Acts 8:27

Vox Hunt: What I'm Reading

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 19:29:50 -0700

Show us the book you're reading right now.
Submitted by Strive2Be.

This Land Is Their Land: Reports from a Divided Nation

Barbara Ehrenreich

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The Big Read

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 18:58:21 -0700

Pilfered from thegirliscrazy on LJ:

"The Big Read reckons that the average adult has only read 6 of the top 100 books they've printed."

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicise those you intend to read.
3) Underline the books you LOVE.
4) Star the books whose movie you've seen *
5) Reprint this list in your own LJ so we can try and track down these people who've read 6 and force books upon them

____

** Personally, I find the notion of judging people's level of literary appreciation with a preset list rather small-minded. Some prefer the Norton Anthology and some prefer to create their own path. I think all that truly matters is that you're reading. N'est-ce pas? **

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien *

3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte * (Read and saw the movie with Orson Welles)

4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling *

5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee * (Read and saw the movie)

6. The Bible (Someday I'll finish it. ::crosses fingers::)

7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte

8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell (I've started it, but never finished it. Maybe someday.)

9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens (Wow, talk about not living up to your title!)

11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott (I was going to read it when I was in junior high, but anything not related to dance or science fiction around that time rarely held my attention for longer than 2 days.)

12. Tess of the D'Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy

13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

14. Complete Works of Shakespeare * (All of them? Even Cymbeline? Even Pericles? I think you're asking a bit much here. Let's break this down:

As You Like It; A Midsummer's Night's Dream; Much Ado About Nothing * [great film!]; Twelfth Night *; The Taming of the Shrew * [the 10 Things I Hate About You adaptation]; Henry IV, Part 1 & 2; Henry V * [greater film!]; Henry VI, Part 1; Richard II; Richard III * [the Sir Ian McKellen film]; The Merchant of Venice * [the BBC production with John Rhys-Davies]; Hamlet *; Macbeth; Othello * [the Laurence Fishburne film]; Romeo and Juliet; The Comedy of Errors; Love's Labours Lost * [not a very good film]; The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Tempest; Two Gentlemen of Verona; Henry VI, Part 2 & 3; King Lear; Titus Andronicus; all the sonnets because I can't recall which ones I've read)

15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks

18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

19. The Time Traveller's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

20. Middlemarch - George Eliot

21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell (Started the film, didn't finish it, probably never will)

22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald * (Read and saw the movie)

23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens

24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy (Maybe I'll read it when I retire.)

25. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams *

26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck * (One of the greatest American authors truly worthy of his praise!)

29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll *

30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis (Will not read this. Not now. Now ever. Get off my back!)

34. Emma - Jane Austen * (I'm not a Jane Austen fan, but I saw film with Gwyneth Paltrow and its all-star cast. It was okay. The Clueless adaptation with Alicia Silverstone was better.)

35. Persuasion - Jane Austen

36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis

37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

38. Captain Corelli's Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne (I'm gonna go out on a limb and say it was probably read to me as a child.)

41. Animal Farm - George Orwell (It was this classic that taught me to respect Orwell's genius.)

42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown (Does this really belong in the top 100? Seriously?)

43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Maybe. Someday. But I'm in no rush.)

44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery

47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

48. The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding (I'm proud to say that I never finished this book in high school. I find the story ridiculously annoying. Whatever Golding was attempting to say was completely lost on me by the asinine behavior of the characters. I like the Simpsons episode where they rip off the plot though.)

50. Atonement - Ian McEwan

51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel

52. Dune - Frank Herbert * (Started reading it, but damn, it's long.)

53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons * (Saw the movie, loved the movie, hope to read the book someday.)

54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen * (Again, not an Austen fan, but I loved the movie. Not the story, but the performances in it. Kate Winslet was robbed of her Oscar! Damn Mira Sorvino. M'eh.)

55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck (A masterpiece. I kid you not. It cannot be improved upon.)

62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt

64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas * (Started it, but my anticipation of the ending was overwrought by the annoying number of pages that lie between the middle and the end.)

66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac (Maybe. There's no rush.)

67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

68. Bridget Jones' Diary - Helen Fielding *

69. Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie

70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville (I wrote my senior capstone thesis on this classic. I can't say I loved it, but my respect for the author has increased tenfold because of it. The movie adaptations do not do it justice.)

71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

72. Dracula - Bram Stoker

73.The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

75. Ulysses - James Joyce (I can't truly call James Joyce my favorite author until I read this canon staple. But if I never get around to reading it, I will always love him for his A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and The Dubliners.)

76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath

77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

78. Germinal - Emile Zola

79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

80. Possession - AS Byatt

81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens * (I've seen about 4 different adaptations of this classic. Do I really need to read it?)

82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker *

84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

87. Charlotte's Web - EB White (Read to me as a child. Maybe someday I'll read it to my children.)

88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (Again, all of them? There's about 12 of them. Then, there's the novels.)

90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad (Maybe someday.)

92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery (J'ai lu en francais. C'est adorable petit livre!)

93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

94. Watership Down - Richard Adams

95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas *

98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare * (Um, isn't this apart of the Complete Works of William Shakespeare? Somebody's slacking.)

99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Total --->
Read: 15
Watched *: 18
Intend to Read: 15
Loved: 2 (Macbeth and Of Mice and Men)

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And this is why I'm pretty much done with you

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:47:37 -0700

Honestly, the cover didn't even upset me. I saw it pretty much as a sad attempt to sell a magazine, as well as a pathetic attempt to be "edgy," "controversial," and/or show how "forward thinking" the editors are.

But then, the backlash got its own backlash, and now, I'm too through.

So, let me make sure I have this straight. If I find the illustration offensive, it must be because I don't "get it." I must be incapable of detecting or appreciating satire. I lack a sense of humor. And I must see the presentation as a support of verifiable facts and/or perceptions.

Here's an idea. Maybe it's just ... offensive. Maybe the "attempt" at satire failed miserably and the magazine deserved to be called on its massive failure just like any other medium who has made such a blunder. And maybe Jon Stewart is just another white liberal jackass who believes that nothing that's not intended to be insulting or degrading can ever truly be insulting or degrading.

Hold on. Let me write that down.

Intending to be offensive and insulting and succeeding = bad

Not intending to be offensive and insulting, but failing miserably = okay/no big deal/nothing to see here/why are black people so angry?

Jon Stewart, and the liberals who march in lockstep behind him and everything his team spews forth from their den of pretention, are severely lacking if they believe that labeling any media as "just a ...." somehow absolves it from taking responsibility for its actions and removes its ability to significantly damage others. It is these individuals (and based on last night's interview, I'm sad to include Mr. Colbert in this group as well) that don't. get. it.

NB: And claiming that it's satire is not now, nor will it ever be a get-out-of-jail-free card.

The reality here is that the (real) liberal media screwed up royally and they can't take the very criticism that they so willingly dole out to their right-of-center counterparts. But have no fear, The Daily Show will jump in to rescue their friends and admonish those who would dare call "bullshit" on such a masterpiece. Thank you, Jon. You've pretty much captured why I've grown increasingly dissatisfied with your show for the last 3 years. Now, you don't have to worry about me being dissatisfied anymore.

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Wow! What does this "Create" button do?

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 17:20:30 -0700

You people clearly mean nothing to me. I haven’t blogged here in a month, and I’ve been visiting the site more and more sporadically. That means that either my life has kept me delightfully entertained and I no longer need the sound of my own keystrokes to amuse me or … wait, what was my other option? Hmmm, I guess there wasn’t one. :-P

So what have I been up to? Are you sure you want to know? Yeah, I didn’t think so. But I’ll tell you anyway.

I’m finally going on vacation next month. It’s overdue like a mutha’, but I can’t get out of here until after my trip to D.C. for an industry tradeshow. Yuck. But on the upside: Vacation! I’m headed to Florida for a week to visit my best friend and her little family. For those who don’t remember, Rebekah had another baby girl, Amani, in February, and I’ve only seen the rugrat in pictures. Plus, there’s the whole part about seeing ‘Bekah, not having to pay for a hotel or food, and not being at work. See? Win-win-win-win.

Amani sleeping

Because of the industry tradeshow at the end of the month, I have to buy some more formal business attire. My office is pretty business casual, and although there are a few who emphasize the “casual” moreso than the “business,” I try to keep it somewhat conservative (i.e. I have a work wardrobe and a “life” wardrobe. The two rarely mix.)

I only have one suit (that fits), so I ordered two more online this past weekend. Let’s hope they fit. If not, I have just enough time to find something else. I also need a dress for a party the magazine’s hosting for our reader board, and a pantsuit for the early morning seminar we’re sponsoring that Monday. Sheesh! The positive aspect to all of this is that I can always use these items again for interviews. I need to buy shoes and an adapter/charger for my iPod as well. Yeah, money’s going to be really tight for the next few months.
My social calendar hasn’t runneth over, but I’m staying fairly active considering the finances have been kind of wonky lately.

May 18th – Took the subway down to Long Beach for the Pride parade and festival. Although I missed the first 20 min. or so, I could tell it is more festive and lively than the WeHo parade. Must return next year. Afterwards, I meant up with Anastasia and her boyfriend for lunch and a wee bit of sightseeing. I visited Acres of Books for the first time and was subsequently hit with a profound sadness about it possibly closing its doors for the last time sometime this fall.

June 7th – Attended the Get Smart promotion at the Santa Monica Apple store with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Ken Davidian, and Peter Segal. Dwayne is just as fine from the 2nd row as he is onscreen. No, more so. Especially with the sexy Hugh Laurie-esque stubble and the T-shirt that graces his muscles everso slightly. You can listen to the Q&A on iTunes for free. I didn’t ask a question, but it’s all good. I took some blurry pics with my camera phone. I’ll see if I can load them here.

July 4th – Meant to join Katrina & Co. for a shindig at the beach, but instead I got there early and puttered around looking bored for 1 ½ hours, then left. The upside, I realized I wanted to go back to the beach sometime this summer for a nice chill on the sand (with a book, of course) and maybe some frolic in the surf. I can’t remember the last time I frolicked. After I left the beach, I stopped by a BBQ joint that I’ve been meaning to try and grabbed 2 DVDs from Blockbuster. I didn’t get to see any fireworks go off, but it wasn’t too bad. It was a quiet day.

Today – Going to book signing at Skylight Books in Los Feliz. Barbara Ehrenreich is reading excepts from her new book, This Land is Their Land. I have to leave early to make sure I arrive by 7:30 pm ‘cuz traffic on the I-10 is the stuff of legends. The silver lining: I have 5 weeks of Coffee Break French podcasts to catch up on along the way.
In family news, my folks are moving into a new house in PA. They’re still in Allentown, but they’re leaving the row-home lifestyle behind and headed back to a detached single-family dwelling. Apparently, they’re too good to share 2 load-baring walls with others. Selfish. :-P Of course, I’m happy for them even though I liked the feel of the row-home.

Mom's block in Allentown

At the new place, the parking’s better, there’s a guest room for me to crash in this Christmas, and a big backyard for their new puppy, Ichigo. Oh, did I mention that my folks got a new dog back in February? If I didn’t, I meant to. I wasn’t all that happy when I heard they were looking for a new man’s best friend. (Well, my stepfather was looking; my mother, like me, was still in mourning over the loss of Pebbles last December.) But the new puppy is 6 months old and weighs 50+ lbs as of last Sunday. He’s ¾ Akita and ¼ Alaskan Husky, so he’s gonna be a big boy. Q.E.D. – Big backyard.
My dancing has fallen off a little. There were health issues and work issues and life issues, but I’m still hanging in there. Sort of. I’m technically up to 4 classes a week, except I never seem to make it to all 4 during any given week. Which is great on my wallet, but not-so-great on my progress. :-( Here’s the schedule (because I know you care):

Wednesday – Jazz Technique at 7pm; Beginner Jazz Fusion at 8:15pm
Thursday – Capoiera at 8pm
Saturday – Beginner Hip Hop at 12:30pm

On top of this, I’m jogging on Sundays (when the heat’s not unbearable). I think the problem is if I go to the 2 Jazz classes, I’m too tired for the Capoiera class the next day. And when I first started Capoiera, I was too sore to go to the Hip Hop class come Saturday afternoon. I’m getting better, but my schedule has made it difficult to be consistent. I’m missing Capoiera tonight for the book signing, and I missed last week’s because I was busy gathering things for the 4th of July shindig. SMH. Excuses, excuses. I know.

There’s a Capoiera class on Sunday, but it’s 1 ½ hrs. instead of 1 hr., and the first time I tried it, I had to bow out after 45 minutes because I was exhausted and lightheaded. Besides, I think I rather jog on Sundays instead. Oh well, all I can do is keep at it and try to do what I can physically handle. I guess it’s better than standing still.
On the hearth front, I took the Target gift card Heather gave me for my birthday back in March, and I put it towards a new desk chair for my home office. Check it out. The reviews online whine a lot about the armrests being too low, but I don’t think they’re that bad. Maybe it’s because I have such long arms and legs. I can’t tell you how much of a difference the new chair makes. Not just in my posture and the long hours sitting at my desk, but also in the layout of my living room. It almost looks like I’m designing around a theme. Well, a theme other than hand-me-downs and “M’eh, this will do for now.”

I also bought that bamboo plant (Lucky bamboo) I’ve been wanting for the last year. My mother would be proud. (She’s always getting on me about decorating my apt., especially with plants and pictures on the wall.) Now, I just have to figure out how to transfer the bamboo plant from the little ceramic vase it came in to the glass vase I picked up over a year ago. Then, I’m going to add a few rocks and marbles to the bottom to keep the plant upright, and add water so it can actually, you know, live. Look at me. I’m growing something in my apartment that won’t gross me out or get me arrested.

Okay, I think that's all for now, boys and girls. I have to finish organizing the July/August files now that's it's out the door. That way, I can come in tomorrow and start on the September issue. Yay? Oh, speaking of Yay? Did anyone else notice the gas prices went down? They went from a minor $4.53 on Monday to a paltry $4.47 today. That's cause for merriment, right? Right?

All right. Back to work.

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Pest Control

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 00:03:12 -0700

You know I really wanted to post a rant about the insane gas prices thatIe noticed last week, but I decided to leave that little morsel for another day. However, I will quickly mention that I filled up my car last Monday when the “cheap” gas was $4.13/gallon. By Friday, June 6th, when I drove past the same gas station on the way to work: $4.35/gallon. They’re not even trying to hide the price gouging anymore. SMH.

But enough of the negativity. Happy thoughts. Must think happy thoughts. Oh, I know. How about a review or two?

Who: Pest Control
What: A new musical
Where: NoHo Arts Center
When: Thurs., Fri., Sat., and Sun. through June 15
Why: Because when’s the last time you enjoyed some good theat-ahh?!

When I first saw the postcard for "Pest Control," I made a note to put it on my desk at home instead of on my fridge, where most of the play notices that I pick up go to die. The premise sounded interesting enough, and I really liked the theater space over at NoHo Arts. I’ve only seen one play there – Ed Begley Jr.’s "Cesar & Ruben" – and it’s just the type of theater space that I associate with good work. Cozy, but not cramped. Small, but not easily dismissed.

So what’s the play about? Well, I keep comparing it to Little Shop of Horrors, even though it’s nothing like that play. So why compare? Because both have the same fun and energy mixed with a healthy dose of comedy and catchy showtunes. I could easily see this little gem being made into a movie. The story’s based on a book by Bill Fitzhugh, and the only cast member I know by name is Cleavant Derricks. I’ve seen Derricks on and off my TV screen for the last 10 or 15 years, but his biggest claim to fame would his Tony-award winning performance in the Broadway production of "Dreamgirls" back in 1980.

Of course, I mentioned in my last post that my current obsession worked with Derricks on this wee sci-fi show in the 1990s called Sliders. I’m in the middle of Sliders Season 2 via Netflix, after watching all of Season 1 on Hulu.com. That show had so much potential. :-( Sad. Anyway, back to the play. I know we had the chance to hear Derricks sing on Sliders a few times, but when you’re watching him perform in "Pest Control," you realize that he’s far more talented than the show gave him credit for. The brother enunciates and projects like he’s singing at the Met instead of a small 99-seat theater in North Hollywood. He may not be the star of the show, but he shines equally as bright as our leading man. Kudos to you, sir.

But he's not the only stand-out performance. I have to make a note to keep a lookout for Dana Meller (Chantelle) and John Allsopp (Reynaldo) in any future theater productions around the L.A. area. Both of their characters were slightly over-the-top, but not to the point of distraction. And given the play’s fun storyline and silly, tongue-in-cheek tone, their performances are perfectly suited to become the showstoppers of every curtain call.

The one thing that kind of threw me for a loop was that Reynaldo’s first song isn’t in the musical numbers listed in the program. Also, two of the songs intended for the first act, appear at the beginning of the second act instead. My guess is that they retooled the show after the programs were printed. It’s a shame because Reynaldo's first song is one of my favorites from the entire show and I don’t know the name of it. :-/

If you get a chance to see it, give the first few numbers a chance to set the tone. It walks a fine line between being fun and being outrageous, but that’s hard to gauge when the opening number features 9 dancers dressed up like roaches. That part feels strange and over-the-top, but it’s dialed back a bit by the time our leading man and lady belt out “It Must Be A Pheromone Thing.” My favorite number after Reynaldo’s song about a somewhat familiar coffee chain is “Exterminator’s Blues.” What can I say? I’m a sucker for big production numbers, and although there isn’t a lot of dancing in this show, you can certainly appreciate the choreography and the clever use of space. Derricks’ solo “Back Then” is lovely through and through. Not just his voice and intonation, but the lyrics and melody as well.

The play features a solid cast. There’s not a weak performance in the bunch. You can tell that everyone’s really comfortable in their roles, and even though Thursday may not be considered a big “event” night, they delivered like any other. Oh, I guess I could tell you what the play’s actually about. Essentially, it’s about this average schmo named Bob Dillon (say it aloud; cue chuckle) who runs a successful bug-zapping company. One night while he’s out with his fellow exterminators, he ventures into a club frequented by hitmen and contract killers. Of course, he doesn’t know what they do for a living, and they assume that he’s one of their own, otherwise he’d know better than to stay for a drink. So when folks start talking about their work in vague, but colorful terms, everyone assumes they’re on the same page. Thus begins the farce. You don’t get to see too many quality farces these days, especially new ones. Did I mention that this is a new production? No revival here, folks. Yes, that’s right. Someone out there is making new theat-ahh for the masses to enjoy. Imagine that.

Anyway, I’ve said enough about that happy-fun-time. Go. See. Enjoy. There’s only 4 more performances left, but it’s certainly worth the night out.

Quick note: If you go to the show before it closes, don’t, I repeat, don’t eat at PitFire Pizza before or after the show. I’m still annoyed by the $12 meal I had. That crap looked unappetizing, and it tasted just like it looked. That restaurant is seriously overrated. Just because you use organic ingredients and shop primarily at Farmers Markets doesn’t give you excuse to fail culinary school. Seasoning is your friend.

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I know, I know. Don't say it.

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 01:54:42 -0700

Wow. It's ... well, it's been awhile, hasn't it? I haven't forgotten about you. I've just been preoccupied with things. You know, things. There always seems to be a thing. I had planned to catch you all up over the long Memorial Day weekend, but, again with the things. No hard feelings, I hope. I'm sure you've all found a bit of fun and fancy to keep you busy during my absence. No? Well, that's just sad. And here I thought I was the spinster. :-P

Didn't you just miss those little emoticons?

Sex And The City - Teaser

Hmm, what do I want to tell you? There's been a lot going on. Even before I disappeared from the ethernet. There was quite a bit going on that I didn't have the energy or time to talk or write about. Now, looking back, it just seems too engrossing to put down in the form of the written word. Hmmm. Well, enough of the drama. In the words of Indigo Montoya, "Let me explain. No, there is too much. Let me sum up." This is by no means in chronological order. Nor is it in order of importance. It's just what I feel like sharing at this time.

I just came back from the 8:30 pm show of Sex & the City and I'm running on adrenaline, caffeine, and happy. Happy in the form of a damn good film that does its performers justice and puts the perfect cap on a wonderful TV series. If you're a fan of the show, go. love. enjoy. The film deserves a mountain of praise and adoration. More on that later. Maybe.

My apartment is junky and atrocious, as usual. I had hoped to do a lot of spring cleaning over the Memorial Day weekend, especially since my company gives us the Friday off before Labor Day and Memorial Day, so everyone gets a 4-day weekend. Well, I had a job interview on Thursday morning, so I decided to take some much needed and deserved time off, and took a vacation day on that Thursday; therefore, treating myself to a 5-day weekend. I kept myself pretty busy the entire time, but little of it was devoted to cleaning. I think I washed dishes once, but I did 3 loads of laundry. So: Yay me!

And that's a lot considering I went on a job interview, unbraided half of my twists in preparation for my hair appointment, took Lafayette in for an oil change and wheel alignment maintenance, got my hair did, finished my Molly Ivins book, began my Al Franken book, started a new celebrity obsession, continued my job search online, saw 2 movies, went grocery shopping, and paid a few bills without completely succumbing to a terrible cold that's lasted for well over a week. That's pretty damn good if I may say so myself.

Let's see. What else. I've missed 3 weeks of Jazz class because I pulled a muscle in my neck. Well, I missed 2 weeks of class because of the pulled muscle, and 1 week because of the bad cold. Honestly, I went through a whole box of Contac cold & flu medicine with daytime and nighttime remedies in less than 7 days. I'm still not a 100%, but I'm a lot better. I only missed 1 Hip Hop class. I went back today. The routine was just right for me, under the circumstances. Nothing too strenuous or demanding. Hopefully I won't be sore tomorrow, because I hope to check out that Capoeira class at noon. It just started a couple weeks ago, but I needed to let my body repair itself before I took on any more activities. If I don't go tomorrow, hopefully, I'll make it in next Sunday.

Even though I'm still financially off-kilter, I hope to take in Pest Control at the NoHo Arts Center this week as well. I admit I've been interested in seeing it since I first heard about the play in early April. There's an 8 pm show for $25 on Thursday, which is cheaper than the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday shows. The only person I've heard of in the cast is Cleavant Derricks, who, in a weird twist of fate, co-starred with my current celebrity obsession in a little TV series back in the '90s.

Well, since we're on the subject, and the act of typing this incredibly boring entry is keeping me away from watching another episode of the show on Hulu.com, I might as well share. Hold on. I like this song that just came up in my iTunes shuffle rotation.

::steps away from computer to dance around living room::

Okay, that took me back. What was I talking about? Oh yeah.

Not every celebrity obsession is about physical attraction, of course. It's always been about an appreciation of talent, first and foremost. But, hey, if the actor in question just happens to be a hottie as well, more fun for me. So keep that in mind, and don't freak out when I tell you he thespian in question. My current re-discovery of an actor I've always liked, but never really gave his due is one Mr. John Rhys-Davies. That's Gimli from LOTR to some of you. Sallah from the Indiana Jones trilogy to others. Macbeth from Gargoyles, Maximilian Arturo from Sliders, and that big guy with the beard and loud, booming voice from a countless number of other films and animated TV series.

What sparked this new obsession, you ask? Well, remember how I kind of have a thing for Jason Statham? Yeah, well, it turns out I'll pretty much watch anything with him in it. Hey, don't judge me. I discovered a little indie gem called London because Jason was in it, despite it also featuring Jessica Biel, whom I neither like nor understand how she gets so much work. Anyway, earlier this year, the infamously bad director who lives to make all gamers cry, Uwe Boll, released a film called In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. It starred Jason along with a slew of talented actors who were much better in pretty much everything else they've ever been in: Burt Reynolds, Ray Liotta, Claire Forlani, Ron Perlman, Leelee Sobieski, and John Rhys-Davies.

Now, I've seen or heard JRD in I don't know how many films and TV shows over the years, and although I've always enjoyed his performances, there was something about the character of Merick, the King's magus, in this film that made me look at him differently. I think it was the whole father-daughter relationship. When I thought about it, I realized I've so rarely seen JRD play a parent, let alone a father with a daughter. I think JRD and Sobieski's relationship was one of the more interesting elements of the film. I found myself wishing the movie had explored their relationship more. I haven't seen a lot of Leelee's work, but I thought she had one of the better performances in the film.

So as most of my obsessions go, I now have to rent and/or borrow anything that JRD has been in, read every interview and sci-fi convention report I can find online, and scour YouTube for any little gems like this blooper reel from Sliders. :-) I've already watched my copy of LOTR:TTT again, but I don't have the Extended Edition with the commentary. Enter Kathy. The lovely, sweet, darling Kathy, who was so kind to loan me her Serenity Collector's Edition DVD with the cast commentary. I've somehow managed ~~to dupe her into loaning me~~ to convince her to loan me her LOTR:TTT and LOTR:ROTK Extended Edition DVDs. Guess what I'll be watching all next week when I can tear myself away from the So You Think You Can Dance auditions?

I've also found a few con reports and interviews online. It's nice to read about how friendly and giving Mr. JRD is with his fans. He doesn't seem to buy into the idea that he's too good for conventions and seems to respect Ringers and their loving devotion to Tolkien's vision. It almost makes me want to overlook his Conservative political views and skewed interpretation of the Islamic faith and Western history and civilization. Almost. What can I say, I'm superficial, but I'm not that superficial. I also don't advocate a Eurocentric view of world history. But hey, I grew up in Indiana, and his views aren't all that shocking or unfamiliar to me. And in a way, I sort of admire his courage or stupidity to speak up in an industry teeming with those filthy tree-hugging, latte-drinking, BMW-driving liberals. BTW, John, if you ever speak of Viggo that way again, I will kick you in the gittles. Comprenez pas?

Oh well, I can't shun you. Not really. That would be an exercise in intolerance. Plus, I think Toby Keith's a loudmouth jackass, but that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge the fact that he is talented or enjoy "As Good As I One Was" or "I Love This Bar". So, excuse me while I add Sliders Seasons 1, 2, & 3, The Lost World, Return to the Lost World, the BBC's Merchant of Venice, and that episode of Murder She Wrote you were in to my Netflix queue. I already rented The Miracle Match and The Medallion from Blockbuster, and purchased Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade from Target. However, I have to admit I have no desire to see most of the horror films you've done, and some of those B-movies (which I usually like) seem way too crappy even for my tastes. So this obsession may a wee bit short-lived compared to the others. We'll see.

Hmm, I'm losing some of my steam here. What else do I want to share? I talked about looking for another job. There's more story there, but I'm too tired and less inclined to describe it in detail. Let's just say I need to get the hell out of there before I'm forced out before I have somewhere else to move on to. Also, as a result of the drama on that front, I can't check my personal e-mail or online blogs (LJ and Vox) from work anymore. So, even though I wasn't posting that much anyway, there's going to be even less posting now. If anyone wants to reach me during work hours now, please feel free to call and/or text me. That's the best way to reach me. I have to keep my nose clean until I find something else, so for now, it's only work-related company websites, the Merriam-Webster dictionary, and Wikipedia between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm.

Okay, I was going to wax effusive about the Sex & the City movie some more, but the winds going out of my sails. I need to carry my butt to bed. Oh, and a completely random fun fact: my appetite has been off since my neck injury, and, for the past 3 weeks, I've been eating what amounts to 1 meal a day. My energy's been fine though. Weird. I'm sure it'll return to normal soon enough.

Another completely random tidbit: I bought Blazing Saddles at Target this weekend in honor of Harvey Korman's passing. You will be missed, Harvey. You were a shining star, sir, and may future generations keep you in their hearts.

Okay, that's it for me, folks. Ooh, the Weather Girls. I forgot I bought this on iTunes. Nice.

::goes to dance around the living room one more 'gin::

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Extra! Extra!

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Fri, 16 May 2008 00:10:58 -0700

I know I've been away for awhile, but I don't have the energy to 'splain what I've been up to. Maybe tomorrow. Okay, probably not tomorrow either. Stop pressuring me.

Anyway, I just stopped by to fly the flag of equality. Take a gander at this headline ...

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CALIFORNIA'S TOP COURT ISSUES HISTORIC RULING IN SUPPORT OF GAY MARRIAGE!

Thursday May 15, 2008 -- Today, California's top court issued an historic ruling in support of gay marriage. "We are thrilled by this amazing victory that ensures deserving legal equality for ALL Californians." said Rodney Scott, President of Christopher Street West, producer of Los Angeles LGBT PRIDE.

As written by Chief Justice Ron George for the court's majority, "Our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation."

For more on this story: see NYT here

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That's right. Cali's the second state in the Union to officially recognize same-sex marriage. I wonder what affect this news will have on this weekend's Pride parade down in Long Beach. I'm actually going to try and attend this year, thanks to a suggestion from a chica over on LJ. The parade's on Sunday morning, but instead of driving down to LBC and spending a shockingly large amount of gas -- we're up to $3.85 per gallon here in VN -- I'm heading down on the subway. I still haven't planned my entire trip yet, but essentially, I'm gonna hop on the blue line, watch the parade, browse the boulevard, meet up with a buddy for lunch, then ride the rail back to the Valley. :-) I'm really looking forward to it.

Of course, I plan to take photos, but you know me. I probably won't post them until September. :-P

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This event WILL sell out ... because there's only 108 seats

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:59:34 -0700

Oops. Last week, I meant to post a little shout-out and free advertising to my buddy, Sebastian, and his next gig, but I procrastinated and here we are. I'm not sure if I've mentioned him here before, but Seb's an actor-guy that I met at my-job-before-my-last-job. (Hope that makes sense.) I call him "actor-guy" because he's one of the first, and believe it or not, few L.A. transplants I've met who actually came out to La-La-Land to take a shot at this crazy business called show. I guess I was expecting to meet a lot more wannabe actors when I came out here, but I think I've met far more people who want to work behind-the-scenes than in front of the camera.

Anyway, actor-guy recently joined/was accepted under duress by the Theatre Unleashed group to come and frolick upon the stage for the amusement and bemusement of others. Look it up if you don't know what it means. And Theatre Unleashed is putting on a show tonight over at the M Bar in Hollywood. I've never been to the M Bar, and when I tried to call and make reservations, they returned my voicemail with some confusing directions on reserving a table for up to 7 people. Hmmm. Weird.

So, I don't know if I'll even be able to get in to see the show. This is one of the many reasons why I don't like talking to people for the sake of purchasing something. Don't even get me started on my strict avoidance of Farmers Markets. A couple of Seb's other buddies are going to be there, so hopefully if the doorman gives me any trouble, I can snag a chair at their table. Wish me luck. Well, I guess it would be better to wish him luck. :-) The show starts at 8pm, so I'm leaving work around 6:30pm to beat the traffic and find a parking spot. Here's hoping it goes off without a hitch.

Oh yeah, btw. Theatre Unleashed put up a few YouTube commercials to advertise the show, and Sebastian is featured in one of them. That's him pontificating on the wonders of poetry. Yep, he's a doofus. I like his scream at the end. So very girly.

Why do I keep wanting to call them Theatre Unlimited? It's Theatre Unleashed.

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It makes my heart hurt

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:33:18 -0700

Generations ... of disposable people.

As someone else said, it's going to be a long, hot summer in NYC.

_________

Police not guilty in groom's death

Story Highlights
NEW: Crowd angry but orderly; union chief praises verdict
Detectives acquitted of wrongdoing in Sean Bell shooting case
Judge cites contradictory prosecution testimony, witnesses' demeanor
Victim's fiancee runs from courtroom as verdicts are read

From Deborah Feyerick

NEW YORK (CNN) -- A judge acquitted three New York Police Department detectives of all charges Friday morning in the shooting death of an unarmed man in a 50-bullet barrage, hours before he was to be married.

Detectives Michael Oliver, left, Gescard Isnora and Marc Cooper were accused in the 50-bullet barrage." Detectives Michael Oliver and Gescard Isnora were found not guilty of charges of manslaughter, assault and reckless endangerment in the death of Sean Bell, 23, and the wounding of two of his friends.

Detective Marc Cooper was acquitted of reckless endangerment.
Justice Arthur Cooperman said he found problems with the prosecution's case. He said some prosecution witnesses contradicted themselves, and he cited prior convictions and incarcerations of witnesses.

He also cited the demeanor of some witnesses on the stand.
As the judge read his decision, Nicole Paultre Bell -- Sean Bell's fiancee before his death -- ran from the courtroom, saying, "I've got to get out of here."

The announcement immediately sparked anger among some in the crowd outside the courthouse, but the protests were generally orderly.

One woman shouted at a black police officer, "How can you be proud to wear that uniform? Stand down! Stop working for the masters!"

Patrick Lynch, president of the New York Police Patrolmen's Benevolent Association, said "there's no winners, there's no losers" in the case.

"We still have a death that occurred. We still have police officers that have to live with the fact that there was a death involved in their case," Lynch said.

But, he added, the verdict assured police officers that they will be treated fairly in New York's courts.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, who has been advising Bell's fiancee and family, left the courthouse about an hour after the verdict without making a public statement. He had called for calm Wednesday.

Bell, 23, was killed just before dawn on his wedding day, November 25, 2006. He and several friends were winding up an all-night bachelor party at the Kalua Club in Queens, a strip club that was under investigation by a NYPD undercover unit looking into complaints of guns, drugs and prostitution.

Undercover detectives were inside the club, and plainclothes officers were stationed outside.
Witnesses said that about 4 a.m., closing time, as Bell and his friends left the club, an argument broke out. Believing that one of Bell's friends, Joseph Guzman, was going to get a gun from Bell's car, one of the undercover detectives followed the men and called for backup.

What happened next was at the heart of the trial, prosecuted by the assistant district attorney in Queens.
Bell, Guzman and Trent Benefield got into the car, with Bell at the wheel. The detectives drew their weapons, said Guzman and Benefield, who testified that they never heard the plainclothes detectives identify themselves as police.

Bell was in a panic to get away from the armed men, his friends testified.
But the detectives thought Bell was trying to run down one of them, according to their lawyers, believed that their lives were in danger and started shooting.

In a frantic 911 call, police can be heard saying, "Shots fired. Undercover units involved."
A total of 50 bullets were fired by five NYPD officers. Only three were charged with crimes.
Oliver, who reloaded his semiautomatic in the middle of the fray, fired 31 times, Isnora fired 11 times, and Cooper, whose leg was brushed by Bell's moving car, fired four times, the NYPD said.

No gun was found near Bell or his friends.
Soon after his death, Bell's fiancee, Nicole Paultre, legally changed her name to Nicole Paultre Bell. She is raising the couple's two daughters, ages 5 and 1.

"I tell [them] that Daddy's in heaven now," she said. "He's watching over us. He's our guardian angel. He's going to be here to protect us and make sure nothing happens to us."

Detectives Endowment Association President Michael Palladino said forensic and scientific evidence presented during the seven-week trial contradicts the testimony of prosecution witnesses.

But Paultre Bell's father, Lester Paultre, said, "For those naysayers who say the police was doing their job, they should imagine their child in that car being shot by the police for no reason."

Paultre Bell, Guzman and Benefield have filed a wrongful-death lawsuit in federal court that has been stayed pending the outcome of the criminal trial. Guzman was shot 16 times, and four bullets, too dangerous to remove, remain in his body, according to his lawyer, Sanford Rubenstein.

Federal prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York have been monitoring the trial. In the event of an acquittal, it is likely authorities would conduct a review to determine whether there were any civil rights violations.

Sean Bell and Nicole Paultre Bell

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Valued Voter

nobody@vox.com(Kelleah) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:25:29 -0700

As one of the poor schmucks who refuses to fork over $60 per month for basic cable, I have to wait until the weekend to catch up on my Colbert Report love via the Interweb. I must say that last week's broadcast from the Keystone State was pretty sweet. Nice work, Mr. Noblet. Nice work.

And it seems only fitting that on the eve of the big Pennsylvania primary that I post this clip of last Thursday night's The Word. I was an Edwards supporter until he dropped out of the race before the California primary, so it's nice to see him in the spotlight again. If only, briefly. His timing's not perfect, but I think he did pretty well for a politician. Plus, I like a guy who can poke fun at himself.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Ed Words - Valued Voter

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