Paddy's Doolin Hostel

Paddy's was absolutely amazing. Upon arrival, one of the hosts, David, was there to greet us at the door with a big smile and hand-drawn map of Doolin. He was without a doubt the friendliest person we met on the entire trip and was so incredibly helpful to us. He really remembered everyone and made us feel welcome at all times. Throughout the trip, he was always the person that stuck out in our minds as the ideal host. When coming back from a ferry trip to the Aran Islands, he spotted us while on a run and came up to congratulate us for making it back from the islands and asked how we enjoyed the trip! An to top it all off, he greeted guests in the morning with freshly-baked scones and a very reasonable price.


But David aside, the hostel itself is great. We lucked out and had the room to ourselves the second night of our stay, but even if the room had been full, we would have enjoyed it. The rooms are very clean and comfortable and the bathrooms are near hotel standards (which is saying a lot for a hostel). It's very cozy and warm with a view of the stunning Irish countryside. The area is breathtaking with ferries to the Aran Islands nearby and the Cliffs of Moher within walking distance. There are cute Irish shops right down the road and Gus O'Connor's Pub (the oldest in the area) filled with the friendliest people and some of the best food around. There are two other pubs a little further down the road, and all three have a band with traditional Irish dancing every night after 9:30. There is also a chocolate shop a few shops down from the pub that has, without a doubt, the best fudge I've had in my entire life. It was sincerely magical. My friend and I stayed in nine hostels throughout Ireland, Scotland and England but Paddy's was without a doubt the best one. Even if I returned to Ireland with money to burn on a fancy hotel, I would go back to Paddy's in a heartbeat!

A Word on Hostels

So, to start out the various tales from my adventures abroad, I thought I'd start with a word on hostels. Being poor college graduates with thousands of dollars in loans on the way, my friend and I had little money to spend on lodging (let alone food and travel). Probably the most significant way we saved money on the trip was choosing to stay in hostels as opposed to hotels. Throughout the trip, most people asked what we thought of the hostels because they had never stayed in one but had heard horror stories or were simply curious. I was admittedly terrified to stay in hostels in a foreign country. I mean, if they've made a horror movie about them, there has got to be some logical source of fear behind them. But after staying in nine hostels over a two week period, I can safely say that it was a great decision. It definitely isn't for everyone, but if you do your research and know what to expect, it can be a pleasant surprise and a great way to save a lot of money. The first thing I would suggest is that you check the ratings and reviews. As a general rule, if the hostel is rated over 50% positive on tripadvisor.com, it's probably a safe bet. Simply do your research so you'll know what to expect and chances are you will enjoy your stay. Bear in mind that you won't be staying in a hotel so don't expect hotel quality. There will be mostly backpackers there who are just looking for a bed for the night. We didn't stay in any one hostel more than two nights (mostly for travel commitments), and we often stayed longer than other guests in the room. It's much more of a college dorm or camp scenario than a hotel so be prepared for this if you plan on staying in a hostel.
But the most important thing to know when staying in hostels is that the quality of the your stay will will almost always depend on who else is staying in the room with you. If you do your research on the hostel ahead of time you shouldn't worry about anyone too sketchy, but you should take the size of your room into account. When booking the hostels with my friend, I debated with myself whether we should stay in a four-bed room or a ten- or twelve-bed room. I thought to myself that less people might be safer because there would be less of a chance that the fellow travelers were kleptomaniacs or worse. On the other hand, I thought that a larger room would be safer since no one would try anything shady with more people around as witnesses: power in numbers. In retrospect, I was being way more paranoid than necessary, although it's interesting how it turned out. We had absolutely no problems with theft (which has reportedly been an issue in some hostels), we met some really friendly people, and the only problem we had was with noisy roommates in one or two cases. In one of our four-bed rooms, it was literally the size of a closet with only enough room to walk between the two bunkbeds and there was a Chinese couple that would not stop screaming at each other the entire night. This was without a doubt the worst experience we had with the hostels. But the next night, new people were there and it was actually a pretty good experience. If you're traveling and sightseeing, you really won't be spending that much time in the hostel room anyway, so the size of the room usually isn't a problem as long as the people are agreeable (which can be a gamble). One of the nicest rooms we had was the largest with six bunkbeds and all of them filled. Everyone was really friendly and wanted to know where we were from, where we were going and how we were enjoying our trip. But the absolute BEST of the hostels we stayed in was Paddy's Doolin hostel in Doolin, Ireland. I'll go on a further rant about this particular hostel and the amazing host in another post, but it was amazing. The beds were comfortable, the bathrooms were near hotel standards, and there were fresh scones in the morning for a very reasonable price. So to conclude, hostels can be a great experience if you do your research, choose a larger room, and don't let annoying guests get to you. Sharing a room really isn't that bad and more often than not, the only time you'll be around your roommates is when you're all sleeping. If you're traveling on a budget, I would definitely suggest staying in hostels as a way to save for transportation, food and sightseeing.

Unpacking and the Like...

Ahh yes, I'm procrastinating again. Upon arriving back home in Wisconsin I realized that not only did I have to unpack my bag from my Ireland/UK adventures but that I also had to unpack my massive suitcase and innumberable boxes from college (not to mention applying for any and every job that's available). So apologies for the delay, I have many tales to tell and failures to help you prevent :)

My Hiatus

Sorry about my extended hiatus from blogger- I've been insanely busy with graduation, travel plans and traveling! I spent three weeks traveling in Ireland, Scotland and England and have lots to share. The future few posts will mainly be focused on travel experiences and travel advice throughout Ireland and the UK. I'll discuss the different hostels we stayed in, what to avoid when making reservations and purchases abroad, must-see tourist attractions, etc. I'm sure I'll do some of the more regular things like film reviews and musings (which actually coincide with some of the travel adventures), but prepare for a good deal of travel anecdotes mixed in as well. Sorry again for the long blogger break and I hope you enjoy my future posts! Thanks!

Return to Wonderland

Medley on Growing Up

We're off to Never-Never Land
How the hell did I get here so fast? I don't wanna grow up
I'm too young for growing up just yet
If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up
The whole town wants to know when I'm gonna grow up, but you know I never will
What's my age again?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
Can the child within my heart rise above?

Escaping the Adventure

Medley on Longing

I kinda wanna be more than friends
Hold me closer tiny dancer
Uh-oh, I want some more
If you have a minute why don't we go
Uh-oh, what are you waiting for?
Tell me your secrets
Somewhere only we know
Will you still love me tomorrow?
Tell me when you're gonna let me in
Take me, baby, or leave me
Nobody said it was easy, but no one ever said it would be this hard
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin
Take my photo off the wall if it just won't sing for you
Oh it's such a shame for us to part
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
Oh take me back to the start

Medley on a Fight

They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting.
But my heart, it don't beat, it don't beat the way it used to and my eyes, they don't see you no more.
Forgive, sounds good. Forget, I'm not sure I could.
I check my face, I look a little bit older. I look a little bit colder. One deep breath. One more step. I move a little bit closer.
I'm mad as hell I can't bring myself to do what it is you think I should.
It's more than I can stand.
I'm through with doubt. There's nothing left for me to figure out.
It's too late to make it right. I probably wouldn't if I could.
I know if destiny's kind I've got the rest of my mind.
Why does my heart cry feelings I can't fight?
How can the words that I've said send somebody so over the edge?
Please, believe me when I say I love you.
I've paid a price, and I'll keep paying.
And my lips, they don't kiss the way they used to and my eyes don't recognize you no more.
I'm not ready to make nice, I'm not ready to back down. I'm still mad as hell and I don't have time to go round and round and round.
For reasons unknown.

Sweet Transvestite from Agrabah

Dorothy in Wonderland

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

First, a little history lesson. For those of you who believe that Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican independence day, you are wrong. The Mexican Independence Day is on September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican troops beating French invaders at the battle of Puebla. This was an notable defeat since the Mexican army was outnumbered by the French who had twice their size. The French were also far better equipped and hadn't been defeated in about fifty years. This was also significant because no country in the Americas had previously been invaded, and the Mexican army was still able to overcome.

So why is it that Cinco de Mayo has been more widely celebrated in America than Mexico? During around the same time, the US Civil War was coming to a close and troops were coming to Mexico's aid. I don't presume this is the sole reason why America celebrates this holiday, but it certainly plays some role.

Some interesting celebrations for Cinco de Mayo include skydiving in Vancouver, air guitar competition in the Cayman Islands, and drinking Mexican beer in Malta. So make some delicious Mexican meals, watch a film by Bunuel, go skydiving! Have an absolutely fantastically festive Cinco de Mayo!

May 4th

May the Fourth be with you! Go and enjoy some extra-spectacular Star Wars awesomeness! Go buy a cheap toy lightsaber and have an epic battle with your friends! Have an intensely long Star Wars marathon! Play the Lego Star Wars video game (adorable btw)!, make your own Millenium Falcon! Catch up on your Star Wars vernacular! Have an absolutely amazing day and May the Fourth be with you all!

The Ultimate Fix-it

I'm convinced this video can cheer up anyone for just a second:

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! I was thinking about making a list of things to do on Easter, and one of the main things that stuck out in my mind was to watch Easter Parade. So instead of a list, enjoy these clips from an absolutely excellent Easter movie filled with Fred Astaire/Judy Garland magic!

From Commencement to Graduation

At the request of one of my dear friends, this blog post will be directed at college commencement speeches. As we come to a close on our college years, our palms sweat, hearts race and panic sets in as the threat of "the real world" closes in on us. Part of the reason why this is such a shock to us is that no one warns us in the beginning that there is little you can do without a masters degree, and that entry level jobs are few and far between.  If you want to get a job straight out of college, you have to keep an eye on a career goal at an early stage. You have to prepare to have experience when applying or to continue your education. But they don't tell you this during the commencement speech freshman year. Instead, they applaud you for your wise choice in choosing such a fine place of education and glorify the bold, life-altering journey you're about the embark upon. And while this is very uplifting, it might have been more helpful to warn us about this end-of-the-journey panic. This warning might not be the best idea at the very beginning of freshman year, but maybe towards the end of the year or beginning of sophomore year. Commencement helps the skiddish freshmen get that last push out of the nest. Had they been told on their first day in a strange place that they need to be prepared if they ever want a job, they'd probably go running in the opposite direction. But come sophomore year, college students settle into a more comfortable routine and feel they've got a handle on college life. At that point, a get-your-act-together speech might have been helpful. You can't predict a bad job market or where your future will take you, but you can keep an eye on a goal and work towards it the best you can. One way or another, we will find jobs, we will have roofs over our heads, and we will be settled again. Consider this a second freshman year. We're being pushed out of the nest again... with a slightly less uplifting commencement speech.

Some of the Best LOLCats Ever

Learn from my Failures: Exercise Motivation

Regular exercise is something that has proven to keep me, not only healthy, but happy on a daily basis. There's nothing like that just-went-to-the-gym feeling. The problem is getting out of bed and getting to the gym. Foreseeing this problem, I got a wiifit for snowy, lazy days when I couldn't fathom leaving my room. However, this did not solve the problem. Sure I had a means of exercising in my own room, but now I had to get out of bed, get out the wiifit balance board, turn on the wii console, and then get going. There will always be an excuse not to exercise. But there are things you can do to make excuses easier to muffle. In the case of the wiifit, I started leaving the wii balance board out in the middle of the room with the remote nearby so everything I needed was all set. This also proves helpful when trying to get yourself to practice an instrument more. Whenever I wanted to practice piano more but was too lazy, I would leave the music out on the piano with the bench pulled out and the keys exposed. That way, I had no excuse not to play because everything was ready for me. Another great way to get yourself motivated to go to the gym is to have pictures of yourself at the ideal weight or fit people you admire around your room or on your desktop so you're reminded of your goal. The most effective way I've found to keep a fitness regime is to have a workout buddy and a routine. I maintained a regular exercise schedule once I found a routine with some variety (e.g. yoga two days of the week, zumba two days of the week, running three days of the week) and a friend who wanted to share the same routine. That way, even if I didn't feel like going to the gym, I didn't want to let down my workout buddy by not joining her. Getting the initial boost of motivation is the hard part, after about a week or so of this kind of a routine, it will seem weird not to go to the gym.

Time Heals All Wounds

Before I went to college, I'd only been to my paternal uncle and grandmother's funeral. And while they were both obviously depressing events, I wasn't as close to them as I was to other relatives. Four years later, I've now lost my maternal grandmother (and last grandparent) who inspired and comforted me and my uncle who helped keep my family together after my grandmother's passing. I almost lost at least three friends to suicide and now just lost Dustin. Needless to say, my time in college has had its fill of trials to accompany the good times. On days like these when all I want to do is stay in bed and stare at the wall, my friends and family help me get through. It's when I'm alone that it's the worst. Watching a cute cartoon with a friend, crying in my mom's arms, and getting myself outside to run in the rain all help me. There's no one way to deal with grief, but for me, giving myself a few days to cry and be depressed followed by constant distraction seems to help. The pain may never completely go away, but it can get easier to the point where you don't notice it. Never underestimate the power of family and friends.

Grief

A good friend of mine and old crush passed away today. He struggled with depression for years and finally lost his battle. It hasn't even hit me yet and probably won't for a while since this is such a sudden shock. All I can think to say is please know that there will always be someone there for you, even if it's a complete stranger on the end of a help line. You never know who or just how much people love you until it's too late. So live without regrets, take chances, and if you love someone let them know.

Rest in peace Dustin

Movie Review: "Manos: The Hands of Fate"

When watching a '60s horror movie, we don't expect to be dazzled by special effects or shaking with fear, but Manos: The Hands of Fate goes to new levels of disappointment. I've written a few posts on bad movies recently, which I partially attribute to a group of friends who enjoy laughing at poorly-made movies and partially to a cult film class. It is essential when watching Manos, or any of these terrible movies I've mentioned, to watch with a sense of humor and a group of friends who can appreciate its badness with you. Manos is a horror movie about a couple on their vacation with their daughter and dog who get lost on the beaten trail and stumble upon lodging occupied by some unusual characters. Torgo, a quasi-ram-legged house servant, greets them and speaks of "the master" who is away but will return and be displeased with the child's presence. The movie is just over an hour long, and yet my friends and I coudn't help but keep checking the clock. The first ten minutes or so consists of repetitive driving shots and confusion. What little dialogue there is looks somewhat dubbed and only partially matched. Obsession with a portrait of "the master" and his dog becomes even more ridiculous when we see the mater and his happy, friendly dog. The characters are absolutely idiotic and the dialogue seems improvised, or at least I would hope it was in order to give the writer more credibility.

I think I tried to repress some of the movie, but what remains after the hour were some lingering questions. Who is Manos? The master speaks about pleasing Manos and directly talks to Manos is a somewhat satanic ritual, but we never get an explanation of what/who Manos is. What happens to Torgo? The last time we see him, he runs off after his face was touched by a group of the master's wives (as a form of torture) and his hand was cut off and set on fire (in one quick movement). The master and his wives talk about sacrificing Torgo for his insolence, but at the end of the ritual, they have his burning hand and he runs off to some unknown land. And finally, what are we supposed to be afraid of? The monster is merely a man who sleeps, has multiple wives, and burns hands of insolent servants. Besides a moment of hand-sacrifice to the mysterious Manos, the antagonists are creepy at worst.

Movie Review: Battlefield Earth

Roger Christian's Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000 is a movie starring John Travolta, Forest Whitacker and Barry Pepper based on the L. Ron Hubbard's book. Hubbard founded the Church of Scientology and this movie is meant to reflect some Scientology beliefs. Now, I don't know a lot about Scientology, but after seeing this movie, I have no desire to be a part of it. Battlefield Earth is known as one of the worst movies ever made, which wouldn't be so bad if it hadn't been such a big-budget film. Jon Stewart described Battlefield Earth as "a cross between Stars Wars and the smell of ass", however I would say it's a cross between Star Wars, Planet of the Apes, amateur Shakespearean theater and a train wreck.

Before getting into the technical details and why this film is so laughably bad, here's a quick plot summary. It is the year 3000 and humans are on the verge of extinction after a humanoid alien race (who are eight feet tall and have dreadlocks/unusual facial hair) called Psychlos have ruled Earth the past thousand years. After being abused and eventually put to use as gold miners, Johnny Goodboy Tyler (Pepper) learns the Psychlo's ways and leads a rebellion.

John Travolta seems to be the only one who thinks this movie was a good idea. In fact, he was so excited about making this movie that he contributed a good deal of his own money to have it made. What's most confusing is how a talented actor like Travolta manages to give such a ridiculous performance so seriously. The performances from all the actors are overdone and laughable. The lines are delivered with inconsistent accents and a mock-Shakespearean air that makes the movie quotable purely for the hilarious emphases (e.g. "Do you WANT LUNCH?!", "While YOU were still learning how to SPELL YOUR NAME, I was learning how to CONQUER GALAXIES!").  

One of the main problems in the technical aspects of the film alone was the double-open swipe. As a transition between almost every scene, a swipe was used coming from the center of the screen out to the edges of the shot. These seemed to serve no purpose and just made the movie all the more cheesy and ridiculous. However the most distracting and problematic aspect of the cinematography was the overwhelming amount of canted angles. I counted approximately four or five level angles throughout this two-hour movie. They were used to the point where they weren't serving their purpose unless they were meant to make the audience tilt their heads, which they were doing anyways. Along the same lines, there were certain aspects of Battlefield Earth that were simply not done well. The humans ("man animals") and psychlos spoke different languages and yet we only get slight grunts hinting at a foreign language, otherwise they both speak English. They also couldn't breathe the same air, and while they did a good job of making sure the humans and psychlos weren't wearing the air masks at the same time, there are certain points when the humans are able to breathe in certain areas and we don't know why.

If you're going to watch Battlefield Earth: A Saga of the Year 3000, do so with an expectation for the most entertainingly bad movie you've ever seen. Prepare for a futureistic post-apocalyptic epic filled with overdone performances, canted angles and double-open swipes. And if the open-ended conclusion leaves you wanting more hilarious sub-mediocrity, remember that it only covers the first half of Hubbard's book and John Travolta still has plenty of cash to spare. Here's hoping for the sequel.

Great Karaoke Songs

For those of you who are looking for songs to sing out at the top of your lungs in front of a crowd, I highly suggest the following list (head banging is encouraged).

Livin' on a Prayer- Bon Jovi
Don't Stop Believing- Journey
Smells like Teen Spirit- Nirvana
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
Respect- Aretha Franklin
Crazy Bitch- Buckcherry
I Love Rock n Roll- Joan Jett
Fly Like an Eagle- Steve Miller Band
Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard
Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd
Rock and Roll All Night- Kiss
Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting- Elton John
Higher Round- Stevie Wonder
Kryptonite- 3 Doors Down
Eye of the Tiger- Survivor

Robot Unicorn Attack

I was staying over at a friend's house the other day and I started to hear a familiar tune. Without really being aware of it, I started singing along. After a minute or two, my friend turned to me and said, "Oh, have you played Robot Unicorn Attack before?" After I told her I'd never heard of it, she exclaimed, "How do you know that song!?! I thought it was made up for this game!!!" To this day, I have no idea how I knew that song ("Always" by Erasure), but it contributed to the beginning of my new time-consuming obsession: Robot Unicorn Attack. It's an online video game that can be found on adultswim.com and is also on facebook. You get three lives ("wishes") and you run and increasing speed from platform to platform as you jump over hurdles and shoot stars. It sounds simple, but gets more challenging and addicting the longer you're able to stay alive. All while this absurdly addictive song is playing in the background, you (the robot unicorn) runs with flying dolphins, leaves a trail of rainbows as it jumps and runs at breakneck speeds by the time you're through. It's an excellent, addicting game on it's own, but facebook adds the element of competition by showing your friends' high scores, giving you more incentive to keep playing. While this game is great if you're interested in stamina games in funny fantasy settings, I wouldn't suggest you play it unless you're prepared to take on a new addiction and song stuck in your head.

(For those of you who are less inclined towards fantasy, there is also a heavy metal version)

Movie Review: Eraserhead

Eraserhead is one of those films that people really have a hard time interpreting, and while most confusing movies become cleared up through director's commentary or critical reviews, this is one movie where the director is of little help and apparently no one has eve come close to guessing his intent. The story follows Henry in a dead, industrial city where he tries to adjust to his new life as the father of a mutant premature child after having just found out that he impregnated his girlfriend. There are painfully long silent scenes and drawn out glances that create an awkward, somewhat frightening feeling where the viewer doesn't know what to think or expect. When watching the film, one can't help but notice how very abstract and  expressionistic throughout and there was a lot of symbolism that is difficult to interpret throughout the film, especially with regards to outer space. In terms of gender, there were no particularly good female characters, however Mary was pitiable at times. Henry, however, wasn't a very good (in terms of good vs. evil) character himself. We pity him initially, but as the film goes on we begin to dislike him for cheating on his wife and killing his child. Jack Nance does a great job portraying Henry because, even though he does hardly anything worthy of approval throughout the film, it's still hard not to pity him because of his expressions throughout the film alone.

Some suggest the movie is a critique of the "shotgun wedding" idea of getting married because of pregnancy, others think it's a critique of a potential industrial, post-apocalyptic world. What does David Lynch have to say on the subject? Absolutely nothing. Lynch doesn't like to tell his intent when making a film and would rather the audience interpret it for themselves. All Lynch has said on the subject is that no one's theory has even come close to his original intent in making the film. So if you enjoy a good puzzle and interpreting a film in a new and interesting way, Eraserhead would be a great film to watch.

Hotdog Pasta... Better than you Think

I've been trying more and more to teach myself to cook and, although there have definitely been some cooking disasters, this one actually turned out pretty well. Do you like hotdogs? Do you like pasta? Why not combine the two?! Here's what you'll need:

Hotdogs (Turkey weiners, or ham could also work...or bratwurst)
Ketchup
Mayonnaise
Noodles
Onion
Pickles
Relish

As most cooking experiments usually start, I searched through the cupboards and refrigerator for anything I could find that might work well together. I found some miniature turkey weiners, pasta noodles, relish, and other typical hotdog fixings. Actual hotdogs may have worked better, but I found the turkey the be pretty great. We had all the makings for hotdogs except the buns. I figured, buns are a bread/carb. Noodles are a bread-like thing/carb. I suppose that could substitute. So, I cooked the noodles and turkey weiners. I mixed ketchup and a bit of mayo to make a kind of hotdog spaghetti sauce and threw it in with the noodles until I got to consistency I wanted. Then, I cut up the turkey and some onions and threw it in. I threw in a little relish and pickles and voila! Hotdog pasta!

Who Says Swing Dancing's Dead?

An Absolutely Delicious Drink

As previously mentioned, there is a bar on my college campus. They have deals every day and specialty drinks with some kind of theme related to the school. I tried one of these specialty drinks, made a few changes, and discovered my new favorite alcoholic beverage. I didn't think of a name for it, but I'm considering something like Vamarilla since it tastes like some kind of vanilla/amaretto mixture. Here it is:

1 part tequila
2 parts amaretto
Sprite (or 7up/Sierra Mist)

It's absolutely delicious. For those of you who don't like tequila, the amaretto covers the taste if mixed properly. If mixed just right, it tastes like vanilla and amaretto. It's refreshing, light and delicious. Enjoy!

Leggings

I'm convinced more and more every day that women do not look in the mirror before they leave the house. I know I'm no fashion expert, but there is one fashion fad that I will never be able to get behind. Leggings as pants. And not just any leggings. Tight spandex leggings that could double as tights. This Peter Pan look is beyond wrong. At least in Neverland or Shakespearean times they wore some form of pants over their tights. These leggings are not only idiotic, but they're unflattering and nonsensical. The point of tights/leggings is to cover up your thighs if your dress is too short or to add some extra warmth. Leggings as pants are just another way for women to show off their butt and wear as little as possible while getting away with it. However, this fashion choice leaves nothing to the imagination and gives off the impression of being easy as opposed to classy. With this look, one might as well not be wearing anything and just go out in their panties and shirt. Please ladies, take a long look in the mirror before you leave your house and consider putting on some pants.

Movie Review: Pink Flamingos

Pink Flamingos is John Waters most famous film and is advertised as “one of the most vile, stupid and repulsive films ever made.” After hearing details a few years ago about a scene where the protagonist eats dog feces, I promised myself I would never watch this movie. Unfortunately, I was assigned a presentation on John Waters and felt I had a responsibility to sit through Pink Flamingos. The rest of the class watched his later film, Cry Baby because they felt that they wouldn’t be able to sit through all of Pink Flamingos based on what they’ve read of it. Cult films and midnight movies such as Pink Flamingos are meant to be gross on some level to glorify the outcasts as opposed to looking down on them. However, Pink Flamingos took this to a traumatizing level. Anything and everything that someone wouldn’t want to watch is in this movie- from eating poop to vomiting to rape to do-it-yourself artificial insemination. But all of this would be a bit more tolerable to watch if there was less amateur filming techniques and if it wasn’t known for actually doing most of the things that happen in the movie. Surprisingly, the incest and rape scenes were almost easier to watch than some other scenes because the viewer can simply tell him/herself that it’s only a movie and that the people aren’t actually related or being raped. However, the protagonist (Divine) is known for having actually eaten the poop and there is a sex scene where a chicken is actually killed before the viewers eyes after being smothered between the couple having sex. Knowing that these events are real and having the film relentlessly show us this from dog to mouth or struggling chicken to bloody mess, makes this film not only difficult to watch, but traumatic. Even knowing of the most notoriously repulsive scenes won’t make the film any easier to watch because just when you think you’ve passed the worst of it, it maintains its level of repulsion consistently throughout the movie. John Waters succeeded in making the most repulsive movie of all time, but the viewer should know his/her limits (and gag reflex) before deciding to watch it.

April Fool's Day Mishap

April Fool's Day has always been a somewhat traumatic day for me. When I was younger, my older sister loved to torment me and play pranks on me, even when it wasn't a holiday calling for such behavior. She would force feed me crayons and claim they were medicine, sign me into servitude, and blame me for absolutely everything. Needless to say, I was scared out of my wits come April Fool's Day. One year, I begged and begged my sister not to do anything in the middle of the night as a prank and, even though she promised she wouldn't, I was still in terror as I fell asleep. In my innocent slumber, I felt a pricking on my forehead. I batted it away and it persisted, getting more and more irritating. Finally it woke me up and as I turned around me to see what it was, I saw a dark figure dart below my headboard. Terrified that someone had broken into my house and was trying to kidnap and/or kill me, I screamed out bloody murder for my mom. Sure enough, my sister popped up from below my bed and told me to stop screaming. Now, just to give a bit of background information, I had a rash the previous few days and my arms were itchy. My sister thought it would be hilarious to paint little red dots all over my face, cover me in baby powder to make me look pale, and spray hair spray around my face so I didn't feel well and thought I had the chickenpox. This was hands down, one of the most terrifying ways I could have woken up that night. So please, enjoy this holiday responsibly and try not to traumatize your siblings.

Learn from my Failures: Temporary Hair Dye

The other day my friend and I walked into Hot Topic and thought we’d try something different and put some temporary color in our hair. We saw the Color Fiend Comb-in Temporary Hair Dye and thought it was a great idea. Comb it in and it washes out in one wash, lots of different colors, and vegan friendly! Woot! However, if you’re thinking about getting this product, I would suggest using a kindergartener’s paint because it’s pretty much the same thing. The “dye” is a goopy, paint-like liquid that you comb into your hair and don’t rinse out. It gets absolutely everywhere and doesn’t look like dyed hair. It looks exactly like it is: paint. If you don’t wear gloves while using the product, it gets all over your hands and is really hard to wash off. Luckily, it was much easier to wash out of our hair. At the end of the hair-dying extravaganza, we decided it was better to just wash it out right away because it just made our hair look greasy and painted. If you’re going to temporarily dye your hair, spend a few extra dollars and get something that you rinse out and is not paint. 

The Feminist's Guide to Disney Princesses

 I absolutely adore Disney movies. But as I got older and was introduced to feminist ideas, certain characters started to change for me. Suddenly Aurora seemed like a secondary character who doesn't do anything for herself. This made me wonder how a these Disney princesses might be perceived in today's society.

As previously mentioned, Sleeping Beauty's Aurora is really a secondary character in the story. She sleeps through the majority of the movie, and what little conscious time she has is spent daydreaming and crying over her bad luck. In today's society, she would probably be the worst Disney princess because of her lack of realistic ideas, domesticity, and overly emotional character.

Snow White. Oh, Snow White. She is in close contention with Aurora for the worst Disney princess. Similarly, Snow White spends a good amount of the time sleeping and brings little to the story. She is the image of domesticity and the '50s poster wife. She cooks, she cleans, and she sleeps. She has no ambitions other than to get married. In today's society, she would be viewed as very backward and lacking substance. Also, she moved in with seven men. What's up with that? She's more of a promiscuous housekeeper than a heroine. 

Cinderella is better than Snow White but not by much. She, again, is very domestic but not by choice. The plot of Cinderella is very woman-driven (at least on a civilian perspective) and, although Cinderella spends a good deal of her time crying over her problems, she finds the courage to act against her injustices with some help from friends/family. She could be improved as a character if she had found the strength and ability to help herself as opposed to relying on others. In today's society, Cinderella would be a victim of domestic abuse and probably quite messed up throughout her life. Other than that, we don't really know that much about her and can't draw too many conclusions.

The Little Mermaid's Ariel isn't much better. This was upsetting to me because The Little Mermaid was my favorite movie growing up and viewing this movie as an adult made me reconsider my admiration for her. Sure, she's adventurous, curious and talented but what else does she have going for her as a character? Again, the majority of the time she spends arguing with her father and whining or crying about how life isn't fair. She's better than Aurora in that she takes action to achieve her goals, but she does so by getting involved in a crowd that she knows is not the best. In today's society, she would probably be an emo teenager who runs away with a group of drug addicts to escape her pain. Quite depressing.

Aladdin's Jasmine is a step in the right direction. She still has the whiny daughter aspect in that she spends a good deal of time arguing with her father and complaining about her being forced to marry. But she clearly loves her father and is fighting against the ideals of arranged marriages and takes action in finding a life of her own. In today's society, Jasmine would be a snobby rich girl who runs away from home to live a poor, but happy life as a stay-at-home mom and/or world traveler (because lets face it, other than wanting to see the world, her only ambition is to marry someone she loves).

Beauty and the Beast's Belle is a unique Disney princess in that there is a strong focus on her intelligence as opposed to her destiny to marry. She wants adventure, freedom and knowledge. She has a strong love for her father and sacrifices much save him. She has the ability to see potential in people and refuses to follow the stereotype of marrying the most attractive brute of a man. In today's society, she would be a bookworm who always does the right thing. She wouldn't necessarily think of things in terms of feminism but in terms of right and wrong. She would make you feel like a horrible person in comparison.

Pocahontas is another Disney princess that shows more substance because of a huge sacrifice she makes for someone she loves. Again, there's a clash with her father as seen in other Disney princesses but she works for the overall peace and happiness of two rivaling communities. In today's society, she would be a member of the Peace Corps and a superhero. Again, you would feel bad about yourself in comparison to her.

And then there's Mulan. Mulan is by far the feminist's superhero in the Disney world. She knows what she wants, acts out against backwards ideals, honors her family and elders, and manages to bring peace and justice after all conflicts in the story. She proves herself an equal if not superior to her male peers and makes a significant step for women's rights. In today's society, she would be a hardcore feminist who you would not want to mess with.

Escapism

There's one place in the world I always find my escape. My old hammock keeps me safe from all that consists of my life and all that I want to shut out of it. The feel of the worn ropes cradling my limp body makes me feel as if I'm home within myself. It doesn't matter whether it's snow or a summer breeze on my face, as long as I can feel myself safely swaying and look up at the endless nothing of the tree overhead. Branches stretch up directly over my head as they reach for the sky. No matter how much time passes, they'll never reach the clouds and yet that's alright. Birds come and go, leaves fall as they may, and nothing else matters. Life doesn't exist outside of my hammock. I am timeless as long as I lay here. I have no age, I have no gender, I have no worries, I have nothing to my name as long as I'm here. Nothing can phase me for these five, maybe ten perfect minutes. It's when I lay in my hammock that I am truly myself and no one at the same time.

Something to Cure a Case of the Mondays

In case you need a break from this most dreaded of weekdays, here's some of the best Friends moments ever! (Some are bloopers, but still fantastic)
Season One:

Season Two:

Season Three:

Season Four:

Season Five:

Season Six:

Season Seven:

Season Eight:

Season Nine:

Season Ten:

"Killing Me Softly" Review

Killing Me Softly is a passionate story about a woman, Alice, who leaves her safe, somewhat boring boyfriend for a mysterious, sexy mountain climber. They hastily get married after only a short time of dating and Alice soon realizes how little she knows about her new husband. It is a love story/murder mystery combination that comes with a crazy twist ending. A great deal of focus is put on the passionate sex between the couple and the submissive role Alice plays in comparison to her husband Adam.

I enjoy watching Joseph Fiennes, and this was a great performance from him. He nails the role of a strong, threateningly mysterious man while simultaneously portraying a man who's hopelessly in love. Heather Graham always seems to play the role of the somewhat-naive woman who somehow manages to be half-naked during the film. I found her character frustrating throughout the film because she seems to harp on the same bit of evidence that doesn't end up having much relevance. While the film focuses on the strong separation between Alice's role as a "flatlander" and Adam's role as a heroic mountain climber, this separation seems to be compensated for by their intense sex life and inexplicable connection. Adam is very concerned whether or not Alice trusts him, while she sneaks behind his back reading his private letters and arranging meetings with people from his past.

I was on board with the movie until it got towards the end. The more Alice snoops in Adam's past, the more she convinces herself that he is a murderer and possible rapist. She lets herself become frightened by him so much that she runs away from him even though he openly told her he had nothing to hide, would tell her anything she wanted to know, and would stop in the middle of sex if she asked him. The framing story served well to strike a bit of fear and anxiety in the viewer, but I only became increasingly frustrated with Alice because she continues her meddling and suspicion after authorities ease her mind and she sees Adam sick with worry about her well-being. After the framing story came full circle, I quickly got frustrated with Alice's character to the point where I didn't care about her well-being, even though she was the protagonist. I found myself hoping there would be some kind of twist ending that would make the movie worth watching, and I was relieved to find myself actually surprised at the unpredictable ending to the murder mystery. However, while I was satisfied with the murder mystery in Killing Me Softly, I was left wanting more with the love story. Adam and Alice were built up as having an inexplicable connection brought on by a combination of incredible sex and love at first sight. But after an extremely traumatic event that leaves the two of them scarred but alive, their relationship part of the film seems to be dropped. What was emphasized as so critical to the film ended up seeming like a phase in Alice's life that came, left its impact, and left just like any other relationship. I found this very disappointing and felt unsatisfied with the lack of continuity and conclusion in their relationship.

Campus Bars

When I tell most people that my campus has a bar, they either respond with "Are you serious? Your campus has a bar? Wow, they have their priorities straight..." or "Duuude! You have a bar on campus!? Sweeet!" I doubt either response is what the university president had in mind. However, there are a lot of benefits to an on-campus bar. First of all, there are safety benefits. Instead of walking out alone in the cold or, worse, getting into a car to go get drunk, college students have a place close by where they can go with their friends and enjoy themselves without having to worry about who's stuck with being the designated driver or who's going to walk home with whom. And while the exclusivity of on-campus bars may seem detrimental to one's social life, it also prevents sketchy or rowdy characters from ruining everyone's night. The exclusivity also promotes college students really getting to know each other and meeting more people nearby. However, there will always be an appeal to town bars because, when you're stuck on campus all week to go to class and see the same people every day, it's good to get a break from it. But, from my experience, college bars are still far more appealing for the drink prices alone. Most drinks from a campus bar are at least a dollar cheaper than town bars and have multiple deals every night. Plus, the chances of you finding a friend willing to buy you a drink is much higher on campus. But the best thing about a campus bar is the history you find there. This may not be the same for all campus bars, but the bar on my campus is noticeably full of alumni memories. There are pictures of students everywhere from current students to some of the first. Championship plaques and school pennants are displayed and the tables are covered in alumni graffiti. It's one of the few places I've found where scratching your name in a chair is almost encouraged. Alumni have actually threatened to stop supporting the college if they shut down this bar just because of all the history invested in it. We're reminded of all the people who went to this school before us and how many have moved on to bigger things when we go to this bar. When you go to a bar, you only expect a few drinks, music and some company. But when you go to a campus bar, you get all that and more. You get an opportunity to see and become a part of a little piece of history.

Savants

People who say that developmentally disabled children will never amount to anything clearly haven't heard of these guys:

Derek Paravacini 

 

You never know where you'll find life's greatest gifts.

The Best Way to Die

After reading through uncyclopedia.wiki.com's list of 100 best ways to die, I've come to the conclusion that the best way to die is not currently on the list.

The best way to die is by jumping off an airplane filled with puppies and kittens with a banner of some noble cause following the plane (might as well do something altruistic before kicking it). But to make this even better, the thrill of the fall would be heightened by watching The Princess Bride or The Godfather on an iPhone or other portable movie-viewing device (this post is in no way supporting or supported by any technological/company anything), with a huge crowd of cheering people below chanting the person's name. Now I realize that no one wants to have their epic death tainted by a group of horrified people at impact. That is why a very deep, concealed pool that would explode with whipped cream, confetti and fireworks after landing in it. That way, everyone gets a good show (minus the shock of a dead person) and the last thing tasted is delicious whipped cream. On a side note, the best way to skydive is the same with the exception of an parachute or a much much deeper pool equipped with a trampoline.

*This peculiar and dark topic was brought to you courtesy of my housemate*

Learn from my Failures: Snow

Snow is Mother Nature's way of saying she hates us. Sure, snow is beautiful when you're sitting inside your cozy home, snuggled up by the fire. But when you spend an hour shoveling your driveway or digging out your car only to play a game of will-my-car-stop-when-I-tell-it-to, "winter wonderland" is that last thing that comes to mind. Some things to keep in mind when you have to dig through your driveway: lift from the knees and stay well-covered. When driving, never, under any circumstances, drive as you would if it were summer. Take. it. slow. Tap the breaks as you approach the stop to check how much your car will slide. When turning, tap the breaks and gently turn the wheel. Expect to fishtail so don't panic when you do. Stay calm and don't press on the breaks. Tapping the breaks is ok but maintain control of the car by steering. The most important thing anyone can tell you about swirving on a snowy road is stay calm and don't stomp on the breaks. Driving in snow is one of the most miserable things one can do in winter, but if you play it smart you can save yourself a trip to the ditch.

20 Original Nintendo Games that Should Never be Forgotten

1. Super Mario Bros 3
2. Super Mario Bros 2
  3. Super Mario Bros
4. Yoshi
5. Pacman
6. Frogger
7. Donkey Kong
8. Donkey Kong Jr.
9. Popeye
10. Tetris
11. Burger Time
12. Paperboy
13. Duck Hunt
14. Baseball Stars
15. Tecmo Superbowl Football
16. R.C. Pro-am
17. Chip N' Dale Rescue Rangers
18. The Legend of Zelda
19. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
20. Adventure of Link, Legend of Zelda II

Something for the Twihards

Twilight is a cultural phenomenon that has taken America by storm over the past few years. The books are best sellers and the movies are in high demand. However, how many people have actually read all the books as well as seen the movies? The craze over the movies has become more of a teenage love fest over Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner. The books are great as supplementary work to the movies, but there is a reason why some people roll their eyes when they hear about Twilight. Stephanie Meyer did a good job with the movies and adding plenty of detail to the stories, but when reading the books, one can only be reminded of a cheesy high school romance novel...without the sex. This can be viewed as a positive or negative thing depending on what you look for in a book. It makes the books quick reads and challenging to put down at times. Some feel that the abundance of sexual tension was nostalgic of high school, while others feel that it's not necessarily worth all the hype they're receiving. The original concept of the story is interesting, although it seems that several vampire enthusiasts were upset by some of the original spins on the vampires (such as sparkling in the sunlight). This could have been remedied by a more elaborate look into the history of the vampire legends and arriving at a less controversial excuse for the Cullens' ability to live amongst average people. The ends of the books leave the reader wanting, but not in the way other sequential books do. They're a bit open ended and seem to provide a conclusion, but don't develop or follow this conclusion up very well. As previously stated, Meyer does a good job with details, but there were points when this attention to detail could have functioned in the conclusions more.

In terms of the movies, they should really be watched after reading the books. There's a lot that you don't get from the movies that is laid out in the books and there is a lot about the characters and editing in the films that makes sense after reading the books. Of course the movies are cheesy and there are far too many dramatic closeups of eyes, but these things make sense to the viewer if they've read the books and understand the characters and what they're thinking. The movies and books are still very much a high schooler's PG romance novel, but they come across as much more legitimate and worthwhile when taken as supplementary works.

Learn from my Failures: Hamsters

Having a pet is an absolutely fantastic idea. Petting any kind of animal has been shown to be beneficial by decreasing blood pressure, increasing life satisfaction and lowering stress. Pet therapy is a form of intervention used for a variety of psychological disorders ranging from schizophrenia to depression. It has also been used for children and the elderly in hospital, school and hospice scenarios. During a very hard time in my life about two years ago, I found that my friend's pet rat helped me feel a little better even for just a few minutes. So I decided to get a hamster. I did a lot of research on hamsters and a good deal of what I found online suggested that people get more than one hamster since they're social animals. Believing this bit of advice was the biggest mistake I could have made in buying a hamster. After being warned by several people, I checked several times with the store and based on online criteria that I had two male hamsters. The store (a well-known, well-credited one at that) assured me that they only sold male hamsters. I bought two hamsters and got pretty attached over the following few months. One day I went to get the pair out from their cage and realized that one of the boys was way bigger and firmer than the other one. Sure enough, the boy hamster was a pregnant girl hamster. Two days later, I had my two "boy" hamsters and seven tiny baby hamsters. I kept in contact with the "hamster expert" at the pet store who told me that the dad could be kept in the cage because they couldn't breed again for another month after the first litter. Mistake #2 was listening to this bit of expert advice. Another few weeks after the first litter was born, I found myself with a total of two adult hamsters and fourteen baby hamsters. This is stressful and annoying (although adorable) for anyone, but when a sophomore in a small college dorm has sixteen hamsters, the cons outweighed the pros of owning hamsters. Luckily, lots of college students were interested in taking a hamster or two off my hands. Hamsters are great pets for many reasons: they're adorable, low maintenance, friendly and playful. But if you're thinking about getting a hamster, I would highly suggest only getting one. Two years after my hamster mishaps, I'm down to one hamster who seems just as content to be alone as he was to be with a bunch of other hamsters. In fact, there's a good chance that if you get multiple hamsters, they will fight loudly and a lot. Hamsters are so tiny that it is near impossible to identify their gender. Play it safe and get one. If you end up in the same position I was in, at least remove the dad as soon as possible so they can't breed again after the first litter is born. After accidentally becoming a hamster breeder, I can guarantee that one hamster is much better than sixteen. Either play it safe or have a large group of people who are willing to take hamsters off your hands.

Getting Older

I recently turned 22 and it really hit me just how differently people think about birthdays. A lot of this variability has to do with increasing age (no child hates their birthday), but it's mainly dependent on the person's attitude towards getting older. Admittedly, I find getting older to be a really stressful thing and I'm starting to dread birthdays more and more. I feel like Peter Pan in the sense that getting older feels too much like "growing up" and losing your childhood joy. Everything younger people look forward to when growing up is pretty much achieved by their 21st birthday- teenager, driver's license, r-rated movies, alcohol. But after that, you ask yourself what you have to look forward to. I caught myself doing this and yet I knew it was ridiculous since I'm only 22. I have my whole life ahead of me and plenty to look forward to. I'm about to start out my life with a new apartment, job, the works. But these things worried me instead of excited me. The key to getting excited about getting older and facing new challenges and opportunities is to view each struggle as an adventure. Moving out and finding a full-time job can be absolutely terrifying, but if you can bring yourself to see it as the exciting adventure of your life as opposed to the dark unknown, getting older and facing grown-up responsibilities will a much more positive experience. Even future responsibilities of owning a home and supporting your family can be a lot less stressful if you try to think of it as playing house. We've all been children who have idealized adult responsibilities, and so in many ways we're all still children at heart playing out our fantasies. There's a reason why children play house and get excited about birthdays. Of course part of the birthday excitement is due to the cake and presents, but I think a good part of it is that they can still see the appeal of adult life. Taking ourselves too seriously and letting the negative sides of life get to us will start to take that childlike excitement away. Taking a step back to put your life into perspective makes life a lot less stressful and a lot more fun.

A Note on Keeping Busy

No one likes to be bored, but keeping busy can have more benefits that merely avoiding boredom. Constantly giving yourself new things to work on and improve is a good practice to keep. For the many people who suffer from depression, anxiety, and other psychological challenges, keeping busy can work as an excellent distraction. It would be especially beneficial for those who struggle with addiction. One of the most common reasons for turning to drugs is to avoid painful aspects of reality. However, by keeping yourself busy, time goes by much faster and you aren't as focused on things that you try to avoid via drugs. Certain projects to keep busy and distracted could be getting in shape, teaching yourself an instrument, or taking up art. Constantly improving yourself and finding things to do will work wonders for improving your attitude towards stressors and increasing self esteem.

35 Things to do on St. Patrick's Day Before you Die

1. Dress head-to-toe in green
2. Watch Darby O'Gill & the Little People
3. Say the Irish blessing
4. Listen to Flogging Molly
5. Speak with an Irish accent
6. Drink Guinness and/or green beer
7. Party it up all night long in Argentina
8. Give someone you love a Claddagh ring
9. Go to Birmingham to see the longest St. Patrick's Day parade in Britain
10. Wear a "Kiss me, I'm Irish" pin
11. Learn to play the fiddle
12. Kiss the Blarney stone
13. Go to Manchester for the two-day St. Patrick's Day festival
14. Make some Celtic knot jewelry
15. Go to an Irish pub with a band
16. Plant peas
17. Wear the Celtic cross
18. Learn how to jig

19. Eat corned beef and cabbage
20. Set a leprechaun trap (I suggest using Werther's candy or fool's gold as bait)
21. Check out the parade in New York City
22. Go to Dublin!
23. Watch America play rugby against Ireland for the St. Patrick's Day Test
24. Drink some high quality Irish whiskey
25. Watch a documentary on banshees
26. Wear a kilt
27. Learn a few key Gaeilge phrases
28. Find a four-leaf clover
29. Run as fast as you can towards the end of a rainbow
30. Have "Top o' the mornin' to ya!" be the first thing you say that day
31. Pinch someone not wearing green
32. Check out the Chicago river dyed green just for the occasion
33. Be extraordinarily superstitious
34. Eat Lucky Charms
35. Learn something new about the man that started it all, St. Patrick!