In case you haven't noticed, I'm secretly a geek.
THINGS I'M TOTALLY A GEEK ABOUT:
(aka things that, if you mention them around me, will cause me to go into a geek rave, and begin spouting off far more information than you ever wanted to know about even anything that you care about, much less these)
Lord of the Rings
Doctor Who
Star Wars
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli's movies
X-Men
Okay, just Marvel in general
Dr. Horrible
Portal
Harry Potter
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Invader Zim
The IT Crowd
And, as if that weren't enough, here are
THINGS I PROBABLY ALREADY LIKE BUT TOTALLY WISH I WAS A GEEK ABOUT:
(aka the things I like but know very little about. in conversation about these topics, I tend to sit back and listen to the others talk, but also talk myself and pretend I know far more than I actually do about the subject)
Pokemon
Zelda
Mario
Anime
Fullmetal Alchemist
Other Valve games besides Portal
Star Trek
Phineas and Ferb
Sad, right? Both lists are depressingly long.
I do, however, extremely enjoy being a geek, as much as I pretend I'm embarrassed by it. I'm not actually embarrassed by it at all! I just like to pretend. It's kind of weird. It's like in Dr. Horrible......
Penny: Sometimes people are layered like that. There's something totally different underneath than what's on the surface.
Dr. Horrible: And sometimes there's a third, even deeper level, and that one is the same as the top surface one. Like with pie.
My top surface one is that I love being a geek. Totally and completely. But underneath that, I'm secretly embarrassed by it. But underneath that, actually I really love being a geek......
The other day, I started watching Star Trek. Yeah, the old one. Yeah, the 1966 TV show. What's that you say? I'm insane? I'm a complete nerd? Correct on all accounts. :D
I'm also extremely into the BBC. British Broadcasting Company. They are so great!!! They have the best writers.....And I'm sure they make terrible, horrible, awfully-written movies too, but I just completely love the stuff they put out....And why is it that America comes up with the worst, most annoying TV shows in the world, but Britain keeps churning out these brilliantly-written shows, over and over and over again? I dunno. But I love them for it.
That is all.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
An Overeager Soapbox and a Few R Rated Movies
I don't watch R rated movies.
The other day I was hanging out with a bunch of friends, and a movie that was rated R came up, and I mentioned that fact. One of my friends (we'll call him Rochefort (because let's be honest, in stories like this, names like "Bob" and "Frank" get old really fast) for the sake of the story)....(Did you like my use of the double parentheses there? I sure did......) said something akin to "I don't think it's fair to not watch movies just because they're rated R. I think to not watch a movie just because some committee puts a letter on it is ridiculous."
Now, Rochefort didn't actually say exactly that, but I can't remember exactly what he said, and I've heard this opinion several times. So just in case he actually reads this at some point, this is a disclaimer, I guess. That's basically what he said.
Now, normally I would have spoken my mind to him right then and there. Something you should know about me is that I have a large, shiny soapbox secretly hidden away, ready to be pulled out at any moment so I can insert my righteousness over the entire world. I hate it, and I'm sure everyone else does, too. I didn't even realize I was whipping it out and crushing everyone's hope of ever being a good person with my hypocritical and forceful self-righteous preachings before, but once I did, I promptly started keeping my soapbox to myself as much as possible. It's still there, waiting to spring out upon my unsuspecting victims at moments when I'm not guarding myself carefully, like some awkward version of Mr. Hyde, but I do my best to keep that rogue soapbox in check.
So when Rochefort made his comment about R rated movies, my overeager soapbox came running up, excited to be put in use again, but I ordered it back and held my tongue. It retreated sadly into its small corner, to lay down on its raggedy blankets in a morose manner, trying to guilt trip me into having pity on it and pulling it out again. I, however, am a heartless wench, apparently, and mercilessly told it to go away.
I did, however, have a lot of thoughts about what I would have said, had Rochefort and I gotten into a full-scale soapbox war, and I thought, what the hey, I'll put them up here. :)
So now that we've finished that enormous prologue, let's move on to my actual thoughts on R rated movies, shall we? My dusty soapbox will positively jump with glee at the chance to be pulled out without probability of offending people.
The reason I do not watch R rated movies is because of this: I simply find the content therein repulsive and disgusting. That's it, plain and simple. I don't like violence, blood, sexual content, or profanity. And please, don't talk to me about the artistic beauty of it all, and the reasons it's needed in movies--I know. I really do, I'm an artist myself, and I see the beauty of it. But unfortunately, that doesn't make my conscience twinge any less when I see any of it. It makes me uncomfortable and I can't help but feel...well, just wrong. I know, and I know that God knows, that it's wrong. So yes, there is artistic and aesthetic beauty to it, but personally, I'd rather have a clear conscience than an artistic movie collection.
(Whew!! My soapbox is panting and grinning like one does after a good, hard swim in the ocean. It hasn't had this much excitement in awhile!)
In contest to what Rochefort said, I do not choose not to watch R rated movies because they have a big, fat R pasted on them. I choose not to watch R rated movies for the same reason I choose not to jump off of a large cliff. Because I just actually really don't want to. Surprise!! The big, fat R is just the sign next to the cliff that says, "Be careful. This is a cliff. If you want to jump off of it, that's okay with me. I'm just a li'l old sign to tell you that this is, in fact a cliff."
Let's be real, some cliffs have lots of pretty trees in front of them. And you're all, "Good gravy, those are pretty trees! Let's go exploring!" And then you're all, "Oh, darn...There's a sign that says that this is, in fact, a cliff. How could we have missed that?"
Anyway, that's my poor metaphor for the day. What it really means is, some movies look like they're going to be brilliant!! And they probably are, much like the scenery can still be stunningly gorgeous as you're falling off a cliff. Unfortunately, you're still falling off a cliff. And unfortunately, although the movie might be excellent, it is still full of things I really just don't care to watch.
So I don't choose not to watch R rated movies because they're rated R. I choose not to because I just don't want to watch what's in them. And it's not just R rated movies. It's some PG-13 and even a couple PG movies as well (usually the ones from like, the 70's when they didn't have a PG-13 rating, so it was just PG and R. And you're all, oh, this looks fun, and guess what it's rated PG!!! And then you watch it....and you're like, AAH!! There are F words in this PG movie!!! Wasn't expecting that!! So yeah...).
There's been quite a lot of controversy lately concerning The King's Speech. If you haven't heard anything about it, go look it up, because I already ramble on far too much without having to explain it, and also my soapbox is on a roll and cannot be interrupted at this point. It's having far too much fun.
So anyway. The King's Speech. I didn't see it in theaters, the rated R version, even though many of my friends said it was one of the most brilliant things they've ever seen. And they kept going on and on about the only reason it's rated R is the one scene with all the F words, but how they were justified and said for a good reason and all that. That's all very well and good. I can appreciate that, really. I still chose not to see it. I, personally, just. Don't. Like. F words. So cool. They were said for a good reason. Great. I just don't want to hear them. I know myself well enough to know that'll be running through my head over and over again, and I just don't want it in there!! Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't care about the reason it happened. I just don't want it in my head!
I choose my movies based on content, not on rating. And I thank heaven above for the MPAA rating system. I love that we have a way to quickly see the cover a movie, where it says PG-13: Sexual Content and Some Language (or whatever it says), and decide in a manner of seconds whether it's a movie we want to spend our time on or not. As much as I appreciate IMDb or other sites where you can find out exactly what is wrong with a movie and read exactly what's happening in the parts that are questionable, that's an endeavor that takes a little bit of time, and access to the Internet. With the MPAA, you can just look at the cover and instantly decide whether you're going to waste two precious hours of your day on it.
So what it all comes down to is whether or not you trust the MPAA or not. Whether you trust their judgment of movies or not.
And I do.
It's that simple.
So, you may continue living your life according to your conscience, and I will continue living mine according to mine. Now, however, all y'alls, including dear Rochefort, know how I feel about the subject, and my soapbox has been pacified and will lay dormant for the next several days (I hope!). I'm going to change out its raggedy blankets and maybe build it a nice house to live in. One with a lock. :D
That is all.
The other day I was hanging out with a bunch of friends, and a movie that was rated R came up, and I mentioned that fact. One of my friends (we'll call him Rochefort (because let's be honest, in stories like this, names like "Bob" and "Frank" get old really fast) for the sake of the story)....(Did you like my use of the double parentheses there? I sure did......) said something akin to "I don't think it's fair to not watch movies just because they're rated R. I think to not watch a movie just because some committee puts a letter on it is ridiculous."
Now, Rochefort didn't actually say exactly that, but I can't remember exactly what he said, and I've heard this opinion several times. So just in case he actually reads this at some point, this is a disclaimer, I guess. That's basically what he said.
Now, normally I would have spoken my mind to him right then and there. Something you should know about me is that I have a large, shiny soapbox secretly hidden away, ready to be pulled out at any moment so I can insert my righteousness over the entire world. I hate it, and I'm sure everyone else does, too. I didn't even realize I was whipping it out and crushing everyone's hope of ever being a good person with my hypocritical and forceful self-righteous preachings before, but once I did, I promptly started keeping my soapbox to myself as much as possible. It's still there, waiting to spring out upon my unsuspecting victims at moments when I'm not guarding myself carefully, like some awkward version of Mr. Hyde, but I do my best to keep that rogue soapbox in check.
So when Rochefort made his comment about R rated movies, my overeager soapbox came running up, excited to be put in use again, but I ordered it back and held my tongue. It retreated sadly into its small corner, to lay down on its raggedy blankets in a morose manner, trying to guilt trip me into having pity on it and pulling it out again. I, however, am a heartless wench, apparently, and mercilessly told it to go away.
I did, however, have a lot of thoughts about what I would have said, had Rochefort and I gotten into a full-scale soapbox war, and I thought, what the hey, I'll put them up here. :)
So now that we've finished that enormous prologue, let's move on to my actual thoughts on R rated movies, shall we? My dusty soapbox will positively jump with glee at the chance to be pulled out without probability of offending people.
The reason I do not watch R rated movies is because of this: I simply find the content therein repulsive and disgusting. That's it, plain and simple. I don't like violence, blood, sexual content, or profanity. And please, don't talk to me about the artistic beauty of it all, and the reasons it's needed in movies--I know. I really do, I'm an artist myself, and I see the beauty of it. But unfortunately, that doesn't make my conscience twinge any less when I see any of it. It makes me uncomfortable and I can't help but feel...well, just wrong. I know, and I know that God knows, that it's wrong. So yes, there is artistic and aesthetic beauty to it, but personally, I'd rather have a clear conscience than an artistic movie collection.
(Whew!! My soapbox is panting and grinning like one does after a good, hard swim in the ocean. It hasn't had this much excitement in awhile!)
In contest to what Rochefort said, I do not choose not to watch R rated movies because they have a big, fat R pasted on them. I choose not to watch R rated movies for the same reason I choose not to jump off of a large cliff. Because I just actually really don't want to. Surprise!! The big, fat R is just the sign next to the cliff that says, "Be careful. This is a cliff. If you want to jump off of it, that's okay with me. I'm just a li'l old sign to tell you that this is, in fact a cliff."
Let's be real, some cliffs have lots of pretty trees in front of them. And you're all, "Good gravy, those are pretty trees! Let's go exploring!" And then you're all, "Oh, darn...There's a sign that says that this is, in fact, a cliff. How could we have missed that?"
Anyway, that's my poor metaphor for the day. What it really means is, some movies look like they're going to be brilliant!! And they probably are, much like the scenery can still be stunningly gorgeous as you're falling off a cliff. Unfortunately, you're still falling off a cliff. And unfortunately, although the movie might be excellent, it is still full of things I really just don't care to watch.
So I don't choose not to watch R rated movies because they're rated R. I choose not to because I just don't want to watch what's in them. And it's not just R rated movies. It's some PG-13 and even a couple PG movies as well (usually the ones from like, the 70's when they didn't have a PG-13 rating, so it was just PG and R. And you're all, oh, this looks fun, and guess what it's rated PG!!! And then you watch it....and you're like, AAH!! There are F words in this PG movie!!! Wasn't expecting that!! So yeah...).
There's been quite a lot of controversy lately concerning The King's Speech. If you haven't heard anything about it, go look it up, because I already ramble on far too much without having to explain it, and also my soapbox is on a roll and cannot be interrupted at this point. It's having far too much fun.
So anyway. The King's Speech. I didn't see it in theaters, the rated R version, even though many of my friends said it was one of the most brilliant things they've ever seen. And they kept going on and on about the only reason it's rated R is the one scene with all the F words, but how they were justified and said for a good reason and all that. That's all very well and good. I can appreciate that, really. I still chose not to see it. I, personally, just. Don't. Like. F words. So cool. They were said for a good reason. Great. I just don't want to hear them. I know myself well enough to know that'll be running through my head over and over again, and I just don't want it in there!! Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't care about the reason it happened. I just don't want it in my head!
I choose my movies based on content, not on rating. And I thank heaven above for the MPAA rating system. I love that we have a way to quickly see the cover a movie, where it says PG-13: Sexual Content and Some Language (or whatever it says), and decide in a manner of seconds whether it's a movie we want to spend our time on or not. As much as I appreciate IMDb or other sites where you can find out exactly what is wrong with a movie and read exactly what's happening in the parts that are questionable, that's an endeavor that takes a little bit of time, and access to the Internet. With the MPAA, you can just look at the cover and instantly decide whether you're going to waste two precious hours of your day on it.
So what it all comes down to is whether or not you trust the MPAA or not. Whether you trust their judgment of movies or not.
And I do.
It's that simple.
So, you may continue living your life according to your conscience, and I will continue living mine according to mine. Now, however, all y'alls, including dear Rochefort, know how I feel about the subject, and my soapbox has been pacified and will lay dormant for the next several days (I hope!). I'm going to change out its raggedy blankets and maybe build it a nice house to live in. One with a lock. :D
That is all.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Chief
I used to have a cat.
I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't there. His name was Chief. He was orange and white, and I don't remember when he was a kitten. He's always been old, fat, and sweet, my whole life. I realize the impossibility of this. That, however, does not make it any less true.
He was my best friend when I was young. What a sweet cat. I never got a hiss, growl, or any manner of mean sound from him in my life.
My younger brother, Davis, and I used to play games with him as children that were maybe not the best things to do, but they provide memories that I will never forget. We have a playground in our yard, and the first week we had it was a week of experimentation. Chief did NOT want to be taken up into the clubhouse at the top of the ladder. That didn't stop us. Nor did he want to go down the blue slide, the fastest slide we had ever been on. That didn't stop us either. The blue slide still has scratches down it.
We really did love him, I promise. He used to sit on our laps and purr. He sounded like a tractor with a severe need for an oil change. *grumble rumble brumble.........* We loved to stroke him, not minding the ever-growing piles of white hair accumulating on our new clothes. He liked being scratched on the ears, cheeks, chin, and occasionally the stomach.
At night as I was going to sleep, he would jump up on my bed and lay next to me, purring like a jackhammer.
Every once in awhile, I'd wake up at two in the morning to a wail that sounded like a mix between a firetruck siren and a black woman belting her heart out. I'd run outside in my bare feet to see him and a neighbor cat staring each other down, wailing and spitting, with chunks of fur littering the grass. Fun experiences.....
A few months ago, he died.
My parents are getting older and don't want to deal with pets any longer. They will not be getting another cat. My dad doesn't really like cats anyways.
I find myself at my friends' houses, looking at their cat in longing....I miss having Chief in my life as such a great friend and family member. I'll get another cat someday who hopefully can fill his shoes (boots?) somewhat. In the mean time, rest in peace, Chief.
I can't remember a time in my life when he wasn't there. His name was Chief. He was orange and white, and I don't remember when he was a kitten. He's always been old, fat, and sweet, my whole life. I realize the impossibility of this. That, however, does not make it any less true.
He was my best friend when I was young. What a sweet cat. I never got a hiss, growl, or any manner of mean sound from him in my life.
My younger brother, Davis, and I used to play games with him as children that were maybe not the best things to do, but they provide memories that I will never forget. We have a playground in our yard, and the first week we had it was a week of experimentation. Chief did NOT want to be taken up into the clubhouse at the top of the ladder. That didn't stop us. Nor did he want to go down the blue slide, the fastest slide we had ever been on. That didn't stop us either. The blue slide still has scratches down it.
We really did love him, I promise. He used to sit on our laps and purr. He sounded like a tractor with a severe need for an oil change. *grumble rumble brumble.........* We loved to stroke him, not minding the ever-growing piles of white hair accumulating on our new clothes. He liked being scratched on the ears, cheeks, chin, and occasionally the stomach.
At night as I was going to sleep, he would jump up on my bed and lay next to me, purring like a jackhammer.
Every once in awhile, I'd wake up at two in the morning to a wail that sounded like a mix between a firetruck siren and a black woman belting her heart out. I'd run outside in my bare feet to see him and a neighbor cat staring each other down, wailing and spitting, with chunks of fur littering the grass. Fun experiences.....
A few months ago, he died.
My parents are getting older and don't want to deal with pets any longer. They will not be getting another cat. My dad doesn't really like cats anyways.
I find myself at my friends' houses, looking at their cat in longing....I miss having Chief in my life as such a great friend and family member. I'll get another cat someday who hopefully can fill his shoes (boots?) somewhat. In the mean time, rest in peace, Chief.
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