More Uncensored Thoughts on This Final New Year's Eve of the Decade, As Well As My Hopes and Predictions for the Next One

Yes, folks, today is New Year's Eve 2009-- the very last New Year's Eve of the decade. And, dang, what a decade it's been! This year was particularly interesting, to say the least. Of course, I attempted to sum up the entire decade in one post yesterday. Well, I think the good folks at jibjab.com did a better job at that than I could possibly ever hope to do. Y'all have to check out their "2009 Year in Review" original, "Never a Year Like '09." It's hilarious (and so true)! The link is: http://sendables.jibjab.com/originals/never_a_year_like_09. There are lots of other great originals on the site, especially "This Land," a satire of the '04 election, and "Time for Some Campaignin'"-- a spoof of the '08 one.

Alright, now for my predictions and hopes for 2010 and beyond. Well, for starters, I think things will continue to improve overall in this country and that President Obama will be elected to a second term in office. (IMHO, 2009 and the whole decade actually concluded on somewhat of a high note.) And, regardless of what Dick Cheney claims, the prez does indeed realize that we're in a war (which Obama didn't start, BTW) and will work-- with our help, of course-- to end it by the end of his first term. I also believe that Obama will prove himself to be a resounding success, both domestically and in terms of foreign affairs. Finally, on a personal note, I think 2010 will be a pretty danged good year in the Ashleyverse as well. I will meet Mr. Right, have an awesome, positively life-altering Eurotrip this coming summer, and see things continue on the upswing careerwise. I know things are far from perfect, but I'm hopeful about the coming year and decade. So, those are my hopes and predictions for 2010. Mark my words, y'all: all this and more will happen. That said, peace, love, and, yes, happiness on this final New Year's Eve of this crazy, not-so-bad-after-all decade! Let's go out there tonight and spread good karma and vibes to the universe for the up-and-coming one. Oh, one more thing: my friend out in San Francisco reminded me today via e-mail that there's going to be a full, blue moon tonight. Once again, 2010 should be very interesting!

What a difference a decade makes!

Well, folks, we're nearing the end of yet another year, as well as another decade. And what a decade this has been! Ten years ago this week, many people were all wigged out about this thing called Y2K, and a subset of religious fundamentalists were even predicting the end of the world. (For the record, I knew all along that that was a bunch of right-wing b.s. propaganda.) A year into the decade, we seemed headed for real doom in the form of the election of Dubya, 9/11, terrorism, and war. (Aside: President Obama's handling of the attempted Christmas Day airline bombing is, imho, a major improvement over his predecessor's handling of 9/11 and the Bin Laden briefings Dubya was receiving the entire summer of '01 while he was playing cowboy at the ranch in Crawford, Texas.) And, speaking of President Obama (love being able to use that phrase!), his victory seemed virtually unlikely to many in 2000. Of course, the growth of the Internet is largely responsible for this turn of events. In addition to revolutionizing American elections, the Web has made unlikely (and often undeserving!) superstars out of a lot of folks. Take, for instance, the music industry. At the beginning of the decade, it was dominated by cookie-cutter (read: blonde, vapid) pop princesses like Britney Spears. Now, thanks to the Internet and reality TV (don't even get me started!), a Susan Boyle can become an overnight sensation. It's funny, but I actually remember the days when you had to work for fame and celebrity. The times-- they are a'changin'! LOL! Last but certainly not least, I've undergone a lot of personal changes during the past ten years. For example, on Jan. 1, 2000, I was a community college student living at home and somewhat unsure of my future. Today, on the other hand, I'm a community college instructor, grad student, writer, activist, up-and-coming leftist blogger, freelance journalist, and soon-to-be world traveler. My, my, how things have come full circle! Okay, that's a very brief dissertation on the past decade. I want to wish everyone peace, love, and happiness in 2010 and beyond. Here's to another eventful and history-changing decade. Who knows what we'll be discussing here on Dec. 30, 2019!

Additional Info About My Online Dating Debacle

Continuing on the online dating theme, I got a couple more "winks" today. This time, they were from seemingly half-way compatible, decent guys (for me). For example, one of the "winks" was from an apparently okay 28 year old from Greenup, Ill., and I received a "wink" from a cute 29 year old from Palestine, Ill. (originally from Chicagoland). One guy even said he really liked my profile photo. (I guess I'm not totally hideous. LOL!) Interestingly enough, most of these guys have commented more on my personality aspects, which is a good sign. There's still a few "good" ones out there! I think I might check these dudes out and perhaps even "wink" 'em back. Last night, this lonely, widowed, 44-year-old soldier, who's just returned home from a tough deployment in Iraq and is looking for companionship, "winked" me. He seemed sweet and also happens to be well-educated, but he also doesn't want kids (yikes! big-time deal-breaker in the Ashleyverse!). Still, I suppose "debacle" might be too strong a word to use to describe my dating situation-- at this point, anyway. I remain optimistic that I will find Mr. Right in a timely fashion one way or another, online or otherwise. Stay tuned!

More Crazy, Strange Stuff

Okay, I've some more characteristically weird Ashleyverse news for y'all today. A few days ago, in my favorite-things-for-2009 post, I mentioned that I'm doing Yahoo! Personals. Well, I've gotten lots of "winks" on the site, and some of the guys seem alright and basically attractive. The problem? Most of them either live far, far away and/or have employment (read: a general lack thereof) issues and/or crazy, strange living situations. Worse, many of my "matches" appear to be, um, sort of anti-social and not too terribly concerned with pursuing education and making a sustainable living. Arghh... dating is so frustrating!!! I swear, for some bizarro reason, I'm a total weirdo magnet. What's up with that?! Anyway, I'm going to keep trying, and maybe I'll get it right someday. Better yet, perhaps I'll meet Mr. Right the old-fashioned way at school. That would be great, since a guy I would meet at school would more than likely be much more compatible with me than some random yahoo I met on the Internet. Plus, I prefer face-to-face communication. (Yeah, I'm soooo strange. LOL!) Hopefully, I'll find a that special freak among many, who, like me, actually values relationships, education, work, and real communication. I'll keep y'all posted as things continue to develop in regards to this endeavor. Peace!

You say you want a resolution...

I know it's not quite New Year's yet, but it's never to early to start thinking about New Year's resolutions. As for my own resolutions, well, for starters, as I mentioned a year ago, I'm trying to become more domesticated (easier said than done!). Secondly, I want to work on not being so hard on myself and just accepting me for who I am (likewise!). Finally-- and this may seem contradictory-- I'd like to lose 5-10 lbs. by February 3 (which, incidentally, happens to be my 30th birthday). Honestly, I want to work on having an overall positive body image and self concept. I also think I need to stop letting other peoples' issues, hang-ups, and negativity get to me. In order to achieve these goals, I'm going to focus on working toward them for my personal well-being, not to please anybody else. (I think this is what has messed me up in the past in terms of making my resolutions a reality.) So, here's to a happy, healthy 2010!

'Twas the day after Christmas...

Today is December 26, the day after Christmas. More importantly, it's Boxing Day. What is Boxing Day, you may be asking? Well, according to Wikipedia, it's a holiday that's celebrated in England, Canada, and Australia, and a few other countries on which, traditionally speaking, the gentry switches places with servants of the manor. The day is so named, because presents are typically given to the needy and those in service positions. In the military, officers switch places with enlisted personnel. (I learned about this custom from a M*A*S*H episode called "'Twas the Day After Christmas (#10.9, to be exact)" in which a British contingent of officers visits the 4077 at Christmas and suggests that their American counterparts adopt Boxing Day customs in order to boost morale and combat the war-induced ennui that has set in in the camp. Col. Potter takes the suggestion to heart, and the 4077's officers switch places with their enlisted comrades in arms, which yields some hilarious results. Winchester and Margaret on KP? LOL!) The holiday has sort of caught on "across the pond," and Americans who live near the Canadian border have begun to celebrate Boxing Day. Since I'm enamored with all things British, I'm also observing this occasion. I think I might possibly use it as an impetus to attend to a few domestic duties this weekend. (Uhh... we'll see about that!) Anyway, regardless of what holidays you celebrate-- Happy Boxing Day!

So (once again!), this is Christmas...

Yes, it's Christmas (or whatever holiday y'all celebrate) once again. I'm just reflecting on 2009 atm. It ended up being a half-way decent year in the Ashleyverse-- personally and politically. (I started grad school, my job situation improved, and, imho, the country's finally headed in the right direction.) I know there's still a lot of work left to do, but at least we'll more than likely have healthcare. The war's (as in the cluster o' conflicts in the Middle East) not over yet, but with our help, the president can begin to make that goal a reality in 2010. Remember: War is over (if we want it). Anyway, I'm going to spend today with my mom's side of the family. I'm sure it'll be characteristically interesting. Of course, I'll observe and report and fill y'all in on all the details later. Alright, I know everyone has places to go and people to see, so I'll keep this post as brief as possible. That said, peace to all for Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa/Al-Hijra/Winter Solstice/Festivus, etc., '09.

...'These are a few of my favorite things!'...

Alright, y'all, here is a list of my favorite things-- a la Oprah-- on this lovely Christmas Eve '09.






Fave Things List & Rationale (Items in no particular order):





1.) Beyonce's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)" and the numerous parodies it's inspired-- This is first and foremost a good song by a good artist. Secondly, from SNL to YouTube to that new Chipmunks "squeakquel," the countless spoofs of the tune's accompanying video are very funny. Finally, I like the song's message: Being single is okay, but many of we single ladies are looking for that special guy to, well, you know...





2.) Twitter-- Alright, I've tried MySpace and Facebook and have decided that Twitter.com is the coolest of all the social networking sites out there. Since users express themselves in 140 characters or less, Twitter is ideal for we chatty gals on the go. (BTW, my username is LoneStarLady80. Send me a tweet and join me and my 19 followers, including a certain V.I.P., in discussing the issues o' the day in abbreviated form.)



3.) Clean & Clear Skincare Products-- Since I have highly sensitive, combo skin, finding the right skincare regimen has proven to be a lot of trial and error. Now, however, I think my Era of Dermal Uncertainty may be over.





4.) Yahoo! Personals-- In order to find Mr. Right for Me in 2010, I've enlisted the help of this online dating network. I've also tried other dating sites, primarily eHarmony.com (rip off!), in the past. I have to say that Yahoo! is the way to go in terms of taking steps to ensure success in cyber-romance.




5.) Watching certain politicians make total fools out of themselves-- Earlier this year, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) delighted us with his accusations that the president is a liar. More recently, we were treated to Sarah Palin's (epic fail!) latest antics (the whiny book is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak). This time around, she cut her family's Hawaiian vacation short after being recognized. ROFL-- and LMAO!!! And this is a woman who's supposedly considering a 2012 presidential run?! Either this is a publicity stunt deluxe or Sarah has issues, to say the least. We shall see about this one!





6.) My younger siblings and cousins interacting with each other at family get togethers-- As I've mentioned on numerous previous occasions, I come from a big, loud, crazy family. Certain members get on my nerves at various times (e.g. my brother, Austin, when he uses my garage as a boat dock-- in the winter months), but I love 'em even more the crazier they get. (Sorry, Hoss, didn't mean to throw ya under the bus like that.) I especially love watching my younger cousins, of which there are many-- I'm the oldest member of my generation on both sides-- playing Wii, Guitar Hero, and American Idol. It actually makes me want to have kids someday. Despite all the chaos that invariably ensues, I feel totally blessed to be part of the family I was born into.

7.) Those Christmas movies, TV show episodes, and specials that you can watch over and over again every year and never seem to get tired of-- Wow! So many great Christmas movies, TV show episodes, and specials to mention, so little time. LOL! Among my many all-time annual faves are: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, It's A Wonderful Life, The Family Stone, and the original Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As for yuletide TV, the other day I mentioned that M*A*S*H episode and that My Name Is Earl one that's an absolute hoot, folks. Also, I always chuckle at the Seinfeld Festivus (the holiday for the rest of us, invented by Mr. Costanza of "Serenity now!" fame) celebrations. In addition, The Office Christmas parties are always guaranteed to garner a few laughs. That 70s Show holiday episodes likewise usually guarantee at least a few laughs. Finally, I personally feel that the Peanuts' Christmas Special (not quite sure of the exact title; it's the one where Charlie Brown "rescues" the crappy Christmas tree) is the best of the best. And, I'm afraid to say, my brother and sister, Augusta (now ages 25 and 21, respectively), as well as I, like to indulge our decidedly juvenile sides with A Beavis and Butt-head Christmas and A South Park Christmas. Of course, I love the SNL holiday retrospectives (having worked in radio, "Schwetty Balls" has got to be the funniest skit I've ever heard), plus there's a few decent celeb variety specials out there.

8.) Blogging-- I think this one kinda goes without saying. In a sense, I owe my life to Blogger and Google. 'Nuff said!

9.) Eating ethnic cuisines on holidays-- Last Christmas Eve, I regaled y'all with tales of my family's Tex Mex-infused celebrations. Well, this year, we're going out for Chinese. I believe this tradition originated from our zillionth viewing of A Christmas Story. (The narrator, Ralphie's, family ends up eating Christmas dinner in a Chinese restaurant after the redneck neighbors' dogs destroyed Ralphie's mom's turkey. That didn't actually happen in real life, but we just thought it was a cute, fun, and multi-cultural idea to have Chinese food on Christmas Eve.)

10.) Googling a host of really bizarre topics and actually conducting research on them-- I know I'm really flying my nerd flag big time here, but I love doing research about anything and everything. My latest "scholarly" obsession? Giant camels! WTF?! Yes, that's right-- giant freakin' camels. I was actually introduced to this particular bizarre topic via some of my students' reading material, which contained a news blurb about the finding of supposed ancient giant camel fossils in the Middle East a couple years ago. Oddly fascinated, I had to delve deeper into the subject matter. So, I guess that in one sense, the public education system is a success, for some teachers have also become students. LOL!

Well, folks, those are a few of my favorite things for this helluva year that has been 2009. Please let me know what some of y'all's favorite things are.

More Great Past and Present Holiday Hits

Yesterday I reviewed the 36 tracks on the two Now That's What I Call Christmas!-- Vol. 1 CDs. For those just tuning in today, I'm going to provide y'all with a rundown of the tracks on Vol. 2-- a.k.a. The Signature Collection.



CD Reviews:



Disc One: Now and Forever-- This multi-genre assortment of 18 traditional and non-traditional seasonal tunes has its share of hits and misses. For starters, Destiny's Child performs a magnificent version of "Opera of the Bells." Secondly, Stacie Orrico offers up a delightful rendition of "O Come, All Ye Faithful." On the third track, *NSYNC declares "I Don't Wanna Spend One More Christmas Without You"-- which is a far better song than the boy band's Vol. 1 contribution. On Track #4, Aussie pop tart Kylie Minogue sings the classic "Santa Baby" in a way that would make the late, great Eartha Kitt proud. Next, Brit boy band B2K does an okay version of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," although Springsteen's Vol. 1, Disc 2 version is obviously far superior. Selection #6 is "Step Into Christmas," a nice little tune by Elton John. Jimmy Buffet provides lucky #7 in the form "Jingle Bells"-- done reggae style. After that, Mariah Carey belts out the radio and video channel holiday staple "All I Want For Christmas Is You," which has proven to be perennially fun and festive. Then, Vince Gill does a countrified styling of "Do You Hear What I Hear?"-- a traditional religious song I like, even though I'm not a country music fan per se. Nawlins boy Aaron Neville wails out a timeless variation of the beautiful "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear" for the tenth track. Track #11 is a total childhood flashback, courtesy of WHAM!'s "Last Christmas." Not to be mean, but I just can't take #12, Gloria Estefan's "Christmas Through Your Eyes." The good folks at Capitol Records redeem themselves with lucky #13-- The Waitresses' "Christmas Wrapping." Okay, I could seriously do without #14, which is Amy Grant's sappy "A Christmas to Remember." On #15, onetime teenage opera phenom Charlotte Church delivers some Christmas goodies in the form of "Silent Night." For #16, Luther Vandross also delivers on "Please Come Home for Christmas." The penultimate track features a singer I don't care for, Celine Dion (not a big fan of the soft rock/easy listening/adult contemporary genres!), singing a traditional carol I adore: "O Holy Night." Finally, Norah Jones (whom I do like a great deal!) entertains with the adorable "Peace." Depending on your individual musical taste, this is a fundamentally decent collection with something for everybody.

Disc Two: Then and Always-- I must begin this little discussion by saying that I like this CD much better than Disc One of this set. For instance, the starter track is Louis Armstrong's simply amazing version of "Winter Wonderland." The second song, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" is sung very well by Barbra Streisand (not one of my faves, but the song is a classic). Thirdly, Johnny Mathis croons "Silver Bells," providing your celebrations with that retro vibe. I absolutely love the fourth track: Lou Rawls' beautifully unique take on "The Little Drummer Boy." Fabulous #5 is Peggy Lee with a jaunty, uplifting "Happy Holiday." Then, Rat Packer Dean Martin turns things down a notch with "The Christmas Blues." Next, Chuck Berry goes full throttle on "Run, Rudolph Run," which I actually hit the replay button on sometimes. Track 8 is a spectacular duet between Welsh-born retro hottie Tom Jones and Cerys from Catatonia, who stand out among most of the other artists on this collection with "Baby, It's Cold Outside"-- a total blast. Number 9, number 9, a live version of Jose Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad," has lots of sentimental value to me, since I heard this song constantly this time of year growing up in South Texas. The tenth tune, Burl Ives' classic recording of "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," is always a reliable way to get into the Christmas spirit. For those who like traditional/religious carols, Andy Williams' "The First Noel" doesn't disappoint. Number 12 is another nostalgic tune; here, Texan cowboy crooner George Strait sings the very cute "I Know What I Want for Christmas." In addition, you really can't go wrong with gospel star Yolanda Adams' soulful "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Then, things start getting a little, er, cheesy. First, there's Kenny Rogers' "Kentucky Homemade Christmas." Then, Andy Griffith sings a rather embarrassing version of "Go Tell It On the Mountain." Never fear, for #16 is Luciano Pavarotti's (accomapanied by the National Philharmonic Orchestra & the London Voices, conducted by Kurt Herbert Adler) totally sweet-- especially with some red wine and pasta and dark chocolate!-- "Adeste Fideles (O Come, All Ye Faithful)." Listen to #17, Barry Manilow (lame!) with "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays," at your own risk (the Perry Como version on Vol. 1 is much, much better). Finally, Guy Lombardo performs the always apropo "Auld Lang Syne." This CD may not be perfect, but it would be great to play at any Christmas party, and, given the popularity of AMC's Mad Men series, it would be the ideal soundtrack for a 60s-themed holiday soiree (hmm...).

So, this concludes the second installment of this Ashleyverse broadcast. This is Ashley Waggoner, signing off on this hopefully peaceful, love-filled, and happy Christmas Eve Eve.

Now That's What I Call Awesome Christmas Music!

Alright, as I promised yesterday, I will discuss a few of the selections from the Now That's What I Call Christmas! CD Collection today. In the following paragraphs, I will provide commentary on the 36 songs on the original volume of this series.



CDs & Commentary*:



Now That's What I Call Christmas! (Disc One)-- Wow! This disc is loaded to the gills (or would that be grooves?) with great classic holiday tunes. The opening track is Nat King Cole's delightful version of "The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)" and the closer is Bing Crosby & David Bowie's duet, "Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth." (I discussed this highly unique medley last year. The former tune is one of my fave traditional carols, and the latter song is absolutely amazing.) In between, listeners are treated to the seasonal stylings of the likes of Elvis ("Blue Christmas," of course) and those of Rat Pack members; for example, Sinatra croons "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and Dean Martin declares "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!". In addition, recording artists from Christmases past, including: Tony Bennett ("Winter Wonderland"), Ella Fitzgerald ("Sleigh Ride"), Perry Como (("There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays"), Johnny Mathis ("The Most Wonderful Time of the Year"), Burl Ives ("A Holly Jolly Christmas"), Gene Autry ("Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer"), Elmo & Patsy ("Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer"), Brenda Lee ("Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree"), Bobby Helms ("Jingle Bell Rock"), and The Beach Boys ("Little Saint Nick")-- will bring a smile to your face, bring back happy memories, entertain your ears, and warm your heart. A couple tracks to skip, though, are country singer Kathy Mattea's "Christmas Collage" (downright grating; I've heard better versions of the collage's elements, especially "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," "O Come, O Come Emanuel," and "We Three Kings," elsewhere) and the Carpenters' "Merry Christmas Darling" (depressing-- Who needs that around Christmas?!). Overall, this disc is well worth your while.



Now... ! (Disc 2)-- This CD is very eclectic, to say the least. To begin, there's some socially conscious stuff on here, particularly my all-time fave non-traditional Christmas anthem: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)," by John & Yoko and the Plastic Ono Band w/the Harlem Community Choir. Of course, I've discussed this song-- as well as the primary artist-- here quite extensively. Its unfortunate timeliness cannot be overstated. Speaking of socially conscious Christmas songs, this disc also features Band Aid's (a collection of prominent 80s artists performing on behalf of Africa-- remember "We Are the World"?) "Do They Know It's Christmas?". Then, there's a lot of fun stuff by rock 'n' roll royalty; for instance, Bruce (a.k.a. The Boss) Springsteen performs "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town" live with his E-Street Band, and John's Fab Four bandmate-- Sir Paul McCartney-- sings the reggae-tinged "Wonderful Christmastime"-- a tune Macca released in the 70s with Wings. Honestly, I usually end up skipping over a lot of the tracks on this disc, like Michael Bolton's (Dork Alert!) "Our Love Is Like a Holiday," Gloria Estefan's (sorry, can't go there) "Love on Lay Away," and Celine Dion's (don't even get me started!) "Don't Save It All for Christmas Day." Next, there's a bit of a rather pleasant jazzy influence in this collection, courtesy of Harry Connick, Jr. (the fun, Southern-fried "(It Must Have Been Ol') Santa Claus") and Diana Krall ("Jingle Bells"). In addition, a couple tracks are old-school holiday instrumentals. Manheim Steamroller supplies an admirable version of "Away In a Manger"-- another one of my fave traditional carols, and Ottmar Liebert does a decent "Deck the Halls." (Couldn't they have at least included something by the Transiberian Orchestra?) One thing I like about this CD is its nod to classic Motown in the form The Isley Brothers' (featuring Ronald Isley) rendition of a song called "Special Gift." Actually, a lot of the songs appeal to younger listeners. These include: Joe's "This Christmas"-- which I can't assess because I haven't heard it, The Big Yard Family's (featuring Shaggy) "All We Need Is Love (Christmas in the Yard" (fun!), Britney Spears' "My Only Wish (This Year)" (have to admit, surprisingly half-way okay), and *NSYNC's "You Don't Have to Be Alone (on Christmas)" (don't even bother; Justin Timberlake's SNL musical comedy vignette "D--- in a Box" is way better than this). Finally, you're treated to two R&B versions of traditional carols. First, the late Luther Vandross sings a beautiful version of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Secondly, Boyz II Men harmonizes a sure-to-be-a-classic "Silent Night." (Incidentally, I also love these two carols.) Despite some lackluster and not-so-great tracks, this CD is basically enjoyable.

So, that concludes my broadcast for Tues., Dec. 22, 2009. For tomorrow's edition of The Ashleyverse Show, I will discuss the tracklist for Now That's What I Call Christmas, Vol. 2. Stay tuned and peace out!

*Songs are grouped according to genre/recording date/category, not by order on CDs' tracklists.

More Thoughts and Info About Montazeri and Murphy, Plus Some Christmas-Themed Stuff

Yesterday, I talked about the deaths of Brittany Murphy and Iran's opposition leader-- Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri. In regards to the former, Ms. Murphy was ill prior to her passing. According to her husband, writer Simon Monjack, and family and friends, Brittany was reportedly suffering from "flu-like symptoms." (I don't know about y'all, but in light of the supposed swine flu pandemic and the fact that it's officially flu season, I don't like hearing that a seemingly healthy celebrity in my age bracket has died after feeling "flu-like" symptoms. And, yeah, that SNL sketch is rather distasteful in retrospect.) As for the latter, I just wonder how and to what extent Montazeri's passing will affect U.S. relations with Iran. I also wonder what our president thinks about all this. I'm sure he'll let know sometime sooner as opposed to later. R.I.P. Brittany and Montazeri. (Is it just me, or has this been a helluva year in terms of celeb deaths, or what?)

Secondly, I'd like to discuss some more Christmas-y things with y'all. I think I'm going to have a "favorite-things-type" post on here, and I'll more than likely discuss my fave seasonal tunes. Speaking of music, I've been watching VH1's "Top 40 of 2009" countdown. I think music has been pretty danged good this year. Songs and videos by the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, the Foo Fighters, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Pink, Green Day, Daughtry, Kelly Clarkson, Bon Jovi, Kings of Leon, Colbie Caillat, Rob Thomas, Jay Sean, Carrie Underwood, Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry, the Plain White Ts, Owl City, Michael Franti, etc., are among my faves on the list (interesting mix, huh?). Well, I hope everyone's feeling peaceful, loved, and happy out there right now, and I'll talk to y'all later.

Thoughts on the Passing of Brittany Murphy and-- More Importantly-- Iran's Opposition Leader

Hey, folks! I just found out that quirky actress and former Ashton Kutcher flame Brittany Murphy has died. She was 32. I enjoyed Murphy's voice-over work on the animated TV series King of the Hill and in cutesy movies like Just Married (co-starring then-boyfriend Kutcher) and Uptown Girls (a collaboration with Hollyweird's woman-child du jour Dakota Fanning). I also think she was superb in more disturbing fare, especially in regards to her role as Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder's bulimic, suicidal fellow mental institution inmate in Girl, Interrupted. In addition, she did a good job alongside Alicia Silverstone in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel Emma, Clueless, and was pretty funny in the hilarious Kirsten Dunst beauty pageant film Drop Dead Gorgeous. Lastly, she was excellent as Drew Barrymore's character's best friend in the based-on-a-true-story vehicle (pardon the pun) Riding in Cars with Boys. So, this is a very sad story indeed.

Okay, now for some really important news: Iran's foremost dissident cleric, Grand Ayatollah Hossein Ali Montazeri, passed away today at age 87. Montazeri was a "spiritual father" who led the opposition movement against the founder of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini. Throughout his distinguished career, Montazeri accused fundamentalist clerics of imposing dictatorship in the name of Islam. This past summer, he energized a youth-led contingent of activists and protesters-- supporters of opposition party leader Mir Hossein Mousavi-- who railed against the re-election of incumbent radical Iranian president Mahmoud Amhadinejad. Montazeri bravely and openly decried the arrests of many of these dissidents as "despotic treatment" at the hands of ruling theocrats. In addition, he denounced current Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as being unfit to rule. Most importantly, Montazeri broke taboos against civil disobedience. For these reasons, his passing is a significant current event. (Note: I found so much info on Montazeri while conducting research for this post that there will be further discussions of his life and work in upcoming ones. As always, stay tuned.)

How a Little Christmas Present Became a Big Part of My Life

Way, way back on Christmas 1999, I received a present that changed my life in a number of ways. The positively life-altering gift? Answer: Billy Blanks' Original Tae-Bo Workout set on VHS (y'all remember VHS, right?). Anyway, I have long since given away all but one of the four tapes in this collection-- I still use the one tape I kept regularly-- but I have rediscovered the complete set on DVD, courtesy of Amazon.com. Billy Blanks is an inspiration, and the four workouts provide you with the holistic (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, etc.) fitness experience. He has released many other workouts in the past 10 years, but the originals are his all-time best. Accordingly, I will discuss them in this post.



The Four Original Tae-Bo Workouts & My Usual Commentary:



1.) Instructional Workout-- This 40-min. intro to the world-famous martial-arts-style workout program isn't really much of a workout. It's simply a tutorial that teaches those new to the method about alignment and proper technique. I've actually done it a couple times since receiving the compilation DVD as a refresher course. (Actually, you can get a sort-of workout from Instructional if you go all out on the kicks. Just don't rely solely on it for exercise, because Blanks & Co. only work one side of the body to demonstrate the moves, plus it's too slow to provide any real fitness benefits.)



2.) Tae-Bo Basic-- When you're feeling a bit more confident, give Basic a whirl. This 30-min. workout is a workout. More importantly, it's a good one that only takes half an hour. (What more could a gal ask for?!) Anyway, you're treated to an energizing mix of punches and kicks and Blanks' patented spiritually tinged (but not heavy-handed) words of wisdom. The tai-chi cool-down alone makes this workout worthwhile. Great for those busy workdays when you want to burn calories and work up a sweat-- but don't have all day to do so. (I've been getting up at 5 a.m. to squeeze this in on my glorious, teaching-at-8 a.m. days.)



3.) Advanced Tae-Bo-- All y'all have to know about this 55-min. aero/tone workout is that it's awesome and tough! First, you sweat your way through approx. 30 mins. of kicks and punches. Then, it's about 15 mins. of intense ab work. (After over a decade of serious working out and experimenting with just about every fitness trend in the universe, I actually have some semblance of ab muscles at almost 30 years of age, thanks largely in part to doing this tape on a regular basis. This is the one I pull off the shelf when I want a challenge or feel that I need to tone up and/or drop a few pounds. Does the trick every time!) Finally, there's a 10-min. squat-and-stretch cool-down in which Billy provides more of his heart-felt spiritual motivation (e.g. "Tap into a higher power.")-- which, trust me, is necessary after completing this routine. If you're wanting to take your fitness regime to the next level, then this is the video for you. One word of caution, however: Make absolute dang sure that you've mastered Instructional and Basics before moving on to this workout. I learned that little lesson the hard way. LOL!

4.) 8-Minute Workout-- Okay, it sounds great in theory: An uber-mini workout with maximum intensity and subsequent results. Unfortunately, the practical application leaves a little to be desired. Still, this brief routine does pack a passable punch-- literally!-- and a little something is always better than nothing. If you're really pressed for time, do this for some half-way decent cardio benefits.

My Interpretation of "Dreams"

I recently discussed Season 7 (1978-79) of the anti-war show to end all anti-war shows-- otherwise known as M*A*S*H. Today, I'm going to talk a little about Season 8 (1979-80). This season is defined by a number of highlights, including the two-part episode "Good-bye Radar (#s 8.4 & 8.5; 10/1 & 10/8/79)" in which the perpetually youthful company clerk is discharged and returns home to Iowa to attend to family issues. However, imho, the real highlight here is Ep. #8.22, the conceptual (and very misunderstood, I might add) "Dreams (2/18/80)." In the paragraphs below, I will offer my interpretation of "Dreams."

The opening dream sequence is that of Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan. In her dream, Margaret is wearing a wedding dress. She is greeted by her "Mr. Right," who is wearing a tuxedo. Just as the happy couple is about to kiss, a war erupts around them. Margaret's white dress becomes stained with the mens' blood. This is often referred to as the show's "Lysistrata scene." (For those who haven't read any of my earlier posts, Lysistrata is an anti-war play by Aristophanes in which a group of women in war-torn Ancient Greece protest war's devasting effects on family life. Incidentally, "Lysistrata" is my stage name when I perform my spoken-word pieces.) Margaret herself is all-too aware of how war is bad for marriages, since she divorced her soldier husband in the show's seventh season. I think this scene is very timely in that the number of divorces related to long and multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan is reportedly quite high.

Next up is Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt's dream. Here, B.J. imagines that he is at a gala of some sort and is about to dance with his beloved wife, Peg, but is abruptly jolted back to the reality of the O.R. In a sense, Beege's dream is the male answer to Hot Lips'. Through this sequence, viewers see just how much of a devoted family man Hunnicutt is and that he just wants the war to end soon so that he can go home to California in order to take care of Peg and daughter Erin.

Then, Col. Potter dreams that he is at home in Missouri, horseback riding, celebrating the Fourth of July, and enjoying his wife's cooking. This one's pretty obvious; Potter is subconsciously wishing to be back in the good ole U.S.A. in order to celebrate the freedom he and so many others are supposedly fighting for in Korea.

Following Potter's dream, Maj. Winchester has one in which he is a magician performing all sorts of magic tricks. The rest of the 4077 is cheering Charles on as he performs more and more challenging feats successfully. All of a sudden, while Winchester is simultaneously tapdancing and holding lit sparklers, a dying patient is wheeled into the O.R. on a gurney. Charles starts dancing and twirling harder and faster, but the wounded soldier eventually dies. The symbolism here is that hot-headed Charles is becoming increasingly frustrated with the fact that some of his patients may die under his care, regardless of what he tries to do for them. Being extremely image conscious and narcissistic, Charles fears that if he cannot save a patient, it will reflect negatively on him and tarnish his carefully constructed public facade.

After Charles' "magic act," Corp. Max Klinger dreams that he has boarded a train for his hometown-- Toledo, Ohio. Once he arrives there, Klinger finds himself in proximity to all his old stomping grounds and is immediately comforted by the familiar surroundings. His comfort is short-lived, for upon peering into the window of his favorite neighborhood bar, Klinger sees Col. Potter standing inside, wearing bloody scrubs. Once again, this terrifying vision emphasizes the fact that war is disruptive to every facet of peoples' lives.

The next restless dreamer is Father Francis Mulcahy, who imagines being named Pope. To me, it always seems that Mulcahy is struggling to be a sort of spiritual leader amid all the chaos. Throughout the show's 11 seasons, Mulcahy expresses concern that he feels lost in the shuffle and that his words of priestly wisdom often fall on deaf ears. I feel that the primary poignance of Mulcahy's dream, however, is that political and religious leaders wage wars (or, in politispeak, "police actions"), but, ironically and tragically, these are the individuals who are usually least likely to listen to those who oppose them.

Finally, and perhaps most disturbingly, Hawkeye Pierce falls asleep and dreams that he is being asked to remove both his arms. Undoubtedly the most vociferously anti-war member of the 4077, Hawk frequently rails against the fact that he is often forced to commit perceived violations of his Hippocratic oath ('First do no harm.'), including gruesome and disabling limb amputations. Hawk's dream illustrates the ultimate bitch of war: Young people who serve in it achieve "hero" status in the eyes of society, but often at the expense of life, limb, and/or sanity. (On a personal note, this dream sequence illustrates precisely why I named Hawkeye Pierce the greatest TV character of all time on this blog during Emmy week in September.)

To conclude, I'm one of those who prefer the later, anti-war dramedy years of M*A*S*H. Season 8's conceptual episode "Dreams" is one of the main reasons why. I strongly urge everyone to view this episode conscientiously and with an open mind. This episode is pure genius and should be viewed as nothing else.

A Very Ashleyverse Christmas

Today is my semester finale at work. Yay! However, I'm feeling a little under the weather atm. I swear, it never fails-- my immune system is always shot during finals weeks. Anyway, I'm just going to rest up tonight and try to get into the yuletide spirit with SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas (8-10 PM ET, NBC), a retrospective of holiday sketches past and present. The title is a reference to that creepy Kristen Wiig character, Bridgewater Elementary School's most infamous student (Tagline:"Uh-huh, yeah, what?, sorry!"). Honestly, the show's been rather, well, lame lately, although I did enjoy the Taylor Swift episode. Of course, it helped that-- as mentioned in Ms. Swift's musical monologue-- Kanye (overrated jackass!) wasn't there. LOL! As for Wiig, she gets on my nerves. That infernal Penelope (the pathological one-upper character) makes me want to bust my TV screen. For some reason, though, I find the Target Lady mildly funny. I'm basically going to tune in to see the classic Christmas skits. The ones from the 70s are my faves. There's a lot of great 90s SNL Christmas-themed comedy, too-- especially a certain sketch featuring Alec Baldwin. Well, time for me to get going and get started on prepping for yet another Ashleyverse Christmas. Peace!

More Wacky, Weird, and Wild World News for Your Wednesday

Well, it's Hump Day once again, so to break up the monotony of this workweek, I'm going discuss some crazy current events. From the Duggar Family to health care to Afghanistan, there's a lot of wacky stuff going on in this crazy sphere today. So, here goes:
In general weirdness, the Duggars (as in Jim Bob, Michelle, & Co.-- the prodigious procreators from Arkansas) have welcomed their 19th J-named offspring, Josie Brooklyn, into the world. Josie is three months premature and weighed under two pounds at birth. I'm sorry, but I hope this is a wake up call to this family that there are other ways to prove your holiness besides extreme breeding.
In political news, the single-payer health-care bill died in the Senate. Oh, well, we just have to keep pushing on this one. Also, I'm still optimistic about President Obama's Afghanistan strategy. Here's the deal, folks: This is a means to an end. I predict we'll be on our way out of the Middle East by the end of the president's first term in office.
Lastly, in Ashleyverse news, tomorrow is the last day of the semester. Incidentally, today is also the third anniversary of my graduation from "regular college." On Sat., Dec. 16, 2006, I received my bachelor of arts degree in English from EIU. So, I have a few things to celebrate tonight. Accordingly, I will now sign off to do just that. Until next time, peace in all things.

Final Analysis

Well, folks, I gave my communications final early, early this morning-- too danged early, in fact-- and it went very smoothly. Everyone showed up this time, which was a vast improvement over last year. (Two or three students completely blew off my fall semester final a year ago. It's like, 'The college prints out those finals schedules for a reason, people!' ) Anyway, I also graded my requisite mountain o' papers in Flex-Op this afternoon. It looks as though almost everyone's going to finish up in there, so I'm basically pleased with that endeavor.
Also, I received my grade for my EIU class via e-mail today. I got an A! I was pleasantly, pleasantly surprised. I thought for sure I was going to get a B. Then again, I always downgrade myself and am definitely my own worst critic. I've gotta work on that. LOL! Apparently, the research proposal went well after all. I think what ultimately synched the grade for me was the post-presentation Q&A session with my professor and classmates, during which I expressed a desire to further explore my paper topic ("The Politics of Otway's Venice Preserved") and hinted about how I might go about doing that. For example, I alluded to this concept that's been circulating throughout my insane mind as of late, which falls somewhere along the lines of paralleling Otway's Restoration tragedy to current political events. Um... I'll get back with y'all later on that. Okay, I need to stop analyzing everything and just be happy. (Note to self: Stop being so analytical and enjoy your success for once!) Alright, I'd better stop while I'm still ahead. Peace, Love, & Happiness on this lovely mid-December's eve.

The Last of the Mondays

I am so happy right now! Why? Answer: I just completed the last loooong Monday of the semester at work. I spent the better part of today typing up my communications final, which I'm giving at-- you guessed it-- 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. (Ughhh... so glad to not have to do that for a little while!) My last official workday before Christmas break is Thursday. Going to school and teaching simultaneously has been fun, but it's also been a lot of hard work. Needless to say, I wish I could fast-forward to Thursday night. Anywho, that's all I can think of for now, so bon voyage until next time. Namaste!

How I'm Getting Into the Christmas Spirit This Year

Howdy, y'all! I'm just kickin' back and enjoyin' the first lazy Sunday afternoon of my Christmas break from Eastern. I've got a work party to go to tonight, and I just whipped up another batch of my oh-so-famous seven-layer Mexican dip. Anyway, I've been listening to some holiday "mood music," courtesy of the Now! CD series (there may be a relevant review/discussion of some of the songs on these discs here in the coming days-- stay tuned) and watching holiday-themed episodes of some of my fave TV shows on DVD. (I highly recommend "White Lie Christmas" from Season 1 of My Name Is Earl (a total riot) and "Death Takes a Holiday" from Season 9 of M*A*S*H (poignantly awesome) for yuletide viewing.) In addition, I'm trying my dangdest to make my humble abode half-way presentable for any visitors who may stop by throughout the season. So, that's a brief synopsis of my holiday plans for this year. Peace on Earth (my perennial wish) and goodwill to all my fellow human beings.

Overview of M*A*S*H-- Season 7 (Disc 3)

Just as I've done with Discs 1 & 2 of M*A*S*H, Season 7, I will discuss the episodes on Disc 3 in this post. Episodes and commentary are as follows:

Ep. #7.18: "The Price (1/15/79)"-- Col. Potter's beloved horse, Sophie, is missing, and Hawkeye and B.J. help a Korean boy hide from the Korean Army. Another episode that provides insight into the dynamics of the two doctors' friendship.

Ep. #7.19: "The Young and the Restless (1/22/79)"-- A medical demonstrator extraordinaire travels to Korea from Tokyo to demonstrate the latest surgical techniques to the docs at the 4077. This visitor has some very interesting effects on Hawkeye, B.J., Charles, et. al. This, in turn, makes for a very interesting episode.

Ep. #7.20-- "Hot Lips Is Back in Town (1/29/79)"-- Margaret returns to work in a celebratory mood following her divorce. (This is where the show becomes explicitly feministic, which is awesome.) There's also a really cute subplot in which Hawkeye gives Radar some advice on how to attract a pretty nurse.

Ep. #7.21-- "C*A*V*E (2/5/79)"-- In order to avoid becoming the target of "friendly" artillery fire, the 4077 bugs out to a cave. Here, we get to see Macho Man Hawkeye's vulnerable side, for it is revealed that he is claustrophobic. (For some reason, I like the episodes in which Hawk is vulnerable and sensitive. Cute!)

Ep. #7.22-- "Rally Round the Flagg, Boys (2/14/79)"-- Hawkeye is accused of being a Commie sympathizer, which prompts the return of ultra-right-wing, uber-paranoid Col. Flagg to the 4077. The reason for the accusation is that Hawk treated a wounded North Korean before an American soldier. Great episode that illustrates the dangerous ignorance of the Far Right.

Ep. #7.23-- "Preventative Medicine (2/19/79)"-- Perhaps one of my top-5 fave M*A*S*H eps. In this one, Hawk performs an unecessary apendectomy on a crazy colonel with an extremely high casualty rate after Hawk learns that the colonel plans to lead a guesstimated 100 young men to their deaths by taking a notoriously deadly hill. B.J. protests his friend's decision to perform the unethical surgery, but to no avail. Hawk ultimately winds up feeling guilty and unsatisfied with his decision to proceed with the operation. Still, he is consoled by the fact that he possibly saved 100 lives in the process; however, even this consolation proves to be a hollow victory. The message here is that there really is no such thing as a fair trade in war.

Ep. #7.24-- "A Night at Rosie's (2/26/79)"-- Hawkeye is depressed and heads to the "local" watering hole to drown his sorrows. While at Rosie's Bar, Hawk hangs out with an AWOL seargeant. Eventually, all of Hawk's concerned friends and colleagues come to Rosie's in order to lure him back to camp. In addition to showing just how close this eclectic bunch of characters has become, this ep is an also an example of how the show's writers strived to increase its thematic and visual interest in Season 7. (It's filmed entirely inside Rosie's.)

Ep. #7.25-- "Ain't Love Grand? (3/5/79)"-- Klinger meets a girl who is actually attracted to his bizarre appearance. Charles falls in love with, of all people, a Korean "working girl," whom he meets at Rosie's. This ep proves once again that love is indeed a strange thing.

Ep. #7.26-- "The Party (3/12/79)"-- The 4077 has been discussing the possibility of a post-war reunion party. Then, B.J. gets another great idea: getting all the stateside family members of 4077 personnel together for a party in NYC. Following a very successful get-together, the staff receives letters from its loved ones that bear some pleasantly surprising news. For example, families that staff members feared would not get along, particularly the Winchesters and the O'Reillys (Charles is amusingly horrified that his parents have invited Radar's family to visit the Winchester family home after the war), are totally taken with each other. Fun!

Thoughts on Last Night's Presentation

Well, folks, I presented my paper last night. I think it went quite well. I got lots of positive feedback, so that's a good sign. I wish I had taken a different approach to the project, though. In the future, I'll probably be more creative as opposed to focusing so much on doing straight-up research. Still, I think this endeavor was successful overall. Anyway, last night was also the final class of the semester at EIU. I still have to get through finals week at work. I've got to finish up students in the Flex-op (independent study) reading and English class, and I will give my communications final on Tuesday morning. Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to celebrating the holidays this year and getting a little R&R.

Notes on the President's Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech

President Barack Obama accepted his Nobel Peace Prize today in Oslo, Norway. This occasion was poignant in that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. accepted his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Dec. 10, 1964-- 45 years ago today. In his speech, King said that violence and civilization are "antithetical concepts." Today, President Obama praised both King and Gandhi for their committment to nonviolence. However, the president also said that sometimes war is "necessary and morally justified." I've got to be honest here-- I'm a little concerned right now. I'm worried that Obama is feeling the pressure to pander to conservatives in order to be re-elected in 2012. (Oddly enough, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich praised the president's speech. A few commentators even likened Obama to his predecessor, George W. Bush.) Like I've said before, my biggest fear in regards to this matter is that Obama will fall into the LBJ trap with Afghanistan. Still, Obama's Afghan strategy does appear to be carefully mapped out, and I do believe that he will try to end U.S. involvement in the Middle East by summer 2011. I wish he could do so sooner, but we have to be realistic. Overall, I think that this president is pro-peace and would choose it over war if he was not backed into a corner with this ugly mess left over by the Bush administration. There's been some protests around the world against Obama this past week. There's a part of me that wants to protest, but, as King and Gandhi taught us, we can't achieve anything if we're motivated by anger. If you're going to protest, you must be informed and motivated by a desire to empower others and create peace.

How I Feel About the Health-Care Bill and Other Topics and Issues

As everyone's probably already heard by now, the Senate passed the health-care bill without the public option. While this may not be an ideal circumstance as far as we progressives are concerned, we must remember that every major piece of progressive legislation that's come down the pike-- from civil rights to women's rights and beyond-- has taken several generations to come to fruition. Change takes time, folks. Public option or no, we should regard this turn of events as progress. Meanwhile, we must continue to be vigilant and proactive so that the next generation can have full-scale health care.

In Hollyweird news, Entertainment Tonight is perpetuating ad nauseam coverage of the Tiger Woods investigation of his secret life, including seven alleged mistresses. Let's be honest here, people: Who didn't see this one coming? Honestly, the Tiger Woods mystique was practically set up to spontaneously combust. Tiger's finally let wealth, fame, and world-wide adoration go to his head. It's the oldest story in the book. Now, his wife, Elin Nordegren-- mother of the golfer's two children-- is reportedly debating whether to take a large sum of her husband's fortune to not leave him. If I were her, I'd take the money and run like Hell! Speaking of ET, they ran promos for the latest Barbara Walters special, a series of interviews with the 10 Most Interesting People of 2009 (airing tonight), including controversial American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert, whose latest "bombshell" is that he would like to-- horror of all neocon horrors!-- be a father someday. As I opined a few days ago in regards to the AMA performance scandal-- whatever! If a gay man wants to be a baby daddy (and has intentions to be fully involved in a child's life, of course), it ain't gonna rain on my moral parade.

Last but certainly not least, there's some Ashleyverse news. I put the finishing touches on my research project proposal today and am presenting it in class tomorrow night. Needless to say, I'm feeling a tremendous sense of accomplishment and relief right now. Anyway, it's a cold, snowy, windy night in my lil' neck of the woods. I'm getting ready to curl up with a piping hot cup of coffee and a nice, big stack of papers to grade. LOL! Alright, this concludes tonight's "broadcast." I'm signing off to enjoy my oh-so-glamorous evening. Peace!

December 8: A Rather Dark Day in History

Yes, folks, it's December 8-- a rather dark day in world and Ashleyverse history. Two events occurred on this day that my people wish wouldn't have happened.
First, yesterday was Pearl Harbor Day (commemoration of events of Dec. 7, 1941). On Dec. 8, 1941, the U.S. declared war on Japan, effectively beginning our involvement in WWII. It's always a sad day when we go to war with another nation, regardless of the reason or justification. (Then again, at least FDR had the common decency to invade the country that actually attacked us.)
Continuing on the whole war-and-peace theme, today is the very sad anniversary of the assassination of musician, artist, deliciously sarcastic humorist, poet, humanitarian, peace activist, rebel-with-a-cause, and one of my all-time heroes John Lennon. Mr. L was gunned down outside his Dakota apartment building in NYC on Dec. 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman, a crazed, delusional "fan," who committed this heinous crime against humanity under the guise of asking Lennon for an autograph. In memoriam, I'm going to watch my Imagine DVD tonight-- something I do every single year on this dark day for my people. I suppose the bright side of all this is that Lennon's beautiful art and music and his activist spirit have transcended the bounds of time and space and have survived for the current and future generations.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (Reprise)

Howdy, folks! I woke up this morning to somewhat of a winter wonderland. (My lil' neck of the woods is blanketed by a thin layer of snow atm. BTW, the title of this post is in reference to my Dec. 2, 2008, post of the same title. Y'all can check it out in the archives. It's not very interesting, though.) Anyway, I'm in the process of wrapping up yet another hectic semester and preparing for the holidays. Speaking of which, I learned last night that my dad, an endearingly (and enduringly!) eccentric character, is boycotting the rampant materialism and commercialization of the season this year. Whatever! According to my uncle, it's time to break out the Festivus tree. LOL! Well, I've got a busy day ahead of me (in the form of a meeting and back-to-back English and reading classes), so I'm signing off now. Peace, love, & happiness in all of life's endeavors.

Creative Fitness Options

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I mentioned a kickboxing DVD from the CIA (Creative Instructors Aerobics) 2900 series. In today's post, I'm going to discuss CIA 2901, 2902, 2903, and 2904.


Workout DVDs & Commentary:

CIA 2901: Kickbox Surge & Core with Amy Bento-- I'm slightly familiar with Bento's workouts and fun-loving teaching style, as I own her Hi/Lo Extreme and Advanced Step Challenge DVDs, which are, well, challenging. This workout is just as challenging, primarily since the aerobics choreography is complex and the kickboxing "surges" are fast-paced, to say the very least. As for the core-training segment, you use a medicine ball to execute some killer moves that will have your abs begging for mercy.

CIA 2902: Step Surge with Tonya Larson-- Here, upbeat instructor Larson leads a two-woman (one of whom is pregnant and demonstrating modifications) class through a rigorous step/interval workout. The choreography is once again complex, and the dumbbell-enhanced toning surges made me feel the burn. For the toning intervals that are interwoven into the cardio combos, 3-8-lb. weights are recommended. (I prefer to use 5-lb. ones.) I don't know when I'll fully master this workout, but one thing is clear: this ain't your mom's step workout! The thing I like best about this DVD is that the music is anything but old-school elevator. For example, the warm-up song is K.C. Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree." The cool-down stretch is also pretty good.

CIA 2903: Stepping Up with Seasun Zieger-- First of all, the music on this DVD is awesome! The soundtrack consists of funky, sassy "girl power" tunes, such as Pink's "So What," Lady Gaga's "Poker Face," and Duffy's "Mercy." Secondly, the choreography is tricky, but it's a little more athletic (which is good for me) than that of CIA 2902. Finally, the toning section, which utilizes the step and light (approx. 3 lbs.) dumbells is tough but ultimately doable.

CIA 2904: Cardio Combat Surge with Kimberly Spreen-- Okay, this is that DVD I mentioned in my Fri., Nov. 27 post, and it's by far my favorite of the four. Instructor Kimberly Spreen rocks, and so does this workout. For starters, it's athletic as opposed to dancy. (I feel that athletic choreography is more compatible with my body type than the dancy variety.) Also, you get to use some interesting equipment-- a body bar and a medicine ball, to be exact-- to perform some unique, stress-relieving moves. (See Nov. 27, 2009, post for more details.) Most importantly, this DVD has a definite alternative fitness feel. There is a 15-20-min. fusion stretch at the end that is absolutely delightful. (Note: This workout is about 90 mins. long, but the chapter menu is designed so that you can easily split up the main workout (approx. 70 mins.) and the concluding fusion stretch if you're pressed for time.)

Final Thoughts on the Monstrous Regiment of Women

A while back, I ranted and raved about various aspects of the documentary The Monstrous Regiment of Women. In this post, I'm going to express some final thoughts on it.

One major issue I have with the whole Quiverfull Movement (which takes its name from a Bible verse that says something about children being like "arrows in a quiver") is that children seem to be viewed as trophies as opposed to human beings. The basic ideology behind the movement is the more children you have, the more godly you are. First of all, the Bible contains a lot of figurative language, and its stories are meant to be interpreted as guidelines for good living, not as inflexible rules to be taken literally. Secondly, how moral is it for a woman to buy into this ideology, only to become resentful of her children later on? Finally, this film ends up coming off more like fundamentalist propaganda as opposed to an expose of feminist teaching.

Speaking of feminist teaching, these gals' main gripe with it is that feminists subscribe to the worldview that humanity is fundamentally good. I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how these women can allow their belief system to dictate their entire lives if it makes them miserable. (Funny, they claim that feminists are unhappy, because they listen to their own inner voices as opposed to God. FYI, God gave us free will and intuition in order to find our pre-ordained purpose in life. It may not always be easy, but we're better off in the long run if we follow our God-given inner voices.) That's no way to live life, imho. In addition, they lambaste pro-equality legislation-- especially the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment)-- and claim that Christians believe in hierarchy, cannot be egalitarians, and can only support certain types of equality. Okay, Jesus was definitely anti-hierarchy, and-- excuse me-- but I thought equality was one of those things that couldn't be compartmentalized. Silly progressive me! (Y'know, I think one of my first orders of business once I make it to Congress will be to kick the passage of the ERA into overdrive. Take that, Phyllis!)

Oh, and then there's the life issue. More specifically, Quiverfullers are first and foremost self-styled anti-abortion activists. Abortion is undoubtedly the proverbial "sacred cow" of this movement. While I am personally pro-life, I feel that there is a big difference between life and mere existence. Existence begins at conception, while a life is what an individual chooses to have. Now, they're entitled to believe what they want, but I hate it when conservative Christians act like they have the patent on anti-abortion/pro-life thinking. Many Buddhists, for example, are ardently pro-life. Of course, most Buddhists and practitioners of other Eastern religions are also anti-war and pro-environmentalism. Narrator Emily Gunn very irresponsibly likens the feminist movement to a Holocaust or a daily 9/11 attack on babies. (For the record, I'm a liberal feminist, love babies, and would like to have a couple in the near future.) Another point I'd like to make is that most of the legislators passing anti-choice legislation are, for all intents and purposes, men. Here's the deal, folks: Until we can resolve issues like homelessness and poverty, women must be given the choice as to what to do with their bodies. In actuality, keeping abortion legal also keeps it a rare occurrence.

Finally, the women featured in this documentary heavily emphasize the P.O.V. that they are really only concerned with the welfare of white children. One commentator, home-schooling advocate Mary Pride-- a blaring behemoth of a woman-- explicitly states her belief in "demographic winter," a term used to describe supposedly dwindling white, Christian European populations. Pride expresses concern that Muslims and immigrant populations are producing prolific families. As far as I'm concerned, this is a blatant appeal to xenophobia (racism) that has become the modus opperandi of the Religious Right in the wake of current events. (Incidentally, Quiverfullers don't much like Catholics, either. The rationale here is that many Catholics now use birth control.) Pride's special features vignette seriously undercuts TMROW's entire pro-life message.

Alright, here's my final word on TMROW: I honestly feel that the views espoused by the movie's commentators represent only a small fringe faction of extremists. Furthermore, the majority of American women, even conservative Christian ones, have too much self-respect (not to mention intelligence and self-esteem!) to fall for this rhetoric. Most importantly, most Texas-bred gals are not Emily Gunn wannabes. A few of us want to be the next Ann Richards and, to paraphrase the late, great Molly Ivins (a fellow Lone Star lady), go out there and leave no sacred cow unbarbecued.

About That Research Proposal...

Hello! I've mentioned several times in the past couple weeks that I'm working on a research proposal project for my master's class. Well, I've been working on it for the last few days and hope to finish it up over the weekend. Anyway, for my topic, I'm writing about Thomas Otway's Venice Preserved (1682) and using research to argue that this play is a political allegory and is a metaphor for actual historical and political events that occurred in 17th-century England. It sounds like a lot, but it's actually kind of fun. It really helps that I've picked a subject that I enjoy writing about, which is politics. (I guess y'all could already infer that I'm into politics from reading previous posts. lol!)

My Reading List for 12/03/09 and More Uncensored Opinions on the President's Handling of the Afghan War

Hey! For my class tonight, I'm reading Elizabeth Inchbald's Such Things Are (1787). Like the previous selection I read and discussed here this semester, this play deals with feminist and multi-cultural issues. For example, one of the female characters is from India, and there is much discussion and debate about Eastern vs. Western culture and values throughout the play's five acts. Again, I'm pleased to be reading about these issues from a feminine perspective.
Now, as I promised in this post's title, I'll regale y'all with more uncensored opinions on President Obama's handling of the Afghan War. For starters, he's vowed that Afghanistan will not become another Vietnam. Secondly, I seriously trust that he will study U.S. military history rigorously and will get our guys (and gals) out of there ASAP. In addition, being the way that he is (read: intellectual), President Obama will more than likely study history in general, especially bios of past world leaders like Alexander the Great, whose ultimate undoing was Afghanistan. After all, Lincoln studied military and world history during the Civil War and discussed his findings with his generals. Finally, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has stated that he is willing to negotiate with Taliban stronghold Pakistan in order to bring about some semblance of peace in the region. I just hope that Karzai and Pakistan are willing to negotiate with President Obama, who will most certainly try to negotiate with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Okay, I've got a class to teach and reading to do, so until next time, peace.

The Perfect Holiday Party Recipe

I thought I'd take a little break from all the heavy-duty, war-and-peace-related stuff in order to post a great holiday recipe. It's a Better Homes & Gardens "Favorite" Mexican Seven-Layer Dip recipe that my family, friends, and co-workers just love. So, here it is:

Mexican Seven-Layer Dip

Prep: 15 mins.

Makes: 16 servings

Chill: 4 to 24 hrs.

1 9-oz. can bean dip

1/4 c. picante or taco sauce

1 8-oz. container refrigerated guacamole

1 8-oz. carton dairy sour cream

1 c. shredded cheddar or taco cheese

1/4 c. sliced green onion (optional)

2 tblsp. sliced, pitted ripe olives

2/3 c. chopped seeded tomato (1 medium)

8 c. tortilla chips or crackers

1. Combine bean dip and picante (or taco) sauce. Spread mixture into a 1/4-inch-thick, 9x5 rectangle on a serving platter (or in a casserole dish). Carefully spread guacamole and sour cream over bean dip mixture. Top with cheese, green onion, and olives. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

2. Before serving, sprinkle with chopped tomato. Serve with tortilla chips.

(Notes: I like to substitute the tomato and onions for canned, diced chili-ready tomatoes that have built-in onion flavoring. Also, I prefer to use taco cheese and taco sauce. As for chips, I recommend accompanying this dip with Tostitos Scoops!. Finally, this stuff tastes best when paired with a Corona, Mojito, or Margarita.)

Source: Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, Limited Edition, p. 66. Des Moines, Iowa: Meredith Books, 2007.

Where We Stand with Afghanistan

Well, the president made a decision today to send about 30,000 troops to Afghanistan over a six-month period. This plan has a built-in timetable for total U.S. troop withdrawal from the Middle East.
As always, here's my uncensored opinion on the matter: While I'm unhappy with the president's decision to send a surge of troops into Afghanistan, I trust that he won't allow it to turn into a quagmire-- a la Vietnam and Iraq. The bottom line here is that this president inherited the Afghanistan predicament, and, had the previous administration not been so tunnel-visioned about Iraq, we'd probably be out of the Middle East altogether by now. My one major concern is that President Obama will fall into the LBJ trap of escalating the war in order to appease the Far Right. So, folks, that's my oh-so-humble opinion about another issue du jour. (And, no, this is not my last word on this issue. There'll be plenty more where that came from later on this week. Stay tuned!)

My Feelings on the Latest Round of Negative Press Surrounding President Obama (and Angelina Jolie)

Well, folks, the Right's at it again. This time, they've launched a smear campaign against the prez in which they're trying to expose the seven dirty little secrets Obama doesn't want told to the public. If this was an Enquirer headline, I'd be able to blow it off, but alas, this was a Politico one. Now, I hear that Angelina Jolie is an Obama hater as well. Y'know what?: Screw the press-- and screw Angelina Jolie! Our president is doing the best he can to resolve a mess he inherited (key word, people). The main criticism among the Right is that the idealism that propelled the Obama camp to victory last year has given way to cynical realism. (Perish the thought!) Heaven forbid that our leaders should revise their policies upon realizing that the situation is much different than they previously expected. What would the naysayers rather have-- a president who continues disastrous policies long after even members of his own party have told him that his strategy isn't working? Oh, wait a minute-- we had such a leader for eight years, and we all see how well that worked. Okay, it's time to return to the Ashleyverse to teach English and write research papers. Methinks that, from now on, I'll rely on alternative (read: reality-based, unbiased) news sources.

Overview of M*A*S*H, Season 7 (Disc 2)

A few days ago, I discussed the episodes on Disc 1 of M*A*S*H, Season 7, Collector's Edition. Today, I'll do the same for Disc 2. Episode list and commentary are as follows:

Ep. #7.10: "Baby, It's Cold Outside" (11/13/78)-- It's a bitterly cold (13 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact) winter day, and the 4077th struggles to keep itself and its patients warm and comfortable. Charles makes himself very unpopular by flaunting his brand-new winterized polar suit in front of his peers and patients. Meanwhile, Radar devises an unusual and effective treatment method, and there is some rather comical bickering between Charles and Margaret.

Ep. #7.11: "Point of View" (11/20/78)-- This is a brilliant episode. (During this season, the writers and stars, especially Alan Alda, strived successfully to make the show more visually and thematically interesting.) The storyline is told straight from the point of view of wounded soldiers, a concept that allows viewers to see never-before-explored sides of the main characters. For example, we really get to witness the extent of the competition and rivalry between Hawkeye and Charles. Nothing less than creative genius.

Ep. #7.12: "Dear Comrade" (11/27/78)-- Hawkeye and B.J. become suspicious of the motives of Charles' extremely attentive Korean servant. Another interesting character sketch of Charles.

Ep. #7.13: "Out of Gas" (12/4/78)-- The unit has run out of sodium pentothal, so Father Mulcahy arranges to buy some off black market racketeers. Major problems arise when the camp priest takes Winchester with him to pick up the shipment of anesthetic.

Ep. #7.14: "An Eye for a Tooth" (12/11/78)-- Another Father Mulcahy-centered episode. This time, Mulcahy shows an uncharacteristically angry side of himself after being once again passed over for a promotion. The results of his actions are nearly disastrous, and he learns some valuable lessons.

Ep. #7.15: "Dear Sis" (12/18/78)-- Once again, Mulcahy is the featured player. In this episode, he shows his vulnerable side when writing a letter home to his sister, who is a nun. In the letter, Mulcahy says that he feels useless and wants to do more to help the troops. Very apropo for this time of year.

Ep. #7.16: "B.J. Papa San" (1/1/79)-- Here, B.J. wears himself out taking care of a struggling Korean family, and Hawkeye becomes very worried about him. An interesting character/psychological study. It must be noted that the seventh season marks a turning point for Hunnicutt's overall personality (as well as physical appearance). We begin to see glimpses of "Angry B.J." at this point.

Ep. #7.17: "Inga" (1/8/79)-- I like this Emmy Award-winning episode, because it tackles gender issues. The macho male docs take a massive ego hit when a beautiful Swedish doctor-- who just happens to be female-- observes in the 4077th's OR. Inga first criticizes their surgical techniques and then upstages the guys. The coolest part is when Margaret gives Hawkeye a much-deserved talkin' to about being a male chauvinist pig. Houlihan's point of view becomes increasingly feministic from this moment on. This is another reason I prefer the middle-to-later years of the series' 11-year run.

More Crazy, Weird News-- Plus How I'm Getting Ready for Christmas

Well, folks, it's Thansgiving weekend, and lots of us are preparing for the yuletide onslaught in a variety of ways. I've been listening to Christmas carols and getting a few laughs in this morning, courtesy of Alec Baldwin's schwetty balls. (Seriously, who else could've pulled off that skit?) I'm also going to put my tree up. As always, I'd like to know how the rest of y'all are prepping for the holidays.

In addition to all the holiday hoopla, there's lots of crazy, weird news happening atm. And, yes, y'all will be treated to my totally uncensored opinions on all of it right here. First up, there's the White House party crashers story. Michaele and Tariq Salahi actually got past the Secret Service and got their picture taken with President Obama. Unshockingly, this opportunistic (in a negative way) couple is trying to land a reality show. I swear, we've become such a sycophantic society. Egads! I want to meet President Obama someday (I've actually been in the same room with him)-- but for the right reasons. Anyway, there's a Washington Post article (washingtonpost.com) about these losers-- and, surprise! surprise!-- their lives are filled with lawsuits and debt and an ugly family feud. I guess things ain't always what they appear to be, huh?

The other item I want to discuss is the Adam Lambert/American Music Awards brouhaha. Y'know what, people? If you don't like what you're watching, turn the dang channel. As far as I'm concerned, FOX News is the most offensive thing on TV. Of course, the neocons who rail against the likes of Mr. Lambert fail to realize this. Instead, FOX (ironically, the network that broadcasts American Idol) affiliates broadcast war coverage like it's the Superbowl. (Then again, I just turn the channel if I don't like what I see. Furthermore, I'm usually too busy living an actual life to even really care what's on TV.) I think that for every time they show images of people making war on each other, there should be an equal number of images of people making love shown on TV to balance things out. As for Mr. Lambert, I loved his response to the controversy and feel that he had no need to apologize for anything whatsoever.

Alright, back to my discussion of nice, happy, Christmas-y things. I wish y'all the most peaceful, love-filled, and happy holiday season ever. (FYI, I'm still wishing for peace on earth; Johnny Depp would be nice, too. I know the former will take a lot of doing, and the latter is a virtual impossibility. A gal can dream, though!)

Top-5 Ashleyverse Alternative Fitness Activities

In order to offset the negative side effects of holiday indulgences-- as well as the stress of preparing for my very grad-level research proposal presentation-- I'm indulging my passion for alternative fitness this lovely Thanksgiving weekend. Below is a list of my Top-5 fave alternative fitness activities and my feelings on them. I'll even recommend a few DVDs.
1.) Yoga-- I can't say enough positive things about this activity. As I've mentioned several times previously, I'm really into advanced power yoga at present. For beginners to intermediates, I recommend Kathy Smith's Yoga Sculpt. For those wanting to take their practice to the next level, Mark Blanchard's Progressive Power Yoga Series DVDs are the way to go. (See my Nov. 8, 2009, post for more details.)
2.) Pilates-- This exercise method is fab for those who want to sculpt non-bulky, dancer-like muscles. Mari Winsor's workouts are a great intro, while Rael Isacowitz's System 17 and System 27 DVDs transport your Pilates experience to a whole new dimension. (Again, check out my Nov. 8 post.)
3.) Kickboxing-- An awesome alternative to traditional aerobics. Kathy Smith's Cardio Knockout compilation disc rocks. Of course, you can't go wrong with Billy Blanks' Original Tae-Bo set, which consists of a 40-min. instructional workout, a 30-min. basic workout, a 55-min. advanced workout, and a turbo-charged 8-min. workout for when you're short on time but still want to get your Tae-Bo fix for the day. I've been doing Tae-Bo for 10 years, and it's the best. Finally, for a unique variation on this Ashleyverse fave fitness routine, try CIA [Creative Instructors' Aerobics] 2904: Cardio Combat Surge with Kimberly Spreen in which you use a body bar to simulate Asian martial-arts-style stickfighting for a simultaneously centering and invigorating East-meets-West exercise experience.
4.) Fusion Workouts-- When it comes to this category of fitness routine, there is only one name you need to know: Jennifer Kries. In her New Pilates Method videos, Ms. Kries combines Pilates, yoga, light-weight strength training, and classical ballet for an absolutely amazing workout experience. (For more info, search my blog archives for my Feb. 27, 2009, post.)
5.) Powerwalking-- My old standby. This is the form of exercise that started it all for me way, way back in my high school days. In fact, I just powerwalked this afternoon in the crisp autumn air. It was glorious! LOL! Anyway, in order to make a walk a powerwalk, you've got to move fast and really pump those arms and legs. No special equipment is required, and the technique is pretty easy to master. In order to maximize this truly effective (and economical!) workout, try to walk in an area with hilly terrain. The biggest benefit of powerwalking, however, is of the mental/spiritual variety. Being one with nature clears your mind and rejuvenates you. So, lace up those walkin' shoes and get movin'!

What are y'all doin' for Thanksgiving?

At the end of class on Tuesday, I asked my students what they were doing for Thanksgiving. I got a mixture of answers, ranging from "Not much" to "I'm getting together with friends and/or family for a big dinner and/or party." So, I thought I'd ask my faithful readers the same question: What are y'all doin' for Thanksgiving?
As for my plans for Turkey Day '09, they more closely resemble the latter student response. Atm, I'm watching The 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on CBS. (Maybe it's kinda dorky, but it just ain't Thanksgiving without the parade.) I'm spending this afternoon with my dad's side of the family and this evening with my mom's. If anything particularly interesting happens today (and it inevitably will), I'll talk about it here.
Of course, there are folks who've been hit hard by the recession or are serving our country overseas. Let's keep those individuals in our thoughts and prayers as we give thanks for what we have. Speaking of which, I'm thankful for the people I have around me and the opportunities that have been afforded to me. For these things, I owe an immense debt of gratitude.
Well, I hope y'all have a lovely Thanksgiving, and feel free to let me know what y'all are up to.

Overview of M*A*S*H, Season 7 (Disc 1)

Season 7 (1978-79) of M*A*S*H is loaded with excellent episodes. Perhaps the most obvious change is Hunnicutt's mustache. Since this season has so many highlights, I'm going to review it in its entirety in three separate posts, beginning with today's discussion of Disc 1 of this collection.

Ep. #7.1-- "Commander Pierce" (9/18/78)-- When Col. Potter has to go away for a few days, he decides to appoint Dr. Winchester as temporary C.O. After Charles turns down the offer, Potter then asks Hawkeye to take the position. Commander Pierce quickly learns that it's lonely at the top, and his "subordinates" take full advantage of Hawk's flippant attitude toward authority. For example, B.J. goes AWOL in order to help a soldier's wounded buddy, and Klinger devises his craziest schemes for getting a Section 8 ever. To complicate matters, Winchester is ailing and is being an even bigger big, spoiled baby than he already is. Overall, this is an excellent season premier.

Ep. #7.2-- "Peace on Us"(9/25/78)-- This ranks right up there as one my all-time fave M*A*S*H eps. Hawkeye crashes the peace talks, which have been going on for way too long, and speaks his mind to negotiators. At B.J.'s request, the 4077th throws that "moronic fruitcake (Winchester's words)" a big party for Hawkeye's bravery and willingness to stand up for what is right. (Honestly, I would do the same thing if I were in Hawk's shoes.) A wonderful subplot is Margaret's announcement of her impending divorce, which she refers to as the "best thing that ever happened to me."

Ep. #7.3-- "Lil" (10/2/78)-- A dignitary named Col. Lillian Rayburn, who is around Col. Potter's age, visits the 4077th, and Radar suspects that there is something going on between the two. In one scene, Lil and Margaret have a very interesting discussion about being female in a male-dominated world.

Ep. #7.4 & #7.5-- "Our Finest Hour, Parts 1 & 2" (10/9/78)-- (Note: This is actually a two-part episode, and the installments can be viewed either together or separately. Personally, I feel it's much more meaningful and impactful when viewed as one episode.) War correspodent Clete Roberts returns for a second interview with 4077th personnel. (Roberts' first visit occurred in the Season 4 finale, "The Interview.") This time, we get to hear Margaret's point of view, as well as the opinions of Maj. Winchester. And Charles certainly has strong opinions of his bunkmates! This is essentially a "clip show," with snippets from previous seasons, including 1-3 (which I really don't care for) with Trapper John McIntyre (Wayne Rogers) and the now-deceased Lt. Col. Henry Blake (McLean Stevenson). As is the original interview, this episode is filmed partially in black-and-white.

Ep. #7.6-- "The Billfold Syndrome" (10/16/78)-- Dr. Sidney Freedman returns to the 4077th once again to help a young medic with a case of memory loss. Allan Arbus' Freedman is probably my favorite non-regular M*A*S*H character.

Ep. #7.7-- "None Like It Hot" (10/23/78)-- In order to combat the sweltering 100+-degree Korean summer heat, Hawkeye and B.J. purchase a mail-order rubber bathtub from Abercrombie & Fitch. Soon, everyone wants to use the tub, which causes a lot of problems. It's pretty dang funny to see grown men-- Army officers, no less-- behaving like immature little boys over a bathtub. This episode provides viewers with a little comic relief amid a lot of seriousness.

Ep. #7.8-- "They Call the Wind Korea" (10/30/78)-- Charles decides that he can't take it anymore when strong winds interrupt the transfer of incoming wounded. Thus, he decides to abscond to Seoul for a little R&R. This plan sounds fine and dandy in theory, but things go awry when Charles' self-appointed chauffeur for this excursion turns out to be none other than Klinger. As you can imagine, this is one wacky half-hour.

Ep. #7.9-- "Major Ego" (11/6/78)-- Charles saves a patient's life with open-heart massage during surgery, and the positive attention not surprisingly goes to his head. Maj. Windbag promptly calls Stars & Stripes so that the newspaper can run an article about his heroic exploits. Charles' newfound fame rankles Hawkeye-- whom, interestingly enough, "Front-Page Charlie" considers arrogant and boastful-- and the two doctors get into a rather funny battle of egos.

M*A*S*H, Season 6, Highlights

In the sixth season (1977-78) of what many consider to be one of, if not the greatest, TV show ever, there are many changes in the lives of 4077th personnel as well the make-up of the staff itself. For instance, Maj. Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan (Loretta Swit) is now an unhappily married woman, and her ex-lover, Maj. Frank Burns (Larry Linville), has been shipped stateside and replaced by the larger-than-life-- both in terms of personality and stature-- Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III (David Ogden Stiers). As a result of these changes, M*A*S*H, Season 6, has many highlights and great episodes. Here are just a few:


Disc 1:


"Fade Out, Fade In (9/20/77)"-- In this very funny season premier, Frank Burns has finally lost it and is shipped stateside after reportedly harassing every woman he comes into contact with and calling her "Margaret." Ferret Face's replacement, wealthy Boston Brahmin Maj. Charles Emerson Winchester III (la-di-da!), currently employed at Tokyo General Hospital, is a totally different character, to say the least.


"Fallen Idol (9/27/77)"-- In this episode, Corp. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly (Gary Burghoff) is wounded by mortar fire en route to Seoul in order to "y'know" at the Pink Pagoda after Capt. Hawkeye Pierce (Alan Alda) urges him to do so. Overcome with massive guilt, Hawkeye gets wasted and has to leave the OR to throw up during a surgery. This upsets Radar, who idolizes Hawk. In the recovery room, Hawkeye ridicules Radar's "Iowa naivete" and, according to Col. Sherman Potter (Harry Morgan), utters his 'most bellicose barrelfull of bull durham ever' to Radar. As for humor, Winchester tosses some of his zingiest remarks ever Hawk's way. (The dialogue in this episode is particularly stellar.) One of the best, most memorable M*A*S*H eps.


"Last Laugh (10/4/77)"-- An old friend and fellow service member of Capt. B.J. Hunnicutt's (Mike Farrell)-- who happens to be a notorious practical joker-- visits the 4077th. He also reports B.J. as an imposter to the Provost Marshall's office. When B.J. is arrested by MPs on charges of willful disorderly conduct while allegedly staying at the same hotel as a general, Hawkeye and the gang stand up for B.J. Viewers see just how deep Hawkeye and B.J.'s friendship really is. Of course, the charges are ultimately proven false.


"The Winchester Tapes (10/18/77)"-- Charles tries to get his influential family back home in Massachusetts to pull strings to get him out of the Army. He does so through a series of tape-recorded letters. Winchester, who, IMHO, had some of the best lines in the entire series, delivers a classic here: "Mother and Father, I will try to put this as eloquently and succinctly as possible: Get me the Hell out of here!"


"The Light That Light Failed (10/25/77)"-- The 4077th has run out of lightbulbs, so B.J. passes around copies of his most recent murder mystery to his comrades to read by candlelight in order to pass the time. In a related subplot, Charles makes a pretty serious surgical mistake in a dimly lit OR.

"In Love and War (11/1/77)"-- A wealthy Korean woman interrupts a surgery Hawkeye is performing and asks Col. Potter to send Dr. Pierce to help her dying mother. Hawk is initially resentful of the woman, but he later finds out that she is selflessly helping war widows and orphans. The two eventually become friends and begin to actually fall in love with one another. Unfortunately, Hawk's would-be girlfriend decides to move after her mother passes away. This is one of the sweetest episodes of any show I have ever seen.


Disc 2:


"The MASH Olympics (11/22/77)"-- Taking a cue from the 1952 Olympic Games being held in Helsinki, Finland, Col. Potter decides to teach his troops some discipline vis-a-vis their own "olympics." Here, we get to see newlyweds Margaret Houlihan and Lt. Col. Donald Penobscot together as a married couple for the first time since the Season 5 finale ("Margaret's Marriage"). The cracks in the couple's relationship are clearly beginning to show.


"The Grim Reaper (11/29/77)"-- Hawkeye deals with bloodthirsty Col. Victor Bloodworth-- who views casualties of war as simply numbers-- as only Hawkeye can. It is around this point that the series began to morph from slapstick comedy into anti-war dramedy. Many fans don't like later seasons for this reason, but this is exactly why I prefer them.


"Comrades in Arms, Part 1 (12/6/77)"-- In the first half of this two-parter, Hawkeye and Margaret travel to the 8063rd MASH unit during a bug out. They quickly find themselves behind enemy lines and in serious danger.


"Comrades in Arms, Part 2 (12/13/77)"-- After taking refuge in an abandoned hut, Hawk and Hot Lips begin to share the intimate details of their lives with each other, particularly Margaret's increasingly troubled marriage. They also share a few rather passionate kisses. As I was watching this, I was rooting for the two to finally admit their feelings for one another and possibly even get together. This is not to be, for by the end of Part 2, Pierce and Houlihan (who are eventually rescued by B.J. and a helicopter pilot) are at each other's throats. I suppose the writers felt it necessary to maintain viewer interest by way of palpable but ultimately unrequited sexual tension between doctor and nurse.


Disc 3:

"Tea and Empathy (1/17/78)"-- Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) faces a spiritual dilemma after recalling the confession of a corporal who has been smuggling stolen-- albeit desperately needed-- medical supplies into the 4077th. A decent and important episode for Mulcahy, up until this point a relatively minor character.

"Mail Call Three (2/6/78)"-- After weeks of no mail delivery, 4077th personnel finally receive five bags of mostly good news (save for a letter from Hot Lips' mother-in-law, one from Iowa about Radar's mother's boyfriend, a letter B.J. receives from wife Peg, and one from Cpl. Maxwell Q. Klinger's (Jamie Farr) wife, Laverne, in Toledo, Ohio, requesting a divorce), including love letters addressed to one Benjamin Pierce, but not the Benjamin Pierce. Hawkeye characteristically reads the letters anyway.

"Dr. Winchester and Mr. Hyde (2/27/78)"-- Charles' personality begins changing suddenly, and his fellow surgeons are baffled as to what is going on with him. Then they discover that Winchester's mania is the result of amphetamine usage. This is the very first ep to showcase Charles' pompousness, elitism, and perfectionism.

"Major Topper (3/27/78)"-- Following Col. Potter's homespun anecdote about how his aunt was cured of an ailment by a placebo, or "sugar pill," the doctors decide to try to convince patients that they are taking morphine after they've actually been given sugar pills. A negative side effect of this plan is that one Cpl. Boots Miller starts trying to shoot down imaginary enemy airplanes. Along with the season premier, this is one of two fan-favorite eps in this collection.

How Not to Intertwine Religion with Politics

A big story in the news right now is the proliferation of these "Pray for Obama" bumper stickers. The stickers invoke Psalm 109:8 and appear on the surface to be a positive sentiment-- that is, until one actually reads said verse. Psalm 109:8 is essentially a call for the end of bad leadership. It goes on to wish ill of a leader's family and loved ones. Here's the deal, folks: During the Tribulation (excuse me, the Bush administration), lefties, myself included, sported some admittedly zing-y bumper stickers. I had two on my car, which bore the slogans "Iraq Arabic for Vietnam" and "Jesus would vote Democrat after the last four years (sticker was purchased following the 2004 election)." Still, most of us never used Biblical scripture to insinuate that Bush should be murdered or that terrible things should happen to his family-- although there was that Backgrounds in Western Literature paper about Dante's Inferno in which I argued that Bush, Cheney, & Co. belonged in the hottest layer of Hell for being treacherous and leading their country into war. I did not, however, advocate violence against the U.S. government. I think the right-wing fringe's fear- and anger-based campaign strategy against President Obama will backfire and that this faction will be unpleasantly surprised come election time in 2010 and 2012.

Some More Kennedy-Themed Stuff

Today is the anniversary of the JFK assassination, which occurred in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. I've come to the conclusion that there was a conspiracy and that Lee Harvey Oswald didn't act alone. As for the slain 35th president's legacy, I think he deserves praise for the work he started on behalf of civil rights and the war on poverty. Had he not been assassinated, Kennedy could have done so much more for this country. I also think that history would've turned out very differently had Kennedy lived to serve at least one term. For example, I think that Vietnam would've ended a lot sooner.

Of course, the Kennedys have been in the news a lot in recent months. First, Eunice Kennedy Shriver died. Then, Ted Kennedy, a pioneer in the currently raging health-care debate, passed away. Now, there's a news story, written by associated press reporter Brett Zongker, circulating about how a Rhode Island bishop denied Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) holy communion in 2007 due to Kennedy's pro-choice stance on the abortion issue. The bottom line is this: They may not be perfect, but many members of America's most famous Catholic family have done so much good for this nation. Furthermore, we're facing way too many serious issues to get hung up on each other's petty ideological differences. We have to work together in order to solve the real issues at hand.

Some More Thoughts on the State of Religion and Spirituality in America

I read this article today about a new Iowa State University Atheist and Agnostic Society that has formed on the school's Ames campus. The article focused mainly on the differences between students who practice militant, reactionary forms of atheism and agnosticism and those who try to co-exist peacefully with their peers. In the conclusion, author Eric Gorski writes that the majority of American college students classify themselves as spiritual seekers.
Anyway, this story really got me thinking about my own beliefs. I consider myself a spiritual seeker, and I definitely believe in peaceful co-existence with all my fellow human beings. I was brought up in a fairly devout Christian (Disciples of Christ, to be exact) home and still maintain a number of the values I was raised with. However, certain current events, especially the wars, have forced me to question traditional Christianity. I suppose that if I had to categorize myself (I don't believe in labels), I would say that I was a 'questioning Christian pacifist who is open to learning about and assimilating alternative belief systems.'

In the News on 11/20/09

There's lots going on in that wacky, rotating sphere we call Planet Earth today. Accordingly, I will attempt to talk about it all right here.
For starters, Sarah Palin appeared on Oprah Monday. I didn't get to watch it, because I had to work. However, I've watched clips of the episode, and Sarah just seems angry. Y'know, that's not a very good foundation on which to base a presidential campaign.
Speaking of the "Queen of Talk," she's cancelling her show after 25 years. (Dang, now I won't get to be on Oprah! LOL! Oh, well, there's always Countdown, Maddow, Hardball, and AC360.) Anyway, Miss O's had a pretty good run and feels that it's time to move on. More power to her.
Secondly, moderate Dems may help President Obama reach an impasse in regards to the health-care debacle. Right now, though, the White House and Congress are dealing with a stand-off with Catholic bishops concerning the abortion issue. I trust that a compromise will eventually be reached in order to resolve this matter.
In addition, I'm sad to report that the Middle East peace talks have reached a bit of a stalemate. The Israeli government has purchased a large tract of Palestinian land in order to expand Israeli settlements there. More information pertaining to this situation will be posted here as I research and learn more about it. So, stay tuned.
Finally, in Ashleyverse news, tomorrow is my mom's birthday. I'm trying to decide what type of present to buy her. She's been going through some personal changes lately, so I'm probably going to purchase a gift that reflects those changes. Incidentally, today is Vice President Joe Biden's b-day. So, happy birthday, Mom and Joe!
Well, that was a basically brief synopsis of current world and Ashleyverse events. Until next time, peace, love, & happiness.