The Queen

A fantastic movie, really well done, portraying a side of the English Queen (Elizabeth II) that I'd never known before, especially with regards to the Princess Diana issue, but maybe only since I was young when it all occured. The movie ended with the end of the Diana issue (or really the beginning part of the issue) and didn't deal with later contraversies with Blair and the Queen.
*And here I hear the work contraversy in my head as an English person would say it...

But either way, it's quite a movie, and moving in it's own way. Helen Mirren is absolutely wonderful, and although the actor for Blair doesn't really remind me of the way Tony Blair actually looks, they did a wonderful job. Highly recommended by me.

Honest Tea/Ade

So Margie has been ranting and raving about these Honest Tea drinks she ended up buying at Jay's Place, and finally I gave in and tried them. Not so bad, and quite healthy. I didn't see it on the last one I drank, but on the inside label of this one was a good quote...

"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." -Josh Billings

Take off your shoes?

http://healthbolt.net/2007/02/19/easy-health-tip-36-take-off-your-shoes/

It’s something that a lot of families think is a good idea, but I always figured it had to do with keeping the house clean. But it’s not something I’ve ever taken upon myself to do at school. Perhaps this medical reason is a good one. Plus, it’s easier to sit cross-legged in my chair without shoes (which I like). :D.

Overheard in New York

Link here

Oh, it has great great lines that people have overheard and typed up to share... here's some:

Four-year-old girl: Mommy, is this avant-garde?
Mom: Yes.
Four-year-old girl: Mommy, I like avant-garde.

--MoMA

Frat boyfriend: Wait, 525,600 what? What was that about?
Girlfriend: Minutes, baby. It's, like, how many minutes we have in our lives.
Frat boyfriend: Oh. [Two blocks later] Wait, 525,600 what? Minutes?
Girlfriend: Yes. Minutes.

--Nederlander Theatre, 41st & 7th

Best American Short Stories 2005, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, False Impresion

Three books. The first was a compilation with heavy themes in terms of content and writing style, filled with true stories collected which were almost all fabulous. A good read (but I bet any year will do you good). The second book, a fictional piece from the 50s that takes place in Brooklyn of course, and was a touching story of a girl growing up and the hardships. The last was a quick read, a mystery by a ex-lord (from the UK) who spent time in prison, about the murders surrounding famous art pieces that a collector wishes to keep.

All good books. I'd most recommend the second as it was fabulous. The first was just an interesting read; and the last was a quick piece (not super high quality writing but a somewhat enthralling story).

Illusionist and The Last Kiss

The Illusionist was a fabulous movie with Edward Norton, one of my favourites. About a man who seems to have supernatural powers and does magic, and eventually tracks down his long lost love.

The Last Kiss was a movie with Zach Braff about a man who eventually decides not to leave his pregnant girlfriend for a younger girl. An alright movie with a fab soundtrack. Which I'll get soon enough.

Travels

Magnificent!

Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh)
Italy (Venice, Florence, Rome)
France (Paris)

Traveling was a great experience, and I'd love to go back everywhere and do everything and see everything again. As they say... 'leave things for later' which was done, but more so because we ran out of time. Ask if you want to know more.

Wicked

So, I've loved the music for ages (I used to blast it in the car when it was just me and the car for a drive...) and I loved the book. I had told myself that I was going to wait until returning to HMC and see it in LA with friend when it opened there in February. However, apparently I couldn't wait. Idina Menzel, the Tony award winner for Wicked, was absolutely wonderful; and the audience cheered extra for her whenever she entered the stage or sang. I do get annoyed with audiences though, especially when they start making "ooh" sounds, etc. because it's just ruining the production and it can distract the actors/actresses cause it's a live performance. Oh well. And people started standing up to clap before the curtain even fell. It was fabulous. Absolutely wonderful... (just like the song).

It's quite funny hearing some of them with British accents (which would make sense since they are from the UK), but it was interesting. Gives the production a bit of flavor.

Nina and I made an event out of it, going to a nice Italian dinner before the show and we walked around beforehand. Either way, I'm still going to plan a trip to see it in LA, it'll be fun.

Playing Mind Games

BBC NEWS | Magazine | Playing mind games

A very interesting article on the BBC about the wonderousness of magic. When I was little I always wanted to learn, but I think I had so little patience for the constant practice needed. But I do agree that slight-of-hand and distriction techniques can come into handy in dozens of scenarios. Read the article and rethink the power of magic for yourself.

Flapjacks

A comment on Brits and their food, at least a quick one. Ever had a flapjack? It's butter, oats and golden syrup (similar to the American Maple syrup)... and heavy as anything you've ever had. This product is a dessert type snack, and after going to the Butler Christmas Tea (which was lacking tea, actually) they had me take home a buckets worth. I had just better not eat them all real quick.

An additional comment: a lot of HP sauce (it's brown...) on everything, the idea that cheese often goes, and just heavy food in general. Not that I eat lightly all the time. :)

Charity Clicks

You know those websites people always send you saying: click here to make a free donation... well I'm still not sure if it's true/false and what exactly happens, but here's a link to do a bunch at once. http://www.charityclickdonation.com/free_donation_clicks.html.

A Very Long Engagement

Wow. A really beautiful movie that reminds me a lot of Amelie. Not just because of the actress but since I think the director is the same. She investigates the disappearance of her fiance after he had left for war. I think I had expected the movie to be about something else, so perhaps read up a tidbit of info before watching if it sounds interesting. She was gorgeous in the movie, and he was handsome. They were lovely in it, and the movie was good.

Casino Royale

A fabulous new James Bond. I tended to like that it was more emotional and less violent overall. Yes, things blowing up are all well and good in the movies, but this movie just didn't need it. Apparently this is the movie they say is most like the books, and I'm excited to read it. So I've put it on my list. It seemed like this was the first book, for he had just been promoted to his double-zero-seven status, but the movie wasn't promoted as such. It was an inconsequential bit anyway. The movie's plot: James Bond needs to save the world from the financier of terrorists. In a poker match.

I loved it. I'm not sure if it's a necessary movie to see in the theaters, but the camera work was great and apparently the man from HMC was a bit part. Which I can barely remember. Still very cool.

NPR and its podcasts

I've been listening to NPR podcasts, don't get too excited... they've been the more light-hearted ones. Includes Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me (recorded in front of a live audience in Chicago, no less); and NPR: Sunday Puzzle. This week's 'Wait Wait' featured Harry Shearer (Wikipedia link here), a man who has done Spinal Tap, a lot of Christopher Guest films which I love, and a bunch of voices on the Simpsons including Ned Flanders and Burns. You never really look up about people, or know what kind of humor they possess - but it's nice to see that such celebrities (or more artistic types they have on the show) are really truly comedic and are sociable with the radio hosts. Apparently the show now has a quiz on its NPR website. You can also see the show live in Chicago-something I'll have to do later in life.

Reinstate the Draft?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061119/ap_on_go_co/military_draft

Does a military draft make you nervous? Apparently 7 out of 10 Americans oppose such a reinstatement of the draft, but the representative putting it into the spotlight brings up a good point. That perhaps people feel far from the war because they don't have sons and daughters fighting, and if they did, then they might hesitate before becoming involved in such a deep manner. It's intriguing, and Rangel (a democrat no less) would include females and males ages 18-42, although he previously proposed a measure covering from 18-26. A lot of countries do have a standing drafted army, but what does it serve to do? People could work in airports, hospitals and the like, but the rest? Are they wasting their time in such a standing army?

Pelosi makes history as female speaker

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061116/ap_on_go_co/congress_leaders_55

The first woman house speaker, and a democratic majority. Good news for America, I say.

Oh... and if you care, soon I'll post something about my reading week trip, or at least an email to some. Or perhaps pictures up on my picasa web album... soon, I promise.

America, and the vote

Unmarried women targeted in election

Besides my telling whoever reads to vote... which they should be doing anyway if they are of the legal age, the article just goes to show how many females don't do it. I remember voting for the president in the 2004 election, even though the outcome wasn't as nice as I'd hoped. Guess next time I should skip the rallies... or perhaps I should try harder. Maybe when I get back to HMC I'll have to join the league of women voters or whatever it is in order to sign more people up. I think it's one of the things I'm opinionated about (voting=good thing) that's not controversial at all. Most people agree, and not voting is just ridiculous.

A excerpt from the article:

"In 2004 they were 22 percent of the electorate yet there were still 20 million unmarried women who did not vote," she said. "If they voted in higher numbers ... they could literally help determine the agenda in this country."

Unmarried women tend to lean Democratic, political experts said.
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This article just makes me more interested in the matter. The lecturer in my British history class defined Federalism and referenced America. Yes, we are federalist, or at least that's a part of the government. America's democracy is interesting -- especially in the way it's all done, especially in comparison with other countries. And in response to the excerpt -- they'd determine the agenda because everyone should get a voice. There are 52% females compared with males who are registered to vote. Another fact. Enough rambling.

Back to history research paper writing...

Flatmates + Monopoly

Oh yes. We play monopoly.

The Motorcycle Diaries

If I said Crash was an art-y movie, then I spoke too soon, because Motorcycle Diaries takes the cake. The movie is about Che Guevara and his friend Alberto who undertake a motorcycle journey of South America, with a long stop at a leprosy site. The movie, although it may not be true -- even though I think it is based off his actual writings, is very realistic. The movie shows how they were able to see people of all sorts - rich, poor, healthy, sick, oppressed, etc. and Che Guevara was obviously touched by what he saw on his journey that probably influenced him later in life. It was a marvelous movie and had all the great elements and was truly heartfelt. This movie is one I recommend even more.

Crash

Wow. My reaction all through the movie was just: "wow." It's quite astonishing, well done, and it touches on a lot of issues. Crash is a movie made up of several storylines: policemen, both racist and not, men who are car thieves, a married couple, a family with a little girl, etc. They're really well interwoven and the themes that the movie touches on are mainly racial. Although I know it can't be real, the movie was very realistic. It had won a lot of awards, but I thought before that it was more of a documentary, and I hadn't been too interested; but it was suggested that I watch it, and I've finally done it. I highly recommend that everyone watch it.