this movie reminds me of my mom's black and white tv. It was probably the first or only one she bought when she was living on her own after separating from dad, cheap but functional. wow - just think you could still get a black and white tv in the early 80's. It was a little 12" (wow, computer screens are bigger now) with its own antenna on top - that of course eventually broke off and was replaced/reinforced with tin foil - and the channel turns were on dials - they made hard clicks, you could burn calories turning those channels; your whole hand and palm were involved, couldn't just use one finger like with our buttons today.
But anyhoo, in my random memory progression - I remember watching this movie when I was little on the set. I remember storing it in my memory banks as a child because after reading this trivia book on the presidents, I somehow decided that Teddy Roosevelt was my favorite. Then when I stayed up (relatively)late one night - not really flipping channels cos it wasn't possible - I came across this movie that had Teddy Roosevelt in it! Who knew presidents did movies?! That's all really funny or endearing now cos 1) notice the obvious lack of timeline in the young childs mind; and 2) for a really long while I didn't even know that that movie was an "old" movie - I thought if I was to see it on my dad's tv it'd turn color, lol.
Isn't it funny what makes you remember things? When I came into conscious thinking about the movie I was greatly thrilled with it. It's one of the funniest movies in the world and every time its on u cant turn away, because it'll make you laugh. Cary Grant is my fav old movie actor, and now IMDB tells me that he thought this was one of the worst performances in all his films b/c it was over the top. yeaaaah, BUT every new time I see it, I find I am laughing more at his subtle performances in the movie. There is a lot of him panicking and trippin over chairs, but there are also the much more funny parts where he really doesn't say anything and hopelessly whimpers cos he knows he is in a nuthouse; I enjoy those moments the most.
11 September 2006
29 August 2006
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd (1974)
this song will forever bring a smile to my face. If it's raining outside, when I just found out I've got $6.43 to my name, if I have had the worst, most stressful day at work; if this song comes on the radio as I'm flippin through the stations, tish will be smiling in her car and listening contently.
I feel I ave had heard this song in on of the most unique ways in the world, and this was shared with about 3 or 4 other people currently in the US. It was in Tornareccio, Abruzzo, Italy, a tiny lil town in the mountains on the Adriatic side of Italia. One night in town, one of the local boys were having their sweet sixteen or whatever the Italian equivalent is, so he had a huge birthday party. The family hired a band to play, and we - collective Brits and Americans - being the usual excitement of the summer cos of our field school, were invited. During the course of the evening the band saw us grooving to the music, mostly some old standards, and they invited up anyone who could sing...My Irish buddy Chris, who has his own band (strongly influenced by John Fruciante and the like) went up and he sung this song. It was chosen out of the songbook the band had, and shouldn't every band everywhere know how to play it anyway? So yeah, I heard "Sweet Home Alabama" sung by an Irishman, being backed up by an amatuer small town Italian band, while in Italy. I find that interesting anyway. Hearing the song immediatly transports me back to my 2 magical wonderful summers in Italy.
But, about the song...it is sung by what I, in my earlier years, thought were southern redneck hilbillies. But since I started listening to them, adn the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, I gained a lot of respect for them, Lynyrd Skynyrd's awesome!! The greatest hits album is definately on my "to get" list.
I feel I ave had heard this song in on of the most unique ways in the world, and this was shared with about 3 or 4 other people currently in the US. It was in Tornareccio, Abruzzo, Italy, a tiny lil town in the mountains on the Adriatic side of Italia. One night in town, one of the local boys were having their sweet sixteen or whatever the Italian equivalent is, so he had a huge birthday party. The family hired a band to play, and we - collective Brits and Americans - being the usual excitement of the summer cos of our field school, were invited. During the course of the evening the band saw us grooving to the music, mostly some old standards, and they invited up anyone who could sing...My Irish buddy Chris, who has his own band (strongly influenced by John Fruciante and the like) went up and he sung this song. It was chosen out of the songbook the band had, and shouldn't every band everywhere know how to play it anyway? So yeah, I heard "Sweet Home Alabama" sung by an Irishman, being backed up by an amatuer small town Italian band, while in Italy. I find that interesting anyway. Hearing the song immediatly transports me back to my 2 magical wonderful summers in Italy.
But, about the song...it is sung by what I, in my earlier years, thought were southern redneck hilbillies. But since I started listening to them, adn the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, I gained a lot of respect for them, Lynyrd Skynyrd's awesome!! The greatest hits album is definately on my "to get" list.
19 August 2006
The Children's Hour (1961)
so I think this won't be so random anymore, it's actually harder to be random than focused on something. I'm thinking the big m's: movies and music (and books). Now then, I saw The Children's Hour this morning on TMC - the star for today is Audrey Hepburn, I could've well spent the whole day in bed without turning the channel if I was so inclined (well, except for My Fair Lady, I just cant do it).
The Children's Hour is from 1961, starring Hepburn, and Shirley MacLaine (Warren Beatty's sis right?), a pretty cute young James Garner, and the other person of note Fay Bainter. I caught the very end of this one morning and was reminded 'thats that movie they had on vh1 talking about portrayals of lesbians.' It's the story of how this evil lil girl starts a rumor that her two teachers at boarding school are "unnatural" in their feelings for each other and ends up ruining, or ending, their lives.
It was a great movie, especially watching it in our time now, it becomes one of those films that is ironically not outdated. It's from a play in the 1930s? so you'd think people would've come along a bit further in the way we treat one another and such, but no, I think that could still happen in a lot of parts in the world today. And the lady that played the granny! Fay Bainter - I said to myself while I was watching it, jeez did she win for best supporting actress? Turns out she was nominated, but she was nominated during the year of West Side Story, HA! Needless to say, Rita Moreno won, and rightly so, you can't take away Anita's oscar. Man, that must've been a toss up tho. Anyhoo - granny's performance was great. She was so good at getting across the feelings of confusion of her grandchild describing the rampant lesbianism that was supposedly going on, and anger that two lesbians were loving with and having daily contact with hers and other little impressionable girls. She's actually the initiating factor in the movie that made me think about the audience, and other characters perception of the two women. Her face just illustrated all those conflicting emotions and denial and acceptance all in the space of time of about 2 minutes on screen when the evil girl was making up her story.
The other neat thing I noticed - how the director used the screen door of the school house. As the movie went on it became more and more of a barrier between the lives of Hepburn and McClaine and the outside world. First, James Garner only hesitates for a second before he swings it open like he would normally do and starts to munch on food around. Then the screen gains its weight right at the point when on of the parents is standing outside, talking to Hepburn, but we are inside looking out with MacLaine through the door, and just so you know how much sh*t has gone down and how bad things are gonna get - we and MacLaine can't even hear anything, even tho the other two are about 10 feet away, and its a simple see-through screen door! wowsers! Then, the door has its greatest weight when granny finally knows that her child lied and she comes to apologize. The camera just sits on her face through the door again before she asks can she come into the house. But, finally the weight is lifted from the door when the 'problem' is gone - the lesbian kills herself, and Hepburn can free swing the door open again, go fig.
The Children's Hour is from 1961, starring Hepburn, and Shirley MacLaine (Warren Beatty's sis right?), a pretty cute young James Garner, and the other person of note Fay Bainter. I caught the very end of this one morning and was reminded 'thats that movie they had on vh1 talking about portrayals of lesbians.' It's the story of how this evil lil girl starts a rumor that her two teachers at boarding school are "unnatural" in their feelings for each other and ends up ruining, or ending, their lives.
It was a great movie, especially watching it in our time now, it becomes one of those films that is ironically not outdated. It's from a play in the 1930s? so you'd think people would've come along a bit further in the way we treat one another and such, but no, I think that could still happen in a lot of parts in the world today. And the lady that played the granny! Fay Bainter - I said to myself while I was watching it, jeez did she win for best supporting actress? Turns out she was nominated, but she was nominated during the year of West Side Story, HA! Needless to say, Rita Moreno won, and rightly so, you can't take away Anita's oscar. Man, that must've been a toss up tho. Anyhoo - granny's performance was great. She was so good at getting across the feelings of confusion of her grandchild describing the rampant lesbianism that was supposedly going on, and anger that two lesbians were loving with and having daily contact with hers and other little impressionable girls. She's actually the initiating factor in the movie that made me think about the audience, and other characters perception of the two women. Her face just illustrated all those conflicting emotions and denial and acceptance all in the space of time of about 2 minutes on screen when the evil girl was making up her story.
The other neat thing I noticed - how the director used the screen door of the school house. As the movie went on it became more and more of a barrier between the lives of Hepburn and McClaine and the outside world. First, James Garner only hesitates for a second before he swings it open like he would normally do and starts to munch on food around. Then the screen gains its weight right at the point when on of the parents is standing outside, talking to Hepburn, but we are inside looking out with MacLaine through the door, and just so you know how much sh*t has gone down and how bad things are gonna get - we and MacLaine can't even hear anything, even tho the other two are about 10 feet away, and its a simple see-through screen door! wowsers! Then, the door has its greatest weight when granny finally knows that her child lied and she comes to apologize. The camera just sits on her face through the door again before she asks can she come into the house. But, finally the weight is lifted from the door when the 'problem' is gone - the lesbian kills herself, and Hepburn can free swing the door open again, go fig.
26 June 2006
been awhile...
man, so I almost let this blog thing slide, almost another abandoned sometimes-hobby. But no, I'm back. While I was away was having another downer time - feelings of the "quarterlife crisis" thing came creeping up again, working too much, and my grandad just passed a few weeks ago, yeah not so much fun.
I think I am ready to admit that I am an Anglo/Italia-phile. I've been to Italy twice for slightly-longer than short stints, and the people I spent the most time with were British folks. Those two elements have had this great pull and appeal to me ever since. I guess it has amounted to the greatest bestest time in my life so far, at least that's how I justify my more than normal interest in the European countries. It's probably also a slight bit of escapism - sometimes the reality of what I'm doig in my life hits me and there is always that glimmer of hope that if I go to Britain it'll all be better over there. Not really solving whatever problem I'm not dealing with here and now, but changing the setting.
But sometimes there are signs, and for the most part I think I'm like 1-7 in actually jumping into acton when I see those signs in life. Hoping to improve my record I think I may apply to at least one grad school in England. The sign: I've been half-heartedly looking up and trying to find out how it'd be possible to work and live in Britain. Then, over the weekend I end up working with a new guide who just happened to go to grad school in England for...Museum Studies. What a cowinkedink huh? Let's not dissapoint self and flake out.
I think I am ready to admit that I am an Anglo/Italia-phile. I've been to Italy twice for slightly-longer than short stints, and the people I spent the most time with were British folks. Those two elements have had this great pull and appeal to me ever since. I guess it has amounted to the greatest bestest time in my life so far, at least that's how I justify my more than normal interest in the European countries. It's probably also a slight bit of escapism - sometimes the reality of what I'm doig in my life hits me and there is always that glimmer of hope that if I go to Britain it'll all be better over there. Not really solving whatever problem I'm not dealing with here and now, but changing the setting.
But sometimes there are signs, and for the most part I think I'm like 1-7 in actually jumping into acton when I see those signs in life. Hoping to improve my record I think I may apply to at least one grad school in England. The sign: I've been half-heartedly looking up and trying to find out how it'd be possible to work and live in Britain. Then, over the weekend I end up working with a new guide who just happened to go to grad school in England for...Museum Studies. What a cowinkedink huh? Let's not dissapoint self and flake out.
28 April 2006
dan brown, pimpin the world
I finished it! And now I must say - I don't really get it. Why the hell was this book so worthy to stay in hardcover for 3 or 4 years? Why did people buy this up in big ole massive dung heaps that it's been on the best seller list forever?? This was not the greatest book ever written. It was good, but jeez, not that good.
What I was most mad about came in the long climactic last clue to figure out in London. I swear I knew the answer to the little cryptex the first time Newton was mentioned. 50 pages later I was asking can we please be done with the mystery already?!? My second gripe: the whole balance of the book. As I described it to someone who asked me about it, I said it was 30% plot and 70% setting up background information so you'll get the plot. The book was very teachy, it had a teachy tone sometimes that I didn't like. It struck me as soon as I started reading, but then the plot kinda just takes off and you can almost forgive his teachy asides. But sometimes I felt like Brown thought he was being clever by making it seem like his characters were the ones explaining all this information. But that is so easy to see through and there is so much of it it seems like he wanted all that in there to impress his readers with his mental acumen, and if not that, at least make his long hours of research seem meaningful - if he had to suffer through it, he'd make all the world suffer with him. Yeah didn't like the know-it-all-ness of the book.
So I reached my goal of finishing before the movie, when I was reading the book I was wondering how they'd fit all that background info in there. It'd be bad if Tom Hanks had a lot of pretentious-Harvard-prof-explains-all-the-symbols-to-the-audience lines. The only other thing that worries me about this movie is Tom Hanks' hair. I saw him on some awards show I guess while he was still making it and I was like what did he do to his hair? Thats gonna be very distracting. Was that Tom's or Ron's decision I wonder. Who cares if Langdon is immediately described with a long shock of straight black hair, EVERYONE knows Tom Hanks' hair is curly!!!! They couldn't take one creative license and keep it curly??? Thats one of the things that makes Hanks so cool and cute and cuddly. Man thats gonna be distracting. I hope by the time he starts doing promos (like next week) he'll have his natural hair back, please!
What I was most mad about came in the long climactic last clue to figure out in London. I swear I knew the answer to the little cryptex the first time Newton was mentioned. 50 pages later I was asking can we please be done with the mystery already?!? My second gripe: the whole balance of the book. As I described it to someone who asked me about it, I said it was 30% plot and 70% setting up background information so you'll get the plot. The book was very teachy, it had a teachy tone sometimes that I didn't like. It struck me as soon as I started reading, but then the plot kinda just takes off and you can almost forgive his teachy asides. But sometimes I felt like Brown thought he was being clever by making it seem like his characters were the ones explaining all this information. But that is so easy to see through and there is so much of it it seems like he wanted all that in there to impress his readers with his mental acumen, and if not that, at least make his long hours of research seem meaningful - if he had to suffer through it, he'd make all the world suffer with him. Yeah didn't like the know-it-all-ness of the book.
So I reached my goal of finishing before the movie, when I was reading the book I was wondering how they'd fit all that background info in there. It'd be bad if Tom Hanks had a lot of pretentious-Harvard-prof-explains-all-the-symbols-to-the-audience lines. The only other thing that worries me about this movie is Tom Hanks' hair. I saw him on some awards show I guess while he was still making it and I was like what did he do to his hair? Thats gonna be very distracting. Was that Tom's or Ron's decision I wonder. Who cares if Langdon is immediately described with a long shock of straight black hair, EVERYONE knows Tom Hanks' hair is curly!!!! They couldn't take one creative license and keep it curly??? Thats one of the things that makes Hanks so cool and cute and cuddly. Man thats gonna be distracting. I hope by the time he starts doing promos (like next week) he'll have his natural hair back, please!
25 April 2006
bink bink bink bink
I watched another great episode of 24 last nite and had a thought. Now that everyone's finding out how the snarky President whats-his-name is so evil and destroying the world, all the upper people are trying to go about exposing him in a "safe" manner. Like how Secretary Heller was like - we can't out him publicly cos it'd destroy the American people's faith in the presidency; then someone else was like we can't make it public cos it'd destroy peoples faith and trust in the whole government. After hearing this a couple of times I thought, well its not so much that it'll shatter everyones faith in the government, most likely if something like that happened we'd chalk it up to the idea of on some level we expect our government leaders to be corrupt, morally deficient individuals, its somewhat inherent in the job.
Nixon had people spying on his political enemies, FDR was fine with the Holocaust before Hawaii got bombed, how many presidents owned slaves??? And countless other episodes in the highest level of office where the guy sitting in the white house did something shady. So if the American people of 24 found out about sneaky shady president I think they'd do what we'd do: most of us would quietly sit back and let our Congressman impeach him, after that everyone would go to protests (probably violent after awhile) where we'd call for a criminal trail - cos that would be the simplest and hardest thing to do and get done. No one from Iran-Contra is in jail are they?? (I really dont know - I'm barely old enough to know who Ollie North is)can't expect a criminal trail for a president that easily.
Nixon had people spying on his political enemies, FDR was fine with the Holocaust before Hawaii got bombed, how many presidents owned slaves??? And countless other episodes in the highest level of office where the guy sitting in the white house did something shady. So if the American people of 24 found out about sneaky shady president I think they'd do what we'd do: most of us would quietly sit back and let our Congressman impeach him, after that everyone would go to protests (probably violent after awhile) where we'd call for a criminal trail - cos that would be the simplest and hardest thing to do and get done. No one from Iran-Contra is in jail are they?? (I really dont know - I'm barely old enough to know who Ollie North is)can't expect a criminal trail for a president that easily.
22 April 2006
signs of spring
Now that I've ben working next door to the White House for almost a year - I wonder if the things I'm seeing now happen every year, kindof like the indisputable signs that spring has officially arrived in DC.
During the week on my half day I walked down to the Mall nad went to American History. And I lost count of how many lower to upper middle aged men I saw running topless for their midday jog. It popped in my head how what if Europeans visiting DC viewed these guys how we look at all the fat, not-so-attractive men that sport their speedos in the ocean. ugh
And that was also the day when a lot of Asain-Americans convened around the white house to greet the prime minister of China. When I got off at Faragut West and saw all the people and the banners I got kinda excited and thought there was some type of internatinal food fest settin up - but no, it was the first big spring protest.
During the week on my half day I walked down to the Mall nad went to American History. And I lost count of how many lower to upper middle aged men I saw running topless for their midday jog. It popped in my head how what if Europeans visiting DC viewed these guys how we look at all the fat, not-so-attractive men that sport their speedos in the ocean. ugh
And that was also the day when a lot of Asain-Americans convened around the white house to greet the prime minister of China. When I got off at Faragut West and saw all the people and the banners I got kinda excited and thought there was some type of internatinal food fest settin up - but no, it was the first big spring protest.
27 March 2006
culinary adventures de netis
As one of my expensive hobbies I cook stuff from my little collection of cookbooks whenever I get the unction to go out and buy the ingredients for a recipe. Tonight I made Brasato alle Cipolle or, Braised Beef with Onions.
So, I dont have the presentation skills of the Iron Chefs (forgot to wipe the plate before I took the pic) but mmmm mmmm mmmm it was tasty. I added mushrooms to the dish cos, I like mushrooms, and they werent too obtrusive on the original - 'cept for the amount of moisture in the braising. Cos shrooms are like sponges and bananas - loads of unassuming water in there. (I learned bananas had a lot of moisture in them when there was this mealworm project in 3rd or 4th grade, had to keep them in the fridge, mom was thoroughly disgruntled and disgusted for a week)
O - the cookbook I cooked from was The Silver Spoon my newest addition acquired a la christmas present during the already mentioned holiday. Most of (or 3/4) books I have are Italian, b/c I got obsessed with the food when I dug there for 2 summers in college.
26 March 2006
a funny thing happened...
...on the metro today. I'm sure something funny happens on the metro everyday, but today on the blue line in the direction of largo at Metro Center, mass panic was almost incited in one tourist family. As the good ol "Doors Closing" chimed in, one lil 7-10 year old boy thought he'd act out one of the many movie/tv scenes he's seen in his little life and quickly dash between the closing doors and catch the train before it pulled off the platform. The problem was - he is in fact a 7 year old tourist and not some wall street or washington politico, who was leaving his family behind him on the platform.
It was shocking and hilarious in that order. As soon as the boy celebrated his victory of making it inside the doors, he also realized his mom was outside of those doors, separated from him. He started to flail his arms wildly cos he saw his mom doing that to the conductor at the front of the train and was like 'what am I supposed to do?' Luckily, there was a gaggle of the metro officers in the construction worker vests just standing at the next car over so they saw her and was able to stop the train 5 seconds after it had just started to move on to the next station.
But in that weird space of time when the doors were already closed and the train was just sittin there - some calm kind souls near the detached boy gently said to him 'it's ok just get off at the next stop.' Had the train actually left with him on it I'm sure they would've taken it upon themselves to give the guy a quick lesson in metro traveling tips and safety.
Ahh - I love those moments on the metro when everyone in the train is united in a similar feeling (well, good feeling or emotion). As soon as the lil one exited the door and was reunited with his mum, everyone in that car started cracking up. People laughed, chuckled, smirked and did reenactments of the boys confusion and arm flailing dance for a good two more stops till we got to the Smithsonian - which should just statistically have more occurrences like that b/c that is THE tourist stop.
It was shocking and hilarious in that order. As soon as the boy celebrated his victory of making it inside the doors, he also realized his mom was outside of those doors, separated from him. He started to flail his arms wildly cos he saw his mom doing that to the conductor at the front of the train and was like 'what am I supposed to do?' Luckily, there was a gaggle of the metro officers in the construction worker vests just standing at the next car over so they saw her and was able to stop the train 5 seconds after it had just started to move on to the next station.
But in that weird space of time when the doors were already closed and the train was just sittin there - some calm kind souls near the detached boy gently said to him 'it's ok just get off at the next stop.' Had the train actually left with him on it I'm sure they would've taken it upon themselves to give the guy a quick lesson in metro traveling tips and safety.
Ahh - I love those moments on the metro when everyone in the train is united in a similar feeling (well, good feeling or emotion). As soon as the lil one exited the door and was reunited with his mum, everyone in that car started cracking up. People laughed, chuckled, smirked and did reenactments of the boys confusion and arm flailing dance for a good two more stops till we got to the Smithsonian - which should just statistically have more occurrences like that b/c that is THE tourist stop.
18 March 2006
round 2
| Atlanta | Oakland | Washington, DC | Minneapolis |
| West Virginia over S Illinois | Memphis over Morel Oral | UCONN of course | NOVA over Monmouth |
| NW St upset Iowa | Bucknell upset Arkansas | Kentucky over UAB | WRONG |
| NC State upset Cali | WRONG | Mason over Michigan state(home team) | Hoyas over N Iowa |
| Texas over Penn | WRONG | NC over Murray St | O State over Davidson |
damn I'm good. 13/16 for day 2 - so thats 75% for all of the first round, I should played the brackets this year - of course I'm going round by round, but whatever. Round 2 pics:
| Atlanta | Oakland | Washington, DC | Minneapolis |
| GW upset Duke just kidding | Memphis over Bucknell | UCONN of course | NOVA over Arizona |
| LSU over Texas A&M | Pitt over Brad | Washington over Ill | Montana over BC |
| W VA over NW St | Zag's over Indiana | UNC over Mason | Florida over Wisc-Mil |
| Texas over NC State | UCLA beats bamas | Vols beat the Wich's | Hoyas beat O State |
17 March 2006
mythic moronic misanthropic myopic mayhem of march madness
March Madness, which has now spilled over to April, is the only basketball I watch anymore. NBA gets paid too much and they have gradually eliminated most games from free tv, so if I ever never had cable I won't be going into shock cos I can't see my favorite team play. But this year I missed my very bad picking of teams in all the online bracket challenges so I'll judge myself here. Since it started without me yesterday - I must say I would have had a high percentage of picks. I got 11/16 = 68.75%. I thought Seton Hall would win over Wichita; Montana didn't upset Nevada; Uni Wisconsin-Mil beat Oklahoma; and Winthrop didnt beat Tennessee. Today my pics are:
| Atlanta | Oakland | Washington, DC | Minneapolis |
| West Virginia over S Illinois | Memphis over Morel Oral | UCONN of course | NOVA over Monmouth |
| NW St upset Iowa | Bucknell upset Arkansas | Kentucky over UAB | Wisconsin upset Arizona |
| NC State upset Cali | Kent St upset Pitt | Mason over Michigan state(home team) | Hoyas over N Iowa |
| Texas over Penn | Kansas beats Brad | NC over Murray St | O State over Davidson |
05 March 2006
oscar bs
The oscars every year bring about stupid discussions, comparisons, and observations. I heard one such comparison last week on a morning radio show. The host asked the stupid "expert"-analyst guy which actor would win. So the guy was like Phillip Seymour Hoffman should be a shoe-in. Then they went off on a tangent and radio show host's sidekick was like - "well, why isnt there any buzz for Joaquin Phoenix? I mean if Jamie Foxx could win last year..." and on and on and on. Some of his highlights of what Jamie Foxx did were: thinking that he had sung in the film, comparing his music career (or what this ass only knows of it) to how Meryl Streep sung in some film "but she didnt make an album after that," and Joaquin actually learned how to sing and played a guy whose brother died and had a tough hard life! Well, well, well, mr radio show sidekick - look how ignorant u are.
Jamie Foxx did sing in Ray - if the idiot had seen any segment/highlight/clip of any interview Jamie Foxx did last year he was always sure to mention how leading into some of hte performances - it was HIS vocals. But more than that Jamie Foxx also PLAYED in the movie - does this idiot know how talented Ray Charles was? how difficult it is to play alongside him? Next - Jamie did not just get the ego bug and say "hey I imitated Ray Charles - I can sing and release my own album now!" If the stupid radio show sidekick's mind was big enough to listen to music outside of top colorless forty and classic rock - he might've remembered Jamie Foxx released at least one album before. And it had a hit single, "Infatuation," released when I was like in middle school or somethin - 1994. Jamie's been at this for a long while - he just has the tools and privileges that radio sidekick man takes for granted to make the album a success. And then... Johnny Cash is so much more harder to play because he lost his brother, was the man in black blah blah. First off, I'm sure the two great deceased musicians would never have wanted the movie depictions of their lives compared in such a stupid way - they would've liked for us just to appreciate the damn movie.
why they always need to drink from the haterade? it's like instance #375292 of white people making some excuse/complaint when another gets the prize. greedy bums
Jamie Foxx did sing in Ray - if the idiot had seen any segment/highlight/clip of any interview Jamie Foxx did last year he was always sure to mention how leading into some of hte performances - it was HIS vocals. But more than that Jamie Foxx also PLAYED in the movie - does this idiot know how talented Ray Charles was? how difficult it is to play alongside him? Next - Jamie did not just get the ego bug and say "hey I imitated Ray Charles - I can sing and release my own album now!" If the stupid radio show sidekick's mind was big enough to listen to music outside of top colorless forty and classic rock - he might've remembered Jamie Foxx released at least one album before. And it had a hit single, "Infatuation," released when I was like in middle school or somethin - 1994. Jamie's been at this for a long while - he just has the tools and privileges that radio sidekick man takes for granted to make the album a success. And then... Johnny Cash is so much more harder to play because he lost his brother, was the man in black blah blah. First off, I'm sure the two great deceased musicians would never have wanted the movie depictions of their lives compared in such a stupid way - they would've liked for us just to appreciate the damn movie.
why they always need to drink from the haterade? it's like instance #375292 of white people making some excuse/complaint when another gets the prize. greedy bums
28 February 2006
for all yall out there...
I received this text message from my friend Nikki last nite:
So now, we've got about 5 more hours left on the east coast. Don't miss your quota people! Happy Black History Month!
Celebrate Black History Month
slap 5 white people by tomorrow
So now, we've got about 5 more hours left on the east coast. Don't miss your quota people! Happy Black History Month!
24 February 2006
please hammer just hurt 'em!
I'm still at work, there have been no tours today (sigh), but I made such a neat discovery I just had to write a blog about it (wanna hear it, here it goes...)
MC Hammer has a blog!! wow! and it looks like he's talking about dancing and stuff - how cool is that?!? Just to share a bit of my MC Hammer nostalgia - I had one pair of parachute pants, they were of such importance and symbolized such an uplifted status to me that I wore them to my tryout to get into karate class when I was in the third grade. They were some awful multi-color combination madness, had a matching top too that was a double layer white tee with a tank top of the same print over it. Thinking of that visual in my mind makes my eyes hurt. To top THAT off I think theres even this picture of me posing in the outfit with my rollerblades on. o dear
o yeah - annnnd - one of my cousins was one of his turntable people. He was in the background when Hammer and his troupe were on Oprah - I happily spread that word around my class for about a week. He now is a DJ on the radio in Jackson or Hattiesburg, MS.
ahhh MC Hammer - I still know all the words to his songs
MC Hammer has a blog!! wow! and it looks like he's talking about dancing and stuff - how cool is that?!? Just to share a bit of my MC Hammer nostalgia - I had one pair of parachute pants, they were of such importance and symbolized such an uplifted status to me that I wore them to my tryout to get into karate class when I was in the third grade. They were some awful multi-color combination madness, had a matching top too that was a double layer white tee with a tank top of the same print over it. Thinking of that visual in my mind makes my eyes hurt. To top THAT off I think theres even this picture of me posing in the outfit with my rollerblades on. o dear
o yeah - annnnd - one of my cousins was one of his turntable people. He was in the background when Hammer and his troupe were on Oprah - I happily spread that word around my class for about a week. He now is a DJ on the radio in Jackson or Hattiesburg, MS.
ahhh MC Hammer - I still know all the words to his songs
23 February 2006
re: fwd: gettin to know you 2006
my alarm went off at 705, then i finally got up after 10 minutes of my cat ashlee pawing me
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
The Young and the Restless, Boondocks, project runway
poptarts, cold - which whenever I eat them at work people look at me like i'm crazy and ask how can u eat those cold? its not like they're raw, jeez
Caresse - which I didnt know how to spell till I was about 10
Italian
eggs make me gag, even the smell (b/c i never ate them cos i was allergic when i was little) and food with weird consistency: jello, cottage cheese, some cheesecakes
I'm more of a dorito person
woke up with David Bowie in my head this morning, wanna get maximo park's album tho
Kia Sephia
passive agressiveness, shady-ness, smelly ness
my diesel knit cap - which i'm sent into a panic every morning when i can't find it in my room
i'm in the begining stages to devise a plan to flee the country if i dont get into grad school - first stop - london
italy
clinton, maryland
football and football (soccer)
its on a blog silly
always coca-cola
Night owl
the aforementioned ashlee and her son bookey
archeologist - did that
when there's a hunger inside me i reach for a milky way
forget my life, how bout the past year or so: archeologist, book seller, magazine specialist, tour guide, intern for non-profit, docent, dog washer
tish, tisha, netis baggins of the shire, tishlet (thats the newest one), midge, runt, tweety, meanie mouse (when playing shooting games)
brown piercing eyes
my friend dazz and i thought to meet up in egypt one summer while I was in Italy and she'd be in South Africa, thought it was the midpoint, never happened
wasnt my fault
any day i can sleep in
hmm, sushi taro, my newset venture, no wait teaism, in the US anyway
dont like flowers
if ur from the dc area u were required to own some warner bros paraphenalia
i dont think its visible right now, ugh disgusting
i think i failed the written test to get my permit the first time
hmm...wal-mart or target would be practical - but in the true spirit of the question - diesel
well now i blog - in extreme boredom i put stuff on my walls in my room
went to happy hour with friend and coworkers
my dave matthews band disc is in the minidisc player
red-orange - the great retired crayola color
ocean
my first one will be a yin-yang with my initials in it with an inscription around it from the Tao of Pooh
depends on your cultural conditioning
my twin - i wonder what my twin would be like if i had one
20 February 2006
the first one
Last week my friend Dazz was the first from my closest of college friends to get engaged. It is not a big surprise, but still very pleasent. :) It's funny cos before, or around the time we were all gonna graduated we started a verbal office pool of who amoungst us would be the first to get married, divorced, pregnant and all that. And Dazz was on top of everones list to get married first. The bettin only got interesting once we moved onto who would be second and third. Somehow those crackheads think I'm in the running for that - ha!
Ahh here's to another upcoming trip to Chi-town! congrats dazz!!!!
Ahh here's to another upcoming trip to Chi-town! congrats dazz!!!!
17 February 2006
the best 'buddy' movie
Have you seen Planes, Trains and Automobiles? To see even the last 15 or 20 minutes of it is to witness greatness! I dunno bout u, but seeing big fat John Candy being such a sad sad lonely man pulls at my heartstrings. I wonder how he ranked his performance in this film - was it a personal best, or am I thinking too much and it was just 'meh...', anyhoo...
15 February 2006
Where is the love?
Yesterday was Valentine's Day. Isn't there some kinda strange twist to how the ancient god of love and Cupid actually snatched people's hearts out in some Indiana Jones-esque move for love, or something? I dunno, anyhoo - my Valentines was cool - I got tipsy with a bunch of other 20something girls and watched both Bridget Jones' movies. That's all it takes to make my Valentine's Day: 2 vodka and sprites, a beer, and 2+ hours of Colin Firth, lol.
But before that - I witnessed some yang that balanced out the yin of that night. As I walked through Farragut during rush hour - there was the traffic director in the middle of the street. This time she wasn't doin too well - letting cars sit in the intersection, and stop on the crosswalk. And just as I was thinking that, one bus passes by and the driver yelled something at her. I thought it was a 'yeah, traffic sucks today, hang in there' supportive type thing - but then another bus comes from the other direction and I can more clearly hear a very angry comment coming from him. I guess he was telling her how to do her job - which was messing up his whole flow because the busses can't run on time if she cant keep traffic moving. So as I'm crossing the street she's yellin at the bus driver, and he's yellin at her. It's kinda comical and kinda sad - I hope she at least got treated to some extra big box o chocolates or somethin when she got home.
But before that - I witnessed some yang that balanced out the yin of that night. As I walked through Farragut during rush hour - there was the traffic director in the middle of the street. This time she wasn't doin too well - letting cars sit in the intersection, and stop on the crosswalk. And just as I was thinking that, one bus passes by and the driver yelled something at her. I thought it was a 'yeah, traffic sucks today, hang in there' supportive type thing - but then another bus comes from the other direction and I can more clearly hear a very angry comment coming from him. I guess he was telling her how to do her job - which was messing up his whole flow because the busses can't run on time if she cant keep traffic moving. So as I'm crossing the street she's yellin at the bus driver, and he's yellin at her. It's kinda comical and kinda sad - I hope she at least got treated to some extra big box o chocolates or somethin when she got home.
11 February 2006
Ellisville
Between Christmas and New Year's I was in Mississippi. I think I must've gone at least once a year every year of my life - and twice or more for the years that were skipped. I often end up in Mississippi cos my whole family is from there: mom and dad are from Ellisville and/or Laurel. In my view they're mostly the same thing to me, and I know the difference but in here we can just mush them together. So anyhoo - there is always the possibility at some holiday time or a random week in the summer or family reunion, I will be in Mississippi.
This end of the year visit had a purpose for a "gathering" encouraged by my aunt for my grandma. Ellisville and Laurel is about a hour up from the coast - so Katrina did go through the town (even as a Category 1 FEMA still hasn't fixed the damage as of December). This noticeably effected my grandma - my aunt said her spirits had been low ever since the storm and it'd be nice for all the grandchildren and greats and erebody to come on down to Currie Settlement for the "gathering." And so we did.
Another preface before the visit was that grandma's well being seemed to be diminishing - like showing signs of Alzheimer's or dementia or something. So, sure enough when we arrived from the road v early in the morning at like 5 am, Grandma was coming outta her room and a look of un-recognition/confusion was on her face when she looked at me. This deepened as more people came into the back (her two sons) - but I didn't think much of it - it was 5 frickin in the morning and she had just woken up, I'm sure she wasn't expecting her sons and grandkids that lived 1000 miles away to be in her house that morning - I'd be confused that early too. But as the week wore on (and they do pass slowly down there) Grandma seemed a bit more delicate. My sister kept saying that she never said her name the whole time she was down there - more my sister's fault than my aged Grandma - she hadn't been down there in years. neways... there was this moment that has stuck with me -
it was the most direct, complimentary, moment-of-clarity thing my grandma had ever said to me. She asked how was my job - I reminded her I worked at a museum and said it was good, then she said: I always thought Trish would be a doctor, she was always quiet and smart, had a good mind on her... Now to understand, well one - my grandma has never called me by my right name (dad gave up seriously trying correcting her years ago). But what went through my mind when she said that - I was stunned, and didn't know what to say. Just think, for my grandma's generation (I guess she's part of Brokaw's 'greatest') when women were all housewives, or in MS black women could be less than that - sharecropping with their children on their backs - a doctor, I'm thinking in her mind would've been the highest, most prestigious thing to become, even greater than being the president. So that's the enormity of that comment towards me - I think I mumbled thank you grandma, a more confident me would've struck up a dialogue about how she was right - I had always wanted to be a doctor when I was little.
So now - this past week, one of my cousin's called my oldest sister to say grandma was in the hospital (she's gotten better), and they had actually diagnosed her with Alzheimer's. Don't know how to feel about it really...but I'm happy to have had that moment to remember if it all goes downhill from here.
This end of the year visit had a purpose for a "gathering" encouraged by my aunt for my grandma. Ellisville and Laurel is about a hour up from the coast - so Katrina did go through the town (even as a Category 1 FEMA still hasn't fixed the damage as of December). This noticeably effected my grandma - my aunt said her spirits had been low ever since the storm and it'd be nice for all the grandchildren and greats and erebody to come on down to Currie Settlement for the "gathering." And so we did.
Another preface before the visit was that grandma's well being seemed to be diminishing - like showing signs of Alzheimer's or dementia or something. So, sure enough when we arrived from the road v early in the morning at like 5 am, Grandma was coming outta her room and a look of un-recognition/confusion was on her face when she looked at me. This deepened as more people came into the back (her two sons) - but I didn't think much of it - it was 5 frickin in the morning and she had just woken up, I'm sure she wasn't expecting her sons and grandkids that lived 1000 miles away to be in her house that morning - I'd be confused that early too. But as the week wore on (and they do pass slowly down there) Grandma seemed a bit more delicate. My sister kept saying that she never said her name the whole time she was down there - more my sister's fault than my aged Grandma - she hadn't been down there in years. neways... there was this moment that has stuck with me -
it was the most direct, complimentary, moment-of-clarity thing my grandma had ever said to me. She asked how was my job - I reminded her I worked at a museum and said it was good, then she said: I always thought Trish would be a doctor, she was always quiet and smart, had a good mind on her... Now to understand, well one - my grandma has never called me by my right name (dad gave up seriously trying correcting her years ago). But what went through my mind when she said that - I was stunned, and didn't know what to say. Just think, for my grandma's generation (I guess she's part of Brokaw's 'greatest') when women were all housewives, or in MS black women could be less than that - sharecropping with their children on their backs - a doctor, I'm thinking in her mind would've been the highest, most prestigious thing to become, even greater than being the president. So that's the enormity of that comment towards me - I think I mumbled thank you grandma, a more confident me would've struck up a dialogue about how she was right - I had always wanted to be a doctor when I was little.
So now - this past week, one of my cousin's called my oldest sister to say grandma was in the hospital (she's gotten better), and they had actually diagnosed her with Alzheimer's. Don't know how to feel about it really...but I'm happy to have had that moment to remember if it all goes downhill from here.
08 February 2006
I am a Comic Book Fan
Today, after an almost 2 month abscence, I went to my comic book store. I even have a subscription service where they pick out the comics I read and put them aside in my very own pile - or folder - or whatever contraption they have behind the counter. My comic book dude's name is Howard - who, I am ashamed to say - name I did not know or remember for the first three months I went there. Wow - so I've been going there for about a year now!
My comic book store is in Old Town. It is basically a hole in the wall - one room with one street facing window. Every inch of the 2 shoppable walls are taken up by comics (books, trades, graphic novels), the space in front of the window is stacks of older comics; the other wall is where the cash register is, and in the middle are two spinning racks overstuffed with the latest issues of the books. Somw would call this cramped, or charming, maybe even a mess - I call it heaven! no, not that cheesy - I call it awesome. My comic book store isn't a polished, hip, neon lights, inuyasha display thing - its just a comic book store, make that strictly a comic book store. Where could they possibly fit that wretched manga?!? And that's why its awesome - it's got a humble 'lived in' feel to it.
Howard - my comic book dude - is also the coolest comic book purveyor ever. He quickly memorized my name (which probably wasn't too hard as I think I'm the only female black 20something that is a regular customer). Whenever u walk in during the week there's always this obscure-old-hard-to-find live recording of music from Howard's collection - and its all great! He's so cool! So that adds to the whole lovability to the place.
I've had about 1 1/2 other comic book stores in my life. The first was the Newsstand on the highway - which had absolutely no rhyme or reason to display its comics. I was never picking up the same series, I just got whatever looked cool - something to spend my allowance on. Then there was Universe - something Universe? I think it was called - in Springfield Mall. That was the first proper comic book store I remember seeing. To go along with the boom/peak of comics in the early 90's the store was shaped like a star trek spaceship, had neat lookin displays, they even sold Pogs! ahh pogs, remeber those? sigh, anyhoo - in the end who needs all those doo-dads and gizmos? my comic book store now is the greatest
yeah, so I guess this should've been called why I love my comic book store - o well
My comic book store is in Old Town. It is basically a hole in the wall - one room with one street facing window. Every inch of the 2 shoppable walls are taken up by comics (books, trades, graphic novels), the space in front of the window is stacks of older comics; the other wall is where the cash register is, and in the middle are two spinning racks overstuffed with the latest issues of the books. Somw would call this cramped, or charming, maybe even a mess - I call it heaven! no, not that cheesy - I call it awesome. My comic book store isn't a polished, hip, neon lights, inuyasha display thing - its just a comic book store, make that strictly a comic book store. Where could they possibly fit that wretched manga?!? And that's why its awesome - it's got a humble 'lived in' feel to it.
Howard - my comic book dude - is also the coolest comic book purveyor ever. He quickly memorized my name (which probably wasn't too hard as I think I'm the only female black 20something that is a regular customer). Whenever u walk in during the week there's always this obscure-old-hard-to-find live recording of music from Howard's collection - and its all great! He's so cool! So that adds to the whole lovability to the place.
I've had about 1 1/2 other comic book stores in my life. The first was the Newsstand on the highway - which had absolutely no rhyme or reason to display its comics. I was never picking up the same series, I just got whatever looked cool - something to spend my allowance on. Then there was Universe - something Universe? I think it was called - in Springfield Mall. That was the first proper comic book store I remember seeing. To go along with the boom/peak of comics in the early 90's the store was shaped like a star trek spaceship, had neat lookin displays, they even sold Pogs! ahh pogs, remeber those? sigh, anyhoo - in the end who needs all those doo-dads and gizmos? my comic book store now is the greatest
yeah, so I guess this should've been called why I love my comic book store - o well
06 February 2006
What is this supposed to be filed under?
"Among the Leavers, crime, mental illness, suicide, and drug addiction are great rarities. How does Mother Culture account for this?"
"I'd say it's because...Mother Culture says it's because the Leavers are just too primitive to have these things."
In other words, crime, mental illness, suicide, and drug addiction are features of an advanced culture."
"I'd say it's because...Mother Culture says it's because the Leavers are just too primitive to have these things."
In other words, crime, mental illness, suicide, and drug addiction are features of an advanced culture."
-Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit, Daniel Quinn
So I finished my latest Metro book - Ishmael. Aside from all the mindboggling thoughts and revelations and epiphanies and such that went trough my head as I was finishing it, I also had a simpler question: where is this book supposed to go on the bookshelf?
I used to work at that horrible book chain based outta Alabama and they simply put it in the fiction section. Can we Daniel Frey this book and question it as a true piece of fiction? I think Daniel Quinn should go on Oprah and have her take up the cause of getting powerful book chains to remove the book from its fiction shelves and put it somewhere more appropriate. Ideally the social science/anthropology section? at least have it in philosophy!
And this book was reccomended to me when I worked at that horrid store cos he knew I was an anthropology major. I think I looked at him like he was crazy when he told me there was a gorilla involved, but I bought it anyway, and just got around to reading it. So now I'm also thinkin... why wasn't this in my introductory anthro class in college? or better - it could've been a neat excersize in culture theory, but my professor was nowhere that creative.
what an amazing book
So I finished my latest Metro book - Ishmael. Aside from all the mindboggling thoughts and revelations and epiphanies and such that went trough my head as I was finishing it, I also had a simpler question: where is this book supposed to go on the bookshelf?
I used to work at that horrible book chain based outta Alabama and they simply put it in the fiction section. Can we Daniel Frey this book and question it as a true piece of fiction? I think Daniel Quinn should go on Oprah and have her take up the cause of getting powerful book chains to remove the book from its fiction shelves and put it somewhere more appropriate. Ideally the social science/anthropology section? at least have it in philosophy!
And this book was reccomended to me when I worked at that horrid store cos he knew I was an anthropology major. I think I looked at him like he was crazy when he told me there was a gorilla involved, but I bought it anyway, and just got around to reading it. So now I'm also thinkin... why wasn't this in my introductory anthro class in college? or better - it could've been a neat excersize in culture theory, but my professor was nowhere that creative.
what an amazing book
02 February 2006
Doug Funny!!!!!
One of the great cartoons of my youth is back on again yall - DOUG!!! As I was flippin through the channels at 2 today - I passed cartoon network that surprisingly had old Scooby Doo on (made a mental note) but then Nickelodeon was next. Now... I have personally avoided that whole channel since I was like 16? I guess...I was part of the target audience when they started their first package of clumped together cartoons (damn - forgot what they called those 2 hours on saturday mornings). But the block included Doug, Rocko's Modern Life, Ren & Stimpy, Rugrats <-- this was the original, or at least second generation of the programming block, not in that order. Then Ren & Stimpy got too weird for Nick, Rugrats kept repeating episodes, Rocko changed its theme song - so then they brought in the new generation of toons: Ahh! Real Monsters (which I personally refused to watch b/c that was the show that originally replaced Ren & Stimpy), Hey Arnold, and around that time is when either Cartoon Network was created and those new toons just weren't good enough for me. So, like I started out saying - I basically dont watch Nickelodeon anymore - 'cept for the scant Spongebob Squarepants episode, which is actually brilliant.
But to my surprise when I skipped over Scooby and came upon this cartoon that had a woman speaking into a microphone, but something in her animation was very familiar. The figure was simple, but the color of her skin was some off pastel-ish color, and her hair was one big piece with squiggly lines. Then I heard the music... or the sound effects. There was this vocal humming and like the sound of a mouth popping, and my eyes brightened! I thought, DOUG!!!!!!! Are they actually showing DOUG!!! and then it happened, Doug himself appeared! Joyieee! - as Stimpy would say
So I watched. It was the episode when Doug has a party at his house and Rog makes them play truth or dare. Scenes at the what was it - Hog Burger? whatever there fast food joint was, and any dancing scenes are the best. Theres always a lot of boom-ba-da-da-chut-to-da-da - this crazy music made up with the creators or whoevers mouth. I loved that show! ahhhh
- weekdays at 2 people, well at least on regular Nickelodeon. Understand I have basic basic basic cable - not noggin and boom n2 thats on my sis's satellite where I was fortunate to catch Doug at like 337 in the morning.
Ahh wee oooo - killer tofuuuuuu e-ow-e <-- best episode of Doug ever, when they meet the Beets
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