smith-corona

I just laughed when I saw this because last year for christmas I really did want that typewriter...kinda like the little girl with yellow mittens. And to my suprise (again, like the yellow mittened girl), I actually got it!

may I...

just comment on how cute this little man is? I am one lucky auntie!

look at that smirk.. What a handsome boy
i love all my nephews, they are the greatest!

1928

Nothing new..just mentioning how much I enjoy the great Buster Keaton. I recently watched his movie 'Steamboat Bill jr.', his last independent film before signing with MGM. Absolutely hilarious! He plays 'Willie', the effete son of riverboat captain "Steamboat Bill" coming to see his dad after years of separation. Steamboat Bill is excited that his son (Steamboat Bill Jr.) is coming to visit him. When he does, he tries to turn him into a proper person for working on the boats, while his son resists. Meanwhile, Marion, a girl that he knows, spots him and introduces him to her father, rivals with Steamboat Bill. He tries to be alone with her, but gets caught several times, and is given a ticket back to Boston. Steamboat Bill gets arrested for unruly conduct (on a condemnation notice of his boat) and it's up to Bill Jr. to rescue his dad - in the middle of a cyclone storm. I recommend you check out this flick and really any of his movies, because they are all amazing.

This is one of the most famous scenes in all of Buster Keaton's films. Without special-effects, but with precise mathematical calculations, Keaton was standing so that the open window on the falling wall would pass safely through him. (And those of you who are familiar with the great television series 'Arrested Development' would notice that this exact scene was taken and adopted into an episode for their very own 'Buster Bluth')

ragtime a goodtime

rag·time:
n. 1. rhythm in which the accompaniment is strict two-four time and the melody, with improvised embellishments, is in steady syncopation.
2. an american style of music popular in the 1920's which Leslie is now listening to more than her family would wish.

DC in March

Yesterday I enrolled in a program at school called Close-Up. It's a really neat program that enables students intrested in government to visit Washiington DC. The trip is geared specifically towards students and shows up close how the government works. On the trip, we will be able to meet with our congressmen, Supreme Court justices, attend seminars, participate in debates, visit some of the major monuments at the National Mall, and more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

anyway-I have become very much interested in all this political tripe that is going on so needless to say, I am very excited to be going on this trip. I have never really traveled very far and have wanted to visit DC for a long time.


[to help with financing, I was given Tax Write Off forms to give to people who would be intrested in contributing to my funds WHILE LOWERING their Arizona Tax Bill. Let me know if you are able and willing. it would be much appriciated :) ]

I reccomend..

"ONE WEEK"
It's a parody of a newsreel showing how a newlywed couple put together a new prefabricated house in just one week. In Keaton's version, a rival for his bride's hand switches the identifying letters on the crates around, so that the house ends up looking like Anyway, you can watch this movie on You Tube. It's a short film and I reccomend if you are ever bored, to go check it out. It is absolutly hilarious.

hamlet

I recently added to my collection the full-text, full-length cinematic movie of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Adapted, acted in, and directed by the amazing Kenneth Brenagh (Prof. Lockhart from HP 2). It has quickly become one of my favorite movies. And yes, I am aware at how nerdy I probably sound right now, but that's ok. I had no idea how amazing Shakespeare's plays were until I enrolled in a Shakespeare class at school. Of course, we were all forced to read Romeo&Juliet sometime during jr. high, but I personally think making 14 year olds read a play that ends in teenage suicide is a horrible introduction to Shakespeare. Non the less, after reading The Taming of the Shrew and Hamlet, my opinion of William and his work has been substantially enlightened.


What's cool about this movie is instead of being set in the 1600's like it is originally, it is set in the early 19th century.

Not-milk?

yuck.

at work

nothing better to do than to create bumper stickers.

buster keaton

In the realm of silent comedy, Chaplin is the most famous, but Buster Keaton is the funniest. In fact, Keaton is hilarious. I have been completely obsessed with his movies lately. Three Buster Keaton movies made AFI's list of the one hundred funniest American movies: The General (18), Sherlock, Jr. (62), and The Navigator (81). Also, he just so happends to be my great-great 2nd cousin on my great-great-great-grandma Emmeline Keaton's side. Or something like that. Pretty cool.