Satire 2/20/10 English Assignment

Satire and It’s Affects on a Changing Society
Satire is a form of witty social commentary which communicates ideas through humor and comics. Whether it is political cartoons found in the weekly newspaper or a weekly comedy skit show, satire exists as a major medium of the circulation of ideas. Some of the biggest examples of satire in our society are Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, The Simpson’s and newspaper political cartoons. Using humor may be the most effective way today to get people to listen and think. In many ways political satire is the dominant form, but social is out there as well based on the contrasting moral values we face everyday. Contrasting issues of abortion and stem cell research fight back and forth between political parties and people. People become so passionate about a topic they feel is morally wrong that they form groups that put out biased advertising which may be ironic or funny, thus satire is created. Writers especially of TV shows and movies use this to kind of secretly advocate their ideas to audiences all over the world.
In Avatar now a world wide billion dollar grossing movie there are green party ultra democratic ideas that take place in various parts of the plot. Often times we the audience have to laugh at the over the top army officer, who brandishes his scars and his ignorance like a medal war of honor. A TV show like Saturday Night Live which often puts out comedy skits hurting both parties, may have led to the downfall of the republicans in the last election. Had they not have portrayed Sarah Palin former runner for vice president as a redneck dimwitted person, the respect not have gone down and decreased votes. Satirical pop culture is too influential to be ignored. Some even say Pop culture picked the president. Another show which brings irony and humor to society is Family Guy, an animated show which shows the true ugly ignorance of the human race and how sometimes religion is blindly followed. This medium of entertainment has a major impact on society, as it points out the hypocrisies in government and society.

Misjudgements 2/19/10

Being the opionated person that I am and being the age that i am I dont or didnt believe in misjudgements. I could call someone for what they are a mile away without even saying a word to them. This has been the week of contradiction.

First: Normally to even look upon Lindsay Taylor's face brought disgust to me. Taylor began talking to her and I will admit, I am still to this day jealous. I cant talk to her about band after all and Lindsay became her friend quick. I didnt mind until she left her crushed last summer. I will NEVER forget some of the things she told me and how I could feel the sadness in her words. Recently they reconciled, but I never did. I couldnt bring myself to do it. I am not one to forgive easy. However drivers ed poses a new challenge, I sit right across from her. Maybe I was semi-wrong. She still has emense powers of evil dont get me wrong (though doesnt everyone) but she is nothing but kind to me. Strike one on the misjudgment score for me.

Second: Those who inhabit Old Mill know Mrs. Neville. People groan sometimes even aloud when approaching her desk for attendence in the main office. She is mega-anal for one thing and is always rude. Not the best of people. When I went to the MVA on thursday, I arrived to school and prepared to face the beast early on. Upon reading that I was at the MVA based on the note penned by my grandmother, she remarked that it was in fact not an excused absensce. Based on the knowledge that the MVA could be visited after school hours. I told her that I had drivers ed after school so couldnt it be excused? The annoyance in my voice getting higher by the second. With a surprisingly sweet voice she said ok, lets just call this an appointment smiling through her horn rimmed glasses. I managed to stutter an ok and took my pass. Strike two on the misjudgement score for me.

Third: Every week when I get Entertainment weekly on Fridays I devour it cover to cover. One of the highlights is a pop culture article done either by Stephen King, Diablo Cody or Mark Harris. Normally seeing an article by Mark Harris I skip it without even giving it a second glance. By some works of fate my grandfather pointed out this specific article that I just had to read. On of the worst movies in the best movie category would be in my opinion the Blind Side. It was so traditional and feel good. Dark depressing is where its at. Though most of the time I dont have the words to express my disgust without sounding politically ignorant. It is a republican movie though. Now reading this article, It was like the stars alligned. Ok thats a little cheesy but still. Anyways he saw the movie two times, then read the book and found obvious discrepencies. He deserves to be nighted, thats how good his article was. Strike three on the misjudgement score for me.

My mother is always going on by that spiritual jazz, including how I am quick to judge. I hate to see it but she is right. Fate has given me so many signs. I dont say that often either. :)

Dream Journal: 2/18/10

Last night I dreamed truly the weirdest dream ever. Tommy, Chris and I were at a sort of swanky beach hotel. It had at least 10 floors, a glass elevator and a cheap gift shop on each floor. However my room resided on a desolate beach. I don’t remember having any basic kind or living structure. I had mountains of books, magazines and my black laptop. Did I mention I was kind of a hard core serial killer. On this beach home I had actually buried countless amounts of my kill. One other thing I remember is walking into a black room probably located in the surrounding town or a level of the beach hotel. It was sort of like a planetarium, very mystical and there were star lights shining from above. There were a series of people, whom I can’t recall a recognizable face. They had this supernatural power that allowed them to be able to hold a small object, focus on it and then their mind disappeared to the surface of that object. One of them was attempting to teach me with a small purple sparkly stone. I truly believed I could not do it. However several people began giving me various methods that were truly effective. First step was to focus on the object with all available mind power, second was to feel the object and memorize it. After that it would feel as if you had opened your eyes and were standing on that little objects world. Following my many failed attempts, I finally opened my eyes to a world swirling in magma and vibrant purple. In the middle there was a narrow light purple tunnel. Upon crawling into the tunnel I saw a small critter scurry away from me just beyond my reach. The center of the tunnel was even weirder. I heard a deep voice claiming that those very critters were some form of gremlins. I don’t remember the official name. Flash to an entirely different part of the dream. I was found out! The police were tailing me. I would only find out how they had found out nearing the end of my dream. Anyways I ran to the glass elevator and pressed 10. Slowly I went up seeing the sights around me and the people who climbed in with me, unknowing of who I was. At level 8 I couldn’t take the people anymore and I was starving. I casually walked to the nearest gift shop and stole a jelly roll, without even removing the wrapper I took a bite feeling the jelly ooze down my chin. When I saw the police lieutenant who liked the Latina one from Dexter, I grabbed another jelly roll and ran to the elevator. Cut to my beach for the rest of that segment of the dream is really foggy. However the tide was beginning to climb dangerously high on my exclusive beach. Tommy was there and he was trying really hard to help me relocate my various things. We were moving them up on a bank right above a hill covered with palm trees. I picked up my laptop and tried to lug it up the hill. It was near impossible with the cover up so I put it down to close it. Water soaked it and the screen went a sickly black. Cut to big piles of various books Chris took the back cover off my laptop and observed that it was dead forever. I was devastated. On the bank Tommy was flitting through the water on the bank and stumbled upon one of my beach graves. The grisly gray flesh could even be seen from where Chris and I stood. I remember the thoughts that were crossing my head even. I am not a true killer…. how do I get out of this? Suddenly all of the id cards of my victim appeared before my eyes and for some odd reason they were all pokemon. The causes of death appeared to be murder. I really couldn’t remember killing them and that was my game plan for the trial. I walked into Tommy and Chris’s room which looked like Tommy’s Chinese room and said I’m sorry guys. They both smiled at me. Suddenly I had the realization that I wasn’t a killer. The dream goes black and I wake up.

English Tone Assignment 2/17/10

This was written yesterday but there was a complication in the internet connection.

Going to the Movies:

The plush red velvet surrounds a small walk space for those in the ticket line. Through the glass of the ticket booth, all of the movies and showtimes flash in red writing. Beneath the counters where the workers sit some kind of a ticket machine is turning its wheels and gears, eventually producing little paper tickets. I prefer to think its magic. When I spend one whole week without seeing a movie, whether it is at home or the cinema I lose my mind. However there is something so amazing about sitting in the plush seats with the faint smell of popcorn and watching a movie. Sure the underside of some seats may be colored in mulit-colored gum chunks or littered with food wrappers but every experience is guarnteed at least original. Unless of course you go to see a movie several times, when the story just cant leave your head. I enjoy the sheer message and spontaneity of movies. Movies are the one thing everyone can discuss, it unites a people and for future generations film will show how culture was today. Also it exists as the recession proof and heavily expanding giant of our time. After purchasing tickets, sometimes with minutes to spare the snack line is another indulgence in its own.
Concession stands may be the last remaining food carriers (along with fast food) that serves nothing but greasy food. However no one can say the overly-buttered melt in your mouth and arteries popcorn isnt the best guilty pleasure next to McDonald's fries. Even the less than attractive containers endorsing the tonight show for Jay Leno never fail to make me laugh. Along with popcorn the movie theater concession stand offers the always stale pretzel and candy in a box not big enough to fill a half of a person. For the prices, the food is cheap but deliciously guilty fun to enjoy during the movie.
Lights dim out and the theater is still lit with thousands of cell phones in the process of being turned off. Green light emerses the room with a message about the previews to presume. Seeing as many movies as I regularly do, I play the preview guessing game. Within the first second of some I can name the title and main actor/actress. My knowledge is perhaps best with movie trivia just dont ask me to chemically balance a formula. After fifteen movies of the same previews I saw last week for a different movie the opening credits begin to roll. For the next couple of hours only my brain is in the works. To say I leave my body is an understatement, I become emersed in the fictional world created by the video camera. Which proves how far special effects have truly come. Under no circumstances do I like racous talking, seat pushers and obnoxious texters then again who does? Being a movie going veteran there is a grace to the whole act. I embrace the peculiarities (pink panther 2) to say that the true art of the movie experience includes overly priced cheap food, ticket machine magic and the possibility of a good movie here and there.

Disecting the Oscars: Best Director 2/16/10

Disecting the Oscars is a regular blog post I will be doing that focuses specifically on one category of the big awards night. Tonight I am featuring the director elite, on who I want to win and the reasons that these people made the cut. Enjoy!

James Cameron Director of Avatar: If there is one person who knows the art of filmaking it would have to be Cameron. His films (others include Titanic) delve into human connection, love, and secret hippyness. This nomination was deserving, the billion dollar world movie gross of Avatar is proof of that. However my opinion remains that more technology and cgi were in this movie than there was any directing. Except for when he had to be behind the camera filming actors/actresses prancing around in front of green screen. I am not denying the fact that this man slaved over this movie. He even created the high tech cameras necessary himself. Its true Avatar is a work of art, a dream come true movie straight from Hollywood, but directing is way different behind a camera than behind a computer.

Kathryn Bigelow Director of The Hurt Locker: Watching a movie is supposed to transport the viewer to a whole other world. The Hurt Locker was shot in a gritty in your face style in such a way where you could feel the hot desert sun and wild debris from road side bombs. It was real and with a movie making only 12.7 million its obvious that Bigelow made a big impression on the academy. In the same category as Avatar this movie is the underdog. What I enjoyed about it was that it wasnt your typical war movie, because I dont typically like war movies. By incorporating shots of a soldier at home confronted with a aisle full of cereal, the movies social commentary spoke a message loud and clear. For this particular soldier, all he knew was dismantling bombs perhaps the most dangerous job in the world. As a matter of fact he was more afraid of life at home than life in the heat of Iraq. That is why she should win this award, and it also may be a little of the fact that she is only the fourth woman to be nominated. :) go director ladies!

Quentin Tarantino Director of Inglourious Basterds: I may be the biggest female tarantino fan there is. I pride myself when I can put quotes from his movies in everyday speech even when no one around me gets it. I love the violence, I love the music, I love the actors, I love the writing. Which is why I figured I might be just a tad biased as far as this category went but I had to go with Kathryn Bigelow. However his directing style an exploitation of human emotion through dramatic and over the top lines of bad-ass character speak to so many people. Just not the academy, I am sure he wont win. It sucks because one day for one movie he needs a win. I mean who was more deserving of the best director award when he was nominated for Pulp Fiction? You heard it here the academy people are Tarantinoist. (A combo of tarantino and racist lol) His movies arent artsy and indie, perhaps they never will be. When Lt. Aldo Raine stepped up to the basterds proclaiming his desire to scalp every nazi he came across, I was sold.

Lee Daniels Director of Precious: The directing in that movie was something of beauty which seems unlikely under the horrible plot circumstances. However the contrasting red scarf under the bridge blowing in the wind on the dreary light post was a symbol I couldnt get out of my head. As a matter of fact I couldnt get most of the movie out of my head. Its something that sticks with you. When Precious is getting raped by her father for a second time the camera shows maybe a little too much of the fathers sweaty stomach but quickly sweeps away into the cracks of the ceiling. We see that Precious's mind is somewhere else, she is a superstar all glammed up and people love her. Those were the saddest moments of the movie because you wanted to go to that girl and give her everything her heart desired. The dreary slum she lived in, the darkness of her house and then the beauty of her dreams were something of directing genius.

Jason Reitman Director of Up in the Air: The shots of a movie determine the theme or underlying message. Its what I personally love about movies. Up in the Air showed a man Ryan Bingham who was in the business of loneliness. When the camera showed him moving with grace through the airport (a typically dreary wait-filled place) it is shown how often in his life it is that this man dances the boring ballet. In one scene Bingham looks down through those awful oval windows of the plane and looks upon the detailess spots of habitation. Which creates the sense with later scenes of him acting distant with people he knows, that he is constantly up in the air in an airplane while even on land. Loneliness and work exile in the most extreme form show the true loneliness behind it all. Showing the necessity for human connection even if it means not actually traveling. After all a picture really can do the trick. I really do wish Jason Reitman would win an award for best director because you can tell he really wants to and he directed Juno. Unfortunately it is not his year. :( The two front-runners remain Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron.

School's Out Blues 2/15/10

Since we now have tomorrow off, I have finally decided now is the time to write on the dilemma of long unexpected breaks. I am alone as many are with deep thoughts. I hate deep thinking because I dislike where my mind takes me. So the activities I throw at myself are quite amusing if not pathetic. Last night as you know if you read my last blog post that I trashed some loserish v day flowers with glitter like a five year old. Checking Twitter has become something of a habitual obsession. Checking it hundreds of times a day and then acting frustrated when nothing has been posted is a representation of how boredom turns all of us into desperate people. I do go to see movies on a regular basis with my grandparents, which is the only time I see the sunlight and even that is breif as I trudge into the dark theater. Communication is by text and text alone, otherwise I may have totally fallen out of my friends minds.

Loneliness is a dangerous thing, soon all of the music on my ipod started to sound the same and my family began to take devilish form right before my eyes. I was going stark-raving mad. Everyone responds to it differently of course. Oh yes, at first it was a great relaxing break. That wore off by tuesday of last week. Ever since Ive been playing the same videogames everyday just so I wont habitually check twitter. My regular healthy diet, has officially flown out the window as I now eat around six irregular meals a day. The weirdest phenomenon is that my sleep schedule is....normal. Those who know me, know that I go to bed late and wake up even later. Bedtime is a word I never would have used during a school break time however at this point in writing I am very tired and it is only 10:50!!!!

Being snowed in didnt affect my schedule at all I didnt have anywhere to go. However just the idea that I cant go somewhere, that I am restricted makes me crazy. Call me a free spirit! Whats worse, CSI hasnt graced my television and wont until MARCH! I have resorted to drastic measures by rewatching at least a dozen episodes seen a thousand times each. I am now not afraid to admit that I miss school, this endless snow is ridonkulous. Being cooped up for so long surrounded by a winter wonderland has done a number on my psyche. I am about to sacrifice certain members of my family (No one anyone reading this knows personally) just to make the 8ft chillyness go away! Im sure a certain number of my friends hate this break as I do by now. Oh well.....time to check Twitter.

Defacing Valentine's Day 2/14/10

A pink array of roses is thrown at me with a chuckle while I peacefully sleep. A few minutes pass because as I glance at the clock, I have only been sleeping for five hours it is 9 am. Sleep is such a rarity at my dads house. Most of the night, my child-like rage fuels the most ridiculous writings. While I flip from movie channel to movie channel. On the list last night.....Fatal Attraction, Zoolander, Scream and Watchmen. The temperature had risen dramatically in my room because of a small space heater, things just cant ever go right. Events from last night fill my head as I sit up taking in my surroundings. A significantly smaller room, with pasty walls and hard board floor. A White (except for small crayon marks) blanket engulfs barely half of my body. I brush a greasy hair off of my forehead with disgust, for I remember showering last night.

Upon stretching, my legs grazed a rather crinkly paper. I looked down and there they were, pink cheap valentines day flowers. Attached was a card which I read with something less than zeal. Enclosed was a small amount of writing detailing how though I was hard on my father it was for his own good. The writing was ended with an I love you. Little substance, little feeling. Now I wasnt expecting a big gift, quite the opposite. This is the norm, cheap flowers. I dont even like pink, which they were so sickenly colored. I threw them against the wall in another fit of kid rage, so typical of me. Wiping away tears I got up, I couldnt breathe in my room I needed some comfort food. Lucky for me the new gal pal of my dads made some gooey blueberry muffins. While I devoured my hot fruity pastry I thought about my dilemma. What to do with the horrid Valentines Day flowers?

My first 10 thoughts involved fire, and I quickly pushed past them fully embracing how silly I get when angry. Then it hit me later in the day during craft hour with my new stepsisterish kid Skyler, why not turn my puke inducing pink flowers into someting of beauty. I know what your thinking, flowers are already the most beautiful creations on the planet. Perhaps so but if someone who you comfortably dislike gives them to you, its a different story. So I write now after picking flowers apart, smashing them with glitter, glueing them to poster board and whatever else I might want to do. I have successfully turned my hatred into art, and along the way have defaced the pure perfect pink flowers characteristic of Valentine's Day.

My Oscar Ballot 2/13/10

Best Picture:
Avatar

Best Actor:
Jeff Bridges Crazy Heart

Best Supporting Actor:
Christoph Waltz Inglourious Basterds

Best Actress:
Gabourey Sidibe Precious

Best Supporting Actress:
Mo'Nique Precious

Best Director:
Kathryn Bigelow The Hurt Locker

Best Documentary Feature:
Food Inc.

Best Documentary Short:
The Last Truck, Closing of GM Plant

Best Animated Feature:
UP

Best Foreign Language Film:
The White Ribbon Germany

Best Original Screenplay:
Quentin Tarantino Inglourious Basterds

Best Adapted Screenplay:
Geoffrey Fletcher Precious

Cinematography:
Inglourious Basterds

Best Art Direction:
Avatar

Best Animated Short Film:
A Matter of Loaf and Death

Best Live Action Short Film:
Miracle Fish

Best Visual Effects:
Avatar

Best Costume Design:
Bright Star

Film Editing:
The Hurt Locker

Sound Mixing:
Inglourious Basterds

Sound Editing:
Avatar

Original Score:
Up

Original Song:
"The Weary Kind" Crazy Heart

Best Make-up:
Star Trek

The Last Station 2/12/10

The Last Station was an intimate view of the later life of Leo Tolstoy and love. As it so happens along with being a writer Leo Tolstoy was also a social reformer. The Tolstoyan movement was created in order to devotely follow his works. These people did truly think the writer as Christ. In his white robes and unkept beard the man appeared saint-like. The truth being the saint stigma was something he didnt like himself. People were even crying when he would speak to them directly. Thus showing how people especially Tolstoyan's misinterpret the message Tolstoy was trying to portray. While he didnt officially approve of sexual relations he would fill James McAvoy's (his private secratary) ears with stories of past physical lovers. It would appear that the extremes portrayed by Checkoff (Paul Giamatti) a devote Tolstoyan were un-characteristic of Leo Tolstoy himself. The movie boasts the ultimate message of love and blindly following ideas that go against the social norm.
Helen Mirren who played the countess wife of Leo Tolstoy, was brilliant. She embodied the woman who becomes increasingly lonely in later life and wishes only to be unconditionally loved. Something that Tolstoy can not give her. Which seems to be the reason she surrounds herself with material things, another thing (private property) that Tolstoy speaks out against. We see this become the main conflict, he wishes to re-create a will (perhaps excluding the countess) and to give away their fortunes. This is how Tolstoy goes through the final days of his life, fighting with the countess over matters of their money and failed marriage. Though not actually failed, as he always proclaims his love for her admist her ranting screaming fits. Love knows no bounds, not even when your wife smashes dinner plates or shoots a picture of a close friend. This is truly remarkable because The Countess did not make it easy to be loved, as she smashed through a window upon discovering a supposed plot against her.
All the while Valentin played by James McAvoy, begins to doubt the extremity behind Tolstoy's words. With a secret love Marsha (Kerry Condon) the celibacy issue goes out the window. Plus we see behind the beautiful blue eyes that he feels a sympathy no other Tolstoyan does for the Countess. Overall he is a man persuaded into a world of hypocracy and god-like ideals. Though he loves Tolstoy to the end, his teachings dont bear much weight with the young boy. Unlike the people who scribble down every word he says and Checkoff who is willing to do whatever it takes to separate Tolstoy from the countess. At the last station after Tolstoy has run to this location he is dying. The earliest forms of paparazzi sleep in tents outside a small bedroom at the station with cameras that require winding to work. A legend is dying, just as Micheal Jackson died last year Leo Tolstoy was a big celebrity to the people. As he finally gets to see Sofya the countess he dies in peace at the last station of his life. A crowd of people cry outside cry in immense sorrow for the writer who spoke to them. Love can withstand many mental breakdowns. Blindly following the words of a writer is different from understanding and respecting. Live for oneself and follow the words of the heart.

The New Playlist 2/11/10

I am completely in love with my new music! Its a collection of old and new rock music.

Including:

Jimi Hendrix
Joan Jett
The Runaway's
Kiss
Motley Crue
Blue Oyster Cult
Rush
The White Stripes

So as I jam to new rock music, AP Euro seems not so bad now. After all I dont give a damn about my reputation (Joan Jett). My reputation of procrastination that is. Well I really do but there isnt much left to do on my agenda haha.

An Education 2/10/10

Education remains one of the most important things anybody can do to make a name for themself. Yet it remains the single most stressful aspect of any teens life....if they truly care. Whats more is parents think that if their child does well in school it is a direct representation of them. So in the family portrayed in this movie we see parents who figure a smart girl with a good education can make the right judgements. Jenny is tired of being the perfect school girl and feels suffocated in her 60's suburban lifestyle. A father who only cares about when she brings home good grades and a mom standing by her father through everything doesnt make for a good upbringing. Which is why when she meets David a socialite who can provide her with the fantasy lifestyle she is brought under his spell. With the help of two other shady characters Danny and his mistress Helen, David can afford to take Jenny to jazz clubs and even to Paris. Turns out the lifestyle which seems like a dream to the young girl is funded by stealing artwork and moving black people into old people neighborhoods in order to buy flats cheap. At first, realization shocks her but being so crowded into a suburban straight A lifestyle keeps her from going back. Eventually she ends up sleeping with David and we see that this man has charmed and seduced jenny with promises of things and not with love. No one has obviously ever taught her of love though, instead marriage is brought up by her dad as a business proposal. This love affair between Jenny and David who is significantly older than her reaches a point of no return when he proposes to her without a ring but with desperation in his eyes. Most surprising is not that jenny says yes but that her parents encourage it even further. It isnt until she finds a mysterious group of letters in his dashboard that she knows the truth, David is married in a townhouse just around the corner of her neighborhood. This dashes every dream she has ever had....their chance encounters could be explained by close living arrangements and she had recently left school to be married. Now it seems as if she has nothing, she feels like a woman but is she really? Her dad seems almost as unhappy as she is, as if he knows that being a good father doesnt just mean encouraging perfect grades. An Education is a coming of age story that explains the importance of studies as opposed to depending on a man to make your dreams come true. When we hear that Jenny has gotten into Oxford pursueing her dream of reading english seems to be the best thing in her life and there is no doubt on her happiness. Being exposed to the real world at her age and in such a terrible way doesnt seem to bring her down in the end, but teach her a lesson that school will never teach.

The Laws of Attraction

Im tired of teenage girls falling over themselves for guys like Robert Pattinson or Taylor Lautner it gives guys the wrong idea. So these said men, upon thinking they look like a teen heart throb flaunt themselves without shame. What happened to the distinguished cute image of the geek or a gentleman maybe? Girls my age just tend to like guys who like themselves more than they like anyone else. While I will admit Zac Effron is good looking, he so isnt my type.

My List:
Stanley Tucci in Julia and Julie
Brad Pitt (Only in Inglourious Basterds)
Black Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)
White Robert Downey Jr. (Any Movie)
Martin Scorcese
David Hodges CSI
Henry Andrews CSI
Quentin Tarantino
Stephen King
Dr. House
Chase (House)
James McAvoy
Paul Giamatti
Jeff Bridges (Crazy Heart)
The New Spock
Dexter (The Serial Killer)
1960's Captain Kirk
Ben Stiller (Tropic Thunder)
Inigo Montoya (Princess Bride)
Woody Harrelson
John Cusack

Teen Heart Throbs:

Robert Pattinson (Who never showers.)
Justin Bieber (Whos only like 12)
Taylor Lautner
Zac Effron

My Reasoning:

Drama queen and lack of hygiene have never been so in right now. I dont get it. Bad Boys are what their name says they are bad. Geeks are overlooked every year. I guess my taste in guys is as refined as my taste in movies. For example Crazy Heart was one of the best movies this year....none of my friends knew about it. Oh well I just wish these guys graced posters and magazine covers every once in a while.

The Superbowl 2/8/10

With my excessive homework at my side I trekked to the downstairs for some Superbowl famous commercials. That was the plan, to accomplish some AP Euro homework while the game was on and turn my attention to the TV only when the ads were on.

What I found instead was a weird interest. I felt almost like one of the guys. I even found myself exclaiming when the Saints scored. Normally I hate football, I could care less on the outcome of a game. However this time was different. Now during the regular ravens season I have tried my share of times to watch football and have never really made it through one game. Could it be the magnitude of the whole Superbowl that drew me in because a secret football passion doesnt seem likely.

The determination of the two teams could be felt through the TV screen. For them winning is their life. Like Rihanna and Jay-Z's song intro said "They are addicted to the thrill". While all this was going on it should be noted that I only finished about 2 pages of notes....a record low for four hours. When an interception was caught and the player was running freely down the field a surge of excitement coursed through my veins. Thrill was an understatement for the game. This kind of phenomenon can not be explained by a simple lure to the lights of the boob tube as I thought earlier.

Sports bring people together....you dont have to be a certain age or gender to enjoy them. Mostly it is seen as a mens sport and I totally get that. The objectified mega hot cheerleaders and beer commercials were enough proof of that. Plus I had no idea what play was what and all of those special little technical rules. Like back in the days of the Gladiator Colluseum fights, people love some good cheap entertainment. It takes us back to the days of uncivilization and allows people to be wild. You can't tell me that the painted fans in the stands arent acting uncivilized. However it is accepted....nay expected with football. Even if you dont get all of the technical stuff like the die hard fans you can still cheer when that small object goes into the yellow goal thingy.

Zombieland 2/7/10

The zombie flick should be a genre of its own. Unique humor, and unique killing technique have thrilled audiences ever since the George Romero days. Recently though with overplayed stereotypical zombie plots, the genre was in trouble. Turns out all it needed was a whiny rule oriented teenager. Played by Jesse Eisenberg, this teen has managed to survive the zombie attack based on rules which include. Stay out of Bathrooms and Double Tap. On his way to Columbus Ohio his car breaks down and he meets Tallahasee. Who happens to be a rule-breaking wise cracking killing machine. The exact opposite of Columbus. No those arent there real names, nearly everyone in the movie has names based off their location. Goal being Trust No one. Turns out Talahassee is on the search for Twinkies. So their first stop after they agree to ride together is to stop at a grocery store. Here they are tricked into a hostage situation by teenager Wichita and Little Rock a little girl pretending to be bitten. With their pride and their car stolen Columbus and Talahassee trek through the zombie filled landscape. Until they come upon a bright yellow environment destroying H2 loaded with guns. It is here that Talahasse hilariously says "Thank god for rednecks!" In their new H2 and heading East they meet the two devious girls for a second time......and fall victim yet again. Eventually they agree to stick together and assist them to the Pacific Playland. Along the way they not only destroy a souvenir shop in rock ballet style but they crash as Bill Murray's mansion. Best suprise celebrity cameo in a movie of 2009. Until Columbus secretly kills him during a prank of course. Later Wichita leaves with Little Rock to get to the Pacific Playland upon feeling she has gotten too connected to Columbus. Once they draw the zombie horde with millions of lights.....its Talahasee and Columbus to the rescue. Thus ending the movie on a good note, they are all going to stick it out during the time of trouble and at last Talahasee found his snack. The zombie genre has never been so darkly comical and splashingly bloody.

Character Biopic-The Math Teacher 02/6/10

For those math-heads its hard to understand what makes them so math oriented....when one day I finally think I figured it out. Math is all about order, plug anything into a formula and an answer is provided. These math teacher elite crave order and pattern when there own lives offer so little.

Watching Mrs. Lehrter teach is fascinating. Brandishing her chalk as if it holds the secrets to the universe, she quickly scratches problem after problem on the board. Which is probably the reason she wears a perpetual cast for her athritis. So she moves as fast as she can about the room her mulitcolored shawls always blowing in the math breeze. Shouting problems and questions at us left and right, never faltering to wake up a snoozing kid. Math teaching suddenly becomes an Olympic Sport, well with as much activity as athritis will let her. The order of math excites her.

Her very life is devoted to math. One can only wonder however, what is the home life like of a teacher? Plus not only a teacher but a math teacher....the most awkward and hated of all. Well I take the guess that in fact the almost high power trip she receives from teaching was built on a life where she doesnt have much power. Several times she has made reference to her ex-marine husband with a temper...sure it may have been breif but it was enough times to make me wonder how much words does she ever get in edge wise? Probably little to none. So when she is given a classroom and chalk the authoritarian government ensues. Students are easy to control, a litte threat of an office stint here and there normally shuts up IB kids. When they shut-up or are forced to stand for a minute when caught snoozing, a smile comes breifly over her face. The victory and power of being in charge has definately gotten to her head. Its almost as if she likes yelling at students more than she likes even math. However it is good to keep in the mind the life she has lived under the temper of her strict husband. So the next time she asks a question and squints searching the room as if she can see our brains frying out of our heads....I will try to answer. Not even my semi pity for her can make me write a problem on the board though!

Internal Combustion 02/5/10

Woohoo! first article!!! Every Friday the day after CSI, my very own CSI review will be the article because I'm still trying to perfect the review style post. 1 down 59 to go.

CSI was full of exhaustingly bright racing cars and dead teenagers. The racing scenes show how sometimes teens are the most disastrous muscle heads in the world.

The Case: When a senior Trevor Beck at the local highschool drops dead while in the hallway, the death leads to an uncovering of illegal racing. In the beginning Doc Robbins performs the autopsy even before we get to see the way the victim. Based on the results he found after cracking the victim's skull an enlarged brain showed signs of head trauma. This rich good looking kid had a car, cranked with an electric motor and shiny enough to be a mirror. Then all of the big racing youth came into light incuding Miyamoto (sounds like a computer) was one of the prime suspects, who was royally pissed that his girl was keeping Trevor's passenger seat warm. This cheerleader, Cindy had not been seen since his mysterious colapse death. Then out of nowhere she appears tangled on a lone tree in the desert. Her legs hideously broken because of a recent high speed car collision. Then it was the hunt for the unknown yellow paint that had seemingly scrapped the victims car. This led the CSI's to Miyamoto again as the guy who lost his girl and his dignity to Trevor. However it was then discovered that Renita (best friend to Cindy) had convinced her best friend to steal Trevor's car and meet her out in the desert. Renota's car was a smoking red and yellow flame racer mobile. Recently on the racing schedule it was shown that Trevor a first time racer had beaten Renota at her and her guardian Gus's own game. Later when challenged to a car rematch the guardian had been driving the car that had killed Renota and Trevor only died from a measly case of whiplash.

The Characters: Ray langston had very limited screentime in this particular episode. However there was definately more Greg and even some Archie! With the two dead teens there almost seemed to be two cases. Greg had a clever little anecdote involving Papa Olaf the notorious relative of his involving him at age twelve and a flashy red car. Nick mainly was being serious in this episode and didnt even take to his story :(. Makes me wonder if something is going on with him. Sara defended nature to Nick in a really cute nearly hippie way. This episode was just a really big car episode with some character interaction sprinkled in. There was even some breif barely flirting Wedges moments. While investigating the flamey car, Wendy defended the secret wonderfulness of high school girls to Hodges. Apparently he chats to twilight fans online?! Which is funny because it shut him up right away...I hate to say it but Girl's Rule. Archie was his suave cool self (which is awesome because when was the last time we saw him?). He even made a dig at Hodges claiming he has the gift of looking busy when he isnt actually at all. Very funny lab rat banter. Finally during the ending sequence Catherine and Nick had a cute little race in the LVPD parking garage. Very funny CSI banter. Overall Character interaction was only seen in breif little snippets in this episode.

Favorite Parts of the Episode:

Beginning Sequence: Definately different. A narration of the injuries while the victim appears still walking to the audience.

Brain Swelling: Gross to the max.Greg's Story: For a twelve year old he was a very good driver.

Car shots: Very neat to look at even though I'm not a gear head.

Wedges: Very cute and Go Wendy for putting Hodges in his place.

Miyamoto: Best. Name. Ever.

Cheerleader's Broken Legs: It looked like her ankles were in her calves. super gross.

Catherine and Nick Race: Perfect way to end the episode.

My Super-Fantastical Project

I have just now finished watching Julia and Julie with my mother and though I am far from a cook I have my semi writing talent. So in watching this I have decided to follow in the paths of the characters....sort of with my own special twist. Julie went through Julia Child's french cookbook in 365 days completing 524 recipes. Well teachers and guidance counselors already drill into our heads the need for practice, practice and more practice. I'm tired of having this blog and writing every so often. Being as it is my skill and a potential career choice one day perfection is of the uptmost importance. Maybe not perfect, but I am ready to do whatever it takes to try. Heres the plan......drum roll please......60 articles in 60 days. Sure one article a day may not sound like a lot to you. However a little known fact about me is I am lazy, if I had my choice it would be nothing but sleep all day. My grades show it believe me. Nevermind that though, im focusing on the task at hand. Will I run out of stuff to write? Probably not, anyone who has known me longer than five minutes should know that my constant stream of conscience is always in full blast (one shouldn't even call it thought). Don't be surprised if a few arent exactly up to par. I'm busy so writing in a hurry will come almost as second nature. Be sure to check my blog everyday for the daily articles...! :) Peace.