displace me.

I would like to promote another good event and cause. I swear, it's my last until next month.

David and I have decided to take part in Displace Me in Washington D.C. I have promoted the film and the website for the whole "Invisible Children" movement (there's a link on the right side of this page).
There are many cities participating in "Displace Me" including Chicago, for you Michigan folks out there. So much was accomplished by their Gulu/Night Commuter Walks last year (something I didn't get a chance to participate in), it's only one night, but it really means the world to kids in Uganda who know that they have people there for them, fighting for them and at least trying.

kalamazoo pride

Kalamazoo is having its first gay pride event. I would like to promote it solely because it's about damn time. Kzoo has a fantastic gay community and I'm very excited and happy that they're having their own pride event, instead of just taking part in another community's or Michigan's. But. My friend Adam is a pretty big part of the organization, so I definitely wanted to promote the website and everything they're doing on my own blog: Kalamazoopride.com.
The big event itself is on June 9th at the SmartShop. I won't be in Kzoo, but I encourage anyone in Kzoo at that time to go check it out. Also, before that, there's an event on April 21st called the "Pay-the-Rent" BBQ.

no love for eli roth.

This is the trailer for “Hostel, Part II”. We saw it when we went to see “Grindhouse” this weekend.

This trailer made me hate Eli Roth with a passion I keep for the type of “dudebro” that likes to watch drunk girls/women stumble over themselves, the type of dude that gets a kick out of putting date rape drugs in drinks, the kind of dude that likes to video tape them (especially if they look “under age”) drunk and doing stupid things (ahem: Joe Francis, Mr. “Girls Gone Wild”). This trailer added to that. Basically, when Eli Roth showed up for his cameo in “Death Proof”, I wanted to hurl things at the screen. He gives me the heebie-jeebies.
You may ask yourself: Why do I hate Eli Roth so much?
Mostly because of “Hostel”. His other film, “Cabin Fever”, was okay. It was an interesting story for a horror film. I actually had some respect for Eli Roth after watching “Cabin Fever”. Then I watched him on Bravo’s 100 Scariest Moments. He was that dude. “T&A is awesome!” dude. Blood and gore dude. “Duuuude, did you see when that chick got totally killed?!” dude. Yeah. All respect was lost for him after that.
Back to “Hostel”. “Hostel” is not a horror movie. It’s gore. Plain and simple. There is no story line there. There is no plot. It’s blood, guts, gore, torture, murder, etc. It was possible the worst movie trying to play itself off as a horror film ever. It’s one of the few films that I felt cheated after. It wasn’t even a shrug-your-shoulders type of movie for me. It was a I-kinda-really-wish-I-hadn’t-fallen-for-that-lame-trailer-thinking-this-was-actually-going-to-be-good-and-now-I-want-my-money-back movie. Plus, there was the humiliation of having to tell Chris Jackson that he was totally right in his judgement of the movie. It was not a horror movie. It was Eli Roth’s dream. People get scared because they mistake their uncomfortable feelings watching an eyeball pop out or someone’s finger getting sawed off as horror. It’s not. It’s Eli Roth getting off on torturing people.
Now, why did this trailer make me so angry? A few reasons:
1. Why is it only women? Oh, wait. That’s right. Eli Roth getting off on torture. Screw those male characters-- let’s see some chicks get murdered! Yesss! Sexualizing the torturing and killing of women is totally awesome!
2. Why is it American girls? Ooh! Ooh! I know! Maybe because American women (here I actually mean to imply: White American women, because that’s apparently how it’s supposed to be in Eli Roth's world) are the most wanted. Look at those (white) American women! All men are supposed to lust after them, right? Right. Remember the good ol' days of protecting our poor, helpless white women from those savages and/or the slaves? Amazing how far we've come.
3. Why are all the American girls white? Oh, wait. Silly question. We couldn’t include African-Americans, Asian-Americans, Hispanic-Americans because they’re not actually American, right? Which is why we hyphenate their titles, right? (because they need titles so we know exactly who they are before we even get their name) Right.
4. Why the hell is this in German? (At least I think it's in German. I caught a few German words. The one we saw in the theater sounded Russian, actually) Poor Germans. Always getting associated with torture. Way to go, Eli Roth.
5. Why does every Eli Roth movie have to have boobs and girls kissing? Wait. Wait. I know. Stupid question. It’s Eli Roth. Girls kissing=hot, right? (Guys kissing? Not so much for Eli Roth) Him and Joe Francis should really be friends, if they aren’t already. I think they could really get a good thing going between them.
Basically: Eli Roth is a creep. I do not like him and I don’t respect him as a horror movie maker. It really pains me that he can make films like this and make millions doing it. It’s horrifying to me that people watch his stuff and enjoy it. Especially if the fan of Eli Roth’s is female, then I just want to shake her and go "Nooo! Whyyyy?".
By the way: Even though I do hate Eli Roth, this is just my opinion. It is only a movie, but some of the things in the trailer did bother me. It probably wouldn't bother me so much if I didn't dislike Mr. Roth and his attitude towards people (especially women) so much, but whatever. Most of this is supposed to be funny about issues that I take pretty seriously. It's especially funny (at least to me) since I'm usually the one that's all "BUT IT'S ONLY A MOVIE! GOSSSHHHH, GUYS!".

what?!

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday were in the mid-80s, upper 70s. The past two days have been chilly, in the 50s and 40s. David and I laughed about how the forecast says there's a chance for snow. Ha! Silly weatherperson! Every time you called for snow, there was maybe 10 minutes of a flurry. Snow! Psh!
So I wake up this morning, sit around, make some coffee and finally decide to open the sliding door curtain.
To see this:

WHOA! We got almost an inch. It's 10:30 and it's still here. It's snowing in Norfolk now, apparently, too. The sun is quickly melting the snow, most of it is off the trees and making huge puddles in the parking lot. I hope it doesn't ruin all the nice blooming trees and flowers! (It probably won't: it's supposed to be in the 50s again tomorrow, and then the 60s and 70s for the rest of the week)

Spring Break 07!!! WOOOOOOO!!!

Even though I have a teacher work day (or as I call it: Teacher Fun Day!) tomorrow, today was my last day with students. SO. Tonight starts my spring break.
I made a mix CD to listen to on my way home from work tomorrow:

1. Rebellion (lies) : The Arcade Fire
2. Days Were Golden : Sunny Day Real Estate
3. Building Something Out Of Nothing : Modest Mouse
4. First Gear : the Rapture
5. Romantic Rights : Death From Above 1979
6. Celebrator : the Blood Brothers
7. Wolf Like Me : TV on the Radio
8. Heatwave : Diana Ross & the Supremes
9. Feelgood by Number : The Go! Team
10. Verbs Before Nouns: Matt & Kim
11. Alala : CSS
12. 10 Dollar : M.I.A.
13. Suffragette City : David Bowie
14. The Clap : the Unicorns
15. Keeping You Alive : the Gossip
16. Your Touch : the Black Keys
17. Cowbell : Tapes 'n Tapes
18. I Don't Do Crowds : Camera Obscura
19. Take Off Your Cool : Andre 3000
20. The Perpetual Self, or "What Would Saul Alinsky Do?" : Sufjan Stevens
21. Puttin' on the Ritz : Fred Astaire

It ranges from kinda mellow to extremely fun and back to mellow. I like making mixes.

would you like some cheese with that whine?

It's kind of disappointing when a group of people that you have known and considered friends at one point in your life are within 50 miles of where you live for a weekend and don't even come for a visit. Or call just to say hi. Oh well. Could I really expect anything different? Nah. I'm not really surprised. I'm more surprised that I don't care as much as I would've a year ago. Progress does occur.
But. It is disappointing that I write letters and only get a few back. I miss getting mail. Thanks to Megan and Julia for the cards/letters. And to mom for the care package (chocolate and coffee! yes!). Speaking of mail... Amanda, have you gotten recipes from your recipe tree? I've gotten one so far! It was very exciting. I hope everyone I sent mine off to sent one to you!

Yesterday I did something that I haven't done in a long time: finish a whole book (315 pages!) in one day. Little Children is pretty darn good; now I want to see the movie.

Three more days left. I don't have much to do this week. Tomorrow: review. Wednesday and Thursday: Test, presentations, turn in projects. Then... we are done with Julius Caesar-- thank god!
For spring break? Read all the books I got out of the library and some that have been waiting on the shelf. Explore WMBG. Finish #2 issue of zine.

Wow.

I found on feministing. I find it completely heartbreaking, unfortunately true, but ultimately inspiring. This was made by a high school student. I hope to inspire my own students to go on and explore issues like this in their world.