Shares: I mean, it is almost Christmas...

Sooo, who's gonna buy this for me? Eh, eh?

Shares: I Need to Watch More Classics.

I decided to mark down movie I think everyone should see. This are my all time favorite movies. What conclusion did I reach after making this list? I either a) am not impressed by, or need to watch more, classics. 21 of the movies were made since 2000, and only 1 being made before 1990. yeah...

I had a nice little explanation for why I loved each movie, plus a favorite moment or quote...but then I figured, how but you just watch them and form your own opinions.

A Love Song for Bobby Long (2004)

American Beauty (1999)

Benny and Joon (1993)
Chasing Amy (1997)

Cidade de Deus [City Of God] (2002) 
Closer (2004)

Crash (2004)
Dangerous lives of Altar Boys (2002)

Death Becomes Her (1992)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Fargo (1996)
Garden State (2004)

Gattaca (1997)
Good Will Hunting (1997)

Half Nelson (2006)
 Hard Candy (2005)

Igby Goes Down (2002)
Into the Wild (2007)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
Lars and the Real Girl (2007)

Diarios de Motocicleta (Motorcycle Diaries) (2004)
My Girl (1991)

My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Newsies (1992)

Once (2006)
Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Slackers (2002)
The Fountain (2006)

The Last King of Scotland (2006)
The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

The Way We Were (1973)
 Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Waiting for Guffman (1996)
Wet Hot American Summer (2001)

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape  (1993)

Ramblings: Go *cough* Yourself

Man, it never ends, the love I have for Jon Stewart. In this clip he talks about what it really is that gets under his skin about Palin. And it isn't what every corespondent on Fox News may think.

Funnies: How I Start And End My Day.

Every Day.

(I do want to clarify, the Turk section of the video...just sayin')

Shares: I actually have a few, very unrelated videos, I want to post...

Bon Iver - For Emma, For Ever Ago - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Shares: A Glimpse. Hurt My Heart.

You should actually just go and buy this, since it is hard to read this way. Go, buy. Now.

Ramblings: Deal Breakers (The Good Kind...)

I can be a quirky girl, and there are certain little things that I have gathered in my life, that have become deal breakers. When I say 'Deal Breakers' I simply mean that these are things that if you are aware of, there is an exponentially larger chance I will look at you as becoming my BFF, or asking for your hand in marriage immediately. Adversely, if you are NOT aware of these things, I will not look down upon you...I have another list for that. :D

With that stated, I will say most of these things are simply things, or ideas, I love. I tend to romanticize life, and I think that also plays a large part in this whole endeavor. Bear with me.

1) Anyone who has known me a considerable amount of time, knows this one: If I was ever presented with a FULL-SIZED sunflower (none of this potted shit. I want a single stalk that is almost as tall as me, with a flower on the end comparable to my head size, I don't care how abnormal), If presented,  would marry said person on the spot. Or think of them as the best person in the world, ever. That being said, it is also my dream marriage proposal. Way to take the spontaneity out of that one, eh?

2) I have just 'purchased' (I say this loosely, b/c really my mom has purchased for me for christmas, but I picked it out, engraved it, and sent it her way to simply buy) an iPod. I am finally entering the 2000s it seems. Anyway, I have had this iPod engraved on the back with one of my favorite lines from one of my favorite authors, JD Salinger. Upon meeting me, and then seeing/reading this quote on my iPod, they will be able to tell me immediately what it is from, and what character it is by. The quote reads: "John Keats/John Keats/John/ Please put your scarf on."

3) There are certiain things you grow up with that only you find cool. This is, by all means, one of them. I know every word to the song 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light' by Meatloaf. It is a duet, actually...though the female voice is...? That being said, if was sitting in a car, and someone knew this song (specifically the male portion, but either part really) and started singing it with me, duet style, I would definitely be more apt to consider their friendship. I have actually had this happen once before, and true to my word, I did look upon them with more reverence after the fact. But, I soon learned, no one, even Meatloaf duet singers, are perfect.

4) This is a specific male quality. If you call me up out of the blue/ask me over for some reason/come to my house with intent to/ sing and play 'Everlong' (the Acoustic version) by the Foo Fighters, I will mostly likely swoon on the spot, and let you do unseemly things to me the rest of the evening. I have had this also done to me once before (the singing...), but alas was in high school at the time, therefore super awkward, and still yet to have kissed anyone, let along have them do shameful things with me. Now, you might say, doesn't that ruin it, the sweetness, etc, that someone has already done this once for me? No I answer. It was done very crassly (meaning, hurriedly) and was followed up (this was over the phone) by such a ridiculous conversation by such a slack ass (and I knew him to be one at the time, not one of those 'later he reveled himself to be a slack ass') that though my heart grew 3 times it size, the action is outright considered null and void.

..I am sure there are more lurking in my brain. When they appear, I shall note them. And without realizing it, I definately ranked these in order of importance and value related to the awe you shall inspire within me.

Ramblings: So I Love Pizza.

Pear & Gorgonzola

Caramelized pears, Gorgonzola, Fontina and Mozzarella cheeses, caramelized sweet onions and chopped hazelnuts. Topped with field greens tossed in our Gorgonzola ranch dressing.

THIS SOUNDS AWESOME. FACT.

Ramblings: Some of My All Time Favorites

Soo Sitting here, Listening to some tunes...and, I just get all wrapped up in it. I love it. When you hear those songs, the ones that you could play on repeat, but restrain yourself (most of the time) from doing so with..., sometimes life doesn't get better. I don't even need to be DOING anything when I listen to these. I literally, most the time, sit down and zone out. Yes, sometimes I will be multi-tasking in the form of doing a crossword at the same time, or mending some clothing, maybe journaling.

Most times though, I literally sit down with the intention to do one of these things, and I just sit there. The minute I let my body rest, I am gone. I am now zoned out in the music. I forget anything I was supposed to be doing. I just close my eyes. I just sit there. I sing with it. I sometimes get up and dance, not aiming to be doing anything. I find most times it revolves around my head being thrown back and me trying my damnedest to sing along with it (thank god others don't have to suffer through this experience with me....usually)

So, being a person who wants to impose all the things I like on others, I am going to list a few of the songs that garner this reaction in me. Listen. Enjoy. Repeat.

(The highlight tracks are links to sites to listen, not downloadable content, FYI)

Jeff Buckley- Lover, You Should Have Come Over

Fiona Apple- I Know

George Harrison- My Sweet Lord

Paul Simon - Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes

Dave Matthews Band - Say Goodbye (Most any version EXCLUDING the actual 'Crash' CD Version)

Chris Thile- How To Grow A Woman From The Ground

Brand New- Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis

Jump, Little Children- Cathedrals

Ben Harper- Glory and Consequence, The Drugs Don't Work, and Woman In You (All Live From Mars Versions)

Bonnie Raitt - Angel From Montgomery

The Beatles- The Melody + Her Majesty on Abbey Road (Specifically: Golden Slumbers-->Carry That Weight-->The End)

Led Zeppelin - Dyer Maker

The Decemberists- O Valencia!

Radiohead – Myxomatosis

And, not really going with these songs, but you will NEVER find me NOT enjoying this song:

Bel Biv Devoe- Poison

There are so many More I am sure. Then there is the whole category of CD's that put you in a trance, from start to finish, and sometimes, i find, that those CD's may not even hold ONE track that I would, on its own, put in my favorites list, but cohesively the CD is amazing.

(Example: Elton John- Honkey Chateau Just makes me happy, start to finish, over and over again.)

Funnies: Once again, the Onion makes my day.

Study: Children Exposed To Pornography May Expect Sex To Be Enjoyable

Shares: Carrotmob

I guess it was almost a year ago that I first heard of CarrotMob, and thought 'wow, what a brilliant idea!' I even went to far as to apply to a  few positions at the MASTER organization (Not to be confused with master Race in ANY way at all.....) that founded the concept of carrotmob. Needless to say, I did not get any of these positions.....but..yeah.

Well, they came back onto my radar recently, so I thought I would show you all a few videos of what exactly a Carrotmob IS, how it works, etc etc.

The first video is the original video I saw, of the original Mob in San Fran. This is what sparked my interest!

Carrotmob Makes It Rain from carrotmob on Vimeo.

This second Video explains the MOB again, and shows a more recent gathering this time across the US in Brooklyn.

Funnies: Oh Sarah!

Ramblings: New Found Love.

So, I have been trying to expand my horizon, and instead of sticking with my usual Silk Organic Unsweetened Soy Milk, or their lite. chocolate milk, I thought, let's try some different brands and kinds!

I bought some orginal Almond Milk to replace my  Unsweetened Soy, and then I tried some Organic Chocolate Rice Milk to replace the light soy chocolate.

The Almond...I think I will stick with my Green Silk box I love and trust.

But as for chocolate....OMG. This Rice Milk is smackin' Babies good.

Shares: Ellen Interview With Jonathan Safran Foer

The Author of Eating Animals, Everything Is Illuminated, and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Sits down with Ellen to talk about Vegetarianism and Factory Farming.

Aren't They Beautiful?: A New Hero of Mine? (And most people know, these are few and far between)

Sam Kass New York Times Article.

Where his 'hero' status comes in:

"While he is steeped in all matters locavore and was a moving force behind the White House garden, Mr. Kass has no formal culinary training and has never run a restaurant or hotel kitchen. (He graduated with a history degree from the University of Chicago and honed his culinary skills at Avec, a Chicago restaurant, before becoming a private chef.)

...And now he not only cooks, but sits and talks policy, in the White House, at age 29? This is a man I woudl like to sit down with, I can say that much.

Shares: Clemson TidBit.

HEISMAN 2009, VOTE!

...and more specifically, vote for CJ Spiller. w00t!

2009 Clemson Football Schedule

Date Opponent / Event Location Time

9/05/09 vs. Middle Tennessee Clemson, SC W, 37-14

09/10/09 at Georgia Tech Atlanta, GA L, 30-27

09/19/09 vs. Boston College Clemson, SC W, 25-7

09/26/09 vs. TCU Clemson, SC L, 14-10

10/03/09 at Maryland College Park, MD L, 24-21

10/17/09 vs. Wake Forest Clemson, SC W, 38-3

10/24/09 at Miami Miami Gardens, FL W, 40-37 (OT)

10/31/09 vs. Coastal Carolina Clemson, SC W, 49-3

11/07/09 vs. Florida State Clemson, SC 7:45 p.m. ET

11/14/09 at North Carolina State Raleigh, NC TBA

11/21/09 vs. Virginia Clemson, SC TBA

11/28/09 at South Carolina Columbia, SC TBA

Ramblings: A Review, If You Will.

Okay, so I am going to revisit a little post I wrote a bit back, found (here). Now, I guess you can't really say I 'wrote' a post, b/c all I did was slap two movie posters up, and exclaim that I was excited in the heading, eh...

Anyway, for sake of story, and blog entry, I am revisiting that 'written' entry to review the two movies I have now seen. Why? Because it is a classic Katie movie to over-hype and get WAY too excited about movies, only to have them terribly let her down. terribly.

So first, Where the Wild Things Are. I will start by saying, I liked it. Really. I think a lot of people didn't, I know some of the people I personally went with were pissed off at the movie,and the characters, but I did actually like it. Now with that said, I liked it for all different reasons than I thought I would, and I seperated it from my childhood love. I thought it was pretty....Spike Jonze did not dissapoint there. I did not like a good bit of the fast moving camera work, i think it was dizzying, and distracting, but the lands and the images were brillant.

I did not like the use of Karen O for soundtrack. I think it was unfair to so brilliantly meld together Arcade Fire and the movie in the trailers, and then stick us with Karen O for the movie. It left me wanting more...definately lacking.

The biggest complaint you hear is that the movie was sad. Yes, it was. But that doesnt mean it wasnt good! It was sad. But  thought the characters were well played, and developed. and yes, I wanted to yell at them like a parent at times to 'stop it!' i think that means it was all so well done, impressive even. I liked it. I was sad with them, frustrated with them, happy with them. Isn't that what a movie is supposed to be?

Now for Away We Go. I was a bit disppointed with this movie. and at the same time, I wasn't. I don't know what I expected of it...John Krasanski was super loveable, and possed wonderful traits, that I found extremely likeable and realistic. (I even called my friend Daniel to tell him that the character reminded me of all the best traits that Danny possess. true story.) Mya Rudolph did great too, very believeable, you could see the lvoe, etc. The side characters were all pretty extremeist...which may have been the flaw. They made the couple seem too normal, and hey they were and weren't. But those other people...yeah they might have seemed kinda douche like, but you have to remember they are normal too. I dunno. I didn't like how polarized it was.

...okay, just thought I should revisit that. done and done. (ps. still havent seen this. still excited.)

Shares: Venn

Ramblings: Thing that I need

(No, not want. I am saying I absolutely NEED these things)

1) A vacation. In such a bad way.

2) Someone, even if it ends up being simply myself, telling me what the fuck I am supposed to be doing in life

3) All my decisions to be made for me

4) To have 10 pounds miraculously disappear from my body

5)...Or the willpower to make them leave myself...(#4 is more likely)

6) Real things to actually bitch and complain about

7) ...So I don't feel so damn spoiled and guity bitching and complaining (or to just not feel guilty and spoiled)

8) Did I mention, a vacation?