Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 (Spoilers)

I am going to cry so much when Fred dies. I'm serious. I don't know if even my massive purse can hold the amount of tissue I am going to need. This is, of course, assuming that part 2 keeps my emotions going the way the part 1 did.

After 6 entertaining and aesthetically pleasing films, the filmmakers have finally figured out how to make an emotional connection. Nothing highlights this more than the top trending topic on Twitter the weekend the film was released (and I think even the second weekend): Dobby. Whether it was "I cried when Dobby died" or simply "RIP Dobby" the viewers of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 felt something. They laughed and cheered, and then they, okay we, cried. They were able to pull a character that movie watchers had not seen since the second film out of nowhere and make you connect with him. I enjoy all the movies, but I did not cry when Cedric, Sirius, or even Dumbledore died. The films just did not offer the same connection to the characters and what was happening as the books did. Obviously the same level of connection is incredibly difficult if not impossible, but I cry at movies all the time and with characters that I meet at the start of the film, not those that I have known for years. I know that some people had some issues with Dobby's impassioned speech, but I thought it was a perfect movie moment. Well, at least a solid lead to the following scene where a tiny Dobby dies in Harry's arms. I can't think about it without a few sniffles.

And then it ends (to steal from Dante in Clerks) on such a down note. Dobby dies, we still don't know where the last couple horcruxes are and to top it off, Voldemort has an unbeatable wand. It is the Empire Strikes Back, but with wizards. There is more, we know there is more because our hero's have to triumph. But that doesn't mean it's not a long, hard battle. It's what makes the story epic, that there are so many things to overcome that we end the second to last movie on this low point. Have I mentioned that Empire Strikes Back is my favorite Star Wars movie?

I have talked a lot about the end, so I will say that I did love this movie all the way through. The "adult" actors continue to be incredible with every moment they are on the screen. I cannot say enough for Jason Issacs' brilliant performance as a post-Azkaban Luscious Malfoy. And it was a treat to see Imelda Staunton back in all her evil fluffy pink. The scene with the seven Harrys and all things Fred & George that followed briefly were excellent (again, I am going to sob when Fred dies). And all three main actors continue to improve and impress. I think that Daniel Radcliffe is a fine lead, Rupert Grint took the audience on his complete emotional journey, and Emma Watson makes you feel whatever is happening. Her scene with the incredible Helena Bonham Carter was painful to watch in the way it should have been. And I cannot wrap up this random paragraph of likes without mentioning the Tale of the Three Brothers, which was unique and beautiful.

That doesn't even cover it. I'm sure I might have changed a few things, but most of what I might have liked to see or not see is in movies past. I think this movie exceeded expectations, especially given the set-up that it has had. I don't mean to say that I do not enjoy all the previous films. I love them, I own them. But this film finally achieve what all the books and a few wizard rock songs had before it, it made me cry.

Now I'm ready for Part 2 and more Neville.

Best Christmas Present Ever

My 2011 resolution is to write more here. I have lots to say (I mean, I haven't even posted an HP7 part 1 review, that's pretty much a huge nerd-fail). But for now, I have to share the following:

Once upon a time I read a book called Let it Snow, which is a collection of three stories. One by Maureen Johnson, one by Lauren Myracle, and one by John Green. Upon finishing this book I declared to my roommate that my ideal guy was who a John Green character grew up to be. In addition to this short story, see also Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Will Grayson Will Grayson... and watch any and all vlogbrothers videos. She immediately began singing Cool Rider from Grease 2, but working in the lyrics "looking for a man created by John Green" instead of "looking for a man on a mean machine." She pledged to re-work the entire song, and without my knowledge has been working away at this for months. Tonight we exchanged Christmas presents and I opened the lyrics. It is quite literally the most amazing Christmas present ever. And I am sharing them with you:

Cool Rider Revisted

If you really want to know
What I want in a guy
Well, I'm looking for a man created by John Green
Who's grown up and wise
I want a big nerdfighter
who watches Syfy
And one fine night I'll be looking right...

Chorus
(at) a John Green character, a John Green charcter
When he's old enough he can
burn me through and through
Whhoa ahhh
If it takes forever
Then Ill wait forever
No ordinary boy
No ordinary boy is gonna do
I want a dork who's out of school

That's the way it's gonna be
And tht's the way that I feel
I don't need ore than the boy next door
I want Quentin Jacobsen
So outta my way Margo Speigelman
Just let him grow up fine and stay king
Then move aside cause I'm gonna string up to a

Repeat Chorus

I don't want no fraternity guys
Comin' on strong to me
They don't know what I'm lookin for
They don't know what I need
They're gonna know when he gets here
Cause the library will be shakin'
I'll do anything to let him know
That I'm his, his for the takin'

I want a neerrrrd fighter
A nerd nerd nerd fighter
I want a nerrrd fighter
A nerd nerd nerd fighter
I want a N-E-R-D F-I-G-H-T-E-R
I want a N-E-R-D F-I-G-H-T-E-R
(Repeat)


Reply

Reply to all

Forward

An Open Letter to Twilght fans Re: Graceling

**Hopefully this can be used as an argument for more than just Twilight fans to read Kristin Cashmore's beautiful, adventurous, and amazing novel, Graceling. But I figure if the Twilight fans get into it, that is a pretty big audience to start with.

So you've read Twilight, which is why I am talking to you. I know that not all Twilight fans are the same. Maybe you love everything that Stephanie Meyer creates, or maybe you hate Breaking Dawn (full disclosure, it's ridiculousness and Bella's character changes make it my favorite, maybe that makes me less credible). You've seen all the movies. Maybe you love every time Robert Pattinson walks on screen. Perhaps you're a New Moon fan and can't get enough Taylor Lautner. You may love Kristen Stewart and you may still be wondering my Summit did not cast you. Maybe James is still your favorite villain, but perhaps you can't get enough of the Volturi.

Now that I've accepted your many differences, I am going to make a couple of generalizations. You love the romance and the struggle and (even if you wished there had been a battle first) the happy ending. You love that this story includes supernatural elements, something beyond everyday life. My hope is that you kind of wished that Bella could have gotten it together enough to maintain some sanity without Edward. Because true love is great, but there is a little more to life. And you wish that Edward would loosen up a little. And be less of a creeper. But not too much.

I want you to read Graceling, by Kristin Cashmore. Because Bella & Edward's story (flawed as I think it was, and as perfect as you might think it was) is done and you need that kind of page turning romance and adventure. But I think you should go with a heroine like Graceling's Katsa, who is fiercely independent and does not lose that, even when she falls madly in love. Love shouldn't drag people down, it should lift them up. Katsa's love, which is written in a way that makes it near impossible to put down, is beautiful and passionate and powerful, but it is not the whole story. She is complex and her life is complicated. Sometime after her birth she developed a grace (which anyone can tell by looking at her two different colored eyes, the sign of a grace) that could be manipulated by her uncle the king. Katsa's grace is killing, but she comes to realize that she is so much more than just this one thing.

Everyone else is telling you to read The Hunger Games, and you should, because it's wonderful. But for those who really want that intense romantic element, I say give Graceling chance. And it's got plenty of action and adventure and independent chick power for everyone else.

No pare, sigue, sigue...

Paciencia y fe!

Paciencia - I've patiently waited over three years since first seeing a performance from this show on the Tony's until In the Heights finally came to Seattle.
Fe - I had faith that despite my high expectations I would be entertained and moved.

Well, as Abuela Claudia made clear, you will not go wrong with paciencia y fe. I left the theatre convinced that I would be happy to see this show every night of its three week run. I had to settle for twice, although I do have a few days to try and get one more in. Not since I saw Rent at 17 years old had I anticipated a show so much. I had the soundtrack memorized, and that soundtrack could move me to tears. My expectations were so high that I was terrified the show or the performers would leave me disappointed. Sometimes when you listen to a soundtrack from the original, brilliant Broadway performance, the touring cast comes up short. This was absolutely not the case. Even those performers who fell short of the originals still brought enough talent and heart to their rolls, and all of my favorite characters were exhuberant. Sonny was funny and endearing, Nina's pain was real and relatable and her voice was outstanding, Camila was a force, and Abuela Claudia was the glue that held the neighborhood together. Benny was ripped and talented, Graffiti Pete's moves stood out, Daniela was sassy, Carla was ditzy, and we fell in love with Usnavi right along with Vanessa. I'm missing a few, but I maintain, no one disappointed.
With themes of home and family and love, and a soundtrack that takes classic broadway and adds some latin hip hop you absolutely cannot go wrong, and they don't. Go see this show, wherever you are, whenever it comes your way.

And then raise your flag.

Can you grok this?

When I started Stranger in a Strange Land I was instantly fascinated. I had to move past the fact that it's now 2010 and we know there is no one on Mars and that for a senario similar to this book to exist it would have to involve not Martians, but a life form on a planet much farther away. It has its moments of sexism and homophobia, but so did the majority of the population in the 60s. In my interpretation highlighting these, and many other, flaws in our society was a big part of the book's purpose. Getting beyond that the story is instantly gripping and written in a way that is very accessible, most of the time. A human, born off planet and raised by Martians has now returned to Earth. There is government scandal, a great escape, and apparently this guy can "discorporate" people and things. We learn right along with Mike, the Man from Mars, all the things that humans take for granted and what elements of our society are a little difficult to comprehend.
We move along as Mike learns from Jubal, Jill, and all his other water brothers (Martian appreciation for water would make activists incredibly proud). And then he tries to comprehend the most bizaare concept of our society, religion. He studies and attends services. He talks to people and tries to understand why there are all these different understandings of the world. Ultimately Mike creates his own "church" which is part 60s love cult and part, well, kind of what I imagine Scientology to be. I must admit that I don't know all that much about Scientology, but I do know that the "founder" (L. Ron Hubbard) of this celebrity-loved religion is a science fiction writer and a contemporary of Heinlein. A quick internet search told me that the rumors surrounding the legend that Hubbard made up Scientology, just to see if he could, actually involved a bet between Heinlein and Hubbard to see who could get more money from a relgion they created. Well, Hubbard won, but I probably still won't read Dian3tics anytime soon. That said, Mike's "religion" in Stranger in a Strange Land is not exactly a religion and is supposedly compatable with all the world's major relgions, which ever you prefer. As I understand it, this is also true of Scientology. I would have to do more research on the topic to better grasp all of this, but I did think it was very interesting.
Regardless of Heinlein's intentions with regard to creating a religion, his critique, or more, analysis of society is riveting. I think that while looking at how Mike must see our world is enlightening, my favorite insights come from Jubal. This is a character who is constantly changing up his arguments to play devil's advocates, seeming to talk in circles at times. However it seems his true purpose is to make whoever he is talking to, and the reader, see all sides of an issue and to comprehend that nothing is as simple as it first seems. Through Jubal Heinlein highlights to complexities of our world, and is occaisionally able to boil them down to the simplest, most important elements at the same time.

And then it ends, with (spoiler) the new icon sacrificing himself for his cause, which seems to be bringing people to a higher understanding about themselves and the world.

Science Fiction is so intense. Double Rainbow intense. I'm still trying to grok it all, but Heinlein's most famous novel is definitely worth a read.

Geektastic was... well... geektastic!

I have been using the library lately. A lot. My stack of books is a little overwhelming and I may end up paying a couple bucks in late fees because I got a few too many books at a time. But that's okay, I mean the library could use some additional funds right now.
Anyhow, I'm almost done with the incredible Stranger in a Strange Land and promise to tell all about water brothers and grokking once I finish and grok that, but first I wanted to tell you how amazing Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd - edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci - was. This young adult (although appreciated by geeks and nerds of all ages) anthology is brilliantly written and covers a huge range of nerdy topics. Even when the subject was cosplay or something else that I have very limited knowledge of, the themes were universal. These talented geeky authors will have any reader ready to fly their geek flag, no matter what is on it. Each one taught a slightly different lesson, so here's the short version of what I got from each:

From Holly Black & Cecil Castellucci we learn that it is possible for a Jedi and a Klingon to find love.
From Tracy Lynn we learn that given the correct training and the willingness to open her mind, even the head cheerleader can appreciate geeks.
From Scott Westerfeld we learn about the good/evil, law/chaos scale, and contemplated where we might fall on it.
From Cassandra Clare we learn that the guy online may not be what you expect, but that doesn't mean that you won't still find something amazing.
From M.T. Anderson we learn that parents are more complicated than generally given credit for.
From Cynthia & Greg Leitich Smith we learn to give Dawn Summers a little more credit, and to see that we probably relate more to her than we realize.
From David Levithan we learn that Quiz Bowl varsity jackets are incredibly contentious.
From Garth Nix we learn we really love the strong silent knight type, but it's even better if he speaks now and then, no matter what his voice may sound like.
From Lisa Yee we learn that when using baton twirling to make friends you may want to add some fire.
From Kelly Link we learn that lying online causes complicated trips to NYC and should probably not be encouraged.
From John Green we learn that bullies only have bullying, and nerds have all kinds of awesome nerdy stuff.
From Barry Lyga we learn that you should not mess with Dino girl.
From Sara Zarr we learn that sometimes you have to take risks to stand out, but that it may not be the healthiest form of therapy.
From Wendy Mass we learn that competition can be healthy, but you also have to know when to step back and just look at the stars.
And from Libba Bray we learned that it's the pelvic thrust that really drives you insane.

Okay, so if you read it you'll get a whole lot more than that out of it, but you have to read it first.
Seriously.
Stop what you're doing and go to the bookstore or the library and get it.


You're still here?
I'm done with you now.

The Continuation of Nerd Rock

As you may or may not be able to tell from previous posts, I am a big fan of what I am going to call Nerd Rock. Actually, to be fair I stole that term from this article. But what I mean is music that is about books, movies, pop culture, robots, zombies, etc. Whether it's Jonathan Coulton, one of my many favorite Wizard rockers, or some random song about Bellingham on YouTube, (and I could go on) these songs seem to always be at the top of my playlist (and they crowd out the thousands of other songs on my iPod to make it into the Top 25 most played). I love it when these songs are humorous and when they are emotional. I enjoy songs from the point of view of fictional characters, or those that look at the happenings of a story from the outside. When the song's interpretation is similar to mine I can find an instant connection, and when it's different then I can see this story in a new light. My two recent online music purchases add tremendously to this growing genre (further proof that nerds are taking over the world in more ways than before) and I cannot stop listening. Here's a brief summary and review of what I have been listening to repeatedly since downloading.

The Oceanic Six - Greatest Hits, Vol 1
Now that I've finished Lost I was finally able to download for myself what I had purchased for a friend at the beginning of the year. Alex Carpenter (of the Wizard Rock band The Remus Lupins), Jason Munday (of the Wizard Rock band Ministry of Magic and his own project Skyway Flyer), and Luke Conard's (also of Ministry of Magic as well as ALL CAPS) band dedicated solely to one of the most popular and discussed TV shows in the last decade. The album only covers seasons 1-5, so if you haven't gotten around to the final season there are no spoilers. The music combines everything that I love from the band members' other efforts and their respective styles, and sings about things that I can now relate to. I absolutely love Henry Gale - which I listened to prior to watching and was a bit of a spoiler when I finally watched the show, but I think general pop culture knowledge had spoiled some elements of Michael Emerson's character - which is high energy and very catchy (in a good way, not like a disease). However, I think Will You Be My Constant and Dude are my favorites, largely because they are about my favorite characters. Will You Be My Constant tells beautifully of Desmond & Penny's love while Dude gives a little insight into how everyone loves Hurley, even if he thinks he is cursed. The whole album is fantastic, and if we're being honest, a small part of why I wanted to watch this show. If people who write such fun and at times poignant music about other things that I love can put together an entire album about this show, it must be worth checking out.

Alex Carpenter - Freedom in Panem
As the world prepared for Mockingjay the final chapter of the Hunger Games series (my review/reaction can be found here), Alex Carpenter did so in his own way, by writing an emotional EP about the first two books in the series. These 5 songs cover brilliantly the important moments and emotions from Hunger Games and Catching Fire. There are some catchy hooks and some beautiful melodies. Overall, a fantastic EP, so wonderful that I haven't even picked a favorite song yet.

I am hopeful that these guys will write just a little more on these topics - the final season of Lost and Mockingjay - but I am elated to have these 15 songs playing randomly and repeatedly for now and look forward to more music from them all on whatever topics, nerdy or otherwise.

Premiere Week - The return of all my favorite characters

It's coming! I will be on the beach in Hawaii and unlikely to watch very much of it, but it's still coming. After a summer off, all of my favorite shows are coming back to television and I cannot wait. Here's a list of what I am looking forward to for each night of the week.

Monday

How I Met Your Mother - I think that we can get 1-2 more quality seasons before Ted finally wraps up this story for his children. This show is smart, funny, and has fantastic characters (and brilliant actors). I am looking forward to more stand alone episodes along with some movement toward finding the mom. And of course, Lily & Marshall will start trying to have a family, so hopefully soon there's going to be a baby!

Tuesday

NCIS & Glee - Yeah, that's right, I watch NCIS and I watch Glee. And the TV gods have conspired against me, putting these two fabulous shows on opposite each. Thankfully there is the internet, so one can be watched the following night online. NCIS ended on a huge cliffhanger with Gibbs' father in danger, so that may get my attention initially. Glee, while fabulous, can wait a night since its season wrapped up without a cliffhanger. I am eagerly anticipating new songs and new Sue-isms.

Wednesday

Modern Family - Becuase of Glee, I was not a dilligent Modern Family watcher, but now that the conflict is gone, I will be tuning into the Emmy winner. I have caught most of the first season in reruns and could not agree more that this brilliant show is one of the smartest and funniest on TV. Again, it's all about great characters and this show has a full cast of them.

Castle - He really is ruggedly handsome. My roommate often notes that she wishes Castle could be on every night, and, well, I pretty much agree. More though, I wish Castle was on at 9, so that I was more likely to stay up and watch it. I need my sleep and 10pm shows are a little late. However, I do like the move to Wednesday, when I may be a little more likely to stay up, and if not then we can always watch it online. Have I mentioned lately how much I love the internet?

Thursday

The Big Bang Theory & Bones - Why must the TV gods continue to do this? My favorite show on television, The Big Bang Theory (or Sheldon, as it is it known in our house) has moved to Thursdays, opposite Bones, our normal Thursday night show. I am going to want to know about Sheldon's new lady friend AND what happens when Bones & Booth are reunited at the same time, but one will have to wait.

So those are the 7 shows that I am elated about. I like knowning that despite all the crap that can be found on TV these days, there are still a number of shows that are well written, well acted, and have characters that I want to spend my evenings with almost every night. I also love that I can watch most of them online after the fact, so I can have a life and not miss out.

There are some new shows that I'll likely be checking out, but more on that if I decide they are worth writing about.

Enjoy premiere week!

The End of The Hunger Games (SPOILERS)

A brilliant, fast-paced, emotional roller coaster. A heroine worthy of the respect of tweens and adults alike. A critique of our own society as we see a future where our worst elements are taken to the extreme. While kept appropriate for its readers, it does not disguise the horrors of war or pretend like happily ever after is an option after the destruction that the audience witnesses. A wide array of well developed, complex characters.

I could go on and on, but I will stop here and just say that if you have not taken the time to read Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games series, stop reading this now and go buy it. It is yet another shining example of young adult fiction that should not be loved by readers of all ages.

Now that you've done that, I can stop worrying about spoilers. I picked up the final book in this series the day it came out, and finished it that night. I had been waiting since learning at the end of Catching Fire (a year ago) that there was no more District 12. The chilling cliffhanger and the fact that I believed Catching Fire to be even better than the brilliant first book in the series, The Hunger Games. I loved the unexpected twists and the growth of our favorite characters. The conflicts were new and you could sense their world was changing. You could sense the change because Collins' writing made you so familiar with this society that you could tell when things were just a little different. Mockingjay starts and thrusts you right back into Panem as Katniss, our beloved but reluctant heroine, is faced with the increasingly difficult decision of whether or not to be the face of the revolution. You know what she will decide, not just because it makes sense for the story, but because you know what kind of person Katniss is. When given too much time to think she can be clumsy and stumble and occasionally even act her age (17). However, at her core she is brave and wise. Her instincts are so pure and good that you know when she ultimately makes her decision it will be for the good of both her family and friends as well as the people of Panem. Her will to survive in the Hunger Games was stronger than anything the gamemakers could throw at her, and that will continues in the real war ahead. The thing that makes her will so strong is that her desire to survive is not about herself, it's about protecting her family and those she loves. If dying was what was needed to insure their survival, she would not hesitate, but she knows that they need her and she must continue on. Her selflessness combined with her strength makes her a brilliant heroine, and her imperfections make her relatable.

Mockingjay is a powerful and emotional book that does not hide the complications and consequences of civil war. We see in Gale someone who has been oppressed by his government so long that he wants not only to win, but wants it to hurt the Capitol. We see Peeta completely changed by cruel methods of brainwashing, so much so that the sweet, loving, charismatic boy that we grew to love in the first two novels is absent from almost the entire book. Nothing is more heart-breaking than the game of Real, Not Real that they create to try and help Peeta to understand what was an actual memory and what had been placed in his head by President Snow's people. And there is so much loss. While we are distracted by Peeta and Katniss during the final campaign of the war, Finnick is lost to some crazy animal hybrid. Hi death almost goes unnoticed as you are racing to read the final pages, but stopped me as I hastened to re-read that section and make sure that I understood what had just happened to one of my favorite characters. In the final moments of the war, we witness through Katniss' eyes the bombs going off that kill her beloved sister. After all her efforts to save Prim, starting with volunteering on the first Reaping Day to take her place in the Hunger Games, the war took her anyway. Collins pulls you into Katniss' head and you feel every moment of anguish as the realization of what has occurred is made clear.

It was emotionally draining to read this book, but if Collins had held back at all it would have felt empty or false. This society was so far gone that only that level of destruction could lead to any kind of sustained change. And only a heroine with the pure heart and brave instincts of Katniss could we have made it through to the end.

Peeps: A Stupid Title, a Fabulous Book

I think it would be best if I just read everything that Scott Westerfeld has written. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. His Uglies series is smart and entertaining, with great characters in a fascinating dystopian society ready for disruption. I am eagerly anticipating Behemoth, the sequel to his alternative historical fiction work Leviathan, to see what happens between the Darwinists and the Clankers in this creative retelling of World War I, as well as what happens to his young, but incredibly capable protagonists. After reading those, I was eager to see what else he had written and when I discovered he had a vampire book, I figured that would be an excellent place to start. Even though it was called Peeps.

Peeps is a stupid title. It is either a horrid yellow marshmallow candy that my mother continues to buy at Easter even though none of her children eat it, or it is a ridiculous sounding term for a person's friends (or family), as in, "my peeps." If this book had been as popular as it deserved to be and peeps had taken on a new meaning (it refers to the people who have been infected with the parasite that makes them have vampire-like qualities), then I could probably get over it. But it really didn't, and thus the stupidity of the title has earned an entire paragraph in this post. That said, no matter how ridiculous the title is, you should read this book, especially if you enjoy vampire lore in all its forms. Especially if you'd prefer it to lean more zombie apocalypse than sparkling in the sunlight.

What I loved about this story was the scientific element that made it seem so possible. In this story the source of vampire legends is people infected with a parasite that gives them symptoms which, when put together, explain the issues with sun, the increased strength, and of course, the blood-sucking (or in this case, eating people). Once infected, you will begin to hate everything that you used to love. Oh, and you'll have a little rat posse, which is very creepy. Of course not everyone who has the parasite completely loses it. Some people (such as our main character, Cal) are simply carriers. They have some of the super strength, a crazy metabolism, an over active sex drive, and night vision, but they don't flip out and kill people. But they can still transfer the disease through sex or even making out. Yeah, that's right, they have an over active sex drive that they have to keep in check because acting on those very strong impulses will lead to a whole bunch of peeps. This is a parasite that wants to be spread. Cal, like other many other carriers, is part of an underground government that tracks down and treats infected people. As he is only 19 and has not been a carrier for very long, his first task is to find all the women he has infected, and then to search for whoever passed the parasite to him. The story is engaging as Cal's search for his elusive progenitor leads him on an unexpected path. The end definitely leaves room for more story with the interesting and well developed characters.

But getting back to science part. The coolest (and creepiest) part of this book is that every other chapter Westerfeld writes in a couple pages about a different type of parasite that actually exists. Okay, I haven't researched them all, but I'm guessing that if some of them are real, he probably didn't make up the others. He pulls these in as you are learning more about the fictional parasite in the book in a way that gives this book an extra something that most vampire books don't have - a realistic slant.

There's not really a parasite that turns people into vampires, but Westerfeld makes you feel like there could be. I mean, if there's a secret underground organization that is keeping it all under wraps, then you really never can know. And wouldn't it just make sense that they would choose the stupidest name possible to call themselves, just to make it seem impossible.

I mean I'm just saying...

Something new, something old, and something beautiful

No, this is not a blog about my friend's wedding a week and a half ago. Instead it is about how I spent last weekend, which included a gaming convention, a music festival, and the final season of one of the most watched shows of my generation. That's right, PAX, Bumbershoot, and the final season of Lost all happened in one long Labor Day Weekend. That's a lot to cover, so let's get into it:

Friday was my first ever trip to PAX, which is a gaming convention (see my previous post here). As the only things I was at all familiar with (Wil Wheaton Q&A, Jonathan Coulton/Paul & Storm Concert) were happening Saturday (when I would be elsewhere), my plan was to let my far more experienced gaming friend decide what we were doing. I met up with her as she was defeating a purple blob-like monster at the Nintendo booth. When I say "booth" I should note that when I refer to the booth for a major company, such as Nintendo, the booth is massive with multiple areas for people to try out their newest games. What I quickly learned was that most of what we would be doing at PAX was playing video games. I'm not sure why more people don't go to these things. We tried out a variety of new games (although we were not hardcore enough to wait in the super long lines for the BFD games like Dragon Age II), and then went up to the free play area which was a giant room filled with TVs and various gaming consules that you could check out games to play on. It was all outstanding, and in case my various gaming adventures weren't enough (what with the roller derby and the dancing and the skull-eating), I also went home with an inflatable sword (thank you Dragon Age II). I could really get into some of this. Yes, this was definitely a nerd event, but I'm not entirely sure why. I would consider the majority of my friends to be nerds of some kind, however there are few that would fall into the gaming nerd category. That said, almost all of them enjoy playing video games on some level, and I would venture to guess that most of them would have been just as entertained as I was to try out these upcoming games. I also learned a little about RPGs, which I found to be fascinating. I love learning about things that were previously a little foreign from people who really love and appreciate it. Plus, I got to roll some sparkly purple dice while helping my friend create characters for some game about stealing babies. Yeah, that's right. Purple dice and gaming. Sparkling purple dice. And I got "infected" with a sticker from a girl who was so excited that I made a Princess Bride reference that she squeed. These are my kind of people. But the most important thing that I learned at PAX was that I need a Wii. So I'm going to have to work on that.

Saturday I switched gears and went from gamers to music and headed to Bumbershoot, as I do pretty much every year. I went with my little sister and her friend, and met up with some other friends later in the day. I did spend some time solo as well, I was the only one with a mainstage pass and was not going to miss the Decemberists and Bob Dylan for anything. The morning was spent jumping around to different shows, including the as awesome as they sound Becki Sue and her Big Rockin' Daddies (an older man in red pants played his massive bass behind his head, what else do you need to know about them?) and the indie-rock Rilo Kiley-esque Submarines, before checking out some stand-up. The stand-up was pretty solid, even the intro by Doug Benson of Super High Me fame was hilarious. Morgan Murphy cracked me up, Chris Hardwick (even though I had heard 1/2 of his act on a podcast) was definitely on and rockin' his Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien shirt, and Jamie Kilstein was a wonderful blend of funny, brilliant, and inspring. I made a mental (and, iPhone) note to find his podcast. After that it was back to find some more music including Justin Townes Earle and Wheedle's Groove. Bumbershoot can be so random and so awesome. I had been drinking beer all day, so I was happy to venture off to the main stage for the Decemberists and a little nap. Seriously, I laid down on the ground, closed my eyes, and listened to Colin Meloy. It was beautiful, and then I was ready for more beer and to meet back up with my friends. We headed to the beer garden by the Broad Street Stage to see this brilliant band whose name I cannot remember, but who were just a little too popular for this smaller stage. The security in the beer garden lost all control of the situation and people were jumping over the fence to enter. It was pretty amusing as we were viewing two shows at once, the eclectic band with the lead singer who seemed to be losing a piece of clothing with every song, and the chaotic beer garden with people running and fences falling. Revived by this concert and some quality time with a friend who was moving away the next day, it was time for Bob Dylan. I said my goodbyes and headed back to the main stage, mentally preparing along the way for this concert. Because you have to be ready. You are seeing an icon, the speaker for an entire generation, but one who is way past his prime and never was the world's greatest singer. That said, it was definitely enjoyable. I mean, it kind of sounded like a dead frog was singing, but the music was still enjoyable and the harmonica was excellent. I think some people were probably disappointed, but it was exactly what I had expected and now I can say, that I too have seen Bob Dylan. And he played my favorite song (Don't Think Twice, It's Alright), just for me, I'm sure.

The rest of my weekend needed to involve very little energy, and that was pretty much the way it went. As the final season of Lost was not on Instant Watch, I didn't think that I would be finishing it up, but 5 episodes in I went ahead and paid Megavideo my $9.95 so that I could keep going without interuption. And when it was all over, I was totally satisfied. Of course there were tons of random things left up in the air and I was completely wrong about the island. I had assumed that everyone was already dead and somehow it wasn't real and it all symbolized something, but I should have kept in mind that we were dealing with JJ Abrams. If it seems like there is some crazy supernatural something happening, then that is what is happening. Between Rembaldi's green liquid on Alias and the Star Trek time travel it should not have surprised me at all that the battle between Jacob and the Man in Black, while definitely rich with symbolism, was, for our characters, very real. But more importantly, that wasn't what mattered. I wrote a little ways into the series that what I loved more than the crazy plot twists and adventures was the brilliant character development. And that was what mattered, both within the show and for its appeal to the audience. We fell in and out of love with all of them and as they grew and changed and evolved on the island, under these extreme circumstances, we couldn't help but love them, faults and all (except Shannon, she was so annoying... come on Sayid, I know there weren't a ton of people on the island, but her?). When I try to list my favorite characters in order I sound like Sheldon Cooper naming his favorite X-Men, stopping and starting to insert various people I've forgotten. What was clear at the end when they all met back up in their afterlife, they all loved each other even more than the viewers loved them. They had been lost in their lives before the island, and this crazy world (aided by Jacob) brought them together and made them better. I found the ending to be beautiful. No matter what your beliefs are, I think it's wonderful to think that regardless of what there may or may not be after this life, the important thing is to be with the people who truly matter to you. The people who are the closest to you and who have had the biggest impact on your life will be there with you forever on that next great adventure.

So that was my weekend, pretty eventful if you ask me. And in case you were wondering, my countdown to Hawaii is at 9 days.

Just a Nerd... er, Geek

So today, after I get in a few hours at work, I am going to PAX for the first time ever. This should seriously increase my geek/nerd cred, although I am definitely a little confused as to what all I am going to see and do this afternoon. You see, I'm not really a "gamer," unless Bejewelled counts, and in that case I am an expert. Don't get me wrong, I spent my youth mastering Super Mario Brothers on my NES (and, for the record, I can still remember which tubes to go down in level 8-4, there are some things your brain just will not let go of). And I occasionally played some other games, like Tetris and The Little Mermaid. You're laughing at me, but that game was awesome and I could totally beat it, which made it even more awesome. I also spent countless nights in high school playing Super Mario Cart on my friend's Nintendo 64, even though I was pretty much terrible and it was more of a social activity for the well-behaved children that we were as opposed to some kind of serious gaming. I never got into online games, but I have dated, had crushes on, and been friends with a number of guys who were, well, very committed to their online gaming. When ALL CAPS released "I'm Losing My Boyfriend to World of Warcraft," let's just say, I could relate.

So how is it that I am attending the premiere convention for gamers this weekend? Well, I have discovered as I continue to embrace my nerd tendencies that it's all related. So I'm pretty sure I can blame J.K. Rowling and Joss Whedon. Without them, I might never have attended Wootstock, which is why my friend suggested that I come to at least one day of PAX this weekend. You see, J.K. Rowling wrote this book series, you may have heard of it, it's called Harry Potter. And I've read it, well, a few times, and with my desire to talk about it more and hear other people's theories, I discovered an online community with podcasts and music and videos all about it. One of these podcasts then had the Vlogbrothers (John & Hank Green) on an episode and I subsequently discovered the Nerdfighter community and a plethora of amazing YouTube vloggers. This resulted in the buying of Hank Green and Molly Lewis' albums (among many others from DFTBA Records) and just liking them in general. Pause. Back to Joss Whedon. He wrote a few shows, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, which are brilliant and resulted in him having a very loyal following that is willing to watch whatever he puts out. So when he created Dr. Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog, I, along with millions of others, watched it. And loved it, and downloaded it, its soundtrack, and its commentary soundtrack from iTunes and even bought the DVD. It's a little bit funny the amount of money I spent on something that was originally offered for free online. The Commentary track led me to the Guild ("I'd be killed if I schilled for the Guild on somebody else's time, but then again I was killed... catch Guild fever"), written by and starring Dr. Horrible's leading lady, Felicia Day. Now, the Guild is an internet series about a group of gamers, but you totally do not have to be a gamer to appreciate how brilliant it is (as I've previously noted). So then I'm following Felicia Day on twitter, and between that and the Guild Season 3 and The Big Bang Theory, I'm following Wil Wheaton on twitter. And he starts talking about this Wootstock thing. It's music and comedy... for nerds. And I'm pretty sure I'm going to check it out because I like music and comedy and entertainment, and I'm definitely a huge nerd. But I haven't quite decided because it's the Friday before Mother's Day and I might need to head north that evening... but wait... what's this? Molly Lewis AND Hank Green will be performing at Wootstock in Seattle as well? Well, that pretty much settles it. My brain nearly explodes from the awesomeness, but I survive and go on to experience the joy that is Wootstock.

After that, it seemed likely that I would go to PAX to at least check it out. I mean, I had heard about it and I have a friend going who is willing to let me tag along, so it's pretty much set. Unfortunately what I really want to see (Wil Wheaton's "panel" and the Johnathan Coulton/Paul & Storm concert) is happening tomorrow, but I'm not too sad as I will be at Bumbershoot watching the Decemberists and Bob Dylan. But that just means everything today will be a new adventure. A couple weeks ago I read Wil Wheaton's Just a Geek because I knew this was coming up and because I had been wanting to read it for a while. And it was fantastic. Wheaton is a wonderful storyteller and even at his most nerdy the way he writes about his life is accessible to any reader. It's a great story of growing up and moving on and figuring out that you might have more talents and interests than you previously thought. It's about how important family and a solid support structure is when you are trying to figure yourself out. And it confirmed what I had already guessed, Sir Patrick Stewart is really cool. I totally want to hang out with him.

Next week I'll report on my adventures. And I'll try and tweet while I'm there (if AT&T doesn't crumble from all the nerds in one location), www.twitter.com/jemerson15. Mostly though, I'll enjoy being just a nerd.

Scott Pilgrim

Just when I was worried that Scott Pilgrim vs the World was turning just a little too hipster-esque, it would laugh at itself, and then I would laugh and everything would be okay. My favorite example of this were the passwords needed to get into Gideon's club, which involved some apathetic gestures and mumbling. As Philip DeFranco noted in a vlog just the other day, this is the perfect film for its time and for its audience. As he also noted, its unfortunate that this audience doesn't really go out and pay for things. It would be nice to see quality and fun filmmaking like this rewarded at the box office, so that studios will continue to make films like this. But I'll take what I can get, even if that means I just need to go out and see this again to boost those box office numbers. Michael Cera's Scott Pilgrim was, in all honesty kind of a douche, and yet still the hero of the story. The fight scenes were, as intended, right out of a video game. Once defeated, the bad guys turned into coins. Yeah, that's what I said... coins. I am sure that is not universally appealing, but it is cool beyond words to the right audience member. And I am not sure where Kieran Culkin has been since Father of the Bride, but he completely stole the movie as Scott's gay roommate Wallace. This film was fun and entertaining, not to mention well made. I'm looking forward to reading the comics now. And yes, I probably should have done that first.

Emmy Night

Watching the Emmy's! Live updates as they happen.

Opening Number - All I can say is wow. A song and dance from TV's cool kids to open up the show. Jimmy Fallon, the evening's host, gathers four of the Glee kids, Tina Fey, Jon Hamm (pulling him away from being coached by Betty White), Jane Lynch, Joel McHale and Hurley from Lost (sorry, I don't know his name) for a song and dance number to Born to Run. Started as a video and then all were on stage for the end. It was fabulous. And Jon Hamm is so hot.

Best Supporting Actor - This category was brilliant this year. Everyone deserved to be there, but only one could win. Eric Stonestreet takes the award and is just elated to get to meet Betty White. Jesse Tyler Ferguson tears up, which is adorable. Also, Jon Hamm co-presented with Betty White.

The beautiful and incredibly well dressed Sofia Vergara and the brilliant Jim Parsons present the award for comedy writing, which goes fittingly to the sharp, smart, and innovative Modern Family.

There is no such thing as too much Stephen Colbert. Time for the supporting actress in a comedy, which has got to be going to Jane Lynch, although the category is pretty amazing. And the winner is... Jane Lynch. Of course. Her improv skills come in handy, as she is both heartful and hilarious.

Random note to self: Watch Community.

Guest spot categories were stacked, and the winners - Betty White and Neil Patrick Harris were definitely deserving. Speaking of deserving, Ryan Murphy takes home the directing award for Glee. Also, he's wearing a snazzy blue tux.

The only thing better than Modern Family? Modern Family with George Clooney.

Holding my breath... lead actor in a comedy. SHELDON! I can pretty much stop watching now. Jim Parsons is fantastic week in and week out, absolutely my favorite actor on television right now.

The ladies of comedy are a classy group, and there is some serious talent. Edie Falco wins and looks just lovely. And Edie? You are funny.

Checking out for a bit while they give out the "reality" awards. Although I do love those Mythbusters guys.

Nathan Fillion really is ruggedly handsome. And Emily Deshanel, you are beautiful, but that dress is not.

Wins for Breaking Bad remind of yet another show that I should be watching.

The tribute to shows that are no longer with us was hilarious, but I had to mute the TV during the Lost one, as I am trying to avoid spoilers. Given that it involved a Green Day look I'll be sure to look it up online after I finish season 6.

"Reality" TV is lame. "Variety" TV is awesome.

The Daily Show wins for best variety show, thus avoiding the awkwardness (awesomeness) of the award going to the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. I also always love seeing the Colbert/Stewart interaction after the Daily Show beats out Colbert. It's so funny it's like everyone wins.

George Clooney makes me cry, but hopefully he also make everyone think. Way to be classy George, as always.

So many of these categories are oozing with talent, and the supporting actor in a miniseries or movie is no exception. David Straitharn is more than deserving. I haven't seen that performance, but he is a brilliant actor.

Apparently I need to see Temple Grandin. Noted.

After Pacino wins for You Don't Know Jack, we get yet another preview for The Event. I don't know that I really understand what this is about.

And the big winners are Mad Men and Modern Family. Two high quality shows that will hopefully continue for as long as they continue to be awesome.

The Split Revealed!

If you, fearless reader (singular, if you exist at all) do not wish to know the point at which Part 1 of Deathly Hallows will end, leaving us hanging for 6 months, stop reading.

Are you sure you want to know? I was not sure that I did. I hesitated for a full 30 seconds, and then the curiosity was entirely too much for me and I caved. I clicked on that highlighted text in the Mugglenet article that would reveal what anyone reading the Entertainment Weekly article already knew. We had guessed Ron's departure, the Silver Doe, the Lovegood's house, Malfoy Manor, Dobby's death, and just about every other point from halfway up until the arrival of the trio at Hogwarts, but WB had kept a lid on things. And then casually, thrown into the article out it came. The first film would end with Voldemort obtaining the Elder Wand from Dumbledore's tomb.

My instant reaction? Brilliant. It's eerie and powerful. We've hardly recovered from Dobby's death and now have to deal with this new, seemingly unsurmountable challenge. On further thought, not only to I think this is a good choice, I am certain this is the best choice. I think it was best noted on the Mugglecast immediately following the release, but this is a true game-changing moment in the book. The trio has finally been making progress with regard to the horcruxes. While there is still a constant threat and immense tragedy felt at almost every turn, they seem to have some momentum and some confidence on where to find the next horcrux, not to mention a means of destroying it. However, having learned of the powerful and legendary Elder Wand, they completely understand what it means for Voldemort to obtain it. It seems to erase any gains they have made, but they have to press on regardless. Emotions are high and we know there is a great deal of action remaining, and that there may even still be a trick or two up J.K. Rowling's sleeve that will allow our hero to succeed. This is a great point to start part 2 as well, with some downtime at Shell Cottage while the break-in to Gringott's is planned.

Well done Mr. Kloves and all involved.

Additional Note: While it seemed a little strange that this would be revealed a few months out, and so casually, that mystery seems to have been partially explained. Over the weekend there was a screening of part 1 in Chicago, reviews of which are available on both Mugglenet and The Leaky Cauldron. Spoilers included of course. I haven't decided if I want to read them or not... yet.

So Much Cooler Online

After a busy day at work post-vacation on Tuesday and a busy evening putting together some lists for my friend's upcoming wedding, I needed to spend some time online doing things that make me happy. While there are many things that can be found on the internet that fit that, this is what particularly made my night Tuesday.

Threadless - While I could spend hours browsing through the community designed t-shirts on this website most days, I find it safest to do so when they are having a $10 sale and I have recently had a payday. $10 Threadless sales are very exciting, but also quite dangerous. I'm not sure if you know this, but $10 + $10 + $10 + $10... +$10 = a lot of money spent. I responsibly bought just 3 shirts - water balloons for my roommate, the inspector gadget and ghostbusters for me, and moved along. Thankfully some of the shirts I wanted did not have my size anymore or it could have easily been 5... or 7... or 10.
DFTBA Records - I love this label. Started by Hank Green and Alan Lastufka as a way to help various YouTube stars get their music out to the world, or at least to their various communities. The DFTBA stands for "Don't Forget to Be Awesome" and obviously they never do. I have half a dozen (maybe more) albums from this site, but had been planning to get two that were released this summer. The first is the latest album from Alex Day (found here as nerimon on YouTube) and the second is the debut album by Skyway Flyer, aka Jason Munday (found here on YouTube). Cannot wait to check out these albums in full. I love supporting these artists and this label.
The Guild - Finally, it was time to check out the latest episode of season 4 of The Guild. I am not, nor have I ever really been a "gamer." And I love the Guild. So if anyone ever tells you that you have to understand the gaming references to appreciate this funny, well-written, well-produced, well-performed internet series, they are liars. That's like saying you have to understand physics to appreciate the Big Bang Theory. Felicia Day and company are brilliant and can be appreciated by anyone who has a sense of humor.
Those are some of my favorite things on the internet, a strange and magical place where I actually enjoy shopping and watching shows about people who play online video games. Truly nerdtastic.

I am so lost... horrible pun intended

So, I'm watching Lost, but a little late. I am midway through season 4 and should have no probably making my way through season 5 by the time the 6th and final season comes out on August 24th. I know that I will be able to do this because I watched 14 episodes last Sunday, yes, in one day. The only thing I am willing to guess is that most, if not all of these people have got to be dead. And if they aren't now, they probably will be soon. The other thing I am certain of is that for all the riveting plots and cliffhangers, what I love most about this show is the character development. Each show gives a new angle to a different character and toys with your emotions and feelings regarding them. All of these characters are horribly flawed and have made some pretty poor life choices for a variety of reasons, but flaws are what make people more entertaining and even more lovable.

Everytime I finish watching a few (or 14) episodes, I tell my roommate that I have more information, but am more confused than when I started. But when it's all said and done and I have at least a few of the answers as to what has been happening on this island, I know that I will have no regrets with having spent time watching these complex characters struggle and live with their past and current lives. I may not have all the answers, but I care about these characters, even the ones I wish would drown. Of course that changes with each new hour.

Please don't tell anyone (Pop music secrets)

So here's the thing. I don't really listen to the radio besides NPR in the morning. Did I just become "that person?" Clearly, I have been living in Seattle too long. When I was younger I would complain to my mother constantly in the car because I wanted to listen to the radio stations that had music and not just talking. Now, it's pretty much all I listen to, when I'm actually listening to the radio. This often leaves me out of the loop as to what is currently on the radio, and it leads to really weird dreams in the morning about unicorn whales. Instead of the radio, I rely on the following means of discovering pop music:

1) My sisters, who listen to the radio more than I do

2) iTunes top downloaded lists

3) YouTube parodies of current pop songs

4) Rare occasions when the pop star gives an NPR interview (it's why I know who Key$ha is, although I may be spelling her name wrong)

5) Anything covered on Glee

I do tend to catch up to the extremely popular songs once they have been out for a while. But don't let my "I only listen to NPR" Seattle snobbery fool you, I like pop music. I find it to be incredibly entertaining, even when it's terrible. And in particular right now, I like Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, and I don't even think they are terrible.

Glee helped quite a bit with the Lady Gaga approval. I mean, I had certainly heard some of her songs (Just Dance and Poker Face many times) before the Glee goes Gaga episode, but I don't think I truly appreciated all the crazy costumes and statements and general wackiness. While I might judge some misbehaving at most major league stadiums, misbehaving at Yankee Stadium is a thing of beauty. Is she a lot like Madonna, well yeah, but this generation of pop music could use a little more Madonna.

And then there's Katy Perry. I must admit that her engagement to the hilarious Russell Brand is definitely a plus, there are few couples in show business that I think I would find more entertaining to hang out with for a day. Then her songs are just the right blend of poppy and sassy that makes you want to sing and dance and maybe even jump around. But she sealed my appreciation when she tweeted about Skyway Flyer's California Dorks, a brilliantly done and hilarious parody of her California Gurls (which one cannot turn the radio on without hearing). As someone who relates more to the song about Disneyland, flux capacitors, and Star Wars than the one that mentions Daisy Dukes and bikinis, I was impressed with her support of the dorks of the world, or at least of California.

I hope I don't lose my "I heard this fascinating story on NPR about..." cred for this.

Emmys - Awards Shows are a Guilty Pleasure

I love award shows. Well, not all of them. I don't watch all 8 billion that seem to have come up out of nowhere in the last 10 years, but the big ones - the Oscars, Golden Globes, Tonys, Grammys, and Emmys - I always watch. And then I judge the people who vote for overlooking my favorites, like when they overlook Neil Patrick Harris and Jim Parsons. So when the nominations come out, as they did this morning, I get very excited in reviewing them and trying to guess if my personal favorites stand a chance. Here is some early commentary on the nominees:

Lead Actor - Comedy: With much love to the gorgeous and insanely talented Matthew Morrison (Glee's Mr. Schuester), in this category my heart belongs to Jim Parsons as the insane, but brilliant Sheldon Cooper on the Big Bang Theory. Parsons has made this character the reason to watch this show, and that is saying something as the rest of the cast can certainly hold their own and the writing is outstanding. I never know what Sheldon will do next, but I'm certain that I will laugh, and even that will not be enough to show my appreciation. That said, this category has been dominated by Alec Baldwin recently, and I'm not sure that the voters will change things up, even though they really should. I've heard the Office has been weak (I rarely watch it) of late, but look for Steve Carrell to take this home next year after his last season of the show.

Lead Actress - Comedy: This is likely to go to the incredibly talented Toni Collette for The United States of Tara, which I really do hope to watch some day, but have yet to do. No tears will be shed here if Lea Michelle or Tina Fey walk away with that statue instead, as Rachel Berry and Liz Lemon are two of my favorite female characters on TV. They are both crazy, but in a lovable way. Usually.

Lead Actor & Actress in a Drama: I put these together because I have not watched any of these performances. I have seen earlier seasons of Mad Men and Lost, but my guesses here are based more on general pop culture knowledge. The Lead Actor category is incredibly tough and full of former winners. I would put even money on either Bryan Cranston of Breaking Bad or Michael C. Hall of Dexter, even though my vote would go to Mad Men's Jon Hamm. I can't help it, I love Don Draper, even when I hate him, and Jon Hamm gets bonus points from me for appearing on The Nerdist podcast. For Actress they may as well just write Glenn Close's name on the award now, she has been cleaning up in this category since Damages began and I cannot imagine that will stop now. The only performances that I am familiar with are January Jones as crazy, depressed housewife Betty Draper and Kyra Sedgwick as the lovable, brilliant, but a little bit whacked Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson. I'd love to see either of them walk away with the statue in an upset.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy: Kurt, Barney, Mitchell or Cameron. I don't know if I could really chose which of them I love the best, but it doesn't really matter because Jon Cryer will probably walk off with the statue again. I think he gets it for putting up with Charlie Sheen, and constantly worrying whether or not they will have to cancel the show mid-season because Sheen is in rehab or jail. I do think that Cryer is talented and portrays Alan on Two and a Half Men quite well, I just think that show has been recycling the same material for a few seasons now. Chris Colfer gives a heartfelt and hilarious performance each week as Kurt, Jesse Tyler Ferguson is lovably neurotic as Mitchell, Eric Stonestreet is just lovable as Cameron, and Neil Patrick Harris has been winning this category (without actually winning it) since the first season of How I Met Your Mother. A win by any one of them would be something to cheer about. Since he's the only one I didn't mention, I will add that I do find Ty Burrell to be hilarious as Phil Dunphy. Modern Family is one brilliantly written show with amazing actors.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy: Just give the statue to Jane Lynch. Right now. I'm serious. Sofia Vergara is excellent as Gloria on Modern Family and gives her character a great deal of depth in a role that could easily come off very flat. I am not a big Kristen Wiig fan, but I admit she is quite talented. None of that matters, Jane Lynch is the winner here and anything else would be unacceptable.

Outstanding Supporting Actor & Actress in a Drama: Combining these, because again I don't watch too many of these shows. While you're writing Jane Lynch on the Comedy supporting actress award you can go ahead and put Michael Emerson on the Drama supporting actor award because everyone knows he is going to win. I only just got to his first appearance in season 2 of Lost and I already know he is going to be brilliant. Also, I cannot stop singing: "You're a liar Ben, you're a liar" along with the rest of The Oceanic Six's song, "Henry Gale." For the actress category, I again do not know much, but love the women of Mad Men - both Christina Hendricks as Joan and Elizabeth Moss as Peggy - and would never be disappointed to see Christine Baranski walk away with another win, even if it's for something I've never seen, as is the case with The Good Wife.

Guest Actor and Actress on a Comedy: Glee has made one of these categories an easy pick and another nearly impossible. For guest actor, while I love (as previously noted) NPH and appreciated (and eagerly anticipated) his guest spot on Glee, this award belongs to Mike O'Malley who was perfectly cast as Kurt's father Burt Hummel. I'm not sure what constitutes a guest role, as O'Malley has appeared in a number of episodes, but give him the award anyway. This character is outstanding and a big part of what I love so much about Glee. For guest actress, I cannot decide. I know that Betty White is likely to win this for her guest spot on SNL, and I cannot really argue with that choice. However, my top two are Kristin Chenoweth as the washed up former Glee sensation April Rhodes and Christine Baranski as Leonard's Sheldon-like mother on The Big Bang Theory. Two of my favorite actresses on two of my favorite shows, playing roles that highlight their acting talents. How could I possibly chose?

So the acting categories took up a lot of space, but I promise I'm almost done. There are a plethora of other categories and perhaps I'll write more later, or during the broadcast even, but for now, let's wrap this up with Best Comedy and Best Drama.

Best Comedy: The Big Bang Theory. Wait, it's not nominated? Alright then, the equally awesome How I Met Your Mother. Also not on there? Seriously? Just wanted to make the point that my two favorite shows were overlooked. Thankfully my next two choices, Glee & Modern Family, have been nominated. Even though I have watched far more Glee than Modern Family, I really would be happy to see either of these new shows take home the prize. Glee is an hour of ridiculous joy in the middle of my week that highlights to achievements of the not so cool kids and teaches us to be ourselves. And it's also got this edgy, biting humor to mix in with all that heartfelt stuff and the perfectly choregraphed dance numbers, thus making it more than watchable. Modern Family is an innovative family sitcom with amazing performances, characters who are not (to use my mother's favorite term) flat, and just enough heartfelt stuff to make you love them all.

Best Drama: I think this could go to Lost for its final season, although there might have been too much hype, in which case I could see any of the other shows talking home the statue. Even though I am not currently watching any of these shows, they are all in my Netflix queue. This is the type of television that makes me happy that there is televsion. It counters all the reality show crap that networks put up because it's cheap to make and too many idiots watch it. The shows that are nominated in these categories are what television should be. Innovative. Creative. Oh yeah, and good.

ROFLCOPTOUR - My Muggle friends just don't understand

"I tried to knit a Weasley sweater, impatiently awaiting my Hogwarts letter, I play in a wizard rock band, my Muggle friends just don't understand" - Lauren Fairweather (from Post-Potter Depression)

I unapologetically love Harry Potter. I have read the series multiple times. I own all the movies and cannot get through them without explaining to the poor person watching with me all the things that are missing. I listen to Mugglecast and Pottercast. I think the Harry Potter Alliance is amazing. And I love Wizard Rock. My discovery of Wizard Rock corresponds with the purchase of my current iPod and computer and my top 25 most played list is largely filled with Wizard Rock songs (Wizard Rock Heartthrob, Book Eight, and Post-Potter Depression are the current top 3). Last summer I had my first opportunity to see it performed live, in the form of the PCLUPINWILLOW show in Seattle (well, Bellevue). My roommate, who supports my love of all things Potter accompanied me to the community center on the eastside and we listened to the Parselmouths, the Whomping Willows, and the Remus Lupins, as well as the hosts of Pottercast. The crowd, mostly 12-20 year olds, was enthusiastic and energetic. The bands fed off that energy and provided even more as they sang songs old and new about Harry & friends. So while I was a little old for the crowd, it was definitely an experience I hoped to repeat. Due to some conflicts, my next opportunity would not come until yesterday's ROFLCOPTOUR show in Portland. I took two new wrock fans (I'm calling them fans as they were definitely entertained) and we ventured to a lovely north Portland Library to see some of my favorite wizard rockers perform.

The Parselmouths kicked off the show and the girls did not disappoint. Please Harry with Eia sporting a Harry Potter wig and glasses was definitely a highlight, and their set was cute and entertaining. Next up was Lauren Fairweather, performing music from the Moaning Myrtles as well as songs off her solo albums. She was brilliant (even better live than on her albums, which I listen to often) and her solo set, along with the Armoured Bearcubs mini-set was my favorite part of the show. She even sang my favorite song, Engines Make Me Hot, which is about the brilliant but cancelled series Firefly. My sister feels that Armoured Bearcub's In Which Buffy Slays Edward perfectly captures all of her feelings about Twilight, and she was elated when they played that. There was a one song tribute to the temporarily missing from tour band, Justin Finch-Fletchly and the Sugar Quills. I hope they tour in the NW again soon as his live shows are supposed to be epic. After the tribute was another great set by The Whomping Willows. I love his energy and he was the first wizard rock act that I heard and immediately wanted to purchase, so I will pretty much always be happy listening to a set that includes Draco and Harry, Wizard Rock Heartthrob, and I Believe in Nargles. Three of the Five Awesome Girls (Lauren, Kristina, and Kayley) took to the stage to get some audience participation for their videos, and I ventured over to the merch table to pick up an I Believe in Nargles shirt for my roommate, a new Whomping Willows shirt for myself, Lauren Fairweather's new EP, and some sweet buttons. The final band of the afternoon was ALL CAPS. I am a big fan of theirs, despite the fact that their musical style that is not something I am usually into. They played a couple of my favorites from their new album, I'm Losing My Boyfriend to World of Warcraft and Don't Unplug Me, but didn't play very much from their first album, which was a bit disappointing. I had hoped to hear Saved or I Love You, but they were still a lot of fun and everyone was dancing around.

Once again, the crowd was young and I felt a little old. But as I reflected later, I loved to see these awesome kids who are the world's answer to the Bieber and Miley fans of the world (although I guess there could be some cross over). I loved seeing these book reading, Harry Potter loving nerdfighters dance and sing and smile and just be excited about something. Too many kids, and people in general are afraid to be excited about what they are interested in, for fear of being deemed not cool. It was refreshing to see this younger version of the crowd from w00tstock wrocking out all afternoon, happy to embrace their excitement.

There really should be more rock, er, wrock shows in libraries.

"I like boys who like Harry Potter, to me they couldn't get any hotter, I'm dying for a kiss and it's painfully obvious." - Lauren Fairweather (Painfully Obvious)

Watching Buffy Again: I heart Netflix Instant Watch

I was elated to discover a couple months ago that the entire series of Buffy the Vampire Slayer had been added to Netflix' "Watch Instantly" options. I own seasons 1-3 and had recently watched quite a bit of 4 thanks to the time my roommate's sister spent living on our couch. However, what I really wanted to do was go back and watch seasons 5-7 as I had only seen parts of those when they were originally on. I thought, when I started, that I had seen 90% of the episodes, but as it turns out, I knew 90% of what was going to happen, but had only seen maybe 50% of the episodes. Really, this blog should be titled, Watching Buffy again for the first time, but that seemed a little cheesy and I wanted to give Netflix Instant Watch the Love it deserved.

What I discovered was that while season 2 will forever and always be my favorite, season 7 is an incredibly close second. Season 5 is good, but very, very sad and at times a little strange. I think it would have been an okay end to the series, had it not been picked up my UPN, but I am so very glad that we got to see two more seasons. Season 6 is almost painful to watch, despite the comical villains (not to mention watching it now in a post-Dr. Horrible world I just about died when they brought out the freeze ray). In fact, while watching I told my sister that season 6 is like Order of the Phoenix in the Harry Potter series, dark and at times agonizing, but with lighter moments that are series highlights for me (whether we are talking about Fred & George's epic exodus from Hogwarts or the classic Buffy episode Once More With Feeling). It's necessary for our beloved main characters to make hard to deal with choices and go to a pretty dark place in order for the series as a whole to progress. After we go through that with them, we get to see them emerge as stronger, more complex, more grown up characters as they face their final battles. And in the case of Buffy, that final battle is everything that a final battle should be. It's bigger than ever, harder than ever, and it challenges all the characters to go someplace they never have before. The opening episode ends with a crazed Spike, who has returned to Sunnydale with his soul restored, talking to an evil being that keeps changing shape. I was mesmerized watching as we were taken back through all of Buffy's nemeses from each season in reverse order: Warren, Glory, Adam, the Mayor, Druscilla, and the Master. Right from the start it is clear that this is no ordinary villain and this will be no ordinary season. We suffered with her return from heaven back to a relatively hell-like existence and watched her rediscover a desire to live, all the while dealing with that pesky little sister that no one could stand (it wasn't just me, was it?). Now she would face the first evil, something without form that seeks to destroy the line of slayers. In this last season Joss Whedon changes all the rules and comes up with a superb ending to this brilliant series. When they look back on the hole in the ground that is (was?) Sunnydale in the final shot, it is so fittingly final. Our characters will keep on going, but the story is over.

If seasons of Buffy were Jane Austen novels, as far as my favorites go, then season 2 would be Pride and Prejudice and season 7 would be Persuasion. I have loved Pride and Prejudice longer and I cannot think of a better leading lady than Elizabeth Bennett, but if forced to really dig deep, I probably do believe that Persuasion, with Captain Wentworth and his brilliant letter, is the superior work. Likewise, as I am writing this, I cannot quite say that season 2 with Spike, Dru, & evil Angel where Buffy has to pull it together at the end to kill Angel once his soul has been restored is not still my favorite, but in analyzing what I love about season 7 it may really be the best. It is a fitting end to a great series that has fun and adventure, while incorporating just the right amount of drama and real life themes and issues. I kind of want to watch it all again, again.

One Book, Two Films - To Split or Not to Split

Or - Why splitting Breaking Dawn is a poor choice, except for the part about it making lots of money and that seems to trump everything. (Spoilers included)

I don't really want to be comparing Harry Potter and Twilight in any manner, because a) everyone else does and b) no one really should (please see John Green's excellent video on the subject of Twilight, he has opinions on the series very similar to mine and makes this particular point quite well). However, let me start this off by saying that I am elated that the final Harry Potter film is going to come out in two parts. I have been rewatching the films with a friend who is reading the books for the first time, which has allowed me to remember back to when I first watched each film and my initial reactions with how much they have to cut out of these films, and note what parts really bug me and what does not. For example, I can live without the house elves in 4-6, and I even like where they allow Neville a chance to shine a little where Dobby was missing (providing the gilly weed and finding the room of requirement), as they are good character development substitutes (for the other stuff they cut) and give me hope that when we finally see him in Deathly Hallows part two he is a full fledged badass. Contrarily, I have yet to make it through Prisoner of Azkaban without complaining about the lack of marauder back story. Would it have killed them to add one line from Lupin such as "your Dad, Sirius, Peter, & I made that map"? But I digress. The final book is action-packed and it is necessary to include as much as possible so that the finale makes sense to all viewers and not just those who have read the books. Splitting the film, in lieu of a 5 hour film, makes sense.

So yes, sometimes the desire to make copious amounts of money jives with artistic goals. And I have a lot of faith in the Harry Potter film people - even if there were things that I would have done differently, I believe that they love this series as much as I do (see also David Heyman's recent interview on Mugglecast - how can you not love him?). Other times, splitting a book into two films just seems like a horrible idea that will lead to a painful two film movie. As is the case with Breaking Dawn, which I will see it anyways. And yes, I recognize the latter part of that statement is entirely my fault.

I strongly believe that if Breaking Dawn was kept as one film it has the potential to be the best film in the series (I realize the bar has not been set that high). There is plenty to cut and if you thin it out then you have one action packed, intense film to wrap up this series. There is romance, chaos, and a chess match style non-battle at the end. Instead we get two parts, likely split when (SPOILERS) Jacob imprints on Renesme. So the first half of the film is the wedding, lots of honeymoon sex, and a painful pregnancy with lots of intense arguments. And the second half is vampire Bella not eating people (especially Charlie), wolves not killing the now imprinted upon baby/vampire, the lead up to the Volturi with all the vampire friends visiting, and then the final non-battle. Now that I write that out, the 2nd half doesn't sound so terrible, but the first half? If they were going to go all True Blood on the first that might be interesting in a totally different way, but this series is geared largely at 13 year old girls, so I'm doubtful. It's going to be Anakin and Amidala frolicking in the fields or something out of a Nicholas Sparks book turned film. Stephanie Meyer said that she wrote that middle chunk of the book from Jacob's perspective at least in part because reading Bella's point of view (excruciating pain) or Edward's (misery) would be too depressing. I hope that the film makers are able to get around that for half the movie as well.

Okay, my rant on this is over. I am not surprised at this choice, just disappointed. Unlike the majority of Twilight readers, Breaking Dawn is my favorite. Yes, that is partly because it's just completely ridiculous and that kind of thing tends to "come back around" for me. But I also like it because it's the first time since Bella meets Edward that I actually like her. I feel like she takes some initiative and grows a backbone (at least a little) and becomes a little more of a heroine than she is the rest of the book. She's never going to be Buffy, Sydney, Veronica, or Hermoine, but her second life has a lot more potential than her first. Kind of sad that she had to die to get there, but teenage girls do make strange choices.

Here's hoping I'm wrong. And that they keep in all of Emmett's lines.

My Loyalties are Flexible

After about 6 months, my roommate and I have finished the entire series of Alias. To say it was an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. The friend who introduced it to our lives by leaving us season 1 before she departed to California was berated over e-mail and text for leaving us this new crack. She was fittingly present as we made it through the final 6 episodes last night. Despite a weak start to season 4, I would say that it took until we figured out who had been "the Man" all along for that season to really get us back, I was not nearly as disappointed at the end as everyone told me I would be. We cheered for Syd to succeed as we had for our other favorite heroines, Buffy and Veronica Mars. And we fell for Vaughn with her, just like we loved Angel and Duncan, and Spike (more on him later) and of course, Logan. It's been 5 years since the series ended, so I don't mind including spoilers here. I was elated that she got her happy ending on the beach, but with a hint that she still occasionally was involved in making the world a better place. The first three seasons were superior to the last two, but I think they made some excellent choices in the final season. Bringing in Rachel by introducing an organization similar to SD-6 was very smart and made her an instantly relatable character. We cheered for her to succeed at APO and she had my favorite line of the season when she made it quite clear to Sark (more on him later) that it was he who had wanted to cuddle. I would guess that some people would question bringing in Tom, but I think it was effective to see what could happen to someone who lost their loved one because of their high-risk job and dealt with it in a completely different way than Sydney. We see Jack continue to protect his daughter at every turn, and to die knowing that she will be able to take care of herself. Vaughn's fake death was very well done as I was sure that he was really gone. And yes, the Rembaldi stuff got a little out there, but hadn't it always been there. That red ball just kept coming back (still does, did you see the red matter in the new Star Trek? oh, JJ) until finally it lead Irena to her death and Sloan to an eternal life trapped in a cave, a brilliant end for this sick, twisted man. I am confident now that I can stick with Lost as per the agreement I have with the same friend mentioned above where she is reading Harry Potter and I am watching Lost. She's almost done with Goblet of Fire, so I better get on that.

But as for my favorite character and his flexible loyalties? Julian Sark remains at large, involving himself in whatever helps him to achieve his own success. It's a little hard to pinpoint exactly what it is I love about Sark. Is it how adorable actor David Anders is? Well, that certainly helps. Is it that British accents are just charming? Again, not going to say that isn't a factor. But mostly, what I love about Sark as a nemesis is what I love about Spike on Buffy. I still love Spike in late Buffy when he's all in love with her and gets a soul, but I really love Spike as the nemesis. They love their lives, who they are, what they do, and they appreciate a worthy adversary. They kill people when necessary to achieve their goals (or eat in Spike's case), yes, and if this were real life that would be horrid, but it's fiction so I'd like to move on. I love a bad guy who is charming, witty, funny, and respects his place in the game of good vs evil that he is playing. knowing that it just isn't the same with that adversary. Sark's respect for Syd as his nemesis is clear. His actions wouldn't be as fun for him if she wasn't around to muck it up from time to time. He needs a challenge. During the finale, I saw Sark as similar to Spike at the end of Buffy season 2. Stuck with these two crazy people who are out for destruction far larger than he feels is necessary he is more than willing to change up those flexible loyalties in order to survive, or as Sark notes, come out on the winning side. I think Alias ended well and I don't know where they really could have kept going after the choices they made in season 4 and 5, but I do wish for another couple seasons of Mr. Sark and his exploits. I just love seeing where his flexible loyalties take him. Plus, he likes to cuddle.

California Dorks

Despite my undying love for Disneyland, I have never had a great desire to live in California. Especially not southern California. I'm a Pacific NW girl at heart, and I think my second choice would be NYC. But I cannot stop listening to Jason Munday's parody of Katy Perry's California Gurls titled California Dorks. And the video is hilarious and looks like so much fun, I may have to rethink my opinion of California (it does have In and Out). Or maybe it's just that these guys seem like so much fun to hang out with, and it is just my love for nerds/dorks/geeks and has nothing to do with the location. Regardless, it's awesome. The video can be found here: www.youtube.com/jasonmundaymusic and once you love the song you can purchase it here: http://skywayflyer.bandcamp.com/. I'm looking forward to a Skyway Flyer album in the near future. "California dorks, we're unforgettable, Disneyland like four times a week" Okay, I have to go listen again.

Update 6/18/10: This video seems to have gone viral in the two days since I posted this, with even Katy Perry posting on her Twitter about it. Love to see dorks/nerds/geeks continue to take over the world.

There's No Business Like Show Business

Three years ago I made a point of watching the Tony awards in order to see the original cast of RENT (my all-time favorite musical) perform as the show would be closing later that year. Despite my love of theatre, I hadn't watched the Tony's very often. It seemed that I rarely knew all the plays and musicals nominated and despite enjoying the occaisional performance, I didn't give it too much thought. I realized that year that I had been looking at it completely wrong. As a viewer who lives far from Broadway, I wasn't watching to see my favorites win (since I rarely knew anything about the nominees), I was watching to discover new shows. This was made abundantly clear after I watched a brilliant and riveting performance from the cast of that year's new musical winner, In The Heights. It was love at first sight as my sister & I immediately downloaded the soundtrack from iTunes. We'll finally get the chance to see it live this fall when the national tour comes to the 5th Avenue Theatre. Last year was another not to miss show with the immensely talented Neil Patrick Harris hosting. There were a number of brilliant performances, including a scene from Next to Normal, starring the adorable and insanely talented Aaron Tveit, who I would see later that summer on stage at the 5th Ave in Catch Me if You Can. Next to Normal is also coming to Seattle next spring, as is the incredibly popular Billy Elliot, last year's winner for best new musical. I wouldn't even know how popular it was though if I didn't take the time to watch the Tony's. I don't care where you live, if you love good theatre, you should be watching the Tony's. Every year.

That brings us to this year. The funny and brilliant Sean Hayes hosted, making me jealous that I do not live in NYC and will not have the opportunity to see him and the incredible Kristin Chenoweth in Promises, Promises, but glad I got a little glimpse. And amazingly, I had already seen the new musical winner, Memphis, a fantastic show with music that makes you want to dance and a heartfelt story that draws you in and occaisionally has you in tears. Memphis started its life at 4 different theaters before it went to Broadway, including Seattle's own 5th Avenue. Being a part of the audience that saw this play prior to Broadway allowed me to connect to this year's Tony awards even more than when the Intiman won the regional Tony a couple years ago. The performances were great and I could not be more happy to have watched again this year. A few more highlights and random moments:

- Green Day. Wow. I think the Tony audience might have been a little overwhelmed, but Billie Joe & company were incredible, following the opening medley of performances from the various musical nominees. Their energy level was outstanding.

- Not only was Green Day amazing, but the cast of American Idiot, performing both with Green Day and later in the show on their own (after an awkward, but honest introduction from Billie Joe Armstrong) burst onto screen with the same energy as the band that created the show. I hope this tours so that I can see this show live. For now, I'm listening to Green Day's American Idiot album.

- Mark Sanchez? Introduced Memphis? Really?

- Frasier! Kelsey Grammer teared up when presenting with David Hyde Pierce after congratulating him on winning a special award for his efforts to combat Alzheimer's disease.

- Kristin Chenoweth could probably be more amazing, but I'm not actually sure how. She was adorable and hilarious and generally brilliant every time she was on stage.

- Celebrities everywhere! While a number of well known actors who are known for their Broadway skills were in attendance, so were a number of big named celebs not generally associated with the stage including: Catherine Zeta Jones (winner!) & Michael Douglas, Will Smith & Jada Pinkett-Smith, Jay-Z & Beyonce, and Denzel Washington (winner!). Love to see Hollywood loving the stage.

- Glee! Broadway was clearly quite proud of their own doing well in another medium, giving them a place to show off. Matthew Morrison and Lea Michelle showed everyone their immense talents and hopefully their highly publicized performances brought new viewers to the show. And I'd like to cast my vote now for Laura Bell Bundy to be on Glee next season. Omigod you guys.

- Technical difficulties - There seemed to be more than at other awards show, but at least the if it has to happen somewhere, best to have all those professional theatre actors there to keep things moving no matter what.

- Paula Abdul stayed on script, didn't ramble, and appropriately presented the choreography award. Phew.

There was probably more of note, I loved the way the various plays were introduced with actors from each show introducing the plots and themes, and as noted above, Sean Hayes was a fantastic choice to host. If you don't watch the Tony's and love theatre, you might want to rethink that choice. I can't wait to see what they have planned for next year.

The White Album

No, not that White Album, but I got your attention, right? No, I am not talking about the classic and brilliant Beatles album, I am talking about my most recent download of nerdtastic joy, Armoured Bearcub's The White Album. Who, you are likely asking, is Armoured Bearcub? Well, it is the side project of Matt Maggiacomo (The Whomping Willows) and Lauren Fairweather (The Moaning Myrles)... still confused? For those unaware of the fun and awesomeness that is Wizard Rock, they are two members of a fantastic musical and fan community inspired by Harry Potter, and have created some of my favorite songs about the wizarding world. On this new album, which I have been eagerly awaiting ever since "In Which Buffy Slays Edward" debuted on YouTube, they step away from J.K. Rowling's world (for the most part) and entertain us with tales of Quentin, Ben, & Radar, Katniss & Peeta, Seth & Summer, and Lee Scoresby. I downloaded this last night (I saw the twitter post in the midst of the Glee finale and went straight to Amazon.com as soon as I knew that Mr. Shu and the Glee club were safe for another year - big shocker since we already knew they were picked up for 2 more seasons) and have listened to it four times already this morning, here is a brief song by song reaction:

1) In Which Buffy Slays Edward - As noted above, this is why I could not wait for this album to come out, and having it on my iPod (ready for use in upcoming road trip playlists) has made my day. While it should not be taken too seriously, I think that Lauren does a great job highlighting some issues she and others have with Stephanie Meyer's series, while giving much love to Joss Whedon. A win for all, and Twilight fans, please note I read all the books, I will see all the movies, but you have to laugh at some things, it's healthy to do that. And she makes some excellent points.

2) Peeing In A Bottle - When I saw on Twitter a while back a post from @thewhompingwillows that he was writing a Paper Towns song to the tune of Genie in a Bottle I laughed, but was not 100% certain he was serious. He was. As soon as this song started I remembered that post and this song is everything you would expect from that description and perhaps a little more. I think that much like Lauren's song Black Santas (on her album I'm Saying Nothing) about another part of Paper Towns, this can be enjoyed by people who have not read the book (I plan to test that theory on my roommate later this evening) but it's better if you have. Is there are term for songs based on the novels of John Green? Grock?

3) We're On Fire - This song might have made me a member of Team Peeta. While I have been weakly resisting the movement to turn Gale & Peeta from Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games series into Edward & Jacob, I have always leaned toward Gale, just because I think that Katniss does. This song of Katniss & Peeta's survival in The Hunger Games just might have changed my mind. But ask me again on August 24th.

4) Lee Scoresby's Last Stand - I have to admit that I have only read The Golden Compass and not the rest of this series, so my knowledge on this is somewhat limited. But I am a sucker for inspiring songs about why people are fighting a battle despite the overwhelming odds against them (Red & Black is my favorite song from Les Miserables), so I enjoyed this anyway.

5) The Ballad of Seth & Summer - Oh Seth Cohen, how you elevated what should have been just another trashy teen show to a trashy teen show with a hot nerd as a lead character. I'm sure that some people I knew preferred Ryan, but, well, no, I take that back. My friends are very diverse, but none of them can resist an adorable nerd. Thank you Armoured Bearcub for singing about Seth & Summer.

6) Nargles in the Mistletoe - As I have all 3 Jingle Spells albums, I do already own this song, but I have no complaints about another copy of one of my favorite Christmas Wrock songs. Who can resist the line "Moaning Myrtle has a little issue, she might be a ghost, but she really wants to kiss you..."

7) A Born Again Christian Upon Reading the Da Vinci Code - I didn't listen to this closely enough to this the first time through and I was a little confused, but upon subsequent listens, I definitely appreciated it more. The end is both beautiful and creepy. I love it.

8) Let's Get Our Master's Degrees in Love - An adorable love song to finish things off, and I agree, grad school is overrated.

Overall, I loved it. Tracks 1, 2, 3, & 5 are definitely my favorites, but I found something to love about each song. I am hoping for more nerdy songs from these two, more Whedon, more John Green, more Hunger Games, and perhaps they will read Scott Westerfeld's Uglies series and we can hear an epic ballad for Tally Youngblood

Scarlett Martin

With much love to Sesame Street, I want to start by saying that Maureen Johnson is my favorite person to follow on Twitter. This is not a unique opinion as she was voted that by mashable shortly before I started following her. And I started following her there before I even knew the titles of her books, let alone had actually read any of them. So it was inevitable that I would add some of her work to my Amazon wish list, and ultimately to one of my orders. Since Scarlett Fever was new and a frequent topic of conversation on Twitter (and even some Vlogbrothers videos), I figured its predecessor, Suite Scarlett was a good place to start. It came in a large box with the brilliant Will Grayson Will Grayson and the larger than life Infinite Jest (which I will someday finish and write an epic blog about... if there is still a blog when I finish). So, it sat around for a while, and I then proceeded to flip through it in a couple trips to the gym and subsequent waits at the bus stop. And it was... good. Not life-changing, not exactly what I expected, but very enjoyable. Scarlett is an identifiable lead character and one that you want teen girls to read about. She is smart and witty, stronger and more capable than she knows (as Amy Amberson knows), and yet still susceptible to the pain and heartache of the teenage crush... on the wrong boy (just my opinion, more on that in the sequel... which come on, everyone gets. Her dialogue with her brother Spencer was a highlight for me as their banter is both funny and random, not unlike Maureen's twitter posts. And when it was all over I was sure that I would read the sequel. It took a couple months, as I had a stack of books to get through, but eventually I allowed myself a new Amazon order, and Scarlett Fever was sitting in my room. Last weekend I finally picked it up... one trip to the gym, staying up late Friday night (hey, the title of this blog pretty much gives me a free pass to stay up late reading on Friday), and finally finishing Saturday morning. And it was great, and in my opinion better than the first. So here are a few things that stood out, hopes for the future, and my Eric/Max preference:

- I might have liked a little more of her friends, all back from their exciting summer vacations, but I thought Dakota was great and it highly amused me that they all make out with Josh. And I was originially thinking that's weird, funny, but who does that? And then I remembered high school and while my friends & I were never that candid, well, maybe it would have been more entertaining if we just admitted the ridiculousness that occurred.

- I was so glad that Chelsea was not an evil bitch and I hope that she gets to have more fries and milkshakes (because yes, it is delicious to dip your fries into your milkshake) and tells her mother (who is an evil bitch) to back off. Maybe she'll date Spencer. Too obvious?

- Oh, Spencer. I didn't really know what to do with you in this book (even though you were my favorite in the first book), but I loved your demise. What an ending.

- Not to get all Twilighty on this, but totally Team Max. Is it a nerd thing to like the emo-y guy? He could sing her songs and he plays the piano! So I just want to go on the record to say to Scarlett, you totally want Max and not the pretty-boy actor.

That was much longer than I anticipated, but it was kind of about two books and needed to include my love for twitter.com/maureenjohnson. Follow her, she takes really good care of all those jars.