Every time I watch The Sound of Music...

...I fall in love...



*sigh*
Enjoy the awesomeness.
ttfn

Kids these days!

If you're anything like me, this recent generation of people/consumers has got you biting your nails. Do they care about anything even remotely important?
I mean, what -is- it with them?

We'll have to cover that later. There's just not enough time here.

Anyhow, DK Publishing recently played into that mounting fear.
That fear of the youngsters, and the belief that as soon as they are in control, there will be a total disregard for all those things which most of us believe are important (things such as art, literature, trees, belts, auto tune-less songs...the list is long) .

And in the specific case of DK Publishing, books are something they can reasonably fear might one day be labeled "out of style" by this new and confusing breed of buyers/humanoids.

So to ease the minds of their company and now others like myself, they've presented this clever little promo video; a little "everything-is-going-to-be-ok" medicine for the soul in these trying times (Miley Cyrus is now giving singing advice. I'll let that sink in, as we all sink a little lower).




Well played DK, well played indeed...

When Beauty fights The Beast

Yes...



Yes. Yes. Yes.



I would so jump into a ring with a bull if it justified me wearing those awesome pants.



And a sword too?! Sign me up; I have found my calling.

The amazing lady in the pictures is a Mari Paz Vega. A recent POV documentary was filmed on her and Eva Florencia's careers as female matadors.
You can check out the trailer for the documentary, "Ella Es el Matador", here.

30 Days without Facebook: What I learned

Let me break it down:

30 days ago I decided to take a chance and basically commit social suicide.
Yes.
I logged off Facebook...and stayed off...for 30 whole days.

The reason: Facebook had been getting on my nerves.
And by "Facebook", I mean the people on Facebook.
And by "getting on my nerves", I mean driving me up a flippin' wall.

Look. I friended these people. I know it's partially my fault.
But when it comes down to it, it wasn't really the people themselves that was grating on me.
It was their "Facebook alter ego". The super condensed and mostly fictional version of themselves they choose to parade all over the Internet.

But that's not even the reason I got off.

The reason I took a breather from the whole situation is because I was beginning to play the same game.

Social Networking is basically my type of person's ideal social set-up (remember that whole INTJ post? Yeah, we don't like social interaction much).

1. You get to choose who you want to interact with.
2. You don't actually have to interact with people.
3. There is an ignore button.
4. You decide when and how you want to say something.
5. There is an ignore button (are you getting this?!).

Online interaction is quick, efficient, and completely fake.
And when I began to measure the value of my day by how many people "liked" my status, that was it.

Log off, shut down, stash away.

The first few days were interesting.
It seems I had so conditioned myself that as soon as I was on the Internet, my first knee-jerk reaction was to click the Facebook tab.

How pathetic, I sneered to myself. I shall make a model of self-discipline out of you yet, weakling...
(actual conversation between myself and I was slightly less epic and demeaning)

And I admit it. The glory to be gleaned from self-denial and discipline was part of the draw.
What can I say, I'm a weirdo. I like testing myself.
I like to know my limits, and occasionally go the next step.

But before I sound grander than I actually am, the majority of these test included:
Trying not to fly into a mad stomping fest when a huge bug threw itself in my vicinity, not showing any sign of pain when I pour rubbing alcohol on my occasional cut, and seeing how long I can go with out "going".

Kid stuff.
But this was the real test. The big trial. The tribulation the Bible foretold!
Except...it wasn't...
At all.

After I got over the initial change of not logging on every time life began to lull, I began to see just how much I missed.
I'm not trying to make this sappy and all moral-y, but this is just what I found.

I didn't miss anything those 30 days. My friends that live nearby found other ways to communicate (remember talking on the phone, or even stopping in for a visit?).
My other friends that live far away just called or did without.

And no, I do not "do" Farmville (or any other game that promotes narcotic behavior).
So no, I wasn't having to endure fitful nights over the fact that 'ole Betsy hadn't been milked or the chickens had probably been eaten by the yeti, or whatever it is that happens to your (totally non-existent and completely fictional) farm after 24 hours of not slaving--I mean playing.

The point is, I no longer needed (or felt that I needed) a website to be "connected".
If people want me, they'll find me. That is my motto.
That and "Chuck E Cheese is a thug" (four hundred tokens and all I can get is a a Tootsie roll?Are you insane?!).

In the end though, it's not Facebook I've learned to do without.
It's my need for it.

I'm back on for now.
I still have a few friends and situations that would benefit from my having that method of conversation available.
But it's definitely not the same.

In my grandest of dreams, I hope this whole "online connections" deal will just go away, and the days of the written letter will be resurrected.
Remember those? No, not junk mail. Actual hand written notes from people you know?
It's been that long, huh?

And yet we cheat ourselves.
Preferring little red flags & smileys, over pretty stamps & scribbles.

30 days without Facebook and what did I learn?
To value what is necessary, and forgo what is just plain stupid.



And I think you know what I'm talking about...
...Farmville addicts...

~~~*~~~

Non-Human Characters That Stole My Heart

So I borrowed this idea from a post I saw recently on a fellow beings blog.
In my defense, the owner of said blog had borrowed the idea from someone else.
This gift just keeps on giving.
Don't you just love recycling? ^-^


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#10. Robin Hood


As obvious as the cuteness factor is, let me further elaborate.
He has one of the cutest accents of all the Disney classics.
He's the nicest bad boy in history (gentleman outlaw? yesss).
He is fond of dress up and is a regular master of disguise.
He's The gosh-darn Robin Hood.


Plus he's sensitive and stuff. Girls like sensitive stuff.


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#9. The Penguins of Madagascar (aka Private, Kowalski, Rico, and Skipper)




Every time one of these guys open their mouth, I prepare myself for a giggle. Equal part deadly and ridiculous; they're mysterious, classy, and super fly. What's not to love? If they were human, they'd be Double-O status for sure. And speaking of being human...


Not bad boys. Not bad at all...


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#8. Stitch


The cutest little alien since I don't know when, Stitch is that mischievous little kid you wished would love and adore you but for some reason continues to put glue in your hair. Stitch and his evilness are especially endearing to us females because he plays into that old "love him and he will be good!" path of reasoning. There is a lot of messy Psychology involved. Just know that basically we love him -because- he's bad.


And this. This is also why we love him.


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#7. Mo


One of the more recent additions to the animated world, Mo is the dear neat-freak of the Wall*E world. He's dedicated, motivated, has attitude, and is so serious it's precious. Plus he's like a foot and a half tall. And as you should know by now, anything under 3ft is fair fodder for female affection.


Go ahead. It's ok to "awww"...


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#6. Shere Khan


I knew Shere Khan was sexy way before I knew what sexy was.
Yeah he's a villain. Yeah he tried to kill a little orphan boy. So what if he a little skittish around the campfire: He's Shere Khan.
He's freakin' magical guys...
50% of his power is his claws, and the other 50% is in his voice (thank you George Sanders!).


Making snake throttling look like a parlor game since 1967...


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#5. Bugs Bunny


This really is a no brainer. Mr. Bunny has been making people laugh since 1940 and the only heart-throb on the list to have his very own star on The Walk of Fame.
Why all the hub bub? He's versatile. He can do it all and all while managing to be the coolest, funniest, and most non-boring rabbit in the known history of the world. Eat your heart out Peter Cottontail.


His powers are multiplied when in drag.


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#4. Prince John


I've always found this "bad guy" to be rather endearing due to his harmless and pitiful nature. He's just a sad little momma's boy who throws temper tantrums and sucks on his thumb when things don't going his way. This is what happens when you have an absentee older brother.


Meant to be loved and ridiculed in turn.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


#3. Wall*E


Ohmygoshit'sWall*E!!!Ifreakinglovehimandhowcouldhe-not-beonthislist!!!
Fact: There is more female love for that little robot than all the teenage rage/love of Twilight, the Jonas Brothers, and pixie sticks combined.
As it rightly should be.


Half of you just nearly died from sheer cuteness.


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#2. Bagheera


Bagheera is as classy as he is perplexing. Why does a full grown (potentially man-eating) bachelor panther risk life and limb to care for, and then ultimately lose, a tiny little booger if a "man cub"?


We may never know, but his Mr. Mom mentality and general sweetness wins over my heart every time.


Glowing eyes of a Demon + the Heart of a Saint.


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#1. Basil of Baker Street


Yes, it's all true. The Great Mouse Detective is my all time biggest non-human crush.
He's stuffy, unaffectionate, neurotic, borderline insane, a closet narcissist and absolutely delightful. He also just happens to be the most interesting animated character of any kid movie yet (Sherlock connection just coincidence? I think not...).


(...also comes in emo...)

Mr. Basil is genius, unstable, dramatic, dashing, thrilling, formal, and hilariously somber in turn.
In fact, this guy is so danged magnetic, people actually feel bad for liking (*cough* obsessing over) this charming fictional mouse.


(...the face of pure and lustful obsession...)

To me, he'll always be that funny man/mouse who made me laugh, sigh, gasp and cheer...and totally should have ended up with Olivia Flaversham despite the near 30 year gap.


I still dream of a sequel... ;D


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Honorable Mentions (in no particular order):

Pink Panther


Sonic

King Julian

Bartok

Buzz & Woody

Carpet

Mufasa