It's the day for Chima's nominations. Michele is hopeful that she'll be spared given their shared hatred of Russell. Russell is worried. Jordan is too, because she and Jeff are not in the favored side this week and she's not bright enough to realize why someone else might be a priority. As for Chima herself, she tells us that her nominations are both strategic and personal, which usually means they'll be ill-advised in both senses.

Chima calls everyone in for the nomination ceremony. She pulls the first key and the safe people are, in order, Natalie, Jessie, Kevin, Michele, Jordan, and Jeff, leaving Russell and Lydia as the two nominees. Chima says nobody should be surprised with Russell's nomination, and claims that she named Lydia to keep her from voting to keep Russell. Which I'm sure everyone will believe.

In the DR, Lydia calls Chima the "mama bear," protecting "baby bear" Natalie and coming after "lone wolf" Lydia. What's Kevin in this analogy? A confused moose? Russell tells the DR that he's swallowing his anger in order to stay in the game. Jessie says, "I'm worried about the mystical wand power. Or wizard man, or mystical being, or the unicorn that's going to come out of nowhere and say, 'Jessie, you're gone, go home!'" Me too, except for the worried part. Jeff says he thinks Chima is determined to get Russell out, but reminds us that it's up to him, not Chima. Assuming he uses it, that is. Don't forget to play up Jeff's secret alliance with Russell on Tuesday, producers!

M. Giant is a Minneapolis-based writer with a wife, a son, and a number of cats that seems to have settled at around two. Learn waaaay too much about him at Velcrometer, follow him on Twitter, or just e-mail him at m.giant[at]gmail.com.

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