I just finished watching the Long Way Round, a great documentary of two motorcyclists driving from London to New York, all the way through Europe, Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Siberia. It’s a truly epic and inspiring series that really makes you feel like you want to get out there and get some adventure for yourself I recommend this to anyone who’s thinking about traveling somewhere.

Russia's Mask of Sorrow

12h04 – Tempero da Terra – Penne com linguiça

– Aqui é Assim – ALEP

– Essa Casa Tem História – Palacete Conde Matarazzo

– Sabe Como? – FGTS

– PR399 – Colombo

– Tá na Lei – Crimes da Internet

– Onde Você Estava? – Enchente em União da Vitória

13h10 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

13h30 – Mundo da Alimentação – Alcachofra: uma flor à mesa

13h45 – Reportagem Especial – Índios de Palmas

14h00 – Ciranda Cultural – Zig Koch

14h30 – Essa Casa Tem História – Fazenda Capão Alto

15h00 – Mundo da Fotografia – Foto Submarina: Denise Greco

15h03 – Plano Geral – Infraestrutura do Paraná

16h30 – O Dono da Rua – Anne Frank

– Serviços Públicos – Procon

– Onde Você Estava? – Diretas Já!

17h00 – Memória Política – Hércules Correa

17h30 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

18h00 – Tempero da Terra – Penne com linguiça

– Aqui é Assim – ALEP

– Essa Casa Tem História – Palacete Conde Matarazzo

– Sabe Como? – FGTS

– PR399 – Colombo

– Tá na Lei – Crimes da Internet

– Onde Você Estava? – Enchente em União da Vitória

19h00 – Mundo da Arte – Museu Nacional de Belas Artes

19h30 – Essa Casa Trem História – Fazenda Capão Alto

20h00 – Reprise Resumo da Semana

20h25 – Ciranda Cultural – Groff

21h05 – Mundo da Fotografia – Foto Submarina: Denise Greco

21h30 – Plano Geral – Infraestrutura do Paraná

22h30 – O Dono da Rua – Anne Frank

– Serviços Públicos – Procon

– Onde Você Estava? – Diretas Já!

23h00 – Assembleia em Debate – Enade

23h35 – Onde Você Estava? – Queda do Muro de Berlim

– Perfil Parlamentar – Luiz Cláudio Romanelli, Mário Roque, Luiz Fernandes Litro, Nelson Justus

12h04 – Tempero da Terra – Carne de Onça

– Aqui é Assim – Taquígrafas

– PR399 – Loanda

– Sabe Como? – Centro de Referência da Mulher

– O Dono da Rua – Sidônio Muralha

12h35 – Mundo da Alimentação – Alcachofra: uma flor à mesa

12h50 – Assembleia em Debate – Enade

13h25 – Sessão Solene em Homenagem ao Dia da Consciência Negra

15h00 – Plano Geral – Infraestrutura do Paraná

16h00 – PR399 – Rolândia

16h15 – Urbanidades – Violência no trânsito

17h15 – Onde Você Estava? – Homem na Lua

– Essa Casa Tem História – Sinhara

17h35 – Mundo da Arte – Museu Nacional de Belas Artes

18h00 – TelejornAL

18h30 – Ciranda Cultural – Zig Koch

19h10 – PR399 – Rolândia

19h25 – Mundo da Alimentação – Alcachofra: uma flor à mesa

19h40 – O Dono da Rua – Jerônimo Durski

– Essa Casa Tem História – Teatro Paiol

20h05 – Marca Paraná – Crédito

21h00 – Mundo da Fotografia – Fotos Submarinas: Denise Greco

21h30 – Onde Você Estava? – Homem na Lua

– Essa Casa Tem História – Sinhara

22h00 – Ciranda Cultural – Zig Koch

22h40 – Reportagem Especial – Polo Pato Branco

23h00 – Brasil Eleitor – Programa nº 291

23h30 – Reprise TelejornAL

– Perfil Parlamentar – Duílio Genari, Antônio Belinati, Élio Rusch, Nereu Moura

So, Don lost his marriage, but he’s gained a family.

This storyline was so much win, it’s unbelievable. Don learns from Conrad Hilton that PPL and Sterling Cooper will be sold to McCann Erickson (you may remember them from season one as the ad firm that hired Betty as a model to entice Don to work for them).  Don and Bert conspire to start their own ad agency. But first, Don has to make amends with Roger, Peggy and Pete. So, let’s talk about all the awesomeness:

• First, last and always . . . Pryce and Joan come along for the ride. Pryce especially was wonderful. After Singen (sp?) tells him he’s fired, Pryce answers, “Happy Christmas!” And, Roger’s inspired moment of calling Joan. Or, as Don put it: “Joan. Of course.”
• When Pete demanded that Don explain why he and Roger wanted him in the company, and Don was so gracious, I thought to myself, “Why can’t he say these things to Peggy and Betty?” Then, that wonderful scene between Peggy and Don where Don finally tells her how valuable she truly is. If you didn’t get teary-eyed along with Peggy, then you have no soul. Note: I still think that, at some point, Don and Peggy are going to get together. I know I said I suck at predicting things, but I’m sticking to this one. Another Note: Gee, Don. If you had said these things to Betty, perhaps you’d still be married.
• How wonderful are Pete and Trudy together? When he acts like a child, she’s an adult. And she always sees the bigger picture. (It sounds like she brought in Clearasil for Pete to help with the cash flow.)  Now, if Pete can just stop taking advantage of nannies. It’s interesting to note that it was after Trudy came in with the sandwiches that Don called Betty to tell her that he wasn’t going to fight her. I think he realized that Pete and Trudy have what Don and Betty never had. An equal partnership.
• We also have to give props to the second best relationship on the show: Don and Roger. It’s great seeing those two kids together again.
• I loved the Ocean’s Eleven type of music playing as they were plotting to take clients away from Sterling Cooper.
• How long do you suppose Paul will last without Peggy to lean on? I’m sure that Ken will be just fine, though.
• Should we be on countdown until they invite Sal back?
• Bert called Jane a trollop! Damn!

This episode had some of the best lines:

• “We have tea!”
• “Pete, could I speak to you for a moment?”
• “Can you believe that little shit was going to leave us?”
• “I was going to tell you. No, I wasn’t.”
• “Beg me? You didn’t even ask me.”
• “I don’t want to make a career out of being there so you can kick me when you fail.”
• “I’m so tired. Peggy, can you get me some coffee?” “No.”
• “I will spend the rest of my life trying to hire you.”
• “I’m not really sick.”
• “Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, how may I help you? [pause]Yes, Harry, we’re in room 435.”

Special mention goes to fART DEPARTMENT. My inner twelve-year-old thought that was hilarious.

After such a dark and depressing season, it was wonderful to see the show end on such a high note. Yes, Betty is gone (I don’t know if she’ll be a regular next year–she’s not exactly popular), and most likely Paul and Kenny  (please, not Sal). But, Don seems genuinely happy with his new family. Summer of 2010 cannot come fast enough.

Note: Since this season is done, I’ll probably change the look of the blog. I’ll talk about the last season of Lost when it airs, and I might talk about V as well. (Apparently, I was the only person on the planet who wasn’t wild about the pilot.) We’ll see. And, of course, whatever else pops into my little head.

Thanks to all those who took the time to read my little blog. My friends and family don’t know about this, mostly because not of all them currently watch Mad Men, and I don’t want to be accused of spoiling things for them. (Crazy, right? But some of my friends are like that.)

So, yeah–this

 None of this sounds like it will end on a shiny, happy note.

was wrong. I should really know better than to try to predict how this show will turn out.

More tomorrow . . .

I’ll talk about the episode, but first, a couple little anecdotes.

1. My Irish-Catholic mother loved John F. Kennedy, and mourned deeply when he was murdered. She told me that, on the day Kennedy was assassinated, she didn’t have the TV on. My Dad (who was a schoolteacher) heard the news and called my Mom. Now, there had been several Kennedy jokes going around at the time, so when my Dad called, my Mom thought it was the start of another joke until she turned on the TV.

2. In my first semester of college, I took a sociology class. At one point, the professor had talked about “Cult of Personality” and asked for examples. I didn’t know any better, so I said Ronald Regan. The adult students (along with my professor) laughed, and then my professor said to me, “When Kennedy was assassinated, I witnessed people stopping in the streets and crying.” It was a concept that I just couldn’t wrap my head around. Until 9/11.

3. After the planes hit the towers on 9/11, I remember sitting in the parking lot of the candy shop that I worked at. As I listened to the radio, there was a news report of a “fire” at the Pentagon. I sat in my car completely shocked and said out loud, “My God, what is going on?”

Last night’s episode focused on how the Kennedy assassination affected the characters. Some became grown-ups, some stayed the same. Let’s take them by couples/groups:

Roger/Jane/Mona/Margret/Joan: Ever hear the phrase, “She married her father?” Well, in Roger’s case, he married his daughter. Both are spoiled princesses who throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way. However, there is growth on Margret’s part after Kennedy’s assassination. She handles her (ruined) wedding with grace and humor, and seems to have healed her relationship with her father.  Jane, on the other hand, ignores Roger (the one thing that Roger can’t stand) and gets drunk, which makes Roger appreciate the other (adult) women in his wife: Mona and Joan. It’s his phone call to Joan that has the most resonance. As she puts it, on 11/22/63, people still died, babies were born, life went on.

Does this mean that Roger will finally see that his marriage to Jane is a mistake?

Trudy/Pete: Pete has lost his promotion to Ken and his “haircut,” so he handles it the way a child would. He pretends to be sick, goes home and eats out of the casserole dish. After complaining to Trudy that Johnson is more of the same (“No one voted for him.”), Pete comes to a revelation. He hates his job, and he hates the people he used to constantly suck up to. This is the Pete who looked on with disgust while Roger sang in blackface, not the Pete who danced the Charleston with his wife to entertain his bosses. Trudy comes around to Pete’s point of view and tells him that his clients will be loyal to him when he leaves.

Oh, Pete. If you only hadn’t raped that poor girl earlier, I would so root for you right now.

Betty/Don/Henry/Sally/Peggy: Betty is beside herself when she hears that Kennedy died. In a wonderful scene, Carla comes in with the children right at that moment, and the two women sit on the couch and cry together while Sally comforts her Mom. Betty really feels what is happening (“I can’t stop crying,” she tells Don), but Don handles it the way he handles any terrible news. He tries to shove it away, and he tries to get everyone else to do the same. He tells Betty that everything will be okay, and she responds, “How do you know that?” Once again, this is not the Betty who took everything Don says on face value. After Lee Harvey Oswald is shot as she watches it on TV (prompting her to shout, “What is going on?”) she contacts the one man she trusts: Henry. After they talk and smooch, she comes home and tells Don what she’s been feeling for a long time. She doesn’t love him anymore. I think we can put a fork in that marriage.

January Jones once mentioned in an interview that she felt that Don loved the idea of Betty, but I think the same could be said of Betty’s feelings for Don. And, yes, Don did seem to be heartbroken when Betty told him her feelings, but let’s be honest. This is a man who has repeatedly cheated on Betty, lied about his identity and tried to make Betty think she was crazy when she confronted him about his infidelity. He had this coming.

Sally has been watching her parents marriage fall apart for a while now. And, she does the adult thing: she keeps her mouth shut. Take a look at her face, though, when Don tells her that “nothing” happened after Oswald was shot. She knows better, Don.

Don goes to work on Monday (which was declared a national day of mourning) and sees Peggy. I mention this because I had read an article about the real Don Draper, an advertising man by the name Draper Daniels. In it, his wife, an executive at the same advertising agency, describes how he proposed to her:

I asked, “Are you going to sell me with the next merger?”

“Not exactly,” he said.

He showed me the card. On one side, he had written out his own best character traits. Then he turned it over. On the other side he had written out mine. Mine were better than his, so I knew he wanted something. I thought, What in the world has got into him?

“I’ve been thinking about this for nine months, Myra,” he said, “and I think we would make a great team.”

I said, “I think we are a great team. Think of what we’ve accomplished so far this year.”

He said, “I’m talking about a different sort of merger.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, I’ve decided I’d like to marry you.”

I lost my voice for a moment, because I had never thought of the man that way before-and had no idea he had thought of me that way. Dan was twelve and a half years older than I and had been married before. I was against divorce in those days. But more importantly, I was happy with my life. I told him that.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s talk about it again tomorrow.” And then he walked out whistling-which, to me, was one of the most maddening things anyone can do, particularly under the circumstances.

Here’s the rest of the article. I bring it up because Draper Daniels and his wife, Myra remind me very much of Don and Peggy. Is this the direction that the show will go in? It’s very possible that Duck is just a poor replacement for Peggy.

Random Thoughts:

• I’m glad that they brought back Peggy’s roommate, if only for the great lines. “It’s good that you’re being picky, finally.” “Duck’s not married.” “Then, why are you with him?”
• Please Mad Men, find a way to keep Lane Pryce on the show.

Betty confronted Don! Don cried! Joan hit Dr. Shit with a vase! Roger was actually faithful to his wife! Cats are sleeping with dogs! Up is down! Down is up!

Of course, the big news of this episode was Betty confronting Don about his past.  Betty went to Philadelphia to take care of her late father’s affairs, and while there,  had been given shitty legal advice by her father’s lawyer. He  didn’t seem to understand what Betty was telling him (that Don wasn’t really Don)  and focused on the first marriage. His advice? Unless she could prove that Don had cheated on her or beat her up, she should stay in the marriage. According to the lawyer, “that’s what he’d tell” his own daughter. Boy, isn’t that daughter lucky.

In the meantime, Don and Suzanne are playing house. She entertains a fantasy about spending more time with Don, and Don says that, if she wants to go away for a couple of days, he would take the time off work. It’s interesting . . . when Betty completely trusted Don and depended totally on him, Don’s girlfriends were tough, independent women. Now that Betty has grown and become her own person, Don’s new affair is with a woman who only wants to be with him. Hmmm. Anyway, Don and Suzanne stop by his house on their way to their vacation so he can pick something up. Suzanne stays in the car, which is a good thing, because Betty and the children came back early.  Don tries to get out of the house (“I have a dinner meeting.” “I left my hat in the car.”) but Betty is having none of it.

I’ve said it before, but every season I go from hating Betty to feeling sorry for her to cheering her on. Last night, we saw a totally different Betty. She knows that Don hasn’t been honest with her in the past, and she realizes that the only way she can get him to be honest with her is to hit him head on. She gives him a chance to tell her on his own; when he refuses, she says, “You know I know what’s in that drawer.” And, that’s it. Don has no other choice but to tell her the truth.

Except that he doesn’t.

Yes, he tells her that his real name is Dick Whitman, and, in a touching moment, tells her about his family; including the fact that his Uncle Mack was nice to him and that Adam committed suicide after he tracked Dick down. However, he refers to his getting Don’s identity as a “mix up,” and that it was easier to be Don than be someone else. Longtime viewers know that isn’t true. (I dunno. Spoiler Alert for those who haven’t seen season one? Can’t say I didn’t warn you.) Don and Dick were stationed alone together, and Dick screwed up. That screw up lead to an explosion that injured Dick and killed Don. Dick then switched his dog tags and took Don’s.  He didn’t set out to kill Don Draper, but he saw an opportunity and he took it. As for his other lie:  Don’s “hat” realizes that he isn’t coming back for her and slinks out of the car to walk home. He calls her the next day to tell her it’s over, and it would be nice to say that he won’t cheat on Betty anymore, but this is Don/Dick we’re talking about. He can’t seem to help himself.

But, at the moment, that doesn’t seem to matter. For now, Betty and Don’s marriage seems to be stronger due to his confession. We’ll see how this plays out.

As for the rest of the episode: Joan finally gets Dr. Shit to stop acting like a 12-year-old, but she has to hit him on the head with a vase to do so.  The result? He decides to join the army, so he can be a surgeon. That’s right, Joan married Frank Burns. (Once again, check out the look on her face after he tells her. Poor Joan.)

On the Roger front: One of his old flames comes to the agency. She just inherited her father’s dog food business which has suffered because it was revealed that they use horse meat. She wants to change her business’s image, but she does not want to change the name or its practices. This leads to a hilarious scene where a test group tries the dog food, and one of the participants recognizes the manufacturer’s name. As he tells the other participants that the dog food is made from “ponies,” Don tells Peggy to shut it off. “I can’t,” replies Peggy,”it’s happening right now.”

Ms. Dog Food and Roger had dinner the night before where she tried to throw herself at him. Roger refused her advances. When she confronts him on it the next day, Roger admits he’s in love: “This girl’s different.” Ms. Dog Food says that Roger was “the one” for her. His response? “You weren’t.” There’s been a lot of speculation about whether or not Roger meant that Jane or “Joanie” was the one. Personally, I think he means Jane. As annoying as their relationship is, and even though it makes him look like a fool, Roger does seem to really love that little twit.

Random Thoughts:

• What I wouldn’t give for a Jane/Mona confrontation. Also, I would love to see Betty meet Anna.

Newest updates on Zig Zach’s latest fight at Planet Battle in Hong Kong! Finally got the busy man to sit his butt down in one place and talk for a while! Enjoy!

1. You’ve just come back from Hong Kong! Who did you fight and how did the fight go?

I fought on the Planet Battle promotion against a Thai Fighter called Phet Tanawat. He’s had over 250 fights and is really good. Fight was going really well and I think we were very even right up until the 2nd round when he caught my kick and pushed me into the ropes. As I fell he landed a knee right on my chin and I was OUT!!! I honestly had no idea where I was, stood up and saw him in the neutral corner and ready take my head off!! I managed get myself together to hold him off and I lost the fight on points. Not too bad.

2. How did you prepare for this fight? Any special training that you did especially for this fight?

I had my trainer from Thailand, Bangman who has been my trainer for over 7 years. I had him stay with me and train me for over 2weeks. We watched Phet’s fight and we trained and worked on certain techniques and combinations. The fight was also K-1 rules so I had to adjust to no elbow strikes which kinda suck because I like using my elbows alot in a fight.

3. Describe your mental state before the fight. What do you do to ready yourself mentally? Do you have any routine that you do during fight day?

I don’t really get nervous before a fight anymore. I am just abit more edgy to be around when Im getting ready, as in I want to concentrate and not be disturbed by anyone. Just my trainer and me talking. I usually take deep breaths and try to relax and think of the fight the night before and I do alot of visualizing in my head. The day of the fight I just rest as much as I can, rehydrate loads, stretch a little bit, say my prayers and then we’re off….. Bring it on!!

4. I hear you’ve been to Thailand to train on occasion? Where have you been and for how long?

I have trained in Thailand now going back and forth for 10 years almost. I lived the longest there for 6 months straight. I’ve trained at gyms on the the islands like Samui, Phuket & Krabi. I’ve also trained in the heart of it all – Bangkok. Some gyms I’ve been to are WMC Koh Samui, Tor. Chalermchai, Dejtrat, Sor. Chitlada, Rawai and Emerald Gym.

5. What are the differences between training in Singapore and in Thailand?

Training is rather different in Thailand compared to Singapore. Cleanliness for one!!! It really depends on what kinda training you are there for? Leisure; weight-loss; fun. But if you’re there like me to train for a fight you are just concentrating on your training and fighting with no distractions of work, school, family and whatever else. You are just there to train and fight! The quality of training is obviously better and more intense. You are at the very birthplace of the sport – Thousands of years of experience, and the trainers there have literally been born into Muay Thai so they have alot of valuable experience and training advice to share.

6. You’re Singapore’s most decorated Muay Thai fighter, having represented Singapore in Contender Asia. Tell us what was Contender Asia like, and how it has helped your career as a fighter.

Most decorated fighter! I sound like a Christmas tree!!!! Well, Contender Asia was an amazing experience. I mean, I was the fighter with the least experience among all of the other guys. I got to train with some of the top fighters in the sport. I also watched and learnt so much from just being there. The way they trained or how they prepared themselves before the fight. We have all become very close friends too. I can’t deny that Contender Asia was a great stepping stone for me. It literally put me on the world stage! After beating Zidov in the rematch and showing the world what I was really capable of, people started to actually take notice of me! I get loads of emails sometimes asking me about Muay Thai, shoulder injuries and other random strange things!?! I mean I’ve been recognized in clubs in Sweden, Australia, Hong Kong and of course here in sunny Singapore! So it’s kinda weird people coming up to me and saying,”Oh hey you’re Zig Zach!!” and start going on about Muay Thai or the show.

7. I hear that you injured your shoulders rather badly during the filming of the show. Have you fully recovered?

I hurt my shoulder in day 1 of the show. It was just a really stupid race where we were tied together by the waist and we had to sprint down a wet narrow road!? Soren, my partner, fell on top of me and I felt my right shoulder pop out and it was just horrible to be able to hear all my muscles rip!! That was the first dislocation I had in 4 years or so. I was so sore and couldn’t do push ups and couldn’t train properly without feeling it hurt. And come fight night when I was picked by Zidov to fight. I managed to dislocate my left shoulder!! Which was the first time it has ever happened. I was so shocked I almost wanted to stop fighting there and then!! After a few days of being back home, I was so upset about everything and how a dream turned into a nightmare. I was lucky that all those who were close to me were supportive and helped me to get myself back up. I decided I was gonna have surgery and then come back stronger than ever!! And that I did!! I still have problems with my right shoulder though. Just gotta keep doing my strengthening workouts and make sure I train and fight smart so as to not have it dislocate again.

8. Do you have another fight planned as of yet?

I might get another fight in Phuket, 3rd Week of November. I don’t want to end my year on a loss!! I wanna win so I can end 2009 on a good note!

9. Anyways, I hear that you DJ as well! When’s your next gig?

Yeah I do DJ as well. I know! Not exactly the two things you would associate a Professional Fighter all fit and healthy and then you’ve got your classic DJ/party animal on the other!!! My next gig is actually on Halloween at the new sexy beach club called Azzura on Sentosa.  It’s gonna be a pretty good all day to night party. (The Vampire Burlesque Ball at Azzura!)

10. That’s awesome! How long have you been DJ-ing for? How did you get started?

I have been DJing for about 5 years or so now? It was just all for fun and my friends, used to own a gym here and they had turntables in there and so I just tried playing it around with it and got hooked! I’ve always been a huge fan of dance music and going out to clubs. I guess I just like being in the limelight!!

11. Seems like you’re a man of many talents! Tell us what’s currently hot on your ipod!

You can say Im a “Zach of all trades!!” I actually hate listening to the cheesy radio music so I listen to alot of live sets recorded from DJs from all over the world. Guess I’m just jealous I can’t be in London or Ibiza for the parties so just listening to it on my ipod makes me feel better!! When it’s not dance music then I’m listening to alot of electronic chillout like Zero7, The Postal Service, Air, Moby and bands like Radiohead, ThirdEyeBlind, Foo Fighters… the list goes on!!!!

12. Random Questions! Japanese or Thai food?

Tough choice Im huge fan of both but I’d say Japanese is one of my favourite and then Thai is definitely not far behind!!

13. Bangkok or Koh Samui?

I’d say Koh Samui as it is just a seriously mad party town and the beaches there are BEAUTIFUL!! Loads of girls wearing bikinis on the beach… what more could you ask for!!

14. Briefs or Boxers?

Boxers for everyday stuff but briefs when I fight because it holds the package in place better!!

15. Thanks for all your time answering all these questions!

Your welcome! Just wanna say a quick Thank You to my sponsors and all my friends and loved ones that have helped me get to where I am today. Cheers!

For more information on Zig Zach, please visit his website at www.zigzach.com

Photos by Tim Bowman and Florence Lee.

 . . . you just might get it.

Of course, we all know the story of Bluebeard’s wife–the woman who opened up the closet to discover exactly who her husband is.  It also reminded me of an old Stephen King short story called “I Know What You Need,” about a woman who dates the “perfect” boyfriend, only to discover he’s not who he says he is*:

She thought of Bluebeard’s wife and what she had found when she opened the wrong door. But it was indeed too late; if she didn’t proceed now she would always wonder. She opened the closet.

And had the strangest feeling that this was where the real Ed Hamner, Jr., had been hiding all the time.

 It’s hard to tell whether or not Betty was able to process all the information contained in that box (dog tags for both Don and Dick, some fuzzy photos of Dick, Don’s honorable discharge certificate); however, she now knows that “Don Draper” was once married to a woman named Anna, and that he bought her a house in California. She wants to confront him, but since Don never comes home, she puts the box back in its drawer and waits. Is this a repeat of last season, where Betty waited until Don did something minor to piss her off to confront him about his infidelity? Will she start an affair with Francis as revenge?  Or, is she planning something else? (Wouldn’t it be a kick if she went to California to confront the first Mrs. Draper?) I can’t wait till next week to find out.
It’s also wonderful to see January Jones really grow in her role as Betty. I was once one of those people who said that JJ couldn’t act. I’m thrilled she proved me wrong.
This episode was about how two people can look at the same thing and come up with different conclusions. 
Lane Price/Mrs. Price: In case you haven’t guessed, Mrs. Price hates New York. As she puts it– it smells and it’s filled with criminals (because we all know that London is clean and filled only with law-abiding citizens).  But, Lane loves New York and Sterling Cooper, because it gives him a fresh start. No one cares what school he went to; the class system he was under doesn’t matter in NYC. No one wants him to be a “yes man” at Sterling Cooper. So, he’s horrified to learn that PPL is planning to sell Sterling Cooper.
Peggy/Paul: after saving Kinsey’s idea again, Kinsey accuses Peggy of being Don’s favorite because she’s a girl.  Peggy, of course, doesn’t see it that way: “He hates me.” Because Paul is a doofus, he challenges Peggy to come up with her own ideas, and “let the chips fall where they may.” This leads to a scene where Peggy tries to come with an idea for Western Union in her office, while Paul gets drunk in his. At one point, he pulls out an ad for Madienform from his desk (if you watched season 2, you’ll notice it’s the failed “Jackie or Marilyn” ad). Is he trying to get inspiration, or is he feeling sorry for himself over past failures? Nope, he’s just going to jerk off to it. (Thanks for loading us up with that image, Mad Men.) Kinsey finally gets the “Idea” after talking to the janitor, but he forgets to write it down.** However, Peggy (who admits to having no good ideas of her own) uses Kinsey’s screwup to come up with an idea in Don’s office. You may have graduated from Princeton, Paul, but Peggy can still run circles around you. Heh.
Don/Roger: I don’t know if this has ever been mentioned before, but it was Roger who discovered Don and brought him to SC. So, no matter how important Don becomes to SC, Roger will always look at him as the guy who was writing copy for a fur manufacturer; that Don “owes” Roger, in a sense.  It helps to explain Roger’s bitterness towards Don.
Don/Suzanne: Let’s just get this out of the way–this affair is going to end very badly. Suzanne has no boundaries (she follows him to the train so she can talk to him, and she introduces him to her drifter brother), and she has flat out told Don that she doesn’t care about his family or his job, as long as she’s with him. Hoo, boy. Don, however, doesn’t see what the audience sees (that she’s coo-coo for cocoa puffs), and instead sees a sensitive woman who cares about Don.
With just 3 episodes left for this season, it’s pretty obvious that Don’s heading for a major downfall. He’s tied to a company that is being sold; his wife knows that he’s been lying to her from day one; his protege has soured on him (and has literally slept with his enemy); he’s burned his bridges with Roger and his girlfriend is a loose cannon.  Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
Random Thoughts:
We have to give homage to some of the great lines from last night.
Roger (to his mother): This is Jane. My wife!
Ms. Sterling: Does Mona know?
Jane: Yes, she knows.
_________________________________________________
Mr. Moneypenny: That was very rousing.
Lane Price: Churchill rousing or Hitler rousing?
__________________________________________________
Suzanne’s brother: Julius Caesar had epilepsy.
Don: Things didn’t end so well for him.
_________________________________________________
Sally Draper: Jeez Louise.
_________________________________________________
Peggy (talking into the Dictaphone): *burp* Sorry, Olive.
*From King’s collection of short stories, Night Shift.
**This is where we discover that Lois still has a job at SC. Perhaps they thought that working for Paul is bigger punishment for mowing off a man’s foot than being fired? It would be for me.

I might as well bring this one back too.

School’s starting to turn up a couple gears with presentations and mid-semester tests coming REALLY soon!

One of the reasons why I chose Communications was so that I wouldn’t have to do Math ever again! Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way. One of the modules I’m taking this semester is Mathematics! I’ve been practicing quite a bit of Math recently, and I’m actually rather surprised that I can still remember the formulas and concepts. It’s been 5 years since I’ve done any real Mathematics, so I thought I was pretty amazing! And no, counting the amount of change I have in my pocket doesn’t count.

This week we had a seminar that was held in the gym. I work at this Muay Thai gym called BNM, do check the website out, it’s pretty cool. Anyways, it was my first time having to handle a huge class of more than 30 people; both children and adults, and I was glad that everything turned out well.

3 trainers – 30 students.

Explaining and introducing Muay Thai to the masses!

Feel the burn!

Demonstrating how to do handwraps.

Children elbowing the bags.

Shadowboxing and learning techniques.

Hope you guys had fun because we the trainers enjoyed ourselves too (especially at the buffet)!

Last but not least, as I am writing this right now, our ‘Pride of Singapore’ Zig Zach will be on his way to Hong Kong for his next fight against a strong Thai opponent. Here are some training pictures taken by yours truly!

Hitting the pads with his Thai trainer, Bangmund.

Zach’s favourite weapon, KICKS.

Bangmund’s the only trainer I’ve seen who’s able to use just punch mitts to take kicks!

Here’s wishing Zach all the best in his fight!!

            David Ogilvy, Author of Confessions of an Advertising Man

Who knew that Grandpa Gene was psychic? On 7/23/63, we see that three people are lying down: Peggy is in bed with a man, Betty is on a fainting couch thinking of another man, and Don is face down in a hotel room.  When Don wakes up, we see that his face is bruised and bloody.

One minute you’re on top of the world. . .

On 7/20, Don shines his shoes, fixes his hair, tells the interior designer where to place furniture in his home, and strolls into work 15 minutes late to discover that Conrad Hilton is in his office.

next minute some secretary’s running you over with a lawnmower.

I’m sure Don thought that, if he brought in Conrad Hilton, he could use that account to his advantage over Sterling Cooper and PPL. We learn this week that he was totally wrong. Bringing in CH gives Sterling Cooper the leverage to do something that they couldn’t get Don to do before: Sign a contract. Don acts the way he usually does when he’s backed into a corner-first he tries to strong arm his way out of it (“It’s important to me.“) When that doesn’t work, and when Betty applies pressure, he bolts. On his way to whereeverDongoeswhenhecan’thandlethepressure, he picks up two hitchhikers, who give him drugs, take him to a hotel, beat and rob him. Don gets into work only to have Bert Cooper blackmail him into signing the contract. Don has lost control.

What Don doesn’t know is that it’s only going to get worse; his wife is fantasizing about another man (She even ate in front of him!) while his one-time protégé is literally in bed with the enemy.

About  Peggy and Duck: Ew. However, Peggy would be crazy not to take Duck up on his offer. Don is no longer in her corner and she’s blown her relationship with Pete. In a painful scene, Don tells her that she’s not only replaceable, but that she should appreciate what they’ve “given” her, because she’s a secretary. Don’t be surprised if Peggy walks out giving Don the middle finger salute. Another thought: Duck mentioned Pete and Peggy’s “secret relationship,” is sleeping with Peggy a way of getting back at Pete as well? I know Duck said no hard feelings, but I wonder.

And, of course, Don lost control over his home life a long time ago. To Roger, Betty stands by her man (it helps that Betty hates Roger), but once Don gets home, she let’s him have it. Once again, Don’s in a corner. He tries insulting Betty (“It’s all about you”) but Betty is no longer that naive little girl. So, Don takes off, drink in hand.  While Don is gone, Betty buys one very ugly chaise lounge and places it right in front of the fireplace-the “soul” of the home. An indication that Betty is thinking about leaving Don? At this point, who could blame her?

There’s also Sally’s teacher who obviously has a thing for Don. Don’s not biting (yet). Is it me, or does she seem a little . . . off. 

It’s going to be interesting to see what next week brings.

This is how amc’s description of tonights Mad Men should have read:

Betty tries her hand at politics; Don thinks about the future; Peggy receives a luxurious gift; Erin2171 takes several showers to wash the skeevyness off of her.

More tomorrow. . .

I was reading on Io9 that there will be an American remake of Let the Right One In. (Of course there will. With the exception of The Ring, has there been a good horror remake in the past 10 years?) The rumor that Philip Seymour Hoffman will be in it gives me hope. That they may change the title to Fish Head does not.

Perhaps this will be the theme song:

. . .one minute you’re on top of the world; the next, a secretary is running over your foot with a tractor.”

(Note: I didn’t post anything on last week’s episode because I thought it was the weakest episode of the season. A weak episode of Mad Men is still better than most TV shows, but still. Anyway, I’ll get to it at some point, I promise. )

Last night’s episode “Guy Walks Into an Advertising Agency” had to be one of the best of this season–maybe of the series. One of MM strengths is that when you think it’s going to zig, it zags.  Price learns that the Home Office is coming to visit Sterling Cooper. Bert thinks that they want to give Don a big promotion. Everyone else is annoyed that they have to give up their 4th of July vacation as a result.  It also screws up the secretaries’ plan of giving Joan a big sendoff. See, Joan’s husband, Dr. Shit, thinks he’s going to be promoted so Joan can finally quit her job.

Of course, everything goes to hell. Dr. Shit didn’t get the promotion (big surprise) and, in between pouting, he tells Joan she has to get another job. Price learns that he’s done such a wonderful job in New York, he’s being sent off to India. Don discovers that not only is he not getting a promotion, but now he has to answer to another Brit named Guy. And Guy is charming, good looking and much younger than Don.

Part of the joy of this season has been watching the clusterfuck that Sterling Cooper has become since LLP has taken over.  There’s a lot of fear, and most of it is justified. Especially, as Ken notes, they keep adding people who are above anyone who works at the NYC office.  Duck is probably at Grey laughing his ass off.

But, like I said: Zig, zag. Handsome Guy decides to have a party for Joan’s last day. Everyone drinks too much Champagne and decides to ride the tractor. No, that’s not a euphemism for sex; there’s a John Deere tractor in the office. (Ken nabs the John Deere account.) Lois gets on the tractor and manages to run over Guy’s foot. Joan saves his life by placing a tourniquet on it, but he looses the foot and his job, because, “The doctors say he will never play golf again.” As a result, the staff gets their holiday off, Price stays where he is, and Don doesn’t have to answer to a man who is younger than he. All is right with the world.  Well, except for Joan. She’s still leaving. Boo.

Of course,  that’s only a little bit of what happened in this episode. I didn’t mention Sally’s fear of Little Gene, Don “meeting” Conrad Hilton, Roger’s slow realization that he sold  himself out of a job, the great scene afterGuy’s foot is run over or the fact that Betty really seems to love babies. (Could it be because they don’t talk? Hmmm. . .)

But, right now, I have to watch it again. More later. . .

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”~ Zig Ziglar  

I love that famous quote by Zig Ziglar! I believe that it holds a lot of truth. Your attitude may be the single most important factor in what you accomplish (or don’t accomplish) in life.

Fortunately, I grew up in a very positive household. As far back as I can remember, my mother was always reciting little positive sayings to me and those around her. Sayings such as “If you believe, then you can achieve!”, “Inch by inch, it’ll be a cinch!” and “You can do it, if you put your mind to it!”. Through that constant positive reinforcement, I developed a “sky-is-the-limit attitude”. I believe that any of us can do whatever we put our minds to!

Our attitudes can act like a “gift and a curse”, so to speak. I believe that if we adopt a positive attitude, then it can help take our lives to that next higher level. Consequently, if we adopt a negative attitude, then that can cause major set-backs and broken dreams. Each and everyone of us is capable of success in accomplishing whatever we want in life. Don’t let negative thoughts rob you of reaching your goals and living out your dreams!

Expanding on the idea of your attitude determining your altitude, make sure that your actions reflect your attitude to help you get to where you want to be. After all, “Good thoughts are no better than good dreams, unless they be executed.”~Ralph Waldo Emerson.

A few tips to help you reach the altitude you’re striving for:

Be Grateful For What You Have.

Believe That You Can Do Anything.

Remove “Can’t” From Your Vocabulary. (Replace can’t with how or will)

Surround Yourself With More Positive People. (Birds of a feather, flock together)

Don’t Be Afraid To Go After What You Want.

Remember That Stumbling Blocks Can Be Turned Into Stepping Stones To Get You To The Next Level!

Here is a link to a Zig Ziglar video that I came across on Youtube about attitude. Click here for video.

OK, so the video is setting the trends, the lyrics are hard and everyone has been going crazy waiting to hear the full version of this tune so here it is…

And here’s all the info you need about what JME’s rocking in the vid.

Boy Better Know White Tee (Black Solid) – £18.99 – UKRecordShop.com

These are currently sold-out but stay locked in to UKRecordShop.com as they are always getting restocks of BBK gear as it flies off the shelf so fast.

Adidas Originals Shiny Driving Jacket – £64.99 – JD Sports

This aint the exactly same jacket that JME is wearing in the vid but its pretty damn close. If you think you can pull off this shiny black jacket then good luck to you. Somehow JME does it with ease!

Evisu Heritage Hand Painted Logo Jeans (EVIS0752) – £200 – Amazon

These jeans are so rare now that the only place you can get them is indirectly from Evisu via Amazon. They will also cost you about £200 depending on the currency conversion rates as they are going for $339. The jeans are awesome and if you can afford them… good for you.

Nike Dunk High Premium – £88.10 – NikeID

From bits in the video I’ve done up a bit of a copy of what I think JMe was wearing on his feet, it might not be exactly right but its pretty damn close. But all you reading this click the image, go NikeID and make your own pair of Dunks. I swear dunks will never go out of fashion they way they have been going strong for so many years.

And thats the lot, enjoy the vid and stay fresh!

The Zig and the Zag

It’s 5 degrees celsius outside now.
It’s going to be 1 degrees later tonight.
I know I’m whining. Some of you may say “I have been to praces, ar. Even colder than this, ar.”
But skinny people have the right to whine when it’s 1 degrees celcius, can?
Still. 1 degrees celcius over 34 degrees celcius back home. Anytime. Except during bath time.
Sibeh cold, can?

Shot using Aperture Priority mode.
Aperture: F8.0
Shutter Speed: 1/25
Exposure: 0.0
ISO: 80

I love this commercial from Ikea and so does my wife – hopefully for the right reasons!

I’m not sure if it makes me want to buy an Ikea kitchen or if it will make me think of Ikea when I’m in a position to buy a new kitchen, but it does make me want to talk about and share the commercial. Kudos to the team at Zig, another MDC Partners agency, the same holding company which is a majority shareholder in Veritas Communications, my employer.

Hey Dinos, 

One of my friends from Chobots, ZigZag, Made us some Fan Art!

Here is the picture:

Wow, Its awesome!

Everyone should definitely visit his Blog, chobotsfordummies.wordpress.com

If you ever make any Fan Art, Send it to Fanmail@Belugaswebosaursnews.tk

Thats all the News for now,

~Beluga~