Super Obama World!

In my very limited experience with video games, my favorites are ranked as follows:

1. Oregon Trail

2. Guitar Hero

3. Anything on Nintendo Wii

BUT, here comes a great time-waster called Super Obama World. Filled with fond memories from the campaign (look for the Bridge to Nowhere and Wasilla as The Real America), it's just fantastic. And it's on the computer, so you can play it at the office! Not that I have been doing that for the past half hour or anything...

Late Bloomers

As I hit the quarter-life crisis benchmark, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and under-successful. Orson Welles made Citizen Kane when he was 25—what have I done with my life?! But, Malcolm Gladwell comes to the rescue with this excellent New Yorker piece about how genius develops in many different ways. Citing Cezanne, Picasso, Mark Twain, Jonathan Safran Foer and others, Gladwell points out that some people create their best art later in life. Or, some don’t even start creating art until later in life. Either way, if you are feeling anxious--at any age--that time is wasting away, take these three notes to heart:

--Some creativity is experimental (as opposed to natural or conceptual) and based on years and years of trial and error. “The Cézannes of the world bloom late not as a result of some defect in character, or distraction, or lack of ambition, but because the kind of creativity that proceeds through trial and error necessarily takes a long time to come to fruition.”

--It’s not about being discovered by others until later life or not realizing your own hidden talent until later in life. Sometimes “late bloomers bloom late because they simply aren’t much good until late in their careers.”

--Sometimes it takes a good patron to guide you along. “Success is highly contingent on the efforts of others.”

Bad egg, good egg

Synecdoche, New York: I adore Charlie Kaufman’s quirkiness and Philip Seymour Hoffman’s overall awesomeness, so it make sense I would like this movie. Wrong. I totally get the whole “play within a play” thing, but this “plot” was so dark and confusing that it was actually painful to watch. I hate to say this, but this movie had me thinking that Kaufman should stick to just writing and leave the directing up to someone else. Award: MTV Movie Award.

Barefoot in the Park: Sometimes, you just have to go back and watch one of your favorites. Such was the case on Saturday when I revisited Barefoot in the Park. The story is of two newlyweds (played perfectly by Robert Redford and Jane Fonda) in Manhattan and I really cannot say enough good things about this movie. It’s witty, romantic, charming, neurotic and stylish; just look at the poster to the right. What other reason do you need to see it? Award: Oscar

Wait, what is that, Jackie?

Oh, is that an Andrew Bird poster signed by Andrew himself? With a Happy Birthday Jackie note?! Extra special shout out to Audrey for getting in touch with his manager and making it happen. Definitely one of the most thoughftul (and arduous!) gifts that I have ever received.

Office Wifey

Email between Carrie (my cubicle-neighbor AND fellow Cincinnatian) and her room mate Carys:

Carrie: i ate 14 butter cookies today and now i am feeling sick. just wanted to tell someone besides jackie - who had 11 butter cookies and also feels sick.

Carys: i think you two may be this...
http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/worklife/11/10/cb.seven.signs.work.spouse/index.html

Carys highlights a great article--do office spouses exist? As further evidence that Carrie and I are married in office space, here is a gem that I dug up. Any past boyfriends of mine may recognize the Jackie look of disapproval. Also note that I am wearing Carrie's sweater.

Elephant 6: Live?!

NPR’s All Songs Considered is a great way to find new music; their concert podcast is also a great resource to find live (and sometimes rare) versions of your favorite songs. But the concert podcast can also make you incredibly jealous that you weren’t at a particular show, as is the case with this amazing reunion of sorts with 15 members of the Elephant 6 family. Most of the ASC concerts are recorded at Washington’s 9:30 Club, but a special trip to Chicago was made for this show. Featuring songs from some of my all-time favorite Athens bands (Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control and Elf Power), the concert is the type where you can tell that the band members are having a blast. I haven’t even finished listening to it yet, but am in love already. I am also missing Athens like crazy.

Movie Review: The Visitor

I think that The Visitor is the best movie that I have seen so far in 2008. It’s quiet, thought-provoking and has moments that gives you real, intense feelings for the characters. AND it is directed by a guy who was on The Wire. This Times article does a better job at summing it up than I could. Check out the video in the Times article too. Award: Oscar

Not your typical e-card

We all love the Some E-Card site for their inappropriate (read: hilarious) cards, but did you know that you can create your own?! As Amber said when she made the above card to make fun of the language of communications consultants, "This changes everything."

Seasonal Playlist: Autumn 2008

Each season, I make a playlist of about 10-15 “singles” that I have been listening to a lot. It’s great in case I need a quick playlist and can’t decide what I am in the mood for, but also is nice to revisit/reflect on later. I don’t make the claim that these songs are new releases or cutting-edge, but I love each of them and I will always associate them with Autumn 2008.

1. MGMT: Time to Pretend-- The anthem of my life right now.

2. Blitzen Trapper: Furr-- I don't know much about this band, but I can listen to this on repeat over and over and over.

3. Kings of Leon: Fans-- Why am I just discovering this amazing band right now?

4. Dr. Dog: Easy Beat-- "Psych rock"=sounds like something I would hate. Apparently I love it. Looking forward to their show in December!

5. Old Crow Medicine Show: Wagon Wheel-- This song was the highlight of the Old Crow show at 9:30 club. And not because of the way the band played it, but the way that Carrie passionately sang along to it.

6. Citizen Cope: Pablo Picasso-- Worth listening to just to hear Cope say "Mist-ah Offi-cah"

7. She & Him: Sentimental Heart-- My favorite song from a great album.

8. Old Crow Medicine Show: James River Blues-- There is just something really cute about young guys playing bluegrass.

9. The Blow: Hey Boy-- Noah gave me this CD ages ago, but this song is particularly apropos right now...

10. M.I.A: Paper Planes-- You can't sit still and listen to this one.

11. Kings of Leon: Knocked Up-- This has the pained romantic vibe that I seek from Springsteen sometimes.

12. Dr. Dog: The Old Days-- "So cold in the morning, put on your dog skins."

13. Kings of Leon: The Runner-- Beautiful song that always makes me stop and give it my full attention for 4 minutes and 18 seconds.

::this would be a lot cooler if I could figure out how to make a playlist that everyone can listen to online, but hopefully that will come later::