26 posts tagged “review”

I talked to this kid about his bad day yesterday. I taught his class and he was so sad. He was a teary and could barely stay focused on his work. He didn't want to talk about it so I just helped him with his project and tried to be as gentle as possible. (I'm a little harsh)

Anyway, so I saw the kid again today and he told me what happened yesterday. Oh wait. Let me qualify by saying I still have jetlag, finances are a little rocky and I'm just stressed out. So, he starts telling me what happened. This kid is really sweet and even looks fragile so yesterday, I thought he was just being sensitive because he got a bad grade on a test but I was so wrong. So, it all started in the morning, he was running late. Then he lost a class folder. Then his teacher got mad at him. Then he forgot his homework. Then he lost another folder. Then he found a folder but things were missing. Then another teacher got mad at him. Then he goes home and hears that his uncle died. WTH?!? How can so many things go wrong in the day and one after the other?  He seemed a little better today so I hope he tries to have a good weekend at least.

But it just put things into perspective, things are not so bad and as George Dawson says, "Life is sooo good."

Have you read that book? George Dawson's Life Is So Good. It's a fantastic book. He learned to read at 98 and lived to be 103.
He talks about growing up and living in the 20th century. He went through and witnessed a lot of horrific things, including a lynching of a friend, but he was never bitter or angry about any of it. He accepted things, learned from them, did his part, was a good person and loved and lived his life to the fullest. I wonder how one stays so positive like that?

So now whenever I'm feeling sorry for myself, I think of this book and George Dawson. R.I.P Mr. Dawson and thanks!

Instead of working on my school to-do list last night and after my misadventure, I ended up opening my ION turntable and to set it up to "digitize" (as they say in the archives) my vinyl/record collection. I have not looked at my 45s in a long while but I was inspired by Headphonerecord, who sent me a HSA mix at the beginning of the year and I know I have some hidden gems in that old milk crate.

I thought it was going to be a whole lot to set-up than it turned out to be. The turntable was easy to put together just follow the directions. The difficult part that I still keep adjusting is the counter-balance weight at the end of the needle arm. I forgot that you need to adjust it with each album. It all depends on the quality of the pressing and how old it is and I am sure other factors that I am not technically schooled in. I am pretty comfortable with turntables, I own 3 of various styles but I was constantly being reminded of things I never really worried about as a radio DJ because someone before me had always worried about it.

After setting up the turntable, I inserted the EZ Vinyl Converter & Audacity disc that comes with the turntable. First, I have a MAC, the EZ Vinyl Converter is not MAC compatible. Second, after going back and forth and a little frustration, the Audacity software on the disc is outdated. Luckily, I have used Audacity at school with my students and it is Open Source and very easy to use. I ended up downloading Audacity from the website. I also ended up having to find a post about what to change the settings on my little iBook G4 so that I could record. Thank you flyingsnail! I had to change my Audio inputs and MIDI setting and I have never done that before.

At first, because I did not know I had to change all the inputs and audio settings, I would monitor the input in Audacity, it was picking up some weird feedback but it was also kind of picking up the record. After I downloaded the new Audacity and changed the audio settings, it started working and I was getting playback from my computer. It was definitely one of the coolest things I have ever done!

ADDENDUM: Oh yeah, you also need to down load the mp3 encoder = LAME LIB. I know the .aiff (MAC) and .wav (PC) are better formats but if you want to be able to play them pretty much where ever I would use the .mp3 format which still seems more universal than the other audio formats. (if I am wrong please correct me. thanks!)

So, with that little review, here are a couple of the 45s I've converted for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

Lovefool by the Cardigans is the first single I converted from a limited edition white 45. Whoo-hoooo!

I watched "Girls Rock!" last night at the Nuart in Santa Monica. A bit of a trek for me but worth it. I read a couple of reviews before heading out and I thought it was interesting that out of the group of critics I read, all the men gave it a "C" and the women gave it a "B."  I never really read reviews but I thought I would check it out. 

 

I learned about the Rock Camp for Girls back when I was in college because I listened to bands like Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill and a lot of groups categorized as "riot grrl."  I remembered thinking (1)wow! I wish I wasn't too old to go to Rock Camp and (2)how f---ing cool is that!!!

 

For what this documentary is and probably with the budget they had, I thought it was great.  I would definitely recommend that people go and see it.  The directors follow 4 girls, each a different age, from different backgrounds and different degrees of musical experience and shows what  they experienced at the camp.  All the camp staff are women who pretty much rock, like Carrie Brownstein, who I love.  She's amazing and what she and the other staffers (Beth Ditto being one of them) just shows these girls that they can be proud of who they are and that there is more to life than being skinny or acting like Britney Spears. 

 

The camp is only 1 week but so much happens that cannot be shown or captured for the screen.  The girls learn how to communicate and express themselves.  Honestly, I wish I had that when I was a kid. 

 

It's funny, heart-warming, thoughtful, provoking and of course, rockin! 

 

I think, if you have a kid who just never felt they could fit in, you should definitely take them to see this. They are real girls with real issues.  There is certainly not enough time to get too in depth in these girls lives but what little you do see is worth watching.

1. Elizabeth the Golden Age - I did not love it.  I loved the first "Elizabeth" movie and I love Cate Blanchett but this was not fabulous.  The imagery was amazing and I loved the way it was edited but there were moments that were a little too contrived.  Though, it did make me want to read more on Elizabeth's reign and learn about this history.

I did love Cate Blanchett's continuing protrayal of the "Virgin Queen" and Samantha Morton was great as "Mary Stuart Queen of Scots."  I love Clive Owen but I really did not see the point of "Bess" and "Sir Walter Raleigh's" relationship except to show what Queen Elizabeth was missing.  I know that is important but I just did not care about it when I was watching this movie.

The cinematography was incredible though and watching the extras, I learned a lot about the production designer, Guy Dyas.  Did you know that the main ship represented 3 to 4 different ships? One side was the Spanish armada's main ship and the other was Sir Walter Raleigh's ship.  Then the interior represented other boats. I thought that was pretty great.  Though, I did think it was strange that the bulk of the extras were mainly about how fabulous Guy Dyas is. I'm sure he is but it was still kind of weird to me.

2. Reign Over Me - I really enjoyed this.  It is pretty emotional though and at some points I could not get past Adam Sandler's screaming because it reminded me a little too much of "Happy Gilmore." Don Cheadle was again amazing. I liked that they too a different approach to 9/11.  It is really sad and I would watch it alone if you are an emotional freak like me.

3. Gracie - Gracie is ok. It's about Title IX but I could not figure out the time period at all.  I remembered reading so much about it and how the character is based on Elizabeth Shue but it was ok. It's a feel good movie. It was cute.

4. Deja Vu - Don't get me wrong. I love Denzel Washington. But this movie sucks.

5. The Edukators - I loved this movie.  It's about a idealistic group of youths who try to teach the rich a lesson about living such materialistic lives even though the world around them is horrible or horrific.  I am now a fan of Daniel Bruhl.  I never really heard of him but he was fantastic in this film.  The story is great because I think a lot of people were that idealistic when they were younger and then as they grow older things change, you get a little more conservative. You get married. You work for a corporations and all those things you were against you end up wanting.  Very well done and interesting. Plus you get to see parts of Germany that are just gorgeous.  It's political, idealistic, honest.  Highly recommended.

Wow, I honestly felt like I watched more than these over the past month but I guess not. Oh well. Happy Friday!

I finished Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food: an eater's manifesto the other night.  I wrote about how you should read this book earlier but you should also read all of Michael Pollan's books. I think, I am probably part of the Cult of Pollan.  His books have put my views on eating and food culture into a completely different light.  Granted, I will not stop eating some of the processed foods I eat (if you wonder what they are they are similar to Ambookgeek's list) but I will try my best to eat better and maybe in the course of changing some of my habits, I will eat less processed foods.  But it is hard and it is expensive but it is true when they say, "You get what you pay for." If you pay for cheap meats, cheap frozen dinners, you will eventually pay for it in some way. It could be your get sick all the time or you lose nutrients you need or something.

Michael Pollan goes into depth about the food industry and nutritionism in this book.  Just like he does with The Omnivore's Dilemna and The Botany of Desire, he explores the food chain and how the changes that have occurred for profit and for increasing output has greatly affected what we put into our bodies. For example, he goes into depth about how the feeding of grains to cows and other ruminants has increased the amount of Omega-6s in their bodies.  When they used to be raised in the fields, eating what they are supposed to eat (grass and other plants) the Omega-3s, which the industry is now supplementing in everything from eggs to cereals, was high. How has this change in content affected the animals and the people who eat the animals?  I will just say let's look at the animals that were abused and the major meat recall in in the packing plant in California.

Pollan calls for an "escape" of the Western diet.  He writes, "...the challenge we face today is figuring out how to escape the worst elements of the Western diet and lifestyle without going back to the bush." But how do we do that? Well, when he says this is a manifesto, it is!  It is difficult but what I took from it is that I just need to do the best that I can do because it is impossible to maneuver through the supermarket when every thing has claims about being good for you or containing this kind of antioxidant or more Omega-3s. Here are a list of rules, but I hope you still go and read this book, even thought I am listing them.

• DON'T EAT ANYTHING YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER WOULDN'T RECOGNIZE AS FOOD
• DON'T EAT ANYTHING INCAPABLE OF ROTTING (sorry Ambookgeek - no Twinkies :P)
• AVOID FOOD PRODUCTS CONTAINING INGREDIENTS THAT ARE (A) UNFAMILIAR, (B) UNPRONOUNCEABLE, (C) MORE THAN FIVE IN NUMBER, OR THAT INCLUDE (D) HIGH-FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP (my friend once embarked on a week long personal food challenge - do not eat anything with HFCS - it was nearly impossible. Corn is subsidized which means it's in practically everything we eat even if we don't know it and it's under other names and other derivatives. If you think about it, it truly blows the mind)
• AVOID FOOD PRODUCTS THAT MAKE HEALTH CLAIMS. If you read about it the FDA and the food industry, they make it easier and easier for food producers to slap claims on their products. This for me is difficult because as an ignorant eater, I would read the packaging and think, "great! I need to buy this. It's good for me" and I think that is how a lot of people shop and look at food.
• SHOP THE PERIPHERIES OF THE SUPERMARKET AND STAY OUT OF THE MIDDLE. I love cereal. I doubt I am going to not buy my Special K with chocolate or fruit and yogurt bits, but maybe I'll eat less of it.
• GET OUT OF THE SUPERMARKET WHENEVER POSSIBLE. I am a big fan of the Farmer's Markets. It's actually a pretty fun outing when you do go, you buy good food and you get some exercise by checking out all the food stalls.
• "SHAKE THE HAND THAT FEEDS YOU"  - I loved this quote. Get to know your farmers at the farmer's market. 
  
• EAT MOSTLY PLANTS, ESPECIALLY LEAVES
• YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT EATS TOO
• IF YOU HAVE THE SPACE [THE MEANS], BUY A FREEZER
• EAT LIKE AN OMNIVORE
  
• EAT WELL-GROWN FOOD FROM HEALTHY SOIL
• EAT WILD FOODS WHEN YOU CAN
• BE THE KIND OF PERSON WHO TAKES SUPPLEMENTS - This is interesting - people who take supplements tend to have healthier lifestyles. So just be more active and watch what you eat (at least that's what I took from this)
• EAT MORE LIKE THE FRENCH, OR THE ITALIANS, OR THE JAPANESE, OR THE INDIANS, OR THE GREEKS - a return to food culture and tradition
  
• REGARD NONTRADITIONAL FOODS WITH SKEPTICISM
• DON'T LOOK FOR THE MAGIC BULLET IN THE TRADITIONAL DIET
• HAVE A GLASS OF WINE WITH DINNER
• PAY MORE, EAT LESS - quality over quantity, which could be easier for some people. I came from a huge family and feeding a lot people factors into things
• EAT MEALS
• DO ALL YOUR EATING AT A TABLE
• DON'T GET YOUR FUEL FROM THE SAME PLACE YOUR CAR DOES
• TRY NOT TO EAT ALONE
• CONSULT YOUR GUT
• EAT SLOWLY
• COOK, AND IF YOU  CAN, PLANT A GARDEN

I know, this looks like a lot of suggestions but they are all connected.  In order to see this connection, you have to read this book.  Pollan's site also contains great links on slow food culture, eating wild and other things.  I know, this is probably a very daunting challenge but maybe you will want to take a personal challenge and do some of these things for a week.  I know, I am trying.

Some of the benefits I see aside from eating better and diversifying what I eat is a return to enjoying time with my family and my friends. Exploring my city by checking out various farmer's markets. Learning about what vegetables and fruits really are in season. Meeting interesting people who love food and eat! Because, let me say, living in L.A., it's one of the worse places to eat because people don't really do it.  That's a stereotype and I'm sure I can find a place where people enjoy food. 

What I want is to have moments like I had when I went to Absinthe with Mister JT, Felicious & Daku.  We sat for hours talking, eating and enjoying our cocktails and we were not the only ones doing that.  Everyone there was! Everyone was accompanied by someone or a group and they all just enjoyed their food. 

Let's return to enjoying eating and being informed about what is happening to food before it hits our tongues. 

See you at the Farmer's Market!

I was playing with the Flip Video.  Unfortunately or fortunately, you need to edit using another software. Flip automatically downloads something called Muvee but it only gives you partial software so you cannot edit it.  I used Windows MovieMaker.  MovieMaker is really easy to use and also has a pretty good help menu. 

So, here is my first and probably only attempt where you will see my mug in a video.  Next time, it will be a robot or monkey or something object i own.  You even get to hear my voice! Lucky People :)

This is Melle & I heading to Chinatown's Chinese New Year Parade which I wrote about earlier.

The Flip Video is a pretty easy device to use.  A USB connector is attached to it so you do not have to fiddle around with cords.  It is very basic with a large record button and 4 arrows (top & bottom for zooming in and out) and right and left for going through the video clips).  It can record up to an hours worth of videos.  The quality of the videos is pretty clear except I think I made it too large for this post because when I first played it back it was very pixelated.  It reads as a separate device when you connect it to your computer and it is very easy to download clips to your computer.  I also like that you can connect it straight to your t.v. if you wanted to. 

In addition to all those easy to use features, it comes in a with a pretty little velvet satchel!

It is a pretty fun little video camera.  I had a lot of fun using it this weekend.  So, here is a video that is a few minutes too long of our trip to Chinatown.

Enjoy!

I love Nick Hornby so I was happy to read that he was writing a ya book.  Slam has received really great reviews and I agree with them. 

I love that this book had a kid who talked to his Tony Hawk poster, that he was a young father, that the protagonist struggled to do the right thing and that it was pretty plausible. 

It is definitely worth picking up. It's entertaining, funny, heart-warming. There is a lot of reference to skateboarding that I think boys and girls would enjoy.

I watched "No Country For Old Men" last night and I have to say, "That is a pretty f---ed up movie."  It was a pretty amazing film from the Coen Brothers. It has been a while since they have done anything like this film so I was already excited going in.  I love most of the Coen Brothers movies except for "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and "Intolerable Cruelty." (GAG) This exceeded my expectations.

Javier Bardem as "Anton Chigurh" scared the crap out of me.  The only movie I have seen him in is "The Sea Inside" which is about euthanasia and he is amazing in it.  The way he looks at his victims, his disturbingly sickly pallor, and that weird bowl haircut only added to his intensity and evilness. 

I was really impressed by Josh Brolin.  I have never really been struck by Josh Brolin's acting.  He has always just been that guy in the movie that never really made an impact on me (except in Goonies of course :)) But lately, I am becoming more and more impressed by him.  I loved him in Planet Terror and now I loved him as Llewelyn Moss.  He was definitely my favorite character in this film.

It was intense, suspenseful and for me, not all that predictable.  Definitely go and see it if you have not. I jumped in my seat and covered my eyes a couple of times during this movie.

I finally read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.  It is one of those classic books that we are "supposed" to read and discuss. However, I just have never had the time to sit and read it. But, I have been obsessing over the movie, Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley.  Not the best movie adaptation of the novel but one I admit enjoying.

Watching the movie, I started wondering how closely it mirrored the novel. Did the lines come from the novel and if so, who said them?  What parts were cut-out? Was any thing added?

It was nice to have read the book finally.  There were events that they altered and they gave certain dialogue to other characters but it did not take away from the story.  It was a wonderful read.  I enjoy Jane Austen's characters and appreciate the fact that her female characters are so opinionated and strong.  I wish I had read the book before watching the 2005 movie version because I kept picturing the actors from the film.  For example, in the novel, Jane, the oldest Bennet daughter, seems a little chubby and not as active as Elizabeth, but in the movie, she is not. Also, I was shocked at the relationship between Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet was not as cordial or affectionate as it seems in the movie.  There is a moment where Austen alludes to the fact that Mr. Bennet may have other women and barely tolerates his wife. 

The relationships between all the characters are a bit confusing but Austen captures the complications between friends and acquaintances with all the drama and jealousies and affection that occurs between people in the "real" world.  For example, the annoyance, love, bickering and concern between the 4 Bennet sisters occurs between my self and my siblings.

I can now see why this novel is so popular.  It does live up to its positive reviews.  It is definitely worth reading or at least revisiting if you have not read it in awhile.