Thursday, April 30, 2009

Beam Me Up

Though I'm not sure how it's possible, I actually have friends who have NEVER seen a Star Trek movie! So, for others like them out there, I've written a quick primer before this weekend's big release.

To enjoy ANY "the original series" Star Trek movie, here is all you need to know:

* In the 23rd century, there is a spaceship called the Enterprise whose crew spends their time exploring and discovering new worlds and alien life while generally getting into shenanigans that test our humanist ethical values.
* The Enterprise is part of Starfleet, the military organization of the Federation, which is basically an intergalactic UN. Earth seems to be a melting-pot of English speakers and dominates the political landscape kinda like the US does now. Also, apparently the gays and liberal commies win in our future as Starfleet is based in San Francisco.
* Its captain, James T. Kirk, is a kick-ass, witty, sexy beast of a man who always gets his guy or gal or blue-skinned dancer, whatever the case might be. He'll either get you with his phaser set to stun or with a crooked smile and a one-liner.
* Kirk's second in command, Spock, is part-Vulcan, which means he has pointy ears, weird hair, and an Enlightenment-sized obsession with "reason" and "logic." He's also very good at arching his eyebrow.
* There are other main crew members that, when the show originally aired in the 60s, were insanely progressive and controversial, including a black female, a Russian, and a generalized Asian. Basically the lady wears a short skirt, the Russian speaks with a silly accent, and the Asian is a good fencer.
* Klingons are BAD. Don't trust them. They want to rip your head off and put in on a necklace for their mum.





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Saturday, April 18, 2009

Asinine and Unabashadly Ignorant

The NY Times had the most useless article today about celebrity weight called " What's the Skinny on Heftier Stars." I'm mobile posting so here's the link, in the unpretty way: http:/www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/movies/18bulk.html.

Basically the article is like, hmmm, leading men are porkier than they used to be and it seems to be okay? Is it cause all Americans are fat? Is it cause they don't smoke as much as Jimmy Stewart or Cary Grant... Oh and for some reason pudgy ladies arent getting any extra parts when they gain weight! But dont get comfy being a fatty, cause it looks like some of these leading men are getting lean, and isn't that swelll?

Are you kidding me?!!!?! Men have always had different beauty standards, both weight and age wise. Women have weight issues as actresses, but I guess that anorexia isn't as readily "punny" for a title. Smoking is the reason? Seriously, larger men have always had more luck getting films than women- sure it's as the fat funny guy, but come on?! I seriously feel like this article was written by a twelve year old with no cultural context or film knowledge or sense of history or, well, anything. Oh wait, it's a reporter! What was I expecting?!

This article is rife with all sorts of problematic statements about weight issues and sexual value and cultural capital... For both men and women. It's seriously stupid. Gah!




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Friday, April 17, 2009

Out and About






I'm currently at a work conference on museums and the web... I have never been to a museum conference with so many hip-like people or so many twitterers. Kinda weird and intimidating. At first, I felt like I had forgotten all social skills learned in my 28 years... I was shy and certain that people thought I was silly or uncool or awkward. And then I remembered that I'm not in seventh grade anymore and that I'm a frikkin' professional at this with just as much insight as anybody else.

It's quite amazing how deep childhood insecurities go and how they can creep up... How the social mores of our past continue to shape our interactions in unfamiliar settings. Because I was awkward and weird growing up, I was bullied. What I always forget when I close up and get insecure is that the bullying happened because I challenged and subverted the conservative culture that my fellow students lived in and agreed with... and cause I was a geek, I'll admit it. As an adult in the field I'm in, those things are actually often valued and applauded. It's better to be weird here than not. And, as I reminded myself when I got all squidgy, in the end it's better just to get yourself out there instead of wandering around being hard on yourself...

I really think that this week has proven how complacent I've gotten about socializing. I have great friends, but perhaps volunteering or taking a class will help me get back into the "talking to strangers" game. For some peole this has always come naturally, but for me, even though I'm gregarious and energetic, it's a bit harder. I guess practice makes perfect!

Anybody else out there experience this or am I just in need I a lot more therapy?


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Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Tide Goes Out

Okay, it might be a bit presumptuous since our mortgage lady will NOT call me back, but...we are done with the first stage of the house!!! We have toilets and sinks and lights and knobs and toilet paper holders and heat (kinda but that's another story for never since I'm tired of it existing...) and all the things that most people have when they move into a house! So now we can buy wardrobes and clean out the pit of an office and decorate!! And, the best part is that we can do it at our own pace instead of someone else's... Finally, I can return to the world and snark on here until my heart is brimming with wit and quips :)

Oh and a shout out to all you peeps that helped and, if crashing at our abode, were flexible about brushing your teeth in the tub! Thanks!!!

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