MTV Live

Daryn Jones, Nicole Holness, Paul the Intern, Sheena Snively.

These 4 people are the regulars on MTV Live (MTV Canada).

I wanted to post a picture but couldn't find a good one with all 4 of them.

I like MTV Canada. I think it's got funny programming, interesting original stuff, and manages (despite being an offshoot of an American network) to be distinctly Canadian. No one tries to avoid talking about specific cities or even Canadian-specific news. I love that.

Lately I love MTV Live in particular. I think it is extremely hilarious almost all of the time and they get racier than I thought you could get on TV. Yesterday Daryn just spat out for a good 3 minutes a million different euphemisms for sex while Nicole replied (to each euphemism) "What?" Both of them managed to keep a straight face. I mean, it was pre-filmed, but still... they killed it. It's one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV. Anyway, kudos to them for doing an interesting, live, Canadian show. KUDOS!!!

Sept.

I haven't watched "The September Issue" in like 3+ months. Very strange. I think I'm going to have to watch it tonight so that this redheaded beauty will Grace me with her presence.

**EDIT: Ms. Coddington is almost hilariously glam in this picture.

4 down, 3 to go!!!

Harry Potter… Harry Potter… you may be sick of reading me talking about it but I’m not sick of writing about it, so either hear what I have to type, or step off...

I just finished HP4. I think it was only my second time reading it and my God was it better the second time around! I don’t know how old I was when I first read it… I couldn’t have been that young, but I think it all went over my head. It’s kind of amazing that it’s a children’s book! I mean, I get why, but it is so much more fascinating for me as an adult. All of the stuff about Voldemort rising again? Dumbledore contacting all of his allies to start preparing? My God, it’s incredible! I can’t wait to start the 5th when I get home from work. I have 1 month and 1 day to finish the last 3 books. I’m pretty sure I can do it if I focus.

Reading Challenge #2 - Update:

1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
   
2. Franny and Zooey
3. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

5 more books to go by the end of 2010! ...and technically only 1 more needs to be fiction!

SS + TT

"The Age of Adz" is Sufjan Stevens' new album. Like his other albums, this one does not disappoint. In fact, more than that, it's straight up incredible. I'm playing Text Twist right now and working my way through the album (rather than clean my bathroom... later, maybe) and I am in a peaceful reverie as a result. Time to DL the discography. Yes, it's time.

Santana vs. Harrison

When I was in grade 8, I would've scoffed at any cover of a Beatles song. I was into Beatles purity back then. Now though, I am impressed rather than threatened by a cover of a Beatles song that rivals the original.

This one here is a total beauty. This isn't the best recording of it, but I love watching India.Arie dancing and moving her hands. In the album version though, you've got Yo-Yo Ma on cello, so make sure you check that one out!



This makes me want to listen to India's "Acoustic Soul" album. That was such a high school jam of mine.

In other news, still working my way through HP-4, but I've come up with an official 2nd reading challenge. The last one concluded on September 5th, so from Sept. 5th-Dec. 31st my challenge is to read another 8 books with a stipulation: 50% have to be fiction. Loves it.

RC Continues

I know I said the Reading Challenge was concluded, but the truth is that I hope it's ongoing for the rest of my life. Regardless, I will continue to discuss the books that I'm reading (as I have been), how I like them, and what I'm doing to encourage/allow myself to read more.

Currently Reading:
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - I've got about 150 pages to go and I am just eating it up! How does J.K.R. do it? Her stories are so intricate and well thought out, and I love how much more substantial they get once Harry hits 4th year. Incredible! After this, 3 more to go!

Next:

• Superfreakonomics - I got so into HP that I've neglected this book, but I've got 3 more weeks before it's due back at the library, so I have to read it soon!
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - I'm obsessed with HP right now, so it's more likely that I crack this open before Superfreakonomics but I'll try to practice self control if I can. The books aren't going anywhere, but it might be hard to finish books 5, 6, and 7 before November 19th (when part 1 of the 7th movie comes out [5 weeks to go]). I'll try my best!!!
• The Old Man and the Sea - This was on sale at Indigo and I felt the urge to buy it. It looks like a quick read and it's a classic, so I was sold! Plus, I feel embarrassed as an English major that I haven't read Hemingway, so this will be my start! I'm redeeming myself post-grad.
  

FB.

I could go on and on about how fascinating Facebook is and how it's changed our world and the way we socialize, communicate, etc., etc., etc., but I won't. We all live it and know it and there won't be anything unique about the way I articulate it, so I'll avoid self-indulgence & pretension for once.

I'll just make a few small comments about the movie "The Social Network":

• I thought the writing was fabulous. It makes me want to get into "The West Wing" again.
• I thought the acting was really good, too. Justin Timberlake isn't a great actor, maybe, but they picked a good character for him to play... although as a sidenote, I heard (read in Vanity Fair) that Sean Parker isn't really that much like the character in the movie. That may or may not be true.
• I had no idea that Sean Parker (one of the guys behind Napster) was involved in the beginnings of Facebook. Was that news to anyone else?
• My parents really enjoyed the movie, too, but my dad said it took him a while to get into. I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that they don't have Facebook.
• Overall, definitely worth watching!

Incidentally, I loved the book.

I finished Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger last night. I can’t remember if I mentioned that I was reading it, but I started it last weekend when I’d forgotten to bring the 4th Harry Potter home with me. I’m reading that right now as well, but since Franny and Zooey was shorter (and I’d likely never read it if I got too into HP), I made it my priority to finish.

I love the way Salinger writes. Certainly you could call it pretentious, but his use of language, the seemingly irrelevant yet deeply beautiful stories he tells, the characters he introduces the reader to… he can fill you up in a way that only the best authors can. Franny and Zooey was no exception – I loved every page of it. The story he tells within it is so strange and fascinating.

One of my favourite things in the book, and I wonder if this stood out to others who’ve read it, was how many times he used the word “incidentally”. It was in the book at least 10 times, and it was never really necessary. He could’ve used a different word or removed it entirely, but it was there many times, and in a 200 page book, it stood out to me. While reading it, I often thought about why he used the word so many times, and my favourite conclusion is that he likes the sound of it, had been using it often himself at the time the story was written, and so he used it often in the writing. The reason I like this conclusion is because, incidentally, I do the exact same thing. I get attached to a word and use it as often as makes sense, and often more. Lately I’ve been using the word “convoluted” whenever possible. I’d try to use it right now, but it would likely be a convoluted process to get to that point.

Jelly.

My Mom went on a trip and bought me blackcurrant jam. This is my current jam.