Color me impressed in blue and white

I have always been very critical of athletes that get special treatment. In professional world and in the collegiate world, I just find it disappointing that it happens time and time again. Now, some people might retort that there are many other types of people that get that kind of privledge -- and yes I know that and yes it still pisses me off. I guess the geek in me that got picked on by the super athletes in high school is still a little bitter. Get over it, I clearly am trying to, though it does not keep me awake at night worrying about it.

I read this article about coach Joe Paterno's creative way to send a message to his Penn State football team. The team was involved in a fight and it was embarrassing according to Paterno. Rightfully so. The kind of mob mentality is what gets to me at times -- even when there is not an organization that holds the mob together. He is making the team clean the stadium after the home games this season. I think it's brilliant. I am sure these DI athletes are afforded some extra privledges, and I think this will be a grounding experience for them.

I admire Paterno for this. Not because its cruel or that I revel in seeing the team do something demeaning (though its hard honest work for many people in this nation, and no where near as degradating as other things in this country). I admire him for wanting to prove to the university, to the athletic community, and to the team itself that they are not the grunting mindless thugs that the incident made them out to be. They can be (and most likely are) better human beings than that.

I just hope the athletes take it seriously and can really reflect on what happened. Show that they can be on an effective team and deserve the attention and heroism they receive by playing a game they love.

Seven movies coming out on my top list to see

1. The Golden Compass: I think the casting of Nicole Kidman is brilliant. She is who I saw in my mind when reading the book. And the polar bear looks amazing! Though slight thumbs down for the use of the Lord of the Rings in the trailer (see the trailer here).
2. Waitress: I know its on that borderline of romantic comedy that I do not like to cross that often, but it looks brilliant, and I cannot deny Nathan Fillion anything. Seriously. Except maybe Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.
3. Knocked Up: Just as I cannot deny Capt Tightpants anything, I must obey Judd Apatow. Plus the reuniting of some cast from both Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared -- lovely. Plus, I think I crush a little on Seth Rogen.
4. Goners: Joss' project coming out... who knows when. Just like other projects he has worked on, this might get crushed. Sad.
5. Ratatouille: You can't go wrong with Pixar. Granted Cars was not the greatest in my mind, but it was still enjoyable. Plus, I enjoy Patton Oswald quite a bit -- so his vocal performance should be great.
   
6. Nancy Drew: Its debateable whether or not I will see this in the theatre. I have some hope for it because its co-written and directed by Andrew Fleming -- who also wrote for Arrested Development. I saw the trailer and I think it looks charming and I like the portrayal of Nancy -- she is not modernified to be a smart carbon copy of a Laguna Beach girl. I find that refreshing. Makes me wish I had a niece or babysitting gig to take the kids to see it. Plus, I love girl sleuths.
   
7. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
   
   

Seven things about jury duty

1. You really are just a number.
2. Comfort of seating or room temperature is never ever taken into consideration.
3. The crazy old woman you almost hit with your car before getting there WILL be the woman you sit next to for 3 hours. On a hard wooden bench.
4. I think that there is a mandatory outspoken old man who does not want to be there. He bitches and speaks up whenever he can. Secretly, I think we all cheer for him.
5. The people sitting behind me were wicked obnoxious during the laywer-judge sidebar. I wanted to tell them to shut it. Then the judge did in the coolest way possible: "Excuse me this is not a bar. Someone's liberty is at stake here, I highly suggest you be quiet and respect it."
   
6. Speaking of the judge - she was amazing. She even injected that appropriate amount of humor into the questioning that was almost breathtaking to observe. If there was to be a judge written by Aaron Sorkin -- it would have been her. She was the best part of jury duty.
7. Juror #134 is adorable. (I think that was his number, I was too busy trying to stop myself from jumping over and licking his arm tattoos to remember his number.) I love stranger crushes.
   

Words can not express the awesomeness of this poster

Word association starts local woman's workday off with a stupid start

My home page is Dictionary.com's Word of the Day. Cause, I love them words. I am sitting here eating my office breakfast of celery sticks and peanut butter Puffin cereal - dry. I read the word and think: 1. Weird coincidence. 2. What a simple and dumb word to have for the day. Everyone knows what "celery" is. This did not expand my vocabulary one bit. I even start to feel a little cheated.

Then I read it again.

This is today's word:

celerity \suh-LAIR-uh-tee\, noun:
Rapidity of motion or action; quickness; swiftness.

Seven things that have lived up to my expectations

1. Philadelphia
2. Each Harry Potter book
3. Vermont in the Fall
4. Almost any recipe I get off of the Food Network
5. College at Fredonia
6. Living off campus
7. Earth Shoes and how they are comfortable from the first day on
   

Seven things that have disappointed me

1. Spiderman 3
2. Elmwood Street in Buffalo.... until we finally got to the cool parts
3. The inability in some people to know their limits
4. Sarah Michelle Gellar's blindness to embrace her portrayal of Buffy
5. FOX networks -- just all around really
6. Gravity
7. The pace of environmental legislation and action