It's official!

I have been accepted to San Diego State University. I checked my status online today, and it said i was in. So that's good news. Mom seemed more exited about it than i did, which was funny. I'm just relieved that i now know where i'll be this fall. And i'm also glad it's not Sac State. (which I'm sure is a fine school... just not the school for me) ...Now i still have to worry about sending in all the required documents, and keeping my GPA from dropping any, yikes! It's like this semester is a big mountain, and now i know that on the other side of the mountain is San Diego, but i still gots to get over this mountain, or else i ain't going anywhere! nowhatimean? ....I'm sure it'll be alright.

I'm Back-- and The Top 10 Doctor Who Epsiodes

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Here i am blogging again. It's been a while for two reasons. First, because I've been quite preoccupied with school. And second, because i don't think many people really even read my blog anyway. However, i should blog, therefore i will.
I am still waiting to find out if I've been accepted to San Diego State University. They received over 55,000 applicants for this fall, and they only have around 7,500 enrollment slots. So if my calculations are correct, which they probably aren't, i have a 13.5% chance of being accepted. (my chances may actually be higher due to the fact that they give some priority to transfer students. Still, they give even more priority to people actually in the San Diego area). I should find out within the next couple weeks. If i don't get accepted, I'm afraid I'll end up having to go to Sac State (*sigh*). Well, whatever happens , happens, especially because everything that is happening has happened, though not in an unnatural way.
My next thought would be to rank my favorite Doctor Who episodes into a top 10 list. Just for the heck of it! And i want, no, i demand that you, the person reading this, should also leave a reply (or blog on your blog) in a similar, but not exact, fashion also detailing in a top ten list your favorite Doctor Who episodes. Once this is done, i will be satisfied (as much as one CAN be satisfied based solely on the existence of top ten lists).

Now read it.

10. Christmas special #3 "Voyage of the Damned"
This episode had a nice little stand-alone storyline that i thought worked well in itself. It mixed doctor who shenanigans with the 70's style Poseidon adventure type disaster movie--using fairly good visual effects. But this episode wouldn't even be on my top ten list if Kyle Minogue wasn't in it. Yes...she was great.... I really wish she would have went on to be the doctor's companion--provided that she always wore that maid's uniform.
9. 2x08/2x09 "The Impossible Planet (1), The Satan Pit (2)"
I'm going to count this two parter as one episode because it's the same story arc. I also liked this one because it stood alone as it's own story. (it could have been a movie in itself) It was scary, thrilling, and it had the very important story factor of isolation (people trapped in an isolated area who must deal with a threat, ie: Jurassic park). I still don't fully understand the ending, but hey, neither did the doctor
8. 2x01 "New Earth"
I like this episode because its really funny, it shows the doctor and rose at their best together, and because it was really well done. The visual effects were tops, and so was the cat makeup--probably the best makeup done in the whole series. The face of Boe is also in the ep--need i say more? And of course, the whole switching bodies thing with the lady Cassandra was great fun, and the end was so nice. Me likey!
7. 3x03 "Gridlock"
The plot for this one was really fantastic. It seems like a far stretch that people would put up with sitting in traffic like that for so long, but knowing human nature like i do, and knowing how gullible people are from one generation to the next, i don't think it's really that far fetched. Anyways, you gotta love the scene where the doctor is hopping from one cab to the next.
6. 1x02 "The End of the World"
I really liked this one because it showed a lot of quality--the acting, the script, and the visual effects were top notch. It was after seeing this episode that i knew this show was worth the time.
5. 1x13 "The Parting of the Ways"
This episode is high on my list mainly because it was such a good finale! In my opinion it's the best finale of the whole series. This could be because its the first time you realize that all the episodes before it had been building up towards something larger. And that something larger pays off with some really powerful scenes between rose and the doctor, which are nothing but cathartic. I still get shivers every time i hear any mention of "Badwolf."
4. 1x10/1x09 "The Empty Child (1), The Doctor Dances (2)"
Two big reasons why i love this episode arc are 1. it's set during WWII times, and i love that era, and 2. it's got captain jack in it! Yeah, he's the bomb. Fantastic story, and i love the ending, when "everyone lives!"
3. 1x08 "Father's Day"
This episode mixed exciting adventure with heart wrenching drama. After i saw this episode, i knew that this series was different than any other tv series out there. Fantastic!
2. 2x04 "The Girl in the Fireplace"
I could seriously watch this episode over and over again. I love the soundtrack that was written for it, and i love how they mix time travel so seamlessly. 1. I'm a sucker for stories where time travel is part of the problem. 2. I'm a sucker for historical stories. Since i love history, I love it when the doctor visits the past. And nice to see France and Versailles before the whole revolution thingy.
1. 3x10 "Blink"
I know it's a bit weird to have my number one episode one where the doctor hardly appears in it, but this episode is so great, it almost transcends the doctor himself. The writing is top notch (thanks to Steven Mofatt, who also wrote the Girl in the Fireplace). The acting is great (they should bring those characters back! or at least have a spin off series... Sally Sparrow, private detective!) And boy, you just gotta love them angels. Seriously, they should turn this story into a full length movie. "The angels have the phonebox!!!!!"

Well, that's it. Now go make your own Doctor Who top ten list. (if you haven't seen every episode already, then you should be doing that right now)

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How to Irritate...

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This one is for you Liz and Mary.

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Some Perspective...

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There is a great deal i could say on the outrageous crisis currently going on in the Gaza Strip. However, I'll just say this. Israel says that the reason they are attacking Gaza is because Gaza has been firing rockets at Israel. It's the "you made me do it to you" bit. With the statistics known, however, Israel's excuse for such slaughter is unjustified. While i don't condone Gaza firing homemade rockets at Israel, it should be noted that in the past eight years that Gaza has been firing those rockets, 28 Israelis have been killed by them. That is unfortunate of course, but the problem is that Israel uses that as an excuse to invade Gaza, which has so far led to over 500 deaths. Today it was reported that Israelis hit a school, which killed over 30 people, many of them children. So Israel has killed more people in one day than those Gaza rockets have killed in 8 years. I believe Israel's actions are immoral, and i am disappointed in the Bush administration for condoning Israels actions.

Here's an article with some more stats: http://www.counterpunch.org/cook01052009.html

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And The New Doctor is...

MATT SMITH!

The actor who will be taking over the role of the Doctor from David Tennant has been announced. His name is Matt Smith, and he will be the youngest actor to play the Doctor. It seems a bit strange for me because he's the same age as i am: 26. I was hoping for an actor who was a bit older, like Christopher Eccleston's age. I've seen Matt in a few movies, like The Ruby in the Smoke and Shadow of the North, where he played opposite Billie Piper (aka Rose). I think he's a good actor, but I'm not too ecstatic about him being so young. However, i trust Steven Moffat's judgment, so I'm sure he'll turn out to be good. (i just hope he doesn't do his hair all long and emo like).

Here's more information: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7808697.stm


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Ginger Rogers and 1940's romanticism

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What better way to spend some time off from school than to shut away the modern world with its economic shenanigans and idealogical backstabbery, instead opting to immerse myself in a fantastical world that once existed--not necessarily in real life, but in the hearts and minds of so many people. Of course, I'm talking about romantic Hollywood, circa 1940. Even then the world was changing at a fast pace, and atrocities were rampant. And as we today find it necessary to find comfort in superheroes plastered in CGI, the men and women during WWII found comfort in quality movies--not about superheroes, but about everyday people in super situations. Thus, 1940's romanticism was borne. And for those of us who find no comfort in surreal superheros with stock personalities, there is still the world of the 1940's to fall back to. The best of this 40's romanticism can be found in its romantic comedy area. And while there are many good romantic comedies from that era to choose from, today i will tell you about a few that i think are especially good. Now ever since i saw Ginger Rogers in "Vivacious Lady," i have wanted to see her in other similar movies. And eureka, i have found some!

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The first one is called "The Major and the Minor." This movie was the great Billy Wilder's first directed movie in America--and i actually enjoyed it more than my other Wilder favorites Some like it Hot and The Seven Year Itch.

This movie is one of those movies where the main character unwittingly finds themselves in a strange situation where they have to pretend to be someone they're not. These kind of movies are best when the person must traverse the threshold of class, sex, or even age (think movies like Freaky Friday, Tootsie, Connie and Carla (Ruth!), or nuns on the run--and even Wilder's Some like it Hot. For some reason, i think the best comedy comes from movies of this nature, movies built upon a great misunderstanding of a person's place in society and the ensuing hilarity that comes from watching the person squirm--because you know that if you were ever in that situation, you'd crack!

So in this movie, Ginger Rogers tries to board a train, but she doesn't have enough money, so in order to get a discount, she decides to pass herself off as being 12 years old , which seems to work relatively well. However, she soon finds herself meeting up with a Major in the army who takes a shine to the "young" girl and goes out of his way to help her on her journey. Needless to say, hilarity ensues.

The script is flawless, and Ginger's acting is superb. It was a joy to watch from beginning to end. I highly recommend this one. And luckily, if you want to check it out, you can find most of it on Youtube (i say most of it because part 9/16 is missing, which loses about 8 minutes of the film. Still it's watchable). Also, you could rent it too, then you could see the whole thing.

Trailer:

Part 1 on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rflYMvOdFrk

The rest can be found on this person's profile: http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=kirstin1986&view=videos

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The second movie is another Ginger Rogers movie called "Bachelor Mother." This delight also is based on a misunderstanding. Ginger's character is mistakingly taken to be the mother of an abandoned baby. She tries to get rid of it, but finds it difficult to do. Again, Ginger's acting really makes this film (although David Niven is fantastic in it too--along with the great Charles Coburn.

It also makes a good accidental rags to riches story. It's available to watch on youtube--in its entirety. So check it out! (you can find it at the aforementioned youtube profile)

Trailer:

So if you want to escape the drudge and dive into that cloud of fog that covers the valley 1940's romanticism, you will find an unexpected delight in watching these movies, which, at least for me, is far more comforting--and entertaining--than any over-the-top blockbuster movie that you will find available today.

My Latest Video!

Here's my latest video--and no it's not Uri Miller!

enjoy!