I'm going to post. Then tweet. Then link to FB. Then RT. Then 'Like.'

Not.

I was going to make the title of this post "Zuck on this" but I knew my mom wouldn't appreciate it.

I saw The Social Network last Friday night and I really liked it. Yes opening day. I say day because I went Ali who had gone to the midnight showing just 20 hours prior. Yes.

Even though it was a frenetically told story (down to Zuckerberg's character's voice, which was perfectly apropos but also perfectly annoying - I was definitely ready for the movie to end when it did), it had a real Shakespearean simplicity I found ironic- that the themes behind an invention so revolutionary are as simple as ancient love, lust, greed, power...
kind of like how people argue whether Facebook promotes interconnectivity and or pure egoism...
or that the founder of a medium all about social interaction is socially inept himself.

Perhaps that is a credit to the screenplay and the directing, but I thought it was great.

I also thought it made sense to cast Justin Timberlake in a role that is similar to his life- the way JT is to the masses is how Sean Parker was personally to Zuckerberg. At first, I think the character owned JT, but then I saw it as a clever directorial decision that they didn't cast someone with a lesser profile.

Although, maybe I was totally geeked out leading up to it. I read reviews and editorials and little videos here and there, even one being of the score writers talking about their methods for putting sound in the movie.

Did any of you see it? Make sure you don't miss the opening scene- it perfectly bookends the closing.

Twi-hard case in point

Remember how I think Twilight is grossly overrated?

Thank you, Val!

Am I the only one?

...who is NOT seeing New Moon?

...who did NOT like Twilight (book #1 & movie- I gave it a fair chance!!!)?

...who thinks Edward is frustratingly elusive, a disjointed conversationalist, utterly strange, and ultimately, NOT romantic?


...who thinks this whole pop culture vampire kick needed to die maybe a year ago?


...Buehler??

Plus none is the best number!

I don't know why I feel preempted to tell you to hang tight! a blog redesign is in the works! My previous template malfunctioned!...

but alas, here I am, in stark white 'Minima,' telling you.

(Amazing what self-restraint and also obligation I feel on this medium, despite it originally being my place to vent some more negative thoughts and ideas.)

Transitioning...


I need to get into Ugly Betty. I tried to one time, but it made me dizzy with all the sets constantly looking like pop-art, like an even more tricked out version of the spaceship in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century ... (but maybe that was the time I was semi-addicted to narcotics. OK.)

Does anyone else remember this?! By far, my favorite Disney Channel Original Movie...



ALSO: "The Galaxy is Ours" from the Zequel ... YOU ARE WELCOME.


Anyway, Tara posted the following clip, and I think it is fabulously empowering and fit for yet another Monday. Cheers!

Selling Out Is The New Keeping It Real

A tribute to the tenacity of human spirit:

the documentary
"Lemonade"

via Swissmiss

via Juxtapoz

Oh and just for smiles, in case you missed THE viral video of yesterday...
the MegaWoosh waterslide.

xo.

The practicalism of peace

The other day, I both finished the book Three Cups of Tea and watched the movie Funny Face. I realized that the two had similar themes. (Ok, a stretch, but hear me out if you so desire)


In the movie, Audrey Hepburn's character is a book shop girl and budding intellectual (and then model) who harps on the concept of 'practicalism: peace through understanding' throughout the movie.

The first half of the movie was mind-blowing eye candy: New York, Paris, lots of pink and glamour, what's not to love?! However, by the end I was finished with all of the themes of or related to "about face"...the lack of depth of conventional beauty, the lame songs, even to the fact that technically, (spoiler) she and Fred Astaire don't get married (although it's implied).

Plus, Audrey's acting and singing were really bad...like "make it stop!" bad. yikes.

My point is, that while practicalism was preached in a very face-value of a movie, it can also be understood in, well, more noble ways... like in Three Cups of Tea.



Many complain that charity work is largely motivated by face value...people trying to advance themselves socially, politically or personally.

But Mortenson's story of an innately radical sense of altruism to build schools for women and girls in Pakistan is overwhelming: the scope of what is accomplished far outweighs even the grand effort, and for this, I salute him with deep respect.


Really, education and understanding is our only way to world peace.
And it's disappointing that many do not see this as a natural, 'practical' solution.

"I have a cheekache from smiling"

I watched this gem of a movie the other night with my sis. From the hot pink and other neon 80s outfits to vintage SJP dancing around (even though the camera was ever so strategically zoomed out for the more complex moves), it completed my life in a way I knew not possible.

Here are a few choice quotes that, along with the title of this post, explain why this movie is EPIC.


(On deciding an outfit):
"Decisions are the worst!"


"I knew this was going to be cool, I just knew it!"


(Helen Hunt, responding to SJP's quizzical look as she changes on the school bus, reversing her Catholic school uniform skirt from plaid to black)
"Velcro: Next to the Walkman and Tab, it's the best invention of the 20th century."


"No fraternizing! Stay away from him, he's a boy!!!" -Nun


"You're taking a fashion risk, I like that." -one of the 'producers' at the 'DanceTV open call,' to SJP, who was wearing her schoolgirl uniform. (I strongly believe this is where the beginning of the SATC inspiration came.)

Click here for a trailer...DO NOT miss the pommel horse-ing nun at 1:22 :)

The Winker, edited

The August '09 Vanity Fair does not disappoint, with yet another giggle-inducing article about Mrs. Wasilla.

(Don't chalk this face up to Tina Fey's acting chops)

BUT the best part is that VF edited her gubernatorial resignation speech. Can you say hilarious.

(To me, correct grammar will always be sexier than politics.)

On a different note, the issue has some pretty rad pictures of Tim Burton's Alice and Wonderland.


I saw the following on Brunette Bombshell and decided it is my new life mantra:

Alice laughed: "There's no use trying," she said; "one can't believe impossible things."

"I daresay you haven't had much practice," said the queen.

"When I was younger, I always did it for half an hour a day.
Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."

HYPERVENTILATING

And THIS is why.

(Thanks, Turralurr)

Akin to that time when I walked by myself in the late hours of a sparkling Manhattan evening from a concert in Central Park to the Hearst building at W 57th...and then to Conde Nast in Times Square. Just visualizing, thinking...

Last Chance London

There's really not much more I can say but that you MUST go see 'Last Chance Harvey.'

It's bittersweetly different than your usual cotton-candy romantic comedy, due to brilliant acting by Hoffman and Thompson.

Pay attention to their nuances. Just perfection.

And I really like how they kept Hoffman shorter than Emma Thompson.
Personally, I can't see myself being with anyone shorter than me, but I always love a confident man who sees a tall girl as a feather in his cap. (i.e. Tom Cruise, etc)

And naturally, it made my heart pine for Londres...

Big Ben turns 150 today!

Photo: Getty Images via NPR

Edelweiss, edelweiss...

I'm letting down my whimpers...I'm taking my curlers out...

Maybe The Sound of Music is my favorite movie, ever.


EVER.

Cliche?


Maybe I felt like watching it the other day...

Maybe I was thinking about an old high school friend who shares a SOM obsession, wondered what she was up to, and behold, she had a new Facebook album up of a recent trip to Austria...

Maybe I want to go to Vienna/Salzburg/etc right now too.

Maybe I just want to be an Austrian fraulein.



Maybe I think Brookie has a telopathic powers because she texted me the other night wanting to watch it with me.

Maybe my sophomore year here Emily, Brookie and I went on a bike ride and belted SOM songs. And some people clapped!

Maybe when I was little I used to sing "So Long, Farewell" and inched my way backwards up the stairs like Gretl.



Also, I would do the "Do Re Mi" dance jumping up and down stairs...I was a budding choreographer, yep.
I would also sing "Confidence" sprinting around the house, charting my abrupt stop.
("...And all those children, heaven bless them, they will look up to ME...")


Maybe I have the 40th Anniversary edition and maybe I've watched watched all 6 hours of the special features. Twice.

That footage of Gretl being carried out of the water after they capsize that canoe?
Totally candid.

The house? Two different ones used for front and back.



Maybe I still have a crush on Freidrich...even though he's old and I suspect he's gay (from watching the special features)...


Maybe I loooove Uncle Max.



Maybe I think the nuns are genius.



Maybe when I was about 5, I loonnnnged to be 16, then 17, then 18...but those years have sinced passed.

My aunt Lisa and Cousins Elizabeth, Lola, and M.E. at THE gazebo...love!


Maybe I'll be eternally jealous of Liesl's rebellious 16-year-old love life.
(Click HERE for a full gallery of her and dreamy-yet-misguided Rolf)


Maybe one of the other reasons why I think Gwen Stefani is hella cool is because of the Wind It Up music VIDEO....



Maybe I've always thought Christopher Plummer was a fox.



Maybe I want to fashion a romper out of drapes and have a picnic in the countryside.

Who else loves SOM? C'mon...

Inglourious Basterds

I am savoring up this month's Vanity Fair...
(read about my love affair with the publication here and here).

Cover Story: "...And God Created Gisele"
So fitting! Mario Testino does fabulous work. Link to the story here.

Strange Obama cover from a Singapore publication dubbed as "GQ meets the Economist." Interesting.


And I cannot wait until I get my hands on Inglourious Basterds ... (I am a total WWII junkie!) debuting this month at the Cannes Film Festival.

VF article here.

Senioritis

I wish I were April fooling.

Rindz and my sleeping arrangements for the past 2+ weeks...
my bed situated on the right, where I had just taken off my gray cardigan and jumped on to MGMT's Electric Feel (the theme song for the impending summer, we decided) and Facebooked to procrastinate my paper...
(which, ps, you people need to blog more! Facebook is super boring when compared to Blogger RSS feed updates!)


Something that IS funny....when Gmail temporarily malfunctions and I see this on my page.

It's like the feeling you get when you're pulled over: you're not a fugitive but not a 100% law-abiding citizen either.
(But in the case of Gmail, you did nothing wrong, so I guess that's not an equal comparison. Oh well.)


Watched Rachel Getting Married yesterday, and I recommend it.


Cool to see Anne Hathaway so raw...It's about dealing with unfinished business in your past (or letting it be the excuse for your present addictions), the dynamics of family and sisterhood, and what it means to come and confront the meaning of "home." Pervasive use of violins in the score, which makes it hauntingly meaningful.


Happy day, you fools!


Moving into DC at the end of this month. And that's the truth. YAY.