Weekly Grab Bag [11/17 - 11/23]

New, this week:

Song of the week:

"Forever & Always" by Taylor Swift.

Why I like it:

- It's upbeat. The lyrics are in your face guilty. Almost everyone can relate. Plus, anything coming from Taylor Swift is going to be good, especially anything off her new album Fearless which released on November 11. The song is allegedly about her brief fling with one of the Jo-Bro's. You remember, I'm sure. The song wasn't scheduled to be released on her album but apparently she churned it out at the last second to get it on there. Glad you did, Taylor, it's one of my faves. Whenever I hear it I just want to grab a water-bottle-microphone get up onto a table and sing it to...well, wouldn't you like to know. Hah, just kidding! But really, buy it on iTunes for 99 cents. It's worth it. Song of the week.

Movie of the week.

30 Days of Night.

Why I like it:

- Because it's freaking scary! I think we were all waiting for a good scary vampire movie for a long time. And no, Twilight does NOT count, because there is no way that Edward could ever be scary. Scary beautiful, maybe. 30 Days of Night is freak-you-out-sleep-with-the-lights-on scary. It's not AS scary if you watch it with a group of people and are able to make jokes to cover up your real terror. But we all know how you really feel. It gets pretty gory, so if you aren't a fan of blood then you should definitely leave this one off your Netflix queue. However, if you're into hot sheriffs (Josh Hartnett), a bunch of sneaky Alaskan townspeople, and a flock (flock?) of vampires from God-knows-where, then you're golden. Rent it. Some people think it's one of the scariest movies they've ever seen...some people laugh their way through it. Personally, it's up there on my scary list. Get ON it.

Hotspot of the week.

Khao San Road, Thailand.

Why I like it:

- Because it has everything you will ever need for the rest of your life crammed onto one very long street. Also, I might be a little bit jealous because my dad is there RIGHT NOW, without me. My favorite part about Khao San Road would have to be the melting pot of people standing in front of you. Literally people from all over the world flock (apparently I like this word today?) to Khao San for great deals (bootlegs, of course), great tattoos (fake AND real), great food (for sooo cheap!!!), great fruit shakes (real fruit, no sugar), great company (drunk Irish table dancing, anyone?), great backpacking (Backpacker HOTSPOT), and great times. They call New York City the city that never sleeps, well Khao San Road is the road that never sleeps. In between flash rain storms you can do some shopping...pick up the newest DVDS, some goofy shirts, some switchblades, some whatever-the-heck-you-want-for-cheap! The food vendors that patrol the street are armed with deliciousness and all you have to do is catch them. At night, it's lit up like you wouldn't believe. And one of the funniest parts about Khao San Road has got to be the Hilltribe Women who chase you with their little wooden frogs and trick the easy tourists into paying WAY (way,way,way!!!) too much for one. Hit it up.

Adding a new "grab" this week.

YouTube video of the week:

Harry Potter Puppet Pals - The Mysterious Ticking Noise

Why I like it:

- Because if you've seen Harry Potter, then it's pee-your-pants funny and you'll be singing it ALL WEEK. Trust me, I know...I didn't pee my pants, but I have been singing it all week. It doesn't even have a point except to make you laugh. DUMBLEDORE! I really can't tell you anything else about it. You have to watch it yourself. Link below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tx1XIm6q4r4

Weekly Grab Bag. [11/10 - 11/16]

Ch-ch-check it.

Song of the week:

"The Ave" by Blue Scholars.

Why I like it:

- It's got a beat that makes you want to stand up if you're sitting down, dance if you're standing still, or break dance if you feel like you can own it [which I can]. It's one of those songs where you feel like you know the words but then you try to sing them and you realize you have no idea what you're doing so you proceed to listen to it until you can rap along side of Geologic & Sabzi. It's kind of got a Brazilian twist to it, with the trumpet action going on, I think. I could picture a conga line to the beat, except the lyrics are a little better than those of a conga line. Bonus, it's about Seattle coming from a Seattle-based-band. It's like two for one.

Movie of the week:
High School Musical 3.


Why I like it:
- Because it has Zac Effron in it, duh? No, no I'm kidding [kind of]. HSM3 is just a lighthearted movie with a bunch of hit songs [don't believe me? Check out iTunes top 100] that you want to sing-a-long with. It makes you come home and spend money [buy songs, posters, bracelets, lip gloss, you name it, they got it.], and that's really what the movie business is all about anyway, money. But no seriously, I went too see it with Brenna and my sister Sammi the day after it came out and I left the movie theater happy. It's a cute movie. If you're not into corny jokes, corny scenes, corny songs, & goofy actors, then I don't recommend it to you. Sorry. But if you DO have a sense of humor, then you should definitely check it out.

Hotspot of the week:
Boundary Bay Brewery - Downtown Bellingham.

Why I like it:

- Besides the friendly and welcoming staff, you get some good food, and if you're legal, some good beer. It's probably not a great idea to head over to BBB on a Friday or Saturday night spur of the moment unless you're okay with an hour or so wait for a table. The live music that BBB hosts on weekends is usually pretty rockin' [pun intended] and will be sure to blow your ears out. So if you're only a fan of a light violin or a melodic piano solo, I suggest you stay away. Personal recommendation, food wise, would have to be either the macaroni and cheese [but good luck finishing that!] or the enchiladas [muy bueno!]. If you can fit any dessert into you, I would suggest the pie a la mode. It's just like mom makes it...or if your mom never made pie then it's just like the pie you always WISHED your mom would make. Check it out, it's sitting at the end of Railroad Ave.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Your Next President...

Mr. Barack Obama.



Come 8 o'clock, the announcement came on NBC saying that Barack Obama just became the United States' 44th President. My first reaction was shock. I didn't expect it to come so quickly. As soon as I looked at the electoral votes though, I knew he was in. John McCain's speech was very to my liking and very respectful. It actually made me proud to be an American. I still can't get over that Obama took Virginia, Florida, AND Ohio. That is really something.


So as Brenna and I jumped and screamed and ran out into the hallway, we saw Wyatt (Kappa Pres.) and two of his comrades jumping onto each other's backs and running around screaming, "OBAMA! OBAMA!" We made signs and screamed some more and danced around.


All of a sudden, the sound of conga drums brought us to our windows. We could hear yelling in the distance, along with the steady, rhythmic beat of the conga. I looked at Brenna. She looked at me. We grabbed the keys and the camera and sprinted out of Kappa, down flights of stairs and down more flights of stairs to the beginning of a mob forming. People were lining up on the sculptures by the Communications Facility, screaming at the top of their lungs, "OBAMA! OBAMA!" It was a sight I've never seen in my life.


We caught up to them just as they took of running towards Red Square. We jumped in at the front of the mob and bolted across campus where we gathered by the fountain and continued our chanting. From there, we all ran as a crazy Obama-spurred mob to the Viking Union/Mathes Hall/Nash Hall where we congregated and did some more shouting. After that, we took off down the street, by now at least 500 people in tow.


We made our way, screaming our heads off, past houses and apartments where people greeted, high fived, and even joined our crazy college mob. We ran down the street, photographers popping up everywhere snapping us with their Nikons and their Sonys. We were all delusional with happiness. People were hugging each other, high fiving strangers, hugging strangers, laughing, fists raised into the air as the beginning of a Bellingham winter captured all of us. But the adrenaline was enough alone to keep us warm.


The drum beat went on, as did our chanting, changing from, "OBAMA! OBAMA!" to, "YES WE CAN! YES WE CAN!" to, "YES WE DID! YES WE DID!" to, "USA! USA!". Photographers, videographers, and bystanders were literally in awe as we stopped traffic, hastily making our way through the middle of the streets of downtown Bellingham.

November 4, 2008, the day we were all able to witness history. A day, I'm sure, that most of us have felt more alive than ever as we dodged curbs, piles of leaves, stationary and unstationary cars, and the gigantic OBAMA/BIDEN sign that two guys carried between them as we closed in on 9:30 at night. Fireworks erupted more than once.

We proceeded (running and walking) all the way from downtown back up to Red Square where we gathered around the fountain, beating our pots and drums. A video camera seemed to just float through the crowd and we all had our change to yell into it. The atmosphere was indescribable. The patriotism was undeniable. The students of Western Washington University were unretainable. After all, we are all ready for a change.

My Teacher is a Serial Killer.

You think I'm kidding.

So I really am kidding, but there is a stunning resemblance between Lucas Chaffee (my college math teacher) and David Berkowitz. I mean, I'm sure that my math teacher isn't really the "Caliber Killer" and I'm sure that he didn't murder 6 people and injure an additional 7. I'm sure... hahah. It's just one of those things that freaks you out a little bit.

I'll try and take a picture of him on my phone and be not creepy about it at all. But really, you've gotta see this. It's ca-razy. Here's a picture of Berkowitz.

Rock the Vote.

I might be a little bitter right now because Heroes was put off this week due to last minute SNL Election coverage...because SNL Election coverage is going to do so much good for our candidates tonight...

I mailed in my absentee ballot almost two weeks ago. After a lot of dictionary.com'ing big words, comparing candidates' websites side by side, and reading statements repeatedly in my head and then again out loud, I finally finished voting. I can honestly say I didn't know it was so much work. I needed a shot of whiskey afterwards. Luckily for me, there was none in the vicinity, because in all reality I can't stand whiskey.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Sarah Palin Rap on SNL. If you didn't have the opportunity to catch it, check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-f9NVyM47Y&feature=related. I think my favorite part is either the Eskimos ("How you feel Eskimos?" "ICE COLD!") or "everybody party, we're going on a hunt! LA la LA la LA la la LA!"

But really, what I think it comes down too is: Do you want another George Bush?
I don't mean it like John McCain would do everything George Bush has done. I mean that McCain & Bush really do have the same outlook on a ton of stuff. Comparative politics, you can make an almost identical list between McCain and Bush. So if you want to keep Conservatism in the Casa Blanca, then fill in your McCain/Palin bubble.

Sarah Palin is a whole other blog in itself. Besides her beginning to contradict McCain in recent days, people are beginning to figure out that Palin is really thinking about her own political advancements. Selfish politics, in my opinion. Country first...? Isn't that the McCain/Palin slogan. That wasn't a question.

Obamarama on the other hand is sweeping the country, coast to coast, minus Wyoming and Alabama. If I can quote Three 6 Mafia for a minute, "Like Barack Obama said, yeah it's time for a change." I couldn't agree more. With Three 6 Mafia. I'm obviously not the only one who thinks this country needs some severe swinging of the pendulum from the "Doomsday Economy" side to the "CHANGE!!!!" side. You have to throw Barack Obama a bone here. He has the potential to make history in his back pocket.

But is America ready to make history again? I guess the polls tomorrow will tell us. I'm sure I'm not going to be the only one literally glued to my television tomorrow. If John McCain & Sarah Palin take the election tomorrow, I will be wearing black on Wednesday. Australian Citizenship is always a possibility. We'll see how bad it gets.

Rock the vote, America.