Archive for November, 2010

Plastic Surgery is NOT Entertainment

Nov 29, 2010 movies and tv

It’s no secret I’m not a fan of the reality TV show genre.

Oh, sure from time to time, I’ve caught a few episodes of the competition-type of show (Top Chef, America’s Got Talent, Last Comic Standing), and that’s usually because Rhonda has control of the TV.

I almost never voluntarily put on a reality show, though. I’d rather watch a scripted show with real actors. To me, most of the popular reality shows are just excuses for people to act badly in the hopes of getting bigger ratings, and really, is this the kind of society we really want to celebrate?

So all that said, while I tolerate the reality show genre as a whole, I am totally appalled at a new competition show airing on E! Television called, “Bridalplasty.”

The whole concept of this show is that they have 12 brides who’ve made a wishlist of cosmetic surgeries they’d like to have done before their wedding.

They then compete against each other in challenges related to weddings – cakes, flowers, etc. If they win a challenge, they get to pick one surgery off the list and have it done.

The final bride – the big “winner” – gets everything off her list done and a $100,000 wedding. The show is hosted by former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, who has had plastic surgery done on her own body.

Now, granted, some of the contestants have some legitimate reasons for wanting a particular surgery. A breast cancer survivor who had a mastectomy wants implants. Another lost 100 pounds and wants the extra saggy skin removed. But for the most part, it’s just wanting to conform to the ideal of being perfect.

In one of the clips I saw, the winner of one elimination challenge got to take a syringe upstairs to the doctor on hand and have any injectible procedure done (botox, etc).

To me, this show just trivializes how painful and even life threatening plastic surgery can be. It just glamorizes the world of plastic surgery without showing the risks and dangers. This isn’t like “Nip/Tuck” where it was all make-believe. This is real life, with real consequences.

And really, what is the entertainment value of watching 12 women, unhappy with their looks, compete for the chance to be transformed via plastic surgery? I mean we’ve obviously become a very voyeuristic society with top-rated shows like “Jersey Shore” and “The Real Housewives of …..” and all those “I’m going on TV to find my true love” type of shows (really, you can’t find someone in real life, so you have to go on TV with a bunch of strangers and make that life-long connection in a matter of weeks???). But I really think this show has crossed the line.

I haven’t seen the ratings on this show, but I’m hoping it gets canceled before the end of this first season. I’d really hate to think this is where we are headed as a society when we find this kind of show “entertaining.”

[Photo of Bridalplasty contestants and host Moakler courtesy of E!]

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What I’m Thankful For in 2010

Nov 25, 2010 life

I would have to say 2010 has been one of the most tumultuous years ever in my 43 years on this planet.

There’s still one month left and already I’ve dealt with being laid off my day job; having the condo I rented go into foreclosure forcing a quick move to a new apartment;  having a heart attack the day after I started the move; and having heart surgery on my birthday.

But I have a lot to be thankful for, so here’s my list of the top reasons 2010 didn’t totally suck.  I promise it’ll be shorter than a Grammy or Oscar speech.

1] I’m thankful I’m still alive. The blockage in my arteries was so severe the doctor said I might not have made it to 2011 if I hadn’t had the surgery. But I did, and everyday I feel myself getting stronger. I still have bad days here and there, and I’ve still got the MS to contend with, but it’s amazing how just having a strong flow of blood in my body makes me feel so, well, alive.

2] I’m thankful for my best friend Rhonda. We’ve been best friends for 22 years and roommates for a good portion of that, off and on. She’s like the sister I never had and without her support, I don’t know if I’d have been able to stay strong through some of the things I’ve had to deal with the last five years.

3] I’m thankful for my friends. They’re the family I choose to have and they have truly supported me this year, especially on those days I wasn’t sure I wanted to fight the good fight.

4] I’m thankful for the love of my dog. She always keeps me in good spirits and makes me laugh. She also cuddles against me when she senses I’m not feeling well. If only she could talk…err…wait, maybe that might not be a good idea. LOL

5] I’m thankful for the ability to laugh. As long as I can still laugh at something – anything – I have a chance of making my life happier.

6] I’m thankful for being able to earn a living at something I love to do. So what if I’m always working. I like what I do and it’s allowed me to meet some really great people and have some amazing experiences. Now if only the money was better…

7] I’m thankful for social media, especially Facebook and Twitter. It’s allowed me to reconnect with people I’ve lost touch with. High school friends, co-workers at Virgin Megastore, bands I used to hang out with, and more. It also enables me to stay in touch with my friends, since we all live such busy lives.

8] I’m thankful that some mysterious angel took care of my hospital bill. I had no idea how I would have come up with $45,000. I can’t even afford to fix my car. But somehow it all got taken care of and I have the receipt from the hospital (that I’m guarding with my life!) to prove it.

9] I’m thankful that people read my writing. And send me nice emails and twitter messages that they actually liked what they read. Sometimes writing is such a solitary job that it’s nice to have the validation that I’m on the right track, and that the info I put out there is actually helping somebody. Plus, on some of the places I write for online, I get paid by page views and ad clicks, so every set of eyes on a story or post helps (see above comment about better pay…).

10] I’m thankful my mom and gramma are watching over me from the heavens. I feel their presence often and several times a month, I dream about them. I miss them terribly, especially around the holidays, but I know they’re never too far away in spirit.

As I close out the year, I really feel positive (mostly) about what the coming year will bring me.  I hope it plays out that way. But in the meantime, I’m truly thankful for what I have and, more importantly, who I have in my life.

Thanks for reading my blog!

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New Trailer for Sucker Punch

Nov 4, 2010 movies and tv

I was a really big fan of Zack Snyder’s movie 300. Visually, it was just such a strong movie. Then came Watchmen and while it was still visually amazing, I didn’t care much for the story (sorry fanboys/girls). I also really enjoyed his update of Dawn of the Dead (which was written by the  uber-talented James Gunn).

Now comes his newest movie, Sucker Punch.  While it looks like another “based-on-a-graphic-novel”-type of movie, it’s an epic action fantasy that takes us into the vivid imagination of a young girl whose dream world provides the ultimate escape from her darker reality.

I saw some teasers around the time of Comic-Con in San Diego last summer. I was also intrigued by the cast he had lined-up for this film: Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Jena Malone, Carla Gugino, Jon Hamm and Scott Glenn.

Now comes this new trailer, which looks cool, even on my small-ish laptop screen. I definitely think this is going to rank high on my “to see” meter for next spring.  It comes out March 25, 2011.

Take a look at this trailer and tell me what you think:

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My Articles/Posts for October 2010

Nov 1, 2010 travel, writing

I don’t just write here. I also contribute articles and posts elsewhere on the web. So in case you’ve missed any of them, I compile a monthly listing of all of the links. Here are my October 2010 contributions to the travel web universe:

Uptake.com:

Suite101.com:

I also wrote one Halloween-themed article: Ten Vampire Films Worth Watching

I’d like to ask a favor of those who visit the above links and read the articles. On these pages you’ll see buttons to “like” them on Facebook. If you like what you read, please press the “like” button.  Also feel free to share via Twitter, if you feel so inclined.  =)

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