Gabourey Sidibe

OK, we need to take a minute to talk about how f*@%$% amazing Gabourey Sidibe is. I seriously have the biggest friendship crush on her. You know, a friendship crush, where you want to become best friends with someone because they look so amazing.


Gabourey is starring in the upcoming movie Precious, as an teenager in Harlem who is abused in all ways by her mom (Mo'Nique [I know i was surprised too!]) and is raped and impregnated by her father twice, and one of her children has Down Syndrome. Suffice to say, it's going to be a tearjerker, or what my dad calls an "Oprah moment." (interpret that any way you want)

I first saw this video of Gabourey on Ellen, and as soon as she started dancing, I was in like with her.


She's so funny and nice! I'm seriously very upset that i don't know her. And on Late Night with Conan O'brien, she talked about how she was obsessed with *NSYNC, and I knew we were soul mates.

I haven't seen Precious yet, but I am some time this week because I have to write a review of it for my school newspaper. I already know I am going to fall apart at the movie. I started crying when I was watching the trailer. In my defense, it had been an emotional week. Maybe if the review isn't total poop, I'll post it up here. But you should probably see Precious anyway, just for Gabourey (and also for Mariah Carrey without her makeup. Hopefully, Mariah's preformance will be good, so we can all move on from the Glitter fiasco...)

Songs to embarrass yourself to

When I went back home for winter break, my friend I went out to this seedy bar by my house on a Thursday night. We actually chose this night because it was KARAOKE NIGHT! I have a terrible voice, so I was pretty nervous despite the fact that the average patron was either an aging drunk or a nerdy metro station reject.

Since I knew what I was getting myself into, I had dorkily prepared some songs to choose so that I wouldn't cop out and sing Journey...total social suicide these days. And my buddy shared his secret signature karaoke song ("party all the time"), and so I'm going to fill y'all in so you don't embarrass yourself in this situation! These are the best songs for karaoke if you have a terrible voice:

Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time
Ok ok, this requires a more advanced vocal range than the other songs, and not all of us can have the finesse of Eddie, but this is a song you can get away with sounding kind of bad, because it's such a crowd pleaser! Seriously, only the worlds biggest douche would heckle you if you were singing in the note of F instead of b sharp, or whatever.

Outkast - Ms. Jackson
I'm biased because this was my junior high JAM, but honestly you could talk like Stephen Hawking people would be cheering, this song is that good. Another reason you can cruise through this song is because you pretty much stick to one note and the beat is so catchy that people won't be listening to your crummy voice.


Salt N Pepa ft. En Vogue - Whatta Man
CLASSIC. But be careful if you can't read quickly because these ladies slow down for no one! Just take deep breaths and you should be fine.

The Spice Girls - Wannabe
There is not a single man, woman or child on earth who does not recognize this song. I guarantee you that if you choose this song, everyone, even that creepy old man who looks like ed bundy's apprentice will have his hands up in the air and will probably jump on the bar as soon as they hear the words "if you wannabe my lover..."

Biz Markie - Just a Friend
This is my favorite song of all time, and it will most likely be played at my funeral (yes I already have a playlist for my funeral and maybe it includes most of the songs on the Barbara Streisand's greatest hits album) This song is so amazing because your voice will always be better than Biz Markie's!! Everyone can identify with the plight of Biz, and it's catchy enough that it won't make your audience want to kill themselves.

SONGS THAT ARE OFF LIMITS: anything by Mariah Carey, and that's it really.

P.S. I know that karaoke is sort of ridiculous but it is also totally fun, just ask these people.

Doodlydoos

Basically all I've been doing these past few weeks (besides school work, and watching 30 Rock, and solving crossword puzzles [I'm a dork]) is doodling. Since they're the only things I have to show for myself lately, I've decided to share some of my recent ones.


The goal in all of them is to make them as ridiculous and weird as possible. Before they were just faces I came up with, but I've started using real life strange looking people I see everyday as inspiration.





(P.S. these are all also my dream men...KIDDING!...or am I? I am....)

In which I explain my preferred broadcasted moving images

I'm supposed to be studying for som boring architecture exam but let's be honest here, who needs that kind of stress?? Am I right? Let me take a moment here to outline 3 of my current favorites in the TV realm. As you can see, I used an incredibly pretentious title to try and convince you that there is some kind of deeper, social and cultural meaning behind each of these programs. But you know what? I don't have the energy to do that so this is basically just a collection of funny clips that I've collected for my own self-indulgence. You're welcome!1

1. SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH

This Australian import revolves around three characters in a public school, all played by Chris Lilley. When I first saw it I figured it was another one of those weird copykittens of the Office's mockumentary style, but this is actually so ridiculously hilarious and strangely intriguing.

2. KIDS IN THE HALL

The Daves I Know

JonathanTheGreat | MySpace Video
An oldie but a goodie! The thing about this show is it's such a 90s alternative comic sensibility, so wacky and understated and with skits that are so original and out there. But then again what do i know. I was a nerdy kid for most/all of the 90s, I'm not the authority on the decade, shit.

3. FREAKS AND GEEKS

I saved the best for last because Freaks and Geeks is clearly the greatest show of all time. If you haven't seen this, I'm disappointed.

Sounds of Twin Peaks

I think I'm about 20 years late, but recently I have become OBSESSED with Twin Peaks. The first season is so good! I just love Agent Cooper and Sheriff Truman and Hawk and Lucy and Andy!!!! Phew...I need to calm down a little...If you don't know, Twin Peaks was a hit show in 1990 created by David Lynch and Mark Frost. It's about a murder of a popular, beautiful girl in a small town in Washington. FBI agent Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is called in to help local law enforcement, and magic happens!

So anyhows, I'm not done with the series yet (I'm only about half way through season 2) but I have already downloaded the soundtrack for seasons 1 and 2 AND I AM HOOKED! Something about the music is just great! Everything is composed by Angelo Badalamenti, and it has an beautifully eerie sound that fits so well with the show.

One of my favorite things about Twin Peaks is the theme song. It makes me a little scared and a little excited, and it gets me in the mood for mystery! The music also fits the sort of bizarre atmosphere the show has. For example, Agent Cooper has dreams of a midget in a red room, and a giant that visits him and gives him clues. And everything he dreams out of the blue turns out to be true! And it's perfect!




I definitely recommend listening/downloading the soundtrack for Twin Peaks. It is one of the most relaxing things I've ever listened to. Every song fits with the others, but they are also distinct in their own ways. And the range is amazing! There are jazzy songs, and swing tunes, it's just great.


Recommended Tracks (song & album)

Just You -Season Two Music and More
High School Swing - Season Two Music and More
Love Theme Farewell - Season Two Music and More
Audrey's Dance - Twin Peaks
Falling - Twin Peaks

TEEN TUNES #4: The Beets

K so in August I went to a ~SeCrEt sHoW~ for the Virgins at Santo's Party House (which is owned by Andrew W.K, pretty cool huh?) and the opening band was THE BEETS. I'd heard of them before and ovbviously got the Doug reference, so I was intrigued.


Anyways at this concert my friends and I wiggled our way to the front row, so I got a pretty good look at these bros and I have to say they seem like a really fun trio. I bet they secretly (or maybe proudly) watch shows like The Golden Girls and laugh at all the right parts, while trying to decide which pokemon they are most like. This is all speculation though, and the only thing I can prove is that the lyrics in their song "The Devil" make me giggle and remind me of being 14.

Chanel Spring/Summer 2009

I don't really follow runway shows, but I just saw a video for Chanel Spring/Summer 2010, and it's absolutely the sweetest, most adorable thing I've seen in ages! It's a mix of the provincial peasant wear with the chic glittery touch of Karl Lagerfeld. Speaking of Karlos, has anyone noticed what a jokester he is?? The "Five o'CLOG" joke? PRICELESS. Of course, he's a total diva, but I would be too if I made something as amazing as this. Watch the video for more Lagerlols:


Here are some of my favorite looks from the show:

This is such a coincidence since I just saw "Coco Avant Chanel" at the lovely Paris Theatre in New York, which is right beside the Plaza Hotel. Audrey Tautou fit the role well, but I think it was a bit cheesy. And I'm sure there were more interesting things about her than the guys she dated, which was the focus of the movie. That's hot and all, but the whole nazi thing might have been more interesting than her boyf taking her on vacation. I would forgive everything if the House of Chanel sent me some of those dresses...please.