Happy Saturday, readers!
the last two weeks have had some pretty awesome highs, and some pretty persistent lows. It's currently is AWESOME mode, which leaves me going mach-2 with my hair on fire, but I will revel in that. I enjoy doing things and feeling that sense of purpose. Sure, I may require multiple energy drinks to endure it with less-than-adequate sleep, but energy drinks are delicious, so this isn't as bad as it could be.

As a distraction from studying last night, I briefly delved back into the realm of Harry Potter fanfiction because I am an insufferable nerd that lives vicariously through fictional characters from time to time. Don't you judge me...but I have three tabs of said literature open right now waiting to be perused.

I'm quite proud of myself as of late. I have persevered in spite of some people that have attempted to hinder my growth and happiness over the last couple of years and am well on my way to achieving personal goals. Sometimes, it will get to me, but it rarely lasts long. I realize that I can either spend my time being sorry for myself and waste time, or I can figure out ways around the obstacles and focus on progress---then actually committing to progress. Time well spent, if you ask me.

I can. I will. I must.

Since it came up on one of my favorite message boards recently, I thought I'd share a few rules and truths by which I like to live my life. It's always nice to be introspective and figure out your principles. You may surprise yourself and be able to offer good insight for others. Here's a few I shared:

-Don't forget your bank balance, and don't spend money to which you don't have immediate access.
-Appreciate the people you have in your life. Find something good in everyone. Be an optimist, it will improve the way you experience things--the less good you feel about things, the worse your mood will be.
-Everyone has a story. Sometimes that's all they have if they never learned from it.
-You may not like everyone, but at least be civil if you're around someone you don't like...unless they're outright mean and bad, then just avoid them.
-People have more going on in their lives than what you see. If you're smiling, it could really help them feel better, even if only for a little while, and what does it cost you? Nothing.
-Bad things are going to happen. Know what makes you feel better when you need it, but avoid making that a self-destructive behavior.
-Hard times don't last forever.
-
-Indulge sometimes.
-Try not to be affected too much by people that are not kind to you. You only have control over yourself, really, so if you're doing what you believe is right and good, you should not feel insecure because someone tries to make you that way.
-Be honest with others and yourself. It makes things much less convoluted.
-Sometimes, adventure isn't a bad thing. It cannot hurt to try a new food, learn a new language, see a movie alone, go for a walk in a park.
-Half your age plus seven just keeps things reasonable.
-Study two days before the test for college classes.
-Coffee doesn't count as breakfast and not eating makes people cranky.
-Don't own a pet until you have the money to do so...and you're paid regularly.
-Sweeping generalizations hinder your ability to really understand a person. Also, makes you suck at a debate.
-Kissing can still be a lot of fun.
-Jump around in shoes that you buy to make sure you can.
-Trust is delicate.
-Learn to bake cookies.
-If you're uncomfortable, say so.
-Learn to check things before you use them--tires before driving, toilet paper before sitting, stains on clothes...you don't want to be caught off guard once you do realize a problem that could've been prevented with a sweeping glance.
-Your hard work may not be acknowledged, but you should be satisfied with your own approval.
-Get in touch with music.
-Don't argue with people that believe a rumor about you that is not true. Let your behavior show them who you really are.
-Appreciate when someone does something nice for you, and make sure they know you do.
Most of all, smiling really does make things better. Even if it's not much, it's still better. Being friendly really does make life feel nicer.
Oh, and always have enough socks.

I'd love to hear what my readers have to offer. You can do that in the comments!

Here's some music to leave you content for the day. It's very happy and makes you feel like there's love in the world:

I actually quite enjoy working here, and hey, money! I enjoy listening to music when work is slow (it's one of those places where we're either really, really mach-3, or no one is here), and I'm currently enjoying the Juno soundtrack. Among the indie-acoustic wonderfulness are such gems as "Superstar," by Sonic Youth; "Piazza, New York Catcher," by Belle and Sebastian; a whole lot of songs by Kimya Dawson, chock-full of of her child-like voice and quirky lyrics; "All the Young Dudes," by Mott the Hoople; "Dearest," by Buddy Holly, and "Sea of Love," by Cat Power. Not my usual work soundtrack, but I like it.

As the weather cools down, so too can my musical accompaniment. Dreary and soft are my winter addiction, and lonely guys with acoustic guitars. Like this and this.

My most recent playlists are here and here. Now, I will say they cross over a bit, but I love them mucho.

I think the drearier music is like an audio form of ADHD medication for me. I can get my mood subdued, but not depressed, and it's a really great and indulgent feeling in the cold. I'll take walks in the cold nights around the block with that music, and it feels like it should. This isn't to say that I don't go for my incessantly happy tunes all season, either, I just seem to more actively opt for the soft stuff. Cuddling up in blankets with a book and music. Ah, forgive me, I'm needing to get out of the imaginary bliss.

Who doesn't like a good visual pun?


And graphs from XKCD:


After attending Deluna Fest (so super awesome, in case you were wondering), I've really gotten into the band Motopony, but especially their song "King of Diamonds." I'll call 'em rock with some kinky awesomeness in it, and lyrically, I'm seriously and legitimately in love.

I highly recommend you take three minutes to check it out. If you don't like it, then you're wrong.


So, yes, this is my musical update for the day, and I apologize it is not very substantive. I'm not feeling 100% today and, as evident in the subject line, I have a long day ahead of me.

Musically yours,
jinxstar.

Our parents are tasked with not only taking care of us (food, shelter, clothing, healthcare), but ultimately teaching us skills that will enable us to be productive and competent people when we no longer have them to take care of us. Schools can teach us lessons, too. Not just academically, but we learn to deal with people (some better than others), deal with obstacles and other exciting things that I'm too lazy to name…clearly, the work ethic didn't stick completely for me.

Anyway, I have come up with a few things that, if they don't know how do to them yet, people should learn to do. It doesn't take much to learn them, and the benefits are various, sundry and many. I'll post them one at a time to keep the posts shorter.

COOKING

I'm not suggesting that you attend culinary school, or even learn the basic French sauces. But at least learn some basics in the kitchen in order to pull of a week's worth of breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a party appetizer and drink mixed in. It is suggested that we have a diverse diet, and it is hoped that you at least know what healthy food is should you decide you actually enjoy good health and not dying of…bad health.

Eggs are incredibly simple to do, and you really can't mess them up when you know how to cook them. Learn the basic methods: frying, scrambling and hard-boiling. They're a great source of protein, and if you're feeling adventurous, you can put veggies and meats in with them for something yummy. Hard-boiled eggs are good with salads or alone. You can even do deviled eggs very easily with them: add a bit of mayo, sweet relish, a few seasonings and NOM NOM NOM. And you don't even need to really measure ingredients. Just do it to taste. As you like it. Don't add too much of an ingredient because you can always add more.

Cooking chicken, pork, steak or bacon is easy to do, as well! If you're not willing to spring for fish, you can still get by. All you need to do is cook meat long enough that it won't make you sick, and the flavoring…hey, do you like it on your food? Put it on! Cooking steak to your desired doneness may take a few tries, but you're gonna be okay if you don't get it right. I used to avoid cooking meats because I was worried I wouldn't do it right, nor would I know how. But I tried it, and I seemed to have a knack for it. Don't be afraid to experiment, especially when cooking for yourself.

Learn to cook pasta properly. Pasta is delicious and filling, plus an excellent base for adding in other ingredients. No, adding salt won't make it boil faster. That is for flavor. The amounts of salt and water you're working with are not going to have noticeable chemical changes by altering them. Salt is a flavor enhancer, and I've really started embracing this with regard to pasta. Adding olive oil while the noodles cook is really only to prevent them from boiling over. That's all I really use it for until serving. Anyway, rolling boil, have enough water and test your noodles as they cook to know when they're ready. Don't rinse pasta unless it's going in a salad. An extra technique is to finish cooking noodles in their sauce, but that's for another time. It's simple to just have pasta, some shaved parmesan, diced (even canned) tomato, fresh basil, fresh mozzarella, salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.

Muffins are easy to make, especially out of the packets. This is basically foolproof if you know how a measuring cup works and how to tell time.

Bread? Hey, beer bread! 350 degree oven. An hour or so. A cheap beer. Or good beer, if you want that flavor.
3 cups self-rising flour
2 tbsp. sugar
1 12 oz. can beer

Learn to use a knife effectively and safely. There are videos on YouTube, and you can clearly use the internet. Go.

Invest in a GOOD chef's knife and your job will be easier.

Sriracha chili sauce is likely the best thing on the face of this earth.


For a party-ready appetizer, it is incredibly easy to do simple assembly line-type appetizers. Wrap something in bacon, use a toothpick. A favorite thing I do is caprese sticks, where I take a mozzarella pearl, a cherry tomato and a basil leaf on a toothpick, then drizzle balsamic with a spot of salt and pepper, maybe even Cavender's Greek Seasoning. Hooray!

A lot of cooking is common sense and can be best done using what you think tastes good. If it doesn't work, no harm, no foul. It's a good thing to practice while single. Once you get better, expand your audience. Cooking with friends is a whole lot of fun to me, and I do take a lot of pride in what I cook for others. I can be critical of my techniques because it's an interest of mine and something I strive to do well. I like to improvise and try new things and flavor combos. Things like fresh herbs and ingredients make a HUGE difference in the final product, so use fresh ingredients whenever you can. You don't always have to order pizza, cook from a package or eat sandwiches, and you're welcome to do that sometimes. But variety is so much fun!

Please, don't torture yourself with bland food. My brother has an incredibly (and horrifyingly) strict regiment for his daily routine and meals fall into this category. I could never do what he does….I crave excitement. This is a guy that numbers his socks and indicates whether the sock is for the left or right foot because, and I quote, "They wear differently, and I don't want to have it uneven." I save this sort of meticulousness for things like organizing my music. Anyway, don't be afraid to take a chance. I think bacon goes with nearly everything, and even "candy" it to make it sweet to put into cookies. I like it like that. You may find it really weird, but I'm not cooking those for you. And you can't have them. So there.

I'll continue with fun little things I think people should learn. I'm hoping to impart knowledge upon my readers because I am genuinely altruistic like that.

Gastronomically yours,

jinxstar.

(If ever you have a drive to peruse my cruddy pictures of yummy food, you can find my album here.)

I’m apparently not very good at retiring from anything, which brings me back after yet another hiatus. Some people seem to think I write well, and I cannot deprive them of the opportunity to compliment me further. That would just be cruel, and I’m not a cruel person.
 
So…hmm. I now get to play this game of figuring out a subject on which to write.
 
The Occupy Wall Street movement has enough coverage and opinion that it doesn’t really need mine thrown in there. But, hey, to clarify, I can appreciate that these people are feeling oppressed and it’s all well and good that they want to protect my livelihood, but their attention seems too thinly spread, and it’s incredibly difficult to effect actual change through the “occupy” method, not to mention time consuming. I’m busy trying to keep the job I do have and am well aware that I have the ability to find a job that can allow me to afford certain necessities. I chose not to pursue a pricy education and opted instead for a practical one. How in God’s name anyone can justify or even actually spend upwards of $80,000+ for education is something I just do not understand. You will learn the same damn thing at your local state school and spend far less to do that. Federal financial aid is nice, but it’s incredibly possible to work and go to school, or go to school on scholarship, you just need to hold yourself to a higher standard and be tenacious.
 
As far as these amounting debts, there are things you just do not need and certainly don’t need to spend money on them if you do not have the money for it. Credit card debt is something that I avoid by not having credit cards, and if ever I do, I fully intend to only use them if AND ONLY IF I have the funds available to pay for what I’m getting. Not that I will eventually have the funds. I have to have them available immediately. Medical expenses and emergencies are negotiable, and you should always be saving for things like this. I’ll give you that it’s hard to save when living paycheck to paycheck, so debt for that is…somewhat understandable. But dammit, get yourself back in the game quick, fast and in a hurry. If you’re laid off, get a temporary job ASAP to cover the period while you look for a job for which you are qualified. Even if that temporary job is in food service, at least have some form of income so you don’t completely go through your savings.
 
(Okay, looks like I’ve found a subject.)
 
I will say that those occupying Wall Street and in large cities like Chicago, DC and Denver do have a good order and organization about them. That’s helpful and you don’t look like completely misguided and incompetent hippies. I read a survey that said a generous portion of protestors actually do have jobs. I would be too busy at my job to ensure that I still had it, and be comforted by the fact that there are other protestors to perpetuate my interests. You still have to feed your family and pay for their needs and not just lark about in a public square.
 
I’m not going to sit here and deny that corruption exists or people will be taken advantage of, but businesses exist to profit. Otherwise, they cannot be around very long. You need to know what you’re getting into before dealing with a business. I was once told by a professor about the Stupid Tax. She said that everyone pays his or her stupid tax in their own way. Maybe it’s being materialistic, maybe it’s making poor relationship choices, poor judgment on an investment…it’s not always in money that you pay. I have lost generous progress in school, career, etc. because, well, anyone that has known me in the last two years knows why. Long story short, it has hindered my ability to execute plans I had, and I’m hopefully not going to make the same mistake. People need to learn from their Stupid Tax, lest they have to pay it again and again. It’s when you continue in the same vein and continue with the stupidity that you’re the only common denominator and you need to figure out how to not let it happen again. A terrifying real-life example is when people declare bankruptcy MULTIPLE TIMES. Really? We can’t make you not spend money, but when you’re causing other to lose money…you’re not being very responsible nor considerate. I hope someone teabags your cereal.
 
And you know what’s really annoying? Airplane food!
 
Hope y’all appreciate and discuss.
-jinxstar.

Aaaaaaaand I'm baaaaaack.
Sorry for the, er, 2 year long hiatus, folks. I have been indescribably busy and my mind has been everywhere except blogging. Alas, my dear readers, have no fear because I am back.

A lot has changed over the last two years, hasn't it? Not just in my own life, but in the world. Excrement has hit the fan, the fan got clean, people wanted to change the fan, and now, there's oil on the fan that needs cleaning. AND there's been a third Toy Story film. Honestly, that's change there, my friends.


Since I was involved in a rousing internet debate today, the kind in which there were people smart enough to know they're smart, but arrogant enough to believe that makes them more right than others. It was fun, but then it got really disturbing. I was disturbed specifically by someone claiming to be a utopian. This person believed that people are inherently good and don't need rules to tell them what is right and what is wrong. That's all well and good, but so many people don't fit into this category, no matter how much the person wishes for them to.

The utopian with whom I debated claimed that we should plan for that which we wish. I found this to be incredibly delusional, ignorant, and generally in denial. Here's why: you have to orient yourself to the reality that exists, and operate within that reality. You can't just ignore how things are and pretend they're the way you want them to be.
I presented several scenarios in which one can imagine, but reality remains.

1. I wear a size 6, and one's hips don't change size. I want to fit into a size 2. So, I buy size 2 clothes. The reality is that I cannot wear those clothes because I'm a size 6.


2. I pay for a soda and taco with a nickel because that's what I believe they should cost. The reality is that they cost $2.99, and the restaurant staff won't be happy with me for trying to operate under an ideal that does not coincide with the reality.


3. I want people to all get along. The problem is that there are some generally unpleasant people in this world that will not get along with anyone except for themselves. You cannot will others to do something they do not want to do.

Cynicism does not require one to lack faith in people. It implies that one is rightfully dubious of something. In this case, I expect that people will go on being selfish because that is what people do. Now, I do acknowledge that there are people in this world who do good for the purpose of doing good. Some people do good for recognition. Some people do good because they don't want to do bad. Many just exist to serve themselves (and hopefully their kids). Some exist to do bad, because, darn it, they can.

Society shapes some of these people to be the way they are. But, more often than not there is choice involved in doing bad and/or good. It is absurd to remove people's individual responsibility for their own actions and pin them on society. It's also absurd to assume that people are not self-serving.

Many people do not need rules to tell them what is right and what is wrong. But rules exist because there are people who would commit actions if there were not rules prohibiting them. Even still, there will be people who violate these rules.

Recall, if you will, when you were a teenager. Your parents most likely imposed upon you certain rules, the most common of which was to clean your room because it's a pigsty. If you did not clean your room, you'd be grounded. Why would you clean your room? Would you clean it because it should be orderly? Would you clean it so you wouldn't get grounded? Would you not clean it on principle or because you just don't feel like it?

I would like to think this is an allegory for life's later decisions with regard to the law. The cleaning for the sake of tidiness people will do right because it is right. The cleaning it to avoid being grounded people will be the people who would speed if not for the consequences of getting caught. And the other people are the ones that break the law.

I'm sure there's a world of opinions on this matter, and I would be open to hearing them and trying to understand them. Please, feel free to comment.

Take care, have fun.
Jinx.

As of 3/15/08, without much investigation, here is what I have come up with, and in no particular order yet.

• Goddamnit!, Alkaline Trio


• Even If It Kills Me, Motion City Soundtrack


• In Defense of the Genre, Say Anything


• Grace, Jeff Buckley


• Infinity on High, Fall Out Boy


• Out of Time, REM


• Static Prevails ORBleed American, Jimmy Eat World


• The Blue Album, Weezer


• Intervention and Lullabyes OR Dog Problems OR EP, The Format


• Deluxe, Better Than Ezra


• Pablo Honey, Radiohead


• Crash, Dave Matthews Band


• August and Everything After OR This Desert Life, Counting Crows


• Yourself or Someone Like You, Matchbox 20


• The Black Parade, My Chemical Romance

I seem to really favor the emo/punk/pop-punk genre. However, there are some albums on here that you might be surprised to find from me, a la Grace and Out Of Time. I have not yet perused my collection to figure out other albums, and I know that all of these are from post 1980, and most within this millennium. It is hard to go through a collection as vast as mine, so I will eventually get a much more varied list, as well as an explanation of my reasoning.

Let me know your favorites, or what you think of mine.

Greeting readers,

As you may or may not have heard, the writers' strike has ended, and the writers went back to work this morning, ready to rescues their script readers that have either been left with nothing and thus did not air, or have been forced to improvise. What has this accomplished? Well, I believe that, in terms of those left to improvise and do without, it managed to forcefully filter the good from the bad. Obviously, it is the shows that air daily that were most affected, and we saw several return from an extended break in January to try to go it alone. Late night talk shows are my topic of interest here. We saw guys like Leno, Conan, Carson, Dave, Jimmy, John and Colbert try to carry on strong without the support of their (usually) merit-worthy teams of writers. The question upon their return was "Could they still make people laugh?" In many cases, the answer was yes. Most certainly. We saw who stood out.

I have always liked Colbert, Stewart, Leno, and Conan, and those were the ones about whom I was naturally less concerned. I have never really seen Carson Daly as all that intriguing. While he has vestiges of charisma, and perhaps a certain amount rapport with the TRL generation, I do not think he is all that entertaining. Some of the hosts have had previous stand-up comedy experience, but fewer have had much improv experience. Colbert drew upon his ability to improve even before the strike, and during the ordeal, it certainly served him well. Many people found that my guys (Colbert, Stewart, Leno, Conan) were even better than before.

Conan certainly took advantage of the time that he needed to fill in very creative ways. He took suggestions from viewers, performing various stunts based upon them. He rode ziplines (with rocket shoes), toured the NBC Studios, gave an audience member a few hundred bucks to go to an upstairs vending machine and buy food for the other audience members, and repeated his wedding ring spin game while chasing his 41 second record (which he eventually broke). He had fun with his show. He made the best of a challenging situation. That is what I enjoy about hosts...when you can tell that they throughly enjoy their show.

One of the most notable uses of the lack of written material was something I have mentioned in an earlier post: the Colbert-Stewart-O'Brien Huckabee Creation affair. Also common? Strike jokes aplenty. The strike beard card was played, and even tonight, upon the writers' return, there were small gags regarding the return. Colbert made note of how he trimmed his strike beard downtown, saying the guys in the steam room would be relieved. I particularly enjoyed having the introduction back, during which the show content was summarized, followed by his "This is The Colbert Report." Tonight? "The writers are back! And, man, are they sexy! This is Th--...who wrote this?!" Wonderful. He also individually welcomed the writers back with a very pep-rally-esque style, complete with rousing music and lights. Apparently, Kevin Bacon is also on his writing staff, making an amusing cameo.

Jon Stewart's writers' return was made light of, saying that the first show back would be similar to what happens when you have been away from your home for quite a while, and the water is brown when you turn it on. The first story was on the Westminster Dog Show, and John Oliver's pompous Englishman character's reaction. "The beagle? Oh, dear!" *faint.* The pun at the end was groaningly lame: it is a huge advance in the war on terrier. Hey, I laughed. I also enjoyed his recollection of how he knew the writers were definitely back: words on the prompter, "The" Daily Show (instead of the temporary "A"), and the vending machines upstairs had sold out of Funions. Clever.
As I type this, I am anxiously awaiting the return of writers to the rest of the late night shows, and I hope I am equally satisfied.

In terms of the weekly series, I will not receive my satisfaction for a few months, while they catch up on the full production of new episodes. It has been researched that the strike has not really affected television viewership, perhaps due to the syndication of our favorite shows, and the occasional airing of material recorded prior to the strike. House, MD carried on, taking a good long leave up until the week before the Super Bowl, in which they would air three episodes from Tuesday to Tuesday, catching the coveted post-Super Bowl slot with a special episode featuring the Academy Award-winning Mira Sorvino. But now, House fans are left with an indefinite hiatus. Some have said that Season 4 stopped with 12 episodes. Others are saying it is just a mid-season break (previous seasons have had about 24 episodes each). Me? I will just wait impatiently, reading fanfiction to pass the time. LOST has obviously done some convenient forethought, beginning to air the fourth season two weeks prior to the end of the strike. Scrubs plans to resume its final season, giving fans a sigh of relief. Imagine how rough a Scrubs cliffhanger would be! Grey's fans were the ones that annoyed me most: whine, whine, whine. I wonder how many people pay any attention to the production of shows, so long as their story is finished, their fix secured. Sad, sad, sad.

And on with the awards shows, they have been relentless. They shall go on. Before the end of the strike, it had been agreed upon that the writers could and would write material for the Academy Awards, which, really, is an anomaly to me. As Colbert once put it: it is pablum. (Good evening, godless Sodomites. Let's give you a golden idol to worship: kneel before your god, Babylon!) Ah, that wit.

Alas, back to the scripts, but hopefully the excitement and novelty of strike-era episodes will remain. And to the writers: you are apparently not as vital as you thought. (Okay, sure, I know the hosts appreciate and missed their writers, but the shows went on without them, and several without much of a flinch).

Critically yours,

jinxstar.

Greetings, Readers.

As you may or may not know, I am a TV Junkie. And as such, I often find myself bereaving the passing of several classy programs, be they taken in their infancy or in the midst of success. I know what you're thinking: if the show is as good as you seem to think it is, Jinxy, then it would not have been cancelled. But, my friend, it is not always the case. Perhaps it is networks not placing enough emphasis on the devout fan reaction. Yes, the strongest force in the fandom, those devouts. I am one such individual in several fandoms. Do I need to list them? Okay, the living ones first: House MD, Heroes, Lost, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, Scubs (although terminal), The Colbert Report, Daily Show, Law and Order: SVU, Degrassi: The Next Generation, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and South Park. Classy, I know. Now, for the deceased: Veronica Mars, Live as We Know It, The Nine, The Mole, Battle for Ozzfest, Daria, Monty Python. Yes, you might notice there are many popular shows missing from my lists. I am not one to participate in a trend only for conversational "I watch that show, too!" purposes, but I might join in because I want to see why people like it so much. So, I have seen my own fair share of Friends, The OC, 24, Laguna Beach, and The Hills episodes. And others, I just cannot remember them off the top of my head. Oh, the fandoms! They are so exciting: you have your inter-fan fighting, shipwars, flame wars, conspiracy theorists, etc. I love it. I mean, I do not buy into conspiracies, but cannot resist the sporadic idiocy, or far-fetched and stretching of canonical fact.
So, what is my point? I want to tell you about some fantastic shows, give them my own personal eulogies. I will focus on the first three I listed: Veronica Mars, Life As We Know It, and The Nine. The latter of the two were cancelled in their freshman seasons, after about 11 and 9 aired respectively. Why must the good die so young?!

Veronica Mars, UPN and The CW
What do you get when you combine Buffy's wit and Sherlock's logic? I am not sure, but perhaps Veronica Mars could be related. Appealing to the ever-fickle teen demographic, Mars is set in suburban California, with the eponymous main character in high school for the first two seasons, and in college for the final one. Ms. Mars (Kristin Bell) has gone from the ever-exclusive and revered 09ers group, thus dubbed from the elite 90909 zip code of the fictional Neptune, CA, to outcast land after the murder of her 09er best friend, Lily Kane. Mars' father, Keith, is the former sheriff of Neptune, ousted after a foiled investigation of Lily's murder, and is now one of Neptune's top PI's. Veronica takes after her father in terms of deductive reasoning and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Taking on cases of her classmates, Veronica builds a reputation as a girl that one ought not mess with, and she often bites off more than she should chew. Murders, rapes, adultery, corruption, and gangs? Oh, sounds like the best of our prisons. What I love about the show, though, is not really related the whole crime thing. I will admit, however, that watching the show has sharpened my observation skills and logic. My favorite parts of the show would have to be the relationship between Veronica and Keith, and most of her relationships for that matter. Years of exposure to liars, criminals, cons, and other such shady types have left Veronica jaded and untrusting. This obviously complicates potential friendships and intimate relationships.
The format of the show involves mini-plots within every episode, plus one or two season-long story arcs. Little clues and hints are dropped in nearly episode that can lead to the solution of the major mystery at hand. Cool, huh? Add to this a killer soundtrack (with a theme by the Dandy Warhols and a tracklisting of other such indie superstars), and a QVC-like display of beautiful people, my attraction to the series is easy to substantiate.
You can find all three seasons on DVD, and on iTunes. There was also a soundtrack from season one released. Also, if you are into young adult novels from the creator of the show, Rob Thomas has a book out from the 90s called Rats Saw God, which ranks among one of my favorites.

Life As We Know It, ABC.
Based on the British novel Doing It by Melvin Burgess, Life As We Know It aired on ABC from the fall of 2004 to mid-winter 2005. Ah, it was like a paradise of teen angst and wit. It even had Kelly Osbourne! How could you say no? Apparently ABC did, after low ratings, and the competition with The OC. So, they flushed the show during November sweeps, and sent it off to boot camp at MTV, where it apparently did well. Being as heartless as everyone believes them to be, ABC cancelled the show for good.
The show's narration was built upon characters breaking the fourth wall in the middle of scenes, stepping forward to get their monologue on, or perhaps a sililoquy (YAY! I have been trying to work that word into use for a while now) here and there while the scene either pauses or continues on around them. It is pretty neat, really. The story circles around six main characters, all in high school, and in the same social circle. Osbourne's Deborah and Chris Lowell's Jonathon are in the infantile stages of a relationship that, before the cancellation, had been on the brink of the big milestone of intimacy: SEX! The main main character is Dino Whitman (portrayed admirably by Sean Faris), who is the high school's hockey stud and full of well-concealed teenaged angst. His parents have a crumbling relationship, with his mother cheating on his father with his hockey coach; his own relationship with girlfriend Jackie (Missie Peregrym) rests on thin foundations. His best friend (Jonathon being another) Ben Connor (portrayed by Jon Foster) is in the ever-risqué persual of a young teacher, Miss Young (Marguerite Moreau). Oh, the suspense! Although the story is slow to progress, I still have an affinity for it: if the drink is good, I will keep trying to get all I can, even if it is being delivered with an IV drip-like speed.
Again, the show boasts of a fantastic soundtrack, with such gems as Damien Rice's "Cannonball," Brand New's "Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot," Snow Patrol's "Run," and The Postal Service's "Such Great Heights." Good times, good times. Also, a highlight: after Dino punches out his hockey coach as a result of finding out about his mother's affair, Dino is required to attend sessions with a school counselor. I now have an affinity with midget counselors because of it. There is a scene in which you see Dino with iPod earbuds plugged into the counselor's iPod, and vice versa. This amused me, because Dino had not found it necessary to utilize the counseling service, and thus did not talk with him, but eventually they grew to respect each other...via music. It was great.
The inaugural/lone season is available on DVD. I think you might have to look for it on eBay, though.

The Nine, ABC.
I am not normally one for crime dramas, but this one caught me from the start. Taking the time slot on Wednesdays after Lost during its third season, The Nine was heavily advertised, and usually pretty convenient to catch. The pilot sets up the entire story: nine people connected by one incident, a traumatic bank robbery turned 52-hour hostage situation. In each installment, we learn a bit more about what really happened in the bank during the siege, and how each of the nine is coping with what happened. We see how it has affected them, mostly in their relationships with each other and their families, friends, and significant others. Several of the nine already knew each other in varying capacities: there is a father-daughter pair (the father is portrayed by Chi McBride and is probably the standout performer as the bank manager), a couple that experiences problems (including a pregnancy that the girl was going to tell the guy about just before the siege, but never got the chance) post-siege who also work together at a hospital, two sisters (bank employees), a DA, a renegade cop, and the bank robbers, who are brothers. One character, the eccentric Eagan Foote, sought to kill himself the day of the siege, and had been experiencing a marital slump. Post-siege, he has found new reasons to carry on, being a hero and getting his 15 minutes of fame have given him new aspirations to change his life. His wife does not appreciate this enthusiasm, and he is then booted from the home.
At various points in the episodes aired, several characters contact their captives in jail, mostly the vulnerable of the two, Lucas. As small insights into the events during the 52 hours of captiviity are revealed, we are left with more questions, and this definitely peaked my interest in a similar vein to Lost. And, as you can expect, the soundtrack has its merits. "When The Stars Go Blue," by Ryan Adams serenades us during the pilot, Coldplay's "Amsterdam," "Be Here Now," Ray LaMontagne. Ah, there is nothing better than a delicately lonely soundtrack.
All aired and unaired episodes of The Nine (13, I believe) are available on iTunes.

Alas, these shows were gone far too soon.
And it is for thee I mourn.
I strongly encourage you to seek out these late programs and enjoy them yourselves. They were fantastic, and continue to be, even in death.

But, at the present time, I have a Tuna Parmesean Pasta to tend to, and I wish you all well.
In memoriam,

jinxstar.

Michael Moore is the bane of my politically lazy existence.
His size is not the point.
His voice isn't what annoys me the most.
I get that he wants people to be educated. That's all fine and dandy.

But he is a muckraker. A poop slinger.
He goes through annoying means that end up inciting some sort of riotous (usually quiet or at least a general level of rebellion) opinions, that give people a terrible view of a government that does as they believe best for the country.

I do not like talking politics. I am not good at it. But this is an observation on our country. I am allowed that. Opinions cannot be wrong unless they are silent. That is what you rebellious types say, right? It seems I cannot beat you, so I will join you.

I can understand that you, your mom, and all of your friends might not like our president, but keep in mind that he would have been impeached if he was not acting appropriately on the country's behalf. That is the joy of the country and freedom. We can object to our presidents' beliefs, etc. And I believe there is a certain level of ignorance in a majority of our objecting population. Citing what Michael Moore and others like him bring up and "research" does not count. Many people that have done the appropriate research and spent their adult lives in the field of political science, sociology, psychology, and other fields of that nature seem supportive of our government.
Exciting.

If we cannot come together in support of our country and what qualified professionals believe is right for it, then we are divided. That is not good. You know what happens when things divide? They are smaller. Then there are all of these lovers' spats, custody battles, and crying children. Yeah. I went there with a divorce metaphor.

Anyway, we will continue this metaphor: Michael Moore and his kind are like prostitutes. They are tempting us, and I sure do love learning new things, but I am a lawfully wedded spouse, and thus should not covet thy neighbors naughty bits. We cannot deviate from our spouse, one that we have been with as long as we can remember, that cares about us, and will protect us. If we do divorce, we need a valid reason. We are allowed that option, and yet it is quite obvious that we have not been driven to this end yet. I cannot continue this metaphor properly (my parents are divorced).

I advise us to stay united here. We might not agree on simple personal things like abortion, like gay marriage. These affect not our country but our persons. Yes, I would love free health-care. Trust me, I would. Of course, you know, those pesky taxes. Then those that could not afford it. You know that feeling you get when you pay for a DVD, and then you find out that someone downloaded it on LimeWire after you'd spent your money? That one? Yeah.


And I would not be surprised in Moore attacked taxes after healthcare gets revised and improved. Something about poorly distributed taxes.

I am a rather lazy political being. I do not think my say has any values because I am not qualified enough to make any of the decisions that our politicians and people of power do. Knowledge is power. If you are not qualified and experienced, then you are meddling and causing a ruckus. Really, it accomplishes nothing. I highly doubt I would benefit from any of my own political decisions, so I am not getting involved in changing policies. I am not being oppressed. If it ever happens, I will get a bit more active. Until then, though, I am going with our government.
Sure, you can say I am ignorant, but I really do not want to defend my opinions, because there is no point. I know I am ignorant. And I am satisfied with that, 'cause I am not making any important decisions.

On a related note (politics...this is a very rare topic I discuss, and when I do, I tend to want to clear most of it up in one go-round), Americans are spoiled. It is not that I do not think we deserve most of the things we, as citizens, have, but by comparison to most other countries, we have it GOOD. The second someone tries to impede on our freedoms, we throw a hissy fit. Let us use the Patriot Act for an example. We have had a right to privacy for quite some time, and this right has been abused by certain people that wish to do harm to this country. Yes, it is a shame that a few people have spoiled the batch for the rest of us, but it is how it is. For the safety of our country, I am willing to hand over some of my privacy if I believe that it is truly going to help our country. I do not think that the government has abused their power, I think that our nation's safety is more important than keeping the government from knowing what I am doing, especially because I am doing nothing that would warrant any suspicion. And if I had something to hide, then the government has a responsibility to prevent such wrongdoing from happening.
Another way in which our citizens are like the 15 year-old brats on My Super Sweet 16 is the way we complain about censorship. We have what is likely the most lenient censorship policy in the world. We are lucky. Is it an inalienable right? I think it is dependent upon the potential harm that the material could cause. I believe that most of our citizens have the capacity to self-censor what they do not think is appropriate or at least acceptable, and that is something I believe is the best way to preserve our freedom of expression. However, there are those that do not believe that they should have to self-censor: everything should be socially acceptable. The problem here is that "social acceptability" varies from citizen to citizen. Who, therefore, is right? "One man's vulgarity is another man's lyric." If you do not think your children should watch, say, South Park, tell them that you believe that it is not appropriate. You cannot completely keep them from watching, but you probably can teach them not to emulate the behavior on the show. Do not enable the behavior, do not let it go unpunished or unrecognized. That is your responsibility as a parent. If you would like to raise them one way, you can do so (so long as it does not actually harm them), but you should not have the power to deem how another is supposed to perform their parenting duties (again, short of harming the children). Harm, I should mention, should be defined as lasting hurt to the child.
My point to people is that I do not like to hear all of these people complaining about things like this. We are spoiled. If something goes away, I can almost guarantee that the government is acting for the greater good of the country. I highly doubt they will ever do something without what is generally accepted as good reason.
Care to argue? I encourage it. Put me in my place if you want. I just ask that you JUSTIFY it...with facts. Not speculation. Not conspiracy. None of that. I want facts.

And thus concludes my segment on "The Only Thing I Really Have To Say About Politics. And Michael Moore.".

Ready to stir,
Jinxstar.

PS: Colbert/Stewart vs. Conan? Oh, yeah. I was STOKED!

Greetings, readers.

Firstly, I would like to apologize for the delay in posts: the past few days have spent doing pretty much nothing, aside from the occasional scholastic obligation, and perhaps a fair quantity of food. Oh, and I did some laundry. For some reason that I just cannot identify, I have been inordinately sleepy. Ever since I moved into my new condominium, I have been tired all the time. I go to sleep by 1 AM every night, and during the week I am awake sometime between 7:00 and 7:30AM. Even when I manage to sleep by 11, I still find that I am tired. I stay awake through the morning, and, inevitably, by around 3, I am ready to crash. And I do. I nap for about an hour and a half, and then I am sleepy again before 1. I do not have the energy to do much of anything, and I hate being tired more than anything in the world. To me, it is the equivalent of pain. Perhaps I should exercise more than I do, and maybe that will give me endorphins by which I might fuel myself. Oh, well.

Secondly, Lost made the season four premiere on Thursday night, and they did not let us down. The show offered us the mystery (and misery) we have come to expect and anticipated. But the problem I am finding these days, and I do not feel that I am alone in this complaint, is that the show does not offer us enough answers in comparison to the questions with which they leave us. For example, I still want to know whose funeral Jack attended (and was the lone attendee...I still think it was Ben's). And, of course, who Naomi's people are and what they want. Then, the writers have thrown us more questions, such as why are these people trying to get Hurley to tell them about "other people." He mentioned the "Oceanic 6," and if he means that only six returned to their respective homes, we know half of them: Hurley, Jack, and Kate. But, with the new information, we know that there was a final schism on the island: those that followed Locke, and those that followed Jack. Hurley went with Locke. So we cannot, therefore, assume that it was one of the two groups that were the sole rescuees. I guess we are to assume that these "other people" (note, I am distinguishing between this set of people and THE Others...and I still am not quite clear on where they went either...) are still on the island. Or, perhaps the "other people" are not keeping in contact with Oceanic Airlines in some kind of investigation. Perhaps (big conspiracy here) Oceanic is in cahoots with (bum bum BUM...) the Dharma initiative or THE Others. Ah! My head might explode.

Thirdly, we have a fued amongst talk show hosts! Conan O'Brien of NBC vs. Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart of Comedy Central/Viacom. Backstory alert!:
Throughout the presidential campaign, Colbert has had candidate Mike Huckabee appear as a guest on several occasions. Each time, Huckabee's numbers in the polls have increased, receiving what Colbert has dubbed the "Colbert Bump." Also on these occasions, Huckabee has offered forth the running mate position to Colbert (hopefully in satire). Therefore, Colbert has claimed that he "made Huckabee."
On the campaign trail, Mike Huckabee has had the tagalong support of THE Chuck Norris. For quite some time, after NBC had bought the rights to Norris' hit show Walker, Texas Ranger, O'Brien had reveled in this fact, incorporating something called "The Walker, Texas Ranger Lever" that, when pulled, would air a scene from said show. O'Brien utilized the Walker Lever on several occasions. His claim, therefore, is that he "made Chuck Norris", who in turn "made Mike Huckabee."
Now, obviously, there is conflict. Who ultimately made Mike Huckabee? Well, the two hosts have offered back and forth banter in which each defends his logic to the other's rebuttal. Conan claimed that he made Colbert, as he appeared as a guest on Conan's show. Earlier this week, as Colbert was about to concede, he was stopped abruptly by his mentor, Jon Stewart. Stewart offered Colbert some evidence that he himself had made Conan, and therefore made Huckabee. This evidence came in the form of a VHS recording (gasp!) of Stewart's eponymous show on MTV from the 90s, in which Stewart introduces O'Brien as a guest.
And finally, on his Friday recording, O'Brien addressed this last argument made by Stewart/Colbert. He claimed that he had trumped them both: a photograph showing O'Brien as the doctor that delivered both Stewart and Colbert at the same time. Now, all reason aside, O'Brien believes that this should be the end of the argument, assuring his opponents that should they continue the quarrel, O'Brien will personally defend himself at the tiny cable network studio of the offending pundits. And that is where the issue stands as of now. Who really made Huckabee? My opinion is that Colbert did, because his claim was made first. Colbert had more direct influence on Huckabee's success, Conan merely played a secondary, even tertiary role in the making of Mike Huckabee. Alas, the ball is now in the Comedy Central court. I am anxious to see the resolution.

On to soundtracking. More specifically, movie soundtracks. Now, I know that many people in my generation are firm in the belief that the Garden State soundtrack is the best of the genre. While it has its merits, I have to disagree. First off because I really did not appreciate the movie as others seem to have done, and also because I think that it was likely media hype and bias that lead people to purchase the movie and soundtrack.
I have several favorite movie soundtracks, mostly from this millenium, and I have decided to share them with you. Eventually (probably in my next entry), I will offer the review of the albums, but for now, I will simply name them.
My Favorite Soundtracks

• Wedding Crashers


• Catch and Release


• American Wedding


• Juno


• I Am Sam


• Can't Hardly Wait


• John Tucker Must Die


• Love Actually


• What Women Want


• Forrest Gump

Note: these are all film soundtracks, not musicals or television shows. Of course, on those lists, you would probably see Rent and Wicked; The OC (making indie more mainstream), Veronica Mars, House, Scrubs, Grey's Anatomy. Also note that liking the film/TV show/musical itself plays no role whatsoever in my appreciation of the soundtrack. I look forward to reviewing my favorite soundtracks.

Until Monday, readers: enjoy your weekend.

Somewhere out there,
jinxstar.