Wednesday, April 25, 2007

DWTS/AI

The results show for Dancing with the Stars is so much better than the results show for American Idol. Actually, I think I prefer it on many levels. I definitely prefer the contestants and judges on DWTS. Of course, Seacrest is is WAY better than Samantha whatsherface.

Quick note on Idol Gives Back: Seacrest's botched intro is one of the many reason I love live TV. Love it.

Best Meme I've Done in a While

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

American Idol

So the judges pointed out twice tonight that the contestants picked songs that were difficult because the original version by the original artist was so iconic (I'm paraphrasing, particularly in the case of Fantasia, who isn't exactly iconic, but you see what I'm getting at.): Once with Blake doing Imagine by John Lennon and again with LaKisha doing some Fantasia song I have never heard.

And yet, they thought Phil had one of his best nights ever.

Clearly, they are not country music fans because he didn't do the song nearly as well as Garth Brooks. Phil sounded good, but Brooks did that song so well and so movingly and in a side by side comparison it just wouldn't have stacked up at all.

And again, he did sing it well, but just not as good as the original, which was apparently an issue with Blake and Lakisha, who I also thought were good (especially LaKisha, who I'm finally warming up to).

I don't even like country music that much, but I'm disappointed in the judges ignorance of the genre.

Monday, April 23, 2007

DWTS

I'm catching up on Dancing with the Stars right now because I was working earlier so I don't have much to say about the dancers, yet (except that I love Joey). But, I did want to comment on how one of the best things about this show is how they manage to stack the audience with B-list celebs every week. This week I've seen Norm (from Cheers) and J.C. from N&Sync. Not as good as the week of Brian Austin Green and Boyz II Men, but still pretty good.

Okay, and they just pointed out George Lopez before I could hit "Publish," but that doesn't count because he's on ABC.

ETA: Laila and Maks were freaking awesome. Plus, they danced to a pep band song.

ETA2: Oh, Billy Ray. That was awkward and a little tooly and still your best week, yet. Go you!

ETA3: Apolo and Julianne just made me feel dirty. I'm not sure I'm buying the whole "we're like siblings" thing. Totally hot, though. Definitely still my faves. Well, maybe. Still have to see Ian. PS I liked their music last week better. Hard to top "I like to move it, move it." Especially since it makes me think of lemurs.

ETA4: Actually, even better than the B-list celebs are the unscripted comments from Tom, Bruno and Len. These three should perhaps not be allowed on live TV.

ETA5: Joey and Apolo were both definitely better than Ian this week. Laila, too, I think. But, fun song choice.

Fruity Cocktails Count as Health Food?

Fruity Cocktails Count as Health Food, Study Finds

I'll drink to that.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Boston to Austin Part Deux

In preparation for my upcoming drive to Texas, I'm trying to figure out mobile posting, so I can blog from the road! I'll be doing a couple of test posts over the next few minutes.

ETA: Can't get it to work, yet. Thankfully, I've got months to figure it out!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

The Time Traveler's Wife, the movie

This news really excites me: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117963263.html?categoryid=1959&cs=1

The tidbit at the end there also reminds me that I want to add The Other Boleyn Girl to my reading list.

Peace out, Clyde

I caught up on Dancing with the Stars last night, and I feel a little guilty for doing this to Ian and Joey, but I think Apolo and Julianne officially became my favorite pair this week.

I also watched four out of seven singers on American Idol last night and this morning. Phil, I thought, had his best performance yet and I hope he at least outlasts Sanjaya. But, I have a bad feeling that's not gonna happen. Jordan was amazing, as always, and even though I usually hate when the judges discuss the singers' looks, Paula was right: she looked totally gorgeous. Sanjaya, having peaked at "bad" last week, was back down to "awful" last night. Last night was my favorite performance by LaKisha (though, I did miss the week she did Jennifer Holliday). The judges thought she wasn't that great, though, so what do I know?

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Dancing with the Stars

Because I was playing softball last night (yes, you read that correctly: playing), I didn't get to watch Dancing with the Stars. I caught up a little this morning, though, and even though I only got through three dancers (Ian, Clyde, and Heather), I have to say that Clyde's gotta go. Even if he doesn't get kicked off this week, I think I'll be fast forwarding his performances from here on out. It's just getting to be painful to watch. Ian was good, although his and Cheryl's samba was a little too...I don't know. It was just too much.

Also, now that there aren't many out-and-out awful dancers left, it's starting to become more obvious that Heather's not that great. Okay, I'll give it to her: her footwork is good, even for someone with two real legs. But, the rest of her body is a big fat mess while she's dancing. She and Jonathan just looked terribly awkward on last night's show. The segment where Jonathan got his chest waxed was pretty hilarious, though, and I still hope she at least outlasts Clyde and possibly Cliff the Mailman.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Aloft

I bought Aloft for two reasons: first of all, it was on the bargain book table at Booksmith. But, more importantly, it is by Chang-Rae Lee. A few years ago, I read another book of his for my contemporary novel class, Native Speaker. For me, Native Speaker was one of those books that seemed like it was written just for me. It's easily one of my favorite books of all time. I didn't enjoy Aloft as much, but like Native Speaker, it tackles the themes of race and family and how those both factor in to identity. Also like Native Speaker, it is very well-written.

I think the reason that I like Lee's books so much is that they are about life situations that are entirely different from my own and yet are completely relatable. Native Speaker, in particular, focuses on race and assimilation, but it is framed in such a way that it's not just about how being Korean American affects the main character, but how we are all shaped by our families and our language and our geographic roots. I also appreciate that the characters, despite some extraordinary traits (the protagonist of Native Speaker, for example, is a spy), are pretty normal. They are no better or worse than the rest of us. They have strengths, sure, but they aren't saints. Similarly, they have weaknesses, but they aren't rapists or murderers. The characters are just like people that any one of us might know.

In particular, both Native Speaker and Aloft strike a personal chord with me because I know that so much of who I am is because of my family, for better or for worse. In fact, I'm probably a lot like Theresa in Aloft. As a teenager, she deliberately distances herself from her family and tries to be the opposite of what her father is (hey, don't we all to some extent?). And yet, because of that she is probably even more defined by her family than her brother, Jack, even if the definition is the opposite, if that makes sense. She comes around in the end, though, and is ultimately the "glue" that brings her family closer together than ever. Okay, so I'm not so conceited as to think I'll be the glue that brings my family together, but I have come to appreciate my family a lot in my twenties.

So, I really enjoyed Aloft, but nothing like the way I did Native Speaker. I also think the latter might appeal to a broader audience, so I highly recommend it and only recommend Aloft for people who have agreed with some of my other book reviews on this blog.

Friday, April 13, 2007

What I've been Reading/Watching

My TV/movie viewing and especially my reading have slowed down in the last few weeks due to Megan's visit, going to LA, picking a grad. school, and procuring a second job. However, I did catch up on some things when I had down time in LA.

Katy has Showtime and On Demand, so we watched the first three episodes of The Tudors. I'm totally sucked in and hope the rest of the episodes will be online. First of all, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is so hot. Secondly, I am not so good with history, so for me it's all new and intriguing (except that I do know what happens to the wives and with the separation from the church). I'm looking forward to learning the fate of England under the reign of Henry VIII because I really don't know much about it. If you enjoy historical drama or Jonathan Rhys Meyers, check it out.

I also saw Beverly Hills Cop for the first time ever. I don't have much to say about the movie, but according to Katy, it's noteworthy that I had never seen it before. I was kind of excited to see LA/Beverly Hills sights (or should I use "sites" in this context?) that I had just seen in person for the first time. Speaking of, anytime we went anywhere in LA that was mentioned in Clueless, I was ridiculously excited.

I finished reading Aloft by Chang-Rae Lee, but I'm going to post a separate entry for that.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Reality TV

So, I've now not only been sucked into American Idol, but also Dancing with the Stars.

I'm going to start with Idol so I can say how happy I am that Haley finally got the boot.

As for DWTS, I think there is currently a three-way tie for my favorite: Ian, Apolo, and Joey. I agree with the Frayne Train, though, that having former boy-banders on the show is cheating. They already know how to dance! Sure, it's not ballroom dancing, but I think it still gives them an edge over a lot of the others. I also agree that Ian is about ten million times hotter now than he was as Steve Sanders.

I am also really pulling for Billy Ray. I know he can't dance, but he is so freakin' adorable and he's trying so hard! When the judges said the bear was turning into a lion, it looked like he was going to cry. I wouldn't want him to win, but I do hope he makes it through a few more weeks. He should definitely outlast Clyde the Glide and Cliff the Mailman.

PS The dancing to Big & Rich's Save a Horse on the results show was totally hot.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Vonnegut

Wow. Kurt Vonnegut is dead.

I haven't read anything by him in years...but, wow. He was so important to a younger me.

This makes me really sad.

La La Land


Went to LA this past weekend to visit UCLA. Since I'd already decided to go to Texas, that didn't happen so much. Fortunately, though, as much fun as I had, I feel more certain than ever that I made the right decision.

The first night I was there I came down with the stomach ache from hell (for a moment, I thought I might have appendicitis, the pain was so bad), so instead of doing anything fun, Katy and I went to 7-11, where we saw Steve Carrell. Clearly, it was the highlight of my trip, even though I was dying.

Above: Me bringing a little Boston flavor to the Hollywood sign.

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Boston to Austin

Okay, folks, I need your help.

At some point this summer, I'll be taking a cross-country drive from Boston to Austin and I need to make some mixed CDs to get me through. So, I am looking for suggestions of good road trip songs. I'm open to anything and I have eclectic tastes, so don't be afraid to suggest something. All I ask is that songs not be too slow and potentially sleep-inducing. Songs that fit the theme of road tripping or Texas (or any of the states between here and there that I may pass through) are especially welcome!

Comment away! Thanks!

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Hook 'em Horns!


I got in to my top choice school and they gave me a financial aid offer I couldn't refuse, so it looks like I'm a Longhorn! In the fall I'll be enrolled in the School of Information at the University of Texas Austin working toward my Master of Science in Information Studies with a specialization in Librarianship.

Above: A picture of the UT campus that Pat took when we were there in September.

American Idol

I haven't watched Haley or LaKisha, yet, because of softball, so I'm not going to give a bottom three this week, but I have a bad feeling that Phil Stacey is going home. :( Gina wasn't great this week, either.

I am getting closer to having a clear favorite now, though. I think it's down to Chris R. and Jordin for me.

Blue Nikki


So, yesterday, I dyed one of my cats blue. I spilled blue food coloring on the floor and before I could even reach for the paper towels Nikki was playing in it (normally she doesn't move too quickly due to her disability, but whenever there's trouble to be made she's like the wind). She got one paw all blue (and tracked pawprints all through the house) and her nose (shown here).


Broomball

Why Broomball Rules (The answer to why broomball rules reminds me of the days of watching Red or Purple Reign with Frank J. Busso, Jr.)

Tuesday, April 3, 2007

Alanis and the Black Eyed Peas

Alanis Morissette Ironically Covers My Humps

Hilarious.