Grains on a Beach, Drops in an Ocean, and other Comparisons to Humanity

Faces in a crowd. Who's that cute brunette? What's that guy's problem? Why must that group insist on blocking the hallway to talk? What is that couple thinking, they're in public! Questions you may have thought in your head walking through a crowd. Everyday we come in contact with hundreds of people, but generally they act as nothing more than extras in our own life's story. It is always something of an eye opener to remind yourself that they are not simply background characters, "walk-on-roles", they are actually people. That guy in the red shirt who has a habit of getting killed on the Enterprise, believe or not he has a last name. A back story. He is more than an expendable crew member so that Star Trek can have the drama of losing a crew member with out jeopardizing the main cast. What about the Red-Shirts in our own lives? I could get the attention of the guy sitting across from me in the computer lab and ask him his mother's name. What? Character development? It can be difficult to remember that we are not alone in this story that is our life. There are more than just main characters and Red-Shirts in our lives. Every Red-Shirt is a real live person who has their own story. What does that make me to them, a Red-Shirt? I don't welcome the idea as acting as an unimportant but still dramatic death in a stranger's life. So perhaps I should not look at others as if that is what their purpose is. The girl sitting next to me, what's her name? Is the paper she's writing important. Is she rubbing her eyes because she was up late last night comforting a sick roommate? One will never know. I suppose the message I am trying to express is simply this: People are real. Wow, what a concept! When I was younger I would look at the cars driving next to my mom's 2001 Honda Oddessy (represent!) and imagine what stories the drivers of the other cars had. It can be very difficult to see other cars on the road as anything more than a nuisance sent to obstruct your journey. But remember, to them you're a Red-Shirt. As I have started a blog I have noticed myself doing something similar, I click the next blog option at the top of my home page and read a little bit of the random blog it pulls up. I have never met these people, nor will I ever probably. I once read the musings of a world traveling principle. Until then he had just been a face in the crowd. After ten minutes of reading he had gone from Red-Shirt to a loving father, a mourning son, a caring friend, and an all around funny guy. Another time I found a man who had dedicated a year of his life to a social experiment. He believed that The Wizard of Oz was so ingrained into our society's culture that a reference to it could be found every day. He was right. It's truly amazing what deep and complex lives that Red-Shirts lead. Is Bender (below) just a punk bully psychopath, or a young man who is terrified at the thought of having to join the real world? I do love The Breakfast Club, it is a wonderful example of the Red-Shirt complex, or seeing everyone else as background characters and then having your eyes opened to see them as they really are. Did I watch this movie recently? No, I just felt it fit with my musings. If someone is like me and is skimming this despite not knowing me, thanks for taking the time to remove my cheesy Red-Shirted uniform, it is awfully uncomfortable...

HEY YOU GUYS!!!!

Last night I got to watch one of the greatest movies ever, The Goonies! For those of you who have not had the pleasure to watch this, go do yourselves a favor and pick it up. It has been 7-8 years since I lost watched this, so apart from the knowledge of the general plot line I pretty much got to watch it with fresh eyes. I was lucky enough to get a DVD copy of it for free over summer term. One of my roommates bought it for his brother but he already had it so I got it. Huzzah! Anywho, this movie rocks. As the kids might say these days it's the bee's knees. It is a classic 80's flick about kids trying to find buried treasure. I love this movie. By the end of it you really remember all those things that would go down with your group of friends during summer vacations back when you were young. The adventures you would go on. Your infatuation with the older girl. Your first love. And above all just kickin it with your closest buds. Marvelous.

Curious and Curiouser

I went to the midnight showing of Alice in Wonderland last night. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has always been one of my favorite books, and by far my favorite classic Disney movie. So naturally I was very excited for this new more adultish version. And who better to give this beloved classic a new dark twist than Tim Burton? Perhaps Guillermo Del Torro, but he has bigger fish to fry currently, (I do not like you Peter Jackson). Moving on. I loved this new version. When I first learned about it over the summer I became very excited, but then everything I saw related to it focused on Johnny Depp's character the Mad Hatter. This greatly upset me because, although a very important character, the story does not revolve around him. He is in two scenes as I recall. But then with further investigation I found out that this movie is more of a sequel to the book, Alice's return to Wonderland (or Underland as it is referred to in this movie) and its subsequent liberation from the red queen's reign of terror. Back to why I loved the movie. It is full of sly winks to the original disney film and more so the literary masterpiece that Lewis Carroll crafted a century ago. It turns the infamous (I say infamous because it is a riddle that Lewis Carroll wrote, a riddle who's pun was that there was no answer but he received so many inquiries about it he had to write a few possible answers) line "Why is a Raven like a writing desk?" into almost a tragic representation of the various character's (and especially the Hatter's) inability to find logic reason or control in their lives. It is not until Alice finally asks for the answer at the end of the film and the Hatter's response of having no idea, with a smile on his face, that you can see that despite the lack of control that we have of our lives, they can still be good. One thing that was a little bit disappointing about it was the publisher was Disney. Throughout the movie you can feel Burton straining against the child targeted company in his attempt to have artistic freedom, but ultimately the corporation wins that battle. That is not to say however that this movie is good for the little kiddies. I would not take my nephew to go see this. There is definitely an age restriction for this one. For example, a shrunken Alice must gain access to the Queen of Heart's castle, but the only way to do so is to cross a blood filled moat using the Queen's victims' heads as stepping stones. Or when Alice uses a creature's eye (previously stabbed out by the Door mouse) as a bartering tool to get it to cooperate. Let me just say again, I very much liked this movie. It was extremely engrossing to see what happened to the characters after Alice left. She returns and everyone has become a soldier, she herself sports very battle appropriate armor at the end of the film as she battles the Jabberwocky. The Mad Hatter becomes a prisoner of war and it is truly fascinating to watch him battle with his own insanity as on one hand he acts silly and foolish, and then to immediately shout "Down with the bloody Red Queen!" And march heroically to the chopping block to meet a martyr's death. Go see it. You may think I spoiled stuff. I didn't. It rocked. 3D didn't really add too much to the movie, it will be visually stunning regardless of which version you see. I cannot wait for it to hit the dollar theater so I can go see it a few more times.

The Troubles of Acting

Well, rather than outline a discussion for my Mission Prep class I am writing this. Wow, it has been a long time. Two, three weeks? Regardless, my apologies to my avid readers....right. Well since last time plenty has happened, I don't recall if I had previously mentioned that I went to a big audition for a bunch of student films. It was a pretty fun audition. And apparently I did very well, because I was just offered my third part, so that's three student films that I am in this semester. Not to mention the play I am in for my theater class. It is pretty exciting. This will be a great semester as far as getting experience goes. And experience is what I need currently. This third film I am in presents a challenge though, it will require that I cry. For those of you who knew me at home it is no secret that all you had to do was put me behind a microphone at fast and testimony meeting to get me blubbering, which is why I cannot recall the last time I did so. But other than that, I don't cry. I'm not saying I am Mr. Macho (I mean I am, but I'm not bragging about it) I just don't like doing it. It is not my natural response to things. So, I am going to need to find something that does it for me, but the question is what is it? Obviously there are the natural assumptions like imagining the death of a loved one or something. Anyone got any suggestions? But regardless, I am looking forward to it, because in this field of work that's something I need to know how to do. It is kind of funny, children fall or become upset and they respond by crying. Boys at a certain age learn that it is no longer appropriate so they teach themselves not to cry. It takes a while but they do it. Now I have to reteach myself how to cry. Some kind of irony or something...

The Jerk Theory

The three day weekend/v-day weekend was pretty awesome. I went on three dates total, and had a lot of fun stuff go down in between. But that's not all that important I suppose. But then again neither is anything on this blog, so I guess what I mean is that it is not what is currently on my mind. This is. So today during my hour break I was sitting with the usual lady friends up on the second floor of the Wilk. (For the record, this rant is not directed towards them, nor any of the girls I call my friend) In the terrace down below there was a promotional going on for an upcoming workshop. The promotion consisted of a group of guys in a jello eating contest, but first they had to tell a story of being on a date with a "jerk." And I use that term very lightly, let me explain. So the workshop is being sponsored by the Women's Studies and the seminar is titled "How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk." When the girl who is giving the seminar asked the guys to tell a story she said, "All right guys tell everyone a story of when you went on a date with, let's not say jerk, but a less than nice girl." After each guy tells the story and the jello eating competition finished the winner got a jar with cookie ingredients inside he could assemble. Then she got back on the mic and asked for girls to come up and "share a story of dating a jerk. Whoever has the best story gets this jar to make cookies with." Do the girls have to smash their face into a plate of jello? No. I am very proud of the women eating lunch in the Wilk today because only one would get up and tell a story, the other three stories came from staff that were helping out the girl in charge. So then she gives her workshop another plug and walks away. So basically this workshop is just another very bitter girl spouting about how all men are the enemy. The title alone pisses me off. "How to Avoid Falling in Love with a Jerk" if a girl cannot stop herself from falling in love with a guy that doesn't treat her right then her ability to decide other more important things should be forfeit. For example: voting. Feminists always piss me off. I'm all for equal treatment, but enough is enough. You got your rights, now shut up. Civil Rights, Women's Rights, Affirmative Action, all of these things have gone too far. So far, that now if I say a single thing against someone who is not white or male, then I am a sexist racist ignorant jerk. Look in the mirror idiots. To reference a poor review of Inglourious Basterds, the writer takes note of how Tarantino had turned the Jews into Nazis. The same thing applies here, yes slavery was bad, yes over powering males were bad, BUT IT IS OVER. Get over it! A man can hate someone who is black without being racist, he can treat a woman as an equal without being sexist. And another thing, feminists will fight like hell the second they feel they are being treated unequally, but if the man should fail to be chivalrous or polite in any way well watch out again. I will always open the door for a girl and all that respectful stuff because it is what is right, but for Pete's sake, Do Not Demand Equal Treatment That You Don't Want. If it was equal then businesses would not be required by law to hire X amount of female employees. If it was equal then women would be in the running with the men, and it would come down to a person's skills and not their race or gender. I am respectful to women and if I see a guy treating a girl poorly, I set him straight. Someone who beats up on any woman cannot call himself a man, but really feminists, get over yourselves!
Hopefully I haven't offended any women, because I did not intend to, but yall have offended me.
And now a shout out to my main man David's older bro,
"The Jerk Theory":
What in the world was I thinking
when I went and
bought you those flowers and candies
I was thinking that every girl wants a nice guy
Someone she can trust but I guess I was not right
What is wrong with me?
Or do I have to be,
a jerk so you'll want me?
A jerk so we can be...
Together happily
and it's time I'll miss use you
if you ask me nice then I'll even abuse you
frequently I'll tell you your fat and annoying
frequently I'll tell you I don't want a girlfriend
what is wrong with me?
Or do I have to be
a jerk so you'll want me?
a jerk so we can be
together happily
and I won't ever call you
and I will cheat on you whenever I want to
after that I'll tell you I'm sorry forgive me
then I don't know why but you'll want to be with me
what is wrong with you?
It's sad but it is true
You're forcing us to play
the same old stupid game
Cause you want what you can't have
so I have to treat you bad
I don't mean to be so mean
but your forcing me to be
a jerk so you'll want me
etc etc
And then you'll leave me and you'll find a man
He'll love you so much he'll ask for your hand
then I'll come along and treat you like you're trash
I don't know why but you'll still want me back
Oh what is wrong with you?
etc etc

The Life and Times of an Aspiring Spider

Well, this past weekend was pretty good.
Friday Afternoon: My group in theater picked which play to produce. Not mine, but I am ok with that because the educated people in my group gave it a vote, and my T.A. gave it a shout out recommending that people read it because it was good. That is enough recognition and praise for me. The play we did pick was the one I wanted though, so I am happy. It is essentially a continuation of A Farewell to Arms. I also got the part I really wanted. I play the spider after whom the play is named: "The Eency Weency Spider." I am a figment of the main characters imagination that is representative of him and his state of earthly detachment, not to mention his possible madness. So I am very happy about that. I have been doing a ton of spider research and watching footage of them to try and come up with a really abstract and unique way to move around the stage. Should be pretty cool.
Friday night: Friday night I was at some friends' apartment on my own working. After an hour or two Brittany came home and we ended up chilling on the couch while I introduced her to the tv show How I Met Your Mother. That was pretty cool. Then we went to another apartment and watched the classic Singin in the Rain. I then proceeded to do laundry at two in the morning, but it was entertaining because a party broke out at the laundromat.
Saturday: I played the part of the "Gay Best Friend" in helping the girls dress shop for a dance that was going on that night. This basically consisted of me trashing various dresses they looked at, if Hollywood has taught me anything it's that that is what gays do.
Saturday Night: I went and saw the play Tartuffe on campus. It was AMAZING! It was Tartuffe meets Cirque de Sole meets Tim Burton. It was extremely well done. And one of the actresses was absolutely gorgeous. After that I went to the previously mentioned dance looking like a stud. So it was a big surprise to my friends because they did not think I was going. It was pretty fun. After the dance I went to my friend Wes's apartment and we chilled there till about 2. Then we went over the the girls' apartment and stole their oven door using a key I had previously stolen. Regrettably the next day Wesley cracked under their interrogation and gave us up.
Sunday: Church, nap, super bowl, studying, bed.
The End.

Who's Ready to Get Lost?

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AWIGGITY WHAAAA???

Anywho, so Lost was pretty legit. It definately raised some questions. But it was also extremely cool to see all the different things that would have happened had the plane not crashed. All sorts of crazy stuff going on! I was very happy to see the reintroduction of Claire and Charley, they were always my favorites. Hopefully now we can figure out what the crap happened to Claire when she just wondered off into the woods and was seen hanging out with Jack's "dead" dad. So me and my roommate Owen (the guy in the single bedroom) went over to Cody's (my sister's boyfriend) apartment and watched the season premiere with them. I bought some snacks and had the brilliant idea to make the Root Beers into "Leflear's Favorite Dharma Brand." Yeah pretty awesome I know.