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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Unemployment continues

So, this week in unemployment, I fed my addiction to Netflix. Now, I have been a loyal Netflixer for six years or so. Now with the Instant Watch on my computer, I have access to the greatest treasure trove of documentaries from every viable source imaginable.

Why do I like watching documentaries? I don't know. I like learning things. Learning things like "in most states it is legal for the family to take care of the body of a loved one before the burial and after the death" and "Philadelphia is guilty of stealing billions of dollars worth of art from a Trust". I have watched hours of footage from Auschwitz, the number one death camp in Nazi Germany. I have cried numerous times. I have laughed out loud. Here are some recent titles. Some you should check out. Some were okay. Some were amazing. Just saying.

1. Ken Burns' Civil War: Now, Ken Burns has brought us many awesome things. This documentary is a masterpiece and everyone should watch it. It's long but the narration and the different perspectives made me feel like a Civil War scholar.

2. Helvetica. This documentary has one thing going for it. The title is cool. Although there were some interesting parts, it's just not that great trying to pretend that typefonts are a big controversial thing.

3. The Rape of Europa. I really liked this documentary about Nazi Germany, specifically Hitler and his top Officers, stealing art from all over Europe and Russia during WWII. I also learned about the people who were in charge of planning bombings and other military attacks on various important cities so as to avoid destroying anything of historical value. Did you know that the Louvre was evacuated before the Nazi invasion and all of it's art was smuggled to various farmhouses in the French countryside? Me, either.

4. Forgiveness: A time to love, A time to hate. This was okay and did bring up some very important ideas about the issue of forgiveness in our society. Not my favorite, though.

5. The Sweetest Sound. The director of this film found all of the other people in the world with his name and gathered them all together for a meeting. It was pretty amusing and very dead on in the fact that "the sweetest sound" is the sound of someone saying your name. Also, the jealousy and fear that someone who has your exact name could somehow diminish your accomplishments.

6. Burning Man:Beyond Black Rock. Comfirmation that I would not have a good time at Burning Man, which is less about drugs and more about art and expression. The architects of burning man create some beautiful things.

7. Between the Folds. Through this document I learned that Origami is the most pretentious of all art forms. And it's all about math and science, which is probably why I don't understand it.

8. Frontline: The Madoff Affair. This was really good. I don't really follow politics and Wall Street but this story is crazy entertaining and sad to watch.

9. Rembrandt's J'accuse. If you are wondering what the guy from the British Office (Martin Freeman? I think) has been up to, it's playing rembrandt in this documentary/theatrical production. This documentary had some scandal in the form of swearing and probably nudity (I wasn't really watching, just listening). However, it was interesting to dissect a painting that is so famous into what it all meant for the painter. The Nightwatch was Rembrandt's revenge against a corrupt governing body and it ruined his reputation forever.

10. The Art of the Steal. This film followed the story of the Barnes Foundation, probably the single greatest Private art collections ever made...ever. Put together by a man who was laughed at for his forward-thinking love of Matisse and Picasso, this collection is now being stolen by "do-gooders" in Philly who simply want to make money off of a collection worth $40 billion, give or take. This film was a must see for anyone who believes in government conspiracies, the protection of Art, and the responsibility to protect someone's property after they die.

11. A Family Undertaking. This was a short piece about people who participate in "home funerals". Let's just say, I don't want one.


Wednesday, July 20, 2011

The Pros of Unemployment

First of all, thank you to everyone who commented on my last blog. Your words really helped. This is going to be the most awesome post ever because I am really enjoying unemployment. (I mean, after I cashed out my 401K and took care of bills and went on a shopping spree, that is. Here are just some of the reasons that you should all consider unemployment.

1. I get to take a nap EVERY day. Sometimes I'm not even tired. Yeah, you can go ahead and be jealous. Tonight I took a nap on the couch that might have been the greatest sleep I have ever gotten.

2. Guess what. It's four in the morning, (my favorite time of day) and I don't have to worry about getting up in the morning for stupid work.

3. Errands. I bet you guys just don't have the time to get everything done that you need to. Well, I do.

4. I have been to the Home Depot at least TWICE a week four at least two months. What used to be a once in a while adventure has become me getting pretty acquainted with the differing aisles of the Home Depot.

5. I have actually been able to finish a ton of projects, and if I can ever get my phone to connect to my computer, then you will get to see them.

S0, although things aren't always the best, I am having a great time.

Monday, June 20, 2011

A Depressing Post from A Depressed Gal

Hello, everyone.

As I sat watching TV tonight (My Big Fat Greek Wedding was on, what would you have done?) I started to suddenly become super depressed about things. Now, I don't want to force my problems onto anyone...so please, if you have problems of your own or hate hearing people complain about their lives, stop reading this right now. I don't want to bring anyone else down and I am DEFINITELY not trying to seek out pity or compliments or ways to fix all of my problems. So here is a list of crappy things that I have going against me right now.

1. After four years of blood, sweat, and tears I lost my job because of five "B#$ches". If you know me, you know that I am very outspoken and I don't lie to get ahead. I hate office politics. Mostly, I hate that these women have caused my life to change drastically while they are sitting there at work celebrating. I wish for horrible things to happen to them. Then I feel bad for wishing that. I am grateful for the change, but at the same time, this really sucks. Mostly, I just want some sort of justice. I know that justice doesn't always come out of events like this. But why can't it work out for me this once?

2. I am unemployed. I have no control over my life. I have to answer to the website every week just to attempt to qualify for unemployment. It's been almost three weeks and I have yet to get any yes or no response from them.

3. I have to pay the utilities bill tomorrow and my speeding ticket. But I have no money. I'm talking I have one dollar cash and $15 in my bank account. Everyone always talks to me about the power of paying tithing and the blessings that come from it, but what if you haven't been paying tithing? What if tithing is something that I believe in, but I'm not courageous enough to see if it works for me? And how can I expect any blessings to come from Heavenly Father when I haven't been the best disciple for a long time?

4. I am still alone, single, and friendless. (I know, I have friends-but I go days without hearing from anyone.) I sit at home and sand down tables and chairs and other things to occupy my time-but really all I want to do is lay down and sleep. The worst part of being single is the fact that you have no companion to help talk you out of these moods. There is absolutely no one in the world that prefers my company to anyone else's. (My cat is the only living creature on earth that would rather snuggle with me than be in anyone else's presence.)

I normally don't feel this way. I know that I have many, many blessings. I have a family that loves me. This is normal, isn't it? It's normal to feel like this every once in awhile. So, again, please don't think I am a suicide risk or that I need some major intervening. I will feel 100% better in a day or two. I blame My Big Fat Greek Wedding for starting me off on this cry fest. I hope that tomorrow will be better than today. And I hope that one day, I won't be so alone.

Friday, November 05, 2010

Season 3 Collaborators

ah, nothing like some vigilante justice. In this episode we have the Chief, Colonel Tigh, and a bunch of other people decide they want someone to pay for all of the people who died on New Caprica.

So, the people who "helped" the cylons on New Caprica (poor Jammer, who was just trying to help innocents never saw this coming) get flushed out of the airlock.

I think it's pretty obvious the implications of this type of scenario. I'm only sad that they didn't kill Gaeta when they had the chance.

But, we also have Mr. Gaius Baltar living with the Cylons. And there is the first real glance into a Cylon Basestar. Remember that place in the future that Bill and Ted go where everyone is standing around and it's all strange? That's kind of what the base star reminds me of.

This episode is really upsetting to me. Mostly because I don't like it when people get killed who are just trying to do their best.

I mean, if I were in the same situation (or, more realistically, in a war-like situation where America becomes occupied by another country, and I had the chance to work for the enemy) I would probably do it. Not because I was a traitor, but because one can do the most good when one is aware on the inside. Isn't that what being a spy is all about? It's kind of sexy.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Resurrection Ship Part 1 and Part 2 again

Finally, Admiral Kane is dead. Payback is a bitch.

Also, when do you think I can anticipate being able to have an outer space funeral? I really want to be sent off out some airlock in a cool burial pod, draped by a flag, with everyone crying as they say goodbye.

If its good enough for Spock, it's good enough for me.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

Resurrection Ship Part 1 and Part 2

just when I thought that President Roslin was the worst leader ever, Admiral Kane steps in. She abandons civilians after stripping their ships for parts. She condones her officers treating the "skin-jobs" hidden in the fleet like punching bags.

So, does Commander Adama step in line with military protocol and obey Admiral Kane? Or does he kill her and pretend like she never existed? Hard decision. But hasn't the Galactica Fleet been through enough? And haven't they learned that in a post-apocalyptic situation like this, the military cannot institute marshall law and expect the survivors to flourish (or even want to survive). And democracy, though a wonderful thing in peace time, isn't always the best option when you have tons of people searching for a new home in a war-like situation. So, how do they survive?

Luckily, Commander Adama doesn't have to make the hard decision. Remember the Six that she kept alive on the Pegasus only to torture her. I have a feeling that if the Six has the opportunity, she will kill Admiral Kane so no one has to get their hands dirty. Phew.

So, I wonder if you can really call the Fleet a democracy.

Spoiler alert. President Roslin killed democracy the second she decided to rig the election in order to keep Gaius Baltar out of office. (Of course, she got caught, Baltar won anyway, and things ended horribly.)

Quote from these episodes: Sometimes terrible things have to be done.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

A Brand New Segment

What I learned tonight watching Battlestar Galatica

Season 2, Episode "The Black Market"
So, I have lost direction. And I have decided to go to my number one source for inspiration: Battlestar Galactica.
"The Black Market" is an episode about The Black Market. The people in the fleet are struggling with the simple issue of supply and demand. There are criminals withholding crucial drugs and other supplies in exchange for sex, money, and whatever else of value.
The underlying story is about Lee Adama and his continuing spiral downwared into depression. Lee is paying a prostitute (she has a heart of gold and a child) for something a little more then sex. The prostitute reminded Lee of the girl he left behind on Caprica. (This girl became pregnant and Lee rejected her and his unborn child.)
The Admiral places Lee in charge of investigating the death of the Pegasus Commander, a fat man deeply involved in the Black Market. Lee needs forgiveness. He gave up on a potential family before the Attacks, and now he believes that he will gain some sort of peace of mind if he saves his prostitute and her daughter from the evil men of the criminal underground.
Lee eventually kills the bad guy...but does he feel better about himself? That is the question.
Quote from the Episode:
"It's hard to find the moral high ground when we're all standing in the mud."
I learned a few pivotal things from this episode.
1. Lee is wicked awesome and beautiful (why is he paying for sex?)
2. Not everyone can be saved...the reality of the situation is that people are in charge of their own paths. You might think that you are saving someone. But whether or not they want to be saved is not up to you.
3. Poor Lt. Dualla. She has it bad for Lee. And in this episode she at least confronts him and forces him to pick a side. Either he wants a relationship with her or he doesn't.
4. Stupid President Roslin believes that she is better then everyone else and doesn't have to get her feet muddy by allowing the Black Market to continue. She never wants to realize that life in space is not like it was on Caprica and the other Colonies. Not everything is black and white. Moral superiority doesn't have a place in the fleet. Everyone has had to make some allowances.
5. Life is hard when you are put into an impossible situation (such as running away from deadly cylons week after week). I have learned to think through things a little more. To see things from alternate points of view. You don't have to agree with everything a person does or believes, but you can't change the way that people think or how they are going to respond to situations. Everyone has the same basic right to choice.
Well, I will talk to you later.