Tea With Lemon

GreenTech Geek: Well, Hello Billboard!

2012-11-20T12:21:00.000-08:00

Well good morning, billboard! Unwelcoming, disgusting, racist billboard. Scarring my neighborhood on University Avenue near Texas Street.

Those were my thoughts as I drove to work yesterday morning along University Avenue through my neighborhood of North Park, looked up, and saw THIS:

Why did it make me so angry? Find out, after the jump ...
It’s obviously aimed exclusively at my neighborhood’s Spanish-speaking population. This is the message on the billboard, in Spanish:

"Comete fraude de compensacion. Reciben uniforme nuevo. No lo Hagas. No lo Toleren. Denunciato Al 800-315-7672."

Translated to English that says, roughly:

"Commit workers comp fraud. Get a new uniform. Don't do it. It is not tolerated. Report it at 800-315-7672."

So let’s consider something: Some Latinos might engage in worker's comp fraud, but not all or most. Some gay men may engage in sex with underage boys, but not all or most. Some African Americans may rob liquor stores, but not all or most. Some women may abuse their toddlers, but not all or most.

So how about a similar billboard:

[Gay man in SD Jail prison jump suit]: “Have sex with underage boys. Get a new uniform ... Don’t do it. It is not tolerated. Report it at: 800-315-7672.”

Or:

[African American in SD Jail prison jump suit]: “Rob a liquor store. Get a new uniform ... Don’t do it. It is not tolerated. Report it at: 800-315-7672.”

Or :

[Woman in SD Jail prison jump suit]: “Beat your toddler. Get a new uniform ... Don’t do it. It is not tolerated. Report it at: 800-315-7672.”

North Park: the up-and-comer.

See my point?

If nothing else, isn’t a billboard like this just a fabulous way to burnish North Park’s image, bolster property values, and bring more customers to our shops and restaurants? NOT.

North Park is a neighborhood that has worked hard to pick itself up, dust itself off, and make something of itself. And it's paying off. None other than Forbes magazine recently deemed it one of the hippest neighborhoods in the nation.

Um, yeah, North Park is that hip.

And now this? Turns out, the billboard was put up by the San Diego County District Attorney's office, with similar billboards -- some in Spanish, some in English -- in other neighborhoods. It's part of their campaign to stamp out worker's comp fraud. I have no problem with that, as long as it's not done at the expense of denigrating an entire class of people (Latinos) and harming the quality of life in my neighborhood.

I called the District Attorney's office, and while I didn't get Bonnie Dumanis, I told the woman who answered about my complaint. She responded that other billboards with similar messages in English are up in other neighborhoods, so they are not targeting any one group of people. I said that many people will see ONLY this billboard and may not be aware of the others. She thanked me for my call and said she would send it up the totem poll.

The issue has generated some heated discussions on the Interwebs. Here's a sampling of the sentiments generated so far:

Why don't we put it up in Romney's driveway in La Jolla. It would look stunning against a sunset.

We should have a protest rally under that awful billboard! If it doesn't come down by Thanksgiving, imma organize one!

Not something I`d want to see when I look out my door ... There are more constructive ways to address crime issues, and they make much better use of money.

I saw a billboard with the same message in English the other day. This isn't some targeted form of racism or prejudice. This goes back to the worker comp reform bill signed by Gov. Brown last September and is trying to reduce the amount of fraudulent claims in California.

Taking down a Spanish PSA billboard ad because you think it denigrates a specific group? What about the English ones? If you feel that the Spanish ones do that injustice, why aren't you also criticizing the other? How else are they suppose to know when they don't speak English to not break a law? If I were in Mexico and I saw a billboard ad in English that said "Don't smuggle drugs. It's the LAW!" Should I be offended because the Mexican government is insinuating that I'm a criminal because of who I am? No. I would not be offended by it in the least. Its just a warning. Nothing more.

San Diego County
District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis.

I have a bit of mixed feelings about this. There's a version of this billboard in English on a bus stop right near my house, actually. But you could argue that's also classist, to put such language on public transportation. I think it's just kind of tacky in general. I mean, worker's comp fraud is a miiiiinor issue.

Why are you villainizing and targeting Latinos with this billboard? In a culturally diverse city as ours this offends me. Certainly there is a better way to get your message across without spending city dollars to be so discriminatory and prejudice to one culture in our city.

Please... What is the DA trying to do? I moved here 30 years ago and am proud of the gentrification that has taken place, to reverse the path in which our neighborhoods were heading. It has raised incomes, as well as property values, and has made for a better quality of life. This billboard, being in Spanish, is out of place in a predominantly English-speaking area. A cultural diversity is enjoyed in this area more than almost every other part of town. Why target Latinos? It's a bad stereotype that we're trying to destroy. Please educate the County DA. Thank you.

As for the GreenTech Geek, I've started a petition to have the offensive (in my opinion) Spanish-language billboards, at least, taken down. If you agree, you're invited to sign it here: http://signon.org/sign/tell-bonnie-to-take-em

Dave Mass, a staff writer with San Diego CityBeat (the hip urban paper based in North Park) who "Tweets on local politics, investigative journalism, sci-fi and other geekables" even issued a Tweet about the petition:

After it gets at least 50 signatures, it will go to the DA's office for response. What do you think, fair readers; do you think we can get Bonnie to take em down?

Until next week ...

Instant Message Movie Review: Twilight - Breaking Dawn Part II

2012-11-19T08:14:00.000-08:00

Bella and the Big Finale
as seen at Cinepolis, A Luxury Theatre and Social Hotspot

By GreenTech Geek & T

Tons of moderate spoilers. Don't read if you don't want to know.

GreenTech Geek
BEST

T.
Quesadilla? Yes my quesadilla was delicious. But we're here to talk about the end to a national nightmare. The conclusion of the Twilight Saga.

GreenTech Geek
BEST. That's my review of it. And what'd YOU think of it?

T.
I agree with you it was the BEST Twilight of them all. Which is akin to saying the clap is better than herpes, because you don't keep it forever. Like luggage (that joke was from Eddie Murphy when he was in his prime). Well ... you're the Twilight fan -- so you thought it was satisfying?

Find out ... after the jump ...

GreenTech Geek
It was like payoff for watching all the others. And I think we must honor this film for being the most resoundingly pro-gay Twilight of them all..

T.
CURVE BALL ALERT.
Huh? What made this more "pro gay?"

GreenTech Geek
Well, even though Taylor Lautner (go Team Jacob!) only took his shirt off once in it and seemed slightly less gay than in previous Twilights, he was clearly cast in this one as the supportive, nurturing "gay dad."

T.
Um ... no. He actually -- what was the dumb word, "imprinted" -- on the baby of the now-dead woman, Bella, who he has been stalking for several films, despite her spurning his advances. Thus they were promised to one another as lifelong mates.
Jacob was a pervert.

Twilight gets gayer: the awesome
Amazonian lesbian vampire, Zafrina.

GreenTech Geek
Right, but every gay man and fag hag in America see themselves in Jacob and Bella, respectively ... especially after this finale. And how about those two terrific gay couples featured in the film? The two gay Russian vampires and the two lesbian Amazonian vampires. They nearly stole the show!

And how awesome did you think it was to see Bella kick some ass in this movie?

T.
The two gay Russian Vampires and the two lesbian Amazonian vampires DID almost steal the show. If you recall ... I actually BURST out laughing when the two Amazons first appeared. Posing and looking ridiculous. And I actually BURST OUT LAUGHING again at the two Russians' Boris and Natasha accents.

GreenTech Geek
Yes, those were two rare times when you actually laughed at appropriate times.
But back to Bella's bad-assery ...

T.
Um ... I don't think I was supposed to laugh at their ridiculous accents or the preposterous posing, which all the characters do -- stand around and pose, in groups, preposterously. But I won't harp on the excruciatingly paced and godawful first 3/4 of the film, because I like surprises.

Vladimir the gay Russian vampire.
So long Jacob ... Team Vladimir!

And the fight scene between the Cullens and the Volturi was unexpectedly brutal. That twenty minutes of the film gets a solid A. It was like Bella had joined the X-Men.

GreenTech Geek
That first 3/4 was about Bella discovering the new ... her. It was like foreplay. And it was beautiful.

T.
Oh brother.

GreenTech Geek
And I agree with you. The extensive grand battle scene was ... orgasmic. Like experiencing the best vampire sex ever.

T.
It's been awhile eh?
The first 3/4 of the movie was only made bearable by the comfy seats of Cinepolis La Costa ... and the knowledge that it wouldn't go on forever. What's up with the slow pacing and posing?

GreenTech Geek
All the Twilights have been characterized by that strange, off-kilter pacing. This one bugged less than the others because -- being the excellent climax it was -- we wanted to savor every last minute of it.

Bella & the X-Men

T.
Anyway, the battle scene was great. Loved when the dad got his head ripped off, and I loved when the highly annoying Volturi were getting their asses kicked by Bella and the really gorgeous Cullen sister who could see the future. What was her name?

You say toma-toe, I say toma-tah. You say “savor,” I say “suffer.” At least we found some common ground with that awesome heads getting ripped off and jaws getting grabbed and then extended until they split in half! HA!

GreenTech Geek
Lots of beheadings -- yup. But I was dumbfounded by that particular "beheading" -- can you even call it such? I mean, only the top part of the head above the jaw was severed, so what do you call that?

T.
No idea. But I liked it.

GreenTech Geek
I love the special gift that Bella developed. I won't say what it was. But it was an affecting homage to the power of mothers -- and motherhood.

T.
You can say what it was. This will be marked as "spoilers within."
Someone would be pissed by now with all we've given away.

The comfy seats of Cinepolis La Costa.

So let's wrap this bitch up.
Final thought?

GreenTech Geek
BEST

T.
And grade using A to F?

GreenTech Geek
U first.

T.
As expected, most of it sucked. A lot. Sometimes it sucked even more than my expectations. But it was the best Twilight because of that unexpected, lead-characters-getting-their-heads-ripped-off rumble. Those twenty minutes of unexpected fun gets a solid A. I also liked the sister (who's name you clearly don't remember) and the little girl who played their daughter was really cute.

It's ALICE, ok?

I also like the blond, pillow-lipped vampire sisters ... and Bella has never, ever looked better and managed not to be annoying now that she is empowered. Edward was hot too (go Team Edward!).

Still, that bit of good just can't erase all the posing, pacing issues, stiff acting, Jacob-the-pervert, and general silliness.
So overall I’ll give it a D-.

GreenTech Geek
ALICE, OK? ALICE ALICE ALICE.
I give it an A+. A very entertaining piece of film-making and a very satisfying conclusion to a uniquely American take on the vampire genre.

A pleasure seeing the movie with you T. And even though I talked during the movie, you laughed during it, so we're even.

T.
My laughter was NOT intentional. Who wouldn't laugh at Boris and Natasha? But it was good laughter ... when heads were getting ripped off.

The gang ... just standing around.

TWL Instant Message Movie Review: Skyfall

2012-11-17T11:26:00.001-08:00

This movie review made possible in part by Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas.
photo from 007.com

So the practice Snow White and the Hunstmen review was fun, but its time to get down to business with piranha's...shaunapiranha's first official Instant Message Movie Review. She had the pleasure of watching the movie at Cinepolis' La Costa location, so we know that any bad feelings towards the movie wont be due to a bad theater experience. Will the 23rd installment of the James Bond franchise prove that making more of these movies is still warranted? Here's the 15 minute instant message session where shaunapiranha and her honey Dr. Gay (yes, that is his real name) hash out their thoughts on Skyfall.

SPOILER ALERT: If you don't want to know any details about plot or casting, stop reading now.

dr. gay: So, first thoughts?

shaunapiranha: I kept hearing good things from people, but overall, I wasn't very impressed.

dr. gay: It's a Bond movie, I dont think it's trying to win an Oscar. It's not meant to be thought provoking, there's just supposed to be some action, some espionage, and some romance mixed in.

shaunapiranha: Ok Bond expert, how many of these movies have you seen?

find out after the jump...

dr. gay: I would say probably at least 10.

shaunapiranha: I am pretty sure this was my first one.

dr. gay: We saw the last one together.

shaunapiranha: Really? Wow. Ok, since I have the movie memory of a goldfish, why don't you tell me what the key elements to a Bond movie are, and we will decide how well the movie stacked up.

dr. gay: First off, Bond has to have a cool car. In which case, in this movie, we get a throwback to the o.g. Bond car, which was cool, but also kinda disappointing, since it's nothing new.

shaunapiranha: Ah, yeah, I obviously didn't know that, I just thought it was a cool old car he had stashed away for a rainy day. I do remember seeing a nice Audi at the beginning.

dr. gay: Yeah, but that was just a normal car, Bond is supposed to have a sweet state-of-the-art car with cool gadgets in it.

shaunapiranha: The car had built in guns!

dr. gay: Yeah, but it's not innovative.

shaunapiranha: What about that amazing yacht? You are getting me one for Christmas right? If you don't it clearly means you don't love me.

All I want for Christmas is a 14.2 million dollar yacht.
photo from bornrich.com

dr. gay: I can afford a picture of the yacht, will that do?

shaunapiranha: Only if its because the actual yacht can't fit under the tree.

dr. gay: Yes dear. Anyway, gadgets are another huge part to a bond movie, and in this case he just got a special gun and a radio. Disappointing.

shaunapiranha: I thought the biometric gun was cool, but in a movie where everyone has their own guns it really doesn't seem that useful that only you can fire your own weapon. They made it SEEM useful, but really, it's probably not.

dr. gay: I think this movie was trying to be much more about "Bond the man" not about "007 the spy".

shaunapiranha: Yeah, it definitely seemed like it was trying to be more of an internal soul searching kinda movie, but I never really got the feeling that Bond had questionable allegiances, so if they were going for that they failed. I thought the villain was incredibly lame. No disrespect to Javier Bardem, that guy could act the crap out of any role, but he got a really annoying character to play.

dr. gay: I think it was supposed to be more about Bond tackling his own demons and questioning his mortality rather than if he was going to turn on M. But I still wasn't a fan of the villain in general.

shaunapiranha: I feel like ever since superhero movies got popular there is this need for villains to have to be a zany, crazy, wisecracking genius. I think it's a weakness in superhero movies, and it's even a bigger weakness in non-superhero movies. It's getting really old, and it causes lack of tension, because you know that when the villain enters the room, they are going to talk for 10 minutes about how smart they are and why they are doing what they are doing and flail their arms like a manic before they even get close to trying to kill anybody important. What's really scary are bad guys that don't talk, they are just going to try to kill you the second they walk in the room.

dr. gay: I feel you.

shaunapiranha: Wow, speaking of superheros, now that I think about it, this movie is basically a retelling of Batman. You've got the orphaned hero with unresolved issues, you've got a zany cartoonish villain, you have a huge mansion of a family home, and you have a old wise loveable caretaker for said mansion!

dr. gay: Oh yeah, Kincade, I liked him a lot!

shaunapiranha: Me too! I was really worried they were going to kill him off. As soon as I saw him I was thinking "no! don't kill off the nice old guy!". But he made it through. Good for him, it takes a special supporting character to survive an action movie.

Goodbye painful childhood memories!
photo from the Daily Mail

dr. gay: I wonder what the books say about Bond's back story, if he is really supposed to be an orphan from Scotland.

shaunapiranha: There are books?

dr. gay: Yes, the movies are based on books written by Ian Fleming that started in the 1950s I believe.

shaunapiranha: wow, I really know nothing about James Bond. Let's hope I never get this as a Jeopardy category. But yeah, I would be interested to see if the novels are as Batman-esque as this movie was made out to be.

dr. gay: I bet the internet knows.

shaunapiranha: We will look it up later. Still, I don't think they put much thought into the overall plot here and it was more of just a 2 plus hour excused to kill off M. As someone who has seen (and remembers) more Bond movies than I, did her death stir any emotions in you? For me it fell totally flat. It took me way too long to realize that Bond was actually crying over her. I honestly thought he was just dripping sweat.

dr. gay: Yeah it didn't really make me sad at all, and I think she has been around for awhile. She's never been a huge character though, shes just always in the background.

shaunapiranha: Well, there is also the fact that she comes off as a pretty cold unattached person in general. Hard to get super emotional about an unemotional person.

dr. gay: So, getting back on track, another essential quality of a good Bond movie is style. Bond has to be stylish.

shaunapiranha: Oooooh, he did look dapper in that tux. You know I love a good bow tie. Oh and I liked that they had the little nod to his shaken martini. I might not know much about Bond, but I know how he likes his Martini. Did you see that the theater had Skyfall themed drinks? I thought it was fun, and obviously they had the classic Vesper.

dr. gay: Oh, I didn't see the cocktails! We will have to check them out next time we go.

shaunapiranha: For sure. Ok back to Bond's style.

dr. gay: He was definitely ripped, and guys are supposed to want to be him. I would take his physique for sure.

shaunapiranha: I don't know, Daniel Craig just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because hes blonde. He's got a more soldier vibe than a slick spy vibe. He's James Bond. He should walk in a room, and all the girls should want to go home with him. I just don't find him sexy at all.

dr. gay: Unlike Q?

shaunapiranha: hehe, I don't know what you are talking about...

dr. gay: You are seriously blushing and giggling like a 12 year old girl right now.

Will you be my Quatermaster?
photo from Metro

shaunapiranha: It's the glasses! And the floppy dark hair! I can't help myself. There is probably something wrong with the movie when I would choose Q over Bond.

dr. gay: You probably don't speak for the general population.

shaunapiranha: Judging by the amount of Q fan art I saw on the internet, I think you are wrong.

dr. gay: Ok, what do I know? I also never realized that Q stood for Quartermaster until they mentioned it.

shaunapiranha: Ah. I got really excited when the woman on the board questioning M made a comment about "not getting out the bunting" and I knew what that meant. I actually didn't know what bunting was until earlier today when I was on Martha Stewart's website. It's basically festive garland.

dr. gay: Ah, yeah, that comment went over my head. Silly British words. Anyway, Bond movies are also supposed to be about Bond seducing women, and the romance part of this movie was not that impressive.

shaunapiranha: Who was supposed to be the Bond girl? Moneypenny? Severine? I would guess Severine, but she didn't last long.

Bérénice Marlohe as the new bond girl Sévérine
photo from screencrush

dr. gay: Yeah, she didn't really do much for me. The red head in the last movie was way hotter.

shaunapiranha: This girl had a really pretty silk robe, and that sweet yacht, but that's all I really have to say about her.

dr. gay: Oh, I forgot about chase scenes. Chase scenes are very important to a good Bond movie.

shaunapiranha: The opening chase scene was the best. I loved when they were riding motorcycles up stairs and over rooftops. I really want to ride a motorcycle up stairs now. And the opening credits were fantastic. I loved all the parts underwater, and Adele did an amazing job with the theme song. This movie really did start out promising and just went downhill after the credits for me. Although the cinematography was awesome throughout.

dr. gay: The chase scene was great, but I have never been a fan of the opening credits. They are always forgettable to me.

shaunapiranha: I thought the opposite, I thought the opening was the most stylish and interesting part of the movie, and the rest was very generic.

dr. gay: Wow that's probably not the sign of a good movie.

shaunapiranha: Probably not. But we did get to enjoy the movie in those comfy reclining leather seats. I love that there is room to curl up in them. And it's awesome that you can flip the armrest up and turn it into a loveseat for cuddling, even though you refused to do so.

dr. gay: I like having armrests! I will make it up to you.

shaunapiranha: By buying me a yacht?

dr. gay: Crap, I must be in a deeper hole than I thought.

shaunapiranha: Ok, so what is your letter grade?

dr. gay: I would give it a B. I know what I expect from a Bond movie and this did a reasonable job of providing those things, even if some were not the best.

shaunapiranha: I am going to go with a C. I found myself getting bored at times, and nothing was really impressive, aside from the opening scene and credits, and of course Q.

Editor's note: Cinepolis has multiple San Diego locations for you to enjoy movies this holiday season. The amenities are amazing so treat yourself and your loved ones to a premium movie going experience today!

Gingerbreadmama Gossip Wrap: Channing, Lindsey, Elmo, Justin and Selena, Bon Jovi’s kid and more Edition

2012-11-16T18:48:00.005-08:00

Logo by: Logo by www.petejdesign.com

‘Tis the Season to Give
Lady Gaga pledged $1 million to New York and the Red Cross towards Sandy’s relief efforts, saying, “If it wasn't for NYC: the Lower East Side, Harlem, the Bronx and Brooklyn, I would not be the woman or artist that I am today.”

This money may actually be worth something someday
Photo: fanpop.com

Also helping those in need monetarily is Carrie Underwood, who donated all proceeds from her sold-out show in Atlantic City. Barbara Walters and George Stephanopoulos both made sizable donations, with Walters giving $250,000 and Stephanopoulos $50,000 to the Red Cross, in support of ABC’s Day of Giving and Russell Crow donated money to NYC Mayors Fund and plant a million trees fund.

Celebs giving in other ways include Ben Stiller, who worked in a Brooklyn shelter serving food and Denise Richards, who adopted a rescue dog after visiting the North Shore Animal League America shelter in Long Island.

We have a full column waiting for you after the jump!

Lindsey and Jail Time Sitting in a Tree…
The girl can’t get a break, but maybe she doesn't deserve one. Flashback to about five months ago, Lindsay was in a car accident with a big rig while in a rented Porsche and told the police she wasn't driving. Well…turns out she is a liar, liar, pants on fire.

Not crying, not smoking, and definitely not driving!
Photo: autoguide.com

Witnesses all said she was, in fact driving so the police determined that she was lying and that is, apparently a misdemeanor when authorities are involved so she is being charged for the crime.

According to reports, Lohan is still on probation from the first jewelry heist; which means she could be looking at jail time.

In addition to her court woes, Lohan is also on the outs with the great and powerful Barbara Walters, after dissing her to appear on Jay Leno instead. “Lohan was supposed to speak with Walters about her new Lifetime film, Liz & Dick, for a 20/20 episode that would have aired Nov. 16. But the actress pulled out of the interview, saying she "didn't feel up to it."

Then, NBC released a schedule indicating that the actress will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Tuesday, Nov. 20. According to an always professional Walters, “I think that I could have had a more honest explanation. I wish Lindsay the best.”

Oh Elmo
Kevin Clash, the puppeteer behind Sesame Street’s Elmo, has been under scrutiny for allegations that he had an improper relationship with a 16-year-old boy. Clash admitted to having a relationship with his accuser but was adamant that it was “between two consenting adults”.

The boy, now 23, is Sheldon Stephens and is recanting his allegations, with his lawyers releasing the statement, “He wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.”

I'm guessing Elmo was the top
Photo: thegrio.files.wordpress.com

Clash is “relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest” and will be taking an undisclosed leave of absence to “put this ordeal behind him.”

Sesame Workshop officials say, “the character Elmo would survive despite the scandal because Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of Sesame Street to engage, educate and inspire children around the world."

Young Love
They date, they break-up, he drives fast, they get back together. Yawn. Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez broke up last weekend. Oh the heartbreak when you are 18 and 20. A week after Gomez dumped him (apparently they spend too much time apart and she had trust issues), he’s been stopped twice for traffic infractions, once in his Fisker Karma for excessive speed, and also in his Ferrari for making an unsafe left turn and having expired registration.

Da Biebster is sprung
Photo: zap2it.com

Now reports are emerging that Bieber is trying to woo her back. He picked her up from the airport and the couple have been spotted at The Four Season, and her house.

The Bits

For the women, gays, and closeted types

Channing Tatum is People’s 2012 Sexiest Man Alive.
A year after Lauren Scruggs, the model/blogger, was severely injured after walking into a plane propeller, finds her on a road to recovery. After intense physical therapy, she now has a prosthetic eye and hand, and has written a memoir Still Lolo: The Inspiring True Story and resumed writing for her website. Details of her settlement with the insurance company are not public but rumored to be more than a million dollars.
Although the names of Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer’s twins have still not been revealed, the sex of the babies is said to be a boy and a girl.
Malia Jones and Alex O’Loughlin named their new son Lion. Lion O’Loughlin, not making this up.
Scott Wolf and wife Kelley had baby #2, a boy Miller William Wolf. Maybe they should have named him Lion, Lion Wolf…
Bryan Adams and Alicia Grimaldi are expecting baby #2.
Beverley Mitchell and husband Michael Cameron are expecting their first child this Spring.
Dax Shepard and Kristin Bell are expecting their first child. The couple have been engaged for three years, but have stated in interviews that kids would probably come before marriage.
A judge has denied Halle Berry’s request to move her daughter Nahla to France permanently.
Stephanie Bongiovi, the 19 yr old daughter of Jon Bon Jovi, was found unresponsive in her Hamilton College dorm room on Wednesday, after an apparent overdose. At the time, she and fellow student Ian Grant were charged with possession of “a small amount” of heroin and marijuana. The County District Attorny has now dropped those charges, in accordance with a state law signed into effect in 2011, that “someone having a drug overdose or seeking help for an overdose victim can’t be prosecuted for having a small amount of heroin or any amount of marijuana.” Bon Jovi is scheduled to perform in Times Square o 12/5 to “benefit Hamilton’s scholarships and arts programs.”
RIP: Terri Shields, 79, mother of Brooke. “My mother was an enormous part of my life and of who I am today. I loved her, laughed with her, and respected her. And although she had her share of struggles, she was my mom."
RIP: Henry Colman, 89, veteran TV producer.
RIP: Lucille Bliss, 96, the voice of Smurfette.
TLC is planning a new album and also kicking around the idea of touring with Lisa Left Eye Lopez as a hologram. Lopez died in a car accident in 2002. “The hologram is something we talked about and thought about years ago. Obviously timing is everything, but we're definitely talking about it.”

TV Bits (Spoilers)

The I Smell AaPile of Poop face
Photo: teamusa.com

Well-deserved! Writer-director-producer J.J. Abrams, will be awarded the 2013 Norman Lear Achievement Award in Television, an “honor that celebrates top creative talent on the small screen”, presented the award at the annual Producers Guild Awards on Jan. 26, 2013.
More Olympians hitting the small screen. Enough already of this trend! Gymnast (and master of the I Smell a Pile Of Poop face) McKayla Maroney is the latest to land a guest star gig. She’ll appear on Hart of Dixie in the 11/20 ep as “Rose's best friend, Tonya, a country girl with an accent who is not very nice to Zoe”.
Hart of Dixie, is also casting a recurring role for “Jonah, a handsome, charismatic, somewhat cocky doctor who returns to Bluebell to visit his family.”
Shirley Jones is guesting on Cougar Town as Jules and Grayson’s new neighbor, “under the condition that they get to join the Cul-de-Sac Crew”. No word yet on who is playing her husband. Also joining the cast is Gillian Vigman, who’ll play Bobby’s new love interest.
Sam Page is joining Last Resort as “Connor, military tech whiz Kylie’s (Autumn Reeser) confident and entitled older brother”. His ep airs 12/6 and could be recurring.
Patricia Arquette guests on Law & Order: SVU as a prostitute gone missing after a man goes on a killing spree. Anne Meara has been tapped to portray her mom.
Madeline Zima guests on The Vampire Diaries, as “Charlotte, a character rumored to share a romantic past with Damon”.
Graceland is getting a new FBI agent in the form of Pedro Pascal.
April Bowlby, AKA Kandi, is returning to Two and a Half Men.
Ken Leung and Jeananne Goossen join Eoin Macken and Freddy Rodriguez in the NBC pilot for After Hours, about “the graveyard shift in the ER at San Antonio Medical Center. Leung will play Topher, a flip-flops and shorts-wearing emergency room doctor who was previously a surgeon on the battlefield where he became hardened and jaded. Goossen, will play a beautiful and stylish resident at the hospital.”
Emily Rios joins the FX pilot The Bridge.
Constance Zimmer is joining Grey’s Anatomy as “Dr. Cahill, a super-confident, self-possessed, laser-focused professional with a wicked sense of humor.”
Chloe Sevigny, James D’Arcy and Bahar Soomekh have been cast in A&E’s pilot, Those Who Kill about a “police detective (Sevigny) and forensic profiler (D’Arcy) who possess a deep understanding of the serial killers they hunt.” Soomekh will play the wife of the forensic profiler.
Mila Kunis will executive produce Meridian Hills for The CW. The plot, set in 1972, centers on a “young, newly married woman who joins the Junior League, discovering an eclectic group of other young women who become unlikely allies in her quest to change the system.”
CBS canceled the sitcom Partners.

Movie Bits

Skinny has never looked so busted
Photo: usmagazine.com

Anne Hathaway is talking about what she went through to play Fatine in the upcoming Les Miserable, eating only “two thin squares of dried oatmeal paste per day, to lose 15 lbs. in two weeks. “I had to be obsessive about it. The idea was to look near death. Looking back on the whole experience – and I don't judge it in any way – it was definitely a little nuts. It was definitely a break with reality, but I think that's who Fatine is anyway.” She chopped her hair AND starved herself for a role? Oscar nominated for sure!
Good Universe picked up the film rights to the young adult novel Angelfall. Sam Raimi is signed-on to produce.
Harrison Ford, Carrie Fischer and Mark Hamill have all expressed interest in joining the cast of the next Star Wars flick. Director Matthew Vaughn is rumored “to be in talks to direct” this next installation.
A Casablanca remake may be coming to a theater near you. A script was written by Howard Koch, an original writer of the film, in 1988 titled Return to Casablanca. The plot is typical, “upon returning to America, Ilsa learns that she's pregnant with Rick's child. He was conceived the night Ilsa came to Rick’s place to plead for the Letters of Transit . . . The secret was not kept from Laszlo, but being the kind of man he was and owing so much to Rick, he adopted the child and treated him as his own son. The boy, named Richard, grew up handsome and wanted to find out more about his father and returns to Casablanca. He is then thrust into a world of political unrest and meets a young Arab activist, who becomes Richard's love interest.” Warner Bros. turned it down in 1989, where it lay in wait,,,until now. Cass Warner, one of Koch’s screenwriting students AND a descendant of a founding Warner brother is saying that “that WB would be interested if she could find a director they'd be interested in working with.”

Movies Opening this Week

Quote of the Week:
“When I have my short, short hair, that’s when I’m my best self. But hair doesn't define me. It’s just an accessory that I get to wear, like a handbag or shoes.” – Halle Berry

Growing up my friends used to say "I'm attracted to black women, I'd bang Halle Berry!"
Photo: mynewhitmanwrites.com

Written by Gingerbreadmama for Tea With Lemon. Photos and captions courtesy of the TWL Editor-in-Chief and our T-VIP. Sources: radaronline.com, people.com, tvguide.com, tvline.com. eonline.com, huffingtonpost.com, latimes.com, variety.com, deadline.com, yahoo.com, tmz.com

T's Trailer Park: Just Shut Up & Show Us the Trailer Edition

2012-11-15T12:12:00.000-08:00

Warm Bodies

After a zombie becomes involved with the girlfriend of one of his victims, their romance sets in motion a sequence of events that might transform the entire lifeless world. From the novel by Isaac Marion, Warm Bodies was written and directed by Jonathan Levine. At first I thought, “Oh great, Twilight with zombies instead of vampires,” but this looks fun. Too bad they give away so much in this trailer that I feel like I’ve already seen the movie. I do love those movie posters. I have a thing for movie posters, just ask our gossip columnist, Gingerbreadmama.

I’ve got a big mess of Trailers (accompanied by needless yammering) waiting for you featuring The Sexiest Man Alive, bitchy single moms, Brad Pitt battling zombies, Stephanie Meyers latest assault on the cinema, Elijah Wood in torture porn, both Franco brothers, and pop-eyed starlets and hobbits….

World War Z

A U.N. employee is racing against time and fate, as he travels the world trying to stop the outbreak of a deadly Zombie pandemic. Simply put, Brad Pitt vs. a zombie pile on. Marja told me that she has trouble relating to all these zombie apocalypse survival movies because she would have no interest in fighting tooth and nail to survive in a world without Sephora and bottled water. She was deadly serious when she told me that when news broke of a zombie infestation, she would simply open the door, pour herself a nice glass of Chardonnay, take a seat, sip…and wait.

The Host

Get More:
Jake Abel, Saoirse Ronan, William Hurt, Diane Kruger, Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

A parasitic alien soul is injected into the body of Melanie Stryder. Instead of carrying out her race's mission of taking over the Earth, "Wanda" (as she comes to be called) forms a bond with her host and sets out to aid other free humans. Based on the novel by Stephanie Meyer (of Twilight notoriety) and adapted for the screen and directed by Andrew Niccol. I have absolutely no interest in seeing this and no one involved with the film could possibly care less. I’m not the target audience. Meyer’s horde of triangle and hunk loving fans (Jared, the Edward up in this bitch, is described as being muscular and tall, with tan skin, sienna-colored eyes and naturally dark, but sun bleached hair) will be expected to fill cinema seats.

Fully Loaded

Two feisty single moms spend a night cruising LA and discover it's not as easy as it used to be to hook up with a total stranger. This trailer has a hilarious line, "There's no such thing as a man with potential. If he doesn't come fully loaded don't drive him off the lot." This is in stark contrast to what I tell my friend, Tiffany, who is a single mom pushing 40. She still thinks Prince Charming is going to ride up on a horse and whisk her away. I told her if she sees Prince Charming barreling towards her on a horse she better get the hell out of the way because he's there to swoop up the twenty something lass behind her. Tiffany needs to learn that sometimes you have to "work" with someone or "settle" when you've got a bit of mileage and a bit of (precious) baggage. Unless you're rich.

Side Effects

A woman turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband's upcoming release from prison. This thriller, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is a must see because it reunites director Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum who brought us the fun Magic Mike which I'm certain is responsible for this:

Now there's nothing standing in the way of a Gosling win in 2013!

The Great and Powerful Oz

How the Wizard arrived in Oz and became the ruler. A prequel to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

James Franco, a possible spoiler to my prediction of a Gosling sweep for Sexiest Man Alive 2013, stars in the origin story of the Wizard. This tale takes place well before that bitch Dorothy appeared and went on her notorious murder spree. There is a strong supporting cast with Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, and Mila Kunis (almost snarling in this trailer) as the witches.

Les Miserables

An adaptation of the successful stage musical based on Victor Hugo's classic novel set in 19th-century France, in which a paroled prisoner named Jean Valjean seeks redemption. Although many of you checked out at "musical," fans of misery and non stop suffering may want to give this a shot because Les Mis delivers in spades. I hope this pic, featuring leprosy ridden, singing prostitutes, back-stabbing, love triangles, a pop eyed starlet, revolution, an abnormally strong peasant on a quest for redemption, and a preposterously stubborn police officer is as good as this trailer.

Maniac

(This is the Red Band trailer – Watch at Own Risk. I refuse to view it because I abhor this kind of nonsense but have placed here as a favor to the Editor In Chief. He LOVES torture porn almost as much as he loves adult porn.)

The owner of a mannequin shop develops a dangerous obsession with a young artist. Elijah Wood (so creepy in Sin City he gave me the heebie jeebies), stars in a remake of the 1980 film Maniac. And that's all I've got to say about that. Maybe the Editor will throw in his two cents in the comments section.

We Love T's Trailer Park!

This has been Trailer Park

GreenTech Geek: Whither Prop 37?

2012-11-13T11:28:00.002-08:00

Last week, California was poised to make history as the first state in the nation to require foods containing genetically modified organism to carry labels stating such.

You may remember my previous column about Prop 37, GreenTech Geek: Frankenfood.

Alas, we awoke last Wednesday to the news that Proposition 37 had been narrowly defeated.

NOT SO FAST!

Turns out, the margin of defeat was so slim -- about 600,000 votes -- that the remaining uncounted votes statewide might be enough to carry it to victory. But who says those remaining uncounted voted will be counted? Nobody, unless you, me and enough other people who want to know what's in our food make a stand and demand that the votes be counted.

You can make it happen by signing a petition to the California Secretary of State ... after the jump ...

It's may not be too late. We can still avoid this fate!

Here's some background on the issued, from SignOn.org:

Jon Rappoport, investigative journalist, states that OVER A MILLION votes on Prop 37 (the GMO labelling initiative) in CA have gone uncounted to date. Since the margin of "victory" is about 600,000 votes, this means Prop 37 could actually have passed. If we want to do something about this, NOW is the time. A petition seeks ACTION by the CA Secretary of State to count ALL the votes cast on Prop 37. If you cast a vote on Prop 37, make sure it gets counted by signing this petition, requiring the CA Secretary of State to do her job.
A little background: On November 8, two days after the election, Jon Rappoport found that many votes in California remain uncounted. He decided to try and find out just how many, and contacted the Secretary of State of CA, responsible for elections in the state, who apparently doesn't know. He was informed that all counties in California have been asked, but not ordered, to report in those figures, but it is apparently voluntary. So Rappoport decided to pick the largest counties and called their voter registrar offices and these are the results he obtained:

Santa Clara County: 180,000 votes remain uncounted.

Orange County: 241,336 votes remain uncounted. San Diego County: 475,000 votes remain uncounted.

LA County: 782,658 votes remain uncounted.

In other words, in just those four counties, 1.6 million votes remain uncounted. It is still unknown how many other votes are uncounted in other Californian counties.
About Rappoport: Nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, he has worked as an investigative reporter for 30 years, writing articles on politics, medicine, and health for CBS Healthwatch, LA Weekly, Spin Magazine, Stern, and other newspapers and magazines in the US and Europe. Rappoport has delivered lectures and seminars on global politics, health, logic and creative power to audiences around the world.

And here is the text of the petition:

We petition Debra Bowen, Secretary of State of California, to require ALL votes cast in the November 6 election be counted immediately. We specifically demand that ALL ballots in the following counties be counted and recorded: Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, and Santa Clara. We demand that the results of this complete ballot counting be made public immediately.

I signed it! And here's how you can too: http://signon.org/sign/prop-37-count-all-the-votes

Here's how the votes are shaping up for Prop 37: http://www.carighttoknow.org/151504/vote_count

Let's do it. Let's make history!

Until next week ...

America's Next Top Model College Edition Recap: Jamaica The Finals?

2012-11-13T11:05:00.004-08:00

ANTM Cycle 19
episodes 10 & 11

By Dancer

Episode 10 – Don’t drown in all that Art

Now that Victoria is gone who will they pick on?? The two blonds are gunning for Leila.

Cedella Marley, Bob Marley’s daughter, brings her swimwear for the girls to pose in the water with dolphins and then have ride on the nose of the dolphins.

The first couple girls have okay photos in the shallow end but the pictures riding the dolphins were just bad. Kiara is hidden behind a wall of water and Natasia looks scared. Then Leila starts her photo shoot with the dolphin up close but it freaks out and whacks her in the leg. Hey, at least it didn’t try to hump her.

The training promises that there won’t be any more issues and they all head back into the water. I think Laura does pretty good in both the photo and the ride. Kristin looks flat in her pictures and is channeling her inner cheerleader on the dolphin ride. Laura looks like she’s getting good photos with the dolphin but on the ride she loses her bathing suit top and everyone gets a good look at her boobies.

Comments on the shoot were provided to the group:

Laura – she was told she was basically a one-look girl, and she got props though she lost her top in the dolphin ride.

Kristin – was told she looked like a scared tourist with the dolphin.

Natasia - was given good feedback on her picture and interaction with the dolphin.

Leila – they liked her picture and showed the bathing suit really well

Kiara - was told that while she looked great in the suit, she was just a bit tooo sexy.

Leila won the best photo and got a spa day. She got to choose someone to join her and she chose Kiara.

They get back to the house and there are two racks of prizes for Leila; bathing suits and clothes. And Kristin was completely seething over her loss and dislike of Leila. Laura was listening to the ranting and not participating which is probably a good idea, since it’s VERY likely that she’ll have to turn around and play nice with others soon.

BeardedLady Tyra video mail tells the girls something or another about a babbling brook and falling. They arrive at these beautiful river falls and they have to pose in the falls as a warrior. The photographer arrives, and surprise its Tyra!!!

When she speaks with the girls Tyra explains that she’s gonna make some art; this photo shoot isn’t about fashion. Tyra gives them each a theme: wood, shells, pipes, metal and fabric. Tyra is the style director for her vision.

Natasia was first – she was pipes and had a crazy headdress with a ‘eye patch’. While she was right up in the waterfall she clearly couldn’t hear Tyra’s directions.

Kiara was metal and was draped in chains and had a metal halo.

Laura looked good draped in shells but she was very uncomfortable in the water on the slippery stones. As we have seen before, this created a downward spiral in her performance. Off camera Tyra was surprised how difficult it was to work with her, and Laura was frustrated with how it went.

Kristen in fabric appeared to have the hardest time since the fabric kept falling off as the water movement was trying to take it down the falls.

Leila worked the wood and her angles well. Off camera Tyra said she thinks that the fans picked the right model to return.

Back at the house the hate tirade continues with Kristin complaining to the camera. On the flip side Leila told the camera there is no love loss sine she dislikes Kristin as well.

At judging:

BryanBoy is looking crazy – wearing a head wrap with veil and some clunky earrings…. Um, fashion forward? Not so much.

Nastasia was told that they liked her look and her body in the picture. Her scores were one 8 and two 9’s

Laura gets some good feedback from Rob as he tells her that she’s getting better and better, and Kelly cuts in and asks if he thinks this picture is better than the steampunk shot which he has to admit that it’s not, thus devaluing everything he just said about her. Um, awkward! Kelly called her schlumpy, and Tyra told her that she needs to work on her angles. She got a 7, 9 & 8.

Leila wore her challenge win outfit and looked great. Her best picture is really beautiful. Kelly says it’s the best picture. She was scored three 10s.

Kristen’s picture was way better than what it looked like it was going to be. Kelly and Rob were both disappointed but it was Tyra that spoke to the difficulties of the shoot with the fight between the fabric and the water. She received a 7, 8 and a 9 from Tyra.

Kiara was the last up, and her metal picture is really good. Rob was tongue tied over her booty tooch and Kelly was happy with the picture and told her she was a warrior girl (everyday). Tyra told her to bring this every time. Here scores were two 10s and a 9.

The camera’s went backstage with the girls while they waited with imitate focus on Kristin looking update and pissed off. Kiara and Leila are seen hugging one another happy and congratulating each other for their good judging reviews. Kristin snidely says how she appreciates having so much respect for the other girls by being so enthusiastic about your great photos. I love that Kiara points out that when she has a bad performance she lashes out on others. There is a lot of back and forth on who’s being rude, yada yada. Leila tries to toss two cents in and is cut off by Kristin. Kristin says that she’d “never sit and gloat about how awesome I feel when she knows that there are other people in the room that could be leaving the competition’.

Well, ANTM doesn’t have an “untucked” show that shows the backstage experience but I’d bet money that when Kristin has done well she probably wasn’t worried one bit about who was worried that they would be leaving.

"Normally I wouldn't say this but I think this time it is appropriate. One of you hateful bitches is going home"

Back with the judges the highest score / best photo goes to Leila with 46.4. Tyra reminds everyone that she was looking for art and the photo that will soon be hanging in her house was Kiara, who’s total score was 42.2. Next was Nastasia with 40.3. This left Kristin and Laura as the final two. Tyra sort of rushes through the standard ‘the girl I do not call must pack her bags…’spiel to tell Laura that the judges think she’s slipping away and that she may be complacent with past top photos, and then tells Kristin that she has a great face but cannot bring it HtoT. The girl that stays is Laura with a score of 35.9.

Kristin’s score is 34.0 and Tya tells her that she has a career but to focus on her face, as that’s her strength. To camera Kristin says that she’s not sad about leaving and she doesn’t like any of these girls; they are fake and she hasn’t made a genuine friend since she’s been here. With a wicked smile she says I don’t really give a sh** about any of those girls now and they can do whatever they want and I don’t have to worry about interacting with them. She may not be able to model head to toe but she sure knows how to burn bridges.

PS ~ After watching the episode Marja sent me a link to a facebook post from Kristinon what I’m guessing is her personal page, and she basically gives the finger to the show. Though facebook is a public posting system I’m not going to paste her post here but I will say, YES, the editors and producers take liberties with editing. Hello! It’s a reality TV show. While filmed words may be taken out of context you were definitely saying that shit, that’s something that they can’t make up and I don’t think that they have a CGI budget. Signing up for a reality show, whether it’s a survivalist show in the jungle or in a house with a bunch of models is recipe for going just a bit crazy and coming across as a hyped up-version of yourself. Kinda like how when you meet someone and in your gut you just don’t like them… because they are similar in personality to you (& usually the personality traits you don’t like in yourself)? Yeah, it’s like that.

Lesson learned? Guess we’ll see if she turns up on TV again.

Cheers.

Episode 11 – The Horse You Came In On

We open this episode with the girls on the beach being all introspective…. Wait, I mean the producers are showing lots of flashbacks while the girls are filmed walking around on the beach. Hats off to the lack-of-reality of reality tv shows, it’s truly a specialty.

The final four are back at the house, Leila is hanging in the Tyra Suite with Kiara. I still haven’t quite figured out what’s the real bonus about this Tyra Suite – do you get to keep anything from that damn room? I think it’s just a big swag room and you can touch and try on but you don’t get to take anything with you… what a tease.

The girls are going to film a commercial for the Tourist Board of Jamaica. They have to come up with a commercial ad on horseback in the ocean. Laura, who we find out grew up on acres of land and millions of horses, is ready to piss her pants she’s so excited. On the other hand Leila is still freaked out due to her recent dolphin whooping.

During the challenge each girl was put on horseback and say their lines, which they just spend the last 30 minutes working on.

Laura opted to go first. She forgot her own lines the first time, but was given a second try and she did a good time the second go.

Leila’s next, and is already nervous. And the horse starts to act up of course [cause they can smell fear like sharks], because she is just terrified. After calming down she nailed it.

Nastasia looks beautiful on the horse, but basically she entirely forgot her own script. During her second take she improvised … not well.

Kiara was scared on the horse and she proceeded to swear up a storm. Second take was so much better.

The top two were Laura and Kiara – in the end Kiara won and will now be the face of a worldwide tourist board advert. Laura was completely bitter.

Overall the girls are truly feeling the pressure of being the final four. Leila and Nastasia only got 6’s and they are both concerned.

Tyra Mail is another BeardedLady video – NOTE I hope that this dude NEVER EVER shows up after this cycle…. I don’t know who he’s blackmailing but he needs to turn around and GTFO. Oh, right the message: the girls are going to be posing for the ad campaign for the Dream Come True fragrance. Remember the trapped in the bottle print campaign that Sophie did in Cycle 18? Wonder what the hell they’ll be doing this time….

The creative director Ben Bennett, of Hatch Beauty, will be there to make sure they don’t screw it up. The girls are going to be holding a huge perfume bottle standing in the ocean and be youthful and pretty.

Kiara's response to Laura's casual mention of having a pond. Laura is the The 6-foot tall daughter of actor John James, who was Jeff Colby on the 1980s nighttime soaps “Dynasty” and “The Colbys.”

Natasia is in the water first, she looked lovely but no one could tell if she got the ‘what they wanted’. Leila was up second and during the photos she wasn’t able to let go and came across sad rather than representing a ‘dream come true’. Eventually she bounced back, but of course what gets captured in a still shot might look better than what was just edited together on tv.

Somewhere in-between photo shoots BryanBoy shows up to chat in the hair & make up area. Sitting with Laura, Leila and Kiara he casually asks (in a pot-stirring way) what’s wrong? And Kiara really breaks down on her tough life and how winning really would be her dream. This must have mentally worked for her because in her photo shoot she looks confidant and lovely.

Laura is last and she is looking beautiful but she’s not coming across well. She’s looking nervous and is flip-flopping between overly sexy and too awkward. Again, never know how the final picture will turn out, but she definitely looked weak.

At judging:

"and this bitch..."

This time the girls are all wearing colored jeans and black tops – must be a sponsor.

Leila is up first and they how her best shot – Kelly says it’s a bit too sexy. Rob disagrees with Kelly and they again get into . Tyra thinks it’s not overly sexy but it’s almost at the edge of too much. She gets two 8s and a 9.

Kiara’s picture is really beautiful but I don’t think it’s a great pic for the product. She’s looking into the water and not into the camera. Tyra liked the picture but isn’t sure it’s an ad. Her scores were 7, a 9 and an 8.

Nastasia spoke to forgetting all her lines on the commercial. Her picture got good feedback from Kelly; Rob thinks she’s looking too wistful and young. Tyra thinks the photo is targeting a younger audience than is intended. Her scores are 8, 9 and 7.

Laura’s photo is coming across too sexy, Kelly said she was looking soap opera-ish. Tyra calls her out for resting on the idea of being a model not actually being a model. She got two 7s and an 8.

This time there wasn’t any backstage drama shown before the final results. The best picture goes to Kiara – score of 39.0. Runner up to best photo is Leila – score of 37.1. The final two are Nastasia and Laura.

Both girls are in tears as Tyra reminds them that she’s only got one photo and the girl that stays joins as the third finalist with Kiara and Leila in the final fashion show; as never had before on ANTM as they are creating a fashion show production of other worldly clothing.

Tyra said that the judges scores match neck and neck so it’s up to the scores from social media and challenges… The girl still in the competition is Laura with a score of 35.8. Laura breaks down with relief of staying in the competition.

Nastasia’s score is only .3 less than Laura with a 35.5. Nastasia is pleased with her performance though incredibly sad to be going.

Next week previews shows Kelly onset at the photo shoot and she’s clearly having conflict with the photographer…

Also during the ending of the show they are promoting casting for cycle 20 that will include both GUYS and Girls…. Darn, I was hoping for a guy only cycle.

Cheers.

The Walking Dead Season 3 Episode 5: Say the Word

2012-11-12T11:29:00.000-08:00

Penny for your Thoughts?

by T

Another week, another great episode of The Walking Dead. Just in case you are as dumb as Andrea, do not read any further if you have not seen, Say the Word, and are avoiding spoilers.

Woodbury

Milton the mad scientist and hard luck and dumb as dirt Andrea are sharing a cool beverage and prepping for a big town shindig that's going down today. Milton bitches that the generators should be put to better use than making ice but Andrea doesn't really give a shit and continues to enjoy her icy beverage.

Meet Penny. The Governor's dead daughter is not big on having her hair brushed!

The Governor is brushing the hair of a little zombie girl! Gross! As he's brushing a big clump of hair and scalp falls off and the little girl zombie goes berserk and tries to bite him. It is his dead daughter, Penny, and he tells her he still loves her despite the dying and all. The Governor is a HOT MESS. He throws a bag over zombie daughter girl's head to calm her down. As they scuffle, he looks out of his window and guess who is standing outside eyeing the house suspiciously? Michonne. Yup. Love her.

The Prison

This poncho really shouldn't work. But it just does.

Carol is STILL missing and considered dead.

Rick is in shell shock. The normally annoying Carl seems to be holding up way better than his dad, despite the fact that he was the one who had to put a bullet in his moms brain. The newborn baby needs formula (Can't tell! That is one hefty newborn so I'm surprised nutrition was an issue!) so Darrell steps up and takes off to an abandoned mall with Maggie in tow. They stumble across a house that has cribs inside and find the much needed formula and a possum (that was looting inside the cupboards) for dinner.

"He was a great man. Oh the memories. That time he was Merle's punching bag. And who can forget the time he stood up for you when we wanted to throw you to the walkers, thus dooming himself because there's room for only one of you..."

Rick has officially lost his shit and grabs an axe and heads into the prison. Manly as ever and not giving a f*ck, Rick dispatches of several zombies with very impressive one armed axe swings. After he's been inside the prison a little too long, Glenn comes and tries to talk some sense into Rick and is promptly roughed up, choked, and then thrown aside as thanks. Rick is not the only one that's come unhinged around here because I'm slightly turned on by this.

In an embarrassing scene, Glenn also yammers on about how great T-Dog was to Oscar, the new token black guy. We weren't privy to many of T-Dog's scenes of heroics because he was barely onscreen.

Woodbury

Michonne is not only continually suspicious, but quite the snoop. She breaks into the Governor's house and helps herself to a peek inside his notes. She jumps out of the window when the Governor stops in to get more supplies for the party that is raging. She stumbles onto a cage filled with zombies. She frees them so she can put on a (very impressive) Katana swirling, zombie beheading show that is much more graceful than the one armed axe thuggery Rick displayed earlier.

Michonne is discovered and taken to the Governor for a "sit down". Not into the Govenor's bullshit and chit-chat, Michonne takes her sword, puts it to the Governors throat, gives him the stink eye and then exits.The Governor tattles to Andrea so Andrea tries to talk to Michonne about relaxing and enjoying the good gig they have going but Michonne knows better and decides to leave. After Merle (who is clearly in the know that they are going to try to leave) surprises them by opening the gate and letting them leave, Michonne gives Andrea an ultimatum and Andrea decides to stay. The actresses really shone here as you could see the characters care about each other but Andrea is too dumb to know better and Michonne is to smart to stay. Michonne says, "You would have just slowed me down anyway," (the equivalent of a warm, goodbye hug from her) and rolls out.

Still crazy....

...after all these years.

Milton the Mad Scientist and Merle capture a whole mess of Walkers in a ditch. They keep the feisty zombies and kill the others. We find out why (and Andrea's hard luck continues) when The Governor invites her to join him for the big town event and she offers him her hand in a ladylike fashion. Of course, she gasps in horror when she discovers that the big event is basically a staged MMA cage match without rules and zombies used as a barrier in lieu of a cage. Somewhere Michonne is thinking, "I told you so!" We also see during these scenes that Merle, one of the participants, is still psycho and still not to be trifled with.

Andrea and the The Governor argue over the staged event. She thinks it does the townspeople a disservice because The Walkers are too dangerous to be viewed as pets or playthings. The Governor says the people need entertainment and The Walkers teeth have been removed. At last, even dim-bulb Andrea is as skeptical as Michonne.

The Prison

"Rock a bye baby on the tree top...inside a Walker your mommy will rot"

Darrell the lovable redneck continues to step up, while Rick works out his issues, by bottle feeding and cradling the baby. He also leaves a flower on the presumed dead Carol's grave. I guess that when someone goes missing now the survivors have decided its better just to wrap it up and call it a day, instead of wasting lots of time looking for the missing only to have them stumble out of a barn as a member of the undead.

Rick finds the area where Lori was slaughtered and his (or dead Shane's) daughter was born. He recreates the bloody circumcision, picks up her wedding ring and sees that her body was dragged by the blood smear on the floor. At the end of the blood trial there is a pot bellied zombie that is too fat and too full to move because it has CONSUMED LORI ENTIRELY like a tasty meatloaf. The zombie can't even stand or try to attack Rick. I didn't want to laugh but I couldn't help myself. Rick kills it and then stabs it repeatedly. Rick is just sitting there looking like he has lost his mind for good and is never coming back when.....a phone rings (da f*ck???) he stumbles over and politely answers, "Hello?"

"Hello Mr. Grimes. This is Gloria with the collections department at Cox Cable. We survived the zombie apocalypse along with Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Ann Coulter, AT&T, and roaches. You neglected to turn in your cable box or cancel your service when you scurried from your home in a desperate attempt to survive. This leaves you with a past due balance of $345, 989.52. Would you like to bring your account up to date by putting this amount on your credit card today?"

The End

Supernatural Recap: Southern Comfort

2012-11-11T17:40:00.002-08:00

Bobby Lite

by Joshowa

The last time DJ Qualls guest starred in an episode of Supernatural, T and D3 stepped in and covered the review for me. After watching this episode, I wish they'd done me another favor and covered this one, too! Oh Qualls, it's not that I don't like you, I just didn't like you here. Tonight. On my TV. Pretending to be the new Bobby. If you are not careful, you are going to quickly become the Oliver of Supernatural, or (even worse) the Jar Jar Binks.

Does Bobby turn over his his grave? Probably. More after the jump!

The latest Supernatural adventure has the boys tracking down the vengeful ghost of a civil war veteran. The ghost hops into the folks via a cursed coin, and then forces them to take action (in a gruesome and violent manner) against those who have wronged them.

It's not a bad case, and it certainly has some creative murdering going on, but it isn't anything we haven't seen before. But the ghost was just the device used to deal with more character-related issues, such as:

1) Forcing Dean and Sam into a confrontation

"I'd like some Takis and Big Gulp to go, please."

This has been brewing since episode one, and the appearance of Benny brought things to a head. Disappointingly, we don't get to see Sam meeting Benny and Dean's explanation. We do get to see the fallout, with Sam jumping on Dean for letting a vampire go free, but having no problem murdering Sam's friend, Amy (so glad he brought this up - it's big deal).

Dean lets it roll of his back, because Benny is the reason he's back on Earth. It' Benny, not Sam, who helped him, which is why Dean attacks Sam when he's possessed by the vengeful spirit. Under compulsion, Dean lets it all out: he's mad that Sam chose a girl over him. He's mad that Sam didn't even make an effort to find him. Sam is mad that Dean is keeping secrets and doesn't care that he wants a life with Awful Amelia.

After the yelling match, the boys come to an understanding. Looks like anger is still simmering under the surface, but at least all the festering feelings are out in the open and they can move on from here.

2) Reminding us that someone awesome like Bobby used to be on this show.

"What the?? Get this thing off me!"

Well, that's probably not the real reason why Garth was there. But it is what happened. Bobby was awesome because he was smart and experienced. He cared for Sam and Dean but didn't put up with any of their usual, self-important nonsense. Garth is just this awkward Zen master with a crush on Dean and Sam. I was as uncomfortable as Dean, watching him school such veteran hunters as Sam and Dean after such a short time on the job.

Having said that - Garth did bring some perspective to the Winchesters: the world doesn't revolve around them anymore. Maybe it's time to start thinking about changing their personal patterns?

3) Inflicting more Amelia flashbacks upon us

Here's hoping this Amelia disappears over the ocean, too.
...Too soon?

Good grief, this woman is terrible. One minute, she is pouring her heart out to Sam. The next, she thinks he's a total jerk because he might pity her. If there is anyone we are pitying, Amelia Bedelia, it's Jared Padelecki for being stuck in this nightmarishly-boring storyline. Learning more of her history, doesn't help endear her to anyone. She lost her husband in Afghanistan. He enlisted suddenly and she doesn't know why. Here's a hint, Amelia - it was to get away from you.

At the end of the scene, Sam decides he is not deterred by her violent mood swings and the two bond over the fact they've both suffered loss. Blargh.

And that's where we are! Garth is acting like a Bobby. Sam and Dean are angry, but honest. And Amelia is devouring my will to live.

Next week: The return of Castiel! And Kevin Tran! Now those are some characters I don't mind coming back.

In the meantime, is this timely, tired or totes adorbs? You decide.

From the Desk of the Editor in Chief: Movie Reviews are Coming!

2012-11-10T16:45:00.003-08:00

I have some great news for you movie fans. We will begin reviewing at least two movies per month in our very own IMMR (Instant Message Movie Review) format starting this month. We will have a new reviewer, shaunapiranha, read an Instant Message Movie Review by her here.

Photo: redbank.com

I've got more exciting news about these movie reviews after the jump!

Every seat is a good one
Photo: shoppromenade.com

I am particularly excited to announce that we'll be reviewing movies at Cinepolis Luxury Cinemas regularly. Myself and other staff members have attended movies at their North County locations and loved it. It is by far the move comfortable movie going experience I've had outside of the home. There is a lot to like, but I enjoyed the fact that you reserve your specific seats ahead of time, and those seats are leather luxury recliners! On top of that they serve you at your seats and the food isn't typical movie theater food, although they do have the classics like candy and popcorn.

Yeah, that is a beer at a theater
Photo: latimes.com

You can also have drinks before the movie in their bar, some movies are 21+ and they will serve you drinks at your seats for those showings. For those who don't drink, the lobby area features comfortable seating and an all around vibe that makes you feel like you are enjoying a proper night out on the town.

Please join me over the next few months as we review some of the hottest movies of the holiday season. I've got T lined up to cover final installment in the blockbuster Twilight series in just a couple of short weeks.

Holiday gift idea for T.
Photo: filmofilia.com

TWL Instant Message Movie Review: Snow White and the Huntsman

2012-11-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

Snow White and the Huntsman

Hello movie fans. Editor in Chief here. Below is a movie review for something you can now catch at home. I know many of you were like myself and waited to see this one and may even be on the fence as to whether or not you will see it. Let this review help you with your decision.

I'd also like to indroduce shaunapiranha. She'll be doing some regular movie reviewing for www.teawithlemon.com and will also be a key part of an exciting new partnership I will be telling you more about in the very near future.

In our very own Instant Message Movie Review format, please enjoy:

shaunapiranha: So what did you think of the movie?

sergiogoodwin: I thought it was ok, the special effects were good and the scenery was well done.

shaunapiranha: I think the scenery was gorgeous and was probably my favorite part. Everything was very aesthetically pleasing. I think it was actually better than I was expecting, but I had pretty low expectations, as with anything that stars Kristen Stewart.

sergiogoodwin: Yeah I have a really hard time believing Kirsten Stewart as the “fairest of them all” since she’s just so mopey and plain Jane looking. Really, she is the fairest of them all?

shaunapiranha: So Charlize Theron is the fairer than Kristen Stewart?

Find out the answer and read the rest of the movie review after the jump!

sergiogoodwin: Oh yes, Charlize a hundred times over. That mirror is stupid.

shaunapiranha: Once you mentioned that Kristen Stewart has kinda buck teeth in the middle of the movie I couldn’t stop staring at them. Apparently they don’t hold good teeth in very high regard in their kingdom.

sergiogoodwin: Ok enough about Kristen Stewart and her teeth, what did you think about the pacing? I thought it worked. They balanced time well between the pursuit and Snow White exploring the kingdom she has never seen.

shaunapiranha: I agree, there weren't any parts I found boring. They kept the fighting to a minimum, which is usually where you start to lose me in big action movies. But I did feel overall that the tone of the movie just felt a little disjointed. I wasn't quite sure what the movie was trying to be. It was really dark and dramatic one minute, and then there were fairies, and then there was singing and this whole ‘Lord of the Rings’ march into the mountains.

sergiogoodwin: I think they were just trying to show the contrast between the evil queen’s dead world and the pretty fairy world outside of her reach. But there were times it just kinda seems like any old generic fantasy movie.

shaunapiranha: Is this really trying to be an epic fantasy movie though?

sergiogoodwin: It is fantasy, there is a magical queen and dwarfs and trolls!

shaunapiranha: Oh yeah, the “troll bridge” haha. Ok, yeah you win on the fantasy point. There were even fairies, which I could have done without. Enchanted animals are way better than fairies.

Photo: strictlyrobsten.com

sergiogoodwin: What did you think about the whole romance plot?

shaunapiranha: Dude, what romance plot? I don’t even know why William was even in the movie! He was a total throwaway character, and he was so generic looking I couldn't even pick out which once was him the first half of the movie. His whole purpose was basically to be a red herring for who was going to wake her up from her sleep. What is this Scooby Doo?

sergiogoodwin: Yeah, I thought that was going to be a quick sleep if she just woke up right after.

shaunapiranha: Well, I am not quite sure what they were trying to say there. Maybe that William had never really known true love, whereas the Huntsman had known true love with his wife, so he was able to wake her up because even if he might not have had true feelings of love for her, his heart had known true love at one point.

sergiogoodwin: Dang, that’s deep. I thought it just meant they were going to get it on later. You might be giving the filmmakers too much credit.

shaunapiranha: Haha, maybe. It doesn't help that KS has like zero chemistry with anyone.

sergiogoodwin: I was waiting at the end for them to at least explore it a little further. Was there going to be a wedding scene? But no. Is that part two?

shaunapiranha: Yep, gotta keep something for the sequel. So, lets get to the most important question, what was your favorite magical forest creature?

sergiogoodwin: The white stag with the huge antlers was awesome and majestic. But I have to give a shout out to the turtle.

shaunapiranha: Dude, the turtle was awesome. I would totally make him my royal pet if I were Snow White. What did you think of Snow’s rousing speech at the end?

sergiogoodwin: It kinda came out of nowhere. One second she’s asleep and the next she is leading an army.

shaunapiranha: Maybe she was practicing that speech while she was sleeping?

sergiogoodwin: I didn’t buy it 100%

shaunapiranha: The beginning of the speech was really bad and awkward. She started mixing metaphors with the embers and fire and iron and swords, it was just too much, but by the end I was kind of getting into it.

sergiogoodwin: What about Snow White’s fighting skills? All it took was a little armor and then she could hold her own at the end? What happened to the little girl that was all “I don’t think I can do that?”

shaunapiranha: I don’t know, maybe she also learned some fighting skills while she was asleep? What I don’t get is why they didn’t go back and get the troll to help them fight at the end?

sergiogoodwin: I thought that all the forest creatures were going to come fight with her. Where were her Ent friends?

shaunapiranha:Yeah, what about those fairies? I am sure they have some magical powers. Or maybe they should have harnessed some of those hallucinogenic mushroom spores from the fire swamp- I mean dark forest- to use as bio weapons.

sergiogoodwin: I did think it was very considerate of them for the sake of the viewers to not let any of the pretty people wear helmets during the final showdown.

shaunapiranha: Haha, so not practical. But hey, the filmmakers paid a premium for those pretty faces, you have to show them off. And more Chris Helmsworth is never a bad thing.

Chris likes axe wounds
Photo: collider.com

sergiogoodwin: Overall I would give the movie a B-

shaunapiranha: Yeah, that’s fair, I would give it the same, B-. It was entertaining, but it had its major flaws. I wont be holding my breath for a sequel. Unless I get to see Chris Helmsworth take a glue bath, and then I am there.

GreenTech Geek: Election Fever

2012-11-05T15:42:00.000-08:00

What does a GreenTech Geek do on Election Day? Ha, the question is, what doesn't he do?

For those who think American elections are boring, this post may convince you otherwise. I've mapped out the day, from early morning to late at night, packing it full of volunteer action, fulfilling my civic duty to vote, taking in an awesome movie, and rubbing elbows with hundreds (thousands, maybe?) of fellow election enthusiasts at two huge events downtown.

Feeling left out? Have no fear, GreenTech Geek is here!

For you, loyal readers, I share my detailed itinerary for tomorrow -- including handy hyperlinks for more information -- so you, too, can partake of some or all of the excitement.

Now take a look at what's in store, and what you can be part of (plus, the GreenTech Geek Voter's Guide) after the jump ...

GreenTech Geek's Election Day Agenda - November 6, 2012

Me, early tomorrow morning.
Well, not me, but you get the picture.

I start early in the morning, making get-out-the-vote calls to battleground states in the Presidential election, from 6-9 a.m. at the Obama for America office in Hillcrest. They're accepting volunteers at locations throughout the county all day long for 3-hour shifts from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. If you wanna help turn out crucial votes on election day, find a shift here: http://www.barackobama.com/gotv And you know what? You can make calls right now, or whenever is convenient for you, between now and 8 p.m. tomorrow local time wherever you;re calling to.

Doing the vote thing.

Then I head to my polling place at Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge in San Diego's hippest neighborhood (according to Forbes) to proudly cast my vote. Here's an easy tool to verify your correct polling place: https://www.barackobama.com/lookup. Also, if you filled out a mail-in ballot but haven't sent it in yet, do not put it in a mailbox, since it won't be received in time to be counted. Instead, take it to any polling place tomorrow and turn it in there.

From 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. I enjoy drinks, snacks, and a "Movie that Makes a Difference" at the World Resources SimCenter, conveniently located near Golden Hall downtown. They're showing A Passion for Sustainability, which is about how Portland, Oregon has become a model of sustainability worldwide. If you haven't seen the World Resources SimCenter yet, that alone is worth attending the screening. The screening is open to the public, on a donation basis. Reserve your spot here: http://novmovienight.eventbrite.com/# Here's a trailer for the film:

Golden Hall on Election Night -- gonna be cray cray!
Kerry/Edwards? Who were they?

Then around 7 p.m., I head over to Golden Hall at the Civic Center downtown to watch the returns with hundreds of other enthusiasts in the politically charged carnival which that place always becomes on Election Night. This event is free and open to the public. Golden Hall is located in the Civic Center complex at 202 C St., San Diego, CA, 92101.

I'll also check out the Election Night Watch Party co-hosted by the San Diego County Democratic Party and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council over at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter (910 Broadway Circle, San Diego, CA 92101) starting at 8:01 p.m. This will be a fun event, with all the local Democratic candidates making appearances. This event is also free and open to the public: http://www.sandiegopolitico.com/2012/10/november-2012-election-night-watch.html

From 7 p.m. onward, I'll probably be scootering, mopeding or cycling back and forth between the Westin Gaslamp and Golden Hall. So if you see me, be sure to say hi. Gonna be fun!

I just got a request from my editor to share with readers my sustainability-related recommendations for you at the ballot box tomorrow. Here goes:

GreenTech Geek Voter's Guide - November 2012

Until next week ...

The Walking Dead: Killer Within

2012-11-05T13:36:00.004-08:00

The Walking Dead

Season 3 Episode 4

No One is Safe On This Bloody Show
By T

This episode of The Walking Dead was so tense, suspenseful, and filled with utter dread, I believe it is the reason I suffered an unexpected subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Do not continue reading this post if you wish to avoid spoilers of this extremely entertaining episode.

The Prison

~~Barack Obama~~ Rick Grimes is not going to be happy about this. Someone is up to no good and letting zombies into the prison. I suspect it is the pervert that was watching Carol's ass last week.

Woodbury

Still not having it...

The villainous ~~Mitt Romney~~ Governor and Michonne have a tense convo. She's not buying into his load of malarkey about what went down with the National Guard. No dummy, Michonne inspects the stolen after slaughter vehicle and ask the Govenor, “Lots of bullet holes. You think biters figured out how to use weapons?” When they both know that the "biters" have not.

Andrea and Merle are engaged in chit-chat when this happens:

Merle (eyeing Andrea hungrily): How come we never hooked up?
Andrea: Because you called me a "whore" and a "rug muncher"

Later, Andrea stalls leaving Woodbury right away by convincing Michonne that a day or two won’t matter.

Back to the Prison: Security Breach!

The two prisoners that survived last week, Axel and Oscar, show up to whine that their prison block is depressing and uncomfortable and that they are both bottoms in need of a top. Under the radar T-Dog starts sassing Rick. He wants to let the two prisoners join them, after Rick (who is not a big fan of feeback) has already drawn a line in the sand.

Whoa Whoa Whoa. T-Dog has said more at this point than he has all year. This causes a raised eyebrow and I put on my Suspicious Michonne face yet again as I suspect that him not staying under the radar means certain death. Daryl says he knows degenerates, because he’s one of them, and declares, “They’re degenerates, but they ain’t psychos!” He still agrees with Rick’s stance of “tough shit” and that the two bottoms may not join the group. Oscar tells Axel to show some self-respect when he continues to try to kiss ass to join Rick’s group.

Pistol Packin Mama

Hershel may be old as dirt but he proves to be tougher than leather. He is hobbling about with crutches and his one good leg and everyone is open jaw in awe. This rare moment of joy is ruined as the Walkers just stroll in like they’ve been invited to brunch. I hate surprise guests and these zombies have just proven themselves to be murderous and rude! Not only did the mysterious troublemaker unlock the gates but he set off the alarms (!!!) so they are attracting even MORE walkers!

It is complete and utter edge of your seat mayhem and as I predicted T-Dog gets bitten in the neck. He dies a hero’s death as he bum rushes two zombies and pushes them against the wall so Carol can escape. The zombies really work T-Dog ‘s neck over and it is graphic and gross! Carol’s fate is not confirmed but methinks she is alive and not stumbling about in a barn like her dead daughter, Sophia.

Twas I, the peanut head prisoner, that stirred up all this trouble!

We finally find out who was peepin’ on Carol’s ass and stirring up all this trouble. It is Andrew, the peanut head prisoner that Rick locked in a pen with zombies two episodes back. Andrew is not only a troublemaker and a pervert, but a squirrely lad to boot. Andrew and Rick rumble as Daryl holds off the zombies that are trying to burst into the room. When the gun slides across the floor as it always does in these situations, Oscar picks it up and cements his position in the recently vacated role of Token Black Guy by blowing Andrew’s head off and thus earning Ricks trust.

In the tradition of token old dude Herschel replacing token old guy Dale . Token black guy T-Dog has been unceremoniously replaced by new token black guy, Oscar.

Lori, Maggie, and Carl are separated and (of course) at the least convenient moment ever, Lori goes into labor. Lori can’t push the baby out of her vagina (In an odd moment – she tries to push the baby out while standing up) Lori tells Maggie to use Carl’s knife and cut her open, along her old c-section scar, because she was not able to push Carl out either, but Maggie refuses.

Lori heroically tells her she must because she has lost so much blood she is doomed but she wants her baby to live as a sign of hope for everyone. She says a tearful goodbye to Carl and it is so FINAL I’m starting to make the Suspicious Michonne face again while thinking, “She’s annoying but I don’t want her die! I want to continue to complain about how annoying she is! They wouldn’t dare!”

They dared.

After Maggie guts her and reaches inside (I thought a bit roughly) to yank out the baby, Lori is dead. Her baby lives after Maggie pats it on the back. Carl is then forced to shoot his own mother in the head (off-screen, thank goodness, I’d had enough!) so she does not turn into a Walker

In a truly heartbreaking moment, as the survivors reconvene in the courtyard, Maggie and Carl enter without Lori. Maggie is holding Rick and Lori’s baby (or is it Shane and Lori's?) and the look of anguish on Rick’s face as he realizes Lori has died is so overwhelming that I actually burst into tears. Yup. It is heart wrenching. When the manliest survivor on earth, Rick, drops to the ground in emotional agony, I’m full on blubbering like the biggest little bitch in cell block C.

I'll need a moment.

Check out my recap of the first three episodes here, while I try to get my shit together.

Agent: You have just been cast in a contract role on a huge TV Show!

Actor: Yes! Regular employment! No more auditions! Easy Street! What show!

Agent: The Walking Dead

Actor: F*ck You!

GreenTech Geek: Tribute

2012-11-03T08:14:00.001-07:00

GreenTech Geek here. I spent five formative years in New York City, including living in Staten Island, Manhattan, and Brooklyn. Sandy dealt much of the East Coast a hard blow, and the recovery will be a long process.

From a movie that flopped at the theaters but became a cult hit among those with fond memories of partying at the boardwalk, here is a musical ode to the Jersey Shore ... and to the entire hard-hit East Coast.

After the jump ...

Because it's just a matter of time ...

Just a Matter of Time - John Cafferty

There was a time
You had no need for rhythm or rhyme
The world seemed so wild and so free
Just wrap yourself up in a dream
All you had to do was believe
And nothin’ was out of your reach

So sure how it all falls in line
Just a matter of time
Just a matter of time

Then you wake up one day
All your dreams somehow faded away
The road that you followed, it turned
Can't find where the fire once burned
Can't look yourself straight in the eye
In your heart of hearts you’ve compromised

Baby, one day we all cross that line
Just a matter of time
Just a matter of time

All alone in the still of the night
You come face to face with your pride
And how much you wanted it all
Can’t believe now you’re taking the fall

Then you reach out one day
To the light of a new dawning day
You take just one small grain of sand
Right into the palm of your hand

And maybe you find in the end
You’re able to dream once again

The backstory

How did I discover this song? Well, I aggravated a lower back ailment yesterday while riding my electric bike to work. So I was laid up at home last night in my zero-gravity massage chair, channel-surfing through bad late-night TV. On a Friday night! Feeling sorry for myself and for the East Coast at the same time.

On some obscure channel, this obscure movie was playing, Eddie and the Cruisers II. A 1989 flop that was a sequel to a 1983 flop. I picked up the remote to change the channel, just as the scene above came on. I put down the remote. I stared at the screen. I wondered, who is this 1970's porn star crooning on stage?

And then I started listening to the song. Here was a message, passed down from the 1980's, meant specifically for me at that strange moment in time.
------------
Interested in helping out via the Red Cross? Click here -- Hurricane Sandy: Help Those in Need

Gingerbreadmama Gossip Wrap: Britney gets a break, Bobby, Lil Wayne, Cee Lo (maybe) and the Flashdance dude tear it up and more Edition

2012-11-02T20:01:00.000-07:00

Logo by www.petejdesign.com

Brit Brit Update
When Britney first hit the scene, I was aged out of her demographic, thus not her target audience, so I never paid that much attention to her. When she started acting all white trash crazy, I was just the right age to laugh my ass off at all her stupid antics, and when she started imploding, I was a mom so my maternal instincts demanded that my heart go out to her and her two young children. I admit that I am not a fan of her music, her style choices or her, really, but as a woman and a mom, I’m rooting for her to continue to get her shit together.

She is holding her own on the X-Factor
Photo: timeinc.net

And this week, she got a little closer to that. Her latest court drama has been wrapped up, with an LA judge Suzanna Bruguera dismissing dirtbag Sam Lufti’s claims of libel and breach-of-contract against the singer, and her parents, citing he “failed to prove the allegations, which focused on events that occurred shortly before the singer's public meltdown in 2008.”

Remember this guy?
Although he is apparently filming the ABC pilot Empire State, and has guest starred on NCIS and Damagers, he kept a fairly low-profile since Flashdance. Until he was arrested on scene for “suspicion of felony domestic violence” after an argument with his girlfriend turned physical at a home in Beverly Hills. He was released on $50,000 bail.

His name is Michael Nouri, he was also in the hit television show The O.C.
Image Source

Get arrested…what a way to stay relevant. Well, I guess it works for Lindsey.

This week's gossip blog is just getting started. Click Read More for tons of TV and Movie news, this week's movie openings, and the quote of the week!

The Bits

Lil Wayne and Rick Ross share something in common, you'll find out what below

34 years is a long time to take coming out of the closet
Photo: therichest.org

Lil Wayne’s been hospitalized again, after having two seizures in 24 hours. Both seizures occurred while on an airplane. Editor's Note: Rick Ross suffered something very similar almost exactly 1 year ago. Coincidence? Conspiracy?
Joe and Tina Simpson (parents of Jessica and Ashlee) have split. Tina filed for divorce in a Texas court citing “discord or conflict of personalities”. The two had been married for 34 years. Rumors abound that the split is due to Joe being gay. His camp is denying it.
Bobby Brown was arrested for DUI, again.
A woman filed sexual assault charges against Cee Lo Green. LAPD is investigating and Green denies all charges.
RIP: Actress and singer Natina Reed, 32, died after being hit by a car in Georiga. She is survived by her 10-year-old son.
Heather Tom and husband James Achor welcomed a baby boy, Zane Alexander.
Adele gave birth to a baby boy.
Alex O’Loughlin and Malia Jones welcomed a son. The two have been dating about a year.
Levi Johnston married Sunny Oglesby. While wearing a black suit with a camouflage vest and bow tie.
Evan Rachel Wood and Jamie Bell married on 10/30/12.
Guy Ritchie and model Jacqui Ainsley are engaged. Their second child is due before year’s end.

Lawsuit Waiting to Happen
Jennifer Esposito, who suffers from Celiac disease, is taking a controversial hiatus from Blue Bloods. CBS announced, “Jennifer has informed us that she is only available to work on a very limited part-time schedule. As a result, she's unable to perform the demands of her role and we regretfully had to put her character on a leave of absence. She is a wonderfully talented actress and we hope that she will be able to return at some point in the future.”

TWL recommends a gluten free diet to help control the symptoms Celiac disease
Photo: squidoo.com

Esposito claims CBS misrepresented the situation and tweeted, “CBS knows [they] PUT me on unpaid leave an[d] has blocked me from working anywhere else after my doc said u needed a reduced schedule due to celiac ...CBS didn't listen to my doc and I collapsed on set. Which everyone saw! After a week off my doc said I could return to work but CBS ... Implied that I was NOT truly ill and this was a scheme to get a raise! It's been almost two months without brin[g]ing me back to work + keeping... Me from working anywhere else! So no that article is not telling you the truth. Absolutely shameful behavior."

TV Bits (Spoilers)

Olympian Gabby Douglas has a cameo on The Vampire Diaries in the episode airing on 11/29.
Sarah Shahi will appear on five episodes of Chicago Fire as a love interest for fireman Kelly (played by Taylor Kinney).
Ethan Embry has a recurring role on Once Upon a Time, no details on his character have been revealed.
J.R. Ramirez will play a doctor named A.J. on Emily Owens, M.D.
Mark Consuelos is filming a pilot (created by wife Kelly Ripa) about a “former handyman from Queens who gets a culture shock upon entering the world of Manhattan's Upper West Side.”
Olivia Luccardi joins the cast of The Secret Lives Of Husbands And Wives, also starring Perrey Reeves, Richard Deaver, James Tupper, Martin Henderson and Jesse L. Martin.
T.R. Knight will guest on The Good Wife as a “political operative.”
Elizabeth Pena and Stephanie Beatriz have been cast as mother and sister to Sofia Vergara’s Gloria on Modern Family.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar will guest on Happy Endings as Max’s “mysterious new roommate”.
Annie Wersching joins Dallas in a recurring role as “an ambitious transportation commissioner who may be a potential love interest for John Ross (Josh Henderson) and/or Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe) — even though she's married”.
Katie Cassidy will make an appearance in Gossip Girl's final episode.
Anne Hathaway will host Saturday Night Live on 11/10, with musical guest Rihanna and Jeremy Renner will host on 11/17 with Maroon 5.
Head’s up Firefly fans! On the 11/5 Castle pays “particular homage to Firefly” in their sci-fi convention episode titled The Final Frontier. According to show star Nathan Fillion, “"We're not so much winking [at the similarities] as we are embracing and making out with them. With tongue." The episode is directed by Jonathan Frakes and Ed Quinn guests.
Anderson Cooper’s talk show will not return for a 3rd season. The current season runs until summer 2013.
Political Animals will not get a second season.
NBC ordered five more episodes of Chicago Fire.
Vegas, Elementary and Arrow received full season pick-ups.
This sixth season is the last for Private Practice, as the show will end after its 13 episode.
Fringe will air its series finale on 1/18/13 in a two-hour episode.

Movie Bits

Not a bad payday for Lucas
Photo: cloudfront.net

In one of the biggest movie studio purchases in history, Disney is paying $4.05 billion to buy Lucasfilm Ltd.
Rio Mangini joins the cast of The Little Rascals, also starring Greg Germann and Doris Roberts.
Bre Blair signed on to Las Vegas, a film about “four childhood friends who hook up for a wild Las Vegas bachelor party”, also starring Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, Romany Malco and Mary Steenburgin. Wow, sounds like a geriatric Hangover remake.
Lauren Bowles will play Effoff, a spoof of Elizabeth Banks’ character Effie, in the independent feature The Starving Games.

Movies Opening This Week

Quote of the Week
"This is mommy when she was 21. This is what not to do. Learn from it." Snooki, explaining how she’ll tell her son about her show Jersey Shore.

I'm sure he'll be proud of you
Photo: sheknows.com

Supernatural Recap: Blood Brothers

2012-11-02T14:05:00.003-07:00

Vampirates of the High Seas

by Joshowa

Welcome back to Supernatural, starring the actual stars! This week, Kevin Tran continues to use his advanced placement skills to give the Winchester brothers the slip. This works out nicely for Dean, as he’s got more important things going on. Dean’s BFF Benny is in trouble after a run in with his old vampire gang, and it’s Dean to the rescue. Dean quickly ditches poor Sammy for his new bestie with nary a word of explanation.

More about Benny after the jump!

Benny’s Backstory Revealed!

Big reveal: Benny’s confusing accent may be Creole! Having
never been to New Orleans, I can’t judge him on accuracy, just
on weirdness. (Photo: The CW)

Back before he was the lovable, hunter-friendly vamp he is today, Benny belonged to a group of vampire pirates. Yes, these” vampirates” plundered wealthy yachts for their blood AND their booty. Think of Pirates of the Caribbean meets Twilight, only without any actual on-screen pirating. Benny gave it all up for love when he fell for a human heiress. His maker was none-too-pleased with this development and soon relieved Benny of his head, thus sending him to Purgatory. The last thing Benny saw was his maker ripping out his lover’s throat.

"Cher." How people who speak
Creole often refer to loved ones.

But now Benny’s back! He’s ready to murder his old master and burn his operation to the ground. “REVENGE!” Benny would shout, if he were prone to shouting. Instead, he gravelly whispers to Dean about long lost love.

Turns out, the lover is not so lost. Andrea the Heiress is still up and kicking, but as the vampire. Not only that, but she is helping their maker as the second-in-command vampirate. Her love for Benny leads her to assist him with his revenge. With Dean’s help, Benny murders some of his old crew and chops the head off of his old maker.

When it comes time to run away, Andrea reveals that she likes being a pirate. She wants Benny to stay and help her feed and pillage, but Benny is a changed vamp. He values human life, especially the life of his studly hunter friend, Dean. Disappointed, Andrea vamps out to attack Benny, but she is swiftly beheaded by Dean. Pals before gals! That’s the saying, right?

Sam is angry angry about the boat because he hated
Episode II. (Photo: The CW)

Now it’s time for little brother Sammy to meet Dean’s new vampire brother, Benny. And we, the audience are left to wonder, what makes someone a brother? Is it blood? Is it friendship? Is it sacrifice? Doesn’t matter which, because Sam and Dean have all three. Dean’s recent experiences with Benny (and Castiel) in Purgatory make him a good friend to them. However, that doesn’t negate all that he’s been through with Sam. Their lives are moving in different directions, but you don’t replace brothers. Friends, yes. Lovers, maybe. But true brothers are for life. Dean’s might have a new one, but you can’t get rid of the old one, no matter how disappointed in Sam he might be.

If you think about it, Dean kind of gave birth to Benny through his arm when he got back to Earth. So maybe Dean is more like a Blood Mommy looking over his big, bearded baby? That’s not weird.

Meanwhile, in Sam’s Vaseline-smeared memories…

Sam's last steady girlfriend was a condescending, manipulative
demon bent on the destruction of the human race.
Before that, it was Ruby. (Photo: The CW)

Sam is still hanging around town with his half-dead dog, stalking his new crush. He managed to score a job fixing appliances at a trashy hotel, because all those years on the run gave him the skills to become a first class handyman. Or maybe they just made him an expert in hotels? Lucky for him, because a certain lady also rents a room there.

Yup, Amelia Bedelia, the she-beast veterinarian is squatting in one of the units. She thinks Sam might be a serial killer, but goes ahead and tells him that she is all alone in the world and that no one would miss her. Sam briefly considers becoming a serial killer, just because he’s tired of her attitude. Okay, maybe I’m projecting. Instead, he decides to flirt and provide a sympathetic ear. Booooooooring! Wake me when she dies horribly!

Next week:

Dean just wants everyone to love him mostest, but Sam thinks he might prefer life with a lady. Are their hunting days done for good?

America's Next Top Model Recap: Call it A Comeback College Edition

2012-10-31T08:06:00.000-07:00

ANTM Cycle 19 episode 9

The Comeback

By Dancer

Where we last left off the girls from the super secret hopefully come back model camp were lined up and the recently ousted Brittany was added to the lineup.

As a reminder, the returning girl is determined by the ‘highest social media score’, gag (and not in a good drag queen way). The girls in the potential comeback line get to watch as their media scores show up first showing the girls that are NOT returning. But right before the scores start churning on screen Tyra tells them that those ‘IN’ the competition will be heading to Jamaica! Damn that’s cold…. Not only will we get to see who’s too sucky to return they just got slapped with the information that if they were better they’d have gone to Jamaica.

Though we can’t really remember any of them, here are their names and scores:

Destiny 4.53

Yvonne 4.65

Darian 4.76

Jessie 5.04

Brittany 5.42

Allyssa 5.44

Leila 5.84 ~ with the highest score Leila is returning to the competition.

Tyra gives the loosing girls a few nice words and then kicks them the hell off the stage.

Everyone goes to pack for the flight. And the excitement is on a full time high level. But at the same time the girls feel like Victoria threw them under the bully bus at judging again. Also, there is a lot of concern about Leila’s return to the competition.

The final 6 girls get onto a plane and arrive and when they get on their bus they are gifted 6 beautiful young men who are their reward for arriving in the country…. Well okay, they aren’t rewards, they are local hottie models. They get taken to their house and get to pick rooms. Everyone gets to hang out and eat – Tyra heads the table with the girls and the boy models and Tyra was sharing advice and making recommendations. And there may be a love connection between Kiara and a tasty young man….

Next the girls head to their challenge – Jon’te their posing coach greats them (missing Ms J VERY much) and with him is Konshens a local dance hall musician. They get a quick teach on dance hall moves and the girls have to break into groups of two and create a dance hall choreography.

Teams & choreo creation:

Kiara & Natasia – during practice it looks like these girls have all the rhythm and skill.

Kristen & Laura – their plan is to let loose…. But still remember to smize and tooch. Okay white girls, good luck with that.

Victoria & Leila - HSG is so in her head about going home and Leila is just back and is thinking she has to work harder than anyone.

The girls change into tights, bright shorts and tops – they are bringing dance hall realness.

Go White Girl

White girls, Kristen & Laura, are first and are just a bit sad – Laura is giving it her all but Kristen is holding back trying not to be the fool.

Go White Girl

The next white girl group is Leila and Victoria. They were having fun and just giving it the best they could, so good on them.

Go um...um...Go not quite sure of your race girl!

Last group, saving the best for last, was Kiara & Natasia who brought their flava and a little bit of Crunk to their dance hall. But these girls had bootie bounce and Kiara found her inner drag queen and went for the jump splits ala Ru Paul’s drag race.

The scores were: Laura and Kristen got a 7 for their performance. Leila and Victoria got an 8. Kiara & Natasia they got a 9 for their moves and choreo but were told that they were too severe overall. As the challenge winner they get scholarship $ in their make believe bank and jewelry back at the house.

Back at the house Kristen & Laura are completely freaking out about Leila being back and are plotting how good they will be at the photo shoot so she’s sent home. Funny how now that there is another threat to focus on Victoria and her home schooled ways are no longer a concern to them.

The photo shoot takes place on the river with both Rob (their judge) and a Jamaican model. The scene is they are on vacation with hubby, played by Rob, but they are having an affair with the hot river raft guide.

To further fan the flames of potential young love the girls get to pick their male model – Kiara picks her man Cory. You go girl!

Victoria is brought onto set and Johnny asks her what her back-story is and she starts talking and a ticking clock sound is going on while she yammers on. Keep in mind Rob is a judge and even he’s at a loss with her. His video clip quote was something like ‘you want to love her but she gets too lost in her characters’.

Leila’s so excited to be back and it looks like her photo shoot is amazing. I think that Laura is overly in her head worrying about Leila doing better than her… why haven’t these girls learned to just think about and focus on themselves and what they are doing?

Natasia is doing a good job and looks really lovely, but when you’ve got two hot men how can you not glow? Kristen is a bit of a wet fish. Johnny even wonders how she’s still in the competition in his off camera video clip.

Kiara is in heaven, Rob at her side and a hand on Cory’s chest. I’m amazed she didn’t go into shock over the amazing hotness of men around her. However, she may have been too distracted by her interest in the male model. Guess we’ll know when we see her picture.

At judging:

All the girls are dressed in colorful sarongs. Guess this is the producer’s version of Jamaican-realness.

Nastasia was first and her picture was liked overall, both by judges and online. Rob liked her booty so he scored her a 10.

Leila got some meh online reviews, and a couple 8s but she only got a 6 from Tyra.

Kiara’s picture is awkward and flat. What we saw on the show was that she was really into the hotness of the two guys but the chosen picture totally didn’t represent any of that.

When Victoria was called, her picture was flashed up on screen and Kelly let out an Oh god (not under her breath). Victoria made her way up to the front and Kelly greeted her with a “How are you?’ and unknowingly Victoria answered ‘I’m good’. Tyra stops her and lets her in on this is Kelly stalling before she cuts you down with bad news. And there was bad news…. Kelly basically says that it looks like an advert that’s lacking interest of any kind. Rob told her that she over thinks everything. Victoria was asked her thoughts, and she just babbled on. Her scores were low – 6s and a 7.

Kristen was told she was a bit too hoochy with her toochy. Rob called her out on acting too cool for school, which created a crazy Trya moment where she gave a quick teach on acting the fool…. Or she was just acting cray. Either way it’s all the same in the end. Kristen’s scores were mixed.

Laura looked good in her picture. Rob liked the chemistry she presented. High scores across the board.

In the end the best picture goes to Nastasia – score of 39.3. Runner up to best photo is Laura – score of 38.9. Then comes Leila in third – score of 34.9. Kristen is fourth – score of 33.3.

Last two standing are Kiara and Victoria. Tyra starts the standard ‘two beautiful girls stand before me….’ Tyra tells Victoria that she can’t produce on film what she creates in her head full of stories. Kiara is told that social media is not feeling her but in the judging room they are into her, well, except for this weeks photo.

The girl still in the competition is Kiara with a score of 32.5.

Which means hat Victoria is going home, without a come back model camp with a score of 31.3. It’s time for her to go, no question.

I feel a bit bad for Victoria because her mom didn’t do her any favors by home schooling her. She needed to be in an environment with other kids that picked on her and made fun of her. Coming into this competition with other girls that will cut a bitch just because, is no place for a quick learn on how to act in social situations with other human beings.

Victoria was very disappointed in herself when Trya gave her a hug. Tyra tells her that she can be a model but that she needs to ‘take care of you first’ which as far as I’m concerned is a veiled way of saying: grow the f* up, get out on your own into the real world away from your mom, oh and hey, get some damn therapy!

Cheers.

GreenTech Geek: Frankenfood

2012-10-30T09:58:00.000-07:00

That Frankenstorm Sandy is a bad, bad girl. I spent five formative years in New York City, and it's tough watching what's happening there and throughout the East Coast this week.

Next week, here in California, voters have a chance to weigh in on another Frankenstein monster -- genetically modified foods, also known as Frankenfood.

Proposition 37 on your ballot seeks to force food manufacturers to label products that are genetically modified organisms (GMO) or contain GMO ingredients. Believe it or not, as things stand now, we are likely dumping GMOs in our bodies every day ... since no GMO labelling is required. (Well, GMO labelling is required in much of Europe, but not here.)

Confused? Maybe a catchy little music video about the issue will help clear things up. Watch it, after the jump ...

Until next week ...

Walking Dead Season 3 Recap: Episodes 1, 2, 3

2012-10-30T08:23:00.000-07:00

My Sh*t Never Stopped Being Together

by T

After recapping seasons one and two of The Walking Dead, SDMattchew said he needed a break so you’re stuck with me as your temporary recapper until SD Mattchew gets his sh*t together. Please bear with me as I try to find my recap footing and please email me at t@teawithlemon.com if you see any errors because I typed this on the fly while the Editor in Chief is busy getting his sh*t together and our Senior Editor is busy redefining the Internet as you know it, rubbing elbows with movers and shakers, winning vacations, giving rousing speeches in front of large crowds in the interest of trying to help them get their shit together, and Facebooking.

In order to get caught up, I’m going to briefly recap the first three episodes (or first quarter) of season 3 in sequential order. If you have only watched the first one or the first two episodes do not fret. I will let clearly let you know when the recap for one episode ends and another begins, so if you haven’t seen the newest episode (s) you can stop scrolling down before you encounter any dreaded SPOILERS. I hate spoilers with a passion so I try to be considerate.

Now let's get on with this..

Zombie Apocalypse = world weary cast, fewer reasons to smile

The Walking Dead

Season 3 Episode 1: Seed

About nine months have passed since the free for all, barn burning, “run for your lives!” season two finale. The survivors are world weary and bitter but have become an efficient and effective killing team under the leadership of the hottest, manliest man surviving on earth, Rick Grimes. Rick has become the Walter White of this zombie-infested environment. You do not want him to knock on your door. Shane should be grateful Rick mercifully took him out in Season 2 because Rick in his current state is scarier than any zombie. His estranged wife, Lori, is still pregnant and still annoying. Their offspring, Carl, has taken after both parents because he is turning into a very capable killing machine, like his father, but is still annoying, like his mother.

Glenn is still banging Maggie (who has turned into an effective “girl power!” zombie killer that doesn’t stay back with the other women when its time to rid areas of zombies). Maggie’s dad Hershel is still old as dirt and now has to worry about Carl coming of age and trying to bang his other cute daughter, the useless Beth, who is the only available teenage around. Daryl still looks like he needs a hot shower but continues to be one of my favorites. Carol is less useless now that she has stopped whining about her dead daughter, Sophia, and has learned to almost shoot straight.

T~~oken~~-Dog continues to fascinate with his brilliant strategy of staying completely in the background and receiving absolutely no character development. This under the radar method of survival has carried him right into season 3 when he was probably on track to be the first slaughtered.

We finally get to see the katana sword wielding Michonne and we know instantly that she is not a woman to be trifled with or put in a corner. She makes mincemeat out of some zombies just so she can obtain a generic fever reducer for hard luck Andrea (who was separated from the group after suffering the slaughter of her sister in season one and the gutting of her buddy Dale season two) because Andrea is stricken with flu and a case of self pity.

The Good News: You're about to get your big Hollywood break AND be part of a mystery on a popular TV show!

The Bad News: Not even your mothers will recognize you.

I've always had a soft spot for Andrea because she is a “complicated” character so I'm relieved when she stops the whining and self pitying crap, and quickly bucks up, so I’m not forced to turn on her. Michonne, her two zombie pets with missing limbs, and Andrea hit the open road.

There was a lot of "Formation" and "Do Not Break the Circle!!"

Still hungry because there was not enough meat on Hedwig the Owl that he earlier shot, killed and consumed, Daryl is hunting and stumbles upon a zombie infested prison. Rick decides they are going to break INTO the prison and in three separate, beautifully staged, and absurdly suspenseful scenes of intense, zombie killing action, they proceed to do just that.

Old as dirt Hershel decides not to hang back with the women and children. Disaster follows.

After Rick and his merrymen and Maggie have fought their way into the prison, Hershel gets a bug up his ass and decides that instead of just hanging back with the women and children (as he usually does and should do), he is going to join the others in fighting their way to the cafeteria. Of course, he becomes a liability and is bitten on the leg by a hungry zombie. “So long Hershel!” I think to myself, "You had a good run!".

“I Don’t Think So!” counters the worlds manliest man, Rick, and my jaw drops as Rick picks up a Machete and HACKS OFF HERSHEL’S LEG right below the knee, before the zombie infection can spread. Daryl shines a light on ten peeping eyes that belong to five hardened human prisoners (!!!) that have survived this zombie apocalypse by locking themselves in the kitchen like little bitches. They have seen a lot of sh*t go down in this prison but they are as shaken and slack jawed as I am by the brutality that they've just witnessed.

"Da f*CK!?!?"

Cut scene, end of episode. A unanimous cheer breaks out around the world because The Walking Dead is back. And it is back with purpose.

Well, hello there!

END of RECAP EPISODE 1

The Walking Dead
Season 3 Episode 2: Sick

Rick Grimes. Always thinking, making tough decisions, emitting effortless manliness, and ~~perspiring~~ sweating.

I'm exhausted There’s a LOT going on at the beginning of The Walking Dead.. The five surviving prisoners have appeared just as Rick has hacked off Hershel’s brittle leg in an attempt to save him from the dreaded zombie bite. While everyone stands around in shock, the world’s manliest survivor, Rick Grimes, barks orders, sweats, and gets everyone in line.

Rick oversees the effective and efficient campaign to roll the unconscious and near death amputee, Hershel, back with the women and children (Where Hershel should have been in the first place, I suspect he went off with the men and Maggie to get away from Lori after she whined to him in the last episode that both her husband and son hated her. He probably was sensitive to her plight and didn't want to blurt out, "Well Lori, I don't know why but I hate you too! The only person that didn't hate you, that awful Shane, is dead!"). Rick then “negotiates” with the five former prisoners, who are already reeling from the fact that we now live in a world without cell phones or Pinterest, while their eyes adjust to the sunlight, on how things will work.

Of course, “negotiating” with Rick Grimes, the worlds manliest survivor, does not make for a situation with a lot of wiggle room:

Tomas (leader of remaining prisoners, bully): This is our cell block we will live here.
Rick: No. We took it. It is ours you can live somewhere else.
Tomas: You can have some of our food.
Rick: No. We will take HALF of your food in exchange for clearing out a prison wing for you to live in and you will like it.

Rick let's the prisoners know how things will work (basically, "I will end you if you don't do exactly as I say"). I'm still not sure if T-Dog is trying to look menacing, in the background, or is just having a moment of intestinal discomfort.

When they are done negotiating, Rick caps it out with, “If I even catch a sniff of you near our people, I will kill you.”

Alrighty then.

...now, die already!

Despite the trauma of losing a limb combined with his being older than dirt, Hershel is still hanging on so his useless ditz of a blond daughter decides to remove one leg from all of his pants so he doesn't trip over the fabric since he will no longer need it (before the zombie apocalypse, Hershel's dumb daughter had options, like "marrying well." Now...), while his other daughter, Maggie (who, in my humble opinion, almost wants Hershel to die so she’s not burdened with an amputee while she is trying to outrun or beat down zombies) tells her dad it is OK to let go. I got angry because the scene was so well acted and sweet I was forced to feel emotion. Later, Hershel does indeed let go for everlasting peace in these troubling, apocalyptic times, but buzz-kill Lori (fresh from earning the continued loathing of her ungrateful and bratty son, after chastising him for sneaking off and competently getting medicine from the infirmary while single handedly offing two zombies that stood in his way) gives Hershel mouth to mouth and resuscitates him. This results in a big and very fun scare as Hershel pops up suddenly and we are given hope that he is now a Zombie dead set on having Lori for dinner.

No such luck.

In the middle of all this Carol and Glen kill a female zombie so Carol can practice delivering a baby in case Hershel does not make it or is too cranky to deliver a baby after he discovers that instead of just letting him die in peace, a mad man chopped off his leg. While Carol is dissecting the zombie, an unidentified peeper is watching her ass

Rick, Darryl, and Token-Bag try to teach the prisoners the basics of zombie killing with emphasis on going for the brain and never, ever breaking formation.

FAIL

The prisoners try to shank the zombies in the gut (I had to pause and rewind because I was laughing so hard) and Tiny (a huge pussy of a prisoner) breaks formation and is rewarded with a zombie bite to his fat and fleshy back.

Little known fact: "Fleshy Marbled Fat Back" is a zombie delicacy. It is the human equivalent of the crème de la crème of tender, fatty steaks, the Rib-Eye.

Rick looks at Tiny like a horse that needs to be put down (sucks, but it is your time) and Tiny tries to argue that he is OK but Tomas hacks him to bits before Tiny can finish. Since the four men were locked together for almost a year, Rick, Daryl, and I all assumed two things. 1) They bonded because it was just the four of them, thus Tomas hacking Tiny to beats was especially disturbing. 2) Tiny was bottomed and he was probably bottomed by Tomas. Thus, Thomas hacking Tiny to bits was especially disturbing.

Rick and Tomas exchanged a long, lingering glare that said, “It will come down to you and me!” And I thought this was going to be big fun that would play out over a few episodes, if not the entire season.

Unconcerned with character development and slow burns, Tomas the convict (who clearly would not be a big fan of Walking Dead Season 2), tries to off Rick “accidentally” by swinging his machete wildly and then throwing a zombie on top of him! It was embarrassing. You’re going to have to try a LOT harder than that to take Rick out. If anything that Zombie was grateful to be thrown on top of such a manly man and was more concerned with breaking off a piece than killing.

Instead of ripping out Rick's guts as easily as Dale's were pulled out in season 2, this zombie launched into an unexpected, and stirring version of Mario's, "You Should Let Me Love You"

After Daryl easily dispatched of the horny zombie and all the other zombies have been annihilated, the men stand about covered in Tiny and Zombie blood while Rick and Tomas the convict glare at each other after Tomas excuses his actions with, “Shit Happens!” Yes, yes it does. Then this happened:

I didn't see that coming. Nor did Tomas.

Remember when the actor that is Rick Grimes, Andrew Lincoln, was just a nice (albeit, impossibly handsome) bloke that...um... tried to woo Kiera Knightly away from his best friend, who just happened to be her husband, in the movie, Love Actually?

And it didn't end there.

Another inmate, Andrew (no need to remember his name, mind you), Tomas’s co-conspirator (and I suspect his lover) bolted like he was going somewhere, not realizing Rick is not one for loose ends. Rick took off after Andrew and when he caught up to him he mercilessly locked him in a pen filled with hungry zombies. As Rick walked away, Andrews pained screams made me wonder if the zombies had, in turn, locked Andrew in a pen with Lori Grimes so she could continue to whine about her estranged husband, ungrateful son, and unborn baby that may eat her from the inside out should it die while still in the womb.

The last two remaining prisoners are spared after the wimpy white one whines so much it is clear he won’t be any trouble and the last remaining black prisoner behaves in such a stoic, and dignified manner, that it would just be rude to kill him. Rick and his trusty sidekick Daryl allow the two of them to remain in the just cleared cell block. I’m jolted out of my “well they do have access to the outdoors and could plant a lovely garden and eventually brighten up these dim surrounding with fresh flowers,” train of thought when something completely unexpected and terrifying happens.

T-Dog. Storyline free and still kickin!

Out of nowhere, a, “Where the f*ck did that come from!?!?” voice tells the last two remaining prison survivors to burn the zombie bodies in the morning because they tend to get ripe. The prisoners seemed as stunned as me to realize the voice is coming from T-Dog, who has been here the entire time. He is somehow still flying under the radar despite getting bucket loads of screen time this season, thanks to his participation in the wholesale Zombie slaughter that seems to be all the rage.

Hershel shocks us all…by living. Even if he hadn't been bitten by a zombie it would have been a bit of a surprise (these years are precious) so hats off to Hershel!

END of RECAP EPISODE 2

The Walking Dead
Season 3 Episode 3: Walk With Me

Now that Rick Grimes has become more terrifying than an entire herd of zombies, The Walking Dead needed to introduce something even more hateful than the zombies to stir the pot. The third episode of the season, "Walk with Me," set out to do just that. Did it succeed? Yes.This is a TV show that clearly has its sh*t together.

Andrea (she of the hard knock life), Michonne (will kill you), and the two zombie pets watch a helicopter go down and decide to investigate. They hide in the bushes and watch as a mysterious crew arrives upon the wreckage. Michonne's zombies begin to get fussy so Michonne chops their heads off before the mysterious crew discovers....

"Hush up now!"

Too late.

Merle

Well look who's here! Merle! That wacky, racist, older brother of Daryl. Merle was left hand-cuffed to a rooftop in season one for being "difficult" (Merle is not a big fan of black people so he saw fit to beat up on T-Dog at will. Yup. That was the last time T-Dog had a story-line. As Merle's punching bag.). Merle hacked off his own hand to free himself and we were left to wonder what the hell happened to him. We learned two things during Merle's reintroduction:

1. He's Horny

2. He has a new, very useful hand.

3. And damn does he know how to make an entrance.

Michonne and Andrea are prisoners but not prisoners of The Governor. The Governor, Merle, and the other henchmen are residents of the guarded town of Woodbury. Which looks like a creepy Pleasanton. The people (seventy something) have resumed as close to a normal (albeit, pretty boring) life as possible. It is all so perfectly pleasant and too good to be true that Andrea and Michonne are skeptical.

Not one for chit-chat, Michonne let’s her expressions do the talking. And she has a LOT to not say.

The very busy Governor convinces the lone survivor of the helicopter crash that he will find the rest of his group and bring them to Woodbury. He also chats with the resident Mad Scientist about making the zombies docile. Later as The Governor and his mad scientist break bread with Andrea and Michonne we get a hint that Michonne was familiar with her two zombie pets BEFORE they were turned into zombies! Well no wonder Michonne is so judgmental and distrusting. She thinks everyone is as bat-shit as she is! I mean she kept two walker pets that she knew before they were zombies, and then quickly dispatched of them when it was time to keep quiet!

Of course, it would NOT be a good idea to point this out to her because Michonne....

....thinks her shit never STOPPED being together!

The Governor, Merle, and their henchmen locate the allies of the military helicopter that crashed at the beginning of the episode. The bloke that greets them is very handsome. Then the unforgivable happened.

The Governor shot the handsome soldier and then bashed his face in. I officially hate the Governor and it gets even worse. While one of the soldiers is fleeing for safety. The Governor SHOOTS HIM IN THE BACK. He is deplorable. We all know that Rick Grimes would have chased that soldier down on foot, before possibly offing him. The expressions of several of the henchmen let us know that they too know the Governor is not a nice man.

Speaking of Rick Grimes, he and his crew are entirely missing from this episode. Andrea is the only main character that we are familiar with to appear in this episode! It was a big gamble but it paid off.

Andrea brings her milkshake to the Governors yard

When the full of shit and mean spirited Governor arrives back to town he declares the soldiers were already dead but he helped himself to their vehicles and weapons. Andrea (who still hasn't learned her lesson about staying away from bad boys, like dead Shane, and clearly needs more than a few days to get her shit together), is strolling around town showing off her adorable figure and bats her eyes at the Governor and asks if he will ever tell her his real name. When he says, "Never," she says, "Never say Never," so he says "Never," again because he is a gigantic asshole.

But I like gigantic assholes.

Me too

Andrea will have to wait another day for her crack at the Governor because he goes home to sleep with one of the town residents (I think she is a scientist). She's passed out on the bed when he sneaks off to a secret room. A secret room which contain several (still alive) walker heads that include Michonne's pets and the guy that was in the helicopter who opened his fat mouth and got all his buddies killed.

Meanwhile....

Michonne senses someone does NOT have their shit together!

Michonne knows that something just aint right!

Supernatural Recap: Bitten

2012-10-26T11:03:00.001-07:00

Grrr…Argh

by Joshowa

In this very special episode of Supernatural, Sam and Dean become the supporting characters in a "found footage" story of werewolves loose on a college campus. Yes, just in time for the release of Paranormal Activity 4. I'm sure it's JUST A COINCIDENCE!

Follow the jump for the full, shaky cam story!

Forget the werewolves, there's a much more dangerous monster on the loose, and it's got green eyes. Yup, I'm talking about envy. Aspiring filmmaker Brian is totally and completely bonkers jealous of his best friend, Michael. Michael's got looks, charm and a pretty girlfriend named Kate. On top of that, he was recently bitten by a werewolf, giving him super strength.

"Bang bang! Take that dead body! Yeah, that's right."
(Photo: The CW)

Brian, who is one of those whiny creeps who thinks that his life of suffering somehow makes him superior to those around them, slowly goes from worshipping Michael to hating him. Of the seven deadly sins, envy is the most subtle, the most insidious. Brian doesn't even realize he hates Michael at first. Brian thinks he is protecting Michael by pinning a murder Michael committed on another werewolf. In reality, Brian's motivation was the chance to blackmail that patsy werewolf into biting him and giving him the power he craved.

Now that Brian has the power, he's only missing one thing - the girl. Standing in his way is his oldest and bestest friend, whom he quickly dispatches. (Ah, the things one crazy person will do for lust.) Brian even gives Kate a little nibble so she can become a werewolf and they can run away as two lycans in love. Kate is freaked at first, but quickly embraces her wolfy powers. But she doesn't use them to bond with Brian, she uses them to rip him to shreds.

This entire sad story is set against the backdrop of a classroom study of "Lord of the Flies." (Must be remedial English course - didn't most people study that in junior high or high school?) Brian identifies with the character Piggy, because he thinks he's a smart kid who is picked on too much. He sees himself as a supporting character in the life of Michael, his own personal "Ralph."

Ziggy! Piggy! Ziggy! Piggy!
(Photo: Universal Studios)

In reality, Brian is a Jack. Like Jack, Brian's intense envy of the "leader" in his life leads him to embrace a startling savagery. Brian is so anxious to get what Michael has, he's willing to sacrifice the logic of Piggy and turn his back on the rules of society.

If anyone is Piggy, it's Kate, because that girl is CHUNKY! Obviously, I am kidding. Actress Brit Sheridan is so skinny that Lifetime has already bought the rights to the story of her eating disorder. Kate acts as the Piggy character because she is Michael's right-hand "man." Also, like Piggy, she can't see what Brian/Jack is really after - her.

Unlike Piggy, she's survives the story and becomes a savage herself. Not so savage that she can't take a few hours to edit together a nice little movie that explains to Sam and Dean why she is running away and doesn't need to be hunted. Yup, Sam and Dean have been investigating the werewolf murders on campus, and they find all the answers in her tidy little video.

(Left to right) Michael, Sam, Brian, Fatty and Dean

It's not a bad way to tell a story, if you are willing so suspend a TON of disbelief, just about the process of filmmaking itself. But we are only four episodes in and we've already had a "gimmick" episode that greatly departs from the main arc this season.

These "special" episodes reinforce how much this show could benefit from a format change. Okay, maybe it doesn't need a full format change any more than those police procedurals do, but even the procedurals frequently shake up the status quo. The formula for Supernatural is to have Dean and Sam hunt monsters. Fine. But the status quo remains the same - two guys in a car traveling alone, still bickering and keeping secrets. Dean wants to stick with the family business; Sam wants to quit. It's eight years later, and Dean and Sam are right back where they started in season one.

Y'all. Are. Welcome.
Sincerely,
Snotface.
(Photo: Lionsgate)

Sure, people have died on the way (pretty much everyone at least once). But what does that matter if things just remain the same? If death can't mix things up, what can? Where's the growth? Where's the change? For that matter, where's Kevin Tran (in Advanced Placement)?

Maybe things will change when Dean's Purgatory cell mate shows up next week. Will the addition of vampire Benny spice up this season? We'll find out on Halloween! In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on this season so far. Are you digging the old school vibe or is the format getting a little stale?

America's Next Top Model College Edition: Go See's!

2012-10-26T08:19:00.001-07:00

May you all get out of bed feeling like this today!
From the ANTM hall of fame- Jade, Cycle 6.

Do you see what I see?

ANTM Cycle 19 episode 8

By Dancer

with special guest star, Davina

Everyone is so introspective after judging The blond that’s been on top lately, Laura, is really concerned about having been in the bottom two. The ‘Disney girl’ gets a letter from family which makes her cry.
Questions are thought aloud about the girls that have left the competition and are being scored by the social media online crap and who might come back The Home Schooled Girl is more or less attacked by the girls because she’s been acting so inappropriate. Had this girl gone to a school with other kids she’d totally know how to deal with getting picked on but instead she’s completely dysfunctional thanks to her home schooling.
Davina chimes in that the other girls are sharks and they smell the blood called Home Schooled Girl Victoria.

It’s Go See Day. Kelly Cutron sets them up in pairs and tells them that each designer can only book one model but a model can book more than one job.

follow the all important go-see's after the jump!

They are driving themselves in LA Bwahahahahahaaa!! They head to the Garment district and the girls all head to designers: Guess, Whitney Port, Cecilia Cassini (a 13 year old prodigy-supposedly since I don’t think she understands what Avante-Guard means ), I (heart symbol) Ronson and Lulu Guinness.

Most of the go see teams and visits were a blur of boredom.

As always that struggle of the Go See’s is getting back ON TIME.

That being said one team had the blond from the bottom at last judging was crying that there was no time to go to Guess but that’s her dream. Davina and I dish about how if you have a favorite designer why do you not go there first!?!

Thanks to the power of editing that team made it back with ONE minute to spare… oh, okay…. Weren’t they just at Guess for their go see about 20 minutes before the deadline?? In LA?!? (I don’t get to LA much but there is NO way in hell that driving around the garment district and back happened just like that)

Who booked:
C Cassini - Kiara
Lulu Guinness - Natasia
I (heart symbol) Ronson - Kristen
Whitney Port – Laura
Guess – Laura (that gal that was just there at the end)
Tears where shed by the Disney girl that didn't book any jobs….. And at dinner Victoria (HSG) is in distress that she didn't book. Then that creepy bearded ladyman showed up to gag them out with some verbal Tyra Mail. Ew! He’s SOOO ICKY!

Next day they turn up to a correctional facility – whee a prison! Each girl is booked, fingerprinted and put into orange jumpsuits. During this the voice over is Johnny spewing about how many college students are arrested

Heavy handed moral story? WTF!

Photographer… Gallagher in pjs his name is Mark “the Cobra Snake” Hunter to shoot them as Bad Girls 50’s retro style mug shots.

So Cobra Snake is wearing some comfy pj’s and has an awful neck beard that meshes with his chest hair.

Youtube Video of the cobrasnake and his dad:

Kiara was reliving her teenage shoplifting arrest saga, and Victoria - HSG was in cray cray character again. For a change she didn’t scare Cobra Snake with her unreality world. Even Johnny W. wasn’t surprised.

Victoria – HSG was a bit too backwoods crazy
Laura was looking very Madonna.
Kristen rockabilly Anna Nicole
Brittany is very pinup-y
Nastasia looking like a broken Beyonce with a bit of Eve (they put a ‘paw print tats’ on her)
Kiara Very Amy Whinehouse - she got pushed to the edge and exploded with very unladylike cussing. She ended up all gangsta in her picture.

Night before the judging and everyone is worrying about begin sent home and who’s coming back from the other voted out girls. Davina and I wondered why these girls were so worried about any of the other girls.

At judging:

Kristen was definitely rocking Anna Nicole. They liked it.

Nastasia didn’t get a very great review because her rollin the eyes look wasn’t looking good. It was too much of a is she gonna die or pass out look.

Victoria at judging was told that she wasn’t really going for it and during the review she said she was feeling attacked at home (by the sharks). I was surprised when Kelly schooled the girls for picking on the home-schooled girl (not exactly repeated here word for word). & her picture wasn’t given a good review.

Kiara’s picture looks amazing to me but didn’t get amazing feedback.

Brittany her pic was all right but she hadn't booked any go sees so she got really low scores.

Laura booked two go sees and got her kudos and her shot was just okay. Also she was told she looks more commercial than like a high fashion model, and was told to stop wearing all that cheap mall makeup.

Laura got best picture – and she came back without any makeup on. Kristen was second. Kiara third. Nastasia was fourth leaving Victoria and Brittany as the final two. These were the two that didn't book any jobs at the go see’s. Victoria was told that her pictures are very ‘character like’ rather than model-y. The girl going home / to the super secret hopefully come back model camp was Brittany. OR was she????

Tyra reveals that it’s time to bring one of the girl back into the competition based on their social media scores. She brings out the girls from the model camp and says ‘ the girl with the highest score is………………………
And then we were watching closing credits.

This Top Model Recap brought to you by Dancer & Davina

Davina and Dancer. Showing these girls how it's done!

That Works For Me!

2012-10-25T08:02:00.003-07:00

T's Trailer Park: Budgets Both Big & Small Edition

2012-10-24T11:39:00.001-07:00

This edition of Trailer Park brings you Iron Man 3 which features Tony Stark ~~getting~~ hitting bottomed, A Wayans brother trying to cash in on the "found footage" gravy train, a 3D underwater spectacular, and we'll be talking production budgets along the way.. with the exception of the just released teaser trailer for the Evil Dead remake, as no budget info was available.

Let's get on with this...

Boo!

The Evil Dead (2013)

A Haunted House

Made for only $5 million dollars (Paranormal Activity 1 cost only 15,000), Paranormal Activity 4 grossed $30 million dollars in its opening weekend. Shocking no one, Paramount Studios announced a Paranormal Activity 5 for next Halloween, this time aimed at Latino fans. Marlon Wayans wants his piece of the Paranormal pie by crapping out this spoof, A Haunted House. While I was unable to muster even the slightest smile while watching this trailer, that's OK because this is not for me. This movie is for people that thought Vampires Suck! was funny...

Scary Movie 5 has their own Paranormal parody!

...or that will drop cold hard cash on the upcoming Scary Movie 5.

Iron Man 3

Truth be told, despite my love of Robert Downey Jr. and Gwyneth Paltrow as Tony Stark and Pepper Potts respectively, I thought Iron Man 2 was uneven and even a little bit boring (“gasp!”). Maybe I was just bitter over the Terrence Howard/Don Cheadle swap out. Anyway, Iron Man 3 looks to be following in the same path as Rise of the Dark Knight by having our hero hit rock bottom and get beat down before building him back up. $200 million bones (CROM!) Iron Man 3 had a big fat budget of $200 million (which would have been enough $$$ for 40 Paranormal Activity 4).

Iron Man 3 Trailer TEASER..a trailer for a trailer.

and now the FULL Length Trailer

Empires of the Deep 3D

Just in time for Halloween! Slutty Empires of the Deep Mermaids!

Made on a vulgar budget of $130 million, with no big actors to pay as its biggest star is Olga Kureylanko, One would think this would be a senses shattering and gorgeous blockbuster!

When I was but a wee lad, I also thought this was the sort of underwater adventures that would occur (in miniature form) in my Sea Monkey aquarium. Imagine my shock when Sea Monkeys turned out to be boring ass brine shrimp. I got that same feeling after watching this trailer:

That's all for now. If you still have time on your hands, might I suggest Buzzfeed's 32 Of Your Childhood Crushes Then And Now

It really makes me miss our previously lively comments section:

The GreenTech Geek Goes to Washington

2012-10-23T07:14:00.000-07:00

My paying job has sent me to Washington, D.C. this week for some training at the National Transportation Safety Board. It's an exciting time to be here, with Election Fever gripping the capital. I plan to poke around a bit and see what I can see.

But even here, as I traverse the halls of power, I will not shrink from my duty to root out important green/technology stories for Tea with Lemon readers. Stories that make a difference. Stories destined to make the world a better place.

I will never turn my back on this worthy cause ... kind of like the dude in the video clip, after the jump ...

Until next week ...

Lettuce Eat: Cream Cheese Crock Pot Chili

2012-10-22T13:43:00.002-07:00

A recipe I found floating around the web that sounded great to eat and horrible for you. Despite all the fat and cholesterol that destroy your body afterwards, this was a tasty dish that would also serve well as a dip.

I put mine over rice and it went really well. It was basically a Santa Fe curry if you will.

Here's the recipe:

2 Chicken Breasts

1 Can of Tomatoes

1 Can of Black Beans

1 Can of Corn (do not drain)

1 Package of Ranch Dressing mix

1 TBSP cumin

1 tsp Chili powder (ok I accidentally did cayenne pepper and it came out spicy, but I like it that way.)

1 tsp Onion powder

1 Package of Cream Cheese

Throw everything in the crock pot, stir to combine.

Cook on low for 8 hours, stirring twice to mix up the cheese.

Shred Chicken with two forks once it's done.

Serve over rice, pasta, or use as a dip :)