DRW50

I'd love to know who the WH leak is. Whoever it is seems to be the equivalent of a 70-year old man with an enlarged prostate.

Another wonderful surprise. I wonder if this was during the writers strike. I'm glad they had the 'beauty shot' - and it's a nice, soothing one too. (Minnie and Kate birdwatching) It's great to see such early Egypt, and the wonderful Minnie as well. Classic characters. This must be very close to the end for Roya Megnot's Ava (wasn't she gorgeous?). The scenes with Kate feel a bit like a "goodbye." And there's the first Jeff Hartman. And Gwyn back when she was a naughty, frustrated vamp rather than a martyr. And Trisha wearing an ugly, formless jacket.

Good for her. I hope this takes off. http://www.politico.com/blogs/on-media/2017/01/samantha-bee-will-toast-journalisms-unsung-heroes-at-her-anti-white-house-correspondents-dinner-234389

Reposting this from Walford Web: I think they were also at a loss with the character after the disastrous affair story, one of Emmerdale's all time worst. I do wonder if something else happened. A part of me is a bit sad about it because Denise seemed to really enjoy working at Emmerdale. I wouldn't have killed Joanie as it's likely just so that Kyle will now be "a proper Dingle" and it feels somewhat like a cheat, and it's rushed, and Denise Black is a terrific actress, and if so many other characters float around waiting for a purpose Joanie could have too, but I have to clench my teeth when some go on about how disrespectful this is to fans and to Denise Black, and on and on. This is nothing compared to what was done with Viv/Deena Payne. Or even with Tom Lister/Carl. Not even close. I actually thought her last scene was oddly moving, where she said she wished she could have just gone back to the start, when she worked in the factory with Lisa and they were friends. That part got to me. (the death scene, not so much - that could have been done another way) Jane Cox gave a lovely performance, especially when she expressed her unease over being with Zak again. I kind of wish the show would just keep them apart but they're really damned either way at this point.

So basically a fancy way to say they'll be spying on students? Or is this an excuse for propaganda?

I'd say state-level laws are more of a concern on this issue than Trump. Or something snuck into a larger bill that Congress passes. I'd seriously look to states like North Carolina to push this type of law.

"under-competence" and "a slight amount of insecurity." They may be insane but they know how to dish out insults that are going to sting for a long time.

I think that's a part of it, but if so I also don't put that on Ivana's dark schemes. That part seems a bit silly to me. The rest I can believe.

Looking up that Dana guy - I swear all these men Trump pick look alike. I believe the stuff about the sons. I don't believe Ivana Trump is some puppetmaster sending her daughter out into the front. Ivanka always seems very self-determined to me, for better or worse.

Absolutely. I guess it just saddens me, as the gag rule did last week (which was so extreme yet didn't get much coverage for that basic fact) because I can already see how smug most of Congress, state legislatures, etc. will be over this EO if it goes through. It's part of what a lot of them wanted, as many of them absolutely hate lgbt people (as they also hate women in general). They get what they want and they don't even get the real blame. I just have to hope that those out there fighting to make a difference will carry the day.

I don't mean the people who care (and a lot of people do, to their credit). I mean people that people these nuts are more cowtowed by. Those people will watch the world burn and unless any of them have any issues, nothing will change. Much of Congress is run by bigots or appeasers, so they won't flinch at some of the pushback like they have a bit with the airport stuff. Of course flinching is all they've done here, even as they have essentially allowed unstable countries like Iraq to renew their hatred and anger toward us. Something like this they will likely actively support. At least we can again see those "libertarian" and "moderate" Republicans again sitting on their hands because if they go along to get along, it will all be worth it in the end. Someday the party will be more tolerant and everyone will be happy...even though they insisted Trump would be the one to do that...but it won't be his fault. It will be trans people, who didn't know their place. Or radical queer people at marches. Or someone who cut Kellyanne Conway off at a stop sign. Take your pick. Putin regularly peddles anti-gay propaganda to manipulate and distract the populace. America isn't Russia (although I'm sure many in Russia would say they're very glad of that), but I do wonder if it will start here.

Sadly I think many will turn a blind eye to something like this (and I imagine there will be a lot of things we won't hear about at first, like DADT being reinstated), because it doesn't affect them personally. The same reason they didn't care about the abortion orders. It also won't have the visceral images of the airport seizures, although I wonder how many beyond those who were already alert and active cared about those either. When it does happen, we'll see if we get the puff pieces from the press that we got with W about how he doesn't actually hate gay people, it's just the name of the game, and his hand was pushed. Given that he hasn't exactly been courting the media this last week, maybe not.

It could, but I tend to wonder how many who need to tweet about it are people who live in liberal enclaves. Like the person who said how scared they were and then she turned out to be another Susan Sarandon-type voter. I do think that many who are in swing states are also regretting their vote, and are just less vocal about it. I guess we'll see, if we're still here in 4 years, how many will be willing to remember this if they have a "safer" choice like Mike Pence or media darling Marco.

Another one goes under the bus. http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/don-t-keep-him-waiting His son (who recently deleted his Twitter account) likely did him no favors either.

Personally I have no time for people who talk about how much they regret voting for Trump. This was an obvious choice - the most obvious choice America has had in possibly well over a century. Anyone out there who cared about civil rights, basic fairness, etc. knew the choice. I feel like some people want a medal when they say they voted the wrong way. Too little too late. Meanwhile someone I know who voted for him is a Faux News junkie tells me whenever we talk that Trump is going to build up the military so it's a good thing he won. This is a very elderly person so I just bite my tongue, because even if they do come to regret it, it's going to likely be for reasons of personal pain, and unlike some of those in Trumpworld, I don't get that much pleasure out of other people's pain.

I guess it was pre-PB (Bergman...).

Falcon Crest cast in a partial Star Games episode, otherwise known as thank God for Speedos.

Generally I think Emmerdale is the only one that can sort of pull that stuff off. It didn't bother me, although I agree that the stuff with the goons taking the kids was boring. Other than that, and having no interesting in Debbie/Ross, I haven't minded her return so far. She's had some good scenes with her parents, Diane and Sarah. I'm not sure what's going on with Carly, if Gemma Atkinson is busy a lot or if the show just has no interest in her. It's odd.

I was looking at some old commercials and it looks like someone put up part of a Star Games episode that features some Y&R cast members in various athletic events (and, of course, Eric Braeden as their coach).

I know. By that point, already Peggy (and the twins), and soon so many more...what a waste. That channel also has a 1993 episode with some Sugden material, namely Robert being sad about having to release his pet owl into the wild (a very moving scene), and Joe and Jack peeved over Annie planning to live with and then marry that Leonard guy. There's also a hilarious bit where she and Leonard go in the Woolpack and the nosy barmaid Carol tries to stir the pot, going on about what will people say about their living together before marriage. Annie's response? "It's the '90s, dear."

It's easy to tweet, of course, but that McMullin guy is putting many to shame.

If anyone would it's Senator "bomb Iran."

Always a sad day when Bill Kristol makes sense.

Ugh. http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trump-appointees-minorities-women-234315

Appropriate enough for today...