30 April 2007

People in my Pocket

You know that toy we knew and loved when we were little-- Polly Pocket? They still make Polly Pocket, but she has a cute ponytail now instead of her blond Annie 'fro.

Anyway, this is a list of people I'd like pocket-sized versions of because I love them so much.


Jason Schwartzman-- preferably as King Louis XVI
Bale-- preferably without a shirt
Hal Sparks
Michael Ian Black
Ellen DeGeneres
BJ Novak
Owen Wilson
Joaquin Phoenix
Cpt. Jack Sparrow
John Brooke-- of Little Women fame
Eric Stoltz
Freddie Highmore
Mindy Kaling/Kelly Kapoor
Stacy and Clinton-- complete with visa cards with my name on them
Dick Van Dyke circa 1964
Joan Cusack
Robert Carmine


On second thought, take Robert Carmine and BJ Novak off that list. I'd like them regular-sized, please.

23 April 2007

Okay I'm sorry...

...but all of this has gone a little too far.

BYU "Alternative Commencement"



Dear Entire World,
Guess what. In a few days, the BYU graduating class of 2007 is going to be heading for their commencement in celebration of the fact that they've graduated from university. The degrees they will receive will be diverse, and they will be many. What a marvelous time to get together to honor each other and be honored by peers, faculty, administration, church and government leaders.

That's what graduation's all about, Charlie Brown.

I don't care who you are or what your political/spiritual/grammatical agendas are: THIS IS GRADUATION. It is not a time for political debate, it is not a time to march around with a sign and yell things whether you're "for" or "against" someone, and it is not a time to "highlight the need for alternatives, dissent and diversity."

GRADUATION is about the people GRADUATING. It is to celebrate the fact that we've got some pretty effing talented people coming out of this university by the thousands.

Guys, a graduation speech is a graduation speech, no matter who gives it. So this whole "protest" thing that's going on? Completely inappropriate.

Don't get me wrong-- I think it's good to talk about politics. I think it doesn't happen enough on this campus and I think it's great that students, of all opinions, are getting together to talk about current issues.

But for goodness sake, let's keep this in perspective!

Actually, from my point of view (which is relatively neutral seeing as I couldn't care less about who's coming because this isn't my commencement-- and that means graduation, not political rally), I don't see a lot of actual "discussion" happening anyway. I haven't participated in any support or protest groups because they're not talking to each other, they're talking at each other, and nothing productive is being accomplished here. Curious why there's not much political "discussion" on campus? Because many students don't want to even attempt to discuss politically charged topics if the end result is going to be an entirely separate commencement.

GRADUATION!!!

Furthermore, I take complete offense to anything religious that's being brought into this "protest." People marching around with signs that say things like Because I love the prophet and his teachings I cannot support Cheney and Follow the Prophet: Be Politically Active heighten the level of disrespect to a whole new level. Whenever it comes time to vote, we are all encouraged to do so. We are also reminded, every single time, that the church is politically neutral. And the whole "I love the prophet and his teachings" nonsense? Okay, well how's this:

Because I love the prophet and his teachings I cannot support abortion.

Look, you want to protest Vice-President Cheney (because that's who he is. If you can't have respect for the man, at least have respect for the office), fine. Have at it. Really. WHEN IT'S APPROPRIATE.

Have respect for our administration who approved this visit. Have respect for your fellow students who might support or are at least neutral about the situation. And since so many of you have made this religiously related on the level of the First Presidency, have respect for the prophet and his counselors who ultimately approved this decision.

What began as a "protest against his policies, not his visit" has done a 360. By organizing a totally separate "commenement" you are polarizing this campus and making an enormous issue out of something it's not at all meant to be. You are no longer protesting a set of policies-- you are protesting your very university and the people who are responsible for that piece of paper you're getting on Thursday.

Disgruntled Love,
Emily

Seeing Double

This is quite possibly the best exposition for The Office since Jim conducted Pavolvian experiements.

14 April 2007

Well that's that.

I've been kicked out of folk dance.

It's not so much the fact that I have been as much as no one's been straight with me. Or anyone else being kicked out for that matter.

I just hope I'm able to pull out of it with dignity and without faculty discussing my situation with other students.

10 April 2007

Go Slovakia.

Look! I'm Slovakian!

Just a little rehearsal for my friends' World Dance Composition final. I'm the one in black twirling the red scarf with the little feature at the beginning. Nevermind how I get on the wrong foot at one point... Hey it was just a run-through, right?

06 April 2007

Take

Can I have a moment to brag about my friend for right now? He shot a movie with Minnie Driver last summer (oh and David Denman from The Office-- squee) and it's being released at an upcoming film festival. Yesterday he sent a link to my mom so we could see the trailer.

Because he's in it. SWEET HUH?!!

So go watch it. Just click these words right here to see it.

And look, he's got a death scene:

How thrilling.

05 April 2007

Achieving a stable Chi

Let's just talk for a minute about how:
  • I don't mind anymore that I didn't even get invited to the PAC auditions that were tonight. Of course they had Rec Night before the auditions, which was really lame, but now that A--'s been given the boot, and I've come to a good place about it, it was really easy to just have fun-- something I haven't had a lot of in folk dance this semester. Or year.

  • I'm auditioning (read: I'm doing) Clog America this coming year! I wish I had known about it earlier because I could have gone to Poland and Italy with them this year, but whatevuh. Next year they're (we're?) going to France, Germany and an undecided Scandinavian country which is UBER exciting. AND they don't mind girls who are normally sized aka me.

  • I still want to do SPAC next year. In my first step toward gaining back D--'s affection (ew do I really have to do that?!!) I'm going to bring her a flower or something nice and thank her in person for the opportunities she's given me this year. Of course everyone here knows that kind of a load of crap, but since I've turned over this new, positive leaf, it's time for me to stop acting like a brat, even if my teacher doesn't really deserve my respect... adoration... attention... brown-nosing... respect?

  • My audition for Beauty and the Beast is tomorrow. I ran into B-A-- today (who played Belle in the last production) who told me they didn't have a very high/talented turn out the other night, so either everyone's coming tomorrow, or the show is going to be questionable. If it's the latter, I'm not worried at all about getting in:) Actually, I'm not worried anyway, especially because I found out my cute friend J-- from Christmas Carol is auditioning and we want to be Silly Girls together.

  • My dad thinks I'm a good writer.

  • I still have to take a midterm that was due last week, but I'm not getting penilized for having it in late!!

  • Dude, I'm so freaking good at English. I freaking LOVE my major.

  • BJ Novak was just on Conan, and he talked about the shrinking size of the Cadbury Creme Egg. And there is DEFINITELY a new episode of The Office on tomorrow night. Oh how I love him. Also good is this video:
  • 02 April 2007

    My Favorite Movie Soundtracks

    Soothing and Lovely
    The Village-- James Newton Howard
    Little Women-- Thomas Newman
    The New World-- James Horner
    Pride & Prejudice-- Dario Marianelli
    Marie Antoinette-- Various Artists (instrumental tracks only)
    Forrest Gump-- Alan Silvestri
    Big Fish Original Score-- Danny Elfman
    Tuck Everlasting-- William Ross
    A Beautiful Mind-- James Horner
    Finding Neverland-- Jan A. P. Kaczmarek
    A Little Princess-- Patrick Doyle
    The Secret Garden-- Zbigniew Preisner

    Kick-A Instrumental
    Batman Begins-- James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer
    Peter Pan-- James Newton Howard
    Pirates of the Caribbean 2-- Hans Zimmer
    Back to the Future-- Alan Silvestri
    The Patriot-- John Williams

    Misc.
    The Nightmare Before Christmas-- Danny Elfman


    Selected Tracks
    Death of Cedric-- Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter 4
    Another Year Ends-- Patrick Doyle, Harry Potter 4
    The Hand of Fate Part 2-- James Newton Howard, Signs
    Evacuating London
    -- Harry Gregson-Williams, The Chronicles of Narnia
    The Letter That Never Came-- Thomas Newman, A Series of Unfortunate Events
    Soarin' Over California
    -- Disney's California Adventure!