always wear your invisible crown

Guilty Pleasures & Current Obsessions Friending Meme

2012-10-10T14:47:15Z

Guilty Pleasures & Current Obsessions Friending Meme

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raise your glass

2010-12-14T01:31:42Z

Let’s hope it’s in all the right ways…
Eventually, I’ll learn to look at this whole experience as a learning thing and not the darkest part of my life. I will learn to be grateful for it instead of resentful of it. I will learn that the best thing I can do for myself is put myself first and not hang on to what anyone - ANYONE - thinks of it except for me. And I will learn more about what talents I bring to this world and what I can do with them and how I can create and let go. Eventually, I will learn to love myself not despite my faults, but because of them…

LJ Friend Matchmaker Meme - Matchmaker, Matchmaker Make Me A Match

2010-04-30T18:39:58Z

LJ FRIEND MATCHMAKER MEME

Who doesn't like to make new friends? Especially when they are already vetted for you! Fill out the answers here and recommend your friends who should be friends with each other. Sign yourself up and meet friends whose lj-names you already know, but who you've always wondered if you'd hit it off with. If you're really daring, sign up to be matched with communities or someone outside of your own social circle!

Fill this out and comment.

Recruiting New Players & Characters & Recastings!

2009-07-22T13:37:25Z

Last night, the five highest ranking Aurors on the squad ended up dead. And it looks like whatever killed them may be contagious....

***

Bloodlines is a post-Deathly Hallows, non-epilogue compliant Harry Potter roleplaying game set four years after the Battle of Hogwarts. The focus of the game is on building strong, dynamic characters, exciting plotlines, and an overall good story as the characters move through their daily lives in a world thrown once again into upheaval. The mods are active both in playing and plotting, and players are encouraged to become involved in existing plots and to create their own stories and characters.

MOST WANTED: Dean, Seamus, Padma, Parvati, and Lee. Join us!

Story | About | Characters | Rules | Jobs | Application

Now casting! Gameplay began July 4, 2009.

“Reconciliation should be accompanied by justice, otherwise it will not last. While we all hope for peace it shouldn't be peace at any cost but peace based on principle, on justice.”
~Corazon Aquino

“Reconciliation is to understand both sides; to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then go to the other side and describe the suffering being endured by the first side.”
~Thich Naht Hanh

Minister of Magic Tiberius Ogden is working to promote the health and well-being of all living things, including both Muggleborn and Pureblooded witches and wizards, as well as elves, goblins, and other magical species. With Mafalda Hopkirk in Azkaban for the foreseeable future, her son is attempting to nurse his fiancee back to health after having been cursed unforgivably by his mother. Ron has just moved in with Harry at Grimmauld Place and they are in the midst of first-year Auror training exams. Hermione Granger is attempting to mend relationships with friends and family after finally understanding that moving in with her boyfriend, Draco Malfoy, might not have been the best idea. Ginny is finally taking a big step in her adult life and moving out of the Burrow, leaving Arthur and Molly without any children at home. Theo has just discovered that his sister was fathered by another man and is dealing with the fact that his father killed his mother in revenge. The Brothers Lestrange have all kinds of evil plans in the works, including letting loose an army of werewolves. Roger has been doing research into the limits of Transfiguration with genetic makeup as he progresses is his apprenticeship. Melinda is still trying to find her place after being disowned by her family for starting a band with Tracey, Susan, Mandy and Josh. All this and much, much more!

post_bellum is a Post-War, Post-Deathly Hallows, non-Epilogue compliant Harry Potter Role-Playing Game.

Post Bellum RPG*Currently Casting*Characters In Play*Application*Rules*Watchers Community

We are greatly anticipating recasting applications for: Draco Malfoy, Luna Lovegood, Charlie Weasley, Rabastan Lestrange, Mandy Brocklehurst, Dean Thomas, and more. We are also looking for applications for: Arthur Weasley, Rita Skeeter, Ernie MacMillan, and any other characters which might be of interest!

If you have other questions or would like to request a hold on a character, please feel free to email the moderators at postbellummods at gmail.com.

Breaking Point RPG - Breaking Point OOC
Cast & Characters - Application - Rules
Breaking Point AU Comm

Summer 2024 at Hogwarts. Headmaster Filius Flitwick has just passed away. Minister of Magic Narcissa Malfoy has nominated her daughter-in-law, Board of Governors member Astoria Malfoy, for the position, but the professors of Hogwarts have another idea in mind: their very own Herbology Professor Neville Longbottom. Philosophies heat up through the summer months and before we know it the students - including 6th year Lily Luna Potter and 5th year Libra Malfoy - will be returning.

Surprisingly enough - they're not the only ones.

September first, the feast has been a success, the students are heading back to their dorms, and a bump is heard in the night. The seventh floor corridor is in sudden chaos - someone from another time has just stumbled out of a fireplace holding a blue fire.

As Aurors roam the halls of Hogwarts and our heroes of the Second War try to solve the puzzle of the blue fireplace, more mysteries are around every corner. Why are the dead returning? Who will rule the school? And how much tension can all sides endure before the wounds of past push them too far?

Friends Cut

2009-06-19T15:13:29Z

I did another (minor) friends cut. I deleted friends who seem to have dead journals and don't comment. If you think I cut you by mistake, please let me know and I'd be happy to add you back. If not, I would appreciate if you would also remove me from your friends list. Thanks.

While the Rest of the World Watches and Waits

2009-06-18T18:47:24Z

i realize now i do not fear death... i fear my daughter will not be free when i die

- From the Twitter of an Iranian medical student

"If it bothers you so much, then why don't you stop watching?" seems to be the question of the last few days from my friends and family who know how invested I have become in the cause of the Iranian people (as I have explained in great detail here) The answer is simple: one day of caring is not enough. We must be the voice for the people of Iran who would otherwise be silenced. They are without reliable news sources, they are without mobile phone calls, text messaging, facebook, twitter, youtube, AIM, Yahoo, Google, and pretty much every other useful outlet for information you can think of. Yet they persist on the streets and on the internet in any way they can. The least we can do, whether we are across continents, oceans, or time zones, is spread their words safely.

My death is irrelevant.Wht is important is that u do not forget my words.We want freedom.i will die 4that

- From the Twitter of a protester in Tehran

Right now, brave men and women in Iran, both young and old, are sacrificing their lives for their voices to be heard. They must fear not only the police, but also the Basij -a force of men loyal to the government who plant themselves among crowds in plain clothes in order to discretely attack protesters and incite chaos.The protesters are peaceful. They mass together in crowds that are reported to grow in size every day. At night they have very few, if any, safe places to stay. Houses with satelite dishes were attacked by the Basij tonight, and during the 50 minutes of Twitter's maintenance, another university was attacked.

140 characters is a novel when you're being shot at.

- From another Iranian Twitter

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?

The most obvious thing to do is stay informed. Keep an eye on reliable sources on Twitter, refresh blogs and news sites that are covering the stories.

If you are on twitter, retweet information from reliable twitters, but REMOVE THE USERNAME if they are in Iran. People have died because of the lack of responsibility by fellow tweeters and the media in this front. They can be tracked down by the government of Iran.

Spread the information elsewhere. Repost this article or write your own on Facebook, Myspace, Tumblr, or anywhere else you can think of. If you write your own, make sure you are concise and accurate. Link to your sources for people to learn more.

Discretely change your location on Twitter to Tehran or Iran, and your time zone to GMT +3:30. Don't post to brag about how you did it, otherwise it was useless.

DO NOT auto-refresh and take down websites, even if you are asked. It slows down the internet for the rest of the people in Iran.

If you make a proxy DO NOT post it publically, otherwise it is useless. Send it in a direct message to a trusted source.

DO NOT spam the hash tag #IranElection with useless things to "confuse the government". This does not help at all.

USEFUL SITES TO FURTHER HELP

Cyber War Guide for Iran Elections

Green Revolution - How to Help

Anonymous - Why We Protest - Iran

STAY INFORMED!

Follow on Twitter: @ProtesterHelp and @StopAhmadi

(REMINDER: DO NOT REPOST PERSONAL TWITTERS OF THOSE INSIDE THE COUNTRY, EVEN IF THEY ARE RELIABLE!)

Chronology of events

Live-blogging by Andrew Sullivan

General information from a poser on Fark.com

Live-blogging on HuffingtonPost

دنیارابگوییدچطورآنهاانتخاباتمان دزدیده اند
Tell the world how they have stolen our election

- original article by one_hoopy_frood on LJ

Simplifying Things...

2009-06-01T02:22:35Z

I've come to the conclusion that there are still people on my flist that I have not connected with or do not really get comments from. There are many whose entries I keep skipping. I don't like one-sided relationships and I'm sure others don't really like them, either. I've taken many communities and a couple journals off my list. If you think I've 'defriended' you in error, please let me know. I'm looking to simplify my life, not cause drama.

That having been said, if you're on twitter, I have a public twitter that is VERY active and anyone is free to follow me @_sarakate, so friend me there if you like.

Guilty Pleasures & Current Obsessions Friending Meme

2009-03-22T13:31:42Z

Guilty Pleasures & Current Obsessions Friending Meme

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I got this idea from ohxlucia via loveshape. The original thread is here if you all want to check it out.

Year in Books: 2009

2009-01-01T16:37:26Z

1. Bone: The Dragon Slayer (Book 4) by Jeff Smith (graphic novel): 184 pages.
Great and fast read, on par with the rest of the series. I can't wait to finish them... I have the fifth one, but I'll have to go out and get 6-9 soon!

2. The Good Neighbors: Kin (Book 1) by Holly Black (graphic novel/fantasy/young adult): 144 pages.
A beautiful book. The story and the graphics were beautiful in an unsettling sort-of way. I can't wait to find out what happens in the next volume!

3. HTML: A Beginner's Guide, Second Edition by Wendy Willard (HTML/web design): 550 pages.
This edition is a little outdated, but still extremely useful. It covers all the basics, of course, so that's helped in my understanding of coding. It wasn't a book I read cover-to-cover, but the parts I've read were straightforward and useful.

4. Watchmen by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons (graphic novel/sci-fi/literature): 416 pages.
Seriously one of the best books I've ever read, though it took me ages to get into. I often felt stupid or like I was missing something at the beginning of the book when Rorschach was narrating, but I powered through at the request of friends who loved this book and am glad they pushed me into it. Once I was able to get through that part and move on, I really became totally engrossed in the story. It was beautifully written with many memorable lines, some funny, some ironic, some poignant. The exerpts from fictional media and the song lyrics and quotes enhanced the storylines in subtle, but important ways. I enjoyed the fact that not all superheroes were even extremely good-looking, just as they weren't necessarily the most morally superior. The development of the characters was as valuable as the plot itself. If you haven't read this graphic novel yet, go DO IT NOW.

5. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates (literature): 480 pages.
Heart-achingly wonderful. Yates writes with the simplicity of Hemingway and the grace of Fitzgerald. His prose is fast-paced and terribly, wonderfully honest. A look at what any intelligent, motivated, real, living couple feels, thinks, and does through the lens of a non-judgmental storyteller. A cautionary tale and wonderful assessment of normalcy versus the desire to be extraordinary.

6. Harry, A History by Melissa Anelli (nonfiction narrative/memoir): 356 pages.
A fascinating romp through the landscape of Harry Potter fandom, Melissa Anelli lays out what it means to be a fan in the truest sense of the word. When a book or series like this touches your life and augments your desire to be fully human, do well by your own legacy, and have fun while you're at it, what is there to be ashamed of? Absolutely nothing. From wizard rock to shipping wars, from a reluctant first-time reader to ultimate authority on all things Harry Potter, Melissa Anelli takes the reader inside the anatomy of the Harry Potter phenomenon through an enjoyable, mysterious, and uplifting decade-long journey.

7. Coraline by Neil Gaiman (fantasy/children's): 176 pages.
(currently reading)

8. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett (fantasy/sci-fi/comedy): 352 pages.
(currently reading)

9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert (travel/memoir): 352 pages.
(currently reading)

10. The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel (historical fiction): 495 pages.
(currently reading)

Did you wanna be famous? Did you wanna be the president?

2008-11-05T14:49:20Z

1. PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA!!!!!!!

45 Years Ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famed "I Have A Dream" Speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (August 28, 1963). This was his dream:

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by a sign stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!

Last night, the first Person of Colour to run for the nation's highest office won the honour of serving his country as the President of the United States of America. Here was his acceptance speech:

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain. Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

His speech literally brought me to tears and I can't even express what joy it brings me to see that people went out and voted in such HUUUUGE numbers, regardless of who or what they voted for. My faith in the democratic process was pretty nonexistent, at least at the national/federal level, but the results of this election may very well change that. There are two reasons for that:
1. LARGE VOTER TURNOUT.
2. PEOPLE ENGAGING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS IN OTHER WAYS: pledging money, time, and effort to campaigns; people vowing to engage in local politics; people willing to express their political opinions; people willing to compromise and work across party lines... the list goes on in many directions.

Overall, this is how I feel about the election this year:

2. Obviously over-caffeinated and running on little sleep because I posted this with the number 1 and nothing else. Sorry, I'm hyped up and excited and... whatever, you get it. :P

3. It's a good day for the Democrats in other ways, as well. In addition to a new Democratic president, we are also in the majority in the House and the Senate (WooT!!) - In addition to general gains, Kay Hagan won over Elizabeth Dole in North Carolina and JEAN SHAHEEN won over SUNUNU in New Hampshire to become the FIRST WOMAN SENATOR FROM THAT STATE (after being their first female governor!!). YAY!

4. Am disappointed, but not surprised that Rep. Tom Allen lost to Sen. Susan Collins in Maine. However, my mom says she thinks he's going to run for governor, so there's a silver lining.

5. Emily Deschanel lets men in on some secrets:

1. When you have a perfect body, we wonder how much time you spend on yourself.

2. Even if we've only been dating a few weeks, don't introduce us as your "lady friend"--or that's exactly what we'll become.

3. When we use your bathroom (really use it), we consider you to be "the one."

4. Things we do not want to find in your medicine cabinet: self-tanning lotion, your ex-girlfriend's tampons, live ammunition.

5. The only acceptable men's wrist accessory is one that tells time.

6. When a guy sends us a text, we analyze everything, down to the punctuation. "Did he really use an umlaut? He must be smart!"

7. If you think we like the word panties, you've been watching too much porn.

8. Ditto titty and moist.

9. The only reason we accept for your following a rock band on tour is that you are actually a member of that band.

10. Don't wink. Never wink.

6. Keane makes me so effing happy. I've been listening to their album, Perfect Symmetry, almost non-stop the last couple of weeks and 'Spiralling' has to be one of my favourite songs ever.

I'm waiting
For my moment to come
I'm waiting
For the movie to begin
I'm waiting
For a revelation
I'm waiting for someone
To count me in

Cos now
I only see my dreams
In everything I touch
Feel their cold hands on
Everything that I love
Cold like some
Magnificant skyline
Out of my reach
But always
In my eyeline now

We're tumbling down
We're spiralling
Tied up to the ground
We're spiralling

I fashioned you
From jewels and stone
I made you
In the image of myself
I gave you
Everything you wanted
So you would never know
Anything else

But everytime
I reach for you
You slip
Through my fingers
Into cold sunlight
Laughing at the things
That I had planned
The map of my world gets
Smaller as I sit here
Pulling at the loose
Threads now

We're tumbling down
We're spiralling
Tied up to the ground
We're spiralling
When we fall in love
We're just falling
In love with ourselves
We're spiralling

Did you wanna be a winner?
Did you wanna be an icon?
Did you wanna be famous?
Did you wanna be the president?
Did you wanna start a war?
Did you wanna have a family?
Did you wanna be in love?
Did you wanna be in love?

I never saw the light
I never saw the light
I waited up all night
But I never saw the light

When we fall in love
We're just falling
In love with ourselves
We're spiralling
We're tumbling down
We're spiralling
Tied up to the ground
We're spiralling

7. I'm happy all this election stuff is over and, hopefully, we can all move on with as much grace, eloquence, and diplomacy as McCain showed in his Concession Speech last night. He did a WONDERFUL job with the speech and I was disappointed in his supporters. Their booing and negativity was completely uncalled for. McCain did a GREAT thing last night in conceding with grace and dignity and I think this may possibly be the beginning of the return of the pre-presidential-candidate McCain, whom I liked significantly better than the presidential candidate McCain.

8. Now that election stuff is over, I think I might actually be able to focus on writing again. Once I get some actual work done, it's time to get my muse on! :)

Tryst: Character Sketches

2008-09-17T13:42:55Z

In preparation for NaNoWriMo again this year, I've put together some brief character sketches of the main players in the story. I'm very excited about the themes this book is going to address and the relationships that are discovered and developed throughout the book. I hope to make it sound, in style, a bit like a modern fairy tale, but with a real-world edge. But I'll be happy if I just make it to 50k. In any case, if you're interested in my writing and would like some info on my characters, have a look.

	Bianca Vitale: Bianca, the main character (aka vita_bianca), was adopted at age three by Michael and Karen Vitale. Karen Vitale died before Bianca's fifth birthday of ovarian cancer. She grew up with her father, who doted on her, and had many friends in school. She was a bit of a 'princess', though worked hard for her good grades and recommendations for school. She currently attends Kinsington Queen's College and is studying fashion design and production. She constantly smells of vanilla.
	Marisol Archibald: Bianca's best girl at university and her current roommate. Marisol is bubbly, fun, and a former cheerleader. She keeps Bianca's angst in check and is one person Bianca really feels girly with.
	Michael Vitale: Bianca's father, married his wife Karen, very young, but they were unable to have children for many years. Finally, they decided to adopt and when they were introduced to Bianca, fell in love with the wide-eyed three-year-old instantaneously. Michael is a banker and works many hours, but never missed any school play, production, or important event in Bianca's life. After his wife died, he never remarried. He had a few relationships, but mostly threw himself into his work and spent his free time with his daughter.
	Declan Graham: Bianca's "friend with benefits" whom she becomes aggravated with and stops calling in favour of spending more time on her studies and with her other friends, and, eventually, with Jared. Declan is a bit gruff, like Bianca's father, but gives her attention of a sexual nature, which she appreciates, until she decides that affection is much better than sex.
	Faith Hoppe: A good friend of Bianca's from school, who has just returned from a two-year English-teaching stint in Croatia. Once returned, Faith finds a job teaching immigrant adults English in Kinsington. She reconnects with Bianca after they have a run-in at the local corner deli.
	Vaughn Brooklyn: Faith's boyfriend, whom she met while in Croatia. Brooklyn, originally from New Zealand, was backpacking through Europe and decided to take a job in an English-speaking restaurant, where he met Faith. He immediately fell in love with her and decided to stay on for another few months and then return with her to the UK. Once in the UK, Brooklyn joins a football league, where he becomes friends with Jared.
	Jared Viner: A local barkeep and musician, Jared also plays football with Brooklyn, and meets Bianca at their team's New Year's Eve party. Aside from his good looks and talent on the field, Jared's music is what makes him attractive to anyone he comes in contact with. Jared's family is extremely important to him and he's very close with his younger brother, Jasper. After a midnight kiss with Bianca, Jared finds himself head over heels for her.
	Jasper Viner: Jared's younger brother, who is a culinary student at Queen's College with a keen business sense. Aside from being his brother's stage manager, Jared would like to open his own restaurant someday.
	Gemma Lawson: Jasper's high school sweetheart girlfriend, a journalism and English major at Queen's, and a bubbly, social young thing. She's just turned 18 when Bianca meets her. She is animated and sweet and talks with her hands a lot.
	Giada (De Luna) Lawson: Gemma's step-mother, a Human Resources analyst, and not-your-typical trophy wife. A yoga/palates fanatic, health food guru, and very stylish dresser.

Friending Meme

2008-05-03T00:00:36Z

friending meme

10 simple questions, potential for tons of friends. Feel free to pimp in your own fandom communities or in your own journals cuz who can't use a few more friends?!

Fic/RP Rec: Road Ahead's Fenrir Greyback Is A Chilling Monster

2008-01-11T14:38:44Z

If you want to read something truly chilling, a bit heartwarming, based on Harry Potter... this plot arc at road_ahead has had me glued to the computer all week. Oh. My. God.

Fenrir makes his move.

Fenrir gets to know Hermione.

And end to the torture.

It's official. He's been taken care of. But are there other dangers?

Honestly, I can't believe I'm a part of this game. It has some of the best writing on the internet. I feel so blessed to be a part of this amazing author community.

Find out what happens next at road_ahead.

Become an official fan of road_ahead.

Book List: 2008

2008-01-01T20:32:38Z

I'm making it a goal to read 50 books in the New Year. Approximately one a week. I've joined 50bookchallenge for motivation and support and have a huge list of books that I want to read here. Once I've finished them, I'll add them to my lists at GoodReads & Shelfari. I'll also add them to a list here and add a short review.

1. The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The first book in a long time to have me turning pages as fast as my eyes will let me and the first book in a longer time that made me cry. Coming as a recommendation from my mother, this book honestly feels like something I should be reading with her, not after her. The characters in this book come alive with the fervor of screen actresses and the drive of civil rights activists. I am more like Lily than I'd sometimes like to admit and her relationships with both her adopted family and with Zach are things I relate to and have been longing for since I was the tender age of fourteen. A beautiful, haunting novel written with the bitterness of age before happiness and the sweetness of honey, The Secret Life of Bees is a touching, hilarious walk through the way language creates life.

2. Death DuJour by Kathy Reichs

3. The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
It took me a long time (maybe 2/3 of the book) to really be drawn in and feel like I wanted to finish the book. Though something didn't grab me from the start, I wanted to finish the story because I thought the premise was interesting and the themes involved were important. Pullman writes verbosely, but he is a fantastic storyteller and great intellect. When I finally got to the end of this book, I couldn't wait to start the next in the series. I felt as if the book were just getting started instead of wrapping up. It's definitely worth the read, even if it takes a while to come together.

4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

5. The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
Like The Golden Compass, this book took me longer to get into than I thought it would. I didn't relate to the main character immediately, but almost immediately upon meeting Lyra again, I was drawn in even more than I was in the first book. The relationship between Will and Lyra is enchanting and mysterious, but not quite out of necessity. And, again with this book, I felt that it didn't really end, but was just beginning at the end of the book (great cliffhangers, seriously!). I'm hoping that The Amber Spyglass actually provides some sort of resolution and ties up the loose ends.

6. Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman (currently reading)
- A Study in Emerald: Fantastic, lovely, interesting, a little disgusting, but in that way that the twist and the end laughs in your face and says, "You should have guessed, but I am the trickster and you are too naive." The best parts of Sherlock Holmes with just a little of Lovecraft thrown in.
- The Fairy Reel: Better read aloud, methinks.
- October in the Chair: Lovely, interesting, whimsical, highly entertaining.
- Forbidden Brides of the Faceless Slaves in the Secret House of the Night of Dread Desire Though the title itself could be a book, this surprisingly short story is a fantastical mixture of the romanticism of Bronte's Jane Eyre, the macabre of Poe's The Raven, and the shrouded mystery of Longfellow's House of Seven Gables thrown into a short story and mixed up with a bit of humour.

7. Inkspell by Cornelia Funke
Much easier to get into initially than the earlier Inkheart, but dense and long as should be expected by any good German fantasy writer. Funke's characters are interesting, dark, twisted, funny, magical, and loveable. I've been on the edge of my seat since the beginning of the book and find it a great read, though 3/4 of the way through the book, I'm finding that it's starting to drag... I just want to know the ending already! (ETA: The ending? Pretty great... now I REALLY can not wait for the release of Inkdeath!!!!! I know it's already out in German. I have half a mind to read them all in the original German just because I can :P)

8. Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
For the first time since The Secret Life of Bees, I have found 100% enjoyment in a book. Twilight is a page-turner in every sense of the word. Bella is an interesting main character, someone I can identify with, and Meyer's writing style is a breeze to read. It flows like a river and has twists and turns and shiny, polished pebbles of intrigue. I'm already a fan and I'm not half-way through the book yet. More, please! (ETA: Finished and even more satisfied. I can't wait to read the second and third! It's addictive, even if it is a glorified young adult romance novel.)

9. HUSH by Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee

10. Lost Girls: Book 1 by Alan Moore and Melinda Gebbie
While an erotic and sexually explicit graphic novel, the beginning of the Lost Girls story isn't gratuitous, it's about sharing and learning not to be ashamed of female sexuality despite the negative connotations that go along with exploratory sexual experiences throughout life, from puberty into adulthood. The artwork is interesting and provocative, but not particularly sexy. The historical and cultural backdrop surrounding the story is both appropriate and romantic. While I felt it was interesting and enjoyed reading it, when I'm finished with the other two, I may decide to sell the books. I have a feeling they are not the kind I will read again and again.

11. The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield
This book was meant for me to read right now. It's a beautiful adventure into the physical and spiritual realms of the world we live in and I just can't put it down. It's the precise answer to a lot of the questions about life I've been craving and I really just can't wait to discover what new Truth I will find on each next page.

12. The Lost Painting:The Quest for a Caravaggio Masterpiece by Jonathan Harr
I'm not usually one for reading a lot of non-fiction, but this book just sucked me right in. In the same way that City of Falling Angels just completely enveloped me in art, history, and enigma, The Lost Painting reminded me why I studied art, why I loved it, and why it is so important to our future in society. Harr's prose is narrative wonder. I literally couldn't put the book down. It's been a fantastic journey, somewhat like The Da Vinci Code but with a true story, better writing, and much less violence. If you're an art lover or are interested in the evolution of society, go read this book.

13. Running Made Easy by Susie Whalley & Lisa Jackson
This book is a great guide for beginning runners. Though challenging, it's also encouraging and includes everything from motivational stories to tips on the right kind of shoes, the best routine, and marathons. The plan the authors lay out is both doable and challenging. I never feel like a failure, but I don't feel like it's easy. It's especially good because the book has pictures, graphics, charts and graphs, which keep me motivated, too. It also includes a ten-week program for getting started and a six-month brief running diary for those interested in tracking progress as a motivational tool. I recommend this book to anyone who is a first-time runner or for people who were runners but haven't been active recently and want to get back to their previous lifestyle.

14. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

15. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

16. Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Definitely one of my new favourites. While enough different from the movie to be a different story, the main themes and characters are the same. Gaiman's prose is breezy, but substantial. I never felt particularly challenged by this book, but I never felt bored, either. Tristran is a fantastic and fallible main character and Yvaine is certainly a bit snarkier than in the movie. I must say that I was disappointed the comparatively small role the pirates played in the book and wish that they could have been elaborated on because that was one of my favourite parts of the movie. There were, of course, a few things in the book I wish they could have included in the movie, but book to movie conversion aside, this is definitely a great book. I'm sure I will read this one again. And probably again after that. And maybe again after that.

17. Deja Dead by Kathy Reichs

18. Vampire Knight: Vol. 1 by Matsuri Hino

19. Vampire Knight: Vol. 2 by Matsuri Hino

20. The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb & by Tim Sale

21. Dark Victory by Jeph Loeb & Tim Sale

22. Vampire Knight: Vol. 3 by Matsuri Hino

23. Haunted Knight by Jeph & illustrated by Tim Sale

24. Trinity by Matt Wagner

25. The Seven Lady Godivas by Dr. Seuss

26. The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller (currently reading)

27. Vampire Knight: Vol. 4 by Matsuri Hino

28. Upside Down Inside Out by Monica McInerney

29. Tithe by Holly Black
Engaging, poignant, a very quick read. True to its byline, the story really is a modern faerie tale in every sense. It was everything a true faerie tale should be: dark, edgy, with bits of light that shine through, surprises and twists, elements of nature used as tools and weapons, dense with wit and romance and adventure. I'm a huge fan... for $7.00, what more could one want? I'm ready to buy the other two in the series (Valiant, Ironside). Oh, And I'm pretty sure that, unlike Stephenie Meyer, Holly Black deliberately gave her protagonist both wit and strength of character that will last though time and will only become more apparent as the teenager journeys through life.

30. WATCHMEN by Alan Moore (currently reading)

31. Such A Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster

32. Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling

33. Valiant by Holly Black

34. Ironside by Holly Black

35. Angel: After the Fall Volume 1 by Bryan Lynch and Franco Urru

My Library

Books: To Read

Movie List: 2008

2008-01-01T20:28:39Z

THE YEAR IN MOVIES: 2008

1. January 1, 2008: Juno with rosaline924 4/5

Touching, hilarious, and witty. Ellen Page is a force to be reckoned with. Olivia Thirlby is hilarious as her best friend with a teacher fetish; Michael Cera actually didn't make me want to hurl; Allison Janney was perfection, as per usual; J.K. Simmons is possibly the only military dad I absolutely love in a movie - his devotion to his daughter proves what a fantastic dad he is and how cared for Juno is no matter how odd or out-of-place she might feel. The soundtrack is funny and poignant and the slight animation just adds to, rather than subtracts from, the overall edgy, artistic, and offbeat feel of the film. Kudos to everyone involved.

2. January 4, 2008: Fever Pitch 3/5

3. January 5, 2008: Sweeney Todd with Angelus 4/5

Overall, a bit disappointing. The music was fantastic and I was more than impressed by the singing on the parts of all the actors and actresses. I was especially impressed by Johnny Depp's singing performance, who took singing lessons in order to sing Sondheim's music in the production. Helena Bonham Carter is sweet, obsessive, odd, and slightly demonic. Perhaps a stylistic choice by Tim Burton, the blood in the movie was extremely red and somewhat unrealistic due to its tomato-like hue. However, it did make the amount of blood shed stand out from the washed out neutrals of the backdrop. The story was a bit disjointed and I felt that there was no resolution of the minor plot arcs in the end. The minor characters were all just as excellent as the man in the title role, but I felt as if the movie was both too long (perhaps because of the late hour of the engagement - I saw a 10:55 showing) and as if there were significant parts of the story that were left out (I hear there were, though I've never seen the stage production).
The movie has gotten rave reviews by everyone from Rolling Stone to Newsweek to Variety, but I left feeling that it was anti-climactic. I'm torn because I love every single actor/actress in the movie, but felt the sum of the parts lacking. The music was beautiful, haunting, and wonderfully-sung, but I kept waiting for the big finale and it never came. Overall, I felt as if the production were rushed. The themes were wonderfully portrayed and I left feeling as if I'd learned something about how revenge is never sweet, lying usually comes back to bite you in the ass, and love is stronger than we usually realize. My disappointment isn't enough to keep me from wanting more, but it's enough to still feel a bit let down by my some of my favourite actors and one of my favourite directors.

4. January 17, 2008: Ratatouille 4/5

5. January 26, 2008: The Game Plan with Angelus 3/5

6. February 2, 2008: Death Sentence with Angelus 4/5

7. February 2, 2008: Underdog with Angelus 2/5

8. February 8, 2008: Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit 4/5

9. February 9, 2008: Cool Hand Luke 4/5

There is just something so electric and beautiful and serene about Paul Newman's smile. Something about it just lights up the screen and, no matter how deep into shit Luke gets, he is never broken. He resists until the absolute end and triumphs in a way that leaves only tears and laughter behind.

10. February 11, 2008: Stardust 5/5

11. February 22, 2008: Persepolis with bratkartoffel and dora_mcallister 4/5

12. February 23, 2008: Be Kind Rewind with Angelus 4/5

13. February 24, 2008: Batman: Mask of the Phantasm with Angelus 4/5

14. February 25, 2008: A Raisin in the Sun 3/5

15. February 29, 2008: Semi-Pro with Angelus and Flip 2/5

16. March 2, 2008: Justice League: The New Frontier with Angelus 4/5

17. March 13, 2008: Nancy Drew with rosaline924 3/5

18. March 15, 2008: 50 Pills 3/5

19. March 24, 2008: Big Trouble in Little China with Angelus 2/5

20. March 25, 2008: Tin Man with rosaline924 4/5

Quite honestly, I was prepared for this film to be a flop. I did not purchase it, for that reason, before seeing it and waited to watch it until rosaline924 bought it and we watched together. From the first scene when D.G. ends up in the O.Z., I was captivated. I'm not sure whether my growing appreciation for Zooey Deschanel or just the fabulous scenery, but I was totally committed. And, of course, when Alan Cumming spoke, I drew in a breath. His portrayal of Glitch was just heartwarming and so encouraging. I'll not give a review of the whole thing so as to avoid spoilers, but by the end of the miniseries, I was completely enchanted. I went out and bought the DVD for myself the next day.

21. March 27, 2008: Wedding Date with rosaline924 2/5

22. March 28, 2008: Superhero Movie with Angelus, Flip, James Gay & his bf 2/5

23. April 5, 2008: Talk To Me with Angelus 5/5

This is literally one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The acting was brilliant and the story both moving and realistic. This movie made me fall in love with DC again and reminded me why I continue to be inspired living in the area and working inside the Beltway. It was a journey through some of the toughest times the District has dealt with and both how far life has come since then and how much work there still is left to do. For anyone interested in Civil Rights, Radio, Current Events, Politics, the history and evolution of Music, or the Washington, DC area, I highly recommend this film.

24. April 5, 2008: 3:10 to Yuma with Angelus 4/5

25. April 12, 2008: The Last Dragon with Angelus 2/5

26. April 14, 2008: Brick 3/5

Aside from the fabulous acting of JGL, the movie had this film-noir feel to it like a combination of late 90s teen drama and early 1900s pulp fiction. The manner of speaking the main character, Brendan, pulls off is just mind-boggling. He's sharp and full of wit and doesn't take no for an answer. He kicks some ass, but isn't a bully and, though certainly not expected, JGL makes you believe a kid like Brendan actually could exist in your own community. If I were in trouble, I'd certainly want a kid like Brendan to come looking for me!

27. April 18, 2008: The Forbidden Kingdom with Angelus & Flip 4/5

First of all, the fight scene between Jet Li and Jackie Chan does not disappoint in any way whatsoever. Jackie Chan is hilarious and kicks so much ass. The visual effects are beautifully done in the Chinese style and the story is like one of the best fantasy movies from the 80s. It's Karate Kid meets the Neverending Story meets Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. So, in summation, just fantastic! If you haven't seen it yet, go see it RIGHT NOW.

28. April 19, 2008: Forgetting Sarah Marshall with Angelus 5/5

Jason Segel is pure comic genius. His talents never end. His writing is witty, his music is funny, and his acting is both confident and vulnerable at the same time. Kristen Bell is gorgeous and does not disappoint in acting the part of a tv star a bit more spoiled and high maintenance than a relaxed composer like Peter would truly fit with. Everyone from Mila Kunis, who is absolutely adorable and totally sexy, to Jonah Hill to Paul Rudd and even the total unknowns are hilarious and entertaining. It makes me want to go to Hawaii, not because I want to run away from my problems, but just because I want to find that kind of peace with myself and where I am in life. It's clear that we will be seeing much more of Jason Segal (figuratively, as literally, he bares all in 'Sarah Marshall' so there isn't anything else left for him to show on film) in the future and I can't wait. If you're a fan of How I Met Your Mother, you'll love this! If not, you'll still love it. If you don't love it, you do not have a heart.

29. April 19, 2008: Street Kings with Angelus 4/5

As a serious crime drama involving crooked cops and starring a fantastic cast of Forrest Whitaker, Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, and cameos by Common and The Game, this movie does not disappoint for those who are serious crime fans. However, it did also reinforce my negative viewpoints on cops. I know most of them get into it for the right reasons and that they're necessary and that the truth of the matter is that most of them are not crooked, but at the same time, I've not had the best experiences with them in the past and this movie definitely didn't make me like them any better. However, in my opinion, it's Keanu Reeves' best role since Neo in the Matrix, so for fans of Reeves, it's definitely a must-see. If you're a fan of House, go see it for Hugh Laurie in a different role. He excels. And Forrest Whitaker just nails it.

30. April 21, 2008: The Full Monty with rosaline924 3/5

Witty, cute, and sexy in an everyday kind of way. We laughed a lot. She'd seen it before, but I hadn't. I loved it. Hilarious and great. YAY! That's all I really have to say about it.

31. April 26, 2008: Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay with Angelus 4/5

A little raunchy at times, but completely hilarious. John Cho and Kal Penn were great as buddies, fighting and working together, getting through everything from lost girlfriends to Guantanamo Bay prison and escaping from Cuba. Neil Patrick Harris' cameo goes on a lot longer than I expected and was even funnier than I'd hoped for. This movie includes everything from Osama Bin Laden's beard to unicorns to a crash landing in President Bush's ranch. Definitely entertaining if you're into that kind of humour. And to be perfectly honest, I think it was much better than its predecessor.

32. April 26, 2008: Baby Mama with Angelus 3/5

Tina Fey is adorable and endearing; Amy Poehler is a laugh-riot. Greg Kinnear is absolutely enchanting and Steve Martin was unexpected and totally hysterical. The commentary on society was poignant and funny and this movie had more heart than laughter. If you're a fan of Tina Fey, definitely go see it. If you're not, you will be after you see this movie. Amy Poehler never fails to crack me up, but this movie is just funny, not a complete side-splitter.

33. May 1, 2008: IRON MAN with Angelus and Flip 5/5

Not only is this movie one of the best comic book movies I've ever seen, but it's also just a fantastic action movie. The humour is dry and witty, sarcastic and enjoyable, while the story itself is dramatic, engaging and certainly full of action. The special effects are very well done and the soundtrack was expertly assembled. Robert Downey, Jr. was rough, gruff, and extremely sexy in an ultimate bad boy kind of way. Terence Howard was just brilliant as Rhodes and Gwenyth Paltrow was sexy, adorable, and strong in her Pepper Potts role. Jeff Bridges NAILED his role as the villain. I warn you, however, though this is a comic book and superhero movie, it's not for kids; there's a ton of violence, lots of alcohol-drinking and womanizing on Tony Stark's agenda... and he's a weapons manufacturer, so go figure with the loads of violence. I found myself laughing, shouting "oh!", and sitting on the edge of my seat throughout the entire film, so if you haven't seen it yet, go see it now. You won't regret it!

35. May 16, 2008: The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian with Kat 5/5

Darker and with more wit than the first, Prince Caspian matures the series in tandem with the Pevensie children. Lucy's faith is challenged, but remains ever-strong while her siblings find themselves relieved to be out of London and back in Narnia once more. Though a lot has changed in the year they spent in London, its nothing compared with the changes Narnia has been through in the 1300 years since the 'Kings and Queens of Old' have left. The self-exile of Prince Caspian becomes a great asset as the Narnians fight for justice and defend themselves against the Telmarines.

36. May 21, 2008: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull with Angelus and Flip 4/5

In the true Indy Tradition, this movie included fun, adventure, romance, and fantastic villains, as well as an uncanny sense of the time period in which the movie takes place. There were some unexpected twists and turns, as well a stellar character reappearance by a previous Indy favourite. Since saying too much will give it away, I'll just say this: it's action-packed, funny, a little silly, and a fantastic adventure.

37. June 3, 2008: Sex and the City with rosaline924 (and again with Cousin Angi on June 14, 2008) 5/5

I had very low expectations of this movie going in. I was blown away. Very, very good. Good story, better acting, and fantastic clothes... and that's all I have to say about that.

38. June 12, 2008: The Incredible Hulk with Angelus & Flip 4/5

39. June 20, 2008: Get Smart with Angelus & Flip 4/5

Fans of the old tv show will love it. The movie is funny, cute, and has just enough action to keep things interesting. I'm not the hugest Steve Carrell fan, but he was good and Anne Hathaway was fantastic. Dwayne Johnson was so perfect it hurt. And as for Alan Arkin? Well, I'm a huge fan of his work in most things, but in this movie his sense of comedic timing was just wonderful. Aside from the cast, the humour in the movie was great, the effects were fun, and they even had a shoe phone!!! I'm definitely buying this one on DVD.

40. June 21, 2008: Raise Your Voice 2/5

Hillary Duff stars as a high school student Terry, whose dreams of becoming a singer-songwriter are put on hold by her overprotective father. After her brother dies in a tragic car accident, Terry's aunt and mom smuggle her out of the house for a summer at a prestigious music camp in L.A. Terry discovers that making friends is harder than she thought it would be, but triumphs in the end. It's a feel-good, inspirational family movie made when Hillary Duff was still young and absolutely adorable. The music is lovely, but I wouldn't say the movie is outstanding. It's just cute.

41. June 21, 2008: The Love Guru™ with Angelus & Flip 3/5

I went into this movie with expectations of silly laughs and raucous, immature jokes, but was pleasantly surprised to find those obvious pieces tempered with cultural references and subtle humour. I found myself laughing at many points during the movie when hardly anyone else in the theater was laughing, but, after discussing this with Angelus, we attribute this to knowledge of the wider film industry and familiarity with foreign cultures (including, but not limited to Indian and French Canadian). If you're a fan of Bollywood movies, you should definitely see this movie - you will laugh your butt off. If you're a fan of hockey, likewise (especially if you have some knowledge of French Canada). Mike Meyers was funny, as usual. Justin Timberlake's role in the movie was larger than I expected, but he proved himself once again as a great character actor. Jessica Alba actually didn't completely ruin a movie for once. And the cameos were some of the best parts of the whole movie. If you weren't thinking of going to see this, but enjoy Bollywood, Justin Timberlake, Mike Meyers, hockey, Verne Troyer, or just need a good laugh, go see it. You won't regret it.

42. June 22, 2008: Camp Rock 2/5

43. June 24, 2008: Fool's Gold 2/5

Absolute pure brain candy. Not even the rich chocolate kind. More like licorice whips. Just pure fun and not much else. It's How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days meets Pirates of the Caribbean for adventure/love story. Lots of shirtless!Matthew McConaughey, which is never a bad thing, and lots of cute!Kate Hudson. I adore her and every time I see one of her movies it makes me want to go out and watch a Goldie Hawn movie - it's kind-of adorable and kind-of sickening how alike they look. In any case, she's cute as a button and the movie was pure summer fun.

44. July 1, 2008: Hancock 2/5

45. July 4, 2008: Wall-E with anijade 4/5

46. July 18, 2008: The Dark Knight with Angelus and Flip 5/5

First of all, let me say, in order to assess fully with complete details, I really should see it again because, as Angelus said on the way home last night, half the time I was watching the movie I was thinking 'HOLY CRAP I'M FINALLY SEEING THIS MOVIE!!!!'. I've been waiting so long for it to come out that I almost couldn't believe I was there watching it. Almost had to pinch myself.

The acting in this movie just blew me away. Firstly, it is obvious how much Maggie Gyllenhaal puts into her roles and she completely took over Katie Holmes' character. I'm almost sad that she had to die. Almost. The only thing that keeps me from being sad about that is that I know that Rachel Dawes was only created for the movies and there are far superior characters from the DC/Batman-verse that will be coming in the next movie.

The only critique I had of Christian Bale in the first movie was that his Batman-voice was a little extreme, but I think he's done a little better in this one and it's obvious he's grown as an actor and really worked on this role in particular. His scenes as playboy Bruce Wayne are amusing and his interactions with Sir Michael Caine's Alfred Pennyworth made me very happy. Caine was made for this role and uses the backstory of Alfred's time as a medic and intelligence agent to his advantage. In every movement he makes, it is obvious Alfred is a former military man and has great respect for order and justice, as well as his master and friend, Bruce Wayne. Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox was perfect. I have no critique to offer him whatsoever. His commitment to the character was obvious and his cool demeanor shined throughout the movie.

Gary Oldman did not disappoint as Commissioner Gordon. Gordon is one of my favourite characters and Oldman just nails him. He's a kind, caring man, who sees the good in people and believes that people can change. He is, however, not disillusioned that there are some people who might be beyond hope and he strives to keep his community safe from harm, and particularly his family. His faked death almost brought tears to my eyes, but his reunion with his wife was so fantastic. It was totally worth it.

Aaron Eckhart was great as Harvey Dent and even better as Two Face. Now, Two Face is a freaking fantastic character. The concept is just wonderful and Eckhart pulled it off with style. His CGI make-up for Two Face was not as grotesque as I thought it would be, but was still a bit gruesome. I was very impressed with his look as Two Face. The team did a great job engineering his look and I feel like they stayed true to the nature of the comics, so I really liked that.

And, last, but definitely not least, Heath Ledger totally stole the show for me. He really became the Joker. He was creepy, insane, but always very powerful. The Joker's sick and twisted sense of humour was present throughout the movie and I felt almost as if the story were more about the Joker than it was about Batman. I was left wondering "Who IS the Joker? How did he become this way?", which I think was part of the point. However, I'm very disappointed that there won't be more of a chance to get to find that out, at least with Heath Ledger playing him. No one will ever play him better. He far outshined Jack Nicholson and that says a lot, considering Nicholson has been known to do psycho extremely well. I'm still incredibly sad about his death, but I am glad that he was able to go out having accomplished so much in his tragically short life. His family should be proud. Personally, one of the pieces that really stood out was the storytelling the Joker did regarding his facial scars. Each time it was a different story, each as plausible as the next, and each as horrifying.

The story was well done, even if it didn't match up with a particular story from the comics/graphic novels. Everyone on this movie did well melding stories into one movie, bringing in backstory that wasn't necessarily in Batman Begins. I was impressed with the continuous plot and the attention to detail in the movie and I can't wait to see it again because I know I didn't catch everything the first time.

The only criticism I had of the entire movie was that the sonar vision piece went on a little long. It was a great concept, but maybe just a little overplayed. Personally, I think that Iron Man did better with the vision through his suit. The Batmobile and the Batpod were droolwrorthy. I will be sad not to see the Tumbler in the next movie because its ability to crush cars was pretty freaking rad, plus the way the Batpod shot right out of it? AWESOME!

Overall, I felt Director Christopher Nolan did a fantastic job in keeping with the tradition of the Batman from the gritty, noir-style graphic novels of Jeph Loeb, Frank Miller, and Alan Moore. The tone and the theme of the movie were in sync with The Long Halloween, Year One, and other novels which feature largely the mob influence in Gotham. Aside from psychotic or sociopathic criminals, it's good to see the influence that systematic crime has on Gotham City, as well. It makes it a little more real, a little more close to home; it helps bring the movie to life.

Whether it be the White Knight or the Dark Knight, the movie was all about duality of character and the inner struggle each person has with their own morals and boundaries. A classic theme never goes out of style.

47. July 19, 2008: Man of the Year 4/5

If Stephen Colbert or Jon Stewart ran for president, would you vote for one of them? Would you trust a computerized ballot system? This movie addresses the what-ifs of the voting process in the new millennium. Robin Williams stars as late-night comic/news-anchor Tom Dobbs, who ends up running for president. He crosses paths with Laura Linney's character Eleanor, who was fired by her former employer, played by Jeff Goldblum, for finding a flaw in the voting process which gets Dobbs elected to the Oval Office. Good acting, great movie. Lots of commentary on the political process as we know it. If you haven't seen it, I urge you, in this election year, to see it as soon as possible.

48. July 19, 2008: Becoming Jane 4/5

The romantic journey of Jane Austen plays out much like her novels, not that I'm complaining. The story was enthralling and the acting superb. Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy shine as the kind of lovers and friends which are those tragically-fated never to be together. The supporting cast was all played well and the costumes and scenery were just beautiful. The one downfall was that I was constantly aware that this was a fictionalized account of a biography, which had already been written into the main character's own novels. It was well done, but I couldn't help but think I'd watched this movie before (twice, in fact, if you count Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility as two separate stories). It is obvious that Jane Austen based her novels on that which she knew from personal experience, which, of course, made her stories all the more touching. Her characters, however, seem all to have met happier ends than she herself.

49. July 19, 2008: Driving Lessons 4/5

Ben (Rupert Grint), a seventeen-year-old son of a vicar and religous-fanatic mother, is not quite accepted by his peers. Instead of seeking out a normal minimum-wage job, he ends up helping out retired actress Dame Evie Walton (Julie Walters), who ends up becoming one of his closest friends. A touching coming-of-age story with a bit of an awkwardness that makes the film read as a little more real than the typical adolescent drama. I am constantly and always pleasantly surprised at how small the world of acting is in the UK; they bring the cream of the crop to the screen and the talent is obvious when those actors take on varied and difficult roles. I am, again, impressed.

50. July 23, 2008: Mamma Mia! with rosaline924 4/5 (It would be 5/5, but Pierce Brosnan does NOT have a singing voice!)

Total SQUEEFEST. Yes, it's girly. Yes, the music is by ABBA. I don't care. I loved it. And, if you're going to see it, don't get up until the credits are COMPLETELY over. I almost had a heart attack at the end, but I'm not saying why. :P

51. July 25, 2008: Step Brothers 3/5

52. July 31, 2008: Meet the Robinson 4/5

53. August 3, 2008: Only You 4/5

54. August 3, 2008: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2/5

55. August 9, 2008: Pineapple Express 4/5

More from Judd Apatow and I can't really complain. He's a funny dude. I was impressed with Seth Rogen, but James Franco totally surprised me with how freaking funny he is. I've seen him in serious roles before, but never anything as funny as this and it didn't disappoint. There were many funny parts and, although I often think funny movies give away too much in the previews, this one kept quite a few laughs for the theaters. While it was no Forgetting Sarah Marshall, it was definitely a good one.

56. August 13, 2008: Tropic Thunder 5/5

Best comedy of the summer. It far outdid Step Brothers and, even though I loved Pineapple Express, Tropic Thunder was much better. I almost forgot Robert Downey, Jr. was who he was because he really took on the character so well... and I just laughed out loud soooo much at him. He was incredible. His second great performance of the summer. *sigh* Love him. Anyway, Ben Stiller was hilarious, as were most of the supporting cast, including TOM CRUISE. OMFG, guys, I didn't even know he was going to be in the movie and, honestly, he blew me right the fuck away: SO FUNNY. Probably the best piece of work he's done in at least five years. For serious. And Matthew McConaughey as "The Pecker" HOMG. HILARITY. Seriously... if you only go see one comedy this summer, make it this one.

57. August 15, 2008: Star Wars: Clone Wars 3/5

58. August 24, 2008: Madagascar 3/5

59. No Reservations 4/5

60. August 29, 2008: The House Bunny with Angelus and Flip 3/5

61. August 30, 2008: I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry 3/5

62. September 1, 2008: In The Land Of Women 4/5

63. September 6, 2008: College Road Trip with Angelus 3/5

64. September 10, 2008: The Fall 4/5

65. September 11, 2008: DC Shorts Film Festival Opening Night Screening

Parachute 5/5
Just In Case 3/5
Niña Quebrada 4/5
The Confession 3/5
Funniest Fed 2007 3/5
Happily Ever After 2/5
Hold On 4/5
Smack Dem Christians Down Music Video 3/5
Cute Couple 3/5
Tortilla 3/5
Die Kola Helden (The Cola Heroes) 3/5
Irish Twins 5/5

66. September 19, 2008: Stop-Loss with Angelus 5/5

67. September 20, 2008: Burn After Reading with Angelus 4/5

68. November 15, 2008: Charade 3/5

69. November 15, 2008: Quantum of Solace with Angelus 5/5

Four Christmases
Bedtime Stories
Yes Man

Other Pages of Interest:

Movies: 2007

TO-WATCH LIST

My DVD Library

Granting Holiday Wishes, Yours & Mine Alike

2007-11-20T12:40:26Z

Step One
- Make a post (public, friends locked, filtered...whatever you're comfortable with) to your LJ. The post should contain your list of 10 holiday wishes. The wishes can be anything at all, from simple and fandom-related ("I'd love a ______ icon that's just for me") to medium ("I wish for _____ on DVD") to really big ("All I want for Christmas is a new car/computer/house/TV.") The important thing is, make sure these wishes are things you really, truly want.
- If you wish for real life things (not fics or icons), make sure you include some sort of contact info in your post, whether it's your address or just your email address where Santa (or one of his elves) could get in touch with you.
- Also, make sure you post some version of these guidelines in your LJ, or link to this post (it'll be public) so that the holiday joy will spread.

Step Two
- Surf around your friends list (or friendsfriends, or just random journals) to see who has posted their list. And now here's the important part:
- If you see a wish you can grant, and it's in your heart to do so, make someone's wish come true. Sometimes someone's trash is another's treasure, and if you have a leather jacket you don't want or a gift certificate you won't use--or even know where you could get someone's dream purebred Basset Hound for free--do it.
You needn't spend money on these wishes unless you want to. The point isn't to put people out, it's to provide everyone a chance to be someone else's holiday elf--to spread the joy. Gifts can be made anonymously or not--it's your call.

There are no rules with this project, no guarantees, and no strings attached. Just...wish, and it might come true. Give, and you might receive. And you'll have the joy of knowing you made someone's holiday special.

In no particular order:

1. Taking a graphic design class in the spring [working on how to finance this with my parents' advice... so, we'll see what happens]
2. Adobe Creative Suite for Mac
3. Gunmetal jewelry from Melanie Brandon
4. Book on anatomy for the artist
5. Uninterrupted relaxing weekend with Angelus
6. Some Zen things to put on my desk at work - a garden (rock with water or sand), a Bonzai tree, etc - or other things that will keep my mind focused and energy even during the work day.
7. Everyone on my flist to go to thehungersite every day between now and the end of the holiday season [acoustics1220 is already on it! :) YAY!]
8. Good quality Pushing Daisies screencaps [THANK YOU, littledupont and acoustics1220!! I'll be working on some PD graphics in the near future and will post to dewdroplets]
9. Original fiction from my very talented author-friends [currently reading some fantastic stuff by hymenchan XD]
10. Kristen Bell/Elle icons

If you're sending me a holiday card or gift, you can contact me with this information.