I has corn's sudden cravings

Thank you, Fimoculous, for reigniting my love of anyone willing to fuck with Garfield. Garfield Lost in Translation: the comic translated from English to Chinese, then back to English. It's definitely funnier than the original ever hoped to be.

Continuing the Simon Pegg vein (started by another blogger)

A few weeks ago, I sat down to what I thought was going to be another night of entertainingly bad movie watching on the Sci-Fi channel. What I got instead was Dog Soldiers, a smart, gory, British made werewolf flick. In fact, this movie was so above the par I'm used to when I turn on the Sci-Fi channel on a Saturday night, I almost changed the channel. I mean, when one is in the mood for cheese, one doesn't necessarily enjoy the chocolate cake and ice cream in their face. Luckily, I decided I prefer chocolate cake and ice cream and had a good time.

What does this have to do with Simon Pegg?

Well, he was offered a part in this film, but turned it down because Edgar Wright, director of Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (among others, including Scott Pilgrim, based on the fantastic indie comic series), wanted Shaun to be Pegg's first horror role (thanks, IMDB!).

So actually, this has nothing to do with Simon Pegg, but is actually a recommendation to those friends of mine who enjoy horror to check out Dog Soldiers, if they get the chance.

The Simon Pegg reference is only because it now brightens my day to mention him at least once per.

Something about movies (and life, and people, and stuff)

If you'll notice, one of the personal blogs I regularly read is devoted to pop culture in all its forms. I don't know who keyser soze is (except when played by Kevin Spacey), but I truly enjoy reading her thoughts about everything from Battlestar Galactica to Project Runway. She belongs to the Cult of Kubrick, which is all right - my only beef with him is how he turned the scariest novel ever written into a comedy. Whether I agree with her or not, I always respect what she says because I can tell it comes from a place of deep appreciation, intelligence, and thoughtfulness. Plus, she's a total fangirl, not afraid to squeal a little.

Me? I'm just a fangirl. I don't pretend to have deep thoughts or anything more than a smattering of intelligence when it comes to pop culture criticism. I like what I like. Sometimes I examine more closely why I like or dislike something. But usually, I just go with my initial instinctual reaction, especially when it comes to movies.

For the most part, I watch movies to be entertained. I have mentioned before I do not like being lectured to about The Human Condition(tm) and have little desire to have Life Lessons shoved in my face. There are many who love this, or even need it to understand why people are the way they are. I prefer to form my own conclusions based on my interactions with real people (which may explain why I haven't jumped on the Judd Apatow love train - I know too many men who can't quite bring themselves to grow up in real life - that shit is frustrating, not entertaining) (Exception to the previous - The 40 Year Old Virgin) (Also the reason I'm the only human on the planet who didn't like Sideways).

That's not to say I don't like to be a little flummoxed by my movies, as long as I'm being entertained at the same time.

I saw Wall-E last weekend and I can't get it out of my head. I am going to go out on a limb and say I think this was easily one of the best movies I've seen in ages (and I thought that of The Dark Knight just one week previous). The funny thing is, I loved both of these movies for ultimately the same reason: they both showed me what I believe to be true about people - when pushed most human beings will choose to do the right thing. In The Dark Knight, humanity had to learn this about themselves while at the hands of an evil madman. In Wall-E, a robot desperate for connection shows everyone around him that we can only save ourselves if we too reach out and connect with others.

So I just made a liar of myself. I do love movies about The Human Condition(tm). But what I'm looking for are those that show me that condition isn't a lost cause. We are, at heart, thoughtful beings yearning for someone to show us our greater purpose, not understanding only we can tap into that purpose within ourselves to bring it to light.

So this is way more philosophical than I intended it to be. And I'm not quite certain it makes much sense. But it's true (to me) all the same.

LiveJournal is crack

in the same way MySpace was crack, except without the need to constantly pimp it.

Oh, and I have a new favorite movie, fandom, pairing:








And, for the record, if I eat anymore Central Market avocado-tomatillo dip I'm gonna hork. Need to step away from the fanfiction. What does fanfic have to do with chips and dip, you ask? It's all in the mindlessly stuffing yer face so as to keep reading.

Think I'll go lie down and lose myself in a glorious re-reading of I Capture the Castle.

More something about books

This has been tagged all over the place, but the absolute hilarity of it caught me off guard. Even if you have no desire or care whatsoever about the Twilight series, read this mock-serious debate for the lit-heavy nerd humor.

As for me? I'm Team Bella Needs to Get a Fucking Life. I'll probably wait for AMC to read it and just tell me how it ends to save myself the tortured prose.

And I'll believe this book is the final chapter when pigs fly.

Okay. This is my final post of the day. I swear.

Something about books

I agree with all of these choices (except In Summer Light, as I haven't read it). But I wanted to excerpt one particular choice because it highlights a book I feel was poorly overlooked:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie. This novel has touched many readers and is destined to become a classic. Alexie’s novel Flight was also published last year; I loved Flight just as much as True Diary, and though Flight was released as an adult title, teens will love it as well. Flight pays tribute to Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five, ...

Flight was released as an adult book, even though it had one of the strongest YA sensibilities I'd come across in ages, including the all-important search for identity, which is the most defining aspect of being an adolescent.

Other books I would include:
Little Brother, by Cory Doctorow (reviewed here)
A Certain Slant of Light, by Laura Whitcomb (I wasn't sure I liked this one until I realized it has stayed with me for years)

What books (for those of you who read YA) would you add?

I've been cheating on you

with LiveJournal.

I don't like it really. It's filled with quirks and is kind of a pain in my heinie to navigate. It's almost impossible to find stuff I want and my formatting choices are lame (if I want to stick with a free account).

And yet.

I had written before how I love fanfiction. For some reason, I go through phases with it, wherein sometimes I like to read it. Sometimes I don't think about it for ages. Sometimes it even enhances my enjoyment of certain movies and TV shows. Sometimes I write it. Now is one of those sometimes.

Well, except for the writing part. Haven't gotten to that yet. Yet.

Anyway, it seems anyone who writes the stuff has a LiveJournal page. And as I am someone who likes to compliment good writing, I set myself up with an account so I could leave comments. And since I don't want the people I'm leaving comments for to think I'm a troll, I put in a few entries. And then I remembered how much fun fandom can be. How crazycool and open and friendly writers are. In short, it's been a sort of therapy.

I don't have much there, and what I have mostly talks about slash. And if that bothers you, I don't much care, so consider yourself warned. But if you're interested, here you go.

Have I mentioned how much I love my friends?

I do. I love all of you. Some of you may find this weird. Especially those of you who have never actually met me. But here's the deal: I either like you well enough, in which case you are a friendly acquaintance, or I love you to pieces. I don't just LIKE my friends, they are everything to me. I am someone who is constantly seeking connections with people. Even the briefest moments can fire a spark that draws me to you. And then it's all over. I love you. Your well being becomes important to me. I will want you to be happy. I live for moments when we click. This is who I am. Get used to it.

About a year ago, I met a friend of The Husband's from work and was instantly crazy about him. I don't know how to describe the feeling, but it is akin to what most people mean when they say fall in love, except without the messy would we or wouldn't we? sexual tension (a wonderful way to fall in love, by the way, especially if one is happily married). I don't get to see Chris too often, but when I do, I am left with a happy feeling, warm fuzzies, and aching cheeks from laughing so much. Chris used to have a myspace page and his blogs always made me chuckle. He recently decided to take his page down (I don't know why, but I applaud his decision as I've come to despise most social network sites). In his honor (and with his permission), I am reprinting one of my favorites.



Boycott Chick-Fil-A!

A brief conversation between the Chick-Fil-A cow and Prince:


CFA: hay prinss!

Prince: What do U want?

CFA: can i ask yoo a qweshun?

Prince: Make it quick. Eye have 2 run.

CFA: yoor noo CD sux.

Prince: That's not a question.

CFA: i no.

Prince: What do U mean U know? Eye don't have time 4 this.

CFA: yoor right. im sorree.

Prince: Whatever.

CFA: hay!

Prince: Yes?

CFA: the last wun sukd too.

Prince: Really? Well, U R a cow.

CFA: thats not funnee.

Prince: Eye will never eat here again...4ever!


Neither will I, Prince...just 4 U.

Possible Squick Factor

It truly depends on how one feels about reading of someone else's personal matters. Consider yourself forewarned.

After posting my not-so-kick ass review of last night's LOCI, it occurred to me I have been out of sorts lately. Not writing as much as I used to; and when I do it usually struggles to come out and makes little sense, or lacks the spark my writing tends toward. I don't like the feeling that comes with struggling to write. Communicating with others is one of my all-time favorite things to do. And while I had never before thought of myself as a blogger, my separation from those I usually communicate with has found me comfortably using this medium to get my thoughts across to the point of loving it.

Around the fourth of July, though, it all seemed to leave in a rush that has me sort of emotionally gasping and unable to find purchase. I don't even feel the need to email people I used to (Music Wench, I have several choice thoughts on Barbie vs. Bratz. Perhaps one day I'll share them. By then, of course, it'll be a non-issue for you), as evidenced by my very kind friends who send me emails that sound more like personal APBs ("you still alive?") than the chatty missives I'm used to receiving.

Of course this gets into one of the things about electronic communication that drives me nuts: the absolute give and take nature of it. If I don't send out emails regularly, how long will my friends go before ceasing all attempts? Does that sound pathetic? I don't know that I care. Mostly because most of you would still send me email even if you hadn't heard from me in 2 weeks (as I've recently found out - and thank you!).

But I have been blue lately and I feel I need to figure out why before I can move on. I have this strange disconnect happening between myself and the rest of the world and I can't seem to shake out of it. I know it will pass, but part of the beautiful complexity that is me insists on believing that if I'm not entertaining people constantly, then they will seek others for friendship. So panic sets in because you are all so very important to me. I get that from my father, by the way, the need to entertain, which is why I'm not as annoyed at him as my mother becomes when he does it.

I'm also someone who feels and inordinate amount of responsibility for everything. If something goes wrong - no matter who is actually at fault - if I can find one thing I should have done that may have prevented it, then I will blame myself. There's a certain amount of arrogance to that assumption as well, don't get me wrong, but the weight of the world is exhausting and I would like to just put it down for a bit.

So around the fourth several things happened: my training class - which I loved - ended, my dearest cousin - who had been visiting for 2 weeks - left, my visit home went exceptionally well, and my work situation reached the pinnacle of suck. Cue in music for downward spiral. If I could grow a beard, it would rival Bobby's. And now I feel I have no entertainment for anyone, my thoughts are as mundane as can be, and who gives a fuck anyway?

And I really really want to write that piece about how The Dark Knight was such a strangely hopeful film I couldn't get it out of my head the whole day. But that is a movie that deserves all my mental faculties to talk about, and right now I ain't got it.

Sorry, folks. The show will reopen when the scripts are tightened.

Back on Track? Or possibly not. (some LOCI thoughts)

Yes, it was fun to see Bobby acting like a little kid, all excited with the magic, reliving some happy memories of his childhood (which I've believed all along did exist). It warmed my heart to see him smile and play around with Eames (though I don't think she's completely forgiven him, and that's okay). I'm ready to bid adieu to the beard, though I think that's more because I now equate the beard with Depressed!Bobby, so whenever I see him in it, I keep waiting for him to snap. But then again, why shouldn't he be depressed? It's not as if matters are back to normal. He has his job back, and his partner is speaking to him, but his personal life is still pretty much downward bound. Add to that the moronic nature of the cases he keeps getting and who knows what'll break him?

Don't get me wrong. I'm certain in some part of his weirdly tanned soul, David Copperfield does want to kill Criss Angel/David Blaine(as the murder victim was a strange crossover of both - I suppose representing the new breed of magic they're peddling which involves less flash and more mind-fuck) as well.

I usually try to watch an episode and let it stew for awhile before putting my thoughts down, but when "Vanishing Act" ended all I could think was, so?

Usually when a person is murdered on LOCI for reasons other than pure selfishness or evil, the viewers learn to understand why this happened. We were encouraged to even feel compassion sometimes. It wasn't a time too long ago; even the reviled season six had "Silencer." But did Copperfield-lite kill Criss Blaine wannabe because he was more popular? because he broke the Magician's Code? because he got laid more? It kind of went all over the place on me. In fact, I was kind of hoping Christopher Lloyd was the killer because he was the most entertaining part of this episode. One can never go wrong with Reverend Jim Ignatowski:




Overall I didn't dislike "Vanishing Act." It just seemed unfair that it was on opposite some of my favorites on Bravo ("Acts of Contrition" and "In the Wee Small Hours"), and I had to be reminded of how good it used to be. I do believe it can be great again - there is always some hope. It carried me through season seven of The Gilmore Girls, the fourth season of Angel, and this season's lackluster post-writer's strike network TV.

Those are my thoughts for now. Scattered on this Monday morning of Doom (as all Mondays are of Doom for me). Possibly later I will have some equally unintelligent thoughts about The Dark Knight (which I loved, by the way).

ETA: Music Wench has posted her thoughts on her page (somewhat different from mine, but that's way cool). Plus, she has some lovely caps!