Capitalism at it's Finest

This is disgusting.

First of all, the house is ugly. The person who bought this should really try and get his money back. I mean, really. Look at it. Ugly.

But aesthetics aren't the only part of the house that's ugly. The price sticker? $1 billion dollars. It's the most expensive house in the world, bought by the fourth richest man in the world. This mansion was built in Mumbai. I can't understand why anyone would spend that much money on a house. Donate it. There are people practically next door who are starving, and you have the audacity to waste $1 billion dollars on a house for five people? How dare you! This is greed at it's finest.

Also, the mansion has 27 stories. It has a health club with a full gym, a movie theater, a dance studio, at least one regular studio, a ballroom, guest rooms, a wide range of lounges, etc. They employ 600 servants. Again, I find this revolting. You can use the excuse "we're giving people jobs" all you want, but 600 servants? For five people? That's 120 servants per person? What, does the guy want to be a country in and of himself? He isn't the Vatican, for Christ's sake. And do you really need a health club and dance studio in your own house? Really? 600 servants? That is obscene!

One sentence in the article really bothered me.

From the top floors of the 173m high property are spectacular views of Mumbai, the Arabian Sea and the slums!

I mean sure, a view of the sea from the middle of a city is quite nice. I'm sure Mumbai is a beautiful city (at least some parts of it, anyway), but a view of the slums? You built a $1 billion home with a spectacular view of the slums. How ironic, that your disgusting show of greed and gluttony is so close to those people who live in constant worry of starving to death. How can you, in good conscience, live so close to starvation. I hope you feel sick every day, waking up and looking your top floor window and seeing people below you living in such extreme poverty while you revel in your excessive capitalist greed.

This is what is wrong with capitalism. This is why Karl Marx came up with communism, this is why socialism is so important. Anyone who can afford this kind of house and can, in good conscience, buy it and still fall asleep at night, deserve to lose all his money. Either that or be taxed until his pockets are empty to help the people in those slums he has such a great view of.

And Experiment and Videos

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in ten days. Not only have I not had the time, I've also not really had anything to say. But I am going to post two videos, if that's okay with all of you. And then do a writing exercise. Because I feel like it.

Firstly, the videos. Here's the first one. You don't really have to have seen the show to understand the video, but comment here if you need clarification. This video makes me sob.



And now for the second one. This is the official music video of the song from the first one. I don't like it quite as much because Todrick Hall's dancing needs some serious work. It's for the It Gets Better campaign that I mentioned in an earlier post. It really is a great song.
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Now, for the writing experiment. I'm going to just pick a character I have to develop for my novel and write a monologue/stream of consciousness. Let me know what you think. This is his thoughts about his and his partner, Tristan's, first meeting.
Character chosen: JUDE MORGAN

He's just my type, I notice when he walks in. Tall, dark, and handsome. My insides are fluttering because I didn't wipe the counters down all the way. I know neither of them will notice, but it's going to bug me all night that it isn't clean. All night. Tristan slouches on the couch and I sit awkwardly next to him. I can tell by the way his hands are fidgeting that he's used to having a cell phone in his hands. He doesn't look nervous. I like that.

He's talking to me, and through my abnormally observant trance, I can hear him getting frustrated with me. I can hear myself speaking with fewer and fewer syllables and with a less and less friendly tone. Even in irritation he's attractive. He looks strong, and with this observation, I can hear my tone become even less friendly than unfriendly. Hostile, almost. How dare he be strong and healthy when I'm stuck pretending to dislike someone who, with each passing minute, I am growing to like more and more? All because of some passive-aggressive virus making its way through my body like a rumor.

He's glaring at his best friend, sitting on the couch across from him, ignoring him just like everyone knew she would. I knew he only agreed to this because she begged him, probably with baked goods, knowing her. And really, as if anyone could refuse her brownies. But I knew he didn't really want to be here. It's just that she didn't want either him or me to be a third wheel. He mutters something under his breath, something about using his time more wisely and I feel guilty. I feel guilty because I'm being miserable to him and he doesn't know why.

The forced politeness between disintegrates once Tristan stops trying. After a while, he yells "Enough!" and stomps out and I'm left there to sit and ponder while the others go after him. If I didn't have this assassin running through my blood and semen, if I were a normal, healthy gay man, what would have happened tonight? Would he have stomped out, or would we be kissing each other goodnight right now? As it is, nothing can really happen. It's not fair. But if it were, would he be perfect for me?

Sleep Much?

Not me. The word exhaustion doesn't even begin to describe how tired I am right now. Senior year + extracurricular activities + school and homework = a Bethany that could not be in more need of sleep. Misery is my company.

That being said, NaNoWriMo is next month, and it will make my life even more busy. 1,666 words per day for a month equal 50,000 words. I'm not sure I can do it, but it is only my first year, so maybe I can. Anyone who wants to join me, please do.

LGBTQ

What does that stand for? Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trandgender Questioning.

Please, please, please, check out the It Gets Better campaign on youtube and donate to The Trevor Project. Every few dollars helps and we, as a country, need to work together to make the torture stop.

The "It Gets Better" Campaign is a series of videos made by prominent gay celebrities such as Tim Gunn (from...a lot of shows), Chris Colfer from Glee, Perez Hilton, among others. In addition, the youtube page that can be reached at this link has hundreds of videos from normal people just like you and me. They are all there to tell you that it gets better. They are all stories of normal LGBTQ teens and young adults who went through hell in order to finally be happy. Here is one of them. Please check them all out.

The Trevor Project is a lifeline set up to act as a support system for LGBTQ youth who may be thinking about killing or harming themselves. Trevor was a 13-year-old boy who, when rejected by his friends because of his sexuality, tried to take his own life. The Trevor Project's goal is to increase education about and tolerance of LGBTQ youth and decrease hatred and suicide. Here is their youtube page as well.

In the last few weeks, three LGBTQ youth have committed suicide. The hatred and the violence has got to stop. "Gay" is not a synonym for stupid. "Fag" and "faggot" are not appropriate things to call anyone, ever. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning people are just that. People just like you. Calling someone a "fag" or saying something is "so gay" is akin to calling a black person a nigger. So give the terms the same weight.

These people are not any different from you or me. They deserve the same rights, the same level of acceptance and love and respect that straight people do. The cruelty and intolerance must stop. It's killing people.

You want to call yourself civilized? Act like it.

And if you are someone who believes gay people are evil, who opposes gay rights, who supports Don't Ask Don't Tell and opposes gay marriage, hear this: one day, you will get what you deserve. You are the evil ones. You are responsible for countless lives and the misery of countless Americans. You are a blight upon the Earth and should be ashamed.

Other Stuff

I'm just not going to review the movies I've seen recently. There are too many of them. And soon, probably, I will be posting book reviews. But for now, a few other things.

First of all, rest in peace Tyler Clementi, a college freshman who jumped to his death off of George Washington Bridge after being outed as gay on the internet via a secret sex tape of his sexual encounters in his dorm room.

Apparently, his roommate installed a camera and filmed Tyler whenever he asked to have the dorm for the night for a, well, hook up. Later, his roommate released these tapes on the internet. In shame of being outed on the internet, he jumped off a bridge. Not only is this crime considered cyberbullying, it is also being considered a hate crime by some gay rights advocate groups. Unfortunately, the boys responsible are only being charged with violation of privacy. It is a crime that holds up to five years in jail. For a few stories on the subject, go here, here, and here.

Personally, I think they deserve more than five years in jail.

In other, more cheerful news, GLEE IS BACK! Actually, it's been back for three weeks now. And I can only watch the episodes a day later, but that's totally okay. As long as I get to watch them. This episode, tune in to see Finn sing a cover of REM's Losing My Religion, along with the cast of Glee doing other faith-related songs in the episode "Grilled Cheezus."

Pimpage 2

I am dead tired and dealing with annoyances, so I am going to wait to post the review, again. In the meantime, please check out this amazing photography blog that I found!

She takes mostly fashion photography, but you can see her various History of Photography assignments. She's incredibly talented.

Coming Up and DADT

Right now, I am practically dead. I have not a second to spare and no time to right good posts. Coming up is a movie review on Devil.

In other news, quickly, the U.S. Senate is supposed to be voting on a military bill that includes a provision to end the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy that prohibits soldiers from exposing their sexual orientation with the condition that no one will ask it. So far, Republicans have managed to stall debate, let alone voting. It has already been approved in the House. According to the New York Times article, the bill will likely be easier to pass once the Pentagon study on the effects of the bill is due on Dec. 1.

Personally, I think that when this policy was enacted, it was a good idea, the times have changed. At this point, if you, as a soldier, find yourself incapable of fighting alongside a woman who likes women or a man who likes men, in the 21st century, then you don't deserve to be a soldier. These men and women who are only fighting for their country are forced to keep who they are a total secret in fear of being discharged dishonorably if anyone finds out. And sometimes, their personal belongings and emails and phone histories and families are searched and interrogated until their sexual orientation is found out.

If you have an interest (and you should), you should check out this article about also about the speech Lady Gaga made (wearing normal clothing!) at the rally in support of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. If you have an interest in this, make it known! Not only are people being discriminated against, but people who want to do their duty to our country and join the military are being discriminated against for something that is beyond their control. WHEN WILL THE PREJUDICE STOP, AMERICA?

New Glee

I'm extremely excited about the new season Glee coming up this week. Unfortunately, I have SAT class on the days that Glee shows, but I will definitely keep up with it. There will be a Britney Spears episode, a Rocky Horror Picture Show episode, Kurt's getting a boyfriend, there are four new characters. I'm extremely excited.

As a little sneak peak, here's a video of one of the songs they sing in the first episode. Let's hear it for Empire State of Mind as performed by Glee!

Review: Mockingjay and Dramarama

So, finally, I will review these. I would talk about the VMA's, but I don't feel like it. So, first, Mockingjay.

Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins is the third in the Games trilogy. It was quite a powerful and dark conclusion to a wonderful series. It was considerably darker than the other two books, with much more action. And, as a result of this increased darkness, certain characters we know and love are corrupted. But all in all, it is a wonderful book.

Set in a post-apocalyptic North America, now called Panem, in this third and final installment, Katniss Everdeen must come to terms with the fact that she is the face of the new revolution. Katniss agrees initially, but with time must battle how to be the symbol of a rebellion she doesn't entirely trust or believe in. What follows is a complex and imaginative read that is, like I said, dark and powerful. Not only is it a great plot, it also delves into political statement, dealing with the horrors of war and the effects it can have on people's characters.

Personally, ending aside, I found this book wonderful. Some of the characters were developed in a direction I don't particularly adore, and all my favorite characters either died or turned into jerks, but all in all, it was a fantastic conclusion.

And now, for Dramarama. This book is by E. Lockhart, and it isn't officially published yet. So, as such, don't look for it. My local library (and second home) got an advanced, uncorrected proof of the book and because they couldn't put it on the shelves (since it hadn't been published yet) the young adult librarian gave it to me. It was a considerably lighter read the Mockingjay, and concerns a very different premise.

In this one, two best friends who live in a boring old small town in Ohio are blessed by fate when they both get accepted to a prestigious summer theater camp. For one, Demi, it is the moment he has been waiting for, a chance to finally bloom and be his flamboyantly gay self without worry of homophobia. For another, Sarah "Sadye" Paulson, it is a test of friendship and the strength of her dreams as she is forced to question how much talent she actually has for what she loves.

This book, although very light reading and, in the long run, inconsequential, made me bawl like a little baby. This is probably because the main character goes through everything I fear, she seems to be forgotten and forced to face a growing sense of mediocrity while everyone around her shines. I read this in less than a day and for the entire second half, I just bawled. It was a really emotional book for me...All in all another great read. I recommend it when it comes out.

Oh My God!

I'm so sorry for not updating sooner than this. On a day when I have more time, possibly Monday, I will update with the two book reviews I promised. Until then, hold tight with the Susan Boyle-Lou Reed controversy. What do you think? Do you think Lou Reed should just give her permission already? I know other people have covered that song before (Perfect Day) and I think he's being petty and mean. I mean, he made her cry.

Review: Weezer Concert

So, last Thursday, I went to a Weezer concert. The opening band was Coheed and Cambria, which I am actually familiar with. Which was a pleasant change, as usually I'm not familiar with the opening acts of the concerts I attend. Unfortunately, I was with a rather talkative friend, and we chatted through a lot of that part of the concert. What I heard was spectacular, though. I wasn't there to see them, so I wasn't that excited.

Weezer, though. Man. I hadn't heard a bunch of their music, but the concert was amazing. Even though the music is a bit hard, it was quite easy to catch onto the lyrics and begin to sing along with the band and the rest of audience. The lead singer was so totally into it, as well. The whole concert had the feel of a party. Beach balls were bounced around above the audience's heads, toilet paper was thrown around. It was quite amazing. It was a ton of fun, and the rowdiest concert I've ever been to at that venue in particular. They don't even let you move from your seat most of the time, there.

But it got even better when the lead singer came out into the audience, going so far as the Grand Stands only to be mauled by adoring fans. And he then started singing on a cart that was behind the ground seats. It was intense. He was so into the performance, so interesting in connecting with all of the fans that were there, no matter what seats they had. I went because my mother got two free tickets, but I was surprised by how much of their music I had actually heard. And I am definitely planning on buying their newest album, Hurley.

Next post will probably be two book reviews in one.

Carrie Underwood Snubbed and Justin Bieber a Snob

So, this came to my attention as I was browsing one of the music news sites I follow. The nominations for the CMA's have come out, and again, Carrie didn't get nominated for Entertainer of the Year. There are a great many people who are upset about that. She hasn't gotten nominated for it ever, and definitely deserves it, whereas new acts like Lady Antebellum and more-pop-than-country acts like Taylor Swift do get nominated. In fact, Taylor Swift won last year. And Carrie Underwood has hosted them countless times and never gotten nominated.

I don't know, what do you think? The author in the article poses some possibilities for reasons, but most of them seem pretty flimsy. Then he comes to the conclusion that the CMA nominators can only have too many female nominations. And Miranda Lambert tops it off. According to this article, the last time the CMA's had more than one female nomination was in 1979, and neither of them one. So because Miranda Lambert got nominated, the more-deserving Underwood couldn't be.

If this is the true reason, the the South isn't as accepting and tolerant of women as we thought it was. This disgusts me.

In other news, Justin Bieber came to my hometown this week for a concert at our county fair. Weezer also came, and I will review that concert tomorrow or the next day, along with Mockingjay (a book). But this dirt cannot wait.

You see, apparently, Justin Bieber visited the movie theater I work at and was extremely rude. He kept trying to pay people (especially the MANAGER, who has better things to do) to carry his food to the theater for him because he didn't want to and he threw a hissy fit when we wouldn't give him special service. He told one of the employees to shut up when she told him that just because he was famous doesn't mean he could pay his way through everything.

Apparently, he also got kicked out of IHOP and Hannafords because he was rude and Walmart for throwing shit around. This gives me so much fuel for hating him. I'm so sick of hearing about bitchy celebrities. Because Katy Perry is too. She insults Tokio Hotel every time she performs "Ur So Gay" live by dedicating it them and she wrote a really insulting song about Travie McCoy in which she says "you fall asleep during foreplay / cuz the pills you take are more your forte."

Seriously, you celebrities are going to lose all of your fans if you don't treat people who are "beneath" you with respect. And that includes your peers. God!

Haters Gonna Hate

Yup, they are. Obviously, I knew this. But I came across this article today that listed a bunch of bands that had supposedly terrible hair. Some of them were pretty terrible, but most of them weren't that bad! And some of my favorite bands were on there. Like The Maine and Tokio Hotel. They don't have terrible hair. What really gets to me is that the author of the article also claims that they lack talent as well. And this, in my opinion, is woefully untrue. Then again, I'm biased because I adore Tokio Hotel, but whatever. That's not the point. I get so tired of people making fun of bands like this. I know it's ridiculous, and they don't even notice, but still. There are people who like them, whether or not they are teenagers. Who are you to judge whether or not they have talent. Musical talent is in the eye of the beholder. Your screamo Metal music (for that is what they were fans of, sad to say) is disgusting and talentless to a lot of people, and not just

over made up tween girls at the shows wearing concert safe studded belts and wristbands.

School is Approaching + Taylor Swift

Yup, that's right. It is. Next Wednesday, I go back to school. This means a variety of things. It means there will be more writing that I will be posting here, rather than just news and stuff. It also means (hopefully), more book reviews. And there are also times where I could be so busy that I just cannot post something, not that this at all qualifies as "something." And not that anyone cares.

Anyway, Taylor Swift's video to Mine, her new single off her new album Speak Now, came out out a few days ago. I tried to embed a video, but I couldn't figure out how, so you should look it up. It's quite a cute video, but it's another love story fantasy, if you pay attention to the end, and I think she should give those up.

A Closer Look at Frustration

Yes, we all get frustrated. Everyone does it. We get angry, we think everyone's out to get us, blah blah blah. But this is getting ridiculous. Every single time you do anything to clean in this house, you end up screaming at me. Or, in this case, screaming at me and flinging water all over the kitchen because you're angry you fucked up.

When you're home all day doing nothing, it's expected that you do something. Sure, we maybe should help more, BUT WE DO THINGS ALL DAY! We work, we visit friends, we do homework, we have a life. You don't. So, naturally, you should be the one doing the things that need doing. But if makes you angry every single time, then make someone else do it. Don't take it out on everyone else. It's not fair.

And try to think about words before they leave your mouth. Everyone always says "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." It's a lie. They do hurt. A lot. And I'm sick of being told to "buck up" and "don't take it personally." It is personal. And it hurts. And no number of shields will stop that.

That was all very random and not at all eloquent. Full of nonsequitors, but I needed to get it out. I'm also sorry it took my so long to update. It was a combination of being busy, tired, and not having anything to say.

AMA Performance

I'm a bit late to be blogging on this (considering the performance was at the 2009 AMA's), but to be fair, I just found out about it a few days ago and just got around to looking up tonight. Super late at night, to be exact. Or early. Either way, I should be sleeping. But that's besides the point.

To anyone who doesn't know what I'm talking about (which is probably all of you), Adam Lambert performed at the American Music Awards (AMA's), which aired on ABC. He was performing For Your Entertainment, as it was (I believe) a day or two before the release of his album, and he hadn't released any other singles. But again, so far off topic. It was the content of the performance that mattered.

You see, the performance was incredibly controversial, considering it aired on ABC, a family television network. The theme was obviously S&M, with the start of the choreography involving Adam holding two men on a leash and shoving one of their faces into his crotch in an act of fake fellatio. And while that did get a few raised eyebrows, it was something else entirely that got the outcry. You see, somewhere towards the end of his performance, Adam shares one scorching kiss with his keyboardist, Tommy Ratcliff. On live television.

You want to see it? So did I. Here's the link. That is the link to the entire performance. Pay attention if you want to see the make-out. I missed it the first time I watched it. And the bleeped out words are ABC censoring him.

Anyway, the outcry. I think this is where Adam Lambert is building his niche, and it's believable, whether there is feeling behind that kiss or not. He's not the first musician to give a fan-service like that and make-out with a member of his band on stage. In fact, the band Cinema Bizarre did it on many occasions. And because of the nature of the song, you have to expect a risque performance. If Lady Gaga grabbed on of her band members and gave them a kiss like that, people probably wouldn't blink. They didn't blink when she had faux-sex in her Alejandro video. Because it's expected.

It's expected from Adam too. Or at least it should be. He is just as wild, just as risque, and just as into the theatrical performances as she is. He has a strong background in theater (as can be seen from his clips on youtube as Fiyero from Wicked), and anyone who expects him to perform has to expect a bad ass stage presence. I genuinely believe that thousands of teenage girls (possibly including me) cream their pants when they watch any performance from Adam Lambert, but that's besides the point. From his first music video (For Your Entertainment) he did the leather, glam, glitter, and whips type of performances, and that's just who he is. If you want a subdued performer, someone with a gentler stage presence, hire Taylor Swift. But don't expect Adam Lambert, or Glambert as people like to call him, to tone it down.

Pimpage

Okay, for today's post, I am pimping out a blog that I recently discovered. It's a photoblog, and it documents pictures taken of Brooklyn.

Here is the linkety

I urge you all to check it out. The photos are absolutely gorgeous, breathtaking. And it is definitely not the image anyone has of Brooklyn.

Arguing With Idiots

Oh. My. God.

In the first, like, paragraph, this person mixes up the terms libertarian and liberal, and when I called him out on it, he claimed they were interchangeable. He also stated a bunch of claims about how horrible illegal immigrants are for the country (common complaints), but that's not the worst of it. If you really want to see him display his idiocy, try reading the resulting discussion.

In his later comments, he claims (among other things) that America was planning on getting rid of the 4th amendment (they are not, of course; they are thinking about changing the 14th amendment), that America had one of the strictest immigration policies in the world (don't make me laugh; try immigrating to Iceland or Bermuda), and that anyone who doesn't have health insurance is probably "an illegal and shouldn't be there anyway."

The person claims to have a "rags to riches" story, saying he is under thirty, owns two businesses, has a good house in a yuppie neighborhood and a sports car. I wonder who bought all of that? It's not really making me angry or anything, it just boggles my mind and sends me reeling to know exactly how oblivious this person is.

lyk OMG

So, I work at a movie theater. Tonight, there was a problem with some texters in one of our busiest shows, The Expendables. They were talked to multiple times before the manager had to go in and ask them to leave. It boggles my mind what people will do in a theater.

You spent money to see this movie, you took time out of your day to come to the theater, purchase a ticket, and watch a movie. But instead of watching the movie you spent nine dollars to watch, you choose to text throughout the whole thing? I don't get it. Not only is common courtesy because there are people around you who you are distracting with your phone light, it is also against the rules and can get you kicked out of the theater all together. Why bother? Why not just enjoy the movie? And if you hate it that much, then leave and go do something you are actually going to enjoy rather than wasting everyone's time (your's, the people around you, the employees who have to go warn you multiple times.)

And then there's making out. I know it's a cliche that, to an extent, everyone wants to partake in, but it's distracting and gross and pointless. Again, you paid money to watch this movie, the people around paid money to watch the movie, instead of enjoying it, you are just indulging in PDA. You could have spent no money and done that at home. It's distracting (I should know, I watched Alice in Wonderland with two people next to me making out) and disgusting and a waste of your time.

But mostly, the texting bugs me. Not just in a movie theater, but everywhere. At the dinner table, in the movie theater, in the middle of a conversation with someone, at work. I mean, really. Can't you unplug yourself for five minutes? I have seen people sitting right next to each other in the living room, texting EACH OTHER. Does that make any sense to anyone?

No, me either.

On the Bridge of Adulthood

GAH!

I'm dealing with the last three weeks of summer and I have so much homework. I'm worried and stressed and concerned about how I'm going to handle everything I have to do in my senior year. I want to write more, but there really isn't much else to say.

Sometimes, I think crossing the bridge of adolescence (high school) to adulthood (college and a job) is harder than actually living an adolescent or adult life.

Guinness Record

Breaking a world record in order to make a political point. What an idea. My sister and her girlfriend brought this to my attention today, and I immediately had to go look up the interview and their website to check it out.

Bobby and Matty, two college students from New Jersey, both of them GLBTQ rights activists, are planning on breaking the Guinness World Record for longest kiss. Together, in an effort of youth and student activism (something important these days) and "in support of equal rights for every individual regardless of sexual orientation or gender," according to their website. They claim that, when it comes to prejudice and discrimination, "it's time to put down our words and demonstrate otherwise."

I have to say, I support this all the way. I just wish I could be there, watching them, for at least part of it. I hope to got they succeed. I think it's such a great idea to use something like breaking a world record to make a political point. It's a great way to demonstrate activism. And just in time for Prop 8 to be finished.

If you want to check out their website, follow this link. There is also an interview with them about everything from the application and approval process of the Guinness World Record people to how Bobby's boyfriend feels about him kissing someone else for 33 hours. The link is here.

Review: Secondhand Serenade Concert

I went to a Secondhand Serenade concert last night, and let me tell you, it was pretty damn awesome. Beyond the aching feet (I went there straight from work) and the fact that I hadn't seen my house since that morning, and the fact that I was exhausted and penniless, it was one of the best concerts I've ever been at.

The best part was, I have to say, the fact that every band came out and signed things. They were obviously so grateful to the fans for being there, and everyone was totally willing to interact with the people who'd bought a ticket to their concert. One of the people from the second band that played actually insisted on taking a picture of everyone who asked him for one. The guy wanted a picture of every fan who cared enough to talk to him. That's gratitude. The first band came out and peddled their albums for five dollars apiece. One of the guitarists from Secondhand Serenade talked to me about which part of Boston the band had gotten attacked in (more on that later), and none of them made us wait an hour for them to come out. I got a signature from everyone from all of the bands except the keyboardist from Secondhand Serenade.

It was also nice when the title band (Secondhand Serenade) came out and started singing some of the songs off their old album. They're so easy to learn, everyone in the audience knew the words. I felt like the bands interacted with the audience far more than at any other concert I've been to. It was far less planned and rehearsed. The energy was definitely still there, but because of the nature of the music, there wasn't so much pushing and shoving that those towards the front felt uncomfortable and squashed. In fact, those towards the front offered to take pictures for those who weren't as close.

Of course, the title band did suffer obstacle to getting there. In Boston, the last city they stopped in before Burlington, they were attacked in the theater district of all places, and spent the better part of the night in the ER. It was heartbreaking to see their injuries, especially after they assured us that they could not skip their concert, regardless of how broken their faces were.

All in all, a combination of awesome music, awesome bands full of awesome people, and an awesome audience that awesome interaction made for a really unforgettable night.

Gaming Rights

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear the Schwarzenegger vs. EMA case this year. This case deals with video games and how they relate to the rights ensured in the First Amendment.

If they agree with what the lower courts have decreed, video games would continue to be considered protected under the first amendment rights of free speech and protected speech, just like books, movies and music. If they disagreed, they would be considered special. This would open the door to laws and bills curtailing access to certain video games in certain states. [source]

Apparently, the case is based on an argument deciding whether a particular law passed in California violates the First Amendment. The law decreed that certain video games depicted particularly brutal, cruel, or heinous violence would be restricted to those over the age of eighteen. The California Supreme Court deemed it unconstitutional. [source]

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this. I mean, admittedly, it is restricting distribution of these video games to my friends, who are the people who play them most. Young people. But on the other hand, if your under seventeen, you can't watch that sort of violence in a movie theater without parental consent, it is restricted to you. Sex in the media is restricted until you are eighteen. Why should the same standards not be held for video games? My sister was exposed to extreme video game violence in Grand Theft Auto at the age of ten. Is this sort of thing healthy for kids? Then again, I despise most forms of censorship.

Give me your thoughts.

Prop 8...

...has been called unconstitutional by the California federal courts on the basis of the Fourteenth Amendment, the due process and equal protection clauses. The plaintiffs claimed that Prop 8 "unconstitutionally burdens the exercise of the fundamental right to marry and creates an irrational classification on the basis of sexual orientation," according the judge. In the end, the judge decided that Prop 8 "fails to advance any rational basis in singling out gay men and lesbians for denial of a marriage license," and was therefore unconstitutional.

Apparently, both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa agreed with the judge and praised him for having the courage to stand up for the Constitution.

Of course, they are going to be appealing this decision. Hopefully, it goes to the United States Supreme Court and they are forced to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (which is, as I have said before, unconstitutional.) This is a huge success for gay couples in California and rest of the country and it is long overdue.

By the way, I got all my information from this article.

MTV VMA Nomination Outrage

By this point, I know for a fact that any award show hosted by MTV is a complete joke. Just look at their move awards? We all know that MTV loves a sweep, as can be seen from the way the Twilight Saga movies always take all of the MTV Movie Awards they are nominated for, even when they most definitely don't deserve it. But the nominations for the MTV VMA awards are ridiculous. Folks, get ready for the Lady Gaga Awards!

Here are the list of nominees.

Now, call me biased, as I am a fan of Adam Lambert, but I've never even heard of Nicki Minaj or the Broken Bells, and Adam Lambert had more than one top 10 hit video this year. Doesn't at least one of them deserve a nomination for Best New Artist? And Owl City as well gets no nod at all in favor of artists like Justin Bieber who so clearly deserve nothing? No Mike Posner? No Taio Cruz? No Travie McCoy (who isn't a new artist, but deserved something somewhere.) Miley Cyrus gets nothing the year she finally breaks away from Disney, and yet Taylor Swift gets nominated for Best Female Video for Fifteen, which is probably the worst of her videos?

Eminem gets nominated for eight nominations for Not Afraid, which is, admittedly, a good video. Apparently, MTV also loves a comeback kid. I liked this song, and it deserved most of the recognition it got. No complaints.

But the nominations for Best Choreography are what really get to me. Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga ft. Beyonce, Beyonce ft. Lady Gaga and only then does anyone else get any recognition? It's official, these things are a joke.

A Stroke of Inspiration

a wave is crashing over me. it is covering me, enveloping me, soothing me. it is becoming me. it is comfort, it is warmth, it is everything good in the world:

it is
thunderstorms from windowsills and screen doors in the summertime, heavy droplets hitting my face and arms and getting goosebumps from the chilly, wet wind as i wonder at the dangerous beauty of weather.
sunlight streaming as heat onto my back while at the same time, a cool breeze ruffles my hair and i twirl in the shine and refuse to go inside, instead choosing to revel in the perfect weather.
the sound of a book cover cracking the first time i open it to inhale the smell of paper and ink, promising to myself that no matter how i change, this smell will always remain my favorite.
my cat pressed up against my leg, a comforting weight that never feels oppressive, even when it is sitting on my chest; a presence that, no matter how old, will always be there when i wake up or go to sleep or cry or have to say goodbye.

the wave holds me, reminding me of why life is beautiful and for an instant i am filled with regret that my list of wonderful experiences is so short.

because the wave is death.

Movie Review: Hachi; A Dog's Tale

Tonight, I watched a movie and cried harder than I have in months. It was called Hachi. It was so tragic and sweet and heartwarming and saddening and amazing.

There are those who say animals cannot feel love. Any person who says that clearly has never had a pet, and clearly has not seen the move Hachi: A Dog's Tale, which tells the remarkably true story of a dog's complete, unconditional, and unending devotion to his owner.

One day, as Professor Parker (Richard Gere) gets off the train he takes every day to get to and from work, an Akita puppy finds him. Not wanting to leave the poor thing out in the cold all night, he takes it home, intending to find it's rightful owner. But when no owner shows up for a few days, he can't help but fall in love. As the dog grows, so does the bond between them, and soon enough, Hachi and Parker form a daily routine that even death and a new home cannot break.

I think most of you can guess what happens. This is a true story. While in the movie, it happened in America, it really happened in the early 1900s in Japan, where (at some train station) there is a bronze statue of Hachiko (Hachi) stands still waiting for it's master to come home. While alive, the dog waited every day for nine years for the professor to come home from work on the train before dying.

I loved this movie far too much to critique the acting or the plot. Just know that it was wonderful, and that if you dislike animals or are heartless, mean, and cruel, you will not like it. The last scene in the movie, where the dog is dying, is what really made me sob. I suggest this movie to EVERYONE, but make sure you have a box of Kleenex on hand before you watch it.

Unconstitutional Laws

I was reading my We the People government textbook because that's part of my summer homework, and I came across a point they made. The author was trying to explain fundamental rights by giving examples of rights the courts have deemed "fundamental." Get this. Their first example of a "fundamental right" was the right to marry and have children.

Is it ironic that this textbook claims that marriage is a fundamental right (which means that all people enjoy it, no if's, and's, or but's) in a country where, federally, it is only legal for certain people to marry? Or is it just disgusting bullshit fed to students by the government? Are they trying to tell us that gay marriage isn't really marriage?

And while we're on the subject of gay marriage, the Protection of Marriage Act states that in states that have not legalized gay marriage, a marriage between two people of the same gender performed in another state that has legalized it is not official anymore. So, if I get married to a woman in Vermont and then move to California, we're not married anymore.

THIS DIRECTLY VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION! The "full faith and credit clause" is what enables people who obtain a license in one state to still drive legally in another. It states that "full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state." This means that a marriage, which is a public act and it is kept on record, should be valid in every state. This is true of heterosexual marriages, but not gay ones. It is not only morally wrong, but it directly violates the Constitution.

Movie Review: Sorcerer's Apprentice

I was considerably disappointed by this movie. I went expecting it to be over-the-top fantasy action and sorcery with a lot of humor thrown in. I got the humor, but that was all I got.

The humor was good. It was understated and Dave Stutler, played by She's Out of Your League star Jay Baruchel, delivers self-deprecating jokes and Fantasia-style cleaning mishaps charmingly, in my opinion. Balthazar, played by Nicholas Cage, was also amusing, although I am far from his greatest fan. And the main villain, Horvath's (Alfred Molina), apprentice Drake Stone (Toby Kebbell) was also ridiculously amusing, although he got little screen time. There are jokes, and those jokes at least kept me entertained throughout the movie. But a move can't ride on just humor alone.

My biggest problem with this movie was that nothing was really all that developed. The final battle was lame and week, and the parts of it that were supposed to be suspenseful left me completely underwhelmed. They could have had something much more powerful, but instead everyone was saved because Becky Barnes, played by Teresa Palmer, kicked a satellite. Not very climactic.

There was one part in the movie where Dave Stutler decides he is not the Prime Merlinean, gives his "old man shoes" back to Balthazar, and gives up. I think that, had that subplot been given enough time, it could have made for something much more interesting. I also think they could have let us know a little more about what happened to Dave in the decade Balthazar was locked in the urn. There were little details that teased the audience with a good plot, but they were overlooked for cliched training with fire balls.

All in all, I think this movie would have made a much better book than a movie. And, failing that, at least another half hour for the plot and characters to truly develop.

Movie Review: Salt

I saw Salt, featuring Angelina Jolie, Liev Schrieber and Chiwetel Ejiofer, last night. So, because I'm a movie and book junkie, I thought I'd do an informal review.

Salt was very entertaining, I will give it that. It kept me watching, kept me entertained, and kept me on my seat. I was kept in suspense, wondering how Evelyn Salt (Angelina Jolie), who was recently accused of being a Russian spy, would escape from those who were chasing her, Ted Winters (Liev Schrieber) and Peabody (Chiwetel Ejiofer). And boy, did she escape. I was left in suspense about who Salt really was as well. The whole thing was a great, mindless, classic action flick. We haven't had one of those yet this summer, so it was due.

Salt's portrayal of a CIA agent on the run was spot on, even if some of the escape scenes were fairly unrealistic. The feeling that her husband wasn't safe as her husband, and how she portrayed the fear that those going after her would go after him was really emotional and lovely. And she also portrayed the tough-as-nails, I'll-kick-your-ass-faster-than-you-can-blink attitude extremely well but still appeared to be human. A superhuman, but still a human. In my opinion, that would be very difficult to do.

In fact, Salt's portrayal of her character is even better when it is considered that the writer of the script had Tom Cruise in mind to play it. And she delivers a powerful performances that punches you in the gut harder than any performance by Cruise would have. Why? She adds layers to the character that Cruise couldn't have done, such as woman-scorned vengeance and an aura of feminine mystery. It makes her performance much more real. There should be many more action flicks with a girl as a lead.

As stated above, some of the escape scenes were pretty unrealistic. For example, if anyone else jumped from car to car, they would be severely hurt. And no one can walk through an explosion and not get burned. It's simply impossible.

Also, it didn't really have much of a plot beyond badass escape tactics. It was just what it appeared to be, a good ol' action flick. There's not harm in those. And this one was definitely one of the best.

Pot

Seriously? Apparently (http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/07/23/bret-michaels-drugs/ Bret Michaels from Poison was found with pot on BOTH of his tourbuses. How terrible?

I know plenty of people who smoke pot. Some of them, admittedly, do suffer from amotivational syndrome, but for the most part, pot is harmless. And I have no idea why people make such a big deal when a rock star and infamous partier is caught with it. Have you seen his shows on VH1?

Besides, there are other things that should be paid more attention to. Even in the music industry. Instead of whining about drugs, why don't we instead talk about how separated all of them are from reality. Or how so few of them use their social standing to actually do something meaningful. Or how love has been rendered obsolete in today's music. We have such bigger issues.

Christmas Albums

I could talk about how furious I am with my dog and my family and how I don't think the two fit together all that well, but I think I'm going to talk about something a little more cheerful today. Christmas.

It was just released that Susan Boyle may be working on a Christmas album, and I was thinking. Here is the link to the article: http://music-mix.ew.com/2010/07/22/susan-boyle-christmas-album/ She's probably one of the few people I would actually consider buying a Christmas album from, because her's would be traditionally sung. I can't stand those Christmas songs that rocked up or popped up or something equally horrible. Susan Boyle would sing traditional Christmas songs the way they should be sung. Traditionally.

To me, it compares to the national anthem. So many people sing it or play it much flashier than it is written, and it's not right. I'm all for redoing songs and making remakes, but some things are simply sacred.

How To: Be a Parent

Step one is the most important step, MATURITY! How can you call yourself an adult, let alone a parent, without maturity? They are the kids, not you. Act your age. The child is allowed to be immature because he/she has not had the life experience required to learn how not to be childish, but you have. So it is not okay when your children act more like parents than you do.

"You fucking ingrate! I'll take a can of paint and throw it all over that fucking room! Including the bed!"

Gee, thanks dad. Great to know that not only do you appreciate how much work and money you put into that room, but you also know how to contain your temper and act rationally. There are other quotes, ones that hurt worse. Blaming a child for everything, always having to have the last word (a distinct sign of immaturity), and refusing to ever own up to your mistakes are all things a parent should never do. Because they are immature and petty. As is stomping off in a sulk and slamming the door so hard it breaks. Extract yourself from the situation if you feel yourself getting furious before you do something you regret. Like make your children cry. Or make them hate you.

The second step is tact. Yes, know what to say and when to say it. But most of all, learn what not to say. Sometimes, jokes are stupid and they hurt. For example, calling your children fat, even when meant in jest, really hurts. And with all the times you casually insult them, let them know just how disappointed you are with them and your life, and tell them any of the mean jokes that you think are funny, you wonder why they hate having to listen. You wonder why they give the impression of hating you.

Can I let you in on a little secret? THEY DO. Bit of a newsflash for you? You want to know why?

"You weigh a hundred and fifty pounds?! Wow, that's a lot!" he says, with his mouth hanging out open in shock as his daughter runs to hug her mother, close to tears.

"You know, sometimes I wish you girls could do something right for a change," he says in the middle of a fight, and his daughters' sobs become louder and more filled with pain.

"Are you happy now, you stupid girl?!" he says after upending the dining room table. It is directed a young teenaged girl, his daughter, who is crouched and sobbing.

These are most definitely not the only ones, nor are they the worst. And you wonder why your children have no self esteem.

The third step is patience. Children are impatient, but that's okay. Because they are children. Because they haven't had the time to grow as people. Patience is a part of maturity. And it a crucial thing to have when raising children.

They will take a long time, they will demand your attention, they will spill things, they will repeatedly misbehave or misunderstand, they will refuse to listen, they will throw temper tantrums, they will interrupt, they will whine, they will yell, they will scream, they will beg, they will slam, they will have attitudes, and they will do any number of other things to upset you. Get used to it. Get over it. Have patience with them, or they will resent you in the long run. Believe me. Especially when you are already in a bad mood, and therefore get impatient with them three times as quickly. Kids of any age require patience. Even at the ripe old age of 17.

The third step is self-control. This, also, is one the most important steps. Being unable to control your temper leads to lack of tact, which leads to children who are emotionally scarred and have a complex because you told them you don't love them in a fit of rage. See above step regarding why tact is important. But that's not the only thing a short temper results in. It also results in violence and a family and friends who think you are dangerous. It results in broken doors, upended furniture, and a dog cowering in his kennel in fear. This type of self-control is one of the most important kinds, but it's not the only one.

Another type of self-control is control of your vices. Specifically, things like smoking, drinking, and doing drugs of any kind. They are a bad influence on your children. Either the child will want to be just like daddy and steal a beer or two or five or will grow to so hate the substance that they make sweeping assumptions about anyone who drinks or smokes anything, even when it really is harmless fun.

The worst of these, in my experience, unless the drug is something like heroin, is alcohol. Alcohol changes people. When a parent drinks, they are immature, angry, they have no tact, no patience, no ambition, and they are lazy and will do nothing for their children. If you are to have children, control yourself when it comes to these things. Or you will be sorry. Because no child likes to have a drunk embarrassment of a father.

And if you are the spouse of a parent with a vice he cannot control, do not make excuses. Because then your children will resent you too. A drunk is always inexcusable.

Lastly, support your children. Your kids will be extremely hurt to learn that you have no desire to see their school play, go to their chorus concert, or see their game. They will be extremely upset to know that you have no interest in how good their test grade is, what their teachers will say about them, or what their dreams are. And even if those dreams are completely ridiculous, or even just unlikely, you must support them. And you must believe in them, or at least pretend to. Because if you don't, they won't believe in themselves.

You do not have to follow these steps. But just know that if you do not, you should not expect much love, affection, or respect from your children. Because these things are privileges, not rights. And you haven't earned them.

Just as an aside to the parent this is directed to, I'm very glad you saw that letter. I hope you read all of it. I wish it had opened your eyes a little. I only wish you cared enough to read this. But then again, you are so delusional, you probably wouldn't even know it's about you.

Quotable Quotes

Let me let you in on a little secret that everyone knows. I am who I am and nothing you do is going to change that. My three favorite quotes?

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr. Suess.

"I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not" - Kurt Cobain

"You have enemies? Good. That means you stood up for something, sometime in your life." - Winston Churchill

So, as you can see, I find it incredibly important that each and every person be who they are and no one else. I have many other favorite quotes that pretty much say the same thing, but these are the most important. There is a particular Judy Garland quote that is quite lovely. But I haven't memorized that one yet.

That's what makes me sick about where I live. There's no variety. Everyone's the same, and I always find it so hard to find people I fit in with. And when I do, I trim myself down to fit them because I'm afraid of what people will think if they know all of me.

And let's not even get started on what I think of my body. So whenever I find the need to tailor my personality so that someone else will like me, or so I can have a conversation with them, I'll remember the times I was furious at what someone said and just let it pass. World, you will know who I am before I'm done. I promise.

Introductions

Usually, I would write this really long post about all the things I like and don't like. Not this time. This time, I'm just going to say a few things.

First of all, don't expect predictability from this blog. I will post a lot of random things, such as youtube videos, book and movie recommendations, rants, political rants, personal writings, and probably more. Just know that I will try and post every single day.

Now, to start, I will just say one thing. GET EDUCATED EDUCATORS! Wow, let's just jump right into a rant. Right now, I am going to a public high school that's the best in my state and probably one of the best in the nation. So why have they decided to dumb us down? Let's get rid of the many different levels of math and English classes that ensure that students can succeed no matter what their level of knowledge is.

THIS ISN'T GOING TO MAKE US SMARTER! My school got below proficiency in the NECAPS overall last year. You know why? Because when our percentage is in the high-to-mid-nineties, there isn't much improvement we can possibly achieve. We're so good, we can't get better.

They tried to cancel Honors English classes, but brought them back when too many parents complained. The same thing happened with the Latin program, and now they are looking for a teacher. My AP Government teacher has had the principal tell him more of his students need to get a score of three on the exam. The majority of his students get a score of four or five. There are so many other examples of my school trying to dumb down its student body. Is it to improve NECAP scores? Or just because they feel like switching things up? Who knows.

America wonders why its level of education is so low compared to the rest of the world. Now, I could rant about the price of education in America compared to the socialized version in the rest of the world, but I won't. Let me just say this. Throwing a student who can barely add or read into a regular, college-prep level of English or Math is not going to help them succeed. And throwing a student capable of doing Calculus into a Algebra 1 class because that's the level they are supposed to be at for their grade level is just going to pull them down, not make the class smarter. Teach people according to their own abilities, not the abilities you wish everyone had.