Bauer Yoga: Buchanan Yoga

Namaste, Jack. The Sanskrit word namaste means, "The Divine Spirit in me bows down to the Divine Spirit in you."

I've actually travelled to places in the world where people use this phrase as a greeting. Imagine what it would be like to hear that greeting every day.

The 24 Blog thanks Tai for pointing out the Sunday NY Times article, "Walk Tightropes. Teach Yoga. Fight Terrorists." , which is about Bill Buchanan, yogi. (I mean, James Morrison, yogi.)

(Good thing, as I cavalierly recycled the Arts & Entertainment section without even reading it; I would have missed it!)

I believe that the best way to truly fight terrorism is by transforming ourselves and how we interact with others. (Which is what yoga is all about.)

And why watch 24, other than the sheer entertainment value of watching stuff blow up, generating compassion for Jack in his WOP, waiting for the next medical interrogation, wondering what Jack's carrying in his man purse, analyzing the women of the 24-verse against the stupid vs. evil paradigm, and awaiting Audrey's return from her Chinese "grave" and her inevitable agreement to set up a perimeter (even though her last known job description was as her dad's secretary)?

As man of the hour** would say, "Dammit! It is so we can transform ourselves and our country into something that looks very, very different than the 24-verse."

Because if Jack liked the way that world looked, he'd just leave well enough alone. (Or maybe kick back and open a yoga studio with Buchanan.)

In the meantime, namaste.

**(for "M", LPK, and Kieferskate, at least!)

Bauer Yoga: Malasana

In homage to the hilarious Bush Yoga, I've been trolling the web for photos of Jack in yoga poses. Here he is in malasana, or garland pose.

If Jack were to put a rolled towel or blanket beheath his heels, he'd be as beautifully grounded as this yogini, and he'd be able to stretch his spine taller. (This would be a good counter to carrying the man purse, which drags one shoulder down.)

Sigh. Previously On 24.

What can I say? Last week was a real snooze. The most exciting thing was the 60 seconds of previews for tonight, which thankfully presaged the return of Jean Smart and Agent Burly Middle Aged Guy who managed to be so trusted that he was on the team for two presidents, even though one was good and one was eeevil. What was his name? Oh, yeah, Aaron. I like him! Hopefully he can help Jack to save America.

Jack. Jack, Jack, Jack. The definition of insanity is repeating the same behavior and expecting a different outcome.

Jack took an extra creepy and possibly religiously fanatical ex-President Logan to visit the Russian Consulate. He had Logan wait in the car when he made the last minute decision to run in and storm the consulate and attempt to beat the information about the suitcase nukes out of the Russian dude.

And there was an interesting interchange between Jack and Logan, when Jack tells Logan he's going back in, and Logan coaches him not to.

Once he's in, Jack calls Bill, who I think must have just finished practicing eka pada padangusthasana. (Shown above as practiced by the doll version of our actual President on the hilarious Bushyoga.com Or is action figure more politically correct than doll? But I digress.)

Bill was like, sorry Jack, but I can't do much for you. Later, though, Bill decided to send a tac team in. After all, the evil Veep has suspended civil rights. So the sovereignity of the Russian consulate has got to be in doubt, too. At least the way this administration seems to think.

Jack did find out that Gradenko has drones to dispatch the remaining 3 suitcase nukes. He tried to get another Russian dude to call Bill to pass that along, but that guy is now history.

(And one of the biggest news items of last week is that "M"'s DH made one blog entry. Welcome, Hubby! Of course, now you can't pretend you're not watching!!!)

Principal Wood, I mean the 28 year old President is in pretty bad shape. Neither "M" nor I even bothered to comment about putting one more black man of 24 onto the critical list. Predictable. (As far as we know, Walid is still in the hospital, too!)

Karen reveals herself to have been waiting at the airport for her plane: she's flying commercial back to LA to be blowed up with Bill.

Because after the suitcase nukes go off, air traffic continues as normal. (Along with LA traffic, cell phone signals, commerce at liquor stores. I think that Jack and Logan even stopped at a drive through Starbucks on their way to the Russian consulate. Logan: soy latte or mocha frappucino? Jack: plain roasted beans (whole, not ground) to gnaw on? Or a 15 shot Americano, with an extra shot of terrorist blood, no room for milk?)

Yeah, so instead of hopping military transport for LA, she's still sitting at National catching up on O magazine, Martha Stewart Living, and Yoga Journal. So it's gonna be at least another 3 hours before she gets to LA. But wait, she may head back to the bunker, as she hasn't tendered her official resignation letter, but merely abandoned her job.

Assad is dead. "M" and I are both sad about that. He reminded me of one of my Corp Fin professors, who thankfully is alive and well, and is such an amazing scholar and teacher that I won't put his name on a blog devoted to 24. (If you happen to know this man, please don't "out" him!)

Tom is rescued from assasination via duct tape, only to be interrogated by an agent who blames him for the bomb in the bunker. He doesn't really have plausible deniability here, he was totally acting on his own. But at least he did get rescued. But clearly, a medical interrogation is an option here.

Morris may or may not be drinking again. He is at least putting liquor into his mouth and spitting it out, and hiding in the bathroom with a bottle. If nothing else, these are "dry drunk" behaviors. He also lied about to Chloe talking with his sponsor, we think.

Chloe had a little pouty action this episode, and did follow Morris into the men's room to yell at him. (Or was this the previous week?) She is still too glamorous and too gullible to be the Chloe we know and love.

I can't speak for "M", but I will personally lose it if Chloe turns out to be either stupid or evil.

Rena and Bauer Spawn are safely ensconced at CTU. There were smoldery glances between Rena and Jack, but I can't remember the whole drama along those lines. Jack's dad is nowhere to be found.

"M", that's all I can remember. Anything else?