Imma let you finish, but....

Imogen Heap - First Train Home

Twi-hards and Pot-heads, take note...

Jimmy' Fallon's freakin-awesome version of Robert Pattinson (Twilight) vs. Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter). Watch it once and then watch it again because IT IS THAT FUNNY.

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

The King without a crown

I love Minnpost for many reasons. (You oughta check it out if you dont already read it). Today, gracing my inbox in the shadow of Michael Jackson's death, was a great tribute story. Short, sweet, honest, and to the point.

Check it out here:

MinnPost - Jim Walsh: King of Pop is dead; long live that little kid from Gary

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Like I Need Any Reasons

Want to know the secret to getting smarter, looking younger, losing weight, staying healthy, being happier, and achieiving a general level of awesomeness?

Take a Nap! Read 19 Reasons to Take a Nap.

Just think of the all the good stuff that would happen if we all took an afternoon siesta!

Nap on!

Recommendations

I thought I would take the time to post a list of good books I've read and movies I've seen recently.

Books:

Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still miss it.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I have not gotten this emotional over a book in quite a while. In fact, I don't recall ever actually tearing up over a book before. Don't be put off by the logistics (or lack of) regarding time travel in the beginning of the book. Just go with it. It'll all make sense eventually. Apparently it's been made into a movie that will be released later this summer. Quick! Read the book before the movie comes out.

Movies:

In the Valley of Elah. The message overall is objective but becomes intimately subjective upon the viewer's interpretation. Not for the faint of heart. The ultimate test of a great picture is one which stays with you long after it's over, intrudes upon your mind and emotions and truly dictates your mood for the rest of your day. This one clearly passes the test.

Lars and the Real Girl. Great plot, greater characters. Absurdly loveable.

Milk, The Reader, Slumdog Millionaire. I fit this all into the same category, for obvious reason. The story lines are not original (in the sense all were inspired by previous events or books) but the way the stories and characters come together on the screen is clearly moving. Slumdog Millionaire is a much-welcomed deviation from the rest of the films in this year's Best Picture Category (and previous years', for that matter). Fresh and ultimately uplifiting.

The Duchess. It's a decent film, but I'll admit that I'm highly partial to Victorian-era themes, settings, and characters. This pulls the three together quite nicely.

Burn After Reading. The Coen Brothers are very 'take-it-or-leave-it' for me, but I found this to be their most enjoyable film since Fargo. The characters, especially Geroge Clooney's, are brilliantly comical amidst the abdsurd situations they find themselves in. SO funny.

I Have an Opinion and I'm Not Afraid To Use It

Carrie Prejean, current Miss California, currently has the news networks and the interwebs ablaze with her anti-gay marriage statements and viewpoints. She's stirred up quite the controversy. While I wholly do not agree with her opinions, I do have to credit her (or Perez Hilton?) for keeping same-sex marriage discussions on the tip of America's toungue.
The only thing worse for America than maintaining our general attitude of intolerance would be allowing for an attitude of indifference.
Miss California recently stated in a press conference that she felt "punished for exercising my free speech." Honey, disagreement is NOT punishment. Backlash, maybe. People challenging your old-fashioned views of the world? Hardly punishment.

So, in the spirit of discourse, I provide my opinion. So what if it happens to echo one of my new favorite Lily Allen songs? Girl's got spunk (and we LIKE spunk!)

Enjoy!

Transformation Nation

Way to go Maine! Another victory for equal rights!

Today Maine joined the ranks of Connecticut, Iowa, and Massachusetts - all states that have legalized same sex marriages.

Minnesota, when are you going to jump on this bandwagon? It's about time!

Food for thought:
"The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life." - Jane Addams

Team Switzerland

"Love is that condition in the human spirit so profound that it empowers us to develop courage; to trust that courage, and build bridges, and cross over them so we can attempt to reach each other."
-Maya Angelou

Gratitude and the Art of Life

"The most invisible creators I know of are those artists whose medium is life itself. The ones who express the inexpressible - without brush, hammer, clay or guitar. They neither paint nor sculpt - their medium is their being. Whatever their presence touches has increased light. They see and don't have to draw. They are artists of being alive."
- J. Stone

Thank you to all those 'artists' who have touched and guided my life. My being is your canvas, and for that I am ever thankful.

$500,000 Immigrants

I'd feel pretty special if I was worth $500,000 dollars. Especially if people spent their free time with their eyes glued to their computer screen, hoping to catch a glimpse of me on streaming web video. Apparently, 4 such lucky people exist.

I came across an article (headline article, mind you) on CNN today about the recently installed cameras along the US-Mexican border. These aren't just any old cameras. Oh no - a series of 15 cameras, to the tune of a 2 million dollar cost, stream constant video via the web to anyone who's willing to watch. The purpose? So Joe Schmo, or Joe the Plumber, can sit on his arse at his computer from the luxury of his couch, bag of chips in hand, and live out his wildest Border Patrol fantasies. According to the article, over 200 million Americans have logged on to serve their "civic responsibility" of protecting our borders. Excuse me while I gag.
One such ICE-wannabe (ahem, 'virtual-deputy'), explained how he logs on from time to time in hopes of catching a fence jumper. If he sees one (or any other suspicious activity) he can email an alert to a real sheriff, who "might" do something about it. He was quoted in the article referring to himself as a part of an altruistic group of volunteers, out to help out the country. But what in it for him? Pure entertainment. He goes on to say, "It's no different than watching 'Everybody Loves Raymond' reruns," he said. "It's just something to do.

Read the article in all it's glory by clicking here.

This monstrosity of a project has cost upwards of 2 million dollars of taxpayer money, years of coordination, and led to a whopping 4 arrests of undocumented border-crossers. Like I said, to the tune of $500,000 a pop. What a deal!

If you are so inclined to test our your skillz as a border patrol, go all out at www.texasborderwatch.com. Register for your free account today. Then, please - go check behind all your framed hanging pictures. Just to be sure.

In the Spirit of Humility

Times of extended stress and multiple pressures often lead me to begin doubting myself. I usually have no problem handling things when stressors come only sporadically and one-at-a-time. However, lately I've felt as if I'm quickly piling task upon task and deadline upon deadline, and it's led to me feel quite scattered and stretched too thin. Anxieties begin to mount and soon doubt and second-guessing take over.

So, it'll come as no surprise that a post I encountered recently on Dumb Little Man, titled "8 Harsh Truths that will Improve Your Life," came as a much needed relief with essential life-lesson reminders I mustn't forget. Re-reading this list has served as comfort to me on several occasions lately, and hence I've decided to post it here, in the hopes that is may provide the same comfort to others who may be needing it's message.

So - here it is. Enjoy!

Because playing with your food can be a form of art...

It's nasty, it's gross, its disgusting, but you just can't turn your eyes away. And this is why you're fat.

At Last...

You are ours, at last.

Starting off right...

The highlight of 2009 so far? The author of one of my new favorite books, Animal's People, commenting on my blog. Sweet! Thank you, Mr. Sinha!

The Best of 2008

My year in review:

1:What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? was admitted to the Emergency room.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I didn't really make any last year, so if you consider that, I suppose I kept right on track.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, a few people did.

4. Did anyone close to you die? No.

5. What countries did you visit? Only my own, unfortunatly.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? More money.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? November 4th, 2008. Ummm....DER!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Learned to open my eyes more to the world around me.

9. What was your biggest failure? Hmmmm...that's a good question.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Yes, a kidney stone. That was not fun.

11. What was the best thing you bought? A new macbook and an ipod touch.

14. Where did most of your money go? Paying off my debt.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Meeting Jason Mraz and winning concert tickets. Speaking of which, perhaps that incident also was my greatest failure. Heehee.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Compared to this time last year, are you:

17. Thinner or fatter? Thinner by about 10 pounds.

18. Richer or poorer? Probably about the same.

19. What do you wish you'd done more of? Traveling, stopping to slow down and enjoy the little things, take more risks, and step outside of my comfort zone more often.

20. What do you wish you'd done less of? I could say napping, but I'd be totally lying.

21. How will you be spending Christmas? Ummm...for 2009? Probably the same way I did in 2008.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008? A little bit every day.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Hmmm. I hate to admit this, I really do. But the one show I watched fairly consistently the whole year was Intervention. Maybe I need an intervention on myself to stop watching Intervention.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Maybe Ann Coulter, but that's about it.

26. What was the best book you read? Hard to pick just one. I really liked Animal's people, The Other Boleyn Girl, and 1984. I'd probably go with Animal's People.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? old-school Jason Mraz.

28. What did you want and get? An overall good year without much of a bone to pick.

29. What did you want and not get? Perhaps to win the lottery, but I never even played so that's my own fault.

30. What was your favorite film of this year? Oh man, this is the hardest question on here. The one that has stuck with me the longest is 'In the Valley of Elah.' Lars and the Real Girl was also quite good.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Turned 26, and had dinner and went out with friends.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? More travelling.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? Rediscovered the fun of fashion.

34. What kept you sane? Whether or not I actually stayed sane could be up for discussion. But probably Joe.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Barack Obama. And then Jason Mraz.

36. What political issue stirred you the most? The election, and that fact that "change" became a political issue.

37. Who did you miss? The perfect company from years past.

38. Who was the best new person you met? Well, taking the question literally, I would have to say Kye and Chloe Noelle.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008: Drink more water.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: (Lenka, The Show)

"I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I dont know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why

I'm just a little girl lost in the moment
I'm so scared but I don't show it
I can't figure it out
It's bringing me down I know
I've got to let it go
And just enjoy the show"

Heeding Life's Lessons

I'm not one much for New Year's resolutions, although I do wholly support the idea of reflecting on one's life and making goals for positive changes in the future. I do, however, find the act of making resolutions quite intriguing. If, for only a small part of the entire year, we can, as a whole society, collectively turn inward and focus on positivity and change, then I'm all for it.

As 2008 bid farewell and 2009 abruptly introduced itself, I too found myself both reflecting on the past year and thinking forward towards the year to come. I started to wonder, if I were to make a New Year's resolution this year, what would it be? I think part of my problem is that I can't decide on just one thing. I have a laundry list of things I would like to accomplish, places I would like to see, attributes I would like to learn to embody, and so on. But how to choose just one?

It was then that I came across this post, 16 Things I Wish They Taught Me in School, courtesy of The Positivity Blog, that I began to rethink the idea of resolutions. Instead of making just one resoution, why not try to embody some of these principles and ideas every day, in whatever ways that I can?

So perhaps that is my resolution. Pay more attention to life's little lessons. Heed the wisdom of others. Don't hold back. Take the plunge. Be who you are. Take in whatever this new year offers me, and make the most of it.

End of story. Nice to meet you, 2009. Let's be the best of friends.

Horribly funny

Check out this board game called Blasphemy. I laughed a bit too hard when I read what folks are saying about the game. If anyone has this game, PLEASE tell me. I'm altogether much too curious to play.

http://blasphemygame.com/index.html