The Augsburg Bucket List

Am I the only who feels they've chosen the wrong school? Because it sure as hell feels like it. Since I'm planning on transferring, my roommate and I have put together a bucket list specifically for Minneapolis....

Go to a concert.

Crash a wedding.

Go to a professional game.

Window shopping downtown

Befriend a gay person.

Science Museum

Art Museum

Mill City Museum

Sculpture Garden

Spa

Frolf

Orpheum Theater

Keys Café Brunch

Church Hopping

Guthrie Theater Tour

Northeast Minneapolis

Saturday Midnight Movie at Uptown Theater

Rent a canoe and float on Lake of the Isles while enjoying the fall colors.

ZOO

Minnehaha Falls

 

We're determined not to be bored for the remainder of our time here. As incentive to actually do the list, I plan to post about every accomplished item..... So keep on the look out for ADVENTURES.

Just designing my tattoo.... no worries.

obviously, I'm still brainstorming. 

Words Spoken By Padre Luigi

  My father is a gossip, swears a lot, and can be quite offensive, but as with all fathers he has his moments of humor (he thinks they happen more often than they do). So here they are:

"I feel that potatoes are highly overrated."
(He really hates potatoes.)

"There's only one way in this town-- and that's the wrong way! Hahahaha!"
(This is true.)

"I'd buy anything for $15.... Anything."
(He needs shopaholics anonymous. To elaborate on this he bought me two penguin doormats because I like penguins and they were just so cheap. But don't be distracted by the kindness of this action. He bought his 17 year old daughter not one but two door mats. Who does that?)

"I mean really, who names their kid Mitt? What's that short for Mitten? So, what's his brother's name? Glove?"
(Valid argument padre, valid indeed.)

HIGHLIGHT OF MY LIFE

Okay, so a little about me and a little too late.


Hi, I'm Alex. I waste a lot of time on the web. I like climbing, cupcakes, biking, Lutherans, folk music, and crossing stuff off of my bucket list.


Wait. Did she say she like Lutherans? Can that even be an interest?!
Yes and YES! I love my faith and everything that its done for me. 
One of the biggest impacts on my life has been spending the past two (and hopefully a third) summers with the Minnesota All-State Lutheran Choir. Its pretty neat. 
There are a lot of opportunities for kids now a days, but every preparatory program, camp or job that I've done beside MASLC hasn't added up in the level of awesome I've experienced.
You do have to be a Minnesota resident and also the preference goes to Lutherans.
If you're a part of a Lutheran church but entirely sure you'll be religious enough or spiritual enough, that needn't be a concern. Its an open bunch of high-school Lutherans who are Minnesota friendly.
Jump on this!

http://maslc.org/

You Can't Force A Dance Party!

Covering the Story From Both Sides

I appreciated a skeptic friend and cousin pointing out to me that there is more than one angle, even on issues like child soldiers. I think it is important to raise awareness on both ends. There is something that needs  to be done in Uganda (and surrounding areas), but that Invisible Children is not the only organization. There are others (Doctors without Boarders, water.org) actually impacting the day to day in conflict stricken areas. Some of this was kind of disappointing to read, especially because this seemed to be a web trend that sparked interest in my age group.
Click the following link for another side to the Kony 2012 story. It is really interesting.
http://jezebel.com/5891269/think-twice-before-donating-to-kony-2012-the-meme-du-jour

Oh Brotherhood 2.0

This is a bit old, but great. Especially the bit about Gore.

 Click here to watch the awesome Vlogbrothers video!

Things I've Learned Today #2

1. Some people ACTUALLY don't know the difference between then and than. Quicktip: then is used in reference to time. Than is used for comparison. So to say "I love you more THEN I hate mice", is saying that you love someone in a greater sense THAN they love you, and after the loving is put into action, you go on hating mice. Now that sentence looks rather idiotic.
* I am by no means a grammar guru, but really folks? They are two different words and not usually interchangeable. {Oh hipster cat, you are sadly mistaken.}

2. Health class (at the collegiate level) is utterly pointless. Trust me, the first round of learning about STIs/STDs was sufficient for a lifetime.

3. Soup is really important to me. This is more of a personal revelation, but when there was not a veg. soup option in the cafeteria last night, my salad and I were equally disappointed.
{KG will appreciate the picture :}

4. Nobody can catch the mother fucking fox. Thanks, John Green.

5. Swedish pop music= quite odd. I decided to revisit the archives of my iTunes library and found a stash of tunes by Tribeca. Upon re-listening, I was thrown into a state of disbelief that 14 year-old Alex danced around to such minstrelsy.

6. The smallest ironies of everyday life go under-appreciated.

Get Involved

Please check this out, all. We usually have ridiculous (possibly narcissistic) posts, but this one is ACTUALLY important.
More info from the Kony | 2012 site:


About KONY 2012

Who is Joseph Kony?

Joseph Kony is the world’s worst war criminal. In 1987 he took over leadership of an existing rebel group and renamed it the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

The LRA has earned a reputation for its cruel and brutal tactics. When Joseph Kony found himself running out of fighters, he started abducting children to be soldiers in his army or “wives” for his officers. The LRA is encouraged to rape, mutilate, and kill civilians–often with blunt weapons.

The LRA is no longer active in northern Uganda (where it originated) but it continues its campaign of violence  in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. In its 26-year history, the LRA has abducted more than 30,000 children and displaced at least 2.1 million people.

What is the goal of KONY 2012?

Invisible Children has been working for 9 years to end Africa’s longest-running armed conflict. U.S. military advisers are currently deployed in Central Africa on a “time-limited” mission to stop Kony and disarm the LRA. If Kony isn’t captured this year, the window will be gone.

We are taking action to ensure these two things:

1) That Joseph Kony is known as the World’s Worst War Criminal.

2) That the U.S. military advisers support the Ugandan Army until Kony has been captured and the LRA has been completely disarmed. They need to follow through all the way and finish what they have started.

Why are we making Joseph Kony “famous”?

Invisible Children’s KONY 2012 campaign aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. In this case, notoriety translates to public support. If people know about the crimes that Kony has been committing for 26 years, they will unite to stop him.

Secondly, we want Kony to be famous so that when he is stopped,  he will be a visible, concrete example of international justice. Then other war criminals will know that their mass atrocities will not go unnoticed or unpunished.

Contact

General questions:

info@invisiblechildren.com // 619.562.2799

Media inquiries:

pr@invisiblechildren.com

For more information about Invisible Children, visit our main website:

www.invisiblechildren.com

John Green

installment no. 2 of ‘this winter i’ …

installment no. 2 of ‘this winter i’ …

Potential Senior Quotes

“Because you're only thinking they-might-not-like-me-they-might-not-like-me, and guess what? When you act like that, no one likes you.” 

― John Green, An Abundance of Katherines

“We all matter - maybe less then a lot but always more than none.” 

― John Green

“I do not say 'good-bye.' I believe that's one of the bullshittiest words ever invented. It's not like you're given the choice to say 'bad-bye' or 'awful-bye' or 'couldn't-care-less-about-you-bye.' Every time you leave, it's supposed to be a good one. Well, I don't believe in that. I believe against that.” 

― John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson

“I don't like reindeer. They seem like regular deer, only more dangerous.” 

― John Green

“Maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure out if you want to fall, or how and when you're gonna land, and I gotta tell you, Friends, to stop thinking about the landing, because it's all about falling.” 

― John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson

“It always shocked me when I realized that I wasn’t the only person in the world who thought and felt such strange and awful things.” 

― John Green, Looking for Alaska

“Someday, somewhere - anywhere, unfailingly, you'll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life” 

― Pablo Neruda

“Let us forget with generosity those who cannot love us” 

― Pablo Neruda

“it was my destiny to love and say goodbye.” 

― Pablo Neruda, Still Another Day

“And what importance do I have in the courtroom of oblivion?” 

― Pablo Neruda

“The tiger can't change his spots. No, wait, he did! Good for him!” 

― Jack Handey

“If you're a blacksmith, probably the proudest day of your life is when you get your first anvil. How innocent you are, little blacksmith.” 

― Jack Handey

“I hope that someday we will be able to put away our fears and prejudices and just laugh at people.” ***

― Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts

“You don't remember what happened. What you remember becomes what happened.” 

― John Green, An Abundance of Katherines *****

“At some point, you just pull off the Band-Aid, and it hurts, but then it's over and you're relieved.”  *****

― John Green, Looking for Alaska

“The town was paper, but the memories were not.” ****

― John Green, Paper Towns

“Maybe our favorite quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we're quoting.” 

― John Green

“Some people have lives; some people have music.” *****

― John Green, Will Grayson, Will Grayson

“It is so hard to leave—until you leave. And then it is the easiest goddamned thing in the world.”  **

“Leaving feels good and pure only when you leave something important, something that mattered to you. Pulling life out by the roots. But you can't do that until your life has grown roots.” 

― John Green, Paper Towns

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. *****


      Mark Twain

Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire. ****


Arnold H. Glasow

Here's to all the places we went, and all the places we'll go. 

⁃ John Green

I feel very adventurous. There are so many doors to be, and I'm not afraid to look behind them

Elizabeth Taylor

I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.

Mark Twain

It Automatically Becomes My Business When It's on My Facebook News Feed.

Typical status of a person who just caught doing something stupid and everyone heard about it: "Like, OMFG stay out of my business!"

Well, when your previous status went a little like this, "Like, I totally just got suspended for drinking at a high school dance. Dumb bitches who snitched, karma's gonna getcha!", it's hard to take you seriously.

Karma is going to get them? I do believe karma already got YOU for making the completely idiotic decision to show up at a school sanctioned danced TOTALLY WASTED. How can you honestly expect to make a public spectacle of yourself and not have repurcussions?

If you were just buzzed, whatever. I honesty am passed the whole drinking-is-the-devil thing. But when you blatently broadcast yourself by falling off stages, falling off toilets, lifting up your dress, and all but having sex with your dance partner out on the floor, you've taken it too far. There is no way that is okay and would not be reported.

Sure, I agree that snitches are dumb and really didn't need to say anything, but SERIOUSLY? You don't think the chaperones coudn't tell?

Though this whole situation is just ridiculous, I feel like the saddest part is the fact that our entire student body is so accustomed to this kind of outandish behavior that we're more surprised when people get caught, more outraged over fair punishments, than when it goes unnoticed. This is what this high school has come to. Glorifying those who make public fools of themselves, while scorning those with good judgment.

What The Actual Fuck.

Yes. I swore. No, I don't regret it. It's my form of rebellion. Personally, I feel like it's less destructive than anything else I could've chosen.

And The Story Goes On...

Disappointment= Your current 1st choice college sending you indication that you've been awarded a full ride... then getting an email saying you got the second highest scholarship.
'Oh no sorry, we want you to come here, but just not that badly... yeah.'

Screw college. I just want to disco.

A Valentine's Day Hate Fest By Alex

Things that make sense to me:
 (from www.someecards.com)
1. Just because you're alone this Valentine's Day doesn't make it any different that any other day in your life.
2. The only way I could be lonelier today is if the internet stopped working.
3. Hug a loner this Valentine's Day.
4. Tonight is the perfect night to troll the city for undatable alcoholics.

Spiteful Poetry: by Alex
1.  Roses are red
     Violets are blue
     Sugar makes you diabetic
     So fuck all of you

2. Blood runs red
    Ink runs blue
    You make me sick
     Hence my green hue

3.  You get all you want, you glutenous whore
     I hate your guts, but your face even more
     Perhaps you'll get lost, whilst in the forest deep
     If you never come back, I shall not loose sleep

4. 'Today's the 14th', my calendar said to me
     I said, 'It looks like Tuesday', nothing special did I see
     'But see the happy couples walking round the square?'
     Nay, but I did see pretty flames for I burnt him then and there

Happy Singles Awareness Day (SAD).
[ No exclamation= intentional]

There's Something Incredibly Unfair About This Situation...

Here I sit. In MY basement. Drinking MY kool-aid. Covering up with MY blanket.

I am 17.

My sister is 13.

She has a 16-year old boyfriend.

Who is sitting with her in MY basement. Drinking MY kook-aid. On top of one of MY blankets.

She's 8th grade, he's 10th, I'm a senior.

Yes, that's kind of a lot of information to give out. I just want you to understand my predicament.

I'm bitter. Incredibly so. Nay, I'm livid. I'm completely, entirely angry at the crappy cards life has dealt me.

I'm being melodramatic, I know, but seriously!?!?!? Really!?!?!?!

Not long ago, I decided to lower my man standards. I decided I could date someone younger than myself.

Still, I've had no luck.

But my freakin' 8th grade sister gets an older boy. He's even cute and nice.

But I'd just decided people his age were in my options!

Why can't she stick with her own age pool!?!?

You may say I'm jealous. I'd agree.

I'm completely jealous. It just doesn't seem fair at all.

Honestly, my sister and I are incredibly similar. Almost the same personality (as told to us by our friends/acquaintances/family almost daily), people say we look alike, and I like to think we're both just really awesome.

The only difference? People like her.

Hence, the darn Repulsion Factor.

Yeah, I'm bringing that up again.

I'm just flabbergasted and confused. And upset. This sucks.

This post won't help whoever reads it with anything, give any advice, or even provide any decent entertainment. I just needed to get it off my chest.

Sorry, Alex. I'll be sure to start posting more optimistic things soon.

Something Old, But Mostly New

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kayla-Maria-Photography/111729168893126

Hey! If anyone is looking for a great new photographer to check out click here. She's young and uber talented. It is definitely worth the "like" on Facebook.

Lyrical Genius of the Day!

Do you ever hear a song and go, "Wow, that's exactly what I was thinking, I just didn't know I was thinking it, so I'm glad they put those words together in that fashion to perfectly explain the utter chaos that is my mind"? Maybe not. But I do.

So, here's Kristin's Lyrical Genius of the Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sleeping In- The Postal Service

Sometimes I just love the simplicity of songs... Like this one. You don't have to think into it, it is what it is. "Everything is exactly how it seems".

The Global Warming verse is my favorite. It's one of those things I wish were true...

Last week I had the strangest dream
Where everything was exactly how it seemed
Where there was never any mystery of who shot John F. Kennedy
It was just a man with something to prove
Slightly bored and severely confused
He steadied his rifle with his target in the center
And became famous on that day in November

Don't wake me I plan on sleeping
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping in
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping in

Again last night I had that strange dream
Where everything was exactly how it seemed
Where concerns about the world getting warmer
The people thought they were just being rewarded
For treating others as they'd like to be treated
For obeying stop signs and curing diseases
For mailing letters with the address of the sender
Now we can swim any day in November

Don't wake me I plan on sleeping
(now we can swim any day in November)
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping in
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping
Don't wake me I plan on sleeping in

Seriously, why can't everything be this simple? Pretty much my ideal world... Plus, I would like my family to stop waking me up when I clearly wish to sleep in...

My High School Plight...

While my blog colleague/friend Alex has been chilling at college, bipassing most high school struggles, I've been stuck here. In small town Minnesota. Where drama reigns over all else.

Who's with who, who's dropping out, what's she/he wearing, who got pregnant? This is life. These are the questions that surround my school. If I'm being completely honest, I find it kind of interesting. I'm only human, after all.

But eventually, it all gets tiring. It's always the same story, different people. There are only so many times I can hear about someone giving her boyfriend a handjob in Spanish before it gets old.

Sometimes I think to myself, "Why the heck am I even there?"

Then I see the light. Despite the peer pressure, the constant gossip, the utter shit that is my high school, there is someone who has managed to stay out of it all, to remain the sweetest person I've ever met. I really don't know how he does it.

In a time when friends say, "See ya, whore," as an acceptable way to speak to each other, he says, "Have a great day." Who says that? It sounds corny, but it really can make your day. Whenever I do anything, even the most trivial thing like show him where a button is on the computer, he'll thank me like I'm the greatest person alive. Even if I didn't even help and failed miserably at explaining something, he goes out of his way to make me feel like I'm important to his success or something. It's weird, but when you think about it, how many people would honestly do that for you?

It's not even like we're very good friends, either. It's getting there, yes, but I can't be sure.

This is where it gets frustrating, hence the "plight" part of the title of this post. I think I'm making too much out of practically nothing. Like always. I'm getting ahead of myself. I keep thinking he may be flirting (crazy, I know), but then I remember he probably doesn't even know what flirting is, he's that ridiculously, adorably innocent. I'm not sure if innocent is the word, but I'm going with it. See, he's just crazy nice to everyone and I can't tell if I'm special in some way. I like to think I am... It's so rare to find such a, dare I say, gentleman. I feel like if I have any chance, I have to jump at it. Trouble is, I don't know how to jump without scaring him off.

So, here I am. Writing a blog about my boy troubles. This is my life. If you have any advice, or even care, feel free to share.

Hopefully I'll have some good news to update on the matter eventually...

Cat Snow

Its been a long day. I've almost fallen in several snow banks and enjoyed seeing my professors struggle with the same thing. But more importantly, I need to unwind. What better way to do that than googling words that I like in a random order?! Todays words were: CAT SNOW.
Here is what I've discovered.

This cat looks like my old cat Willameana. Except anorexic. Not so much that this cat is skinny, my cat was morbidly obese.... and still managed to live until age 14. Which is 73 in people years. What an all-American cat she was. 

If you are need to know about my ratio of cat to people years, click here.

And now I'm bored so I will be done. Enjoy that CAT SNOW.

Who wants to get interviewed?

Hi. As you may know if you follow this blog... which not many of you do... anyway, I'm in university. This semester I decided it would be fun to take a Cultural Anthropology class! And it is. But that's not the reason for my plea. I need a foreigner who has lived in the Midwest United States, or even just the US who would be willing to communicate with me via email or Skype. Yeah, I'm desperate. But look at the bright side: some facetime/ interaction with yours truly. It would be truly spectacular if you lived in the Fargo-Moorhead region, but I'm not going to be fussy. I just need help.
The quick and dirty:
No, it doesn't pay. Unless you count that rewarding feeling of helping a fellow human being.
Yes, you would have to answer truthfully and I would appreciate that very much.
No, it isn't a difficult task. Just answering a dozen or so questions.
If interested. Leave a comment saying so.

Understate Artist of the Week: 3

Band: First Aid Kit

Style/ Genre: Folk

From: Sweden

What's so great: Two sisters, Johanna and Klara making stupendous music. You can tell they didn't edit it past the point of recognition. Is the NY Philharmonic autotuned on their recordings? Doubt it. If you're at the professional level you should not be allowed to. First Aid Kit keeps it all too real. 

Website: http://thisisfirstaidkit.com/

Tracks to check out:

1. Hard Believer 

2. Our Own Pretty Ways (my personal favorite)

3. Little Moon

4. You're Not Coming Home Tonight

5. Ghost Town

6. Truth Can Hurt

]]]Kristin and I are poor. We own nothing and have no affiliation with the band or picture of said band[[[

Fact:

There is no more successful feeling than knowing the answer to a question asked on "Jeapardy".

Things I Have Learned Today

1. That if you slip on ice, you deserve to be laughed at. This has nothing to do with your character. Its just straight up hilarious when people don't know how to walk on ice in Northern Minnesota. (Oh, and I understand it can be a serious thing, people break themselves and bleed. Stuff like that but overall we need to laugh about the concept.)

2. If you eat like a ravenous lemur, refrain from eating in class. Today this kid was just going to town on his M&M cookie. I felt like leaving the class, he wanted that cookie to be in pain and it was hard to watch.... I just couldn't look away.

3. Some people are designed by the higher power to make us jealous. Maybe its a test.... maybe its an ego check. But not everyone was made equally. But we're all freakish in our own way.

4. Humans are born prematurely. Its because of our freakishly large brains I guess. We need to be shoved out early, because if we aren't then we wouldn't fit out.... uncomfortable to tell, but true. I don't know if biologists share this view with anthropologists, but I guess as human kinderlings, we take the longest out of any animal to nurse and depend our mothers. 

5. Other places are always cooler than wherever you are. Except our home town. Nobody really wants to be there which is kind of a disheartening concept, but that's just the way that things like this happen. 

Here it is back in the day.

6. This:  www.grouchyrabbit.com is the eighth wonder of the world. So. Freakin'. Awesome. 

7. There's a difference between funny and dumb. When you're funny, people laugh with you. When you're dumb, people laugh at you. 

8. I read somewhere that our brains make us think we're 5X prettier than we really are. So I might actually be ugly.... for sad. 

Hehehehehehehe.

Living the Life

Its moments like this that I wish I had a single dorm. Sorry, I should probably give you the story before my two cents. My roommate (girl1) has her friend here and he (boy1) won't leave. This happens because her other friend (girl2) is dating his friend (boy2) who happens roommates with boy1. I'm the X factor. I have absolutely nothing to do with any of these interconnecting relationships. I don't even know why I sit here and put up with this. I could be spending time elsewhere.... just kidding. This is Moorhead, Minnesota and I have NOWHERE that I could go that wouldn't involve more people. Golly, I take antisocial to a new level. I just want to sleep..... It was my goal to be sleeping almost 2 hours ago. But they've been here. FOREVER.
Now boy1 is singing. Country. That's gross. I can't even stand that stuff when its on the radio that girl1 feels the need to play constantly. It just loops over and over and over and over. Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons? Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons? Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons? Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons? Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons? Beer. Horses. My boy's a ruffian. I love her but I shouldn't. Girls are like tequila. My beer is so tasty. Cows are my best friends. I'm drunk and cheap, would you like to see my pantaloons?
SEEEEEEE!!!!!! ANNOYING.

And I know I shouldn't complain about being given money and a potentially free education, but I've been awarded a hefty scholarship from my current institution of higher learning and received a letter enlightening me that I had been chosen as a semifinalist for their second highest scholarship. Since I have (hopefully) two years left in my BA degree program, that would kind of be like getting paid to go to college.... Yes'm. I don't know what to do... deal with the corn and make everyone but myself happy or go somewhere else live a life full of student loan debt, but be satisfied with the educational path I've chosen OR (DUM DUM DA DAAAA!!!!)  go to another country where they would appreciate my eccentric yet spastic movements and slightly frightening and discerning appearance.
I think you can tell from the classy and exciting intro that I am all for that option. But I would have little to no financial backing from the parental units. I don't know, everything seems better in Europe. I'm thinking Iceland (yeah I know), Norway, or the Netherlands. They have great music institutes, plus they don't know charge a crap ton of tuition.

****************Kristin and I have a game plan P.S.!!!!*****************Stay tuned!!!!*******

What else would make us feel better at moments like these than knowing we're not alone. 

Just look at this guy. He looks bat sh*t crazy! 

Under Artist of the Week: 2

Band: Miniature Tigers

Style/ Genre: Rockish?

From: Phoenix... maybe. All I know is that they're American. 

What's so great: They're vocalist has a really cutesy voice. Which I know sounds weird. but its true. He's just fun to listen to.

Tracks to check out:

1. The Wolf 

2. Tchaikovsky and Solitude

3.  Bullfighter Jacket

4. Like or Like Like

5. Cannibal Queen

]]]Kristin and I are poor. We own nothing and have no affiliation with the band or picture of said band[[[

NEW MOVIES FOR A NEW YEAR!

First thing's first, I'd like you wish you all a very happy last day of 2011.
Second thing, if you're a movie junkie, like myself, constantly looking for a new picture show that hasn't been exhausted by the mainstream media I have made you a list of movies.

1. The Trotsky *****
Where to begin?! This movie has a personality disorder, a cougar, and a high school revolutionary. It is well worth the watch.

2. Harold and Maude *****
An old cult classic, so I've been told, but overall a very endearing tale of a young man obsessed with  death and how an unlikely friendship with an old lass helps him out.

3. Mouth to Mouth
 A new cult movie. Literally. I don't even feel comfortable vouching for this movie, because it overall
just made me kind of uncomfortable, but if you're looking for a close-up on modern cult society, here you are. The bright side being it stars Ellen Page, but heed my warning: ITS FREAKING WEIRD. Did I mention interpretive dance numbers? Yes. Those are included for no extra charge.

4. Wilby Wonderful *****
 Another Ellen Page movie, yes I'm a fan, but this one is about the scandals of small town living in
Canada and profiles the various ups and downs of some of the townspeople Wilby. It was thoroughly enjoyable with a very talented cast.

5. Dear Lemon Lima ***
A coming-of-age tale about a girl in Alaska who is have native, but doesn't really want to admit it
even to herself because she's chasing her ex-boyfriend at private school. The protagonist is the most
melancholy girl I could have ever imagined to be obsessed with cutesy walruses and unicorns.

6. Gregory's Girl **
Another coming-of-age tale. Bleh. But this one is okay because its foreign and the perspective is from
a young man... maybe that's common, but it was a new experience for me.

7. Happy Birthday Harris Malden *****
What a riot. He doesn't know his mustache is fake. BRILLIANT!!!!

8. Wuthering Heights (BBC 2-part) ****
My mother described this one as "steamy" and didn't know if she wanted to watch part 2. But after I
convinced her that we were both adults and capable of handling it we proceeded. And I'm glad we
did. It really was exceptional acting and scenery.

9. Shades of Ray ***
Half white and half Pakistani, Ray battles pressure from his father to settle down with a nice Pakistani
woman when his heart is leading him towards possible fiance who's on vacation with her skeptical
parents. A new twist on an old plot, but I appreciated that there was nothing racy.

10. Midnight in Paris ***
An all-star cast without the usual hype. An indecisive writer who feels drawn to Paris on a vacation
there with his fiance's parents, realizes just how much they differ, but more importantly how magical
the city is at Midnight and just what that could do for his writing.

11. Fright Night ****
Okay, okay, this one is pretty mainstream, but Kristin and I watched it at the insufferable nagging of
 our friend Mollie and we had to share just how awesome it is. McLovin' from Superbad is in it as
well as the Russian guy from the new Startrek. Vampires haven't been this laughable since
Vampires Suck.

12. Etienne! *****
 After being told that his hamster is dying, Richard goes on a lengthy road trip with Etienne. Upon
 his return he finds out that this was the vet's mistake and rushes to retrieve Etienne from her
 wilderness retreat.

13. The Rage in Placid Lake****
Placid Lake is the name of this child of the free spirited people who was bullied throughout high
 school. It lacks a star for some nasty scenes I just didn't feel like seeing in this lifetime. But other
than that complaint, this Australian post-high school graduation tale really entertained me.

14. The Red Shoes *****
This is an oldie, but goodie. I love ballets, so the lengthy ballet scene immersed in the plot was
nothing that I could complain about, but if you're not a fan of the art form, you probably won't latch
on to this film as I did.

15. Shop Around the Corner *****
 Quite old. Black and white, and all that jazz, but one of my all time favorites! I just couldn't get over
the perfection of this conflicted love tale. I'm kind of a romantic.... if you're not, you should probably
find another way to enjoy your evening.

16. Howl's Moving Castle **
Yes, its anime. Yes, its pretty long. Or maybe just a tad bit slow moving. I'm not sure. But in other
 news it was fun to watch.

17. Food. Inc *****
 An eye opening documentary about the U.S. food industry. I don't think that I could complain about
 this one. If you're worried that its' PETA propaganda (an understandable concern), don't fear. The
 opening shows one of the intelligence sources chowing down on a greasy, diner burger and stating
that it is for the meat eaters and herbivores alike that our nation needs food reform, because the
current system really is affecting us all and in my opinion screwing over generations to come.

18. The Sasquatch Gang ***
 Great Movie. Completely Ridiculous, but utterly lovable. Young boys and men searching for big
 foot for reasons varying from glory to needing to pay of credit card debt.

19. Humble Pie ***
This is kind of like plus sized Napoleon Dynamite, and if I'm not mistaken it has the same writer or
something. Its a young man who feels content in his grocer's job and living with his mother until he sees a local theatre production and decides that he wants to act.

20. A Living Wake

K. Roth Binew is a self proclaimed artist who finds out he's dying from an unnamed disease. Really super awesome with some great (?) musical numbers. Plus, Jesse Eisenberg is in it. 

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