Monday, January 30, 2006
Friday, January 27, 2006
What the crap is the 'great boa?'
I really, really, really hated this movie. Don't see it.
Spear pummels toward hokiness, mediocrity
Spear pummels toward hokiness, mediocrity
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Republicans and Nazis...not too far apart
You scored as Democrat.
What Political Party Do Your Beliefs Put You In? created with QuizFarm.com |
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
you say you want a revolution?
Protests like this would never happen at ACU because a) No one that important would ever come here; b) fellow students would probably shout at and eventually stone the protestors; and c) we signed away most of our First Amendment rights on the first day of Welcome Week, so there are probably rules against protesting. At least I can live vicariously through Georgetown Law students.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Year's best defy labels, exceed expectations
1/20/05
Despite disappointing box office revenues for most of the year, 2005's cinematic finale provided impressive and inspiring steps from daring filmmakers asking tough questions. That's a lot of vague adjectives that don't really mean anything because most of the year's top films are hard to categorize and describe. They're not your average popcorn-munching, building-exploding flicks to which the masses flock.
"Good Night, and Good Luck," which once on DVD will sit on a shelf next to this journalism nerd's copy of "All the President's Men," is perched high on most critics' Top 10 lists for good reason. George Clooney's ode to his journalist father, Nick, is a simple yet pitch-perfect depiction of CBS anchor Edward R. Murrow's battle with Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the Communist scare of the 1950s.
Clooney won the Freedom Award at the 11th annual Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 9 for "for illuminating our shared values of freedom, tolerance and democracy." In his acceptance speech, Clooney shared his award with other filmmakers in the room, noting that the spirit of freedom is alive in the year's top films.
"When I look at 'Munich,' at 'Crash,' at 'The Constant Gardener,' we are taking chances, and we are succeeding. This is a great night for the freedom of filmmaking," he said.
Whether in response to current societal trends or political battles, filmmakers are bringing stories of freedom to life, whether freedom from oppression, fear, addictions or prejudice, and the ultimate question of how far one should go to obtain and/or maintain freedom.
Though some provide more questions than answers, such as Steven Spielberg's harrowing "Munich," they refuse to take the easy way out by settling for fundamentalist answers. I was not only entertained or challenged by these films, but also left the theatre appreciating the experience and the artists' messages, which doesn't happen often.
Here are my choices for the Academy Awards Best Picture category if I ran the show:
"Brokeback Mountain"
Expanded from Annie Proulx's short story and directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain has been unfortunately and unfairly labeled as the "gay cowboy movie" since its inception as a screenplay. The story, however, defies labels and forces viewers to question their own beliefs and feelings, whether they're comfortable with it or agree with it or not. The affair between two ranch hands (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger) is heartbreaking. After its recent win at The Golden Globes, Brokeback should and most likely will take home the Oscar.
"The Constant Gardener"
Not only is "Gardener" a mystery and thriller, it's a call to social justice and activism on behalf of the victims depicted: Africans taken advantage of by big pharmaceutical companies and those daring enough to expose them. Ralph Fiennes is so brilliant he almost goes unnoticed, becoming his compliant character so completely you forget he's acting.
"Good Night, and Good Luck"
Clooney brilliantly took a backseat role in this newsroom drama, letting veteran character actor David Strathairn embody Murrow. Shot in black and white, staged on only a few sets all indoors, rated PG and at a length of 93 minutes, Clooney captures the intensity of the time period and the importance of Murrow's words with old-fashioned flair.
"Munich"
When I think of Spielberg, I think of Happy Spielberg, as in the director of "E.T." or the "Indiana Jones" trilogy. I seem to forget that this is also the filmmaker who brought us "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan," easily two of the best WWII films. "Munich" runs along those themes in its depiction of the events surrounding the 1972 Olympics in Munich when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by a Palestinian extremist group known as Black September. The Israelis retaliate, answering violence with violence. One of the most haunting and disturbing films I've seen.
"Walk the Line"
Winner of The Golden Globe for best picture musical or comedy, neither of which it really is, James Mangold's biopic of country legend Johnny Cash presents a raw look at the singer and his various addictions and struggles, as well as his ultimate redemption. And, unlike most of the above-mentioned films, it won't leave you depressed. Joaquin Phoenix's transformation to Cash can only be rivaled by Philip Seymour Hoffman's impressive transformation to Truman Capote in "Capote," another excellent film. Both won Golden Globes for their roles, but I believe the Oscar will end up with Hoffman.
Despite disappointing box office revenues for most of the year, 2005's cinematic finale provided impressive and inspiring steps from daring filmmakers asking tough questions. That's a lot of vague adjectives that don't really mean anything because most of the year's top films are hard to categorize and describe. They're not your average popcorn-munching, building-exploding flicks to which the masses flock.
"Good Night, and Good Luck," which once on DVD will sit on a shelf next to this journalism nerd's copy of "All the President's Men," is perched high on most critics' Top 10 lists for good reason. George Clooney's ode to his journalist father, Nick, is a simple yet pitch-perfect depiction of CBS anchor Edward R. Murrow's battle with Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the Communist scare of the 1950s.
Clooney won the Freedom Award at the 11th annual Critics Choice Awards on Jan. 9 for "for illuminating our shared values of freedom, tolerance and democracy." In his acceptance speech, Clooney shared his award with other filmmakers in the room, noting that the spirit of freedom is alive in the year's top films.
"When I look at 'Munich,' at 'Crash,' at 'The Constant Gardener,' we are taking chances, and we are succeeding. This is a great night for the freedom of filmmaking," he said.
Whether in response to current societal trends or political battles, filmmakers are bringing stories of freedom to life, whether freedom from oppression, fear, addictions or prejudice, and the ultimate question of how far one should go to obtain and/or maintain freedom.
Though some provide more questions than answers, such as Steven Spielberg's harrowing "Munich," they refuse to take the easy way out by settling for fundamentalist answers. I was not only entertained or challenged by these films, but also left the theatre appreciating the experience and the artists' messages, which doesn't happen often.
Here are my choices for the Academy Awards Best Picture category if I ran the show:
"Brokeback Mountain"
Expanded from Annie Proulx's short story and directed by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain has been unfortunately and unfairly labeled as the "gay cowboy movie" since its inception as a screenplay. The story, however, defies labels and forces viewers to question their own beliefs and feelings, whether they're comfortable with it or agree with it or not. The affair between two ranch hands (Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger) is heartbreaking. After its recent win at The Golden Globes, Brokeback should and most likely will take home the Oscar.
"The Constant Gardener"
Not only is "Gardener" a mystery and thriller, it's a call to social justice and activism on behalf of the victims depicted: Africans taken advantage of by big pharmaceutical companies and those daring enough to expose them. Ralph Fiennes is so brilliant he almost goes unnoticed, becoming his compliant character so completely you forget he's acting.
"Good Night, and Good Luck"
Clooney brilliantly took a backseat role in this newsroom drama, letting veteran character actor David Strathairn embody Murrow. Shot in black and white, staged on only a few sets all indoors, rated PG and at a length of 93 minutes, Clooney captures the intensity of the time period and the importance of Murrow's words with old-fashioned flair.
"Munich"
When I think of Spielberg, I think of Happy Spielberg, as in the director of "E.T." or the "Indiana Jones" trilogy. I seem to forget that this is also the filmmaker who brought us "Schindler's List" and "Saving Private Ryan," easily two of the best WWII films. "Munich" runs along those themes in its depiction of the events surrounding the 1972 Olympics in Munich when 11 Israeli athletes were murdered by a Palestinian extremist group known as Black September. The Israelis retaliate, answering violence with violence. One of the most haunting and disturbing films I've seen.
"Walk the Line"
Winner of The Golden Globe for best picture musical or comedy, neither of which it really is, James Mangold's biopic of country legend Johnny Cash presents a raw look at the singer and his various addictions and struggles, as well as his ultimate redemption. And, unlike most of the above-mentioned films, it won't leave you depressed. Joaquin Phoenix's transformation to Cash can only be rivaled by Philip Seymour Hoffman's impressive transformation to Truman Capote in "Capote," another excellent film. Both won Golden Globes for their roles, but I believe the Oscar will end up with Hoffman.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
wake up the dawn and ask her why a dreamer dreams, she never dies
Excerpts from philosophy class, Existentialism & Literature, notes from today:
"...how we view ourselves through the mirror of our own existence..."
"No general account of what it means to be human defines for us what it means to be human."
"...causes us to be in the world and assert interconnectedness of the world, and that's how you find yourself."
"transcendence -- you as a person are not simply reducible to your facticity."
These aren't my thoughts. No, no. These are just snippets of what I heard in class and chose to write down. You'll get to read more of these lines this semester, throughout which I will feel more and more stupid and doubt my existence all together.
To relax after those random lines, go to these Web sites:
Potter Puppet Pals - classic
How tall are you compared to famous people?
Chuck Norris facts (parents - be warned)
I'm officially ready to graduate. These people apparently aren't.
"...how we view ourselves through the mirror of our own existence..."
"No general account of what it means to be human defines for us what it means to be human."
"...causes us to be in the world and assert interconnectedness of the world, and that's how you find yourself."
"transcendence -- you as a person are not simply reducible to your facticity."
These aren't my thoughts. No, no. These are just snippets of what I heard in class and chose to write down. You'll get to read more of these lines this semester, throughout which I will feel more and more stupid and doubt my existence all together.
To relax after those random lines, go to these Web sites:
Potter Puppet Pals - classic
How tall are you compared to famous people?
Chuck Norris facts (parents - be warned)
I'm officially ready to graduate. These people apparently aren't.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
...from 13 original colonies...
Fifteen out of 50 isn't very good, and I only counted Michigan because I've been to the Detroit airport. My brother beat me by one state, but seeing as I can drop lines such as "One time, while swimming in the Atlantic off the coast of Brazil," or "One night, while my friends and I were walking around London," I am the infinitely cooler Carlson. My friends who have studied abroad can beat me, but they don't count. They just don't.
Jump down, turn around, pick a bale of Truth.
Stephen Colbert is the funniest man on television. If you don't watch "The Colbert Report" weeknights right after "The Daily Show" on Comedy Central, then firstly, we aren't friends, and secondly, you're uncool. His current crusade against The Associated Press and journalist Heather Clark is brilliant. In honor of him, I'll have my own On Notice and Dead to Me sections on this here blog. Pray you won't be on one of them one day. Colbert: AP is America’s ‘number 1 threat’
Comedian wants credit for coining ‘truthiness’
Joel Jeffries / AP file
NEW YORK - Stung by a recent Associated Press article that didn’t credit him for coining the word “truthiness,” Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert has struck back.
The world’s oldest news organization, Colbert says, is the “No. 1 threat facing America.”
On Wednesday evening, Colbert placed the AP atop the Threat Down segment of “The Colbert Report” show. What was No. 2?
Bears.
In October, on Colbert’s debut episode of the “Daily Show” spinoff, the comedian defined “truthiness” as truth that wouldn’t stand to be held back by facts. The word caught on, and last week the American Dialect Society named “truthiness” the word of the year.
When an AP story about the designation sent coast to coast failed to mention Colbert, he began a tongue-in-cheek crusade, not unlike the kind his muse Bill O’Reilly might lead in all seriousness.
“It’s a sin of omission, is what it is,” Colbert told The AP on Thursday. “You’re not giving people the whole story about truthiness.”
“It’s like Shakespeare still being alive and not asking him what ‘Hamlet’ is about,” he said.
The Oxford English Dictionary has a definition for “truthy” dating back to the 1800s. It’s defined as “characterized by truth” and includes the derivation “truthiness.”
Michael Adams, a visiting associate professor at North Carolina State University who specializes in lexicology, pointed to that definition and has said Colbert’s claim to inventing the word is “untrue.” (Adams served as the expert opinion in the initial AP story.)
“The fact that they looked it up in a book just shows that they don’t get the idea of truthiness at all,” Colbert said Thursday. “You don’t look up truthiness in a book, you look it up in your gut.”
Though slight, the difference of Colbert’s definition and the OED’s is essential. It’s not your typical truth, but, as The New York Times wrote, “a summation of what (Colbert) sees as the guiding ethos of the loudest commentators on Fox News, MSNBC and CNN.”
Colbert, who referred on his program to the AP omission as a “journalistic travesty,” said Thursday that it was similar to the much-criticized weapons of mass destruction reporting leading up to the Iraq War.
“Except,” he said, “people got hurt this time.”
Thursday, January 05, 2006
ah, the good ole commute
Best editorial I've read in a while. I can do a pretty good imitation of the "Please stand clear of the doors" lady.
A New Tone in Washington
The Washington Post
Thursday, January 5, 2006; Page A14
SO METRO IS canning that nice lady who's been warning us all these years about the closing doors, and replacing her with a sterner voice. In an unusually (for Metro) adept public relations move, the transit system is inviting anyone to submit an audition tape to become the new, more authoritarian Sound of the Subway.
Which is fine, but if they're going to ask us to supply a new tone, can they really dictate the content? Isn't that some kind of violation of our First Amendment rights? We'd like to submit a tape that would go a bit beyond that stale doors-opening, doors-closing routine. We'd be happy to start with the standard, "Please stand clear of the doors." But why not take it a bit further? "Stand clear , we said -- that doesn't mean wiggle a couple of inches away from the door. Move in, for crying out loud. And when people are trying to exit, don't clog the passage, okay? Step out of the train. You can step back in after they've left. We're not going to leave without you.
"And you, big fella -- one seat per customer. You want to sprawl, buy a couch. And that rule about no eating and drinking? It's not optional, and we could do without the applying of makeup, too. No need to yell into your cell phone. And you, young man in Priority Seating -- yes, you -- are you going to pretend you don't see that old lady? All right, then, are we set? Thank you. Doors closing."
Maybe we won't win the audition. But we feel better already.
A New Tone in Washington
The Washington Post
Thursday, January 5, 2006; Page A14
SO METRO IS canning that nice lady who's been warning us all these years about the closing doors, and replacing her with a sterner voice. In an unusually (for Metro) adept public relations move, the transit system is inviting anyone to submit an audition tape to become the new, more authoritarian Sound of the Subway.
Which is fine, but if they're going to ask us to supply a new tone, can they really dictate the content? Isn't that some kind of violation of our First Amendment rights? We'd like to submit a tape that would go a bit beyond that stale doors-opening, doors-closing routine. We'd be happy to start with the standard, "Please stand clear of the doors." But why not take it a bit further? "Stand clear , we said -- that doesn't mean wiggle a couple of inches away from the door. Move in, for crying out loud. And when people are trying to exit, don't clog the passage, okay? Step out of the train. You can step back in after they've left. We're not going to leave without you.
"And you, big fella -- one seat per customer. You want to sprawl, buy a couch. And that rule about no eating and drinking? It's not optional, and we could do without the applying of makeup, too. No need to yell into your cell phone. And you, young man in Priority Seating -- yes, you -- are you going to pretend you don't see that old lady? All right, then, are we set? Thank you. Doors closing."
Maybe we won't win the audition. But we feel better already.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Considering I have nothing better to post about and have spent much of the past few days watching Law & Order episodes (curse you, New Years weekened marathons), I thought I'd post pictures of our poodle, Rusty, getting a bath. I can't tell you how funny this was.
Rusty is a hyper, fairly high-energy poodle. He's almost 3 and a half and barks at anything he sees and/or hears. It's annoying when his incessant barking wakes you up, but he's just too cute to dislike.My Mom and Rusty.
Monday, January 02, 2006
I wouldn't be a good character on "Lost." I don't have a past. For my flashback sequences, the confused audience would see me sitting in a college newspaper office, or perhaps sitting in my apartment. Maybe, if they were lucky, they'd see me going to Wal-mart or even Starbucks. No, there is not much mystery behind this college senior, but I guess that's why no one's written about me.I have, though, become addicted to "Lost" this break thanks to my brother, who brought home the first season on DVD. My Dad and I watched about 5 episodes a night before and after Christmas and now don't know what to do with ourselves. We've already missed half of season two, but I think I'm just going to read re-caps and try and catch up. Just can't live without it now. Thanks, J.J. Abrams.
Monday, December 19, 2005
The Abilene Reporter-News is publishing a series of religious columns I wrote for my Media and Religion class this semester. They chose to start off with this one, which isn't my best, but oh well. They also edited it incorrectly, so one sentence doesn't make sense. The sixth paragraph should start off like this: The PTC, an antiquated watchdog group that uses scare tactics to lure parents into complaining about TV shows not worth complaining about, has campaigns against MTV, FXÂ's show Nip/Tuck and releases lists of the best and worst shows on TV. I guess it was too much of a compound sentence for the Abilene readership. Thanks, Reporter-News. But I guess beggars can't be choosers.
hustlers grab your guns, your shadow weighs a ton, driving down the 101
Even at night, I could see the smog settled over the city as my plane landed, along with crawling lines of countless cars making their way down highways and interstates. An orange tinge from buildings and street lamps ensures that the sky is never completely dark.My weekend in Los Angeles was filled with In-N-Out burgers, movies, nearly dying in traffic, celebrity sightings (apparently I walked right past Horatio Sans from SNL at the theatre on our way to see Capote, there was an actor sitting near us at Baja Fresh and we saw The Daily Show's Dan Bakkedahl in Hollywood with a camera crew, presumably filming a segment for the show), being a tourist in Hollywood, being accosted by street performers in Hollywood, hanging out in Santa Monica and seeing the Pacific Ocean. The visit was brief but memorable.
Here I am with Anakin Skywalker, Mr. Incredible and Sponge Bob Squarepants down at Hollywood and Highland in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I hadn't intended on having my picture taken, but I unfortunately made eye contact with Anakin, who beckoned me with his finger and took the camera from my hands before I knew what to do. Daniel loved every minute of this scene and took my picture. After Anakin mentioned twice that they accepted small tips, I gave them each a dollar and we were on our way.
This is Dan Bakkedahl from The Daily Show, talking with various street performers across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre, where the Oscars are held. I'll have to keep watching The Daily Show next year to see if this segment, or something like it, makes it on air. After we saw him, we ate at Mel's Diner, which the diner in American Graffiti is based on, and sure enough Dan and his crew came in to eat there as well. I had trouble staring.
The pier at Santa Monica, Saturday night at sunset. Tourists and locals come down for the fishing or for the rides. The best part was the 3rd Street Promenade, a blocked off street of shops and entertainment that was alive with people. 
The funnel cake we devoured while at the pier, killing time before dinner and our viewing of Brokeback Mountain at the ArcLight. 
The Pacific, and a farewell to California.
Monday, December 12, 2005
Blame Canada
In case you were wondering how demented my brother and I actually are (you probably weren't, but oh well), here is an excerpt from a recent AIM conversation we had. For background, he was talking about reviewing Memoirs of a Geisha and how many are upset that Chinese actors were cast in Japanese roles. This had us talking about actors of different nationalities acting as Americans.
Daniel: i mean, casting a white guy as a mexican is just stupid, like in Touch of Evil. but casting a latin actor to play latin is deemed ok. and canadians play americans all the time, those sneaky bastards. like alan thicke and michael j. fox
Me: mike meyers
Me: tricky
Daniel: yeah
Daniel: they slip right in
Me: it's crazy
Daniel: we should exterminate them
Daniel: or put them in camps
Daniel: or something
Me: why that border isn't protected more is beyond me
Daniel: totally
Daniel: it's so long. too long to be unguarded
Daniel: dangerous
Me: i agree
Me: they just come on over as if they'd been invited
Daniel: elk or whatnot could just roam on down
Daniel: seriously. something should be done
Me: hmmm
Me: we need a plan
Daniel: we should just invade canada. turn it into a ski resort
Me: haha
Me: have you noticed how high up alaska is? they're practically canadian. we should kick them out of the union
Daniel: they're too close to russia. those commie bastards. acting like they're american. then why do your islands stretch like a chain to soviet land, huh? why?
Me: let's get rid of them
Daniel: with nuclear fire
Me: sounds like a plan
Me: blame canada
Daniel: you know bush would do it. he hasn't bombed anything in like 3 months. dude's got a build-up he needs to unleash
Me: if only we were his advisors
Daniel: we could be
Daniel: easily
Me: we could whisper our canada extermination plan into his ear
Me: it's true
Me: we'd have to pretend that we voted for him
Daniel: hmm. then no
Me: exactly
Me: i'll only go so far
Me: i don't really want to put my soul in jeopardy
Daniel: kill puppies? yes. but say i voted for bush? no way
Me: i'd rather be tortured
Daniel: luckily, we have the facilities for that
Me: thanks, cheney
Daniel: seriously, this whole place is messed up
Me: but not as messed up as Canada...those bastards. stop saying 'eh' after everything.
Daniel: and hockey? HOCKEY? no one likes hockey
Daniel: lame ice sport
Daniel: lame
Me: the maple leaf is a dumb flag
Me: sure doesn't beat the stars and stripes
Daniel: tell me about it. a symbol for syrup vs. the bold colors of righteous freedom? eat it, canada
Me: what the crap is up with mounties? your border? like we'd want to cross it. it's the canadians who are the invaders. our country is awesome enough as it is.
Daniel: you're not fooling anyone with your free health care and low crime, either, canada. we know it sucks up there
Me: south park got it right in their depiction of canadians. not really worth drawing.
Daniel: their little heads bouncing around
Daniel: and bryan adams...
Daniel: shame on you, canada
Me: "Let's make it all for one and all for love?" I still haven't gotten over that.
Daniel: i mean, it's a nice sentiment and all, but i don't know how you got sting to be involved with your scarred canadian mug. and what's up with that robin hood song? you made him sound like a wuss
Daniel: you're the wuss, bri
Me: truer words were never spoken.
Daniel: i mean, casting a white guy as a mexican is just stupid, like in Touch of Evil. but casting a latin actor to play latin is deemed ok. and canadians play americans all the time, those sneaky bastards. like alan thicke and michael j. fox
Me: mike meyers
Me: tricky
Daniel: yeah
Daniel: they slip right in
Me: it's crazy
Daniel: we should exterminate them
Daniel: or put them in camps
Daniel: or something
Me: why that border isn't protected more is beyond me
Daniel: totally
Daniel: it's so long. too long to be unguarded
Daniel: dangerous
Me: i agree
Me: they just come on over as if they'd been invited
Daniel: elk or whatnot could just roam on down
Daniel: seriously. something should be done
Me: hmmm
Me: we need a plan
Daniel: we should just invade canada. turn it into a ski resort
Me: haha
Me: have you noticed how high up alaska is? they're practically canadian. we should kick them out of the union
Daniel: they're too close to russia. those commie bastards. acting like they're american. then why do your islands stretch like a chain to soviet land, huh? why?
Me: let's get rid of them
Daniel: with nuclear fire
Me: sounds like a plan
Me: blame canada
Daniel: you know bush would do it. he hasn't bombed anything in like 3 months. dude's got a build-up he needs to unleash
Me: if only we were his advisors
Daniel: we could be
Daniel: easily
Me: we could whisper our canada extermination plan into his ear
Me: it's true
Me: we'd have to pretend that we voted for him
Daniel: hmm. then no
Me: exactly
Me: i'll only go so far
Me: i don't really want to put my soul in jeopardy
Daniel: kill puppies? yes. but say i voted for bush? no way
Me: i'd rather be tortured
Daniel: luckily, we have the facilities for that
Me: thanks, cheney
Daniel: seriously, this whole place is messed up
Me: but not as messed up as Canada...those bastards. stop saying 'eh' after everything.
Daniel: and hockey? HOCKEY? no one likes hockey
Daniel: lame ice sport
Daniel: lame
Me: the maple leaf is a dumb flag
Me: sure doesn't beat the stars and stripes
Daniel: tell me about it. a symbol for syrup vs. the bold colors of righteous freedom? eat it, canada
Me: what the crap is up with mounties? your border? like we'd want to cross it. it's the canadians who are the invaders. our country is awesome enough as it is.
Daniel: you're not fooling anyone with your free health care and low crime, either, canada. we know it sucks up there
Me: south park got it right in their depiction of canadians. not really worth drawing.
Daniel: their little heads bouncing around
Daniel: and bryan adams...
Daniel: shame on you, canada
Me: "Let's make it all for one and all for love?" I still haven't gotten over that.
Daniel: i mean, it's a nice sentiment and all, but i don't know how you got sting to be involved with your scarred canadian mug. and what's up with that robin hood song? you made him sound like a wuss
Daniel: you're the wuss, bri
Me: truer words were never spoken.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
bah, humbug
Does something about this strike you as inherently wrong? Yes, Christmas is a time for family, but look at it's name: Christmas. I'm sorry that it's stressful putting on a show, I mean, service, for thousands of people, but can it really be called work in the sense of punching a time card for a nine-hour day? And if you're afraid of low attendance, why not try encouraging your parishioners to come. Maybe that's just old fashioned, but at least it's not secular.
This scene is one of my favorites in the film To Kill a Mockingbird, which I just watched on TV. Atticus Finch guards his jailed defendant the night before his trial from the town people out for their own form of justice. My favorite part comes when Scout, Jim and Dill come running up through the middle of the crowd. Atticus looks terrified that his children are there and asks Jim to leave, but he refuses. While Scout is standing next to her father, she looks over and recognizes Mr. Cunningham, who had done business with Atticus. She talks to him and asks him how he is, mentioning that she goes to school with his son, Walter. This goes on for a while, with Mr. Cunningham looking embarrassed and Atticus looking amazed.He replies back to Scout and tells her he'll tell Walter she said 'hello.' He then corrals the group of men to leave. Scout reminded him of his humanity, something hard to do in the midst of such hatred and mob mentality, something probably only the innocence of children can do.
Melanie's comment on my previous post had me thinking of great film adaptations of books. I have to say, To Kill a Mockingbird is one of the best. Usually, when I learn of a new movie coming out that is based on a book, I rush out to buy the book before the movie premieres. Right now, I'm reading Memoirs of a Geisha.
Why must all good books be made into probably not-as-good movies? I say this in anticipation of and nervousness toward The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, opening Friday. Let's hope this adaptation will be true to the story and not fall into the melodramatic category Peter Jackson made his own.
Anyone have any favorite book-to-movie adaptations?
Monday, December 05, 2005
five hours of awesomeness
Latest review: Pride & Prejudice. I've seen it twice and you all should see it, too. While it can never replace the 5-hour extravaganza brought to us by the BBC and A&E starring Colin "Wet Shirt" Firth (I stole that), it's still really good. I also, of course, have a mistake in this review as well. I spell the Bennet name incorrectly, although when I pulled out my copy of the book to verify the name - I spelled it Bennett - the back of my book had it spelled that way, which is incorrect. I blame finals, Dr. Marler, my fellow staff members for distracting me, rock 'n' roll, the 40 mph wind we had here, Colin Firth, caffeine, Joseph McCarthy and Jane Austen for this error.Current reading: The Boxcar Children, Book 1. I have a 5th grade reading level...probably should admit it...
I should be studying right now. I have to figure out what exactly which area of the Intelligent Design debate I want to argue in my editorial for my Opinion Writing final. Personally, I'm tired of reading about monkeys, the Galapagos Islands, crazy people, Dover, Pa., and Pat Robertson. Intertwined with this research comes studying for my Bible final, for which I have to read 1 Samuel through 2 Kings and know random information. If I sit in my room to study, I'm distracted by my computer. I've been sitting in the living room, but if I look up, I see the rows and rows of pretty movies I own sitting next to the TV.
Ah well, I just need to make it through a few more days, then I have one semester left of not being an adult.
OK, one more picture of Colin Firth and I'll go back to studying (this is from the best scene in the miniseries):
Friday, December 02, 2005
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
concessions of the weak
After reading a never-published story about homosexuality on campus, I couldn't help but be struck by a certain quote. This quote, said by a certain president at a certain private Christian university in a certain West Texas town, was no doubt a typical thing for this man to say considering his title and position. However, I've got a problem with it.
When talking about practicing gay students on campus, this president said that if the university is doing its job, the students should feel uncomfortable on campus, adding that the school should be up-front about it's belief that homosexuality is a sin. "It doesn't matter what society thinks or practices," he said. "God's side is clear."
Again, I understand his need to take a strong stand against homosexuality, but I couldn't help but be bothered by his sentiment. Is making a Christian brother or sister feel uncomfortable about their sin really the best way to approach the issue? Will making gay students feel secluded and condemned open the floor up for dialogue on the subject of homosexuality, or will we really just be turning even more people away from Christ by being self-righteous? Where's the balance?
Homosexuality is only one of the many giant elephants in the room at this certain university. I can't help but wonder when we'll finally be brave enough to truly discuss the issues, not just have a forum where a student who had had same-sex feelings tells how they changed their ways and how you can, too. It's a start, yes, but it's not near enough. Life is just more complicated than that.
When talking about practicing gay students on campus, this president said that if the university is doing its job, the students should feel uncomfortable on campus, adding that the school should be up-front about it's belief that homosexuality is a sin. "It doesn't matter what society thinks or practices," he said. "God's side is clear."
Again, I understand his need to take a strong stand against homosexuality, but I couldn't help but be bothered by his sentiment. Is making a Christian brother or sister feel uncomfortable about their sin really the best way to approach the issue? Will making gay students feel secluded and condemned open the floor up for dialogue on the subject of homosexuality, or will we really just be turning even more people away from Christ by being self-righteous? Where's the balance?
Homosexuality is only one of the many giant elephants in the room at this certain university. I can't help but wonder when we'll finally be brave enough to truly discuss the issues, not just have a forum where a student who had had same-sex feelings tells how they changed their ways and how you can, too. It's a start, yes, but it's not near enough. Life is just more complicated than that.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
going to the chapel
This one goes out to Karen Shields (right), soon to be Mrs. Karen Benavidez. Congratulations on your engagement! Plus, she's graduating in two weeks. I suddenly feel very old.On a side note, isn't it interesting that our high school friend who went to a public university is now engaged, but those of us who attended the Marriage Factory itself are all graduating single? I guess some of us really can make it out alive.
Congrats again, sweetie!
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