The American version of SKINS.... and my opinion.

Before I start my lovely rant, just you go ahead and watch the trailer for the American version:

MTV Shows

Starting rant........ now:

Dear MTV,

Thanks for trying to create the American version of Skins. As a big fan of the original series in the UK, I was excited to hear about this new series coming to USA televisions.

However, after watching your preview, I have a few comments for you.

First of all, I was really disappointed to hear that you replaced the gay male character, Maxxie, with a female lesbian character, because Americans just wouldnt be too comfortable with a gay male character on TV. I mean, its not like America's youth are DYING due to lack of happy and positive gay male role models in the media. Oh wait....

Second, I noticed that you decided to do a line-by-line remake of the original. Which would have been splendid if you had chosen actors who could..... act. I mean seriously, I think me and my friends could have made a better remake using the original lines. You have an entire studio at your disposal, and this is what you come up with?  Now that I have iMovie '11, just watch. I'll make a better trailer than the one you just made. Hell, Ill film the whole thing with my iPod.

Third. What kind of American remake are you making? Its not enough to replace accents and throw in cheerleading. The reason Skins was so amazing is because we were getting an exaggerated look at what British kids do for fun. An amazing American version would take an exaggerated look at what American kids do for fun, NOT what American kids look like when trying to reenact what British kids do for fun. Thats just dumb.

Fourth, and perhaps most importantly: By putting this on cable television, you are instantly cutting out half of what made Skins so damn amazing. Let me just show you an example of what Skins SHOULD look like:



And you think you can even bring a quarter of this energy to American televisions without the Parental Television Control groups breathing down your necks? Please.

Im not sure what you are trying to do by creating an American version of this show, but right now its just an utter embarrassment. And I hope to whatever that you dont think the whole series can go like this and get any kind of solid ratings.

Because seriously, if THIS is the shit you are trying to sell us, we might as well just buy the UK Skins DVD.

Cheers.

Sunday

Sunday! Off to work from 12 - 1, got back at 5pm.

But! I got a new kid, saw him and his current teacher in action, and Im so excited to start tutoring! This kid is stubborn yet exceptionally brilliant, so Im super super super excited to work with him starting Tuesday.

Made some edits to a document Im working on for rule sheets, and came back feeling better about work in general. We have really been needing weekly team meetings, and it looks like I got my wish! So excited about that, I think work is really going to get better from here!

Only two quick notes for today - and both in the form of videos. One is the new Miley video, and the other kinds sets the right tone for how I felt about today.... even though I was rocking out to Ke$ha new single all day long in my car (like I told you I would).

But most of you dont like Ke$ha, so Im not re-including that video.

Heres the other two, though:

Miley - Since I cant embed it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXl4JyBC8P4

Saturday

Im still sick, and I had the 8 hour training from hell today, so Im using both as an excuse to write a piss poor blog entry.

A couple of small recaps before the main entree'.

#1. My new school rules were ratified successfully.
#2. The City of Boulder "Im an Ally" campaign is well underway, with some good fire under its feet. But its a big project, with several lofty goals that will require a good chunk of my time. But Im really excited about my teammates I have with me, and I think we can really pull this off..... by May.

Ok, main entree.

Just saw Waiting for Superman, and heres my quick blow-by-blow of what I was thinking as the movie rolled past me.

I need to find a good public school for my kids.
Im glad I went to good schools.
Oh wait, I went to a private school.
I need to find a good private school for my kids, but only for elementary school. They will be fine after that.
Oh wait, no they wont.
Ok, I need to find a good private school for my kids up through middle school. I really liked being at a public high school, and my kids should get to enjoy the same experiences I had. As long as they work hard, and have the solid background from their private school, they will be fine.
Oh wait, no they wont.
Ok. Private school all the way through to college.
I REALLY better start saving now. And planning to live where the best schools are. But that shouldnt be too hard to find.
Wait, what? Even our nation's top 5% of educated kids are only ranked 23rd in the world out of 29?
And I certainly wasnt in the top 5%..... Did I get a good education? Can I even hope to make 6 figures ever?
Wait, what about tech jobs that went unfilled? And filled by who? Oh, I knew that. But still, that sucks.
But I cant move to another country just to educate my kids. There are some parts of this culture I want them to grow up with.
Why cant there be a good section of this country that has really great schools?
Charter schools? Lottery? The only hope?
Wait, are you going to make me sit here as I watch all these kids dreams be crushed instantaneously?
I guess its all either luck or hopelessness, isnt it? Thats just awful.

Just awful.

On the Precipice

Like so many of my entries, I generally put some well-deserved thought into my blog titles, and this is no exception. In fact, the title may fit this blog in many, many ways.  For this week has been quite the week, and in many ways I stand on the brink of a lot of issues, places, etc. I may not even remember to list them all in this blog, but I will try.

Lets start with the reason why I havent really been able to blog this week. Well, the two reasons.

The 1st is a mute point. Not a moot point, but a mute point, meaning I cant discuss any of it. I made a promise to myself and others that I would keep this blog clean and professional, and I will always try to live up to that expectation. Even though my grandfather, who reads my blog, would define professional as cleaning up my room first before posting a picture of it for the world to see, I tend to not mind as much when it comes to those kinds of issues. Especially when it comes to pictures of my room. Yes, America, my room is a mess, and my floor is my 3rd shelf, and an expansive one at that. I clean it when I need to, and more importantly, when I have real time to.

But lets get back to the 1st reason, or rather, a lack thereof. I weathered quite the firestorm this week, and as things stand now, I do not know whether or not I should trust the peace presented to me. Time will tell, and Im nervous. Confident and holding my ground, but nervous. But thats all I will say.

Number 2. I hate to admit it, but Im still sick with that tiny cough/choke. The yummy and wonderful gunk known as "flem" keeps building up in the back of my throat and causing me the most ANNOYING cough that produces nothing, despite regular doses of Mucinex. For four days now, I wake up feeling not 100%, with that cough and gunk, take some medicine, and im fine throughout the whole day. Then as night comes around, my body grows tired and all the symptoms rush back. It hasnt gotten worse, and it hasnt gotten better.  In short, another precipice in my life. Im waiting for it to get better, and Im afraid to go out and have fun while I still have it. Let me tell you all the places I could have been tonight, but DIDNT go because of this tiny cough -

A) The Deadmau5 concert in Denver at Beta club this evening. SUPER pissed I missed this.
B) Tracks gay nightclub with coworkers. First time I was invited to go with them and had to turn them down.
C) Hanging out with my close friend Seth, who wanted me to go out clubbing with him. Ive really been missing hanging out with him, and I was sad I didnt have the strength to go.
D) Clubbing in Boulder with an old friend from high school who invited me out tonight.

Yea. Im upset about this whole SICK thing. Not sick enough to go to a doctor or miss work, but JUST sick enough to not feel like going out and putting anymore stress on my body.

And while we're on the subject of not being to hang out with people, lets talk about another precipice.

Number 3 - My relationships on a precipice. Now that I work a ton, I feel like I barely have time to throw my life together outside of work. Even the people I consider good friends, I barely see even once every two weeks! If Im not at work, Im driving home, or eating, or too tired, or studying for the GRE, or at a training. Its never ending, and people keep inviting me out, but its not right to say yes when I need to be getting rest and taking care of myself. But maybe the simple answer to this is to just say Fuck It and go out and get my hands dirty a little. I only get a year off from serious life once, I should take it more seriously.

Which leads us to Number 4 - Money. Ive been broke before, but this is a new level of broke. We'll just leave it at that. Ive never dipped into my emergency stash twice in a month, and 9 months out of the year I never even need to. Prolly should get this together sooner than later....... yea.....

Number 5 - The "Im an Ally" program. So for those of you who dont know, I was involved in bringing the Im an Ally campaign to the University of Oregon, and helped it flourish while I was there. I was talking with some OUT Boulder volunteers about this idea, and they want to bring it to the businesses of Boulder!  So tomorrow is my first meeting the team of volunteers I put together as we figure out our business plan for getting this thing off the ground!  Its a very exciting time for us, for Boulder, and for this nation. It seems like is a great time to be moving forward with Ally ideas like this!

Or at least.... it was......

Until Number 6 - The Obama appeals. Ive been hearing a trickle of news the last two days that Obama is APPEALING the Dont Ask Dont Tell injunction, and that he is also appealing some sort of Defense Against Marriage act case in one of the states. Talk about getting punched in the stomach by your friend and having all the air pulled out of you. I mean, wow. How is Obama supposed to still show face to the LGBTQ community and show he is still our ally? Legally, he had no obligation to appeal the injunction, but his administration did it anyways.  Man, and just when I was finally feeling like our community was on the rise. We stood at a precipice, and Obama gave it that bad push in the wrong direction. It just sucks.

So going into the weekend, Im just feeling a little shaken right now. Not 100% in health, on any of these issues. Like Im holding the solution in the palm of my hand, and I just havent quite close my fingers around it yet.

Oh man. And, to top it all off, I found out Kimber committed suicide this week! I was stunned. She was one of my favorite characters on Nip/Tuck, and she just goes and offs herself a full 6 episodes before the finale! Man. It was just another blow to the gut for sure.

Thank god for South Park though, and "The Snooki." Totally brilliant. What an amazing episode. I managed to snag the video below from PerezHilton.com, so enjoy it while you can!

Ok, Im going to get a full nights rest. Im sure I had more to say, but Im ok with what I wrote.

I will say this though. Despite so many precipices in my life right now, I cant really say Im sad or upset. Sure, I want things to be different, but I still have faith that things will get better and the sun will rise tomorrow a little brighter than it did today.

But first things first. I gotta kick this freaking cough. Yuck.

But before I go.... a little bit of trash to most likely ruin your day - the new Ke$ha single. I wonder how soon she'll tank.

A Clip from The Oatmeal

This is totally me at the security line, like 100%. Especially since I have to dig my phone, ipod, headphones out, then rip off my belt, take off my shoes, fling out my laptop, throw everything on the belt, all while all these people are waiting behind me and pushing me forward. I hate it!

Courtesy of The Oatmeal

By the way, if you arent already reading the Oatmeal, you should be. I literally laugh out loud in a hysterical geeky way every time I read a new post of his. Its simply hilarious and I love it. Go ahead, it will make your day better.

Notables 8/27/10

So,my bad for not keeping up the notables this week. But not much has happened.  My days end at 4:30am and start again at 1pm, and i really dont eat until 5pm. Then i do a couple things, watch Nip/Tuck, play some video games, then enter gay chat rooms and try to find new friends.

Heres whats been going on in my life:

1) Yes, I still need to write that SA article i posted about. Im getting on it, k? Right now ive been enjoying discussing it with my family and friends, and getting their feedback. Man, I love this field.

2) Ive been logging into gay chat rooms (not Manhunt, thank you very much) and trying to find new gay males to connect with.  For me, gay friends have always been exciting (think "Ohh Shiny!"). So one of my goals now that im closer to a metropolitan area is to make new gay friends.  Im so determined. And so far I have made 4. A new gay friend every night, except for one night where I made 2 in one night. No hang out dates yet, but i'll get there. baby steps.

3) Ive gotten paid and got my car washed. Oh so shiny. Loves it.

4) Ive been getting reacquainted with Boulder, and its NOT the town I once knew.  Good god no. Its full of rich snobs with too much money that all walk around with a sense of entitlement like they are better than everyone. Another words, I see too much of the worst side of myself, and its like a freaking reflection everywhere, because I know it wasnt all that long ago when i walked around Eugene with the same sense of self-satisfaction.

But this is over drive. I mean its like someone let the bros of fraternities and the sassies of sororities and exploded them all over CU campus and all over town. In Eugene, we had a place for people like that. We called it Taylors. But here in Boulder, they are EVERYWHERE! And im trying SO HARD not to feel hatred in my heart. So difficult.

And all I keep asking myself is why. Why do I feel this way? Is it because I grew up in this town and feel a sense of loss at what its become? Is it because I see so much of my former self in these people? Is it because I know I would never fit in? Is it because I can imagine what a pain these students would be to work with professionally? Whatever the reason, Im so sick of it. Its part of the reason I dont venture out to town too much.  Imagine everyone looking nice everywhere you go. Everyone in a polo or a dress shirt or some sort of high end fashion. Its endless. Its an endless bubble. Oy.

5) I had lunch with an Orgeon friend who went to high school with me as well, and is also back in town. We got to discuss what has changed in town, and what we miss about Eugene. Shes really neat and we are going to the gay clubs tomorrow, which im excited for.

6) I went to the bars tonight with an old high school friend. He agreed with me completely about the Boulder scene, and even though I like my thoughts to be validated, its not really what I wanted to hear. I wanted to hear a solution, not an agreement that there is a problem.

7) Im thinking of becoming an LGBTQ resource counselor at my Mom's school.  Shes the assistant principle at a 2nd chance high school for at-risk youth. All kids who are involved legally, and many of whom were court ordered to be there. Id love the opportunity, as well as Id love to get out of Boulder until I get a job.

8) I have friends who work in retail at Apple, and they are both trying to get me a job, and im trying not to be impatient. But you know me. A week without a job is a week too long. Im dying to get back into a routine.  Yes. I like staying up late. But then my life feels..... like a void. All there is is time.... lots and lots of time. Not good for me. I need to stay busy. Thats also why im going to work with my Mom. Even if only for a month or so, I need something to do. And I think being the LGBTQ resource counselor for at-risk youth is something good.

Ok, there are your notables for this week.  Blog on hiatus right now. Once I have my schedule back, aka a real job, Ill get back to posting more often.

Notables 8/23/10

Notable things I remember about today. Hopefully I will do this everyday.

1) Woke up and my Dad had kindly sorted through my "cleaning out" pile.

2) I showered at 5pm, and ate "breakfast" at 6:45pm.

3) Got the new Xbox 360.

4) Card got denied due me not being in Oregon anymore.

5) Dude at Target who sold me the Xbox 360 was a SUPER CUTE nerd. I mean like, I was having trouble resisting asking him about his personal life. Man, he was cute. His name was Troy.

6) Worked on that hard drive issue a lot. Its 3am. Im still working on it.

7) Wound up on "The Hill" at 1am for Jimmy Johns. Dude in a window shouting to dudes on the street. He used the word faggot a lot, and yet his voice was quite high pitched. I giggled a little, understanding the circumstances, then moved on.

8) Tried Outlook 2011 for Mac today. It wouldnt work with my Oregon exchange account, so I called SAIT, and they had no clue. But they said they would keep my account open so I could be their guinea pig and help them test it. Yay!

Picture of the Day:

The Xbox 360 you wish you had: The Iron Man Xbox 360.

Question: How Did You Make Questions?

So, for the past few weeks, i have been OBSESSED with the Old Spice commercial, Questions.  And I have been dying to know, how did he pull it off!

Well thank goodness my buddies G4 and Attack of the Show, did an interview with the Old Spice dude to get those questions answered!

Enjoy below!

If Lady Gaga came to the Office....

OMG - awesome video @LadyGaga just tweeted about. Check it out below!




Well, Basically: Its awesome, you should watch it.

Night Time Fire

I would dive TOO much into this, but at night, I feel like Im so much more alive than during the day. And to add to that, most of time I feel like a completely different person too.

At night, there are thoughts that seem logical to me that WOULDNT seem logical to me during the day. Its really common for me to wake up the next morning thinking, "Im glad I didnt do that." And we arent talking sobriety levels either. All these thoughts are had while stone-cold-sober. No drugs, no alcohol.

And yet something about me at night feels so different.... thinks so different.

So I couldnt end the evening without sharing two recent thoughts.

One is Zac Efron in this particular picture.

Source: PerezHilton

And the other one is of this commercial, which I know most of us enjoy watching, over, and over again.



Something about these videos seem to feed the night time fire I experience. Or maybe they start it. Im not sure. Anyways, Im sure most of you will enjoy these items as well.

And if you were craving something funny, look no further than this:

Its Real: Shcool Crossing

Source: PerezHilton

Theres really not a whole lot to say about this. Some dude got paid by the state to paint this school crossing, and painted this instead. I dont think he knew he was spelling it wrong.

Wow.