The President's Speech

Recently, Obama held the White House Correspondence Dinner.  His speech was covered by CSPAN and aired for the people to see.


Now, regardless of your position on Obama, for those who appreciate humor, this video is priceless.  I love that people can not only make fun of themselves to lighten the mood yet still address true issues at hand.  He even roasted Donald Trump for a bit, which, if you have been seriously out of the loop, is actually a potential GOP candidate.  Yikes.  But still, enjoy the video.  It should give you a good laugh.

A Sad Face for Today's Society

This weekend I marathoned That 70's Show on netflix.  Sunday I found I needed some down, "veg" time and decided that marathoning that show would be the perfect soloution to some much needed brain check-out time.  And it was...to a point.

I love that 70s show.  It's the epitome of what society was at that point in history and, quite frankly, maybe exactly how things should be today.  I watch the show and laugh because Red (the dad) is exactly how my family was...there were consequences for your actions, parents and adults were there to keep you from being complete and utter morons, and there were societal standards in dress, conduct, and gereral decorum.

When I sit and look at today's society, all I have to say is "yikes".  Parents today want nothing to do with disciplining their kids and actually being "parents".  Maybe they had Red as their parent when they were younger and remembered how much they wished they had more freedoms, but that doesn't mean the opposite extreme is parenting either.  Don't want to be a parent?  DON'T HAVE A KID. 

Remember when you used to dress up to go do a nice dinner or even church and Sunday brunch?  Now I attended a church event where people wore jeans and sandals. I went to dinner at Lawry's in Chicago (a NICE prime steakhouse...5 star kind of restaurant) where a teenage girl walked in in ugg boots and jeggings.  I dress up in a cute skirt and dress shirt for work (remember I'm a teacher) and I get, "Gosh, you look so good.  Why are you so dressed up?"  So dressed up?  Since when did a skirt and cute top become "so dressed up"??  Oh.....right...when it became acceptable to wear pajama jeans and go to the grocery store in Uggs, sweat pants with letters across the butt, and a sweatshirt.  What has happened to our society?!

Standards have dropped.  Seriously.  We're not talking a little slack here and there, we're talking downright chaos and revolt.  I'm not saying you have to dress to the nines or become a parent dictatorship or even return to 1800s gender roles, but I am saying that it's about time we took a seriously hard and critical look at our society and fixed it up.  Caulk gun that shit back into place and then plaster it back together.  Remember when please and thank you were expected not a surprise?  Or when people held the doors for one another because that's just what you did to be nice?  Where did that go?

So, dear America, WTF?!  I'm going to go back and watch That 70's Show and laugh at all the appropriate points because it's ironic that social standards used to be a norm.  Then I'll check into facebook and post a big "sad face" as my status showing my true feelings about what society has become to the 734 people I am clearly best friends with.  Then I'll text and surf the web and IM chat with friends from the reclusive state of my home instead of actually going outside and enjoying the weather by playing a game with my friends, talking to the IN PERSON, and enjoying the fresh air.  Aaaaah 2011.

Mad Men to Schedule Their Closing

I was hooked in Season One, in love by Season Two, and comforted in Season Three.  I have missed Season Four as a result of moving and no longer purchasing cable and having a very tight schedule, but I hold the TV show Mad Men in as high a regard as I did when I watched it religiously on Sunday evenings.  I love the feeling of the show, the costuming, the romantic feel of reliving a time period to which I was never privy, and watching their creative juices and arguments flow.


Today on yahoo!news (because, let's face it, that's really the only place I find my news anymore), they announced that the writer and the show's producers have announced the final date schedulings for the show.  They have come to terms on show length, actor appearances and removals from the show, and overall integrity in going forward, and I think they make a good point.  Not every show is destined to be The Simpsons, where they can continuously pull from new material and find ways to keep it from being monotonous.  Some shows are like movies and books and have a definite "run length".  If this company feels it's best to have only 6 (maybe 7) seasons, then more power to them.  It's refreshing to see some people still know how to keep something a good thing and not spoil it.


I'm just sad to know I won't have another chance to audition in the meantime! :-)  

Beyaz Before Baby

So, during today's grown-up snowday event, I found myself watching marathons of Top Chef.  LOVE that show.  I pretty much watch it oogling over how much I want to be Padma and taste their food!  Mmm, someday.


Whilst I was watching said wonderful tv show (in HD I might add) a commercial came on for a new form of birth control:  Beyaz.  This birth control is created by the makers of Bayer, which leads us consumers into thinking it must be a good product, since Bayer has such a reputation for being "heart healthy" and all.  Unfortunately, I do not know much about the birth control, itself, but I do know about the commercial they used to promote it.  Has anyone seen this?  It's a bunch of women in a shopping area picking up and looking at things they can do:  Trip to Paris, Buy a House, etc.  Suddenly, as I was watching this advert I looked at my friend and laughed, saying, "You do realize they are saying "look at all the things you can do if you don't have children!" ".  It was amazing.  They were literally saying that these are things you are capable of doing sans little ones....which leads me to believe, by their logic, they don't think you can do these things once children are in the picture.  Hmm.  Interesting.  I find it hysterical, I bet a lot of women find it helpful and true, but equal amounts of women will find it offensive in terms of content.


Good job Bayer.  Not sure if you helped or just offended a bunch of people, but you definitely made me laugh.  We'll see if your birth control can be effective without causing crazy side affects like so many others have done in the past.

Adult Swim My Funny Bone

Age can be deceiving.  My age might say twenty-something, but some days I feel like I have the mentality of a teenager.  I find the stupidest and weirdest things funny.  Granted, I also feel like if you can't find things in life funny, then, well, life will be way too painfully serious.  My goal is to laugh at least once a day, although if my daily quota were only one, then I'd have some serious re-goaling to do.  Usually, I laugh plenty.


Weekends help.  Friends help.  Friends showing me funny videos on the weekends = double help.  This is why God invented Adult Swim - for all us "old folk" who still secretly love cartoons and stupid things just as much as we did when we were seven.  Whilst sifting through mountains of videos I have giddily narrowed it down to two:  The Giraffe in Quicksand and The Gummy Bear, which is also available in slow motion.  Warning:  F-word present....but then again, why wouldn't it be?  Adult humor.  Duh.  Still.  Very Funny.  (I now feel like TBS.  Dear TBS, I would like a job.  I can say "Very Funny" on your commercials. Thanks.)


Enjoy. Laugh out loud.  Watch them again . . . and again . . . and ...uhem... I mean, um, right.  Watch them.  Share with friends.  Make someone else's weekend.  :-)

Mad Men Contest

Ok, time for a personal plug.  I've been entered into the Mad Men Casting Call Contest!  You can search by name and I'm on page 74-ish (will change as more entries upload), but is under my name:  Stephanie Caprini.  


Please vote!!!  I have been trying to be on the show for a while, and it would be amazing to be in the top 10 most popular photos in order to make it to the semi finals.


Thanks in advance!  

"Old Spice"-Up My Life

Leave it to me to be a fan of commercials.  Actually, I rather hate them.  They interrupt my intense or half-hearted TV watching experience (granted I wouldn't mind actually being in a TV commercial...but we'll save that for later). 


…Back to the regularly scheduled program.  Ok.  *uhem* as I was saying, one of my new favorite commercials is the Old Spice, "The Perfect Man"  commercials - you know what I'm talking about ladies and gentleman, don't deny it, because I know you all love it.  Yes, this man is the man in a towel, riding a horse, then riding it backwards, and turning oysters into diamonds, all to convince you that you, too, can have that incredible body and sense of humor in your man if you only switch to Old Spice.  Don't know how much I care for Old Spice, but the commercials?  Two big thumbs WAY up!

Apparently, this studly, hunk of a man has not only received raving reviews from commercial watchers and diamond, horseback riding ooggle-ers alike, but he has even received some Twitter requests, which he has be responding to in his "Perfect Man" fashion.  One such Tweet?  Please help me propose to my girlfriend.  Yes, that's right, he created a proposal video for one of his loyal supporters, helping him put the perfect spin on an otherwise very exciting proposal.  How creative.  It is definitely one of the newest means of accomplishing that goal.  But, even if he isn't proposing to me anytime soon, I still love his smooth, seductive cadence, his irrational humor, and, of course, his beautiful, "Perfect Man" physique.     

Baby Diaper Blues

I wish my computer would let me insert a video, but it's on YouTube and not my own, so check out this link:  Huggies Jean Diapers


That's right.  Jean-styled diapers.  Vanity at it's finest.  I absolutely love the commercial and think it's hysterical, but honestly, when did diapers become a designer commodity?  Last time I checked the real issue was a diaper's ability to safeguard against leak protection.  Now we're asking to dress up our little ones in designer poo-receptacles?  Interesting.  How vain are we becoming?  What's next?  In utero fashion?


Okay, okay, I exaggerate, but just think about it.  It is a bit ridiculous. Although, come to think of it, maybe it will mean people won't spend as much on baby jeans? If the diapers look like jeans it's one less clothing item to purchase.  Maybe Huggies is helping it's fellow man save money!  … maybe.


Either way, I still love the commercial.  I honestly waited for the cut-away to the real commercial, thinking this was the part that poked fun at the real issue, but the more I watch it the more entertaining it becomes.  I just love the serious rock-star vibe underlying the whole thing.  The words are so perfectly chosen, rhyming and having absolutely everything to do with pooping.  My personal favorite?  The last line:  "I poo in blue."  Watch the video.  You'll understand.  Next on the list?  The Depends version.   

Minute to Win It

Who has seen this show?  It's on NBC - Minute to Win It - hosted by Guy Fiere, and is a show that asks people to do crazy games in order to win money.  This past weekend they held an open audition for anyone in Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles for any brave soul who wants to try to win $1 million.  


I happened to be one brave soul.  I stood in line at the NBC tower in Chicago with crowds of other people to have my 10 seconds in front of the casting directors, telling them why I deserved to be on the show.  Literally, they handed you an application, which I don't think they even looked at.  I could have written, "I moonlight as a mermaid and am Jim Carrey's little sister" and I don't think they would have even seen it.  Instead, 10 of us went upstairs at a time with the casting people.  The man said, "Ok, when you arrive upstairs, hand me your sheets, and you'll have 30 seconds to tell me your name and a little about yourself.  Don't bore me."  … mmm, ok then!  Pretty straight forward.  And pretty nerve-wracking!  This man has sat through hours of 30-second schpeels, and you have to make sure yours stands out and doesn't put the poor guy into a coma!!  … but, I mean, no pressure.


So, I gave my info-bite, met a lot of cool people, and left.  I then went home and checked out the website to see what kinds of games these people are playing.  I've seen the show once, which doesn't warrant knowledge-mastery by any stretch of the imagination.  If you haven't checked out the GAMES watch some of these videos!  Crazy!  I tried the Speed Eraser game.  Not easy.  It's like a really bad game of quarters!  Except sober.  And in front of millions of people.  My #2 pencils and I fought for a good 15 minutes, and then I gave up for the moment.  I'm sure my friends and I will try again while watching the show or have a "Minute to Win It" party just to make complete fools out of ourselves.  …because we can.  …and it's fun.  


Check it out.  Try some games and then wonder:  what would you say to make your 30 second info-bite stick out in a crowd?  Happy gaming!!!

Howie Mandel before he was famous

Hello!  Who loves comedy? I do!!  Who loves Howie Mandel?  I DO!!!!  I love that he is OCD, is a total germaphobe, and is still so funny and loveable!  And do you know why he is so funny?  His career started prior to Deal or No Deal.  He's been part of Sesame Street, Bobby's World, and then his own comedy sketch.  


Howie Mandel Stand Up <---- Watch me!!


And see a whole new side of Howie!  Congrats Howie.  Can I shake your hand???

Tough Love Couples

I've become a reality TV junkie for certain things.  I have my vices, including Project Runway, America's Best Dance Crew, America's Next Top Model, and Tough Love.  However, Tough Love came out with a new show:  Tough Love Couples.  LOVE IT!  It's a little like The Tool Academy but more practical.  And the most recent one was awesome:  sex life and trust.  


Eek!  Cover your ears - such a taboo word!  Sex!  Yes, I said it and I will happily say it again: SEX.  I will talk about it until I die, because it is just that important.  I don't mean you need to flaunt your sex life or be promiscuous.  In fact, far from it, but being comfortable enough to have an open sex life with your partner (b/f, g/f, husband, wife) is extremely important. Whether that means trying new things, introducing toys, listening to one another and putting the other first, reciprocating, etc, communication, trust, and confidence are key.  And that's what this episode of Tough Love Couples was trying to convey.  Why are certain areas of your relationship weak?  Is it a sex issue or is it a sex issue because of a self-confidence or partner trust issue?  More than likely if there are problems in your relationship or within you yourself (aka outside the bedroom) then there are probably problems in the bedroom as well, and in order for a relationship to be really healthy and nurturing to both parties, all areas of your relationship have to be working properly (no pun intended!)


Again, the thing I love about this show is its "in your face" reality and how it forces you to not only look at the couples on TV, but also yourself and your relationship.  And, of course, the topic of the day is always fun, and this particular week entertaining and interesting.  However, even more than that, I enjoy the reflective piece of the show.  If you haven't watched it yet, and you like these kinds of reality shows, you should definitely check it out.