I found this little paragraph on the CBS Survivor blog, written by Rafe, and I just really got a kick out of it because it was my favorite moment of last week's episode. If you watch, maybe you will enjoy it, too. If you don't watch, you should start (but not now. next season.)
"It was as Courtney and Shane were talking, and he threatened to kill her. Then assured her that he was serious. Then said, “Listen. I am going to come to your little apartment, and kill you. And you will be DEAD.” And then Courtney gets upset, not with the fact that he is openly threatening her life, but that he called her apartment little."
Friday, April 28, 2006
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Are they "cerious"?? Get it? "Cerious"? Like, Cereal plus Serious = "Cerious." Okay, I think you've got it.
In America's oh-so-weight-conscious society today, it is only natural that companies try to cash in on the trend. If you are somehow able to stomach food after seeing Anna Nicole's endorsements for Trim Spa, you can hop on the healthy grains bandwagon, since everything from Kraft Mac & Cheese to Teddy Grahams is now labeled as "a good source of whole wheat." I have to say, though, that my personal favorite weight loss quick-fix is the cereal diet. The brand that comes to mind first is Special K, but I think there are others out there with the same absurd idea -- dieters substitute a bowl of their cereal for two meals a day, and eat the third meal "as they normally do." After two weeks on this ingenious plan, they claim you will have a smaller waist. Special K's website says the average dieter loses five pounds.
Five pounds??? Is eating cereal for two meals a day for 14 days really worth an almost neglible weight difference? I could eat Lucky Charms for two meals a day and lose five pounds in two weeks. Heck, I could eat a Hershey Bar for two meals a day and get the same result. It's a simple equation -- starving yourself = weight loss. Kellogg's is definitely not the first one to figure that one out.
Though the cereal diet has its obvious flaws, I am sure there are women out there who have tried it and liked the results. I'd also be willing to bet those same women gained back the five pounds, and maybe even a few additional ones, the second they started eating regular meals again. So, here we have another American illogicalism that I can sum up better with someone else's words rather than my own -- "After two weeks of dieting, often the only thing you lose is 14 days."
Five pounds??? Is eating cereal for two meals a day for 14 days really worth an almost neglible weight difference? I could eat Lucky Charms for two meals a day and lose five pounds in two weeks. Heck, I could eat a Hershey Bar for two meals a day and get the same result. It's a simple equation -- starving yourself = weight loss. Kellogg's is definitely not the first one to figure that one out.
Though the cereal diet has its obvious flaws, I am sure there are women out there who have tried it and liked the results. I'd also be willing to bet those same women gained back the five pounds, and maybe even a few additional ones, the second they started eating regular meals again. So, here we have another American illogicalism that I can sum up better with someone else's words rather than my own -- "After two weeks of dieting, often the only thing you lose is 14 days."
Monday, April 24, 2006
Free Ride
When I was younger, I thought that my older brother would grow up to be a rich computer genius (he did) and my younger brother would be rolling in the dough when he became a professional baseball player (he didn't.) I also thought that because my brothers would be rich, I could afford to take on a more humble position as a dolphin trainer at Sea World, and they would obviously share their Duck Tales-sized piles of gold with me (I didn't, and neither did they.) Having two brothers and eventually an additional two step-siblings taught me to share, but I guess I learned that whole concept a little too well.
I realize now that I was silly to think that my brothers would just pass on their earnings to me, but as I read an article about Hilary and Haylie Duff this morning, I came to the conclusion that some people never grew out of the idea of sibling mooching. Take Hilary, the younger and prettier sister. She grew up before our eyes on "Lizzie McGuire" and diversified her image by putting out some pretty catchy pop songs and starring in blockbusters like "Cheaper by the Dozen." Her older, less attractive sister, Haylie, waited for Hilary to do all the work and then found her opportune time to hitch a ride on the fame train. The first time I saw her, they were in a video together for a remake of "Our Lips are Sealed." Haylie, you should have kept your lips sealed, girl, because you're singing to the tune of "riding your sister's coattails," and it's not sounding pretty.
Sure, having a famous sibling must be tough, but do you really want to be listed among the ranks of Aaron Carter and Ashlee Simpson? Make a new name for yourself, if you're really talented. Or at least play off your sister's fame in another area, like Beyonce's mom did with her fashion design. For now, I think one Duff is quite enough.
I realize now that I was silly to think that my brothers would just pass on their earnings to me, but as I read an article about Hilary and Haylie Duff this morning, I came to the conclusion that some people never grew out of the idea of sibling mooching. Take Hilary, the younger and prettier sister. She grew up before our eyes on "Lizzie McGuire" and diversified her image by putting out some pretty catchy pop songs and starring in blockbusters like "Cheaper by the Dozen." Her older, less attractive sister, Haylie, waited for Hilary to do all the work and then found her opportune time to hitch a ride on the fame train. The first time I saw her, they were in a video together for a remake of "Our Lips are Sealed." Haylie, you should have kept your lips sealed, girl, because you're singing to the tune of "riding your sister's coattails," and it's not sounding pretty.
Sure, having a famous sibling must be tough, but do you really want to be listed among the ranks of Aaron Carter and Ashlee Simpson? Make a new name for yourself, if you're really talented. Or at least play off your sister's fame in another area, like Beyonce's mom did with her fashion design. For now, I think one Duff is quite enough.
Monday, April 17, 2006
Logic Problems
I used to be pro-choice...until I thought about it a little more. (Yes, this is an abortion-oriented post, but read on. I'll keep it short.) I have never been a fanatic on either end of the spectrum, but I used to think that it was okay to let a woman decide whether or not she wanted to have a baby. Then one day in Mr. Buckley's 9th grade health class, we talked about how California was creating laws to prosecute mothers who smoked while they were pregnant for harming the fetus. Something clicked in my brain. We would allow a mother to terminate this pregnancy, but if she decides to keep it and take part in a potentially damaging habit, she can be slapped with a jail sentence? Why do the unborn suddenly matter?
Another example -- earlier this year, there was a funeral director, I believe, who was found to have kept a large number of aborted fetuses in his garage rather than cremating them like he was supposed to. He was going to be charged with "abuse of corpse." Yes, what he did was vile, but how can he "abuse" something that was "not really a baby, just a bunch of cells"??? I mean, you can't really abuse something any further than killing it in the first place, as far as I can tell. Why not charge him with animal cruelty for overcooking a spiral ham? It sounds absurd, but if it's not lawfully wrong to kill something in the first place, it doesn't make sense to treat it as if it has rights after it's already dead.
You could go one way with this and say that since it's okay to have an abortion, then it should be okay for mothers to smoke while they're pregnant, or for funeral directors to do whatever they please with aborted fetuses, but I think it makes much more sense to take it in the other direction and realize that if those things are wrong, then abortion should be as well. I'm not asking for much...just a little bit of simple logical thinking.
Another example -- earlier this year, there was a funeral director, I believe, who was found to have kept a large number of aborted fetuses in his garage rather than cremating them like he was supposed to. He was going to be charged with "abuse of corpse." Yes, what he did was vile, but how can he "abuse" something that was "not really a baby, just a bunch of cells"??? I mean, you can't really abuse something any further than killing it in the first place, as far as I can tell. Why not charge him with animal cruelty for overcooking a spiral ham? It sounds absurd, but if it's not lawfully wrong to kill something in the first place, it doesn't make sense to treat it as if it has rights after it's already dead.
You could go one way with this and say that since it's okay to have an abortion, then it should be okay for mothers to smoke while they're pregnant, or for funeral directors to do whatever they please with aborted fetuses, but I think it makes much more sense to take it in the other direction and realize that if those things are wrong, then abortion should be as well. I'm not asking for much...just a little bit of simple logical thinking.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
My Arch Enemy...not really, but still.
I met a lot of people at Grove City that I like, but there is one girl that I will probably always remember with a fiery feeling of dislike in my gut. Her name is Natalie, and the reason I feel that way about her is because of a bad first impression...or second, or third, or fourth impression. I have never held a long conversation with this girl, and I know that a lot of my friends actually like her, but I don't think I ever will because I can't get over the fact that I literally "met" her three or four times within the first few days of college, and every single time, she acted like she had never met me before. Now, either this girl just has a terrible memory, or she is too conceited to stop thinking about trying to be loud and funny and take a little notice of her surroundings. I opted to think it was the latter.
The first time I met her, it was because of Eileen. I think they were in band together. We were introduced and talked briefly. The second time was at the grafitti dance. Now, I'll give her a free pass here. You meet a lot of people on the first day of college, and it's okay to not remember names, but the way she re-met me just really turned me off. She comes up to me, grabs my little nametag button that we were all wearing, and goes "hello...Caitlin." I hate being called Caitlin, and I probably looked at her like she was crazy because I had just talked to her earlier in the day. The third time I met her was simply just in passing. I think we crossed paths on the sidewalk and she was totally oblivious to the fact that I had already met her twice. I'm not sure if there was a fourth meeting or not, but by that point, my dislike for her was already permanently imbedded in my soul.
The real kicker is this -- on graduation day, all the seniors were in the IM room, and Lauren and I were walking over to talk to Mrs. Van Til. We passed by this girl, and her and her friend looked at me and were like, "I've never even seen that girl before!" If I was Wayne Brady, I might have had to choke a bitch, but I'm not, so I didn't. I just continued with my seemingly accurate judgment of her that she is a rude and obnoxious person.
So, take a piece of advice from this little rant, and really make an effort to remember people that you meet. It's okay if you don't remember their names the second time around, but don't try to act like you've never met them before, and especially don't actually believe that you've never met them before. It's just not nice.
The first time I met her, it was because of Eileen. I think they were in band together. We were introduced and talked briefly. The second time was at the grafitti dance. Now, I'll give her a free pass here. You meet a lot of people on the first day of college, and it's okay to not remember names, but the way she re-met me just really turned me off. She comes up to me, grabs my little nametag button that we were all wearing, and goes "hello...Caitlin." I hate being called Caitlin, and I probably looked at her like she was crazy because I had just talked to her earlier in the day. The third time I met her was simply just in passing. I think we crossed paths on the sidewalk and she was totally oblivious to the fact that I had already met her twice. I'm not sure if there was a fourth meeting or not, but by that point, my dislike for her was already permanently imbedded in my soul.
The real kicker is this -- on graduation day, all the seniors were in the IM room, and Lauren and I were walking over to talk to Mrs. Van Til. We passed by this girl, and her and her friend looked at me and were like, "I've never even seen that girl before!" If I was Wayne Brady, I might have had to choke a bitch, but I'm not, so I didn't. I just continued with my seemingly accurate judgment of her that she is a rude and obnoxious person.
So, take a piece of advice from this little rant, and really make an effort to remember people that you meet. It's okay if you don't remember their names the second time around, but don't try to act like you've never met them before, and especially don't actually believe that you've never met them before. It's just not nice.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Confessed al-Qaida conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui said Thursday it made his day to hear accounts of Americans' suffering from the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and he would like to see similar attacks "every day."
That is taken from one of the many articles online detailing Moussauoi's trial. What I want to know is why we even bother having trials for such disgusting excuses for human beings. It really angers me that 1. there are lawyers out there willing to attempt a defense for this guy, and 2. that we give him the opportunity to sit there in the courtroom and mock the victims of September 11th. There's really no other way around it. While the jury has to listen to hours and hours of testimony and look at gruesome pictures of the violence that occurred that day, this man is sitting there loving every second of it and giving himself a pat on the back. I think it's almost embarassing that we have to go about his trial this way. I usually have faith in the American justice system, but this is one time when I can't help but think that there has to be a better way...
That is taken from one of the many articles online detailing Moussauoi's trial. What I want to know is why we even bother having trials for such disgusting excuses for human beings. It really angers me that 1. there are lawyers out there willing to attempt a defense for this guy, and 2. that we give him the opportunity to sit there in the courtroom and mock the victims of September 11th. There's really no other way around it. While the jury has to listen to hours and hours of testimony and look at gruesome pictures of the violence that occurred that day, this man is sitting there loving every second of it and giving himself a pat on the back. I think it's almost embarassing that we have to go about his trial this way. I usually have faith in the American justice system, but this is one time when I can't help but think that there has to be a better way...
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Celebrity Look-Alike
I was watching Best Week Ever today, which I think is one of the funniest shows on television, and they mentioned a website called myheritage.com, where you can upload a picture of yourself, run it through facial recognition software, and find out which celebrities you share a bone structure with.
Naturally, I had to try it out. I submitted this picture...
and it told me that I look like Mel C. from the Spice Girls, Olivia Newton-John, Evangeline Lilly, Meryl Streep, and James Cameron, to name a few. I know what you're thinking -- I don't look like any of those people (except maybe a slight resemblance to James Cameron)...but it was fun nonetheless.
I've sometimes had this theory about myself that in a way, I look a little bit like everyone. Whenever I meet new people, I am frequently told, "You look so familiar, but I can't figure out why." I've just deduced that maybe there are a lot of people out there who look somewhat similar to me, and that's why these people think they've met me before. Or maybe they're just close friends with Olivia Newton-John or the Spice Girls. Either way, give myheritage.com a try, if not for me, then for the Best Week Ever crew.
Naturally, I had to try it out. I submitted this picture...
and it told me that I look like Mel C. from the Spice Girls, Olivia Newton-John, Evangeline Lilly, Meryl Streep, and James Cameron, to name a few. I know what you're thinking -- I don't look like any of those people (except maybe a slight resemblance to James Cameron)...but it was fun nonetheless.
I've sometimes had this theory about myself that in a way, I look a little bit like everyone. Whenever I meet new people, I am frequently told, "You look so familiar, but I can't figure out why." I've just deduced that maybe there are a lot of people out there who look somewhat similar to me, and that's why these people think they've met me before. Or maybe they're just close friends with Olivia Newton-John or the Spice Girls. Either way, give myheritage.com a try, if not for me, then for the Best Week Ever crew.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Clueless
I think all high schools should offer classes on automotive mechanics. Whether or not they should be required classes, I'm not sure, but I really wish I would have been able to spend a semester in a class that would have provided me with some basic knowledge on how a car runs. I'm not talking anything too in depth -- just something that teaches young drivers where the different parts of the car are, what things are called, and how the hickymadoodle turns the thingamajig to make it all run. Now that I am an "adult," I find that knowledge of cars is an area in which I am completely and totally lacking.
I took my car for its state inspection today, and of course, as car places always do, they called back with a laundry list of extra things that needed to be done to it aside from what I took it there for. Something about rusty rotors or worn brake pads or fluid exchanging. I don't know. But I do know that as soon as the words "totaling around $485" came out of the lady's mouth, I felt my lack of automotive knowledge become painfully apparent. Of course, I did what I always do with car places, which is pick my jaw up off the floor and tell them that I have to get back to them after I talk to someone else. But then I have to struggle through trying to explain to someone else what I was told so that it makes sense in a way that I can even go about getting a second opinion.
Luckily, my car doesn't actually need what Sears recommended to pass inspection, and Guy's uncle is a mechanic who can give us a less money-grubbing opinion of what truly needs done, but I can't help but wish that I would have had the opportunity in my school days to learn about and understand one of the most critical aspects of my daily life. Thanks for nothing, PTHS.
I took my car for its state inspection today, and of course, as car places always do, they called back with a laundry list of extra things that needed to be done to it aside from what I took it there for. Something about rusty rotors or worn brake pads or fluid exchanging. I don't know. But I do know that as soon as the words "totaling around $485" came out of the lady's mouth, I felt my lack of automotive knowledge become painfully apparent. Of course, I did what I always do with car places, which is pick my jaw up off the floor and tell them that I have to get back to them after I talk to someone else. But then I have to struggle through trying to explain to someone else what I was told so that it makes sense in a way that I can even go about getting a second opinion.
Luckily, my car doesn't actually need what Sears recommended to pass inspection, and Guy's uncle is a mechanic who can give us a less money-grubbing opinion of what truly needs done, but I can't help but wish that I would have had the opportunity in my school days to learn about and understand one of the most critical aspects of my daily life. Thanks for nothing, PTHS.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Psst!
If you haven't been to postsecret.com, or if you haven't been there this week, you should go.
It's basically a blog that a guy created where people send him secrets on artsy-looking postcards. He updates them every Sunday, and I've read that he has received thousands and thousands of submissions.
This site is funny, sad, shocking, and sometimes makes your heart ache for the person who sent in that postcard, but it's worth looking at if you have some free time.
**Disclaimer: Postsecret.com is not censored and sometimes displays profanities and possibly offensive ideas. If you are under 60" in height, pregnant, or have heart or back problems, please visit disney.com instead.
It's basically a blog that a guy created where people send him secrets on artsy-looking postcards. He updates them every Sunday, and I've read that he has received thousands and thousands of submissions.
This site is funny, sad, shocking, and sometimes makes your heart ache for the person who sent in that postcard, but it's worth looking at if you have some free time.
**Disclaimer: Postsecret.com is not censored and sometimes displays profanities and possibly offensive ideas. If you are under 60" in height, pregnant, or have heart or back problems, please visit disney.com instead.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Look Who's Watching Now
I once wrote a paper on reality television shows. It was called "Reality Television: Staple of the
American Home or Seed of the Devil?" Pretty good Grove City title, if I do say so myself.
Anyway, this paper was written two years ago, but since then, I have continued to be a reluctant fan of reality TV. It all started with watching seven strangers stop being polite and start getting real, but my reality TV interests grew to include home improvement shows, wedding shows, shows about spoiled rich kids, and of course, who can forget the reality game show? I don't know what it is about watching other people live out their lives, but I will almost always choose to watch any of the various reality shows on TV rather than a rerun of an old sitcom. I guess there is something to be said for the fact that Americans, myself included, are voyeuristic at heart. I enjoy watching Veronica and Coral torment the other girls on RWRR challenges. I love to hate the beautiful (however fake they may be) models on 8th & Ocean, and I tune in every Thursday night at 8:00 to see who gets voted off the island. I guess you could say I'm addicted.
The funny thing is, I used to want to be on a reality show. Sometimes, I have a moment of temporary insanity and reconsider this wish, but I realize now that behind the claims of truthfulness and sincerity lies a creative team of casting agents, producers, and editors who know exactly what makes good television. Just like a hit drama or sitcom, a reality show has its cast of characters, with the villain, the all-american hero, the scapegoat, the mindless sidekicks, etc., etc. Splice a few months of my life into a 30-minute episode, and I'm sure I could fit into any one of those molds.
There is much that can (and possibly someday will) be said about reality television, but for now, I'm going to let you decide for yourself. Reality television -- staple of the American home or seed of the devil? You be the judge.
American Home or Seed of the Devil?" Pretty good Grove City title, if I do say so myself.
Anyway, this paper was written two years ago, but since then, I have continued to be a reluctant fan of reality TV. It all started with watching seven strangers stop being polite and start getting real, but my reality TV interests grew to include home improvement shows, wedding shows, shows about spoiled rich kids, and of course, who can forget the reality game show? I don't know what it is about watching other people live out their lives, but I will almost always choose to watch any of the various reality shows on TV rather than a rerun of an old sitcom. I guess there is something to be said for the fact that Americans, myself included, are voyeuristic at heart. I enjoy watching Veronica and Coral torment the other girls on RWRR challenges. I love to hate the beautiful (however fake they may be) models on 8th & Ocean, and I tune in every Thursday night at 8:00 to see who gets voted off the island. I guess you could say I'm addicted.
The funny thing is, I used to want to be on a reality show. Sometimes, I have a moment of temporary insanity and reconsider this wish, but I realize now that behind the claims of truthfulness and sincerity lies a creative team of casting agents, producers, and editors who know exactly what makes good television. Just like a hit drama or sitcom, a reality show has its cast of characters, with the villain, the all-american hero, the scapegoat, the mindless sidekicks, etc., etc. Splice a few months of my life into a 30-minute episode, and I'm sure I could fit into any one of those molds.
There is much that can (and possibly someday will) be said about reality television, but for now, I'm going to let you decide for yourself. Reality television -- staple of the American home or seed of the devil? You be the judge.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Faulty Advertising
Remember when M&M's used to use the slogan "Melts in your mouth, not in your hand"? Well, after eating lots and lots of M&M's over my 23 years of living, I've learned, as I'm sure a lot of you have as well, that this slogan is complete and totally false. If you grab a handful of the delicious candy-coated chocolates and eat them slowly, a few at a time, without fail, you will always end up with stained hands. Around Easter, the stains are a little less obvious, since they're pastel, but they're there nonetheless.
My question is, why would the Mars candy company use such a blatantly untrue statement as their tagline? There are lots of good things to say about M&M's. Why not create a memorable slogan that's actually true?
I can't remember if they still continue to use this slogan, since the only thing that comes to mind when I think of M&M's is the giant, talking red and yellow ones, but if they do, I think that they should stop. Immediately.
My question is, why would the Mars candy company use such a blatantly untrue statement as their tagline? There are lots of good things to say about M&M's. Why not create a memorable slogan that's actually true?
I can't remember if they still continue to use this slogan, since the only thing that comes to mind when I think of M&M's is the giant, talking red and yellow ones, but if they do, I think that they should stop. Immediately.
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