CBS has started accepting applications to Big Brother 4 to be shot in 2003.

I really didn't want to write anything yesterday. It was just hard to be home and avoid the coverage. It was, however, a gorgeous day outside - low 70's, not a cloud in the sky. I needed to escape, but I waited for Carol to get home and we went out to Chevy's. I paid for it when I was trying to sleep last night, though. Urp... Today, another gorgeous day, but a little more clouds. Went to Home Depot to buy some lightbulbs for the outside lights. I only had 100 watt bulbs and that was over the rating for the fixtures. There are too many damn lightbulbs to chose from at Home Depot. Tonight, about 9 o'clock, the mosquito abatement truck was going through the neighborhood again. This time we didn't hear it (the generator on the back of the truck was noisy) - we saw the flashing yellow Mars light as he went by. Let's see how that West Nile Virus Tote Board stacks up - great, 314 cases, 13 deaths - both are highest in the nation. Why here?

Let's see if I can summarize a week... Jason nominates Amy and Marcellas. The houseguests all fail the Dinner Party From Hell food challenge and everyone eats Peanut Butter and Jelly for the week. The Power of Veto is now the Golden Power of Veto - the added twist is that if you are a nominee and you win it, you can take yourself off the block. Marcellas wins the Golden Power of Veto. Because of other programming, CBS hasn't broadcasted Big Brother until tonight. The Power of Veto meeting was held tonight live on-air. This meant that: 1) If a nominee is removed, the HOH (Jason) has to nominate someone in their place (again Live on-air), and 2) Since the Veto Meeting was held live on-air, the voting must be done live on-air. Marcellas doesn't use the Veto. Danielle goes into the Diary Room and votes to evict Marcellas. Lisa goes into the DR and votes to evict Amy. Jason, as HOH now has to break the tie vote - live in front of the nominees. In a distressed speech, Jason evicts Marcellas in something that no one except Danielle saw coming. Amy is shocked. No, She's SHOCKED. Marcellas looks worse - numb, zombie like. He leaves with little to say. Danielle wins the Head of Household competition for the first time since the show started. Damn - I wanted her out.
UPDATE: I was watching the live feeds at about 10:30pm. The houseguests were outside at the table, just talking. Then Julie Chen came over the speakers and said "Houseguests!" And they all replied "Hi, Julie!". Julie: "It's time for this week's luxury challenge!" (they cheer) "We have hidden four cell phones in the house..." (Amy screams) "Settle down, Amy. When I say go, you have two minutes to find them. Once you have found a cell phone, you must stay in the room that you found the phone in..." ... and the feed shifts to the Front Of The House (this is done on the internet feeds when the producers don't want you to see something happening in the house. They play that damn theme music on an endless loop forever). According to tonight's show, the winner of the competition will be able to call home. They were off the net for two hours. Apparently Amy won, being able to talk to her mother. I think the cell phones were from Verizon T-Mobile- Amy was complaining about the connection quality. She also won $10,000, too.

OK, let me start by saying this - this is Chicago. If you go to a sporting event here, don't even think about starting a wave. We don't like it. It shows disrespect for the players on the field (or ice or court). It shows that you aren't paying attention to the damn game. Having said that, the University of Hungary has actually done a study of the wave.

OK, be honest - how many of you breathed a sigh of relief today when yesterday passed without any apparent attack on U.S. interests somewhere? Perhaps it's time to finally move on. Never forget - but move on...