Dear Readers,
I haven't blogged in awhile as I am on Xmas break (woo hoo!). Actually, that's a lie, I'm bored out of my mind and I miss CreComm.
Since I have a bit of time however, I decided it was a good time to write an initial post to establish my new blog topic. Food! I love cooking and I love food so I thought that topic was more up my alley. I always tweet photos of things I've cooked so I might as well blog about them too.
So to get down to business...
Last night, my bf, Jean cooked supper for my parents and their friends. It was actually their Xmas present from last year that they were finally cashing in on. He made a New Orleans meal that consisted of shrimp bisque which was delicious and a chicken and anouille sausage etouffe. I made the salad and the rice to go along with it. Then for dessert, he made beignets which were so delicious (basically donuts with icing sugar) and an apricot sauce to go along with them I was sous chef for the night and it was actually quite nice.
Next time, I will take pictures!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Review of Short Story: Birdsong by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
When I first started reading this story, I knew it didn’t take place in Canada. However, the story was very accessible to me. Perhaps my favorite part about it is the main character, a girl who is having an affair with a married man.
The story is told mostly in flashbacks while the girl is in a car stuck in a traffic jam. She notices a woman who she realizes could easily be her lover’s wife. This woman is staring at her in a judgmental way and it causes our protagonist to relive different scenarios in her relationship.
One thing that really gets me in stories is reoccurring images (or motifs for you literary folk). The motif in this story happens to be birds. The protagonist and her lover have a little inside joke that they come up with when talking about chickens. “Cock with a dick” or “CwithaD”. This particular part of the story really helps to establish their relationship. It’s something they can joke about, yet something that still needs to be kept a secret. It’s a nice metaphor for their relationship.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I felt like it was very real. I (almost) always enjoy stories about relationships and I feel like this one was no different. It was very entertaining to read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes dramatic stories.
The story is told mostly in flashbacks while the girl is in a car stuck in a traffic jam. She notices a woman who she realizes could easily be her lover’s wife. This woman is staring at her in a judgmental way and it causes our protagonist to relive different scenarios in her relationship.
One thing that really gets me in stories is reoccurring images (or motifs for you literary folk). The motif in this story happens to be birds. The protagonist and her lover have a little inside joke that they come up with when talking about chickens. “Cock with a dick” or “CwithaD”. This particular part of the story really helps to establish their relationship. It’s something they can joke about, yet something that still needs to be kept a secret. It’s a nice metaphor for their relationship.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and I felt like it was very real. I (almost) always enjoy stories about relationships and I feel like this one was no different. It was very entertaining to read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes dramatic stories.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Book Launch at McNally Robinson
On Sunday, I went to see Grant Lawrence speak at McNally Robinson about his new book called Adventures in Solitude.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got there but I actually really enjoyed myself. Grant was a very compelling speaker and read a few excerpts from his book. One excerpt was about an encounter with a "cougar" while he was swimming naked. He stopped reading right before the "cougar" was revealed. He spoke with great enthusiasm and told a fair share of jokes. There were probably about 40 people there and he signed copies of his book for people at the end.
A neat twist was that he invited local musician Del Barber to perform a few songs in between his readings. Del's music is folk-style and almost sounds like country without the honky-tonk. It was just him and his acoustic guitar.
The book is about his cabin which is located at Desolation Sound in B.C. and his various adventures and the people he's met.
I didn't buy the book but Dani did so hopefully she'll let me borrow it :)
I wasn't sure what to expect when I got there but I actually really enjoyed myself. Grant was a very compelling speaker and read a few excerpts from his book. One excerpt was about an encounter with a "cougar" while he was swimming naked. He stopped reading right before the "cougar" was revealed. He spoke with great enthusiasm and told a fair share of jokes. There were probably about 40 people there and he signed copies of his book for people at the end.
A neat twist was that he invited local musician Del Barber to perform a few songs in between his readings. Del's music is folk-style and almost sounds like country without the honky-tonk. It was just him and his acoustic guitar.
The book is about his cabin which is located at Desolation Sound in B.C. and his various adventures and the people he's met.
I didn't buy the book but Dani did so hopefully she'll let me borrow it :)
Saturday, November 27, 2010
My short story
Another Girl
It was a cool morning when her naked body washed up on the shore. She was wrapped in a fishing net, with bits of seaweed in her hair. Or at least, what used to be her hair. Now it looked like black thread tangled in a knot that no person could disembroil. Her skin was pale and she looked like a puffy, pillow person made of wax.
A jogger discovered her washed up on the shore and I was the unfortunate one who was assigned to her case. The young ones were always the most draining.
I began by examining her fingernails. You could tell a lot about how a person died by what was under their fingernails. There were a few missing and most were translucent but I could still tell that a struggle had taken place. The ones that were missing had been ripped off, most likely while she was still alive. I found bits of flesh underneath her pointer and middle fingers of her right hand along with dirt and sand that had festered there while she was drifting up stream.
I tried to imagine her life. I didn’t do this with all of my victims but this girl seemed special. Even with her puffy face and bloodshot eyes, I could tell she had an innocence to her that made it difficult for me to understand why she had to die.
Most people don’t deserve to die. It’s hard to feel sorry for some that do though. God wants us to be a certain way and yet in this day and age, how many of us actually refrain from sin? The bible was written so long ago and yet those are the rules that we are supposed to abide by. I had a feeling that this girl was pretty close to following all of them.
I imagined her growing up in a small town in a big house with a porch that wrapped around it entirely. She had a swing set in the backyard that she played on every day until she was too old and her father sold it. She went to school and had lots of friends and a brother and sister and mom and dad.
That was until she met the boy. He was a few years older and had a car. He would pick her up and they would go to movies together. Then one day she went to his friend’s house where she had her first drink. And her second and her third. She trusted this boy with all her heart. They had been going out for three months and after the fifth drink she knew she was ready. She wanted to go all the way with this boy.
This boy didn’t have it as easy as the girl growing up. He had no swing set and he didn’t have a lot of friends. This boy missed a lot of school because he always had bruises. His dad would punch him and kick him when he didn’t do what he was told.
The happy girl was sure she was falling in love with this disturbed boy. They would spend a lot of time together and when the boy would get mad or jealous, she always knew it was because of his past. She knew she could change him. His life would be better now because of her. He wouldn’t have to suffer anymore.
The first time the boy and the girl went to visit her parents, she was nervous but she was also in love. She didn’t see the same things that other people saw. Her fears about their meeting quickly dissipated though because the boy was actually wonderful to her parents. They talked and laughed all night and the boy didn’t lead on that the night before he had given her a shove during their fight.
The boy and the girl were fighting more often now. Usually it was over things that were miniscule or even nonexistent. Once, the girl had answered the phone and spoken to a telemarketer and the boy accused her of flirting. He yelled at her. A lot. She kept telling herself it was just because he loved her so much. Things would get better, she thought. He doesn’t mean it. He’s just passionate.
As I began to examine her hair, I noticed some patches where the hair was only about an inch and a half long. It had been pulled out, probably a few months earlier.
The boy started pulling her hair around six months into the relationship. She would try to walk away from him and he would yank her back. He told her he just couldn’t take her turning her back on him. Afterwards, he would tell her he was used to his parents and anyone else he loved walking away from him. “I can’t handle you being just like them. You love me, don’t you?” he would say. Of course she did. He needed her.
The cause of her death was unclear to me. The water in her lungs indicated a possible drowning but the large purple-black bruise on her lower back indicated that she may have been struck with a large object before plunging into the ice cold water. I felt her spine but I couldn’t tell whether or not there were some broken vertebrae.
The night of the girl’s death started with another fight. She knew he would be mad about her haircut so she was searching through the apartment, looking for a hat. She didn’t want to lie to him but she just wanted to wait for the right time to tell him she had gotten her hair cut. She had found something moments before he walked in the door and frantically pulled the gray toque over her newly short brunette hair. “Hey, baby,” he kicked off his shoes and left them on the steps for her to put away as she did every day.
“How was your day?” she asked with a sweet smile. She was doing her best to not draw attention to the inevitable fight that was under her toque.
“What’s with the hat?” She knew he would notice. She never wore hats. She would remove her hat and it would set off their biggest fight yet.
I knew he had done it. The problem was, I couldn’t find anything that would link him to her killing. It was harder to prove these kinds of murders because the victim would have spent so much time with their boyfriend. If you find a hair on the body or some kind of DNA, it isn’t necessarily evidence.
As I continued to scour every detail of her body, I imagined what her parents will do when they find out. Will they kill him? How will they ever be able to live knowing what happened to their daughter? They’ll blame themselves and they’ll go over every scenario, wondering if they could have done something to change her fate.
I prepared my report and a million things were still going through my head. I wondered how long the investigation would be, if they’d catch the guy, if he’d be convicted. I wondered what her family will do and how many people will miss her.
As I drove home I started to wonder what I’d have for dinner. I turned on the music and rolled down the window. I always loved the drive home from work. It’s so relaxing and I get a chance think about anything other than how people died. I felt the air whipping past my window and I could smell the salty ocean in the air. I’m instantly at ease and ready to join the real world again.
As I entered the house, I was immediately wrapped with the smell of home. I felt the warmth and the feeling of comfort took over. My husband had something in the oven and the smell in the air reminded me of Thanksgiving.
“Hi Honey,” I greeted him with a smile and a kiss. It’s always so wonderful when he cooks dinner.
“How was your day?” He asked.
“It was fine,” I don’t usually talk very much about my work for obvious reasons. And as I thought about my day, I was surprised I hadn’t thought about the girl since I left.
As we sat down to enjoy the delicious meal of homemade chicken soup and biscuits, we started to talk about what we would be doing for the weekend and what we were going to bring to our friend’s potluck. We chatted about trivial things, normal things husbands and wives talk about when they’re ending the day.
As I laid down that night, I realized this is was my favorite part of the day. I cleared my head of thoughts and I rested my head on my husband’s chest. My eyelids easily closed and I slowly fell asleep to the rhythm of his heart. Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
My "favorite" scary movies
When I say favorite, I mean the ones that I think had the best script/cinematography/acting, etc. I say this because you all know that I don't actually "like" scary movies. I've often thought about why people would actually like them and why they would actually like feeling scared and disturbed but frankly, that's a whole other blog post. By the way, these are in no particular order.
1. The Ring - When The Ring came out, nothing like it had been done before. I thought the twist ending was great and it just had such frightening images. The little girl thing is quite frightening because you'd never think a little girl would be out for revenge like the one in the film is.
2. Thir13en Ghosts - I saw this when I was quite a big younger and I just remember being so terrified (that was back when going to see scary movies was fun because you could snuggle up to your crush of the week). I don't remember much of the plot but I do remember "The Jackal" being the scariest ghost of them all.
3. House on Haunted Hill - I saw this one when I was probably about 13 or so. The best part of this film was the sound track. I believe it was Marylin Manson doing a cover of Annie Lenox's Sweet Dreams are Made of This. When I was 13, that was such a bad-ass song.
4. Saw - Of course Saw had to be on this list. Scary movies (not so much with other genres) are always great when they have an original idea. We have seen the slasher/gory/serial killer/ghost films so much that when an original idea is out there, it's quite refreshing. I don't think this applies to romantic comedies though; the boy and the girl fall in love and it's (almost) always good.
5. The Grudge - Like The Ring, The Grudge is based on a Japanese flim (my sister says Japanese flims are always the scariest). I remember me and my bestie (who's still my bf now) watched it at her house when her parents weren't home. We were in an embrace for most of the movie and we actually screamed out loud on several occasions.
6. 1308 - This is probably one of the last scary movies I saw before I quit watching them. Again, I felt like it was something I hadn't seen before. It had probably been done but I guess there's something so scary about being trapped in a room when you're so close, yet so far away from freedom.
7. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the remake) - I actually don't remember being that scared of this movie when I watched it. I think I might have even watched it by myself. I haven't seen the original but the remake was really well done. I liked that Jessica Biel was the only one who survived at the end. Whenever I hear Sweet Home Alabama I always think of this movie.
1. The Ring - When The Ring came out, nothing like it had been done before. I thought the twist ending was great and it just had such frightening images. The little girl thing is quite frightening because you'd never think a little girl would be out for revenge like the one in the film is.
2. Thir13en Ghosts - I saw this when I was quite a big younger and I just remember being so terrified (that was back when going to see scary movies was fun because you could snuggle up to your crush of the week). I don't remember much of the plot but I do remember "The Jackal" being the scariest ghost of them all.
3. House on Haunted Hill - I saw this one when I was probably about 13 or so. The best part of this film was the sound track. I believe it was Marylin Manson doing a cover of Annie Lenox's Sweet Dreams are Made of This. When I was 13, that was such a bad-ass song.
4. Saw - Of course Saw had to be on this list. Scary movies (not so much with other genres) are always great when they have an original idea. We have seen the slasher/gory/serial killer/ghost films so much that when an original idea is out there, it's quite refreshing. I don't think this applies to romantic comedies though; the boy and the girl fall in love and it's (almost) always good.
5. The Grudge - Like The Ring, The Grudge is based on a Japanese flim (my sister says Japanese flims are always the scariest). I remember me and my bestie (who's still my bf now) watched it at her house when her parents weren't home. We were in an embrace for most of the movie and we actually screamed out loud on several occasions.
6. 1308 - This is probably one of the last scary movies I saw before I quit watching them. Again, I felt like it was something I hadn't seen before. It had probably been done but I guess there's something so scary about being trapped in a room when you're so close, yet so far away from freedom.
7. Texas Chainsaw Massacre (the remake) - I actually don't remember being that scared of this movie when I watched it. I think I might have even watched it by myself. I haven't seen the original but the remake was really well done. I liked that Jessica Biel was the only one who survived at the end. Whenever I hear Sweet Home Alabama I always think of this movie.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
What's worse than frightening? Why, disturbing, of course
I found this website (blog?) with a list and description of the most disturbing films ever made. Sure, you can have gore and suspense but perhaps the movies that irk you the most are the ones that make you question humanity itself; the ones that really shake you to the core (pardon the cliche).
Click here to read it
Just a side note: I've always wanted to dress up as the guy from A Clockwork Orange for Halloween. His makeup is awesome but I don't think anyone would know who I was.
Click here to read it
Just a side note: I've always wanted to dress up as the guy from A Clockwork Orange for Halloween. His makeup is awesome but I don't think anyone would know who I was.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Beetlejuice/Sleepy Hollow on Halloween Night
My Halloween plans were quite non-existent this year so on Halloween, I wanted to watch some movies to get me in the spirit. Luckily, these films were on one after another on TV (both directed by Tim Burton).
Beetlejuice came out the year I was born but it's kind of a classic. People were surprised when I told them I hadn't seen it. It really is quite a bizarre movie. It's not like anything that would be produced today I don't think. The look and feel of the film (as well as the story-line) reminds me of the old Batman movies (which I love by the way). I think the best part of the movie is the story and Beetlejuice's character. Michael Keaton does a wonderful job portraying the raunchy, chauvinistic monster and Winona Ryder is so cute as the little gothic daughter.
I think even though the story-line is goofy and cheesy at some points, the unique story is what makes Beetlejuice a classic. It's about two people who are ghosts and are haunted by the living. They "hire" Beetlejuice to haunt the people who have moved into their house to try and drive them away because this couple isn't so good at haunting. They are not your typical horror movie ghosts and neither is Beetlejuice for that matter. The story is most definitely, not a cliche and Beetlejuice is an awesome Halloween movie that you could watch with the kids.
The second film I watched was on right after and stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. (Let me just say, Christina Ricci looks really weird with blonde hair.) The film tells the classic story of the headless horseman and Ichabod Crane.
As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. They always create magic together and Sleepy Hollow is no different. I'm not sure exactly how true they stayed to the original story but either way, Burton's interpretation is brilliant. One of the best parts of the story is the character Ichabod. He's very likeable and real even though he's the hero and the protagonist. Christopher Walken plays the headless horseman and does a wonderful job of spooking people. The only thing I was wondering was what's with his teeth? They're pointy and weird-looking and I'm not really sure why.
Beetlejuice came out the year I was born but it's kind of a classic. People were surprised when I told them I hadn't seen it. It really is quite a bizarre movie. It's not like anything that would be produced today I don't think. The look and feel of the film (as well as the story-line) reminds me of the old Batman movies (which I love by the way). I think the best part of the movie is the story and Beetlejuice's character. Michael Keaton does a wonderful job portraying the raunchy, chauvinistic monster and Winona Ryder is so cute as the little gothic daughter.
I think even though the story-line is goofy and cheesy at some points, the unique story is what makes Beetlejuice a classic. It's about two people who are ghosts and are haunted by the living. They "hire" Beetlejuice to haunt the people who have moved into their house to try and drive them away because this couple isn't so good at haunting. They are not your typical horror movie ghosts and neither is Beetlejuice for that matter. The story is most definitely, not a cliche and Beetlejuice is an awesome Halloween movie that you could watch with the kids.
The second film I watched was on right after and stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. (Let me just say, Christina Ricci looks really weird with blonde hair.) The film tells the classic story of the headless horseman and Ichabod Crane.
As far as I'm concerned, you can't go wrong with Johnny Depp and Tim Burton. They always create magic together and Sleepy Hollow is no different. I'm not sure exactly how true they stayed to the original story but either way, Burton's interpretation is brilliant. One of the best parts of the story is the character Ichabod. He's very likeable and real even though he's the hero and the protagonist. Christopher Walken plays the headless horseman and does a wonderful job of spooking people. The only thing I was wondering was what's with his teeth? They're pointy and weird-looking and I'm not really sure why.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Rocky Horror Glee Show)
In the spirit of Halloween, I thought I'd blog about the cult classic and because I love the show, I thought I'd write about the Glee episode's take on the film.
I don't remember the first time I actually saw The Rocky Horror Picture show but I think I was inspired to see it or at least started becoming a fan after I saw MTC put on the musical. There were aspects of the play that I really liked however, the actor they chose to play Frankenfurter was very masculine and large. He was like a big, husky, macho guy. The character is supposed to be a tranny; you'd expect him to be pretty feminine. Also, this guy was bald. He didn't have the same black curls that Tim Curry had in the film. The play was done well and the actor had an amazing voice but not right for the role in my opinion.
We dressed up to see the play like people do when they see the film and that was probably the best part about it. After I saw the play, I bought the movie and have probably watched it a hundred times since. I know all the words to the songs and I even got my sister into it. Rocky Horror is often misunderstood and unless you know the story or someone who loves you get into it, usually people don't like it. It's a very strange story and most people just don't get it. Actually, I don't think anyone really "gets" it and I don't really think that's even the point. The point is, the songs are fun to sing to and it's just so strange that it's not like any other movie that's out there.
My take on the Glee version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Rocky Horror Glee Show as they called it is that my expectations were too high. I love the movie and I love the songs. I had too high expectations for this episode and I was a little disappointed. "Sweet Transvestite" is probably my favorite song in the film and even though I loved what they were trying to do by having Mercedes sing the song, I just wasn't feeling it. Glee made the numbers more "musical" and melodic than they are in the movie and I didn't like it. I guess the film doesn't necessarily showcase amazing talent when it comes to singing and we all know the kids on Glee are wonderful singers so of course they had to show their talent. It would be wrong for the songs on Glee to showcase "bad" singing.
In this case, I think it's important not to mess with the original. However, I love, love, loved that Barry Bostwick and Meatloaf had small cameos. What a wonderful treat for those of us who love the movie!
I don't remember the first time I actually saw The Rocky Horror Picture show but I think I was inspired to see it or at least started becoming a fan after I saw MTC put on the musical. There were aspects of the play that I really liked however, the actor they chose to play Frankenfurter was very masculine and large. He was like a big, husky, macho guy. The character is supposed to be a tranny; you'd expect him to be pretty feminine. Also, this guy was bald. He didn't have the same black curls that Tim Curry had in the film. The play was done well and the actor had an amazing voice but not right for the role in my opinion.
We dressed up to see the play like people do when they see the film and that was probably the best part about it. After I saw the play, I bought the movie and have probably watched it a hundred times since. I know all the words to the songs and I even got my sister into it. Rocky Horror is often misunderstood and unless you know the story or someone who loves you get into it, usually people don't like it. It's a very strange story and most people just don't get it. Actually, I don't think anyone really "gets" it and I don't really think that's even the point. The point is, the songs are fun to sing to and it's just so strange that it's not like any other movie that's out there.
My take on the Glee version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show or The Rocky Horror Glee Show as they called it is that my expectations were too high. I love the movie and I love the songs. I had too high expectations for this episode and I was a little disappointed. "Sweet Transvestite" is probably my favorite song in the film and even though I loved what they were trying to do by having Mercedes sing the song, I just wasn't feeling it. Glee made the numbers more "musical" and melodic than they are in the movie and I didn't like it. I guess the film doesn't necessarily showcase amazing talent when it comes to singing and we all know the kids on Glee are wonderful singers so of course they had to show their talent. It would be wrong for the songs on Glee to showcase "bad" singing.
In this case, I think it's important not to mess with the original. However, I love, love, loved that Barry Bostwick and Meatloaf had small cameos. What a wonderful treat for those of us who love the movie!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
The Social Network & Mark Zuckerberg's Response to his Portrayal
I think the line spoken by one of the lawyers, Marylin Delpy (Rashida Jones) in the film, The Social Network that goes something like this: “You try so hard to be an asshole but you’re not,” sums up the way Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) is portrayed in the film. Zuckerberg is our protagonist and in order for a film to work, the audience has to like and/or relate with the protagonist in some way. He does some “asshole-ish” things but he’s likeable. He’s portrayed as a smart kid with a great idea who just wants to be cool and get girls. It’s true, the character does make some mistakes but in my opinion, the film portrays him ultimately as a good person. He makes jokes, he’s smart, he’s relatable and when he makes mistakes, often it’s Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake) that’s influenced him. I think Parker is portrayed in a much worse light than Zuckerberg.
Facebook is extremely popular. I’m not sure that the film has made it more popular – I don’t think it has made it less popular either. Regardless of the way the film portrays the people involved in the making of Facebook, people love it and they use it and the film won’t have an impact on that. I would think that most people who are going to see the film already have an account and if they don’t, I don’t think this film would have changed their minds. I don’t think anyone refused to use Facebook because they had negative feelings about Zuckerberg or anyone else involved in its creation. It’s probably because they just don’t like the concept and this film doesn’t change what Facebook actually is. I think Facebook will only be on its way out when something newer and better comes out to replace it, just like what happened to MySpace when Facebook started.
When it comes to the question of Mark Zuckerberg’s PR response, my perception is simple: it doesn’t matter what he says or does (to an extent), Facebook is so powerful that it trumps whatever the negative image people may get from seeing the film. This is especially true because Facebook is FREE. People are not paying any money to use Facebook and therefore, its founder has little impact on their use of the site.
According to The PR Post blog he uses “Blowing-It-Off” and “Little League” PR strategies in response to the film.
Zuckerberg’s “Blowing-It-Off” response I think, is very effective. Mostly because the things he says when he’s “blowing it off” are true. The Social Network is a movie and moviemakers have to make it entertaining or no one will want to watch it. It’s as simple as that. He is quick to say that his life isn’t that dramatic and I think that’s the case with most films that are based on true stories. Films can never be 100% real life; even documentaries are cut and edited so that they’re entertaining.
Here’s an example of Zuckerberg “blowing it off” from CBS News.com:
Reviewing the film thematically, Zuckerberg said it featured a girl who was not part of his real life and dumps him, which he joked happened a lot to him in real life. "They framed it as if I wanted to get girls or into some social institution," Zuckerberg said. "I've been dating the same girl since before Facebook."
He concluded that the film makers "can't wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things."
As for the “Little League” response, I think it was unnecessary. As Tiffany Gallicano states in her blog post, it was a little insulting to audiences that Zuckerberg would choose to donate money to a cause on the day the film opened. He could have done that on any other day and it would have seemed more sincere. It paints the picture that he doesn’t really care about the cause; he’s just trying to make himself look like a good guy as the film comes out.
Here’s the video clip of the quotes above:
Facebook is extremely popular. I’m not sure that the film has made it more popular – I don’t think it has made it less popular either. Regardless of the way the film portrays the people involved in the making of Facebook, people love it and they use it and the film won’t have an impact on that. I would think that most people who are going to see the film already have an account and if they don’t, I don’t think this film would have changed their minds. I don’t think anyone refused to use Facebook because they had negative feelings about Zuckerberg or anyone else involved in its creation. It’s probably because they just don’t like the concept and this film doesn’t change what Facebook actually is. I think Facebook will only be on its way out when something newer and better comes out to replace it, just like what happened to MySpace when Facebook started.
When it comes to the question of Mark Zuckerberg’s PR response, my perception is simple: it doesn’t matter what he says or does (to an extent), Facebook is so powerful that it trumps whatever the negative image people may get from seeing the film. This is especially true because Facebook is FREE. People are not paying any money to use Facebook and therefore, its founder has little impact on their use of the site.
According to The PR Post blog he uses “Blowing-It-Off” and “Little League” PR strategies in response to the film.
Zuckerberg’s “Blowing-It-Off” response I think, is very effective. Mostly because the things he says when he’s “blowing it off” are true. The Social Network is a movie and moviemakers have to make it entertaining or no one will want to watch it. It’s as simple as that. He is quick to say that his life isn’t that dramatic and I think that’s the case with most films that are based on true stories. Films can never be 100% real life; even documentaries are cut and edited so that they’re entertaining.
Here’s an example of Zuckerberg “blowing it off” from CBS News.com:
Reviewing the film thematically, Zuckerberg said it featured a girl who was not part of his real life and dumps him, which he joked happened a lot to him in real life. "They framed it as if I wanted to get girls or into some social institution," Zuckerberg said. "I've been dating the same girl since before Facebook."
He concluded that the film makers "can't wrap their head around the idea that someone might build something because they like building things."
As for the “Little League” response, I think it was unnecessary. As Tiffany Gallicano states in her blog post, it was a little insulting to audiences that Zuckerberg would choose to donate money to a cause on the day the film opened. He could have done that on any other day and it would have seemed more sincere. It paints the picture that he doesn’t really care about the cause; he’s just trying to make himself look like a good guy as the film comes out.
Here’s the video clip of the quotes above:
Monday, October 11, 2010
Off topic again: Buyer Beware Organic vs. Non-organic Produce
This project was interesting in many ways. We had an in-depth look at what it means for produce to be organic and how that affects us as consumers. Some people think "organic" is just for hippies and that its impacts don't affect the rest of us conventional folk. What we found was not a lot of evidence on how eating organic can affect our health, but we did find a lot about how it affects our environment.
When farmers grow organically, they are letting the soil replenish its nutrients in a natural and sustainable way. This means that it can be ongoing. Using pesticides and fertilizers is a quick fix. Not to mention, the lack of evidence aside, I don't like the idea of consuming all that crap when I eat an apple.
My family and I get our fruit and vegetables delivered by a company called Fresh Option Organic Delivery or F.O.O.D. and I feel good about supporting organic farmers and about not putting all those chemicals into my body.
We also learned that there are strict regulations on the labelling of organic produce. A company is not allowed to put the organic seal on their product if that product does not meet certain standards. According to John Hollinger, an Organic Agriculture Specialist from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) farmers must be using organic practices for three years before they can be considered organic by the Government of Manitoba.
One thing we noticed in our research was the attitudes of people. We did a taste test at school using organic and non-organic apples and we asked people which they liked better and whether or not they bought organic produce regularly. Only about 50% of people were able to tell which apple was organic and which was not and most people who responded that they bought organic regularly weren't able to say what organic meant or why they thought it was better.
It seems like organic has a certain stigma attached to it and it tends to imply brand superiority. With that said though, it is a helpful, not a harmful brand and regardless of the reasoning, people buying organic produce is a good thing.
When farmers grow organically, they are letting the soil replenish its nutrients in a natural and sustainable way. This means that it can be ongoing. Using pesticides and fertilizers is a quick fix. Not to mention, the lack of evidence aside, I don't like the idea of consuming all that crap when I eat an apple.
My family and I get our fruit and vegetables delivered by a company called Fresh Option Organic Delivery or F.O.O.D. and I feel good about supporting organic farmers and about not putting all those chemicals into my body.
We also learned that there are strict regulations on the labelling of organic produce. A company is not allowed to put the organic seal on their product if that product does not meet certain standards. According to John Hollinger, an Organic Agriculture Specialist from Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) farmers must be using organic practices for three years before they can be considered organic by the Government of Manitoba.
One thing we noticed in our research was the attitudes of people. We did a taste test at school using organic and non-organic apples and we asked people which they liked better and whether or not they bought organic produce regularly. Only about 50% of people were able to tell which apple was organic and which was not and most people who responded that they bought organic regularly weren't able to say what organic meant or why they thought it was better.
It seems like organic has a certain stigma attached to it and it tends to imply brand superiority. With that said though, it is a helpful, not a harmful brand and regardless of the reasoning, people buying organic produce is a good thing.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Judy vs. Sam aka Mom vs. Child
I should start off by saying I am a Judy supporter. I suppose I am a pessimist in saying I doubt Judy will actually win this election but I support her and her platform nonetheless.
Today, we observed/participated in a mayoral debate between the two top candidates in the civic election that will be taking place on October 27. It's probably safe to say that Sam won the debate, and as a feminist I can honestly say I think Judy's gender had a lot to do with it. Women often struggle in the workplace to have their voice heard and so often, they are cut off. While I agree sometimes Judy went on for too long without actually saying something valid, I also think Sam has an "old boy's club" attitude that is extremely distasteful to me. He belittled Judy and at times almost laughed in her face.
During the debate, Sam was very charismatic and at times made Judy look really stupid. He got a lot of cheers and fist pumps from the audience but as a voter, it makes me really lose faith in other voters in the city. When Sam says, "Bring the Jets back to Winnipeg," and then all you hear is a sea of cheers, it sort of makes me wonder if the public really can make an educated decision on who they want for mayor. This isn't a high school president election. Just because Sam mentions the Jets, doesn't mean he would be a good mayor for our city.
As a CreComm student, I was also observing Richard Cloutier and I had a new appreciation for what he does as a journalist for CJOB. He was almost "rude" at times because he is such a slave to the clock. He has to go to commercials beacuse if he doesn't, he will basically get fired. With that said though, like Duncan (our Journalism instructor) tweeted about, I think he appeared to be favoring Sam. He would address him as "Mayor Katz" and Judy as just "Judy" and also ask Sam to speak ahead of Judy quite often. He also referred to our campus as being on Princess Avenue instead of Princess Street. He must not be a CreComm grad.
Something neat too is that I was actually interviewed and was on Global News tonight regarding the debate.
Watch the video here
Today, we observed/participated in a mayoral debate between the two top candidates in the civic election that will be taking place on October 27. It's probably safe to say that Sam won the debate, and as a feminist I can honestly say I think Judy's gender had a lot to do with it. Women often struggle in the workplace to have their voice heard and so often, they are cut off. While I agree sometimes Judy went on for too long without actually saying something valid, I also think Sam has an "old boy's club" attitude that is extremely distasteful to me. He belittled Judy and at times almost laughed in her face.
During the debate, Sam was very charismatic and at times made Judy look really stupid. He got a lot of cheers and fist pumps from the audience but as a voter, it makes me really lose faith in other voters in the city. When Sam says, "Bring the Jets back to Winnipeg," and then all you hear is a sea of cheers, it sort of makes me wonder if the public really can make an educated decision on who they want for mayor. This isn't a high school president election. Just because Sam mentions the Jets, doesn't mean he would be a good mayor for our city.
As a CreComm student, I was also observing Richard Cloutier and I had a new appreciation for what he does as a journalist for CJOB. He was almost "rude" at times because he is such a slave to the clock. He has to go to commercials beacuse if he doesn't, he will basically get fired. With that said though, like Duncan (our Journalism instructor) tweeted about, I think he appeared to be favoring Sam. He would address him as "Mayor Katz" and Judy as just "Judy" and also ask Sam to speak ahead of Judy quite often. He also referred to our campus as being on Princess Avenue instead of Princess Street. He must not be a CreComm grad.
Something neat too is that I was actually interviewed and was on Global News tonight regarding the debate.
Watch the video here
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Classic Horror: Rosemary's Baby
Tonight, my first classic: Rosemary's Baby. This movie was released in 1968 so naturally, I had to adjust my thinking because movies were made differently back then. I started it fairly late at night so I was slightly displeased when I found out that it was over two hours long. People had more time back then to watch movies.
Let me start by saying this movie is weird. It's about a young New York couple who want to have a baby. They move into a new apartment and meet some strange and nosy neighbours. Rosemary becomes pregnant after she has a hallucinogenic "dream" involving nudity (was nudity allowed back then?) and satanic rituals. She's pretty much raped by the devil and gives birth to his baby, recieving "help" all along from her neighbours. You know, in a nutshell.
I think the best part of this movie is Rosemary's haircut! A girl with short hair myself, I always appreciate beautiful women with short hair. How awesome is it that she pulled that off in 1968? Thank-you for paving the way for me Mia Farrow.
Oh am I ever glad I'm not a woman in the 60s. Male doctors that don't tell me my own diagnosis, only tell my husband? No thanks. Can you believe that? Just like a vet telling a pet owner the diagnosis of their dog; the woman couldn't possibly understand, nor is she responsible for her own life. It just really irks me how helpless Rosemary is throughout the film. Rosemary's character is VERY childlike and though she's sweet, it's very hard to imagine her as a mother. When she suggests to her doctor that she's afraid of having an ectopic pregnancy, she is thoroughly scolded for having read a book. (The doctor was in kahoots with the devil worshippers so this may be why he didn't want her poking around in any books but still, I'm sure women were treated similarly at the time.) Mia Farrow's reaction to the sight of her baby at the end of the film is so priceless and disturbing. Even though it's sort of comical, her screaming is what got me.
This film was a huge hit in its time and the director, Roman Polanski recieved two Academy Award nominations. It paved the way for movies like The Exorcist and The Omen. I wouldn't really consider the film "scary" for 2010 standards but the concept is certainly disturbing and there's something neat about the fact that it was so original. Almost all the ideas for horror movies nowadays have been done before. There's nothing new and yet in 1968, a frightened, innocent mother giving birth to the devil's baby was new.
Let me start by saying this movie is weird. It's about a young New York couple who want to have a baby. They move into a new apartment and meet some strange and nosy neighbours. Rosemary becomes pregnant after she has a hallucinogenic "dream" involving nudity (was nudity allowed back then?) and satanic rituals. She's pretty much raped by the devil and gives birth to his baby, recieving "help" all along from her neighbours. You know, in a nutshell.
I think the best part of this movie is Rosemary's haircut! A girl with short hair myself, I always appreciate beautiful women with short hair. How awesome is it that she pulled that off in 1968? Thank-you for paving the way for me Mia Farrow.
Oh am I ever glad I'm not a woman in the 60s. Male doctors that don't tell me my own diagnosis, only tell my husband? No thanks. Can you believe that? Just like a vet telling a pet owner the diagnosis of their dog; the woman couldn't possibly understand, nor is she responsible for her own life. It just really irks me how helpless Rosemary is throughout the film. Rosemary's character is VERY childlike and though she's sweet, it's very hard to imagine her as a mother. When she suggests to her doctor that she's afraid of having an ectopic pregnancy, she is thoroughly scolded for having read a book. (The doctor was in kahoots with the devil worshippers so this may be why he didn't want her poking around in any books but still, I'm sure women were treated similarly at the time.) Mia Farrow's reaction to the sight of her baby at the end of the film is so priceless and disturbing. Even though it's sort of comical, her screaming is what got me.
This film was a huge hit in its time and the director, Roman Polanski recieved two Academy Award nominations. It paved the way for movies like The Exorcist and The Omen. I wouldn't really consider the film "scary" for 2010 standards but the concept is certainly disturbing and there's something neat about the fact that it was so original. Almost all the ideas for horror movies nowadays have been done before. There's nothing new and yet in 1968, a frightened, innocent mother giving birth to the devil's baby was new.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Feeling quite Wolfy this morning
Last night I watched The Wolfman. It was a little more scary than Shutter Island so I'm glad I'm kind of easing into this. The movie is a period piece, which I typically enjoy. The costumes and details are really great.
Probably one of my favorite parts of this movie was the lighting. It's set in the 1800s so everything is lit with candles. Everyone looks better by candle light, I think. Also, the moonlight plays a huge part in setting the mood of the film.
The acting was another thing that really made this movie stand out for me. How can you go wrong with Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro? Emily Blunt is also quite spectacular in her role. Her outfits are so cute and part of me wishes it was still 1891 so I could dress like that too. She looks so skinny in those period pieces.
There wasn't a lot of fright involved in this movie but there was a LOT of gore. Those claws the Wolfman has are deadly. And I mean that in the most literal sense of the word.
This movie is a good boyfriend cuddler if you don't wanna be too scared. There are some parts you can snuggle up to him over but there isn't anything that's going to have you losing sleep for weeks. Other than the occasional long conversation between the characters that seem redundant, this movie is quite entertaining.
And a side note, I never found Benicio Del Toro sexy before but he kind of is in this movie. He's got the whole dark, mysterious character down. It's quite appealing if I do say so myself.
Next week I will be watching Rosemary's Baby. (Quite possibly because I just cut my hair short and I think Mia Farrow has the cutest hair in this movie. Very cutting edge for that time period.)
Probably one of my favorite parts of this movie was the lighting. It's set in the 1800s so everything is lit with candles. Everyone looks better by candle light, I think. Also, the moonlight plays a huge part in setting the mood of the film.
The acting was another thing that really made this movie stand out for me. How can you go wrong with Anthony Hopkins and Benicio Del Toro? Emily Blunt is also quite spectacular in her role. Her outfits are so cute and part of me wishes it was still 1891 so I could dress like that too. She looks so skinny in those period pieces.
There wasn't a lot of fright involved in this movie but there was a LOT of gore. Those claws the Wolfman has are deadly. And I mean that in the most literal sense of the word.
This movie is a good boyfriend cuddler if you don't wanna be too scared. There are some parts you can snuggle up to him over but there isn't anything that's going to have you losing sleep for weeks. Other than the occasional long conversation between the characters that seem redundant, this movie is quite entertaining.
And a side note, I never found Benicio Del Toro sexy before but he kind of is in this movie. He's got the whole dark, mysterious character down. It's quite appealing if I do say so myself.
Next week I will be watching Rosemary's Baby. (Quite possibly because I just cut my hair short and I think Mia Farrow has the cutest hair in this movie. Very cutting edge for that time period.)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Shutter Island didn't exactly make me shudder.
Shutter Island didn't exactly make me shudder.
It was definitely creepy and there were some disturbing moments but it wasn't so bad and wouldn't fall under the category of horror.
With that said though, it was a very mentally stimulating film. Leonardo DiCaprio did a great job of portraying the emotional role of Teddy Daniels.
The film has a certain eeriness that's brought forth particularly with the director's color use. I noticed there are very few warm colors throughout. A frightening storm is also a nice touch in setting the mood of the film.
Perhaps the best part of the film though is the ending. After so much second guessing and after being a part of the confusion experienced by Teddy, as the audience you get a sort of "ah hah" feeling at the end when everything comes together.
Overall, Shutter Island is a very strange movie but very well executed and very mentally stimulating. I think the best movies are ones where you actually have to use your brain to enjoy.
Anyone have any ideas for next week? Twitter me @Pwanks. I would prefer something that isn't too scary (I'm trying to ease into it). And, if anyone ever has something I can borrow that would be great because I will go broke before 15 weeks is up if I always have to rent them.
It was definitely creepy and there were some disturbing moments but it wasn't so bad and wouldn't fall under the category of horror.
With that said though, it was a very mentally stimulating film. Leonardo DiCaprio did a great job of portraying the emotional role of Teddy Daniels.
The film has a certain eeriness that's brought forth particularly with the director's color use. I noticed there are very few warm colors throughout. A frightening storm is also a nice touch in setting the mood of the film.
Perhaps the best part of the film though is the ending. After so much second guessing and after being a part of the confusion experienced by Teddy, as the audience you get a sort of "ah hah" feeling at the end when everything comes together.
Overall, Shutter Island is a very strange movie but very well executed and very mentally stimulating. I think the best movies are ones where you actually have to use your brain to enjoy.
Anyone have any ideas for next week? Twitter me @Pwanks. I would prefer something that isn't too scary (I'm trying to ease into it). And, if anyone ever has something I can borrow that would be great because I will go broke before 15 weeks is up if I always have to rent them.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Newest member to Twitter
I am excited to announce the recent social media addition to my life: Twitter. I am now on Twitter and I am already loving it. I have had Twitter for awhile and used it to follow different news sources so I can take a quick look and know most of the headlines (very useful for CreComm students). However, after todays PR class, I now understand direct messages, hash tags, retweet posts and even about "Follow Friday". This is where the Twitter community tweet recommendations for other Twitter users for interesting people to follow. I am hoping my friends outside of CreComm will join Twitter because I think it's an excellent communication tool, with its own unique qualities, different from Facebook. It's meant to be more public than Facebook and my favorite part is not just following what my friends are saying but also what for example, the Food Network is tweeting.
Next goal - get my mom on Twitter (or better yet, my dad! Who am I kidding? That would NEVER happen!)
If you have Twitter, follow me @Pwanks
Next goal - get my mom on Twitter (or better yet, my dad! Who am I kidding? That would NEVER happen!)
If you have Twitter, follow me @Pwanks
"Funnies" For CreComm Students
Totally off topic in terms of my blog but I just had to share these because they're hilarious! (Sorry they're so small but if you click on them, it'll make them larger.)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Horror Movie or Political/Religious Message?
Splice is a movie I have been somewhat interested in ever since I saw the preview a few months ago. The film tells a story about two scientists who create a hybrid creature even though they are ordered not to. The creature seems cute at first but then she basically turns on them.
This might be a movie I choose to review in the future (my boyfriend, being a science guy, is quite intrigued by the concept of the film) but for now I'd like to take a moment to share my opinions about the whole concept.
Does anyone else see through the plot of this film? It is basically saying that science kills. Well, maybe it doesn't go that far but to me, the underlying message is that if humans continue to use science in the advanced ways they have been like for cloning, or in this case, gene splicing, they are doomed.
When I fist saw the trailer for this film, I thought the creature (her name is Dren, "nerd" spelled backwards)was so cute! I thought about how you could have taken the concept and made a whole different film out of it. Maybe a drama about the struggles she has with fitting in; maybe there could be a best friend or a love interest. It could have been a metaphor for how some of us feel sometimes when we don't fit in. "If you think you have it hard, look at Dren." That kind of concept.
But no, instead there had to be some sort of religious/political underlying tones (demonstrated by the horror genre and the events of the film) about the fact that manipulating nature is BAD! Express your opinion about this but please don't infiltrate my movies. Thank you.
This might be a movie I choose to review in the future (my boyfriend, being a science guy, is quite intrigued by the concept of the film) but for now I'd like to take a moment to share my opinions about the whole concept.
Does anyone else see through the plot of this film? It is basically saying that science kills. Well, maybe it doesn't go that far but to me, the underlying message is that if humans continue to use science in the advanced ways they have been like for cloning, or in this case, gene splicing, they are doomed.
When I fist saw the trailer for this film, I thought the creature (her name is Dren, "nerd" spelled backwards)was so cute! I thought about how you could have taken the concept and made a whole different film out of it. Maybe a drama about the struggles she has with fitting in; maybe there could be a best friend or a love interest. It could have been a metaphor for how some of us feel sometimes when we don't fit in. "If you think you have it hard, look at Dren." That kind of concept.
But no, instead there had to be some sort of religious/political underlying tones (demonstrated by the horror genre and the events of the film) about the fact that manipulating nature is BAD! Express your opinion about this but please don't infiltrate my movies. Thank you.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Intro to a "Horror-Filled" 15 weeks (or more!)
Before I start this blog you have to understand a few things about me. First of all, I hate scary movies. Now you may wonder why someone who hates scary movies would want to watch one a week. This is a good question. I suppose I'd like to expand my movie repertoire. As of now I'm kind of stuck in a rut of romantic comedies (or rom coms, as I like to refer to them). This always leads to a fight and/or "you owe me's" in the movie store when my boyfriend is constantly subjected to predictable story lines and girly love stories. I don’t think he cares whether or not Jennifer Lopez is pregnant and he certainly doesn’t care what Kristen Bell is doing in Rome. Another reason I want to do this is to gain some street cred. My sister is 16 and she loves scary movies. She's not scared of anything! I'm 6 years older and I'm the biggest baby. I have to regain my big sister status. (I may have to stop calling her in a whiny panic to come kill a spider if I find one in my room as well but that's a whole other battle. Baby steps though.)
Another personality trait of mine that might be helpful to know is that I'm kind of like a mom. I'm not actually a mom but anyone who knows me would describe me this way. I am always the responsible one and I'm not really the "fun" one. Maybe this exercise will help me to loosen up a bit. Or it could frankly, do the opposite. Who knows? (Gulp)
Another thing I should do is lay out some ground rules:
1. I will only review watch worthy movies. Nothing like "Freddy vs Jason in Space while also Being Attacked by Aliens and/or Predators". I may watch some classics but otherwise, no "B" movies!
2. Under no circumstances will I watch a scary movie by myself. Even if it means I have to grab a random stranger off the street and invite them into my house to watch with me. This will clearly be safer than watching by myself because I'll need protection if something from the screen suddenly shows up in my basement. Of course a stranger would protect me.
3. I’ll try not to give anything away. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone if I’m writing about a film they’d like to see. That being said though, I want to be able to write about my thoughts and feelings and I don’t want to have to “censor” myself, so to speak. So I guess I should say “Spoiler Alert!” from this point forward.
Tune in next week when I’ll probably be regretting this whole experience. If anything you can all just laugh at my misery and lack of sleep. My first movie will be Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I think it's a good warm-up for me. I'm told it's more of a mystery than a horror so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I won't be sleeping in my parents bed (no guarantees though - and yes, I mean with them).
Another personality trait of mine that might be helpful to know is that I'm kind of like a mom. I'm not actually a mom but anyone who knows me would describe me this way. I am always the responsible one and I'm not really the "fun" one. Maybe this exercise will help me to loosen up a bit. Or it could frankly, do the opposite. Who knows? (Gulp)
Another thing I should do is lay out some ground rules:
1. I will only review watch worthy movies. Nothing like "Freddy vs Jason in Space while also Being Attacked by Aliens and/or Predators". I may watch some classics but otherwise, no "B" movies!
2. Under no circumstances will I watch a scary movie by myself. Even if it means I have to grab a random stranger off the street and invite them into my house to watch with me. This will clearly be safer than watching by myself because I'll need protection if something from the screen suddenly shows up in my basement. Of course a stranger would protect me.
3. I’ll try not to give anything away. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone if I’m writing about a film they’d like to see. That being said though, I want to be able to write about my thoughts and feelings and I don’t want to have to “censor” myself, so to speak. So I guess I should say “Spoiler Alert!” from this point forward.
Tune in next week when I’ll probably be regretting this whole experience. If anything you can all just laugh at my misery and lack of sleep. My first movie will be Shutter Island starring Leonardo DiCaprio. I think it's a good warm-up for me. I'm told it's more of a mystery than a horror so I'm keeping my fingers crossed I won't be sleeping in my parents bed (no guarantees though - and yes, I mean with them).
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