Everyone’s been talking about lists, summarys, the best of the decade, blah, blah.  I like this clip, though.  It’s kind of disturbing to me that I’ve seen most of these videos…I need to get out more.  (via) If This is a Blog then What’s Christmas.

Gentrification in Warschau: Eingezäunte Wohnklos für gebildete, reiche, junge Menschen.

Dom trieb in der Marina Mokotów auf die Spitze, was anderswo in Warschau längst Usus ist: Mauern, Zäune, wenigstens ein paar Kameras gehören zu neuen Wohnanlagen wie Tür, Fenster und Tiefgarage. “Die Leute fragen danach”, seufzt Alicja Kosciesza, Vertriebsleiterin beim großen regionalen Immobilienentwickler Orco, selbst keine Freundin “geschlossener” Bebauung. “Sie wollen wissen, wo fängt ,unser’ Terrain an, wo der Rest der Stadt.” Und wenn wie im südlichen Stadtteil Kabaty oder im alten Professorenviertel Ursynów neue Wohnanlagen errichtet werden, natürlich mit Schlössern, Riegeln und Mauern drum herum, dann sehen sich die Betreiber älterer Anlagen auch gezwungen, in Sachen “Sicherheit” nachzurüsten und den noch fehlenden Zaun zu montieren oder eine Mauer aufzuschichten.

Hier zeigt sich eigentlich nur wieder einmal, wie sehr inzwischen “Sicherheit” zur menschlichen Entfremdung wird. Solche Projekte grenzen nicht nur physisch ab, sondern erschaffen auch eine Identifikationsstruktur, welche alle außerhalb der Mauern befindlichen Objekte ausgrenzt.

Geschlossene und bewachte Siedlungen gibt es ja nun schon länger, eine Entwicklung, die durchaus kritisch beaugapfelt werden sollte, denn so bildet sich eine Art wohlhabende Parallelgesellschaft, die die Bewegungsfreiheit der Bürger massiv einschränkt und so zu einer besonderen Art der Ghettoisierung führt:

“Das ist total langweilig in solchen Siedlungen, denn die Bewohnerstruktur ist homogen”, meint Urbanistin Lewicka. Spannend werde ein Viertel erst durch Vielfalt. Obwohl die Marina mit ihren inzwischen 1500 Wohnungen schon einige Jahre steht und nach und nach erweitert wurde, versprüht sie den seelenlosen Charme einer gerade fertiggestellten Neubausiedlung: Die Bäume sind noch mickrig, die Rasenflächen unberührt, und auf den gepflasterten Wegen entlang eines künstlich angelegten Gewässers haben sich wenig Spuren eingeritzt, die sonst das Leben hinterlässt

Weird.

If you’re not familiar with Mystery Science Theater 3000, I seriously recommend giving it a try. That is, if you like things that are extremely campy, in that B-movie way (and hilarious).

“The series features a man and his robot sidekicks who are trapped on a space station by an evil scientist and forced to watch a selection of bad movies, initially (but not especially limited to) science fiction B-movies.” (thx wikipedia)

I’ve been an avid viewer of the show (never actually viewed it on broadcast television) since I discovered it about 6 years ago. I haven’t seen anywhere near all of them, but I’ve seen a lot. (I’ll post more about this another tiem so this Christmas post doesn’t get clogged up).

And, there are Christmas episodes of course! Really good ones, I might add. The movies themselves are really, reeeally terrible (I actually watched Santa Claus Conquers the Martians normally before seeing the episode :X What does this say about me.. haha) but the riffing is all the more hilarious for that fact.

MST3K Season 3, Episode 21 (1991): Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

Currently ranking at #77 on the IMDB Bottom 100 list (where it has long been a regular fixture, often ranking even higher), SCCTM is not for the faint of B-Movie heart. Martians kidnap Santa Claus to make him be Santa on Mars, since the Martian children seem down in the dumps. They don’t have any toys, and all their food comes in pill form, so why wouldn’t they be??

There’s a lot of ridiculous forced and too-long laughter from Santa and any child that ever appears onscreen. There’s  a ridiculous Martian buffoon named ‘Droppo’, the “laziest man on Mars”, who eventually decides he wants to be the Martian Santa. The movie also features its own Christmas song during the beginning and end credits, the chorus of which is as follows: “You spell it S-A-N-T-A C-L-A-U-S, HOORAY FOR SANTY CLAUS!”

All in all it is extremely campy and extremely terrible, which makes for a fun watch (if you’re into that kind of thing).

MST3K Season 5, Episode 21 (1993): Santa Claus (1959, Mexico)

This one’s currently ranked at #44 in the IMDB Bottom 100, wow! But I guess that’s well-deserved, too. As a small preface, this movie hails (haha, almost typed ‘fails’, which is true too) from Mexico, where Santa Claus has never been a tradition, so this Santa story has a lot of liberties taken with the facts about SC.

In this truly bizarre film, Santa has a workshop in space (“above the North Pole”). He doesn’t have elves but rather uses children from all over the world to help him make toys (all of whom are dressed extremely ethnically, and introduce themselves and their countries one by one in a very lengthy and grueling series of songs). He has wind-up reindeer, and all kinds of gadgets for spying on the children of earth. In fact, this Santa is severely creepy (but B-movie Santas seem to possess the ability to be creepier than any other cinematic Santa).

He also gets help from Merlin. Yes, that Merlin.

Furthermore, the villain is a demon named Pitch, sent by Satan to Earth to try to corrupt children into doing evil. Seriously.

Heard enough? This is one of the truly weirdest movies I’ve ever seen, and I feel pretty confident in saying I’ve seen some weird stuff. With a particularly awesome round of MST3K riffing, it provides some pure hilarious and strange fun.

This entry caused me to think about non-MST3K’d holiday B-movies, of which there are many, but I haven’t seen a lot of them because I’m not THAT much of a glutton for punishment in that way (anymore.) Most of the ones I’m aware of are holiday-themed horror and are mainly funny because of their titles. Christmas Evil. Santa’s Slay. Silent Night, Bloody Night. I think they’re all basically the same movie, though.

What a relief! is all i can say.These 4 months of school have passed by pretty quick,yet the amount of stress they held is a pain in the a**.Man,is my brain worked out! I’ve been studying like a lunatic,and praying to God for good marks.It has definitely paid off though.I’m getting 75% in math,which I’m very proud of.I was down at 69% but after getting a good quiz and test mark my mark climbed a couple of ladders.Hopefully,i will be able to maintain this.I will do ANYTHING to maintain it.

Grade 11 is just too important for me to start getting lazy.I can’t let anything get into my way.I have to be on the lookout for anything that will slow me down.I need to do this.I must do this. >: )

Anyway,let me introduce you to Sam.At first i was pretty grossed out by him but now i don’t mind dissections too much.As long as i don’t have to cut anything up I’m good.I just feel really bad for the poor little animals. : (  It’s not really fair for em.

I want a rat now.But they only live for 2 years so it’d kinda suck saying goodbye so quickly.

If you are not scared by these there is something wrong with you in your head zone. At night I put these in a shoe box and then I put that shoe box in a bigger shoe box and then I put that shoebox in a really big bag and then I put that bag in my cellar.

I think the bunny wins 1# scary prize, I know it looks like it just killed someone with its little drum sticks but it hasn’t, a pink glow stick exploded all over it and now it just looks kinda blood splattered.

∆

The Weird Things site has an article listing various weird facts about Christmas, including:

Kris Kringel, a man in his 40s, lives in North Pole, Alaska, and delivers pizzas for a living.

Read more at the link above, or visit the Weird Things homepage for more weird and random information, including Penguin Gets Wet in Water So Needs a Wetsuit.

FYI, this site contains photos and material which may be offensive to some.  The 2 articles I’ve listed are fine, but just be aware before you go clicking around the rest of the site.

Composite Blues – by Jean-Marc Belkadi /January 2001 Issue of (Guitar Player Magazine?). “
The next time you’re looking for a way to juice up your blues line, try this: Pick a blues scale, and then
combine it with the blues scale located a minor third (three frets) below. As you’ll see, this composite blues scale
can be used in several ways.”

Metal Jazz – Music blog by Greg Burk (previews, concert, & recording reviews).
RoboExotica -  Robots who pour various beverages

Courtesy images http://www.greatvalueplus.net/curious.jpg

You know how the saying goes ’sex sells’, but does it really go too far.  Recently, my roomate and I were watching a commericial and it was so sexual that we would have never imagined that it had anything to do with perfume or jeans.  All we said was, “What’s with that?”  I believe that you are still able to sell those products without all the excess sexual content…its soo weird.

courtesy image www.costumzee.com/tag/dora+the+explorer/

Yes, little Dora the Explorer, adored by many young children for more than ten years on T.V has  grown up and is stirring up much controversy among the parents of young children on a global scale.  

Nickelodeon/Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) made a decision to introduce  a whole new way to look at Dora for Dora fans five years and up. This revolutionary initiative, featuring fashion dolls and accessories.  Both companies believe that the new brand extension will empowers girls to influence and change the lives of Dora and her new friends.

According to nydailynews.com:“Dora the Explorer has been one of the most successful properties for nearly a decade, with an average of 21.1 million viewers, including 6 million preschoolers, tuning into the television show each month,” explained Leigh Anne Brodsky, president, NVCP. “We are thrilled to partner with Mattel to develop this brand extension that will enable girls to continue to learn and interact with their Latina heroine, Dora, as they grow up together.”

In my opinion I think the toy companies should have left little Dora alone.  We have to many “grown up” dolls being marketed already, such as those skimpy looking Bratz  or ‘boy obsessed’ Barbie dolls.  One thing I really couldn’t help but speak about, is how Dora has now moved to the city and is now in middle school, ok cool, your in middle school, but the city? Isn’t she a bit too young to be making those type of moves, considering the fact I still live at home with my parents as do most college students in their twenties.  And I wonder what type of topics Dora will focus on now? Boys? Make up?  I guess we will just have to watch and see.

There is definitely no more room at the inn…

Abby has decided to check herself into the inn and has brought a whole new meaning to ‘living nativity’.

“S’up Mary? How’s it going?”

“Yo, Casper… hook me up with some of that myrrh!”

Um, I’m not really sure why I made Abby sound gansta’, but it seems to work .

Question of the Day:

If you were one of the wisemen, what gift would you bring?

It’s something that 21-year-old Stony Brook University student, Mollie Auguste, can’t help but do, yawn.  And no, its not because she is tired, bored, or has the need to stretch out, its just that every time her roommate at school would yawn, she would find herself involuntarily doing the same exact action, without even thinking about it.  “I guess it  doesn’t matter who it is where you are, what you’re doing,” She states. I find that when somebody yawns I usually yawn also and it’s weird. In fact Mollie isn’t the only one who experiences contagious yawning, everyone does, including household pets and animals in the wild.  And as readers are reading this article, at some point, they may find themselves yawning as well.

While the dictionary tells us that yawning is caused by fatigued, bored, or drowsy, Researchers and scientist know that there is more to yawning than people think. Many researchers however, know for a fact that the act of yawning is affected by the brain, and therefore when yawning bypasses a special circuitry system in the brain, that area analyzes and mocks the actions of other people.  However, despite how the many theories that these researchers come up with over many years, contagious yawning will still remain medical mystery that is left unsolved.

And people like Respiratory Therapist and director of sleep disorder centers in Long Island, Dominick Raffaele, still are not sure of what causes contagious yawning.  “I’m not sure what it is, he states. If it is a mechanism that prevents us from actually falling asleep, something that cools our body temperature down, there is all different theories that are out there.”

Stony Brook University Contagious Yawning Experiment:

DID YOU KNOW?: Through a recent experiment conducted on  Stony Brook campus, with a group of students, that ranged from age 16 to 21, about 3 out 10 students studied showed serious contagious yawning.  Therefore, that shows that contagious yawning is not necessarily prevalent in everyone that sees a person performing the yawning action.

Flip Through the Slide: Did you know that?: Just at 11 to 13 weeks a fetus is able to begin yawning, or that  a man was jailed for 3 weeks for yawning in an Illinois court, during a sentencing.  For more cool facts on yawning click on the Flickr your photostream  link, on the left hand side at the beginning of the slideshow, to find  additional information for each picture.

I woke up this morning with a lovely e-mail waiting for me in my inbox from iTunes. “Get a free holiday music sampler including an original track from Stephen Colbert!” Well, thanks a lot iTunes, don’t mind if I do.

“Must upgrade to iTunes 9.” Alright, iTunes, I’ll dance your dance… anything for Stephen.

So, I go and update my iTunes, happily awaiting to be serenaded by Mr. Colbert… UGH WTF is up with this new iTunes… it sucks!

I do not want to have to click on each individual album to play songs booooo! I am angry and mad… oh man I am mangry!

Oh wait… I can just change the view back to normal… IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII’m dumb.

Alright, Stephen go ahead and spread some holiday cheer…

Question of the Day:

Do you always automatically update your iTunes or are you like me and wait forever to make them?

We are all familiar with Tim Burton the producer/filmmaker but very few of us were familiar with Tim Burton the artist until just a few weeks ago when The Museum of Modern Art, MOMA, opened a retrospective exhibit on the unreleased artworks of the blockbuster hit maker. Some of the material dates back as far as 37 years ago, one video is a silent short film collection dating back to 1971, from Burton’s private collection. Most of the work in the exhibit include early sketches from some of his most famous films like “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Edward Scissor Hands”. Although the exhibit has been up since November 22, its still getting lots of buzz.

Tickets for the exhibit are sold online on MOMA’s Website. Prices range from $12-$20. Full time students with student ID can get in for $12 and children sixteen and under are free. MOMA urges that visitors be aware that the gallery occupancy is limited so you can guarantee your entrance to the exhibit any time during the exhibit hours 10:30 a.m.- 5:30 p.m. The ticket also allows access to other exhibits at MOMA. For more information visit “Buy Tickets” on the MOMA site. The exhibit will go on through April 26, 2010.

Tim Burton fans might enjoy this “Behind the Scenes: Tim Burton at MOMA” video. He talks a great deal about his childhood and his inspirations behind his artwork.

I’d now like to quote from Gilmore Girls which was my 4th year apartment’s TV series obsession.

Rory: Just once, you could call me and tell me you are coming home like a normal person.
Logan: Normal is boring, normal is overrated, normal is not why you love me.

He said it.  Normal is so overrated.

Holy crap… need a shower now.

Changing the Beat
A Study of the Worklife of Jazz Musicians by Joan Jeffri. (pdf download)

California Grapevine webcam (Lone Juniper Ranch  off Interstate 5).

From the site -” The Lone Juniper Ranch is located atop the Tejon Pass just south of the famous Grapevine stretch of the Interstate 5 Freeway. The two images below are from cameras looking south into our animal pens and north towards the Grapevine. The alpacas and llamas are more often visible in the mornings. The Alpaca Cam runs from 6:00am to approximately dusk. The Grapevine Cam runs 24 hours a day.”

Wine Rec
Muirs Legacy Wine – “Muir-Hanna Vineyards is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery in California’s famed Napa Valley. We are direct descendants of John Muir, one of America’s most famous naturalists and conservationists.”

Last night I was in a state of horror when I saw this clip on The Colbert Report… I couldn’t get the freakin’ video to embed so click on THIS to see it. Trust me you are gonna want to watch it because it has something to do with THIS…

Did you watch it? Good, then you know that this creature displayed above is none other than a fish tongue eating parasite! That’s right, this thing ate that poor fish’s tongue and now lives in its mouth in place of its tongue! WTF!

But that is not what I am concerned about… well, at least now I am not concerned about it. Of course when I first saw the video I was completely horrified, not only because this thing is freakin’ scary, but because my dear Stephen led us to believe that this creature was caught off of the coast of New Jersey. He said Jersey shore and showed a picture of New Jersey… One would take that to mean New Jersey, right?

So, I did a little more research and found that this creature was not found on the New Jersey shore, but the Jersey shore, which is a British island located between England and France! Definitely not the location of MTV’s new sensation Jersey Shore.

Stephen, I love you, but this is a huge mistake! Plus, New Jersey has enough problems and stereotypes to deal with. Did we really need to add a tongue eating parasite to the list? The answer is no.

Stephen I have no choice but to give you a stern wag of the finger for your complete lack of research . On the other hand New Jersey gets a proud tip of the hat for being tongue eating parasite free . Well done Garden State, well done.

Question of the Day:

When someone says ‘New Jersey’ what’s the first thing that comes to mind?