Please don't take this the wrong way, but am I the only one who has been looking at Shawn's chest for six weeks and finding it slightly askew?

Are his nipples just oddly close together, or is one closer to the middle than the other? They look really odd to me, except when he is leaning back with his arms back.

Is it just me?

Survivor Pearl Islands page here.

Head here all week for Survivor Episode 6 Comments

How many times have we seen this before?

It happened like three episodes in a row last season: a fairly influential tribe member moves just a little too soon against a more influential tribe member, somebody balks and they find the plank under their own feet.

That leading woman (also Trish?) tried it against the triathalete dude last season, then he turned around and tried it, then the deaf woman got cocky . . .

Rupert was way too popular and this was a little too early. Trish waited only until she was first feeling Rupert's power out of control, instead of waiting until it bore down and bore down on them and the others complained and complained, and then she could have said, "Well you know . . . We could do something about it . . ."

And she also moved before their alliance had superiority, another classic mistake. Now they're screwed. Jon is ostracized and feeling threatened, and they're going into a tied merge presumably, where the Morgans only need to temp one vote. And Jon is the least trustworthy person to begin with. They could be in big trouble if Jon is stupid enough to jump ship. (It would never, ever work for him.)

Dumb dumb dumb. Dumb all around.

Those Drakes have begun to act like Morgans.

---

I have to say, though, it was great watching that cocky idiot Jon saunter up to the voting booth, smirking and telling off Rupert to the camera, revelling in his pupetmaster world with no clue at all that he was about to be left on his own island. At least Trish had the sense to look puzzled by some of the comments, to realize something was up. Jon appeared oblivious. Idiot.

And Rupert is on notice. Probably won't save him too long, but exactly the wakeup call he needed. He has played this game pretty badly, painting a gigantic target on his own back. What did he expect?

But what is Shawn thinking? He said, "It's my game now!" Please. You're barely wanted on that team, only reason you're on the island is because someone else committed suicide in a foolish palace coup. He thinks because Rupert said they would work together he's in control now? Rupert despises him. And if they did go to the finals together, Shawn would be lucky to land a single vote.

Survivor Pearl Islands page here.

Head here all week for Survivor Episode 6 Comments

Yes, I know I'm 24 hours late and who cares at this point? Me!

So . . .

Hard to believe, they're all tied now. They always regret it when they throw a challenge. What is this, the third time a team has done that, and if memory serves, the third time it has ended horribly. Well not ended yet, but horrible so far.

And Osten. OK, he's officially the biggest weanie on earth. That huge hunk of beef dropped the weight at the same level as that wisp of a woman? I realize that on one hand it was brutally heavy, but the others put up with some brutal pressure. That young woman held hers. Mike held the same amount for 15 minutes and still had not let go. Osten is pretty worthless, isn't he? Overstatement, but for what he ought to be doing . . .

It might help him in the short run--he'll be less of a threat after the merge, though probably not enough less to make a huge difference. And he's just shitting all over any chance at winning. Who would ever vote for him?

More soon. I'm 3/4 through now, just excited after that contest. And I worked so hard this week I thought I was going to want to go out, but I'm too freaking exhausted. Kinda nice to just curl up on my couch for a night with my fave show. Tomorrow will be a ball, hopefully.

Survivor Pearl Islands page here.

Head here all week for Survivor Episode 6 Comments

The Times actually has a pretty interesting story on the Howard Dean approach tonight--the risks and rewards of playing it edgy. It's a little on the shallow side, but for contemporary American journalism, it's still a cut way above. At least gets a bit into something really interesting about the most important candidate:

And hard not to smile at here lead:

Talking Like a Firebrand, Dean Walks a Fine Line

THORNTON, Iowa, Oct. 23 — As Howard Dean walked over to pet the 600-pound hogs on a visit to a family farm here on Wednesday morning, he blurted out his imaginary headline, "Governor speaks with Washington lobbyists."

At least she's addressing the key issue of personality, and she manages some halfway-useful thoughts on it:

"It's a temperament issue," said former Senator Gary Hart of Colorado, who ran for president in 1984 and 1988. "Part of what makes him exciting is this coiled tension. But you also get a sense that he could snap your head off if you looked at him cross-eyed."

Maybe. I love hearing him though. Take this bit:

"I'm not going to take any guff from the Washington politicians," he said the other day. "They say I want to get rid of Medicare or don't like the middle class. I say, `Do you want another Washington politician as president, even though they haven't accomplished anything in 10 years or 30 years?' "

But how frustrating is it that a mediocre, somewhat-superficial piece like this is a standout among mainstream coverage?

God, who would a thunk this was possible in New Hampshire, even six months ago?

Howard Dean's poll numbers took off like a shot once the media finally started paying attention this summer, but the meteoric rise levelled off pretty quickly and then he dipped a bit after the hoopla, as expected.

But lately he's been building again, and tonight's Zogby poll out of New Hampshire has him up to a commanding 23-point lead over the closest challenger.

Kerry, the neighboring senator who needs to win New Hampshire--preferably decisively--to have much hope at all, is sinking again. Down all the way to 17.

Full breakdown from a brief AP story:

• Dean: 40
• Kerry: 17
• Clark: 6
• Edwards: 6
• Gephardt: 4
• Lieberman: 3
• Others: 1 or less

Man, when is Lieb going to call it quits. He started out way on top (because of name recognition), is down to 3 percent in New Hampshire, and pulled out of Iowa completely. So in the two big states that decide who continues, where exactly is he demonstrating his viability? Get out Joe, get out.

Meanwhile, Wes Clark is up to a tie for third there, but a distant third. He got a very late start, but he really needs to show some movement if he wants to be The Dean Alternative.

Who is The Dean Alternative? If Clark doesn't get it together, it doesn't look like anyone is. (Which is good, of course. Who wants any of those weanies getting nominated. I'm just wondering. Surely the press will annoint someone. Probably Clark, because of his national numbers, unless he fades.)

UPDATE:

More info and analysis on the poll this morning from the NY Post.

First, it indicated that previous polls had shown Clark clearly in third there, at 10 or 11 percent. Polls vary, but if he has dropped almost in half in New Hampshire, after pulling out of Iowa, he could be in bad, bad shape.

Interesting quotes from the pollster in that piece:

"Clark's fizzle is the key to these numbers. Clark was hurting Dean. Now Clark has just collapsed and the direct beneficiary is Dean," said pollster John Zogby.

"Dean is a juggernaut because he's at 40 percent in a nine-person race with no one else even close. He has clearly bonded with New Hampshire Democrats. The breadth and depth of his support is breathtaking."

Yes, it's a day late, but hopefully not too late.

I'd love to hear all your comments on yesterday's Survivor episode, and hopefully you'd love to hear each other.

I'll watch the show tonight (hopefully) and then head there.

Just stepped in the door. Exhausted, but will get some food going and post soon.

I haven't even seen Survivor yet, can't wait. Looking forward to settling some more business, nestling down with some food and Survivor, then more work, work tomorrow, then giving myself tomorrow night off to go crazy.