So Addictive.

Goodby homework.

Hello greatest game since Tetris? Maybe Tetris is too much. Minesweeper might be more like it.

Shit, the highest I've gotten is 115, and they just give me a "Good!"

Style Peaces.

Well, walking around you see a lot of people have tagged up anything and everything that can be tagged on the street with whatever medium of choice. Sharpies, spray paint, stickers are really big now, too. Recently this tag caught my eye, because the name was so damn goofy. I will refrain from writing this person's tag (you can ask me in person if you really care, though you probably don't) because this person might find this blog and how awkward would that be? Anyway, I'd never noticed the tag before, so I was like, Where did this guy come from? So I googled the name.

This person has a MySpace.

Now, I think it's sorta "dumb" to have a MySpace, I don't know why, but it seems like it's way too public for you if you're a graffiti artist. If I was writing up shit all over the walls I'd lay low. But I guess he deems it safe.

Anyway, days ago I messaged him and was like, "Hey I like yr tags" and I forgot about it, but he messaged back and sounded very grateful! Awww. It warms my heart. Hope to see his name more often.

Speaking of graffiti, a word that I find hard to spell for some reason, there's one tag that I LOVE but I could never ever ever get the picture because it's so damn big and uh, it's sort of in the tunnel between the Fordham & Kingsbridge stations on the uptown D. "Sort of" meaning "definitely". Well, the tag says, "The words of the prophets will be written on the subway walls," which I thought was all OMINOUS and shit, so I googled that too, and found out it was from a Simon & Garfunkel song. Oooookay. How edgy.

Tacky.

Yesterday I got the new copy of Spin (with MCR on the cover and the 4-star Fall Out Boy review, LULZ), and there was one ad in particular that made me go OMGWTF. I just couldn't tell if it was real, but I guess it is! When I looked at it, it seemed like another snakesploitation movie by Samuel L. Jackson, but I guess it's more about Christina Ricci being blonde and not being fat anymore, which I actually hate! If you think about the fact that it has a February release date, it's probably not that great. Sigh.

But I'm glad they're both getting work...

Oh, and this issue of Spin is relatively great compared to some of the shit that came out last year. They even talk about music.

Todo Personal.

So recently I was looking at John Leguizamo stand-up shit on YouTube, right? Like I had a class before where we actually studied his material. I know, totally ridiculous... until you watch his specials and you're like, "Um, this is sort of hilarious?" Well I borrowed out a book from the library, Freak, and I thought it was gonna be a laugh riot. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty funny, but the last bit just makes me wanna cry! It got all poignant and I'm all like, "No, no! Be funny! BE FUNNY!" Way to bum me out. No, it was worse. A lot of times you think people are just full of shit and then suddenly they pull out all this deep stuff out of their asses, and they're brave enough to share it with you, and you're all uncomfortable because you're aware that you don't really get it. Like there's this big thing about Leguizamo's relationship with his dad, and I can't relate at all because my dad is sort of awesome and all you can do is be like, "My bad, it's tragic I got it so good."

It sorta sucked just reading it cos you know so much of it is physical humor and a lot of stuff with accents, too; I wish his specials were widely available on DVD, especially Mambo Mouth, we saw parts of it in class and it was amazing.

In other news, I finally forgot about going to a concert. It's an end of an era for me: I officially don't care enough about concerts. It makes me really sad.

What makes it worse is that it was Deerhoof. I just... It was a crazy week. I spent most of it incredibly angry that I took the time to review the Deerhoof album when all I wanted to do was listen to Soda Stereo. Like I was surprised by how pissed I was and I had to tone down my review, because it's not even a bad album. It's just that I could name way more shit that I'm enjoying right now that ISN'T Friend Opportunity. Whatever, it's my own fault, I don't know why I volunteered to write about it. :/ I'm even mad that Deerhoof are my no. 2 overall on Audioscrobbler. Shit. And it's gonna be my no. 1 for the week, too, which isn't even true because most of the time I was listening to Soda Stereo and Calle 13 on my mp3 player.

WHATEVER. I'm getting mad just thinking about it.

Oscar Noms.

I just watched the Oscar nominations. Salma Hayek is so cheesy, I swear. But she looked cute with her hair like that. AND RYAN GOSLING GOT NOMINATED. Can I get an OMGWTF?

Somehow I'm Not Impressed.

On my train ride home, these annoying little twerps got on the train with a boombox and started breakdancing. It was pretty unimpressive but they were pretty young, so I guess I shouldn't ask for too much. Plus, if you think about it, we were in a moving train, and they managed not to kick anyone by mistake. But I'm only telling you about this because one of the older kids was actually giving tips to the younger ones on their techniques while they were dancing in front of everyone. It was sort of sweet.

Oh, and the Tropicália exhibit: it was amazing. And interactive. And that museum is seriously a mecca of awesome in the ghetto. Totally worth going, especially since it cost me $3, but y'all better go quick because it ends on Jan. 28. Believe me, I plan on going back.

We had a dinner for Maria's birthday tonight! It was really nice and the waiter sang "Happy Birthday".

Grr.

Dear Nicholas Hoult:

Plz stop being such a ~*hottie*~ and/or plz get a li'l bit older quicker so I won't feel so naughty whenever I see stuff like the video above.

Call me when yr old enough,
Elizabeth U.

PS: Yr eyebrows are really weird, but I think it's sorta sexy. I'm just sayin'.

PPS: That show looks really bad, but I can't tell if it's Degrassi bad or OC (seasons 2+) bad.

PPPS: Don't end up like Jamie Bell and go to MisShapes multiple weeks in a row. PLZ.

State of the Blog Address.

Shit, doesn't this look absolutely incredible? That's it, I'm going tomorrow. I mean, it's free!! I hope there aren't massive lines. But it's the MoMA so there probably will be. And it's probably gonna be a looooot of tourists. Sigh.

Yo! I got so much shit to read! I love how professors think they're the only ones requiring ten books PLUS supplemental reading that ain't optional! W/E bitches! Actually, the reason I'm MoMA-ing is also cos I gotta pick up the rest of my school books at the library. It feels good saving $300+ in school books.

Still feeling sick. My brother just told me he's friends with Charlie Ahearn? WHAAAT.

Um, WHAT?

Maggie Smith was in Sister Act AND Sister Act II? And I didn't realize until now?!?!?! THANKS WIKIPEDIA! Holy shit, I gotta watch those movies again. I think I love Maggie Smith. Actually... yes, I think I remember her... very faintly. This is as shocking as finding out that Brad Pitt was in the classic that was Cool World.

Also, totally forgot to mention, I watched SVU last night and it was one of those Tutuola episodes and can I just say, I'm happy that a whole generation of kids now know Ice-T as that badass dude from SVU instead of as a gangsta rapper. I don't know if he was good at what he used to do, but I sure as hell know he's awesome at what he does now. The only bad thing about the episode is that there wasn't much Tutuola-Munch interaction, and not to sound like one of those kids who writes slash, but those two were sorta meant to be, huh? Don't deny!!



Ugh, I really shouldn't have typed in "Munch Tutuola" on YouTube... so many slash music vids... What's the point? Their whole schtick is that they're hilarious when they're talking shit with each other.

Oh yeah, and Kal Penn was guest starring last night. ILU KUMAR!

Talking About Things That Are So Over.

Watched the Golden Globes last night, sick and all. People who didn't look good: Sienna Miller's hair, Charlie Sheen's flab, Cameron Diaz (Team Timberlake, sry2say), Jack Nicholson... Actually, I hated most of the dresses the women wore. Proof here. People I thought looked good: Helen Mirren, America Ferrera, whoever was with Ken Watanabe (that kimono was a really pretty color), Bill Nighy. Who else? I can't even remember, it was so boring. You know your awards show is in trouble when you have to namecheck Clint Eastwood like a million times. I love that man but come on, he's such a gentleman and not stirrin' up no trouble, there was totally no drama last night. Oh, yeah, and Jack Nicholson's kid looked really adorable. I can't believe they share genes.

I'm very happy Ugly Betty won for the show (and also America, of course) cos they actually seemed genuinely happy and excited and um, friendly with one another. They were hugging so much, it felt like, "Oh, shit, these people ain't like the Grey's Anatomy folks where they makin' fun of teh gayz and punching each other." C'est tout.

Being sick on the first day of classes sucked moose balls. My professors seem nice and actually aware. Thank god. We'll see how tomorrow goes. Gotta get my books.

EDIT: Bee tee dubs, Prince, ILU but that mustard suit has got to go. Congrats on the award!

The Subway is a Porno.

On Thursday I entered the bizarro world of Long Island. Of course I went with Boogie-Down Nicole and Rrrachel. We went to visit Angela, who fed us some really delicious bagels and then her friend Melissa showed up and Melissa drove us to Roosevelt Field Mall, where suburban dreams grow wild like weeds. I shopped for the first time at Delia's and got two t-shirts there. It was fun. I had a knish for lunch. The only condition I had about chillin' in L.I. was that I had to get back by 8 so I could watch Betty--sad, right? I made it back by 7:55 and I'm fucking glad cos that shit was intense and they finally wrote Salma Hayek who has been blessed with such a fantastic rack (or maybe she just bought them, I dunno) but was pretty boring on this show. The first thing that Boogie-Down Nicole said to me at work the next day was "Did you watch Ugly Betty?"

After work on Friday Rrrachel and I went to the Guggenheim to look at all these awesome Spanish paintings. It was my first time and I liked the building a lot but I don't think it's optimal for art exhibitions. The paintings were pretty awesome, I liked looking at the portraits and wondering who these people were. There were a shitload of people because it Friday evenings, you can pay whatever you want. I paid a dollar, and the couple lined up in front of me paid a quarter each. I heard them asking each other, "Do we get a receipt?"

Yesterday I decided to check out the Jewish Museum's comic book exhibit, which was pretty much Kavalier & Clay in a museum exhibit form and with more alt-comic stuff. Y'know, R. Crumb, Gary Panter, Chris Ware, v. v. early Mad issues. There was one section about the real golden era of superheroes, like with one cover showing character punching the shit out of Hitler, stuff like that. It was really cool to see all the drafts and early versions to the comics, it was a nice glimpse into the process these artists go through. I've never seen so many dudes at an exhibit, haha. It was older dudes, little boys, and college students.

I checked out an exhibit on Alex Katz, an artist I'd never heard of. They were actually all paintings of his wife Ada, who seems like a pretty cool, sophisticated NYC chick. Y'know the kind I'm talking about. I wish I was someone's muse! That would be pretty awesome.

Well, after I checked out the museum (also my first time there), I pretended I was a pretty cool, sophisticated chick and I just walked around the area. I ended up at 86th Street and one theater is playing BOTH Children of Men and Pan's Labyrinth, but I felt like such a bum going to a movie alone on a Saturday evening, so I just went to the bookstore and looked at music books. Yes. My life is full of excitement.

Honestly, I had a wonderful time and I figured I should go downtown where everything's waiting for you, so I took a pretty long bus ride and I checked out all the pretty buildings on Lex. I walked around a bit more and then I decided to head back home, but not before spotting Tre Cool (!!!) on Broadway, with a girl who I guess is his daughter. I freaked out, man!

Today I went lunching with not only Rrrachel and Boogie-Down Nicole, but also Steve and Claudia!! The funny thing is that we pretty much picked up right where we left off and it was as if they hadn't been across the ocean for about four months. But Bonnie et Clyde had to vamoose after lunch and we went to buy me some skinny jeans. Except we got to Trash and Vaudeville and I just felt too ridic for words and I don't even know what size I am, so I skeddadled out of there without new pants. Rachel bought a pair, though. It was on sale.

Looking back on this break, I only accomplished about half of the things I wanted to do. I definitely will go to see the Tropicália exhibit next Saturday cos that shit's closing soon. Also, the MoMA is doing this crazy wall projection shit outside its building for this Doug Aitken video art project. You know Doug Aitken, that dude who did the "NYC" music vid. Anyway, it starts on Tuesday and I guess the whole schtick is that you can just stand outside and check it out for free? That's why I'm planning on going to the Donnell library some time during this week. Actually, I have to pick up a lot of my school books at Donnell, too. I looked at my book list today and I can't believe how long it is. I'm definitely gonna try to buy the least amount of books possible.

I'm scared about school. I think my classes are gonna be hard.

That Clears Up the Mystery.

Well shit, it took me two years and a Chilean blog to figure out how to pronounce "Øye". I always guessed, but I never got confirmation until now. Good to know!

From the interview:

"Before we begin, how is your last name pronounced?"
"Oh yeah"

You can read the rest of the interview here... it's in Spanish, but there's a few pictures of Erlend that are very sizzle sizzle. A lot of the Chilean hipster (indie?) blogs I'm reading are all excitedXcore because Erlend is coming around and doing a show. I'm sorta jealous!

Krazy Glue.

I got sent out on an errand today, and I started to walk behind this dude wearing a messenger bag. The bag was slung so that the bag itself was on his back. On the bag there was a patch. For Los Crudos. I almost died. I've never met a person in real life who likes this band. I just thought, I can't see your face, but you're the hottest guy I've seen from the back!!!1!uno!!

The weird thing is that as I kept walking, a few paces behind him, he seemed to be going my direction and uh, he actually went into the building I was headed to. WTF? And we took the same elevator, but I really had nothing to say so I stayed quiet and avoided eye contact like any decent person would in an elevator full of strangers, even if one of those strangers had a Crudos patch on his bag.

Also, this video alone redeems John Leguizamo for ruining the awesomeness that is Luigi in that terrible Super Mario movie.



I love Mambo Mouth! Or at least the parts I've actually watched!!

Admission.

Can I get a "Jesus muthafuckin' Christ"? I didn't realize that the Bronx Museum of the Arts costs only $3 for students. THREE DOLLARS! HOLY SHIT.

The Guggenheim is $15 for students! If I'd known the Bronx Museum was so cheap I'd have gone sooner. BTW, I found out the Jewish Museum is doing an exhibit on old-school comics (like Will Eisner, etc) and that's only $7.50, so I'm totally planning on going to that, too.

Started reading Random Family, which so far is excellent but I can't quite believe that this white chick was hanging out in the South Bronx during the mid-80s. C'est tout.



Oh, and I got the latest Under the Radar in the mail. I know I shouldn't talk shit about stuff I get for free (thanks to Doris) but sometimes it's necessary ('sup Spin). To illustrate: Modest Mouse are on the cover. I'm not sure how I feel about this. I have to say, though, Johnny Marr is looking good; he only appears like 10 years older than the rest of the band? Maybe he is only 10 years older... I don't know. Whatever, he's got a full head of hair. Not like Moz who's struggling with his receding hairline.

Oh yes, I love Morrissey. I'm just sayin'.

Nada Me Limitará

Not that you were thinking about me, but here I am, writing mostly because I have nothing better to do. I'm about to finish As Nature Made Him, which has left me confused and has been a really fascinating read. I've got a lot of books lined up to read next, but I don't know which one to pick up. Maybe a slimmer one since school will be starting up soon. I've been thinking of making a Favorites Books Ever list.

My most recent download has been Calle 13, Chetes, and Prissa.

You should listen to Prissa. They do this throwback guilty pleasure electropop shit, but without the guilt and with a lot of fun. It's sort of like Le Tigre but prettier? I'm not sure. Anyway, Javiera Mena is in the group and I sort of think she's beautiful, but really, the songs are really good, too!!



Ugh, isn't that video so fucking cute you wanna throw up? I think so.

I've been looking for Ready Steady Go! videos on YouTube, but there's a fucking L'arc-en-ciel (sp?) song with the same title and there's like a million fan-made anime clip mashups using that song. But I've been partly successful, in particular with this Kim Weston performance:



And this next one is quite lovely, except for the fact that John is doing his spaz routine, which leaves me feeling guilty for finding it funny. I'm sorry, I know it's not nice to find spazzy people funny ('sup Ian Curtis)... Pretty song though. Actually, the best part of the entire clip is when John sticks out his tongue and shows he's lip-syncing. Haha.

Bummer Summer.

Nothing to break your heart like finding out that taking a summer class costs more than $4000.

Saw The Devil Wears Prada with my mom, we both liked it. Especially cos it was free.

I'm Sadder Than I Expected.

Well. Ten minutes in and there are no more tickets for the Arcade Fire. I guess I shouldn't have wasted so much time at the Ticketweb site... I got confused and didn't realize they were using something else until I checked the Merge site.

Way to not have this info on your official site, bitches. Why are you paying all that money and spending all that time making fancy flash shit if it's not gonna contain any pertinent information on it? You might as well just have a MySpace page. Whatever, now I know not to rely on your site.

Or to even try buying tickets online.

EDIT: I'm excited though, I can't wait for the Craigslist posts asking for "special companions" to start rolling along.

Things to Do.

A couple of things worth taking note.

(1) Coliseum Books is closing 4EVER, which means they're slashing prices big time. Well, it was half off, but there's still some time, and there's still some interesting shit, so go go go. 42nd Street between 5th and 6th Aves., near the (fancy) NYPL. Last day is Saturday. I spotted the issue of Mome I just read, featuring "The Armed Garden" by the genius that is David B. There was also a memoir on the making of Water, the Indian movie that just came out this year and has a bitching soundtrack. There was a lot of shit, honestly. I picked out like 10 books until it got too heavy, so I only got five--the Adrian Tomine subway sketches, As Nature Made Him, Erasure (of which I read an excerpt in Creative Writing and loved), that rock en español book, and this book on New Journalism.

(2) Actually, the NYPL store on 40th Street, next to the regular library, is closing as well. Their last day is Friday, hope they slash their prices just a bit more, hehe.

(3) Nuyorker says that David Lynch (!!) is speaking at the Union Sq. Barnes and Noble on Jan 11 @ 7 pm.

(4) Obsolete Units is presenting a show at the Knitting Factory Tap Bar on Jan 22. It will include Totally Dad, Richard Kamerman, a dude from Talibam! and The Groits. $7. Got my ticket today. Join me if you can!

Today: Library, Coliseum books, expensive lunch eaten in front of the (fancy) library, walk to the Times Square Virgin, bus ride down to Chinatown, ticket-buying at the Knitting Factory, train ride home. It was such a nice day and I had a lot of fun!
Tomorrow: Buy tix for Arcade Fire (for the last night); Devil Wears Prada with my mom (maybe)
Sunday: UCB show with Doris and Kat

Free Movies.

I signed up for these free movie screenings that were advertised on the NY Times, and the one I wanted to see the most was Babel, cos I wasn't gonna pay $11 to see it. They're happening this weekend. But when I signed up last night for the Babel screening, it said that one had reached capacity already. What!! I was sorta pissed. C'mon, who the hell was signing up for these? Old people know how to use the interwebs! Who'd have guessed?? Man, that's what I get for thinking no one would rush to get free tickets.

Went to my grandma's house, got a lot of money. It was all right.

I think the funniest thing that's happened to me in the last couple of weeks is that I went to Trader Joe's and this woman was asking one of the employees for wontons, but the dude was like, "Wontons? I think that's the same thing as gyoza..." UH YEAH OKAY. Not all dumplings look the same! Go to dumpling school, dude!! Okay, I'll stop being an ass about it.

I watched Britain's Next Top Model, season 2, and it was all right. The girl who won was such a crybaby. Cripes.