After many months of antici - say it! - pation, Lost came back tonight with a jam-packed episode. As the title says, we have now reached the beginning of the end of the series, and the story is moving forward at jet speed... with or without an electromagnetic pulse.
(Spoilers ahead!)
I thought the episode was really strong, picking up exactly where we left off in Season 3 and opening up all kinds of new possibilities for how the action can move forward. Hurley deserved such a pivotal episode, and tonight his character evolved more than in the first 3 years combined as the heroic death of his best friend gave him a purpose, a motivation, and a strength, that he'd never really had before. I've waited years for someone to really challenge Jack, other than his obvious antagonists Locke and Ben (two of my favorites), and I'm so glad that it is Hurley who's helping everyone see that the Doc is not the almighty God he thinks himself to be.
The flash-forward worked really well, and I'm glad the show has made a pretty seamless transition from the previous structure to one that can be more flexible. I actually thought this FF worked better than Jack's, but maybe that's cuz they had the freedom to be so upfront about the fact that this was the future they were showing. (Of course, I'm always gonna like somebody else's episode more over ANY flashback or -forward of stupid Jack.) More props to Hurley for telling Jack he'd look weird with a beard. True dat.
This episode had several really emotional scenes... I admit to tearing up not once, not twice, but three times! First was when Hurley did his cannonball, and I thought "Oh, this is going to be the last time he's ever truly happy." Next, when Sawyer showed true kindness to Hurley as they were hiking through the woods in the night. And, finally, the big heartstrings moment when Hurley had to tell Claire that they'd both lost their favorite friend. Those writers sure do know how to pull you in to the real heart of the show.
Back on island, we have lots of new questions to pursue. Since the FF's now tell us how things will turn out, the mystery is in the getting there from here.
... So who will be the Oceanic 6? Safe to say Jack, Kate and Hurley are among them, but who are the other 3?
... Since Hurley switched from Team Locke to Team Jack, who else might change alliances? Or does he really change, if he's apologizing for siding with Locke in the future?
... And what is the major secret they seem to be keeping? My kinda obvious guess is that they're pretending to be the only 6 survivors and that everyone else is dead - but why???
... Who was the creepy guy pretending to be an Oceanic lawyer visiting Hurley? Is he really someone from whatever the evil powers that be are, trying to root out the secret? I did have the flash that this just might be a show that ends up being all about corporate greed - with Widmore/Hanso/Maxwell being the ultimate bad guy.
... Who is/was Naomi? Who are those people on the boat? And how big is their boat if it had TWO helicopters???
... Was that really Christian Shephard sitting in Jacob's rocking chair???
and - finally -
... Why is Charlie so much cuter as a ghost than he ever was on the Island???
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
One for the Books
Well, today was a big day for narrowing the race. Now, barring any real surprises (say one that starts with Bloom- and ends with -berg) we know that one of four people will be the next President of the United States. And what's so interesting about 2008 is that each of these four people would make history if elected:
Hillary Clinton would be the first female President. She would also be the first former First Lady to move from the East to the West Wing, making Bill the first former President to become a First Spouse. (First Gentleman, really?)
Barack Obama would be the first African-American President. I also believe he would be the first first-generation American to become President since.... when? His father was from Kenya. When was the last time we had a President who had a parent that was not a citizen? Has it possibly been since the actual first generation of Americans? A lot gets written about his potential for being the first African-American President, but I also find his family history of emigration and immigration to be really interesting.
Mitt Romney would be the first Mormon President, representing what is considered to be (I think?) the only major religion that's American in its origin. This could potentially be very interesting in a time when this country still needs to have a serious discussion about the role of religion in America.
John McCain would be the oldest President ever elected, 3 years older than Ronald Reagan. He would also be the first Vietnam veteran President, bringing a really unique perspective to the table based on his harrowing experiences.
So, whatever you think about any of these 4, I believe it's pretty exciting to be in the midst of a campaign season that's changing the very concept of who an American President is and can be.
Hillary Clinton would be the first female President. She would also be the first former First Lady to move from the East to the West Wing, making Bill the first former President to become a First Spouse. (First Gentleman, really?)
Barack Obama would be the first African-American President. I also believe he would be the first first-generation American to become President since.... when? His father was from Kenya. When was the last time we had a President who had a parent that was not a citizen? Has it possibly been since the actual first generation of Americans? A lot gets written about his potential for being the first African-American President, but I also find his family history of emigration and immigration to be really interesting.
Mitt Romney would be the first Mormon President, representing what is considered to be (I think?) the only major religion that's American in its origin. This could potentially be very interesting in a time when this country still needs to have a serious discussion about the role of religion in America.
John McCain would be the oldest President ever elected, 3 years older than Ronald Reagan. He would also be the first Vietnam veteran President, bringing a really unique perspective to the table based on his harrowing experiences.
So, whatever you think about any of these 4, I believe it's pretty exciting to be in the midst of a campaign season that's changing the very concept of who an American President is and can be.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Guess It's Not Just DC
This whole primary season math is pretty mind-boggling. Just when I think I've figured out how candidates earn delegates, another state comes along that does it in a totally different way. Did they create this whole system just to give a whole cadre of wonky political scientists and pundits careers???
At first, when I heard about states moving ahead on the primary schedule for their various reasons, I didn't really think much of their respective parties "punishing" them by stripping or halving their delegates. But the more I think about it, the more wrong it seems. I needed to stop thinking about it as a party punishing a state, and instead think about what it means to those states' voters. It was actually my boss (in a totally unrelated-to-work conversation) who said it best - "How dare the parties tell all of these people their votes don't count?!?"
In a time when we're trying to encourage voter turnout and active participation in the political process by everyone, why in the world would the parties nullify so many votes? If I were a Democrat in MI or FL, I'd be pretty pissed that the people running the machine made decisions that meant I no longer have a voice in choosing the candidate. I can't blame those candidates who chose not to campaign in the affected states, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs all around.
And God forbid, if we do get to the point where there's a brokered convention, as much as I'd hate to see the nasty political negotiations of trying to re-instate those vote counts for delegates, it would not be an argument without merit.
At first, when I heard about states moving ahead on the primary schedule for their various reasons, I didn't really think much of their respective parties "punishing" them by stripping or halving their delegates. But the more I think about it, the more wrong it seems. I needed to stop thinking about it as a party punishing a state, and instead think about what it means to those states' voters. It was actually my boss (in a totally unrelated-to-work conversation) who said it best - "How dare the parties tell all of these people their votes don't count?!?"
In a time when we're trying to encourage voter turnout and active participation in the political process by everyone, why in the world would the parties nullify so many votes? If I were a Democrat in MI or FL, I'd be pretty pissed that the people running the machine made decisions that meant I no longer have a voice in choosing the candidate. I can't blame those candidates who chose not to campaign in the affected states, but I think it's a sorry state of affairs all around.
And God forbid, if we do get to the point where there's a brokered convention, as much as I'd hate to see the nasty political negotiations of trying to re-instate those vote counts for delegates, it would not be an argument without merit.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Political Potpourri
Some Monday evening tidbits...
The State of the Union. Or, what I like to call, "The First of the Lasts." Yippee - we never have to watch George W. Bush do that again! Can you believe it's already been a year since he trumpeted being the first to say "Madame Speaker" ? That was a good moment, at least. I need to read more about this earmarks thing, which sounds like it could be pretty big. It still trips me out to hear GWB sound so much more moderate than the Republican candidates on immigration, though. I shudder, much like I shudder whenever I surprisingly find myself agreeing with Pat Buchanan on something. I have to say, though, the whole address itself was pretty uneventful. Any thoughts, dear readers?
I learned from a friend tonight that she is now fully in the Hillary camp, and she shared with me what the final push was that sealed the deal for her: Gloria Steinem's op-ed in the New York Times after Iowa. I read it too, and thought it was a good endorsement of Senator Clinton and a welcome reminder that there's still a need for active feminism. I share it with you now, and I'd love to hear feedback.
Speaking of the New York Times, the Grey Lady's opinion pages have been pretty interesting lately. They gave us their endorsement of Hillary Clinton last week, and today feature Caroline Kennedy's endorsement of Obama and coverage of her uncle's parallel move. At the same time, regular columnist Paul Krugman has been poking holes in the Obama rhetoric - including today's provocative column pointing out why we should remember the ugly politics of the early 1990's when judging today's primaries - not to poo-pooh the brief tussles the Democrats have had recently, but to remind us of just how disgusting the cross-party mud-slinging machine can be. We should use that as motivation to develop that laser-like focus we need to be ready for the GOP in the national election and beyond, when our Democrat has retaken the White House. Good food for thought.
In just a few short weeks - on my birthday! - we will all get the chance to weigh in. Who knows what will be wrapped up on Super Tuesday, but 7 days later, on February 12, DC, Maryland and Virginia will have their primaries. I hope everyone votes! FYI - DC has now released its voter guide, which is available here. Who knew Cynthia McKinney was running for Prez on the Green ticket???
The State of the Union. Or, what I like to call, "The First of the Lasts." Yippee - we never have to watch George W. Bush do that again! Can you believe it's already been a year since he trumpeted being the first to say "Madame Speaker" ? That was a good moment, at least. I need to read more about this earmarks thing, which sounds like it could be pretty big. It still trips me out to hear GWB sound so much more moderate than the Republican candidates on immigration, though. I shudder, much like I shudder whenever I surprisingly find myself agreeing with Pat Buchanan on something. I have to say, though, the whole address itself was pretty uneventful. Any thoughts, dear readers?
I learned from a friend tonight that she is now fully in the Hillary camp, and she shared with me what the final push was that sealed the deal for her: Gloria Steinem's op-ed in the New York Times after Iowa. I read it too, and thought it was a good endorsement of Senator Clinton and a welcome reminder that there's still a need for active feminism. I share it with you now, and I'd love to hear feedback.
Speaking of the New York Times, the Grey Lady's opinion pages have been pretty interesting lately. They gave us their endorsement of Hillary Clinton last week, and today feature Caroline Kennedy's endorsement of Obama and coverage of her uncle's parallel move. At the same time, regular columnist Paul Krugman has been poking holes in the Obama rhetoric - including today's provocative column pointing out why we should remember the ugly politics of the early 1990's when judging today's primaries - not to poo-pooh the brief tussles the Democrats have had recently, but to remind us of just how disgusting the cross-party mud-slinging machine can be. We should use that as motivation to develop that laser-like focus we need to be ready for the GOP in the national election and beyond, when our Democrat has retaken the White House. Good food for thought.
In just a few short weeks - on my birthday! - we will all get the chance to weigh in. Who knows what will be wrapped up on Super Tuesday, but 7 days later, on February 12, DC, Maryland and Virginia will have their primaries. I hope everyone votes! FYI - DC has now released its voter guide, which is available here. Who knew Cynthia McKinney was running for Prez on the Green ticket???
Friday, January 25, 2008
Read Any Good Books Lately?
We had a great book club discussion tonight, focusing on Khaled Hosseini's follow-up to The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns. Over a great dinner of Afghan food (mmmm.... lamb... rice... raisins... pumpkin...) we discussed the book, its characters and themes, and branched out to compare the novel to a variety of other books we've read, movies we've seen, and stories we've learned about different cultures. All in all, a fantastic conversation.
At the end of the dinner, I was asked how I'd found out about the book, as this month's choice was my suggestion. A few of my friends said they'd never heard of Hosseini and had missed out on The Kite Runner too, but loved the novel and were curious where I'd first seen it. I'd been interested in it since I'd loved the The Kite Runner so much, but I couldn't remember for sure where I'd heard of Hosseini first. (Though I do remember how I got the first book - it was a bday present from Mandy!)
So this led to a great conversation just about how we all find out about new books in general. I actually have a variety of ways to learn about titles I might be interested in, and they're all pretty simple:
* I read the Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek book reviews every week,
* I pay attention to my Amazon.com recommendations and diligently rate all my purchases,
* I get the New York Times book page update in my email every Friday and try to make time to at least skim it,
* I sometimes pick up the books by pundits or guests I see on the talky news shows,
* I attend author lectures at my museum and other great DC venues,
* I talk to my friends and my Mom, my first bibliophile mentor, about what they're reading,
and - when all else fails -
* I sometimes do just go to the bookstore and try to judge the new titles by their covers, or at least their flap text.
So what about you, my trusty readers? How do you find the books you're most interested in? Have you ever been totally surprised by a book you've found in an unusual way?
At the end of the dinner, I was asked how I'd found out about the book, as this month's choice was my suggestion. A few of my friends said they'd never heard of Hosseini and had missed out on The Kite Runner too, but loved the novel and were curious where I'd first seen it. I'd been interested in it since I'd loved the The Kite Runner so much, but I couldn't remember for sure where I'd heard of Hosseini first. (Though I do remember how I got the first book - it was a bday present from Mandy!)
So this led to a great conversation just about how we all find out about new books in general. I actually have a variety of ways to learn about titles I might be interested in, and they're all pretty simple:
* I read the Entertainment Weekly and Newsweek book reviews every week,
* I pay attention to my Amazon.com recommendations and diligently rate all my purchases,
* I get the New York Times book page update in my email every Friday and try to make time to at least skim it,
* I sometimes pick up the books by pundits or guests I see on the talky news shows,
* I attend author lectures at my museum and other great DC venues,
* I talk to my friends and my Mom, my first bibliophile mentor, about what they're reading,
and - when all else fails -
* I sometimes do just go to the bookstore and try to judge the new titles by their covers, or at least their flap text.
So what about you, my trusty readers? How do you find the books you're most interested in? Have you ever been totally surprised by a book you've found in an unusual way?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Queen of the Road
I'm back from a whirlwind 2-day trip to the first city of my adult life: Richmond, VA. I have signed on to do some volunteer work for my undergrad school (scroll down to see my favorite photos of campus), so I went down for the first meeting and used it as an excuse for a fun sight-seeing trip.
First of all, I now totally rock behind the wheel! All that car phobia - driving anxiety stuff? Yeah, that's so 2007. I took the train down from DC then thanks to Enterprise, who picked me up, and this cute little Ford Focus I regained my complete confidence on the road. I drove more than 50 miles in 24 hours, all over the place, and even did a few 3-point-turns and U-ee's. (And proved once again that in the suburbs, there's absolutely no need for parallel parking.) This trip sealed it, I want a car. It's just a matter of time. And lots and lots of money.
But back to the trip.... I spent last night doing official stuff - a meeting, a reception, and program - but the rest of the time was mine to embark on what I like to think of as my "Greatest Hits Tour of Richmond." I drove all over campus, of course, but also steered the little Focus to all of my favorite haunts. And I'm happy to report:
- My first apartment building looks exactly the same! Ye olde 1529J Honey Grove looked a little dated 12 years ago.... imagine it now!
- Denny's, Friday's, Casa Grande, Aunt Sarah's Pancake House - all still standing, open for business. Yes, my culinary tastes have improved greatly since then. Just imagine, when I left Richmond, I'd still never tasted Indian, Thai, or sushi! Those were the buffalo wings and Caesar salad days of my youth.
- The movie theater where I worked, still the only (and hopefully last) place I was ever fired, is still there under the same ownership - showing Juno, 27 Dresses, Bucket List, and National Treasure. I didn't get any closer than the main road, lest the stink of the popcorn machine get on me again.
- My favorite senior year haunt, the suburban Borders Books & Music, is still there - probably still serving Mocha Freezes - but the sign has gotten really rundown. Sad. The long-haired coffee guy gave me a free mocha freeze when I graduated. That's customer service!
- Carytown is still funky and overpriced with all its little boutiques, and I smiled as I drove past The Bird movie theater (does it still have a working organ?) and Coppola's, a great Italian sandwich place. I turned on to Main at the corner where I had my first job in the arts - the Arts Council moved that same year, but the little row house is still adorable. And I drove back on Grove, which also still has the cutest little overpriced shopping area and the first art-house cinema I ever experienced.
You can see how I worked in 50 miles, eh? There's still more to see, so on some future trip I'll have to make my way back to Pony Pasture on the James River, to Regency Square Mall, and to have a great meal by the bathtub at the Strawberry Street Cafe. I'm looking forward to it!
First of all, I now totally rock behind the wheel! All that car phobia - driving anxiety stuff? Yeah, that's so 2007. I took the train down from DC then thanks to Enterprise, who picked me up, and this cute little Ford Focus I regained my complete confidence on the road. I drove more than 50 miles in 24 hours, all over the place, and even did a few 3-point-turns and U-ee's. (And proved once again that in the suburbs, there's absolutely no need for parallel parking.) This trip sealed it, I want a car. It's just a matter of time. And lots and lots of money.But back to the trip.... I spent last night doing official stuff - a meeting, a reception, and program - but the rest of the time was mine to embark on what I like to think of as my "Greatest Hits Tour of Richmond." I drove all over campus, of course, but also steered the little Focus to all of my favorite haunts. And I'm happy to report:
- My first apartment building looks exactly the same! Ye olde 1529J Honey Grove looked a little dated 12 years ago.... imagine it now!
- Denny's, Friday's, Casa Grande, Aunt Sarah's Pancake House - all still standing, open for business. Yes, my culinary tastes have improved greatly since then. Just imagine, when I left Richmond, I'd still never tasted Indian, Thai, or sushi! Those were the buffalo wings and Caesar salad days of my youth.
- The movie theater where I worked, still the only (and hopefully last) place I was ever fired, is still there under the same ownership - showing Juno, 27 Dresses, Bucket List, and National Treasure. I didn't get any closer than the main road, lest the stink of the popcorn machine get on me again.
- My favorite senior year haunt, the suburban Borders Books & Music, is still there - probably still serving Mocha Freezes - but the sign has gotten really rundown. Sad. The long-haired coffee guy gave me a free mocha freeze when I graduated. That's customer service!
- Carytown is still funky and overpriced with all its little boutiques, and I smiled as I drove past The Bird movie theater (does it still have a working organ?) and Coppola's, a great Italian sandwich place. I turned on to Main at the corner where I had my first job in the arts - the Arts Council moved that same year, but the little row house is still adorable. And I drove back on Grove, which also still has the cutest little overpriced shopping area and the first art-house cinema I ever experienced.
You can see how I worked in 50 miles, eh? There's still more to see, so on some future trip I'll have to make my way back to Pony Pasture on the James River, to Regency Square Mall, and to have a great meal by the bathtub at the Strawberry Street Cafe. I'm looking forward to it!
Alma Mater O'Mine
Just some lovely views of the 50-odd wooded acres that were my home back in the early '90's.... ah, all that brick and the too-idyllic-to-be-true Westhampton Lake still warm my heart. Thanks for the memories!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Movie Reviews: Special Oscar Noms Edition
Hear ye, hear ye, the nominees for the 80th Academy Awards have been announced! I will do a complete shoulda-woulda-coulda post later in the week, but for now I'll share reviews of a few of the newly-ordained movies I've seen recently:
A few weeks ago, Jane Austen and I ventured out and saw my first Tom Hanks movie in years: Charlie Wilson's War. I fully admit that what made me willing to see this Hanks-Roberts pairing was the fact that Aaron Sorkin wrote the script, and I was a huge WW fan back in the day. Well, Sorkin's script, Mike Nichols' direction, and the amazing story of Congressman Wilson totally had me hooked. This movie was a hoot! A really good time, racing us through 10 years of history with snappy dialogue that packed a punch. Wilson's triumph in building an alliance to defeat the Soviets may well have been a leading factor in our own 21st century events... and the movie doesn't shy away from the real history while telling the story of a charismatic guy and his crazy ambitions. I have to say it, I did not hate the Hanks. And Philip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic as the bitter CIA agent who makes it all happen, so I'm glad he got the nod this morning. I'm just sorry that Sorkin didn't get a screenplay nomination himself. Too bad. But I hope he makes more movies, cuz I give this one an A.
Over the weekend, one of my many Netflix adventures was the latest David Cronenberg-Viggo Mortenson pairing, Eastern Promises. This challenging film drags us into the seedy underworld of London's Russian mafia, and like Naomi Watts's midwife we viewers are slowly pulled into this secretive world with all its loyalties, betrayals, and traditions. (The movie could practically serve as a tutorial on the custom of Russian prison tattoos.) The story is dark, but the writing is tight and the acting is strong all around. Watts does a good job, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl are both convincing as a pair of father-son mobsters, and Viggo is just incredible as the chauffeur/enforcer. His two minute fight scene in the sauna - completely naked - is not an image you'll soon forget. That alone was enough to earn him the nod, in my book, but he's strong throughout. I think his Best Actor nomination was a bit of a surprise, but I'm really glad he's being recognized. I give this dark little film a B+.
Yesterday, Onyah and I caught a matinee of the three-hour P. T. Anderson drama, There Will Be Blood. This movie has been getting major raves from the critics, and it picked up 8 nominations this morning, tying with No Country for Old Men. Well, guess what? I really did not like it. And I probably should have known that I wouldn't... I hated PTA's Magnolia, which I thought was overly long and sacrificed a coherent story in favor of stacked scenes of what I consider to be "actor-y showcases." I don't like little vignettes strung together... my favorite movies are all rooted in really strong stories, with a narrative arc and a beginning, middle, and end. And There Will Be Blood doesn't tell much of a story, it's more a series of scenes... three hours of scenes... Daniel Day-Lewis gives a really show-stopping performance, in that "acting masterclass - watch me be so intense you can't look away" kind of way, and he's in almost every single frame of the movie so there's no doubt that man really worked for his Best Actor nomination. But, he plays a character that has no redeeming qualities, and I just did not care about him or what happened to anyone around him. So, even though this may be the most acclaimed film of the year, I'm rooting against it for every single one of its categories. It treads a lot of the same ground as No Country, even in terms of cinematography and art direction, and I found the Coen Brothers' film to be far more satisfying and enjoyable. So I give TWBB a C-. With blech on top.
Finally, one night last week I wrapped myself up in a blanket and dove in to the wonderful little gem, Once. This modest little movie tells the story of an Irish street musician who meets a spunky Czech immigrant woman who helps him write some beautiful music, and sets him on a new life path, over just the course of a few days. The music in this movie is fantastic, and I quickly point-and-clicked to buy the soundtrack. Even though Enchanted has three sugary-sweet nominations for best original song, I really hope Once takes the little man home for "Falling Slowly." My score: B+ for the movie, A+ for its sound.
So, for now, my list of movies that I MUST see either in the theater or on DVD before the hoped-for telecast (but after I finish my LOST rewind) includes:
- Juno
- Sweeney Todd
- Gone, Baby, Gone
- The Assassination of Jesse James
- In the Valley of Elah
- Away from Her
- The Savages
- American Gangster
A few weeks ago, Jane Austen and I ventured out and saw my first Tom Hanks movie in years: Charlie Wilson's War. I fully admit that what made me willing to see this Hanks-Roberts pairing was the fact that Aaron Sorkin wrote the script, and I was a huge WW fan back in the day. Well, Sorkin's script, Mike Nichols' direction, and the amazing story of Congressman Wilson totally had me hooked. This movie was a hoot! A really good time, racing us through 10 years of history with snappy dialogue that packed a punch. Wilson's triumph in building an alliance to defeat the Soviets may well have been a leading factor in our own 21st century events... and the movie doesn't shy away from the real history while telling the story of a charismatic guy and his crazy ambitions. I have to say it, I did not hate the Hanks. And Philip Seymour Hoffman was fantastic as the bitter CIA agent who makes it all happen, so I'm glad he got the nod this morning. I'm just sorry that Sorkin didn't get a screenplay nomination himself. Too bad. But I hope he makes more movies, cuz I give this one an A.
Over the weekend, one of my many Netflix adventures was the latest David Cronenberg-Viggo Mortenson pairing, Eastern Promises. This challenging film drags us into the seedy underworld of London's Russian mafia, and like Naomi Watts's midwife we viewers are slowly pulled into this secretive world with all its loyalties, betrayals, and traditions. (The movie could practically serve as a tutorial on the custom of Russian prison tattoos.) The story is dark, but the writing is tight and the acting is strong all around. Watts does a good job, Vincent Cassel and Armin Mueller-Stahl are both convincing as a pair of father-son mobsters, and Viggo is just incredible as the chauffeur/enforcer. His two minute fight scene in the sauna - completely naked - is not an image you'll soon forget. That alone was enough to earn him the nod, in my book, but he's strong throughout. I think his Best Actor nomination was a bit of a surprise, but I'm really glad he's being recognized. I give this dark little film a B+.Yesterday, Onyah and I caught a matinee of the three-hour P. T. Anderson drama, There Will Be Blood. This movie has been getting major raves from the critics, and it picked up 8 nominations this morning, tying with No Country for Old Men. Well, guess what? I really did not like it. And I probably should have known that I wouldn't... I hated PTA's Magnolia, which I thought was overly long and sacrificed a coherent story in favor of stacked scenes of what I consider to be "actor-y showcases." I don't like little vignettes strung together... my favorite movies are all rooted in really strong stories, with a narrative arc and a beginning, middle, and end. And There Will Be Blood doesn't tell much of a story, it's more a series of scenes... three hours of scenes... Daniel Day-Lewis gives a really show-stopping performance, in that "acting masterclass - watch me be so intense you can't look away" kind of way, and he's in almost every single frame of the movie so there's no doubt that man really worked for his Best Actor nomination. But, he plays a character that has no redeeming qualities, and I just did not care about him or what happened to anyone around him. So, even though this may be the most acclaimed film of the year, I'm rooting against it for every single one of its categories. It treads a lot of the same ground as No Country, even in terms of cinematography and art direction, and I found the Coen Brothers' film to be far more satisfying and enjoyable. So I give TWBB a C-. With blech on top.
Finally, one night last week I wrapped myself up in a blanket and dove in to the wonderful little gem, Once. This modest little movie tells the story of an Irish street musician who meets a spunky Czech immigrant woman who helps him write some beautiful music, and sets him on a new life path, over just the course of a few days. The music in this movie is fantastic, and I quickly point-and-clicked to buy the soundtrack. Even though Enchanted has three sugary-sweet nominations for best original song, I really hope Once takes the little man home for "Falling Slowly." My score: B+ for the movie, A+ for its sound.So, for now, my list of movies that I MUST see either in the theater or on DVD before the hoped-for telecast (but after I finish my LOST rewind) includes:
- Juno
- Sweeney Todd
- Gone, Baby, Gone
- The Assassination of Jesse James
- In the Valley of Elah
- Away from Her
- The Savages
- American Gangster
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Final Countdown
Pssst....hey.... check out that little clock over there on my right frame.... remember when it was at over 1000?
Not anymore! Look at it now!
365 Days to Go!
One year from today, exactly, we in DC will be showing George W. Bush the door - and hoping it DOES hit him on the a@@ on his way out.
I can't wait until we all get to take his picture down from the halls of our nation's capital and replace it with.... really, anyone would be better!
Happy Countdown Day!
Not anymore! Look at it now!
365 Days to Go!
One year from today, exactly, we in DC will be showing George W. Bush the door - and hoping it DOES hit him on the a@@ on his way out.
I can't wait until we all get to take his picture down from the halls of our nation's capital and replace it with.... really, anyone would be better!
Happy Countdown Day!
Friday, January 18, 2008
How Stimulating a Package?
Well, it seems that "experience" and "change" have been joined by "stimulus" as the major buzz words of 2008. I'm no economist, but I am having a hard time drumming up much enthusiasm for these big economic stimulus ideas - especially the tax rebates and tax cuts.
Believe it or not, I'm not questioning this just because it's Bush's plan. Hillary's got a plan, Romney's got a plan, Reid and Pelosi want to work on the plan, everybody's got a plan. I just don't really understand how some of this stuff is supposed to work.
(Although I love any story that gets the NYTimes to print this: "The president said the package “must be big enough to make a difference”...!!!)
Here's my rudimentary understanding of the problems with our economy:
Consumer confidence has been shaken. The mortgage crisis has people worried, if not personally threatened, and the cost of goods has gone up as the cost of oil and gas keeps going up. The stock market is reflecting all of this anxiety, which just makes people more nervous as they watch their 401ks wobble. People are spending less, and retail has taken a major downturn. People do not have a strong footing in savings, and the consumer economy is built on credit (the house of cards!). This is a time when we all start circling our wagons, being more conservative as we try to figure out how big this storm will be and whether we can ride it out.
I don't understand how a rebate check will solve any of this. It might make people hit special retail sales, which the stores would have to offer since they've been hit so hard, but that won't address any of these major trends that are weakening the whole.
Don't get me wrong, if there are $800 rebates (as they're saying), I'll gladly take it. I knew someone back in 2001 who thought the rebates were bad policy, and she actually refused hers and sent the $300 check back. I admired her principles.... but I'll be the first to accept a check when they come. I won't run out and spend it, though -- I'll be socking it away in savings for the short term to help build a nest egg or eventual down payment. Maybe I'll make a major purchase late in the year, but I'm not gonna immediately buy a plasma screen or something. And isn't that what the rebates are supposed to make us do?
So -- help me. Does anyone understand this stuff better than me? Is actual cash in our pockets a better measure than addressing some of the larger economic problems? Is it all about those "business incentives" that aren't really being talked about in the particulars yet? And if there are rebates, what would you do with yours?
All of this stuff really is cyclical. 2008 is looking a whole lot like 1992.... to overuse a phrase, "It's the economy, stupid."
Believe it or not, I'm not questioning this just because it's Bush's plan. Hillary's got a plan, Romney's got a plan, Reid and Pelosi want to work on the plan, everybody's got a plan. I just don't really understand how some of this stuff is supposed to work.
(Although I love any story that gets the NYTimes to print this: "The president said the package “must be big enough to make a difference”...!!!)
Here's my rudimentary understanding of the problems with our economy:
Consumer confidence has been shaken. The mortgage crisis has people worried, if not personally threatened, and the cost of goods has gone up as the cost of oil and gas keeps going up. The stock market is reflecting all of this anxiety, which just makes people more nervous as they watch their 401ks wobble. People are spending less, and retail has taken a major downturn. People do not have a strong footing in savings, and the consumer economy is built on credit (the house of cards!). This is a time when we all start circling our wagons, being more conservative as we try to figure out how big this storm will be and whether we can ride it out.
I don't understand how a rebate check will solve any of this. It might make people hit special retail sales, which the stores would have to offer since they've been hit so hard, but that won't address any of these major trends that are weakening the whole.
Don't get me wrong, if there are $800 rebates (as they're saying), I'll gladly take it. I knew someone back in 2001 who thought the rebates were bad policy, and she actually refused hers and sent the $300 check back. I admired her principles.... but I'll be the first to accept a check when they come. I won't run out and spend it, though -- I'll be socking it away in savings for the short term to help build a nest egg or eventual down payment. Maybe I'll make a major purchase late in the year, but I'm not gonna immediately buy a plasma screen or something. And isn't that what the rebates are supposed to make us do?
So -- help me. Does anyone understand this stuff better than me? Is actual cash in our pockets a better measure than addressing some of the larger economic problems? Is it all about those "business incentives" that aren't really being talked about in the particulars yet? And if there are rebates, what would you do with yours?
All of this stuff really is cyclical. 2008 is looking a whole lot like 1992.... to overuse a phrase, "It's the economy, stupid."
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Cross One Off the List
There's a first time for everything, folks, and this year I'm proud to say that I've actually accomplished one of my New Year's resolutions on January 13th! How ya like them apples?
I drove a car! For the first time in 3 years!!!
Knowing that I've accepted a commitment that will require trips to Richmond a few times a year, and that Richmond requires cars (not a good public transit/taxi town), and that the first trip will just be in a few weeks.... I HAD to get out of my crazy head and just get over my stupid, out-of-nowhere car phobia/anxiety. I needed to get back behind the wheel to "practice" and then just move the heck on with my life. So, thanks to the ease of Zipcar, I rented myself a little Scion for the afternoon and headed out to the red-bullseye Mecca up in Silver Spring.
And guess what? I survived! And so did everyone else! Like friends kept telling me, it really was just like riding a bike. Although a fancier new bike that you had to find the controls on!
Driving that car, I realized a few things... not to make today bigger than it was, but I did find myself thinking about some big stuff:
* Unless I'm in my apartment, I am almost always surrounded by people. I'd forgotten how freeing it was to be truly ALONE, on your own, driving a car. I was talking to myself and singing along, just enjoying being able to express myself without being surrounded by strangers. I never really think of that as one of the down sides of public transportation, but I hadn't realized how much I missed just some good old alone time.
* As I walked around Target by myself for the first time in 3 years, I was thinking how great it felt to really be self-sufficient. I didn't plan it this way, just like I didn't plan my not driving to lead to anxiety, but because I've been carless for so long I really have become dependent on friends or family to take me to places that are off the Metro... or, I just don't go to them. Hi, have you met me? Do I seem like the dependent type? Or the type who just goes without? Or helpless? Nah, not really. And that's also part of what had been really bugging me the last few months, feeling like a big loser for not being able (mentally, of course) to do for myself. Plus, I really felt awful during our family crisis last summer that, because of this anxiety, if I had been needed in Indiana I would have been more of a burden than a relief. That was not a pretty realization to make.
Originally, I got rid of my own car for financial reasons. I started out using Zipcar, but that didn't last long cuz I thought it was too expensive. I started getting groceries and big things delivered, and found I could just live without any car at all if I made some sacrifices. All of these decisions were concessions to my finances. But.... I'm in a much better position now. And there are so many benefits to using a car every once in a while - more than just grocery runs, I could use the opportunity to go visit friends who live off the beaten path, or to explore so many of the great things in the area that I have considered off-limits just due to location.
So, I'm thinking this car rental plan might become something of a usual thing. Who knows? Maybe I'll even save up and eventually get myself my own little taste of freedom on 4 wheels...now that I can finally afford it again!
I drove a car! For the first time in 3 years!!!
Knowing that I've accepted a commitment that will require trips to Richmond a few times a year, and that Richmond requires cars (not a good public transit/taxi town), and that the first trip will just be in a few weeks.... I HAD to get out of my crazy head and just get over my stupid, out-of-nowhere car phobia/anxiety. I needed to get back behind the wheel to "practice" and then just move the heck on with my life. So, thanks to the ease of Zipcar, I rented myself a little Scion for the afternoon and headed out to the red-bullseye Mecca up in Silver Spring.
And guess what? I survived! And so did everyone else! Like friends kept telling me, it really was just like riding a bike. Although a fancier new bike that you had to find the controls on!
Driving that car, I realized a few things... not to make today bigger than it was, but I did find myself thinking about some big stuff:
* Unless I'm in my apartment, I am almost always surrounded by people. I'd forgotten how freeing it was to be truly ALONE, on your own, driving a car. I was talking to myself and singing along, just enjoying being able to express myself without being surrounded by strangers. I never really think of that as one of the down sides of public transportation, but I hadn't realized how much I missed just some good old alone time.
* As I walked around Target by myself for the first time in 3 years, I was thinking how great it felt to really be self-sufficient. I didn't plan it this way, just like I didn't plan my not driving to lead to anxiety, but because I've been carless for so long I really have become dependent on friends or family to take me to places that are off the Metro... or, I just don't go to them. Hi, have you met me? Do I seem like the dependent type? Or the type who just goes without? Or helpless? Nah, not really. And that's also part of what had been really bugging me the last few months, feeling like a big loser for not being able (mentally, of course) to do for myself. Plus, I really felt awful during our family crisis last summer that, because of this anxiety, if I had been needed in Indiana I would have been more of a burden than a relief. That was not a pretty realization to make.
Originally, I got rid of my own car for financial reasons. I started out using Zipcar, but that didn't last long cuz I thought it was too expensive. I started getting groceries and big things delivered, and found I could just live without any car at all if I made some sacrifices. All of these decisions were concessions to my finances. But.... I'm in a much better position now. And there are so many benefits to using a car every once in a while - more than just grocery runs, I could use the opportunity to go visit friends who live off the beaten path, or to explore so many of the great things in the area that I have considered off-limits just due to location.
So, I'm thinking this car rental plan might become something of a usual thing. Who knows? Maybe I'll even save up and eventually get myself my own little taste of freedom on 4 wheels...now that I can finally afford it again!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Strike Survival Dispatch
I never would have predicted it, but I actually have a very lengthy tv to-do list, even amidst this seemingly-perpetual WGA strike. My trusty old DVD player is busy, busy, busy - and some of my watching is even on deadline! So what exactly am I trying to fit in?
A cornucopia of Netflix
Since I upped my Netflix to the 5-at-a-time plan, I've got a steady stream of red envelopes coming through the door. It's been a great opportunity for me to check out old shows and new releases alike. A sampling:
** Roswell - I've just finished the first season of this late-90's WB gem, and I'm loving it! It's like the illegitimate tv child of The X-Files and Dawson's Creek. I like the teen angst, the actors are amazingly attractive, there's a great guest appearance by cult-series-fave Julie Benz, and the alien conspiracy/mystery stuff is right up my alley. I plan to start season 2 soon!
** Jeeves and Wooster - I first became acquainted with Wodehouse's beloved characters when my old theater/workplace did the premiere of the reworked Webber/Ayckbourn musical, By Jeeves. So I was already a fan of bumbling Bertie and his savior, Jeeves. But nothing compares to the brilliant teamwork of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. This series is just so darn enjoyable, it puts a smile on my face!
Strike Survival Club
Here's my new twice-weekly deadline... as I'm happy to be participating in this blog's tv-watching club. This NJ tv critic suggested we all use the strike to (re)discover one of those great-but-canceled shows of the late-'90's, Cupid. It's the brainchild of Rob Thomas, who went on to become the creator of another great-but-canceled series, Veronica Mars. I actually really loved this show when it was on 10 years ago, so I'm loving re-watching it all on YouTube. I do love me some Piven. At two episodes a week to keep up with the blog discussion, that's a pretty steady assignment!
The Big Countdown
Finally - my most pressing deadline. In preparation for the Most Important Night of the Month, aka the January 31 premiere of season 4 of LOST, I am rewatching the first 3 seasons. I plowed my way through all of season 1 in the week before Christmas... nothing compares to watching 10+ episodes or more in just a single sitting! Now I'm working my way through season 2 (finally,the Tailies appear... can't wait for Henry Gale to explode on the scene, and for Michael to eventually stop screaming about "my boy!"). I have 19 days to watch 11 discs... I sense several marathons coming on, but it will be so worth it. Of course, my boyfriend Sawyer is perched atop the entertainment center cheering my progress along. :-)
How's everyone else doing surviving the strike? Made any great DVD discoveries?
A cornucopia of Netflix
Since I upped my Netflix to the 5-at-a-time plan, I've got a steady stream of red envelopes coming through the door. It's been a great opportunity for me to check out old shows and new releases alike. A sampling:
** Roswell - I've just finished the first season of this late-90's WB gem, and I'm loving it! It's like the illegitimate tv child of The X-Files and Dawson's Creek. I like the teen angst, the actors are amazingly attractive, there's a great guest appearance by cult-series-fave Julie Benz, and the alien conspiracy/mystery stuff is right up my alley. I plan to start season 2 soon!
** Jeeves and Wooster - I first became acquainted with Wodehouse's beloved characters when my old theater/workplace did the premiere of the reworked Webber/Ayckbourn musical, By Jeeves. So I was already a fan of bumbling Bertie and his savior, Jeeves. But nothing compares to the brilliant teamwork of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry. This series is just so darn enjoyable, it puts a smile on my face!
Strike Survival Club
Here's my new twice-weekly deadline... as I'm happy to be participating in this blog's tv-watching club. This NJ tv critic suggested we all use the strike to (re)discover one of those great-but-canceled shows of the late-'90's, Cupid. It's the brainchild of Rob Thomas, who went on to become the creator of another great-but-canceled series, Veronica Mars. I actually really loved this show when it was on 10 years ago, so I'm loving re-watching it all on YouTube. I do love me some Piven. At two episodes a week to keep up with the blog discussion, that's a pretty steady assignment!
The Big Countdown
Finally - my most pressing deadline. In preparation for the Most Important Night of the Month, aka the January 31 premiere of season 4 of LOST, I am rewatching the first 3 seasons. I plowed my way through all of season 1 in the week before Christmas... nothing compares to watching 10+ episodes or more in just a single sitting! Now I'm working my way through season 2 (finally,the Tailies appear... can't wait for Henry Gale to explode on the scene, and for Michael to eventually stop screaming about "my boy!"). I have 19 days to watch 11 discs... I sense several marathons coming on, but it will be so worth it. Of course, my boyfriend Sawyer is perched atop the entertainment center cheering my progress along. :-)
How's everyone else doing surviving the strike? Made any great DVD discoveries?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Help!
Is anyone else having Gmail trouble? It won't load up on my home computer, ever since last night. It works fine on my office computer... but last night, this morning, and now again tonight it's wacky at home. I can see the preview for having new mail on my personalized "iGoogle" home page, but when I click on either my Inbox or the Gmail link, I get the white screen with "Loading" on it, then it just goes to a blank screen and Explorer says "Done." If I click on a message from the preview on iGoogle, it will open the single message, but then I can't get to my Inbox.
Any advice? I do run Norton AntiVirus at home, but maybe I'll try shutting that off and see. This is Not Cool! I live by my email!
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UPDATE: Hooray! I'm not sure exactly how, but I fixed it! Thank goodness for Gmail Help. It walked me through a couple of different possibilities.... and I don't think it was Norton after all. What did the trick was deleting all (and there were TONS) of the temporary Internet files and cookies in the browser cache. Now it works like new!
Any advice? I do run Norton AntiVirus at home, but maybe I'll try shutting that off and see. This is Not Cool! I live by my email!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
UPDATE: Hooray! I'm not sure exactly how, but I fixed it! Thank goodness for Gmail Help. It walked me through a couple of different possibilities.... and I don't think it was Norton after all. What did the trick was deleting all (and there were TONS) of the temporary Internet files and cookies in the browser cache. Now it works like new!
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
My Two Cents on New Hampshire
A few random thoughts as the first major (sorry WY) primary wraps up...
- That's my girl! I admit it, I got a little emotional tonight as Hillary gave her speech. She really reminds me so much of my Mom, and when she gave Chelsea the big hug and smile? I got a little teary-eyed. I need to check my sources... but is this the first time a woman has won a Presidential primary? With Hillary and Obama, we really have been watching history in the making over the last week folks... that at least gives me a lot of hope for the next decade of the 21st century. (Too bad most of this one is a loss.)
- Seems to me, late polls are pretty damn meaningless. What happened to Obama's 10 point lead from yesterday? Yeah, that and $1.65 will get you a ride on the Metro. But I did like his "you can be the new majority" line in the speech.
- Turnout was huge again, at least in part due to the mild weather. But all the talkies on the boob tube were comparing the huge Dem turnout in both Iowa and NH, compared to what I think they said was lower turnout than 2000 among GOPs in NH, and saying this is really a sign of how hungry and how motivated the Democrats are to win the whole darn thing.
- Good for McCain, I guess. Does he have any real presence in the next few states though? I think the GOP field is still wide open, though the talkies keep saying that Romney's a huge failure. How so? Two 2nd place showings and winning WY doesn't seem like a total loser to me, although they did knock him for losing tonight "in his own backyard." I think Michigan will be his clincher.
- So, since we have 2 totally different winners tonight than we did last week, what should we learn? That the silly old media is pretty full of it - their double-coronation from Thursday night was just lots of hot air. This is the biggest failure of our 24-hour-news culture, I think. The media picks one story as their narrative, and they talk their heads off just trying to constantly echo their own voices. Eventually, either people are beaten into submission and start believing it, or they just get disgusted and tune out. But, sadly, in this scenario very few people are actually getting NEWS. But I guess there's very little news in an election cycle -- they've got to fill the airwaves for YEARS before anyone casts a vote, so it's all just armchair gabbing. I wish they'd shut it - stop talking about tears or gaffes or hugs or handshakes. Tell us about what's really going on with the issues so that we can actually make informed choices in this election!
- How long do we all think Edwards will hang on? He made a good showing in Iowa, but that was where he really concentrated so much of his effort. If he comes in 3rd in South Carolina again, is he done? I thought he gave a pretty good speech though, about needing to give voice to all Americans. I wish he'd stuck more with that language over the last 6 months, instead of some of his uglier sniping.
- I will be interested to see the next round of financial reports. With these major early contests over, who's got what left? Who's fundraising is increasing or slowing down? Follow the money, folks.
- Is Fred Thompson going home soon? :-)
- That's my girl! I admit it, I got a little emotional tonight as Hillary gave her speech. She really reminds me so much of my Mom, and when she gave Chelsea the big hug and smile? I got a little teary-eyed. I need to check my sources... but is this the first time a woman has won a Presidential primary? With Hillary and Obama, we really have been watching history in the making over the last week folks... that at least gives me a lot of hope for the next decade of the 21st century. (Too bad most of this one is a loss.)
- Seems to me, late polls are pretty damn meaningless. What happened to Obama's 10 point lead from yesterday? Yeah, that and $1.65 will get you a ride on the Metro. But I did like his "you can be the new majority" line in the speech.
- Turnout was huge again, at least in part due to the mild weather. But all the talkies on the boob tube were comparing the huge Dem turnout in both Iowa and NH, compared to what I think they said was lower turnout than 2000 among GOPs in NH, and saying this is really a sign of how hungry and how motivated the Democrats are to win the whole darn thing.
- Good for McCain, I guess. Does he have any real presence in the next few states though? I think the GOP field is still wide open, though the talkies keep saying that Romney's a huge failure. How so? Two 2nd place showings and winning WY doesn't seem like a total loser to me, although they did knock him for losing tonight "in his own backyard." I think Michigan will be his clincher.
- So, since we have 2 totally different winners tonight than we did last week, what should we learn? That the silly old media is pretty full of it - their double-coronation from Thursday night was just lots of hot air. This is the biggest failure of our 24-hour-news culture, I think. The media picks one story as their narrative, and they talk their heads off just trying to constantly echo their own voices. Eventually, either people are beaten into submission and start believing it, or they just get disgusted and tune out. But, sadly, in this scenario very few people are actually getting NEWS. But I guess there's very little news in an election cycle -- they've got to fill the airwaves for YEARS before anyone casts a vote, so it's all just armchair gabbing. I wish they'd shut it - stop talking about tears or gaffes or hugs or handshakes. Tell us about what's really going on with the issues so that we can actually make informed choices in this election!
- How long do we all think Edwards will hang on? He made a good showing in Iowa, but that was where he really concentrated so much of his effort. If he comes in 3rd in South Carolina again, is he done? I thought he gave a pretty good speech though, about needing to give voice to all Americans. I wish he'd stuck more with that language over the last 6 months, instead of some of his uglier sniping.
- I will be interested to see the next round of financial reports. With these major early contests over, who's got what left? Who's fundraising is increasing or slowing down? Follow the money, folks.
- Is Fred Thompson going home soon? :-)
Monday, January 07, 2008
Musical Moments in Time
I went on a download frenzy on iTunes the other night, upon realizing that I was seriously lacking in my good 80's music collection. Of course, I have a lot of the so-bad-it's-good 80's bubble gum pop, but I was really missing out on things like The Police and Peter Gabriel. Luckily, it only took a few clicks to remedy the problem, and thanks to the power of recorded music, I found myself transported....
... courtesy of "Don't Stand So Close to Me"
Young teacher, the subject of schoolgirl fantasies
The instant I heard Sting singing the tale of forbidden love -- I was right back in halls of my good old high school, remembering one of the craziest things one of my friends ever did. It must have been senior year, and a friend of mine (really, this isn't me) had a HUGE crush on our econ teacher. It was kinda funny, cuz he was no Freddy Shoop type... he was just a kinda geeky, okay-looking, nice guy who liked joking around with us teenagers in class. And he taught econ, which was a cool subject for those of us that felt like we were ready to start making our way in the world. Anyway.... this friend who had a crush? You won't believe what she did! She made a "mix tape" - but not truly a mix, it was just one song repeating over and over and over... Yep, an entire cassette, 2 sides, of nothing but "Don't Stand So Close to Me." And she put it in an unmarked envelope in the teacher's mailbox in the office. The poor guy! Can you imagine receiving that??? He was very sheepish and subdued the whole rest of the year, probably scared out of his mind! Ah, the folly of high school girls.
... courtesy of "Solsbury Hill"
You can keep my things, they've come to take me home
The end of my sophomore year in college was a pretty rough one. It had been a very dramatic semester, probably the worst few months I've ever experienced. I had my one and only bout with real depression, and the family stuff was not good way back at home in NY. But, all of this manifested itself in a really melodramatic social scene, as my friends and I were all so angst-ridden. The world was against us, or something like that. But this really tight group of us did just about anything we could to break ties with other people and really isolate ourselves, of course fueled by our own feelings of superiority. And, as you might guess, by the end of that semester we had no one left to direct our angst at but ourselves... not my proudest moment. So, by the end of that spring semester, I was just SO tired of it all. I couldn't wait to get out of there, for summer to start and get a clean break. I would be leaving for a study abroad trip a few weeks later, with several of those friends in fact, but I just knew that I needed a break in order to become myself, and to become happy, again. I played good old "Solsbury Hill" over and over again as I packed up my single room (perk of being an RA) and waited for Mom to come get me. That song just stayed in my head the whole trip home, and no other song has ever come close to being such an accurate soundtrack for a moment in my life.
Isn't it amazing how music can stir up so many memories and emotions? I love it. It's well worth revisiting the past just to see how far you've come.... especially if your trip down memory lane has a good beat and you can dance to it!
... courtesy of "Don't Stand So Close to Me"
Young teacher, the subject of schoolgirl fantasies
The instant I heard Sting singing the tale of forbidden love -- I was right back in halls of my good old high school, remembering one of the craziest things one of my friends ever did. It must have been senior year, and a friend of mine (really, this isn't me) had a HUGE crush on our econ teacher. It was kinda funny, cuz he was no Freddy Shoop type... he was just a kinda geeky, okay-looking, nice guy who liked joking around with us teenagers in class. And he taught econ, which was a cool subject for those of us that felt like we were ready to start making our way in the world. Anyway.... this friend who had a crush? You won't believe what she did! She made a "mix tape" - but not truly a mix, it was just one song repeating over and over and over... Yep, an entire cassette, 2 sides, of nothing but "Don't Stand So Close to Me." And she put it in an unmarked envelope in the teacher's mailbox in the office. The poor guy! Can you imagine receiving that??? He was very sheepish and subdued the whole rest of the year, probably scared out of his mind! Ah, the folly of high school girls.
... courtesy of "Solsbury Hill"
You can keep my things, they've come to take me home
The end of my sophomore year in college was a pretty rough one. It had been a very dramatic semester, probably the worst few months I've ever experienced. I had my one and only bout with real depression, and the family stuff was not good way back at home in NY. But, all of this manifested itself in a really melodramatic social scene, as my friends and I were all so angst-ridden. The world was against us, or something like that. But this really tight group of us did just about anything we could to break ties with other people and really isolate ourselves, of course fueled by our own feelings of superiority. And, as you might guess, by the end of that semester we had no one left to direct our angst at but ourselves... not my proudest moment. So, by the end of that spring semester, I was just SO tired of it all. I couldn't wait to get out of there, for summer to start and get a clean break. I would be leaving for a study abroad trip a few weeks later, with several of those friends in fact, but I just knew that I needed a break in order to become myself, and to become happy, again. I played good old "Solsbury Hill" over and over again as I packed up my single room (perk of being an RA) and waited for Mom to come get me. That song just stayed in my head the whole trip home, and no other song has ever come close to being such an accurate soundtrack for a moment in my life.
Isn't it amazing how music can stir up so many memories and emotions? I love it. It's well worth revisiting the past just to see how far you've come.... especially if your trip down memory lane has a good beat and you can dance to it!
Saturday, January 05, 2008
A Must-See at Studio
I had such a great afternoon at Studio Theatre! Their newest show, The Brothers Size, is excellent - the best I've seen there since Take Me Out. (And not just because of the much-appreciated display of fine male specimens.... this is a very attractive, only half-clothed cast! ;-)
The play tells the story of two brothers, Ogun and Oshoosi, and Oshoosi's friend Elegba. Oshoosi and Elegba have been recently released from prison, and Ogun is the older brother who's always been the more dependable on, solving problems and getting his little brother out of trouble. There is a lot of tension between the three from their histories together, but also real friendship and affection; all of these emotions are on display as the brothers and the friend try to figure out how to interact with each other as they attempt to start a new chapter in life.
The Brothers Size is written by a young, up-and-coming playwright, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and he has done a great job of telling the story with both traditional scenes and "break the fourth wall" moments of spoken stage directions and context setting. The show includes a live percussionist, and the drumming is especially compelling, pulling the audience right in to the story. The 3 men of the cast are fantastic, each giving powerful but affecting performances and meeting the challenges of very physical roles, including some pretty impressive singing, dancing, and stomping.
My theatre buddy, Onyah, and I both walked in to the Theatre knowing very little about what we would be seeing, but we both walked just buzzing with how much we had enjoyed this show. It's definitely worth checking out!
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ADDENDUM: Turns out I'm not the only one who really likes this show! Peter Marks of the WaPo gave it a really great review. Check it!
The play tells the story of two brothers, Ogun and Oshoosi, and Oshoosi's friend Elegba. Oshoosi and Elegba have been recently released from prison, and Ogun is the older brother who's always been the more dependable on, solving problems and getting his little brother out of trouble. There is a lot of tension between the three from their histories together, but also real friendship and affection; all of these emotions are on display as the brothers and the friend try to figure out how to interact with each other as they attempt to start a new chapter in life.
The Brothers Size is written by a young, up-and-coming playwright, Tarell Alvin McCraney, and he has done a great job of telling the story with both traditional scenes and "break the fourth wall" moments of spoken stage directions and context setting. The show includes a live percussionist, and the drumming is especially compelling, pulling the audience right in to the story. The 3 men of the cast are fantastic, each giving powerful but affecting performances and meeting the challenges of very physical roles, including some pretty impressive singing, dancing, and stomping.
My theatre buddy, Onyah, and I both walked in to the Theatre knowing very little about what we would be seeing, but we both walked just buzzing with how much we had enjoyed this show. It's definitely worth checking out!
----------------------
ADDENDUM: Turns out I'm not the only one who really likes this show! Peter Marks of the WaPo gave it a really great review. Check it!
Friday, January 04, 2008
My Two Cents on Iowa
So, Obama won. Pretty big. He's not my favorite candidate, but I have to give him this.... If the reports I was hearing on CNN last night about huge voter turnout, especially among young people and first-time caucus-goers, hold true, then I think he and his machine deserve a lot of credit. It sounds like he was able to turn out the people that Dean couldn't (though I don't dismiss Dean's efforts - sometimes motivation takes a few years and a really bad Administration to build), and that makes things very interesting when you think in terms of what that might mean in a general election.
Hillary's still my gal, and I don't think Edwards will have the same edge in NH that he did in Iowa, but... we still have a long way to go to see who will be accepting that nomination this summer. If it's Obama, I'll support him completely - and hope that he might actually inspire a whole new generation to start showing up at the polls.
Hillary's still my gal, and I don't think Edwards will have the same edge in NH that he did in Iowa, but... we still have a long way to go to see who will be accepting that nomination this summer. If it's Obama, I'll support him completely - and hope that he might actually inspire a whole new generation to start showing up at the polls.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
'Twas the Night Before Caucus
For this 2008 election season, I'm launching a new regular feature on my blog.... we'll call it the Stef Poll. A totally unscientific survey of what the people I know are thinking about the Presidential race. Fun, right? Here goes....
I sent a survey out to 30 people I know of different backgrounds and political persuasions (I remember learning at some point that any study needs at least N=30 to be valid, or something like that. Yay grad school!).
I received 12 responses, which is a totally awesome response rate for direct mail but probably not enough to make this Stef poll more than just an evening's worth of fun. :-) Everyone who answered the optional question (11 out of 12) is a registered voter. My sample set includes 50% male and 50% female (cool!), by self-identification 6 Independents, 5 Democrats and 1 Libertarian (I was actually surprised at how many Independents I know), with the states of MD, VA, IN, NY, SC, and dear old DC represented.
And, the results:
1. Let's predict -- please name who you think will be the top 3 Democratic candidates in the Iowa caucus, in order from 1st to 3rd place.
Like everybody, we're all over the place here. With the top 3 in a statistical dead heat, according to most polls I've seen, it's anybody's game. Ultimately, I think that's good for the race, so the candidates still have to keep proving themselves and it's not the first caucus that sets the whole tone.
Our prediction? For first place, we have 42% Obama, 33% Edwards, and 25% Clinton. But, the majority of responses have either Obama or Clinton placing 1st or 2nd, with Edwards trending most likely to place 3rd. Only one response mentioned another candidate - Biden - placing 3rd, but it's worth noting that that respondent just spent the last several days actually in Iowa. Eeenteresting.
2. Same thing - who will be the top 3 Republican candidates in Iowa, in order?
Our predictions: 67% Huckabee, 25% Romney, 8% Giuliani for the win. Most of the people who picked Huckabee to win have Romney in 2nd place, but it's interesting that McCain (who didn't really campaign much in Iowa) makes a decent showing in our 2nd and 3rd place choices. It appears the AZ Senator is not out of the ballgame yet.
3. Let's move to NH - top 3 Dem candidates there?
Here we were a lot more unified - 92% Clinton and 8% Obama for first place. Most folks put Obama in 2nd, and three-quarters guessed Edwards for 3rd, but Biden and Dodd each got shout-outs for 3rd place, too. It seems we think Hillary has NH fairly locked up, but let's see what happens in the next week.
4. And top 3 Republicans?
NH appears to be a very different race than Iowa, as we put Romney at 50%, and McCain and Guiliani tied at 25% each for first place. The same 3 appear at about the same rate for 2nd place, with 3rd place being all over the map mostly between Huckabee, Thompson, Paul, and Giuliani. Who knows how this one will go... but I'll never forget that way back when Pat Buchanan won in New Hampshire. So this could be good to help narrow the race, but it will still be anybody's game.
5. Who will be the first Democratic candidate to drop out of the race post-Iowa?
Ah, finally, the narrowing of the field... we're calling it quits for Dodd at 58%, Kucinich at 17%, and Gravel, Biden, and Richardson at 8% each. Although personally, I think Kucinich is going to stay in as long as he's got any money at all just to prove his point. So that depends more on what's in the bank than on his success in these primaries....
6. Who will be the first Republican candidate to drop out post-Iowa?
Here we're counting down the days for "I don't really care" Thompson at 50%, followed by Huckabee and Paul at 17% each and Hunter and Cox at 8%. I do think these first 2 races are make-or-break for Huckabee... if he doesn't make strong showings in both, his days might be numbered.
7. Will Bloomberg run as an Independent?
Ah, the watched pot...67% polled say No. But this will continue to be the parlor game of the year, I guess, sorta like Gore and Hillary watching in 2004.
8. If you had to vote for any of the current Democratic candidates now, who would you vote for?
Here we have a clear winner - 75% for Clinton, 17% for Obama, and 8% for Richardson. This question and the next are different than the above, of course, cuz it's about who we would actually vote for, rather than who we think other people might vote for. There's something to that psychology I think, I just don't know what it is. :-)
9. If you had to vote for any of the current Republican candidates now, which one?
This one is a little more spread out -- with 42% going for McCain, 25% for Romney, and 17% each for Huckabee and Paul.
So, what does all this mean? Like most polls, probably nothing other than sparking some good conversations... but let's see how the Stef friends do over the next week in predicting this crazy horse race.... And finally, tomorrow, the first votes will be cast in this already too-darn-long running race. Onward!
I sent a survey out to 30 people I know of different backgrounds and political persuasions (I remember learning at some point that any study needs at least N=30 to be valid, or something like that. Yay grad school!).
I received 12 responses, which is a totally awesome response rate for direct mail but probably not enough to make this Stef poll more than just an evening's worth of fun. :-) Everyone who answered the optional question (11 out of 12) is a registered voter. My sample set includes 50% male and 50% female (cool!), by self-identification 6 Independents, 5 Democrats and 1 Libertarian (I was actually surprised at how many Independents I know), with the states of MD, VA, IN, NY, SC, and dear old DC represented.
And, the results:
1. Let's predict -- please name who you think will be the top 3 Democratic candidates in the Iowa caucus, in order from 1st to 3rd place.
Like everybody, we're all over the place here. With the top 3 in a statistical dead heat, according to most polls I've seen, it's anybody's game. Ultimately, I think that's good for the race, so the candidates still have to keep proving themselves and it's not the first caucus that sets the whole tone.
Our prediction? For first place, we have 42% Obama, 33% Edwards, and 25% Clinton. But, the majority of responses have either Obama or Clinton placing 1st or 2nd, with Edwards trending most likely to place 3rd. Only one response mentioned another candidate - Biden - placing 3rd, but it's worth noting that that respondent just spent the last several days actually in Iowa. Eeenteresting.
2. Same thing - who will be the top 3 Republican candidates in Iowa, in order?
Our predictions: 67% Huckabee, 25% Romney, 8% Giuliani for the win. Most of the people who picked Huckabee to win have Romney in 2nd place, but it's interesting that McCain (who didn't really campaign much in Iowa) makes a decent showing in our 2nd and 3rd place choices. It appears the AZ Senator is not out of the ballgame yet.
3. Let's move to NH - top 3 Dem candidates there?
Here we were a lot more unified - 92% Clinton and 8% Obama for first place. Most folks put Obama in 2nd, and three-quarters guessed Edwards for 3rd, but Biden and Dodd each got shout-outs for 3rd place, too. It seems we think Hillary has NH fairly locked up, but let's see what happens in the next week.
4. And top 3 Republicans?
NH appears to be a very different race than Iowa, as we put Romney at 50%, and McCain and Guiliani tied at 25% each for first place. The same 3 appear at about the same rate for 2nd place, with 3rd place being all over the map mostly between Huckabee, Thompson, Paul, and Giuliani. Who knows how this one will go... but I'll never forget that way back when Pat Buchanan won in New Hampshire. So this could be good to help narrow the race, but it will still be anybody's game.
5. Who will be the first Democratic candidate to drop out of the race post-Iowa?
Ah, finally, the narrowing of the field... we're calling it quits for Dodd at 58%, Kucinich at 17%, and Gravel, Biden, and Richardson at 8% each. Although personally, I think Kucinich is going to stay in as long as he's got any money at all just to prove his point. So that depends more on what's in the bank than on his success in these primaries....
6. Who will be the first Republican candidate to drop out post-Iowa?
Here we're counting down the days for "I don't really care" Thompson at 50%, followed by Huckabee and Paul at 17% each and Hunter and Cox at 8%. I do think these first 2 races are make-or-break for Huckabee... if he doesn't make strong showings in both, his days might be numbered.
7. Will Bloomberg run as an Independent?
Ah, the watched pot...67% polled say No. But this will continue to be the parlor game of the year, I guess, sorta like Gore and Hillary watching in 2004.
8. If you had to vote for any of the current Democratic candidates now, who would you vote for?
Here we have a clear winner - 75% for Clinton, 17% for Obama, and 8% for Richardson. This question and the next are different than the above, of course, cuz it's about who we would actually vote for, rather than who we think other people might vote for. There's something to that psychology I think, I just don't know what it is. :-)
9. If you had to vote for any of the current Republican candidates now, which one?
This one is a little more spread out -- with 42% going for McCain, 25% for Romney, and 17% each for Huckabee and Paul.
So, what does all this mean? Like most polls, probably nothing other than sparking some good conversations... but let's see how the Stef friends do over the next week in predicting this crazy horse race.... And finally, tomorrow, the first votes will be cast in this already too-darn-long running race. Onward!
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Eight is Enough
Happy New Year!
I believe I'm ushering in this new year with a bit of a cold, so I totally slept through the excitement last night and I'm taking it really easy today. But I've still got enough energy to put pen to paper (metaphorically) and share my resolutions. Something about telling them to other people makes you more committed, right????
In no particular order, my goals for 2008:
1. Start building my savings for those "someday" goals - like vacations, a car, eventually my own place
2. Find a little better balance to the whole "work to live don't live to work" equation, taking more time to pursue my own interests
3. Get involved in the 2008 campaign, once the dust settles from the primaries
4. Step it up with my On the Wwwagon plan (yep, the usual diet and exercise, with a real emphasis on remembering to stretch my creaky old muscles)
5. Organize and upgrade my apartment, with new and improved furniture (thank you Santa!)
6. Drive a car sometime this year. Anxiety be damned!
7. Make a serious dent in my personal library -- READ more and more of the books I already have on my shelves
8. Have more fun in the kitchen, experimenting with easy, healthy meals with colorful, organic ingredients
Well, that sounds like enough to keep me busy! Good luck on all of your own resolutions, and have a super-fantastic 2008!
I believe I'm ushering in this new year with a bit of a cold, so I totally slept through the excitement last night and I'm taking it really easy today. But I've still got enough energy to put pen to paper (metaphorically) and share my resolutions. Something about telling them to other people makes you more committed, right????
In no particular order, my goals for 2008:
1. Start building my savings for those "someday" goals - like vacations, a car, eventually my own place
2. Find a little better balance to the whole "work to live don't live to work" equation, taking more time to pursue my own interests
3. Get involved in the 2008 campaign, once the dust settles from the primaries
4. Step it up with my On the Wwwagon plan (yep, the usual diet and exercise, with a real emphasis on remembering to stretch my creaky old muscles)
5. Organize and upgrade my apartment, with new and improved furniture (thank you Santa!)
6. Drive a car sometime this year. Anxiety be damned!
7. Make a serious dent in my personal library -- READ more and more of the books I already have on my shelves
8. Have more fun in the kitchen, experimenting with easy, healthy meals with colorful, organic ingredients
Well, that sounds like enough to keep me busy! Good luck on all of your own resolutions, and have a super-fantastic 2008!
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