tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:48:26 +0000addictionhuman traffickingfinancefunnynewscomedyDiane Arbusmoviesbooksballetfree market capitalismfilmmakingcommercialshoppingjury dutyNaomi KleinlibertineartWindowsDonna Ferratoellen von unwerthmiddle easthorrortroubleshootingsecond lifepsychologysalontravelrole playwebster hallbakingfandomsportsdictatorshippetsconcertbrooklynplaysdancesexismrantavatarsupirracismdramareadingfat acceptancemafiaLiberty of Londonreviewsfanvidquizzesvideo gamesfeminismself-portraitsecurityholidayeconomyparodyviolenceeroticacatsmythologycomputersLaurel NakadatepatriarchyflickrSons and Daughtersmagazinestermscomposersdesignsingularityactingfairy talebloggingsymbologypaintingjournalismlegendcookingfallaciestechnologymythmangafanaticismFrancesca Woodmanwilliam shakespeareapplegalleriesadaptionsalchemymachinimaHarry PotteradvertisingyoutubeSaturday Night Liveeve onlineinspirationmuseumfascismevolutiondecoratingverdictpornographysexmmorpgsfanmixcrimecourtshock doctrineinternetAlfred Hitchcockclassismetchingsnew yorkWarcraftscreenshotssciencemiscellaneoussarcasmterry rodgersgothicpersonalenglishroboticsphotographyfanficTargetpoliticsculturebarsvideosmusicwomen's rightsatheismbody dysmorphiatheatercommentaryfashiontelevisionliteraturelingeriedreamsskinplagiarismfoodipodextra infovirtual realityhistorysteampunkreligionpoetrywarhammer onlinemac gamesdigital arthealthwritinghttp://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)Blogger410125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-7190546450681031674Tue, 24 Jan 2012 07:36:00 +00002012-01-24T02:38:08.814-05:00videospersonalculturefunnyyoutube Whenever Charlie Brown came up in nostalgia conversations, I would list this special as the wildest and most bizarre.  And people would just give me blank stares.  No.  They never remembered Snoopy going to discotheques and engaging in dance bacchanalias.  In fact they told me I was making the whole thing up. Then I started to believe I was crazy and that I had an hallucination episode where http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/iO99zm-1Xbo/flash-beagle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/flash-beagle.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-553681191352778527Fri, 13 Jan 2012 00:56:00 +00002012-01-12T20:01:22.372-05:00culturebookscommentary Mansfield Park has proven to be one of the more problematic entries in Austen's canon.  Mainly because it features a heroine that most people just don't favor.  Even the novel's first audience (Austen's own family) were sharply divided on Price. Fanny Price is either hated or loved and very rarely in-between. I set forth to read the book and make my own decision.  And I discovered that Fannyhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/veEuO707iog/fanny-price.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/fanny-price.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-3067750976944032656Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:47:00 +00002012-01-24T02:48:27.009-05:00reviewsmoviescommentaryQuite frankly, I don't understand how Del Toro and company could have completely misunderstood the outstanding elements of the original film.  Their remake of a classic (treasured by all 70's kids) turned into some kind of child's fairy tale nightmare just doesn't work.  What is even more baffling is that Del Toro wusses out at the end of the film, something which he did not do in his superior http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/nGLNlt4V_qE/dont-be-afraid-of-dark-2011.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/dont-be-afraid-of-dark-2011.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-4938016381666985376Wed, 04 Jan 2012 23:44:00 +00002012-01-04T18:44:07.906-05:00personalbakingcookingfoodI'm not a cook, not even a weekend cook.  I'm the kind of person who slaps stuff in a pot to boil or in a frying pan to fry.  But I am trying to learn basic, easy things instead of just buying them ready made. A few weeks back I purchased a scone mix from Harry & David.  It wasn't that cheap either.  But in my mind, I thought there must have been serious voodoo involved in scone making.  So the http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/MTBVZX-Pt24/scones.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2012/01/scones.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-6740209165231505556Thu, 29 Dec 2011 21:19:00 +00002011-12-29T16:19:36.836-05:00videoscultureparodyfunnycomedyyoutube Just a laugh before New Year from the fantastic Carlin. Seriously, I don't think I've ever met a Todd who wasn't a big, hateful jackass.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/dRM5vjhXm-8/guys-named-todd-george-carlin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/guys-named-todd-george-carlin.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-48726699187970269Wed, 14 Dec 2011 20:03:00 +00002011-12-14T15:03:23.151-05:00reviewsbooksI purchased this book when it was released last summer and I just finished it now.  This is not because I am a slow reader (granted slower than I was in my heyday), but because most of it was just plain boring. Did this volume move the story any closer to resolution?  No way on God's green earth it did.  The only reason for this drawn out mess was to reposition the characters for when the story http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/rYwtrJR-DTs/dance-with-dragons-george-rr-martin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/dance-with-dragons-george-rr-martin.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-485174181972301330Sat, 10 Dec 2011 23:47:00 +00002011-12-10T18:54:28.048-05:00videospersonalculturemoviesyoutubehorror You weren't a child of the 70's if you didn't remember being scared out of your wits by this television ad.  It was always put on during the most popular television hours too, you know, during children's most favorite TV shows....Happy Days, Laverne and Shirley, Charlie's Angels, Three's Company, Love Boat, and Fantasy Island.  I think even during Little House on the Prairie.  Prime time was a http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/ClGwyng2S1I/magic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/12/magic.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-3901233651548987522Tue, 22 Nov 2011 07:28:00 +00002011-11-22T02:30:21.389-05:00videosparodyfunnyyoutube A truly funny and sweet-natured parody of Downton Abbey. I think the best bit was rolling Pamuk down the stairs.  This is episode one, you can find the rest of them on Youtube.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/L7qr7kEwxQQ/dollhouse-downton.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/11/dollhouse-downton.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-2565144391687695501Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:27:00 +00002011-11-08T14:37:17.961-05:00filmmakingfairy taleAlfred Hitchcockalchemycommentary Lets begin another discussion of Hitchcock's The Birds. Yes, the film is a horror film. It is also a psychological thriller about a family and community. The psychological interpretation is the most commonly discussed element of the film. But it has a deeper meaning that very few people notice and it shares the same fairy tale space as other fantasies such Lord Of The Rings and Harry Potter.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/3KZPGuEG1KU/purification-of-melanie-birds.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/11/purification-of-melanie-birds.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-5707280514402919311Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:07:00 +00002011-09-30T21:07:21.718-04:00videosparodyfunnyfanvidyoutubehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/ICTB5U8878o/bear-wit-project.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/bear-wit-project.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-7008944238360037594Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:18:00 +00002011-09-27T02:15:57.301-04:00symbologyfandomculturepersonalmoviespsychologysarcasmparodyaddictionreligionfanaticismmythologyyoutuberantartfilmmakingmythcommentary Right now, I'm kind of sick of Star Wars.  The whole kit and caboodle not just the films.  I'm really tired of fans screeching about how horrible the prequels were and that the original films should be taken out of Lucas' custody.  I can't wait to see what a train wreck the new MMO coming out on Christmas turns out to be. You know, I used to be one of those people bitching about Phantom http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/lUJiaVACHiw/let-me-force-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/let-me-force-you.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-5358063167687713904Sun, 25 Sep 2011 04:19:00 +00002011-09-25T00:46:22.639-04:00videosmusicfanvidyoutubehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/i5qy7BJK6rA/ixc999-white-ring.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/ixc999-white-ring.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-2589420343445652570Sun, 25 Sep 2011 01:53:00 +00002011-09-25T00:47:46.332-04:00journalismreviewsculturecrimebooksmafiaI've read many books in the past few weeks, but I've been lazy about writing my thoughts about them.  So with this book, I'll try getting back on track. This book is just one in a very, very, very small genre of literature about Eastern European criminal activity.  Right off the bat, I'm leery about this book in general.  For one, it is already more than a decade old which means much of it's http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/_QrT4O1FvWY/russian-mafia-in-america-james.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/russian-mafia-in-america-james.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-8278010030098395179Sat, 10 Sep 2011 19:45:00 +00002011-09-10T15:48:19.527-04:00personalculturetravelfunnyfinanceI received a prissy email from Disney World stating that they are looking into their animal problem.  Although if they were paying attention to the details, their animal problem wouldn't have gotten so dire.  Whatever. I was amazed by the inflation at the parks (Universal included).  The prices for food and souvenirs reached ridiculous levels, such as almost 10 dollars for a hamburger and fries http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/DUbQFEce2fc/pricey-and-intense.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/pricey-and-intense.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-6966700961045442299Tue, 06 Sep 2011 02:56:00 +00002011-09-05T22:56:12.913-04:00personalculturetravelAnd so I made a pilgrimage to Disney World last week. The last time I was at chez Disney was more than 15 years ago.  It was all fun, but at one point during my visit the fun stopped.  It seemed as if a light switch was flipped and the park I was in was no longer amusing.  Instead it seemed rather pathetic, false and soulless.  For the rest of my trip, I couldn't shake that new insight.  It was http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/sizRWnmcgI8/mange-and-mouse.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/09/mange-and-mouse.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-4477526387448503727Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:02:00 +00002011-08-12T09:02:58.290-04:00videosmusicfanvidyoutubehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/2g7TG9AMTeU/i-cant-see-straight-woodhands.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/08/i-cant-see-straight-woodhands.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-2660100599477455494Fri, 12 Aug 2011 07:50:00 +00002011-08-12T03:50:00.453-04:00personalculturepsychologynewsThere was a story listed recently on the Huffington Post website regarding number sense.  Researchers created a simple test that determines acuity in mathematics.  The subject of mathematical ability has always fascinated me mainly because I was born without it.  Or at the very least, had an impediment in regards to math. When I remember way back into my school years, the concepts of math were http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/UOo6yc_XuZ4/connecting-dots.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/08/connecting-dots.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-7934032687371354337Mon, 25 Jul 2011 01:43:00 +00002011-07-24T21:55:39.930-04:00reviewsculturemoviesmusicyoutubecommentarySource Code.... Oh My, Why oh Why? I rented this on pay per view because I've read so many raves about it.  That should have been a warning to me. Was it amusing?  Yes, very amusing.  If you didn't expend a lot mental energy trying to understand it.  Because there is nothing to understand. All this movie was, was a gimmick.  The lead had a gimmick that allowed him to travel back into time or http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/r-GUvikcPCk/8-minutes-to-get-gimmick.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/8-minutes-to-get-gimmick.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-8494198545512272460Mon, 18 Jul 2011 03:57:00 +00002011-07-17T23:57:50.156-04:00videosmusicyoutube The summer this song was released, I had an all consuming obsession for it.  The radio never played it often enough for me.  I think I played several 45s of it to pieces.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/zc8fJTeYCKA/eye-in-sky-alan-parsons-project.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/eye-in-sky-alan-parsons-project.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-8239216250017041593Sun, 17 Jul 2011 01:29:00 +00002011-07-16T21:32:24.141-04:00troubleshootingcomputerstechnologyWindowsWhen I decided to get an update to my computer last fall, I bit the bullet and purchased a Windows machine.  Up until last year I was always a Mac person.  Mainly because they were easy to maintain and troubleshoot.  Truthfully I don't find Macs really any better than Windows software wise except for the previously mentioned maintenance factors. My new little Windows laptop ran very nicely for ahttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/5UBeFiZjWm8/3-ring-circus-production.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/3-ring-circus-production.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-6030657578344800638Sat, 16 Jul 2011 00:18:00 +00002011-07-16T02:36:16.958-04:00actingculturebookshistorytelevisioncommentary I'm not the only fan of the "Fire and Ice" series to admit that Brienne of Tarth is my favorite character.  During the last book she took center stage and her fate is something of a mystery. Recently they cast an actress to play this character.  Which surprised me because, considering there are so many characters in the book, Brienne might just as well be written out of the series.  But I http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/kPCKINMghF0/beauty.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/beauty.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-1090239030113954000Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:32:00 +00002011-07-06T12:36:05.778-04:00filmmakingreviews I don't know why I rented this feature, but I was bored.  Truthfully I was expecting something so awful that I would be able to rant on about it for hours.  At least that was what professional reviewers had done.  Was it awful?  No.  Was it good?  No.  This film was packed with many good ideas and many bad ideas all mashed together in one very amazing looking jumble.  Now some of that jumble washttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/PB1yEIz_3bI/sucker-punch.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/07/sucker-punch.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-1833264624214611300Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:19:00 +00002011-06-28T14:19:52.000-04:00videosparodyfunnyfanvidAlfred Hitchcockyoutube Hitchcock and Muppets.  Can't go wrong with that combo.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/ArdhbbZos88/upside-down-world.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/upside-down-world.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-2840074449864188544Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:14:00 +00002011-06-23T10:15:49.818-04:00fandomculturetechnologyHarry PotterinternetbooksThis is just an update to the last post on Pottermore. Unfortunately, the mystery was not about a Potter sequel, prequel or completely new series of Rowling books.  Pottermore is just an online forums, web games and encyclopedia site based on the Harry Potter IP.  Which explains why Rowling was involved in a lawsuit with a fan who ran an informal HP encyclopedia a few years back. There were some http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/eUVhnmsm3cU/more.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/more.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33341651.post-8278561339039040586Fri, 17 Jun 2011 22:58:00 +00002011-06-17T18:58:00.019-04:00fandomcultureHarry PotterbooksreadingOh No In truth, the minute this writer crowed that she would write no more Potter books, I felt it would eventually be proved otherwise. The eventual is here. Now, I was a part of this fandom after the crazy release of "Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix".  I watched the fandom, engaged in the debates and watched in horror as the author herself behaved less than diplomatically to partshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MyScribblingMess/~3/B65-C_XqSV4/pushing-potter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (melponeme_k)0http://musingsandscribblings.blogspot.com/2011/06/pushing-potter.html