Saturday, April 08, 2006
O blog, I think this is the end for you.
From now on, people who actually read this should just check out my livejournal. I've been crossposting for so long now, and I don't wanna crosspost no more. And that site loads faster and gives me less trouble.
So go here now.
I might occasionally add to this page, but no promises.
posted by Beth at 12:02:00 AM
O blog, I think this is the end for you.
From now on, people who actually read this should just check out my livejournal. I've been crossposting for so long now, and I don't wanna crosspost no more. And that site loads faster and gives me less trouble.
So go here now.
I might occasionally add to this page, but no promises.
posted by Beth at 12:02:00 AM
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Semi-biweekly entry time!
First, Nathan tagged me for this sometime ago, so I’ll get that out of the way.
Guilt What is yours? Explain yourself Culinary: Dipping chicken mcnuggets into hot fudge sundaes with nuts It's probably no surprise to anybody that I like almost all fast food, but this one might actually gross people out. I really like meat and chocolate (and nuts) together as one. Literary: I paid money for and read a Saved by the Bell book First of all, I was in eighth grade. Also, it involved Kelly getting sexually harassed at her workplace. Come on! Audiovisual: American Idol Enh, I don't know... I like picking someone to root for, and even more than that, I like hating somebody and wishing them to get thrown off each time. I just look for it and go back to it each year. Musical: Spice Girls Meh. I liked them even when it was far more socially unacceptable to do so. I found them likable and fun is all. Celebrity: General crazy celebrity gossip I enjoy it when celebrities do stupid things, because I get to feel smug and think, "Oh, you're really rich, but you're still so stupid that you drive with your baby on you lap!" Come on!
Now I tag:-
I didn’t tag anybody. I’m not the tagging type. I also want to add that I failed to include stuff like shows that I watch that I know are garbage, and I just yell at ‘em the entire time. This wasn’t the place for good crap/bad crap.
Okay, I’m thinking about abandoning my blog and posting only at my livejournal. Should I do that? I know a bunch of people have already done it, but something is blocking me, and I can’t really describe it. I might feel guilty about it or I just don’t want to leave it alone. I’ve been crossposting a lot of things, and I don’t want to do that forever, either. I don’t even know that people still check the blog, but I’ve had it for so many years! But I don’t write as much as I used to, so maybe I shouldn’t complain about crossposting. Oh, what to do…
Cinema Corner
Ideally, I would have written about each Netflix movie I’ve ever seen, but that never happened, now did it? It wouldn’t have benefited anyone, but it would have been good, somehow. Alas! But this time I shall write of two recently viewed movies.
Urban Legends 3: Bloody Mary
First let me say that I really liked Urban Legend. It was released after Scream and shortly after I Know What You Did Last Summer, but I group it with them, because it was a very Hollywooded up 1990s horror film. It got less attention that those other two, but it was my favorite of the three. Recently, I also saw Urban Legends 2: Final Cut. The sequel was pretty bad. It was way way overdone and over-the-top crazy. I liked some of the legends that they used, but it was just too... not good enough.
Okay, so that said, I really enjoyed the third movie. Probably not as much as the first, but it was a lot better than the second, which wasn’t hard. It was less Hollywood-looking, the cast was smaller, the motives were less crazy. Okay, the second one had better special effects, but this one was straight to video, so I guess I can’t have everything. It also used some nice urban legends, too. The subtitle, “Bloody Mary” was a little misleading. I mean there was a Ring-like storyline involving a Mary who was somewhat bloody, but it really had little to do with what it might sound like. I guess that’s okay, though. I also have to give them props for mentioning how the Bloody Mary legend was something like Candyman. Candyman references are always good, and this movie didn’t really go in that direction, which would have been typical. But like I said, it went in more of a Ring direction. So yes, it was much better, and less cheesy, than the second.
Last night, Nathan and I watched Polyester. I feel like a huge jerk for not having watched this years and years ago. I thought it was great. Hell, I thought it was one of the best John Waters movies I’ve ever seen, at least definitely in the top two or three. I don’t want to say much more about it, because that would just be crazy gushing, but I thought it was really excellent. I loved Divine in it, and I just plain love Divine. I love how he delivered his lines (also something I loved about Pink Flamingos), and how he played women. Bah, I just loved Divine, you know? Divine was all about dignity and being over-the-top (in a good way) both at once, even while doing something disgusting (like in Pink Flamingos). But in general, I think that one thing I like about all John Waters movies is the dialogue. Not enough movies refer to “G-rated movies” and “juvenile delinquents,” you know? I’ve really enjoyed all three (Pink Flamingos, Crybaby, and Cecil B. Demented) of the John Waters commentaries that I’ve heard, so I am absolutely going to listen to this one before I put it back in the mail.
Waugh, I mentioned Polyester, and I didn't even say anything about Cuddles. Cuddles was Awesome.
Oh, I should also mention that I had a decent Valentine’s Day. I got a lot of candy, and Nathan gave me a pretty jade and peridot necklace, a Franz Ferdinand CD, and that new Tori Amos video collection. Yay!
And while I'm mentioning things that I should have mentioned already, last Sunday, we went to a burlesque show, and that was a lot of fun, too.
And and and I also want to roll back the calendar to the 7th, because I wanted to say happy birthday to erin. I hope it was good! I didn't forget. I'm just a jerk is all.
posted by Beth at 10:02:00 PM
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Stuff and things.
1. I’m not on any Arrested Development communities, and maybe you aren’t either, so I will share. My uncle told me about Fox getting a jeer of the Cheers & Jeers variety from TV Guide. And so I copy from the weird, new magazine-sized TV Guide:
Jeers to Fox for dumping the final four episodes of Arrested Development on a Friday night—opposite the Winter Olympics opening ceremonies. The network will air a two-hour block of the brilliant-but-doomed sitcom on February 10 (including the delayed episode guest-starring Jason Bateman’s sister, Justine). Considering that Arrested will go up against the eternally popular lighting of the Olympic torch, this brings new meaning to "burning off episodes."
Stupid stupid Fox will never know what they have with that show. Set your VCRs everybody. I know it’s not likely that I’ll remember to watch at that day and time, and if I miss it, I will cry the bitterest of tears.
2. Dorothea was so appalled by a particular Barbie doll that she bought it for me the other day. When we were in our younger teens, we used to go to the toy department of stores and remark on the sad state of Barbies, but this one so took the cake that I now own it. {g} It’s a My Bling Bling Barbie. Specifically, it's a My Bling Bling My Scene Barbie; the purpose of My Scene Barbies, I suspect, is to give the inexplicably popular Bratz dolls a run for their money, by remaking Barbies with bigger heads and bitchier expressions. Please take a look at it on Amazon. While you’re there, also look at how her friends are dressed. Dorothea got me the Barbie doll that’s actually Barbie, because she’s dressed worse than her three friends. You should also check out the customer reviews (such as "Thatz odd she lookz like Cloe from Bratz witch rock like marshmellowz so deal with it!!!!! Love Julia!")*. Here’s what the back of the box says:
Barbie, Madison, Chelsea, and Nolee are livin’ the ultimate celebrity lifestyle! We’re talkin’ totally blinged-out jewelry, super fabulous fashions, and a slammin’ silver ride with sparkling detail. Girl, with a life this good, you gotta love My Bling Bling!
Each doll also comes with a "Ka-CHING! Bling RING for you!" Not only that, this doll also boasts a skirt so short that you can practically see her non-existent Barbie sparkly bling-gina. She even has a belly ring. As do two of her friends. I’m not sure if the black girl has a pierced belly, because she’s dressed more conservatively than the others and her belly is covered up. But I assume she has one underneath, like at least for the sake of conformity...? I haven’t opened the box yet. That’s the nerdy collector in me. But I’m so tempted, because I want to put her in the other outfit, a skimpy halter-dress thing to see if that’s better or worse. Better, I’m thinking. Oh, she also comes with a cell phone to further accentuate her awesome superstar lifestyle.
That’s blingrageous!
I’m also fascinated by the name Nolee. I have called Nathan that name more than once, and I mean prior to the revelation of this Nolee.
3. And finally, it’s that time of year again. The other night, I saw that skeezy, pervy, makes-me-feel-filthy-to-watch-it Vermont Teddy Bear commercial. Last year, Adam Corolla did the narration. But this time it was just some guy. Which made it filthier, I tell you. That commercial gives my television STDs, I swear. I love/hate the part where the guy is placing his order online, and he kind of nods his head in an "awwww, yeah… I’m gettin’ some" way. So dirty. And then they show the hottt ladeez talking, and one of them says, "I can’t wait to give him MY present." Ew ew ewwwwww.
Blech. Just go to Build-A-Bear for all of your exchanging-stuffed-animals-for-sexual-favors needs.
*That quote about Bratz rocking like "marshmellowz" sounds like some of the crazy crap that sarah finds on myspace. {g}
posted by Beth at 9:47:00 PM
Saturday, January 14, 2006
There's this show on the Trinity Broadcasting Newtowrk with Kirk Cameron and some British guy in it. Has anyone seen this? Each episode is about some Biblical topic that they introduce. Then they do this Jay Leno-ish thing where they talk to people out on the street and ask them questions in an attempt to make them look foolish and/or contradictory. Leno really only attempts to make people look foolish, when he does it. You know what I mean, right? Like when Leno goes out and shows someone a picture of someone, say Karl Rove, and people can't identify the person in the picture, but they can identify a picture of Cap'n Crunch, and the lesson is that people are stupid. I do not agree with this conclusion or method, by the way. But Kirk Cameron--actually, it's the British guy who goes out and talks to people. I guess Kirk is afraid people will hassle him and ask how Ben and Carol are or some crap. So yeah, the British guy goes out and asks people questions in an attempt to make them look foolish on camera.
In the last episode that I saw, the topic was something dealing with people who go to church and pretend they're religious, but then go out and very obviously do things in violation of their belief system. I, a staunch atheist, actually think this is a very good topic. If you think that hell is real, then you sure better do what you believe will keep you away from it, right? Otherwise, who are you impressing by telling that you are religious, when you are not so much? See, I don't believe in anything, so I can do what I want. {g} So anyway, they send out the British guy and he asks people if they believe in God and hell and they say yes and he asks them how they stay away from it. Most, if not all, say that the Ten Commandments (the actual listing, not the film, I GUESS. I'm not religious, remember?) will keep them out of hell. So he asks them to name as many as they can, they do, and then he asks if they hold to all of them. There's always at least one that they violate. So he then takes the opportunity to rub their faces in it, "What would you do if you died tonight? You'd go to hell!" and whatever. Again, I hate this Jay Leno approach to telling someone that you think their priorities are wrong. Oh, I also hate how they said that finding someone attractive is commmitting adultery with your mind, and you can go to hell for that. That's bogus. Lighten up, man! (God's a man, right? I mean, he has a beard, right? The one thing I know about God is that he has a beard, and I can't see a woman-god with a beard going over very well.) That shouldn't be illegal. Most of hte time, that's all you've got. Am I right or am I right?
So my point is that you can watch Mike Seaver tell us how we're all going to hell on TBN.
Quiz result time!
You scored as Edmund Pevensie.
Edmund Pevensie
80% Mr. Beaver
67% Mr. Tumnus
67% Ginarrbrik
63% Peter Pevensie
60% Susan Pevensie
60% The White Witch
53% Lucy Pevensie
50% Aslan
47% Mrs. Beaver
40% Oreius
40%
Which Chronicles of Narnia character are you most like?
created with QuizFarm.com
My first reaction to this is shock and surprise! But honestly, it probably is the best choice. I have unintentionally or even intentionally hurt people I love and then I feel like garbage about it afterward. There ya go. I shall learn from it and grow.
The rest of this post is about knitting, so you might want to just get away while you can.
For Christmas, I got Stitch 'N' Bitch from Nate's dad and Nate's dad's woman. I am excited about this, because I am extremely close to finishing my only other knitting book, Kids Knitting, which I chose, because learning to knit was really intimidating for me. The knitting method that's taught in Kids Knitting isn't specific to right- or left-handed people, says the book. It teaches you to just pick up the yarn and drop it again, after each stitch. So that's how I learned to knit. And knit, I did. Tonight, I might just finished my first sweater. But anyway, I've broken into Stitch 'N' Bitch already, and that book teaches actual knitting methods, English and Continental. According to the book, English is the most popular in this country. I tried it, and it felt really wrong to me, so I tried Continental and that, oddly, feels much more comfortable. I assume it's because it's closer to the adapted way I learned in the first book. Instead of dropping the yarn each time, I started to wind it around my left hand, sometimes. So yeah, I am a Continental knitter, even if it's unpopular or at least more common to the lefties and Germans. It's really important for my readers to know that I am not left-handed. Oh God, no! Me? Hell no! But German? Yes, somewhat, but I've been brought up to say "Pennsylvania Dutch" instead of German.
English knitting is really too out of control for me. I now realize that some lady on the bus was showing me English knitting awhile ago. There's a post about it in the archives someplace. On my way home from Philadelphia one day, this old lady thought my knitting was crazy or for left-handed people or both. She took my knitting away from me and showed me how she does it. She tucked it in her armpit and started knitting really quickly. It looked confusing to me. I can't do that. It's not in me. I think if I had been taught to knit that way, I'd never have learned in the first place.
Oh, in Stitch 'N' Bitch, they say that you can make patterns out of knits and purls. Their example is a heart-pattern, which I knitted Continentally and gave to my mom. Then I knit myself a picture of a Triforce. I'll post a picture of it, once I finally change the batteries in my camera.
Does anyone else who reads this knit? How do you do it?
posted by Beth at 11:04:00 PM
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Wuh. This Rufus Wainwright album (Want Two) has got me feeling all strange and depressed. It’s a very good album. Maybe my favorite? But I should probably relisten to the others before making such a claim.
Okay, maybe it isn’t the album that’s got me feeling strange and depressed, unless the album was a trigger or something. But something made me think of something I heard someone at school say about why same-sex marriage shouldn’t be legalized. So now that thought is floating around in my head and making me feel kind of bad in general. People can say ridiculously horrible things and not even realize it.
So onto other things…
New Year’s Eve was kind of good and kind of less good. The best part was seeing Erin. She had dinner with Nathan and me. This wasn’t really planned out too much, and was mostly last-minute on everyone’s part, but it made me happy. She is one of my favorite bowls of milk. She goes in the plus column. The first TMBG show also goes in the first plus column. But in the minus column, I must put the fact that the North Six let everyone in a full hour later than they were supposed to (it’s a good thing we got there kind of late, because I no longer wish to stand outside of buildings in the cold). But the setlist was pretty good, and I didn’t even mind being almost as far back as possible. At the end, they passed out lyrics to Auld Lang Syne, and even though it was only 10:something, we all sang it. To me, it honestly felt like the nicest New Year’s Eve moment possibly ever. I can’t really describe it, but it was emotional and warm and I felt a sense of togetherness with the audience (that’s something I don’t really feel much of, most of the time). Sadly, I must put the second show in the minus column. But first, I put the North Six in the minus column again, if that’s possible, because they made us all wait outside again for a long time, taking forever to check IDs and will-call lists. That show started at something like 11:57 instead of 11:30. Midnight happened, and we sang Auld Lang Syne again (I had my lyrics from the first show, and some guy saw them and exclaimed, “You have the lyrics?!” like I brought them from home, because I am such an Auld Lang Syne fanatic), but it was only a third as magical as it was the first time. It felt rushed. The entire second show was rushed, and I still blame North Six for this. But the setlist was almost exactly the same, and I blame TMBG for this. Oh well, I’m not feeling very cranky about it anymore.
On the PATH train home, I saw this pretty woman in a white, furry coat and pink gloves come onto the train with a creepy man. She took an empty seat near where I was standing and cried into her hands the whole time, while the guy just stood near her, not saying anything. I felt and still feel really bad for her. I will never know what that’s about, but I’m blaming the guy. Crying is bad enough, but being made to cry on a holiday, in public when you’re supposed to be having fun is just horrendous. The image of her curled up in her seat and quietly crying into her hands is burned into my brain.
More other things…
So far, I’ve worked ten hours/two days at my internship. I think I’ve mostly done well, aside from a couple things I could have done better. They’re very friendly, and it’s a nice place, so I want to please them and be a valuable worker. I hope they put me in the plus column.
I finally started watching my Arrested Development season 1 DVDs. I think I love that show more and more every second. And I now have a weird fondness for Buster.
Is it wrong of me to enjoy the Colbert Report far more than the Daily Show? Because that’s the way it’s going for me as of late. I never worked very hard to catch the Daily Show, but I find myself putting more effort into catching the Colbert Report. No offense to the Jon Stewart, of course. He’s in the plus column.
I now have shoulder-length hair. Good for me! The longer hair was holding me back from greatness. I can probably run faster now, too.
Last night, I had a nightmare about that new movie Hostel. All I know about it is that it’s a new horror movie that opens this weekend. I dreamt that I went to see it, and everyone was saying that while you’re watching the movie, someone sneaks up behind you and sticks a needle into the back of your head. I told everyone that that was just an urban legend, and even if it was true, that it only happened in Europe and Australia, so I was going to see it anyway. And I did, but I scrunched down really low in my seat. Then we all ran out of the theater for some reason and some other crap happened and I woke up.
I wish to knit myself a Michael Nesmith-style, green wool hat. I’ve been looking for a pattern or at least a decent picture. I’m really shooting for accuracy here. I mean, if I get it wrong (suppose I make it all in stockinette, when it’s really 1x1 ribbing or something?), then I’ll have random passersby telling me what I jackass I’ve been, youknowwhatI’msayin’? I don’t need that in my life.
posted by Beth at 12:53:00 AM
