Hollywood can kiss my A$$

Why did the big suits in the entertainment industry decide to rape my childhood for film ideas? And furthermore, why do they feel it is necessary to re-make a perfectly good film that was only released 2 years ago?

It's because they all think we're stupid and like to play to the lowest common denominator! I have said that before and I say it again!

I will give props to a few of those who have delivered in their promises of good entertainment like Star Trek and Transformers, but the LOTL movie? I am terrified to see GI Joe, and I hope it doesn't fall into line with other flops of yore like Dukes of Hazard and Bewitched. I was shocked to see that they're now going to brutally rape another childhood gem, Flight of the Navigator! And, today, I heard something even more repugnant: they are re-making Frank Oz' Death at a Funeral!

What's Death at a Funeral? Probably one of the funniest films to be released in a long time. The original 2007 release was done in a way that echoes the styles of Monty Python. It is a clever, well-written, and VERY WELL DIRECTED ensemble film that showcases great British actors that no one has ever heard of. The 2 Americans in the film are also brilliant and have a big cult following themselves. They also happen to play 2 of the most over-the-top characters that you've ever seen on the big screen. These men; Peter Dinklage and Alan Tudyk, show the audience what it means to be fucked up beyond all recognition, and it's AWESOME. They also play British very well, and had ME fooled until I looked them up on Wikipedia.

So, WHY THE HELL DO THE HOLLYWOOD EXECS WANT TO FUCK WITH A GOOD THING? They cast a bunch of big names including Chris Rock (I don't even know where the hell he'd fit into the damn movie - it's not his style of comedy) to draw a bigger audience. WHY DO THEY DO THIS? Why can't they just do a re-release of the original if they want more people to see it? Re-cut a few commercials to make it less "artsy?" Not to mention, they replaced the director, the legend, Frank Oz with Neil LaBute. I am sure Mr. LaBute is a fine director but THIS IS OZ' BABY! THEY'RE GONNA RAPE IT! THE DINGO ATE YODA'S BABY!!!!! ARRRRRRRRRGGHHHH!

I know, I know, the arts aren't ABOUT art anymore - just about making a buck. But if they want a powerhouse ensemble comedy out there with big name celebs, or a new family-friendly sci-fi adventure, WHY DON'T PEOPLE GET OFF THEIR ASSES AND WRITE NEW ONES????? Quit raping my childhood and happy memories because you feel the need to make a few more $$$ to add to your already overstuffed wallet! When the new Death at a Funeral and Flight of the Navigator are both released in 2010, do yourself a favor - boycott the new releases and rent the originals via Netflix. I assure you, you'll have a much better time, and save yourself the $100 or however much it costs to go to a movie these days!

Sorry for the delay, folks!

      So, I know I have been absent from here for a while.  I also know I don't have much to write about, but something caught my attention and I felt it necessary to draw some attention.  

I was reading my boyfriend's blog, Off the Schneid, and while perusing his commentary about hippies, baseball, SF, and his MBA program, it occurred to me that there's a number of common misspellings that he uses all the time.  Not that this is something major, or anything to cause WW3 over, but what disturbed me is that he is just one of many millions of brilliant and schooled people who can't spell. And he freely admits this.  I love this man, let me tell you!  LOVE HIM!

     We are all taught grammar and punctuation in school, and at times are FORCED to practice these subjects over and over again.  I, for one, LOATHED grammar practice in school.  All of the tests, writing exercises, spelling tests, sentence writing (in grade school spelling tests), etc.  I KNOW I failed many a grammar exercise and purposefully ignored my teacher's droning lectures.  It is all this drilling that I think causes the problem.  Schools take the fun out of learning.  I know that my high school's English department was severely short-sighted and did not care enough about the students to employ a curriculum that allowed for a more creative way to learn grammar.  We had very few creative writing assignments, and I think this is where the main problem lies.  I feel that a direct lack of creativity promotes an apathy in the learner.  In order to really retain information, it should be drilled, yes, but in a way that is productive and fruitful for the student writer.  

I can honestly say that I didn't care about my usage, spelling, or punctuation until I was writing my own material.  When you "give birth" to something, creatively speaking, you allow yourself to open up to criticism that could help to make your product better!  Not to mention, when you actually CARE about what you're writing, it makes you want to learn how to do it right!  

Schools tend to lump kids into groups based on aptitude - has anyone ever noticed this?  Like, those kids who are great at math, chemistry and physics are always in the same classes.  There is also a tendency for many of these students to struggle with English, foreign languages, and sciences like Biology.  On the other side of the coin, we have kids who excel in English, languages and bio-sciences (much like myself) who are miserable in Math, fail chemistry, and just can't get it together when it comes to these subjects.  I feel math was taught in a way that made me care less about it.  I seemed to excel in things I could readily apply to my own life, career goals, etc.  I struggled with things that I THOUGHT had no bearing on what I wanted to do.  I would sit in Algebra 2 and wish that my teacher was able to provide the information with some reason behind it.  With no real-world connections, I was more apt to fall asleep in class than give the correct answer.  

   Anyway, I should get back on track here with my rant, or I will go on forever.  So, the point I am trying to make is that I was reading my boyfriend's blog and contemplating his spelling of certain things.  Because he is going into business and communications are key, I worried that he might be looked down upon by others who are looking for ANYTHING to nit pick.  Bosses suck, this we all know, and I know there's some insane HR guy out there just waiting to take his wrath out on someone who has awesome credentials, a great interview style and lousy spelling skills.  Then, I read some other friends' blogs and emails...

HOLY SHIT! CAN'T YOU PEOPLE SPELL????  I realized I am in the minority and it scared the crap out of me!  I understand grammar sucks and people hate practicing it.  But if our country is going to get ahead at all in this world, we need to care not just about ideas, but how those ideas are presented.  Blogging is a great way to start.  Because a blog is personal, there is emotional investment in the whole operation, and everyone who has one will agree - you want to keep your integrity!  For every blog/email/discussion post that I read, I admit that I judge harshly.  If I don't know the person at all, I look at certain things (and this is when I read wall posts or discussion forums).  I look at spelling, first and foremost.  If they are ranting about a major topic like global warming or first amendment rights, I will give their thoughts - whether I agree or disagree - a chance if they are SPELLED CORRECTLY.  

I have seen "Glowbul warming" or Globell warning" and I have seen all sorts of spellings of "amendmint," "commendment"  and such.  DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON HOW PEOPLE MISSPELL CONSTITUTION! These people who can't spell and then rant about their topic of choice earn my disrespect and sometimes loathing.  No wonder people think Americans are dumb!  Anyone read internet posts?  I do make concessions on occasion for those who don't speak English well, but for those right-wing, "joe the plumber," "Real Americans" I show no mercy.  It's like looking at misspelled graffiti!  If you are going to piss off someone, do it correctly!  

The sad thing is that many of the misspelled rants out there in the webiverse (or whatever you call it) are written by "educated" individuals who have gone through public school, and a majority of them, I'm sure, have gone on to some higher form of education.  So, with all this education, why can't people spell?  If they can have families, provide for them, and obtain a decent wage, why the hell can't they remember that "a lot" is TWO WORDS?  ARRRRRGHHHHH!

I know many of these people.  I am related to a few, I am sure.  I love many of these people.  We live in a country where expression is something we celebrate every single day!  Yet, how can we express ourselves properly if we don't know how to use the words and phrases properly?  

So, there's got to be something we can do in order to get people to care about proper spelling and grammar again.  There's got to be a way to give incentive to people to spell properly!  

Hmmmm, education reform?  Get 'em while they're young! 

And now, a misspelled word for all of you who think the status quo is ok...FCUK EWE!  Hee hee.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, this concludes our broadcast day.  

I am freezing

In order to take my mind off of more personal drama, I figured I would rant about the weather today, since it's cold as a witch's tit out there!

So, here I am in NYC, and I wonder why I am so damn cold?  Hmmmm, maybe it's because it's ALWAYS COLD THIS TIME OF YEAR IN NYC!  I shouldn't complain as I brought this on myself.  I moved here on my own.  I chose to live the life of a starving artist, and, yes, I CHOSE to take the air conditioner out of the window and leave said window open because of something that is screwed into the sill.  That thing in the sill won't allow the window to close, and consequently, when it gets REALLY COLD outside, it gets cold inside.  

Still, I would rather be too cold than too hot.  My roommate and I were discussing the difference between dry heat and humid heat.  Because we're both from CA, we appreciate the validity of it being a "dry heat."  90 degrees is waaaaay more bearable in a desert than in a humid, nasty, stinky city.  

Don't get me wrong, I love NY.  But my hair hates humidity and I have come to hate sweating for no reason.  Sweat is sexy when it involves heavy workouts or, uh, well - sex!  But spontaneous butt-crack sweat is NOT SEXY and is just nasty.  

Back to the cold weather though.  I usually call Feb-March the "bleak months" here in the city as nothing happens and things just look unpleasant in the concrete jungle.  This year, things aren't too bad. I am not sure if that's because I work from home, or I just stopped caring, or even if I am too busy to notice.  Whatever!  I'll take it.  I am a nester.  I like to hunker down in a warm blanket and rot.  I know that's no way to live, but sometimes it's called for.  I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY LACK OF MOTIVATION DURING COLD MONTHS.  That being said, I have been moderately productive, so I guess I am a big walking contradiction.  

I have another complaint: why are people still harping on the "Miracle landing on the Hudson?"  I know it was a miracle, and yay for the pilot, but the whole black box thing...is it really newsworthy?  Everyone lived (except the birds that got eaten by the engines) and nothing else has changed since.  Furthermore, Caylee Anthony is still dead, Michael Phelps should be left alone, and our economy still sucks.  As Dennis Leary once said, "Life sucks, get a fucking helmet."  I know I have said that before, but it keeps coming back to me. Anyway, I am freezing and trying to keep afloat in a world that is trying to collapse on itself.  And why the hell is everyone on Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice having a panic attack?  Is that what's sexy now????????