President OBAMA!

This is the day the Lord hath made!!!

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P.S. Michelle is smokin'. I'm going to be o-b-s-e-s-s-e-d with her the next four years.

Slumdog Millionaire

What does it take to change your destiny? When you're born a poor child, your family is killed, making you an orphan, and as a result you spend your childhood and adolescence scamming and scavenging to get by, what possible hope is there for you to win a millions of dollars on a popular game show?

Director Danny Boyle (Trainspotting, 28 Days Later, Sunshine)answers that question in Slumdog Millionaire which is a heartfelt tale of Jamal, an orphan that takes up a life of innocent crime with his brother Salim after his mother is killed.



The movie focuses on three periods in the boys' lives. Jamal, the innocent doe-eyed boy who fawns after a young girl who also lost her family, struggles to find his footing eventually growing up and working for a call center. Salim, the tough-as-nails older brother turns to a life of crime, killing fellow con-men, serving his own interests, and even using the object of his brothers affections, Latika, to his advantage.



Latika, as Jamal finds out, is a fan of the Hindi version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" after a failed attempt to take her from her current life where she lives with a wealthy criminal. Jamal then decides to take a chance with his fate and becomes a contestant on the game show with the simple hope of having Latika see him again.

The movie is told through three vignettes. The first where Jamal, played by doe-eyed Dev Patel, is being interrogated by police after the first night on the game show where he successfully answers questions that doctors and lawyers can't even answer. They suspect him of cheating. The second where Jamal is on the game show answering question after question with much trepidation and lack of expression. The third and final is the narrative which explains how this boy, this kid from the slums, who wasn't meant for greater things, knows the answers to the questions he's being asked.



What transpires in the following two hours is a tale of hope and tragedy, love and loss. And what occurs emotionally is more important and fulfilling than the desire for Jamal to win, both the money and the girl, but the realization that sometimes when you don't know the questions, the answers are already written out for you. ***A***

Quizzes

You Are a Ski Cap

You are a comfortable, low maintenance, and even practical person. You use fashion to look good, and you don't stray too far from the mainstream. You are friendly and accepting. You don't really judge other people for their fashion choices. You enjoy clothes and accessories as much as the next person, but you're not superficial about it!

What Winter Hat Are You?

You Are Buttermilk Pancakes

Your prefer traditional, old fashioned foods. You shy away from anything fake, and you like meals with simple ingredients. It's not likely someone would find margarine or diet soda in your kitchen. Instead, someone might find a loaf of homemade bread baking or a soup simmering.

What Kind of Pancakes Are You?

Your Word is "Fearless"

You see life as your one chance to experience everything, and you just go for it! You believe the biggest risk is being afraid and missing out on something amazing. Sometimes your fearlessness means you're daring. You enjoy risky activities. And sometimes your fearlessness means you're courageous. You're brave enough to do the right thing, even when it's scary.

What's Your Word?

You Feel Misunderstood By Your Family

You get along with everyone in your family, and you tend to play the peacemaker. You can see issues from all sides. You feel like your family is prone to too many arguments and instability. You never feel like things can be completely peaceful. It's sometimes hard for your family to understand who you are now. You've changed a lot, and they have trouble accepting the new you. You are honest and very outspoken with your family. You sometimes hurt feelings by saying things they don't want to hear.

How Do You Really Feel About Your Family?

You Are Copper

You are provocative and challenging. You help people realize who they really are. You live a very balanced life. You always take time for love and art. You are both a powerful and generous person. You always have time to give back. People find you to be incredibly ethical and loyal.

What Metal Are You?

What Your Nose Says About You

You are impulsive and tend to follow your heart. You tend to be stubborn. You don't take other people's opinions seriously. You are objective and logical. You make a good businessperson. You are helpful and giving. You like cooperating, and you're always willing to lend a hand. You are pessimistic and cynical. You expect the worst from people.

What Does Your Nose Say About You?

R.I.P. 2008

Thank God 2008 is over. It was pretty tough year. But we're all the wiser, right?

I had some ridiculous number of jobs. Like five. I'm working out my finances which hopefully will be more prosperous this year. (Supposedly 2009 is going to be great for Aquarius'. I'll keep breathing to be sure). Uh, the rest is too long, boring, frustrating and wasteful to dwell on. I'm thankful for all my friends, who I've cemented as my make-shift family. Rachael, Rachel, Ben, and of course Jordan, have all been noticeable shining stars in my life.

Now my top picks. They're few. Especially the movies.

Albums
(My apologies to Beyonce and Britney for not getting their albums in time. I have to purchase them out of principle).

5. Madonna - Hard Candy


4. Robin Thicke - Something Else


3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular


2. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak


1. Coldplay - Viva La Vida


** Honorable Mentions - T.I. - Paper Trail, Panic At the Disco - Pretty.Odd., Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things, Estelle - Shine, Ludacris - Theater of the Mind

Movies
(A lot of movies I saw this year were comedies. And they all have something to do with Judd Apatow)

5. Role Models


4. Step Brothers


3. Pineapple Express


2. The Dark Knight


1. Milk

Milk

The story of Harvey Milk is one I've known only briefly. An out gay man who was elected to San Francisco's board of supervisors and who was gunned down by a fellow supervisor in 1978. The subject seems perfect for a movie, right?

In Milk, Gus Van Sant's affecting dedication, Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, a man frustrated with his life, so, he moves from New York area to San Francisco to follow his dreams of living a simplistic life with his partner. Soon he and the audience realize, like many instances in this life, sometimes having the easy life isn't meant for everyone. Milk is dissatisfied with his neighborhood and the treatment of homosexuals and wants change.



Milk begins by running for office. He fails. Repeatedly. He does eventually win, however, after much strife and alienation experienced by his long-time boyfriend played by James Franco in a strong, subtle performance.

What fascinates and awes in this movie is the degree to which Milk plays the system. Yes, he's gay, but he's smart and calculating as a politician. He's elected. And there's resistance of course. Threats on his life are made. He forges ahead.



What is great about this movie is its universal and timeless message that we our in control of our fates, if we're willing to take the responsibility to do so. Still more amazing is Penn's ability to strip away the narrative of the film and talk directly to the audience without actually doing so. At times, when Milk is talking to those huddled masses, that he shakes you to the core and makes you look at yourself. And personally, as a gay man, he tells you exactly what every homosexual must realize: a life of simplicity and privacy is something you should have if you desire it, but no matter how we try, what happens in the bedroom affects us as much as any other force in our lives, and hiding can't lead to change.

Inspirational, chilling and affecting. Van Sant crafts an amazing and subtle movie with much grace. Could it have been as good if the director himself wasn't gay?



Josh Brolin, as Dan White, Milk's fellow supervisor who eventually guns him down, is strong and reserved. There's something boiling under White's skin. Frustration? Disenfranchisement? Whatever it was, we know how it ends. And what an unexpectedly expected ending.

This movie, its quality of performance and craftsmanship, will be remembered for years to come, and perhaps everything Milk fought for won't die in vain. ***A***

Cool Photo Time

Random Acts of Boredom

You Are a Maine Coon Cat

You tend to be loving and playful around your family and friends. But when you're around strangers you tend to be a bit reserved. You are intuitive. You understand human emotions well. You do best when you are around people. You don't like being left alone.

What Breed of Cat Are You?

You Are the Tree Pose

You are a well grounded, down to earth person. Not much shakes you. You can remain steady through a crisis - and other people lean on you. You have high standards and morals. You easily rise above pettiness. While people sometimes accuse you of being stubborn, you are able to shift focus when you need to.

What Yoga Pose Are You?

You Are 46% Likely to Survive Another Great Depression

Your habits are pretty on par with the average person. Unfortunately, this means your chances aren't good in another Great Depression. Start saving your money now. Living in debt isn't doing you any favors. Also figure out how to live a little more cheaply. Every little bit you can trim will help.

Could You Survive Another Great Depression?

You Are a Pilgrim

Like the pilgrims, you've felt persecuted for your beliefs from time to time. You have a strong sense of right and wrong. Your morality sometimes makes you feel out of step with the modern world. You may not go as far as moving across the world, but you still identify with the pilgrims. Well, except for the whole stealing land and killing Indians thing.

Are You a Pilgrim or an Indian?

Your Sexuality is Australian

The average Australian first has sex at age 17. And the average number of partners is 13. 17% of Australians have had a same sex experience. 22% of Aussies have done some role playing in the bedroom.

What Country Matches Your Sexuality?

You Should Spend the Holidays In

Denmark - where you leave a mischievous elf a bowl of rice pudding

What Country Should You Spend the Holidays In?

You Are Pecan Pie Soda

Sweet, but totally nuts

What Jones Holiday Soda Are You?

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?