No se puede morir con tanto veneno

Shakira's video for No

Build yourself a pair of wings, learn to fly away.

Beautiful, hopeful ending. You can not live with such poison.

I Wish There Were More Philosophers.

If philosophers had group meetings with people the way priests and religious leaders do, they wouldn't be philosophers. They'd be cult leaders. I like to challenge myself with questions of morality and be challenged for the purpose of understanding and opening myself up more to the world. The Church doesn't question or challenge moral codes - it preaches its own and tells people that questioning it is questioning 'God' whatever that truly is. That's why I don't go to church.

There are technologies being researched today that, by 2040, will be able to manufacture nanobots capable of repairing our cells and protecting our bodies and minds from infections and diseases in such a way that would allow us to live forever.

Sounds drastic? 50 years ago 1 computer took up an entire room. Today our phones are computers and fit in our pockets. No too long from now, they'll be the size of cells.

The fucking media (because I spent this whole post sounding obnoxiously pretentious without cursing) spends so much of its focus - as does our culture - on issues like abortion and gay rights and other social arguments about how to control other people's bodies that should be left the fuck alone and allowed to do as they wished.

Things are moving so quickly with technology that philosophical discussions and questions aren't keeping up. The usual Frankenstein problems. I wish there more people sitting down in groups to have have open discussions instead of listening to one guy preach 'from on high.' Living forever? Combining our bodies with robotic material? What the fuck? We should worry about what those things mean for society - not two guys getting married.

Like a Prayer

One of my favorite music videos from the 80s, Like a Prayer was actually seen as extremely controversial when it came out. Madonna, wearing a tight-fitting dress, makes out with a statue of a black Jesus who has come to life, watches as a black man found at a murder scene is blamed for the crime. There's a stigmata scene, a burning cross, and the lyrics have sexual euphamisms about blow jobs in the same context as God.

"When I left home at 17 and went to New York, which is the city with the most sinners, I renounced the traditional meaning of Catholicism in terms of how I would live my life. But I never stopped feeling the guilt and shame that are ingrained in you if you are brought up Catholic."

I've never been a fan of Madonna, at all. One or two songs have made their way to my music library. This one really touches me as an ex-Catholic and ex-Catholic school girl. I'm not a religious person, but I've always been touched by religious imagery. Lady Gaga has a lot of Catholic symbols in her videos as well and it's actually part of the reason of love them. It's occurred to me that no matter how much I distance myself from the Catholic faith, I will always be obsessed with it, whether I'm debating Catholic ideals or enjoying beautiful Catholic artwork. You follow the Catholic church whether it's with a candle or a club.

Disco Mono

If there is one important piece of advice I can give future college freshman its this: Never, NEVER hook up with a random guy at a club. Dance with him, grind, whatever. Have fun, but don't be stupid. Its not like they make kissing condoms.

I spent three days lying in bed without enough energy to get up for food or go out to CVS to buy medicine. My fever managed to climb to 102 before I realized that I couldn't take care of myself. I called my mother so that she could drive all the way up from NYC to come bring me home and take care of me. I ended up missing all my classes those three days and then the entire week afterwards.

Even after the fever went away, that shit stayed in my system and managed to weaken my immune system enough to get me sick three more times after that.

Fucking mono, man.

And while we're on the subject, wrap it up! Then get tested and keep using condoms.

>.<

Movies I Can Watch Over and Over Again

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

The first time I watched this movie I had to watch it again to understand it. Don't make this a date movie - its a bit intense and not necessarily in a romantic way; there is no "happy ending," partly why I love it so much. The strange world this tragedy is placed in is made to feel so realistic you forget that the premise is nearly impossible.

Favorite Quote:

Joel: I can't see anything that I don't like about you.
Clementine: But you will! But you will. You know, you will think of things. And I'll get bored with you and feel trapped because that's what happens with me.
Joel: Okay.
Clementine: [pauses] Okay.


Fight Club

So, who is Tyler Durden? Oh, just some crazy dude who apparently likes chemical burns, late-night basement fights, blowing up the buildings of big corporations, and fucking the brains out of Helena Bonham-Carter. It's Brad Pitt and Jared Leto shirtless... what more could you ask for in a movie?

Favorite Quote:
Marla Singer: My God. I haven't been fucked like that since grade school.

Wristcutters: A Love Story

By far the most misleading title for a movie. Zia offed himself that way, sure, but the real story begins when he ends up in some kind of limbo for suicides in the middle of a desert. He drags his friend Eugene on a road trip looking for his ex who apparently offed herself after he did. Of course, the lovely and quirky Mikal gets them to give her a ride... but how did she get to limbo?

Favorite Quotes:

Zia: I'm not going out tonight. It just makes me depressed
Eugene: So, what you gonna do? Kill yourself?

Eugene: I'm not sitting in the back.
Zia: Why not?
Eugene: Cause everybody knows guy in the back seat doesn't have a cock.
Zia: I don't know about you Eugene, but I got a cock. Do you have a cock Mik?
Mikal: Yeah, I got a cock. A big fat one.

Garden State

Of all the movies that Natalie Portman has made, this one is my favorite. More than just a sweet love story, this movie is about getting over guilt as much as it is about drugs, fucked up families and crazy hometown friends.

Favorite Quote:

Sam: He's protecting me.
Andrew Largeman: So?
Sam: He *likes* me!
Andrew Largeman: Don't be cute.
Sam: He's my knight in shining armor.
Andrew Largeman: Don't talk about knights around Mark, it's a sore subject.
Mark: I'm gonna kill that motherfucker!
Andrew Largeman: Pun intended?

Florence + The Machine - Heavy In Your Arms

I was a heavy heart to carry

My feet dragged across the ground

And he took me to the river

Where he slowly let me drown

Florence + the Machine have incredibly haunting lyrics and this video along with it makes you shiver just a bit.