Thank goodness. After such a horrible season finale, 7th Heaven has a chance to redeem itself.
It has been picked up on the CW Network for one more season. My Monday nights will be complete again.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
I can't dance
My students are learning a dance to "Men in Black" for our school's dance festival.
I am trying to learn it too.
Pitiful reminder of how bad I am at dancing.
I want to make a family website this summer.
Reformat the wedding site into a family one.
Not exactly sure what I want on it yet.
I am reading "Creating Family Websites for Dummies..."
I got me a nice sunburn this weekend, while sitting outside to read The DaVinci Code.
Very painful on my legs.
I'm so stoopid.
16 days of school left.
Two weeks.
Two half weeks.
Yikes.
Summer. Takes forever to come.
Flies by so fast.
I live my life like I play the Sims.
Looking impatiently forward to what will come next,
instead of enjoying the moment.
When will my Sims graduate from University?
Will their marriage plans work out?
What kids will they have?
When will my next vacation be?
How long until summer?
When is Cafe Oreleans reopening at Disneyland?
Bad habit I need to break.
"After all that we've been through, I know we're cool"
I am trying to learn it too.
Pitiful reminder of how bad I am at dancing.
I want to make a family website this summer.
Reformat the wedding site into a family one.
Not exactly sure what I want on it yet.
I am reading "Creating Family Websites for Dummies..."
I got me a nice sunburn this weekend, while sitting outside to read The DaVinci Code.
Very painful on my legs.
I'm so stoopid.
16 days of school left.
Two weeks.
Two half weeks.
Yikes.
Summer. Takes forever to come.
Flies by so fast.
I live my life like I play the Sims.
Looking impatiently forward to what will come next,
instead of enjoying the moment.
When will my Sims graduate from University?
Will their marriage plans work out?
What kids will they have?
When will my next vacation be?
How long until summer?
When is Cafe Oreleans reopening at Disneyland?
Bad habit I need to break.
"After all that we've been through, I know we're cool"
Sunday, May 28, 2006
The DaVinci Code
In the past eight days I have:
Seen The DaVinci Code movie
Attended a talk by Josh McDowell at a nearby Church
Read a book called "The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answers" by Josh McDowell
Reread "The DaVinci Code", by Dan Brown
I had planned to blog about my reaction to all of these things put together, but I feel as though the blog would be inadequate. My hope was to have some equal examination of both points of view: The theories presented in The DaVinci Code and why parts of them could be plausible, and the point of view that these theories are absolutely fictional in basis.
I understand that much more evidence than this would be needed to really come up with a historical response, but I was hoping to just come up with an intellectual one.
Unfortunately, I found McDowell's book, overall, to be extremely unhelpful.
First of all, it seemed to me that the McDowell was too interested in laughing at the characters and making subtle digs at the author. I could have done without the cheap shots.
Secondly, he tries to point out Brown's inaccuracies with a few examples of mistakes Brown made when describing architecture (the same examples he used both in his speech and in his book.) However, I was astounded to realize when I reread the novel, that Brown points out hundreds of "clues," and McDowell seems only to be able to refute a few of them. Not very convincing.
Granted, Brown claims at the beginning of his book that all descriptions of architecture and art are accurate and McDowell was able to find one mistake that I have confirmed thus far.
Next, McDowell sometimes argues irrelevant claims. I am not sure why he chooses to dispute claims that aren’t made in the book. For example:
McDowell states that Silas is referred to as a monk but that there are no monks in Opus Dei. However, the book refers to Silas as a monk because of the way he dresses, but when he officially announces himself, (or anyone officially talks about him) he is then referred to as a "brother," or a "numerary", which Opus Dei does have. So he is arguing a moot point. Brown never states in his book that Opus Dei has monks. He describes Silas as a monk from other's perspectives because that is how he appears.
Finally, and most irritatingly, every time McDowell made a really good point that I wanted to follow up on, he would reference me to another DaVinci code debunking book. How irritating. He complains about Dan Brown's sources, and yet many of his own (and most of which that claimed really intriguing points) simply refer to other authors who are clearly writing with the same agenda: "The Truth behind the DaVinci Code", "Breaking the DaVinci Code," "The DaVinci Deception," "DaVinci, Fact or Fiction." etc. This is not to say they are his only references. McDowell has many more. But again, almost every time he stated a fact and sited it that I was curious about the source, it was one of these books. Very frustrating.
So, as such, I do not recommend McDowell's book. Also, I feel I have much more research to do to look for the answer I want. If the authors of all these DaVinci-bunking books are merely a ring of authors quoting each other, I may have a problem. We'll see.
“…every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith – acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we can not prove. Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessible. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors.” – The DaVinci Code
Seen The DaVinci Code movie
Attended a talk by Josh McDowell at a nearby Church
Read a book called "The DaVinci Code: A Quest for Answers" by Josh McDowell
Reread "The DaVinci Code", by Dan Brown
I had planned to blog about my reaction to all of these things put together, but I feel as though the blog would be inadequate. My hope was to have some equal examination of both points of view: The theories presented in The DaVinci Code and why parts of them could be plausible, and the point of view that these theories are absolutely fictional in basis.
I understand that much more evidence than this would be needed to really come up with a historical response, but I was hoping to just come up with an intellectual one.
Unfortunately, I found McDowell's book, overall, to be extremely unhelpful.
First of all, it seemed to me that the McDowell was too interested in laughing at the characters and making subtle digs at the author. I could have done without the cheap shots.
Secondly, he tries to point out Brown's inaccuracies with a few examples of mistakes Brown made when describing architecture (the same examples he used both in his speech and in his book.) However, I was astounded to realize when I reread the novel, that Brown points out hundreds of "clues," and McDowell seems only to be able to refute a few of them. Not very convincing.
Granted, Brown claims at the beginning of his book that all descriptions of architecture and art are accurate and McDowell was able to find one mistake that I have confirmed thus far.
Next, McDowell sometimes argues irrelevant claims. I am not sure why he chooses to dispute claims that aren’t made in the book. For example:
McDowell states that Silas is referred to as a monk but that there are no monks in Opus Dei. However, the book refers to Silas as a monk because of the way he dresses, but when he officially announces himself, (or anyone officially talks about him) he is then referred to as a "brother," or a "numerary", which Opus Dei does have. So he is arguing a moot point. Brown never states in his book that Opus Dei has monks. He describes Silas as a monk from other's perspectives because that is how he appears.
Finally, and most irritatingly, every time McDowell made a really good point that I wanted to follow up on, he would reference me to another DaVinci code debunking book. How irritating. He complains about Dan Brown's sources, and yet many of his own (and most of which that claimed really intriguing points) simply refer to other authors who are clearly writing with the same agenda: "The Truth behind the DaVinci Code", "Breaking the DaVinci Code," "The DaVinci Deception," "DaVinci, Fact or Fiction." etc. This is not to say they are his only references. McDowell has many more. But again, almost every time he stated a fact and sited it that I was curious about the source, it was one of these books. Very frustrating.
So, as such, I do not recommend McDowell's book. Also, I feel I have much more research to do to look for the answer I want. If the authors of all these DaVinci-bunking books are merely a ring of authors quoting each other, I may have a problem. We'll see.
“…every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith – acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we can not prove. Every religion describes God through metaphor, allegory, and exaggeration, from the early Egyptians through modern Sunday school. Metaphors are a way to help our minds process the unprocessible. The problems arise when we begin to believe literally in our own metaphors.” – The DaVinci Code
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
The Da Vinci Code Message Boards
I've been hanging out over at the Da Vinci Code message boards on the IMDB and I have found some thread titles that were quite amusing.
For example:
"Is atheism a religion?"
"There is more truth to the Da Vinci Code then the Bible, True or False?"
"what has God done for us lately? Let's see..."
"The DaVinci COde is setting the stage for the Antichrist!!!"
"I bet a lot more athiests will be praying..."
"Why Christianity is fake"
"Who are you guys talking to"
"This is about movies. Not GAYS or RELIGION please respect"
"To all the ITS JUST FICTION parrots"
"STOP IT! I'M JEWISH! AAAAGGGHHHH!"
"If we evolved from monkeys, how come there are still monkeys today?"
"Can anyone be intelligent and religious?"
"Why did God give us unwanted body hair if we came from Adam and Eve?"
"INTELLIGENT DESIGN"
"Regarding all the "Why do Christians say I'm going to hell" questions."
"This book was written on a fourth grade reading level."
"Jesus Saves"
"Athiests - IF GOD WERE PROVEN TO EXIST"
"You guys need therapy"
For example:
"Is atheism a religion?"
"There is more truth to the Da Vinci Code then the Bible, True or False?"
"what has God done for us lately? Let's see..."
"The DaVinci COde is setting the stage for the Antichrist!!!"
"I bet a lot more athiests will be praying..."
"Why Christianity is fake"
"Who are you guys talking to"
"This is about movies. Not GAYS or RELIGION please respect"
"To all the ITS JUST FICTION parrots"
"STOP IT! I'M JEWISH! AAAAGGGHHHH!"
"If we evolved from monkeys, how come there are still monkeys today?"
"Can anyone be intelligent and religious?"
"Why did God give us unwanted body hair if we came from Adam and Eve?"
"INTELLIGENT DESIGN"
"Regarding all the "Why do Christians say I'm going to hell" questions."
"This book was written on a fourth grade reading level."
"Jesus Saves"
"Athiests - IF GOD WERE PROVEN TO EXIST"
"You guys need therapy"
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Hooray for Hollywood
So this weekend, Grant and I went to LA! We took the train up after school on Friday (It was very close, the train pulled up a minute after we got on the platform... yikes!)
We arrived at Union sation and took the redline to Hollywood and Highland and checked into the Marriott Reniassance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland. Our room was on the 14th floor, overlooking the Hollywood hills.
Then we hopped back on the redline and took it to Hollywood and Vine, where we walked to the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood to see The Da Vinci Code. COmplete with protesters and a news van. Sweet!
After the movie we went to dinner at Miceli's Restaurant which was very cool, complete with a piano player and at an opera singer and great Italian food.
Finally, we swung by Coldstone Creamery at Hollywood and Highland before heading abck to our room to watch some TV and go to bed.
On Saturday we went to Universal Studios. We went ahead and got an Annual Pass, which is good because Fear Factor Live was closed, and that was the one thing we wanted to see because it was new since we'd last been.
And I was SO excited (Ok my nerdiness comes out, again, here) on the tram tour we went by the old courthouse square... you know, my favorite part where the clock tower scenes from Back to the Future were filmed... Yeah, well its dressed up for something else, and it happens to be one of my current favorite TV shows... Ghost Whisperer!!! The courthouse Sqare is the Grandview Mainstreet, complete with the plants, the memorial in the middle, and on the left "Same as it Never Was" antiques shop!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! How cool is that???
We left Universal at about 6 and had dinner at the City Walk before catching the redline back to our hotel to pick up our bag, and then taking the redline to the Union Sation to catch the Amtrak home.
What a great weekend, and I still have all day today!
We arrived at Union sation and took the redline to Hollywood and Highland and checked into the Marriott Reniassance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland. Our room was on the 14th floor, overlooking the Hollywood hills.
Then we hopped back on the redline and took it to Hollywood and Vine, where we walked to the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood to see The Da Vinci Code. COmplete with protesters and a news van. Sweet!
After the movie we went to dinner at Miceli's Restaurant which was very cool, complete with a piano player and at an opera singer and great Italian food.
Finally, we swung by Coldstone Creamery at Hollywood and Highland before heading abck to our room to watch some TV and go to bed.
On Saturday we went to Universal Studios. We went ahead and got an Annual Pass, which is good because Fear Factor Live was closed, and that was the one thing we wanted to see because it was new since we'd last been.
And I was SO excited (Ok my nerdiness comes out, again, here) on the tram tour we went by the old courthouse square... you know, my favorite part where the clock tower scenes from Back to the Future were filmed... Yeah, well its dressed up for something else, and it happens to be one of my current favorite TV shows... Ghost Whisperer!!! The courthouse Sqare is the Grandview Mainstreet, complete with the plants, the memorial in the middle, and on the left "Same as it Never Was" antiques shop!!! AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!! How cool is that???
We left Universal at about 6 and had dinner at the City Walk before catching the redline back to our hotel to pick up our bag, and then taking the redline to the Union Sation to catch the Amtrak home.
What a great weekend, and I still have all day today!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Amazing Race Finale?
I can't take this stress!
Will it be TTOW or Damn you frat boys???
Crap!!! This is a great final task!!!
breathe breathe breathe
Please we REALLY need a good season ending this year!!!!
TTOW!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!!! THE HIPPIES ROCK!!!! THE HIPPIES HAVE WON!!!!!!
SEE, GOOD WILL ALWAYS CONQUER!!!!
Will it be TTOW or Damn you frat boys???
Crap!!! This is a great final task!!!
breathe breathe breathe
Please we REALLY need a good season ending this year!!!!
TTOW!!!!!!!!!!
YES!!!!!!! THE HIPPIES ROCK!!!! THE HIPPIES HAVE WON!!!!!!
SEE, GOOD WILL ALWAYS CONQUER!!!!
why i do not like the frat brothers
Ok, the frat brothers are like mean ol' bullies. They are just like those jerks who keep talking trying to make people feel bad and deflect what they've done.
You know those people. They are jerks, and do jerky things. And then, someone plays along, follows thier game, jumps in... so the jerks wine and loudly talk abou what the other people did, becasue they are mad that they got a taste of their own medicine. They're goal is to embarrass and make the others feel guilty.
The worst part about jerks like that is when they prey on those that actually have a conscience... because the guilt trip can sometimes work.
When BJ and Tyler beat the frat boys in a paddle race to the pit stop, the boys were embarrassed and angry that they'd lost, and loudly in fromt of Phil, complained that the hippies were "playing dirty" because they mislead the frat boys about a clue... Thne frat boys saying the hippies are playing dirty? Thats the pot calling the kettle black... the frat boys once called the taxi company and canceled everyone's taxis! The most annoying thing was that they wouldn't shut up about it! It was irritiating...
God, I hope the hippies win!
TTOW!!!!!
You know those people. They are jerks, and do jerky things. And then, someone plays along, follows thier game, jumps in... so the jerks wine and loudly talk abou what the other people did, becasue they are mad that they got a taste of their own medicine. They're goal is to embarrass and make the others feel guilty.
The worst part about jerks like that is when they prey on those that actually have a conscience... because the guilt trip can sometimes work.
When BJ and Tyler beat the frat boys in a paddle race to the pit stop, the boys were embarrassed and angry that they'd lost, and loudly in fromt of Phil, complained that the hippies were "playing dirty" because they mislead the frat boys about a clue... Thne frat boys saying the hippies are playing dirty? Thats the pot calling the kettle black... the frat boys once called the taxi company and canceled everyone's taxis! The most annoying thing was that they wouldn't shut up about it! It was irritiating...
God, I hope the hippies win!
TTOW!!!!!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Subscribers!
Well, Its official. Grant and I are subscribers to the Orange County Performing Arts Center Broadway series. WOW!
Grant and I have talked about it often in the past, but we've always opted not to, due to the expense.
This year, I had decided to get the tickets for Grant and I for my first year anniversey present to him (built in dates throughout the year, plus, traditionally, the first year gift is supposed to be paper, right?)
SO last week, Grant says to me, "Hey! Let's get season tickets to the broadway season at the Performing Arts Center!"
"Well," I stutter, "Isn't it kind of expensive?"
"Come on, we've talked about it, and I know you want to!"
sigh. "yes Grant. I do..." IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR ANNIVERSERY GIFT!!! grr..
Well, see, on the bright side, that's why we belong together. We think alike, and like the same stuff!
So this season, we will be seeing:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sweet Charity starring Molly Ringwald
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Annie
The Light in the Piazza
All Shook Up
Pippin
Chita Rivera - A Dancer's Life
Mamma Mia!
Riverdance
Grant and I have talked about it often in the past, but we've always opted not to, due to the expense.
This year, I had decided to get the tickets for Grant and I for my first year anniversey present to him (built in dates throughout the year, plus, traditionally, the first year gift is supposed to be paper, right?)
SO last week, Grant says to me, "Hey! Let's get season tickets to the broadway season at the Performing Arts Center!"
"Well," I stutter, "Isn't it kind of expensive?"
"Come on, we've talked about it, and I know you want to!"
sigh. "yes Grant. I do..." IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE YOUR ANNIVERSERY GIFT!!! grr..
Well, see, on the bright side, that's why we belong together. We think alike, and like the same stuff!
So this season, we will be seeing:
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Sweet Charity starring Molly Ringwald
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Annie
The Light in the Piazza
All Shook Up
Pippin
Chita Rivera - A Dancer's Life
Mamma Mia!
Riverdance
Monday, May 08, 2006
And the most disappointing finale ever goes to...
The 7th Heaven Series Finale was tonight, and it was majorly dissapointing.
The first 50 minutes (of the one hour episode, mind you) was the same Simon and Rose, will they or won't they get married debate. Sigh. Then, they come back from a commercial, and show everyone at the reception!! (Waaaa? What happened to the wedding? Well they keep us guessing for the next 8 minutes...)
In the mean time, they squeeze in that Matt and Sarah are pregnant with twin boys, Lucy and Kevin are pregnant with twin boys, oh and Carlos and Mary (who calls - and doesn't even join the family in person) are back together and, guess what? They're pregnant with twin girls.
Uh huh...
SO then, Sandy shows up with her baby and Simon explains that he and Rose were NOT married. They both realized that they shouldn't go into a marriage so undecided. (Good decision - 1 thing that made me happy)
And then Sandy says, "Did Rose talk to you about the baby?"
Simon says, "No.."
and Sandy says, "We need to talk." and the freakin episode ends. Waaaa???
So lets start with the positive:
Rose and Simon don't get married.
Carlos and Mary are back together.
Mary is suprising her parents with the fact that she is graduating from college.
Mary, Sarah, and Lucy are pregnant.
The negatives:
Mary, Sarah, and Lucy are pregnant... with twins (how unbelievably cheesy corny retarded is that? You could argue that fraternal twins are genetic, but that doesn't exactly help Sarah's case... and besides... at the same time??? whatever.)
Mary comes back for a "what if" sequence with the family, but doesn't appear in real time with the family... which she should have... this is the series finale! A phone call doesn't cut it! I'm glad Jessica Biel came back for the episode, but it should have been more connection with her family. Even if she only came in at the very end. It would not have been unlikely for her to show up for a wedding.
Dropping a bomb by implying that Simon might be the father of Sandy's baby. I mean, I understand that they want us to realize that life with the Camdens is going to continue, but seriously... a bomb like that in the series finale?? Totally unneeded. That's more like a season finale cliff hanger. Series finales are supposed to tie up loose ends, not create a bunch more!
Where was Martin?
No emotion. Except for a couple of flashbacks, there was very little different about this episode then any other. I didn't get all weepy (I can cry at the drop of a hat, especially on goodbye episodes...) I mean, it was so empty, with so much crammed in the last 10 minutes, most of which was idiotic.
that's it??
I seriously hope the show comes back on the new CW station. That the script was so bad, because they really believed that they were coming back, so they left a cliff hanger...
If this was truly the last episode, they should have ended it with Matt and Sarah's graduation from Med School, which was happening the next day, or with Mary's graduation, or some big momentous ceremony or event, that left us believing that life was good, the family was together for a special event, and some hints about the heppy future they would have together...
...an ending is not a 50 minute, will-they won't-they build up to a half-assed wedding that didn't even happen... followed by 10 minutes of hurried conversations to tie up loose ends in the crappiest manner possible, only to put the icing on the cake by dropping a bomb that could totally alter the course of a major character's life...
...and not one tear. Not even a sniffle.
The first 50 minutes (of the one hour episode, mind you) was the same Simon and Rose, will they or won't they get married debate. Sigh. Then, they come back from a commercial, and show everyone at the reception!! (Waaaa? What happened to the wedding? Well they keep us guessing for the next 8 minutes...)
In the mean time, they squeeze in that Matt and Sarah are pregnant with twin boys, Lucy and Kevin are pregnant with twin boys, oh and Carlos and Mary (who calls - and doesn't even join the family in person) are back together and, guess what? They're pregnant with twin girls.
Uh huh...
SO then, Sandy shows up with her baby and Simon explains that he and Rose were NOT married. They both realized that they shouldn't go into a marriage so undecided. (Good decision - 1 thing that made me happy)
And then Sandy says, "Did Rose talk to you about the baby?"
Simon says, "No.."
and Sandy says, "We need to talk." and the freakin episode ends. Waaaa???
So lets start with the positive:
Rose and Simon don't get married.
Carlos and Mary are back together.
Mary is suprising her parents with the fact that she is graduating from college.
Mary, Sarah, and Lucy are pregnant.
The negatives:
Mary, Sarah, and Lucy are pregnant... with twins (how unbelievably cheesy corny retarded is that? You could argue that fraternal twins are genetic, but that doesn't exactly help Sarah's case... and besides... at the same time??? whatever.)
Mary comes back for a "what if" sequence with the family, but doesn't appear in real time with the family... which she should have... this is the series finale! A phone call doesn't cut it! I'm glad Jessica Biel came back for the episode, but it should have been more connection with her family. Even if she only came in at the very end. It would not have been unlikely for her to show up for a wedding.
Dropping a bomb by implying that Simon might be the father of Sandy's baby. I mean, I understand that they want us to realize that life with the Camdens is going to continue, but seriously... a bomb like that in the series finale?? Totally unneeded. That's more like a season finale cliff hanger. Series finales are supposed to tie up loose ends, not create a bunch more!
Where was Martin?
No emotion. Except for a couple of flashbacks, there was very little different about this episode then any other. I didn't get all weepy (I can cry at the drop of a hat, especially on goodbye episodes...) I mean, it was so empty, with so much crammed in the last 10 minutes, most of which was idiotic.
that's it??
I seriously hope the show comes back on the new CW station. That the script was so bad, because they really believed that they were coming back, so they left a cliff hanger...
If this was truly the last episode, they should have ended it with Matt and Sarah's graduation from Med School, which was happening the next day, or with Mary's graduation, or some big momentous ceremony or event, that left us believing that life was good, the family was together for a special event, and some hints about the heppy future they would have together...
...an ending is not a 50 minute, will-they won't-they build up to a half-assed wedding that didn't even happen... followed by 10 minutes of hurried conversations to tie up loose ends in the crappiest manner possible, only to put the icing on the cake by dropping a bomb that could totally alter the course of a major character's life...
...and not one tear. Not even a sniffle.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Vote for your favorite Survivor
Watch Survivor? Terry made it to the final four, which by default gets him to the final 3. hee hee.
Anyways you can vote for your favorite Survivor to win a new GMC.
I voted for Cerie, because Terry already won. It was between Cerie and Dan, the astronaut for me, and I thought with three younger kids she could possibly use it more.
Anyways you can vote for your favorite Survivor to win a new GMC.
I voted for Cerie, because Terry already won. It was between Cerie and Dan, the astronaut for me, and I thought with three younger kids she could possibly use it more.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Hodge Podge
I love the new Strawberry Mini-wheats. They're not as good as the old kind, but I dig them.
I rode my bike home from school yesterday. That was fun. I might try to do that once or twice a week. It really wiped me out, though.
I am so sad Paris was voted off American Idol. I think she is SO GOOD, and truly an American Idol.
I love 24, but it stresses me out so much!!! I almost bit Grant's head off the other night while I was watching it because he asked me a question in the middle of a particularly stressful part.
I hate state testing.
I am SO EXCITED that Rosie is going to be on The View in September.
Bye now.
I rode my bike home from school yesterday. That was fun. I might try to do that once or twice a week. It really wiped me out, though.
I am so sad Paris was voted off American Idol. I think she is SO GOOD, and truly an American Idol.
I love 24, but it stresses me out so much!!! I almost bit Grant's head off the other night while I was watching it because he asked me a question in the middle of a particularly stressful part.
I hate state testing.
I am SO EXCITED that Rosie is going to be on The View in September.
Bye now.
Friday, April 28, 2006
BJ and Tyler
I LOVE BJ and Tyler. LOVE THEM!
Here's why: They are so friendly. They are so nice and goofy and happy-go-lucky.
But what I really love is that they have learned to say something (at the very least, "thank you,") in the language of all of the countries they visited. AND THEY USE IT!!!
Often times, people will know how to use the language but not actually do it (so often you hear them say thank you in English with attempting the other language... in the case of The Race, it could very well be the stress of racing, being in a hurry... but often it is being nervous about saing it wrong, or just not knowing it or whatever...
BJ and Tyler are SO GRACIOUS!!! They ALWAYS talk to the locals and always say something in that language. I LOVE that about them... They are so fun and happy and unselfconscious and friendly.
They are my All Time favorite Racers
Here's why: They are so friendly. They are so nice and goofy and happy-go-lucky.
But what I really love is that they have learned to say something (at the very least, "thank you,") in the language of all of the countries they visited. AND THEY USE IT!!!
Often times, people will know how to use the language but not actually do it (so often you hear them say thank you in English with attempting the other language... in the case of The Race, it could very well be the stress of racing, being in a hurry... but often it is being nervous about saing it wrong, or just not knowing it or whatever...
BJ and Tyler are SO GRACIOUS!!! They ALWAYS talk to the locals and always say something in that language. I LOVE that about them... They are so fun and happy and unselfconscious and friendly.
They are my All Time favorite Racers
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Glad I'm an HB Barbie
Irvine Barbie
This princess Barbie is only sold at The Irvine Spectrum. She comes
With an assortment of Louis Vuitton handbags, a Lexus SUV, a toy dog named Honey, and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with "augmented" version.
Orange Barbie
This modern-day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar
Minivan and white silouette stickers of family members on the rear
window. Known as a "soccer mom" she gets lost easily and has no full time occupation or secondary education. Has PTA membership and comes with Tupperware accessories. Cell phone sold separately.
Garden Grove Barbie
In addition to perfect English, this Barbie also speaks fluent
Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Comes with her own
street-racing import car, complete with Japanese animation decals. Large collection of video games sold separately. Careers or homes for this Barbie are not available, because she will stay with her parents until they die. If you purchase a Ken doll, he must move into her family's home and wait for their inheritance.
Buena Park Barbie
This recently paroled former "Porn Actress" Barbie comes with a 9mm
handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a
meth lab kit. This model is only available after dark and can only be
paid for in cash.
Tustin Ranch Barbie
This yuppie Blond Barbie comes with your choice of a convertible
Mercedes AMG55 or a Cadillac Escalade. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card, and Curves membership. Comes also with Giorgio Armani fragrance, Gucci bag and Kate Spade sunglasses. Additional options for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. (You won't be able to afford any of them).
Yorba Linda Barbie
This brunette Barbie is the sister to Tustin Ranch Barbie and comes
with or without highlig hts. She comes with a BMW convertible or Hummer H2, Kenneth Cole Sunglasses, a Country Club Membership, and a Pier 1 credit line. Options for Yorba Linda Barbie are the Shiseido makeup kit; the Bvlgari jewelry set, or the Prada shoe collection. Yorba Linda Barbie has optional yuppie Ken doll complete with Corvette, hair gel and Rolex watch.
Newport Beach Barbie
This collagen injected, rhinoplastic Barbie wears an Yves Saint Laurent leopard print bikini outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends at the beach house. Percocet prescription and monthly alimony checks are included. This Barbie is only sold in Fashion Island.
Laguna Beach Barbie
This doll comes complete with craft set. She has long straight brown
hair, archless feet, no makeup, and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her "Willow." She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Laguna Beach Barbie's, you get a rainbow flag sticker free.
Long Beach Barbie
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional
accessories include a GED and a bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his '79 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of an infant.
Huntington Beach Barbie
This very tan Barbie comes with string bikini, wet suit, 3 friendship
bracelets and surfboard. An MP3 player, Blockbuster video membership, pair of Vans and a beach cruiser are also included. Optional is her Lifeguard Yellow Ford Ranger with board rack (free KROQ sticker included!) Spicolli Ken can be purchased separately and comes with Hawaiian shirt and board shorts.
Rancho Santa Margarita Barbie
She 's perfect in every way. Her home is perfect. Her family is perfect. Comes with a part time job to earn her own spending money and a bible for church on Sundays. Also has a pre-assigned carpool day. We don't know who Ken is because he's always away hunting or biking or something...
Santa Ana Barbie
This Spanish-speaking-only Barbie comes with a 1984 Toyota with
expired temporary plates and three baby Barbies in the back seat, but
no car seats. The optional Ken doll comes with a meat-packer's uniform and is missing three fingers on his left hand. Green cards are not available for Santa Ana Barbie or Ken.
OUT OF TOWN BARBIES:
Fontana Barbie
This pale model comes dressed in low rise Levi's, a NASCAR shirt, and a Tweety Bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Coors Light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and
kick mullet-haired Ken's ass when she is drunk. A mobile home is also
available.
Norco Barbie
This tobacco chewing, brassy-haired Barbie comes with her own horse and dog! Her ensemble includes pair of Wrangler jeans (2 sizes too small), straw hat, fake rhinestone belt and belt buckle bought from the local paw n shop. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free!
Hemet Barbie
This aging Barbie is best kept indoors. She comes complete with wire
grocery stroller, Omni Trans bus pass, food stamps, coupon book and
sewing machine. Optional mobile home comes with choice of colored rock and various cactus varieties.
West Hollywood
Barbie/Ken
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by
Simply adding or subtracting the multiple "snap-on" parts.
This princess Barbie is only sold at The Irvine Spectrum. She comes
With an assortment of Louis Vuitton handbags, a Lexus SUV, a toy dog named Honey, and a cookie-cutter house. Available with or without tummy tuck and face lift. Workaholic Ken sold only in conjunction with "augmented" version.
Orange Barbie
This modern-day homemaker Barbie is available with Ford Windstar
Minivan and white silouette stickers of family members on the rear
window. Known as a "soccer mom" she gets lost easily and has no full time occupation or secondary education. Has PTA membership and comes with Tupperware accessories. Cell phone sold separately.
Garden Grove Barbie
In addition to perfect English, this Barbie also speaks fluent
Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, Mandarin and Tagalog. Comes with her own
street-racing import car, complete with Japanese animation decals. Large collection of video games sold separately. Careers or homes for this Barbie are not available, because she will stay with her parents until they die. If you purchase a Ken doll, he must move into her family's home and wait for their inheritance.
Buena Park Barbie
This recently paroled former "Porn Actress" Barbie comes with a 9mm
handgun, a Ray Lewis knife, a Chevy with dark tinted windows, and a
meth lab kit. This model is only available after dark and can only be
paid for in cash.
Tustin Ranch Barbie
This yuppie Blond Barbie comes with your choice of a convertible
Mercedes AMG55 or a Cadillac Escalade. Included are her own Starbucks cup, credit card, and Curves membership. Comes also with Giorgio Armani fragrance, Gucci bag and Kate Spade sunglasses. Additional options for this set are Shallow Ken and Private School Skipper. (You won't be able to afford any of them).
Yorba Linda Barbie
This brunette Barbie is the sister to Tustin Ranch Barbie and comes
with or without highlig hts. She comes with a BMW convertible or Hummer H2, Kenneth Cole Sunglasses, a Country Club Membership, and a Pier 1 credit line. Options for Yorba Linda Barbie are the Shiseido makeup kit; the Bvlgari jewelry set, or the Prada shoe collection. Yorba Linda Barbie has optional yuppie Ken doll complete with Corvette, hair gel and Rolex watch.
Newport Beach Barbie
This collagen injected, rhinoplastic Barbie wears an Yves Saint Laurent leopard print bikini outfit and drinks cosmopolitans while entertaining friends at the beach house. Percocet prescription and monthly alimony checks are included. This Barbie is only sold in Fashion Island.
Laguna Beach Barbie
This doll comes complete with craft set. She has long straight brown
hair, archless feet, no makeup, and Birkenstocks with white socks. She prefers that you call her "Willow." She does not want or need a Ken doll, but if you purchase two Laguna Beach Barbie's, you get a rainbow flag sticker free.
Long Beach Barbie
This Barbie now comes with a stroller and infant doll. Optional
accessories include a GED and a bus pass. Gangsta Ken and his '79 Caddy were available, but are now very difficult to find since the addition of an infant.
Huntington Beach Barbie
This very tan Barbie comes with string bikini, wet suit, 3 friendship
bracelets and surfboard. An MP3 player, Blockbuster video membership, pair of Vans and a beach cruiser are also included. Optional is her Lifeguard Yellow Ford Ranger with board rack (free KROQ sticker included!) Spicolli Ken can be purchased separately and comes with Hawaiian shirt and board shorts.
Rancho Santa Margarita Barbie
She 's perfect in every way. Her home is perfect. Her family is perfect. Comes with a part time job to earn her own spending money and a bible for church on Sundays. Also has a pre-assigned carpool day. We don't know who Ken is because he's always away hunting or biking or something...
Santa Ana Barbie
This Spanish-speaking-only Barbie comes with a 1984 Toyota with
expired temporary plates and three baby Barbies in the back seat, but
no car seats. The optional Ken doll comes with a meat-packer's uniform and is missing three fingers on his left hand. Green cards are not available for Santa Ana Barbie or Ken.
OUT OF TOWN BARBIES:
Fontana Barbie
This pale model comes dressed in low rise Levi's, a NASCAR shirt, and a Tweety Bird tattoo on her shoulder. She has a six-pack of Coors Light and a Hank Williams, Jr. CD set. She can spit over 5 feet and
kick mullet-haired Ken's ass when she is drunk. A mobile home is also
available.
Norco Barbie
This tobacco chewing, brassy-haired Barbie comes with her own horse and dog! Her ensemble includes pair of Wrangler jeans (2 sizes too small), straw hat, fake rhinestone belt and belt buckle bought from the local paw n shop. Purchase her pickup truck separately and get a confederate flag bumper sticker absolutely free!
Hemet Barbie
This aging Barbie is best kept indoors. She comes complete with wire
grocery stroller, Omni Trans bus pass, food stamps, coupon book and
sewing machine. Optional mobile home comes with choice of colored rock and various cactus varieties.
West Hollywood
Barbie/Ken
This versatile doll can be easily converted from Barbie to Ken by
Simply adding or subtracting the multiple "snap-on" parts.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Happy Birthdays
Not long ago, Brooke Shields bravely shares with the world her battle with postpartum depression.
Tom Cruise gets on the Today show and tells the world that there is no such thing as chemical imbalances that need to be treated with drugs.
Brooke lives a happy, peaceful life with her family, and recieves kudos and support from many in the community who have faced similar battles.
Tom jumps on people's couches, and delivers unintelligible interviews which typically involve the interviewer asking a question, and Tom Cruise responding by staring down the interviewer with a glazed look, complete with a half-smile, before answering with incoherent statements that badly dodge what the interviewer was looking for.
(And this behavior is proof that drugs are not needed for chemical imbalances?)
Today, April 18, Brooke Shields gave birth to her second daughter, Grier.
Also today, April 18, Katie Holmes (Tom Cruise's fiancee) gives birth to their daughter, Suri.
Let's hope Katie doesn't suffer from any depression.
Let's hope Tom comes out of the closet.
Let's hope Suri isn't totally screwed up by the time she's 10.
Tom Cruise gets on the Today show and tells the world that there is no such thing as chemical imbalances that need to be treated with drugs.
Brooke lives a happy, peaceful life with her family, and recieves kudos and support from many in the community who have faced similar battles.
Tom jumps on people's couches, and delivers unintelligible interviews which typically involve the interviewer asking a question, and Tom Cruise responding by staring down the interviewer with a glazed look, complete with a half-smile, before answering with incoherent statements that badly dodge what the interviewer was looking for.
(And this behavior is proof that drugs are not needed for chemical imbalances?)
Today, April 18, Brooke Shields gave birth to her second daughter, Grier.
Also today, April 18, Katie Holmes (Tom Cruise's fiancee) gives birth to their daughter, Suri.
Let's hope Katie doesn't suffer from any depression.
Let's hope Tom comes out of the closet.
Let's hope Suri isn't totally screwed up by the time she's 10.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
In Michigan
I'm in Michigan this week spending time with my mom and Bobby. We are having a blast. Lots of talking, lots of singing karaoke. Oh and I keep playing on their treadmill. I want a treadmill! We went shopping yesterday and I bought a really cute skirt that I am going to wear on my Mexico cruise this summer!
Poor Ginger is blind now. Her eyes are kinda freaky looking becasue they are all cloudy white and covered with cateracts. However (and I guess this sounds strange about a dog, and really, what other choice does she have?) but I just feel such a sense of pride and admiration in this dog. She could just sit in one place every day, but she doesn't... she still roams about the house and out in the back yard... she moves slowly and cautiously, but to navigate the world blind like she does, its amazing to see. I know many people who aren't as brave as this little dog is.
We are going to Skyline Chili tonight. I am SO excited. I am getting a four way (for those of you who don't know the lingo, a four way is spaghetti topped with chili, cheese and onions,) and a coney. YUMMERS! I can't wait!
I'm going to hop in the shower and we're going to go to the mall now. Bye!
Poor Ginger is blind now. Her eyes are kinda freaky looking becasue they are all cloudy white and covered with cateracts. However (and I guess this sounds strange about a dog, and really, what other choice does she have?) but I just feel such a sense of pride and admiration in this dog. She could just sit in one place every day, but she doesn't... she still roams about the house and out in the back yard... she moves slowly and cautiously, but to navigate the world blind like she does, its amazing to see. I know many people who aren't as brave as this little dog is.
We are going to Skyline Chili tonight. I am SO excited. I am getting a four way (for those of you who don't know the lingo, a four way is spaghetti topped with chili, cheese and onions,) and a coney. YUMMERS! I can't wait!
I'm going to hop in the shower and we're going to go to the mall now. Bye!
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Good Morning
I saw a rainbow this morning on may way to work. The bottom half in front of me led me all the way here. And then when I got out I was greeted by the whole arc.
Beautiful.
Beautiful.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Crash
Wow. I just saw the movie Crash. What an amazing, thought provoking movie. It was, in many ways, painful to watch.
Perspective.
Moving.
SO many amazing, powerful scenes. So many seemingly minor, yet incredibly thought provoking.
The odd thing about this world is that you can never really get inside someone else's head.
I could go in and describe scene detail by detail and analyze it (like I am doing on the phone with my mom right now..) but I can't because I don't know if you've seen it.
See this movie.
I like facts. I like dealing in facts. I like dealing with what is. The rational. The logical.
But the problem is we live in a world of people. And not all people are rational or logical or factual. People are emotional. People are opinionated. People often rely more on their beliefs then anything else. And no facts can change that.
If someone believes that one race is superior to another, their beliefs are going to create an alternate reality, despite the fact that no race is superior.
If someone believes that being gay is wrong, then it is their beliefs that are creating the reality.
If someone believes that people on the street have a choice, then their beliefs create the reality, despite what may be true for each individual.
If someone believes that a person with a tatoo is morally indecent or trashy, then every person they meet with a tatoo has entered into the reality of that person.
People's opinions, people's beliefs, create their reality. But that reality extends beyond their lives. It reached out and touches others.
People hurt each other, disrespect each other, call each other names, honk at each other, spread anger and hate... because they believe the person they are doing it to... what? doesn't have feelings? deserves it? Was a born a certain color? Lives a certain lifestyle?
If someone is pissed off and decides to pull a gun on someone, no amount of fact or logic or reason is going to change that situation.
But what I really liked about the movie is it wasn't all about death. Death isn't the only bad thing that can happen when people's opinions invade into other's lives.
This is the world that our opinions and beliefs are creating.
Are we happy with it?
When I was in high school, my friend wrote me a letter once. She has a child. She is white, and the baby's father is black. My friend was worried about being a good mom. She didin't know how to raise her daughter... in the black culture or the white. I thought that was the most ridiculous thig I had ever heard. I wrote back that she should raise her daughter to be herself. Why does she have to be raised black or white? My friend wrote back, "You live in such a bubble out there in California. The real world isn't like that."
That line resonates in my head to this day. What does it mean? I grew up rarely seeing racism. Or did I? Maybe I BELIEVED that racism didn't exist, so I never saw it. Maybe my beliefs made me just as blind?
When I see a movie like Crash, I want to think that it can't really be true. People don't really treat each other like this. Do they? It doesn't make sense.
But then I start thinking about beliefs that I have heard... "She has a tatoo, wow she must be pretty messed up" "Isn't being Gay totally sick?" "Asian drivers" "illegals working at the drive through."
Sigh. I'm not living in a bubble. It exists all around me. And whether its a choice (tatoo, piercings,) you were born with it (your race), or the jury's still out (being homosexual), not a single one of these things, in and of itself, is a reason for hate, meaness, disrespect. Its only people's beliefs that make it such.
I know people with tatoos who wouldn't hurt a fly, who are caring and respectful. I know Asians who are good drivers. I know Mexicans who have come legally to America and worked hard to learn English so that they could work at drive throughs. And I know gay people who are more family oriented and moral then many straight people I know. I've seen them. I've had their children in my classrooms.
Why the tendancy to have opinions that assume the worst out of people?
What good does that do? To make a more peaceful, humane, better society, wouldn't it be better to assume the best of people?
Think of it this way. If you go into a situation where you think negatively, how hard does the other person have to work to make you change your mind and view it positively? On the other hand, if you assume a positive view and need to change your mind, well, it is a lot easier to change your view to the negative then to the positive.
Another point the movie brought up is those within a certain stereotype who choose to perpetuate it. In this movie, blacks who continue to steal and rob was a major example.
Some great examples:
1) Anthony: That waitress sized us up in two seconds. We're black and black people don't tip. So she wasn't gonna waste her time. Now somebody like that? Nothing you can do to change their mind.
Peter: So, uh... how much did you leave?
Anthony: You expect me to pay for that kind of service?
2)
Anthony: Look around! You couldn't find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gangbangers? Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared, it's us: the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So, why aren't we scared?
Peter: Because we have guns?
Anthony: You could be right.
And the response, later in the movie?
Cameron: [to Anthony] Look at me. You embarrass me. You embarrass yourself.
SO true. When people behave badly, they perpetuate stereotypes. WHen someone does something wrong, it reflects on their type. Someone commits a crime? Well, its becasue their black, or Mexican, or an Asian gang banger, or a spoile rich white kid, or poor white trash, or a punker with tatoos and piercings...
So what else needs to change? Not just people's beliefs, but people's actions. Represent. Remember, for every action you take, you are representing. Yourself, your family, your culture, your community, your "type."
And what about those who truly do represent in a positive way, but are still assumed to be "less then..." Keep fighting the good fight, people. Its a vicious cycle. Don't fall into it.
Where am I going with this? Sigh. I don't know either. Maybe that's why Crash "ended" the way it did. Kind of like this blog. It didn't really end.
Officer Hanson: Something else funny?
Peter: [laughing] People, man... people.
Perspective.
Moving.
SO many amazing, powerful scenes. So many seemingly minor, yet incredibly thought provoking.
The odd thing about this world is that you can never really get inside someone else's head.
I could go in and describe scene detail by detail and analyze it (like I am doing on the phone with my mom right now..) but I can't because I don't know if you've seen it.
See this movie.
I like facts. I like dealing in facts. I like dealing with what is. The rational. The logical.
But the problem is we live in a world of people. And not all people are rational or logical or factual. People are emotional. People are opinionated. People often rely more on their beliefs then anything else. And no facts can change that.
If someone believes that one race is superior to another, their beliefs are going to create an alternate reality, despite the fact that no race is superior.
If someone believes that being gay is wrong, then it is their beliefs that are creating the reality.
If someone believes that people on the street have a choice, then their beliefs create the reality, despite what may be true for each individual.
If someone believes that a person with a tatoo is morally indecent or trashy, then every person they meet with a tatoo has entered into the reality of that person.
People's opinions, people's beliefs, create their reality. But that reality extends beyond their lives. It reached out and touches others.
People hurt each other, disrespect each other, call each other names, honk at each other, spread anger and hate... because they believe the person they are doing it to... what? doesn't have feelings? deserves it? Was a born a certain color? Lives a certain lifestyle?
If someone is pissed off and decides to pull a gun on someone, no amount of fact or logic or reason is going to change that situation.
But what I really liked about the movie is it wasn't all about death. Death isn't the only bad thing that can happen when people's opinions invade into other's lives.
This is the world that our opinions and beliefs are creating.
Are we happy with it?
When I was in high school, my friend wrote me a letter once. She has a child. She is white, and the baby's father is black. My friend was worried about being a good mom. She didin't know how to raise her daughter... in the black culture or the white. I thought that was the most ridiculous thig I had ever heard. I wrote back that she should raise her daughter to be herself. Why does she have to be raised black or white? My friend wrote back, "You live in such a bubble out there in California. The real world isn't like that."
That line resonates in my head to this day. What does it mean? I grew up rarely seeing racism. Or did I? Maybe I BELIEVED that racism didn't exist, so I never saw it. Maybe my beliefs made me just as blind?
When I see a movie like Crash, I want to think that it can't really be true. People don't really treat each other like this. Do they? It doesn't make sense.
But then I start thinking about beliefs that I have heard... "She has a tatoo, wow she must be pretty messed up" "Isn't being Gay totally sick?" "Asian drivers" "illegals working at the drive through."
Sigh. I'm not living in a bubble. It exists all around me. And whether its a choice (tatoo, piercings,) you were born with it (your race), or the jury's still out (being homosexual), not a single one of these things, in and of itself, is a reason for hate, meaness, disrespect. Its only people's beliefs that make it such.
I know people with tatoos who wouldn't hurt a fly, who are caring and respectful. I know Asians who are good drivers. I know Mexicans who have come legally to America and worked hard to learn English so that they could work at drive throughs. And I know gay people who are more family oriented and moral then many straight people I know. I've seen them. I've had their children in my classrooms.
Why the tendancy to have opinions that assume the worst out of people?
What good does that do? To make a more peaceful, humane, better society, wouldn't it be better to assume the best of people?
Think of it this way. If you go into a situation where you think negatively, how hard does the other person have to work to make you change your mind and view it positively? On the other hand, if you assume a positive view and need to change your mind, well, it is a lot easier to change your view to the negative then to the positive.
Another point the movie brought up is those within a certain stereotype who choose to perpetuate it. In this movie, blacks who continue to steal and rob was a major example.
Some great examples:
1) Anthony: That waitress sized us up in two seconds. We're black and black people don't tip. So she wasn't gonna waste her time. Now somebody like that? Nothing you can do to change their mind.
Peter: So, uh... how much did you leave?
Anthony: You expect me to pay for that kind of service?
2)
Anthony: Look around! You couldn't find a whiter, safer or better lit part of this city. But this white woman sees two black guys, who look like UCLA students, strolling down the sidewalk and her reaction is blind fear. I mean, look at us! Are we dressed like gangbangers? Do we look threatening? No. Fact, if anybody should be scared, it's us: the only two black faces surrounded by a sea of over-caffeinated white people, patrolled by the triggerhappy LAPD. So, why aren't we scared?
Peter: Because we have guns?
Anthony: You could be right.
And the response, later in the movie?
Cameron: [to Anthony] Look at me. You embarrass me. You embarrass yourself.
SO true. When people behave badly, they perpetuate stereotypes. WHen someone does something wrong, it reflects on their type. Someone commits a crime? Well, its becasue their black, or Mexican, or an Asian gang banger, or a spoile rich white kid, or poor white trash, or a punker with tatoos and piercings...
So what else needs to change? Not just people's beliefs, but people's actions. Represent. Remember, for every action you take, you are representing. Yourself, your family, your culture, your community, your "type."
And what about those who truly do represent in a positive way, but are still assumed to be "less then..." Keep fighting the good fight, people. Its a vicious cycle. Don't fall into it.
Where am I going with this? Sigh. I don't know either. Maybe that's why Crash "ended" the way it did. Kind of like this blog. It didn't really end.
Officer Hanson: Something else funny?
Peter: [laughing] People, man... people.
Monday, March 27, 2006
Cute Puppy!
Ok, so I was watching an episode of Great Cruises today. It was about an Alaskan Cruise on the Radiance of the Seas (which is the same cruise ship we are going to take to Alaska in August.)
Anyways, there was a long scene with an excursion that involved sled dogs.
Normally when dogs come on tv, Belle runns up to the screen and watches for a bit, and then loses interest, but this time, the sled dogs had her attention for the entire segment!
What was really funny was, several times, the sled dogs would run across the screen at an angle and run off a corner of the screen. Belle would go to the corner of the screen and track the dogs running of the edge of the screen with her head, as if she was trying to figure out where they were going! Her head whizzing down following the running dogs... it was so cute!
Anyways, there was a long scene with an excursion that involved sled dogs.
Normally when dogs come on tv, Belle runns up to the screen and watches for a bit, and then loses interest, but this time, the sled dogs had her attention for the entire segment!
What was really funny was, several times, the sled dogs would run across the screen at an angle and run off a corner of the screen. Belle would go to the corner of the screen and track the dogs running of the edge of the screen with her head, as if she was trying to figure out where they were going! Her head whizzing down following the running dogs... it was so cute!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
South Park goes in for the "kill."
This article comes from here
South Park: "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: The animated series comments on a cast members departure.
by Eric Goldman
March 23, 2006 - [SPOILER WARNING: Key episode plot points are discussed in the course of this review.]
Don't piss off Matt and Trey. The South Park season premiere this week once more proved that to be true in a big way. Though would you expect anything less? In the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the long running series, would not be returning this season. Hayes was quoted as saying he was upset over the show insulting religion as an explanation for his departure, but as many (including South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker) were quick to point out, the show has pretty much lampooned every religion through the years in equal measure. Thus it seemed somewhat notable that the show had done their big Scientology episode "Trapped in the Closet" last fall, and that Hayes is in fact a Scientologist.
One of the great things about South Park is that because the show is so quickly and crudely produced, they can have episodes on the air that are amazingly topical, often commenting on headlines that just occurred. And you knew there was no way there were going to let something like Hayes quitting the show go by without commenting upon it. "The Return of Chef" began with a fake "Previously on South Park" segment that showed Chef deciding to leave town and join a group called The Super Adventurers Club to travel around the world, as all of the kids (Cartman included!) got emotional and wept. But in the premiere Chef returns, and everyone rejoices… until they notice something isn't quite right with him.
In an extremely funny move, Parker and Stone took previously recorded footage of Hayes from old episodes and awkwardly spliced it together to create new dialogue for Chef. Chef it seems came back to South Park with a shocking new fondness for sex with children, and one of the episode's running jokes had Chef continually begin to sing his popular "I'm Gonna Make Love to you Woman" song, except "woman" was replaced with every rude and crude thing you can think that involved children and their bodies. Suffice to say, the show isn't getting any more family friendly as time goes on.
"Trapped in the Closet" had started this whole situation by parodying Scientology, and while Parker and Stone weren't about to bring up the religion by name again, they pointedly made it pretty clear what they think of the situation with Hayes, pulling no punches. We learn that the Super Adventurers Club has in fact brainwashed Chef, changing him from the friend all the boys loved to this "weirdo" they're talking to now. Make your own conclusions as to what that is supposed to signify. One inspired in-joke had the leader of the Super Adventures Club explaining their belief that having sex with children makes them immortal, as text on screen informed the audience that, "This is what the Super Adventures Club actually believes;" a clever reference to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode using the same wording when showing Scientology beliefs. The episode then went to the South Park extreme, as Chef makes his choice to stay with the Super Adventures Club rather then return with the boys… only to be burnt alive, fall off a cliff, get impaled and then finally be torn apart by a mountain lion and a bear. And yes, it was all wonderfully, horrifically hysterical.
In the end, a funeral is held for Chef, and Kyle delivers a eulogy that probably says how Parker and Stone really feel about Hayes, in which he says he's not going to let Chef's recent weirdness ruin his memories of his friend and the good times they had. It was a truly sweet sentiment for a show that had just had Chef's face ripped off by wild animals. Then again, as the Revenge of the Sith inspired coda proved, Chef has been rebuilt by the Super Adventure Club and you never know if he might pop up again, Hayes or no Hayes. There's been some pretty strange rumblings in the past couple of days involving rumors that Hayes had a stroke and speculation on whether or not he was even the one who actually quit or if someone did it on his behalf. If more of this story comes out, I wouldn't put it past the creators of South Park to bring forth more of their brash commentary on it in future episodes.
South Park: "The Return of Chef"
TV Review: The animated series comments on a cast members departure.
by Eric Goldman
March 23, 2006 - [SPOILER WARNING: Key episode plot points are discussed in the course of this review.]
Don't piss off Matt and Trey. The South Park season premiere this week once more proved that to be true in a big way. Though would you expect anything less? In the past couple of weeks there has been a lot of attention given to the fact that Isaac Hayes, the voice of Chef on the long running series, would not be returning this season. Hayes was quoted as saying he was upset over the show insulting religion as an explanation for his departure, but as many (including South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker) were quick to point out, the show has pretty much lampooned every religion through the years in equal measure. Thus it seemed somewhat notable that the show had done their big Scientology episode "Trapped in the Closet" last fall, and that Hayes is in fact a Scientologist.
One of the great things about South Park is that because the show is so quickly and crudely produced, they can have episodes on the air that are amazingly topical, often commenting on headlines that just occurred. And you knew there was no way there were going to let something like Hayes quitting the show go by without commenting upon it. "The Return of Chef" began with a fake "Previously on South Park" segment that showed Chef deciding to leave town and join a group called The Super Adventurers Club to travel around the world, as all of the kids (Cartman included!) got emotional and wept. But in the premiere Chef returns, and everyone rejoices… until they notice something isn't quite right with him.
In an extremely funny move, Parker and Stone took previously recorded footage of Hayes from old episodes and awkwardly spliced it together to create new dialogue for Chef. Chef it seems came back to South Park with a shocking new fondness for sex with children, and one of the episode's running jokes had Chef continually begin to sing his popular "I'm Gonna Make Love to you Woman" song, except "woman" was replaced with every rude and crude thing you can think that involved children and their bodies. Suffice to say, the show isn't getting any more family friendly as time goes on.
"Trapped in the Closet" had started this whole situation by parodying Scientology, and while Parker and Stone weren't about to bring up the religion by name again, they pointedly made it pretty clear what they think of the situation with Hayes, pulling no punches. We learn that the Super Adventurers Club has in fact brainwashed Chef, changing him from the friend all the boys loved to this "weirdo" they're talking to now. Make your own conclusions as to what that is supposed to signify. One inspired in-joke had the leader of the Super Adventures Club explaining their belief that having sex with children makes them immortal, as text on screen informed the audience that, "This is what the Super Adventures Club actually believes;" a clever reference to the "Trapped in the Closet" episode using the same wording when showing Scientology beliefs. The episode then went to the South Park extreme, as Chef makes his choice to stay with the Super Adventures Club rather then return with the boys… only to be burnt alive, fall off a cliff, get impaled and then finally be torn apart by a mountain lion and a bear. And yes, it was all wonderfully, horrifically hysterical.
In the end, a funeral is held for Chef, and Kyle delivers a eulogy that probably says how Parker and Stone really feel about Hayes, in which he says he's not going to let Chef's recent weirdness ruin his memories of his friend and the good times they had. It was a truly sweet sentiment for a show that had just had Chef's face ripped off by wild animals. Then again, as the Revenge of the Sith inspired coda proved, Chef has been rebuilt by the Super Adventure Club and you never know if he might pop up again, Hayes or no Hayes. There's been some pretty strange rumblings in the past couple of days involving rumors that Hayes had a stroke and speculation on whether or not he was even the one who actually quit or if someone did it on his behalf. If more of this story comes out, I wouldn't put it past the creators of South Park to bring forth more of their brash commentary on it in future episodes.
Just Like Heaven
I just finished watching Just Like Heaven. It was really good! It stars Reese Witherspoon and Mark Ruffalo. I knew the premise and it sounded like a cute romantic comedy, but I couldn't figure out how they were going to end it. I really thought it was all around good.
Also, it had Jon Heder in it... which was funny because I saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time last night. (I wasn't crazy about it, but I also slept through a lot of it 'cause I was so tired!) But anyway, I'm watching this guy in Just Like Heaven and its like one of those things where you know you've seen them in something else and then I realized... hey that's Napolean!
Also, I got my report cards done this morning. I got 1-15 done while watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and 16-31 while watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
If each movie is 2 1/2 hours long, thats 150 minutes. Which means that each report card took aprx. 10 minutes. Yeah. Thats fun math.
Also, it had Jon Heder in it... which was funny because I saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time last night. (I wasn't crazy about it, but I also slept through a lot of it 'cause I was so tired!) But anyway, I'm watching this guy in Just Like Heaven and its like one of those things where you know you've seen them in something else and then I realized... hey that's Napolean!
Also, I got my report cards done this morning. I got 1-15 done while watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and 16-31 while watching Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
If each movie is 2 1/2 hours long, thats 150 minutes. Which means that each report card took aprx. 10 minutes. Yeah. Thats fun math.