My Mind's Junk Drawer

Scald Burn Prevention

2012-02-14T14:10:00.000-08:00

**I know this is a little off my usual topics. But I did a demo for IFSI's Fire Prevention class.**

The Issue: The United States has the highest rate of burns in the industrial world and burns are the second leading cause of death for children under the age of five. The most common type of burn injury among young children is the scald burn.

Risks:

Hot tap water accounts for nearly 1 in 4 of all scald burns among children and is associated with more deaths and hospitalizations than any other liquid burns
Tap water burns occur most often in the bathroom and tend to be more severe and cover larger portions of the body.

Where photo came from

Causes for Children:

May not perceive danger
Have less control of their environment
May lack the ability to escape the situation
May not be able to tolerate the physical stress of the burn

Prevention: More than 75% of all scald burn-related injuries among children ages 2 and under could be prevented through behavioral and environmental modification.

For Parents: Check the temperature on your water heater; most heaters leave the factory set between 140° and 150°F. We advocate a heater temperature of 120°F.

For Children: Instruct them on the dangers of hot water and how to turn on the faucet safely -- cold first, then hot.

Video on Burn Safety:

For more information visit:
The Burn Foundation
IAFF's Burn Foundation
Children's Burn Foundation

Review: Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon

2012-02-02T13:42:00.001-08:00

Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon by Melissa Anelli

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A wonderful, insightful look at the fandom of Harry Potter from an insider's perspective. Anelli gives parallel histories of the Potter phenomenon: her own personal journey from novice Potter reader to super-fan, webmistress of The Leaky Cauldron as well as the stories of J.K. Rowling, the series' inception, and various big players in the Potter fandom. Covering topics like fan fiction, wizard rock, spoilers, and book challenges, Harry, A History gives an enthralling look into the deep and diverse Muggle world of Harry Potter. This well written guide will give any Potter fan back stage glimpses to the real world of Harry Potter, and the forward from J.K. Rowling doesn't hurt.

On a personal note, this book opened my eyes to the breadth of the Potter phenomenon. I'm what I like to call a periphery fan, not a FAN in the purest sense of the word. I obsess privately, don't own much merchandise, and only geek out once in awhile. This book makes me wish I had taken greater part in the greater phenomenon while it was still fresh and ongoing.

Favorite quote (context - Anelli's private interview with Rowling several months after the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:

"I have one last question: What does she [J.K. Rowling] hope people will take with them about this time?

She pauses, but then the answer is right on her tongue.

'When all the fuss and hoopla dies away, and when all the press commentary dies away, I think it will be seen that the phenomenon was generated, in the first instance, bu kids loving a book. A book went on shelves, and a few people loved it. When all of the smoke and lights die away, that's what you'll be left with.

'And that's the most wonderful thought for an author.'"

View all my reviews

Protest SOPA/PIPA! Call Congress today!

2012-01-18T15:02:00.000-08:00

If you attempted to look at Wikipedia today, you might have a had a rude awakening because of the site's blackout protest against SOPA in the House and PIPA in the Senate (I linked to the bills because I should, but only proceed to read them if you are a trained legalese reader or you want to be utterly dazed, confused, and slightly nauseous). I personally think the only reason that Google didn't participate is that no one in the U.S. would survive the day.

In order to bring some clarity to the situation, below is a list of links and a poignant video that help explain the impact the bills will have if they are in fact passed into law.

CBS News -- SOPA, PIPA: What you need to know
Splendid Communications blog -- SOPA and Your Business (Pinterest and Etsy communities need to read this! It's not just Reddit and BoingBoing that will be affected!)
Mashable -- Why SOPA is Dangerous
Mashable -- SOPA Will Take Us Back to the Dark Ages
Save the Internet PIPA whiplist -- Does your senator support PIPA?

Save the Internet as we know it and fight SOPA/PIPA!

Television Takes on the Tales

2012-01-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

As you may have noticed two of the major networks have put their own unique spins on fairy tales.

ABC has stayed true to it's Disney connection and created Once Upon a Time, the premise being the fairy tale realm has collided with our own by means of a curse. The beginning of this series was so strong; you weren't sure whether or not even the villains knew what had happened or if it was all in Henry's head (I was seriously rooting for a Black Swan mind trip), but as the season has progressed the story lines have become more obvious and the suspense/guessing game of the show has ended. Plus they appeared to have killed off (in a completely un-Disney manner... when was the last time that a romantic lead died in a Disney movie?) Emma's romantic lead, which was not supposed to be the main plot line of the show in the first place, but shouldn't everyone have a little something?

Especially this something!

There is also one huge logistical issue with the plot. All the storybook characters are frozen in time, making Emma and her mother about the same age. So if Emma and Henry succeed in defeating the evil queen, then what happens? Do all the characters age to the proper age, leaving Snow White and Prince Charming little time to enjoy their marriage? Does Emma regress to childhood? But then what happens to Henry? Which brings up another question: who is Henry's father?

However, the back stories for the characters are intriguing and give extra depth to characters that often come across very flat in the traditional stories. Also, the special effects and the sets are wonderful. My inner techie has to give them props.

The flip side of the coin is NBC's Grimm, whose premise is that fairy tale creatures have always lived among humans with a special family called Grimms who act as cops for the paranormal set. The current Grimm is Det. Nick Burkhardt and show takes on the procedural genre with the added twist of the Grimm legacy. The show has some shared roots with cult favorites Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, sharing a special effects company and a producer, and it shows. The fairy tale creatures often resemble Buffy villains and the Grimm mythology of a line of humans preordained to keep the creatures in line is very reminiscent of Buffy.

Speaking of the mythology, Grimm has really taken it to the next level with the "Grimm Guide," which gives the background for the tales inspiring each episode as well as the creatures' profiles. The writers have definitely done their homework.

The one downside is that the main cast lacks chemistry. I don't even remember their names, except for Monroe, a reformed blutbad who helps Nick (I had to look it up) adjust to the new world his destiny has pushed him into. This is a definite case of the sidekick showing up the hero, but Monroe is lovable, loyal, and hilarious - tons of one-liners.

To conclude, Once Upon a Time is the better show, but Grimm is definitely worth a watch if only for Monroe.

Starting the New Year off with a "Bang"

2012-01-01T14:27:00.000-08:00

On this rather blustery New Year's Day, while watching the 3rd season of The Big Bang Theory (get the title now?), I will post my resolutions to the world wide web in the hopes that putting them writing them down (in however an ephemeral form) will make me actually keep them (ha!).

Write at least 2 blog posts a month. Two years ago, I made the resolution to write a post a week and I kept it pretty well. Due to the busyness of my final semesters of grad school and job search, I had to down grade this year, but will hopefully post more than 2011.
Go to Mass every Sunday. Let's just say I've been a little lax in my religious obligations over the past year. I will admit that this resolution hasn't started off well since I missed Mass this morning, but I will do better next week.
Balance my life. In recent months I've found that I get wrapped up in one activity (crocheting, reading, etc) takes over my life for awhile to the detriment of my other obligations (homework, job searching, sleep, etc). I want to try to make healthier decisions in an effort to cut down on all-nighters.

It's a small list, but I've got a lot on my plate this year, so I'm not going to over-exert myself. I also have a resolution to find a job before I graduate, but that's more of a wish than a resolution.

Review: Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work

2011-12-14T11:59:00.001-08:00

Gunn's Golden Rules: Life's Little Lessons for Making It Work by Tim Gunn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved it! Tim Gunn's unique voice really comes through in this advice/tell-all book. He expounds on his philosophies of good behavior, ambition, teaching, and even parenting. The book is deeply personal as Gunn's family dynamics (including his father's relationship with J. Edgar Hoover) and professional life play a major role throughout.

A must read for any Tim Gunn fan going through withdrawal when Project Runway is not airing.

Favorite quotes from the book:

"But let us not be swept up in this tide of rudeness. This book (in addition to being a fun excuse to tell some of my fashion-world stories) is a call to arms, a manifesto for kindness, generosity, and integrity. I hope will join me in trying to make society a friendlier, more polite, and less aggressive place."

"Also: If you're going to yell demands for food into a room full of strangers, you'd better be as fabulous as Diane von Furstenburg if you expect to get away with it."

"There are times for protest, for civil disobedience, but on a day-to-day basis, it's best to avoid bringing out the big guns."

"Never try to resolve an emotional conflict over food. I recommend ordering drinks instead - with neither ice nor olives."

"Why bitch-slap someone unless you're leaving the planet for good? Don't burn bridges; you might need them later."

"If I were a waiter and someone talked rudely to me, I know I would be seriously tempted." I would never intentionally put someone's life at risk, bu half-a-dozen laxative tablets disolved in a cup of coffee would be sweet payback, indeed."

"I can't imagine a more aesthetically offensive item of footwear than Crocs. That little strap! I shudder."

"I also have no problem if you want to find a cave and have someone roll a boulder in front of it. To each his own."

"Call me a schoolmarm, but few things make me angrier than people not taking care of library materials." ~A man after my own heart!

"But let's talk some more about the bad ones, because they're the most fun to gossip about, and they deserve a little public shaming."

View all my reviews

DoJ: The Darcy Obsession

2011-09-24T19:34:00.000-07:00

So I have definitely been out of the blogosphere for awhile, but it is not entirely my fault (AT&T screwed me out of a month's worth of Internet; it's a long story). Anyway, I'm back and hopefully will be more involved with my poor, neglected blog.

So a few weeks ago, I was browsing the new book shelves at the Champaign Public Library and I stumbled across Pemberly Ranch by Jack Caldwell. Think Pride and Prejudice meets Gone With the Wind (the tag line on the back cover is "Frankly Mr. Darcy, I don't give a damn..."). It's set in post-Civil War Texas with the Bennets as transplanted Yankees and Darcy as a rich rancher (Darcy in a cowboy hat ... yum). I really enjoyed this retelling because though it kept the same spirit of the story it transformed the Georgian comedy of manners into a Western romp complete with a cattle drives, barbecue, a whorehouse, and a railroad scheme. It was an entertaining read and I highly recommend it to Austen lovers, who are tired of the sequels and variations that try and fail to imitate Austen's style or are just a little to trite.

While I was perusing the shelves, I found another five P & P variations or continuations and all their titles have something to do with Darcy: What Would Mr. Darcy Do?, Mr. Darcy's Obsession, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World, Mr. Darcy's Little Sister, and The Darcys & the Bigley's.

I was intrigued. How many times could P&P be retold? I checked them all out and found out.

The last three in the photo are all variations by Abigail Reynolds. Each of them diverge from the original story by changing one single event. Basically her premise is what if this happened, instead of this.

What Would Mr. Darcy Do? is based on the premise that Mr. Darcy sticks around for a little bit at Lambton's inn where he and Elizabeth are almost caught in a compromising position.
Mr. Darcy's Obsession takes the track of Mr. Bennet dying and Elizabeth having to leave Hunsford before Darcy can propose. The Bennet sisters must find their way with reduced circumstances, Jane married to a shop keeper, Elizabeth living with the Gardiners in London, and the others living with their mother and Mrs. Philips in Meryton.
Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World answers the question what if Mr. Darcy had compromised Elizabeth's reputation during his proposal and before she refused him. This one is the raciest of the three.

I read all of them, and they weren't bad. They have nothing on the original, but each explores a different facet of Darcy's character. What Would focuses on his generosity. Obsession focuses on his loyalty and overcoming his prejudice. Last Man focuses on his pride. The one thing they all have in common: Elizabeth and Darcy end up happily-ever-after. Which begs the question, who will destroy the fantasy and write a story where E and D don't end up together?

The other two books are continuations, picking up where P&P leaves up.

I read Mr. Darcy's Little Sister by C. Allyn Pierson, which of course features Georgiana, but there was a whole lot of E and D as well. This book was a little hard to get through, just because the style felt a little forced, but the look into the Ton lifestyle was interesting, as Austen never touched on it though Darcy is related to the nobility.

After reading all the above P&P inspired novels in succession, I just couldn't bring myself to read another, even though the basis of The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman is that Darcy gives Bingley the Kama Sutra as sex advice. But from the skimming I did, there weren't many steamy scenes and Jane and Elizabeth spend a great deal of time pregnant.

There obviously so many ways to riff on Austen's works, but the allure of P&P and Darcy is overwhelming. The fact that all six of the books I found in CPL's new fiction section somehow mention Darcy in the title suggests that the Darcy complex is still a strong force, even if he is an intolerable a**hole in the original. But what is even more astounding is that all six books were published by Sourcebooks Landmark, a publisher who seems to make all its money on P&P inspired books with 64 books published with "Darcy" in the title, plus an entire section of Austen sequels. Sourcebooks is not the only publisher cashing in on the Austen craze; just check out these Listopia lists from GoodReads:

Best Pride and Prejudice Sequels/Adaptations/Spin-offs
The Monster Mash (not exclusively Austen, but she is definitely a heavy-hitter)
Jane Austen Books, Sequels, Bios and More
Inspired by Pride and Prejudice (This one is mine. I added the 100 book limit and was still finding more, so please continue the add and vote! An interesting note, I searched for "Darcy" and got a ton of results, but "Elizabeth Bennet" only gave me six. As a feminist, I am a little offended that one of the feistiest heroines in literature isn't better represented as an inspiration for spin-offs.)

How long will the Austen craze last? Will the Darcy Obsession continue? I don't know, but for right now they are going strong if these articles provide any evidence:

Not so 'Glee' - ful

2011-08-12T20:07:00.000-07:00

First of I apologize to the faithful few, but these past six weeks have been really busy: work + class + GoodReads/LibraryThing = tired Liz. But I am back in the blogoshpere with a rant.

If you have been watching any TV recently, you might have seen this:

If you want to get to the good part, just fast-forward to 0:55. And I will proudly follow Sue's advice because Glee has sold out. Big time.

3D is gimmicky at any time, but for a "concert movie" (they basically taped one of the concerts from the tour, which is just a rehash of the most recent season) the 3D is the straw that breaks the camel's back and puts Glee in the same category as Hannah Montana and Bieber: over-commercialized, money-grubbing media monsters.

What happened to the quirky show about an under-dog high school glee club with a balance between teenage and adult drama? I don't know, but I want the first season back. It was witty and sweet, with just enough camp thrown in. Plus, Sue was actually in the show, as opposed to this second season when she has disappeared and all her machinations are half-assed at best. Where did the cohesive, if outrageous, storylines go, instead of the after-school-special series that the second season became?

I have also been following The Glee Project on Oxygen. It's interesting, but I don't think that a reality TV show to find the next cast member for a "show about underdogs" works well because all I see are the pretty, fake people winning. I'm sorry but even though Samuel is gorgeous, he is so fake, especially after that judging session last week: "I totally love Jesus ... His name is tattooed on my back." Yeah right, you're just trying to jump on the Christian bandwagon that Cameron started. And Lindsay's personality goes without saying. I am terribly disappointed that Hannah got cut because she was so sweet and real and would have made a good foil to Zizes.

The Glee Project has also made me hate Ryan Murphy. He might have had a great original idea for a TV show, but his personality is so icy and off-putting that I can't help but hate him, especially after he basically forced Cameron off the show and then wanted him to stay. Grrr.

Bring back my quirky, campy little-show-that-could!

Happy 100th Post!

2011-06-30T15:06:00.000-07:00

In celebration of my 100th post (yay me!) I decided to do something along the lines of 100th Day of Kindergarten celebrations when every child brings in collections of 100 items. After talking to looking around my apartment for 100 of the same thing (paperclips and post-it notes), talking to the Ellens who suggested I write a bucket list or a list of random facts about myself, and a quick visit home, here is my 100th post!

Early childhood

I was Robin Hood for Halloween two years in a row.
I ran into a wall when I was three and pushed one of my front teeth back into my gum.
I wanted to be scientist when I grew up.
I used to image that the parkway across the street from my home was a castle because the way the flora was planted.
I played "Flower Shop" for hours instead of "House."
I was afraid of swimming pools until Mom made me take swimming lessons.
I banged my sister's head into the coffee table's corner so hard she had to get stitches.
I killed off five pairs of goldfish in rapid succession.
I once locked my entire family out of house, and Dad had to break in.
I had a hobby horse named Broccoli.

Grade School

I won my 8th grade spelling bee.
I was an awesome diorama and model builder. My favorites were the Secret Garden and the lighthouse of Alexandria.
I went to St. Thomas Grade School for nine years.
My proudest moment was winning the Mrs. Hayes 6th Grade English Award, named after my teacher who died from cancer that year.
I was in the Girl Scouts until 8th grade.
I grew seven inches in one summer, forgot how tall I was at the end of the summer, and ran into an elevated tunnel on the playground resulting in my only black eye.
I was extremely competitive about Accelerated Reader points.
I attended my first concert in 8th grade; it was Maroon 5, Sugar Ray, and matchbox twenty.
I used to read novels in math class, instead of paying attention.
Apparently, whilst I was narrating my 1st grade play I picked my nose on stage.

High School

I was in band for four years.
I told one of my religion teachers he was an idiot to his face.
I never attended a school dance.
I spent three semesters as a library page.
My mother was my Junior year British literature teacher.
I was incredibly competitive about my school's canned food drive.
My official ranking was #8, but I actually finished #7.
I played volleyball for two years.
I was absolutely terrified when I started driving because I saw a car as a lethal weapon.
I was in drama club for four years, but only acted in one production out of eight.

College

I lived in University housing to get away from the kids from my high school.
I met three friends named Ellen, two Katies, and 1 Chloe.
I finished in 3.5 years.
I only went on two barcrawls.
I lived with three animal science majors for a year.
I began this blog.
I watched more TV, than ever before.
I majored in English and minored in Informatics.
I participated in a failed flash mob.
I kind of wish I had majored in horticulture.

100 buttons from my collection

Quirks

I collect buttons.
I like to sort/categorize things, like my button collection.
I hate being more than ten minutes early to anything.
I hate the taste of coffee (too bitter), but love the smell of a fresh brewed pot.
I like to visit the library in any place I visit.
I like to talk problems (mostly logistical) out with people, though it is mostly a rhetorical exercise.
I feel like I'm lying every time I wear makeup.
I think it is so cool that plants reach toward the sun.
I think autobiographies are conceited.
I have to sleep with some kind of cover, even if its just a sheet.

Books

Favorite children's book: The Paperbag Princess by Robert Munsch
Favorite "classic": North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
Favorite young adult book: Beauty by Robin McKinley
I own over 500 books (I haven't updated my spread sheet recently, so there are a few more).
I participated in my public library's summer reading program throughout grade school and high school.
You can find me on LibraryThing and GoodReads (Bodagirl is my handle).
I love the smell of books, both old and new.
Favorite genres: fantasy, romance, literary, paranormal, mystery
I once owned over 100 Boxcar Children mysteries.
I have pulled all-nighters to keep reading good books.

100 of my favorite books

Bucket List

See a musical on Broadway.
Visit all 50 states.
Fall in love.
Learn how to knit.
Go to an ALA conference.
Buy my own house and decorate it exactly as I want.
Get a behind the scenes tour of the Library of Congress.
Find a job I love.
Ride the train across the country.
Read all the books I want to (an impossible task, but I will try).

I have never ever...

broken a bone.
had a cavity.
been in love.
been outside the U.S.
run a mile (and don't plan to any time soon).
lost a library book.
had Indian food, though I would like to try it.
ridden a motor cycle.
met a celebrity.
eaten cheese cake I didn't like.

Places I want to visit

England, specifically London and importatn literary sites
France, specifically Paris
Australia
Cairo
Eastern Europe, specifically the Czech Republic and Slovakia
Ireland
Boston
Machu Picchu
San Francisco
Germany

Miscellaneous

I love to crochet, and have made six afghans in the seven months since I have learned.
I kept a diary through grade school and high school.
My dog is allergic to almost everything: corn, wheat, chicken, beef, pork, grass, dairy, etc.
I can't draw at all.
All of my jobs have been clerical or customer service.
I love getting packages and actual letters.
I've only been on an airplane four times (two trips).
I love to watch TV marathons.
My favorite color is green.
My sister is four years and a day younger than I am and my mother and aunt are 1 year and fours days apart.

There is is 100 facts about me, and let me tell you it was difficult to come up with all of that. Sorry it was so long, but blame the Ellens.

"Hit List" Misses the Mark

2011-06-17T08:10:00.000-07:00

When I first was introduced to the Anita Blake series, I loved it. Anita was a kick butt heroine with some hefty emotional issues, trying to cope with the horrors of her job as an animator. But slowly and surely Hamilton bumped up the kink with the multiple men and the ardeur plot line which meant that in the second half of the series is practically page after page of sex. Now I like a little bit of raunch just as much as the next girl, but enough is enough.

That was why I was glad that Hit List, the most recent edition to the series only had one very short scene. At the same time, Anita has added another man to her already full dance card and spent most of the rest of the book putting up a feminist defense to the overbearing bully of a U.S. Marshal. It's old. And it leaves me wondering whether or not Hamilton can keep the series going. The logistics of Anita's life are mind boggling and if another guy or two gets added each book ... I can't even keep them straight now. Plus, I keep forgetting who she's done and who she hasn't; I need to make a score card like I did for the Merry Gentry series.

Plus, Hamilton has killed off the Marmee Noir plot line, a little to easily for my taste. But what now? I mean the Olaf plot is heating up, but how far can that go? Does Hamilton have some bigger, badder monster than the Mother of All Darkness? On the other hand, how is this series going to end? The only way I can see is that Anita has to die, but that isn't exactly the happy ending I want. This series is too much like an amusement park ride. It's great and exciting while your on it, but at some point you have to get off. But when do we get off?

**I just found this awesome drinking game via GoodReads and Reading Amidst the Chaos. I may try this on my next day off. (Though some of the other books will get soused faster.)

Branching Out

2011-06-08T18:42:00.000-07:00

I began this summer with no specific reading goals in mind except to explore some of the social networking sites for readers. However, I am amending that previous decision. Because of my joining both LibraryThing and GoodReads, plus the book blogs I follow: Reading Amidst the Chaos and Blogging for a Good Book, I am realizing just how many books out there I want to read. So instead of re-reading some of my favorite comfort food reads, I am branching out and not going to re-read anything else this summer. (Two exceptions: Name of the Wind, so I can remind myself of the story before I move onto The Wise Man's Fear, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because the final movie is coming out this summer!).

Here are just some of the books I want to read this summer:

Image via Wikipedia

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - It's a very "in" book right now and I do love me some, post-apocalyptic teen fiction. I've heard some rave reviews about it and my colleague let me borrow her copy, so I should be getting started fairly soon.

Fifth Avenue., 5 A.M. by Sam Wasson - I usually stay away from exposes, but I love Breakfast at Tiffany's the movie, though Capote's story was not my favorite.

The Riddle-Master by Patricia McKillip - My supervisor recommended the series to me and the cover blurb was intriguing. However, the GoodReads reviews are mixed, so I will proceed with caution.

Broadway Musicals: The Biggest Hit and Flop of the Season, 1959 -2009 by Peter Filichia - It seems like such an interesting book and will get me one step closer to the bright lights I have never seen but long to.

Check out my GoodReads for future updates! (I hit the 200 book limit for LibraryThing so I have to decide how much to pay for a membership). And look for a post towards the end of the summer where I will discuss the various reading social networking sites.

The Learning? Channel

2011-05-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Last night was the TLC premiere of the program My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, which aired in Britain last year. The way the series was hyped led me to believe that it would be more along the lines of the Four Weddings, where the audience just marvels at the crazy stuff that people plan for their weddings. Instead the show gives a documentary style look into the lives of British Gypsies and Travellers at two incredibly important milestones in their lives: weddings and first communion. I grant you that there is a whole lot of crazy traditions, the dresses being the biggest, but the show also touches on some hard hitting issues like women's place in gypsy culture (housewife) and the eviction they face from their larger settlements. So if you're looking for just a fun romp this show doesn't quite fit the bill, but for an something a little heavier ... it's interesting.

Really this newest show is pretty exemplary of almost all of TLC's shows. They are all various reality/documentary series that leave you wondering how much is actually done just for the camera. Also, they all fit into categories. There is of course the wedding category: Say Yes to the Dress (both the original and Atlanta) and Four Weddings. The cake category: Cake Boss, DC Cupcakes, and Fabulous Cakes. TLC's answers to other channels' programs: the Police Women series (rivaling the Real Housewives), Pawn Queens (attempting to rival Pawn Stars, though there are a lot of pawn shop/auction shows airing now), and The Next Great Baker (could be Top Chef or Next Food Network Star). The huge family category: Kate Plus 8, 19 Kids and Counting, and Quints by Surprise. Finally there is the biggest group which weird or fringe sections of society: Strange Sex, Extreme Couponing, My Strange Addiction, Toddlers and Tiaras, Sister Wives, etc.

All of these shows seem like they should bring greater understanding to the masses, yet they all seem kind of exploitative, even more so than regular reality TV because the absolute fakeness that is so inherent in most reality TV is missing from the TLC line-up. It isn't quite at the Jerry Springer level yet, but it is hovering. I mean I Didn't Know I was Pregnant? Come on!

Jane Eyre at the Art Theater

2011-05-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

From buzzbo.com

I recently saw BBC and Focus Feature's Jane Eyre at the Art Theater. It was fairly true the story's plot, as most BBC productions are. The cinematography was excellent. There were a lot of shots that reflected Jane's state of mind; my favorite was when Jane flees Thornfield she is framed in a doorway looking out at a jumble of vines, symbolizing her confused state of mind. There was also an awesome shot when Jane is taking care of Richard Mason and she gets the first hint of Bertha's existence. The way the light hits Jane's face/eye is super creepy and really plays up the gothic nature of the story.

The gothic qualities are also emphasized because of the film doesn't try to hide any of the horribleness of Jane's early life at Lowood. The frequent punishment and Helen's death aren't smoothed over or hidden at all. The houses they used for Thornfield helped set the mood so well, with the cramped, dark corridors.

My two critiques are that the chemistry between Jane and Rochester was just not there and the ending was not strong enough. Granted there never seems to be enough time in a movie to properly develop a relationship in a two hour movie, but Rochester just came off as creepy, except when Jane flirted back. But usually she was too reticent and he was too pushy for the development to be believable.

My beef with the ending is that it was the one significant departure from the original plot and it took away Jane's power. In the book she comes back to Thornfield and immediately starts teasing and playing with him; she obviously has some control over her situation and chooses to be with him. The film has the creepy voice-across a distance thing and as soon as Jane hears it, she is drawn to Rochester without any other thought. Even when she gets back to Thornfield she just walks up and basically says, "I'm here, I'm yours." It just took away all her agency.

From moviephotogallery.com

But two thumbs up for the wonderful Dame Judi Dench as Mrs. Fairfax. Does she still have it or what?

Summer Project: Books Online

2011-05-14T20:36:00.000-07:00

from bookshelfporn.com

Last summer, I had a specific set of reading goals that I attempted to accomplish (attempted being the operative word). This summer - not so much. Instead, I am going to focus on exploring some of the different book sharing websites, mainly LibraryThing and GoodReads though I am intrigued by BookGlutton and Shelfari.

I already have an account with LibraryThing and am in the process of putting my collection onto the site. I'm only doing reviews of what I have recently read, but I plan to add as I read/re-read. Hopefully, once I get everything on LibraryThing, I can just copy it all over to GoodReads and the other sites.

The main reason I am undertaking this project is so that I am more aware of what I am reading and to help with my future as a librarian, though I am still not sure I want to go into public librarianship. Also I will miss my adult pop lit class and joining these book communities may help to make up for it.

Monitoring the Marathon

2011-04-30T21:51:00.000-07:00

This was a big weekend all around in Champaign-Urbana. In addition to Ebertfest there is some math competition going on plus, the subject of this post: the Illinois Marathon. The course passed right past my apartment, so I had prime viewing for both the marathon and the half marathon.

Here are my viewing partners: Sarah and Charlie.

Charlie was not the only canine viewer.

For some participants, it was just another run in the park.

One of them was just along for the ride.

"Dude, where are you?" "Oh, I decided to take a run."

For others, it was a reason to dress up.

The Pink-haired Fairy.

I don't think the trash bag did anything for his aerodynamics.

The Purple Pedestrian

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... a man with delusions of grandeur.

Even Mr. Lincoln joined the race.

I found Waldo!

There were quite a number of ballerinas in the mob.

Finally, the piece de resistance... Darth Runner!

Complete with mask, light saber...

... and cape.

I have to give props to the volunteers, especially the clean-up crews.

There was a water station down the block, so the route was littered.

This guy had the right idea.

And the other kind of clean-up crew.

Finally, I got a shot of video so you could experience the action.

DoJ: Pride/Prejudice

2011-04-24T19:27:00.000-07:00

From Herendeen's website

I recently picked up Ann Herendeen's Pride/Prejudice. It is a slash fiction re-telling of P & P. Herendeen's definition of slash fiction is when "existing stories are re-told with same-sex relationships between some or all of the main characters" (410). Basically, Darcy and Bingley have a relationship inspired by ancient Greek and Roman culture, when men had relationship with younger men in an "ideal love." Plus, Lizzy and Charlotte also have a relationship, though Charlotte is really a lesbian.

The premise isn't that strained, as Darcy obviously has a whole lot of authority over Bingley, but the fact that Darcy is part of the Brotherhood of Philander (the gentlemen's club whose members are all gay/sodomites). The Brotherhood is a major part in her first book, Phyllida and the Brotherhood of Philander. It's a little to much product placement for me; plus she adds so many characters, the actual story of P&P is lost. The flip side of not dwelling too much on the original is that Herendeen actually creates rather than retells:

"all authors who write versions of Austen novels are faced with the hellish problem that the Divine Miss A. produced some of the most elegant prose ever to appear in English literature... we have two unpalatable options: to paraphrase, or to dump vast chunks of her text into our narrative. Neither alternative is attractive to a writer. Copying is, well, copying - not creative at all" (412).

On the whole, it was okay; pretty smutty, but being able to see more of Darcy (even a bi Darcy) was refreshing. Grade B. Rating R.

Other Reviews:

B&N Bookclubs Good Reads Library Thing

Chick Lit, Chick Flick

2011-04-18T10:40:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the trailer to the newest rom-com that will be hitting theaters this May. It's Something Borrowed starring Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, Colin Egglesfield, and John Krasinski (aka Jim from The Office) and directed by Luke Greenfield. I am a fan of Ginnifer Goodwin having seen her in He's Just Not That into You, Mona Lisa Smile, and a the few episodes of Big Love I watched. She usually plays a sweet, somewhat naive best friend (seems to be the standard for brunette actresses), so I am excited to see her with a leading role, though I will admit the role is still in her 'type.'

Cover of Something Borrowed

The film is based on Emily Giffin's novel by the same title, and because the trailer was so intriguing I checked it out from the local library. It was a quick read, as is most chick lit, but I'm kind of ambivalent about the premise. Basically, on her thirtieth birthday, Rachel has semi-drunken sex with her best friend's fiancé, Dex, and then proceeds to have a summer affair with him before his September wedding date. As much as I was rooting for Rachel and Dex, I was almost hoping that Dex's continuous avoidance of calling off the wedding would spur Rachel into dumping his a** and finding someone who deserves her. Also, ruining your best friend's wedding is a huge no-no in my book, though Darcy, Rachel's bff, is not a prime candidate for bff of the year. Really, I just wanted Rachel to grow a spine and dump both Darcy and Dex and find some other way to fulfill her life. So I give the book a B, and I plan to see the film, probably as a matinée.

When Birthdays Become ... meh

2011-03-30T18:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I turned 22 and it hit me that there aren't anymore birthday milestones. I mean sure there is birthday #40, when your are officially "over the hill," but that is not something you want to come faster. It's not like during the pre-teen to early twenties years when there are so many to look forward to.

10 - ears pierced
14 - cell phone
15 - driver's permit
16 - driver's license
17 - R movies
18 - vote, legally smoke and gamble
21 - legally drink

But after you pass 21 there isn't anything to anticipate besides your senior discount at 65 (though not all people are happy to get that). To illustrate my point, when my friends had Piano Man sing "Happy Birthday" to me last night the bro sitting at the booth next to us wished me a happy 21st and after we corrected him, he said, "Twenty-one is better." I rest my case. All I have to look forward for the next couple of years is the slow crawl towards 30.

Broadway = Blockbuster?

2011-03-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I've recently been seeing commercials for Rock of Ages on Broadway and on tour. The premise seems to be your standard musical theater plot, "small town girl [meets] big city rocker" and they fall in love. Now, I have no problem with the plot, it's a classic for a reason; my issue is the music. I don't have a problem with classic 80s rock, I say bring on the Journey, Poison, and Twisted Sister, but the fact that the creators of Rock of Ages basically wrote their script around pre-existing songs. Where is the creativity? the originality? the ingenuity?

The lack of originality seems to be a trend of recent Broadway productions. Legally Blonde was turned into a musical from a movie. Mary Poppins and Billy Elliot met the same fate, though MP was originally a a children's book. Then there are the shows, like Rock of Ages, that are based on a certain type of music. American Idiot turned the Greenday album into a story, while Movin' Out is a story set to Billy Joel's music.

Has all the imagination gone out of Broadway and musical theater? No, I refuse to believe it. Otherwise,why would shows like Next to Normal and Avenue Q have been produced? I just wish that the producers seemed to care more about artistry than money and what the next blockbuster equivalent will be.

Let's Face It

2011-03-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

Reality TV is not exactly the crown jewel of American culture. You have your Jersey Shore/Big Brother/Real Life kind of show where you basically watch a bunch of people "live their lives" but with a huge amount of stress. You have your dating shows, mainly the Bachelor/Bachelorette but there are a couple low budget MTV shows. You also have your gross-out/high competition shows like Survivor, Fear Factor, and Wipe Out. And finally, you have the skill-competition shows like Project Runway, Design Star, and Top Chef. This last category is my absolute favorite because the contestants actually do something with their lives; they create.

The latest addition to skill-competition category is Syfy channel's Face Off whose season finale aired this past Wednesday.

The premise is very similar to Project Runway, where you have a group of professional artists who compete in weekly challenges with a specific theme. The twist is that the contestants are special effect make-up artists. Their challenges included nude body painting, creatures, gender switching, and monsters. It's just an awesome look at the type of work that goes on behind the scenes of some of our favorite movies.

This is Gabe one of the finalists during the monster challenge.

Of course the awesomeness of the make-up is backed with the typical back-biting drama and famous judges. We had crazy, cranky, lazy Frank, the untried, fresh-out-of-school Jo, and the almost romance between Connor and Megan. There was even an additional punch of drama because winner of the main challenge got to put their two cents in about who should go home. The judges were Ve Neill, Glenn Hetrick, and Patrick Tatopoulos.

If you're looking for an awesome new series to watch, Face Off is a great option. Only the two last episodes are currently running online, but there are plenty of clips and galleries of the completed make-ups. Plus Syfy is already holding auditions for the next season!

House Hunters: College Edition

2011-03-12T22:22:00.000-08:00

To pay homage to the HGTV show House Hunters, this post will describe my recent escapades whilst finding an apartment for next year.

Liz is a graduate student at the U of I and is looking for single apartment for next school work. Ideally the apartment would be a one bedroom, but realistically a studio is more in her budget. It needs to be close to campus or a bus route. Security door and in building laundry are preferred, as is a location in Urbana. Her budget under $400/month.

Option one:

Having heard of the reputation of Campus Property Management, Liz was wary of even looking at one of their units, but the lure of a cheap studio in Urbana was too great and she's always been curious. Let's just say CPM didn't disappoint and despite the "charming" exteriors, she wouldn't have let her dog live in what they call a habitable apartment. The most exciting discovery during this showing was that of a "sinkove" or an appliance that encompasses both the sink and the stove. The units were also budget breakers as the prices ranged from $435 - $500 for units in horrible repair and without complete amenities, like showers. There was also no security door or on-site laundry. Also, Brittany, her guide had no idea where exactly the apartments were in either building and Liz had to help get her car out of a snow-packed lot when it got stuck.

Option 2:

Friend Ellen, lives with Hunsinger currently, so Liz had a good impression going in. Curb appeal was excellent and the apartment was in Urbana. There were cute nooks and crannies in the closet, as well as an almost separate room for the kitchen. The building had a security door and on-site laundry. The unit was well cared for and not lacking in any of the basic amenities and had bonuses like architectural interest and some kitchy built-ins. However, the apartment was a budget-buster with rent of $420 and a building fee of $75/month.

Option 3:

The apartment was a little outside of her comfort zone, as it is located deep into Champaign's campus town (party central), but the lure of $345/month was too great to overcome. It had a security door, on-site laundry, and was close to all sorts of amenities: bank, grocery store, GSLIS, post office, library, bus stop, and directly behind a liquor store. It was an efficiency in every sense of the word as the only separate space was the full bathroom, meaning the kitchen, living room, and bedroom are all one. Also, she had never heard of Marshall Apartments before.

Which one did she choose?

Drum roll.........................................................................................

Option 3! It has everything I am looking for: security door, onsite laundry, and low rent. I had to compromise on location (my heart will always be in Urbana), but I made the smart economic choice and will move in next August. I will continue to watch House Hunters (and when really using my imagination Selling New York) though and dream about the future when I will not be so strapped for cash and limited to crappy college apartments.

Feeling Under the Weather

2011-02-23T17:19:00.000-08:00

This is going to be a short one, because I'm sick. Not the flu or anything really serious, but a bad cold is still enough to knock me back quite a bit. So, while I'm doped up on decongestants, Tylenol, and cough syrup, making pity cookies for myself (break and bake dough is the way to go), and not doing my work, I've decided to list the five must-dos on a sick day.

5. Stay in your pajamas. You feel bad enough already, why add the discomfort of regular clothes. So stay in the comfiest outfit known to man: big baggy sweats, shorts, and t-shirts, long and loose nightshirts ala Marshall Eriksen, or, for the adventurous sort, in the buff (please be aware that others might not subscribe to your level of comfort).

4. Drinking tons of juice. Sure there's lots of vitamin C and other good stuff, but it's just delicious. Plus it's half-way to breakfast for dinner.

3. Snuggling up with your favorite book/movie. It's the ultimate indulgence to nothing but entertain your sickness-fogged brain with something you've read or seen a hundred times and still love.

2. Having you mom take care of you. That's right. It's time to revert back to childhood and let your mom make you soup, bring you juice, and replenish you tissue box.

1. Nap without guilt. Sleep is the ultimate healer and colds seem to be your bodies way of saying, "Slow down. You're exhausted." This is some sound advice that I plan to follow by going to bed early tonight.

Get better, everybody!

Coming Out of the Closet

2011-02-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

First of all, I am declaring this blog a no-shame zone. Having said that, I am not gay, regardless of what the title of this post may lead you to believe. To explain the title, you will notice in my profile that I describe my self as "a closet romantic." Well, I'm owning up to romantic, slightly gooey side, inspired by my Adult Popular Literature (APL) in structor who proudly owns up to reading romance and even erotica. I've made baby steps in the past with my "Vamping the Bookshelf" and my "Daughters of Jane" series, but this post is a no holds-bar exposé. Here goes nothing ... I read romance novels.

Granted I am not usually drawn to the contemporary or historical love stories. I like a back story, usually with a robust mythology, harkening back to my exclusively fantasy period. Most of the time, the straight love story is not enough to hold my attention. I want some action, usually of the political conspiracy/large objects blowing up/sword fighting and if at all possible, a kick-butt heroine. However, in an effort to broaden my reading horizons for my APL class, I decided to read outside of my box and got the first two books of Nora Roberts' The Bride Quartet as well as a true bodice-ripper.

Cover via Amazon

I just finished A Vision in White, the first book in the quartet. The plot focuses on Mackensie "Mac" Ellot, a wedding photographer, and Carter Maguire, a PhD high school English teacher (one of those prestigious academies in Connecticut). Mac is an owning partner in Vows, an almost all-inclusive wedding planning company, with her three best friends: Parker, the brains of the operation, Emma, the florist, and Laurel, the baker/pastry chef. Carter has had a crush on Mac since high school and the romantic journey ensues after a chance meeting when Carter's sister comes to Vows to plan her wedding.

Having never read Nora Roberts before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised. It follows the basic romantic tale plot: boy meets girl, boy loses girl (this time because of the girl's deep-rooted trust issues), boy gets girl back. The dialog is witty, the characters seem real, and the situation is not that implausibly fairy tale/chick flick romantic. Also, the love scenes are tasteful and there aren't too many of them. I also appreciate she had me going to the dictionary to look up some words, like "stevedore" which is a person who loads and unloads cargo from ships. The issue I had with the book is some overly sentimental metaphors and dialog, but the comes with the territory.

Having said all that, it was predictable to the point that I feel comfortable forecasting the direction of the rest of the series. There were only three single, eligible men introduced in A Vision in White: Carter, Jack Cooke, and Delaney "Del" Brown. Carter has been spoken for, but there were hints as to who the other men would fall for in the end.

Cover via Amazon

There was an interesting scene with Emma and Jack which ended with her yelling at him and storming out, so I will predict that the second book in the quartet, Bed of Roses (remember Emma is the florist), will feature them.

Cover via Amazon

The third book in the series, Savor the Moment, will feature Laurel, the baker (clever title Ms. Roberts), and Del based on one interaction between Mac and Laurel. Mac has just apologized for being bitchy and explains that Del helped her in a situation with her mother, Laurel's response: "In the act of getting down a glass, Laurel glanced back. 'Del was there?'" (p. 141). I will admit it isn't much to go on, but just the fact that she mentioned him is significant and besides that he's Parker's brother.

Cover of Happy Ever After (Bride Quartet)

The final book in the quartet, Happy Ever After, will feature Parker with a yet-to-be-named suitor. Parker's book has to come last because she seems to be the strongest, motherly personality and she has to see her friends settled before she can find her ... wait for it ... happily ever after.

Ading It Up

2011-02-07T20:06:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was Super Bowl Sunday, the most auspicious day of the year for TV commercials. This year's were funny and cute, but not really all that special. I enjoyed the Snickers commercial following in the footsteps of the "You turn into a diva when you're hungry" ad (starring Liza and Aretha); this one however, has hungry whiners Richard Lewis and Roseanne Barr. But, the two commercials that I think were the best however were the Doritos Pug:

and the mini-Darth Volkswagen:

How cute is he?! Check out the rest of the commercials here.

But really, commercials are everywhere. We can't escape them, especially when they are repeated over and over again. During our evening television marathons, my roommates and I have noticed that commercials fall into three distinct categories and a disputed fourth.

1. Sex. The old adage holds true. Because it's almost Valentine's Day there seem to be way more commercials for KY, chocolate, jewelery, lingerie, and online dating services. I've never heard of this service before, but their commercial is just too cute (there were a lot of search results that mentioned scams and fake profiles, but come one people, it's the Internet).

Besides the above listed products other types of commercials that fall into this category are any television series or movies (all of those pretty people) plus quite a few car commercials and pretty much anything that features a couple.

2. Food. It's the other primal human drive and an extremely effective form of advertising because eating is contagious, kind of like yawning. Ads in this category include restaurants, food stuffs, and diet/exercise plans. There's even that Brooke Shields Lazy Boy commercial that compares styles of furniture to different dishes.

3. Insurance. I'm thinking that a combination of winter weather and insurance laws have really pushed the insurance business to the forefront of our minds. But there are seriously at least two different commercial series for the major companies: Allstate has the Mayhem series and the very reassuring series with the actor from The Unit. State Farm has the Magic Jingle series and the series of the black-haired guy who stands around town and asks you to talk to your neighbors. Then we have the Geico gecko, Flo from Progressive, and "The Saver" from Esurance, plus all of their secondary ad series. Also included in this category are any big ticket purchase ads like cars and real-estate.

4. Baby/cute animal. My roommate doesn't agree with me about this category; she thinks that every commercial can be fit into the other three groups, but I contend that some commercials don't easily fit within them. When you see a baby, you don't immediately think sex, even though it's what makes babies. Think about the E-Trade baby, definitely doesn't make me think of sex:

And what about PetMeds? Sex, no. Food, no. Insurance ... maybe, but it's a really tenuous connection along the lines of "Ensuring your dog doesn't get heart worms."

I will grant you that there is a lot of overlap between these categories, but advertisers have to appeal to a wide range of audience. Next time you watch TV try playing our game and figuring out into which category every commercial fits.

Daughter's of Jane: P&P in Black and White

2011-01-22T21:47:00.000-08:00

Since my spate as an undergraduate student has come to a close, I can no longer hold an undergrad position at the UGL. Besides significantly trimming down my income, not being an SA has also curtailed my browsing of the UGL's media collection, which is very impressive. You never know what goodies you'll find whilst shelving.

Image via Wikipedia

A case in point is the main subject of this post: the 1940 film version of Pride and Prejudice, starring Greer Garson and Laurence Olivier, as well as one of my favorite character actors: Melville Cooper (best known as the Sheriff of Nottingham in The Adventures of Robin Hood). Also, Aldous Huxley wrote the screenplay. Yes, the man who wrote Brave New World was also a prolific screen writer for TV and Hollywood. It was a decent adaptation of the film, even for Hollywood. As usual Austen's dialog was preserved with lines like Mr. Bennet's:

"An unhappy alternative is before you, Elizabeth. Your mother will never see you again if you don not Marry Mr. Collins. And I will never see you again if you do."

and Mr. Darcy's:

"You must allow me to tell you how much I admire and love you."

The characterization was also done very well. Mrs. Bennet, played by Mary Boland, is exquisite in her overly conniving and blatant attempts to marry off her daughters and Edna May Oliver, as Lady Catherine de Bourgh is wonderful, though I still prefer Barbara Leigh-Hunt. The one horrible job was Olivier as Darcy. He was just too wishy-washy and definitely not nearly as socially awkward as he should be.

From there, the adaptation starts to deteriorate. Though the plot deviates from the original in some small ways toward the beginning of the film, the major divergences happen after Elizabeth's rejection of Mr. Collins. Let's hit the highlights and, by the way, SPOILER ALERT!

Mr. Collins is Lady Catherine's librarian, not a clergy man.
The Bingley's throw a garden party instead of a ball.
The Gardners, the visit to Pemberly, and actually seeing Georgiana were completely cut.
Mr. Darcy tells Elizabeth about Wickham in person, not by letter.
Lydia and Wickham elope from Meryton, not Brighton.
Darcy doesn't just find the love birds and get Wickham a commission; instead, he finds them and gives them a fortune. (How unjust is that! I prefer the ending in which they are miserable and poor for the rest of their lives.)
Mary and Kitty find men during the very last scene.
And perhaps the biggest twist: Lady Catherine visits Elizabeth as Darcy's "ambassador" aka MATCHMAKER! (It was a shock to me too.)

Also, the film just comes off as very abrupt and lacks the subtlety of the Regency customs and manners. Everything, like how ruinous Lydia's actions and how "inferior" the Bennets are to Darcy, is either explained outright or so completely over-acted that it is impossible not to see how horrible the situation actually is.

Image via Wikipedia

Besides these errors (and some would same calamitous transgressions by Mr. Huxley), I found the most distracting part was the costuming. Even though Mrs. Bennet mentions the Battle of Waterloo at one point, the dresses seem more mid-century (see photo to the right), as in Gone With the Wind. It's just not right.

The Serial Watcher

2011-01-20T20:49:00.000-08:00

I love TV crime dramas, if you haven't guessed by some of my previous posts. Recently, I have been watching a lot of Criminal Minds, partly because my roommate loves the show and partly because the ION Television shows mini-marathons of the show every weekday night when nothing else is on. What separates Criminal Minds from other TV crime dramas is the fact that instead of being focused in a certain location, they are focused on a certain kind of criminal, more specifically serial killers.

Image via Wikipedia

The show follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), which is actually based on the FBI's real Behavioral Science Unit, a pioneer in the profiling of violent serial killers. The show has many allures besides its gruesome topic; Derrick Morgan (Shemar Moore) comes to mind, though Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) and his ever changing coiffure is my draw to the show.

But the main draw is definitely America's fascination with serial killers. As I've said before, pretty much every crime show on TV deals at one point or another with a serial killer. I think what fascinates us with serial killers is a combination of the strange rituals or beliefs that surround their crimes and the quantity of them. The usual motives for murder, like money or jealousy, are not what drives these killers; its their hobby or a manifestation of some psychotic drive.

It's really unbelievable how obsessed Americans are with serial killers. There are so many TV specials on the History Channel or TRU or even A&E. Not to mention the made for TV movies or straight to video movies like Gacy (now, that was one sick individual). We even have a series whose protagonist is a serial killer. Yes, I'm talking about Dexter, and if you ever truly wanted to question your morality watch the show.

And, heck if you prefer reading, there are thousands of books written about serial killers, by serial killers, and profiling serial killers. Currently, I'm reading Profiling:The Psychology of Catching Killers by David Owen. It's a detailed recounting of how profilers, including the very first, do their jobs including what kind of evidence is most important to them and how they deduce the major traits of the profile. I highly recommend the book; it's easy to follow, has great graphics, and is full of all the hair raising details crime enthusiasts love.

I don't know why we are so fascinated with serial killers, maybe because there seem to be more serial killers in the U.S. than any other country in the world (maybe we're just good at catching them) or maybe we've just become so desensitized to violence that we need the extra weird stuff to get any reaction to the depravity. I just know that I'm hooked, for better or worse.

Long Haired Freaky People Need Not Apply

2011-01-12T18:10:00.000-08:00

As you may know, the NFL playoffs are underway (Go Bears!) and I would like to air a grievance... football players should not have long hair. And by long hair, I mean pretty much anything shoulder length and below. Troy Polamalu is the first name that comes to mind ... Mr. Head & Shoulders.

But really there are so many other offenders (including Clay Matthews who in the picture to the left resembles Barbie in a helmet). Look on any football field and you will see flowing locks/braids streaming behind the running back or the matted sweaty tendrils of the helmet-less linebackers on the bench.

Let's just say that stuffing hair inside a helmet is not exactly hygienic. The NFL's only concern seems to be more aesthetic than any thing else, but I would like to remind players of safety concerns that long hair poses on the field.

Case and point. Granted men may not be as vicious, but the precedence is there. Plus, some of the players (Troy) just look silly.

And so it begins...

2011-01-05T19:46:00.000-08:00

And I'm not talking about the new year, though that happened too. I am referring to "awards season." Yes, it is that time of year when the red carpets are rolled out and the talented and not-so-talented stars trot out in overpriced finery to receive awards they may or may not have deserved.

Tonight I am watching the People's Choice Awards and I have realized that it is every other major awards shows' annoying little brother who thinks he's doing something awesome, but really he's just immature and stupid. I think it's great that the entertainment powers-that-be listen to the fans' voices, but I don't think three hours of third rate television is the way to do it.

Issues with the award show:

Queen Latifah's hosting: Even at the best award shows, host are really unnecessary. They attempt to provide comic relief and continuity to the shows, but instead, come off as cheesy. Q.L.'s entrance was worse than most with her off-key half-singing and numerous attempts to get the audience riled with "Com' on, let me hear you make some NOOOISE!" Let's just say, I wasn't impressed.
Product placement/endorsements: It's kind of insulting when the producers just start throwing products in your face so obviously. I mean they did away with the traditional envelope reveal for pulling a specific type of phone out of a small cardboard sleeve for the reveals! Not to mention the viral video-Wheat Thins thing that made no sense, mainly because I had never seen the clip before.
Selena Gomez as a musical act: She can't sing. Get over it. She's pretty, but has no other talent.
Sneaking in awards right after another is announced: Even though I don't really care, they could actually present the awards properly if they got rid of a bunch of the unnecessary hosting and promo crap. Come on! Glee! as the Favorite TV Comedy should have had more air time.
Horrible winners: Eclipse won over Inception. Face-palm

I think I have to stop watching. I can't take any more. Criminal Minds here I come.

The End of an Era

2010-12-31T21:46:00.000-08:00

2010 was a pretty good year for me. I graduated from college, got into grad school, saw a couple of friends get engaged/married, and more generally grew up. It's kind of scary if I think about it for too long. shudder

But to type specifically about the blog and my resolution from January 2010, I think I kept it up pretty well. I didn't make it every single week, but I definitely got about four posts a month. It was definitely a good exercise and one that I will continue in the coming year. The only resolutions I can come up with is to fix my template (I know the picture is currently off center and I'm debating even keeping it. Comments will be appreciated!) and to learn how to knit.

I've been staring at this post for about two days and can't come up with anything else to say except, "Happy New Year!"

An Elf Rave

2010-12-25T13:13:00.000-08:00

Here comes the second part of my Christmas posts, when I switch sides and start batting for the team from the North Pole. The top 6 reasons I love Christmas

6. Christmas cards. No matter what all the tech and electronic crazy people say, I don't think that the post office will ever completely go out of business because most people love to receive mail. Think about it: birthday cards, possibly with a check inside, or catalogs full of stuff you to look at but not buy or even that rare but appreciated "thinking of you" card (a species endangered by social media everywhere).

Christmas cards are even more special because they are reminders and updates from the family and friends that are spread out across the world who you never or rarely see. Plus, all the designs are so personal from the Walgreen's photo cards, the handmade ones from the homemaker aunt who has nothing better to do, or the funny ones with some kind of family joke. My family has this tradition of displaying all of ours on the back of the kitchen cabinets in a vaguely tree-like shape.

Maybe, more Aztec-pyramid shaped.

My favorite.

5. Christmas cookies. Who does not like cookies? And at Christmas you get the special kind that Mom only takes the extra effort to make around the holidays. Whether it is the sugar cut-out cookies that you get to decorate yourself or the ones from Grandma's recipe, you know you love them. This recipe is pretty close to my Grandma's for the cookies on the right.

Swag from the Swap.

This year mom and some of her co-workers did a cookie swap. The idea is that each person makes several dozen of one type of cookie, then you meet and everyone grabs some of each others cookies so that you have the maximum variety without the workload and the dozens of extra cookies that would go to waste.

4. Ornaments. I don't know exactly why, but I've always loves Christmas tree ornaments. (I think it's probably because they are small and shiny). They are also an expression of personal style, but still very versatile; you can change it up every year. We have another tradition in my family. Every year we receive at least one new ornament. When we were younger, Mom tried to get three (one for each kid) of the same ornament or at least in the same theme. Now, she looks for more individualized ornaments for our personal interests.

My ornament this year

3. Classic Christmas carols. There is something just so nostalgic about the traditional carols like "The First Noel" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear." You also can't dislike hits from the early 20th century; my favorites are "White Christmas" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." They just get you into a Christmas mood.

2. Good Christmas films. Besides carols,Christmas films are my favorite way to get into the Christmas spirit. I can't help but start thinking Christmas-y thoughts when I watch Holiday Inn, The Muppet Christmas Carol, or How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I also love the movie marathons on AMC or TCM, nothing to do but crochet and watch films.

1. Spending time with my family. It's cheesy, I know, but since I went off to college I don't see them as much. So when I do come home for Christmas, it's nice just to sit with them at the dinner table and talk or watch football and scream at the TV together. Ah, families.

A Grinchy Rant

2010-12-23T11:54:00.001-08:00

Christmas is a time of year that bring out the best and the worst in people. And so begins a two part post covering the downs and ups of the holiday season.

At certain periods over the holiday season I find myself on the top of Mt. Crumpet staring down and hating all the Whos. So here are the top 6 reasons I hate Holiday Season.

6. The over-commercialized side of the season. It starts well before Thanksgiving with the ramp-up to Black Friday and continues non-stop through Cyber Monday through Christmas and slowly peters out after New Years. There was also the well-intended but ineffective "local Saturday" or "small business Saturday" this year that was promoted by American Express in an effort to not only boost their company but also, small businesses across the country.

Whatever day you end up shopping for those special gifts, you are bombarded with ads and fliers and special deals. I realize that it is the biggest retail time of the year, but we should remember what the holidays are actually about: Christ's birth, the rededication of the Holy Temple, African-American heritage, and various other festivals surrounding the winter solstice. We should be content to spend time with family and loved ones without gathering just to get presents.

And for your enjoyment, the most annoying commercial campaign of the season:

5. Made-for-TV Christmas movies. Most, if not all, made-for-TV movies are horrible due to low budgets, bad special effects, and worse acting. Ones made for Christmas hit a new low. They tend to be uber sappy, are poor re-tellings of already famous stories, and have "Christmas" somewhere in the title. Plus, there always seem to be a new crop every year and they take over air-tie that could be dedicated to showing good Christmas films.

Check out this list of made-for-TV Christmas movies and direct to video releases. Now, not all of the films on the list meet my quality requirements, so don't get all offended if your favorite is on there because some of mine are.

4. New Christmas pop songs. I don't know what exactly it is about them that annoys me so much, but whenever I hear "Santa Baby" or "All I Want for Christmas Is You" I really want to hurl. They just don't have the heart of some of the older more traditional songs and carols. And they all have to do with romantic love; what happened to chestnuts and snow and other non-poppy lovey-dovey sentiments? Here is another list containing quite a few of the hated tunes.

3. Radio stations that play Christmas music non-stop. This one isn't so much for myself, but for all those retail workers, dental hygienists, and other service workers who have to listen to these stations for weeks on end. There are two phases to this hated. The first comes at the beginning of December or right after Thanksgiving when it is just too early for true holiday cheer, it's just not sustainable. The second comes at the end of the season when you are just so tired of hearing the same stupid pop songs and even the older carols over and over and over. Make it stop!

2. A green and brown Christmas. I will never be able to live in a place that doesn't have a chance of snow on Christmas. It's just not right. The movie White Christmas is popular for a reason. Luckily we had about 5 inches this year. See...

Look at the pile on top of our deck railing.

1. Overly ostentatious outdoor light displays. Come on people! Can't we show a little decorum? Do you need the blow-up snow globe? Or the hundreds of plastic-molded figurines populating your lawn and roof? And for that matter, how many strands of lights did you use? Ever heard of a little thing called global warming? Your display is not helping.

Confessions of an Ex-Undergrad

2010-12-21T20:45:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noticed the change in my profile, last Saturday I officially graduated from college. Granted, I didn't walk in a ceremony, so it hasn't really hit me yet. Plus, I'm going to grad school at the same university so I'm not really moving on. Anyway, I figure I should look back and reflect on my experience.

Good Stuff:

Awesome friends. I've met some great people in college and we will definitely remain friends for the rest of our lives.
Learned a lot. Mainly through my minor, which allowed me to redesign the blog. Wadda ya think?
Grew up. I really can't believe how much of an uptight, pretentious, snot I was in high school and even freshman year. Plus, all the freedom you have by not having to answer to parents.

Regrets:

Not being adventurous enough. I didn't go on any crazy road trips, or participate in Unofficial, or even dye my hair a crazy color. Granted I still have some time to do those things, but it seems like undergrad is the perfect time to go a little crazy.
My major. I loved all the literature I read and the discussions we had in my classes, but it just seemed so removed from real world situations. I kind of wish I had taken a more practical tract of study. But at the same time I have no idea what that would have been, because LIS was always the goal.
Grew up. Sometimes it's great with all the freedom, but you also have bills, jobs, and other yucky things. Also, your parents' house stops being your home at some point; it's like a huge chapter of your life is being closed and you can't go back and reread.

Awesome People.

The Potter Generation

2010-11-30T17:44:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

The end of an era has begun. That's right Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was released two weeksago to mixed reception by fans and critics alike (see the related articles at the bottom of this post for reviews). I was at the midnight showing with a group of like-minded Potter-fans (excluding the two boyfriends who got dragged along). I have to say I was impressed with the accuracy of the movie as compared to the book; they even kept the George's "holey" joke.

The downside of following the book so closely was that the film inherited the problems of the book as well. First of all, the cast was really lacking. Very little Snape and Hagrid, no Dame Maggie Smith aka Prof. McGonagall, and a whole lot of Harry and Hermione moping in the woods, though I must admit that I loved seeing all the landscapes of Britain. Second, plot is sparse with explanations (how does Ron actually find them) and the extended camping trip does not lend itself to excitement. Finally, there is no recap, so if you haven't read the books or haven't seen the movies in awhile then it's hard to remember what happened. Now the last is a bit of a double edged sword because by not re-reading the seventh book before seeing the film, it gets rid of all the plot-spoilers so I was able to enjoy the movie more.

Now granted there were a few gratuitous cinematic liberties (why Ginny couldn't have asked Hermione to zip her dress up upstairs I will never know) and some missing info (I had no idea what the mirror shard was until I started re-reading), but overall the films have matured just as the books have.

And that's what I love about the series; we grew up with it. When the first book was published in 1998 (U.S. date) I was 9 and when Pottermania really took off I was about 12, the same age as Harry, Ron, and Hermione. With each successive book the material got darker and more serious, in effect we grew up with the characters (though Harry is actually close to 30, you can figure it out with the second book and the date on Nearly Headless Nick's death-day cake - yes, I'm a dork, deal with it) and then the actors, who are my age. We waited through midnight book releases and movie showings just to continue on with the story. We embraced that magical world buying into all the commercialization and trying to recreate that world in this one. We've even made it our own through parody (for laughs watch the two clips at the end of this post) and fanfic. We are truly the Potter generation.

Of Reading

2010-11-21T20:01:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia

Earlier this semester, my descriptive grammar professor had us come with a word that filled a void in the English language. One of my classmates attempted to come with a viable option for the third person singular plural pronoun: "thair." I was not a fan. The best one I heard was "freeper," a facebook creeper or one who "freeps."

My contribution to the English language was "snack-lit," a term that describes contemporary fiction that falls somewhere between "literature" and form-fiction, like Harlequin romances. Books that would fall into this category are mainly from those authors featured on the New York Times Best Sellers list, or are often serialized.

There could even be stratifications within snack-lit ala Francis Bacon's "Of Studies" essay: health food, literary fiction that makes you think a little, to candy bars, form-fiction that really only takes a day to read, and everything in between. Dear readers, please aid me in this endeavor to make snack-lit a commonly used term. So spread the word, literally!

Web Log: Traveling on the Net

2010-11-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

www.rarst.net

The word "blog" was created in the mid-90s by combining the words "Web" and "log" (as in travel log, the record of a journey) to describe the online diaries. Of, course blogs have evolved somewhat, but the general idea of sharing your life or opinions with the world still holds. But, what if you recorded your path on the Internet? How much do you actually travel? Do you stay in a small neighborhood or are you the intrepid adventurer?

Since I switched over to Google Chrome as my primary browser, I have noticed that I have a very specific pattern when I get on the Internet. First I immediately check my email, than move on to Facebook, and finally head on over to Blogger and check the multiple bogs I follow. After those three stops, I kind of wander through a couple of different sites (Sporcle, IMDB, bubbleshooter, and GSLIS), but I definitely fall under the "Internet as a small neighborhood" with a few forages into the great unknown. I don't know if this says anything about Web use today, but the fact that I don't really use it to its full potential is a little ... daunting. I mean how can anybody actually use or know about everything there is to know about the it? The amount and diversity of sites on the Internet is mind-boggling.

Speaking of geographic analogies to the Internet, here is an awesome comic.

Daughters of Jane: Darcy's Passion

2010-11-01T21:19:00.000-07:00

The whole interest in Austen spin-offs was in part inspired by Denise, friend and co-worker at the UGL, who sent me various quotes from horrible internet Austen fan-fiction. So, whilst I was shelving, I stumbled upon Darcy's Passions: Pride and Prejudice Retold Through His Eyes by Regina Jeffers and checked it out. As my first spin off it wasn't too bad. Jeffers incorporated quite a bit of the actual book and her language was pretty authentic. Of course she does take the story past the wedding (and yes, Darcy is good in bed), but her additions, such as Anne de Bourgh an Col. Fitzwilliam marrying and Georgiana finding someone as well, don't really detract from the original.

My only complaint is that Darcy the enigma disappears. Mr. Darcy is the ultimate heartthrob because of his brooding darkness that women just love to pry into and try to fix in some way. Trying to put emotion behind the Darcy's facade comes out a little fake; there are a lot of tormented emotions that do not seem possible in a man as contained as Darcy. Also a lot of embracing occurs between the whole Darcy family in a way that Austen probably would not have written it. It's just a little too sappy, however ti wasn't bad enough to sully the original for me.

Vamping the Bookshelf

2010-10-28T22:35:00.000-07:00

I'm just going to admit it - my literary guilty pleasure is paranormal fiction. I do like the, ahem, steamier moments and the epic battle scenes, but what really interests me is all the different mythologies about paranormal creatures, especially vampires. I know it's kind of playing into the whole Twilight thing, but there are a lot of other series out there that are better written and more creative. Here are some of the series that I have read and enjoy.

Laurell K. Hamilton -- She actually has two series, and both are high on the steamy meter. One about Anita Blake, an animator (someone who raises zombies) and a vampire executioner, who has a very complicated love life and is lives under the threat of being annihilated by various powers of evil. The second is about Meredith (Merry) Gentry, an American Faerie princess, who also has a very complicated love life, has the threat of an evil queen's machinations, and moonlights as a private investigator. There are other similarities between Anita and Merry, mainly physical build and the propensity to be the tough girl, but each series has me coming back for more. I just want to find out what happens.

Kresley Cole -- Her series is called Immortals After Dark and is straight up paranormal romance. The focus is a coven of valkyrie and a coven of witches who find their fated mates, werewolves, vampires, and a couple of demons. I have no excuse for liking this series except that the characters are rather endearing and the mythology behind it is incredibly interesting.

Lindsay Sands -- Her Argeneau/Rogue Hunters series, more paranormal romance, is about a family of immortals (vampires) who are all finding "lifemates." Her take on the vampire myth is one of the most original I have read: immortals are survivors from the fall of Atlantis who had "microbes" introduced into their blood stream to repair any injury and cure any disease and their fuel is blood, but the microbes work too well as the body is constantly sustaining damage (i.e. the sun). The immortals need to ingest blood so their bodies evolved fangs; in the modern world they drink bagged blood. Hilarity ensues as the "lifemates" are usually mortals who only know the traditional "damned, soulless creature of the night" myth. Also the titles are great, Vampire Interrupted and A Bite to Remember are two of the better ones.

Charlaine Harris --She writes the Sookie Stackhouse series, the basis of the HBO series True Blood. My roommates began watching the first season and I got hooked, so I did the English major thing and read the books. There are quite a few differences between the book and TV series, mainly that Tara, Eggs, Andy Bellefleur, and Lafayette are not main characters. The books are a lot more humorous, especially Eric.

Jim Butcher -- He is the author of The Dresden Files, which feature the Chicago's only wizard in the yellow pages, Harry Dresden. Harry looks like a bit of a ne'er-do-well, but is a great guy who fights on the side of good and makes the tough decisions. My favorite battle is when he necromances Sue the T-Rex to life and rides her into battle. The last books, Changes, ended with a huge cliff hanger and I still cannot wait for the next book to come out in March, ironically on my birthday! His wife Shannon is also a paranormal author, but her series is a romance.

Patricia Briggs -- Her Mercy Thompson Series is based in the Tri-Cities of Washington state and focuses on Mercy Thompson, a coyote shape-shifter who was raised by the leader of all American werewolves and falls for the local alpha. Mercy is a smart-alec mechanic who can talk to the dead and gets in trouble with the fae. The series is well-written and and smart with a sexy alpha too boot.

Kim Harrison -- She writes the The Hollows series about Rachel Morgan, a witch turned private investigator who lives with a vampire, not yet turned soulless. I like her spin that the paranormals have always been living with us, but didn't come out of the coffin, so to speak, until a virus in tomatoes killed off the majority of the human population. There are also so cute titles; my favorite being The Good, the Bad, and the Undead. I am quite a few books behind in th series; there was a big gap between the books coming out and I couldn't get back into the swing of the plot.

Angela Knight -- Her Mageverse series is the other incredibly original take on the vampire myth, mixing the paranormal with Arthurian legend. Merlin was an alien that turned the round table and their ladies into vampires and witches respectively. He also created werewolves as a check for the Magi, as the vamps and witches are properly called. This series teeters on the line between romance and adventure, but definitely leans more toward steamy romance.

These are by no means a comprehensive list, but they are the ones I have read. I really need to branch out; I've heard P.N. Elrod is good, and here is a list from GoodReads that I have to look into.

Introducing the Daughters of Jane!

2010-10-22T21:02:00.000-07:00

After much deliberation I have decided to create a recurring all-things-Austen segment as part of this blog. It will be called "Daughters of Jane" as an allusion to the Sons of Ben, the group of Ben Jonson's young poet proteges.

Let Austen-mania commence! There are so many Austen inspired movies, chick-lit novels and spoofs that there is no way to cover all of them, but what I encounter I will blog about. So most of the novel spin-offs will be coming from a lecture my comparative world lit. professor mentioned in a lecture devoted entirely to Austen spin offs. So look forward to more posts about Austen-esque novels, movies, and spoofs.

Speaking of spoofs ... Enjoy!

To Blog or Not to Blog...

2010-10-20T18:45:00.000-07:00

Recently I have been considering the idea of branching out in the blog-sphere and writing another blog. Do not be alarmed my few and faithful followers, I will continue to spout my mind's junk onto this blog, but recently a lot of junk has been building up in one specific category and I need an outlet. The category is this: Jane Austen.

I realize that as a female English major, loving Austen is somewhat cliche, but I confess that I do love her wit. But what kind of fascinates me is the cult of Austen that sprang up in the 1990s and continues today. There are countless spin offs and published (and not published... thank you Denise, my eyes still burn) fan-fics as well as movies. Not to mention the blogs! So hear is the question, should I add my voice to the multitude out there already spouting their love of all things Austen or should I simply make them a recurring segment on this blog?

Please report back. And to entertain you... from Kate Beacon's Hark, A Vagrant, I present Jane Austen!

Autumnal Blush

2010-10-16T19:12:00.000-07:00

Autumn is my favorite season, mainly because of the color palette. This season I have noticed all of the half-turned trees that are multi-hued and they are gorgeous! See what I mean...

Big Campus, Small World

2010-10-04T21:14:00.000-07:00

One of the biggest complaints about the U of I is that it is so big. I understand this if you are looking at the big picture, but really as a student, you don't actually visit that much of the campus everyday. As a English major I had some lectures in obscure places, the An Sci lab for instance, but for the most part I stay in the vicinity of the Main Quad; it is a very rare occurrence that I pass Sixth and Gregory, as I live and work in Urbana.

The other complaint about the "big campus" is the enrollment, which is something like 40,000 undergrads and 20,000 grads. How do you know people? Don't you feel alone? My answer is "no." You connect with people through your major, live in the same dorm, work with them, even have the same study routine. You basically find your groups and kind of stick with them, but once in awhile you meet new people and find some weird connections. Actually it's like the six degrees of separation have been condensed to fit into the microcosm that is U of I.

For example:

I met this guy John at a friend's party a couple of weekends ago and we found out that his cousin has been in my little brother's class from kindergarten up.

Or how my dad's college friend's daughter was randomly in my astronomy discussion.

My personal favorite is when you meet a friend of a friend through some unrelated circumstance. My favorite is when I met Miguel and Mike through work at the UGL. Miguel went to high school with one of les trois Ellens and Mike is a friend through CHP with another of les trois Ellens and, coincidentally, knows a girl I went to high school with. It was like we were immediate friends because we knew each others' friends.

Don't listen to those who disparage against the faceless state university. Some parts about the distant administration and lecture professors is true, but you can create your own niche so you are not adrift amidst the sea of faces on the Quad.

Project Runway, What Happened to You?

2010-09-17T15:31:00.000-07:00

As a moderate TV junkie, I have several shows I follow religiously. Project Runway is one of them. However, the current season is kind of a letdown. There aren't any wacky characters like Jay and Austin from Season 1 and Christian and Chris from Season 4 or any ideal gay best friends like Nick and Andrae from Season 2. The closest this season comes to a memorable character is Gretchen as the person you love to hate who resembles Santino who we hated to love. (By the way, On the Road With Austin & Santino is hilarious! Those two just play off each other so well and Austin is definitely a clown. Please just watch it.)

Besides the lack of memorable characters, a phenomenon that has gone on ever since the series moves to Lifetime, there doesn't seem to be any clear winner. All the 'designers' are on pretty much the same level. None of them seem to be terribly innovative (with the exception of Mondo's choices of patterned fabrics). I just find myself tuning in because I feel obligated to, not because I'm actually interested in who is in or out. I really blame the whole trajectory of the show on Lifetime, because they seem to be trying to take the focus of the show off actual fashion design and more toward the dynamics between the designers. Personally, after re-watching the early seasons on DVD (found at the UGL), I think the very first season had the best balance between fashion and designer dynamics. I also thought the treatment of the model competition was the best as well.

Even though I am not wowed with the current season I will continue to watch it for the sake of Tim Gunn and cringe at the lack of talent. But remember Lifetime, one day you're in and the next ... your out.

"Imagine" - Peace or Apathy

2010-09-13T18:33:00.000-07:00

I was watching VH1's 100 Greatest Artists and it wasn't a surprise that The Beatles were #1 and that Michael Jackson was #2. However when they put John Lennon at #31 they had to mention his song "Imagine," and all the commentators just gushed. Personally, I just don't really like the song. It's a beautiful melody, but parts of the message bother me. Check out the lyrics, courtesy of http://www.lyrics007.com/John%20Lennon%20Lyrics/Imagine%20Lyrics.html.

Image via Wikipedia

Imagine there's no Heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world

You may say that I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

The world he is describing sounds so bland. I know war, greed, and hunger are bad, but at the same time they give life a passion that Lennon's fantasy lacks. "No Heaven," does he mean no afterlife at all? Isn't that depressing that this world is all there is? For the most part, my life has been pretty great, but a lot of people's lives really suck. And what about all the diversity he's taking away, "the world will be as one?" I love learning about other cultures and religions; it fascinates me. And if there was "nothing to kill or die for" (even metaphorically) what would we have to live for? Would we all just lay down and die? I would now like to remind everyone about the lesson of Serenity, the part you really want to watch is around 4 minutes, but watch the bit leading up to the 4 min. mark if you haven't seen the movie or Firefly. I know the world isn't perfect, but I don't want to lose the passion that "Imagine" seems to want to suck out of life. So sue me.

Early morning walks

2010-09-06T06:19:00.000-07:00

This is my time of day.

For the past few semesters, I have a late night shift that ends at 7a.m., and as painful as it is to get up at 3:30 a.m., the reward of my solitary early morning walk is priceless. It's just so peaceful. There is little to no traffic or other pedestrians. With sunlight (sometimes) slanting through branches overhead and the soft twitters and chatters of creatures. It's a sleepy period that invites you to join in the somnolent atmosphere, and the best part is that I do get to join in the slumberfest.

AWESOME!

**This post was written in the style of 1000 Awesome Things.

Photos from: here and here.

Strange Memes

2010-08-27T18:11:00.000-07:00

I was stumbling around the internet when I came upon a very strange meme called the lying down game. Now, there are a lot of strange things on the internet, lolcats, dancing stormtroopers, FAIL, and so on, but this is one of the stupidest. It's just people lay rigidly face down in the strangest places, the human version of Flat Stanley. Why this ever became popular ... I don't know. But, really how do any memes get popular? Although lolcats are pretty cute...

Just to clarify a meme is a concept that spreads swiftly on the internet, possibly to the viral level, and is copied, parodied, or re-invented over and over again. So, basically, just one more way to waste time in addition to the myriad of ways that already exist.

Check out these meme databases:

And for even more info:

That Weird Growing Up Feeling

2010-08-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

Today, I got another weird I'm-not-a-little-kid anymore feeling. A friend from grade school got married yesterday (I was not at the wedding), and since I've never been romantically involved with anyone, the thought that a girl I've known since she was FIVE is in a completely committed relationship (as in for the rest of her life) just freaks me out a little.

The feeling is akin to the one when my parents dropped me off at college for the first time, or when I ordered my first drink in a bar/restaurant, or even my first rent check. But someone I know who is my age, getting married in a big white gown ... it's the nth degree.

I just can't fathom being that settled in life already. I still have another year of grad school (which I still need to finish applying for) and after that I have no idea where my life will take me. Up until now, I've had a plan and followed through: attend the U of I for 3.5 years, get an English degree, and get into grad school for LIS. But the plan is slowing coming to an end and I'm getting closer to becoming an actual adult, because we all know that college is just an extension of childhood.

The clock is ticking and I an freaking out!

Congratulations, Kelsey and Joey Klaus!

I nabbed this off of Kelsey's Facebook.

Chirp ... Chirp ... Chirp ...

2010-08-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

Crickets. Out of all the creepy crawlies in the world, crickets are the ones that creep me out the most. I don't know if it's their color, that seemingly unrelieved black, or the way they move, half hopping/half crawling, or even their incessant chatter (though cicadas are even more annoying). They merit at least a three tissue barrier during their disposal. Even when I was little, I preferred The Very Hungry Caterpillar to The Very Quiet Cricket, both by Eric Carle; although I did like A Cricket in Time Square.

The reason for this post is that recently, Chambana has become infested with the things. I've killed a grand total of five in the past two days. Most have been crawling along the floor minding their own business, but they shouldn't be in my apartment. Two had the audacity to be in unexpected and disturbing places, namely my bed (before jumping to the wall, where he met his demise) and inside my dishwasher. Plus the bathrooms at the UGL. Ugh!

There is no rhyme or reason to my dislike of crickets. I even think the word 'cricket' is cute, and rather descriptive. There is just this ineffable quality to those particular insects that I just abhor.

Update on Summer Reading List

2010-08-01T16:10:00.000-07:00

Way back in May I created this post about my aspirations for reading this summer. Needless to say, it did not go as planned, but here is the update of my journey so far.

1. The Dresden Files -- Read them, loved, them, and so obsessed that I found almost all the short stories that go in between the books. For my immediate reaction after reading Changes see this post.

2. Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy -- I have been trying to find them all summer, however they are constantly checked out as they seem to be the IT books of the summer. However, Tony, the library specialist from the Modern Languages Library is on the look out for their copy for me. He's such a nice guy.

3. Devil in the White City -- I started it in May and just finished yesterday (7/31). It isn't really that long of a book, it just moves a little slowly and is rather jumpy going from the architect to the serial killer to the insane assassin. Also, each chapter tries to end with a mini cliff hanger which gets tiresome after awhile. But all in all I really liked it, especially the little bits of sarcastic humor Larson threw in every once in awhile,

"No one saw Twain. He came to Chicago to see the fair but got sick and spent eleven days in his hotel room, then left without ever seeing the White City.

Of all people." (285)

I think my favorite quote about it was the Chicago Sun-Times one on the back of the book, "Larson is a historian with a novelist's soul."

4. Kathy Reichs' series -- I have started Deja Dead, the first book of the series and so far, I am unimpressed, especially in comparison to Bones. The characters aren't very engaging so far and it's a little too graphic for me. I will at least finish it, but if I don't end up liking it, I'm not going to read the others.

Update 8/11: I got through most of the book and just didn't care what happened. It's probably because I love Bones so much, but Reichs' characters seemed kind of flat and the attention to detail was a little too much for me.

5. Orwell's 1984 -- It's in my bag right now and I plan to start it today, as soon as I finish the other book I am currently reading (I'll get to that a little later).

Update 8/11: 1984 just stayed in my bag. I'm just not in the mood for disturbing, dystopian novel, as I'm already bummed enough that classes are starting up and my relative summer freedom is coming to an end.

6. A.S. Byatt's Possession -- I have it checked out from the library and will get to it, but it's a HUGE book, so I am not sure I will be able to finish it before classes start.

7. Italo Calvino -- I am currently reading the revised edition of The Path to the Spiders' Nests (finished 8/2) and so far it's okay. It reminds me For Whom the Bell Tolls a little. I prefer his more experimental fiction so I also checked out If on a winter's night a traveler.

8. The Woman in White -- I still have to catch up to Renae.

At least I have most of the books, and no those aren't all the Dresden Files.

As mentioned in the May post, my reading this summer was not limited to the above list. In addition to the list I have read Namaah's Kiss and Namaah's Curse by Jacqueline Carey (just get past the sex goddess thing and it's an epic tale), Mercedes Lackey's The Sleeping Beauty (see this post), the graphic novel version of Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton, and a few trashy romances to rot my brain.

I really don't think I did too badly, considering all the time I've been at work, plus the TV I've watched as well and the blogs I read daily. But hopefully, I will finish the rest of the list in the next few weeks.

How To: Appliques on Canvas

2010-07-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

After one of my roommates moved out at the beginning of the semester, she took her photos with her that had been our sole decoration in the living room. I stared at the blank walls for a few months and finally decided I had enough and started to think what I could do about it. I was immediately inspired by all the HGTV I've been watching recently and decided to cover some canvases with fabric.

I wanted something floral and swoopy (you, know vines running all over and making swirly patterns). This is the fabric I found at JoAnn's:

Sorry about the wrinkles.

It was a little more pricey than I wanted to spend, but it was the closest match to the ideal fabric-in-my-head. Once I had the fabric and looked at the pattern, some of the individual flowers were interesting enough to stand on their own, so I decided to do some decoupage appliques on canvas too.

Supplies for both projects:

Fabric covered canvases -- fabric of your choice cut to dimensions that will cover and wrap around to the back of the canvas and push pins or a staple gun

Appliques on canvas -- fabric you want to applique, canvas, plain tea bags, Modge Podge or similar product, sponge paintbrush

Instructions:

The fabric covered canvases are fairly easy to figure out, so I won't bore you with the details.

The appliques are a little more complicated, so here it goes.

Step 1: Boil some tea bags in a small pot of water.

Step 2: After the tea has come to a boil, carefully pour into shallow pan or baking sheet. Place canvases face down, to die the tea. When they reach the color you want, remove from the pan and allow to dry.

Step 3: While the canvases are soaking/drying, pick out which flower(s) you want to feature and carefully cut them out.

Step 4: Use Modge Podge to affix the cut out to the dry canvas. Brush the paste over the back of the cut out. Then place flower, glue-side down, and completely cover the canvas with a coat of paste so that the fabric doesn't unravel and there is a consistent look to the canvas.

Step 5: Let paste dry...

...and Voila!

Tales as Old as Time

2010-07-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

I just finished Mercedes Lackey's The Sleeping Beauty (I know, I know, it wasn't on the summer reading list, but there was a lot of flexibility in that list and I have been pretty steadily working at it as I have finished the Dresden Files). It was good, but about the same as the other books in the Five Hundred Kingdoms series, which is not up to the standard of the Valdemar universe or even her Elemental Masters series (I highly recommend both).

The basis of the Five Hundred Kingdoms is that there are all these, well, kingdoms that are guided by this omnipresent and unintelligent force, the Tradition, that seeks out people whose lives closely resemble a fairy tale, saga, or myth and force events to replay that same story over and over again. So if you have a deceased father, a stepmother, and two stepsisters who are ugly in some way, you turn into Cinderella (the basis of The Fairy Godmother, the first book in the series). However that is not always the case because what is the Prince Cinderella is supposed to fall in love with is two years old, or eighty-five years old? Then there is all this Traditional magic that builds up around the almost-Cinderella that could be used for good or evil. This is where the Fairy Godmother comes in, an individual who guides (read 'manipulates') the Tradition to a non-evil ending. Basically, the book is full of allusions to tales - Grimm's, Anderson, and the Greek and Norse myths. It's a creative way to deal with the fact that "there is no such thing as a wholly original work of literature," (Foster 29).

If you didn't follow the last link, the book I am referring to is Thomas Foster's How to Read Literature Like a Professor, which is actually a really good and fairly easy read about how to pick apart some of the inner workings of books. Anyhoo, Chapter 5: Now, Where Have I Seen That Before? examines the intertextuality of literature, whether it be from direct references, allusions, or reworking stories. Though I don't completely agree with his "big secret" that "there's only one story" (Foster 32), because that seems a little simplistic and too broad, the the idea that stories build upon one another and are constantly referring to each other is completely wrapped up in fairy and folk tales. I mean think about it, how many versions of Cinderella have you seen or read? I estimate at least 20, but that seems low because, in essence, most chick-flicks play on that theme. There is just this fascination with happily-ever-after that never seems to leave us from our first introduction through the safety of the Disney-ified versions of the stories to the humorous modern interpretations to the dark and dangerous "originals."

Here are some of my favorite re-tellings, fairy tales and other wise:

Bill Willingham's Fables series -- They're graphic novels that put all of your favorite characters in a modern setting, complete with inter-dimensional travel, epic battles, and sex. Great storytelling and concept. Rated PG-13 for language, images, and sexuality. See my earlier rave post on this very subject.
Mercedes Lackey's Five Hundred Kingdoms series -- Again, not up to her usual standard, but these romances have a great concept and they are entertaining. I also like the fact that she features different traditions of tales in each of the books. Start with The Fairy Godmother. Rated PG to PG-13, depending on the book for mild sexuality.
Mercedes Lackey's Elemental Masters series -- This universe is set in Victorian era Britain for the most part and combines the basic plot of fairy tales with elemental magicians. They are less simplistic and a little darker than 500 Kingdoms; my favorites are Pheonix and Ashes and The Serpent's Shadow. Rated PG-13 for mild sexuality, violence, and mature themes.
Anything by Robin McKinley -- She writes mostly for young adults and has a feminist twist (rated PG). My favorite is Beauty. The only adult story I've read of hers is Deerskin and it was okay. Definitely check out her original fiction as well, The Hero and the Crown and The Blue Sword.
Politically Correct Bedtime Stories and Once Upon a More Enlightened Time by James Finn Garner -- Humorous, modern re-tellings of all your favorites. It's been awhile since I read them, but I think I would rate them PG-13 for some mature material.
D.J. MacHale's Pendragon Series -- It's an older children to young adult series of a modern-day hero of the Arthurian legend. Great story-telling. Rated PG for some heavy action. I haven't finished the series, so shh! Don't tell me what happens.

Some other popular fairy tale re-fashioners include Gail Carson Levine of Ella Enchanted fame (G), Gregory Maguire of Wicked fame (definitely R) and Angela Carter (R), but really almost all writers pull on these various traditions and you can find fairy tales tailored to almost any philosophy from feminism to Marxism to Nazism (I kid you not, the Nazi party re-wrote Grimms tales to better reflect Arians and put down Jews).

The possibilities are endless and I love seeing what has bee added to the literary tradition. I can't wait to read more fairy tales and add a little magic to my life.

The Good Book Feeling

2010-07-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

It's part warm fuzzy, part shock and awe, and part anticipation/satisfaction.

It's confusion and exhilaration and a mind-numbing emotional roller coaster that leaves you speechless and shaking.

I am experiencing that feeling right now, and I can't believe how long it has been since I last felt this way.

There are now words to truly describe it, but I think it's about as close to an orgasmic experience that I will be for a while.

You just have to experience it for yourself.

If you are wondering what book did this to me, read the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher and just pray you get to, the twelfth book, Changes; it's Harry Potter for adults without the final letdown.

Thank you Emily, for making me read this series.

Similes for the Seniors

2010-07-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

This past semester and this summer I have been volunteering at Clark-Lindsey Village, a local retirement community, and let's just say I have found my home when I am that age. They have EVERYTHING! Walking trails, garden, general store, workout room, library, private apartments ... the list goes on.

Anyway, my part comes in the library, where I and my compatriots in the Informatics Club come in for an hour a week to tutor the residents in basic computer and e-mail applications. It's mainly a bunch of little old ladies who want to keep in touch with their families and bird-watching clubs. It's easy stuff to me and my generation because we've grown up around the technology, but trying to translate that knowledge to the older generation is sometime difficult. For instance, I attempting to teach Elaine how to copy, cut, and paste. The terms seem simple and intuitive, but connecting them to the keyboard shortcuts as well as why you would use them. I understand her confusion, I mean ctrl V for paste? But it was cutting that really got to her, I finally mentioned that an X looks kind of like scissors and that seemed to help.

Over the past weeks, I have found myself coming up with more and more of these analogies. Your inbox is like your mailbox. Drafts are just what they sound like, an e-mail/letter that you stopped writing, only to come back to it later. There are different email services, just like there are different companies to deliver packages. The hardest thing to explain is that the Internet doesn't change from computer to computer, it is an entity beyond the physical constraints of just one computer. It is kind of a disconcerting concept that all computers in the world are connected together and help to pass information through each other.

I just hope that I'm able to keep up with technology when I'm that age, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I won't. I'm already a creature of habit and had to be pushed into getting my first iPod and refuse to get a Kindle (Save the Books!). But I'm getting way ahead of myself and the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.

Lost on the Net

2010-07-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Today I got online, innocently typed in the address to Gmail to check my inbox, and was surprised when a bright red, orange, and swirly page came up instead of the very clean and pale sign-in page of Gmail.

Turns out that I made a typo and was transported to gamil.com, the blog of a graphic and product design company in Raleigh, NC. Now the lovely people at Gamil have realized that typo-proned people, like myself (you would not believe the amount I have already made in this post, I <3 spell check!), would often take the wrong turn and end up at their site when their desired destination was Gmail. To that effect they have taken on the role of the knowledgable-gas-station-attendant-who-gives-directions, by putting this text on the right side of their page:

"HUH? Where Am I?

You are at Gamil (as opposed to Gmail). We are a graphic and product design firm in Raleigh, NC, and we've been around since 1995.

A few years ago, we noticed a remarkable amount of new traffic. After doing a bit of research, we realized lots and lots of Gmail users were getting ahead of themselves when typing and ending up visiting us instead of their email account. So we started a blog to say "Hi!"

Feel free to stick around for a while — and return as often as you like!"

I love people with a sense of humor and when they realize they aren't the center of the world. aren't offended beyond belief (personally I think they should be, because when I did a Google search for them, Gmail was the first site Google suggested, how horrible is that!). Hats off to you Gamil, and I think I will look around for a bit.

Life, Liberty, & Stickin' It to the Man

2010-07-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

As all Americans should realize, tomorrow is the 4th of July, the day when the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the colonies were theoretically free from British rule. Modern-day celebrations of this even usually involve cook outs, alcohol, and amateur pyrotechnics. Ah, America! You can also tell when the 4th is upon us, when the History Channel starts running series, upon series about the colonial and revolutionary period, one of which I am currently watching (F*** you Benedict Arnold!)

One of my favorite patriotic actions is to read the original version of the Declaration, the unedited, raw and blunt version written by Thomas Jefferson. It is so outspoken, undiplomatic, and insulting to King George that I can't help but laugh at the audacity. I mean the ideas held within the Declaration are audacious on their own - "that all men are created equal" in a time when Divine Right was still held to be true and "Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," basically turning the government into a servant. Radical! Jefferson's language adds to this impudence: "for one people to advance from that subordination in which they have hitherto remained and to assume among the powers of the earth the equal and independent station to which the laws of nature and nature's god entitle them."

The genius of the Declaration comes in the catalog towards the end of the text that uses an "us versus him" logic to bring together the American people against the monster King George, even though there is no way (constitutional monarchy, remember) that George was solely responsible for all of the "crimes" listed. But hey, every foe needs a mascot, and George was it. Stick it, baby!

Check out this link to several versions of the Declaration. My favorite parts are in the rough draft when Franklin and Adams put their two cents in and the amount of text that the Congress edited out. I personally think that the Declaration should be the manifesto for all rebellious teenagers.

Hallmark Hardship

2010-06-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

Since last weekend was Fathers' Day and my brother's and grandfather's birthdays I had quite a bit of card shopping to do. So I walk into my local Hallmark store and scour the store for the "perfect card" for each occasion. Sometimes it's fairly easy, mainly when I'm getting a card for my friends, because then I just go to the Freshlink section for cute, artsy, humorous cards. It's way more difficult when searching for family members, because I have to find that balance between the mushy and humor. And there always seem to be so few of the kind you need (this time it was my grandpa's birthday card that was elusive). So what normally happens is that I find a slightly mushy card and write in a little humor. I still try to avoid any cards with the string around the middle crease and an inset page, because those always seem to be the worst with the mush.

Also, why do we even get cards? Especially if we're seeing the person on that day or for that event? I mean, no one really reads them and I highly doubt that any one keeps those cards for very long, despite all those Hallmark commercials. Come on! Everyone knows the only reason for a card is to hold the check! (just kidding family members ... heh heh). Still waste of paper and postage.

Magic Pockets!

2010-06-15T17:20:00.000-07:00

There is this phenomenon that I call magic pockets. You stick your hand in your coat pocket and pull out that $20, the full punch card, or your watch that you forgot about. The item that magically appears has usually slipped through a hole in the lining and gradually worked its way back to the surface. And wallah! a great surprise on a bad day, or any day really.

I recently experienced a modified version of magic pockets. I thought I had run out of dish soap and was searching futilely under the sink for more (I had run out of clean spoons, you see) and there, shoved behind the pipes was a FULL box of dish washer tabs of soap! Magic cupboard-under-the-sink!

And the fashion massacre begins...

2010-06-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

You may or may not remember my post from a while back about the lack of taste displayed by one, Cat Deeley, host of Fox's So You Think You Can Dance, but let me remind you.

Wait for a few minutes as you follow the link and stare in horror ...

That was just the tip of the iceberg, and almost all of them have the sheath-cocktail style going on. To add to the ever growing pile of ugly dresses, she wore this on last night's season opener of the show...

I think my sister expressed it well, "EWWWWW GROSS!!! its like the 1920 and gay pride smashed" (direct quote from the text message). I agree with the 1920s bit, but I was thinking more rainbow sherbet, but maybe that's just because I really want ice cream. The grammar could also so use some work, even in text form. (Love you , sis!) Regardless, I agree that the sack dress went out of style for a reason and that only Tina Turner (and Lady Gaga, if she wanted to) should be allowed to wear that much fringe.

** If what the crime scene photos I provided weren't enough, check out this slide show.

Movie Overload

2010-06-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

I have waaaay too many DVDs checked out from the UGL and quite a few of them have been renewed, so I started to watch them last night. I began with New York, I Love You, but was less than impressed with the second installment in the Cities of Love movies. It was a montage of short films, that had some interconnecting characters, but could have stood alone by themselves. The stories all revolved around love in NYC, but the overall effect does not exactly portray 'love.' There were a couple diamonds in the rough however, the section written and directed by Natalie Portman was sweet with a slight whiplash ending and the section with Cloris Leachman was so adorable and I really want to have a relationship like that someday. It's also one of those movies that have so many big name actors in it that you wonder if it actually is worth your money; notice the border of names on the movie cover.

After the disappointment of New York, I Love You I switched to the comedy of Pirate Radio. Great movie. It was funny and sweet and stick-it-to-the-man all in one. The music was also great; classic rock from the mid 60s, can't go wrong with that. It is based on real events, which makes it all the better. Plus Philip Seymour Hoffman was in it, and as he's one of my favorite actors I loved it even more. I highly recommend that you watch the deleted scenes, cause there is one in which the Radio Rock DJs sabotage a competing pirate station. HI-larious! I have also discovered the actor who needs to play Heath Ledger in what ever movie gets made to commemorate Ledger's life. I seriously did a double-take and immediately had to go to IMDB to make sure I wasn't seeing a ghost. Introducing ...

Tom Wisdom!

Ridiculous, right?

Up next on the menu are Crazy Heart, A Serious Man, the first season on The Tudors, and Trucker.

Summer Obsession

2010-06-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

So those few of you unknown readers who have read the my past blogs (or who have been following me for that long -- yeah right) know that I love the summer show So You Think You Can Dance, basically the American Idol of dance (as it was created by the same guys, Simon Fuller and Nigel Lythgoe). I must comment that the last season was rather disappointing, not because the dancing wasn't great, but because none of the contestants were all that memorable. I remain hopeful for this fledgling season.

Anyhoo, I was watching an audition episode tonight and got to wondering what possesses some of those people to try out. They obviously have no rhythm or grace and they come out and embarrass themselves on national television. I personally wouldn't put myself through that, but that's probably because I take myself way too seriously. I mean I commend them for their guts and their 'creativity,' but ... come on. It's a good thing that Nigel gives them a hefty reality check.

My Life as the Broadway Musical

2010-05-20T15:47:00.000-07:00

The theater, the theater, what happened to the theater? I wish that for at least one day, my life would be like a Broadway musical. I know that I already expressed this wish in a previous post, but I have renewed the idea because I have found the perfect staging scene: The Hallene Gateway Plaza. It's this great landscaped area on the edge of campus by the alumni center. Follow me on a quick sketch of my vision:

So this is the proper entrance for the Plaza:

Nice, right? Kind of park-y but with some great architecture.

Speaking of architecture, here is the building, the Alica Campbell Alumni Center, behind the arch. Notice the great second story balcony; perfect for dramatic scenes or dimensionality.

This shot was taken from the Alumni Center's patio. The fountain is a nice touch right?

Here's a panoramic shot of the fountain with the Alumni Center in the back. Notice the nice short, wide stairs in the background that would be great for a dance routine.

Okay, did you notice the nice curve of the fountain/planter rim? It's really wide and flat, so another great spot for dancers. There is also a secondary ledge around the outside, so even more stage area!

There are even picnic tables ... Think High School Musical "Status Quo"number.

Now, I realize that my dream will most likely never come true, but I have the set and am on the lookout for the signs that a big song-and-dance showstopper is about to occur.

1. The clothing of people around you is all in the same color scheme or similar in some way. The people also have to be diverse: ethnically, professionally, and physically. It's a sure sign that the chorus has gathered and is about to let it rip.

2. The people around you start walking or moving in formations. I'm talking about dance formations, with people equal distances from each other, or an attempt to look randomly placed but they leave enough of a personal bubble that it's not quite normal.

3. This is possibly the most obvious sign: music begins to blare over hidden speakers and everyone knows the song, even if you have never heard it before. This phenomenon is explored in Disney's Enchanted.

4. If you haven't caught on after those signs, meaning you are incredibly dense, when everyone around you begins to dance and you have the uncontrollable urge to join in, you are there.

Other giveaways:
The marching band that arrives for some unexplained reason I'm sure that the Marching Illini would help me out.
The fountain (a la Sound of Music) How great is the Hallene Fountain?
An open space where lots of choreography can happen Notice the patio, the broad walkways, and the grassy spots

Here's another example that meets all the above requirements.

Another fun example is Michael Buble's "Haven't Met You Yet" music video. I LOVE that song!

Summer Reading List

2010-05-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

The beginning of summer: a time for freedom from homework and academic pressures. But about two or three weeks in I start getting bored, even though I will be working almost 40 hours a week. This summer I am being proactive about what to do in my free time, so I am planning out what to read.

1. Beginning the list is Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files. My friend Emily has been hounding me to read this series, and I am intrigued. The premise is that Harry Dresden is a modern day private investigator/wizard and he fights all sorts of bad guys. I've read the first book Storm Front, and was not impressed. But Emily assures me that they get better after the first three (there are 12), so I remain hopeful, plus I read his Alera Codex and was blown away.

2. Steig Larsson's Millennium Trilogy. It's a crime series and I don't know anything more about it, except for the fact that they always pop up on Amazon as suggested reading and the titles are intriguing.

3. Devil in the White City by Eric Larson. My mom has been trying to get me to read this book for a while. It's about the architect of the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago 1893 and a series of murders that occurred at the same time.

4. Kathy Reich's series about Temperance Brennan. Ever since I found out that Bones is based on a book series, I have wanted to read it.

5. 1984 by George Orwell. I read Animal Farm and liked it and have had tons of people tell me to read it. So I am.

6. Possession by A.S. Byatt. Two of the Ellens took an class on A.S. Byatt and Margaret Drabble; they couldn't stop talking about it.

7. I took a comparative world literature class and had to read Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. It was an awesome book and I want to read more by him.

8. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. I first heard about the book when it was alluded to in The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. Setterfield was less than impressive, but Collins sounded interesting, so the next time my friend Renae and I were at Barnes & Noble we both picked up the book and said we would both read it. Well that didn't go as planned, but now she's started to read it and loves it so far. Now I have to catch up.

That's the list of what I definitely want to read. I will of course read other books, most likely trashy romance novels and snack lit, but the above list WILL be read this summer.

Bemoaning Buy-Back Season

2010-05-13T18:18:00.000-07:00

The end of finals week is upon us and the season of textbook buy-back has begun. Now, any college student has seen the numerous advertisements for the campus book stores: "The best buy-backs in town" or "55% buy-back, more than any other store." And sometimes, they're right, but most of the time you can do so much better.

So here are some steps to get the most money for your ex-textbooks:

1. Check the buy-back prices at the campus stores. I realize I just warned against it, but just check and take note of how much they are giving back.

2. Check major online book sellers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and halfpricedbooks.com. I personally use Amazon because I know its reputation and have had great success buying and selling.

3. Now compare the prices and remember to factor in shipping costs. I also factor in convenience, so if the prices between the books stores and the online sellers is so close, I go to the campus stores -- it's just easier.

4. When selling to the campus bookstores always remember any reward cards or any coupons to get an extra $2 on your buy-back -- every cent counts.

Now, go sell and get some of the hundreds you spent back.

College Decor

2010-05-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

So recently I have been hooked on HGTV. Holmes on Homes, House Hunters, Sarah's House, and Selling New York are my favorites, but really I just leave it on and am entertained. Just seeing what people do to their house and how much they spend doing it amazes me.

After watching so much designing I began thinking about some of the standard college dorm and apartment decor choices and here's the list I came up with.

Milk crates as furniture:

For me these are a hold-over from high school because I used them as locker shelves. But whether using them for desk supports, a bookshelf, or closet storage, milk crates are great for storage.

Requisite "artistic" posters:

Jimmi Hendrix, John Belushi, Kurt Cobain, batik wall hangings, the Eiffel Tower, less-than-tasteful images of women, bands members, the cast of TV shows, the list is endless.

The Porch Couch:

Finally! An uber comfy place to relax outdoors. The porch couch is usually a couch that is no longer in its peak condition, maybe there's a spring sticking out the back or a sag in the left cushion, but for the most part you are able to sit/sprawl/curl up on it. But, for me, just thinking about the possibility of the creepy-crawlies who
make their home in the couch ... shudder.

Alcoholic Paraphernalia:
Neon bar signs, banners, and the trophy collection (see picture) all celebrating our new-found (or yet-to-be found) status as legal consumers of alcohol.

So maybe, college age people are not the most stylish decorators, but I think there is a certain charm to it.

Emilio So-So Over it

2010-04-16T21:50:00.000-07:00

So I have an issue (actually several) with one of this season's finalists on Project Runway. It's Emilio Sosa if you hadn't guessed by my oh-so-clever title. Anyway, he's just so conceited and thinks he's all that when he really isn't. For starters, he has said again and again that he doesn't listen to what Tim Gunn says. Tim Gunn! I love Tim, I agree with his style sense and I wish he was my gay great-uncle so I would never leave the house looking like a total train wreck. Second off, his creation for "Episode 7: Hard Wear" ... can we just admit it's trashy Barbie doll?

Then the print he came up with for "Episode 10: Hey, That's My Fabric" :

Wait. I've seen this before ... Where have I seen this before... (ponder, ponder) Aha! That's right the Stephen Sprouse/ Louis Vuitton collaboration that came up with this lovely creation:

I also think Sprouse did a collection with Target about five years ago, but I may be mistaken. Anyway, the graffiti monogram has been done. Michael, Nina, and Heidi were definitely drinking the happy juice and smoking the love weed when they picked the winner for that challenge.

My last beef with him is the fact that his model, Lorena, seems to have helped with his designs the past couple of challenges, all of which he's won. Hmmm, could the model actually have a good sense of fashion and not just wear whatever she's told to? I think his failings were really being shown with the little bit of his final collection which we got to see on this week's episode. I was having flashbacks to the 70s (not really, since it was like 15 years before I was born) with the colors, especially that awful pea green, baby puke color. shudder

Emilio needs to have his ego popped and I would much rather have seen Jay as the third finalist over Emilio.

Decaying Spring

2010-04-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

I realize that Fall is supposed to be the season where everything slowly dies, but really Spring is also a season of decay, ... especially when it comes to magnolia trees. For about a week, magnolia trees are gorgeous to look at, all snowy pink on top and gracefully gray underneath, but after that glorious week this happens:

It looks like it's Fall. The branches are baring themselves and the rotting brown petals are simply hanging on like so much baggage. Of course, what was up must come down; this is what the bottom of the tree looks like:

Flowers, flowers, everywhere, and not a smell so sweet. Let's just say I could go on and on about how the overly, sickly, sweet stench of rotting magnolia leaves gives me the hugest headache, especially at work because there are two huge trees outside the office and the rank stench just wafts in the window. SHUDDER! I much prefer Fall's decay smell; it's slightly musty, yet crisp all at the same time.

Here's a close-up of the decomposing petals:

I realize that there is something vaguely poetic about the juxtaposition of birth/ life and decay/death, but I really can't get over the stench. I guess it's just a reminder that everything has a not so pretty side.

March Fugness

2010-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's proper etiquette to write about blog on another blog, but who give a damn because the Fug Girls have done it again! This is the only fashion blog I follow because it is cute, witty, and not overly mean. But anyway, during the NCAA b-ball tournament the Fug Girls have mirrored the bracket structure by pairing off celebs' fashion faux pas, flubs, and fugs to end up with the winner ... I will not reveal you will have to go to Go Fug Yourself to find out (and look! I've conveniently linked to the exact page!). Just the fact that the four 'regions' were named after Madonna, Cher, Bjork, and Charo was enough to hook me. Also the readers got to vote on each match-up so it was way more fair that the actual NCAA tournament (as my roommates remind me that Duke sucks because all the refs have this secret crush on the school... yadda, yadda, yadda).

I just have to say that though I enjoy reading both of the girls' writing, I tend to prefer Heather (right) over Jessica (left) just because of the all out hilarity and stream of consciousness tangents she gets into sometimes, not to mention the awesome dialogs she invents between the celebs in the pictures. Though, I must admit, that Jessica sometimes have bouts of hilarity, like this one about Nicholas Cage's new hair, or lack there of, or this one written as a letter from B. Spears, but on the whole she is the more restrained of the pair. In addition to daily posts, they also keep archives by celebrity name, so you can see the past transgressions like a rap sheet for fashion.

While you are reading the hilarious blog, check out this interview of the Fug Girls from LAist.

Mon Anniversaire!

2010-03-29T21:22:00.000-07:00

On this date in 1989, I was born. Yes I am officially 21, which basically means that I can now legally drink in the United States. It kind of sucked that it was the Monday after spring break, but I had fun. Drinks for the day: half glass of red wine, a strawberry daiquiri, part of a vanilla sex (not good), and sips from a cosmo and a plum drop(?). So I don't feel buzzed at all, but I really didn't have much and I had pasta with the daiquiri, so no hangover tomorrow.

I realize that legal drinking is supposed to be the big deal for this age, but I really don't get it. I mean if it tastes good, yeah!, but otherwise you destroy your liver, lose control over your physical and mental faculties, and possibly end up feeling like shite warmed over the next day. I will have to experiment to see if there actually is something to the buzz.

Shared birthdays:

Cy Young, MLB pitcher, was born in 1867.
John Tyler, U.S. President, was born 1790.
Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart, was born in 1918.
Eric Idle, original member of "Monty Python," was born in 1943.
Lucy Lawless, aka Xena: Warrior Princess, was born in 1968.

Historic events:

1797: Mary Wollstonecraft marries William Goodwin, their daughter is Mary Shelley.
1848: Niagra Falls stops flowing because of ice pack.
1951: Julius and Ethel Rosenberg are convicted of espionage.
1973: U.S. withdraws from Vietnam.
1974: Mariner 10 visits Mercury.

Sproing!

2010-03-16T17:34:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the grass is ... kind of green, and I can finally ditch the heavy winter coat! I kid you not, it was at least 60 today! And now I feel like doing absolutely no work and just walking around outside enjoying the weather for the first time in months.

Favorite results for "spring" Google Image search:

Gotta love cherry blossoms. It reminds me of my trip to D.C. in 8th grade.

How cute is he?!

More flowers, though I have yet to see tulips. Bluebells, snowdrops, and crocuses (croci?), yes, but no tulips.

A not so favorite past time of mine, but it must be done.

And finally...

For those not in tune with the weather or the other homonym enthusiasts out there.

Flash Dance!

2010-03-09T20:32:00.000-08:00

So flash mobs are no longer new, but they are still awesome. Here are a few of my favorite. Yes, they are mainly dance, because those are the most impressive - it's like a Broadway musical come to life - and I think it's hilarious when guys in business suits break it down.

"The Sound of Music - Antwerp"

"The T-Mobile Dance"

"Single Ladies - London"

"Glee II Flash Mob"

I would just like to say that I CANNOT WAIT until Glee comes back on. April 13!!!

And Finally, by Improv Everywhere...

"Frozen Central Station"

Almost Famous: Urbana, Illinois

2010-03-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

Today during my Comparative World Lit lecture, Prof. Rushing (a self-proclaimed movie buff) listed 4 famous movies in which Urbana, IL was mentioned. Being the wacky researcher I am, I did some Googling and found out there are a couple more, mainly from this discussion board, and now you lucky people get to read about it.

Prof. Rushing's credits:

1. 2001: A Space Odyssey: The HAL 9000 super computer is constructed and programmed/taught in Urbana at the University of Illinois (though not mentioned specifically, because HAL *spoiler alert* kills people and that would be a PR nightmare). This is possibly the most famous reference.

2. Some Like It Hot: Apparently before Jack Lemon and Tony Curtis's characters witness the St. Valentine's Day Massacre, one of them suggests that they get gigs at the University of Illinois. They end up going to Florida, lucky them. But great movie, I give it two thumbs up!

3. Risky Business: In addition to sliding around his house in tighty-whiteys, Tom Cruise's character mentions the U of I derogatorily after his Princeton interview.

4. North by Northwest: Cary Grant's character, Roger Thornhill, gets off a bus traveling to Urbana at the beginning of the famous "crop-duster" scene. (My searches did not reveal confirmation on this one.)

My findings:

Movies filmed at U of I

University of Illinois vs. a Mummy (a very low-budget 2006 independent film)

The Beginning of the End (1957): It appears to be one of the many B sci-fi films from the 50s and 60s, but the "Illinois State Experimental Farm," where all the giant grasshoppers come from, is a reference to the U of I.

Would Shakespeare Care?

2010-02-23T16:06:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I really have issues with my major of choice: English. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE to read and discuss books, but having to analyze texts and then write about it ... I ask myself, "What's the point? Does anyone actually care? Did the authors actually mean to use all these literary devices and symbols and other crap?" The answer in short: NO.

I am prompted to this rant-of-a-post because I overheard a conversation while waiting for the bus between two uber-English majors. They were complaining about how various acquaintances refused to read certain books or listen to others opinions about the "readings" of texts. The one statement I really remember is "That book was written to be analyzed!" (They were talking about The Tempest by Billy Shakes - as a close friend likes to refer to the Bard). At this point I was thoroughly fed up with the two girls and tuned out because the missed the entire point about all literature. It wasn't written to be "literature," it was written to pay the bills.

All any professional writer wants to do is make money. They would love to be remembered for ages to come, but their actual goal is just to pay the bills. Shakespeare had to please his audience, his patrons, and his actors so he wrote for them; yes, he may have been commenting on contemporary issues (King James's view on witches, for example), but he really just needed to earn some cash. Another example is Charles Dickens who wrote A Christmas Carol in six weeks and barely broke even. I do admit that some authors who were not exactly professional (they either had a day job or they were independently wealthy and lots of free time) writers probably were striving for "literature," but by and large monetary gain is the motivator for authors.

Play on, Give Me Excess of It

2010-02-17T15:53:00.000-08:00

So I'm sitting on my couch watching the U.S. and Switzerland battle it out on the sheet (please clean that dirty, dirty mind, 'sheet' is what the curling lane is called), and I can't help but wonder how much athleticism curling requires. It seems to be mostly strategy about how to "deliver" the stones into specific positions, either in the 'house' (target area at the end of the sheet), guarding above the house, or trying to knock the other teams stones from the house. I see the strategy, but maybe I'm missing the sporty athleticism.

Anyway, my other beef about the Olympic coverage is the fact that they keep showing athlete profiles about how much adversity this or that person had to overcome or how much his or her family means to him or her. They even show these special Canada-themed touristy spots (the last one I saw featured the polar bears of Churchill, an interesting fact because it means my senior year English teacher was not as crazy as we thought he was, ... well maybe just in this instance). I want to see more events whether or not the U.S. is favored in them. The amount of commercials is also disheartening. Just let me watch them play!

Blame It on the Groundhog

2010-02-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

Every February 2, thousands of Americans anxiously wait for a mid-sized rodent to emerge from its den and see its shadow, or not. This noble tradition dates as far back as 1841 and the gist is that if the groundhog doesn't see his shadow Spring will come early (YEAH!), but if the shadow is spotted the groundhog scurries back into his hole and SIX more weeks of winter will ensue.

Now, usually I don't put much stock in old wives tales, omens, or almanacs, but this year Punxsutawney Phil (the official groundhog of the U.S.) saw his shadow and boy did winter ever come roaring back to life. Here in Chambana, the past few weeks have been practically balmy for late January, with semi-sunny days and temperatures in the mid-thirties and even reaching the high of 40. But today the day began with freezing rain, which turned into sleet, which finally turned into snow, all of which was accompanied by howling winds. Of course this was also the day that I decided to wear Chucks, not my brightest idea. So I spent the last three hours of my day in soaking socks and shoes, developing a possible, minor case of frostbite. And instead of blaming my own poor planning, I have decided to blame it all on the nefarious groundhog who decided to be scared of his own shadow.

My Current Feelings...

2010-01-27T12:29:00.000-08:00

Sweet New Site

2010-01-20T15:57:00.000-08:00

So instead of posting some long rant entitled "Back to the Grind," you guys get to hear all about my new favorite website: Cracked.com

This site is full of random and hilarious countdowns about little known trivia. Basically it is a kick-ass humor site that provokes some serious thought. I was turned onto the site when a friend linked to it on facebook; her link was "6 Rulers Who Abused Their Power In Hilariously Insane Ways."

Some of my favorites so far have been:

6 Assassination Attempts that Almost F#@ked the World

6 Inventors Who Got Jack Shit for Changing the Modern World

6 Writers Who Accidentally Crapped Out Masterpieces

6 Historic Villains You Didn't Know Had Incredible Careers

and

6 Random Coincidences That Created The Modern World

(this one brings MLIA into a whole new light).

Hope you enjoy all the hours of procrastination I just provided.

Up in the Air

2010-01-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

I just got back from seeing the new George Clooney (love him!) movie Up in the Air. It was really good and very timely considering the current job/economic situation. I won't give away the ending, but let's just say it wasn't uplifting. The title says it all, Ryan's, the protagonist, life is up in the air as are the lives of thousands of Americans. As a college student this is not an inspiring story, but hopefully there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

Still I can empathize with Ryan, he doesn't really have a home except for airports. My childhood home is no longer my home. I've been away and out on my own for too long to go back; I don't quite fit anymore. At the same time my apartment is not quite home, mainly because I have three roommates. It's also the fact that my life plan is running out; I had planned my life up to going to grad school, but past that ... I don't know.

I guess it's a sign of the quality of the film that it made introspective. The one thing it did make me absolutely sure of was the fact that I never want to have Ryan's job.

The Ties of TV

2010-01-13T18:42:00.000-08:00

So I am watching the fifth season of NCIS and in the episode "Heartland" the team returns to Gibbs's hometown and meet his father, Jackson Gibbs, who is played by the actor Ralph Waite. Now, Waite was Mr. Walton way back when, but he recently made an appearance on Bones as Agent Booth's grandfather! Which means that Gibbs is Booth's TV uncle. Two of my favorite shows united in such a way ... ah.

The proof is in the pictures:

As Jackson Gibbs

As Hank Booth (in "The Foot in the Foreclosure")

Library Lament

2010-01-11T17:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, so the resolution is not going so well as this post is already three days late, but better late then never.

Anyway, I've been on campus for the past week and have been working full-time at the library and it has really driven home all the pet peeves I have about this job. No job is perfect and I am planning to have a career in the library, but I have to rant.

Patrons who walk right in front of the desk and make you think they want help, but really they're just walking by. Let's just say I am a helpful person. I want to make people's lives easier. So, when I see someone approach the desk I go into super-informed-and-helpful-Liz mode only to be let down by those people who are too lazy or rude to walk around the rope barriers.

Patrons who assume that since I work at the library I should know everything about the computers. I have no background in IT and am almost computer illiterate for a person of my generation, but I try to help as much as possible. But sometimes, patrons just don't get that we don't have an IT person just for our library. They also don't get that our computers are public ones and don't allow a lot of downloading or saving for long periods of time. (Can you tell I had an issue like this today?)

The deluge of returns that occur right before closing time. It never fails that within the last hour and a half before closing time (which usually only happens two times a week as we are open 24/5) everyone suddenly remembers that they have material to return and rush up to the desk and hand everything over. We have so much time during the day to shelve, yet we leave for the day with at least two carts of material to shelve.

Professors who don't know how to put material on reserve, check out material on reserve, and give out the incorrect information about reserves to their students. This one is pretty self-explanatory, but has a simple fix. I propose that we offer an hour class/seminar to all the professors on campus on the reserve system. I'm sure that IPM (Information Processing Management) would thank us and would even have someone there to help run it.

Trying to shelve in the compact shelving. There isn't anything I can do about this, but having to step out of the shelves and wait for a patron to find the items they want, and since all the graphic novels are there, it takes a little time. I usually go to another section and shelve for awhile, but sometimes, like today, it was one after another who wanted to get into the shelves.

The fact that somehow as soon as someone starts looking for a DVD all the glorious shelves of perfectly straightened DVDs look like an earthquake has occurred. I will admit that our shelves are slippery, as are the newer DVD cases, but ... really, can they just clean up after themselves?

The creepy middle-aged, male patrons who watch porn on library computers and try to hide it. Don't kid yourself, we all know what you're doing, and it's gross. The only reason you come to the library is because you don't want your wife/girlfriend to know how many porn sites you subscribe to or you don't want viruses on your home computer. Just stop, no one else wants to see you, so go home and enjoy yourself in privacy.

Patrons who just plop materials on the desk. It's just rude, and I can't read minds so I don't know if they want to check out or if they are returning items. A nice "Hello" would be nice or even just a "Hi," but to just stand there waiting ... ARGH!

That's all I can think of right now, and I think I covered everything, but I may be adding later. In the meantime, enjoy this awesome video:

Resolutions

2009-12-31T18:52:00.000-08:00

Most of the time I am against making New Year's resolutions because I never keep them, but this year I am going to make one: For 2010 I will write on this blog at least once a week.

I am inspired by the movie Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, and Stanley Tucci (another of those actors who is in everything [see post "Those people who are in everything"]). Most people are probably familiar with the premise of the movie, and I did enjoy it. But I think writing almost everyday like Julie is a little overboard, especially for a college student. Here is a link to The Julie/Julia Project. The blog is a little old and more difficult to navigate than Blogger, but there is this handy little calendar on the right side of the page that shows on which days a post was written.

So here it goes, hopefully I will be able to keep keep this resolution, though considering my track record from this past semester, it may be a bit dificult.

Warranty Whas?

2009-12-30T18:32:00.000-08:00

With the money my grandparents and other relatives of the older generations of my family gave me for Christmas, I bought in addition to a new pair of boots (very cute), a half-length, black, trench rain coat, and a couple of movies, I bought a set of portable iPod speakers. Now, you may wonder what anyone needs with speakers for an iPod, but think about it. When you are the only one who wants to listen to music earphones are fine, but what about a party? Most of the parties I have been to, I have not wanted to bring a computer to. And yes, there are various gadgets to hook up an iPod to the radio or stereo, but some of those connections do not produce good quality sound.

My personal reason is that I can't have headphones in at my job at LAR, but listening to Pandora on the University computer has caused some virus problems, so what's a girl to do? I don't want to drag my computer to work all the time, so I bought the speakers and am so far happy with my purchase.

But as I was throwing out the packaging for them, I glanced at the warranty and under the heading

The warranty is void if the product is:
A) Damaged through negligence, abuse, misuse, accident, or acts of God.
B) Used in comm.....

Wait. What? "Damaged through negligence, abuse, misuse, accident, or acts of God?" Regardless of the fact that the first couple of stipulations make the speakers sound like some sort of living being, what constitutes an act of God?

Food for thought.

I Shouldn't Watch Football

2009-12-28T21:21:00.000-08:00

I will be the first to admit that I am not a sports fan. I don't really understand most of the rules of say basketball or baseball, but I kind of understand football at least enough to follow the game and yell at the TV when they do something stupid. (I do understand and love volleyball, but that is beside the point). For instance I am watching the Bears/Vikings game and every time (EVERY time) Cutler tries to throw the ball he waits too long and the pocket (which wasn't too good to begin with) deteriorates and he throws an interception or is forced to throw it out of bounds. He just waits too long, he needs to get more confidence in his abilities or his line needs to realize he needs more time and hold the pocket longer, if they can.

My other beef with football is rushing up the middle. WHY? just WHY? Especially on a first down! You gain maybe three yards, if the line can open up a hole, and that's a BIG IF. With two yards to the first down, sure try it and see if you can get the first down, but if you still have over five yards to go ... no.

Now, on to Bret Farve. What can I say, he's old but effective and that makes me hate him even more.

**Side note: Two sacks in as many plays! Woot! Go defense!!!! End note.**

Where was I ... oh yes, the anti-Christ. Okay maybe that was a little strong, but he's such a tool (see definition 2 at this link). First of all, his middle name is Lorenzo ... yes, Lorenzo. He's 40 years .....

Yes! Touch down Bears! Holy Crap! That was amazing! Cutler threw a beautiful pass to end OT after losing the first possession! Unheard of!

Deep breath ..... (I woke my parents up with my triumphant yell)

He's 40 years old and has been playing professional football for 17 years and has been starting quarterback for most of them. In addition this amazing feat, he has records out the wazoo and has skill. But he is undeniably connected to the Packers, arch-enemy of da Bears, and for the past couple of seasons he has "retired" until after training camps are over and then signs with a team, first the Jets and now the Vikings. That's just shady. I shouldn't say shady because we know exactly what he's doing, no one is fooled. He just needs to retire for good and open up a dairy farm or something and let the younger generations take over the game.

Campy 90s TV

2009-12-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

So to waste my time during finals time, I have been watching Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and laughing at the outrageous-ness of this show. At least once an episode, she has to stand up for herself as a woman and usually to the same group of characters. This core group of characters are your standard stock characters: Horace the nerdy but noble post master, Loren the grumpy, old general store owner, Hank the bully saloon owner, and Jake Slicker the slimy bigot of a barber. Though at heart, all of these guys have a heart of gold, as shown in the episode "Bad Water" in which they all set out to save Sully and Dr. Mike from the evil miner who is poisoning the town's water.

In addition to the stock characters there are the actual doctor scenes, which consist mainly of Jane Seymour knowing within two seconds of looking at the patient what is wrong, calling for water, caressing patients foreheads, and having long conversations about how "they WILL get better." (Please imagine the last quote in an overly sincere and heartfelt tone). Plus a successful brain surgery! And the gratuitous ending hug/pose that reinforces the family values of the show.

However, during "Running Ghost" when Sully gets the crap beaten out of him by the railroad buffalo murderers and is temporarily paralyzed there is this scene that Dr. Mike is trying to keep his blood circulating in his legs, but Sully gets really uncomfortable and you have to wonder if his other leg was where all the blood began circulating ... just saying.

I will not address the depictions of the Cheyenne and Native Americans in general, but sufice to say that it is stereotypical of all Hollywood depictions.

Some of the special effects are so cheesy, so much dry ice and blank explosions. In "Running Ghost" they had this head of a white buffalo that rammed into the bad guy, and you could so see the two-by-four frame it was mounted on at the edge of the screen.

Besides all of the above, I like the show mainly because of all the campy stuff, but also because of the scruffy hotness that is Joe Lando. *sigh*

How can you resist?

The Hours

2009-12-12T15:54:00.000-08:00

So I just watched The Hours last night and I loved it! It was a very moving drama and it was intense how the three story lines all intertwined when they were from so very different time periods. My one problem with the film was that I didn't realize that Nicole Kidman played Virginia Woolf, until I looked it up on IMDb. I spent most of the film thinking that Julianne Moore was Nicole Kidman. I have to say I am still not 100% convinced, but kudos to whoever did her make up; having to go from this:

to this:

I am amazed.

Burn Out

2009-11-10T20:05:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the semester when I have to push myself to do anything constructive. I just want to lay around and read snack lit or even trash lit and just not think at all. I had a video project and a paper due today. Did I turn them in? No. Did I have them partially completed? No. Did I even have them started? No. I just ... I'm taking the late grade and hoping that the quality of the work I will do will compensate for it.

I need to be rejuvenated. I need something to spark my interest enough to get me through the last three weeks of the semester and finals. I hate this feeling of powerlessness. I could have started both projects today, I should have, but I didn't and now I'm going to go into stress mode and not sleep and not eat (not the worst thing I could do) and just burn myself out even more.

I don't want to be like this. I want to be proactive in my studies. I want to turn everything in on time. I want to not be stressed out and rushing at the last minute. But most of all I just want to be done with school. This last sentiment is the worst one I feel because I have another two semesters of my undergrad and then 18 months of library school. I need to find purpose in my studies again. I need to feel like I'm actually doing something important with my life. I need purpose.

So I pray for rejuvenation and purpose in the upcoming weeks, semesters, and years.

Celebrate Banned Books Week! (Sept. 26 - Oct. 3)

2009-09-27T09:22:00.000-07:00

According to the ALA (American Library Association), "Banned Books Week (BBW) is an annual event celebrating the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment. Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States." Basically it is a week celebrating all of those books that push the envelope, discuss controversial subjects, or are deemed immoral in some way shape or form. This definition covers a lot of books, and many that are considered as "classics" now and even the Bible and the Qur'an. This is totally awesome!

I've tried finding a complete list of all banned, censored, or challenged books, but none fo the lists I've seen match up completely. Here are a few links: Wikipedia, banned-books.com, Alder & Robin Books. I wonder how Boston is celebrating and if Salman Rushdie is doing okay?

For my own personal celebration I am going to read a banned book. I'm not entirely sure which one, but I'm leaning toward re-reading A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.

People- Go out and celebrate your freedom of speech and thank God that you live in an open-minded society! And check out this blog post.

Welcome to my first Follower!

2009-09-25T20:35:00.000-07:00

Hello, Ellen! Thank you for making me feel like my little blog is somehow important. Hopefully you will the first of many (or at least a couple).

Come Back DEET!

2009-09-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

I hate bugs in general (excluding butterflies) but the target of my more than usual ire are the swarms of fruit fly-like bugs that have invaded campus. They are so tiny as to be nearly invisible so you can't avoid them by walking around the area. As if you even could! They're everywhere; nowhere seems to completely free of them.

If their overwhelming presence isn't enough, they do not try to avoid humans like most other creepy crawlies. Oh no. They think it is their job to cling to a human's shirt and then die. So I was literally speckled with these things carcasses whilst walking home from work this afternoon. They are also too small to pick of without squishing completely, so I have bug gut swipes all over me, plus that shivery feeling you get after walking through a spider web.

This is why I think the University should hand out personal windshields to every student, so at least your face is protected from the apocalyptic swarm of fruit flies. (Haz-mat suits would be better, but the budget probably wouldn't support the cost). The spraying of DEET over most of Chambana would also help. I would just like to be able to walk from one building to another without worrying about whether or not I had bug smeared across my face.

End rant.

Sweded Snow White

2009-09-06T18:10:00.000-07:00

For my WAM class we had to make a Sweded film. (If you need e definition for "Sweded" go to Wikipedia or watch the movie Be Kind Rewind.) Anyhoo, this was our end result...

Snow White and the Seven Giants

Why can't I be 5 forever?!

2009-08-27T18:19:00.000-07:00

Becoming an adult is such a pain in the butt. Not only do I have to deal with the stresses of my course load, but I have to juggle 2 part-time jobs in order to help pay for said schooling as well as food and utilities. Yes, I understand that I am lucky that my parents love me and are helping pay for the bigger expenses (tuition), but I still long for the simple and beautiful world of a five year old.

Think about it; no homework, no boss to yell at you, no worries about how you are going to eat tonight or how you are getting from one place to another. It is a magical time. Your only worries would be whether or not you could have ice cream instead of broccoli, or if it was going to rain so you couldn't go outside and play. It is an idyllic time; five year-olds are old enough to appreciate (sort of) the wonder of the world around them and they are not old enough to be ignore to it's small charms.

I think everyone deserves at least one day, once a year to be five again. A day full of swings, popsicles, sidewalk chalk, and lightening bugs. When finger painting is acceptable and even laudable. Food would appear as if by magic and there would be no worries.

Alas, it is not to be. Unlike Peter Pan, we grow up. Neverland is closed to us and we have to trudge onwards in life, shouldering responsibilities as we go. But I dare anyone to forbid me my moments of whimsy when I sit on my balcony and blow bubbles into the wind.

The Sound of Silence

2009-08-09T08:19:00.000-07:00

For the first time in a very long time, I got up early on a Sunday morning. I had to get up early in order to finish packing, but I found I had more time than I really needed. So instead of just going back to bed, I got on my bike, rode down to Green St., and had a cheese pastry and an orange juice at Panera. It was and is an absolutely gorgeous morning: cerulean skies, puffy white clouds, birds singing, and all that jazz. It was also so quiet, I saw maybe five people on the Quad, and I realized that this next week is going to be the last quiet one on campus for a very long time.

I have gotten so used to the emptiness and quietness of campus during the summer months that I feel ... almost invaded by the presence of the RAs and other early arrival students who are coming back to campus. I just liked having the campus pretty much to myself; the hordes of students were not there crowding the sidewalks, the quads, and the libraries. I could hear myself think for once.

However, I know that it is inevitable that the hordes will return and I will be glad to see my friends, but I will miss the sound of silence.

ENOUGH ALREADY!!

2009-07-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

Ever since Michael Jackson, the media has been in a frenzy. Yes, he was an innovative artist, yes, he inspired a lot of people, and yes, he paved the way for a lot of things (I don't buy Jesse Jackson's claim that MJ paved the way for Obama), but I have not seen this kind of hype since Princess Di died (an interesting comparison as MJ's death overshadowed several other deaths [Ed McMahon, Ferra Faucet, and Walter Cronkite] just like Princess Di did to Mother Theresa - freaking Mother Therea!).

The worst perpetrator of the MJ mania is TV Guide channel. It's like MJ 24/7; there are specials on his childhood, his fame, and his family. They replayed various parts of his memorial service (where there was a gold casket - calling Liberace). There were also at least two specials comparing MJ to The King, and it doesn't help that MJ married Lisa Marie.

Just today I switched on the boob tube and was greeted with TV Guide infroming me that Dr. Murray is one of the prime suspects in the criminal investigation of MJ's death. I can't help feeling a little sorry for this guy. First off, he was living with Michael; that's not a fate I would wish on anyone especially after all the crazy stuff MJ did (baby-over-the-balcony incident ring and bells?). I know you're not supposed to speak ill of the dead, but there has to be reason that MJ was involved in 2 child molestation cases. Besides all that, this doctor is getting hounded by the press and all of his decisions are being questioned again and again. *sigh* It's the price one must pay to rub elbows with the rich and famous.

I just want it all to stop. I want to be able to see what the broadcast schedule is without hearing more dirty details about the MJ investigation. I want to be able to browse the current magazines without that creppy, skeletal face popping off of almost every cover. I want his kids and family (no matter how weird they are) to have time to greive, accept, and move on, something they can't do with all the hype.

So good-bye MJ. Thank you for all your many contributions to the music and cultural scene of America (even though we could have gone without some of it). Can you please just go away?!

Those people who are in everything.

2009-07-27T13:30:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about some of my favorite movies and I realized the same actress is in almost all of them. I had no idea who she was except for the fact that she almost always is in a supporting role and is rather type-casted.

Her name is Judy Greer and she plays the best friend. She can either be the bitchy, back-stabber like in 13 Going On 30 or the quirky, blunt, and supportive friend as in 27 Dresses and The Wedding Planner.

She is not always in a supporting role, for instance last year she starred in an ABC sitcom: "Miss Guided." She was the nerdy high school girl who grew up to be the school's guidance counselor. It was quirky and funny and represented the concerns of high school without the over-the-top plot lines of ... say Gossip Girl, 90210, and other shows of that ilk.

Whatever role she is playing, I think she is a superb comedic actress who can pull off darker roles once in a while. I plan to follow her career more closely and see what else this girl has up her sleeve.

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