Big Brother Season 15

The last night of Big Brother for 2013. What a controversial season it has been. Honestly, I don't care who wins. I don't care for anyone in the final three. I actually grew to dislike pretty much everyone this season. I think Judd has a good shot at the fan favorite vote, and I'm okay with that. I like Judd.

I don't agree that the exterminators were the ones who got Aaryn out of the house. They are pretty full of themselves if they think that. Amanda was still in the house at that point. Amanda called the shots until the day she got kicked out. Nice try, exterminators.

I think GinaMarie became a more likeable person when all of the girls were out of the house. I think she is one of those girls who doesn't get along well with other girls. I could ALMOST root for her...until I remember how she treated Candice. How she and Aaryn treated Candice. GinaMarie can be as much of a bully as Amanda. So I can't root for GinaMarie.

Hard to know how the jury will vote. If Andy makes it to the final two, will they reward him or punish him for backstabbing several of them? It appears that a few in the jury think he's a good player. I think he was lucky. He rode on McCranda's coattails for most of the summer. He calls himself an exterminator. I call him an informant. It's a fancy synonym for tattletale.

Enjoy the show BB'ers!

librarianintx

Diana Nyad

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/sports/july-dec13/nyad_09-03.html

"Diana Nyad Says Record-Setting Swim Was About Being 'Fully Engaged' in Life"

Quote from article:
"And I wanted to swim this endeavor not to just be the athletic record. I wanted it to be a lesson for my life that says, be fully engaged. Be so awake and alert and alive every minute of every waking day, because that's where I had to be for these fortunately years to get this done."

My thoughts:

The fifth time was the charm for Diana Nyad. Five times she has attempted to swim from Cuba to the Florida Keys. Four times she has been unsuccessful. During those four attempts she suffered jellyfish attacks, asthma attacks, shoulder pain, lightening storms, and currents that pushed her far off course.

Diana Nyad is perseverance personified. Each failed attempt gave her the information she needed to ultimately achieve success. Diana didn't let anything stop her from reaching her goal. She didn't let her age prevent her. She didn't let the naysayers deter her. She didn't let the jellyfish stings, the persistent vomiting, the weakness from the vomiting, the sores caused by the jellyfish mask...none of it caused her to give up this time. She pushed through all of it, and she finished that swim.

To be honest, I don't understand why someone would spend so many years trying to do something like this. Why anyone would put her body through such torment, and risk not only her life, but the lives of her crew as well. But while I don't comprehend the why, I still can applaud and appreciate the effort, the determination, the "never give up" attitude. When you think you can't do something, when you're convinced that what you're attempting is just too difficult, think of Diana Nyad.

And then try again.

"You're never too old to chase your dreams" Diana Nyad

librarianintx

Big Brother Season 15 9-5-13

Wow...a busy night of BB!!

But first, I have to go back to last week for a second. Aaryn....please do not insinuate that you speak for an entire state. Texas might still be a red state, but not all of its inhabitants are racist and homophobic. Your wide-eyed, innocent, "Southerners say those things" bullshit was both laughable and hugely insulting. Hope you have fun looking for a new job.

And now on to tonight. Thank goodness Amanda is finally gone! But what was with Elissa trying to save her at the last minute? What a terrible move on her part. All of her effort went for naught, as Andy flipped yet again, which forced GinaMarie to break the tie. Amanda absolutely tormented Elissa, but somehow Elissa thought that aligning herself with the power couple of the house would get her farther in the game? *shakes head*

Of the people left, I'm definitely rooting for Judd. He's a good guy that hasn't tried to hurt anyone. GinaMarie is a bully. Andy is a tattletale. Spencer is anti-Semitic. I think McCrae is actually a good guy as well, and I wouldn't mind if he won, except knowing that the money would really go to Amanda.

Go Judd!

librarianintx

Adventure

Yesterday my oldest niece left her home for a semester abroad. She will be based in one country, but because everything is so close in Europe, she will have the opportunity to visit multiple countries during her three plus months there.

This is an outstanding opportunity for her, and I know she will make every moment count. Luckily this girl takes after her father. He is a do-er, an adventurer. He has travelled all over the world with his job: UAE, Algeria, Singapore, Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Rome, just to name a few. My niece is not infected with the worry gene that plagues her mother's side of the family. Or if she has it, she has been able to control it. Her mother has learned over the years, in large part because of her husband I think, to have more control over this. She has been able to fly with my brother-in-law to Rome and to Buenos Aires, and to go with the family to Hawaii. They also took a cruise once. She didn't love the cruise, but she did it.

Someone asked me the other day if I was jealous of my niece. Not jealous, but envious, yes. I am a history nut, and to have the opportunity to visit Europe, especially England and Ireland, would be beyond amazing. But I don't see it ever happening. Money is of course the main obstacle. Physical health is a problem as well. But even if I somehow had the money to go, and someone to help with the physical aspects of travel, would I? If I'm being honest, I would have to say no. Because the anxiety would be too overwhelming. Too many fears. Fear of flying. Fear of flying over water. Fear of terrorism. Fear of any other number of things. Fear of fear. The list would be long. The physical and mental toll would be so exhausting.

I do still have hope that one day I will be able to get more of a handle on all of this. I have to keep hoping. But in another way I am kind of resigned to it. I've always been this way, and I probably always will be. It's never going to completely go away. I'm trying to just learn to live with it. Try to relax and not let it upset me. Getting mad and frustrated only makes it worse. Be kind to myself. Undertand that it's not my fault, and I'm doing the best I can. Surround myself with people who like me for who I am and are kind to me when I'm anxious, scared, and weird about certain things.

I don't think I'm ever going to see the world in person. But I can see the world through books. On the Internet. And in the pictures and stories of my healthy, brave, strong, intelligent, talented adventurer. She will see the world, and then she will share her knowledge, her experiences, and her memories with me.

librarianintx

Big Brother 8-29-13

Spencer could potentially be the swing vote tonight. I feel certain that Judd and GinaMarie will vote to evict Andy. And if Amanda and McCrae figure out that Aaryn and Elissa were starting to work together, then they will vote to keep Andy. I really don't know how Spencer will vote. He has been wanting to work with Aaryn. Hopefully Aaron and Elissa can convince him to evict Andy.

Wait, did I just say that? Did I just write that I want Andy to go home over Aaryn? It's just because I want Amanda out so bad. I'm not rooting for Aaryn. I know Andy said he won't be loyal to McCranda anymore, but sorry, I'm not interested in what Andy says. He's not a key player in this game to me.

Amanda has become one of the most unlikeable people to play Big Brother. She's a huge bully, but then when she feels threatened she turns on the waterworks and becomes the biggest whiner. Aarghh! Please, fellow houseguests, please find a way to get her out next week. She is making the show painful to watch.

Unfortunately, because of football, Big Brother won't be on until after midnight. Sucks! I won't know until Friday afternoon what happens. I like the show, but not enough to get up an hour early to watch it. This means I'll have to stay off Twitter so I don't get spoiled. Facebook should be safe.

librarianintx

Big Brother 15

What was going to be my prediction / strategy analysis for tonight's episode will now be a rant against posting spoilers online. People, please. I'm getting old. My memory isn't what it used to be. Usually I save the last few episodes on my DVR so I can refer back to them if necessary when writing a blog post. I've even taken notes - about who won HOH, who was nominated for eviction, blah blah. But I just went to look up one piece of information - and found out EVERYTHING that happened tonight - on wikipedia! COME ON! If you're going to post spoilers, fine, but do it in such a way that people can avoid them if they want to. I found out who won POV, and if that changed the nominations. It was in a grid with all the other information from this season. All I'm asking is that information NOT be posted until after the episode airs. Some people don't want to be spoiled. Some people want to make predictions and analyze the situation first. Our predictions may or not be stupid...but let us make them first!! Let us have our fun, let us use our brains a little, even if it is just for a silly television show. Geez! :-(

librarianintx

Big Brother

I'm sorry I haven't blogged in a few weeks.

I'm still enjoying the season. But I don't have a favorite. Not even close. In fact, until Judd came back into the house, I didn't like anyone. Elissa is okay, but she can get on my nerves. I'm a girlie girl, but Elissa is beyond a girlie girl. I sort of like McCrae, but unfortunately the fact that he is with Amanda keeps me from liking him as much as I would otherwise. I do appreciate the fact that he tries to keep her in line. But Amanda is so unbearable, so unlikable, that some of it rubs off on McCrae for me. I don't have any hope that their relationship will survive outside the house. For McCrae's sake, I hope it doesn't. It would be okay with me if McCrae wins, as long as he dumps Amanda in the process.

I do like Judd. Out of the four jurors, I was definitely rooting for either him or Jessie to make it back into the house.

After Amanda, my most disliked houseguest is...not who you would expect I imagine. That "honor" goes to...Andy! Andy is a tattletale. That is the only game he has. All he does is run to "McCranda" when anyone tells him anything. Why does he trust them so much? They are a couple. The best he's going to be able to do is third or fourth place, unless he can win HOH. Why is he settling for that? If he could help get Amanda out, he would be more on an even playing field I think. There would be no Queen Bee if Amanda was gone. Maybe Aaryn would take her crown, but I tend to think that having to be the evictioner (is that a word?) for Helen and Amanda has made her squeamish about doing the same thing to someone else. Aaryn definitely is in it to win it, but I don't think she wants to be a puppetmaster.

So we'll see what happens. Maybe Elissa can backdoor Amanda. If she doesn't go this week, I think it will probably be McCranda as the final two. *Shudder* I'm having an Amber / Boston Rob "Survivor" flashback.

librarianintx

So You Think You Can Dance 7/23/13

Yep, I'm really late on this write-up, so it will probably be pretty short.

I was fine with four of the bottom six this week. I don't understand why Jenna keeps winding up there, and Alan. I was fine with Mariah and Blu-Print leaving this week.

This week I felt like some of the routines lacked the energy that was promised in the rehearsal footage, especially Nico and Alexis' jive, and Mariah and Blu-Print's jazz number. Both of those dances suffered from an abundance of tricks that interrupted the flow of the dances, and the timing of the dancers. I thought the jive was especially rough, and Nigel and Mary were too easy on Nico and Alexis.

In contrast, i thought Amy and Fik-shun's jazz, and Makenzie and Paul's hip hop were two routines that were successful. Tice's jazz number included just enough tricks to make the dance fun and exciting, but didn't detract from the flow and timing. Dave Scott's hip hop number was hot, sexy, and had great energy.

I also enjoyed the two contemporary numbers: Jenna and Tucker's Travis Wall piece, and Hayley and Curtis' piece by Dee Caspary. Bravo to Hayley for overcoming her fear of heights to dance that number! Ladders are scary!

Normally I would feel sorry for the poor pair that is dealt the dreaded quickstep. But no lamenting needed for Jasmine and Aaron, 'cause they kicked that quickstep's booty! It was a great dance to show off tapper Aaron's personality and the much-admired legs of contemporary dancer Jasmine. They did a great job on a very tough dance.

One more point: The dancers have to step it up on their solos! Makenzie was the only one who really looked like she was dancing for her life. Alan's music was exciting and the cape work was cool, but he needed to do more. The other three were pretty blah in my opinion. The dancers have to pull out all the stops and show the judges they deserve to stay on the show.

librarianintx

Big Brother 7/27/13

It was a good week on Big Brother for me. The evil trio of Aaryn, GinaMarie, and Kaitlin ended up on the block together. Oh happy day! Unfortunately, the least evil of the three went home. And the most evil won HOH. UGH!! Not much else to say. I predict that Aaryn will nominate Elissa, and maybe Candice or Howard. That is, if she sticks to her supposed agreement with Helen. I haven't watched any of the live feed this week, so I don't know what's going on behind the scenes.

I hate to say it, but I do feel a little sorry for Jeremy at this point. He might be arrogant as hell, but I think he really does like Kaitlin. And maybe she was just being coy, but when she was talking to Julie, it sure sounded like she is way less into Jeremy than he is into her. I guess we'll find out at the finale...maybe.

librarianintx

Cory Monteith's toxicology report

Cory died from a lethal mix of heroin and alcohol.

I'm so mad. I AM SO MAD. Not at Cory. He was an addict. He did what addicts do. Okay, maybe I am mad at Cory. Because he knew he was an addict, but he did things that addicts should not do. He lived with people who drank and had parties (this was several years ago.) He went to two clubs the night he died. He was around people who were drinking in the days before he died. He put himself in situations where he was around alcohol (and evidently drugs). Surrounding himself with his poisons, just months after getting out of rehab.

So yes, I'm mad at Cory, even though I shouldn't be. But I'm even more mad at the drugs. Drugs have stolen another young, talented, beautiful young man. Cory was an actor, a singer, and a musician. He also used his celebrity to make the lives of others better through non-profit organizations. He was involved in three projects in addition to Glee when he died. He was busy, he was productive, he was doing great things with his life.

Drugs took all of that away. Drugs ended what could have been decades of professional accomplishment and the personal enrichment of helping others. Drugs snatched the opportunity for Cory to marry his love and maybe raise a family. And now he'll be remembered in the annals of entertainment history as another actor dead from drugs. Just another young talent gone too soon.

The media has already moved on to the next headline.

librarianintx

Big Brother July 14th and 17th

"I am sincere in my apology to Candice to the point that she needs to know that she took my comment wrong."

That was, of course, Aaryn's "apology" to Candice on Sunday night's show. And by "apology," I mean "accusation." That is not an apology, even though the word apology is in the sentence. So is the word sincere. Aaryn evidently doesn't know the meaning of either one.

I am very pleased with the three nominees, and I will celebrate when any one of them walks out the door tonight. The only way I would be happier would be if it was the evil trio up there: Aaryn, Kaitlin, and GinaMarie.

I hope its either Jeremy or Aaryn that goes, but I have no love for Spencer either. Actually, I do like Howard, so I'm glad Elissa didn't put him on the block. I know he lied and denied and all that, but I believe he's a stand up guy. He took the high road when Aaryn and GinaMaria were bullying Candice, and helped Candice do the same. I think Howard prevented a physical altercation between GinaMarie and Candice. And even though GinaMaria started it by getting in Candice's face, they both could have been ejected, depending on what transpired.

librarianintx

Cory Monteith

A very sad day for Glee fans. I read the news on Facebook. The comment I want to make is that if drugs are what killed him, I don't think you can paint him as another Hollywood star who died of excess. Cory Monteith was an addict before he became a star. If anything, I think becoming an actor kept him alive. He found his purpose in life; he found what he was good at. Before that, he was floundering in life. He had no direction.

Of course dead is still dead. Maybe my point doesn't matter. But I think maybe we can find some sense of peace in this tragedy if we have the mindset that Cory "made it" to the age of 31, instead of focusing on the fact that "he only lived to be" the age of 31. Dead at 31 is still senselessly young. But at least he left a legacy of fans of all ages. And his scenes with Chris Colfer as Kurt and Finn travelled their journey from victim / reluctant bully to loving, accepting stepbrothers was groundbreaking, riveting television.

Cory knew he was lucky to be alive, and he was grateful for the opportunities afforded him. He donated his time and lent his name to non-profit organizations, and he worked as both an actor and singer/musician in multiple endeavors. Maybe the stress of so many projects is what caused him to relapse. I just think it speaks of his character that he wanted to do so much with his life, and that he did try to beat his addiction.

Glee won't be the same without him.

librarianintx

The Zimmerman verdict

I'm sad, but I can't say I'm completely surprised. The prosecution did not do its job, plain and simple. I knew he wouldn't get second degree murder, but I thought manslaughter was a possibility. Instead, George Zimmerman goes home a free man. And Trayvon Martin's parents go back to a life of no justice for their son.

It all boils down to reasonable doubt. It doesn't matter that Zimmerman profiled and followed Trayvon. It doesn't matter that he defied what the police told him to do. It doesn't matter that his statements were inconsistent. What matters is that those six jurors could not find him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, based on the testimony and evidence presented. Period.

As I said earlier, I think Trayvon's parents will bring a civil suit against Zimmerman, and I think they have a chance at a better outcome. But it just doesn't seem fair to me that a 17 year old kid is gunned down walking home from a convenience store, and no one is held responsible. It doesn't make sense.

And to everyone who says this case isn't about race...even the Florida officials and the prosecutors who said that in the press conference last night...I have to say, as respectfully I can...that is bunk. Absolute bunk. Listen to the 911 tapes, to Zimmerman's own words: "He looks like he's up to no good...he looks like he's on drugs or something..." He was a 17 year old kid with skittles in his pocket! But he was also a black kid wearing a hoodie, walking in a predominantly white neighborhood. And that was enough to justify killing him. I'm sorry, I don't think a small scratch on the back of someone's head (that happened to bleed a lot) is justification for shooting someone through the heart. Zimmerman is claiming self defense; what about Travyon's right to self-defense? Who was following whom that night? Who was the one acting suspicious?

Maybe I shouldn't be surprised at all, considering a Florida jury also acquitted Casey Anthony...

librarianintx

Big Brother July 11th

Well, color me stupid.

Did I miss something? Did everyone else watching know THAT was going to happen?

The Moving Company is a sorry excuse for an alliance. They couldn't even stay together two weeks! McCrae said something like, "I split with the Moving Company to further my own game." What?! How is an alliance of six or seven weaker than an alliance of two...him and his showmance. Well, I guess he's right, since so much of the alliance bailed at the second opportunity.

Spencer is running the game? I didn't get that. Again, am I clueless? Did all the other viewers already know that?

I wasn't hugely invested in who went home. I like Helen, but I don't have strong feelings for or against Elissa or Nick. I'm rooting for people like Helen and Andy because they're the underdogs, and because they've been marginalized by the evil clique in the house. I'm SO glad Helen won HOH.

I just don't understand why they kept Elissa. There's a good chance that she'll win MVP again next week, and since her biggest ally is HOH, they'll be able to put up three people that they really want out of the house. Or put up two people and a pawn, and then try to backdoor a big threat. I shouldn't make predictions after my Elissa leaving debacle, but I think we all know Aaryn, Kaitlin, GinaMarie, and Jeremy are all strong possibilities for nomination.

librarianintx

Big Brother July 10

Good job, Candice, for figuring out that there's a guy alliance. The problem is, most of the guys in the house are in the alliance. Even ones who act like they aren't, aka Howard. And the guys who aren't in the alliance, aka Andy, aren't threats that you want out of the house.

Elissa recognizes that Jeremy is the biggest threat, and kudos to her for trying to get him out. But unfortunately that will be impossible for awhile. The Moving Company thinks he's one of them, and he's got Aaryn, GinaMaria, and of course Kaitlin on his side as well, so he's indestructible for now.

She should realize that Nick is in the alliance as well, but really, she couldn't do much more than pick a guy and hope for the best. I'm afraid Elissa doesn't have a chance in hell of staying. Her biggest ally is on the block with her, so neither one of them can vote. Its a no-brainer that Aaryn, Jeremy, and the evil majority are out to get her. So who does she have? Candice. Maybe Andy. And she probably thinks she has Howard, but she doesn't. Anything can happen on BB, but I feel certain this elimination will not be a shocker.

The next question is, if and when Elissa goes, who will America choose to be the next MVP? Candice maybe? Helen?

librarianintx

So You Think You Can Dance July 9th

Not happy with the results. Why is Alexis still in the competition? She's okay, but when it was a choice between Jasmine M., Jenna, and Alexis, I definitely would have sent Alexis home. But then again, I'm not a judge and I'm not a choreographer. And we all know how much Nigel loves his tappers.

Why were Jasmine M. and Jenna in the bottom three to begin with? What show are you watching, America? They are both fantastic! I know I shouldn't complain; I'm not voting. And I really like most of the girls this season, so it is a hard choice. But Jasmine M. gone...really? I can't stop thinking about that blindfolded routine. Sheer brilliance.

The dances last night were mostly just okay for me. It was nice to see some new choreographers on the show. My favorites were Amy and Fik-shun's paso, and Jenna and Tucker's jazzy hip hop. I love Jean-Marc Généreux's choreography, and I liked the Samba, even though Curtis struggled with it.

I just adore Fik-shun and Amy. They are rapidly becoming a super couple for me, a la Joshua and Katee, and Benji and Donyelle. Fik-shun reminds me of Joshua; I think he's going to be another street dancer that's good at everything. And I just love his personality. When he's listening to the post-dance critiques, his face is so expressive. He's got such a cute smile and his eyes twinkle. I think I have a little Fik-shun crush. :)

Jasmine H. and Aaron are another power couple. I enjoyed their routine as well. Jasmine is a definite contender to win it all. Her legs should be insured for a high price. I think Aaron is good, but Jasmine is better. She is the one who makes their duo so dynamic. If he makes it to the top 10, I don't know if he will do as well with a different partner. We shall see.

I was sorry to see Jade leave the competition. I think both he and Blu-print are equally good at animation, but I agree with the judges: Blu-print needs more personality when he performs. Jade has that personality. He has a very expressive face like Fik-shun. If Jade and Blu-print had been in the bottom three together, I would have voted out Blu-print.

Final comments: Paula Abdul didn't drive me crazy! She was a little spacey on her first critique, and I did get squeamish when she mauled Nigel (I guess she heard the accent and thought he was Simon.) But otherwise I thought her comments were on point and she was able to deliver them without stammering and acting like she was medicated. Erin Andrews was charming and funny. She reminded me of Christina Applegate.

librarianintx

Big Brother Season 15

I was happy to see that Big Brother finally showed the footage of Aaryn making her racist and homophobic comments.

I was sad to see Jeremy and Aaryn win the challenge. It was smart of Jeremy to let Aaryn take the HOH so he can compete for it next week. Jeremy is the biggest threat in the house in my opinion. He's very good at challenges, and he will try to win at all costs.

No surprise on the nominations.

LOVED Andy's comments last night!!

"I'm keeping my friends close and my Aaryns closer."

and

"...how often is it that you get to see baby pictures of the devil?"

:-)

librarianintx

Big Brother Update

That didn't take long.

Aaryn has been fired by her modeling agency.

librarianintx

Racism, Homophobia, Sexism on Big Brother

http://www.today.com/entertainment/big-brother-rocked-big-controversy-racism-sexism-homophobia-6C10523010

The 15th season of CBS' "Big Brother" kicked off just one week ago, and evidently, that's more than enough time to kick off some controversy.

As the new houseguests settled in to their summer home and started bonding with their fellow players, some of them have shown their less-than-TV-friendly sides.

In fact, the worst of the behavior -- which has included undeniably racist, sexist and homophobic remarks -- hasn't even made it to the small screen at all. Instead, live-feed viewers, who pay a subscription to see the events in the house as they happen on the "Big Brother" website, watched the action and uploaded the evidence to YouTube (the clips have since been removed "due to copyright claim by Endemol USA Inc," the production company behind "Big Brother").

The offenses include frequent use of the N-word and gay slurs by more than one contestant and much more. Some of the most shocking comments so far have come from what's shaping up to be this season's "Mean Girls" clique, made up of Aaryn Gries and GinaMarie Zimmerman.

Both Gries and Zimmerman slammed Korean-American housemate Helen Kim behind her back, each saying she should serve them some rice, with Zimmerman adding, "I'm gonna punch her in the face. I'm, like, 'Oh, maybe it'll make her eyes straight."

The two have also bashed African-American contestant Candice Stewart, accusing her of letting her "blackness show." Gries went so far as to warn her in-game ally to watch what she says in the dark because she "might not be able to see the b----."

Various slams from Kaitlin Barnaby, Jeremy McGuire, David Girton and Spencer Clawson have been somewhat less frequent, but just as upsetting to those watching the feeds. But why haven't TV viewers seen or heard any of it?

That's what some fans -- and at least one past contestant -- are asking.

Former "Big Brother" player Ragan Fox, who was part of the season 12 cast, posted an open letter to the production team on his blog.

"Houseguests GinaMarie, Aaryn, and Kaitlin referred to historically marginalized players as 'tokens,'" Fox wrote. "Sadly, they aren’t too far off in their assessment. Characters like Andy (Herren), Candice, Howard (Overby), and Helen are reduced to mere tokens when production fails to include micro-aggressions that they have to endure on a day-to-day basis. What’s the point of casting racial, ethnic, and sexual minorities if production’s going to edit out the racism, ethnic discrimination, and homophobia that these people encounter inside the house?"

Fox went on to explain why he thinks it's so important for CBS to air the offensive footage.

Aaryn Gries. "'Big Brother,' I LOVE you, but, if you really want to provide a groundbreaking twist, SHOW CBS VIEWERS HOW SOME STRAIGHT, WHITE PEOPLE talk about gays, Asian Americans, and African Americans," he said. "Capitalize on the Paula Deen controversy! Hate speech is currently a hot topic in the United States. It would be irresponsible to punt on this issue. What makes Aaryn’s homophobia and racism especially insidious is that it comes packaged in a bright-eyed, pageant-like exterior. I mean, how can somebody so sweet looking spew so much venom? Viewers would have to SEE it to BELIEVE it."

Fans have even started a Change.org petition asking CBS to expel Gries, perceived by many to be the worst offender, from the house. Over 3,600 fans have signed it so far.

As for what, if any, action the network will take, that remains unclear. TODAY.com reached out to CBS for comment about the current controversy, but a statement from the network made no mention of changes.

“BIG BROTHER is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 — and seeing every moment of their lives," the statement read. "At times, the Houseguests reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. We certainly find the statements made by several of the Houseguests on the live Internet feed to be offensive. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a Houseguest appearing on BIG BROTHER, either on any live feed from the House or during the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.”

During a 2010 interview, "Big Brother" executive producer Allison Grodner addressed past decisions not to air certain controversial and insensitive comments on the show.

"We always say that these are real people and they are not being censored in there," Grodner told Reality Blurred. "And they have opinions and so forth that we don’t necessarily agree with and condone and want to put out there further, to be honest. We really don’t want to put hateful things out there in our edits. And so for the most part, when this goes down, we keep that out of the show."

End of article

My take:
I absolutely agree with Ragan. If the contestants are saying and doing things, the public needs to know about it, and not just the people who watch the live feed. Especially this season, since the viewers are voting for a "player of the week." If all we see is a sanitized version of what's going on inside the house, our voting is going to be very different from the people who are also watching the live feed. I don't know what the percentage is of the tv viewers who also pay to view the live feed.

Aaryn has projected an image thus far (I haven't seen last night's show yet, by the way) of a fun-loving, competitive, yet seemingly harmless Texas girl, and I would have considered voting for her as a player of the week. Now that I know some of the things she has said, my perception of her has definitely changed.

I know reality tv often isn't very real, but the producers need to get real about this season of Big Brother. The people who watch the show need to see it all - the good, the bad, and the indifferent. And the contestants need to realize that anything they say or do has the potential to air on network television. They did sign a contract clearly stating that there would be cameras and microphones throughtout the house, correct?

librarianintx

SYTYCD Season 15 July 2, 2013

Really, dance fans?
Alan, Makenzie, and Brittany in the bottom this week?
I am very surprised.

My predictions would have been Mariah, Carlos, Alexis, and Nico. After that, I didn't know. So I was correct on two of the six.

In my opinion, the two strongest solos were performed by the dancers who got cut: Brittany and Carlos. Then Brittany danced a great routine with Blu Print. Of course I loved it - the setting was a library! And Carlos and Mariah took my breath away with their Stacey Tookey contemporary number. Sometimes a dance can really change your opinion of a dancer - or a couple.

No way in hell that Alan belonged in the bottom. There must have been some anomoly in his phone line or something. Makenzie was wonderful in her Viennese Waltz last week. I'm shaking my head.

Okay, I must move on. It's hard every week when the dancers leave. Some weeks are tougher than others.

My faves from tonight:

Jasmine H. and Aaron did it again! Tabitha and Napoleon put together a great routine. I loved the unique moves, and these two have chemistry out the wazoo. This number reminded me of the "cornflakes" dance that TWitch and Sasha danced two years ago.

Jasmine M. and Alan's Tango:
WOW! Mary was right, passion and physicality ignited this dance. Jasmine's dress was amazing. The lifts were beyond amazing. I was breathless by the end of this one. Spectacular.

Amy and Fik-shun's hip hop:
Nappy Tab's was 2 for 2 tonight! This is the most fun routine I've seen on the show in awhile. The choreography was hitting, the song fit perfectly, and Amy and Fik-shun were so into it. Fik-shun was in his element, and Amy kept up with him just fine. I'm still annoyed with Nigel pimping them, but he's right: their winning personalities in combination with their dance skills should keep them in the competition for a long time.

I also agreed with Nigel on Jenna and Tucker's dance. I liked it, and I think Dimitry is a very good choreographer, but it didn't have enough cha cha in it. The choreographers should not be "dumbing down" the routines. And I don't think Jenna and Tucker needed that. Definitely Jenna didn't. She's a ballroom girl. I think Tucker could have handled the hip action of the cha cha. It was fun to see him go from Broadway geek last week to latin lothario this week.

My prediction for the bottom six next week?
I really have no idea!
But here goes: Jade, Nico, Curtis, Malece, Hayley, and Alexis.
I'm not saying they deserve to be! I'm just making a prediction.

librarianintx

Big Brother Season 15

I don't have too much to say yet. Looks like another season of predominantly self-absorbed, physically attractive, competitive people, with one or two geeks thrown in for good measure.

McCrae comes across as a visual and social outcast, so I'm not sure why he fought so hard to win HOH. Good for him that he outlasted those buff guys, but why does he want to make enemies so soon? Definitely no one was rushing over to form an alliance with him last night. Unfortunately, several people left a room when he entered. But maybe that's his strategy. Seize power early, demonstrate that he can win challenges, and maybe people will begin to take notice. Anything can happen in Big Brother. Superfan geek Ian won last season.

Texas is representin' in season 15! Aaryn, Candice, Jeremy, and Jessie are all current residents of the Lone Star State, although Candice originally hails from New Orleans.

And who is my favorite so far? Easy answer if you know me: Andy. I love the geeks, especially when they're red-headed. :)

librarianintx

Abortion Bill Fails in Texas - For Now

http://www.kvue.com/home/Capitol-protesters-help-prevent-vote-on-controversial-abortion-bill-213121161.html

Protesters Help Prevent Vote on Abortion Bill

AUSTIN -- Lt. Governor David Dewhurst is blaming the failure of Senate Bill 5 on hundreds of protesters. The vote for the bill came in just minutes after the midnight deadline, which means it was unable to pass.

Hundreds of protesters exploded in anger just before midnight at the State Capitol when Republicans moved to vote on a bill that has been controversial in Texas and across the United States.

More than 11 hours into a filibuster by Senator Wendy Davis, leaders ended her speech, saying a point she was trying to make was not within the rules. With just 15 minutes left in the special session, Republicans moved to vote on Senate Bill 5, and that's when the gallery erupted. People began shouting and screaming so loud that those there say you couldn't hear the person next to you talking.

There was a vote and Republicans passed the bill. The Senate's website even showed it happened after midnight. Moments later it was changed to say the vote happened on June 25.

There was then more confusion and uproar from Democrats and protesters. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst called a caucus and cleared the gallery.

After three hours he came back to say the vote did not happen before midnight, not before the special session ended, therefore the bill was dead.

Around 3:30 a.m. Senator Davis came out to address the hundreds who supported her in the gallery and through Twitter. Many used the hash tag #IStandWithWendy.

Democrats say they are prepared to continue the battle over this issue.

"Last night you saw 2 or 3 thousand people in the Capitol," Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa estimated. "Next time you'll see 10 thousand people in the Capitol making sure that the Republicans don't do this. They're gonna be heard and they're gonna be sure that the Republicans know there are consequences for their dirty tricks and the way they're playing in the Texas Senate today."

Lt. Governor Dewhurst took to Twitter to speak to more than 6 thousand followers just after 8 o'clock Wednesday morning, stating "I pledge to Texas one thing; this fight is far from over".

In addition to the abortion regulations, there are two other bills lawmakers never had a chance to vote on in this historic special session.

End of article

Oh, I wish I could have been there! How great to see the will of the people prevail! Now we need to get Wendy Davis elected governor, and oh how happy we Texans would be!

Well, the Democratic Texans anyway. The people who matter. :)

Unfortunately, this was a short-lived victory. Governor Perry has called a second special session. The bill will pass this time. Very sad that a bunch of lawmakers who advocate so hard against big government are spending taxpayers money to push a bill through that will tell Texas women what they can and can't do with their bodies. Especially Texas women in poverty, who don't have the financial means to travel out of state for needed gynecological care.

#standwithwendy

"Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade
Is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight
That will give you the right to be free!"

from "Les Miserables"

librarianintx

So You Think You Can Dance Week 1

I probably won't have time to blog every week, but here's a few comments on week one. I'm not going to talk about each dance, just mention a few of my favorite moments.

1) The group dance number
Absolutely the most innovative creation SYTYCD has ever done. Innovative for this show, not as in "never been seen before" because it reminded me of an opening to an awards show, like the Tony's or the Emmy's. Anyway, I thought it was great. Fun to see Mary and Nigel in on the act as well.

2) Yea for TWO Travis Wall numbers!
The first one was much more memorable to me than the second, but the second one was good too. Wow wow wow to Jasmine M. and Alan...having to be blindfolded on their first dance together! It was an amazing piece, and they danced it beautifully. Unlike Wayne Brady, I WAS super nervous for them, but I have OCD. Anyway, they rocked it. For Jasmine to have that level of faith in Alan so soon...that she would fall backward into the arms of her blindfolded partner...incredible!

3) Jasmine H. rocked her dance as well. Sonya knew what she was doing when she put all those leg extension moves into the routine. What a standout performance! And she and Aaron look great together! I'm happy that Aaron made it on the show, and that he has a strong partner who will soon be known as much more than "Cyrus' ex-girlfriend."

4) I agree with the judges that Hayley and Curtis' hip hop routine was miles better than Alexis and Nico. Surprising to me, because I would think Nigel would want his tapper girl to stick around longer.

5) Wayne Brady was a great guest judge! He was funny and he gushed, but he also showed he knows a thing or two about dancing.

6) The girls stood out more to me than the guys on this first night, but the exception to that would be Jenna and Tucker. I think Tyce's Broadway routine allowed Tucker to outshine his partner.

Overall I think it was a great first night. That first hip hop routine was kind of a dud, and the jive routine was just a'right, but in addition to the performances already mentioned, I really enjoyed the African jazz and Viennese waltz numbers, as well as the final contemporary dance with Amy and Fik-Shun. Fik-shun is already being touted as this year's TWitch, Joshua, Russell, and Cyrus. I think it was presumptuous of Nigel to declare him and Amy Top 4 on Night One, but that's what Nigel does.

librarianintx

George Zimmerman trial

From what I know about the trial, which I admit is not extensive, I'm going to make a prediction. The jury will not find him guilty of murder. He may be convicted of a lesser charge, but if the voice recording analysis is not going to be allowed, I don't think the prosecution will be able to prove murder without reasonable doubt. If we don't know for sure who was screaming, but we do know that Zimmerman had injuries and Martin had the fatal gunshot wound but no other injuries, then self-defense has to a possibility. I don't think it can be ruled out. I'm not saying I agree or like my assessment, but I believe that he will not be found guilty of murder. I also predict that Martin's family will then bring a civil case against Zimmerman, and they might have more success with that trial.

When it comes to this case especially, self defense is an interesting concept. Zimmerman is claiming self defense, right? But he was the one who was following, in effect stalking Martin, who was simply minding his own business, walking home from a convenience store. The fact that he was a black kid in a predominantly white area, walking at night, wearing a hoodie, these facts are what made him an object of suspicion to Zimmerman. And of course Zimmerman has no authority to be following anyone, and was told not to by the 911 operator. Martin was unarmed; Zimmerman had a gun. But Zimmerman is claiming self-defense. If you're a teenager, walking alone at night, and a dude is following you, wouldn't you consider the need for self-defense?

librarianintx

So You Think You Can Dance

In all honesty, I'm more excited about the start of Big Brother when it comes to summer reality tv, but I'm still a SYTYCD fan. I think it will be a good season. I don't remember anyone's name yet, but I think the girls stand out to me more than the guys so far.

Tap is probably my least favorite style of dance, so I'm not thrilled that there are three tappers this season, although I am interested in this season's crop more than usual. The female tapper is quite unique; I enjoyed her audition. And I'm excited for the guy who didn't make it, but then did make it into the Top 20 because someone else had to withdraw due to injury.

I'm also glad both of the animators made it, because I like both of them and couldn't choose between them, but I think they will have a rough road with the choreographers.

Hopefully Adam will be on the panel frequently this season. I liked that he gave a lot of constructive criticism after the first night of dancing. The dancers aren't going to learn and grow if the judges give standing ovations and glow about every performance. And I really like the way Adam gives critiques. He's very liberal with his praise, but he also gives clear, concise instructions on what he feels they need to do to improve.

Hopefully it will be an exciting season of breathtaking dancing and fresh, innovative routines by inspired choreographers.

librarianintx

Vacation

What a great vacation!

--I welcomed my new baby, a Samsung Galaxy S4, swaddled in a pink case (of course!)

--slept late

--spent time at my favorite hangouts, Barnes and Noble, and Starbucks

--indulged in the amazing chocolate mousse at Ciro's

--got an awesome mani and pedi

--found some pretty summer dresses online (hope they fit!)

--and most importantly, did all this with two of the best people ever.

librarianintx

Life coaches commit suicide

http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/06/us/new-york-life-coaches-suicide/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

"Two life coaches who hosted a radio show called "The Pursuit of Happiness" apparently committed suicide together in their Brooklyn apartment, police said.

Motivational speaker John Littig, 48, and his common-law psychotherapist wife, Lynne Rosen, 46, were found with plastic bags over their heads and a tube attached to a canister of helium, according to police.

Two suicide notes were found, police said. ..."

Wait...what?? They were life coaches?!?! Suicide is tragic anyway, but to think that these two people spent their lives trying to help others achieve happiness, when they were obviously so broken....how terrible. I'm shocked, but I guess I shouldn't be. They say that comedians can be some of the most miserable, messed-up people, and they spend their time trying to make everyone laugh.

librarianintx

Oklahoma weatherman

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/06/06/us-usa-tornadoes-meteorologist-idUSBRE95506S20130606

A well-respected weatherman in Oklahoma is receiving critcism for urging residents in the path of a violent tornado to leave their homes and head south by car. Many people believe that he is the reason why there was a huge traffic jam on the main highway. So far as least twenty people died that day, and several of the dead, including a mother and baby, were in their cars, trying to flee the tornado.

Weathermen have always urged people to seek sturdy shelter during severe thunderstorms and tornadoes. An interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, or a basement, are the best places to be during a tornado. But after an EF5 tornado decimated part of Moore, Oklahoma less than two weeks earlier, and many of the dead were in those supposedly safe areas, weather experts have started to say that sheltering is no longer good enough during a tornado of that magnitude. Many are now stating, "A direct hit by an EF5 tornado is unsurvivable."

My thoughts on this:
People in the path of an EF5 tornado are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Staying in your home may kill you; trying to leave may kill you. It's really difficult to know what to do. If you have enough warning, leaving might be the right option. But you have no idea how many other people are also trying to leave. And a tornado can both change direction and vary in strength. It can be an EF5 for awhile, then weaken, then re-strengthen.

I think putting all the blame on this one weatherman is unfair. There were other weathermen saying the same thing. And not everyone on the highway was there because they heard someone on tv tell them to do it. Some decided on their own. Some were on their way home from work, or somewhere, and didn't know how bad the weather was going to get. Forecasters had been talking about impending storms, but they blew up very quickly. The weather had been sunny and hot just a short time earlier.

EF5 tornadoes are not a new thing. But to have two in the same state, in the same part of the state, in less than two weeks - that is unusual. Maybe it was just an oddity. Or maybe it's a sign of our worsening climate problems.

Someone said to me the other day, "Anyone who lives in Oklahoma who doesn't have a basement or a storm shelter or a safe room is crazy." Did they stop to think how many people in Oklahoma can't afford a storm shelter or a safe room?" Safe rooms aren't cheap. And many houses in the state don't have basements because the ground is too hard.

librarianintx

Survivor: Fans v Favorites

I know I'm several weeks late, and this is old news now...

but...

YEA COCHRAN!! CONGRATS!!

I'm a big Cochran fan. I was a fan last season as well as this season. I love watching superfans play the games they love. I was so happy when Ian won Big Brother last summer. And now Cochran has won Survivor. He outwitted, out played, and out lasted tough, buff Malcolm, Eddie, and Reynold; beautiful Aundrea and Brenda; and at times emotionally unstable Dawn. He won with a unanimous vote, took four individual challenges, masterminded the blindsides of Aundrea and Brenda, and made sure he took two women to the final tribal council with him who were the least deserving to win the million dollar prize.

While its obvious that I absolutely think Cochran deserved to win, I do understand the arguments of his critics. Cochran was very lucky in many respects. Malcolm didn't find another hidden immunity idol. Cochran outlasted Eddie in a challenge because he (Cochran) paid for an advantage during the Survivor auction. Aundrea got blindsided with an idol in her pocket. Brenda let Dawn win a challenge, which resulted in her blindside. And Eric had to leave the game due to illness. If Brenda or Eric had made it to the final tribal council, Cochran might not have won.

But that's the great thing about Survivor. Malcolm said it himself during the reunion. ANYONE can win Survivor. Anyone. In fact, its often NOT the brawny tough guy that wins. This year, it was the pasty, nerdy, formerly social awkward Harvard law student that took the prize. And I am thrilled. Way to go Cochran! By your example, we see that dreams can come true, using our powers of intelligence, perseverance, and learning from previous missteps.

librarianintx

The Election

RE-ELECTED And it feels SOOOO GOOD!!!!! Forward!!!!

Big Brother

This was arguably one of the best seasons of Big Brother. This installment had it all: epic fights, an ejection, a few crushes, a showmance, crazy competitions, and some of the most shocking blindsides the game has ever seen.

In the end, Ian, the boy wonder / superfan came away with the win. He was up against former coach Dan, who has already won once. Dan played one of the dirtiest games in Big Brother history, possibly worse than Evil Dick and Dr. Will. An outspoken Christian who often read the bible while in the house, Dan swore on that bible, as well as on his wife's life, his wedding ring, and promised his father's gold cross to a player as he backstabbed, blindsided, and lied his way through the season. I was very happy to see that the jury did not reward Dan's bloody play with a win. In fact, the only vote he received from the seven members was from Danielle, who in my opinion will need intensive therapy to recover from her obvious case of Stockholm Syndrome. Yes, Dan was her coach, and he did help her get far in the game. But how do you still vote for someone who tricked you into getting your "boyfriend" evicted from the house, convinced you to give up on the first of the three part final HOH competition, AND found out during the live show that Dan made a pact with both herself and Ian to get to the final two, when just the day before he swore that all of his evildoing was so she, his "protege", could win the grand prize. I do understand that Big Brother is just a game. And its a social game and a mind game as much as it is a physical game. But I just don't agree with swearing on the bible and your loved ones lives in order to get to the end.

In my opinion, Ian played the best game. He won four HOH's, and I believe two POV's. He had to get his hands dirty; he had to make some big moves. He broke his alliance with Boogie and Frank to join the "Quack Pack," and he had to put his crush, Ashley, on the chopping block, which resulted in her eviction. Although I didn't really want to see Dan make it to the final two, I absolutely understand why Ian chose him. After all, if Dan had not blindsided Shane, Ian would have been out of the game. Plus, Ian had a better chance of winning against Dan than Dani. If it had been Danielle and Ian in the finals, I believe that at least Frank, Shane, and Dan would have voted for Danielle. I think it would have been a very tough choice for Brit and Ashley.

I was happy to see Frank win the fan favorite award. Also a supfan of the show, Frank fought hard to stay in the game, constantly winning POV's so he could save himself after being nominated multiple times.

And in the final live show, Mike Boogie redeemed himself in my eyes with his praise of Ian. Boogie was more than a little immature in my opinion when he was blindsided, in large part due to Ian being the mole of the Quack Pack. But last night he was very classy in his comments to and about Ian.

Thanks for a great season, Big Brother!

librarianintx

So You Think You Can Dance

Wasn't a fan of last night's show. They had the dancers re-create some of choreographer Mia Michael's most famous performances from previous shows. I understand that dances are often performed by various dancers, just as plays and musicals have different actors. But the dances they chose to re-create are so iconic...I identify the original dancers so much with the pieces, that the re-creations fell flat for me, even though I think this season's cast is just as talented as previous dancers. For me, no one can perform "The Bench" like Travis and Heidi did; I don't want to see anyone but Katee and Twitch dance "The Door." Kupono wasn't necessarily my favorite dancer in his season, but the intensity, the fire, the evil he brought to his portrayal in "Addiction"...as amazing as Cole is, he did not bring that same level of performance for me. He did it for Mary Murphy and for Nigel, but not for me. Even the "Butt Dance," which was never a favorite of mine, and Randi and Even were not my favorites in their season, while I adore Amelia and Will...even with that dance, Randi and Evan did it better. So I was disappointed. And very sad to see Amelia and Janelle get eliminated, although I'm a big fan of Lindsay too. librarianintx

Glee Project results

I thoroughly enjoyed this season of the Glee project. I thought the cast was refreshingly diverse and uber-talented, and I really could see all of them as characters on Glee. Their group numbers were superior to last season's cast in my opinion. Basically I was pleased with the top 3 contestants, although I thought Lily deserved to be in the finale as well. I thought I would be happy with whoever won, because I think all three showed themselves to be hard-working, accomplished individuals. But there was definitely one person I was rooting for, and she didn't win. When Kevin McHale was cast as Artie, Ryan Murphy and company defended their decision to hire an able-bodied person to play a person with a disability by explaining that they were unable to find a person with a disability who could act, sing, and dance. On this season of the Glee Project, they found that person. Ali is beautiful; has a Broadway-style voice; could play a heroine, a manipulator, or a combination, and more than kept up with the choreography on the show. She never used her disability to get out of tough situations, like the slushie shoot, or the grueling gym video. She won the homework assignment multiple times, and was the only contestant to never be in the bottom. She only had to do a last-chance performance one time, and that was when all the contestants had to perform. Ali sailed through every part of the competition - studio work, choreography, and video shoots. Her fellow contestants adore her, the judging team recognize her talent, and she is easy to work with and takes direction well, unlike some of the other people this season. I hope other opportunities happen for Ali. She is so talented, but the road is tough for a performer with a disability. I congratulate Blake, and I think he will do a good job on Glee. He is a very good actor, and will be popular. I wish Ryan would consider hiring some contestants from this season for at least short-term roles, and see how they do. In my opinion, people like Ali, Lily, Aylin, Dani, Charlie, Abraham, Nellie, and Mario are what Glee is all about - being a little different and finding your place in the world. Look at what happened with the season one Glee Project cast. Alex, who was a runner-up, arguably made a bigger splash and had a much more compelling storyline than co-winner Damian. It has already been announced that Damian will not return for season four, but there's been no word yet on Alex. librarianintx

Anxiety

The only good thing about a day of anxiety...the one redeeming quality of a long, frustrating, emotional day...is when I become aware that the anxiety has finally retreated. Sometimes I can actually feel it slink away, usually when I am in bed, my body finally becoming more fluid, my stomach and leg muscles no longer rigid, my mind no longer racing to worst case scenarios, my heart easing into a natural rhythm. Other times, it disappears without me noticing because I have been able to focus on something else. In times like those, I suddenly become aware of the changes in my body and mind, and I smile and say to myself, "All right. I've survived it again." No matter how it happens, its a cause for quiet celebration each time. And moments to reflect and remind myself, "See...you are always stronger that it is. You will beat it every time. It will never win. No matter how much it twists your body into knots or causes your mind to ruminate, you will make it through to the other side." Is it worth all the hard stuff, to have those few moments of feeling at least relatively proud and strong? I'm not sure it's exactly worth it. It's definitely not an even trade off. But its better than never feeling proud or strong at all. Last night my girls saved me. As they have done many times before. Concentrating on their energy, their enthusiasm, their uninhibited, fearless zeal for life, I climbed aboard their train of teenage giddiness and left my blanket of anxiety on the tracks. Unfortunately, I woke up this morning once again swaddled in that familar cloak. But I know I'll make it through, and at some point in the day I will realize I have shed that straightjacket once again. librarianintx

Time managment

I listened to a webinar at work a few weeks ago on time management. That is the aspect of my job that I struggle with the most. Well, actually, public speaking is the hardest for me. But time management is second on the list. The webinar gave me a lot to think about. Procrastination is a big enemy in my life, and not just at work. There are many reasons for procrastination, and all of the ones the presenter mentioned affect me at one time or another: fear, boredom, perfectionism, feeling overwhelmed, poor planning. Procrastination results in stress, sloppy work, and is a waste of time and energy. It makes me feel unproductive and bad about myself. I'm also learning to recognize time wasters in my work day. Facebook is the biggest culprit. We are only supposed to check Facebook on our work computers during breaks or before 8 am. But of course I have Facebook on my phone. I also have other distractions on my phone, like Scramble, or Words with Friends. And personal e-mail. And texting. I don't do any of this excessively. But a few minutes here or there add up, and also make it hard to re-focus on work. My inner ear disorder also complicates the situation; it can affect my concentration, energy level, focus, mood, and anxiety level. It can also cause headaches, dizziness, imbalance, and nausea. This was not mentioned in the webinar, but I think even the food I eat affects my work performance. Bread is known as a breakfast staple, but bread, especially the kind I prefer, breaks down into sugar in my body, and can contribute to fatigue and poor concentration. I'm trying to eat more protein in the morning - hard boiled eggs, cheese cubes, and vegetarian sausage. Finally, I'm going to try structuring my day according to my energy peaks and valleys. I tend to have a dip around 11 - noon most days, and during that time I plan to do something more physical and less mental. Something that would require moving around more - unpack boxes, shelve books, file periodicals, organize my cubicle. The presenter also stressed the importance of taking regularly scheduled breaks. I rarely take a scheduled break, because 1) I only work part time, and 2) I take a minute here and a minute there during my work day. Taking a scheduled break will help keep me on task and make me feel organized. We are allowed one fifteen minute break for every four hours of work, and I work five or more hours per day. The one piece of advice the presenter made that I excel at is to be a list maker! :) librarianintx

Productivity

I was amazingly productive yesterday, and it felt SO GOOD! Considering it was my first day back at work from a week's vacation, AND it was a Monday, you would think that everything went wrong yesterday, but it didn't. One new thing I did yesterday - I read during the trip to and from work. Unfortunately this resulted in mild bouts of carsickness, but I did it anyway. I started reading Fifty Shades of Grey on my nook in the morning, and read a bit more of that in the afternoon. I got to page 55, which is quite a feat for me. I'm not a faster reader, but somehow I am able to read more quickly on the nook, and with better comprehension. Then on the way home I continued reading Mennonite in a Black Dress, which I have been trying to finish for months and months. It felt great to read that much in one day. And I think because I didn't just sit in the car and do nothing, I got to work feeling more energized and ready to work. I had good focus during the work day, and was nicely productive. I finished the day with thirteen hash marks for requests completion, and a lot of work put toward a big request that I should be able to finish today. I also had time to journal a bit yesterday, type up a few brief reviews on Goodreads, and write a card to my younger cousin Katherine at camp. I unloaded the dishwasher, did my daily chores, watched the new episode of Push Girls, and was in bed by 11. Of course there were things I didn't do that I should have. I didn't do my breathing exercises. I didn't do any exercising. But let's focus on the positive. It was a good, successful day. I'm happy. And my drought-plagued city got rain for the second day in a row!!!! librarianintx

Little accomplishments

A few days ago I was able to open two jars.

I successfully cleared a paper jam in the copier at work.

And I figured out how to use my vaccum cleaner for the first time.

Little moments that mean a lot.

It feels so good not to have to ask anyone for help.
Not that there's anything wrong with needing help sometimes. We all do.
But self-sufficiency still feels great.

librarianintx

You are what you eat...and do

Interestingly, since I made that last post I think I have improved in at least one or two of those areas. I still don't get enough exercise, but it's on my list of things to do. I am very grateful that at least for right now I seem to be in a good sleeping pattern. I still don't get to bed on time, but I am sleeping through the night more than I was. Two nights this week (during the work week) I got full night's sleep on the bipap. Oh, it feels so good!

And I have eaten pretty good this week. Well, better at least. I had vegetable soup yesterday for lunch. And two nights this week I had spinach salad. It boggles my mind that I am eating spinach salad. I never liked any form of spinach, and I rarely ate salad because of chewing issues. Now I do ruin some of the nutrition by eating it with a good amount of ranch salad dressing, but at least it's light dressing. Spinach salad with tuna. YUM.

And I have been getting some good fruit in too, thanks to my wonderful roommate. He made smoothies twice this week. Blueberries, peaches, strawberries, orange juice, plus almond milk and flaxseed. SO healthy for me, and delicious too!

I have also been pretty good this week about taking my multi-vitamin and D supplement. I was quite tired earlier in the week, but I also had a very busy weekend and I worked a conference on Monday and Tuesday.

A friend likes to say that caring for your health is like a full time job. It can be, especially if you have health issues. Little changes can really help though.

Now I need to work on reducing my sugar intake. Too many oreos. :)

librarianintx

Ways to boost energy levels

from Real Age:

1) sleep
2) exercise
3) stay hydrated
4) cut back on sugar
5) spend time in the sun
6) sip tea
7) increase magnesium intake
8) power nap
9) eat mini meals

Number nine is the only one I'm currently successful at. :/
But I'm working on some of the others.

librarianintx

Lyrics

"I love the time and in between
the calm inside me
in the space where I can breathe
I believe there is a
distance I have wandered
to touch upon the years of
reaching out and reaching in
holding out holding in
I believe
this is heaven to no one else but me
and I'll defend it as long as I can be
left here to linger in silence
if I choose to
would you try to understand
I know this love is passing time
passing through like liquid
I am drunk in my desire...
but I love the way you smile at me
I love the way your hands reach out and hold me near...
I believe...
I believe
this is heaven to no one else but me
and I'll defend it as long as
I can be left here to linger in silence
if I choose to
would you try to understand
Oh the quiet child awaits the day when she can break free
the mold that clings like desperation
Mother can't you see I've got
to live my life the way I feel is right for me
might not be right for you but it's right for me...
I believe...
I believe
this is heaven to no one else but me
and I'll defend it as long as
I can be left here to linger in silence
if I choose to
would you try to understand it
I would like to linger here in silence
if I choose to
would you understand it
would you try to understand..."

"Elsewhere" by Sarah McLachlan
from the album "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy"

I may have posted these lyrics before. I know they have had a lot of significance to me since I first heard them. Someone played the song for me again yesterday. The words washed over me once more. More than any other song, this one defines me, explains me, describes me...empowers me.

librarianintx

Quote from the book Mennonite in a Black Dress

"Is it ever really a waste of time to love someone, truly and deeply, with everything you have?"

Mennonite in a Black Dress is about a woman who goes back to live with her Mennonite parents after her husband of fifteen years leaves her for a man he met on gay.com.

I really like this quote. It has become my philosophy. Regret is as useless in life as worry. Everyone in your life and everything you do in life serves a purpose. Some people come and go and some remain constant for decades, but each person you come in contact with is or was in your life for a reason. Every human being, every situation is meaningful in some way. Some relationships are positive, some are negative, some start out good and end badly, and vice versa. Your life is comprised of experiences, and each one is designed to teach you something.

Your likes and dislikes, your hobbies, what you're passionate about...all of this changes and evolves as you go through life. You might be a Trekkie, or a huge fan of the band Bon Jovi, or you might read every Twilight book ever published. And then you become interested or passionate in something else. And you might think, "Oh, it was silly of me to be so interested in..." "I wasted so much time and money on this." But it wasn't a waste. It was meaningful to you at the time. It brought you happiness and excitement. It made you a part of something. It gave you a sense of belonging. It made you think and feel. You may have even made friends who shared your interest. Why should any of this be considered a waste?

Same with relationships. I have never been through a serious break-up or a divorce, thank goodness. And I can certainly understand how there can be regret in such situations. Regret and pain and lots of second guessing. But it sure would be nice if even in such times of hurt, we can look back on the relationship and remember the love that was there, and always believe that love is never a waste of time.

librarianintx

Response to GQ Down Syndrome Slur

http://childrenshospitalblog.org/mock-my-pants-not-my-sister/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+childrenshospitalblog+%28Thriving%2C+Children%27s+Hospital+Boston%27s+pediatric+health+blog%29

Mock My Pants, Not My Sister
July 18, 2011

The following was written by Brian Skotko , MD, MPP, a Physician at Children’s Hospital Boston’s Down Syndrome Program. It’s in response to a feature in GQ magazine that used insensitive language.

On July 15, John B. Thompson of GQ magazine slammed Bostonians as the worst dressed in the nation. Evidently, our beloved Beantown is actually a “bad-taste storm sewer” where all the worst fashion ideas come to “stagnate and putrefy.” He further decries, “Boston suffers from a kind of Style Down Syndrome , where a little extra ends up ruining everything.”

Go ahead, GQ, and mock my blue whale-emblemed Nantucket-red pants. Laugh if you want at the loud argyles that I prefer to wear with my black suit. I don’t even care if you dismiss the sexy pink polka-dotted tie that I like to wear with my blue-checkered shirt in clinic. But, whatever you do, do not mess with my sister.

My sister, Kristin, has Down syndrome, and let me explain what “Style Down Syndrome” really is. “Style Down Syndrome” is smiling when everyone else prefers to frown. It’s spending three summers, in sheer determination, learning to ride a bike because you want the freedom to be like everyone else. It’s singing tunes from Grease at the top of your lungs with your friends. It’s celebrating a third-place victory at a swim meet with as much gusto as the gold medalist.

Style Down Syndrome is strong-willed, persevering, and forgiving—because it has to be.

People with Down syndrome are ridiculed on a daily basis. Although not as obvious as GQ’s sport, children with Down syndrome do not always get invited to birthday parties just because they have Down syndrome. Young adults, freshly minted from high school, sometimes have trouble finding post-secondary opportunities. And, adults with Down syndrome are often the first to be fired when the economy tanks.

All of this comes at a time when people with Down syndrome are achieving previously unimagined successes. They are graduating, working, living and loving within our communities. So, why do people underestimate their abilities? It must be because they do not know someone with Down syndrome. Because, if they did, they would come to appreciate the life lessons that accompany their extra chromosome.

If my friends who are black were mocked, they would not take it. If my friends who are gay were slurred, they would not take it. My 400,000 fellow Americans with Down syndrome have been cheapened, and I will not take it. I invite GQ magazine to introduce its readers to real people with Down syndrome through the My Great Story campaign of the National Down Syndrome Society.

end of blog post

This is me, standing and cheering! You go, Dr. Skotko! Love this! What a lucky woman Kristin is to have such a sibling in her corner. And what a disgrace for GQ to denigrate a group of people with such a ridiculous, mean-spirited comment.

librarianintx

Working on Me

Depression, loneliness, frustration, fear....all can affect your physical as well as your emotional well-being. I feel like I spend so much of my life struggling...worrying...ruminating...being afraid. I am the princess of "what if," "should have," "could have," "need to," and "why can't I just."

So I'm trying to work on all of this. I have spent so much of my life mired in negativity. I stop myself from being happy and having what I want. I don't feel like I deserve good things. I constantly delay joy. I push away positivity. I focus on the bad. I look for life to go wrong. I anticipate it, thinking I will deal with it better if I lay in wait for it, and not let it sneak up on me.

I don't want to use the word "struggle" or "task." Its a daily reward. There we go! A daily gift to myself, to succeed in silencing the critical voice within me, the part of me that makes it her occupation to scare me, worry me, frustrate me, tell me that I'll never have what I want and I don't deserve it anyway, and terrible things are going to happen to me and the people I care about.

I'm always waiting for the next bad thing to happen.

So the first step on the way to change...be observant. Notice what you're thinking, and how its affecting you physically as well as emotionally. Realize that your leg muscles are tight, that your whole body is tight. Notice that you're holding your breath slightly, which can exacerbate and even contribute to anxiety. Listen to your thoughts.

And then do something different.

Re-direct. Focus your thoughts and energies elsewhere. Remind yourself that worry and fear are the two most useless activities you can engage in, and you're not going to waste your valuable time on them. Negative thoughts and emotions have no power of their own; they are only as strong as you allow them to be. They can never be in control of you unless you let them. So you say, "bye bye" and you do something else, preferably something you like to do. Read. Journal. Do something with a friend. Watch a show. Play a game. Maybe even better...try something new. Something you think you can't do. If you don't feel like you have enough mental energy to focus on something that requires brain power, like reading or journaling, then do something physical. Exercise a little. Clean something. Organize.

I know its not easy.
But its important.
And I know it works.
The key...
I have to care enough about myself to make this a priority.

librarianintx

Nurturing Dreams workshop

Yesterday and today I attended a workshop called "Nurturing Dreams" at an organization where I serve on an advisory committee through my job. This workshop was a "train the trainer" series designed to assist professionals in working with self-advocates and people with disabilities on identifying and hopefully making their dreams come to fruition.

There were about 15 of us going through the training. It was really really great. It was fun, it was cathartic, at times it was intense, we all really bonded, especially at our individual tables.

When I mentioned that I have a blog, one of the trainers asked for the URL, and asked my permission to write it on the whiteboard so people could visit the blog. I explained that I actually have more than one blog, but I gave the URL for this main blog. Its scary thinking that people I just met are going to possibly come here and read about all the stuff I'm interested in. But really, isn't that why I have a blog...so I can share my thoughts and opinions, and post about topics that are important to me?

So if you're from "Nurturing Dreams" and you're stopping by,,,thanks for visiting! Please say hi in the comments section if you have time. My picture is on the blog, but I don't use my real name. Here I am known as "librarinaintx" or "sweatergrrl."

It was so great to meet everyone at "Nurturing Dreams." Thank you all for sharing so much of yourselves with the group. I think we all learned and felt and grew and had a lot of fun in the process. A special thank you to "T."

librarinaintx

P.S. Hey dreamers...I aaw a beautiful, big, yellow butterfly this afternoon. :)

The James Durbin Radio in My Head

When I really get into a singer or band, I tend to wake up with a different song from them in my head. I won't keep track of this every day, but this morning the song was Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come." James sang this as his final song for Hollywood week. Jennifer could not contain herself during the performance. Steven declared "I'll have what he's having!" at the end of the song. We didn't get to hear the whole number of course, but what a beautiful slice of blue-eyed soul that was, with a James' higher-than-high note at the end, executed while in a back-bend. I don't think there was any doubt after that Mr. Durbin would secure a spot in the Season 10 Top 24.

librarianintx

Songs 4-26 and 4-27

Yesterday I only had time to listen to a few songs...part of a Journey greatest hits cd. "Separate Ways" is an older song that I'm obsessed with right now, so I think I listened to that three times. :)

Today so far its been Idol download day. I listened to James Durbin's songs, and then the songs that Casey James performed on Idol. Casey doesn't have a cd out yet, but he's working on one. Fingers crossed that its more blues than country!

librarianintx

Stefano's quote about James

http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2011/04/american-idols-stefano-langone-jokes-james-is-a-little-crybaby.html

American Idol's Stefano Langone Jokes 'James Is A Little Crybaby'

[snip]

On his bromance with James:

"James is a little crybaby. [laughs] James is my brother man, we been roommates since Hollywood. He's a brother to me, I'm going to be the best man at his wedding. He lost it last night, I told him to stay focused and don't even worry about me, I'm gonna be fine ... I was just telling him not to worry about me. I did everything that I set out to do on this show. Every single thing I set out. It's gonna pay off, I'm gonna do great and I told him to keep on focusing on the show. I calmed him down a little bit. He was a wreck, he's a big crybaby." [laughs]

[snip]

James wears his heart on his sleeve. Love that. :)

librarianintx

"Uprising"

There is an added reason why I'm so addicted to the song "Uprising" right now. I love James Durbin and I love big anthem songs anyway, but when I listen to this song these days it makes me think of the economic and social situation in this country at the moment, how services to people with disabilities are going to be either drastically reduced or eliminated, how people in my line of work are going to lose their jobs because of budget cuts, and how the LGBT community continues to be treated like second-class citizens.

In my state, children with autism may have their services completely taken away. They would not be eligible for other programs. James Durbin has Asperbergs Syndrome, a type of autism. He has been open about his struggle with both Aspergers and Tourettes. Is he interested in being a role model, a spokesperson? I don't know. I don't think he has to be. The fact that he is on the most popular television show in America, showing us his talent, his determination, and his positive attitude, is enough to both educate the uninformed and give hope and inspiration to the children and adults who live with these conditions. Especially with Tourettes, there is so much misinformation about the disorder. Many people think that everyone with Tourettes bark like dogs and shout obscenities. Simply by living his life in the public eye, James is dispelling myths and shattering stereotypes.

So when I watch James performing "Uprising," I think about the song being an anthem for the most vulnerable in our society.

"They will not force us.
They will stop degrading us.
They will not control us.
We will be victorious...
C'mon!!!"

librarinintx

Songs 4-25-11

Thanks to my roommate, I have a big i-pod full of an eclectic mix of music. I tend to listen to the same songs over and over. So I am trying to branch out more and listen to something different every day, plus the songs that I'm currently into. So I'm going to try to post what I'm listening to. We'll see how long I'm able to keep up with this. :)

So for yesterday, I listened to:
Maroon 5 songs from two of their cd's.
All of Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream" cd except the remix's. "ET" is currently one of my favorite songs, so I listened to that three times. :)
The first three songs from Ke$ha's "Cannibal" EP.

And I had to listen to James Durbin's "Uprising" multiple times. That song is my current addiction.

librarianintx

More on James

It is interesting that I have become such a James Durbin fan. In some ways he's very different from who and what I'm interested in today. I'm not really a metal fan anymore. Actually, I was never a metal fan in the pure sense of the term. I was a hard rock fan. James is also hardcore into wrestling, which I am not. But I'm rooting for him because I think he's the best contestant on the show this season. He has been consistently great every week, while showing that he can easily handle a wide range of songs. His creativity is unmatched this season. No one else has created moments on the show like he has. He is exciting and dynamic. He's a risk taker, but he also goes with his gut and doesn't let others change his mind when he knows what he wants to sing or how he wants to stage his performance. "We always tell you kids, just 'do you.'" Randy said. And that's what James does. Some people view that mindset as arrogance. "Who is James Durbin to tell Jimmy Iovine that his ideas aren't good?" people complain. But James isn't saying that. He is making his own decisions and standing up for his artistic vision. It has served him well thus far.

After doing several up-tempo songs in a row, James went with the George Harrison ballad "When My Guitar Gently Weeps." The song has been a treasured favorite of James' for years, and he has performed it several times. Jimmy Iovine and will.i.am worried that the song was too slow for the AI audience. But James knew he had to change things up. Jimmy advised him to at least make sure the ending was good, and James killed it with a long, soaring held note. So far I think his best decision has been the Muse song. It was a surprising selection, and he totally nailed it, vocally and artistically. Randy and Jennifer proclaimed it the best of the night, and he was only the second performer at that point.

Will James win American Idol? Too soon to tell. Scotty McCreery, though stagnate in his country genre, is wildly popular. Casey Abrams is the biggest risk taker next James, and has been applauded for his artistry as well. Haley Reinhart has a smaller fan base and has been in the bottom three multiple times, but she is very talented and a dark horse for the finale. Lauren Alaina has never been in the bottom three, but she has also has not achieved the potential I saw in her when she auditioned. Jacob Lusk is an amazing vocalist but unfortunately also often inconsistent.

Obviously I want James to win, but I believe he will have a career either way. And I hope his first cd is not all metal. I know that's what he likes to sing the best, and I want him to make the kind of album he wants to make. I also don't want his metal fans to feel alienated. I think many of them are looking to James Durbin to resurrect the genre. But James can do so much more than just sing metal. He is so versatile. In the group performances he has sung Michael Jackson and Coldplay. He's a tall, metal dude, but he handled the Idol cheeseball choreography surprisingly well. He also looked very handsome in a suit for the Stevie Wonder / Motown medley. For his final song in Hollywood week he sang Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come," and absolutely nailed it. The boy has soul. Passion. Fire. And he's got tenderness. Jennifer told him at his audition, "You sing from where you're supposed to sing. From a place of feeling, and wanting to make others feel."

That's why I'm a James Durbin fan.

librarianintx

Muse, The Name is James Durbin

A double entendre of course.

James Durbin sang the Muse song "Uprising" last Wednesday, and in the immortal words of Randy Jackson, he "slayed it." I know I have become woefully behind on my Idol recaps - just too much going on. But that is where the other meaning comes in.

Because James Durbin has become my new muse.

Every week on American Idol James has upped his game. From the beginning he has shown versatility with his song selections, singing everything from metal to George Harrison to Stevie Wonder to Muse. He has also displayed his artistic vision by creating moments that have never been seen on the Idol stage before: a flaming piano, a mic stand/cane, a troupe of drummers marching onstage, and one of the greatest metal guitarist doing what he does best.

Many of the Idol contestants this season have proven themselves to be great performers and very good singers. But for me, James has been the most successful talent this season. Every week he shows us something new and exciting. No one could ever accuse him of being karaoke, or "phoning in" his performances. Except for the George Harrison song where he sat on a stool during the entire performance, James is a force to be reckoned with onstage. He has been on top of a piano, run up and down stairs, stood on top of the judges' table, and executed several backbends, all without running out of breath or even visibly sweating.

There is so much to love about James Durbin.

First of all, he has an amazing range and can sing a wide variety of music. Metal / hard rock is his favorite genre, and besides what he has sung on the show, I have also seen youtube videos of him performing songs in this category, including "Back in Black," by AC/DC "Kashmir," and "Stairway to Heaven," by Led Zepplin, and "Rainbow in the Dark." by Dio. I've also seen him sing more mainstream rock songs, like "Layla" by Eric Clapton, and "Separate Ways" by Journey. I even found a video of him singing "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles. "I bet you never heard a guy sing this before" he said in the video. Apparently he can sing country too, so if there's a country night on Idol he won't be a fish out of water. I found a video of him singing an amazing version of our national anthem.

Second of all, I love his professionalism onstage. James is only twenty-two, but he displays a maturity beyond his years. In every performance on Idol so far, James has managed to highlight whoever is onstage with him, whether it be backup singers, guitar or bass players, piano players, or drummers. He'll often call out their names during or after a song as well, and clap. I've seen him do this on the youtube videos as well. James communicates that a performance is not just about the lead singer, even when he's a competitor on a reality show.

He will also do all he can to bring the audience into the performance. Except for Paul, no one on Idol has done as much as James this season to get the crowd going. Besides his stage antics, he will urge people to stand up, point at people, wiggle his fingers, and make eye contact. He knows where the camera is and is able to succesfully engage the audience at home without alienating the studio peeps. I think if Simon was still a judge, he would say that James has "the X Factor." He has star quality.

Which is even more remarkable given the fact that James Durbin deals with Tourettes and Aspergers Syndromes on a daily basis. Both are neurological conditions. Aspergers is on the autism spectrum and can cause behavior problems and difficulties with socialization, relationships, and interpersonal communication. Tourettes results in involuntary movements known as tics, and in severe cases vocal outbursts.

James is lucky that he has mild forms of both disorders. But still, imagine being onstage in front of 30 million people every week, singing on a reality tv show, and dealing with conditions that most people know little about. Having both Tourettes and Aspergers is a double whammy because they can feed off each other. Aspergers can cause significant anxiety in social situations, and Tourettes can be exacerbated by stress and anxiety.

I'm certainly no expert in either disorder, but it appears to me that James has made significant progress in his journey with Aspergers. He makes eye contact easily, is very well-spoken, and is demonstrative and affectionate with his fellow contestants. In fact, when his closest friend on the show was eliminated, James was in tears, then ran out at the end of Stefano's song to give him a big hug.

I worried a lot in the beginning of the season about how James would handle all the pressure of being first an American Idol contestant, and then a singer in the public eye. There is so much to consider. The hard work, the long hours, the travel, the constant demands placed on you by both the industry and the public. James is witnessing firsthand the polar opposites of adoration and vitriol that the American public can heap on its celebrities. I have seen complaints about everything from his voice to the size of his ears to of course his facial tics. But James has so much going for him. A tough early life has strengthened him rather than hardening him. He has great support from a loving family, including a fiance and young son. He has a very positive outlook on life. "I have Tourettes and Aspergers, but they don't have me," he says. Singing is what he loves to do, and he's not going to let anything stand in the way of achieving his dreams, for himself and for his family.

librarianintx

Reality Stars with Disabilities

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/04/18/2808750/more-reality-tv-shows-are-featuring.html

More Reality TV Shows are Featuring Players with Physical Disabilties
by Neal Justin

Reality TV has taught us that housewives from certain counties can be vicious, C-list celebrities can be trained to cha-cha and the happiest denizens on the Jersey Shore insist on clean laundry.

But at its best, the genre is providing a more valuable lesson by spotlighting and celebrating people with physical disabilities. This season, deaf actress Marlee Matlin has outwitted the competition on "The Celebrity Apprentice," James Durbin, who has both Tourette and Asperger syndromes, rocked his way into the final eight on "American Idol" and a guy who's deaf (Luke Adams) battled another with Asperger's (Zev Glassenberg) last month on "The Amazing Race."

Television can provide an intimate entry point into the lives of people who are otherwise misunderstood or underestimated, said Andy Dehnart, who teaches at Florida's Stetson University and runs the reality-TV website Realityblurred.com.

"People are seeing that Marlee Matlin can be just as witty and cutthroat as anybody else, and that sometimes she gets frustrated that people are talking to her translator instead of her," said Dehnart. "That's educational. You might not have liked Heather Mills on 'Dancing With the Stars,' but the fact that she only has one leg had nothing to do with it."

Documentary filmmaker Dominic Gill hopes to open eyes with his new Universal Sports cable series "Take a Seat," in which he shares a tandem bike with physically challenged partners during a cross-country trip - but he's also wary of labeling TV as the perfect teacher.

"Viewers tend to kick their shoes off and their guard is down, so you share a really valuable message when they're at their most receptive," he said. "Having said that, you have to really make an effort. Television has the capacity to be the most powerful tool, but because it's so ubiquitous, it can be easily ignored."

One group that's not ignoring the trend are fans who face their own physical challenges.

Brandon DeVincenzi, 12, of Brentwood, Calif., became obsessed with "Idol" this year because he has Tourette syndrome, too.

"It's been like a coming-out party for Brandon," his mother told the Contra Costra Times. "Before this, he found it really difficult to accept his Tourette's, or even talk about it. James (Durbin) has put a face on Tourette's and is showing Brandon that he can be comfortable with himself."

Another reality contestant who's serving as an inspiration is Zach Anner, a comedian with cerebral palsy who will get his own travel series after co-winning "Your OWN Show: Oprah's Search for the Next TV Star." Anner was selected as a contestant after posting a hilarious audition video in which he pitched a show about physically challenged people traveling around the world. The video included his phone number, and Anner said he answered about 100 calls a day from people who'd seen it online, including a man whose son had just been in an accident.

"He was crying because my idea gave him inspiration that he and his son could travel someday," he said. "That was astounding to me. I never thought about the disability angle that much, but I discovered there was this huge community that was waiting for something like this."

Sarah Reinertsen, an amputee who finished seventh on 'The Amazing Race 10," learned the same thing, most strikingly while taking a walk in New York City in a short skirt that exposed her metal prosthetic leg. A stranger recognized her from the show and said his friend had recently had his leg blown off in Iraq.

"His friend had been totally depressed, but watching me on the show had totally renewed his hope," she said. "He thanked me for changing his (friend's) outlook and his life," Reinertsen said. "That's when I realized just how powerful the show really was and that it could help change perceptions and lives."

Of course, reality contestants don't sweat it out just to be role models. They want to succeed, too.

Reinertsen recalls the feeling of triumph when she managed to scale the Great Wall of China.

Rachel Swanson, who has severe cerebral palsy, participated in the Minneapolis-to-Milwaukee leg of "Take a Seat," just the latest in a series of personal adventures that have included downhill skiing and mountain climbing.

"It's important to Rachel to be a model to others, but it's also just another opportunity in her life to participate and gain personally," said her friend Joan Skluzacek.

One of the early reality stars to feel that sense of accomplishment was Josh Blue, who won the NBC comedy competition "Last Comic Standing" in 2006. Blue is more driven to be funny than to be inspirational.

"It's a cool feeling when people come up and thank me for not just presenting cerebral palsy, but disability in general, in an educational fashion," he said. "But ultimately that's not my goal. I just love doing standup."

10 GROUNDBREAKING TV CHARACTERS

TV has occasionally spotlighted physically challenged characters on fictional shows as well. Here are a few who stand out:

"TATE" (1960) - David McLean played a bounty hunter who's the fastest draw in the West even though he lost the use of his left arm in the Civil War.

"IRONSIDE" (1967-75) - Although a sniper's bullet forced Raymond Burr's detective into a wheelchair, he still managed to roll over bad guys.

"LONGSTREET" (1971-72) - He may have been blinded by an explosion, but James Franciscus' insurance investigator could still see through criminals' flimsy stories.

GERI ON "THE FACTS OF LIFE" (1980-84) - Geri Jewell became the first physically disabled actress to portray a recurring character, teaching the girls the facts of cerebral palsy.

CORKY ON "LIFE GOES ON" (1989-93) - Chris Burke, who was born with Down syndrome, won our hearts and admiration as the eternally optimistic Corky Thatcher in this feel-good family drama.

DR. WEAVER ON "ER" (1995-2007) - We learned that Laura Innes' Kerry Weaver was a lesbian and abandoned as a child before discovering that her limp was caused by congenital hip dysplasia.

AUGUSTUS HILL ON "OZ" (1997-2003) - Harold Perrineau Jr.'s character narrates from a maximum-security prison and a wheelchair after a cop threw him off a roof for killing his partner.

JOE SWANSON ON "FAMILY GUY" (1999) - It figures that TV's crudest cartoon would have its most likable character be wheelchair-bound Joe, voiced by Patrick Warburton.

JOEY LUCAS ON "THE WEST WING" (2000-06) - Before battling on "Celebrity Apprentice," deaf actress Marlee Matlin took on Josh Lyman as a savvy political consultant.

BECKY ON "GLEE" (2009-) - Wheelchair-bound Artie (Kevin McHale) may be a bigger character, but we'll save our biggest cheer for Sue Sylvester's protegee, played by Lauren Potter, who has Down syndrome.

end of article

Except for the use of the term "wheelchair-bound," this is a good article.

librarianintx