Savage Love @ UMD

I just found this hilarious and wanted to share because it was my old school and I am familiar with the terms and quotes mentioned.

Please assign new salacious definitions to the following terms, which are near and dear to the hearts of UM students: “Cornerstone,” “Fear the Turtle,” and “Diamondbacking.”

Cornerstone: When you get high in order to break through a sexual inhibition—like when pot helps you “turn a corner” sexually. “Sue wanted to peg her boyfriend Drew, but he just couldn’t do it until he got cornerstoned.”

Fear the Turtle: What a woman experiences when she realizes halfway through vaginal intercourse that her bowels are full and her enjoyment of the sex has been superseded by her fear of crapping the bed. “Sue had to ask Drew to stop fucking her because she feared the turtle. She got on the can for a minute, then hopped back in bed, and no longer feared the turtle.”

Diamondbacking: Consenting to anal sex in the hopes that doing so will inspire a boyfriend to propose. “Sue knew that Drew was totally into anal sex, so she let him diamondback her. Now they’re engaged.”

linkback to the Onion AV Club Original Post

Down and Up Friday

I have no idea what this blog is for, mostly random stuff, a bit earlier it was focused on my travels so I had that going for one. While right now I have no specific plans for travel, I have two interesting things coming up. But first the down,

I applied for this role:
Resource Development Communications Coordinator (3856)

Job Description
Under the supervision of the Vice President, Resource Development, provide assistance and support to the division Senior Management Team in various communications projects on behalf of the departments, assist with aspects of external relations and other related functions for assigned corporate partners, ACE projects and Alliance projects. Monitor, review and follow-up all routine matters related to servicing donors through direct contact. Contribute towards development and implementation of the Resource Development Communications Strategy by researching and analyzing strategic information and data. The closing date for this position will be Feb 12, 2009

Required Skills
Bachelors degree ideally in English, Communications or Marketing. Public relations, fundraising, marketing and/or communications experience as asset. Must display analytical and conceptual ability and good communications skills. Must have planning and monitoring skills and the ability to organize work and projects. Ability to make timely and quality judgements and decisions essential. Need good computer skills including internet navigation and MS Office.
at Save the Children but was declined because of potential better candidates. Which is fine, but it was a down because I thought I could do it and found it enjoying. Ah well.

But as for ups and downs, this weekend I will be skiing (or attempting to) for the first time. So I’ll be either up and down the mountain or down on my ass and up on my feet.

Lastly, my possible trip, which is an up, is maybe to Brazil to see the Amazon in March. We can only see… If so, then I’ll surely have pictures and maybe write on this blog. For now though, its mostly been me updating my music one.

Slumdog Millionaire as Best Film

Slumdog Millionaire won 4 awards at the Golden Globe Awards including Best Picture (Drama).

Slumdog Millionaire won 5 awards at the Critics Choice awards including Best picture.

Here are my two earlier posts:

Must See Movies – Slumdog and Rachel

Dharavi Slumdog article

And my terrible photos from the MIAAC Slumdog Millionaire premiere. Featuring (the Moderator), Dev Patel, Freida Pinto, Danny Boyle, Simon Beaufoy, Loveleen Tandan and someone else participating in Q&A.

The Wrestler – mini-review

One of the first film comparisons that draws to mind when watching Darren Aronofsky’s latest film, The Wrestler, would be Rocky. But watching this film, I was drawn in mostly for the feelings of loneliness it conveys. First, there is the main story of Randy “The Ram” Robinson as a former pro-wrestler now resigned to small-time independent matches, 20 years after his fame. He even has a Nintendo (original NES) videogame with his character in it and his signature move the “Ram Jam“. And though they are still staged, some of his current matches have an almost backyard style of violence with barbed-wire and broken glass. We see him early on having been locked out of his trailer and working in a supermarket, solitary except for those who recognize his past glory.

And second is the loneliness we see through Cassidy (a topless Marisa Tomei), as an “older” stripper who does not get the attention (or bucks) she wants to be dancing at a club. (POSSIBLE SPOILERS) After collapsing following a match early on, The Ram tries to reach out to his Cassidy as a possible love interest but she passes on him because she cant be seen with a customer. Though with her advise, The Ram attempts to reach out to his daughter, Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) and make amends for his past failed parenting. And he retires, taking on fulltime work at the supermarket in the deli.

Overall this movie may take some repeated views to warrant the super-high rating on Rotten Tomatoes (96%), but this 4th movie from Darren Aronofsky is extremely well done.  I imagine that the warm interactions between the wrestlers backstage pre-match and the violence in the ring as well as some fine camera work, close ups and vantages of The Ram, are note-worthy. In any case, I like all of Aronofsky’s earlier works and I like this one as well, very much so. Maybe not a must see in theaters, but there is much that can be discussed, so hopefully you wont see it all alone.

The Wrestler Review @ NY Times
The Wrestler @ IMDB
The Wrestler @ Rotten Tomatoes
Darren Aronofsky interview @ the AV Club

Criterion Blu-rays – Bottle Rocket & Man Who Fell to Earth

After obtaining Batman The Dark Knight on blu-ray for free in an Amazon.com promotional sale, I spent much time deliberating what my first official blu-ray purchase would be. There are a ton of my favorite movies already out on blu-ray including The Shawshank Redemption, L.A. Confidential and Pan’s Labyrinth, I dont want to pay the new-release price for films that may become very discounted new and easily obtainable used. But then I was made aware that the Criterion Collection, known for releasing outstanding versions of foreign, speciality and cult films with pristine transfers and outstanding extras often under the directors supervision on laser disc and dvd, would be issuing its first movies on blu-ray in December.

Curious Case of Benjamin Button mini-review

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, is based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald and directed by David Fincher. Its about a child born old growing younger as he ages. Its a bit lengthy, but overall a unique story with some great subtle cinematography and a touching story.

It combines slight fantasy elements from Tim Burton’s Big Fish, adventurous story-telling like Forrest Gump and perhaps a bit of the heavy-heartedness of Jack (starring Robin Williams and yeah of course Jack isnt anywhere near the caliber as those other films but whatever). But mostly its about the love that grows between Daisy and Benjamin.

Its possible to know when an opportunity is missed, but its not possible to avoid fate. And while the film does not get overly metaphorical, it does wrench emotion from the audience. Several females were crying by the end as it is hard not to feel for the characters and the decisions they make. In the end a person needs to let go of grudges and go with the flow of time, even if it flows in reverse.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Rotten Tomatoes
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – NYTimes.com

Dharavi Slumdog article

The Beating Heart of Mumbai
Gethin Chamberlain reports on life inside Mumbai’s biggest slum @ The Observer

The picture caught my eye, so then I had to read the article. The people in the slums just need the opportunity to move out of there, its not for lack of education, its for lack of opportunity.
It of course mentions Slumdog Millionaire, Danny Boyle’s latest film. One of the best of the year.

Video Game award Winners

IGN awarded World Of Goo, Best Wii game; MGS4, Best PS3 game; and The World Ends with You, Best DS Game. I must have good taste as I already own them all.

IGN Wii: Wii Game of the Year 2008
IGN PS3: PS3 Game of the Year 2008
IGN DS: DS Game of the Year 2008
Spike video game award winners

Two must see movies

Henry Poole is Here (mini-review)

As Colbert might say, this movie speaks straight from the gut. I’ve always liked Luke Wilson’s (and Owen as well) acting. It seems to come with ease for whatever his role and was probably the primary draw for me seeing this film to begin with.
Though it tends to be overly sentimental, with a plot full of coincidences and characters conveniently exaggerated, Henry Poole is Here is a terrific little film. The plot is also a little skimpy on some key points but due to the heartfelt nature, they can be overlooked. In the film the music is also a little overdone as it doesnt come in subtlely, and it contains Ben Harper (“Morning Yearning”) and Badly Drawn Boy (“Promises”) who were the two artists I recognized instantly. Note that for some reason there is a cover of Harpers song on the soundtrack release not his original.
If you’re an optimistic person and believe in hope, signs or coincidences, see this film. And if you dont fit into those categories, just dont think to hard and perhaps you’ll find something you can take away from it.

imdb (cast/crew, info, etc) and rotten tomatoes (review round-up; 29% cream-of-the-crop)