Five Movies I Drop Everything To Watch

I forget that when I don't have anything pressing to write about - and even when I do - there are always reliable go-tos. Specifically, other people's blogs. I believe I've already ripped off borrowed from a couple. Today's post idea comes courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, whom I've just started reading, so congratulations, me, on making it to 2008, Internet Time.

What was my point? Oh yeah - five movies I drop everything to watch.

1. The Philadelphia Story

Let's just ignore that whole misogynistic gender-role nonsense and get on with the good stuff, okay? "CK Dexter Haven! OH! CK DEXTER HAAAAAAVEN!" Greatest scene ever featuring both Cary Grant and James Stewart. Did you know the burp and response was ad-libbed? Perfection. And the lines: "The right time to make up your mind about people is never;" "Doggone it CK Dexter Haven! Either I'm gonna sock you or you're gonna sock me;" "We all go haywire at times and if we don't, maybe we ought to." Love.

2. Little Women

I'm cheating a little here, since I'll accept the Katharine Hepburn as Jo version, but prefer the Elizabeth Taylor as Amy one. Sidebar: How did I not know that was Janet Leigh? Oh yeah - I've never actually seen Psycho. Anyway, I re-read the book every few years and will always watch the movie. Mom gave me a copy of the when I was young and didn't understand why a person might wear one glove and carry the other - I'm still working on that one, truthfully. And I still have the book.

3. Gone With the Wind

Carol Burnett was my introduction to the green-velvet-curtains-as-dress scene, but I learned quickly to appreciate the original. (Burnett introduced me to Mildred Pierce, too; I really need to see her version again now that I'm more familiar with the movie.) The length of GWTW is a bonus - no matter where you come in, there's at least another hour to watch. The scene with the horse-drawn wagon under the bridge always gets me, not to mention the idea of eating before one goes to a barbecue. As God is my witness, I'll think about that tomorrow.

4. Moonstruck

"Rich as Roosevelt" has made a home in my regular speech, as has "you have such a head for knowing." I love this movie down to the shade of lipstick Loretta wears to the opera. Olympia Dukakis is brilliant as Rose, and for once, Nicolas Cage's overacting actually works for his character. I just wish more people knew what I was talking about when I yell for Chrissy to bring me the big knife.

5. Casablanca

It took me years to understand why Ilsa leaving with Victor was the right ending and I'm still not sure I completely agree. This movie's got it all - a great cast, great cinematography, great dialogue, and a great story. Even though you've heard the most famous lines thousands of times, they still work, and the expression on Rick's face while he stands on the train, looking for Ilsa and holding the rain-smeared letter, is a heart-wrencher.

On a different day, my top five might include Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, 12 Monkeys (I'm still trying to figure it all out, not to mention my favorite Brad Pitt role), or Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Basically, sit me down in front of Turner Classic Movies and I'm probably content.

What is feminism?

"Ignoring male rape not only neglects men, it also harms women by reinforcing a viewpoint that equates 'female' with 'victim', thus hampering our ability to see women as strong and empowered. In the same way, silence about male victims reinforces unhealthy expectations about men and their supposed invulnerability."

According to Sars, "feminism" is what it says it is in the dictionary: n (1895) 1 : the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes. I'm sure that includes the knowing that women are deserving of the same respect, as humans, that men are.

What about the knowing that people come in many and varied flavors and those don't fall down easily drawn lines of distinction? The knowing that who you love and how you love are between you and your lovers, because that you love is where God works? Because it isn't true that we're all the same underneath. The point is that we are all different and deserve to be treated with respect anyway. We all come from the same creator, whatever you believe that creator to be. Love makes us all precious.

An illustration of our national debt

Our national debt, in convenient graphic format. That "enough for a great vacation" and "approximately one year of work for the average human on earth" describe the same amount of money is the ultimate WTF.

Flashback: Help Ferndale Early Education!

I got a message from the teacher who proposed this project - it was completed! Yay! Thanks to all who helped - no donation's too small (well, I don't know if they process charges under $1, but you get my point) and every child helped is a victory.

One Cat. Cheap.

It is not a good week over here Treeville. My aging cat, who has both thyroid and kidney issues, has decided that there shall be no sleeping while he is awake. I try to cut him slack, knowing it was me who decided to give him his medicine crushed up in baby food to avoid shoving it down his throat. However, it was never my intention to do it at four in the morning, which is when he's decided he's ready for his treat.

I also have to give him leeway as far as his living conditions go - he is not a cat who likes change, you see, and things have changed dramatically in his house. There's another person living in it. The cat loves this other person, but shows it by making a nuisance of himself ALL. THE. TIME. Especially when we, the humans, are trying to sleep.

I could just close the bedroom door - I'd have to rehang it first - but A) he's already vocal and B) did I mention his kidneys? He pees occasionally in places that are not litterboxes. It doesn't have to happen a lot for the memory to linger, if you know what I mean, and we've already got one room that's off-limits until the carpet is ripped out. I fear his retribution, is what I'm saying.

He's a terrorist, basically. Skilled in chemical warfare. He wins.

And I'm exhausted. I actually took a couple of hours off work yesterday to go home and take a nap before yoga. A nap. Before yoga. Which was a good thing, since we did downward dog into plank into upward dog back to downward dog at least 10 times. I don't think I would have made it without collapsing if not for that nap.

Tonight I'm saving strength for a conversation I'm not only not looking forward to, but have to drive 40 miles each way to have. Then there's the organizing and purging of stuff to allow for the aforementioned carpet removal this weekend - this weekend that I was supposed to be at the beach. That's my second beach trip this summer denied, if you're counting. And it's supposed to be over 100 degrees all weekend. Picture a face with two eyes and a straight line for a mouth right here.

I mean, I was looking forward to being away and being at the beach and spending time with my friend's family, but mostly? Three blessed nights of sleeping without the cat. I may go spend a night at Mom's just to get some rest.

We drink their milkshake

Later, when the America wanted to snake the UNOCAL pipeline out of Turkmenistan, through Afghanistan to Pakistan, millions of dollars were given to the Taliban to let the America build the biggest sipping straw ever.

Henry Rollins might just be the sexiest, scariest man on Earth.

Henry Rollins: I am angry and curious. These two things propel me forward. I come from the minimum-wage working world. I have no illusions as to where I should have ended up. I have really nothing to lose, and so I go.

Yep.

From The AV Club

I’ve always thought that cynicism is a disease of the young, contrary to what other people seem to think. I think when you’re young, it seems clever to be cynical, but once you get to about 40 or something, you start to realize that actually, things are even worse than you ever expected, so if you’re going to make it through this life, you actually have to be more positive.

Set List: Joe Jackson

I should have been there!

I come from the same generation as Heavy Metal Parking Lot, the much-bootlegged documentary on drunk and stoned metal fans tailgating before a 1986 Judas Priest/Dokken show in Maryland.

I was on my way there. The guy that drove us didn't know where he was going and I wasn't paying attention 'til I saw the Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge. We got there in the middle of Dokken's set.

I am still bitter.

But. One of the best pictures of me ever taken was taken that night, before we left. (I don't have it on this 'puter, but will post it when I can get to it.)

The warm-up post before the wedding post (No, not MY wedding)

Prince Wills looks way too much like my friend B. I'm going to be surprised one day when I see B with his actual wife, as I sort of imagine B as next to next in line for the British throne and vacationing on the left side of the pond.

Oh, Orrin...

"I hear how they're so caring for the poor and so forth," Hatch said in remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, in reference to Democrats. "The poor need jobs! And they also need to share some of the responsibility."

Really, Senator Hatch? Really? Does the phrase "you can't get blood from a stone" mean anything to you?

You know what, Senator? I understand your position. You were the first in your family to go to college and you worked your way up the occupational ladder until you got to the Senate. You've worked hard for what you have; why should you be asked to give more back?

And these poor people who won't get jobs - such laziness! I mean, everyone should be willing to work for less than a living wage, no matter how many children they have. Work two jobs if you have to!

I'm sure the fact that you are white and male didn't hurt you as you applied to college and for each job you've held. Not to mention that you were smart enough to avoid criminal charges in your youth. To avoid being diagnosed - or worse, actually afflicted - with a disease or disability.

You weren't born to old money, sir? So you were born on second base, then, and got batted in? Because make no mistake, Senator Hatch. Not everyone is born with the privilege from which you've benefited. What privilege? The privilege of being white and male.

Maybe poker is more your game. It was this analogy that really made me understand privilege, so perhaps it will work for you. Jack and John are playing poker. Jack doesn't know it, but the rules for John are different than the rules for Jack. It's very subtle and very hard to pick out, but over time, Jack has amassed a pile of money while John has much less. It's not that John is a bad player. The rules are different for John, and it's much harder for John to keep up. So hard, in fact, that John starts to wonder if the rules are holding him back.

After hours of playing this way, the dealer finally says "Hey! This isn't fair! You guys can't really compete with each other unless you're playing by the same rules." Jack, being a fair-minded man, says fine. Let's play by the same rules. Now we have a level playing field." John, also fair-minded, says "No, we don't. If you agree that the rules robbed me of the chance to keep pace with you, you must also agree that it's only fair to share what you've won so far with me."

Jack leans back in his chair. "But this is mine! I won it. We'll start playing by fair rules now, but it's not my fault the rules worked in my favor before. Why should I be penalized?"

You aren't being penalized, Mr. Hatch. You have more than you could ever possibly need. Neither you nor your children nor their children will ever have to worry about being one paycheck away from homelessness. They will never have to wear used clothing. They will never have to take showers at the Y. They will never know what it means to literally not know where their next meal is coming from.

But that's what happens to people who don't have your privilege. Whether it's the color of their skin, their gender, their background, or their physical ability, many people can't just get jobs. (I don't know whether you've noticed, but there aren't a hell of a lot of jobs out there. Trickle-down economics hasn't.) They can't keep up.

But you can, can't you? And it isn't your fault that the rules favored you. You just happened to be born in the right skin. Congratulations.

Wouldn't it be nice if you shared some of your good fortune?

There be Dragons here!

Finally! A Dance with Dragons is here! Now all I have to do is wait for it to come out in paperback.

Help Ferndale Early Education!

This is a project to which I donated back in April...there are three days and $123 left before the project expires. Every dollar helps!

Speaking of Clarence Clemons

There's a reason that whenever I'm asked to fill in my location for an online profile, I enter "Baltimore, Jack". (Apparently I didn't do it on my profile here, which is obviously the exception that proves the rule [where's the eye-rolling smilie when you need it?].)

(It's been a weird week. Unanticipated explosions of temper and a shake-up amongst some of the people I treasure most in the world have left me a little post-stressy. We're all better without whatever ramblings I may have forced out of myself this week.)