Cheat Work Thursday

"MILLION DOLLAR GAMBLE" That second tribal council is going to give me PTSD for a very long time. Should Jessica flip, though? The opinions on the street are: YES - it's still a long way to go to draw rocks at final 10. NO - because you play to win, not just to move further in the game. NO - as a viewer, I love watching people fighting hard for their sides. We've seen people flip, then one side gets systematically eliminated, followed by a bitter jury (allegedly). So I don't want to see that again, at least not for a while. I want to see gutsy decisions from 10 people with spines. But the rock draw was not the only thing that's making me geek out right now. It was the whole story. From everyone knowing very well how equally divided the tribe was, to Adam and Hannah buying Sunday's simple deception, to the two sides nail-bitingly trying to come out of the battle alive, to ultimately a heartbreaking result. It's heartbreaking because we like...

"STILL THROWIN' PUNCHES" It pains my cynical heart a little to say this, but maybe Jay is not that bad at Survivor. (That's the best I can do today.) Look at him, all calm and high-fiving Hannah, asking to be included in the next vote, discussing with Sunday who they should vote for and the possibility of working together. True, they made connection at Ikabula, but I don't think it was something that Michelle was able to do with Chris. But this is the episode where Bret drinks all of Will's drinks because, you know, Will is 18. Just watching Bret in a happy place already makes me happy. Adam, on the other hand, is in the land of Shoot Yourself in the Foot Some More Because Good Spot Is Not a Nice Place to Have . After turning his back on the Millennials, he reminds Jay that Jay, Will and Taylor are on the bottom. At tribal, after his advantage that sounds more like a curse is exposed by Taylor, he urges everyone to vote him out if they think his advan...

"I'M THE KINGPIN" This is a pretty tough week to do anything creative. You know the week is rough when you don't even feel that angry with Negan. (If you are reading this in a distant future, this is the episode after the 2016 US election. Yeap.) _____ But let's talk about Survivor, and it's the merge week. The relationships: - Jay thinks he is the kingpin and has the old Ikabula, plus Michelle and Taylor, on his side. - Bret says that he still trusts Chris and Sunday, and although he's pretty nervous seeing the Millennials reuniting, he thinks he can still trust Jay from their time at Ikabula. - Chris feels like he's meshing well with Zeke and David, and he also wants to regroup with Bret and Sunday. - Zeke is delighted to see his old "nerdy pals" Adam and Hannah, and he worries that everyone else is going to fall under Jay's spell. - Jessica and Ken are pretty much just a backdrop this episode. This is the week that Ada...

Photo by Breather on Unsplash chal·lenge n . 4. A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking. ~ Thefreedictionary . The last time I read a book was in February. Yeah... it isn't really my favourite activity. Reading isn't that bad. I can read the internet and Twitter all day. Reading books -- unfortunately -- needs effort. According to some legit internet studies, at this rate, my brain is probably losing its rocket-making ability fast. Reading just means ticking a checklist to me, something that I have to do, like going for a run or eating healthy food. Do I enjoy them? Only if I'm out of my mind. But I can force myself not to skip them entirely. I mean, if I don't exercise my brain, how is it going to be fit enough to watch all my favourite TV? My only problem right now is my laziness finding a book that I really like ie I can finish. It has been a while since I last found a book that could hook me all day -...

"I WILL DESTROY YOU" This is an episode of good lines. We start at Takali's camp after Figgy's vote: " Of course, it does (affect you, Taylor). Yeah, I screwed you. I lied to you, and I screwed you. Hundred percent. I admit that. " ~ Adam, assuring Taylor that he did, in fact, just screw him, in case it was still not clear to Taylor. " You are now in a worse position than you were before, " he adds. " And that's my fault. I admit that. " OK WE GET IT ADAM. " I'll keep my cool for now, but when it comes the time -- I will destroy you *laughs* ." ~ Taylor, in confessional, with a glint in his now-not-blinking eyes. At the reward challenge, Taylor says the smartest thing he has said all season: " No comment. " ~ replying to Jeff, who asks if he's surprised by Michaela saying Figgy should have long gone. Back at Takali, Taylor and Ken discuss politics. For one second, it actually crosses my m...