tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-90218516827365157432024-03-13T05:45:37.814-04:00what fresh hell is this?<center>"I wish, I wish I were a poisonous bacterium."
— Dorothy Parker</center>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.comBlogger582125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-89076280416284170342012-10-26T13:41:00.001-04:002012-10-26T13:59:20.865-04:00Friday Fiction: Fall TV and Complimentary Books by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When people talk about what eras they would ideally live in (the '60s for the counterculture and revolutions, the '70s for the music and drugs, the '20s for the arts scene in Paris, the 1880s for the wigs) I am always the person who plays the feminism/civil rights card; (Yep, I'm that guy!) I pick the present every time. I mean, I wouldn't kick a time machine out of bed or anything but I would not go back <i>to live</i> in a time when I had less rights just so I could chill with some lady-discriminating-against writers no matter how brilliant I think "For sale: baby shoes, never worn" is. Besides, TV is so damn good now. Miss <i>Arrested Development</i>, <i>Breaking Bad</i>, <i>Happy Endings</i>, <i>Parks and Recreation</i>, <i>The Wire</i>, <i>freaking Deadwood</i> just so that I could be an active, willing participant in colonization? Hell no. I'll just stick to fighting the racist, oppressive patriarchy in the present, thank you, taking breaks to watch shows and read books. Sometimes, reading books that compliment those shows perfectly and vice versa:<br />
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For <i>The Walking Dead </i>fans: <b><i>Zone One</i> by Colson Whitehead –</b> Before I read <i>Zone One</i> I was always like "bring on the zombie apocalypse! I'm so ready! I can run fast and I'm pretty strong and I can swing a bat really hard and I can think on my feet. Zombies? No problem!" And then I read it and Whitehead did what eight episodes of searching for Sophia never could: it made the zombie apocalypse real and human and heartbreaking and so, so, so sad. In <i>Zone One</i> there are these zombies, stragglers, who aren't threatening or dangerous. They just return to somewhere that was significant in their lives and just stand there. Forever. One stands in a field like it's flying a kite. Another, a little girl with ponytails, sits stalled over a well-worn board game. A teenager holds his lacrosse stick in permanent repose in his teenage bedroom. They are like fetid coma patients who are frozen doing what they loved most – until the living must bash their brains in. The characters in <i>Zone One</i>, whether the protagonist, the enigmatic Mark Spitz, or the eternal optimist Kaitlyn or Gary who spoke in plurals, unable to shake the habit since his brothers died, are so wonderfully fleshed out that I felt every one of their pains in my bones. <i>Zone One</i> does for the zombie apocalypse what <i>The Road</i> did for the regular apocalypse: shines the faintest of lights into the depths of despair. But however faint, hope is hope.</div>
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For <i>Dexter</i> fans: <b><i>The Face of Another</i> by Kobo Abe – </b>A scientist loses his face in a horrible accident. He is ostracized. He then creates a mask which leads to him creating an alternate identity, <i>a dark passenger if you will</i>, under which he does things that he would never do. An eerie Jekyll and Hyde story, there are a lot of ways that Abe's horror story differs from <i>Dexter</i> (also a Jekyll and Hyde story?), the most significant of which is the notable lack of Julia Stiles. </div>
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For <i>Community</i> fans: <b><i>On Death and Dying</i> by Elisabeth</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222; line-height: 16px;"><b>Kübler-Ross –</b> We need to figure out how to move past denial : (((((( </span></span></div>
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For <i>Homeland</i> fans: <b><i>The Quiet American</i> by Graham Greene –</b> CIA agents, spies, Americans fucking around in/with other countries... I can't wait to start watching <i>Homeland</i>. Mandy Patinkin! Claire Danes' cry face! That stoic soldier from Band of Brothers! </div>
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For <i>Boardwalk Empire</i> fans: <b><i>The Growth of the Soil</i> by Knut Hamsun –</b> Hamsun's novel is about homesteading in Norway in the 19th century. It is not a drama, nor is it full of action, gangsters or Paz de la Huertas but like <i>Boardwalk</i>, it's still about building something from nothing. The novel is understated, unhurried, and phenomenal; it is a story of humanity. Unlike the show, it has all the elements of perfection and puts them to use, instead of letting an incredible cast and plot just fizzle out. Honestly, instead of watching <i>Boardwalk Empire</i>, everyone should just read <i>Growth of the Soil</i> instead. Other suggestions include <i>The Emperor's New Clothes</i>.</div>
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For <i>American Horror Story</i> fans: <b><i>Shadowland</i> by William Arnold –</b> The "biography" of actress Frances Farmer that went on to be the basis for the "biographical" movie Frances starring none other than the star of American Horror Story, Jessica Lange. Shadowland tells of Farmer's breakdown and subsequent institutionalization, shock therapy and alleged lobotomy. While lacking in ghosts, aliens and other spooky behaviours, the film adaptation is chilling and said to be Scientology propaganda so I'd say it's on par in terms of horror. </div>
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For <i>Nashville</i> fans: <b><i>Theatre</i> by Somerset Maugham –</b> A story about an aging theatre actor, Julia Lambert, who is the Beyoncé of the 1930's London stage scene, who's supremacy is suddenly challenged by some young nobody named <strike>Rihanna</strike> Avice. Basically sounds a lot like what I've read of the plot of Nashville. I'm going to have to start watching it because I've made a promise to myself to watch everything starring my favourite <a href="http://fridaynightlights.wikia.com/wiki/Tami_Taylor">Taylor</a>. </div>
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For <i>The Office</i> fans: <b><i>A Confederacy of Dunces</i> by John Kennedy Toole –</b> A group of weirdo outsiders bonded by their weirdness that no regular person would be able to handle? Elaborate plots to accomplish relatively simple tasks? Dwight and Ignatius are soul twins and don't even get me started on Irene and Meredith being the same character: both sex-crazed drunk red-heads with strange sons they've neglected. </div>
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For <i>Treme</i> fans:<i> </i><b><i>Babylon Rolling</i> by Amanda Boyden – </b>In <i>Babylon Rolling</i> the narrative crisscrosses back and forth between five different households on the same street in New Orleans, just before Hurricane Ivan and one year before Katrina. The novel offers a dissection of human nature and everyday life: sex, marriage, race, opportunity, childrearing, drugs, violence, jealousy, age and how the world is changing. As well as offering a look at pre-Katrina New Orleans – a beautiful, vibrant and fragile city on the brink of disaster. </div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-17596134089497062002012-10-19T15:15:00.001-04:002012-10-19T15:15:32.422-04:00Friday Fiction: IFOA Edition by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ah, fall! Sweaters, long walks through crunchy multi-coloured leaves, pumpkin-flavoured everything (sadly no apple-flavoured stuff this season – t'was a bumper crop year : ((( ), the return of network TV, the stress of finding a (group) Halloween costume (Limp Bizkit backup dancers? The girls from <i>The Craft</i>? <i>The Babysitter's Club</i>? Agents Scully and Reyes? A binder full of women?) before just abandoning every idea to stay in and do nothing like the curmudgeon you're trying desperately to avoid becoming... Oh baby, it's my favourite time of year! It's also that magical time when droves (packs? schools? murders?) of authors descend upon Toronto for the <a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=main/ifoa_main">International Festival of Authors</a>. And this IFOA? <a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=ifoa">This one is a doozey</a> (<– I'm a good writer). Here are a few of my favourite authors who will giving interviews and readings at the festival.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/junot_diaz_0">Junot Diaz</a> – </b>I get fluttery, bookish feelings when I see his name/face/books. He is the greatest and maybe I'm emotional because I have a headache but I feel like crying just thinking about his writing. His new book, <i>This is How You Lose Her</i>, is a collection of short stories that I've not read yet because I sometimes get off on withholding things from myself (also: I'm poor) but his other collection, <i>Drown</i>, and his novel <i>The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao</i> are mind-blowingly phenomenal. Just terrific.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/alice_munro_0">Alice Munro</a> –</b> If I could grant immortality to one person (outside of loved ones) it would be to Alice Munro because I want her to just write forever. Selfish? Absolutely. Every one of her stories is a slow burning drama which in my expert opinion is the best kind of drama. Each character, each plot haunts my waking life (I'll never get Juliet and Penelope out of my head or Carla and that poor little goat, Flora). She is the masterclass of short fiction.</div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/paul_auster">Paul Auster</a> –</b> Paul Auster writes in such a cool, unaffected style that I always forget about how much I love Paul Auster. His books are subdued and subtle but still steeped in depth and meaning. He is very much an "American Male Writer" but he remains, in my mind, separate from those other 'masculine' schools heralded by Hemingway and Fitzgerald and trumpeted by DeLillo and Ford and Salter – so overspent in sex and angst. His work often has overtones of noir (if not being outright detective novels as with The New York Trilogy) but always remains extremely meditative. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/lynn_crosbie">Lynn Crosbie</a> –</b> A Canadian poet, Lynn Crosbie flays you open, pours in some salt then makes you laugh. Her poems are like my mum's back massages: they somehow dig beyond the muscles, between the tendons and are uncomfortable and painful. Unlike my mum's massages though, Crosbie's poems are therapeutic in their precision and offer commiseration after the hurt. Sorry mum – love you! </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/louise_erdrich">Louise Erdrich</a> –</b> Louise Erdrich has the precision of a surgeon when it comes to laying bare the human condition. Her characters are painfully three-dimensional with all their dreams, hopes and flaws viscerally real. And the way she shows how devastating colonialism, racism and the various (and plentiful) systemic policies of oppression facing American Indian people have on communities and on individuals is nearly unrivalled in American literature. I just finished <i>Tracks</i> and I am already feeling like I need to go back and read it again as soon as possible. </div>
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<b><a href="http://www.readings.org/?q=biographies/john_ralston_saul">John Ralston Saul</a> –</b> Are there scholarly, history-nerd, interested-in-Canadian-law Lefties who don't have brain crushes on John Ralston Saul? I didn't think so. </div>
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And there are so, so, so many more amazing authors! Go see as many as you can! Students and youngsters under 25 get in free! Also happening in Toronto this weekend? The <a href="http://imaginenative.org/festival2012/festival_schedule/2012">ImagineNative</a> film festival at the TIFF Lightbox! Lots of great looking movies/shorts to check out! And the <a href="http://torontoafterdark.com/2012/">After Dark Film Festival</a>! And? Dinner and Western movie night at my friends' James and Erica's (you're probably not invited to that, though, sorry)! And? That's probably it. Well, probably not, there's definitely a couple bands playing and there's most likely some kind of theatre thing going on. How even do you decide what to do?! </div>
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Have a wonderful weekend everyone! Enjoy a scary movie and a pumpkin spice latte and read a great book!</div>
Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-9995081298975141542012-10-11T00:39:00.000-04:002012-10-11T09:10:32.450-04:00Doris and Mona and the Mysterious Happenings at Sugar Shack Ranch by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mona: You know, Dorrie, perhaps we took that little prank too far.<br />
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Doris: I was just thinking that.<br />
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Mona: I just found it infuriating the way they were always referring to one another as "boyish", "pleasantly plump" and "titian-haired".<br />
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Doris: Oh, don't forget "Nancy Drew: The girl sleuth".<br />
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Mona: Ugh, how could I ever.<br />
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Doris: It did seem that they were a bit old to be constantly looking for mysteries to solve. I think they were due for a lesson.<br />
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Mona: And certainly too old to believe that ghosts stole my heirloom necklace. I mean, really, it was too easy.<br />
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Doris: lol.<br />
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Mona: But we couldn't have known that there was actually sinister happenings and that Curley was running a human trafficking ring! How could we have known!<br />
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Doris: We could not have known.<br />
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Mona: We weren't the one's who kidnapped Bess in retaliation for snooping! We weren't responsible for George's reckless and fatal gamble! Now Nancy is missing and presumably sold, Ned was found beheaded in Juarez while both Burt and Dave are in prison in Mexico.<br />
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Doris: Things did escalate quickly.<br />
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Mona: Those poor dim but spirited young people!<br />
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Doris: Poor Hannah... When she hears...<br />
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Mona: Mostly I'm just irritated that now we're stuck having to wrangle all these horses without any help.<br />
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Doris: We're supposed to be relaxing. Those damned meddling teenagers.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-1811714950423592632012-09-25T19:29:00.001-04:002012-09-25T20:44:13.684-04:00The Non-Debate Abortion Debate: Beyond the Thunderdome by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is an abortion debate happening in Canada right now. It might be shrouded in coded language and denied by the Prime Minister but it is happening. <a href="http://www.stephenwoodworth.ca/canadas-400-year-old-definition-of-human-being/motion-312---woodworths-plea-to-mps">Stephen Woodworth, an anti-choice conservative MP for Kitchener-Waterloo proposed a private members motion (M-312) to create a committee whose purpose is to redefine personhood</a>. Canadian law considers a person to be a person once they check out of the womb by way of the vaginal canal. Woodworth thinks that it's a pretty dated definition considering the advances of modern medicine and science (science! Super important when taking away women and Trans* people's bodily autonomy! Meaningless when put up against creationism and climate change!) which, ok fair enough, the definition doesn't account for c-section births or the stork babies or cabbage patch kids but this isn't about being a stickler for medical science: it's about criminalizing abortion. The definition he's all grumpy about is found in <a href="http://yourlaws.ca/criminal-code-canada/223-when-child-becomes-human-being">Section 223 of the Criminal Code, the section that defines homicide</a>. Make no mistake, if the definition of person is extended to fetuses, at all, abortion will be criminalized.<br />
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The past week a number of MPs debated the motion and any illusion that anti-choicers are capable of coherent and rational thought was dispelled with <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/politics/article/1261185--tim-harper-as-stephen-woodworth-s-15-minutes-on-abortion-end-who-will-pop-up-next">one conservative Saskatchewan MP, David Anderson, comparing the current personhood laws to the way Nazis exterminated people with disabilities and to the struggles of African Americans</a>. Oh man. There is so much that is incredibly, sickeningly offensive about such comparisons like how they diminish the 400 years of systemic and institutionalized racism against African Americans and how they compare women to Nazis. I'll just repeat that:<i> An</i> <i>elected</i> <i>Member of Parliament thinks that women who need abortions are Nazis</i>. FUCKING NAZIS. If anyone ever needed proof of the hatred that forced-birthers have for women there it is: an abortion = genocide. I cannot even.</div>
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<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/26/abortion-canada-stephen-harper-stephen-woodworth_n_1454678.html">Stephen Harper is on the record saying that he has no interest in reopening the abortion debate</a> and that Wednesday's vote will be a free vote. It should be comforting that the PM has vowed not to touch abortion with a ten-foot pole, given his record of lies, half-truths and double-speak believing him would be a bit like Aesop's fable about the scorpion and the frog – can't expect him to go against his nature (and his ideologies) even if it puts him at a mild risk (considering we've seen how apathetic majority of Canadians are to the Conservative's hijinx (lol election fraud wut) his hubris is hitting Achilles levels). And the free vote thing is equally disquieting, how many pro-choice conservatives are there? <a href="http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/ndp-slams-jason-kenney-for-supporting-abortion-debate/article4566487/">Jason Kenney, Citizenship and Immigration Minister and one of the PM's inner circle, sure isn't pro-choice</a> – he's on the record saying that he'll vote in favour of Woodworth's motion. In a cabinet as closely guarded and controlled as Stephen Harper's, I have a hard time believing that if the issue truly was closed and <i>not-to-be-opened-ever-ever-fingers-crossed-promise</i> that Kenney wouldn't have gotten the memo. Something tells me that Harper can just sit this one out and let his goons do his dirty work for him. </div>
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You know who definitely qualifies for the personhood definition? I do. So does every other woman and every Trans* man and every other person with a uterus capable of bearing children – we are all people. We are people with lives and dreams and the ability to make decisions based on what is best for them and sometimes that decision is to have an abortion. It doesn't matter, ever, why someone gets an abortion. Maybe it's in an instance of rape or incest. Maybe it's because zie already has too many mouths to feed. Maybe it's because zie has cancer and needs chemotherapy. Maybe zie is financially unstable and has very little support. Maybe zie never wanted kids. Maybe zie is too young. Maybe zie is in an abusive relationship and hir partner tampered with their BC. Maybe zie suffers from mental illness and can't go off their medication. Maybe zie discovered that hir fetus has a terrible condition ensuring that it will live an extremely short, extremely painful life and so needs to get a late-term abortion. Maybe zie just got drunk and had unprotected sex. There are thousands of reasons why people need abortions but ultimately it is no one else's business. </div>
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I think that what anyone who is on the fence or who has never really thought much about abortion really needs to consider is why every single anti-choice argument is so deeply steeped in severe misogyny. Think about why it's women and Trans* bodies that are constantly being threatened with regulation, not cis men. The hypocrisy of the conservatives are trying to regulate my body while decrying any sort of government regulations for corporations in a bid to appear small government would be laughable if it wasn't so goddamn soul-crushing. Think about the language – both spoken and implied – that describes women who need abortions, language that dehumanizes and slut-shames and is paternalistic and ascribes sexist tropes like the 'irresponsible tramp'. Think about how if children are so valued and cherished, they are also supposed to be a punishment for loose women who don't use birth control. Think about how little support there is for low income families, for childcare, for education, for Indigenous children, for children with disabilities, for Children of Colour, for new Canadian children – I'll believe it's really about the children the day that there is equal ferocity for the support for existing families. </div>
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Think about how women are expected to martyr themselves to their children – think of every movie and TV show that shows a woman giving her life for her unborn child, think of the message those tropes send: women are less valuable than their children, even than their fetuses. And that is the message that forced-birthers believe. As a woman and in the eyes of anti-choicers, not only am I defined by my uterus but they also want to tell me what to do with it (keep it filled with babeez all the time). That's not fucking right. It's nothing but the desire to degrade and control dressed up as religious handwringing. </div>
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I will send a bag of cookies to anyone who can explain an anti-choice position to me that doesn't end back up at severe misogyny because the usual, standby arguments I hear are steeped in woman-hating bullshit.</div>
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I am pro-choice. I believe that people should have unfettered access to abortion. I believe that people with noble reasons should be free to get abortions, I believe that people with less than noble reasons should be free to get abortions. I am so incredibly grateful to live in a country that grants those abortion rights and has for twenty-four years. We cannot stand by and let those rights be whittled away by MPs who would refer to us as Nazis. We cannot stand by and let anyone tell us that our bodies need to be regulated, that we are undeserving of the respect granted cis men who are able to make all the decisions regarding their bodies. We cannot stand idly by and just shrug off misogynistic attacks. Fuck that. </div>
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Write to <a href="http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=current">your MP</a>. Write to <a href="http://www.stephenwoodworth.ca/default.aspx">Stephen Woodworth</a> (he's on <a href="https://twitter.com/WoodworthMP">Twitter</a>, too). Write to <a href="http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/contact.asp">Stephen Harper</a> (his <a href="https://twitter.com/pmharper">Twitter</a>). Write to <a href="http://www.jasonkenney.ca/contact/">Jason Kenney</a> (his <a href="https://twitter.com/kenneyjason">Twitter</a>). Sign <a href="http://www.leadnow.ca/defend-our-reproductive-rights">this petition</a>. Tweet about it. Post about it on Facebook. Make <i>a lot</i> noise; let's stop this assault on our choices, on our bodily autonomy before it happens. </div>
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-23935630651753105862012-09-21T10:28:00.000-04:002012-09-21T10:28:46.177-04:00Nas: 'Virgo' ft Ludacris & Doug E Fresh Posted by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZshQ1MF88wL1a_OoJbh1yrrHgZoG6lI0lFPtlkKoUIMERcbNzlQbsTaEiQyUEeoJnVCu6bbozOfTsRU1XkWBkblBhRwIVKi4xWoa-GR_KM5ZVxTBqu0hKO5e7bnOdN3g6jtnNfWkx6AU/s1600/virgo20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZshQ1MF88wL1a_OoJbh1yrrHgZoG6lI0lFPtlkKoUIMERcbNzlQbsTaEiQyUEeoJnVCu6bbozOfTsRU1XkWBkblBhRwIVKi4xWoa-GR_KM5ZVxTBqu0hKO5e7bnOdN3g6jtnNfWkx6AU/s320/virgo20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It's almost the end of Virgo-rama 2012 so here's this little ditty for all my fellow Virgos out there. Don't know if it's my inherent virgocity that draws me to other Virgos but, man, have I got a lot of Virgo friends. Some of my best friends are Virgos! Also, most of my friends' kids are too. SPOOKY. In short, if you're a Virgo and you want to be my friend, your chances are pretty good. Capricorns on the other hand? lol, dream on.</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XzFkuG0Tu3s" width="500"></iframe>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-73788132910362237162012-09-17T13:48:00.000-04:002012-09-17T13:48:43.748-04:00Girl Talk's Cat Singing Collective Soul Posted by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBbRMXSI9asUILRqE8iw380dm_1uLg_azX_utJxFcDDcxQPIw8XJTXSs5WBCGN6UPtOaHvBjweDLZ_xzvt3UlWR2LcUaK2-yqYavy_vcxcj9Y-3dYSML1csdLxyMZVrQ4t-iB-o8hvg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-17+at+1.44.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixNBbRMXSI9asUILRqE8iw380dm_1uLg_azX_utJxFcDDcxQPIw8XJTXSs5WBCGN6UPtOaHvBjweDLZ_xzvt3UlWR2LcUaK2-yqYavy_vcxcj9Y-3dYSML1csdLxyMZVrQ4t-iB-o8hvg/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-17+at+1.44.00+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfxeCTyBClJayVkOFeBlWUCPLF_TtCnKbLI49ZDHPScmMaSTP3RZKdW74xQ6kER8O-1QJ-v4qUTsc5fR7nb0_g4-CULPx6_vPPlmr5x6HT8HGucQjj8Ap0nlqlee7H7IlFxA9dnITXDg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-17+at+1.44.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXfxeCTyBClJayVkOFeBlWUCPLF_TtCnKbLI49ZDHPScmMaSTP3RZKdW74xQ6kER8O-1QJ-v4qUTsc5fR7nb0_g4-CULPx6_vPPlmr5x6HT8HGucQjj8Ap0nlqlee7H7IlFxA9dnITXDg/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-17+at+1.44.06+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Jesus, is there anything that <a href="https://www.facebook.com/girltalkmusic/posts/424312844272124">Girl Talk</a> can't make me want to listen to?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ns7Z8ag4oSY" width="500"></iframe>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-87827179362060633252012-09-15T23:00:00.000-04:002012-09-15T23:00:36.775-04:00Doris and Mona Spend the Night by Alex <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZjVvoC_6wR7tqxXY7R8P3NteclFVk4THJVkextChObAi64VrsRAxTrd9XfLo2hEiyQJXYu9x7h_uvhcL5NaNvxU7AMFccsrQ_eT_VU_tYJn9knG94P0uqhQq5XLAzYo_zPi_Gq19liY/s1600/Photo+on+12-09-15+at+10.14+PM+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZjVvoC_6wR7tqxXY7R8P3NteclFVk4THJVkextChObAi64VrsRAxTrd9XfLo2hEiyQJXYu9x7h_uvhcL5NaNvxU7AMFccsrQ_eT_VU_tYJn9knG94P0uqhQq5XLAzYo_zPi_Gq19liY/s320/Photo+on+12-09-15+at+10.14+PM+%232.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, FreeMono, monospace; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Doris and Mona is a segment brought to you by Alex and her friend Allison and accessories and props from the store they work at. These are the displays they make, and these are their stories. </span></i></span></b></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</span></i></span></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Doris: This is awkward. I thought this was going to be fun but we're just watching The X-Files. It's only 10:30. On a Saturday.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mona: I am very unhappy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Doris: I had no idea this is what slumber parties were like.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mona: This is no slumber party. When I was a girl, we played kissing games and got into the parents' liquor. Once at Meriweather Potts twelfth birthday we played with the Ouiji board and summoned the spirit of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Epaphroditus Sneer, a 19th century apothecary who was hanged for running a larceny ring. He ended up possessing Tabitha Cuthbert through most of middle school. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Doris: Is that why I was never allowed to stay the night at anyone's home?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Mona: That was because Lulu Gifford-Charles set Carolee McGee's bathroom on fire in retaliation for a particularly gruelling truth or dare session.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Doris: Oh.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Alex: Not to be that guy, but can you two maybe quiet down? Netflix is really quiet and lord knows Scully is a soft-talker!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;">Doris & Mona: (exchange eye-roll) </span></span></div><br />
Alex: Can you guys even believe how often Scully misuses 'beg the question'? Hashtag: Look it up!<br />
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Mona: Oh god.<br />
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Doris: I need a drink.<br />
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Mona: There's not enough liquor in the world.<br />
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Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-62309739635778377972012-09-15T08:19:00.000-04:002012-09-15T08:19:13.769-04:00Major Lazer: 'Get Free' Ft. Amber from Dirty Projectors Posted by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjruZRsKSQ4f5dQITPS-sqC0P-J7jj6z8Wcm7lRxl9udZtIvIBWeZBzJFbCzaEjmSdxNeb4SuaqXvcVXzql57IvFo1nylhAUdjYEhjKLGgr8_Wl0DhRVE_olvar8xVbfdDCefu4vdh40/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-15+at+8.16.31+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjruZRsKSQ4f5dQITPS-sqC0P-J7jj6z8Wcm7lRxl9udZtIvIBWeZBzJFbCzaEjmSdxNeb4SuaqXvcVXzql57IvFo1nylhAUdjYEhjKLGgr8_Wl0DhRVE_olvar8xVbfdDCefu4vdh40/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-15+at+8.16.31+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn1VDtnlL-nGbPi05GaVYKBV7QnCdkN8dLW04Lh2JWvdgS1cy1g7K-nAvh0rkvn8f2yYGjrOzoWKYGbqOsep1iKilUINpE3RZXh5fzDhdsmGjCH7d0itvJosthUyatF7n_do0JgU66Mk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-15+at+8.16.29+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdn1VDtnlL-nGbPi05GaVYKBV7QnCdkN8dLW04Lh2JWvdgS1cy1g7K-nAvh0rkvn8f2yYGjrOzoWKYGbqOsep1iKilUINpE3RZXh5fzDhdsmGjCH7d0itvJosthUyatF7n_do0JgU66Mk/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-15+at+8.16.29+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">My friend and I watched this video at work but our work computer has no sound so we were not expecting this song when we finally caught it the whole thing. True (and interesting) story. I'm into both the video and the song, together and separate. Yep, yep.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ytIfSuy_mOA" width="500"></iframe>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-8825001382275008992012-09-14T17:40:00.001-04:002012-09-14T17:40:23.085-04:00'Breaking Bad' Recap: Crystal Blue Persuasion by Alex Snider<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjk7ENjcObH3iwd92U9mmP1-d9B0j_DdAIV_K3wDcZ-jwT59u9fVjvfnUpQF8UH6s9FFvBGsvqfOYBbdJkBJyG-Ea_WdqfuHsv0hecUQSPsaZr4KyuiJmjUH9o3MTNEgRBnyX-R07l1M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-03+at+10.54.09+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjk7ENjcObH3iwd92U9mmP1-d9B0j_DdAIV_K3wDcZ-jwT59u9fVjvfnUpQF8UH6s9FFvBGsvqfOYBbdJkBJyG-Ea_WdqfuHsv0hecUQSPsaZr4KyuiJmjUH9o3MTNEgRBnyX-R07l1M/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-03+at+10.54.09+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Well, now that was a lot to digest. For a show whose episodes only span 45 minutes each, the writers manage to really cram a lot into that 3/4 hour. Here we had the murder of 10 men in 2 minutes in one of the most gruesome prison stabbing scenes I've ever witnessed (certainly outside of GOB and White Power Bill), the expansion of Vamonos Pests (Vamonos Pest?) into Czech Republic, what I thought was going to be a cross-over episode with <i>Storage Wars </i>(really disappointed that I was wrong on that one), the retirement of Walt, the return of Walt's cancer, the reunion of the White family, the change up in Marie's standard purple wardrobe and Hank finally getting his "oh shit" moment. The plot took great leaps forward and still there were so many call-backs that it almost felt like a clips episode. There was the fly from season 3, the banged up towel dispenser from season 2, the painting also from the second season, the ricin made its way back to the forefront again and of course, <i>Leaves of Grass</i> made a Chekhovian like reappearance (anytime a book of poetry is seen in the first episode, it will be used to incriminate a drug kingpin by the last?).</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">To switch things up a bit because there is a lot to go through, I'm just going to list my thoughts in point form because I answer to no one and I can write these however I want.</div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">That the cancer is back. In the first season, when Skyler stages the treatment intervention Walter says that he might live one or two years. I love that bit of foreshadowing since clearly the cancer is back and now we've seen him turn 52 and the end is clearly neigh. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Also, how the cooking/distributing montage ended with Vamonos Pests tents going up all over and spreading which seemed to be an allegory for Walt's cancer spreading.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzLCY9sJ-xYI_c0h4k1eMH5a1Htau_pGHV6X6OEnB3nZ2uS9kF_sqUF_5GkST2ww8DNnvv5HsBxPnaCLm2PopNCaBmWZTmqATrS3Otbjk6gjoZUzk4DN8b0zT3Pma7esD9QDf3_GjdrA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-14+at+4.32.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzLCY9sJ-xYI_c0h4k1eMH5a1Htau_pGHV6X6OEnB3nZ2uS9kF_sqUF_5GkST2ww8DNnvv5HsBxPnaCLm2PopNCaBmWZTmqATrS3Otbjk6gjoZUzk4DN8b0zT3Pma7esD9QDf3_GjdrA/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-14+at+4.32.02+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">And, how I just watched the X-Files episode Post-Modern Prometheus which also had fumigation tents. The X-Files on which Vince Gilligan was a writer and producer ! </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v0JGc3X7ybOMqVwq6OKpuM-uleazYViaNPtAj7QExKVpEZy91ffbmOCpkTVbbHRosrF_L_S19RXr1Vrxj7Dr1lyWud6PMBtEQbWJQ8EqUR0cwTerz4OIBjZAflfCZF0MLg2XJOvFZoo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-13+at+9.43.30+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8v0JGc3X7ybOMqVwq6OKpuM-uleazYViaNPtAj7QExKVpEZy91ffbmOCpkTVbbHRosrF_L_S19RXr1Vrxj7Dr1lyWud6PMBtEQbWJQ8EqUR0cwTerz4OIBjZAflfCZF0MLg2XJOvFZoo/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-13+at+9.43.30+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Really did not care at all for the cheesy flash-back when Hank read Gale's inscription in Leaves of Grass. It was the first time such a narrative device was used and usually (always?) those kinds of flash-backs are so clunky they are the territory of the CSI franchise. Surely this alone would have sufficed:</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnDhGLCTb6RmJ9VX57ws9vbm9vHdxaWykhTPW4ghL0T_YuFwbLxWhVwewiIHit91TKJaJp_PhWBOgRPXbL_9egS_VH88YtUBSn6h51eve2kKA_MkMBFHev6Cd1LVZvIKs4Idld0jQk00/s1600/WWWTF.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXnDhGLCTb6RmJ9VX57ws9vbm9vHdxaWykhTPW4ghL0T_YuFwbLxWhVwewiIHit91TKJaJp_PhWBOgRPXbL_9egS_VH88YtUBSn6h51eve2kKA_MkMBFHev6Cd1LVZvIKs4Idld0jQk00/s1600/WWWTF.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">Loved when Walt wasn't able to connect on any level with Hank's anguish. "I used to love to go camping". Wow, that's cold, man.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">And I really liked the jam session between Walt and Jesse about their old camper, the Crystal Ship. I'd watch a clips episode of them running out of gas and getting stalled at red lights.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Waiting for the moment when Jesse finds out about Mike. Surprised that he didn't notice the dissolving barrels when he went by the warehouse for the last time. He's clearly scared of Walt (rightly so) but here's hoping he doesn't get pulled back into his web.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Walt seems to have a habit of picking up traits from people he kills (cutting the crusts off his sandwiches goes back to crazy old Krazy-8) and now he drinks his scotch with ice á la Mike. Taking trophies (of a sort)? I'm no BAU profiler but that is not a good sign...</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Did Walt quit because he had no one to challenge? Did his 'victory' become hollow and the empire not really what he expected when it all ran so smoothly? I have a hard time believing that it was just Skyler's speech. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Will he seek treatment? In the flash-forward, he has a full head of hair so it doesn't look like it. Is that is true attempt at reconciliation with Skyler? To just die? </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">OH! And the painting! When it first appeared in season 2 in Walt's hospital room the way Walt fixated on it reminded me of the painting in Barton Fink's room of the lady by the sea. </li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBijgSE1RlQ-YFSxhlD2mEGNVJI3rUKJiqIwag3T6YNXA5YZdYFJGY6zGv3HfVRZcF0SqLNnUQsFiX_8xtv-yC4CVaQJUfj5_kj580NWmvztmkEEbrZmYpHByzriHG6VW7PCxmlxijPA/s1600/bb-painting-425x250.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWBijgSE1RlQ-YFSxhlD2mEGNVJI3rUKJiqIwag3T6YNXA5YZdYFJGY6zGv3HfVRZcF0SqLNnUQsFiX_8xtv-yC4CVaQJUfj5_kj580NWmvztmkEEbrZmYpHByzriHG6VW7PCxmlxijPA/s320/bb-painting-425x250.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZvmGBi7F28SUI0IMRSpw9TS_iQJSVWhcPPlmdlfY4VNkobNCskGPekf4fjZjYkbclGJseaa5Lp4C10cT-3uo9lCDj-JCQHusVSlJk5jyXDIZ_IJpaJvPAnoSONdlpiMjPTlw8UvR8u0/s1600/bartonfink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuZvmGBi7F28SUI0IMRSpw9TS_iQJSVWhcPPlmdlfY4VNkobNCskGPekf4fjZjYkbclGJseaa5Lp4C10cT-3uo9lCDj-JCQHusVSlJk5jyXDIZ_IJpaJvPAnoSONdlpiMjPTlw8UvR8u0/s320/bartonfink.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><ul><li style="text-align: justify;">WHAT DOES IT MEAN??? I think (again with the Greek mythology shit) that maybe the river represents the River Styx and that the man (Charon? Walt??) has just rowed the family over to Hades. Does this mean Walter's family will all perish? Possibly. Does it mean they'll all perish at his hand? Well, if they do it will mos def be because of him either directly or indirectly. Looking at how he's adopted habits/traits from other people he's killed, in the flash-forward his fake license lists his last name as Lambert, Skyler's maiden name (thanks to my friend Adam for that theory that we drunkenly discussed at a party because I, for real, only talk about Breaking Bad now). Duh duh duh...</li>
</ul><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><i>Breaking Bad</i> is in its fifth season and in those 5 real time years, only one year has gone by in the BB world, yet in last week's episode a whopping 3 months zoomed by in one montage which means that we're only a little under 9 months from Walter buying a machine gun from Jim Beaver. So what is going to happen? Vince Gilligan has said that Walter will do something that will alienate viewers from him irrevocably. Could he harm one of his children? I thought for a long time that Walter Jr would be donezo but it might be Holly (eek).</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">Breaking Bad has mirrored itself several times, particularly with Walter. We saw even in this episode the shot where Walt went for his MRI mirrored the scene in the pilot where he had his first MRI exactly, and the scene where Walt tells Skyler he's out is almost identical to the scene in the first season when he tells her that he'll get treatment (she's doing dishes, he approaches from behind and just says simply "I'm out"/"I'll do it"). We also saw him lead up to killing Gus with an explosion by using the explosion in season 1 against Tuco and again lead up to shooting Mike by having Jesse shoot Gale at the end of season 3. Now we have Walt's baby and her name is a plant whose berries are mildly toxic to adults but can be fatal to small children and babies. JUST LIKE LILY OF THE VALLEY, GUYS. Alright so applying the show's mirroring tactic, or chirality (in the first season Walt gives a class lecture on chirality – a chemistry theory that certain molecules have mirror images, the word itself coming from the Greek for hand), and taking the incident of Walt poisoning Brock with lily of the valley as a sort of warm up to the real deal, then it could be that poor Holly is in trouble. Why would Walt do that? He could try to distract Hank by poisoning her, knowing that that worked before when he and Saul cooked up the lie about Marie's car accident, but go to far again taken over by his own hubris. Who knows... She also might drown, I mean according to the laws of <i>Breaking Bad,</i> someone has to die in that pool, right?</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OLVgPT2mEYErCwl8KD6k3DG2aH7oZW6X5D8qAHpd6gk6SdnMReNtebkMSZO-sxNv0G1RZ-6Un2cHkDlBhQ_xezt0Dq-9Lj36HefiVN9Mm4WNYhoNXcQWAjw9K_DAddgUjCqOGZ0dcDo/s1600/Breaking-Bad-skyler-470x262.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OLVgPT2mEYErCwl8KD6k3DG2aH7oZW6X5D8qAHpd6gk6SdnMReNtebkMSZO-sxNv0G1RZ-6Un2cHkDlBhQ_xezt0Dq-9Lj36HefiVN9Mm4WNYhoNXcQWAjw9K_DAddgUjCqOGZ0dcDo/s320/Breaking-Bad-skyler-470x262.png" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OLVgPT2mEYErCwl8KD6k3DG2aH7oZW6X5D8qAHpd6gk6SdnMReNtebkMSZO-sxNv0G1RZ-6Un2cHkDlBhQ_xezt0Dq-9Lj36HefiVN9Mm4WNYhoNXcQWAjw9K_DAddgUjCqOGZ0dcDo/s1600/Breaking-Bad-skyler-470x262.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Nv_2lgkHDR733_3uKDNpUUhGVHc_ZlMNGxA5TRpFsDy9FFkQZMPRF2oNQwA7qbznmiIQ_LYAVBRtBLy5fEnSZL-Ad0Rv3V8yB-UKHM3pU7eBnWqxktcjJ4CbGyCNaH-HpQheMcIWzU/s1600/BreakingBadPoolFire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL2Nv_2lgkHDR733_3uKDNpUUhGVHc_ZlMNGxA5TRpFsDy9FFkQZMPRF2oNQwA7qbznmiIQ_LYAVBRtBLy5fEnSZL-Ad0Rv3V8yB-UKHM3pU7eBnWqxktcjJ4CbGyCNaH-HpQheMcIWzU/s320/BreakingBadPoolFire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8MVWCByMLHr02yoqD-11kr7p4esnUUYE6m_4DWB7ELJeCJbMTn0mZ6GDwacyLL8qprOUoJd_7_jf8-BbqlbAGFlRoRa3_OCypDLZbuoS2lLc3UC6LP8Z6h7R6DJsXIgOJqjMIkEN73A/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ8MVWCByMLHr02yoqD-11kr7p4esnUUYE6m_4DWB7ELJeCJbMTn0mZ6GDwacyLL8qprOUoJd_7_jf8-BbqlbAGFlRoRa3_OCypDLZbuoS2lLc3UC6LP8Z6h7R6DJsXIgOJqjMIkEN73A/s320/pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-28474944320193495712012-09-02T13:12:00.002-04:002012-09-06T07:07:35.432-04:00Breaking Bad Recap: Death by a Slow River by Alex<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M_ene49zv76B7Zl3DuxQJwpGfPoQfqo8Zqe5R-aEFaKcMw3AwqCP8My9G7OlajYhFcUu1vHE24trgV-K36IgForV7YS9abIMrpFan3BHQL5ST8vKOEPb4VLyiX2ICzYIFWvG8fCeSTE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+1.03.45+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2M_ene49zv76B7Zl3DuxQJwpGfPoQfqo8Zqe5R-aEFaKcMw3AwqCP8My9G7OlajYhFcUu1vHE24trgV-K36IgForV7YS9abIMrpFan3BHQL5ST8vKOEPb4VLyiX2ICzYIFWvG8fCeSTE/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+1.03.45+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>There was a lot of cyber ink spilt predicting a big death on this past season of <i>Mad Men</i>. 2000 word columns devoted to combing through every episode for the most minute hint of who, when and how. Was it going to be Roger leaping to his death, becoming the grim ad man from the credits? Pete in a fiery car crash? Megan in the library with the candlestick? After the penultimate episode when all was revealed and everyone's predictions were for naught, <a href="http://www.vulture.com/2012/06/see-how-mad-mens-death-was-foretold-all-season.html">Vulture created a super cut</a> of every shadow of foreshadowing of the season's BIG DEATH. Some of them were a bit of a stretch (Peggy lying on her couch? She's always done that! Isn't that just how women get their creativity to flow from their uteri to their brains?) but for the most part it was pretty spot on. When a show is as chock full of literary devices as <i>Mad Men</i>, details like the continued focus on violent and untimely deaths (serial killers, Betty's cancer scare, Don's feverish dream) can't be ignored.<br />
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The same goes for <i>Breaking Bad,</i> a show that has made the point over and over that no detail is too small. Mike's death this episode, while shocking in it's abruptness, was a death foretold. While this episode had its fill of foreshadowing, perhaps the biggest sign (in hindsight) of "MIKE: DANGER AHEAD" came in the first episode of this season, when Mike went to kill Lydia and she pleaded with him to not make her disappear, leaving her daughter to grow up thinking her mother abandoned her. That plea saved Lydia's life because it appealed to Mike's love for his granddaughter. Now, in episode 7, Kaylee will grow up thinking that her grandfather abandoned her (which he did, granted, at the park. Holy smokes, that scene! Jonathan Banks! Yowza!). It could even be argued that Mike's death was foretold by the Cousins' attack on Hank given the similarities between the two scenes. Sadly though, there was no Gus to warn Mike. But, this entire episode was so heavily drenched with foreshadowing that there couldn't be any question that it would end in Mike's demise: all the scenes and instances of Mike saying goodbye and tying up loose ends, around moments like Hank miming blowing his brains out, around Walt's ever-increasing loss of control – both in his lack of caution and his literal loss of control over his family and Jesse and the business.<br />
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Last week we saw Walt's tight, Svengali-like hold over Jesse begin to crumble but not before he held him witness to a toxic White family dinner. This week that hold finally broke and Jesse was able to see Walt for the manipulator he is. The scene between Jesse and Walt was perfect and was what I have been waiting to see for a couple seasons now – probably since Jane died, definitely since Gale – the slimy way that Walt switched from logic to flattery to denigration was like watching all the layers of Walt's various disguises peel off until we're just left with the small, cruel man controlled by avarice and hubris.<br />
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I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jesse is the hero of this series. He has not only grown to be the moral centre of this show but he has also now grown enough to be able to step away from the meth business even when it means forsaking millions of dollars and starting from nothing (remember, he has nothing else – no family, no education, no job experience – but he'd still rather be free from that world and from Walter). Hank might be the 'good guy' but his motivations for hunting Heisenberg are cloudier than Capn' Cook's Chili P meth. At this point, Hank is more of an Ahab character hunting his Leviathan than a noble agent working for the good of the world – he's no Bunny Colvin.<br />
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The moment between Jesse and Skyler, in addition to Walt telling her that he's working with a new guy, gives me hope that maybe she and Jesse will get more screen time together. At the very least it's given me new fodder for my Breaking Bad fanfic.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMRYKk8BmkvmeOUnHcWChlc5NLf7KvG8VKBgUiW82PT8_t2JmoPUJ6GsQDvxJUOy1xTpHjHhGc0U0ukzADLGKqUWSeGnEtoiIMUnRGohZESA4Z-vUWWYn8i_uhv8X-7PPNT3c1mBpT9o/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-09-02+at+12.01.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMRYKk8BmkvmeOUnHcWChlc5NLf7KvG8VKBgUiW82PT8_t2JmoPUJ6GsQDvxJUOy1xTpHjHhGc0U0ukzADLGKqUWSeGnEtoiIMUnRGohZESA4Z-vUWWYn8i_uhv8X-7PPNT3c1mBpT9o/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-09-02+at+12.01.12+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Hey Mrs White, how do you feel about Mario Cart, yo?" </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Just bring meet me at the motel at 3:30, Jesse, and don't say yo – my 16 year old </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">son says 'yo' and I hate it. I won't hear it from you."</span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>So back to Mike. Before I watched the episode a friend tweeted at me "!!!!! NOOO WALT NOOOO". She thought I had watched it already. I watched the episode with a knot of dread curled in my belly – this was it for Skyler or Mike. I didn't really think it'd be Skyler but I needed to make up some odds for my man, Mike. So I held my breath during the cold open while Walt went big-dick-swinging and demanded some <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQgd6MccwZc">Destiny's Child</a> treatment. I clenched my fists and bit my lip while Skyler walked away from Walt. My heart palpitated every time Mike was on screen. Then, just as it looked like he made it and I'd convinced myself maybe my friend was just lamenting Walt's general psychopathy, that shot of Mike skipping stones on that sun-dappled river and I knew it was the end for Mike.<br />
<br />
Rivers have a long tradition in literature, the tranquility belying the dangers whether natural or man-made. Novels like <i>Deliverence</i> and <i>Suttree</i>, short stories and novellas like Flannery O'Connor's <i>The River</i> and <i>Of Mice and Men </i>all serve as haunting reminders to the futility of human vs nature, of the grey area between good and evil. A case can be even be made that modern literature centred around rivers recalls Greek mythology and the River Styx – the inevitability and unbiased nature of death. <i>Say My Name</i> recalled all those tropes. Is it fair that Mike was killed by Walt, a lesser man? No. Yet, Mike was also a murderer and ultimately what goes around should come around even to a rough and tumble, devoted grandfather full of quippy comments. The scene was so beautifully shot, the tropes so artfully rendered that I can forgive the writers for putting Walt there in the first place. Why on earth would any of the characters agree to have Walt be the one to go to Mike? Why would Mike give Walt a loaded gun? Why couldn't one of Saul's trusted goons go instead? And if the DEA is watching Saul so closely wouldn't they see Walt or even Jesse? But, really, the entire scene was so incredible that none of that matters. Would Walt take Mike's gun? Yes. Would he truly believe that Mike owed him an apology? Yes. Would Walt shoot Mike in a fit of pique? Yes.<br />
<br />
The question is, did Walt feel remorse at the end, while they stood and watched that rolling river? I don't think so, I think what he was expressing was the kind of mild guilt children might feel after throwing a tantrum over nothing. Maybe he was taken aback over his lack of control. We'll see the repercussions tonight (yikes, super late writing this...) and whether or not anyone even finds out about Mike's death.<br />
<br />
It's the last episode until next summer tonight and I have a feeling that some other major event will rock the Breaking Bad world. There are still another 8 episodes left so I can't see it being anything to do with Walt and Hank so will it be Walter Jr? Something to do with Todd's shadowy prison uncle? Ted Beneke? The missing boy? The ricin? The new drug lord? Mike's 9 guys?<br />
<br />
Well, RIP Mike :,(((( Can't wait for the supercut/montages of you to start rolling in. Until then we'll just have to watch this 70's period psa (he was kind of a babe? If not a bit of a bad date.):</div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/FTEOpEGvcKA" width="500"></iframe><br />
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Previous Episode Recap: <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/breaking-bad-recap-ballad-of-sad-cafe.html">Ballad of the Sad Cafe</a>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-67443245268921571412012-08-31T10:08:00.000-04:002012-08-31T10:08:22.669-04:00Happy Blue Moon! by Alex<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulPxJD2my_I8N6P9yMpDRoQ2wjh2IXKkOrWpnjI8J06Ex_UA5J9YA_0izYduCH0Mm13aTX9VebavQ_EeGSN2VszDyvS6VNv7jLtrZbM8V477DliD9YhPqS4LOa0p4Wh8FPokqIJGBE8E/s1600/Blue_Moon_sign_1993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiulPxJD2my_I8N6P9yMpDRoQ2wjh2IXKkOrWpnjI8J06Ex_UA5J9YA_0izYduCH0Mm13aTX9VebavQ_EeGSN2VszDyvS6VNv7jLtrZbM8V477DliD9YhPqS4LOa0p4Wh8FPokqIJGBE8E/s320/Blue_Moon_sign_1993.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's a blue moon tonight! All those things that only happen once in a blue moon will finally happen tonight! SO EXCITED! Plus, it's kind of witchy! It will be the last blue moon until 2015 so you all had better appreciate it and do something super special, the pressure is on. I'm going to make a banner probably, maybe, and will definitely be dressed entirely in blue. The moon will actually be blue, right?<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="375" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/w2LgHZuEMf8" width="500"></iframe><br />
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</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-74245050580672184462012-08-30T12:04:00.003-04:002012-08-30T12:10:31.199-04:00"For Her" Products I'd Like to See by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMjt3TMW9Efkz2LzWG934X3lhlAHlx9vOiptArKklNZ5gWQHtsDRasOL9dzgIJk4eUTN5umaBRWka7JRTKDqeuQ2SfuXg2mbkky_g5JvJp6pbO6eKpt-96X9GKcMoWpCdSufjXdcDgH0/s1600/Photo+on+12-08-30+at+10.19+AM+%233.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxMjt3TMW9Efkz2LzWG934X3lhlAHlx9vOiptArKklNZ5gWQHtsDRasOL9dzgIJk4eUTN5umaBRWka7JRTKDqeuQ2SfuXg2mbkky_g5JvJp6pbO6eKpt-96X9GKcMoWpCdSufjXdcDgH0/s320/Photo+on+12-08-30+at+10.19+AM+%233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thanks to Bic and their pens For Her, I can finally write comfortably within my gender. Let's just say that I've been playing an awful lot of MASH since I invested in a package. (Hey Idris, I'll be seeing you soon in our shack where we'll raise four children after honeymooning in Hawaii!) Now, there are a lot of products out there that back up that precious gender binary (I just fashioned a humane mouse trap using Scotch tape from a high heel dispenser) and keep perpetuating all those lady stereotypes (thank god, because without those products and advertising and the various media I'd probably forget to do things like clean and nag and dance on the beach during my period – assuming I'm having a happy one, of course), but the fact that someone only just got around to coming up with a pink pen for fancy ladies like me who don't care for the coarse masculinity of the traditional blue or black Bic tells me that there are still products out there that could use some feminine rebranding. I'm but a simple woman, I don't even have a background in marketing (lol, I'm such a Peggy Olson!), but I've taken some time from trying to find a husband to put a baby in me and trying to figure out how to protect myself from bears when I have my period to come up with some everyday products that I feel would enhance my life if only they were made with women in mind:<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Paper</strong> -- I mean, come on! Having to write between blue lines with my pink pen? Welcome to the patriarchy. And women cannot be expected to write without lines, so complicated, so messy and we women hate messes that can't be cleaned up with a Swiffer or under the supervison of a towering bald man. Obviously there are some bigger issues facing women than whether or not the lines on foolscap are upholding gender binaries but how can we fight the big injustices when paper clashes with our gender appropriate pens??</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Cars</strong> -- This one is just more a curtosy for men so that they can see easily which cars are being driven by women and proceed with extreme caution. <br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Utensils</strong> -- Really all kitchenware should be divided into pink for her and then everything else for him. I can't believe that it's not already given that the kitchen is a woman's natural melieu unless she is one of those elusive manic pixie dream girl breeds. Since I don't have children or a man to cook for I mostly just eat ice cream right from the tub while rereading Cathy comics so I would only require For Her flatware. With instructions because -- ladies, how many of you are with me -- the amount of times I've struggled to shovel icecream into my mouth with the handle of the spoon! lol! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Good luck to all my ladies out there; it's a man's world.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-43857796780493374452012-08-29T15:07:00.000-04:002012-08-29T15:07:28.943-04:00Tweets To Mordor: #RNC2012 Day One by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziGFgMk0N_H1hZTMSlvxsco4BzjLPNv26rOVOQUAa5fsTO7NGwaua_85Bk1KWZz3iPqFygGQNJObiFc8Z1Wf66o3ZyNGlMWisALOivQ4D6DjUAay36jeSy0Ly7lkzBIfD4oozJVz8aoA/s1600/622px-Mordor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiziGFgMk0N_H1hZTMSlvxsco4BzjLPNv26rOVOQUAa5fsTO7NGwaua_85Bk1KWZz3iPqFygGQNJObiFc8Z1Wf66o3ZyNGlMWisALOivQ4D6DjUAay36jeSy0Ly7lkzBIfD4oozJVz8aoA/s320/622px-Mordor.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">The tweets clogging up my Twitter feed last night, documenting the Republican National Convention opening ceremony were so hilarious I was actually compelled to watch. I only caught Ann Romney and Chris Christie (and Three Doors Down ???) but, man, did they ever bum me out. I mean, they can literally say anything as long as they use the right cadence and then crowd goes wild – it doesn't even have to make sense. Like, when Christie said "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">You see, Mr. President – real leaders don’t follow polls. Real leaders change polls", what the hell does that mean? Is he saying that a leader should be fudging the numbers or did he literally mean that a president should be constructing fire poles? </span></span></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">And Ann Romney's whole "you might not agree with Mitt's position on issues and politics" but vote for him 'cause he's a great provider schtick. Jesus. And she and Mitt have a "real marriage"? She's just gotta thumb her nose at all the same-sex couples who are denied that right by her party, huh? RAGE. But the crowd ate it up. All of it: the sentences that didn't make sense, the talking points that outright contradicted the previous ones, the bald-faced lies. It reminds me of talking to a dog and all you have to do is lift your voice at the end, up to the interrogative, and the fucking dog goes apeshit. "Who wants a walk?" "Roo ranns ra ralk?" Head-tilt, tail-wag, thundering applause. It's all nonsense.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">But the aggravation of watching was all worth it for the tweets. Here are some of my favourites, in no particular order:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAoCTXaO6RnUKHN3qIVMwrmEk0y0SfE-azvxBqvPE8NEx37q3OQKCLGmmhV_Ln77aj_uGJkgJcaLVJ4qvvCDDL4qjLxEhH7sliRbdS6wZLH5SnCfObnc5miWe39-I2Pg7Km9Yyw6nr88/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+10.09.02+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVAoCTXaO6RnUKHN3qIVMwrmEk0y0SfE-azvxBqvPE8NEx37q3OQKCLGmmhV_Ln77aj_uGJkgJcaLVJ4qvvCDDL4qjLxEhH7sliRbdS6wZLH5SnCfObnc5miWe39-I2Pg7Km9Yyw6nr88/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+10.09.02+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BmiCGVyx8sNm0m753Gvapq7zRtezgNPW21DBb3MXK1Ksaius3H1eT17kMM2Fv3QJhvpC0l2V25BT6blCLWAuFm9HY9y95timqb-4c8ghYWL2_qiMf6s4B9EtMAw3qStmWCFKbOVKssM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+11.10.11+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BmiCGVyx8sNm0m753Gvapq7zRtezgNPW21DBb3MXK1Ksaius3H1eT17kMM2Fv3QJhvpC0l2V25BT6blCLWAuFm9HY9y95timqb-4c8ghYWL2_qiMf6s4B9EtMAw3qStmWCFKbOVKssM/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-29+at+11.10.11+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;">lol. Oh wait, these people actually hold power? And Romney could potentially win the presidency? Oh god.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"><br />
</span></span></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-76914040096736594592012-08-26T19:53:00.002-04:002012-08-29T09:01:13.401-04:00Tell Me More About This Assange Rape Conspiracy, It Sounds Fascinating! by Alex<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5jvwIlyGGjc9mBkJiIAWCqm0ZbABPz65DfIeivmCBFMCkxHAo6gKwP-SPQXT83VPuTr5-FOxEd0ci9ilnfZl6DbLK1u7JV2Msc3v9ZrTii1yFgz3wkKsMIhBSxESHdxiKTafx5J0oos/s1600/homerthegreat_09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc5jvwIlyGGjc9mBkJiIAWCqm0ZbABPz65DfIeivmCBFMCkxHAo6gKwP-SPQXT83VPuTr5-FOxEd0ci9ilnfZl6DbLK1u7JV2Msc3v9ZrTii1yFgz3wkKsMIhBSxESHdxiKTafx5J0oos/s1600/homerthegreat_09.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>Trigger Warning for description of sexual assault.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>It makes me laugh my fucking face off imagining shadowy representatives of various governments sitting around brainstorming about ways to get to Julian Assange. They're all sitting there – old chinese takeout containers are strewn about, the floor around the waste paper basket (with a basketball hoop attached, natch) is littered with crumpled up ideas, all the men are well past a five o'clock shadow – then someone is like, "I've got it! We can trump up some rape charges!" And while the mood has definitely shifted, more optimistic?, they're not all sold. Could the public believe that Assange was a violent rapist? "Hear me out! It won't be the kind of attack that people usually associate with rape, he won't have left bruises or broken bones. There won't have been a knife or a darkened alley. It will be the other kind of rape, when the rapist knew their victim. No less serious, no less prosecutable, that insidious rapist who takes advantage of trust. That rapist who doesn't respect the loved ones, friends, dates, acquaintances they rape enough to ask. Enough to stop at no." By now everyone is nodding (give or take a couple still thinking a made up tax-evasion charge is the way to go), simultaneously excited by the possibility of a solution to their problem and sickened by the existence of sexual assault.<br />
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"See because everyone always believes rape victims! There won't be any sort of critical analysis of their stories. There won't be any sort of victim blaming. What kind of depraved monster would blame a rape victim for their attack?" The room erupts into sinister laughter. The plan was set. Larry knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a woman who could be bought to say that Assange ignored her request for a condom and another who would gladly lie about him fucking her while she slept. It was perfect. The world <i>always</i> sides with rape victims, the victim <i>always</i> sees justice. If any crime was to be exploited to arrest Assange, then date rape was a sure bet. The shadowy men slapped each other's backs and lit cigars and got ready to unleash a highly sympathetic juggernaut of a lie upon Julian Assange.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HAHAHAHA. Ha. Right.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">That's some conspiracy. If you believe that I've got a story for you about a fluttering flag that disproves the Apollo 16 moon landing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Is it weird that Assange is actually being brought in for questioning on these accusations? Sure, I can see how that would seem omgsupersuspicious. It's weird because rape is so rarely taken seriously, particularly when the accusations are levelled at wealthy White guys and especially when the accuser(s) aren't describing a violent attack committed by a stranger. There is a reason I've only told two or three friends about the time I was raped and it has everything to do with not wanting to be discredited or shamed. Rape culture is big fucking deal. It seriously affects lives, it causes real harm. Rape culture tells women, men and children who have been the victims of sexual violence that they are at fault, that they are dirty, that their experiences and words cannot be trusted. Rape culture encourages the notion that there is a grey area, that there is "rape-rape" and something else, that consent can be a blurry concept. Rape culture means that women and other vulnerable people are never safe because rapists will always be more valuable to society.<br />
<br />
Here's a fun story from the days of Alex yore, a story I shall call "Internalized Rape Culture: A Play in One Act":<br />
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When I was twenty or so, a friend of the man I was in love with came over to have drinks at my apartment with my then-roommate and me. We knew X as well as you can know anyone in the bar scene and we had a fun time, laughs were had. It was decided that X would stay over because he didn't have a car and we didn't want to drive him home and cabs in Winnipeg are a pain in the ass. X was to sleep in my bed and I was to sleep with my roommate. What great hostesses we were! At some point in the night X came and got into bed with us. It was weird and uncomfortable and I didn't really know what to do but I didn't want to make it a thing or leave my roommate alone so I just left it alone and the three of us slept in her bed. My roommate went to work in the morning and it was just me and X. I was awake but didn't let on. I didn't let on that I was awake when he started touching my breasts. I didn't let on that I was awake when he started masturbating. I just lay there and waited for him to finish and wondered how long I'd have to wait afterwards before I could "wake up". I didn't want to freak out and yell at him to stop or even think that he had no right to touch me or make me feel so incredibly terrible. I just lay there and pretended to be asleep. Sexual assault, as far as I knew, happened to women when they were alone in shady areas of town. Sexual assault was violent and committed by strangers. What would the man I loved think? He'd probably hate me for letting his friend touch me. If he believed me. If he didn't laugh it off as "that's just so X".<br />
<br />
I never told the man I loved what happened, in fact when he called and found out X was at my apartment I devised a plan to make it seem innocent. X and I put out blankets and a pillow on the couch so that when he came over he'd see that X slept on the couch. It never occurred to me that X was wrong, that what had happened was a sexual assault. It didn't occur to me for years. I felt ashamed and that because I'd been drinking and had not told X to leave I'd been complicit in what had happened. I was 20, X was 27 or 28. He was the cool, charming, funny older guy who was friends with someone that I adored so much it felt like every cell was on fire. Why would I ever voice my discomfort? It never occurred to me that there was such a thing as rape culture and that it was rape culture that had warped not only my vision of what had happened but also had enabled my complacency. I didn't know any better.<br />
<br />
Oh man, why the fuck didn't I know any better? Because of rape apologists who make asinine distinctions between various types of rape like George Galloway and Todd Akin and Bryan Fischer and the rioters at Penn State who prioritized Joe Paterno's coaching over his protection of Jerry Sandusky while he raped dozens of young boys and everyone who signed petitions in support of child rapist Roman Polanski. I wasn't raped, that time, but I was sexually assaulted and when people support conspiracy theory about the allegations against Julian Assange or believe that because of his contributions to Wikileaks that he should get a free pass or that rapists don't come in nice suits and speak eloquently and have similar ideologies they are sending the message to me that X was in the right, he took what he could get from me and I just let him. And what's worse, those apologists are fostering a culture that will create more young women (and men) like me. Young people who will not know they have a right to say no. Young people who don't know that their bodies are their own.<br />
<br />
Those who want to believe that Assange should not have to answer any questions relating to the rape allegations are directly contributing to rape culture and in my mind, no better than that disgusting fuckwit Todd Akin and his army of right-wing supporters. Being an ally to rape victims can't be a political move, only used as a chance to one-up the conservatives. You're either with us or against us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-3462913373748649892012-08-24T14:46:00.001-04:002012-08-27T08:41:49.069-04:00Dancing With Myself by Rebekah<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4-XINJ9JNnKC8SC3VFOgBlIXVbvqFgU5_SVP4coPaXz50PXyjV60cGGihXmUGdSjmEfJ8GhlvT0vvBOA8N6bHLzGj6RufLrLLU5Ds-9pIzM0eGrf6-OyQAkiBOb7TGpSsVn_L7BGeO7Z/s1600/cylla_photo_tip_june2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4-XINJ9JNnKC8SC3VFOgBlIXVbvqFgU5_SVP4coPaXz50PXyjV60cGGihXmUGdSjmEfJ8GhlvT0vvBOA8N6bHLzGj6RufLrLLU5Ds-9pIzM0eGrf6-OyQAkiBOb7TGpSsVn_L7BGeO7Z/s320/cylla_photo_tip_june2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Dancer Margie Gillis <br />
Photographed by Cylla von Tiedemann)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I recently attended the opening for an exhibition of photographer Cylla von Tiedemann's <i>Tanzbilder </i>(Dance Images) at the German consulate. In addition to the portraits of professional dancers, there was also a 25-minute dance piece called <i>Piece of Mind, </i>performed by skindivers dance company.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><a name='more'></a><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt25TfbeADvWjA_ODzqGr684RSUKEpF8O9uOSRgKGjGdGwKQJ7xb3HVOHOEVENbaDiDQgE-JL8pIZytBvfHuTf4dCFTotS6CeR1Gb5Ati1lKSV4d6tFSyaKAlPCmUkhqJ-bTPg9s6eaXg/s1600/tumblr_m724gwOpyM1r56z3w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdt25TfbeADvWjA_ODzqGr684RSUKEpF8O9uOSRgKGjGdGwKQJ7xb3HVOHOEVENbaDiDQgE-JL8pIZytBvfHuTf4dCFTotS6CeR1Gb5Ati1lKSV4d6tFSyaKAlPCmUkhqJ-bTPg9s6eaXg/s320/tumblr_m724gwOpyM1r56z3w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Holding Steal, Lifting Darkness, Red Flag <br />
Photographed by Cylla von Tiedemann)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PXKli_UrCf-lMRYkBCEqhcF5twFAmcDBBxKvHzY5q48mZnlPrKVwq2TJ5sKAcZ6BZqpScsYsPk4LI5RnzfMUbsfI8K8MGEWFK8ertE75Yycz7vlQTgic-i6nu9T78bXJ0-2Gyej3XZRp/s1600/tumblr_m723xuCEEG1r56z3w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6PXKli_UrCf-lMRYkBCEqhcF5twFAmcDBBxKvHzY5q48mZnlPrKVwq2TJ5sKAcZ6BZqpScsYsPk4LI5RnzfMUbsfI8K8MGEWFK8ertE75Yycz7vlQTgic-i6nu9T78bXJ0-2Gyej3XZRp/s320/tumblr_m723xuCEEG1r56z3w.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Power of Light by Cylla von Tiedemann)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;">"Either nature or the cityscape became the stage and the dancers responded to it very spontaneously. I appreciate these immediate improvisations, as in these moments the collaborative aspect of dancers and photographer become very clear. It is satisfying when together we create a story, which is unique to a particular time and space." </div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;">-Cylla von Tiedemann</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.dailymotion.com/embed/video/xsebkl" width="480"></iframe><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xsebkl_piece-of-mind_creation" target="_blank">Piece of Mind</a> <i>by <a href="http://www.dailymotion.com/robkent" target="_blank">robkent</a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Choreography: Hanna Kent</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Performers: <a href="http://www.skindiversdance.com/" target="_blank">skindivers dance company</a></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>(Amanda Davis, Christine Birch, Daniella Marotta, Marisa Ricci, Victoria Seguin)</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;">"Piece of Mind was inspired by feelings of fight and violence, helplessness and the seizing of personal power. Set to an impactful, rhythmic score and lit by natural sunlight; the tension created on stage is enhanced by strong aural and visual accents.</div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;"> Presented in the large, stark German consulate exhibition space overlooking the city, the space itself plays an important role. Contrasting the humanness of the piece, it offers a reminder of city life; often a lonely existence, despite being surrounded by endless lines of people."</div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;">- Hanna Kent</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The exhibition "Tanzbilder" is on display at the German Consulate Toronto, 2 Bloor Street East, 25th floor until August 31.</i></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17873165146287404987noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-45860038326849305342012-08-23T14:16:00.001-04:002012-09-03T10:51:16.273-04:00Breaking Bad Recap: Ballad of the Sad Cafe by Alex<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQUc1HfMYm7gRk_ydjabraRd4jb7TuyNG_eG5Bhg9haVbnkgnV-i6GUUoLfpezlDD1ITUGo99nN1NmYPrrhH53FJPQM0dj2poaK-2MubcgalRYHFhLPW7l3a1KV7tYtg2M80c96oryoI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+12.59.05+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQUc1HfMYm7gRk_ydjabraRd4jb7TuyNG_eG5Bhg9haVbnkgnV-i6GUUoLfpezlDD1ITUGo99nN1NmYPrrhH53FJPQM0dj2poaK-2MubcgalRYHFhLPW7l3a1KV7tYtg2M80c96oryoI/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+12.59.05+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>I read a <a href="http://web.orange.co.uk/article/quirkies/Giant_catfish_burgles_couples_home">news story</a> last week about a Chinese couple who upon returning home thought that their house had been turned upside down by robbers – an overturned table, possessions rifled. When Xu Xianmin and his wife investigated they discovered that it was not thieves that had broken in but that it was a giant catfish who had ransacked their home. Strangely, the couple lives in a residential neighbourhood nowhere near water. The reason I tell this story is to relate how incredible animals are, how they can do anything and how we must never underestimate them. Take the time a<a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2011/09/real-talk-raccoon-stole-my-wallet.html"> raccoon stole my friend's wallet</a>. Or the time Mike zip-tied Walt to a radiator. Animals, driven by their ingenuity and desperation, find a way. Walt has become that cornered animal, previously thought harmless (although the viewer has long known better), the cornered animal not defending his life, freedom or young but instead defending his empire.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The empire. Anakin Skywalker is to Darth Vadar as Walter H White is to Heisenberg. Except there was no force pulling Walt to the dark side, he'd been there all along, deep down.<br />
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It all had to come back to Gray Matter, Walt's leviathan that got away. It's one of my favourite things about <em>Breaking Bad</em>, that everything is revealed to the viewer is of utmost importance so even something from the first season that has had little emphasis will suddenly rear its head in the fifth. Where shows like <i>The Wire</i> or <em>Deadwood</em> are novelistic, I'd say that <i>Breaking Bad</i> is more like a short story in its deliberateness and restraint. A short story, a good short story, is like looking through a pinhole camera. The author (the architect, the engineer, the artist) has given the reader only the details that they need, showing only the picture that matters for that story. Vince Gilligan and the <em>Breaking Bad</em> team has done the same. No detail is wasted, no dialogue is extraneous, all character development is directly related to the story they are telling. In season one, episode four, the audience was introduced to Gray Matter, the company Walt had helped found and then leave before it became a major technological success worth Romney-amounts of money. Gray Matter is hardly mentioned again, while Elliot and Gretchen make appearances in dialogue as the supposed benefactors funding Walt's cancer treatment (with Gretchen making an actual appearance or two to debunk Walt's claims and muddy the marital waters), the actual events from twenty years before seem to be just another reason Walt's life sucks. Now in season five, episode six Gray Matter makes a stunning return as the driving force behind the monster that is Heisenberg.<br />
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Walt uses the missed opportunity of Gray Matter to excuse his unquenchable thirst for money and power, a thirst that so far has resulted in a lot-o-murder and the spiritual death of his family. Of course an egomaniac psychopath like Walt would see the unfortunate but relatively common experience of betting on the wrong American Dream as a personal slight that could only be remedied by a literal cutthroat meth empire. A lot of movies and novels have been motivated by regret; spurred forward by the protagonists' crushing need to remedy a past wrong. Countless characters have railed against their regrets on their deathbeds, in their parenting, in the way they reject the world and those in it, but never or at least so far as I've witnessed has a straight and narrow character, wracked by regret turned that contrition into a million dollar drug business. Walter White let free Darth Vadar.<br />
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That's not to say that without the loss of Gray Matter's billions Walt wouldn't have become Heisenberg anyway; every scene this episode with his true prodigal son, Todd, confirms that. Todd just never needed the cover of a Walter White to hide his Heisenberg.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Watching Todd switch effortlessly from the somber worker digging through dirt and dismantling a murdered boy's motor bike to a dead-eyed killer so void of compassion and remorse ("shit happens") that he might be commenting on a botched kick at the end of a 28-30 football game to a grovelling underling appealing to the common sense of the crime syndicate to prevail and overlook the shreds of humanity still lingering in two of the three bosses was just like watching Walt since he killed Krazy 8. Walt slips seamlessly between all of his different roles. Between father and criminal master-mind, between sad-sack loser and cold, power-hungry murderer. Everything in the first couple of scenes mirrored Todd to Walt. Beyond their chameleon ability to shift personality depending on the situation, the way that Jesse described Todd could be an exact description for how Walt runs his affairs: rash without any consultation and a chilling lack of humanity. <br />
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I am having a lot of trouble wrapping my head around the way that Mike, Walt and Jesse dealt with Todd. We've watched how other bosses have dealt with insubordination and/or fuck ups. Bet Tuco is rolling in his grave. Bet Victor is watching from the underworld wishing he'd made it through to work for these three softies. That Vamenos Pest would not discuss Todd's flouting of their authority and the reprocussions of not appropriatly punishing him doesn't align with Mike's professionalism or Walt's god complex. Mike's 'threat' at the end of the scene was no more intimidating than a bully demanding milk money. Come on, guys! You are better than this! INSTILL FEAR IN THAT LITTLE PSYCHOPATH!<br />
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It's been a couple episodes without a White family dinner – very sad, I know – and this one was probably my favourite ever. I would watch an entire series of Jesse eating dinner with the Whites. I'd watch an entire series of Jesse's ruminations on advertising. Think Jerry Seinfeld meets Sut Jhally with more yos and bitches thrown in. That scene, though, makes up for all of the mediocreness of last episode. It makes up for all the crappiness of television, ever. Bold statement, I know, but bold statements are my jam.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0L5sNtyP73cizHV5ipyi9twFiaFALpZccGFO9jaeMZTIrix3PBEYj7BdBZ3IZTvZ0_MerzCozcdTCByESI-tENRDzTCJqvnFsmy20qLRf6ZzBt1WQI7Opc5xKamd7uQewFGK2mDSf68/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.34.44+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0L5sNtyP73cizHV5ipyi9twFiaFALpZccGFO9jaeMZTIrix3PBEYj7BdBZ3IZTvZ0_MerzCozcdTCByESI-tENRDzTCJqvnFsmy20qLRf6ZzBt1WQI7Opc5xKamd7uQewFGK2mDSf68/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.34.44+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> "Yo, what is the deal with advertising? It's like a sustained model of propaganda, bitch!"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>I loved every second of it. I loved the way it was shot, the lighting, the framing, the dialogue. I loved that Jesse literally had replaced Walter Jr at the table. I loved how cool and calm Skyler was and the way she slugged back her wine. I loved the expression on Walt's face – somewhere between disgust and apathy. I loved that we're seeing Jesse finally realize that Walt is not the good guy he thought he was.<br />
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A friend of mine asked me why I think Skyler is still alive. I don't know the answer to that. I don't even have any guesses but I don't think she's going to die, and it's not because Walt has any love or loyalty left for her. I think that the way the writers are setting up Hank and Marie to be Holly and Walt Jr's real guardians is too much for it to be anything but a red herring. I still think Skyler will escape with at least Holly, probably to go into hiding thanks to Saul's vacuum man. Where that leaves Walt Jr, I don't know but I don't really know how to parse Walt's relationship with his son given how desperate he is to be a surrogate and abusive father to Jesse. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
What I was really struck by with this episode was that if Walt and Todd are mirroring one another, then so are those who are, willingly or not, orbiting Walt. Mike, Jesse and Skyler are all navigating seemingly impossible major minefields created by Walt, who at every turn beats them again. This week in particular I was struck by how scenes/shots of each of the three recalled previous scenes/shots of the others. Take the shots of each of them being crushed by infinite sadness:<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxKGq7ckEslUOoVmnuaCR8ioKBgxYfLwxHIQ_XYcQfconeXXh78bRfvru38V8bnB-F7pQ-41pynO-uS81ORjCyFi0BqR_JVO6QP1lIMn4gt01SfLbUcrZq7r56KcABQL8dLUkYbUFEO4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.08.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxKGq7ckEslUOoVmnuaCR8ioKBgxYfLwxHIQ_XYcQfconeXXh78bRfvru38V8bnB-F7pQ-41pynO-uS81ORjCyFi0BqR_JVO6QP1lIMn4gt01SfLbUcrZq7r56KcABQL8dLUkYbUFEO4/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.08.19+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRAExjnECBqdELDAUzUmcaUCg0V20k4bghcgk9eHZ0fY_A1fBQGb9mRrAEkOy6i4KWrhyphenhyphen2hpjftYAIEdhDm7e1T11QRdF_6UgkeQCVS2FBJJAT9L_yjP6sHq67j7Gx8g_DeQT4PoXnyI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-23+at+1.55.42+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRAExjnECBqdELDAUzUmcaUCg0V20k4bghcgk9eHZ0fY_A1fBQGb9mRrAEkOy6i4KWrhyphenhyphen2hpjftYAIEdhDm7e1T11QRdF_6UgkeQCVS2FBJJAT9L_yjP6sHq67j7Gx8g_DeQT4PoXnyI/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-23+at+1.55.42+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD_help6wuoTpS1skhSIaBCgDCO3vBMROSV28G_Mvkyl0e79C8IL0R85_SEpe88f61u4kRC3apkwCfUISEI4ynNvONl4ITp_6Mt3Waw5oWAjDWsihCdvsozyacK8tdeDyLfCQrZSLNcs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.15.29+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeD_help6wuoTpS1skhSIaBCgDCO3vBMROSV28G_Mvkyl0e79C8IL0R85_SEpe88f61u4kRC3apkwCfUISEI4ynNvONl4ITp_6Mt3Waw5oWAjDWsihCdvsozyacK8tdeDyLfCQrZSLNcs/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-21+at+1.15.29+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">:'((( GUYS! So sad! It'll get better! Hopefully... For at least one or two of you? Oh god... It must be like Sophie's Choice in the writer's room.<br />
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Previous Episode Recap: <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/breaking-bad-recap-arrival-of-train-at.html">The Arrival of the Train at the Station</a></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-55787073777857193412012-08-18T12:14:00.000-04:002012-08-18T23:08:00.093-04:00Flying Lotus: "See Thru To U" Ft Erykah Badu Posted by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NuY1N127lN-nwTA4g7UYk4mT3OXtckohgYtnhKh0R0qkb-Yz4x4O9YLCUOCVv5VMLeZaLmrr5JK_kcFXMB0RWrMJdJOYRoCBCtV1Tft4fixF8Bm3E1VEKZI0WQDbKUILqs9lXW5a-ZQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-18+at+11.07.01+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-NuY1N127lN-nwTA4g7UYk4mT3OXtckohgYtnhKh0R0qkb-Yz4x4O9YLCUOCVv5VMLeZaLmrr5JK_kcFXMB0RWrMJdJOYRoCBCtV1Tft4fixF8Bm3E1VEKZI0WQDbKUILqs9lXW5a-ZQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-18+at+11.07.01+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
A dreamy, groovy song for a Saturday:<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="281" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/A7lbY-THNHc" width="500"></iframe><br />Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-49561308488285382292012-08-17T12:20:00.001-04:002012-09-06T07:14:28.224-04:00Breaking Bad Recap: Arrival of a Train at the Station By Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBvDgMEaS-jmLEo0nYOUKSdxyLel10nHo7hcur6jIHnZlvboQSjQ1ks8XlB4RPrfnJO_gQ0gViP9cT1EXUZMreIPCiLzLXxtqTQ6VrllSZdC-Ez2advpC9Ub6QJrSlD8a3IYqk5xG5B4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-13+at+9.32.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBvDgMEaS-jmLEo0nYOUKSdxyLel10nHo7hcur6jIHnZlvboQSjQ1ks8XlB4RPrfnJO_gQ0gViP9cT1EXUZMreIPCiLzLXxtqTQ6VrllSZdC-Ez2advpC9Ub6QJrSlD8a3IYqk5xG5B4/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-13+at+9.32.59+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">First of all, I've been watching a lot of <i>The X-Files</i> lately (mostly because of <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/baby-saga-happy-sad-happy-story-by-alex.html">Baby</a>) and who should show up as a plucky US Marshall but Uncle Hank! Pretty exciting! Also a bit of an x-file how Dean Norris has not aged at all since at least 1994. Spooky. </div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5IBi8XccYeOQ4ZLbfKZjyi4oI1vFnR5fwtNpVh9uoVrodJebIrgMqjDMNjTFJgjjRehHbWDPCOBTn5BsSqUvX-Or1DmE2qoYm292xdQ3rz-ZXRIqcH2CGbaliSCDDWutLAUb9ULCFkw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-12+at+9.39.33+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA5IBi8XccYeOQ4ZLbfKZjyi4oI1vFnR5fwtNpVh9uoVrodJebIrgMqjDMNjTFJgjjRehHbWDPCOBTn5BsSqUvX-Or1DmE2qoYm292xdQ3rz-ZXRIqcH2CGbaliSCDDWutLAUb9ULCFkw/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-12+at+9.39.33+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Second of all, where did that poor doomed boy get his jean jacket? Seriously, those pockets that could hold a big glass spider jar? I could totally use a jacket like that! The amount of times <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/06/nxne-day-three-it-was-preciously-woven.html">I am encumbered with oversized mason jars that leak in my purse</a>... So many times! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Third of all, this episode. Guys... I wasn't super enamoured. Obviously it was still better than just about any other show ever and certainly better than the other shows I'm watching right now (WHAT IS EVEN HAPPENING WITH <i>TRUE BLOOD</i>, ALAN BALL? Are all the mirrored surfaces covered in your home so you don't have to look at yourself? You created <i>Six Feet Under</i>!) but in terms of Breaking Bad episodes, it really wasn't one of my favourites.<br />
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Everything that happened with Walt's family was rehashed and just felt like warmed over dialogue from the last couple episodes. When Skyler made the comment about Walt telling her that just a few days ago someone held a gun to his head it took me a couple seconds to realize that wasn't the exact same scene as last week when she reminded him of his crawlspace giggle-breakdown. And we had to sit through another Walt Jr tantrum with no resolution, another smarmy Walt-Hank interaction and another episode in which Hank "Drug Conspiracy Whisperer" Schrader is still completely in the dark. And I am getting increasingly agitated about Lydia. Who is she? I have a hard time believing that Gus would have ever been in business with such a loose canon just because she had a weak connection to methylamine. I was essentially disappointed with the lack of forward momentum and seemingly stagnation of development.<br />
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That being said, the train heist was pretty great. I found it to be meticulously planned (and the brainchild of Jesse!) and nail-bitingly tense. I've read criticisms that it was unrealistic but the only thing I find to suspend belief is that Mike hasn't killed Walt. Really, that Walt wouldn't listen to Mike (ultimately making Mike's role in the caper redundant) will only serve to further strain their tenuous relationship. I am really starting to appreciate that Walt's plots are getting bigger and bigger and that he refuses to listen to any sort of reason and that so far it has (sort of) worked out. Refusing to pull the plug on the operation even after the engineers were starting the train up again was yet another mark of Walt's hubris but there are only so many times that Walt can cheat/tempt fate. The less he listens to reason and the more he depends on his own distorted vision (at the cost of his partners' voices), the closer we come to seeing his downfall. That I cannot wait for.<br />
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Despite my dissatisfaction with this episode, I will say that the ending was perfect and I can't wait to see what happens next. My guess is that Landry (Todd?) will attempt to replace Jesse as Walt's right hand man but Walt isn't looking for a fellow psychopath, he's looking for his surrogate son to bully. This will not end well for Landry but I'm hoping it will help draw Jesse and Mike closer.<br />
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Only three episodes left before the end of the season and I have a feeling that things are about to get real.<br />
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RIP Adventurous spider-catcher, you couldn't have known that <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UiOpgiY_vI">Landry Clarke already had the taste for blood</a>. <br />
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Previous Episode Recap: <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/breaking-bad-recap-fair-ophelia-be-all.html">The Fair Ophelia! Be All My Sins Be Remembered!</a></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-2818009529972394172012-08-16T09:58:00.000-04:002012-08-16T09:58:18.625-04:00One Thought on Julian Assange Before I Lose My Goddamn Mind and Start Weeping in a Corner Because Preserving Rape Culture is More Important Than Anything, EVER by Alex <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Rmn9AadKW_c0v_Q4nG7NZ9Uo4La9izh4UUJILAkQuP5IjUpoo-MufDF9pegCBoG-fxKHCCcU_KUFmJc5teFAGOGcoVSZBrKyyPDwWV2moOu6yLHh58iBpIwM9xBthMyz9DTVKMEBi4s/s1600/230px-Julian_Assange_20091117_Copenhagen_1_cropped_to_shoulders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Rmn9AadKW_c0v_Q4nG7NZ9Uo4La9izh4UUJILAkQuP5IjUpoo-MufDF9pegCBoG-fxKHCCcU_KUFmJc5teFAGOGcoVSZBrKyyPDwWV2moOu6yLHh58iBpIwM9xBthMyz9DTVKMEBi4s/s1600/230px-Julian_Assange_20091117_Copenhagen_1_cropped_to_shoulders.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps I am still too much of an optimist, or something, too naive maybe, but if the message of Wikileaks is that transparency must and will exist in government and military communications and operations, and freedom of speech, and democracy, and accountability, and <i>the people vs the man</i>, then isn't it a bit hinderance to place so much importance on Julian Assange alone? Will Wikileaks fall if he's tried and found guilty of rape? Does the organization consist only of him? I realize that he is the director and founder and editor-in-chief, but is he completely irreplaceable? Is he completely above the law? What if he was brought up on murder charges? Pedophilia? What is the line?</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shouldn't the strength of Wikileaks be that the organization and more importantly, the ideas are bigger than one person? That regardless of what happens, governments will be transparent and accountable. Unless this is just another example of rape culture at work. Another case of telling rape survivors that they'd better shut the fuck up because no one will ever listen because rape is not a big deal, no one will ever take it or them seriously.</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-21722825354918517592012-08-09T15:53:00.000-04:002012-08-13T10:08:39.214-04:00Baby Saga: A Happy, Sad, Happy Story by AlexThis is Baby.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIUm3NmgSQSd33LAqk7ibKfPL3uyhLwrjeer8u9ENQMyV3q0Na1mlOcBLrgTdHukJydY31ltYjAErEaDVJZT7KFGNac2t0vf5ljSPjZibm3LfSm_AsGbNuq2Z_OR5MnNNiWo6iJ_nCdU/s1600/308957_10151069720622808_836258352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIUm3NmgSQSd33LAqk7ibKfPL3uyhLwrjeer8u9ENQMyV3q0Na1mlOcBLrgTdHukJydY31ltYjAErEaDVJZT7KFGNac2t0vf5ljSPjZibm3LfSm_AsGbNuq2Z_OR5MnNNiWo6iJ_nCdU/s320/308957_10151069720622808_836258352_n.jpg" width="258" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keepin' it casual</td></tr>
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He is one of several Babies that chill in the store I work at with my friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MaxVSTTdOJfq-x4OIiPV-4hbNb62M7WxjKJYHYdjleNnaTKaxwNbsio9sT5gTxmnkDXVOnZVqUKQ5Lb6-DRF30mlSWq6AI7dAfo6xqZDoA2SOYj-gwOlDNsB7vMKcyzhg6gkUdyeuug/s1600/IMG-20120728-00097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0MaxVSTTdOJfq-x4OIiPV-4hbNb62M7WxjKJYHYdjleNnaTKaxwNbsio9sT5gTxmnkDXVOnZVqUKQ5Lb6-DRF30mlSWq6AI7dAfo6xqZDoA2SOYj-gwOlDNsB7vMKcyzhg6gkUdyeuug/s320/IMG-20120728-00097.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"It's a tampon in a teacup"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJBhyhWiYWMs7KHDKMbz2_rZU7LEQFFeq6f74WlIcUaTm0n2BtDKwYyx4-PaHFBvYeQ7c45gjqv06sjBq2YKjPnhe0U21umCQxhV7r9R9j1TFIjQRJ5NfVudCgL6fm4F64bK5X1m_ltM/s1600/IMG-20120612-00055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJBhyhWiYWMs7KHDKMbz2_rZU7LEQFFeq6f74WlIcUaTm0n2BtDKwYyx4-PaHFBvYeQ7c45gjqv06sjBq2YKjPnhe0U21umCQxhV7r9R9j1TFIjQRJ5NfVudCgL6fm4F64bK5X1m_ltM/s320/IMG-20120612-00055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby got (on) back</td></tr>
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One day we spotted him on like this with the sun hitting him <i>just so</i>. It was not planned but it was spectacular. He was Baby on Stage.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNr5bzsV4CYFvrWm41Dt5geGZR6S86cBRgCgpijWstu1NEaRAxs9GJs79Sw0SNf7r60QKY7z_JSaj6SY02ubuG8DKGB5_G2mM9ZeDyKE83IcPX-ZSYqa5MbHjwzwUveeAx4-7Fqgjmlw/s1600/IMG-20120503-00031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNr5bzsV4CYFvrWm41Dt5geGZR6S86cBRgCgpijWstu1NEaRAxs9GJs79Sw0SNf7r60QKY7z_JSaj6SY02ubuG8DKGB5_G2mM9ZeDyKE83IcPX-ZSYqa5MbHjwzwUveeAx4-7Fqgjmlw/s320/IMG-20120503-00031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once Baby got a taste of fame, he couldn't get enough of the spotlight</td></tr>
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Obviously, that was the best thing in the world and no one was to ever touch Baby. New hires were given strict instructions to not ever, ever move Baby. He got dusty. And cobwebby. It was all part of his charm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55zVx-mfJCv4XkVpDZ7w6msy2JI0p6yEEaRLWIQOm5rc4BVnIz4rt2ux3iUH6-fX3EmSLeRfM4xzgKm7g80vvlF37AxLM3Q80JyBrPS1FbkZIg4up1hi3FKu4PzJ1qCpcPE6GOF1g7K8/s1600/547935_10151063578047808_2084372054_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55zVx-mfJCv4XkVpDZ7w6msy2JI0p6yEEaRLWIQOm5rc4BVnIz4rt2ux3iUH6-fX3EmSLeRfM4xzgKm7g80vvlF37AxLM3Q80JyBrPS1FbkZIg4up1hi3FKu4PzJ1qCpcPE6GOF1g7K8/s320/547935_10151063578047808_2084372054_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In an unexpected twist, Baby's specialty are Crash Test Dummies' covers. "MmmmmMmmmm"</td></tr>
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One day Baby was gone. Only little footprints remained.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_z13qIM0Af8ejUOzVes6TgM3QW3tp09m5xz9mQBl5burWxW5-weUZNqYkj72r0C5GGDIdA9PlG5Os7-fnh_-2uXC4S7PRX8MNWJnpNQot7v7pd9eoJovbA-FW3rgrAxo9pNxrf_j9m4/s1600/photo-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_z13qIM0Af8ejUOzVes6TgM3QW3tp09m5xz9mQBl5burWxW5-weUZNqYkj72r0C5GGDIdA9PlG5Os7-fnh_-2uXC4S7PRX8MNWJnpNQot7v7pd9eoJovbA-FW3rgrAxo9pNxrf_j9m4/s320/photo-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Size -22, hard to find shoes that fit</td></tr>
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It was traumatic and resulted in several dramatic Facebook threads, which became increasingly desperate (and caps-locke-y) as the days went by with no sign of Baby.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl0Wymrgp4SsROBs3s1iy3SQVyQLy1X4wN-gHwo_UVqOMRNtHz4ckBZxZrPQ2_3GgcNecoKQV70f1BQhTotBGViPzhu8IZpfC4MO4yqO8ir6bimM45-P9cw1V5NBtns3W0DIV2BVy6Ig/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-08+at+2.13.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxl0Wymrgp4SsROBs3s1iy3SQVyQLy1X4wN-gHwo_UVqOMRNtHz4ckBZxZrPQ2_3GgcNecoKQV70f1BQhTotBGViPzhu8IZpfC4MO4yqO8ir6bimM45-P9cw1V5NBtns3W0DIV2BVy6Ig/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-08+at+2.13.35+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqVtaLJtJsAnEDD6zKBNPTMLeGEjGRwBVBT-l3fKZpJ0xUiNHR3d3-cNWitjefTe3jOEvSgo4wS8qOVnnvUyM6xYhVH5XvHo9sidtwEnPYZLFqBQiUIkE4iKPyN51j5AnFelsPjgoKH4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-08+at+2.13.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqVtaLJtJsAnEDD6zKBNPTMLeGEjGRwBVBT-l3fKZpJ0xUiNHR3d3-cNWitjefTe3jOEvSgo4wS8qOVnnvUyM6xYhVH5XvHo9sidtwEnPYZLFqBQiUIkE4iKPyN51j5AnFelsPjgoKH4/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-08+at+2.13.59+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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There were also frantic notes left in the communication book at work:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUvYtNfZM2TOqQv2cNNJx3ETSvE5vEZXUwNthQFXvRnyH1Fc4wpl3qBfr8oM2YTo87GWtaDvvY8hP4PGhZ1hQ5UlNEwojUt2Hextd0bf56Tfe4MRlKjCXQf-IbcXYBtl-YDUQkWME_vE/s1600/photo-3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUvYtNfZM2TOqQv2cNNJx3ETSvE5vEZXUwNthQFXvRnyH1Fc4wpl3qBfr8oM2YTo87GWtaDvvY8hP4PGhZ1hQ5UlNEwojUt2Hextd0bf56Tfe4MRlKjCXQf-IbcXYBtl-YDUQkWME_vE/s320/photo-3.JPG" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heh heh, "filling holes"</td></tr>
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Then suddenly, Baby came home. Back on stage. Back directly into his footprints.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GkSZ2G20YGItnajFSMC8-VIClOfKBQNPZ0A3ThYlj7yt2liS0uHBDOU6Zez33HgzuL8WGTCjadlI0wFSxhWiLo5CRlFmxEi0YQJisKDjkijJ3VypjpueHPMi914ruhHycYPKvgzbQ8g/s1600/308957_10151069720622808_836258352_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1GkSZ2G20YGItnajFSMC8-VIClOfKBQNPZ0A3ThYlj7yt2liS0uHBDOU6Zez33HgzuL8WGTCjadlI0wFSxhWiLo5CRlFmxEi0YQJisKDjkijJ3VypjpueHPMi914ruhHycYPKvgzbQ8g/s320/308957_10151069720622808_836258352_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I'll never telllllll"</td></tr>
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It's very mysterious. Where did he go? What adventures did he have? Who is messing with us? Who would dare to touch Baby? I've started watching The X-Files.<br />
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We want to get Baby tattoos. Good idea? He's so joyous!Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-44803285133860124862012-08-08T09:58:00.000-04:002012-08-08T10:06:47.721-04:00A$AP Rocky: 'Ridin' (Feat. Lana Del Rey) Posted by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a year since Lana Del Rey unleashed <i>Video Games</i> on the internet and a year since the internet unleashed its concentrated mean girl vitriol back at her. Next time you know a kid getting bullied (or maybe the next time you get bullied?) just remember Lana and how it only took a year for the constant barrage of venom to subside. A year is nothing, guys! You might live to be 90! Or 100! Drink lots of water! Besides, now she's doing tracks with some of the hottest players in the game. And there was speculation that she was dating Axel Rose. All right, nice! Just kidding, I'm pretty sure that is Dante's 10th circle of hell (Dating).<br />
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<br /></div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-72237075857842513232012-08-07T11:51:00.001-04:002012-09-06T07:23:01.054-04:00Breaking Bad Recap: The Fair Ophelia! Be All My Sins Remembered By Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ud45mUBN82k8Y8bFZcmZ5z14lxXM2P5hJkbpOtefYu9aWexTYrurxuySw51bWmdESof7jylEewQzAvB9ZPmqj8TC1ShAKrRKS4yjtvSz-qujDiC-Vzqvv2_FS__fGcV7YS4ORbIV4_Y/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-08-07+at+1.49.52+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ud45mUBN82k8Y8bFZcmZ5z14lxXM2P5hJkbpOtefYu9aWexTYrurxuySw51bWmdESof7jylEewQzAvB9ZPmqj8TC1ShAKrRKS4yjtvSz-qujDiC-Vzqvv2_FS__fGcV7YS4ORbIV4_Y/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-08-07+at+1.49.52+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, you are all probably going to think less of me but there was a time in my life when I was young and foolish and just had kind of questionable taste overall (I drank a lot of Southern Comfort and thought nothing of making out with brothers – not at the same time but still, <i>brothers</i>!) but I once thought that Aztecs were sort of ok. That's terrible, right? Nah, I'm totally kidding! Fooled you! Never thought they were cool! Certainly not because you had the option of attaching a tent to the back. A tent, guys, to the back of your car! But, no, Aztecs are totally uncool... Just camp outside. On the ground. Make it easy for the bears. I also once wanted nothing more than to own and drive a Jeep. Yep.</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This week we had to say goodbye to Walt's Aztec, an SUV that saw him through so many accidents, cracked windshields, vehicular manslaughters and plane crashes that the entire series was beginning to look like one super long Aztec ad campaign (just show the tent add-on! No one can resist the tent add-on!). So long old-friend, you will be missed. I can only hope that there will somehow be a Katabasis episode where Walt and Jesse have to go to the underworld to ask Tio some yes or no questions (unless Charon lets them bring a Ouija Board with them) and then they can meet up with Gus and Gale and Crazy Eight and while Jesse has a tender moment with Jane, Walt can have a sweet reunion with his trusty Aztec. Ach, who am I kidding! That car will never die! Aztec 4ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNloSkyjaeK3QKmFTwi1LAV2ipKcBHtu0NxlDSE1BFI3BxH9IScet4pnNUwySYTC2gI73zrt6MBQ-YfaKpfSn55ta9RzLatXOYBqbkddfcYIsoor7hXYP-oeFk9Pr87TQU7tpnxArjDk/s1600/30761238848643ar4s19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNloSkyjaeK3QKmFTwi1LAV2ipKcBHtu0NxlDSE1BFI3BxH9IScet4pnNUwySYTC2gI73zrt6MBQ-YfaKpfSn55ta9RzLatXOYBqbkddfcYIsoor7hXYP-oeFk9Pr87TQU7tpnxArjDk/s320/30761238848643ar4s19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There seemed to have been two major themes this episode, or two motifs? (Are themes and motifs the same? Where does allegory differ from a metaphor?? And will someone tell me what a trope is because it sounds delicious. I don't know, I'm an Aboriginal Studies major with a minor in Classics.) All I knows is that there were a lot of horror movie things happenin' like Skyler garrotting her finger and floating in the water with her eyes open like a ghost-corpse (looking at you, <i>What Lies Beneath</i> otherwise known as <i>What Killed My Crush on Harrison Ford For 90 Minutes </i>and <i>Why I Struggle to Swim at Night</i>), Lydia's scream and the power-outage, and Walt cutting his head and his fight with Skyler and the graphic, violent nature of their threats. Add this to the ever increasing physical darkness of the White homestead, making every scene look like a living Gregory Crewdson tableau. I'm a little hard pressed to think of a genre that <i>Breaking Bad</i> doesn't fit into (rom-com, probably; mumble-core, maybe? Blaxpoitation, not yet...) and now horror can definitely be added to the long list of crime, detective, western, noir, bildungsroman (for Jesse, <i>totally</i>), cowboy, thriller, gangster, buddy... <i>American Horror Story</i> was pretty scary what with Dylan McDermott jerking himself off whilst weeping and all but it doesn't hold a candle to the reign of terror that Walt has going on. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other theme/motif/whatever was power. Everyone wants it, some are struggling with it (Lydia, literally, struggling to cut the power), some are fighting for it, some just got their first teeny little sip of it, and some just think they have all of it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Serious kudos to RJ Mitte for his maniacal grin during the cold open as he revelled in the power of his new car. I dig that his car (Mustang, I believe? Mustangs are pretty rad but can you camp in them?) is representing his inevitable moral unraveling. Walt has long been jealous of the admiration that Junior has had for Uncle-Hero Hank and now it looks like he's successfully usurping Hank's influence with money and horsepower. Looks like Walt Jr is going to be let in on the family business fairly soon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The atmosphere at breakfast was decidedly chilly, because, man, you give a teenager one brand-new muscle car and all of a sudden he can't give his dad the big piece of bacon so that the 1 in 51 isn't so piddly. KIDS. In a scene that lasted a minute and a half there was a lot of back and forth power struggling: Skyler lands the first blow by 'forgetting' the bacon-birthday tradition, Walt and Junior bully and guilt her into compliance, she does it but does it half-assed, Junior bullies her some more, she retaliates on him by trading his full piece for a half piece, Junior is put in his place as lowest in the pecking order and the supposed order in Walt's head (him = king, Junior and Skyler = supplicated) is restored. Damn. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The showdown between Skyler and Walt was a longtime coming and it was great to see Anna Gunn do something other than stare hollowly and suck in air and pretend to sleep while Walt paws at her and coos about how great things are *chills*. Not only did she show some grade-A, Walt-level scheming with her Woolf-walking into the pool but she also zapped the power, again, from Walt by upstaging his saccharine retelling of his cancer woes. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">She was fantastic as the mama bear going up against "the one who knocks" (lol): Her fierceness and then her collapse as he batted away everyone of her threats (I thought she went toe to toe with him and that her threat to pretend that he was abusive was genius, confused that she'd still want Walt Jr to think so highly of Walt after everything...). And then when she got the last word and decimated him with the cancer thing. Wowza; go, girl. I can't imagine that Walt would be hurt by her wishing him dead at that point, or wishing that the cancer would come back but that it was the reminder of his mortality that knocked the wind out of him. To quote the ever wise Nelson: "ha-ha". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And seeing Skyler with damp, relaxed hair reminded me of her hotness in the first 2 season and leaves me with one question: why on earth is Anna Gunn's hair being styled so terribly? The awful <i>Real Housewives of New Jersey</i> blowouts that she's had for the past couple seasons have been driving me up the wall. What is going, stylists? FIX HER HAIR. And bring back the wrap dresses.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">If episode 2 was all about Mike (luv u) and episode 3 was more about Jesse (u 2) then 4 was Sky's episode. Jesse showed up briefly to give Lydia a stay of execution and Walt the ticker for his time-bomb (one year to go, Walt!). Mike gave a Feminism 101 speech and was just super awesome as per usual but in an abbreviated capacity. Marie was there just long enough for me to stare longingly at her beautiful mouth (real talk, Betsy Brandt has a beautiful mouth. I like to look at it). And Hank, who is somehow incredibly perceptive about everyone else, sorting out Madrigal/Pollos Hermanos like he's Rain Man, can't seem to put his finger on the fact that something doesn't smell right over at his in-laws. Come on, man! Something tells me that being head honcho isn't going to stop Hank from chasing his White whale.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I've read some reviews online that say that <i>Breaking Bad</i> is a show without a hero and while I agree that Walt is most definitely not the hero (or anti-hero hero, even) I would say that the emerging hero of the series is Jesse. We've watched him really grow over the past four seasons and this season especially he has shown incredible depth, compassion, adeptness and heart. He has become the shows conscious, especially this week with his refusal to let Mike kill Lydia (which I'm sure will turn out to be a terrible decision and that Lydia did and will continue to try and fuck them). I hope in the end that it is Jesse who survives and somehow bests Walt. I hope that Walt sees that Jesse is a better man, a better human being and a better business partner. But I also hope that Jesse never finds out about Walt's role in Jane's death. I don't think he could take that. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There have always been two things that represent Walt's inner-villainy: his Heisenberg hat and shaving his head. This episode he wore the hat in public, as Walter White <i>and</i> he had a rage shave. Shit's gonna go down.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">One more super pressing question:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Who is Lydia?<br />
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Previous episode recap: <a href="http://2zelda.blogspot.ca/2012/08/breaking-bad-recap-dead-mackerel-eyes.html">Dead Mackerel Eyes, Full Hearts Can't Lose</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-25281179513127588702012-08-05T10:58:00.006-04:002012-08-05T10:58:00.183-04:00Olympians to Know: Gabby Douglas by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yf0d49VUBzMW8DG_j-LD8oEVVVUWipVqxDZCblPSY7II21YYxwI-7VV5I3z5WY09Ffz8yq-reLhNi_xYbFaCBvivWAlTTJkSmTRUCVOR4wbPz2Vw30qkXzVorrRv0zy5Dp7T7ymcuS8/s1600/gabby-douglas-240x340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yf0d49VUBzMW8DG_j-LD8oEVVVUWipVqxDZCblPSY7II21YYxwI-7VV5I3z5WY09Ffz8yq-reLhNi_xYbFaCBvivWAlTTJkSmTRUCVOR4wbPz2Vw30qkXzVorrRv0zy5Dp7T7ymcuS8/s320/gabby-douglas-240x340.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Gabby Douglas is the first African-American woman to win the all-round title in women's gymnastics. The first Black woman in history. Amazing. The 16-year-old won gold in both the individual and team events. Watch this video of all her routines from the US Olympic team trials. She is flawless. And so super charming I want to be best friends with her. That smile!<br />
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</div>Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-87058800379824874072012-08-04T10:05:00.002-04:002012-08-04T11:38:29.592-04:00(Major) Minor Victories by Rebekah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Victory #1: Ryan Trecartin faved my tweet</div>
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Victory #2: Alex's post got retweeted by Justice Murray Sinclair</div>
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Victory #3: I figured out how to get a tweet to take up an entire screen</div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17873165146287404987noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9021851682736515743.post-76651947563620468052012-08-04T08:54:00.000-04:002012-08-04T08:54:19.143-04:00Olympians to Know: Damien Hooper by Alex<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5puFCUkGbrRr7JodNvL45RKhRpIY7G_Tay2zaU-2OVJmY4wK_80uUNC0DdvmSGIa9ureIAnyyqhSr2ZjsDHhKJ-E4qqIKPQ5_Gg1AOhyphenhypheneHFvq4NoLU2wOo9zlr0owawJd1kcF15YZGg/s1600/DamienHooper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5puFCUkGbrRr7JodNvL45RKhRpIY7G_Tay2zaU-2OVJmY4wK_80uUNC0DdvmSGIa9ureIAnyyqhSr2ZjsDHhKJ-E4qqIKPQ5_Gg1AOhyphenhypheneHFvq4NoLU2wOo9zlr0owawJd1kcF15YZGg/s320/DamienHooper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the beginning of the olympics, a tweet made the rounds both on Twitter and on Tumblr that neatly dissected Britain's brutal history of colonization and the irony of so many of those colonized nations coming back to the motherland to compete:</div><a name='more'></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Yep. And then this happened: Damien Hooper, an Indigenous Australian boxer dared to wear a t-shirt with the Aboriginal flag design after his match. WHILE STILL IN THE RING. Someone, get me my fainting couch, and bring me my pearls! The Olympic charter has a rule that there must be no political statements whatsoever made at the games and Hooper has been ordered to apologize to the Chef de Mission of the Australian team. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hooper is a world-class athlete. He would have dedicated a massive chunk of his life thus far to making it to the games. He is there to represent Australia. Hooper is also Indigenous. His people have been and continue to be colonized by the Australian government; they are ghettoized, they face racist and discriminatory policies that interfere with their sovereignty and self-determination and with with their health both emotional and physical. In wearing that t-shirt Hooper was showing that he was proud to be Indigenous; in punishing him, the IOC is reinforcing that there is no place for Indigenous people at the games unless they shut up and just represent their colonizers with a smile on their faces. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The amazing Leanne Betasamosake Simpson wrote an amazing piece about Hooper on her <a href="http://leannesimpson.ca/2012/07/31/on-the-olympics-being-indigenous/">blog</a> (which got reposted to Racialicious as well) that takes apart the notion of an apolitical games:</div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #373737; font-weight: 300; line-height: 24px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"[E]very aspect of the Olympics is political – who is there, who is not there, where they are held, where they are not held, the sports that are involved, the sports that are not involved, the sports women are allowed to compete in and those we are not, the basic human rights of transgender athletes, whose history is told and celebrated and whose is silenced, the privileging of the competition of able bodied athletes and the fact that the social costs of the games fall squarely on the backs of the economically poor.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Olympics are political and they reflect the politics of the both the ruling nation-states of the world and corporations. You can wear a shirt with Canada on it. You can wear shoes with Adidas on them. That’s fine, because it’s “not political”. Unless of course you’re Indigenous and these corporations and nation states are causing never-ending harm, destruction and trauma to your land and your people.</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The idea that there is no place for political protest at the Olympics is also a wild sanitization of the games given that there has been <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/politicspast/page/0,9067,892902,00.html" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #7f7771; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">dissent and protest at the games</a> as long as the modern games have been held. Remember in 2000 when Cathy Freeman, who is also Indigenous and from the Australian team, carried the same “Aboriginal flag” around the track in her victory lap?</div><div style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin-bottom: 1.625em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Hooper says he is very proud of what he did, and he should be proud. He showed Indigenous Peoples all over the world that he gets it – that settler states occupy our lands, they ignore our traditional governments, they try and beat us down, but they cannot take away our pride in being Indigenous. He showed us he remembered his family, his community, and his nation, above all else. He took a risk in the biggest sporting event of his life to tell those Old Ones that he remembered. To tell me, he remembered."</div></span></span></blockquote>Read her <a href="http://leannesimpson.ca/2012/07/31/on-the-olympics-being-indigenous/">whole essay</a>. It is perfect.Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14802154503675431075noreply@blogger.com0