View Date: 11/3/09
This movie is about an American-born teenage girl who is of Middle Eastern descent. After her mother's boyfriend helps address the issue of hair growth during puberty, her mom accuses her of seducing the boyfriend and sends her to live with her strict father.
The girl's father is strict and believes in corporal punishment. He makes it a point to try and show his patriotism everywhere he can. He does not know how to raise a child, let alone a girl. At school, the girl experiences greater prejudice than when she lived with her mother, including being called “towelhead”. She does become close with the next-door neighbor who winds up giving her lessons she did not wish to experience with him. Her father forbids her from seeing her boyfriend because he is black. Luckily, a neighbor and her husband also befriend her, and provide her with a safe place.
This movie received critical buzz, and I can understand why. The story was painful to watch but also brilliantly acted. The background of the female neighbor's husband really helped the story progress and reminded the viewer that not everyone in this country is the typical “stupid American”.
10 words or less: Good movie, but hard to watch at points.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Survivor
View Date: 12/20/09
Tonight was the season finale, and we were treated with a recap of the entire season as is usually the case. Talk around camp was to still gun for knocking Brett out.
The first immunity challenge of the night consisted of racing across a series of obstacles to retrieve a bag of puzzle pieces. After getting the bag, they then had to run back and make their way up a very steep wall. Once up, there would be a table on which to complete their puzzle. The first person to complete their puzzle would win immunity. Brett won yet again, which means that an original member of Foa Foa would be joining the jury.
Back at camp, Russell decides to keep Natalie and debates between voting off Jaison and Mick. Both have their advantages and disadvantages for staying and leaving. This is probably the toughest decision Russell has had to make yet. Jaison was the one booted during the first tribal council of this episode, leaving Russell, Natalie, Brett, and Mick heading into the final immunity challenge.
The next day, the remaining members went on the walk to remember the members previously voted out of the game, and we got to see people that we really didn't remember because they left so long ago. After paying their respects and burning masks representing their fallen tribe members, the final four made their way to their final immunity challenge.
As the final challenge is almost always an endurance challenge, this time was no different. The team members had to balance a figurine on top of a small platform, then periodically add a 1 foot section of pole on which the platform was resting. Mick and Natalie were both knocked out at six feet of pole, while Russell and Brett successfully made it to seven feet. Russell was able to hold on long enough to win his first individual immunity, and it is almost a given that Brett is going home.
Russell did pull Brett aside and discuss options as to what might be done to keep him in the game, but he was eventually the one to be sent to the jury. That left Mick, Natalie, and Russell vying for the million dollars.
At the final council, the standard opening remarks were made by the final three, then the jury members got their chance. Some very interesting questions were asked and remarks made. Russell was probably his most honest and admitted to his manipulative ways.
Feckless!!!!!?
Natalie wound up winning this season, purely by riding the coattails of Russell.
10 words or less: Russell was robbed.
Tonight was the season finale, and we were treated with a recap of the entire season as is usually the case. Talk around camp was to still gun for knocking Brett out.
The first immunity challenge of the night consisted of racing across a series of obstacles to retrieve a bag of puzzle pieces. After getting the bag, they then had to run back and make their way up a very steep wall. Once up, there would be a table on which to complete their puzzle. The first person to complete their puzzle would win immunity. Brett won yet again, which means that an original member of Foa Foa would be joining the jury.
Back at camp, Russell decides to keep Natalie and debates between voting off Jaison and Mick. Both have their advantages and disadvantages for staying and leaving. This is probably the toughest decision Russell has had to make yet. Jaison was the one booted during the first tribal council of this episode, leaving Russell, Natalie, Brett, and Mick heading into the final immunity challenge.
The next day, the remaining members went on the walk to remember the members previously voted out of the game, and we got to see people that we really didn't remember because they left so long ago. After paying their respects and burning masks representing their fallen tribe members, the final four made their way to their final immunity challenge.
As the final challenge is almost always an endurance challenge, this time was no different. The team members had to balance a figurine on top of a small platform, then periodically add a 1 foot section of pole on which the platform was resting. Mick and Natalie were both knocked out at six feet of pole, while Russell and Brett successfully made it to seven feet. Russell was able to hold on long enough to win his first individual immunity, and it is almost a given that Brett is going home.
Russell did pull Brett aside and discuss options as to what might be done to keep him in the game, but he was eventually the one to be sent to the jury. That left Mick, Natalie, and Russell vying for the million dollars.
At the final council, the standard opening remarks were made by the final three, then the jury members got their chance. Some very interesting questions were asked and remarks made. Russell was probably his most honest and admitted to his manipulative ways.
Feckless!!!!!?
Natalie wound up winning this season, purely by riding the coattails of Russell.
10 words or less: Russell was robbed.
Running with Scissors
Author: Augusten Burroughs
Completed: 12/14/09
This book is a memoir by the brother of John Elder Robison, of whom I've already discussed his book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's. This tells of the time after Robison left home and it was Burroughs and his mother. His mother was mentally unstable and spent the majority of Burroughs' childhood in and out of psych wards. Eventually, he winds up getting intimately involved with the family of his mother's psychiatrist and spends very little time with her.
Not only could I not put this book down, but it was a very quick read. I was flying through this book and able to read several medium-sized chapters during a 30 minute train ride. This book reads like fiction. The circumstances relayed and the provided stories are so out there that you think they can't possibly be true. I guess the saying that “truth can be stranger than fiction” really is true in this case.
Upon completion of this book, I went and looked up the other books by Burroughs and decided I just had to read them. They have now been added to my extensive reading list, and I am looking forward to getting to them.
10 words or less: Truth really is stranger than fiction.
Completed: 12/14/09
This book is a memoir by the brother of John Elder Robison, of whom I've already discussed his book Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Asperger's. This tells of the time after Robison left home and it was Burroughs and his mother. His mother was mentally unstable and spent the majority of Burroughs' childhood in and out of psych wards. Eventually, he winds up getting intimately involved with the family of his mother's psychiatrist and spends very little time with her.
Not only could I not put this book down, but it was a very quick read. I was flying through this book and able to read several medium-sized chapters during a 30 minute train ride. This book reads like fiction. The circumstances relayed and the provided stories are so out there that you think they can't possibly be true. I guess the saying that “truth can be stranger than fiction” really is true in this case.
Upon completion of this book, I went and looked up the other books by Burroughs and decided I just had to read them. They have now been added to my extensive reading list, and I am looking forward to getting to them.
10 words or less: Truth really is stranger than fiction.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Author: Jeff Kinney
Completed: 12/9/09
This children's book is written in the form of a diary our journal in a kid's handwriting and pictures. It covers the span of a school year of a middle-schooler and reviews the various schemes he gets involved in. And he certainly seems to get involved in a lot of trouble.
This was a really cute chapter book for kids. The writing is easy but challenging enough for someone just starting out on chapter books. I can understand why kids enjoy this series, and this was just the first one. This was one of the longer chapter books my second grader has read, and she really enjoyed it as well.
10 words or less: Decent series for kids, and good intro to graphic novels.
Completed: 12/9/09
This children's book is written in the form of a diary our journal in a kid's handwriting and pictures. It covers the span of a school year of a middle-schooler and reviews the various schemes he gets involved in. And he certainly seems to get involved in a lot of trouble.
This was a really cute chapter book for kids. The writing is easy but challenging enough for someone just starting out on chapter books. I can understand why kids enjoy this series, and this was just the first one. This was one of the longer chapter books my second grader has read, and she really enjoyed it as well.
10 words or less: Decent series for kids, and good intro to graphic novels.
Flinx Transcendent
Author: Alan Dean Foster
Completed: 12/7/09
This book is the 10th in the Pip and Flinx series, and supposedly the last according to the author. We see our protagonists traveling the universe trying to everything in it from mass destruction. Along the way, we see the usual cast of characters that help him along, but also some new friends. Likewise for enemies.
I found that the story during the first 150 pages, while good, really didn't have much to do with the rest of the book. It was a very interesting thriller of a story, but did not fit in to the rest of the book until the last 5 pages or so.
Foster does a very good job incorporating pieces from every book in the series into this volume. In a way, it was a really nice summing-up of the series, and it even brought in parts of the Pip and Flinx universe addressed in other books outside of the series itself. However, Foster admits on his website that he leaves things open at the end. I have a feeling that, with the way it ended, we may see these characters again.
10 words or less: Will this really be the end?
Completed: 12/7/09
This book is the 10th in the Pip and Flinx series, and supposedly the last according to the author. We see our protagonists traveling the universe trying to everything in it from mass destruction. Along the way, we see the usual cast of characters that help him along, but also some new friends. Likewise for enemies.
I found that the story during the first 150 pages, while good, really didn't have much to do with the rest of the book. It was a very interesting thriller of a story, but did not fit in to the rest of the book until the last 5 pages or so.
Foster does a very good job incorporating pieces from every book in the series into this volume. In a way, it was a really nice summing-up of the series, and it even brought in parts of the Pip and Flinx universe addressed in other books outside of the series itself. However, Foster admits on his website that he leaves things open at the end. I have a feeling that, with the way it ended, we may see these characters again.
10 words or less: Will this really be the end?
Three Girls and Their Brother
Author: Theresa Rebeck
Completed: 12/3/09
This book is, obviously, is about three girls and their brother as the girls break into the world of modeling. The girls, after a picture in The New Yorker, become the new “It” girls in the fashion industry in New York. As the girls become sucked into the business more and more, the brother keeps getting pushed out of their lives. Their mother cares only about the girls' success and essentially gives up on mothering.
If this story is even remotely true, it is absolutely appalling. I realize this was a work of fiction, but I believe similar circumstances occur with celebrity parents. I wanted to strangle the mother, and couldn't even imagine a punishment cruel enough for the agent. I listened to this book, and even my 7 year old daughter, and even she was getting mad at how awful the adults were in this book. The brother is very protective of his youngest sister, and the way he gets shut out was crushing to me.
I really liked this book due to the pure emotional response it elicited from me. I find that any book that moves me, whether it is to laugh out loud or cry like a baby, is a good book. I wind up recommending these kinds of books to other people, as I have done with this one.
10 words or less: Families and the fashion industry don't mix.
Completed: 12/3/09
This book is, obviously, is about three girls and their brother as the girls break into the world of modeling. The girls, after a picture in The New Yorker, become the new “It” girls in the fashion industry in New York. As the girls become sucked into the business more and more, the brother keeps getting pushed out of their lives. Their mother cares only about the girls' success and essentially gives up on mothering.
If this story is even remotely true, it is absolutely appalling. I realize this was a work of fiction, but I believe similar circumstances occur with celebrity parents. I wanted to strangle the mother, and couldn't even imagine a punishment cruel enough for the agent. I listened to this book, and even my 7 year old daughter, and even she was getting mad at how awful the adults were in this book. The brother is very protective of his youngest sister, and the way he gets shut out was crushing to me.
I really liked this book due to the pure emotional response it elicited from me. I find that any book that moves me, whether it is to laugh out loud or cry like a baby, is a good book. I wind up recommending these kinds of books to other people, as I have done with this one.
10 words or less: Families and the fashion industry don't mix.
Survivor
View Date: 12/17/09
With the finale on Sunday, we should be seeing two more survivors leaving in tonight's episode. We were treated with a bit of talk from Brett, which was nice because he was the only “true Galu” left. We really haven't seen or know much about him. If he makes it to the final, I really hope the audience gets a chance to learn a bit more about him before Sunday.
We quickly learn that Brett is quite religious, and according to Natalie, a real sweetheart. He feels that he is building a trusting relationship with Natalie. Russell seems back to his old snippy ways
The survivors are split into two teams of three. There is a tangle of ropes on which coconuts are suspended. The teams were then to take turns pulling ropes, trying to keep as many coconuts suspended as possible. Each time a coconut drops on one of their rope pulls, it counts against their team. The first team to 100 coconuts loses. The other team goes to a local village to spend the night, with accommodations including mattresses and pillows. Rocks are chosen to decide team captains, and it winds up being Russell and Natalie. Natalie chooses Brett and Mick, while Russell chooses Jaison and Shambo.
While playing the game, Natalie's team says a prayer, while Russell and Shambo discuss Natalie picking Brett first. Russell's team starts off rough, but the coconuts start falling with an amazing prediction by Shambo. Russell then lucks out and doesn't drop any on his next turn, while Brett drops a boatload and loses it for Natalie's team. Russell's team heads off tot he reward with concern in their hearts over Natalie's choices.
Heading out to the reward, Jaison made a point saying that a reward didn't mean anything to him because he had no idea what one was. He had struggled every day of the game, and was floored by the feast. Once sated, they joined the locals in a dance.
Back at camp, Brett suggested making a reward for themselves. He suggested going searching for snails as a group, then taking them to the beach and chilling while spending time together and watching the sunset. Even though Natalie seems to have a thing for Brett, she is also enough of a competitor to realize strategy is also part of the game. She still is in with Russell, and would probably have a good chance to win against him. Russell feels that Natalie is still totally tight with him, but does put a hint of doubt in the minds of his reward team members. Back at camp, Natalie confirmed that her loyalty was still with Russell.
At the elimination challenge, the competitors had to run out and count the items in each of six areas. They then raced back to their table and kept track of their numbers using tiles. Once they had six numbers, they had to use those to solve a combination lock. The code on the lock was different for each person. Once the lock was released, they would use the piece released to break their tile. The first person to break the tile wins immunity. Brett won immunity again after taking his time with his numbers, so it looks like Mick will be Russell's target. Jaison is of the opinion that Shambo should go home tonight, as she is of no help beating Brett in the challenges.
A little surprisingly, Shambo was voted out tonight in a unanimous vote. I understand voting off both her and Mick, but I thought it would be easier to win against Shambo. Tonight was also the last night that the hidden immunity idol could be played, but Russell decided to take it home a souvenir.
10 words or less: Should make for a great finale.
With the finale on Sunday, we should be seeing two more survivors leaving in tonight's episode. We were treated with a bit of talk from Brett, which was nice because he was the only “true Galu” left. We really haven't seen or know much about him. If he makes it to the final, I really hope the audience gets a chance to learn a bit more about him before Sunday.
We quickly learn that Brett is quite religious, and according to Natalie, a real sweetheart. He feels that he is building a trusting relationship with Natalie. Russell seems back to his old snippy ways
The survivors are split into two teams of three. There is a tangle of ropes on which coconuts are suspended. The teams were then to take turns pulling ropes, trying to keep as many coconuts suspended as possible. Each time a coconut drops on one of their rope pulls, it counts against their team. The first team to 100 coconuts loses. The other team goes to a local village to spend the night, with accommodations including mattresses and pillows. Rocks are chosen to decide team captains, and it winds up being Russell and Natalie. Natalie chooses Brett and Mick, while Russell chooses Jaison and Shambo.
While playing the game, Natalie's team says a prayer, while Russell and Shambo discuss Natalie picking Brett first. Russell's team starts off rough, but the coconuts start falling with an amazing prediction by Shambo. Russell then lucks out and doesn't drop any on his next turn, while Brett drops a boatload and loses it for Natalie's team. Russell's team heads off tot he reward with concern in their hearts over Natalie's choices.
Heading out to the reward, Jaison made a point saying that a reward didn't mean anything to him because he had no idea what one was. He had struggled every day of the game, and was floored by the feast. Once sated, they joined the locals in a dance.
Back at camp, Brett suggested making a reward for themselves. He suggested going searching for snails as a group, then taking them to the beach and chilling while spending time together and watching the sunset. Even though Natalie seems to have a thing for Brett, she is also enough of a competitor to realize strategy is also part of the game. She still is in with Russell, and would probably have a good chance to win against him. Russell feels that Natalie is still totally tight with him, but does put a hint of doubt in the minds of his reward team members. Back at camp, Natalie confirmed that her loyalty was still with Russell.
At the elimination challenge, the competitors had to run out and count the items in each of six areas. They then raced back to their table and kept track of their numbers using tiles. Once they had six numbers, they had to use those to solve a combination lock. The code on the lock was different for each person. Once the lock was released, they would use the piece released to break their tile. The first person to break the tile wins immunity. Brett won immunity again after taking his time with his numbers, so it looks like Mick will be Russell's target. Jaison is of the opinion that Shambo should go home tonight, as she is of no help beating Brett in the challenges.
A little surprisingly, Shambo was voted out tonight in a unanimous vote. I understand voting off both her and Mick, but I thought it would be easier to win against Shambo. Tonight was also the last night that the hidden immunity idol could be played, but Russell decided to take it home a souvenir.
10 words or less: Should make for a great finale.
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