Cutest Thing Ever

Sorry to disrupt the Mad Men theme but... aren't these adorable?!
Okay, so maybe not the cutest thing "ever" but at least of the hour. I am seriously coveting those flapper buttons. Found on craft magazine's blog, but originally here.

Random Monday Mad Men Post: Ken and Sal in "The Gold Violin" and Second Wave Feminism

I finally watched episode 7, "The Gold Violin." (It's the one where Ken goes to Sal's house for dinner.) I loved the Ken/Sal interaction. You can tell that they both have this artistic side that's at odds with the mentality of the rest of Sterling-Cooper, who seem only to care about art if it can make them money. I love it when Ken tells Sal that he's "not like everyone else here." Uh yeah, in more ways than one. I think Sal totally has a crush on Ken. It's not just physical, either; they really get along well. Sal tries to stop Ken from leaving after dinner, and he pretty much ignores Kitty the entire evening (which made me kind of sad). Did anyone else notice the look Kitty gave them when Ken lights Sal's cigarette? I think she suspects something about Sal. He keeps Ken's lighter and uses it to light his cigarette near the end of the episode, when he's watching T.V. with Kitty. I didn't even notice that they sat together during the next episode until Christine pointed it out! Squee! Too bad Ken's (seemingly) straight, and Sal's married. :(

On a somewhat different topic, Alex thanked feminism in her post below. Here's a list of reasons to thank Second-Wave feminists. Feminism=love.

Calling All Mad Men fans

Well Blogger is being a butt head and won't let me upload any pictures, so you will have to go to my facebook to see this amazing picture. It is under my RENT folder and I just added it today. 

Yesterday I took a little trip to the French Quarter to see the first non-Broadway performance of RENT. I was so excited to begin with and then the most amazing thing happened, I met Bryan Batt (Salvatore Romano), our favorite gay artist on Mad Men. 

He was so sweet and took several pictures with my mom and I and signed our programs. He told us we had to watch Sunday's episode because "it is going to be a really good episode. Don't miss it". He was so excited to see people our age watching the show and being so moved and dedicated to the show. He wrote in my program: "All my best Alexandra Bryan Batt, your Mad Man". 

My mom and I were like crazy fangirls jumping over velvet ropes to get to him and tell him how much we loved him and his character. Him and his partner of 18 years lives down here and own a furniture shop on Magazine Street. BTW he is a New Orleans native and supporter financial and connection wise of Le Petit Theater. His good friend was the producer of RENT and Bryan asked if he could sell the rights to the theater so that they can be the first community theater to perform it. The actors were phenomenal and it was an amazing experience. 

It was a great day! Check out my photo with him on Facebook. 

The First Weekly Mad Men Post

So, Mad Men was pretty awesome as usual. I found it interesting that for the second straight episode, the men have been asses. Pete & Duck were they're usual icky selves and caused a mess of trouble. Roger is leaving Mona for Don's secretary. (seriously, Roger? If you're going to leave Mona for anyone, it should at least be Joan). Don was all "it's a relief not living at home." I'm not sure how many times Don thinks he can reinvent himself. We get it. It's your life. But you can't just go around persuading people doing whatever you want. Eventually, someone is going to catch on.

In contrast to these slummy men.... Peggy got promoted!!! Even though the circumstances were less than desirable, she deserves it. And wasn't it wonderful when Peggy went into Pete's office and yelled at him?! I love that Betty continues to hold up to the statement she made last episode. That she would never "do this" to Don. Instead of having an affair, she sets up her friend with the horse guy.

I liked how they dealt with Marilyn Monroe's suicide. They certainly showed how beloved she was in the eyes of the public. Also, did anyone else notice that Sal was sitting next to Ken Cosgrove in their meeting?

Some things I have been doing

Hello again fellow people. How is it all going? Besides being involved with City Year (first full time day in the school starts Monday. WOOT!) I have been going to a few events. I will list them bellow with a brief description, then expect you all to sign the petitions...

Service Nation:
This is an organization that was created by the co founder of City Year. The group basically asks for Congress to sign into action a bill that would have national service as a priority in this country. Not just in the military, but through non profit groups like Americorp and also City Year. Letting the world realize that service matters in this country and we have to be ready for it.

Flow
This is a documentary on water conservation issues and the privatization of water. It goes to different areas of the world and shows how companies go into areas and resale the water that is free to the people for huge amounts. It is really interesting. Water is something we all take for granted and don't realize how much it affects us, like issues of bottle water. The petition is for another article to be added to by the UN saying that clean water is a right everyone should have!

Something Related to Dr. Horrible

The Evil League of Evil exists and is taking applications! See!

Mad Men & Park(ing) Day

As Alex has so wonderfully said, we are going to hold weekly (or at least weekly, the impromptu is always welcome) Mad Men discussions. Whoever gets to it first can post, and the rest of us can reply to it. That way people who don't watch Mad Men (and they really, really, really, should) won't be scrolling through a Man Men takeover. There will inevitably be spoilers. So... avoid this blog until you watch it.

On a different note altogether... Park(ing) Day was last Friday. It's a really cool event that started in San Francisco. Basically, people put money in a parking meter and do whatever it is they want in the spot they rented. A lot of people set up mini-parks/gardens but some make crafts or take a nap or whatever. Basically, the concept is that you've rented the space for x about of hours; therefore, it is yours to do whatever in whether or not you park there.

Joss Whedon is not happy!

So Dollhouse has been pushed back to filming until September 25 instead of January because Joss thought the scripts weren't Joss enough, which means they were shit. 

Here is the full article: 

http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b28348_production_stops_whedon_plays_with.html

As much as I was looking forward to seeing more Joss creations out in the public again, I think this is a good idea. I don't want to watch a show that has none of that Joss humor but still has his name connected to it. I think he is making a comeback and one day will be our reigning god again. 

Joss is Boss! 

Thank god we had the feminist movement!

Okay, so I messaged Christine this week with my Mad Men rant and she suggested posting to one place so we can all see these rants. So here is the rant I sent to Christine for the last new episode that aired. 

Can I just say Betty kicks ass because she is actually standing up for herself. Last week was a bad week for the women. Stupid suppressive male ego society! Also, how could they not give the script reading job to Joan. She was so good at it and was finally happy. I feel bad that her fiance wants her to settle down and become like perfect little housewife because lets face it, housewife and Joan just don't go together. Also, YAY! Mad Men for winning best drama. They deserved it!

So from now on lets post our opinions and views on here after Mad Men airs on Sunday. 

So because I know you all want to see it.

I finally got a uniform that 3/4 all fits! So I took one picture and thought I would share with you. They had no pants in my size, so I have men's...much better actually.
Yea, everyone's uniform doesn't fit...it has been like that for 20 years.

Science Project leads to UK SETS

Guess what this is the plans for, well corner of plan.
Hint: It's located in the UK. We know the character well, he's a Dr. of sorts.

This is the corner plans for the 1966 episode Tenth Planet.

This is the quote.

"A corner of a 1966 plan of Dr Who episode - Tenth Planet. The set in the corner of the studio is a Cyberman spaceship. Obviously.

The three symbols above represent the following: 2A is a Mole camera crane, A3 is a sound boom and 3A is a camera ped. These positions were worked out by the director for each set so that the cables did not have to cross each other when moving between sets and get tangled up.

In all BBC studios 'wall 1' is the wall which has the control rooms behind it. The others follow in clockwise direction. Thus the wall at the bottom of the plan is wall 4.

plan thanks to David Harper"

Here is where I got the information. You can find out all about the old BBC Studios on the Lot.
http://www.tvstudiohistory.co.uk/old%20bbc%20studios.htm


Your wondering why i'm looking up studio information. Science project. Comparing something to a plant cell and its parts.

The Great Big Music Exchange

So, Claire and I were just sending videos from youtube back and forth to each other through facebook. We decided to migrate to a blog and here it is: http://thegreatbigmusicexchange.blogspot.com/2008/09/begining.html

Just look around. There is some good stuff on it. I posted the last of the current videos. Have fun looking, it gave me something to do while here in Boston.

On another note. I went to go see The Dandy Warhols in concert on Tuesday (September 16th) and this Saturday I will be working at Farm Aid (http://www.farmaid.org/site/c.qlI5IhNVJsE/b.2723595/k.EE67/Family_Farmers_Good_Food_A_Better_America.htm)
I will work for 4 hours then I get to watch the concert. Pretty awesome. So here is a video from the Dandy Warhols and Jakob Dylan.

Maurice Sendak

The New York Times' website has an interview with Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are. You should read it. It's interesting, although rather sad.

the future of wind power!?

flying over denmark, i saw many many windmills strewn about... a few here in the water, a few on the edges of the city, some in a field with some sheep...
anywho, when this crossed my stumblings i was intrigued.

think zeppelin but bigger and making power...