Como ya tiene que no posteo nada (y no porque no sepa qué), les comparto estos geniales videos que me encontré navegando por la red. Se tratan de trailers de películas combinados y editados de forma muy ingeniosa para dar toda una nueva clase de filme. He aquí los 6 que más me gustaron y dignos de postearse de los que vi. Si quieren ver más, vayan a YouTube o a esta otra gran lista de Empire. Enjoy!

The Ten Commandments (1956) meets 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) and goes comedy!

WALL-E (2008) meets Watchmen (2009)! (gran imitación del verdadero trailer)

Transformers + Terminator? = Transforminators!

Mary Poppins goes psychopath! It’s Scary Poppins!

The Incredibles (2004) meets Quantum of Solace (2008)!

Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) meets The Dark Knight (2008)!

The essence of “Bedknobs & Broomsticks” shows an element of a film made in the 70s that maybe was not given its full credit because of the overwhelming power of “Mary Poppins”. Yet it has some great musical sequences that really shine still. Most of the kids never acted again but the essence of the film still lives on because of that suspension of disbelief. The aspect of a flying bed never leaves its perception of what is possible because its reality is never a thought despite it being the major narrative bridging element of the film. The two sequences that truly stand out beyond all matter do so for completely different reasons. “Portobello Road” stands out simply because of its basis as a cross section of all worlds which seems very global for its time. The ending “Traguna” song works simply because of its scope. You can still see the wires on the effects which is fine in the long run simply because it is forgiven which would have never been the case today. The extras on the disc are fairly baseline but given credence to the aspect of this being a restoration, it works well. A release on Blu Ray might have been more appropriate because while the color looks good, a hi-def transfer would have been more interesting to see. The performances especially by David Tomilson shows his gift for putting the audience at ease. There is a short clip of him actually recordiing “Portobello Road” with no mustache which is a different way than he is usually seen.

The special features are good but not utterly technical. However, they work adequately for a broad audience. The aspect of having one of the witches from “Waverly Place”, a young Disney show, helps bridge the coolness of this film with new school elements yet the aspects of the visual effects have to be explained in layman terms. The aspect of the sodium process and how it was used with green screen to mix the live action and the animation was obviously cutting edge for its time. “The Sherman Brothers” piece, about the men who wrote the music for the film, has them speaking about their meetings with Walt Disney on “Bedknobs”. The project was actually discussed before “Mary Poppins” then got put on the back burner once that film was greenlit. “Bedknobs” is a movie that they said encapsulated Walt’s ideas and definitely played to the idea of a war effort. They also play for the first time  (the video looks like it was shot in the early 90s), the song Angela Lansbury sang but was never shot called “A Step In The Right Direction”. The reality is that the film plays better without it.

The inclusion of 4 original trailers is a great bonus because original trailers are something that is not always included on today’s releases but it is something that is truly appreciated. There is also a small sketch about Blu Ray done by two other young actors from another Disney TV show. It is again a great way to highlight new technology to kids and bring them into the fray on this great movie. However, the reality is that most people will buy this movie for the nostalgia and show it to their kids anyway. In either case, it works and is great to see. Out of 5, I give this release a 3.

wordsehssi I love “Mary Poppins”. It’s one of my all-time favourite movies. My brother and I used to watch it alot when we went to see our dad’s parents as they had it recorded off the television. That and Disney’s “Robin Hood” where they’re all animals. I’ve got that on DVD too.

I thought it was somewhat fitting to the subject of the post as I’m studying aged care. I don’t necessarily give medication, but it’s just an awesome comic.

I got the results of my latest exams today. It’s been a big week.

Monday was the visit to a factory that hires people with disabilities and gives them jobs that best suits their needs. I wish there were more places out there like that. One guy had a stage 5 stroke and through surgery and rehab he’s got 40% use of his bad leg. That’s amazing. And thanks to this factory, he can still maintain his independence to a degree. It was an interesting day.

Tuesday was the exam for a subject called Provide Personal Care. My entire class were spinning out because it’s such a large subject covering the eleven body systems, we basically thought it’d be a massive exam. It was 3 pages long, and I was the third person to leave after several minutes after the exam began. 33/40 isn’t bad, but being 83% it’s 2% less than what I wanted to keep my distinction average.

I like distinctions.

Wednesday was presentation day. However, it was a bit of a run around. Teachers were on strike, picketing outside the gates, and told me to turn around and go home. So I did. The majority of the class, however, went to class. So I drove back in and presented. I’ll find the results out next Wednesday.

Today was my final exam, for Documentation. That was a hard exam. Again, I walked out after 10 minutes. As my clique came out one by one, we were all saying what we wrote, and we all decided that we had failed. We all passed, but one. She was shattered. But it was a hard exam. No distinction, just Achieved Competency or Not Competent.

I…am competent!

I finish next Thursday. Next week is going to be one major bludge week. Monday we’re watching videos that are somehow related to aged care. Tuesday we all come in late and bring food for a luncheon. Wednesday we’re finishing presentations and attempting to have a “multicultural day.” I’ve looked for Geelong Cats AFL jerseys here in Sydney and they just don’t exist. Otherwise…I don’t look good in a beer stained bonds singlet top and footy shorts. Very Australiana. And then Thursday we’re coming in the mornings to be ticked off the role, and then “buggering off” to the local RSL for lunch.

It’s going to be a good week.

#012
I want to know if my expectations for English chimney sweepers are too high

I blame Bert.

According to the movie, the way that you get Marry Poppins to come to your house is to be very sad, write a letter and then throw it into the fireplace. What happens if one is not that sad and doesn’t have a fireplace? How do we get her attention? What I wouldn’t do to have the ability to snap my fingers and everything put it’s self away. Well I could carry on here dreaming but I have my two feet firmly rooted in reality and know that the house is only going to get back to looking the way it should by sheer hard work.

There is one thing that I do know, that is tomorrow, Michael and  I are for sure getting out of the house come rain or shine. I am and never have been a good home-body. Yes, it is nice to stay home and not have to venture out into the world, but there is a limit and mine is 2 days – MAX!

I have a voice on my computer that tells me the time every hour. It has seemed all day that time has rushed past me. I just looked at the clock feeling very tired and thought that it felt as though it was about 11pm. I had to do a double take when I saw that it is only 5:30pm!! What’s up with that? The dog is asleep, the cat is somewhere and Michael went to bed at around 2:30pm for the night. My darling husband is out at work and will not be home until about 2am. I must be the most well-rested mom of an almost 4 month old baby, because I can not stand the silence and the emptiness of the apartment at night. Since Mordechai started his new job I have gone to bed at around 7pm every night, and only getting up for about 15 mins to change and feed Michael. I am truly blessed!

Speaking about being blessed… I have a registered business and an accountant!! All I have to do now is wait for the product’s quality control tests to be completed and sent to me and to meet with the business bureau to put together a business plan. After that the search for funding and then the games can begin!

What do I need a spoonful of sugar for, when I have coffee and determination?

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

Evocative

A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down
And LSD makes penguins serve you lunch with Dick Van Dyke

(Julie Andrews)

You can see some strange things when your trippin’.

Picture by: dunno source Caption by: preliator0 via Advanced Lol Builder

» Recaption This!

» View All Captions

We’ve all heard Mary Poppins sing Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go dowwwwnnnn the medicine go down.

When Julie Andrews sang that song and floated via umbrella into all of our childhood memories, the harmful effects of sugar were not known. It was no big deal because soda pop wasn’t something that kids drank like they do today.

Kids drank milk, and God forbid water. Now, kids want to drink a soda for breakfast! Sadly enough, most parents don’t have the backbone to tell them no.

Statistics say the average American consumes 150 pounds of sugar annually. That number is jaw dropping when you sit back and think about what affects that has on the human body.

We have something that you have got to try if you are concerned with the amount of sugar you and your family are consuming. Our Yoli Truth is virtually identical to the human body to drinking water; with a few exceptions.

     1. A measly 10 calories

     2. A healthy dose of every one’s favorite Vitamin C

     3. A propietary antioxidant and absorption blend.

    4. Zero artificial sugars, which result in a very low glycemic index

    5. Simply twist, blast, shake and enjoy. 

    6. An awesome little thing called Alka-Plex….go ahead, Google it. The addition of this ingredient alone is worth double the cost of the Truth.

    7. Goji, Acai, Pomegranate, and White Tea leaf extract

Yoli Truth tastes great! My kids love it, they drink it all the time. I still do allow them a soda once in a while as a treat. But I have noticed since we started on the Yoli truth they don’t ask for soda as much.

In closing, I’d like to share this product with you at a minimum. I’d really I’d like to get to know you and see if we can see ourselves working together to build our businesses.

To learn more about Yoli and why I am in love with this company, you can visit my website @ www.theblastcapguy.com/wordpress11-22

I look forward to getting to know you soon. Dont’ hesitate to call me so we can chat.

Joe

251-382-9654 (YOLI)

I am so sleepy. Writing this novel and prepping for a bridal shower has been absolutely brutal.

With no further ado, Chapter 13.

Basta un poco di zucchero e la pillola…Bé ho detto tutto…che bisogno c’è di aggiungere altro? Tutti abbiamo visto, almeno quindici volte, Mary Poppins al cinema o in TV (e qui conta l’anagrafe)!
La Tata più simpatica, strampalata e famosa del mondo nasce nel 1935 dalla penna della scrittrice Pamela Lyndon Travers, ed è protagonista di ben cinque romanzi.

La versione cinematografica, diretta da Robert Stevenson, è del 1964. Intepretata dalla bravissima Julie Andrews e da un giovanissimo Dick Van Dyke, Mary Poppins fa parte dell’immaginario collettivo di grandi e piccini, compresi Cesco e Daniele! Di sicuro ne hanno rubato la locandina!

Chimney

Today’s the first day of rain since I’ve been sleeping at my own place.

I love the rain, I suppose I learned to love it when I lived in Vancouver, altho I don’t recall ever not liking rain, to be honest. But there, nestled at the base of urban foothills, looking out over the Burrard Inlet, the rain changed everything, brought trees and buildings into stark relief, muffled sound, and swaddled us under lowered ceilings and beside glowing fireplaces.

~

I noticed the view from the dining room window the day I came for my first look at the new place.  I loved it from the moment I saw it and was grateful for the grace of my soon-to-be landlady in allowing me some alone time with the scene.

Increasingly I know we are all joined, the persons, the places, the things that surround us, that rise up to greet us each moment and that moment I was struck by the pride and the shame that seemed to speak from the rooftops next door.

Eventually, the painters took down the tinny venetian blind that had been hanging there for some time, probably 20 years or more. Dusty and quite frankly awful, I told the guys not to replace it.  And so, we’ve been living, the window, the rooftops, the chimney and I, for some days now, waiting graciously and a little nervously, for a closer look at each other.

I’m reminded today that what I focus on expands and what expands I focus on. Most days I’m grateful for this particular spiritual axiom. I’m learning to think more playfully about this supernatural law and getting better at being mindful about it.  Some days, though, it’s like the bellows of the accordian, an instrument I’ve yet to truly learn to like, and the noise of my thoughts and focus turn wild and unmanageable, like some sort of beast that gains strength both in the taking in and the sending out. But most days I’m grateful, like today.

Today it’s raining and I pass by the window and see – instead of the boxes and things piled high along the walls lining the dining room and its window – a rooftop full of life and stories. I see the passage of time, of how all its parts have seen better days, I see its repairs and neglect, I see its steady service and grace.

I see this with my mother, too, as I join her on this part of her journey.

She’s lost a significant amount of weight for a woman her size – she tells me and the physiotherapist that she used to be 5′5″ – I’m astonished at this claim, don’t remember it from my childhood, only that she was taller than me at one point before degenerative disk disease and advancing age and gravity conspired against her. Today, at 5′3″ I’m now the taller one.

Her height and her listing don’t bother her as much as the wrinkles she’s noticed as a result of her weight loss. 

“I can’t believe how wrinkly I am,” she said to me one day after her shower.  I nod, not sure how to reply exactly, wanting to allow the space for grace and graciousness.

She repeats this to me. A question pops out of my mouth.  “Where?” I ask.  My bum, she says, I can’t believe how wrinkly my bum is.

Eventually we laugh together at this, and the grace and graciousness allow us to joke about this, allow me sometimes to call her “Wrinkly Bum” and allow her to hear it as a term of affection.

And this morning I see the gifts, see how they flow around me. A rooftop who’s heard for years how sad and rundown it looks – no words, just a window blind shut against it.  My mother heard for years from a partner how pathetic she was; he used his words and his fists. What a healing we have for the asking.

We are gifted, each of us, messengers and recipients, both. We are reflections of our thoughts and our focus. We are given choice how to see, if we would just seek to see it.

I like the movie Mary Poppins for a lot of reasons.  This morning it’s for its song, “Chim chim cher-ee.”

I reckon we’re all sweeps, even if we don’t know it – or admit it.

And I reckon this sweep’s as lucky as lucky can be.

~

lgh

“Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey

Chim chim cher-ee!

A sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be

Chim chim-in-ey, chim chim-in-ey

Chim chim cher-oo!”

BROADWAY BABIES: After they co-starred in Evita, she went on to recreate stellar stage roles at home and abroad in Sunset Boulevard, Anything Goes,

MANDY & PATTI: together in T.O.

Sweeney Todd and Gypsy and on screen in the hit TV series Life Goes On. He graduated to Sunday In The Park With George, made his mark on the big screen in The Princess Bride and Yentl, then scored a hit in three top-notch TV series, Chicago Hope, Dead Like Me, and Criminal Minds. But they always were, and still are, traffic-stopping singers who remain dream-come-true interpreters of Broadway’s greatest composers. The good news is, they’re together again at last, on a rare reunion concert tour. The better news is, they’re coming to Toronto. An Evening With Patti Lupone & Mandy Patinkin will rule the Royal Alex for one short week only, Feb. 9-14, and tickets are already on sale. So don’t say I didn’t warn ya. Because this will truly be a night to remember.

NO, NOT THAT MADONNA: After kicking off its 40th (!!!) anniversary season with Brad Fraser’s high-octane crowd-pleaser True Love Lies, Factory Theatre reportedly has another big winner in The Madonna Painter. After a

HUDSON: that's Mrs. Mandela to you

week of buzz-provoklng previews the world premiere of Michel Marc Bouchard’s theatrical parable, directed by Eda Holmes, opens tonight with a stellar cast including Bartholemew Fair scene-stealer Juan Chioran, who’s already set to headline the Stratford revivals of Kiss Me Kate and Evita next season. In Bouchard’s play, set in rural Quebec at the end of World War I, a village priest commissions a fresco dedicated to the Virgin Mary to protect his parishioners from a flu epidemic, and assistant director Cory O’Brien hints that the synergy between the premise of the play and our current H1N1 headlines was downright eerie. “Coughing rattles throughout the rehearsal hall,” he blogged two weeks ago. “Either our actors are overly ‘method’ or we’ve encountered a very strange coincidence. In a play filled with the ominous threat of the Spanish flu our cast has fallen sick. Stay home? Or come to rehearsal? Ginseng. Hand sanitizer. Cold formula tea. To get the flu shot or not to get the flu shot. That is the question.”

Should be fascinating to see who makes it to the stage tonight.

NO PEOPLE LIKE SHOW PEOPLE: Glee club guru Will Schuester (aka Matthew Morrison) and rabid cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (aka Jane

MORRISON & LYNCH: Glee-full

Lynch) got together last week when Morrison stopped by the off-Broadway’s theatre to catch Lynch and Tyne Daly in the current Nora & Delia Ephron hit Love, Loss and What I Wore … Lisa Ray, currently being treated for multiple myeloma, is preparing for a stem cell transplant to treat her rare cancer. Next week the gorgeous star of Water and Bollywood/Hollywood starts a two-week procedure that involves releasing her own stem cells back into her blood to “reboot” her system before any further treatment … Jennifer Hudson will go to South Africa next spring to star in a screen biography of Winnie Mandela, the controversial ex-wife of Nelson … and L.A. audiences got an unexpected bonus last week when Dick Van Dyke joined the national touring cast of Mary Poppins for their curtain call at the Ahmanson Theatre.

TOMORROW:

Lily in Las Vegas

-/-

By Cynthia Citron

LOS ANGELES — Despite the continuous roars of approval from the jazzed-up opening night crowd at the Ahmanson, Mary Poppins, in the long run, is a bit of a disappointment.  And I DO mean in the long run.  At three hours, the production is at least an hour too long: there are too many unnecessary scenes, too much repetition (everybody sings nearly everything twice), and for the most part, the dialogue and the songs are undecipherable to the naked ear.

But first let’s talk about the good parts.  The voices of the transplanted Broadway cast are extraordinarily compelling.  And the choreography is exciting and delightful throughout.  You can never have too much delightful dancing!  (Or, apparently, too many choreographers—Matthew Bourne, Stephen Mear, and George Stiles are all credited for the many dance numbers.)  Moreover, Ashley Brown makes a superbly proper and engaging Mary Poppins, both starchy and sweet.  And Gavin Lee is a pleasant Bert, the Chimney Sweep, but personality-wise, he’s no Dick Van Dyke.  And even though it replicates the movie performance, does he really need to sing “Chim Chim Cher-ee” three times?

All the much-loved songs by the Jewish brothers/ partners Richard and Robert Sherman are there, and they are beautifully rendered.  But the seven new songs, six “adapted” songs, plus 10 reprises provided by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe are much too much of a muchness.  And Julian Fellowes’ charming original book is not improved by the addition of Cameron Macintosh’s extraneous subplots and characters.  (For example, does the story really need a “bad Nanny” who mirrors Mary Poppins’ rendition of “A Spoonful of Sugar” with a chilling “Brimstone and Treacle” number? Twice?)  On the other hand, the chorus of bankers singing “Precision and Order” and Mary Poppins singing to the children about how she is “Practically Perfect” turn out to be felicitous and joyful add-ons.

Karl Kenzler and Megan Osterhaus are well cast as the rigid Edwardian patriarch and the suppressed, accommodating wife, and Osterhaus has a particularly pleasing voice as she sings what it’s like “Being Mrs. Banks.”  The two children, Jane and Michael Banks, however, though cute and energetic, are entirely unintelligible.  Their piping voices emerge as high-pitched shouting and their words are lost in delivery.   Bailey Grey played Jane  and Carter Thomas played Michael on opening night.  In future performances they will rotate with Katie Balen and  and Bryce Baldwin in those roles.

Director Richard Eyre keeps the multitude moving, and the occasional moments of lag-time are offset by Howard Harrison’s flashy lighting design and Bob Crowley’s continually changing scenic design and costumes.

 Although I said earlier that you can’t have too much delightful dancing, I’m not sure that the dancing statues in the park and the dancing toys in the bedroom are absolutely necessary.  But the tap-dancing chimney sweeps and Mary, Bert, and the children with their colorful twirling umbrellas are standouts in “Step in Time.”  And the entire ensemble exploding into “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” absolutely stops the show and is, all by itself, worth the price of admission.

 A spectacularly pleasing one-time addition to the show on opening night was the appearance of Dick Van Dyke, brought onstage during the curtain calls to symbolically pass the torch to Gavin Lee, as a worthy Bert, some 45 years after Van Dyke had immortalized the role in the original 1964 Disney movie.

It was surprising, though, that there were not a lot of children at the opening performance.  While there is much in “Mary Poppins” to enchant them, I guess three hours is a long time to ask any child to sit still.  Or any adult, either, for that matter.

Mary Poppins will continue at the Ahmanson Theatre, at the Los Angeles Music Center, 135 N. Grand Ave., Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2 p.m., and Sundays at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. through February 7.  Call (213) 972-4400 for tickets and full performance schedule.

 *
Citron is Los Angeles bureau chief for San Diego Jewish World

Mary Poppins star Ashley Brown will be releasing her first solo album, entitled Speak Low on Ghostlight Records. It is currently available digitally, and the CD release date is January 12, 2010. Preorder your hard copy now!

-Sh-K-Danielle

I had that thought the other day while I was cooking. (“One, two, three, crack!  New egg.”) . . . and then it reminded me of when my grandmother Mamacella, Mom, and I watched the remake of Sabrina in the theatre.  Julia Ormond’s hair is so 90’s!  Let’s just say it won’t prove to be as timeless as Audrey Hepburn’s.  Though the new version is good, nothing compares to the original of course.  Anyway, as we sat in the audience watching 1994 Sabrina make out with her Paris boyfriend, Mamacella leaned over and whispered to fourth-grade me, “Now don’t you do that!”

I said, “OK,” and then she started giggling.  I don’t know why that’s such a vivid memory.

But back to the thought– I remember Sabrina and the French chef every time I crack an egg to make brownies, and I feel grateful, especially to Mom, for allowing us to be carried away in stories when we were young.  Not just movies, either (though John watched Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines every day one summer, I’m pretty sure), but books– oh, the books.  The Great Brain series, Mary Poppins, the Little House series, Narnia. . . those were the worlds to which I traveled as a child.  And certainly the ability to mentally and emotionally travel like that is something that’s valuable as an adult; helping one imagine what’s possible (now called “strategic thinking”), what type of world you’d like to live in, what kind of environment you want to create for yourself.

Beyond that, it’s easy for me to embrace the idea that I am part of a greater story; and a grand one.  It’s OK now that I’m not the main character.  But processing and living all those stories. . .  it gave me a framework to process life.  I know there will be conflict (crucial to the story!), there will be character development, and ultimately there’s going to be resolution.

As a little girl I squeezed my eyes tight and prayed that there would be a world like Narnia that I could go to, that I could open a closet door and be there.  Of course, it didn’t happen for me like that.  And even though I am not in fact Jo March from Little Women or Sacagawea the Indian Guide, or Christy teaching mountain children to read and write in a one-room schoolhouse, I want to be bold like they were.  And I want the story to end well.  It’s got to!

So, even as an adult, it’s not silly to pray now.  It’s not silly to enjoy what’s beautiful and hope for what’s good, and hope, knowing, that what’s good has got to win in the end.

I have a compilation of  random things in my head.

So I’m just going to write them in bursts.

Don’t mind me please.

•

I’m kind of in love with writing on the right → side of my blog right now.

I

think

it’s

cute.

•

I feel really bad because we haven’t sent Miss Kirstie Rae her birthday package yet. Bother. It’s slightly overdue and belated by A WHOLE MONTH. It makes me think that I’m a bad friend. But I will send it off soon. I think. I hope. O dear.

•

BIG BIRD’S FEET ARE ON GOOGLE.

•

Copper pots are lovely.

I want them.

•

My face is still hurting—at least it’s not black&blue. But I still HEART indoor. It’s addicting.

We actually went and kicked milk jugs over in the cul-de-sac for 2 hours yesterday. I wonder what the people driving by thought of the 3 crazy barefoot girls in skirts trying to figure out how to aim a soccer ball at an angle. (I would have thought they were quite odd.)

•

I’m wearing a Plaid=Blue+White+Grey—BANANA REPUBLIC scarf.

•

Tea and Miss Tandy are in the kitchen.

•

I HEART carpet bags

and

Mary Poppins

today.

•

I really need to practice my keeper skills for indoor. (They want me to be the [sub]keeper.)

And my shooting skills.

And my juggling skills.

And my defensive skills.

And my soccer skills.

But I mostly need to practice the keeper skills.

So I’ll probably be in the cul-de-sac.

But first,

↓

Some Rooibos and OPERA. (I ♥ Rooibos.)

And then the cul-de-sac.

Love.

-Bella.dear

I still haven’t adjusted to daylight savings, so I’m too tired to get elbow-deep into theory tonight. That said, I always like sharing with ya’ll, so let’s look at some more music videos. We can watch TV and have a couple of brews too.

I’ve written on animation in music videos elsewhere. I keep thinking about animation’s relationship to the voice, the body, and the potentially gendered dynamics of all of this. One form of animation I haven’t read anything on and would love to explore further is live-action animation, which depicts “real” filmic bodies interacting with “unreal” animated ones. Think Gene Kelly dancing with Jerry from Tom and Jerry in Anchors Aweigh or key portions of Mary Poppins, otherwise known as the movie that got me through chicken pox.

Now let’s look at a couple of more contemporary examples of live-action animation.

She & Him
“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?”
Volume One
Directed by Ace Norton

I think this clip does a good job of simulating the idyllic look of Disney’s early days, if only to exacerbate how creepy and scary those movies could be. Remember the “Pink Elephants on Parade” sequence in Dumbo? How about the “Night On Bald Mountain” segment in Fantasia, which I still cannot watch without covering my eyes. I can’t help but wonder if Alfred Hitchcock was inspired by Mickey Mouse’s shadow-projected broom-smashing sequence in ”The Sorcerer’s Apprentice“ when shooting Psycho’s shower scene. Scary shit, yo. So are the homicidal ghosts and animals in “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?,” warping a sweet song about unrequited love into something disturbing.

Since I can’t post the video without mentioning the violence inflicted against Zooey Deschanel, I’ll admit that I cannot decide what to make of it. Is it misogynistic? If so, is it pointed or making a commentary, perhaps gesturing toward Disney’s regressive politics or undercutting the lead singer’s sweet image? Is it simply pointlessly violent and anti-female? Does the presence of multiple Deschanels and the singer’s own self-inflicted murderous actions complicate matters?

I find the second clip easier to process. No need to worry about adorable critters and ghouls disemboweling you. 

Kaki King
“Pull Me Out Alive”
Dreaming Of Revenge
Directed by Doug Karr and Edward Boyce
Lead Animator: Patrick Jasin

I really love this music video (and if you’re an avid reader here, you might guess that my friend Kristen pointed me in its direction). For one, Sara Quin of Tegan and Sara makes a sweet cameo. It’s also formally interesting – great use of stop motion and I love Jasin’s laser-based animation. Also, I think the animation wonderfully visualizes what King yearns for in the song — for something to pull her up, push her forward, or keep her together. I reason that the lasers symbolize the intangible, internal qualities of personal strength. Thus, the animation extends from the live-action figure, blurring the boundaries within and outside of the female body in the process.

"Mamma Mia" won for best short performance.

Students from 50 Penn State sororities and fraternities showed off some impressive talents in music and dance yesterday in the annual “Greek Sing,” held in a sold-out Eisenhower Auditorium.

Basically the Greek Sing a talent show in which members of two or three IFC/Panhel organizations (usually one fraternity and one sorority, or two fraternities and a sorority) team up to perform selections from Broadway musicals. Each team performs for six to eight minutes, then there’s a quick change-over, then the next team is on. So, in the course of three hours, audience members saw performances from 19 different Broadway shows.

"Tarzan" was one of 19 performances at Greek Sing.

Many of the students were singing, acting, and/or dancing onstage for the first time—and to perform in the 2,500-seat Eisenhower Auditorium had to be a little intimidating. But nobody seemed especially nervous, and quite a few of the singers could really belt it out.

I’m told that the groups had been working on their performances since September—not just rehearsing, but choreographing, building elaborate sets, coming up with costumes, the whole bit.

Greek Sing participants perform "All That Jazz" from the musical "Chicago."

The overall winner yesterday, as decided by a panel of judges, was Mary Poppins (Zeta Tau Alpha, Sigma Phi Epsilon, and Phi Beta Sigma). “Best costume” and tops in “spirit points” went to The Wedding Singer (Pi Beta Phi, Sigma Phi, and Kappa Alpha Psi), and Mamma Mia won for “best short performance” (Alpha Omicron Pi, Tau Kappa Epsilon, and Theta Delta Chi).

Greek Sing started at Penn State in 1968, though it didn’t last long; it was restarted in 1983 and has become especially popular in the last few years—as evidenced by the fact that nearly 2,500 students were willing to spend nine bucks a head to see it yesterday. Proceeds go to the Gayle Beyers Scholarship Fund. We won’t know for a couple of weeks how much money was raised, but last year’s Greek Sing brought in $13,000, which is not too shabby.

Read a Daily Collegian story on yesterday’s show here.

Tina Hay, editor

From: <info@fuf.com>

To: Leena Shirlee

Date: October 29th, 2009

Subject: Grant Prize Notification

The Fidelity UK Foundation,
Oakhill House, 130 Tonbridge Road,
Hildenborough, Kent, TN11 9DZ
Tel; +44702 4073 751
http://www.fidelityfoundation.org

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Fidelity UK Foundation would like to notify you that you have been chosen by the board as one of the final recipients of a cash Grant/Donation for your own personal, educational, and business development. The Fidelity UK Foundation is located in Hildenborough, Kent, UK.

The Fidelity UK Foundation was established in 1988 to strengthen not-for-profit organizations primarily in regions surrounding Fidelity International’s major corporate locations around the world.

Grants from the Foundation are designed to encourage the highest standards of management and long-term self-reliance in non-profit organizations. Taking an investment approach to grant making, we fund organizations where we feel we can add lasting, measurable value. We seek to support major initiatives that charitable organizations undertake to reach new levels of achievement.

We are giving out a yearly donation of 1,000,000.00GBP (One Million Pounds Sterling’s only) each to 10 lucky recipients. These specific Donations/Grants will be awarded to 10 lucky international recipients worldwide, in different categories. Based on the random selection exercise of internet websites and millions of supermarket cash invoices worldwide, you were selected amongst the lucky recipients to receive the award sum of 1,000,000.00GBP as charity donations/aid.

CONTACT FOUNDATION ASSISTANT FOR MORE INFORMATION ON YOUR CLAIMS
Name: Amanda Rezaoui
Email: fidelity_fuf11@yahoo.cn

Please note that these donations/Grants are strictly administered by the UN in collaboration with other international institutions and organizations such as the World Bank, OECD, the ILO, the European Investment Bank and UNESCO. You are advised to keep this whole information confidential until you have been able to redeem your donation.

You would be required to send down the following information’s:
==========================================
FULL NAME:
RESIDENT ADDRESS:
STATE:
COUNTRY:
SEX:
DATE OF BIRTH:
OCCUPATION:
TEL:
==========================================
On behalf of the Board kindly, accept our warmest congratulations

Regards,

Kathleen Ward
(Foundation Program Manager)

From: Leena Shirlee

To: <info@fuf.com>

Date: October 29th, 2009

Subject: Re: Grant Prize Notification

Hello Kathleen, and well met this is Leena!

Well, howdy I am so totally stoked that I won the cash donation for my personal development, and I cannot wait to begin the regime I have been planning out for all my years!!!  I’ve been reading lots of  books and attending lectures and seminars. I’ve been gathering my materials and laying everything out on my little ectograph.

Simply put: I want to become the skinniest person alive. Now, I know what you’re saying. “that’s not exactly what we had in mind as far as personal development” and I’m telling you, you’re wrong. From what I’ve researched, the Fidelity UK Foundation has sponsored some highly unusual personal development programs, which I am listing here as a reminder to you so you will understand me.

1987-Wally Baird decides to surgically graft his cheating wife to his buttocks–Fidelity UK pays for the surgery and for each one of her boyfriend  lovers to be turned into ladies.

1991-Jennifer Daly Snow uses Fidelity UK Grant donation to build a health spa for crabs called “Crab Springs” which, due to faulty wiring in the sauna, turned into a successful restaurant called “The Tasty Crab.”

1995-Elmora Jimenez rallies a team of chow chows to carry her across the united states in a bejeweled wagon, while she hands out fur parkas to children in trailer parks. When PETA discovers Elmora’s plan, they set her dogs free one evening while she sleeps. Fidelity UK follows up with a counter-attack that includes fireworks, hotdogs, and nuclear rodeo clowns.

1997- Wishy Vang of Minneapolis uses her Fidelity UK money to be surgically transformed into a clone of the late Michael Landon— so she can marry his widow and live on the Laura Ingalls Wilder Memorial preserve. As of today, Wishy “Paw” Vang is now happy, healthy, with two beautiful daughters and plays the fiddle every night while they sing “Comin up Kitty Hawk Mountain.”

2003- Bill Noire was a simple, earthy man–upon winning his Fidelity UK Grant for developoment, he asked that he be dipped in the purest butter on earth: Fannygold Irish Churny. Unfortunately, Fidelity UK officials misheard him and had him dipped in pure gold; he died instantly.  However, as luck would have it, Bill had recently written a living will which stated that his remains go on display at the Wells Fargo in Cincinatti. This magnificent pure gold statue of Bill Noire is now one of the cities most impressive monuments.

2008- Salvatore D’Angelo of Florence receives his Fidelity UK Award the day he loses his job, and it couldn’t have come at a better time!!  Instead of going home to blow his brains out, he purchases a private helicopter and flies it to Rio where his favorite prostitute now lives with her family. After a solid week of food, debauchery, and bailando papagayo (the annual “parrots dance”) he flies his helicopter directly into a tree, snapping his spinal cord. Never a man to accept defeat, Salvatore discovered a gift of communicating with the dead via Internet Chat, you can watch his show “IM Dead” at 1:00 am on Thursday on Bravo.

Which brings us to the hear 2009 THE YEAR OF SKINNY!!!

I know, I know there are health concerns, but I have carefully mapped out a strategy for myself that will allow me to become rickety without ending up on life support.  My target weight right now is about 38 pounds, but if all goes well and with your help I might be able to squeak down to 31-32!  Why, you wonder, do I want to be the skinniest person in the world? Is it to attract a mate? Is it to fit into my childhood garments? No!! Quite simply, I want to become thin enough to sell my car and travel through the breeze like Mary Poppins!!!! I was deeply affected by this movie as a child, and I worshipped Mary. How amazing to be able to travel through the wind with nothing but a small umbrella!! Just like a bird! I tried this myself but I was too fat and wound up breaking my leg. I have been dieting ever since, hoping to become thin enough to achieve lift-off and I’ve come close a few times, but there was always something getting in the way: My internal organs. So now that I have the Fidelity UK money, I am hoping you will help sponsor me to have a few things removed–don’t worry! Things I don’t really need: 1 kidney, appendix, and about 10 feet of intestine. Also, I discovered that people only need 2/3 of their lung capacity, so I hope to get 1/3 of my lungs shaved off and about 4 of my fat disgusting ribs. I also would like my tubby human heart to be replaced with a hummingbirds heart. I believe that with all of these things, and with your help, I will be able to at last make my dreams come true!!!

Thank you once again, and god bless you,
Leena “Poppins”.

This could be me!!