A Sort-of-Positive Turn of Events

Well, folks, today's June 30-- the day that U.S. troops pull out of Baghdad and other major Iraqi cities. Despite this positive occurrence, we're not out of the woods (or I guess I should say desert) yet-- not by a longshot. Things are just terrible in Iran, to say the least. Now, according to one Reuter's news article, extremist Muslim Cleric Ahmad Khatami, a member of the powerful governing body The Assembly of Experts, told worshippers at Tehran University last Friday that the Iranian judiciary should charge leading post-election "rioters" as "mohareb" or one who wages war against God. The punishment for this offense under Islamic law, which Khatami says should be delivered swiftly and savagely, is execution. President Obama says that this will definitely affect his policies toward, the dialogue with, and diplomacy between the U.S. and Iran. Obama went on to say at a recent news conference that we will support Mir-Hossein Mousavi, whom Obama says has "captured the imagination" of people who want to open up to the West and hailed Mousavi supporters at the conference. Obama also denounced the persecution of protesters as "outrageous." Lastly, our president announced that he does not take incumbent Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's calls for the U.S. to apologize to Iran seriously, given the fact that the U.S. has gone out of its way not to interfere with Iran's election process. All I can say is: "Way to go, Barack!"

Headline: Things looking up in Ashleyverse; Paradise still elusive, though

I'm so excited! I'm getting ready to submit my very first op-ed column to the DEN. I can't wait until I start getting paid for writing articles. Well, I'm still trying to find Paradise. I wonder if perhaps it's not an actual geographic location, but rather a state of mind. Apparently, it's not Neverland Ranch. lol! Judging by what I've read of The Prelude, Wordsworth didn't have too much luck finding it, either. Oh, well, I suppose we have to create our own inner Paradises.

What I'm Reading Today

For tomorrow night's class, I'm reading William Wordworth's The Prelude Or, Growth of a Poet's Mind: An Autobiographical Poem (1850). I haven't really delved into it yet, but it looks interesting. So far, I've just perused some of the footnotes and skimmed the work for its highlights in order to get the gist of it. One footnote, for instance, references Wordsworth's frequent allusions to John Milton's oft-discussed literary masterpiece Paradise Lost (1667), which I haven't gotten around to reading but plan to. So, as soon as I finish The Prelude, I'll share my thoughts on it with y'all.

Update on Current Events in the Ashleyverse

Alright, I've got a lil' confession for y'all: Things haven't exactly been all sunshine and yellow roses in the Ashleyverse the past few weeks. For starters, my family is dealing with my younger sister's health issues. Also, it's been a little tight for me financially. (What grad student doesn't have budgetary issues?) You see, the department I work in at the college has been negatively affected by state budget cuts. I get my first paycheck on July 10, and I will receive compensation for the hours I worked this month but didn't get paid for as a result of a temporary lack of departmental grant funding. Things are looking up, though. I just signed on to write op-ed columns for the DEN (Daily Eastern News-- university newspaper). Effective the beginning of fall semester, that becomes a paying gig. In addition, I made my first $100 via Google AdSense and will receive my first payment for that venture at the end of July. Next, I'll more than likely continue teaching communications in the fall, and could possibly be assigned to more than one section. Finally, things will more than likely pick up at the radio station in September, thanks to the fall sports season. I think that's why I love fall so much-- I'm always freakin' busy! For now, I'm just trying to enjoy the remainder of the summer. To be perfectly honest, I've never been one to air my dirty laundry in public. That's just how I was brought up-- to be a classy, dignified, proactive, smart Steel Magnolia. I prefer to be defined by what I do and how I contribute to society, not by what happens to me.

Brand-Spankin'-New Suite101 First Lady Bio

Yep, I've written yet another article on Suite101. Accordingly, I'll provide y'all with the corresponding info. Here goes:
Title: "Margaret Mackall Smith Taylor: Reclusive First Lady"
Teaser: Margaret "Peggy" Taylor, the wife of twelfth U.S. president Zachary, was one of several reclusive first ladies. Mrs. Taylor did not enjoy her role as America's first lady...
Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08
Intriguing, no?

Infotainment Today

Wow! There's a lot going on in news and entertainment today. Where should I begin? Let's see...
Oh, I know. First, in world news, President Obama is sticking by his promise to begin pulling troops from Iraqi cities by June 30. All combat troops are scheduled to leave the country by August, 2010. All U.S. forces will more than likely be withdrawn by the end of 2011. Conscientious beings must see to it that this happens. Secondly, Iranian president Mahmoud Amhadinejad is lambasting the U.S. and President Obama for criticizing the crackdown on protesters in Tehran and has likened Obama to Bush. To be honest, Amhadinejad would probably condemn anything we do in regards to our policies toward Iran. Finally, the invites of Iranian diplomats to the annual D.C. Fourth of July bash have been rescinded. While this is a sad commentary on the state of world affairs, we need to send a message to oppressive regimes that we do not tolerate censorship of the media and intolerance of the dissent of citizens. (Sidebar: It has been confirmed that Gov. Mark Sanford (R-South Carolina) did indeed have an extramarital affair with his "friend" from Argentina. He took time away from addressing important state business and spent Palmetto State taxpayers' money to fund his little getaways. Needless to say, this doesn't bode well for the GOP in 2012.)
Okay, the big story in entertainment is the passing of original Charlie's Angel Farrah Fawcett. She died today at the age of 62 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. In a way, this is kind of personal, since Farrah and I both grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, had/have daddies in the oil industry, were/are Aquarian women (respective b'days: 02/02/47 and 02/03/80), were/are drama queens, had/have a thing for complex, difficult, and weird men, were/are approx. 5'6" and semi-athletic, and were/are known for our hair. lol! (Farrah bio info courtesy of IMDb.com) More shockingly, "The King of Pop"-- Michael Jackson-- died this afternoon of an apparent heart attack. Um, no comment there. Dang it, though, I knew something felt strange in the air today. There's just been that distinctive vibe permeating everything.
Well, folks, those are the big stories for June 25, 2009. Take care & Spread the love!

Research Paper Proposal

For my ENG 5005 research paper/project, I have decided to write about the life and works of Thomas Paine. Paine was a very controversial figure for various reasons. Accordingly, I think a fundamental question I should try to answer is: 'Why was Thomas Paine such a controversial figure?' Also, I want to explore the ways in which Paine differed from and was similar to his peers. For example, I could compare and contrast Paine against someone like William Blake. More specifically, Paine was a proponent of reason over faith. Blake, on the other hand, had mystical tendencies. I suppose another question I could explore is: 'Was Paine a Romantic? Why or why not?' Finally, I want to discuss and explore Paine's views on revolution and revolutionary ideas-- both in the U.S. and Europe.
In order to conduct this all-important research and answer the burning questions I posed above, I have selected a working bibliography of apropos texts. These include-- but are not exclusive to: Paine's The Rights of Man and The Age of Reason, Edmund Burke's (one of Paine's chief critics) Reflections on the Revolution in France, Blake's Songs of Innocence and of Experience, and some books about the French Revolution. Last but not least, I want to compare and contrast Paine's and Blake's views on specific issues, namely social hierarchy, religion, poverty, and the role of government in creating an idealized or flawed society. Ultimately, I want to argue that the works of both writers are relevant to current events.

To everything, there is a season...

Well, it looks as though the Korean situation is getting really bad. Our president is willing to negotiate with both North and South Korea, but he is also saying that he will not reward belligerent behavior from either nation. To that end, he has imposed sanctions on North Korea. This is likely a response to a story in a Pyongyang (North Korea's capital city) newspaper that warned the U.S. that North Korea will retaliate severely if we incite war on Korean soil. Interestingly, Obama's former rival, Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), praised the president's handling of this situation.

In other world news, riot police are cracking down on post-election protesters in the streets of Tehran, Iran. Incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's challenger, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has declared that he is ready to assume martyr status. The opposition leader has also spoken out against the U.S. I'm certain our president will make decisions in regards to this matter to ensure that another Iranian Revolution takes place. (The first occurred in 1979.) We will definitely negotiate with Iran, because our current leaders realize that this is the American way. Fortunately, since the first revolution, Iran is not as much of a fundamentalist theocracy as it was 30 years ago. It is, however, a military dictatorship, and there is still a long way to go. I understand why President Obama is being so cautious. He sincerely wants to avoid another Iraq. More importantly, he wants to send a message to the rest of the world that we will advocate for oppressed peoples in a non-violent manner.

That said, we have entered a revolutionary season. I'll have a lot more to say about this in the coming days. This is a time to make amends.

The Longest Word in the English Language?

What is the longest word in the English language? According to Oxford English Dictionary, it's pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis. With a length of 45 letters, this word means: "a word alleged to mean 'a lung disease caused by the inhalation of volcanic ash, causing inflamation in the lungs.'" This term was invented in 1935 by Everett M. Smith, then-president of the National Puzzlers' League, at the organizations' annual meeting. The New York Herald Tribune covered the story in its February 23, 1935, edition. The article bore the headline: "Puzzlers Open 103d Session Here by Recognizing 45-Letter Word."
Source (s):
http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longest_word_in_English

Happy First Day of Summer/Father's Day!

Yes, today is June 21-- otherwise known as the official first day of summer-- and I must say that it feels like it in my lil' neck of the woods. More importantly, it's Father's Day. So, how did this celebration get started? Well, it began in Spokane, Washington, in 1909. A woman named Sonora Smart Dodd was listening to a Mother's Day sermon when she got the idea to start a holiday to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, who had raised her by himself after her mother died. Dodd wanted to honor her dad's sacrifices, selflessness, courage, and the love he showed her. His birthday was in June, so Dodd hosted the very first Father's Day celebration in Spokane on June 19, 1910. A National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City in 1926. The holiday was first recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. (I guess Ole Tricky Dick was good for something after all! lol!)
Source:
http://www.morning-glow.com/holidays/father/father.html
On a personal note, my family is honoring our daddy by going out for dinner today. My dad, David "Dave" Waggoner, is quite a character, to say the least. And we wouldn't have him any other way! Accordingly, happy Father's Day, Dad!

Project Decision

Well, folks, I've made my official decision in regards to my research project topic. I'm going with the Tom Paine concept. I feel that his writings and ideas are extremely relevant to current events in our nation. I'll provide y'all with more info as things develop further.

Do you like Ike?

If so, you might enjoy my latest Suite101 contribution, "Places That Dwight and Mamie Eisenhower Lived: The Many Homes of One of America's First Couples from 1915 to 1939." (Teaser: Thirty-fourth president Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife, Mamie, called many places home. These places included numerous Army bases and, of course, the White House...) Anyway, Ike kinda, sorta got the Civil Rights ball rolling during his presidency (1953-61), and I hear that his First Lady may have unknowingly cost Ike's veep-- one Richard M. Nixon-- the 1960 election and wasn't too terribly fond of Sen. Joe McCarthy (R-Wisconsin). Mrs. Eisenhower was also the person who was instrumental in seeing to it that African-American children were allowed to participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt on the White House lawn. I won't go so far as to say that I'm an Ike aficianado, but he did have an interesting life, though. That said, the link to this and all my other articles is, as always: http//www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08.

Research Paper/Project Update

Okay, I've narrowed my research paper/project topic idea down to a couple different things. One idea I have is to write about William Blake's views on the negative effects of organized religion on society. Another concept I'm mulling over is writing a paper about the works and ideology of Thomas Paine. Right now, I'm leaning toward the latter. BTW, my class is amazing! Everything I'm into and writing about atm is on the syllabus. Needless to say, I'm going to have lots to talk about here in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

Notes on My Revisitation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice

I mentioned yesterday that the very first novel I'm reading for my summer school class is Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice (1813; 1817). I read it back in high school. Quite honestly, I didn't care for it too much back in the day. A few years ago, I saw one of the movie versions of the story. I thought it was wonderful. (Then again, watching Colin Firth-- who played Mr. Darcy in the more popular of the two film adaptations-- wasn't such a bad deal, either.) Anyway, on my second reading, I'm enjoying and appreciating the book much more. I love the fact that Ms. Austen's female characters are strong women, particularly Lizzy Bennet. I especially love it when she tells off Mr. Darcy and rejects his marriage proposal. Ultimately, Mr. Darcy falls in love with Lizzy for her tenacity and outspokenness. Thus, Lizzy Bennet is a true Romantic heroine.

How My First Night of Grad School Went

I had my first grad school experience last night, and it was a positive one. The Romanticism class ties into everything I'm into and writing about right now. For example, one of the selections on the syllabus is Thomas Paine's The Rights of Man. We'll be dealing a lot with writers and ideas from the Era of Enlightenment and the French Revolution-- huge influences on the Founding Fathers. We're beginning the summer session by reading Jane Austen's classic Pride and Prejudice. We'll also be reading the works of William Blake, whom I love. In fact, I'm seriously thinking about doing my class project on Blake. Of course, we'll be discussing Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. My professor, Dr. Kilgore, explained that this novel is an example of "dark romanticism." He also pointed out that "romanticism" is a very misunderstood literary term. I must say that Shelley's themes and those of French Enlightenment (18th century) writers Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary) and Voltaire (Candide) have had a most profound effect upon my own thought processes.

New Beginning

Well, folks, today's the day. It's my first day of grad school, that is. I'm getting ready to head up to Charleston for my 19th-century British Romanticism class. It's kinda rainy and overcast right now. (We've been having some weather issues lately.) Oh, well, it'll take more than a little precipitation to stop me. Again, not to sound cornball, but I feel that today is the first day of the rest of my life. I'll let y'all know how things go tonight in tomorrow's post.

Why Fundamentalist Religion Is Bad

I just read a story about the Iranian presidential election. It appears that incumbent extremist president/dictator Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will be re-elected. This turn of events has sparked protests and street riots. Of course, U.S. leaders support Mousavi. Vice President Joe Biden has openly offered his sympathy.
In other "Change News," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu now claims to support Palestinian independence. Still, President Barack Obama faces an uphill battle in terms of actually making it happen. The American people need to fully support President Obama in oder for the dream of a two-state solution to materialize in the Gaza Strip.
My point here is this: We have to put aside our religious and political differences and promote peace. This is what Christ commanded his followers to do. It's also what the likes of Gandhi and Martin Luther King professed. And, I believe our president is committed to promoting peaceful solutions to the various current conflicts. We have to work with him, though. Remember, class: Change takes time. Adherence to fundamentalist religion, whether it be Christianity, Islam, or Judaism, is heretical to spiritual teachings, causes war and a host of other evils, and only serves to impede the progress of society.
Domestically speaking, Bill O'Reilly is now being blamed for encouraging Scott Roeder, the man who murdered Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller. While I don't believe Bill-O the Clown is solely responsible for Tiller's death, I do think that right-wing nutjob pundits and media/political figures such as he appeal to Roeder's ilk: uneducated, mentally unstable, and generally disadvantaged. Why do you think the Nazi agenda was such a resounding success in war-torn 1930s Germany? Exactly.
On a personal note, I went to a family get-together today. It was to celebrate the homecoming of my uncle and aunt-- who are Southern Baptist missionaries. They're entitled to be whatever and believe whatever they so choose, but they have been critical of some of the more "liberal" members of the family, myself included. Oh, well, I just need to live the life I know I was commanded to live and not worry about what the neo-Pharisees of this world think.

Some Not-So-Secret Info

Info for my most recent Suite101 article:
Title: "The History of the Secret Service: Agency That Protects the President Began in 1865"
Teaser: The U.S. Secret Service, which protects the president, began in 1865. The original purpose of this agency was very different from what it is today...
Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08
Check it out!

More Disturbing Info from Quiverfull

Well, I've just about completed my reading of Quiverfull. Trust me, it's beyond disturbing. I'm sorry, but I just don't understand how any self-respecting woman could be a part of this movement. Apparently, author Kathryn Joyce feels the same way. Throughout the course of her research, Joyce tries to figure out the reasons why the women of the Quiverfull Movement live this lifestyle. The only explanation she's offered is, "It's God's will." Overall, I think Joyce comes away feeling sorry for these women and that they're for the most part brainwashed by the men in their lives. The main issue appears to be that these women just have incredibly low self-esteem. I've gotta say that I agree with Joyce's assessment. Perhaps the most disturbing thing to me is that if something should happen to a Quiverfull family's father figure, the women and children are basically screwed. Quiverfull women are absolutely forbidden from attaining higher education and working outside the home. Much abuse occurs within the movement, and the women who do speak out are shunned and, in some cases, suffer much worse fates. For example, Andrea Yates, that Texas woman who drowned her five children in their bathtub in the summer of 2001 in order to "save them from going to Hell," was under the mind control of Michael Woroniecki, a rabid fundamentalist street preacher who advocated the Quiverfull lifestyle. Andrea was already mentally ill, and her situation of being placed on a constant guilt trip about not being the ideal Christian woman only made things worse. I don't see how this is conducive to living a pro-life ethos. Then, there are the Duggars, but that's a whole other post. It seems to me that a lot of Quiverfull parents are only concerned about being "Godly" as opposed to the well-being of their many children. IMHO, being pro-life does not end with a child's birth. Oh, and one more thing: Quiverfullers are big proponents of the "culture war," use heavy-duty militaristic metaphors and imagery to advance their agenda, and are literally breeding armies to send into battle against "Godless (i.e. Muslim)" countries in order to fight an actual Holy War-- the biggest oxymoron. I don't know about y'all, but I'm not too keen on the idea of spending nine months to bring a pristine baby into the world, raising him or her for 18 years, and then sending my child off to be killed, maimed, and/or psychologically destroyed. Not to sound trite or corny, but children are the future, so we must ensure that they have the best quality of life possible and prepare them for real life-- which means not raising them in a cultish, degrading (especially to girls) lifestyle. As I've said before in regards to the "Real World," it's often ugly and at times dangerous, but it's preferable to living in the Religious Right's self-styled Narnia.

Hollyweird's Latest & Greatest Hits

This is simultaneously a sad and happy day for American progressives. On one hand, American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert was forced to admit to the public that he is indeed gay. Who cares?! The man is mega-talented (not to mention a total hottie). I have no problem with AI, Season 8 winner Kris Allen, but Adam deserved to win. Oh, well, he's on to bigger and better things, including fronting Queen. Anyway, I believe AT&T is to blame for all this ballyhoo. Keep in mind that this is the same corporate conglom that pumped mega-moola into the 2004 Bush-Cheney campaign. The whole super-texting scandal has more than likely harmed AI's credibility, and the show has officially "jumped the shark." BTW, my sister burned a mix CD of Adam recordings for me, and his covers of Smokey Robinson and the Miracles' "The Tracks of My Tears," Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love," and Sam Cook's "A Change Is Gonna Come" rock hard! His renditions of Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire" and U2's "One" are fine efforts as well.
On the upside of all this, Carrie Prejean-- a.k.a. "Miss California"-- has been decrowned. Who didn't see that one coming? I'm just gonna call it as I see it: She's a total bimbo and definitely not a role model. Furthermore, she's a complete nitwit when it comes to politics. Needless to say, there's no love lost here.

Interesting Job

The summer session started this week at the college. I'm co-teaching remedial reading and English, which is my bread and butter, or in my case, coffee and chocolate. I'm also making books on tape for a student with a learning disability. Using an old-fashioned tape recorder and cassette tapes, I'm going to read chapters out of psychology and biology textbooks. (I'm admittedly stuck in the "Dark Ages" when it comes to technology.) Even though I'm moving on to bigger and better things-- beginning Monday night with my very first grad school class-- my current job is socially redeeming.

New Book Idea

Some time ago, I told y'all about my plans for writing a book about Mary Todd Lincoln. Well, I've got an idea in my head for yet another book. One working title is: How to Be a Southern Gothic Heroine. (Southern Gothic literature was a genre popularized by such figures as Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner. The women in these stories are generally quirky and often endearingly so.) I'll discuss this idea more in depth later on this week.

My Feelings on Frost/Nixon

Okay, here's my verdict on Frost/Nixon: It wasn't that great. As with Milk and W., I didn't really learn anything new in regards to the subject matter. I think I need to stick with watching purely factual documentaries in order to gather info about political history. As for current political events, I'll continue to get my news courtesy of the likes of Olbermann, Matthews, and Maddow. IMHO, PBS is the greatest news source. They tell the real story, especially in regards to coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan.

How to Deal with Controversial Subjects

Last week, Wichita, Kansas, abortion provider Dr. George Tiller was gunned down in his Lutheran church outside Kansas City by Scott Roeder, a 51-year-old abortion opponent. Roeder, who is now in prison awaiting trial, has vowed that more violence will ensue in the wake of Tiller's death if abortion remains legal. Come on, folks! You can espouse pro-life views, but doing so with violence only undermines anti-abortion groups' message. Fortunately, most anti-abortion groups have vehemently denounced Roeder's actions and statements. Sadly, members of infamous pastor Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church congregation turned up to protest at Tiller's funeral yesterday. They held up signs with slogans, like: "God sent the shooter." Mind you, this is the same group that protested the funerals of gay soldiers who died in Iraq and Afghanistan and claimed that the deaths of these brave individuals were punishment for America's tolerance of homosexuality. Y'know, I don't have a problem with Christianity per se, but I have a serious problem with reprehensible deeds being done in the guise of it. People, we have to end the Culture War and peacefully agree to disagree on certain issues. The bottom line is: liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, pro-choice or pro-life, we are all Americans. More importantly, we cannot solve our differences violently.

Happy 30th birthday, Jenn!

I'd like to wish my BFF, Jennifer Scott, a happy 30th b'day. Jenn is a psychologist/math teacher. She does so much for so many people. So, for being such an awesome person and friend, I salute you, Jenn! Have a great Big 3-0-- you definitely deserve it.

Frost/Nixon Friday

Well, folks, I rented Frost/Nixon (Universal, 2008). I'm going to watch it tonight. I sure hope it's better than Milk and W.-- both of which I was very disappointed in. Anyway, I've wanted to see this movie for some time, so it had better be good, especially since I'm devoting two hours to watching it! I'll let y'all know how my viewing experience went next week.
Continuing on the political theme, here's the info for my brand-spankin'-new Suite 101 article:
Title: "The History of the Custis-Lee Mansion: How a Private Home Became a National Landmark"
Teaser: In 1802, George Washington Parke Custis built a home in Virginia. Throughout the nineteenth century, this home would have more famous inhabitants...
Link: http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/obamagirl08

Anti-War/Peace Quotes

The following is a list of anti-war/peace quotes that I found on my local newspaper's Website. Someone compiled it in response to a cliche-ridden, militaristic letter about Memorial Day and posted it in the comments section. These quotes come from a diverse array of historical, political, and literary figures.
"Never has there been a good war or a bad peace."-- Benjamin Franklin
"Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed."-- Dwight D. Eisenhower
"All men are brothers, like the seas throughout, so why do winds and waves clash so fiercely everywhere?"-- Emperor Hirohito
"Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime."-- Ernest Hemingway
"What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?"-- Gandhi
"I'm fed up to the ears with old men dreaming up wars for young men to die in."-- George McGovern
"An unjust peace is better than a just war."-- Marcus Tullius Cicero
"War is too serious a matter to entrust to military men."-- Georges Clemenceau
(There'll probably be a follow-up anti-war/peace quotes list sometime in the near future.)

Exercise DVDs I'm Doing This Week

In addition to my walking regimen, I'm doing a few exercise DVDs. Below, I will discuss them.
DVDs & Comments:
1.) The Firm: Body Sculpting Basics: This is the very first Firm workout. Originally released in 1986, this is as retro as retro gets in terms of exercise videos. Master instructor Susan Harris leads a leg-warmer-wearing, big-haired, day-glow-leotard-clad class through an hour-long dumbbell-based sculpting routine that is anything but basic. When I first did this five years ago, I couldn't sit down for a week.
2.) Bryan Kest's Power Yoga: There are actually three very intense workouts on this DVD. First, "Energize" is by far the easiest routine. Here, beautiful Bryan leads you through a series of upward/downward dog vinyasas. Secondly, "Tone" is slightly more difficult. In this workout, you'll do more strenuous sequences and begin working on balance poses. Finally, "Sweat" is the ultimate power yoga challenge. You'll be treated to the hardest of the hard balance poses, backbends (yikes!), and yes, you'll sweat. The biggest treat, however, is looking at Kest's buff, half-nude bod. If that's not motivation, I don't know what is!
3.) Power Yoga Total Body with Rodney Yee: Zen Master Rodney Yee guides you one-on-one through a series of challenging yet meditative postures. This DVD was shot outdoors in a stunning location in Hawaii. Yee is on a mountaintop and surrounded by lush greenery and sparkling water. A magnificent waterfall is what always makes me want to do this workout.

Sounds of Americana

Way back on Valentine's Day, I discussed the tracklist of Elizabethtown: Music from the Motion Picture. Today, I will write about the songs on Elizabethtown: Music from the Motion Picture-- Vol. 2. As with the original, these tunes span the full spectrum of musical genres.
Tracks & Commentary:
1.) "Learning to Fly"-- TOM PETTY: This is an early-90s hit from Petty. It's simultaneously fun and philosophical.
2.) "English Girls Approximately"-- RYAN ADAMS: It doesn't get much cooler than this. Adams does his signature intellectual/sensitive alt-country thing. Mandy Moore, you are one lucky girl!
3.) "Jesus Was A Crossmaker"-- RACHAEL YAMAGATA: This is a cover of the classic Hollies hit that is featured on Vol. 1 of this soundtrack. Yamagata's version is not played during the film.
4.) "Funky Nassau Pt. 1"-- BEGINNING OF THE END: A fun party/vacation tune that accompanies the hilarious Brown Hotel-- located in Louisville, Kentucky-- phone conversation scene among Drew (Orlando Bloom), Claire (Kirsten Dunst), and Chuck, one half of fun-loving newlywed couple Chuck and Cindy.
5.) "Loro"-- PINBACK: This ethereal ditty is not featured in the film. It has a very tranquilizing effect.
6.) "Moon River"-- PATTY GRIFFIN: A beautiful version of the Henry Mancini/Johnny Mercer standard. Of course, I adore Griffin's "Long Ride Home" from E-Town, Vol. 1.
7.) "Summerlong"-- KATHLEEN EDWARDS: This is probably my fave song on this CD. With its playful melody and lyrics, it is the quintessential song of summer. It plays during a particularly sweet and playful scene between Drew and Claire. Love the Colonel Sanders reference!
8.) "...Passing By"-- ULRICH SCHNAUSS: This techno-instrumental tune accompanies the "Drew-and-Claire-Meeting-to-Watch-the-Sunrise" scene that follows the "conversation" scene. I think it fits this part of the film rather well.
9.) "You Can't Hurry Love"-- THE CONCRETES: Love, love this song! It sounds 80s-ish and millennial at the same time. It's also a "chick band" song, which makes it even better.
10.) "River Road"-- NANCY WILSON: Composed by one half of super-sister group Heart and film director Cameron Crowe's wife Nancy Wilson, this track proves once and for all that women can do good ole American rock 'n' roll just as good as the guys.
11.) "Same In Any Language"-- RUCKUS: This is an alternate version of an awesome song from Vol. 1. Ruckus is the band fronted by Cousin Jesse (Paul Schneider of NBC's political sitcom Parks & Recreation, starring SNL alum Amy Poehler) in the movie.
12.) "What Are They Doing In Heaven Today"-- WASHINGTON PHILLIPS: This is a traditional gospel-infused blues song. It's one of Claire's mix-tape tunes. While this song plays in the background, Drew visits the Oklahoma City bombing site memorial. Having lived in Edmond, a suburb of OKC, as a kid, I get a little emotional and sentimental during this scene. They couldn't have selected more perfect music for it.
13.) "Words"-- RYAN ADAMS: Another great Austin City Limits-worthy contribution from the undisputed supreme being of the alt-country genre. Once again, I envy you, Mandy Moore.
14.) "Big Love"-- LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM-- A live track performed by the versatile former Fleetwood Mac frontman and Stevie Nicks flame. This song plays as Drew hilariously tries to find the elusive Exit 60B upon entering Louisville.
15.) "I Can't Get Next To You"-- THE TEMPTATIONS: What collection of all-American music wouldn't be complete with a little dash of Motown? This highly danceable tune is Drew's cell phone song.

Madonna Monday

Okay, I've been powerwalking for almost three weeks now. To keep myself motivated, I listen to music while I workout. I've discovered that the most inspiring tunes to listen to when I walk are those by Madonna. Four of the Material Girl's CDs in particular get me movin'. They are:
1.) Ray of Light-- I had this on cassette-- yes, kiddos, I'm that old!-- back in the day (read: late 90s) and played it non-stop during workouts, especially yoga, the entire summer ('98, to be exact) between high school graduation and freshman year of college. My fave tunes, besides the title track, are: "Drowned World/Substitute for Love," "Frozen," "Sky Fits Heaven," and "The Power of Good-Bye." This is the greatest Madonna album, IMHO.
2.) Music-- This CD was released when I was a junior at EIU. I remember hearing the title track played over and over on the radio in my dorm's computer lab. Needless to say, this pulled me through a lot of all-nighter study/paper-writing sessions. "Don't Tell Me" and "What It Feels Like for a Girl"-- the ultimate female empowerment anthem-- were a couple of my treadmill tunes in the university rec center.
3.) The Immaculate Collection-- What can I say? A killer retospective of classic (80s-early 90s) pop genius. You can't go wrong with "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," "Papa Don't Preach," "Like A Prayer," "Express Yourself," "Vogue," and "Justify My Love."
4.) GHV2-- This second volume of Madge's greatest hits is basically as good as the original. The best song on this disc, IMHO, is "Beautiful Stranger." It's so much fun!