Snazzified
Email me at: snazzified at gmail dot com
Movie #6 - Red Tails
As a pilot’s wife, how could I not go see this movie with him? I’m really glad I did, though, because it tells an important story of an under-appreciated group of heroes. Red Tails tells a small portion of the story of the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of African American servicemen during World War II. Despite the rampant racism, these men proved that they were capable of fighting for their country and that they could successfully carry out difficult missions.
Partway through the movie, it struck me that this movie was unusual in that it portrayed young African American men is something other than the comic relief opposite white main characters or gangsters. Honestly, how many movies can you think of off the top of your head the feature straight up black heroes? In general, how many non-Tyler Perry all black cast movies have you seen?
*scratches head*
See? Just for that, I wanted to support this movie. The Tuskegee Airmen deserve some recognition for their accomplishments, and African American youth deserve to have inspiring heroes to look up to as well.
Check out what George Lucas has to say about the creation of this movie.
Book #5 - Micro by Michael Crichton
When life hands you lemons, your pleasure reading starts to look like this year’s line up. Not pure foof, but not high-minded literature either. Crichton is a guilty pleasure and his latest provided a much needed escape from reality. It has all the perfect ingredients for an escape: thrills, violence, heroism, science, greed, and adventure.
Book #6 - Elliot Allagash by Simon Rich
Even after finishing this novel, I still can’t decide if I think it’d be better as YA or adult fiction. I guess it’s a good crossover, in a sense. The main character, Seymour Herson, is your typical unpopular nerd character who lacks charisma, intelligence, and ambition. Along comes Elliot Allagash, a bajillionaire with too much time on his hands, who makes Seymour is personal pet project. Predictably enough, Seymour eventually does mature to the point where he understands that he shouldn’t be anyone else’s pet project (he’s still rather dull), and Elliot ends up with a new one anyway. Sure, there were funny moments in this short read, but it just didn’t tickle me.
I may also be biased because I am terrified of the author. I made the mistake of turning to the back flap and was shocked to see this:
For some reason, I find this man TERRIFYING. I think it’s because he looks like someone’s creepy younger brother. I realize this is completely irrational and it’s unfair of me to judge him like this, but I can’t help it. My visceral reaction to his face is fear.
From a medical professional who knows what she’s talking about and has seen firsthand what many can only imagine… or ignore.
Today marks the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, a significant and controversial court decision regarding abortion. There have been record attacks against sexual and reproductive freedoms in our country, so it is that much more important that we stand up and be heard.
Why is this important, you ask? Well, there are many reasons.
Reproductive freedom and religious freedom are interconnected. We are a country that prides itself on accepting many and varied religious (and non-religious) belief systems. Read this by Nancy K. Kaufman for more on this topic.
Abortion rates are higher in places where there are more restrictions in place.
There are still many who do not believe in providing accurate, fact-based sexual and reproductive health information to our country’s youth. For instance, take this recent CDC report about how one third of teenage moms didn’t think they could get pregnant. The US still has one of the highest teen pregnancy rates in the developed world. While anti-choicers would rather see motherhood and adoption as viable options, there are roadblocks to those choices as well. For instance, there are still many barriers in place for same sex couples who want to adopt. Apparently, same sex relationships are more problematic to some than the idea of children without loving homes.
Many politicians are pushing for cutting services and programs that help families in need. How can they call themselves pro-life and pro-family when they are turning their backs on people in need? Maternity leave is dismal in the US, and we do not get to enjoy the kind of post-partum support that other countries enjoy (Health Visitors in the UK, Plunket in New Zealand, Early Childhood Australia). American midwives and other birth attendants can and do provide these services, but are often vilified in our medical system.
About 61% of abortions are obtained by women who are already mothers. It is offensive to say that these women are not smart enough or capable of making their own choices. They’re already raising families, and only they know what their individual circumstances are like and what has brought them to this place.
Making abortion illegal will not eliminate the procedure. Women with means will continue to obtain them safely; however, marginalized women will be left on their own, often to tragic consequences. Legal abortion means safe abortion that help keep women healthy.
Patients, in discussion with their loved ones and medical providers, should be the ones making their health decisions; not governments and politicians.
Book #4 - Anna Quindlen’s Every Last One
I think I’ve discovered a new genre: Suburban-mom-meets-tragedy. Ever notice that there is a plethora of books that start off with nice, middle class moms (they’re always physically attractive) with two or three kids and either something from their semi-dark past reappears or a tragedy befalls them, forcing them to reassess everything? How is it that I keep picking these books up?
This novel fits perfectly in this genre. Nice mom, three kids, good husband, tragedy, aftermath, rebuilding, rays of hope, the end. It’s not that it’s poorly written or boring or anything like that; it just feels predictable.
Movie #5 - Contagion
A bit underwhelming, if you ask me. I love medical thrillers as much as the next girl, but this one didn’t really impress me. Sure, it had a great cast, but the story itself felt tired, as if I had already seen it a million times before.
Preach, Cecile!
Seriously though, this is a concise and perfect rebuttal to the absurd notion that Planned Parenthood is somehow anti parenthood. This could not be further from the truth! Rather than listening to pundits with their own specific agendas, take it from me: I actually worked in a PP clinic.
Planning for healthy pregnancies and families is a large part of what PP does. Through my work there, I got to help women and men keep their sexual and reproductive systems healthy. Contrary to popular belief, not all women who come to PP are looking to end their pregnancies. *collective gasp* I had the pleasure of running pregnancy tests and being the first one to tell a woman that she is pregnant, and then get to see her smile and excitement. Heck, our Nurse Practitioner was pregnant while I worked there! How would that make sense if we were anti baby?
Mr. Barry might consider actually researching PP before he makes damaging, inaccurate remarks like that in the future.
BUYcott Girl Scout cookies! Support inclusion and unity, not divisiveness and hate.
What this girl Taylor’s video really demonstrates is how little people actually get about our transgender brothers and sisters and how damaging this can be. Someone should sit this child down and explain what “transgender” actually means, and maybe throw some thought-provoking questions in about the existence of gender while we’re at it.
But in the meantime, make sure to purchase some Girl Scout cookies! Let the organization know that their inclusiveness is valued!
Via GOOD (Iraq War Veterans Fill Iraqi Restaurant After Hate Crime)
What a peaceful, positivity-filled response to an act of ignorance and hate. After an anonymous hater threw a 20 lb rock through an Iraqi restaurant’s window in an act of hate, a group of more than 100 veterans reacted by staging an eat-in. They filled the restaurant, ate wonderfully, and sent the message that hate would not be tolerated in Lowell, NH.
Stories like these give me hope.
Side note: They also make me hungry.
I just have to share this because I too am a fan of Zumba. We have one instructor here on base, Elaine, whose non-judgmental and infectious enthusiasm always makes me glad to be in class, even if I’m slipping in my own sweat and achy the next morning.
Unlike a dance class, Zumba takes you where you’re at and isn’t so much about getting the “right” moves as it is about getting you to just move. Although our classes range greatly in age and ability, we all find common steps to follow and then add our own flavor.
The salsa, cumbia, merengue, cha cha, and reggaeton music really gets you moving. Even if I’m just playing the music at home I get an urge to move. And frankly, most of us do just need to be inspired to move. Obesity is no joke, folks, so Zumba the calories away!
I like to tell people that half the calories burned are from laughing at yourself in the mirror. A friend once asked me why I looked so stern in class sometimes and I realized it was because I was trying desperately not to start laughing because once I start, well, that’s it. Nowadays I try to keep my face relaxed, and if I need to giggle, I let it happen.
Movie #4 - Midnight in Paris
How could I not enjoy this? It combines so many things I adore: Woody Allen’s humor; Marion Cotillard and Adrian Brody; 20s era artists, writers, thinkers. It was the perfect way to escape the doldrums of Del Rio life, if only for a couple of hours. Merveilleux!
Movie #3 - One Day
I didn’t realize they had turned this book into this movie! My book #47 of 2011 is now movie #3 of 2012, and this seems oddly appropriate. Normally I hate film adaptations of books (or at least dislike them for never living up to the greatness of the written version), but I thought this was a fine way of portraying the friendship and love story I so enjoyed. Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess captured the qualities I enjoyed most in Emma and Dexter. My only complaint would be that Hathaway is a bit too pretty and they should have made her frumpier in the beginning. Otherwise, a sweet movie that gave me some good warm fuzzies.
