so what about Brangelina?

You don't need to be a political expert to know that Alito was confirmed. At times ike this I go into denial mode, and not bother with anything that makes me think of anything outside my own superficial realm. That, or I just read some celeb gossip news. I think I protected by saying to myself that we would just wait out the Bush administration and after 2008, someone would sweep in and just pick up the pieces of the mess and make it all ok again. I like to call this the nursery school method of political thought. Pretty soon I will come closer to being a second class citizen. I don't need to barage you with all the news and editorials out there, but I think this post really says it best.

President Bush had a message for abortion opponents Monday, marking the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision legalizing abortion.

He told them: "We shall prevail."

snip

By phone, President Bush told a group of abortion opponents, "we're working to persuade more of our fellow Americans of the rightness of our cause."

"And history tells us that with such a cause, we will prevail," he added.

great day for Target, bad day for misogynist pharmacists

Stance on 'morning-after' pill costs pharmacist her job
By Jo Mannies
POST-DISPATCH POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
01/26/2006

Pharmacist Heather Williams believes there's no middle ground when it comes to the so-called "morning-after" pill known as Plan B.

Williams opposes use of that pill, or any other emergency contraception, because they can prevent a fertilized human egg from implanting in the uterus. "For me, life begins with two cells," Williams said Thursday.

As a part-time pharmacist at a Target store in St. Charles, Williams had refused to fill such prescriptions without incident for the past five years. But she also declined to refer physicians or patients to others who would fill such prescriptions.
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"I just can't be a link in the chain at all," she said.

As of Jan. 1, that stance cost Williams her job.

She and her lawyer, Ed Martin, filed a complaint this week against Target with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. A suit also is being considered.

Target declined to comment Thursday. But Williams stressed that she blamed Planned Parenthood – not Target – for her predicament. She cites Planned Parenthood's heightened national campaign to persuade major pharmacy chains such as Target to agree to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception.

Paula Gianino, chief executive of Planned Parenthood for the St. Louis Region, lauds Target's commitment to fill such prescriptions and contends that Williams is at fault because of her refusal to refer patients or physicians elsewhere.

"She could refuse to fill the prescription, but she took it to the next level," Gianino said. "Target has done everything possible to try to fill patients' health care needs and accommodate individual pharmacists."

She noted that Plan B won't affect an established pregnancy.

Said Williams: "I'm not in judgment of anyone. I want my right not to fill something, much as they have their right to get Plan B filled."

That debate is expected to get hotter in the coming weeks.

Williams and Martin are appearing on national and local TV to make their case that pharmacists are being unfairly targeted in the national battle over Plan B.

Meanwhile, Martin is part of a legal team planning to file suit today, in Madison County, on behalf of four pharmacists who lost their jobs with Walgreens on similar grounds.

Martin has publicly debated Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who has issued an executive order requiring all pharmacies in Illinois that carry birth control pills to also fill prescriptions for Plan B.

Back in Missouri, Williams plans to testify soon before a legislative panel considering a bill to give legal protection to pharmacists who decline to fill a prescription for Plan B or any other drug they believe could cause an abortion. Gov. Matt Blunt says such legislation is among his top priorities.

Williams, 39, the mother of three, said she thought she already had such protection in Missouri when Target officials asked her late last year to sign a "conscience clause policy."

The matter became an issue among Target pharmacists locally, she said, after last fall's publicity over an incident at a Target in Fenton, where a pharmacist refused to fill a Plan B prescription.

Soon after, Target required its pharmacists to sign a "conscience policy" – in which they agreed to fill or refer such prescriptions.

Williams balked because of the referral requirement. In her refusal letter to Target, dated Dec. 1, Williams explained, "I would be required to do almost everything except count the pills."

On Dec. 21, she said, Target's district pharmacy officials reluctantly told her that her refusal to sign was forcing them to let her go.

The irony, said Williams, was that the St. Charles store didn't stock Plan B and wasn't required to have it on hand.

But with the new policy, she said, all Target pharmacists – regardless of their religious views – were required to help patients or physicians seeking Plan B by locating another Target store where Plan B could be found.

"We had to make sure it was in stock, and even give directions to the store," Williams said. "I would be a participant."

fun, fashion and friendship

MuScene Barbie interviews her designer, Nick Verros.

tunes

I’m going to get sentimental here. In organizing my CDs I finally found my full London Cast recording of Miss Saigon. Holy shit, this may be the perfect Broadway show (besides Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, and Assassins, among others). I wonder why this has not been optioned for a movie yet. Wait, I want to hold my tongue. They will probably make it with an Asian cast, none of them Viatnamese (the original lead was Fillipino). I can see it being a good movie, but no one will be able to do it justice. Anyway, here it is, Part 1 and Part 2. I tear up on every listen. There are the usual showstoppers, but my personal highlights are “Please” and “Bui-doi.”

Part 1 here
Part 2 here

And also, the Dresden Dolls are the only band I have heard of that has been labeled “cabaret punk”. Whatever that means. I’ll be honest, I found them annoying at first when I heard their first album, but I am liking their new one much better.

The Dresden Dolls- Yes, Virginia here

Mudhoney was lumped in with the “grunge” revolution that came of the early 90s, but I think they actually have more punk roots. THis greatest of hits of sorts came out recently. I think they actually have a new album coming out soon.

Mudhoney- March to Fuzz here

Before Nirvana broke open the early-’90s grungeathon, Mudhoney were considered the Northwest’s brightest hope. Their first single, “Touch Me I’m Sick,” was an instant classic on college radio and the band’s odd-colored vinyl singles began fetching collectors’ prices before the 1990s even began. Their signature sound–molten guitars hyped up on cheap and noisy effect pedals (like the Superfuzz Bigmuff combination that titled their first EP) with a singer who rasped with a garage band’s untutored authority–was in stark contrast to the polished “hair metal” popular at the time. Collected here are the greatest hits, so to speak. The band never scaled to the Billboard heights of Nirvana, so the choices are purely aesthetic. The highlights are obvious: an overwhelming cover of the Texas hardcore band the Dicks’ “Hate the Police” and a ripping commentary on a certain rock star’s wife, “Into Your Shtick.” The second disc thankfully rescues 30 B-sides and rarities from the dustbin of oblivion. Consider this a grunge primer.

were you raised in a barn?

As you can tell from my Peter Sarsgaard soft porn, I am obsessed with youtube.com. There are so many gems on there. I watched some old Roswell promos and fell out of my chair. The best is that someone has also posted a lot of clips from The State, which I have been looking for forever. For those of you who are a little behind, the State was the original sketch comedy group that incudes the creators and cast of Wet Hot, the cast of Reno 911, and Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black, etc. The best ones are not on there. I am still on a quest to find “Porcupine Racetrack”.

it’s the little things

That first step into my office in the morning is hard sometimes, but it is the little things that keep me going. Like my Daily Show one a day desk calendar. Here are some recent passages from the last few days:

The Captial Rotunda was made famous by the Stephen Baldwin/Pauly Shore vehicle Bio-Rotunda.

Due to an early type, America very nearly became a "Democrazy".

By holding the first contests in the race for the presidency, Iowa and New Hampshire weild enormous power. This makes perfect sense given their size.

cut, thrust and christ

Feb. 6, 2006 issue – When you believe the end of the world is coming, you learn to talk fast. On a Friday afternoon the debate team from Liberty University, Jerry Falwell's fundamentalist Baptist college, is madly rehearsing for the tournament about to begin. This year's topic: should the United States increase diplomatic and economic pressure on China. They may just be practicing, but you wouldn't know it from the menacing mosquito-buzz rising as all 20 debaters read their speeches at once, as fast as they can. Policy debate on the college level has become a rapid-fire verbal assault, an arguments-per-minute game, that sounds more like the guy at the end of the car commercial than an eloquent Oxford intellectual. There is tension and more than a little spittle in the air. The Liberty team is currently ranked No. 1 in the country, above Harvard (14th) and all the other big names. But for the evangelicals, there's a lot more at stake than a trophy. Falwell and the religious right figure that if they can raise a generation that knows how to argue, they can stem the tide of sin in the country. Seventy-five percent of Liberty's debaters go on to be lawyers with an eye toward transforming society. "I think I can make an impact in the field of law on abortion and gay rights, to get back to Americans' godly heritage," says freshman debater Cole Bender.

more

The picture is also…priceless.

tunes

The Soviettes- LP

New wave meets no wave on a Twin Cities bus, and the next stop is mid-'90s Kill Rock Stars-style slash and burn girl punk revivalism. They still make bands like this? From the start to its all-too-quick finish, the Soviettes' eponymous debut is a treble-kicking trip to the past in glorious fast-forward. Sturgeon (Maren Mocosko) , Annie Holoien, Susy Sharp, and Y chromosome ringer Danny Henry know it's all been done before — the overdriven, two-minute songs, spazzy drum fills, and Raincoats-style girl group vocals. But their skinny fists are packed with melodies, their socks are striped, and every bassline is lovingly shellacked by slashing, barely tuned guitars that make everything sound like Sleater-Kinney covering Lush on a crappy AM radio station. Of course, there will be naysayers. The bandwagon scuttlebutt in their native Minneapolis has tended to focus more on the girls' ex-boyfriends' bands, and besides this full-length, there's only one measly 7" to ferret out. But doesn't half-assed exuberance count for anything anymore? It certainly did when Yo-Yo's Periscope compilation came out in 1998. The Soviettes is the spiritual cousin to that album's fabulous amateurism, and carries the torch for the "Hey! Let's start a band!" movement that spawned so many inspired combos during the 1990s indie rock boom. "Do you know why they hate us?" sing the Soviettes in "Clueless," a peppy punk-wave rocker that clocks in at a minute and a half. It might be the soundbite before "Land of the Clear Blue Radio" that indirectly proclaims them as the saviors of rock & roll. But then the neck-nodding song starts, complete with a four-four count-off, white noise guitars, and squealing vocals. It's hard to hate full-on when your feet are dancing so fast.

oh, and

I just wanted to also say that episode 9 of the Ricky Gervais podcast is out today, so if you haven't been listening you'd better 2(*$&$@* start now.

Also, how could you not love Tim's train of thought? Also, Keri has the most amazing analysis of The Karate Kid ever. It may seem like I am being sarcastic about that, but I really do mean it. Liveblogging is the new blogging.

vegans do it better

So, many of you know this already, but my plan is to be vegan within a year's time. It is something I have been contemplating for a while, but recent reading and investigation has convinced me. The reason I will be doing it is mainly for reasons having to do with animal rights and a personal response to the mass market of meat production.

I do recognize the privilege that allows me to be vegan. I have the means to buy the organic food and the fancy tofu products. Others are not in a place where they can do that, and I recognize that. In an ideal world, everyone would be vegan of course, but there needs to be major changes in the whole economy and nationwide meat and food industry. I don't see that happening tomorrow, but there's always hoping.

I won't judge anyone who is not vegan, so please sunderstand if you yourself are not vegan or do not plan to be, I will not judge.

I'm not saying it will be easy. I am going to give myself time to ease into it. If I just did it overnight, I will probably get frustrated and fail. Once I finish the large container of yogurt in my fridge, I will eliminate all dairy products. After that, I will make many of my meals be vegan until I am used to it and then eventually have that for all my meals.

I also need to really push myself and learn to cook better. Luckily, I have Brandon as my consultant and spiritual guide through the process. I am also looking for any recipes, ideas, or reading that anyone knows about.

The hard thing will be the fact that I cannot eat wheat or gluten. I have djusted ok to that, so I am sure I can adjust even more. I just need to be more creative and thoughtful about it.

things that are making me go on in life

1. The puppy bowl is happening again this year. My predicitions for VIP? Badger or Louie.
2. This week I will see A History of Violence, Match Point, The New World, and The Aristocrats for free.
3. I can listen to the new Neko Case album.
4. Having trouble thinking of more….but this will get me through 7 days, at least.

real time blogging with The Bachelor

10:01
We start with the two blondes confronting the ambiguously ethnic brunette and calling her out on stealing time with Travis on the jetski. They make her break down and cry and exclaim "my wall is down. Are you happy now?"

10:04
Travis actually calls them women, not girls. Wow. It's funny how something like that, on this show, seems like the women's suffrage movement.

10:07
Travis takes Jeha on a date in downtown Paris. They show a man wearing a beret and carrying a bag with a bagette. I'm not fucking with you. They bumble through some stores, demanding everyone speak English. I hate Americans.

10:12
Jeha has a secret! I'll bet she's a man. She has a kid. She's actually a PhD'ed professor, not a "vitamin saleperson" like her bio says.

10:13
Ok, she was married before. Travis lets his mouth catch some flies. She then tells the other women, and this is the most! shocking! news! ever! They were appalled and can't believe she even DARED come on the show. God forbid she has been tainted and not pure for the Bachelor to deflower and own.

If I actually drank, I would create a drinking game for this show. Everytime someone says connection, fairy tale, girl, or every girl's dream, I would take a shot. 20 minutes into the show I would drunker than an old French whore.

10:20
Douchechill alert! Travis is taking them bikeriding, and he says he is taking them on a "Tour DAY France" date in finger quotes.

10:30
Moana (the ethnic) one actually acts proactive and talks to Travis instead of waiting to be noticed by him, and the other girls call slut. They hang around in the pool and kvetch "how does no one in the house like her and he does?" Well, hun, I think you just answered your own question.

10:35
Ok, here's the shit-talking about Moana. The producer tips her off and they have the typical reality show face off. Despite hating everyone, I actually am impressed by the way she handled it. Also, she's got amazing hooters.

10:45
"When I saw you across the room, I knew you could get me. And I can just let go. From this moment on I am forever Changed." Ok, I am paraphrasing, but this is what one of them said to Travis after about a total of 97 minutes with him on chaperoned, televised dates.

10:50
Awkward speech by Travis to the ladies. You can almost see the shadows of the cue cards.

10:55
The tears of the women who did not get a rose mix the tears of the loss of diginity I have experienced by watching this.

11:00
Someone shoot me.

She’s here all week, folks.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (AP) — Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, speaking at a traditionally black college, joked that Justice John Paul Stevens should be poisoned.

Coulter had told the Philander Smith College audience Thursday that more conservative justices were needed on the Supreme Court to change the current law on abortion.

Stevens is one of the court's most liberal members.

"We need somebody to put rat poisoning in Justice Stevens' creme brulee," Coulter said. "That's just a joke, for you in the media."

Coulter has made a career of writing and lecturing on her strongly conservative views.

At one point during her address, which was part of a lecture series, some audience members booed when she cut off two questioners. "I'm not going to be lectured to," Coulter told one man in a raised voice.

She drew more boos when she said the crack cocaine problem "has pretty much gone away."

yowza

I'm posting these because…well, I think it's obvious. It's from some UK fashion magazine or something.

raaaaaaahhhhhhhh

HOLY SHIT I JUST GOT AN ADVANCE COPY OF THE NEW PRETTY GIRLS MAKE GRAVES ALBUM. My life just moved up from complete shit to rather shitty.

I finally dragged myself into the shelter today and holy crap they treat their volunteers so badly. It's a wonder I come back. They did have a 3 month old rottweiler I almost snuck back into my car. The best part was then this one complete asshole that works there is back in the staff kitchen, cooking himself up this huge omlette with bacon. Maybe it was a form of protest against his job.

Good news at the gym: all those people who made new year's resolutions have given up. Good riddance, Also, I finally got confirmation that the mirrors in the locker room are fixed to make one look thinner. I had suspected it all along. Sneaky!

more

So I can't help it. I continue to be obsessed with the whole James Frey thing. I'll admit, I got sucked in. Plus, I am fascinated with all the stuff surrounding how this affects the media and journalism world. Before I went away I bookmarked a whole bunch of stuff to read. I won't get into it, but here's some interesting tidbits.

Some clips from the official show site
The Frekonomics guys do more research and still can't find any records of his girlfriend's suicide
Gawker's liveblog of the show
NYT arts coverage
Did Nan Talese lie?
The ritual cleaning of a talk show host.
Questions for others in Frey scandal
I think whatevs sums it up best: The right thing to do would've been to begin the show with her apology, followed by an extended conversation with the Frank Rich's and MoDo's and Nan Talese's of the world about the difference between memoirs and autobiographies and, more importantly, about why the truth matters. That would've set the stage to bring out Frey for the last 15 minutes or so of the show. Which, frankly, would've been MORE than enough time to admonish and scold the man for hornswaggling millions of zombified housewives. Instead, she paraded a slew of self-righteous inquisitors on stage to berate the visibly shaken author for ONE FULL HOUR, all the while presiding over the situation in a manner eerily reminiscent of Lyndie England. It was almost as if she was revelling in Frey's flagellation. It was scary, it was sad, and it was wrong. Oprah should know better. After all, her hair is WAY more fake than anything Frey put on the page.

tunes

The Pernice Brothers – Discover a Lovlier You
This is a bit mellower than my usual tastes, but I can't ignore good songwriting.

Elefant- The Black Magic Show
This actually isn't officially released yet. Could be considered another trendy New York Interpol-esque band, but they are acually good (more like Interpol and less like The Bravery. Right here.

pinch me, i’m dreaming

Yea, I don’t know what is going on here. It’s Ewan McGregor in a kilt. Doing some sort of performance art. Cutting haggis. As an aspiring vegan, I should be apalled, but goddamnit, I wish I was that haggis.

Scottish star EWAN McGREGOR was spotted doing some research for a new movie last week when he visited a BEATRIX POTTER art exhibition in London.

The STAR WARS actor, who will star alongside RENEE ZELLWEGER in biopic MISS POTTER, visited the Dulwich Picture Gallery in south London on recommendation from his co-star.

A member of staff says, “He dropped in on his own, wearing leather trousers.

“He said he didn’t want any fuss made and was happy just to wonder round on his own for an hour or two.”

McGregor was given his own souvenir on leaving the gallery – a PETER RABBIT notebook which read, ‘You may go into the field or down the lane, but don’t go into MR McGREGOR’s garden.’

you only live once

I finally found clips of the Strokes’ performance from SNL last Saturday. Here’s Juicebox and You Only Live Once. It doesn’t hurt that Peter Sarsgaard introduces them. My you know what did you know what at you know what in front of the you know what when I saw it.

As a bonus, here’s the super rad “juicebox” video featuring David Cross.

Did I mention I absolutely adore The Strokes?

there is a god

I can't wait.

tunes

If I had to name my top ten favorite albums of all time, I am sure this would be there.

Nada Surf- The Proximity Effect
Here for only seven days.

the emancipation of lilly

Did anyone see James Frey on Oprah today? I snuck home from work to watch it. Wow. I did gain some respect for Oprah. She could have gotten all high and mighty and talked about how she felt betrayed and her soul could not be healed, but she looked him in the eye and said "You made me look like a fool in front of million people. How dare you lie." I was really impressed with how she handled it. It was probably one of the most tense moments on television. So tense I was squirming. Turns out in real life, "Lilly" did not hang herself. There was a Lilly, and she committed suicide, but it was after he was in jail, and he was just hanging around before he went to go see her.

He was trying really hard not to break down during the show. To his fairness, he handled it as best he could. After each commercial break, Oprah brought out another guest or commentator who ripped him a new asshole.

Ok, this whole scandal is not keeping me up at night, but I am thinking about it a lot. Why did he let this happen? I don't doubt that he went through rehab, and writing about it is therapeutic, even if you choose to embellish. But why did he label it as a memoir? Did he think it would sell more copies that way? He could have easily just labeled it "based on a true story." And even so, was it his idea or his publisher's? At first, I didn't think it was a big deal. If people enjoyed it, they enjoyed it. But I picked up my copy and started browsing it (the last time I read it was the summer of 2004) and then I realized how much it affected me when I read it. I did get very emotional while reading it and after thinking about it for a while, and even after I heard him speak about it at a reading (the time when I had an awkward convo with him). I also became a bit hopeful, [not to compare his situation to mine] that someone with major issues was able to overcome. And I guess I did feel a bit cheated. I just don't understand the motivation, However, in the sequel that he wrote (and who knows if that is even true), he started writing A Million Little Pieces after moving to Hollywood to become a screenwriter. Did he already have dreams of turning it into a blockbuster?

Also, there is a rumor that Justin Timberlake and Rachel McAdams will star in the movie version. Um, ok, what? Who knows. I have also heard rumors that Bill Murray will play Leonard. We'll see.

Oprah must be pissed because her endorsement made him a very rich man. And even more ironic, this scandal will now sell another million copies of the book.

Secretly, I am a little relieved that things were exaggerated or changed. As I had mentioned previously, I was kind of perterbed that his life post-rehab was of better quality than my jail-free, drug-addiction life will ever be.

More in this New York Times article.

you need this

Things like this make me embarassed of my religion.
http://www.jessiesbatmitzvah.com/

Hah! The annual myspace hairstyle awards.

101 dumbest moments in business.

I am so relieved that James St. James is blogging again.

Do you have a favorite video right now?
Omgomgomgomg. Have you seen the new Beyonce video yet? Holy Mary, Mother of God, how does she get her butt to DO THAT? If I could move like that, I wouldn’t need a goatee, I’ll tell you THAT. It’s the most unbelievable three-and-a-half minutes of television you’ll see all year. Absolutely jaw-dropping. And I love that it’s done in letterbox, too, so that she can pop her coochie the entire length of the screen. And when she SHOVES her big ass in the camera and starts singing about how she knows that we all want to eat it? – WELL, EVEN I’M TURNED ON. It’s TOO FABULOUS. The best thing she’s ever done. Truly, she has entered the Pantheon of the Gods with this one.

OK, finally, what are you wearing right now?
Funny you should ask, I’m wearing my Brokeback boxers, with cowboys and horsies on them, and a She-Ra T-shirt that I’ve been wearing for four consecutive days.

The creepiest man alive.

The Arctic Monkeys release their album. Yawn.

Kimya Dawson is the most annoying human alive.

New baby gorilla!

Bret Easton Ellis – The Duality of an Experiment in Controversy

NBC caves to the right wingers and cancels The Book of Daniel.

Benecio is Che Guevera.

love them

Stellastarr* Leave Sony BMG in the UK

Caroline Bermudez reports:
Defying the classic song, Stellastarr* have shown that you can fight the law (well, corporate bigwigs anyway) and actually win.

Last month, lead vocalist Shawn Christensen announced on the band's message board that Stellastarr* had convinced Sony BMG, the parent company of their label, RCA, to keep their new album free of copy-protection. (Remember the rootkit fiasco?) Now, the band has gone one step further: they've left Sony BMG entirely, at least in the UK.

Stellastarr*'s second album, Harmonies for the Haunted, will instead be released in the UK on the indie 20/20 Recordings. Appropriately enough, it will hit stores February 20. (No stranger to 20/20, Stellastarr* released its first two UK singles on the label.) Keep in mind that the label-shuffling applies only to Britian– in America, Stellastarr* remain signed to RCA, which is owned by Sony BMG. A touch of Wilco here, anyone?

On February 13, 20/20 will issue "Sweet Troubled Soul" as the first UK single from Harmonies for the Haunted. The CD version will include the b-side "She's Gone" and a live version of "Damn This Foolish Heart" recorded on KCRW, as well as the "Sweet Troubled Soul" video for some multi-media fun. Remixes of the song by Richard Morel and former (and possibly future?) Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha will be available in the UK on limited edition 7" vinyl.

things that are keeping me thinking that life is worth living

1. My gym is now open 24 hours.
2. Project Runway is on tonight.
3. A student of mine just made me a copy of the 2gether soundtrack.
4. I just today remembered that I am presenting at a conference in Bridewater, Mass. over the weekend. Nothing is more fun than staying at a Best Western on someone else's dime!
5. I discovered the wonderful world of earplugs. I am sleeping like a baby.

a jerry bruckheimer film

If my life right now was a movie, here is the soundtrack.

Cheap Trick- Surrender / Rilo Kiley- Picture of Success /The Sounds- Night After Night / Ladytron- International Dateline/ Muse- Please Please Please Let Me Get What I want / Brand New- Moshi Moshi / Quasi- Drunken Tears / Kelly Clarkson- Because of You / Nada Surf- Bad Best Friend / Genesis- Land of Confusion / Graham Coxon – You Always Let Me Down / Frank Black- Three Reelers / The Subways – City Pavement / Linda Rondstadt – It's So Easy / Imperial Teen-Seven / The Darkness – Is It Just Me? / Neutral Milk Hotel- Snow Song / Tears for Fears- Head Over Heels / The Boy Least Likely To- Hugging My Grudge

tunes

Download Youth Group's Skeleton Jar. It's great mellow indie stuff.

And then get the latest from Relient K. Trust me, this isn't everyone's cup of tea.

project funway

Nick Verros has a blog. Scroll down for an ador picture of him and Daniel V. Sometimes if I pretend hard enough, I believe I was actually there hanging out with them on New Year's Eve. Did I say that out loud?

This site has the best commentary.

Anne Marie Cox has left Wonkette to write a novel. I hear it is not so good.

Today, GLAAD names their media award nominees. I am very bitter that this blog was not nominated. Doncha think?

Ladytron is on the road!

physicality

So my exercise regimen is going quite well. I try to go at least 5 times a week. In fact, I get edgy and irritated when I can't get to the gym, kind of like a crack addict who can't get a fix. I do know it is good for me, just in terms of physical appearance, energy, etc. However, being knew to the school of taking care of myself physucally, I am wondering a few things. I was going to ask Hammers, the public health expert, but I might as well pose these on here, in case anyone knows the answer.

1. Does exercising affect metabolism at all? In other words, can a good exercise regimen cause your metabolism to become faster? Or is it more of an indirect relationship (i.e., exercising makes you lose weight, thus helping metabolism). Can the same thing be said for insulin levels?

2. Is it better if I push myself on something difficult (like a high level on the eliptical machine) for as long as I can or do something for stamina (like speed walk on the treadmill for a long amount of time). I guess it has to do with whether I want a cardio work out or a fat burning workout, correct?

ALso, I need to do more weights. I usually avoid it because in my gym it is super busy with a lot of meatheads who show off to each other. Also, I am addicted to the exercising high I get from the cardio stuff. Is that adrenaline? Or a rush of seratonin? Don't ever tempt me with hard drugs, I get addicted to stuff so quickly.

Thanks for the help. I have obviously not been paying attention in phys ed or health class during my 12 years of public school.

this picture can eliminate terrorism

Warning: don't look directly at this picture. When I do I start squeaking at supersonic volumes and die inside.

More of this at Cute Overload.

real time blogging during the Bachelor

8:45
Oh crap, I didn't realize they were starting at 9.

8:50
Sara Canada says, "can we kiss? can we start with a baby kiss?" BLECHHHHHHH
I can't believe I once maybe thought that Travis was attractive. He is like the head of a 12 year old on a Ken Doll.
You would think that a man with a medical degree wouldn't say "you guys" all the time. And wouldn't have a bowl cut.

8:55
Ok, we have a crier. One of the brunettes cries, "I've been so honest! What went wrong?" Do we need to answer that?

9:00
THe promos for the second hour, the voiceover asks, "who will become a doctor's wife?" the National Organization for WOmen just disbanded.

10:02
Oooooh, his meathead friends arrive to judge the women. You can tell being on this show is the most exciting thing that ever happened to them.
They ask questions to judge the women, like "what is the largest muscle in the body?" "Do you have any talents?" They start breakdancing, sticking their fists in their mouths, and one proclaims, "I'm a swimsuit model!"

10:10
Date schmate, rose, blah blah. Let's get to more crying.

10:19
Travis and his harem go to the French Riviera. One exclaims, "we are going to be living like P Diddy and Beyonce." Another proclaims "This is a pimp daddy yacht." I had to check the TV to make sure I hadn't accidentally switched to BET.

10:32
I don't know. Someone was mad over someone bringing him coffee? Travis walks around with the Rose like a carrot dangling in front of the woman.

10:40
Yawn

10:45
Canadian girl, "I don't want to answer every question like I'm Miss America." Wow, we got a feminist here, folks.
He took two women camping and got to choose one to go home. I believe I saw this when it was called Dismissed.

10:50
And the worlds most awkward kiss commenced onscreen. I think my ovaries extracted myself from my body.

10:59
I feel like an empty vessel after watching this. I no longer feel human.

tunes

I am back to posting whole albums. The first is from Gogol Bordello, called Gypsy Punks. I think the title of the album describes it best; it's a fusion of punk and "gyspy" music, i.e. Latin and Jazz. I was going to send this to Hammers, but it may bring joy to others as well.
Uploaded here.

Also, my favorite album of the moment, The Sounds, Dying to Say This To You. Pure 80s glam/indie redux. From Sweden, no less.
Uploaded here.

odds and ends

Um, how fricking sweet does this movie look.

Based on Christopher Priest's 1996 novel, Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman will play rival magicians in turn-of-the-century London who battle each other for trade secrets. The rivalry is so intense that it turns them into murderers. The title refers to the residue left after a magician's successful trick.

Like Harry Potter all grown up. Pics from the set here.

I'm watching the Disney movie Mulan and I am in shock by the racism. At the beginning she paints her face white and carries a parasol and puts flower combs in her hair. Isn't that like a geisha? A geisha from Japan? Ok, I also think they mentioned being acupuncurists and dry cleaners.

So, so, so wrong.

While traveling in North Dakota, beware of the dem-hippies.

Did any of the New Yorkers have the opportunity to participate in No-pants day on the MTA? I think the group that organized it is genius. A group for former outcasts who didn't receive enough attention at home or during high school.

Today is the most depressing day of the year.

It's a scientific fact.

operate this

So for about a week I thought I was a Grey's Anatomy fan. Then I realized it infuriates me more than entertains me. Sandra Oh's character is always stepping over the line, lying, cheating, and being inappropriate with patients. But gets away with it. Haha. This one patient, a former starlet, doesn't want to move into a nursing home, so the interns help invent new sicknesses for her so that she can stay, therefore wasting insurance money and hospital stays for those that really need it. Haha. A grown woman, a doctor, ignores everything and thinks of nothing but another doctor calling him "McDreamy:. Hahahaha. The one redeeming character, George O'Malley, who actually tries to do his best in his residency, gets shit on and taken advantage of, and actually has to take the whole episode to stand up to Meredith Grey and tell her that she can't kick him out of the house because she would prefer to keep the dog. HAHAHAHAHA. Like hell I would let these people operate on me. Will I watch next week? Yea, probably.

the quibbler

Huge turnout for Luna Lovegood casting call.

113799008412571414

Anyone find anymore clips from SNL this past Saturday. I only caught the last 20 minutes, saw The Strokes perform “You Only Live Once”, and it was divine. So far, what I have seen is not too funny.

did you know

Today is the 33rd anniversary of Roe v. Wade. I could go on here about the significance, but if I consider you a friend, you would probably know my stance and probably agree with me. Also, once I get into thinking about it, I get choked up and panicky for the obvious reasons that we are on the brink of going back in time on the subject.

But, in case not, here is a good collection of information and retrospectives.

it’s not who a person is, it’s what they do…or something like that

I'd like to publicly declare my love for the movie Batman Begins. It is, shall I dare say, the perfect movie? It has equal parts action, drama, intellectualism, good dialogue, and good direction/cinematography. It packs so much story, plot twists, flashbacks, and action sequences within about 2 and a half hours and doesn't seem rushed, which is impressive. It is comic-booky/fantasy without being cheesy or trite. It has lots of characters, but somehow is made in a way that you still know what is going on. Why wasn't it considered for the Oscars? You can't go wrong with the cast. Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Liam Neeson pretty much play themselves. They might as well use their real names in the movie. Katie Holmes is surprisingly not too annoying. Cillian Murphy is equally doable and creepy. The only thing that annoys me? How Christian Bale changes his voice when he's Batman. It's lame and almost ruins it for me.

i think i’m gonna ralph

Today in the mail was a save the date for my 10-year high school reunion. I immediately felt sick when I saw it. I can respond in three ways.

1. COmpletely ignore it, don't go to the reunion, keep on pretending that high school never happened.

2. Go to the reunion, and laugh at people and their patheric lives. See where the so-called popular people are, which is probably still on Long Island, hanging out with the same crowd, and going to happy hour at Applebee's. Perhaps see the 1.5 people that I gave a shit about in high school.

3. Go and take on a fake persona, fake name, and lie about what I am doing (tell people I am a Hollywood producer or something)and insult everyone in sight. I doubt people will call me on it, not many people would remember me anyway.

Which one should I choose?

Here's a secret I will let you in on- I wasn't exactly Ms.Popularity in high school. I know! A shocker! It's not like I was the class reject or class nerd, I was more…invisible. There were so many people at my high school I kind of got lost in the shuffle. I was semi-popular for about 3.5 days sophomore year, but that was about it. The only things I enjoyed were talking shit about the tight clique of people who were all fighting for the valedictorian spot and playing in the school orchestra. I always thought I would just put high school behind me, but a tiny part of me is just curious. I wish I could go incognito with a camera just to see what is going on.

Also, the organizers of the reunion are this guy and girl that were kind of popular in high school, the kind of popular that were head of the student government and on all the stupid committees. The fact that they are still doing shit like this made me die inside a little.

fire in soho

Last night there was a fire at 575 Broadway in Soho, causing major damage to the infamous Prada Store, as well as other stores like American Eagle. I find it interesting how this makes major news. I wonder how quickly Prada will be able to recoop. I'll bet it will open again in 5 minutes even bigger and better.

Thank gawd the Apple Store and the Paul Frank store are ok. The world would die without them.

ok

So now I don't feel bad about posting about Brokeback Mountain excessively, because this takes the cake. Here is a compliation of everything that has appeared on the web.

However, the ultimate it the techno remix of the main theme in the score. Get it here. Look for it on an upcoming episode of Queer Eye For the Straight Guy. Gag.

news

An obscure left-wing writer gets a review from Osama Bin Laden, and gets a boost in sales. That's better than being an Oprah book.

The response to Brokeback Mountain, I guess. Soddom and Gemorah the movie. I don't know whether to make fun of the content of the movies or its apparent cheesiness.

And, of course…more fat Jared Leto. Apparently he's a method actor.

Well, the NYT gushes over The New World, but makes no mention of its political accuracy or implications. I want to see it so I can become enraged, hopefully I will go early this week.

113791053822328958

Television Cul-de-Sac Mystery: Why Was Reality Show Killed?

The unscripted series, "Welcome to the Neighborhood," was heavily promoted and scheduled to appear in a summer time slot usually occupied by "Desperate Housewives." Stephen Wright, 51, who was already living in a nice house a few miles away with his partner and adopted son, said he participated primarily for one reason: to show tens of millions of prime-time viewers that a real gay family might, over the course of six episodes, charm a neighborhood whose residents overwhelmingly identified themselves as white, Christian and Republican.

As it turned out, the Wrights did win – beating families cast, at least partly, for being African-American, Hispanic, Korean, tattooed or even Wiccan – but outside of a few hundred neighbors (who attended private screenings last summer) and a handful of journalists, almost no one has been able to see them do so.

Ten days before the first episode was to be shown, ABC executives canceled "Welcome to the Neighborhood," saying that they were concerned that viewers who might have been appalled at some early statements made in the show – including homophobic barbs – might not hang in for the sixth episode, when several of those same neighbors pronounced themselves newly open-minded about gays and other groups.

ABC acted amid protests by the National Fair Housing Alliance, which had expressed concern about a competition in which race, religion and sexual orientation were discussed as factors in the awarding of a house. But two producers of the show, speaking publicly about the cancellation for the first time, say the network was confident it had the legal standing to give away a house as a game-show prize. One, Bill Kennedy, a co-executive producer who helped develop the series with his son, Eric, suggested an alternative explanation. He said that the protests might have been most significant as a diversion that allowed the Walt Disney Company, ABC's owner, to pre-empt a show that could have interfered with a much bigger enterprise: the courting of evangelical Christian audiences for "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." Disney hoped that the film, widely viewed as a parable of the Resurrection, would be the first in a profitable movie franchise.

—-

Meanwhile, the neighbor who was the Wrights' earliest on-camera antagonist – Jim Stewart, 53, who is heard in an early episode saying, "I would not tolerate a homosexual couple moving into this neighborhood" – has confided to the producers that the series changed him far more than even they were aware.

No one involved in the show, Mr. Stewart said, knew he had a 25-year-old gay son. Only after participating in the series, Mr. Stewart said, was he able to broach his son's sexuality with him for the first time.

"I'd say to ABC, 'Start showing this right now,' " Mr. Stewart said in an interview at his oak kitchen table. "It has a message that needs to be heard by everyone."

i’m a liar

'Member when I said I was done posting about Brokeback Mountain?

Ang Lee is the shit.

a wake up call.

You know what is more fun that Spring Break in Key West? Sinus infections. Good news? I have some strong medicine. Bad news? I think it was cooked up in a bathtub somewhere, so I feel like my eyelids are nonfunctional.

I think I have been numb during the last few weeks in regards to the last few Supreme Court nominations. Or at least blocking out things for a pure reason of survival. For some reason, this made me snap to attention, and now I can barely sleep. Here is some state-to-state information. Again, why do I want to move to the south?

Women are like the unsuspecting Janet Leigh in Psycho. Women think they are free to drive their own car, plan their own route, but they never anticipate that Norman Bates, armed with his butcher's knife, will work out his issues with women and their bodies on them. The ironic thing is women trusted that they had won the battle, secured their reproductive freedom and they could rest easy, sleep tight, that their rights, once gained, will remain. A happy ending with equality. They are surprised to learn that other plans had been made.

Maybe that is referring to me. When you think you are moving forward, you forget that progress can be halted and yanked backward.

Also quite alarming: Most College Students Lack Current Skills.

Most students at community colleges and four-year schools showed intermediate skills, meaning they could perform moderately challenging tasks. Examples include identifying a location on a map, calculating the cost of ordering office supplies or consulting a reference guide to figure out which foods contain a particular vitamin.

So the question is, do we make sure that colleges only accept students with "adequate" skills, therefore widening the privilege gap, or insitute more remedial classes and "dumb" down classes therefore churning out unprepared graduates? Of course, different types of institutions serve different purposes. I am still a large proponent of the liberal arts education- sometimes every skill doesn't need to be handed to you directly; students should be given analytic skills and gives issues to ponder- how they apply it practically is part of the challenge. That, of course, is if you can afford a tree-lined, ivy covered, liberal arts college. I'm also reading Declining By Degrees, which I am finding surprisingly interesting.

Homophobia on American Idol.

Bosses at America's leading gay rights group are demanding a summit meeting with the producers of TV talent show AMERICAN IDOL after claiming the programme is "increasingly homophobic".

Officials at the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) were appalled by homophobic remarks made by judges SIMON COWELL and RANDY JACKSON on the first show of the new season, which aired in America on Tuesday (17JAN06).

On the programme, Brit Cowell told one effeminate wannabe to "shave off your beard and wear a dress," while Jackson asked another audition hopeful, "Are you a girl?" Both contestants were rejected.

Now GLAAD bosses are fighting back, demanding an audience with Idol bosses.

A spokesman tells entertainment news website TMZ.com, "GLAAD is reaching out to the show's producers to discuss our concerns and the concerns of community members and allies, who have contacted us about this matter."

I didn't actually see this for myself, but I am appalled at many people's reactions of "oh, people are being too sensitive", and "they were bad singers anyway.". From what I have read, it seems Simon and Randy were showing disgust at the gender variance of the contestant. Wow, Monday night's Golden Globes seemed to give a teeny tiny step forward for the trans community, and American Idol pretty much squashed that by sending this message to most of middle America. Fantastic. UPDATE: I found some clips.

What do I do when I realize the ills of society? I revert back to accupying my mind with the nonessential.

I can't believe it took this long to have a porn equivalent….Bareback Mountain now available.

Fat Jared Leto sighting!

Last year's Project Runway's "Envy" dress is on ebay. I would bid, but sorry, that color is inappropriate for work. But showing an entire chest cavity IS ok where I work.

For Erin: hidden landmarks of Manhattan.

My CDs, My Self. That's pretty much me. I took count, and my collection has reached 2200. I've also made a life-altering decision: I am doing away with the jewel cases. They are currently taking up 10 cartons in my storage closet, and should I move again, it will need a whole new truck. Plus, from now on, I won't even be aquiring more. I haven't purhased an actual cd since 2003.

no words

http://americablog.blogspot.com/2006/01/radical-right-angry-that-colleges-are.html

Seriously, get a load of some of the examples of college academic rules that the religious right is outraged over:
* A ban on "insults, taunts, or challenges directed toward another person" (Appalachian State University).
* A practice of outlawing "statements of intolerance" (North Carolina Central University).
* A requirement that all students "respect the dignity of all persons" and "strive for the openness to learn from differences in people" (UNC Asheville).
* A policy outlawing "disrespect for persons" (UNC Greensboro).

I am starting a list of schools to NOT apply to work at.

all about my mother

I want to share a bit of an email correspondence I've had with my mother after she saw Brokeback Mountain.

How's it going? Grandma and I went to see Brokeback Mountain. I enjoyed it though I don't think it was the best movie I ever saw. Grandma ( though she missed some of the dialogue as they sometimes mumbled a bit) declared that everyone is entitled to love somebody; was nonplussed by the sex scenes and thought the scenery was beautiful. I was sitting near an older man ( older than me) who sobbed his way through the last half of the movie. He was with his wife so I think he might have had a son that was gay. I overheard them talking when the movie was over. The theater was crowded with senior citizens who were quiet.

After all the complaining I do about my mother, I have to realize how lucky I am that first, I have a mother that would actually want to see the movie, and second, I that she appreciated and understood the context. I am close with several people whose relationship with their parents have been strained due to their sexuality, or are not actually out to their parents, so I share this not to brag or rub it in their faces, but to give props to my mom (and grandmother) for her views on the subject, and for me to remember that provilege that I have. However, maybe her comfort with LGBT issues has to do with the fact that her children are not gay- she may feel like it is easy for her to say because she does not have to actually deal with it. Actually, her children being gay is the least of her problems. The fact that I have a nosering and no 401K is enought to keep her awake at night. Well, we continued the converation about the movie, talking about the cinematic elements, and I mentioned subtlety of the filmmaking and dialogue, and I think she misunderstood and thought I was talking about the sexual content, so she wrote back,

I agree with you- the movie was subtle without much gratuitous sex. The scenes we saw were necessary to move the plot esp. when Ennis was with his wife and you saw the lovemaking position used there.

Um, WHAT? This is not the kind of conversation you want to have with your mother. I can't even watch PG-13 movies in front of my parents. Ever since they forced me to watch Pretty Woman with them at the age of 10 and then tried to "process" the movie with me after have I avoided the topic altogether. I don't think I can actually speak with my parents for a week to hope this exchange was forgotten. Ick.

odds and ends

So, important things are happening. Alito's hearings, human rights violations, but still, the trivial and irrelevant keeps me entertained.

My obsession continues with fat Jared leto. Why? I don't know. Maybe I pissed that someone is actually getting paid to gain weight. And all my pleasant memories of Jordan Catalano go out the window.

Also, more James Frey bashing.

Finally caught up on this week's Project Runway. Zulema's desgin was fugly. Personally, I liked Nick's.

I just threw up in my mouth.

Built to Spill has a new album coming out soon…

You know what is hip? When something becomes so irrevirant that you make fun of it but then that makes it cool, so it comes full circle. Now it is hip to make fun of hipsters.

Every city has got hipsters, but one is dedicating an entire game to the group.

A woman who goes by the name “Miss Lola Belle” has been a resident of the Brooklyn neighborhood of Williamsburg for ten years, and now she thinks it’s time to honor the people in trucker hats who help make Williamsburg hip.

That’s why she’s created a Family Feud-like game show called “Hipster Feud” which will happen tonight (Jan. 19) at the Galapagos Art Space in Brooklyn.

Belle says she surveyed a hundred hipsters to gather content for the show, and Williamsburg’s hippest will have to answer questions like “What top 5 accessories will you find on a female hipster?” or the quasi-philosophical question, “What is the new trucker hat?”

Belle will co-host with her boyfriend, Jesse Ballgame,who will channel revered Feud host Richard Dawson. “Dawson kissed the Moms, hit on the daughters and always let you know he was a few cocktails in. I’m definitely going for that charming, sleazy drunk thing,” says Ballgame.

She says her duties for the night will include revealing answers, deejaying, and “making sure my boyfriend doesn’t drink too much.”

HIPSTER FEUD!

Tonight, Jan 19th 10pm

FREE

GALAPAGOS

70 N. 6th Street between Berry/Wythe

Williamsburg Brooklyn
www.galapagosartspace.com

Holy f'in crap! The Strokes and Peter Saarsgard on Saturday Night Live this Saturday. Do I produce this show?

Some crazy kids at UCLA are trying to expose those crazy, foaming at the mouth, professors.

Also, Brenda's first days of law school semester seem pretty full of crazy antics. this is why I will never go to law school. I hate all the grad school bullshit. In no way was my grad school experience as intense as law school, but it was filled with bullshit networking, people always asking each other about grades, and old-fashioned "kissing up" to the professors. I never took part in that. What was my GPA? 4.0. Did I get a much-sought-after job after I graduated? Yes. I am sure business school will not be too much different, so I don't know why I am setting myself up to be thoroughly annoyed.

songs that will change your life

Heart- Alone
Nada Surf- Inside of Love
Statistics- Final Broadcast
The Delgados- I Fought the Angels
Johnny Cash- The Man Comes Around

we saw this coming.

Golden Globe winners spark righteous anger
From Chris Ayres in Los Angeles

CHRISTIAN groups led a furious campaign against Hollywood yesterday, accusing the Golden Globe Awards of promoting films with gay or “leftist” themes to serve a political agenda.

The criticism was made after Brokeback Mountain, a film about the forbidden love between gay Wyoming cowboys, won four awards. Other winners included Philip Seymour Hoffman, named Best Actor for his portrayal of the homosexual writer Truman Capote; and Felicity Huffman, the Desperate Housewives actress who played a transsexual with a gay prostitute son in Transamerica.

“Once again, the media elites are proving that their pet projects are more important than profit,” Janice Crouse, of Concerned Women for America, said. “None of the three movies — Capote, Transamerica or Brokeback Mountain — is a box office hit. Brokeback Mountain has barely topped $25 million (£14.2 million) in ticket sales. If America isn’t watching these films, why are they winning the awards?”

The criticism from the American heartland carried more weight than usual this year because Hollywood suffered the biggest decline in attendance in two decades last year. Some of the few box office hits of the year were films such as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which appealed strongly to Christian audiences.

Oscar pundits are now questioning whether the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will also reward Brokeback Mountain, potentially souring Hollywood’s relationship with the American ticketbuying public even further. Members of the Academy must hand in their nomination forms by Saturday. The shortlist will be announced on January 31 and the ceremony will be held on March 5.

Religious groups also pointed to the alleged political agenda of winners including George Clooney, who won for his supporting role in Syriana, a film about the ethical pitfalls of the oil business; and Mary Louise Parker, who was rewarded for her performance in Weeds, a television comedy about a suburban mother turned marijuana dealer.

Much of the anger was directed at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the group of 92 journalists from non-American publications who hand out the Golden Globe Awards. The Times, along with many other large overseas publications, is not represented at the HFPA.

The non-profit HFPA collects as much as $5.7 million from selling the broadcast rights to the ceremony, which is consistently one of the three highest-rated awards shows in the United States, along with the Academy Awards and the Grammys. However, reports alleging cronyism at the HFPA were thought to contribute to a 40 per cent decline in viewership last year.

Right-wing radio talk show hosts also took pot shots at the Globes yesterday. Stephen Bennett, of Straight Talk Radio, said: “When Hollywood is pumping out anti-family movies with sexually explicit, twisted and perverse themes that glorify homosexuality, transsexuality and every other kind of sexual immorality — then awarding itself for doing so — Middle America better take note.

“Last night Hollywood exposed its own corrupt agenda. [It] is no doubt out on a mission to homosexualise America.” The British winners at the Globes were some of the most conventional, with Hugh Laurie, 47, winning Best Actor in a Television Series for House. The other big British winner of the night was Rachel Weisz, 35, who collected the award for Best Supporting Dramatic Actress for The Constant Gardener, an adaptation of the bestselling John le Carr é novel.

source

whoa

I just started reading Prep, but I have not read anything so well written since Home at the End of the World. I want to drop everything this week and read it nonstop, too bad it's the busiest week of the semester at work. Funny, because I thought it would be more like "chick lit." I reccomend it already.

one way ticket

Just some leftover stuff from the Golden Globes.

I find this cute:

Also, more proof HF was drunk/high/senile.

I disagree that Hilary Swank looked bad. Did you see the back of her dress? Yowza.

The NYT weighs in.

Holy crap, Jared Leto is a fatty.

UPDATE: The fat is real, it's not prosthetics. A friend of a friend is a PA on the movie. I'd still hit it.

tunes

songs that will change your life

Joaquin Phoenix- I Walk the Line (from the Walk the Line soundtrack, doy)
The Sounds- Painted By Numbers
Jenny Lewis- Handle With Care
Misfits- Last Caress
Built to Spill- You Were Right

just like Vanilla Sky!

I doubt this works, but here is a way you can train yourself to have lucid dreams. I already have a lot of these, but they are always in a setting I don't want to be in.

felicity huffman

I just wanted to add a quote from Felicity Huffman's acceptance speech upon winning for Transamerica:

"I know as actors our job is usually to shed our skins, but I think as people our job is to become who we really are and so I would like to salute the men and women who brave ostracism, alienation and a life lived on the margins to become who they really are."

Also, proof that Harrison Ford may have a bit of a problem.

I don’t know how to quit you

I am now reoccupied with the fact that Heath Ledger so reminds me of Tim. See for yourself…I'll bet you can't even tell who is who.

The Bachelor

Hmmm, I didn't get to fully engage, since I was watching The Globies.

It is the group date episode, where Travis parades his harem all over the touristy areas of Paris.

The whole thing just gives me douchechills.*

*A term coined by my brother, which indicates the cringeworthy feeling you get when you see someone making a complete idiot of themselves or someone in an incredibly awkward moment.

real time golden globe commentary

7:45pm pre-show

I could cut the sexual tension between Ted Casablanca and Ryan Seacrest with a knife.
I wish Issac Mizrahi would stop molesting everyone.
I think Joaquin Phoenix had plastic surgery to enhance his hrelip. Rawr!
Hilary Swank looks foooyyyyne.

8:00
Queen Latifah starts the show off by giving a cheap plug for Last Holiday. Only after that does she acknowledge that it is MLK Day. They automatically cut to shots of Terrance Howard and Chris Rock.

8:02
Natalie Portman wearing a dress with lace bracups. Yuck.

8:09
Rachel Weisz wins best supporting actress. She looks like ass. I got to see a brief glimse of Darren Aronofsky.

8:20
I think Luke Wilson is high

8:22
This Brandon Rouse character, the new Superman, is a tool.

8:23
I think Sandra Oh peed herself. She is this year’s Cuba Gooding, Jr.

8:30
Why is Geena Davis still working?

8:32
I didn’t know that Wentworth Miller was nominated. I wonder if he ran into Mariah and they reannacted her video.
Shucks, P Demps lost.

8:46
What the hell is Two and a Half Men?
Steve Carrell just won for The Office. He’s better thank Ricky Gervais.

9:00
Ryan basically sucker punched Reese in the back when she won. Is Joaquin crying?

9:02
Mary Louise Parker beat out the Desperate Housewives. I so want her to get up there and say, “hey, Billy and Claire, FUCK YOU!”

9:10
Ha. Zack Braff is kicking back with a bottle of Bud Light.

9:11
Shit! Harrison Ford looks ROUGH.

9:30
some TV awards. Whatevs.

10:00
Zzzzzzz…..the Anthony Hopkins tribute….

10:15
Ang Lee is awesome. Btw, who is the hottie sitting next to Heath?

10:20
Omg! Cilliam Murphy! I didn’t realize he was there.
Joaquin is on about 20 Xanax. Say it with me, “DM!”

10:35
Felicity wins for Transamerica. I hope she won because it was a good performance, not because it is sooooo harrrrrd to play such a despicable character like a transwoman. (insert sarcasm). Her speech was good.

10:38
Holy crap, even the clip of Brokeback kind of made me tear up.

10:40
Heath loses to Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Holy shit, Heath soooooo reminds me of Tim. I’ll prove my theory later.

10:55
Ok, Brokeback won. Der. I just realized I wanted to mention that Dennis uaid made dick jokes when he was presenting the movie. It was like he wanted to make sure everyone knew HE wasn’t gay. He might as well said, “I used to bang Meg Ryan!”

Ok, I do think it is good that movies with LGBT themes won, it may give some attention to the issues. There is still a long way to go.

Here is a recap that is way better than this one.

2 important thingd

Thank god for Dahlia Lithwick's coverage of he Alito hearing in Slate. If it weren't for her ripping him a new one every day, I wouldn't even be paying attention.

Also, tonight is the Golden Globes! I have to say it has lost its appeal for me without Joan and Melissa, but I'm dying to see Jake, Patrick, Katherine, Kate, the trio, and Ewan, if he shows up. Did I just call them by their first names? I'm going insane. Anyway, I am sure E! has already started their coverage now in mid-afternoon.

scientific research at its best

Woman's scent can lure or repel

Men said the women's odour was most intense during menstruation
A woman's body odour can help her attract men when she is at her most fertile and repel them when she is not, scientists have said.
According to a report in the journal Ethology, when a woman is at the most fertile part of the menstrual cycle her armpit odour is at its mildest.

But when she is having a period, and not ready for pregnancy, the smell changes to an acute, repellent odour.

The researchers studied 12 women who wore armpit pads for 24 hours a day.

A number of primate species display changes during their fertile period, but the majority of scientists believed that this was not the case with humans.

The 12 women were restricted from eating certain foods and from using deodorant or hormonal contraceptive.

They provided odour samples on the armpit pads, which were then presented to 42 men, who sniffed them and assessed the attractiveness of the scent.

"Axillary odour from women in the follicular phase was rated as the most attractive and least intense," the study's leader Dr Jan Havlicek, from Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, said.

"The results suggest that body odour can be used by men as a cue to the fertile period in current or prospective sexual partners," he added.

A previous study by the same team suggested that women subconsciously prefer the aroma of dominant men when they are at the most fertile stage of the menstrual cycle.

Then the researchers asked 48 men to assess how dominant they felt.

The men then wore cotton pads in their armpits for 24 hours, which were subsequently presented to 65 women.

Those who were ovulating rated the "dominant" men as sexiest, but there was no similar pattern among women at other stages of their menstrual cycle.

Only in Europe, folks, would this kind of research happen.

Plus, aren't these findings obvious?

only ugly animals are delicious

PETA announced their proggy awards. Weird categories. Best software? How about cutest animal? (Dilbert would win, obvs). How about tastiest animal?

Also, how can I hate this world when things like this exist? See more on the baby bunnies page.

Also, a papillion nurses a baby squirrel. Cannot. deal. with. the. cuteness.

odds and ends

I just got the new albums from I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness and Elfant. Suckas!

Everyone's favorite new hispter comedian, Eugene Mirmam, has signed to Sub Pop records. He is like the poor man's David Cross. Funny blog, tho.

More on our favorite fake authors, James and JT.

Hey, I didn't know the UK has a rip off of Project Runway called Project Catwalk with Liz Hurely. Apparently, they have a cutie on the show that may be cuter than Daniel V.

Speaking of PR, here's an obnox interview with Santino Rice, who I would just love to punch. And it answers the question that everyone is clamoring for: Santino loves the ladies and the men. No, he just loves anyone that will pay attention to him.

They are making a Narnia sequel, but it is out of order from the book series. Purists are pissed, Jesus is just happy to be spreading more propaganda.

The RIAA has published a pamphlet on how to talk to your kids about illegal downloading. It is HI-larious.

Glad to see some other interest in The Bachelor. Sound intriguing? Want to see the trainwreck? Want to turn the women's movement back a thousand years? It's on tonight from 9-11pm on ABC. I'll be there, and on IM.

tunes

songs that will change your life

Depeche Mode- I Feel You
Tears for Fears- Head Over Heals (from Donnie Darko)
Teddy Thompson- I Don't Want to Say Goodbye (from Brokeback Mountain)
Metric- Soft Rock Star
The Hives- Love in Plaster

snow day

So, it is snowing again, and it is flippin icy on the roads, so today was a shut in day working on some projects for work. I like to have background noise, so I subcinsciously inhaled a lot of useless pop culture. Here is what I (semi)watched.

Hollow Man- huh?
Parent Trap- the remake with Lindsay Lohan. Yea, way to make a fantasy. Both girls have rich families, one who is a wedding gown designer in London and the other a vineyard owner is CA. And you can have the power to reverse your parents divorce. And you find yourself a new twin sister/best friend. Just shoot me now.
Underworld- What was this about? I didn't get it.
The Island- yes, again. ScarJo is so laughable. "But I wanna to go to the island!"
BASEketball- again, wtf. Since it was on regular tv, they cut the scene where they make out. Damn.

Finally, I'll admit that I watch Grey's Anatomy. Yes, it's true. Maybe if the title wasn't so damn clever I could ignore it. And I hate every second of it. I'm hooked because I love anything Katherine Heigl does. And for Addison Sheppard, and of course for Patrick "I played a hustler/pizza boy" Dempsey. Don't even get me started on Meredith Grey. Way to turn EVERYTHING into something about her. You are a surgeon. Please don't base your entire existence on the way that Dr. Sheppard looked at you in the elevator. And, it looks like someone punched you in the face. Oh, and there is something for your hair, it's called conditioner. Look into it. In tonight's episode, in a complete rip off of the book Middlesex, a young girl comes in for surgery and they find out that she is actually intersexed and has testes. Within the 45 minute show, the parents accept this and she decides to live as a boy. How convenient! Of course, Meredith turns this into a metaphor for her life and "starting anew", and turns a clinical trial for her sick mother into all about her and Dr. Sheppard. I hate her. She makes Ally McBeal look like Gloria Steinem.

so proud

Congrats, New York! You have the most segregated schools in the country.

tunes

I know I have been lazy and not giving out whole albums, but here are two that I have been really digging lately.

The Detroit Cobras mught be the coolest band to live. They are indie-rock meets blues. Here's their album Baby.

Also, I could pick out about a million indie rock band cliches from their picture. Betty Page bangs, oversized sunglasses, tie, etc….

Frank Black, singer for the Pixies, has released some solo work. I had avoided it forever because I felt like I had the Pixies, why do I need it? Plus, the guy creeps me out. Just look at him.

It is now one of my favorites- it sounds like the Pixies but with a twinge of pop.
Frank Black- Teenager of the Year

reads

Laurie Notaro, Idiot Girl's Guide to Christmas

Standard fair from the comedic essayist. For those that write humorous essays, it always makes me wonder, do that many funny things happen to one person? At some point, they really start to really reach for thing to be funny. Or they purposefully seek out situations so they can write about them. Oh well. My favorite essay describes when she had to make an emergency stop at KMart on Christmas Eve for tampons, and some teenagers called her "Peppermint Fatty."

Race Manners, Bruce A. Jacobs

This was certainly not based on fact, but the author's observations of how people communicate around issues of race. It would be helpful to someone who wants to try to start approaching racist family members. He answers such questions as "why is it ok for Black individuals to call themselves the N-word" and "How to have a civilized conversation about affirmative action" and "how your behavior on public transportation is racist". It was short, simple, matter of fact.

Nickeled and Dimed, Barbara Echenreich

Although not written with extreme grace and interest, this one really affected me. The author goes undercover, so to speak, and tries to live on working wages for a total of three months and tires to find a place to live and eat on the wages she earns. It is admirable, and she basically shows that it is near impossible. Although I admire her committment, in the back of her head, she did always know that in a few months time, she could go back to her "real" life and cushy job and spacious condo. So that automatically eliminates the eternal feeling of hopelessness and lifelong stress that can plague those who work for a "living" wage.

Of course, my knee-jerk reaction to this was complete guilt. And to denounce my lifestyle. Here I am, with an advanced degree, health insurance, a car, and a nice place to live. Giving that up completely in not the answer. However, this book has made me more critical of my spending, which I had already begun to do. I come into contact with people who work for an hourly wage, and certainly pitying them is not the answer. But appreciating it and further acknowleding my privilege is a start. I feel I am not accurately expressing my emotional state when reading this, but it is a short read and I would reccomend it to anyone looking for some perspective outside of their supposed "cushy" life.

The Washingtonienne, Jessica Cutler

This one simultaneously entertained me and infuriated me. Jessica Cutler is the most self-absorbed, skankiest, reprehsible, sociopath I have ever read about. She worked on the hill for a while and kept a blog about her (numerous) sexual exploits (her blog was not as exciting as she makes it out to be). Eventually she was fired because of it and has attemoted to validate an existence off of the publicity. She tries to excuse her disgusting attitude by constantly admitting that she is superficial, like admitting it makes it ok. Although, in her slight defense, hill offices and other organizations can be drama-filled sopa operas. Working at the way, I felt like I was simultaneously in an episode of Melrose Place and in the movie Mean Girls . Although it was entertaining to see her talk about the places she frequented, including Pizza Mart and Tortilla Coast where I worked as a hostess for a brief time. Apparently she picked up a lot of her conquests there. All I saw were white guys in suits with overbites. To each their own.

tunes

songs that will change your life

Rilo Kiley- Pictures of Success
Tiffany- Could've Been
Stellastarr* – Jenny
Social Distortion- Story of My Life (live)
Ash- Petrol
White Stripes- the Air Near My Fingers
Muse- Hysteria

odds and ends

Bloglines is my new best friend.

How to share your music- a nice guide to all the filesharing services.

tunes

songs that will change your life

The Sounds- Queen of Apology
Statistics- Final Broadcast
Royksopp- Triumphant
Pixies- Gouge Away

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Thanks to one of my students, I have discovered the wonders of blogging project runway.

Tim Gunn has a podcast!

Here is my favorite design from last episode:

tunes

songs that will change your life

Shannon – Give Me Tonight
Nada Surf- Amateur
Guns n Roses- Double Talkin’ Jive
The Dandy Warhols- Minnesoter

holy hungarian horntail!

A gift from Brandon that I look forward to reading:

Mapping the World of Harry Potter:

New and old fans of the Harry Potter series will welcome this collection of fresh essays on Potter lore, plotlines, and characters. With up-to-date information through book six in the series, this companion volume offers a comprehensive look at the world of Potter through the eyes of leading science fiction and fantasy writers such as David Gerrold, Joyce Millman, and Martha Wells, and religion, psychology, and science experts. Along with feminism, fascism, and moral life, topics include the Three Faces of Severus Snape, Harry Potter as Luke Skywalker, I Am a Hufflepuff: A Look at the Houses, and Harry Potter and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

sweating over you

Hilarity ensues at the gym. I was sooooo self-conscious about wearing my leggings to the gym, but lo and behold, I look over at the next machine, and there is a woman wearing a full on leotard with shiny tights. With neon paint splash designs on it. Whoever you are, thanks for creating the distraction. Then I spot my redheaded gym crush, we make eye contact, and I attempt to the the suck-in-my-gut-stick-out-my-neck pose, and nearly wipe out on the treadmill. Finally, walking over the magazine rack, I was spying him out of the corner of my eye, and I walked straight into the stairmaster. Seriously, it was straight out of some dumb romantic comedy. I expected Kate Hudson to jump into the room and for a Counting Crown song to suddenly start playing. Shit.

a million tiny lies

So it is not everyday that the literary world has some scanfals. James Frey wrote a "memoir" called A Million Tiny Pieces. It was about his stint in rehab after being arrested several times and his almost lifelong struggle with drug addiction and crime. It was well-written, heartwarming, and detailed. Then Oprah got her paws on it, endorsed it, and basically made him a millionaire overnight. Now it turns out that some of the things he said he did may have been fabricated, like some of his arrests really didn't happen. Apparently some people feel cheated. I am not sure why. I don't think memoirs have to claim to be a true story, especially if it states that it is "based on a true story". I am sure every piece of dialogue did not come verbatim from what was actually said.

In a way, this makes me relived. The memoir actually made rehab look glamorous and fun. Maybe some fraudenshaude is in effect, because I started to resent James Frey because in the sequel to his memoir, within the span of four months from being released from rehab and then jail, he finds a job in the movie industry in LA, finds true love, raises dogs, and has the financial help of his rich friend he met in rehab. Basically, his life was better than mine could ever hope to be.

I don't know what to think, if he is at fault or not. It's not like he had a ghostwriter and didn't actually write the book. It was still well written.

Picking Up the Pieces
How James Frey flunked rehab, and why his fakery matters.

James Frey on Larry King

Now, on to the more exciting one. JT LeRoy, author of two of my favorite novels, Sarah and The Heart is Deceitful Above All Things, has come into the spotlight as a fake. Supposedly, his books were semi-autobiographical about his life growing up as a trangendered child prosititute working at truck stops and living with his psychotic mother. He was always surrounded in mystery, barely gave interviews and claimed to have AIDS. Well, it turns out the author was a fabiraction of two people and was played in public by someone else. People are crying fraud, I am crying genius! That is an amazing publicity stunt and one hell of a piece of performance art. However, caliming to have AIDS when you don't maybe isn't so cool, but messing around with people's conceptions of gender norms is pretty cool.

ANyway, I don't see what the big deal is. I read books as an escape from my own thoughts and life, so as long as the book is entertaining I'm fine.

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A SELECTION FROM GEORGE W. BUSH'S EAVESDROPPING TAPES: MATTHEW BARNEY AND BJÖRK LACE AN IKEA PHONE ORDER.
BY CHRIS MCCOY
- – - -

MATTHEW BARNEY: (On phone.) Matthew. Barney. Sure. It's called the Flärke. F-L-A-R-K-E. It's a bookshelf.

BJÖRK: (In background.) Ask if they have an aluminum igloo.

MATTHEW BARNEY: (Muffled.) I'm on hold. I'll check when he gets back on.

BJÖRK: (Giggling.) Imagine if clouds were made of licorice!

MATTHEW BARNEY: Flärke. With an umlaut over the a. Also, my wife was curious if you sold aluminum … Yes, I can hold again.

BJÖRK: The winter makes me feel particularly blinkered.

MATTHEW BARNEY: The Flärke is in stock? Great. Another quick question. My wife is Scandinavian and she was wondering if you had any aluminum … All right, I can hold.

BJÖRK: Icelanders complete the echo with feel.

MATTHEW BARNEY: You're kidding me. If you can't deliver it, why do you have the option to order by phone?

BJÖRK: Pandas are sexy.

source

wow

Holy shit. I just now realized how flippin amazing Antony and the Johnsons are. Why did it take me until now to realize this? I hereby pronounce myself obsessed from this point on.

tunes

songs that will change your life

Antony and the Johnsons- Hope There's Someone
Saves the Day- Freakish
Screeching Weasel- My Brain Hurts
Bloc Party- Helicopter

arts and farts and crafts

Yay, project runway tonight? So I found these on some livejournal community, it's Daniel Vosovic's high school yearbook picture or something. My my, he's aged well.

And there is a movie coming out about Andy Warhol, with Guy Pierce as him and Sienna Miller as Edie Sedgwick. Great casting! Looks like it could be good.

tunes

songs that will change your life

Jack White- Wayfaring Stranger (from Cold Mountain)
Calexico- Convict Pool
Ladytron- Destroy Everything You Touch

Album Sales Were Down in 2005, and It’s All Your Fault

The music industry showed signs of recovery in 2004, but receded in 2005 with album sales dipping 7.2%, their lowest since 1996, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "It was a year where you had to deal with the problems of piracy and the fact that there weren't that many big stars releasing records," the Associated Press quoted Doug Morris (pictured), chairman of Universal Music Group.

While the music industry, especially the major record companies, had long been hesitant to embrace digital technology, they were rewarded in 2005 for their advances. 352.7 million digital tracks were purchased, a 150% jump from 2004. Overall, digital album sales jumped 194% from 2004, with over 16 million purchased. With the help of these digital purchases, including singles and videos, the music industry chalked up more than one billion sales for the first time.

"It's going to explode the business, and it takes a while to do that," Morris said of digital technology. "It's a great time for the business. It's incredibly interesting to be a part of this revolutionary change."

The most popular digital track was Weezer's "Beverly Hills," while Green Day was the top-selling digital act overall, with nearly 3.5 million songs sold. Another positive in an otherwise down year, independent labels accounted for more than 18% of album sales, their biggest share of the market in at least five years, according to SoundScan and reported by the New York Times. Including independent companies whose music is distributed through majors, the figure exceeds 27%.

Wal-Mart sold nearly a third of all retail-purchased albums. This, coupled with increased purchases through iTunes and online retailers such as Amazon.com signal that conventional and independent record stores are on the way out. Aron's Records and Rhino Westwood, two landmark shops in the Los Angeles area, have gone the way of the mom and pop shop.

Mariah Carey's Grammy-nominated Emancipation of Mimi nabbed the top selling record of the year. Strong sales in the homestretch of 2005 gave her the edge over 50 Cent's Massacre at 4.97 million records sold to 4.85 million, respectively. In the week leading up to Christmas (ahem, the Holidays), Jamie Foxx's Unpredictable sold 598,000 copies, quickly jumping over Mary J. Blige's The Breakthrough for the number one spot on the Billboard charts in the first week of 2006. It'll likely remain there until the next Wolf Eyes CD-R is released.

source

KIT

You know what is getting to me right now is that I am absolute crap at keeping in touch with people. I have no idea why. Well, one reason is that I despise the phone. Talking on the phone is actually becoming a phobia. When I get to work and see the red blinking message alert on my phone I start dry heaving. I am not good at talking to someone and catching them up with everything that is going on. I am better at the daily chatting, which happens with people you are with everyday. I have moved so many times leaving behind great friends, and feel lucky to have them on my friend list (metaphorically, I don't actually keep a list…ok I do) but then I completely mess it up be never calling. One of my goals for the next few weeks is to try to look up people I miss and try to drop them a note saying I am thinking of them. Hopefully some of them are reading this blog. Seriously, I talk to 1.5 people from college, and I don't even have contact info for half of them.

Sigh.

tunes

Songs that will change your life.

The Killers- The Ballad of Michael Valentine
David Bowie- Underground
Mazzy Star- Fade Into You
Radio 4- Save Your City

odds and ends

Jay McInerney does the Strokes.

Ok, so Jouquin Phoenix directed a music video for some cliched indie band, People in Planes. Let the perving commence.

Episode 6 of the Ricky Gervais podcast is available now. If you haven’t been listening, you haven’t been living.

A new blog and podcast I am liking: An Animal Friendly Life.

My boyfriend went and knocked up Rachel Weisz.

Apparently the Book of Daniel doesn’t offend Christians and is also not a good show.

Pete Doherty is such a mentalist. Gotta love him.

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So after all the buildup, I finally saw Brokeback mountain. It was lovely and touching. Had I had any fluids left in me (I was severely dehydrated) I would have cried more. Anyway, a touching love story + societal morals and implications + the murder of marginalized people = good times. As John so eloquently put it, "[We] are going to end up crying and clutching used bloody clothing. But we won't know the people it belongs to."

Hey, even Larry David liked it. Apparently Gene Shalit did not.

Just as feared, there was some tittering and laughing in the audience. What the fuck? Seriously. What. the. fuck. Was is embarassment? Nervousness? And really, if you do feel that way, why don't you keep it to yourself? Yes, having to hide your relationship for fear of death and public mockery is fucking hilarious!

Not surpisingly, it is being banned in some areas of the country.

Ok, in all seriousness, I had been talking about the movie as some eye candy, but it was really well done. However, it probably has sparked some good business for gay rodeos. Not gonna lie. It sparked my interest.

In order to torture myself more, I currently have this as my wallpaper.

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I can't decide if Weezer's new video for Perfect Situation is cloyingly annoying or actually pretty cool.

will you accept this rose

irst off, I caught the last few minutes of Jake in Progress. If anyone of you watched it, and actually found it funny, I will tell you know that I am completely cutting off our friendship.

So, our new Bachelor. how can they say that he is the best one yet? That is an insult to my Andrew.

His last name is Stork. Get it? Cause he's tall? Ha ha.

I love how all the women are significantly younger than him. As not to immasculate him.

Favorite quotes:
"I really need a husband, because my eggs are rotting."
"I need a manly man. Like someone that chops wood."
"Dear Travis, I hope we have a 'shot' at romance."- said someone after giving him a shotglass.
"Out of 25 girls, he picked me! I think that means we have a connection."
"What is it? Am I too short? Are my boobs not big enough?"- after someone was not picked

God bles America.

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So much going on! The Alito hearings, blogs, movies, I just finished a few books, I am trying a new conditioner. I barely have time to write it up.

The Bachelor: Paris premiers tonight, so if anyone wants to join in the irony and toomfoolery, I'll be on AIM for some real-time bashing.

[squeeze]

Forget expensive therapy. Forget psychotropic drugs. Next time I feel stressed or depressed (which will happen in 30 seconds) I need look no further than babyanimalz.com.

Also the notrious list of the country's fattest and fittest cities. Baltimore? Who knew? This must of happened after I left two summers ago.

omfg

This is probably the most horrible thing I have ever heard. Nice backpedaling by the Wal Mart PR dept.

Wal-Mart Halts Movie Suggestions on Web
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is shutting down the system that creates movie recommendations on its shopping Web site after it linked a "Planet of the Apes" DVD to films about famous black Americans, including Martin Luther King Jr.

Wal-Mart said Thursday it had removed what it called the "offensive combinations" from a walmart.com page advertising a boxed DVD set, "Planet of the Apes: The Complete TV Series."

Under a "similar items" section, the DVD set's page linked shoppers to four films about the lives of King, actress Dorothy Dandridge, boxer Jack Johnson and singer Tina Turner. Wal-Mart later altered the page to link with television show DVDs.

The world's largest retailer said the software that generates links for shoppers from one movie to others of similar interest would be shut down. All cross references would be removed as soon as technically possible until the system can be fixed, Wal-Mart said.

Bill Wertz, a spokesman for the Bentonville, Ark.-based company, said it wasn't yet clear how or when the technical problem arose. "We're still looking into it," he said.

Wal-Mart moved swiftly after a link to the page for "Planet of the Apes" began circulating on the Internet.

"We are heartsick that this happened and are currently doing everything possible to correct the problem," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Mona Williams said in a statement.

"Walmart.com's item mapping process does not work correctly and at this point is mapping seemingly random combinations of titles. We were horrified to discover that some hurtful and offensive combinations are being mapped together," she said, adding that the company was "deeply sorry that this happened."

"To further illustrate the bizarre nature of this technical issue, the site is also mapping movies such as `Home Alone' and `Power Puff Girls' to African-American-themed DVDs," Williams said.

A documentary about surfers, "Riding Giants," links to the same list of seemingly unrelated fantasy films as the King biopic, including "Polar Express" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

By MARCUS KABEL, Associated Press Writer

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Hey, with all the controversy the radical right is making about the new show, Book of Daniel, they are really giving it lots of publicity. It looks good; I'll give it a try.

Speaking of, I've neglected my friend Bill O'Reilly. Here is the transcript of him making an ass of himself on Letterman.

everyone else

In case my ramblings are not fullfilling you today, several of my bbffs (blog best friends 4eva) have had some interesting stuff going on.

Onnie is getting ready to start law school. Godspeed to you, going back to school after two years was hard and my program was like preschool. Law school would be hard after 6 years. Not to be a downer! Andrew has posted his favorite albums of 2005. Hmmm, just a few short years ago, his favorite bands were Westlife and the Backstreeet Boys. Now I am taking suggestions from him by listening to albums like James Blunt and Sugababes. Move over, there is only room for one music snob in this friendship! Tim is creating more amazing pieces, which I only in in recent times have come to understand and appreciate. When I knew him as an RA, I thought his artistic talents included wearing cute sneakers, hating everyone, gelling his hair, and being on duty. Laila had a New Year's Eve straight from a movie and is back in the states for a bit. Junacito muses about the rise of the middle class office experience as the new trend.

this is seeewwww not me

The Rise of the "yupster"

Jan. 9, 2006 issue – Music fans, rejoice: "list season"—that wintry instant when our nation's critics whittle a year of records into tidy top 10s—has come again. According to the album-review aggregators at Metacritic.com, Bob Dylan scored highest in 2001. Tom Waits took '02, '03 was Led Zeppelin's year and Brian Wilson owned '04. So who's winning this round? Some guy named Sufjan Stevens. That's "SOOF-yawn"—in case you haven't heard of him.

Stevens's success (and the dinos' decline) neatly sums up a year that saw "indie" rock suddenly selling to scenesters and suits alike. In November '04, Conor Oberst—the genre's poster boy—snagged the top two spots on the singles charts, and Death Cab for Cutie's 2005 record "Plans" debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Despite a dip in overall sales, indie labels now claim 27 percent of the music market—their largest share in recent memory. "This year, there's a real consensus around 10 records," says Adam Shore of Vice Recordings. "And they're all this type of indie rock."

Connoisseurs are crediting "Yupsters"—Yuppie hipsters—for the change. (Need help? Take a look at "The O.C.'s" Seth Cohen, who stocks his Range Rover with Death Cab discs.) For the past decade, indie records sold primarily to obsessives because, without major-label distribution, the music was tough to find. But now a few clicks and an iPod are all it takes for would-be Yupsters to indulge any curiosity. Just ask Metacritic's eighth-ranked act: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. A year ago they were unsigned—and unknown. But hot MP3 blog Stereogum.com posted a track in February. In June, Pitchforkmedia.com gave their debut a rare 9.0. Now they've sold 50,000 CDs—one of which provided the cube dwellers of NBC's "The Office" with the soundtrack for a recent BBQ. "We're at a crossroads," says Stereogum's Scott Lapatine. "Indie bands are gaining in popularity—and indie Yuppies are using the Web to discover them."

Expect the hybrid to thrive in 2006. Audi now advertises on Pitchfork. John Varvatos crafts custom Converse. Apple is set to unload as many iPods in the next three months as it sold between '01 and '04. And on Feb. 6, Sufjan Stevens will vie for indiedom's just-invented answer to a Grammy: the New Pantheon Award. Who knows? Come next list season, you may even be able to pronounce his name.
—Andrew Romano

sites

So I've been coming across lots of sites about activism/progressive issues, due to my "unofficial" resolution to become more engaged this year. Ok, and I admit, I found some of these in Jane magazine, believe it or not. (I was reading it on the plane). These are also otherwise known as my online guide to being a hippy dyke communist. Enjoy. Oh, if you have any sites that you frequent, let me know.

www.fuckcorporategroceries.net
www.onepercentfortheplanet.com
www.treehugger.com
www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages
www.goodsthatgive.com
www.recycledofficeproducts.com
www.idealbite.com
www.mediagirl.com
www.pandagon.com
www.americablog.com
www.429news.com
progressive.org/blogressive
www.revbilly.com/
www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/
peoplearetheproblem.blogspot.com/
www.democracynow.org/index.shtml
www.teachingforchange.org
http://www.projectcensored.org/

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My mask of sanity is about to sleep. I don't know how much longer I can deal living in the suburbs. Even driving somewhere and finding a parking space is hell right now.

Here's an interesting read: The top 25 censored news stories of 2005.

listening

So I got my computer set up and rearranged and cleaned up my music files, and updated my collection. I am getting to some of your requests, but long story short, my external drive works much slower with my new computer (go figure). Anyway, here is some recent stuff I have aquired along with my favorites in case you cared and wanted some suggestions. Many of these are in genres I don't usually listen to. I'm not sure how I feel about all of them yet.

THE OCCASION- Cannery Hours
THE BOY LEAST LIKELY TO- The Best Party Ever
SLINT- Teez
MENDOZA LINE- Full of Light and Fire
22-20s – self-titled
AGAINST ME!- As the Eternal Cowboy
SOUNDGARDEN- Louder Than Love
BABYSHAMBLES- Down in Albion
BLACK BOX RECORDER- THe Facts of Life
GRAHAM COXON- Love Travels at Illegal Speeds
PLASMATICS- New Hope for the Wretched
BRAZILLION GIRLS- self-titled
BROADCAST- Tender Buttons
THE CLIENTELE- Strange Geometry
COCO ROSIE- La Maison Du Mon Reve
THE DELGADOS- Universal Audio
DEVOTCHKA- How It Ends
DRESDEN DOLLS- A is for Accident
ELEFANT- SUnlight Makes Me Paranoid
FROM MONUMENT TO MASSES- Schools of Thought Contend
FRUIT BATS- Spelled in Bones
GOGOL BORDELLO- Gypsy Punks
HALO BENDERS- The Rebels Not In
HOCKEY NIGHT- Keep Guessin'
JACKIE O MOTHERFUCKER- Change
JONATHAN FIRE EATER- Tremble Under Boom Lights
MASSIVE ATTACK- The Singles
SUPERGRASS- Supergrass is 10
LIARS- Drum's Not Dead
MAHJONGG- Raydongcong
MEW- And the Glass Handed Kites
MORNINGWOOD- Keep Your Clothes On
NIGHTMARE OF YOU- self-titled
PLOT TO BLW UP THE EIFFEL TOWER- Dissertation, Honey
THE RAKES- Capture-Release
BISHOP ALLEN- Sharm School
THE DIRTBOMBS- Ultraglide in Black
THE SIGHTS- self-titles
SUGABABES- Taller In More Ways
SYSTEM OF A DOWN- Hypnotize
YOUTH GROUP- Skeleton Jar
THE CLASS OF 98 – Touch This and Die
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY- How Strange, Innocense

Is that enough name-dropping of obscure bands?

the politics of politics

So, within the last two weeks, a few people who have been looking into breaking into my field of work have contacted me for advice or words of wisdom. I just find it odd that people are looking to me to help them with their career. I don't know why it's odd. The field of residential life is unexplicable competitive at times and can really have a lot of politics going on. That is, if you let yourself get involved. I've learned in the past year or so, that I am in a somewhat coveted position. Who knew? I always knew when I got into a career, I would love to help mentor people and help them get into the position as well. It is quite flattering when someone asks for your advice in that sort of arena. However, I have now realized that it can make extra work for me. Especially when people want to know "what your job is like" or "advice for finding a job". It's like I have to write a whole thesis about what I do everday and the meaning of it all.

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White Stripes star Meg White is set to swap music for modelling, after signing up as the face of American designer Marc Jacobs' new line of clothes.

The drummer, 31, will appear in the fashion mogul's forthcoming advertising campaign, after having been photographed by revered snapper Juergen Teller.

Jacobs is no stranger to employing music personalities to champion his clothes – he previously worked with Sonic Youth and former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus.

nice unitard

oh my god these people and there fucking New Year's resolutions. Of course the gym was packed, because people can't think for themselves and only join after the New Year. YOu know you won't stick to it anyway, so leave us people who are serious about it and let us do our fucking eliptical.

Thank god I can calm my nerves tonight when Richie Rich makes an appearnce on Project Runway.

odd and ends

Brooklyn Vegan reports that Andy Milonakis has an actual blog. I don’t know if it is real.

I watched Trainspotting again today for the first time in about eight years. You know what? I’ll say it. It’s not all that amazing. For the cult classic status, it could be better. Despite introducing the world to one of the finest human specimens, I found it to be mediocre.

Newsflash: someone found an ancient Egyptian painting with a gay kiss. Many are up in arms. Hilarity ensues.

Scientists release study on what makes a living being cute. Love how my tax dollars are spent. To illustrate, they show baby penguins, a baby panda, and …Emma Watson?

We’re sick and tired of raising your young! by Grey Wolf

Pitchfork is not impressed with the new Strokes album…and neither am I.

Abortion increases stress. Yea, no shit. You know what creates more stress? Needing an abortion and not being able to get one legally.

It must be a slow day in music news, because we learned that Daniel Radcliffe likes the band Giant Drag. Holy shit, I’ve seen them live and they might be the most annoying band/people ever. They were booed off the stage. Also, so many pervs are going to be happy about this. Including some pervs that I know.

What a weak showing for Mr. Indie Rock 2005. Of course Sufjan won.

Why would anyone blog about why they hate DC?

reality bites

This is the understatement of the year. Coming back to work after break blows. I have a hundred emails, and my voicemail is blinking like crazy. I want to crawl under my desk in the fetal position to avoid it all. I think to make this kess stressful, today's goals are to listen to the newest Keith and the Girl podcast and redecorate my office.

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Beatitudes of Buylessness

Blessed are the Consumers, for you shall be free from Living By Products.
Blessed are the Lonely Believers, for you shall transcend all media and dance in the streets.

Blessed are those stumbling out of branded Main Streets, for you shall find lovers not downloaded and oceans not rising.

Blessed is the ordinary citizen who holds onto a patch of public commons, for you are the New World.

Blessed is the artist who isn’t corporate sponsored for you shall give birth to warm fronts of emotion and breakthroughs of Peace.

Blessed are those who confuse “Consumerism” with “Freedom,” for you shall be delighted to discover the difference.

Blessed are the advertisers and commercial celebrities, for you have been waiting for the remarkable restfulness of honesty.

Blessed are the shuttered neighborhoods, for your children shall lift angel-wings above the economy of garbage and drug works and shit.

Blessed is the breadwinner with out-sourced dreams who sits wondering in stopped traffic, for you shall find inside your own mind more stories than Hollywood, Bollywood and Babel.

Blessed are the teenage girls in sweatshops, for the real value of what you make will pull you like a flying evening gown to the City of Light.

Blessed are those of us who are pinned under the gaze of supermodels, for we shall escape to accept the radical freedom and infinite responsibility of making love without paying for it.

Bless are those who disturb the customers, for you just might be loving your neighbor.

-From my new favorite org

I have really been critically thinking about my own consumerism lately. I am not going to get all high and mighty on this one. Of course I engage in a lot of consumerism, and probably always will. I am looking for ways to be more conscious of it and to eliminate it when I can.

Firstly, I need to think more about why I am buying something. Is it because I am actually enjoying the act of purchasing it, or am I actually enjoying the thing I am purchasing? I think everyone has had this experience.

Also, what function does the item serve? Is it a functional item that will provide me with an experience and ease of lifestyle, or is it just decorative/status symbol? I have spent loads of money on mp3 players, computers, etc., however, it provides me with my main source of entertainment and enjoyment. However, I refrain from buying decorative shit for my apartment because I really don't need it.

As far as books go, for the last few years I have bought them used, or really tried to look for them in a library. As for music, we all know I haven't paid for music in a year and a half. Great! I can finally justify my downloading! As far as making this "stealing" from the artists, well, I disagree, and we can get into that later.

Ideally, I would like to buy my clothes from vintage/thrift shops, where my money will be redirected from the clothing companies to Goodwill or something like that. However, this is easier when one is a size zero and everything fits great. (Although, it is always good to have another reason to get in shape) For now, whenever I buy new clothes, earrings, purses or shoes, I will speifically get rid of at least two things in my closet and donate them.

I think ebay has become a version of old school bartering. I am going to go back to finding what I am looking for on there. Although some of that money does go back to ebay as a company, but I think I would rather that then to other companies in general.

Ok, so these things may not be saving the world, but I would like to do my part and not be hypocritical, because I scoff at the herds of suburbanites I see in Marshall's every weekend.

i hope there’s bloopers

“Pablo of HarryLatino has heard from someone who worked on the Goblet of Fire that the following deleted scenes are to be featured on the movie’s DVD:

SCENE 1: Dumbledore asks his pupils to welcome Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students. All the Hogwarts students then start to sing the school song.

SCENE 2: A Durmstrang student asks a girl to go with him to the Yule Ball. She says yes, and two of their friends make gesture in the background.

SCENE 3: Harry tries to speak with Cho Chang, but as she is constantly surrounded by friends, he doesn’t get the opportunity.

SCENE 4: Flitwick introduces the Weird Sisters at the Yule Ball. The lead singer speaks with the audience and then starts the first song.

SCENE 5: Karkaroff tells Snape about the mark of his arm. Snape ignores him and removes house points from Fawcet and Stebbins, who briefly appear in the scene. Snape doesn’t care about what Karkaroff has to say.

SCENE 6: Mr. Crouch and Harry are speaking. Mad-Eye appears and Barty quickly leaves.

SCENE 7: The trio speak about the death of Mr. Crouch. Ron thinks that Fudge will prevent the story from leaking out to the public. Hermione believes his death, Harry’s scar burning and the Dark Mark at the Quidditch World Cup aren’t coincidences. She recommends Harry goes to visit Dumbledore.

SCENE 8: The trio speak about what Karkarof was showing Snape on his arm. Hermione asks Harry which potion ingredients Snape accused him of stealing and realises they are the ingredients needed for the Polyjuice Potion.

Although all of the following sources had previously reported different release dates, they now all agree that the GOF DVD will be released on March 7th – DVD Town, The Movie Insider, VideoETA and GameShout. So it seems pretty likely that this is indeed the release date but we’ll let you know what WB has to say.”

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"A chick bleeding out her vagina is no miracle."
Guess who's upset with South Park now?

Did Comedy Central grant the Catholic League its Christmas wish? Following the Dec. 7 season finale of South Park, titled "Bloody Mary", the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights slammed the network for its irreverent portrayal of church icons and sought to block the episode from being rebroadcast.

It appears the group may have met with success. A repeat of the finale was scheduled to air Wednesday night, but was pulled from the Comedy Central lineup without explanation. In the episode, a statue of the Virgin Mary is believed to be bleeding from its rear end, inspiring faithful parishioners to flock from miles around to be healed by the miraculous blood. Eventually, Pope Benedict XVI is called in to investigate, whereupon he determines that the statue is actually menstruating and thus is nothing special. "A chick bleeding out her vagina is no miracle," the pope declares in the episode. "Chicks bleed out their vaginas all the time."

Somewhat predictably, the Catholic League was incensed by the satirical portrayal of the Virgin Mary and the pope and by the fact that the episode aired on the day before the Catholic Church celebrated its Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The conservative group demanded an apology from Viacom, Comedy Central's parent company, to Roman Catholics everywhere and "a pledge that this episode be permanently retired and not be made available on DVD." The Catholic League also sought a personal condemnation from Viacom board member Joseph A. Califano Jr., who the group noted is a "practicing Catholic."

Califano was only too happy to oblige. After viewing the episode, he released a statement calling the episode an "appalling and disgusting portrayal of the Virgin Mary."

"It is particularly troubling to me as a Roman Catholic that the segment has run on the eve and day of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, a holy day for Roman Catholics," Califano said. Califano also pledged to have Viacom president and CEO Tom Freston review the episode. Comedy Central did not respond to a request for comment on why "Bloody Mary" was yanked from the schedule. Screencaps of the episode were no longer available on Comedy Central's press site or on comedycentral.com's South Park section.

The Catholic League previously tangled with Comedy Central in 2002 over a South Park episode titled "Red Hot Catholic Love," but failed to produce any results.source

omg Barbie

I knew there was a reason I loved Barbies. Apparently, she promotes sexual confusion in four year olds, which I am in full support of. On their website, there is a poll asking children their age and gender, and there are three options for gender (one being "I don't know"). Anyway, the Concerned Women of America have their granny panties in a bunch over it. I don't know if Mattell's real intention was to send a trans-positive message to its readers and include children who are questioning their gender identity, or they were being inclusive to stupid children who don't even know what that means.

Anyhow, I think Barbie is probably one of the biggest symbols of heterenormativity out there. Just from her association with "all things female" and the fact that boys are ridiculed for showing an interest in her. I don't see Mattell releasing a Brokeback Mountain Ken, complete with detachable sideburns, a fishing kit, and mix and match denim accessories.

other useless things

Here are some picks for the top music videos of 2005. These are lesser known, and aren’t necessarily the romping around in panties genre that Mariah Carey has perfected. Some of them serve as pretty good short films.

Also, is there some movie producer out there reading my mind? Jake Gyllenhaul and Mark Ruffalo are in a movie together. Taking place in the 1970s. I had better see some sideburns on both of them. Oh yea, it’s also about the Zodiac killer.

Um, I can’t even begin to comment on this.

I caught the rerun of the MTV New Year’s Eve special and admittedly squealed when I saw Fall Out Biy perform. What was with Pete Wentz jumping into the choreographed dance at the end. What an attention whore.

With the All-American Rejects in the most awkward picture ever. Many more here.

I caught a marathon of the show Inked on A&E and it was like Laguna Beach syndrome, I got hooked. It is your typical business reality show (i.e., The Restaurant, Blow Dry) but I found it interesting to watch because one of the owners actually had a good, assertive, managerial style (until he goes mental). I think it’s funny that this is what I noticed about the show.

Also, if you are not listening to the Ricky Gervais podcast, you are not living. I listen to this at the gym and always fall off the treadmill.

flixxx

I saw two interesting movies lately. Believe it or not, I found Sky High to be quite delightful. It is rare that I like movies aimed at kids, but that is because they usually insult kids intelligence. This one was actually thoughful and really imaginative. It was reminiscent of Harry Potter in that we get to see into a whole world of some sort of fictional characters. Plus the smart-ass, sociall conscious gal pal was a total Hermione rip-off. Maybe I look too much into movies, but is “getting your powers” symbolize puberty? Why is it that the woman of color has to replicate herself into many, indistinguishable forms? Is the binary of hero/sidekick representative of the gender binary? Ha, I’m just kidding. No, I’m not.

Although I was kind of avoiding it, I finally watched Last Days. It is based on Kurt Cobain’s last days before committing suicide. Now, I am not sure the motivation for making this movie. I think Gus was being very presumptious in thinking that he understood what was going on in Kurt Cobain’s head before he killed himself. Also, it was painful to watch in knowing what the end would be. It offered no redemption, no explanation, and no homage. Just the train wreck affect of someone who has completely lost their sense of self. The movie will also annoy purists and make film students foam at the mouth. It is filmed in the sense that we see every character’s action, no matter how insignificant, and long, lingering shots, like he did in Elephant. But he did it better than. Also, I starting to find Michael Pitt very irritating, although he did look very much like Kurt Cobain (striped sweater and hunters cap included).

tunes

2 great albums from the 90s.

Matthew Sweet- 100% Fun. Good pop songwriting. What has he been up to lately?
http://www.filehd.com/download.php?get=536500999

Love Spit Lve- probably most known for being on soundtracks. "Am I Wrong" big song for the movie soundtrack to Angus and their cover of "How Soon Is Now" was all over The Craft. But the rest of their stuff is good, and very 90s. Whatever that means.
http://www.easy-sharing.com/176797/Love Spit Love.rar.html

It took me a while to appreciate how great this album is. Great background music if you are considering ending your life. Antony and the Johnsons- I Am A Bird Now
http://www.easy-sharing.com/177378/I Am A Bird Now.rar.html

The closest thing to country I will ever listen to.
Songs:Ohia – Axxes and Ace
http://www.easy-sharing.com/177373/Axxess & Ace.rar.html

For those of you who have never heard the Pixies. First, crawl out of the rock you have been under. Then, download this: it is part of the greatest hits album Death to the Pixies. I would have chosen other things to be on a greatest hits album, but it is a good primer to the Pixies. Basically every alternative band since 1990 has copied them. Even Kurt Cobain admitted that half his stuff were Pixies knockoffs. Listen. Now.
http://www.easy-sharing.com/177375/death.rar.html

Trans Am- You Can Always Get What you Want. One of my favorite DC bands. I guess this is dance/indie? I am so bad at categorizing things.
http://www.easy-sharing.com/177386/You Can Always Get What You Want.rar.html