Friday Funday

Sometimes, you have a rough week. Today was one of them. Yesterday, I wrote this (and forgot to post it):

I almost fell over into the copy machine while copying this afternoon. I was not tired but exhausted from all the work this week. I think I shut my eyes a little too long and lost track of equilibrium. Then I felt that falling action like when you're sleeping and have the falling dream. Except I was actually leaning over, very slowly, into the copy machine. I then decided I couldn't wait until tomorrow night at 6 pm when I can have a couple of drinks to celebrate the end of graduation certification!

So, definitely needing some drinks tonight. This morning went lightening fast. Not good since it is the last day of this very important certification time for my job. Lots of final decisions to be made on the fate of some students... sometimes I wonder at the amount of responsibility this job entails.

Anyway, weeks like this make for days that feel like you're on the struggle bus. Struggle bus you ask? Just one of those days where you do stupid things and life in general is just challenging and/or taxing. Apparently, it's a term that's been around (see facebook group description: "You're riding the struggle bus. Sometimes we get run over by this bus, or we're chasing it. Its ok. Join your fellow riders."

I heard it from Jason Laipply, self-described motivational speaker, but most importantly, creator of the Evolution of Dance. See below for your Friday Funday video:

I'm rooting for the polar bear...

more animals

I appreciate this type of animal/modern issue humor...

If I were in DC next week...

I would want to attend the Green Inaugural Ball. Mostly because I would want to wear a fabulous emerald green dress.

Like maybe the one Kiera Knightly wore in Atonement.



If ONLY I were so fabulous.

I'm So 'Lost'

What is the reason they are on the island?
Why does that one guy never age?
Polar Bears? Black Smoke? Whispers?
Why does Locke want to "protect" the island. Why does it cause miracles? (Him walking, curing Rose's cancer, Sun conceiving the baby when Jin HAD been sterile.)
And why are they lying? Why can't they tell the world there are still survivors? Why do they go along with Locke's request to lie:
"Lie to them Jack. And if you lie to them half as well as you lie to yourself, they'll believe you." Oooh, Locke, that burns!

There is so much coolness with the show 'Lost'. The philosophers (Locke, Rousseau, Hume), the biggest modern battle: science vs. faith (remind me to tell you about the girl who is studying Atmospheric Science because she wants to discover god's power. Actually, don't remind me). The science vs. faith battle is one of my favorite themes. They use it well in The X-Files (who didn't love Mulder and Scully!?).

Honor of season 5, 5 favorite Lost moments:
5) Discovering how connected everyone was before, years before!

4)Basically ALL of Locke's background. But most notably that he couldn't walk when he boarded the airplane in Australia, but could after the plane crashed.

3)When you realize the these seemingly normal people having book club meetings are "The Others" on the island.

2)Desmond and Penelope talking on the phone. Best. Convo. Ever. Love them.

1) Dude, where's my island. Seriously, how does time traveling make the island disappear? (Yes, I'm making the argument that even IF we COULD time travel, that wouldn't cause the island to disappear. These are the crazy things you just accept in the world of "Lost".

But I think the biggest question about this next season is: WHY DO THEY GO BACK. Because they do. And it totally baffles me.

SNL + NPH = LOVE

Can Doogie (aka Neil Patrick Harris) become a full time cast member? Much love to him and SNL cast for a great show Saturday.

I cannot embed hulu clips, so here's the link: Broadway Skit

Golden Globes!

Little late here... but first, must say, I LOVE awards shows. Well, some of them. And so does Megan - but are they shown in Japan? Don't think so... this is for her! I'm sad I missed the red carpet! And the first hour of the show. But we're just getting to the good stuff.

Gerard Butler shushed the Golden Globes. He is the man. And totally foxy. A totally foxy man's man.

Seth Rogan...lookin' good! He's trimmed down. And has some great glasses!

Best Screenplay. Ben Button or Slumdog! Here's hopin'... But I haven't seen the others. Slumdog is the winner! Who knew a movie based upon a Who Wants to Be A Millionaire would be SO. FREAKIN' GOOD. Based upon a book called Q & A.

Amy Poehler - love her! And Patrick Dempsey... so dreamy! (Cute dynamic, you two!)
30 Rock, The Office! And David Duchovney! Loved him for so long! Glad to see him about and about! Alex wins! Because 30 Rock is so brill.Tina Fey is a genius, glad to see Alec recognize this! And Rumer Willis is a Golden Girl! Love that dress.

Side commercial note: Eva Longoria looks better with long hair. Kate Walsh totally kicks ass in that Cadillac commercial. Totally sexy. Love it. And now want a Cadillac. Also, why can I not remember anyone's name tonight? (I've had to google everyone whose name is not announced.

Renee Z. in the movie "New In Town". Trailer made me fall out of my chair laughing when I saw it. Mostly (well, only) because of an inside joke (with the family no less). I'd go into, but let me just say: "New Ulm, Minnesota". Hilarious.

Kate Winslet! Give her an Oscar! She needs one!
Transformers! Cannot wait for the sequel! Megan Fox has a really bad makeup line.

Things to see: Bernard and Doris. John Adams.

Recount was a good, if not sad, movie. Yay for Wilkenson and Spacey. Yay for Giamatti for winning!

"This was a hell of a job, a hell of a job, this little costume drama we put on" - Paul Giamatti.

Apparently I missed Heath Ledger winning best supporting actor. Who accepted?!

30 Rock should win! Clip from show: "socionomically speaking you are more like an inner-city latina" (Jack to Kenneth). And it does! Biggest LOL:Tracy Morgan accepting on behalf of the show. He is now the spokesperon for the show since Obama won. Love it. (Megan - did you vote?!)

I need to catch up on Weeds!

Looking at other winners I missed. Anna Paquin for True Blood. Interesting. I enjoy the show, but didn't think it was that great. The girl does give a good scream though. Apparently, all the quality drama is no longer on network tv. ACM, TNT, HBO, Showtime, etc.

And Meryl Streep didn't win for best actress in a musical/comedy? Where you at Mamma Mia lovers?
Apparently Kate Winslet winning over Pennelope Cruz (Vicky Christina Barcelona) was an upset? I didn't realize VCB was being taken seriously. Not that I saw it. I just don't take Scarlet Johansson seriously anymore.

Best Original Score HAS to be Slumdog. But again, only one I've seen... GG goes to SLUMDOG! I'm basically behind SDM winning anything.

DD only actor to win in drama and comedy...because he's the BEST!

Best actress in tv comedy: And is America Ferrara engaged?! I love all these nominees so any should win! Tina Fey wins because, once again, 30 Rock is totally brill. Am I repeating myself? Her speech is funny. She talks about feeling that maybe you're too good after the year she's had, but "there's this thing called the internet". And she names some internet user names and tells them to suck it.
Also, gives a shout out to Will Arnet for a joke about owning the action figures of all the Hollywood Foreign Press, group that picks the winners.

Martin Scorcese is getting old. That is a head of WHITE hair. But the same glasses. Now he's yammering on about Steven Speilberg. I'm bored... but he just got weirdly quiet and emotional. Speilburg is... an ARTIST! Now a little video clip of movies by Spielberg. Jaws, ET (which I watched a few weeks ago - still makes me cry)
Midnight of Sun ( I think) which I should see. Christian Bale is in it. Jurassic Park! LOVE IT. Schindler's List ( I should see that again), Saving Private Ryan (love Tom Hangs and Matt Damon), Minority Report was pretty cool (had a dream about Tom Cruise hunting me after that movie), Catch Me If You Can (made my love Cate Blanchett) and of course Indie. Wow, Speilberg's done a crapload of stuff!Also produced: Back to the Future, Roger Rabbit, Men In Black, Twister! Memoirs of A Geisha, Transformers. Now he's getting an award. Probably lifetime achievement (I said I wasn't paying attention at first!)

(Apparently Pierce Brosnan was high when he introduced the Mamma Mia clip? This is according to confidential internet sources - ha.)

SS is still talking. So I'm browsing red carpet photos. Brad Pitt looks like he's in the middle of a midlife crisis.

(Chris Pizzello/AP Photo)

He needs to do whatever he did for Benjamin Button. Him as his 40 year old self was HOT.


















Love these two (Matt Sayles/AP Photo):



I can't wait for Last Chance Harvey. But I think Emma Thompson and Dustin Hoffman are Deee-RUNK. But Emma Thompson is freakishly TALL! Announcing Best Director, GG goes to: Danny Boyle for Slumdog Millionaire. This movie IS CLEANING UP!













Sigourney Weaver looks lovely. And she's talking about Revolutionary Road. The reuniting of Rose and Jack! (Kate and Leo). I saw the preview for this movie a couple weeks ago and it looks AWESOME. So pretty. (Matt Sayles/AP Photo)
























Sandra Bullock has a great dress. Love her. Winner for Actors in a Comedy. Apparently, In Bruges is a comedy? Whatev...I still loved it. but Colin Farrel wins. And he cannot believe it. He and Brandon Gleeson are buddies - love it. He's so Irish, adorable.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona wins best Comedy? I apparently should see this movie. And whoever announced this made, what the audience believed to be, some questionable jokes about the economy and Madonna losing an assistant (ie Guy Ritchie). Sandra Bullock shook her head in that way like she wanted to laugh but knew she should disapprove of.

Mark Wahlberg is hilarious. Also, just remembering the Wahlberg impersonation, once again on SNL last night. hilarious.
GG for Best actress in comedy: Kate Winslet! Yay! She's screaming is surprise. Maybe she will get her Oscar! She's hilarious and great. She just thanked Anne, Meryl, Kristin and forgot the other - it was Angelina.
Aw, there's so much Kate and Leo love. She's loved Leo for 13 years. God, she's the best. I want to be BFFs with her.

Ooh, Rainn Wilson and Blake Lively just introduced each other as "tv actors". And they didn't know they were supposed to read the nominees. HA, they got out of the mishap well. Best Drama TV show: MadMen. I don't really care. Although, I've heard it's good. But the person accepting just dissed Kate Winslet by saying "the british actresses stole my bit - I was going to cry." At least use her name, she would kick your ass.

Susan Sarandon! Is. So. Cool. Announcing best actor in drama. Mickey Rourke gets it. For what movie? I don't even know. I think it should have gone to LEO! But I'm prejudiced! Oh, The Wrestler. I've never heard of it.

MOTION PICTURE DRAMA...oooooh, the suspense is dra-mat-ic. HA. Slumdog wins it. So exciting! I think the director accepting cussed and was censored. Hilarious.

Slumdog Millionaire basically dominates. That would be my synopsis of the show. Yay for award show season!

You can't take a picture of this, it's already gone

Have you ever experienced something so haunting, so poignant, so beautiful it made you cry from the sadness and the happiness and also made you so aware of THIS very life you're living all in one burst of emotion? I love good tv and appreciate good characters and shows but I never thought a show could impact me so much. Six Feet Under has been over for 4 years now but I just started watching it 6 months ago. I finally finished the last season with a friend last night and it was absolutely incredible. I thought about yesterday while I should have been working and couldn't stop listening to "Breathe Me" by Sia when I went to bed on Wednesday night.

It was truly exquisite. And I hope to say, years from now, that it had a deep-down impact on my life. Hopefully, more loving, care-free and embracing of life. Because, right now, that is what the show has made me want to appreciate more about this existence.

Here is video of Sia, singing "Breathe Me", the song from the last few minutes of the episode. It definitely made the finale what it was.

An e-mail I got today: I'm angry too!

Bailey --

I know it's not good practice to fire off emails when we're angry, but right now I need to make an exception.

In case you missed it, a giant wave of more than 1 billion gallons of toxic coal sludge came barreling down on a community in eastern Tennessee from the nearby Kingston Coal plant over the holidays. The disaster is 48 times larger than the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Tens of thousands of people in surrounding counties are now searching for clean drinking water. Yes, here in America.

What really irks me is the fact that this was not a natural disaster. This was a "man-made" disaster tied directly to our reliance on dirty energy, and it's only the tip of the iceberg. More than half of the country lives within 30 miles of a coal plant like the one in Tennessee.

Fortunately, we don't need to watch more Americans spend their holidays digging out of toxic coal sludge. Tell the new Congress that coal is dirty and unnecessary -- we want clean energy now:

http://www.1sky.org/sludge

The Coal industry spent over $45 million last year trying to convince Americans that the dirtiest fuel on the planet is in fact "clean." This just proves that in reality, there's no such thing as "clean coal."

Despite this tragedy, the coal industry wants to build more pollution-belching coal plants. You can help prevent that from happening. You can help stop the coal rush.

Your Members of Congress have the power to stop dirty coal plants from being built, so tell them that investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency would result in more jobs for the same amount of power -- without the toxic sludge:

http://www.1sky.org/sludge

Thanks for your quick attention on this, and please forward this message on to your networks far and wide to be sure that Congress gets the wake up call.

Gillian Caldwell
1Sky Campaign Director

PS. To see videos of the devastation in Tennessee and get more information, visit this blog tracking real-time updates as well the United Mountain Defense website.




PPS. The picture above is of a resident living on Swan Pond Circle Road, the residential area closest to the breach site. She's holding a picture of what her back yard used to look like before the Kingston Fossil Plant coal sludge spill. Photo credit: SouthWing

Do I need to tell you what you ate for breakfast, too?

Some things about working with undergrads (now that I'm not one...)

I'm beginning to question the intelligence of the many, many students with whom I attended KU. Coming straight into my position from being an undergrad (ok, yes there was a 6 month delay...but I labeled that working on my mental health...) there are going to be a lot of students who come through my office who I actually know. I'm sure it will take 3 years or so for everyone I knew as a student to be flushed out. This is me being optimistic. I knew some smart people. Not the kind to take 8 years to graduate. I hope. Kind of weird, yes; but weirder (and more embarassing) are the things that these students (well, not the ones I know) believe about the graduation process at KU. You "graduate" and officially have a degree once you COMPLETE all your classes. You "walk down the hill" in May after you graduate OR whenever the heck you want to. In my case: I WALKED in May 2007 but officially GRADUATED in December 2007. Kind of cheating, whatever, but I wanted the experience.

A short synopsis of walking down the hill at KU: The only official, university-wide graduation ceremony is in May. All the graduates line up in awful black polyester on Memorial Drive and proceed through the Campanile (proceed makes this sound easy. It is not. 4,000 people is a lot to get through a tower...). THEN on the other side of the Campanile is a hill. And NO, not just a lovely hill like the one in your backhard but a BIG hill in which you walked up for (at least) four years earning you "KU Calves". So, we all parade down this hill with friends and family taking pictures, crying, etc and the ceremony is at the bottom in Memorial Stadium. Everyone's name is NOT called (but who needs that - the REAL photo op is coming down the hill) and the Chancellor speaks. So, to a general outsider (aka a non-Jayhawk) this might not sound exciting AT all. Well, it is and it has been done for about 100 years now, so deal with it. We like our nostalgia and tradition at KU!
SO, with 4,000 people (plus 10,000 screaming fans, I mean family members) everyone is screened before they walk down the hill, right? WRONG. Seriously, who has time for that? This is about as organized as 4,000 people can be with a couple of well placed signs and crowd control ropes. So, you can basically walk down the hill however often you want. But I wouldn't for several reasons. 1. Did I mention black polyester? In May? In Kansas? Right...moving on. 2) There's this little thing called IF YOU WALK THROUGH THE CAMPANILE BEFORE YOU ACTUALLY FINISHED, YOU WON'T GRADUATE. Seriously. Maybe a myth, but I would NOT want to mess with something like that. 3) Did I also mention this is freakin' one of the coolest things to do? Ever? On my list of top 5 favorite experiences. You don't want to demean it by doing it more than once. Unless you get another degree, then by all means do it again!

So, back to my point. You may *think* you're graduating. You walk, etc, pomp, etc. family, etc., circumstance, etc. But, did you finish that incomplete class? Did you transfer those juco hours? Did you REALLY need 45 junior/senior hours? Yes, yes you DO need all that to officially be granted a degree.
So, when a student emails asking, did I graduate in May and we respond, "no, because your hours didn't transfer" and then you come back with "but did I walk?" Well, here begins my theory on the intelligence of some people. We do not know if you walked. Did we hold your hand? Did you see us take a picture of you? Geez.

Silly undergrads. I can say that now since I am no longer actually an undergrad.

Let's look at the REAL message

Oh, look. John Edwards would consider something in the Obama administration. Of course he would! But you know what? That's NOT the freaking story! Edwards' anti-poverty campaign IS the story. It would be nice to see the media covering this instead of being repetitive, boring and discussing who might be Obama's VP. There's only so many times you can talk about it!

Ugh.

6

Hemingway's best work? Six words. Inspiring.

Obnoxious Articles Day

The biggest liars ever.

The article itself isn't obnoxious but the truth of it is.

Seriously. Seriously?

Could he please just go away? Please?

Summer Movie Blast: Part One (May - June-ish)

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. Prince Caspian is a hottie and I still love darling little Lucy. And why the heck did it take so long for Aslan to show up, honestly? I think I liked this one better than The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. And the hostility betwixt William and PC was fantastic. Expected, but definitely fun. And I loved Edwin's grown up attitude. Quite the humorist of the bunch and a bit more mature. Fantastic. Did you know he grew like 6 inches while filming the first CON? Talk about a grown spurt. And internet bless IMDB, for that bit of information.

Sex and the City. It was damn fun. A little bit more serious than you're used to seeing in a 30-minute episode, but something had to happen for there to be a plot. So, there's this middle to end 3/5 of the movie that isn't quite the laughs and humor you get used to with SATC. But, enjoying it with a cosmo and old friends made for quite an enjoyable evening.

The Incredible Hulk. Did I mention I'll see almost ANY movie if you get me in the right mood? It was a rainy Sunday, what else was I supposed to do? Edward Norton is a hottie and a damn fine actor, so I loved his performance. Liv Tyler, well I would really like to BE her, so I thought she was great. And Tim Roth pulled off a nice antagonist to the BB's alter ego. Yet, I didn't feel the motivation was quite there for his character's action. Initially, yes. But then? Well, maybe the gamma is addicting in low doses. And he did have some absurd lines, all the actors did really, but what else are you to expect? It's an action movie and it was good, summer fun.

Trailer-in-waiting: While, I grew absolutely GIDDY in seeing The X-Files trailer (I knew it the minute I saw Amanda Peet and heard her say "you're not exactly the most popular woman with the FBI, right now...") I'd really like a Harry Potter trailer. If that hits me unexpectedly (without any WB announcement beforehand) I might spill my Diet Dr. Pepper. So, future movie goers watch out. You have been warned.

The Floods, The Tornadoes and the Spring that just won't end

Everyone I know has been generally lucky so far, but who feels like they have a target over their city or town? Raise your hands. You all should. Because this is getting out of control and I don't know if the weather we've had this year is ever going to stop.
If you're lucky, one of two things can happen. Despite the loss of life, the destruction of homes, the ruin of whole towns; humans can surprise you with their compassion.
And then there's this 13 year-old who, naturally as an Iowan, is blowing away the rest of the country with his or her commentary on what he or she has seen helping out people in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. And damn, can he write. You cannot expect that level of writing proficiency from any given adult, let alone a 13 year old. That's because Iowa education rocks! :D
Good luck everyone, I hope you and your families stay tornado and flood-free.

Oh, and the other thing that can happen? People scream and shout and complain and basically, you remember what an ugly world this place can be. So, let's hope we stay on course with option one.

Well, alright.... if you insist

This is what? A week late? But, yes, I took a pic of the tv. There were so many emotions in this evening...and I had a lot to deal with. I thought HC would be the better president, but I now must accept that BO is the nominee. And, I've been thinking about this for a few months, he's not a horrible second choice. And damn, that man can GIVE a speech. I am also confident he will do better things for our country then any republican ever could. But that's maybe why I'm a democrat...

Pride & Prejudice

Which Pride and Prejudice character are you most like? (PICCIES) created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Elizabeth Bennet You are independent, passionate and unconventional, with a sharp tongue and a quick mind. But you have a quick temper and sometimes forget who you're talking to... Elizabeth Bennet 85% Mr. Darcy 80% Charlotte Lucas 75% Kitty Bennett 55% Lady Catherine de Bourgh 50% Mr Bennett 50% Mr Bingley 50% Jane Bennett 50% Mary Bennett 45% Lydia Bennett 45% Mr. Wickham 40% Mrs Bennett 25% Mr. Collins 25%

Favorite New Word: Prayfullness

Somehow, I find myself watching PBS. I have three channels in HD, so I might as well learn something. I'm watching an episode of Prayer in America. The episode description: "Examines how prayer has contributed to the fabric of American history, culture and everyday life". I'm not a religious person, but I can appreciate learning about a religion from a... well, outside point of view. I like approaching it like you would anything else in history or popular culture. As a scholar, not as a person of faith. Not that I do not have faith. I have much faith. I would have given up on the job search long ago without faith. More, I do not have a religion and religion has, in fact, probably turned me off from having faith in the past. Thankfully, I have since been educated (pause for haughty look from a highly educated young woman....oh, wait - that's not me. The haughty look, not the educated part...) and have been able to find a distinction between having an established religion and and being religious (or having religious tendencies like faith or prayer). I'm still wary of religion and the ridiculous things it makes people do. I cannot deny it has had a positive influence on thousands of lost souls and others needing hope and a definite say in the structure (whether positive or negative, I do not know) of our country (best class I ever took: American Studies/Sociology 110) but it has also done some largely negative things for our world. Which, given a certain 5-year anniversary taking place today I refuse to discuss since it makes me absolutely sick, is a whole other post for several other days.
But, prayfullness. It was used in this episode of Prayer in America and it made me giggle. The man using it was totally serious and academic and the use made sense..but prayfullness? America should really stop making up words. I think we're out of any good options.

Wow, and that was going to be a short entry. Whoops.

Anyone else remember how much ice we got in December? It was like living on a skating rink which is very tricky when going to campus on a giant hill. Or a mount. Mount Oread that is. Still, with all the time I spent on campus because of Campaigns, I got some awesome shots of Stace and I celebrating the completion of The Plans Book (to remain unseen) and a cool shot of our lovely ice-covered campus.
A bit of tweaking in Picasa made this picture look a little grainy (from the sharpening) but also rather striking and mysterious.

some clips from the wise people we pay to teach us

"I'm warning you - if you don't get this read you're going to flip my bitch switch. I'm gonna be pissed" -DD

"The proof is in the pudding" -Dr. JF

"Starbucks is to blame for global warming" - Dr. JF

"Guyssss" -Dr. G

That's all I can remember for now. Maybe I'll edit later. Basically, you have to be crazy to be a college professor.

The Emmys Finally GET It!

Unprintable song up for Emmy on Saturday

Update: IT WON!