What Would Your Daemon Be? This is the question that I have pondered since watching "The Golden Compass" for the second time earlier this week. This film is based on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy of books. There was quite an uproar over the film when it was originally released in theaters by the Catholic Church, who thought that the film's portrayal of The Magisterium hit a little too close to home, and fans of the book, who were disappointed by what they viewed as the generalization and elimination of some of the book's religious themes. I haven't read the books yet, but plan to and the movie very much intrigued me. In the alternate world that "His Dark Materials" takes place in, every human is born with a daemon that represents his/her soul. This daemon changes shape at will during childhood, but upon reaching adolescence, settles into one form. Our heroine Lyra Belacqua's daemon is Pantalaimon (Pan). Some forms of daemons are reserved for classes of people - servant daemons are dogs, scholars/Master daemons are birds, and so on. I am going to give this movie four stars but with a couple caveats - first, I don't think you should read the book first. Second, if you don't like "The Fellowship of the Rings" or "Harry Potter", don't bother.
Friday, December 19, 2008
WWYDB?
What Would Your Daemon Be? This is the question that I have pondered since watching "The Golden Compass" for the second time earlier this week. This film is based on Philip Pullman's "His Dark Materials" trilogy of books. There was quite an uproar over the film when it was originally released in theaters by the Catholic Church, who thought that the film's portrayal of The Magisterium hit a little too close to home, and fans of the book, who were disappointed by what they viewed as the generalization and elimination of some of the book's religious themes. I haven't read the books yet, but plan to and the movie very much intrigued me. In the alternate world that "His Dark Materials" takes place in, every human is born with a daemon that represents his/her soul. This daemon changes shape at will during childhood, but upon reaching adolescence, settles into one form. Our heroine Lyra Belacqua's daemon is Pantalaimon (Pan). Some forms of daemons are reserved for classes of people - servant daemons are dogs, scholars/Master daemons are birds, and so on. I am going to give this movie four stars but with a couple caveats - first, I don't think you should read the book first. Second, if you don't like "The Fellowship of the Rings" or "Harry Potter", don't bother.
Enough already!
Okay, I need to preface this post with the fact that I don't dislike pets. While "pet or animal person" wouldn't necessarily be the first terms that I would use to describe myself, I like pets. I loved my dog Curly that we had when I was little. But, people, enough already! Please STOP writin
g books about your dogs, cats, and whatever animals you may have. While I don't think "Marley and Me" necessarily started this trend (in fact, I am going to blame James Herriot), the success of that particular book seems to have sparked a lot of imitators. The cover on the right is really what set me off!
Monday, December 15, 2008
Double bummer
Today was not a good day on the job front. As noted previously, I have had two phone interviews so far. One of them was with a large health insurance company based in the southwestern metro. The recruiter contracted me today and let me know that the job I was being considered for has been closed; they will not be filling it at this time.
That was a bummer; the double bummer is the announcement from Best Buy offered buyouts to 4,000 employees at its corporate headquarters in Richfield. This accounts for nearly all of the employees at the HQ location.
That was a bummer; the double bummer is the announcement from Best Buy offered buyouts to 4,000 employees at its corporate headquarters in Richfield. This accounts for nearly all of the employees at the HQ location.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Plan B
Well, I have applied to countless jobs since being laid off and have had two phone interviews. Unfortunately, nothing has transpired from them yet and I was told during my brief conversation with a recruiter today that they are receiving a significant number of applications for open positions.
Plan B is, and has been for probably two weeks now, to increase my credit load next semester if I don't get a job. I usually take eight credits a semester, which translates into two nights a week. At that pace, I was going to graduate with my Master's in Human Resources and Industrial Relations in May 2010. If Plan B is implemented (and it looks like it will be), I will take twelve credits next semester and be at class three nights a week. That would move up my graduation date to December 2009.
It's a decent Plan B and I am thankful to have it and lucky it is an option. But the prospect of going without a job beyond January 20th (the first day of class) is more than a little depressing and disheartening.
Plan B is, and has been for probably two weeks now, to increase my credit load next semester if I don't get a job. I usually take eight credits a semester, which translates into two nights a week. At that pace, I was going to graduate with my Master's in Human Resources and Industrial Relations in May 2010. If Plan B is implemented (and it looks like it will be), I will take twelve credits next semester and be at class three nights a week. That would move up my graduation date to December 2009.It's a decent Plan B and I am thankful to have it and lucky it is an option. But the prospect of going without a job beyond January 20th (the first day of class) is more than a little depressing and disheartening.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Time to reflect and to watch movies
During this unexpected time off, I have time to reflect. I will hopefully be spending time figuring out what kind of job I want next. Yesterday at class, we dissected a great case regarding Taran Swan and Nickelodeon. Taran seemed to be a great boss and had great ideas about developing her people and how to make them successful not just in their current job, but in all their future jobs. Last night's discussion and last week's great guest speaker about emotional intelligence have started these reflection ideas percolating.
Before that, I have been watching and seeing a fair amount of movies. First up was "Twilight", the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's hit book. I persuaded Lucas to join myself and our friends Andrea and Bryan to go see the movie on opening day. Wow - holy screaming teenage girls, Batman! They screamed when the lights dimmed, they screamed when Edward was on the screen for the first time, they screamed during the scene in Port Angeles, they screamed during the kiss scene. I think Lucas was a bit overwhelmed. Review - not bad; three and a half stars out of five. They did a decent job adapting the book and making Bella a little less dopey. Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, and Alice were great. Jasper had the odd habit of looking like a total sociopath the whole time. Carlisle was insanely and frighteninly pale. Jacob was a horrible actor. Charlie was phenomenal and Bella's house and Forks, WA were very much like I pictured them. I actually wanted to watch it again after it was over, which is always a good sign.
Next up was "Persepolis". Great movie - four stars. "Persepolis" is based on the graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi about her growing up in Iran pre- and post-revolution and her schooling in Austria. It is a cartoon and the drawings and visual style are very unique. The film is in French with English subtitles. The movie does a good job of portraying the circumstances around and after the Iranian Revolution. While it is obvious now that the Shah probably wasn't the greatest leader in the world, the Iranian people were hoping to replace him with a more democratic and fair leader. What they got, as we know, was fundamentalist oppression. What would Iran be like if the U.S. had intervened?
Last weekend, Lucas and I were treated by my parents to "Four Christmases". I had high hopes for this Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon flick, especially when I saw the trailer featuring the quote by Vince Vaughn about rather being hunted by a crazy millionaire on an island. Priceless. Unfortunately, this comedy is not. I give it two and a half stars - there are some funny moments (the Christmas pageant is a good one), but it is a lot like "Step Brothers" - you can tell that more lines/scenes were supposed to be funny, but they fell FLAT.
I have also watched "The Golden Compass", but I am going back for a second viewing before making any judgements. I'm looking forward to increasing my diet of Netflix once school is over for the semester and for the slew of end of the year award contender releases like "Frost/Nixon", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "The Reader", "Revolutionary Road", and "Slumdog Millionaire". I also still need to see "Quantum of Solace". And maybe "Doubt".
Before that, I have been watching and seeing a fair amount of movies. First up was "Twilight", the film adaptation of Stephenie Meyer's hit book. I persuaded Lucas to join myself and our friends Andrea and Bryan to go see the movie on opening day. Wow - holy screaming teenage girls, Batman! They screamed when the lights dimmed, they screamed when Edward was on the screen for the first time, they screamed during the scene in Port Angeles, they screamed during the kiss scene. I think Lucas was a bit overwhelmed. Review - not bad; three and a half stars out of five. They did a decent job adapting the book and making Bella a little less dopey. Rosalie, Emmett, Esme, and Alice were great. Jasper had the odd habit of looking like a total sociopath the whole time. Carlisle was insanely and frighteninly pale. Jacob was a horrible actor. Charlie was phenomenal and Bella's house and Forks, WA were very much like I pictured them. I actually wanted to watch it again after it was over, which is always a good sign.
Next up was "Persepolis". Great movie - four stars. "Persepolis" is based on the graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi about her growing up in Iran pre- and post-revolution and her schooling in Austria. It is a cartoon and the drawings and visual style are very unique. The film is in French with English subtitles. The movie does a good job of portraying the circumstances around and after the Iranian Revolution. While it is obvious now that the Shah probably wasn't the greatest leader in the world, the Iranian people were hoping to replace him with a more democratic and fair leader. What they got, as we know, was fundamentalist oppression. What would Iran be like if the U.S. had intervened?
Last weekend, Lucas and I were treated by my parents to "Four Christmases". I had high hopes for this Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon flick, especially when I saw the trailer featuring the quote by Vince Vaughn about rather being hunted by a crazy millionaire on an island. Priceless. Unfortunately, this comedy is not. I give it two and a half stars - there are some funny moments (the Christmas pageant is a good one), but it is a lot like "Step Brothers" - you can tell that more lines/scenes were supposed to be funny, but they fell FLAT.I have also watched "The Golden Compass", but I am going back for a second viewing before making any judgements. I'm looking forward to increasing my diet of Netflix once school is over for the semester and for the slew of end of the year award contender releases like "Frost/Nixon", "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "The Reader", "Revolutionary Road", and "Slumdog Millionaire". I also still need to see "Quantum of Solace". And maybe "Doubt".
If this whole HR thing doesn't work out...
So, it has been officially three weeks since I was laid off. Unfortunately, more bad news regarding the economy seems to come out every day - Hutchinson Technology will be cutting up to 25% of its workforce (while the remaining employees will take a 5% pay cut); 3M will lose 2,300 jobs; the Tribune Co. and the auto companies on the verge of collapse. Sigh. There's not a lot to make an unemployed girl hopeful.
So, if this whole HR job thing doesn't work out, I have two back-up plans. The first one is to start a 24/7 "Gilmore Girls" channel. I freaking love the "Gilmore Girls" except for the last season, which I don't talk about. It's kind of like the last three "Star Wars" movies that were released - I just pretend that they and the last season of "Gilmore Girls" don't exist! I think it should be required viewing for all teenage girls and their mothers about how relationships CAN be. Plus, the dialogue is killer for pop culture fanatics such as myself. ABC Family shows it at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. I have been catching the 10 a.m. shows and find myself ditching "The Price is Right" to watch it. The 10 a.m. shows are during Season 1, so it's fun to see Lorelai and Rory at the beginning!
My second back-up plan is to open a Whataburger franchise in the Twin Cities. Lucas, my brother Tom, his girlfriend Mackenzie, and me discovered Whataburger last June while we were in Texas for my cousin Nick's high school graduation. Whataburger has phenomenal onion rings and best of all, they serve breakfast all day and some of them are up 24 hours. We took full advantage of all three during our stay. And, I know just where it would go - in the spot left vacant by Krispy Kreme in Eden Prairie. It would be perfect!
So, if this whole HR job thing doesn't work out, I have two back-up plans. The first one is to start a 24/7 "Gilmore Girls" channel. I freaking love the "Gilmore Girls" except for the last season, which I don't talk about. It's kind of like the last three "Star Wars" movies that were released - I just pretend that they and the last season of "Gilmore Girls" don't exist! I think it should be required viewing for all teenage girls and their mothers about how relationships CAN be. Plus, the dialogue is killer for pop culture fanatics such as myself. ABC Family shows it at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. I have been catching the 10 a.m. shows and find myself ditching "The Price is Right" to watch it. The 10 a.m. shows are during Season 1, so it's fun to see Lorelai and Rory at the beginning!
My second back-up plan is to open a Whataburger franchise in the Twin Cities. Lucas, my brother Tom, his girlfriend Mackenzie, and me discovered Whataburger last June while we were in Texas for my cousin Nick's high school graduation. Whataburger has phenomenal onion rings and best of all, they serve breakfast all day and some of them are up 24 hours. We took full advantage of all three during our stay. And, I know just where it would go - in the spot left vacant by Krispy Kreme in Eden Prairie. It would be perfect!
Obama before Obama?
Was President Jed Bartlett from NBC's "The West Wing" Barack Obama before we heard of the esteemed Senator from Illinois? Perhaps. "The West Wing" is on at 8 a.m. Central Time on Bravo. I forgot how much I enjoyed the early seasons of the show, the seasons before Rob Lowe left for the dreadful "The Lyon's Den" and "Dr. Vegas". Oy! Here's the cast in its prime, though this was before the delightful Emily Procter joined as Republican Ainsley Haines. And, did you know that Donna Moss' real first name was Donnatella and she was born outside of Warroad, MN? That Josh Lyman's love interest Amy Gardner's real first name was Amelia? C.J. stood for Claudia Jean? That Zoey Bartlet is now Peggy on "Mad Men"?
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