Quitter, not yet.

I need to quit my job, soon. Before it starts back up (its a seasonal job).

I'm not going to go into details about the whys and stuff for quite some time, but I just need the courage and timing to do so. Short and sweet post.

You Can't Stop the Beast!

The beastmeaning a monster, meaning pocket monster, meaning, of course, Pokemon (I'm not putting the accent mark, it's too complicated and doesn't always work).

I have become reobsessed with Pokemon. I don't know when it exactly started. I always enjoyed the games as a child. In fact, I still remember my original Yellow team, that was until I lost it... I played Gold several times (never beating it unfortunately. I could now, I'm just easily distracted). I played my brother's copy of Ruby mostly through, though I got easily frustrated and never quite finished.

The re-obsession began 2 summers ago when on a long road trip I restarted my Gold (the only time I restarted a game). It was so fun to replay that game.

Then recently, my boyfriend, came back from a trip to Japan (I am SO jealous, I don't want to talk about it...) and gave me a piplup hood (Isn't it soo cute?!)

Just imagine it as a hood, you know subtract the body and leave a human head sized hole for my face.

Anyway, then he gave me a gameboy advanced emulator for my laptop and he gave me Pokemon Leaf Green. I am so glad I decided to put it on the part of my computerI can't access at school, otherwise I'd be playing it all day. I just miss the old games.

SO really, this has absolutely no point. Other than.....I love Pokemon. Plain, simple, unashamed.

Pokemon is my favorite RPG. It is sophisticated in its simplicity. It is as timeless your ten-year old protagonist. It may add characters and mosters that don't fit earlier continuity, or aren't as good as before, but you continue to come back. Why? Because, you gotta catch 'em all!

On Being a Senior, a piece in Two Parts

Part One: An Open Letter

To my dearest underclassmen, and Juniors:

First of all I wish to make it known that you are not invisible. I see you every day wandering around, many of you still look like deer in headlights. Most of you seem like smart, intelligent girls who know how to make yourselves happy, something that’s very tricky in these parts

But that’s just it, I see you.

I see you listening to your iPhone or laptop during study, through headphones. Last time I checked that was a Senior privilege. If I’m mistaken please, let me know. Now, I’m not mad when you are actually working on a project, but I don’t think connecting headphones to your iPhone while flipping through your Spanish II workbook is absolutely necessary. Again, correct me if I’m wrong.

I see you wearing your grey Columbia. Again, I didn’t think you could, but I am just human. Maybe a club got special permission for everyone to wear a Columbia every day.

I see you sitting around the electric plugs. Forget to charge your computer last night? Oh, don’t worry, your allowed to sit in those spots, but let me tell you a little secret. We need them more. You see, our laptops and our batteries are far older than yours. This means a lot in technology time. Several Seniors have to plug in their laptops to get them to work at all. There are a select few who’s laptops do hold a charge for twenty minutes before dying. So, don’t worry, feel free to take those places by the plugs. It’s not like we need them.

Well, that’s all the wisdom I have to store upon you today my dear children.

Remember Jesus loves you.

I’m not so sure.

Signed,

Anonymous Uncaring Seniors

Part II: Prescription Write Ups

Patient needs 200cc’s of motivation straight to her veins, stat. The IV will drip continuously until patient has put on her white cap and gown.

Patient needs 30mg of ‘interest in’ my school work. The generic ‘Concern for’ will do if necessary. The patient should be forced to swallow one or more daily unless she does at least some homework without prompting.

Patient needs an over the counter plan to deal with a general sense of apathy that concerns graduation. Patient should be able to self medicate how much she does or does not care about Graduation. Should lower dosage as graduation draws closer.

Patient needs a daily dose of fun until this depressive thing called school is done with. Make sure teachers are aware that interesting may not equal the same as fun and realize that the condition is not their fault.

Patient needs a prescription for Senioritis.

Animation and the Oscars

So I didn't actually watch the Oscars Sunday night, though I did look up the winners. But this post started itching my brain before that.

Friday in homeroom a couple of people, myself included, were talking about some of the films nominated for best picture and how I was disappointed in myself for not seeing as many nominated movies as last year. Last year I had seen several serious 'films' not just movies. Last year I was a movie snob.

Then we got to talking about Avatar, because really who isn't talking about Avatar these days? And one girl mentions she sees Avatar more as an animated film. I understand her argument and quite honestly somewhat agree with her. Avatar is an animated film in the same way Mary Poppins and Who Framed Roger Rabbit are. Interpret that how you will.

She goes on to say how she doesn't think Avatar should be nominated for best picture. Again, I see the validity of her statement. Avatar's plot was completely unoriginal, though it never pretended to be, and if we're going for best picture of the entire year plot is certainly a factor. Did Avatar's special effects, detailed creation of an entire planet and culture, and monetary success outweigh the lack of original plot? Again, there are plenty of opinions on that subject too.

I guess I'll state, for the curious, that I don't personally consider Avatar, Mary Poppins, or Roger Rabbit fully animated features. I will say where the line is drawn between real life and animation can be drawn, pardon the word, by someone else, because I don't care. I also think that while Avatar wasn't the the best thing ever, I feel its special effects and attention to detail deserve the utmost recognition, and the special effects were honored.

Anyway back to the ranting girl.

She then goes on to say she doesn't understand why Up was nominated either. And that got me, because you see, that film snob I mentioned earlier fell in love with Up. Not only was it a fun cartoon it was also an excellent film. Those first ten or so minutes are some of the most poignant and honest moments I have ever seen in my life. (I, of course, refer to Carl and Ellie's life montage.) If two characters hardly speak in that ten minute span and yet you can be moved to tears when one of them dies, or even before that when you find out they are unable to have children, that is truly great story telling/film making.

Back on track...

The girl then says she doesn't think animated films should be in that category. No justification, no solid reasoning, they just should 'count.' I'm very angry, so I will try to remain civil here. Why does it matter if something is animated or live action. Can't a true piece of art be a cartoon? What about Batman: The Animated Series? One of the highest quality television series out there, and it says animated in the title. Some may argue that it failed in Prime Time, but that is due to the animation age ghetto (adults don't watch cartoons because clearly they are all for kids, end sarcasm.)

I don't think this kind of snobbery is animation age ghetto. I don't think age has anything to do with cartoons being for children. I think that this is just, people think Cartoons aren't good enough to compete.

That's the part that confuses me the most. Why do people feel that animation, puppetry, or other stop motion animation lessens a film?

I believe that some people feel the actors don't have to work as hard. Which I don't personally understand. You have to have the right vocal cues to match the situation, with no one to work off of, usually (actually depends on the company). It has to flow cohesively and making sure your dialogue does that is not always the easiest. On top of that, everything about that character has to flow from your voice, nothing else. To me this seems harder than having your whole body to work with.

And if it is the Animation Age Ghetto, so what? Just because it's a children's movie doesn't mean it is inherently a poorer quality film. There are good children's movies (Toy Story, Beauty and the Beast) and there are bad children's movies (The Barney Movie, Quest for Camelot). But the same goes for movies for 'adults' too.

But I don't honestly know why people feel this way. If you know or have a better idea, feel free to tell me.

It's times like these....

It's times like these, when I've squandered the day away on TV Tropes, I'm feeling depressed, I'm feeling lazy, Chuck and Hannah broke up, and I miss David Tennant that I wish I was an internet celebrity.

Because really, if there is one guaranteed way to get me to post on my blog is for me to have an assignment do.

The problem is I have no idea where to go with said assignment. Othello, while a very well written and fun (in my opinion) play, leaves me kind of wondering what to talk about.

Yes, I know I could talk about race, fidelity, purity, communication skills, but our teacher keeps reminding us to find what interests us.

Okay, what interests me about Othello is that Iago is fucking awesome. He's the villain, but damn, he's a good one. You hate him, loathe him, he's a mean one mister grinch. If this were a modern day musical he would have the best song in the whole fucking thing. Why is he evil? Who cares? Why does he hate Othello? Does it matter?

Simply by not having motivation, he succeeds at avoiding one thing many villains suffer, the stupid motive. He is a complete monster and that is why he rocks! Seriously, he makes it his goal to totally screw this one guy over, and he does it with style.

I could talk about how villainy without reason is the best kind of villainy, but I can't think of many villains who don't have a reason. Sue Sylvester fits the bill, but Glee isn't the type of thing you write about in a formal paper, plus I'd need another example.

Which leads me back to "It's Times Like These...." because it's times like these where I wish I was a bit of a celebrity so I could ask my fans what I should write about for this paper. And even if I got shitty answers, at least I'd have an idea.