Animal Review

Last week I was alerted to Animal Review's foul-mouthed twin blog, which I will not post here because I try to keep this PG-rated (though it is pretty funny if you have a high tolerance for offensiveness and potty mouthes--ask me about the penguin). Both blogs share their funny insights on a variety of animals and their ridiculous/impressive/weird traits or behaviors. Animal Review features discussion on the hummingbird, swordfish, zebra, mosquito, and more. Unlike its fouler twin, you actually learn something about the animals in Animal Review and the blogger grades them on their level of awesomeness. Naturally, when he gets to bears, he will have only GREAT things to say; no so luck for the sloth, lamest animal on the planet.

Thanks to Paul for the link.

Adorable Mini-Cousins

I couldn't resist sharing these pictures of my cousins' children. So stinkin' cute! The top one is Ella, my cousin Lori's daughter with her husband Blake. She has a baby sister, Hattie, who I'm sure will make an appearance on the blog soon when she gets into some awesome ensembles of her own. I wish I could pull off that outfit.

The second picture is of my cousin Benjamin's four kids with his wife Kelley: Hannah, Emily, Jackson, and Hardy. Jackson's face is hilarious.

What Do YOU Want to Know?

I always enjoy Slate's regular feature called "The Explainer." Readers write in with questions about anything and everything, and the detectives at Slate track down the answers. This edition lists an assortment of questions that Explainer didn't/couldn't/wouldn't answer in 2008. Some I like:

Is it just me, or do all national anthems the world over, no matter how rich and exotic the culture, seem to sound like European marching-band music? Wouldn't one expect China's national anthem be more "plinky"? Shouldn't Iraq's national anthem sound a little more "Arab-y"?
(I wonder this every time I watch the Olympics. Imperialism!)

I live in Washington, D.C., and we have very long escalators coming out of the Metro. If I grabbed the handrail when I first step onto the escalator and did not let go until I was at the top, my body would be almost prostrate across the steps. As I go higher on the escalator, I have to readjust the hand that is grabbing the rubber handrail. Why can't the companies that make escalators sync the steps and the handrails so that they go the same speed?
(I have wondered the same thing)

Hi, I am Anna. I am only 11 years old! My friend told me about this black hole, and I have gotten really scared. I don't want to die! I thought if it didn't happen today, it wasn't going to happen. I did not know nothing about it happening in Spring! I find it unfair that scientists are making a machine that could possibly destroy the entire human race. Me and my friends have cried about the black hole, and I find it really upsetting. There has been barely nothing about it on the news. I am so nervous. I just think I am too young to die—is there any way we could stop it happening?
(Damn scientists! Stop ruining existence for the rest of us!)

Vicious Polar Bear Attack

Terrifying!

Flashmob at Clemons

Another UVA post this morning: fun video of a midnight flashmob rave at Clemons Library, the 24-hour hot spot that's packed with undergrads at all hours during midterms and exams. The flashmob idea isn't anything new, and this one gives credit to UNC, but still pretty amusing. The best late night Clemons shenanigans I ever saw was a streaker or two, not quite as funny or lengthy as a rave. Impressive that they pulled together 1,000 people in an hour...then again, anything's possible with the viral powers of Facebook.

UVA Nostalgia-Fest

Ah, the holidays. Time for warm fires, family and friends, presents under the tree, and the yearly holiday email from UVA President John Casteen III (and our pals who work in Development, a challenging and thankless but essential job in this economy). As usual, they have created a video slideshow of images from Grounds, this time including some great pictures from the past. The music is somewhat melodramatic, but then, it's UVA. We take our own majesty very seriously. Overall, a cool collection of old photos and recent ones. Having been away from Charlottesville for several years now, I forget how gorgeous Grounds is in the snow (well, it's gorgeous all the time, but especially when covered in white). Well done, Development video people. You have successfully made me miss UVA (minus the ostentatiousness), and I will send you $20.

Wahoowa!

Stats: The S is for Sucks

So because I decided to be a big nerd and take a statistics class as a non-degree-seeking student, I get to take a beast of a final tomorrow at 8:00 am. It was described to me by a classmate who took it early as having destroyed her will to live. Awesome.

I'm glad I took the class because I've learned a lot that has helped me in my work now, and I know I will be in better shape once I start a doctoral program (eek). That said, despite my funny professor and lovely classmates, I still hated every minute of it. I am such a qualitative person at heart.

This cartoon made me laugh. That's about how I feel right now, though my fate would be death by inference for regression.

For a Monday treat, here's the classic Trogdor clip that inspired this posting's header. "I said CONSUMMATE v's!"

Foamhenge

Thanks to Leslie W.'s facebook status for alerting me to the eighth wonder of the world: Foamhenge. I can't believe I went to college only an hour away from this and never knew of its existence! I'll have to visit on my trip up to Charlottesville in May.

Baby Pandas!

WARNING: extreme cuteness.

And just for another dose of baby panda awesomeness, remember this great clip? ACHOOOOO!

One Man Against Torture

Last week John sent this article by Matthew Alexander (a pseudonym), who is a US solider taking a stand against interrogation techniques that use torture. He makes a powerful case against torture, and obviously his team is doing something right: they were responsible for obtaining the information that led to al-Zarqawi's capture. One of his detainees said to him, poignantly, "I thought you would torture me, and when you didn't, I decided that everything I was told about Americans was wrong. That's why I decided to cooperate."

I thought the article was great, so I was excited to see Alexander on The Daily Show two nights ago. As John Stewart mentions, a pseudonym doesn't work quite them same when you go on tv, but I'm glad he did---this is a brave man with an important message. Now if only the military and DOD would pull the cotton out of their ears and hear it...

Here's the link to Alexander's new book. I hope to get my hands on it soon.

There ARE Atheists in Foxholes

I thought this was a nice story from NPR about an atheist soldier's unexpected but welcome encounter with acceptance and understanding in a foxhole in Afghanistan. It's troubling to read that he was repeatedly told by his own comrades and Afghan allies that he was going to hell when he is a soldier risking his life just like the rest of them. An apt tribute to the cut-short life of the young Afghan translator who made the soldier for once feel something other than rejection and judgment.

Gay Marriage and the Bible

I enjoyed this article about the various portrayals of marriage and love in the Bible. The author makes a convincing case that our modern ideals of straight marriages bear little resemblance to marriage in the Bible. While acknowledging Biblical condemnations of gay sex, she points to the familiar arguments that the Bible is equally a cultural text reflective of its time (Christians today reject its laws on slavery, capital punishment, and many more issues.). She discusses Jesus' message and how that can help Christians express and advocate a community of inclusion that celebrates committed love in all its forms.

A good read, although I'm not the one who needs convincing as I'm for legalizing gay marriage and don't think the Bible should have ANYTHING to do with the legal institution of marriage. I would hope the sentiments expressed in this article become more commonplace in Christian churches who count LGBT people as their parishioners and want to extend to them the same rights to join their loved one in marriage.

In the Doghouse

Do not buy your wife, fiance, or girlfriend any kind of cleaning item, kitchen appliance, weight loss tool, hair removal device, or other related items for Christmas. If you do, this will happen to you.

Women, the shopping season is upon us. As most of our man friends are probably procrastinators who have hardly even thought about what to get us, send this warning their way. Thanks to Thrashley for the link.

Food Paradise

I like eating even more than I like reading or sleeping, which is saying a lot. Lately I've been loving Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" show. It comes on Wednesday nights at 9:00 (so check it out tonight if you're bored) and features the greatest foods across the country. Each episode has a different theme, like pizza, steak, donuts, sandwich, and my personal favorite, DEEP FRIED PARADISE. The Web site lists the different restaurants featured so you can check them out if any are near where you live or where you're traveling. Make sure you've eaten a substantial dinner before you watch or you are likely to order and eat an entire pizza, carton of ice cream, or other such gluttonous fare. At the very least, you'll need a napkin to wipe the drool off your face.

The Saddest Male Models in the World

Some ridiculous male fashions and the sad, embarrassed models who have to wear them. A nice laugh for your Tuesday morning, brought to you by Best Week Ever. Thanks, John.

Jonestown

Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple by Deborah Layton

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
The Jonestown tragedy happened a few years before I was born, so prior to reading this book I knew very little about the People's Temple and Jim Jones. I saw a news story one day that marked the twentieth anniversary of the mass suicide, and I poked around online until I came across Deborah Layton's book.

Layton was a privileged, rebellious teenager when she was introduced to the People's Temple and the world of its charismatic leader, Jim Jones. She is a talented and passionate storyteller, tracing the evolution of the Temple from a socially conscious advocacy organization that helped the poor, homeless, and drug addicted to a perversion of socialism that brainwashed, abused, and terrorized its members. Layton's brother, sister in law, and mother all joined the cult as well. The latter two traveled with her to Jones'so called Promised Land in the jungles of Guyana, where members were held prisoner and ruled by lies and fear.

Layton's eventual escape led to an American contingent of a congressman, members of the press, and concerned relatives traveling to Guyana only to be ambushed by Jones' security forces. Hours later, Jones ordered the mass suicide, his soldiers killing any who refused to drink the poison.

The story is compelling and heart breaking. Layton debunks myths about cults by portraying the lives of intellectuals, doctors, lawyers, and others from all walks of life who joined the Temple. It's frightening how insidious the transformation of the Temple was from a legitimate commmunity organization to a cult ruled by a sociopath. She shows us how any of us could fall prey to a charismatic leader only to have things go terribly wrong.

This is a fantastic book. Read it.


View all my reviews.

Hate To Say I Told You So

Watch Peter Schiff, president of a Connecticut brokerage firm, predict exactly what would happen to our economy as he appears on news talk shows a couple years back. I hope all the other commentators who laugh in his face have choked on their own feet by now.

Side note: predictably, Schiff was an economic advisor to Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign.

Books That Make You Dumb

Some guy at Cal Tech decided to compare the Facebook lists of favorite books at various colleges and universities with the average SAT scores. It's not exactly sound statistical methods, but it's still kinda fun to see what the top books are at each SAT range. You can also look school by school to see what's most popular. I'm disappointed but not surprised that those terrible Dan Brown books (Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons) appear pretty frequently. I don't have much hope for the future of our youth if those are seriously so many people's favorite books.

Girl Talk

Brigitte sent me the MySpace page of this DJ dude who goes by the name "Girl Talk", which has nothing to do with the style of music he mixes. He puts together upbeat, dancy combinations of hip hop, classic rock, pop, even folk stuff (I think there's some Shawn Colvin in there). I've had it on in the background at work happily tapping my foot under my desk and possibly doing a slight head bob till someone sees me and I turn red. If you have it on though, keep it low because it is hip hop after all so there's some non-PG language. My favorite combination is on track 4 on the MySpace page that's a mix of Jackson Five's "ABC" with the drums from Rihanna's "Umbrella" and some melodramatic guitar from "Bohemian Rhapsody." Musically I think he has some better mixes, but I give him a lot of credit for creativity on that blend.

Dogs 101

I am hooked on the Animal Planet show "Dogs 101." Each episode covers about four different dog breeds, discussing the origins, physical makeup, temperament, health concerns, friendliness, grooming needs, hot or cold tolerance, etc. of each breed. You can always expect precious video of puppies, as well as spotlights on trainers and owners devoted to the featured breeds. Last night's episode featured the English bulldog with a good fifteen minutes about UGA, Athens, and of course, the Uga and Seiler family legacy. The clip isn't online yet, but I'll post it when it comes up.

The Web site also has a cool feature: the Dog Breed Selector. As we consider getting a new friend for Laveau (our high maintenance but wonderful Weimaraner) sometime in the next six months to a year, we'll look to this resource that gives you suggested breeds based on your answers to a series of questions regarding your preferences, family situation, living area, etc. It suggested spaniels, beagles, or Corgis for us. I'm partial to Shelties and golden retrievers, so we'll see what happens!

Dear Prudence

Yeesh, has it been a week since I've posted? Apparently so. Work's been nuts, so less time for fun things like blogging. Thank goodness for the impending arrival of the greatest holiday ever--TURKEY WOOOOOO!!

I love a good advice column, and my favorite by far has got to be Dear Prudence (published by Slate). Today's tagline reminded me that I need to plug her column for anyone who is not already a reader:

My family thinks an exorcism will cure my mental illness. How can I spend Thanksgiving with them?

People write to her with some crazy and hilarious problems, and Prudence loves to cut to the chase. She's not afraid to tell people they are being whiny, narcissistic, overly sensitive, an idiot, or other colorful names. Her column is the highlight of my Thursdays; I only wish she published daily.

Rachel Maddow on Colbert

I've only recently become aware of Rachel Maddow and how awesome she is, so I was happy to see her on Colbert a few days ago. She's sharp, witty, and most importantly, really holds her own with Stephen (not an easy feat, as we know). I loved her description of how conservatives in government saying they want to reduce government is like hiring a vegan to be your butcher.

Interesting note: Maddow was the first openly gay American to win a Rhodes Scholarship.

The Ugly Aftermath

I had no idea that "The Onion" makes videos, but what a great discovery! (Thanks Clark). Here's a faux news segment on the ugly aftermath of the election for obsessive Obama supporters who now realize they have no life, no purpose, and nothing to talk about. I'll have to check out some of their other clips for future posts.

Decemberists' Return

I'm not a huge music person (meaning I listen in the car and sometimes at home, but I'm not obsessive about it and don't go to shows very often). I do, however, LOVE the Decemberists and am thrilled they have new music out. They are releasing seven new songs in three installments (two of the three are out already, the last to come in December), and they are also working on a new full length album to come out sometime next year. You can listen to some of their new stuff (and great old stuff, especially from "The Crane Wife" cd) in this NPR concert recording.

In other music news, my all-time beloved favorite artist in the universe, Lucinda Williams, also has a new album out...more on that later.

Obama on Higher Ed

Good Inside Higher Ed overview of Obama's stance on various higher education issues. I hope he follows through on his 2007 statement that eliminating subsidies to lenders and moving to a system of direct loans only would allow more support for Pell Grants. I think this is crucial to reforming the integrity and utility of the financial aid systems at colleges and universities. I also LOVE this quotation and hope it guides his higher ed policy:

[Obama] has pledged to “restore the basic principle that government decisions should be based on the best-available, scientifically valid evidence and not on the ideological predispositions of agency officials or political appointees.”

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
What a glorious, wonderful day it was when this book mysteriously showed up on my doorstep, a gift from one of my best friends for no special occasion--she just knew I would love it.



"The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is a novel told through both words and over a hundred gorgeous pencil illustrations. The illustrations tell crucial portions of the story themselves rather than simply complementing the narrative, an interesting device that makes the reader feel like he or she is watching an old film. This sensation was almost certainly intentional on the part of Brian Selznick as much of the story revolves around the magic and legends of early cinema. My enjoyment of this novel was greatly enhanced because as a wanna-be film nerd, I've seen and loved many of the classic early films that are referenced and pictured throughout the story.



I will keep this book a long time and read it to my children one day (that is, after savoring it myself several more times!).


View all my reviews.

Sic Em, ACLU!

It wouldn't be an election day without shenanigans. Apparently in Maryland, some cell phone users have gotten texts saying that voting lines are too long and to come back tomorrow. The ACLU's on the case, in partnership with the state attorney general's office, to investigate who is sending these messages. I'm glad they have snatched this up and will work toward bringing the culprits to justice. How SHADY and DISTURBING.

"Getting people misinformation about their right to vote to keep them from exercising the franchise is fundamentally undemocratic and unfortunately a growing problem that must be countered immediately," says Meredith Curtis, spokeperson for the Maryland ACLU.

Wassup....WAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

In honor of election day being less than 24 hours away, I've got to post one more funny political clip. Remember the "wassup!!!!!" beer commercial from a couple years back? Here's the 2008 version.

GOBAMA!
(And by Bama I mean Barack, NOT the Crimson Tide. Obviously.)

Army of Women

The Kate sent me this site of a project called Army of Women. The goal is to advance breast cancer research through reaching out to women across the country who are willing to share their time for research. They are soliciting women of all ages, races, with or without cancer history in their families or personally. Signing up will add you to a database, and when there are research needs in your local area, you receive an email soliciting volunteers (anything from filling out a questionnaire to coming in for a cheek swab to donating blood for tests). A great idea for a great cause.

The Truth About the Economy (Thanks, SNL)

This SNL clip of a mock press conference led by Bush, Pelosi, and Frank evidently only aired once before it was yanked. Hits a little too close to home I suppose...watching it, I found it less funny than I did spot-on and frightening. Which of course, according to some, is the perfect excuse for censorship.

Thanks to Geeps for the link.

Obama's Inbox

Three reasons I love this story:

a) It was written by a high school friend of mine (Charles Bethea) who is a GREAT writer--this is his first time published in the New Yorker, but certainly not the last!

b) It's written about a college acquaintance (Guru Raj) I've known since my first year (and first day even, as he was an RA in my dorm). He's also a fellow Atlantan. The high school friend writer and college friend subject know each other from mutual friends, and it's just a coincidence I know them both.

c) The story is awesome. While watching the DNC back in 2004, Guru Raj was also creating his first gmail account. Combinations of his names were taken, so, inspired by Senator Obama's now legendary speech, he registered barackobama@gmail.com. The rest is history.

Let's Settle This on the Dance Floor

Negative ads? Constant bickering? A war of the cable news networks? This campaign is getting pretty ugly. How bout like in the olden days...we settle this on the dance floor. Hey, it worked for Zoolander and Hansel (er, actually theirs was a walk-off on a runway...but you get the picture).

McCain versus Obama--who has the best moves? Watch out for the surprise guest, too---she's got some game of her own.

Opie for Obama

Another gem from the great Funny or Die site. Ron Howard goes back in time to his tv stardom days to talk to some old friends (Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler) about voting for Barack Obama. He's got such a great, self-effacing sense of humor.

Everybody's Favorite Sociopath

I am right in the middle of watching season two of "Dexter," which I think is one of the greatest shows of this decade. My favorite show of all time is "Six Feet Under," which starred Michael C. Hall as conservative, gay, pale-faced, neatly-dressed, squirmy, and overly sensitive David Fisher. As Dexter, Hall could not possibly be more different: he's tan, unshaven, unemotional, and oh, a sociopath. Dexter's foster father realized this about his son early on and trained him with a code to let out his violent urges only on people who are killers themselves, thereby rendering a twisted service to society. He's a forensic blood spatter analyst for the police department, another way he fulfills his urges. The show is intense, dark, funny, ridiculous, suspenseful...it's brilliant. It was just renewed for another two seasons, which makes me a very happy camper. Now if only I had Showtime and didn't have to wait for it to come out on DVD!

Palin as President: Click and Play

A look inside the Oval Office with Palin as president. Click on different objects to hear her speak about them. My favorite is the list of baby names toward the top middle (Carport, Cashew, Rake, and Purple). Also note the picture of the original Maverick on the wall (Tom Cruise from Top Gun) and the "Roe V. Wade" document going in the shredder. Also, if you watch long enough, you'll see a dinosaur walk by. LOVE IT. Thanks to Katherine for the link.

"Reading Faulkner at 17, You Foresee Your Reckoning"

I love this poem by Catherine Pierce, posted to Slate. My hippie high school let me do an independent study in Southern Literature, so I actually WAS a 17-year-old reading Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury on my own. It was a whole different experience when I read it again in a college class on Faulkner, but neither experience was better or worse...just delightfully distinct.

The harvest moon hangs heavy,
a gourd. Your desires heave inside you
like a blood wave. Ignore the cat

pulling on your trousers. Ignore
the cicadas bossing you from the elms.
See yourself in this hot gold light.

You are the brother in love with Caddy.
You are the idiot son. Your mouth dumb.
Your mind lucent. Everything you want

sharp as the cat's bite at your ankle. You pull
your foot back. A yowl, pointed as teeth.
The moon is what will fall on you.

Golden Retriever Puppies: Meet Weezy

Sadly sadly, this is not my wonderful golden retriever puppy. She belongs to my brother Will, who is much too far away at college in Valdosta. We were both home at my parents' this weekend, though, so I got some puppy time. Weezy is seven months old, which means she's more like a teenager dog I suppose. We grew up with a golden retriever, Daisy, who was a GREAT dog, and now meeting Weezy is REALLY making me want one. I think that breed would make a great playmate for our Weimaraner--everybody wins when she's getting out her nervous energy playing outside with other dogs instead of following us around every step we take.

Another picture of Weezy (five months old)...

Angela and Andy's Wedding

In honor of it being Thursday with only an hour before a new episode of "The Office," here's a funny link to Angela and Andy's wedding site. More gets added as the new episodes unfold, and I'm waiting for the moment it all comes crashing down when Angela inevitably (hooray!) goes back to Dwight. It's all written by Andy, of course. A taste...

The Misses and me have a good idea of when, we just need to have a little confab and hammer out the specifics. We're definitely thinking spring: the season of rebirth, love is in the air, it's the best time for flowers, and my groomsmen will look incredible in pastels. There is however, some concern that the flowers and love in the air may upset my little Ange-dillo's allergies. So we're actually thinking summer: sun, shine, outdoors, dancing, drinks, seafood anyone? Seconds please. Although, the temperature is a bit of concern for m'lady as she is prone to heat rash. Fall may actually be the way we go: the leaves changing colors, we both like apple cider (not too hot), but Angela doesn't seem too keen on getting married during a month that ends in "R." So perhaps winter is the way to go: ring in the New Year on Valentine's Day with a little winter wonderland for my ice princess. We'd just have to be careful, my little snow cat's petite body is easily chilled. So I guess things are still a little up in the air, but rest assured, whenever we do have the wedding, it's going to be the most kick-ass, over-the-top, awesome, rockingest, classy affair anyone has ever seen.

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Why I hearted this movie (or, why this is the exception to my general dislike of romantic comedies):

1) JASON SEGEL. Star of two great shows, Freaks & Geeks and How I Met Your Mother, Jason Segel single-handedly (single-personed-ley?) makes this movie. He's a goofy yet brooding, sensitive, and big-hearted boyfriend dumped by his movie star girlfriend. In the always necessary convenient coincidence of the romantic comedy, he takes a vacation alone to Hawaii only to find his ex and her new boyfriend staying at the same resort. You as a viewer root so intensely for him to be happy because he's just so freaking likable and vulnerable. He's the Jim Halpert of movies.

2) MILA KUNIS: I'm not a huge fan of That 70s Show but when I do watch it, Jackie is one of my least favorite characters. Surprisingly, though, I really liked her in this movie. She's a confident, funny, and non-needy woman in contrast to Sarah Marshall, the narcissist and co-dependent. I loved when she tells Jason Segel to "stop being so sensitive."

3) DRACULA ROCK OPERA WITH PUPPETS: Jason Segel's character is a musician who writes tv scores, but he has a dream of writing a Dracula rock opera acted by puppets. It's a funny recurring joke throughout the movie, and in the end you finally get to see his masterpiece. I'd pay money to see that!

Unfortunately, the talented and beautiful Kristen Bell as Sarah Marshall is pretty bland in this movie. I think she is AAAAAAMAZING as Veronica Mars (and, gotta admit, as the voice of Gossip Girl) but this script does not leave her much room to become anything more than a one-dimensional character in skimpy clothes. Thankfully, there are some good cameos to distract you...Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, and at the very very end, Jason Bateman for about five glorious seconds.

College Football Teams as Simpsons Characters

A college football post inspired by Georgia's victory over Tennessee...you got PWNED, Rocky Top!

Brilliant list of college football teams each aligned with a Simpsons character. It's from a couple years ago (2006 I think) but still funny and relevant. It's surprisingly accurate when you read the descriptions. Some of my favorites include (obviously) Georgia as Homer Simpson, South Carolina as Ms. Krabappel, Kentucky as Ralph Wigum, Penn State as Grandpa Simpson, and BYU as Ned Flanders.

Project Runway Circa 10,00 BC

Thanks to Kate, who works at National Geographic, for sending this funny Project Runway-esque spoof. NG created the first life-size, scientifically accurate model of a Neanderthal women. Problem is: she's nekkid (see above...eek!), and staffers worried she might get a little bashful at times, or just plain cold. The magazine asked some past Project Runway contestants as well as some of their own staffers to design outfits for the model, affectionately called Wilma, made out of only materials available to her in her own time. I personally like the wrap dress, Joe's design.

Gang Leader for a Day

Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I'll admit, I love the History Channel series "Gangland," and that interest is what drew me to this book. While the tv series can tend toward the melodramatic and at times glamorizes the gang life, this book shows the grim underside to the money, cars, and status: the harsh realities of life in Chicago public housing. Venkatesh's entry into this world is remarkable--he simply showed up one day bearing surveys and was eventually invited back by one of the local gang leaders. Over the course of nearly a decade, he forms a relationship with the people of the Robert Taylor Homes (gang members and non-members) and gains information on gangs and urban poverty from the inside, a rare feat in sociology. Over the years, he is forced to confront his own assumptions about poverty, gang life, the drug trade, the role of law enforcement, and so on. He also has to wrestle with serious moral issues as he moves from observer to participant in the life of the community. This is a great read that will likely make you reconsider how you think about impoverished communities.


View all my reviews.

Hypercolor Shirts Are Back..Am I Really That Old?

I discovered yesterday that American Apparel has brought back the Hypercolor shirts that so many of us wore as kids when no one told us how lame they were. That's one fashion statement I NEVER expected to see again, but here it is. I guess if jelly shoes and tapered jeans can come in and out of style several times despite how stupid they are, then why not Hypercolor?

I cringe at the thought of this trend coming to UGA--I can just see girls pairing the shirts with leggings (which, by the way, are NOT substitutes for pants) and gladiator sandals as they strut proudly around campus. May as well throw in those plastic doo-hickies that you threaded one end of your t-shirt through. Do those things have a name? Why did we ever think those were cool? I think I had one shaped like a tropical parrot.

Surpassing Partisanship through Cute Babies

If there's one thing we can all agree on, Democrats/ Republicans/ Independents/ Greens/ Libertarians/ Undecideds/ Apathetics, it's that cute babies and children (and the occasional dinosaur) can unite us. Awwwwwwwwwwwwww babies! Who can focus on partisanship, negative campaign ads, and endless bickering when there's a picture of a baby with "Baby 4 Obama" written across her head? Uniting the voters of the nation through the ultimate cheesefactor: politicians holding babies in funny poses and adorable facial expressions.

Thanks to La Kate for the link.

Colbert Teen Talk: Voter Abstinence

The only surefire way to a safe, clean, and secure election is, of course, to encourage young voter abstinence. Learn more about this pivotal campaign in this promotional video, approved by John McCain.

Remember: when you vote for a candidate, you're voting for every stance they've ever had.

Also, Obama wants to change the language of the Pledge of Allegiance to state "One nation under gay baby."

Love, Stephen Colbert.

Political Puppetry

Several months back, there were a series of Harry Potter puppet videos (here's one example) on YouTube that blew up and got something like 10 to 50 million hits apiece. The puppeteers, or some fans of theirs, adapted one of the most popular Potter Pals videos to star the presidential and vice presidential candidates with a hilarious result, of course. I love Bush's outfit in particular...he looks like Wild West HeMan trying to reclaim his glory days.

Al Groh on Facebook

Great phony Al Groh Facebook ("Coachbook") page, complete with posts from Pete Carroll, Steve Carrell, Lane Kiffin, Kim Jong Il, etc. The mini feed items are awesome, including my favorite: Al added the "I Can Has Viktery?" LOLCats Piece of Flair.

Oh Al Groh. Glad I have another team to cheer for, even though there was more crying than cheering last weekend in their case.

Your Brain on Multi-Tasking

I heard this story on NPR this morning as I drove to work and thought it was pretty cool. The gist is that while we collectively think we're great at multi-tasking and treat it as an inevitable part of modern (post-modern?) life, our brain synapses say otherwise. We aren't actually focusing on many things at once but rather switching from task to task to task in a rapid manner. The lab experiments described demonstrate that the brain effectively goes on pause before a shift from task to task.

This is why I refuse to buy a Crackberry, iPhone, or any device that promises to streamline my life but actually complicates it by rendering me unable to focus on any one task for more than a few seconds!

The Great Schlep

Funny site encouraging Jewish people to go visit their grandparents in Florida and convince them to vote Obama so Florida will swing the election. Watch the welcome video from Sarah Silverman (but not at work...if you've seen her comedy before you'll understand what I mean). At first glance the site seems like simply a joke but it's paid for by the Jewish Council for Education and Research, which is a legitimate organization that created the site Jews Vote.

The site's a pretty darn clever tactic to direct viewers, who may just end up viewing the video for laughs, to more serious sites that encourage voting and endorse Obama. Well done, JCER.

The Glass Castle

My mom bought this book and gave it to me, warning me that while it was a remarkable story, she had stopped reading because it was too depressing.

Jeannette Walls, the author of this memoir, is a journalist who had a childhood so dysfunctional, people would laugh at it as absurd if it were written as fiction. Her father was an alcoholic and her mother an unsuccesful writer and artist, neither of whom ever held a job for more than a few weeks at a time and forced their children to raise, feed, and clothe themselves from when they were toddlers. The story is intensely sad at times, chronicling poverty, neglect, and abuse. But it is also a fantastic comeback story. The Walls children persevere despite their crazy upbringing to make functional, even successful lives for themselves (with the exception of one sibling, about whose future Walls is more vague). Walls never has a woe is me tone, and she manages to find just the right balance between the pockets of humor and the depth and intensity of the family's dysfunction. I don't think Augusten Burroughs, author of the memoir Running With Scissors, achieved this nearly as fully when he awkwardly tried to make abuse into one joke after another.

Beavers Topple the Trojans

It's so wonderful to see #1 fall...especially when Georgia has dropped to #3 despite being 4-0 and USC being 2-0. Well, 2-0 until last night when Oregon State knocked a whole lotta air out of their inflated heads. I love it. Now onto Bama and the Blackout. I don't have tickets to the game but if the Blackout even comes close to the awesomeness of last year's Auburn game, which was the best game I've been to in my life, we will crush the Tide and skeezy Nick Saban.

Here's a slideshow of images from the game, featuring lots of happy people in orange and sad people in maroon and gold.

On Spanking

This is an excellent article from Slate about what science and psychology research says about hitting, spanking, or otherwise using physical punishment against children. The bottom line: it works in the very very short term but has a variety of damaging effects in the long term (both for the child and the parent). The author also points to a UN initiative toward a universal ban on violence against kids, including corporal punishment at home. Some other highlights:

• More than one-third of all parents who start out with relatively mild punishments end up crossing the line drawn by the state to define child abuse: hitting with an object, harsh and cruel hitting, and so on. Children, endowed with wonderful flexibility and ability to learn, typically adapt to punishment faster than parents can escalate it, which helps encourage a little hitting to lead to a lot of hitting.
• The negative effects on children include increased aggression and noncompliance—the very misbehaviors that most often inspire parents to hit in the first place—as well as poor academic achievement, poor quality of parent-child relationships, and increased risk of a mental-health problem (depression or anxiety, for instance). High levels of corporal punishment are also associated with problems that crop up later in life, including diminished ability to control one's impulses and poor physical-health outcomes (cancer, heart disease, chronic respiratory disease).
  
• If you hit another adult you can be arrested and sued, after all, so shouldn't our smallest, weakest citizens have a right to equal or even more-than-equal protection under the law? In this country, if you do the same thing to your dog that you do to your child, you're more likely to get in trouble for mistreating the dog.

Yard Dog Wine

I must be especially hungry today with two posts about food and drink. I discovered the Redheads Yard Dog wine at the Decatur Package Store, which does a great job of displaying descriptions, awards, and recommendations of wine. The fugly dog was what first caught my attention, and the price was the second ($12). I read the rave review and was sold. This was by far the best wine I've ever had for that price, and probably better than a number of those costing $25 or more a bottle. I'll leave the fancy-schmancy technical description of the aromas and tastes to the experts (or at least the wine blogger I link to above who seems pretty popular). If you can find this wine, snag several bottles and enjoy!

Boca Chik'n Patties

I've always liked the Boca veggie burgers for a healthier grilling option (though don't get me wrong, I love a real burger even more). I found these Boca Chik'n Patties (made from soy) recently and came up with an AWESOME, quick, and healthy-ish sandwich. I toasted two pieces of sourdough bread, from Publix of course, added the Boca patty, melted a little cheese on top, sliced a plum tomato, and spread a bit of wing sauce on the bread instead of mustard or mayo. DELICIOUS. I have found a new favorite easy meal.

Gossip Girl

My newest not-so-guilty pleasure. I thought all the good had gone out of the world once "The OC" rolled into a third season and started sucking something horrible. But oh, Josh, Schwartz, I knew you'd be back and better than ever at making high schoolers speak like cynical pop culture professors and dress like they walked straight off the runway at Fashion Week. The story lines, unsurprisingly, are very similar to those experienced by our dearly departed friends in Newport Beach. I'm two thirds of the way through the first season (so no spoilers please!) and so far I don't like it as much as "The OC," but it's still shamelessly entertaining. Dan Humphrey is no Seth Cohen and Rufus Humphrey no Sandy Cohen, but those two characters leave impossibly big shoes to fill (Converse sneakers and Brooks Brothers loafers, respectively).

PCB, Baby!

No, I'm not on spring break, nor am I 19 sporting a fake tan and airbrushed apparel, but I am headed to glorious Panama City Beach this weekend with the family. Somehow I doubt we'll have the wild and crazy time most visitors seek out when they're in town, but we will certainly enjoy the gorgeous sand, water, and September weather. More posts to come Sunday night or Monday, have a great weekend!

Oh, and GO DAWGS.

He's a Lumberjack and He's Okay....for PRESIDENT

Awesome faux campaign video by Michael Palin, former member of Monty Python, proclaiming his candidacy and asking for your vote through a video montage demonstration of why he's the more qualified Palin. Guaranteed to make you want to queue up some Monty Python classics on Netflix. Oh, and to not vote for McCain and that other Palin.

Best Running Shoe on Earth

Well, the title of this post may be a bit misleading because I never have been and probably never will be a runner...but anyway. Greatest shoe ever for running, walking, working out at the gym, whatever you do to stay fit. I just bought my second pair of shoes in the Asics GT-2130 line and after I wore out the first pair (took two years of gym workouts and walks/hikes on various turf). I don't think I will ever wear another brand. It's so nice to be able to wear the shoes day one and have them feel just as comfortable as my old ones. I'm obsessed. I also like the Carolina blue colors...maybe I'll one day get to work at that school...a girl can dream...(sorry UVA)

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Though a six minute interview on The Colbert Report doesn't often give guests much time to show much depth (or convince me to read their books), historian Doris Kearns Goodwin managed to quickly make herself my hero. Perhaps I'm too easily bought...but she's just so darn likeable. She touches on Palin and women, Obama and black voters, the history of the vice presidental role, and Lincoln's political genius in just a few minutes (all the while holding her own again Colbert's jokes and persistent interruptions, including his offering her Mardi Gras beads). I'm adding her books to my list on Goodreads.

How Open Are We? Race & Gender in Politics

As a former intern and staff writer for my alma mater's Arts & Sciences magazine, I'm certainly biased, but I always enjoy the timely features about the ways UVA students, alumni, and faculty are making an impact in their communities, in the nation, and in the world. The feature article in this latest edition discusses the roles of race and gender in politics, specifically exploring how implict and explicit bias affects our publicly stated versus privately cast votes. Several professors in the department of political science are doing fascinating research on different facets of this topic.

Women Against Sarah Palin blog

Thanks to Meredith for alerting me to this blog.

This is a collection of women's voices from all ages, all across the country, Republicans and Democrats and independents, writing about Sarah Palin. I don't agree with all the content on here, as some posts are more fact based than others, BUT I do greatly appreciate the blog for helping women's voices be heard and debunking the ridiculous idea that women will support the McCain Palin ticket simply because of her gender or her role as a mother.

Knowshon's Hurdle

I can't leave out the amazing human hurdle from Knowshon Moreno at last weekend's UGA game against Central Michigan. I fully expect (as does the rest of the Bulldawg Nation) for this clip to play over and over in the background as he accepts the Heisman. Looking forward to what tricks he'll pull out against the Gamecocks this weekend. GO DAWGS!

Demarcus Dobbs' interception was also amazing and hilarious because he is SO BIG to run that far. First career TD, good for him.

Zombies Do Athens

Two undead thumbs up to this group of UGA students who plan to invade Downtown Athens dressed as zombies and inevitably entertain and/or freak out the late-night revelers. I might question my own level of consciousness if I saw the lady zombie from this picture lurking around a bar.

This event also recalls fond memories of the ninja incident, which in its absurdity made national news on MTV and MSNBC. Perhaps the ninja and zombies can join forces and invite along some pirates and cowboys. They better watch out for the spoilsport ATF agents though.

Thanks to Mark for the link. If you'd like to read more about zombies, check out the Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks (son of the great Mel Brooks).

Matt Damon on Sarah Palin

Great clip of Matt Damon talking about Sarah Palin and her qualifications as president. I don't think he's trying to be funny, and he does make a serious point, but I had to laugh at some of his lines: "It's like a really bad Disney movie...she's gonna be president and facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink" and "I really need to know if she thinks dinosaurs were here 4,000 years ago. I need to know that, I really do, because she's gonna have the nuclear codes."

Also, I appreciate him bringing up book-banning. It appears she never actually went through with it, but she did ask the Wasilla librarian how one might go about it. When the librarian disagreed, according to some reports, Palin fired her.

Sound familiar to anyone?

The Reversible Raincoat

Good article from Slate about the cliche of the moment in political speeches: the reversible raincoat, more formally known as antimetabole. This device has produced such gems as "We were elected to change Washington, and we let Washington change us" and "In politics, there are some candidates who use change to promote their careers. And then there are those, like John McCain, who use their careers to promote change."

My take? The device as used in this election is gimmicky and tired-sounding. As the article points out, the candidates today are likely trying to echo other politicians who used the reversible raincoat to create memorable and somewhat more powerful statements (Bill Clinton: "People the world over have always been more impressed by the power of our example than by the example of our power;" JFK: "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country;" Churchill: "Let us preach what we practice—let us practice what we preach.")

Thanks to the Kate, my favorite fellow English major and crusader against cliches, for the link.

Spaced

This BBC show is a bizzare blend of Freaks & Geeks, The Twilight Zone, Seinfeld, The Office (British version, naturally), Arrested Development, and Are You Being Served. It stars Simon Pegg and other cast members from Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead, so if you appreciate the sense of humor in those movies, you'll enjoy this show. If you don't like British humor in general, though, you'll hate it. Probably best viewed later in the evening when you're ready to shut off your brain. First episode is here and there are more clips on YouTube.

English Fail Blog

Gotta love a hilarious grammatical mistake...or 600. This blog highlights some of the best, which will make you laugh, cry, or stare hard at the screen till you finally get it and feel like an idiot.

Dr. Horrible

Since he waltzed back into my life a few years back via "Harold and Kumar" and "How I Met Your Mother," I can't get enough of Neil Patrick Harris, or as his BFFs call him, NPH. Dr. Horrible is a funny funny funny series of Webpisodes (is that how you spell that? Dumb word) in which Dr. H hatches his plans to become an evil superhero and worm his way into the Evil League of Evil. The first episode is here and the rest are on iTunes.

Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka

For all you Southerners and wannabe Southerners who understand the power and glory that is the perfect glass of sweet tea, here is heaven in a bottle: Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka. Mix it with half water and a lemon slice, plop down in a rocker on the porch, close your eyes and take a sip...it doesn't get any better.