Though a fan since Borderline was released, Madonna's Like A Virgin album, which was given to me for my 13th birthday, effectively started my obsession with her. My bedroom walls were suddenly lined with provocative posters of the singer, much to my parents' chagrin, and I played her records so much that I worn them out from overuse.
But my love for all things Madonna started to fade around the release of Music. Sure, I still liked a song here and there, but i stopped buying her albums and her music was starting to become an obscure presence in my life. I was hoping Madonna would have retired by now and she would have gone out on what high note she had left. Then a few days ago I heard Celebration.
Celebration is the single I've been waiting for from Madonna. Co-produced by the legendary Paul Oakenfold, it's love child of Holiday and Hung Up, born on the dance floor circa 1999. Oakenfold's influence is a powerful and welcome addition to the song. Celebration reminds me of the old Madonna I used to worship and if this is where her future is going, I'm sure I'm not the only person would return to her fandom.
I've tried my best not to post every preview of GLEE since the trailer came out and I've done a fine job restraining myself. But I could not resist posting this "music video" of Mercedes covering Jazmine Sullivan's, Bust Your Windows.
There's much buzz about Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland and with good reason. Tim Burton has a magical way of transforming even the most basic tales into a fresh, visually stunning and often darker version of their former selves, without destroying the integrity of the stories. Alice In Wonderland, no doubt, will be one of his greatest to date.
Stewie says in the trailer, "What the hell? HE'S getting his own show?" I felt the same exact way when I found out that one of my least favorite Family Guy characters was getting a spin-off. After watching the trailer, I have to say that the show looks better than what I thought it would look like and I'll definitely be giving it a chance.
It's no secret that I love grammar and I'm certainly not a stranger to editing in neither my vocational nor personal life, so you can imagine how excited I was to find this amazing piece by Vanity Fair. Too bad Sarah Palin can't see grammar from her house - that gosh darn, gotcha media elite will get you every time!
If you watched Sarah Palin’s resignation speech, you know one thing: her high-priced speechwriters moved back to the Beltway long ago. Just how poorly constructed was the governor’s holiday-weekend address? We asked V.F.’s red-pencil-wielding executive literary editor, , together with representatives from the and departments, to whip it into publishable shape. Here is the colorful result.
I'm the second from the left in my obligatory summer tank top.
Growing up, we are all plagued with awkward pubescent
changes. We grow taller, we start
growing hair in peculiar places and we morph into walking candy apples as our
heads are suddenly too large for our clumsy bodies. Luckily, most families are there for us as we
endure these trying rites of passage.
Mine is not most families.
I grew up in an ever-procreating family that consists of
more aunts, uncles and cousins than I am able to count in my now, normal-sized head. My parents visited their siblings on a weekly
basis, which meant that my brothers and I spent a comparable time with our
multitude of cousins. I felt fortunate
to have so many best friends already built into my life. While other families waited for Christmas or Thanksgiving
to get together, we needed no excuse to spend time with one another. Our parents took us to each others’ homes,
parks, the beach, theme parks, the zoo and anywhere else we wanted to go. Summers were always one big party. But there’s one ominous party that I will
never forget.
I was 12-years old and my once orderly and symmetric body
was abruptly turning into this gangly, jumbled pile of limbs. My voice was cracking and my older brother
was quick to point out that I sounded like Alfalfa. Perfect. There goes my seamless, alto singing
voice. I can handle this. I just won’t talk too much. Nobody seems to notice the other menacing changes
that are going on with me. I changed
into my obligatory summer outfit: shorts
and a tank top, or as we then insensitively called them, dago-tees. I never wore sleeves. My mom, brothers and I then drove out to meet
the rest of our extended family at a new park that had a rocket slide. “I can’t wait to slide down that rocket,” I prophetically
and innocently exclaimed at the time.
Slide down that rocket, we did. We also went swimming, played Frisbee,
keep-away, tag andwe ate the deliciously soggy lunches that our doting moms
packed for us. It was an absolutely
perfect day -- until I heard the sinister laughter erupting from the gaggle of women
that were my mother and her sisters. My
cousin and I instantly ran over to see what was so funny when my Aunt Missy
yelled, “ARMPIT CHECK,” and hastily grabbed me by the wrist, lifting it into
the air to reveal a single sprouted hair under my arm. She then paraded me around like a
best-in-show contender, arm still horrifyingly hoisted, for all to see. I was mortified as family and strangers alike
turned towards my aunt’s deafening, macaw-like calls of degradation: “Armpit check, armpit check. We’ve got a sprouter!” The entire horrendous experience played
4-hours long in my 12-year old head. I tried
to fight the tears that were welling in my awkwardly-sized eyes, but a few
escaped and I wiped them on my free, bare arm.
I wish I had a sleeve right now. I couldn’t wait to get home to hide under my comforting
Superman covers until I was a wrinkled old man of 20-years old.
My torment didn’t end there.
Aunt Missy unknowingly gave my older brother Chris even more fuel to add
to the flame that was my fragile ego. Puberty
doesn’t suit the bashful. Growing up shy
was difficult enough, but throw in a little puberty and pepper that situation
with a popular brother and you’ve just landed in Hell. In
addition to publicly making fun of my voice and the size of my head, Chris
announced to his friends that I had a newfound hair and he would replicate Aunt
Missy’s discomforting arm-raising ritual.
I need to start wearing sleeves,
I thought to myself.
As the summer went on, so did the annoying pit-budding. With each new bothersome, overactive follicle
came shouts of, “He’s got another one!
Come see!” If my brother ran into
me on the streets, he and his friends would have a good laugh over the armpit
check. Passing strangers would struggle
to restrain their laughter and I swear even a few dogs chuckled in my
direction. I really need to start wearing
sleeves.
Summer soon came to a close.
I had too many sprouts to count and my brother and his friends quickly
lost interest in my pubescent progress.
Though life eventually normalized, my deep adolescent scars remain. But I’ll be checking those scars at the door
at this summer’s family reunion. After all,
I have tens of nephews and cousins that are finally coming-of-age. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll
wear sleeves.
I originally posted this back in November, but felt it merits re-posting. The following are my grammatical nightmares. Please pay close attention to #2, as this is the most irritating mistake of all, lately. Misusing the word, "myself," has become a wide-spread problem lately. RARELY should you use this word!!!!
I am not an English professor, nor do I claim to have perfect grammar, but I do have a firm grasp on remedial English. Some people blow off their bad grammar as if it is not important, but how you write and speak are representative of the kind of person you are and the kind of person you would like to project to the rest of the world. It is not necessary to become an eloquent poet, but it is necessary to pay attention to basic grammar
I never correct strangers' grammar, as that would be rude. I do, however, correct friends if they make the same mistakes over and over again (we are all guilty of typos). Just as I would tell you that you have something hanging from your nose to save you from embarrassing yourself, I would also correct your basic grammar mistakes to save you from that same embarrassment. For those of you who flunked third grade English, I have compiled a list of what I find to be the top ten mistakes:
1.) Your vs You're
If you google "Common Grammar Mistakes," you will find that this mistake most often tops the list. It's probably the easiest mistake to avoid, yet the most common.
Your is the possessive form of you, meaning that it belongs to the person you are referring to.
Is this your book?
You're is a contraction. It is the contraction of the words' you' and 'are'.
You're my best friend. (YOU ARE my best friend).
2.) Me, Myself and I
This has become my number one pet peeve. I hear misuse of this all too often from friends, politicians, television personalities, etc. I often hear, "She needs to talk to Joe and I." Or, "It's just going to be Greg and myself going to the store." This is not correct. STOP WITH THE MISUSE OF MYSELF ALREADY!!!!!!!
I is the subject pronoun. It is who is doing the action. (Remember: I do the verb).
I am going to the store.
Chris and I are going to the store.
In both instances, the subject(s) are doing the verb.
Me is the object pronoun. It is who the action is being done to. (Remember: The verb does me).
When you're finished with that report, give a copy to Sheila and me. (Take out the name Sheila. You'd never say, "...give a copy to I.")
He told Bob and me to wait by the car. (Take out Bob...you would not say, He told I to wait by the car.
Myself is a reflexive pronoun (like yourself, himself, herself, itself) and is always the object of the sentence (and can also be used as the object AND subject, but never the subject alone). It can also be used for emphasis (Remember, you cannot use the word myself, without having the word I in the sentence).*
I cooked dinner myself.
I saw myself in the mirror.
I, myself think that the presentation was great. (emphasis)
Please call James or myself with questions. WRONG. (Take out James. You would never say, Please call myself with questions.)
John, Ali and myself are going to the movies. WRONG. (Again, take out John and Ali.)
Never use the word myself in a photo caption, either.
* This also applies to yourself.
3.) Could Of vs Could Have or Could've
Could of is never correct. Though it sounds similar to the correct contraction of could've, it isnot the same. Could have and could've are correct. This also goes for Should've and Would've.
4.) a lot and allot vs alot
allot means to distribute.
The professor alloted me 45 minutes to take the exam.
a lot describes a large quantity of something.
There were a lot of people at the concert.
alot is not a word and should never be used. You would never say 'alittle,' so do not say alot.
*Think of the word a lot in terms of a "lot" just as you would use the term, a ton. Both a "lot" and a "ton" are large quantities. I miss you a ton. You'd never say, I miss you aton.
5.) To vs Too
I am going to assume the majority of you know that two is a number and therefore not necessary to explain. Both to and too have two meanings :).
To is a preposition and as well as the first part of an infinitive verb:
I'm going to the store. (preposition)
I need to buy some eggs. (infinitive verb)
Too means excessive as well as also:
I'm too tired to go out tonight. (very)
I'm hungry, too. (also)
6.) Anyway and Any Way vs Anyways
Anyways is NEVER correct. Quit saying it. You sound like you failed first grade.
Anyways, how are you?
Anyway means in any case or regardless.
I know it's cold outside, but I'm going swimming anyway.
Any way means in any fashion or any manner.
I don't know any way to fix it.
7.) Used to vs Use to
Use to is never correct. Again, quit saying/writing it.
I use to believe in Santa Clause.
Usedto means to be familiar with or to explain past facts which are no longer true). Either way, both explain something that happened in the past, so remember to add the 'd'.
I am used to waking up for work at 7 a.m. (familiar with)
I used to live in Ukraine. (past fact)
8.) Loose vs Lose
Loose is an adjective and it is the opposite of tight or without constraint.
My belt is loose. (not tight)
I forgot to close the door and my dog ran loose. (without constraint)
Lose means to misplace or to fail.
I don't want to lose the spelling bee tomorrow. (to fail)
I lose my keys all the time. (to misplace)
9.) Granted vs Granite
Granite is an igneous rock.
I want hard wood floors and granite counter tops.
I don't take anything for granite. WRONG
Granted means awarded and to take for granted means to fail to appreciate the value of something.
The Hawking Foundation granted me $500 towards my college fund. (awarded)
I take for granted that I have clean, running water. (fail to appreciate)
10.) Worse vs Worst
Worse is comparative (you're comparing more than one thing).
Rap music is worse than country.
Worst is superlative (nothing is worse).
Death Metal music is the worst.
*Think of the words grosser and grossest. Mushrooms are grosser than tomatoes, but anchovies are the grossest.
****Also, PLEASE LEARN HOW TO SPELL THE WORD WEIRD. IT IS NOT WIERD. ****LOL is over. Stop writing it. And are you really laughing out loud? I didn't think so.
Maybe we all just need to revisit Schoolhouse Rock:
There are many, many more to mention, but I'll stick with the very basics for now. What are some ofyour grammatical nightmares?
I've always had a fascination with advertising for as long as I can remember -- so much so that it became my choice of vocation (though it isn't proving to be such a wise choice at the moment). I was enamored by the fusion of art and business; information and persuasion. That is, as long as it wasn't interrupting my favorite show.
Following are some of my personal favorite commercials (that come to mind). They were chosen because they are memorable to me by either making me laugh, tugging on my heart strings, introduced me to a new saying or involving me in their message with great music. You'll notice that I'm a sucker for music, kids and funny old people.
In no particular order:
1.) Connect Four
I'm a child of the 80s. I remember after this commercial came out, my peers and I would often say, "Pretty sneaky sis." It was a short-lived saying, but one that remains with me today.
2.) Wendy's - Where's The Beef?
Yet another 80s commercial. Who doesn't know this one? "Where's the beef?" still remains a catch phrase today (though often with a different meaning). Wendy's has never been able to recreate such genius since.
3.) Mitsubishi Eclipse - Days Go By
We've all had moments in the car like this when a good song come on. This commercial turned me, and many others, into a Dirty Vegas fan. You can still find this song on my ipod.
4.) Pepsi - Just One Look
I was a HUGE fan of Cindy Crawford in high school, when this commercial was aired. Pepsi introduced a new can and they used the 90s "It" girl to showcase it. It's a very clever ad and I'm embarrassed to say that it turned me into a Pepsi fan (much to my father's dismay, who never wanted to see a Pepsi product in his home).
5.) Citibank - Thelma and Norma
Part of Citibank's Identity Theft series, Thelma and Norma brings out the giggles in me every time. I want to adopt them.
6.) Oscar Mayer - My Bologna
Teaching kids all over America how to spell Oscar Mayer. Genius.
7.) Coke - Buy The World A Coke
I can't even tell you how I know about this commercial, as it came out a few years before I was even born, but I love it (as did the hippies of the day). Peace, Love and Coke.
8.) Smart Beep - Blind Date
This remains one of the funniest commercials I've ever seen. Call me immature, but I love a good farting commercial. "Did you guys meet?" "We sure did!!!"
9.) My Buddy
This is used to come on during Saturday Morning Cartoons and the catchy little jingle made me want one, even though he looks EXACTLY LIKE CHUCKY. Apparently I was too old for a "doll" and come Christmas, my younger brother opened a My Buddy, instead of me. I don't hold any ill-will, but it's Shady Pines in Florida for my parents, come retirement!
10.) Target - Fly Me Away
I'm a fan of Target commercials, in general, but this Christmas ad always makes me happy. The colors, the fun, the music - it all comes together to make me want to shop at Target RIGHT NOW. This commercial also turned me on to Goldfrapp.
11.) Quiznos
Not a lot of people like this commercial, but it cracks me up! I'm still not sure what those little rat-like creatures are, but they can sure sing a jingle!
12.) Etrade - Singing Baby
Everyone loves a talking baby, but a singing baby? That's just gold, in my book. I still laugh when I see this. "So take, these broken wings...."
13.) Berlitz
Berlitz actually has quite a few good commercials. This reminds me of living in Ukraine when people would often mistake words I said in English (much like I often mistook words they said in Uke/Rus).
14.) Berlitz - Learn English
I didn't really want to include any foreign commercials (my list would be never-ending), but this has to be one of my all-time favorite commercials. Too bad we couldn't air it in the States.
15.) Corn Nuts - Bust A Nut (radio)
I had a really hard time believing that this even received approval in the States. How can you resist a commercials with these lyrics:
Go to your room and lock the door, 'Cause when you try it once you'll wanna try it some more! Size doesn't matter and that's a fact, It might be small, but it's a big impact!
Bust a nut! Bust a nut! Grab a bag of Corn Nuts and bust a nut! They're lightly toasted and hard as well, Enjoy yourself, we won't tell...
Everybody does it, they like it a lot, You can do it at school , just don't get caught! It takes a few minutes, if you don't delay; Take your time and make it last all day!
Bust a nut! Bust a nut! Grab a bag of Corn Nuts and bust a nut! They're lightly toasted and hard as well, Enjoy yourself, we won't tell...
Corn Nuts: An intensely crunchy corn snack. Comes in seven nut-busting flavors. Bust a nut at a convenience store near you.
Bonus: When I Grow Up
Though not a real commercial, this spoof of Monster's "When I Grow Up" ad, rings true. Welcome to my world.
For the past week or so, I've been helping my friends John (Set Designer) and Jacob (Artistic Director), with the set of BENT -- presented by Hubris Productions.
A distinctive story of love, Bent is very relevant thirty years after its Broadway opening in 1979 and seventy-five years after the time the story takes place.In 1934 Berlin on the eve of the Nazi incursion, Max, a grifter and his lover Rudy are recovering from a night of debauchery with a SA trooper. Two soldiers burst into the apartment and slit their guest's throat, beginning a nightmare odyssey through Nazi Germany. Ranked lower on the human scale than Jews, the men, as avowed homosexuals, flee. Desperate and on the run, Max asks his own "discreetly" homosexual Uncle Freddie for help as the older man offers little more than suggestions on how to live, as he does, practicing homosexuality on the side. Attempting their escape, Rudy is beaten to death as Horst, another homosexual prisoner, warns Max to deny his lover. Taken to a death camp at Dachau, Max and Horst branded with the "pink triangle", hope to survive with each other for comfort and courage.
You can watch a preview and some behind-the-scenes-footage, taken during rehearsals, in the hauntingly beautiful video below. I've been to quite a few of the rehearsals and I'm still excited to see the full show, complete with an audience.
Presented at Greenhouse Theater Center 2257 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 Opens Saturday, July 11 Runs through Saturday, August 15 Thurs.-Sat. @ 8:00pm, Sun. @ 3:00pm
$25 Adults, $20 Student/Seniors, $15 Industry (at door with proof of Industry on Thurs. and Sun. Only)
, together with representatives from the 
and 
departments, to whip it into publishable shape. Here is the colorful result.