we cut away... I want to see more Jenn on camera!! I'm telling you, she's a better player then we are being shown.
36:37 - Why does Wil choose Joe and Boogie? Wouldn't you put two people you want out against each other?
40:47 - Frank wins... Joe and Wil are in trouble this week. Who goes home all depends on how much Wil worms his way into everyone's good graces and separates himself from Janelle.
0:33 - Didn't Julie say something about the evicted players being given a chance to re-enter the game if the coaches reset the game? Why hasn't it been mentioned again? Why aren't the players freaking out about this potential twist? I must have heard wrong.
1:34 - I've made a lot of comments about Boogie riding Dr. Will's coattails and had a lot of concerns going into the season how he would perform without Will, but this week proved that Boogie has the skills to play alone. There is no way that Frank should be staying in the house this week, but it looks like Boogie made it happen. This was an extremely impressive performance by Boogie.
2:15 - Of course, Janelle helped. If she didn't act so shady Boogie would have had a harder time convincing the others.
2:42 - I find it hilarious that Danielle was all about Frank going home, the goal of the week was to make sure Frank goes home, and now she's ecstatic to get Janelle out of the house. This girl's mind and opinions are literally putty that the other housemates can mold into whatever they want.
5:15 - I have to admit, I was pretty impressed with Britney's acting at the veto meeting. She really looked totally shocked that Danielle put Janelle on the block.
6:23 - Oh, no! Janelle is going to call out Danielle! Danielle can't lie to save her life!!
7:15 - OK... if you are going to pull a huge backdoor move would you not figure that the person you are throwing up on the block would want to know what was going on? Wouldn't you come up with a lie to tell that person? Wouldn't you rehearse what you would say? There is no excuse for Danielle getting caught like this. The rest of the team should have had her prepared.
8:46 - "I feel it was a girl instinct thing." Great play by Dan!! I don't understand you girls and why you do things. How can you argue with that?
9:51 - Really Janelle? You're worried about makeup? You just got put up on the block out of nowhere, a sure sign that you are going home, and you're upset you didn't put makeup on because at least you would "look good." I hate to break it to you, but even with the makeup you look like a man.
11:35 - Why does Britney act paranoid when talking to Janelle? Just act confident that she's staying. How hard is it is reassure Janelle that she has your vote and question why anyone would want her to go home?
13:24 - Britney says she doesn't have it in her to be a mean person... that is why you will never win this game. Telling Janelle that she has you vote is not a hard play in the grand scheme of things. If you can't do that, your chances of winning are slim.
13:55 - Ian and Ashley are a "real life Big Bang Theory"... of course we're going to try to tie in other CBS shows.
19:16 - I agree with Mom, I find it really hard that Ian could date someone as stupid as Ashley. Eventually you have to got over the attractive factor and start getting annoyed by how dumb she is.
20:47 - Ian and Ashley are just like Leonard and Penny... except that Penny isn't a moron.
22:17 - So, along with the crazy, Frank didn't inherit his dad's mic skills. His speeches are horrible.
24:05 - I have a feeling that Jenn is going to be a big time player by the time this game is over.
27:36 - Janelle is booted 8-1. Why did Joe vote for Janelle? Was he not let in on what everyone else was told? Or was he just obstinate and refused to vote against Janelle? Either way, things aren't looking good for him next week.
29:19 - Boogie puts an arm around Jenn and starts to talk to her as we cut away... I want to see more Jenn on camera!! I'm telling you, she's a better player then we are being shown.
36:37 - Why does Wil choose Joe and Boogie? Wouldn't you put two people you want out against each other?
40:47 - Frank wins... Joe and Wil are in trouble this week. Who goes home all depends on how much Wil worms his way into everyone's good graces and separates himself from Janelle.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Movie Review: Total Recall
I'll start things off by mentioning that I have never seen the original version of Total Recall, so I harbor no great affection for the source material or hatred for whoever thought it was a good idea to remake the Schwarzenegger classic. I won't be comparing how much of the original movie was carried over to the new one, what was left out and if the likeness or unlikeness to the first movie makes the second better or worse. To me this movie is totally original. Well, original in the sense that I don't know how much or little was taken directly from another movie. It's not so original in the way that it has a billion tropes it's stolen from every dystopic sci-fi film ever made.
The premise of Total Recall is very promising, a normal guy in a futuristic world realizes that he may a secret agent totally blurring the idea of what is real and what is not, but in typical blockbuster form never quite goes to the depths that would have made the actual movie interesting. Something tells me the short story by Philip K Dick was much more intriguing and satirical then what this movie ended up being. I've learned that one should never expect heady material from an action movie, so I wasn't really disappointed but at the same time this movie could have been so much more.
There isn't much to complain about, the plot was fine, the acting was good, the action was entertaining, the world was well defined and visually interesting. I certainly can't complain with Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale being on the screen. Nothing in the movie felt new even without seeing the original since it felt like every other futuristic sci-fi movie ever made and there was nothing new or interesting about the story. I wasn't offended and my attention was held through the whole movie but at the end of the day though this movie is totally forgettable. It was a somewhat entertaining two hours, but in a few months I might not even remember it was even made.
The premise of Total Recall is very promising, a normal guy in a futuristic world realizes that he may a secret agent totally blurring the idea of what is real and what is not, but in typical blockbuster form never quite goes to the depths that would have made the actual movie interesting. Something tells me the short story by Philip K Dick was much more intriguing and satirical then what this movie ended up being. I've learned that one should never expect heady material from an action movie, so I wasn't really disappointed but at the same time this movie could have been so much more.
There isn't much to complain about, the plot was fine, the acting was good, the action was entertaining, the world was well defined and visually interesting. I certainly can't complain with Jessica Biel and Kate Beckinsale being on the screen. Nothing in the movie felt new even without seeing the original since it felt like every other futuristic sci-fi movie ever made and there was nothing new or interesting about the story. I wasn't offended and my attention was held through the whole movie but at the end of the day though this movie is totally forgettable. It was a somewhat entertaining two hours, but in a few months I might not even remember it was even made.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Book Review: Last Night In Twisted River by John Irving (48 in 2012? #27)
John Irving's Last Night In Twisted River is a perfectly constructed novel that functions as both a sweeping epic and a commentary on the nature of truth. Those just looking for an entertaining story of a man and his son will be pulled into this tale filled with colorful characters that spans 5 decades. But, those looking for something deeper will find an interesting probe into the question of truth and the effect of lies on the course of ones life. This novel has everything you have come to expect from Irving, sexual dysfunction, non-liner story-telling, unconventional heroins, and bears. It also has the feeling of a man reflecting on a long life lived.
On the surface Last Night In Twisted River is a moving story of a single father doing his best to raise a son after tragically losing his wife. The story starts in a small lumber community in the 50's and moves through the years till present day. Along the way we meet a number of colorful characters that help to tell the tale of the relationship between the two men. In typical Irving style, the characters are amazingly real in their absurdity, a quality that gives the story both depth and heart. As outlandish as some of the characters actions and the stories events may get, never once does the novel feel silly or unreal. It's a line that Irving has mastered years ago and still paints with perfection. The characters of Last Night In Twisted River live up any of his classics and, if anything, feel more personal.
What makes Last Night In Twisted River an exceptional novel though is the deeper level that the book dives for. While the surface story is of a man and his son, what Irving seems to be truly exploring is the idea of truth and its role in storytelling. Irving addresses the question he must have faced a million times over the years, "how much of this novel is autobiographical?" The main character, Daniel Baciagalupo, is an author who uses the strange events of his life and the characters he has met in his novels. While Daniel insists that his stories are fiction he has created with his imagination, his father and close family friend always see what they think are the real events. To make the question of truth even deeper, the works of Daniel mirror the career of Irving himself. Irving seems to be admitting that there is a kernel of truth in every story that is written or told, but that truth is ultimately twisted and filtered to a point that it stops being truth sometimes to disastrous effects. Irving isn't trying to answer the question as much as comment on the price of asking the question in the first place.
Last Night In Twisted River is a fantastic read. It is able to deliver on whatever level of reading you want to approach it with. It's entertaining, it's provocative, it's leaves you both satisfied and thinking. If this novel is any example, Irving is still very much on the top of his game.
On the surface Last Night In Twisted River is a moving story of a single father doing his best to raise a son after tragically losing his wife. The story starts in a small lumber community in the 50's and moves through the years till present day. Along the way we meet a number of colorful characters that help to tell the tale of the relationship between the two men. In typical Irving style, the characters are amazingly real in their absurdity, a quality that gives the story both depth and heart. As outlandish as some of the characters actions and the stories events may get, never once does the novel feel silly or unreal. It's a line that Irving has mastered years ago and still paints with perfection. The characters of Last Night In Twisted River live up any of his classics and, if anything, feel more personal.
What makes Last Night In Twisted River an exceptional novel though is the deeper level that the book dives for. While the surface story is of a man and his son, what Irving seems to be truly exploring is the idea of truth and its role in storytelling. Irving addresses the question he must have faced a million times over the years, "how much of this novel is autobiographical?" The main character, Daniel Baciagalupo, is an author who uses the strange events of his life and the characters he has met in his novels. While Daniel insists that his stories are fiction he has created with his imagination, his father and close family friend always see what they think are the real events. To make the question of truth even deeper, the works of Daniel mirror the career of Irving himself. Irving seems to be admitting that there is a kernel of truth in every story that is written or told, but that truth is ultimately twisted and filtered to a point that it stops being truth sometimes to disastrous effects. Irving isn't trying to answer the question as much as comment on the price of asking the question in the first place.
Last Night In Twisted River is a fantastic read. It is able to deliver on whatever level of reading you want to approach it with. It's entertaining, it's provocative, it's leaves you both satisfied and thinking. If this novel is any example, Irving is still very much on the top of his game.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Big Brother 14: If I Go Down, You Go Down
Oh Danielle, you are so damn naive! Have you ever watched this show before? I know it must harder figuring out who to trust and who not to trust when you are in the house instead of watching on television, but come on. I also get that you have to build some sort of alliance to protect yourself and gather votes to further yourself, but everything Danielle says hints that she fully trusts everyone she's playing with. Danielle... Dan is using you! Shane is using you! Britney is using you! These are all people who know how to manipulate easy targets to do their dirty work. They will throw you to the wolves the first chance they get. Dan only has your back as long as you further his goals and he certainly knows that if you go down he will be fine. How you don't know that is beyond me. You are playing well enough to last a good while, but if you don't wake up and realize you need a little heartless killer in you to win, you aren't going to see that last show.
I really don't understand how Danielle's nominations went down. It appears to be more sloppy play in a season that is filled with sloppy play. If Danielle's goal is to get Frank out of the house, why not backdoor him? By putting him on the block now you are giving him a chance to win POV, something he excels at. If I was HOH and wanted Frank out, I would have put up one person I would like to see go and one person I know would not get voted out and then try to talk whoever wins POV to use it. If it doesn't get used I still get someone I want out and possibly build up some good will with Frank. If it does get used I insure that Frank goes home. By putting up Frank right off the bat, you give him a chance to stay and piss him off. I also don't get why Wil was the pawn. I would have put up Jenn or Ashley as the pawn, two people that nobody has any reason to get rid of at this point of the game. Now, she has pissed off Wil for no reason and built a reputation in the house that she can not be trusted.
If I was Danielle, after winning HOH I would have gone to Frank and made up some lie about how I told everyone that I was going to vote for him but really I was voting Joe. It's not going to exactly get him to trust me but it's something he can't prove or disprove. I then would have tried to make a deal with him that if he promised not to put me up next week, I would not put him up this week. If he went for that, which I don't know why he wouldn't, I would go to Jenn and let her know that I was putting her on the block but only as a pawn, that I has a master end game and that she was totally safe. Then I would have put Jenn and Joe on the block. If the POV is used Frank goes home and it doesn't matter that I lied to him. If the POV isn't used Joe goes home, nobody is really that upset and I have a possible side pact with Frank and Boogie.
With the added players, this was a hard week to screw up as HOH. As many of the players kept saying, it was like the first week all over. Yet, Danielle seemed to really mess her nominations up. We'll have to see how the week plays out, but I think she's in trouble next week.
I really don't understand how Danielle's nominations went down. It appears to be more sloppy play in a season that is filled with sloppy play. If Danielle's goal is to get Frank out of the house, why not backdoor him? By putting him on the block now you are giving him a chance to win POV, something he excels at. If I was HOH and wanted Frank out, I would have put up one person I would like to see go and one person I know would not get voted out and then try to talk whoever wins POV to use it. If it doesn't get used I still get someone I want out and possibly build up some good will with Frank. If it does get used I insure that Frank goes home. By putting up Frank right off the bat, you give him a chance to stay and piss him off. I also don't get why Wil was the pawn. I would have put up Jenn or Ashley as the pawn, two people that nobody has any reason to get rid of at this point of the game. Now, she has pissed off Wil for no reason and built a reputation in the house that she can not be trusted.
If I was Danielle, after winning HOH I would have gone to Frank and made up some lie about how I told everyone that I was going to vote for him but really I was voting Joe. It's not going to exactly get him to trust me but it's something he can't prove or disprove. I then would have tried to make a deal with him that if he promised not to put me up next week, I would not put him up this week. If he went for that, which I don't know why he wouldn't, I would go to Jenn and let her know that I was putting her on the block but only as a pawn, that I has a master end game and that she was totally safe. Then I would have put Jenn and Joe on the block. If the POV is used Frank goes home and it doesn't matter that I lied to him. If the POV isn't used Joe goes home, nobody is really that upset and I have a possible side pact with Frank and Boogie.
With the added players, this was a hard week to screw up as HOH. As many of the players kept saying, it was like the first week all over. Yet, Danielle seemed to really mess her nominations up. We'll have to see how the week plays out, but I think she's in trouble next week.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Big Brother 14: You Can Bounce Checks In Big Brother
I had a couple of busy days so this is a bit late and don't really know if it's worth reading because of its timelessness, but here's the third eviction journal of the season anyway...
2:00 - In my opinion, Shane played this all wrong. He pissed off Janelle's team and then broke Frank's trust. I mentioned in my last post how Shane should have played things after he won HOH. At this point, he has to make sure that Frank goes home or he's in big trouble.
3:00 - Really, it's in everyone's best interest that Frank goes home. If the housemates leave him in to see another day they are all pretty stupid.
5:10 - The lesson to be learned from this week in the Big Brother household... Never go on cruise control! Boogie should have already known that lesson. Then again, since he only rode Dr. Will's coattails, he was kind of always on cruise control while Will did the dirty work.
5:20 - Why is Ashley so proud of herself? She didn't do anything to get off the block except sit there and look stupid. This was pretty much Janelle's work. Ashley, you are worthless.
6:39 - Another lesson that Mike Boogie should be mentioning to Frank... pawns almost always go home. Why would you say not to worry when you are on the block? If there has been one consistent trend in Big Brother history, it's that the person who has been told they are safe on the block is the farthest thing from safe. Boogie and Frank are really dropping the ball.
12:59 - Why does everyone see Wil as a threat? I'm not getting the fear at all. Must be missing something that CBS isn't showing us.
16:52 - Holy paranoia, Joe? The key to Big Brother is balance. Like I said, never go into cruise control, but at the same time don't lose your head in paranoia. Joe is going a little overboard and that can end up hurting him.
19:30 - Holy horrible acting, Batman!! Janelle, whatever you do, don't quite your day job, whatever that may be. You have no future in acting. That was a horrible performance!
19:40 - Good job, Wil, picking up on those crocodile tears. Maybe there is a threat in there somewhere.
22:50 - Go Dan! Finally, we're seeing those coaching skills. You need to make sure Danielle sees that Shane would cut her throat in a second. This was exactly what she needs to hear. Keep it up!
27:56 - WHAT!! Frank is Sid Vicious's kid?!?! This is a huge revelation. Who cares that Willie was a Hantz? This is way bigger! Sid Vicious got kicked out of the WWE for stabbing a fellow wrestler backstage with a pair of scissors. Those insane genes are in Frank. He could crack at anytime. I have a new reason to love Frank.
28:00 - OK, Frank doesn't get along with his dad. That makes sense. Maybe the crazy gene skipped a generation.
32:06 - Wait... they are going to announce if coaches play or not before the eviction vote? If the coaches are playing, do they vote this week? Big Brother drives me crazy sometimes.
33:05 - Ugh! The lesson to be learned is the show producers are going to do what they want. The put it up to a vote, but that vote doesn't really matter. From everything I heard, not letting the coaches play was safely ahead in the voting a day ago. Not a fan of this at all.
34:24 - Am I wrong or have only two people been evicted so far? Is it really a worry that they come back?
34:51 - Come on... is there any doubt that someone is going to push the button?
35:24 - Britney, the first coach to enter the diary room, pushes the button... that didn't take long.
37:17 - I am so upset with this twist. I though the coach angle was a nice twist and added a different element to the game. This is just stupid.
38:23 - Could Mike Boogie look anymore pissed off? Not sure why he so upset, but he certainly didn't want coaches playing the game. Does he think he'll be first out? Or is it all an act?
2:00 - In my opinion, Shane played this all wrong. He pissed off Janelle's team and then broke Frank's trust. I mentioned in my last post how Shane should have played things after he won HOH. At this point, he has to make sure that Frank goes home or he's in big trouble.
3:00 - Really, it's in everyone's best interest that Frank goes home. If the housemates leave him in to see another day they are all pretty stupid.
5:10 - The lesson to be learned from this week in the Big Brother household... Never go on cruise control! Boogie should have already known that lesson. Then again, since he only rode Dr. Will's coattails, he was kind of always on cruise control while Will did the dirty work.
5:20 - Why is Ashley so proud of herself? She didn't do anything to get off the block except sit there and look stupid. This was pretty much Janelle's work. Ashley, you are worthless.
6:39 - Another lesson that Mike Boogie should be mentioning to Frank... pawns almost always go home. Why would you say not to worry when you are on the block? If there has been one consistent trend in Big Brother history, it's that the person who has been told they are safe on the block is the farthest thing from safe. Boogie and Frank are really dropping the ball.
12:59 - Why does everyone see Wil as a threat? I'm not getting the fear at all. Must be missing something that CBS isn't showing us.
16:52 - Holy paranoia, Joe? The key to Big Brother is balance. Like I said, never go into cruise control, but at the same time don't lose your head in paranoia. Joe is going a little overboard and that can end up hurting him.
19:30 - Holy horrible acting, Batman!! Janelle, whatever you do, don't quite your day job, whatever that may be. You have no future in acting. That was a horrible performance!
19:40 - Good job, Wil, picking up on those crocodile tears. Maybe there is a threat in there somewhere.
22:50 - Go Dan! Finally, we're seeing those coaching skills. You need to make sure Danielle sees that Shane would cut her throat in a second. This was exactly what she needs to hear. Keep it up!
27:56 - WHAT!! Frank is Sid Vicious's kid?!?! This is a huge revelation. Who cares that Willie was a Hantz? This is way bigger! Sid Vicious got kicked out of the WWE for stabbing a fellow wrestler backstage with a pair of scissors. Those insane genes are in Frank. He could crack at anytime. I have a new reason to love Frank.
28:00 - OK, Frank doesn't get along with his dad. That makes sense. Maybe the crazy gene skipped a generation.
32:06 - Wait... they are going to announce if coaches play or not before the eviction vote? If the coaches are playing, do they vote this week? Big Brother drives me crazy sometimes.
33:05 - Ugh! The lesson to be learned is the show producers are going to do what they want. The put it up to a vote, but that vote doesn't really matter. From everything I heard, not letting the coaches play was safely ahead in the voting a day ago. Not a fan of this at all.
34:24 - Am I wrong or have only two people been evicted so far? Is it really a worry that they come back?
34:51 - Come on... is there any doubt that someone is going to push the button?
35:24 - Britney, the first coach to enter the diary room, pushes the button... that didn't take long.
37:17 - I am so upset with this twist. I though the coach angle was a nice twist and added a different element to the game. This is just stupid.
38:23 - Could Mike Boogie look anymore pissed off? Not sure why he so upset, but he certainly didn't want coaches playing the game. Does he think he'll be first out? Or is it all an act?
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Book Review: Have Glove, Will Travel: Adventures of a Baseball Vagabond by Bill Lee and Richard Lally (48 in 2012? #26)
Bill "Spaceman" Lee is one of the most colorful personalities to ever step onto a baseball diamond and this book perfectly captures that personality in a collection of tales from his days after major league baseball. Lee is a Boston legend not only for his heroics on the field, but also for his uncensored sound bites and wacky behavior. This book, though not dealing with the famous (or infamous) incidents that made Lee such an oddity, gives plenty of evidence of that bigger then life persona.
The book starts with Lee's last days in the majors pitching for the Montreal Expos when Lee claims he was let go and then black balled by the league's owners. Lee's paranoia combined with his crazy antics leaves one wondering if he was truly black balled or if it's just a figment of his imagination and ego. To Lee's credit, this conspiracy is never dwelt upon and becomes a launching point for the rest of the story rather than a bitter lament that radiates through the narrative. The rest of the book follows Lee around the world as he brings his one of a kind personality to anywhere that will let him on a mound and hit clean-up.
What truly makes this book entertaining is how well it captures Bill Lee. I'm not sure how much Richard Lally had to work to make Lee fly off every page, but he certainly didn't make Lee appear boring and stale like many of these sport autobiographies can come off. It would probably take quite a bit to make Lee stale, but at the very least Lally knew when to get out of the way and let the tale tell itself.
This book is has both moments of great humor and deep sentimentality. It gives us more then just the crazy persona we saw in the newspapers, and ultimately that is what makes it such a good read. Lee and Lally do a great job conveying Lee's deep love of the sport that made him famous along with all the quirks that make him so interesting. Although the themes go beyond the game, this probably isn't a read for people who don't like baseball since everything is framed around the sport. But if you enjoy baseball or grew up a Red Sox fan this is a highly entertaining read about one of the games most interesting players.
The book starts with Lee's last days in the majors pitching for the Montreal Expos when Lee claims he was let go and then black balled by the league's owners. Lee's paranoia combined with his crazy antics leaves one wondering if he was truly black balled or if it's just a figment of his imagination and ego. To Lee's credit, this conspiracy is never dwelt upon and becomes a launching point for the rest of the story rather than a bitter lament that radiates through the narrative. The rest of the book follows Lee around the world as he brings his one of a kind personality to anywhere that will let him on a mound and hit clean-up.
What truly makes this book entertaining is how well it captures Bill Lee. I'm not sure how much Richard Lally had to work to make Lee fly off every page, but he certainly didn't make Lee appear boring and stale like many of these sport autobiographies can come off. It would probably take quite a bit to make Lee stale, but at the very least Lally knew when to get out of the way and let the tale tell itself.
This book is has both moments of great humor and deep sentimentality. It gives us more then just the crazy persona we saw in the newspapers, and ultimately that is what makes it such a good read. Lee and Lally do a great job conveying Lee's deep love of the sport that made him famous along with all the quirks that make him so interesting. Although the themes go beyond the game, this probably isn't a read for people who don't like baseball since everything is framed around the sport. But if you enjoy baseball or grew up a Red Sox fan this is a highly entertaining read about one of the games most interesting players.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Reviewing The Previews 8/1/12
Remember...
F- I will never see this movie under any circumstances
D- I will never pay theater price to see this movie but may watch it on Netflix
C- I might pay to see this if nothing else is playing, if not I'll catch it on DVD
B- I am not excited, but I'll probably try to catch it in the theater
A- I'm all in
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - F (11/16/12)
This is a good awful series of films. I can excuse teenage girls, when have they ever had good taste, but I'm embarrassed by all the grown women who think that this is an interesting or compelling story. These movies will go down in history as the highest grossing movie with the worst acting. Putting saga in the title demeans all previous sagas. And what is this new trend of breaking up the last book of a series into two movies? I blame Peter Jackson. Did you hear he's going to turn The Hobbit into three movies? The Hobbit, a book that is at least 100 pages shorter then each of the three books in The Lord of The Rings, is going to be the same length in screen time as all three books put together. I hate Peter Jackson. And, needless to say, I won't be seeing Breaking Dawn Part 2.
ParaNorman - C (8/17/12)
This is another stop motion animated film from the guys who did Coraline. I've been meaning to see Coraline for years, but haven't got around to it yet. This one seems to be just as solid a story and I really like the look of the animation, but since I was never excited enough to see Coraline, I don't see myself running out to see this one. I guess it all depends on what else comes out that week.
End Of Watch - B- (9/12/12)
This is from the writer of Training Day, which was a pretty good damn movie. Of course he also wrote The Fast and The Furious and S.W.A.T., so saying it's from the guy who wrote Training Day isn't really saying much. It looks a lot more Training Day then S.W.A.T. though, so I'm excited. The cast is really solid. I think I've decided I'm up for almost anything Anna Kendrick is in. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are pretty good as well.
Man Of Steel (teaser) - B (6/14/13)
This is a case where the grade I'm giving doesn't really show my feelings about the trailer. Going by the description of grades I have above, this is a B because I'm positive I'll be there opening week to see the movie and if not there is no doubt I will see it in the theater sometime before it is taken off the big screen. I'm that much a comic book nerd that even though I hate the Superman character, I will need to see the movie in the theater. This trailer does not do anything to make me think I will enjoy this movie. It looks as if the makers are trying to do to Superman what Christopher Nolan did to Batman except Superman is nothing like Batman. Superman is the Captain America of the DC world, he is all-American, up-right, truthful and earnest. There is nothing dark or gritty about Superman and to make him dark wouldn't be true to the comic book character (as much as I hate that character). I'm looking forward to hating this movie.
Django Unchained - A+ (12/25/12)
Is there anyone who puts out a better trailer then Quentin Tarantino? Pulp Fiction has to be the greatest trailer of all time. This one isn't quite that good, but it's pretty damn badass. I love the use of James Brown. Tarantino is one of the top five movie makers out there right now, so there is no doubt that I will be seeing this, great trailer or not. But it makes the movie going experience that much better when you get to see trailers like this.
F- I will never see this movie under any circumstances
D- I will never pay theater price to see this movie but may watch it on Netflix
C- I might pay to see this if nothing else is playing, if not I'll catch it on DVD
B- I am not excited, but I'll probably try to catch it in the theater
A- I'm all in
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 - F (11/16/12)
This is a good awful series of films. I can excuse teenage girls, when have they ever had good taste, but I'm embarrassed by all the grown women who think that this is an interesting or compelling story. These movies will go down in history as the highest grossing movie with the worst acting. Putting saga in the title demeans all previous sagas. And what is this new trend of breaking up the last book of a series into two movies? I blame Peter Jackson. Did you hear he's going to turn The Hobbit into three movies? The Hobbit, a book that is at least 100 pages shorter then each of the three books in The Lord of The Rings, is going to be the same length in screen time as all three books put together. I hate Peter Jackson. And, needless to say, I won't be seeing Breaking Dawn Part 2.
ParaNorman - C (8/17/12)
This is another stop motion animated film from the guys who did Coraline. I've been meaning to see Coraline for years, but haven't got around to it yet. This one seems to be just as solid a story and I really like the look of the animation, but since I was never excited enough to see Coraline, I don't see myself running out to see this one. I guess it all depends on what else comes out that week.
End Of Watch - B- (9/12/12)
This is from the writer of Training Day, which was a pretty good damn movie. Of course he also wrote The Fast and The Furious and S.W.A.T., so saying it's from the guy who wrote Training Day isn't really saying much. It looks a lot more Training Day then S.W.A.T. though, so I'm excited. The cast is really solid. I think I've decided I'm up for almost anything Anna Kendrick is in. Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are pretty good as well.
Man Of Steel (teaser) - B (6/14/13)
This is a case where the grade I'm giving doesn't really show my feelings about the trailer. Going by the description of grades I have above, this is a B because I'm positive I'll be there opening week to see the movie and if not there is no doubt I will see it in the theater sometime before it is taken off the big screen. I'm that much a comic book nerd that even though I hate the Superman character, I will need to see the movie in the theater. This trailer does not do anything to make me think I will enjoy this movie. It looks as if the makers are trying to do to Superman what Christopher Nolan did to Batman except Superman is nothing like Batman. Superman is the Captain America of the DC world, he is all-American, up-right, truthful and earnest. There is nothing dark or gritty about Superman and to make him dark wouldn't be true to the comic book character (as much as I hate that character). I'm looking forward to hating this movie.
Django Unchained - A+ (12/25/12)
Is there anyone who puts out a better trailer then Quentin Tarantino? Pulp Fiction has to be the greatest trailer of all time. This one isn't quite that good, but it's pretty damn badass. I love the use of James Brown. Tarantino is one of the top five movie makers out there right now, so there is no doubt that I will be seeing this, great trailer or not. But it makes the movie going experience that much better when you get to see trailers like this.
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