Stolen from Susannah's Livejournal

1. YOUR SPY NAME: (middle name and current street)
Ann Long


2. YOUR MOVIE STAR NAME: (grandfather/grandmother on your dad's side, your favorite candy)
Johanna Skor


3. YOUR RAP NAME (first initial of first name, first two or three letters of your last name )
M-Gil


4. YOUR GAMER TAG: (a favorite colour, a favorite animal)
Green Pug


5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Ann Millville


6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (first 3 letters of your last name, last 3 letters of mother's maiden name, first 3 letters of your pet's name)
Gileenjes


7. JEDI NAME: (middle name spelled backwards, your mom's maiden name spelled backwards)
Nnaneek


8. PORN STAR NAME: (first pet's name, the street you grew up on)
Bear Eastview (this would prob be a better name for a guy...)


9. SUPERHERO NAME: ("The", your favorite color, the automobile your dad drives)
The Red Camry haha, really boring


10. YOUR ACTION HERO NAME: (First Name Of The Main Character In The Last Film You Saw, last food you ate)
Lux S'more (Virgin Suicides.... this would have been a better porn star name)


In other news, I do have stuff to write about, and I have plenty of time, but I just haven't been in the blogging mood. But please don't give up on me, I'll get there someday. =) And I'll bring pictures.

"We need British nipples!"

So, being that I'm unemployed, I've had a lot of time to catch up on my movies. Instead of writing about myself, this time I will write about them. We'll start with the movie quoted in this post title:

Mrs. Henderson Presents
Now, I have a special penchant for British films; however, I feel that any decent moviegoer would enjoy this film. It's quite funny, there's naked ladies, and I loved Dame Judi Dench's wit and poise.

Aeon Flux
This choice was my little sister's, yet I found it strangely enjoyable. I was completely prepared to detest it, but there was an interesting twist and lots of special effects to keep me visually intrigued. Not a fabulously well-made film, but enjoyable enough, particularly if you're a person whose family refers to her typical movie choices as either "weird" or "too artsy".

Capote
I've been wanting to see this for a very long time, and I wasn't disappointed. I didn't quite know what to expect, because I knew very little about Truman Capote to begin with, just that he wrote Breakfast at Tiffany's and was gay, so the examination of In Cold Blood was especially welcome. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was brilliant and the film was so good it caused me to go out immediately and buy a copy of the book.

X-Men 3
My sister and I arrived slightly late for this movie, so we had to sit in the third row, which was, needless to say, pretty intense. As with the previous two X-Men productions, I certainly enjoyed myself; however, I will admit it was a bit lessened. I had a huge conflict with the whole idea of a mutant cure, as I'm sure was the point, but particularly with the way it was used against Magneto. Magneto is actually probably my favorite of the comic book cast, due to the sheer complexity of his character. I don't know, I liked the movie quite a bit, but left feeling a little less than satisfied.

Anyhow, I think that's it for the past couple weeks anyway. I did get some Firefly dvds through Netflix, which were pretty good. Plus, I've been spending a lot of time reading. It's so nice to be out of college and have time to read for pleasure, an activity which I have sorely missed during the past four years.

Jesus Christ.

It's been a loooooong time since I've posted. I'm sure every one can imagine the reasons for it. And there's good news and bad news and everything in between, but I'd never have the time to catch you up. Here's the short version:

I'm an alum of an Ivy League university - yay! But I still haven't decided on a job, so I'm at home in Lancaster County for a bit, which is both good and bad. As for everything else, in some ways I'm very happy and in some ways I'm miserable. I suppose it's a product of this time in my life, as well as my personal decisions of the last month or so. Sigh. Kate had an away message up a few days ago that remarked that life needs fast forward and rewind buttons and I am inclined to agree with her.

I'm not really in the writing mood, but I was checking my e-mail and such and thought that I may as well take the chance to let everyone know that I am alive and will be returning to this blog shortly. I hope you are all doing well and wish all the '06 graduates a big congratulations.

M.

Samuel L. Jackson

READ IT!

"Some of them are aggressive, some of them are cool..."

Snakes on a Plane.

For those of you who have not yet heard of the ridiculousness of Snakes on a Plane, check on the IMDB site and this screenwriter's blog. Just due to the amount of pre-release hype, I don't think these guys could change the title now, even if they wanted to. Personally, I can't wait for this. Way to go, Samuel L. Jackson.

I've gotten a lot of shit for neglecting ye olde blogging duties, but give me a break! I've been quite busy, between school, Feb Club, and still trying to find a job. Speaking of which, I should really be working on a presentation right now, so this will have to be a short one.

Stuff I should write about later:
Feb Club, esp. the Light Show at the Fels Planetarium
Restaurant Week
Skiing in Colorado
Upcoming Speakers at Penn (namely Kevin Smith and Jodie Foster)

Music update:

I've been loving Jens Lekman's Oh You're So Silent Jens as well as The Books, who I've just been lucky enough to discover. Other good stuff - Devendra Banhart, Rogue Wave, Jose Gonzalez, The Unicorns. I'm still looking for Belle and Sebastian tickets, if you know anyone who has extra - contact me! I should probably write a decent review of their newest album, which I love (damn I gave away the punchline).

Shows I'm going to that you should as well:
Animal Collective (?)
Art Brut
Wolf Parade
The Books and Jose Gonzalez

Songs I can't stop listening to:
"I Lost My Dog" The Fiery Furnaces
"Black Cab" Jens Lekman
"The State I Am In" Belle and Sebastian
"Mushaboom" Feist
"Empty Cans" The Streets
"Publish My Love" Rogue Wave
"We Shot The World" The Ponys
"Daft Punk Is Playing At My House" LCD Soundsystem

That's it for now. My life actually is more exciting than this blog conveys, but I just don't have the time to write about it. I wonder if I'll remember all of the craziness I don't write down. Gosh, I hope so.

What I'm Listening To Currently

******ANIMAL COLLECTIVE*********
-Feels is an excellent album - uplifting, ambient, pretty, not harsh at all (with the possible exception of the second track). I'm loving it - get it now! Start with the track "Turn Into Something" if you want to test the waters.

Other artists/bands:
-Jens Lekman
-Artic Monkeys
-The Fiery Furnaces
-Antony and the Johnsons

ENJOY!!!!

Waiting in line at THE DAILY SHOW!

We stopped in front of The Colbert Report for good measure. It just seemed appropriate to take this picture, but look at Tom's face! He looks so unhappy, but he just saw Jon Stewart and spent a day with five attractive ladies - something is clearly wrong with that boy. =)

The crew in Central Park, each with our own matching bag from the candy store. That's right, we're all ten years old, on the inside. =)

Brigit and Kate, looking ever so cute with their frozen hot chocolate.

Justine and Marilyn at Serendipity in New York City, where we had a pre-Daily Show luncheon.

Our little Justine may be CSU-bound!

Me, Justine, and our wonderful hosts: Randy and Janet Lindsey, aka the nicest people on earth.

My gorgeous self, post-skiing, in the little town of Breckenridge, CO.

Justine's first time skiing!!!

The Top Ten of Two Thousand Five

The long awaited top ten list and I'll start with some apologies. Now, I don't think you will all agree with all of my choices (in fact I know you won't, which is good - it'd be a statistical anomoly if you did) and I want to invite discussion on the matter - use the comments - but here is where the apology comes in - I could have listened to albums forever, but I had to stop. So I know there are probably a few albums out there who deserve a spot on the list, but my time is unfortunately limited and I had to do my best. So here goes....

1. Sufjan Stevens, Illinoise - I'm going to agree with Tom on this one. It's magnificent, a real work of art. Each song is endowed with a dose of sensitivity, just listening to certain tracks (John Wayne Gacy, Predatory Wasps) makes one feel intimately connected with their creator. The beauty of Stevens' explorations of the state makes me feel as if I'm living a simple midwestern life - he captures something unexplainable and through his brilliant storytelling shares it with the world. Well done, Sufjan!
Best tracks: "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, IL" and "Chicago"

2. Wolf Parade, Apologies to the Queen Mary - I feel like this choice may be disputed, but I firmly stand beside it. Wolf Parade is a darling of pitchfork and it definitely took me some time to really understand them. Both singers' voices scream pure emotion and excitement, and although the lyrics are obscured, proper listeners get the message. It also contains a track which I unabashedly crown "the best song of 2005" which is "I'll Believe in Anything", and some definite Beatles influence. As another reviewer put it: "It's not clear how Apologies... works, but it's so clear that it does."
Best tracks (besides those already mentioned): "Modern World" and "Grounds for Divorce"

3. Sigur Ros, Takk - Now, I'm going to state up front that I'm not entirely familiar with all of Sigur Ros's earlier work [just ( ) ], however, this album astonished me. Each song has a theme/feeling which is its own, but I really admired the way they were arranged together, giving the album itself its own theme. One of the best examples is the transition from track 5 to track 6 ("Se lest" to "Saeglopur"). Chock full of beauty, emotion, and intelligence.
Best tracks: "Glosoli" and "Saeglopur"

4. The Decemberists, Picaresque - Boy have I got chastised for not hearing of this band earlier, but now that I have, I must say, I am truly impressed. This band has gotten mixed reviews from around the globe, but I think they are so clever and talented. From the power and energy of the first track, "The Infanta", to the sad beauty of "Of Angels and Angles", this album is incredibly strong the entire way through.
Best tracks: "The Mariner's Revenge Song" and "16 Military Wives"

5. Architecture in Helsinki, In Case We Die - This band very much caters to my specific taste in music. It's pleasant, danceable, almost showtune-y. But the real reason for this album's inclusion is AIH's boldness. This album doesn't song like anything I have ever heard before, their style is quite unique. The songwriting is great, it's a six person band so there's lots of different instruments and sounds, and to be honest, it just makes me feel good to listen to it.
Best tracks: "Maybe You Can Owe Me" and "Tiny Paintings"
Most danceable track: "Do The Whirlwind"

6. Bright Eyes, I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning - Of course everyone knew Conor Oberst would make the list, no question. Although I adore both of the albums he released this year, I would have to say that it is this one which tugs at my heart strings just a bit more. A bit less dark than Digital Ash, every song seems to bring something to the table, in a tale of a society gone wrong and a youth's exploration of life. This album also contains the runner-up for song of the year: "Lua" which is so affecting and gorgeous and depressing all at the same time.
Best tracks: "First Day of my Life" and "Land Locked Blues"

7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - This band is a newcomer onto the indie scene and has made quite a fuss this past year. They first started receiving popular recognition when David Bowie made an appearance at one of their shows. Now to illustrate why that's such a huge deal, a couple months after Bowie attended one of their shows, I also went to one and paid $10 to see them as a supporting act in the basement of a church. They've made strides since then, selling out the TLA etc. and their popularity is well deserved. Energetic, strange, well-crafted, almost ballsy music. Great for rocking out.
Best tracks: "Details of the War" and "Let The Cool Goddess Rust Away"

8. Stars, Set Yourself on Fire - So I first got into this band when I heard that they were touring with Death Cab for Cutie. I figured I should be prepared and downloaded a bunch of their music. I was not at all prepared for a band this good. With a broad range of instruments and styles and gorgeous male and/or female vocals, this album is stunning. If it were a person, it would be Angelina Jolie. Bit nice, bit naughty, but gorgeous throughout.
Best tracks: "Your Ex-lover is Dead" and "Calendar Girl"

9. Bloc Party, Silent Alarm - All the raves this album received were, I believe, justified completely. The crafting of the songs is flawless, it just seems to provide indie anthem after indie anthem. And you can dance to it, which, to me anyway, is such a big plus. Terribly impressive album. I love listening to "Blue Light" in the evening when I'm feeling enlightened (I didn't even mean to pun that).
Best tracks: "Banquet" and "This Modern Love"

10. Low, The Great Destroyer - Put out by the infamous Sub Pop Records, I knew this was going to be good. Rave reviews, experienced but still unknown band, check, check. But it took me FOREVER to find it. I still don't understand why - this album is phenomenal. Dark, bluesy, electronic, with clever lyrics and obviously influenced by both The Beatles and Radiohead. 100% worth the trouble.
Best tracks: "When I Go Deaf" and "Just Stand Back"


Runners-up: (or is it "Runner-ups"?)
Bright Eyes, Digital Ash in a Digital Urn
Nightmare of You, Nightmare of You
Gorillaz, Demon Days
Beck, Guero
Art Brut, Bang Bang Rock and Roll
New Pornographers, Twin Cinema
Okkervil River, Black Sheep Boy
Death Cab for Cutie, Plans
The Magic Numbers, The Magic Numbers
Panic! At the Disco - A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
The Russian Futurists - Our Thickness


As a bonus, the best reissue of 2005:
Belle and Sebastian, Push The Barman to Open Old Wounds - A collection of all of B&S's previously released EPs in one glorious compilation! This two discs are better than some of their proper albums and a must-have for any B&S fan. Wow, does that sound infomercial-like, or what? Also, the disc insert contains somewhere the phrase "Public school twats!", which I found a nice extra.

Sukie in the Graveyard

"Sukie was a kid;
She liked to hang out in the art school.
She didn't enroll;
She wiped the floor with all the assholes."
-Belle and Sebastian

Their sound has definitely evolved, even I need to give it some more time before I post a final review. But get this song!!!

Also get:
"Grounds for Divorce" "You Are a Runner and I Am My Father's Son" and "Modern World" by Wolf Parade
"Do The Whirlwind" by Architecture in Helsinki
"We Are The Sleepyheads" by Belle and Sebastian
"Details of the War" and "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth" by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
"Set Yourself on Fire" by Stars

Has anyone listened to "The Tain" by the Decemberists?

Musica

The new Belle and Sebastian has leaked, FYI, and from what I've obtained so far, it's looking quite good, even though I find Funny Little Frog to be so/so. The band has acknowledged this (the leak) cutely on their website. Speaking of B&S, would anyone be interested in venturing up to NYC to see one of their concerts with me? They're playing in Philadelphia, but it's during spring break and I'll be in Buenos Aires. Oh wait, I just finished effectively stealing the last song I need to complete the album - I'll post a proper review of it in a couple days. For those naysayers of downloading, don't worry - I'm sure I'll purchase this album when it comes out in February.

Wolf Parade - I'll Believe In Anything !!!

Top ten coming soon, just need to review a few more albums, but here's a sneak preview at some definite contenders: Architecture in Helsinki - In Case We Die, Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise, Sigur Ros - Takk, The Decemberists - Picaresque, Stars - Set Yourself On Fire.

ENJOY!!!

Winter Break

So, classes have started and I'm too lazy to write all about my Christmas, so instead, I posted a kajillion photos as a sort of diary to tell the story for me. It starts with the Christmas party we had with the extended family, then moves to "Special Day" - a Gilbert family tradition where we all go to the mall, get our picture taken with Santa, buy new ornaments, see a movie (this year: Narnia), and go out to eat - then on to Christmas itself. I had a really nice break, very relaxing and pleasant. I'll let the pics speak for themselves, and I do have more to tell, but that's for another time. I also plan on doing a list akin to Tom's, of the top 10 albums of the year, but I have to wait until a few more candidates arrive from Amazon. But it's coming, so get excited!

Hope everyone is doing well. Daily Show taping tomorrow in NYC!!!

"The Sparkle Center" - my mom's new decorative creation for this Christmas season. She put a lot of energy into decorating the house this year. I thought I'd add a few photos. She deserves the credit for it. It was magical.