Four's a Crowd: The Bachelorette Recap

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Is this trip to Chicago really necessary?

 
Can we all just call this episode what it was? The slow andinevitable death march to Chris’s demise.
I mean, last week, we actually thought she might pick John(sorry, I mean “Wolf”)—a man who hadapproximately 10 lines of dialogue the entire season—over Chris.
Somehow, Chris squeaked out a rose, but it was obviously touch and go.Even Chris’s family seemed to know he was he about to bekicked in the kielbasa. “Let him down gently,” they all seemed to be telling Emily.“We know he’s kinda sweaty and creepy and desperate but, by God, he’s also ourson.”
Speaking of which, what was Creepy Chris’s Creepiest Momentof the Show ™ for you?Was it when Emily snuck up behind him in town square and hedidn’t so much as FLINCH? (Replicant?)
Or was it when he said, “You make me feel crazy good”—as his eyes nervouslydarted about, apparently searching for a weapon?
I will say this: “On a scale from 1 to Polish, we’re Polish”was wygranie! (That’s “winning” inPolish.)

Lech Walesa WISHES he was this Polish

So now we’ve got these three guys left and I JUST CAN’TCHOOSE!Has the Bachelorette ever done some sort of polygamy theme?A happy ending where you get a ring, you get a ring, you ALL get a ring!!!
At one point, I speculated that the hunky banana Sean wasthe man for Emily. It seemed a no brainer. But I must say, I’m beginning to have my doubts—partlybecause her hometown visit to him was sobizarre. I mean, I don’t know about you, but when I have a guest, Ilike to make them as UNCOMFORTABLE as humanly possible. Break out the whoopeecushions, the fake poo, and the dog vomit—it's time to freak out the house guest!
First, there was Sean’s little “I live at home” prank, which,I suppose was meant to show Emily his light-hearted, fun-loving side, butactually seemed kind of aggressive. Like, “You may hold all the cards on theshow, but not at MY house you don’t!”And the disturbing thing is, the entire Sean family was inon it.They went so far as to decorate a whole room, like one of those horrible Febrezecommercials where they blindfold people and take them to rat-infestedhellholes.

"Make yourself uncomfortable"

Then later, in case you missed it, Sean’s dad acted outthis elaborate charade of taking a foil-covered, steamed armadillo out of theoven.  “This is Sean’s favorite dish,” dad said.Emily, with that pageant-ready smile of hers, managed tosqueak out a chipper “Well, if it’s Sean’s favorite, then I guess I’ll try it!”And then the whole Sean family collapsed into a fit ofmalicious giggles. Fucked. Up.
The other thing about Sean? (Other than the fact that if he were a Native American, his tribe name would be “He Who Runs Down Street Yelling Bachelorette’s Name”): Emily keeps talking about how perfect he is, but I don’t actually believe it.She’s been crushing on Jef since day 1.And she and Arie have off-the-charts chemistry.But with Sean it’s like, “Wow. Sean is totally perfect. . .zzzzzzz”I’m just not sure it’s really there.
Okay, next wehave Jef (yes, I realize I’m going out of order. . . this is MY order ofelimination at this point.)
Just as I suspected, Jef’s whole hipster thing is a charade.He’s really a good ol’ boy who shoots guns (albeit “in skinny jeans” as Emilynoted) and rides ATVs.
As for his parents, they are still MIA. In fact, did anyone else notice that when Jef said, “Myparents are in South Carolina DOING CHARITY WORK” it was totally overdubbed inpost production, possibly by a member of the crew who does a mean Jefimpression? OMG, what do you think he actually said: “My parents are in SouthCarolina overseeing the ritualistic slaughter of goats?”(I’m more and more convinced that Jef is a member of a cult,especially when his niece and nephew were climbing all over Emily’s lap, seemingly desperate: “Get me out of this place, PLEASE!” I thought I saw oneof the little tykes mouth.)
And then, sigh, Jef read Emily the sweetest love letter. Itactually made me cry. But at the same time, have you noticed that Jef can’tseem to profess his love while making eye contact? It’s either through amarionette or with his face buried in a letter.Man up, Bob’s Big Boy.
Finally, Arie—my new frontrunner. I agree with Emily that Arie looked “stupid hot” in hisleather race car jacket.And she always acts so excited to see him and can’t seem tokeep her hands off him.
I loved when Arie’s mom took Emily aside and told her shehad seen “a few” episodes of Emily’s season of The Bachelor (translation: DVRedthat shit and watched every episode twice.) Then she said, in her brokenEnglish, “Normally, when you are the one who be proposed to, you’re not beingthe Bachelorette.”Ha. Laughing forever over that.
So there ya have it folks. Sean, Jef, or Arie.Three men: Three guaranteed fantasy suites (use protection, kids!) . . .and thenwhat?
I'm totally unspoiled myself. So only ABC executives, Chris Harrison, Emily, her future “fiancée” and you—yeah,you, spoiler whore!—know for sure.

Hugh've Been Snubbed

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Steve Nash is a great basketball player. I don't mean to take anything away from the guy. But in the years that Nash won his MVP (2005 and 2006), it was widely acknowledged that Kobe Bryant was the best basketball player on the planet. As such, the award will always be seen as a glitch, a failure of the system in some way. An oversight.

Such it is, I think, with Hugh Laurie's missing Emmy for House.

This is on my mind, obviously, because the Emmy nominations were announced yesterday and, for the first time in six years, Laurie wasn't among them. I don't think he necessarily deserved one for Season 8—it was, at best, a lazy, disjointed season of House (one sensed that everyone involved had a foot out of the door) and, at worst (as when the character House made crude comments to a woman getting a breast exam) it was downright offensive.

But with House, Hugh Laurie has created one of the most compelling, funny, sexy, dark, and indelible characters in the history of television.

In this analogy, Laurie is Kobe and, alas, James Spader is Steve Nash. It's not that Spader, who won the Emmy in 2005 and 2007, when Hugh Laurie was doing some of his best work, is not a good actor. Of course he is. But his Alan Shore (who?) was hardly an iconic character. He did not create a global phenomenon through the sheer force of his charisma and talent. And 10 years from now, who the hell will even remember The Practice? (Hell, I forgot it halfway through that sentence.)

It's almost impossible to quantify the brilliance of Laurie in House. There are the technical difficulties, of course—the limp, the pitch-perfect American accent. But mostly there is the incredible richness and complexity of the character. A less confident actor might've tried to soften some of the more unsavory aspects of House's personality. But Laurie trusted his audience, trusted his own abilities to allow House's humanity to shine through despite his seeming misanthropy. (Can any actor convey more longing and hurt with a single glance?)

This is all the more remarkable when you look at Hugh Laurie's body of work. The day I realized that the brooding, darkly hilarious House was Stuart Little's dorky, knock-kneed dad, well—suffice it to say, if I'd been drinking, a massive spit-take would've occurred.

No, just because Hugh Laurie—who became famous in his native England for, among other things, doing pun-filled sketch comedy with his partner Stephen Fry and for playing a lovable buffoon in the BBC's Jeeves and Wooster—has amazing powers of transformation, that doesn't mean he deserved the Emmy. But it's a testament to what a brilliant actor he is—to his uncanny ability to lose himself completely in a role. (Even Laurie's voice was different when he played House—it was growlier, deeper than his plummy British tones).

Anyway, I'm sad that Hugh Laurie never won his deserved Emmy for House (but certainly glad he racked up all those Golden Globes and SAGs) and I'll miss him more than I can say on my TV screen every week. But history will remember the remarkable character he created. And that's his greatest reward.

In the meantime, I'm catching Hugh Laurie and his Copper Bottom Band at Ram's Head Live! in Annapolis in September. Among all his other gifts (did I mention that he's a director and a talented novelist, too?) the guy is an absolute killer blues musician. Maybe a Grammy is in his future?

Love Means Never Having to Say You're Arie: The Bachelorette Finale recap

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Still Life With Confused Bachelorette

 
Arie or Jef? Jef or Arie?
Emily has already thrown out theguy she wants to date (Sean) and has narrowed it down the guy she wants to, er,have carnal knowledge of (Arie) and theone she wants marry (Jef). But WHO will she choose??
Luckily for her, Emily’s family isready to step up to the plate by expressing a clear and decisive preference. Ornot. 
Basically, the whole family wascrushing hard on Jef—and his Dudley-Do-Right manners and soothing voice and“edgy Mormon” (oxymoron alert!) ways. “I don’t even know why we’re goingthrough the action of even seeing someone else today,” Emily’s father sniffed,before Arie’s visit.But then Arie showed up—lookinglike sex on a stick, babbling nervously (which Emily’s brother took forconversational “smoothness”) and wielding that adorable box of crumpledroses—and they were all SO CONFUSED. “After talking to Arie, I’mconfused,” said Emily’s dad.

Totally useless

So thanks  for that.
Emily staggered away from familyday in a tailspin, literally wailing in agony, Nancy Kerrigan style.Why? Why? Why can’t she have twonice things?

If Bill Paxton can do it, why can't I?

But a key issue emerged here—anissue perhaps more important than love or sex or “Little Ricki” ("babalu!"): Emily doesn’twant to be the “girl who gets engaged 15 times.”First of all, is there a girl who gets engaged 15 times? Because I’venever heard of her. And if she exists, she’s a rarity, not a cautionary cliche. Second of all, if you’re trying toavoid the hasty, irresponsible, more-likely-to-fail-than-a-Paul-Reiser-sitcom engagement, maybe being The Bachelorette is not the wisest choice.
That being said, Emily kept using acurious word to describe her choice of Jef: "confident." She said she had more“confidence” in him. Not that she loved him more, or thought that he was hotter,smarter, or better husband material than Arie. Just that she had moreconfidence that they would stay together in the long haul. In other words, Jef is the lessrisky proposition. 

"Non-threatening"

On the other hand, maybe it wassimply a matter of good timing. Maybe if Arie had gone first—maybe if it had been Arie angling forprivate time with Ricki, Arie frolicking with Ricki by the pool—he’d be the bigwinner and Jef would be the one doing a drive-by journal drop on Emily’sdoorstep. Hard to say.
An aside: I understand that Emilyis protective of Ricki—I even admire it. But it really is okay to introduce yourchild to people they may only meet once. It’s not like Ricki’s world was goingto be irrevocably rocked and ruined because she met Arie one time and he abandoned her. (By that logic, she should avoid all waiters,busboys, and lifeguards in Curacao—because what if Ricki gets dangerouslyattached to any of them?) I dunno. Maybe that’s just me.
Anyway, once Emily had made up hermind that Jef was the one for her, she did the right thing—a thing I’msurprised more Bachelorettes don’t do, considering the humiliation factor ofgetting down on one knee to a woman who’s about to reject you (yeah, I’m givin' you the stinkeye, Ashley)—she decided to break up with Arie. 
But first she shared her feelingswith Chris Harrison in a little portion of the show I like to call “filler.”(But wouldn’t it have been funny if she’d introduced Chris Harrison to Ricki?).

Chris Harrison's "concerned" face

What followed had to be the mostpainful breakup in the history of reality TV, right? I mean, I’ve had personal breakups that were less painful.There was Arie, all happy-go-luckyand making his stupid little love potion with that weird shaman lady and goingon and on about how in love he was and how he couldn’t wait to get married andstart his new life with Emily and Ricki. 
“That moment when Emily looks inmy eyes and she can express how she feels is going to be so good,” he says. “Tohear the words is going to be amazing. 
Ahhhhh, can’t look! But MUST!
So then Emily comes, and she’scrying and he’s consoling her—not for asecond possibly thinking she could be crying because she’s about to dump hisass—and then the rug totally gets pulled out from under him. 
Denial is a fascinating thing,huh?In this case, the depths of Arie’s denial werepretty intense. Not only was he in denial thatEmily was breaking up with him. He was in denial over the reason why.  As we find out in the most dramaticAfter the Final Rose evah (!!!), it didn’t even occur to Arie that Emily was dumpinghim because she had chosen Jef! (GeeArie, you’re on a reality show where a woman has to pick among suitors. She's narrowed it down to two. She dumps you. Do the math. On Jef’s behalf, I’m slightlyinsulted that he was so gobsmacked by this concept.)
So there’s some slight suspenseabout whether or not Emily will accept Jef’s proposal—she does, after all, notwant to become yet another engaged-15-times statistic—but Jef looks so cute in hislittle hipster engagement suit and that rock is blingtastic and he says somepretty words (that he may not have stolen this time from the Book of Mormon) soshe says yes.“Passions” will have to be bridledno longer, bitches!

A dress that refuses to be shown up by a 4-carat ring

Seriously, does Emily even knowthat Jef’s a Mormon? Isn't that a conversation that maybe they should’ve had—right between “role playing with marionettes is fun!” and “you get me like no one else”? Because Mormonism is a pretty "bigdeal." And he’s obviously not like some fallen, half-assing-it Mormon—he’s aquoting the Book of Mormon, going on Mormon retreats to Africa kind of Mormon. But I’m sure it’ll all work outfine. Because denial is awesome. And Jefand Emily are pretty. And la, la, la, I can’t hear you. They live happily everafter.

Why The Glee Project is Better Than Glee

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Here’s a curious paradox: I stopped watching Glee some timein the middle of last season—it felt tedious and repetitive, not to mentioninsufferably impressed with itself—whereas I never miss a single episode of TheGlee Project. And yet, The Glee Project wouldn’t exist without Glee. (It’s atalent competition where the prize is a recurring role on the Fox hit). It’s acase of the farm team being a lot better than the big league club it feedsinto.
So what makes The Glee Project so great? Well, in many ways(with one major caveat, that I’ll get to later), it cleaves to the very valuesthat once made Glee itself so easy to root for. The young cast don’t look likeany other cast on TV: The show is all-inclusive. Last year, the show featured both abody-builder boy who was under 5 feet tall and a cross-dressing black boy. This year, we’ve had a blind boy, a boy with Aspergers, atransgendered boy, a sexually confused Asian kid, a flirty girl from a strictMuslim family, an overweight (but fierce) girl, and a girl in a wheelchair.That has to be the most diverse cast on TV. These kids are all remarkablytalented, but a lot of them wouldn't have the chance to strut their stuff on a more traditionally-minded show.  
The other thing that distinguishes the show is the group of grownupmentors, all actual members of the Glee creative team, who seem to genuinely careabout their young charges. In particular, sweetie-pie choreographer ZachWoodlee manages to tear up whenever the kids do well (and the camera loves him for it). Casting director and host Robert Urich announces the newsof the weekly cuts as if delivering a eulogy. Vocal coach Nikki Anders isprobably the toughest of the bunch—I’d vote her Most Likely to Make One of the Glee Kids Cry—but hers is definitely a form of toughlove. Then there’s Glee creator Ryan Murphy, who emerges at the end of the showto declare his verdict on the so-called Last Chance performances. He give usa fascinating glimpse into the mind of a showrunner, talking about who he canvisualize on the show and who he can’t, who he’s inspired to write for and wholeaves him cold, and who he thinks the audience at home will root for. We’verarely gotten such an intimate look at the casting process. 
The format for each episode is exactly the same and I findit weirdly comforting. First, Urichcomes out and tells the kids what this week’s topic is—tenacity, sexuality, vulnerabilityetc.—and then gives them a song that corresponds with the topic. The kids splitup the vocal parts, come up with some makeshift choreography, and perform for asurprise mentor from the cast of Glee. (In a sign that the show got bigger this year—Lea Michelewas one of this season’s mentors.)Then a new song is assigned, followed by choreography withZach and vocals with Nikki, all leading up to a video shoot. Then, the bottom 3are called back for Last Chance Performances. And finally, someone is cut. 
The final scene is always the bottom 3 walking somberly tothe call-back sheet—then it’s a bit of a guessing game for the viewers at home to read their faces and try to figure out who got the boot. (Off topic: An interesting human tic ondisplay: Every single contestant looks down first beforereading the call-back sheet.) The whole process is strangely addictive.

What makes the show soar is certainly the talent ondisplay—last week, big girl Lila Mae gave a balls-to-the-wall performance of“I’m the Greatest Star” from Funny Girl—and if you’re notrooting for the spunky Ali, who has been in a wheelchair since she was 2, youhave no heart. (It's worth noting that Artie, the New Directions member in a wheelchair, is played by actor Kevin McHale, who has no physical challenges.) But I also like the fact that the show plays a bit like the “ItGets Better” campaign come to life (even more so than Glee itself). Two weeksago, Abraham, who was raised by two lesbians and considers himself straight,struggled with being called androgynous and all that it implies. Muslim Aylinworries that her parents will see her kiss boys. Charlie, who has mild Aspergers,is a major talent with a tendency to lose focus. These kids are struggling withreal issues of identity, their place in the world, and self, all whilecompeting on a nationally televised talent search. 
There is one big "but" that I must add: Last year,despite an eclectic crew, the winners were two handsome white males. This year, many of the aforementioned non-cookie-cutter contestants have alreadybeen axed—first we lost the transgendered boy, then the blind boy, then the kidwith Aspergers and, last week, Abraham was jettisoned.Among the remaining cast, we still have a “crack baby” (hername is Shanna and man can she belt it out), plus Lila Mae, Aylin and Ali.We also have two very handsome boys, one, in particular,named Blake, who looks like he just stepped off the set of any CW show. Blake is a real talent, but not, I think, in keeping with the spirit of The GleeProject (or even the show Glee). 
If Blake—or the studly Michael, whose claim to uniqueness isthat he likes math—wins the show, I call bullshit. Last year, they played lipservice to true diversity. Let’s see if this year they have the strength oftheir much ballyhooed convictions.
The Glee Project airs on the Oxygen network, Tuesdays at 10pm.

Just For Women: The Project Runway recap

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Kenley and Ven sharing a private moment. (Also pictured, Fabio)

 
Due to overwhelming and relentless peer pressure—mostlyfrom members of my immediate family—I’ve decided to dip my big toe back intothe recap pool this season.
Before I recap last night’s eppy, a few general observationsfrom the first 2 shows.
Is there an official Project Runway haircut for guys now?Like some sort of reality TV military, except instead of giving you a buzzcut,they shave the sides of your head and give you a hipster pompadour, ironicbeard optional?
It’s odd. But it only adds to the hilarious sense that Gunnar andChristopher—the Betty White and Bea Arthur of this season’s competition—aredoppelgangers of each other. (Should those two just do it already, or what?)
Stray thoughts on some other contestants:
Kooan Kosuke seems less like a Project Runway contestant andmore like one of those oddballs who auditions for American Idol and becomes aYouTube phenomenon for a few weeks.
The minute I laid eyes on Dmitry Sholokhov I thought:Somewhere, there’s a Russian Olympic ice dance team missing its ice master.Okay, close enough. The guy’s a former ballroom dancer. And straight out ofcentral casting.
I love that Ven Budhu’s name is Ven Budhu because he lookslike Buddha. But I was shocked that he’s only 28. I would’ve guessed 2,345 atleast. (Also, he’s obviously a talented designer—Lord knows, he’ll be the firstto tell you—but he has that kind of tasteful, safe design aesthetic thatMichael Kors and Nina Garcia always go for. Yawn.)(Conversely, Buffi’s loud, poppy, Harajuku girl style stuffis exactly what the judges hate. Her time on this show is clearly limited. Ashame, cause I love that crazy, leopard spotted beotch.)
As for Andrea Katz: She must have some photos of the ProjectRunway staff key party or somethin’. How else to explain how her button candyapron didn’t land her in the bottom 3? (Has anyone else ever designed an apronfor Project Runway? What’s next? A dish towel?)
Oh Sonjia is my early favorite, just cause I love her bluehair and funky fresh style.
Okay, onto last night’s show:God, there was almost something comforting when Tim Gunnannounced, “The color of the Lexus SM vehicle you’re assigned to must beincorporated into your design.”Don’t ever change, Project Runway. Don’t ever change.
So this week, the designers were paired up to make a gownfor the Emmys.
This didn’t sit well with the Eastern European contingent.
“I don’t like to work with anyone.  Who does?” said Elena.
“When it comes to my work I’m a little bit of a controlfreak. But who isn’t?” said Dmitry.
It’s this kind of attitude that lost the Russians theall-around girl’s gymnastics medal at the Olympics, people.
The whole gown thing also didn’t sit well with Raul because,in case you hadn’t heard the first 45 times he told us, he designs menswear. (Withhis ouster this week, a short-lived “I design menswear” drinking game has goneby the wayside.)
In a cool twist, they were designing for former ProjectRunway all-stars. Nice one.
Here were the teams:
Buffi and Elena Designing for: Laura
Christopher and AndreaDesigning for: Anya
Raul and Alicia Designing for: Mila
Gunnar and KooanDesigning for Irina (LOLOLOLOL)
Melissa and DmitryDesigning for April
Sonjia and NathanDesigning for Valerie
Ven and FabioDesigning for Kenley
Gunnar saw this challenge for what it was: A big fat trap. “The hardest person to impress in fashion is a fuckingfashion designer,” he noted, accurately.
That being said, probably the most disappointing thing aboutlast night’s show was the fact that Kenley liked her dress. Because hell hathno fury like a pissed off Kenley. Damn Ven and all his annoying. . .talent.

It must be exhausting to be Kenley

I also expected Irina to be more of a nightmare, but exceptfor one brief moment when she almost brought Kooan to tears, she was prettymellow. (Didn’t you get the sense though that she “helped” with the design? Oneminute that dress had a puckered butt line. The next minute it had a cleverstrip of flowy fabric in the back. I call shenanigans). (Also, cute get-up Gunnar. Did you recently take in a screening of Wes Anderson's Moonrise Kingdom, by any chance?)

"I fixed this shit"-Irina

“For some reason I feel sad not happy,” Kooan said at onepoint. “I work well when I’m happy.” (If this whole Project Runway thingdoesn’t pan out, Kooan should host one of those weekend TV shows that workreally well both for small children and for adults on acid.)
It was also funny to see the likes of Anya and Mila inhorrible dresses. They’re both so impeccable in their own personal styles andto see Mila galumphing down the runway in Raul and Alicia’s monstrosity, herbitchface set to stun, and boho chic goddess Anya, looking like a cocktailwaitress at the HoJo lounge in 1976, well it was hard to take.

"I Hate My Life"

Speaking of Anya. . .yup: Christopher and Andrea blew it. I definitely love Christopher, I think he’s talented andadorbs, but I also see him as super passive aggressive. Have you noticed that nothing is EVER his fault? He’s always the one rolling his eyes and reacting tosassy Gunnar—while shooting him smoldering glares of lust-filled hatred—and thisweek, he “respected” Andrea too much to tell her to move her ass. Uh huh.Yes Christopher, sitting and seething with resentment isalways the most productive way to get things done. (And led to the inevitablebattle royale on the runway—with tears, recriminations, pointed fingers, hurtfeelings, the works.)
And oh God, could there be two less compatible people thanBuffi and Elena? (Make that three lesscompatible people than Buffi, Elena, and Laura Bennett?)

Friends for Life!!!

Just looking at Elena, with her terrifying, humorless Soviet work ethic, makesme tense. Also, what’s up with her hair? She literally looks like adifferent (nicer) person when she has bangs. The bangs are for the playfulhappy side of Elena. The severe pulled back style is for the crazed,prison-warden-at-a-gulag Elena. #TeamBangs
Runway time. And the guest is Krysten Ritter from Don’tTrust the B. . .oh, who am I trying to kid, she was Jesse’s crackheadgirlfriend in Breaking Bad!!! Squee!!!
Not one of the dresses is a complete success, if you ask me.I do like Kenley’s dress, but it’s too short for the Emmys.
I actually thought Buffi and Elena pulled it off withLaura’s dress. Who woulda thunk?
Totally thought Dmitry and Melissa were going to be in thetop with that flowy Grecian goddess number. (Not my bag, but theconstruction was solid.)
So miraculously, Gunnar and Kooan are in the Top 2 (seriouslysaved by that choker—sorry, that Lord & Taylor accessory wall choker—if you ask me) along with Fabio and Ven. It was pretty amazing how deftly Ven combined his aestheticwith Kenley’s. As for Fabio, no one really knows what his aesthetic is. Probably a bad sign.
I truly think Fabio and Ven won because nothing better camedown the runway. Not the most auspicious of showings.
Oh yeah, Raul got sent home, where he’ll open up a storecalled Just Menswear.
Next week: Shit hits the motherfreakin' fan, people!

Book review-"Elizabeth the Queen-The Life of a Modern Monarch" by Sally Bedell Smith

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I was skeptical when I picked up this book from the shelves of "new" books in the local library.

I love to peruse the shelves of recently obtained books. For there is where the surprises are. If there is a new book of the "true crime" genre, I'll find it on the shelf of new books as all those normally shelved under this genre I have already read.

I've a fondness for biographies as well but like everyone else I must suppose, I'm only interested in reading about famous folks that I knew or knew "of".

For sure I knew of the Queen of England. And just as for sure I'm an American and don't much understand such as royalty. After reading this book I am more confused by the concept of royalty, all the names and terms, the relationships, how it all came to be and why any nation of free peoples would keep a monarchy to "rule" over them.

At which point I hasten to insert two points here. First, the author did a very good job with the writing and background. She'd obviously been fed a lot of royal talking points by those inside the castles, more on this later. But her backgrounds, both political and geographic, were perfectly described.

Second, I do understand that Britain's royal family is as much of a tourist attraction as anything. This is likely why the British merrily choose to keep their monarchs when us Tea Party types are fighting back against politicians who think they're royalty.

Queen Elizabeth II is an amazing woman. I doubt there will be anyone like her in our futures.

Here's a woman born into a lifestyle that would define her, that would decide her future, all with no input from her beyond the accident of her birth.

Which is not such a bad deal, I know yon reader might shout. Consider Princess Diana.

Goodness if anybody had everything to include looks and money it surely was Princess Di. Now I know Diana played second fiddle to Camellia as Prince Charles' love. Any of us foolish Americans could figure out what was up. Now, with benefit of hindsight and may I point out that Charles is now wed to Camellia, we're pretty sure that Charles needed heirs and Camellia was already wed to another.

No this sort of speculation is not in the book.

This book's author was given details, so obvious during the read, by palace insiders who were passing out royal talking points.

For every distressful event or era during Elizabeth's reign so far was handled kindly. There was no flinching on the broader details, to be sure.

But do not think that this book is a juicy insider the palace walls type of narrative. The anguish of Diana is handled smartly but without that snark that child-woman so deserved.

Fergie too was dealt an even and gentle hand by the palace spokespeople who airbrushed her antics then gave the book's authors the cleaned up details.

The author did get in a few interesting details of what goes on behind palace walls from other published accounts by those not beholden to the queen for subject matter.

All in all it is an even-handed account of Queen Elizabeth through her years. The reader learns of Elizabeth and Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, various Americans from the closest we have to an "upper class".

Two things most intrigued me that I learned from this book about British royalty. First, they just make up titles should any sudden need require.

So, for a good example, Princess Diana needed a name after her divorce from Charles. Boom, Queen Elizabeth, with help from the royal flackies, comes up with a name.

Seems everybody needs some sort of "title" once they enter the royal realm. Silly me, I thought those titles were mandated by some kind of fiat somewhere, that titles and lineages were carried down from history.

Nope. They all sit in a room and make up "titles". How cool is that?

Finally, I learned what an equerry is. Goodness, Queen Elizabeth is served by all manner of folks, to include ladies-in-waiting, manservants, the "dresser", her secretary of protocol….on and on. An equerry is referred to often in this book so finally I looked it up.

An equerry is an aide, of sorts, on all things horses.

Oh yes, Queen Elizabeth loves horses and corgis.

Kind of cute actually.

Amazon link to this book.

Obama/Romney Debates Coming Up. What to Watch For. More National Politics.

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Soon it will be one month from the presidential elections. Below, a detailed list of the debates coming up in October, as scheduled. Follows each date are my notes. Warning, at times I get snarky..

October 3, 2012

Topic: Domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: University of Denver in Denver, Colorado (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Moderator: Jim Lehrer (Host of NewsHour on PBS)

The debate will focus on domestic policy and be divided into six time segments of approximately 15 minutes each on topics to be selected by the moderator and announced several weeks before the debate.

The moderator will open each segment with a question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the topic.

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I don't even know what the hell domestic policy is. Does this mean how we shall control crime? Is this about our social infrastructure? Jim Lehrer?


October 11, 2012
Vice Presidential

Topic: Foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Centre College in Danville, Kentucky (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: Vice President Joe Biden and Congressman Paul Ryan
Moderator: Martha Raddatz (ABC News Chief Foreign Correspondent)
The debate will cover both foreign and domestic topics and be divided into nine time segments of approximately 10 minutes each. The moderator will ask an opening question, after which each candidate will have two minutes to respond. The moderator will use the balance of the time in the segment for a discussion of the question.
===========================
Oh my goodness this one is a foreign AND domestic policy. And I still don't know what domestic policy consists of. But hey, it's Biden against Paul Ryan. The jokes write themselves.

Who the hell is Martha Raddatz?


October 16, 2012

Topic: Town meeting format including foreign and domestic policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Moderator: Candy Crowley (CNN Chief Political Correspondent)
The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.
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Okay, now we're back to foreign and domestic policy.

I sure hope the moderator, Candy Crowley of CNN, pounds on ole Barry about his relationship with Israel.

I predict that Mittens will make mincemeat out of Obamer.

Candy Crowley, she tries but she's another Lamestream loser-burger.


October 22, 2012

Topic: Foreign policy
Air Time: 9:00-10:30 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida (Tickets)
Sponsor: Commission on Presidential Debates
Participants: President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney
Moderator: Bob Schieffer (Host of Face the Nation on CBS)
The format for the debate will be identical to the first presidential debate and will focus on foreign policy.
==============================
Sheesh, Bob Schieffer, a dim bulb loser burger, what they can't any moderators with some credibility?

At any rate, the topic is foreign policy. Mittens will wrap up the debates the clear winner with this final presidential debate
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SOCIAL SECURITY NOW CALLED FEDERAL BENEFIT PAYMENT'/ENTITLEMENT!


Have you noticed, your Social Security check is now referred
to as a "Federal Benefit Payment"?

The government is now referring to our Social Security checks as a
“Federal Benefit Payment.” This isn’t a benefit – its earned income!
Not only did we all contribute to Social Security but our employers did too.


It totaled 15% of our income before taxes. If you averaged $30K per
year over your working life, that's close to $180,000 invested in Social Security.


If you calculate the future value of your monthly investment in social security $375/month, including both your and your employer’s contributions) at a meager 1% interest rate compounded monthly, after 40 years of working you'd have more than $1.3+ million dollars saved! This is your personal investment.

Upon retirement, if you took out only 3% per year, you'd receive $39,318 per year, or $3,277 per month.


That’s almost three times more than today’s average Social Security benefit of
$1,230 per month, according to the Social Security Administration (Google it - it’s a fact).

And your retirement fund would last more than 33 years (until you're 98 if you retire at age 65)! I can only imagine how much better most average-income people could live in retirement if our government had just invested our money in
low-risk interest-earning accounts.

Instead, the folks in Washington pulled off a bigger Ponzi scheme than Bernie Madoff ever did. They took our money and used it elsewhere. They “forgot” that
it was OUR money they were taking. They didn’t have a referendum to ask us if we wanted to lend the money to them.


And they didn’t pay interest on the debt they assumed. And recently, they’ve told us that the money won’t support us for very much longer. But is it our fault they misused our investments?

And now, to add insult to injury, they’re calling it a “benefit,” as if we never worked to earn every penny of it. Just because they “borrowed” the money, doesn't mean that our investments were a charity! Let’s take a stand.


We have earned our right to Social Security and Medicare. Demand that our legislators bring some sense into our government –


Find a way to keep Social Security and Medicare going, for the sake of that
92% of our population who need it.


Here’s a novel idea: Reduce the military budget to support our own population. Get out of the countries who don’t want us there. Bring our soldiers home and
invest some of the $700B+ in giving them new careers building roads and parks, teaching our children, creating new technologies, discovering cures for
illness.


Then take the rest and begin to pay back Social Security, and call it what it is:
Our Earned Retirement Income.

Ending With a Smile